Annals of the Keepers - Rage

by Christiaan Hile

  “So, the Adytum has a love affair with old stuff?” Takkar quipped. “What else is new?”

  “Yes, but watch the old part. We’re not spring benides, you and I, Jessen.”

  “How can I forget?”

  The two men raised their drinks.

  “To old history,” Takkar toasted.

  Shenta chuckled, “To history, my friend. To history.”

  Data Cell 26

  The wind blew in from the north, rustling the blue-green leaves above me as I dismounted the galony I rode.

  My galony rested on an outstretched branch high above the valley floor.

  I am going to need a deep massage after this little trek.

  I’m in pain. Some serious muscle-aching pain here.

  As I took a step on the strange massive webbed branch, my knees gave way.

  I hit the honeycombed bark hard, rolling over in sheer exhaustion.

  We had been riding and swinging through the trees for over an hour.

  My body was tense.

  This mode of transportation sucked. I was beyond miserable.

  I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy.

  I take that back.

  I would wish it on Kayasa, though. She deserves it.

  I just hoped my Vrae companion was far worse for wear than I was.

  I wonder if her head was spinning as mine was.

  Damned creatures.

  I kept seeing loop upon loop. Sky. Forest floor. Sky. Forest floor. Sky again.

  What a horrible experience.

  I rolled over on my side. I looked through the tree-climbing creature’s legs, over to the other tree next to me.

  Grinning in pleasure, I saw the Vrae heaving out her internals.

  Someone is worse than I feel.

  Good.

  I think I’ll lie here and watch.

  I can do this all day.

  Yep. All day.

  “Hey, Rels.”

  Moment broken.

  Never a moment goes by that I’m at peace.

  Not one.

  I rolled onto my back, looking up to the branch above.

  There was the big-eyed Cuukzen waving at me with his cheeky grin.

  He seemed unscathed. Just fine.

  Not fair.

  “How you doing, Rels? That was fascinating. I think my galony is faster than yours. We got here first. Where’s Kayasa?”

  I just pointed over to the other tree without responding.

  His galony couldn’t have missed a branch? Not one?

  My luck.

  “Hey, Rels?”

  “What?” I replied while rubbing my face.

  “Do you think we can eat these berries the galony are eating? They look eatable.”

  “Do they look like jojo fruit?”

  “Kind of, Rels.”

  “I’m sure they’re good then. Eat up, buddy.”

  I sat up to get a better look at our surroundings. My eyesight was returning.

  The roaring sound caught my attention first.

  There was a thunderous cascade of hundreds of waterfalls across the valley. The river we had seen earlier running to the temple, this must be its source.

  The rushing white water bounded over natural rock steps, one after the other, in a continual dance of turbulence and beauty.

  It was mesmerizing to watch.

  All that water churning, the ebb and flow of turquois ribbons, rolling and twisting their way over and around flattened rock plateaus.

  I’ve never seen its equal.

  “Hey, Rels. Catch.”

  I turned just in time to see an alien fruit thrown my direction.

  I caught it just before it hit me in the face.

  “Thanks.”

  I took a bite.

  Not bad.

  I didn’t know if it was eatable, but since the galony hadn’t keeled over and Mistuuk looked alright, I guess it’s good.

  You can’t beat decent food, a majestic view, and fresh air.

  “Hey, Human,” the Vrae spoke from her perch.

  Well, I guess that might beat it.

  “Ah, good day, sunshine. Great timing as always.”

  Kayasa sneered at me. “Would you mind passing some fruit over. My animal won’t share with me.”

  “I like him already.”

  I reached over to the pile of fruit my galony had collected from a tall branch, grabbed a few, and tossed the fruit to her.

  “Thanks, Human.”

  The things I do. “Oh, it’s my absolute pleasure.”

  “Hi, Rels.”

  I jumped back at Mistuuk’s greeting.

  The pudge was right next to me.

  “Where’d you come from?”

  “I climbed down the tree.”

  “Fantastic.”

  “Where do you think we are, Rels?”

  I had no idea. Not even a clue.

  We were at the whims of these tree climbers, and the reassurance of our guest, Yren, that we were heading to a safer place.

  “I don’t know, buddy. I guess we’ll wait and see.”

  “Human,” the wonderful voice from over yonder called out again. “Do you know where we are?”

  I turned. “Do you want to know, Kayasa?”

  “I wouldn’t have asked,” she grumbled.

  If she wanted to know, fine. “Okay. We are on an alien planet on the other side of the galaxy standing across from each other on two tall weird-looking trees eating mystery fruit while you nag me. How’s that?”

  I gave her a toothy grin.

  She glared at me from her treetop.

  I turned back to Mistuuk. “Why would I know where we’re at? Do I look like a nav-compass?”

  Something made a splat as it hit me square in the back.

  “She threw the fruit at me, didn’t she?” I asked the pudgy Cuukzen.

  Mistuuk just nodded his head.

  I turned back around to see her smiling at me, hands on hips.

