Introductions were made as they walked, more a formality, since such things were easily deduced by a simple scan. The cast-net could be accessed intermittently, so all agreed to continue with spoken word. Nahlai walked with vigor, jumping lightly over the fallen debris, looking to and fro with a quick spin of her head, causing her hair to dance about her face. She was slightly shorter than Kolob, with muscular legs yet delicate arms. Often during their journey she would stand, surveying the landscape ahead. Kolob remarked to himself that she looked as if she could command a battalion of TELREC, so imposing her stance was.
All her strength could be summed up in her eyes. Green, the color of sun-drenched grass after a mid-roa rain, they were set in a face of deep, bluish-bronze. Her nose was long by typical standards but slender, leading one to an upturned lip on a small, sweet mouth. From the side, one might not realize the beauty in her face. But when she turned and one saw her, face to face, with short-cut hair framing high cheekbones, the way the light defined her face turning softest beauty, reminiscent of youth, to angular decadence, she seemed as dominion cast in flesh and bone. She reminded the typical Novan of something faintly ethnic, before homogenization claimed the pearls of racial diversity. She had a quality of being different, of being unique. Others on Novan underwent genetic modification to sculpt their face, change the color of their skin, but Nahlai was natural — she had an element of randomness about her like the lone, perfect orchid among a sea of pretenders. And when she caught Kolob’s eye, hers seemed to dance, the green shifting as an ocean, beckoning the unwary traveler into its depths.
Rhonva was cursing himself most of the roa as the three of them moved further onward. He saw the perfection in her body, the allure of her face. Though her clothes were in tatters, they were in tatters in all the right places, revealing her delicious, supple skin, tempting the eyes to follow its path. She walked with a shyness, looking out from under her hair, smiling with lips that begged to be kissed. Rhonva found himself looking at her overlong, drinking in her beauty, scanning all the women he had ever known for a remote similarity.
No, she would stand out in any crowd. Maybe not at first, but on second glance, she is irresistible.
He could see her hidden strength, betrayed with every step to one who is expert at observation. Rhonva saw she probably possessed twenty cas of intense physical training — a deadly agent to be sure. He could tell she possessed mastery of several forms of combat, and the control he felt in her mind was a signal she was expert there as well. Rhonva knew she was a Rell agent, her poise and manners were too refined, she was much too intelligent for some random Novan female. And if he knew what she was, in all likelihood she knew what he was.
She would make for an interesting battle. Yet, she comes up on no TELREC known agent files. She must have been hidden on Rell! She must have been saved, just for this purpose.
Kolob was taking to Nahlai quickly, clearly enraptured by her beauty and strength. Rhonva had never seen him so engaged with another person, his whole demeanor had changed.
Curse the TELREC for wanting him weak! They knew a woman would only bring him joy, and greater confidence, so they sent me. But they had not bargained on the Rell! They had not foreseen this situation.
Nahlai was quickly connecting with Kolob, laughing at his words, smiling as he spoke.
“So, tell me about yourself. Do you live around here?” she asked. Kolob stopped for a moment, his focus jogged.
“I hadn’t even thought of that! I . . . I lived, about ten til back,” Kolob pointed in back of them, “in a place that’s probably gone.”
Rhonva smiled. “You just remembered, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.” Kolob sighed. “I’ve lost everything.”
Nahlai grasped his hand, her ebullient smile penetrating his malaise. “Except your life.”
Kolob nodded, swooning at her glance. “I guess so.”
“Besides, the Leviathan has a fund for those who lose their dwellings due to catastrophe,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I’m sure, since it was an AG platform that fell, that OLMAC will even give lottment to those who lost possessions or family members lost in the disaster.”
Rhonva glanced over at her, holding Kolob’s hand, smiling a soft smile he wished he could scrape off her face with the edge of a knife.
“What price can you put on souman life?” asked Rhonva.
“One hundred thousand, eighty-four in lottment, at the last rate,” she said as she brushed some dust off Kolob’s chest, straightening his shirt. “I just had to look up that for my job. But that’s rather depressing—let’s change the subject. What do you do, Kolob, where do you work?”
Kolob paused for a moment, embarrassed by his occupation. “I repair meta,” he said, thankful she couldn’t glean that he was exaggerating.
“Really?” she chirped, with a sparkle in her eyes. “Private, or for the Leviathan?”
“For the Leviathan.”
“I’ll bet it must be interesting work. You know, I never thought it would be this difficult to use voice. My throat is so sore!”
Rhonva groaned, as he staggered over some rubble. “You should be lucky that is the only thing that’s sore.”
Nahlai laughed, and turned back to Kolob. “You must have some stories to tell!”
Kolob’s expression brightened a little. “Well, you never know sometimes what’ll be brought in, what things a meta’s been through.” He winced at his own words, as Kolob was finding it difficult to express his thoughts with the spoken word.
“I nest once that the Leviathan thought of outlawing meta on Novan, of excluding them to extra-Novan duties,” said Nahlai, as she held onto him as they navigated a large crack in the ground.
“Really? When was that?” asked Kolob.
“Oh, about two millennium ago.” Nahlai preened a little, catching Kolob’s full attention and every iota of hatred from Rhonva. “The population spiked, and space was even harder to come by then it is now. There were too many people without work, just lying around, killing other people. Crime was terrible, and the meta were still fairly primitive, so hackers had a free hand to take over their operating systems. For every ten people, there was one meta, and that made for a very crowded world.”
“What happened? Did they stop people from having kids?” asked Kolob, trying to maintain his balance as they moved over more debris.
“Well, that was part of the solution. They also were in the process of constructing Foundation — I suppose, where you work?”
“Yeah.”
Nahlai paused for a moment to catch her breath.”Well, that shifted most of the meta population out of sight, focused on the maintenance of the globes. Once the condition of life improved, and some space was made, the question of their belonging on Novan was forgotten. But for a while things were quite ugly. Protests, demonstrations, acts of sabotage. It is said even the TELREC had a difficult time keeping order. But how do you like things down there?”
“It’s alright,” replied Kolob. “It’s quiet most times. I have some friends, and sometimes we get together. But it’s nice to be away from all the stuff that happens on Core.”
“I know what you mean,” said Nahlai, shaking her head. “My job takes me to Topside often, and it is beautiful up there.”
