The Touchstone Trilogy

by Andrea K Höst

  There were a ring of the dogs at the upper tier of the amphitheatre, just watching. Stephen King had come to town. I tried to figure out which dog was the pack leader, but there were quite a few candidates.

  One thing about communicating with text is it's only my grammar which sounds bad. I don't have to worry about my dreadful pronunciation and can write a lot before I transmit it. When Third Squad came up to join us, I sent: "These maybe descendant domesticated working dogs. Similar type to species my planet. Very intelligent animal. Very strong herding instinct."

  "How many of the animals on Muina resemble those of your world?" Ruuel asked.

  "Hard to tell with birds, bugs. The sheep, the cats, these dogs. Domesticated animal. Otters, not domesticated animal, though did see once documentary people use them to fish. And the people, of course." I was tempted to ask what he thought of my idea that the Muinans had originally been Terrans, but decided I could live without that being on the mission log.

  The dogs 'saw us off', totally like a tribe making sure strangers left their territory. That was their town, just as the first town belonged to the cats. Had belonged.

  I was thinking about that a lot and watching scenery as we flew to the rift gate when Tsaile Staben sent me a channel request, a thing which surprised me since she was back at the first town and because bluesuits as a rule don't talk to me.

  "Devlin," she said, when I opened the channel. "It is traditional for the person who discovers a location to name it. The town where you were located was provisionally named at your retrieval, but the new settlement now needs a label. What will it be?"

  "Pandora." I didn't even have to think about it, just translated it into Muinan text.

  "Recorded," she said, and closed the channel. Bluesuits make Ruuel look chatty. A few minutes later the new name popped up on the settlement's map, giving me a fine sense of power.

  Eeli had left me alone for the start of the flight back – I'm pretty sure Taarel gave her a lecture about bombarding me with questions, especially when I'm in headache recovery mode – but not long after I spoke to Tsaile Staben she came up to the corner of the observation lounge area where I'd parked myself and asked how I was feeling.

  "Is good," I said, smiling at her eager expression. She really is too sweet and funny. "Would go lie down if headache drug wasn't working."

  She lit up. "I wanted to ask about the name of the settlement. Is Pandora the name of someone special to you?"

  I laughed at that. "Don't know anyone name Pandora."

  Ferus from Fourth strayed over. I never seem to have these conversations without an audience. "Do I get to guess too? Maybe it's the name of the place you live on your world?"

  "Is creation myth from part of Earth called Greece," I said, suspecting Ferus of wanting to make a few entertaining suggestions. "Pandora was first woman, made by the gods. They gave her a box, told her she must look after it, but never open it. No-one ever seems to invent sensible gods. Pandora couldn't resist, lifted lid a tiny crack to peek into box. But lid burst open and all the bad things in the world came flying out – hate, misery, greed. Pandora frantically try and shut box, but too late. Pandora in tears, seeing way she wreck the world–" I broke off, because Eeli obviously had no trouble working out why I'd called the settlement Pandora and was looking incredibly hurt and upset. I shouldn't underestimate her. "Story not over," I said, patting her arm. "Pandora in tears, when she hear noise from box. Something still inside. A voice, pleading to be released, make her brave enough to open box again. The last thing in box is Hope, which is the thing which makes possible to endure all the bad things."

  I smiled at her. "Is story of doing something irreversible. I unlock Muina. Bad things will come of that. But good things too. Point of name is that cannot be undone. Been feeling very small, thinking about that."

  "What bad things?" Ferus asked, rubbing Eeli's shoulder.

  I pulled a face. "Did you look at building they making there? Great big box. Tarens don't know how live with outside any more."

  That made Eeli laugh, and surreptitiously wipe her eyes. "It's a right name, isn't it? One that fits."

  "Thought so when Tsaile Staben asked me. Was thinking of those dogs, and the cats at first town, and other animals on this planet. For them, would be better if box stayed shut? Even though Seventh Squad make bad joke about killing them, the cats at Pandora won't be let stay at amphitheatre. They already starting move away because not like so many people where kittens are. That been their place for centuries. Feel sorry for them. But this world belong you. Not my place to say, no shouldn't be here."

