by J. A. Marlow
And the conversation started circling back to where it started. A circle she didn't want to be in. And in a place she didn't want to be in. How could Grandma work with those who killed the sacred trees?
The cape.
Grandma wasn't wearing the red cape she always wore when outside the cottage. A longer version of the one Kate wore.
A loud rustling spread over the camp. She looked at Ayden, but his attention remained on Captain Straos and her grandma. As if he couldn't hear.
Images of dark moving shadows filled her head. Of trees blocking paths. Protecting. A sensation of pushing away.
The rustling ended, a great weariness washing over her. The trees were exhausted. She would get no more out of them.
But it was enough.
Kate squinted her eyes, not trusting the shapes in front of her. Captain Straos remained firm, his lines and form solid.
The form of Grandma blurred. Within the colors and shapes of Grandma in her apron another shape emerged. Crouching on two legs, a front leg extended out to balance.
She grabbed Ayden's arm and squeezed hard. "I thought the research would be safer where you put it, Grandma."
Grandma looked at her sharply. "Then you will have to go back for it. I cannot leave these sick people. They need my help."
Kate glanced towards the trees, wishing Ayden still had his axe. Ayden caught the movement, his body tensing. They needed a diversion of some sort and soon.
A light wave of concern from the far circle of trees, along with the sense of understanding. But the trees did not move into the barren ground of the camp.
Bunbun shrieked. She turned towards Ayden just in time to see Bunbun jump out of his coat. The bunt bounced and took off running for the building at a awkward gait.
Kate turned and ran for it, only to have two large Gatherers step in front of them. One of them grabbed a fist-full of her cape, jerking her to a stop. Ayden slammed into her as the other Gatherer grabbed his coat.
Kate was turned towards the building in time to see the image of Grandma blur. The form of Diasis dropped down, snapping his jaws at Bunbun.
"The Newcomers have formed an alliance with the Shadow Creatures," Kate announced. "Want to try the explanation again? Why do you want my Grandma's research?"
"For the same reason I look for the Ancients," Captain Straos said, ignoring Diasis chasing Bunbun around the corner of the building. "For honor to be repaid."
"What honor? Aligning with the murderous Shadow Creatures? Enslaving the Gatherers? Clear-cutting the forest?" The fury bubbled up in Kate, making her practically shout, "And where is my real Grandmother?"
Captain Straos hissed at her. Two of his eyes narrowed while the one in the middle went wide. "Do not accuse me of no honor. You and the so-called Ancients know nothing of it!"
"What did the Ancients do to you to make you so angry?" Ayden demanded.
"Their ship purposefully collided with my own while trying to force us off-course. Cargo gone, crew adrift. Their ship healed itself and continued on its way, while I had to return home. Dishonored, no ship, no cargo, no income. Explanations to be made. Loss of business." Captain Straos stalked towards them, waving a fist at them. Kate and Ayden took several steps away from him. "I am owed! This world and all on it will provide me what my honor is owed!"
"Then take it up with the Ancients. You don't have to go after the humans. We live here only by their permission," Kate said, refusing to back up any further.
"You have seen them? They have granted you an audience? You are sure of your position? You know where the city is located?"
Kate frowned. What a stupid question. "Every intelligent animal in the area knows where the city is. It's not as if it's hidden, with all the fields around it."
Captain Straos straightened up to his full short height. "Take me to the Ancient City and I will air my grievance with them."
"The Ancients have a city?" Kate asked before she could stop herself.
Diasis returned from the other side of the building, fully in his wolf shape, "You thought he would have need of the human city, simple mind?"
Kate's mind flashed on the dreams and images the trees had supplied on the hike to the Gatherer camp. Could part of what she'd seen be described as a city?
"You lead him there, Diasis," Ayden said. "The animals of the forest know more of the Ancients than we do, including where they can be found."
She gave an evil grin, "Judging by your ship, the Ancients shot you down when you approached the planet. I would guess they don't wish to talk to you."
