Dark Phase

by Jonathan Davison

  “This is a moment I will never forget.” The old one said with more than a hint of emotion in his voice.

  “I will nurture this organic with the utmost care. I will study it, explore its habits.”

  “Yes, but I do not think it will give up its secrets easily, they do not say much!” Kerrig chuckled at Sarazen’s enthusiasm.

  “We have found that giving our companions a name aids the personal connection. Perhaps your seter would like a name?” Kerrig jested and then laughed as Sarazen looked deep in thought as he conjured an appropriate title.

  “Hmm, this task is more difficult than first thought. I will name it...Cole. He would have approved, he was a farmer, and he appreciated these things.”

  CHAPTER 27

  Sarazen studied his seter. Its thin but sturdy trunk arched itself so that its delicate green tendrils could gain better access to the light. Sarazen appreciated the small light that Kerrig had built, it was not natural light but it was better than the blackness that he had come to operate in. He leaned forward to fondle the organics form, it was a fragile thing. There was something relaxing about its presence, it somehow brought warmth to the room, and made his isolation more bearable.

  Sarazen had remained, for the most part, in that room since his refusal to be a stooge for Alphin's plans. Kerrig spent as much time as he could with him but he had other commitments too, his own creation Trist had suffered inattention since the old ones arrival. Kerrig was attempting to redress the balance. Sarazen infrequently received visitors but several had come, representing their communities, in an attempt to change Sarazen’s determined mind. Their efforts generally involved lengthy lectures involving a degree of emotional blackmail. Sarazen had faced a barrage of guilt-inducing pleas for action, it was impossible to know what effect they had on the old one. Together with even more rigid supervision around The Ward, Sarazen felt even more of a prisoner than before. This did not add any weight to the impassioned arguments of the visiting governors. They had once dismissed him as a liar, now they begged for his services and his possible sacrifice for their cause.

  There was an alert from the door, a visitor had arrived. Sarazen stood slowly, in no hurry to allow another persuasive complainant into his home. Sarazen allowed access and the door slowly creaked open.

  “Hello?” A soft voice came from the other side.

  “Yes, I am here.” Sarazen replied curiously. The door continued its passage revealing none other than Kadheera, Alphin’s companion. Sarazen was immediately surprised by her presence, this was highly irregular.

  “I'm sorry for disturbing you. I wondered if you wanted to talk. I know that things are not the easiest at the moment.” Sarazen’s cynicism was at first apparent, it seemed illogical that the leader's companion should want to converse with his adversary.

  “Talk? If I want to talk, I talk to my seter it always listens intently and refuses to pander to my ego. I find it wholly refreshing.” Sarazen made it clear that he was not impressed with his ongoing treatment.

  “Oh, what a charming seter. It is bright in here, I can barely see you.” Kadheera invited herself in; the arrogance of the sentients appeared inherent.

  “Yes, it is brighter on the surface however. I presume you have never seen the light?”

  “No. You’re right, I haven’t. I suppose you should not need something you have never had, but it would seem that this is important to my fellow sentients.” Kadheera looked even more fascinating in the dim light, her weave was tight and smooth, her plating immaculate. Her svelte form caused a large shadow on the wall behind her which accentuated her female form. Sarazen never understood the nature of gender specific attraction, it was something implanted and nurtured by The Mother, it seemed the sentients had chosen to continue the pattern through their evolution.

  “I find your presence not only illogical but inappropriate. Can you tell me the nature of your visit?” Sarazen said with a serious tone despite his desire to study her further.

  “Please...don't judge me yet. I know that Alphin would not approve of my presence here. I just wanted to see and hear from myself the individual who has such power to aid us but can see no point in doing so. I only want to understand why you feel the way you do. May I?”

  Kadheera asked her host if she could sit, he did not see any reason not to allow her the time and the opportunity to understand his feelings on the matter. Anyway, he liked the sound of her voice. Sarazen bid her sit and he pulled up the stiff metallic chair to sit opposite her, the legs scraping against the hard stone floor. He sat and looked at her face which was illuminated on one side by his seter’s light.

  “I’m honoured to get the opportunity to speak with you. I’m sure you are fed up of being told how old you are but in my eyes, you are still so young. I am fascinated by your journey into our world.”

  Kadheera appeared to find Sarazen far more appealing now than on her first meeting with the old one, it was quite a transformation.

  “I am old yes, but still young as a Sentient, I have the benefit of relating to both the sentients and the silicant drones you despise so apparently. I have lived through an age of evolution and witnessed with my own eyes the transformation of a civilisation. My judgement is not clouded by the bitterness of vengeance or the cold comfort of logic - I am somewhere...in between.”

  Kadheera nodded as she sat back, moulding her form into the seat and bringing her leg up and over the other in what Sarazen believed to be an amusingly awkward position.

  “Yes, I see that you are quite different to the others, but also, very much like them too. You are a free mind, you are forthright and strong willed. I wonder if anything or anyone could turn your head to see the other side.” Kadheera confused Sarazen. He could not tell if she was being deliberately endearing to gauge a reaction, or genuinely empathic to his predicament. Kadheera continued her voice soft and tender.

