Glancing around, he examined his dining room. It was a roughly circular about eight feet in diameter. Other than being relatively clear it was like the jungle he’d been moving through for a day and a half. The leafy canopy provided shade and kept the jungle floor relatively cool. A greenish-yellow tint was given to the jungle by the noon day sun. It was quite pleasant, thought Rian.
Cries continued to come from all around. Occasionally there would be a crescendo in the calls or everything would fall silent after a loud crash. He assumed the crash was a dead tree being knocked down by one of the larger creatures that roamed the island while grazing.
As Rian ate he piled the cores of the eaten fruit and wrappers from the rations on the ground nearby. Finishing his meal, he looked around and found a rock almost hidden among some ferns. It was large enough to discourage curiosity and small enough to move so he could cover the evidence of his meal. A quick examination showed the ground near one end of the rock had been disturbed. He assumed that was the work of some of the local insects.
Rian carried his garbage over and set it next to the rock. Then, moving off to one side, he bent over, got a good hold of the rock with his true-hands and upper false hands. He braced his other four limbs and heaved. After a minute of straining one end of the rock came out of the moist ground. He looked down into the hole created by the rock’s absence and froze. There in the bottom were the remnants of a meal; wrappers and cores just like his. And from the state of the cores they’d been placed under the rock earlier that day. Insects hadn’t had a chance to discover and begin devouring the cores.
Keeping the rock balanced on one end the pilot swept his trash in with the other refuse then let the rock fall back into place. He spent a few minutes making sure the dirt and plants around the stone looked as natural as he could make it.
With that complete Rian examined the ground and bushes that surrounded his lunch room. He was looking for any sign of who - or what had left the wrappers. Ten minutes later he came across markings in some moist ground at one end of the area. Rian crouched down for a closer look. His antennae swept over the ground, probing for clues. As far as he could tell the marks had been made since yesterday’s evening rains but he couldn’t tell what had made the marks. It could be a Kthpok or an Iidx or a large creature native to the island.
Rian shook his head. It couldn’t be an Iidx. Everyone was supposed to’ve left before the Kthpok arrived.
Keeping his antennae bent for trouble, Rian left the marks. He quickly slipped on his pack then pulled out his pulser and checked its charge. Satisfied it was ready for use; he holstered the weapon then moved back to where the marks were. It didn’t take very long for him to discover that whatever, whoever, had made the marks had the same destination: the mountain.
The pilot grinned in anticipation. He hoped and expected it to be a Kthpok. Then he could kill more of them before they killed him only this time he’d get to do it up close and personal.
Rian stooped again to consider the marks he’d been following. It didn’t look like something he expected a Kthpok to make. But then, he’d never met a Kthpok to know what marks it made. Giving a slight shake of his head he set off once more.
The pace Rian set tracking the unknown party was slower than earlier that day although it was still rapid. To find the maker of the tracks he had to do so before the daily rains began which would erase any sign for him to follow.
The Lieutenant moved as his primitive ancestors with head near the ground searching for signs, antennae questing. He used his four true-legs and two false-hands to run while his true-hands moved bushes or limbs out of the way. His head moved from side-to-side and up-to-down looking for any sign of his prey’s passage. Rian found a broken branch here, an impression made in mud starting to fill with water there, and bent grass.
From time to time he’d pause to consult his compass. Each time he did he’d confirm he was still heading directly for the mountain. That was enough to convince him he wasn’t following an animal. Animals rarely moved in straight lines; they wandered. But he still couldn’t confirm he was tracking Kthpok.
After crossing into a range of small rolling hills and flowing streams that was at the foot of the large mountain water began to drip from the leafy canopy overhead. Rian looked up and cursed, “This can’t happen now.”
He ran faster. It wouldn’t be long before the rains began in earnest. At least his quarry had been good enough to keep a straight line. He hurried down the side of a small ravine, splashed through the stream in the bottom then climbed up the other side still following the strange marks.
At the top of the bank he paused next to a cliff that rose up and disappeared in the canopy. Looking up, he studied the gray rock face. There were small ledges here and there with bushes and small trees growing out of cracks in the rock. It wouldn’t be a difficult climb for an Iidx but a Kthpok? He had no idea how well the Kthpok could climb or even if they could.
Then he noticed he was standing on a well-worn animal trail following the cliff. The bushes and undergrowth was gone with the dirt washed away down to rock.
“Up hill or down?” Rian wondered as he looked both ways. It was logical the creature he’d been following would use the path rather than climb a cliff. Water began dripping from the canopy overhead and was starting to collect in depressions of the path.
“Up!” he decided when he saw an overturned rock not far from where he stood. With a decisive wave of his antennae Rian moved up the path, climbing higher into the foothills. A moment later his decision was reinforced. Several branches from a bush lining the path had been broken to indicate the passage of a large creature.
The pilot plunged ahead; racing to catch his quarry before the heavens opened and erased all signs he could follow. On his left was the cliff with the ravine to his right. As he climbed higher into the mountain the ravine got shallower. He was surprised when the ravine ended and the path he was on crossed a ridge then dropped down into another ravine. In the bottom, the trail turned again following the new ravine, still climbing higher. Water was beginning to run several inches deep in the path.
