Nova

by Lora E. Rasmussen

  Grass, soil, and low–sky all blurred together as K’llan ran at full speed, arms and legs pumping in perfect balance. Sight and sound married in a soul–freeing union that she could only imagine was reminiscent of a bird in flight. All the while, with awareness born of the low murmur of the link she shared with the Human woman, K’llan felt Avara sprint at like velocity just behind her. Soon the two had left the threat of the canine pack of hunters behind.

  After just under an hour had passed, Serros pulled ahead of Z’arr and signaled that they should stop. Practically skidding in the water–drunk soil at her abrupt halt, K’llan sucked in deep swallows of the now chill night air, regaining her equilibrium after their flight. Finally, she asked “Why are we stopping so soon? I can still run for a good fifteen minutes or so.”

  Laughing slightly as she breathed in the night air herself, Avara replied, “No doubt, but I think we should hold some in reserve just in case our neighbors decide to stop by again.”

  “Mm, yes. Probably wise, given that I am pretty sure they are nocturnal.”

  “Yeah, that was my thought too.” Serros affirmed. “Did you catch sight of the rocky hillside in the distance?”

  “Yes.”

  “Might make a good goal–point for tomorrow.” Avara commented, and at K’llan’s agreement, the two went about making their camp.

  Conversing while they worked, K’llan disliked the weariness she noted in Avara’s voice and posture, so unlike her usual, almost constant sense of energy that she typically exuded. For that matter, she did not like her own exhaustion that she felt creeping into bone and soul, all heightened by a sense of ever–growing hunger.

  Camp laid out and sitting down to consume the very last of their carefully parceled out rations, K’llan was not at all surprised when Avara demonstrated that she shared the Vosaia’s hushed fears. “We need to talk about what we’re going to do for sustenance, and especially what we are going to do in regards to your need to Feed.”

  Knowing that the discussion was coming, but still unable to craft a solution that she was comfortable with, K’llan quietly supplied “I can last another two days or so until it becomes a real concern.”

  Mouth pressed into a slash, Serros remarked, “You mean only another two days or so until you’re comatose with deprivation?” Faint yet controlled frustration quivered in the Shield’s tone.

  When K’llan could offer only pregnant silence in return to the Human’s comment, Avara asserted, “K’llan, you’re starving. I can feel it.” Her voice held absolute certainty, and more. K’llan could hear the shiver of real worry, even alarm in her tone, could feel it like the struck chord of a harp held between them. “You need to Feed and I am the only option.”

  “No! You don’t understand, Avara.” K’llan finally responded, uncommonly slipping into the use of contractions in her frustration and fear. Locking her gaze with that of the Human woman’s who sat before her on the other side of the low–humming, miniature generator, K’llan worked to explain. “It is dangerous Avara, for you and I; perhaps especially for you and I.”

  “What? Why especially for you and me?”

  Feeling the Captain’s confusion swirling around her and captured by the sweetly earnest expression in her eyes, despite how much she wished she could answer Avara’s question, K’llan found that she simply could not utter the words that were so carefully locked away.

  Especially given the recent change that had taken place between Avara and one of those closest to her aboard Excalibur.

  “K’llan, you’ve said before that some Vosaia pay to consensually Feed on another, that it is legally permissible, which means it must be safe enough to do so. I don’t understand. We’re friends and I’m offering; what are you so afraid of?”

  Answering with what was both truth and at the same time, not the entire truth, K’llan proclaimed “It is dangerous. I am hungry, Avara, and I am inexperienced. I do not trust my control given the circumstances.”

  After a moment’s silent contemplation, the Shield Operative leaned forward. “I don’t see that we have a choice, K’llan; I will not take the risk. I have faith in you.”

  Repressing a betraying shudder of want that flooded through her despite her best efforts, K’llan stood quickly to her feet and, taking a long step back, shook her head in negation. “The issue is immaterial anyway, Captain. You also are starving. I truly believe there is a significant chance that your body could not withstand the strain given your own current state of extended depravation, Physical Potency and Vitality Arca or no.”

