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.

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.

The Index -|-

It had been a long night, and Kpleeb was exhausted. Despite his dulled senses and achingly wooden legs, a list of penetrating worries gnawed at his mind.

What if Jariit escaped the bonds? What if Zara fell asleep and it has killed her? What if I missed some wreckage and there is another entity out there hunting us… or bringing others?

He had no choice but to keep moving. Ahead of him the Ganix jogged effortlessly as they always did. Kpleeb knew that they slowed so that he could keep up, and it galled him. He was also grateful. Over the ridge ahead of him the cave waited, and he knew that one way or another, his worries would be over in a few minutes.

“Close, now,” said Xir dropping back to speak to Kpleeb. His voice was level and calm. His breathing deep and regular. Apparently, he had taken charge of the remaining Ganix though Kpleeb had seen no rank or ceremony.

“Yes,” gasped Kpleeb. “She better be okay.”

“Zara, strong.” Xir nodded and slowed as they reached the crest of the ridge.

Just ahead of them the gray-ish colored angle rested where he had left it near the cave entrance. Kpleeb stopped and put his hands on his knees. He drew in spasmodic breaths until he recovered from the strenuous jog. A couple of the Ganix warriors posted themselves at the perimeter while the rest of them grouped around the angle. They appeared to be studying it, prodding it with their hands and feet. Some bent under it, even laying on their backs underneath it, presumably to get a better look at the nodule clusters. One Warrior threw a knee over the front angle and climbed on top. The angle rocked, gently cradled on the invisible force that Kpleeb assumed kept it levitating above the ground.

After a moment, he entered the cave. Inside, Zara sat cross-legged a couple of paces away from Jariit. As Kpleeb approached, he saw that they were talking to each other, but that conversation stopped as soon as he entered the room.

Zara looked up. “Da, I’m glad you’re back!” She smiled at him.

Kpleeb frowned and looked at Jariit whose face gazed at him without emotion. Kpleeb visually checked the bonds and saw that the thick rope still encircled Jariit’s body. “Are you okay, Zara?”

Zara nodded and gestured at the entity. “Da, we got its name wrong. This is Kiipo, and he can talk to us. He is a ‘Xi’.” She pronounced the word with an accentuated “z.” “Zee.”

Kpleeb nodded at Zara and then looked at Kiipo. “It this true?”

Kiipo spoke in a reedy, thin voice. “Yes. I can speak.” Its eyes flickered from Kpleeb to Zara and back.

Kpleeb noticed that its neck slits oozed, and a trickle of the clear substance dripped into its neck line and disappeared under its black clothing.

“Da,” Zara said, “Jariit is a title for the Xi who fly the angles which are called Lutu.”

Kpleeb was surprised that she had learned these things, and he sat next to her her on the cave floor. “You have learned more?”

“Much more. The Xi come for lak, the shiny stuff that Uuiit had stored in the village.”

“What is the lak for?”

“Lak is a key mineral in their manufacturing. They make many things with it, even the lutu and these small objects.” Zara gestured at the pile of small objects nearby that Kpleeb had pilfered from Kiipo’s body.

“Why did Uuiit have a cloak with lak pieces all over the outside?”

Zara looked at Kiipo.

“The Iteek have a habit of…” it paused as if searching for a word, “of making themselves little kings.” Kiipo’s head tilted to the left slightly.

“Iteek?” Kpleeb shrugged.

“Uuiit was the Iteek here, Da,” said Zara gesturing around her. “It seems to mean outpost leader. Kiipo asked what had happened to Uuiit, and apparently, it was the only Xi here. ‘Phaedro’ they call this place. It is an orb.”

“Phaedro. Mmm. Your Ma was correct then about the shape and the, urh, position of this place?” Kpleeb remembered several of Thoka’s late night freethinking sessions. He had been skeptical at first when she had told him that the canyon river area was merely a small area on a large orb that floated in darkness. She had convinced him by describing in detail the mechanics of the orb’s orbit around the sun. She said that they had been dropped here when they awoke in the snowy woods all those months ago.

Zara nodded to confirm his statement. “The Xi come from another place like this one, but far, far away I suspect.

Kiipo’s eyes flicked between Kpleeb and Zara.

“Yes, Kiipo,” said Zara, “we know.”

Kpleeb was confused, but he merely nodded and remained silent.

“We know that the Xi come from another orb. You come in your lutu and you use the cavepeople you find to take lak from these orbs.” Zara paused and regarded Kiipo with a raised eyebrow. “The lak is a core component of everything you have, so it must be very valuable.”

