December 6, 2111
James Stone
We did it again - rebels breaking ARW law. Never had I had the intentions of putting myself in a position to intrude on an underdeveloped species' home world. With that realization, I can't describe how much my gut and bones alike jittered at the thought of being caught by the ARW under these circumstances. Maybe they would understand the fact that our ship decided to blast us into orbit around this planet with no way to leave. Then again, with my already sketchy track record, this instance could be the last puff of air that burst the balloon. In either case, I hoped to keep those thoughts a fantasy, wishing I'd never have to find out. Despite it all, I must keep the little mouse powering my brain active on the present, not the future.
I let the thoughts fade and headed out of the visitation barracks. On the porch, Brad lay over a bench to my right. Still wearing his helmet, his head was against one armrest, while his legs were over the other. Behind him was the wall that separated this camp from the beasts that attacked us earlier, and our barracks was built right against it.
"Anything happen out here worth a mention?" I asked Brad.
"Hell nah. Borin' azz place," he replied.
I turned back to what was in front of me. The same line of buildings faced back, almost like looking at a mirror of our side of the camp. And the camp was fitted with guards. I noted a few training in a field further from the wall. That same field was close to a much smaller stone wall, which I assumed led out of the base camp. Other guards switched posts with their peers, going up a riser that led up to the top of the wall. Just a plain base similar to what I experienced in my earlier years as a solider. There was both fond and dreadful feelings in those memories.
I heard a minor commotion back towards the fields. I saw a small crowd of guards by the smaller wall, in conversation. That commotion then traveled its way towards me soon enough.
Out of the crowd, the same man I talked with before led the pack with another by his side.
"They are the aliens I spoke of," the man said.
The one by his side was slimmer and curvier by nature, likely female. "My name is Witnamerrys Kekay'Hegar. Many just call me Witna, and I'm the prime keeper of this city." Her voice was higher pitched. With so many species in the galaxy, guessing who was female and male by their frame and voice pitch wasn't an exact science. However, I had confidence my hunch about her being a female was likely spot on.
City? I thought. I don't see a city. "They call me James Stone. I'm the captain of the rug rats you've graciously allowed inside your walls."
"Rug rats?" she asked. "I don't understand."
"Oh, it's just-- Wait! You can understand me!" I shouted louder than I meant to.
"I do. But that's a long story… best told over dinner."
My stomach growled at the thought of food.
Witna rubbed at her nose. "But first - and not to be rude - you reek. We have a bathhouse nearby. You can clean up there, and I'll have someone wash those clothes of yours."
I put my hand to the back of my neck and turned with slight shame. "The ship we came had some nice tech but wasn't made for long-term living. See, we were stranded in it for some time, waiting for rescue that never came. We had to bite the bullet and choose to conserve the water for drinking instead of showering. Food and water eventually ran dry, and that situation eventually forced us here, but we intend to leave as soon as fate allows."
"I see. Even more reason to take my offer."
With so much unknown, I could never feel comfortable giving in to trust alone. For all I knew, that bathhouse could be a trap used to murder us while our pants are down, literally. Some species in the galaxy wouldn't hesitate to commit such an act. The question of the day, though, was would this species be one? Or are their intentions good? Up to this point, they haven't made a threating move towards us. So maybe these fishheads can be trusted.
"Your generosity has no limit, ma'am. I hope we can pay you back for it."
"We'll get to that. I just want to see to it that you are well taken care of. After you're done, we can meet for dinner. I'm sure there will be a lot to discuss on both ends." She smiled and waved me on. "Come now, I'll show you the way."
I tapped on the door to our barracks. Shadow-Walker opened. "Yo?"
"Grab our shivf. It's time to put our asses in motion."
"Righty." He closed the door and reemerged shortly with the rest of the squad and the gear we brought.
We followed Witna, who lead us through the door of the smaller wall surrounding the base.
