by Luna Hunter
After a strenuous descent we reach a massive underground dome that takes my breath away. I’ve traveled the universe, I’ve seen more amazing sights and beautiful vistas than I can count, but nothing compares to this majestic view.
A large lake lies in front of us, its water dark and still. Beyond that lies what can only be described as a subterranean city. Towers rise up out of the earth, windows carved right out the stone — and lights burn inside.
The ceiling of this dome is so high I can’t even see it.
Olivia stands next to me, her mouth hanging open in shock.
“W-what is this place?”
“I don’t know,” I growl. “But I’m sure this is what we were looking for.”
She glances at the dark, ominous water. “How are we going to cross this?”
After the metallic monster we encountered earlier, I can only imagine the horrors that lurk in these depths. Swimming will be my absolute last resort.
Suddenly I feel two small hands on my calves. Instantly, I reach for my blaster and point it downwards, my heart skipping a beat — only to see the Ype leader stare up at me with those big yellow eyes of him.
“Holy hell, I nearly shot you,” I say as I holster my blaster. “Where did he come from?!”
“Is this what you wanted to show us?” Olivia asks the green monkey.
The Ype leader nods, pointing at the city in the distance. Unlike earlier, he doesn’t shriek or cry. In fact, he looks a little scared to be here.
I gather from his behavior we won’t encounter anything friendly in the subterranean city.
“We can’t reach it, though,” I say. “Not like this.”
“Look!” Olivia says.
Behind us, four Ypes approach, and they’re carrying a raft.
“For us?” Olivia asks.
The Ypes place the raft at our feet, nod dutifully, and then scamper away again, disappearing into the darkness. I look at the yellow inflatable device — they must have looted this from the crashed ship. They are more resourceful than I have given them credit for.
“Well,” I say while placing the raft in the water, “It seems we’re running out of excuses.”
Olivia crosses her arms over her chest. “You want to go… there?”
I nod and reach for her hand. “We need to know what’s out there.”
“I’m… I’m scared, Vukan.”
“So am I.”
“You are?”
“Of course,” I say. “But that doesn’t mean we can stop and turn back now. Only in the face of fear can we prove our courage. We need to know why our ships have crashed, why Zlatan died, why that human female was kidnapped. It has all led us here. I’d like to have my warriors with me, but I have something better. I have you. And together, we will solve this mystery.”
“Or die trying,” Olivia mutters.
“Or die trying.”
“You’re crazy. I’m crazy. This is crazy. Okay.” She sighs deeply, channeling all her inner strength. “Okay. Let’s do this. Let’s go.”
“That’s my girl,” I smirk as I help her climb into the unstable raft. It wobbles under both our feet, and Olivia’s blue eyes are as wide as saucers.
“Not a fan of water?” I ask as I push off. I grab the two paddles that come with the raft, and soon we’re gliding across the still, dark body of water. Olivia sits with her knees pulled up to her feet, her eyes focused on the glowing city that lights up the enormous cavern.
“Open water is fine,” she says. “Dark, creepy, underground lakes; not so much.”
23
Olivia
The paddles hit the surface rhythmically. We glide across the still water, heading towards the bright, shining city in the distance. I can see their reflection in Vukan’s blue eyes.
I nearly lost him there. That mechanical monster nearly killed him, wrapping its long, snaking tendrils around him, choking the air right out of him.
I stood rooted to the spot for what felt like an eternity, but was possibly only a few seconds. Still, I feel ashamed. I was frozen as my mate, my protector, was hurt, choked, and nearly killed right in front of me.
The awful sounds he made as his air supply was cut off roused me from my paralysis. I lifted the trident from the floor and ran straight at the cyborg, piercing him, nailing him against the wall. I had no idea I could even do such a thing.
My skin still shivers when I think about him. Zlatan. Or whatever he is now. I’ve never seen anything to horrific before. To be forced to live such a perverted half-life, a machine using your body; your very life-force against your own will… I can’t imagine anything worse than that.
I hope he has found peace now.
“Look,” Vukan whispers.
I turn and gaze up at the towering city. Even though we’re underground, the city literally towers above us. Obelisks jut up from the cavern floor, with windows carved out from them, light shining through the many window.
A shadowy figure leans out one of the windows, and my heart skips a beat.
Who is that? Can he see us?
My eyes peer at him, trying to make sense of the information in front of me. His figure is human-like, but I can’t see anything else. A moment later he heads back inside, and I can breathe again. I am both equally curious and terrified as to what awaits us in this mysterious, sinister place.
We reach the island. Vukan leaps out and pulls the raft onto the shore and then helps me with getting out. I follow his lead, crouching down low as we hide behind a cluster of stalagmites.
I hear a distant humming, a vaguely familiar ritualistic chanting.
“What is that?” I ask as I peek my head around the rock formation.
“Shh,” Vukan whispers, yanking me back. He nods at the stalagmites. Through the cracks I can see glimpses of hooded figures moving in a procession. From underneath their hoods, I can see purple tentacles writhing.
Those can only mean one thing.
