by Ky Tyrand
“Mother,” replied Je’nna, going to the woman and standing before her. Je’nna’s head tipped down and her hands went behind her back, a show of respect that Ki’ara didn’t think the girl was capable of.
The woman tipped Je’nna’s chin up before placing a hand on her shoulder. “You have returned with the Princess. But how…?”
“The Abnukadin, Mother,” explained Je’nna. “Ki’ara Travelled us here with it.”
With eyebrows raised, Mother stepped closer to Ki’ara. “But … that’s impossible,” she declared. “Nobody but the Traveler can do that.”
Ki’ara recognized the name as a character from bedtime stories – tales of a Traveler who could move between Worlds, just like the Gods. But these were fables told to children at bedtime. Yet, the way this woman spoke of him, it seemed like she felt he was a real person.
“Not anymore, Mother. Ki’ara can do it.”
“Amazing,” whispered Mother, as she stepped closer. Her eyes were locked on Ki’ara’s.
The girl had never seen a woman look so striking and dignified.
She heard a growl behind her as Mother approached. Ki’ara turned to give her Guardian a sharp look, noticing that it was not the woman that Sir Grue’gan was growling at – they were surrounded.
4
The Abnukadin was a ring of several rectangular stone columns, spanning a distance of ten or more paces across its diameter. And now, at least one person stood between each of its stones. Though Ki’ara had no doubt that they were all armed, none of them held their weapons.
Instead, they stood just like Je’nna, except their hands were crossed at the front, instead of behind their backs.
Not aggressive, but ready to act.
They all wore matching crimson bodysuit textiles that indicated they were Descendants, each with a Mu’turi. The perfectly fitting attire revealed another interesting similarity between themselves and Je’nna: these people were all young and fit beyond belief, with lean muscle covering their bodies from head to toe.
Ki’ara looked back to Je’nna for some reassurance, only to notice that her friend’s outfit had changed to match the same dark red as the others.
Sir Grue’gan’s growl grew louder, and Mother halted.
Ki’ara didn’t know if the sound of her Guardian’s warning spooked the woman, or if something else made her stop – until she noticed Mother glancing from Je’nna’s guns, to Ki’ara’s wrists.
It was the Blue Energy.
Ki’ara sensed it too. She could feel that a few of the other people in the room had a small supply in their weapons. The energy vibrated throughout the room, only partly masked by that of the Abnukadin. But none of the others’ were even close to the power of Ki’ara’s Niksuru or Je’nna’s guns.
There was a pull at her wrists where Ki’ara’s Mu’turi held her weapons firmly in place.
Mother was testing the girl’s hold on them.
Is she trying to disarm me?
Ki’ara reinforced her connection to the Niksuru. Nobody was going to take them from her. Her eyebrows narrowed as she widened her stance and folded her arms across her chest.
Je’nna was suddenly closer. Her hands were still behind her back, but she was practically between Ki’ara and Mother.
The woman seemed to notice, and the invisible tugging stopped. Mother shook her head as if snapped out of a trance. She took another step closer. “Where did you get those?” she asked.
“They belonged to my mother,” said Ki’ara. “Now they belong to me.”
“I see.” The woman nodded. Another step forward. “May I see them?”
Ki’ara didn’t know what to make of the situation. She thought Grue’gan was behind her, struggling to remain on his feet, but then she felt him at her side. It gave her confidence, even though she knew that he was in no condition to fight. There were twenty or so young but competent looking fighters surrounding them. And Je’nna. Where does she stand? Ki’ara looked into the girl’s teal eyes, hoping for some indication that she shouldn’t feel threatened right now.
The pink-haired girl nodded, ever so slightly.
Ki’ara let out a breath. She trusted Je’nna. She had to. But the girl wasn’t so certain that she should trust Mother. “Okay,” she said, releasing the Mu’turi strap that held one of the short cylinders to the top of her wrist. The growling in her ear was getting louder. Ki’ara wanted to elbow Sir Grue’gan, but feared it might send him to the ground. She flipped open the weapon, fanning the handle apart in that seemingly impossible way, until the six sections locked in the shape of a star.
