Eloquent Tales & Blues

Transformation: Backlash

A lithe man opened the door to the triumvirate’s office and stepped inside. He studied Caitlin and Quinn. With a smirk, he allowed the heavy door to slam shut. The thud shattered the silent room, making the two triumvirs jump in their seats. They looked up at the man with dirty-blond hair as he claimed his desk.

“Good morning, Olyver,” Caitlin said as he claimed his desk’s seat.

Olyver gave Caitlin a slight dip of his head, “Good morning, Caitlin. I hope you two are doing well.”

“What do you want?” Quinn asked as he shoved papers aside.

“To bring the two of you to task.”

Caitlin slammed her hands onto her desk as she shot to her feet. “You’re out of line—”

A whistle echoed through the office as Quinn stared at Caitlin. She stopped talking as she returned to her seat. Quinn’s gaze drifted to Olyver. “The triumvirate agreed that the conversations you’re seeking are best served by open discussion.”

“That was the agreement my predecessor made.” Olyver folded his arms across his chest.

“We searched for an appropriate time to hold these discussions. However, finding time for those talks has been difficult,” Quinn said.

Olyver lifted a finger, keeping Quinn from continuing. After a few moments, he lowered his hand and spoke with clarity. “Quinn, you both outmaneuvered Malark with ease. He lacked the aptitude for a life embroiled in politics.”

“We’re trying to lead our people back to the stars,” Caitlin said with a sigh. “We were not trying to outmaneuver your predecessor.”

Olyver eyed Caitlin, studying her for a moment. “Your intentions don’t matter. What you’ve done is to keep us from moving forward. If we wait for consensus before designing, we guarantee a death by paralysis. If we begin design now, we give that consensus something real to react to.”

“We do understand that,” Quinn said.

“Before we colonize another world, we need the laws to govern them determined and codified,” Olyver said as if Quinn hadn’t interrupted him.

Caitlin let her eyes flit to Quinn, and she saw his slight nod. She took a deep breath and folded her hands in her lap. “We know that as well, Olyver. But the scope of these conversations required us to shift the discussion to a forum to allow our citizens an opportunity to voice their opinions.”

“A delay tactic,” Olyver said with grace despite the nascent snarl. “One the population is growing tired of dealing with.”

Caitlin’s mouth parted for a moment before she snapped her lips shut. Her eyes lingered on Olyver for a second before shifting to Quinn.

“And what would you suggest, Olyver?” Quinn asked as he lifted a pen from his desk.

“For the three of us to have the very discussion you promised my predecessor and his constituents. However, I want more than a debate. I expect to derive a list of requirements for the ships, so that our engineers can start designing them. Also, we will draft the required legislation to guide our fledgling federation...

Discovery: Invasion

As the ship’s alarm blared to life, Dyrk’s voice crackled over the speakers, “We have incoming!”

Jarvis dashed to the nearest station and activated it. “What’s heading for us?”

“Would you believe a flying battalion?”

Fenton shouldered Jarvis out of the way and punched the hull. “What did you say?”

“You heard me. Move!”

Jarvis pulled his hand off the terminal and pointed to the closest exit. “Stop antagonizing Dyrk! Get the best marksman we have.”

Fenton backed toward the hatch. “What will they do against flying cavalry?”

“You’ll keep them away from the defensive batteries.”

“On it!” Fenton whirled around and raced through the open doorway. The upper decks had been converted into a defensive nest overlooking the settlement walls.

Jarvis drove his knuckles into his forehead. “Dyrk, what do these creatures look like?”

“I’m not sure,” the pilot hedged.

As the silence built, Jarvis kicked the wall and drew in a deep breath. “You can’t call an invasion without visual contact.”

“I have a visual, but I don’t even know how to explain what’s there.”

Jarvis pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned his forehead against the hull. His eyelids closed as he exhaled. He took another breath and pressed the comm button. “Just tell me what you see.”

“There is no way you believe my story.”

“We’ve seen some outlandish things since we landed on this rock.” Jarvis sighed and stared up at the ceiling.

“If you insist, the oncoming horde is spearheaded by a massive dragon carrying a swarming mass of those green-skinned maniacs. And the weirdness continues, with a slew of winged horses with crazed riders.”

