The Index -|-

Kpleeb raised his hand emphatically. “Biortl is out of the question. You think they haven’t fortified it with every vessel and defense array they could muster? It’s their most ancient stronghold beyond the twin orbs of Jiwlat and Qaplas.”

“There are not many orbs left to conquer, sir,” said Oiitr. “It will be more dangerous whichever way we decide to go.”

Kpleeb shook his head. “I know that we are running out of options. I know this, but Biortl is directly across the core and has the most natural resources while Qaplas and Jiwlat are in the direction away from the core. I believe they will expect us to take Biortl, and yes, I could be wrong. We are in a game of lynx and hare.”

Oiitr paused. “Lynx and hare? I am not familiar with this comparison.”

Kpleeb nodded absentmindedly. “An old saying from Fab Elder Shoofit… about the lynx and the hare. I never understood it until the Xih altered my brain, but the main point is… His eyes suddenly widened. “What about sending a spy probe through the terminal to Biortl?”

“Uhm-” Oiitr looked down at its red tiered device momentarily while adjusting to Kpleeb’s thought shift. “A spy probe. Unfortunately, we do not have a terminal registration for any probe. We could send a vessel, but it would not seem wise to waste a vessel and crew just to see if it comes back alive.”

Kpleeb grunted. “How many days to send a probe to Biortl without the terminal?”

“595 days.”

Kpleeb grunted again. “We are effectively stuck. What will it take to register more vessels for the terminal?”

Oiitr responded quickly. “The vessel has to have at least a hu-class control system, and then the vessel’s identifier must be added to the terminal database. This can only be done at the First Terminal.”

“That’s near Jiwlat, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

Kpleeb raked his hair back with his fingers and paced across the command center twice. “It seems the noose will only tighten around our necks as we carry on. We have to go the First Terminal and change the balance of the future in our favor.”

“If you mean to register more vessels, we cannot unless we have vessels that are ready. We could travel to the great lutu manufacturing facility at Diport and take all of the smaller vessels for registration.”

“No,” said Kpleeb.”We will make the terminals allow any ship that can transmit a request code. I bet Zara can set this up with your help, and perhaps Tiirw can help as well.” He cracked his knuckles. “Someone will get it done, one way or another. I’ll talk to Zara about it.”

When her communicator beeped, Zara answered and spoke first. “Yes, Da?”

“We will need the terminals to work for us. Oiitr and I were talking about going to the First Terminal and changing the system to allow any ship to pass through as long as they can identify themselves using a simple code transmission. Can you work with Oiitr and Tiirw to make that happen?”

Zara paused to think. “Well- It’s a good idea. It will give us options we did not have before. Also, perhaps we can find a way to mine the First Terminal records for Xih ship patterns and locations of Nidix. That reminds me as well. Viinox and I went to the Yowiil Observatory and have not spotted anything where I believe Nidix is hiding. Our plan is to take the Hsstak to the region and obtain closer scans. We will first alter the Hsstak and Greki to make them appear invisible to the regular Xi vessel tracking systems.”

Kpleeb shook his head. “Seems like a waste. If the observatory can’t see Nidix, how will you see it by going there? Seems like a lot of risk.”

“If Nidix is there and cloaked, it would have been tuned to appear invisible to all known observatories. There is nothing more real than being there in person with our own eyes and sensors.” Zara smiled at her Da. “I would prefer to take the Hsstak to Nidix alone in secret, but first we can go to the First Terminal. Perhaps I will find more information about the Xih and Nidix.”

“Okay,” said Kpleeb gruffly, “We’ll start making plans.”

If seems like there are never ending tasks. Never ending barriers between the Predominant and my vengeance. … but I suppose that’s why they set all this up, to protect themselves.

###

Kpleeb felt an uncommon tension as the Hsstak and Greki coalesced into the void at the terminal nearest to Jiwlat. Tiirw had expressed uncertainty about whether the alteration to the Xih ships would function as expected.

According to Tiirw, “Only the Xih vessels have this extra hardware, the combination of certain hu-flugens and other exotic materials I have not seen before. I see the interface and the effects on the vessel, but I don’t fully understand the source.”

Now, the void around the terminal was empty, and the two ships approached the First Terminal. It glittered in the distance, and to Kpleeb, it looked like a needle. On one end, the gleaming tip was as sharp as anything. On the other end, a teardrop bulb spun lazily. As they approached, the structure grew in size until it dwarfed the two ships “So, very huge,” said Kpleeb quietly.

