by Ronan Frost
Capac paced uneasily from foot to foot. "It is a risk I don't want to take."
"It's worth it." Ashian's mind was firm. "Our world is on the edge of extinction, and we are the only chance. For all we know, my cities and your tribes may be under attack. I have been over this many
times in sleepless nights. Our only two weapon's are those of initiative and cunning. To overcome the enemy we must first learn of it. This creature says he is an enemy of the Sunlords, and if so will be invaluable to our cause. Please Capac, consider the alternatives."
Myshia nodded consent, and gestured for Capac to do the same. She saw the creature before them as a gift from the gods, a tool be used, and she wasn't about to let it go.
Capac pondered for a second, and opened his mouth to speak. He had barely uttered a syllable before the star creature stirred again.
"Why do you keep me here?" he asked in a whisper. His eyes were still closed but instincts cried out against sleep in such alien company.
"We need your help," began Ashian. "We are going to drive away the Sunlords that threaten our people."
"Sunlords?" asked Shaun. The translator had not recognised the word and so had left it in Eloprin tongue.
"The starmen, the things that drive the shiny carts, spitting fire and death."
The computer chip in the translator picked this up, and substituted the Eloprin word for the one Shaun was accustomed to.
"You want to drive them off?" the latter asked. A faint smile lit his lips, wry and devoid of mirth. He opened his right eye a crack. "Do you realise the strength of your foe?"
"We have the strength to match it." Capac's answer was defiant and a gleam shone in his eye.
Shaun sunk back into his makeshift bed wearily. "Fools. For generations my race has fought them. They are beasts with might enough to take on the universe."
Ashian stepped in between Capac and the creature. "We do not look for blood. All life is sacred and I must protect it. Even the life of the Sunlords are a part of the ever present Abas, and to take it is sin.
I stand for both the Currach and the Eloprin when I say that we do not wish to destroy our enemy, we only want to send them away and bring peace back to our cities. That is my purpose."
Capac practically sneered at the Currach. "I will not rest until every Sunlord lies dead at my feet!"
Shaun held up his hand from his horizontal position on the ground.
"Stop, please. You must understand that you natives do not stand a chance. Just accept it."
Capac's face shone scarlet. "The Sunlords will die!"
"Wait," called Ashian. "We will not sit back and watch farmhands become rebels, rebels that are massacred every day. We will drive the starship off. With your help."
Shaun staggered at this last remark. Even in his weakened state he struggled into a sitting position.
"Now wait a minute, nobody said anything about help. If you guys want to run under a steamroller, go ahead. But you're not taking me with you." He relaxed and slumped back onto one elbow. "This planet is doomed. I'm getting off it as soon as possible and I'm going to head back to the Federation."
"You want to run," said Capac witheringly. "Your race has no pride."
"I belong to a great race," countered Shaun. "We are the biggest threat to the Sunlords and we dominate more than five hundred worlds. Eventually the human race will one day overthrow the Sunlords."
"You must help us." Sweat ran off Ashian's brow, the jungle hot and humid. "We saved your life, and you must save ours. Anyway, now you are stuck on this 'doomed' planet and are in it as much as we are."
Shaun considered this. "I was planning to steal a Sunlord pod and cross to planet L/ME-11X. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful to you, but please, I am of more assistance to the Federation by going back."
"Perhaps you'd like us to leave you here to die?"
Shaun paused, suddenly finding it bizarre that he should be bargaining over his life. He knew there lay no alternative. "I will help you to get aboard the Sunlord mothership, but from there our paths will split. It is a suicide mission I would not like to take. But you have my word that I will get you there."
Ashian glanced at Capac, as did Myshia. Their council was silent as Capac's brows gathered in thought.
