Cody II, Chapter 8 The world outside the shuttle was a blur of green and brown as Fang dipped low, skimming the tops of the trees with an expert's ease. Cody's stomach lurched with exhilaration, his fingers digging into the armrests of his acceleration couch. Tara's breath hitched beside him, her wide green eyes reflecting the wild landscape rushing by. "Here it comes," Fang announced, his voice steady despite the maneuver he was about to pull. The shuttle's engines whined, a high-pitched crescendo that made Cody’s untamable mop of hair seem to stand on end. He watched as the forest gave way to rocky crags, and with a sudden upward tilt, the shuttle soared over a towering mountain range. "Hang on, this is the tricky part," Fang called out. Cody felt his body press into the seat as they ascended, the sensation was like a rollercoaster designed by someone that didn’t take into consideration that gravity existed. As they crested the peak, Cody caught sight of metallic structures glinting in the sunlight. His heart skipped a beat when he realized they were too organized to be anything natural – a border defense position. "Whoa..." Cody breathed out, the word barely escaping before the shuttle tipped onto its side in a daring swerve. Through the window, Draconian guards, with their imposing stature and gleaming armor, scrambled to their posts. But their movements were sluggish compared to the shuttle's swift evasion, diving into a valley that seemed to swallow them whole. "Are those...?" Cody started, pointing as shapes broke away from the horizon, sleek and deadly. "Fighter jets," Tara confirmed, her voice a mix of awe and fear. Cody's ears tuned in to Whiskers' calm voice, which filled the cabin from the communication system. "This is the First Son's shuttle flying under diplomatic immunity. Any aggression will be a violation of international law." The words were formal, but there was a hint of steel beneath the surface that Cody recognized from his many lessons on Ara politics. He couldn't see Whiskers, nestled securely in the Ara-designed cradle, but he imagined the soft glow of his aura as he spoke – a deceptive contrast to the firmness of its tone. Cody held his breath, waiting for the response, his eyes tracking the fighter jets as they veered off, one by one. "Seems like they bought it," Tara whispered, relief evident in her voice. "I thought the Ara were non-violent," Cody murmured back, turning his attention forward again, where the shuttle continued its descent, leaving the threat of conflict far above them in the open sky. “Individual fights, squabbles, and disagreements occur,” replied Fang. “It is war that is forbidden. Those jets are only a deterrent from unauthorized incursion into this domain.” A shiver raced down Cody's spine as the shuttle nosedived, then leveled out with a grace that felt like every law of physics was being ignored. The forests below blurred into streaks of green and brown, a dizzying tapestry unfolding beneath them. He clutched the arms of his acceleration couch, knuckles whitening, while Tara braced herself beside him. "Whiskers," he called out, voice tremulous against the hum of the engines, "why are you using the radio? Don't Ara just... think to each other?" From the cradle, Whiskers' response crackled through the speakers, a static-laced counterpoint to the usual brush against Cody’s mind. "You live within the First Light's territory," he explained. "Our minds are open to each other there, and to a few of our allies. But this—this is the Ninth Light's domain. Their minds are not open to us." Cody furrowed his brow, a frown pulling at the corners of his mouth. "I don't understand," he replied, his words punctuated by the whir of machinery and the faint echoes of Fang's focused breathing from the pilot's seat. "Think of it like doors in a hallway," Whiskers offered. "Some are open to us, welcoming. Others are closed, locked tight." The analogy floated in Cody's mind alongside images of long corridors and many-colored doors, some cracked open with light spilling out, others shut fast with shadows lurking behind. He nodded slowly, the concept settling in his young brain like pieces of a puzzle clicking together. "Got it," he said, even as his gaze remained fixed on the vast expanse beyond the shuttle's window, wondering about all the closed doors and the secrets they kept. The shuttle shuddered as Fang executed another rollercoaster maneuver, banking hard to the right. The forests below painted streaks of color across Cody's vision. He gripped the armrest of his acceleration couch, knuckles white with the strain. "Like a flock of birds changing