The ships both landed in a large slot that was set in the side of the First Terminal, and passed through a faintly glowing field that appeared to protect them from the void. Twenty-eight Xi in silvery armor stepped forward from the edges and surrounded the ships where they rested.

Kpleeb grinned to himself. “They want to show power?” He tapped a nearby console and spoke. “Dear Xi. If you attack us, I will destroy you. We wish to talk with your Iteek.”

Oiitr spoke softly. “Sir. If they attack, it will be directed at you and Zara. They will not harm the vessels while we are docked at the First Terminal as it would also harm the structure.”

Kpleeb nodded. “Zara, exit together prepared to defend.”

The doors to both the Hsstak and the Greki opened in unison, and there was a long pause before seven Ganix warriors trotted out from each ship and stopped in front of the Xi guard. Zara and Kpleeb exited at the same time as well, followed by Viinox and Oiitr.

Kpleeb looked at the Xi warriors as if he was a commander surveying his troops. He had become confident in Zara’s ability to shield him from harm, and after a moment, he walked out to the Xi, passing in front of their lines slowly. He eyeballed each of the warriors slowly as he passed them. They were identical in every way. Their eyes a cold blue and petite mouth closed. Their burnished silvery armor extended to the crown of their head, completely covering the breathing slits, yet still leaving a bare circle of skin exposed on the very top.

“Well,” said Kpleeb, stopping in front of what appeared to be a large doorway, “take us to your leader.” He gestured at the door. “I don’t want to stand here here all day.”

After a few moments of silence, Zara approached. “Da, Viinox says there are no messages and no movements. I am sensing nothing odd about the aji in this place.”

“Does it know where the command center is located?”

Zara nodded. “Viinox says it is not far from here.”

Kpleeb looked at one of the nearby Xi. “We will visit your command center now.” Looking at Viinox he said. “You lead the way.”

Fourteen Xi warriors pivoted and walked through the door followed by Viinox and seven Ganix bringing up the rear, disciplined and wary. Zara walked with Kpleeb. “Da, I have a bad feeling about this. It’s all just too strange, the warriors, and lack of a receptive leader.”

“We will be very cautious. You do have an aji shield ready?”

“Yes,” said Zara. “I am covering me and you, Viinox and Oiitr mostly, but a little on the Ganix as well. I am trying to grow stronger with the coverage, but…”

“Just do your best.” He winked. “We’ll be fine.”

The squadron exited the landing bay, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. They’d barely reached the first set of doors flanking the passage when twin explosions ripped through the metal. Shards of lak tore into the front line of Ganix warriors.

The impact slammed against Zara’s shield, her cry lost in the deafening blast. Her vision stuttered, and suddenly the hallway tilted—the floor now a vertical stripe to her right. Through swirling dust, she glimpsed the broken forms of her friends. Qon grew slippery in her palm; she clutched it tighter.

Silver-booted feet pivoted in slow motion. Lightning spears discharged behind her with their distinctive whine-crack. Her ears rang, muffling everything else. Xi warriors fell, their armor catching the light in one final gleam before darkness swallowed her consciousness and Qon slipped away.

Consciousness returned to Zara in an instant. Above her, shadows gathered on the ceiling, while harsh light flooded in from the sides of her vision. When she shifted her gaze toward the light, she found her Da stretched out on a lak table nearby. A Xi loomed over his body, its lanky form draped in a soft red cloak, while crimson droplets dripped steadily onto the floor below.

Instantly and without thinking, Zara reached for Qon’s familiar power and let out a hoarse scream as a blunt jackhammer of Qon erupted from her outstretched hand. The Xi’s red cloak ballooned violently outward as its torso erupted. Viscous gray goo sprayed in all directions as the Xi crumpled into a formless heap of cloth and ooze.

Viiinox immediately appeared before her with its neck-slits fluttering rapidly. “Zara, you’ve killed Jiartl-wa, the primary medical officer here at the First Terminal.”

“I don’t understand,” said Zara with a shake of her head.

“The Builder is injured, and Jiartl-wa was repairing his body.”

It took Zara a long moment to realize what she had done. “Da!” she cried. She lurched upward only to collapse as needles of pain shot through her. Viinox firmly pressed down on her shoulder with gentle insistence. Beyond them, she could see a teardrop-shaped device methodically vacuuming the gelatinous remains of what had once been Jiartl-wa.

“Zara, we have already called another medical officer. This one will arrive soon and continue its work.” Viinox blinked as if the loss of the primary doctor was no issue.

