Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 9

Ibarha had no idea what to do. What can one girl do?, she wondered, as she tried to dismiss her reaction to the murder of a Spirit as an adverse reaction to something she'd eaten, and got back to whatever work she was given - even though that put her in direct contact with someone who was possibly a Spirit-killer...

Having received wounded soldiers, the whole evidence analysis centre fell under the temporary control of the Armed Defence Contingent, and all the analysts were called upon to act as emergency medical staff, no matter what else they were doing. Ibarha was given the duty of monitoring one of the more seriously wounded Lancer sub-officers, and it was as she was carrying out that task that she heard something that made her stomach threaten to rebel for the second time that day. The man she was treating had lost an almost life-endangering volume of blood from a wound in his side, but the danger was past, and in his weakened state, delirium had taken hold, so what he said could have been dismissed as temporary madness, but some of what was uttered made Ibarha's blood turn cold.

"...Curse-Bringer... the Deliverer must... fly - Curse-Bringer poisons us... must destroy Curse... Curse..."

Fear threatened to choke the young evidence analyst, but her love for the Spirits, strengthened by her experiences of the night before, inspired her to do something almost as insane as the babblings of her patient. On the pretence of needing to empty her bladder, the girl slipped out of the makeshift medical area, found herself a public person-to-person communicator, and made contact with one of the Spirits' most trusted followers.

The military wanted to destroy the Spirit-Moon, but if they did, then surely the Spirits would die with it, and Ibarha wasn't going to let that happen. She thought she would much prefer to die than allow such an unthinkable act.

"You have done well, child", said the high priest from the gathering the night before, his voice made distant and hollow, almost alien, by the electrical sound relay system. "These words you bring me may seem like madness, but we have heard from others who have reported equally disturbing rumours - and what you have heard suggests that some of these reports have been closer to truth than we ever imagined. Now, return to your duties, and your vigilance - and may the Spirits watch over you always..."

Ibarha left the communicator alcove with a sense of renewed purpose. She couldn't stop a whole army on her own, or trick the Armed Defence Contingent into making a critical error, but she could at least stay quiet, and listen - maybe even learn exactly how the planned destruction of the Spirit-Moon was supposed to be achieved. She couldn't begin to imagine a weapon that powerful...

The girl came around the corner before the doors to the conference hall that had become a temporary hospital, and found two able-bodied Lancers standing in her way - and as she wrestled with what she would say to them to get them allow her back in, someone else came up behind her, and grabbed her arm with a large, strong hand. Startled, she tried to squirm free, but it was impossible - Sector Security Co-ordinator Bralzis had a grip few full-grown men could hope to break.

"Analyst Lhas-Tor, you are to be held for questioning and investigation", growled the city's highest-ranking security officer. "I have been informed that you have made unauthorised contact with an individual currently under investigation for activities deemed to be a threat to the security and safety of all Gara-Morsa..."

"I'll deal with this", said a voice coming from somewhere behind Bralzis. "Lancers, escort this female to the transport, and take her to Command Post One. From what we overheard, this is clearly a matter for the Armed Defence Contingent."

Bralzis turned, dragging Ibarha around with him, purely on account of his greater body mass and momentum, nearly yanking the girl's arm loose from her shoulder. Standing there, just out of arm's reach, with another two Lancer guards, was a stern-faced man in an officer's uniform, old enough to be Ibarha's father. He had a hand-lance in one hand, and metal restraining cuffs in the other...

"Take her", spat Bralzis, pushing the girl into the officer's grasp. "I'll surrender authority over her to you, but when you're done with her, I hope you'll be willing to let me in on the whole story. A fair trade, you'll agree, after you intercepted communications in my jurisdiction without prior authorisation..."

"Your authority is temporarily suspended", said the Lancer as he snapped the restraints closed around Ibarha's wrists, securing them behind her back. "Come sun-down, I think you'll see all the explanation you'll need."