“What do you do?” asked Kolob.
“Oh, nothing much. Merely coordinating advertisements on the cast-net. Supervising production of the ads, analyzing the performance in terms of sales. Rather dry, but it does let me travel. Every time I’m up there, it’s like I’m born again.”
“That must be nice,” Kolob said, wistfully.
“Do you mean you have never been on Topside?”
“No, never. Well, only once, when I was a kid. But not since then — I never had a reason to go.”
“Why to see the void!” Her voice was full of wonder and joy, and she hugged Kolob with all her might. “To feel above this sorry planet for once in your life.”
“How many times’ve you been??
?? asked Kolob.
She hadn’t looked in Kolob’s eyes much, since their first meeting. But now, she turned to face him, her green eyes shining from under the thicket of her luscious brown hair. Kolob was stunned at her beauty, and listened intently to every word her husky voice spoke.
“Many times, and each time is a joy! The gravity is slightly lighter, everything is cleaner, brighter, and what’s more, there is constant sun. I feel . . . reborn, with every trip. My heart pumps stronger, my smile a little wider, and my desire . . .”
Kolob could barely keep upright as they walked, stumbling to and fro, so intently he studied her.
“I’ve nest of that, all roa in the sun.”
“Yes Kolob, I cast you that,” said Rhonva, straining to climb up a pile of rubble.
“Oh Rhonva, are you alright? I didn’t mean to forget you,” said Kolob as he stepped back to help Rhonva over some difficult terrain.
“It would be easy to forget me in the presence of such a charming woman.”
Nahlai turned and flashed him a gleaming smile. “You flatter me.”
Kolob was wary of Rhonva’s interest, and quickly re-engaged Nahlai in conversation.
“So, where’re you from? What were you doing in here?”
Much of their travels for that roa were filled with conversations between Kolob and Nahlai; his tenuous questions, her confident answers. Rhonva saw Kolob fall quickly in love, he could even nest his thoughts, so unused was Kolob to the emotion. Rhonva began to re-evaluate his future plans.
Lleldin will no longer be the absolute it once was with Kolob — Nahlai will see to that. They will enjoy a brief courtship before she pulls him into Rell society. We must destroy her and soon. But only after he has become thoroughly infatuated with her. He will need the drug even more after that.
Eventually, the cast-net re-established itself, as the debris above them was light and not filled with too much metal. With each cast, Kolob’s hopes brightened that an exit was near.
^What do you do for relaxation, Kolob?^ asked Nahlai.
^Nothing much. I go over to the Plazas, sometimes. Or just relax, taking in the roa.^
^Don’t you play any of the games on the cast-net?^
^No, I don’t get along well with the cast-net. It . . . well, it has always irritated me, ever since I was young.^
^Do you have a low MPR?^ she asked simply.
Kolob was stung. He had nest that question asked of him so many times in his life he had lost count. And when he offered an explanation, he could tell most didn’t believe him. He almost responded with bitter sarcasm, but restrained himself, some smarter part of him gaining control.
^No, actually I have a rather high MPR. Doctors say it is merely a problem with the translation of the cast-net signals into my cerebral cortex.^
^I’ve nest that happen to a couple of people,^ she said. ^You must feel very alone at times.^
^Yeah,^ sighed Kolob. ^But Rhonva is the one you should cesct with about cast-games. He is a champion at Tools and Fools, as well as some of those historical re-enactments.^
^Really?^
Rhonva smiled at her.^ I’ve been playing them quite a while. It keeps one’s mind focused.^
^I like it, but sometimes it’s too violent for me,^ she said, a disgusted look on her face. ^I prefer some of the alien simulations — playing the part of a revolutionary, or a champion of the people, fighting an oppressive government, falling in love with a devotee of the cause. Something epic, and romantic.^
Nahlai smiled, clasping her hands together, her hair falling back to reveal her face. Kolob was awestruck by her beauty, and was thankful he could cast, for he was sure he would be unable to speak.
^That sounds wonderful. I wish I could play it with you.^
^I’ve nest of some new tech that makes access to the cast-net easier, for those with problems. It doesn’t even require any upgrades, or surgery. I’ll see if I can get you some.^
She actually believes me . . .
^Thank you.^
^Do you ever wonder what life must be like, out there?^ she asked, leaning against a pillar for a moment, appearing as a statue of a goddess. Kolob was taken aback, one again, as he let his eyes fall over her curves, and allowed his imagination to take his hands where he would be fearful to go. He replied quickly.
^You mean on the colonies?^
^No, not them!^ she laughed. ^I mean, on an alien world, somewhere totally different from our own. What do they think, what do they do? Will they look like us? Will they be more advanced? Or will we find primitives in the galactic core?^
^I guess it should be soon that we might find out,^ cast Kolob. ^Aren’t the OLMAC ships supposed to be returning sometime in the next few cas?^
^I think I nest that — if they weren’t all destroyed,^ she cast sullenly, moving forward again. ^Actually, I nest that they were already late. But I’ll bet a lot can happen out there all alone in the vastness of the void. I guess that’s why I kind of like it here. I like being with someone, looking in another person’s eyes, feeling their touch.^ She turned, to look Kolob in his eyes. ^That, to me, is the purpose of life.^
Kolob blushed, and nodded in agreement.
^Where’s Rhonva?^ he asked, looking around. He finally found Rhonva struggling over some debris, and dropped back to help him.
^Rhonva, what are you thinking of? You’ve been strangely quiet for a while.^
^I’ve been nesting your uncontrolled thoughts, my friend. The cast-net is stronger here,^ cast Rhonva privately to Kolob.
Kolob blushed and strengthened his mind, while helping Rhonva out of a small ditch. They quickly caught up with Nahlai, Kolob struggling not to race too far ahead of Rhonva. When they did, the cast-net faded again, forcing them to use voice.
“Then again, finding such a beautiful flower in the midst of all of this destruction, would tend to do that to some men,” continued Rhonva, aloud.
Nahlai grinned at the flattery. “And you are not that man?”
“No, dear lady, I am not.”
“Rhonva has a lot of women friends,” ventured Kolob eagerly, “but he never gets too involved.”
Kolob felt more confident, sharing seemingly unpleasant details of Rhonva’s past with her.
“Most Novan women wouldn’t care about multiple partners,” said Rhonva to Nahlai. “They would encourage it.”