Blue Energy poured from the tips.
She could hear gasps and whispers from every direction.
Mother’s eyes were no longer the brightest thing in the room.
The brilliant segments of light grew to their maximum length, casting a blue haze around the weapon and the Descendants nearby. Ki’ara couldn’t help but smile at the reactions of Mother and her people, as the Princess held the weapon out to her.
The woman took it, cautiously at first.
Ki’ara could feel Mother forming a link to the device. She half hoped the lights would blink out. But they didn’t. At least, not until Mother wanted them to. The woman seemed to have a pretty good understanding of how to work the Niksuru, and let the Blue Energy retract into the handle before she flipped it shut – only to make the plasma shoot out one end of the closed cylinder, to where it formed a single, longer blade. She waved it around a couple of times, seeming much more comfortable with it than Ki’ara would have expected. When she was finished, Mother released her control of the Blue Energy, letting the weapon go dark before examining the handle. Not unlike the stones of the Abnukadin, it was covered in ancient symbols. The language of the Old Gods.
Mother looked like she was about to say something, but chose not to. Instead, she glanced at Ki’ara’s other wrist, where the girl’s second Niksuru was held firmly in place.
Ki’ara didn’t offer it to her. She had learned her lesson about losing possession of both her precious weapons at the same time. Something she never intended to let happen again. Even to someone she was expected to trust.
“Thank you,” said Mother, finally handing the small cylinder back to the girl. “I’m sorry for my odd behavior,” she said, returning her attention to Ki’ara’s eyes. “You surprise me, Princess Ki’ara. And it takes a lot to surprise me.”
Ki’ara took the device and placed it back on her wrist, allowing her Mu’turi to take hold of it.
“It’s okay,” the girl replied. “I’m just not used to being around people that can sense the energy in them.”
“No, I suppose not.” Mother frowned. “I’m sorry to hear about your father. I never met him, but I’m told that he was a good man. A good King.”
Ki’ara’s chin began to drop, but she forced it up, along with her shoulders. “He was an even better father,” she declared.
Mother nodded. “I’m sure he was.”
There was a moment of awkward silence, before Ki’ara added, “I have something else…” The girl shrank out of the disk-shaped pack that was strapped to her shoulders. “This my Guardian’s storage container, which was also made with hybrid technology. Inside it is an assassin known as the Keeper…” More gasps and whispers from the onlookers. “He killed my father, and countless others. I was hoping that you or your people would know what to do with him.”
Mother’s eyebrows disappeared into her hairline. It looked like she was trying to say something, but couldn’t get the words out. She took the disk that Ki’ara was holding out to her, and finally sputtered, “The Keeper … is in here?”
Ki’ara nodded.
Mother looked to Je’nna, who confirmed, “It’s true.”
The woman examined the disk. “But … how?”
Je’nna tried to explain, “It’s inter-dimensional technology…”
“No, I mean … how were you able to catch him?”
“I didn’t,�
� admitted Je’nna, “It was Ki’ara.”
“How did you…?”
The Princess tried not to blush at Mother’s gaze. “I got lucky.”
Mother shook her head and handed the disk to Je’nna, who gave the device a hard shake before passing it on to a pair of young soldiers.
“I want that back,” grumbled Grue’gan, as the pack disappeared from his sight.
“Of course,” said Mother, turning her attention to the hulking man. “I’m sorry, where are my manners. My name is Aria’na, but most call me Mother.”
“This is Sir Grue’gan,” said Ki’ara. “Warden of the Royal Guard.”
“Ah, Sir Grue’gan,” replied Mother. “Your reputation precedes you.” The woman took both of the Guardian’s massive hands in hers, and bowed ever so slightly.
Grue’gan grunted something about her being too young and tiny to be his mother, as he begrudgingly tried to return the gesture. And then he promptly collapsed to the floor.