  I'm pretty sure the Tarens couldn't screw up Muina nearly half as badly as we've done to some parts of Earth. Though I have my doubts about them understanding the concept of balconies and a nice view any time soon.

  Tuesday, March 25

  The art of doing nothing much

  A nice quiet day. Not even a medical exam after the one I had after the flight yesterday. I went swimming, and walked the torture stairs, but otherwise just lolled about being glad to be wearing something other than my uniform, and trying to magically transport myself into the bathroom. It's hard to work out just what it is I did to get to Earth.

  I seem to have a rotation with First Squad tomorrow. I've missed them.

  Wednesday, March 26

  Unstable

  Unstable rotations involve a lot of fussing over how long the gates are going to last. The spaces were flooded, which meant using the breathers and telling our nanosuits to be more like wetsuits. The first flooded space was a memory of trees, where sharp leaves whirled around like faceless fish and Lohn's enhanced Light talent came in handy because Fire is not a useful talent underwater, and you sure as hell wouldn't want to use Lightning even if First had that talent. After the aggressive leaves there was a big cavern filled with scaffolding around a monstrous Greek-style temple.

  This was a space First Squad had only seen once before, one of a series which switched into this position. The Ionoth which was there was one they'd never encountered, a long, flat and frilly thing, like something you'd see on the Great Barrier Reef, but larger. It curled and wound its way through the scaffolding, trailing afterimages of itself.

  Maze and Zee came back to the drowned forest space instead of signalling us through. "Kettara, come through with me. Remainder, hold here."

  They both enhanced and went through. The brilliance of Lohn's Light wall lit up the gate, but then he returned through it, shaking his head. Maze stayed just in front of the gate, then lifted both of his hands. The scaffolding broke apart and dived toward the Ionoth until all I could see was a pin cushion of metal and a spreading darkish cloud of blood. Telekinesis is dangerous when there's things to pick up.

  Everyone looked tired when we got back, and very wet and cold. That rotation had been a lot of swimming, and the leaves especially had been hard to deal with – Lohn hadn't been able to keep up with the swirling clouds and when they got close the Setari had to kill them with their suit weapons.

  While we were being scanned for stickies Maze said: "News of Pandora has leaked."

  "That took longer than I expected." Zee gazed abstractly into nothing for a moment, then said: "They're making the official announcement in response."

  "Will news cause any problems?" I asked as we all headed for the showers. I find it funny to have a shower and have a conversation with six people at the same time, but the channels make it very easy to do.

  "Not for us. The demands of people insisting they be taken to visit will cause other sections of KOTIS a few headaches, but they were really only holding off the announcement because they weren't completely certain the camp wouldn't meet similar disasters to the previous attempts." Zee paused. "Check Far Channel."

  I didn't know what that was, but managed to find it just as Mara said: "Will they confirm?"

  "Partially," Maze said. "It was inevitable details of Caszandra's existence would be known eventually, especially given the role she play
ed on Muina. The factor which we knew would cause controversy is the relationship between Earth and Muina."

  Which was exactly what was being discussed on Far Channel, a news and rumours service with attached forums. That Muina had been unlocked was the biggest news, but Far Channel added that they'd learned that a stray working with the Setari had been pivotal. The news service itself didn't say much more than that, but the forums went far further. That the stray was from a parent world older than Muina, and possessed immense powers. That she was called Pandora, and could control the Ddura, had already located and destroyed one of the Pillars, and was teaching the Setari the secrets forgotten after the abandonment of Muina. Nine parts wild speculation, in other words.

  "People will have strange idea of me," I said, after a short silence during which I'm sure everyone was reading the same interesting stories.

  "Venerable Sage Caszandra," Lohn said, but added more seriously: "Some of this is a trifle vicious."

  "No Heart Mind follower will embrace the idea that Muina is not our original home," Alay said. "I have to admit I find it strange myself. But you truly believe that, don't you Caszandra?"

