Seigie nodded. “There was a woman’s voice before we tumbled down.”
“I wonder if she just enjoys doing that. Seems to be a new annual tradition of hers,” he said. He finished the splint.
A strange bellow rolled down the street next to them.
Seigie noticed Zerius’ body stiffen. He said, “We should move to a place that’s safe.”
She looked to Mencari, who nodded, and said to Zerius, “Please, lead on.”
* * * * *
“Ow-wah!” Allia yelled when Mencari stumbled over some debris, jarring her arm.
“It’s not too far,” Zerius said.
Beyond the fire in his lungs, residual effects from the toxic air, guilt burned within Mencari. Allia was just a little girl, despite her abilities. He needed to be a better leader, to approach their assignments with more care, before someone got killed.
Another bellow echoed from ahead. Zerius held out his arm and listened before he pointed down an alleyway. “Let’s go this way,” he said with a motion to hurry.
“You have strange creatures here,” Allia said.
Zerius looked back, surprised, while quickening his pace forward. “Yes, strange creatures—and dangerous.”
Allia had an uncanny ability to tell when creatures were around. Mencari had seen it firsthand on Naijen’s world. Their new friend had just seen it in action. “How close are they?” Mencari asked.
“They’re staying far enough away.” Allia looked into the foggy darkness. “But they’re not friendly.”
“No, they ain’t,” Zerius said. “We’ve lost many people to them, ’specially when people travel alone.”
“Like you were, you mean,” Seigie said flatly.
“I know how to handle myself. Can’t always travel with friends.”
Mencari looked at the boarded-up buildings, and the mountains of trash heaped along the sides. “Why is there so much junk here?”
“This is where all the refuse from the city above ends up. They don’t care that people live here. We have to put it somewhere, so trash is moved wherever we can fit it.”
“Is everything abandoned, Zerius?” Mencari pointed to the buildings.
“Abandoned? No, there’s thousands of people living here. The windows are boarded to protect everyone from falling debris and creatures.”
“It’s that bad?”
Zerius nodded.
The sound of waves lapped in the distance.
“Water?” he asked.
“Yeah, the Agraln Sea. And the docks are nearby. Bread and butter of this place. Best jobs you’ll find—cleanest too.”
Rounding the bend, the toxic fog appeared thinner. Mencari saw the docks that jutted into the water, each lined with lanterns. A rundown wood building sat on the shore, abutting the largest pier. Floodlights cut through the gloom and lit the way for dockworkers who scurried about. They appeared to be loading and unloading an incomprehensible variety of vessels, from rowboats to midsized transports.
Armed guards stood on either side of the building’s entrance. At Zerius’ wave, they greeted him and opened the door. Inside, rhythmic music pulsed through the air, accompanied by an oddly soothing discord of crude instruments.
“Beyond our homes, this is our refuge.” Zerius motioned to the cubbies before them, then removed his mask. “You won’t need these here.”
From beneath his cloak he pulled a lead pipe and placed it with his mask into a cubby, then looked at Naijen. “Everyone puts their weapons here. No need for ’em inside. Whatever you have, put in the cubby. Please. You can keep your wrap on, however.”
Naijen scowled. “Already had it stole once today.”
“No one leaves without bein’ checked. Our friends outside’ll make sure.”
To set the example, Mencari pressed the release on his hand-phaser, then stowed the mask, cloak, and metal clip away. Allia put the Flower Blade in the same cubby, but opted to just slide the mask to the top of her head. Naijen grunted in displeasure, but placed the Skar in a lower box with his mask. Seigie took her mask and sack of crystals and placed them over the Skar to cover it. He grunted, the closest thing possible to him a show of appreciation, then looked around, suspicious. “I’ll be watchin’.”
The air smelled much cleaner in here, sweetened with incense. Mencari pushed his way through a draping of beads and strips of braided cloth and found himself bombarded by a rainbow of spotlights. From beyond the glare, a deep but jolly voice called out, “Zerius! It’s been so long! We thought those beasts got you!”
