Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
“GELSTONE”
EPISODE 4 – ENSLAVED
BY: LYSSA THORNE
FADE IN:
INT. UNKNOWN WAREHOUSE -DAY
Jim and Marc were cuffed and led through the corridors. Marc noted every direction and turn they made. They came into a vast room full of draped red silk with gold framed paintings on the wall.
In the center of the room was a huge red chair that was completely formed of Gelstone.
The man who sat in that chair was slightly overweight, blond, with clever, shifty, blue eyes. He was dressed from head to toe in extremely rare Doanan silk.
RASMULER
Welcome, gentlemen.
MARC
Dorian Rasmuler!
RASMULER
Well, if it isn't Jonathan Daniels's half-breed! Do you like my chair?
He caressed an arm.
MARC
You leech!
JIM
It looks a bit uncomfortable.
RASMULER
It's molded entirely of Centaurian Gelstones! I'll have you know, it takes months to find this volume! I will enjoy using Ambassador Daniels's little bastard to help me close up my operation!
He laughed and stepped down to circle Marc.
JIM
We won't help you.
RASMULER
You will because you have no choice.
Rasmuler slid his hand along Marc's back.
Marc tried to pull away from the disgusting vulture and shuddered at his touch.
RASMULER
You know, Brocanas always said they were made to have a hard life. I make sure they do!
Rasmuler pulled a knife out of his belt and slashed Marc's spacesuit until it hung around his waist.
Marc hissed from his burning shoulders as blood dripped down his shoulders.
RASMULER
Your build is as good as any full-blooded -
(spat on the floor.)
Brocana. Daniels's aboriginal brood-mare did a fine job!
Marc jerked away from the man.
MARC
My mother's not an aboriginal brood-mare!
Braktor gave Marc a colossal punch in the stomach.
Marc woofed and gasped. He forced himself not to gag.
Jim began to come to Marc’s aide when he was restrained by another Ganuvian.
JIM
Why are you doing this? Why are you taking from your own planet?
RASMULER
Money!
MARC
You're dirt, Rasmuler!
Braktor moved in to strike Marc again until he was waved away by Rasmuler.
RASMULER
Don't hurt him further, I need him to work. Take them back to their quarters.
The Ganuvians pulled them out of the room and took them back to their cell.
As they walked, Marc was starring at the floor, but didn't resist in any way. They arrived at their cell and the cuffs were taken off. They were pushed in and the door closed.
Jim went to a mat and sat down.
Marc paced and tried uselessly to put his uniform back together.
MARC
Rasmuler!
JIM
What about him?
MARC
He was a councilman on Centauria! They finally eliminated him from the council because they found he'd been imprisoning Brocana and forcing them into slave labor at his estate.
JIM
What a nice guy.
MARC
We thought he left Centauria after he was exiled!
JIM
Well, he sneaked right back in.
MARC
Right into the wilds of the Keldor Mountains!
JIM
What’s that tattoo on your right arm for?
Jim pointed to Marc’s shoulder where there was a design that looked somewhat like a sheep forming the letters K and h.
Marc sighed explosively as he rubbed that shoulder.
MARC
It’s a Harak- the Brocana symbol of the first born male given at birth.
JIM
How do they do that?
MARC
You wouldn’t like it if I told you.
JIM
The tattooing process must have been painful.
MARC
I wish it was a tattoo! It’s a brand.
JIM
A brand?! They brand babies?!
MARC
I told you that you wouldn’t like it. Remember what I said earlier about Brocana teaching their children how to endure pain?
JIM
Yeah.
MARC
The branding is one of those processes to assure the first born male will be strong enough to survive to take over the family.
JIM
You’re father allowed it?
MARC
My uncle had it done to me on my first visit to the Brocana without my Father or Mother’s consent because it was the proper thing to do.
JIM
They're sure different. Did that ever cause problems in your family?
MARC
My Mother no longer has much contact with her family. She pretty much lives human now.
JIM
We have to escape.
MARC
How, Jim?
JIM
I don't know. I'll think of something. Do you figure Rasmuler intends to take us to Centauria?
MARC
I'm pretty sure you can count on it.
JIM
But won't that mean I could need to be acclimatized before I'm exposed to the atmosphere?
MARC
They can keep you inside where there's a controlled environment. The human population prefer to keep their buildings air-conditioned and treated with infrared blockers. Only the gravity isn't changed.
JIM
I've never felt heavier gravity except for the training I had at the academy and that was over five years ago.
MARC
Do you think Rasmuler cares?
Marc rubbed his sore stomach and shoulders.
JIM
I guess he doesn't. So, then how do you say hello in Brocana?
MARC
(LAUGH)
Kadiba.
JIM
Kah-dee-ba.
MARC
Close enough.
JIM
Now, you sit down before you make me choke.
Marc flopped onto his mat.
MARC
Doesn't get easier even after long exposure.
JIM
No. Did you have to start a dust storm?
Jim waved his hand to disperse the new dust cloud.
MARC
Why don't you get your uniform sliced off of your chest and see how you react to it!
Jim hit the mat with his fist.
JIM
Damn, this is crazy!
MARC
Do you think Cdr. Patterson's looking for us?
JIM
You can count on it, Marc.
MARC
Well, if it's any help, I deliberately dropped my magnakey outside of the warehouse.
JIM
Marc, that's great! They'll know we're alive! It sure will help!
MARC
It’s also engraved with a personal message from my father. I hope they can figure out the initials. Cpt. Wanhochi gave me special permission to use it because it was a gift from my father.
JIM
Even the presence of the magnakey maybe enough of a clue!
