10 of the 12 wounded Guardsman still aboard the Merciful Cloud marched down the boarding ramp, armed and armoured. Hunter followed behind them with Beverley, a history professor with a doctorate in ancient languages. She was the closest the ship had to a linguist. Apparently, Trey had ensured that Professor Jackson would join them at Skyhold, but the Cloud was at full capacity by the time the professor arrived, and they had already departed.
Hunter was looking forward to reuniting with the professor once the colony was up and running. The professor’s research on the Asutnahem excited him. He especially hoped the Oberon Guard could disable the portal to this remote world. If he found the time, he would request some time to shadow the professor while he worked to uncover whatever secrets that place might hold.
24 feet brushed against the iron mesh lining the ramp’s surface. Hunter hoped that their encounter with the three strangers would not start off on the wrong foot, given armed Guards.
The strangers in question had no visible reaction to them apart from a curious glance. It wasn’t until the Guards stopped about 10 yards from the strangers that Hunter felt another etheric pulse. This time it was very clear that it came from the large man at the centre of the three. He seemed older than the other two.
They wore pristine beige robes and various pieces of jewellery. The man at the centre was bald. He looked to be in his mid 30s, and he was even taller than Hunter, and bulkier than the Guards in all of their gear.
The more Hunter looked at the man, the more the etheric sensation the trio was emitting seemed to turn into a pressure, and Hunter winced. He could tell that the bulk of the pressure came from the man at the centre. Hunter had the faint mental impression of a thousand needles stabbing at his body and his mind. The man noticed Hunter’s reaction and raised an eyebrow. He said something to his disciples. They all pulled out their swords, and the Guards responded by raising their weapons. Hunter’s heart skipped a beat.
With the shield active, there was no threat to them or the ship, he reminded himself.
Then the trio placed their swords on the ground and held up their hands. Hunter looked back towards the ship, at a camera that he knew that Aera and the Commander were watching from.
The aura of the man diminished. He nodded at Hunter and tapped at the shield. It rippled, and then he made a gesture with his hand, lowering it towards the ground.
Hunter nodded and pressed the transmission button on his radio.
“Let’s lower the shield,” Hunter said. Hunter wasn’t sure the Commander would listen. Still, given the strangers’ strange actions, he decided to assume they weren’t looking for a fight.
Of course, they could change their mind after the shield lowers. But they’ve had plenty of opportunities to attack them. Why wait until now? Why go through all of this? It seemed unlikely that they had to fear the strangers’ motivations.
“Sure that’s wise, sir?” one of the Guards asked.
“I think their intentions are clear enough,” Hunter said. He felt nothing from beyond the shield, no etheric pulses that may signal an invisible watcher.
The soft hum from the shield disappeared.
“Proceed with caution, Hunter,” he heard Commander Striker say through the radio.
The Guards kept their guns raised, but no one made any movements. After a few awkward seconds, Hunter figured that he and the Guards were appearing rude.
“I think you can lower your weapons,” he said.
“Don’t get too comfortable, though,” Aera’s voice rang through the team’s radio’s and earpieces.
“Yes ma’am,” the Guards said, almost in unison. They lowered their weapons, but all of them seemed ready to use them at a moment’s notice.
The man at the centre, who Hunter was going to assume was the leader of the three, bowed to them. He gestured to himself.
“June,” the man said, his voice light. Given his size, Hunter had expected a deep, bassy vibrato.
Hunter gestured to the man.
“June,” he said, and then pointed to himself, “Hunter.”
The man nodded and pointed to the other two beside him.
“Aruon,” the one to his right said, and he bowed. Aruon had a prominence to his brow that cast a shallow shadow over his eyes when his head lowered. He had shortcut brown hair, and the overall impression Hunter got from the man was a fierceness. It wasn’t just the way Aruon looked. It was something else he was sensing — something like what he was sensing from June, whose overall bearing felt sharp. To a lesser extent, Hunter felt that Aruon’s fierceness was similar. Something not quite physical, and impression in the air. A strange feeling washed over Hunter—though he rarely felt intimidated these days, he instinctively feared the trio.
