Aurora Renegades

by G. S. Jennsen

  Respectful term. Rescuer. Savior. Protector.

  Her face contorted into an exaggerated scowl…but on the other hand, maybe it was good news. Maybe they could learn things from the fact what was surely a Metigen had orchestrated their presence here. “Why do you call this Lakhes ‘savior?’ ”

  Led the Exodus, saved ancestors from death. Protects us now.

  Caleb exchanged a sobering look with her. His tone was nonchalant, and she expected his heart rate and whatever else Jaisc was reading gave away nothing. “Saved you from death? It sounds quite perilous. Where was your exodus from?”

  Home. Taenarin in Amaranthe. But our past, long ago, hundreds of cycles. The impression of length, of a great passage of time. None alive who made the journey.

  Dammit. “But you have records, yes? You document your history—chronicle it for your descendants and future leaders—don’t you?”

  Jaisc hesitated.

  Memory-keeper. The Caomh. But she resides far from here.

  Caleb stopped, forcing Jaisc to do so as well. “We’d be interested in meeting her.”

  Ah. Will see. Complicated.

  Jaisc urged them ahead, past the spring and up a hill toward a multi-level structure.

  First, now, simple things. A meal.

  She and Jaisc sat on a woven mat on the tile floor facing one another, legs crossed and hands clasped together in the center. Caleb was speaking to several of the other Taenarin they’d been introduced to. They’d split up in the hope it would increase their odds of learning something useful in less time.

  “The lighting that’s everywhere? Why do the walls glow?”

  The feith live in the stone and the ore. They luminesce as part of what they are.

  “What else are they?”

  Very small.

  Had Jaisc just made a joke? She was able to understand most of his words now, but she could not read the emotions he so flagrantly displayed. “The light dimmed earlier, when we were coming inside. Do they not glow all the time?”

  They are in sync with the rhythm of Taenarin Aris.

  “Its day-night cycle? But…did you bring the feith with you from Taenarin?”

  No need. This is Taenarin Aris. They awaited us here.

  The statement implied the planet was an exact replica of their homeworld, like Seneca’s twin in B-5, except here the reproduction was complete down to the native microscopic life forms. “And the air? How are we, and you, breathing fresh air?”

  Jaisc’s head tilted in a long sigh, saying louder than words that he was tiring of so many technical questions. The Taenarin seemed to enjoy an unconcerned acceptance of their existence and of the world around them. To be inundated with so many questions likely was annoying, but the alien had nonetheless agreed to the conversation.

  Alex appreciated the gesture, and she was absolutely going to get her time’s worth out of it.

  There exist openings. Vents to the surface. Geysers—similar to the spring you saw, but larger, stronger—force air out, draw air in. It is a natural process.

  “And these vents are hidden and disguised, as the lift we used was hidden?”

  Another shrug.

  So it is.

  “Hidden by Slanait Lakhes?”

  Slanait Lakhes provides our protection. We do not interrogate our protector on the mechanisms by which it is done.

  She cringed apologetically. “I’m sorry. I know I’m asking many questions. But we have little time and want to learn as much as we can of your ways and how you came to be here.”

  Jaisc leaned closer.

  Why little time?

  “We left a companion on the surface. Because of the quantum—because of the barrier Slanait Lakhes uses to keep you hidden, we can’t contact her to tell her we’re safe.”

  I…

  Jaisc’s eyes darkened until they resembled an aged Syrah thick with tannins

  …regret I feel. I was not told of three, only two.

  “It’s not your fault. She could not have come even had you known.”

  Why not?

  “She’s in—she’s part of—our ship.”

  Jaisc sat up straight, radiating bright pulses of color.

  Oh. Well that is odd.

  Alex chuckled. “I guess it is. In any event, we need to get back to her soon.”

  Hmm. You will not want to travel to see the Caomh then. It is a period—a day—there, and to return.

