The Index -|-

“We should take out the sensors around Nidix.” Kpleeb stated emphatically. “Creating a blind spot will keep them guessing.”

Zara shook hear head, and her brown curls quivered gently. She lifted a finger. “A missing sensor is a warning.” She raised another. “We don’t know if these sensors operate the same way as Xih sensors on the Hsstak. If they are the same technology, taking one out will not hide our ships from whoever is watching. Remember, I can see out to at least five kitrond. We have to assume the worst, that our ships will be visible all the way from Biortl. Our only chance is to approach Nidix as any other Xih ship would.”

“What if there is a schedule and we are a surprise? They may attack us.”

Viinox raised its voice. “Based on what we have observed, there is no pattern to the the vessels approaching Nidix. There may be a system that we cannot see, or they could simple trust that any Xih marked ship is safe.” It paused and mimicked Zara’s most common hand gesture. “We simply do not know, and therefore the safest assumption is to avoid drawing attention to ourselves.”

“Yes, I agree.” Zara looked at her Da. “We must appear as normal traffic.”

Kpleeb shrugged dejectedly. “Sometimes, I just want to destroy something of the Xi’s, but perhaps you’re right.”

Zara nodded. “You’ll have your chance, Da. Now, I have to rest. Hopefully Oiitr will be finished with the Greki soon.”

“Fine,” said Kpleeb with a scowl. “I am going to prepare.” The connection dropped.

###

Zara blinked as Qon twitched violently in her hand. She clamped down on it with all of her strength, willing it to obey, and finally, it twitched weakly and stopped struggling.

[What is wrong with you?]

In that moment, she remembered what her Mama used to say: “You cannot hold what desires to be released.”

[Does Qon desire its freedom?] She shook her head. [Preposterous.]

Just then, Viinox’s voice called to her. “Zara, the alterations to the Hsstak’s beacon have been completed and verified. We are ready to begin our journey at your command.”

Zara nodded to herself with satisfaction. The Greki had already made the necessary changes so that they would be invisible to the Xi navigation sensors With a few rapid taps on the console in front of her, she took a breath and addressed both the Hsstak and the Greki. “We are ready to launch.” She steadied her nerves and sighed quietly. [The Predominant, finally… I wonder if they’re as meek as I imagine.]

###

“Magnify,” said Zara.

The view from the Hsstak’s command center change almost imperceptibly. “The shield is just ahead,” said Kanta quietly. Suddenly, a very faint flickering appeared ahead and morphed into a circular section of stars with a glowing start at its center.

“Did anyone do anything?” Zara asked quickly.

A chorus of denials echoed. “This is not the same as when we used the magnetic field to push our way through,” said Tiirw. “This is far more precise and invisible. This was likely designed to allow vessels through while minimizing the possibility of an outside viewer from seeing Nidix.”

Viinox looked at Zara. “The Hsstak and Greki are both operating as Xih vessels. Perhaps this triggers the opening.”

“You may be correct, Viinox. Continue through to orbit. Kanta, please magnify Nidix. We’ll need to find the Predominant. Perhaps there is a city there.”

The view increased in size and magnification. Nidix was a strong, teal hue, and there were no apparent structures. As they drew closer and the orb spun, a purply-blue gap appeared in the green. “There is water.” The lake was perfectly round as if engraved on the surface of the orb. “Ah, and look, this mountain structure appears to be the only one on Nidix,” said Kanta, bubbles rising within her airowalking helmet. “I wouldn’t call it a city though.”

“Honestly, I expected Nidix to be like the other Xi orbs. One enormous city in shining lak.” Zara shrugged. “If Nidix is this way, maybe the Predominant are also more unique than we expect.”

Viinox quietly gazed at the view as it zoomed in on the structure. The gap in the foliage was a perfect octagon and the color of its surface shifted slightly as the viewing angle changed.

“It looks like a hologram,” Kpleeb’s voice said. “Might be a trap.”

When the Hsstak and Greki had been inserted into the orbit of Nidix, Zara sighed in relief. “No Xi ships, nothing in orbit. How strange.”

“Nothing to prevent us from bombing the Predominant from orbit,” said Kpleeb. “Why don’t we just do that and be done with it?”

