“From what it says he’s capable of, it sounds like he could well have D’mok abilities,” Mencari said with eagerness. “I just hope he’s willing to help.”
“I’m sending you the map the Trading Post had on record,” Toriko said as her hands blurred over her keyboard. “Don’t know how updated it is, though.”
“Terrestrial map of Abunai received,” the computer intoned.
“I’ve added a few markers to show the location of the Okiru haven,” Toriko added. “This Jerin fella sounds pretty powerful. Says he led a team of warriors in some world battle competition.”
Her face grew concerned. “But I also wanted to warn you that there’s tons of News Core postings about increased mercenary activity. If they are working with the Nukari, like the ones who attacked Ujaku, it could be a sign of something bigger underway.”
“Good to know,” Mencari said.
The computer chimed as Seigie’s hands moved over the controls. She grit her stony teeth in frustration. “I still don’t get why I have to do the piloting.”
“I’ll be with you all the way,” the holographic image of Toriko assured her. “But I’m sure you’ll do just fine. The way that baby runs, it’s simple to pilot. And I need to stay here this time. I need to realign a few receivers, and promised Osuto I’d get those new consoles built.”
“And the more of us that can pilot, the better,” Mencari explained. “Think of the triset mine and Spark’s assistance. . . ”
The docking clamps retracted as the ship floated away from the moorings.
“Great,” muttered Seigie. “Me or a mechanical dog. You sure you wouldn’t prefer the dog?”
“Sorry, Seigie,” Toriko chirped. “I need Spark to help me with a few things.”
Seigie looked ready to say something, but Mencari chimed in quickly. “Don’t forget to keep checking News Core for more leads, Toriko. Great work on that so far. You did good.”
Allia gazed out the window, mesmerized by the view. Mencari watched Seigie fumble with the controls before recalling the proper sequences.
“Ready, Seigie?” he said.
“We’ll find out fast enough. But if I go down this time, you all go down with me.”
“And by the way,” Toriko added. “I did a quick upgrade the ship’s computer. It should be more effective now.”
Both Seigie and Mencari’s heads jerked toward the image. “What kind of upgrade?” Seigie blurted.
* * * * *
Muttering, “Should be more effective, my hind end. It better be,” Seigie guided the ship to the spaceway and carefully slipped through the on-ramp. In a ship much smaller than the huge transports the spaceway was designed for, it was harder for her to align with the proper entry window for the gravitational vortex.
But Toriko’s upgrades seemed to help. The ship jostled only slightly as it punched through the gravity barrier and accelerated speed to match other crafts in the spaceway. The old craft groaned as they traveled across a number of wake trails, but still gave a smooth ride.
“Toriko was right,” Mencari said, leaning his head against the headrest.
“About what?” Seigie said.
“They really don’t make ’em like they used to. This thing rides smoother than any ship I’ve ever been in.”
Seigie gave him a scoffing laugh and returned her attention to the controls. A few adjustments later, she was able to activate the autopilot and relax a bit.
When they neared the off-ramp, the ship automatically slowed and took them out of the spaceway. As they exited, the navigation system plotted the course to Abunai.
* * * * *
After a relaxing ride, they all came to full alert when the computer chirped, “Disengaging autopilot. We’re here!”
Seigie watched the dingy-looking planet draw closer, then noticed Mencari’s brow furrowed.
“Is there dirt on the windows, maybe? It’s so . . . dark down there,” Allia said confused.
As the ship entered the outer atmosphere, a brilliant white energy gradually increased around the hull. As it grew in intensity, the craft began to shake. Seigie struggled to compensate.
“Now what should I do?” she muttered with growing annoyance. The shaking turned to jostling, and warnings began to pop up across the navigational displays.
A hologram of Mini-Toriko appeared in a flash of light, startling her.
“I’ve detected an abnormal amount of turbulence,” Mini-Toriko said. “But readings indicate structural integrity is not at risk. High levels of unidentified particles are creating unusual amounts of drag on the fuselage. I will reduce our speed.”