LATER
Realizing he was staring at the frosted window in their cell, Marc finally looked away.
The lock on the door clicked and it was swung open with a rush of light and fresh air.
Jim shaded his eyes from the painful light after what seemed like days of near darkness.
Marc didn't shade his. He was relieved he could see again.
ALLAJA
Look! Boss was right! Them natives do have extra eyelids like frogs!
Jim gasped with his eyes wide.
Marc flushed with anger.
MARC
If you had to live on a world that had a lot of glare from sunlight, you might develop eye protection, too!
Jim looked away to try to hide his embarrassment although it was unsuccessful.
MEL
Never mind about his eyes! Get up. It's time to go.
They stood up, were cuffed and pulled out of the room.
ALLAJA
Shit, look at this! He looks like a walking dead, too!
Marc watched the shock wash over Jim’s face and he imagined that the days they'd spent in the near darkness that Marc's skin tone had changed from light blue to a pasty blue similar to that of a dead Human.
Jim looked away with a look of shame on his face.
Marc sighed and walked down the hall.
Braktor rushed Marc, whirled him around and slammed his fist deep into his abdomen.
Marc hit the wall, then slid down the wall, gasping from the pain. Braktor jerked Marc to his feet.
BRAKTOR
Don't pull that again!
Jim was pulled from the floor too and they were escorted in a tight formation back to the same freighter they'd arrived on and were told to board.
Dorian Rasmuler was inside waiting for them.
RASMULER
Good morning, Officers.
JIM
Is it morning?
RASMULER
Sit down and we'll be on our way.
MARC
To where?
RASMULER
Tie the half-breed and gag his mouth.
Braktor grinned as he jerked Marc around, unlocked the cuffs, then tied Marc’s wrists so tight the Kleldon rope pinched his skin. He gasped as his injured hand throbbed.
Braktor took the opportunity to shove a rag nearly to the back of his throat.
Marc gagged and shuddered.
Braktor threw Marc into a chair.
Marc bowed his head.
JIM
Tie and gag me, too, Rasmuler!
RASMULER
There's no use to submit you to such indignities.
JIM
Why? Because I'm pure human?
RASMULER
Precisely!
Jim headbutted the other Ganuvian guard.
The warrior grabbed Meyers' arm easily and twisted it until Jim was gasping on the floor.
GANUVIAN
I'll break your arm!
RASMULER
Let him go.
GANUVIAN
Let me break his arm!
RASMULER
I take it you'd like to see a whip, then?
GANUVIAN
No, no!
He let go of Jim's arm.
RASMULER
Tie him. Why you'd want to be tied is beyond me.
JIM
Because I'm not better than my partner.
RASMULER
The half-breed bastard?!
JIM
An intelligent humanoid!
RASMULER
Gag him.
Jim smiled before the rag was pulled hard into his mouth.
After a short hop, the freighter began to descend toward a planet. When they landed inside another warehouse, the two policemen were herded out of the freighter.
RASMULER
Take Officer Meyers to a room. Throw the Brocanan in with the rest of them.
Marc was pulled away and was taken outside to another building with barred windows situated yards away from a mine shaft.
The man unlocked the door, took Marc's gag and shoved him inside, locking the door after him.
Marc stayed at the door until his eyes adjusted to the dim light. In minutes, he was able to see well enough to know he was in one big unfurnished room crowded with Brocana.
MARC
Kadiba.
Everyone looked away.
MARC
Would someone untie my arms?
Again, no one responded, so he found a space against the wall and slid down.
The people on either side crowded their peers to move away from him.
Finally, one man came to him, pulled him from the floor and untied him. Before Marc could thank him, he was pulled around to his right side. The man poked at the brand Marc had on his forearm.
BROCANA #1
Harak, Kelhidi. You are first born male.
MARC
Of Candora.
JABAYU
Candora!
BROCANA #1
A claim?
A man rose.
JABAYU
Jabayu. He is of my sister's flesh.
BROCANA #1
Here. You take jhumani-get.
He shoved Marc at the man shrouded in shadow.
The others pulled away from Jabayu and Marc moved toward him.
JABAYU
Sit.
MARC
How did you get here, Uncle Jabayu?
JABAYU
Do not speak that jhumani term!
MARC
You accepted before.
JABAYU
Before was never here!
MARC
How you get here?
JABAYU
I was guard in the meadow with the flock of klevie when jhumani use their god-imitating light beam to make me sleep. Next I open my eyes I am here. They take me where the suns do not shine and make me dig for the red soft stuff that make rock in hands.
MARC
How long you been here?
JABAYU
Many dark times.
Marc fell asleep squatting against the wall.
INT. ISP PRECINCT – JAYMA STATION
Cdr. Leighson sat at his desk intently watching the video link of his superior officer as he gave him the report he had received from Cpt. Wanhochi at ISPSOL.
CORMAN
Wanhochi told me the patrol at ISPSOL arrested Karl Kelson and they found a large illegal cargo of Gelstones. Unfortunately, the arresting officer was Ambassador Jon Daniels’ kid Marcayo and the smugglers took it real personal. Now Lt. Daniels and his partner are missing. Patterson found a magnakey outside a warehouse that had an engraving on it with his and the Ambassador’s initials on it so they suspect the smugglers have them.
LEIGHSON
Oh great, now we have a high-ranking diplomat hovering over this case?
CORMAN
Jon Daniels doesn’t interfere with his son’s life, Steve. He’ll be worried, but I don’t think you’ll be hassled by him.
LEIGHSON
That’s a relief.
CORMAN
I'll send you the written report to your computer.
