She reached into her pocket and retrieved two sanguine gems. Adrenaline made her hands unsteady, her body flushed with heat. Consumed by strategies, she ignored the cool, refreshing breeze rising from the gorge.
The distinct hum of the robot grew. At least it seemed focused on her alone now. When she peeked out to take aim, it spotted her and opened fire. She realized, too late, the same breeze that cooled her had dispersed the diamond dust, leaving her vulnerable to its attacks. The blast hit a large section of trunk next to her, shattering it into a bloom of woodchip shrapnel. The second blast headed directly for her. She twisted to avoid it, her shimmering cloak opening, leaving her exposed. She screamed as the blast grazed her side, burning her clothes and badly searing her skin. The pain crumpled her to the ground.
“Hang on, I’m coming!”
Hearing Mencari’s cry, she looked up to see that he’d somehow pulled himself above the edge of the gorge.
No! The robot will hear you! her mind shrieked.
As she’d feared, the robot whirled toward his voice and opened fire. Helpless, she watched the first blast hit close by his left hand, and a second flash landed just in front of him. Horrified, she saw his flailing arms again disappear beyond the chasm’s edge.
She whimpered and closed her eyes, expecting to hear his scream as he fell. Yet she heard nothing.
Praying he’d been knocked unconscious before falling to his death, she moaned at the shooting pains radiating from her side while she scraped along the ground, toward better cover. The robot renewed its advance toward her.
Moaning “No!” she struggled to move faster. At last, she banked herself against a collection of larger rocks, shrieking in pain.
As soon as she was able, she peeked around the boulder. A column of golden light blasted up into the air from the spot along the gorge where Mencari had fallen. The robot stopped suddenly, turning back to assess the anomaly.
This was her chance! She grabbed two yellow gems and filled them with power. She threw them along with the sanguine one with a powerful overhead toss and a loud grunt.
The robot turned as electric zaps surrounded it like a woven blanket. The sanguine gem erupted in a fierce blast. The metal beast disappeared into the acrid dust and smoke of the explosion, becoming a shower of metal shrapnel that flew far across the open meadow.
A few moments later, the breeze cleared the smoke. Only a burned-out husk remained. Lady Weun struggled to her feet and hobbling as fast as she could manage to the gorge’s edge and looked down.
Just a few feet down, Mencari clung to the cliff wall, a golden aura surrounding him. Lady Weun reached down and helped Mencari claw his way back up. As he safely reached the top, the golden light around him faded. Sweat poured from his body, as he collapsed forward.
CHAPTER 4:
Creatures of Stone
“Just hold still,” Lady Weun said. Kneeling, she dug in her pouch, withdrawing several green crystals. She began charging one, while holding an identical green crystal to her side with her other hand.
“You are not just a soldier,” she panted.
He managed a nod. “You okay?”
“I am now. Here. Hold still.”
The green crystal felt soothing and warm against his skin. She smiled down at him. “I thought you were finished.”
“Me too. Amazing what a little fall can inspire.” He tried to smile again. Pushing himself up to a sitting position, he flexed his healed hand, amazed. “Your crystals do wonders.”
“Thanks. I try.”
She looked back at the scattered remains of the robot, then back at him. “You’re only here for fire marbles?”
“Yes—and it’s the truth. A . . . friend needs some.”
“What was that light? And don’t deny what you did. I saw everything.” She looked back at the gorge. “I saw a flash of light, similar to the glow around you as you clung to the cliff wall”
He hesitated. He owed her honesty. “A gift. Like yours.”
She considered this. “A gift?”
“I honestly don’t understand it all yet, but . . . it’s some sort of power, some ability that I have—but not all of the time, and not always in my control . . . it stopped my fall.”
Her face pruned, but she accepted the answer. “And that robot, it seemed tougher than the first one.”
“We caught the other one off guard.” He noticed the burn hole in the side of her robe, under her crystalline cloak. “You are sure you’re all right?”
She looked at the hole. “I’m fine. I was healing myself at the same time I helped you. Maybe we should just go back. Are the fire marbles really that important?”
“Yes. Indirectly. We need the money for something very important. I’d like to continue to the mines.” He attempt humor. “I promise I won’t fall off a cliff again.”
She shook her head, amused but not convinced. Mencari decided a change in subject was in order. “The gems you were throwing. Each color does something different?”
She nodded.
“And the kids said you can fly, too?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “They did? Well, you know children. I can do many things, but not fly.”
Keeping a carefully casual tone, he said, “I was told abilities like these are from an ancient race of people. The D’mar, if I recall correctly. I don’t understand it all yet. But I was told the Nukari wiped the D’mar out, and then they went away. But they didn’t go away forever. They returned again not long ago and attacked my people.”
She peered at him. “But why would they attack your people?”
“We don’t know why. Or what they’re going to do next.” He looked down, and then at her face. “So, I just came for the fire marbles. But we really need those resources to help build up a way to resist the Nukari.”
She thought a moment. “It makes sense now.”
“What does?”
