Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
“MAROONED”
(short story)
EPISODE 36
BY: LYSSA THORNE
SUPER: Reincarnation can be great. You can start anew. All the memories wiped clean. Until you wake up and all the forgotten memories slam you. In the beginning, I went by the name Sannaro. That was only half of the problem.
FADE IN:
EXT. UNKNOWN MOON – DAY
Sannaro trembled in the dark with the smells of soil assailing his nostrils. He sensed the intense anger and frustration of the pirates combing the area looking for the Astrisi they were sure had been in the now empty shuttle.
His claustrophobia threatened to overwhelm him until he felt the small body wiggling in discomfort under him which reminded him the reason why he was hiding instead of fighting.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Don't squirm so much, Andoku.
ANDOKU (PSI V.O.)
A rock is rubbing my ribs, Ya!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
How is your ear?
ANDOKU (PSI V.O.)
It's not bothering me anymore since I was released from the Belvan Hospital.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Then you know a Pirate is right above us? What if he hears your scrabbling?
ANDOKU (PSI V.O.)
I hope he'll thinks it's a mole.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
A mole? Not far from it. Do you know that we Saili are evolved from a creature similar to a mole? We were subterranean diggers who would dig into the soil of Sailia to get away from volcanic eruptions. Eventually they became interested in the various metallic compounds and chose to collect a certain metal. That was when we began to take on the properties of the metal each had an affinity for and we evolved into the metallic/carbon beings we are now. We developed telepathy so that we could sense predators approaching, keep in contact with one another and know where our young were when we couldn't see them.
ANDOKU (PSI V.O.)
They're leaving.
When Sannaro felt two ground shudders he projected his telepathy to verify the dread he felt heavy in his stomach.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
They're taking my shuttle!
He backed out of the tunnel and reentered the light that was significantly lower in the sky than when he landed to get away from the Pirates.
Close ahead of him, his son wriggled out of the hole then sat up.
SANNARO
Fausa, we're marooned! You look so much like your mother. I'm sorry I got us marooned.
Sannaro sighed then thought of his mate parsecs away without any knowledge of what happened, only that they had been on their way home.
SANNARO'S VISION
His mind saw an image of her honey-blond hair, shockingly blue eyes with skin of light pink. Her slender body was hugged by her black flight-suit with the white panels that came to a point just below the hips. On her right hip was her laser pistol and the left had her helmet clipped to it with her red sash swaying over her right thigh. She was laughing as usual as she reached over to stroke his ear.
BACK TO UNKNOWN MOON
He shuddered from the memory and closed his eyes.
ANDOKU
She always does that to you! I thought Yaro and Chali weren't supposed to still be so-
SANNARO
Sensual? Your mother will always crave telepathic bonding.
ANDOKU
But none of my classmates have parents like mine.
SANNARO
Nui, mixed marriages aren't a common practice among Astrisi. If I hadn't been a prisoner of the former commander for ten years from the time I was seven Human years old until I was sixteen, the Astrisi wouldn't have even welcomed a Human, much less a Saili who was so radically different visually from them. Now, first order for survival, we need to find a source of water.
He stood up and dusted off his clothes before he looked around the forest clearing they were in.
He concentrated on his telepathy again to sense an animal.
Sannaro stopped at a brushing of a simple mind foraging in the underbrush. He sent thoughts of thirst to the animal.
It began to walk purposefully through the forest.
SANNARO
Come, Andu.
Sannaro trailed the animal he was telepathically connected to.
For a while they walked through the forest until they broke through the trees and came out at a lake fed by a six-foot waterfall. Ahead of them, a small prickly animal waddled down the the shore and lapped the water with its slender, long tongue.
ANDOKU
I wish I had telepathy as strong as yours.
SANNARO'S VISION
Sannaro thought of a scene of himself several years younger than Andoku, tearfully asking his Human teacher when he would develop his physical strength to enable him to stand up to the school bully.
BACK TO UNKNOWN MOON
Sannaro squatted down and sniffed the water.
SANNARO
I wish I had a testing kit but that was taken with the shuttle. I don't know how long we'll be stuck here so we have to hope this is h2o.
Sannaro dipped his hand into the water and liked a finger.
SANNARO
It tastes like water. Let's drink.
ANDOKU
I wish we were home taking water from the pitcher in the refrigerator.
SANNARO
I do too but we're stuck here so we have to try anything to survive.
Andoku studied the water suspiciously.
ANDOKU
What if there are creatures in there?
SANNARO
There is nothing but common benign aquatic creatures in here. The worst you can get is one nibbling at your fingers.
ANDOKU
I'm not putting my hands in that water!
Sannaro pointed at the cascading water.
SANNARO
Fine, there's the waterfall. Drink from it if you're too scared but drink. Come on, Andoku. Do you think a porcupine is going to care?
ANDOKU
Porcupines are an Earth creature.
SANNARO
I know that!
Andoku walked over to the ball then yelped and ducked as quill tips flew past his face.
ANDOKU
That thing throws its quills!
He lost his balance and fell into the water. After a minute, he didn't come up.
Sannaro plunged into the lake. He tracked his son telepathically through the murky water, grabbed Andoku around the waist and pulled him to the surface.
Andoku coughed and gasped air.
They climbed out of the water. Sannaro undressed and laid his clothes on a rock to dry.
SANNARO
You're going to have to take those clothes off now anyway or you'll get too cold.
Andoku sighed resignedly as took his own sweatshirt off and set it beside his father's.
After a minute, Sannaro waggled his finger for the pants to come off too.
Andoku huffed then pulled those off.
ANDOKU
I'm not taking off my underwear.
SANNARO
It's your skin that's going to get cold, not mine.
Andoku growled as he doffed the underwear then sat down beside his father's massive thigh, unable to stop looking at the slightly puckered seam that lined the circumference of the left leg.
