"What?" Etachs asked.
"Oh nothing," I said, still grinning. "It's just that if you had told me a week ago that I would be tying a bag of Himlani tick-tock-inside-bits to my belt to keep from getting shot at by a Himlani tick-tock-murder-drone, in an effort to liberate a bunch of alien rejects from their own people, to teach me how to hack into the Humans implants to spread messages of violent revolt and sedition, hopefully distracting a bunch of interstellar death lizards just long enough to rescue my sister..." I trailed off, then turned my eyes back to Etachs. "I would have laughed in your face."
Etachs grinned and their inner eyelids slid shut. I shuddered and they laughed. For whatever reason, of all the anatomical differences between us, this was the only one that ever squigged me out, and it had become a sort of a running joke. After the two of us giggled for another moment, we both sobered.
"Ready?" Etachs asked.
"Ready," I replied, and we stepped out of the cover of the treeline and into the mouth of the lion.
Boom
Tarq had been sitting with their back to their cell wall, keeping still, keeping silent, counting the seconds as they passed. They had started to refuse the nutritional paste given by the Enforcers and, after seven days, they had been dragged out of their cell and into the lab. They had not resisted, had not moved, just let it happen. Once they had been strapped securely to the table, the Enforcers had withdrawn, shutting off the lights before they closed the door. Tarq did not mind. Tarq laid on the table, their eyes closed, and enjoyed the silence. Tarq was not afraid of the doctors. They were not concerned about what would happen if they came in and disfigured or killed them. They were not afraid of pain. They were ready to leave this vessel behind.
They had been decanted from their tank, hearing a voice. The voice whispered to them of truths unknown, unseen. Tarq knew the voice was private, secret, and should never be mentioned. As the years progressed, and Tarq had advanced through their training and had mastered their assigned skill, the voice had grown louder, more insistent. It told them of things that would come, things that had come before, and things that were happening now. Tarq had no way to verify if any of it was true, but they knew it was. One day, while repairing a communications array that had been struck by an electrical anomaly during a storm, the voice inside their head told them to run, to hide. They did not question. They just ran. They just hid.
From their vantage point inside the tree line, they saw a great beast, large and brown and covered with hair, approach the site where they had just been and begin to sniff at their tools. The sensor net resting against Tarq's scalp began to tingle as it processed information. It told them this creature was hazardous, that it was likely to attack, and, due to its size, it was a difficult adversary, requiring multiple Rounder shots to incapacitate. Tarq had watched from their hiding place as the animal rooted around and then, after a while, it left. Any doubt Tarq had about the voice disappeared forever in that moment.
They had been able to hide the voice for a long time, until one day, while in line for a new implant, the voice had started whispering to them again. It warned that the Modder who was administering the implant was not functioning at full capacity and it would damage them if they allowed installation of the implant. Tarq squirmed and felt sick, knowing they could not leave this line without raising suspicion. As they had lowered themselves into the seat before the Modder who was to administer the implant, they saw the other's hands were shaking. They asked if they were alright and the Modder had simply nodded. Just as the cutting implement was raised to pierce Tarq's wrist they had faltered in their resolve to take the damage. They had skittered off the chair and away from the Modder. Almost against their own will they made quite a scene.
This had led to observation. The council had administered the Serum of Absolute Truth to Tarq, and all their hope was lost. As soon as they entered the cellblock where they now lived, they knew there was no chance for escape, other than a quick death. But the voice whispered to them, told them freedom was coming. Told them they would breathe free once more. Tarq believed. For the first day, the first week, the first month, the first year. But now that they had been here for five years, they knew the only freedom they would know would be death. So, several days prior they had stopped consuming the nutritional paste.
