Second Exodus

By Victor Arteaga

Flames licked across the front of the shuttle. Sunset and Arta gripped the edges of their seats with enough force to threaten their very atoms with compression. Her teeth rattled in her skull as the shuttle broke through the atmosphere. The humans muttered some words related to the flight, but Sunset was too busy reciting the Mantra of Solitude her father had taught her to care. The shaking ceased, her stomach rose into her throat, and her body pressed into the seat as the craft leveled out.

"We're at cruising altitude now," Sergeant Greene said.

He unstrapped himself from the chair and stood. The red of his uniform shifted to a mottled pattern of dark blues to match the undulating waves of the ocean below. Jun also stood but left the purple of her uniform in place.

"Next moves?" Sergeant Greene asked. He lifted a panel on the wall and pulled out a machine like Román had that let him breathe as Sunset did. Then he lifted a long device held in both hands. He gripped it by a handle, and the long tube attached to it and other outcroppings flashed blue. The bands on his wrists emitted a chirp.

“What is that?” Sunset asked.

“It’s called a rifle.”

"We must gather the rest of the Ki'Tak in the region and send them to a holy place. The Resting Pools," Arta said. He examined the two spears he brought, his own and Sunset's. He chose Sunset’s and set his own down against the wall.

"Roger that. I'll set the scanners to plot our best course using your bio-tags," Jun said.

"I still need a weapon," Sunset said. Sergeant Greene led her to the back of the shuttle, pressed his hand against a panel, and a long section of the wall flipped down. Inside gleamed a new spear made entirely of metal. The triangular tip was longer than hers and the base had two prongs on the same sides as the sharp edge. She gripped it, and the cool metal beneath her fingers shifted to fit her hand perfectly. She made a light coo- and purring sound in amazement. Sergeant Greene smiled.

"Glad you like it." He turned back to the other two. Arta hummed his growing displeasure.

"Course set," Jun said.

"I believe from here on out, the best course of action will be to have us approach the Ki'Tak alone first. Sunset's presence would be jarring enough, and we don't know how many know of your existence yet."

"Understood," Sergeant Greene said. "We'll—"

"Not understood, actually," Jun said. "I will come along with the two of you to prove we are not the threat. Instead of trusting your word, they can see for themselves that there are otherworldly people who are here to help. I think that would lend more weight to your arguments that they should congregate. Otherwise, why bother believing you? If Sunset is an outlier and, judging by the divisive nature of your relationship with the Lu'Tak, I will go to provide weight to your argument. Sergeant Greene will fly cover in case we get tracked down by the Cryptobots."

"I like this plan," Sunset said. Arta hissed through his teeth but said no more. "How do we get down?"

Sergeant Greene smiled. He tossed the breathing device to Jun and led them to the empty space in the middle of the shuttle.

"Computer, lower us to drop altitude."

"Drop al—?" Sunset howled as the craft plummeted and she floated off the floor for a second before coming back down.

"Ready for drop in three!" Sergeant Greene announced as he went back to his chair.

Jun grasped both Arta and Sunset's hands.

"Two!"

"What is the mean—" Arta said.

"Drop!"

The floor fell open below them. Arta and Sunset's screams were swallowed by the rush of air as they fell. Jun let go of Sunset's hand. She flailed and screeched. Jun pointed her hands at the water and spoke a command. A blast of energy hit the water, breaking the surface just before they hit, and the ocean swallowed them up. The water buffeted them for a few seconds before Sunset and Arta righted themselves. Jun had the device in her mouth, and her boots shifted into flippers. She told them this was the first location, then pulled up a digital map that floated above her wrist that showed the path they would take. Arta blew a stream of bubbles, then led toward the foundation of an island just ahead of them. Jun managed to keep up this time, unlike Román. As they neared the opening, Sunset’s grip tightened on her new spear. She knew how this would go.

A young Ki'Tak, perhaps a bit older than Sunset, swam out to meet them as they neared the mouth of an underground cave. He bared his fangs. The short dagger in his hand flashed as he whipped it out from behind his back. He lunged, but not at Sunset—his target was Arta.

Sunset whipped the spear through the water, using the haft to smack the young Ki'Tak's hand. It yelped and stared at her.

"Peace, young warrior. We come with grave warning to your chief," Arta said.

"No, you come bearing death. We have heard of these creatures, and that you helped them destroy your island. We will not allow you to come any nearer."

"If death follows me, it is only because I lead the race to warn you. We must congregate at the Resting Pools. These humans and this child will help us survive against the t’ozah that have claimed the skies."

"How can this abomination be of any help?" The young man jabbed his dagger at Sunset. She aimed her spear at him.