It was almost as if there was an etheric effect at play. It had that same flavour of intuition — imagery in the background of his thoughts. Ideas about the type of energy saturating these people’s beings. It was an interesting notion that his sensitivity could interpret etherium through familiar concepts. But what was it about the etherium these people emitted that would give rise to that impression within him? And another question rose: what was their relationship with etherium? Did they absorb it like the native fauna? Were these a humanoid species like themselves, who had adapted to Skyhold’s ambient etheric saturation like the Class-1 and 2 creatures?
Did these people have a natural sensitivity to etherium, like Hunter did?
“Galan,” said the woman to his left. Hunter hadn’t been sure if she was female at first. Like the man in the centre, she had a bald head, and could have been a young boy for all he could have guessed. The impression he got from her wasn’t as strong as the other two, but when he concentrated, he could almost feel the faintest trace of etheric presence around her. She noticed his intense gaze and frowned at him.
Realizing his offensive stare, Hunter felt his cheeks flush with guilt.
The man in the centre raised his hand, and where there was nothing, there was a small box. Most of the Guards twitched at the sudden action, and June froze to assess what their reaction would be. The man smiled and gestured downwards in a placating way with his free hand.
He touched his temple and then gestured towards them. He spoke, and Hunter frowned as he tried to guess what June was trying to say. Beverley was jotting down notes. As June spoke, he made a motion with his hand, waving from his mouth and then pointing at them.
Hunter assessed the box, and he realized it had an etheric presence of its own.
He could feel something from it, a very strong intention. He could feel its desire. It sought to understand. He connected the dots.
“Translation,” he said to Beverley. She seemed flustered.
“Ah, I’m sorry, sir. It’s far too early to even guess, but maybe he’s saying he wants to convey some sort of meaning—”
“—no, sorry,” Hunter interrupted her, “I’m saying that the box is going to help with translation.”
Hunter stepped past the guards. Aruon watched him, and Galan beheld him with a sneer. While he understood her reaction, it still made him feel miffed. He ignored her as best he could. They could resolve the misunderstanding later.
“Translation,” Hunter said, mirroring the gesture from June, waving his hand between his mouth and the box. June smiled and nodded, offering the box to Hunter.
“Careful, Hunter,” Aera said. The Trio looked at the radio at his waist with curiosity and befuddlement.
Hunter held the box and yelped as he felt an etheric presence overcome him. He almost dropped the box in surprise. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, but it was something he’d never felt before.
Galan scoffed, and June gave her a look that seemed to convey displeasure. She muttered something and kept her eyes on the ground after that.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Hunter took a deep breath and tried to tune into the box, to understand what it was doing. He hoped he hadn’t just done the etheric equivalent of paralyzing himself, or was going to turn into some sort of puppet that they could control.
In hindsight, maybe grabbing the box was a bad idea.
But the more he felt into it, the less worried he became. He felt impressions from the small box, like it was conversing with itself. It seemed aware of its surroundings.
“It’s processing,” Hunter said with wonder, and he felt the box respond to his words, and the fluctuations within it were changing to accommodate the new stimulus, “information. This construct, no, this device, it’s processing information! It’s aware!”
He was astounded by the device in his hand, and he looked at it in wonder.
“He reacts to such basic tools like a child,” he heard Galan say. His eyes snapped up towards her.
Hunter’s eyes snapped up to her. He had understood her, as clear as day.
“These people have a unique development path than what we are familiar with, Galan. The Technic civilizations have always been a mystery to us. We have lived two very different lives,” June said.
“I can understand you guys,” Hunter said, struggling to hold back his amazement. “This is incredible.”
“That was quick," Aruon said, “The merchant said that it would take agoiern.”
Hunter hadn’t understood that last word.
“Only if the other party is vitally dead,” June said. Hunter winced. Now that he understood the man, the sharpness he felt seemed to transmit through the words themselves, much more intensely than before. If before it was like a needle prodding at him, it was now like the sharpened edge of a sword cutting held to his throat.
And it kind of hurt.
“My apologies,” June said, noticing Hunter’s reaction. “I will suppress my aura further. Your vital development is still in it fledgling stages, but it appears you have not yet adapted to handle a strong vital aura.”
