Seven Planets. Massimo Longo E Maria Grazia Gullo

out from the ears and take the form of half a bell. They did not have any cheekbones and their snake-like noses were barely visible. Being aggressive, yet not particularly brilliant, they were the only ethnic group that could compete with the Anics for power by number and strength. They would wear a long, silk waistcoat that would cover their knees and that was buttoned up on the chest with a couple of buttons. In order to have their support, Ruegra had appointed one of them as Governor of Bonobo.

      The General was greeted with grandeur in the glass hall in the government building, from which a wonderful tropical landscape could be admired. It was a marvellous night and the sky was ignited by the reflection of the rings.

      Ruegra was looking through the glass that was reflecting his own image.

      The complexion of his strong body, which was covered in slough, would change based on the colour of the surroundings. His figure could barely be noticed among the trees of the outdoor. A stiff crown made out of keratin slough and 30-Kidus tall (or 11 inches) was adorning his figure, starting from the head. The crown would open up in case of danger and would become an armour that the Anics used to employ at the beginning of the civilization to intimidate the enemy. Once opened on the arm, it was going to be using a shield.

      By his oval face, the slough would shrink and become somehow uniform in colour. Below his high forehead, the eyebrows and the blue keratin eyelashes would make his big, green eyes and his high, softly coloured cheekbones stand out. His big and slightly deformed nose, like one of a boxer, clashed with his other features. His mouth was well proportioned: his green lips were big and plump.

      The Anics were the biggest in terms of height among all the people in the solar system and for that reason they had always been on top of the predatory pyramid.

      Just like all the Anics, Ruegra would usually wear a skirt with two side slits that would show the slough around his body. On his shoulders he would wear a cape, meant to indicate his caste and role. His was gold, which indicated a position of command and was decorated with smoky-grey profiles and an embroidery of the same colour that portrayed an Atrex bird of prey.

      "I salute the most invincible amongst the Carimeanis. You are always welcome in our land, my General. How did the journey go?" Mastigo greeted him with a slight bow.

      "It went well. The mission is evolving in the right way." lied Ruegra. "I only need to rest. The rings always make the spaceship dance a little." he said in order to get rid of his speaker.

      Mastigo served him a local fruit cup so that he could refresh up after the long, interplanetary journey. It was better for the General to sit down as he had to report an unusual occurrence.

      "I have a weird occurrence that needs to be submitted to you." Mastigo began telling. "Two Bonobian days ago a commercial spaceship was intercepted as it was entering our territory without permission. The guards were not able to stop it in time. Hence, it dived into the Sea of Silence before we could assess its actual dangers.

      We have done some research and we found out that the owner has allegedly sold to an Eumenide woman. I have sent out some soldiers on patrol to examine the alleged landing area. But as you know, it is impossible to receive any sort of communications from the Sea of Silence. Therefore, all we have to do is wait."

      Ruegra was annoyed by the Governor's persistence on such an irrelevant fact and asked:

      "What is so strange about that? I do not understand..."

      "Look where it was heading..." said Mastigo pointing at the map of Sea of Silence.

      "That is where the Bonobian old sacred fortress is located..." whispered Ruegra.

      "That is why I took the liberty to report such a trivial occurrence. I have sent a team to examine the area. It could just be a coincidence, but better safe than sorry. That place is full of mysteries. It would make the ideal headquarters to start an uprising, considering the lack of communications and radar signals. It's like a black hole.

      "You could be right. Keep me updated, Mastigo. Now it's better if I take some rest. Tomorrow we leave at dawn."

      That night Ruegra had other things to think about. After he had retreated to his chamber, he sat down on the soft sofa and poured himself a drink of Sidibé, a spirit obtained by local cacti. He was staring into space whilst his thoughts were chasing one another like clouds before a storm.

      The journey he had just finished had been a total disaster, contrary to what he had just stated to his trusted ally.

      He had been to the Moon of Enas, more precisely to the mining colony of Stoneblack, an outpost famous for its marble. The general was meant to meet a man that his very own father respected very much: an old enemy of Carimea.

      The colony was governed by the Trik tribe. They were people of Carimea, like the Anics, but they had secondary influences on the command of the planet.

      They were servile, yet untrustworthy. They had always proved themselves to be traitor as soon as the wind changed direction. Even his own friends might have been able to plot against him on that Moon. Hence, he had to make that inspection look like a surprise visit with the intention of bringing back some Lunar Amber to his brother upon his return.

      Ruegra walked right in front of the officials. He brought his elbow next to his shoulder and with his hand parallel to the floor and next to his mouth, he greeted them. That gesture indicated silence in front of his command as well as complete obedience. They were still and holding their breath in his presence.

      The mining colony employed as criminals charged with forced labour and war prisoners as cheap labour. The guards would keep an eye on one slave in particular...It was Ruegra's man. Not only was he the highest-ranking slave, but he also had gained the respect of his fellow slaves and had managed to represent them.

      The General, flanked by the Captain and followed by some soldiers, was put in the command relax room, which was reserved to the official.

      The Captain did the honours and asked if he could offer him something.

      Ruegra did not waste any time. He declined the offer and ordered:

      "I want to verify the conditions of the political prisoners that were taken in during the war against the Sixth Planet. Let me talk with the highest in rank."

      "General Wof?"

      "Yes, precisely. Bring him to me."

      "Yes, sir."

      The commander nodded at the guards and a few minutes later they came back to the room accompanied by a middle-aged man. He looked tired and physically exhausted, but he still had the proud and fearless look of a warrior.

      "Leave us alone." ordered Ruegra.

      He was alone with his enemy with the sharpest mind. He remembered that during the battles he had managed to change the odds that had predicted his death thanks to his strategic thinking and despite having only a few Sixthians under his command.

      He hesitated a couple of seconds before talking. He had already thought about several strategies during his journey. He knew that it was very unlikely that he was going to catch his enemy off guard. It was time to pick one and begin the confrontation.

      He decided to go with the adulation, hoping that his old age and his tiredness had made him more vane.

      "I salute you, Wof. I can state that you do not look bad despite you were not granted an ideal treatment. However, I have ordered that books and knowledge are given to you."

      "Long time no seeing." said Wof, staring at the General with his deep, black eyes. "What brought you to this place forgotten by the light, where darkness is sovereign?"

      "I came here to talk to you about my father. I remember that as a kid he would fantasize about a parchment you knew all the secrets about. Now that I am getting old I sometimes think about him and I wonder whether there is some truth in that story."

      Wof tried to conceal his surprise by caressing the white locks that were contouring his ebony coloured face.

      "Your father was