Restored to see the play, exhausted adults went back to their work with eager determination. Many would pause to wipe sweat from their brow or rest an aching back from hoeing to stare at the playing children. If the children remembered anything of the last few weeks, he could see no sign.
He soon lost sight of Lily. Glimpses of the small dark-haired girl leading a group of children in an odd jumping game caught his eye in patches. Sometimes they grew tired of her, and she was left on her own drawing patterns in the trees or counting beetles. She looked as happy either way.
Arucken was soon drafted into chopping wood. A neglected activity, as the colonists had feared the sea dwellers would see it as threatening. Their communication had since established that the sea dwellers cared little for what lay on the land. The sea held all they needed.
As their disregard for the animals displayed, Arucken had met with only derision when he’d suggested they restore the local animals as well as the children. It made him sad to consider the lost animals, left isolated from their kin.
There had been no talk of the conduit, and Arucken was fearful of how the colonists would react when they found this out again. How would they even decide who to pick?
But the next meeting was not for two weeks, time he resented. He longed to return to Octavia. He missed his easy furniture and the nourishment more designed for his body. The intensity of his feelings surprised him. This was far from the first time a simple mission had extended for weeks. Yet as he watched the colonists working again in their fields, he knew the time had been a wise decision. Feelings needed the time to ebb a little, for both species. Time for healing.
Restless and trapped, Kerris had jumped at the chance to explore the distant mountains. Eland, the closest this colony had to a scientist, volunteered to lead her there. The two of them had taken a few supplies and trekked away one afternoon. Kerris could find any excuse to not stay still.
Shocked with the lack of technology, Kerris had leapt on a throwaway comment by the scientist and been gone that same hour. The sheer isolation of the colonists was shocking.
Arucken hoped they had found something of use, for they had been gone over a week now. Arroyo would send an envoy over in a few months as part of its check-ups but they couldn’t wait that long. They needed Octavia.
Stressed thoughts ran through him but he glanced down to see his colours hidden. Poor diet had made that difficult, and he’d been forced to explain to Ryla. Now that they had more freedom, he’d been able to sort out the deficiencies and gather the right plants as directed. It was pleasing to have his full capacities back. This was a world much older than they’d thought, but rich in many ways.
Swinging the axe was easy, the rough handle cold in his palms. The rhythmic sound had him humming, to give a melody to the clean, strong sounds. It was a cool day. The odd chatter from the children preying on his senses. His own species stayed quiet until they had more wisdom to speak aloud. Words aloud should be precious, hoarded like jewels.
Human children would say anything.
A group of adults returned from the pathway to the shore, laughing as they walked by. The patrols had seen no signs of the creatures. Ryla’s explanation of the burnt storehouse had sounded fake to his ears, but no-one questioned it.
The sky rumbled, as if the air was being torn apart by giant hands. Above them, a large ship casting its shadow across them. Some of the children screamed but the adults stared upwards, shocked. The sound of it not new to them, but their contract had spoken of no contact for many years. Only Arroyo had a landing grid on this planet. What was happening, that someone would risk such a dangerous landing?
We hear a ship! Arucken sent to Kerris, and received a confused acknowledgement.
Moments later they saw the ship, descending some miles away where the ground lay flatter. It was a hard landing, slow and laborious. Grey, flat and clunky. Designed for long distance, a carrier ship.
Most of the humans stopped what they were doing in confusion, looking upward.
A slim grey haired figure stood in the larger group, arms gesturing to gather the others in. Ryla beckoned him over
Arucken paused to lay the axe to one side before he approached Ryla’s group. The conversation halted.
“We could use you with us as we investigate.” Her voice was midway between an order and a query. He nodded in agreement and she was already looking around for the next volunteer.
Many of the colonists around her still held their equipment, uncertainty across their faces. Veerender stood to one side, his sleeves still rolled up from washing clothes. Several others that he could not name held hoes, and other items, some of which he could not recognise. One woman hefted a spear, every bit as roughly made as the one they had seen before in Morgan’s hands, yet she held it more naturally. She looked around the same age as Kerris, her expression fierce.
“I’ll come!” she said.
Ryla glanced at her for a moment before nodding. “Agreed, Amelia. Two more please?”
A young male, brown haired and short raised his hand and she nodded. “Yes Tauriq. And Amatt, if you could?”
The named male, tall and older, frowned but agreed after a short pause. His hair was a dark black, although streaks of grey had begun creeping in. The tallest amongst them, with thick bushy eyebrows above light grey eyes. His clothes were plain, but a small bag across his chest had some careful embroidery, like swallows taking flight.