“Vital development?” Hunter asked, though he was pretty sure what the man meant.
“Vita, yes, the power you sense from us and we from you.”
Hunter nodded.
“We call it etherium.”
“You’re understanding them, sir?” one of the Guards asked.
“Hunter, can you let us know what’s going on down there? What are they saying?”
Aruon stared with curiosity at his portal radio.
“How are you transmitting voices through that tiny box at your waist? It’s not Vita—er, etherium, is it?” Aruon asked.
Flustered by three rapid questions, Hunter answered Aruon first: “This device transmits and receives radio waves—a type of invisible light frequency, I believe. Or electromagnetism. Something like that.”
“Invisible light?” Aruon asked, leaning back with some skepticism written on his features, “I’ve heard that Light is a very strong path once it’s cultivated beyond its surface layers. But it’s not a path that anyone in Sabletown has much experience with.”
Hunter didn’t know who to talk to right now. He pressed the button on his radio.
“Aera, the box they gave me was some sort of translation device. I don’t know why its worked faster with me than with the Guards, but it should just be a matter of time before you can all understand them too.”
“Indeed, the integration process should speed up now,” June said with a small bow. “Again, I am June. My disciples and I come from Sabletown, a settlement we established here 5 dienaed ago.”
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. 5 what?” Hunter asked. The box emitted a small pulse.
“5 decades,” the man said. “I’m pleased with the progress we are making. Your people have some mild foundational capacity with vita, yet so far you seem to be the only one with any skilful use of it.”
“Ah, yeah. I’m special,” Hunter confessed, not sure if that was the right move, “we are, um, colonists. We’re from—”
“Hunter, careful,” Aera said. Hunter gulped, realizing that he needed to be a lot more careful with how much he revealed.
“Your comrade is wise, but you currently have nothing to fear from us.”
“Currently?” Hunter asked.
The man nodded and gestured towards the Guards.
“I’m assuming that those are weapons which your guardians are armed with. Therefore, I can only assume that your people are no stranger to combat,” June said.
Hunter nodded, wary about the direction that this conversation was turning to.
“My people — and the entire sector we hail form — from is rife with conflict. In fact, you could say that it was a way of life for us. There is always a war between great beings and their armies. The martial way demands the mighty dominate their lessors. It is how things are.”
From what Hunter learned about the Council Seats, things weren’t too different back in Sanctuary, either.
“And yet you seem civilized enough to know how to introduce yourself in peace,” he said.
“You’ve mentioned that you are special. We at Sabletown are also somewhat special compared to the core worlds — and even the frontier worlds that many of us have come from. As tensions rose and some of our oldest institutions collapsed, we struck out on our own. But this is a tale for another time. We have been watching you, assessing your intentions, and whether you would be amenable to discussions. It was a risk on our part, but what little we know from the technic civilizations shows a very different societal development path. Although war appears to be a universal constant, the degree to which it dominates your type is far less than mine.”
“I’m understanding them,” he heard one of the Guards say, “I’m not liking what I’m hearing.”
“This is a primary introduction to our people and the sectors we hail from,” June, responding to the Guard, “Consider it a peace offering. What little we know of the Technic types suggests you will not be content with habituating a single world, and you are bound to encounter others. It’s important for you to know what to expect. My people are not interested in conflict with you, but will not hide from it, and you would not find a soft target in us. I must share this because we do not know your people—finding civilized people beyond the fringe sectors is rare. Coupled with the fact that you hail from a technic path, and seem to hold a strange relationship with vita, you paint a strange picture that we can only understand by initiating contact. With that settled, I want to emphasize what I hoped our actions would convey: We come in peace. May I ask if you share this intention now that you are aware of our presence?”
Hunter remembered feeling the power the man had radiated before. The way his etheric aura seemed to pierce straight into his soul.
Although the thought made some reptilian part of his mind want to quiver and demand that his life be spared, he had an entire corporation to represent.
“Yes,” Hunter spoke, with a surprising amount of conviction, “we are here to build a home for ourselves, not to conquer the homes of others.”
