The Wild Ba’Neesh Chapter Thirty ©2019 Fay Thompson All Rights Reserved

Norris described a series of rocky outcroppings overlooking the Ach River to the approaching Serla. The town that had once existed along the banks of the Ach had long since been removed and nature had healed the wounds of man’s intrusion. But he could see the river and the main entry to this cave was heavily obstructed with gating to protect what was left of the ruins. That told him it had been an attraction. It was a ruins he said. All tourist markings had been removed along with the trails that must have existed.

Serla told him to climb to the highest point and look south and westerly, they were coming in from the North Sea via the former nation/state of France.

Eric’s device was designed to be able to reroute communication through all nearby devices, masking any precise origination point. A tech team would eventually route it out, but, as former Head of Security, his gear was top shelf. Serla didn’t want to test the tech team by giving them additional signal to follow, he had a better solution, the Akaitapi. All of them were actively sniffing the floor but he knew that the sounds were really an indicator of Vrill ring sniffing. He had the intake vents in the lower body of the aircraft flowing air into the cabin and with the air would come other things.

He was following the Ach River and watching the rocky buttresses that rose rough and sharp along the one side. He identified the historical cave sites. Only one was noted as an important ruin. Brillenhohle. Movement caught the attention of his scanners and his holo bloomed with a green-clad human figure waving a yellow rainslicker. He grinned and made quick work of bringing the transporter as close to the waving and running figure as he could. There was nowhere to land so he simply got close enough to open one of the ramp doors so that five of the Akaitapi could jump out onto the outcropping. They trumpeted and then raced toward the figure who was slowing and then stopping.

Serla knew the feeling. You didn’t face the Akaitapi without some trepidation, unless you were a fool. They were an ancient group of Ba’Neesh whose Chimeric aspects tended to favor the land around the mountain where they lived.

Most had at least some characteristic from the legendary buffalo, the puma and bighorn sheep. They favored wide thick shoulders and massing hair that looked more like a mane than human hair. Their faces were remarkably human in an angular sort of way with large, wide-spaced eyes, dramatic eyelashes and a second set of transparent inner eyelids that operated vertically. At first glance, what you noted was thick muscle, sharp fangs and horns carved scrimshaw style in either the buffalo or bighorn shapes. They looked right on all fours so when they rose up to stand on their legs, it was doubly shocking because then you noted that their human-like hands and toes folded upward when not in use. The heels of their hands and feet were hooves designed to easily carry their weight at a full run. They loved rough ground and made short work of reaching the now stopped Soek to surround him blowing steamy breaths into the fresh air.

Norris gaped, uncertain what to do. Serla exited the craft more slowly, allowing Norris to get himself under control. He looked strange to Norris’ eyes, like a cowboy with worn rugged pants, a long-sleeved shirt tucked in and a hat for shade. Norris noted Serla was easily the tallest, widest, most athletically fit man he had ever seen, particularly since he could tell that Serla wasn’t young. He had a sort of timeless look to him. His long hair graying at the temples, carried in a long braid and banded with beaded straps.

The Akaitapi waited, but now all of them were looking down and inward toward the striated stone rising up around them.

“Show us, quickly.” Serla said, “I’m Serla.”

“They are Ba’Neesh too?” Norris pointed. “They look so different, so massive and powerful.”

“They are the Akaitapi.” Serla said, as if the word explained their startling appearance. He didn’t have time for the explanations that wouldn’t really explain anything anyway. Let the Soek learn as they all did, by experience.

Norris made up his mind, mostly not to keep his saviors waiting. The sharp point on their horns were quite frankly, terrifying. The Ba’Neesh in the craft had blunt horns. He hoped he wouldn’t suffer for the condition of the Ba’Neesh in the cave.

They had to go upward to enter through the caved in roof. He watched in admiration as the Akaitapi leapt up and into the cave as if they had known it all of their lives. Inside, they slowed, facing four Security operatives with weapons.

Serla dropped into the cave after Norris and continued walking forward. Norris wasn’t so sure. He could read the blatant fear on the faces of the mules, that’s what Eric had called them, mules. He too, was a mule.

“Either shoot at us or get out of the way.” Serla said in German as the Akaitapi closed in around him, two on each side and one behind.

One of the guards took aim at the closing Akaitapi.

Norris, now behind the bunch and barely walking, heard the buzz of bees or insects only far too loud. He frowned, he had noted no insect issue in the cave earlier. The mule had dropped his weapon and was clutching at his head. Serla passed him saying, “They can reach any of you faster than you can fire and likely, they will stop being gentle and simply kill you for the attempt against them.” But, his tone wasn’t harsh. It was as if he were explaining to a foolish child. The other three looked over at Norris, as if asking what to do.

