Dark Territory: Childhood's End

[DarKush]

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Four months ago…



Vilissa stopped, looked up into the thick canopy of leaves above them, inhaled deeply and then turned slowly. She held open her arms as if she wanted to gather up as much fresh air as possible.

“You know we can’t stay here, as much as you want to,” Maren said, unable to not to smile herself. It certainly felt good to be solid ground again, to not be confined by the walls of their space ship that had only seemed to grow tinier even though Enno wasn’t aboard.

Maren pushed the thought of her old friend away, something she often had to do. He had made his choice, and she wished happiness for him. She understood his decision, and sometimes she wished she had joined him.

But she needed to be back at Sanctuary, among her kind again. Still, she would take advantage of every time they set down on a planet to get as much sunshine and smell the flora and see the fauna as much as she could. Even Sanctuary couldn’t substitute for the sensations of a true living environment. It was too sterile, too controlled.

Maren was eager to regale the community aboard the city station with their tales of the aliens they had encountered and the worlds they had explored. It was unfortunate that Coolfire wasn’t big enough for them to take back some animals, though they did collect seeds from many planets.

And the ones they were able to harvest from this world would soon join them. Her botanist mother would be especially appreciative.

Now sniffing a thick purple streaked leaf, Vil chuckled. “I can’t believe that Jovin and the rest chose to remain aboard that stuffy ship.”

“Lupin wanted to join us, but your mate insisted he stay behind, to work on ship repairs.”

“Yes,” Vilissa shook her head disapprovingly. “Like there isn’t plenty of time for that. At least Toda and Lumi are getting some fresh air with us.” The other two members of their party were exploring a network of caverns below the rocky outcropping Coolfire was resting on.

“I know,” Maren replied. “But you know how Jovin is about exposing Nivian to alien environments. If he’s babysitting he’s making sure he’s not alone,” she laughed.

Vilissa beamed at the mention of her daughter. The elogium hadn’t been as tough as the childbirth. But they had all managed to help out and now they were graced by the presence of baby Nivian. The child had reenergized their efforts to return home. Now they all had a tiny life in their charge.

“I can’t wait until Nivian’s toes can touch real earth, can wiggle among the dirt and mud, oh how that will be such a revelation to her,” Vilissa sighed, “To see birds, to hear their chirping, to splash in a pool of water for the first time.”

“And I can’t wait to be there to experience it either, it’ll be like reliving all of the things we’ve encountered on this trip,” Maren added. “Despite being torn from all we knew before, there’s so much we’ve learned.”

Vilissa nodded, “It’s terrible what happened to us, but you know, if it hadn’t, I wouldn’t have seen this side of the galaxy, I might not even have had Nivian, or at least at this time. And I can’t say I would trade any of it.”

Maren bent down to place more seeds in her satchel. She turned her back to her friend. “You’ll get no argument from me.”

“That’s a first,” Vilissa joked.

The jest made her think of Enno. Maren’s heart thudded at the mention of the man. “Funny,” she said, standing back up. “Sounds more like projection to me.” Vilissa didn’t respond.

“No quick retort this time,” Maren said as she turned back to her friend. Her eyes widened in shock, terror strangled her vocal cords.

A hulking creature was behind Vilissa, holding her aloft, with the woman pinioned on a blade that poked through her ribcage. She twitched spasmodically, blood pouring from her mouth. Her eyes blinked wildly, and Maren sensed only the faintest embers of fear on the edge of a great darkness.

As the scream began to work its way up her throat, she sensed a presence behind her. She turned quickly and faced her own nightmare.

********************************************************


Toda ran a finger along the long alien script. It looked like an unreadable series of circles atop and surrounding more circles. He gaped in awe at the large, intricate etching of the many tentacled creature above the writing.

“My guess is that is a Cetean,” Lumi said, her voice as well as her closeness spooking him.

Toda was glad that the cave was dark enough to hide his blushing. It was tough being so close to Lumi, the woman stirred confusing feelings in him. He preferred being around machines, the ship’s engines, or the cooker, working with his hands, keeping his feelings at bay.

But Jovin had suggested he accompany Lumi on her sojourn on the alien planet, to protect her, since Lupin would be working on repairing some damage the ship incurred while skirting an asteroid field.

