D'mok Revival 4: New Eden

by Michael Zummo

  “Going on the tour?” he asked.

  “That’s what I wanted to talk with you about, sir.”

  He looked over her shoulders and saw Nikko and Dane standing impatient. He wasn’t used to seeing Dane’s brillo pad of hair manicured down. In place of her usual attire, she wore a more subdued leather halter-top and knee-length leather skirt. In fact, it was probably the most modest outfit he’d ever seen on her. A studded leather collar was the only remnant of her usual style.

  Nikko had traded her black-and-tan Eden uniform for a more civilian style. Her salmon-pink dreadlocks were tied back and draped over a soft, black leather vest and white shirt. Leather pants matched the color of her hair. Like a second skin, the outfit hugged the curves of her body.

  The three were up to something.

  “Dane has a lead on Tal. The three of us are going to follow up on it while it’s still hot.”

  Tal? Back on their mission to Keros, when they rescued Dane from a Nukari takeover of her world, a man named Tal sacrificed himself so the group could get away. Kiyanna led the mission, so Mencari didn’t have all the details, but this Tal shared some of Dane’s unique summoning abilities. Kiyanna mentioned Dane and Tal also had some sort of relationship at one time. If he could be rescued, they could gain another powerful ally. But was it the right time for this?

  “How long will you be gone? We’re still in the planning stages to take back Argosy. I’d imagine Nikko would want to take part in taking back her world?”

  “I don’t know for sure, sir. But, concerning Argosy, I’ve just submitted an initial strategy to you and the New Eden Council for review. I hope to be back before you’re even ready to talk with me about it.”

  “Sounds like you have everything in order.”

  “Yes, sir. Permission to take Dane and Nikko, sir?”

  “Granted. Keep me posted on progress. If you need support, you’ll have it.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  With a quick salute she turned on her heels and dashed back toward Dane and Nikko. Without speaking a word, the two fell in line and followed Kiyanna down the corridor.

  “Is it wise to let them go? Should we send others with them?” Osuto asked.

  “Kiyanna’s right, it will take us time to prepare for the next major mission. I know Dane’s been trying to track Tal since the Nukari fell. I think we need to let them do this. Kiyanna’s also a master strategist. She’s led us in far greater endeavors. I trust her judgment here too.”

  “What about Nikko and Cogeni? He clearly wasn’t with them.”

  “We can’t get in the middle of whatever’s happening between them. They need to sort this out themselves. If it impacts the team, or one asks for help, that’s another issue. Until then, I think we should stay out of it.”

  “I suppose that’s wise,” Osuto said, turning with a grunt to plod his way down the hall.

  Just then a foot-tall, bug-like robot skittered around the bend. The diminutive object careened toward him making strange clicks and chirps. It was Bob, or at least one of the physical carrier units for the artificially intelligent being that ran the station. The bug-bot stopped in a flash at Mencari’s feet, antennae raised.

  “Greetings and salutations!”

  “Hello, Bob,” Mencari said.

  “Eyani is waiting for you at the station ahead. Follow me please!”

  Mencari entered the spacious tram just behind Osuto.

  “I mentioned I wanted to wait for you, and Bob darted off,” Eyani said.

  “We were briefly detained, sorry for the delay,” Osuto said.

  “Why don’t you take a window seat. I’d suggest the left side, you’ll get the best views,” she said, closing and sealing the tram door behind them.

  He walked Osuto to an open spot to the left. His mentor seemed to walk slower each time they were together. Something wasn’t right. “Maybe you should talk to Doctor Xbtoth?”

  “Again?” Wrinkles in the old man’s face deepened with disdain. “I’ve talked with him already.”

  “Then maybe D’abar when he’s better?”

  “We’ll see. Let’s just focus here for the moment.”

  Mencari looked across the tram. Dignitaries had joined a host of other key crewmembers, and his D’mok Warriors. The Terconian cat-sisters Toriko and Maro Purg were at the rear, talking with the red-bearded catman, Ujaku. Varen of the Nomads conferred with Ghn’en off to the side. Allia sat next to Naijen, both playing with their weapons passing the time. Her loyal morphing companion lay quietly at her feet.