All three of Captain Straos's eyes narrowed. "You dishonor yourself by not obeying your elder. Especially from one so young and immature as you. I asked for the city."
Kate focused on Captain Straos with narrowed eyes of her own. Uncle Travis called her immature. Her father had said the same.
She shrugged, turning her eyes to the camp, trying to appear casual but also studying it for a way of escape. "Find it yourself."
Diasis chuckled. Captain Straos whirled on him, his jaw quivering. "You laugh? Honor has not been satisfied. You will return to the cottage and find the data. It will be brought to me as payment for what I have suffered."
"You are in no position to demand anything," Diasis barked out. "You are a visitor to our world and will remember your place. Could repairs to your ship have been completed if not for us and the products of our forest? Show respect."
A second Newcomer holding what Kate had no doubt was a weapon appeared from around the building. The Gatherer hands on her shoulders and upper arm kept her from moving while the argument raged. She reached up to try and pry the man's hand off the cloth.
Captain Straos shook a hand at Diasis. "You will not forget our arrangement. Without us you will not succeed. If not for me you would still be making only whispered plans in the forest."
"We would succeed with or without you," Diasis snarled, moving forward, his legs beneath him as if to leap.
"Do not forget that the repairs of your ship would be impossible without human help."
Kate gasped at the last voice, stopping her struggle against the hands holding her.
No, it couldn't be.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
A man moved past her to join Diasis and Captain Straos. Kate wanted to close her eyes, sure it all had to be a bad dream.
And yet, right in front of her, stood Uncle Travis. With that charming, nearly blinding, smile that so many found endearing. A smile that appeared sinister to her.
Uncle Travis looked down at Diasis, "You failed to retrieve the data?"
"The old woman refused to cooperate." Diasis growled at him. "I followed your instructions, but the woman did something with the thing on her desk."
"So much for the almighty strength of the spores. And you hoped Kate might help you salvage the situation?" He glanced at Kate, "Your mother has been worried about you."
Kate ground her teeth, glaring at him. It shouldn't surprise her to see Uncle Travis talking so easily with a Shadow Creature, being the snake she knew him to be, yet it did.
"Are you here to see Kate safely home?" Ayden asked.
She glanced at Ayden. Had he forgotten about the bottle full of spores the trees saved them from?
"Not yet. Kate, would you like to see your grandmother?"
Kate couldn't have heard that right.
The Gatherer holding her pushed her forward after Uncle Travis as he walked towards a nearby building. The armed Newcomer trailed behind.
Uncle Travis stopped at a small building, sliding a wood plank holding the door shut. "Grandma Olivia, time to wake up! Kate is here. She can fetch the information for you."
The building held one windowless room with a small bathroom in the back. Her Grandmother lay still on a bed in the corner. Her head moved, turning towards the light let in by the door.
Grandma slowly rolled to her side, swinging her legs off the bed, pushing her way to her feet. Kate had never seen her face so pale. And no s
ign of the red cape anywhere. Grandma's eyes latched onto Kate, her face nearly as emotionless as the Gatherers.
"Tell Kate where she needs to go to find your research. She can bring it to you," Uncle Travis insisted. "You can trust Kate with this."
"Kate. Ancients," Grandma mumbled. She reached out to the bed post to steady herself, still looking straight at Kate. "For a slice of coconut cake with ringroot shavings."
The back of Kate's head buzzed. Grandma said something else, but Kate couldn't hear it over words radiating from the center of her head.
"Only the Ancients can fix this now. The forest knows where to look," Grandma's voice said loud and clear. "So will you, if the time comes. Learn to listen."
The voice faded as quickly as it had appeared.
The mountains. She needed to get closer to the mountains.
Grandma sighed, turning back to the bed. She lay down with her back to the door.
Uncle Travis sighed. He pushed close the door, blocking off Kate's view of her, "She's not been well."
"She's a prisoner after being kidnapped from home. How is she suppose to feel?" she demanded.