He nodded slightly. "We will get you back to health on the condition we get aboard." Capac's mind did not even venture on how to travel so high in the sky. His race had never even heard of an aeroplane, let alone spacecraft. To him space may just have well have been another dimension, an alien world so disjointed from his own. It was a realm unknown to him before the Sunlords had invaded, and since then the tribal elders had deeply discussed the seemingly mystic powers of the silver men. Instead he chose to clear his mind of questions and simply accept the notion. "I can handle the battle once we are there."
Shaun shut his eyes once more.
"Fine. Just let me rest, and when I awake I will show you how to look after yourself. After all, it looks like you'll need all the help you can get."
"One final thing," put in Ashian. "What is your name?"
The human grinned. "Shaun Lowry, pleased to make your acquaintance. And you are...?"
* * *
The glowing embers of the sunset illuminated the forest, casting eerie shadows upon a red-coloured landscape. Ashian sat upon a half rotten log, staring dreamily up into the cloud filled sky.
Occasionally amid the natural splendour meteor-like traces of Sunlord scoutships appeared as they entered the atmosphere. They were distant and seemingly insignificant, and Ashian found himself regarding the erratic streaks as isolated from his own private world in the forest.
His deep blue eyes glimmered in thought as the philosopher pondered his new surroundings. He thought of his colleges in the city, and of the libraries he used to visit reverently. Ashian thought of Abas, the Creator of the world of the Currach and the Eloprin, and why He had chosen him to undergo such trials.
A silent prayer was muttered as he sat in the glorious sunset, the gnarled twisted log beneath him like a fallen, many armed giant grasping for support. The only other sound was the distant trickle of
water and the hum of crickets.
"Great Abas," he began, "guide my footsteps. I have witnessed more death in one day than generations of Currach have ever seen. I pray that my journey will rid Your world of death and no harm shall befall the innocent. Lea-"
His reverie was shattered as bitter shouting emerged from the trees immediately behind him, where their makeshift camp was situated.
"Myshia, come quickly! It's gone!"
Ashian knew what had happened even before Capac had finished.
The creature from the stars had escaped them!
His mind was a tumult of thoughts, of questions, rising urgently and demanding an answer. But he pushed them back as he leapt from the log, his legs momentarily weak with the sudden change from mediation into activity. He paused for a split second, casting one last longing look at the sunset and its tranquilly. His shook his head as if to clear it, and made off at a sprint towards the camp.
Brambles tore at him like flailing arms, and he narrowly avoided a fall by madly pinwheeling his arms. He burst through and into the clearing where the grass bed had been made for the star creature.
He met with Capac's red face.
"Your thing has escaped!" he accused. "You wanted to keep it, and it will be our downfall."
"What? How? I..." Ashian took a moment to recover. "Tell me what happened."
Huso had joined Capac now, and Myshia could be seen examining the now
empty bed.
"It was sleeping." Capac's voice was harsh and unforgiving. "When I came back it was gone! And you said it needed our help!"
"But it was weak. Surely it hasn't gone far?"
Huso spoke. "I have looked for a trail. The thing has left none."
"It was our ally." Ashian's statement was a futile attempt at confidence, but his shaking voice betrayed his nervousness.<
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"Your damned Currach curiosity will be the end of us all!" Capac was shouting now. All frustrations came to the fore; the desperation of finding his village massacred and the futility he had felt, the bitter irony of hunting the Sunlord that had outwitted him and killed behind his back. And now Ashian, the quiet Currach, became the scapegoat. Capac suddenly found a release valve, and everything came flooding out.
"I knew that we shouldn't have trusted one of...of, you. You come in your bright rags and fancy speech, and you've got the gall to lead us into this."
"I thought we could trust the creature," said Ashian, brave despite the abuse, his stare direct in return.
Capac opened his mouth to draw great breath but froze on the verge of speech.
"I found something."
The quiet muttering from Myshia silenced all. Capac closed his mouth and relaxed visibly. He cast a sidelong gaze at Ashian before darting off to where Myshia sat analysing the earth.
"See the scuff marks," she said as Capac peered over her shoulder. "He made off in this direction."
"He must move like a cat," grumbled Capac. "Follow my lead. We will track down and kill the creature."