“I am not like most Novan women. I have beliefs, and a firm conception of what is right and wrong.”
Rhonva laughed. Kolob motioned him to be quiet.
“And what is the difference, my gentle flower?” asked Rhonva sarcastically.
Nahlai sighed, gazing at Rhonva with an expression that could only be the most extreme form of condescending pity. “It’s funny how many inflections are lost by solely using the cast-net. Humor, subtlety, sarcasm . . . strange how you seem to have mastery over them, though you are just a typical Novan! But in answer to your question; to be right is to be strong, and resolute, looking into the future with clarity and anticipation. To be wrong, is to constantly relive the past, to revisit doubt, never to dream of what lies ahead.”
“You sound as if you have faith.”
“Admittedly, my parents worshiped,” she said quickly. “They were quite devout, my father even becoming a designate. Ever since I could cast they taught me their beliefs, bade me come to Iggaraout with them. And though they both died while I was still using voice, much of their beliefs stay with me. Many of their words I find in my thoughts.”
“My parents also died when I was young,” Kolob said quietly.
Nice touch, Nahlai, thought Rhonva.
“It certainly is a life changing experience,” she added. “I have never felt safe, since then. They were the ones to whom I would run to, they told me of the wonders of the world. I have had many friends, been with many men, yet still feel so very alone, so very purposeless.”
“Ahh, I have those same thoughts.” Kolob lingered on her eyes, pausing for a moment to
concentrate on his words. The transition from cast to the spoken language was difficult for him, and only now did he feel that he could express himself properly. “I feel as though some part of myself, some kernel of self-knowledge, died with them, never to be discovered. When I nest of someone who is following in their parents’ footsteps, I am so very envious.”
Nahlai ran her hand along his arm, appreciating his sentiment. “I don’t feel as though I can stay in one place, in one job.”
“I can’t tell you how many places I have worked in.”
They both laughed, looking in each other’s eyes, as Rhonva cursed the hidden sky above.
“It’s getting late, and we have traveled a long way,” grumbled Rhonva. “Let’s rest, in that clearing over there.”
“How are you holding up?” asked Kolob, the laughter and confidence still in his voice.
“I’ll manage,” said Rhonva, with a scowl.
Rhonva was an expert at games of strategy. Before he was recruited by the TELREC, and SC-1, he was a master at the games one played on the cast-net and at an age while most were still using voice. He had a skill for seeing beyond not only his opponent’s next move, but also beyond his guile, his deceit. Before joining the TELREC he expanded to playing with people, manipulating them, controlling them as one might soldiers in an army. They danced to his every words and when they became suspicious, when they had an inkling he was just using them for his own perverse fun, he knew the right words to distract them, to refocus them. After joining the TELREC he had plenty of opportunities to hone his instinct for strategy, for manipulation. But he still liked to practice, outside of work, which is why he had so many female acquaintances.
“Oh, I am so sore, Kolob!” cried Nahlai, twisting her body with a moan. “Could you rub my shoulders?”
“Of course.”
Rhonva smiled. He could appreciate good competition, and Nahlai was shaping up to be the best.
I haven’t had a challenge like this in quite a while. Maybe I’ve even grown a little complacent. Not anymore. You will have my full, undivided attention, my sweet treat.
His mind was already forming a new strategy — computing potential courses of action, devising a way for victory. He knew the challenges to face; her being a woman, and a beautiful one, the allure of the mysterious to Kolob, and his growing disgust with himself in his addiction to lleldin. Rhonva couldn’t forget the sexual needs of a young man, and while Kolob always skirted the issue, Rhonva could sense the frustration within was growing. He often petitioned the monitors to let him take Kolob to a prostitute, but was refused every time.
Can’t spoil the purity of the Cuhli-pra . . .
“How much farther do you think?” asked Kolob. Rhonva studied maps stored in his mind.
“Looks like we are almost out of this intersection. There should be two exits two til ahead, after Ectit Plaza.”
They traveled for quite a while, mostly in silence. They were passing under the entrance of Ectit Plaza, much smaller the Illint, but still quite large. The great monuments that normally would frame its entrance above ground could be seen lying in ruins around them, including many sculptures known to most Novans, all lying hundreds of feet beneath where they were before. More bodies could be seen, crushed under great pillars, severed by glass, dismembered by falling metal. Over them lay the great carcass of the Spire Pronounce, covering the ceiling above, a huge structure that once stretched two hundred floors high. Kolob remembered the awesome presence of that building, and how far it was from the monuments that now lay beneath it. He was relieved when they had passed from beneath it, and into the bowels of Ectit Plaza.
“I’m hungry,” said Kolob.
“I am too,” said Rhonva, dejectedly. “Unfortunately, with the amount of death around us, I wouldn’t trust much in the way of food.”
Something about Rhonva’s words made Kolob stop for a moment, and look around. The world around them was a dark grey — all the flashing lights and mitter-lamps were extinguished, replaced by the dim orange glow of emergency lights. Shadows wove their way throughout the devastation, and in those shadows, Kolob could see shapes catching the light — unmoving, familiar shapes — legs, arms, even heads, all glistening in the orange glow. When they started out, the debris was quite thick, and it masked whatever lay lying underneath. But now, the realization began to hit him, the knowledge that so many were dead, and they lay all around him, silent witness to his courtship. He felt great guilt for a moment sweep over him, drowning out all those good feelings he knew just moments before. Nahlai felt his pain, and put an arm around him.
“I know. I can feel it too, especially here,” she spoke softly, while Rhonva was out of earshot. “We’ll be gone from here soon, out from all this. They are gone, Kolob. There is nothing we can do to change that.”
Kolob smiled weakly, but felt much better inside. Rhonva motioned them on.
“Look — over there.”
They all saw a small collection of shops, seemingly untouched by the devastation.
“Let’s take a look inside.”
They soon discovered there were only three shops standing; a travel agency, an implant facility, and another whose entrance was sealed, though there was a back way in.
“Look down at the floor,” said Rhonva.
“What do you mean?” asked Kolob.
“See the footprints?”
In front of them, in the dust, were dozens of footprints, leading into the shops, in through the door now sealed in front of them.
“So there are other people here,” said Kolob, trying to appear brave. “Where are they?”
