Chapter 61: The Ancients meet the Council

After she passed through the portal, Imra ran to her tearful mother and hugged her tightly. “Where is Dad?”

Sarah and Siobhan followed Celani. Then Atra’s parents came through, followed by Adaobi. Atra ran to them, arms wide, and hugged them tightly.

‘These awful Drunduh beasts consumed Sindiso, Samuel, and Peter seconds before the troops arrived. A hundred tore them apart after dragging the fathers from the room. I was speaking to Sindiso when the alien scum blasted open the door. We saw those dreadful things jump one after the other at the men. The men couldn’t move a muscle or defend themselves. I then tapped into the holovid outside. It was too awful to imagine. They ate them alive. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene.”

Brendan and Ashlyn ran to their mother, and David ran to his. The women were white-faced and unable to speak.

“We saw on the news there was another attack on Earth. The Drunduh destroyed a pair of Paradigm warships,” Siobhan whispered.

“David, it was the most horrific sight I have ever seen. I will be haunted by the image of your father’s face as they tore him apart, defenseless,” said Sarah. “I want to fight to kill these swine. I have never wanted so badly to kill anything or anyone. They must pay for what they did. Your father was the finest, most decent, and gentle person alive and was the last person who deserved such a terrible death. I know life is unfair, but it did not abuse us until the Paradigm came along.”

David held his mother. Ashlyn gently kissed her mother on the cheek and patted her hair.

Brendan released his mother and walked over to hold a distraught Imra.

Forty-two white-faced, gaunt, haunted-looking Councilors walked through the portal next, accompanied by heavily armored guards and marines from the ship dressed in leather-thin rust-colored armor. Adaobi joined her colleagues. Tame hugged Imra and her parents.

The ship’s marines led the guests to a canteen and pointed out the facilities. Brendan, David, Atra, and Imra went to teach the Councilors how to use the refreshers and cleansers. Several Councilors were filthy, so they stripped, washed, and changed clothes. David showed them how to use the dressers, giving them multi-colored outfits. They were all silent or spoke in monosyllables. Most remained white-faced as they trooped to the canteen.

When the others returned, Dorel, Messa, and Dridget spoke to the mothers.

“Eat and drink something. It will help you settle,” said David. “The Councilors are all in shock and look worse than you. Some were filthy after hiding in ducts and underground tunnels. Use the refreshers first. Dorel, could you guys show them how to use the facilities.”