  Seeing the familiar look of stubborn resolve on Avara’s face, K’llan cut her off, mouth half–open, before the Human could even begin. “I mean it, Avara. I will not foolishly risk you, either.”

  “Very well, Lieutenant Z’arr. Tomorrow we hunt for me, but once I am sated, you will Feed.”

  Looking across the span of distance between them, feeling her eyes captured by the Captain’s own, K’llan reluctantly nodded. Internally, she was filled with no more assurance regarding the proposed course of action than before. Knowing that once Avara was physically capable and no matter the risk to herself, Captain Serros would refuse to take no for an answer. Not when she believed, accurately as it happened, that K’llan’s life was held in balance.

  As the two quietly cleaned up, finished their evening tasks and then retired, K’llan found that sleep would not take her for the entire eve’s duration. A contributing factor was worry of another attack from the canine predators, the jakhri, if the two Nova Squad members were correct in their species identification. Yet the possibility of physical threat was a mere blip on the sensor grid in comparison to her real fears.

  And the desire to Feed that she felt thrumming through her body.

  CHAPTER 19

  The next morning came without interruption, the two apparently having given their canine pursuers the slip. Shortly after they began their trek towards the rock–strewn hillside they had spotted in the far distance yesterday, there was a shift in the rote modality of the environment and routine they had grown accustomed to over the past five days.

  Though still rather warm, the weather turned muggy, heralding the rain that broke through the sky at early midday. Soon, streamers of water tracked from scalp, to cheek to shoulder, the rain sheeting until both were soaked through. Still, they continued their ground eating pace, wanting to come within spitting distance of the cliffs for shelter after they hunted, especially given the turn in the weather.

  It was a struggle, and as the day wore on, K’llan found the going to be increasingly difficult. Vision had become spotty and the path slippery with run–off. At the same time, she could feel her strength flagging to a minimum, exertion and hunger attempting to claim their prize as K’llan’s saturated garments clung like a shroud trying to bear her down to the ground for burial.

  Casting her gaze at her companion, she could see by her starkly drawn features that Avara was hardly faring better than herself. The advantages of so many Arca Microtech Enhancements, including a PV, extended only so far before the body’s systems started to breakdown. Essentially, blood and tissue began to self–cannibalize in a desperate bid to sustain the additional demands required by such augmentations.

  About three hours before the appearance of dusk, the two companions came to a halt, pausing to review the forty–foot up–sweep of hills and cliff–cutaways scattered in the face’s north side. Fighting the pinch of fatigue, K’llan cast her eyes to where Captain Serros pointed, a dark smudge against the fragile light pushing through the downpour. “There; looks like a good choice.”

  “I will take your word for it.” Z’arr answered, too weary to add more.

  “Let’s scout it out together then we’ll tackle food.”

  “Right then.”

  The two began their slippery scramble up the muddy hillside. They made the naturally carved opening in fairly short order, and despite the murky weather, the view from above was stunning. Muted blue and gray melded
with dark green and gold, fused to a sky that was periodically cracked by lightning mated with thunder.

  Proceeding forward, the two cautiously worked their way inside the depression. The cave turned out to be about fifteen feet or so deep, and was, thankfully, both dry and empty except for a yellowed set of unidentifiable ossuary remains resting on gravel–covered earth flooring.

  Convinced that no danger lurked inside their newly acquired shelter, Captain Serros turned towards K’llan. “Why don’t you set up camp and see what you can do about finding and drying some flammable materials for a fire so we can cook. I’m going to see about scrounging up some food.”

  “By yourself? Would it not be better to stay together?” K’llan asked, worried. They had both caught sound and sight of more jakhri roving the wet grasslands throughout the day.

  Lifting the cowl of her scarlet hood to once more cover her head, Avara replied, “No, I don’t think so. The process will go much more quickly if we divide what needs to be done.”

