Ula was sitting in the half circle room, tinkering with tools and a small hexagonal device. Wiring was laid out around it as they worked to weld them together. Their concentration was so immense that they weren’t paying any mind to the loudness that was Tahu and Ya’Cahin. Ya’Cahin had a bottle in hand, drinking heavily as she looked at her team.
“You know we had just rescued my friend here. And I thought everything was fine. And now he’s missing an arm.” She snorted and she shook her head. “And now he’s armless.” She giggled shaking her head again.
“Is she alright?” Rizier asked glancing at Tahu.
“Yeah. She’s just slipping away. Happens.”
“Intoxicated you mean?”
“Yeah. Sometimes she gets like this after we get a job done or she’s just frustrated. I think it’s the latter this time.”
“You bet your ass I am.” She glared at the zorg for only a moment before laughing again. “Se’hun! This part better hide the damn stone.”
The stone in question was also on the table. Ula raised the device over the shard for a moment and the energy from it was dulled but not for long. It pulsed back against it causing a short circuit and Ula to make a frustrated shout.
“Se’hun!”
“Whoa Ula swore.” Ya’Cahin said with wide eyes and glanced at Tahu who was equally surprised.
“Yes Captain. I am sorry for my outburst. My frustration has just come out. This stone is beyond what I have predicted. I thought that I could keep the strength of its signature down but I have not been able to succeed.”
“It’s fine Ula. Just do the best you can.”
“Yeah don’t make me have lost an arm for nothing.”
Ula turned their glare onto Tahu which the zorg shirked away from with a sheepish smile. “I will be able to make a dampener captain. I said that I would and I shall. It will just take more time.”
“Well we’ve got nothing but time.” Leaning against the table she groaned softly. “Let’s not go anywhere serious next.”
“What do you mean Captain?”
She lifted her head and looked at them. “Let’s find a nice abandoned moon with a decent star that we can just sit down and breathe for a little while.”
“I think we can do that. We’ve earned a little break.” Tahu smirked. “Plus I like feeling the stars. These last few planets have been way too gloomy for my taste.”
“I would like to see another planet. Even though my former planet wasn’t perfect, I did enjoy the atmosphere.”
“Actually, your planet did not have much atmosphere. It was enough for us to breathe but it was very thin.” Ula said without looking up.
“That was what is known as a joke,” Rizier said their tone growing lighter and eyes closing in delight. “Perhaps it wasn’t good.”
Ula looked up at them and their face was blank. They all stared at Ula who glanced at each of them before going back to work. Tahu and Ya’Cahin exchanged a glance and then laughed together. Tahu got up saying, “I’ll go set us a course to some young and empty planet.”
Ula moved their fingers, small points coming from the tips of them. They worked them together to maneuver the wires together. They laid them down, trying to tried to be careful but felt a strong spike of feedback. Jolting backwards they hit the back of the chair.
Glaring at the small device Ula went to it again. Their fingers moved slowly, undoing what they’d already done. Reaching out to the stone they looked at the container and the slot for the dampener. The covering had been pulled off and all the metal pieces and circuitry underneath was revealed.
Turning it around so that they couldn’t directly look at the shard they touched the container. Rubbing her finger around the indentation for the dampener they frowned. Picking at it they pulled the edge around it before tearing it off.
They widened sections and broke the edges refining their lines. Carved pieces off of it with the tips of their fingers. Snapping their fingers together a few times they created a sharp screeching tone. The tips of her fingers were quickly turning orange as they did it and continued until they were red.
Narrowing their eyes, they used their free fingers to manipulate the wires into place. More than once they were hit by feedback but they worked through it. When the ship jolted and not the machinery they were working with they were mildly surprise.
Ula walked toward the cockpit their fingers stinging with each flex. They looked at the blackened finger tips and chuckled. They would have to repair them when the container was finished. The door opened and Tahu was sitting up, stretching their arm up high.
Hanging in front of the ship was a moon that gleamed in the light. It was mostly a floating rock with splotches of color where the atmosphere shone through. Behind that it was grey to Ula’s eyes.
