by Justin Sloan
"Then we’ll have to take him back," Garcia said.
Moralu smiled. "I hope you do."
With that, she joined the others who were already moving back the way they’d come.
"Well, that was...enlightening," Jilla remarked. "I didn’t think their kind capable of what she just did."
"Killing one of their own?" Valerie asked.
"Taking a stance against someone like Demus."
"I think we’ll find the Norruls to be better allies than we would’ve expected," Garcia said. "The look in her eyes—that was passion. Passion like that? Not someone you want to cross."
"When it comes down to it, I’ll be glad to have them on our side," Valerie said as they set off to look for the way up that Moralu had told them about.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Planet Rhol
“For you to understand, you need to know a little about the Shimmers’ home planet,” Nostro began. They walked through the tunnels as he talked.
Since getting past the Ravagion, they had only encountered a few forks in the path. They were following the ones that angled upward now, as the Norrul female had instructed them.
“Our home planet has a name,” Wearl snapped.
“Yes, sorry. It’s called Uogard. The climate is not always the friendliest, and water is scarce in most regions, which makes the few areas where water is available very valuable.”
Wearl explained further. “The cities are all near the water sources. We have to build upward instead of out, so most of us live in incredibly tall buildings.”
Kalan listened with fascination. For some reason, he’d never thought much about the Shimmers’ home planet. Maybe it was because they were invisible, but he had never really pictured them anywhere else. In his mind, they just lived on SEDE.
He realized now how narrow-minded that was. Not every Shimmer was a prison guard, just like every Grayhewn wasn’t a former prisoner.
Well, he wasn’t so sure about that last part. He wasn’t even sure there were other Grayhewns.
Nostro continued. “Oddly, there is one place where water is plentiful that the Shimmers won’t go. It’s an island—”
“It’s not an island,” Wearl interrupted. “It’s a peninsula. You’re messing it all up. Let me tell it.”
“Fine, be my guest.”
It was odd how Wearl’s entire attitude toward Nostro had shifted since the fight with the Ravagion. Clearly she’d expected him to be some great monster fighter, but that he wasn’t hadn’t merely disappointed her. She seemed truly angry about it. Kalan was still trying to understand why, and he hoped the story the two of them were telling would shed some light on the matter.
“There used to be a city on the peninsula,” Wearl continued. “It was one of our largest, and it was known for its celebration of the arts.”
“Shimmers have arts?” Flynn asked.
“Of course we do. Gladiator fights. Survival competitions. Murder-swimming. All the arts.”
“Murder-swimming?” Flynn asked. “Actually, never mind. I don’t want to know.”
“The point is, the city was a proud metropolis, until about two hundred years ago when the Borin came.”
“The Borin?” Kalan asked.
“It was a huge creature, maybe three times the size of the Ravagion. It walked on its back legs, and it was covered with spiky growths. Someone called it ‘Borin’ and the name stuck. The biggest problems with Borin were that he appeared to be unkillable, and was constantly angry.”
“That is a bad combination,” Kalan admitted.
“He tore through the city, ravaging day and night. The Shimmers who lived there put up a brave fight, but they could only hold on for so long. Eventually they admitted defeat, and abandoned the city to the monster.”
“Damn, that’s wild,” Flynn exclaimed. “I’m still not sure what any of this has to do with you getting all mad at Nostro.”
“I’m getting to that. There was this seer among the Shimmer people at the time, and she made a prophecy about the Borin. She said it wouldn’t reign forever—eventually a hero would arise. We would know the hero, because he would pull a tooth from the Borin’s mouth the first time he faced him. He would be a great leader to the Shimmers for years, and in his old age he would return with an army behind him to kill the Borin once and for all.”
Kalan turned to Nostro. “I take it that’s where you come in? That strange blade you showed Wearl back on SEDE? She suddenly started listening to you after that.”
Nostro nodded sheepishly. He pulled the strange-looking blade from his belt.
