Morning Twilight

By Victor Arteaga

Sunset pressed her palm to the metal portion of a tubular case. Arta’s still face rested beneath a glass pane. With his expression calm, and dressed in the finest chieftain’s garb, he epitomized Ki’Tak royalty. Humility rested her weathered hand over Sunset’s and placed her other on her stomach. Unsure of what that meant, Sunset followed suit. The empty room’s hum filled the space between unspoken words until Humility sighed.

“He was right about you.”

Sunset bristled and let out a small growl from her chest. “I got him killed.”

“Yet saved the rest of us and carried us to the heavens. To beyond the heavens.” Sunset hissed. “Child, I do not agree with your creation.” Sunset pulled her hand out from under Humility’s. “The feud between Lu and Ki’Tak runs deep and putrid and yet you exist as proof that combined, we can be magnificent. Perhaps you are what we have always been meant to be. I suspect Arta believed that as well.” Humility studied Arta’s form and a rattling hum escaped her gills. Her gaze turned toward the door where Sunset’s spears rested against the wall. “Your father’s spear is well-made.”

Sunset flicked an ear toward Humility. “I suppose.”

“The Lu’Tak forge their own spears as youths. Each one is unique.”

“It did not suit me.”

“Nor should it have. It was made for him and him alone. The spear given you by these…” She paused to find the right word. “Shore-fliers, is not for you either.”

Sunset chuckled and flattened her ears. “It is made to fit whoever wields the weapon. Its edges are sharp, haft is sturdy, and it does not slip. Try it.”

Humility grumbled and refused. She shared her mother’s distaste for technology. Hypocrites. Suited them just fine to board a ship that took them into the heavens, but they wouldn’t touch something like a spear. Sunset frowned and crossed her arms. Arta would have tried it. Or perhaps not. He pushed her to keep her father’s spear. She would have to find another way to honor her father without his body. Her shoulders hunched as she leaned forward.

“Come, child. We must perform the rites for Arta and you must Speak for your father.” Humility turned and strode out the door.

Sunset lingered next to the old chief, and then followed. She grabbed her father’s spear. The weathered sections of the wood showed where he’d kept his grip. Years of her own training laid wider, more shallow grooves over his. His voice echoed in her memories: the barks of discipline, hisses of disappointment and the infrequent—hard-earned—coos of praise. A sharp pain sparked within her chest. When she held the weapon with both hands, her resolve crumbled and she collapsed. Flashes of his hard kindness tumbled through her memories. He chased her around their cave, making scary noises as she squeaked and warbled with glee and terror all at once. She dove into the water and then surfaced, expecting him to give chase, but instead he shouted harsh reprimands while clutching his bad leg. Only then did she realize his rancor came from his inability to give proper chase due to his injury. Foolish girl, he’d say before limping away leaving Sunset to wonder what she had done wrong.

The door opened and a smooth Takarran hand pressed into Sunset’s back. It’s soft, nurturing pressure was a familiar salve. Then as before, her mother’s caress soothed the pain brought by her father.

Temerity kneeled and Sunset shifted to lean against her, letting the flood of grief, anger and sorrow pour out. A wailing cry of anguish echoed in the sparse room. Ripples of spasms wracked Sunset’s body. Temerity’s grip tightened and she stifled her own sorrow by pressing her head against the top of her daughter’s. Sunset’s chest heaved, her voice rasped and nausea threatened to rise within her. She let the grief ride its course until her shoulders slumped from exhaustion and her tears stopped flowing.

Sunset collected herself, but remained curled up next to her mother.

“Humility says Father made this spear himself.”

“He did.”

“Did he want me to make my own spear like him?”

Temerity sighed and pushed air through her gills at the same time. “No. His life was harsh, and after you were born, he didn’t want the same. Forging a spear is no easy task. Many young Lu’Tak meet their end doing so. He wanted you to live and thrive. It’s why he—” Temerity paused to steady her breath. “Sacrificed himself for you. You were never meant to live as Lu’Tak or Ki’Tak.”

“So how was I supposed to live?” Anger boiled up in Sunset’s stomach.

“We didn’t know. Depths Below, we never agreed on what you would grow to be. We were so focused on keeping you alive as best we could. Now…” Temerity trailed off and a shudder ran through her. “I can’t fathom what comes next.”

