by Nancie Neal
She looked at him, startled.
"Uh, no," she said, "It's okay. I know you have had some trouble. You are busy."
She turned back to her work. She could sense that her father still felt guilty. She looked back up to him. "Really," She insisted. "It's okay. I'll be okay. I'll need help on some of the terms, later."
Father nodded and left.
Amnika looked at Rhada.
"You can't change how he feels," Rhada said. "He feels guilty because he cares. You know he's reformable."
"I know, but I should reassure him," Amnika said.
"You can later," Rhada consoled Amnika. "He'll be okay. His feelings are his own, he has to deal with them."
She took a deep breath and looked at her tablet.
Before she was born, her father was part of a large group of Citizens who were replacing the group on a staging base near Nahbor. The crew included Father, his wife, Petrez, Afkistan, a female listed as his wife, Annia and her husband, and two other men she didn't recognize. Several Natisiens were also listed.
Like her father explained, the anomaly appeared as they passed. The ship was pulled in the gravitational pull.
Amnika played the recordings. There was no data after the ship fell in because the generator quit working and the recorder didn't work.
"Well, we know why Zakkon was excited. He probably convinced the Nahborians to create the shielding in person," Amnika said.
"That would be Zakkon," Rhada agreed.
They continue looking through the data. According to the reports, they couldn't get the generator running in time. The ship crash landed on earth. They were helped by the humans. It took six years before they had their ship fixed.
"I only see two that stayed behind," Amnika said. "I don't recognize the names."
"Anaedan and Zaken," Rhada read out loud. "It's interesting that no one speaks of them."
"I guess that's another question I'll have to ask Father."
Amnika took the information she needed and put them in her notes. She walked over to the wall and slid her finger across the lower half. The wall cleared away to show outside.
Realizing that it was time for the midday meal, Amnika looked back at Rhada who studied her tablet. "I need to get a bar from medical." She sighed. "I guess I'll have to finish up later."
"No, you stay here and finish. I'll get something for you," Rhada said.
Amnika watched him leave. She stared at the door for a moment before she went back to her tablet and put in a request for a display ball. She knew that her father would approve of it, but she would still have to wait for it.
Amnika went into the cubby that had the data crystals. She took a few and put them into her tablet. She transferred data from the mission with Roniathan. The tablet can hold a lot of data by itself, but she wanted to keep this information as a backup for herself.
Rhada returned with a brown bag.
Amnika smiled at him.
"Why am I not surprised?" she said.
"I like seeing you happy," Rhada said. "You should eat more than just the bars, anyway."
"Really?"
"Father says that you need more animal protein," he said. "I didn't understand why until recently."
Amnika thought about it for a moment. "Oh. Genetics. I wonder if that's why Mother would go to the market a lot."
Rhada grunted.
"I'll have to check on their genetics later," Amnika said. "I put in a request for a display ball. As soon as that arrives, I will get some of Roniathan recordings." Amnika picked up her tablet and looked at it. "I transferred some data off the beacon ships. I'll put that on the display ball, too. I'll have to wait here for it to be delivered though."
"We could bring up the data on their legend while we wait," Rhada suggested.
Amnika was about to respond when her father peeked in the door.
"What legend?" Father asked.
"It's the one whose birth they base their cycles on." Amnika picked up her tablet. When she saw that Father held out a small sphere, she walked over and hugged him.
"Don't feel guilty," Amnika cast a thought to him. "I know you had your reasons. Right now, we should focus on making mother happy."
She let him go, and he sighed.
"As for the legend, your mother knows a lot about it, you may be able to talk to her." Father held up the sphere. "I had to bring it myself."
Nodding, Amnika watched her father take the sphere and put his thumb on the sensor which glowed as it powered up. He tossed it in the air ahead of him. It stopped in midair and opened like a flower. In the center of the flower was an image of Roniathan, hovering in 3D over the sphere.
Amnika glanced at her father and smiled.
"I figured it would be a good idea to put him as the demo since it was his redesigned power banks that made this device possible." He put his hand under the device, and it closed. He motioned towards the data crystals in Amnika's hand. "It doesn't take data crystals. It takes advantage of the crystal readers. It is supposed to work with the tablets, but sometimes the data will become corrupted. We are still trying to work on it."
"Oh," Amnika held up the data crystals, "these are for me. I wanted something to have to study for when I can't access the city's system."
Father took a moment to think about Amnika said. "So, you wouldn't mind going on another mission?"
"As frightening as the last mission was, I know that not all missions are like that. Most are boring." Amnika chuckled. "At least that's the impression I got from Rodgistan."
Father smiled. "I'm glad the last mission didn't scare you from your dream." He handed her the sphere.
Amnika noticed how warm it was.
"The smaller hover plates don't generate much heat." Father must have picked up on her thoughts. "So the plates are not hot to the touch." Father took out his tablet and tapped in it. "It's still experimental, so if it doesn't work properly, you need to report it. Once it's thoroughly tested, we will open it to the market. Zakkon thinks it has high entertainment value as well as a utility value."
"I can imagine," Amnika said while studying the sphere. "Although I don't know how well it will do on the market. Everyone seems to be too happy to want this kind of entertainment."
