Kholvaria (The Color of Water and Sky Book 2)

by Andrew Gates

  Someone was splashing to her left. Iris turned to face the source and found Ophelia passing by her, walking a bit more quickly through the water. She was glad to see that Ophelia was safe too.

  Then she remembered the unborn baby growing inside her.

  Iris looked around, checking on their progress. The group had about a quarter of the bridge left to cross. She was nearly there.

  Come on, she told herself. People are counting on you to cross. Misha, Ophelia, the baby. It’s not just about you anymore.

  In an instant, Iris felt a rush of energy coursing through her body. Reinvigorated, she pressed forward with a newfound motivation. Her legs no longer felt sore. Her breath was steady. She no longer felt the cramps.

  I can do this. I can do this.

  She passed Ophelia. She passed Jallah. She passed Tobias and Sixtine. Before she knew it, she was up front with Ryan, leading the pack.

  The shore looked so close now. Iris felt like she could almost reach out and touch the trees and bushes on the land before her.

  Only a few more meters now. Almost there.

  The waterline lowered around her body. Her breasts were no longer submerged. It was not long before the river came up just below her belly button, then her hips, then her knees. Each step became easier and easier.

  When her boots finally touched dry land, the tired woman toppled forward. Misha shouted in panic as she fell flat onto the soft ground. Iris tried to stand but she could not find the ability to do so. Misha got right up and started crying.

  It was not long before Ryan joined her. He put his arms around Iris and helped her up. She struggled to stand, but she eventually managed. Her legs felt like jelly.

  Dan soon arrived on the shore. He let Kaitlyn down from his shoulders to join her crying sister and comforted Iris. Ryan stepped aside to let Dan in.

  “It’s okay, Iris. You did it. You made it!” he said.

  Iris could not speak. She simply nodded to her boyfriend.

  “Everyone… everyone…” she tried to speak.

  “What is it?” Dan asked.

  “Everyone made it across?”

  Dan turned around to see. Then he turned back to Iris.

  “Grey and Selena are almost here. They’re the last ones. It looks like we all made it safely,” he answered.

  We all made it safely.

  Iris felt her belly and thought about the baby inside. That was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep.

  The world around her was dark and silent. Not a single light shone, not even the stars. It was as if she were nowhere at all.

  Iris held her hands out before her. She felt a cold surface brush against her fingertips. It reminded her of the cave walls from their first few days, only smoother. She followed along the cold surface in what seemed to be a downward spiral. She did not know where she was going, but she felt like she needed to continue. After what felt like minutes, she could see a faint glimmer of light in the distance.

  Iris could not help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu. It was as if she had been here before.

  The closer she got to the light, the more a familiar image took shape. What started as a bright dot now grew to form the outline of what appeared to be a doorway.

  The dream, Iris remembered now. This is like my dream from earlier. I must be dreaming now.

  Sure enough, when she reached the doorway, it opened on its own. The Atlantic Station stood on the other side, just like last time.

  Iris stepped into the empty halls, unafraid.

  “Hello?” she asked as she explored the station. “Is anyone here?”

  Like last time, no one was in sight.

  Each turn led to another empty hall and then another. Iris was about to give up, but then she heard some commotion. It was faint, but clear, as if her hearing were back to normal. She eagerly followed the noise until it brought her to a familiar place.

  The escape pod bay.

  The last time she was here, Iris was practically loopy. But now she saw it all in full clarity.

  Citizens scrambled to the pods like a swarm. They banged on the doors and bashed at the keypads, trying to do whatever they could to get inside.

  Suddenly a pod door opened to Iris’s left. She turned to look at it, but Iris could not clearly see what was happening. There were too many people in the way. As far as she could tell, it seemed like a fight had broken out. There were shouts and cries and fists flying left and right. Eventually a gunshot echoed through the halls and the crowd broke away. People vanished in an instant.

  A battered and bloody Trace stood at the keypad. Ryan, Tobias, Sixtine and the others were all there with him, including the now deceased Andrew Zhang. A large pile of guns and equipment lay on the floor next to them. Some of it was just strewn aside, while other equipment sat in crates or boxes.

  “Come on! Let’s fill this one up!” Ryan commanded. He lifted some of the equipment and tossed it inside. A few regular citizens took notice and started running their way again.

  Trace turned to face the oncoming swarm of civilians. He raised his fists, as if getting ready for a fight. But no fight was necessary. Garren pointed a rifle at the crowd and they stopped in their place.

  Is this really how it went down? Iris wondered. This was just a dream after all. Her mind was simply visualizing the story she was told. It seems real enough though, she thought.

  The Navy members quickly filled the escape pod with their equipment and Zhang climbed inside. Trace pressed some more buttons on the keypad and she could hear the pod separate from the station.

  “Good, now let’s get to that last pod!” Felix said with a sense of urgency.

  The group of Navy personnel ran off, away from Iris. The regular civilians ran off too. In fact, the entire escape pod bay cleared out in a matter of seconds. Soon all that remained were Iris and Trace.

  Now this is definitely not how it happened.

