Imperial Guard – 006 Lost Planet of the Ancients

Chapter 4 Sanctuary of Angels

"So you are the healers of your fellowship."

With Kirliya taking a particular interest in them from the start of the short journey to her tribe's village, Salu began to suspect that he and his partner in the art and science of medicine were in for a new adventure. Although Raeth was the one who asked them to join the initial party, he had explained to Kirliya the reason for bringing them along and she had taken an immediate liking to that idea.

With the engineers staying aboard the ship to conduct repairs, the group that left the Myr'shala consisted of the remainder of the crew, with only Trezka's scout group dressed in poetyo.

"You will be able to borrow some if you so desire," was Kirliya's promise.

As the Myr'shala had crashed in her tribe's territory, she had made a commitment to have her warriors patrol the area around the downed starship to catch any trespassers. It could draw a lot of unwanted attention from other tribes, including those they were not on friendly terms with.

The strange clothes did not seem to bother her or any of her fellow warriors in the least. Nor did the fact that their so-called fellowship consisted of so many different races of Mantrin, including a couple of crossbreeds. On the contrary, she had expressed her delight over the quick offering of peace and their willingness to help out, without even knowing what they were getting themselves into.

Kirliya's enormous feet clawed through the soil as she walked at a steady pace through the dense jungle-like forest, using her spear to move low overhanging branches and lianas out of her way. Her thick long tail moved with powerful balancing lashes, which required Salu to keep some distance, though with the forest beginning to lose some of its density, he was able to catch up with her and talk face-to-face.

"We are. Moa and I have been working together for a while now."

"It pleases me to see how others have also succeeded in doing what I've been trying to do from the moment I began to question why we continue to fight each other over so little."

She smiled as she looked him in the eyes. There was something so distinctly genuine about it. It appeared it brought her immense joy to see such a diverse group put their differences aside and work together.

"Your Ryrjhii friend. I believe he is also half Goureg, isn't he? How? Just how is that possible? Out here in these lands, Ryrjhii are allies to none and making contact with their nomadic tribes is ill-advised at best."

"It's…" Salu hesitated, wondering how to explain this, then figuring there was almost no way for her to verify what he said was true. "It's uncommon, even where we come from, though improved relations with their kind have made Jirro into what he is. A caring mate to his beloved and a loving kharii of three children."

"Remarkable," Kirliya declared. "This is what I've dreamed of. I knew there had to be others who've also grown tired of taking up arms against their brethren in never-ending conflict. Your fellowship is living proof."

Facing ahead, Salu began to notice the changes in the terrain as well as the atmosphere. The gentle breeze coming from the direction they were headed in carried a slight chill, indicating the presence of a large body of water nearby. The aroma of the forest was pleasant and filled with sweet blossoms, the earthiness of the damp soil rubbing between his toes with each step and the woody smell of the many tall trees. It was a welcome change and each breath he took was invigorating.

The canopy up above was home to many species of birds, their chorus forming the most recognizable part of the soundscape, supplemented by the rustle of the leaves and the sounds of the many other small animals the forest was home to. To his left, Salu spotted a group of large deer-like animals, grazing on a patch of grass in a small clearing. The large group of Mantrins passing by caught their interest for a moment as heads turned in their direction, not deeming them much of threat.

"We're almost there," Kirliya confirmed his suspicions. "We need your help. The Visitors from beyond the sky brought a sickness to our lands. The Emerald Blight is turning Mantra's spirit against us. Those who touch it are consumed by it and our healers stand powerless. My hope is that you can make a difference."

In the small amount of time that has passed since meeting Kirliya herself, they had gotten more than enough confirmation that the portal of the Ancients had sent them back to that critical point in history. Their arrival could make or break the timeline as they knew it, each tiny decision impacting the way events would unfold.

One thing was almost certain. If memory served him well, Kirliya and her newfound allies would defeat this foe and secure a future for Mantrins as a species. These invaders of an ancient insectoid race were believed to have been the less advanced ancestors of the faction that had threatened to eradicate the human race and harvest the resources of planet Earth in the timeframe they called the twenty-first century.

The catastrophe had been narrowly avoided due to two warring Earth factions eventually uniting against this common enemy and driving them off, but at an incredible cost to the planet's biosphere. The crystalline substance used by the aliens to terraform planets and harvest resources, while benefiting their own kind, was extremely hazardous to all carbon-based lifeforms. The Emerald Blight mentioned by Kirliya might very well be a less potent, yet still dangerous form of the same substance.

"Moa and I will do whatever we can," he promised, sparking a glimmer of hope in the woman's eyes.

There was no way for him to be certain about being able to save those who had been in contact with the crystalline material. Evidence had been found that the invaders' home planet had been obliterated by the Drej at some point after suffering defeat on Earth as they were deemed too much of a threat by the all-powerful energy beings. As a result, their race had gone extinct, taking all traces of their existence with them to the grave, leaving little to research, except for the knowledge gathered by those whose planets suffered their blight and survived. Needless to say, their numbers were very small.

"We're here," Kirliya announced, a touch of pride dispersing into her voice. "Welcome to the home of the Kunjhea tribe."

