Aisling

by Nicole Delacour

  Beneath the water, the world was empty as far as her eyes could see. Blue spanned out in all directions the further down they swam. Flecks of green shimmered in the distance like far away stars, yet there were no inhabitants to lend any idea of what the third dimension contained. The water was still warm though Jess had not seen a single sun in the sky. Some source of light hid beneath the clouds refracting a glorious, bright blue deeper than Earth’s own afternoon skies. There was no alignment with the core world unlike the second dimension. Everything within the third was its own. Designed and formed without any dependency upon any other dimension, or so it seemed. Her eyes stung from the salted water just like swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. Spinning around, Jess sought even the slightest flash of movement. There was none.

  “Our entrance was loud to them. They will have fled from the area. There isn’t exactly anywhere to hide. Though some floating plant life has developed, there isn’t anything so convenient as trees or rocks here,” Kilpeni said.

  The throbbing in her lungs kicked up a notch with each passing minute though Jess realized that if there had been no oxygen in the second dimension then she had no reason to need to breathe here either. Knowing she’d have no choice the further they went, Jess argued with herself until she exhaled slowly. Gasping for air, the water didn’t rush into her lungs; instead, her breaths moved outwards and dissipated when it came in contact with the water. She calmed slowly, and Kilpeni twisted in the water to face her with a raised eyebrow. Trying to shrug, Jess drifted slightly upwards. The pair dove deeper into the endless water for some time before any sign of life. Small specks floated along in a cloud of green and gray.

  “What are those?” Jess asked as the hoards of rapidly swirling dust drew nearer.

  Though his mind flared in discontent at the distraction, Kilpeni’s eyes flickered towards them. “The greeting party.” He turned to face them and grabbed Jess by the arm to drag her close to his side. “Breath slowly and lightly. They are going to surround us to try to determine what we are. Then – their main body will approach.”

  “Main body?” she asked, but the clouds reached and surrounded them before Kilpeni could respond.

  The gray particles circled around her while the green did the same to him. A slight buzzing sound rumbled from somewhere in the mass. There were no eyes though the closer they drew the better she could see their tiny cilia moving quickly around attempting to study her. A small ovular one wriggled its way to her hand where a single long strand reached out to touch her skin. Tiny shocks ran up her arm. Another did the same at her ankles while a third came nearer and nearer to her face. Few humans in the whole of the species, dead or alive, would have been particularly calm with anything even near threatening or even completely innocent near their face, so it came as no surprise that Jess tensed.

  “You need to relax,” Kilpeni murmured. She glanced sideways at him seeing that he was covered in green with only bits and pieces of him peeking through. “They won’t hurt you.”

  “How can you be sure? You said no one from the core world has been here before,” she mumbled.

  The gray bits pulled away from her humming to themselves in some language she did not understand though the repetition was undeniably some form of communication. They formed braided strings swirling around her like chains before snapping back into a wall that collapsed inward covering her completely. All the while, they hummed, and Jess felt a strange certainty that what they were saying was something joyous. As they danced across her skin, warmth filled her that she knew was not her own. The tiny clouds drifted away back to two forms that loomed before Kilpeni and Jess in the water. Two dark black eyes the size of saucers stared back at Jess from almost translucent skin that was bejeweled with light bearing nodes that spanned the long body and tentacles of the gray cephalopod that the gray specs returned to. The particles wove themselves together between the creature’s tentacles forming a cloak. Another creature swam forth identical to the first in all but the sea foam green hue of its skin as the green cloud cloaked the second cephalopod. For all her doubt that squid could have expressions, the green one seemed slightly put out at the prospect of whatever was going to come while the gray seemed overjoyed.

  “Astounding!” was the first word that a squid-like creature said to Jessica Gould.

  The green squid squinted before casting its eyes to the left. “Hardly.”

  As they spoke, tiny beads of light traveled up their nodes jumping and skipping in a strange show. The gray creature squeezed itself tightly clenching its muscles inwards as its tentacles lifted. “What strange forms of flesh! Four limbed – like a teku! With – oh, five per limb I believe – tiny digits! A solid internal bone structure with limited mobility! What funny little creatures! What do you call yourselves?”

  “They likely can’t understand us, Chret,” the green one pointed out with a gurgle that sounded like a sigh.

  “We can understand you rather well,” Kilpeni informed them only to have both rear back in uncertainty. The cloud that had become a cape flared out only to be slowly drawn back in when the gray one – Chret – leaned forward.

  “Marvelous! What are you?” Chret inquired.

  “I’m an Aisling – second dimension – and this is a human,” he explained gesturing first to himself and then to Jess. “Her name is Jess.”

  “Fantastic. Now we are going to have to tell the Senate. I hate the Senate. Why did I go into exploration? I could have gone into the family business,” the green one lamented.

  “We’re Phalopods!” Chret replied completely ignoring its companion. “I’m Chret of the D Ford, and this is my partner Jhosent.”

  “Also of D Ford,” Jhosent added.

  “Yes – also – and your name,” Chret gestured with two of its tentacles at Kilpeni, who stared back for a moment before the realization struck him.

  “Oh – Kilpeni, I suppose.”