LEIGHSON
Yes, sir.
Leighson turned the vid-phone off. He turned on the PA system.
LEIGHSON
TO Carson, come to the commander’s office.
Carson rushed into his office.
CARSON
What's up, Steve?
LEIGHSON
A breakthrough on the gelstone case! Sol arrested Karl Kelson for carrying an illegal cargo of gelstones.
CARSON
Great!
LEIGHSON
There's bad news, too. It’s news that Ambassador Daniels isn't going to like.
CARSON
What's that?
LEIGHSON
His son, the one who just graduated from the Venus Academy, and his partner are missing. Patterson in Sol thinks they've been caught by the same operation's smugglers.
CARSON
Just graduated?
LEIGHSON
That's right. He was valedictorian of this last cycle at Venus.
CARSON
Great way to start a career! And that means we'll be having a politician breathing down our backs and getting in our way, slowing things down.
LEIGHSON
Maybe not, Diana. Daniels is good about not interfering with his son's aspirations.
CARSON
But this is different.
The vid-phone rang. Leighson answered it.
On the screen was a middle-aged man with graying honey blond hair and bright intelligent green eyes. The normally handsome face was drawn with worry.
JON
Cdr. Leighson, it's nice to see you.
LEIGHSON
Ambassador Daniels.
JON
I've been told by Cpt. Wanhochi of the Earth space station in Sol that my son may be a captive of the smugglers we've been bothered by lately?
LEIGHSON
We regret that we're not sure, Ambassador. However, when we discover more information on the whereabouts of your son, we'll inform you immediately.
JON
I'll have to accept that. Please, be as fast as you can in this matter, Commander. If you need to reach me, call my secretary, she'll know where I'll be.
LEIGHSON
Yes, sir, I will. I do regret hearing that your son's missing and so soon in his career with the ISP.
JON
Well, we can't control our children or always keep them safe when they're at the age of consent, Commander, but we can always worry a lot. Here I am fretting to you when you need to return to your work. Good day, Cdr. Leighson.
LEIGHSON
Good day to you, too, Ambassador Daniels.
The screen went dark.
CARSON
So, I reassess my opinion of Ambassador Daniels.
LEIGHSON
He's very worried.
CARSON
At least he controls himself. That'll help in any rate.
LEIGHSON
Well, talking about it won't do any good. Let's start on this mess by reviewing Patterson's report on the occurrences in Sol.
He waved to her to look at the computer screen with him as he called up the report on his desk computer terminal.
END ACT 1
ACT 2.
INT. SMUGGLING OPERATION – ALPHA CENTAURI 7
On Alpha Centauri 7, in the nearby mountain wilds, Jim worked inside a warehouse where Telleran’s freighter was stored. He was working the lift inside the freighter to stack the packaged gelstones into the cargo hold to fly them away from Centauria.
Even as he worked, it seemed that more and more gelstones were being hauled in to be crated and raised into the shuttle.
His arm was aching him terribly, since the only ministrations they'd done for the burn was to spray an antibiotic on it.
A man approached and threw him a bag.
SMUGGLER #1
Lunch. You can get down, but be ready to get going again when you see more coming in.
JIM
Okay.
Jim jumped down and sat down on a small crate. Before he could finish what they'd given him, he saw more crates being brought in. He cursed and returned to the crane.
INT. BROCANA PENS – ALPHA CENTAURI 7
Marc nearly jumped out of his skin when he was awakened by a kick in the knee. It buckled and he fell to the floor. He shook his head and looked up.
Above him was another Ganuvian.
GANUVIAN #2
On your feet, trash.
Marc stood up and massaged his knee. He almost fell again when he was shoved toward the door. He rejoined Jabayu and followed him deep into the mine.
When the Brocana reached the work area, Marc was shoved toward a place where no one was digging and was thrown hand tools to dig with. He got down on his knees and began to pick at the rock.
The wall cracked and a large rock rolled down from the wall and slammed into his sore knee. He pushed the rock to the side and saw red ooze roll from the hole.
MARC
Hey, guard, how do I get the gel out? You have a scoop or something?
GUARD #1
Sure!
Guard #1 grabbed Marc's hand.
GUARD #1 (CONT.)
Here’s your scoop, worm.
The other Ganuvian guards snickered.
MARC
But the gel's hot!
GUARD #1
You better get it out before it hardens or you’ll have to pick it out and if you cause a flaw, I’ll flog you!
The Ganuvian bounced his long whip against the palm of his hand.
Marc turned back and braced himself as he scraped the gel off the rock with his fingers. He hissed as pain spread up his arms. He dropped the hardening red gel into a metal bowl, then turned back to scoop out more. Once the gel was out, Marc blew on his fingers to cool them again before he took up his pick and attacked the rock again. Marc picked at the wall again.
The Ganuvians told them to get up and stop for lunch.
Marc stood up and swayed on his numb legs.
Jabayu grabbed him by the shoulders to steady him.
JABAYU
Marcayo, control your body or the guards will hit you.
Marc forced himself steady as the line walked through the dimly lit tunnels.
Shortly they came to a dirty table with a large pot on it.
Marc was shoved a bowl before he stepped up to the pot. He gasped when he saw the dirty woman with stringy dark hair, dull eyes and skin color that showed she'd not seen sunlight for weeks.
MARC
Etana?
ETANA
Be quiet! You get us both hit.
She plopped some mushy stuff into his bowl.
Marc turned away from the pot and lowered himself to the ground beside Jabayu.
MARC
Etana here too?
JABAYU
Be quiet, no talk.
Jabayu scooped the gray gruel into his hand and shoved it into his mouth.
