CHAPTER SEVEN:

Planet Eshe: May 20, 2154

Ainuc'a walked along the rich moss-covered path, her bare feet enjoying the cool velvet of the soil. She gazed upwards at the beauty of the sky, the horizon now aglow with the brilliant hues of the afternoon sun. She was happiest here, she decided.

For the hundredth time, she wished the feeling could last, but it faded quickly. The happiness seemed so ephemeral, something she could barely remember feeling after the moment had passed. It was strange really, but it seemed as though she could never be happy, as if there was some weight upon her shoulders that prevented joy from seeping in.

"Ainuc'a! Hurry along! We have to get back before the sky darkens."

Aiveli's sharp voice cut into Ainuc'a's thoughts, and the younger girl picked up her speed as she followed her sister. They were returning to the temple, their journey fruitful as both maidens now carried armfuls of fresh flowers. They were both tired, their minds occupied with different thoughts, and Ainuc'a could tell that her sister was getting annoyed with her dawdling.

"Coming!" Ainuc'a called out, almost tripping over some loose roots and vines on the ground.

The festival was to begin at dawn tomorrow, though the sky would darken this night. Ainuc'a shielded her eyes as she gazed to the sun, and she could make out the faint outline of the three moons, quickly moving in. Darkness would soon fall.

Suddenly, her sister stopped, her eyes darting around her. Ainuc'a froze. She had learned long ago to trust the instincts of her sister.

The forests of Phidai were relatively safe, but lately, the Protectors had been roaming the paths more often, searching for unsuspecting travelers.

Ainuc'a shuddered instinctively, looking around her for any sign of danger. The Protectors were dangerous; she remembered all too well Aiveli's encounter with them seasons before, and of how her sister had wandered back to the temple, bruised and bleeding, her jewels and hard earned coins stolen. She knew Aiveli hated them with a passion, and even more, she knew that Aiveli hated the Prime Lord.

Ainuc'a remembered a time when the Prime Lord had visited the temple, bestowing his blessing upon the sacred altar. She had only been seven or eight winters old, but she had remembered that the Prime Lord seemed so powerful, so awe inspiring. The Prime Lord had even kissed her forehead, as a father would to his child, and had given her a gift. Ainuc'a fingered the thin silver chain around her neck As she grew older, she had come to understand that not everything was as it appeared. However, she kept the necklace, though she herself was unsure of why.

"Aiveli?" Ainuc'a whispered, her voice barely audible.

Aiveli's sharp eyes bore into her suddenly, willing her to keep quiet and listen.

There was silence for a long moment, the wind rustling the leaves gently. Far in the distance, a bird's cry echoed through the trees.

Then, Ainuc'a heard it.

The soft thudding of heavy footsteps resounded in her ears.

Aiveli gestured to her to move slowly to the side, seeking shelter in the largest nearby tree. At her signal, Ainuc'a began to climb, her lithe frame easily and noiselessly scaling the massive trunk. A moment later, Aiveli was crouched beside her, peering through the leaves.

Two men had entered the clearing where the maidens had been a moment ago. One was exceptionally dark, his leathery muscles gleaming in the sunlight. The other was almost as tan, though more of a softer glow. They held some sort of device in their hands, and they paced the ground cautiously.

Ainuc'a held in a deep breath. It would do no good to draw attention to themselves. The strangers didn't look like the Protectors, but she could not be sure. Then, the darker one spoke up, his voice young and sounding worried.

"Are you.....this.... ...working?"

Ainuc'a looked confused as she glanced at her sister. Aiveli seemed to be listening very carefully to them speak.

"Try...variance....here..."

The lighter skinned man moved to the device in the other's hand, and he pushed a few buttons on it.

"You........it...ah, see, it works perfectly. Hoshi wouldn't let us down."

The darker one nodded, then stared around him. Ainuc'a was almost sure he couldn't see them in the tree.

Suddenly, the lighter skinned man looked up, staring right into Ainuc'a's eyes. Ainuc'a blinked, not sure of what to do, but decided to remain as still as possible and ignore the man. Beside her, she heard Aiveli breathe sharply. There was a soft hissing as Aiveli slid her dagger from its hidden sheath in her robes, holding it out and waiting.

The lighter man spoke suddenly, and his voice had a decidedly clipped accent. Ainuc'a had never heard of someone with that kind of voice before, and she decided she liked it. It sounded funny to her ears, and she instinctively leaned forward slightly to hear better.

