Chapter 8: The Singers
Katy found herself awestruck at the sight of being able to see underwater and breathe it as well.
(Amazing!) A voice said and Katy turned quickly in the water.
(Hello?) Katy asked trying to sound like a dolphin.
(Close enough my friend) replied the voice and it swam closer. The lights from the double helix were enough for Katy to see the speaker was the dolphin that brought them in.
Katy turned and indeed the dolphin swam around her.
(We don't have much time and I am in need of some air and some fish,) the dolphin said his voice sounding pleasant almost British to Katy's ears.
Nodding Katy looked down at herself noticing now the lack of clothes seems to finally get to her.
(Do not worry I can fix that,) the Asterite said and Katy was instantly in a wetsuit of some sort with fins.
(Better?) It said
(Yeah thanks,) Katy replied as she held onto the dolphin's fin and they swam off.
(By the way what is your name?) Katy asked the dolphin as they swam towards the light.
(I am called Ecco I am chief Archeologist and Historian to the Singers, mainly the Bottlenose dolphin race though) Ecco replied
Icarus watched through Katy's eyes as they neared the surface where Ecco took a breath of air. Then they dove again under the surface and headed in the direction of the north. As they went Katy was stunned by how clean the ocean is from her home on earth.
For starters the view of the water goes farther back then on earth and the sky is clean unlike earth where it was sort of hazy. She noticed besides being able to understand Ecco and being able to breathe water that she can see better as well. The fish are the same under water as on Earth.
(Exactly how much of this planet is like that of Earth?) Katy asked
(Earth? Is that the name of the first world?) Ecco asked
(The first world?) Katy asked
I think he means the world of the Tau'ri Icarus replied
Thank you captain obvious Katy said sarcastically.
It was then that Ecco stopped and Katy stopped as well.
(What is it?) Katy asked
(Sheesh) Ecco said and Katy listened
There was silence
I don't like this Icarus said
(We should leave) Ecco said and began to swim faster
Katy held on as he propelled them through the water. An outcropping of coral came up and Ecco took a quick breath before hiding with Katy in the coral.
(Why are we hiding?) Katy whispered
(You will see) Ecco replied.
Sure enough a dark shadow fell across the reef and the other creatures have long since vanished. Katy, Ecco and Icarus waited until the shadow came closer and it was then that they found what they were looking for.
The dark form of the world's most dangerous predator swam slowly out from the depths. His fins at his sides as he slowly cruised the ocean. Dark back and straight dark grey fin and a fishlike tail swinging slowly from side to side. Sharp teeth as straight and jagged as a saw and dark black eyes of a soulless monster.
What is that?! Icarus cried
Holy shit that is the biggest Great White Shark I have ever seen! Katy replied
Ecco remained hidden his star shaped markings hidden by shadow. The shark swam overhead and around them searching. Finally it spotted something and Katy managed to peek out just intime for it to consume the body of a walrus. The animal screamed both above and below the water before the shark left for a bit. The animal bled till at last it died from blood loss.
The shark then came back and consumed the walrus and as he was eating Ecco grew uncomfortable. Katy looked at him and known why. Ecco is an air breather and he needs air to breathe. He had been down too long and from the looks of it he can't hold his breath any longer.
Um Icarus I think Ecco is drowning Katy said worried
He needs to breathe the Goa'uld stated.
The Shark finished its meal before moving off leaving the three there. Not being able to keep his instinct to breathe in any longer Ecco raced to the surface and leaped as high as he could taking in air. As he circled down however something dark came out of the water towards him.
(By Delphinus!) Ecco screamed as the shark came up to consume him.
Closing his eyes Ecco was ready to die when something shot out of the water and hit the shark square in the eye.
Feeling pain the shark was taken by surprise and did not manage to get to Ecco before it hit the water again.
When Ecco returned to the ocean he found Katy smiling as she waved to him.
(Let's get the hell out of here!) She said and began to pump her feet using the find the Asterite gave her and swam as fast as she could with Ecco right behind her.
The dolphin began to pump his flukes to keep up with her as they swam through the ocean. Suddenly a dark shadow appeared behind them and Ecco's warning was enough to make Katy move to the side. The shark blasted past them and turned again.
Ecco began to panic when it came at them jaws opened wide.
(Wasn't the walrus enough for you!) Katy yelled at it as it snapped its jaws at her.
Katy moved away just in time as the giant of a shark snapped his jaws closed. He was gaining fast and the three of them were losing energy.
(We must make it to the outpost we can find protection from the clan!) Ecco said as they swam away from the jaws of the great white yet again.
(Where is it?) Katy asked
(We need to keep swimming until we see an undersea mountain. Beyond it is a canyon where the Clan have made their home,) Ecco said
(The clan?) Katy asked
(Dolphins who have evolved to become a warrior class. They have two functions the clan themselves and their lower class commoners called Outcast,) Ecco said as they swam over some reef that they entered.
The shark leaped over the reef and back at them.
