Backlash Rising

by Brandon Ellis

  Moments ago, the doors to Dirn Garum closed, and she’d made her way down the stairs to the public square. She walked to the tallest man in the vicinity, Chan. Before leaving, her dad gave Star Guild’s current location to him.

  She touched Chan’s robe, pulling on his sleeve. “You remember the coordinates?”

  “Yes, and have no fear, I’ll remember them always.”

  Another horn bellowed, shaking the ground. She covered her ears. “What’s all the racket about?” The horn ceased, and the city illuminated. She glanced around. Light bounced off walls, flooding the entire area. Little men and women, thick and stalk-y, slowly gathered in the town square, eyeing the cavern’s ceiling.

  Someone jabbed Ali’s hip. She looked down to see Thun standing near her, his long beard moving upward with his smile. He rested a pickaxe over his shoulder, his fingers wrapped around the handle’s throat. “I’m sure you haven't forgotten me already.” He pounded his chest with his other hand, his face strong and fierce. “Thun, son of King Bilrak, brother of Harak, first in line as king.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Ali yawned, shaking off her exhaustion and depressed state. “What’s going on?”

  “Look up.” Thun pointed, and Ali followed his finger.

  Light streamed from the corner of the monstrous cavern, beaming brightly. Another horn echoed off the rocks and walls. Ali held her hands over her ears.

  Thun tugged on Ali’s pant leg. “Watch.”

  The light transformed into a thin laser-like ray, shooting straight into an enormous golden bowl on top of a building a few blocks down the way. The bowl reflected the light back, slowly turning the light into a blueish-white color that flooded the upper rock walls. The crowd broke into a cheer, then bowed, going silent. The light continued to spread throughout the cavern. Minutes later, the Bawns dispersed, heading back to their mingling.

  Ali glanced down at Thun, then up at Chan. “Again, what's going on?”

  “That’s how we get our energy to power the lights in the city. At this time, the rising sun delivers important light,” said Thun. He perked up, clearly excited to tell her the process. “We direct that light with mirrors throughout a tunnel system we created in the upper portion of the mountain.” He pointed at the beaming light. “A Bawn operates our last mirror. He positions the mirror exactly where it needs to be to send the light into the golden bowl.”

  Ali crossed her arms. “Neat, I guess?”

  Thun continued as if not hearing Ali. “Blue selenium fills the bowl which collects the power and streams it down to our capacitor building that the bowl sits atop. It stores energy and shares energy to the accompanying buildings.” He gave a pleased look. “It’s amazing, actually.”

  Ali eyed the capacitor building. “Are—”

  He wiggled her pant leg. “No, no. Don’t interrupt. I’m not done.” He stroked his long beard. “We’ve attached copper coils to each building, where it also collects and spreads the energy to the next building, acting much like a partnership. This illuminates our lights. Since we are not surface dwellers, this energy system gives us all the nutrients from the sun that we need.”

  This guy spoke a mouthful. She thought for a moment. “Wait, so you have tunnel systems throughout the mountain?”

  Thun grunted. “Not much, but yes.”

  She tapped her front teeth, thinking more. With several tunnel systems, they could probably find a safe tunnel to exit and get to Starship Sirona. “Do you have warriors among you?”

  Thun gave her an odd look. “We’re all warriors.” He swept his arm out in front of him, indicating the people all around. “Can’t you tell?”

  She nodded. She couldn’t tell, but she didn’t want to insult him. She needed to get the ball rolling, to get the Bawn to do what S said they’d do, help her and her people.

  “You mentioned you wanted to fight these Anunnaki. In fact, you want to kill them.”

  Thun folded his arms. “I’ll dig their graves for them, and you can shove their dead bodies inside.”

  No, thank you. She swallowed her thoughts. “Then we start today. Let’s get a band of your greatest warriors together and head to a specific location where I know these Anunnaki will be.”

  She didn’t tell him they’d be going to Sirona instead, a minor detail.

  Thun shifted and his brows drew low. He paused for several seconds in deep thought. “You’re ready to fight?”

  “No, but I must. Will your warriors do what I tell them to do?”