Sunset relented and considered her mother’s words as she rolled her father’s spear in her hands. Her nails followed the grooves of its cuts and divots from years of use. The point of the spear could still pierce a Toh’Zah’s armor as if it were seaweed, and though the edges dulled, they still had bite left too. She rubbed her thumb over a deep chip from the time she accidentally thwacked a stone, and smiled.

“Do you remember the time I put this dent in the blade?” she asked her mother.

“Yes,” she replied. She laid a hand across the base of Sunset’s ear. “Your father was furious.”

“’How can such a small child swing so hard?’” Sunset imitated the angry clicking her father employed when his anger blocked his words and the pair chuckled. “He was so upset he ripped the spear from my hands and showed me how to hold it right.” Sunset placed her hands over the grooves worn by her father’s. “That was our first lesson.” Sadness clenched her heart again and a wave of grief rolled over her. She tightened her grip on the spear. “I don’t know what he would want. I can’t use his spear. It isn’t mine; I didn’t craft it. For now, I will honor him by keeping it near me.”

Temerity rested her head on her daughter’s and let the tears flow down. “I think that’s a good start. Come now, we must get to the ceremony. Captain Williams has also asked me to send you to her after it is done.”

Sunset grumbled, but stood to let her mother up. They walked side by side down the hall past uniformed humans offering deferential nods. They arrived at the doors to the dock and Sunset wiped the dried salt off her face before entering. The friendly bots perched themselves in a corner away from glaring and suspicious eyes. Immovable and unnerving, Sunset cooed a greeting to Ana and it responded back in kind. It would take some getting used to hearing her language spoken by a Toh’Zah.

The rescued Takarrans gathered and made way for Sunset and Temerity as they drew close. Humility waited next to Arta’s body, and raised her arms once Temerity and Sunset took their positions. The congregation raised their arms as well.

“Children of water.” Her voice boomed and echoed in the large space. The Takarrans repeated her words. “Borne of the depths. Risen by the tides. Carried by the waves, we send Arta, Chief, Elder, Father, Son.” She stomped both feet and slammed the butt of her spear down. Sunset glanced around in a panic. She didn’t know the steps. “We send him down from the heavens to the sea. May his mind, body, and soul return to the Black. May peace guide him to the House of Tak. May he rest.”

She led another round of stomps and hisses. The crowd followed suit and let the hiss carry as long as the last person held their breath. Humility walked to the head of Arta’s container and bent to lift it. The Takarrans surged forward with hands outstretched to touch the device, and when there was no space left untouched, they held onto each other to create a network of their bodies. Sunset held her mother’s hand and the hand of a Takarran boy. His body shivered and shook as he tried to contain his grief. The procession carried Arta to the end of the dock where a web of electricity stood between them and the vastness of space. Temerity stepped away and the group pressed the front of the vessel against the field. Blue crackling light molded around the edges of the coffin, and Takarrans peeled away from the vessel as the ones behind it pushed it through the field and into space.

“Arta. Ferry those we could not recite. Lead them with you to the House of Tak.” Those closest to the mouth of the docks broke down in their own grief. A jet of white smoke burst from Arta’s container and shot him down toward their planet. The Takarrans began a collective low, guttural rumble. A calm swept over Sunset and she joined in. A cluster of her people changed pitch to harmonize, and soon another group added a third layer of harmony over the throaty rumbling in the docks. They continued until Arta’s vessel vanished from sight, and the rumble quieted down to end with a short hiss from their gills. The Takarrans dispersed without a sound and left the hanger. Sunset, her mother, and Humility walked side by side in silence until they reached the open doors.

A tall stranger with short sand-colored hair joined Captain Williams and Dr. Jun in an unfamiliar uniform. Their neutral demeanor with relaxed posture gave nothing away as to their state of mind, nor could Sunset decipher whether they were male or female.

“I did not believe humans had kultah,” Humility said and gestured to the new person. They tilted their head sideways with a quizzical look. Humility scratched her spear and vibrated her gills in contemplation. “Its closest translation is ‘wet sand,’ though not a fully accurate definition. Closer would be ‘between land and water.’ It is difficult to describe.”

The new person smiled and nodded with understanding. “I’m non-binary. Not one or the other.”

“What is your name?”

“Agent Berkley,” they said.

