Cries of the Wolf

by C. S. Harte

  “The First League called the combined enemy, The Defiled. Even though the First League won their war against The Defiled, they spent much of their resources which made them weak when the Mimics invaded. The Katoks believed the Mimics wiped out the Voidi and every other species that existed at that time, but now it seems the Voidi was working with the Mimics in secret.”

  Meomi remained quiet as she digested the information.

  Whisper initiated repairs on one of the Centurias droids. “Only one of these droids is worth fixing. The others are too far gone. If there are no objections, I'd like to take this droid with Inoke and me to complete Khoan’s mission. And rescue him if I can.”

  “Take the droid and Inoke? We’re going with you, aren’t we?” Meomi furrowed her brow.

  “Well, that’s up to you.” Whisper shrugged. “I prefer to work on missions with people I know, and you have a solider that needs time to mend. You might want to lick your wounds and head back to your ship," she said with an edge. "There’s a Fleet outpost two systems over which your shuttle should be able to reach.”

  Lick your wounds. The words were like coal in Meomi’s raging furnace. The space marine part of Meomi never ran from a fight. She glanced at Rayfin.

  He nodded at her. “I’m fine. Doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

  “We’re going with you,” said Meomi in an imposing voice. “Those bastards killed our crewmates. This is our fight more than yours now.” She had to help Thorne. He was willing to sacrifice himself without hesitation.

  “Let me be clear.” Whisper locked eyes with Meomi. “This mission isn’t about destroying the base. It’s about intelligence gathering. Everything else is secondary. Do you understand the stakes involved?”

  Rayfin risked his life by stepping in the crossfire of death stares between the two female warriors. “Can we agree that the secondary objective of killing the aliens is a high priority secondary?”

  Whisper stared at him with her eyebrows raised. The tension drained from her face. “I still think it’s best you two go back to your ship. I'm not responsible for you if you come.”

  “We’re coming with you." Meomi returned her helmet to her head. "You’ll have to shoot us if you don’t want that."

  Rayfin shook his head at Meomi. "Don't say that…" he said through the side of his lips.

  Whisper smirked.

  "I’ll make the same deal I made with Thorne,” she gazed into Whisper’s eyes. “This will be your mission, and we’ll follow your orders, but that bastard Obik needs to die.” Meomi picked up her rifle from the ground. “Always forward.”

  12

  Whisper and Inoke took point as the team advanced toward the volcano.

  Meomi kept a close eye on Rayfin who walked with a limp in front of her. Seeing his pain as he walked, she wondered if she made the right choice in continuing the mission with his injuries. His life was her responsibility. If Whisper and Thorne were to be believed, the stakes of the mission were for the future of humanity. Still, a voice in Meomi’s head urged her forward. It couldn’t be a coincidence she visited this planet once before with the help of the alien artifact.

  The sun started to set. Temperatures outside the Tempest suit dropped to a more manageable 308 Kelvins. The team had been moving at a sluggish pace dealing with Rayfin’s injuries and the dense jungle foliage. As they neared the billowing volcano, vegetation began to thin. In the distance, they spotted a quaint, country village. Stone homes with little chimneys. Wide-open fields with grain crops. Well-trodden dirt paths.

  “Do you guys see what I’m seeing?” Meomi asked the group.

  “I haven’t seen homes like that since I took a medieval history course,” Rayfin said.

  “You don’t think there’s any way humans could live on this planet?” Meomi wrinkled her forehead. “With the Voidi and the Mimics?”

  Whisper scoffed. “Nothing surprises me anymore.”

  Inoke stopped suddenly and ran toward Whisper.

  “What’s wrong?” Whisper asked.

  “I can’t sense him anymore. His voice is gone.” He took Whisper’s hand. “Something is wrong.”

  “Whose voice?” Meomi asked. “Thorne?”

  “No.” Inoke pointed toward their shuttles. “Valric. He is no longer speaking to me.”

  “What do you think that means?” Rayfin asked.

  “Nothing good,” Whisper replied.

  Rayfin coughed. “I’m starting to have doubts about whether we should continue.”

  “You can turn back anytime.” Whisper shrugged.