Uncle Travis shook his head at her, "I know you love your Grandmother, but not all is as it seems. Haven't you noticed how different she is from others of her age?"
Kate snorted, "Yeah, she's doing great."
"Exactly. Your grandmother's long life and stamina. I'm not the first to suspect she's found something in her research of the plants of the forest. Captain Straos needs it for the illnesses among his people and crew. We need it for our Gatherers."
"You assume whatever she discovered can be adapted to another species," Ayden said.
"The physiology is close enough," Captain Straos said. "A profit will be made while serving good."
Kate glared at Uncle Travis. "You want it yourself."
Uncle Travis turned to her, practically rolling his eyes, giving a quick shake of his head with one corner of his mouth turned down. "Doesn't everyone want to live long and healthy? A great many people will benefit from it, many who will pay a fortune."
"It's always about money with you. If Grandma kept something from you, then she did it for a good reason." Kate clamped her mouth shut. She could see his growing anger from the tightness around his eye.
The low growl from Diasis reinforced her decision. Best to be silent right now.
"I don't think you know what that money could mean to you and your mother," Uncle Travis said quietly. "Money can buy a citizenship. You could live on any world in the Alliance and your mother wouldn't have to worry about money again. Why your grandmother is keeping this from her own daughter, I don't know, but you can change it."
The idea of a permanent home was more appealing than she wanted to admit. Not a dinky interior apartment with barely enough room for a few pieces of furniture and Mom afraid every minute that the Ancient's would appear and kick them off the planet.
But the idea came from Uncle Travis. Other than her departed father she distrusted him more than anyone she knew. In one very vital respect the two were just alike: everything for themselves.
Another important fact: Grandma locked away in an illegal human camp with an alien ship being repaired by hypnotized humans. A Grandma who had a few days earlier been the picture of health.
She could feel Ayden looking at her, his body tense. He couldn't think she might agree with Uncle? Surely he knew her better than that by now. How could she forget the clear cutting, the death of the Watcher, the alliance with the Shadow Creatures who intended to destroy the human city?
Her eyes flew to Uncle's face. "You're helping them kill us. Is money worth all the murders?"
Diasis chuckled. "Such a great speech, human, but she is as stubborn as the old woman. She's made up her mind, and it isn't on your side."
Uncle Travis shook his head at her, "I really didn't expect you to be smart enough to do the right thing, but I hoped for a pleasant surprise."
"What now? Going to kill me, like what the Shadow Creatures did to the Watcher?" The words slipped out before Kate could stop them. She snapped her mouth shut to prevent more coming out.
Uncle Travis looked down at Diasis, "So, one thing went right?"
Diasis snorted, "Be watchful human. Many things have gone right. And do we not have both the old woman and the child? The answer to your search is right in front of you. A way past the stubbornness afflicting the females of this family. The spores."
Uncle Travis smiled, "Ah yes. That may work with her faster than her grandmother. Then you can use her against Ms. Blackstone."
She hated it when Uncle Travis smiled. It made her skin crawl. To have him and Diasis grinning at her made it all the worse.
"Captain Straos peered up at her. "It is not only for the humans it is asked. My crew and I need it to return to our home world in honor and dignity."
Kate nearly bit her own tongue to keep the acid words from tumbling out. She averted her eyes. She would help none of these people, just like Grandma refused. Silently she apologized to her mother, knowing that without Kate's interference nothing would stand in defiance of Uncle Travis and his ambitions.
Captain Straos sighed. "Silence seals her tongue. It is time."
Uncle Travis folded his arms with a satisfied smile, "It'll be nice not to have you constantly underfoot, Kate. Your mother will gladly come to me when her sorrow over you overwhelms her. Once we marry I have many plans for her company assets and those she will inherit from her mother."
The Gatherer hands dug deep into her shoulder as she tried to go at him. Her eyes burned. "You're despicable! A murderer of trees! I saw the trees they cut down. Do you really think it will be tolerated? And the canisters. They were from our company!"