“Met with honor,” Humility said. Ire pricked at Sunset’s ears. Why treat someone of no sides with honor and her, born of two sides, with hatred and disdain?

“Why are you here?” Sunset asked. “I was told the captain wanted to speak with me.”

Agent Berkley regarded the captain before receiving permission to speak. “I am with the Department of Artificial Justice. We have been summoned to help with both sets of artificial intelligence found on your planet. Our first step is to verify the sentience of your companions.” They tipped their head to the robots sitting in the bay.

Sunset scoffed. “Any fool could speak with one and know they are sentient.”

“Nevertheless, our mission is clear. You are to come with us to our ship so that they may undergo the tests. This is a good thing, Sunset.”

“Why?”

“Because if they pass, they’ll be given all the rights inherent to all living beings within the League. Dr. Jun debriefed me on our way here and I am eager to bring them to meet the inspector.”

Sunset grumbled. “Am I required for this?”

“Yes, we need you to be part of the test. You are connected to them in a way we cannot be. Your culture and experiences will also be needed.”

“Culture? I have never seen a death rite before. I have lived on the outside of their society by their own hatred of me and my family.” Sunset’s ears flattened as her anger grew. She tilted her head down to look at the color of her skin and wished she could hide in a uniform like the humans did.

Agent Berkley’s expression softened. “I understand the feeling. Be that as it may, they are bound to you, aren’t they?”

“Yes,” Sunset mumbled.

“Then it’s settled. You’re the best one for the job.” Agent Berkley lay a hand on Sunset’s arm. She lifted her head to meet their supportive gaze.

Sunset gathered her resolve, thanked Agent Berkley and walked to the waiting group of bots.

Ana rose to full height and spoke a word of greeting. “We heard the conversation. Are we to follow and proceed with the tests?” The other bots also rose, awaiting their instructions.

“Do you want to?”

“It doesn’t matter. The agent was correct. We are bound to you and thus will obey your commands.”

“Any of them?”

“Within acceptable parameters of morality, yes.”

The bot’s answer brought many questions to Sunset’s mind, but she decided to save them until the test. She nodded and ordered them to follow her to the next location. Captain Williams and Agent Berkley led them to a new style of shuttle. Where before the bots would have to duck to get into the bay, they could stand upright and still have space above their heads. The bots settled themselves in, and at Sunset’s order, diminished to their rock formations.

Captain Williams pulled Sunset aside before letting her board. “A quick warning about the inspectors you’ll meet.” Sunset uttered a series of clicks to convey her curious expectation. “They’re different than us. Still human, kind of, but their appearance is drastically altered.”

Sunset flicked her ears and nodded. “I will try not to be surprised.”

Captain Williams chuckled. “I don’t think anyone can be fully prepared for meeting the inspectors the first time. Good luck.” She stepped back and gave Sunset a half-hearted salute with a crooked smile. Her beads clicked as she turned to leave.

Temerity shared a look with her daughter and embraced her. Sunset’s grief welled and she pulled away before it could drag her down again. The door to the shuttle hissed closed behind her as she cast one last glance back at her worried mother. Unsure of what she should be feeling, the unease of facing something new had become a familiar sensation.

Agent Berkley managed the flight on their own in a sealed cockpit, leaving Sunset to weather the silence with the hidden bots and her unimpeded thoughts. What were these altered humans capable of? Why were they altered? What protections lay ahead for the bots? What was to be her role? She was of neither Ki nor Lu’Tak, and thus far neither side had extended a welcome. The best she could say is one side was more willing to listen. Though they would more readily invite her mother back into the fold, Sunset doubted whether they would extend the same courtesy to her. It seemed more likely she would find a place among the humans. Sunset felt the void left by Scout Cisneros’ departure. What a life he must lead.

“You are troubled, Guardian.” Ana’s voice came from the largest boulder.

“Many questions, few answers,” she replied.

A mechanical rumbling came from the rock. “One of your predecessors also found himself in moments of uncertainty. Though his troubles revolved around the raging conflict between your people.”

“What did he do?”

“Built us.”

The shuttle shuddered and Agent Berkley’s echoed steps preceded their arrival to the loading bay. “We’re here. I assume the captain gave you warning about who you’re about to meet?”

“She did, but offered no specifics.”

“Better that way, I think,” they said.

