by Lesa Corryn
“This is Edel, he belongs to a race that claims to live here,” I said. A low hiss rose amongst the crowd and the air felt thick. The patients in the waiting area stirred in their seats and the crowd behind eased backwards. “His kind attacked the town.”
“We only want to defend ourselves. Though to be honest, this is the first time we have ever caused so much damage. Their fighting was not what we are accustomed to.” Again the hiss rose and many of those waiting to be healed, tightened and looked ready to leap. Teshe dropped his hands from the Bendalurian he was working on. He was a young male whose arm had been ripped open by Metrite. Teshe had been stitching him up when the young man hissed and raised his arm, causing the stitches to rip.
“All right, I can't work like this.” Teshe rose and turned to face the crowd. “We aren't fools. Not a single one of us has spoken a word of Bendalur and yet you react. And don't try to say it is from this man's presence. We aren't ignorant either. Your disapproval rises and falls with our words, you understand us. And don't think I believe for a minute that this room was built to store old technology.”
“What,” I asked, interrupting Teshe. He rolled his eyes and looked to Flik. Flik nodded, looked at me, gave a knowing smile than ran towards the wall. The crack. Flik pressed his fingers into the wall and drew back a door. After a few minutes he emerged with something in his hands.
“Here, you'll be needing these.” He handed me a set of wave goggles and I quickly strapped them onto my head.
“Where did you get these?” I looked around. A murky wash wiped clear of my eyes and the world burned bright with color. I pulled the goggles away, my eyes throbbing from the sudden change. I dialed it down, replaced the goggles and adjusted it slowly.
“I got them from back room,” said Flik
“What?”
“Seriously, Thurman, how did you ever make it to Corporal?” said Teshe turning towards me. “I'll take this nice and slow for you so you can add two and two together.” I scowled, but I was too tired of this nonsense to fight back.
“Look around you. There are nearly eighteen Bendalurians here in this room being administered to. Now notice half of them have been bandaged, stitched, mended, cleansed, and so on. How much supplies do you think I had coming off an evac pod?”
Shit, I thought. I couldn't believe it, I didn't want to believe it. I turned to Edel. Now in color he took on a softer appearance. His eyes gleamed with a violet sheen and his shell had a dull luster, instead of a sharp metallic gleam. His armor, at one point shined, but now scuffs and scratches marred the intricate engravings of floral patterns. He knew. I was the last to know the truth.
“I knew the moment I got here, something was wrong,” said Teshe, “they didn't let me see this room, but the technology they gave me to help Gin was too recent. They pretended as if they knew nothing about it. I'm not sure what they said at first, my Bendalurian is limited, but I got the sense they were hiding something.”
“Not just medicine hidden. Much military equipment,” continued Flik, “that I suppose, young one want during fight before battle. They not bring out because we here. Could not show lie.”
I ran towards the open door left by Flik. Inside, the walls were coated with metal, a heat resistant alloy, not a scar to show a battle had happened. To my left was a medical room. Gin laid out in one of the beds, Bendalurians filled two others. Supplies lined the walls and an adjoining room seemed to hold even more medical supplies. To my right, an even larger room. Guns, shields, cannons, torches, vehicles, filled every inch of space of the back room. They were an army, I thought. I stumbled out from the doorway and found the young attendant standing before me. He had long since been bandaged. His face wrapped in medi-cloth, a pad soaking up the blood from his cheek.
“We are sorry, we didn't have a choice.”
Chapter 25
Questions
“A few years ago, the government started an enlistment among the people, all people. It didn't matter your age, didn't matter your family status, nothing mattered. The government drew a family name out of a hat and shipped all our living relatives to this world. This village consists of three families, ranging from infants to elders. We lost many because they could not handle the change in environment.”
“So you took part against your will,” I asked. The crowd grumbled and hissed.
“Do you think any of us would choose to live on a planet with purple light and ravenous monsters lurking around each tree?” asked the attendant.