"But there are plenty of people who want to see what the beacon ships see for self-education purposes," Father said. "Rodgistan suggested that we put in audio instructions. Even non-citizens should be knowledgeable."
Amnika nodded. "Well, I have to load this up with data so I can show mother." She fiddled with the ball in her hand. Rhada held out his hand, and she handed it to him. Amnika marveled at how small it looked in his hand compared to hers as he looked it over. He gave it back, and Amnika transferred the data she needed onto the sphere.
When they got to the Advisor's floor, they found Mother walking around. She saw them enter and smiled.
"Mother, you're well!" Amnika said.
"I do have some energy now," Mother said, and she gave her daughter a hug.
"But you are well enough to see this, right?" Amnika held out the display sphere.
"Oh, is that what you were telling us about?" She asked Father.
He nodded and sat on the long plush chair with his wife and Amnika stood behind them. Rhada stood off to the side. He crossed his arms and watched.
Amnika put her thumb on the sensor and tossed the ball over her parents. It opened and showed the moment after the anomaly shot Roniathan out. The moon whizzed by, and Earth was in view.
"Wow," Mother marveled and glanced up at Amnika. "Is there audio?"
Amnika looked at her father. He pulled his tablet out and tapped on it.
By the time the sound came on, the plasma was around the ship.
"Sixteen hundred fifty degrees and holding." The voice of Roniathan sounded like it was filtered through sheets of metal.
"We will improve the sound system," Father said. "Something so simple seems to be the most difficult to figure out."
Watching
her mother, Amnika realized that her conversation with Rodgistan was recorded. Father glanced uneasily at his wife, and at his daughter.
Mother remained silent through the entire video. When it was over Amnika looked at her father. His head was down.
"How much did you know," Mother asked. She didn't look away from the sphere, and her voice was tense. Amnika never heard her mother sound so angry.
Father didn't say anything.
"I think only Zakkon knew it was unstable before I left," Amnika said. "Father would have stopped him if he knew it was this dangerous. Then again, I'm not sure if even Zakkon knew." She remembered Zakkon's insistence with checking the data himself.
"Is that true?" Mother finally looked at Father.
"Y-yes." Father glanced at Amnika and back at his wife. He shifted and sighed. "I was so excited about the prospect of what the data could be used for, I wasn't paying attention to Zakkon's demeanor."
"I would like to speak to Amnika alone," Mother said.
Studying her mother Amnika wished her mother could project her emotions. Reading her was difficult.
Her father hesitated as if he wanted to say something but sighed and left. Amnika watched him go into the lift, and the door closed behind him. She sat next to her mother in her father's place.
"Is it true what Rodgistan said?" Mother took Amnika's hand. "Is it true what you said?"
"He said he was speculating," Amnika said. "and I only assumed. I guess Zakkon didn't tell Father until after we left. It's why I'm didn't stay angry with father. If he knew he would have done something."
Mother took a deep breath. There was a long pause. Rhada shifted. Amnika squeezed her mother's hand.
"Okay," Mother nodded. She pushed herself to the edge of the seat. "I bet you are curious to what the communications said?"
"Yes," Amnika brightened a little. "And the squares in the ground. What were those? How were they created."
Mother explained how farming worked on Earth. The "country" she was born in produced enough food to feed the entire population of the planet.
"The pilots of those airships were trying to figure out what you were. Fortunately, they didn't think that you were a threat," Mother replayed the part with the communications. She laughed. "They were baffled on how you tracked them so quickly. I think one took a picture."
"And the language they were speaking is called 'English.' It's what I teach since most of the planet uses that language for commerce. Would you like to learn some today?"
"I remember 'Hello, little one,' but I'm not little anymore."
Mother chuckled. "'Hello' is sufficient a greeting. 'Hi' is also good." She sat back on the seat and spread her hands out. "This," she said sounding distant. "This is what we call a 'sofa' or 'couch.' Before, they were thinly padded. Your father insisted on having them build these for homes after we arrived. He wanted me to feel comfortable."
She played a part of the video with the communications again. "Oh, he definitely took a picture." She stopped the video. "English has a lot of weird sayings. The pilot in one of those 'airplanes' said 'say cheese.' It forces you to open your mouth a little to appear to be smiling."
"'Cheese,'" Amnika said. "It is just a sound?"
"No, it's a name of a certain type of food. It's cured milk."
"As in baby milk?"
"No, humans use certain animals' milk. These animals are similar to Patri."
"How?" Amnika gave her mother a questioning look.
"They used to do it by hand, then they have these machines that suck the milk out."
Rhada sputtered. "They molest animals for their milk?! How do they do that without getting kicked?"
Amnika gave Rhada a strange look.
Mother burst out laughing. "I never thought of it like that before!" She took a deep breath. "They're tamed. Humans keep them in large pens, some spanning large distances. There is a lot more land mass on earth than on Zherosha."
Rhada made a face and shook his head.
"You know," Mother said, "There's another saying on earth that laughter is the best medicine. I do feel much better."
"Sharing something funny does make the sadness go away," Amnika agreed.