  “You suppose?” Jhosent tentacles twitched beginning with the front two and traveling along the sides to end back at the front two.

  “Aislings do not generally have names. I was only recently given a title by Jessica Gould.” He frowned, uncertain if Jess would contradict him as he’d chosen the name had her request. “We have no desire to be presented to the Senate. We have a singular purpose for being present from the Compass.”

  “Compass?” The two Phalopods shared a look before Chret pumped his limbs to draw closer as if sharing a secret. “What is that?”

  Jess had enough of silence and swam slightly closer. “The Compass is the Aisling leader. I don’t mean to be offensive or ignorant or anything, but are you male or female? Crap, I mean, what sort of pronouns would you prefer?”

  “Both female,” Chret responded. “And you?”

  “Female.”

  “I don’t understand how that question would be offensive? Is biology offensive in the core world?” Chret inquired softly.

  “It’s more a concern with gender identity. Sometimes biology doesn’t match the mind. Do you understand?” Jess asked.

  Chret swam slightly to one side for a moment then responded, “Phalopods can change biological sexes by changing our hormone composition. Can’t humans?” When Jess shook her head, Chret flared her tentacles. “How interesting! If it would make you feel better, just look for a shorter seventh tentacle. That would be a male.”

  “What is the purpose?” Jhosent asked while Chret spoke of Phalopod anatomy.

  “There were a number of stones from the second dimension that managed to slip into the further dimensions. I’m uncertain as to the extent of the havoc they could wreak in a dimension with differing physics,” Kilpeni explained though his attention was mainly elsewhere.

  Two tiny beacons echoed from the depths into the darkness in his mind. There were two stones calling that were closer together than was likely safe. One moved further downwards as if it sank into the darkness while the second maintained its position right below where they were. He could not rely upon the forei
gn species to not be tempted if they understood the power within the stones. Although the third dimension was nearly as closed off as the core world, he had heard of the scientific interests of the inhabitants of the third. Kilpeni was also aware that Phalopods were not the only intelligent species capable of rationally understanding the value of the stones. Somewhere in the water, another more violent civilization waited that maintained a treaty with the Phalopods by their physical inferiority though their minds were far better suited for conquest. There was no telling if the Caste bobbed invisible in the distance watching them with their keen eyes. Kilpeni would not look away from the pair before him. He could not give any sign that might send any onlookers off to retrieve the stones before he and Jess found them. The risk was already too great that a Caste would wander across them without his assistance.

  “That’s hardly a reason for us to permit your continued presence without making the Senate aware. It would be best if you came peacefully with us.” Jhosent’s cape flared outwards spreading her body wide to block one side and limit their hopes of escape.

  Chret grimaced, a twitch around the eyes. “I don’t see how going after stones matters – whatever stones are.”

  “Stones are ground,” Jhosent explained with a glower. “Not water – not air. Something different that sinks and sinks like an old corpse.”

  “Oh, stones.”

  “We do not have the time for politics. I beg you to think of the damage that could be caused by something so foreign remaining here. The longer we wait to retrieve it, the more dangerous they will be.” Kilpeni did his best to explain the gravity though his eyes traced the edges of the watery space.

  “He’s right,” Jess piped in. “The stones could transmute matter. It could hurt or even kill someone.”

  “We understand the meaning of dangerous. The point remains that by our laws stones are not permitted passage through our territory. Whether by choice or chance, stones came through from your side. Therefore, you must seek pardon, and the Senate must decide what shall be done to retrieve the contraband,” Jhosent retorted, her forehead contracting and loosening in measured periods for the duration of her words.

  “What if a Caste finds it?” A desperate move, Kilpeni was aware, but it was a card that would be most effective early in the game with Phalopods.

  Chret leaned towards Jhosent and flared a pattern of lights twice before Jhosent copied and repeated the pattern with a single added node flare. Kilpeni watched trying to keep up with their coded communication. Without the addition of external signals, he was at a disadvantage; however, he had survived millennia protecting the stone and preparing for every possible thief before the Illuxenoliths had made their interest known. Chret wanted to permit them the freedom to seek the stones while Jhosent reported to the Senate allowing Chret to keep watch to limit collateral damage. Jhosent wanted Chret to go to the Senate, and she would maintain the current position not permitting them to continue their search. Between their two forms a shimmer glimmered in the distance catching Kilpeni’s eye.

  A shadow flickered where there was nothing to shade. The formless, thoughtless shades of the outer dimensions always unnerved Aislings. It was a natural instinct to be repulsed by the emptiness true shadows represented. Shadows served no purpose though some information could be deduced from them. However, the deductions that could be gleaned from the presence of that particular glimmering and the shadow presented therein were enough for the time being considering exactly what they meant. There was, as Kilpeni had suspected, a Caste sitting in wait to be led right to the stones. Whether the sly creature was working on its own or with others was uncertain. There was even a chance that a group had gone further to scout ahead in the direction that Kilpeni and Jess had been swimming prior to the arrival of the two Phalopods. Kilpeni reformed the primary layer of his left arm. Nodes ran up and down blinking. Chret and Jhosent stared in a mixture of wonder and discomfort before blinking lightly back as if trying to placate him rather than listen. When he repeated the message a second time, Chret began to turn around to check.