“The rest of you, stay here but keep an eye out.” Her glance took them all in, leaving no person left outside. She looked across at Trin, and tapped her wrist. Trin began gathering up the children.
“Come on.” Ryla urged, and the five of them moved away from the rest of the colonists. They began to walk towards where the carrier had landed, a swift, purposeful stride. Before they had gotten more than a few steps, Arucken heard a quick shout from Trin before a familiar weight clasped his leg. He halted.
“Lily, keep to the others.” he said, trying to untangle a tight grip. She dug her nails painfully into his skin, shaking her head side to side and muttering a phrase over and over again. She uttered it with such speed it was incomprehensible.
Ryla, tried to smile at the small girl. “No child.” She said gently. “Go back with the others. Get to Trin.”
“Bug man!” Lily protested. It was almost a scream.
“Go back little flower.” Arucken said. “We’ll speak later.”
He spoke with her, awkward conversations as the child refused, again and again. He raised his voice, shouted even and she dropped her hands in surprise. Her eyes filled with tears and she fled back to the other children.
Trin tried to pick her up but she skirted around him. She did at least, follow him inside a brightly covered building. Arucken’s heart twisted. This was not a child to shout at.
Ryla nodded at him, and he wondered if she could read his shame. “She’ll be laughing in moments. Let’s go.”
They moved back through the forest, if it could be called that. The trees were quite sparse, with long slender branches and leaves so thin they did not filter the harsh sunlight. Arucken trudged along with the others, trailing behind. He felt bad for Lily, but the faces of the humans around him were grim. No place for a child. He reached out to his partner.
They must have raised the screening to allow that landing. Can you call out yet?
A heartbeat passed before Kerris filled his mind again. She was clearer this time, almost jubilant.
Good! I hadn’t worked out how to bypass that. I hate seeing Octavia silenced. Yes, close to it. There was an old human settlement here - a cave, with plenty of items we can salvage. It surprised Eland!
Not a wonder, this colony was meant to be the first. We will meet the ship. It’s human.
Keep me updated. Kerris said, although the thought came wrapped up in her trust that he would.
Hours passed as they journeyed to where the ship had landed. The time lay broken only by pauses where Tauriq passed containers
of water and they would pause to drink. The water was warm, brackish and unpleasant. Once he handed out some food Arucken couldn’t identify, Ryla shook her head, shrugging in apology.
He made the gesture back, an odd one with his thin shoulders and long arms. It wasn’t the first time he’d gone hungry due to his dietary needs. He could cope longer than a human without nourishment when needed.
The surrounding land grew dense with large, impressive trees. The rich smell of petrichor spoke of the earlier rainfall, although the thick clouds had since moved on. A soft light filtered through the leaves and where the bark lay stripped, a myriad of colours lay exposed on the thick trunks of the immense trees. Branches towered above them, reaching up to brush the sky far above them. Deep reds, greens and purples lay stripped clean in jagged, long lines all around them. It was a rainbow of beautiful wounds, and Arucken longed to stop and inspect them.
They marched forward, a ragged band of colonists and himself uniformed by their side. Unbalanced without Kerris.
The only sound was the rustle of their footprints through the last desiccated remains of fallen leaves. There was no animal sound or song, it was as if the landing ship silenced every natural voice.
A group of humans, in full length armour met them as they turned the corner. Both groups stopped walking, silent. Dressed in dark blues and greys, with a light silver exoskeleton six faces staring at the group of colonists. Their skin was of various hues, differing frames converted to a sleek uniform by virtue of the powerful armoured exoframe.
The newcomers halted on the muddy forest path, hands resting on their hips where the weapons there looked painfully familiar.
It was some moments before anyone spoke. Then a shorter male with light skin moved forward. His eyes lay concealed behind some augmented shades, an advanced design. The uniforms of the rest revealed that these were not simple mercenaries. Arucken scanned them for the familiar sign, but if the Concordat had sent them, it had not marked them.
The soldier's voice was calm. He looked across at them all, his frown rested on Arucken for a moment and then skirted straight past.
“We heard you had troubles, the council has sent us to assist. I’m Denzar.” He nodded to a companion, who moved forward bearing a document. Ryla stepped forward to take it. It bore an official seal, presumably that of the council of Maylith Tara. He was not close enough to see if it bore the same trefoil stamp that had appeared on their initial dispatch.