(Something worth protecting indeed…) Jacob Shea – Planet Earth II – Something Worth Protecting: youtube /watch?v=N9KH2UCnuv0

Breaching through the bushes and the last row of trees that grew along what turned out to be the sloped shore of a huge lake, an armed pair of patrolling guards saluted their leader with a sign of respect, while eyeing the new visitors in their strange attire. The village was situated for the most part on a large peninsula that stretched a considerable amount toward the center of the lake, the water forming a natural barrier against any attackers.

Small wooden boats with a distinctive catamaran design floated in the waters around the peninsula, used by fishermen for net fishing as well as seeing recreational use by groups of different ages. The use of boats in general for either use was less common among their people, depending on the size of the community and the size and depth of nearby bodies of water. This lake in particular provided ample room to maneuver as well as a greater supply of food which increased sustainability of a larger than normal fishing operation.

"This is amazing," Moa expressed her admiration like several others.

Planting the heel of her spear into the sand, Kirliya halted their advance to allow everyone to take a good look from a small distance.

The buildings of the settlement, which was quite a bit larger than usual for communities of this period, enjoyed protection from the sun due to the tall trees standing in between them which formed a natural canopy over most of the residential parts, leaving only personal gardens and communal farmland exposed. Birds of various species circled around the settlement, skimming the water for food, with some being as cheeky as to try and snatch some from the fishermen's latest catch.

"How big is your community?" Raeth asked Kirliya after a quick headcount of his own crew.

"Counting all the refugees, three hundred and ninety-two," she answered without hesitating. Her ears lowering to a slight degree, she cast a quick glance over the small group of fresh guests, in particular those not belonging to the Sogowan race, or so Salu estimated. "Refugees meaning outcasts. Those who dare to be different. In their beliefs. In their way of thinking. In their way of being who they are. We offer them a place among us in our sanctuary."

"Sanctuary?"

Kirliya smiled.

"It's what we call the houses that are the farthest inward. It's where we keep them safe. We built more houses every solar cycle. The word is spreading." Pulling her spear out of the sand she took a slight breath, then commenced to move on with a sweep of her long tail. "I'll show you. It's where you can stay for the time being."

Although both he and Weyan were used to drawing the occasional odd looks now and then, Thylun had never caught as many curious eyes as now. The crew was far from being a homogeneous group. The nature of their work concealed this somewhat in a galaxy filled with all kinds of creatures, but among their own kind they stood out no matter what.

His albinism was a rare trait and regarding Weyan, being the child of a Sogowan father and Logri mother was almost unheard of in this time period. The metal prosthetic that replaced Azdar's left foot and part of his leg became the target of several pointed fingers. The appearance of Jirro was even met with a degree of fear, with one mother going as far as to pull her children closer to her, when he cast his signature glare upon them while being indifferent about their reactions.

Their leader was met with respectful bows of the head by young and old as they passed between the houses of the village on their way to Kirliya's so-called sanctuary. The architecture of these hadn't changed in eons, for they were near-identical in function and design as the ones found in the villages of many tribes on modern Sogowa Prime and Solbrecht.

Built sturdy, with stone walls and wooden facades, small porches and gable roofs, and with the familiar sliding panels to cover the windows. Thick curtains, some decorated, some not, hung in front of the entrances, most of them in an open state, offering a view of the interior. Seating arrangements were composed of combinations of thick woven rugs and floor pillows with simple designs and decorations.

When they reached their destination, the houses themselves weren't any different, though the same could not be said for their residents. While they showed Kirliya the same respect as those who were born Kunjhea, they turned out to be a group as mixed as the Myr'shala's crew themselves, belonging to different races other than the tribe's original Sogowan descent.

Thylun recognized in a group of young children playing in the clearing of a circle of houses the races, Sogowan, Orkeht, Goureg, and Amadre as well as the rarer Fjetanha and Lesser Arcanna. Some were the children of more than one race, their parents who watched from the porches of their homes providing the evidence. It was a wonderful mixed community like so many on Sogowa Prime where he grew up and interacted with traditionalists. The only difference was that in this time period, such a thing was unheard of.

Having lost the tribe's warriors along the way Kirliya continued to lead them to the far end of the peninsula until she found the one she was looking for. A middle-aged Mantrinesse whose mixed ancestry gave her striped Orkeht pattern a new meaning, being much more prominent and with much more pronounced blacks reminiscent of the Lesser Arcanna race. Her ears were therefore smaller and her beak sharper than an Orkeht's, her eyes being a striking coral blue.

In the process of directing a group of men and women into performing their daily tasks, she greeted Kirliya with a small nod of respect, instructing her group to carry on.

"So many newcomers," she reacted in surprise. "We just finished three more houses, and we're running out of space to build more."

"Moiseh, Qeya. They're guests from the far east, who've offered to help us in our struggle. Could you please take them off my hands and set them up in the new houses while I prepare to meet the other abwots?"

"Of course," Qeya answered with a nod.

"Hyami." Directing herself to Raeth and Jetreycka for the final time, Kirliya took a breath, the look on her face turning more serious. "I'll have one of the ghisvehts sound the ouhraa when it is time to begin the meeting. Being the representatives of your tribe who have offered their help, you're welcome to join us. In fact, it would help our cause if you did."

"We'll be there," Jetreycka promised, receiving a quick node from her superior after exchanging glances. "Just us, or anyone else in particular?"

The question caused Kirliya to shift her attention to Jirro, who straightened his back in response to her gaze. Despite some initial hesitation, Kirliya decided to go forth with the plan she was about to share with them.