"Because she will be the bridge between the Lu'Tak and the Ki'Tak. When the t’ozah claim the world, she will help create the peace that will save our species."

"Why bring her?" The youth pointed his weapon at Jun.

"I come as proof that we are here to help. That we can provide safety against the t’ozah and even a means to defeat them."

That piqued the youth's interest. "I will relay your message to my chief. If we can defeat the Lu'Tak's t’ozah then that is worthy of an audience. I will see it done."

And so it went throughout their trek. From island to island, the conversations were little different until they strayed farther from Arta’s island, where their message was met with greater hostility directed toward Sunset instead of Arta.

As the trio made their way with arms, legs and bodies aching from the constant travel, to their last location, Sunset halted them. "We are on the edge of the Lu'Tak's territory. Beware, as these waters cannot be trusted."

"Copy that," Jun said.

She relayed the information to Sergeant Greene, whose shuttle floated out of sight beyond the ocean's surface. This time, the elder of the island greeted them as they emerged onto the shore. She regarded Arta with familiar respect and Jun with professional curiosity. Her hostility to Sunset was tame by comparison the other chieftains they'd met; she offered a formal greeting instead of calling her an abomination. She didn’t need much convincing and agreed to meet at the Resting Pools. She admired Sunset's spear before taking off to gather her people.

As the trio dove back in the water from the shore, they began the trek to the Resting Pool as well. Sunset felt a nagging prickle in her neck. She doubted they would be able to—

The trill of a Lu’Tak battle cry interrupted her thoughts. Four of them came rushing up from below. Jun fired a blast from her sidearm at one of them. The heat sent a trail of bubbles before it hit her mark. The other three barreled toward Sunset. She bared her fangs, uttered her own guttural war cry and held out her spear.

Arta swam to intercept one. The Lu'Tak swerved to avoid getting hit by Arta's thrust. The remaining two attacked Sunset in unison. She rushed between them to split the attack, and slashed one with the claws on her hand. It laughed as her attack ripped its flesh. Without stopping, she curved up and powered toward the surface. They gave chase, the injured lagging behind the other. The lead hurled his spear at her. She twisted and dodged. He pulled it back using a length of twine.

Almost there. With a last grunt of effort, she breached the surface. She twisted around in the air, droplets pattering on the surface. The Lu'Tak broke just after her. She spun the spear in one hand, knocking away a wild thrust. As she plunged back to the ocean, she drove the tip of her spear through the chest of the one she'd injured. It screamed as blood spurt from its mouth. The other tried to bring the spear down on her, but Sunset used her own spear to twist the impaled Lu'Tak around and blocked the blow with its body. She yanked her spear out, and a plume of purple blinded the other. She flanked the remaining Lu’Tak and stabbed him through the back. Without pause or ceremony, she dove back to find Arta.

Jun pressed her hand against his arm and wisps of purple blood floated around his shoulder.

"Let me see," Sunset said.

Jun pointed to a gouge on his back. She tapped the wrist band and signaled for Sunset to wait. Moments later, a box with a propeller came down to them. Jun applied a bandage to his back and Arta sighed in relief.

"We cannot dally further. The one who attacked me escaped."

"How did you not shoot him?" Sunset raged at Jun.

"Excuse me for tending to Arta's injuries," Jun said.

Sunset bared her fangs and blew a stream of bubbles through her gills. "We must carry him now." She gripped one of his arms and Jun took the other. They sped off to the Resting Pools.

Arta guided them since Sunset had no idea where the place was, nor had she heard of it. Her mother might have been able to tell her, but there was no helping that now. They arrived at the largest island Sunset had ever seen. On shore, they swam through a delta, and then up a freshwater river. It felt odd, almost wrong, on her skin not to taste the salt. The river dove underground, and Jun's wrist machines provided light for them to navigate until they reached a deep, chilly lake. Once they rose to the surface, Arta led them to a staircase out onto the rocky surface.

Above them, sunlight pierced through a canopy with hanging vines, vibrant flowers, and large green petals above a massive opening in the stone ceiling. Wind rustled the vines, and a few petals fell to the placid, crystalline water.

"Oh, a cenote!" Jun said. "We have structures like these on my planet as well."

Hundreds of Ki'Tak lined the tiered, sloping stone shore chatting, waiting, and eating. The elders of each group conversed among themselves, denoted by different markings or items worn on their bodies. Sunset sought a corner away from the crowd. One of the other Ki'Tak caught sight of her and said something to her friends. A hush rolled through the group like a swelling tide. Arta cleared his throat.

