Freeforce: The Gryphon Saga

by L. E. Horn

  The dark-haired captain raised a brow as he chewed, but wisely said nothing. Lianndra laughed and poked at Hannah. “It suits you!”

  They sat for a while, enjoying their lunch. Lianndra’s thoughts returned to the aliens-on-Earth theory.

  “Do you think the Bernaf would have visited Earth on their own, or would they be there as Fang slaves?” Lianndra selected a piece of fruit from the bowl. She thought of the alien stories back on her home planet, particularly the ones involving human reproductive experiments. “Maybe they were experimenting with our genetics for the Fang?”

  Drake’s chewing paused. “Might explain us superhuman types.” His dark eyes sparkled with humor.

  “I didn’t think that group included you.” Hannah slapped him on the shoulder.

  Drake would never be talkative, but he was more sociable around Hannah. He was an expert at delivering the well-timed wisecrack, proving he could be witty as well as observant. As a nice counterpart to him, Hannah was a cheerful chatterer. In the safety and beauty of the valley, their feelings for each other were clear. Lianndra envied their easygoing, affectionate relationship. Hannah deserves to be happy, and they’re so good for each other.

  Drake finished the fruit and excused himself, heading off toward the Great Hall to meet with Virra, the miniGrypha shiev of the valley. Lianndra had no doubt the human rebel leader and the miniGrypha were scheming. Gryphon scouts were busy galloping in and out of the valley. This valley is so peaceful it’s easy to forget there is a war. Lianndra just hoped whatever they were planning gave them all more time to recover.

  Over the next few days, Lianndra enjoyed the midday meals as a chance to get together with other ex-slaves and talk about their situation. But Lianndra always found herself looking for the one person with whom she most wanted to speak. Although other men often joined the Healers, Michael never did.

  For the first few days he spent a lot of time sleeping to regain precious strength. After their initial week in the valley, Lianndra’s trips to the hut found him as often absent as asleep. She sought out Wilf, who reassured her Michael continued to recover. As the time passed, Lianndra grew increasingly restless to see him. Her days were full, but she often found herself longing for the missing piece. The important thing is he’s doing well, she told herself. He’s up and around, if he wants to see me, he’ll find me.

  One evening, the two Healers were sitting and admiring the vivid colors of Tarin’s setting sun when a miniGryphon fetched them. Drake, seated nearby, watched them go with a rather enigmatic expression.

  Drake knows something we don’t, Lianndra thought as she and Hannah followed their escort. Waiting for them in the Great Hall, Virra stood with a small group of miniGryphon.

  “We have been consulting your leader. He suggested we show something to you.” Virra waved a palm over a spot next to a recessed door. A soft hum filled the room as a wooden divider slid into the floor, revealing a lift made of metal. As they descended, Virra explained. “Most miniGryphon, as well as some of our larger cousins, prefer life underground over being exposed to the elements. These levels”—Virra indicated with a hand as the lift dropped—“are residential. The next levels have a focus on education, medical care, and research. The lowest levels are high security and include those responsible for maintaining our planetary shield.”

  The lift lowered to a stop, and Virra stepped into a scanning beam. She asked each human to step forward and be scanned. When the beams shut off, a double set of thick doors slid open. Virra waited as they all entered the hallway. Once the doors shut behind them, she said, “You may have heard various reasons why the Tlok’mk have been at war with our species. On the surface, the tenacity of their efforts seems out of scale with the potential rewards of winning this war. The Gryphon are not worthy of such efforts.”

  Lianndra’s interest piqued. We have all wondered why the Fang are so engaged in a war costing them so dearly. What could be worth it? As the shiev turned away from them, Lianndra noticed her pale-blue fur fluffed erect. She’s a little uneasy about all this.

  The miniGrypha activated another set of doors. A blast of cool, humid air swept into the hallway.

  Enormous glowing panels spanning the entire curved ceiling lit the spacious room beyond, and thick green foliage covered the rocky walls. The humid air caused cool water to condense on their skin.

