“I’m usually partial to the quick way down myself, but tya looked like you could have used some tips. Almost turned tyaself into a splat of goo down there.”
“Where did you come from?” Crix huffed, out of breath from the rush of what just occurred.
“Let’s just say I was finished bustin’ up those uninvited pests, and since they came apart a little quicker than expected, I thought I would meet up with tya guys early. That’s when I spotted tya flailing corpse and dove after tya. Now I’m gonna put tya down here.” He loosened his arm as to drop him.
“No, wait!” Crix panicked.
“Aw, settle down, boy. Take a look down.”
He turned around to see the ground was only about two meters below him. Krath let out a bellowing chuckle.
“Caught tya in a nick of time, huh?” He then dropped Crix, who stumbled forward and landed on his feet.
“Thanks for the assist. Did you happen to see Kerriah up there?”
“Who? That skinny little thing that was with tya?” He let out a phlegm-filled grumble. “Why is it always got to be up to Krath to take care of tya youngsters?”
“I’m right here.” She stepped out from behind a nearby tree.
“What the . . . How did you get down here without plummeting to your death?” Crix was somewhat bewildered given that he almost had to resort to using the orb’s power to save himself, yet she safely traversed the cliff so quickly.
She casually shrugged. “Let’s just say I have a few tricks within me as well.”
Krath chuckled at her reply. “Watch tya heads!” He gave his cable a twist and a hard snap, breaking it free from the hook above, and it dropped loosely to the ground.
“Well, okay then. I’m glad you’re here. You certainly had me a little worried, but it looks like you can take care of yourself.” Crix gave her an affirming smile.
Krath started walking away casually as if following a set plan. “It’s about time to get tya back to Troika.”
Crix looked at him, puzzled. “How did you know I was from Troika?”
Krath replied with irritation, “Well, where the heck else would you be from on this part of the world? Certainly not Drisal; tya could barely survive a day there without gettin’ tyaself killed.”
Crix sighed. “I suppose you have a point. Well, I suppose we should get going, though I’m not sure how the Andors are going to take to the likes of you.”
“No worries, I’ve dealt with their kind before,” Krath responded. “We’ll move at nightfall and stay within the treelines; the Marcks will still be combin’ the area for tya. For now, stay buried, out of plain sight.” He hunkered down like a rodent, dug two deep holes in the loose soil, and then snapped some branches from nearby trees.
“Get in.” He pointed to the holes. Crix and Kerriah slid down into the holes, which concealed them up to their chins when standing. Krath covered the openings with the leaves and branches. “It’s not perfect cover, but if tya stay low, it just may conceal tya thermal signatures from their drones, as long as they’re not right over top of tya. And don’t be moving around in there. I’ll come get tya in the evenin’.” He took off deep into the forest with a lung-ripping cough until it was indiscernible in the distance.
As the day wore on, toward evening, an occasional, low-pitched hum would slowly pace by above them. Dusk settled in and the winds died down; the rustling of leaves from the tall trees gave way to stillness. The small, white sun dipped completely below the horizon. The second larger, red sun waned, and it produced a deep crimson shade over the region.
Crix became restless and gently moved away some of the coverage to get a better view outside the hole. He noticed something small move near the treeline. Squinting, he focused on the object. It was a small, shadowy sphere, and it hovered slowly next to a tree about fifteen meters away from Crix’s position. It didn’t make a sound as it slowly moved through the forest. He had never seen anything like it before, and he remained motionless with caution with the assumption that it had to be some sort of agent for the Marcks. He could see Kerriah through his peripheral vision; she appeared to notice the sphere and remained as silent as a statue.
The sphere eventually passed and disappeared in the shadowy distance. Crix slowly crept from his hole and crawled, hunkering low, over to Kerriah. “What was that?” he whispered.
“A stalker drone,” she quietly replied. “They are the eyes of the Marcks. Deployed and operated by the dreaded CIC.”
“CIC?” Crix inquired. She gave a sarcastic smirk.
