Uncomfortable, she closed the door. “I don’t like him.”
Naijen looked at her, “Him who?”
“That guy with Nikko. Cogi.”
Naijen sneered at her, amused. “Yeah?”
“I’m going to get Seigie. Ichini, stay here.”
“No skin off my backside, but be careful to watch yours, little girl.”
She skittered from the room with Ichini in tow, and soon found Seigie in the main bar area.
Upon seeing Allia, Seigie looked around and said, “You need to stay in the room.”
“Can I help?”
“Is Rhysus awake?”
Why did Seigie ignore her offer? “No, he’s not. Why?”
“Never mind. Just go back to the room and wait for me.”
Allia’s face pruned. “But I want to help.”
“Allia, I can’t explain right now. Go back to the room.”
Allia sighed and slunk back to the room.
* * * * *
What did Cogeni see?
Seigie watched him head outside. It was bad enough Naijen had supercharged his Skar; someone surely saw his glowing hands. She regretted using her crystals too. But something had to be done to stop those creatures. With Mencari out of it, she needed to come up with a cover story.
Cogeni returned with a number of soldiers, arms full of supplies. He gave her a curious glance, unloaded the supplies, then left for more.
Regardless, they were not prepared to operate among the Nukari, much less be beholden to them for aid. They needed to get out of there, even with Mencari hurt. Speaking of him, she wanted to see how he fared with her own eyes. She made her way into a back hall, and headed to the makeshift recovery room. Upon entering she saw Naijen and Allia, eating.
“Hungry?” Allia held up some food. “Pultch brought it for us.”
Hungry? She hadn’t been hungry for what they would consider food for centuries. Though, she felt a certain craving for some diamond powder and iron nails. She shook her head, felt Mencari’s forehead, and checked his pulse. “Seems normal.”
A gentle knock at the door was preceded by Nikko’s head. “Can we come in?”
Seigie waved her in. Cogeni entered behind Nikko.
“How is he?” Nikko went to Mencari’s side.
“Those barbs had time to give him a hefty dose of their poison, but he seems to be recovering.”
“Just hold on, you’ll be okay,” Nikko said with a confidence not reflected in her expression.
“We haven’t had an attack this bad in a while,” Cogeni said. “Usually smaller creatures. The last one this bad was a few years ago. Nikko’s father was killed then.”
Nikko’s expression made it clear she wanted to change the topic. “Blupp and Pultch will keep the wounded safe. You should come with us back to our place. There’s not enough room for everyone here.”
“What about Rhysus?” Allia said. “We can’t carry hi—”
“We have a stretcher,” Cogeni offered.
Allia looked to Seigie, concerned, but received a slight headshake and “We accept, thank you,” in reply.
* * * * *
“Seigie … how did you do that? When you attacked the creature,” Cogeni asked Seigie while they made their way through the fog-shrouded slum.
The moment she’d dreaded had come. “Oh, I always carry a few tricks.”
Cogeni looked at Naijen’s weapon. “What about yours? That glow?”
“Built into his blades,” Seigie said. Thankfully, Naijen remained silent.
“Nikko mentioned you came from the upper city.”
“We were just visiting, and—”
Cogeni nodded, as though not needing to hear the rest. “De’Genico.”
“That’s the name we were told. What about those soldiers?”
He shrugged. “Never saw them before, but they said we worked for the same company. Wore the same logo as the crates we move too.”
Seigie tossed him a doubtful glance. “So you don’t know who sends you the crates?”
“No. They come to and from the upper city or from out on the ocean, and we move them to and from the cargo ships. That’s our job.”
“What company do you work for?” Allia said.
“That’s just it, we work for ourselves. We work the docks. Otherwise the upper city won’t send us supplies.”
Seigie said, “And you never saw the soldiers before?”
“Not once in the ten years I’ve been here.”
“Here we are.” Nikko motioned to the boarded-up building ahead.