The Tyk’ix.
“So it’s true,” Vukan whispers. “Damn it.”
I can’t contain my curiosity. I need to see it. Holding onto Vukan for balance I lean back and glance around the corner with a single eye.
The purple, tentacled aliens are moving in a single file, humming to themselves. They are dressed in elaborate robes with bright colors, swaths of yellow and green and red covering their hoods.
My heart breaks when I see that next to every Tyk’ix walks a chained Ype. A metal collar is fastened around their necks, the leash held by the purple aliens as they march forwards. To my surprise, the Ype are docile and meek. They completely lack the energy of the creatures we’ve met. This must be why they guided us here, why they asked for help.
The Tyk’ix are using them — but what for? As pets? Or something more sinister?
One of the Tyk’ix stops abruptly, and turns to me. My breath falters.
His eyes are closed, his skin so dark purple it’s nearly black. His tentacles slither and squirm for a brief moment before he turns back marching in a column.
Vukan yanks me back, harder this time.
“Clear your mind,” he whispers.
“What?”
“They can read your thoughts! Try to keep your mind as blank as possible.”
I can do a whole lot of things right now — but keeping my mind empty is not one of them. It’s filled with questions and utter and absolute terror. I do my best, focusing on the ceiling, trying not to think of a single thing… but my mind inadvertently keeps drifting to Vukan. I feel his warm breath on my neck, my fingers interlocked with his, our knees touching as we hide behind this pillar.
I don’t want anything to happen to him. He’s my rock. I’m used to flying solo, but it’s nice to have a co-pilot at times like these. The tense moment passes, and the Tyk’ix procession has passed us by.
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Why haven’t they noticed us yet?”
Vukan shrugs. “Perhaps they’re not expecting us, or they’re preocc
upied.”
“What do you think they’re doing?”
“It looks like some ritual,” he whispers.
“Who do you think they are?”
Vukan’s lips are pulled into a tight line. “Remember that kidnapped girl I told you about, the human female? The Tyk’ix that led that operation looks an awful lot like these ones. His skin was a shade darker, older, like he was ancient. He spoke of ‘cattle’ and ‘sacrifice’ to the ‘sovereignty’. I think we’ve just found that sovereignty.”
“Does that mean…”
“I’m afraid so,” he whispers. “It looks like the Tyk’ix are not who they really claim. This place is ancient. The question that remains is if the Tyk’ix Empire knows of this place. Is this the real face of the Tyk’ix, or simply a splinter group?”
A cold shiver runs down my spine.
“We have to push deeper,” Vukan says. “We have to know.”
I nod.
“You can go back,” the Zoran says. “Or wait here.”
“No!” I say decisively. “I’m not leaving you!”
He leans in, his forehead resting against mine.
“I have to be honest with you, Olivia. If we’re captured, we’ll most surely die.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. It seems like only yesterday that I was watching those two dadyrs about to mate on Audur, lost in my own academic world, with my only care in the world being what I was going to have for dinner that night.
Now I’m faced with a possible intergalactic conspiracy, and I have no choice but to put my life on the line.
“I know,” I say. “I understand.”
“I’ve heard of their techniques,” he says. “They can dissect your mind—”
“I don’t want to hear all the details,” I say. “I just know this is something we have to do.”
Vukan nods. “Sorry,” he says.
I lean in and kiss him, my lips finding his. His arms around me in an instant, cradling me, a warmth spreading through me. It lasts for only a moment, but it’s a wonderful feeling.
And then it’s over, and we’re faced with cold danger once more. (?)
“Let’s go,” I say.
24
Vukan
After an intense, breathtaking kiss, I have to face the reality of our situation once more.
This underground city seems to be an ancient and secret Tyk’ix lair. It’s up to us two to discover the purpose of this place, and live to tell the tale.
The procession of the robed and chanting Tyk’ix has passed us by. Their sounds have died as they head towards the center of this city. Time for us to go hunting for clues.
The various dwellings are carved out of the rock themselves, and a few obelisks tower over all the others. As good a place to start our search as any. I give Olivia’s hand one last squeeze before I run out into the street and press my back flat against the opposite wall, looking both ways for any sentries.
Luckily, the streets are empty.
We move through the narrow corridors and passageway, constantly vigilant, but finding the city surprisingly devoid of life. In the far distance, at the very edges of my hearing I can hear the Tyk’ix chanting, assuring me that we are still very much in mortal danger.
We climb through the window of the highest tower in the entire city. From the outside it looks like the most important. To my surprise, the structure is almost hollow from the inside, and the interior architecture is distinctly alien. Strange, geometric patterns, unlike anything I’ve seen before. The walls and floor are coated in black paint, forming words I can’t read.
In the middle of the giant husk stands a pedestal with a glowing orb resting on it. My eyes are drawn to the strange, cloudy orb. An invisible force seems to emanate from it, and the voices at the edge of my hearing grow stronger.
I should gaze into it. I should get a closer look. Touch. I should touch it.
In a dreamlike state I walk over to the sphere. It looks like a self-contained galaxy is inside. I can see stars, planets, entire constellations.
