Maia and the Xifarian Conspiracy (The Lightbound Saga Book 1)

by S. G. Basu

  “Shh,” the soft-voiced man spoke again. The reproachful sting in his tone had now disappeared, and instead his words cascaded gently around, flowing like a warm, healing balm. “I feel your anguish, but the Initiative was a necessary step. We need admittance to their territories—to seek, search, and retrieve the items we have lost. And what better way to make them let their guard down? They could not refuse this offer to promote peace, could they?”

  A tenuous, brief silence fell, to be promptly broken by Sir Uuye’s high-pitched prodding.

  “Moving on to current matters, we shall dispense with our prize on Carnival night. No one will notice a few missing guards while we decouple the Stabilator and walk out of the Grotto.”

  Maia’s heart skipped a few beats at the mention of the Stabilator. She had long lost the ability to grasp the meaning of every word that streamed into her ears and paraded relentlessly through her tired and nervous mind. But this she clearly understood; no good could come out of this diabolical plan to decouple the Stabilator.

  “The final time will be communicated to you next week,” the soft voice sounded again, then stopped abruptly. “Why is that door open?” he snarled.

  Maia gulped as she realized she did not have much time before a masked figure would come to the door. Quietly trembling with a sudden wave of exhaustion and dread, she tiptoed about twenty paces into the darkness before breaking into a determined dash along the wall. She did not look back until she found the door out of the hall, ran through the darkened corridors, and into the safety of her own room.

  34: The Next Day

  Maia had no recollection of when she had fallen asleep. The excitement of the whole day had acted like a sleep draught, and when she woke up the next morning, she found herself curled up on an unmade bed in her day clothes. She felt exhausted, like she had not slept at all. Her body ached so badly that she could hardly move. And she was late for breakfast.

  Memories of the night before came soon and swift. Maia dressed as fast as she could, eager to meet her teammates and tell them all about the previous evening. Wide smiles greeted her at the dining bay.

  “We were worried about you. We knocked on your door a few times, but you didn’t reply,” Dani said, rushing to hug Maia. “We were just about to check on you again.”

  “How long were you up there last night?” Ren asked, leaning forward across the table.

  “And the real question is, what did you do?” queried Nafi, squinting.

  “I need to talk to you about it,” Maia replied as she grabbed a box of food and sat down. “But first, we need to find a safe place to talk.”

  “Did he tell you some state secrets?” whispered Nafi.

  “What?” Maia asked, startled at the question. “Oh, Miir? No, it’s not about him. Well, I’ll tell you about him, too. But this is something else, and it’s strange and scary.”

  An eager hush fell over the table.

  Dani sighed. “Please tell me that this has nothing to do with the lost key,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure,” replied Maia, gulping down a mouthful of bread and a fruity spread that tasted a little too sweet. “That’s what we need to figure out, so we need to find a place where no one will be able to eavesdrop.”

  All eyes turned from Maia to Ren, who scratched his head, looked at the ceiling, rubbed his nose, and stared at his meal tray. Nafi then punched him hard in the arm.

  “Owwww, what did you do that for?” said Ren, massaging his arm tenderly.

  “You claim to know this place like the back of your hand. You take us via scenic routes and get us into trouble. You also take us through corridors where we don’t need to go and make us late for our sessions.” Nafi paused, taking time to cross her arms and glare. “And now you can’t come up with a safe place to talk? And yet, you ask why I hit you?”

  “Okay, fine. I know a place, but if the roof collapses on you, it’s all her fault,” Ren said, pointing at Nafi.

  He led them across the inner fields and through the maze of the fountains into the Western Annex of the XDA. The overgrown bushes here clamored for some tending, and the wing of the building looked shabby and in urgent need of maintenance. Ren glanced around quickly, then opened a rickety gray door and slipped in.

  “Get in, and hurry,” he said. “We’re not allowed in here. This building is condemned.”