“I don’t have high hopes,” said Rhonva gravely. “Come on, Kolob. We need to force this door.”
“Here, I’ll help,” said Nahlai.
The three of them shoved repeatedly against the door, succeeding eventually with getting it open.
“Oh! What is that smell?” she said, holding her hand to her mouth.
“It doesn’t smell like death, but something definitely rotten.” Rhonva peeked through the doorway. “I’ll take a quick look in.”
Nahlai held him back. “No. We all should go in. It’s safer, that way.”
They all slowly made their way in, over a collapsed beam, through piles of concrete and tables that fell down from the level above.
“I know what this place is,” said Rhonva. “And I don’t think we want to be in here.”
“What is it?” asked Kolob.
Rhonva picked up a sealed clear container on a table nearby and tossed it to Kolob. “Have a look for yourself.”
Kolob brought it back, into the light, and almost threw up when he discovered what was inside.
“What was this place, a genehancement clinic?”
“Yes. Those are, or would be, new eyes for the masses.”
Nahlai looked around, and could make out banks of storage containers — some open — labeled with words like ‘Eyes: blue’ and ‘Hands: long.’ She shook her head in revulsion.
“What a disgusting practice.”
Rhonva smiled. “It’s only disgusting because we are seeing the parts, smelling them rot. You could never tell someone that has had surgery like this. After all, who knows what you might look like with red eyes, or longer fingers?”
Kolob smiled dreamily. “I think she looks perfect.”
“Thank you, Kolob.”
“This is the triumph of the Novan society, Nahlai, don’t dismiss it so readily,” grumbled Rhonva, scanning through the plastic containers. “We have eradicated every manner of disease from our people, eliminated hereditary disabilities. We have cured obesity, learned how to repair the brain. Our entire civilization has progressed to this point where we can replace parts of the body itself, as casually as putting on new clothes. Why, we have even blended the synthetic with the organic — made skin that can alter hue in the light, bones that increase their density under stressful situations. This is progress, my dear.”
“Th
is is material progress,” she retorted, suddenly becoming angry. “For Novans can now abuse the youngest and roam free, copulate with beasts, murder wantonly so long as the person is not too important. Progress has many meanings, and many effects. There is no balance on Novan, merely indulgence in physical and mental desires.”
“What else is there?” he replied casually.
“The spirit. The body is nothing without the spirit,” she said softly, glancing at Kolob.
“And the spirit is meaningless without the body,” answered Rhonva, leering at her form.
Kolob put down the case of eyeballs. “Let’s leave. I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.”
They journeyed back into the underground labyrinth that was Ectit Plaza. Smoke grew thicker as they progressed onward, and the crackle of fire could be heard, as they hurried through still more shops. The ground was a mosaic of broken glass stained with blood, framed with broken bodies. They made their way through a hall filled with corpses, burned by a fire that extinguished long ago. Around them still blazed the mental promotions, casting in an endless drone about the best food, sex, of travel to Topside, new clothing. Up through broken escalators they climbed, down along stairs that only led to the broken ground, yawning with the void of death. Rhonva groaned often, relying more on his upper-body to navigate tight places. Kolob was nearing total exhaustion, while Nahlai feigned fatigue, though in truth she was barely challenged by the landscape.
It turned out to be a long roa of travel, with little distance covered. Rhonva assured them that not too far off was an exit that should be clear of debris. He estimated they were nearly clear of the radius of destruction, and soon, it should be easier going. But for now, the destruction wrought by the chain reaction of gas mains blowing, reactors overloading, power grids collapsing, transformed places they knew into an alien wasteland, cruelly juxtaposed with symbols of the familiar. Every now and again, an explosion would rumble through the foundation, knocking all three off their feet. After traveling for several droas, they came to a clearing, where most of the surrounding structures were still intact, and the cast-net was strong again. Blast doors installed eons ago were closed up ahead, probably for the first time since their installation. Massive and large, twenty feet high, they could withstand the impact of the most powerful weapons created.
^How do we get through them?^ asked Kolob.
Rhonva accessed his TELREC database, searching for the right access codes, or location of an access panel.
^There should be a lever somewhere around, down by the left side.^
Nahlai smiled. ^How do you know that?^
^I haven’t asked you about your past, so don’t ask me about mine. Now let’s pull off those coverings.^
They found what they were looking for quickly; a large metal bar, rusted, covered with an amazing amount of dirt, and grime. Kolob looked on it for a moment, squeamish about getting it on his hands. Rhonva merely looked at him with a frown, and they all set to work. They all pulled on it, and after a while, it gave just enough to open the doors a few feet.
^I think that’s all we’ll get out of it,^ cast Rhonva. ^Let’s go through.^
The passageway they entered was poorly lit, and gradually sloped downwards. Any hopes that they were making their way to the surface vanished after a few mroas. Kolob tried, but could feel the fear creeping upon him.
^Where is this going?^
^It’s a service tunnel,^ replied Rhonva. ^Don’t worry we’ll soon reach a junction, and there we’ll be able to follow a path to the surface.^
The light faded, leaving them in near darkness. It was slow going, as not only was the tunnel congested with piles of debris, but was also crumbling beneath them, with large, gaping holes only barely distinguishable in the dim light. Rhonva was sorely tempted to dispatch Nahlai there, to shove her into one of the holes and mentally murder her. But eventually they came out into a larger room, where a few emergency lights still cast a dim yellow hue, and he banished his dreams into the back of his mind. Rhonva led them though a tight exit, leading to another room still filled with dust and debris, as the general area must have been hard hit by secondary explosions. The light faded as they moved forward, only heightening Kolob’s anxiety. He strained in the darkness, seeing only more rubble and destruction.
^Is it me, or is the air a little thinner?^ he cast, holding a hand to his chest, straining a little to breathe.
^We have made many twists, climbing through many tight spaces.^ Rhonva brought them to a halt. ^There must not be an opening up there, but one would think any recovery effort would begin at the exits.^
^So we press on?^ asked Nahlai.
^I think we should rest, and get some sleep here, while we can still breathe relatively easily,^ cast Rhonva, as he cleared a place to sit down. “Then, it should only be a brief walk to the two exits.^
Kolob up-righted a bench, and sat down, his whole body sore. ^You’ll get no argument from me there.^
Nahlai sat next to him, running her hands over his back.
