by Richard Lord
“Not at the moment. Run!” Destiny replies as she goes into a full sprint.
Just as they approach Illumna, they see her rise and take flight. They think to each other that Illumna is going to go shoot down the things to protect them, but what they see is something very different.
Illumna begins gliding in their pattern with the creatures. They watch for hours as the creatures slowly take on a new pattern that Illumna slowly weaved into their sky dance. Then Illumna begins to descend where she took off from with both of the creatures following her.
Destiny looks at Amelia as the descent is happening and sarcastically says, “So is this another ‘run’ moment?”
“I think there is another word for this, I’ll update you when I come up with it.” Amelia responds.
Then they both hear Harmony’s mind. “It’s fine. They understand what we are now.”
Destiny and Amelia look at each other in shock. Partly because of what is going on, but mostly because Harmony opened her mind to Destiny for the first time since they left on their wayward journey.
Destiny thinks back to Harmony, “Nice. But what are they?”
They all hear Harmony answer, “They might be dragons.”
Destiny looks at Amelia who shrugs. Then she thinks back to Harmony, “Aren’t we supposed to slay them?”
Again they all hear Harmony’s response, “No. We’re supposed to work with them.”
“Destiny looks at Amelia with a very tense look. Amelia understands and hears her thought. Amelia thinks out to her daughter, “Are you the one who brought us here?”
Harmony doesn’t respond to the question but she does answer. “They need our help. I will teach them tandem clicking.”
Amelia hears Destiny’s thought and it is the same as hers for a change. She thinks to her daughter, “NO Harmony!”
I don’t think you really have a choice in the matter. There are more of them than there is of us. Illumna’s munitions were not restocked. She’s low and so are the two of you. Please, let me do the right thing.”
Destiny says to Amelia, “Your daughter is insane.”
Amelia replies, “We don’t even know where she’s been for years, linear, and who knows how long, non-linear. I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt.”
“Well, it’s our funeral. I don’t suspect we will have many mourners come to it.” Destiny quips.
Amelia looks into the air as Illumna lands behind them. She sees the sky, the star patterns, the moons and then responds, “I suppose not.” She looks down at the ground for a moment and then turns to Illumna. “Why did you agree to that plan?”
Illumna thinks back to Amelia, “I was supposed to pick up Harmony on this quest. I did.”
Destiny grows a grave look on her face. Then she hears a very bass thought in her head. “You are the end.”
She realizes it is coming from one of the creatures and thinks back, “So you can hear and speak this way too?”
In response comes a very melodic voice, “This is what we are. Your kind is different. The four of you are different from your kind. Ignore him, he’s brutish. We are both pleased to meet you.”
Destiny thinks back to them both, “What are your names?”
“We don’t have that tradition. We hear each other.” The melodic voice answers.
Destiny decides, “We refer to each other by name for a lot of reasons. May I call you Melody?”
“I have no problem with that. You can call him Brute.” Melody responds.
“I like Brutus. For reasons that are historical tradition where I am from.” Destiny thinks back.
Amelia watches and listens then she adds, “So how do we know you’re not going to eat us?”
Destiny cuts in immediately, “I’m the cynical one? They would have done that by now. Why tell us anything if the end result was that we were food?”
Harmony projects her thought loudly in their minds, “They need our help.”
Destiny considers this and realizes both meanings to the thought and takes a step back from the creatures.
Brutus thinks to them, “We eat something else. We’ve never tasted your kind. You are from another place. We wouldn’t risk ourselves to try something we have never had.”
The small creature clicks back between Brutus and Melody.
Amelia asks, “Boy or girl?”
Brutus thinks think back, “How did you know this was one of ours?”
Then Melody cuts in, “She’s the daughter we had in one of the cool spots. My eggs are effected by heat. They need it. Too hot and I have only sons. A little over hot and I have aggressive daughters. She was born in a cooler place. She’s the only survivor from that clutch. It was too cool and the others perished.”