  Naijen’s eyes met his. He sheathed the Skar weapon, stood, and crowed, “Don’t need no tour.” Allia watched, confused, as he bolted out of the tram. She walked over and asked, “Why’d he go? Is he mad at you or something?”

  The question caught him by surprise. “Why me?”

  “Because that’s just how you two are.…” Insight gleamed in her eyes. “Speru … he went to be with Speru didn’t he?”

  That made more sense. Since D’abar’s rescue, Speru spent most of his time isolated, seated beside his old mentor. Perhaps Naijen reached his limit for being away from him? Mencari smirked. It seemed their heartless warrior had one fatal weakness. Despite Naijen’s many gruffer qualities, this one seemed endearing.

  “Why don’t you join us, dear,” Osuto said, ending with a spasm of coughs.

  The door to the tram closed as Eyani’s voice carried with confidence from the front. “We’re going to get started.” She made her way to the other end and stood on a short pedestal next to the Purg sisters. “I want to thank everyone for coming. Despite the continued chaos of our universe, I’m honored you made time to be here. Almost a year ago today our original Be’Inaxi station, the Trading Post, was obliterated by the Nukari. That day we lost not only a place we called home, but countless loved ones.

  “Soon we landed our own decisive blow against our enemy thanks to a new alien alliance: the strategy of Kiyanna Kyoda, the leadership of Rhysus Mencari, the might of his D’mok Warriors, and the ultimate sacrifice of Seigie Weun. We achieved a miracle. Since then, we have pushed back the remaining Nukari forces, liberated their captured worlds, and have created a home here in New Eden.”

  Mencari joined the applause.

  “As we get underway, my co-tour guides will provide details about the facilities below.” She motioned in the air, and a swarm of holographic cherry blossoms swirled above them. Minea emerged from the light that poured from the swirl. Beside her, a glowing green beetle flitted about. The projection burst into a small swarm before re-forming into a person-sized, cybernetic insect-man. His bulging eyes glowed yellow, and antennae perked up excited.

  Bob? Mencari had heard about Mini-T’s transformation to Minea. It appeared Bob too had an upgraded holographic presence. It started to feel like there was too much going on to keep track of.

  A projection of the station appeared between Bob and Minea.

  “Good morning, everybody!” Minea said in her overly cheerful way.

  “Greetings and salutations, various alien lifeforms!” Bob said, ending in a click-and-whirl sound.

  The tram slowly pulled from the station. The loading platform dropped away, revealing the drop of hundreds of feet down to a bustling city below. He looked straight out into the horizon. Even at this height, he could see the other side. In fact, he swore he could make out a curvature of the surface. In the parts he could see were numerous towering structures, parks, lakes, and a dance of hovering vehicles.

  “Rinow, the city under the dome, is more than three times the size of the original Trading Post’s city.” As Minea spoke the dome section of the station projection illuminated. “Many of the structures from the original science station were salvaged, greatly reducing the need for new building materials. The Hyer Metro district, which contains the majority of our medical treatment and research facilities, was the first recreated.”

  Towering buildings of glass passed under the tram. Light from the nearby stars gleame
d off the structures’ ragged walls.

  “While still under development, Rinow City can handle ten million citizens and visitors. When complete, we’ll be able to handle approximately twice that figure. Beyond the limits of the city lies hundreds of square miles of reclaimed and undeveloped land. A future development plan is already in the works.”

  A large park with a thick blanket of trees and flowered grottos surrounded a deep blue lake. Tiny hovercrafts skimmed playfully above the water.

  “A central feature of Rinow, the Allian Sanctuary, is named after the youngest D’mok Warrior Allia Tachai, who’s known for her love of nature and animals.”

  Mencari patted Allia on the back. Her normally pale cheeks were flushed bright red. The immensity of the sanctuary made her grotto back at Osuto’s asteroid base seem like a tiny garden. The child sacrificed greatly for their cause. It was a kind gesture and an amazing honor for the New Eden planners to dedicate the space to her.

