The light source was at the bottom of the leaf, visible from the jungle floor to view. If anyone was overhead, it would remain pitch black to them. “Nice trick, Yren.”
“It keeps us safe,” she said.
“Safe from what?” I asked.
She just smiled. “Follow me and all your answers will come.”
“Hey, Rels,” the Cuukzen chimed in as always. “I had a Toolu pet once that glowed in the dark.”
“You don’t say?” I shouldn’t have said that. Here comes more pet rants.
“Yes, Rels. They have weird skin and sleep all the time. But when it’s dark, they glow. They like to bounce and–”
I ignored him and continued to follow Yren until she came to a large exposed root.
Like some other jungles I’ve seen, these roots spread out from the base of the tree near the trunk, running along the ground several meters before disappearing under the dark soil.
This root was no different except it was at least five meters thick.
She walked up to a cutout in the side of the root. “Follow,” she said simply.
I looked back at our jungle guides.
A few were following us, including Yrontik. The rest stayed with the mounts.
Mistuuk just shrugged his shoulders at me.
The Vrae looked tense, but didn’t budge.
Better her than me.
As we followed Yren into the root of the tree, a passage opened within it.
There was green luminescent moss all around giving off faint light, illuminating the otherwise dark tunnel.
“Charming. More dark passageways,” I grumbled aloud.
“What’s that, Rels?”
“Nothing, buddy. Just talking to myself.”
“You do that a lot, Rels.”
We continued down a set of twisting corridors. We were now underground.
The root wall turned to a hard clay substance. It was white and smooth to the touch.
I could see a warm glow up ahead as we rounded one last corner.
We exited the passageway into a large underground room. It seemed, from our entrance, the bottom and center of the tree.
The subterrane was round and large enough to allow maybe two dozen people to stand or sit within its confines.
There was a firepit in the center with four wooden benches in a disjointed square.
It looked to be a ceremony chamber considering its four ornate stone pedestals on each corner of the pit itself. Each had stone bowls on top. There was a fifth bowl in the center, over the pit, raised on three stone tripod legs.
Yren walked to the other side of the room. “Please have a seat. You must be hungry from your trip.”
I suddenly realized just how hungry I was. We hadn’t had food in some time.
“Yes. Please.”
The three of us sat down on one bench.
Mistuuk took off his makeshift backpack with Blink strapped in and sat the bot down beside him.
One of Yren’s warriors brought us a basket full of strange-looking fruit.
I didn’t care what it looked like or where it came from.
I was eating it.
All of us started to devour the colorful bounty before us.
Strange texture, but it was edible. So, who cares, right?
Why did I expect the Cuukzen to make a comment?
“Hey, Rels. This one fruit tastes like–”
“Let me guess,” I stopped the little guy. “Like jojo fruit, right?”
“No, Rels,” he said, blinking at me. “It tastes like casin sap.”
Nope. Not even going to ask.
I was enjoying the pieces of fruit, but the question I had on my mind was still at hand, and it wasn’t about casin sap.
“Yren, I want to thank you again for your help. So, if you don’t mind me asking, why did you help us and what is this place?”
She folded her hands in her lap in what I thought was a very Human gesture.
“This is a hidden staging area. We’ll be safe from any prying eyes the Insights would send for you.”
“Insights?” I asked.
“What you call the Gashnee Ancients.”
Now we were getting somewhere.This is what we came for.
About time, I thought.
“We’re looking for them. We’ve come for some information–”
“On the Gashnee. Yes, I know.”
“Seems like you know a lot, Yren. So how do you know all this?”
“You are the ones the Gashnee call Advocates.”
“You used that word before. What does it mean?”
Yren turned and nodded to Yrontik, the Xty warrior who was standing against the wall.
He parted and walked back up the tunnel.
“Where’s he going?” I quarried.
“I think she’s trying to tell us, Rels.”
“I can see that, buddy, but I don’t like to be caught between aliens I don’t know and a Vrae assassin here to kill us.”
I turned to Kayasa. “No offense.”
She smirked.
Yren stood up. “Please allow me to tell you of the Gashnee prophecies.”
That got our attention.
Yrontik came back in with a large bag.
He opened it up and started taking out clumps of colored rocks and began to chant.
A ceremonial procedure maybe.
He placed a different colored rock in each bowl around the pit. The last one he placed in the center bowl above the fire.
Yren began to speak, “We Xty are the caretakers for the Gashnee Ancient who resides in the sanctuary of Gnotok.”
“The temple I saw?”
“Yes.”
“That’s one of the three that are alive at any one time, correct?” I said, wanting to verify what the Cuukzen had told me several days ago back in my safe room on Aba-Qun Ta.
“Correct. We are governed by the Gashnee who once ruled this galaxy. We are destined to guard the Ancient who holds all knowledge of what is past and what is yet to come.”