Toda had offered to help, but Lupin had asserted he could handle the tasks alone.

So that left him with little recourse but to join Lumi, and he had been trying to avert his eyes from the redhead’s beauty ever since.

The woman had thankfully been oblivious. She had been entranced by the signs of life-or past life-they had found in the caves. “Could this be the Ceteans?”

She asked, as she ran the recorder-translator over another wall of script, and some words were translated, but most of it was garbled.

“I don’t know,” Toda shrugged.

Lumi looked at him, and blinked, as if she was just seeing him for the first time. Her smile was sympathetic. “Oh, sorry Toda, I was talking to myself again.”

“Oh,” Toda’s cheeks warmed. “Well, okay.”

“No, it’s not I wouldn’t ask you,” Lumi was quick to say, “But I don’t know what this language is, or who these cephalopodic beings are.” If Lumi didn’t know, and she was the brainiest among them, Toda didn’t feel so bad now that he couldn’t answer her question. “These caverns could’ve been dwellings for the Ceteans, or one of their subject species. The old legends we’ve learned along the way about says they once controlled multiple star systems before they vanished.”

“Through the gateway,” Toda said.

Lumi smiled again. “That’s right Toda, through some kind of space corridor. If we could find it, it might help us get home.”

“That would be good,” the young man replied.

“Indeed,” Lumi’s smile widened before she turned back to inspecting the wall. Toda looked at her back for a few moments, and then realized what he was doing, and abruptly turned back to the wall he had been touching. He ran his hands over the wording and tried to imagine what whoever wrote it was trying to say, what was it that they thought so important to carve it into a wall.

“The Science Council is going to love these findings,” Lumi muttered. This time Toda knew she wasn’t talking to him, so he didn’t respond. “Let’s see if there’s more writing deeper within the cave.” Toda continued pretending like he was seeking and gaining insight from the etchings. “Toda?”

He jumped at his name being called. “Yes,” he said quickly.

“Didn’t you hear me say we should explore more of the cave?” Lumi asked.

“Oh, you weren’t talking to yourself then?”

She chuckled, “No, of course not.” She motioned for him. “Come on.” She didn’t wait for him as she strode into the darkest cavern. “I can’t wait to see what else we find.”

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[DarKush]

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Nivian pushed against him, her tiny form writhing, her chunky fingers grasping.

“I think she misses Vil,” Lupin had poked his head into the open hatch, doubtlessly drawn by the infant’s cries. He wiped his forehead, leaving a dark smudge over the pale skin.

Jovin did his best to rock the child, to soothe her concerns. He sent her gentle mental messages, but it wasn’t working. Nivian was growing more agitated.

“I think you’re right,” Jovin said. “How long have they been gone?”

Lupin pulled his head back out of the ship for a second. When he stuck it back in, he said, “From what I can tell of the sun’s passing, about three hours.”

Jovin frowned. “That’s more than enough time to explore the jungles of this planet.” Their ship sat on a crest overlooking a thick jungle below. Far beyond that was a deep blue ocean that made Jovin thirst just thinking of that water. He had enjoyed bathing in it and hoped to fill their tanks with as much of it as possible before they took off.

The planet had been Giver sent. They had been traveling for months, barely finding any habitable planets and using far more of the rations and supplies that Follix had given them, than Jovin had cared to expend.

“It’s been that long?” Jovin asked. He touched his temple and sent out a mental message to his mate. After getting no response, he activated the ship’s communicator and called both Vilissa and Maren. Still, no response.

Lupin frowned. “It’s probably nothing, but I can start looking for them.”

“First, let’s check on Toda and your sister,” Jovin said. “We get them back here, I can leave Nivian with them and join you.” The restive child calmed at that, and Jovin smiled and nuzzled her cheek.

“Fine,” Lupin shrugged. “But Lumi is not going to be pleased to be taken off her scientific excursion.”

Jovin rolled his eyes. “I know. I’m not looking forward to having to face her.”

**************************************************************

The darkness felt weightier the further they went into the earth. Toda’s lamp seemed overwhelmed. He could barely see Lumi in front of him. Her lamp was just as insignificant, but it wasn’t stopping the woman from forging ahead.

Her recorder-translator chirped. “Interesting,” she muttered. “The carving of the cephalopod is much, much older than the writings below it.” More of those crazy circles adorned the walls of the corridor they were walking through.