Sannaro noticed his son's stare and looked down uncomfortably at the old scar.
SANNARO
A souvenir from the Zuran war.
He traced the crease around his thigh.
SANNARO
Just before we knew that your mother was pregnant with you. I crashed my Vizha'i in a massive battle, slammed it right into the crash-wall on the upper retrieval deck. Part of the control panel sliced right through my leg. It took your Grandfather hours to put it back on and I was out of action for three weeks, doing physical therapy to strengthen it back up.
ANDOKU
It still bothers you.
Andoku unconsciously touched his right ear pointed twice up and again downward at the lobe.
SANNARO
I lost an inch off my leg from that reattachment At least the doctors said that your ear won't have any scaring from its detachment.
ANDOKU
I'll never sneak a siche again!
SANNARO
At least, not until Edat says you can use them. Anyway, you're starting to feel hungry. When my clothes are dry, I'll look for something sharp to hunt with. At least there are wild animals on this planet.
ANDOKU
As long as I don't have to eat quills.
SANNARO
Don't worry, I don't think I'll be able to find anything that will be able to cut through a hide of quills. We'll have to find a different animal less armored.
Andoku stood up and climbed up the rocks toward the waterfall to stare intently through the cascade.
Sannaro joined him as he scanned ahead.
ANDOKU
Do you see a shadow?
SANNARO
Houk, it's not an animal because I'm not sensing anything.
Sannaro slipped around Andoku and plunged into the water. He walked a few paces before he turned around and came back from a small ledge slightly behind the falls.
SANNARO
I found a cave behind the falls. It has faint telepathic resonance so it hasn't been used in a long time. I think it will do for shelter. Now I'll go see if my clothes are dry.
Andoku carefully followed his father who was skillfully hoping from stone to stone back to the shore.
ANDOKU
Why can't I be so sure?
SANNARO
Someday when you are a physical combat master you'll have more confidence in your ability to keep your balance. Maybe I should keep you practicing by having you stand on one of these stones while you do a kata.
ANDOKU
Oh, fausa, and I thought Edat was bad with practice!
By the time he was back on solid ground, Sannaro was already pulling on his clothes.
Andoku also dressed.
SANNARO
Now, I read about some of Earth's ancient people who used sharp sticks for hunting. Later they learned how to shape points from rocks that they tied to the stick but I don't think I have time to learn how to chip rock effectively so I'll have to go with a sharp stick.
He wandered through the forest to find a stick that suited him. He found a branch that was relatively straight and about an inch thick. He pulled on it experimentally to insure it's strength before he tensed up then pulled the branch down toward the ground quickly.
The branch snapped with a small bridge of wood still attached to the tree.
Sannaro twisted the branch several times then tugged it hard.
The branch gave way but Sannaro compensated quickly and held his ground. He looked at the crude point that was left after he tore away the rest of the twisted wood and smirked.
SANNARO
It won't be clean but with some speed behind it, it should penetrate.
Andoku gulped and blanched.
SANNARO
I know it's not easy but it has to be. I understand that the Astrisi way of life, isolated on a spaceship keeps you away from the harsh realities of surviving on a planet so it's going to be a hard awakening. If it will help, while I go hunt, you can try foraging for some roots and fruits. Don't eat any until I see them and test them for dangers, okay?
ANDOKU
Okay, Ya, I won't go far away from the lake.
Andoku began studying the ground and trees for things to eat.
SANNARO
Good. I'll be back.
He hefted the spear and went farther into the forest.
Again, Sannaro used his telepathy to find an animal with a slightly more sophisticated mind than the porcupine-like creature and followed his link to it.
It had a light fur of gray, walked on four muscular legs that glided as it moved. It had a slender muzzle full of sharp teeth; it's gray eyes were set forward on it's slender face.
Sannaro couldn't figure whether it was of feline or canine variety but accepted that it was definitely a predator.
It was also stalking a creature that looked like a combination of a rat and a rabbit. It had the strong jumping legs of a rabbit but the long slender forelegs of the rat. It's head was also slender with a toothy muzzle but it's eyes were more to the side of it's head than the predator it was being stalked by.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
So who do I go for, the predator or the prey? Let the predator be busy with the prey and after it strikes it will either be interested more in it's meal or tired from a failure.
He watched quietly as the predator slipped closer to the unsuspecting small animal. When it was a few feet away it sprang.
The rabbit/rat sprang into the air and scurried away with the predator close behind swiping it with a claw with every step. The prey dove into a hole.
The predator scratched at the ground, whining.
That's when Sannaro made his move, quietly rushing up to the digging animal and thrust the stick into it's side where he hoped a gap in the ribcage was, if the thing had a similar skeleton to a Terran animal.
It roared and turned to bite the stick then saw Sannaro towering above it so it redirected it's attack on Sannaro's legs.
Sannaro pulled back then thrust the stick further into the creature.
It convulsed then fell to the ground.
He carefully pulled out the stick and was encouraged to see red blood flow through the wound.
So far, it held true that this planet had a lot of similarities to the development of Earth creatures. At least it might be more palatable that way.
He took the legs of the creature and swung the carcass onto his shoulders then picked up the spear and trotted back toward the lake.
When he arrived, he found Andoku there with the front of his shirt pulled up into a hammock weighted down.
Sannaro set down the carcass then came to look into the shirt.
SANNARO
Good, you found wild carrots, some potatoes and berries.
They took the carcass and vegetables into the cave. He used vines to tie up the legs around the spear then found two crags close enough to set the two ends of the spear.
SANNARO
Now we need to gather wood for a fire.
A short time later, they returned with twigs and set them up in a cone-shape.
ANDOKU
Your eyes are glowing, Ya!
SANNARO
So are yours. It's a Saili trait. We have refractive sight in darkness.
