by Viola Grace
* * * *
Kiida saw them set up the cycles with the cargo trailers and add the launchers, a set off springs, and a complete pivot. It was fascinating to watch.
Dif asked her, “So, what do you think of your great grandfather?”
“He is an alien who loved a human woman. Aside from that, I don’t know. I just met him. Aside from the humans in the tunnels, he is truly the first stranger I have ever met.”
Dif agreed, “That is sensible. Do you want to know him better?”
“I want to get down to the files and pull up the ancient archives and diaries. There has to be something left behind by the wives.”
“I can access them for you. Not the handwritten archives but the scanned ones.”
She smiled. “Load them up, and I will take a look at them.”
The files came slowly, and then, there was a rush. She searched through the names that she knew, and there was the same anomaly over and over. When she pulled herself into the real world again, she cleared her throat. “That is a helluva thing.”
* * * *
Duel led Kabriuk into the necropolis. “Does this make you uncomfortable?”
He shook his head. “Death is part of life, and these women lived a very long time, death came for them when it was appropriate.”
“Say that to the ninety-year old who died rock climbing.”
He looked startled. “That is an interesting hobby.”
“She was working. She didn’t have to gather eggs from the aviary, but it was what she did, so she kept doing it. Usually, we live quite a bit longer.” Duel smiled.
They walked through the Aka clan section.
She asked him, “Where did you want to look?”
“I would like to start with the eldest members of the clan and work forward.”
Duel nodded. “Right. This way. Bear in mind that the necropolis wasn’t set up for several decades after the war was over. Many of the first generation are lost.”
“I understand. I just want to get close.”
Duel inclined her head. “Then, come with me.”
At a slow and respectful pace, she led him back through time until they were at the first monument to an Aka elder.
He crouched next to the stone. He brushed his fingers across it, and a tear traced down his cheek. “Kabby Aka, daughter of Jeanell. An elder of compassion and determination.”
She pointed to the beacon marker on the memorial stone. “It means she was a digger. I never realized she was a digger.”
He blinked several times. “I don’t understand.”
“Was Jeanell a geologist?”
“She was and a metallurgist. She loved to dig in the dirt.”
Duel smiled, and she looked around her. There had always been something odd about the placement of the Aka portion of the necropolis, but now, she knew, it was just to keep it close to the stone.
Why did they want it close to stone?
* * * *
Corbyn got into Myx, and she walked around to the rear of the valley, near the ridge. The weapon was trundled out in pieces, and when it was completely out of the research area, she reached down and began to assemble it.
It was just big enough for Myx’s hand. The dummy round went in fairly easily, but she had to be precise. The same puncture to mingle mineral and gas was in the dummy round that matched the weight of the live round.
Corbyn aimed at the distant mountain. “Time to test this. Are you ready, Xaia?”
“Monitors on, scanners up.”
Corbyn counted, “Firing in three... two... one.”
The trigger was pulled, and there was a three-second silence before a cacophonous round went off and the dummy streaked across the valley and toward the mountain.
They watched for thirty seconds before a chunk of stone flicked off the edge.
Corbyn laughed at the shrieking of triumph in the live coms. She pulled away and sighed. “So, we have our ancestors safe, and now, we have a weapon.”
Myx murmured, “Now, you must wait. This is the hardest part of battle, waiting for the enemy to come to you.”
“I do hate waiting.”
Myx’s laughter filled the command deck. “Welcome to my world.”
Author’s Note
Blend and Defend is going to be the final instalment of Innate Wright. Everything will be ratified and a few more surprises will be unearthed.
Writing this serial has been stressful but fun. I will never. Never. Never do it again.
I hope.
Thanks for reading,
Viola Grace
About the Author
Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.
An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.