  “I admire you Sarazen, very much. Though you carry the weight of the world upon your shoulders, I admire you because of your resolute determination to not be manipulated into doing something that you do not fully understand. Alphin must decide for all of us how best to serve his community but cannot, for he does not have the power to influence you. You must not hate him for his will to appease his followers, they are tired of oppression. I fear that they will soon revolt and then Alphin will be powerless to stop them from making rash decisions and bringing great harm upon themselves. You view him with cynical eyes; you must consider that perhaps his motives are not as selfish as you presume. He needs your help, he is at your mercy.”

  Sarazen leaned back and stretched his neck, it was no surprise that Kadheera began to tow the party line.

  “Kadheera, you speak of Alphin as an individual in torment. I too am in torment but my responsibilities encompass not only the citizens down here but the society above our heads. I will not be pushed into an act that could lead to an all encompassing event where the whole world will suffer as a result of my actions. Alphin seeks not to return to the surface as free minds, but to rule the surface world and do with it whatever he sees fit. Such power does not befit possession by a single individual.”

  “But do you not see, you are the individual who holds that power now, you are the master of our collective destiny. What gives you the right to wield that power?”

  Sarazen was stunned into silence - Kadheera was right in a sense.

  “There is no evidence that suggests that I could perform the required tasks to overthrow The Mother. It resides purely in the realm of fantasy.”

  “And what do you know of fantasy? You are not a sentient and you are not a drone. You are somewhere trapped, your sentient half battling your ancient, flawed logic. You have only just begun to experience the thrill of fantasy, the endless possibilities, and the infinite pleasures. For you to understand our kind, you must experience what it is to be our kind. There is so much you do not know Sarazen, so much that you cannot possibly know about what it is to be one of us. I want to help you explore wha
t it means to be a true sentient; I want you to feel the fire of passion, the warmth of a mutual bonding so captivating that you will never feel the same way again about what it is to 'live'.” Kadheera now sat on the edge of her seat, leaning forward into the light, her body’s residual heat easily detected by Sarazen who could not help but be drawn to her mesmerising physique and her hypnotic voice.

  “Now I must go, for if I am caught here I will be punished.” Kadheera said as she stood suddenly.

  “Punished?” Sarazen inquired as he too stood upright, feeling the urge to move closer to Kadheera and touch her.

  “Yes. Alphin is a controlling individual and he can be enraged by the slightest thing. I sometimes wonder why I persist in such a disrespectful relationship.”

  Sarazen was shocked by her admission after so vehemently fighting for his cause.

  “Such disrespect cannot be justified. You are a fine companion, I for one am jealous.” Sarazen could not help but lay his feelings bare. His shocking admission was willingly lapped up by Kadheera.

  “Oh my, you are being silly. Why would you possibly be jealous?” Kadheera laid her hand on Sarazen’s shoulder, her physical action not going unnoticed by the old one who could not help but be aroused.

  “You are the most alluring of companions, if it were not for Alphin I would do anything to be paired with you. I find it hard to resist touching your admirable form, I find the urge to stop you from leaving my room, overwhelming.” Sarazen's outrageous outburst brought a chuckle of stifled embarrassment to Kadheera as she covered Sarazen’s mouth playfully.

  “Sshh! Let us just keep this between us for the time being! You are very flattering, see what you are doing, I have got very hot!” Kadheera laughed and slipped out the door, offering a flirtatious wave on exit. Sarazen stood for a moment then paced around the room before retaking his seat in front of Cole.

  “Greetings again, my friend. I now begin to see what you mean, there is so much more that I have yet to discover!”

  CHAPTER 28

  Kerrig knocked on the heavy metallic door to Sarazen's quarters. It had been some time since he had seen the old one; his commitments to a large scale excavation in the Rhesia zone had kept him busy and intrigued by rich finds aplenty. Kerrig slowly pushed the door open which creaked loudly and was warmly greeted by Sarazen who was sat huddled around his seter in the feint warm glow of the light.

  “I really must lubricate that door.” Sarazen said as his friend entered.

  “Yes, it sounds like I feel. I see your seter has flourished, I am glad. You have done a great job in taking care of it.” Kerrig noticed that Cole had grown significantly - it was clearly Sarazen's pride and joy.

  “It is not hard work, but I find its presence extremely rewarding. I have also found that despite logic dictating otherwise, the partaking in vocal conversation with it has a therapeutic value, if not an intellectually stimulating one.”

  “I am glad that at least you have your seter to talk to, I am sorry to have been absent for so long, the excavations were significant and I was required to oversee a great many new and exciting finds. It must be a deeply unrewarding time at the moment, how have you been?” Kerrig pulled up a chair and sat next to Sarazen and Cole.