“The crystal. The Cirt Crystal in my store. That was the very big one, as big as you, and milky-white. When you came near it, it glowed. It only does that when I’m near it. But it reacted to you.” She stumbled over her thoughts. “But you said you weren’t from . . . but I’m from here. How could we . . . ?”
“Well,” he said, “I’m told before the Nukari destroyed the D’mar, the D’mar traveled the universe. They even colonized. Their genetics could be mixed in everywhere. I’ve not seen a record of how many planets they colonized. Maybe hundreds, or even thousands.”
She nodded, considering this. “And you’re going to fight these Nukari? The ones who killed the D’mar?”
“Yes. I have to.”
“Why?”
“Why?” He saw the burning space station, heard the cries of his friends as he relived the terror and fear. He began to fidget with his ring.
Why?
The battle’s end replayed, the moments before everything changed. He recalled seeing Anaka and their son through the transport’s window. His terrified son’s tiny arms and legs wrapped around Anaka, and both crying. Her face contorted as the Nukari fighter appeared, her mouth open in a scream when it opened fire. And suddenly, only a brilliant light. In a maddening loop, he’d watched them die over and over since that day.
Why?
Numbness crawled across his body as his eyes closed, trying to purge the memories. Heart pounding, he swallowed hard and opened his eyes, unaware of the sorrow and anger dancing in them, unaware of how tightly he’d clenched his fist.
“Why?” he replied, his voice soft but heavy. “To stop them now. To end the death they wield. To make sure they can’t do to anyone else what was done to me. To my . . . to my people.”
She laid a gentle hand on his arm. “You said they attacked?”
He gave a tight nod. “This is what they do. Osuto told me the Nukari wiped out entire planets. When they attacked my people, they killed hundreds of thousands. My wife, son, all my friends, killed. And now they’re here.”
“An army of those things?” she said, her v
oice anguished. “Aeun is a peaceful world. We . . . wouldn’t have a chance. No one else here can do what I can, and it took everything I had for just one of those . . . those—”
“Probably scouts, Lady Weun. That’s what they were, I’m certain of it. And they’re only the beginning. But not if I can stop them.”
Her hand tightened on his arm. “You? Just you?”
He sighed, reached up with the hand her crystal had just healed, and patted her clenched fist. “I’m sorry. I’ve involved you too much already.”
“But my crystals can help you? Like they did just now?”
He nodded. “No doubt they can. Your crystals, my energy blasts. A quick one-two punch.”
“Are you strong enough to keep going?”
He pushed himself to his feet in response, held out a hand and helped her up.
“The mine isn’t far,” she said. “Let’s get you those fire marbles. Lots of them. Barrels of them—”
He chuckled. “We may need that enthusiasm.”
They walked along quietly. In spite of his effort to keep them at bay, Mencari found his mind plagued with the deaths of beloved ones. To clear his mind, he gazed into the dark depths of the vast canyon that their path continued to follow. As they started up the side of the great mountain, the path pitched dramatically; the extra exertion helped him focus.
“How are you feeling?”
He considered her question as they pushed up the path. His breath was a little short, but he managed to reply, “I’m okay. But this entire mission is confusing to me. It’s a lot to take sometimes. But I know I have to do whatever I can.”
“I know. Before you came to see me—before I saw those horrible robots—I knew something was happening. But now . . . It will never be the same again, will it?”
He looked away, guilty at burdening another.
Lady Weun continued, “It’s just that . . . everything seems to have changed . . . feels so different now. I used to feel so safe here. With those things out there, I’ll never feel safe again.”
She pointed ahead to a small copse of trees. “Right around this curve, you’ll be able to see the opening in the mountain. It’s the source of my crystals.”
As she lowered her hand, two men appeared from around the bend. Their steps were plodding, as if walking the last mile of a forty-mile march. When they drew nearer, Mencari noted the thick dirt covering their clothing had not yet filled the deep creases in their weathered faces. Neither man saw him and Lady Weun approach; their puffy red eyes focused on the ground.
“Harvesters,” Lady Weun said, and called out to them with a welcoming wave. They looked up, saw her face, and brightened. Mencari noticed both wore dull-amber charms around their necks and carried bulging sacks of rough cloth.
The first harvester said, “Lady Weun, good afternoon. What brings you this far from Trader Town?”
She laughed lightly. “Oh, Ewin, I do get out, you know. I’m traveling with my companion to the caves to gather more crystals.”
Ewin noticed her burned clothes. “What happened to your side?”
She looked down. “Oh, just a little hole. It’s nothing.”
Ewin opened his sack and pulled a long scrap of cloth from it. “Please, my lady. Take this to cover it.”
“Oh, it’s not necessary—”
“I insist. Please.”
With a gracious nod, she took the offering and wrapped it around her waist. It easily covered the hole. “Thank you.”
He smiled weakly and looked back at his empty sack.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“The others are trying to take care of it. We’re just tired and have to rest. But we’ll be back . . .”
She looked from Ewin to the other harvester. “Ewin . . . Coel . . . What’s going on?”
They hesitated for a futile moment under her gaze before Coel said, “Creatures.”
Ewin gave a reluctant nod. “In the crystal caverns.”
Lady Weun glanced quickly at Mencari, then back at the two miners. “There too?”