  I guess I deserved that.

  At least she’s smiling.

  She does look better that way, in a strange, uptight, Vrae sort of way.

  Before I could respond with another witty comment, my galony grunted and froze.

  “What’s up with you, big guy?”

  It just sat motionless.

  Its nostrils twitched and flared.

  Its eyes darted.

  I put a finger to my mouth, facing Kayasa for her not to make a sound. Her smile dropped.

  I gestured with my hand to our surroundings to show something was out there.

  At least she understood simple hand signals, as she started looking around.

  Mistuuk whispered to me, “They sense something, Rels.”

  “Yeah.” I too was trying to sense what spooked them.

  My instincts picked up the rushing water behind us in the distance.

  Where did the other sounds go?

  The forest was silent again.

  Not a single sound could be made aside from our own breaths.

  We were all looking around trying to discern what might have caught our galony’s attention.

  They were uneasy.

  This made me uneasy since I knew what animal instincts could discern over human sensory abilities.

  “Get on your mount, Mistuuk,” I told him.

  “Good idea, Rels.”

  “And make it slow. No sudden movements.”

  The galony grunted and turned.

  They were facing a large tree on the other side of the forest’s edge.

  I motioned to Kayasa to mount up.

  She nodded.

  I approached my creature, keeping an eye on the far side.

  The galony fidgeted again.

  I could feel its heart rate as I strapped myself in.

  Something had caught its attention, something life-threatening.

  This was a simple fight-or-flight response to…something.

  What could it be?

  I didn’t want to find out.
The last alien surprise had almost liquefied me.

  Not wanting to wait any longer for who-knows-what, I grabbed my last torso strap to the saddle.

  My galony groaned.

  Its body lowered into a defensive position and its bark-textured hair bristled underneath me.

  My strap slipped from my hand.

  A sudden screech echoed through the jungle from the far tree, interrupting my hurried strapping-in.

  That got my attention.

  I waited for any movement, any slight twinkle or sparkle from anything that drew such hush from the surrounding jungle.

  Nothing.

  Silence still awaited our ears.

  Not a single forest creature chirped or moved.

  Everything was motionless.

  Everything was waiting.

  Awaiting what was my concern.

  That answer didn’t take long to come.

  Sure wished I had my Lancers right now, but no, all I had was a stinking tree-bear.

  I’m usually pretty good at being aware of my surroundings and understanding what’s going on around me.

  Back on my side of the galaxy, I’m never surprised. But this alien planet has thrown me through a loop.

  This cursed place had something new around every alien tree.

  Adjusting to the unknown is hard; but, if you don’t adjust, you’re dead.

  It didn’t take me long too spot it.

  I was adjusting.

  It was there, among the blue-green leaves of the tree across from us, that this unknown creature hid.

  At first, I thought this thing shrouded itself among the leaves for cover.

  Looking closer, I could see that it had its own leaves, or feathers, that mimicked its environment.

  The wind rustled these leaves on the new creature.

  I could not yet discern a complete outline.

  What was it?

  It sure got the galony spooked.

  Whatever it was, the thing was patient.

  I followed the blue-green leaves along its body to the branch it was standing on.

  There, gripping the bark of the tree, were two larege and taloned feet, blending in with the honeycombed branch it stood on.

  A perfect blend of animal and nature.

  Too perfect.

  Everything on this planet blended itself with its surroundings, a relationship of symmetry and color. Form and function.

  The camouflage was impressive.

  I still couldn’t locate its face or body shape.

  Neither did my companions, by the looks of it.

  I looked up above my positon at Mistuuk. He was still looking around.

  Kayasa was also searching the jungle growth to our front.

  They hadn’t picked it up yet at all.

  My galony was still nervous.

  Whatever this thing was, it was a threat to the galony and to us.

  I still wanted to know what we were dealing with here.

  I searched harder, trying to find out the form of the beast that looked to be aware of us.

  It was the taloned feet that caught my attention.

  There seemed to be four.

  Was it a quadruped like the galony?

  That would at least help me in figuring out its overall shape and size.

  But, that wasn’t the case.

  It was a second pair of feet.

  There were two; side by side.

  My eyes didn’t stop there as I focused on the branch above them and all the damn branches on that damn tree for that matter.

  I counted four separate, hidden unknown creatures. All perched on the branches.

  At least I knew how many we were dealing with, if they meant us any harm.

  Those were going to be my famous last words.

  Another screech was let out by one of the unknown feathered animals.

  I could see the mouth or beak under the colored camouflaged feathers now.

  Repulsive didn’t even begin to describe it.

  This mouth had six beak-like orifices with jagged teeth on a protruding jaw.

  The opening flared out when it screeched, like some kind of terrifying flower.

  The other creatures joined into the ominous chorus.

  “Not good, Rels!” Mistuuk yelled out.

  My precise sentiment. Not good.

  The creatures across from us unfurled their wings, they had those too, screeched, and leapt off their perches towards us.

  The strange bird-bats dove down, talons out.

