Abalim

Chapter Ten

With nothing else to say, the group sat on the floor and leaned against the hut wall. Most of the Lumarians’ postures were slumped in defeat while Maelani and Dravik spoke in low tones with their mother.

Abalim meant to ask JR15 to do some recon work outside the hut, but the vines over the entrance were whisked open with a dramatic swirl.

In walked Tharion and Nyvira with a group of guards behind them, pointing spears at those in the hut.

“Get up!” Tharion commanded with a flourish of his open hand. “Echovara will no longer be denied!”

The bewildered expressions on the captive Lumarians’ faces probably matched Abalim’s.

“It’s not dusk yet!” Maelani exclaimed, standing. She grasped her mother’s hand and pulled her close.

Abalim held Lisa’s hand as they stood with the group.

Nyvira tilted her chin up with a regal sneer crossing her thin mouth. “Since we are offering such a large group, we have to start now.”

Sniffles and moans from the captives lessened and were replaced by growls and loud clicks that rebounded in the small space.

“We demand the Right of Ascension.” Dravik stepped forward.

“Denied.” Nyvira gave him a scathing glare. She humphed and spun around with her head high.

With a sneer, Tharion followed. “Bring them.” He glanced over his shoulder. “If they resist, blast them unconscious and carry them.”

“Everyone must follow so no one gets hurt.” Abalim put a hand on Maelani’s shoulder. “I promise we’ll figure something out.”

Maelani’s dull eyes simmered brighter before she nodded. She turned and whispered to Dravik, who whispered in a stern tone for the group to cooperate.

A few grumbles, but everyone fell in line and walked out of the hut.

The guards kept a tight ring around them.

Abalim squinted when they went from the dim hut interior to the bright sunshine. Even though it was filtered through the leaves of the gigantic trees, it was easy to see the sun had traveled down the skyline on its journey to end the day.

After blinking to clear his watering eyes, it dawned on him how quiet it was.

The normal sounds of people taking care of their daily business were muted. As were the sounds of insects and normal background noise of animals.

A line of Lumarians created a humanoid corridor that started from the elders’ hut to the Ritual of Renewal tree at the end. Their bright pupilless eyes were shimmered in dull yellow while others were a blazing red. Some eyes were narrowed in anger or widened in shock.

Or, vice versa. No telling with aliens.

To avoid getting slammed by unwanted emotions, he braced his psionic abilities to block everyone. Except for Lisa. He carefully joined his mind with hers. Ugh, he was hit by her inability to control what she sensed, which threatened to overwhelm her.

My inkheart.He made sure his mental voice was soothing and nonthreatening.

She tripped.

He gripped her elbow to keep her steady. Keep walking. I’ll help you control the emotions you’re drowning in.

Her smile lit up her face. Thank you, she mentally replied, her shoulders drooping as if tension was released. Biting her lower lip, she glanced at the quiet Lumarians they passed. Most of them don’t want to see us sacrificed at the tree. Only a handful do.

Unfortunately, it only takes a handful to intimidate the many.

A bright light from the tree caught his attention.

“NO!” Maelani screamed, with one of her hands extended. She burst into a run before any of the guards could stop her.

Her escape created mass confusion. The Lumarian corridor broke up as most of them ran behind her.

In the scramble, the guards were shoved aside and lost control of the prisoners.

“What’s going on?” Lisa exclaimed as they ran to catch up with Maelani and Dravik in front of the massive ritual tree.

Abalim skidded to a stop and grabbed Lisa’s arm to hold her in place. His eyes widened as he witnessed three Lumarians from their group along with Alarea, all handcuffed to the tree, disappear in a wave of shimmering sparkles.

“Oh, my god!” Lisa exclaimed with her fingers covering her mouth. “It looks like they’ve been transported.” She gripped his forearm in a strong grasp. “Maybe they aren’t being killed at all!”

He glanced at her with his brows furrowed and a frown. “Transported?” He’d never heard that word before. “What’s that? I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Mister Abalim, sir.” JR15 crawled out of his hiding place to talk on while riding on Abalim’s shoulder. “It’s a type of teleportation machine that is a subspace device capable of instantaneously sending an object or person from one location to another.”

He sent an incredulous stare first at his bot friend and then at Lisa. “Really?” He studied the image of the last of the young Lumarians disappearing. If anyone asked him, he’d swear the tree absorbed them instead of them being sent somewhere else.

The crowd surrounded the tree with angry fists pumping in the air. The air filled with their shouts, whistles, and clicks.