Zara grimaced. She knew that her Da needed revenge like he needed air. He had been bitter even back to her earliest memories, but when her Mama had been killed by the Xi, he became absolutely dogged in his pursuit. They had made a deal that would not only ease her conscience, but also provide the closure she knew he needed. She sighed. “Da, what if the Predominant is not here? We must be certain, which means we need to go down and see with our own eyes just like we discussed.”

The comm was silent for a long moment. “Yes,” Kpleeb muttered grumpily. “I know you’re right. We should descend now.”

“We are ready as well. Bring the ship down to the designated landing area. Kanta will stay on the ship with Viinox.”

“Miss Zara, please do not make me stay here. I must stay by your side and help you. Kanta is fully capable of taking care of the Hsstak.” Viinox raised its hands in a plea.

“Thank you for your confidence, Viinox,” burbled Kanta with a fishy smile.

Zara smiled. “I do appreciate your desire to help me, Viinox. I am bringing Tiirw this time.”

“I wish to see the Predominant in person,” said Viinox. “This will be the only opportunity that I will have.”

Zara paused for a long moment and looked at both Viinox and Tiirw. Finally, she nodded. “I understand.”

In a short period of time, the Hsstak landed gently next to the Greki after a low, stealthy transition up the slope of the mountain. When the larger external door opened, Zara could see that her Da’s band of Ganix had fanned out in a semicircle. They were immediately joined by her own Ganix warriors, and then Tiirw, Viinox, and Zara descended and joined Kpleeb.

The clearing was so small that it could not be rightly described as a clearing. The trees were close, several even stood between the Greki and Hsstak. Every tree was the same. The trunks were thick and squat ending in a bushy tuft of perfectly triangle leave which were a striking blue-green color. The grass beneath their feet was as normal as anything Zara had seen; soft, thick, and knee-high.

She turned to Viinox and noticed that it was gazing at the horizon in apparent wonder. Its neck slits fluttered rapidly.

“In the skies of purple mist…” it murmured quietly.

Zara nodded. “They are kind of purple, aren’t they? Did you expect that?”

Viinox tilted its chin downward slightly. “No, but I should have. There is an old children’s poem that I remember.

“In the skies of purple mist, Where starlight songs and comets twist, Lives the Predominant, brave and bright, With crowns that glow in moonbeam light.

They rule with wisdom, age, and fear, Their power increasing every year. They duel with gods and heal disease, And live far above beyond the distant seas.

Janaka blessed forevermore, On Nidix in the gleaming core. The stars cobalt, the moons of blue, The flowers sigh with drops of dew.

Now every Xi child forever sings, of Predominant’s might and stardust wings. They wear the colors, purple and green, And dream of Nidix where they are seen.”

Zara grinned at Viinox and saw that Tiirw’s face was as blank as usual. “That is a good sign, right? We must be close!”

“I never thought I would see Nidix for myself.”

Kpleeb grunted, his face expressing concern and nervous energy. He waved at Zara and pointed. “The compound is this way, perhaps a ten minute walk. We will be careful to stay out of any traps.” He strode away without waiting for a response.

Zara followed, and he was right. They wove through the trees whose canopy blanketed the expanse above them and soon the trees ended where there was a low rise encircled by low, dense shrubbery. “Careful,” said Zara. “These bushes are laced with a web of aji. It is a barrier of some sort.”

She approached the shrubs and peeked over. There was a pavement made up of multi-colored octagonal stones each about a pace in diameter. In the distance a squat, triangular structure rested in the center of the pavement, and light glinted off a figure that stood facing away to her left. Shifting her gaze, Zara saw that tiny threads of Qon began at the bush barrier and radiated directly into the structure like spokes on an enormous wheel.

Zara turned to the Ganix. “Check the other side and make sure there are no other guards.”

A group of Ganix warriors melted into the trees while the others crouched warily on the slope like tundra cats stalking their prey. “What’s up with these circles?” Kpleeb grunted quietly. “I’m so used to seeing the Xi triangles, and this feels totally foreign.”

“I have never seen anything like this,” Viinox whispered. “There is no known significance for these patterns.”

Tiirw remained silent and stared at the distant guard.

“That guard is dressed like the painted figures we saw in the Grand Yefrtil Administrative Center, armor and everything.” The hair on Zara’s neck rose as she caught a chill. [None of this matches what I expected, yet all of the clues are present.]