“Boy, the Andors are a little behind on current affairs. CIC is short for Capture Intelligence Command, and their reputation is frightful. I have lost some friends to them.”
“I am regretful for your losses; I truly am. Even though we share this world with Mendacs, Andors keep to ourselves, and due to the treaty, we are not subject to Soorak laws and enforcement. So . . .” Embarrassed by his lack of basic knowledge of these things, Crix felt he needed to explain himself.
“Treaty? That old thing was made during the Hiporal Era. I’ve got news for you; this is the age of the Marcks, and they don’t care about a treaty.” She was beginning to wonder about this Tolagon’s overly sheltered and primitive rearing. She looked concerned.
“Well, I never even seen a Marck before today, so I would say they are honoring the treaty, at least somewhat,” his whisper broke slightly into a normal voice.
She gave a frustrated sigh. “It’s only because they haven’t had a reason to go into your lands. If they discover that you have the orb, they will wipe Troika out to get it. You’re kidding yourself if you think otherwise.”
“What do they want with the orb? I mean, it’s not like a Marck can use its power anyway, right?” He pointed at his chest in reference.
“To keep its power from being used against them,” she paused for a few seconds, “and also to get it into the hands of their unsanctioned leader, Zearic.”
Crix’s curiosity perked up upon hearing that. “Zearic? But the Marcks are self-governing. They’re not supposed to be under anyone’s direct control.”
She stood up and dusted off her hands. “Well, it appears they are, and by the worst possible tyrant there is. Zearic is a ruthless power monger, and he wasn’t about to let an oppressive force such as the Marcks exist without getting his hands behind the controls! The people of this system have been tricked, and it’s time they wake up while there is still a chance at taking Zearic down. That ship I crashed in, it was the X88T, a prototype designed to system jump without the need of portals through its own internal Nurac gravity drive. I ‘liberated’ it from Zearic as it was being transferred from the Scientific Propulsion Labs for his inspection.”
Crix’s eyes widened. “That’s fantastic! I mean, for the UMO to have the technology to build a fleet that can travel independently to other systems without the need of those stationary portals. But . . . wait! You stole it from Zearic?”
She gazed at him, exasperated. “You’re still not grasping what is going on here. Zearic’s intention is to mass-produce the prototype so he can scour the galaxy for Eesolan, the Luminar homeworld, in search of the white orb. He was able to narrow their homeworld location by means of torturing members of the Luminar emissaries that voluntarily stayed behind as peaceful advisers. The few that he didn’t kill were driven into seclusion. Fortunately, the Luminars dismantled the gammac corridors that could lead them to Eesolan soon after the Thraxons used them to get here. Don’t you understand what would happen if the white orb fell into the hands of a maniacal tyrant such as Zearic?”
“My guess is that would not be good.” Crix shrugged his shoulders.
“According to the Luminar legend, whoever possesses the white orb could summon Cyos, the living nebula from which all orbs were spawned. I have no idea how they have determined this, but that’s the legend, and that’s enough to have everyone on edge. The white orb itself is allegedly too powerful for anyone to wield as the Tolagons have. It would kil
l anything that merged with it and has reportedly done so with the Luminars that have attempted it,” she explained.
He rubbed his chin lightly. “Yes, I have heard the stories of Cyos and its mythical world-decaying capabilities. Its lore has even made its way into the inner regions of Troika, scary for sure. I have always assumed it nothing more than stories used to frighten children. I would have never thought something like that would have really existed.”
He then grasped the seriousness and reality of the situation. “If it does exist, this Zearic could use it to instill fear and terror into any system he wanted to control.” Crix looked concerned. “So now what? Since they’ve recovered the crashed prototype, what’s your plan?”
She gazed up and into his eyes with a sudden sense of awareness. “I think you’re the key.”
His eyes widen. “Me?” Crix responded, shocked.