  Meomi glanced at Rayfin.

  “I’m following you, Captain.” He coughed again. “I’m not leaving your side.”

  Things were simpler for Meomi as a grunt. Point and shoot. Don’t think. Thinking will get you killed. The decision wasn't simple for Meomi even if there were only two choices; turn back to protect Rayfin or continue the mission and possibly expose the corruption within Fleet to save all of humanity. The latter was far from a guarantee. If only she knew the outcome ahead of time. “How are you feeling now, Ray?”

  “Never better.” He puffed his chest.

  A lie. Meomi knew it. Rayfin’s injuries were more severe than she realized for him to lie. With Inoke losing contact with Valric, it could mean the ships were attacked, and Valric killed. The only path left to take was the path forward. “Maybe the village has a doctor.”

  “Let’s not waste daylight then.” Whisper continued the march.

  After a short time, they reached the farmlands in front of the village.

  Meomi grabbed a bushel of a crop. “This looks like wheat.” She crossed to the next field. “Over here is maize.”

  “I don’t know what’s weirder. Being attacked by squid-faced aliens with rock hard skin or finding Earth crops on a previously uninhabitable planet,” Rayfin said.

  “From my experience, I would wait for more options before deciding,” Whisper said.

  “We are being watched.” Inoke stared at the town.

  Rayfin and Meomi armed their weapons and took cover.

  “Is it the Voidi again?” Meomi asked.

  “It doesn’t appear so,” Inoke said. “The voices speak English. They are more curious than angry.”

  “Stay here.” Whisper streaked away leaving a blur of red light trailing behind.

  The team waited in silence for 15 minutes.

  “Let’s give her another minute. If she doesn’t respond, we’ll go in after her,” Meomi said.

  “Come to the center of town. It’s safe,” Whisper said over suit comm.

  “What do you think?” Meomi asked Rayfin.

  He shrugged. “She has a different definition of safe compared to most.”

  Meomi took point as she led Inoke and Rayfin through the ancient, cobblestone village with homes made of bricks, asymmetrical windows, and wood plank roofs.

  “Did we somehow get sent back in time?” Rayfin asked.

  “I’ve only seen homes like this in history books,” Meomi said.

  A little girl waved at them before her mother dragged her back into the house.

  “It doesn’t seem like we’re welcome here,” Rayfin said.

  “Fear is present in the minds of the entire village,” Inoke said.

  “Of us?” Meomi asked.

  “Unclear,” Inoke answered. “They fear many things. It is hard to separate their thoughts.”

  They made it to the town center. Whisper stood next to an elderly man, listening attentively as he talked. “Everyone, meet Arlen. He’s the village elder and speaks for this community. Arlen, these are my friends I’ve told you about.”

  Arlen beamed a smile. “Greetings, greetings.”

  “Hello.” Meomi and the others removed their helmets as they greeted him.

  “Arlen, can you repeat to them what you told me?”

  “Yes, yes. Of course.” He took both Meomi’s hands in his. “Welcome to Antel.”

  “I’m going to do a little scouting.
Wait here 'til I get back,” Whisper said. “Arlen, I’ll see you later.”

  He nodded and waved. “You are the first new human faces we’ve seen in such a long time.” Arlen smiled. “We’re delighted to have you here.”

  “If you don’t mind us asking, how did you get here?” Meomi said.

  “We arrived here the way any other person would,” Arlen closed his eyes and held his hand over his chest. “We had purity of faith in our hearts.”

  Rayfin narrowed his eyes. “Come again?”

  “Are you not aware?” Arlen opened his arms. “We are in the Aurae. The Afterlife.”

  Meomi’s mouth dropped. Her hand shook as a thousand thoughts sped through her mind. The strange events that started when they fell into the ice canyon of Nocia. Wet chills licked the back of her neck. Perhaps Laurine wasn’t the one who died. Maybe it was she and Rayfin who didn’t survive the fall. The mysterious black cube. How else could it disappear and reappear at will, teleporting people from place to place?

  “Wait, that can’t be.” Rayfin eyes opened wide. “Inoke, are you dead?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think so.”