Destiny looks at Amelia. They simultaneously think, “How many children do you have?”
“Dozens, of course.” Melody responds.
Amelia looks at Destiny as they again simultaneously think back, “Where are they?”
Brutus answers bluntly, “They grow up. They have to lead their own lives.” As a wing covers the smaller creature, he thinks back, “This one will too, she’s becoming adventurous.”
Amelia looks at Destiny and says, “I’m naming this one!”
Destiny looks at her with an eye narrowed. “Okay schoolgirl, what are you going to name her?” As she says that, the young creature lands on her leg.
“I was thinking ‘Allupyourbutt’, but I’ll be kinder to her.” Amelia responds while watching the young creature crawl up Destiny’s leg. She shivers a bit. She can see and hear that Destiny is trying hard not to react. She smiles to herself at Destiny’s situation, but her smile fades instantly.
The creature bites hard into Destiny’s inner thigh.
Destiny reaches down. Harmony appears behind her and puts her in a chokehold and thinks to her, “Don’t!”
Destiny can’t click with two beings touching her. She looks at Amelia as Amelia vanishes only to arrive behind Harmony and grab her. “The thing is biting her!”
“No, it bit her because it wanted to understand.” Harmony replies. “All creatures, even humans use their mouths when they are young to explore. It’s a base instinct.”
Harmony lets go of Destiny and the small creature vanishes to appear between its parents. Destiny comments, “So I hope your kind doesn’t have some bacteria my…” She faints.
Amelia grabs her wrist and clicks inside of Illumna. Then she thinks to Illumna, “What do we do?”
“Keep her head elevated.” Illumna mentally yells to Harmony to click in. Harmony doesn’t move. “I suppose you can try to suck out the venom.”
Amelia gets an odd look on her face, “You can’t be serious.”
“It might help.” Illumna thinks back.
Amelia strips of Destiny’s pants as fast as she can. She looks at how far up her thigh the bite is. She thinks to Illumna, “Get Harmony back in, we need to click.”
Illumna responds, “I’ve already tried. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Amelia thinks to herself for a few moments, puts her mouth on the bite and begins sucking. Then she thinks to Illumna, “Just go. Harmony, as usual, has made her choice.”
Illumna notes the tone and pauses waiting for Amelia to concentrate on the tandem jump. Surprisingly Amelia clicks and clicks back with Harmony and yells into the air, “Go now!”
CHAPTER 7
“They knew their home world. We were trying to establish ourselves there. But we were the first family. It wasn’t going to be easy.” – from the Book of Amelia
Xaltuth looked weary as he gave his report to Brandathax. “They took out most of my men and again escaped.”
“They’ll be back.” Brandathax replied. “Be ready.” He went back to looking over the paperwork on his desk.
“I said most, not some. Most.” Xaltuth looked irritated at the casualness of Brandathax’s response.
“Okay, recruit some more for the cause.” Brandathax didn’t even
look up.
Xaltuth began breathing heavily as he responded, “Do you have anyone in mind?”
Brandathax looked up from his desk. He laid down his pen very carefully. He walked around his desk hearing the panic in Xaltuth’s mind. Standing in front of Xaltuth he said, “Anyone who could replace you might be a start.” Brandathax folded all four of his arms across himself as he looked at Xaltuth.
“Point made.” Xaltuth said as he stood firm. He watched the subtle facial movements of Brandathax who had shut his mind to the outside.
“I’m not going to kill you. You know what I want and why. So you still have leverage to remain alive.” Brandathax points out the advantage Xaluth has in the scenario.
Xaltuth nods and turns to leave to accomplish the goal assigned to him as he feels a blade slice his upper right thigh, from behind. His face shows shock as he turns to see Brandathax’s face.
Brandathax, of all people would know the pain of that type of injury. “I said I wouldn’t kill you. I didn’t say you wouldn’t limp for a few weeks.”