Now that Kalan knew what he was looking at, it was clear the thing was not a blade, but a tooth.
“What I want to know,” Wearl snarled, “is how the hell you got your hands on that thing…if it’s even real. Because based on what I saw back there, I don’t believe you pulled it from the Borin’s mouth.”
“Oh, it’s real,” Nostro countered. “And I did pull it from the Borin’s mouth. It’s just that he was already dead when I did it.”
There was a long pause, but finally Wearl snarled, “You’re lying.”
“I’m not.” He thought for a moment before continuing. “When I left SEDE, I knew I wanted to find a way to help the beings on my cellblock. I figured the best way to do that was to get the Shimmers on my side, so I traveled to Uogard.”
“You’re lucky they didn’t rip your damn head off,” Wearl growled.
“Oh, a few of them tried, but I got lucky. Found someone willing to upgrade my translation chip so I could hear them, and then I heard the legend of the Borin.”
“And that was when you decided to trick my people?”
“Not at all. I decided to try my hand at making the prophecy come true. Fighting has never been my strong suit. I’m a great negotiator and I think I’m a good leader, but I’m only average in a fight. That’s part of why I decided to look like this. I need all the intimidation factor I can get.”
“So why’d you decide to go up against this big monster?” Flynn asked.
“I was desperate. So I traveled to the peninsula, and what I found there surprised me. I think it’ll even surprise you, Wearl.”
The Shimmer laughed. “If you’re going to tell me the Borin was dead, you’re going to have a hard time convincing me. Plenty of great warriors go to fight the Borin, and none of them come back. If the Borin’s dead, what’s killing them?”
Nostro smiled sadly. “What I found was not just one Borin, but dozens. There must have been at least two of the monsters to start with, because they’ve been breeding. The big ugly bastards are all over that city.”
There was a long pause. “That’s impossible.”
“Saw it with my own eyes. I also found a Borin graveyard, which was where I got the tooth.” He sighed. “Look, I’m sorry I lied to you, Wearl. It was the only way I could think of to earn the respect of the guards and help my fellow prisoners.”
Wearl chucked softly. “Dozens of Borin. Who’d of thought? I’ve always wanted to try my hand at killing that monster. Now that we know there’s more than one, you can come with me, Kalan, and we can all kill one.”
“Uh, sure, sounds like fun.” Kalan turned to Nostro. “Something still doesn’t add up. Wearl said great warriors go to fight the Borin all the time. How is it they don’t make it back, and you did?”
Nostro smiled weakly. “Because I was a coward about it. I wasn’t trying to fight the Borin. Once I realized there were many of them, I concentrated on sneaking around the city. I hid whenever they came around, and I snuck away when they left. That’s how I survived.”
“You are a coward,” Wearl said.
Kalan wasn’t so sure about that. The Pallicon had given up his freedom to help his friends and family. Nothing cowardly about that.
“You’re right,” Nostro admitted. “But I’d like the opportunity to change that. I want to be the hero I pretended to be.”
Flynn clapped him on the back. “Well, buddy, you ca
me to the right place. There is no shortage of opportunities for dumb displays of bravery in Valerie’s Elites. You’ll get your chance.”
Nostro’s voice was earnest when he replied, “If I do get the chance, I’m going to take it.”
They continued through the tunnel for a while, always taking the upward path. After a while, Kalan spotted something in the distance. “I think that might be daylight!”
They exited the tunnel and found themselves in a landscape dominated by orange clay and strange vegetation. After walking for a few minutes, they spotted a female Norrul in the distance. She was waving at them.
“Well, she’s waving rather than shooting at us,” Wearl commented dryly. “We’re already doing better than usual.”
Flynn squinted at the Norrul. “I’m pretty sure I know her. I think that’s Moralu.”
They hurried toward her, and she smiled when they reached her.