ANDOKU
Like a Terran cat?
The boy rolled on his back, shaking with laughter.
Sannaro grinned at his son before he returned his attention to his task.
SANNARO
I wish I had my laser. How do I ignite the wood?
ANDOKU
Vi'asa says that if you rub flint rock together that it causes a spark.
Andoku when his stomach rumbled.
SANNARO
I agree with your stomach. Let's look for flint.
Andoku picked up some rocks and were striking them together. If there was no spark, he threw them back down.
Sannaro shrugged and began to do the same.
After several minutes he found two rocks that gave off a good spark then returned to the wood. He cracked the rocks again and again over the wood.
SANNARO
Wonderful. I did great with finding water, shelter and hunting for food but can I seem to make a fire?
ANDOKU
Do you want some berries?
Sannaro sniffed at them for a minute then sent his telepathy out to find an animal. He projected the image and smell of the berries and received an eager response as it began looking for a berry patch. He took a portion of the berries.
SANNARO
They're okay.
ANDOKU
How can you tell?
SANNARO
I don't. I use the resident experts to tell me.
ANDOKU
What resident experts?
SANNARO
The animals that live here. If I give them an image of the berries along with the smell, I take from their reaction if the food is all right. If they shy away from the vision, it's dangerous but if they react eagerly and want to go foraging for more, then it's edible.
ANDOKU
I didn't think about that.
SANNARO
Thank you.
Sannaro took the berries and munched on them between striking the stones together.
After another ten minutes, the wood began to smoke and catch fire.
SANNARO
Well, I finally did it.
He took four taller sticks and tied them together with vines to make two X-supports to hang a spit. Then he took the carcass outside slightly away from the lake to prepare the meat to spare his son the unpleasantness of the butchering. He brought the meat back into the cave with a thick stick pushed through it and laid it across the supports, above the fire.
SANNARO
Well, dinner's on. It's a good thing I'm in excellent shape or I might be feeling sore by now.
ANDOKU
What about the vegetables I found?
SANNARO
We can skewer them on another stick and hold it over the fire to cook them but I wouldn't start that now because it's going to take a long time for the meat to cook.
ANDOKU
I miss Chali.
SANNARO
So do I. She doesn't even know where we are except that we had been on our way home. She's got to be getting worried.
ANDOKU
What's worse, I even miss Ambrika. I would rather be fighting with her over taking my Vizha'i toys than to be here.
SANNARO
I know the feeling. When the Saili found me with the Astrisi and put me in that Orphanage for a few days, I even missed fighting with my little sisters, too. Fausa, I would have rather been babysitting my baby sister Tanei than to have been there.
ANDOKU
You've been through everything!
SANNARO
Too much It's a wonder I've survived but your mother made it worth fighting for. I wish she was within range of my telepathy so that I can call to her to tell her where we are.
ANDOKU
I just want my bed. It's going to be uncomfortable sleeping on this rock.
SANNARO
Sleep, houk, years ago during the Zuran war I was receiving long-range sendings from Di'ok because he was thinking about what I would do if I was in his place while he was being tortured by the Zurans but only while I was asleep. The nightmares almost drove me insane. Maybe if I project my desire to be with her again, our marriage link might help her to pick it up in her sleep!
ANDOKU
But she's not a telepath!
SANNARO
Nui, but neither was Di'ok and he managed to send his feelings to me and I received them. I may be able to do better because I am the telepath!
ANDOKU
Can I try too?
SANNARO
You aren't as strong as I am but I think there is nothing wrong with trying. Maybe together, we'll be stronger! We just have to project our desire on a regular basis since we don't know when she'll be sleeping.
He closed his eyes and opened his shields wide.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Cherna, I love you and I want to come home. Please come to coordinates 59824.9. We need you, we want to come home.
ANDOKU (PSI V.O.)
Chali, we need help! Please come!
Sannaro caught his son's weaker mind-wave and strengthened it with his own power before he pushed it on.
All through the day, they sent the same message by telepathy, even while they ate so by the time the sun had set, they were both very tired as they laid down curled up together on the stone floor to sleep.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
The next morning Sannaro was stiff as he pulled himself off the rocky floor, trying not to disturb Andoku. He walked outside, around the waterfall and stretched the kinks out of his back in view of the warm morning sun. Then he went back inside and ate some more berries and a few wild carrots before he intended to do another hunting trip.
Andoku sat up and rubbed his eyes.
SANNARO
Good morning.
ANDOKU
Owe, I'm stiff.
SANNARO
A rock bed is not the most comfortable. I, too, was stretching kinks out of my back. I'm getting ready to go hunting again. Would you like to gather more roots and berries? They sure tasted good with the meat.
ANDOKU
Houk, I kind of like them, too.
SANNARO
This isn't exactly the kind of father/son bonding I would have wanted.
ANDOKU
I shouldn't have tried the siche. I hurt myself because I had the blade too close to my head when I tried to throw it.
SANNARO
That's why we have do'ike, a wooden stick doesn't slice ears off, but the doctor on Belvas said that your grandfather Zhad did a fine job replanting the ear and that reconnecting the nerve was simplified by Zhad's work.
ANDOKU
He's had lost of practice on you.
SANNARO
Unfortunately. As many times he's had to heal the bruises I've had to my ears though the years, he should know Saili ear construction. I need to get going if we're going to have something for lunch.
Sannaro picked up the spear and the two left the cave.
Sannaro trotted deeper into the forest.
Andoku wandered around the waterfront edge to find the edible plants.
Hours later, Sannaro had only managed to be tired. He was sensing animals but most were too small to feed one of them much less than both so he left them alone. He was hoping that he might find one of those rabbit/rats he had seen the other day but he hadn't seen any. Even the slightly larger predator like he had caught were not around.
