Self-Destruct (Caveman Chronicles)

The Index -|-

Zara munched on a small, thin wafter that one of the Ganix women had brought her. It was crispy and contained small chunks of a nut that the Ganix used in many of their foods. The flavor was earthy and slightly sweet. Zara had no idea how they were made, but it was one of the best food items that was available to her. The Ganix often ate bowls of stew that were made from tubers and river otter. It offered warmth in cold weather, but Zara found it to be quite bland.

She looked at the small stack of crisps next to her on the stone table and then at the red tiered object on the wall.

I wonder what the poda, goo-like substance, tastes like and what it’s made of? It might not even be good for me to eat. Kiipo and its kind are different than us cavemen. Their bodies turn into dust when they die. Ours rot and are consumed by nature.

She glanced at Kiipo who was sleeping. She stood quietly and went to the red device. With her Qon sense, she reached into the device near where the poda tube had appeared. She could sense the tube under the surface and traced it further into the depths. It was akin to feeling the contours of a complex object in a completely dark room. There was a line of pale green that traced along the tube, and soon she found a small reservoir. The reservoir was triangle in shape, but the corners were rounded and several dozen colored lines of the invisible force led to one of the corners.

I cannot get the poda out of the reservoir without breaking the device or without using Kiipo’s amulet.

She made up her mind to wait until the next time Kiipo needed sustenance and then snag some of the poda for analysis. Looking back at Kiipo, she pondered the conversation with her Da.

I know he doesn’t trust the Xi. How could he? They killed Mama and they captured both Mama and Da and did terrible things to them. Why though? The Xi appear to be very advanced. They could fly in their lutu from one celestial orb to another at great distances, at least according to Kiipo’s stories. Stories I must believe having seen all that I have seen. With that kind of technology, why do they need to capture simple cavemen? Why experiment on them? Clearly this behavior indicates that they see us as being less than them. So much less that they have no concern for our lives or our families.

Kiipo’s leg twitched, and Zara rechecked the bindings. The red and orange-tinged threads of the invisible force strengthened the ropes, and a grid of pale blue lines wrapped its entire body like a blanket. Her blue blanket was designed to prevent Kiipo from using the invisible forces, and it did work. When they had first captured Kiipo, it had resisted the blanket and pushed hard against the bindings but had failed to break through.

It does appear to be telling us the truth, and this one at least seems innocent.

Kiipo blinked and its eyes shifted toward Zara.

“Good morning, Kiipo.”

“Good morning, Zara,” Kiipo said.

Zara saw a flexing at its bindings. Kiipo tested the bonds each time it awoke.

“Why did you attack us, Kiipo? We did nothing to you.”

Kiipo answered after a short pause. “I have told you.”

“Yes, I know. You told me yesterday and the day before. But why? We have done nothing to the Xi. We did not even know of the Xi.”

“You killed Uuiit. Is that not enough?” Kiip’s neck slits fluttered momentarily before resuming their normal pace.

“Uuiit attacked us first. We defended ourselves. Now you have come to Phaedro and killed Thoka, my Mama.”

Kiipo tilted its head slightly. “The Jariit, we received instructions to come and destroy the people at this place. We were only told that you had killed Uuiit and must be destroyed.” Kiipo paused again. “If not for this reason, I would not be here, bound and helpless.” Its face remained utterly passive and emotionless.

“How many Jariit are there?”

Kiipo paused and then answered. “Truly, I do not know, but there are many. Perhaps a million or more.”

Zara thought for a moment about the ramifications of the number and then asked a question to provide some clarity. “How many Xi are there?”

“Many, many. I do not know, but when I was in training the estimate was at least one hundred and forty-three billion. I suppose it is a larger number now.” Its fingers twitched.

Zara thought about the math. 1 million was only a tiny fraction of 143 billion. Surely they would need more Jariit. “Kiipo, are there other kinds of Jariit? Those who pilot the lutu for other reasons or in other areas?”

Kiipo lifted its chin slightly. “Jariit only pilot the lutu for Xi Ank. There are other Xi who pilot other craft, including lutu, for other reasons. Some operate only inside the atmosphere of a planet.

Zara nodded. “So, the Jariit must be very special. An elite group perhaps.? Is it difficult to become Jariit? Many years of training?

Kiipo lifted its chin and its neck slits fluttered. “Jariit are the best pilots.”