Marc snarled down at the gruel after his first taste like cold oatmeal.
JABAYU
Eat.
Marc scooped the gruel into his mouth and controlled his desire to gag.
GUARD #1
Drop your bowls into the tub and get back to work!
Marc placed his bowl and was guided back to the work area. He climbed into his deepened hole to work again. After a while, he pulled himself out of his tunnel and gasped fresh air.
GUARD #1
Get to work.
MARC
I need to rest.
GUARD #1
Okay, do it by hauling these stones into the conveyor.
The man pointed the handle of his whip at the rock pile and the conveyor that rolled upwards toward the surface.
Marc moved over to the pile and picked one up. He managed to shift five boulders onto the conveyor before his strength failed him and he fell to the ground.
The guard pulled his whip from his belt and stood over Marc.
GUARD #1
Get up, you lousy mule.
The guard whipped Marc across the back.
Marc winced from the pain, but pulled up to his hands and knees. He managed to get one foot under him and heave himself up to a swaying stand where he fell against the guard.
The guard shoved Marc off him and propelled him into the conveyer belt.
He fell sideways to the ground again, holding his aching back.
MARC
I think I'll go back to digging.
Marc crawled toward his hole.
The guards guffawed as he went.
Once he was back in, he collapsed panting hard. He started to cough when the rock dust hit his lungs again, searing them. He yelped when he felt strong hands grip his ankles and pull him back out.
GUARD #1
Well, so, you thought you could rest in your hole, worm? We don't have time for lazies like you!
MARC
If you'd just let me rest for a while. I'll be able to do more work for you.
GUARD #1
Hear that? The worm wants to rest!
The other guards laughed.
GUARD #1
Do you see any of the other worms resting?
MARC
No.
GUARD #1
So, get working!
Guard #1 whipped Marc across the back again.
Marc rolled over in time to see the whip falling again. He grabbed the whip.
It stung as it curled around his hand.
He yanked the whip.
It flew out of the startled guard's hand.
MARC
Don't hit me again!
Marc flipped the whip and grabbed the handle. He unwound the tip from around his hand and swung it above his body.
Ganuvians stumbled away from the humming leather.
Before they could recover, Marc rolled over and jumped to his feet.
The other Brocana surged at the Ganuvians and attacked them.
JABAYU
That was very brave, Marcayo! Now we fight to see the suns again!
Marc grabbed his uncle's arm before he joined the fray.
MARC
Not us, Jabayu. You lead me to the suns. I need to find my - partner. We escape.
Jabayu shoved him away.
JABAYU
You want to leave our brothers and sisters to fight while we run like cowards?
MARC
No, we run to get help! They have sun weapons that fall our people down too fast! We need tell the jhumani about caves so they come and stop cruel men!
JABAYU
I understand. We go.
Several times they had to hide when guards rushed past to quell the Brocana uprising.
They came to the cave entrance but they had to hide behind some bushes to avoid more guards who rushed into the darkness. He waited for the field to clear.
He took Jabayu's arm, ran across the field and hid behind a boulder a few yards from the door of the warehouse.
Jabayu glanced worriedly at him as he made sure no one used the door for several minutes and then he rushed to the door with Jabayu following.
Marc found the nearest door recess and pressed himself into it.
Jabayu came up beside Marc who pointed to another recess.
MARC
Go over there.
Jabayu stood up to go.
Marc grabbed his arm. He checked the hallway.
MARC
Not now! Always see if anyone comes before you move.
Jabayu looked puzzled.
MARC
Do like you move in for kill in a hunt! If a man comes, you not be seen.
JABAYU
Ah.
Jabayu looked down the hall before he slipped over to the other recess.
Marc waited a few moments more, then he rushed down to a bend in the hallway and glanced around the corner. He motioned for Jabayu to move beside him. He looked once more, but this time there was someone coming toward them. Marc grabbed his uncle and pulled him to the nearest door and ducked inside the room.
It was dark and hardly big enough for the two men among the clutter.
Minutes later, Marc peeked out. It was clear so he motioned to Jabayu for them to return to the bend. This time it was clear.
They had to repeat this several times as they searched the building.
Marc was beginning to doubt Jim was here when he heard footsteps. He looked around for cover, but groaned when the nearest was across the hall. He pointed to it and began across just as two people turned.
Suddenly, the man ahead whirled on the man behind him and punched him out cold.
MARC
Jim?
JIM
Marc!
MARC
Let's get out of here!
Marc reversed to run back where they'd come.
JABAYU
What?
MARC
Come, Jabayu.
Jabayu followed.
JIM
Marc, I'm sorry for the way I reacted just before we were led to that freighter to come here.
MARC
It was understandable, you had no idea Brocana skin was extremely photoreceptive.
They rushed through the halls.
JABAYU
Is he your partner?
MARC
Yes.
JIM
Who is he?
MARC
He's my mother's brother.
JIM
Your Uncle? Here?
MARC
Yes. He's been here for some time, so he says.
JIM
Wow! Any more relatives here?
MARC
Several.
JIM
Does your uncle know any standard?
MARC
Some, at least he basically understands what we say and be understood well enough.
JIM
Okay.
Jim threw the door beside the exit open and pulled on a climate suit.
They ran out of the building.
JIM
I wish they hadn't taken my helmet. I could have detached the air tank and used it as a filter system. Okay, where do we go now?
They pressed into the shadows.
JABAYU
Tgu bagh. Folgikra im Jhumani bluja.
MARC
Jree?
Jim stood with them with a puzzled look on his face.
JABAYU
Anri ra waji. Moorikuni jahawaru tee pajuri.
