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Kalon
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Chapter Twelve: Vutok
Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Beneath the planet's surface, Naro City, Mines, Upper Reaches
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Three days have passed since we came to the mines. Three days since Keno led a patrol of a hundred to our home seeking death. I wonder how those of the clan guard who were in our home when the Netherium traps exploded fare. If untreated, they will soon become like the gaunt man before he found what they call mercy in Nekam’s blade.
Since we have been in the depths, seven have disappeared. Making us two hundred and ninety-three. There were no cries for help, no warnings, just absence when we did the next roll call. Tensions are high as the food supply dwindles. There is little for us to do to pass the time. Nekam has forbidden us from venturing, saying we must be ready. For what he does not say.
Yuri and a select few hammer and pound from the tunnel once marked death. The rest of us are forbidden from entering. Nekam assures us that in time we will understand. Yet as our bellies grumble from the rations, we cannot help but wonder if he knows what he is doing.
We sleep in shifts, each sealed section of the tunnel we make camp has two guards posted. When Arrum and I finish our shift, we pass it off to two others. Nekam’s son Neeba, and a woman I do not know from the Dekarn tribe. Sleep finds me after an hour passes.
***
Realm of Dreams
***
I find myself in the realm of my dreams, a place I often visit when the quiet finds me. Most times there is only despair that greets me. Seldom there is anything but pain. I am relieved to see bright colors and feel the warmth of the breeze.
There is light here, freedom from the darkness of the mines. A much-needed reprieve. The sun beats down upon me, though it is not real, I rejoice at it. It has been nearly a year since I saw it last. The summer months are short and the winter long. Making the surface too cold to venture out. Burying the things we scavenge.
This is a dream I have had many times, fields of many colors that sway in the breeze. A planet brimming with life. In the real world, I have only ever seen it in pictures and holos. The Sage used to show us them. Telling us of the wonders that the Galaxy holds.
Something is different in this dream, something pulls my focus. As though I am being guided towards something deep in the brambles. I travel through the deep brush, the plants move from my path, where I walk the deep colors wither. This has never happened before. My jaw tenses, preparing me for the despair that must lurk beyond. The dream world begins to warp the deeper I move toward what pulls me. There is a whisper in the air that bites at my ear, so quiet I can’t make out what it says.
My heart is pounding in my chest, the sense of impending doom looming and breathing into me. The voice becomes louder, still only a whisper. It speaks a single word in the old tongue.
Vutok
I ignore the voice, moving towards that which pulls me, I am almost to it. Light spreads through the darkness from it. The voice comes louder now, no longer whispering.
Vutok
Ignoring it again, I press faster, feeling the dream world slipping away. I am almost to the light that pierces the darkness. When I get closer, I see a meadow of flowers, a woman stands in it, her hair as white as the first snow of winter. It covers her face so I cannot see it. In her hand, she holds something, I can’t quite make it out. As I draw nearer, it appears to be a box of some kind, black in color, as I stare at the box in her grasp, I get an uneasy feeling from it. Darkness dwells within... instinctually, somehow I know this. Images I do not recognize flash in my mind as I peer deeper at it. The voice comes again, yelling so loudly it shakes the dream world, pulling my mind to focus.
Vutok
Stolen story; please report.
The dream world begins to fall away rapidly as I am pulled into the realm of reality. I try to fight against it, I want to see the face of the woman. However, I cannot, darkness consumes me before I can reach her.
***
Realm of Reality
***
I awaken suddenly, and thoughts of my dream play in my mind. My skin is slick with sweat, my breath is unsteady. My mind recalls the word the voice spoke in the old tongue. Its meaning is simple… danger. A strange dream, though not the first I have had in the depths. I roll over to sleep once more, but I am distracted by something. There is a strange scratching noise. My eyes open but there is little light, only from the lantern by those who guard. Standing now, I can’t shake the uneasy feeling, so I move towards the sound, it comes from where the guards are posted.
My eyes widen as I reach the noise and my heart thrashes in my chest. Dark grey fingers, with long black metallic claws that affix to where their fingernails once grew. They move slowly, picking at the bolts that hold the metal sheets to the rock of the tunnel wall. There are hundreds of them, coming from every crack in the wall of metal we made. My eyes trace over towards the ones who are meant to guard. Nekam’s own son Neeba and the woman from the Dekarn tribe. Both fast asleep.
“Wake up you fools!” I yell, kicking up dust at them.
Neeba’s eyes slowly open, anger in them when he sees it is me who wakes him. He is about to speak insult when he stumbles backward, now seeing the claws that scratch. Their once slow movements are more fervent now that I have yelled.
“Sound the alarm!” I yell again, such foolishness.
His eyes dart back and forth at the claws. My body rushes towards the horn in his grasp, taking it from him, I push air with all my might until the tunnel is filled with its cry.
