Black Jaquar

by Vijaya Schartz

  “Really? Where?” The tall woman's voice still challenged her.

  Talina ran her fingers over the small, regular symbols carved into the wall, a mix of geometric shapes and straight lines. Writing... but not the familiar runes of the clan. “In the sacred cave, on the relics the Star People gave us for protection.”

  That's when Talina realized the people in this cave were all young women of the Chosen, hundreds of them, from different villages.

  “Are we in the home of the Star People?” Awe filled the girl's voice.

  That would explain their strange surroundings, but Talina wondered... “Why would the Star People take us in such a frightening way?”

  “It's all your fault.” Fear rather than anger choked the tall woman's words. “Because you broke the rule.”

  “Possibly, but I doubt it.” Talina remembered Black Jaguar's words. What if the Star People had hidden intentions and used the Chosen for selfish ends?

  “The Star People live among the stars.” The girl's voice cracked. “Is that where we are?”

  A subtle flow of air made Talina turn when a portion of the wall retracted, opening a large, triangular passage.

  A few women cried out in fright and stepped back when a tall, almost skeletal person entered, walking with a bouncy gait. The wall closed behind him. Or was it a she? Even through the gleaming blue suit that clung to the skinny body, Talina couldn't tell.

  The gaunt being standing in front of her didn't wear the usual iridescent robes. The neck looked dangerously skinny, and pale irises filled the eye sockets instead of the solid black, but there was no mistaking the odd, bulbous, elongated shape of the bald head, or the long, skinny fingers. This was one of the Star People.

  The first women to recognize their visitor fell to their knees. Others sat on the floor and started chanting to honor the exalted nature of their captors.

  “Why did you take us without warning?” Broadcasting to all present, Talina realized how insolent her direct question might seem to the Chosen.

  The Star person bowed slightly, acknowledging her. “All of you have been chosen to serve us. It is a rare privilege, a considerable honor. You should feel proud.”

  Talina resented being told how to feel. Whatever service the Star People wanted did not justify the fright these women had gone through. “What do you want with us?”

  “We want you to carry our offspring. You will be the mothers of a superior race, with your body strength and our higher intelligence and knowledge. They will develop as a new race to rule and populate your entire planet.”

  “Our planet is already populated. What will happen to the present Human tribes?” Talina worried about Black Jaguar, his warriors, his family.

  “They will submit and serve the new, superior race, or die.” No emotion showed in the Star Person's face.

  “I am not a Chosen anymore. I was banished.” Talina had just bonded with Black Jaguar for life. She wasn't about to accept a Star lover, even less carry an alien child who might annihilate all the other tribes on her planet.

  The Star person took a short intake of breath. “Those of you who do not appreciate the immense honor we offer them shall be removed from the New Generation Project.”

  Anger churned in Talina's belly. Black Jaguar had been right all along. “You mean they will be killed?”

  Frightened gasps erupted behind her.

  The Star Person nodded, matter of fact. Truth always prevailed in mind-talk. “We cannot allow any dissident or hostile elements to jeopardize this historic endeavor. Mull it over. When I return, I expect you all to embrace your higher purpose.”

  The invisible entrance opened with a soft flow of air and the Star Person turned around and left. Then the triangular opening closed again, leaving Talina more distressed than before.

  A few women sobbed, others prayed, oddly to the Star People.

  “Giving birth to a demigod would make us almost like goddesses,” a girl said in a dreamy voice. “We would be the exalted mothers of the future rulers.”

  “But think.” Talina walked among them, careful not to lose her balance due to the strange lightness impeding her movements. But she must make the Chosen women see the full truth. “What if the children you carry have no respect for the inferior race that gave them birth? In order to conquer our planet, they will destroy us along with all Humans.”

  “How do you know that?” The feminine voice coming from a dark recess trembled.

  “I learned among the foreigners that there are many kinds of Star People, and some of them tried to enslave the Human race in the past.” The stark silence around her told Talina she had piqued their attention. She stopped her wandering in the center of the holding space. “I have an idea.”

