by S. H. Jucha
Homsaff’s one true joy was that she’d learned, to a point, how to manipulate the holo-vid display, especially after Captain Lumley transferred the view of the Dischnya home world to the projector.
* * *
After achieving Sawa’s orbit, Alex ordered Captain Lumley to circle the Rêveur around the planet for two days to collect telemetry data and build a complete picture of the Dischnya home world.
Throughout the period, various individuals ringed the holo-vid display, viewing images of Sawa’s surface. The queens and wasats were fascinated by the views of their home world. More than once, a muzzle tipped into the image to sniff.
As the second day of telemetry recording was eclipsing, Alex, Julien, Z, and Miranda were fast reviewing the data of the surface, playing the imagery at ten times the recording speed, while the Dischnya watched the dizzying whirl.
“It’s possible Sawa was green, millenniums ago, but, obviously, that’s no longer true,” Julien said. “While we’ve only two days of data, there is a noticeable pattern to the planet’s weather. The wind storms, which sweep the surface, increase in ferocity and strength throughout the day, as Sawa’s face rotates to receive Celus’ rays.”
“If we were to collect at least ten days of data, we would have a fair possibility of forecasting these storms to help us choose the best possible landing time and location,” Z said. “However, thirty days of data would be optimal.”
“We’ll go with what we have,” Alex stated firmly. “For our first foray, we drop planetside at first light and lift off within 2.5 hours, before the winds can obscure our vision.
“Is this a tactical decision, or are we following your intuition?” Julien asked.
“What’s your summary of the Dischnya’s activity level planetside?” Alex asked.
“Minimal and inconsistent,” Julien replied.
“Precisely,” Alex replied. “Where are the cities or, for that matter, any organized activity centers?”
“The data indicates that, for the most part, the Dischnya warriors are working in small bands and acting as raiders,” Z added. “Thermal imagery detects them as most active during the night, and we’ve recorded open conflict between bands of warriors.”
“There appears little desire to maintain a status quo, which we’ve witnessed between the Sawa Messa nests,” Miranda noted. “I perceive an element of desperation here.”
“I would surmise the prevailing storms have reduced the available surface food to a minimum,” Julien said. “It’s forced the nests into a constant state of war for resources.”
“My thoughts exactly, Julien,” Alex replied. “I think our search is going to be much more difficult than we imagined.”
“We see no city centers, no general surface activity, because the Dischnya reside underground on Sawa too,” Miranda surmised.
“Which means we’ll be required to pry them out of their tunnels again,” Z added. He’d been working on a project with the twins. They’d been in no hurry to complete it, but this conversation gave him reason to reconsider that.
“Don’t make any assumptions,” Alex replied. “They might be living underground, but their access might not be through tunnel hatches. They could be using caves, but, wherever they are, they’ll see us as invading aliens and treat us accordingly.”
Julien returned to studying the pace and direction of the surface storms. His holo-vid view suddenly shifted when Homsaff stuck her dark-nailed fingers into the display and rotated the image.
Messlan saw the frown form on Alex’s forehead, and he hissed a warning to Homsaff, who quickly dropped her hands to her side, her muzzle’s lips wrinkling in consternation.
Alex signaled Z, who hurried off the bridge and returned shortly with a portable holo-vid. He set the unit on a bridge console and manipulated the output to the bridge’s prior view. When the SADE motioned to Homsaff that the device was for her use, she nodded gratefully.
Alex and his people continued to peruse the telemetry data to determine the primary landing opportunity. Their attention was interrupted by Homsaff’s bark. She was pointing at an area on her portable unit’s display, and Julien shifted her view to the bridge holo-vid.
Homsaff hurried over and pointed to a small object hardly distinguishable from the surrounding sandy color of the surface. Julien enlarged the image to its greatest magnification, and the assembled parties stared at the strange, stacked structure.
“Chona Chafwa told me stories of Sawa,” Homsaff explained. “She said our people had centers of great learning … built of stone blocks high into the air.” This was the first time Homsaff had mentioned her matriarch’s name since justice had been dispensed to the queen.
“We stay in orbit for two more days,” Alex said. “Focus on these structures. I want to know if they’re being used or if they’re abandoned. We need to be sure of that before we investigate them.”
Alex regarded Homsaff, and the young queen stared back, uncertain of what Dassata searched for in her face. Alex had a vision of a future, powerful, Dischnya race, technologically advanced, and led by a formidable queen, such as Homsaff. A good thing humans made friends with them first, Alex thought.
“Well done, Homsaff,” Alex said simply, patting her on the shoulder before he left the bridge.
Homsaff cupped a hand where Dassata had touched her. She preened, lifting her muzzle and rising slightly on her hind legs. The other queens chuffed and teased her, but Homsaff didn’t care. She was determined to earn more of Dassata’s praise.