Lumi was completely swallowed in darkness once she turned a corner. Toda yelped, “Lumi!” as he rounded the corner fast.

He bumped into her, almost knocking the woman down. Toda tried to help, but Lumi brushed off his proffered hand.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“It’s okay,” she replied, “And look,” she pointed toward the far end of the corridor. There was faint light at the end of the tunnel. “Let’s see what’s in there.”

**********************************************************

“I can’t raise Toda or Lumi either,” Jovin frowned.

“The composition of the rock is probably interfering,” Lupin suggested. “Well, I’ll go retrieve my sister and Toda, and when I get back, you and I will go pry your mate and Maren from deforesting this planet.”

“Sounds good,” Jovin nodded.

“Listen Jovin,” Lupin said, “We did a sweep of this side of the planet before landing and there are no other sapient species or even large animals that could pose a threat. In fact, the lack of such a society or even fauna, is a bit odd,” the large man said. “This jungle should be teeming with animal life at least.”

“Not every world we’ve encountered, even the few lusher than this, have had such life on them,” Jovin pointed out.

Lupin shrugged, “Sure, but still, it’s just strange.”

“I’m not worried about large predators, but small ones, or poisonous plants themselves,” Jovin explained.

“Yeah, Maren does have a tendency to taste things on a whim,” he chuckled, “if it passes the smell test.”

“You remember when she consumed those delectable berries that one time,” Jovin shook his head.

“She was in the recycler for hours,” Lupin chuckled. “You would’ve thought she learned her lesson, but then we encountered those nice Aksani pilgrims who shared their bounty with us, and unfortunately our digestive systems weren’t as grateful as we were.”

“Yes,” Jovin laughed while shaking his head at the memories, “At least Maren was the first in that time, and the first out.” The two men continued laughing. Nivian had quieted completely and was shifting her head from her father to Lupin as if trying to ascertain why both men were laughing. Jovin hoped she would never have to find out.

Lupin rushed to the recycler to clean off some of the oils and grime he had gotten while working on the ship. When he came back, a holster with a disruptor inside it, was hanging from his hip. On the opposite hip, hung a sheathed blade. Jovin nodded his approval.

Vilissa and Maren had refused to carry one of the weapons, deciding to go with blades. Toda and Lumi had done the same. Jovin had been less concerned about the cave explorers, beyond the obvious, because both were capable fighters. But Vil wouldn’t listen to reason.

“Bring them back quickly,” Jovin urged. Lupin nodded before exiting the ship. Nivian nodded off to sleep in Jovin’s arms. He held her tighter to him, looking forward to holding both of the women in his life in a big embrace again.

******************************************************

“This doesn’t look ancient to me,” Toda said as he looked around the room. Lumi didn’t answer. The woman was standing in front of a wall filled with skulls and skeletons of various animals and a few smaller ones that looked almost Ocampanoid. More nets, bearing skeletons hung from the ceiling.

The thought made Toda shudder. Just what had they stumbled upon? The bones were attached to a wide net that hung from the ceiling. Around the room there was other items like a wall filled with weapons and a large simmering vat. There were several torches mounted into the walls, their flickering providing enough light that Toda and Lumi switched off their lamps.

Lumi was looking at a large, metal ball near the wall of skulls. She got close to it, almost touching it with her nose. “I see script, similar to that adorning the walls,” she nodded, standing back up. “I think it’s safe to assume that whoever lives here made the cave writings, not sure about the tentacle art though.”

“Lives here?” Toda squeaked. He looked around the room again, at the wicked weapons, and then at the vat, with dark shapes inside it. “I think we should go,” he suggested.

Lumi pursed her lips, ready to protest. “Jovin should know about this place,” Toda stopped her. “He should know we aren’t alone.”

“You’re right,” Lumi conceded. Toda reached out a hand. He waggled his fingers.

“Come on,” he urged. He didn’t like this place. It made him nervous.

“Alright,” Lumi huffed. She took his hand. A jolt of unease shot through him, and Toda knew it just wasn’t fear.

But he squashed it down regardless. He would sort it all out once he was back aboard Coolfire and could hear the purring of its engine.

