AKLESH (Under Strange Skies) (12 page)

“Has it sent a reply back?” asked the terse man in blue. The rest of the people in the room kept futzing with buttons and pads while still staring at Kai, who was not enjoying being referred to as an ‘it.’ He instinctively did not like the man in blue who stared at him with distain.

“Nothing,” said the blond man.

“Maybe we should take this subject to examination earlier than scheduled,” Professor Hess mused to the man in blue. “It is younger than our previous captures, perhaps upon dissection…“

“I’d rather keep him here for further study,” said Jenna, interrupting. Activity in the room stopped. All eyes were on her, which she didn’t like. Her palms were sweating so she clasped her hands behind her back and tried to sound official.

“Genetic testing has shown that these two subjects H12 and H24 are related…”

“Only distantly,” said the blond scientist dismissively.

“Still, all the other species on this planet that we’ve examined have strong telepathic ties among family groups. Especially the mammals. These are our first humanoid subjects to be related in any way. I’d like to wait a little while longer and see if they attempt communication before anything more invasive is done.” She was improvising hard.

“It would be pointless,” said the third scientist, a man with red patches that speckled his skin.

The man in the blue uniform and Professor Hess seemed to mull the request over.

“Time is of the essence,” Jenna added hastily. She then indicated the other cell where the weaker tribesman was laying. “We’re going to lose subject H12 soon and then we might never know.”

The man in blue turned his attention to the professor, who had his hand over his mouth, deep in the thought. After a moment the professor nodded and walked out of the room.

“Permission granted. You have 24 hours,” said the man in blue curtly. He then stepped in towards the young doctor, leaning his body into her personal space, which made her visibly cower a bit. He liked to intimidate her. “Don’t do anything foolish,” he added, then winked at her with a malicious grin. For Jenna it was the most terrifying thing he could have possibly done and made her blood run cold. He turned on his heels and walked away. The other scientists trickled out slowly, not seeing the subtleness of what had transpired between the two of them. Kai was the only other being there to witness it, and although he didn’t quite understand the motion, he understood its intent.

While the door was still open Kai could hear out in the hallway the sounds of captive animals. Their cries of anguish were unmistakable.

After a few moments the door closed and it was just himself, Jenna and the other captive she’d referred to as H12.

She was visibly rattled and uncomfortable.

Her discomfort didn’t matter to him all that much but he waited until she was able to pull herself back together. Kai knew he was in danger.

“Can you get me out?” asked Kai. It wasn’t the first time he’d made the request.

“I don’t know,” she said, irritated and at war with herself. “I just don’t know if it’s possible, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t belong here,” he pleaded. “And my people will come for me.”

She threw herself down onto a metal chair and let out an exasperated laugh. “Your people won’t be able to get onto this ship. I’m sorry, Kai, you’re friends are probably great hunters and warriors, but, they’re out-gunned. Look, I’ve bought you some time. Maybe…”

She walked to the metal door and opened it, then looked back at Kai, helpless in the sterile white cell.

“This is how it plays out, Kai. If you are kept here, you’ll eventually be killed. If I set you free and they discover I did it, I’m as good as dead and perhaps my family as well. I don’t know why or how it happened, but it would have just been better if you had never spoken.”

“Then why
are
you helping me?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she repeated. She kept repeating this phrase and every time it made her feel more helpless. Jenna had never been a person of action or really able to defy anyone she found intimidating. She was weak-willed and knew it.

Even though she was free to move around, she was as much a prisoner as Kai.

Jenna sighed once more and walked out, not sure what to do and hating herself for it.

***

Gar found himself traveling with the Aklesh warriors on the path to battle. As they rode along, he thought about the figurative road that had brought him to that moment.

Once he had located Kai, two of the search parties had been called back and the third had been sent ahead to the location so they could scout the area. The process of passing on instructions to the different groups had been impressive for Gar to witness. First, three of the Aklesh who had a joined partner in each of the search parties were summoned to the High Mother. She then gave them verbal commands to send out. Next, each one stood on the balcony on top of the keep where Gar himself had stood to locate Kai. They stared out over the landscape and ‘reached’ till they located their partners or family members among the search parties and imparted the information.

No technical gadgetry or sophisticated equipment was required, simply the power of the mind.

After that, the Elders had been brought together and a course of action prepared. It hadn’t taken long for them to decide what must be done.

Their people were being kidnapped and killed. It was a threat to their existence, their way of life, and it had to be dealt with. Among the tribal leaders the verdict was quick and unanimous.

It was at this point that Gar was brought again before the council. It was in the smaller hut where he had been taken after he’d found out Kai was kidnapped.

This time there were no shouting throngs and tribesman

with

preconceived

notions

and

accusations. The only thing that hadn’t changed was where he stood with these people, which was made abundantly clear the moment they addressed him.

“You say you are not one of the Others and that you mean us no harm. You said you would do whatever it took to help us be rid of these murderers.”

This

came

from

the

thin

councilwoman who spoke for the group. “Now is your chance to prove yourself. Do this and your protection by our people is secured.” Of course he had to agree, he had no choice.

So, after a night of preparation he was riding in a wooden cart, full of weapons, being pulled by a huge, furry animal that smelled appalling.

Surrounding them as they made their way through the forest were 30 or so warriors armed to the teeth with spears, bows and leather shields.

