Birth Of A Goddess

by Mark T. Bacome

  Novia and Li could smell the morning routine of the early morning meals as they approached the larger of the three living caverns. Many of the families had already begun their day, even though they never saw the light of Shola Rai. There were discoveries early on; even though the crystals could light up the caverns like mid-day at all hours, living under those conditions caused problems. Only caverns growing crops were kept lit continually, increasing yields and shortening the grow times. Younger Guardians had the duty of keeping the lighting in the main living caverns glowing to match Shola Rai outside, by checking the light at emergency entries and air shafts, activating and deactivating the main crystals as necessary.

  “Li-Li-Li-Li-Li-Li-Li-Li,” a familiar little voice rang out as a small boy ran up to Li and Novia. Li snatched him up and over her shoulder like a bundle of sticks.“Chichi.”

  “Hi Chichi,” Novia giggled. “Where's Anali? You two are never far apart.” Chichi was unable to get a straight answer out, while Li tickled him.

  “Noya! Noya,” the little girl called out, running up to Novia. Novia picked her up for a big hug.

  “I'm so sorry, you two must be tired and hungry,”

  Ayden ran out of one of the many family caves within the

  large cavern to gather his children. “Chichi always seems

  to know when you're near.”

  “Never too tired or hungry for hugs,” Novia answered,

  handing Anali over to her father.

  “Guess how many I am today?” Chichi asked through

  giggles after Li set him down.

  “Is something different today?” Li answered with a

  hint of sarcasm.

  “I'm this many,” Chichi declared, holding his hand out,

  with his fingers spread as wide as they could possibly go. “Oh? You are one hand today?” Li said, giving Ayden a

  wink. Anali started giggling.

  Chichi scowled at his hand with frustration, then

  shoved it back to Li once more, this time wiggling his

  fingers and thumb for emphasis. “No--I'm THIS many!” “Fingers! You are that many fingers?” Li teased. “Shola Si!” Chichi grunted with frustration.

  “OH--that's today?” Li gave Chichi another hug. “How many fingers are YOU, Anali?” Novia asked the

  little girl in her father's arms. She held out her hand,

  trying very hard to hold up only three of her fingers but

  her thumb and little finger where not cooperating very

  well.

  “Very good, Anali,” Li and Novia both praised. “We're planning a gathering later today. Will you both

  be able to attend?” Ayden asked.

  Anaua stepped out from their family cave entry. “I

  insist,” she added.

  “Without a doubt,” Novia answered. Li nodded her

  confirmation as well.

  “I have extra for the morning meal too--please,”

  Anaua gestured back inside the cave.

  “I promised to check-in with Cyan and Shara'ari early

  today,” Novia declined.

  “Please give them my love,” Li said. Cyan and Shara'ari lived in another large cavern several paces through another tunnel passage. Novia waved as she

  continued through the main cavern to the other tunnel. “Please,” Anaua asked Li once more, gesturing back

  inside the family cave.

  “Thank you,” Li offered her gratitude. As she passed,

  Li gave Anaua's newly showing baby bump a soft touch. “Please don't tell me if it's a boy or girl this time,”

  Anaua requested. “We would all like to be surprised.” Li

  nodded her understanding with an added smile. “I don’t want a surprise,” Chichi stated. “I want a

  brother. Li can you make it a brother?”

  Li, Anaua and Ayden all tried to hold in their laughter.

  “That's not how that works,” Ayden finally attempted to

  explain.

  Each of the family caves within the caverns were

  carved out of the mountain with just the basics--a

  sleeping area and cooking/eating area. The main caverns

  were a communal area shared by all. Li and Novia shared

  a much smaller cave in another cavern, as neither had

  family other than each other. As Pe'Atchdi, Novia could

  have chosen a larger space, but could not justify that

  action in her own mind.

  “Did you see the howlers?” Chichi asked with a

  mouthful of smoke-dried cured whitetail meat and plant

  loaf.

