Arelis Complex

Close to his location, a hangar and base had been built to store and maintain the ships the defenders flew. A communication center was also built to keep constant contact with the satellite defense network. Finally, a new wing had been added to the university and dedicated to the defenders, and specifically, to Drakh Norh.

The university was on Drakh`s mind right now. He remembered that day as if it was yesterday. At the ceremony to dedicate the new wing, an old professor had given him a warning. Little known to Drakh at that time, the professor had been on many deep space missions, and was the leading researcher on alien life.

At the time, the information he presented to Drakh was inconsistent with all previous knowledge and theories. So, Drakh had rebuffed the professor`s theories. I was arrogant back then, much like Tyrr.

Taking one more look at his uniform, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes. He wished he had listened more closely to that professor. Because it seemed that he`d been right. There was life in that system: life that had progressed faster than expected, and beyond accepted scientific theory.

Facing the unknown, Drakh did the only prudent thing; he made contact with someone he hoped could help him find Olsande Kurr.

***

The young graduate made his way down the street as casually as he could manage. He tried to resist the nervous impulses that told his legs to run. He could feel the people staring at him as he turned and walked up the path to Drakh`s manor. They were either thinking he was an important man, or the village idiot.

Standing at the door, he quickly checked and made sure that his shirt was tucked in and his hair was combed back out of his face. He remembered his etiquette lesson and knew it was not polite to meet such a figure and allow his eyes to be hidden in any way, especially because Drakh Norh was from the older generation, and they believed the eyes are key to reading a person.

The door opened quickly and what he imagined was a servant led him to a sitting room. Looking around, the student was surprised. He had been expecting something much more formal and militaristic. He expected to see displays of medals and uniforms in glass cases. Instead, the room looked--comfortable.

The colors on the walls were light and cheery. The furniture, though obviously hand made, was not elaborate but functional. At the opposite end of the room was a large bay window with many small plants in it. Beyond the window, he could see a magnificent garden in the back yard.

Drakh entered the room through a sliding door that led to his bedroom. Closing the door behind him, he turned to welcome his guest.

"Marik, I presume?"

"Yes," Marik responded bowing slightly and moving his right arm from left to right as was customary when meeting someone of higher standing.

"No last name?"

"No. I am from the new generation."

"Ah, you people from the new generations. No pride in names. But we will not get into that debate. I have asked you here because I need information. May I offer you something to drink?"

"No, I am fine at the moment," Marik responded confused. He couldn`t possibly imagine that someone as old as Drakh, who had traveled throughout the known universe, could possibly need information from a university student.

Drakh nodded at his servant and the man walked out of the room closing the doors behind him. Drakh led Marik to a chair by the window. He briefly glanced out the window before sitting down and noticed that the grounds stretched for miles. Drakh took a seat opposite him and sat back in the chair.