At once a group of Lumarians turned their back on the crowd, held hands and began to sing.

We call to thee, Echovara

Ancient and mighty.

Accept our humble offerings,

Our souls

Our trust

In the name of our survival,

We sing our sacred chant to thee.

The wide bark of the tree moved and rippled until an image of an out-of-focus elder Lumarian became clear.

The crowd of Lumarians wailed in whistles and clicks, then they dropped to their knees with their foreheads on the forest floor. “Echovara!”

The resounding roar from the group was deafening. The group sang their god’s name in perfect harmony. Filled with anguish, hope, and excitement.

Ignoring that he and Lisa were the only ones standing, Abalim narrowed his eyes at the image. “JR15, inspect the image and tell me about it.”

“At once, Mister Abalim, sir.” The bot wiggled his bulbous belly. “As I’m sure you suspect, Mister Abalim, sir. It is a hologram generated from the tree.”

Abalim humphed. Nothing but smoke and mirrors.

“Mister Abalim, sir?”

JR15’s quiet voice was hard to hear over the chanting of the crowd.

“I think you should know I am able to verify that the Lumarians who disappeared have not been killed. Miss Lisa is correct in saying they were transported.”

“Are you able to determine where they are?”

“I am still analyzing that information. But I can verify they are not in the village.”

Lisa reached over and grabbed Abalim’s forearm. “What’s he saying?” She nodded at the spybot on his shoulder.

Abalim crossed his arms and leaned closer so she could hear him better. “He’s telling me you’re right.” He nodded at the large tree with its holographic face of an elder male Lumarian looking down at the crowd with condescending glee.

“The Lumarians they just ‘sacrificed’ were teleported somewhere else.” He gave her a mischievous grin. “Want to be next?”

Lisa thought experiencing a transporter was great in theory, but the idea of her molecules scrambled and reassembled somewhere else made the hair on the back of her neck rise. She glanced at Abalim, who studied the scary face on the tree. Maybe he saw something she didn’t. Besides, it was hard to think through the loud chanting of the Lumarians. She couldn’t even tell if the creepy tree was saying anything because the face looked like it was stuck. The same expression twitched over and over like it was trapped in a loop.

“Are you sure we’d be safe if we did?” She tapped her finger on her lower lip. “I mean, look at it! I swear the damn thing is broken.”

Abalim leaned his head and whispered something to his spider shaped robot.

She couldn’t hear what he said, but when he lifted his eyes, his expression was eager.

“JR15 has analyzed the last transportation and verified I’d have no trouble controlling it if it didn’t reassemble us correctly.”

Lisa scrunched her nose. “What in the world makes you think you can control something like that?” She pointed to the tree over the backs of the bowing Lumarians.

“I’m not just a pretty face that only reads minds, you know.” He gave her a mischievous smile and shrugged. “It isn’t much different from teleporting.” He clasped her hand and led her to the glowing tree. “Come on. I have an idea.”

Wow, this was a whole new side of Abalim she’d never seen before. He acted like a giddy kid impatient to play with a new toy.

They weaved and stepped over the Lumarians bowing in front of the tree.

As she got closer, it became clear the tree was saying something. It sounded like it was trying to say its name, but got stuck in the middle. Over and over. “Jeez, that’s annoying,” she muttered under her breath. A sharp poke at the back of her neck made her wince. Well, crap. Not again.

“Look what we have here,” Nyvira crooned in her ear. “Isn’t this nice? You’ve brought yourselves close enough to Echovara so you can join him in eternity.”

The pinch dug harder into her skin as a rivulet of warm blood trickled down the back of her neck. Lisa was so sick of this happening to her. All she wanted to do was turn around and punch Nyvira in the face. Yeah, that’d teach her.

“Just a couple more steps.”

The hard grip on Lisa’s upper arms didn’t give her any leeway. She was dragged to a worn area in the rough bark in the shape of a Lumarian. She gasped as she was turned around and shoved hard enough into the trunk to lose her breath. Her head thumped against the unyielding bark, and she saw stars. Instinct had her trying to rub the back of her aching head, but that was a no-can-do with her arms bound wide and flat against the tree. Her legs were spread-eagle, and the bindings were so tight her ass smushed against the rough surface.

“Hey, bitch!” Lisa tugged and strained, trying to remove herself from the unyielding bindings. Like struggling ever worked. “Let me go. I didn’t agree to be part of your stupid ritual.”