  “But this doesn’t make sense. I almost died when the squid-faced aliens attacked me.” Rayfin tilted his head. “Can you die again after you die?”

  “Squid-faced aliens…” Arlen rubbed his chin. “You mean the Masters?”

  “Tall, gray creatures with glowing red skull caps and a passion for body mutilation,” Rayfin said.

  “Yes, yes.” Arlen bobbed his head excitedly. “The Masters! Praise the Guardians of our light!” He repeatedly tapped Rayfin’s shoulders. “You saw them! You have been very much blessed. The Great Gift will be bestowed upon you!”

  “OK, then...” Rayfin took a step back.

  “Arlen,” Meomi said.

  “Yes?” He smiled.

  “The young children in your village. Were they born here?”

  “Of course they were. All of them, blessed gifts from the divine Guardians.”

  “Can you tell me in more detail how you got here?” Meomi asked.

  “I was a small child when the light first came calling for the true believers.” Arlen made a large circle with his hands then pointed to the sun. “Our city was the most pious and deserving among the Hashan Faith. I still remember to this day, the feeling of warmth on my skin as Lord Hasha took me into his love.”

  “On the day you entered the light, do you remember seeing a black metal cube about this big?” Meomi demonstrated with her arms.

  “No, there was no such object as I can recall.”

  The sound of bells ringing echoed through the village.

  “It is time for evening prayer,” Arlen said.

  Villagers filed out of their homes and headed for the church in the northern part of town.

  “Please.” Arlen motioned to follow him. “Come join us and meet the rest of the community. I’m sure it would delight them to meet new people who are also pure of faith.”

  “I don’t know, Captain,” Rayfin said.

  Inoke shook his head. “Whisper said to stay here.”

  “Is there a doctor in the village?” Meomi asked.

  Arlen's eyes grew bright. “We have many adept in the healing arts.”

  “Will they be at evening prayer?” Meomi asked.

  “Yes, yes. Of course. Everyone will be there.”

  “We should have them take a look at you.” Meomi nudged Rayfin.

  “Captain, I’m fine. Do you really think these people have advanced medicine or technology here?”

  “Weirder things have happened.” Meomi shrugged. “This planet is proof of that.”

  “I can’t really argue there…” Rayfin sighed. “I still don’t want to go.”

  “We just want to see your doctors,” Meomi said to Arlen.

  “Yes, yes. Whatever you need. He will be there in attendance.” He gestured again for everyone to follow him.

  The team followed Arlen to the church which was the most modern looking building in the village. Inside, the vaulted ceiling had a mural depicting the birth of Hasha from the womb of a comet that crashed on Earth centuries ago.

  “Dorian!” Arlen yelled to a group of middle-aged men.

  A bald, unassuming man came over. “Yes, Elder?”

  “Dorian, meet Meomi and her friends. They are our special guests this evening. The light of this man has been touched by the Masters. Please take care of them and tend to their injuries.”

  A wide smile appeared on Dorian’s face. “I live to serve, Elder.”

  Meomi returned an uneasy smile.

  “Come with me, Blessed One,” Dorian said to Rayfin. “Allow me the honor of looking at your injuries.”

  “Honor? I’m OK. I'd rather be in pain…” Rayfin looked at Meomi as if begging for help.

  “Just go.” She pushed him.

  Rayfin slumped his shoulders and followed Dorian.

  Meomi and Inoke sat in the black pews at the rear of the church.

  The townspeople took up every seat, sitting in complete silence as Arlen took the podium.

  Meomi felt unnerved by the quiet. Since she entered the building, she had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. The way Dorian smiled at her made her skin crawl, but she wasn’t sure why. “Maybe we should leave,” she said to Inoke.

  “I sense ill intentions,” Inoke said.

  “Hail Hasha!” Arlen started the ceremony.

  “Hail Hasha!” echoed the churchgoers.

  Meomi tried to open the doors.

  Locked.

  She clenched her jaw. A sour taste filled her mouth.

  “My fellow Hashans, true children of our Lord Hasha. We have very special guests here today. These blessed souls have had their hearts touched by the Masters!”