  “Now we’ll head to the lower levels,” Minea said, with a gesture. The tram rocked gently. He noticed they were headed down toward the ground. Below them, a spiral of metal opened, revealing a tunnel they passed into. “These tunnels are reserved for our security forces, and provide quick access to key areas within the station.”

  The projection of the station zoomed in, displaying the tunnel system. It reminded him of old subway systems. Despite being encased, the blood-red tunnel appeared well lit. They zipped past a number of small waystations, which he assumed led to either critical sections, or shortcuts to common areas.

  Eyani broke the silence. “Today we honor our fallen, our heroes that made our todays and tomorrows possible. In addition to the marvels of Rinow, we’re celebrating the completion of three additional facilities. Each has been designated with a hero of the Nukari War.”

  The tram slowed and entered a great expanse. A massive glass wall revealed an auditorium-like chamber where hundreds of aliens sat listening to a panel at the front of the area. “The Canbur Tenrl Center is the hub for delegates of nearly half the sentient worlds in our region of space. Together these delegates create the Syndicate of Extraterrestrial Intervention, or SETI, an alliance of worlds intending to ensure the future peace and prosperity of all its members. Here they will debate, coordinate, and secure our shared space—something Command Tenrl worked toward as head of the original Eden organization.”

  He watched Eyani’s eyes glisten and her body grow rigid. Talking about Tenrl had to be difficult for her. He couldn’t count the times that exact thing happened to him. Talking about those they loved and lost was a cruel torture. Each time he thought of Seigie it felt like a punch to his gut, or maybe his heart.

  Tenrl was a good man and a fine leader. Though, from his cuddly, sloth-like appearance, he didn’t look like someone at the helm of an extensive xenointelligence organization. The results he brought provided all the proof someone needed to know he was the right person for the job.

  The tram jostled and continued on, moving with far greater speed than he felt. Given the quick turns and abrupt adjustments to dart down side tunnels, he expected to feel more shifts and bumps. They slowed dramatically as they entered a section that appeared significantly more reinforced than the other tunnels. Scanning beams passed over the tram as they approached another station.

  As the tram slowed to a stop, he could see at the far end a pair of mammoth doors that appeared reinforced more than the tunnels they just traveled through.

  “The Jika Lindu Computational Core is the central hub of processing power for the station,” Eyani explained. “Thanks to our technical geniuses Toriko and Maro Purg, Jika’s vision has been realized.”

  Mencari noticed Maro hug Toriko, who appeared to be wiping her eyes. He didn’t consider how difficult this tour could be. It seemed everything reminded them about those lost in the Nukari War.

  Toriko and Jika were very close, and two of a kind. From the moment they met the pair clicked. He recalled Toriko’s amazement when Jika revealed she created Bob, the AI that managed the entire Trading Post. Jika was likewise dazzled by Toriko’s inventions. Both had amazing minds, ones that no one but Toriko’s sister Maro could even comprehend. In no time the three were collaborating, leaping Eden technologies forward.

  A storm of light formed over the tram station. Holographic projections of three outlandish, nearly Human-looking men with thick beards emerged from the light. Each was cloaked in an ornate robe. The tallest, with graying, reddish-brown hair, wore a robe of emerald green with golden trim. The shortest, with sandy blond hair, wore a purple robe with silver trim. The last, in a flaming-red robe with white trim, had thick, raven-black hair. As if in prayer, the three held their hands toward one another. Rays of colored light rained down upon them. Between their hands shot colored bands of light, and glowing white wisps wafted down from their feet. Occasional glints of light zinged off them before disappearing.

  “In addition to Minea and Bob, our three artificially intelligent stewards, the Wise Men: Melchior, Balthazar, and Kasper, process every bit and byte of intelligence and operational data through New Eden. They provide the insights needed to perform the miracles we do on a daily basis. Their work is passed on to another.…”

  Beneath the trio, light from their wisps congealed into a fourth figure. While familiar to Mencari, others gasped. Datochn. Of all the Nukari genetics projects, Datochn looked the most cobbled together. His overgrown, tumor-filled cranium looked too massive for his scrawny neck. Four black, goat-like eyes, a larger one beside a smaller one, straddled the slit he had for a nose. The sideways slit for a mouth was barely noticeable, and his long, anemic limbs looked functionally useless. Yet, despite his appearance, he moved with a grace and sense of peace. His mind made him a supreme specimen of techno-organic evolution.