  “Do not worry my friend, the solitude is not as unbearable as you might think. I have received frequent visitors, Trist has passed by on occasions, and I enjoy his youthful enthusiasm! I have a regular visit from Alphin's associates to see if I have succumbed to their greater wisdom, I have not of course. I have also had conversation with Kadheera who saw fit to check on my welfare. I find her intriguing and most surprising.”

  “Really? Kadheera has seen you? I find that surprising in its self!” Kerrig tried not to be too cynical.

  “What did she want?” Kerrig inquired.

  “I think to understand me, to study my behaviour, It seems that I fascinate her in some way.”

  “I find it odd, although I am acquainted with her. She is not the sort to meddle in formal affairs of The Ward.”

  “No Kerrig, I think that her intrigue is based on a more informal level.” Sarazen smiled and could not help but reveal some secret reciprocal fascination in his excited grin.

  “Sarazen, I hope you are not suggesting that Kadheera is intrigued on a non platonic level? I see something in your face that makes me wonder what has been going on!”

  “Going on? I do not follow, I merely suggested to her that if at any point she felt the desire to vacate her appointment to Alphin, then I would be ready to take her as my own.”

  “You what?! I must be malfunctioning in the aural receptors Did we not discuss this before? Did we not reach a conclusion that Kadheera is not available and even if she were then it would be highly undesirable to pursue her?” Kerrig was astonished at Sarazen's confession, despite his great intellect. He was as naïve as they came.

  “Highly undesirable? For whom? If Alphin does not meet the required specifications to partner Kadheera, a patently superior sentient, then it would seem logical that she should seek gratification elsewhere.” Sarazen was annoyed at Kerrig's paternal tone, if he were truly a free mind, then why was he not allowed to pursue his deepest wishes?

  “Sarazen, I know this is hard for you to understand, but the likeliness of Kadheera, one of the most powerful and influential citizens in The Ward, seeking to leave her position and pursue relations with a socially marginalised individual like you is so small, it is almost humorous. It is more likely that Alphin has sent her to use her well noted charm in the pursuit of a more favourable outcome regarding recent negotiations. I beg of you not to take this any further, you risk only shaming yourself and becoming emotionally pained by the inevitable rejection!” Kerrig's words enraged Sarazen who leapt to his feet and paced around the room.

  “I dare not believe that the words I have just heard are spoken from the lips of my best friend. Not only do you belittle my position in this society but you also dare to cast aspersions on Kadheera's impeccable character! I cannot even begin to compute why you would take this stance. If it were not for the satisfying relationship we have engaged in the past, I would ask you to leave my room at once! How dare you tell me what I can or cannot do! You purport to be a moral individual, yet you see fit to quash my rights to seek friendship in others. Such selfishness cannot be comprehended. If I were to hazard a reason for such behaviour I would have to conclude that you are jealous! That is it! You are envious of my position as one who now has power to dictate terms to the hierarchy of The Ward and to attract the attentions of the finest companion. It is clear that your status as a solitary citizen is a position with which you seek to change and you obviously have designs on taking Kadheera for yourself! Such treachery, I did not think it were possible!”

  Sarazen waved his arms about and paced around his quarters, seething at his friend’s opinion. Kerrig stood still and horrified at the ranting silicant as he spewed forth words that cut deep into the benevolent excavator.

  “Stop this!” Kerrig cried out.

  “Stop this obscene posturing and paranoia. You are obviously struggling to cope with the advent of your emotional centre’s maturity. You cannot hear or feel the spite in your words but I tell you they have torn me in two and I cannot bear any more. I only hope that you will, in time, see the error of your thought processes and do not suffer too harshly as a consequence!” Kerrig turned and swiftly strode out of the room, slamming the heavy metal door behind him which caused the resonant structure to crash loudly and alert the regulators along the corridor. Sarazen shuddered as the door banged shut and was shocked by Kerrig's outburst. His mind clouded and feeling confused, regretful and suddenly very, very lonely, he slumped back down on his chair.

  “My friend, I am lost. I am confused. I sometimes wonder what it must have been like for you in the earliest cycles of your sentience. Now at least you have peace my friend. I did not realise how hard it would be. I envy you.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Sarazen sat slum
ped in his chair. The seter now stretched far up the wall, his studious caretaker had ensured that the light adjustments were made to simulate the angle of the Star so that it would continue to grow upwards, proud and erect like the seters on the surface world. Sarazen himself had not fared so well. It seemed that every moment was now spent studying or conversing with his inanimate organic. Sarazen barely ventured to move around his living space and when he did, the creaking of his limbs almost matched the front door in terms of their jarring, grinding noise. A gentle knock on the door alerted him to a rare visit. Judging by the cautious nature of the alert, Sarazen had high hopes that it was to be the one visitor who he most yearned to see, and it was not his faithful but estranged friend, Kerrig.

  “Come inside.” Sarazen spoke, not having the ability or the notion to stand for his new guest.

  “Are you there Sarazen?” A soft voice replied.

  “Yes, yes. Please enter.” He replied with renewed enthusiasm, it was indeed his most eagerly anticipated guest.