^Let me return the favor.^
Rhonva was left to lie on the ground, hard and cold. I wonder if I could kill her now . . . He couldn’t communicate well with Malhrer in this section, so thick must the rubble be above them, and would not take action like that without Monitor approval. I could wait until Kolob falls asleep and bury her under a fallen girder, or something. As he looked at her, kneading Kolob’s shoulders, she looked over at him, and smiled a wickedly sarcastic smile.
^How are you managing, Rhonva?^
^Better. I can feel my strength returning.^ In truth, he never felt worse. It was becoming harder to negate the pain. He admitted to himself that if she was a Rell agent, he didn’t possess the strength to dispatch her. In fact, he could be at her mercy.
^You should go to sleep, Rhonva,^ she cast with a saccharin sweetness. ^You have had a long roa. We all have.^
^One of us needs to keep watch,^ he replied dismissively. ^This is just the kind of event some people lust for, to take advantage of the weak and defenseless.^
Nahlai smiled. ^Don’t worry. I won’t let any harm come to you, mighty warrior.^
Rhonva smiled, and lay back, seeming to fall quickly to sleep. Kolob lay back but couldn’t sleep. Nahlai sat a few til away, looking this way and that, a jewel in the devastation. Kolob couldn’t help looking at her, fantasizing about her. For the first time in his life, a woman was interested in him.
This roa started off so badly; the need for lleldin, the fear. I thought everything was over. For a moment I thought Rhonva was dead, my only friend. I can’t believe I thought myself to be a meta! Ah well. Everything has changed, everything is different. She has such a beautiful body, and her smile! I would never believe how good it feels to have someone smile at me just for being with me . . . She rubbed my back! Oh my, to have that again. To hold her hand, to see her smile. I think Rhonva takes it for granted, these things women can do. All he cares about is the number of women, the conquests. But this moment, this beginning, I hope the feeling never ends. I just don’t know what to do next.
^Null your mind, Kolob.^
^Rhonva?!^
He looked over, and saw a glimmer come from Rhonva’s mostly closed eyes.
^Were my thoughts too strong?^
^They were strong enough,^ cast Rhonva privately. ^You never want a woman to know everything you think about her. You need to keep some secrets, to pace yourself.^
^I’m afraid . . . she won’t like me as much.^
Rhonva had waited for a question like that. If I can’t be his only friend, I’ll be his best friend, his confidant.
^You have to have faith in your instincts. Do you think she likes you? ^ I can’t believe I’m casting these adolescent thoughts!
^I think so, you’ve seen her — she even rubbed my back! She took my hand, a couple of times. I’m so happy, yet so worried.^
Kolob sat up, a smile on his face, and bliss blooming in his heart.
^Such is love, my f
riend,^ cast Rhonva. ^Nothing is ever for sure, if it means anything. I envy you, this precious time. It will never come again, in the same way. You need to relax, and enjoy it. If it fails, it fails — at least you know it can happen, and will happen again. To have a woman such as her take an interest in you is . . . quite an achievement.^
Kolob sighed. ^Thank you. You have always been such a good friend to me.^
^You know you can ask me anything, and I’ll try to be as honest as possible. Just, do me a favor?^
^What’s that?^
^Don’t reveal everything of yourself to her. You still know so little about her. There are many people who . . . well, never mind. It is wrong for me to say anything to dampen your spirits. Enjoy yourself. You are alive!^
Kolob settled back down, still smiling and excited, but managing to fall to sleep. Rhonva opened his eyes, and glanced over at Nahlai.
^Quite a hold you have over him,^ he cast privately to her, his lips curled in a hateful smile. Her beautiful eyes opened in response, her face glowing with self-satisfaction.
^Thank you.^
He stared at her intensely. ^You are quite attractive, in a primitive sort of way. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were some Novan genes in your ancestry.^
^Here we were, getting off on a good foot, and you go and insult me. How rude.^
^I should kill you,^ he cast, with an evil grin.
^Ahh, but I know your physical condition!^ Her words had a teasing arrogance that Rhonva found utterly insufferable. ^You are certainly not up to the task. I would kill you, but we do not descend to such barbaric means to accomplish our goals. And I will never allow myself to be in such a vulnerable position with you again. Such a shame.^
^You never know. You are quite attractive. We could, forget the fighting, the hatred, and just . . . be together.^
Nahlai smiled. ^I think not. You have a way, with women. I am not to be one of your conquests.^
^I will have you, one way, or another. I will make you pay for this defeat, this setback. I have worked too hard with him to let some pathetic Rellcyst slut ruin things.^
^Gutter language? I expected better.^ She turned back, and propped her head up on her elbows, looking as if she were in her bed, casting to a friend. ^Rhonva, you disappoint me! I nest you are quite the master tactician. And yet I have you cornered as we cesct. I think all those women, all those conquests, have weakened you. You spend too much time in the cast-games too. Real life is much more challenging than some game. Surrender, go back to your masters, and tell them to send someone better — an equal! I’d enjoy some real competition for a change.^
Rhonva felt his heart pound, his fists clench. ^How I’d love to wipe that pretty little smile off your face.^
^Sit back, and enjoy the ride. By the time I’m through with him, he’ll forget who you are. Now, go to sleep. You’ll need your strength, tomorrow.^
He lay back, looking over at the sleeping figure of Kolob.
I have not lost in battle in a very long time. I will not lose now.
Rhonva thought of Nahlai during the first droas of the next roa as they went in circles, trying to find a way out. The exits they thought were ahead were buried under too much debris. They doubled back, and found another tunnel leading deeper underground but with fresh air. Nahlai walked closer and closer to Kolob, holding his hand for long periods, laughing and casting, keeping a perpetual smile on Kolob’s face. Rhonva thought it would go on forever, until a new discovery ended the joy in their budding romance.
It happened as Kolob was moving some rocks, to a corridor leading up. They found an operational map from a still functioning information kiosk, and discovered two tunnels leading up to the exits they sought. As he broke through, making an entrance, a foul smell issued from the corridor beyond.
“It’s gas! Fuel — Get back!” yelled Rhonva.
They all moved far off, the air getting thick with the odor. Death hung on it as well, thick and sweet. After a few moments, Rhonva chanced an examination.
“This is not good.”
“What do you mean?” asked Kolob.