  Trace was badly hurt. He leaned against the wall. A pool of blood painted the floor red beneath him.

  “Hello Iris,” he said to her. She could hear his words perfectly.

  Iris walked up to him and held him on the shoulder.

  “Trace,” she replied.

  “It’s good to see you. It’s been so long.”

  Iris nodded her head in agreement. Although none of this was real, she felt strangely happy to see him.

  “I know this is a dream,” she explained to her imaginary version of Trace. “I know you are dead.”

  “Almost dead. I can never truly die so long as you remember me,” he explained.

  If only the real Trace were this profound.

  “But in my last dream, you told me that time was the key to everything and you were right. The station had been underwater for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of years. The planet evolved. How could you have known that if you are just a dream?”

  Trace grinned, as if pleased to know he was right.

  “Did I tell you that time was the key to everything?” he asked.

  “Yes, you did!”

  “Or… did you tell yourself that? You said it already: this is just a dream. So everything I tell you, you already know. I am simply a manifestation of your suppressed thoughts.”

  “So I already knew about the jump in time? You’re saying you just helped me realize it?”

  Trace shrugged.

  “I know what you know.”

  Why does he have to be so cryptic?

  Iris sighed.

  “What have you come to tell me now?”

  “I have not come to tell you anything, just to help you realize what you already know to be true.”

  “And what is that?”

  Trace adjusted himself and stood up straight as if he were not injured at all.

  “I am here to help you realize that this will all end in failure, just like everything else.”

  Those words did not sound good.

  “What do you mean?” Iris asked, hoping for a bit of clarificat
ion.

  “Throughout your life, you’ve always gotten so close to achieving what you want, but you’ve never been able to reach your goal. When we were growing up, you just wanted us to be friends, but your parents pulled us away. When you finished high school, you wanted to continue your studies, but you stayed home. When you finally got out, you wanted to be a teacher, but thanks to the mantises, you didn’t even last a semester. When you finally fell in love, the man you fell in love with became someone new.”

  “That’s not true,” Iris said, interjecting. “Dan is still the same man I love.”

  “Is he? Or are you just telling yourself that?”

  Iris paused to think about that for a moment. Was he really that different?

  “And now,” Trace continued, “you want nothing more than to be a mother. This too shall end in failure.”

  “How?” Iris asked. “I can already feel the baby growing inside me.” She instinctively felt her belly again.

  “You know how dangerous this world is. You know that mere luck is what has allowed you to survive for as long as you have,” Trace explained.

  “So you’re saying I’ll die?” Iris wondered.

  “No, I’m not saying anything. I’m dead. You’re saying you’ll die.”

  Iris felt her heartbeat pick up. Somehow those words did not sit well with her.

  “You know it to be true,” Trace continued.

  “No,” Iris replied, shaking her head. “I don’t.”

  “I’m grateful for all you have done for Ophelia,” Trace said. “You’ve been an excellent caretaker. She looks up to you. I couldn’t have asked for a better woman to take on this role. But you must know that this relationship with Ophelia is the closest you will ever get to motherhood.”

  “No!” Iris shouted. “No! It’s not true! No!”

  “Iris!” Trace shouted back to her. He took a step forward until his face was only a few centimeters away. “Iris!” he shouted again.

  Iris held her hands over her ears. No, she thought, no, no, no!

  “Iris!”

  Suddenly she awoke to Dan leaning over her.

  Iris pushed herself up. She was sweating all over.

  She sat on a bed of leaves. A canopy of green covered her from above. The rain seemed to have stopped, though it was still cloudy and cold.

  The woman shivered.

  “You were shaking,” Dan explained to her as she caught her breath.

  Iris nodded, not looking at anything in particular.

  “I know. I had a bad dream,” she explained. “I saw Trace again. He said I was going to die before I became a mother.”

  Dan sat down next to her and opened his arms. They embraced while remaining seated.

  “Don’t worry about what Trace said,” Dan replied. “He’s dead. He’s just in your imagination.”

  “But last time I dreamt of him, what he said proved to be true.”

  “It doesn’t mean it will be true again. The first time was a coincidence, nothing more.”

  Iris nodded her head.

  She hoped he was right, though she was not so sure.

  Everything I tell you, you already know. I am simply a manifestation of your suppressed thoughts.

  She trembled. Did she really believe she was going to die?

  “Hey,” Dan said, pulling her attention away from her worries. “I love you and I know you will be a great mother.”

  Hearing him say this made things a bit easier, but she continued to shake.

  “Thank you,” was all she said back.

  “It’s the middle of the day,” Dan continued, changing the subject now, “you slept for a long time.”

  Iris looked around. She did not recognize this place. The last thing she remembered, she had just crossed the river and fallen onto the shore.

  “The river?”

  “Behind us. I carried you here. We walked southwest, but not too far, probably only a kilometer or so. Everyone was tired after the crossing. Ryan and I thought it would be best to stop early and rest.”

  Iris nodded. The crossing had taken a lot out of her. She was surprised Dan was able to carry her as far as he had afterwards.

  “Any sign of trouble?” she asked.

  Dan shook his head.