Save the history lessons for later! Icarus shouted at Katy as she swam faster
Sorry fuck face Katy practically yelled
Both kept swimming and soon were beginning to tire. Ecco was the first to start to slow down from fatigue followed by Katy. They were both at the Shark's mercy.
(Help someone!) Ecco screamed into the ocean.
The trio was too exhausted to swim another foot and they leaned into each other to await death.
The mouth of the Great White opened to consume them.
When something bright came from out of nowhere and struck the shark full force in the face. The shark thrashed in agony as several more bright orange forms came zooming from the depths and struck at the shark at all angles.
The shark tried to swim away as blood poured from its open wounds.
But the guts that came from the shark were enough to start another frenzy this one white and blue.
(Come quickly!) Another voice said and this time Katy was staring at the scariest dolphin she had ever seen.
It had spikes all along its back and had teeth that would make a warthog smile. Its eyes gleam red whiles its black body barely shown through the dark depths. Others are more orange with markings like blood tattoos on their sides.
They followed them too tired to do anything as they dove deeper. Being as Katy can breathe water Ecco was not as lucky as he needed to stop by a water station with bubbles emerging from it to replenish his air.
When they gotten to the bottom of the mountain that they saw they were on Katy was astonished by the sight of the city below them.
It was a small village for sure but the way they were practically grown from the coral and sea life fascinated her. It seems as if the homes of these dolphins were made from organic life and is one with the ocean instead of destroying it.
As soon as they entered the city the other dolphins entered with pieces of the shark that they had just killed.
(Victory my friends for we have killed a hungry one to feast on!) Shouted the black dolphin and others both green and orange rushed out to meet him.
As they cheered on their latest kill Ecco approached the first of the generals of the group.
(Excuse me um….?)
(Blind Sider) (General Blind Sider) he said and Ecco bowed in his thanks.
(Thank you for saving us?) He said and the clan member swam past Ecco towards Katy.
Both symbiote and host stared at the red eyed dolphin before he stated a fact.
(You are infested) he stated to her
(Um yeah but it is harmless) Katy replied
(We heard about you human word has it around the sea that you can help us,) another said this one of the Outcast.
(I will try but I don't know what to do myself) Katy said
Why don't you let me take control maybe they can be my new worshipers when this is all over Icarus said
Kiss my ass fucker! Katy stated to her symbiote.
Icarus if he were outside would have glared at her.
Suit yourself pest you had all this chance at glory and yet you still reject it Icarus said to her.
(We are in desperate need for the Clan have tried to defend these waters for so long but there are now too few of us that remain. This village is all that is left of the Clan and we will not survive another Vortex attack,) Stated the leader.
(What do you mean?) Katy asked
(Well in our society there are several specialist cases that were created to help us build and expand our culture on this terraformed world. There are the Movers which are the worker class which help move and build the buildings and structures you see. Then there are the Circle the more religious of our culture those who stay at the temples and pray to the gods for assistance and believe in prophecies and such. ) They swam further into the village.
(There are the Crimson who are nomads as they travel from one place to another seeking better oceans and provide trade for all Singers. Then there is the Outcast who are as their name says Outcaste from our society for reasons stated by their ability to breathe water. And the fact that they exiled themselves as a ways of following the teachings of Delphinus and Delphi his mate.)
They past statues of both dolphins in their prime and Katy could tell it was a shrine of some sort as many sort of trinkets littered the bottom of the statue. They ranged from clam shells to fish bones, crabs that looked liked they have died a slow death. Shark teeth and last but not least the bones of various creatures that they have encountered.
(The last members of society are the Clan which is us not many follow the different tribes of Delphi but those that do remember the classes. There are also those that came from the cities such as this one here,) he said pointing to Ecco who kind of shrunk back a bit.
(So everyone is based on their original task right?) Icarus asked now taking over Katy's body as she digested the information given to her by this Blind Sider
As she contemplated Icarus asked further questions.
(So what about the Vortex? Why is the Clan the only ones who fight against them?) Katy asked
(We were designed and bred that way. We engineered ourselves to be able to fight the Vortex when they come every five hundred years,) Blind Sider said
(It is how we created ourselves Katy we engineered our bodies for combat and when our calves reach a certain age they grow the defenses as well,) the Clan general said.
(Wow who rules you all?) Icarus asked
(The Exalted ones rule the Clan but the Council of Delphi rules the entire population.) He said and another clan member and from what Katy can tell a lowly soldier swam over to them.
(General Sir the feast is ready) he said
(If you excuse me we have a feast to do since the hungry one has been vanquished the rite of the new warriors is about to begin,) he said swimming away leaving Katy and Ecco alone.
(Rite of new Warriors?) Icarus asked taking over
(It is a rite of passage for new Clan warriors sort of a coming of age rite) Ecco replied
(Oh,) that was all said and done.
(Come we should watch the proceedings to see who will be the new warriors for the clan) Ecco said as he swam away.
Katy followed as she swam beside the dolphin.
They both swam till they reached where the other members of the Clan and Outcast have gathered.