Kpleeb turned and motioned to the nearest Ganix warrior. “Get me Xir and his dust bags.” The warrior nodded and left the cave. In a few moments, he returned with Xir who held two, small leather bags.

Kpleeb took one of the bags and opened the drawstring at the top and tipped the whole container over. Pure, white silica dust poured out into a pile on the floor. He motioned for the other bag and Xir handed it to him.

Kiipo let out a short, nasally-thin squeak and then clamped its mouth shut.

“This will be you if you do not give us all of the information we ask.”

“Da,” said Zara,” Kiipo has been so helpful already.”

“I see,” said Kpleeb smiling at her. “We need all of the information we can get.” He addressed Kiipo. “I only want you to understand that I am serious. Uuiit is dead, and these two Xi are dead as well. You killed my woman, Thoka. You tried to kill my daughter.” He shook his fist. “We can, and we will do what we must do to protect ourselves.” He set the second bag down. “Do you understand?”

Kiipo nodded slowly and mechanically. “Zara, make sure everything it says is written down or recorded.” Kpleeb looked at Kiipo. “Do you eat?” He put his fingers together toward his mouth.

Kiipo blinked. “Yes. My sustenance comes from the lutu.”

“Sustenance?” said Kpleeb.

“It is what sustains my body.”

Kpleeb smirked. “Imagine that. What is it called and what is it made of?”

“Poda is made of… it is synthesized from nutrients.”

“What if there is no lutu?” said Zara.

Kiipo paused as if processing a strange request. “Poda comes from the lutu.”

Zara sighed “Yes, but not every Xi is jariit. Where does an Iteek get its poda?”

Kiipo nodded. “Ah, yes, I understand.” It pointed at the red, tiered machine that stood against the wall.

“The red box contains poda?” Kpleeb stood and walked to it. He did not see any food or any holes that had food stuck on the edges.

“Push the bottom, right, second button three times. Then push the center triangle.”

Kpleeb held his finger over one of the unlit protrusions in the bottom-right most corner.

“No, the one below it.”

Kpleeb moved his finger and Kiipo nodded. Kpleeb looked at Zara. “Do you think it’s safe and that Kiipo is telling the truth?”

Zara looked at Kiipo and then at the red box. “Yes, it is safe.”

Kpleeb pressed the button three times. Each press changed the glowing patterns above the emitter. When he pressed the center triangle, more than two hand’s length of tubing poked out of a small hole.

“I need to eat from the tube,” said Kiipo, “or dispense into a container with the bottom-right, third button.”

Zara stood and handed Kpleeb a small, stone bowl. When Kpleeb pushed the button, a thick, grey-green goo extruded into the bowl. After a handful of seconds, the flow stopped and the tube retreated. Kpleeb smelled the contents of the bowl, but there was no scent. “Smells like nothing.”

“Xi do not require scent to eat.”

Kpleeb held the bowl in front of Kiipo’s mouth, and shuddered in surprise when a nozzle with the girth of his thumb protruded out of Kiipo’s open mouth, dipped into the thick goo, and drained the bowl.

When Kiipo’s nozzle had receded into its maw, it spoke. “Thank you. I will not need sustenance for another six of Phaedro’s days.

Kpleeb and Zara exchanged glances. “Urg, okay. Good,” said Kpleeb as he sat a few paces away. “More questions then. Are you male or female?”

Kiipo tilted its head slightly to the right. “I am Ja.”

“What’s Ja?” Kpleeb pointed at Zara. “Zara is female. Females can make babies. I am a male. Males cannot make babies, but are built for heavier work.”

Kiipo nodded. “I know about your genders. Ja are utilitarian. Ka are leaders.”

“Who makes the baby Xi?”

“Na make the babies,” said Kiipo.

“Wait, what?” Kpleeb shook his head. “Na, Ja, and Ka? Three genders?”

“They are the three aspects of the imminent Janaka.” Kiipo’s fingers twitched.

“Diety?” Kpleeb yawned. “Like the great spirit tahr?”

Kiipo tilted its head. “I have not heard of the great spirit tahr, but it is possible.”

Kpleeb nodded. Their diety makes no difference. He paused and thought for a moment before asking his next question. “Who rules the Xi?”

“Who is your ruler?” asked Kiipo.

Kpleeb was not able to discern if Kiipo was being defiant or merely participating in the conversation, so he gave him the benefit of the doubt.