“These are the Akaitapi.” Norris said in the exact tone Serla had used on him. He was pleased to see the confusion he’d felt, echoed in their expressions. “We follow them.” He continued as he was already hurrying to catch up, his moment of uncertainty gone.

Norris stepped inside the narrow doorway to find the Akaitapi simply staring at the restrained Ba’Neesh. He couldn’t read them. That surprised him, he knew himself to be pretty good at reading both other people and animals as well as all kinds of plants. Yet, these were different. When he tried to focus harder three of them whipped their heads around and lowered their horns in his direction. He lifted his arms, palms up and open to display no weapon. For the first time in his life he felt he understood the gesture. He stilled.

They continued to stare at him and then in unison they made a snuffling sound. He swallowed as the residue of fear washed through him again. He felt it, tasted of it and weirdly, liked it. He was alive. He lowered his hands noting they were hot. His hands only tended to get hot around dirt and only occasionally around people. He lost the curious thought when one of the Akaitapi approached the same Ba’Neesh who had been most active earlier. A leader? He wondered what sign she gave of that as she looked similar to the rest, a ragged bunch.

The Akaitapi lunged at the restrained Ba’Neesh screaming a terrible cry, her head lowered and her horns aiming straight for the heart of the seated Ba’Neesh.

Norris raced past the other Akaitapi yelling. “No. No. You cannot hurt her.” He tried to get between them.

The lunging Akaitapi paused abruptly as if caught in an invisible net. She was inches from the seated Ba’Neesh who was inhaling sharply but otherwise not moving, her chest open and ready.

“I do not kill hornless youngers.” The Akaitapi said in English.

Serla translated the words into German.

Norris blinked, he was half between the two Ba’Neesh and recognition of his peril made him gasp. Why had he done that?

The Akaitapi ignored him. He shifted his weight, slowly pulling his body out from between them. He heard the distinct sound of amusement from the seated Ba’Neesh he was backing into with his butt. Amusement?

“Remove the human devices.” The same lead Akaitapi ordered the Ba’Neesh she had charged at.

“I have no memories, Elder.” The Ba’Neesh said plaintively.

Serla simply translated, as if this language issue was fully expected.

Norris could speak English as well as German but he was out of practice, he appreciated the clear translation.

“Use a simple.” The Akaitapi ordered, shifting from fours to upright to be nearly as tall as Norris but at least a head shorter than Serla.

Norris watched the Akaitapi’s hands unfold from her thickened fur. Delicate long human-like fingers except for the extra joints. He leaned closer, his fear forgotten. Extra joints? Why not extra joints? His slight movement had caught the Akaitapi’s attention, she glanced over at him, her gaze piercing, as if she were looking into his body. She sniffed again, loud. Behind her the other four, who had watched impassively, sniffed in unison. What did that mean? What was this sniffing doing?

Norris didn’t dare back up. With some creatures any sign of fear might end a person. These Ba’Neesh shared that expression, he felt certain.

The Akaitapi turned back to the seated Ba’Neesh. “Use a simple.” She said, drawing a shape in the air. “You see?” Her tone wasn’t unkind. Norris tried to draw the shape with his index finger.

“I see.” The seated Ba’Neesh said, her trapped hand moving in the confined space. Only, Norris could see a tracery of light trailing in the path of her finger. What was that?

The rings the Ba’Neesh had worn every day of her life popped off. She screamed out in pleasure. “I see!” She said again, triumphant.

“Why doesn’t my finger work?” Norris stepped forward to ask the Akaitapi, his finger drawing the symbol again in the air in front of her.

She looked over at him. “What lock? What open? Stupid Soek.”

Norris blinked. He was a stupid Soek? Clearly she was at least somewhat right, he didn’t know shit about being a Soek. She hadn’t said he couldn’t but she had correctly noted he had nothing to open. “What was that line that followed her finger? It doesn’t follow mine.” He continued, noting that his hands were both very hot now.

“Vrill.” The Akaitapi replied. “You see the Vrill, Soek?” Her movement around to face him happened so fast he couldn’t have dodged away even if the thought had entered his head, which it didn’t. She leaned in to snuffle at him directly, her nose lowering to inhale his body odor an inch from his upper body. He felt trapped between her horns. Exposed, as if she were stripping away every layer of concealment he had been hiding behind his whole life. He wasn’t safe with her. He stiffened, the back of his neck heating up.

