by Reiter
“If that is the case, take this request,” Guyn said, placing his right hand on Dungias’ left shoulder. It was an embrace peers in the way of the Star-Stride often embraced one another. “Find a place for your truth, even if it is not among our people. You will be tasked to trek by using the Stars. I say you are a Star! So when you are lost, Vu-Prin Dungias, look to yourself first!”
Dungias stammered for a moment and then lowered his head, placing his right hand on Guyn’s wrist. “I will see to your request, Master.”
“Now, open your gift and we will see if your poetry has rubbed off on me as well.”
“Even if it has, Dungias, don’t kiss him!” Onkorro shouted. “His lips aren’t fit for jet thrust!” Dungias laughed as he unwrapped his gift. He looked at the belt and could not find the words to speak.
“I am no poet,” Guyn explained, “but because of you my appreciation for written records has increased. I may not have found the forge, but I did find Nugar’s library. When our people followed the path of the Traveler, they wore their Osamu on belts like that. I hope these warrior’s hands were not too clumsy to–” Guyn said nothing else as he received a passionate embrace from Dungias. He patted the back of his student and tried to burn the moment into his mind.
“After all, I will not be master to this one for much longer,” Guyn thought. “He will surpass us all!”
“That will not make you any less my master, Master,” Dungias said, feeling Guyn’s very powerful thoughts. “My Master now, my Master forever!”
“Another point of contention we shall never pacify,” Guyn said as he turned away from Dungias and made his way to the gangplank. He did not turn around and everyone knew he could not. Onkorro saluted Dungias as if he were signifying a superior officer before starting up the gangplank. Kynsada walked slowly over to Dungias and he appreciated every stride. Slowly wrapping her arms around Dungias, Kynsada touched her lips to his before pressing her body into his. Her head tilted as her lips clenched at his. The break from the kiss was very slow and interrupted three times with another touching of the lips.
“Just between you and I,” Dungias started before Kynsada gently wrapped her hand around his neck.
“If you say Onkorro was a better kisser, he will be your best kisser!” Kynsada promised.
“Actually, I was going to say that your gift is already on board the ship,” Dungias said.
“Then why was I denied a presentation?”
“Because I believe your gift exceeds theirs… combined.” Kynsada covered her mouth to keep from laughing. “Look after them for me, please. They’re males and have trouble dealing with their feelings.”
“And you d–” Dungias’ lips interrupted Kynsada’s words and she received the most passionate kiss yet. She heard him moan as he held her tightly and it took substantial effort on her part to push away. “No, I don’t suppose you do. I will look after them, Dungi. Can I still call you that?”
“I can think of several things you can call me, Kynsada,” Dungias replied, finally releasing the female. “I would answer to all of them.”
“Look after yourself then, good Dungias, emerging Traveler and precious kommis.” Kynsada turned and ran up the gangplank. “And should the Stars shine you the way, don’t let Nugar’s relation to her stop you next time. While I am honored to have been the first to embrace woman to man, we both know she will always be your first and best kiss.”
“How did she know about Saru?!” Dungias thought.
“And no, we never taught you about the sense of what it was to be female,” Kynsada added. “And we never will! Tell her she has my deepest envy and my deepest regret.”
“I can’t look,” Dungias thought as he turned away. “I can’t watch Onkorro pilot them away. Has it been seventy star-terms already?”
“It has not, my soft-minded student,” Nugar said over the intercom as the doors to the landing circle closed behind Dungias. “But it is five star-terms to the nearest Mal-Vin station, and I want those three to have some time to relax before they return to duty, should they decide to take it.”
“Not with the way they speak of their Starfire brethren,” Dungias replied, checking the lock on the doors. “Five star-terms in a shuttle and they will be eager for familiar company.”
“You have a strong point there, Dungi,” Nugar agreed. “But they would not take any credits in hand. Perhaps the discovery of their accounts will force a change of heart.”