As I stepped through, my eyes could now see the city she mentioned earlier, and I did not want to tear them away. It seems that base was just a tiny bug compared to the vastness this place offered. Towers, towers, and more towers stood tall, some taller than the bordering wall, and each was so close to each other that they were nearly hugging. Streets only made big enough for walking pathed all through the city, made of tiled-stone. Waterfalls flowed down so many of the city's buildings, which was only the beginning. More streams of water channeled down artificially created channels that spun through an entire network, and the streets had its share of water to dip your feet into.
So much water, I started to think, probably has something to do with these beings amphibian-like appearance.
As far as aesthetics go, the buildings seemed to be made of stone that consisted of tiny ridges along their surface, which seemed to make the water bounce away. Almost as if the water were repelled to the building like a bug to bug spray. Triangle-shaped, colorful tarps hung high in the sky, connected by wires to many of the buildings. With so many of them, most of the inner streets were shaded.
Most breathtaking of all, a beam every so often shot out from the center of the city into the sky and disappeared. It was a sight to marvel at and certainly something not often seen.
My squad behind me stepped past the gate and took notice as well.
"I must say, I'm surprised to see this much water," Valiic observed.
"It's to help us stay hydrated in the intense temperature. Our species doesn't do so well in direct sunlight for long periods of time," Witna admitted.
"All I know is that stone is out of this world," Frost hyped.
"If it's out of this world, how do they have it?" Shadow-Walker asked rhetorically, teasing Frost.
Witna explained, "We call it deepstone. It's found in underwater caverns and does not decay from water corrosion. Quite useful for us, of course."
"Cool and all for the exterior, but all that water on the interior just ain't my bag," said Frost.
"I agree, Frost. It isn't for me either," I added.
We strolled through a main street, behind Witna. Busy plazas full of shops, food stands, tents, trade stands, and local restaurants filled the edges of the streets. Some were tucked into the towers, and others were independent. This place was a genuine commercial boardwalk. Civilians and salesmen alike roamed free throughout. Essentially, this was an area for families and leisure for locals all around this planet and was especially vibrant with life today.
Brad jabbed my shoulder, and his visor directed my attention to a building we just passed. "My azz iz headed tah dat smithhouse."
"You don't want to get cleaned up?" I asked.
"My gear comez first. I'll catch up wit yah lata, Stonewall."
I glanced to Witna, who gave me a nod of approval. I turned back to him. "We'll keep you updated." On that, he split off from the group.
As we continued to walk through the boardwalk, we got our share of looks. None seemed to be of fear, but more of interest. Those who neared us showed with their expressions that we were malodourous. But that wasn't our fault.
We came to the bathhouse near the end of this main street. Chiseled with tile siding, this building was wide and at the bottom of a moderate sized tower.
Witna took us to the front desk after we entered. The man at the front asked, "How may I help you, Prime Keeper?" though his gaze was on my unit.
Witna waved to get his attention. "See that these guests to our planet are treated to a private wash room and that their attire is properly cleaned. It's all on me."
He didn't speak for a moment. "Uh, sure. I'll have someone show them to room four. It's vacant."
"Thanks."
The attendant gestured to the hallway behind him, and someone else appeared. Of course she was taken aback by our presence. However, Witna nodded to her, giving her assurance.
"Right this way, please," the employee said.
We followed her through a hallway to a room marked with a sign written in their native language. We entered behind her into a tiled room with stalls on each side and a bench in the middle. Water flowed from a few walls and emptied into a drain under the bench.
"Each changing station has a towel to cover yourself before entering the wash room, which is through the far glass door." She pointed. "Leave your clothes in the stations, and someone will be by to collect and wash them… if you can understand what I'm saying anyway." She mumbled that last part mostly to herself and left us to ourselves.
"Take your time, boys. Lord knows the grime stuck to our skin is no quick wash away," I said before heading to my station.
"See y'all uzzos in the tub." Frost chuckled as he entered another stall.
The stall was stone and tile, a close cousin in design to the material used to construct many of the structures here. I entered through a blurred glass door and noticed my towel neatly folded on a bench to my right. It was a two-part station, and I stepped over a small stone step into an empty space with a reflective mirror.