  “Chichi--let her eat,” Anaua admonished.

  “I'm fine--as a matter-of-fact, I did see the nightsingers,” Li corrected, between bites.

  “Were you scared?” Chichi asked, now wide-eyed with

  curiosity.

  Li shook her head. “We had a mutual respect.” “He didn't try to eat you?”

  “Chichi!” Anaua scolded.

  Li laughed out. “No, no, no--Chichi. I told the lead

  night-singer, I was not food, and he agreed.”

  “He talked to you?” Chichi asked.

  “Not exactly--” Li wanted to explain, but was not sure

  where to begin.

  “Oh--” Chichi appeared to understand without further

  explanation.

  “Do you think they will be a problem anymore?”

  Ayden asked.

  Li finished another bite of her morning meal, taking

  time to chew thoroughly. “I cannot be certain of all the

  packs, but I feel confident with the local night-singers,” Li

  assured. She excused herself after finishing her meal--the

  long night and trip to and from the ridge top was taking

  its toll. “Thank you so much--but I must be getting some

  rest if I'm going to take part in the festivities later.” “Of course,” Ayden agreed. Anaua nodded and

  gathered up Anali.

  Chichi took Li by the hand on her way out of the

  family cutout. “Can I meet the night-singers too?” Chichi

  asked.

  Li bent down and picked up a loose rock from the floor

  of the cavern and held it firm in her hand, making sure

  that only Chichi and no one else, could see. When she

  opened her hand again, the rock had transformed into the

  detailed shape of a night-singer posing mid-song to

  Luna'Rai. Chichi picked up a small stone and held firm too.

  When he opened his hand, the small rock had changed

  shape but the form was unclear. Chichi scowled at his

  creation. Li smiled with encouragement and handed him

  the night-singer stone.

  “Someday,” Li assured. “Until then, let this keep you

  strong and brave for your sister.”

  *** The ride on the lift to the surface was long. Kutch watched Alex as she slept with her coat bundled up under her head. He shook his head, she could sleep anywhere. Kutch thought about the first time they met, and how he believed she was with Corporate Security, ready to have him REIMD for breaching Corporate databases. Li stopped her from intruding his mind--back when Li was still an AI and part of his mind. Inseparable--or so Kutch had thought. So much had changed, and Kutch wiped away the moisture collecting in his eyes, not noticing Alex had sat up.

  “You all right?” Alex asked.

  “Oh--you're awake? Sure, I--I was just thinking of Li. I haven't had any dream messages from her in a while.” “I know what you mean. I miss her too, but we have more pressing matters. Logistics and Tactical have picked up on some message traffic. We have a team of Corporate Security waiting at the top floor for us.” Alex straightened out her long coat.

  “The plan?” “We'll stop a few floors short and get off before we reach the top.”

  Kutch scowled in thought. “
Don't these large lift channels have a maintenance hangar above the last floor?”

  Alex smirked. “I like how you're thinking--how'd you get so smart?”

  “Just the people I seem to hang out with...” Kutch winked. Alex started another intrusion of the lift transport system and bypassed the last regular stop, to continue on to the top level of the maintenance hangar, and into an available slot. The maintenance crew squinted to see the vague shapes leaving the lift and take an emergency exit to the surface levels.

  With silent efficiency, Alex and Kutch wormed their way through the maze of passages and ladders to the outer skin of the artificial planet. Kutch helped Alex push open the last hatch, the atmospheric pressure inside assisting as well, making apparent the pressure difference from outside. Although the planet was artificial, with all production facilities built inside the surface skin, there was a residual atmosphere surrounding the planet, made up of escaped gases and pollutants from inside. The electromagnetic fields from the power core and gravitational forces developed from the mass of the planet protected the thin veil of gases enveloping the surface.

  Alex poked her head out first. The surface

  atmosphere, although thin, was a dark, smoky brown color and smelled horrific. She took a quick proximity scan, then ducked back down for some fresh air. “I got him--Troy is waiting just a couple hundred meters that way.” Alex pointed. “Stay close, the air is thin, hard to breathe and smoky.”