JIM
What is he saying?
MARC
He says he knows a place with lots of draws and chasms that makes it hard for fliers to see the trail.
Jim patted Marc on the back.
JIM
Good.
Marc gasped.
JIM
Oh god, your back is whipped! We can't take you anywhere in that condition! How are you still walking?
MARC
We have to go! Let's go before they realize you're missing.
Marc slapped Jabayu's shoulder pointing for him to lead the way.
Jim grabbed his arm.
JIM
Marc, you can't go like that!
MARC
Yeah, right, and let those putakas have the satisfaction of giving me a humiliating death because I started a riot in the mines?
Jim starred at Jabayu for a moment weighing his thoughts, then, reluctantly swung Marc's arm around his neck.
JIM
Lead on.
Marc desperately hugged the rock as a flier swept close to the crag. Jim stood above him.
Jabayu hadn't lied when he said he knew about a trail through chasms fliers would have trouble flying through. You could hardly fit a man's body through these crags!
JIM
Okay, it's gone.
JABAYU
Good. Now, come down slowly, Marcayo.
Marc's breath was ragged as Jabayu grabbed his waist and lowered him carefully to the ground. He leaned heavily on Jabayu while Jim climbed down in little time and studied the trail ahead.
JIM
You can barely fit through some of these narrow crags!
JABAYU
What he say?
MARC
Kataga tju binjaburu jahawaru.
JABAYU
Yes, is why I help Marcayo ahead and you help Marcayo behind. Kelhidi is beyond chasm.
JIM
What if they've moved on? I've learned recently that your people are very nomadic.
JABAYU
I get talk from new prisoners on clan positions. Abaki come two dark-times ago.
MARC
Abaki? I didn't see him!
JABAYU
He taken to other mining camp. He say Kelhidi is there.
JIM
No good. They're adding more of your people to get more quicker before they leave. This has got to stop!
MARC
That's why I wanted to go, Jim!
JABAYU
We go!
JIM
Let's go.
INT. JAYMA STATION ISP PRECINCT
TO Diana Carson lead Cdr. Leighson to his office.
CARSON
We dug deeper into the files on Kelson and Telleran. Do you remember that name Dennis Colbridge we dug up a few weeks ago?
LEIGHSON
Yes, he's a freighter who works for Blackenridge Mining Company.
CARSON
Who else do you know of who has the name Colbridge?
LEIGHSON
Telleran! Colbridge Telleran!
CARSON
Furthermore, I did some digging on Blackenridge Mining Company and it was involved in a hostile takeover by a company, now get this, called Rasmuler Jewelers of Aquila!
LEIGHSON
Rasmuler? Dorian Rasmuler?
CARSON
Exactly!
LEIGHSON
Damn! How many mines are under Blackenridge Mining?
CARSON
Three or four. Bakuchi Mountain, Cobihok Ridge, Ticohow Hills and, I think, Puldrich Commons.
Leighson slammed his fist down on the vid-phone control and opened a line up to Cpt. Corman's office.
Corman came on the screen.
CORMAN
Cpt. Corman.
LEIGHSON
Sir, we think we've found where the smugglers are hiding out!
CORMAN
Where?
LEIGHSON
Right under our noses in the damn Keldor Mountains operating under a legit mining company called the Blackenridge Mining Company! And, get this, it was involved in the hostile takeover by another company called Rasmuler Jewelers of Aquila!
CORMAN
Rasmuler? I'm calling the terrestrial police right now. Stand by a few patrol units in case they need help. Great work, Leighson! Corman, out.
CARSON
Of all the rotten luck!
Leighson's vid-phone chimed and he lunged to answer it.
CORMAN
Steve, Cpt. Delosi, planet-side, has just told me they have a reported disturbance at Cobihok Ridge. They've deployed a commando force there.
LEIGHSON
Good, we're going to nail those guys to the wall!
CORMAN
I sure hope so! You'll be contacted directly if they need us to get involved.
LEIGHSON
It'd give me personal satisfaction to be in on the bust!
CORMAN
Don't forget about our two missing men from Sol. I've warned Delosi to keep a look out for them!
LEIGHSON
I haven't been able to forget about them since I heard. Ambassador Daniels even called me personally asking we expedite his son's return.
CORMAN
Then cross your fingers, Steve, and hope they're still alive.
LEIGHSON
Already done, sir. Leighson, out.
He cut the line.
CARSON
Cobihok Ridge.
LEIGHSON
Your report wasn't a moment too soon, Diana. You may have saved two policemen.
CARSON
I sure as hell hope so! I'll go prepare two units to stand by for immediate departure on the grounder's word.
LEIGHSON
Good, I'll finish up here and get with you ASAP.
Leighson focused himself onto a task.
Carson left quickly and quietly.
EXT. COBIHOK RIDGE - DAY
Several times along the narrow trail, they froze as fliers buzzed above them.
Marc didn't move from the narrow passage where his back and chest touched stone.
JABAYU
You go, Marcayo.
MARC
No.
JIM
We must go. We have a duty to carry out. We must report this operation to ISPAC.
Marc swallowed hard, but slipped through with a muffled cry when a sharp stone raked his chest. He tumbled down on top of Jabayu.
Jabayu helped Marc to stand up again.
As Jim climbed down, Marc bent over trying to catch his breath.
MARC
So much for what little hair I had on my chest!
Jim
Hang on, partner. It's not easy for me, either. I'm having trouble with my left arm responding too.
Jabayu
We near end.
After a few more tight curves,they came to the entrance of a valley. Jabayu stopped Marc and Jim just before the cliff face of the chasm.