Tears welled in Zara’s eyes at the sight of her Da on the table. His exposed chest rose and fell with shallow, uncertain breaths while crimson droplets marked time against the floor below.

Moments later, a red-cloaked Xi hurried into the chamber. Two Xi warriors followed in its wake, only to find their path blocked by a cluster of Ganix standing guard at the entrance.

The doctor brushed past Zara without acknowledgment, focusing instead on Kpleeb’s prone form. After a brief examination, it turned, addressing Zara first before shifting attention to Viinox. “Your Builder, as you refer to this primitive specimen, suffers critical injuries. Death approaches. Treatment must commence immediately.” The doctor’s gaze returned to Zara, voice dropping. “Please do not kill me.”

Zara nodded. “You must heal him.”

The red-cloaked Xi worked rapidly over Kpleeb, as Zara watched anxiously. Each labored breath from her Da felt like a countdown. Viinox grasped her hand. “You are injured as well. Sleep.”

Zara focused inward, still holding Qon. Each of her own pains registered again through an incoming haze. Viinox patted her hand. Then, nothing.

The Index -|-

“This… is so annoying.” Zara frowned and reached for Qon the way she usually did when things were not going her way. The silky warmth of the golden thread caressed her small digits. She directed a needle at the library bank in front of her and mentally willed the system to produce something useful.

It was no use. The ancient Xi glyphs that were projected above the library twitched at her continued disruption, but the results did not change. There were no revelations or flashes of light, just data… and not the data she was looking for. She realized that Qon might be able to alter the flow of aji as well as some surrounding matter and energy, but she had desperately hoped that Qon could tease something out from the immutable data within the Xi library.

She sighed. [Maybe I’ve become too reliant on shortcuts. Of course the records won’t change. If Qon did that, the last Ixant would have rewritten Xi history. Yet somehow the records have changed. Surely there were star maps pointing the way to Nidix at some point in the past. Nidix might have been the first Xi orb, their ancestral home or perhaps an important religious site. Maybe they hid it to protect the Predominant.]

“Viinox?” She said quietly. “Have there been civil wars within the Xi people?”

Viinox looked up from the data grid that it was studying and after a quick moment, tilted its chin downward. “No, Zara. The Xi have always been united. This is why we have become so powerful in a short amount of time.”

Kanta turned from the display she was studying. “Hmm. That doesn’t sound right. What society can be free of conflict throughout their whole history?”

“I can only repeat information I have. Speculation about the past is fruitless because I cannot know the past I did not witness.” Viinox watched Zara emotionlessly as it spoke, and its neck slits fluttered gently.

Zara nodded. “I understand this, but Kanta is right. Empires grow on the basis of their past success and failure. The past is recorded and becomes the foundation of the future – at least for wise rulers.”

“You prove my point,” said Viinox. “The records give us no evidence of civil war, and the Xi empire has grown in a manner consistent with unity. Should I assume the worst of my people against the evidence I have?”

With a smile, Zara patted Viinox’s shoulder. “Not at all. I’m just trying to find reasons why Nidix would be missing from the records. If not hidden out of internal conflict, then perhaps this is a simple mechanism to protect the Predominant. In effect, letting them rule from the shadows.”

“We see the Predominant every Ko during the tide of Eshtar. We see them transmitted of course, but they transmit from Nidix. It is quite a spectacle.” Viinox lifted its chin. “They pass down the changes to Xi law, bless the Xi, and if there are new orbs, they announce the new Iteek. It is a logical and simple conclusion that Nidix is not easily identified on a star map to provide protection for the Predominant.”

“But are they transmitting from Nidix? How would we even know?” Zara sighed and paused to offer a more conciliatory tone. “You’re probably right. I’ve searched the star maps, military database, social records, literature, and even children’s stories. There are references to Nidix of course, but nothing that pinpoints a location. Nidix would have visiting dignitaries and military patrols, but when I narrow down the search area to only include the paths of Xi vessels, there are no obvious waypoints that appear without a destination orb.”

“You assume all vessels are tracked within records available to you,” said Kanta with a slosh of her helmet.

Viinox lifted its chin slightly. “I agree.”

“As you said, I have no choice but to operate within the information that is available.” Zara raised her hands. “What’s worse is that for all the secrecy, Nidix is still more accessible than the Xiik. Of the Xiik I find nothing. No records, no poems, no art. Nothing at all.”