They waved a hand and the door opened. Sunset ordered the bots to follow her and Agent Berkley through a nearly identical ship to the one they’d left. This time, instead of rising to their destination in an elevator, they sank low into the bowels of the craft. The hallways’ meager light left the place dim and uninviting. Gloomy apprehension gripped Sunset’s chest.

“I know it feels foreboding,” Agent Berkley said, “but it’s only because the DAJ inspector you’re about to meet requires a tremendous amount of power. As a result, we keep the peripheral systems of this floor running on low in order to ensure an even power draw. We call it the Basement.”

Sunset understood nothing of that, but nodded all the same. They came at last to a door bordered by a pulsing red light. Sunset’s heartbeat thudded with anticipation.

“Ready?” Agent Berkley asked.

“No.”

The agent smiled and opened the door. Sunset’s eyes widened. Beyond the threshold, in the middle of the wall opposite her, protruded a cylindrical case filled with a bright green liquid. Tubes, wires, and flashing lights sprawled out from the base and into various large black screens displaying scrolling symbols. When she caught sight of what lay within the liquid, her breath stopped. A human—or something human-like?—floated within, with a head that eclipsed the rest of its body. Its arms, like the branches of a shrub, folded under its chin, over a body little larger than Sunset’s arm. Veins crawled up the sides of its gargantuan skull. Its eyes hid behind blackened discs wrapped around its head, and a mask with a ribbed tube covered its mouth and nose.

Sunset gasped. “What is—”

“They’re called Encephaloids,” Agent Berkley said. “Humans created to process incalculable amounts of data. Our brains are remarkable, even for those of us without the boons of technology, and can take in and interpret data at incredible speed. Do you know the amount of processing power it takes just to process what you see?” Their hand movements sped up and grew more exaggerated as they spoke. “Because we had to deal with artificial intelligence and sentience in the past, we needed to process petabytes of data in milliseconds. This was our solution. We call him Greg, and this is his basement.”

Hello, and welcome.

Sunset backed away and raised her hands into a defensive stance. The voice echoed and came from everywhere.

Please do make yourselves at home. I’m very much looking forward to meeting you, Sunset, and the To’Zah you bring with you.

Her ears pricked at his perfect pronunciation. Though he made no hand gestures to accompany the words, his meaning rang clear. The bots entered the Basement and fanned out in a semi-circle behind Sunset.

“I’ll leave you all to get acquainted,” Agent Berkley said. “Honor to meet you, Sunset.” Sunset gave the salute she’d seen other members give each other. The ensign gave their own salute with a beaming smile. “Crisp. I like it. You should think about joining up,” they said with a wink. Could she?

Well, now that we’re all acquainted, I sense you’re eager to begin. Though I suppose, more accurately, you’ve a fair bit of apprehension about the whole ordeal, haven’t you?

“Your speaking voice. It has different sounds, like Román but also not the same.”

Correct. Much like Scout Cisneros, I speak with an accent. Someday, should you choose to learn more about our origins as we are about to learn of your Toh’zah you—

“They are not mine.”

Of course. I merely chose a colloquial phrase. The Toh’zah which accompany you are fascinating. Different from the data we’ve gathered of the Lu’Tak’s Toh’zah. From here on we will determine their sentience.

“How?”

Quite simple, really. You’ll have a conversation with each other, and I will monitor their responses measured against parameters that have been pre-determined. In fact, they have already passed several of the early tests.

“We talk?”

Yes.

“About?”

Anything, though I would recommend beginning with a question and letting the conversation flow from there.

A chill ran through Sunset. The Basement’s cold air, grey and dark colors with twisting serpentine cables, blinking lights, and low ceiling spiked her anxiety. Her skin itched in the dry and she scratched at her forearms.

Apologies. I will adjust the humidity levels. As to your anxiety, perhaps this scenery shall provide you some comfort.

The walls and floor shimmered, a palpable warmth flooded the air, and Sunset was no longer in the Basement. She stood within a clearing bordered by familiar trees—the kinds she would often climb in from the time she was a child. Shock left her slack jawed when she realized it was the same clearing she would play in before she learned the spear. The sun shone from behind the clouds overhead and the lapping ocean waves tempered her frayed nerves. She whirled around, and then sighed in relief to find the Toh’zah still behind her.

Better?

“How…”

I am capable of quite a lot, but for now, let’s focus on the task at hand, shall we?

