Sisterhood of Suns: Pallas Athena

by Martin Schiller

  “It sings again of Modrel and his own glorious death at the hands of the Sallash’kvechka, the Neversaw Beast, and of the birth of the first forest women. It also sings of Modrel's flower, the Ghost Flower, and of the wonderous cures and the hidden treasures that we, his daughters, have found hidden beneath the forest canopy.’

  “And it ends its song with the glorius battle cry of the Minna’que’tsa, the fighting bird from which my clan derives its name and its power. That is our crest atop it all, Maya of Kaaryn, for our song is sung throughout the Great Mother Forest from the foot of Blood River Falls to the Glen of Bones as the very first of the Forest Clans. Is that not a mighty song, Outlander-who-can-see-the-trees?”

  “Yes,” Maya replied. “It is. Thank you for singing it for me.”

  Keela’s posture relaxed. “You are wiser than most Hwa’ni I meet,” she remarked. “We shall see one another again, I think.”

  Without further ado, the native women turned as one and sprinted towards the trees lining the garden, leaping upwards without any apparent effort onto the nearest branches. Keela gave them one backwards glance before she and her companion jumped across to another pair of limbs and vanished into the confusion of green leaves and concealing branches.

  “Great Goddess! They were… magnificent!” Felecia said breathlessly. She laughed and held out her hand. “Look at me, my hands are shaking!”

  Maya clasped them in her own trembling hands and looked off in the direction the Nemesians had gone, filled with admiration, and a deeper insight into her martial arts teacher’s roots. They were magnificent indeed.

  ***

  On the second day of the Senatrix’s conference with the Rampart, Felecia announced that she was officially bored. The girl approached her mother, and after some pleading, convinced the woman to arrange for an imaging safari. This was something that the Shadow Lake Lodge was famous for, and Felecia was overjoyed at the entertainment this would provide, and at the opportunity it offered to go shopping in the Lodge’s clothing shop. She was, as she quickly pointed out to Maya, completely unequipped for such an arduous journey into the “wilderness”—even if that so-called wilderness was safely enclosed by impeller fencing and totally devoid of any harmful predators.

  Maya let Felecia lead her on her shopping spree, and after a little protest, even allowed her to buy her a souvenir sun hat for the trip. When the girl’s shopping was finally done, they returned briefly to their quarters so that she could change into her new outfit; a khaki colored jumpsuit that mimicked more practical garments. Afterwards, they ate a light lunch together in the Lodge’s main dining room.

  Felecia was excited by the prospect of getting away from the resort, and when the staff women came for them, she eagerly led the way to a pair of hoverlifters that were waiting for them outside. The utilitarian craft consisted of flat decks with seats, open pilot’s stations at the prow and skirts of clear plastiglass surrounding the entire platform. Suspended beneath this were pairs of tubular anti-grav units.

  Overall it was a simple, yet practical design that was perfect for negotiating the Nemesian forests, and Maya learned from the staff that these machines came in a variety of configurations, ranging from fully covered models, to heavy-duty units equipped with lifting cranes for logging operations.

  Uniformed crew members, and a small contingent of the Senatrix’s security women, were waiting for them at the boarding ladders. So were the two Nemesian women that they had encountered in the Ki’ask’a Garden. Sharra had briefed Maya about them while Felecia had been changing into her new outfit, so she wasn’t surprised by their presence, but her companion was.

  “Look! It’s those two native women that we met,” Felecia whispered to her, “What are they doing here?”

  “Working for your mother,” Maya explained, and Felecia mouthed a silent “oh” of comprehension, suddenly understanding perfectly. Even though they were only going on an imaging safari in a pacified nature preserve, the Senatrix’s Security Chief wasn’t taking any chances with her safety.