5
The Guardian could mask his agony no longer. He hit the floor with a thud, and cried out.
Ki’ara dropped with him, trying to be supportive but not having a clue how to help.
She looked up at Mother with tears in her eyes. “Can you help him? Please?”
The woman brought up her wrist. She had a communicator just like Je’nna’s. “Medical Team to Central!” she shouted into it.
Mother put a hand on Ki’ara’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Princess, we’ll look after him,” she assured her.
Medics came and put Grue’gan on a cart. Ki’ara followed him to the Medical Bay, but was told she would have to wait outside.
So she sat in a chair in the waiting area, worrying about her Guardian. A powerful ally will die.
Je’nna waited with her. Ki’ara wasn’t sure if it was to keep her company, or if Mother had told Je’nna to keep an eye on her. Either way, Ki’ara was happy she was there. After losing her father and her home – not to mention being betrayed by her only other family member – Ki’ara felt terribly alone. She couldn’t handle the thought of losing Sir Grue’gan.
“So this is your home, hey?”
The pink-haired girl nodded. “I can show you around, if you’d like.”
“Maybe later,” said Ki’ara.
Je’nna agreed, “Maybe later.”
From what Ki’ara had seen of it, Sanctuary was not at all what she’d expected. She had been picturing a city, or a castle, or … she didn’t know what. But this place was strangely modern, its architecture unlike any she was familiar with.
The ceiling of blue sky continued through every room and corridor, as did the crystal embedded columns and walls; though there were some metal-looking arches in places that matched the metallic silver hexagonal tiles that covered the floors.
The technology here was far beyond any she was accustomed to being around. Even compared to Stronghold, which she thought was pretty advanced compared to other places.
Ki’ara sat upright, with her hands folded on her knees while she anxiously awaited news of her Guardian. She pulled strands her long gold and brown striped hair behind her ear to keep it from getting in her face as she tapped her heels on the floor.
Je’nna had her feet up on the chairs beside her. She’d pulled her rifle off her back and was half reclined across the seats she occupied. The girl sighed and finally pulled her chair out from the wall so that she could tip it back on two legs for comfort. “Your Guardian is a strong man,” she told Ki’ara. “He’ll be fine.”
“I know,” Ki’ara lied.
After what seemed like forever, the door finally slid open. Ki’ara jumped to her feet, expecting to see a doctor. But it was Mother herself that emerged. Ki’ara didn’t even know that she was in there.
The Princess could tell by the look on Mother’s face that she didn’t bring good news.
“The projectile is lodged in his back,” she told the girls, “pinching nerves in his spine.”
Ki’ara nodded. She was no doctor, but she figured as much. “How soon can they remove it?”
Mother’s expression was grim. “It was a miracle that you got him here alive.”
Not exactly an answer to her question.
Ki’ara watched her, waiting for the answer she wanted to hear.
“Our doctors don’t think they can pull it out without killing him,” the woman finally admitted.
Ki’ara’s legs were shaking. She felt sick.
“Best case scenario, your Guardian will never walk again.”
The girl dropped.
She would have hit the floor had Je’nna not appeared beside her and nudged her back to the chair. Ki’ara’s head fell into trembling hands. “He was protecting me,” she whispered.
“Sir Grue’gan knew how dangerous his roll was.”
Mother’s words didn’t make Ki’ara feel any better.
Her head shot up. “The Abnukadin!” she suggested. “The doctors could perform the surgery within it. It could be healing him as they work…” Ki’ara’s words trailed off as Mother shook her head.
“It doesn’t work like that, Princess,” the woman told her. “The Abnukadin can speed the repair of injuries that could heal on their own, given time. Not something as serious as this. What you did kept him alive, Ki’ara, but his body has healed up around the bullet. The doctors can’t cut it out without severing nerves. Once they do that, he could spend a lifetime in the Abnukadin, and still never walk again.”
“What, then? There must be a way!”
“I suspected you wouldn’t be satisfied with that answer.” Mother frowned, “The doctors had one suggestion…”
“What?” asked Ki’ara.