The voice still whispered to them, but now they ignored it. When the doctor entered the room, Tarq was lost in their own reverie and did not notice. It wasn't until the tube was jammed into their nose forcefully that their eyes sprung open. The doctor was forcing a long, thin, clear tube into their nose. Tarq gagged and choked as the plastic wound its way through their nasal passage and into their throat. They coughed and sputtered and still the tube was fed deeper. After what seemed like miles and miles of tubing, the pain and discomfort stopped, and the doctor regarded Tarq, who now had involuntary tears streaming from their eyes. The doctor spoke.
"You have not been eating, but we are not yet finished with you. If you will not eat on your own, you will be fed."
The doctor turned away, Tarq followed them with their eyes, they saw there was a machine connected to the tube that was invading their body, and also a large bag of nutritional paste, diluted and made watery for easy passage through the narrow piece of flexible material. Once the machine was on, it seemed to never end. They forced the paste into Tarq until their belly was distended and they felt they were going to burst from the pressure, and then they fed them some more.
Later, when it was all over and Tarq was laying on the ground of their cell, bound to keep them from inducing vomiting, the voice whispered to them for the first time in a long time. It said, "You will be free, you will taste freedom on your tongue, and feel fresh air upon your face. You will not die alone." Tarq turned their face to the side and wept, for they no longer believed.
◆◆◆
Once I had time to reflect on how Etachs and I got into the facility, I was truly shocked that we made it in there alive. Once Etachs and I broke our cover, all bets were off. As the Himlani occupation of the planet was largely unchallenged at this point, there were no live Enforcers on the outside, just the Sentinels and the Static Guardians. As we approached the territory of the first Sentinel, it zoomed over to inspect us. It scanned Etachs, who stood still, then turned its attention to me. I stood stock-still, waiting for the thing to decide if it was going to shoot me or not. There was faint whirring and clicking from inside the thing.
The next thing I knew, Etachs' clawed hands were pressed into my back and shoving me to the ground, a Rounder shot embedded itself into the grass where I had been standing, and the Sentinel began to spin around in search of me. It must have sent out some kind of alert because more of them began zipping around. My magic sprang to life faster than I could call it. I sent out a pulse of my Manuhiri magic and the whirring from the Sentinel changed. It began to spin slowly in place. Etachs stood still with their staff half raised, ready to knock any approaching Sentinels out of the air. I held the bubble of magic around me, grasping the core of my magic. I pushed it further than I had before, encompassing Etachs inside it.
"What in the name of the Tank just happened?" Etachs whispered, still in their defensive pose, staff half raised, and the intent to pummel things written plainly on their face.
"We are idiots," I said and started to shake with silent laughter.
"What?" Etachs hissed, looking at my prone shaking form.
"We-we thought," I couldn't finish. I was laughing too hard, wheezing into the grass, my face flushed as I tried to be quiet. I grabbed the pouch with the implants off my belt and thrust my fist up to Etachs, taking deep breaths through my giggles, trying to get a hold of myself. "We thought that this bag of tick-tock nonsense was gonna fool them?" I couldn't help it. I broke into fits of laughter again. Through the tears of mirth streaming down my face, I managed to squeak out, "Etachs, the Himlani are blind to my magic. We could just walk right the fuck in, without doing any of this nonsense."
Etac
hs blinked at me, remaining silent, then blinked again. They then doubled over; a clawed hand clasped to their mouth to stifle the sounds of their laughter. Soon they were sitting next to me, and we laughed and laughed until our sides felt like they would soon burst. After a few minutes, we managed to get control of ourselves. Gasping and panting in the grass beside each other, we shared a look. We made no further comment, just got to our feet and continued on our way.
"How big do you think you can make this bubble? There could be anywhere from five to 25 Himlani prisoners in there and we will need to keep them away from these Sentinels as well..." Etachs said.
"I don't think I could cover that many," I mused, "but I have never tried."
"I don't really want to risk it, if it's all the same to you."
"What do you suggest?" I asked, peering at them. They looked back at me, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Sneak attack!" They winked and I grinned. We spent the next 30 minutes disabling all the Sentinels and Static Guardians around the compound. We walked right up to them and Etachs or I would bludgeon the thing to pieces with Etachs' staff. It was way more fun than I would like to admit.
