The Index -|-

The Hsstak quivered slightly, and as the door to her cabin slid closed, there was a faint high-pitched laugh followed by a quickly fading wail.

Zara woke abruptly and sat straight up in her sling causing it to sway gently. The room was dark, with only the glow of a slowly-pulsing icon on the side of her red-tiered device that acted as a beacon.

“Lights.”

The ambient light increased in a linear fashion until it reached a soothing luminosity. Zara reached out and tapped her device a few times causing cascading data points to slide through the air in front of her. The report was momentary and it revealed nothing unexpected.

[Bad dream… again.]

She sighed and reached out for Qon. The silky, golden thread instantly coating her fingers like an old friend. As if it read her mind, the thread slipped into the red device and activated her sensor net. An explosion of light expanded as the data cloud grew larger and encompassed more and more space in Zara’s room.

She took it all in. There were miniscule threads of Qon in every piece of aji, and her palms glowed with a sheen that would be invisible to anyone else. The colors wriggled as it curved around her palm. Zara turned her hand and directed a thread at the silvery triangle on the floor. She had found a way to activate the Xih device using only Qon. The thread wended its way forward and touched the shiny surface as it had done many times before. The silver flickered as it always did in an erratic way. It was as if it fought Qon’s caress.

The Xih silvery triangle began to glow but did not activate. The golden thread blunted and Zara responded by applying more force. The thread quivered, resisting her pressure and seemingly malforming itself to avoid penetrating the Xih triangle.

Zara growled slightly under her breath. “What is the problem here?” With an extra, momentary exertion, the silvery triangle activated and the column of shimmering light appeared. The center dot representing the Hsstak was slowly approaching a pale blue dot indicating the Xi controlled orb named Liret.

[Just another few hours until we arrive. Perhaps I should go check on the crew.]

She clambered to her feet and tousled her hair with her hands to shake it into place. In a few more moments she stepped into the Hsstak’s command center.

“How is everything going?”

Kanta’s helmet water sloshed as she answered. “The builder’s fleet is almost to Liret. Estimated time, 2 hours and thirty-five minutes until orbit. The Builder wishes to have a conference with you before arrival.” Her fins tapped the console, and a standard view of the Hsstak’s place in the void appeared. All ten of Kpleeb’s ships appeared on the view. Each was tagged with its name.

Zara nodded. “I will speak to Da. Please let me know when we approach Liret.”

###

Later, Zara looked down on Liret as the Hsstak descended. The orb’s oceans carried a ruddy tinge that made the orb glow in a way she had never seen. She spoke her curiosity. “Viinox, what makes Liret so orange?”

Viinox’s response came back after a short moment. “The warm waters of Liret in combination with the natural algae make the oceans appear in shades of red and orange. The land masses on Liret consist primarily of island chains covering only 15 percent of Liret’s surface. The village we are approaching is named Cizriwn and it contains roughly one-point-seven-two million Xi.”

“Thank you, Viinox. I love learning this new information.”

Her Da’s plan was simple, and though Zara did not know exactly why, she knew that he was testing new ways of conquering. [He needs time and experience to fully become the Builder. He will make mistakes, but he is a good and noble caveman that wishes the best for everyone. I just need to protect him while he learns.]

The seven XF configuration ships in the fleet would land in the center of the largest village. It was here that Viinox and Oiitr had identified the Iteek’s office in a large Xi structure. The ships would disgorge the warriors and conquer the local authorities. Any Xi that resisted would naturally be captured or killed. Then the hubs facilitating communication between Liret and the rest of the Xi empire would be destroyed. Kpleeb’s monitoring devices would be scattered throughout the villages on the orb so as to provide a warning in the event the Xi reestablished communications or decided to rise up against his rule.

“Prepare to land,” came Kpleeb’s voice over the comms.

The Hsstak settled to the ground with a sigh and a gentle bump. The exit door ahead of Zara jolted open revealing a brightly-lit hard surface. Her eight Ganix warriors led by Tiv sprinted out and created a semi-circle around the entrance with their lightning spears at the ready. Zara activated her personal shield and stepped outside.

The area where they had landed was huge. Impossibly tall structures with a lak-like sheen struck into the sky above her, and she felt terribly small. It was dusk. The light from Liret’s star was tinged with blue and shone through the horizon at an angle. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of Xi stood in small groups all over the open area and more approached from all directions. There was a stampede of Hkkli footfall from across the open space and many of the Xi turned to stare at the many strangers.

Zara turned as a small group of figures from the nearest structure began to walk toward them. Her Da and a group of Hkkli also approached from her left. Zara stepped to her Da’s side as the group of Xi stopped a dozen paces from them.

Viinox’s voice spoke quietly from her side. “The Iteek is there, and they have not yet activated a distress signal.”

[Viinox must be nervous, but its job is to create uncertainty long enough for us to take control.]