  Anxious faces in the blue glow turned toward Talina.

  “If you help me focus my thoughts, no matter how far we are from home, maybe I can reach Vanaru's mind and let him know the Star People's intentions.” Talina stared into the worried faces. “The Chosen always tell the truth. Your fathers, your mates, they deserve to know what's happening to you.”

  One by one the faces nodded. The women sat peacefully on the smooth floor, forming several concentric circles around Talina.

  She hoped she could make Vanaru see the selfish goals of the Star People. Perhaps, if the Chosen as a whole weren't so docile, the Star People would take their precious project somewhere else. Then again, they might decide to slaughter the entire clan. Talina shivered at the thought. But she couldn't condone the destruction of the Human race, even less be part of that destruction. She had to do the right thing.

  As one, the women intoned the far mind-talk chant.

  Sitting cross-legged, Talina closed her eyes and visualized Vanaru.

  Chapter Eleven

  Vanaru stepped out of the sacred cave, still reeling from Princess Esperana's blasphemous accusations of wrongdoing by the Star People. He climbed down from the rock slab into the clearing, in search of a peaceful spot to cool his temper, away from the Chosen, the Grays, and the foreigners milling around, exchanging words and even gifts.

  When he felt the sisterly touch of Talina on his mind, Vanaru stopped walking and leaned against a tree at the fringe to close his eyes. At first, he welcomed the familiar contact, but his happiness quickly vanished. He remembered how she had betrayed him and the Star People. “How dare you, an outcast, contact the royal clan leader?”

  “I carry the distressed voices of the women of the Chosen.” Talina's mind-talk sounded more than sad... desperate.

  “You found our women?” Relief washed over Vanaru. Glad for the good news, he opened his eyes to glance at his people. They would be relieved. Setting aside his personal grudge with Talina Vanaru would behave as the leader his people expected. “Are the women all right? Where are they?” A frightening thought crossed his mind. “Not with the Star People, are they?”

  Surprise sprinkled Talina's open thoughts. “Yes, we are their prisoners. How did you guess?”

  Vanaru suddenly realized that Esperana's outlandish theory had just proved to be right. He would have to apologize and trust her judgment in the future. “The Lost Daughter told us only the Star People have the ability to make you all disappear at the same time. She believes they have a hidden purpose.”

  “How insightful of her”. Sadness again pervaded Talina's talk. “Unfortunately, you will not like what the Star People expect from us. They want us to carry their children, a new race of highly intelligent conquerors destined to take over our entire planet.”

  Vanaru dropped to sit at the foot of the tree. He couldn't keep the shock from his mind. “Give birth to a violent race?”

  The very thought shattered everything he believed to be right and true. As he gazed upon the mix of people mingling in the clearing, he could see that the great change announced by the prophecy had already begun. His clan's isolation had ended. It also meant that Princess Esperana would save the Chosen and take them into a new phase of civilization. And Vanar
u intended to stand at her side as her consort.

  “There is more.” Talina paused and a great sadness filled her mind words. “The Star People also threaten to kill those of us who refuse to carry and raise their progeny.”

  “Kill?” As unbelievable and terrible as it sounded, Vanaru could not question the truth of the information. It flowed directly from Talina's mind. Mind-talk never lied. How could he have been so blind? But what could he possibly do to save his people from such a fate? He would turn to the Lost Daughter.

  But right now, Talina needed reassurance. “Sister, you were right to distrust the Star People. How can I ever apologize for doubting your instincts? I hereby welcome you back into the fold of the Chosen.”

  “Thank you, Brother, but I already adopted a new tribe. Tell me about Black Jaguar. Did he find you? Is he all right?”

  The very thought of Black Jaguar inflamed Vanaru's mind. “Forget about him. He does not deserve you. He defiled you. Because of him you can never be a royal princess of the Chosen again.”

  “Of course not. I am now bonded to a Prince of Yalta.” She sounded proud of it.