"Rhada, would you mind telling Father that he can join us when he's ready." Mother shifted her seat. "Tell him I'm not angry. I just wanted some alone time with our daughter."
Amnika looked at Rhada. He winked at her and left.
By the time he returned with Father, Amnika had finished showing the data from the last beacon ship.
Mother got up and gave Father a hug. Father buried his face in her neck.
"I think I'm going to return the sphere now," Amnika said aloud. She knew that it would be a good time to leave her parents alone for a while. She motioned to Rhada, and they turned to leave. Stepping into the lift, Rhada put his hand on her back.
"Your parents are going to be okay." He said.
"I know. It will work out between them. My parents mean well."
They remained silent for the rest of the ride down the lift.
"We are going on a scant hunt tomorrow," Rhada said. "You will come, right?"
"Of course," Amnika said. "I wouldn't miss it."
Chapter Thirty
The next day, Amnika stood by the front gate with several other Natisiens. She noticed that there were more females in this group. She watched as one of them flirted with Mihka. Mihka acted disinterested, but when she turned her back, he would rumble at her. The moment the female turned towards him, Mihka would act as if he didn't do anything. A few other Natisien males would snicker at his antics.
"He is always teasing." Rhada put his hand on Amnika's back.
She looked up at him. "It's entertaining to watch, though."
Rhada chuckled. "Indeed."
After waiting for more participants, Nahaeda held up his hand, and the group quieted down.
"Amnika, come here."
Amnika walked over to Nahaeda who stooped down. She put her hood on and jumped onto his arm. One of the Wall Guards opened the gate.
Looking over Nahaeda's shoulder, Amnika saw Rhada following close behind. She could barely make out Mihka at the end of the line. It took her a moment to realize that in front of him was the female that flirted with him earlier.
Smiling, Amnika thought that Mihka will probably pair with the Natisien woman by the evening, that is, if she would tolerate his mischief.
Nahaeda led the group to a low-lying area. A massive rock wall lined one side of the path. The other side sloped down into some thicket, a perfect place for scant to hide.
Nahaeda put Amnika down, and Amnika hung up her cape on a branch. The moment she faced the thicket, the scant were already there.
She glanced at Nahaeda and held up four fingers with her palm facing her indicating the amount in binary.
"Fifteen," Rhada whispered and chuckled under his breath.
There were seventeen Natisiens. Nahaeda usually didn't hunt with the group unless the Inersien's life was in danger. This meant only one Natisien will go without. Amnika knew that her friend had a good chance of catching one this time.
The Natisiens disappeared into the bushes. Alone on the path, Amnika continued facing the thicket, sensing agitation, then focused concentration. The scants were hunting her now. The clicking stopped, and the birds seemed to hold their breath.
She heard a quick rustling, and two scants jumped out at her. Both were snatched in the air, and their necks were broken. This prompted the others to attack. Amnika backed up, this time watching her step. One by one in quick succession, the Natisiens caught their prey.
One scant lunged for Mihka. He reached out to catch it, but another hand snatched it and broke its neck. The female who flirted with him earlier jiggled the dead animal in front of him.
"That's for teasing me like you did," She taunted.
Amnika put her hand over her mouth and giggled.
Mihka looked at Amnika and chuckled. "I guess I deserved that."
Walking over to congratulate him, Amnika sensed something unusual coming from the cliff. She looked up and stared at the top of the cliff.
Nahaeda took notice. "How many?"
"I…" Amnika paused. "I can't tell. Some are in large clusters."
"Scant Swarm!" Nahaeda roared. Before he took a breath, several jumped off the cliff at the old Natisien. He swiftly dodged them and managed to kill two of them in one swift move.
The other Natisiens also joined in. Amnika backed up towards the cliff. The scants began to direct their attack towards her. The Natisiens were catching them as they lunged at her. Amnika fell back onto the ground. One of the scants got past the Natisiens, and its long muzzle clamped down onto her foot with its mouth.
A split second of hearing the crunch of bone, Amnika felt a searing pain shoot up her leg. She instinctively let out a high pitch scream. The scant didn't let go and began to drag her. She drew her energy out from her center and directed it towards the animal.
This caused the scant to open its mouth and convulse. Amnika looked down at her bloodied leg and tried to drag herself away from the chaos.
"No, Amnika. Come here." Amnika looked up a Nahaeda who stooped next to her. She reached up, and he lifted her, causing more pain from her foot. She cried out.
"Hold on Amnika. It will be over soon." He grabbed another scant with his free hand and killed it. Two other Natisiens made their way over and turned their backs to Nahaeda. Nahaeda put Amnika into a cradle-carry.
"Rhada!" he yelled at his son and with that, he threw Amnika over the snapping animals. "Take her to the city!"
Rhada caught Amnika, shifted her to one arm and began running. A few of the scants were able to get past the Natisien group and pursue Rhada. One took advantage of some of the downed trees and tried leaping onto them, but Rhada grabbed him and killed it without slowing down.
Two more came from the sides, and Rhada grabbed them and threw them out of his way. One was killed, but Amnika could see the second one as it stood up and shook itself off and continued to follow them. Two more joined it. Amnika wondered how many were out there and became afraid for the Natisiens left behind.