  "Earth has fossil record going back millions years," I said, coming out of my shower-room, still working on my hair. I've been considering cutting it short lately, because even though the showers are very fancy things that blow gales of hot air at you for drying, it's getting annoying having to work out the tangles. How Taarel manages those twirly pig-tail things I don't know. "Suppose possible Muina has one too, that people came from Muina to Earth millions years ago. Not very likely simultaneous identical evolution two different planets."

  "Would that bother you?" Mara asked. "If your people were truly Muinans?"

  "No. Lot of people Earth would think that great fun. And lot of people Earth wouldn't." I shrugged at Maze, who was watching me closely while we waited. Heart Mind was the main Taren philosophy/religion based on venerating Muina as a mother, and there seemed to be quite a few followers who were calling 'me' interesting names. "Unless upset Heart Mind follower likely get in KOTIS and push me down stair, don't care what say. Don't know anyone but people here. They not likely make me talk to media yes?"

  "You're covered by the same privacy arrangements as the Setari." Maze gave me one of his approving captain nods, glad I wasn't going to be upset. "And I think I can safely say that KOTIS isn't going to let the media anywhere near you."

  "I once volunteered to be a sacrificial offering to the media," Lohn said, coming out to give my shoulder a squeeze. "The interest in us is so voracious that a couple of us gave strictly anonymous interviews to a few selected representatives. KOTIS also releases details of spaces we clear to ease the hunger."

  "Do you watch the fictions about Setari?"

  Maze pulled a face, but Lohn shrugged. "Sometimes. The Hidden War keeps close to the actual issues we face. I don't think I've seen or read anything which hasn't included some wild improbabilities for purposes of drama. KOTIS isn't nearly so rife with intrigue, and we don't bend the rules half so often."

  "Let alone take trips into the Ena for romantic interludes," Mara said, fluffing her hair as she and Alay came out. "Hurry up you two; my stomach is eating through its lining."

  We went off to lunch. First Squad, particularly Lohn, were really tired, but I realised they were sticking with me while they looked through more of the discussion about me, and until they had some official direction on what the response to that would be. Which was to announce that a displaced person had indeed been part of the Setari mission which had unlocked Muina, and that this person originated from Muina's 'sister planet' Earth, which unfortunately did not possess developed talents or the knowledge of the Lantarens.

  And I'm absolutely not allowed to go out into the city for the foreseeable future. Bleh. Mara says we can do more dodging practice to make up for it.

  Thursday, March 27

  Behind the news

  Mara worked me into the ground today. First dodging, and then jogging around the obstacle park. Later she showed me more things you could do with your suit: how to make the weaponry and even covering your head. Then we swam.

  I've another rotation with First Squad tomorrow, then another day of Mara, then another rotation. After that there's nothing booked except my inevitable medical exams, but Mara said that I may be sent to Muina again.

  I'm thoroughly bored of reading stories of the unlocking of Muina and the increasingly unlikely descriptions of me. The bits I don't already know are the bits which make me feel bad. I don't think these Heart Minders are really likely to try and hurt me, but it does make me uncomfortable to have upset people just by existing. I'm glad that I'm assigned to First Squad for a while, and that Mara's left me too tired to fret too much.

  Which is probably why she's doing it.

  Friday, March 28

  Roaming

  Today's rotation was the closest I've come to being in danger working with First Squad. Another unstable rotation, which took us to a space full of these big metal containers stacked in rows, like you'd see at a port. It wasn't the space First Squad had been expecting, and it was the first time they'd encountered the type of Ionoth we met there.

  They were humanoid, but covered with a white-grey hair, and they seemed to have made themselves a home in the containers; a busy township. We were still outside the gate, looking through, when two of them leapt out, slashing at Maze with rusty metal pipes. As a dozen more of the hairy people came rushing at us, Ketzaren grabbed me around the waist and hauled me backward through our current space, which was an awkwardly low set of tunnels through pearly-cream rock.