As a plump man approached and Mencari’s eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, he made out a bar with stools lining it, and crude tables sprinkled with patrons. At the far end of the airy room was a darkened stage.
Zerius called back, “Nah, I’m all right, Blupp. Too leathered for ’em to sink their teeth into.”
The plump man motioned to Mencari and the others. “And who are your friends?”
Zerius introduced them to Blupp, then said, “Just met ’em at the drop-off. More of De’Genico’s handiwork.”
“Well Happy Rising!” Blupp spoke with sarcasm and a flip of his hands. “Welcome to our humble community. I am Blupp, co-owner of this wonderful establishment. Please count on us to provide you with safety, friendship and a place to eat. Though, I do hope you like seafood.”
“Thank you,” Mencari said.
A tall, lanky man walked in and stood behind Blupp.
“And this is my partner Pultch, co-owner of the B.P. Hovel.”
Despite Mencari’s greeting, Pultch remained silent. Blupp patted him on the back and laughed. “He’s the brains of the family, I’m the lively one.”
Zerius bowed to them. “Now that you’re safe, I must return to my family. Be well.”
They expressed their goodbyes and watched him disappear back through the bead wall toward the entrance.
The music increased in volume and the patrons began to cheer. In the darkness, hovering over the stage, glowing lines of greenish-white appeared. Before his eyes, they distended and morphed into wild arcs and swirls. The designs began to wave and gyrate with the heavy beats. “Yes, Pultch is the brains, and I’m the fun one. But those? Those are our muses,” Blupp said.
A new pattern formed, moving through and between the others. Mencari’s eyes were locked on the spectacle of simple lines and curves that seemed alive, evolving. He noticed Naijen grunt, trying to turn away. Yet he couldn’t.
The music called to Mencari, beckoning to join in the rhythms. Without any intention to do so, he felt his body sway to the music.
On the stage, an electric-green aura radiated, revealing the shadowed forms of three dancers. Luminescent paint served as the source of the dancing lines. The two outer forms danced in a ring around the third for a moment, then spiraled off. An amber light rained down upon the third. Perfectly outlined by a skintight suit, her mint-tinted body throbbed with the music as she moved across the stage.
Mencari stared, recalling a familiar face, a familiar sensation. Images of Anaka, his late wife, played before his eyes. Outside the dancer’s thick black eyeliner, her face held striking similarities. But there was something else about her, something he couldn’t place. She tossed her long, pink dreadlocks, then arched backward. Glitter danced through the air as she kicked her shapely legs wildly above her.
Mencari leaned toward Blupp and whispered, “Who is she?”
“Can’t take your eyes away, can you?” Blupp said. “Don’t worry, no one can.” He laughed. “She’s Nikko. My star!”
Even Allia got into the moment, trying to mimic some of the movements, but then winced as her arm protested. “How does she move like tha—?”
The front door burst open. Shouts came from outside.
The bead curtain was thrown aside as men carried in bleeding and unconscious people. “Creatures at the docks again!”
The music stopped, and the house lights came on. Mencari recognized one of the bleeding men as Zerius. Blupp and Nikk
o both ran to the man who looked up weakly.
“Cogi’s holding ’em off. Hurry!”
Patrons ran to the cubbies, then out to the docks, weapons in hand.
The other two dancers had joined Nikko, concern aging their youthful faces. Mencari gently shoved Allia toward them. “Please watch her, we’ll go help.”
Allia attempted to reach out to Mencari in protest, but recoiled in pain.
By the time Mencari retrieved his weapon and facemask, adorned the body wrap, and snapped the weapon in place, Seigie and Naijen were already gone.
Outside, he followed the yelling down to their biggest pier. There, he could see Humanoid forms dodge about on the end of the pier. Wood splinters flew as water splashed. Frantic yells mixed with cries from the wounded. He ran toward the dock, where a handful of bodies lay, unconscious and bleeding.
Away from the pier, a man slumped, his face almost touching the ground even though he worked mightily to hold himself up with his arms. His lower body was immobilized by the dock fragments embedded in his legs and back.