Within seconds, the sharp jarring reduced to gentle bumps. With the crisis averted, Mini-Toriko disappeared in a fountain of light.
“She didn’t even say goodbye!” Allia said.
“Maybe that was part of the upgrade?” Mencari said. “More professional sounding, at least.”
Toriko’s voice suddenly came through the speakers. “Proximity alert. A domestic ship appears to be on an intercept course.”
“Now what?” Seigie moaned.
Mencari located and scanned the vessel.
“Coalition worlds do this all the time, Seigie. I’m sure they just want to check us out. Let me handle it.”
“Analysis complete,” Mini-Toriko said. “Approaching ship’s energy levels are nominal. No beam weapons active at this time. Alert: ‘Inbound priority transmission: audio only.’ Opening communication channel.”
A cool but commanding voice boomed. “Attention, unknown vessel. Identify yourself.”
Mencari nodded to Seigie as he replied, “Greeting. We’re traveling to the Okiru haven.”
“State your business.”
“We’re here on personal business. Just a brief stop to visit a friend. He’s a competitive warrior. High up in the Olympics. We’re . . . long-time fans.”
There was a pause, then the channel boomed to life. “Well, well, well, the boys have been taking bets on when you’d arrive. Greetings from the Anto’liea city-state. We’d be honored to escort you to the Okiru borders. Please follow us.”
The grooves in Seigie’s face deepened, but Mencari forced a grin. “Thank you. We will follow. . . ”
When the com channel closed, Seigie blurted. “And who the hell are they?”
“Who do they think we are?” Allia asked.
“Someone they’re expecting,” Mencari said as he shook his head. “Does it matter? Let’s just play along. We just need to get where we need to go.”
“Hey, what are those big bubble things?” Allia said, pointing out the side window.
Expecting to see structures similar to Murai Dome back on Toriko’s home planet, Mencari looked out the side window to a very different sight. Massive pylons, anchored on the ground far below, reached for miles into the sky. Thick walls of a clear material connected the massive structures, sectioning off the land below. Energy arcs wildly discharged across the tops of the pylons. Even with the fastest of crafts, it would be risky to penetrate the field.
“Now I’m glad we’ve got an escort,” Seigie said.
“But what are they?” Allia repeated.
“Something to protect the people below?” Mencari questioned.
“Or to divide them,” Seigie muttered.
Allia hopped from her chair and stared out the window. “I still don’t get why everything looks so dark. You’d think we could see everything with all those light-flashes.”
Following the escort vessel, they approached two large spires that jutted from the massive supporting pylons. Energy arced back and forth, blocking the entrance to a tunnel beyond. The computer detected a narrow-band signal emitted from the alien craft, and the energy arcs rapidly dissipated.
The alien ship’s pilot relayed, “You’re on your own. They’ve been instructed to cooperate with you. Give those Okiru what they deserve! Anto’liea honors you!”
“Thank you for the escort,” Mencari said.
Seigi
e gave him a curious look as the com channel closed again. “Give those Okiru what they deserve?”
They had no time to speculate. Their escort peeled away and landing directions appeared on a display before them. Seigie guided the ship down to an outdoor landing area.
Allia and Ichini peered out the windows. The youth warned, “There’s people headed this way.”
Out her window were five men in tattered uniforms approaching in formation. “They don’t look armed,” she added.
“Be on guard, and ready for anything,” Mencari added.
“Great plan,” Seigie muttered. “Osuto would be proud.”
* * * * *
“Welcome, visitors to the Anto’liea city-state,” the man who appeared to be lead officer said. “I am Dalbrth, chief administrator of this port. How can I help you?”
As they exited their craft, the welcome party formed a line in front of them. Ichini moved to Allia’s side and postured threateningly.
“We’re looking for someone,” Mencari said. “His name is Odoli.”
Dalbrth’s gaze fell to the ground, his pondering eyes searching for something there. After a moment he looked up with a forced smile. “He is well known to us. In fact, he is training at this moment.”