"Jirro, I would like to ask you to join in as well."

Of course, there was no need to ask the reason why Jirro was such an ace in the hole. Unbeknownst to Kirliya that he came from a future where his particular race had managed to shed some of its fearsome reputation and function in modern society as well as any other, he could pull off an incredible feat. To show that even the mighty Ryrjhii temper could be tamed to such a degree that they were able to mate with a member of another race and produce healthy offspring. For sure that would be enough to convince more to bury old grievances for the sake of collaboration and use their weapons to defend against a much greater threat.

"I will heed your request and join the meeting."

Satisfied with his acceptance, she smiled. Bidding everyone a pleasant stay she left them in the care of Qeya, who gestured for them to follow her to a group of three houses close to the shoreline that looked like they'd received the finishing touches to their construction this morning. In fact, members of the group Qeya had been directing were still installing the basics, with two of them carrying one of the ubiquitous grass-stuffed mattresses inside.

"Need a hand?" Thylun asked.

Qeya nodded.

"If you'd be so kind."

Not long after that, he shared one of the larger family rooms which contained four beds with the other gunners. Rectangular in shape, the mattresses were placed parallel to the three walls, leaving a large amount of empty floor space in the middle. Other than the two window panels of the longer wall offering a scenic view of the lake in their open state, the room was pretty much featureless due to them being its first occupants.

The large rug covering the wooden floor in the middle was still undecorated like the floor pillows surrounding it. The walls still bare other than the two torch holders on both sides of the entrance. Having paid many visits to a tribe on Sogowa Prime since he was a teenager, Thylun was very much acquainted with his people's traditional way of living and had no trouble feeling at home, considering the hospitality of their hosts.

Trying out the beds for themselves, Azdar and Masai made themselves comfortable as each breathed a sigh of relief. Curious as to what took Weyan so long to join them, he rose on his legs and commenced to walk back to the shared living space at the front to find out.

"I'm gonna check what's keeping Weyan."

"Don't worry about us," Masai reassured him.

Having moved her mattress closer to Azdar's, they laid on their bellies with their feet in the air, nuzzling each other's beaks and faces while whispering sweet words in each other's ears. Stepping outside the room into the hallway, he closed the curtain behind him to grant them some privacy, noticing the cool draft blowing through the building as well as the fresh smell of new wood.

Stepping aside to let Syrran pass, the large Goureg smiled as he eyed him, a joyous twinkle in his blue green eyes. Contrary to himself, he had already exchanged his red uniform for a set of poetyo, from which he had applied both the top and bottom parts. Halting near the entrance to his own room, which he shared with Houn and Itan, he laid a hand on its frame as he leaned into it, his tail brushing past the wall.

"I bet that lake looks inviting," Thylun remarked, remembering the time they spent camping in the woods of Solbrecht.

It wasn't surprising that Syrran and Itan were the most adept swimmers, given their race's natural affinity for water. Revealing his straight teeth in a grin, Syrran responded with a hearty chuckle.

"You have no idea how much I'm itching for a dive. The water's clear as crystal."

"I might join ya. Have you seen Weyan?"

"Ah yes, he's outside. If you ask me he's met someone already, if you catch my drift."

Flattening an ear, the thought of Weyan having met someone of the opposite sex filled him with a rather childish feeling of joy and excitement. Given the fact that both of them had been alone for so long and never had a serious relationship, they often joked about it and wondered who would be the first to hook up.

"Are you telling me… he beat me to it?"

Syrran shrugged, not having lost the grin on his face since it appeared, nodding in the direction of the house's entrance.

"See for yourself."

Fueled by his own curiosity, he went into the pointed direction, greeting Freya and Le'tan who were engaged in a conversation in the space that made up the house's shared living room. There was no sign yet of Weyan, except what his ears picked up as the sound of his friend's voice coming from outside. Exiting the house, he stepped off the small porch into the lush green grass that covered most of the village grounds and took a good look around.

The large trees growing between the houses provided plenty of shade, creating a most pleasant living environment. That and being surrounded by water created the ideal conditions for keeping it that way even on the hottest summer days. From what he had seen, many of the tribe's natives were fierce warriors, yet the village itself was a place of peace and tranquility.

Children of all ages chased each other, engaged in various games while adults gardened, crafted various items, practiced different musical instruments, or chatted in small circles whilst enjoying a drink and a bite. The real work would've been done already at this part of the day, so most leisured away at their own pace.

One of those adults however was his best friend and it turned out that Syrran had been right. Weyan, like himself still dressed in Imperial Guard red, was indeed talking to a girl. And not just any girl. If Thylun had been asked to guess, he never would've figured she would look so much like him.

The same black and brown patchwork skin. The identical warm brown eyes. The chubbiness, shorter muzzle and thicker lips of their shared Logri heritage. Intrigued by each other's appearance it sounded to him they had engaged in a full-on conversation about what made them who they were.

Realizing he was staring when the young woman's eyes flashed in his direction for a tick, he pretended he wasn't interested and looked the other way. He wasn't fooling anyone though. In his peripheral vision he saw Weyan turn his head toward him. His newfound friend laughed, and he was able to hear them agree to talk again later before bidding each other goodbye for now. As she walked off, looking over her shoulder two more times before joining her family outside their house, Thylun observed a shaky Weyan and wondered how fast his hearts must be beating right now.