“Put him next to her.” Tharion demanded, ignoring her. “And make sure he’s bound good and tight. We don’t want him to get loose.”

Lisa gasped as she watched an unconscious Abalim dragged next to her while two Lumarian guards propped him up with his back to the tree.

Bindings shot out from the tree and wrapped around his neck, arms and upper legs to hold him in place.

She tried in vain to see if his little spider-shaped robot was okay, but he was either hiding deep into Abalim’s hair or he had somehow fallen off.

“Now put them next to her.” Nyvira commanded, pointing a finger at the other side of Lisa.

Lisa’s eyes widened when she saw Maelani, Dravik, and Zylar approaching the tree.

Several guards followed close behind with pointed laser spears. The one guard, Xalun, jumped ahead and faced the other soldiers in front of Maelani as if to stop them from taking her. He was quickly subdued and

forced to the tree with the others. All were bound to the scratchy bark like she and Abalim were.

“You all have the rare and honored privilege of becoming one with the mighty and glorious Echovara!”

Nyvira’s sneer made Lisa’s blood boil. What a sanctimonious twit.

“Fear not. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. Once you join with him, you’ll be giving life to all of Aroonshire for generations to come!”

With a dramatic flair, she took the crystal pendant around her neck and placed the iridescent gem in a divot on a small, raised platform.

A blinding light shot from the dais, making Lisa squeeze her eyes shut. She tilted her head to the side, trying to escape the painful glare piercing through her closed lids.

So much for us being in control. The thought crossed her mind before her world crashed, coating her in darkness.

As Abalim clawed his way back to consciousness, an accompanying orchestra of agony threatened to overwhelm him. It was a fight to open his eyes. Once he got them open, he couldn’t see clearly. With a grimace, he narrowed them until an eerie, dimly lit cavern came into focus.

The walls were adorned with glistening stalactites, with the faint sound of dripping water echoing.

It took a shaky effort to sit up. Pressing a palm against his chest, he struggled with his fragmented memories to piece together where he was. A brief memory of being torn apart by a transporter made him grunt. Now the dull ache in his head throbbed in time with his racing heartbeat.

Lisa! Where was Lisa?

A feminine moan sounded next to him. Ignoring his burning muscles, he pulled her off the dank and dirty floor and cradled her on his lap. With a gentle touch, he brushed her short blonde hair out of her eyes. “Lisa? Are you okay?”

He opened his senses and gave her a psychic scan. The mental block he’d taught her was fragmented, giving him full access to her memories and feelings. She was just as disjointed as he was. Good thing her aches were disappearing like his were.

Her eyes fluttered open, and her sapphire eyes met his. She rubbed the side of her head with the palm of her hand. “I’m so sick of being knocked unconscious and then waking up feeling like this. Let’s not do that again, ‘kay?” She looked around the cavern and gave a deep sigh. “Well, hell. Where are we this time?”

An image at the center of the room caused Abalim’s eyes to widen.

There, looming like an ancient sentinel, was a colossal, round machine that defied the cave’s natural formations. Its massive metallic surface shimmered with an otherworldly glow, casting eerie shadows that danced along the craggy cave walls. A soft, pulsating hum emanated from it, vibrating within the rocky chamber.

He couldn’t help but marvel at the intricate web of gears and cogs, all interlocked in a mesmerizing, symmetrical pattern.

That’s where the answers had to be.

Speaking of finding answers, he tore his gaze away from the machine to find out how the small bot was. “JR15? You still with me?”

“Yes, Mister Abalim, sir.” The small bot scuttled down his neck and rested on the end of his shoulder. “I appear to be in maximum working order.”

Abalim bowed his head as the sharp tension in his shoulders melted away. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt.”

“Are we the only ones here?” Lisa’s eyes searched his face with pursed lips. “What happened to the Lumarians who were tied to the tree with us?”

Abalim frowned. “That’s a good question.” He glanced at her beautiful face. “You well enough to stand?”

With a sultry smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “First things first.”

Before he had a chance to ask her what she meant, she pressed her plump lips against his. He opened his mouth and returned her caress, allowing his tongue to stroke hers with abandon. The drugging action made his head spin as all thought centered on where they joined. Placing his palms on the side of her head, he tilted her to gain further access. It wasn’t until JR15 gave a little squeak did he remember where they were.

He broke the kiss and placed his forehead on hers. “Woman, don’t start things we can’t finish.”

Her pink tongue peeked between her lips as she licked them.

His groin tightened, becoming a steel monster that demanded release.