direction," he thought, the image of winged creatures in his mind calmer than the reality outside. The shuttle's belly grazed the treetops, leaves fluttering like green butterflies in its wake. Cody watched, his fingers gripping the side of his acceleration couch, knuckles as pale as the clouds they'd soared through moments ago. The world outside was moving too fast. “Why are we flying so crazy?” Cody asked. “To avoid being locked on by anti-aircraft guns,” Fang replied. “What!” exclaimed Cody, his eyes widening in alarm. “I told you before, Ara is not Utopia, we have many similar problems that human worlds have,” Fang explained. “The Ninth Domain is not a friendly country.” “Fang, does anyone know we came here?” asked Tara. “I might not have filed a flight plan,” Fang admitted. Tara turned to Cody. “Umm… Cody?” “Yeah, I’m on it,” Cody said. “Whiskers, contact the Fleet and have them put Search and Rescue on alert, and tell them our location.” Fang turned a head back towards Cody. “Cody, you have the authority to act in the commission of your duties, you do not need permission.” “I get it, Fang,” Cody replied. “You’re mad about the toys, so am I, and I’m not asking for permission to go talk with the Ninth Light, I’m just asking Search and Rescue to be told we’re out here. If we crash, you and Whiskers could just teleport to safety, but Tara and I would have to walk back through hostile territory.” Fang was silent for a moment before replying. “You are right, I did not think it through. Would you like to turn around?” “No, I’m with you, we need to go talk with the Ninth Light,” Cody replied. “And, if anyone asks, I ordered you to bring me here.” “I understand where the hiccup is,” Tara added. “Fang was the Third Protector of the First Light, but now he’s the First Protector of the First Son. He’s not used to calling the shots; it’s a brand new job for him.” “I apologize, I will request a new First Protector for Cody,” Fang said. “Oh stop it, Fang,” Tara chided. “You and Cody are perfect for each other, you’d both jump off a cliff together without any thought to how far down it is. Just… umm… let me know before you two do something stupid, that way I can tell you how stupid it is before you do it.” Fang’s light flashed several subdued bursts of emerald-green. Tara turned to Cody. “I didn’t catch that, I’m still learning the language of light, I can really only hear them when they brush against my mind and we talk mentally.” Cody grinned a crooked grin. “He said, 'yes, First Daughter,' which with the way he said it translates to ‘Yes, Princess.’ He meant it as…” “I understand what he meant,” Tara interrupted. “He meant it like two brothers that just got caught doing something dumb, and one points at the other and says, ‘it was his idea.’ But, I’m not the First Daughter.” “You will be,” Whiskers said softly. “It is only a matter of time.” “Aww, Whiskers, you’re so sweet. I know white is traditional for the dress, but I was actually thinking about a shimmering emerald-green.” “With a crown of red poppies,” added Whiskers. Cody rolled his eyes and turned back to the window. His mother had already talked to Tara about this, there would be no wedding until they both finished college. He shrugged, but if it made her happy to fantasize about something that wouldn’t happen for at least ten years, whatever, girls were weird. The shuttle dipped, and Cody's stomach lurched with it, his fingers tightening on the armrests. Through the window, a landscape of metallic trees and crystal lakes streaked by in a blur of colors he couldn't name. Fang was at the helm, his tendrils of light moving over controls with a finesse that belied the laws of physics. “Search and Rescue has been notified,” reported Whiskers. “The Third Light has ordered them deployed. They will take up a hide position at the border with an extraction team, just in case. He’s also notifying the Ninth Light that you are on a diplomatic mission, she will be waiting for you.” "They just stopped trying to lock onto us with their anti-aircraft guns. Steep turn ahead," Fang warned, his voice like gravel tumbling down a hill. Cody held his breath, feeling the shuttle bank sharply. Whiskers' voice cut through the hum of the engines. "We’re almost there." Cody's heart hammered against his ribs, matching the erratic pulse of the shuttle as it lurched through the sky. "Brace yourself," Fang's voice was sharp, carrying an edge Cody wasn't used to. "This is where things get dicey." "Got it," Cody replied, his fingers digging into the armrests of his acceleration couch. The shuttle banked hard, tilting on its axis. Through the window, Cody caught