The camp is full of armed and armoured Gara-Morsa, checking every tent-like shelter, and upending every container they find. There are, however, no Gara-Laserma bodies in view, plenty of recent hoof-prints, meaning I've achieved at least part of what I'd intended - I prevented a massacre of the unarmed Cursed. Now hopefully I can manage the rest - if the Gara-Morsa military will permit me.

I'm not treated as some prisoner of war, being handled with a mixture of grudging respect and healthy caution, as I'm escorted from the cave, with the two former captive soldiers not far behind me. Lancers Tsolast and Rabbes seem keen to tell their tale, albeit a judiciously edited version of the potentially grisly truth, and my contribution to their safe escape is emphasised with much gratitude - I won't be receiving any mistreatment because of what they have to say...

Unfortunately, that is the last I see of them. Our paths diverge as I'm directed to an armoured ground transport, and I'm seated inside between two soldiers with energy lances, with another warrior and what looks to be an officer opposite me. It's not exactly luxurious, but there are handholds and restraining straps that make our rather bumpy journey down to the valley floor and along the course of the shallow below at least bearable - until the ride abruptly ends as we come to a halt that surprises even the warriors accompanying me, even their superior, and the door is opened from outside by a figure in black.

"Lancers, stand down", he orders, leaning into the armour-lined passenger compartment. "Investigation and Special Security representative Hudrel Opsharr - your... guest is to accompany us to Division Facility Four..."

The senior Lancer in the vehicle is rather put out to find his superiority superseded, and he makes sure this "Special Security representative" knows it, saying "This is highly irregular..."

The Investigation officer takes a wallet from inside his jacket, and displays to all of us the oval silver badge within. "I have authority granted by The High Chancellor himself", declares Opsharr. "You are to stand down, Section Leader. Your passenger is now subject to our jurisdiction."

I don't like the sound of that. Things tend to go badly when special agencies and groups with "supreme authority" get involved - but if this means I get to speak to someone in charge all the quicker, I'll play along. If they have something else in mind, Opsharr, his subordinates and superiors will very soon live to regret it.

My original escort remain in their vehicle as I'm transferred to the Special Security transport - a sleeker, more "sporty" version of my previous all-terrain vehicle. Seated within, in a good deal more comfort than the Lancers, are another two "men in black" - never a good sign, whatever their organisation is called - and what could be a senior officer of the military, and all of them give me the "how dare you exist" stare as I take my seat, between Opsharr and another Special Security man. I'm not exactly surprised by their reaction, for I represent the turning on its head of all the Gara-Morsa know and believe - here I am, the alien from Asor's stories, in the flesh, neither Gara-Morsa nor Gara-Laserma; undeniable proof that the living universe doesn't end at the boundary of Gara-Laras's atmosphere. As far as reactions to that scenario goes, I reassure myself, it could be a whole lot worse...

We start moving again, our vehicle revealing that it has significantly better suspension to go with its more stylish exterior and passenger compartment, but its not long before the ride smoothes out completely, suggesting we've found a proper road, and our speed increases. Not a word is uttered for what feels like an age, then Opsharr puts an end to our shared ordeal, after that interminable silence. "We know who you are", he says, in tones as calm as those I usually use. "You are The Mane Of Night, companion of Asor The Cursed."

"Correct", I volunteer. Not the best idea I've ever had...

"We do not, however, know why you are here", the man in black interrupts, his tone a little sterner, but he's still very much in control of himself. "Explain - please."

"I came to Gara-Laras with Asor", I reply. "It wasn't intentional. We had to make an unplanned escape from a difficult situation..."

Again, Opsharr jumps in - some kind of interrogation technique, I'm thinking, but not one that's going to unsettle me. "Three hunters were killed in the wilderness this day passed", he snaps. "Did you kill them, or aid in their killing?"

"I did not." A direct answer to a direct question - I just hope he doesn't ask me whether I know anything about the deaths, as a truthful answer could ruin any chance of peace...