  Kutch nodded, and took a couple of deep breaths getting ready.

  “Oh, and it's only about forty degrees below zero, centigrade,” Alex added.

  Kutch frowned, and pulled over his long coat hood, continuing with another deep breath. Alex did the same, and gave Kutch a nod. In a flash, they both climbed out onto the surface. Alex got her bearings, took a quick look to see Kutch right behind, then darted for the waiting small craft. Even with a thin atmosphere, the wind was fierce, buffeting them at every step.

  Kutch fought to keep a close eye on Alex only a meter ahead as the smoky haze and pollutants burned his eyes. Unable to hold his breath any longer, he took a gasp only to find that the pollutants burned his lungs too. He was thankful he wasn't able to take a very deep breath.

  ::We've got company!:: Alex pointed up.

  Kutch took only a cursory glance to see a glowing spot of light approaching from above, and kept moving forward toward Alex. ::Corporate!::

  : :Security shuttle--we have just a few more meters to go,:: Alex answered. Kutch chanced a glance past Alex to see a faint outline of a small sled clamped down to the surface plating. As they approached, the hatch opened, and an arm came out to pull Alex and then Kutch inside.

  “STRAP IN!” Troy shouted, as he secured the hatch, released the surface clamps and engaged the thrusters on full. Kutch felt like loose luggage as he attempted to get the belts secured after falling with force into the back seat. His PPD applied the appropriate protections as usual.

  “You are in violation of Security Protocols 429-44--” the internal audio blared the Corporate Security announcement before Troy turned off the volume. He guided the small craft close along the surface, skirting around protrusions, keeping as deep within the smoky cover of the atmosphere as he could.

  “Their scanners are useless for tracking us--as long as we stay close to the surface,” Troy affirmed, in a calmer demeanor.

  “We will--eventually--need to leave, right?” Kutch asked, trying not to sound as worried as he was feeling. As much as he was unable to see the surface through the haze, he knew it was right there. Troy maneuvered the craft with a few more harsh turns, the thrusters still going strong, before changing the altitude without any announcement. The craft shot straight up, blending into outgoing traffic from a flight channel portal. After a few more close maneuvers in and around some of the larger craft leaving the planet, Troy changed the craft flight beacon registry and assumed a normal--and much safer-flight path, leaving the Corporate Security shuttle well behind and confused. “There--” Troy announced, sounding quite pleased.

  Alex turned to see Kutch still fumbling with his straps and laughed. Kutch realized the straps were all fouled, useless and no longer required.

  “Your next assignment is only a few hours flight to Centauri 2 recreational retreat,” Troy explained.

  “Great a retreat,” Kutch commented.

  “Oh no...no more,” Alex interrupted.

  “What?” Kutch asked with surprise.

  Alex wasn't sure who was more surprised. “You're ready go do this again?”

  “It's a retreat--whoa, wait. Are we working there or--”

  “You are both booked as guests,” Troy assured. “The next assignment is scheduled to arrive in a few days. She’s a mid-level manager at a parts supply facility within Centauri 4, and occupying a key position within the supply chain.”

  “We'll be guests!” Kutch argued his point to Alex. Troy looked to Alex for approval.

  She shook her head and sighed. “Okay--we'll be on retreat.”

  *** Lieutenant Roth refused all remote communications from Keja--an inconvenience Xria noted for future complaint to Director Huir. Keja stepped off the transport pad at the Nibra II Earth Observatory determined to talk to Roth about the sealed report regarding the three Class C freighters. All reports would have gone through Roth at that time, as he was in charge of ships’ traffic in those early stages of the evacuation of the Earth humans from the planet.

  ::I am not receiving a lock on Lieutenant Roth's location. Closest indications suggest the office quarters of the Regional Security Officer,:: Xria offered.