“Pleased to see you,” she told them. “If you’re looking for Valerie, I can point you in the right direction.”
Kalan and Flynn exchanged a smile. “For once, fate seems to be working in our favor.”
Flynn chuckled. “Don’t worry. Based on prior experience, the good luck won’t last.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Planet Rhol, Caverns
The vine hung to the left of the three holes, just as Moralu had described.
"And if we can’t trust her?" Robin asked.
"We can."
Robin shrugged.
This time Valerie took the lead. She had to jump for the vine, and found that it stretched when she got a grip on it. She pulled herself up hand over hand, and soon had a view of the cavern. It had sloping walls and the strange vegetation, almost like an extension of the jungle below, but kept in an odd-shaped box.
She stood up once she’d crawled through the opening. It wasn’t a cave like anything she’d seen back home, as this one was covered with a substance that rippled like water. The stone had a turquoise substance coating it. It was kind of like gelatin, and she imagined it was either alive or reacted to the vibrations of the planet.
A quick search of the immediate area showed that the Norruls had stocked this place with local nuts and water. There were several offshoots, but the cave was clear of any danger.
"Come on up," she hissed through the hole, then moved to the cave’s exit, looking at the endless stretches of the clay-like ground that lay in that direction. Trying to get her bearings, she imagined the Norrul spires were behind and to her right, invisible from here. It was possible a cavern she hadn’t discovered yet led that way, but she didn’t have time to search. If she was in a cave at ground level, that meant there was higher ground above it. High ground meant another chance to reach Lolack on the comm.
She realized the comm might work now, since the metal caves weren’t blocking them. She tried, but got only static—no luck yet.
"What’s the deal?" Robin asked, joining her at the exit.
"I’m not sure yet," Valerie replied, "but I’d imagine we can either go out and make our way up to the top, or see if there’s a tunnel that leads up. We have to get that signal"
"Outside seems more likely," Robin replied. "I checked out the area inside, and didn’t see much there."
The others joined them, and Valerie made the decision. "Stay here and keep a lookout. Robin and I will make a sprint for the top and try reaching Lolack, and go from there."
"And if there’s no response?" Jilla asked.
"We charge back there and take down as many of those fuckers as possible," Robin replied.
"Couldn’t have said it better myself," Valerie said.
"Be careful up there," Garcia said.
"Always am."
Valerie and Robin exited the cave but the first step started to sink, so Valerie pulled back. A glance showed that the rockface of the outside looked typical—orange rocks that jutted out with lines of metal in them and small plants that grew in clumps scattered across the surface. Judging by the angle they wouldn’t have a problem climbing, so that was what they did. They ascended the hill, moving along carefully, and soon were able to see past it to the tall trees beyond. They recognized those as being between them and the Norrul spires. Smoke rose in the distance from the direction of the crashed ship.
"Maybe we should’ve tried to find the Grandeur," Robin said. "Seen if we could’ve accessed the comm without leaving."
"And been sitting ducks when the guards—who we can’t see—arrived? Or prisoners with worse things on their minds than throwing us in prison? No, thanks."
"Right, of course." Robin climbed a bit higher than Valerie and added, "But if this doesn’t work, I’d say trying from the ship is our best bet."
"It could be our only bet," Valerie admitted.
They reached a ledge and Valerie tried the comm again. She sighed when there was no response.
Robin leaned against the rockface, staring out over the clay, and Valerie joined her. The orange light seemed to form waves; waves coming for them, then vanishing in the sky.
"What a strange planet," Robin said. "Kind of literally a shithole."
Valerie couldn’t hold the laugh in. "What?"
"I mean, that stuff…it looks like shit."
"No, it doesn’t." Valerie looked again, then frowned. "Damn, you’re right. I was thinking clay this whole time, but yeah, shit. It looks like shit."
"Unhealthy orange shit, but shit nonetheless." Robin chuckled, then jerked a thumb at the hill. "Ready to go higher?"