“Those ravenous monsters are our livestock that you have been slaughtering. Had you not attacked our villages, they would not have escaped our pens,” said Edel, in a matter-of-fact tone. He did not gesture in anger like many of the Bendalurians did as they spoke, but stood stoic, his hands clamped behind his back.
“Nonetheless, none of us chose to come here,” the attendant continued, his eyes watching Edel. “Except Bunchankar I suppose.”
“Who exactly is the Bunchankar?” inquired Teshe.
“He is a general of the Bendalurian force.”
“Union?” I asked.
“No,” mumbled the attendant. Many of those still cursing in the crowd went silent.
“The Bendalurian army has been building a force outside of your borders?” asked Teshe, his voice calm given the circumstances.
“It is not like it was a democratic choice. We didn't even know it existed until the enlistment began.” The attendant, his eyes resolute and fists clenched, glared at Teshe. Then he cringed and grabbed his cheek. The memory of Teshe's help must have emerged from the pain, for he continued looking at the ground. “We don't know when the unsanctioned force began to build or if it was purely to capture this planet.”
“Why would anyone want this planet?” I asked. “No offense Edel,” I added quickly, then I looked back at the attendant. “But you can't see well with this light. Are there valuable resources?”
“We don't know. We haven't been asked to mine the mountains or harvest wildlife. We were merely told to maintain an appearance of natives. We were able to conjecture that we were feigning natural ownership. Should a Union vessel discover us, we could claim the planet a Bendalurian colony.”
“But what about the real natives?” I asked. I glanced at Edel, he maintained his persistent gaze out at the crowd.
“We aren't soldiers, those weapons you saw are only for protection. Normally we could defend ourselves without a problem but with your presence we did not know how to continue.” He paused as if words were caught in his throat. He looked around, before eying Teshe and me. His next words were not meant for others' ears. Again he looked around. Finally he sighed and continued. “I overheard a transmission to the Bunchankar. It was a military unit reporting in on a recent capture. We are not allowed to communicate to home world because Union fleet ships might intercept it, so we only have local lines. That means the unit must have been on this planet and had captured a native village.”
“But why, why so much effort for this planet?”
My answer came from behind me. “The field,” piped Flik. “Perfect fortress. Hard to navigate even for top tech. You plan war.” Now Teshe tensed. I'm certain in our many confrontations, Teshe's appearance was a mask for the anger he felt within, but now, his brow furrowed, his posture straightened, and his muscles grew taut.
“The Union has been at peace for nearly ten years and you wish to start another. What for?”
“You ask like we are the ones who made the decision,” shouted the attendant. Many nodded behind him. “I have a wife and children, do you think I want war?” His eyes glazed and a young woman, who stood close by, grabbed his shoulder. “I want to go home. I want to wake up to a yellow sun and breath the air of the crystal shores. Why would I, why would we want war?”
Teshe and I shifted our weight, glancing at each other, not sure where to go next. We didn't need to, Flik was a step ahead. “You not want war, I see. But your planet do. Why so? Do you know this?” We turned back to the crow
d. They all shook their heads.
“Our people may be able to help I suppose,” said Edel, turning towards me.
“How,” I asked.
“Someone has been assisting us with our attack on the furred ones. I know nothing of the contact, but our leaders should know more.”
“You have a contact with Bendalur? With the Union?” asked Teshe. He stepped forward and stood close to Edel and me. His eyes took in Edel's frame and lingered on the engravings etched into his armor, then on the blood soaked rag still clutched to his abdomen.
“Thurman, why didn't you mention he was injured?” Teshe removed the scraps of my shirt and began probing the wound.
“Do not worry healer, Jek took good care of me. The cut should have clotted by now.” Teshe glanced up, but still pulled a pad from his pocket.
“This is a heat bandage. It will cauterize and cleanse the wound. Do you have vital organs here?”
