AKLESH (Under Strange Skies)

by Samuel Jarius Pettit

  “What would have happened if Kai and I had not found a way to ‘work through it’?”

  “I don’t know,” she said honestly.

  “You don’t?” Gar repeated, surprised.

  She chuckled a bit as she continued working.

  “It often comes as a surprise to the younger generations when they discover that those before them don’t have all the answers. Most of the time we are as lost as everyone else. If you’re lucky, you gain some insight or wisdom. I may have, but that does not mean I can see the future any more clearly than you. I have no idea what would’ve happened if you both could not find some common ground. But, thankfully, we won’t need to.” Gar marveled at the shriveled woman in front of him.

  She was crazy.

  She was brilliant.

  ***

  After the great feast and a day of rest, things in the tribe began to change in the face of the oncoming shift of the season. The week or so that followed, Gar noted these as a silent observer. He never commented on them, but took them in as witness.

  The first thing he became aware of was the new respect given to Tyro and his family. Once the team leader of a group that was politely considered misfits, now his authority was principal among all the great warriors of the Aklesh. The added responsibility suited Tyro, an already impressive figure. But now he walked taller and held his head higher. He was a fit commander who took the role with gravity and humility. He was young, but he showed great promise. A prince himself, Gar knew the signs of a good leader when he saw one. He was certain Tyro’s time in his new position would be long and good.

  Seema’s pregnancy was starting to show, and just as the cloak of leadership sat well on Tyro’s shoulders, the blessing of motherhood made the young woman even more beautiful. She announced one night to her growing family as they all sat to eat on the main platform that she was certain it would be a baby girl. Although little Tilo made a face, his father was beaming.

  And as Gar worked with Hatha, he found that they were to be in the company of Cho more often. She was spending much less time with her brothers. There were many instances when, at the end of the day, Hatha would let Gar know he wasn’t need and could finish up himself. Gar wasn’t clueless, and at other times found some other occupation elsewhere so the two lovers could be alone. At the evening meal Hatha and Cho were often to be seen in each other’s company, talking quietly to themselves. They both deserved each other and Gar was thankful that no one among the tribe begrudged them this. In fact, it seemed that nobody had even noticed that they had gotten together

  besides

  the

  twins,

  who

  would

  occasionally glance at them approvingly. All the couple’s worry about what the tribe would think was for nothing.

  It showed the young prince that the only thing those who really love you want is your happiness.

  Even the world around them was changing.

  Although the air was still pleasantly warm during the day, almost in one night the evenings had grown a little more brisk. Gar was told that soon there would be precipitation of some kind almost every day till Coldrest.

  Many of the people in the tribe were now wearing furs or leather capes during the evening meal or out and about in the keep.

  Seema had made sure Gar had one as well.

  She had also offered to make him legging and a loincloth, but he still could not bring himself to don those articles just yet. The three shirts and pants he’d been wearing were ill sized, but comfortable, even if one of the shirts had a hole in it from a spear. At some point he’d have to start wearing the Aklesh clothing, but until his current clothes were a little more worn, or he just got tired of washing them, he was going to wait.

  Around the mighty tree the leaves had begun to change color as well, going from rich purple and violets to black, silver and white.

  Indeed, time was moving on as the weather cooled.

  Though it was a little chilly out in the night sky, it had been very warm in the hut he was sharing with Kai.

  Now they both slept on the cot with Kai’s sleeping furs over them, yet they did not get much sleep. The two of them had been awakened to a world they had never experienced before and they each were devouring its delights.

  Gar had shared a bed with others, but now there was nothing more comforting than pulling close to the strong, warm body in bed with him as the night grew colder. In the morning, before they had come to an understanding, he had been loath to wake up. Now he didn’t care if it was evening, he didn’t want to leave that bed.

  In this regard he was a bad influence on Kai, since Tyro and the Healer had noted him showing up late to almost everything.

  Neither had said anything about it, yet.

  That night, just after evening meal, Gar went for a walk by himself down among the lower village. He had wrapped a leather cloak around himself and strayed away from any larger groups of people. The prince had wanted to enjoy the clear night sky before it would cloud over and he’d lose his view of the stars for the season.

  Gar considered his life and what it might be like living as a member of the Aklesh tribe if he was never found.

  There were many aspects of it that appealed to him -- a loving family, not having the weight of the universe resting on his shoulders and one person who meant everything to him. He would live a long, and hopefully, good life, barring anything unexpected. His immunities to poison and disease provided by the nanites that coursed through his veins would ensure that.

  These were very appealing prospects for someone who had been perpetually running away from his destiny. Still, he felt a pang in his heart in the place where his longing for home lived, slightly diminished but not gone.

  Gar looked up into the starry sky.

  Watching the night sky had been a regular occupation for him when he had first arrived on the planet, always in the hope of seeing a rescue. But, recently he’d grown lazy and there were some evenings he just forgot to.

