by C. C. Ekeke
Habraum woke on his side with a start. He wasn’t alone in his bedroom. Jeremy? No, the approaching footsteps were too feather-light with caution to be his son. Only one other had their bio pattern registered to access his quarters. A dizzying joy crashed over Habraum, washing away his fatigue and doubts about Star Brigade.
Guilt struck just as abruptly, jutting up through the joy like jagged rocks. You chose her and became a widower for it. The hole where his former team and wife once lived grew so cold it ached. Habraum shivered, despite being swaddled in bed sheets.
“Hi,” her whisper was husky and sheepish in the dark.
“Hey,” he turned his head halfway, remembering his harsh words from before. “About earlier…”
“You’re right.” The silky crumpling of sheets signaled her slipping into bed behind him. The drunken slur in her low and throaty voice was evident—as was the stink of liquor on her breath as she moved in close. “Honaa and I dropped the ball into a black hole. Those training sessions were horrible.”
Habraum couldn’t disagree with her there. “We’re all just knackered. Start fresh on the morrow?” he replied, biting back concern over her inebriated state. At least some things hadn’t changed.
“Totally.” She wreathed her arms around his torso and pressed herself firmly against his spine, nuzzling her nose into the nape of his neck. “Sorry for decking you.”
“I know,” Habraum sighed and relaxed into her embrace. The abnormal warmth from her shapely figure loosened the knots in his muscles straightaway. She felt feeling too good, too welcoming to pull away.
Moments later, sounds of her gentle snores filled his ears. For years this had been their shared custom on those long trips to and from away missions, just two teammates staving off the loneliness that accompanied the job. Habraum had never seen a need to forgive himself for this. He’d allowed nothing more than this to occur. Now with Jenn dead, he clung to anything that pulled him away from the icy void in his chest that could never be filled. Soon Habraum, too, drifted into a dreamless and steady slumber.
15.
Ymedes Slave Quarters was a perfect guide to the life of a Korvenite slave. Sold without any powers to their owners, they lived in undersized dwellings and worked until they were bone-tired. Most Korvenites worked as house servants and moisture collectors, others singers and dancers, a chosen few served as bed slaves for the wealthy. Brief respites happened here and there when some Korvenites would gather to play or dance to thaoque music. Elder slaves would reminisce about the idyllic Korvenite culture from times long before humans intruded. Tharydane Eirrouma, born more than a decade after the Korvenites had been expelled from their homeworld, dismissed these stories as amusing tall tales. Growing up on Bimnorii, the only truths she knew were the cruelty and oppression that Korvenites were repeatedly subjected to.
Before her eyes these Slave Quarters, once crammed with hundreds of crestfallen Korvenites, was now a place where hope and joy bloomed anew. Tharydane gawked, unable to wrap her thoughts around these once familiar surroundings. The young Korvenite stood at the entrance of what used to be Masra’s place, which was smaller than her own bedroom. Now no walls separated any of the slave quarters. Somehow all the walls between the residences had been knocked down, combining them into one expansive space. The roofing was also gone, the outside walls being the only identifiable remnants of the slave quarters. All 300 of its inhabitants mingled, Mindspeaking or talking aloud in Korcei.
The sweet strumming of halaikas soothed her ears, meshing with the swell of Korvenites. Tharydane could not see who was playing the instruments, but the flow of their passion coursed through her like balmy water. Tharydane’s attention was drawn to four older Korvenite females she didn’t know, gracefully dancing thaoque style far better than she could, gliding through the bustling crowd. All wore shimmering mixtures of gold, green and silver Korvenite design.
As Tharydane approached, the Unilink lit up like a sunrise. The sheer volume of salutations was overwhelming, nearly knocking her over. Tharydane hadn’t experienced a true Unilink in years, not since her true family. Once the welcoming subsided, she started recognizing individuals in the link.