Tahu sat up from the pilot’s seat and grunted a few times, popping their neck back and forth. “Hey Ula. I think we’re gonna like this place. Nice neighborhood star way out there.” they pointed out to the right of them. “And a few planets scattered around. Not a lot of flora and I think there’s some decent fauna somewhere.”
“You will have to go look for it.”
“No no Ula. You’re coming with us.” Both Zorgs turned to see Ya’Cahin walking through the door. Her eyes were slightly green and she didn’t look like she was feeling too great. Rubbing her forehead, she glanced at the moon. “That’s where we’re going right?”
“Yeah,” Tahu nodded then lookated Ula. “And your spark of life needs some fun and relaxation .”
“I still have work that needs to be accomplished,” Ula protested.
“You need a break as much as any of us do.” Ya’Cahin said and reached out to tap her shoulder. “Captain’s orders. Where’s Rizier?”
“I do not know.” Ula shrugged. “They were not with me while I was working.”
“This ship isn’t that big.” Tahu said thinking. “There’s the hanger, the observation deck, and the wings. Think they’re in one of the wings?”
Ula shook their head. “No. I have not had the chance to clear them for access to either wing. We have had a busy time since they arrived.”
“So then the hanger is probably the next best guess. We’re already going down there so let’s see if we can meet them.”
The trio left the cockpit, got suited and armed then took the elevator. Descending down the ship with a few quick stops they walked out and saw their cloaked crewmate staring at their ships. Though their shape wasn’t as it was prior. Rizier’s left most arm had changed. The bandages dangled at their side and black dust swirled in the air.
It was merging together into one solid piece. It was elongated and they could see through it. Rizier swiped it through the air and it made a soft whistle. Turning around Rizier started and the arm reformed almost instantly back into it’s former shape. They reached two arms out to rewrap them.
“What was that?” Tahu asked, face alit and eager.
“I was just experimenting with something. Seeing the extents, I could take my body.”
“Was that a blade?” Ula asked. “Could you possibly fight with that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never used a claw like that. But I would like to try,” They looked at everyone before back to Ya’Cahin. “I take it that we’ve arrived captain.”
“We have,” Ya’Cahin looked at the ships. “Me and Ula are going to take the scout ship. Rizier, you can take Tahu’s.”
“Sounds good.” Tahu led Rizier with them to the ship. As they hopped in the front seat they made space for Rizier. There wasn’t a real seat for Rizier but they were able to make do. Ya’Cahin took the pilots seat as Ula got behind her. Both ships came to life with low hums and glows. Checking their readouts and monitors and seeing all clear Ya’Cahin went on the comm.
“Ready to go Yaya.”
“Same here. Dropping in 3, 2, 1.”
The hatch opened and their ships fell into the empty gravity below them. Both pilots grabbed their yokes and took control flying their ships forward toward the moon. They flew side by side spiraling through space. Tahu glanced above to see Ya’Cahin smirking. They shoved the yoke forward and they blasted forward. Ya’Cahin snorted as she took her time. A passing cloud of radiation maybe. It gave everything a nice hue that was for sure. She looked at it and took her hands off the controls for a moment.
Floating in space and taking a deep breath she sighed again. “Wow.”
“It is pleasing to look at.”
“Very pleasing.” Leaning the yoke forward they shot after Tahu and Rizier who had already entered the atmosphere of the moon.
Tahu coasted around the planet turning the ship to the side as they looked out the top of the cockpit. The rolling hills of rocks in every direction with random bridges of stone that somehow swept across the surface.
They flew low and underneath one almost scraping the bottom of the ship against the ground. Glancing upwards they navigated them up a rise and then into the valley on the other side of it. Slowing the ship down he tapped a few things and then they landed.
“I’m impressed you can fly with only one arm.” Rizier said as the cockpit rose up.
Grunting they disconnected slowly, making sure his cords weren’t hurt from a bad disconnect. “Being plugged into the ship does most of the work.”