Coming toward him on unsteady legs, he stood in front of him panting as if he had held his breath for about half the time he had been talking to her. All of his teeth were revealed in a broad smirk, his tail whipped the air with fierce excitement, and he had trouble keeping his feet still the way he kept shifting his weight around.

"We just arrived and you're already talking to girls?" Thylun teased, unable to resist a smirk of his own.

"Yeah, but did you see her?"

"Hard to miss, when she looks just like you."

"I can't believe it, Thy. I can't believe it."

He couldn't help but feel happy for him. They had had talks about loneliness before and he hadn't forgotten that it kept Weyan awake at night more often than him.

"You think the feeling's mutual? What's her name?"

"It's gotta be. The way she looked at me. I felt it, Thy. She's gotta be the one. Her name's Chanii."

Giving into the urge to share in Weyan's joy, he hooked an arm around his neck and pulled his friend into a firm hug, which became a mutual embrace immediately thereafter. His muscles still all tense, he felt them relax as he caught his breath.

"I'm happy for you, Wey. You beat me to it."

Patting him on the back with a strong hand, Weyan's chest vibrated in a heavy chuckle.

"Don't worry. You'll find someone here too. I can feel it."

It did pose a problem though, considering where and especially when they were right now. This wasn't one of their regular supply runs to a far-off colony. They were in the distant past, on a world that is all but completely destroyed in their own time. He didn't want to bring it up and ruin a joyous moment, though he also felt obligated. Releasing his friend, he looked into Weyan's eyes to find little worry.

"But Weyan, we're not in our own time right now. When the ship is repaired we gotta find a way to get back."

Curious to say the least, the look in his eyes did not change. In fact, he smiled again as he waved away his worries while commencing to go back into the house.

"Ah, don't you worry about that. I'm gonna convince her to come with us."

"How're you gonna do that?"

Pointing a clawed finger, he grinned.

"Trust me, I'll find a way to make it work."

Letting them know she would inform the village's chief healer of their willingness to try and help a tribesman touched by the aliens' Emerald Blight, Moa agreed to Salu's suggestion to wait outside the house. Perching on the edge of the porch, they enjoyed each other's company while watching tribal life the way Moa was very much used to back home play out in front of them.

"We do tend to end up in a lot of situations that involve traditionalists," she pondered out loud. "That is kinda curious don't you think?"

Salu hummed in affirmation, letting his toes explore the grass as he wriggled them while stretching his legs.

"Many of our people like to stick to traditional life wherever they go. Entire family lines have never known anything different."

"But you feel it too, right? We're getting ourselves into one of those situations again."

Watching Salu open his mouth to speak, then close it before a single word came over his lips, he appeared to be in deep thought. Gripping the edge of the porch with his clawed hands, he still smiled when his cobalt blue eyes looked back into hers.

"Maybe. But we'll do whatever we can, as usual. Though if I remember correctly, this… Blight, as they call it around here, is something we cannot cure." Resting one hand on his leather shoulder bag next to him on the porch, he let his gaze drift over the village grounds for a moment before he looked at her again. "I brought a few things with me, and it might be best if they don't see it. We'll pretend we're going to perform some ritual to claim a bit of privacy before conducting any scans."

"Got it."

It was then that she caught an elderly Mantrinesse of the Sogowan race on her way to meet them, judging how she strode toward them at a brisk pace. Her age showed for the most part through the wrinkles around her eyes, contrasting with the youthful appearance of the rest of her body, boasting a muscular build like the warriors of her tribe. The grating quality of her voice was also a strong sign that they were dealing with little patience, though she did crack a glimpse of a smile before she spoke.

"Salu and Moa, I presume?"

"Yes, I'm a healer. Moa is my partner in the art."

"Good. Come with me."

Turning around she walked back the way she came, not looking over her shoulder to see if they followed.

Jumping to their feet, they each grabbed the strap of their bags and flung it over their shoulders while catching up and maintaining the woman's quick pace. Watching her ears respond to the sound of their step, she did toss a look over her shoulder, their route taking them to the other part of town that belonged to the original tribe.

"I'm Fri'kaja. Shaman and chief healer of the Kunjhea tribe."

"Pleasure," Salu responded.

A far greater portion of the adults in this part of town were warriors, marked by their painted faces. Where their children played, their idea of leisure was very different from the Sanctuary part. While they also had gardens and fields to tend to, they patrolled the tribe's territory with fierce discipline and crafted and maintained weapons in small groups while enjoying a round of drinks.

Fri'kaja took them straight to a trio of residences that stood more apart from the others, a warning sign near the entrance with claw writing on it making it clear that this was a house where the sick went to recover. It was in fact very similar to the quarantine residence in the village where Tyreann and Ailynn now lived. Halting in the entrance of the house, Fri'kaja grabbed hold of a frame post, glaring down her muzzle until she had their complete attention.

"I must urge you not to touch the patient. Several of our warriors, strong healthy men and women, who've come in contact with the Blight for only a short time have succumbed to it. Once the infection takes hold it starts to spread at a frightening pace. I fear that if you're unable to do anything, Kyorii will also make the crossing in less than a day. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I understand," was Salu's immediate response.

Moa nodded.

"Me too."