  Thun looked her up and down. “You show them the sword, and they’ll do what you ask.” He waved her to follow him, a gleam in his eyes. “I’m pleased you’re ready because I have something important for you this way.” He turned and headed for a mushroom-shaped cottage.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We have fashioned you a baldric for your sword. During battle, you’ll have a place to pull your sword from, and a place for your sword to rest.”

  Oh, Guild. She wanted to get to Sirona, get everyone off this planet, and get to her dad. She didn’t want anything fashioned for her and didn’t want any reason to owe these people anything.

  Thun flicked his hand. “Come, come.”

  They walked around the mushroom building and headed toward a large boulder sitting between two structures.

  “Where's Daf?” asked Ali.

  Thun grunted.

  “And that means?”

  “It means I don't know.”

  “Okay, where did Chan Ru go?”

  Thun grunted, continuing to walk toward the large boulder.

  “I guess that means you don’t know.”

  Thun ignored her.

  Reaching the boulder, Thun pressed a button on the rock. He stood straight, waiting and humming a tune.

  Ali felt a hand on her back. “I’m right here, Ali.”

  She turned to see Chan.

  He touched a hand to his heart and bowed. “I’ll accompany you to your fitting if you allow me.” He handed her a mug. “Drink up. It gives you energy.”

  Ali took the mug and drank, a thick liquid like milk washing down her gullet. It tasted sweet, though she couldn’t pinpoint any resemblances that touched her palate from past beverages before. In seconds, she felt alive and energized. She opened her eyes wider. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She put the mug on the ground and gestured at the rock, scrunching her face. “Is this the fitting room?”

  Thun kicked the boulder. “You sun dweller piece of pebble-crap.” He pressed the button again.

  Chan cracked a smile. “A Bawn’s patience is nothing to be envious about. Making a Bawn wait is worse than cutting their throats.”

  The boulder clicked, and a door-shaped portion of the boulder moved inward, rumbling rock against rock. The rock-door slid to the side, opening into what looked to be an elevator.

  Ali took a step back. “What the…”

  “Come,” said Thun. “No questions.”

  No questions? A door practically formed out of nowhere in a giant rock. To top it off, an elevator. She shook her head and kept her mouth shut, stepping inside, accompanied by Thun and Chan.

  The elevator shook, then descended, opening moments later. Before her was a brightly lit, immense facility about the size and shape of a mech warehouse.

  Bawns moved about, busying themselves behind rock-like desks similar to stations on a starship’s bridge. They pressed buttons, barked orders, and swiped across holographic displays.

  She caught her breath and tipped her head to the side, squinting. The rock desks projected holoscreens, much like an HDC in Star Guild and Starbase Matrona.

  “Follow me.” Thun motioned for them to exit the elevator.

  Ali walked toward the Bawns’ stations. “How the Guild did all of this get down here?” She gestured toward the elevator, now behind her. “And the elevator?”

  Chan walked by her side, stroking his chin. “The Space Templars built everything below Dirn Garum eon
s ago. This used to be one of their strongholds in this region of the galaxy. After the Anunnaki’s failed experiment with the Bawns as their slaves—the Anunnaki simply couldn’t control them—the Bawns who survived a genocide type of event escaped to this mountain. The Space Templars were long gone by then, leaving this facility to the Bawn. But the Space Templars didn’t create Dirn Garum, the city above this facility. The Bawn did. The good news is Enlil doesn’t know what goes on in Dirn Garum, at least not to our knowledge. He doesn’t patrol this area much, either.”

  Ali pursed her lips. “Enlil doesn’t know what’s going on down here?”

  Chan nodded. “We suspect he doesn’t.”

  Ali fixed Chan with a stare. “Well, of—” Ali cut herself off, her eyes transfixed on a brilliant radiating purple glow coming from a thick slab of ebb that acted as a wall at the back of the facility.

  Ali leaned closer to Chan as they walked toward the stations. She whispered, doing her best not to bother the busy workers. “What are they doing?”