Like many of the other buildings, this one looked all but abandoned. Only a few lights from units on the upper floors showed signs of habitation.
As they entered one building and walked down a long hallway, a constant scurrying could be heard from within the walls. Nikko hurried ahead and opened one of the doors, and gave an expansive wave. “Welcome to our home.”
Seigie took a surreptitious look around while Cogeni and Naijen moved the stretcher through the door. The room was near bare of furniture. The simple table and chairs, a wood-framed sofa, and cabinets for food storage, left the big room feeling stark. The exceptional furnishing was an oversized bed pushed into the far corner. Yet unlike the halls, and the environment outside, this space was clean and pleasant.
“I know it’s not much,” Nikko began.
Seigie held up a hand. “It’s fine, thank you.”
Best of all, it’s away from the Nukari.
“That bed is huge!” Allia blurted. “Bigger than any I’ve ever seen!”
Nikko smiled self-consciously. “It was my mother’s, and my grandmother’s before her. It’s very old, but the mattress is very soft. You can sleep on it if you’d like.”
“Where will you sleep?”
Nikko’s smile widened at her genuine concern. “We have lounges on the patio. Very comfortable. Cogeni and I can rest there.”
“What about the fog?”
“Oh, it’s enclosed. We’ll be fine, Allia.”
“The floor’s fine for me,” Seigie said. “Doesn’t matter if it’s hard.”
Naijen growled, “Matters ta me. Gimme da sofa.”
They took two chairs and fit the stretcher between them, creating a hammock for Mencari. The day had left the group weary, so they retired to their places of rest, and even Seigie fell asleep.
CHAPTER 5:
The Agran Menace
Mencari craned his neck to look at his back. He saw only faint markings where deep gouges had been. And he felt fine. Almost too fine. In fact, there was no pain anywhere. Even his migraine was gone. While grateful, he worried about how many green crystals Seigie used on him.
His eyes moved from his body to his surroundings. He wasn’t in the Hovel, or by the pier. He searched his memories, but couldn’t find any that might tell him how he ended up here.
A growing anxiety faded when he saw Naijen, on his back, drooling on the sofa. Nearby, Seigie lay on the hard floor. Ichini lay curled up with Allia on a huge bed in the corner.
At least everyone’s safe. No thanks to me.
The images from the pier flashed through his mind.
That symbol … unmistakable. And Cogi said he’s a dockworker, but he doesn’t really speak like any dockworker I’ve ever met. Does Cogi work for them? Did he tell them about our abilities?
They’re close. The migraine and words pushed to the forefront of his mind.
He tried to remember if he’d told Cogeni anything else, anything that might alert the Nukari to their presence, but was distracted by whispers beyond the open patio doors. He moved with stealth, his body sluggish at first; it took him longer than he wanted to negotiate the unstable hammock.
The whispers had stopped by the time he made it to the patio doors. As he passed the bed, he noticed Allia’s splint lying on the floor. He looked up at her, saw her arm nestled under her head, and frowned. How long was I out?
“Rhysus!”
At Allia’s
whisper, he motioned for quiet, then walked over and sat next to her. Ichini cuddled up to his back.
“How’s your arm?” he whispered.
“All better. And your back?”
“It’s fine. And I’m wondering how that happened. You had a broken arm, and from what I remember, I should have some nasty marks on my back yet. So what happened?”
“I’m not sure.” She looked at her arm. “I know Cogi has been praying over us a lot though. Maybe it really helped?”
Prayed? “How long was I out?”
Before she could respond, Nikko appeared at the patio doors. She had changed from her bodysuit into a sleeveless leather peplum top and a crinkled, brown skort. “How are you?”
“I’m doing okay. A lot better than I expected. Where is—?”
The loud knock on the door caused Naijen to spring to his feet and clamor for his Skar. Seigie forced herself up and grabbed for her pouch of crystals. Both stopped moving when they saw Mencari on the bed. He motioned them for quiet.