Uncle Travis didn't even flinch. Oh, how she wanted to wipe that smile off his face, "My company. The company no longer is a concern of your family. They're only trees. Very valuable trees, worth a lot of money."
They are only trees. The same words she'd spoken not so long ago. Hearing them come from Uncle Travis sounded horrible. How could she have said something so coldhearted and callous?
"I'll be back after you're under the control of the spores. Then we'll have a nice long chat with your Grandma. I have a feeling she will be more cooperative with you around." Uncle Travis closed his coat, brushing the surface to remove a stray spot of dust. "Excuse me, I have a shuttle to unload. Your mother and I have a date tonight."
Kate kicked down at the foot and lower leg of the Gatherer holding her. The Gatherer remained solidly in place. Uncle Travis laughed, purposely turning his back to her and walking away. She stuck her tongue out at the departing figure.
She turned her head back, right into the middle of a white cloud. The following coughing fit pulled it deeper into her lungs. She heard Ayden wracked with similar coughing next to her.
Her vision narrowed. Her head felt funny, almost numb on the inside. Her limbs went limp. Although trying to keep upright she felt herself go slack The arms holding her let go but the hard landing on her knees didn't hurt a bit.
How curious.
Thoughts slowed. She didn't have any wish to speak anymore. Only listen. And perhaps sleep a bit. Yes. Sleep would be very nice.
"Good, they're succumbing quickly. We will get work out of them before the human returns," Captain Straos said from somewhere to Kate's left.
"We will enjoy making them work," Diasis said. He flicked a lethal curved claw at one of the Gatherers. "You, take off the female's red cape. She has no right to wear the color."
They wanted to take off her cape?
The world snapped back into focus. Kate launched herself to her feet. They would not take Grandma's cape from her. It was the only thing keeping the forest on their side!
Strong arms wrapped around her middle from behind, holding her firmly. Kate kicked out her feet with all her might, striking the hard body behind her. Seeing Captain Straos's portly body she kicked out at him, nearly knocking the Gatherer holding
her off-balance.
The Newcomer backed away quickly. "Behind you! Lock them in the storage room. Do not delay!"
"You are weak, Newcomer," Diasis shouted. "This is only a child! A child now filled with spores. I'll tear it off myself."
The Gatherer dragged Kate backwards while she continued her struggles and kicks. She saw Ayden briefly, completely limp and showing no movement.
Behind her she heard Captain Straos say, "Silence, Diasis. I gave an order. They will be contained until I have full control."
The words only made Kate fight harder. If Diasis had been close enough she would have kicked him, too. She prayed for the chance to get even with the evil creature.
A door slammed open. The sun disappeared to be replaced with musty darkness. She dropped to the ground of a bare room with no furniture inside, the fall knocking the breath out of her. She lay on the dirt floor trying to pull air back into her lungs.
Ayden landed next to her with a hard thud, his head resting a short distance away. His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow.
The door clicked shut, leaving them in darkness.
And the quiet was dangerous. In it she could hear and feel the alien presence inside her. A presence building, trying to take control.
Despite herself, the calm darkness of the room pervaded her mind and body. She tried to push herself up, only to find her arms lacked the strength. She lay on the ground with her cheek on the grainy soil of the floor.
Her mind flew to anything to keep it at bay. The need to escape. Her mother waiting in the city. Grandma alive and in the same camp.
Grandma. Somehow she needed to finish Grandma's work. But, what work was it? Her hazy mind couldn't quite grasp the memory.
"A lot has happened since you last visited. No one person can stop this now. It's gone too far," Grandma said, handing Kate a cup of tea.
Kate automatically grabbed it, looking down at it, confused to suddenly find herself sitting in Grandma's living room again. Bunts gazed up at her from under the furniture. She saw the boxes blocking the way back to the lab. The day of the shuttle crash.
Kate regarded the tea suspiciously. "What is going on? What needs to be stopped?"