  ::That would be a reasonable assumption, since he replaced rogue Lieutenant Commander Reed, missing along with nearly every Elvonian in the Galaxy.::

  ::That still does not explain my lack of positional lock,:: Xria argued.

  Keja entered the Regional Security Officer quarters without hesitation, finding Roth facing away toward the large viewport, standing tall, in his full dress, black jumper uniform and calf-high black boots. “Lieutenant

  Commander Roth--”

  Roth turned on a heel, with a stern, unamused look-his hard-edged, square jawline flexed with displeasure. Roth gestured to the insignia on the collar of his jumper, tapping the indication of his rank with a finger.

  “Commander?” Keja spoke with surprise. “You were promoted to Lieutenant Commander only five fiscal years ago--this should take decades before--”

  “I am being fast-tracked to my former position and rank--as it should be, by the Director herself,” Roth interrupted. Keja could see that Roth had been

  reprocessed to have an appearance more suitable to the new rank and position. The new look was very close to how Roth had appeared when last as Captain--hard and intimidating. A male version of Director Huir.

  “I will be promoted to Captain within the next fiscal month,” Roth continued, before turning back to the viewport.

  “I would congratulate you, but I know that holds little meaning,” Keja offered.

  “If you are finished with your continued meaningless banter, the exit is behind you. Do not confuse our previous work assignments as anymore than that.”

  “I am not finished!” Keja stood his ground. He could see Roth's jaw muscles flexing again, even from behind. Roth was not in Keja's chain of authority. Keja's position within the Department was, in fact, at a higher share’s schedule, although the position of Regional Security Officer, Earth, was a very powerful position. “I have questions regarding a sealed report involving three Class C freighters missing from Earth over six fiscal years ago-during your assignment as Traffic Control.”

  Roth appeared to convulse, as though repulsed by the former position title, but otherwise did not respond. Xria transferred a copy of the file in question.

  “I am in need of these files to be unsealed to further my investigation and data analysis.”

  “Your needs are not my concern!” Roth raised his voice, with a tone of finality.

  �
��Then I will be forced to take this matter up with the Director,” Keja argued.

  “So be it--you are dismissed.” The entry slid open behind Keja to accentuate Roth's point.

  “We are not done here! Director Huir will receive a full report,” Keja stated, but took his cue to leave. There was no need to argue further. He was certain Director Huir would be very interested in this matter.

  *** ::My Egal, sensors indicate a small craft approaching our heading, in a crossing path,:: K'nal Lluxi announced over the necklace internal communications. ::Your orders?::

  Cain thought a moment from his lounging cube in his quarters after waking from a nap. They were only one hundred and seventy-seven hours of travel away from the Delphinus Prime Station. There was no need for more food supplies; however, the specifications coming in from the sensor array, indicated the small craft would fit inside the hangar bay of any of the Class C freighters. The additional craft could be an asset.

  ::I will disable the craft. Lock on with the on board transport beam system, and on my signal, transport the entire craft into this ships hangar bay,:: Cain commanded.

  ::Yes sir,:: K'nal Lluxi replied. ::Transport beam locked and engaged!::The Class C freighter lighting dipped with the power surge from the massive amount of energy used.

  ::NO!::

  The transport beam only managed a partial lock on the small, fast moving craft, dissolving a large section, but not the entire craft. The remaining part, including only portions of three out of the four passengers on board, began to drift into several pieces, with partial cocoons floating into open space. The remains of the small craft

  propulsion system tumbled out of control before exploding. Cain took control of several visual sensors and scanned the debris. The destruction was complete.

  ::MY EGAL! I will forfeit my life immediately for my gross error!:: K'nal Lluxi announced, shaken by his miscalculation.

  ::That would be an honorable solution; however, I do not require your death just yet!:: Cain grinned, as the impact of what happened presented opportunities not perceived before. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Dravon saw something of great interest. A useful tool. More importantly, a very effective WEP! ::Have you materialized the remaining portions?::Cain asked.