by G. E. Stills
The evening passed and he finally retired to his sleeping mat. The next morning Me’kon assigned them to groups. Me’kon placed La’lani in the group designated to collect berries and tubers. Another was to remain in the cave to fashion more eating utensils, clean the cave and maintain the fire.
A wave of Me’kon’s hand and a sharp, “La’lani,” silenced her beginning protest. She lowered her head, fixing her gaze on the floor and her shoulders slumped.
“Aaron, you and Jor’mel come with me to hunt.”
“You actually want me to go with you and frighten all the game away?” he asked, attempting humor. Me’kon gave him a non-committal grunt. The groups split up to perform their assigned tasks.
***
In silence the three of them slipped through the dripping foliage. Though not rude, Me’kon only spoke to him rarely. It was nearing mid-morning when they killed a wild pig like animal. He and Jor’mel shouldered the carcass on a large branch between them while Me’kon kept watch on their trek back to the cave. After setting the dead animal near the fire to be cleaned and prepared, he joined Me’kon outside.
“Me’kon, I’m not a fool. Something is bothering you and it concerns me. What is it?”
Clearly upset, Me’kon kicked a loose rock away from him and took a deep noisy breath. “You’re right. Something is bothering me.”
“Then tell me what it is.”
Looking up, Me’kon fixed him with a glare. “La’lani is bothering me. To be more specific, you and La’lani’s growing relationship.”
He stood in silence waiting for Me’kon to continue.
“La’lani has become a strong woman. She can certainly take care of herself in the jungle. She’s grown up fast. She had to with our life style. However…”
He waited for Me’kon and finally said, “Yes?”
“I try to watch over her even so. She’s my younger sister. I have a protective instinct concerning her welfare.”
“I understand. I have a younger sister of my own.”
Me’kon pursed his lips. “We’ve been living out here,” he spread his arms indicating the cave and the jungle below. “We’ve been living out here since she was eight years old. She’s never even had a boyfriend. She may look like a grown woman and act like one in many ways, but emotionally, she’s still a child.”
“I don’t agree with you on that, but go on.”
“Now she tells me she likes you a lot. Damn it, Aaron. You may look like a Sutani in your current form, but we both know you’re not. Do you really think it is fair to her? Do you think it’s fair for her first experience with a man to be with one not even of our own species?”
“I don’t know what to say. I have feelings for her too. I didn’t plan for more than friendship to exist between us, but I can’t deny that more than that is growing. What does La’lani have to say?”
Me’kon snorted in disgust. “I tried to reason with her. When that failed, I forbade her from having more than a friendship with you.”
Aaron couldn’t help the grin that spread across his lips. He was certain he knew the answer. His first impressions of La’lani were that she was willful and hated being told ‘no’. Getting better acquainted with her only served to reinforce that original impression. “Yeah, and how did that go?”
Me’kon scowled. “That grin you have tells me you already know. She said she wasn’t asking my permission. She said that she only told me because she wanted my advice on how to proceed to the next step. I don’t even want to know what the next step is. I screwed up, Aaron. I forbade her again. Of course, now she is furious. Will hardly speak to me.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“You said it yourself. Your people will come. When they do, I’m sure you will leave Youkana. That means you’ll leave La’lani behind and that will hurt her emotionally I’m certain.” Me’kon looked at him crossly. “I do not wish to see my sister hurt. I’m asking you as a friend. Don’t let more than companionship grow between you.”
Aaron glanced down at his feet. “I understand your position, Me’kon. I promise I won’t encourage things to go further. You need to understand something though. I’m finding it hard to resist her.”
“What are you two talking about?” La’lani asked as she padded quietly through the defile and put an end to their discussion.
Aaron jolted, having failed to notice her approach. “Just talking about our next step and concerns,” he lied.
La’lani glared at Me’kon. “Me’kon, is that what you were discussing?”
“That’s all. I need to go inside and see how they’re doing with butchering the pig.” Me’kon spun and walked away.
She watched her brother leave with anger flashing in her eyes. “Me’kon and I are in disagreement on something,” La’lani explained.
Struggling to look innocent, he replied, “I’m sorry. I hope the two of you work things out soon. He’s your only living relative, remember? He’s probably just concerned about you.”
“I know. I love him, but right now, I’m furious with him. We’ll get over it. So what is our next step?”
Relieved to change the subject, he answered, “I think we should attack another Men-gar base. Any idea where another one might be?”
“I don’t know, but possibly one of the others will.”
CHAPTER SIX
Aaron glided the open air shuttle over the first Men-gar camp they had attacked. To his relief, he saw the entire camp had burned to the ground.
“That’s a good thing,” Shelly echoed his thoughts. “No evidence was left to indicate attack from the outside. Hopefully, the Men-gar think the prisoners rebelled.”
“Those are my thoughts too, Shelly. So we move to the next camp. I’m certain they’ll be more on guard.”
“I agree, Aaron, but our numbers are greater now.”
A couple of hours later, Aaron brought the shuttle to a hover in the clearing and then eased into the trees so it could not be spotted from above. When he settled it to the ground, the group climbed out and laid a few branches and fronds over the shuttle to further hide it.