Jarvis slammed his fist into the bulkhead. His fingers flew across the console, making several adjustments before addressing every radio. “This isn’t a drill. Everyone, report to your stations and help repel the oncoming invasion. If those creatures reached the batteries, the settlement won’t last minutes...

Forgotten History

As Thobin completed his circle, he pulled the stick’s tip off the earth and tossed it aside. He walked to its center and dropped to his knees, pressing his fingers into the soft earth. With a deep breath, he began chanting.

Moments later, he ceased and withdrew his hands. Rising, he extended a palm over the ground and made a sharp motion toward the circle’s edge. The surface trembled before shifting, revealing something buried, a massive sheet of metal, dulled with age but undeniably foreign. Thobin’s brow furrowed as a rustle set his senses on edge.

“What did you find?”

Thobin turned to the voice. A man stood at the clearing’s edge, casual but watchful, his predatory eyes following Thobin’s every move.

“I don’t know who you are, but if you’re a hunter, I’d recommend you leave. I won’t give you a second warning.”

The man smirked, stepping forward. “Do you have an objection to someone finding food?”

Thobin’s stance widened as he stepped toward the interloper. “You’re not a wizard, are you?”

With a sly smile, the stranger lifted a hand. His flesh rippled and twisted, reshaping into a feline paw before returning to its human shape. “That’s all the magic me and mine can perform. But since you’re in our territory, I’d appreciate an answer to my question. If not, my friends might have to encourage your cooperation.”

Thobin froze. He had sensed something earlier, but now, fully alert, he extended his awareness, finding predators lurking just beyond the tree line. His gaze flicked toward a trio of large feline figures, muscles coiled beneath sleek fur, waiting for a command. Then he found two more groups of silent sentinels.

Slowly, Thobin raised his hands in surrender and turned back to the stranger. “I was simply trying to establish a home. When I attempted to shift the earth for my shelter’s foundation, I discovered this.” He gestured toward the massive metal plate. “It’s beyond my ability to manipulate.”

The stranger’s feline eyes flickered toward the artifact. “What did you unearth?”

“I’m uncertain.” Thobin hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “But it’s not natural. Though it isn’t dwarven craft, nor does it bear marking from any elven or human smith.”

The stranger circled the exposed surface, his keen gaze scanning the oddly smooth metal. “You’re from the civilization of humans, elves, and dwarves, correct?”

Thobin tensed at the careful wording. “And you are?”

“Alric,” the stranger said.

Thobin’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Alric’s smirk widened, but he didn’t offer more. Instead, he kneeled beside the artifact, brushing loose soil from its surface. His fingers traced strange markings from the sheet of metal.

Thobin’s head tilted as he inched closer. “Can you read the markings?”

“No,” Alric admitted, standing. “Do you know what it means?”

“For a second, I thought you possessed knowledge of it.”

“None of my kin have any knowledge of this.” The rustling of leaves signaled movement from the feline sentries. Their ears twitched, their sleek tails flicking in agitation. They sensed something. Alric’s expression darkened. “We’re not alone...

Discovery: Evaluating Options

“Is everything in working order?” Fenton leaned against the conference room’s doorframe as his gaze tracked from Dyrk to Jarvis. But before either could speak, Fenton ran his hand through his hair. “How about you, Dyrk? Have you secured a source of fuel to keep the reactor running?”

Crossing his arms, Dyrk huffed. “Nope, but that’s not my job.”

“Enough. Both of you.” Jarvis struck the table and exhaled as he steadied himself. He flipped a switch, and the small screen next to him activated. Jarvis flicked through the camera feeds and sighed as the crews built the wall. “We don’t have the luxury of snapping at each other. Contrary to popular myth, we aren’t on the brink of ruin. There’s time before the reactor runs dry.”

“Only if those monsters stop their assaults,” Fenton said.

“If the assaults continue at this rate, we’ll burn through our reserves faster than we can build.” Jarvis deactivated the monitor. “Those recovered expedition archives do more than warn of an endless supply of threats. They catalogue what looms over our heads and haunts this world.”

“All those records do is detail how we are going to die.”

Jarvis held Fenton’s gaze. “The logs also mention potential friends.”

“I’ve read Tarian’s entries,” Dyrk said. “But the dwarves and elves don’t come across as useful allies.”