Coel shook his head. “Sounds crazy, I know, but . . . they look like they’re made out of crystal.”
He gave Lady Weun a beseeching look. “Maybe you could help? I mean, with your blessings and all.”
She nodded slowly. “We’re on our way there anyway. We— I’ll see what I can do.”
“They’re terrible beasts,” Ewin warned. “I know you’re powerful, but . . . please be careful, my lady.”
She smiled and nodded. “I will be. Now go home and rest.”
They turned to leave, but she called out, “Before you go . . .”
She placed her hands on the faded charms around their necks. Instantly, the amber stones burned with brilliance. “This will restore your valor.”
They looked down at their charms in disbelief, then Ewin said, “Thank you, Lady Weun!”
“We have nothing to—” the second miner protested.
She held up her hand. “For your perseverance and generosity. Rest well, my friends.”
The two men bowed and continued past them, walking more briskly now toward Trader Town. She smiled after them, but as they disappeared into the distance, her smile faded and her youthful face wrinkled in concern.
“Strange creatures there, too, in the halls of the mountain? What’s going on?”
“Those caves,” Mencari said. “Is that where you have found fire marbles?”
She nodded, still lost in thought. “This is serious.” The words came out as a sigh. After a moment, she turned back to him. “Will you help me?”
“You saved my life back there,” he said. “Of course.”
Smiling, she shook her head, and they continued around the bend, passing a crude wooden sign dubbing the mine, “The Ingot’s Tomb.” Crystal-filled bins and a scattering of tools along with a type of crushing-machine were arranged outside the large mouth of a cave.
Just inside the opening, a man braced himself against the cave wall, large mining pick at his feet, half exposed to the sun’s dimming light. They approached and saw his haggard spirit reflected in his face.
“My lady,” he said surprised.
“Are you alright?” she asked in concern.
“I… I just need a rest,” he said panting.
She gasped and drew a green crystal. “Hold out your arm,” she said sternly. As the fellow obeyed, Mencari noticed the red slowly dripping from a gash. The man winced as her healing power closed the wound.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“I’m Ine, my lady,” he replied.
“How did you get that injury?” she asked.
“Creatures, inside the mine. We were attacked. All I heard was screaming as I ran for the surface.” His face contorted with guilt. “I have to go back, see if I can help the others.”
“Do you know when the creatures appeared? Where they came from?” Mencari asked.
The weary man nodded. “A few days ago, we were drilling into a new area of the mine when these things showed up. Well, not just showed up. Didn’t know there was another cavern. Broke into it as we drilled down the main tunnel.”
A ghastly howl shrilled from the depths. Mencari looked to Lady Weun, who nodded.
“Let’s go see what we can do,” Lady Weun said.
* * * * *
“I’ve never seen nothing like them before,” Ine grunted, leading them forward carefully, deeper and deeper into the hole in the mountain.
Illumination pods along the walls provided ample light as the three of them moved through the bowels of the caverns. The air grew cool and clammy, heavier and danker with each step. Some sort of occasional glimmer along the wall caught Mencari’s eye. At first he discounted what he thought were natural deposits of a fluorescent substance. Perhaps noticing Mencari’s glance, Ine pointed to one such spot and said, “From the creatures. Leave ’em as they move.”
Lady Weun stopped and examined the spot. A dry, scratchy shrill echoed around them.
“Sounds like crystals sliding against one other,” she said.
Ine’s body noticeably stiffened. “That’s what we heard when we ran into ’em the first time.”
He darted over to a storage cavity carved into the rocky wall, retrieving an additional pick, like the one he carried. He gave it to Mencari saying, “The beasts are crystal . . . not indestructible.”
Mencari tried a few half-swings, getting used to the makeshift weapon. After a moment, he said, “One wrong blast from my hand-phaser could bring this place down. So this is probably a better option here.”
The scratching grew louder, until a blue-and-silver glow emanated from around the corner. Ine cautiously crept forward and peeked around the edge. “That’s one of ’em!” he quivered in a hushed tone.
Lady Weun and Mencari joined him. In an odd glow ahead, a huge spider-shaped creature that was easily twice their size was skittering about. Strangely, it looked as if had been carved from the very mine walls themselves, made of the same shiny crystal.
Ine looked back, desperation on his face. “We have to get past it to get to where the other men are.”
Lady Weun looked at Mencari. “We need a plan.”
He took another quick look at the spider, took in the eerie luminosity that seeped from a pattern of light blue-and-silver crystals on its body. Its crystal appendages clicked when they touched the ground, making the sound they’d heard before. The beast’s movements were slow, which was to their advantage. But its every action appeared precise. It did not look like a weak or uncertain creature, but rather like one stalking its prey.
With nowhere to conceal themselves, they retreated back the way they came, checked their weapons, and waited for the creature to approach.
When it rounded the corner, its long stony fangs bared, Ine and Mencari hefted their picks.
Its bulging diamond-like eyes locked on the intruders; it hissed and bared a second set of fangs, ones previously tucked under the first. These appeared made of gems, as did its strange eyes.
D'Mok Revival 1: Awakening Page 6