Mencari saw Seigie on the dock, observing the scene. “Seigie!”
She turned as he approached. “I can’t go out on the docks to fight,” she said. “I’d sink like a stone if I fell in. But I saw something out there. In the water. Something big.”
“No crystals!” he commanded, then looked out and saw Naijen’s outline slashing away at a tentacled creature twice his size. Unsure if Naijen could handle the beast he dashed down the pier.
While running, unmistakable markings on piled crates caught his attention. He forced himself to concentrate on the moment, reached down and charged his hand-phaser as he grew closer to the battle.
A worm-like monster rose from the water. Its giant suction-cupped head, topped by red-stained teeth, splashed around, ready for more meat. Thin, tentacle arms lashed through the air, reaching for prey. Two figures stood on the edge of the broken dock, waiting. One was Naijen. The other wore a battered protective garment tightly held against his body by belts and straps.
“Get back!” the other man screamed.
As the creature reared out of the water, the other man thrust a long spear of dock-plank into its side. It shrieked and disappeared into the water.
“Gonna help!” Naijen yelled.
“If you want to help, get yourself to safety!”
Mencari saw thin arms come up on either side of the docks, behind the two men, and yelled, “Behind you!”
With a roar, Naijen streaked past and cut through the one reaching toward them. Mencari unloaded his weapon, scorching the other.
As the beast fell back into the water, Mencari approached the other man. “Are you Cogi?”
A mop of hair turned toward Mencari. The man’s grime-caked skin was flushed with deeper green patches. To Mencari’s surprise, instead of a mask, the man sported a trimmed goatee. Stranger still, despite the commotion, a look of serenity met him from gentle hazel eyes. “Cogeni. Em … Cogi, yes—”
Reemerging from the water, the creature’s tentacles attacked the pier, ripping up one plank, then another. As the three backed away, Mencari unloaded on the creature.
His ears began to ring again. The shaky pier made it near impossible to aim, or perhaps it was the specter of an oncoming migraine. Many of the volleys fizzled into the water, harmless.
From behind them, he heard familiar, heavy steps on the pier, and a voice bellowed, “If it keeps this up, the whole pier will be destroyed.”
Mencari whirled around, then back to the creature. “Seigie, I thought—”
“It’s not that deep here.”
His temples began to throb again. It was coming on faster this time. She pulled a set of red and blue gems from her pouch and began charging them.
“No gems!” he yelled, already wincing.
“Your concern is touching, but there’s a time for action—”
Cogeni ducked in reflex when the gems sailed past him toward the creature, and released a massive explosion. The beast cried out as a plume of water and scaly flesh launched into the air. Cogeni cried out in surprise, and Naijen turned and scoffed, “Hey, stone lady, a li’l warnin’ nex’ time?”
She couldn’t reply; the pain had driven her to her knees. A throbbing shot across his forehead along with another phase.
They’re close.
Not again. He hated these things. It didn’t matter if it was right, or even helpful. The pain was intense.
Mencari saw Naijen’s toothy sneer, and the warrior’s hands pulsed with light. Cogeni ran to Seigie’s aid as Naijen focused on the creatures. With a screech, more tentacles rose from the water. The warrior swung the Skar, unleashing a surge of energy. A spray of red mist filled the air as sections of the creature sheared off.
They’re close.
It became too hard to think. He was about to fire the hand-phaser when he felt his back ignite with pain. In reflex, his weapon fired wild. Cogeni cried out, “No!”
In a pain far greater than his migraines, Mencari felt barbs burrow deep into his back. The sensation became excruciating as he was lifted from the pier.
It’s going to drag me into the water!
Mencari panicked. The tentacle lurched, and he crashed to the pier. A goo covered Naijen, who stood over him as the pain overtook his senses. A man’s scream echoed in his ears. Moments before a heaviness claimed him, he realized it was his own shriek of agony.
* * * * *
Cogeni looked down the sides of the protruding dock. “There’s two creatures!”
Seigie looked out. Cogeni was right; there was no other way Mencari could have been taken like that.