They left the corridor at a fast walk, lighting the dark corridor again with their lamps. A large shape was waiting for them at the entrance of the cave. That didn’t scare him as much as the person slung over his shoulder.

“Maren!” Lumi gasped. The woman was unconscious and bound.

“I hope you are worthier prey,” the large man stepped forward. The wan lighting gave his pebbled visage an even more demonic appearance.

Toda sensed movement behind him and then the quick flash of silver, and a blade was at his throat. As if the room’s deep shadows had taken form, another one of the creatures held the sharply curved weapon. “It doesn’t appear so Beta,” rasped the man now behind him. Toda chanced a look down to see that the blade was coated with dried blood. His heart thudded. Where was Vilissa? What had happened to her, or the others?

“I’ve told you before Brank, the old titles no longer apply. We adhere to the old rules only because we know no other way, but we are not Hirogen anymore.” The man paused, his dark eyes radiating with such anger and disgust that even Toda could feel it. “We’re outcasts now.”

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[DarKush]

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Lupin moved quickly through the jungle, doing his best to mimic the path he assumed his twin would’ve taken.

He hadn’t covered much ground before he came across the carnage. His emotions overcoming him, Lupin broke through the trees and ran to the prone woman. He got on his knees and cradled her in his arms. Vilissa’s eyes were open, but they were sightless. A small trail of blood ran from her lips, a far uglier splash of blood surrounded the wound in her chest.

It was a knife wound. No animal had done this. They were not alone. Lupin looked around at the dark, quiet forest, the lack of noise taking on an ominous, oppressive feeling. His grief brought him back to look at Vil. He caressed the woman’s face. Her flesh was still cooling and hadn’t stiffened with finality. He murmured a prayer for her, hoping that her comra had found peace in Exosia with Suspiria.

He looked closer to the ground around Vilissa. There was no sign of Maren, thankfully including another pool of blood. Had she escaped?

His heart soared with the hopeful thought. “Maren!” He called several times, until his voice grew ragged with desperation. He knew he should take off in search for her, but he continued to clutch Vilissa, afraid to let her go.

Memories flooded through his mind of all the good times, all the laughter they had shared. Their families had been close for centuries, since the original crossing with Suspiria to Sanctuary.

He rocked the woman’s body until it grew cold. Lupin was still wiping his tears when he heard a twig snap that drew his attention. He turned in its direction, ready to call out for Maren again. There was a guttural sound, words he couldn’t understand.

Two creatures emerged from the dark trees, both on his flanks. They were larger than him, their naked torsos bulging with muscles. Their beige, roughhewn skin reminded him of reptiles. Their heads were elongated and as hairless as their chests, their eyes small slits, but focused intensely on him. Both brandished gleaming curved blades.

“Who are you?” Lupin demanded, afraid of the answer.

“It speaks,” the one on the right side.

“I don’t like talking prey,” the left one sniffed.

“Why not?” Right asked. “Isn’t it better to hear them cry out in defiance and then pain once they know they have been defeated.”

“That is true,” Left conceded. “It does make them more enjoyable prey I suppose. And it adds more to the stories we tell, when their resistance crumbles and the mewling begins. But still, there is something to be said for making a nice, quick, satisfying kill.”

“Who are you?” Lupin repeated.

“And we will have quite the tale to share around the fire tonight,” Right said. “Once the Alpha returns.” They continued conversing as if Lupin wasn’t there. It didn’t set well with him.

“Did you do this? Did you murder my friend?!” Lupin demanded. “Where is Maren?!”

“You know that Scarn would perform an osteotomy on you if he heard you say that,” Left chided his compatriot. “Rip your spine right out.”

“Well, he isn’t here now, is he?” Right shot back. “And it doesn’t matter what the other clans declare, Scarn has been more of an Alpha for us than my own pack leader.”

“I agree,” Left nodded.

“She meant you no harm, and neither do I,” Lupin said. “I wish to find my other friend and leave you be.” He hated saying those words, when he wished to do the exact opposite, but surviving to find Maren and warn the others was more important than exacting revenge. Vengeance would come later.

“You intrude upon our game preserve and now declare your peaceful intentions?” Right’s tone was mocking. He inched toward him.

Lupin pulled his weapon. Left grunted. Right continued advancing. Lupin aimed the weapon at him. “I don’t want to use this, but I will.”