The warriors were made up of both men and women, strong and tall with determination on the faces. They wore leather helmets and chest plates.

All of this was decorated with the white fur that covered the large creatures pulling the carts full of weapons. The warriors not on foot rode four legged creatures with long, graceful necks. These animals had white fur as well, which was short, except for their clawed hooves where the fur and skin turned a pale blue. The lean animals served as steeds. Judging by the musculature on the haunches of the animals, they were probably very fast on open land.

The regiment was ready for battle against an enemy they knew nothing about. They were on their way to save Kai and had no idea what they were up against. That was the reason they had wanted Gar to come along. The young prince was the only person on their planet who knew about what the Sky Tribes were capable of.

Even though he was the only source of information regarding the outsiders, at that point not many people were willing to listen to anything he had to say.

The Healer, who had been riding with him, laid the current situation out.

“We have been able to locate our people before, but when we have arrived at the sight, there has been nothing there. It cannot be explained.”

“I think I know why,” said Gar, as they bounced along a road that was really more like a well-worn path. “Sky Tribe ships can hide themselves. We call it ‘cloaking.’” The fact that there were even people from Orestus, or wherever these galactic poachers came from, on this planet bothered him. Protectorate codes were restricted.

This meant someone very high up on the food chain was allowing them access. It also meant that who ever it was they were dealing with probably didn’t want any hassles and would be prepared for a fight. The notion was troubling. It was likely they were marching straight into a trap.

“I don’t know what kind of ship it is, but if it is armed, I’m not sure how much of a chance your people will have against it. Has contact with those captured not been helpful before?”

“No,” said the Healer, sadly. “Those that are joined to them do not understand any images they receive. That is why we need you. If Kai can communicate with you t hen you might be able to explain what we are dealing with.”

“But I haven’t been able to find Kai again,” admitted Gar. He had been trying, but after his initial reach, there had been no further contact between the two of them.

It had taken some time, but Gar had figured out why he had been able to reach the young tribesman in the first place. The reason was a little embarrassing. His resentment for Kai had been so great he had ignored the fact that the native was very attractive physically. He just hadn’t imagined finding something he found appealing among such a primitive culture. His own mind was in conflict over these contradicting urges.

Although awkward, he had used his new knowledge about his attraction to Kai in his further

‘reaches,’ but all attempts had been failures. It was as if he was being locked out on purpose.

It was ironic that the one time he had silence in his mind, while being stuck on the protectorate, was the one time it had been imperative to have contact with Kai.

“I’m sure when the time is right, you will find each other again,” encouraged the Healer.

They sat quiet for a moment as the procession made its way. As he understood it, the warriors would not get there till nightfall. It was only midday. There were still many miles ahead of them.

They were to rendezvous with Vol’s hunting group, who were already in position. At that point a plan of attack would be worked out.

After a long period of silence, the Healer spoke again. “There is something you must know, young prince. The connection you hold with Kai is now a danger to you.”

“Danger?” Gar asked suspiciously. “No one mentioned this before…”

“One of the reasons we have not had much success in locating these others is that they are torturing those they capture. The result is catastrophic to their partners.”

“Joined people can feel each other’s pain?” asked Gar, feeling very apprehensive. He did not relish the idea of being tortured and not being able to do anything about it. He hoped a way to separate the two of them would reveal itself soon.

“No,” said the healer. “Not physical pain.

But, these sky tribesman haven’t been torturing the bodies so much as they have the minds of those they capture. We don’t know why. This is pain the partners feel acutely. It is excruciating and has driven some to madness, others…” She would not finish the sentence. The result seemed more gruesome than she could describe and Gar was grateful to be left in the dark about its particulars.

Yet, he was nervous and rightly so. It was now apparent that saving Kai also meant saving himself. Guilt swelled in his stomach. Had he not held such bitter feelings against Kai, the young tribesman might not have run away. To some, it could all be viewed as his fault. If they got him back, he would have to deal with those emotions.

It was a prospect that held no joy for him. He had a hard enough time dealing with what he felt when it was only himself he had to answer to.

“Is there anything I can do to protect myself?” he asked.

The Healer shook her head.

“This is why we need to get Kai out as soon as possible and also why these others must be driven back to the skies.”

Gar was conflicted. There had been a secret notion in his head for some time that if he could somehow get aboard the ship, he could get home. It was selfish idea, but it might also be his only chance.

Was this alien tribe that no one cared about more important than the safe return of a galactic prince?

Two days ago it wouldn’t have even been a question for him.

Now he was unsure.

***

Kai knew Gar was trying to reach to him, so he had shut his mind.

Something like that wasn’t easy to do. He brought himself into a trance-like state and wiped his mind of anything specific, erasing his mental identity. It felt sort of like dreaming. He was able to maintain this state quite well until the moaning began.

Kai’s neighbor in the next cell had been making more and more noise over the past few hours. His breathing had become strained and weak. Kai had tried to speak with him a couple of times, but there had been no response. It was obvious the one called H12 was in great pain.

There had been scientists coming in and out of the small lab on a regular basis. The one who had been notably absent was Jenna. She had been doing her best to avoid the lab. After some time had passed, she came in but wouldn’t look directly at Kai. Her anguish was palpable. Despite being her unwilling captive, the young native began to feel pity for her.