“The Iteek is named Oliit. It asks about our purpose here.”

Her Da raised his hand and then spoke loudly. “I am Kpleeb, also known as the Builder. I wish to speak to the Iteek, I believe its name is Oliit.” He smiled fiercely. “Identify yourself.”

One Xi dressed in long, blue robes stepped out from the group. “I am Oliit,” it called.

Kpleeb and Nairo stepped forward confidently until they were face to face with Oliit.

“Oliit wishes to know why I do not respond,” said Viinox.

“Tell it that the Builder speaks for this group.” Zara smiled slightly. “I trust you, Viinox. We do not wish to kill these Xi.”

Oliit’s head tilted sideways slightly as if considering. “What does the Builder desire from our poor outpost on Liret?”

Kpleeb smiled calmly. “I wish to visit your office, high- uh, eminence. Will you invite us in and speak with me about an alliance?”

Oliit’s neck slits fluttered momentarily as it appeared to consider the request. Finally, it lifted its chin in a regal manner and turned toward the nearby structure. “Come.” Without waiting, the Iteek and its large group of consorts moved gently forward.

Zara watched the whole exchange with interest. [What must it be thinking? Doesn’t it feel suspicious? Perhaps they are confident in their power, though surely this is the first non-Xi that has approached them in this manner.]

Her Da motioned for her to follow, and within another ten minutes they had entered into a large triangle room within the large structure. There was a small dais at one end of the room and next to the dais was suspended a single, ornate sling. Oliit sat silently in the sling and then gestured to Kpleeb. “Please describe this alliance you seek.”

Kpleeb smiled grandly and raised his arms. “The Xi have harmed me and my family greatly. I am here to become the ruler of Liret.” He looked at Oliit seriously now. “If you submit to my leadership, you and your people will live and flourish.”

Zara felt Viinox tense at her side, and she grasped Qon quickly.

Two of the Xi attendants next to Oliit dropped to their knees and pulled flat, oval objects out of their pale robes. A pair of the closest Hkkli fell immediately as if struck by an invisible hand.

As Zara reacted, her Da stepped forward and back handed one of the Xi. Its head whipped back and the recoil threw its body into Oliit who was just beginning to cower away from the attacks. The other Xi began to respond but was struck in the chest with a lightning bolt. By the time the second attacker hit the floor, the first Xi began to dissolve into dust.

Zara clenched her fists and pulled the aji out of the walls with thick tendrils of Qon. In her ears there was a ripping sound as the room plunged into darkness. Pulses of lightning flashed, and then she felt her shield flex with a strong hit. Her breath was forced from her chest momentarily and she released her grip. The lights in the space flickered on and Zara saw Oliit lifting a crystal glove toward her.

Qon leapt ahead of her in anticipation. “Da!” she cried and lifted her hand toward Oliit. An invisible golden spear shot out and impaled its body. “No! I need to question it!” Zara shouted. Qon lashed out again, and Zara tightened her grip and pulled. It was too late.

With a flurry of kicks, Nairo and two other Hkkli finished off the remaining Xi. Zara’s Da knelt next to Oliit’s body as its neck slits ceased to move. He shook his head and looked up at her. “I was hoping it would help us run this orb.”

“I’m sorry, Da,” said Zara looking down at her feet. “Things got out of hand.” At that moment, she remembered the communication hub.

“Viinox, take Kanta and go disable the hub quickly.” Viinox began to move toward the door.

“Nairo, take one of your warriors and make sure Viinox is protected.” Her Da stood and looked again at Zara. “It seems like no matter how much I try, the Xi insist on testing my patience. Let’s go outside.”

Zara and her Da soon stepped out and stopped where the group of Hkkli and Ganix warriors cautiously watched the still growing number of Xi that stood outside.

Her Da touched his necklace and raised his right hand. His voice echoed with power. “People of Liret, I am your new supreme ruler. I come to rule peacefully. If you resist me, I will throw your riaat into the red ocean.”

There was a ripple in the crowd at his offensive words.

“I gave Oliit a chance, and it chose poorly. I have disabled Liret’s connection to the core. There will be no Xi vessels visiting your world for a long time. Now, I give you the same choice. Choose a new Iteek. Live in peace, flourish, and treat the other intelligent races around you with respect. If you do this, I will leave you in peace.”

Zara looked around at the crowd. There were more individual beings in the open space than she had ever seen in one spot, and she remembered that this was a small world on the outskirts of Xi space. Liret was a speck in the Predominant’s empire, easily discarded and soon forgotten.

Viinox and Kanta appeared from the doorway, and her Da’s hand rested on her shoulder. “We must leave. There other communications hubs have been destroyed.”

Zara nodded silently and took another look at the many Xi.

[There are so many- too many to count. Endless Xi. Is there any safe place?]