  Although they had been employed to accompany them, and lend their wilderness experience and skill as fighters, the Nemesians kept to themselves, and stood off to one side as the staffers ushered Maya and Felecia up the short ladders onto the nearest ‘lifter. It was only when everyone had boarded both craft, and had been buckled in, that they finally deigned to join them. From the stiff manner of the Lodge employees, who were all from off planet, and the canine-exposing grins that the Nemesians gave them, it was obvious that the two groups were not used to being in such close proximity to one another.

  Maya did not share their unease, and boldly looked over at Keela and her partner as they took their place in the ‘lifter. The Nemesian seemed to approve of her audacity, and rewarded her with a slight nod of acknowledgement as the ‘lifter rose smoothly into the air.

  “Sa'la jantildamé,” a staff member said from the front of the ‘lifter, “On behalf of the Shadow Lake Lodge, welcome to the Shadow Lake Nature Preserve Imaging Safari, famous throughout the Sisterhood as one of the premier attractions on Nemesis.’

  “We will be leaving the Residence Zone which houses the Lodge and its outbuildings, and proceed directly to the Nature Preserve where we will be able to view some of the wonders of the wild and dangerous Nemesian forest.”

  As she said this, Keela, or her companion (Maya was unsure which) let out a disdainful snort. If the staffer had noticed their scorn, she pretended ignorance, and carried on with her pre-packaged speech with a pleasant, albeit artificial smile.

  “I will be your guide on our adventure today. My name is Shirleese. Please feel free to ask me any questions you have.” Shirleese was a pretty blond with perfect hair, and she was dressed in an outfit that mimicked Felecia’s. Like the rest of her fellow employees, the woman was too clean, too “civilized” compared to the Nemesians for her garb to be anything more than a costume worn by an actress in a realie, or in their case, a tour guide.

  “The Residence Zone and the nature preserve are protected from the forest’s predators by an impeller fence and an array of sonic devices that stretch in an unbroken ring around both zones,” Shirleese told them.

  “You may already be aware that the Nemesian forests are the source of some of the most fantastic medicinal plants in the Sisterhood, but also home to some of its most fearsome predators. This protective ring, which is in continuous operation, serves to make these zones habitable and completely safe for our guests.”

  By this time, the two ‘lifters had floated past the lodge and were in the process of following the lake shore towards a gap in the tree line. Maya noted that a pair of double gates and impeller fencing separated what had to be the Nature Preserve from the Residence Zone.

  Their guide cheerfully continued as the craft turned away from the lake and moved towards the gates. “This pair of gates is an added safety precaution, separating the two zones. If, in the unlikely event that the impeller field surrounding the preserve ever fails, the Lodge would still be afforded the protection of these gates, which rely on a completely separate power grid. The Shadow Lake Lodge has made every effort to ensure that our guests enjoy both the highest level of security and enjoyment of what our unique world has to offer.”

  The gates, like the impeller field fencing, were enormous. In fact, they were larger than any barrier that Maya had ever seen before, which made her wonder just exactly what they were intended to keep out. Their tour of the museum had introduced them to a few of the smaller predators, but even those exhibits had made the frank admission that not all of the native species were accounted for. Given the extreme hazards of exploration, most of what scientists knew of the flora and fauna of the Nemesian forests was more legend than fact.

  Maya also noticed that the demeanor of the two Nemesians changed subtly as the ‘lifter made its passage through the barrier.

  They know what the fences keep back, the girl thought, watching as Keela reflexively clutched the handle of the Tej knife
on her hip. And for once, Maya was satisfied with her ignorance. She suppressed a shudder as they passed through the gates, trying not to let her imagination run away with her as the forest pressed in close and dark on both sides of the ‘lifter.

  Once or twice she thought she saw movement just inside the tree line. Whatever they were, they were large, but thankfully nothing rushed out to the impeller fencing to reveal itself. Despite her disquiet, though, Maya had to admit that the forests of Nemesis were quite beautiful, in their own strange and disturbing way.

  The hoverlifters came out into a large clearing. Huge trees loomed all around its edges, their trunks almost completely concealed by massive vines, some of which were as thick as the JUDI’s engine pods. And here and there, hidden in the shadows created by the dense forest, Maya spotted strange, luminescent flowers that lit up the foliage around them with a soft, ghostly light, creating an almost cheerful counterpoint to the otherwise omnipresent gloom.