  Considering the Human woman’s words and what lay underneath, though she was too polite to say so, K’llan knew Avara was obliquely communicating that at this stage, Z’arr was simply too drained to be an adequate hunting partner. Avara intended to draw on the last of her greater reserves of her Arca Enhanced stamina, speed, and senses, and as such, she would move more quickly and quietly on her own.

  Again noting how tired and worn the Human seemed, the application of logic did not dictate pleased acceptance.

  “I’ll be fine, Lieutenant.” The Captain answered her unspoken concern, effortless reading K’llan’s emotions.

  “Very well. If you do not return within three hours, I shall Comm you.” K’llan replied, the statement half promise and half threat.

  “Understood.” Avara answered with a tight, crooked grin, and then she was gone, slipping down the hillside with the grace of the hunting cats the two had spotted more than once over the last few days, lean and dangerous. Staring out of the natural doorway of the shallow cave, the last sight K’llan caught of the Human woman was her slight pause at the hill’s base, then Avara blurred out of existence like a ghost, soaring through rain and grass alike.

  Consciously choosing to press the warble of anxiety she felt over the Captain’s safety into the back recesses of her mind and also pushing away the pounding drum of the headache she’d been sporting for the day’s duration, Z’arr went about her preparations. Practice had made the chore fairly easy, though locating enough fuel for the intended fire was more difficult.

  Z’arr waded through mud and grass alike to gather armfuls of the tough, stubby–branched bushes that spread throughout the grass and especially along the stream’s banks. In the end, the Vosaia made several trips down the hill and then systematically rotated clutches of branches and long grass–blades, fan–like, on the ground before the generator to fully dry. She did the same with the chill–courting, sodden Karukai jacket and her now water–slicked and loosened hair.

  After an appropriate span of time, the closest of her gathered kindling had dried and K’llan built but did not yet light a fire. With everything completed that could be until Serros returned, Z’arr settled in and waited.

  Despite the generator’s steady if dull warmth, K’llan found that she was continuously assaulted by fits of shivering and the hammering in her head persistently gained in force. As the minutes ticked by, the Vosaia increasingly battled the urge to curl up around the generator and just close her too heavy eyes.

  At last, K’llan caught sight of a familiar figure climbing up the edge of the steep incline and stepping into the relative warmth of the cavern.

  With a low curse muttered in her native tongue of Avenos, Z’arr forced her protesting body to rise and help the Captain as she wrestled with the dripping corpse of a large, female jakhri slung across her shoulders.

  “I heard that.” Avara greeted, a playful if tired smile about her mouth.

  Helping to bear the animal’s weight down to the pebbled ground at the cave’s opening, K’llan replied, “Must be spending too much time with you, Captain.”

  “Ha–ha.” The Human responded as she shook off water and fatigue and dropped her weapon’s harness to the ground so she could remove her drenched jacket. K’llan could see goose bumps sprout along the Human’s sleekly muscled arms as she shucked–off mud spattered and soaked boots and socks, then placed all her gear out by the generator to dry.

  Watching Avara move towards the slain animal and unable to quite repress a frown of aversion, K’llan remarked, “I hope you know how to handle the animal, Captain. I am afraid such was not a necessary part of my education.”

  “Uh–huh. You’re a scientist; didn’t you dissect frogs and pigeons, or some such?” Serros’s tone was jesting as she shot an inquisitive glance in K’llan’s direction.

  “Dissection is not the same as ingestion, I’m afraid.”

  “Well, not to worry. My required survival training will save my digestion. Hopefully.” Though confident, Serros’s tone bespoke her lack of enjoyment in the coming process as well.

  Moving just outside the cave’s mouth and affixing an ejected coil of rope from their kit on a left–protruding rock, Avara then tied the rope around the neck of the beast and heaved the body up. “I assume you know how to start that proper fire you built?”” She asked as she worked.