JABAYU
We are watched.
Suddenly, bodies swathed in white were jumping from above blocking their exit.
JABAYU
Zakoti!. Ingano sa chu chi yaga?
ZAKOTI
Zinu binabu kokodokai. We hunt metal birds.
JIM
With what? With lasers?
Marc threw an amused look at his partner.
ZAKOTI
No, rocks! Jhumani aren't smart to cover holes in metal birds. Easy, uh, hook-shot?
He mimicked a basketball player throwing a ball.
Jim shook his head amazed.
JABAYU
Zakoti, I hear you look at the Jhumani moving pictures again, I make you pray to the gods of light, they fall dark-time twice for forgiveness!
Marc tried to contain his laughter.
ZAKOTI
No time for that, Jabayu! Sh'kukte, metal birds fly at us!
Zakoti pulled out a wood and gut slingshot, grabbed a rock from the bag he wore around his chest and let it fly.
JIM
You're telling me they're going to fight hover bikes with slingshots?!
MARC
Kahito, you got other slingshot?
Marc's clansman reached into his pouch and threw another slingshot at Marc.
Marc reached down and picked up a rock the size of the golf ball, pulled back, targeted and then let go. His stone arched into the sky and hit a man on the hover bike in the head.
The rider toppled off and hit the ground hard. The bike also hit the ground and exploded.
MARC
Yakeekee!
Marc saw Zakoti let another fly and it went into the exhaust intake of the bike.
The bike lurched and then spiraled with smoke pouring from the engine. A hundred meters away, the bike hit rock.
MARC
Does that answer your question, Jim?
JIM
I can't believe this!
Marc threw several more stones and took down more people before the bikes stopped coming.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
EXT. CHASM (CONTINUOUS) - DAY
ZAKOTI
Brother, you look sick.
MARC
Good to see you, Zak, but I finally pissed somebody off too much.
JABAYU
Jhumani did to him when he too tired to work!
Jabayu turned Marc around to show the scourging on his back.
ZAKOTI
Putakas! We must get you back to the clan and you, friend of my brother, are you hurt?
JIM
A little, but I can live with it until I get back home.
ZAKOTI
We can look at it if you wish?
JIM
No, I can't leave this suit.
MARC
He's never been to Bamasha. The suns and the air aren't right for him.
ZAKOTI
It's okay.
He let out the shrill whistle to summon their mounts.
Jim winced and covered his ears.
Marc snickered at Jim’s reaction.
JIM
So you like that earsplitting noise?
MARC
It's sinvati call. No more walking.
Up trotted animals as tall as a man, with backs as broad as two horses side-by-side trot up to them and each person of the group claimed an animal.
The animal's eyes stood out like two emeralds on the gaunt ostrich-like head complete with the long skinny neck. It's legs were long and spindly.
Jabayu helped Marc up onto Zakoti's sinvati and he settled just behind his cousin.
The other Brocana vaulted to their mounts backs and Jabayu swung up behind one of them. Another rode over to Jim and offered to pull him aboard.
Jim took the man's hand and climbed up the animal's side and sat behind him.
ZAKOTI
The sinvatis will get us to the clan quickly so Marcayo can be helped.
Marc wrapped his arms around Zakoti and laid against his cousin's back for support.
MARC
Mind if I sleep on your back, Zak? I'm worn out.
ZAKOTI
Please do, Marcayo.
Then, they were rapidly moving down the hill.
Marc gratefully slipped into sleep.
EXT. CLAN KELHIDI CAMP -KOBIHOK RIDGE
Marc woke again when he felt Zakoti pull the reigns back to stop the sinvati. He sat up and sighed when he saw the tents of his clan's camp that was hidden in a small valley.
JABAYU
Lashanti!
ZAKOTI
Begnatsu Jabayu! I tell them that Jabayu has returned.
A young woman with close-cropped black hair ran out of a tent over to Zakoti and helped lower Marc to the ground.
LASHANTI
Marcayo!
MARC
Shanti, when did you cut your hair?
BRINIKA
Jabayu!
JABAYU
Brinika!
BRINIKA
I thought I lost you to the suns!
JABAYU
No, I was caught and forced into slave-work by Jhumani.
BRINIKA
Marcayo? What happened to him? I thought he on other world!
JABAYU
Jhumani was not even kind to half-Brocana. They treat him like rest of us. He only came one dark-time ago. The other in strange clothes is Marcayo's jhumani hunt-brother he call partner.
Zakoti and the others led the animals away, Marc and Jim followed Lashanti into a tent.
Marc laid on a mattress stuffed with a type of straw on the ground.
Jabayu entered seconds later with Zakoti close behind.
ZAKOTI
Jabayu says you can stay with Marcayo if you wish.
BROCANA BOY
Why you wear shiny skin-stuff, jhumani?
JABAYU
Suko chi wa!
The boy quickly fled.
JIM
I would've been glad to explain that I haven't gone through the process of adjusting to your heavy gravity and stronger twin suns.
JABAYU
He no understand.
Marc sat up on the mat when Lashanti brought a bowl of salve.
Lashanti sat down beside him and spread it on his back.
MARC
Oh, that feels wonderful!
ZAKOTI
Why did they do that?
MARC
I was tired and had already taken several days of constant abuse before they sent me to that mine. When I collapsed, they didn't take it too kindly and the guard tried to take his anger out on me with his whip.
JABAYU
You seen Marcayo! He grab whip and pulled from guard's hand!
ZAKOTI
That's showing a bully what Brocana do! You haven't looked this bad since the time we were caught playing basketball with a ball you brought into camp one visit years ago.