  High altitude rainforest, Lianndra thought. Replicated underground. But why?

  The solid walls of stone possessed many openings, each about as big around as her thigh. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned to bring it into focus, nothing appeared.

  Virra indicated they should stand still as she picked up a small container resting on the ground. She paced into the jungle until she stood quite close to the rock face and opened the container. The artificial breeze wafted the scent of something fishy to Lianndra’s sensitive nostrils.

  Two dark forms glided from the holes in the cliff to attach themselves to the miniGryphon’s arms. The creatures made soft trilling noises and began to feed from the container.

  The new arrivals revealed bodies covered in miniscule, dark scales subtly reflecting the colors of the surroundings. They had six limbs, but the middle ones formed their bat-like wings. Although they resembled the Gryphon in some respects, their bodies and limbs were much more attenuated, with long fingers and toes. They also lacked the tufted ears and feathery fur.

  With a shock, Lianndra remembered the amulet Virra gave her when they first met and recognized the creature from the figurine. They were pretty, with bright purple eyes and inquisitive tilts to their heads. Now that she saw the real animal, another stab of recognition jolted her. They’re perfect replicas of the mythical dragons of Earth!

  “You can call them Darkon,” Virra stated, “which is as close as the English language comes to what we call them. They are denizens of the mountains rising from our grasslands. They have a slow reproductive rate and their numbers have never been high. For reasons unknown to us, the Darkon live only in these mountains, not in the other ranges across the planet. We keep a group here to protect and study.” The first one finished feeding and hopped along her arm closer to her shoulder, while the second took its place. “They are quite intelligent in their own way, but that is not why the Tlok’mk want them. Please observe.”

  The words were the only warning she gave. Virra spun to face a large rock not far from them. She screamed, and the Healers jumped back in alarm. The Darkon flattened themselves against the miniGrypha, and with their full focus on the stone, the air rippled as something shot out from them—a pulse of pure energy. All the hairs on Lianndra’s body stood on end.

  The boulder in the path of the invisible beam disintegrated, as well as most foliage for some distance around it. Lianndra and Hannah ducked, but nothing larger than wheat kernels remained of the stone and plants. It was like being pelted by sand.

  Virra crooned to the little creatures until they relaxed, once again feeding from the container. When she saw them settle, she spoke. “I apologize for startling you. I do not like to scare the Darkon either, but I had to show you what they are capable of.” She gestured to the empty space. “This time there were only two, and it was merely a rock and a few plants. I pretended to be afraid of it so they would react as they would to a predator. We theorize they could obliterate an entire mountain if a large enough group got upset. The destructive beam they emit is a defense mechanism. That is not”—her voice dropped again—“what the Tlok’mk would use it for, were they to get their hands on them.”

  Lianndra swallowed, thinking about the Fang’s genetic manipulation abilities.

  Virra’s voice softened as she waved a hand to the metal band around her throat. “First, they would enslave them with these cursed collars. Then they would genetically enhance them to control and increase their power. The Tlok’mk are skilled at what they do.” Virra easily pronounced the glottal stop in the alien name as her eyes flicked over Hannah and L
ianndra. “In a short time they would have a weapon capable of destroying warships with a thought. It could give them dominion over this entire region of the galaxy, maybe even more. Nothing could challenge them.”

  A chill coursed down Lianndra’s spine. She imagined the Fang as a dominant force in the galaxy rather than merely ruthless slave traders. What could prevail against this kind of weapon?

  “Wouldn’t the Darkon defend themselves if someone tried to take them?” Hannah appeared as shaken by the possibilities as Lianndra.

  “The Darkon rely on visual cues. They have to see their enemy to attack them,” Virra said. “Predators kill and eat the wild Darkon by sneaking up and rendering them unconscious before they can react. Of course, if the predator misses on the first strike”—Virra shrugged—“it is all part of the great balance. The Tlok’mk would fail in a head-on attempt, but they are experts at collecting valuable specimens. They would find a way.”

