Page 30 of The Space Traveller's Lover

Shaillah pauses and looks at each man in the eye one by one.

Then she broadly smiles, trying to reassure them.

“We can help you recover the planet, restore the weather, rebuild everything, and restock food supplies. Our Supreme Commander Kuzhma-Or says that he appreciates the human race. You work together to achieve your goals. That is how intelligent beings can prosper—through widespread, increasing collaboration. That is why the Rom-Ghenshars have come back, hoping that we can work together for the full benefit of our beautiful galaxy.”

As she finishes speaking, she walks towards Sanders, Sam, and Khan, stopping a few steps from them while focusing on their blank startled faces, as if measuring their degree of fear.

They stare at her with trepidation, waiting for her next move.

Only the constant hum emanating from the luminous pyramid breaks the tense silence.

“Anything you say now, Kuzhma-Or will hear. You can speak to him through me. What do you have to say?” Shaillah says in an uplifting tone, encouraging the men to talk.

“Well, welcome, Mr Kuzhma-Or. Thank you for the offer to help. We look forward to meeting you soon,” Professor Khan replies in a resigned tone.

“Our Supreme Commander Kuzhma-Or says that he is grateful for your welcome. His guardians will soon come up on shore, and the humans should not feel threatened or frightened. Everyone must follow the robots’ instructions.

We will rebuild this planet. We mean no harm.

” She opens her arms and slightly bows her head.

“It will be the start of a new era for us all!”

“It’s rather difficult to trust strangers,” a cautious John Sanders objects, “especially when they have not come here in person, and he is not talking to us directly.”

“Our Supreme Commander Kuzhma-Or apologises again for not attending the meeting today, but he is sure that it will happen in a not-too-distant future,” Shaillah affirms.

“Why did you not come here in person either?” Sam says in suspicion. “Are you leading us into a trap?”

“If I wanted that, I’d have done it already, Sam. This visit is a brief introduction. Soon, you’ll be hearing and seeing more from us.”

She looks back at the cameras with a stern, focused gaze before continuing.

“And this is a special message for the ARA generals, General Stewart and General Ming. I know you are listening attentively from your command centre. When you walk out of here today, you can be sure to remove all the security, armed forces, and police units. No Rom-Ghenshar will attempt to harm a human. That’s not in our plans.

In exchange, we ask for your cooperation.

“Be sure of this. Any resistance will be futile. We, Rom-Ghenshars, can listen and control every one of your thoughts. We can watch any point on this planet at any time. We have invisible, impenetrable shields fully protecting us. You can never reach us. You will see us if we let you see us. We are now waiting at the bottom of the ocean—with a limitless army of robots standing by. We could paralyse you, instantly or, even worse, destroy you—if you try to attack us.”

“Did you get that, General?” Sanders mutters into his microphone.

“Stand firm, Sanders. Keep your bearing.” Sanders hears General Stewart’s through his earpiece, but the general’s tense voice makes him feel even more uneasy.

“A limitless army of robots. What do you mean?” Professor Khan asks while looking at Shaillah in disconcert as she turns to face him.

“Professor, look!” Sam interrupts and points towards the wall-high windows at the back of the room.

Sanders, Sam, and Khan rush towards the windows, leaning against the glass panes, their jaws dropping, as they can hardly digest the spectacle developing in front of them.

As far as they can see, thousands of identical android robots are rising from the sea, marching on the sandy beach and heading towards the city.

The androids’ sleek bodies glow in shiny, metallic skin, their shoulders adorned with silver and golden badges.

They walk in a tight formation, their flaming row of forward-facing eyes focused ahead, on their relentless advance.

“Who the heck are they?” a stunned Sam shouts, turning his head towards Shaillah.

“They’re Rom-Ghenshar guardian robots, and they mean no harm. They are starting the reconstructions,” Shaillah responds impassively, walking towards the startled men.

“Reconstruction?” Sanders frowns.

“Yes, we are reconstructing. Building the new cities of the new world … and there is nothing that you can do about it—nothing!” Shaillah warns.

Bewildered, they slowly turn their heads to look through the glass windows, following the swarms of robots taking over the beaches and every path leading to the main streets.

The ARA personnel run away in all directions trying to hide in any city buildings they can get into, sometimes stumbling against a robot, who ignores them as if they were not even there.

“Don’t shoot. Don’t shoot at the robots!” Sanders shouts on his microphone as he watches in dismay at some police units aiming their weapons and firing at the unstoppable invaders. But all the ammunition instantly stops against their shiny bodies and falls to the ground.

The robots’ relentless advance and the guards’ inability to stop them are all plain to see. Eventually, everyone realises that they have no other alternative but to retreat—to run and hide as quickly as possible while the invading army occupies each and every street.

“Professor Khan, we must return to the command centre,” Sanders suggests, peering at Shaillah through the corner of his eye. “There’s nothing we can do here.”

“That is … if they let us go,” Khan sneers, glaring back at Shaillah.

“Of course!” Shaillah says while pointing at the way out.

Sam runs towards her in an impulsive move, but he stops dead before reaching her. He has remembered she is nothing more than a hologram.

“Erin, what have you done? Can you stop this invasion?” he pleads with her.

“Sam, there’s nothing I can do. It’s all been decided a long time ago,” she impassively says.

“What will happen next?” Sam’s worried expression deepens as he stares questioningly at her.

“Everything will be all right. We are only reconstructing. Making this planet a better place. And by the way, you can take off your protective gear. It’s perfectly safe for you here.” Shaillah explains in a reassuring tone, raising her voice to make sure everyone can hear her.

“What will happen to your parents? They’re still in a coma,” Sam poignantly says, as if letting her know that he would not feel safe in her presence.

“I’m so sorry,” she replies, looking away and avoiding Sam’s reproving stare.

“You and your new friends have caused enough destruction, Erin—”

“It’s time to go,” she announces as she brusquely walks away from him.

She stops dead in front of the revolving galaxy and turns around, looking at them with her strongest warning glare yet. “Remember, don’t attack the robots. You must follow their orders!” Shaillah restates.

Immediately, she and all the floating images disappear in a puff of bright sparkles in front of their stunned faces. Only the glass pyramid remains, faintly glowing while hauntingly standing on the planning table .

Sanders, Sam, and Khan dash out of the room, running as quickly as they can through the nearest fire exit.

“We are all okay. Everybody, please stay inside. Don’t attack the robots.” Sanders keeps saying into his microphone.

As they run out of the building, they see some security guards still trying to stop the army of robots from making their way into the city.

But the robots push through the steel barriers as if the fences were made out of paper, throwing away the guards’ protective gear like hollow plastic junk.

The unrelenting robots walk through the blocking army tanks, overturning them like small toys and sweeping away the heavily armed men like rag dolls.

There is no doubt by now; the invasion of Rom-Ghenshar robots is unstoppable.