  “None,” he answered. “No zombies.”

  “Mantises?”

  Dan continued shaking his head.

  “No mantises either.”

  Good.

  “Don’t worry,” Dan continued. “Whatever the mantises are up to, it doesn’t involve us right now.”

  Iris turned to face the southern sky. She could not see the mantis ship through the clouds, but she knew it was there. It was always there.

  “I wonder what they are up to,” she said. “I wonder what they do in that ship.”

  Dan shrugged.

  “We may never know,” he replied. He paused for a moment. “But I’d love to find out.”

  OF ALL THE SHIPS IN the Chiefdom, none were as impressive as Vigilant Behemoth. Its halls were wide and bustling, full of life. While other Kholvari ships functioned with a single purpose, Vigilant Behemoth was more like a city than a warship. The majority of its passengers were non-military and most had spent their whole lives in this ship without ever touching the surface.

  Three nymphs scampered ahead of Ikharus, playing with a holodisk. Not watching where they were going, they nearly bumped into him without realizing it. Their mother caught up behind them, carrying several large boxes in her claws.

  “I apologize,” she said as she darted after the young ones.

  “No apologies are needed,” the soldier replied. “Your children are a heavier burden than I am willing to bear. You have my respect.”

  The female nodded to him and continued along after her nymphs. The sight actually brought a smile to Ikharus’s face. Spending most of his time in warships, he was rarely exposed to this kind of world.

  It was not long until the soldier reached the end of the wide hall. He stood at attention before an impressive door. Two honor guards garbed in ornate red armor kept their eyes on him, each holding decorative spears, which they lowered to form an X shape before the door.

  The soldier stood in silence, waiting for the guards to speak. They paused for several moments, but eventually the one on the left took a step forward.

  “What business do you have before the Supreme Chieftess?” he asked.

  “I have been summoned by her Majesty, Supreme Chieftess Kal Khtallia,” he explained. “My name is Squad Leader Kho Ikharus of Kreed Marauder. Her Majesty is expecting me.”

  “Can you prove your identity?” the honor guard asked.

  Ikharus raised his left arm and tapped some icons on the holodisk built into his suit. The light lit up and displayed all the proper credentials. The guard stepped back and they both raised their spears to let him pass.

  The thick black door rose up slowly, but he did not proceed through until it was completely open. The hall on the other side was a lighter color than he was used to. Rather than the dark black that covered most of Vigilant Behemoth’s public zones, this hall was a shiny white. It was beautiful.

  More honor guards with spears lined the hallway. They stood motionless like statues as Ikharus walked past them. When he finally reached the end, a single guard, this time garbed in a prominent headpiece, stood before the door.

  “Greetings, Squad Leader Kho Ikharus. The Supreme Chieftess has been expecting you,” this guard explained. “My name is Kho Kozakh. I am the personal bodyguard to her Majesty. I shall be keeping a watchful eye upon you.”

  “I acknowledge your duty, but assure you such surveillance is unneeded. I pose no threat to the Supreme Chieftess.”

  “And I do not doubt it. But my duty is to protect her and that is what I shall do,” he explained.

  “Understood,” Ikharus replied.

  With those words, Kozakh turned and faced the doorway. It opened slowly like the other. They both stepped inside.

&nbs
p; Ikharus spotted the Supreme Chieftess right away. She sat upon an ornate throne of gold before a massive triangular window overlooking the planet. It was just like the pictures. More honor guards surrounded them in a circle around the gleaming white room.

  The soldier bowed as Khtallia stood from her imposing chair. He stared down at the floor. He dared not look her in the eye until he was addressed.

  “You may rise, Kho Ikharus,” the Supreme Chieftess said. Her voice was exactly like it sounded in the recordings. It was surreal hearing her words in person.

  Ikharus looked up and took a few steps forward. He now got a good view of his host. She was shorter than he envisioned, though her face showed signs of strength. The Supreme Chieftess wore a long crimson cape that covered the floor and part of her ornate throne. She held the royal scepter in her claw. That too, was smaller than he had expected, as was the crown atop her head.

  “Your Majesty,” he began. His voice echoed through the throne room. “You have summoned me.”

  “Indeed, I have,” she replied. She walked close to him. The guards around the room nervously clenched their spears as she neared, though Ikharus knew there was no reason for them to worry. “I was eager to meet you in person. The tales of your success are renowned.”

  That was quite a compliment. Ikharus tried to hide his frustration with flattery.

  “Thank you, your Majesty. I simply do as you command.”

  “Please, spare me the praises. Your most recent success on the moon intrigues me the most. I understand this was your first assignment as part of your new Kreed,” Khtallia said. She was very close to him now. She stopped walking and stood but a breath from his face.

  “That is correct. I was assigned to Kreed Marauder by Special Operations Commander Kal Ezenkharam. She seemed to think I was the right one for the job,” he explained.

  “And she seems to be right. Your first mission leading a squad was not an easy one. You should be proud.”

  Ikharus remained still and silent. He was never good at accepting praise, so he simply stood this way for quite a while. When nothing happened, he soon realized that Khtallia was waiting for a response.