Lisa gave a little wiggle, rubbing against his straining member. “Sorry.” She shrugged with a sheepish grin.

Damn woman didn’t look like she was sorry.

“Couldn’t help myself.” She jumped off his lap and held out her hand to him. “Come on, hunky man. Let’s find out what happened to the Lumarians.” She pointed to the large machine. “Think they’re over there with that thing?”

Abalim didn’t need her help to stand, but he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to touch her. Clasping his hand in hers, he stood and gathered her in his arms for a quick hug. With a slight smile, he let her go and glanced at his AI companion on his shoulder. “JR15, can you scan this room and see if you can find where the Lumarians are?”

The little bot’s silver-and-green body wiggled. “Already done, Mister Abalim, sir. Behind those mirrors along the walls are chambers filled with the bodies of the Lumarians.”

Lisa gasped with her fingers covering her mouth. “Are they all dead?”

JR15 shook his small, bulbous head. “No, Ms. Lisa, ma’am. Not all. I have analyzed the ones who came here with us. They are thankfully still alive. But I cannot determine how long that condition will last.”

Opening his palm, Abalim created a spinning sphere of light to help them see. “Which way, JR15?”

“To the left. They are lined up against that far wall.”

“Dang.” Lisa nodded at the light in his hand. “That’s all kinds of handy. Bet you don’t have to worry about running out of batteries.”

Abalim gave her a mischievous smile. “What’s better is I can make it do this.” He tossed the sphere into the air. It hovered and gave a light soft enough to guide them.

“Well, soaring space dung! That’s about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Her laugh was infectious.

He chuckled with her as he struggled to tamp down the urge to puff out his chest and strut like a pompous moron.

Holding hands, they cautiously ventured deeper into the cave. In the background was the odd rhythmic hum of the massive machine. With the help of his lighted sphere, they reach the side wall that resembled a hall of mirrors as far as the eye could see. When Abalim looked closer, behind each panel was a Lumarian cocooned in a state of deep slumber.

Inside, an internal low light reflected against the cave wall, creating a translucent radiance around the sleeping forms, giving them an almost divine radiance.

“Oh my God, Maelani!” Lisa cried and ran to one of the pods. The young Lumarian inside looked like she was asleep. Her bright eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open. “Do you think she’s okay?” Lisa had her hands on the pod and looked over her shoulder at JR15 for the answer.

“Yes, Miss Lisa, ma’am. She is for now.” He turned his little, round eyes to her. “But I’m afraid the elder Lumarians are having their energy drained. I am not certain how long it will be before they expire.”

Lisa gasped.

“Can you determine what is causing that?” Abalim glanced at the large machine across the room. If his suspicions were correct…

“I cannot be sure, but I believe it’s not only the personal energy from the Lumarians that is the target.”

Abalim turned to his small companion. “What else is being targeted?”

“Look at that!” Lisa pointed to the floor where a long, thin tube glowed from one of the tubes to the large machine.

For the first time, Abalim noticed the thing was pulsating with a brighter light.

“Miss Lisa, ma’am, is correct.” JR15 nodded. “As far as I can ascertain, the machine is searching for a specific item the Lumarian might be wearing. Unfortunately, their life force is drained as a byproduct of that search.”

Lisa’s lips pressed together. “Well, since we don’t know what it wants, how ‘bout we kick that piece of shit out of their stasis pods?” When it didn’t move after giving it a swift kick, she tightened her hands into fists. “Okay, time for something else. Think there’s an ax around here somewhere? I’d love to chop me some firewood.” She glanced around as if an ax were handy in this dank, empty place.

Abalim put a hand on Lisa’s tense shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Hold on, my inkheart.” He nodded to the machine. “We can’t be sure what would happen to them if we did that. Let’s have JR15 analyze it closer.”

“Yes, yes, Ms. Lisa, ma’am.” The little bot nodded his head vigorously. “I will interface with the machine to see the best way to dislodge it from the Lumarians.”

Lisa frowned and crossed her arms.

The action lifted her breasts nicely.

“You make it sound so easy.” She glanced his way. “Think he can communicate with an alien machine?”

Abalim gave her a wide smile, doing his best to keep focused on her eyes and not some other tempting part of her anatomy. “Well…if he can’t, then we’ll find that ax so you can chop away to your heart’s content.”

Lisa bit her bottom lip and glanced at the prone Lumarians. They didn’t look like they were suffering, but she knew better. Their silent screams echoed in her mind courtesy of her new psychic powers.