  “Gentleladies,” Shirleese said, “Welcome to the nature preserve. This is the Modrel Valley, named after Major Matthew Modrel, the leader of the first team to explore Nemesis.”

  While the woman was saying this, Maya noticed that both of the Nemesians were making a quick, surreptitious gesture with their hands. She took this as some form of genuflection and looked away, not wanting to intrude on their private ritual. Neither Shirleese, nor her fellow employees seemed to notice it however, and the guide continued with her monologue like some kind of ‘bot.

  “You may have already spotted some of the exotic flowers native to the forest floor,” she said, “and noted their bio-luminescent qualities. For those who haven’t seen this yet, an excellent example is coming up on our right; a particularly large patch of what we call the Widow’s Bed flower which gives off a distinctive blue glow when the shadows are just right.’

  “You may have also noted the large vines that cover nearly every centimeter of the forest’s trees, which are known of as blackwood trees. These vines are called strangler vines, but that’s a misnomer; the vines don’t harm the trees in the least. Instead, they actually provide a protective covering that shields them against wood-boring insects and helps to support their great weight, allowing them to grow as large as they do.”

  Then Shirleese looked over her shoulder and her perfect smile broadened. “Gentleladies, we are indeed fortunate today. If you look to our right and through the trees, you’ll see some examples of traveler plants making their way along the ground. These rare and unique plants use the hydraulic action of the water inside of them to move across the forest floor from one place to another in order to find the best places for sun and nutrients.”

  Maya seriously doubted that there was really anything rare or unexpected going on here. The imaging safaris were one of the Lodge’s major attractions, and their guide certainly knew where everything was located within the preserve. Even so, she kept her cynicism to herself out of deference to Felecia, who was buying the whole thing.

  “Look,” the girl said to her, pointing. “There they are!” Maya peered down and spotted one of the plants a moment later.

  It proved to be a small bush with thin, whip-like branches at its base which it was using to propel itself towards a bright patch of sunlight. When it reached the spot, a thick root dropped down from its midsection and bored into the soft dark earth. Then the plant settled down, and as it spread its appendages outwards, large white flowers with thick petals sprouted open and caught the light.

  “Isn’t this exciting?” Felecia asked, squeezing her hand. “Such strange plant-life they have here! No wonder the first scientists were so eager to explore this world.”

  Despite the fact that the whole thing had been staged, Maya had to admit that the sight was impressive. She had never encountered plants that could move around on their own. She also found herself wondering if the plants got any kind of kick-back from the Lodge for showing up on cue like this. Water? Fertilizer? A shiny new pot?

  As she suppressed the urge to laugh at her own sarcasm, a second plant came out of the shadows and Felecia immediately brought up her realicam to film the spectacle. Shirleese nodded to their pilot, who went into a hover, and when Felecia had finished, they flew on.

  At a point where the clearing split in two directions, the machine made a right-hand turn that brought it around the edge of the jungle and into an even wider meadow. A small lake dominated it, fed by a waterfall that spilled out from under the jungle canopy from a source somewhere in the shadows high above them. Beyond this, huge jagged mountains rose up in the distance, looking like the teeth of a gigantic predator, and Maya gazed up at their hazy summits, marvelling at their size and grandeur.

  Shirleese gestured expansively at the sight. “The mountains you see in the distance are the Chasadaans, which are the location for the famous Sarayanne Hot Springs, known all around the Sisterhood for its unique healing powers. If you are so inclined, arrangements for a trip to the hot-springs can be made when we get back to the lodge.”

  “Oh, Maya!” Felecia exclaimed, pressing herself in as close as her seat harness would allow, “wouldn’t it just be wonderful to go there? I’ve heard of those springs and it would be simply marvelous to spend a day just soaking in a nice hot tub, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, it would,” Maya replied. The springs did sound inviting, especially if the trip involved spending some time alone with Felecia in that tub. “We’ll have to see if your mother will let us get away for another day and go up there.”