  Caleb watched her fidget and emote around the small room they’d been given to sleep for the night—which they were apparently doing. It turned out it was too cold on the surface in the nighttime hours to be exposed to the air for longer than a few seconds.

  If she’d realized it was already evening above, she’d have pushed for a departure earlier. But the Taenarin were undeniably interesting, and the time had flown by.

  The room was located in Jaisc’s home, as near as they could determine. The hollowed-out grottos and twisting hallways kept winding up and down and around. She couldn’t say with any degree of certainty where one home ended and another began, or if they did at all.

  She could sense Caleb’s eyes following her every movement with quiet, piercing curiosity. He often undressed her with his gaze. Sometimes it was an act of lust; other times—like this one—it was far more contemplative in nature.

  She glanced at him briefly while she checked the contents of her pack for the third time. “You think we should take the time and make the trip.”

  “You know I do. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn something new and possibly important regarding what the Metigens are doing with these pocket universes. What their true purpose may be. But I won’t fight you if you want to return to the surface in the morning.”

  “You won’t?”

  He shook his head slowly. “No. You’re worried about Valkyrie. I’m worried about her, too. This is not an ideal situation. Plus, there’s a chance this ‘Caomh’ will be a dead-end. I think it’s worth the risk to find out, but I understand if you don’t.”

  “You’re too good to me.”

  “I am.”

  She burst out laughing, but the mirth soon faded. “I don’t see why we can’t make a quick trip up first thing in the morning—just to let her know we’re fine—before we start on this trek.”

  “Their world, their rules. Jaisc said they used the lift only for emergencies and only rarely. Once we go back up we’ll need to stay there.”

  He came over and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Look, the fact Valkyrie hasn’t blown a hole in the ground above us means she’s not freaking out. She trusts us to be able to take care of ourselves and do what we need to do.”

  “Two days. The thought fills me with anxiety. I’m probably going to get cranky.”

  He merely smirked in response, as if to say it wouldn’t be the first time. She’d argue, but….

  She exhaled forcefully, hoping it might ease the tension pressing against her skull. “But the need for answers is stronger. It’s the reason we’re here and not lounging on a seaside lanai on Atlantis. Okay. We’ll go.”

  26

  TAENARIN ARIS

  Tayna Portal Space

  * * *

  The trek through the wilder regions of this subterranean world to the Caomh’s habitat was akin to wandering through a fairytale land.

  The path was highly unpredictable. At times it narrowed so much they were squeezing between slits in the granite; other times they hugged cliff faces and looked out on a valley sprawling below and a ceiling soaring far above. Water ran freely, in trickles and in waterfalls.

  What the space lacked, however, was greenery—for without sunlight to nurture them, no amount of water would keep plants alive.

  They encountered the occasional Taenarin out scouting, tending to paths or gathering supplies, but the bustle of the ‘city’ had faded to silence minutes after their departure.

  When asked why the Caomh lived in such a remote location, Jaisc muttered vague statements of ‘how it
was.’ There was every indication the Taenarin respected the Caomh, even revered her, but it wasn’t clear how that stature was maintained when the alien lived so far away from any settlements.

  Caleb seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the trip. It might not be a forest, but the landscape was certainly nature at its purest and most free, and she didn’t fault him the pleasure.

  She’d likely enjoy it, too, if it weren’t for the throbbing in her head and the worry eating at her gut. When the stone pressed in on her it was all she could do to breathe. It felt like she would suffocate from the stale air, except in reality the air wasn’t stale at all; she simply imagined it to be so. She’d close her eyes and impulsively reach for Valkyrie—farther, for the ship and the space beyond—and find only a void.

  She worked to pass the time by puzzling over the mystery presenting itself here. From where had the Taenarin originated? How did they come to be in this place and why? What was the Metigens’ game with the Taenarin? What did they gain by ostensibly ‘protecting’ them?