“Yes. There is a reason, whether fundamentally or spiritually, that you have bonded to the orb undetected all these years. I believe unseen forces are in play all around you. Forces for which you haven’t crossed paths with but are destined to, and they will lead you to your purpose.”
A hissing crept out from the woods. “Psst.” They both turned into the direction of the dark undergrowth and brush. “Pssst.” Krath waved them over. Together, they crept over to him, taking care not to step on anything that would make too much noise.
“The woods are crawlin’ with stalkers,” he whispered.
“We know, we encountered one as well,” Kerriah replied.
“Well, at least tya weren’t sighted because if tya were, we would be knee-deep in Marck scrap metal trottin’ around all over the place. It’s not safe to travel through here in the open. Lucky for tya, I know another way that’ll require a little swimmin’.” He led them down a hill, and then they followed a dry creek bed for a short distance.
The chirps and whistles of nighttime creatures fell silent as they hurried through the mesh of vines and low-hanging branches that led to an opening in the woods. The weeping trees leaned inward to a large pond that had a greyish green layer of soot, almost velvet in appearance, which covered the surface. Green and brown vines weaved in numerous directions across the pond. As they approached, the surface swirled in various directions as serpents fled from its edge and into the water.
Realizing what Krath had in mind, Crix stopped. He thought to himself, not again. “No . . . no . . . no! You have to be kidding me. I’m not going into that cesspool.”
Krath turned around with a hidden smirk regarding his squeamishness. “Lad, we have to. There’s no other way to get to Troika undetected. Besides, we need to get tya some good ole fashioned culture.”
Crix placed both hands atop his head in disbelief. “Ohh great, just what I needed to be cultured by, slime and parasites.” He noticed that Kerriah appeared to be unfazed by the idea as she stood there staring at the pond as though studying every possible scenario.
Krath cleared a chunk of phlegm from his throat before dipping his hand into the thick water. “Deep at the bottom of this pond is a small opening that leads to an underground river. That river leads to the inner reaches of Troika at Lake Medu. It’s a long way, and the two of tya cannot make it without assistance.”
“Okay, what’s your plan?” Kerriah asked.
“Well, the way I figure it, I can swim fast and hold my breath for a long time, long enough to make it to Troika through this underground system. I have done it before. Tya two can’t. But if I pull tya and tya have some oxygen, we should be able to make it.” He looked over at Crix. “Tya’ll have to use the orb to create an oxygen bubble around tya both. I’ve seen Corin do it before, so I know it can be done. The Marcks should lose your orb energy signature so deep underground. We can’t travel in the open with the stalkers and Marck patrols scourin’ the area for us. We’ll have better odds underground.”
Crix squatted down and swiped his hands down his face. A sick feeling suddenly drained his strength. “I don’t know. I just started using the orb’s powers a day ago and have never even tried to create an air bubble before. I don’t know . . . I just don’t know.” Crix could feel a deep pit form in his stomach, and his brain raced with anxiety.
Krath slowly approached Crix and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Lad, tya have it in tya. I seen tya father do unbelievable things, and I know tya can too.”
Crix turned toward Kerriah; she had an uneasy look as well. That struck him deeply. Although he had only known her for a short time, she was important. He knew he could not let her down. He understood that the Marcks capturing her, or worse, was not an option. The spirit and honor of his father were on the line now, and with a calming breath, he came to the affirmation that he could and would do this.
“Okay, I can do this. Just stand back a minute so I can test this out first.”
“Do what tya need to, but be quick about it. Once tya start using it, we’re going to be overrun with all sorts of recycled electronics buzzin’ around here givin’ me a headache.”
Krath and Kerriah both stepped back from Crix. He closed his eyes and tightened his fists. A bass hum and a bluish glare intensified from around his body. A crackling began drowning out the hum and a blue glare strobed. With a blinding flash and a loud snap, the spectacle ended.
Crix was down on one knee; his left hand was intensely clenching his chest as if in pain, and he was propping himself up with his right. Adrenaline rushed through his body. His arms quivered and twitched. Kerriah ran over to comfort him and placed her hand on his back. Just as she made contact, she jerked it back.