Hundreds awaken quickly, many lanterns becoming lit, swelling the tunnel with their light. There is a low hissing as the claws slowly retreat into the darkness. My chest still pounds.
“What is the meaning of this?” Nekam asks, racing to us, blade drawn.
“The Lurkers were trying to open the wall, my chief,” I explain, pointing to the few claws that still pull away.
Nekam sees the horn in my hand, his jaw flexes as he looks at his son Neeba.
“Why is he the one to signal? Were you not on guard duty?” Nekam asks, his voice is angry, more so than I have seen in a long time.
“Father, I…” Neeba begins, then looking at me “He took the horn before I could blow it.”
“Because you were asleep!” Arrum yells, moving towards Neeba, pulling him by the shirt “Do not try to hide your failings. Even when he woke you, you did not find the will to use it.”
The other tribe leaders come now, though they are silent. Watching the exchange. They wish to see what Nekam will do. Nevari comes now too, her eyes dancing between her brother Neeba and her father. There is worry on her face.
“Bring them both to the center. All will come, except the next shift of guards.” Nekam says, then breathing more calmly, he adds “Which is now doubled.”
“Father, he…” Nevari begins, trying to pull softly at Nekam’s arm, he pulls it away firmly, giving her a look that is normally reserved for those not of his blood. Telling her, silence must follow.
Her jaw tenses as she lowers her gaze and slopes her shoulders. Her eyes look at me for a moment, there is something in them I do not recognize. Turning my gaze, I see Neeba now staring at me.
Neeba’s eyes lock onto mine, there is fury in them. They sing to me of the blood they wish to spill from my body. They are almost as bad as Henek’s eyes. I cannot help but be mad at this, it is his fault. Why should he seek revenge on me?
“The one from your tribe?” Nekam asks Dekarn as they move to the large space that leads to the lift and other tunnels.
“I will trust your judgment,” Dekarn says.
The way he says it, it almost feels like a test. Yuri follows close behind. Still silent.
Nekam does not reply to him. His jaw flexes as he looks back at his son whom Arrum drags by the shirt. I move to follow, but Nevari grabs my arm.
“Please, tell my father you were mistaken.” She says, her face is more desperate then I have seen before “Tell him you lied if you must.”
My eyes squint at her as my jaw rolls, wishing to speak to her in a manner it never has. She really wishes me to lie? When I joined the tribe, her father said he had two expectations, obedience and truth. I cannot break them. Not even for her. She knows this… yet still she asks me.
“Please, Kalon.” She says, pulling me closer “My brother does not deserve my father’s wrath.”
My eyes search her. But they do not recognize her in this moment. She must know that if I tell Nekam that, I will be beaten far worse than Neeba, perhaps even slain, or thrown to the darkness to become food for the Shulka. She would ask this of me…
There is a tightness in my chest that I do not fully understand. I am reminded of the words of the Sage in these moments as I stare at the woman I thought I knew.
One never truly knows what another will do for those of their blood
In the distance, Nekam’s voice brings me back to reality.
“Let this be a lesson to any who would fall asleep on watch.” Nekam says, rolling up his hands with cloth “Strip them.”
Nevari looks at me again, her eyes are pleading and desperate, each tug of her hand sends tremors to my chest, there is pain with the tightness now. As the first strike lands on Neeba, her eyes close as she turns her back on me. Unable to watch her brother be beaten in front of the tribes.
Nekam beats them in front of everyone for nearly half an hour. With each strike to their nerve bundles, he speaks to teach.
“Vigilance is virtue.”
Another strike.
“Complacence is death.”
Another scream of pain.
The strikes finally end when they both pass out, owing to the pain and exhaustion. Nekam is wise to have done this to his own son. Now we are all made to wonder, if his son fails and receives this, how will we be treated if we fail? Yuri and Dekarn seem satisfied with the result. We all know that Barnak would not have done this. He would have beaten or killed me instead.
Another few minutes pass and Neeba and the woman are roused, made to redress. Nekam was careful with his strikes, there will only be bruises, it would not do to wound them severely down here. Nekam stands over them, looking at them with disdain and disappointment.
“Kalon come forward.” Nekam says, slowly unwrapping his knuckles, he places a hand on my shoulder “Neeba, you will thank him for doing your duty.”
“Thank you… Ulima.” Neeba says.
Nekam slaps him in the mouth. Neeba’s eyes seethe at me, as though I am to blame for his pain.
“Thank you… Ka…” Neeba begins, his lip quivering as he finishes “Kalon.”
Nekam nods to him then me, motioning me to join the crowd again.
“No one is above the rules.” Nekam says, looking into each person’s eyes as he moves between the crowd “Many of us could have died this night. Before our time has even come.”
He is about to speak, but all of our attention is drawn away. Hearts pounding as our heads turn upwards to a familiar sound. The creaking of the metal chains which brings the lift from above.
Nekam’s head tilts upward towards the darkness “It is time.”