Stepping inside, Fri'kaja responded with a nod of her own, about to take a right turn.

"I'll take you to Kyorii. She may not be able to speak with you herself. I've asked her mate to leave so you can do whatever you need to do undisturbed."

As Moa followed her and Salu inside, the first thing she noticed was the smell of the flowers that grew in small clay pots that were placed all around what functioned as the shared living space of the quarantine house. These served to rid the place of the smell of illness that tended to linger around patients who were very sick. There were far fewer places to sit, and every room was a set of separate walls within the larger space of which Fri'kaja took them to the farthest one of three on the right which had a closed curtain.

It being remarkably quiet inside, the light creaks of the floor planks under their considerable weight sounded loud in her ears, despite the liveliness of the village close by. Pulling one side of the curtain, Fri'kaja peeked inside, sucking in her breath through her teeth, her ears lowering. Beckoning them closer with slow gestures, she pulled the curtain aside to let them through.

As Salu went in first, Moa saw him hesitate on his approach, which had the same effect on her before she had even entered the room. Fri'kaja did not fail to notice. Lowering the sound of her voice to a whisper, it added more kindness to her character.

"It's all right, dear. Just remember not to touch."

Unprepared for what she was about to see, the inevitable reveal of their patient shocked her into speechlessness as she tried to comprehend what kind of forces could have concocted something like this other than dark magic, knowing very well that no such thing existed, outside tribal legends.

Having tossed her blankets on the floor, Kyorii was fully naked, yet starting to look unrecognizable. The crystalline substance had fused with her skin at the place of initial contact, which appeared to be her right thigh, which made her figure it was the reason for her surviving this long. It meant there was little left in the way of an actual wound, the shard of crystal that was stuck in her flesh sealing off its edges in an effective yet stomach-twisting way.

The material had entered her bloodstream, spreading through her body in an aggressive way by following her blood vessels. As the flesh turned glassy and crystalized around her veins, little growths had appeared, spreading the same eerie emerald glow as the larger crystal, engulfing her entire body until the natural brown color of her skin seemed to radiate it.

But it was her face which was twisted in horror at the thought of what was happening to her which was the most difficult to look at. The growths had reached every part of her body, one of her eyes having already turned a sickening green color around a network of crystalized veins. Her breathing was little more than an endless series of rasping gasps for air.

The smell of urine and feces that soaked the bed in the center pervaded the room despite the open window, requiring a great amount of effort from Moa not to outright vomit on the floor. Even Salu gagged a few times before retrieving a pair of facemasks from his bag and handing her one, which she applied without hesitation. Salu turned his attention back to Fri'kaja first with his hand still reaching into his bag.

"She's not the first one who contracted the Blight. How do you get rid of the bodies if you can't touch them?"

"We carry them, mattress included, to a spot outside the village where we burn them," Fri'kaja explained. "The crystals become unstable when exposed to the fire which causes them to break apart." Moa watched Salu's striking blue eyes narrow in response, one ear lowering as his gaze shifted to Kyorii in a moment of thought, then back to Fri'kaja. "If you can save her by conducting one of your tribe's rituals, I'll leave you to it."

Appreciating her thoughtfulness, Moa figured her leaving meant they could at least use modern equipment to examine Kyorii further to determine if there was anything they could do at all. This was precisely what Salu thought, nodding in response to her suggestion.

"I'm going to do what I can, but I need some time for that."

"I'll leave you to it then. I'll declare this house off limits until you come out."

Closing the curtain behind her, they listened to the disappearing sound of her footsteps for a few ticks. Walking over to the room's only window, Salu looked for anyone snooping around, came to the conclusion that they were in the clear. Moa watched him look for a clean spot on the floor to put the bag down and reveal the medical scanner he had hidden inside.

Rejoining her side, he gestured for her to watch the device's large display while keeping the sensors on its back directed at their suffering patient, who kept clawing at the mattress, sending parts of the grass stuffing to the floor through the torn strips of cloth.

"Is there anything we can do about this?" she asked, trying to stay hopeful, but already fearing the worst.

"I take it you're somewhat familiar with this Blight?" Watching the readouts on the device's screen, Kyorii's vital signs showed as critical, with warnings being displayed about detected radiation and a high chance of contagion. "We might want to step back a bit further," he added, following his own advice with her following suit.

"It was part of my studies," she answered as she dug up the memory of the Academy class she followed on this particular phenomenon. It was an ancient history lesson that touched upon the subject, though she remembered diving deeper into the details because it intrigued her. "It's not a disease. This… crystal. It's part of the aliens' biology. They thrive on it, while it's toxic to us."

Salu confirmed with a nod, while fetching the description on the scanner's display.

"Humans have had a more extensive encounter with these aliens that were known as the Scrin," he explained. "Near the end of a time called the twentieth century, the Scrin seeded the human home planet with this crystalline substance, which the humans dubbed Tiberium. In the period that followed, it took over much of the planet, mutating its flora and fauna to aid in its spread and make the planet suitable for their own species and their extensive resource harvesting operations."

"The… Tiberium extracts raw resources from underground and incorporates them into its own structure as it grows and spreads if I recall correctly."

"Correct again," Salu confirmed, scrolling through the information on the scanner's display.

"We seem to be dealing with a more primitive variant of the substance. Less potent than its evolved counterpart, but still very dangerous."