  “It's their workstations. They monitor the outside, plus they keep Dirn Garum operating efficiently. You know, controlling the flow of water canals, watching for any intruders outside the mountain, managing the electricity, and many more things.”

  Thun grunted, slamming down his pickaxe. “We’re here.”

  Ali eyed the smooth and perfectly chiseled ebb wall. It reminded her of Earth’s Pyramid of Giza and the Queen’s chamber, a chamber lined with perfectly smooth, granite blocks.

  Ali went rigid when something wrapped around her waist. She threw her hands out, hitting against something hard and bendy. A heavy object fell, and she instinctively caught it, feeling a thick, coarse, and strong material against her fingers.

  Harak glared at her, wiping his hands. “Pay attention. That's your baldric. Wear it well and often.”

  Ali flinched. Harak was now standing next to his brother.

  He rolled his eyes, shaking his head, his lips in a frown. “I was trying to put that on you, sun worshiper.” He stalked off toward the large ebb wall.

  Thun clasped his hands together. “Ali, you now owe him your life.”

  Ali slapped her chest. She didn’t owe that guy anything. “Why?”

  “He made you the baldric. It’s fit for a king.”

  Chan lightly touched Ali's back. “Or a queen.”

  Ali held the baldric in her hands, the well-made item fashioned to fit around her waist and torso.

  Thun marched toward his brother. “I have another surprise for you, Ali.”

  “Now what?” asked Ali, walking after Thun.

  Thun picked up his pace. “To our ships and vehicles.”

  Ali halted. “Huh?”

  Chan walked with them, nodding. “They are quite advanced engineers, masons, and carpenters but as impatient as they are with each other, they are just as impatient with what you’re about to see.”

  They reached the ebb wall. Harak stood with his arms crossed, the always disappointed wrinkles on his face. He turned and faced the wall, lifting his arms. “Awake.” The ebb slab split in two. One side opened to the right and the other to the left with light spilling through the opening.

  Ali gasped loudly. “Whoa.” Her hand came to her mouth. In front of her sat an orb-like craft as big as a starship class vessel. The orbed-shaped front attached to a long, egg-shaped second and third portion. Gigantic landing sleds connected to each section of the craft, and boosters and rockets went from the midsection to the aft.

  “That ship’s gorgeous,” said Ali.

  It glistened and glimmered, pulsing a translucent silver glow.

  “That large craft,” Chan told her, “is Starship Tranquil.” He turned to her, dipping his head, Harak and Thun doing the same. “Welcome to your new ship, Captain.”

  10

  Koda

  Starbase Matrona

  Devon and Koda rose slowly, arms up in surrender.

  A man stood before them with a rifle pointed at Koda’s chest. “S sends her regards, sirs.”

  Koda gave the guy a blank look. His heartbeat rose, waiting for bullets to slam into him. He flicked a glance at Devon, who stood as still as a building, his eyes focused on the gun.

  The soldier lowered his weapon, his neck bending forward. “You don’t have a clue who S is, do you?”

  “S?” asked Koda, hands still up.

  “Are you serious?” The guy swept his eyes around the room, almost as if looking for a hidden holocam recording them. “I thought by now Devon would have found her name hidden amongst the junk data. Zim had recently been communicating with Enlil, telling him S was a traitor to his race.” He lifted a single eyebrow. “No recollection?” He continued to stare. “Nothing?” He slumped, his face slack. “All right, it’s okay. Just know that she’s on your side, boys.” He looked off, saying under his breath, “I thought this would be more exciting.” The man shouldered his rifle. “I think you can put your hands down now, fellas. I’m not going to shoot you.”

  Devon let his arms fall to his sides. Koda lowered his arms a second later.

  “Who is S?” asked Koda.

  The guard cocked his head. “Sabra.” His shoulders rose, the rifle moving upward. “Does that ring a bell?”

  Koda and Devon shook their heads.

  The man let out a loud sigh, wiping his hand over his mouth. “Sabra is Enlil’s sister, and I know you’ve figured out who Enlil is, right?”