* * *
The landing party planned to launch from the starboard bay at 4.85 hours. At a half hour prior, only Alex, Julien, Svetlana, and Deirdre were present. The two commanders were lounging against the hatch steps. Julien stood with locked avatar near them, and, naturally, Alex was pacing the deck.
Svetlana sent to Deirdre, watching Alex’s frenetic stride.
To outsiders, posting two experienced fighter commanders to pilot the single traveler might have seemed odd, but as Admiral Tachenko succinctly put it to the two women, “You’re there to do whatever you have to do to keep Alex safe, even if you have to disregard his orders.” Following those types of extraordinary orders required the sort of metal-alloy spines only possessed by hardened, combat veterans.
Deirdre sent in reply.
The two commanders exchanged brief smiles.
When the twins came through the airlock, Alex stopped his pacing and stared at them. Unfazed, the twins continued to make for the traveler.
“Sers, I’d have a word,” Alex said, and Étienne and Alain diverted from their path to join Alex.
“What are those?” asked Alex, pointing to the projections mounted on each shoulder of the crèche-mates.
“Z’s newest invention,” Étienne replied, “shoulder-mounted, stun weapons with variable beam control. We’re able to shift the power output and spread.”
“You already have your side weapons,” Alex retorted.
“Allow me to demonstrate the improvements,” Alain said, and suddenly his shoulder weapons targeted the two commanders, who leapt off the hatch steps.
“Not funny, Alain,” Deirdre declared harshly.
“Apologies, Commanders,” Alain replied, but the smirk on his face indicated that he really wasn’t. “You’ll note, Ser, that not only didn’t I touch the weapons, but I wasn’t looking at the commanders, at the time. My implant is communicating to the weapons’ controller, which targeted the commanders based on my visual memory of their location.”
“A controller?” Alex queried.
Alain turned around and displayed a smooth shell that was embedded in his jacket. The clothing, weapons, and shell came as one unit.
“The controller resides at the upper part of the shell,” Étienne said, pointing in that direction. “The entire lower sectio
n is a power cell. It will deliver 150 times more shots to each weapon than our hand stunners.”
“Most important,” Alain added, turning back around, “these implant-controlled weapons will respond faster than our hand movements.”
And there it was: Alex would choose to act in the manner he saw fit, and his escorts would do the same, even if those actions contradicted his.
“My friends,” Alex said quietly, shaking his head, “I will tell you now that one day I expect my actions will get me killed, and I’ve come to accept that. It might happen whether you two are with me or not, and you need to understand that it won’t be your fault.”
Alex waited for the twins’ reactions, but his attention was interrupted when he caught sight of Z stepping from the airlock, wearing his Cedric Broussard suit. The avatar was even more formidable appearing than ever, with massive, shoulder-mounted, stun weapons, greater than those carried by the twins. The weapons’ controller and energy pack bulged behind Z’s back.
Before a single comment could cross Alex’s lips or implant comm, a second individual stepped from behind Z — Miranda housed in another New Terran avatar in female form, as massive as Z but curvy and sporting the same armament.
The commanders burst into applause and whistles. Alex glared at them, but it did nothing to quell their enthusiasm.
“I did stress to Miranda that a male shape could house more of everything, but she insisted on this form,” Z explained.
“It’s essential that I preserve my reputation for appearing in an exotic female form,” Miranda quipped.
Alex stared at the robust shape. It was a caricature of Tatia in every way, except for the raven hair — exaggerated proportions of a heavy worlder, a robust female form accentuated by prominent breasts.
“I’m wondering if the four of you think we’re going to war,” Alex asked. His question was asked without rancor or even much volume, but his eyes were piercing. Unfortunately, for Alex, none of his audience was bothered by his determined gaze. They had been with Alex too long to be deterred from doing what they felt was necessary.
“We’ve agreed that we need to be better prepared for future events, Alex. Your life might be in great danger and ours too,” Z replied flatly.
The statement stopped Alex cold. It was one thing to risk his life; it was another to expect others to risk their lives, while defending him. He nodded his acceptance of Z’s words, and the twins and the SADEs made to board the traveler.
“I approve,” Deirdre said, as the twins passed her.
“Power is so sexy,” Svetlana remarked, admiring Miranda’s avatar.
“Thank you, dear,” Miranda replied, “I must admit to experiencing a certain pleasure, while inhabiting this form. I can see why Z loves his avatar collection.”
The last to come through the airlock were Miriam and Glenn, leading the queens and wasats. Homsaff ran ahead and leapt into the traveler without bothering with the steps.
“That’s our cue,” Svetlana quipped to Deirdre, and the commanders quickly climbed aboard to prevent having to navigate past a group of standing Dischnya. Mature chona, such as Posnossa and Sissya, would stand in the aisle, rather than sit on the laps of their wasats, to accommodate their magnificent tails, and their wasats wouldn’t sit, while their queens stood. As for Homsaff, if the other queens stood, so would she.