"Isn't there a cure? The humans managed to get rid of it even after it took over most of their planet."

Salu heaved a sigh, the look on his face one of disappointment as he lowered the device to look at their patient.

"According to this, there is no cure for the infected. The humans were able to cleanse their planet using technology of unknown alien origin. With the Scrin and their Tiberium gone for good, there wasn't a need to develop a cure. They're extinct in our time. The Drej deemed them too much of a threat not long after their attempted invasion of Earth as well as several other planets, so they destroyed their worlds and hunted down any survivors."

In the relative silence that followed the horrifying sound of Kyorii's tortured lungs struggling to do their job, urged them to do the only humane thing they could do. The woman's one eye that hadn't turned to crystal begged them to do so when she twisted her neck toward them.

"Then we should not let her suffer any longer," Moa decided, knowing Salu would feel the same about it.

Unaware of the tribe's rules regarding euthanasia, this was a typical case of unbearable and hopeless suffering. Putting the scanner back into his bag, safe from prying eyes, Salu instead retrieved a subdermal injector and loaded it up with a vial containing a clear liquid.

Like she knew what was about to happen, what was supposed to be a smile appeared on Kyorii's face when he stepped forward to apply the lethal dose that would end her suffering. When he stepped back from that which had to be done, it had turned to relief as her tortured breathing slowed.

It was when Salu wrapped an arm around her shoulder that Moa realized she had been leaning with her head into his. The other realization was that she normally would have prayed to Kirliya the Enlightened. The one they had talked to mere moments ago, unaware of her future status as a veritable goddess, which would make that rather futile.

Folding her hands together, she nonetheless shared a few words of respect in her own language, catching a glimpse of gratitude in Kyorii's eye, right before it fell shut.

Powerful and far-reaching as the drone of the ouhraa was, its mighty sound made many an ear perk around the village. Having swapped his uniform for a set of poetyo once again, Raeth did not have to wait long for Jetreycka and Jirro to heed its call and join him on his way to the meeting.

As the signal was meant for the village's leaders, children and adults alike dismissed the sound and continued whatever activities they were engaged in. Kirliya's instructions were clear on the location of the meeting. It would take place on a neutral spot outside the village grounds, at the foot of the tallest hill not far from the village's border. The top of the hill was visible through gaps in the tree cover and served as an excellent lookout over the surrounding area.

"This is a key meeting," Raeth said as they zigzagged between the houses on the way to their destination. "Whatever we say or do may affect the timeline in unprecedented ways. It is safe to assume that the outcome must result in unification, or our entire future may cease to exist, us included."

"Time travel has always been surrounded by a lot of uncertainty," Jetreycka whispered. "Technically, everything we're about to witness has already happened. Our arrival here might not change anything unless we actively try to alter history. On the other hand, the installation of the Ancients might have created a timeline parallel to ours which won't affect our future no matter what happens. We can't be certain of either, but I'd say we keep a low profile no matter what."

"What you're saying makes sense," Jirro agreed. "But I have a feeling Kirliya is about to use me, and in particular my Ryrjhii half as an example to convince the other leaders to form a pact. That would directly involve us into making history as we know it."

"You're both right," Raeth concurred. "It means we will play the role of observers as much as possible and speak only when spoken to. And who knows, maybe we're simply reliving that which has already taken place."

Leaving the village behind them they crossed the larger crop fields covering the base of the peninsula which bathed in the warm glow of a late afternoon sun. A considerable number of Mantrins had gathered at the meeting spot between the trees that covered the hill and when their voices reached his ears, Raeth concluded that a heated discussion was taking place between them.

The leaders did not come alone, their escorts divided into small groups that were keeping a distance from the meeting and each other. The looks they gave each other and the way they held onto their spears gave off strong signals that these tribes were not on good terms with one another and would require a lot of persuasion to fight for a common cause.

Nevertheless, Raeth, Jetreycka and Jirro did not slow their approach until the last moment, when the attention of everyone shifted to the newcomers. Jirro had inherited a lot of distinctive features from his mother's side, with only his slate-colored skin tending more toward his Goureg half. If anything, it raised suspicion, to the point that a hostile reaction felt imminent. It was Kirliya who prevented an uncomfortable silence from dropping by introducing them.

"Our honored guests from the far east. Their travels brought them to us and after hearing of our struggles with the Visitors from beyond the sky, they've offered us their help."

It was one of the other leaders, a colossal Goureg by race, who planted his spear into the soil and closed the distance between them with large thumping steps. Muscles of incredible size rippled under slate-colored skin painted with war stripes as he flexed them. Worn poetyo, stained a faint rosé in certain spots, covered his top and bottom and the fair number of scars on various places on his body made Raeth suspect he lived for the thrill of battle.

Sizing up Jirro, with blue green eyes that held a sharp glare, he revealed a mouthful of discolored, uneven teeth as he studied the half Ryrjhii, half Goureg like some specimen in a zoo, completing a half circle before moving his face close to Jirro's. It was when they stood close, that Raeth took notice of the size difference, which oddly enough wasn't in Jirro's favor.

It was something Raeth began to notice during the short time looking around the village. Compared to most other species, Mantrins were quickly considered giants and some impressive size differences existed between different races. If Jirro were a full Ryrjhii, he would've been considered small for his race, or at least below average sized. But the people of this time not only looked beefier than their modern counterparts regardless of race due to their rough lifestyle. They appeared a lot taller than average as well, with this particular Goureg giving Jirro a run for his money.