  Koda nodded, his mind spinning. For one, the soldier standing before him wore military fatigues that seemed to camouflage into any color the guy stood beside, the colors melding into the surrounding textures. It was a strange tech. Two, what group did this man belong to?

  Koda glared at an insignia on the man’s jacket breast, a geometrically shaped ensign three circles intertwined, creating a three-leafed looking design.

  The guy placed his palms on his hips. “Okay, Enlil is the bad guy. He’s a leader of a race, the Anunnaki, who attacked you. Though a leader only in this sector…well, and some other sectors. They—”

  Devon interrupted him. “We know. I hacked into the mainframe and found that information.” He scratched his temple. “I think we were about to find more information, and then, you know.”

  “Then I screwed it all up.” The soldier winked. “I know. I walked in and scared the living daylights out of you two.” He extended his hand toward the holoscreen. “I’d like you to come see my handiwork. It’s all here for you.” He smacked his hands together. “You’re welcome for doing your job, boys.”

  Koda walked out from behind the couch and around the desk, Devon following.

  On the holoscreen streamed paragraphs and paragraphs of junk data translating the stream into reading material underneath. The stream spewed out flight information, the comings and goings of Starjumpers, Starhawk Transports, and other cargo crafts from Starbase Matrona to Eos Two. Reading further, jump point coordinates in the Adarta System and coordinates outside the Adarta System flowed on the screen. Destination “N” blinked in bold next to one of the coordinates.

  Devon pointed at the screen. “What is Destination “N”?”

  The guard frowned. “To tell you that would take hours, and to answer your subsequent questions would take longer. I don’t have that time. I apologize for being vague, but I have a race to save.”

  Koda dipped his head. “My race?”

  “Our race. The human race.”

  Koda blinked several times, trying to put two and two together. “Thank you for helping Devon and me, but why are you helping us two specifically?” Maybe this guy knew Payson and worked for him.

  The guard smiled, shaking his head. “I’m a Space Templar, my friend. They’ve trained me in the subtle art of the Sight, part of the Templar path, and I can see by your aura you don’t trust me.” He motioned to the screen. “Just know that this is a gift offering to you so you can trust people wearing fatigues similar to mine. We won’t harm you. We are here to protect you, just as you a
re attempting to protect your citizens. You’re on a hunt for the truth, and that truth will set your people free.”

  The man’s shoulder band beeped, and a woman’s voice blared through, “We located Payson. Naveya is close by and on his tail.”

  The guard tapped the band. “I’ll be right there.” He took a step toward the door and halted. “I’d stay if I could, but there are some cunning men on the loose.”

  He ran out of the room and down the hallway, bellowing, “My name’s CJ. Welcome to my life, gentlemen.” The bell jingled as the lobby door opened and shut.

  Devon showed his palms. “Uh, what just happened?”

  Koda rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I don’t know. You don’t see that every day.”

  “Did a woman say Payson?”

  Koda screwed up his face, his brows furrowing. “Yes.”

  Devon looked around absentmindedly at the screen. He hurried to the seat as if seeing something important. “Right here.” He wiggled his finger in front of a translated paragraph. “There are several Starhawk Transports coming and going as we speak. But why? Our miners aren’t mining ebb at the moment, plus we aren’t near Eos to gather any remaining ebb storages either.” He scrolled down and stopped. “Yeah, right here. It says a short repair stop before they depart to those coordinates.” Devon ran his finger under the coordinates and punched his fingers on the holokeypad. A star map materialized in front of them. “Whoa. They’re going outside of the Adarta System to a planet on a wide orbit in a system called the Solar System. A planet named Nibiru? Maybe that’s Destination “N”? The planet has its own system attached to it, too.” He shook his head as if in disbelief. “That’s strange.”

  “Yes, that must be Destination ‘N’.” Koda leaned in and swiped his finger over the screen, bringing up the previously translated stream. “Look at that. Some Starhawks are departing soon.” He made a dash to Zim’s office door and toward the lobby. “Let’s go.”

  Devon didn’t move, continuing to read the information on the screen. “Look at this. Zim has moved all the barrels of batrachotoxin to Sphere One. You don’t think Payson is heading that way, do you?”