Sunlord

by Ronan Frost

  This thought did little to ease his mind for Shaun knew that the Hartrias were fond of dropping anti-personnel landmines that would blast ones ankle-bones up through the top of the skull at super-sonic speeds.

  Shaun stopped, pausing long enough to gaze up at the orange sky. He had been journeying for several weeks now - weeks that seemed like years when every minute held the prospect of death. Habitually twisting his wrist Shaun caught himself, for he knew that his watch was broken. It had smashed against a rock in his encounter with a column of Hartrias footsoliders. Shaun had managed to evade them and, with the aid of his helicasuit that cloaked infra-red and a paint that absorbed radar, had gone stealth. In his scramble to safety he had fallen and smashed his watch and with it the global positioning micro-chip. Not that it was much good to him - he didn't have a map and he didn't know where he was going. It did not matter if he were lost.

  He had landed the Minnow in the swamps where he had last seen his native friends, knowing that if he remained airborne in the fighter craft it would quickly attract the attention of the Hartrias. At the time foot seemed to be the method of travel, but now Shaun rued his choice.

  Collapsing into the scrap of shade behind a boulder Shaun closed his eyes. The landscape had changed a lot over the course of a year; now more than ever his quest of finding Ashian, Myshia and Capac seemed hopeless.

  The word rung through his mind. He made the decision then that it was time to turn back.

  Sucking a little liquid through the straw on the inside of his mask Shaun stood after a short rest, consulted his instrument, then stepped forward. He was aiming westwards, back to the site of the swamp. Hopefully the Minnow was still intact. Shaun knew he would be roasted by the Generals back at the Federation command ship, but that was something suddenly much more preferable than these sun-baked plains.

  * * *

  He was glad to be amongst the trees again. The vast plains had undoutably affected his thought processes because now, back in the swamp, he felt more in control of the situation. His pistol was in his hand, armed and ready should a pryon or k'lockri attack. Through the trees the sun had now disappeared, marking the end of another day.

  Progress back into the swamp had not been eventless. It seemed that the Federation were securing the area and were firing upon anything that did not have identification. Shaun had made an attempt at approaching his fellow soldiers but was fired upon for his efforts. Not caring to be caught up in the hassles of being handed up the hierarchy from footsoldier to lieutenant to sub-commander to commander Shaun decided to make directly for his Minnow. He followed a meandering trail of beaten down reeds, the twisting of the path reflecting the abstract thoughts that ran through his head.

  Weary beyond caring Shaun had covered nearly seven hundred kilometres in the past weeks, sustained only by the recycling kit he carried in his pack. Sometimes aircraft would blaze across the sky, fighter planes hugging the ground in search of an enemy battalion onto which to drop their payload, other reconnaissance craft mere dots in air. Knowing his helicasuit would protect presence from all but the most determined of lookers Shaun was confident that he would be left alone.

  Thus the sharp blade that jabbed at the back of his neck came as an unexpected jolt.

  Shaun stopped as his thoughts caught up with the situation. He froze, then slowly lifting his arms up to show he had no thoughts of fighting back. Wild imagination ran riot as he imagined a burly Hartrias warrior holding its blast gun at point blank range. Shaun swallowed and let his pistol drop from his hand. First he needed to surmise his situation, then get the hell out of it. He forced words from his mouth. "Easy now, I'm just passing through."

  No response came. Eyes closed Shaun calculated his chances of survival if he broke and ran now; an ice-cube's chance in hell. Breathing deeply into his diaphragm Shaun began turning around slowly, determined not to die from a shot in the back. If he could only see how many of them there were -

  Shaun's heart missed a beat then re-doubled its pounding rhythm. A momentary grin split his lips as he pulled the gas mask off over the top of his head. The spear prodded sharply into his chest, bruising his flesh but not cutting the tough fabric of the helicasuit.

  "I come to you in peace," Shaun began haltingly in the rapid fluting tones of the native eloprin language. His year aboard the Federation ships were not wasted; he had spent much of that time studying the microchip files on his translator bug, and now spoke a few words of the difficult language.