Even with its emotionless face, Zara could see that it was proud.

“How do you control the lutu?”

Kiipo tilted its head before he answered. “I will the lutu to move and it moves.”

“Same with the weapons you fired at us?”

“Yes.”

Zara considered for a moment the problem with taking over their weapons before she nodded at Kiipo. “Can you show me?”

“Why do you want to know? Why would I not simply fly away?”

Zara grinned at Kiipo. “I don’t trust you, and you will not fly away. Even though I like you, I would make your body into dust.”

Kiipo was motionless and Zara sensed the invisible bonds being prodded and flexed. After a moment, the flexing stopped.

Zara stood and went to the cave entrance and summoned the Ganix warriors that were there. When they followed her inside, she eased the bonds on Kiipo’s legs and spoke. “Show me how you control the lutu.”

The Ganix lifted Kiipo and half carried, half dragged it through the cave into the daylight. They stopped where the lutu rested, and Kiipo blinked its eyes as it looked around. The lutu itself split and again revealed the compartment where the Jariit would sit.

Zara examined her bonds on the craft itself before she spoke. “Can you operate the lutu without entering??

“In some ways, yes,” said Kiipo. “I can summon the lutu as well as perform diagnostics, and enable self-defense mode.”

“What is this ‘self-defense’ mode?”

“I can command the lutu to stand watch and forcibly destroy any entity that attempts to enter or harm the lutu.”

Zara nodded and made a mental note to sooth Kiipo into believing that they would not harm it. After all, she thought, if it has nothing to live for, the lutu may kill everyone around.

“Okay, well, fire the weapons. I want to see what it can do.”

Kiipo glanced at the Ganix. “You broke the lutu when you forced it to land. I cannot operate it in this damaged state.”

Zara smiled coldly. “I did damage the lutu, but it has opened itself to you. It is not completely damaged. Show me.”

Kiipo shrugged and slid into the lutu’s recliner. When he did, Zara noticed a wide-array of invisible forces coming alive inside. The compact clusters were connected via fat, multicolored lines. The interior began to glow and a detailed hologram appeared in front of Kiipo.

“Try to fly,” said Zara.

The fat lines oozed power toward the tail-end of the craft, but none of it flowed past one of the larger clusters behind Kiipo’s seat. The lutu did not move.

“It is damaged,” said Kiipo. Its long finger aimed generally toward a flashing portion of the hologram.

“Now try to use the weapons,” said Zara.

Kiipo did not answer, but the same fat lines of power grew and nothing happened. “It is the same,” it said. “The ghsikn is damaged.”

“Get out,” said Zara. When Kiipo was standing on the ground again with the Ganix holding its shoulders, Zara slipped into the seat. Immediately, the hologram pulsed and she felt a flash of understanding. The blinking portion was indeed a warning, and yet somehow, she could feel the lutu around her. It was subtle, but she felt the systems and sensors. Without moving, she focused on the flashing icon which expanded. Lines of power slid away from it and connected with infinite other systems. She blinked, adjusted her focus and stretched her mind.

The lutu responded with a shudder and a quiet cough.

Zara looked at Kiipo who for the first time had a strange look on its face. The lutu tightened around her and shuddered once more, this time the cough was louder. The reclining seat under her became very hot and burned her legs and back. Then it became extremely cold. A purple icon began to flash on the upper right corner of the hologram. It was circular with slowly, reducing triangle. Zara could see fat pipelines of power feeding into a swelling cluster in front of her feet.

“Kiipo, stop this destruction. Now!” Zara yelled.

The Ganix warriors roughly picked Kiipo’s body up and laid it face down and then placed their knees on its back.

The lutu continued to count down.

Zara panicked momentarily before she regained her calm. The cluster would fill to overflowing and then burst. In her mind, she felt the intention inside the lutu. It was committed.

Zara reached out with a needle of Qon and severed the fat line leading into the cluster. The golden thread sliced cleanly, and the hologram began to blink in many places before the entire lutu became silent and produced no further power, light, or response. She stepped out and walked around the lutu once before standing near Kiipo.

“You attempted to destroy the lutu as well as me and you and the warriors?”  Zara voice was small but her anger shone through in the tone.

Kiipo did not answer. It merely closed its eyes and appeared to wait for the consequences of its actions.

Zara stormed toward the cave with a scowl, and the Ganix followed her dragging Kiipo between them.