There were a few what looked like crooked poles coming from the ground with crystal formations scattered near the bases. The bridges that looped and covered the planet were easy to spot and seemed to go on forever. The ground rumbled as Ya’Cahin and her ship landed beside them. Tahu hailed them, waving their arm. “Welcome. I hope you enjoyed your flight.”
“Yes it was quite nice,” Ya’Cahin said joining them wearing a suit and helmet. “And is this our vacation spot? It looks pretty barren.”
“Well it is barren. But it has a hidden secret.” Tahu pointed. “Come on. Let’s go this way.”
Climbing one of hills it was connected to one of the bridges to which they started to follow. Rising up above the ground higher and higher it winded around the moon. There were a few poles that had grown just high enough to scrape below the bridge.
Rizier looked down below them watching the crystals glisten in the light. They crossed one bridge and then went to another. This one had a lower dip to it as they sank below hills on both sides. Ya’Cahin reached out tapping her finger against it. “What is this?”
“It seems to be carbon based.” Ula said staring at it. “The material is not as solid as it seems. With enough concussive force one could probably break through it with ease.”
The area they approached had another bridge. When they walked and hit the middle the dip below was massive drop. Just a sudden pit that glowed from the crystals that rested within it. Tahu bent over the edge of the bridge and pointed down. “That’s where we’re going.”
“Is there a reason for this?”
“Well Zier, the pits bottom is thin. If we hit it with something that goes boom we can break it open and go down.”
“What’s under there?” Ya’Cahin asked her arms folded not quite convinced.
“That’s the exciting part. Who doesn’t like a good explosion.” Reaching to their hip Tahu pulled forth a cluster of bombs. “I drop these, wait a few moments and then we jump in. Any questions?”
“You’re enjoying this far too much,” Ya’Cahin shook her head. “Just get on with it.”
They activated them letting out an exasperated sight, “You’ve no sense of buildup Yaya.”
Leaning forward they dropped them one by one, a soft beep preceding them. Once they were all bouncing down the pit Tahu took a step off the bridge and began to plummet. The others, after some word less consultation, jumped after the zorg. The bombs clinked together a few times before going off. The light and heat from the explosion were enough to blow them back into the air a few feet. They were pelted by tiny rocks and smoke as they plunged into the hole.
One by one they fell through a hole in the ceiling and sank into a liquid with hard splashes. Disoriented she began to swim toward the top and broke through it with a shake of her body. Looking around her she saw that she was within a cave. A cave that glowed from the crystals that protruded from the ceiling above and cast yellow light over everything.
Ula and Tahu were both under the pond of liquid observing what seemed to be fish swimming through it. Tiny circle shaped creatures that spun on an axis as they zipped through the waters.
RIzier floated in the center of the pond observing. It was still and only disturbed because they had just splashed within it. They swam to the top and then began to go toward the shore. They climbed out the liquid dripping off them and soaking into a grassy shore. The blades were dark blue and seemed to be reacting to their existence. As they stepped forward it swayed toward them.
They took a few steps forward wading through the grass observing its movements. It was like a living breathing thing and it amused Rizier. Ula and Tahu climbed ashore and he grinned at them. “Look at this place. I knew there was an underground oasis but I wasn’t expecting something like this.”
They started walking through the grass giving the strange grazing fauna a wide berth. Despite the hole that they blasted through the depth of cave didn’t seem to end. The illumination from it only came through the crystals that poked down from the ceiling. Their shadows danced across the ground some unknown light powering the crystals.
“Which direction do we want to take?” Rizier asked.
“I think we should take the left most path.” Ula said pointing.
“I’ve always been a righty.” Tahu said glancing at their shoulder. Neither Ula nor Ya’Cahin found the humor in it.
Rizier crossed one set of arms and then rubbed their chin. “I’m a fan of ascension. Maybe there’s another layer to all of this.”
Ya’Cahin with the final decision sighed and said, “Well I can’t say no the handicapped zorg. So let’s follow Tahu’s lead. You’re the reason we got down this far anyway.”