“The Xiik are different than the Xi, but they blend in. Perhaps your search for Nidix is intertwined with the Xiik. If a Xiik vessel is not tracked, there could be constant traffic between Nidix and another orb, and you would never know.”

“But isn’t the Hsstak a Xiik vessel? I can see our tracks in the Xi records once they have been integrated at a functional Xi communication hub.”

Viinox tilted its chin up. “Hsstak is Xiik, but I suspect that the tracking system can be switched off. There were surprise visits when I served under Mangas that make me believe this.” Viinox hesitated. “Under Mangas I was a mere Xi analyst and not privy to anything beyond my immediate assignment. Perhaps Tiirw would know.”

“I will ask Tiiwr because this is something that may help find Nidix.” Zara fell silent and considered her relationship with Viinox. After a long moment, she decided to be bold. “Are you embarrassed?”

Viinox’s neck slits twitched and it looked at her. “Not exactly. I-” it folded its three-fingered hands on its lap. “I have always done what I could to be the best servant, but it seemed to be never enough. I volunteered for the special assignments group in the Lutairu Academy and ended up serving on the Hsstak. This was a mistake because under the Xiik I am nothing.”

Zara nodded slowly. “I know the Xiik look down on the Xi. It must be difficult to achieve any rank as a Xi with them.”

“It is impossible to become anything as a Xi. We are only a tool. The Xiik disregard our value and as a result, our loss is inconsequential. Yet,” Viinox raise its eyes to meet Zara’s gaze, “with you I am valued.”

“It’s true,” said Zara. “You are probably my closest friend.” She gently grasped its hand. “I never expected to become a rescuer to anyone, the Hkkli, Rog, but especially not you. The course of our path is very surprising to me.”

Viinox bared its teeth momentarily before speaking. “Your valued support calms my essence. I must add that not every vessel in the Builder’s fleet is of Xiik design.”

“Huh?”

“Speaking of the Xiik vessel tracking mechanisms. The Xi war vessels cannot be hidden in the same way.”

“True,” Zara was surprised at the quick change of topic, “but we could split the Xiik ships out into a separate fleet and gain surprise with them. I will ask Tiiwr if they know how to turn off the tracking. In the meantime, we need to find and categorize every star map, especially the older maps. There could be differences that will point the way.”

Kanta gestured a few times and pulled up a map of the Xi empire. “When the map is overlaid with terminal and vessel traffic, we can see a few areas where an orb could be easily hidden yet still reasonably accessible. In fact, I assume that the Nidix is somewhere in the Xi core because empire growth would naturally consume space evenly outward except where there is resistance… and we know that history shows no outside conflict.”

Viinox gazed at the star map. “You have already analyzed images with stars in them to identify the location from a third-person viewer’s perspective.”

“Yes,” said Zara. “quadrillions of images in the Xi library and then cross-referenced the date and location with known Xi worlds, terminals, and travel lanes. The search continues, but every location found so far has had a valid source.” A thought struck Zara’s mind. “Wait! What about the annual Predominant transmissions? Is this done with a night sky behind them?”

Viinox tilted its head down. “The Predominant transmit from inside the lantern that is never extinguished, the palace of light. Anyway, if you are searching within all available records, those would be included.”

“Aww,” said Zara weakly. “Well, it was worth a try. Maybe we’ll find something, but in the meantime, Kanta can focus on the map areas that are most likely.”

###

When they jumped to Yefrtil, there were four small Xi vessels that unleashed a wicked hail of projectiles immediately. The battle was quickly over despite the surprise, though two of Kpleeb’s ships were destroyed along with a dozen Ganix and Hkkli crew. The subsequent landing at Yefrtil’s city center went as expected, and now, Kpleeb was in a bad mood.

“Since the Xi cannot predict where we will jump, they seem to be spreading out their fleet to cover all options,” Zara said quietly. She stood with her Da, Kanta, and others in the grand plaza of Yefrtil’s Iteek which was surrounded by silvery, soaring spires and an oddly simple stone box in its center. The stone was a mottled grey and its sides were uneven in a way that led Zara to believe it might have been carved by hand a long time ago. The pavement was covered with a light-brown, woven reed that muffled all footsteps.

Kpleeb nodded and spoke gruffly, and Zara could tell that he was annoyed. “They can afford to lose more ships and warriors than we can.” He pointed with his knuckle at the decoratively robed figure that stood before him. “Iteek, we came here as friends, but your ships were waiting for us. This angers me.”