A second knock drew Nikko to the door. She checked through the peephole, then looked back, relieved. “It’s Blupp.”
“Sorry to bother you sweetheart,” were Blupp’s first words.
Nikko said, “How is everyone?”
“Recovering.” His eyes anxious, Blupp looked around. “Where’s Cogi?”
“He stepped out,” Nikko replied. “Why?”
“Remember those soldiers from the boat?”
Nikko nodded as the others listened.
“They came back asking about him.”
Mencari felt the hair on his neck rise. “About Cogeni?”
Blupp nodded. “I played stupid, and they went away. But I didn’t feel right with them asking. They’re still working on the dock, but why would they be looking for him in the middle of the night?”
He thought a moment. “Could they have followed you here, Blupp?”
“Not a chance. I watched them leave, and I came the back way.”
“Alone?” Nikko said. “You know you’re not supposed to do that. The creatures—”
“Didn’t want to take any chances, so I risked it,” Blupp said. “But I need to find Cogi, let him know they’re looking for him. Where can I find him?”
Nikko’s eyes shifted. “He had a lot on his mind. He … went to where he can meditate. I’ll find him and let him know.”
Blupp frowned.
“In the meantime, I’ll walk you back to the Hovel.”
“We’ll all go,” Mencari said. He looked at Nikko. “You’re not going to walk back alone either.”
“You don’t need to—”
“I know. I want to talk to Cogi too,” Mencari said, adamant.
They donned their facemasks and body covers, and headed with Blupp back to the Hovel. While they worked their way through the alleys and side streets, they could hear the construction at the pier. Nearing the water, they could see the workers and supply ships, all engaged in rebuilding the docks. “I can’t believe how much is done already,” Nikko said.
Blupp nodded. “Looks like they brought a small army.” He greeted the guards at the door, then looked at Nikko, concerned. “Find Cogi, okay?”
Nikko smiled at the older man. “We’ll go now. Thank you for coming to tell us.”
“No problem sweetheart. See you later today.”
She smiled at him. “See you, my friend.”
* * * * *
“Where are we going, Nikko?” Allia said. While they followed Nikko through the side streets and alleys, the group checked over their shoulders from time to time, making sure they weren’t followed.
In reply to Allia’s question, Nikko repeated what she’d told Blupp. “Cogi has a place he goes when he needs to meditate. It’s not far from here.”
They entered what looked like a much older section of the city, with buildings in greater disrepair than those around the Hovel, and with far fewer lights in the windows.
Scarcely populated? Mencari wondered how many people were really around. He tilted his head toward a long-forgotten sound. The gentle sound of waves breaking on the shore was close.
They came to a building with scenes of people being tortured etched into the stained glass windows. Even under heavy dirt, they could make out the bold colors and craftsmanship. They stood before a wooden doorway whose elaborate carvings still showed through caked grime. Nikko eased it open, beckoning the others to follow.
With the others inside, she took a final left-and-right look into the toxic fog, then closed and barred the heavy door behind them.
They found Cogeni sitting on the floor among the rubble in a once grand chamber. The high vaulted ceiling was crisscrossed with thick wooden beams, and faded murals wrapped the walls. His protective cloak rested just outside the ring of white stones and candles that surrounded him. Light flickered off a black leather vest and pants, covering a body toned through hard work at the docks. His strong hands were clasped tight; his lips mouthed a silent prayer. At their approaching footsteps, his eyes opened in alarm. “Nikko?”
“I’m sorry, but something’s come up.”
He leaped up while she said, “Blupp came, and—”
“Was there another attack? Is everyone all right?”
“Everyone’s fine. He said soldiers returned and were asking for you.”
His face stilled. “What did they want?”
She shook her head, unsure.
“Why would they seek you out?” Mencari asked.
Cogeni’s expression showed pain. “I don’t know. I’ve never run into them before.”
“Well, we have.”