  “We will have to bring you to the Senate.” Jhosent stopped Chret with an outstretched tentacle. “If there is a risk, we’ll have to contact the outlying governing bodies.”

  “What is going on?” Jess asked.

  Kilpeni ignored her question. “I agree that is necessary, but it would be quicker if we are allowed to continue without further interruptions.”

  “You are unfamiliar with this world and its more hostile inhabitants,” Jhosent replied gliding around them.

  “Why did you transform your arm?” Jess pushed only for Kilpeni to gesture for her to be quiet.

  “I have traversed from the second to the seventh dimension. Your hostiles are not unique or unknown to me,” Kilpeni informed Jhosent.

  Chret hummed, a few lines flickering. “I don’t think this is the time when we should be discussing this.”

  “Do not force us to treat you as invaders,” Jhosent proclaimed. “If you continue to ignore our demands, you will be treated as an antagonistic party. Any action you take can and will be noted in the presence of a Senate bi-council committee.”

  “Is this our Miranda rights? Is she seriously reading us our rights right now?” Jess called as Chret spread out her cape to help Jhosent enshroud them.

  Jess kept her eyes on Chret at all times. Though Jess had never been on a swim team, she had grown up with every summer spent in the ocean off Gloucester harbor. If the Phalopods had been concentrating on her, they would have easily moved faster in their native environment. As it happened, Jess dove deeper past their capes without either noticing her. Kilpeni glanced downwards at her movement and wisely held his tongue. The glimmer still lurked in the water and needed no help noticing that one of the unknown creatures – the one that had been called a human – was moving away from the other three. The short bristles along its nearly transparent tail twitched while it stretched its two arms. The hairs shivered with every movement of the ocean. The Caste sunk further down mirroring Jess’s movements. The four fingers of its left hand flicked the water downwards. Two Castes lurked below and parted to let the strange human pass through without giving away their positions.

  The Swiss army knife remained a heavy force in her pocket. Sinking deeper into the blue, she pulled it from where it laid waiting and flicked open to the smoothest blade. Kilpeni realized her mind far too late. Diplomacy was never a strong trait of those who lived in the core. Of the two Castes below, one lingered too close believing the eyes of the human would be too weak and poorly adapted to the ocean’s sting to see its form disguised by distorting light. However, there are times when the weakest point in one’s foe will be what is underestimated. Those same eyes that were stung by salt caught color and recognized the refraction of light like a piece of glass. They were not strong physically. The Caste had sly with quick fingers and fast tails, but they’re claws were not built to pierce human flesh or the shield of air that the core world formed around its inhabitants in the third dimension.

  Chret and Jhosent watched in indescribable disbelief as Jess grabbed the Caste by its tail and ignored its claws to sever the head from the rest of the body which twitched before floating upwards via death. The two other Castes stilled; however, Jess did not. Jess twisted in the water like she had done as a child though she had never had a knife in her hand then. Reaching forwards, she pulled herself through the water towards the other Caste which let out a horrified shriek alerting the two Phalopods to its presence. The third, who Kilpeni had originally spied, darted away to report the massacre it had witnessed. The people of the core world were dangerous. The Caste would tell his superiors that the human saw around the bent light, but the strength of the graceless, lumbering form would be the most horrifying feature.

  Jess let the second body float upwards while she pocketed her knife. “Are we done here?”

  Chret dropped her cape gliding backwards. Her nodes lit and grew dark in soft turns while Jhosent ci
rcled down to Jess like a corkscrew with Kilpeni following. Lines of blood and other body fluids trailed after the bodies of the Castes which bobbed upon the surface. Predators would certainly smell the death and come seeking sustenance. Intelligence did not give the Phalopods invincibility to the ravenous hunger of the more mindless of their dimension.

  “What have you done?” Jhosent whispered. Her tone sat somewhere between awe and horror.

  “Whatever those things were, they weren’t friendly – right?” Jess returned glancing at Kilpeni whose expression remained neutral. “We aren’t going to the Senate or whatever. We’re going to find the stones, and I am going home. We can sit around pretending that what you’re doing is going to work, but I’m not here to keep inter-dimensional peace. I’m here to get a job done and go home. You can turn around and continue whatever sort of patrol you were doing or go and talk about this incident to your people. Either way, Kilpeni and I are going after the stones.”

  “Are you threatening the Senate?” Jhosent flared her cape.

  “I don’t even know what the hell your Senate is. I’m telling you to recognize that we’re leaving to do what it is we came here to do. We’re done talking.” Jess turned and swam further down.

  Kilpeni waited watching Jhosent drift back towards Chret before he swam quickly after Jess. The Phalopods floated – dark forms that shrunk in the distance until they vanished completely. He caught up with Jess, but her eyes remained focused on what was below. His eyes traced the familiar lines of her face, and he wondered how different their minds were. He could reflect on her every action in shadow or mirror before. Now, however, he felt the disconnection between them growing.

  “You just killed.” Kilpeni whispered when they were out of range for the Phalopods to hear.