A Ganix warrior appeared balancing on the balls of his feet near her elbow. “No other guard,” he stated in a low voice.

Zara nodded and raised her hand slowly. With careful precision, she pierced the distant guard’s brainpan with a palm-sized burst of golden needles. The guard crumpled immediately and then its armor settled as the body was converted into silica dust.

“Approach and check the guard,” she said looking at the warrior.

Without hesitation, the Ganix warrior leapt over the shrubs and sprinted to where the guard had fallen. He knelt and then waved.” The group met him there.

After a quick glance at the pile of shiny armor, Kpleeb turned and looked at the center of the space. “I’m looking for the entrance.” He quickly walked away toward the structure.

Zara ignored him and focused on the guard. The armor was not made from lak, its sheen was different somehow. She tapped on the breastplate and there was a faint metallic sound. Intricate etchings covered the surface with a swirling pattern in a way that made her think of clouds. [It’s very old armor… or at least made to look old.]

Standing, she looked toward the center. Three large circles overlapped, and the squat structure rested directly in their nucleus. The color of the pavement stones deviated as she shifted her gaze to look again at the misty sky. [This place is very strange.]

“Viinox, Tiirw are you seeing anything familiar?”

“Let’s see what’s inside,” said Kpleeb appeared impatiently pointing toward the other side of the building.

Zara shook her head. “Viinox?”

“Everything is new to me,” said Tiirw quietly. “I’ve never seen this. The patterns are all strange, the colors, the sky.”

“I agree,” Viinox whispered. “We should leave.”

“We’re not leaving,” Zara stated firmly. We’ve come a long way to find Nidix and the Predominant, and if they are here, we will confront them.”

Kpleeb grunted his agreement and clenched his fist. “I’ve waited a long time and put up with so much pain and suffering for my revenge. I’m going in right now. The entrance is on the other side.”

Zara and the group followed Kpleeb to a lofty doorway with no visible door. A dark hallway descended away from them, but as he stepped inside, a dim light began to radiate from the grey walls. The floor sloped smoothly downward, and the footsteps were eerily silent. After a few minutes, Zara paused and looked back. The atmosphere was a tiny, bright rectangle in the distance.

“Keep up, Zara,” said Kpleeb quietly. “I see color ahead.”

Zara trotted quickly to her Da’s side. The corridor flattened out, and on each side, gigantic windows looked out into a lush garden.

Kpleeb stepped to the side and tapped cautiously on the smooth wall. A large bird with blue stilt-legs slowly picked its way across wide, green lawn with random tufts of purple-flowered grass toward a small body of water near a line of perfectly manicured bushes. He turned around and looked at the other side where distant mountain peaks sloped down past green and purple trees to the same field that appeared to extend directly to and through the hallway. “Curious,” he said. “I can smell the grass.”

“I suspect this is an expensive trick,” said Viinox quietly. “We are far underground.”

Kpleeb turned and looked at Viinox flatly before continuing to walk down the hallway.

Zara smiled at Viinox and shook her head slightly.

The hallway continued straight ahead for another ten minutes of walking, and then in the distance it gradually grew in width and height. A large, ornate door stood ahead of them. and Zara was amazed at the detail revealed as they approached. There were several Xi illustrated on the door, with one triad of Xi standing together with an apparent cloud surrounding them like an aura. The base layer of every surface behind the Xi was covered in filigree that was etched into the silvery material. The patterns behind the Xi were not random, but nothing stood out to Zara as being depictions of objects or places.

“The Predominant,” whispered Tiirw pointing at the triad. The group stopped quietly at the door.

Zara looked up at the intricate patterns and reached for Qon. The door was outlined in aji, but Qon ran underneath it, bypassing and avoiding the web. Qon wriggled out of her hand and resumed its place, a thick string passing under the door.

Kpleeb looked at Zara in a way she interpreted as being full of anticipation and nerves. “Let’s finish this,” he said under his breath. “We can analyze the door later.” He turned and waved his hand in a circle, and the Ganix silently rushed to stand in a broad line at the door.

Tiirw put its hand on the door and pushed ever so gently. The hinges rotated without a whisper. Light spilled through the opening.