“We would like to talk with him.”
“Of course. You can find him in the town of Gisie. It’s not far. Follow the path due east from here along the edge of the Gisen Swamp.”
Something about Dalbrth didn’t seem right—the wince of his eyes, or maybe that slightly twisted smile. He isn’t telling us something, Mencari thought. He gave a polite nod, though, in response. “Thank you, Dalbrth. Do you have any ground transportation?”
“I’m afraid we do not have that luxury. Do accept my apologies. But I’m sure you’ll enjoy the walk.” He pointed to a spot on the horizon, then to a worn path that led into the distance. “We are hoping for a better ranking in the next Olympics. Until then, we cannot produce the fuel.”
As they started down the path, Mencari caught a suspicious glance from Allia to Dalbrth. Apparently he wasn’t the only one with raised hackles from Dalbrth’s behavior. She even reached down and checked her flower-bladed weapon. Ichini also seemed more nervous than usual, his massive tiger head swinging from side to side, taking in the surroundings.
* * * * *
“No birds singing,” Allia said, looking around sadly.
“Or green plants,” Mencari replied. “Everything seems so withered.”
The ground that appeared dark and sparse during their descent was even more desolate up close. They made their way east along a well-trodden dirt path that snaked between sunken pockets denting the otherwise flat landscape. Pale bunches of shrubs and stunted gray trees dotted the land amongst wild grasses that looked tired and wilted. As they passed a cluster of bushes, Mencari stared at the yellowish leaves speckled with patches of white and black.
“Like everything’s diseased somehow,” Seigie muttered.
“Anything toxic should have shown up on our sensors,” he said with false confidence.
“Yeah, I’m sure we got great readings as we flew through those energy fields,” Seigie quipped.
Allia stopped walking, staring into the distance. Mencari looked back. “What’s wrong?”
“A creature. I feel it,” she whispered.
Seigie looked around. “Where?”
Ichini stood silent, tossing his head back and forth, occasionally sniffing, then bristling. A dark blur zigzagged between the sickly shrubs and divots.
Seigie reached into her bag of crystals while she lumbered toward the nearest cover, a waist-high shrub that offered little real protection. The others did the same.
A brilliant light flashed behind them, and a rabid growl turned to a desperate yelp. Mencari whirled around. A transformed Ichini had blocked a leaping attack from the man-sized creature with long claws brandished.
Tumbling to the ground, then rebounding with unnatural speed, the creature attacked Seigie instead. The aged matriarch was too slow to move away as the beast’s jaws clamped down on her arm, ripping through her sleeve. There was a loud crack followed by a spurt of green goo.
“Seigie!” Allia screamed.
“Let go . . . of . . . ME!” Seigie cried out, and pounded the creature’s head with her free arm. More green flowed from around the beast’s jaws, but with a pained yelp, it finally released her arm. As it did, tooth fragments fell to the ground. It staggered momentarily, and then dashed into a clump of bushes.
Allia ran to inspect Seigie’s wound, while Mencari and a growling Ichini kept an eye on the beast. Allia’s eyes grew large at the single small scratch etched on Seigie’s stony skin.
“You’re okay!” Allia cried.
“I’m going to have this mark for a hundred years!” Seigie’s moaned.
Mencari looked back toward her. “You okay?”
She kicked at the beast’s teeth fragments across the dry ground. “Other than my new beauty mark, yes. Who said having stone skin was a bad thing?”
There was a new rustling in the bushes. Mencari checked his hand-phaser and was surprised to see it fully charged. Then he recalled the crystal upgrade Liren gave him. That must be it.
The shrub rustled again, and the creature leaped out. Mencari unleashed a blast, but was totally unprepared for the enormous kickback of the supercharged weapon. The majority of the beam missed, passing in a wild arc. Luckily, a touch of it managed to graze the creature’s underbelly in midair. The sound of flesh sizzling accompanied a short yelp.