  One little creature paused in its feeding, peeking around Virra’s spikes to look at Lianndra. In a fluid movement, it soared from the pale-blue miniGrypha and landed on Lianndra’s shoulder. The blonde Healer froze, staring into its shining purple eyes. It tilted its long, narrow head to regard her with its opposite eye and gave a quizzical sounding chirrup.

  Virra’s spikes rippled in a gesture Lianndra associated with surprise. The miniGrypha regarded the Healer for a moment, her crest slowly flattening.

  “Many years ago, when the universe was a simpler place, my people spent their resources exploring other worlds with our small ships.” Virra raised a hand to stroke the remaining Darkon’s neck. “Our historical archives reveal the Darkon were part of those explorations, although what role they played has been lost to us. The visual records indicated they worked with the explorers, perhaps aiding them.”

  She stroked the creature for a moment longer, her neck spikes drooping in the wake of her crest feathers. “Many of our exploration teams went missing over several years. One by one they dropped off our radar and we lost contact. We blamed various interspecies wars or suspected they became victims of vicious brigands roaming the space lanes. But some vanished without a trace.” She sighed. “We have never been a wealthy species. With our resources dwindling, the exploration initiative ended. Since the universe has become such a dangerous place, we no longer explore.” Virra paused. “Drake thought we should let you two in on this secret. A Healer’s perspective on the Darkon’s physiology might help us solve some questions the Gryphon have long held on the species.” She met Lianndra’s surprised gaze, and then turned her violet eyes back to the feeding Darkon.

  Virra stopped stroking the little creature on her arm, and it made a soft trilling sound. She said something indecipherable, something sounding like a command. The Darkon on Lianndra’s shoulder joined its friend, and they flew back into the cliffs, disappearing into the openings.

  The little Gryphon turned and looked solemnly at the humans. “I agreed with Drake, but I had another reason for showing them to you.” Her voice was soft. “I thought you should know what you are fighting for.”

  Lianndra heard Virra’s words as though she was at the end of a long tunnel. Gazing into the little creature’s eyes seemed to have fogged her brain, transporting her into a trance. Although her body followed as they turned to leave, her mind stayed caught in the swirling violet vortex of the Darkon’s eyes.

  There is something about them . . .

  LIANNDRA WAS STILL RUMINATING ON it the next day when she and Hannah approached Virra after the morning meal. The miniGrypha listened as Lianndra explained what she experienced when she met the tiny creature’s gaze.

  Virra’s thin fingers stroked her chin as her white crest fluffed. “Some specifics of the Darkon destruction beam have eluded our attempts at analysis. A Healer’s abilities might shed more light on how they project the beam.”

  Lianndra and Hannah agreed to help. A short time later, they were in the subterranean jungle, feeding a small group of Darkon.

  The tiny aliens perched on the Healers’ shoulders and wrapped tails around their arms. They made crooning noises, tilting their heads to examine the Healers with their bright, jewel-toned eyes.

  Lianndra marveled again at their resemblance to a dragon. Although dragon descriptions varied on Earth, the creature’s appearance was a definite fit. The name Darkon was similar to the word drake, which also tied into the dragon legends.

  Besides, the name of our rebel captain, she thought with amusement.

  Lianndra found the little creatures quite attractive. Upon closer observation, she discovered they possessed flattened hairs held close to their bodies, each strand sporting multitudes of tiny scales. When she touched them, the hairs gave their bodies a soft, springy feel. They were surprisingly warm. They aren’t fuzzy like the Gryphon, but they do have hair—just not feathers. Dragons and Gryphon. Two of Earth’s most prevalent myths.

  Knowing the Gryphon up close and personal made Lianndra wonder if the human slaves gave them their species’ name, as she’d heard on the Fang Mothership. With their big crests and manes of feathers, the sharp beak tip to their lips, and their clawed toes, they bore a likeness to the fabled Gryphon of ancient Earth. The Gryphon hadn’t offered the humans an alternative. Instead, they seemed to have embraced the word for themselves. Lianndra put the question aside as yet another query for the enigmatic Wilf. Which means I will remain confused, she thought.