  The eloprin holding the spear looked more scared than Shaun had been. The blade shook dangerously at the human's throat as the suspicious eloprin's brows furrowed. "You can talk?"

  Shaun nodded slowly as to not bring the spearhead into his throat. "I am your..." Pausing, Shaun racked his brain for the word. What the hell was 'friend' in eloprin? The small native did not have the patience and fear was getting the better of him.

  Then Shaun remembered, and almost shouted the word. "Co'rowix, co'rowix," he repeated, knowing that his human tongue could not possibly hope to properly reproduce the proper clicking sounds.

  The eloprin moved the spear a hairs-breadth away but his voice was still taut. "What are you doing?"

  Shaun had to close his eyes and mentally replay the sentence back in his mind before he pieced together the meaning. "I...come in search of a friend. Ashian, Myshia..."

  The eloprin shook his head.

  "...Capac," finished Shaun.

  "Capac?" The native raised a brow. "You know Capac?"

  "Yes, Capac," laughed Shaun, suddenly feeling light headed. What were the chances! he thought elatedly. "Do you know where he is?"

  The spearhead returned to Shaun's throat, as threatening as ever. "I will take you to him."

  They had grown used to the poor lighting and it was with this ease did Capac weave his way through the makeshift underground encampment. The tribe had utilised those structures still standing, and blocked off crumbling holes with rocks, creating almost civilised living rooms. But still the damp and stale air remained and no sunlight ever shone onto their skin.

  Capac moved aside to allow the passing of two small children as they ran past with typical youthful adaptation to the change. Most of the village stayed below, stitching and weaving baskets and mats to make their living area more bearable.

  Recently Kiroth had agreed that some hunters should be sent above to the surface, firstly to collect much needed supplies and secondly to establish their position. Many optimistic villagers believed the threat passed, but Capac knew that the Federation would not have moved away so quickly. Digging their way out, the five hunters had initially ventured out at night to bring back a speared pyron, which the tribe had feasted on soon after. Their ventures had become more and more adventurous until one day the hunting party simply did not return.

  Savagely reminded of their position Kiroth declared that their outside excursions remain close to the tunnel and only at night. It was the first of this next team, the last of the hunters left alive, that had journeyed out earlier in the evening. And now they had returned early, drawing with them much commotion. Capac feared that something had gone wrong again.

  Hobbling along with the aid of a newly carved cane Capac saw the light of several torches flare up as the hunters brought in their bounty; a human.

  Weakened to his bones Capac caught himself, blinking several times then looking back, squinting. Already the tribespeople had gathered around cautiously but with an edge of hostility.

  "Get back!" Capac cried, making sweeping gestures with his hand. "He is a friend - don't harm him."

  There could be no mistaking now that it was Shaun. Capac limped forward as the human was cast roughly to the ground, several spears held dangerously close to his heart.

  Shaun looked lost, the sea of twenty eloprin faceless in the shadows. The light of the torch burned his eyes, dazzling him as he was driven backwards. Then a figure bent with age stepped between him and the torch, falling a shadow over Shaun's eyes.
/>   "Shaun - it is you!"

  Propping himself to his elbows Shaun narrowed his eyes. "Capac?" he tried, amazed that the eloprin had aged so rapidly.

  "You can talk!" exclaimed Capac in surprise.

  Shaun knew that the native was used to hearing him speak through his translator bug, leaving his speech sounding mechanical and toneless. He immediately brightened. "I took the time to learn your language. Tell me, where are Ashian and Myshia?"

  Capac did not answer. "Shaun," he said in sudden levelness, "why did you come back?"

  "W..What do you mean?"

  Capac's voice held an element of vice. "After what you have done to us. Your betrayal."

  "No, that was why I came back." Determined not to go on carrying the conversation whilst laying on his back with spears at his chest, Shaun moved to his feet. "I came to stop it."

  In the darkness Capac's eyes glinted. "It was Federation soldiers who forced us from our home."