Jabayu shot a furious glare at Zakoti.
ZAKOTI
Of course, our punishment wasn't that severe.
Marc managed a chuckle despite his pain.
JIM
You brought a basketball up here? What did you use as a hoop?
MARC
Brinika's spare water basket. She was furious.
JABAYU
Jhumani games bad! Teach jhumani ways!
LASHANTI
Marcayo and Zakoti were always naughty boys.
MARC
Naughty? I recall you getting into some trouble with Zak and me, too.
LASHANTI
I was a girl then.
JABAYU
She is woman, Marcayo.
MARC
And a beautiful one, too!
JABAYU
Then you take her now!
MARC
What?!
ZAKOTI
Jabayu, Marcayo is only half-Brocana. He doesn't understand.
JABAYU
Be quiet!
Zakoti stepped back and fell silent.
JABAYU (CONT.)
She your woman! All men have woman to them when born!
MARC
My mother did not have a man!
JABAYU
She did. Died in hunt. I let her stay as family in tent! She deny me! Run off with jhumani man- your father!
MARC
But!
LASHANTI
You don't want me!
Lashanti drew her dagger to thrust it through her chest.
Marc jumped at her and wrenched the blade away from her.
LASHANTI
I thought you liked me, Marcayo! You just said I was beautiful!
MARC
I have always liked you, Lashanti! You are beautiful! You were my friend here, but now I know why! You didn't choose to be with me because you liked to play with me! You had to because you belonged to me!
LASHANTI
Let me die!
MARC
No!
LASHANTI
Then take me! I have no life if you don't! You know I will be cast out from living in any tent, eat like the dogs, if you do not claim me!
JIM
Thrown out of a tent to eat like dogs?
MARC
I can't. Not now.
JIM
Marc, you can't-
MARC
Meyers, stay out of this.
Jim closed his mouth tightly and glared.
Lashanti took the opportunity their exchange gave her to lunge for the knife again.
Marc pulled back, slipped around her and plunged the knife into the rock floor.
She tried to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge.
Jim stared astonished at the blade, then at Marc.
Marc held her face in his hands.
MARC
Now, listen to me, Shanti. I must finish what I've started. I'll leave you here for a short time, but I'll be back. Don't kill yourself. It'll hurt me.
LASHANTI
Promise?
MARC
Promise.
LASHANTI
Yaakeekee!
ZAKOTI
Soft rock. A man can break through it, but a woman can't.
JIM
Okay.
Marc jerked his head up when he heard an unnatural scream rend the air.
MARC
Fliers attack!
He ran outside with Jabayu, Zakoti and Jim close behind. He pulled the slingshot out of his waistband and grabbed up more rocks as a flier swept in on the camp. He nested a rock, pulled back the sling and let go. That flier wobbled and plowed into the ground just short of the klevie pens.
Zakoti and Jabayu slung rocks with the rest of the men as the women gathered up the children and pushed them into the tents.
JIM
You got another slingshot?
MARC
You've never used a slingshot in your life, Jim.
JIM
True, it wasn't a common human toy for boys on Earth, but I might as well make myself useful. Maybe I'll hit something?
MARC
I like your spirit, Jim. Zak, can you get Jim a slingshot too?
The little boy who'd asked Jim about his strange clothes slipped under them and handed Jim a slingshot.
JIM
Thanks, kid.
Jim ruffled the boys hair and took the weapon just before he was pulled away to join the rest in a tent.
Marc hit a human in the leg.
The man reached down to rub his stinging leg and lost control of his flier. It cart wheeled across the ground in a fireball.
Several meters away a man screamed and fell to the ground.
Marc slung a rock at him.
It hit him in the shoulder and he corkscrewed into the ground.
A short while later, the rest of the fliers fled.
Marc dropped his aching arms and they returned to the tent.
MARC
We don't have much time! Can we borrow a sinvati?
Marc slathered his chest with the salve.
JABAYU
Take Hikiya, she fast. But first, I give new clothes to replace torn ones. Even at speed Hikiya runs, suns will claim you by time you reach colony.
MARC
Very true. I accept your offer joyfully. Hikiya will be returned.
JABAYU
For Lashanti! You not make her die alone because you not like our laws! If you not return, I give back knife myself.
MARC
I will return.
Marc glared as he pulled off the rags of his torn uniform.
JIM
Marc, don’t you want to go to another room?
MARC
What other room?
He took the proffered clothes his Aunt Brinika handed to him and he put them on. He pulled his boots back on.
His new clothes were natural-white, baggy pants, with an oversized tunic he tied at the waist with a rope. Last, he put on a long scarf-like cloth he loosely wrapped around his neck and over his head. Then he pulled the badge off of the rags of his uniform and slipped it into the folds of his clothes.
JIM
You look like some Arab from Earth.
MARC
Sure, they’re desert dwellers, too.
BRINIKA
You make it, Marcayo? You have little strength.
MARC
I must, Aunt. Jim can't handle a sinvati and Jabayu has been long enough away from his family. I will make it.
ZAKOTI
Then I will go.
JABAYU
No!
Jabayu stomped away.
Zakoti followed, intent on arguing.
BRINIKA
Then, may you always find shade and water.
MARC
And may you always have a cool home. Let's go, Jim.
He led Jim out of the tent and walked to the edge of camp where he let out the same shrill whistle Zakoti had used to call his sinvati earlier but with an added trill, Hikiya's identifier.
JIM
That’s one hell of a whistle.
Jabayu approached alone.
JABAYU
Remember your promise.
MARC
I will.