Jarvis closed his eyes for a moment, drawing a deep breath. With a sigh, he opened them. “Dyrk, do you suppose Dianna can locate the resources you’ll need to power the ship’s reactor?”

“How should I know?” Dyrk cracked his knuckles with a harrumph. “But so far, I’m not sure this rock has anything compatible with this boat.”

Fenton walked over and squeezed Dyrk’s shoulder, “Why can’t you help Dianna find fuel for your ship?”

“I am trying to shield the ship’s engines, but I’m not the engineer.” Dyrk swatted Fenton’s arm and jerked his chin toward Jarvis. “Despite my string of failures, I am confident we’re close to isolating and resolving the cause of the power drain. Couldn’t you lend her a hand?”

“Jarvis tasked me with procuring the raw materials for our defense.” Fenton sat next to Dyrk. “Once we’ve collected enough, we’ll be able to assist her in locating fissionable resources.”

“I’m dragging Dianna off that search.” Jarvis pulled a tablet from the bag beside him and slid it across the table...

Transformation: Compromises

"Where is he?" Caitlin glared at the empty seat, her finger tapping against her desk.

Looking up from his papers, Quinn sighed and glanced at his friend. "I'm not surprised, considering Malark knows how much his tardiness annoys you."

"Excuse me?" Caitlin's eyes narrowed as her gaze shifted to the other triumvir.

Quinn shrugged with a lopsided grin. "Why do you think he's always late?"

"Is expecting a degree of decorum unreasonable?"

"It's not. However, if you learned to ignore his antics, he'd stop squandering our precious time."

Caitlin rose and walked over to Quinn, her eyes narrowing when the door flew open. With a glance over her shoulder, she spotted the heavy-set individual waddling into the room. Caitlin huffed as she stalked back to her desk. Before she returned to her seat, the new arrival entered and spoke with a tired voice. "I apologize for being late. A meeting with several concerned citizens occupied me."

Caitlin lifted her pen as she shook her head. "Malark, it's still far too early to discuss the eventual workings of the federation that'll replace the Larian Federation."

"Why's that, my dear?" Malark marched across the room and relieved his legs of the strain of supporting his bulk. Once Malark's carved chair supported his weight, the plump man withdrew a small rectangular rod. He unclipped one end of it and opened the fan. As he began fanning himself, Malark's eyes became harder as he continued. "It's been five years since the two of you founded this triumvirate. That question still lacks a satisfactory answer the people are willing to accept. They're more worried about this issue than either of you are prepared to admit."

"Malark, there are more pressing concerns we have to deal with." Quinn shuffled the papers on his desk. "What you're talking about is fifteen to twenty years distant."

"We disagree on that, Quinn."

Caitlin narrowed her glare on Malark. "And who is we?"

"Plenty of the population disagrees with you. Besides, they possess the resolve, not to mention the funding, to alter the makeup of this triumvirate." Malark fanned himself as he offered a smirk to Quinn.

He recognized the deliberate threat and looked over at Caitlin. When she noticed Quinn's look, he shook his head. The objection on her lips died as she settled into her seat. Quinn returned his gaze to the pudgy man as he steepled his fingers under his chin. "What do these individuals desire to discuss with us?"

"We feel that the new colonization ships need to be approved." Malark swiped his fan onto his desk. Then he tapped the fan on its uncluttered surface. "The final topic we must discuss is the codification regarding the guidelines for the equality of planets. Without those laws secured, the issue will revert to the status quo of the Larian Federation."

Caitlin clenched her fists and released a breath. "You know full well every planet was equal under Larian law."

"Maybe," Malark stated slowly. "It was for some, Caitlin. However, the vast majority got no equality under the law. Hence why the great colonization ships were overcrowded."

"And you want to ensure the constituents such a law will exist." Quinn raised his hands and leaned back in his chair.

Malark leaned forward, closing his fan. "I do."

"You realize we'll have to manufacture more warships to protect the smaller colonization ships as a result." Quinn tapped a scrap of paper in front of him...

Discovery: Revelations

A shot whizzed over Fenton's head, driving him to the ground. Earth beside him detonated, showering him as alarms shrieked from the ramp. His lips curled into a snarl as his eyes whipped up. "Why are you firing at friendlies?"