“Sirona.”
Je’nna flinched.
“What is it?” demanded Ki’ara. “What’s a Sirona?”
“Sirona is not a what, she’s a who,” said Mother. “She’s a great Healer…”
“She’s a crazy Witch!” corrected Je’nna.
Mother didn’t argue. “If anybody can heal your Guardian after the bullet is removed, it is Sirona.”
Je’nna shook her head. Rolled her eyes. “If she agrees to help.”
“Do you have any better suggestions, Je’nna?” asked Mother.
Ki’ara waited for Je’nna’s answer, desperately wanting her to come up with a brilliant alternative. But she didn’t.
Instead, the girl repeated, “She’s a crazy Witch.”
“Tell me where to find her,” said Ki’ara, rising to her feet. “Tell me where to look, and I’ll bring her back.”
Mother was already shaking her head. “You can’t.”
Ki’ara’s eyebrows narrowed. “Why not?”
“It’s not safe.”
“Oh, it’s not?” the girl echoed, with more than a hint of sarcasm. “You know that I fought the Keeper and his…”
“Every cutthroat in Avalon is looking for you,” stated Mother. “Not to mention all of your uncle’s men.”
Ki’ara crossed her arms. “Am I a prisoner, here?”
“No,” sighed Mother. “You are the Princess of Avalon, the only hope to reunite your father’s Kingdom. Your Kingdom.”
Ki’ara was about to protest, but couldn’t find the words.
“I will go,” offered Je’nna, before Ki’ara could form an argument.
“No,” replied Mother. “You just got back. Stay. Rest.”
“I don’t need …” A harsh glare from Mother silenced Je’nna.
“I need you here, Je’nna. I’m sure your friends in the CST can take care of this?”
Je’nna scowled but nodded. “We’ll see.”
6
“Mother’s acting weird,” said Je’nna, as she led Ki’ara through the corridors of Sanctuary.
“What do you mean?” asked Ki’ara. Her thoughts were with Grue’gan, but she tried to pay attention to Je’nna and her quick tour.
Je’nna shrugged. “She’s never acted like this before. The way she reacted t
o you in the Abnukadin, it’s just … I haven’t seen her caught off guard, before.”
Ki’ara didn’t know what to make of that.
They approached a closed metal door, which slid open on its own before they reached it. The door seemed to know they were coming. Ki’ara marveled at the technology of this place. She’d never witnessed anything like it. “So what is this CST, anyway?”
Before the door was fully opened, Ki’ara could hear a commotion of activity on the other side. Shouting, cracking and, what sounded like … shooting?
“Combat Strike Teams,” said Je’nna.
Ki’ara followed Je’nna through the door, which led out to a semi-circle of sloping imaging screens, surrounded by switches and buttons. Lights were flashing all over it, and spelled across a large screen in the middle were the words ‘CAUTION: SIMULATION IN PROGRESS’.
Ki’ara peered at the equipment in awe, before noticing that there was more to the room beyond the console. She cautiously stepped forward, realizing they were on a balcony of some sort, overlooking a massive area that spread out a level or two below them.
It was difficult to tell if the space was indoors, or out. Unlike in other areas of Sanctuary, there was more than just a false sky throwing her off. In fact, this seemed to be the only room in the complex without a blueish ceiling. Instead, it was gray, like clouds. Below, a layer of mist swirled around green foliage and ancient stone structures that were grown over with roots and vines.
Ki’ara saw movement on one of the stones, bringing back a terrifying memory. She knew what was down there, even before focusing on it. Their mottled skin made the creatures nearly invisible on the gray stones. But Ki’ara’s eyesight was far better than it used to be. Even from way up on the balcony, she could make out the shapes – almost like people, but with their limbs on backwards so they could skitter across the ground like giant insects. Ki’ara had faced them before – Gray Lurkers.
Despite how far away they were, just seeing them was enough to put her on edge. She spotted several of them; at least a dozen. Enough to kill a hundred people, or more.