  There was no longer a need to look, besides there were other tempting things turning his attention to life in the tree.

  So, he was quite shocked when he noticed a miniscule red star moving across the night sky.

  Having been away from such things for so long it took him a moment to even process what he was seeing drifting through the heavens above him.

  A ship!

  Every muscle in Gar’s body went rigid and his mind went blank. The sensation didn’t last long and he bolted, sending to Kai as he ran faster than he had ever run before.

  Go to the clearing! Now!

  Gar was getting better at sending not only his thoughts, but images as well. Now that he and Kai were on such good terms, they had opened their minds up more. Communication had grown easier.

  Is there something wrong? Kai sent back, with a wave of concern from wherever he was.

  Just meet me there! he replied urgently as he dashed through the lower village.

  Kai was coming from the second platform, but was much faster that Gar, so they both arrived in the clearing at about the same time. Gar’s heart was thumping against his chest and he could barely breath from the sudden exertion. He looked into the sky and squinted. The red speck was still there, slowly arcing over them to the west.

  What’s wrong? sent Kai in panic. He, of course was barely winded at the sudden run.

  Gar pointed to the red dot.

  Ship!

  Kai looked as well. Have the Others returned? Are we in danger?

  Gar hadn’t thought about that, but there was little time. If they were mercenaries, they knew better than to meddle with this tribe. And if it was something else…

  “Help me uncover the hovervac,” Gar said, as he himself began to pull branches off the vehicle they had hidden in order to protect it from the elements.

  “What are you going to do?” Kai asked as he helped.

  “I know this isn’t going to make any sense,” he explained while they thr
ew the branches away.

  “But I’ll tell you anyway. If that ship is scanning for a specific life sign, like me, for instance, they could locate it but it would be hard to discern from a planet teaming with biological life. It would take a lot of time. But since there isn’t any alien tech around here, we get this thing going and it’ll be like lighting a torch.”

  “You want to leave so badly?” Kai asked, his face betraying his hurt.

  Gar stopped, went over to Kai and took his face in his hands, kissing him.

  “I don’t think so. Not for the reasons you’re thinking. I just…I don’t know,” he stammered.

  “But if you were lost, wouldn’t you want to be found?”

  His point being made, Kai continued to help him clear the hovervac.

  Once it was done Gar got onto it, initiated the take-off sequence into the datapad and gave the consol a good whack with his hand, just in case.

  The machine buzzed to life and hovered in the air.

  But, neither of them was concerned with the hovervac. Kai and Gar had their attention focused exclusively on the red speck edging toward the horizon of trees.

  It was still gliding on its slow path through the atmosphere.

  It occurred to Gar that he could always ride the hovervac in the direction the light was going.

  Just when he was about to tell Kai to jump on, the red dot stopped moving.

  Both of their hearts stopped beating as well, each of them barely daring to breathe as they watched the red speck frozen in the night sky.

  Suddenly there was a slight spark next to the red speck then its path went circular and it moved with greater speed, though not much, in the opposite direction. Slowly and noticeably it grew larger and larger. There was no doubt now it was a ship, but in the night sky, Gar wasn’t sure what kind.

  Eventually it came close enough for Gar to recognize it.

  A smile spread across his face. Kai regarded him as the ship came closer, not quite knowing what to think. The shuttle sent out a low vibration that could be felt all around them. As it grew near, Kai could see it was about the size of three very large huts with two large engines. Its main body was crimson and track lights lit up an emblem on the side with delicate black swirls.

  Gar knew the symbol the second he lay eyes on it. It was the Orestes family crest.

  Aklesh warriors and tribesmen were beginning to gather behind them in the clearing.

  The lights and noise would have easily been noticed from the keep, which was not far away.

  The ship dropped its landing gear and settled into the grassy area, blowing the branches of the tree about like a windstorm. The gathered crowd stood in silent awe, mostly fighting the urge to run.

  Almost all none them had seen a shuttle from the sky this close before.

  There was a hiss from the hydraulics underneath the belly of the shuttle as the loading ramp began to descend. The mob collectively jumped when this happened.

  “It’s all right!” Gar shouted to them, walking forward into the clearing to show it was safe and to greet whoever might be coming out.

  From the light inside the shuttle, a shadowy figure emerged. The slight figure waddled down the ramp and stepped onto the grass in the clearing.

  Those who first saw him gasped and there was much murmuring among the tribe. None of them had ever seen such a reptilian creature. The strange being looked slowly over the scene, unfazed by the large crowd. Finally its eyes came to rest on the prince, who was standing in front.

  The creature folded its arms.

  “Well,” said Janphor sarcastically, “I should have figured the recent trouble on this planet had something to do with you.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Gar had 12 hours.

  That was all the time he had been given by his former tutor and old friend before an official rescue contingent arrived to take him back home to Orestus.