“Stavros, Zakros, Thadini!” Tharydane exclaimed, her eyes darting about wildly. “[I can feel them all! And you, too!]” She then noticed Masra again, who had been at her side since she entered. Tharydane did a double take, rubbed her eyes and really looked at Masra. Masra was the same Korvenite girl she had known for years. Yet now her friend was oozing out such psychic energy that Tharydane barely recognized her. She didn’t just sense Masra’s usual emotional flickers or thoughts, but the raw essence shimmering before Tharydane like a bright red sunrise. Masra’s joys, sorrows and insecurities lay naked and swirling around her. They had linked before, but Masra could never contribute. Now she linked back with Tharydane. The whole Unilink mirrored this action. One species, all connected.
“[Amazing isn’t it?]” Masra beamed, jumping up and down. Indeed it was. Candid joy flowed from Korvenites whom Tharydane had never seen smile, teeming passion from those, who before now, had lost the will to express any emotion. She tasted it using Mindspeak—newfound hope blossoming in all these Korvenites. Tharydane’s surprise surged unchecked through the Unilink before she could stop herself, disquieting the psychic gathering. At once, an effusive reaction poured out from many in the Unilink. It was a cushion full of love, invigorating Tharydane. The feeling was…intoxicating. How did this happen? she thought. Masra started chattering about something trivial. Tharydane’s attention was drawn to other things, like that mysterious powerful presence from earlier burning brighter than ever. But his whereabouts remained a mystery.
Two Korvenite younglings, Zago and Kithoro, looked thoroughly giddy as they played with two sollunium Korvenite figurines—toy-sized versions of colossal korvanes statues allegedly on Sollus. What amazed Tharydane was how they animated the statuettes with Mindshift to play fight with each other. That kind of proficiency with Korvan’s gifts was on par with a Korvenite who grew up using these abilities. Where did they get those toys in the first place—that mysterious new Korvenite presence? Tharydane tried not to worry so much and dampen anyone’s mood. Still, the Korvenite wanted answers. So she mentally reached out, searching and immediately found what she was looking for.
Tharydane quickly sensed strangers in the crowd, distinct and potent essences in the Unilink though none were as powerful as the mysterious Korvenite who had addressed her. Tharydane started picking them out, mainly by attire; flowing red robes with loose-fitting hoods drawn halfway back so that their faces were visible. The most conspicuous ones were the hunchbacked elder standing close to the rear, and the lovely, slender female weaving through the masses. No one could miss the overzealous young male to the far right of the room, gushing to a small group about the joys of freedom. Other new Korvenites mingled among the former slaves, approachable and friendly.
“[Oh, no thank you,]” she replied as someone offered her a tall cup of purified water. Tharydane did a double take. That filled glass held the daily water ration supplied to a Korvenite family of four. These new Korvenites kept their minds well-guarded, regardless of how open their emotions appeared in the Unilink. Thoughts that brushed by slipped off the new Korvenites’ minds like water over oil. Tharydane’s lifelong abilities allowed her to quickly recognize the mental defenses. What were these strangers trying to hide in a communal link?
Tharydane frowned and shouldered her way even deeper into the throng. Masra followed dutifully, still babbling on. Tharydane barely heard her as she moved forward, clumsily nudging herself ahead through Mindspeak. Cutting through happy thoughts of the former slaves, Tharydane stretched her mind toward one of the newer Korvenites, whose mental defenses gave off less resistance. Her psychic probe shot forward so fast that Tharydane had to reel it back in before she became too obvious. Somehow this Unilink gave her abilities far more potency that she expected.
Tharydane cursed under her br
eath, knowing her psychic gifts seriously needed practice. Again she pushed forward, this time a lot slower. The family that this “Khasos” spoke to was fascinated by the story of his rescue, which he was more than happy to share. Did he say that a Mal Storm or Strum saved him? Tharydane pondered in confusion. She sensed a rigid order of thoughts, flashing like quicksilver. Khasos’ mind had defenses unlike any Korvenite in this room, carefully releasing what he wanted others to see. Tharydane eyed him curiously. This couldn’t be a Korvenite—.
“[Tharyn, what are you doing?]” Masra touched on her shoulder.
Without warning, her waking nightmares reared up in her mind once more.
Tharydane dry heaved. A shock hit her like a pulse rifle blast to the gut, ramming Tharydane’s senses again. A stench of death filled her nostrils, freshly scalded earth at her feet—the gaping hollow of death! The young Korvenite doubled over. So much death, emptiness, dragging her down! If this continued, all of her misery would bleed into the rest of the Unilink.