“No, just fat, thankfully.” He watched Teshe apply the pad and winced when the heat took affect. “Thank you healer. Now to answer your question: neither.”
“What?” The word was a collective mumble from the crowd and ourselves.
“Why are you so surprised?” asked Edel. He reached behind him, resting his weight against the wall, massaging the gash.
“There aren't many races that do not belong to the Union, none of which are advanced enough to reach your people,” said Teshe.
“You told me that you thought all of the Union was Bendalurians.”
“Yes,” said Edel.
“Could you not have mistaken them for not being Union merely because they were not a Bendalurian?” The crowd behind me nodded and murmured, but the attendant stood still.
“There is someone against the Union,” said the attendant. The woman behind him fidgeted but did not leave his side.
“Yes, the Bendalurians,” said Teshe matter of factly.
“No, not furred ones, this I know,” said Edel. “They were helping us fight the furred ones, why would they help us fight their own people?” It made sense but the situation did not become any clearer.
“What exactly does this contact help you with?” asked Teshe.
“They tell us furred ones part of Union, though they did not mention who the others were. Again we assumed all were just subspecies of these ones.” He gestured at the crowd. “They said the Union would take our planet and rule our people, but they also said we were not strong enough to fight them.”
“They had knowledge of who we are, of our tactics?” I asked. Suddenly the picture became clearer, but the light grew dark.
“Yes, they told us how to fight you.”
“Even where and when?”
“Yes.”
“What are you getting at Thurman,” asked Teshe. For the first time since I've met him, Teshe seemed to approach me with honest interest and respect. “What do you know?”
“Before we crashed onto this planet, I was falsely apprehended as a spy.”
“Then you mean,” started the attendant. The crowd shifted uneasily.
“Someone in the Union,” I continued, “is helping Edel's kind fight the Union.”
“Do you think it’s someone from Hera?” asked Teshe.
“I don't know,” I said, shaking my head. “What is certain, though, is that we need to speak with Edel's leaders before another war spreads through the Union.”
Chapter 26
Flower
The rest of the night was spent cleaning up the aftermath of the battle. Flik and I searched the rubble and remnants of shattered buildings for survivors. Then, Teshe and a few Bendalurians that stepped forward saying they had medical knowledge, healed all those they could, filling the Bunchankar's home with ragged bodies. Shanka, the attendant, took on the role of leader for the Bendalurians. With the Bunchankar missing, the attendant was deemed most fit for the position. Not being directly related to the non-Union military force, Shanka had no problems negotiating with Edel over the recent turn of events.
“I will go with you and Sir Edel to this village, where we can discuss peace terms,” said Shanka. The night had fallen upon the village and most of the people slept soundly on the floor below us. Those whose homes were in decent condition, returned to them. But for now, everyone rested, except those of us gathered on the second floor.
“We can agree to terms on this planet. They are separated from their home world and not a willing party to their nation's actions. I am sure my leaders will be willing to accept young Shanka's surrender.” Edel gestured his hands towards Shanka, spreading them out and bowing his head. Shanka curled his hands into fists and pressed them together, returning a bow.
“Can your people offer medical assistance,” asked Teshe. He was on the far side of our circle, next to Flik and me. We all sat on the floor around a single lantern. The glow on Teshe's face etched hard shadows beneath his brow.
“Yes,” said Edel simply. Teshe leaned back, placing his palms behind him, his face rolling up to the stars. Our goggles were off, but the distant yellow suns appeared as clear in that night sky as any on Earth Terra. A small frown passed along Teshe's face like a faint shadow. Was he worried about the wounded who slept below or the fading heart of Gin?
The stress of recent events stopped Gin’s body from repairing itself. The Metrite hit did not knock her to the bottom floor, her bed rested safe above the hidden room. Flik told me, the shock of heat and the blast of sound, the burning red of fire and the piercing screams of the wounded, shook her. He said that both he and Teshe were also safe on the second floor when the Metrite hit, so they were able to stabilize her as best they could given the conditions. But still, her body seemed as white as a dove's feather and just as light, her hair matted against her face and her breaths passing between her pale lips like a broken whisper. Teshe wouldn't admit it, but Gin had maybe a day left.
