As the security team stood at the gap in the surface of the enclave, Dr. Gyasi gave out instructions. The scientists went to the labs and found that the building was completely destroyed. No remnants were there. It was a pile of dust and dirt.
The security team joined the second group that had gone to check in the dormitories. Three of them had been obliterated; the other two looked like they were ready to fall. The group decided not to enter them. They looked over what seemed to be open arches, from one side of the building to the other, and decided they were holes caused by a great force that was focused on one spot.
There were no survivors anywhere above ground; even the administrative building had been reduced to rubble. Luminary Dev contacted the Iragos Protectorate and asked that shovels be sent to the enclave. The magicians and several others used their wands to speed the process of the shovels’ digging. Knowing that the buildings were built the same way in each of the enclaves made the process somewhat easier and it was only a day before an entrance to the safe area was created.
Jal, Dr. Gyasi, and the Luminary went into it. It seemed that someone had taken a large sword and spun quickly in the center of the rooms; the android’s heads lay next to their bodies and their bodies were shifted to one side. The only thing they found were several handheld tablets
“So many lives were taken!” Jal lamented. “But who did it?”
While the three were in the safe room, the others went to where the power grid once stood. It too, had been destroyed. Having no transport or communication system, the Luminary was forced to use his personal communicator. He contacted Luminary Yagyason. He described the condition of the enclave. Yagyason said he would contact the other Luminaries and ask them to attend a meeting to discuss rebuilding the entire facility.
They managed to charge all of the tablets and later that afternoon, they sat down together in what was left of the greenery of the enclave and began to listen to the files that had been stored. Two tablets held minimal information regarding recent scientific experiments.
The third was a personal journal. “Log of Luminary Bita Yass, Central Shifos Enclave of the Protectorate. Seventh Month, Day 12, 6080. 10:42am. A group of people approached the enclave today. The guards have indicated that they are human and have made efforts to communicate with them. The guards refused them entry onto the grounds and told them that a representative would meet with them. The group waited outside the dome overnight and I was told of their presence. I was unable to halt my discussions with the residents of Haybuti regarding their mining operations. I have contacted Luminary Nolwaz asking him to meet with this group. He has indicated that he is not available to meet with them right now.”
A second entry the same day, indicated the Luminary Yass had contacted the other luminaries around the world to see if someone else could make this contact. No one was available. “The other luminaries have given me authority to listen and to decide as to whether to allow this group of people permission to stay temporarily.”
“Personal log. Seventh Month, Day 14, 6080. 06:52am. I met with the group of people who have identified themselves as Gimorans outside the enclave. They are humans and walk upright as we do. They stand about eight feet tall, have iridescent blue skin and yellow eyes. Unsatisfied with the speed of the discussions, two of the Gimorans held up their hands. They manipulated some sort of energy that was focused on Swati Toya’s and Uttarah Shaheesh, my aides. They destroyed both androids. Apparently in the process, they managed to access the their language banks.”
“When they were finished, the two leaders could speak our primary language and stated that they required a new place to live. They claim to have the ability to live off the energy generated by our sun that is reflected into the atmosphere. They said that they are from the PFX-781galaxy. I offered them the opportunity to live here temporarily and indicated that we would review the situation when a year has passed. They were not satisfied with this and stated that they had come to live here permanently. When I indicated that the Protectors would make the final decision as to whether they would stay, two of them became irate and began to show the destruction they could cause. The energy that comes from their hands is a focused beam that destroys everything in moments. I transported into the enclave because I felt they would destroy me.
“Personal log, Seventh Month, Day 14, 19:14. “The Gimorans are trying to use the power that they emit from their hands to gain access into the enclave. They seem to be unable to break through the dome.”
“Personal log, Seventh Month, Day 15, 6080. 06:52am. The Gimorans are using some sort of explosives to attempt to gain access to the enclave. They have cracked the dome. I have announced a code one emergency and the staff is assembling here in the secure room below the enclave. I have been unable to contact any of the Protectors or the Protectorates. We are hoping that someone will notice that there have been no communications and will send help.”
“Seventh Month, Day 16, 14:27. We can feel vibrations through the walls and are guessing that the Gimorans are still trying to destroy the enclave dome.”
Dr. Gyasi played the final recording. “Day 17. 07:20 The Gimorans have located our hiding place. The safe room shows cracks along the western side. We expect that they will breach the building at any time. We are unarmed and unable to resist any attack.”