Sunset regarded the retinue of Toh’zah. Ask a question. She thought about their prior conversation and turned to Ana.

“What should I ask you?”

“A question you want an answer to,” Ana replied. One of the other bots let out a quiet chuckle.

“Who made you?”

“Mak’talu. He was a direct ancestor of Chief Arta by three generations.”

“Why?”

“Before the fracture of societies and near extinction of both Lu’Tak and Ki’Tak, we were developed as a new line of subterfuge bots designed to look more like our natural landscape. The first run of our line was unconvincing. Of the twenty models produced, the few you see here are all that remain.”

“What became of you then?”

“We received combat training and outfitting. Before Mak’Talu died in combat, he passed on the role of Guardian to his son, Arta’s grandfather, Chi’zi. We joined the Guardian’s Cadre.”

“I’ve never heard of them.”

“They were an elite force of Toh’Zah and Ki’Tak that acted as the tip of a spear: to break through fortifications with precision such as to allow the thrust of the following force.”

“How did you feel about it?”

“Proud. We all felt our roles to be important in keeping the Ki’Tak alive and protected.”

“Did you ever consider the cost of lives on the Lu’Tak?”

“Yes.” Ana’s eyes dimmed and scanned across the false landscape. “It would also weigh heavily on Chi’zi. He was unlike many of the Ki’Tak. He often wondered why they fought each other. It didn’t make sense to us either. We felt our mission lessened the loss of life. Humans have a term for it: The Trolley Problem. Kill few to save many. In the sacrifice of a handful, would not many thousands have been saved? That was our guiding ideal on attack missions. Once our task was done, a second force would sweep in. The Lu’Tak did not hold similar ideals. We Toh’Zah have limited ability to impose our will.”

“I hate that name.”

Ana regarded Sunset with a tilted head and a flick of their mechanical ear. “It is what we are.”

“No. I have been hunted by Toh’Zah. I have hunted them. The Toh’Zah I know took my father from me. You aren’t like them, and I will not call you by that name.”

“Then may I suggest a new term?”

“Please.”

“Defendrons. We feel that it suits our mission more aptly than Toh’Zah.”

“Difficult to pronounce but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.” A smile crept up the side of Sunset’s face. “A new name then. Ana, Defendrons—” Ana rose to stand a head taller, and the others turned their attention to her. “I’ll have to learn your names.”

“We don’t have names. Merely designations.”

“That’ll be our next project then.”

Splendid. I believe this is an appropriate time to end. You have been classified as tier-one sentient robotic life-forms. All tests were passed and exceeded. Sunset, Defendrons, welcome to the Planetary League.

The room shimmered and returned to its normal bleak aesthetic. Sunset averted her eyes from the tank with the floating Encephaloid.

By the way, Sunset. Agent Berkley was right. Becoming a member of the astrophysical survey seems a suitable direction. Until such time as the culture within the Ki’Tak change to allow you entry as one of their own, perhaps some time spent among a welcoming group of others might benefit you in a myriad of ways.

The door to the Basement slid open and the agent entered. “I’ve received notification of the To— the Defendrons’ success.”

Sunset perked her ears up and strode to Agent Berkley. “How do I become a scout?”

Agent Berkley beamed and said, “That is a question Captain Williams will be thrilled to answer.”

<Second Exodus

Sunset Chronicles

Morning Part 1 >

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.

Hymn to Troniac

Links:

Download: hymn_to_troniac.mp3

Sheet music: hymn_to_troniac_score_and_parts.pdf

To the extent possible under law, Jordan Grigg has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to Hymn to Troniac. This work is published from: United States.

The Caretaker

By Matt Ahlschwede

Boo’gil Xann, the caretaker, sighed as they inspected the pod-yard. The eight young cielioids were still sleeping fitfully. They tended to get a bit restless at this stage, just before they uprooted. When the young uproot and start moving about freely is when a caretaker’s work goes from relatively peaceful to extremely hectic. This would be the caretaker’s last peaceful day for the next two Gronnic Cycles (about five earth-years) until the young were mature enough to be sent off to school and the process would begin anew.

Xann stood in their place in the center of the yard under the awning in the cool predawn, just enjoying a little tranquility, looking over the sleeping children they were so proud of. In the north-west corner was a boxer named Kovac. Boxers were usually the first to uproot due to their stronger muscles, and shortly before the caretaker sounded the morning call to awaken the children, the familiar sound of breaking roots could be heard from that direction.