Mistuuk’s ears perked up. “What about the other two Ancients, Yren? If they were three and split at conception, where are the others?”
“We do not know. Our path is here with the Insights we are bound to,” she said.
“What about the stone giants. Who are they?”
“They are known as Glyphterns. They are the builders of this place. They provide what is needed for the Insights. We are the translators and the guardians.”
“So, why did you rescue us and attack them?”
That’s the real question here, I thought.
“Our sect broke away from the Xty compendium. What you may call tribes in your language. We are now outcasts within our own race.”
“What’d you do, Yren?” Mistuuk asked.
She sat back down and gestured to Yrontik. “We discovered, through the Ancient, what the Gashnee were going to do upon their return.”
“This has to do with the prophecies.” I was anxious for her to get to the point.
“Yes.”
“One in the time, many,” Mistuuk said, still smacking on fruit.
“That’s correct, Cuukzen.”
Yren also knew what race the pudge was?
“Do you know the Vrae Empire?” the Vrae spoke up.
“We do,” Yren said.
“Welcome to the conversation, Kayasa.” I shot a grin at our angry-faced companion before turning my attention back to our guest. “So, you know all of our races, Yren?”
“Yes. I knew of your race, Rels, as soon as I heard of your capture. I knew of the Cuukzen and Vrae once I saw them in the cage with you.”
“How do you know these things since we are so far from your quadrant?”
Now Yrontik came back in holding a pile of leaves that looked like a type of vine covered in white moss.
It was all clumped together.
Yren stood. “All will be explained. Please clear your arm so the skin shows.”
As w
e were doing so, she reached down to the pit and pulled up a green transparent container.
She opened the lid and took out a small ladled cup. “Please take a sip and pass it around. A small sip and no more. The yosden is a powerful telyrum.”
“A what?” If it tasted like the fruit, I didn’t want it.
“My apologies, Rels. It’s a serum.”
“And what does it do?” I inquired, not wanting any more surprises.
“It will help you see the events of long ago which brought you here today.”
That answered my question. Then again, we didn’t have a choice… Again.
I was getting tired of not having choices.
The cup was passed around and we all took a sip, except for the Vrae.
“Just take the drink, Kayasa.” I was in no mood for her antics. I leaned into Mistuuk. “Are they all this uncooperative?”
“Yes, Rels,” the Cuukzen didn’t hesitate to answer.
I rolled my eyes as she took her sip and passed it to Yrontik who took the cup.
Yren took a white vine and began wrapping it around her forearm. “Now, wrap your right arm like I’ve done.” She passed the mossy plant around.
Everyone did as she said.
She wrapped her other arm and passed the vine around again.
The white vine constricted, its small fibrous branches attached themselves to our skin.
I looked up to Yren for guidance if this was normal.
She nodded.
The feeling was odd to say the least. Like an old blood pressure cuff squeezing with a slight pressure along the arm.
I felt a tingling sensation run up my arm as the serum drink began to play with my vision.
Everyone was connected by the vine on each arm, completing a circle within the chamber.
“Now, a warning,” Yren said.
“Now, a warning!?” I shouted, incredulous.
“Do not break the circle. It can lead to death. The effects you are feeling will allow you to see those events of times past. All will be answered.”
“Nice warning,” I murmured.
Yrontik lit the bowls around the pit as colorful smoke rose and mingled in the air above the room.
I needed to remind myself to thank Commander Parejas again for such an exquisite mission.
If I can remember any of it.
Maybe I could use telekinesis or, better yet, I could send him smoke signals.
The colors were appealing.
Yeah, this is nice. I’ll just stay here for a bit.
“Does anyone else see blinking moths?” I muttered.
I was losing it for sure.
The smoke in the room began to take shape.
Images danced about us, forming and coming together, replacing the room with an event before our eyes.
It was surreal.
Couldn’t they just invent holo-projectors? They were much easier.
But not as fun.
This was fun.
Mistuuk looked to be enjoying himself as well, those big sappy eyes wide with his mouth agape, just staring away like he was seeing an endless stock of jojo fruit.
The Vrae glowered around the room, not enjoying this a bit.
Typical.
The image before me was now that of Earth.
Earth as it had been three hundred years ago.
Before the Kryth invasion.
Now this was getting interesting.
Let the colorful images begin.
Bring on the blinking moths.
Data Cell 21
The afternoon shadows started to become longer along the ground near the Erudition camp.
The blue sky gave way to the colors of orange and magenta as the setting sun painted its grand tapestry against sporadic clouds and refracted light.
Director Bowlan was outside at a station completing her work on an air-particulate bot when a young female approached.
“Director, here are the other anemometer chips you requested.”
Focused on her task, the director answered without looking up from her work. “I believe Madilay needs those on station six.”
“She wasn’t at her station and I thought you could give them to her.”
Shawna stopped what she was doing.
She looked down the rows of stations outside the great ship.