Rian glanced up at the slopes of the ravine and the canopy overhead. From the dimming light he guessed night wasn’t far off. He was hesitant to give up the chase but it would be dangerous to wander around strange places when you couldn’t see anything.
The pilot continued walking up the ravine, his four feet splashing in the accumulating water. Besides watching for signs of his quarry Rian began to look for shelter. The rain was getting heavier and the water in the ravine deeper; hinting at danger to come. By this time there wasn’t as much foliage to hinder a climb. The ever present canopy was gone. A quick look showed there were rocks and cliffs on either side that would make good holds if he needed to climb out. Then he stopped. About a third of the way up one rock face was what looked like a cave opening. “That’s promising,” he muttered and, ignoring the light drizzle, reached for a handhold.
Moments later the pilot’s head peered over the lip of a small ledge. Rian nodded in approval. There was an opening and he could easily fit inside. If the cave was large enough he’d use this as his base until pickup. His head swiveled back and he looked up the ravine where he guessed his quarry had gone. He wondered if he should keep tracking.
A gust of wind blew a curtain of rain down the hillside. His antennae were blown down across his back. There was a flash of light and thunder echoed off the mountainside. That decided the issue and the Lieutenant climbed the rest of the way onto the ledge and moved for the cave. Whatever he was tracking would have to wait for morning to be found.
Standing in the entrance of the cave he looked around the small chamber. There was just enough light to hint at its size. “This will do,” he said.
“It’s good to hear your assessment agrees with mine. Although it did take some work to make comfortable.”
The pilot jerked in surprise, pulling his pulser from its holster. He glanced around; trying to see who
had spoken but there were too many shadows. And it was rapidly getting darker outside. Then he realized he was standing in the cave entrance. He could tell there was enough light coming in through the entrance to outline him against the sky.
Rian jumped to the right inside the chamber, slamming against a rock wall. Ignoring the sharp edges of rock scoring his shell he called, “Who’s there? Where are you?” A slight echo greeted his words. His antennae were swaying back and forth in an effort to find whoever had spoken. As he listened for a reply he heard drips of water falling into pools and the patter of rain on the ledge outside. He guessed this cave was larger and went further back than he thought. “There’s no need to hide,” said Rian. “You’ve already let me know you’re here.
“Who are you?” The pilot called again. He gripped his pulser and looked around the cavern. A small stream of water began to run into the cave from the ledge. It appeared the evening rain had begun in earnest. “We need to cooperate.” Rian tried to focus deeper into the cavern. “We’re fighting the weather and animals.”
“We’ll cooperate,” said the voice and Rian froze. Now, the sound was coming from behind him. The person had been able to move without being heard. “Don’t try anything stupid like turning and trying to shoot. I know where you are while you don’t know where I am. I’m very good at sensing danger. I’ve had to be to survive this long. Drop your weapon then move over next to the water.”
“I can’t do that,” replied Rian. “It’s too dangerous.”
“The only dangerous thing you have to worry about right now is a nervous Iidx with a pulser. And one that’s liable to start carving off limbs if you don’t do what you’re told.”
Rian grunted in understanding then held out his weapon, made sure the safety was set and dropped it to the rock floor. The clatter echoed around the cave as he walked over next to the water. Once there he stopped and turned around. “All right,” he said holding out his true-hands to show he was unarmed even though he wasn’t sure the gesture could be seen. “I’ve done what you wanted. It’s your turn.”
A moment later a dark shape in the dim light scuttled forward from the shadows in the opposite side of the cave to where the pulser had been dropped. He couldn’t see what was happening but Rian imagined the… He paused as another thought came. The voice had said ‘nervous Iidx’.
“Follow the water deeper into the cavern,” came the order cutting through Rian’s thoughts. “Don’t try anything I might think is stupid like trying to jump me. I’ll be far enough back with weapons ready that you won’t be able to reach me if you try.”
Without a word Rian turned to follow the water as it moved deeper into the cavern but stopped. “I can’t see,” he said. “I don’t want to drop into a bottomless pit.”
“Take a few steps to your left and cross over the stream and keep going. You know how to use your hands and antennae; it’s second nature. There’s some turns then you’ll be going through an opening. Be careful. It isn’t that large.”
The pilot felt ahead with his antennae, true-hands and middle false-hands while taking tentative steps. Guiding himself by feel he worked his way down the passage, going around several turns, through a hole and then down a slight incline.
“Wait!” Rian stopped as ordered. Sounds of something being moved could be heard. A moment after the grating stopped a light came on. Chittering in pain, Rian raised his true-hands to shield his eyes that had become accustomed to the darkness.
“That better?”
The Lieutenant dropped his true-hands from his compound eyes and looked around. A dark, plastic slab had been drawn across the passage they had come through preventing any light from escaping. A small groove in the bottom of the slab allowed water from the entrance to move through. As he continued his inspection it was easy to see the cavern had been turned into an apartment. Rian’s antennae quivered with amusement. This apartment even had running water if you counted the drips from the ceiling falling into a pool. There was also a portion of a stream that appeared in the left side of the room. He noted a bedroom area, a cooking area and what appeared to be a research center. A tarp had been strung over the living area to divert water falling from the ceiling from getting into the electronics.