As Xann sounded the morning, with a loud, yet soothing “Good morning, children”, Kovac finished breaking their roots and ran right under the awning and into Xann’s tree-trunk-thick leg, as a pair of arms were extended to pick up the young boxer and perch them on a ridge of green flesh caretakers were engineered to have growing out of their bodies just for this purpose. “Good morning, Kovac, you have certainly grown out of the soil of your ancestors.”, said the caretaker.

“Boo’gil! Boo’gil! I can run! I want to fly right up to the sky!”, enthused the young boxer. “Kly Fnofcob doesn’t make ridiculous demands, Kovac.”, murmured the caretaker, hefting the bucket of meat-fruit for the children’s breakfast. “Help me feed the others and I’ll show you the inside of the awning.” promised Xann, beaming with joy.

To the extent possible under law, Matt Ahlschwede has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to The Caretaker. This work is published from: United States.

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.

The Heart of the Eagle

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To the extent possible under law, Jordan Grigg has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to The Heart of the Eagle. This work is published from: United States.

Vorgon Name Generator

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Dawn

By Victor Arteaga

Sunset didn’t know what to do with her hands. Her skin itched, and the dry air left her gills on the verge of rasping with each breath. She hadn't been out of water for this long before. Román led her and the small retinue of her kin through long, curving hallways adorned with menacing lines of lights to a large room. He spoke something in his language without using the device on his arm that would turn it into Takarran. The color of the lights changed from white to warm gold. Moisture cooled her gills, and the others made their own sounds of relief. The children, feeling re-energized, chirped and sprinted around, chasing each other. One bumped into the wall and inadvertently changed something; the wall shimmered and turned into a window. They cooed with awe as they stared out at the black of space.

"This should feel more comfortable," Román said, this time with the aid of his technology. Her mother made a click of disapproval. Sunset rumbled her response. Mother should be more trusting of them. He'd saved their lives numerous times. Despite losing her father, the Ki'Tak may survive the uprising of Lu'Tak monstrosities taking over the planet. "I know there are other Takarrans, the purple—" He made a slight mispronunciation, but he lacked the gills to make the hiss to pronounce the Lu'Tak properly. "—will need to be helped as well." The others growled and flared their disapproval.

"They will not accept our help," Temerity said.

"Even if they don't, our charter requires we try our best. Those machines will take over the planet. Once they hit a certain developmental point, it's inevitable." He rubbed his head, which, to a Takarran, would mean one thing, but for this creature, it seemed to mean frustration. Perhaps irritation? "For now, I'll see about bringing you food. I need to raise the language decisions—" He made another mispronunciation. "—into the ship’s logs so we can all communicate with you. Hang tight."

Román left.

"We can't stay here," her mother said. "Your father—"

"Is dead."

Temerity bared her fangs and ruffled her gills. "For once, let me finish a sentence. He needs to be floated. He has always asked to be remembered in the Lu'Tak way and we have to honor him."

"There is nothing left of him to honor. Besides, the Lu'Tak only believe in the honor," she sneered, "of combat death which he received. That will have to be enough." Sunset pulled away from her mother, stuffing down the battling waves of pain, anger, grief, and relief roiling in her chest. She rolled her thumb over the engraving of her father's name on her spear and clicked a nail over a scratch.

Arta approached her. "You should not be so harsh with your mother. She is grieving too, as we all are for our home. This is a good spear; your father made it well."

"You can have it."

Sunset pushed the haft against his chest and he stumbled. The spear clattered as it fell, and Sunset stormed out of the room. The door hissed closed. Where would she go now? No sense going back the way she came, so she went the opposite direction and followed the flow of habitants. Some of them greeted her; she recognized a handful of sounds but didn't respond. She needed to find where their elders congregated. A man with a thick ring of silver fur around his face and deep wrinkles around his eyes strode toward her with a sturdy, confident step. He was definitely someone in charge. She followed him through another door. He glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. She had seen Román do the same but didn't know exactly what it meant. The man said nothing. He spoke a command, the doors closed, and she barked as the floor pushed itself up. He tapped the same devices Román had on his wrists, then spoke to her.

"You must be Sunset, yes?" His speaking sounded different than Román's.

"Yes."

"Just in time. I was going to send for you anyway."