“I have been thinking about why we saw so few people, a few corpses here and there, but no one alive. These corridors are usually filled with thousands of people. Well, a great many of them are in there. Apparently, they were following the same corridor we intended, when something happened, sealing them in, and breaking a fuel main.”
“How many . . . are in there?” asked Kolob.
Rhonva looked back in.
“Unfortunately, there is a good deal of light. I’ll bet there are at least three thousand in there. All dead.”
Kolob looked down at the ground, Nahlai stroking his shoulders, as again thoughts of death rose in his mind.
Rhonva reviewed his mental map of the landscape. “The bad news is, that is the only way out for many til. It gets us closest to the surface. If anyone is to break through the debris to reach us, it will be there.”
“We must go through?” asked Kolob anxiously.
“Yes, we must.”
They worked their way through the opening, Rhonva just getting in with his damaged body, Nahlai smiling to herself at the extent of his pain, Kolob desperately trying to keep his fear contained. Then they surveyed the landscape, in all its horror, the hundreds and hundreds of shapeless figures piled on each other in the darkness. The shadows were a blessing and a curse — hiding the faces of the dead, yet obscuring their bodies, making them into a grisly carpet all three were loathe to walk on. For those two droas none of them cast. They struggled over bodies piled on top of bodies, men, women, and children, all with closed eyes and breathless mouths, seemingly gathered in a great sleep. The piles of corpses undulated in front of them like a sea and for brief moments it seemed as if they yet moved, arcing and bowing to an unheard song. Rhonva and Nahlai forgot their animosity, their rancor at one another, and helped each other, along with Kolob, over the debris and souman obstacles. Nahlai almost betrayed herself several times, so heavy was the thought that her people caused this, that her presence here was the cause of their deaths. Thoughts of past wrongs inflicted were of little solace, there was no excuse for death on this scale. Rhonva harbored suspicions of the Rell in regards to their deaths, and though vengeance was building within him, this blatant reminder of the effects of war tempered his anger, for the moment.
Kolob struggled to control the compulsion to vomit, or break down and cry. Never before had he imagined death on this scale; when it was portrayed in ment-games, though graphic, it lacked the weight of reality. In his mind he knew these people would never see their loved ones again, never enjoy the simple things, never smile, or laugh, and for some reason that caused him great pain. To die, because of an accident, innocent, is truly cruel. Death without meaning, without purpose, is tough for the living to accept.
As they got closer to the exit, they saw massive girders collapsed like matches in a pile surrounded by heavy plates of metal. The concentration of the dead was thickest there — one could imagine them pounding on the steel barrier in their final til, until the gas overcame them. Kolob had to turn, to close his eyes, so horrible was the sight.
^I know it’s hard, but this is where we need to be,^ cast Rhonva, patting Kolob on his back. ^This exit is closest to the surface, and easiest for recovery crews to access. There were few buildings around this exit, so this may be all the debris between us and the surface. The cast-net seems stronger here, but I can’t pick up anything from outside. Can any of you sense anything?^
Kolob and Nahlai concentrated, struggling to pick up any cast.
^No, nothing.^
^I can’t pick up anything either.^
^Wait, I can, a little.^ Rhonva, with his enhanced casting abilities as a TELREC, was determined to use them and any other advantage as a final playing card to try to drive a wedge between Kolob and Nahlai.^ It looks as though we will be here for a while, but crews are working on this spot to free us.^
^Any more news? Any
word as to how bad it was?^ asked Kolob apprehensively.
Rhonva paused a moment. ^Over three million suspected to be dead, with recovery crews finding one million injured so far. Rell are suspected of causing this.^
Kolob was visibly shocked, and though Nahlai had been down here many times before, she never could get used to the heavy number of casualties. The cast-net was erratic and forced them to switch back to voice.
“This is what they are capable of,” angrily spoke Rhonva, his hands punctuating every phrase. “We nest words every now and again of reconciliation, of joining together, once again, as Iqui. We nest them proffer words of peace, cast of the animosity of the TELREC. And then this! And this is only the most overt of their transgressions against us. For thousands of cas they have conspired against us, tried time and again to disrupt our way of life! They have no respect for us, no respect for our way of life. They see it as their duty to convert us, to reveal to us the sinful nature of our life, and the holiness of theirs. Hypocrites! Who values life more now? All they think of is the Cuhli-pra, their jealousy at his creation, their jealousy of our savior! They only wish the divine path was revealed to them! Look around Kolob; look on the victims of Rell arrogance. They held no guns, wielded no swords, cast no propaganda against the state. Their only crime was living, working, breathing — living life! Their only crime was to be Novan. Don’t you agree, Nahlai? I remember someone casting ‘but we do not descend to such barbaric means to accomplish our goals.’ How empty, how false those words seem now!”
Nahlai, filled with hatred, grudgingly yielded to him on that point. “They committed no crime.”
“And yet the Rell judged them guilty. Guilty!” Rhonva screamed at her, heedless of Kolob’s presence. “Guilty of casting, guilty of loving, guilty of thinking they could exist without Rell guidance, Rell religion. Look on them! Look at the children! How can any race that kills children by the thousands, claim to be righteous? How can any race that kills the weak, and the infirm, claim to be of the divine? I will not speak words of vengeance, not here, not now, but it is in my heart. The sight of so many of our brothers, and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, lying dead at our feet, having died in fear and misery, ignites such a need for revenge no words of peace could ever extinguish!”
Rhonva stood, staring at her with clenched fists, and fury in his eyes, and Nahlai felt fear at what he could be capable of, even in his weakened condition.
“Rhonva, we can’t do this,” said Kolob, trying to calm him. “We can’t stay here. Death is too much in the air.”
Rhonva stepped closer to her. “Where are the Rell now? Where is their help? Do they help us dig for survivors; do they give us medicine, or care? No. A truly holy people give of themselves, even to their enemies, and that is their own reward.”
“What of the Novan?” Nahlai could not contain herself any longer. “Haven’t they committed atrocities against the Rell over the millennia?”
Kolob looked on her with eyes of surprise.
“Nahlai, I know not what the past held,” he said, with conviction. “I only see the here and now, and it is filled with the muffled cries of Novan dead, not Rell dead. It is filled with the tears of the innocent, Novan innocent, dead at the hands of Rell.”