  “You mean the roof could really fall on us?” Kusha asked, poking the walls.

  “I mean the whole building could fall on us,” said Ren, dragging Kusha away from the wall. “This used to be the old dormitory. You know, when students didn’t have personal rooms. My mom lived here when she was a student about twenty years ago. They plan to demolish this place and build the new recreation center here.”

  “The ‘new’ recreation center?” Nafi’s eyes widened. “Can someone tell me where the ‘old’ one is? I don’t remember seeing it.”

  “Well, recreation rooms are for the students only, not visitors,” Ren explained.

  “Ah yes, the privileged.” Nafi turned up an indignant nose.

  After they sat down in a circle on the floor, Maia told them of her TEK training, fervently hoping that no one would ask why Miir took a special session for her. She was not looking forward to lying to her friends.

  “You can see TEK waves?” Ren broke the shocked silence that hung in the air, the look in his eyes mirroring the astonishment in his voice.

  Maia nodded slowly, guilt surging inside her. It was unfair that she could see them while Ren could not, even though he wanted to so badly. If she could, she would gladly give her seeing powers to him.

  “I think that’s the most I can do, though,” she added, hoping to help lift his spirits. “That’s what our respected counselor told me.”

  “You should try to do more practice. I’ll show you some techniques that could help unblock your sensory centers.”

  “Thanks, Ren.” Maia smiled. Though she did not care too much if she learned telekinetics or not, his generous offer made her happy. She was also fidgeting inside; the more they lingered on this discussion, the more awkward she felt about hiding her being a Shimugien.

  “You seem worried, Maia.” Kusha was staring intently at her face.

  As everybody turned to look, Maia sighed. She was happy that the subject of TEK would now be dropped, but the next topic was not going to make for a happy conversation. Dani would start to worry even more, and Maia was hesitant to tell everything.

  What was that the woman had called them? Filth?

  A dull ache throbbed in Maia’s chest.

  It will break their hearts if they know.

  Maia broached the subject carefully, telling them only about the meeting and the plans she had overheard about the Stabilator.

  “Seems like a secret society,” said Ren.

  “They talked about the Stabilator, and the key that they have recently acquired. Obviously the same key then?” Dani’s voice was taut with anxiety.

  “Yes, possibly,” said Kusha, sprawling on the floor, rubbing his chin as he thought. “But whatever they do, it won’t be before the Carnival. When is that, Ren?”

  “A month from now,” Ren explained. “It’s a day to commemorate our First Passage. We celebrate the beginning of Xif’s nomadic ways, our freedom from planetary ties. There are huge congregations in the cities, and the biggest one is in Armezai, our capital.”

  “We have a month,” Kusha sounded a little relieved. “At least some time to figure out what we should do.”

  “Who would know where the Stabilator is located?” asked Dani. “It must be classified information, right?”

  “Yes, even if anyone knows, they’re not going to tell us,” Nafi quipped. “And please tell me, no one here is going to start asking people about the Stabilator.”

  “Wait, they also mentioned a grotto,” Maia exclaimed, suddenly remembering more of the conversation.

  “Ren, is a grotto a common thing on Xif?” Kusha asked,
sitting up straight.

  “A grotto? There used to be an ancient one at the Star Sanctuary in Armezai, the most sacred place on Xif,” Ren replied.

  “And that’s the only one?”

  “Don’t know of any others in Armezai.”

  “Even if we somehow find out about the Grotto, how will we ever get there?” Dani questioned. “We can’t just ask someone to take us there.”

  “We can figure out how once we know where to go,” replied Kusha.

  “And what if we’re caught?” Nafi asked, frowning. “It would—”

  “I don’t want any of you to get punished because of me,” Dani said firmly, not letting Nafi finish.

  Maia could guess what Nafi was worried about. Nafi’s biggest concern was the contest—winning it to be precise—and this new quest could jeopardize it all. She felt a little annoyed at Nafi.