  It pained Vanaru to be the one delivering bad news, but among the Chosen, truth always prevailed. “Unfortunately, Black Jaguar tricked you with lies. He is a depraved plunderer of women. I've witnessed his libertine past in his mind. He is an abomination. Our sacred bonds mean nothing to him. Despite your lifetime bond, he still considers himself free.”

  * * *

  Talina couldn't think in the chaos of conflicting emotions constricting her throat. She feared her tenuous connection with Vanaru would shatter.

  “I'm sorry, Little Sister, if the truth is difficult to accept.”

  “It is...” Unfortunately, Talina knew mind-talk could not lie. Kahuel's ignominious past and his disregard of their bond was the absolute truth. How she wished she could dismiss it.

  “I still welcome you back into the clan despite your shame.”

  “Thank you.” Talina could feel the compassion flowing from Vanaru and considered herself lucky to have such a brother. “But there is no place for me to hide.” She couldn't withhold her unbearable distress. “I can never heal from such a disgrace.”

  “I wish I could help.”

  “Thank you, Brother.” Talina struggled to gather her strength after this blow. She couldn't let it weaken her when so much was at stake. She regained hold of her emotions to keep the communication alive. “Right now, you must tell the men of the Chosen to reject the Star People, to send them hateful thoughts. If all of us resist them, they might find us unsuitable for their New Generation Project. It is our only hope to save the clan from this terrible fate.”

  “It sounds dangerous... but I understand your reasoning, Sister. If loving thoughts strengthen the Star People and endear us to them, hateful thoughts should weaken them and make us undesirable to nurture their offspring. I shall seek counsel from the Lost Daughter.”

  The mention of the Lost Daughter gave Talina some hope. “It is wise, but hurry. We do not have much time.”

  * * *

  In the heavy fragrance of tropical flowers and other offerings, Kahuel stared up at the humming relics of red, gleaming crystal. The smooth faceted cylinders, as long and thick as his forearms, stood erect, in high niches carved into the white marble dome. Seven of them. Their pink, pulsing glow illuminated the entire cave. Below them, a low shelf of white marble held offerings of fruit, flowers, and lit candles.

  A manmade cave. The marble of the perfect white dome didn't seem indigenous to the region. The only native rock Kahuel had seen so far was black, volcanic stone, like the mountains and the cliffs.

  Kahuel didn't recognize the cuneiform writing engraved upon the relics, but when he stepped closer to examine them, Guardian snakes writhing below each alcove rose and hissed in warning.

  “Esperana!” Vanaru appeared, silhouetted against the bright sun at the entrance of the sacred cave, winded, his face distorted by shock, or worry. “You were right about the Star People.”

  As Kahuel glanced at Princess Esperana, she shot up her brow. “Of course, I'm right.”

  Trust a high and mighty Mutant to rub salt into the wound. Kahuel faced Vanaru. “What about the Star People?”

  Vanaru stepped to the side to give way to a Guardian snake who took a sudden interest in him. The Chosen leader absently patted the raising hood of the white reptile. “Talina told me they took our women and want them to birth and raise Star children.”

  “Talina!” Kahuel allowed himself to hope. “Is she all right?”

  Vanaru nodded. “No thanks to you. But she wants us to fight back. She says sending hateful thoughts to the Star People might make them reconsider their project.”

  Kahuel barely heard Vanaru. Talina was alive among the Star People, and he sincerely hoped she wouldn't be harmed. Then other words from Vanaru nagged him. “What do you mean, no thanks to me?”

  Vanaru's face closed. “She knows about your miserable past and she doesn't love you anymore. By now, she can't stand the thought of you.”

  “What?” Blast the man for spilling his guts.

  Heat crept up Kahuel's neck again, and his fists closed at his side. He wanted to smash Vanaru's face, but he controlled his rage... partly because of the Guardian snakes. He would have to explain to Talina how much he loved her. How he'd changed. But he could not do that while she was a prisoner of the Star People. “We must get her back.”

  Vanaru frowned. “We have to get them all back.”

  “Agreed.” Princess Esperana sighed heavily. “Sending hateful thoughts is rather quaint, but it may be worth a try. I doubt that it will change their minds, though. I suspect much is at stake for them.”