  “Yes, made easier thanks to our laser.” K’llan answered, both strangely fascinated and repulsed as she observed Avara insert the tip of her flash–forged bowie knife into the jakhri’s pelvis, and then work the blade upward to the sternum. A steady trickle then fount of blood dripped down to the ground, the pattering of the liquid fusing with the fall of rain outside.

  Still watching her companion, Z’arr moved to the fire–pit she had constructed and used the miniature laser to set the tinder brightly aflame within seconds.

  “Good. I’ll warn you, given the differences between how our peoples consume sustenance, my guess is you’ll find this to be quite unpleasant to watch.”

  Surveying the Human as she literally reached into the slit flesh of the animal’s abdomen and methodically began pulling out organs, the Vosaia could only agree as she quickly shifted her eyes, shuddering at the sight and smell that assaulted her senses.

  “Now might be a good time for you to gather some thin, flat rocks or stones from outside, if you would.” Serros suggested helpfully, though K’llan could hear the teasing note in her smooth alto.

  “Um, yes, excellent suggestion, Captain; right to.” Despite her fatigue and decided lack of desire to venture out into the rain again, K’llan could hardly wait to escape the dressing of the carcass.

  The rain water was warm on her skin as she moved once more down the slope, searching for what she assumed would be suitable cooking stones. It was strange, but even though these last days of striving through the wilderness and being completely separated from their crewmates or the conveniences of everyday life and quotidian technology had brought them closer, the experience had also served to more starkly illuminate the differences between the two women. As gifted and almost Vosaia–like as Avara was in regards to intellectual achievement, empathic ability and emotional as well as cultural sensitivity, she was still most certainly, Human.

  With a sweet smile of remembrance, a hazy image of her father rose into her mind. All bombastic emotion, generous smiles, and fueled by very Human, impatient determination to move through life. Genetically, pairing between Vosaia and other species that led to procreation resulted in children who were primarily, hereditarily speaking, Vosaia.

  Still, K’llan wondered, not for the first time, if a small portion of the undeniable draw she felt towards Captain Serros was the echo of her own father that she’d lost and the slight measure of her that was also Human.

  Having deliberately taken her time so as to miss the finer points of preparing supper, Z’arr returned thirty minutes or so later to find the job mostly done and Avara carefully cleaning up. Without being
asked, Z’arr gingerly picked up the thick slabs of meat the Shield Operative had prepared and placed them first on the flat river stones and then atop the ad–hoc rock designed fire–grate, situated just above the flame. It did not take long for the smells of sizzling meat to waft through the confines of the cave.

  Almost immediately, Z’arr caught the sound of Serros’s stomach as it rumbled in angry demand. With an embarrassed smile, Avara shrugged and then picked up the remains of the carcass–skin that she had deposited all of the entrails and waste into. “I’m going to clean up; shouldn’t take long.”

  At her nod, the Human exited the cave, pistol buckled at her waist.

  When she returned, K’llan could again see how very tired Captain Serros truly was. Though she’d taken the time to fully clean herself after the dressing of the animal, no amount of water could wash away the dark circles that bruised her eyes, or how unusually drawn her complexion seemed. Taking a heavily weighted seat before the snapping heat of the fire, Avara placed her fingers so close to the flame that she risked burning.

  K’llan could only quietly look on as Serros avidly stared as the cooking meat, cinders playing in those dark–blue orbs like comets falling through the night–sky. Finally, Avara simply snatched up mostly cooked meat, swiftly devouring the cut yet still eating with a strange level of decorum for someone who was literally starving. By the third consumed helping, a whisper–faint blush of color could be seen returning to the Captain’s features, yet the pulsing sense of deficit and craving was still undimmed.

  Witnessing the Captain rapidly eat piece after piece of sizzling, too–hot meat, the Vosaia was reminded yet again of her own hunger, and found her eyes and soul riveted to Avara with an intensity that utterly frightened her. Bruising her leg with her own hard–fingered grip to break the spell that held her captive as she watched the person she cared for only too deeply, K’llan forced herself to stand up and move, finding release in the warm–breeze brushing through the cave’s entranceway.