  How can she not realize that stopping these saboteurs from harming thousands of people—thousands of their own—was more important than coming out on top? Winning a challenge would mean nothing if they simply passed on a chance of hindering this horrible plot.

  “It’s not just about you, Dani,” Maia said as emphatically as she could. “They’re going to hurt innocent people. And we can’t let that happen.”

  “And we won’t,” said Ren, his voice hard with conviction. The steely determination on his face quickly gave way to confusion. “But what about the Afterlight and the search on Tansi? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  If Ren did not know, no one else had a clue either.

  35: The Seliban Challenge

  Days rushed past. Understanding the maddening control system of the Raptor took up most of Maia’s time. Remembering the countless controls and their functions was not easy, particularly when Master Demissie peered over their shoulders, barking orders and reminding them of the seriousness of the assignment.

  “Not only is this a tremendously expensive piece of equipment,” Master Demissie said, “but you also need to remember that making a mistake on a mock control panel is one thing, but the same mistake on a craft hurtling through space can cost you your life and the lives of others.”

  Of course we are all very aware of the consequences of a mistake. Maia grumbled to herself. They were trying as hard as they could, and the master’s yelling did more harm than good.

  “Concentrate,” the Flight Master passed by, bellowing. “Understand the gravity of the task at hand.”

  “Blah, blah, blah.” Ren rolled his eyes.

  The master stopped immediately and threw a suspicious gaze in their direction. Before he could figure out what had happened, Maia sprang into action in an instinctive urge to protect, dropping a load of charts off their worktable. What followed was a hullabaloo of magnificent proportions, and it was enough of a diversion to successfully hide Ren’s outburst. Since then, the team closely watched each other every single moment, especially when they were around the master.

  The stress was piling up quickly, patience was wearing thin, and every conversation was like lighting a fire under a box of tinder. Every night, as Maia plodded back from Flight Training session, starved and exhausted, she wondered how much more they could endure, and for how long. On the last day of that week, the principal sent a message, asking all teams to assemble below the glass staircase. The final challenge was about to be announced.

  ***

  By the time Maia and her team reached the hall, it was already packed. At the foot of the staircase, Vice Principal Geir-Sei stood, flashing his beautiful smile. Resident Master Kehorkjin was next to him, looking wound-up as usual.

  “Pleeeaaase calm down, dear friends,” Geir-Sei pleaded over and again while Master Kehorkjin studied the ceiling.

  Sadly, very few of the contestants paid attention to the vice principal, and the hubbub subsided only after Principal Pomewege took the stand.

  “Do I have everyone’s attention?” Principal Pomewege hollered. “First, I will announce the twenty-five teams that have received the best scores in the Prototype Challenge. If your team number is not called, please leave to pack your belongings. We will arrange for transportation to take you back home this afternoon. Thank you for your participation.”

  Principal Pomewege bowed his head and acknowledged the crowd of participants; Geir-Sei and Kehorkjin followed suit. Maia stood holding her breath, fists clenched in anticipation as the principal started to read.

  “Top honors go to . . . Core 7—”

  From the far side of the congregation came shouts of glee bringing an abrupt stop to the principal’s announcements. It was Karhann’s team; Maia could see Loriine’s head, bobbing up and down among the crowd. Nafi looked sour, and Maia knew her own face was grim as well.

  Thankfully, the principal soon called their number and although they did not have top honors, Maia was relieved to have made it past the first challenge. More than half of the teams were eliminated, including Lex and his rowdy bunch, and after these teams trickled out, the area suddenly took on a desolate look.

  “I know you are eager to know whose craft was selected to be made into the prototype for the miners on Ti,” Principal Pomewege continued, “but unfortunately that detail is still being processed. We will announce a name soon, but it will not be today.

  “Now, it is time to announce the final challenge for the first leg of the Alliance Initiative. Your goal is to retrieve a relic housed in the Seliban Temple in Quadrant 8 based on clues you will receive. You have one month to prepare for this mission.