"Careful, Fenton. It's been volatile since your departure."

Fenton climbed to his feet and brushed the dirt off his clothes. He waved his squad on and resumed his jog. "How hectic was it since we left?"

"Nothing you'd call stable." Jarvis's gaze swept the compound as Fenton's team marched through the makeshift checkpoint. His jaw tightened before he spun about and strode up the ramp. "But we need to talk, and everyone else needs to join the effort to build the wall around this boat. Use any materials you can find."

Rubbing his temples with ragged fingers, Fenton followed his commander into the vessel. "What aren't you telling me?"

"There's too much to discuss." At the top of the ramp, Jarvis hurried into a side chamber, claimed the closest seat, and grabbed the tablet off the table. "I believe you mentioned filling a storage assembly."

With a nod, Fenton withdrew the device and traded it for the pad. "Tarian's warnings should provide answers with enough study, but for the time being hint at our welcome."

"We had to repel coordinated raids." Jarvis sighed as he connected the assembly to a screen. Once the logs filled the display, he skimmed through them. When he finished, his eyebrows crept up. "It looks like creatures similar to those that attacked us devastated the original colony."

"Have you found any reports on trees?"

Jarvis's head turned away from the text as his lips pursed. "What?"

Fenton jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "On our return to the ship, a pair of them charged my team."

"You mean the forest tried to assault you?"

With a grim shake, Fenton wrung his fingers and patted his rifle. "I meant what I said. They walked, spoke, and attempted to kill us. Though neither were expecting our weaponry."

"Are you serious?"

Fenton nodded and slipped his weapon off his shoulder. "The creature's bark, or rather skin, ignited upon impact. When the attacking creatures couldn't douse the flames, they dashed through the trees, still trying to extinguish themselves. Then the forest answered with a tremor beneath our boots."

"You said multiple ones attacked you?"

"Once the initial pair disappeared, another group emerged and chased my team, and if not for leapfrogging, they would have run us down." Fenton rested his head against the bulkhead and slammed his fist against the metal. With a huff, he turned and lifted the tablet. "But enough about our experience. Based upon our greeting, should I assume you encountered something just as bizarre?"

Jarvis snatched the pad and tapped it against the table. His gaze dropped to the device as he released his breath. "Do two waves of green-skinned creatures count?"

One of Fenton's eyes widened as he claimed a seat. "Green men tried to overrun the ship?"

"They ranged from tiny to gigantic." Jarvis stared at the bulkhead with a vacant expression. "And I'm afraid I underestimated them...

Hunt in the Shadows

Solomon withdrew a photo from his vest, its corners worn. Even as he scanned the corridor, he studied the woman’s features. The smile looked careless and alive. He covered her hazel eyes with his thumb and held them a second longer than necessary. He flipped the photo and reread the message. The ink pressed hard enough to leave grooves.

Please save Sandra.

Peering down the hall, he saw an ajar door. He folded the photo once and slid it back into place, as if returning something fragile to a vault, and retrieved a small periscope. He brought the device to his eye and inched closer. Through the gap, he saw a filthy woman chained to the far wall. It took him seconds to see through the grime, but he’d found Sandra.

However, she wasn’t alone. In the middle of the chamber, a different woman tended a bubbling cauldron. As she stirred the contents, she tossed in fresh ingredients. After swallowing a litany of curses, he tilted his periscope toward the ceiling, revealing three crouched shapes overhead. To her left, three winged creatures dangled from the ceiling, talons hooked into makeshift perches. As Solomon’s scowl deepened, he let his gaze linger on the monsters, studying the scaled hide stretched over their bones.

Solomon stepped away from the open door as he shoved his periscope back into its place. He ejected the magazine from his rifle and tucked it under his arm as he leaned against the wall, tilting his weapon toward the ceiling. He cupped his right hand over the ejection port while he pulled the charging handle back, ejecting the round from the weapon.

After catching the bullet, he eased the breach closed and slid it into the magazine. He skimmed through the loaded magazines on his chest. When he found the one with a thin line of red electrical tape, he exchanged them. Solomon rolled his neck as he depressed the release and inserted the magazine. After removing his thumb, he tugged on the inserted mag, ensuring it was seated correctly before pulling the charging handle back to load his initial shot.

