They were all free falling trying to each figure out a way to get back to somewhat solid ground. Ya’Cahin tried to gather her faculties without panicking which was proving to be difficult. Watching her rifle fall from her grip into the oblivion below was sobering.
Before she could come up with anything shapes descended upon them. They grabbed Ula and Tahu and zipped back into the sky. She looked for the stranger but they too were snatched out of the air leaving on her own. And then suddenly she was snatched out of the sky ascending and whip lashed.
Turning her head upward she caught sight of green skin and a few red markings. From her angle she couldn’t see anything more and then they were in the trees. Going up the trunk of it she braced herself as branches and other leaves scratched and slapped against her face.
And then she was in direct sunlight. No shade or clouds. Just bright warm sunlight. Squinting she realized that she was above the canopy. The top of the tree that they had seen from space. Her eyes wide as she looked down and she realized just how far above the ground they had gone.
She and her savior flew in a slow arching circle and she narrowed her eyes to see what looked like a platform. It was in the center of the tree, a hood of leaves covering half of the platform. One by one they were dropped them. Ya’Cahin managed to land standing upright but Tahu and Ula stumbled. She caught sight of what had flown here hear and realized it was the natives. Under their cloaks were thin almost translucent wings. The stranger was dropped and then flanked with spears on either side of them.
More of those warriors were there with their war paint on and weapons branded. However there were a several behind them. They looked like children, elderly and maybe mates. It was almost impossible to tell them apart gender wise if they even had that.
Pointing at them they shouted in their language and the cloaked figure from before walked toward them. They shouted at the one that talked to them and they went back and forth growing louder and more animated. However there was a frustration and the other one suddenly spoke in a language they could understand.
“You brought these trespassers here. To usurp me. To take control of the tribes.”
“You’re insane, Bicar. You’ve been insane for many revolutions now. And this is just the final nail in your coffin.”
“I will not hear your words Rizier. Be silent or damn yourself further.”
“I won’t be. I won’t tolerate this paranoia longer. I will depart this planet. Take control of the four tribes all you want. It concerns me not.”
“You will depart it. You will depart it as a spirit, to rejoin our people.”
“Just for the sake of argument, what do you plan to do with us?” Tahu asked.
“You conspire against me along with it. Therefore you can die alongside it.”
“Not a fan of that.” Ya’Cahin said with a shake of her head. She pointed at their cloaked figure, the one named Rizier. “Can you help us?”
“I can try. But you have to help me get off this planet.”
“We’re in this situation because of you but fine.”
Conversation was cut short as two of the natives shouted and ran at them with their spears. Shocked the zorgs did their best to jump backwards. Tahu being the closest narrowly avoided spears into his stomach.
“Can I shoot them now?”
Ya’Cahin nodded. “Just don’t kill them!”
“You’re such a softy Yaya.”
They ripped their guns from their holsters and was greeted by a phalanx of spears, with bows raised and pulled back. They were moving as one unit, no foot out of step no spear too far forward. They were more like machines than living beings.
“Before you ask Tahu, no they should not be moving like this.” Ula said as they pulled their rifle out. Those from the huts behind them went rigid, as if they had been possessed and like a wave, dozens of these natives ran at them. Tahu started firing stunning them for a few moments but they shook them off and kept running.
Ula’s rifle packed a better punch and each body shot managing to knock them down. However precise shooting like that wasn’t easy in this environment and some were getting back off, shaking off the blow. “I believe they are being helped, or rather manipulated, by Bicar.”
“That’s just great,” Tahu kept moving back, dodging around spears and putting distance between them. They were too far in the open to be able to protect themselves from the onslaught let alone the arrows and stones that made their way toward them.
Three natives rushed at Ula but she lowered her rifle. They got one in the leg, another in the shoulder while the last one was hit in the chest knocking them down. They moved to reload when a club hit them in the side of the head. Dazed they turned and watched as the club was raised again.
Blue energy surrounded the club and suddenly they were thrown away from Ula. Ya’Cahin looked at her but the effort of that throw was visible behind her helmet. She turned and raised her hand to grab a pair of spears from the air before they hit them. She let them drop to the ground and took another a breather.
“Rizier! We could use your help here!”
They were currently busy disarming a warrior and turning their spear against them. “What kind of help?”
Ya’Cahin scowled. “You and them are telepaths. Can you break their connection with the natives? Undo what they’ve done?”
“I can try.” The four eyes on their head began to glow and they directed their arms forward. Several of the natives went rigid suddenly. They turned their spears onto their allies who were swiftly dispatched, unable to answer the sudden betrayal.
Ula took a position next to Rizier and took a few shots at Bicar. One of the natives, a child leaped into the path of the shot taking it for them. Ula hesitated and two arrows started flying toward the zorg. Ya’Cahin pushed them off course and grunted.
“Bicar is using the natives as a shield.” they said firing on a few of the unarmed natives. These weren’t as fast and taking them down with body shoots was much simpler.
“That’s just great,” Tahu said and grunted after a strong kick to the stomach. “So we have to fight through this entire tribe?”
“No,” Rizier said slowly and sank to their knees. “Captain can you create a psykik wave?”
“Physical?”
“Preferred.”
“Somewhat.”
“Anything that could shake Bicar’s concentrate.”
“That I can do.” She said her eyes glowing bright blue. Pressing her hands flat against one another she thrust them outward a shockwave rolling over everyone. It’s strength was enough to cause them to stumble and some even fall over. Bicar stumbled back hissing in frustration and Rizier pounced on the chance.
Spreading their arms wide a sharp grinding sound echoed and everyone stopped. Not just stopped fighting but were frozen on the spot. Ya’Cahin and her crew were hesitant. “What’s going on?” Tahu asked.
