BOOK OF REEVES
Note: This story makes more sense if you know a little D'ni.
…
Yahvo speaks.
Two men. One honest. One twisted
One blames the other. One starts the fall.
…
"glo" the old master said. Glo was the D'ni word for begin.
"Beginning the Sehn test." Responded Reeves. (Sehn is D'ni for three, a.k.a the KI)
Reeves was a guildsman in the Guild of Maintainers. He was high in favor with Master Gerehn, so he had ranked up quickly and was now a scientist testing the new Sehn.
"This is Yootay calling Poant, come in Poant" the voice crackled over the KI.
"Poant? You couldn't think of a better name then Poant? You're terrible!" Remarked Reeves.
"It's better then Yootay if you ask me. Can you hear me very well? You're voice is filled with static. Over."
"Negative, you're breaking up. Over."
"Attempt to make communication in 30 minutes." The voice faded out on the other end of the KI.
…
"It's too small, we just can't fit that kind of technology into such a small place!" Announced Reeves to the council. "Project Sehn is going to need more time and more funding."
"We don't have that kind of time Guildsman. Hurry up the project or you will lose project Sehn for good. Final answer." The Guild Master's voice boomed.
"Yes Sir, I understand. One more request if I may."
"You may."
"The Gahreesen Batee are becoming a problem. If I may request sir, we need some more trained Relyimah to scout them out and execute them."
The Guild Master thought this through for awhile. Executing Age wildlife was almost a crime. But it was true; the Gahreesen Batee had been known to carry off maintainers while on duty. The Relyimah were the only ones qualified to go to Gahreesen currently, but they had been hard to train due to the public's hatred of secrecy.
"Your request will be postponed, the council will think it over."
"Thank you sir, and thank you for your time." Guildsman Reeves bowed to his superior and left the building.
…
That night while at home in D'ni Reeves thought through his problems. Both of his parents were Maintainers, but neither knew what level of secrecy their own son had progressed to.
His father had once worked in an age of maintainers developing the amazing Nara doors that helped keep the security in Gahreesen, and his mother was a Maintainer that worked in the security of sealing the great shaft.
Both could help him immensely in developing an idea for a working KI, one that helped block out the interrupting frequencies in the ages. But he couldn't tell them he worked among Relyimah. He would exclude that detail, and tell them just a little about the KI.
He walked upstairs to the room his parents were both in, reading probably. He was surprised however to see them both with a solemn look on their faces, and holding a strange cloth.
"Father, Mother, I have something I must tell you." Reeves started.
"And we have something to tell you, son." His father said, "something of utmost importance, and of total secrecy."
"What a coincidence! Me too!" Reeves blurted, "You see, I work in Gahreesen."
"Oh son! You jest!" His mother exclaimed. "You couldn't possibly, after all, your father and I are much older than you, and have yet to even see the book!"
"No, it's true. Ah, but I must reserve myself. I-I work in the labs." Reeves stuttered.
"Go on…" His father urged him on.
"We are currently developing the Sehn, a device that would allow us to communicate with each other in the ages."
"And?" His Mother was curious now, starting to believe him a little.
"We're having some interference, we can't get anything clear without any static."
"And you think we can help?" His mother inquired.
"I was wondering if maybe you might have an idea of how to block out other frequencies."
"Your ideas are too far fetched son." His father said.
"We'd love to believe you dear, but your letters from the scout missions are all too believable, and on top of that, we've received numerous reports from Master Gerehn that your squad on Ruin are coming along nicely." His mother replied in as encouraging of a way as possible.
"They're not true, but I see that you are unwilling to help, thank you for your time." Reeves turned to leave, but his father's voice stopped him.
"If you were building such a device, try using deretheni stone. It blocks out certain ranges of radio."
"Yes father." Reeves was no longer in a mood to stay around his parents now.
…
Reeves' parents were very quiet that night. Even during their meal of ixa nijuhec. Reeves wanted to break the silence but could think of nothing. Finally he broke the silence.
"I will only be here for one more day, then I must join the scouts again."
His parents were silent. Only the sounds of silverware and the eating of food was heard.
"I'd like to make the best of it, perhaps visit Kanrad while I'm here?" He asked.
"Kanrad would be alright." His father said with no emotion in his voice.
Kanrad was their family age. His father had written it when he met Myrn, his wife. The Age was named after the D'ni word "think" because his father couldn't think of any name for the age, and he often used the age to think over big decisions, one of them was whether or not to marry Myrn.
"Is there something you want to think about?" His father asked.
"Not entirely, I just wanted to visit the family age for awhile before heading back." Reeves replied.
Just then a servant entered the room, she bowed and spoke to Reeves.
"Master Reeves, Master Gerehn wishes to speak to you. He says it's urgent."
"Thank you Ket, I'll meet him outside." Reeves told her.
Reeves gave his parents an unhappy look and left the room. His work was much more important than his family now.