I can't believe these creatures could have been warned about the new predator yet, Sannaro growled to himself.
Finally he went back to the lake empty-handed to eat some of Andoku's roots and berries with plans of going out again in the afternoon.
Sannaro went out again as he planned. He was finally on the trail of a medium-small animal.
Andoku's voice flew through his mind in panic and he heard a vocal scream.
Sannaro ran through the trees at his fastest speed back to the lake. He was met with a large hairy creature with large claws and fangs, ravaging his son. He threw down his spear, rushed to it, grabbed a hairy arm, swung it around and landed a flat hand to the creature's jaw.
The creature howled in pain and attacked Sannaro with it's arms extended.
Sannaro blocked the arms and punched the thing in it's barrel chest.
It swiped again.
Sannaro blocked it again.
This time it stopped it's attack on Sannaro and advanced on Andoku.
Sannaro cracked it across the back.
The creature whirled around with lightning speed.
Before he could block it, the large claws raked across his chest. Sannaro stumbled back, gasping as the tears threatened to flow. He controlled his natural reaction as he whirled around, kicked his right leg out and swept the legs out from under the animal.
It quickly climbed to it's feet and ran into the trees.
Sannaro staggered over to his son.
Andoku had held himself off as well as he could but he still had scratches on his shoulders and chest.
Sannaro was dismayed to see the yellow blood already hardening. He stripped off what was left of his own shirt and pressed it to Andoku's wounds.
ANDOKU
I tried, Ya. It was too big.
SANNARO
I know, Andu, it was hungry and persistent. That's probably why I was having trouble hunting. The animals around here probably knew it was stalking so they were in hiding. I'm sorry, I'm not use to surviving like this. I failed to see the signs of a larger predator at large.
ANDOKU
It's not your fault, Ya, you're doing the best you can.
Sannaro didn't feel any better as he carried his wounded son into the cave then hissed and clutched his chest as he sat himself down.
I have to do something to clean out our wounds or they might infect, he thought miserably. Bleeding the wound, that's what I have to do.
He stood up to set up a fire then spent a few minutes sparking the flint-rocks until the wood caught. When the fire was burning well, he looked around for a sharp rock that he tied to his spear then held it over the fire until it was red hot. He let it cool for ten minutes then took the sharp tool over to Andoku.
SANNARO
This is going to hurt but I have to do this.
He wet the rags of his shirt in the waterfall then knelt beside his son. He steeled his resolve and scratched the sharp rock a fourth of an inch away from the first claw-mark.
Andoku hissed and shuddered as the yellow blood flowed again.
Sannaro dipped his fingers into the blood and wiped it on the congealed blood then quickly used the rag to wash the softened blood before it hardened again. He repeated the process with each cut before the new scratch hardened. Then he took the same rock and cut himself. He repeated the process on his own claw-mark then laid back weakly beside his sleeping son.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Cherna, we need you to help us!
He fell asleep.
INT. KUMANI – CHERNA'S OFFICE
Cherna looked up from her desk as Hadah entered.
CHERNA
So, Hadah, what has brought you to my door?
HADAH
Cherna, it's late, why don't you go home? Don't you need to get Ambri ready for bed?
CHERNA
Ambri is with Adara. She likes being with Ki'cha. They should have been back by now, Hadah. Where are they?
HADAH
San's an excellent veteran pilot, Cherna. He may have been tied up by an unexpected Ion storm.
CHERNA
But he still would have gotten a communication through!
HADAH
Go home and get some sleep, Cheri. I appreciate that you are taking San's Senior Second duties for me, but you need rest. Don't force me to make that an order.
CHERNA
Houk, Hadah, I'll go get some sleep.
She arranged her desk then stood up and joined the senior pilot.
CHERNA
I remember when we had to gang up on San for the same reason years ago.
HADAH
It took you, Lazha and me to get him to bed ,too!
CHERNA
That was at the beginning of the Zuran war.
She swept her hand over the campaign patch on her right arm, just below the symbol of the Kumani.
HADAH
He'll get here.
They stepped into the elevator.
Cherna stayed quiet as she walked reluctantly to her empty quarters and entered. As she called for lights, she found herself imagining that the shower was running and the hot, scalding steam was billowing through the cracks of the door.
Andoku was calling her from the kitchen asking if he could have a carbonated drink.
She sighed as she keyed in Adara's number on the computer and the carrot red-haired woman's face showed on the monitor.
CHERNA
Adara, is Ambrika asleep?
ADARA
Houk, she's fine in San's old bed.
CHERNA
Can I just leave her there and pick her up in the morning?
ADARA
Is there any word of San and Andu?
CHERNA
Nui, not a word. I'm worried, Adara, but Hadah thinks that he may have been detained by an Ion storm or something.
ADARA
I think San would have informed us if he did, Cherna. Didn't he call three days ago to tell you they were lifting off from Belvas?
CHERNA
Houk, he did and we've been hovering here to wait for the rendezvous but we haven't heard anything from him. Well, I need to sleep or Hadah will reprimand me after sleep-cycle.
ADARA
Then na'ila'ahina.
The screen blanked.
Cherna flopped down into Sannaro's favorite chair and opened herself up to the residual feeling of him in the chair.
CHERNA'S VISION
She opened her eyes, not remembering that she had closed them. Her vision was filled with a darkness that oddly wasn't dark. In front of her was a small wood fire. She began to wonder how she had suddenly been on a planet.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Cherna, we need help, coordinates 59824.9!
BACK TO KUMANI APARTMENT
She surged out of the chair and stood shaking in the empty living room at full illumination! She dove toward the computer and cursed as her fingers shook while she keyed in a number.
RETAL
Bridge.
CHERNA
I need to talk to Lazha! Is she at home, Retal?
RETAL
Houk, what do you need to tell her?