“That’s what we’re hoping for,” Left declared, right before he leapt.

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[DarKush]

CeJay and Admiral,

I'm glad you're both enjoying the story. I'm enjoying writing it the more I get into it and these characters.

 

[admiralelm11]

Indeed. Your characters are exciting to learn about.

 

[DarKush]

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Jovin was glad that Nivian had drifted off. His growing unease would’ve unsettled the infant. He sat in the cockpit of the ship, staring out of the viewport, scouring the jungle for any movement, any sign that Lupin would emerge, with Vilissa and Maren at any second.

Even on his best days Jovin wasn’t a patient man, though Nivian was teaching him.

Exhaling he stood up and paced around the cabin, which felt increasingly smaller. Taking a look at his still dozing daughter, Jovin stepped outside to get some air.

Standing at the edge of the outcropping, straining his eyes, he still saw no sign of his friends. He touched his temple and reached out with his mind.

He touched…something.

“What was that?” A rough voice said behind him. Jovin turned just as a large shape jumped off the dorsal section of the ship. It bore a wicked looking blade that slashed down at him. Jovin sidestepped the attacker. The man, intending to land on Jovin, went over the cliff. He was silent on the way down to his doom.

Jovin didn’t look after him because he sensed another presence. A quick moving form moved from around the ship, toward the open hatch. Nivian! Jovin thought.

*No!* His fear and hatred poured from his mind pinioning the larger man. He fought against it, his teeth gritting, his eyes flaring, but Jovin poured on his mental control.

“Who…are…you?” Jovin said, through clenched teeth, his mental control almost robbing him of speech.

Impressively the second attacker didn’t answer immediately. Jovin squinted and blood dripped from the man’s nostrils. His neck began twisting.

“Who?” He let up a little pressure, so the man could speak.

“J-Janard,” The man stammered.

“How many of you?!” Jovin demanded.

“We…we are hunters…this is…our preserve,” Janard said.

“Preserve?” Jovin asked.

“You…you are intruders,” Janard replied. “But welcome…prey.”

“Hunters, prey, preserve,” Jovin was speaking, more to himself, while rolling the idea around in his mind. A group of hunters…is this why there were no animals on this side of the planet, or much life in general? Had the other life on this planted been hunted to extinction by these creatures.

“How many of you?” He repeated.

Janard was actually able to smile and that chilled Jovin. “More are coming. Scarn will avenge…”

Jovin ripped the man’s mind apart before he finished the threat. He ripped the life force from the monster. The withered husk dropped to the ground. Jovin staggered and grabbed his head, as if it was about to spilt apart. He sunk to the ground, and let the pain cut through him.

Once he was able to stand, Jovin ran into ship and began trying to contact his friends. With each failure his fear grew. Had they all encountered these hunters? Had they all been slain?

Jovin powered the engines. He considered the plight of Toda and Lumi, but was confident they could handle themselves, at least until he retrieved Vilissa and Maren.

The ship lifted off the outcropping. Jovin at least did a quick sweep around the opening to the caverns far below. He saw the broken hunter on the rocks below and hoped to see many more soon. Jovin then swung around and took off for the jungle.

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“I-I don’t understand,” Toda was losing the battle against fear.

“You are trespassers on sacred ground!” The one called Brank brought the blade to Toda’s neck, drawing blood. Toda yelped, and Brank hissed.

“Careful with the prey,” The one Brank had called Beta admonished.

“We have gauge if they are worthy or not,” Brank challenged.

“That is for Scarn to decide,” Beta replied. “We’ve hunted everything on this planet, and now wait for the others to bring us new prey. Scarn will be most pleased to see that something fell right into our hands.”

“Unsuspecting fools,” Brank rasped.

“When the others return we can have sport, toss these ones in with whatever haul the others have procured,” Beta added.

“Who are you?” Lumi demanded, “Why are you doing this?”

Beta glowered at her. “Prey doesn’t speak, it only suffers.” He moved quickly, backhanding the woman with such force that it knocked her to the ground.

Toda leaned forward, the blade nicking him again. “This one has spirit,” Brank crowed. “He might just be worthy prey after all.”