Marc mounted the animal.
Jabayu helped Jim mount behind Marc, being careful not to touch Marc's slashed back.
MARC
Say good bye to Zakoti for me.
JABAYU
Luck and shade be with you.
Marc nodded and pressed the animal into a trot.
When they were cleared of the camp, Marc sent her into a run.
JIM
Zakoti isn't very happy here, Marc. Why doesn't he leave?
MARC
He's too cowed by my Uncle. Zak was orphaned when he was little. His father was Brinika's only brother, so because he was Brinika's family, Jabayu was kind enough to take Zak in and raise him. Jabayu's never allowed Zak to forget it.
JIM
But, he likes human things!
MARC
And he's punished constantly for it. You saw another instance.
JIM
He was punished for wanting to come with us?
MARC
No, he was punished for what he might want to do if he came with us.
JIM
You have some strange people. Unmarried women live homeless, scraping a living like animals and a kid's punished for what he hasn't done, but what they think he could do given the opportunity?
MARC
They're stubborn people. Humans have lived on Centauria for eighty years now and the Brocana aren't much different, then, as they are now.
JIM
I guess you would have to be awfully stubborn to resist the changes Humans have made here.
MARC
Don't get me wrong, partner. I don't like some of their customs, either, but that's the way they've been for a millennium.
JIM
Not a young race.
MARC
No. Hey, I'm going to have to find a road. This terrain's getting too treacherous, even for a sinvati.
Marc changed Hikiya’s course to join the road.
Hikiya’s was turning her head as if she didn’t want to go the direction Marc was leading her.
MARC
Sh’kukte, Hikiya, what wrong with you?
She jerked her head and trotted sideways.
MARC
Damn it, were taking the road!
Hikiya whinnied and shook her head.
JIM
Marc, a flier!
MARC
I hope you kept that slingshot.
JIM
Would I be any less of a gunner, partner?
Jim pulled the device out of a pocket and began to hurl rocks.
Marc guided Hikiya near outcroppings to make it harder for their pursuer to shoot them.
Hikiya whinnied frantically.
Marc reached forward and stroked her neck to calm her a little.
JIM
Damn it, this guy's evasive!
Marc pulled the bag of rocks from around his shoulder and handed it back to Jim. He pulled Hikiya to go to the left down a steep slope and hoped her mountain legs would stay sure.
Jim let another rock fly.
It hit the man's thigh. The flier wobbled, but he regained control and poured on more speed.
Marc pulled lower into the back.
MARC
Jim, grab onto my waist! Hikiya's going to have to jump a chasm!
Jim put his arms around Marc's waist just as Hikiya put on a burst of speed and leapt into the air. After a few heart stopping moments, Hikiya hit solid ground again and picked up speed.
MARC
Good girl!
JIM
Marc the flier's gone.
Marc looked up into the sky and couldn't find it anywhere. He slowed Hikiya down for a while to cool her down before he stopped. Marc slid to the ground.
JIM
Why are we stopping here?
MARC
Hikiya's got to rest. She's already been stressed.
Hikiya whinnied and pulled on a few tough tufts of grass.
Marc walked over to the edge of the precipice and looked down. Many valleys of rocky ground lay below. Aldumu or Alpha Centauri was just slightly beyond zenith and Balda or Beta Centauri was a quarter past zenith. He forgot how long Centauri days could last or how his native gravity could make his muscles ache after so long in Earth gravity.
JIM
Doesn't the heat ever ease here?
MARC
No.
JIM
I wish I could take this climate suit off just so I can wipe my face! Do you know you're looking bluer?
MARC
Yeah, I always do get bluer under my native suns. The blue skin tone's protection against the punishing ultra violet rays from being exposed to a gas giant and a K4 sun.
JIM
I guess that explains your second eyelid, too?
MARC
Yeah, it cuts down the glare.
JIM
Hey, I'm sorry for gaping at you at the cell.
MARC
That's all right. You didn't know my skin would pale down to a pasty blue. I should have warned you so that it wasn't such a surprise.
JIM
You've been hurt about that, haven't you?
MARC
It happened in my first year at the Academy. Because it was a space station, my skin soon became very pale from lack of sunlight. Someone convinced my roommate to give them his keys so they could pull a prank on me. One day, after some rigorous physical tests, I hit the sack early. Someone called the infirmary and told them I'd died and to send a medic over. While I slept, I was transported to the morgue. I woke up naked on a morgue slab with a sheet pulled over my head and a tag on my toe. I almost gave the mortician a heart attack.
JIM
God, that was cruel!
MARC
Yeah, it sure was. I convinced the Commandant to make special allowances for me to have a UV lamp in my quarters to bask under to keep my skin tone from getting that pale again.
JIM
Did they ever find out who called you in and surrendered you to the mortician?
MARC
No, no one stepped up to answer for it.
JIM
So your own roommate didn't even stand up for you? That's low.
MARC
He just said all "plebes" go through some kind of initiation. Let's grab Hikiya and get back on the trail. We still have a long way to go before we get out of the mountains.
JIM
You're home sure has a rugged beauty.
MARC
Yeah, but it's hard on the body.
Marc went back to where Hikiya was still chewing on grass and took up her reigns again.
Marc helped Jim back up onto her back before he swung himself up again.
JIM
I refilled the rock bag while you rested.
MARC
Good idea just in case we get another flier chase us. Isn't it funny that we just dropped back into the routine? I steer and you man the guns?
JIM
Well, you know more about guiding a - this creature better than me.
MARC
It's a sinvati.
Marc sent Hikiya back into a trot.
FADE OUT
.
THE END.