And so they went. The path they went on had more grass. It grew thicker as they moved through and even moved toward them. Some of them seemed to be growing taller to brush against them.
The path sloped downward slowly as did the crystals. They could hear a soft splashing below them, like a constant drip as they stared into an abyss. Their path ended into another sudden drop. They stared into the deep darkness below and a shudder passed through each of them.
The crystals that lined the wall extended outward and illuminated a catwalk. The crystals were on either side. Ya’Cahin walked toward one of the crystals and put her hand on it curiously. It reacted almost immediately. A surge of blue light from the crystal that flew straight down the line blinding them. But Ya’Cahin kept staring into the crystal and was smiling. “Wow. Wow wow wow.”
“Pretty light show Yaya.” Tahu said face awash in blue. “But what is this stuff?”
“It’s the same concept as the stone we have back in the ship. But way tamer. It’s a simple amplifier. One that you can hold and use. Xanics have used them for years. It’s how our industry worked.”
She looked out at the line of crystals and slowly pulled her hand off. The color faded away immediately and returned to a dull light. knelt down and touched the crystal as well and the blue returned to the crystal but it also surged within the bandages and their eyes. Beams of light arching in four different directions. They snatched their hands back and a sound jumped out of their mouth. The language that they had spoken to Bicar but in a harsh broken manner.
They coughed, a few of their arms spasming on the ground. They grabbed them with their other hands and kept them still. Taking a breath slow and grunting they jumped when Ya’Cahin touched their shoulder.
“Steady Rizier.”
“Ya’Cahin. What. What was that?”
“I take it there weren’t any amps on your planet were there?”
“No. I had never known there was something like that.”
Ya’Cahin put an arm on their shoulder and a spark of blue washed over them. Just like that Rizier’s spasms stopped. Staring at their arms for a short moment they then looked at Ya’Cahin and each eye was focused on her.
“What did you do?”
“We’re both Psykiks. And being the more experienced one here I’m helping you get on the level. Trust me, amps aren’t easy to handle the first time around.”
Ya’Cahin reached out to the crystal and nodded. “Yeah. If we found amps in this cave I want to know what else in here. Also I want to take a souvenir.”
She turned toward Tahu and Ula who were watching them silently, Ula’s face curious and Tahu’s in a wide grin. “That magic stuff is crazy. Nothing like us machines right Ula?”
“Yes but humble machines. We know nothing of the power of psykiks.”
“Humble machines yes.”
“You can both knock it off. Tahu’s a bad influence on you.”
Ula smiled and a soft laugh came from their lips. “I don’t know what you are talking about captain.”
“I’m sure you don’t.” Tahu had barely contained laughter behind their hand. “But we’re going down there. I mean this is your path Tahu right?”
“Sure is. But if you haven’t noticed that’s not a lot of bridge for us to walk on. Unless you’ve learned to fly.”
“Not quite. But watch this.”
She walked toward the crystals again and gripped one tightly. It immediately glowed to life and extended into the distance. Her eyes glowed blue and that light filled the entire visor of her helmet. Flexing her wrist quickly her power dove into the crystals racing across the wall. Crystals yanked free from the walls and aligned in the middle of the chasm and locked together with loud clinks. She grunted as she worked and then pulled her hands together and the crystals grew and locked into the wall. Letting out her breath she opened her eyes and surveyed her handiwork.
“Yaya what is that?”
“It’s a raft. Now come on.”
“Come on?” Tahu asked.
“I believe she wants us to get on to that.”
“Will it support us?”
“It will. As long as Rizier gives me a hand.”
Rizier’s eyes glowed and focused on her face. “Tell me what I have to do.”
“Just be in my head. And give me your strength. Like be in my shoes.”
“Like this?” She gasped as she took a step forward and it felt like their mind was layered over hers. Both in body and out of body. Like almost being in two places at once. Getting her bearings with the steps she nodded quickly.
“Exactly like that. Keep that feeling. Everyone all aboard. Trains leaving the station.”