Alex stared at the traveler. He considered who was aboard and what he hoped to accomplish. Anger, for the briefest moment, flared, but he recalled Renée’s final words to him. She said, “In order for you to come back safely to me, my love, I’ll need you to think calmly and carefully before you take each step, and this includes listening to those around you.”
When Alex nodded perfunctorily, Renée had grabbed his face with both hands, twisting his head so their eyes locked. “Are you listening to me?” she’d asked.
“I am now,” he replied, realizing his failure to give her the attention she was due.
Recalling Renée’s words, Alex took a couple of deep breaths, blowing them out slowly to clear his head. Then he shrugged his shoulders, a lopsided smile appearing on his face, and muttered, “One careful step at a time, my love.” He boarded the traveler and joined the queens, who stood in the aisle at the front of the main cabin.
Posnossa and Sissya stood with their tails fully entwined around their legs, but Homsaff only managed to do that for about three-quarters of hers. The tip of her tail twitched impatiently.
<Étienne and Alain,> Alex sent,
-15-
The Edifices
The light of Celus was a dim glow on the horizon when Svetlana set the traveler down 120 meters from what the team called Edifice Alpha. It was a stacked, three-story, stone construction, which Julien said resembled an ancient ziggurat. He sent images and a brief historical summary to those with comms or implants to explain his reference.
The Dischnya’s exalted learning center, so named by Homsaff’s stories, stood more than 30 meters high and dominated the barren landscape. What was strange to those who could observe the edifice through the ship’s controller was that it was the only structure in sight. There was no surrounding city or domiciles. It stood apart like some sort of ancient monument to a civilization that had lost its way, and its citizens had no more use for it.
The team knew from the Dischnya’s nightly forays that Sawa’s air was breathable. It was the storms that increased in ferocity, as the air was heated, that had to be avoided. The wind’s tremendous velocity and skin-abrading sands would be dangerous to any biological forms.
Alex signaled his people and nodded toward the exit to the queens. Each wasat stepped in front of his queen to lead the way.
Z dropped the hatch and stepped out onto the ground. His heavy steps disturbed a layer of gritty sand, 4 centimeters deep. Miranda descended behind Z, and the two SADEs swept left and right, separating from each other by 10 meters. The twins dropped down behind the SADEs and filled the gap between them. The foursome slowly advanced toward the wide steps that led up to the edifice’s primary platform.
Alex and Julien exited before the queens and wasats, and Julien signaled the hatch closed once the Dischnya disembarked. In the pale light, the structure looked imposing, and, ever so briefly, Alex hoped that their trip would be quick and informative. Yet the niggling thought in the back of his mind said he was fooling himself.
The closer the team got to the wide, block-stone steps, the more the edifice revealed the wear of time. Sand filled many of the steps, and the massive stones that formed the walls were pitted from the ferocity of the scouring winds. Most disappointing to Alex was the absence of any signs of life. The edifice hadn’t been visited for decades, if not longer.
At the steps and by mutual agreement, Z and Étienne took the lead. Miranda and Alain fell to the team’s rear. The security team was unsure whether they’d confront trouble at their front and be required to make a hasty retreat or be attacked from behind and forced to take shelter in the edifice.
Passing through the primary platform’s main archway, Alex’s party found the interior structure open, except for massive square columns spaced evenly across the floor. The interior’s walls and columns had once been deeply carved w
ith glyphs, but many had been worn away, especially those lowest to the floor where the grinding sands were fiercest.
Z and Miranda split off and used their combination of variable-light intensive eyes and algorithms to resurrect the symbols, as best they could, and record them.
The glyphs on the back wall were the least worn, and Alex glanced at the Dischnya, who were staring up at the writing that reached to the ceiling, nearly 11 meters up.
“Any of these symbols mean anything to you?” Alex asked the Dischnya.
“They are entreaties to the soma,” Posnossa said. “Encouragement to respect one another, study fervently to understand the ways of Sawa, listen keenly to the words of their queens, and other such things.”
“Chona and wasats, look over the walls and columns,” Alex encouraged. “Search for any reference to a large sphere that visited this system. I’m especially interested to know when this might have happened and from what direction it came.”
The queens separated, and the wasats interspersed themselves among them.
The party’s search and recording of the glyphs had gone on for nearly 1.75 hours of the allotted time Alex was allowing the team to be planetside, when an emergency signal hit implants and comms.
Svetlana was ready to lift and, if necessary, start glassing the sand behind the warriors to convince them to disperse. But a tick later, she considered the possibility that a beam shot at the Dischnya’s back might panic them to run into the edifice.
The twins raced to the front of the edifices, staying concealed behind the grand archway stones. Étienne snapped a hurried peek at the approaching warriors, who hadn’t reached the edifice’s steps yet, and shared the view with the team. Z and Miranda took up positions behind the twins, and Alex hurried the queens and wasats to one side, tucking them behind Z.