“You’re going to regret that,” Lumi promised. The woman was sitting up, her focus intensely on Beta. Beta merely chuckled before dropping Maren on top of the woman. Brank now laughed, the blade digging into Toda with each hitch.

Lumi wiggled from under Maren. The bound woman began stirring, her pained groans cutting through Toda more sharply than any knife.

“We are not alone,” Toda said.

“Oh, we know there are others besides this one,” Brank said. “I skewered that one’s companion. A quick, clean kill.”

“You what?” Toda struggled, the blade cutting into him again.

Beta scowled. “Your lack of restraint Brank is what made you an outcast.”

“And what of you…Beta,” Brank retorted. “What codes did you break?!”

*Outcasts?* Lumi reached out with her mind.

*Like the ones Follix warned us about?* Toda thought back.

*Oh Giver* Lumi shook her head.

Just what had they stumbled into, Toda wondered. As if capturing his rage and impotence Maren fully awoke, filling their minds with a shattering psychic scream.

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[DarKush]

**************************************************************



Lupin had been able to get off two wild shots before Left crashed into him. Both men had hit the ground hard. They tussled madly, Lupin doing his best to prevent the slashing madman from puncturing a vein or vital organ.

Every few seconds he tried to gauge where the other attacker was. But it appeared the man was holding back, allowing his partner to get the victory. So there seemed to be some kind of code among these creatures after all, Lupin surmised. He would enjoy stripping it from their minds after slicing through their bodies.

Lupin struggled to unleash his blade. His opponent was well-trained and vicious, striking him with blows, slicing into him with knife jabs, drawing blood and pain from him. Lupin rolled the pain into a mental ball and stored it in the back of his mind. He would deal with that later.

Ripping his blade free, his blood slickened fingers almost dropped it. Latching on to it strongly, he plunged the blade deep into his attacker’s side and pulled up to his armpit, slicing neatly through flesh and bone,

The creature’s eyes widened, more in shock than pain, he exhaled loudly, and then began twitching spasmodically. Lupin threw the dying man off him.

He got up slowly. The other creature stood calmly, waiting for him to stand. Lupin could see a glint of appreciation and respect in the man’s eyes.

“Who are you?” Lupin asked.

The man nodded, “You are worthy prey indeed, to dispatch of a Hirogen hunter, even a defrocked one.”

Lupin asked, “Hirogen? I’ve never heard of your kind.”

“And you are fortunate for that,” the man smirked. “We are a great race of hunters. The hunt is the sole purpose for our existence. My people have traveled far for new challenges, worthy prey to give our lives meaning.”

“A race of hunters,” Lupin replied.

The man nodded, “Yes, our clans are spread across space. Held together only by our dedication to the hunt, and our code.”

“You, that one,” Lupin jerked a thumb at the man he had just killed, “You violated your peoples’ code.” The man bristled at that. “You were rejected by your kind, but still hold on to the ways you violated.”

“I violated nothing!” The man roared. “We, the outcasts, are truer to the hunt than any of the other clans! They took everything from us, they stripped of our ships, our titles, our weapons, and even our armor! We’ve cobbled together our own clan, and we make our own rules now!” The man rolled his broad shoulders.

He pulled the machete tied to a belt holding up his breeches. Lupin noticed that the man’s feet were as bare as his chest. He pointed the blade at Lupin. “Raise your blade and prepare to die with more honor than you deserve.”

Lupin lifted his dagger. “This is not going to go the way you expect.”

The man smirked, “I’m glad you said that.”

The men began circling each other, both looking for the right time to attack. The Hirogen tilted his head to the side, a break in his concentration or feint. Lupin didn’t take the potential bait. Seconds later, he heard it as well.

The familiar roaring grew louder. It was the Coolfire! While the Hirogen was still distracted, Lupin struck. He dug the knife deep into the creature’s chest. The man yelled, bringing his machete up to slash across Lupin’s face.

Lupin fell off him, instinctively grabbing his split face. As the engines grew louder, the Hirogen glared at him, then in the direction of the ship. “Another time,” he promised, before disappearing in the thicket.

Blood and sunlight stung his eyes as he looked up at the Coolfire now hovering over him. Once the ship landed, Lupin staggered over to it, fumbling with the hatch. He stumbled into the ship. Jovin was out of his seat to catch the man before he crashed to the deck.