sight of another wall as they sliced through the open doors of a tunnel. "Whiskers, what's happening?" Cody's voice barely rose above a whisper, drowned out by the thrumming engines. "We're threading the needle," Whiskers voice calm despite the tension. “Their Capitol is underground.” Silence fell over the cabin for a brief moment, as if time had frozen. The shuttle hadn’t slowed, the tunnel was a blur in the passing, but were also too close to the wings for comfort. "Wow," Cody murmured, his gaze drifting back to the window as they shot out of the tunnel and into an underground city that left no doubt of the Ara’s advanced technology. Above the city of spiral buildings, a crystal ceiling covered the city, showing an image of the world above. "Brace for landing," Fang's voice cut through the cabin, firm and focused. Cody pressed back against his seat, the vibration of the shuttle beneath him a comforting rumble. He glanced out the window once more, watching the world tilt and turn as they spiraled downward toward a landing pad that sprawled open like a welcoming hand. Cody's stomach did a little flip-flop, excitement mingling with the traces of his earlier thoughts. The shuttle's thrusters hushed, replaced by the crunch of landing gear kissing the ground. Fang rose from his seat, a whisper of movement in the stillness of the cabin. "Cody, the Ninth Light is waiting," he murmured, his voice a mix of gravel and silk. Firm hands clasped his shoulders. "Show no fear, be quick and do not back down. Let's go." The hatch hissed open, spilling pale light onto the metal ramp. Cody descended, the claws of his feet clicking against the alloy. Fang, Whiskers, and Tara followed, a silent procession in the shadow of an uncertain welcome. A bright orange light beckoned them forward, pulsing with authority. "That's her," Fang said under his breath, his eyes narrowing at the orange glow. Cody squinted against the brilliance as he approached. The Ninth Light of Ara, a silhouette framed by power. Her aura flashed, a bright snap that sent ripples through the air, followed by more flashes of light. Cody felt the heat of her scorn but didn't flinch. He stood his ground, his wave of locks a wild halo around his head. "Oh, I recognize my place," he replied, his voice steady. The orange light flickered, as if agitated by his confidence. "I am the First Son of Ara, and some of those things you're calling me is not appropriate to be said to a child." The Ninth Light’s flashing tendrils ceased and became a solid, silent color of dull orange. "Didn't know I spoke your language, did you?" Cody asked aloud. His voice was steady, though inside, his thoughts swirled like leaves in a storm. He stared into the Ninth Light's luminous presence, his crimson eyes reflecting his defiance. Silence hung between them—a chasm filled with unspoken words and the crackle of tension. Cody held his ground, the wildness of his curly hair a contrast to the precise lines of Ara's light. Beside him, Fang's stance hardened, his protective instincts as fierce as his namesake. The light from the Ninth's aura suddenly stabbed at him, a barrage of colors too sharp to be anything but hostile. "You have no authority here, First Bastard, leave now," she spat with a flash of searing orange. "Unless you want to call on your uncles to fight your battles, then all of Ara will know how weak you are." Cody's mind scrambled over the word 'uncles.' His life had been a quiet one with his mother and father, Amelia and Sam Branson, and the ever-present whispers of the First Light's wisdom. But Uncles? He didn’t have any Uncles. He locked eyes with her, holding onto the thread of courage that wound through his chest. “You are selling the toys that were gifted by the human children of the galaxy to the children of Ara,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension. Each word fell like a hammer on metal, shaping the air between them into something solid, something real. “I am asking you to stop that immediately.” The Ninth’s light flared, a sunburst of indignation. Her response a blaze of scorn. "This is your only warning, leave now, and do not ever return here again." Cody felt the weight of her words, but his gaze was drawn to the scene around him. The Draconian soldiers—muscles tense, eyes narrowed—formed a menacing backdrop to the Ninth Light’s blazing presence. They stood like trees in a forest of steel and shadow, their armored bodies a silent threat. He had thought only the Tenth light had people in physical form, but here they were, and possibly too many for Fang and Whiskers to fight. Cody knew what those rigid shoulders and clenched