  Janphor was greatly surprised and had eyed the young prince suspiciously after he’d made the request for more time,. When they had a private moment together in the shuttle, the attendant had asked why.

  “I don’t get it, your highness. You’ve been among these people, living in such a primitive manner. I understand your disposition well enough to know this cannot have been suitable to you. Why prolong this? They can’t mean anything to you?”

  “You think me that shallow, Janny?” Gar asked, slightly hurt at his tutor’s portrait of him.

  Janphor responded the way he usually did, by folding his arms and letting his eyes widen a little.

  It implied he didn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “I have a long history with you that speaks otherwise,” the attendant said.

  His friend had a good argument, one that the prince could hardly deny.

  Gar weighed his options. He couldn’t really tell Janphor about the nature of his connection to Kai. Also, he did not know what was going to happen next. Although he had searched Kai’s mind, it had been closed ever since the shuttle from Orestus had landed. Gar need time to find out why and what he could do about it.

  “I have some attachments here I can’t leave…so quickly.

  If Janphor had eyes with pupils, he would have rolled them.

  “Is there a baby? If your mother finds out you’ve…”

  The prince was taken aback.

  “What? No!” Gar protested. “There is no baby!”

  “But, there’s…there is someone?” Janphor asked pointedly.

  Gar hated that his teacher knew him so damn well.

  There was no way Janphor would really understand what was going on and he couldn’t explain. The mental connection to Kai was a dangerous development, something he had never really stopped to consider till that moment. So Gar opted for another reason, one that surprised him because it was the truth.

  “There is someone,” he said simply.

  “You’re not in l o v e are you?” Janphor asked incredulously.

  Gar wasn’t sure how to answer, but his silence was enough.

  Janphor laughed. It dismayed Gar but he couldn’t blame his old friend. Thinking about it, his past to that point and the whole situation, he would be able to find the humor in it, too.

  The attendant looked Gar in the eyes, not sure what to think of the impulsive youth who stood in front of him. The prince seemed changed but he couldn’t yet figure out how. It was something in his eyes.

  Janphor was interested in meeting whoever it was that had managed to capture Gar’s affection, an event he found hard to swallow.

  “Your sister has taken great pains to find you. You will be coming home. That can’t be stopped now.”

  “Well, then,” the prince asked, “how much time can you give me?”

  ***

  After the excitement of the shuttle from the Sky Tribes had faded, the Aklesh people had returned back to their huts. Janphor went back to Orestus through the portal, though he would return in only a few hours. It did not seem like nearly enough time.

  As the crowds walked slowly back to the keep, Gar tried to find Kai but could not locate him among the people. It didn’t take him long to realize where his friend was.

  The prince entered their hut and saw Kai sitting quietly on the bed.

  He didn’t look up as Gar entered. In front of him were all the clothes that Gar had been wearing since he had stayed there, including the ones from the mercenaries as well as what was left of his flight uniform from when he had arrived. The young Aklesh had folded them the same way he’d seen Gar do it. They lay there in two small, neat piles.

  Gar stood in the doorway.

  “I’m not going to need those anymore,” Gar said.

  “I know,” Kai replied.

  Gar sat down next to Kai and took hold of his hand.

  So, he sent. What happens now?

  Kai managed a smile. You go home, where you belong.

  Gar squeezed his hand tightly. I know where I belong, he sent to Kai, hoping his feelings were reaching him as we
ll.

  The strange planet, the keep, the hut and the person sitting next to him were more of a home than any place he had ever been in the universe. He did not want to leave it.

  “But, you don’t have a choice. They will come and take you if you don’t go willingly,” said Kai. Gar hadn’t realized that Kai was receiving everything he was thinking.

  “What can we do?” asked Gar, suddenly filling with fear at losing someone it had taken him so long to find. The idea of being separated from Kai was almost unbearable. He pulled Kai into his arms and held on as hard as he could.

  It’s all right, said Kai. There is no need to worry.

  I am coming with you.

  Gar pulled back, astonished. This was not a move he had expected.

  “But, will the tribe let you?” he asked, bewildered. “I can’t just take you from your people.” Although the thought had crossed his mind more than once recently, especially over the past several minutes, it might ruin galactic relations with the entire global community of Aklesh.

  A large part of him really didn’t care.

  Kai smiled. Gar didn’t know if his friend could sense what he was thinking, but Kai seemed amused.

  “We need to go see the council,” said Kai. “They are waiting for us.”

  As the walked up the stairway they never let go of each other’s hands.

  The torches were lit for the emergency midnight council. As they entered the large hut they could see all of the council members were there, as well as Tyro and Seema and several others Gar had not expected, including several lead warriors.

  At this point they both let go of each other’s hands.

  Kai was signaled to step back, while Gar stood facing the assembled.

  He really wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.

  As usual, the High Mother was seated in the middle. She didn’t stand but looked upon them with a gentleness Gar had not witnessed before.