“They hurt people,” Allia said.
“What?” Cogeni’s face now showed disbelief. “But they helped us—”
Screams outside sent the group running toward the barricaded door.
Cogeni hurriedly blew out the ring of candles and followed the others.
* * * * *
“There’s somethin’ to play with!” Naijen’s eyes twinkled with bloodlust.
In the dirty street they found creatures busy in their attack of a haggard man. He shrieked as a creature sank its jaws into his shoulder, then dragged him away. The other creatures, each the size of a small horse, saw their group approaching, and attacked.
Allia tried to dart past the creatures to help the man, but found herself blocked every time. By the time the group’s combined skills dispatched the creatures, the man and the creature holding him had disappeared.
She knelt beside a bloody rut. “The man was hurt, but it’s a trail we can follow—”
Without another word Naijen dashed down the street, the others in tow.
Allia was about to follow when a glint caught her eye: something shiny dangled from the neck of a fallen creature. She reached down, pulled a tiny pendant off its neck, and stuffed it into her pocket.
She joined the others and followed the trail to a dark alley. Debris was stacked two stories high on either side, creating a narrow entry into the darkness. The dirty fog made it more difficult to see, but she saw the outline of Naijen’s form moments before it disappeared into a wall.
When she neared the spot, she found a giant gash in the thick brick wall. The inside beyond was pitch black. She saw Seigie wince while illuminating golf-ball-sized diamonds. “Here,” the matriarch said, passing them out.
Inside the building, they found Naijen a few rooms in, waiting in the darkness for them to catch up.
“Couldn’t see,” he grumbled.
Naijen took one of the glowing gems from Seigie and charged ahead. Seigie turned back to Mencari. “He was going to run off eventually. Better he has light.”
“We should find other ways than crystals—”
“When we have the time, we will,” she said while she charged others and handed them out.
After accepting a crystal from Seigie, Allia pulled out the small tag she’d picked off the dead beast and squinted to read it. “What’s K’pec, Rhysus?”
; “Never heard of it. Why?”
“That’s what it says on this metal circle I found on the creature. It says ‘K’pec Labs’.”
A roar echoed through the building, followed by Naijen’s bellowed, “Play time!”
“Maybe he found it!” she yelled, stuffed the metal tag back into her pocket and ran ahead, Flower Blade at the ready. The ring of Mencari’s hand-phaser was joined by the radiant glow of Seigie’s crystals.
They headed into a breach in a wall, then hurried through a dark cavern.
When they found Naijen, they saw the Skar impale the skull of one of the creatures. Two others were snarling and snapping powerful jaws. Nikko shrieked when she saw the man’s half-eaten carcass against the wall. Enraged, she joined the fight; her powerful dancer’s legs knocked the remaining creatures back so the others had a clear shot at them.
As one group, they pummeled the beasts. Leaping onto the back of the last one, Naijen wrapped his massive arms around its neck. His body lit with a golden brilliance as he roared. The beast’s head tore from its spasming body. He lifted it into the air, bellowing in triumph before smashing it against a wall.
Her expression curious, Allia looked over the still-twitching beast. She reached down and picked something off the ground. “Another tag saying K’pec. What’s that about?”
Naijen looked into the darkness for more playmates, while the others gathered around Allia.
“These creatures feel sick to me,” Allia muttered. “It’s—it’s like they don’t have souls.”
Mencari looked at the tags in her hand, then to Nikko and Cogeni. “Do either of you know anything named K’pec?”
Both shook their heads.
Allia jerked her head around, then stepped away from the group, her hand in the air. “A breeze. From that way.”
She walked a few paces in the direction of the currents. “And I hear waves. Water.”
Mencari nodded toward the tunnel. “Let’s see where this goes.”
* * * * *
“It sounds like we’re right on the beach,” Allia said as they passed out of the cave the tunnel had led them into.
D'mok Revival: The Nukari Invasion Anthology Page 40