  My galony jumped straight off our branch and dove towards the forest floor.

  I came halfway out of my saddle as I hadn’t finished putting on my torso strap.

  I hadn’t had time for anything.

  The galony were on the run.

  Tree branches flashed by as we fell about fifteen meters before the galony reached out with its long-clawed arms to grab the next passing branch.

  We swung up and over several times before the tree-climber released, moving backwards with momentum in the direction of the pursing flying creatures.

  They passed us, not expecting the move by the chased.

  It was hard to keep focused.

  I did see Mistuuk and Kayasa’s galony flash by, each creature heading in a different direction.

  Trying to confuse their attackers.

  This confused me.

  We met the next branch, swung, and launched in another direction.

  The galony were masters of their domain. Comfortable in the treetops.

  Branch by branch, we swung through the trees at a rapid pace.

  I looked around trying to find the others.

  I spotted Mistuuk behind and below me.

  Kayasa was nowhere to be seen.

  I had been assured by Yren that these creatures knew the way.

  I sure hoped they did.

  My galony headed deeper into the jungle.

  I no longer saw the bird-bats behind us, but that did’t mean they weren’t there.

  Before we lost sight of the sky among the upper foliage, I caught a glimpse of the flying creatures high above the canopy.

  They were still in pursuit.

  This chase was far from over, but we could at least catch our breath.

  I just hoped Kayasa was doing well.

  I hated to admit it but, in a way, we were all in this together and we will need all of us to get out of this to get back home.

  Data Cell 27

  Dark grey clouds hung over the Keeper Adytum.

  A frigid wind rolled up the valley, crossing the open garden and grassy meditation plateaus throughout the grounds.

  High on a hill near the Adytum was a landing pad.

  A door to a shuttle opened and off stepped Commander Parejas.

  A female Keeper Apprentice was there to greet him.

  “Commander Parejas, welcome back to the Adytum. My name is Marji Keln. I’ll take you to High Keeper Brentice now.”

  “Thank you, Marji.”

  The two walked towards the main complex, leaving the shuttle pad behind.

  The commander was interested in what the High Keeper would say regarding the Gashnee artifacts coming from Earth. Even though this conversation could have been had over holo, Parejas knew questioning in person was always better.

  He needed answers.

  The robed Apprentice next to him seemed tense.

  He could see her semi-hidden face under the garment’s hood, and that of her posture, as they walked through the inner corridors of the Adytum.

  The high columns of stone and arched wood always did make for a grand entrance.

  Parejas was impressed every time he came to the Adytum.

  Peace and beauty are always in harmony here, he thought.

  Parejas looked over to the young Apprentice and spoke, trying to break their silent gait, “What level are you at with your training, Apprentice?”

  He could see he’d startled the young woman as he did.

  Her uneasiness was
obvious to him.

  “Well, commander, I am just about to conclude the Sixth Ecta.”

  Parejas thought about that for a moment before he responded, “I’ve heard the last two are the most difficult. Is that correct?”

  She nodded. “That is correct, commander. I’ve been practicing my meditation tenets in order to pass.”

  “Good. But how is your sword practice?”

  Parejas saw her turn a curious gaze towards him out of the corner of his eye.

  That last question sure got her attention, he thought.

  “Are you yourself familiar with the Eiki-Ecta, commander?”

  He placed his hands behind his back. “You do mean the Eight Ecta Duties of a Keeper?”

  Her body and face eased in his presence now. “Yes. Those.”

  “Just what the late Keeper Alon Renske had taught me. He made sure I understood them backwards and forwards like an old-school master.” Parejas chuckled at the thought of his old friend. “I never took the path of acceptance into the order of Keepers, even though Alon wanted me to on principle.”

  “How come, commander?”

  Parejas replied, “ ‘The ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice.’ ”

  “Mark Twain.”

  “I was testing you,” he said.

  “You were?”

  Parejas smiled at the young apprentice. “You see, Marji, I examine history as a guide on where not to make my next mistake. In my position, history is a great warning system. I don’t want to teach it, I want to learn from it.”

  She followed, “ ‘Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.’ Sir Edmund Burke.”

  “Agreed.”

  As they continued their walk down the corridor, Parejas spotted Assemblywoman Qurinden near the data cell entrance.

  He stopped to watch her access the wall keypad, causing the stone floor to open and the descending staircase to appear.

  “Give me a moment, Apprentice Marji. I will be right back,” Parejas said as he made his way over to the cyborg Assemblywoman.

  Just as Kayleon was about to go down towards the Annal archives, Parejas caught her step.

  “One moment, Assemblywoman,” he announced.

  She turned.

  It was hard to tell if she was surprised to see him, Parejas thought.

  She paused a moment before returning her greeting, “Commander Parejas. What a pleasant surprise meeting you here.”

  “Likewise, Assemblywoman.”

  “Please, call me Kayleon, commander,” she said with a tilt of her mechanical head. “I would like to thank you for reinstituting my visitation privilege with Antiquity.”