CHERNA
I need to talk to Lazha, Retal, it's urgent!
RETAL
I'll call her.
The line closed.
Cherna stayed at the computer, trying to get her reactions under control when the screen lit up again. Lazha's curly red hair was disheveled from sleeping.
LAZHA
Cherna, it's late, what's so urgent?
CHERNA
I was asleep but I didn't know I was and I heard San's voice in my head pleading for help! He even gave me coordinates!
LAZHA
This reminds me of when Di'ok was captured by the Zurans and was projecting to Sannaro that he was being tortured! Could he be trying the same thing? What are the coordinates?
Cherna closed her eyes in concentration.
CHERNA
Coordinates 59824.9.
A second smaller window opened up with a astronautical map. The map zoomed in until the four points stopped at a sphere of light and words scrolled on the screen below the dot.
LAZHA
It's a small Class-M planet two parsecs away from Belvas that had a colonial attempt until they abandoned it because of a very dangerous wild animal that was constantly ravaging the colony!
CHERNA
I saw a blackness that wasn't really black and a small wood fire. Then I heard Sannaro's voice plead for help. He sounded like he was in pain!
LAZHA
I'll have Retal divert to this planet. We'll be there in six hours so you may as well get some more sleep.
Cherna reluctantly went to her bedroom, changed for bed then climbed in.
INT. UNKNOWN MOON CAVE
Hours later, Sannaro sat up painfully and shivered violently.
SANNARO
Oh, great, I'm feeling fevered.
He looked over at Andoku who was also shaking in his sleep.
Sannaro moved closer and wrapped his arms around Andoku's little body.
ANDOKU
I'm hungry and I'm hot.
SANNARO
We're both fevered. I guess I didn't wash out our wounds good enough. We do have some roots and berries left.
He grabbed up a handful of berries and a few wild carrots to hand to his son.
Andoku shook as he ate then he laid down weakly again.
Sannaro wrapped his arms around Andoku and drifted off to sleep.
When he woke again, he saw sunbeams shining prismatically through the waterfall.
Andoku was still asleep.
Sannaro was feeling so hot that he thought that standing in that waterfall would feel wonderful. He weakly pulled his pants and boots off then walked naked into the waterfall. He gasped at the shock of the cold water flowing over his fevered skin and pushed his wet hair to his back. His pectoral muscles spasmed and he bent over in pain. As the pain receded, he staggered back into the cave and carefully laid back on the ground behind Andoku.
Andoku sat up, looked around then saw Sannaro, wet and huddled on the ground.
ANDOKU
Yaro?
He wiped at the sweat that was burning his eyes then crawled over and looked down at his father's pained face.
ANDOKU
Please get dressed. You'll feel less cold.
When no answer came, he picked up some berries and put one in front of Sannaro's lips.
ANDOKU
Eating will make you feel better.
Andoku gently pushed it through his father's lips.
Sannaro chewed slowly on the berry then shivered as he swallowed.
ANDOKU
There, now isn't that better?
When there was no response, Andoku began to cry.
Sannaro groaned as he forced himself to sit up while his face grimaced from the pain in his chest.
SANNARO
Don't cry. Yaro is still here.
Andoku reached for the black pants and bunched up the right leg to hold it over his father's leg.
SANNARO
Now you're going to dress me like a baby if I don't comply? That's a turn.
He took the pants and slipped them over his feet then up to his knees. For the next part, he pulled himself up to his knees then carefully picked up one leg and pulled the leg up into a bunch, set down that leg then repeated for the other until he pulled them over his hips and fastened them.
SANNARO
Okay, I'm dressed.
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ANDOKU
How about your boots?
SANNARO
How about you sit back and relax. You aren't in much better shape than I am.
Andoku resisted for a minute before he settled into the pocket of his father's shoulder and laid his head on the massive chest.
ANDOKU
I always wanted muscles like you, Yaro.
SANNARO
Oh, I don't know, you look muscular for a ten-year old to me. Saili develop slower than Humanoids, son. You're still growing. Edat sure is keeping you busy. Do you know that it was Edat who helped to build me up like this?
ANDOKU
Oh?
SANNARO
Houk, when I came to the Astrisi after I was severely burned and then healed by Zhad, I began Astrisi school unable to pick up a log of wood by myself. The Astrisi decided that I should learn how to defend myself as an Astrisi so Edat decided to give me private lessons. Absolutely no classmates were allowed to watch or they would get an extra workout from Edat which was good because I was sensitive about what they felt about me. I was, after all, an alien among them, a metal-based, barely humanoid child among carbon-based humanoids. The few years I took private lessons from Edat were the hardest thing I ever had to do. He reminded me constantly that if I didn't want to be injured by anyone with a grudge against me that I had to learn Astrisi self-defense. I constantly practiced until my muscles ached from muscle failure. Then one day, my worst nemesis Kuro threatened to cut my ears off.
ANDOKU
That was cruel.
SANNARO
It was and I called challenge on him as soon as he said it. That was the first time I fought in public and I drove him into the mat with a bleeding mouth and an immobile shoulder. After that, everyone was afraid to challenge me because Kuro was the toughest opponent in my age-group. If it hadn't been for Edat pushing me, anyone could have beaten me because I came to the Astrisi knowing nothing about self-defense. He hated the thought of seeing me defenseless against Astrisi children who were trained in self-defense since they began to walk.
ANDOKU
Like I was.
SANNARO
You were born Astrisi.
ANDOKU
I'm thirsty.
SANNARO
We'll go out together and I'll stand watch.
Sannaro groaned as he used the wall to lever himself up to his feet.
ANDOKU
I feel so weak and my head hurts.
SANNARO
You and me both.
Sannaro puffed as he moved slowly toward the mouth of the cave with Andoku following.
He grabbed up a piece of his ruined shirt and took it with him.