  It was bloody, horrible. The attackers were fast, armed and very determined, but First Squad were well-practiced at close combat, and enhanced. They'd been surprised by the rush, but didn't come close to being overwhelmed.

  "Withdraw to the entrance," Maze said, as soon as the last had fallen. He cast a quick glance into the container space, then followed as rear guard as everyone immediately obeyed.

  "Broken?" Zee asked, watching him roll his shoulder and wince. They'd not been able to avoid being hit entirely.

  "Seems not. Anyone else?"

  "Nothing major." Lohn was clenching and unclenching one hand, and took out his med-kit to spray some bandage over a cut across his knuckles.

  "Any chance to read the gate?"

  "It looked solid. Days, at least," Alay said.

  "We'll go for a clearing entry approach," Maze said. "One blast from Kettara until we have a chance to evaluate."

  The hairy people looked smaller in death, and the spreading pool of their blood made the gate entry both unpleasant and slippery. But none of them were lurking on the other side, and so Maze gestured us through and we moved to a defensible corner while they tried to estimate numbers.

  "Dozens," Mara said, at last. "A few outliers circling, but most congregated that way." She nodded toward what seemed to be the centre of the space, where the containers were piled highest.

  "I'd prefer a height advantage here," Zee murmured and Maze nodded his agreement.

  The tops of the containers were rusty and pitted, and a couple of times crumbled alarmingly underfoot. But being up high allowed us to see the trap a few moments before it was sprung. A higher row of containers trembled, then became a tilting wall of metal which threatened to squash us and take out the containers we were standing on.

  Maze had said "Up," before I even saw that, and we rose immediately and swiftly as the trap took out the entire area between the gate and the centre like a row of dominos. And before the noise had even settled they began shooting at us with crossbows, one catching Alay in the leg before Maze and Lohn between them created a mini-cataclysm in the area below. There were only a few left alive after that, and Maze and Zee chased them down while the rest of us gathered on top of a slightly tilted container to check Alay's leg.

  "Two made it through a gate," Maze said, returning. He surveyed the bolt Mara had removed from Alay's leg
. "Any sign of poison?"

  "Nothing apparent," Mara said. "I've sealed the bleed."

  "We'll short-survey, then. Gainer, let us know if you start experiencing any symptoms."

  Alay, Ketzaren and me stayed where we were while the others made a circuit of the space and inspected the bodies of the Ionoth, crisped though most of them were. They didn't dawdle over it, and we were soon heading back out. Maze paused at the gate, then crossed to a kind of wicker cage tucked in one corner, cutting it open.

  There were a half dozen little Ionoth in there. They reminded me faintly of ET, and all of them were in pretty miserable condition, like someone had been poking them with pointy sticks. They moved slowly, blinking fearfully at Maze, who stepped away, then signalled for us to leave.

  "The original inhabitants of that space, I think," he said, following us through the gate. "These must be roamers." He surveyed the corpses again, extra-thoroughly, and then we headed back at double-time, with Zee carrying Alay using Telekinesis.

  A truly horrible day. The Ionoth in that space, both types, were different from those I'd encountered before, more...real for want of a better word. Well aware of the gates between spaces, ready to defend themselves against attack, and a far cry from animals or shadows. And they drew blood.

  I'm beginning to understand why Maze always looks so tired, beyond the strain of using psionic talents. It's from worrying that someone in his squad will get killed. I need to stop asking myself how bad First's injuries would have been if they hadn't been enhanced.

  Saturday, March 29

  Competition

  First Squad's off rotation for a few days to give them a chance to recover. I asked Mara if squads ever went out with less than six members, and she said it's rare, but possible so long as all the required talents are covered.

  "Did it seem to you those hairy people prepare that ambush and trap particular for Setari?" I asked.

  "It certainly felt that way, didn't it?" Mara said, straightforward as usual. "But the type isn't in our records at all, so it's more likely we stumbled into some kind of inter-Ionoth dispute. Perhaps a different band of their own kind."