She liked Román's tones better. Sunset waited until the door opened. Several people with varying colors of uniforms stood in a circle around a table. Her ears twitched with anxiety when Román entered from a corner of the room she had not seen.

"Don't worry," he said. "We're here to discuss next steps."

"Next steps to what?"

"To evacuating the rest of the Takarrans."

Sunset trilled her gills and flattened her ears. That would be difficult. "Arta should also be present. I am not an elder. I am only seen as the abomination between the two warring tribes. My voice will not be effective."

"We already sent someone for him. He should be— ah, there he is."

Arta strode in following a tall, broad-shouldered man with yellow hair. He held her father’s spear out to her, but she backed away, lifting her lip to show a single fang. Arta sighed through his gills.

"Given the situation on the surface, we haven’t time for niceties. I am Vice Admiral Fehr." The man with silver fur gestured to the table with flat circular chairs that rose from the floor. Everyone sat down; Sunset took her spot next to Román and Arta took a position at her left. The four others bowed slightly before sitting. What an odd gesture. Arta and Sunset mimicked their movements.

"Arta, Sunset, you know Scout Cisneros, and the other three here are Commodore Yun—" He gestured an open palm to an aging short man with black combed hair and square jaw. "—Captain Williams—" A dark-skinned woman with long, twisted hair tied in loose loops tipped her head. "—and this is Doctor Harris." A pale woman with vibrant blue eyes and hair the color of sunrise waved. "As we are aboard Captain William's vessel, I will open the floor to her."

Captain Williams stood. "First order of business is to contain the hostile threats. To that end I've had Tactical prep and execute an orbital suppression strategy with the assistance of the Navy—” she gestured to Commodore Yun. “—that will keep the Takarrans safe while we initiate evacuation protocols."

"If I may," Doctor Harris said. "I believe we should also send a team of researchers down to gather intelligence on potential solutions that don't involve gunfire."

Commodore Yun said something in a new language that didn’t get translated.

Sunset lifted a hand as she'd seen Doctor Harris do. "I'm sorry, I can't understand what he said."

Román translated for her. "He said he finds the risk unacceptable."

Sunset hummed and rippled her gills to show her agreement. "It is best to destroy them."

"With respect to you, Sunset, their ability to reverse engineer so quickly would be a huge benefit to our own arsenal, never mind the counter strategies we could employ. Let’s also not forget that we must prepare ourselves for the inevitability of their accelerated progression."

Commodore Yun spoke again, and Román translated. "They are a threat to the galaxy, and to study them would waste precious time to defeat them before they become a bigger problem. Better to save who we can within a limited time window and glass the planet."

"Glass the planet?" Arta asked. His ears pointed forward and edged his question with anxiety.

"He means a massive, coordinated attack to destroy everything on the surface. An option that is completely out of order," the vice admiral said. "There are sentient life forms that for better or worse require our assistance."

Commodore Yun crossed his arms and grumbled. "We should still take a more offensive approach."

Arta raised his hand and stood as he had seen others do. "Evacuating the Ki’Tak will not be difficult. There aren’t many left. With Sunset’s and your assistance, I believe your presence will aide in convincing our people.” Sunset flipped an ear. They weren't her people any more than she was theirs. "She has spent much time avoiding the t’ozah—"

"T’ozah? The robots?" Román asked.

"Yes. But like this." Arta demonstrated the click made to properly pronounce the word. Román repeated it and Arta applauded his effort, like a parent applauding their child for uttering their first syllables. "The t’ozah must be stopped, but I believe the Ki'Tak will follow us once they see the reality. We can no longer live life free of technology."

"Well, I cannot click the way Román can, so I will call them by the code name we gave them, Cryptobots," Doctor Harris said.

Vice Admiral Fehr said, "I agree with Arta, but to keep Commodore Yun appeased, I will allow the Navy to send an escort to provide extra security to their team. Dr. Harris, I'm afraid it’s still too dangerous to send a manned team to do any kind of research."

"But—"

"At best, you may have a small scanning team in low orbit gather as much data as you can until the threat has been contained, understood?"

Dr. Harris folded her arms and gave a curt nod. Sunset grimaced at the radiating heat of her displeasure. The door opened and another woman came in, her uniform’s black center was decorated with swirling whirlpools of dazzling colors and pinpricks of twinkling white lights.