“You are worried about the young female fleshed one,” said Edel. It was not a question.
“I'm worried about all the people down there that are hanging on to life by a thread because of your attack,” growled Teshe. My ears perked. This is new, I thought.
“Their people have done the same to us, this is what war is based on. It is violent and immoral, but it is a necessity in warfare for people to die, to hurt. Without it, war is nothing.” Edel's antenna clicked and he cocked his head. Shanka shifted, the floorboards creaking, but he did not say anything. “You are a soldier, you should be aware of this. People die.”
“I am a doctor, my job is to make sure they don't.” Teshe rose. Both Flik and I swung our heads up and watched him as if viewing a play we knew no part of.
“Then you should fight the system of war and not those who are forced to use it,” said Edel. “Give us a better method and we shall follow. But for now, anger towards me will not save the one below. Our words tonight hold all hopes of stopping this from happening again.” Edel's antenna clicked, his voice a steady beat of crisp words in the chilled night. The trees around us rustled in the wind, like a distant purr, repeating his words, lulling those still restless to sleep.
Teshe sat back down and traced the floorboards with his finger.
“So young Shanka and I will negotiate with my leaders, Corporal Teshe shall arrange immediate medical aid to those here and Jek, you hope to find more than just answers to this riddle.” I stared at Edel. While Flik and Shanka turned their attention to me, Teshe still contemplated the pattern in the wooden floor.
“Yes,” I replied, “your people should have our leader. A Lieutenant Allouette Pierce.”
“You sound uneasy, friend. Do you think that my people would hurt her?” He now cocked his head towards me, his antenna clicking once again.
“Edel, you and I have gotten to know each other enough for me to trust you, but I do not know your people. How am I to know the soldier I saw taking her away did not hurt her?” To even my surprise, my voice wavered. Flik stared at me, his nose scrunched and brow furrowed. Teshe did not look up, but I cau
ght him looking at my from the corner of his eye.
“It is not within our code to kill prisoners of war.”
“How do I know she was a prisoner and not just being dragged out to be killed?”
“Because if the soldier had wanted to kill her, he could have done so right here where he found her.” Edel shook his head and his antenna stopped clicking. “She, you say, is part furred one and she carries Union insignia on her chest. We have been looking for a leader to interrogate, the soldier must have thought she was that rare find.” He looked at me and just me, though his bulbous eyes reflected the room in its entirety. “Jek, your Lieutenant is safe, I promise.”
I bowed my head and found myself tracing the patterns in the wood. Flik stifled a laugh and slapped his hand on his mouth.
“Oi, such a time to be laughing,” I growled.
“You two,” said Flik, “so wrapped up in women when war outside. Never expect that at all. I cannot help it. It too strange.” Shanka looked on us with a warm glow and Edel's antenna clicked. I looked over at Teshe. I caught his eye for just an instant, which I'm sure is more than he wished. But for that moment I saw the look, the knowing, the understanding. He returned a warmth I've never felt from him, not even as I laid scarred and mangled from the gas burn so long ago. His eyes said it all in that one instant. They said, “The world around us burns with war and we are too busy saving a flower to notice.”
That morning we left for the mountain village of Evergreen, where Edel's people and Allouette awaited.
Chapter 27
Madame Glade
Edel's village showed no signs that it belonged to the ones that shot us down. Their buildings were constructed of brick and mortar and domesticated cattle carted several vehicles. It was much larger than the Bendalurian town, but by no means could it have qualified as a city. The tallest buildings were only five stories tall and most were no more than two. Carts and kiosks filled with fruits, meats, and clothes lined the road. Nothing pointed to the technology that caused the L-47 incident.