Ashian was unable to halt the proceedings and he found himself caught up in the flow. Before he knew what had happened he was struggling to keep up with the two Eloprin as they made off into the
forest.
Myshia aided Capac in picking up the trail. "I did not realise something its size could make so little
prints," she observed.
Capac had bounded ahead, then stopped within a few feet to check their progress. "It has passed through here. I am sure of it."
They cleared the cover of a cluster of towering trees, and then suddenly their elusive pray fell into sight. They were not twenty metres from the campsite, and here the creature was kneeling intently
and working upon something he held in the palm of his hand.
He heard them approach and looked up, command in his eyes. "Ah, there you are. Quickly now, we must move."
Capac was dumbfound, unsure of where he stood. "What are you doing? Curse you if you are you betraying our position to the enemy."
Shaun shrugged away the question. "There is little time for that now. I have picked up a frequency, and they are closing fast!"
Myshia was taken aback. "How did you walk?"
Shaun stopped, as if just realising an explanation was warranted. "When I awoke I found some supplementary injections in the suit I wore. The Sunlord's first aid worked for me, and although making me a little woozy they have sped up the healing process. I was just fixing this beacon so that I can find out where I am." Shaun held out a tiny glinting piece of metal, not unlike a watch face. In the depths of the forest the red sunlight was feeble, but the metal shone like nothing Ashian had ever seen before. "This device links up to the Sunlord mothership and can give me a location. And don't worry," continued Shaun as he saw Ashian about to object, "it won't give away our position."
Capac lowered his rifle slightly. "You left surprisingly little marks behind you. We thought you had escaped."
"My training," explained Shaun absently, "was intense and covered many areas, including stealth. But enough chatter." Shaun stood stiffly and motioned back to the campsite, his walk slow and tender. "I picked up readings and snatches of communication on the beacon. I am certain an A-squad team is on our tail; I'd say they've been following you quite a time."
Capac stopped suddenly, cursing. "Of course! I presumed that we had shaken off all those Sunlords at the village - by now they could be right on top of us!"
"You got it."
"How many?" asked Myshia.
Shaun shrugged. "No idea."
Ashian's narrow brows furrowed over his large emerald eyes. He faced the strange alien squarely.
"Can we trust you?"
Shaun's tone was gruff. "No time for family histories now. I'm out of here with or without you. As a member of the Federation it is my duty to assist natives of war caught worlds, but not before my own safety. I will gladly help you in as many ways as I can, so my offer stands. Follow me if you will."
Capac and Ashian conferred silently. Capac nodded. "Then lead."
Ashian followed behind as Shaun set the pace through the jungle. Capac followed close by, pointing out to the strange alien the best routes to take.
"What lies ahead?" asked Shaun, indicating to the towering mountain range before them. The sun had long since disappeared below the forest horizon, leaving the forest shrouded in evening shadow and a chill wind blowing thunderclouds overhead.
Capac paused to consider. "Those peaks are treacherous terrain - the slopes are rocky and I wouldn't like to loose my footing and slide back into the hands of the Sunlords."
Shaun cast his gaze about. "Jungle lies all around. There is no choice but to go up these peaks, and hopefully set some traps in our wake."
"I can manage that. My forest craft is unrivalled in my tribe."
Shaun shrugged. "Do what you like, little man, just don't get caught up beneath my feet. I think I should be able to throw off our pursuers over the rocky ground. Come on, enough rest."
The three natives watched as Shaun plunged back into the jungle, heading directly for the mountains that lay in the distance before them.
"Do you trust his guidance?" whispered Myshia.
Capac scowled. "He treats me like a child still ignorant of hunting ways."
"Perhaps we are," put in Ashian. He explained. "To fight the Sunlords we must take a new approach. We are still newcomers to the world of the Sunlords, yet it seems Shaun is an old hand."
"He is clever," conceded Capac.