  “A fourth and final component of the core is Datochn. Rescued from Kajlit’ga’s research facilities, this incredible cyborg helped bring about the fall of his former masters, and he has become an essential part of New Eden. He actualizes key information from the Wise Men, and puts our many resources into motion.”

  The projections of the Wise Men and Datochn dissolved into a cloud of energy as the tram continued on. Speeding through the tunnels they emerged into a new expanse contained by thick greenhouse-like panels. Mencari looked up and saw the base of the great dome atop the station. He guessed this must be the new ringed edition around the base. Construction crews worked at a fevered pace on a vast complex of buildings. Whatever this was, it looked important.

  The tram slowed before what appeared to be the main way into the complex. In the middle of a vast courtyard stood a monument that took his breath away. Larger than life, a giant silver statue of Seigie stood defiant, hands raised high above her head, powering a gleaming green crystal. Her signature robes flowed as if power radiated from her body. Dumbstruck, he couldn’t look away. His stomach wretched.

  Seigie’s final moment played through his mind—the strobe of rainbow light, the mammoth explosion, the shattering of the space gateway, the explosion of the Leviathan. Like an obstinate child, the memory looped in his mind. It was a moment he’d lament until the day he died. And now, it seemed the moment had been memorialized for eternity before him.

  A small hand pulled at his side. “Rhysus,” Allia said, her voice cracking. He looked down to see her glowing blue eyes flooding with tears. He forced a smile, knowing exactly how she felt, and put his arm around her shoulder. He wanted to say something inspired, but found his own heartache robbed him of words. How could he console Allia when he hadn’t figured out how to move beyond the loss? He had to just be strong—be honest. Pulling her close he said, “I miss her too.” His eyes burned, a sensation he fought for the sake of his own dignity.

  A familiar face emerged from the building and headed toward them. She stood the tallest on the team, more than Decreta or Naijen, and yet she looked like a child beside the monument. The bright white tiara, a natural bone crown that grew from her head, made her a
ppear even taller. Her silver hair draped down over an unfamiliar uniform. Instead of her usual flowing white robes, or the black-and-tan New Eden jumper, she wore a formal, almost military-style jacket with black sleeves and sides, and a center V-shaped, deep-blue stripe down the middle. An emblem sewn into the front pocket resembled the gateway memorial.

  Crouching as she entered the tram Eyani said, “Many of you might know Cerna Hyuzu as a member of Rhysus Mencari’s D’mok Warriors. She recently has taken on an additional role that she’ll tell you about.”

  He couldn’t help his brow from furrowing. What new role?

  “Good afternoon, everyone. And thank you, Captain Wayrena. What you see before you is the latest addition to New Eden. It’s a school called Weun Academy, named after the martyr of the Nukari War, Seigie Weun. Its mission is to find and train those with D’mok Warrior-like abilities, with the goal of making them a force for peace and hope. I have accepted the role of headmaster for Weun Academy, and will be a part of the initial team that searches for those gifted individuals. Our faculty is composed of New Eden strategists, volunteers from the D’mok Warriors themselves, and other allies we’ve made.”

  Why have I not been told about all this? It seemed something this important, that directly affected his team, would have been discussed with him first.

  Allia’s hand flagged. “Wait, does that mean you won’t be going missions with us—I mean the D’mok Warriors, anymore?”

  “I’m still a D’mok Warrior—I will always be one,” Cerna said. “And when I’m needed, I will still venture out on missions. In the meantime, if Weun Academy is going to help the galaxy as we hope, it’s important I search for others and train them.”

  “Do you currently have students?” Varen asked.

  “Not yet, though we have leads thanks to the Wise Men. We’re working out our protocols for how to approach governments and individuals. Once we do, I’ll lead my teams to extend an invitation to enroll in Weun Academy.”