"What is this?" the behemoth growled. "Is this some sort of trick?"

Matching the Goureg's glare with his own, Jirro didn't flinch except for a pinch of the nostrils. The Goureg had a strong musky body odor that Raeth was able to pick up without much effort. Knowing Jirro valued personal care and considering what was at stake, Raeth figured it had to cost his second in command a lot of restraint not to lash out in offense.

"I assure you it is no trick," Kirliya answered his question with emphasis. "Jirro is a child of Ryrjhii and Goureg parents. This is what became possible after the tribes in his region of birth made peace and worked together."

There they had it. As Jirro suspected, Kirliya used him as an example straight out of the gate. Not everyone appeared as skeptical at first though. One of the other leaders, a Sogowan Mantrinesse sporting a heavily painted exterior and wearing only bottom poetyo stepped forward. Large wooden rings dangled from the lobes of both her ears, stretching them out of shape to make them larger and on her chest the design of the paintings became far more intricate, turning into body art.

"I've heard the rumors, but a Ryrjhii." She shook her head. "You were right, Kirliya. We have been foolish. Now if Gotaht would like to let them join us, we can get started."

"Do not speak to me about foolishness, woman!" Gotaht who spun around to face her barked, foaming droplets of saliva flying from his mouth. "Your cowardly tactics have done nothing but cost you the lives of your own myr'shala in that last attack. We would've retaliated in full force if it wasn't for this meeting."

The growl that had been building in the woman's throat from the moment of being called a coward, rocketed to a deafening roar when it left her mouth. Her ears flattened to the back of her head and bearing her sharpened fangs, she continued to growl and hiss afterwards. The other attendants, which also included a larger than average Orkeht became restless as well. Voices were raised and fingers pointed, and Kirliya, who stood in the middle of it all was losing patience fast, with virtually no one willing to listen anymore. Until she surprised everyone with the amount of power she managed to pack into her voice.

"Stop it!" she thundered with the strength of ten women her already impressive size.

To the surprise of many, everyone obeyed as if she already were the goddess she would prove to be if she could pull this off. Her chest heaving as she took growling breaths, she walked over to where she had planted her own spear into the soil and kneeled at some distance from it with her back toward the hill.

"We must put our differences aside for once in our lifetimes. We must sit down and talk about how we are going to take on this enemy before their spawn consumes us. We have all witnessed their Blight and lost those who have touched it. We have fought them individually and failed to prevail. We must fight them together or we won't stand a chance. This daunting task rests upon our shoulders for if we allow them to continue to desecrate our lands, I fear they will become unstoppable very soon."

All eyes were directed at her, and no one dared to retort. Not even Gotaht who's only reaction was a loud snort before he crossed his bulky arms, yet continued to listen, his small ears perking up from their lowered position mere ticks ago.

Spreading her arms in an inviting gesture, Kirliya did her best to look each leader in the eyes. Playing her role as described in the history scrolls to perfection, Raeth, Jirro and Jetreycka watched in awe as the other leaders obeyed one by one, starting with the Sogowan Mantrinesse with the painted body from before. Kneeling in the grass next to Kirliya she bowed down in respect, then looked at the others in a similar way.

A circle of leaders began to form, in which everyone took place, and after Raeth did with Jirro and Jetreycka on his sides, the only one soon left standing was Gotaht, who after some reluctance gave in with a gruff expression on his face. A moment of silence followed in which the distant sound of the village and the forest came forward. Raeth watched in fascination as the leaders entered a kind of meditative state, their eyes closed, their voices but a whisper while they spoke in their native tongues. More silence afterwards, until Kirliya took the lead with the matter at hand.

"These Visitors. This evil that descended from the sky… They are spreading. Their Emerald Blight turns Mantra's spirit against us and itself. You have seen what it does to the land. To the trees. The animals. They all get sick. And all that gets sick either dies or helps to spread the Blight. Shiwehya, tell us about your dream. The one you told me about."

The woman with the painted body and rings in her ears, took a breath and nodded.

"One of them spoke to me," she said in an ominous tone. "At least I think they did. A face like that of an insect, glowing like the moons at night. They come from another world that is not like ours. A world of crystal. They want to reshape our world and make it like theirs. There will not be a place for us."

The reactions of the other leaders varied from shock and horror to downright anger and mixtures of both. The desired response, as Kirliya observed the group with a calm expression on her face and a satisfactory nod toward the woman who just spoke.

"So, the question remains," she began, using the strength of her voice once more to calm the tempers. "How are we going to remove their presence? How do we defeat them? I can tell you that the answer is not 'alone'."

It was once again Shiwehya who showed her willingness to work together. Placing a fist on her chest, she straightened her back, giving a powerful lash with her long tail.

"I will lend you the strength of my myr'shala and I shall fight alongside you, alongside all of you who are willing."

Gazing upon the others, the leader of an Orkeht tribe, pledged his allegiance with the same gesture. He wore poetyo of which the regular strips were interlaced with some made of the same brown leather as the utility belt around his waist. With regard to the belt, he wasn't alone, with many others wearing belts or straps around various body parts for carrying extra items with them, the bags and pockets small enough not to hinder their swiftness in battle.