  Up ahead of them, an open tent had been erected next to the lake shore. The pleasant aroma of fresh food carried over the gentle breeze as the ‘lifter drew near.

  “Mmm,” Felecia purred. “Doesn’t that smell fantastic? I had heard that we would have a little picnic out here, but I didn’t think it would be so nice.” Maya’s stomach rumbled involuntarily in agreement, and Felecia laughed. “I guess I won’t be eating alone, then, will I?”

  Maya blushed, but Felecia was right. After their light breakfast, the scent of the food was irresistible.

  The ‘lifter landed and they were shown over to the tent. Predictably, the Nemesians did not join them. Instead, they settled themselves under a nearby tree and broke out packets of rations from their packs, clearly content with the simpler fare, and their own company. Maya gave them a quick respectful nod, and then let Felecia pull her into the shelter.

  The food that was waiting for them proved to be just as delicious as its aroma had advertised, and after they had finished their lunch, a waitress came up and offered them cups of kaafra flavored with local Nemesian chocalat.

  Felecia took hers, and after a delicate sip, sighed in contentment. “Isn’t that just divine?” she sighed. ”I can see now why Nemesian chocalat fetches such a high price off planet. I’ll simply have to convince Mother’s cook to stock some of this for our kitchen. I don’t think I could ever drink any other kind now.”

  Maya tried her own beverage, and when the rich, velvety taste hit her tongue, she found that she couldn’t disagree. The local version made everything else that she’d ever tried seem downright tasteless. She drained her cup with relish and nodded back.

  “I do hope you’re free tonight,” Felecia said, putting her cup down. “I wanted to share something with you that is very special to me, and I hope that it won’t offend you.”

  “Nothing you do could offend me,” Maya assured her. “Do you want to tell me what it is, or should I wait?”

  “Well,” Felecia began, making certain that no one was within earshot. “It’s something I picked up on my last trip with my mother. Oh, I don’t know if I should tell you…please promise me that you’ll not breathe a word of it to anyone!”

  “Yes,” Maya agreed. “I’ll keep it a secret, but only if you tell me what ‘it’ is.”

  “It’s a converger,” Felecia said almost in a whisper.

  “A what?”

  “It’s very expensive,” the girl explained, “and very hard to get. The mercha
nt who sold it to me said that it interfaces with your psiever and the psiever of someone else, and that it switches their signals.”

  “I don’t follow,” Maya said. “What’s so special about that?”

  “It puts you inside of the other person. You actually feel like you are them, and they are you. I thought that it might be something that we would like to try… together.”

  Maya smiled provocatively at the notion. “I’ll give anything a try.”

  ***

  After lunch they spent some time taking more images with Felecia’s realicam, and then the ‘lifters headed back towards the lodge. The sun was just starting to set and the craft followed a different, shorter route up through a narrow side valley in order to return before full dark was upon them.

  The jungle was especially thick there, and the ‘lifters were forced to rise up almost to the treetops to make their passage. Despite the dense cover, there was still plenty to see below them, as Shirleese cheerfully pointed out.

  “If you will look down and to the left,” she said, “you should catch a glimpse of one of the most famous flowers on Nemesis, the Modrel Flower, which, as you know, was named for the famous explorer. In the wilds, one of the most curious characteristics of this flower is that it is almost always associated with a predator referred to as the “neversaw,” which reportedly guards it wherever it is found. Of course, here in the nature preserve, we don’t have to worry about this, and can appreciate the flower for its strange beauty without having any safety concerns.”

  Maya peered down into the canopy and spotted the flower, a huge milky white growth with five distinct petals, each as large as a woman’s head. She recognized it right away from the ki’ask’a carving, and something about the blossom made her skin crawl.

  She wasn’t alone in her reaction. The two Nemesians next to her were clearly disturbed by the growth and looked around them warily.