ANDOKU
Why are you bringing that?
SANNARO
As a marker in case your mother got our message and comes.
They wobbled across the small bridge behind the falls onto the shore.
As Andoku bent down to drink, Sannaro walked to the edge of the forest and tied the dark red material around a twig at eye-height. Then he returned to Andoku and knelt to get himself a drink.
SANNARO
The most important thing for us to do is keep ourselves hydrated since we are sweating a lot from the fever. I wish I had a container to take some into the cave with us. This walk to the water is getting hard.
ANDOKU
What if Mother didn't hear? Are we going to die?
SANNARO
I wish I could tell you that I'm sure your mother will hear and that she's on her way now but even I am worrying about that myself. About dying, I don't know how much we are affected. We may have a little infection or it may be massive but I am not a Doctor and I've done all I know to do. We will just have to care for ourselves the best we can and hope that in a day or two our fever breaks.
They began the trip across the rocks when Andoku slipped off and plunged into the water. He resurfaced, splashing weakly.
Sannaro jumped in to grab his son and he swam over to the shore then pulled him up onto the sand.
They laid on the ground gasping until Sannaro pulled himself up to sitting position.
SANNARO
We have to get back to the cave.
Andoku stood up then yelped as Sannaro picked him up and slung him onto his shoulders.
Andoku's feet scraped across his sore chest.
SANNARO
Watch where you put your feet.
Andoku wrapped his feet around his father's side.
Sannaro walked across the rocks then through the ledge into the cave.
Andoku unwrapped his legs so that Sannaro could lower him to the ground.
Sannaro shook as he took his clothes off again and laid them on some rocks to dry. Then he collapsed onto the ground.
Andoku struggled to get his own clothes off to set them beside his father's pants before he curled up beside his father.
SANNARO
It's so cold.
Andoku looked worriedly over at his shivering father so he got to his hands and knees and went over to the wood pile. He set up a new fire. He returned to his father's side but his yellow skin was not shiny and he was curled up tightly. Andoku looked down at himself and noticed for the first time that his pink skin lost it's shine too.
ANDOKU
Father, is it not good for us to loose the shiny look of our skin?
SANNARO
I really don't know. There is a lot I don't really know about Saili.
ANDOKU
Shouldn't we? We are Saili, at least you are and I am half-Saili.
SANNARO
Good point. If we get out of here, I'll make it a priority to find out. I need to sleep. Why don't you curl up with me and get some sleep too.
Andoku laid down and they both drifted to sleep.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
Cherna looked nervously at Hadah as they piloted a shuttle out of the Kumani's retrieval deck then redirected it toward the small green planet.
After a few minutes, they landed in a small clearing in the trees.
After they climbed down the ramp they brought sensors out and began to scan the area.
HADAH
I'm picking up readings of a variety of animals. Wait, I think I'm reading faint life signs of gold, copper and carbon. They're here but I can't get a solid fix on them.
CHERNA
Can you figure a direction?
HADAH
I believe they are north.
They began to walk that way.
After a half hour of walking with care for the changing sensor reading, Cherna gasped and rushed over to a tree with a swatch of dark red cloth. She pulled it off.
CHERNA
This was a part of San's sweatshirt and it was tied on this twig.
HADAH
It's a sign, all right.
Hadah looked beyond the forest to a small serene lake with a waterfall.
HADAH
Call to him, Cherna.
CHERNA
Sannaro!
HADAH
Sannaro!
CHERNA
Andu! Andoku, do you hear me?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
(weakly)
Cherna, are you at the lake?
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
I am. San, why are you so weak? It's like you're far away.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Behind the waterfall is a cave, we're in that cave but we're injured and sick. We need help.
CHERNA
I'm coming!
Cherna began to leap across the rocks toward the waterfall.
HADAH
Wait, Cherna!
CHERNA
San says there is a cave behind the waterfall and they're in there injured and sick!
Hadah leapt after her.
She was just ahead when she found the ledge that went behind the waterfall and entered the cave.
Embers from a dying fire barely lit up the cave so she pulled out a flashlight and turned it on. She was startled by two pairs of shining eyes before she reminded herself that Saili eyes glow in the dark and when strong light is flashed in their eyes. She rushed over to the two nude males, alarmed at how dull their skin looked. She rolled her mate over and gasped at the hard scabs glossing over his chest as well as her hands were stinging from touching his hot skin. She looked over at Andoku who also had scabs glossing his little shoulders and chest just as Hadah joined her.
HADAH
They're bad. We need to get them to the shuttle so we can fly them to Zhad quickly. They're seriously ill.
CHERNA
How? The shore is too small to fit the shuttle. How are we going to get them out of here? If we have contact with their skin for too long, they're going to burn us!
She showed Hadah her red hands.
HADAH
The shuttle has portable litters. We'll have to put them on those. First we'll have to find the nearest clearing large enough for the shuttle. I'll go get the shuttle while you stay here with them, okay?
She nodded grimly.
HADAH
Are you all right, Cherna?
CHERNA
We need to get them out of here, then I'll be all right.
Hadah looked grim but he turned and strode out of the cave.
Cherna sighed as she picked up the tatters of Sannaro's favorite sweatshirt then took it out to wet it under the waterfall then returned to wipe her husband and son's faces to cool them a little.
CHERNA
I heard your cry for help, San.
SANNARO
I hoped you would pick it up just like I picked up Di'ok's.
CHERNA
I did.
She swept his hair back out of his face.
SANNARO
I'm so thirsty. Did you bring some water with you?
ANDOKU
Oh, houk, water. I'm so hot.
Cherna went back to the water to wet the rag again then she wrung the water out into their mouths.
They swallowed it greedily.
CHERNA
What gave you this?
Cherna traced the horrible scratch across Sannaro's chest.
Sannaro's muscles spasmed and he groaned in pain.
