The Index -|-

Kpleeb leaned against the far wall of the cave at the entrance to the smaller antechamber. Behind him, the cool of the stone emanated from the darkness. From inside the cave, there was no indication whether it was dark or light outside, but he had just risen. He knew that his body’s natural time to wake was early and that outside would be a dim and great dawn.

He yawned and retrieved his drinking container; a tall, somewhat thin tube made from yellow stone. When he returned, he sat in the dark with his back against the wall and watched Kiipo. Zara had left Kiipo bound in the center of the large cave. It was illuminated by the faintly yellow glow of a light-rod suspended on the wall near the red-tiered machine.

Kiipo appeared to be asleep. Its oddly-colored eyes were closed, it laid in a semi-fetal position on its side with its thin legs crossed at the ankles. Its neck-slits fluttered rhythmically.

Kpleeb mused. These entities are very powerful, Only Thoka and Zara have the ability to fight back against them. Well, only Zara now that Thoka is gone.

In Kpleeb’s mind, he could still see Thoka’s pretty face and white hair. Her smile had always made him feel at home, protected, yet challenged to be a better caveman.

She was so smart, it’s scary… but it wasn’t enough to stop these evil entities, and she is gone because she defended her tribe and her family from their attacks. She didn’t ask for this, to be here on this orb or to be kidnapped and altered. This is not her fault.

He closed his eyes with a sigh and pressed his palms onto his forehead.

Where will I go from here? She was so strong and so much a part of my life… of me. Zara too. Maybe I should take Zara and try to find the canyon river tribe… or Thoka’s family in the wet mountains. But… I hate to let them get away with this slaughter. What would she do? Fight?

The question rattled in his mind for a few aching minutes, but slowly his mind gravitated toward the obvious.

Thoka would not quit or lay around and wait for the entities to come kill the rest of us. They took us from our families into their cave. They changed us. They put us together and then then brought us to this place. Everything done has been initiated by them. They clearly see us as inconsequential, as mere tools to be used and disposed of as necessary.

He sighed deeply as his frustration rose and blossomed into a smoldering hatred.

I have to stop them from harming us further. I have to repay them for what they’ve already done, not just to me but to the Ganix and Xinti as well. But how? Where do they even live? It must be very far away from this orb, Phaedro. How many of them are there? Most important, how many do I have to kill in order to stop them? I’ll need Zara’s help to answer most of these questions and to do most things. I can build, but her ability with the invisible forces, Qon, is necessary. I need to understand how these angle-ships function, how to bring them down out of the sky without Zara’s help. Even with her help, we need numbers, the Ganix at the least.

Kpleeb pictured a horde of deadly Ganix wielding spears enhanced by Qon.

Where will I get the spears? or any weapon that will take down an angle-ship? Only from Zara She does seem to like Kiipo. Will she even be willing to kill more of his kind?

Kpleeb heard a slight cough from inside the smaller antechamber and turned. The glow-spot near the water stand provided a morsel of illumination. He saw Zara stirring as she scrubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. He rose quietly and sat beside her sleeping pallet. Gently, he placed his palm on her head.

“Good morning, Little Z. Did you sleep alright?” he said with a smile. Her sleepy face reminded him so much of Thoka.

Zara yawned. “Hi, Da.” She stuck a tiny arm upward to stretch and nodded in affirmation.

“Good.” Kpleeb handed her the small container of water that rested nearby.

She took the cup and sipped at it.

“What do you think about Kiipo? Do you think we can trust it?” Kpleeb took the cup back and drank from it before setting it aside.

“I like it, him, Da. It seems really nice. I cannot find a reason to believe that it is lying.” Zara’s fingers raised with her hands. “I can see the truthfulness using Qon. A little anyway.”

Kpleeb nodded as if he understood, but he had no involvement with Qon and did not understand past what Zara could explain to him. “So, you can tell if it is lying? That’s amazing!”

“Not entirely, but I can see details in its behavior that could be clues. Zara’s face scrunched slightly. “But, to be honest, this is the first of its kind I have seen in person. Maybe I am misunderstanding.”

Kpleeb shrugged. “Understanding these things will take time. It and the others did come here to harm us, and they killed your Ma. Don’t trust it too much.” He leaned in and put his arms around her small shoulders.

“I know, Da,” said Zara into his shoulder. Her small hand patted him gently. “I have to pee.”

Kpleeb grinned and scrambled to his feet. “Sorry Z. We have plenty to learn today. I’m going to find some food. I’ll bring some for you too.”

“Okay, Da.”

Kpleeb exited the cave and spotted the Ganix encampment that had been erected on the hillside.

She is too naïve. Too trusting. He sighed. I need her, but I can’t tell her that the Xi must be killed.