fists meant; they were coiled springs waiting to be released. He didn’t need anyone to tell him that no words would breach the wall of hatred before him. With a quiet resolve, he turned his back on the Ninth Light and the promise of violence that hummed in the air. His feet moved one after the other, carrying him away from confrontation, away from the blinding glare of power being wielded without restraint. Fang followed him, his eyes narrow slits of disapproval. Cody could feel the heat of his stare like the sun on his neck, but he kept walking. He didn’t look back as he strode toward the shuttle, the hatch opening like the mouth of a giant metal beast ready to swallow him whole. He stepped inside, leaving behind the electric tension and the orange glow that painted the ground where the Ninth Light stood, unyielding and fierce. Cody carried with him not just the chill of her warning, but the warmth of certainty that this was not the end. It was just another turn in the path—a path he was still learning to navigate. The shuttle's hatch hissed shut, sealing the tension on the outside. Cody trudged down the narrow aisle, the scent of recycled air filling his lungs. The craft hummed beneath his feet, a lullaby compared to the cacophony of the threat that still echoed in his ears. "I told you not to back down," Fang growled from his perch in the cockpit, his words sharp like the edges of a knife. Cody slumped into his seat, the straps cold against his skin. "She wasn't bluffing," he murmured, buckling himself in with motions practiced and precise. He met Fang's reflection in the window in front of him. "She hates me and was waiting for an excuse to attack, any excuse." "Then what?" Fang snapped, his hands dancing over the controls like spiders on a web. "Take us out of her territory," Cody instructed, a steel thread weaving through his soft tone. "Set us down in a friendly forest somewhere." Fang punched a sequence into the console, and the shuttle jerked, ascending with the grace of a leaf caught in an updraft. Cody watched the ground slip away, becoming a blur as they fled the Ninth Light's domain. Cody's fingers drummed an anxious rhythm against the armrest of his seat, his gaze flicking between the dense canopy below and Tara's concerned face. Her eyes, those mutable pools of green, mirrored the forests they skimmed over, now dark with worry. "What are you going to do?" she asked, her voice threading the cabin's tense air like a needle pulling through fabric. "I’m still working on it, but this isn’t over," Cody replied, his tone carrying the weight of a resolution far beyond his years. "Whiskers," his eyes flicking toward the Ara who was nestled snugly in the cradle by the communications console. "Contact the fleet. I want them to meet us wherever Fang is going to land." His request hung suspended in the cabin for a heartbeat, demanding action. Whiskers light flickered in concern, but he activated the radio. "And contact my parents," Cody added, swallowing hard against the emotion that threatened to choke him. "I need them to bring our ship." Tara reached out, her hand brushing against his, a whisper of solidarity. They were in this together, whatever 'this' was shaping up to be. "Message sent," Whiskers confirmed. "Thank you." Cody released Tara's hand and turned to stare out the viewport again. The landscape below was a blur of green and brown as Fang piloted them expertly toward their impromptu landing site. It felt surreal, this juxtaposition of violence with the serene beauty of the domain they were fleeing. As the shuttle descended through the canopy of trees, Cody felt a sense of purpose solidify within him. He thought of the peaceful Ara and the conflict they abhorred, of his human heritage that refused to shy away from a fight when necessary. He was a child of two worlds, and maybe, just maybe, that was exactly what was needed to bridge the gap between them. "Prepare for landing," Fang announced, his voice cutting through Cody's contemplation. "Ready as we'll ever be," Cody murmured, glancing once more at Tara before bracing himself for the jolt of touchdown. Below them, a clearing opened up, swallowing the shuttle into its embrace. As the door of the shuttle hissed open, Cody stood with a grin on his face, he knew what he was going to do.” Tara tipped her head to the side as Cody stepped off the shuttle, humming a festive little tune that was so out of place here it took her a moment to recognize the song. Cody was humming an ancient Christmas Carol. Tara shrugged, Cody always was a little strange, and maybe it was just his coping mechanism for such an intense situation.