Naijen snorted in disgust before moving next to Cogeni, readying his Skar.
Despite the pain surging through her body from powering the gems, Seigie dragged Mencari to a part of the dock nearest dry land and began digging at the tentacle. Mencari passed in and out of consciousness as she worked, bellowing.
“Sorry, Rhysus, these suction cups have barbs. Hang on.” Walling off her own pain, she charged several green crystals and broke them over his back. The green glitters disappeared into his skin; blood oozing from each cut slowed.
A weak voice scolded, “Seigie, I told you not to—”
She ignored him, drawn to the sound of something large emerging from the water. A massive tubed body had emerged. Just feet before her, Naijen’s hands glowed with power, ready to begin slashing them. Before he could attack, a mechanical thrumming emanated from out over the water.
A boat appeared through the fog, unloading energy weapons and harpoons at the creatures. Naijen snarled in disappointment at the sight of the well-armed reinforcements, and allowed the glow to fade from his hands. Standing down, he retreated to Seigie and Mencari.
Seigie saw him give a maniac’s grin and chide, “So much for ‘bein’ ready.’ Eh, Rylee?” She gritted her teeth. Now wasn’t the time to exert his dominance—or arrogance.
“You gotta watch your back,” he said, goading further.
Or was it a taunt? she wondered.
A familiar emblem marked the boat. The silver-blue edges were unmistakable. Through her own pain, she grunted out, “We fall back. Now!”
She pushed to her feet and motioned for Naijen’s assistance. Against Mencari’s protests, Naijen and Seigie lifted him, and Cogeni yelled, “Take him to the Hovel.”
As they moved Mencari, Seigie saw the creatures attack the boat. She watched in horror as tentacles swung from the water, snagging soldiers who fired from the edge of the boat. Screaming, they were dragged underwater.
A high-pitched hum grew, then ended with a powerful flash. In moments, the tentacled creatures bobbed lifeless on the surface.
* * * * *
“Thank you,” Seigie said to Blupp.
“It’s the only extra space I have right now, so many are hurt!” he said.
“It’s more than generous.” She winced at the twinges still shooting through her body.
As Blu
pp went to help others, she saw Cogeni enter. He carried more wounded, with the help of soldiers from the boat. She went to the bar and sat, hand on her forehead pretending to rest, the soldiers in her peripheral vision.
“I don’t know where you came from, but thank you,” Cogeni said to them.
“We were in the area, we work for the same company.” The soldier pointed to the logo on his uniform.
They all work for the Nukari?
She stared, her mind racing.
“Ah well, thank you. They were tough today. I usually can handle them.”
“Keep up the good work,” the soldier said. “If they attack again, we’ll be back.”
Cogeni shook his head. “The pier. It’s ruined! It will take a while before we’re up and going again.”
“Already called a crew. Go get some rest. By the time you get back tomorrow, we’ll have it repaired.”
Cogeni looked at him, skeptical. “You kidding?”
“Not at all. Go on, we’ll take care of the rest.”
Seigie wondered why the pier was so important they’d fix it so fast.
He shook his head in disbelief. “No, I have to help the others first.”
“We’ll help there too,” the soldier as he motioned to the others, who headed back outside.
* * * * *
“Nukari,” Mencari muttered.
Allia went to his side. “Rest, Rhysus. Just rest.”
Again he fell unconscious. Allia looked around the packed storage room. Boxes were in what appeared to be random piles, sometimes stacked as high as the ceiling. Naijen sat playing with his Skar on a few crates.
“How long we hafta wait?” he said.
She shrugged. “Seigie said to wait here,” she said, frustrated. She felt so helpless. Her own healing abilities, after all, just worked on animals. “And Rhysus is still hurt.”
He snorted. “Was just gettin’ good before those boat boys wrecked it.”
Allia opened the door and peeked out. Cogeni spoke in low tones to Nikko in the corridor. Both looked back at her before vanishing into a room next to them.
D'mok Revival: The Nukari Invasion Anthology Page 39