The light was dim, but I could see my filthy self well enough. And boy, did I look like horseshivf. My face bared smudges of dirt, mud, and blood; war's chaotic stew. My beard and hair, once a handsome orange, looked to have brown and black highlights and was clumped in random places.
First, I tossed my gear and weapons to the side. Then I pulled off the black tank top lent to me by Frost after my armor was destroyed on Idor. I tossed the shirt riddled with holes in the corner. Just like my face, my torso bore the same mess. I brushed some of the dried mud off the right side of my chest, revealing a circular scar the size of a coin. And I remember that exact moment my old man decided to use me as an ash tray for his cigar, forever leaving its mark. I turned a bit and was able to see a long scar going vertically down part of my back from the time my father pushed me into the side of a counter. Even though that bastard was dead, those scars were reminders of just how awful he was to me and my mom. A perk of my ace abilities was having no new scars, only the ones I received before I got my regenerative powers.
For a moment, I stood there, running my hand on the vertical scar. I was thinking up and down over my life up to this point. Maybe it was this place, maybe it was the reflection of my soul staring back at me through glass like a window. With all that has happened to me, I couldn't help feeling I've lived three lifetimes already.
Next, I shed my padded military pants. I followed that with my boots and boxers. Staring back at me was a soldier's body, decorated by war. Given that this was about to be my first complete dunk under water since our mission on Idor, I gave myself only one choice. I was going in that water with just the suit God graced me with.
Bare ass and all, I snatched up the towel and headed out to the water, towel wrapped around my waist.
I pushed through the glass and was welcomed to two separate containers of crystal-clear water. The bathing room was private, separated by dressed stone and a roof. Steam emitted straight up to the vents, and spring water poured into the baths.
Shadow-Walker and Frost were already in the same spring, on opposite sides.
"Still looking as shredded as ever, uzzo," Frost observed, with a quick laugh.
I tossed the towel to the edge of the water and jumped in without waiting. Now under the water, eyes closed, I took a moment to enjoy the magic. The water lifted all the shivf glued to me, and I felt like a heavy invisible weight was unstrapped from my back.
I can't imagine any water feeling better than this, I thought, it's like fraken angel tears.
My head emerged from the water, and I let in the lightest breath of air I'd had in weeks. I pushed the water from my hair, eyes, and beard.
"You good, uzzo?" I heard Frost ask. "After all the shivf we'd been through, I'd hate for you to drown."
I rubbed the last of the water from my eyes.
"Imagine that headline on his gravestone." Shadow had a laugh.
I inched over to the closet corner of the bath and rested my arms over both sides, letting myself relax.
"God's mercy, this is heaven's heaven," I said.
Valiic was the last to enter the water. He eased in, and the water nearly breached over the top due to his size.
"You look like a completely different dude without all that armor on," said Shadow-Walker.
"I feel much lighter, too." He gave half a smile. He was trying his best to hide it, but his eyes gave it away. He missed Narrisa, and every moment that he remained out of contact with her, he grew worse for wear. If this goes on too much longer, I fear for his state of mind.
"Speaking of maelkii armor, I've always wondered why you big, badass warriors still use what you use," said Frost.
"Armor has always been a traditional wear for a warrior. It's taxing and heavy, not just for durability, but for the resolve the armor gives your spirit. It forces your body to adapt and get stronger to bare it, producing better warriors."
"I get that, uzzo. Trust me, big dog, I understand the drive maelkii have. What I meant was, why not use forcidion to create armor instead of shields. Wouldn't it have made for better use that way?"
"Forcidion may be the most durable metal in the galaxy, but it's also one of the most dense and heaviest. Most don't realize that most maelkii shields used this day and age are not completely forcidion. Most shields use the alloy, durrinium, to make the core with forcidion layered over it. It would take melting down two or three shields to make a full set of armor which would be too heavy for maelkii to wear in the first place."
"Yours is like that, too?" I asked.
"My shield is pure forcidion, passed down in my family for generations. I was lucky."