  Occasionally, every now and then and for the briefest span of time, she did stop to gaze around and marvel at exactly where she was. It was easy to get caught up in the minutiae, in the weeds of the quest and its concomitant frustrations. But she should not forget to revel in the fact this was not merely an alien planet, not merely the home of an alien species, but an alien universe in an alien realm apart from their own.

  Even if it was manufactured.

  She shook her head, annoyed at herself for always, inevitably returning to the sour, bitter thought. It threatened to poison her attitude, her outlook on not just the pocket universes but her life as a whole. She knew it did. She tried to fight it, but the notion of being used—of being someone else’s plaything—was a tripwire inside her mind designed to plunge her into dark places.

  “Not far now. Beyond the next ridge.”

  Jaisc hiked a few meters ahead of them. Much to her relief, overnight her eVi had finally patched together a rudimentary translator which interpreted most of the common words the aliens spoke without the need for touch.

  She sensed Caleb increase his pace a notch. The ever-present glow in the stone and dirt all around them had begun to fade, a herald of evening. He wouldn’t want them to be exposed on what was an uneven, rocky slope when darkness fell. She renewed her step.

  They were soon climbing a flight of steep stairs carved into a nearly sheer rock face. More of a ladder, really, with metal reinforcements to keep the steps from eroding away. She crested the ledge behind Jaisc and halted in surprise.

  Was that light? Faint and shadowed by encroaching dusk, but real light?

  She crawled to her feet on the ledge and gazed up. Perhaps two hundred meters above them, the ceiling wasn’t rock but ice. And the ice was thin enough to allow the rays of the setting sun to break through, distorted in a prism-like fashion and diffused. But it was light.

  She brandished a delighted grin as Caleb reached the top and joined her. His own expression brightened as well. “Is this why the Caomh lives here?”

  Jaisc smiled with his colorful eyes as much as his wide mouth. “It’s rumored to be a factor.”

  He straightened his short stature into formality. “Word was sent to the Caomh of your arrival and desire to speak to her. But it is important you not pressure her or overwhelm her. She is quite elderly and…” he looked around uncomfortably “…accustomed to being treated with care and deference. If she wishes to touch you, she will, but do not initiate contact. She is a treasure to us and should not be forced to experience discomfort, either of a physical or mental nature.”

  It was an odd instruction given how lively and affectionate the Taenarin generally were. But everything about the situation was odd. They nodded with appropriate solemnity to confirm they had received the message.

  Jaisc watched them another moment, as if to make certain they truly did understand, then headed into an archway at the center of a semicircle of edifices.

  They hung back and waited. A dozen or so Taenarin moved to and fro in the small village built upon the ledge, nestled against a wall of crystallized igneous rock. Many a curious stare was cast their way, but no one approached them.

  She leaned in close to Caleb. “For the record, if this turns out to be a crock of shit, I am going to be beyond annoyed.”

  “Oh, of that I have no doubt. But try to keep it to yourself until we’re alone. We need the help of these Taenarin to get back to the settlement and above ground.”

  “Are you saying, having trekked for nine hours through untamed and completely unfamiliar terrain, you couldn’t find your way back to the settlement blindfolded?”

  He bit his lip to suppress a laugh. “Fine. We need their help to get above ground. Just don’t piss them off too badly, okay?”

  “I can…probably manage that.” She tossed him a quick wink.

  It was several minutes before Jaisc reemerged and gestured them forward. “The Caomh will see you now. When your visit has concluded, I will be over there—” he pointed to a structure near the left end of the semicircle “—seeing to it that our dinner and lodging for the night are properly prepared.” A firm jerk of his chin and he pivoted and walked away.

  She squared her shoulders, instinctively reached out and grasped Caleb’s hand, and together they walked through the archway.

  A tiny Taenarin woman with skin as rugged as cured leather lounged on a cushioned chaise beside a cozy fire. Her enormous eyes were pure white, giving no inkling as to her sentiments in any hint of color.