“What is Vrill?” He forced himself to ask, his gaze caught on the ripples of energy curling up and down her too close horns.

“Nectar of the Dark Gods.” She answered obliquely.

The seated Ba’Neesh had gained her feet. She seemed scrawny, thin, unkempt, ragged and hollow standing next to the Akaitapi.

Around them each of the Ba’Neesh solved the puzzle and in turn they called out their delight. Norris noted that none of them seemed at all afraid of the Akaitapi although clearly the Akaitapi could easily kill them. What had the lead Akaitapi meant that she didn’t kill hornless youngers? Why the quantification? Did she kill older Ba’Neesh?

He edged away from her and reached down to pick up the discarded restraint, now open. It was simple to lock, you just pressed it to itself. The formerly seated Ba’Neesh stared at him, at the device and then back at him. He noticed but didn’t notice exactly. He was trying the simple thing again. It felt familiar. A voice he didn’t know suggested he think at the sigil.

“Sigil?” He said aloud. “My finger doesn’t trickle.”

“Let it out.” Serla said having watched Norris with both concern and a bit of admiration. He was standing his ground surrounded by perhaps the most dangerous beings on the planet. Particularly notable compared to the near terror of the other mules rigidly clumped in a knot near the doorway.

“What?” Norris looked over, surprised to see Serla. He’d forgotten the man was even in the craft.

“Your Vrill. Let it out.” Serla repeated.

Norris looked at his dominant hand. He thought about feeding the plants, that’s what he did. He stuck his hands in the dirt and felt a tingle and then he flowed out to the plants needing help. He flowed. His eyebrows lifted. Flow. The tingle must be Vrill.

He noticed the Akaitapi watching him. Did they think he would fail? A simple. The word told him something.

He held the cuff out with his left hand with a bit of drama. Somehow these Akaitapi warranted added drama. And, he drew the sigil firmly in the air with his right, focusing his entire being on flowing his energy into…the cuff snapped open. He instantly dropped it. The Akaitapi laughed, then the Ba’Neesh laughed and one of the mules said, “Could I do that too?”

The Akaitapi looked at him and her amusement faded. “Yes. But your Vrill is intentionally made weak. There is much to be done here. Let us get at it.”

“Aristeen says he has Mael within sight.” Serla said.

Norris noted Serla wasn’t carrying an external yet clearly he was connected. How? He couldn’t quite solve Serla. Another mystery. He didn’t notice that he moved among the Ba’Neesh easily. They noticed and a trilling sound whispered amongst them.

“We need Mael and Elias to re-boot Evgeny’s true memories.” Serla said, “These Ba’Neesh will refill him with his second identity memories. It will hurt him. Can you assist him in not feeling as much pain, Norris? We need Evgeny up and functional. Ahh, they have brought Jeffrey, the Master Healer. He will help too.”

“Your brain is wired.” Norris stated.

“Quite.” Serla agreed. “They arrive.”

Norris noted than no one was much concerned with the mules. They were standing as far from the Akaitapi and Ba’Neesh as was possible inside the craft. No more weapons were showing. All four were quivering but standing their ground. Fear. It was like a narcotic wafting in and out and through the Ba”Neesh and Akaitapi, not with each other, but with everyone but this Serla. Norris instantly wanted to be like Serla, indifferent to the danger of the Ba’Neesh. The idea washed through him. He noted a thin line trickling out the tip of his right index finger. Vrill. It had a name. He’d always wondered about it.

The name Mael registered on delay. “Do you mean Mael Strom is here?” Norris hurried after Serla who had reached the doorway where he had paused.

“Yes.” Serla said. “This is going to happen fast. Brad is with them. We are disabling the communications system at the facility. We must move quickly to get Evgeny functional.”

Norris didn’t know who Aristeen or Brad were, his entire being was focused on Mael Strom. A name, like Evgeny. His whole body thrummed with rising Vrill.

The Akaitapi and Ba’Neesh both swung around to stare at him, several licking their lips. He was oblivious. His hands hurt. They burned. He didn’t know he was dropping a puddle of Vrill on the decking of the craft. He didn’t know he was humming an earthy sound like that the stones make when the sun warms them so much they emit. He didn’t know he was rocking slightly on the balls of his feet, up and down in a sort of rhythm, in tune with the music rising inside of him.

“Oh shit.” Serla said aloud.

(Welcome back my friends. And, we are into the mischief directly. I am looking forward to rendering drawings of the Akaitapi in this chapter. Not today, unfortunately as work beckons, but soon. Enjoy! Remember to toggle those stars and boost my numbers for me, please.)