ANDOKU
It was huge and hairy with great big teeth and claws! It jumped me while I was picking berries. Then Ya heard me scream in surprise and he came and fought the thing off but it managed to strike him deep in his chest. Then it ran away after Ya threw it's legs out from under it!
SANNARO
But I was too late to prevent Andu from getting injured.
CHERNA
It would have been worse if you hadn't fought it off, San.
ANDOKU
It could have killed me.
Sannaro closed his eyes and gulped at those words.
CHERNA
It didn't happen because you fought it. You did what any father would have felt he needed to do.
Sannaro managed to grin before he gasped from another muscle spasm.
Hadah rushed back in.
HADAH
Cherna, I found a clearing just about ten minute west of here.
He unrolled the litters.
CHERNA
We'll have to take them one at a time. San is wracked with muscle spasms and Andu can hardly move.
HADAH
I've called for help. Another shuttle is coming with more people. They're bringing a special medical pod with a working wench to pull them right off the beach. We just have to get them out to the beach.
CHERNA
That will be quicker.
HADAH
We'll start with San because he's heavier and we'll need all our strength for his mass. You take his feet and I'll take his shoulders. At the count of three, we'll lift him up and set him in the litter.
They picked Sannaro up and laid him on the litter.
HADAH
Great Firebird, is he heavy!
CHERNA
Last time he weighed in, he was one-hundred ninety-five.
HADAH
At five foot four? I heard that Saili were solidly built but that's incredible!
They carefully walked from rock to rock until they finally lowered Sannaro to the sand. Then they went back into the cave and repeated the process with Andoku.
Fifteen minutes later, they were standing on the beach with both litters and watching the shuttle slowly sinking closer to the ground in hover.
A long door opened between the hover jets on the drive bed with the doors being used to defuse the force of the jets away from the undercarriage.
A metal litter was lowered on a cable down to the beach.
Hadah guided it to the ground then called for them to stop.
He and Cherna lifted Sannaro again and set him into the wire-frame litter then Hadah called for them to lift.
Cherna watched with baited breath as Sannaro was lifted into the air, twirling in circles until he was right between the doors and the litter was steadied to align with the door then the litter disappeared into the shuttle.
A minute later, the litter was on it's way back down. When it bumped to the ground, they settled Andoku inside and it was hoisted up again.
As soon as the litter disappeared again, the doors whined closed and the shuttle swept up toward the green-tinged clouds of the little planet's sky.
Cherna went back into the cave to get their damp clothes then followed Hadah back to their shuttle and followed them back home.
INT. MEDICAL SHUTTLE
At the same time in the medical shuttle, Zhad was rushing from one patient to the other while he barked orders.
ZHAD
Danu, IVs on both. Don't forget the metalworker's gloves. You know what happens with silicon on Saili, they melt. Tila, open two bottles of Cerlacticine. Belia, glove me.
Belia slipped heavy-duty metalworkers gloves on Zhad's hands then Zhad took a bottle of the clear fluid and turned to Sannaro.
ZHAD
I see you bled the wounds, San.
SANNARO
It was all I could think to do but it just didn't seem to make a difference.
ZHAD
In any other case I would have praised you for your quick thinking but I read up on the history of that planet. There is a very large aggressive predator that caused many a mauling in the colony. Those who did survive the mauling were overcome with infection and fever. They tried destroying the creatures but they were elusive so they abandoned the colony and left the planet in it's natural state. I found an entry for the successful treatment for the infection so I know how to treat you.
SANNARO
So we wouldn't have recovered.
ZHAD
Nui, the records showed that full medical treatment was the only way to cure it. Self treatment failed.
He applied the Cerlacticine onto Sannaro's wounds with a sponge while Tila did the same to Andoku.
ZHAD
As soon as we're on the Kumani both of you are going into the healing tents.
Zhad pulled out another bottle and measured some into two injectors then he injected one into Sannaro and the other into Andoku.
ZHAD
That is a strong antibiotic that was developed for the colonists. It should kill the infection. Now, both of you relax. We're almost to the ship.
As soon as they landed and were lowered to the maintenance deck, they rushed Sannaro and Andoku to the Hospital.
Sannaro was already drifting to sleep before they reached the treatment room and erected the healing tent over his bed.
SANNARO
We're home.
He gave himself over to the healing sleep.
SANNARO'S VISION
Sannaro wandered through thick swirling gases. He was in an immense rocky cavern.
Nearby, an alarming mass of lava lapped the rocky shores.
Sannaro moved along the rocky ground.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Hello? Is anyone here? I'm lost and can't find my way home.
Sikyatavo walked through the parting gases.
SIKYATAVO
That was close, kid.
SANNARO
You again? Why do I keep meeting up with you?
SIKYATAVO
Because you keep needing me.
SANNARO
Why do you need me? Are you the Great Forger?
SIKYATAVO
The less you know right now, the better. You coming here means you came way too close to your hardening.
SANNARO
So you are the Great Forger.
SIKYATAVO
You're too curious for your own good. In some ways it's a good thing, but right now, allow yourself not to know. You're not ready for what's ahead yet.
SANNARO
That worries me.
SIKYATAVO
It should worry you, kid.
SANNARO
Were you on the Kumani when I had my breakdown? I saw you at the fore cargo door tell me it wasn't my time to go back to Misipatatsusiga.
SIKYATAVO
That was me.
SANNARO
But you told me you were going to stay on Sailia.
SIKYATAVO
I needed to stay. You needed to go with the Deviants to settle them.
SANNARO
Why?
SIKYATAVO
You had to save the Deviants from genocide.
SANNARO
Why?
SIKYATAVO
We'll need them. Now you need to go back to the Kumani to get ready for the next situation.
SANNARO
Not knowing drives me crazy!