Damned psychic crap. Why did she ever think it’d be an awesome thing to have? She clenched her jaw as she internally fought to stop from rushing over and yanking the suffering Lumarians out of the coffin-like death traps. She glared at Abalim and his little friend.

Abalim responded by touching her shoulder. With feather-like whispers, his mental tendrils coated her agitated mind and showed her how to block the agony from the captive Lumarians.

As relief swept through her, she squeezed his hand and gave him a grateful smile. “Yeah, that’s much better, thank you.” She sighed and threw her shoulders back. “Okay, let’s see what we can find out.”

His dark gaze studied her for a moment before he returned the smile. He grasped her hand and lifted it, then gave her knuckles a brief kiss.

Watching Abalim’s full lips caress her skin made Lisa’s breath catch as sensitive nerves came alive. Ooh, look at him. The man was a master at diverting her attention to more pleasant things. Things that didn’t have to do with the dumb situation they were in. Just like one of her heroines, she was fast losing her heart to a dangerous charmer in the middle of their adventure. Yeah, but who said that was a bad thing?

She followed Abalim to the massive machine. The closer they got, the more Lisa fought the urge to run away. That sucker was huge. She’d never seen anything like it before. Circular with a pearly illumination at its back, like a streetlight’s globe tilted, so the light shone around its back edge. Pulsating lights rolled around the outer edges, first bright and then dim. Like the pulse of a giant struggling to hang onto life.

Lisa looked at the small silver-and-green spider bot on Abalim’s shoulder. “You think you can somehow communicate with that?” Talk about David vs Goliath…

The little bot bobbed his head. “Yes, Miss Lisa, ma’am.” Semitransparent wings spread out of his back. Delicate like a lady bug with an iridescent sheen, the little guy rose from Abalim’s shoulder and headed to the machine.

“Analyze first, JR15. Don’t come in direct contact with it just yet,” Abalim warned him.

“No sir, I mean yes, Mister Abalim, sir.” The little spider whizzed toward the dull center of the machine.

Lisa gripped Abalim’s forearm. “I hope he doesn’t get hurt.”

Abalim covered her hand with his. The warmth of his touch settled her shivers.

“Make a quick sweep around the machine,” he told JR15. “Then come back and recommend what options are open for us on what to do next.”

With a quick whistle, the bot zoomed around the machine. It didn’t take long for JR15 to buzz back. With his wings flapping in silent mode, he faced Abalim. “Mister Abalim, sir, I believe I can activate the main communication. You wish me to do so?”

“Only if you deem it’s safe.” Abalim replied.

“Oh, yes, Mister Abalim, sir. It is quite safe. I will be right back.”

The little guy zoomed back to the machine and hovered above the dull center.

Lisa couldn’t tell what the little bot did, but the middle of the machine lit up and the ring surrounding it turned.

A piercing sound, sharp and shrill, pierced through the air.

Lisa covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut as an excruciating pain sliced through her.

Then the rusted machine sputtered to life, and a high-pitched whine settled into a cacophony of creaks and groans echoing through the large chamber.

Daring to open her eyes, she pulled her hands away from her ears. What she saw made her jump.

A ghostly figure of a robed, elderly Lumarian male stood with his hands folded in front of him. He sported a nonthreatening warm smile.

Lookie here… Yoda anyone?

“Welcome, good citizens! We are so grateful you have finally answered our call.” He gave a slight bow before waving to the machine behind him. “While we appreciate the bounty you keep sending us, we fear they are not what is needed to continue. For us to resume our life-giving directives, you must replace the Lumicor crystal!”

“Lumicor crystal?” Abalim stepped closer to the holographic image of the elderly Lumarian wobbling in and out of focus. “What is that?”

JR15 buzzed to his shoulder and settled, folding his wings under his dorsal storage.

“Why, it is the very source of life for the citizens of Aroonshire. Without it, we will cease to exist.” He tilted his head and pursed his lips. “Surely, you, as the caretakers, are aware of this. Are you not?”

Lisa put a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Caretakers?” She glanced at Abalim, who stood with arms crossed and his forefinger tapping his lower lip. “Of what?” she asked.

“Of our glorious selves, my children.” The elderly male chuckled. “After all, you created us to take care of you after we landed on this planet eons ago. Why, without us, everything around you would die in the toxic atmosphere. All the plants and animals would perish, along with the Lumarian people.”

Abalim cocked his head. “And just who is this us you’re talking about?”

“My child, do you not know who we are? We are Echovara!”