"Thank you for gathering here, and please forgive my tardiness. We came across a patrol of Lu'Tak. I'm afraid we haven't much time. You have all heard my pleas already, so I'll not waste your time repeating them. This woman—" He gestured to Jun. "—has the ability to take us out of this world, to swim the heavens themselves and find us a new home."

Chaos erupted with shouts, clicks, hisses, and growls. Sunset slunk further into her corner. She'd never seen that kind of collective anger but knew it couldn’t lead anywhere good.

Arta slammed his spear down and shouted, "Enough!" The entire gathering shushed, though a few hissed at him. "You have not seen the devastation wrought by the t’ozah. I have. They will destroy us. All of us. They have claimed the sky, and it will not be long before they claim all of our waters. We cannot stay."

"Liar!" someone yelled. "The t’ozah cannot traverse the skies. If we cannot then neither can they. Nothing can swim through air!"

"Sergeant. I think it's time you made an appearance," Jun said into her wrist. She stood next to Arta. "Esteemed Ki'Tak. I come from another world, and I can prove to you that we can swim through the sky. Look." She pointed up. The shuttle descended through the trees, its thrust whipping the calm surface of the lake into a frenzy.

Half the children shrieked and hid behind their parents, gills flared all the way open in terror, while the others gawked and cooed in wonder; the adults reacted little differently. Many took defensive stances, brandishing spears and clubs, and stepped between the ship and their young. Others sprinted behind outcroppings, and some scrambled for purchase on the walls nearest them. Sergeant Greene maneuvered the shuttle to land on an edge just within sight. The side door opened, and he stood and waved.

"You see? The t’ozah have stolen the technology to fly, and we must leave our home so that our people will survive."

The elder woman that was their last contact stood next to Arta. She regarded Jun with a critical stare and series of quiet clicks.

"You will not force us to assimilate?" she asked.

"No, we do not believe in assimilation, rather cooperation and co-existence."

"My name is Boltacn. It means power through silence, or Humility."

"It's an honor to meet you, Humility."

Sunset’s ears pricked at a splash. She didn't remember seeing anyone dive into the water. She scanned the water. A ripple glided from the middle of the lake.

The shuttle's engines roared to life and the craft bolted away. Seconds later, a blast shook the entire cavern. Chunks of rock fell and crushed several Ki'Tak below them. Arta, Humility, and Jun ducked. From the water, dozens of Lu'Tak attacked. They rushed the Ki'Tak wielding advanced weaponry, firing energy blasts. The warriors of the Ki'Tak hurled spears back at them. Some hit their marks sending purple bodies splashing back into the water. Jun fired off several blasts.

A Lu'Tak breached the lake by Sunset. She screeched her battle cry, dodged its blast with a forward roll, shifted her grip to the bottom of the shaft, and thrust the point into its throat as she rose.

Another roar of screaming engines shook her teeth as several t’ozah passed over the Pools. Arta ordered Humility to join her tribe and fight back against the Lu'Tak. A child wailed as it pulled on the arm of a fallen Ki'Tak woman. Rage boiled over in Sunset’s stomach. Her gills rattled with a guttural growl. A pair of Lu'Tak sauntered to the child, short blades raised. Sunset sprinted over the ground and screamed to draw their attention. They spun. In a single swipe, Sunset whipped the tip of her spear through both their necks. Another Lu'Tak aimed and fired a blast from a tube-like weapon. Sunset ducked, picked up the child, and carried it to another Chief that hurled her spear at Sunset’s attacker.

"Command, this is Dr. Jun— Understood. Backup is on the way. Shuttles are being deployed and the navy is sending fighters. They're—"

An explosion lit up the sky. Fire rained down through the top of the cenote as pieces of the destroyed craft splashed into the water. The logo of the PLAS flew among the debris. Jun's eyes widened.

Arta grabbed Sunset's arm. "Come.” He dove into the water.

Jun recovered and fired at another wave of Lu'Tak coming out of the water. In the air, a t’ozah hovered in the opening and its guns brightened. A green blast lanced through it. The craft fired its plasma blasts, but off-target. The balls of light collided with the rock wall, melting two holes into it as it careened sideways and fell out of sight.

"Now!" Arta yelled.

Sunset jumped into the lake. They dove to a depth where light barely reached. Arta turned to Sunset. His eyes bulged, and he pulled her behind him. The point of a spear tore through his back. Sunset screamed, circled around, and slew the ambushing Lu'Tak.

Arta started to sink. Sunset grabbed him, and he raised a feeble hand to point to an opening in the wall. She pulled him up and through the hole. A brief swim later and Sunset dragged Arta onto a smooth surface. In the small cavern, Sunset could still stand at full height. The landing was dotted by large boulders of varying shapes and sizes. Arta spoke a command through gasping, ragged breaths. Something in the wall started to glow red.