This thing is the key. Touch. Touch it.
I reach out and grasp the orb. Instantly it feels like my soul is ripped from my body and I’m transported through time and space.
The images come so fast it’s hard to process them.
I see Zorans like myself in chains, forced to work, the Tyk’ix cracking their whips. I see humans struggling, screaming for help as purple tendrils wrap themselves around their skulls until their screams are silenced and blood pours down their cheeks.
I see visions of other cities, other places, other times. It’s more than I can comprehend. It’s more than any mortal soul can comprehend.
These are futures of things that happened, and things that will happening. Time, which has always been a constant, seems trivial compared to the overwhelming power I feel surging through me.
Ships.
Rows and rows of ships.
A bigger fleet than the universe has ever seen. Built with a singular purpose.
The sheer size of this armada is staggering. Nothing in the universe can stand up to this — it’s a millennium in the making. A thousand years of blood and sweat has been poured into this destructive force.
Eyes. Constantly searching. Constantly vigilant. Always seeing. Always. I feel the eyes turn to me. Giant, bloodshot, hate-filled eyes.
The gaze burns. Every inch of me hurts. I feel like I can’t breathe, like my throat is held shut and my blood is boiling.
I realize I can’t feel my legs. Then I realize I can’t feel any part of my body — except constant pain. Am I even alive, or am I already dead? Am I imprisoned in my own mind? What is this place, beyond time, beyond space itself?
The crushing weight of it all hits me, and I feel like I’ve been ground into dust. The overwhelming, omnipotent presence paralyzes me.
“Vukan!”
A voice in the distance. One unlike this place. It’s real. It’s good.
“Vukan! Let go!”
I follow it. The presence doesn’t want me to — it tries to draw me in, its tentacles forming all around me, trapping my soul, but the voice is stronger. I focus every inch of my awareness on following that angelic voice.
The power slips. It’s angry. Furious! It almost had me, almost trapped me with its claws, but Olivia’s voice draws me near, lifting me out of the darkness.
Olivia.
I realize I love that woman. With all my heart and soul, I love that damn woman. She’s one of a kind, completely unique. She’s brave, cunning, witty and determined. She challenges me, forcing me to be a better leader, a better Zoran, a better mate.
I accept that challenge.
With a gasp, I open my eyes to see Olivia hanging over me, tears filling her eyes, her hands resting on my cheeks.
“Vukan! Vukan!” she says.
“I-I’m here,” I stammer.
She wails, her tears falling down on my cheeks as she hugs me tightly. I need to blink a few times before I realize I’m lying on the floor.
“Don’t scare me like that,” she sobs. “I-I thought…”
I lick my chapped lips. “What happened?” I stammer.
“You-you touched that orb, and then instantly your eyes, th-they became… black. You started shaking, and I tried to wake you up but I couldn’t reach you, I couldn’t…”
Her voice turns to sobs, her entire chest heaving with every deep breath.
“It’s okay,” I stammer. “I’m… okay.”
My mind is still swirling with clouded thoughts. I shut my eyes, trying to make sense of them. I know it’s important. I’ve seen things, I’ve received a vision… but I don’t know if it was of the past or the future.
Olivia is still rocking me back and forth. I lean up and kiss her, wiping her tears away. I pour everything I have into that kiss, all my emotion, all the happiness I felt when I opened my eyes and saw her watching over me.
“We need to go,” I say when the kiss is over. “Now.”
<
br /> “Why?” she asks. “What did you see?”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure… but I think they saw me.”
I try to rise to my feet, but my knees are weak. All the energy has been drained from me, as if that crystal ball was trying to sap my very life-force.
Olivia wraps her arms around my body, and I have one arm held around her shoulder. She is stronger than she looks if she can support my weight so easily.
“I got you,” she says. “One step at a time.”
We sneak out, heading back down the narrow streets and back to our raft as fast as my damaged body can take us. I try to focus on the task at hand, moving one leg after another, but the visions percolate in my mind, the swirling clouds slowly parting.
Suddenly, it hits me like a thunderbolt.
“My god,” I stammer. “It’s worse than I thought. It’s worse than anyone could have thought.”
Olivia stops and looks at me. “What is it?”
“They were going to… eat her,” I say. “Alive.”
“Who was?”
I close my eyes and try to recall the things I’ve seen. My mind wants nothing more than to shut them out and push them away, but I know it’s too important.
“Emily Forrester, the kidnaped human female. That’s what they do, these ancient Tyk’ix. They feast on brains.”
And that’s only a small part of their horrible acts…
Olivia’s blue eyes go wide.
“The Ypes!” she whispers angrily. “That must be what they have planned! They’re going to eat them!”
A look of determination forms on her beautiful face.
“We have to stop them!”
25
Olivia
“We can’t.”
Vukan is resolute, and while it may be true, it’s the last thing I want to hear right now.
“What do you mean?”
“I can barely move,” he grimaces. “There’s hundreds, thousands of them. We need to escape, warn them!”