  “Any ideas as to what we do now?” Hannah asked, jerking Lianndra out of her reverie.

  As Lianndra shrugged, the two Darkon clinging to her spread their wings and tightened their grips with their tails. Some instinct pushed her to establish a closer connection with the creatures, something other than just verbal. Maybe if I try the bond I use while healing. The blonde Healer closed her eyes and concentrated on the warm body pressed against her neck. She moved her consciousness past the skin into the healthy cells, examining how the creature lived and breathed.

  The little Darkon grew quiet while Lianndra worked. It sat immobile, with its long head tilted.

  As usual, when working her way through an unfamiliar alien body, the incredible diversity of life amazed Lianndra. Each creature had its own unique way of making things work. The Darkon were as elegant on the inside as they were on the outside. To facilitate flight, their bones were hollow, much like Earth’s birds. Their bodies possessed air sacs and not proper lungs, and she remembered the healing she’d done on Virra. Gryphon physiology and anatomy were similar to the Darkon, but everything was just larger and heavier framed on the Gryphon. Lianndra moved from the air sacs, past the large, central heart and up the neck to the brain.

  The brain surprised her. Lianndra hadn’t yet worked on a Gryphon brain. Hannah did the pain blocking on Virra in the jungle. She didn’t know how the big alien’s brains compared to the Darkon but the complexity astounded her. The dense convolutions and intricate cellular structure differed from anything she’d ever come across.

  Something brushed against her presence like the drift of feathers against skin.

  What the hell? Lianndra stiffened in shock.

  The faint contact took on the form of a query that reverberated in her brain, not as words, but rather as emotions or images. Flashes of herself as seen by their eyes echoed in her mind. On the heels of the mental communication came a trill from the animal.

  Holy crap. They’re telepathic. How could the Gryphon have missed this?

  The image of a Gryphon feeding a Darkon popped into her head. In it, the two enjoyed each other’s company, the relationship very much one of a master and pet rather than equals. It was as if the Darkon spoke to her, “The Gryphon are our friends. They feed us. They don’t know how to talk to us.”

  The little Darkon on Lianndra’s shoulder made a long series of “chuk chuk chuk” sounds, which the one sitting on Hannah echoed.

  I think they’re laughing. I can’t believe this.

  “Lianndra? Are you okay?”

  She ope
ned her eyes to see Hannah’s pretty features frowning at her in confusion.

  “Hold on.” She closed her eyes again and re-established contact with her new little friend. She tried to tell it—him, she concluded—in images what she needed them to do.

  He turned his head and hissed at the other Darkon on Hannah’s arm, who hissed back. Lianndra braced herself. When they both pointed their beaked noses at a small boulder about ten feet away, she remained mentally connected.

  The blast still caught her by surprise. It was so fast she could barely follow the sequence of events: from intent to completion in mere microseconds. As near as Lianndra could determine by observing the rapid flash of energy, the Darkon visualized the target and imagined it blasted apart. The energy sent from them affected the bonds holding the boulder’s molecules together, much like she could manipulate those within living tissues. The Darkon focused, and the energy ripped the bonds apart as fast as she could blink.

  She opened her eyes, sudden pain pounding behind a temple. All her hair stood on end and she swayed. As if reacting to her discomfort, both Darkon went airborne in an abrupt flutter of leathery wings, landing in a nearby tree.

  Hannah stared at her in what seemed like amazement. The boulder had disappeared, along with a clump of bushes around it.

  Not a fine-tuned weapon to wield, Lianndra thought. More like a B-52 bomber than a stealth fighter.

  Despite her headache, elation flooded her. The Darkon in the tree responded to her emotion, squeaking with pleasure. “Hannah,” she said, “you have got to try this!”

  LIANNDRA FOUND THE DARKON BOND irresistible. Sometimes Hannah came with her, but the smaller Healer could not support the telepathic link for long without becoming fatigued. Lianndra often worked alone. By the end of each day, her head ached and her eyes swam, but the creatures proved so compelling she returned every morning.