  “What else can we do?” Vanaru's turquoise gaze searched Esperana's face. “Sending hateful thoughts will certainly offend the Star People. I don't want the Chosen to get punished for it.”

  “Do you want them to be forced into breeding monsters?” Kahuel certainly wouldn't want Talina to carry an alien bastard.

  Vanaru's brow knitted stubbornly. “I can't allow my people to get hurt.”

  Kahuel scoffed. “You can't change the world by conforming to old rules. Change requires taking risks, and it often demands costly sacrifices.”

  Vanaru's striking eyes glowered at Kahuel. “I would sacrifice myself without a thought, but not them.”

  Although he seethed inside, Kahuel bridled his impatience. “What's more important to their happiness? Freedom? Or a carefree life as brooding mares for galactic leeches?”

  Vanaru sighed and his wide shoulders sagged. “Freedom.”

  “Then it's time to step up and do something drastic.” Kahuel intended to act fast, before the Star People could react.

  “Like what?”

  Kahuel noticed that the Guardian snakes had stopped their undulating dance and stared at them, paying close attention to the conversation. “Not here. Let's go outside.”

  Esperana nodded and the three of them walked out of the sacred cave onto the sunlit stone slab, then down the stone steps into the clearing.

  When they were well out of earshot from the slab, Kahuel rested one foot on a flat rock, facing Vanaru. “You have to tell your people the truth and let them make their own choice. Maybe they want to take risks and fight for their freedom, to make sure that their women only carry their children and no one else's.”

  Vanaru smiled, and the innocence and the gratitude in that smile took Kahuel's breath away. “You are wise, Black Jaguar.”

  Kahuel gazed up at Esperana, who nodded. “As for Esperana and I, we have a plan that might require your help.”

  “What is it?” Vanaru glanced from Kahuel to Esperana and back.

  Esperana smiled as she offered Vanaru her arm. “Walk with me, Vanaru. I will explain.”

  * * *

  Talina could not believe the depth of her predicament. When she opened her eyes, all the women sitting in concentric circles around her in the pulsing blue gl
ow stared at her. They had all heard Vanaru. They all witnessed her shame. Talina was not only publicly humiliated, but sullied, forever spoiled, never to raise her head in pride again.

  A few women rose with a slow grace and strode away with an awkward bounce in their steps. They held their heads down, as if soiled by her disgrace.

  A girl, barely sixteen, all dark skin and wide brown eyes, scooted closer to Talina. “I know it's not much comfort, but I am here if you want to talk, like a friend.”

  “Thank you.” Talina choked on the words. Vanaru had been her friend and confidant all her life. She took the girl's hand and squeezed it gently. “I could use a new friend right now.”

  “How did you let it happen?” The girl narrowed her wide brown eyes in genuine concern.

  Talina chuckled despite her despair. “He was charming, handsome. I thought we were destined for each other.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “He seemed so perfect, so kind, so interesting, curious and knowledgeable, not to mention brave and full of life. I saw him as my only chance in a lifetime for a princely match.”

  The girl gasped. “This Black Jaguar is a prince?”

  “Oh yes. Can you believe it? A libertine prince. Difficult to imagine that despite a royal upbringing, he has no principles or self-respect.” Talina realized the depth of the precipice that separated the Chosen from the foreign tribes. No matter how hard she tried to fit in, she could never be one of them.

  The girl settled more comfortably on the smooth floor and rearranged her robe to cover her bare feet. The white linen reflected the blue light. “Only in ancient legends do they mention libertines.”

  “I know.” Bitter tears stung Talina's eyes. “Mind-talk ended all that hurtful behavior among our people once and for all.”

  The girl squeezed Talina's hand. “Why did you not explore the man's mind before committing yourself?”

  “Because he asked me not to.” Talina sobbed. How naive of her to trust a barbarian, a foreign warrior who ate animal flesh and only communicated with words. “I should have protected my honor. Instead, I threw myself at him.”