“Inspiring. I can’t wait to get out there and help your cause now.” Xaltuth says, with a hiss, as he does limp out of the office.
Brandathax returns to his desk knowing full well why Xaltuth will remain and do as he says. He looks down at the paperwork once more. He sees the counter offer Destiny proposed. He forms a malicious smile as he crushes the piece of paper and throws it into the corner.
CHAPTER 8
“Mama told me there’d be days like this.” – Van Morrison
Destiny yells out, “Why are we back here?” She looks around the hangar. It’s in horrid shape and doesn’t even have a perimeter anymore. Destiny sighs.
“We have no choice. We have to live with others like us. It’s the next step.” Illumna thinks back.
Destiny sighs as she considers how much of her concertation it will take to do what Stephen did and keep the others from being able to click in. She wonders if she can do it without a physical boundary to concentrate on.
She hears Amelia in her head, “Just remember it the way it was and set those as the boundaries.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one doing it!” Destiny realizes her tone raised. It is not like her to be so reactive. She calms her mind and concentrates.”
Amelia looks at her and considers the pressure they are all under. But she has a point to make and makes it despite the fact that everyone but Harmony is sweating. “We don’t have doors now. They don’t have to click in, they can run in.”
Illumna thinks to them, “I’m all about that!”
Destiny looks at Amelia and thinks to her, “I think I heard her grin when she thought that, but the reality is they could use larger munitions and Illumna would be their first target.
Amelia considers the fact and then thinks to Harmony, “Go to the entrance and sit.” Harmony clicks and is there, as she sits facing outward to whatever is coming.
Destiny looks at Amelia as if she lost her mind. “Are you as insane as her?”
Amelia thinks back, “Perhaps. But I remember something your grandmother, Tomorrow, taught me.” She looks nervously at her daughter and tries to keep her thoughts to herself, so she says out loud to Destiny, “She’s our peace offering.”
“You are insane! I’m going to get her! This is out of control!” Destiny begins to click when Amelia thinks directly to her. She pauses at the thought.
“Harmony is what she is. She is our hope, Destiny. Don’t underestimate her.” Amelia breaths in deep hoping she made the right call. She knows Destiny can hear her conflicting thoughts but she doesn’t care.
“Why are we back here anyway? This was foolish!” Destiny remarks.
“Well, you could be dead from some venom we don’t know anything about or we could have come where we had supplies. So, do you want to go back and do it all over again?” Amelia responds.
Destiny pauses and then utters, “Thank you, Amelia.”
“It wasn’t that bad. You don’t stink as much as I tell you that you do.” Amelia looks over at Harmony sitting at the entrance, concern growing on her face.
“She’s an odd girl, but I do care. As soon as they approach, they’ll just shoot her. What else do you think is going to happen Amelia?” Destiny asks.
“I think I have to leave that up to Harmony. I have to trust her. She clicked to that front door without question. She has a plan.” Amelia responds.
“Okay, good, but she’s blocking her mind, so we don’t know that plan. That doesn’t make any of this easy for the rest of us.” Destiny shoots back.
“I don’t mean to break up your piss party, but Amelia, you do realize that I can’t fire if Harmony is there.” Illumna thinks to them.
“I already considered that. Fire anyway. Harmony is faster than any of us. I’ve seen it. She’ll be fine. She will sense it from your mind and click.” Amelia responds to Illumna.
Destiny looks at Amelia, “You are willing to risk her life?”
“No, I’m willing to save all of us and she will do it. I don’t know how, but she will.” Amelia answers.
“She put me in a choke hold while I was being bitten and venom was being injected into me! She’s not responsible, rational or any word that comes close to meaning okay in the reasoning department.” Destiny again notices her mood and wonders at it. She is not accustomed to feeling much in the way of emotions.
Amelia walks towards her and looks at her with extreme intensity, “One day you will have faith.”