“Talk to me, Ayume,” he said.
“The town I lived in is about five kilometers from here. I’m not certain the base is still there, but it was when I was captured,” she answered.
“Good enough, Ayume. We’ll hike the five kilometers and find out.”
Like shadows, the group of nine slipped through the purple and blue foliage silently. Aaron was proud that in his new form and after weeks of practice, he was almost as stealthy as the rest. His Sutani body was not as taxed physically by the increased gravity as his human form. Thanks to Shelly, he now spoke and understood the Sutani language.
He remembered the surprised looks that played across the faces of Me’kon and La’lani when he began carrying on conversations in their native language and not Men-gar.
“I’ve had a lot of practice learning new languages,” he explained. “Earth’s people speak a large number of them and I’m fluent in many.” He had not revealed the existence of Shelly to any of his new friends.
He wondered how soon help would arrive and hoped they would get there before a Men-gar ship came to investigate the remains of their patrol ship. Although he hoped not, he had to assume the Men’gar had informed others of their engagement.
Honoring his word to Me’kon, he’d avoided La’lani whenever possible over the last few weeks. He didn’t snub her, but with the help of Me’kon, he skirted situations where the two of them would be alone. That she was not happy about this, was apparent. If looks could kill he would have been dead many times by now.
“We’re close,” Ayume announced in a whisper, breaking his train of thought.
Aaron glanced around taking in the scene when in a short time they began passing through ruins mixed in with jungle growth. Vines, and shr
ubbery in a riot of purple tints had reclaimed what had once been the small town of Ayume’s birth.
“The Men-gar camp occupies what’s left of the town center,” Ayume whispered.
A smattering of Men-gar speech reached their ears. Aaron cautioned the rest of the group to silence. He indicated with hand gestures that they take cover while he and Ayume crept forward. He looked away from La’lani’s glare when he did not ask her to accompany them.
He knelt beside Ayume peering around the remains of a building wall. The Men-gar camp was much the same as the first one. He let his gaze rove over the scene and with Shelly’s help, he committed all the details to memory. The two of them slunk back to join the others.
Clearing away vines, Aaron drew a map of the Men-gar camp in the dirt. The party gathered close. He divided them in groups of three. Me’kon in charge of one, La’lani in charge of another and he took charge of the last.
“There are four sentries around the perimeter. Two more are stationed at the door to the prisoners building. I think there are four in the command building and that means there are probably ten in the, I would describe them as barracks. That is where they sleep and eat.”
In the fading light, he looked around the circle at each person. “I’ll kill one of the sentries and use my lightning ability to set the thatched roof of the barracks on fire. That will be the signal. La’lani, your group will take out the remaining sentries and the two guarding the prisoners. Me’kon, your group is responsible for the Men-gar inside the living quarters.”
He glanced at Ayume. “You and Jor’mel will come with me into the command center. The first thing we need to do is kill all of the Men-gar.” He gazed around at the group and steeled himself for his next statement. “We cannot take captives, so all of them must die. The next priority is intelligence gathering. We need to learn as much as possible about their numbers and locations. Lastly, we need to release any prisoners we find. Is everybody clear on their assignments?”
Glancing around, Aaron saw heads nodding.
“Any questions?”
Heads shook.
While the teams moved to position, twilight became darkness. The sentry passed within feet of his team. Stepping out behind the Men-gar, he shot him in the head. The guard slumped to the ground. Next he pointed to the thatched roof of the dormitory and sent two bolts of lightning streaking across the compound. The roof burst into flames, lighting the entire area. First one, then the other of the guards at the prisoner door crumpled to the ground with arrows in them.
La’lani’s work I’m certain. She still prefers her bow over the pistols.
He dashed across the clearing toward the command building with Ayume and Jor’mel right on his heels. Scanning the scene quickly, he saw La’lani and members of her team spread out and advance.
Me’kon and his team were nearing the door to the living quarters. Everything is going good.
A Men-gar stepped out of the command building and another stepped out of the barracks. Things went to hell. In a blur of motion the Men-gar standing by the command center fired his pistol. Beside him, Jor’mel crumpled to the ground. He and Ayume returned fire. The Men-gar slump.
From the corner of his eye he saw La’lani tumble to the ground. An involuntary cry of anguish slipped from his lips. She rolled to her feet and seconds later, three rays sliced the Men-gar that fired into pieces. Though he was relieved to see her on her feet, he noticed she was limping.
As planned, he burst through the door of the command center and dodged left. Following right behind him, Ayume dodged right. Their rays cut down the three Men-gar inside. Brutally, he shoved concerns for La’lani to the back of his mind and concentrated on searching the room.
Rummaging through the commanders desk, he found a map with the Men-gar camp locations marked. He bundled a sheaf of communiques together to read later. Finding a portable communications unit, he added it to the pile of items to take.
Ayume gathered pistols and a flashlight type item. She placed them in one of the backpacks, then stepped behind the desk to join him. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder they hastily scooped files and reports into another pack. They both raised their weapons and pointed them when the door burst open. They relaxed when La’lani limped in.