  “Plan and submit the complete list of your provisions and equipment, including the specifications of all the tools you intend to use. You will be allowed to carry your personal protection weapons. Please do not forget to submit their details as well. Also remember that you will not be allowed to use telekinesis of any sort during this challenge—it will be a violation of the codes of honorable combat if you do. Your flights will be guided by your group counselors, so do get in touch with them.”

  The principal stopped and smiled.

  “The winning team will not only receive the highest honors and move on to the next stage of the series, but will also be awarded a special trip to Armezai, our beautiful capital, to take part in the annual Carnival. And most important of all, you will receive an invitation to the Grand Gala at the Chancery where you will receive your winners’ medals.

  “One last thing,” he said after a brief pause. “We recommend that during the course of this challenge you do not imperil the lives of your opponents or endanger your own. Unnecessary and excessive risk taking might not win you any extra credit. Good luck to you all. Play fair and may the best team win!”

  As soon as the masters left, the room began to buzz again. The teams knotted together to discuss their plans. On the far side of the hall, Karhann and his teammates were still celebrating, and Maia stared at them enviously. She tore her eyes away as someone nudged her.

  “Let’s get out of here. Come on.” Kusha was rushing to round up the team.

  “Did you hear what he said?” Kusha asked as they walked toward a shady corner in the Sakoro grove.

  “Can’t believe those pompous and brainless nincompoops won the challenge,” Nafi fumed.

  “I meant the principal . . . and the award.” Kusha’s brows puckered. “Can’t believe you weren’t paying attention.”

  “Well, at least Lex and his gang are gone,” Dani commented.

  Kusha fidgeted and shook his head impatiently.

  “Yes, and I’m glad we are still in the running,” Maia said to Dani. It was strange how upsetting it was not to win the first challenge. Maia knew she was not supposed to care, yet the hurt simply refused to budge.

  “Will you listen to me, please?” Kusha almost yelled, drawing startled stares from the rest of the group. He continued breathlessly, “The principal said that the winning team will be awarded a special trip to Armezai to take part in the annual Carnival. Ring any bells?”

  “Yes, I’ll need to get a brilliant n
ew costume for the Carnival if we win,” Ren said. “What do you think I should dress up as, a Mogreal Flatfish?”

  Maia collapsed in a frenzy of giggles on imagining Ren dressed up as the ugliest fish that inhabited the Tansian oceans.

  “If you’re aiming for good looks, then you should pick the square-humped Camellete, don’t you think?” Nafi suggested so matter-of-factly that even Dani joined in, laughing, forgetting all her worries for a moment. Soon, they were all rolling on the ground, clutching their sides as they laughed hysterically, while Kusha watched on.

  “Some attention from your teammates when you discuss something important . . . is that too much to ask?” Kusha burst out finally, gazing in despair at his four inattentive teammates. “I’m considerate and quiet. I don’t throw tantrums, I don’t talk back at people, and I don’t go launching half-made Raptors at the masters. And when I ask you to show some interest in what I’m about to say, all I get is . . . this?”

  “Having too much fun?” a very familiar voice interrupted. “I presume you have it all figured out then.”

  Miir had walked up unnoticed, and now stood looking at the group curiously. Under the keen gaze of the mentor, the rolling foursome desperately tried to sober up.

  “So, Kusha, what do you think of the challenge?” Miir asked as the laughter subsided a bit.

  “Who cares what I think?” Kusha said with a sigh.

  “Oh, Kusha. We all do,” Dani replied.

  “You are our strategist, Kusha. What would we do without you?” Nafi said in mock lament.

  “Hopefully you would talk less,” Kusha snapped back.

  If Miir had not been appraising them, Maia would have laughed some more. But mindful of his presence, she just giggled a bit and so did her teammates. Kusha glowered for a few more moments, and then gave in. He shook his head and with a small helpless smile turned toward Miir.