SIKYATAVO
You have someone very powerful searching for you. If you reveal yourself too soon, you won't survive it. You must remain hidden in plain sight. If you know, you'll expose yourself to a great vulnerability.
SANNARO
I hate being vulnerable!
SIKYATAVO
I know you do, so take my word for it, if you know now, it will leave you vulnerable to someone you're not prepared to meet yet. Go back to Kumani and help them and the Deviants survive.
SANNARO
Did you help me contact Cherna?
SIKYATAVO
No, that was your overwhelming desire to rescue your son and you from that dreadful place. I'm just helping the regenerator heal you.
SANNARO
I'll go back now if you show me the way.
SIKYATAVO
Concentrate on your Saili body and pull yourself to it.
Sannaro thought of his own body laying on a treatment table and willed himself to return.
The gaseous cavern blurred.
BACK TO KUMANI HOSPITAL
Sannaro gasped and sat up.
Danu laid his hand on Sannaro's chest and laid him back down.
Danu
Easy, San. You're all right now.
Sannaro looked around to reassure himself he was in the hospital.
SANNARO
I was in an immense cavern of swirling gases. A medic I met on Sailia told me to go back to Kumani to protect the Astrisi and Deviant Saili.
DANU
Wow, that was quite a dream.
SANNARO
Yeah, it was. Is Andu okay?
DANU
He's okay and recovering in the next room. That was a nasty infection.
Sannaro relaxed again.
SANNARO
Zhad said the history of that abandoned colony stated a massive predator with very poisonous claws drove away the colonists when only a special antivenin was the only way to cure infection from it's attack.
DANU
Good reason to abandon a colony.
Cherna walked into the room with little Ambrika bouncing behind her.
SANNARO
Hala, stop bouncing. You're not at the playground.
CHERNA
You're obviously feeling better.
SANNARO
I'm recovering.
DANU
I'll go check on Andu. Later, San.
EXIT DANU.
Ambrika climbed up on the bed and sat on Sannaro's lap.
Sannaro sat up to hug her.
CHERNA
You scared me.
SANNARO
It was scary. Pirates chased us to that forsaken planet and as we hid from them, they stole my shuttle and left us to be killed by that abomination. Not the best way for me to teach Andu about survival tactics.
CHERNA
Seriously. Zhad says Andu's ear is fully healed without telepathy loss. I'm glad for that.
SANNARO
He'll have a full recovery. He was very brave throughout that horrible situation. I think I need to call Uncle Devasru on New Sailia to ask if everything is all right there.
CHERNA
Why? I thought the new colony was doing well.
SANNARO
Just a feeling I have.
CHERNA
You should wait until your released from the hospital first.
SANNARO
Probably.
ENTER ZHAD.
ZHAD
Already trying to break out of here? Danu said you just woke up.
SANNARO
I just want to call Uncle Devasru to tell him we're all right. He's probably sensed our worry.
ZHAD
He probably has. That makes sense.
CHERNA
I don't know why I keep forgetting you have a family now outside the Astrisi.
SANNARO
Because I neglect to contact Uncle Devasru as often as I should.
ZHAD
You can get up and use the computer to make the call if you're so concerned about your family on New Sailia.
Ambrika climbed down.
Sannaro carefully walked over to the computer and keyed in communications.
SANNARO
Ki'el can I have a line to Devasru on New Sailia?
KI'EL
Give me a minute, San. Okay, switching line.
The screen blanked for a second then Uncle Devasru showed on the screen.
DEVASRU
Sannaro, are you all right?
SANNARO
Yes, Uncle, Andu and I were marooned briefly on a world where the colony had to be abandoned because of a violent indigenous predator but we're home again and healing.
DEVASRU
I've been worried about the emotions I've sensed from you.
SANNARO
I can imagine. How is New Sailia doing?
DEVASRU
We're doing well. It's really shaping up to be a pleasant colony.
SANNARO
If you and Ambassador Eradano have any problems, you know you can ask me for help.
DEVASRU
Are you getting strange visions again?
SANNARO
Well, yeah, I'm getting visions again. Just tell me if you have any problems.
DEVASRU
Is the Great Forger talking to you again?
SANNARO
Sikyatavo told me not to ask for too much information right now. He won't tell me if he's the Great Forger or not. He did tell me to go back to Kumani to protect the Astrisi and Deviant Saili because he has to remain on Sailia.
DEVASRU
Very odd. Just do what you think you must do and wait for more information.
SANNARO
I think that's all I can do right now. I just called to tell you Andu and I am safe and well now.
DEVASRU
Good to hear. Keep in touch, son.
SANNARO
I will, Uncle. Later.
DEVASRU
Later.
The screen blanked out.
CHERNA
Feeling better now that you've talked to New Sailia?
SANNARO
Houk.
CHERNA
Then get back to bed and rest. I think it's too soon for you to be doing much.
SANNARO
I do still feel a bit weak so I'll get back to bed.
AMBRIKA
I want to be marooned with dangerous animals, too, Ya!
SANNARO
Nui, you don't, Ambri. Just don't hurt yourself like your brother did and keep the fights at school to a minimum.
CHERNA
He's right, Ambri. Let's go home to let your Yaro sleep.
AMBRIKA
Ni-ni, Yaro.
SANNARO
Ni-ni, Ambri.
EXT. CHERNA AND AMBRIKA
SUPER: TAREK/SIKYATAVO
That was close.
SUPER: KELLIN
Almost had him again if it wasn't for his clever hiding. I stole his ship!
SUPER: TAREK/SIKYATAVO
He got help.
SUPER: KELLIN
Only because you boosted his weak telepathic signal to that wife of his!
SUPER: TAREK/SIKYATAVO
I'll take what I can get.
SUPER: KELLIN
Well, let's see how you take the next phase.
FADE OUT.
THE END.