Ula looked at the closest one to them, “I believe, Rizier has forced control over the minds of the natives.”
“Yes,” Rizier said though it sounded like a struggle to speak. “Incapacitate Bicar. Hurry!”
Ula and Tahu both raised their guns quickly and unleased a flurry of shots on the psykik. Bicar tried to move but not fast enough and each shot took them in the body. Bicar stumbled backwards smoking holes in their cloak.
Running toward them Ya’Cahin put her foot on their chest and stared down at them. Their eyes were shut tightly and unfocused. “I think they’re down.” She kicked at his torso and her foot dug into the body. Black sand poured out of the hole and she started, stumbling backwards her eyes widening. The sand piled out of the cloak and she realized that was Bicar’s body.
That left at about a dozen standing natives, none of them moving but were very much alive. Tahu prodded one with his gun and there was a very quick sudden intact of breath from them. “What do we do about them?”
“We leave them and get off this planet.” Ya’Cahin said shaking her head. “At this point I just want to get to the slums now.”
“And what of our deal?” Rizier asked.
The trio turned toward the telepath and exchanged cautious glances. On the one hand this was a complete stranger and though they had helped them, it was probably had been the best move for them in the situation. But bringing them into their ship she wasn’t sure. Ya’Cahin looked at them and nodded slowly. “You can come with us. But don’t cause any trouble or else I’ll kick you into space personally.”
Rizier gave a short nod. “Thank you, captain.”
“My name is Ya’Cahin.”
“Call her Yaya.”
“Don’t call me that. Ula can you call the ship?”
“It’s already on its way captain.”
“Good.”
Rizier kept the natives under their sway the entire time until the ship had finally arrived. They climbed aboard one by one and Rizier relinquished their mental command on the natives only when safely aboard. The ship ascended through the atmosphere and into the welcoming darkness of space.
Rizier was looking around at the center of the ship. “So this is the interior of a ship. Fascinating. I haven’t been inside one since I was barely formed.”
“Well get used to it because this is home. We’ll find a place for you to sleep once we get going.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t sleep.”
“At all?” Tahu asked with an arched eyebrow.
“My people are in a constant state of consciousness.”
“Interesting. I would like to ask you about your people when we have time.” Ula said watching them.
“If I am able to answer I will.” Rizier said.
Satisfied Ula and Tahu both went toward the cockpit of the ship to set their course. Ya’Cahin let out a breath and raised her veil. “I’m going to need a new rifle.” She mumbled to herself as she went toward the observation deck. “Follow me.”
The pair walked the hallway to the observation deck in silence. Rizier noted the walls as they went up and when they stopped they walked into the space. Without a clear face to see Ya’Cahin couldn’t get a solid read on the psykik.
She went toward the large window and gazed out at the galaxy and the planet that they were maneuvering around. “What is it that you three do?” Rizier asked. “Are you content with just traversing the galaxy as it is?”
“We’re contractors taking jobs as we can. Is that a problem?”
“No. I would enjoy a change of scenery.”
“Are you a team player?”
“I think we worked well together just now.”
“That was out of necessity. I need to know that we can count on you when things go to hell again. If you can follow orders.
“You sound like that happens often.”
“More often than I care to admit.”
Rizier was silent, thinking most likely. This ship was a stark difference from the trees they’d grown up with. And having a civilized conversation away from they’re paranoid companion was also a blessing. They touched the glass and the smooth thickness was a surprise.
“My ship crashed into the ocean when I landed. I would have died if the craft was submerged.” They walked away from the window and went to sit. Ya’Cahin got herself a drink and offered it to them but they deined it. “I have no intention of ever being trapped in one place again. So I won’t jeopardize this opportunity. I will follow your commands Ya’Cahin.”
“Good. Do you drink or eat?”
“I do not. I am self-sustaining.”
She sat across from them with a glass of blue liquid. She sipped it slowly looking them up and down. “You don’t sleep, drink, or eat and you self-sustain. What are you?”
“My species?”
“Well yeah though I doubt I’ll know what you are. Just want to get an idea.”
Rizier watched her all four of their eyes focused on her face. “I’m not a typical physical being. To be honest calling me alive or a person isn’t quite correct. I am psykik energy within a shell. Underneath this cloak and these wraps is a formless body. The only thing keeping it together is my psykik powers. If I were to lose concentration and this body it would fall apart and I would likely follow.”
“I’ve heard of that. Raw energy developing a conciousness.” Ya’Cahin nodded. “So are you just energy underneath it all?”
They chuckled and shook their head. “I am more akin to dust. Sand. I can manipulate it to fit whatever shape I may need.”
She chuckled softly. “So what. You’re sentient sand?”
“Something like that.”
She chuckled and nodded her head, “So how do you change your form?”
“I will it with,” they said staring down at a finger. Slowly two of them merged into one long claw. “I have to have an image of what I will change into though.”
“Interesting. That might be useful.”
“You all mentioned the slums. Where are you going? Or rather we.”
“A scavenger planet. We need parts to build a dampener for an artifact that we’ve discovered. You should be able to feel it.”
Rizier nodded slowly. “I do. The last time I felt a power that potent was back home though this is a shadow of that.”
“If we take care of it you won’t feel it anymore. It’s not something we want to flaunt around.”
“Will it be dangerous?”
“Probably. So let’s be careful while we’re there.”
They nodded and Ya’Cahin finished her drink. The ship slowed for a moment and then everything outside began to streak and blur. She smiled. “That’s hyper jump. We’re on our way so sit back and relax.”
The Harlequin Library 