"Maelkii are so cool, man. I wish dor'o had half the history and depth of your species." Shadow-Walker let out a few laughs.
"You're too harsh. Every species was given their own unique qualities and gifts. You'd never find a maelkii as athletic or agile as a dor'o."
"Or one who loves mountains as much," Frost chuckled.
Our conversations and state of relaxation continued through a few hours until we were ready to meet Witna for the meal she humbly offered.
⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕
Our attire had been cleaned and dried. They went as far as to stitch our tears back together. Brad was still off doing his lone wolf thing, but the rest of us entered into a fancy diner behind one of Witna's little helpers.
I was the first to push through the bejeweled beads of the main archway. The inside was par for the course in terms of material and the water atmosphere. Though the sources that water flowed from had been touched up by fancy's wand, and the walls and ceiling had been hand carved with designs. Artwork was a big part of the setting, too. Both of which took heavy inspiration of seas and oceans, capturing their natural beauty.
As we entered past the tables, I noticed each one was empty. After taking a longer look around, I came to realize Witna must be one influential fish. After all, it seems the place had been booked out with just us and her to fill the place.
Witna was at a long table, with her knees on a towel and sitting upright.
"What a terrible way to sit for a meal," Shadow-Walker whispered in my ear.
I took a knee at a towel placed next to a table which was waist high. By the expressions shared by my team, I wasn't the lone man with a distaste for this custom these people seem to have when it comes to eating. Witna could see our concern. "What's the matter?"
I picked a smile from my collection in an effort not to come off impolite. "I mean, not to come off as a rude redhead, but would you mind bringing out something to rest our asses on and a table with more height to compensate?"
"Oh… do you dislike our customs?" Her smile turned to concern.
Valiic stepped in. "Ma'am." He gestured to his thick, bulky legs and knees. "This is just not a comfortable position for someone of my stature and anatomy."
"I see. No problem." She waved her hand over to some waiters and whispered in their ears. The whole time, their interest stuck to us like cobbler's wax. Soon, the waiters brought a second and third table to stack over ours, raising the height. They carried in two benches from the outside of the restaurant and placed them to the sides of the tables. We all sat, and even Witna joined in.
"Sorry for the inconvenience," one waiter started. "Can I offer you all beverages or nourishment to start with?"
Witna looked to me. "Would you like a menu?"
Shadow jolted. "Nope. Get me some rum, I'm starving."
I was with Shadow on that. "Right now, there's one thing my taste bugs are begging for, and that one thing is beer. Do you have it?" I asked the waitress.
Her glazed face told me all she heard was folderol. She looked to Witna, who repeated my statement. She then responded, "We do."
"We'll take your best beer. And any appetizer will do. Just get some grub out here," I said politely. Witna translated.
"Coming right up." The waitress capered like had she just received delightful news.
"So… here we are. When we speak, you don't hear bunk, so where's the answers to follow those string of questions?" I asked.
She tipped her finger toward myself and Frost. "This isn't the first time we've been visited by your kind." She let her glance rest on Valiic, then Shadow-Walker. "But your two friends are new to me."
The news came as a bit of a surprise to me. "That can't be true." Though in my head, I thought, It's against the law to visit planets like this. So how is it others came before us? And how many? I couldn't tell her that, at the risk of word spreading.
"I assure you it happened. When they first arrived, they told me they were here for investigative purposes only."
"Investigating what?" Valiic adjusted himself in the bench.
"Something to do with strange energy in the Enchanted System - I believe those were the words used."
"Enchanted System," said Frost. "Is that where this planet is located?"
"It would make sense given what the lead researcher told me."
"Hold on, and excuse my ignorance, as astronomy was a subject that knocked me sound asleep. Where's the Enchanted System?" I asked.
"The closest known system to the center of the Milky Way Galaxy," Valiic answered. "The ARW hasn't mapped that much in the Enchanted System. For reference, the omelic home planet of Omulice is within the Enchanted System. If I had to make a guess, this planet must be deeper towards the center of the galaxy." Valiic interest rose as he turned back to Witnamerrys.