“I will be in my chamber shortly, Teacher,” Dungias reported. “We can begin our nex–”
“Dungias?” Nugar called over the intercom before deactivating the device which had unexpectedly gone silent. He grabbed his Osamu and ran from his room, entering a very specific code which brought the domicile to an alarm status. One moment he was talking to Dungias and proud to see his mind’s defenses take hold – then there was simply no mind at all.
The floor had seemed solid enough when Dungias had started walking. First one stride, then another. Since his infancy, it was an exercise that perhaps he had taken for granted. Though he was not sure of the count of steps, the floor suddenly lost its ability to support him and Dungias fell through the floor. Looking down, Dungias could see he was on some sort of slide and the look of it was familiar to him.
“Mark and record,” he whispered, looking to his left arm. A soft white light flashed for a moment. His command had been received.
“Forty-eight star-terms without incident,” he thought. “… and the moment that I am once again alone and in one of the corridors, I am visited by gaps in the construct that do not show on any of Nugar’s schematics.” The drop seemed excessive and though Dungias did not have a reference to calculate his exact speed, the time of his drop was quite long and he would have estimated the bottom of the planetoid was nearly one hundred trams above him. When Dungias did stop, he had to roll to keep from breaking his legs.
“Rise, blasphemer,” a female voice commanded. Dungias looked up to see a female light being. Her entire form was black with the exception of her shoulder-length hair and eyes which were yellow. “Rise and stand judgment for your crimes!”
“And what would those crimes be?” Dungias asked as he dusted himself off. Once again he could see the oval-shaped iro-form in the distance, but the surrounding area looked nothing like his last visit. There was hardly anything in the way of jagged hills to be seen, just flat ground. Looking back, the slide which had brought him was already gone.
“You dared to impersonate one of the Trusted,” she accused, pointing at Dungias. “… thinking your masquerade would afford you access to the place of our Masters. Do you deny it?”
“Forgive me, but I am not even aware there was a place to defend,” Dungias answered. “Nor have I attempted to be anyone but myself. If I was mistaken for someone or something else, I cannot be held accountable for the assumptions of others.”
“You would dare to address a guardian in such a fashion?!” she asked, creating a sort of war spear in her left hand. At first, it was simply light, but the moment her fingers wrapped around the staff, it became solid crystal and steel. She also turned red, but her eyes and hair remained yellow.
“There is no correct answer here,” Dungias concluded. “And this… thing seems bent on dispensing justice whether there has been an actual crime or not. My list of options is shorter than I would prefer, but the list still exists.
“If you were truly a guardian I would have never reached this chamber!” Dungias asserted, deciding to shout his words. It was disturbing, but there was something about an increase of volume that connoted a strong belief in what was being said. He had not seen it in Vinthur culture, but it was widespread in Malgovi society. Dungias wondered if the Terrans engaged in such foolishness. “If there is a crime to be punished, it is your failure to provide the protection charged to your station!
“So, who punishes you, traitor?!”
“Traitor!” a voice called out and Dungias turned to see what Sai-Eg had called a R
adient emerge from thin air, quickly taking hominoid form. Like the one that had chased him from this place, this one was red and he was not alone. Three others accompanied him. All four looked exactly alike, but three were red and one was orange. They all looked at the female, pointed at her and kept repeating the word ‘traitor’.
“That was… unexpected,” Dungias admitted as he started looking for an exit from this place. “But I will make the most of it.”
“Brother Radients,” the female cried out as she gave ground. Two more Radients joined the four; both of them were yellow. “I am no traitor! My light has been given to maintain the aperture as long as any of yours. We are of the same source!”
“If you were truly a guardian he would have never made it so close to the door!” one of the red shouted. “Traitor!”
“Stay your ground, brothers!” she warned, giving more ground. She did not have much more to give and took a two-handed hold of her weapon. Her eyes started to glow, as did her weapon, and Dungias started searching for cover and anything that would serve as an exit. The only things he could see were the congregation of glowing entities and the light source that was three hundred trams from him at the very least.