Once we reached the gates, it was a different matter altogether. I let Etachs take the lead, as they had escaped from this facility before and had some knowledge of its topography, at least. We scaled the fence but didn't go over right away. Etachs said that there was a security measure at the top with electricity. They took one of the sensor nets that we had harvested that wasn't completely destroyed and draped it over, then plugged one of the implants into it, doing something that looked technical. After a moment, they took the whole mess back and stuffed it in their pack.
"OK, up and over!" they said, and we climbed down the other side. We made it across the grounds to the actual facility in much the same way we had around the perimeter. We knocked out all the security measures and when we got the doors, working methodically and without mercy. As we approached the door Etachs put their hand out.
"You're not going to like this part," they whispered. "They won't open the doors unless they can see one of us and I have no way to force the door."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Uncover me, just me," they said.
"No."
"I told you that you weren't going to like this, but it's the only way, Ana."
I chewed on my lip and thought. "What if they kill you as soon as they open the door?" I hissed.
"Remember how I told you that Himlani don't really express emotion?"
"Yes, that's the whole reason that you ended up in this place," I gestured to the structure.
"Well, that is not entirely accurate," Etachs said. "They do feel things, just not like you do, or I do. And most of the feelings they do experience are selfish. But there is almost nothing a Himlani likes more than to gloat about a victory over another. I beat them, Ana. I got out of here."
"That sounds like more reason for them to kill you on sight," I hissed.
"No, they would want to drag me back before everyone, to show that I wasn't able to make it out here alone."
"You weren't—"
"I know, Ana, but they don't. Don't argue with me anymore, please, just let them see me, and you stay close. Follow us inside. Once we get in the door, if there is only one or maybe two, kill them."
"What if there are more?"
"Then hang close and wait for me to tell you otherwise."
I stared at them, brows furrowed, wanting so badly to argue, but knowing that I couldn't. I didn't have a better option. So, instead, I stepped forward and hugged them tight against me. They stiffened under my touch, but then relaxed and embraced me in return.
"Don't worry, Ana, it will be fine," they said soothingly in my ear. I nodded against their shoulder and gave them an extra squeeze. I stepped back and pulled my bow from my shoulder, nocking an arrow, but keeping my grip relaxed.
I took two steps back from them and opened the link through our communion. Ayesha wheeled overhead, our own silent sentinel. Etachs sent a comforting feeling through our bond and stepped out of my protective circle. I shrunk it down to hug my body including my bow so that I would not accidentally absorb Etachs again in my radius. Etachs took on a wounded, hunched stance and began to drag one foot behind them in a pathetic, limping gait. I knew it was fake, but I still felt a pang in my heart at seeing them look wounded and defeated. I thought about when I first saw them, how they had been so grievously wounded, and still running. How much fear must have been propelling them on that day?
They shambled to the door and started to beat their clawed fists against it, the harsh clicking of the Himlani language pouring out of their mouth in a pathetic, pleading cry for help.
As the door slid open, a grin split my face. This was going to be fun. Two Himlani looked out at Etachs' slumped and pathetic form. A grin of recognition split across the face of one. They reached a clawed hand forward as I drew the string of my bow taught, the nocked arrow steady and aimed at the other Enforcer's throat. Just as the left one snaked a clawed hand into Etachs' hair and yanked them up, I loosed the arrow. The one standing and smirking went down in a violent spray of black blood and no sound. The quickness with which it crumbled served to my advantage, as the other looked around confused. I climbed up the Enforcer's back and, while gripping them with my powerful legs, pressed an arrow into the soft flesh on the underside of their chin before it could get a grip. The Enforcer could not see me, but it could feel the sharp point pressing into their scales.
Etachs grinned up at it, violence dancing behind their eyes. "Release me or the spirits of this world will end your life, Tankling." The Enforcer immediately let go of Etachs' hair and held their hands palm up and open in a plaintive, pleading gesture of surrender.