If all this is true, then that would explain why she can understand us. Whoever came first must've brought render chips, and she must have one. Because some of the others couldn't understand my words, there mustn't have been enough render chips to go around.
The waitress returned with drinks and two plates full of bite-sized fish and a thick red sauce. I took a sip of the bubbly and slightly bitter brew and enjoyed the hell out of it. The fish dipped in the sauce slid down my throat just as pleasantly. And it seemed my crew was just happy to have real food and drinks grace their stomachs after so long.
Before leaving, Witna whispered in the waitress's ear and sent her off.
Frost cleared his throat. "I might've an answer to all this. In 2095, the Order of Aegis launched an exploration project called Project Outreach in an attempt to set up research colonies on inhabitable planets within the Enchanted System. From what I remember hearing, it was due to strange energy detected around this system. Kalvin thought it worth the time to start studying this energy."
"What happened?"
"In most cases, Project Outreach succeeded in further mapping out the galaxy, just not so much with the energy. In some cases, ships never returned. This must've been the case here. Unfortunately, before Kalvin could put more resources into Project Outreach, the Wersillian War began to take shape, and the project was put on hold. That's all my egghead can remember about it, anyway."
"Sounds to me like just some more Order of Aegis bullshivf," I sighed.
Frost gazed at Witna. "Do you know what happened to our people?"
"The same fate that falls on anyone who goes to the Blood Forest."
"Blood Forest?" Shadow shivered.
"Officially, our ancestors named the forest Qurangmaar, and it's the forest you saw when you landed outside our Treasured City."
"Yeah, about that. In what sinister, hellish factory did those crazy machines come from?" I asked.
"They are the reason we have walls separating that side of the city from that forest. And there are many of them, called shjarrs. You had a peek yourself when you landed, but those were just the simple ones. From the legends, some can take out an army. As luck had it, our ocean-rivers seem to hurt and kill them, so they won't ever venture into the water. Your people… they did not listen to our stories…said they wanted to study the strange energy in the Blood Forest."
"Why?" Valiic threw two fish down his throat at the same time.
"According to them, it was strongest up there."
"Guessing that their stupidity led to disastrous results," I said but figured I knew the answer.
"All of them were slain by the monsters of the forest… all except one." She held a doleful mien.
"One?" Valiic held up his finger. "What happened to the one left?"
"He stayed on this planet."
"Why would anyone want to stay here?" Shadow-Walker bumped me in the shoulder. He glanced quickly at Witna. "No disrespect to your planet, of course. I'm just saying, why not want to be with your own?"
"None taken," Witnamerrys shrugged. Her eyes looked past us, and she waved. We looked back, and through the doorway stepped a human! "Why don't you meet him yourself?"
The man found his way to the edge of our table. He was male, dirt-brown hair and wearing near circular glasses. Lean build and not much in the height department. Dressed in the holy cloth, he looked to be pastor.
"Pleased to meet you bunch. I go by Jeremiah, servant of the lord and savior."
"Biblical name for a biblical man," I observed. "I'm James Stone, captain of this unit."
"James is a biblical name just as mine," he winked.
"Is it?"
"Haven't read the holy book, have you?"
"No. But that thick book isn't exactly a page turner," I joked. Jeremiah was kind enough to join in my laughter.
"In fact, as many as six different men in the Bible are named James. Jesus, our savior, even had two apostles named James: James, the son of Zebedee, and James, the son of Alphaeus."
Valiic jumped in. "Have you ever read the Book of Ancient Prophets?"
"It was a spiritual journey, I found. I took a particular interest in the story of Raylic the Bright, son of Juuklon. Raylic, warrior of light, inscribed life and death, light and darkness, hope and despair. The divide was created, and on that day, the sons and daughters of twilight were let free to roam the world, free. Joanmurla 202:34-35."
"It is on thou self to seek the truth of the universe and achieve enlightenment, Obitan 6:20. You know your verses," Valiic held a joyous smile.