  Murmurs sprung from the crowd.

  “Dorian, please bring forth one of the chosen.” Arlen opened his arms as if preparing for a hug.

  Meomi watched as two men dragged an unconscious Rayfin onto the altar. They stripped him of his Tempest suit.

  “Hasha. Hasha. Hasha,” chanted the patrons. Their voices turned into a low rumble as the chants deepened.

  Arlen picked up a dagger from a nearby table and held it over Rayfin’s chest. “This man’s faith has been weighed. Lord Hasha will judge if his soul is found wanting.”

  “Hasha. Hasha. Hasha.” The chanting took on a sinister quality to Meomi’s ears.

  Six men with short swords rose from the crowd, surrounding Meomi and Inoke.

  “Hasha. Hasha. Hasha.” The collective voices felt like cuts to Meomi’s skin.

  “Hasha. Hasha. Hasha.”

  13

  Meomi reached for her rifle, but it wasn’t there. She had forgotten the Voidi took their weapons. “Why are you doing this?” She yelled over the chanting.

  “Please, your friend has been marked by the Masters,” said Dorian in a raised voice. “This is a gift. It is a blessing. His soul will forever join Hasha in the Kingdom of Aurae. You should be happy for him!”

  The villagers continued their ominous chanting.

  Inoke hid his face behind Meomi.

  “If you don’t get out of my way in the next five seconds, Rayfin won’t be the only person joining Hasha in the Kingdom of Aurae!” Meomi removed her hand cannon from her thigh compartment.

  “Do what your conscious wills you to do,” Dorian said.

  Meomi fired a shot into the air.

  All the men surrounding Meomi rushed at her, knocking her down, wrestling the pistol away from her grip.

  The other churchgoers stopped their chanting. Some ran out of the side exits.

  Arlen went on with his ceremony, inching the blade closer to Rayfin’s heart while muttering something in another language.

  “Get off me!” Meomi slammed the head of one of her attackers into the wall.

  “Hold her down,” yelled Dorian from above the fray. “She is not a true believer of Hasha.”

  “E
veryone here is crazy!” Meomi screamed.

  A villager armed with a sword tried to grab Inoke but instantly dropped to the floor unconscious as soon as he touched Inoke’s arm.

  Red spheres rolled on the floor next to Meomi.

  “Whisper… Finally…” Captain Hana held her breath as a crimson fog displaced the air in the church.

  Successive plopping sounds filled the room as all the villagers that remained collapsed to the ground.

  Meomi felt drowsy despite her best efforts to hold her breath.

  Whisper slipped a gas mask on Meomi and the other team members. “Are you OK? We should leave through the back. Rayfin’s exo suit is in the storage room.”

  Centuria-1 carried Rayfin and his Tempest suit while the others made their escape out of Antel. They stopped at a stream to catch their breath after running twenty minutes straight north toward the volcano.

  “We should be safe to rest here,” Whisper said. “I don’t see anyone following.” She rubbed Inoke’s hair. “Do you sense anyone close to us?”

  He shook his head.

  Meomi filled her canteen with water. The bottom glowed with a bright green light indicating the water was free of harmful pathogens and contaminants. She offered the first sip to Inoke who gulped most of the liquid in the container.

  “Thank you,” he returned the canteen without looking at Meomi. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” she asked with her eyebrows raised.

  “I didn’t sense the ill intentions of the villagers sooner.” He slumped his shoulders.

  “From what I gathered, they really believed they were doing the right thing for them and for us.” Meomi patted his back. “It’s partially my fault too. I let my guard down because they seemed harmless and helpful.”

  Rayfin covered his eyes as he woke. “My head… Why do I feel like I’ve been drugged?”

  “Because you were.” Meomi refilled the canteen and held it for him as he drank. “What do you remember?”

  “That Dorian guy. He gave me some tea and said it would help with the healing and purification. I guess I should’ve asked him to clarify what I was being purified for.” His face turned green as he drank the water. “Ugh, I’m really nauseous all of a sudden.” His body convulsed. He quickly covered his mouth and crawled on his hands and knees into the shrubbery behind him.