“Today you may regret your decisions.” Destiny turns from her and walks toward Harmony. Her mind is on several things, but she realizes the most important is keeping the perimeter intact as long as she can. Then she sees the a quick movement outside. She knows the routine. He was in black because it was night and then he clicked. She listens for the mind that clicked. She can’t pick up much, but she gets a gut feeling. Up and to the right of where the hangar door once was. She clicks.
By luck, she ends up behind him and snaps his neck then takes his pistol. She uses the vantage point to determine where the advance will come from. She sees them. She considers simply clicking into the middle of them and doing as much damage as she can before they take her out, but she realizes she has to be inside to hold the perimeter or they would just click in. She knows her responsibility is to protect the others. She reaches down to his thigh and takes the knife he has openly displayed, then to his ankle and the knife he doesn’t display. She reaches under his arm for the throwing knives he was keeping there. Satisfied she has most of what is on him, she clicks back inside the hangar.
Illumna hears Destiny’s thoughts and thinks to her, “If it comes down to knives, that means I will have been destroyed. You won’t have any way out of here.”
“I studied the stars both time. I remember. With Amelia and Harmony’s trick, I can get us all out of here. Right now, I don’t even know why we are staying.”
Illumna responds, “You can’t stand if you don’t stand. You will always be crawling. That’s a pretty slow method of travel. Not what bipedals were designed for.”
Destiny begins to respond when it happens. The blast at the door is so immense the heat fringes her hair. She puts a hand over her eyebrows as she looks to see what might be left of Harmony. She sense Amelia click outside to the perimeter and realizes the blast caused her to lose focus on that. Immediately she recreates the zone. She thinks to Illumna, “We lost both of them?”
“Watch.” Illumna thinks back.
Harmony swings from the rafter she is holding onto and grabs the upper ledge guardrail and then launches her self back into position in front of the opening again.
Destiny looks surprised at her agility. Then she wonders why Harmony would again return to the most dangerous area.
Amelia begins striking at bodies as they move in on her. She kicks as she twists to come up and then kicks again as she goes below them and punches. She knows they won’t use munitions in such close combat. S
he sees one draw a knife and clicks to his shoulders, wraps her legs around his neck, grabs the knife and slits his throat before he can click away. Without hesitation she swings backwards in an arc catching a few others who were too brazen to click away.
Destiny feels the heat of another blast and looks up into the rafters. Harmony isn’t there. Her heart begins to race, although she can’t stand the girl, she doesn’t want her to dead. Then she sees Harmony back in position, sitting calmly at the front of the entrance.
Amelia clicks back to the other side of the perimeter and looks in as another comes upon her from behind. She kicks fast to the windpipe and then looks in at Harmony and mouths, “I love you.”
Harmony doesn’t respond. She simply sits as if she is waiting for something.
Destiny thinks to Illumna, “Don’t fire! Amelia isn’t as fast as Harmony, so ixnay on that plan. Amelia is going to stay there. That’s her daughter.”
Illumna repeats, “Watch.”
Amelia’s mind thinks of everything Tomorrow taught her, but she also considers what Illumna can do. Concentrating hard, she does what she couldn’t have imagined before and becomes the tank. She looks at her own body in front of the perimeter. She has an odd feeling as she clicks back out of it into her own body. She looks through the perimeter at Harmony and shakes her head in the universal, “No”.
Harmony thinks to Destiny, “Okay, now take down the perimeter.”
Destiny thinks back, “No, you’re insane! Your own mother is about to be killed and you want us all to die too?”
“No one will die.” Harmony thinks back.
Illumna thinks to Destiny, “Her mother trusted her. She wants to save her mother we can both hear that emotion. Do as she says.”
Destiny relaxes the part of her mind that was focused on the perimeter as she watches Harmony stand and hug her mother briefly then push her behind herself as she steps boldly out against the forces sent to kill them.
Harmony blasts a thought out to every participant in the battle that is still alive, “Who is the leader. I will speak to him now.”
They all hear the response. “I am Xaltuth. What are your terms for surrender?”