“Away!” the female cried, swinging her war spear in front of her. Light trailed behind the tip of the blade and created a wave of energy that burst through each of the approaching forms. Dungias was also knocked to the floor by the force of the wave. His body rolled to a stop, but his mind was still rolling and Dungias could not tell up from down, left from right, and being slightly deaf did not help matters. He could feel footfalls coming from where he had left the civil disagreement of the light people, but the floor did not give him an exact placement.
“It sounds as if justice has been served,” Dungias said, trying to clear his head. “Tell me, how does one apply for appeal? Is that even an option?”
“There is no further need for words between us,” the female said and Dungias could hear her lift her weapon from the floor. More importantly, he could hear her!
“Indeed!” he said, spinning to fall forward on the floor, but drawing his pistol and firing before he reached the hard surface. The laser blast flared against the female’s hand and she wailed in pain as she dropped the weapon. Dungias fired once more, scoring the left leg and driving the female to the floor.
“Please, Dungias, do not shoot her again,” a familiar voice echoed throughout the chamber.
“Sai-Eg?” Dungias called out.
“She is Flavicia, and she is my sister.” Dungias was not happy to hear the description, but he was holstering the weapon as he got up to his feet. He was still slightly unsteady, but he knew he needed to be on the move.
“Are her weapons safe for one such as me to touch?”
“Not with your bare hands, no,” Sai-Eg answered.
“I thought as much,” Dungias said as he reached for the back of his belt and took out his gloves. By the time he had one on, the previously dispersed Radients had reassembled themselves and were flying toward him. Dungias took one breath to try to focus and then bolted toward them, picking up the war spear along the way. It was far heavier than what he expected, but not so much that he could not manage it. He spun with the weapon twirling in his hand and the blade scraped the orange Radient across the chest, opening him up. He lost his form as an orb of light streaked its way to the oval-shaped portal.
Dungias spun around and twirled the weapon, using his teeth to hold the glove as he stuffed his hand inside of it. The Radients were intent on reaching him, but respected the power of the weapon. With two hands on the stalk, the weight of the weapon dropped exponentially and the speed with which he fanfared the weapon increased. He stopped his spin and performed a thrust. The blade ripped across the thigh of one of the reds and like the previously injured Radient, the body dissipated as the orb flew away.
“No!” Flavicia cried out, extending her hand for her weapon and commanding it to return to her. To her surprise, it did not fly out of Dungias’ grip. To him, the pull was strong enough to bring him along with the weapon. Dungias breathed out slowly and focused himself. While still in flight, he pulled himself closer to the stalk and then swung his feet around to stamp them against the female’s chest. As she flew back from the impact, Dungias drew and fired his pistol, scoring her left leg again. She wailed in pain as she rolled across the floor.
“How can I get out of here, Sai-Eg?” Dungias asked, wanting to make the most of the opportunity he had been given.
“Whatever way you came in, that is the way you must leave,” Sai-Eg advised.
“But I came in from the ceiling,” Dungias stated as he started looking up and around. “Down a… chute!” Beyond the white light, the young Malgovi could see a tunnel leading up tucked into the far corner. “This could very well be problematic.”
Dungias broke into a sprint, keeping a tight grip on the weapon. He considered if he should chance shooting the female once more, but he did not know what that would do to her, and she was of great importance to Sai-Eg. The last thing he wanted to do was impact their relationship in a negative way.
“For all of the brightness,” he thought, looking at the war spear. “… that iro-form burst was mostly physical force. I wonder if that can be directed.”
“It can,” Sai-Eg confirmed. “And with it out of her hands, I can control the weapon’s power.”
“Then I require a Force Blast right now,” Dungias requested as he jumped into the air. He locked his feet around the stalk just under the blade. He held on to the blunt end, hoping to use it as a crude form of steering. As light erupted from the tip of the blade, Dungias was sent into the air, arching up and over the white light. He could see the escape tube and it looked as if the weapon had generated enough thrust to get him to the floor just underneath the shaft.