With his weapon prepared for the encounter, Solomon took a deep breath before slipping his fingers into the opening. A heartbeat later, he flung the door open and hopped into the doorway, his rifle trained on the woman standing behind the cauldron. Despite keeping his weapon trained on the wiry and deranged woman, Solomon shifted his gaze to Sandra. “You’re going to release the woman you kidnapped now.”

“Or what, you will shoot me? Your reputation precedes you. You slaughter beasts without hesitation. But you do not shoot people, even if you believe them to be wicked.” The woman added a measured pinch of powder to the cauldron. She finally lifted her eyes, filled with madness and certainty. “You’re bound by meaningless morals...

Discovery: Return

“Fenton, where are you all?”

“We are heading back to camp.” The squadron leader clamped a hand on his radio and signaled his team to stop. “Jarvis, unless you’re planning on diverting us to investigate another mystery, learn how to relax.”

“Don’t be snippy. Your report is the bedrock of our expedition.”

Fenton scanned his squad and motioned them forward. “We’re heading back from the ruins.”

“Why are you all dragging out this quick jaunt?”

Shandri grabbed Fenton’s shoulder, her fingernails digging into him. “Did he actually say that?”

With an explosive sigh, Fenton pushed Drew’s back, driving him forward.

Drew grumbled as he glared back at Fenton before continuing his march. After several heartbeats, Fenton took a few slow breaths and squeezed the radio. “Please tell me you saw what that woman considers brief.”

“I’m aware of the actual distance.”

“Then stop giving us grief for the delay,” Fenton’s gaze drifted to Shandri. “Do us a favor and educate Diana on the correct definition of a reasonable jaunt.”

“That’s already done. What do you have for me?”

Fenton’s head swayed as he resumed. “Can’t you wait until we’re back?”

“I need to know what happened to the previous colonists.”

Fenton groaned and wiped the sweat from his face with his forearm. “That’s not a straightforward question.”

“Were you able to discover any valuable information?”

“Something tore through the colony’s perimeter and leveled most of its buildings. You’ll have to wait for our return to get our detailed report.” Fenton kicked a stray stone into the forest as he released his weapon and pulled the storage device from his vest. The added logs made the device heavier. “I skimmed enough to know you wouldn’t have approved this jaunt to begin with. The ship had limited power. I copied what I could before leaving.”

“I didn’t realize you brought a storage device. How extensive are the logs? How much of the database were you able to retrieve with your portable unit?”

A shiver ran down Fenton’s back as a branch cracked deep in the forest, echoing Tarian’s warning. He examined the forest’s shadows. “Well, the first entry I found was from a man named Tarian, the expedition’s leader.”

“What did it say?”

Fenton’s head snapped to his right while shoving the device into his vest. He brought his rifle up and inspected the undulating shadows. Fenton stepped away from the trees, clearing his throat, “He spent most of that entry documenting the forest. Then he wrote about the ‘things,’ his word, that moved inside it. We haven’t reviewed enough of the tattered logs to understand what we’re dealing with.”

“Fenton, you’re more seasoned than that. What’s got you on edge?”

“You won’t get all the details over the radio. All I have is what I read and a gut feeling. We’ll return from our short walk soon, and then you’ll be able to read the logs and form your own opinion.” Fenton lowered his rifle, spun around, and scurried after his squadron. Fenton switched the channel on his radio, silencing Jarvis. “Everyone fall in on me on the double!”

Ignoring the confirmations, Fenton continued his march. When the last member of his team fell into step with him, Fenton stopped and leaned against a tree. “Has anyone seen anything interesting in the forest?”

“No,” several members replied.

Drew shouldered his rifle as he scrutinized the surrounding undergrowth. “What did you spot?”

“Nothing,” Fenton’s fingers crept along his gun, ejecting the power cell. His eyes flicked to the cartridge’s indicator, and he slammed it into place. “Probably just the wind.”

“Forget that.” Alec poked the bulge in Fenton’s vest. “Ever since you skimmed those logs, you’ve been different. What’s in there?”

Fenton brushed Alec’s arm aside and drew in a sharp breath. “I said I’m fine. Besides, we don’t have time to talk about this. Jarvis is getting punchy...