"Clever? He is brilliant." Ashian watched the humanoid figure moving between the trees a short way off. "With his help we stand a fighting chance of winning this war."
"Yes, but for how long will he continue helping us?" Myshia was still doubtful. "How do we trust someone who will run off at the first opportunity? He said himself that this was a doomed planet, and I cannot envisage him staying around for long."
The wry Eloprin hunter shrugged. "Do we have a choice?" He glanced at the forest before them.
"We'd better hurry if we're going to keep up with our alien companion. He is moving as if the fires of hell are at his feet."
* * *
Shaun shivered and drew the helicasuit tighter about his form. The temperature on this planet was approaching zero, and already a light mist of drizzle hung in the air. Unlike the Eloprin and Currach, Shaun was not acclimatised to the frost-bitten surrounds, and it chilled him to the bone. He recalled reading a brief report on the planet stating that during winter storms the temperature had been known to drop to forty degrees below. The natives were shielded from the harsh environment by their thick, leathery skin and natural immunity to cold.
Shaun wore his prison helicasuit beneath the large vacuum suit he had stolen just before entering the pod. The latter's bright red material was scorched and ripped in many places, and its cut not fitting his form, but at least it kept a little precious heat. A small insignia of a crouched leopard-like beast was embodied to the chest of the vacuum helicasuit, the emblem of humanity's greatest enemy- the Hartrias. The black markings on the inner grey helicasuit proclaimed him to be a prisoner of the Royal Hartrias Fleet in bold, harsh lettering. The Hartrias, or Sunlords as the natives had dubbed them, were a powerful enemy. They were a warlike race, as old as the stars themselves, and their space superiority was challenged only by the High Command Federation of Mankind. For many long years the battle for control over space had been waged, with major loses being suffered on both sides.
As Shaun trudged up the side of the steep incline his thoughts wandered over his past.
He had been a member of the Red Eagles, a fighter pilot of a small three man craft. After training on the Earth established space base of Callorium he had graduated quickly through the ranks.
It was his first real encounter with the Hartrias when he was hit and
captured. The details were blurred with the passing of time, but Shaun could never completely forget the pain and utter fear he felt when the Hartrias scavenger party raided his crippled craft. He had been taken back to the Urisa, an old battered but none-the-less deadly starcruiser. He had been kept aboard as a prisoner for analysis and study, for the Hartrias scientists were eager to learn all possible weakness of their foe. He had been scheduled for execution after his genes were copied, and labs would mix and match them in their attempt to make the perfect being. They hoped in pooling the resources of all known races the ultimate warrior could be created.
Shaun shook his head to clear it of the memories. He wished to forget all about his terrible two year imprisonment and get back to the Federation as soon as possible.
He stopped as he reached a rocky outcropping, and hunkered down into a crouch. His nimble hands worked at the clasp to his belt and the beacon was in his hands, a faint green light emanating from the screen.
The bands of the radio were silent and Shaun not see where the A-squad troops lay. He was sure that they still followed for their type was not easily lost.
The three natives clambered up the slope to meet him, their slim browned forms moving easily over the rocky terrain. Shaun could see no sex distinction between them, for all three were of the same alien build. Their faces were peculiar in their striking resemblance to his own, although the nose was somewhat smaller and the eyes of the natives were large like glowing gems embedded into deep sockets. They called encouragement to each other in their high fluting voices as they climbed, and the former Red Eagle couldn't help but grin. They looked so determined, two with laser rifles slung over their shoulders and camouflage sap painted over their pale milky skin.
Shaun had never heard or read of their kind, for this planet was an insignificant pinprick on the inter-galactic map. He knew nothing of their psyche but, after looking at them for a few minutes, came to the firm conclusion they would do him no harm. In fact, he reflected, they had saved his life. He had been stumbling through the bitterly cold jungles for what seemed like days without food or water. He had dug feebly for some roots but met with no success. Even the Hartrias medical kit was useless to him as, although stocking medicines, provided no nutrition or life giving water.