Free Aurora Saga 2 Immortality for Life by Adrian Fulcher Page A

then?’
    ‘They must have headed for the nearest planet, Xim’gu. That’s where all the ion-trails seem to be going and coming from.’
    Kalrea displayed an image of the planet on the monitor. It looked like a mirror, as light reflected off its surface. Constant flashes of white light blinded his view.
    ‘I’m going to have to hide the Aurora ,’ Kalrea remarked.
    ‘Why? Can’t we fly down there?’
    ‘No because people are bound to recognise that the ship is from the Polnozoo. I think it would attract a bit too much attention, don’t you!’
    ‘Oh! Yes, of course.’
    ‘We’ll take a shuttle instead. I’ll put the Aurora down on the far side of one of the moons. It should remain undetected there.’
    Zoren noticed that Kalrea was now staring at him. He was about to ask why, when Kalrea said,
    ‘Unfortunately that’s not all they’re going to recognise. Your race is very distinctive. No hair and that dolha running over your head. If you’re coming with me, then we’ll need to disguise you in some way.’
    ‘Do you have any of that hair stuff?’
    ‘Only on the other drones, but it would take too long to make something that’s going to look even slightly natural on you. No, I think you need a habit.’
    ‘What’s a habit?’
    ‘It a garment usually worn by religious persons.’
    ‘Then, it looks like I’m about to become religious.’
    ‘Come with me,’ Kalrea said. ‘I have a few of these religious robes in the accommodation area. I’ll get a drone to bring one to the cargo bay for you to wear.’

Chapter Eight
     
    As they entered the cargo bay, a micnorit nuronic construction drone was waiting outside the Pojin lift. In three of its arms, it was holding a white hooded robe. Kalrea went over and took it.
    ‘There, this should cover your head.’
    ‘Not sure about the colour or those large yellow symbols all over it,’ Zoren remarked.
    ‘Well it’s this or nothing.’
    Zoren put it on. He could see Kalrea was amused again. ‘Don’t say anything, Kalrea. You’ll make me feel uncomfortable.’
    Kalrea turned away and strode towards the far side of the cargo bay. Zoren followed, but he was focusing all his attention on adjusting the habit that he was not aware of his surroundings. Upon finishing, he glanced around and suddenly realised the size of the cargo bay, and that there were a number of ships within it. He stopped momentarily.
    This room’s huge! The ceiling must be at least thirty metres high.
    ‘Kalrea, are all these ships from Qintaino?’
    ‘No, only those two over there,’ she said, pointing to two mat-black shuttles in the distance. Then, pointing towards the two closest ships she added, ‘This shuttle’s from Drulf and that one’s from L’Swacn. Over there’s a Di-go-Jun fighter we captured during the Tufinine war.’
    As they walked, Kalrea continued, ‘This one here was given to Lex by the governor of Antrolo, after we helped him to return his kidnapped daughter.’
    ‘Sounds like you’ve had an eventful life. That one looks similar to the shuttle we were constructing onboard the space station. What am I saying! I mean the simulator. Where’s it from?’
    ‘That’s Gullin, and yes, it is of the same design, except this one would fly. The one you were building on the Polnozoo was never going to, I’m afraid.’
    ‘Oh…’ Zoren replied.
    He felt a jolt, signalling that the Aurora had touched down on the surface of the moon, then the noise from the event horizon drives abated as they powered down.
    Zoren and Kalrea approached the two identical Qinant shuttles. They were both a rounded shape with a long slender tail. The side of one of them opened out and Kalrea stepped onboard. Zoren followed.
    There are no windows, he thought, glancing around the small interior.
    ‘Why didn’t we take one of the other ships? If the Aurora would raise interest, surely this Qinant shuttle will.’
    ‘It will raise some interest for sure, but a Qinant shuttle is far less