  "What do you mean?"

  "They shot at us. Killed more than half of our number."

  Shaun could not speak - how could he? It was as if all his beliefs and firmaments were undermined by this clash of his culture and the eloprins'. "I'm sorry..."

  "You said that calling upon the Federation would free us of the Sunlords," pressed Capac. "Now, it seems as if calling the Federation has worsened things."

  "Yeah, I know, but things have changed..." He thought of telling Capac that the Federation must secure

  an area to be sure it was free of enemy troops. Then, when the war had been won, peace treaties with

  natives inhabitants could be signed. But in his heart Shaun knew it would not happen. "That's why I've

  returned."

  It seemed Capac had read Shaun's mind. "We cannot go on fighting against armies."

  Exhaling heavily, Shaun rubbed his hand across his brow. "Where is Ashian, I must speak with him."

  Capac shook his head. "He is in the Forest Mother's embrace."

  "I'm sorry?" Shaun shook his head in confusion. "Then where is Myshia?"

  The edges of Capac's mouth hardened. "She died while in stages of mxroiaht."

  "Mxroiath?" Not understanding the word, Shaun knew that it had never appeared on the logdisk of the translator bug. Myshia had died? Shaun looked around the ink-black cavern as if he could spot Myshia, proving the eloprin wrong. "What do you mean?"

  Capac released pent up breath, raising his bowed head and affixing his sharp eyes upon Shaun's. "Come, let's get you comfortable. I'm sorry for your rough entrance, but let me introduce you to the Great Water Clan..." Capac named the tribal members as each in turn nodded their head in still-suspicious greetings.

  Shaun noticed that Capac had ignored his question, but decided to let the matter pass until a later opportunity. It seemed he had a lot of questions to sort through.

  They sat upon low seats constructed of plastic-like construction inside the chieftain's shelter, a small flickering fire burning in the fireplace formed of stacked rubble. From the moment he had seen the Ansarii's ancient buildings Shaun had been enraptured, fascinated with the technology that had constructed it. It was old beyond the age of mankind, Shaun knew, but reflected the same structures only now showing themselves in human culture.

  He had been shown to food and had eaten, unable to remove his eyes from Capac's bent form. In those moments of silence he had time to realise why the eloprin was so old - there could be only one explanation. It seemed that the eloprin had a metabolism much faster than a human's, accounting for their quick movements and mind. It was also in keeping with the theory Shaun fostered that they had evolved from insects, for insects did not live a long time. Upon asking several questions Shaun discovered that the maximum age an eloprin would expect to live for was eleven years. Belatedly Shaun admitted to himself that he had attributed too many human characteristics to the natives. It was obvious that for these people a child was considered fully grown at the age of five!

  Gathering in the chieftain's room Capac promised he would reveal all. Kiroth, the tribe's chieftain, sat close by as Capac settled himself. Shaun drew in a deep breath, hardly able to contain his questions much longer.

  "You must tell me now. What happened to Ashian and Myshia?"

  Stirring the ashes of the dying fire with the end of his cane Capac paused to collect his thoughts. "When a female of our people nears her eighth year mxroiath begins. Only the Forest Mother determines when it begins, but when it does, that is the time takes her mate." Brows furrowing with resurfaced memories, Capac continued. "Myshia was ill, and despite all attempts she died in the final stage of mxroaith. All but one of her five eggs did not hatch."

  Eggs, of course. Shaun chided himself for not noticing that the eloprin were not mammals. "There was one egg that did live?"

  "Yes. Riel was brought amongst us. He is the lad you saw earlier."

  Shaun nodded. He had seen only a glimpse of wide, depthless brown eyes as the child had immediately turned from Shaun's presence.

  "And Ashian, did he live?"

  Capac looked confused, surprised that Shaun did not understand. "She was Myshia's mate."

  His visage remaining questioning Shaun waited for Capac to clarify. Looking uncertain, Capac shook his head slowly. "Is it not the same with your race? When a female takes a mate she performs actions that will bring life to her eggs. She eats and digests the life-power of the male so that her children may grown as strong as he."