There in the middle was the flesh of the Shark that was killed earlier. Katy looked disgusted as the Clan members had young dolphins around them some even starting to grow some sort of spikes on their fins and backs.
Then slowly one by one they took bites from the shark and ate their fill.
It was gruesome to watch and Katy wanted to be sick. Icarus on the other hand was fascinated by this and tried to force Katy to watch but the human was feeling rather sick. He then turned away for he was feeling sick as well.
Ecco also turned not wanting to see this event himself.
(Tired?) A voice said and both the bottlenose and the human turned to find an Orca-like Clan member in front of them.
The long spear-like tooth on his beak suggested a warrior of high rank. The markings on his body and the spikes that he wore also showed of his rank as well.
(Lord Mutaclone) Ecco said bowing
Mutaclone bowed back towards the bottlenose and then turned to Katy who looked just as lost.
(You must be the human that the council has told us about. I see the Asterite's work on you,) he said eyeing her with scrutiny.
Katy felt herself look rather uncomfortable with that look.
(You both need rest and so does the parasite I guess since it is harmless then I will not suggest anything to remove it) he said and beckoned with his fluke.
Both bottlenose and human followed Mutaclone into the village towards the sea mount.
There he said a note into some coral revealing a cave or at least as cavy as Katy and Icarus could think.
(This room has not been used in some time but it has a dry spot for the human) with that Mutaclone disappeared into the depths again.
Ecco turned when he saw the retreating form his fins moving to keep him steady.
(What is that about?) Katy asked
(That is Mutaclone's way of saying that we are outsiders and are not welcomed here) Ecco replied
This time Icarus took over.
(What is the meaning of this!) he demanded
(The Clan does not like outsiders very much) Ecco stated
(I can see that fish!) Icarus stated
(I am not a fish!) Ecco stated now getting angry when he realized that he is speaking to the other entity inside Katy.
(Well fish this Mutaclone can't be trusted with the defeat of the so called Vortex if they do show up) he stated
(From my reports the Vortex should be here very soon) Ecco stated
(Then prove it!) Icarus replied.
As if on cue much screaming could be heard as many dolphin and whale noises could be heard screaming. The duo swam outside to witness a whirlpool of water forming sucking up everything in it as well as the residents.
(The harvest has begun) Ecco said
(Is that what they do?) this time Katy returned to the front.
(Yes the Vortex first suck up all life within the area and then they feast on them in their home ship,) Ecco stated.
(So much for the clan) Icarus stated out loud.
(They are early! We must tell the council) Ecco replied as he was about to swim out when Icarus grabbed his fluke.
(Don't even think about it fish! We need to remain here until that vortex of water is gone or else you will be sucked up with it. The rocks provide shelter and we will wait until it is gone) with that he swam towards the little pocket of air where he and Katy can rest.
Ecco swam up as well.
(Why did you help me?) Ecco said as he popped his head out of water.
(Because it would upset my host if I don't and I don't want that for it gives me a headache) Icarus stated.
(But know this fish I would gladly see you dead like the rest of your kind or better yet you could be useful hosts for the future Goa'uld when we come to this galaxy.) Icarus stated
(I would be glad to show you that we singers are more formidable then you think) Ecco stated leaning closer
(That is enough both of you!) Katy said taking back control and pushing Icarus back before the Goa'uld could start anything else.
You just ruined my moment of triumph Icarus complained
Shut your fucken trap slug! You are so not going to ruin one of our chances of getting home! Katy yelled at him.
I am not a slug! Icarus screamed
You act like one so shut the fuck up Katy then sent a zap his way which caused the Goa'uld to yell in her head in pain.
Smirking she turned to Ecco.
(Don't mind him he is a power hungry slug) she said smirking
I AM NOT A SLUG!
Ecco's eyes seemed to show that he was having as much fun at this as Katy was.
(Shows him right for calling me a fish) he said
"So what are we going to do now?" Katy asked speaking English
(Now we wait till the vortex are gone. They are actually a year early! They normally stay within a five hundred year window and that window would have been up next year but this is too soon! I must warn the council) Ecco said
"Do you have some sort of device that we can use?" Katy asked
(There is a communications crystal in the center of the village if it has not been damaged. We use it to communicate to other cities across the planet.) Ecco replied
"Then we will use that," Katy said
(I am an archeologist not an adventurer or a clan member!) Ecco said as he floated to a nearby coral head to rest on.
Katy felt herself yawn as the day's swimming left her stiff and sore. Being able to stand up she moved towards the back of the cave.
It seems to be a place for humans since there are some old and disused waste facility, a water pump and a bathing pool.
Cleaning herself up Katy was glad to get the salt off of her. Then walked over to use the waste facilities which a groan they managed to go down. She even went to find a nice soft bed.
Stripping down to nothing she found a pair of clothes off to the side that have not been used in years. She put them on finding them comfortable as she neared a bed that was not there upon first glance. Taking the opportunity she curled up and went to a deep sleep with Icarus following for he too was exhausted.
TBC