“I am my ruler,” said Kpleeb. “Once, long ago I was a part of the canyon river tribe, and we had a chief, the fab elder Shoofit. I don’t know where he is, or even if he is alive. Now, I am my own ruler.” He repeated his question. “Who rules the Xi?”

“The Predominant rules from Nidix,” said Kiipo.

Zara chimed in. “Where is this Nidix? It is a large village I presume.”

Kiipo did not speak for a long moment. “It is… difficult to explain for several reasons.”

“Go ahead, I’m listening,” said Kpleeb.

Kiipo blinked. “Nidix is a planet, an orb like Phaedro, but I have never seen it. As a simple Jariit, it is outside of my knowledge. This is true for most of the Xi. Perhaps there are some Xi who live there and serve The Predominant, but I do not know.”

“How many such planets do the Xi live on?” Zara yawned and looked up at Kpleeb.

“I- I do not know,” said Kiipo with his neck slits fluttering. “Please do not hold this against me. The young Xi are taught that the mighty Xi extend to all known planets. I know of at least twenty-nine by name.”

Kpleeb looked at Zara and noticed that she was yawning again. “Kiipo, we must sleep. Are you cold, or hot, or uncomfortable?”

Kiipo blinked again and then lifted its chin slightly. “This cave is very hard, and I am cold.”

Kpleeb turned to Xir. “Bring a reed mat and yak blanket.” He spoke to Zara. “We must rest and talk. Can you make sure Kiipo cannot escape?”

“I will not escape,” said Kiipo.

Kpleeb looked at Kiipo. “Maybe, but I don’t trust you.” He motioned to Zara. “When you are sure he is unable to escape, come to sleep. Xir, make sure two Ganix stand watch here while we sleep.”

Xir nodded slightly and disappeared through the cave entrance.

Kpleeb turned and made his way to the small, secondary chamber that housed their bedding. His eyes stung with lack of sleep, and his thoughts drifted to Thoka.

When Zara came into the chamber, she saw Kpleeb lying on his mat with a grimace of pain and anger on his face. His fists were balled up, and in the low light she could not see the tears flowing. Zara laid down next to her Da and wrapped her small arms around his neck.

“It will be okay, Da,” she whispered. He did not respond, but he did cradle her in his arms. In a few minutes, both were fast asleep.

The Index -|-

The angle split slowly revealing a small compartment. The inside was lit by a gentle, white glow. The entity that reclined nearly onto its back began to move.

The figure that stepped out of the fissure was thin and pale and reminded Kpleeb of Uuiit. They were certainly similar entities. This one was a hand shorter than Uuiit had been and wore a tight-fitting suit made of a glossy, black material. Its eyes were a piercing blue and slightly angled. Its mouth was slightly smaller than normal.

Kpleeb blinked. Or… maybe the mouth is normal and the eyes are bigger?

The figure stopped where it stood next to the angle and stared at Kpleeb and Zara as if they were mangy tundra yaks. It nodded its head slowly, and Kpleeb marveled at the shiny dome. It was nothing like the sleek, grey hair that had been plastered to Uuiit’s scalp.

“You will die like the female,” the entity said in a thin voice.

Kpleeb looked at Zara and she smiled. Kpleeb hunched his shoulders, put on his best stupid face, and spoke roughly. “You no kill. Urgh. You weak. Ugly.” He spat on the ground in front of him and nodded at Zara.

With a few quick steps, Kpleeb bolted toward the pale entity. Its eyes widened and then blinked closed as Kpleeb’s fist smashed into its face. The entity fell straight to the ground without recoiling or curling its torso. Kpleeb knelt beside its torso at looked at its face, but its eyes did not open. This one had the same thin openings on its neck, and they fluttered gently repetitively.

“Da, we must bring it into the cave and bind it. I think I can set up a tensioner of Qon to keep it from using the invisible forces.”

Zara still had that look of concentration, and Kpleeb understood that she maintained some kind of hold on the entity. He nodded and stood. “Yes, good idea. We have to get this done before it awakes.” He bent and grabbed one of the entity’s arms and began to drag it inside. As they approached the mouth of the cave, the angle behind them dimmed and resumed its normal, angular shape.

“I think it knows when one of them is close,” said Zara nodding at the figure.

“Mmm,” grunted Kpleeb in agreement.

Once inside, Kpleeb found a thick cord made of long, entwined grass and wound it liberally around the torso and legs. The thought crossed his mind that many, or all, of the Ganix might be dead. He needed them, not just to make ropes, build huts, and everything else. He also needed fighters.