The tall, thin Iteek washed its three-fingered hands in a slow, rotating motion. “These vessels were not of my people, your, uh- highness. Nevertheless, we ask your forgiveness and-”

Kpleeb raised his hand to stop the speech. “If these Xi ships were not yours, why would you ask forgiveness? And whose ships might they be? Xi are united, are you not?”

Neck slits fluttered quickly on every one of the hundreds of Xi in sight. There was a shifting in several figures standing on the outskirts, and out of nowhere a lightning spear blast struck down one Xi.

“You see, Iteek? I’m not looking for excuses, just leadership. From you.” Kpleeb climbed onto the stone box and turned slowly to take in the crowd. He touched his necklace and then spoke in a booming, amplified voice. “We come to gain information and supplies. These we will obtain even if you resist.” He looked down at the Iteek. “You will bring me to your command center and give me what I need.”

Unceremoniously, Kpleeb climbed down and bowed to the Iteek. “Lead the way.” Looking back at Zara, he winked. “See how patient I am?”

Zara and Kanta followed Kpleeb who followed the Iteek and its retinue. The Ganix warriors stalked after Zara like a pack of menacing wolves.

###

Later that day, after Kpleeb had sufficiently proven his willingness and ability to maintain control, Zara, Viinox, and Kanta entered the grand Yefrtil administrative center. High above, the ceilings emitted a soothing, green glow, and intricate patterns covered the entire surface. The hall stretched for such a distance that the air itself seemed to obscure visibility.

“This is such a beautiful place,” said Zara in an awestruck voice as she looked slowly around her.

“It is. This structure is one of the oldest in the core,” said Viinox quietly. “The decor and architecture is said to be one of the rarest forms of Xi culture.” It waved toward the yawning, empty space that stretched beyond them. “Hundreds of Ko in the past, before the Xi were capable of such data storage efficiency, this space was lined with the library, the Iteek center, schools, and most everything else. It must have been a busy place.”

Along one of the walls, many triangular structures were spaced out against the ancient walls. They were clearly not part of the original design, and Viinox led the way to one that was nearby. When Zara entered, she noticed that the smaller structure had no roof and that banks of devices were set against the walls.

“This is where we will work while we are on Yefrtil.”

Zara approached one of the large library devices that we now familiar to her. “I suppose we should begin our searches again.”

Over the next few days, Zara, Kanta and Viinox repeated their previous searches. She had hoped that somehow this significantly older Xi orb would have improved access to data. Finally, Zara’s frustration grew and she began to feel a sense of desperation. “I’m going for a walk,” she said to Viinox, standing up in a huff.

“Should I accompany you?”

Kanta merely watched their exchange.

“I can protect myself… but thank you for offering.”

Zara set off down the long hall. The small structures were the same. She entered several of them, and the same open roof and library devices were there in each. Her wanderings continued for quite a long time, and just as she was going to give up, she saw in the distance a change in the decor.

[I’ll turn back once I get there. It’s not that far.]

After another ten minutes of walking, she finally arrived at what appeared to be a cross-section. The pavement was the same but now it went in four directions. The opposite of where she had come from was the same as it had been. It stretched into the distance with a boring sameness. The two paths that intersected each other were much shorter and she could see the ends of them from where she stood. Each one appeared to end in a formation unlike she had ever seen within a Xi structure.

She made a mental note of the direction from which she had come and then turned left.

The floor began to sparkle as she walked. The large tiles that were the same as the main hall began to be interspersed with new tiles at an increasing rate. Zara smiled to herself.

It’s like walking on a rainbow road!

She walked slowly and looked up. Ahead of her, the hall ended at a large, curved wall. On each side of the wall, two intricately carved columns stretched to the height of a modest tree. The wall itself was painted with a mural. A tremendously majestic Xi stood with back straight and angled with piercing blue eyes up and out as if it was admiring a new land. Its bright green cloak draped smartly over uncharacteristically broad shoulders. On its back, a stout wooden staff appeared to be fastened, and the night sky beyond was emblazoned with bright stars.

Zara let out her breath in a long sigh of disbelief.

I have never seen anything so pretty anywhere on any Xi orb!

She stepped forward and put her hand on the wall. It was perfectly smooth and the image was highly detailed, even up close. She made her way first to the left and then to the right but there were no apparent doors or windows anywhere within the alcove. After gazing at the painting for a few minutes, Zara turned and walked away. From far back, she produced her Xi scanner and turned to capture a full-sized image.

Viinox is going to be thrilled – unless he already knows. But how could he?