Not here, not now! On instinct Tharydane twisted away from Masra’s grip, then drew her presence inward, away from the Unilink. How am I doing this? Walling herself off wasn’t in her skill level, but Tharydane did it easily somehow. A pop went off in her mind like a misfired pulse pistol, bringing her back to reality. The Korvenite felt her lungs burning for nitrogen, remembering then to breathe.
However, her connection to Khasos was also lost. “Fehiza,” Tharydane swore, turning to Masra.
Her friend looked confused. “[Why are you probing Khasos?]” Masra’s voice sounded unique to the Mindspeak buzzing in Tharydane’s head like wasps. All this was so bizarre. Tharydane needed answers.
She grabbed her friend, speaking quietly in Standard Speech. “Shield us from the Unilink.”
“[What? Why?]” Masra blurted out, her feelings likewise rippling into the open. The buzzing wasps roiled with suspicion throughout the Unilink. A number of Korvenites were now eyeing them both.
“[That is why,]” Tharydane curtly whispered in Korcei. With Masra sometimes, it was like dealing with a child. “[I trusted you, now trust me.]” After a moment Masra calmed and nodded. At once, Tharydane felt the buzzing presences in her head silenced. Only the laughter, melodic halaikas and aroma of great food remained. Tharydane sighed. She could actually hear herself think again.
“[I know I’ve been away for about a week now, but how in Korvan’s name did all of this happen? Every Korvenite at Ymedes using Korvan’s gifts? And these strangers?]”
Masra instantly perked up. “[It happened last night Tharyn. I’ll tell you everything.]” She ushered Tharydane through the crowd into an empty corner of the room. As the two pushed through, their mental silence received many stares. Tharydane ignored them as Masra began speaking in Korcei.
“[I returned from working all day at my master’s house.]” The two sat down in the bend under a cracked archway as Masra began her tale. “[Rough day for me. That beastly kliox didn’t let me out until late—.]”
Tharydane ground her teeth, fighting for patience. “[Masra.]”
“[Sorry. Anyway. I was about to go to sleep, and this voice started speaking to me. The voice was so beautiful, Tharyn. When I woke up, I still heard it, but only in my head. There was a presence, His presence. My parents and I got up and saw no walls around our room.]”
Tharydane frowned and tossed back the violet curls falling in her face. “[No walls? How?]”
“[They were completely crumbled to dust. Even scarier was that I could see everyone else in the slave quarters. In the middle of the quarters was this circle of nine Korvenites. Their power,]” Masra shivered, “[I felt it in my bones. Then the pain in the back of my neck was like fire. But just for a moment. Tharyn, I heard my mothi’s voice in my head.]” Sparkly tears rolled down Masra’s cheeks. “[Its because these new Korvenites removed our cranial implants!]”
Tharydane let her friend’s words sink in. “[Your cranial implants were removed? But that’d kill—]”
Masra vigorously shook her head, “[No, no. They knew that. So with Mindspeak they entered our minds, convincing our own immune systems to destroy the implants like foreign agents.]
“[The nine went among us, explaining what happened and their purpose. They were here to liberate us, take us back to our homeworld. They came bearing true Korvenite food, medication for the wounded, Korvenite figurines for the offspring to play with and new clothes.]
“[For the first time in my memory, I didn’t go to work today. The henchbeings of our bosses came with weapons to force us out. But he kept them at bay with various illusions, which is what you saw when you approached tonight. Now they’re afraid to even come here. And during that time, His followers have been teaching us about our Mindspeak and Mindshift abilities through the Unilink.]” Masra appeared as baffled by the story as Tharydane, even though she had experienced it firsthand.
“[Why else do you think these children can animate korvanes statues?]” Masra pointed at Zago and Kithoro. “[You can reach your full potential too, Tharyn. Given how much you can already do.]”
Tharydane shrugged. “[They shouldn’t waste time trying to teach me Mindshift. I’ve never displayed any talent for it.]” In reality that was a bit of a lie, but no one needed to know. “[But these Korvenites are offering all this at no cost?]” Hugrask always said free things are never really free.