***
The members of the expedition were tired of living in tents and had looked forward to a temporary change of sleeping arrangements. Disappointed, they set their tents up inside the enclave. Jal contacted the Iragos Protectorate and asked for a security team to be stationed at the damaged opening of the dome. A team from the Protectorate of Nek arrived a short time later.
Expedition members continued to cook outdoors over an open fire and a hunting group went out. The hunters came back with several animals that they had never seen before. They reported that they had not seen any Nemori or the Risar, although there had been large tracks next to a slow-moving river.
Jal interest was piqued when Badas told it that it seemed that the soil along the river appeared to be clay. “Would you go with me tomorrow and stand guard while I dig some up?” Badas agreed that he would be willing to do that, as long as a second guard would volunteer.
On the third day at the Enclave, Dr. Gyasi found Luminary Dev watching Jal as it rapidly formed a bowl from clay. “That is an amazing talent, Jal! You make it look so easy! I’m sure you’ve had a lot of practice.” Dr. Gyasi changed the subject, “We need to release the four Nemori. We’ll give them their weapons back when they go.”
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“Yes,” the Luminary agreed, “We don’t need to make enemies. Just release them and let them go on their way.”
***
At Jal and Dr. Gyasi’s request, the members of the expedition were transported in groups to the North Enclave of Shifos. Sage Elvan rejoined the group saying that its recovery was complete. Everyone was glad to see that the sage was back, and eagerly told the stories of what had happened since it got sick.
Before starting on the final leg of their journey, the group replenished their supplies. This time each person brought a shield and extra weapons along, afraid they might meet up with the Risar and the Gimorans.
The group walked in a northwesterly direction, hoping to get to the villages and cities of the Stafriez. Several days passed before they found what seemed to be a rarely used trail. It led nearly directly north so they stayed on it. With each passing day, Jal became more and more uncomfortable, but wasn’t certain why. Its sleep was troubled with dreams, but when it awoke, it couldn’t remember them.
One day, frustrated by the tiredness that came from lack of sleep, Jal followed the others, trying to figure out what to do. “Maybe some chamomile tea will help,” it thought. “Or lavender.” Jal began to think about the herbs it had brought along and remembered the petals from Luk’s plant. “I wonder if I make a tea from those herbs, would I be able to see what’s ahead for the rest of the journey?” It thought about what it would need to do, in order to safely drink the tea and be monitored for any ill effects. “After all,” it reasoned, “A tea wouldn’t be nearly as strong as simply eating the petals.
That afternoon, after the group had stopped for the day, Jal approached Lallo and Kir. “I wonder…” Jal began. It searched for the right words.
“Tell us what you wonder, Jal.”
“I’m having trouble sleeping. I wonder if you would monitor my sleep if I took a nap this evening.”
“Monitor your sleep? Is there a special reason that you feel we need to watch over you?” Lallo was curious.
“I have some dried petals from a plant that I grew,” Jal lied, even though the petals came from Luk’s garden. “My grandmother gave them to me when I was a child. She told me that if I ate the leaves, I would be able to see the future.”
Kir hesitated. “I’ve heard of people doing this. It’s dangerous, You might stop breathing because it causes the dreamer to go into a very deep sleep. Whoever is watching over them might not be able to help them.”
“Have you done this before?” Lallo studied Jal’s face.
“I have. I saw the great herds of the plains that we encountered. I saw the Nemori and how they captured four of our people. I saw a biped that seemed to have streaks of yellow coming from its hands. I believe that soon we will come to a fast-running river and a set of mountains that didn’t appear on the scans we viewed. There will be a great waterfall and a fight.”
Lallo and Kir looked at one another. “Were you monitored during the dream last time?”
“My uncle is a doctor. I slept in his medical treatment facility. I slept for about two hours and had no residual effects.”
“You say you ate the fresh petals last time. This time they are dried. We could make them into a tea. How many petals would you say that you ate?”
Jal couldn’t remember and said so. “Would you let us think about it? Would you wait a day while we talk it over? In the meantime, think about what the plant looked like and how many petals you ate. That might help us decide.”
The following day Jal found Lallo as they hiked. “I remembered some things about the plant. It was white in the center and had blue and purple pistils. The petals were a deep purple and became bluish, and were nearly white at the tips. The leaves were simple, ovate, and had dentated edges. The veins on the leaves alternated. The leaves had a purple-bluish tint. I think I ate twenty-two of them.”