The beast flopped to the ground, rolling to a dead stop. Recalling Liren’s directions, Mencari aimed his phaser, planting his feet and bracing one hand with the other.
Before he could fire, though, Allia cried out and ran to the side of the fallen beast. “No, Rhysus!”
“Be careful, Allia,” Mencari warned.
The girl crouched by the creature. Subdued as it was, the matted black fur and yellow fangs gave it a dangerous look. Its forked tail twitched spastically as she knelt by its side. Reaching out, she laid her hands on its green-stained muzzle, then closed her eyes. As the child’s hand began to flush with light, the green oozing ebbed. Within moments, the broken teeth had sealed over.
Watching, Seigie said, “How—?”
“I’ve always been able to heal animals,” Allia said holding her focus on the beast. “My Shadow, Luri, can actually heal people.”
Mencari looked carefully around for other creatures. “Let’s keep moving. The sooner we find Jerin, the sooner we leave—”
The animal began to stir. Allia opened her eyes, stood and gradually backed away. “He should be okay now.”
She looked back to Mencari. “He was crazed with hunger.”
“Then we should leave now before it regains its strength,” he said.
As they continued down the path, Seigie looked back, then down at her sullied hands. She tried to wipe off the goo on a patch of the unhealthy-looking grasses. Most of the clotted clumps scraped off, but the green color stained her crystal-encrusted skin. Her face crumpled in displeasure.
“We’ll find somewhere to wash that off, Seigie,” Mencari said.
She waved him off as she drew two sapphire crystals from her bag. After a quick charge, the two burst into a plume of water that doused both her and Ichini, but effectively cleaned off the goo.
“Or you can do that,” Mencari said with shrug.
As he looked over the monotonous terrain, Mencari was uncomfortably aware of how alone the four were. He found himself worrying about Dalbrth’s dubious guidance. A strange burning crept across his chest, and he recognized it as a twinge of fear. If something happened . . . if they really needed help . . . There would be none.
He looked out of the corner of his eye at the others, flanked on either side. Seigie, Allia, and Ichini walked quickly forward, without the slightest sign of hesitation.
Maybe there were just four of them, and an odd lot at that. He took comf
ort in the knowing he could rely on them, and if push came to shove, they’d have each other’s backs.
Hours later, the crude dirt path began to mix with pebbles of increasing size, and soon after became a walkway of crushed stone. In the distance, a thin trail of gray smoke snaked into the dusking sky.
Encouraged, they picked up their pace. Finally, a town appeared on the horizon. Before long, they came upon its outer wall of tightly-packed wooden shanties, abandoned, in disrepair. There were still no animals, no chirping or even distant howling, just a defining silence.
One single structure towered above the rest. At the top was a blackened chimney that spewed the gray smoke they’d seen.
“If there’s fire,” he said, “there’s somebody inside.”
They followed the stony path into town. Mencari thought he spotted a shadowed figure in a window of a shack. Startled, he swiveled his head to get a better look. But it was gone.
He held up a hand, then called out, “Hello?”
There was no reply. Mencari approached the front door and knocked, then called, “Excuse me, anyone here?”
“Go away. Leave us alone.”
The voice sounded gruff, but was betrayed by its frailty.
“Is this the town of Gisie?” Mencari pressed.
“Don’t patronize us, you know it is. Now let us be!”
Mencari retreated from the door and returned to the group.
“At least we’re finding people now,” Allia said.
“Yeah. Just wish they were a little friendlier.”
As they continued on the stone road, they saw an old man in a hole-strewn garment caning toward them, his steps laborious. The hollow whites of his eyes revealed his handicap.
“Stay here, Ichini,” Allia said, and waved at the others to hold back while she went ahead. Mencari thought about stopping her, but realized her strategy; as a child, she was the least threatening of the group.
When she approached, the man raised his cane in defense. “I can hear you,” he said. “Don’t think I can’t defend myself!”
“Sir—”
D'Mok Revival 1: Awakening Page 22