"Please come down. We mean no harm."

Aiveli made a scoffing sound next to her, and before Ainuc'a had time to react, her sister had leapt from the branch, landing on the lighter skinned man.

She wrestled the man down, holding the dagger point only inches from his neck. The man looked surprised, but he managed to grasp her arm and keep her from slitting his throat. They rolled over in the moss, both battling for control of the dagger. The darker skinned man looked shocked, but he suddenly moved to help his companion.

Ainuc'a then dove down, pinning the dark skinned man with the sheer force of her weight. She seemed to have taken him by surprise as well, because he stumbled and they fell to the ground. Ainuc'a did not have a dagger with her, but she managed to hold the man back as her sister continued to fight with the other.

The lighter skinned man finally gave a grunt of annoyance and flipped Aiveli on her back, her dagger in his hand. Aiveli was breathing hard.

At that moment, Ainuc'a froze again, and she found herself pushed off and on the ground next to her sister.

The darker skinned man stood, brushing off his robes with his hands. He was breathing fast, beads of sweat on his face. The other man seemed quite calm, and his blue eyes looked fierce. He was the first to speak.

"Who are you? I mean you no harm, but I don't appreciate being attacked after I assured you we were peaceful. Speak."

Aiveli glared at the man.

"I answer to no Protector," she spat out to him.

The man looked confused for a moment, but he let the emotion slide right off his face, leaving nothing that could give away his thoughts.

"I don't know what a Protector is, nor am I one. My name is Malcolm. This is my companion, Travis."

"Strange names, even for strangers to these parts. How do I know you are telling the truth?" Aiveli looked at him with doubt in her eyes.

Malcolm shrugged, and with a flick of his wrist, he handed the dagger to her, hilt first. It was a sign of trust, as he was holding the blade towards himself. Had Aiveli chosen to do so, she could have grabbed the handle and thrust the blade into his chest before he would have had time to react. Malcolm kept his eyes fixed on hers, daring her to make a move.

Aiveli did not, and she accepted the dagger. Sliding it back into her hidden sheath, she stood, brushing the dirt from her own robes.

"Now that you know who we are, may I ask your names?" Malcolm asked, looking over their clothing and the now forgotten flowers on the ground.

"Yeah," Travis added, casting a doubtful glance at the two girls. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Aiveli still looked suspiciously at Malcolm, but she answered stiffly, "I am called Aiveli, and that is my sister, Ainuc'a. We are priestesses of the temple of Phidai."

"We were on our way home when we met you." Ainuc'a added, pointing towards the distant shadow of the temple.

Malcolm nodded, looking over at Travis.

"So the temple must be the energy emission we encountered." He murmured to Travis, who only nodded.

"Energy emission?" Aiveli asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

Malcolm glanced at her, giving her a once over. "It is nothing. We are travelers from far north. We would like very much to see this temple of yours. Would you lead us there?"

"We are preparing for the upcoming Festival of the Lover's Promise," Aiveli said quickly. "The eclipse will occur very soon, and we are not yet finished our tasks. I am not sure if visitors would be appropriate. You understand, of course."

Malcolm looked annoyed, but then a hint of a smile appeared on his face.

"Of course," he replied.

Aiveli turned to leave, but Ainuc'a stayed a little more. She was a curious girl, and she didn't want to leave just yet. She looked back at Malcolm and a thought sprang into her mind.

"Aiveli, surely they must be tired to have traveled so far to see our temple. I am certain the preparations for the festival will be done in time, even with visitors."

The older girl sighed.

"Please?" Ainuc'a added, hoping her voice did not sound terribly pleading.

There was a pause as Aiveli seemed to be deep in thought.

"Very well. Follow me." She didn't even look back at them before moving ahead.

Travis gave Ainuc'a a grateful look, while Malcolm merely stared after the retreating form of Aiveli, a small frown on his face. He snapped out of his thoughts quickly though, and the three of them hurried along a bit to catch up to Aiveli, who was quickly moving out of sight.

The last drops of the sunlight twinkled in the sky, the soft glow casting a shadow over the forest beneath.

The sun shone brightly in the sky as the three moons moved closer, soon to cover the world in darkness.