  "The male dies?"

  "The female removes the gland in the male's chest - of course he dies. Are you saying that this is not the same with your race?"

  His head suddenly spinning Shaun fought back bile. Myshia had eaten Ashian?! In his mind he could not picture Ashian meeting his death in such a manner. "I don't understand..." It seemed incredible that the wily currach would no longer appear at Shaun's side with a question or comment, his once brown eyes no longer glinting with curiosity. Capac was speaking, and Shaun forced himself back to reality.

  "Normally all five of the eggs live," Capac said, "but for Myshia, it seemed that this one single egg had used up all the nourishment for itself." Shaun saw Capac stiffen as if a wash of cold rippled across the eloprin's back. "When Riel hatched we all knew he had inherited Myshia's powers - perhaps more."

  "Powers? What do -"

  Kiroth interrupted, obviously not wishing to delve into thoughts of such matters. He was not one to privy with the Forest Mother's arcane matters and preferred to leave the matter alone; such talk could only bring misfortune upon the tribe. "This is not important. Instead, tell us what you propose to do about winning back our land from the Sunlords."

  Shaun realised that the Federation also came under the umbrella term 'Sunlord', for they too had come to earth on the heels of fire and light. And now Shaun could see the eloprin's plight was worsened two-fold.

  * * *

  Riel knew it was time.

  His sleep had been racked by nightmares and pain the past few days, leaving his mind aching and senses blurred. It seemed reality was losing focus for the small boy and the other presence in his brain was growing stronger. It seemed that a third eye was forcing itself painfully open inside his head, wrenching with it the flesh of his brain. The other presence was stronger than ever, and on this night, triggered by seeing the human, that presence had taken complete control.

  The young child known as Riel was now just an observer, distant, isolated and a little scared. But what was fear when there were no senses or perception of being? He no longer thought of himself as an entity.

  Riel's body moved under the cover of darkness, away from the fire of nearby villagers. He trod through puddles and sharp rocks, but did not heed the pain. The exit to the cavern was out-of-bounds to all but the hunters, but this night Riel needed to see the stars.

  The sounds of talk and warm companionship were distant to his ears as Riel clambered the loose dirt incline. Upon all fours, the young eloprin moved upwards with his eyes downturned; in the dark
ness they were no use anyway.

  "Riel!"

  Startled, the child snapped up wide faceted eyes as Solhan held fresh wood to the burning torch. "What are you doing out here - "

  The hunter's voice cut off as Riel stretched out with his hand, four fingers splayed. Instantly Solhan felt drowsy and within moments had collapsed backwards. His way now cleared Riel crawled forward once more. The part of his mind that had once been a small boy knew that the events set into motion were now unstoppable. The power of the Ansarii were focused on Riel's mind, a power multiplied one million-fold from his mother's, a power as ancient as the stars themselves.

  The tunnel did not seem to be long, for it seemed like only moments had passed before Riel was pushing aside the heavy cloak of weaved vines and debris that camouflaged the entrance. Riel remained upon all fours, his brown eyes still staring at the ground.

  The moonlight shone down upon the swamplands, the air still and cold. Slowly, very slowly, Riel raised his eyes, his mind taking in every detail of the hanging branches and shadowed undergrowth. Raising his head he looked upon the myriad of stars glistening like fine diamonds upon black cloth. He remained like that for a long time, simply looking up and feeling the distance and immensity of space.

  Somehow his mind had expanded - broken free of normal confines. It was with this extra-sensory perception did Riel know that the sleeping body of Solhan had been discovered and Riel's absence had been noticed. Already a search was underway for the missing child.

  Knowing that he would have enough time, Riel attached no significance to these earthly matters. Dropping his handholds upon the earth Riel stood and began to sway as if in trance. Inside his head bright lights exploded like fireworks, pain now inseparable from joy and fear as he swum in the net of aches that ran from temple to temple. Like a dam bursting its walls the power of the Ansarii spread its fingers outwards, outwards into space...