“Dungias,” a chorus of voices called out and echoed through the room. The sound passed through Dungias’ body and he was suddenly too weak to hold on to the weapon which was the means of his deliverance. He lost his grip, falling into the oval-shaped portal. “Your presence is required and we have waited so long for your arrival!” Looking down into the white light, he could see the ripples facing him. What had first appeared to be an eye now resembled a mouth, awaiting its first taste of Dungias.
The timing had been too perfect; the only response Dungias had to him was to fall into the aperture. Through all of the training, all of the approaches toward awareness, foresight and understanding came the sharp stab of fear and futility. It was too late to push off from the spear, and he was too weak to make a legitimate effort in any case. All he could do was look to where he was falling and scream! The light of the aperture blinded him.
“No!” Dungias shouted, sitting up in his bed. He was breathing hard and covered in sweat… again. He shook his head, trying to remove the images of failing and falling. The incident was now forty-four star-terms old. Transmissions had long since been received from his Teacher Trio, as he called them, and they had returned to service on the Starfire Team. They had been deployed once, and Dungias had reviewed every bit of their recordings. It was not normal to transmit mission logs to civilians, but Onkorro thought it was the least he could do. Most of the footage had been supplied by the goggles Dungias had designed.
None of that had anything to do with his pressing inability to sleep, and he was not surprised when the doors to the Gamma Chamber opened. “I am sorry if my thoughts disturbed you, Teacher,” Dungias said as he placed his face into the palms of his hands.
“Apology accepted,” Nugar quickly said. “But I am not here out of anger or frustration. I am here to hopefully usher in some measure of resolve on this matter.” Dungias lifted his head up and looked at the Traveler. He was not dressed as one who had just come from his bed. He appeared as if he was ready to deliver instruction. Dungias did not ask any questions. He set aside the sheets of his bed and quickly changed into his clothes, careful to fold his sleeping clothes and place them at the corner o
f the foot of the bed. “And don’t forget your satchel,” Nugar pointed out. Now Dungias knew that whatever his Teacher wanted to try, it involved him leaving his room and training facility. With that warning, Dungias also reached for his weapons belt, checked his pistol and turned to face Nugar.
“The fact of the matter is simple enough, Dungi,” Nugar stated as he walked for the door. “I’ve reviewed the logs from your nav-comp. And let me say once more that it was very clever of you to link its mapping program to the main domicile computer. But the mystery comes when one compares the maps drawn by the two computers.” With a wave of his hand, Nugar’s arm-top computer displayed two maps. One had been drawn by the navigational computer Dungias had activated the moment he started his descent into the place where he had once again encountered the Radients. The other image was drawn from the coordinates received by Nugar’s computer. It was a series of dots that appeared all over the planetoid with no line drawn between them. “As you can see it doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’m not so sure, Teacher,” Dungias said as he stepped forward. Nugar managed to hide a very proud smile. Something had to be done about these reoccurring dreams. They were preventing the progress of his student, which was problematic as Nugar was ready to begin the instruction about the Jump-Stride and the Osamu. His student could barely focus, and Nugar had run enough scans to realize that iro-form emissions were still impacting Dungias, and they were affecting his physiology and his mind. He could not trace their source nor could he clearly see what sort of energy it was that beleaguered Dungias. Something had to be done and though he had not gotten much sleep, Dungias was at least focused on the moment.
Touching his finger to one of the points, Dungias read the coordinates and the time it had been received. He smiled as he looked at the second image. “Time and Space,” he whispered and Nugar snorted in surprise.
“It is always the simple solution that is first overlooked,” Nugar said, entering commands into his computer. Most of the dots disappeared, save for seven at various places on the planetoid map. “All of these coordinate markers were received at the same time. So, according to my computer, you were in eight places at the same time.”