"My chuk'alai stand ready to fight and will join you when called upon."

Gotaht, his teeth bared in the frustration of having little choice but to join, followed their example, placing an enormous fist on his barrel chest and growled.

"My myr'shala will never waver, no matter the odds. The last word has not been spoken about those fugitives you are harboring, Kirliya, but first we will deal with his threat."

"Myrsya, Gotaht," was Kirliya's calm response. "I still hope I can make you see things differently, but as you say, first we will deal with this malevolent force that threatens to destroy us all."

Gotaht snorted, giving a reluctant nod, but nonetheless continued to copy the gesture soon displayed by all in the circle. Including Raeth, Jirro and Jetreycka, upon which Kirliya smiled. Gotaht however remained skeptical and could not resist.

"You present yourselves as warriors but you don't look like much," he grunted.

Jirro chuckled, losing some of the restraint he showed before. It was true that as a former soldier he had plenty of combat experience with various weapons and hand-to-hand combat. In fact, he would be able to stand his ground in any combat situation. But this particular enemy required a very different approach. They would rely a lot more on primitive ranged weapons, such as spears and arrows. Getting close would mean death, either swift or delayed because of their poison. Still, Jirro showed his usual confidence and indifference to others' opinions.

"You have no idea."

"It is decided then," Kirliya interrupted what was about to turn into another argument between two very stubborn personalities. "Our first goal should be to assess their current strength. Compose a list of any possible weaknesses and find ways to exploit them. It is safe to assume that we must find a way to destroy the vessel that brought them here. From what we have seen it appears to be the source of their strength."

All of a sudden she directed her attention at Raeth and his companions. It was a piercing gaze conveying the seriousness of the situation. Yet she showed remarkable equanimity, forging a truce between warmongering tribe leaders to deal with it.

"The light is about to take its leave. If we thread fast, I can show you what we're up against."

The trek to the top of the hill was short yet intense, considering its height and steepness, the plateau raised a couple dozen steps above the floor of the surrounding forest. The leaders showed incredible strength and endurance during the climb, most of their escorts ordered to wait down below. The trio proved themselves to be no slouches either, their Imperial Guard training allowing them to keep up.

Nevertheless, they all breathed heavily when they arrived at the top, though everyone seemed to enjoy the exercise, stretching their limbs afterwards. What Kirliya wanted to show them wasn't hard to spot. Gazing into the distance like the others, at what looked like a localized weather disturbance in an otherwise clear twilight sky, Raeth wasn't quite sure what he saw.

Dark clouds had gathered over an area in which the forest seemed to have died off and gone dark, though the clouds hung too low to be part of any kind of natural storm system. A faint emerald green glittered in that darkened patch of dead trees, lit by the occasional flash of lightning from the overhead clouds, a faint rumble in his ears as he focused.

Squinting in an attempt to spot what was going on, estimating the distance to the phenomenon that had spread over an area of forest the size of a small city at a little over five leaps, he was certain he could see movement on the ground. Whatever operation the Visitors had set up, they were scurrying about like busy ants building their colony. Even if their arrival was a total accident, they were now making the best of it, doing what was in their very nature. Seeding Mantra with their crystals and transforming large patches of forest into a mutated wasteland more suitable for their species.

"That is no thunderstorm," Kirliya, who positioned herself next to him, said in an ominous way, her spear creaking as she tightened her grip on it. "Those permanent clouds started to form in the days after their arrival. It is like the forest dies upon their very touch." Looking up at the sky above where the light of day was fleeting, she squinted at the stars that her people would one day be able to reach. "I will never forget what I saw. None of us will. Like a flame streaking across the night sky. A sound like… like a waterfall, but a thousandfold."

How it must have felt for these people to witness that which she described with her limited understanding of the cosmos, was difficult for Raeth to imagine. They were intrepid warriors who were even now willing to throw themselves into battle with these invaders. But to see an alien craft crash through the atmosphere must have instilled fear into even the woman standing next to him.

"We went up here immediately to take a look," she continued. "For something that fell from the sky, it hit the ground with less noise than your damaged sky boat. Other than sensing the very evil emanating from them, there was something else about that vessel of theirs. A green fire that glowed from where the insides were exposed. Fireballs crackling like thunder."

So their vessel was damaged in some event and they had to make an emergency landing.

As the fact that the arrival of the Visitors was a twist of fate solidified, it dawned upon Raeth that Kirliya's role in history had also been one. Even without this event, she might very well still be responsible for unifying no small number of tribes, given her desire to end conflict, but this mutual enemy of all of Mantra gave her a definite edge.

"Their vessel is damaged," Raeth thought out loud. "That may be a first weakness we might be able to take advantage of."

"We must assess this first," Kirliya decided. Turning around to face those gathered on the ridge of the plateau, she raised her voice to address them. "We will organize a scouting mission. We should still be able to thread into the territory touched by the Blight but perhaps not for long and not without risk of infection. Our first goal will be to find out if their damaged vessel is a weakness we can exploit."

"How are we going to destroy it?" one of the other leaders asked. "From what we have been able to determine, their outer shells are able to resist our weapons to a great degree."

Kirliya smirked, a glitter of mischief in her eyes.

"I was hoping our guests from the far east would be of some assistance here. They may have also brought with them the arcane knowledge of something called: Explosives."