Kolob turned, with disappointment on his face, and walked back to the entrance. Nahlai turned to face Rhonva.
^That’s right, my pretty,^ cast Rhonva privately, ^I have many cards yet to play. A beautiful body may get you the body, but never the soul.^
Kolob kept his distance from Nahlai following that outburst. Though he never considered himself a patriot, the sight of all that death changed him. He saw things more as black and white, good and evil, Rell and Novan. It deeply saddened him that this woman could, in any way, sanction the death they just witnessed.
They set up camp about a hundred milli-til from the opening to the large chamber. Every half droa, one would go in, to the debris at the exit, to listen for any progress. Nahlai tried, over the long wait, to engage Kolob in cesct but he just wasn’t interested. Kolob cast to Rhonva on a private channel.
^She seemed so nice!^ cried Kolob. ^I just can’t believe she would say anything like that.^
^I’m sorry you’re disappointed. Sometimes life is like that. You meet someone, who captures your heart in an instant but then, once you get to know what’s under that skin, behind those eyes, you see something completely different.^
^You should have nest me to watch out for her,^ he grumbled with a deep sigh.
^It wasn’t my place to do that. Not for anyone who would call themselves your ‘friend.’ I couldn’t rob anyone of those first few moments of blooming love. So things didn’t turn out the way you hoped — that doesn’t diminish those first moments, does it?^
Kolob sighed, kicking at a piece of debris. ^No, I guess you’re right.^
^Besides, you’ll get over it,^ cast Rhonva with a smile. “I’m sure you two will have some good times together.^
Kolob shrugged. ^I couldn’t do anything with her now!^
^That’s just the anger of the moment casting. Women have a way of soothing that anger, and Nahlai is already trying.^
^She’s been casting at me for the past droa.^
^You see? Give in, and let things take their course. No matter what happens though, you’ve learned a valuable lesson this roa. Things, or people, are never what they seem. Do not trust her completely, in anything. No matter what she tells you, no matter how sweetly she says the words, let doubt color your perception of her. I will always be there to help you, if you want, and if I can.^
^Thank you — you don’t know how much your friendship means to me. I am so tired.^
^Get some sleep, Kolob. I’ll keep watch for a while.^
As Kolob fell asleep, Rhonva could sense that the recovery effort was getting closer. He estimated in six droas, meta would make it to the entrance in the chamber.
Finally. This has gone on long enough. I need a shower, some good food, and a couple of women in my bed.
^Thinking of the future?^
Nahlai’s cast startled him out of his reverie.
^Yes. Of when the Rell are extinct, and our world overflows with love and peace.^
^That’s funny, Rhonva. Tell me another lie.^
^You know, this is probably the last time we will sit together, in peace. When next we meet, it will probably be on the field of battle.^
^Always fighting and killing?^ asked Nahlai casually. ^It seems to be a condition.^
^You are not tested in battle?^
^I have seen more than my share! It is just that I do not have the need for conquest, for violence. I prefer peace, but will engage in warfare to safeguard that peace.^
^So you are not ashamed of things you have done?^ asked Rhonva, turning on his side.
Nahlai was null for a moment. ^Of course, we soldiers have all done things we are not proud of.^
^Tell me. What are you not proud of?^
^Why should I?^ she asked, laughing a little.
^Indulge me, my sweet.^
Nahlai paused. ^Are you familiar with a TELREC agent named Hols Lundin?^
^You wouldn’t be trying to ascertain to whom my allegiances lie, would you, my sweet treat?^
Nahlai shrugged. ^My people think you are with SC-1, but I believe you are a TELREC. You could be a member of one of the hundreds of minor insurgent groups on Novan, but you have gotten this close to the Cuhli-pra, which would need either TELREC audacity or Novan sanction, over this long term. Regardless, any one of those groups would have knowledge of an agent as formidable as Hols.^
Rhonva relaxed, lying on his back, propping his head on his hands. ^Who could forget Hols! One of the greatest of agents! If not for his death, well, things might be different. He was quite powerful.^
^And deadly. He single-handedly killed more Rell agents in a cas than the rest of the TELREC in a decade.^
^He was . . . single-minded,^ cast Rhonva. ^He hated the Rell.
And the Iganinagi. Something happened to him, or his family, that caused that hatred. I’m sure those TELREC Monitors know. But no one else knows for sure.^
^Well, we had enough of him. He was marked for assassination.^
^But he died in a hospital!^ slammed Rhonva, turning to face her. ^He had some breakdown, some mental condition. Everyone, well, every agent I work with, knows of that.^
^Strange isn’t it, considering how strong he was, mentally. He was known to be able to take on dozens of agents in mental combat, and walk away as the only one living.^
^Yeah, I got some intelligence about his death. It was said that scans were inconclusive, but it was determined he became unbalanced, that his mind couldn’t keep up with the demands he placed on it. So . . . you had something to do with his death?^
^Yes. I worked on him for several cas,^ cast Nahlai, remembering her past. ^I was a secret he shared with no one. I shared his bed, I shared his soul. He did nothing, thought nothing without me. He loved me as he did no other, with a love few men could ever comprehend. He would have placed me above the TELREC, above Mal, above his friends, above even his family. I even learned of his secret, what drove him to hunt the Rell so mercilessly.^
^And?^ asked Rhonva, genuinely interested.
^And then I told him who I was, and what we, the Rell, were doing. I told him everything. This woman he confided in, and trusted, who knew every little thing about him. You should have seen his face,^ Nahlai paused for a moment, thinking. ^He died that night, looking at me, at least his soul did. His body is what you saw die.^
^How fucking sentimental. And why are you ashamed? I would have thought it would be a great victory.^
^I saw his face,^ she cast, stressing her words. ^I knew his secrets! I didn’t just betray him; I violated him in the worst way possible. To see a man die is bad. But to see a man’s soul be crushed in front of you, to feel his mind grow black, well, it was difficult. He had good reason to hate us. He thought we mistreated his family pretty badly. But, such are the casualties of war.^
^You’re a romantic, aren’t you? Is that the most you’re ashamed of?^
Nahlai smirked. ^And what of you?^
^You couldn’t handle the things I’ve done, and are doing!^
^You mean, like corrupting and emasculating the savior of your people, the Cuhli-pra?^
^Funny!^ He leaned back and rubbed his eyes, letting out a long yawn. ^Yes, I have done much worse. I’ve peeled the skin off four cas old children in front of their parents, just to teach them a lesson. I’ve beheaded fathers in front of their daughters, and made them kiss the lips of the severed head. I’ve drained the blood out of whole families, just so their enemy can feast on their remains. Why, once, I even fed a man parts of his wife, then his own body, until he died from loss of blood.^
Nahlai was frozen, her mouth open, staring at him.