Tahu and Ula stepped onto the raft and it wobbled slightly but both psykik’s grunted and it steadied. Ya’Cahin made a motion and it jerked off the cliff and it was only them now floating above the chasm. She breathed slowly keeping them steady on the air as she conducted it.
The tunnel was straight, the walls rocky and crystals glowing as they past. A few times they looked down but the light barely got down there. However, a few times they were able to catch a flash of something. Maybe it was a crystal, maybe it was something else. Rizier wasn’t able to survey it with their powers while helping Ya’Cahin.
The pair of them kept it together well, despite the small strain of doing this she was actually enjoying herself. It was fun to be flying around on these crystals. Despite the darkness around them she would love to do something like this again. That and the way Rizier’s mind overlapped with hers was calming in a way that her’s naturally wasn’t.
Ya’Cahin narrowed her eyes looking at the path in front of them and watched that the path was widening in front of them. There was a bright light pulsing within it, bathing them in white light. The area was massive with a rough plateau in the center. There was a large gap between the edge of the dome and the plateau. There were crystals on the plateau but these glowed green.
Within the center of it however was a cluster of crystals and that was where the light originated. Ya’Cahin directed the raft to the cluster and it landed roughly. Both psykiks jolted out of the trance they were in before getting their bearings together. “Wow. So here we are. Where is here?” Tahu asked.
“I wish I knew. This moon has been found before but I doubt this cave has been documented.”
“I don’t think so either.” Ya’Cahin walked toward the light and her hand tingled through her gloves. “But that thing has power in it.”
Rizier nodded slowly. “I can feel it too. It makes my head hurt but not in a bad way. I’m curious about it.”
“Is that another stone like on the ship?” Tahu asked.
“Hopefully not.” Ya’Cahin said as she embarked toward it. “I’ve no intention of going back to the slums for parts.”
“What are you looking at?” Rizier asked as they approached.
“Ya’Cahin seems like she wants to take it.”
Ula frowned, “I know. And I fear for what happens when she does.”
Ya’Cahin stood in front of the cluster, Tahu at her side as they gazed at it. It was a perfect sphere of a crystal. Flashes of lightning going off within. She reached out to touch it and her hand glowed blue from just the attempt and she grinned.
“This thing is an amp but it’s an amp like nothing else in this cave.” Her fingers tingled as she stared at it.
“Then let’s take it.” Tahu reached out toward it and energy arced from the cluster and struck them hand making him snatch it back. The palm was smoking and they stared it with wide eyes. “Maybe we should let this one go, Yaya.”
She shook her head as she glanced at them. “You can’t just reach out and grab it Tahu. Its charged, that’s why its giving off so much light. Only a psykik can get it right now.”
“Then be my guest.” they said taking a step back.
She let out a slow breath and groaned. Blue covered her hand, growing outward like a glove. She reached into the energy field and it arched colliding with her glove but didn’t break the blue. She smirked as she reached further in and the arcs grew more aggressive. Taking a breath she threw her arm in and snatched the crystal from the cluster it rested on.
She panted heavily as she stared at the pulsing energy in her hand and her entire visor was awash with the glow and she giggled turning it over in her hands slowly. “Wow. I never thought I’d see an amp like this.”
It sparkled in her hand, reacting to her touch and even where her eyes went. She shivered feeling the power surge through her fingertips. The ground beneath their feet rumbled then began to shake even more violently like an earthquake.
They all lost their balance and fell to their knees as rocks fell from the ceiling. “Was that you Yaya?”
“No. At least I didn’t directly do it.” She shook her head staring at the crystal as it still glowed with intensity.
Ula and Rizier both dart closer to them as another tremor came, “Taking that may have been a bad idea captain.”
“No kidding Ula. But why?”
Before they responded the stone shook and then fell. The ground fell beneath their feet and they were left hanging in the air. Gravity was quick to claim them and they were dragged down by its intense grip.