"What have you done, defect?" it snarled at Etachs.
"I have found communion with this world and you will suffer for your arrogance, but first you will betray your species," Etachs growled in reply. I grinned and pressed the point of the arrow harder into the Enforcer's neck, a trickle of black blood sliding down the arrowhead to coat my fingers in its sticky heat. "Take us to the control room for the cells," ordered Etachs.
"They will kill me if I do. You know that," hissed the Enforcer. Etachs’ face split into a wide and menacing grin.
"I will kill you if you don't, and I will make sure that it will be so traumatic, all who share your genetics will feel it in their bones, you filthy beast." Etachs leaned forward until their face was nearly pressed against the Enforcer's as they spoke. The Enforcer whimpered and lowered their eyes in submission. Etachs stepped back and bowed forward, sweeping their hand in a gesture of invitation for them to lead on. The Enforcer snarled something inaudible and moved forward as I clung to them piggyback style.
Getting to the control room was easy and we encountered no other Enforcers. As we approached the door, Etachs raised their eyebrows at the Enforcer, who growled and extended their wrist towards a small patch. Etachs sent a request through our bond and I didn't hesitate. I jammed the arrow up into their skull with a forceful shove and leapt off of their falling corpse, kicking off from their back as they crumpled. Etachs snatched the Enforcer's outstretched arm before it could hit the floor and hacked the limb off with their knife. Black blood first sprayed then oozed from the prone limp form of the Enforcer. I looked at Etachs and tugged the bond. They sent some instructions on what to do next and I grinned. I squatted down and ripped the blood-slick arrow out of the dead Enforcer and nocked it in my bow, my fingers slick with blood but still sure in their grip.
I stood back as Etachs pressed the detached arm to the panel on the wall. The door in front of us slid silently open. Etachs grinned broadly, shaking the severed arm in a jovial wave at the five Himlani Technicians inside black droplets of blood flying wildly from the ragged end, splattering on the floor. The five Enforcers inside stared at Etachs, a horror smeared with black blood and grinning, but their hesitation did not last long. As the one closest to
the door rose and started to lift their Rounder, I fired the blood-coated arrow and ended their life with a shot through the eye.
Time slowed down as Etachs flew into motion. Leaping over the falling body, using it to launch themselves, they backhanded the one sitting behind it with the severed arm of the dead Enforcer in the doorway. As the Himlani recoiled from the blow, Etachs buried their knife in their neck. I loosed another arrow, taking out the third, but not before the fourth raised their Rounder and fired at Etachs. Etachs roared in anger, raising the severed arm to deflect the fired round, and was on the offending Himlani before I could blink, clawing at their face with their hands. The Technician’s scales and flesh shredded under Etachs’ fierce claws, and I made short work of the last one, my arrow opening their throat. Etachs gripped the hair of the Enforcer in their bloody fist, a sickening gurgling coming from where the Technicians mouth had been, black blood bubbling. Etachs just grinned and spat into their ruined face.
"Regards, from Marx," they hissed before snapping their neck. As they let go of the gore-covered dead one, they turned to me, black blood running down their face like tears.
"We need two terminals and their wrist implants to open the cells." I nodded, deciding to keep silent about the heinous way that my friend had killed their own kind. As I was completely ignorant of the technology, I waited while Etachs began to go through the boxes stacked around the control room. They opened a bunch of boxes and pulled out a few things, bringing their pack around and stuffing three of them into it. The objects, which I assumed were the portable terminals, were small, about the size of books, and fit easily inside their pack.
Once they completed this task, they harvested the wrist implants and the sensor nets from the dead Enforcers. As they left, a small box tucked under the terminals that lined the wall caught their attention and they stooped to fish it out. When they opened it and peered inside, their face split into a wide grin. "Oh, Ana," they said looking up at me, "we are going to have such fun." They turned the box around to face me and I stared at its nondescript contents. It just looked like a lot of little tidbits to me.
Anais Eternal Page 16