"Do you think Travis and Malcolm are okay?" Hoshi asked, looking worriedly at the fading sun. It had been a few hours since they had made contact with the others, and Hoshi was starting to feel nervous. An uneasy feeling had been eating away at her for the past two days. She supposed she could blame it on stress and this new language, but she knew that the true source of her emotions was far more disturbing.

That dream...

"I'm sure they're fine." Archer replied, smiling at her. "I told Travis and Malcolm to use the communicator if there is any sign of trouble. In any case, I trust Malcolm to take care of himself, and of Travis. They'll be okay, Hoshi."

Hoshi managed a weak smile in return, but his words did nothing to comfort the sinking feeling in her stomach. Her thoughts turned back to her dream.

Ever since she had encountered the legend of the festival, she had been having trouble sleeping. Her dreams seemed focused upon the legend, though her thoughts were always mixed and confused. But one clear image stood out in her mind, and she hated the fear it awoke in her. For the one image was of her, standing alone amidst the bodies of everyone she knew. Alone, and full sorrow.

And guilt...

Yes, it had been guilt in that dream, hadn't it? As if she had been responsible for it all.

Hoshi shook her head, mentally scolding herself for being so silly. It was, after all, just a dream. There was no use in worrying over something as trivial as that.

And yet...

And yet she had made Trip promise her that, hadn't she? Because it had felt real, it had felt as if she had changed and that everything about her had been torn into sorrow. It had felt as if everything had gone wrong, and she was the reason.

That she had failed.

But at what?

She frowned. She hated admitting defeat; it was the stubborn streak inside of her that always sought perfection. It was something she shared deeply with Malcolm, an understanding of that fear of failing the ones she cared about.

Hoshi was so deep in thought that she was barely aware of her surroundings. On any other day, she would have been thrilled to be walking along the wide, bustling street of an alien city, but for some reason, the rich smell of exotic flowers and foods did little to tempt her. All she could feel was the heaviness in her.

Later though, she would have to admit that Phidai was extraordinary. The city was gorgeous, the buildings carved from shiny, iridescent stone that shimmered in the sunlight. The street was covered with business; men and women bartered over goods and food and all sorts of things. Young children scampered around the town, chasing each other around. Hoshi did notice that a group of the children was dancing off to the side, as if practicing for a performance.

All around the three officers were signs of festivity. Banners were streaming high in the afternoon sky, the wind making the fabrics come alive. Every conversation they heard revolved around the eager excitement of the festival tomorrow. Everyone looked so happy, but an uneasy thought still tugged at Hoshi's mind. There was something wrong with this scene; the children looked too thin, the men were hunched over, and she could see tired circles beneath the women's eyes.

A few moments later, as they were rounding a corner, they heard the clear sound of horns. All of the people in the street froze, their movements stiffened. Mothers moved to take their children away from the center of the road, and Archer, looking alarmed, signaled Hoshi and Trip to follow him. They moved to the side of the road just in time.

A dozen black, huge beasts galloped past, their teeth ferociously barred as their riders slowed them. Hoshi bit back a cry. These monsters were covered with thick scales, their beady eyes hidden by large cloth flaps from their riders. They were broad shouldered, with no sign of hair on them, and they blew out puffs of steam as they paced the street. The riders were just as fearsome, their bodies cloaked in thick black robes. A single white star ornament adorned their helmets, which almost completely covered their faces.

Hoshi felt Trip grasp her hand protectively, and she smiled a little, squeezing his hand gently.

The lead rider then spoke, and his voice was harsh.

"The Prime Lord approaches. Make way!"

Hoshi craned her neck slightly to get a glimpse of this Prime Lord. The ranks of riders parted as another beast, larger and fiercer than all the others, moved forth. The rider was a large, powerful looking man, his robes and armor glistening with wrought silver. He held a staff in one hand, and his very presence inspired fear and awe. But the most remarkable thing about him that was unlike all the other riders, he wore no helmet. His fair hair was wavy, his brilliant violet eyes shining. Beside him, Hoshi saw another rider, one with darker hair and much younger. He too lacked a helmet, though he wore a thin circle around his head.

The larger man, who was indeed the Prime Lord, spoke.

"Tonight the darkness will cover our fair city, and the festivities may begin. To all of you, I give warning. Enjoy your days of darkness, and the days of this honored festival of love, but do not let the bliss turn your thoughts impure. The First must be honored above all else. Therefore, before the festivities can commence, each of you must pay a tribute to the First. Your Protectors shall collect this honorable sacrifice on your parts, and we shall deliver it to the temple. In the name of the First, I thank you!"