Ryla’s scrutiny was intense, and her voice clipped and angry. She looked over it for an angry moment, but the soldiers in front of them stayed in their stiff, statue like ranks. She handed the seal back to the leader soldier with a frown. “Why now? We’ve been in danger for weeks.”
“Arroyo doesn’t have many ships ma’am, and it took time to raise the screening. The Concordat sent us as soon as they received word.” Denzar responded.
“And your orders?” Ryla asked.
“To assess.” Denzar responded, with an easy smile. “Lead us onwards, and then I can judge what action is needed. We are here now.”
The sheer difference in how well equipped and the synchronicity in how they held themselves gave the soldiers a subtle menace. Arucken studied them, but none of the armoured humans would meet his dark eyes. It made him realise, with discomfort, how welcoming the colonists were. They’d had no time to comment on his difference, but only to use him for his skills. Need had few reasons to discriminate.
Denzar gestured for them to lead him to their village. As they walked towards Kalinaw, Ryla started an explanation. The man was sympathetic, asking about the children’s welfare and the needs of the colony. He said all the right words.
To a human.
Arucken’s unease only heightened. It made no sense to him, and he noticed, and quelled, the glowing of his skin. His slower pace left him at the back again and a blonde female stopped in front of him, gesturing curtly for him to go in front. Her hand never left her weapon.
How could they be armed with the same guns?
With the soldiers’ presence, the return journey was swifter. The soldiers matched them past the rainbow trees without a glance towards them.
After the initial conversation, Ryla fell silent although she continued to lead the front of the colonists. The soldiers spaced themselves in a circle around them. It could have felt protective, in different circumstances.
Amelia gripped her makeshift spear so tight it looked rather painful, and Tauriq had stopped offering water. The group of colonists marched with heads down, their motley collection of weapons looking pitiful against the armoured soldiers.
As they came towards the crest of a hill, a large mammal shot out of the bushes towards them. It bared its odd teeth, making those strange choking sounds. Before Arucken could speak Denzar had released his weapon and fired. It was a clean shot, directly into the forehead.
The creature tumbled with no further sound, the crackle of energy sharp across its hide. The large body shook with the force of the energy bolt, but the striped legs soon stopped kicking.
Denzar laughed. He knelt beside the fallen animal and slapped its ample thigh. It was a rough sound, clipped and short. “Those native?”
Ryla nodded, but couldn’t bring herself to speak. Amatt looked as if he wanted to say something, but a quick motion from Ryla stopped him. Denzar glanced at the older man for a moment as if daring him to speak.
Then he laughed again, motioning them to continue walking. He grinned across at the female soldier and raised a finger. She shrugged and raised two back at him.
Arucken passed the animal with regret. He did not speak of the disjointed mewling he could hear further back in the bushes.
They walked in complete silence after that, no energy wasted. A dull sense of inevitability lay upon them.
When they returned to the village, the children were still inside but the adults had returned to their work. It was far more stilted than it had been before, and he soon caught why. More soldiers stood in lines around the edges of the field, herding the workers away individually. The clearing to one end already held a small crowd of colonists, surrounded by more of the soldiers.
A lot more than six. A small ship, a shuttle, must have landed closer.
Ryla seemed to share his thoughts, but if she gained any useful answers from Denzar, Arucken heard none of them. Some of the cheer was dropping from Denzar’s voice, his answers shorter.
The soldiers marched past the hall, as if drawn by an invisible line. They hurried the colonists along between them, passing buildings without comment. Silent and fearful, Arucken kept himself lost in the middle of the people. His efforts to reach Kerris had failed after that one small warning.
As they passed the colourful schoolhouse, Arucken glimpsed a small face pressed tight against the window. Its large frightened eyes drew his attention instantly. It was Lily, and he’d never seen her look more afraid.
Behind her like a shadow, a figure with thick pitted skin and large, slanted liquid eyes pressed hands against the glass. It held his gaze for a moment, unblinking.
Denzar motioned for them to stop and his five companions halted to one side. His eyes flickered across to the hut, but then passed right over it. Arucken saw with relief that the creature was no longer in sight.
Denzar stopped to talk to Ryla, and his companions moved to encircle the colonists. A woman raised her hand in acknowledgement to a soldier further out, but Arucken was too far to see what was happening with them. Faded sounds reached his ears as the fields emptied.
As Arucken approached their leader, Ryla waved him off with an impatient flick of her fingers. Arucken backed away, he let his gaze look unfocused, made his movements dull and slow. Amatt took this as a cue, querying the closest soldier in a friendly manner and asking for news from the mainland. Amelia moved, blocking him from view.
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