Ya’Cahin gasped and then she was awash with blue light. Reaching out she grabbed each of her companions and they floated, held aloft by invisible hands. She looked down and watched the island sink into the ground. She could see spots of light tinkle into nothing as it crashed against walls and disappeared from view. “Alright everyone, we need to get out of here. Ula. Tahu. Where’s the closet exit out of this cave?”
“We could always go back the way we came.” Tahu said glancing back.
“Not a good idea. Not sure how long I can hold us up like this.” She said though no strain entered her voice. She could do this but she didn’t want to tempt her luck with this power.
“Then above,” Ula pointed above, their eyes flashing as a lens swept over them. “The roof above is thin. We could blow our way out.”
“I only have one more grenade at the moment.” Tahu said reaching to their hip. “I don’t think it’ll be enough.”
“Give it to me.”
She was lifted it off their belt before the zorg could even move. As it floated the edge began to swim with blue energy. She swept her hand forward and the bomb flew straight to the ceiling. She watched it as it collided with the ceiling and then shielded her eyes.
The impact was enough to fill the cavern with white light. The cavern shook from the impact as even more stuns erupted from the ceiling. They flew around, dodging as many of them as they could. She narrowed her eyes though as she spotted the cracks of light in the ceiling. Her lips twitched into a grin as she flicked her fingers.
“That’s our ticket out of here!”
With a powerful jerk of momentum, they were soaring through the hole in the ceiling. In seconds they broke through and were floating at the moon’s surface. Ya’Cahin directed them forward into a rough landing against the ground when the light around each of them faded.
Ya’Cahin let out several quick and hurried breaths as the light of the crystal in her hand dulled but didn’t extinguish entirely. She coughed a few times as she felt like she weighed triple and it wasn’t because of the moons gravity.
Ula staggered to their feet and rushed to the side of Ya’Cahin, “Captain are you all right?”
“I. I will be.” She shuddered against the ground as Ula helped her to sit upright.
Tahu and Rizier were at her side as well concerned on their faces. “How did you do that?” Tahu asked softly as they glanced at the amp. “Was it that powerful?”
“Is.” Rizier told him. “I can still feel the power within it. I believe that it’s just recharging at the moment.”
Ya’Cahin gave a nod. “It is recharging. I can feel its power. I didn’t think it would feel like that.” She laughed to herself and dropped it between her legs. She looked at them and smiled. “But we made it out in one piece right?”
“I believe so.” Ula glanced at each of their crewmates with a gentle smile.
“You’ve got your souvenir Yaya.”
“Yeah I do. But let’s enjoy that.” She said pointing to the sky. They all turned in the direction of her hand and saw the neighborhood star. It was lowering across the sky casting bright purple shadows over each of them. It was a pretty light that showered over them. Ya’Cahin leaned back on her hands. The others sat down around her and suddenly she just started laughing.
It was a high pitched happy laugh and she couldn’t contain it. She wrapped her arms around herself as she leaned her back laughing again. Tahu was the first to be infected by it and laughed alongside her. Ula’s voice joined the chorus and Riziers as well. They laughed together letting it echo across the moon until they were breathless and on their backs.
Ula looked up suddenly and pressed a hand to their ear. Checking a notification that flowed across their eyes they frowned. “Captain the ship is reporting that we are low on fuel. Shall I chart us toward a refueling station?”
“Please do Ula. Last thing I wanna do is drift in empty space. How much money do we have?”
Tahu’s eyes went blank for a moment, mouth moving slowly. When clarity returned to the orbs he made a face. “Not enough. We’re getting below the threshold.”
“So we need to go take a job soon.”
“Pretty much.”
“Job?” Rizier asked glancing at their crewmates.
“We take whatever jobs we can.” Ya’Cahin said. “Clean up, body guarding, and sometimes hunting for people. Can’t really turn down a job when we don’t have an actual income.”
“How are we to find a new set of jobs?” they asked tilting their head.
“Pretty easy. We go to the bounty board and snag a few. Don’t worry Rizier. We’ll show you how it all gets done.”
The Harlequin Library 