The crowd of people looked angry, but Hoshi noticed that the riders were now scattered among them, their spears menacingly pointed at those who dared protest. The crowd unwillingly applauded the Prime Lord, and one by one, they placed their tribute into the chests carried by each rider.

A sudden cry made Hoshi jump, and she could tell that Archer and Trip were both on high alert.

A blurred figure leaped past them, throwing himself into the ranks of soldiers. As the riders were scattered collecting the tribute, the Prime Lord was left alone with the younger rider beside him.

The boy, for it truly was a boy and not a man, dove for the Prime Lord, a large knife in his hand. The Prime Lord turned just in time, though the blade nicked his shoulder. The crowd suddenly burst into noise, yelling and cheering the boy on.

With a wild cry, the boy turned again, going back at the Prime Lord with blood shot eyes.

Another figure suddenly tackled the boy, pushing him to the side. In the blur of movement, the other figure knocked the dagger from the boy's hands and held him back.

Hoshi looked at Archer and realized too late that he was no longer by her side. Instead, he was trying to hold back the boy, who was fighting viciously to get to his weapon. Hoshi looked at Trip, who was tense and frowning. He looked as if he was ready to join in, but Hoshi stopped him, shaking her head.

"He shouldn't have done that," Trip hissed, looking quite angry with his captain.

There was a sudden silence in the crowd, and Hoshi almost cried when she saw why.

Archer was holding the boy up, his face in shock and disbelief.

A jeweled knife lay embedded in the boy's back. Blood seeped from the wound, staining Archer's robes a brilliant crimson hue. The boy whispered a few last words to Archer, who was using his weight to support his body.

"I'm free..." the boy whispered, and his eyes rolled up as death shook his slender frame.

All eyes moved towards the thrower of the knife, who stepped off his beast and moved to Archer. Hoshi gasped, unaware that she was clinging to Trip in apprehension.

The young man who wore no helmet casually pulled the knife from the boy, wiping it three times on the back of the boy's tunic before sliding it back into his sheath. He smiled at Archer, extending a hand to him.

Archer glared at him, letting the boy's still body fall to the ground. Archer stood up by himself, not taking the other man's hand. The man frowned at first, but then the smile appeared again.

"I thank you, stranger, for saving my father's life."

Archer looked in disbelief at the man, who was utterly calm.

"I am Kaf, son of the Prime Lord, and his bodyguard. Please, tell me your name, stranger. You do not bear the looks of those of my fair city. Few here would leap to battle to save my father's life. Tell me, who are you, and where are you from?"

"My name is Jonathan Archer. I come from a city far north of here."

Kaf's smile was even wider.

"It is good you have come to Phidai at this time, at the eve of our most holy celebration. Come, please, let us show you the hospitality of the Prime Lord. Your robes are stained and you are tired. Please, it would be our honor. We could do no less for the man who saved my father's life."

He gestured to his riders, and another beast came forward. Archer looked back at Hoshi and Trip, who were still standing off to the side.

"May my companions share in your hospitality?" Archer asked, gesturing towards Trip and Hoshi.

Kaf smiled even more, displaying rows of perfect sparkling teeth. It stuck Hoshi as too perfect, as if there was something forced or fake about his smile. His eyes were dark violet, and she found herself troubled by the expression in them.

"Of course! Please, join us. Your names?"

"Charles Tucker, and Hoshi Sato."

"Ah...a pleasure to meet you." Kaf said, taking a step closer to Hoshi. Trip almost growled as Kaf took Hoshi's hand and kissed it, his lips lingering on her skin.

Hoshi shuddered. She didn't like this man, of that she was sure.

"Come, let us go. Father?"

The Prime Lord, who had been watching the entire exchange with an unreadable expression in his eyes, finally spoke.

"Yes, let us go, my son. We shall return to the hall, and feast. Once our guests have rested, perhaps they shall join us to the temple?"

Archer nodded politely.

"Of course."

"Wonderful!" Kaf exclaimed, and turned to mount his beast.

Archer gave a wary look to Trip, his eyes showing his clear distrust of Kaf and the Prime Lord, but he moved to mount the beast that had been brought for him. Looking concerned, but fighting back his emotions, Trip helped Hoshi up as well, and together, they rode off, unsure of what they were heading into.

The sun was now fading fast, the shadows moving ever closer.