But the Doctor had been right, of course. He was always right. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life there. I needed to go home and face my fears and see my family at last.
And so, eventually, the planet appeared on the view screen. Xanji-For. A green and blue world - not too dis-similar to Earth - getting closer and closer, surrounded my satellites and blinking space stations. I could see my country - Areeno - surrounded by the lush, green forests outside the city walls. Not many of my people lived outside the walls, and those that did were said to be violent and vicious and evil. Not my words; the words of the council.
I sighed as the ship got closer and closer. Eventually the communications console beeped and I reluctantly answered it.
‘Please identify yourself,’ came the officious male voice.
‘This is Aleena Vorella.’
There was a pause.
‘Where have you been? You’re on a Missing Persons list.’
‘I’ve been off world,’ I said, suddenly having a longing for the lighthouse again.
‘And why have you returned? You know the council don’t appreciate people leaving the planet.’
‘I know, I know,’ I said. ‘I’ve come home because I have no reason to be travelling anymore.’
There was another pause.
‘Stand by for clearance. The spaceport at City Nazar has a few bays available.’
A few moments later I was given the clearance and took my old, battered shuttle into the atmosphere. It shook violently and soon I could see Areeno getting closer and closer. I aimed for City Nazar and towards the gleaming, towers of the central city. Beyond the towers was the large spaceport, virtually unused save for supply ships and traders coming in. My people didn’t like to leave their planet and so they did most of their trading through interstellar communication.
The ship touched down and I made for the exit.
When I emerged from the shuttle there was a big, burley guy with a clipboard standing beside the engines, a serious look on his face.
‘Aleena Vorella?’ was all he said.
‘Yep, that’s me Chief,’ I said, noting the insignia on his boiler suit.
‘The council want to see you.’
‘Thought they might,’ I said, grabbing bag and slinging it over my shoulder. ‘Lead the way.’
The Chief took me through the doorway and into the main area of the spaceport. It must have been a Silent Day as there was nobody about. The hot sunlight shone through the large, domed glass roof that covered the spaceport. I gazed up at it, forgetting that I had hated the constant sunlight. Don’t get me wrong, I loved warm weather as much as the next person. But all the time….no, that was too much.
I was taken through some double doors that led to the outside. The steel skyscrapers towered over me as the Chief escorted me to a hover-car.
‘The driver will take you to the council building. Don’t try and escape.’
‘Am I under arrest then?’
‘No,’ said the Chief, ‘but the council want to see you before you are allowed to return to your living space.’
I knew what it was about. Abandoning the planet. My people aren’t entirely keen on people leaving the planet and forging their own path. They believe that inhabitants of the planet should stay and work for the good of the home world.
I didn’t believe in that. I wanted to get out there and explore. Except I didn’t really explore, did I? I ended up stuck on a lighthouse watching others explore.
I climbed into the black, sleek hover-car and was whisked through the city. As the skyscrapers whizzed by I gazed all around me. Had I really missed all of this? I doubted it. But looking at it now…well, it was just so beautiful.
Eventually the car brought me to the council building. It’s high-gleaming towers reflecting the blue sunlight off it’s great glass windows.
I stepped out of the car and listened to the faint trickling of the water fountains that lined the elegantly golden-plated road leading towards the door.
Inside the building I was taken along a wood-panelled corridor and towards a large, oak door at the end. I had been here once before as a little girl when my father had requested permission for my mother to travel to the Outer-Zones to look for my sister. She, like my sister, had never returned.
The doors automatically opened and I was led into a huge chamber. The walls were made of marble and various statues of all the former presidents of Areeno towered over me, their gazes almost following me as I made my way up to the council seats raised high up a flight of steps and towards the back wall.
Sitting in the centre was Areeno’s current president - Uthal Hark. His old, blue skin has faded and he moved a monocle to his right eye as I approached.
I made the customary bow to him and then stood, waiting, with my hands behind my back.
