Distant Horizons/Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Horizons

At that moment, the sky lit up. The light came in through the viewport, and the crew of the Distant Horizons was temporarily dazzled. And as the light faded, Hando saw a huge ornate wall of light. Around the ship, a series of gleaming doors appeared, leading away into gleaming light tunnels. The walls changed colour, from pink to purple, to blue, to red, and huge chandeliers appeared above the ship. Walls changed to floors, and the ceiling appeared in different places. It was like a palace. Not a king’s palace, but a god’s palace. A gargantuan palace in space. Endless glowing white corridors appeared in all places. Stretching onwards for what could be thousands of kilometres. Ornate decorations and works of art adorned the walls. The insides of this palace were so huge, that the ship flew through them. “OH.........MY...........GOD” whispered Shia, as the Ship flew through the amazing scenery. “This is a subject of Wol Cabbassh legend” announced Ghoel, “and of the beings from my home planet many actually believed it exists. I couldn’t help having a hunch that it existed, even though it seemed so impossible. But now, as we fly through it, I finally have the answer.” “What is it” gasped Ghai. “It is the core of the Multiverse” whispered Ghoel. “And it can take any form you wish. All you must do is think of what you want.” Ghai’s expression was confused, but Hando took the chance. He had grown up on the dry, arid planet Duro, but what he wanted to see was the opposite. He wanted to see life, nature, and magic. He wanted to see a forest. One of the magic forests he had seen on the HTV when he was small. And so he thought, and concentrated and wished. Immediately, the scene changed. Instead of a grand, clean palace, the space around them turned green. Huge rocky spires rose from below, and above, a blue and crystalline sky came into view. Goosebumps began pocking Hando’s skin as he shivered slightly at the beauty of the surroundings. He was completely bedazzled, confused, but at the same time he understood everything that was transpiring here. From below, coloured stars and sparks began to rise slowly, as if by magic, and huge trees began to move out from the oblivion below. Coloured fairytale-mushrooms began to rise from the ground, and creatures began to crawl from the rocks. It was like an early morning in a magical forest. Dew was rising from the ground, and the leaves from the trees were dripping and wet. A small, cool, white moisture vapour cloud hit the cockpit and blew around the view port. Suddenly, Hando realized he had made himself an atmosphere. “Switch to repulsorlifts” cried Shia. They were going to land, for the first time in months. And now, they were going to breathe fresh air. Hando leapt up in surprise and ran out of the cockpit. Ghai Fek then laughed; “Come on, let’s go!” Ghai grabbed Ghoel from the ceiling and ran after Hando, and Shia and Trisha followed. Hando raced to the airlock and opened the inside blast door. He took a deep breath of the stale, artificial air of the ship. Almost a pity, for he had gotten so used to the stale air, he had almost felt a sense of belonging. He put his finger on the control panel. He took another final breath. Either he would die instantly or he would taste the fresh air he had always craved. He would take his chances. His heart was pounding inside his body. “No need to wait”, he muttered to himself, and he pushed the button. Slowly, with a noisy creak, the rusty outside airlock began to open. A blast of air rushed past Hando, almost knocking him off his feet. Beside him, Ghai laughed. And Hando held his breath. The airlock door rose, and for the first time in months, Hando saw the surface of a world he breathed in deeply, the cold, damp, fresh rainforest air. He wanted this breath to never end. He wanted to fill his lungs forever, and he did try, until he couldn’t breathe in any longer. He coughed and spluttered, and found himself gasping for breath, breathing the rainforest air, enjoying it, loving it. He looked to his left, and saw the others. Shia’s face seemed to be deep in thought, his eyes still, his expression bland, his Lekku flapping in the wind. Hando gazed back out over the landscape. Unlike anywhere he had been before, there was no horizon. The trees, the rocks, and the rising mountains went on endlessly, to a point where the eye could see no further. Hando looked downwards and shuddered. Down below, he saw chasms which went down and down. Forever he thought grimly. Ghai Fek broke the grim silence: “Oy Hando, I’m going back to the pilot station. Think about landing somewhere, eh?” he boomed. “Yeah, good point,” called Hando, “put her down. Anywhere. I would like to know where the Hell we are.” “Acknowledged,” cried Ghai, and strode back inside. Hando looked back out. He loved the coolness of this place. Even though the wind was beating on his face, and small drops of rain were beginning to fall from the grey sky overhead, smacking so hard against his brow that he wondered if they were hail. He soon realized that they were. Hando winced as the wind blew stronger and more furiously. Tiny chunks of ice began hurtling at his face, peppering him. “Uhhh,” cried Shia, “forget it guys!” And the green twi’lek strode back into the ship for cover. “Oy Hando,” cried Ghoel through his earpiece, “make this place change!” “I thought Wol Cabbasshites could survive in space,” cried Hando. Trisha then spoke up, her voice somewhat breathless and raspy: “Come on Hando, d’you think were gonna explore this place in this?” “Why don’t you do it? It’s not like Ghoel gave me some special power” “Oh fine, wait.” Trisha concentrated, and closed her eyes. She imagined Coruscant. One big city; with huge towers and bustling streets, malls, shops, hotels, operas, everything she could ever want. She saw the alliance rebuilding the senate. She saw the scaffolds on the Jedi temple. The picture was clear in her head. And now, this place should look like this as well. Shouldn’t it? She opened her eyes. It was colder than ever. Now it was hardly as beautiful as it had been minutes ago. It was no longer a stunning, damp, early morning scenery. It had slowly changed into a dark, rainy, windy storm. “Hando!” cried Trisha. “Okay, sorry, I’ll try, just...” A huge bolt of lightning lit up the sky. A crack of thunder shook the ship as if it had been hit by turbolaser. Hando staggered back. Trisha glanced down. She saw his boot slip and he lost his footing. She dashed in and grabbed Hando’s arm with hers, and she grabbed the side of the airlock with the other. Hando fell, and dangled, holding onto Trisha’s arm. Hando’s hand was wet with sweat and moisture. It began to slip out of Trisha’s grip. Trisha looked down in desperation. “Hold on to me,” came the voice through her earpiece, “quick!” Trisha glanced back at Ghoel. His expression was sincere. She pulled herself up with her free arm, and with all her strength, she latched onto Ghoel. Ghoel pulled. Hando’s hand slipped further, and he and Trisha held onto each other’s fingers like hooks. The cold made Trisha’s hands numb. She tried to pull, but her muscles seemed dead. Ghoel pulled with everything he had. Trisha gazed down at Hando, and she saw the determination in his face. With all his might, Hando grabbed hold of the Ship’s platform with his free hand. Trisha released him, and Ghoel released her. Hando shook his aching hand, and then gripped the platform. Slowly, the Duros pulled his freezing body back up onto the ship, and sprawled on the floor. Trisha dragged him inside and shut the airlock, and then pulled him to his feet. He raised his hand signifying the need to catch his breath, and then finally raised his head. Trisha had leaned him against the wall, and was herself pressing against his body, smiling seductively. They both watched silently as Ghoel turned the corner into the bathroom. Trisha then turned to him. “Okay?” she said softly, casually, rocking to and fro away from him. “Sure,” he grunted.

“Clearing about 40 clicks ahead,” called Ghai from the cockpit, “you want me to put her down?”

“Yeah,” answered Hando, “and then we can rest, ya?”

“Sure,” cried Ghai. And as if by magic, the sky of the jungle-world they were in darkened, and night fell over the core of the Multiverse.

“Good night people,” cried Hando as he and Trisha made their way to the sleeping quarters, “tomorrow we’ll see what this place has got.