…
Reeves was very upset about the news he had just heard. Apparently his best friend fell from a Gahreesen bridge today while repairing a gear. He had survived the fall, but while the rescue team was sending down a crew to get him, a few Gahreesen Batee were heard. Reeves was asked to come to Gahreesen immediately and help in the search for his friend
"I'll do it, Master Gerehn, but first, allow me to say goodbye to my parents before I leave, we've been on ill terms lately."
"I understand Reeves, take your time."
When Reeves entered the dining room his parents were finishing their meals. Reeves told them that he was joining a search team for a friend and that he wouldn't be home until he had found him. His parents said and unsatisfying Goodbye, and a simple "Shorah" and left for upstairs. Reeves felt suddenly alone, and grabbed his maintainer's cloak and left with Gerehn.
…
Upon their linking to Gahreesen, after checking out clean of ink and books, and going up the elevator, Reeves saw that the top floor was filled with busy Maintainers, Healers, and there were people preparing the descent into the jungle below.
Reeves watched as some men suited up, and dropped down over the side. Normally a loss of one man would not require such a huge workforce, but in this case, Reeves' friend was head engineer. Second only to the Guild Master of Mechanics.
"Do we know for sure if Jeke is alive?" Reeves asked Master Gerehn.
"We do not know for sure. But what we do know is that the Batee are not particularly violent during this time of year. And we do know that he survived the fall." Gerehn replied.
"Why exactly did you need me? Couldn't you have rescued him yourselves though?" Reeves asked.
"Of course we could have, but you know, Jeke and you are the only ones that are 100% sure of how a Sehn works."
"Did he take one?"
"He was testing one before hand, and there is one missing so we suspect he had one on him at the time."
"But there are other workers that know how to use a Sehn, why me?"
"Because… Jeke asked for you."
"He what? How?"
"We do know he had a Sehn because he sent a message to one of the receivers, asking that we get you. We're not sure why."
"I understand. I'll get the other Sehn and join the scouting team below."
"Be careful Reeves! If the Batee are feeding, you will have your hands full."
Reeves ran up the bridge to the main Gahreesen tower to suit up and grab the other Sehn. On his way back he was greeted by two men. One man was wearing a very high ranking badge and the other appeared to be one of the Relyimah.
"Are you Reeves?" The high ranking man asked.
"Yes I am, and you two are?"
"I am Shadre, this is Relyimah Rihsh."
"Nice to meet you two. May I ask what your intentions are?" Reeves inquired.
"We were asked to accompany you into the jungle." Rihsh replied.
…
As Reeves began the descent into the jungle by rope, he heard Master Gerehn shout down from above, "And may the Maker protect you!"
Reeves decided to trust the Maker, and prayed that he would deliver them from the Batee. He was being lowered down in the very spot where Jeke had fallen, and as he looked down, he hoped that he wouldn't see a mangled body.
He could hear only the groaning sound of gears as they struggled to keep the Gahreesen tower still as they lowered down on the spot. Below him he could see some broken branches.
As they got lower and broke through to the jungle he saw a small path of broken plants and bushes. Perhaps a path where Jeke walked. Or was dragged.
"As soon as we reach the bottom, prepare to put on your maintainer's mask, we're not sure what kind of plants or pollen are growing now." Shadre ordered.
As they neared the bottom, they all pulled on their helmets and let go of the ropes. Shadre pulled out a gun, and Rihsh unlatched a rather large rifle looking thing. Reeves had no gun, but activated his KI (Sehn).
As soon as it was on he heard Jeke's voice.
"Yootay calling Poant! Come in Poant!" Came the voice.
"This is Poant, do you read me Yootay?" responded Reeves.
"Poant, I can barely hear you, where are you?"
"We just arrived on the jungle floor from where you fell."
"Fell? Who said I fell?"
"Er… everyone."
Just then Shadre stepped in, "We're following your trail Jeke, we'll be there soon." Shadre then reached over and turned off the KI. "We need to use our time and energy efficiently."
Silently the marched on. There were a few false alarms such as birds, shadows, or the occasional flatulence. Obviously everyone was on edge. The Batee were vicious, and although they were told they were not violent at this time, no one seemed to let that calm them.
…
After a day's hike they came to a canyon, there was a path that led down the canyon, and Jeke's footprints led down the path towards the forest in the canyon. In the distance, some smoke could be seen rising up from the jungle.
"That must be Jeke's campfire! We're almost there!" exclaimed Reeves.
"Then we'll continue tomorrow, if he sees a campfire up here tonight, he may start heading back." Shadre said.
"Great! I'll tell him with the Sehn."
"I'd rather you not talk long." Sihsh requested.
Reeves activated the KI and spoke into it.
"This is Poant calling Yootay. Are you there?"
"This is Yootay, what happened back there Poant?" came the voice from the Sehn.
"We're conserving energy. We are currently at the top of the canyon, we can see your campfire, and we'll be setting up camp here tonight. If you see our fire start heading this way okay?"
"No can do, the Batee are very active at night, I'll find your location and start first thing in the morning."
"Alright, we'll meet tomorrow, Poant over and out."
That night Reeves barely slept with the threat of the Batee that night. He planned on getting some rest when they got back from the mission.