The pain he had been holding back finally broke free. A dark tide threatened to carry him away. “Hirogen,” he muttered, “Danger.”

“I know, I know,” Jovin muttered.

“Vil,” Lupin got out, blood slick on his tongue.

“I-I saw…her…” Jovin said. “I’m going to collect her…remains,” the man’s voice and composure broke at that. Hot tears splashed down on Lupin’s face, merging with his own. Through the tears, Jovin said, “We need to find the others. Just rest,” He laid Lupin down gently. “I’m going to take care of this.”

***********************************************************

Toda felt the heat kiss the back of his neck. Brank screamed moments afterward. He fell back from Toda and the young man swung around to face him. Brank’s face was on fire. The knife he had held at Toda’s throat had been tossed aside. Toda picked it up.

“Kill him,” Lumi snarled. The woman was on her hands and knees, her face a sad rictus of hate. But Toda was entranced and horrified as Brank’s skin began melting. His howls were joined by Beta’s. Toda turned to the man to see him fully engulfed in flames. The heat bathed him, even from a distance.

“Oh Giver,” he muttered. Maren was awake. Somehow she was standing, though still bound. Her hair flew around her head, writhing like snakes. An infernal suffused her.

Toda had heard stories about what was happening, but fortunately had never seen it. Some Ocampa had mental abilities so developed, or he considered cursed, that they could generate fire with their minds. He hadn’t known his friend Maren was one such death bringer, though he suspected that she hadn’t known of her true power either. Tears streamed from Maren’s eyes, only to evaporate in puffs of smoke as they ran down her cheeks.

Beta danced in the fire light, stumbling and writhing as he vainly sought to bat the fires devouring him out. His cries had long since ceased. Toda turned to Brank and saw that the man was rolling around on the ground, tearing at his burning face.

“Stop this Maren,” Toda cried. “Don’t slaughter them.

“How can you say that?” Lumi stood up. She placed a hand on his shoulder, as if needing him for literal and spiritual support. “Look what they did to her, to us, and what they claimed to do to Vilissa. Burning is too good for them.”

Toda was aghast. This was not the sweet, learned Lumi he had known since childhood. This was someone else, a person hardened by their struggle for survival since they had been stranded so far from Sanctuary. If Lumi could become hard-hearted there was no hope for any of them.

“We’re better than this,” Toda’s eyes grew wet.

“We are what we have to be,” Lumi rejoined. “This two will serve as an object lesson if the Outcasts even ponder vengeance.”

Toda wanted to reply, but he couldn’t. He had been right along with the rest on the journey, and he had seen some of the horrors out there. He just hoped a little of him remained.

*Maren* He pushed the thought gently. After the initial psychic scream had torn through his mind, his mental shields had come down, and now Maren’s deep pain was on the edges of his consciousness. *Maren, there is a better way*

Maren wouldn’t even look at him. Perhaps she was beyond him now, because light was coming out of her pours.

“Bless the Giver,” Lumi whispered. “Oh no,” she muttered, before grabbing Toda to her strongly. She held on to him tight, burying his head against her shoulder while placing her head atop his. “Close your eyes Toda, don’t look.”

Toda felt this soft, buzzing sensation around him. He raised his head, his eyes started to open, but Lumi pressed his head down again, and he remembered her admonition. He closed his eyes tighter.

Toda only wished he could’ve blocked out the shrieks. There was a bright flash, a wave hit him but barely felt it, and then there was darkness.

“It-it’s okay now,” Lumi said softly. The buzzing stopped. He pulled back from him. He was scared to open his eyes. “We have to go Toda,” Lumi was still gentle. “Now, the others need us.”

Toda knew she was right. He slowly opened his eyes. “Where…”

He knew the answer though. Lumi picked up one of the still working lanterns and waved it about. They were alone. Maren had done it, she had turned their attackers into ash, at the cost of her own life.

“The others,” Maren prodded gently.

“Need us,” Toda finished. He was glad that the cavern was mostly in darkness. He didn’t think he could face seeing what the walls and floor really looked like.

He grabbed Lumi’s hand and they took each other out of the depths.

******************************************************

 

[DarKush]

******************************************************

Even before he landed, Jovin shot his thoughts out.

*We’re okay* Toda replied as he looked up.