“Ouch!” she yelled and looked at him with astonishment. “Crix . . . are you all right? Your body just shocked me.”
Crix sat back still holding his chest and breathing heavily. “My heart started racing, and I couldn’t stop it. I’m okay now. I think I can do this. I think I know what to do now.” He got back on his feet and stretched out his arms to the sides. He took a deep, low breath to slow down his nerves. A blueish arc formed on each side of Crix. Then, encompassed in a flawless globe of blue light, Crix exhaled forcefully, and the globe expanded. He placed his arms down, and the globe dissipated instantly in the air.
Krath took an impatient glance over both shoulders. “Tya got it now? The Marcks are gonna be bearing down on us any minute.”
“Yes, let’s get going.” Crix motioned to Kerriah. She moved to his side and snuggled against his chest. “Hang on,” he whispered.
“Hang on there before tya get all lit up again.” Krath pulled a section of rope from his knapsack and looped it through Crix’s belt loops and around his waist. Then he tied the other end across his own shoulder.
“Okay, do tya thing,” Krath grumbled.
Crix again formed a perfect, blue globe, but this time, it was around both himself and Kerriah. Now connected to them, Krath dove into the pond, snapping the blue sphere in behind him. The globe was a success. It kept the water repressed while holding a life-supporting air pocket.
Kerriah clung tight against Crix’s chest as Krath pulled them through a crevasse at the bottom of the murky pond. He followed it, entered a tunnel, and then went into a large, black opening under the lake. It was a frightening sight as they passed into complete darkness. The temperature dropped as they continued to travel deeper into the strange, underground river.
Crix strained to keep the globe intact, and Kerriah held as still as possible. She did not want to distract him from his efforts. Crix felt her heart beating as she held him tight. Bizarre images strobed into his view, images of glowing-eyed creatures with long, red fangs. He managed to shake each one-off, but they continued to change, and each one was more horrific than the first. His focus had to remain steadfast, and he took captive every thought no matter what was happening around him. He understood that one tinge of fear or straying thought could affect the orb’s power and collapse the globe.
The blackness around them was ominous, and at one point, there was a deep, metallic echo, a
s though a large bell rang inside the mysterious depths. That sound, coupled with the sights unseen, sent a creeping chill down Crix’s spine.
After a while, they took shorter breaths. Their lungs felt heavy as the air started to run thin inside the globe. Then, without notice, they felt a strong force pulling upward toward the surface. Relieved but shaken, they found themselves floating in a cool stream of fast-running water. Bright green moss hung from decaying trees that lined the banks.
We made it.
Crix looked at Kerriah. She looked directly into his eyes, raised her eyebrows, and cocked her head to the side as if she never had any doubts concerning their plan. The water tossed the globe around and splashes of water smacked against its blue walls. Krath flung them upon a grassy bank, and Crix collapsed the globe, hoping it was quick enough to avoid Marck detection. They drew deep breaths, taking in the cool fresh air; its sweetness kissed their lungs with relief.
Kerriah curiously observed something different about Crix. She noticed a small bit of white hair on his head that she did not recall seeing before.
“Looks like you have got some white hair,” she pronounced as she remembered that all Tolagon’s hair eventually turned white as a side effect from using the orb. Crix brushed his hand above his ears as though trying to feel the new change in color.
“You know, if you keep using the orb, you’re going to go entirely white, don’t you?” Kerriah smiled.
Crix had never heard of this side effect. He had very little understanding or knowledge about this new power. Tolagons were somewhat of a taboo subject in Troika as there had never been an Andor Tolagon. Therefore, the Andor populace mostly considered the topic unworthy of mentioning during common discussions and teachings. He wondered . . . were there any other side effects that he did not know about or understand?
CHAPTER 6
W e should now be on the eastern edge of the Draylok Province of Troika,” Krath announced. He felt a small grumble in his stomach.
Age of the Marcks Page 6