After finishing the examination of his surroundings Rian turned his attention to his captor. “This is cozy,” he said. “But who are you? Where’d you come from?”
The Iidx Rian addressed had walked into the research area, avoiding the stream while the Lieutenant had been examining the room. The stranger had removed a light gathering device from his head then put everything on a table and settled onto a saddle facing a computer monitor. Rian noted that the harness and decorations worn by his captor was the uniform of the Environment Protection Force. The pilot shook his head in confusion. How was this possible? All the reports he’d read said that all Iidx on the island had been relocated weeks before the Kthpok had arrived to take possession.
“Why were you following me?” the Iidx asked ignoring Rian’s questions.
The Lieutenant gave a shrug of his antennae. “As far as I knew the only people on this rock were Kthpok. Since they attacked…” He paused as a thought came and he stared at the other Iidx. “You do know the Kthpok attacked us?” The Iidx waved his antennae yes and indicated a radio set next to the monitor so Rian continued. “We are in the process of setting up defenses anticipating another attack when my Flight Leader, Captain Forst, convinced our commander that the Kthpok should lose their base here on Tarren.” He gave a shrug from his antennae. “So we attacked and did some damage. During the attack I was shot down. In my attempt to avoid the Kthpok I came across tracks that led me here.”
“Thinking there were only Kthpok on the island you followed to eliminate them?” the Protector commented. He left his saddle a moved over to stand in front of the pilot.
Rian nodded and shrugged his antennae again. “It seemed a perfect opportunity to cut down the odds. I assumed they were looking for me but they’d gotten ahead of me.”
The other Iidx’s antennae began stroking the pilot’s antennae and head. Rian stood still and kept quiet until the Iidx finished and moved back a step. Rian gestured. “You know about me now. What about you? How long have you been here? How’d you get here without the Kthpok being aware?”
The Iidx gave an amused wave of his antennae. “So many questions,” he replied. “Where to begin?” Rian had to stifle his impatience as his companion pondered his answer. “I guess introductions come first. My name is Fairron and I’m the Conservationist who was assigned to safeguard the rare species on this island before the Kthpok arrived.” Fairron gestured at the surroundings. “This is where I lived when out in the field and, when everyone else was evacuated, I stayed.”
“You’ve evaded the Kthpok the entire time?” said Rian. “What did you eat?”
“I already had a good supply of foodstuffs out here before the Kthpok arrived. Then, before everyone left I was able to move a large store of rations out here. It was easy in the confusion,” Fairron said and gave a shrug. “As a result I have enough for years. I’ve also I supplemented those supplies with local food.” He patted his abdomen with his false-hands. His antennae indicated a smug satisfaction. “I’ve eaten well.”
“That’s good to know,” said Rian. “At least we won’t starve while waiting for pickup.”
“Pickup?” asked Fairron. “How…when?” His antennae stiffened with alarm. “They can lead the Kthpok to us if they’re not careful. You don’t have the beacon here, do you?”
“I worried about that,” said Rian, “and made arrangements to prevent it.” He then explained the precautions he had taken and why.
“So you see,” he concluded. “All we have to do is watch and see who’s coming this way. If it’s the Kthpok we leave them in the jungle and duck back in here until they leave. I don’t think they could make the climb to get up here.” He gave a shrug from his antennae. “We could even pick them off in the jungle if they
give us the opportunity. But if it’s the pickup team I can approach them in the jungle. This way the cave remains a secret.”
Fairron didn’t seem completely satisfied but he nodded agreement. “You’ve been on the move for about three days since being shot down?” he asked. Rian waved his antennae in agreement at the statement. “Then your SAR should already be here.”
“They’d have to sneak ashore because there aren’t any clear places to land,” added the Lieutenant. “Then they’d go to the beacon. After they find the device they find my message and head for the mountain.”
Fairron thought that over for a moment then nodded. “We’ll have another day or two at least before they reach our area. Let’s find a spot for you to sleep, get something to eat then turn in for the night. We can start watching for the pick-up Iidx in the morning.”
Chapter 22
“We are now in orbit over New Hive,” announced Lieutenant B’Tok from his station.
S’Cinf glanced up from his monitor to look at the main screen which showed the planet. Instead of the brilliant greens, white and blue of Main Hive he saw blues, browns and various shades of white of ice and clouds. While still habitable, New Hive was cooler than the Kthpok ideal. He guessed it was uncomfortable for the Iidx as well but they endured the cold for the planets plentiful resources. S’Cinf gave a hissing chuckle. While those same resources would be helpful in preparing for the assault on the humans this time the Kthpok had come to kill Iidx.
“Place an indicator on the tactical plot that marks our main target,” the Run Point ordered and turned to look at the display. An instant later a flashing amber dot appeared. He noted the location of the target was on the horizon, just coming into view. That’s convenient, thought S’Cinf. “What’s the weather like over the target?” he asked.
A moment later the response came from Commander R’Gon, the Raging’s Battle Officer. “There’s a thick cloud cover over the target area, your Eminence!”
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