  On seeing them, the Caomh leapt up from the chaise and motioned them inside with a vigorous wave. She tottered in front of the fire and sank cross-legged upon the large, plush tapestry taking up much of the floor space. “Come, come. Watch your heads—gods you are tall creatures!”

  Alex was taken aback, but Caleb gave her an unconcerned shrug and squatted on the ground.

  The elderly but surprisingly spry alien produced three bronzed mugs from somewhere behind her and poured a steaming liquid out of a decanter. She placed two of the cups between them as Alex sat next to Caleb, then took a sip of the third and set the mug down beside her.

  She regarded them with enthusiastic and intense scrutiny. Her eyes remained white, but she exuded dynamism from every other aspect of her presence.

  “You are Caleb, and you are Alex. The Iona-Cead told me this. You, Caleb—remarkably at ease and comfortable here. Observant and swift to adapt, I see. Useful skill. You, Alex—do not be anxious, my dear. I promise I don’t bite. And…well, it is no matter. The Iona-Cead tells me you visit us from the stars. Wonderful! I saw stars with my own sight three times in my life, all of them too long ago. But there are many stars in the Siopa—the Vault of Remembrance—so in my mind I see them still.”

  The alien paused to take a breath, but only a small one, before continuing. “The Taenarin call me Caomh, but you can call me Beshai. It has been so long since anyone did, I would truthfully enjoy it. Now. You climbed all the way up here for a reason. Tell me about it.”

  Alex was completely flummoxed by the Caomh’s vivacious and friendly demeanor. She blinked. “You’ll be able to understand us?”

  “Of course! The Iona-Cead took care of that troublesome little detail by sharing his memory of your language with me.”

  Caleb leaned forward. “It’s an honor to meet you, Beshai. Your people think and speak very highly of you. We’re…” his lips quirked around in a surely deliberately impish manner “…I guess you could say we’re on a quest of sorts. We think we may find some clues which will help us on our quest in the story of how the Taenarin came here from their home, which we believe was located far from here. The Iona-Cead said you possessed memories which could tell us that story.”

  The Caomh—Beshai—retrieved her mug and studied its contents. “The last of the old memories, the first of the new…the flock below, they have no care for these stories. They are contented. As it should be. It’s not healthy to dwell on the past
, when only the future remains.”

  Alex spared a small smile to herself at that.

  Beshai eyed her as though she caught it and set the mug aside once more. “Yes, I have those. Understand, I cannot answer your questions about them. I can only show you the memories as they exist, and you must draw from them what wisdom you are able.”

  “Anything you can show us will be appreciated.”

  “Will it, now?” Beshai threw her an amused and vaguely challenging glance. “Please, enjoy your tea. I will return.” Her knees and elbows creaked as she worked herself up to standing then pattered off into the adjoining room. It was shadowy, but Alex made out rows upon rows of shelves stacked high in containers.

  Alex brought the mug to her lips and whispered, “She’s not what I expected.”

  Caleb looked rather smug, so she made a face at him. “You’re about to be insightful again, aren’t you?”

  He took a long sip of his tea. “Revered leaders’ public personas rarely match their private ones. Forced to play a role created without regard to who they are as individuals, most are desperate for real, genuine interaction, especially with anyone who might see the person behind the role.”

  “So I see….”

  Beshai reemerged from the shadows. The Caomh held an obsidian box in her long fingers. She set it on the floor before using both hands to ease herself back down. Once settled, she placed it in front of her.

  “It works like this. I absorb the memory, then I share it with you through touch. When we are done, I place the memory back in its receptacle.”

  Caleb nodded. “We understand. We’re in your care.”

  Translation: they didn’t understand in the slightest, but they would just go with it.

  “So. Pardon me for a spell.” Beshai opened the box and reached inside. Her long, gnarled fingers wound delicately around what resembled a crystal ball of old fantasy fables, though they couldn’t see it clearly as it remained ensconced in the box. The Caomh’s eyes closed, and the skin from her fingertips up her arms to her face began to shine a dusky gold. She remained this way for more than twenty seconds.