He trusted his adoptive family by now. He knew they would all need to adapt to a new world, and that they would make sacrifices, but something told him that their general sense of ethics and morality — their integrity, as Trey would emphasize — was not something they will compromise on.
That was all the confidence he needed to answer the man’s question.
“Excellent!” June smiled. “Then there is much for us to discuss. Would you give us a tour of your impressive vessel? We haven’t eaten all morning and we would love to sample any of your people’s unique dishes. Plus, Aruon here has some curiosity about technic artifacts.”
Auron nodded and eyed the ship with desire. Hunter recognized the look. It was the same one he would have whenever he thought about the Asutnahem shield.
Hunter was about to respond, but he heard the door to the ship cycle. When he looked back, he saw Commander Striker emerge. June and his disciples looked on with polite interest as the man approached them.
“I’m Commander Striker,” he said. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to allow you access to the ship. Our negotiations will have to take place out here, but with the shield up, you’ll be safe from any threat that Skyhold can offer.”
Hunter felt relief; the pressure was gone. That, and his answer, was going to be along the same lines. It didn’t feel safe bringing an unknown variable like an alien stranger into the ship, especially when they might turn invisible. Speaking of which, he made a note to ask them a question about that.
“Skyhold? An interesting name, and I believe you are right. It’s a fine shield, among the mightiest I’ve ever seen, June said, glancing toward the giant tree in the distance.
“Skyhold indeed,” he muttered.
“In the meantime,” Commander Striker continued, “we’ll set up a table and show you as much hospitality as we can. Our leaders are currently occupied and will be absent for a while. You’re free to stay if you wish, but I can’t guarantee that they’ll be back before tomorrow morning.”
“We will stay. My disciples and I will cultivate in the meantime.”
“Cultivate?” Hunter asked.
“Indeed, perhaps your people have another word for it. It is the intentional training of our access to vita.”
Hunter widened his eyes. That almost sounded like the internal arts.
“If you don’t mind, I’d love to hear more about your method.”
“Ah,” June made an awkward face, “I apologize, but our method is a secret that I can only pass on to dedicated disciples. Even Galan here must reach the threshold of the Foundation stage in order to gain access to the method.”
“Foundation stage? Threshold?” Hunter asked. Each word was familiar, but in this context, it was like he was hearing a new language.
June smiled.
“Foundation is what we call the initial phase of training both body and the vita channels. I believe this is the stage you are at,” June said. “the threshold of foundation is where one undergoes their Elemental Baptism, stepping into the stage of the Elemental Initiate.”
“What stage are you at?” Hunter asked.
“I am at the late phase of Elemental Initiation — this phase is called Mental Resonance. At this stage, I foster a deeper connection towards my most dominant elemental calling. I have already done this process with my channels and most of my physical body.”
Hunter had so many questions, but before he could ask, June spoke again.
“Now that I’ve shared some of my knowledge, would you care to share some of yours?”
“In time,” Commander Striker interrupted, “But first, my people need to convene to discuss this. You understand that this is a unique situation for us.”
“Of course, I understand. Things must be quite different so far beyond the fringe of known civilization. I desire to understand you better. Contact with technic civilizations is rare, and as far as I know it hasn’t happened in many thousands of years.”
The more June spoke, the more Hunter wanted to know. He wanted to curse Commander Striker for interrupting his curiosity, but he couldn’t blame the man for wanting to be careful.
Hunter had to admit that he was out of his depth, and in his excitement, he might give away something critical that should remain a secret, at least for now.
“All that being said,” June said, “I hope that you and your people are swift in their deliberations. There was another purpose to our establishing contact with you. A great threat is rising in the wake of recent actions by the Unbound whose power I’m sure you recall; there was a sudden flash of light, and the end of a beastwave. The Unbound is not the only of its kind.”
“I was there,” Hunter said.
June merely raised an eyebrow before continuing, “We believe there is another one awakening. Its power will be just as great, if not greater than anything we’ve yet to encounter here. Sabletown currently does not have any cultivators at the Unbound stage. We hope that your people, being of a distant origin and having unique solutions to unique problems, will aid us. If we do not eradicate this coming threat, it will eradicate us.”