"Apologies for the late entrance, Oded."

"You had a long way to travel, admiral. I'm glad you made it," the vice admiral said. He and all the other aliens stood and saluted. Sunset and Arta stood and tried to imitate the salute.

The age lines in the admiral's golden skin deepened when she smiled, save for a long scar that ran the length of her cheek bone to her ear. "You are esteemed guests here, Arta and Sunset, but I appreciate the gesture. Have we reached an agreement on a course of action?"

Commodore Yun stiffened. "Yes. Though not one I fully approve of. I will provide an escort for the Takarrans. The nerds can stay behind and take pictures from space." He smirked while Dr. Harris scowled. "And we will maintain a remote defensive ready position."

"Admiral Reyes, I would like to accompany them as well," Román said.

"Denied. I need you back out on a scouting mission. An Alien Assistance liaison is waiting for them as well as Commodore Yun's escort. Once we’re finished here, which it appears we are, you may show them to the shuttle bay, say your goodbyes and then deploy immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am," the congregation answered in unison.

They rose, performed another salute, and left. Sunset and Arta exchanged confused looks, then sought Román's direction. His jaw worked from side to side and he sighed before turning to the Ki'Tak. He jerked his head toward the door, which Sunset took to mean to follow him. Arta surmised the same and drifted behind Román as he led them down an elevator, through several winding hallways, and out a large, double-sliding door. Sunset gasped. She and Arta stopped in the middle of the doorway. It took Román a few seconds to notice they'd stopped following him. He followed their gaze.

"You didn't notice the shuttle bay doors stayed open?"

Sunset felt a deep well of sadness, fear, and wonder press against her chest. Beyond the sleek shuttles waited rows of aggressive craft with giant barrels strapped to their wings, and a maw opened to a deep abyss pinpricked by a myriad of winking lights. Lazy swirls of clouds floated across the deep blues of her oceans. Specks of vibrant green dotted them, and awe filled her as she recognized shorelines.

"That's..." She cooed and her gills flattened tight. "How are we not falling out?"

Román smiled. He lifted a hand and pointed. "See that ring of light? It's what creates the forcefield that keeps us inside and the vacuum from pulling us out."

"And to think, simple flight was once something we never considered. Now we drift in the heavens." Arta's spears clinked on the metal floor. Two officers paraded up to them. One wore a solid red uniform whose muscles strained against its fabric. He flashed them a wide smile and tipped his head.

"Hello, I'm Sergeant Greene, and I'll be your tactical support. I'll do my best to keep you all safe." He extended a hand and Román shook it. Sunset and Arta followed suit. The woman at his side, with features similar to Commodore Yun, beamed with excitement and took up a quarter of the space Sergeant Greene did. She offered her hand to Sunset first.

"I'm ecstatic to meet you, Sunset. I am Dr. Jun Ji-hyun, but you can just call me Jun," she said. Her black hair tied behind her head bounced.

"Your pronunciation is very good," Arta said.

"Oh good, I was hoping my adjustments to the clicks and tones were correct. I am the linguist and cultural lead for the Alien Assistance Agency. I'm here to keep this one—" Jun pointed her thumb and Sergeant Greene. "—in check. Make sure he doesn't say or do anything untoward. I'm looking for—"

"We need to go." Sunset said. Her gills flared. If they were to get the rest of the Ki'Tak out, they would need to go quickly.

"Agreed. It was...quite the experience getting to meet you, Sunset. I wish you the best of luck. Chuck," Román said as he glanced at Sergeant Greene. “Keep them safe.” Sunset chirped a slow set of clicks and extended her hand. Román grinned and shook it.

"Thank you," she said.

He dipped his head and turned around to head back into the ship. Sunset watched him go and something pulled at her stomach. It flipped and twisted and wanted to follow, but she instead returned her attention to the two new escorts.

"I need a weapon," she said. Arta offered her father's spear. She hissed.

"I had the shuttle outfitted with an armory. You can choose on your way down, but I don't want to dally any longer. Let's get going." Sergeant Greene led them to a shuttle, and as they boarded, Sunset glanced back at the double doors leading back to the ship. Where would Román go next? What wonders would he witness before any other being? That strange feeling in her rose again as the shuttle's door closed and cut off her view.

< Exodus

The Sunset Chronicles

Second Exodus>

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.