*Not all of us* Lumi added.

Jovin’s teeth clenched. “What do you mean?” He said without thinking. Lupin groaned. The large man was trying and failing to seal his wound, a pool of blood around him. Jovin repeated the question telepathically. Lumi replied. Jovin ground his teeth.

He slammed Coolfire against the rocky outcropping, prompting a deeper groan from Lupin. “Sorry,” Jovin replied, as he opened the hatch from his control console. Lumi and Toda jumped in. Lumi immediately saw her brother in distress and went to him.

Toda rushed to the cockpit. “Maren,” Jovin said. Toda nodded, tears brimming in his eyes. “She killed your attackers,” Jovin said for clarification. Toda nodded, overcome now.

“One escaped us,” Jovin nodded. “There could be others.” He angled the ship upward. “We’re going to find them all and insure they hurt no one else.”

“No!” Toda shouted. “No more, no more killing, not today.”

Jovin activated the stationary orbit and rounded on his old friend. “Toda, now is not the time for gentleness. You saw what they did to Maren, but you didn’t see…”

“Vilissa,” Lumi gasped, a hand covering her mouth in horror. Toda crumpled.

“Nivian is asleep,” Jovin said, “She doesn’t know she’ll never see her mother again. I’ll never see my Vilissa again.” Jovin’s voice clotted with grief. He turned away, so the rest couldn’t see him struggle to hold his composure. With his back turned, he promised. “Someone will answer for it.”

“Maren killed the ones who attacked…who took Vilissa from us,” Toda said.

“It doesn’t matter!” Jovin turned back to him, his mind aflame with such hatred that Toda shrank backward.

Lumi turned from mending her sibling’s wound. “They aren’t alone.”

“Lumi’s right,” Toda added, “They’re the ones Monger Follix warned us about, the Outcasts?”

“Outcasts?” Jovin was disbelieving.

“I think they’re right,” Lupin said. He was holding a pad against the slash running down his face. “They are a race called the Hirogen, but it appears they dishonored in some way. This planet…is a game preserve for them.”

“We need to leave,” Lumi said, “Before the rest return.”

“No,” Jovin planted his boot on the deck to emphasize his resolve. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not afraid of them.”

“We don’t know how many or what kind of weaponry they possess,” Lumi pointed out.

Jovin thumped his chest. “We are weapons.”

“Believe me brother,” Lupin said. “I know how you feel. I would like nothing better than to have my rematch and to wipe all these accursed Hirogen from Suspiria’s realm, but…now is not the time.”

“I’m not leaving,” Jovin repeated.

“You’ll risk us, you’ll risk Nivian?” Lumi was aghast.

Jovin flared at the woman, but he didn’t reply, he couldn’t answer. He was deathly afraid of what might come out of his mouth, of what venom was in his heart.

Toda’s touch was as gentle as the man’s soul. “Nivian has lost one parent today, she need not lose two.”

Jovin’s composure crumbled. His tears tasted as hot and bitter as his pain and rage. His friends allowed him a moment before they all huddled around him and held him up. They let the storm pass, together, and as one they left the planet.

**********************************************************

 

[CeJay]

I'm starting to see why this story is called Childhood's End, these guys are being put through the wringer here. Although I have to admit some satisfaction at seeing the brutal Hirogen meeting their match in these super-powered Ocampa. This experience also goes a long way to explain their belligerent attitude when meeting the the crew of the Jaeger.

If I got this right these events take place before that meeting. There are a lot of time shifts in this story and my only nitpick so far might be that it can be a bit tricky to keep track of them all.

Still a terrific story, I'm particularly partial to the excellent, flowing prose.

 

[DarKush]

Sorry that the story is hard to follow. That wasn't my intention. I had hoped that the flashback/time jump scenes were clearer, but now I realize that there are quite a few of them in the story. But after this last segment the histories have converged so there should be less flashbacks/time jumps for the remainder of the story.

Yes, the experience with the Hirogen certainly didn't help the Ocampans disposition, though this group of Ocampans were already more xenophobic and chauvinistic, because I based them on how I saw Tanis when I watched the VOY episode "Cold Fire." They would be more suspicious and less open to new people and ideas than the Ocampans on Ocampa V in my opinion.

As always, thanks for reading and commenting.