"Help me up," Arta said.

Sunset lifted him up, and he winced and groaned as the spear’s broken haft shifted in his chest. It must have just barely missed his heart. The old man was lucky, she thought. He lifted a hand to the pulsing light. Sunset could make out the visage of a Ki'Tak face on it. Arta pressed it, smearing purple blood over it. A mechanical twang echoed.

The rock wall shuddered, shifted, and broke. A current of red electricity ran down the wall, across the ground, and energized all of the boulders, seven in total. They vibrated, hummed, and cracked. Dust puffed out of them as they shifted in shape. The wall broke completely, and the button disappeared into the chest of a towering robotic Ki'Tak that had been encased in the stone. The other rocks shifted out of their transformations to take the shape of smaller versions of the same large robot. Sunset bared her fangs and spun, taking a defensive posture around Arta. The largest robot knelt and scanned Arta.

"Guardian, you have woken us. We are at your command."

"Protect the Ki'Tak. Lu'tak and t’ozah battle above. There are other unknown life forms,” he took a labored breath. “They are allies. Assist them in evacuating the Ki'Tak."

"And of this hybrid?" It regarded Sunset.

"She is the future. The bridge between the Lu and Ki'Tak. Her safety is your prime objective. I pass guardiansh—" He winced and closed his eyes. He opened them again and gasped. "Guardianship to her." Arta wheezed his last breath, then lay still. The bot emitted a loud tone and scanned Sunset with its glowing red eyes.

"Confirmed, new Guardian accepted. We are at your service."

Sunset dropped her spear and fell to her knees. Arta still held her father's weapon and tears fell down her cheeks. She cursed both her father and Arta for dying as she leaned in to close his eyes.

"Awaiting orders, Guardian." She swiped the salty streaks from her face, grabbed both spears, and stood. How could she be anyone’s future?

"We must leave Takarra. Take me to the surface."

The bot knelt and Sunset clambered onto its back. A handle popped out of its back and the seven others dove into the water. They swam up to the surface so fast Sunset almost lost her grip on the bot's back. They breached the water and, in an arcing fall, landed on the shore. The bots engaged the remaining Lu'Tak with lines of bright lights and flashing blades, slaying them with frightening efficiency.

Jun panicked and aimed her sidearm, but dropped it when she saw Sunset riding on the back of the large one. She dropped down from her perch. The Lu'Tak sounded a retreat.

Above the sounds of plasma fire, jets roaring and streaking through the skies continued unabated. Sunset ordered her bots to the surface to assist the humans. The remaining Ki'Tak gawked at the bots, and Humility wiped blood from her face. From the surface, the bots launched a fusillade of artillery at the flying t’ozah.

"New friends?" Jun asked. She looked around. "Where's Arta?" Sunset gave Jun her father’s spear. Jun grasped Sunset's forearm. "I'm sorry. We will bring him back, I promise." She lifted a hand to her ear. "No ma'am, the bots on the ground are friendly... I know... Thank you, I'll relay." Jun sighed. "The Cryptobots are retreating. They've learned to outmaneuver orbital strikes, so our fighters had to engage in dogfights. With them gone, the shuttles can descend. Let's get everyone topside."

It didn't take much convincing to get the remaining Ki'Tak onto the shuttles. Sergeant Greene welcomed Sunset back. She was relieved to see his was not the craft that was destroyed and was the last to board along with the robots. She still didn't know what they were called. They shifted into their stone form to fit inside, save for the largest, who could only kneel to get onboard. The increasingly familiar push of the shuttle rising to the heavens brought with it a wave of relief. Amid gasps of delight, wonder, and fear from the Ki’Tak, Sunset sat against the bulkhead next to the bots.

"What do I call you?" she asked the big one.

"I was once given the name Tak'Ana, but you may call me what you like."

"I think I'll go with Ana. You're not really Takarran."

"Agreed."

"How many of there are you?"

"We are all that remain."

Sunset sighed. Jun sat down next to her and returned her father’s spear. Sunset fought down the grief threatening to steal her breath. "Even if they are the only ones left, I think we're going to need all the help we can get, and near-sentient robotic life is quite the ally. If they have the same capabilities as..." Her voice faded out as Sunset let herself drift into her thoughts. Too many unnamed emotions weighed her chest. She thumbed over the grooves of her father's spear. She closed her eyes and as exhaustion overtook her, she whispered the Words of Serenity for her father's soul.

< Dawn

The Sunset Chronicles

Morning Twilight>

To the extent possible under law, Victor Arteaga has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to The Sunset Chronicles. This work is published from: United States.