Station six was empty of workers.
“I see. Thank you. I’ll see she gets these.”
The young science officer left her presence.
Shawna sighed.
An upset look crossed her face.
She tossed her tool down and with a purposeful pace, walked up the ramp of the Erudition ship, and entered.
The director made her way through the cargo hold, striding with conviction.
She had a purpose and both her expression and posture were obvious to the other crew members who detoured around her.
Shawna stopped another ensign walking passed. “Ensign, have you seen Madilay?”
“No, ma’am, I haven’t.”
Shawna nodded. “Thank you,” she said, continuing her quick pace through the hold.
She rounded an access shaft and ventured down between several large shipping containers.
When she came to a small alcove, she spotted what she was looking for.
Shawna stopped short of entering the small room.
She wasn’t happy with what she saw.
The two young adults were kissing against some conduit piping.
The director’s hesitation didn’t last long as she saw the young male begin to lift the back of Madilay’s shirt, exposing the brown skin of her science officer’s back, “Am I interrupting something?” she asked.
The two backed away from one another.
Shawna’s disappointed look first met Madilay, who looked down and away.
Shawna now drew her attention towards the male officer.
The director walked forward towards the two. “Officer Conyen, I believe you are still on duty. Am I correct?”
The young officer nodded. “Yes, director.”
“I will have your superior officer, Captain Ronclar, deal with you once he returns.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Shawna’s eyebrow lifted as he had yet to move. “You’re dismissed, Officer Conyen.”
The young male nodded once more and made his way out of the alcove.
Shawna approached Madilay. “So, young lady.”
Madilay looked up, defiant. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”
Shawna smiled. “No, I can’t always tell you what to do, but I am your superior and you are under my orders. Especially when we’re on duty.”
Madilay rolled her eyes.
“Let me ask you the same question I asked your young friend. Are you off duty, Science Officer Madilay Nallon?”
The young female was reluctant to answer. “No.”
“I see,” Shawna said as she walked right up to her. “So, you’re on my time, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then you have a task to do. This extracurricular activity is on your time.”
The young science officer glared up at Shawna. “You’re not my mother.”
Shawna put her hands on her hips and smiled. “No. I’m not your mother, Madilay. Your mother was a wonderful woman who just asked me to take you in and take care of you as my own when she passed.”
She put her hands on the young woman’s shoulders. “You’re a beautiful woman, Madilay.”
“I’m an adult. I can handle myself.” Madilay grumbled.
“Yes, a young adult. I can’t tell you what to do on your own personal time; but, you wanted to come on this mission and agreed to be under my orders.”
Shawna leaned in and kissed Madilay’s forehead. “You can do whatever you want when you are off duty and on your own time.” She moved her hand to Madilay’s chin to lift her head up. “Understand?”
Madilay smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Now
, let’s get those atmosphere bots in the air and, once we’re off duty, you can introduce me to your young friend. Sound good?”
“Yes.”
The two walked from the alcove, arm in arm.
“You’re lucky Commander Parejas isn’t here,” the director chided.
Madilay chuckled, “That’s why I didn’t join the Ordinance.”
“Good point.”
They headed out of the starboard door to the ramp outside.
“He was kind of cute,” Shawna said.
Madilay smirked. “I know. That’s one of the reasons I like him.”
They both laughed as they walked through the rows of science stations.
The sun was setting and the evening sky was advancing over the remaining light when a low rumble came over the camp.
Shawna stopped with Madilay stopping beside her. “You hear that?”
Madilay was listening to what drew the director’s attention. “Yes. I can hear it.”
The rumble intensified, becoming more pronounced over the entire area.
In the distance, over the tree tops, arose a cargo ship.
Dozens of birds flocked away from the ascending vessel as the Erudition community came to life.
People flooded out of the ship to look at the sight and the tremendous sound roaring over the valley.
“What is that?” Madilay asked.
“It’s an old transport ship that was abandoned on Earth.” Shawna activated her wrist comms. “Security, rally on my location. I repeat, rally on my location.”
A few moments later, the adjutant sergeant and several security personnel arrived near the station next to the Erudition ship.
Shawna approached. “It’s a cargo ship from the Cheyenne Complex, sergeant.”
“How’d it launch?” he asked.
Shawna shook her head. “It’s Ronclar. He was at the complex and he was acting suspicious when I found him.”
“Why would he be on it?” the sergeant followed up.
“That, I do not know, sergeant. Let’s get to the complex,” she ordered.
The adjutant sergeant ordered two of his men to follow.
Madilay trailed after. “Can I come?”
“No. You stay here. Finish your work,” Shawna replied as she scanned her hand on the hover pad access panel.
The group jumped in their hover units and sped off toward the mountain complex.
∞∞∞
The hover units flew over the tree tops at full speed and approaching the front gate of the complex.
Annals of the Keepers - Rage Page 13