Valerie nodded and led the way. Here it was less of a struggle, since the hill was now a slope that they could walk up. As they got higher the trees grew taller and denser, providing some shade.
"What do you think Kalan will do after all this?" Robin asked. "I mean, he is the Bandian, after all."
"Right. All those fleets flocking here because of him, in a sense." Valerie laughed. "It’s funny that he feels like just another one of us, but really he could be so much more."
"So could you," Robin replied.
"What?"
"I mean, when you run around this way you’re like a grunt. You should be a general, calling the shots."
"Since I’m a grunt who gets shit done, and one who can get shot and heal, I’d rather be the grunt."
Robin scoffed. "But that’s what I mean. You don’t think others should get hurt in the line of duty, or be allowed to risk their lives. Do you ever think that if you were in a higher position, you could do more to save lives? Making better decisions saves lives on the whole, and puts people into less worrisome situations."
"You’re still annoyed that Michael put us under TH," Valerie declared.
"So what?" Robin kicked a rock and watched it tumble partway down the hill. "And now we’re under Nathan or whoever. It still doesn’t make sense to me."
"Because you see me as something else," Valerie smiled, "I get that. But in the grand scheme of things, we’re all part of this machine. We play our parts to keep it working."
Robin shrugged. "Where’s the real enemy in all this? Point the two of us at him—or her—and I guarantee we’d end it all in no time."
"Damn, really?" Valerie shook her head, chuckling. "You think the two of us could deal with something that BA and Michael haven’t?"
"Well, when you put it that way…"
"But…" Valerie looked at her friend curiously. "You did say us, didn’t you? I mean, you’re still seeing this as an ‘us’ thing?"
"Fighting the enemy always will be."
Valerie nodded, walking in silence for a bit.
"And maybe more than that," Robin added, quietly.
"What’s that?"
Robin contemplated her silently for a few steps. "Nothing."
It certainly hadn’t been nothing, but Valerie let it go. Curiosity took over as she wondered what Robin was thinking. Had the woman reconsidered her position on the two of them romantically? Maybe it was just the situation they found themselves in. Valerie refused to get her h
opes up. There was also the possibility of not making it out of this alive.
She decided that if they did, she would push the topic. If it went nowhere, she’d dismiss it once and for all.
From the top of the hill, they could see the spires, the crashed ship beyond, and more ships coming down from above.
"Tenowk, Lolack, anyone," Valerie said into her comm.
No answer, but no ringing or strange static either. Robin tried, but got back the same. For a moment they lingered, then Valerie tried again, but this time she kept going in case anyone was listening.
"So that’s it then," Robin said, staring at the scene before them. Above were the massive ships that made up some of Demus’s army. She removed her helmet. "If we’re going to die…"
"Don’t talk like that."
"We’ve survived a lot," Robin replied, gesturing into the sky, "but this?"
"Come on, I…" She stopped talking when Robin stepped over and removed her helmet too. The intensity in her eyes was too much—it stole Valerie’s words, leaving her with nothing but a distant thought—one she couldn’t quite grasp.
Robin leaned in and gently brought their lips together; a brush of the tongue, a lingering moment of desire and passion. She pulled away.
"Wh-what was that?" Valerie asked.
"I’ve been wanting to for so long," Robin replied, still unable to meet her gaze.
"But everything you’ve said—"
"Was true, when we’re out there fighting. Not if we’re possibly going to die."
Valerie considered that. Well, in that case… She stepped forward and pulled Robin close, this time making sure the kiss was one they would remember if the next hour left them dying on some alien planet. For that perfect moment, nothing else mattered. They were as one. Their passion drove them…but they were interrupted by the awkward clinking of space armor on space armor.
First to laugh was Valerie, Robin following.
"If we had more time—" Robin started.
"Right. And weren’t surrounded by enemies or in a hurry to try to get back to the fleet, and save Kalan in the process."