For a moment La’lani was silent, glaring daggers at Ayume first and then at him. “All of the Men-gar are dead,” she reported. “So are Jor’mel and Adrina. There were three prisoners. They’ve been freed.”
His gaze shifted from La’lani’s hard stare to her blood covered leg. “I’m sorry to hear about Jor’mel and Adrina. La’lani you’re hurt. How bad?”
In a voice cold as ice, she answered, “I’m fine. You needn’t worry.”
“La’lani I––”
“We’ll be outside waiting when you’re done here. Don’t be too long.”
Turning her back, she stepped out of the door and slammed it behind her, cutting off further conversation.
He hesitated before shoving the last report in the pack and read the first two paragraphs. His eyes grew wide in fear. “Let’s go Ayume, quickly.”
“What did you see?” Ayume asked.
“No time to explain right now. We need to leave… right away.”
Bursting from the building, they found the group gathered outside waiting. Spinning around, bolts of lightning erupted from his fingers, setting the interior of the command building ablaze.
“Follow me,” he instructed and dashed toward one of the shuttles. The group clambered on board and he jolted into the air. With jaw clenched, he streaked across the sky at treetop level.
“Why all the hurry?” Me’kon yelled from the rear. “All the Men-gar are dead.”
“There is a Men-gar cruiser, a spaceship, coming. It’s scheduled to arrive at any time. We must be in our cave or it can spot us.”
He set down on the shore of a lake not too distant from the cave. Everyone scrambled off the shuttle and he idled out over the water. After bringing the craft to rest on the surface, he dove overboard. He cast lightning bolts at the keel, creating two gapping holes. As he swam toward shore, the shuttle settled deeper into the water and gradually sank from sight.
Helping hands assisted him from the water. “To the cave. Quickly.”
In satisfaction he saw that Me’kon was helping La’lani. “Speed is more imperative than silence,” he shouted as he broke into a trot. The group followed, taking turns assisting La’lani. When it was his turn, La’lani tried to shy away from his offered arm and shoulder.
“I don’t require your assistance, Aaron,” she grumbled.
“Lean on me dammit,” he barked, “We’ll discuss your anger at a later time. Once we’re safely in the cave.”
Reluctantly, she wrapped her arm around his shoulder while casting him a venomous look. She did not speak.
What the hell put a burr up her butt?
“I think La’lani is jealous,” Shelly answered.
“Of who?”
“Ayume I suspect.”
“Oh for Christ sakes.”
They were all panting when they reached the cave and tumbled to the floor, exhausted. One of the team prepared to light a fire.
“No fire,” he barked. “They may be able to spot the smoke or detect the heat signature. I’m not certain, but I’m not willing to risk it,” he explained.
He dug in the bag, closing his hand around the communicator. Pulling, it out, he thumbed it on. The team sat in darkness listening and had just regained their breath when, the device crackled to life. One of the camp commanders began speaking to the approaching cruiser.
A male voice answered. “This is the ship Am’lot. We’ll reach orbit in two hours.” The male voice continued, “We detect a large heat source at–– The man aboard the spaceship rattled off coordinates.
The commander on Youkana returned. “That is the locale
of a base. We’ve lost contact with them and fear the prisoners have rebelled. I’ve dispatched a shuttle to investigate.”
The Men-gar on the Am’lot spoke. “When we reach orbit we’ll assist you in searching for the prisoners and destroy them when they’re discovered. Am’lot out.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Aaron sat off to the side, flashlight in hand, reading through the documents they brought. What he read set his nerves on edge. There were a total of one-hundred Men-gar bases spread around the planet. Most of them larger than the two they had attacked. He thought of the two lives that had perished on their last raid. He considered himself responsible for their deaths.
“Do not blame yourself for their deaths, Aaron. This is war, people die,” Shelly said.
“Still if not for me…”
“They would have been prisoners working the mines and facing the possibility of death each day at the hands of their Men-gar masters. Better to die free, than as a slave. I’m certain each of them felt that way. In addition, you liberated three prisoners.”
“You’re right of course, Shelly. The impression I get from the Sutani is that they are fiercely independent.”
He studied the data concerning the Men-gar ship approaching. The Am’lot was fully capable of seeing them from space. The ship had limited ability of location through heat signatures. Worse yet, she was armed with the capacity to render massive destruction on the planet.
“I can only hope my people arrive soon. We won’t stand a chance otherwise.”
“They will be here, Aaron. Be patient,” Shelly said.
“I should go check on La’lani. Get my mind off this dismal news.”
“Yes you should. I can sense you care a lot for her. I think she feels the same about you.”
Dawn’s light began to brighten the cave entrance, slightly dispelling the inky-blackness of the cave’s interior. Carefully, he crossed the chamber and searched out La’lani.
“How’s the leg?”
“I’ve stopped the bleeding and bandaged it, Aaron,” was her cool response. “Now please go away. You’ve chosen Ayume over me. So be it.” La’lani scurried away in the dark.