“I suppose we could monitor you, Jal. One of us will be with you at all times. If you hear our voices in your dreams, you must try to wake up. If you sleep for more than three hours, we will try to wake you. Come to my tent after you get yours set up and your things organized.” The next time the group stopped, Jal dug deep into its backpack and fished out the little bag with the petals in it.
Again, Jal found Lallo. “There are a lot more than twenty-two leaves in here. I’m sure they’re crumbled by now. They were about this long.”
Late that afternoon, the group stopped. Jal quickly set the tent up and laid out the gear that it needed for the night. “What’s the hurry, Jal?” Sage Elvan asked.
“I’m going to see Lallo for a while. I told her that I wasn’t sleeping well. We’re going to try an unusual herb. I hope to get a refreshing nap out of it. I’ll see you later, Sage Elvan.”
“You didn’t waste any time, did you, Jal? The water for tea is only lukewarm,” Lallo said. “Sit here and tell me about your interest in plants.”
Jal told her about Eaglestje and how it had learned the names of all the herbs and plants in her garden. They talked about some of the new plants that they had seen on Shifos, and the plant stems Lallo and Kir had collected. “We’re not trying any new plants while we’re on the trail. When we get home, we’ll each grow the ones we have. Then we’ll study them, make notes, and trade.”
“I would love to do that,” Jal said wistfully. “My pack is so full of extra equipment. They would get squashed.”
“We could pick extras for you, Jal,” Kir offered.
“Would you really do that?”
“I would. Why are you so interested in them?”
“I’m an apprentice to a botanist.”
“I thought you were Sage Elvan’s apprentice,” Lallo said.
“I am.”
“I thought you were a potter,” Kir said. “I’m very confused.”
“I’m all three,” Jal chuckled. It explained how it had come to study all three crafts. “I hope to be a healer or a doctor, when I’ve completed my university studies.”
“A doctor? Wow! And here you are out in the middle of nowhere,” Kir laughed. “If we need a doctor we can call you?”
“I only know how to handle emergencies. After that transportation to the nearest medical facility gets the best results.” Jal drank the tea that Lallo handed it and they sat for a while looking at the plants that the two wizards had collected.
“It doesn’t seem to be taking effect, Jal,” Lallo observed.
“That’s okay. I’ll just go work on the experiments that I’ve been conducting.” Jal went to its tent to get the bowls it had created. Jal had taken several fresh fruits from the supplies that the group had filled their packs from and it carried those out with the bowls. At the fire, Jal dug four holes near the fire, put an equal amount of fruit in each bowl and added a bit of water. It then set four bowls in the holes. It took four bowls and placed fruit in them, added a bit of water, and sat them at the edge of the fire but not close enough to get hot.
During its preparations, Sage Elvan came to see what Jal was doing. Jal explained the experiment. It was testing to see if the bowls would replicate the food, even though they had not been heated. As Jal waited, it began to get sleepy, but was able to fight off the sleep by keeping busy.
After some time, Jal asked for volunteers to try the hot fruit. They were snatched up by Pira, Morti, Ladi, and Golsho. When Jal offered the bowls that were not heated, Sidi, Chetan, Andi, and Sage Elvan each took one. Jal sat waiting with his tablet. Golsho was the first one back, complaining that he wanted more.
“I’m sorry. If you come back in a little while, there may be more.”
The other volunteers ate the meat that had been cooked, then ate the fruit. They were each so full of fruit when they brought the bowls back that they complained of overeating. “It was really good hot, Jal.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
Seven of the eight bowls had food left when everyone was finished. Golsho heard there was more fruit available, and other people asked if they could try some. Jal wrote down how many pieces each one ate. It and Sage Elvan were astounded at the results of the experiment.
Jal was falling asleep as it collected the bowls. “Are you going to empty those, Jal?” Sage Elvan asked.
“No. I’m going to line them up at the far edge of the tent where we can’t knock them over. We’ll see if they’re still hot in the morning.” Jal looked at Sage Elvan, “I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. If I don’t go to bed now, I’m afraid you’re going to have to carry me there.” Jal went off to the tent. There, it slid the bowls into clean cloth bags and tucked them into a safe spot. Jal got its boots off and was partly in the sleeping bag when it fell asleep.