"You did not come to Gara-Laras intentionally, you say", the Security officer continues, again calm as calm can be. "Now that you are here, what are your intentions? Just why were you present at the torture of brave Gara-Morsa warriors?"

"First question - the answer is that I hope to aid in the coming of peace", I respond. "Second question - answer: I was negotiating for the safe release of your warriors."

"Peace? As in the peace brought about by our destruction and Gara-Laserma victory?" - there again, that rather accusatory, and confrontational tone. This man should be thankful I'm not in the same mood...

Instead, I give a response with resolve and restraint blended into my words. "The kind of peace where people like you are concerned about defending all of Gara-Laras, and not just your own people."

"And you think that all we want is conflict?", asks Opsharr. "You are not as clever as the stories present you, if that is how you view us..."

The Representative reaches into a narrow compartment between his seat and the next, and takes out what could be a leather-bound document case, or maybe some kind of portable computer. "I think there are things you need to see - things even your precious Gara-Laserma do not know..."

"Opsharr! That information is classified!", exclaims one of the other "men in black". "You'd show... that to an outworlder - a creature we don't begin to understand. Yesterday, we didn't even know she was real!"

"Stand down, Tellavek", orders Opsharr. "I have my reasons."

Opsharr places the case flat on his lap, the hinges along one long side facing him. he then opens it, revealing a screen inside the lid, and on the horizontal lower portion keys and controls that suggest it is some kind of crude portable computer, which comes to life when Opsharr presses a white button at one corner. Once the start-up sequence is completed, the Special Security agent slots a small device into the side of the machine, and a "window" opens on the screen, bearing the title

ISS Archive - Maximum Security Level Only

Visual Record - Subject Five

and what comes next is truly horrific, even for someone who has seen all that I have seen. For several minutes, I'm shown a video recording of a frightful creature - a tube of pinkish flesh, with patches of dank hair scattered over its surface, writhing and thrashing as though something with a proper skeleton is trapped within. Every now and then, an opening appears on its surface, a foul, dribbling gash filled with pointed brownish teeth, reminding me of some kind of seed-laden fruit that has gone rotten, and is burst out of its skin. I'm thankful the recording has no sound, especially when I learn what the awful thing actually is...

Opsharr folds the machine shut when the recording ends. "That is what the Curse-Bringer does to us", he declares. "The first one was just over ten years ago; another, four years later. The last four have occurred in the last year and a half. Of the six, four have never changed back, including three of the most recent victims. Of the others, one died within minutes of changing back, and the last still lives, her mind completely destroyed."

"Mountains, Forests and Seas", murmurs the one Lancer riding with us. "Now I understand - the scientists at the base were right. We have to destroy the Curse-Bringer...!"

Opsharr and Tellavek exchange glances. Tellavek, unseen by anyone other than me, reaches inside his jacket, and produces the one-handed version of an energy lance. Before the Lancer officer realises his life is in danger, he's dead, a smouldering hole where his face used to be.

"And that ruins everything", says Opsharr coldly, as the Lancer's body flops to one side in its protective harness. "If he'd kept his mouth shut, he'd have lived. Now, regretfully, things have to change..."

"The Deliverer must be launched at the appointed hour", adds Tellavek, as his associate takes out his own "baby" energy lance, "and neither this woman nor the Gara-Laserma can be allowed to stop it."

The weapons of the men in black are now pointed at me. "Pity", says Opsharr. "I'm sure we'd have learned more from a live specimen, but the scientists will just have to do with a dead body..."

...to be continued...

Posted at 16:29 on 06.05.2009


~ o O o ~


Previously...
Mane-of-Night And The Watcher From Beyond - Chapter 1 - 21.06.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 14 - 17.05.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 13 - 15.05.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 12 - 13.05.2009
Mane-of-Night And The Dark Child's Descent - Chapter 11 - 11.05.2009