^Yes, my pretty, I knew Hols Lundin’s secret — I was there!^ cast Rhonva with glee, scurrying close to her. ^With his mother and father, when he was but ten. I won’t tell you who I did that for, I like to keep pretty women like you in the dark. But yes, I killed his parents, right in front of him. It was one of my first important assignments, a chance for me to show what I could do. We saw the potential for greatness within him, and felt he needed to be focused on the elimination of Rell agents on Novan. As I killed his parents, I taped his eyelids open, and bound his head, so he would be forced to watch it all. And best of all, I disguised myself as a Rell! I knew two of your agents were watching that family, so I killed them, and sent a fake download as to their actions. To everyone else it appeared as a Rell murder. Only a select few people besides myself knew otherwise. You should have seen the sadness turn to abject hatred in his eyes. I saw a part of him die that roa, as you did. But I saw the other Hols be born, baptized in the burning fire of his parents blood. You don’t know how hard it was to lock off that memory, to keep it safe, when I would see him occasionally on the streets of Novan. Oh, how I would laugh, when I was alone . . .^
Nahlai lowered her head in sadness.
^You are quite beautiful when you are sad. Oh, I could take you right now, on this floor with corpses only a few meters away.^
He reached into her mind, an image of himself grabbing an image of herself.
^Get out . . .^
^I am quite strong, my sweetest of meats,^ cast Rhonva, pressing on. ^You know, I think you actually fell in love with Hols.^ He descended deeper and deeper into her mind, as she started to throw up safeguards and barriers. His progress slowed, but he kept pressing forward.
^I never let my guard down,^ cast Nahlai, fortifying her mind. ^Emotion does not compromise my duty.^ His hands mentally surrounded her body, ripping off clothes she kept projecting onto herself. She tried to push him away, but felt she had no strength. Before she realized, she was lying on her back, Rhonva spreading her legs.
^So tender. So many secrets to share with me. What are they? You will tell me, before I am through.^
The face in front of him calmed, and smiled. Her eyes widened, her lips drawn into a sneer.
^The mind is a tricky place, Rhonva,^ she cast, as he found himself descending through a now ghostly form of her, into a darkening void. ^Traps are everywhere, and they can be so very deadly.^
He began to fall, feeling his consciousness slip away. In til, he pulled himself out of her mind, and back into his own, looking at her just beyond the sleeping body of Kolob.
^So this is how it is to be? To the death, between us?^ demanded Nahlai, her mind poised for battle.
^Yes, my sweet treat. You were not invited; you crashed this party, and are trying to run away with the guest of honor. I have worked too long on this one to let some pathetic little Rellcyst slut steal my prize, and my future! When I am through with you, you will beg me to take you, to sex you, anything to stop the pain I will cause you!^
^Ahhh . . . a Novan boast. There is usually so little to back it up. Go to sleep, mighty warrior. You have too little strength to threaten me now.^
They both laid back, listening to the sounds around them, thinking about a future unappealing and bleak. They were roused by Kolob, several droas later.
^Do you hear something?^
All three sat up, and listened to the other room.
^Don’t you hear that Rhonva? Machinery!^
Off in the distance, the sound of scraping and drilling could just be heard.
^Let’s hurry, before they move on, or stop for the roa.^
They hurriedly ventured to the sounds, and saw the light stream in where meta were digging, near to the exit. It took another droa to climb up, all three helping each other up the ropes, over the debris. Light cascaded through a large entrance through which people beckoned them to come. Meta could be seen swarming around the exit, hefting large amounts of debris with their metal hands. Kolob, before ascending, took one last look back at the thousands of bodies lost in eternal sleep.
“I shall never forget this roa, these people.”
Nahlai stuck close to Kolob, and heard him utter those words. This is going to be harder than I thought.
After they emerged, they gathered just outside the construction periphery.
^Well, Kolob, an experience like this at least has some good in it,^ cast Nahlai.
^What do you mean?^
^Well, it brought all of us together,^ cast Nahlai, holding his hand, making him smile. ^And, it makes one appreciate life, a little more. Don’t you think?^
^I agree with you, Nahlai.^
She glanced back at Rhonva, as she embraced Kolob in a hug.
^You caused a great man to suffer needlessly,^ cast Nahlai privately to Rhonva, ^and have the souls of the Rell he killed on your conscience. One roa, those souls, and his, will be avenged.^
^You are welcome to try. Many have before you, and all have failed.^
She turned back to Kolob, a beautiful smile on her lips. ^Do you think you’d like to see Topside with me?^
Kolob remem
bered their earlier cesct. ^I would like to see Topside, and much more.^
^How about in six roa? After your shift?^
^Yes, I think I’d like that.^
Rhonva put his arm around Kolob’s shoulder, as they walked away.
^Kolob, I should be getting another shipment in tonight. I’ll stop by in about six roa, and —^
^That’s alright. I don’t think I’ll be needing it.^
^Are you sure? The affections of a pretty lady have made everything perfect for you?^
Kolob smiled. ^I know it might change in a dcas, a roa, maybe even in a droa. But sometimes, when you see thousands of your own people dead before you, when you walk through the devastation we just did, and when you see hope in the shape of a beautiful woman what has so much in common with you, sometimes you think you can do better, and at least have to try. Do you know what I mean, Rhonva?^
Kolob moved away from him, feeling some change happening within him, something that lifted him, for a moment, out of Rhonva’s spell of dependence.
^Yeah. I guess I do,^ he grumbled. ^I’ll see you later, Kolob.^
^I’ll cast to you later.^
Rhonva watched him turn away, and head off into the distance, under the hovering CRODAM cars, the hundreds of cast-net reporters, Leviathan officials, all ignoring him as if he were just a cipher, and not the long awaited Cuhli-pra.
Curse you Nahlai. One roa, you’ll pay for this.
Chapter 17