Masra smiled at this. “[That’s not the case, trust me. With our freedom, He just wants us to use Korvan’s power to help other enslaved Korvenites.]”
The constant third-person mentions were getting on Tharydane’s nerves. “[Who is this HE?]”
Masra turned and pointed again. As Tharydane followed her finger, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Then, almost on cue the crowd parted to reveal a Korvenite male sitting near the center.
He juggled three giggling Korvenite younglings round and round in the air using Mindshift, arms folded across his chest. Every Korvenite was tripping over each other to speak with him. He smiled amicably, speaking to anyone who approached. Too much noise blared for Tharydane to hear his words.
“[Him.]” Masra said, beaming. “[The Harbinger of Freedom, Maelstrom, Korvan’s Anointed.]”
Anointed for a spectacle sideshow? Tharydane wanted to say.
[Not funny.] Masra frowned at her. Tharydane scowled. Mental links definitely had privacy issues. She craned her neck forward and around the mass of Korvenites to get a better look.
Physically, ‘Maelstrom’ didn’t stand out to Tharydane as astonishing. Tall and lithe in build, he had wavy violet hair falling past his shoulders. He dressed in simple black robes, nothing that truly stood out.
Maelstrom leaned forward and eased the youngsters to the ground. Then his face came into full view. Tharydane’s eyes widened. She heard a rustling sigh escape from Masra’s lips. He had aquiline features, giving off the distinct solemnity of a leader. His skin, ivory in tone, glowed with unnatural health.
What got Tharydane the most were his eyes. Power pulsated madly behind those black and yellow orbs, a magnetic, jaw-dropping potency she sensed even with Masra blocking both them from the Unilink. Maelstrom glanced at her and Masra, holding their gazes for a few moments at most. To Tharydane, it was like twin stars burning right through her soul. She felt like she should’ve known him, but from where…? Behind her Masra grunted in pain—and a loud ringing blared into Tharydane’s ears!
A glance from Maelstrom quickly shattered Masra’s mental wall to pieces, the Unilink thundering back into Tharydane’s mind. Masra, more primed for it, allowed herself to be swept back in. Tharydane was not prepared. She covered her ears in futility. Yet the pounding increased, booming again and again.
Then, it stopped. A gentle stream of thoughts returned, soothing Tharydane’s mind. She slowly got to her feet, gingerly rubbing her temples. Other Korvenites shot cautious glances in her direction.
Masra helped her the rest of the way up. She looked more ashen than the normal Korve
nite pallor. “[I’m sorry, Tharydane, I’m so sorry! There’s still so much for me to learn about Korvan’s gifts.]”
“[It’s okay, Maz. Thank you for what you told me.]” Tharydane smiled and rubbed Masra’s arm. She still had her doubts. Then she looked back at Maelstrom.
Without Masra’s mental shield, Tharydane saw the clear power radiating off Maelstrom, almost like a halolamp with too much brightness. He was undeniably the powerful presence she had felt earlier.
Tharydane and Masra moved closer to the crowd surrounding Maelstrom. There they found the epitome of joy and hope, so pure it was beguiling. Masra already wore a dazed smile. Tharydane frowned as she studied this. This whole liberation still felt wrong. Yet to these Korvenites who had only known slavery, any freedom smelled sweeter than desert flowers.
The thaoque music stopped abruptly. A roar of adulation hit Tharydane’s ears, quaking the foundations of the slave quarters. Every Korvenite was standing and cheering. The Unilink surged with equivalent joy. Masra jabbed anxiously at Tharydane. “[Maelstrom’s about to speak.]”
Maelstrom had risen from his seat. When the llyriac ran a hand through his hair, he looked genuinely humbled by the praise. His bashfulness sent a gentle ripple through the Unilink. The llyriac raised his hand for quiet, and the crowd quickly obeyed. His intense, golden eyes raked across the crowd.
“[When I was a youth, I remembered glimpsing upon the architecture our race had built over its long existence, on Sollus. Even though Sollus was no longer ours, it was still home.]