"I can see you are a man of wisdom," Jeremiah complimented.
Valiic nodded graciously. "And you as well."
"I hate to interrupt whatever it is that is going on here, but what are you doing here, Jeremiah?" Shadow-Walker asked.
"Only what I was created to do - preach to all that will listen," he replied.
"Frivolous work, if you ask me," I added.
"James. What the man does isn't a journey taken by the weak of heart," Valiic countered.
I held up my hands with apologetic intent.
"It's a thankless task," Frost said to Jeremiah. "I don't envy you, uzzo."
Jeremiah blinked at that word, not seeming to catch the meaning. Hell, it wasn't long ago that I learned what I meant. But who can keep up with the crazy slang kids use today?
Witna tipped up her hand. "I'm sure you will have plenty of time to chat later. I brought him here for a reason." She let out a breath. "Our planet will have a problem in the near future. And we need some way to face it."
"What problem?" Valiic asked.
"A monster of the forest will bring destruction to this planet, or so it has been foretold. We believe the problem will be brought on by a very deadly shjarr from the Blood Forest. And if this city falls, this planet falls!"
We stared at her in silence.
She continued. "A tower of ancient origin lies in the city. You saw those beams from earlier blasting into the sky?"
We nodded.
"It came from that tower - its purpose is to control our planet's weather. And thus, if no prime hand is alive and present to operate the tower, our planet's weather will be uncontrollable… disasters after disasters. For centuries we have defended this tower, even when the shjarrs started to show up decades ago."
"So what does that have to do with us?" Shadow asked.
"Simple. You want to leave this planet. We have the means to send out a long distance communication to your allies. But we need you to retrieve a weapon to use against the shjarr monster predicted to wipe us out."
"One hand washes the other, then." I nodded.
"Exactly," Witna said.
"So where and how do we get this great weapon?"
"The weapon lies in a cavern not made by corelinns. But a bit of a warning. That cave will be dangerous, and you will face challenges like you never have before, and it's guarded by shjarrs."
"Fantastic." Shadow rolled his eyes.
"But that's why I brought Jeremiah here. He is informed and will help your achieve your goal. He will guide you in the cave--"
I interrupted. "Look, I'm not married to the idea of charging headfirst into a cave of dangers without any sort of light to guide our way, but you seriously think Jeremiah can be that light? You really think it's a good idea to take a priest with no battle experience into such a place?"
"He is the best guide you can ask for. I insist you take him."
I was ill at ease with this proposal. Though I felt I had little choice in the matter. "Very well. You've got a deal. We'll scoop up this weapon for you, kill the monster, and in turn you provide us a means to contact rescue." I stood up, slouched a bit over the table, and reached across, holding out my hand. She stared at my hand with an etched face.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Jeremiah reassured her with his gentle face. "It's a common custom to shake hands when a deal is struck."
"Interesting." She extended hers to meet mine. Her hand was rather wet and cold, with a sticky feel and webbing between her fingers. The handshake was made, and we sat down. Just then, the waitress returned with a crew, and they served up the main course hidden under squared, blurred-glass containers surrounded by decorations.
"Now that we are done with the important matters, I figured we could enjoy a meal before your big task. Jeremiah will have all the details, and we'll have transportation waiting for you at first light the day after tomorrow. Until that time, I will allow you to stay in a guest house. Help yourself in any way to prepare for the journey. It's all on me."
We applauded her generosity. The servers took that as an opportunity to wheel the food closer, and the smell snatched control of my nose in an instant. And I wasn't the only one who was swept away by the aroma. I could feel the water building in my mouth.
There was much more than we expected: Grilled trout fresh from a river, butter and honey and Bammberry preserves, a rasher of tender meat strips layered with fat and soft-boiled eggs as large as my fist, a few wedges of cheese, and a pot of thick sauce.
The hot food warmed my belly and lifted my spirits, as it did for the others. Our dinner continued with conversations of the light-hearted variety all the way through dessert. It had been a long time since we felt this good and light of stress.