When he was done, he stood over the entity while Zara released her hold and began to arrange her tensioner. She picked up a small piece of yellow stone and whispered to it while cradling it in her hands. After a few moments, she placed three small clusters at points around the center of the room where the entity was bound. She fiddled with the red casing that was situated on one wall.

When she turned around, she shrugged and looked at the entity. “We will see how well it holds when it wakes up.”

Kpleeb noticed nothing different, but he was not surprised. “Safe to rest then?”

Zara shrugged and looked at Thoka’s body. Kpleeb saw a mix of emotions on her face and it amplified his own. He walked to her and knelt on both knees. With a sigh, he wrapped both of his arms around her frail body. Within seconds, she began sobbing and clutching at his neck.

“I am so sorry,” said Kpleeb through his own tears. The pain of Thoka’s loss flooded over him in a moment, and it was followed by shame for failing to protect his woman. “What can we do without her?”

Zara ignored his rhetorical query and continued to cry great tears that soaked his tunic. Kpleeb held her for a few minutes and then heard a soft scrape. He gently pushed Zara to the side and faced the entity. Zara quickly brushed her face with the backs of her hands and came to his side.

Kpleeb stood and draped a blanket over Thoka’s body with a sigh. There is no point allowing the entity to gain satisfaction… or for us to be distracted.

The entity lay on the floor bound. It eyes were open and stared at them without emotion. Its feet and hands squirmed in the bindings. Kpleeb was happy to see that the ropes held fast.

“My tensioners hold, Da,” said Zara looking up at him. “He is pushing at the Qon, but it holds.” She nodded thoughtfully. “I will have to strengthen the tensioners.”

“Why do you bind me?” said the entity in its thin voice. Its wrists continued to work, slowly testing all approaches to the knot.

Kpleeb ignored its question and approached. He knelt and searched the entity’s body. From its neck, he pulled a thin chain with a crystal attached to it. From small, stretchy pouches on its shiny black suit he retrieved a handful of small objects that he did not recognize. Around its left ankle was a purple band that could not be removed, so he left it and took the remainder of the items back to pile on a workbench at the side of the room.

Throughout the search, the entity’s eyes simply stared at Zara.

When Kpleeb returned to Zara’s side, he spoke to the entity. “What is your name?”

“Jariit,” it said without looking away from Zara.

Kpleeb looked at Zara and smiled. “You’re okay?”

“Yes, Da.”

Kpleeb cracked his hairy knuckles and moved closer. “Well, alright, Jariit. I think we are in a good place. You will tell us the answers to everything I ask, and we won’t kill you.”

“Jariit,” said the entity.

Kpleeb blinked and struck out with his open palm. The slap knocked the entity’s face to the side, at least as far as Zara’s bonds allowed it to move. Over the next handful of minutes Kpleeb worked patiently. He carefully and methodically applied what he thought should have been painful pressure to each part of the body before him. He tried to get any kind of response, but the entity never made a noise, even when Kpleeb stuck his fingers into the quivering openings on the side of its neck. There was no outcry, but Kpleeb smiled with satisfaction as the body twitched and writhed and the eyes rolled back into the head at odd angles.

In a few minutes, while Kpleeb tortured Jariit, there was an echo of feet in the cave entrance. Kpleeb straightened to see one of the Ganix warriors appear. He was spattered with blood and shallow cuts peppered his torso, but his pale, painted face was impassive as was normal for the Ganix.

“Xir, are you okay?” asked Kpleeb with surprise. “I thought all of you must be dead.”

Xir stopped and looked at the entity on the floor before addressing Kpleeb. “Many Ganix dead. Some alive. Urh, one burning,” he said pointing at the figure on the floor.

In his zeal for harming the entity, Kpleeb had put aside any thoughts of the the other lights in the sky. He could only assume they were angles similar to the one outside the cave. He now realized that he needed to be sure that any other entities were unable to surprise them. He nodded and stretched.

“Show me where.” Kpleeb turned to Zara. “You must keep Jariit bound. Do you understand?” He carefully hugged her small form. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Zara nodded solemnly. “I will be safe, Da. Jariit will not escape.”

Kpleeb grinned and wiped the goo from Jariit’s neck slits onto the front of Jariit’s clothing. “Wait here, okay Jariit?”

Without waiting for an answer, Kpleeb followed Xir out of the cave.