“Alerveco and Tora haven’t been found!” Jal called out. “We may have missed a tunnel.”
After an exhaustive search of the labyrinth of caves and tunnels, Tomau Lop, Elodi Aleris, and Kir located them. Unfortunately, they were dead too.
One large cavern was filled with shiny pieces of ore. Verle Dilas placed one on the floor. “Erken!”
A box popped up. “Object: Umbrine, pure. Value: Unknown. Umbrine is a valuable commodity on many planets throughout the galaxies. It is most frequently used as currency.”
“This is why I’m here,” Luk said. He eagerly filled his pack with as much as he could. Each of the other people who had been on the rescue mission came in and filled their packs.
Jal was the last one to fill its pack, and it did so sadly. “Was it worth it?” Jal wondered. “We did all that and didn’t save anyone.” As it found the others out of the mine, it saw a blue powdery substance on the floor. “Susgar?”
Jal set its pack down and dug for a small bag. It pushed together a pile of the blue powder and using its hand, poured the powder into the bag and sealed it. A few minutes later, Jal strode through the village to the area where tents and gear were gathered into piles.
“Dr. Gyasi?” Jal said nervously. “How could we get this to an enclave to be tested?”
“Where did you get this, Jal?”
“It was on the floor in the mine. I think we should have it tested.”
“I agree.” The scientist turned away, and then turned back. “Jal, I’m so glad you’re okay. I want to meet with you and Sage Elvan.”
After a brief conversation, Jal returned to the mine with the fighters. They carried the bodies through the tunnels and up the ladder.
“Their throats are bruised all the way around,” Pari said as she examined each body. “Look, there are bruise lines across the chest and abdomen. Many broken ribs. They were squeezed and asphyxiated.”
“Okay, let’s do this,” Sage Elvan pressed the expedition communicator. “Please report to the central gathering point.” A few minutes later, the members stood in a wide circle talking about what had happened. Four armed fighters stood around Denis, Alek, and Adam, who were bound hand and foot.
Luminary Rup Dev spoke. “Five members of our expedition were killed sometime in the past day. Each of them contributed to the success of our mission. Each person’s backpack has been sorted through. We’ve kept the gear that will serve a purpose for us in the future. Their personal items were returned to the packs, which were then filled with pieces of umbrine that were found in the mine. The bodies will be transferred from here and disposed of, as each person requested. Their packs will be given to a pre-designated family member.”
He sighed, then addressed the group. “These three people are responsible for the deaths of our friends. They trusted these people with their lives when they went, unarmed, with nothing but their curiosity about the process that the Genomos use in their mines. The "master" that they encountered in the mine killed them."
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"We have lost all of our geologists. Kees Sork, from northern Trazene was actively interested in the geology of the area, particularly the rocks it contained. He was one of the most highly sought after world citizen who was able to identify planetary rocks, their properties -both practical and magical - and is a great loss to us and the world. He will be missed. Nehee Baking was created at the University of Science and Technology on Capisia. She taught about the geology seen on many of the planets in our system. She will be missed by colleagues, friends, students, and most of all, the family she identified with. Diya Tak was also a gifted geologist. Originally from the Iragos Peninsula here on Zuphreon, she had attended Shipman University in Kop. She studied and taught there for several years. She and Nehee had come along to help identify various types of rocks that could be reliably drilled into and would hold our weight as we passed over the trail."
"Alverco Nacu, an extroverted businessman had a driving curiosity about everything on Zuphreon. He was convinced that we would find valuable resources, and we often chuckled at his attempts to convince us to be business partners before we even left Haybuti. His enthusiasm and optimism will be missed by us and his multitude of family members who run businesses in Nik. The fifth person who died, was Tora Kavoos. Tora was a highly skilled fighter in the rings of Nik and other planets in this sector. Originally from Capesia, Tora had been on numerous expeditions with other scientific groups on various planets and was well equipped to protect this group. The security team will be affected by her death, but they have resolved to do their best to protect us on the remainder of our journey."
"In a few minutes, a security force from the Protectorate Enclave will arrive and deal with these people who led them to their deaths.”
“The Protectorate leaders were not here. They didn’t experience what we did. These three should die!” Zamani proclaimed.
“The security force won’t see our friends bodies! They need to see the evidence of what these people did!” Maya said. “The Protectorate won’t give them the punishment they deserve.”
“Let the Protectorate officials handle it, Maya,” Sage Elvan said quietly. “Their deaths won’t bring back our friends.”
Just then, the bodies were transported away. For a split second, the guards standing around the three Gonomos looked at one another.
A moment later, the four walked away from the Gonomos’ bodies.
***
The short grass rippled as a hot wind blew across the open prairie. Luk watched as the people in front of him walked in small groups. They had been walking for a week, and although there was plenty of animal life, they had not seen another human.
They stopped under a small clump of trees that stood by a shallow creek. “I thought there were people this way, Jal,” Pira Pibul commented as they looked west.
“We probably won’t see anyone for a month or so.”
Ladi held up her hand and everyone stopped talking. She pointed, and the group watched. Several spotted felines crept through the grass as if they were hunting.
Morti pointed in a different direction. Four more felines advanced. Two looked as though they were much younger. “Are they getting a hunting lesson?” Andi whispered to her. Morti nodded.
Some of the group members had slid their packs off. They knelt to fill their canteens. The Luminary had turned away from the creek and saw motion behind the trees. He tapped Cirus’s arm and pointed.
Wizard Kir saw the alarmed look on Cirus’s face. “What?”
“Where’s their prey? It should be right in front of us,” he whispered. “They’re looking this way.”
As the various people focused on the separate groups of felines, Jal leaned against a tree. Its stomach felt odd, and it wondered whether the greens it had eaten for the morning meal were affecting it. A wave of unease seized Jal, and it was as if a larger-than-life feline were running straight at it.
Jal blinked and the image was gone. It sank to its knees and suddenly vomited. The sage went to Jal’s side. “I didn’t realize you weren’t feeling well. Did you have some greens that no one else had?”
A huge feline leaped toward Jal and it screamed. Sage Elvan jerked backward in shock. “What is it?”
“Felines.” Jal tried to stand but collapsed to the ground.