‘Aleena Vorella?’ said his old, cracked voice.
‘Yes, my President,’ I replied as respectfully as possible.
He tutted as he looked down at a collection of papers laid out before him. ‘You have been gone for a number of years.’
‘That is correct, my President.’
‘Living on a moon called Equinox.’
‘Again, that is correct, my President.’
‘Why?’
I frowned. ‘Why? Because I couldn’t live here any longer.’
Uthal looked at the middle-aged woman to his right and then back at me. ‘What would Ireel think?’
Ireel was the our God. Many wars had been fought on my planet over our God. The councillors all had proof that Ireel existed, but the Outer-Zoners didn’t believe. They believed in living life for the here and now - much like I did - and had deserted the cities to live in the Outer-Zones.
‘Forgive me, my President,’ I said hesitantly, ‘but if Ireel hadn’t wanted me to go, then why didn’t she stop me herself?’
There was a murmur of disapproval from the twelve councillors.
‘You were part of an interstellar battle,’ came a harsh, male voice from the end of the line of councillors. I looked at him. He was a tall, thin man with a receding hair line and narrow lips. His eyes were black and piggy-like.
‘And who are you?’ I asked, forgetting the President.
‘Forgive me, my President,’ said the man.
Uthal nodded for him to continue.
‘My name is Rix. I’m responsible for Outer World Communication.’ He straightened himself up, looking proud of his title. ‘You were part of an interstellar battle with the Human company named the Eyeglass.’
‘Involved is a strong word,’ I said.
‘You were indirectly responsible for one of their ships crashing on Equinox, destroying the technology within the lighthouse.’
‘The key word there was indirectly. Anyway, what do you care?’ I said, with a little laugh.
‘You will show more respect,’ said the woman beside Uthal.
‘Forgive me, my President, but I have a right to make my own choices.’
‘Not in this city you don’t,’ said Rix.
Uthal motioned for him to sit and smiled down at me. Despite his ignorant councillors, the President had always come across as being a kind man. ‘All residents of Areeno are entitled to their own choices, as long as those choices reside on our planet.’
‘And that’s why I left.’
‘Why?’ asked Rix.
‘Because I couldn’t stand it anymore. I couldn’t stand by and watch friends and family die and you do nothing to stop it.’
‘But they travel to the Afterlife.’
‘Rubbish!’ I said, a little more venomously than I had intended to. ‘You have no proof that the Afterlife exists.’
There were gasps from the chamber.
‘Only the councillor’s have spoken to Ireel, yes?’
Uthal, Rix and the others didn’t respond.
‘So,’ I continued, ‘why should we believe you?’
‘You’re starting to sound like an Outer-Zoner,’ said Rix, glancing quickly towards the President.
‘Maybe they have the right idea.’
‘If you don’t believe in Ireel-’
‘I never said that!’
‘If you don’t believe in Ireel or the Afterlife, then why did you maintain a link back to the planet. At the first sign of you dying you were able to jump straight back to us.’
‘I… I don’t want to die.’
‘You are conflicted,’ said Rix, with a smirk. ‘You don’t believe, but you want to.’
‘Then let me see Ireel,’ she said.
There were more gasps.
‘Let me see our God.’
Uthal looked down at her, his eyes flickering, trying to work me out. And then he shook his head. ‘No one but the councillor’s of each country see Ireel.’ He stood up, helped a little by his advisor, and looked down at me. ‘All you had to do was say sorry, but I’m afraid we can’t have anyone causing descent in our country.’ He picked up a large, brass globe and brought it crashing down on the podium in front of him.
‘My President…’I said. I knew that I had overstepped my mark.
‘Aleena Vorella, it is with the greatest regret that we must take extreme measures. You will be banished to the Outer-Zones were you will hopefully learn from your mistakes. Once you are ready to believe in Ireel, then you shall be allowed to return.’
He brought the globe crashing down again as I felt my insides deflate.
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