Black Water
by Cindy A. Root

 

The Beginning

It was the new beginning of our time. It was a new beginning for our people. We did not understand the realities of our existence; we would though. Not all the scientist of our world would ever guess what would be waiting for us. Their excitement over this new sighting would be the only debate for centuries to come. They were fools; we were fools for believing what was termed the discovery of existence.
    The exhilaration at detecting a tiny ripple or a devastating tsunami in space after the comet passed through our universe would touch the ears of only the elite of the elite. The failed attempts of many would pave the way for those brave enough to continue. The years would be many. The cost would be large. The loss of life . . . untabulated.
    A gentle flutter barely felt was enough to start the panic tone of the current song of awakening, Elvis Presley blared into all resting pods. Blue Suede Shoes signaled all pods to open. What sounded like elevator doors opening released a cool feeling of oxygen as it slowly drifted throughout the tiny space, as if carried on a summer’s breeze, the entire inside of the ship giving off the appearance of a tiny submarine outfitted with all the bling this century could afford. Six individual apparatuses reminded her of the movie aliens, peeked through the haze, gently stretching well-rested muscles.
    Never one to be able to rest in the resting pod, Captain Korie Lester watched and felt the serenity before her, silently irritated by the choice of music stealing her tranquility. A smirk lifted a well-rounded face as she monitored the view in front of her, stealing occasional glances over her shoulder, as her crew progressively woke from a deep time-out. By no means weary of sailing through a beautiful sea of stars, the awe-inspiring vision of black and silver whipping and whizzing quietly by at fantastic speeds at what she laughingly called her picture window. Korie waited patiently for all to join her, absently ending her entry into her journal tucking the beautiful leather carefully away from prying eyes she swiveled her chair towards her second in command. Waiting, for what she knew would be a lecture.
    “James, she replied, impatient. “It is about time your scrawny butt gets a move on. I’ve waited for hours.”
    “Well if you would actually take the time to sleep like the rest of your crew you wouldn’t have to wait for us to awaken, you would be rising like us.” He grouched.
    “I know, how can one sleep through this,” she pointed, the breath stealing scenery easily diverting all thought.
    “Very easily, just shut your eyes”
    Laughing and reaching for age-gnarled hands she quite forcefully while gently shook his hand, after all, he did have a point, and he was like a grandfather to her. He was the only one to see the ripple and survive. He was there when the giant wave overtook his salvaging ship, his Captain forcefully shoving him into the capsule and shooting him out to space, where he almost died until a mother ship scooped him out of the abyss, saving his life, the journal safely tucked beneath his clothing guarding it with his life. This new expedition slowly inched towards the unknown, and he was the reason why.
    We were the rescue team, the ones brave enough to go beyond what we did not know. All volunteers for this reclaim mission. When first approached by the high priestess, there was no answer but a positive one. The wise aged voice filled with knowledge, echoed with seriousness as she calmly explained in full detail the hazards of taking this particular mission. Courageous or foolish we accepted. With full responsibility of hand picking my own team, I knew instantly whom they would be, everyone of them reliable, the twelve of us, six men, six women, highly skilled prominent ranked and ready for the new journey.
    Unabashedly, James interrupted, “Where are we,”
    “Close, I’ve felt the ripple. I trust we are in its tail. We will need all hands on deck.”
    “What! We cannot be,” the sound of panic making his raspy voice almost sound like a soprano. “By my calculations we had weeks before we even breached the tail.” Faded green eyes pierced the picture before him, unbelieving, searching for and finding the inevitable.
    Unwilling to share the fact that I had overrode the main setting for the resting pods; I merely smiled, before turning my back. Sitting in the overstuffed chair, more awake than I had ever been in my twenty years, and feeling just a twitch superior, I twirled my favorite pen, more than full of myself, before stuffing it into the scattered bun I had so carefully arranged just that morning. “By the way turn that blasted racket off will you, I need to enter the coordinates before we cross the wave the wrong way.” The king of rock one of my favorite classical superstars was suddenly on my nerves.
    “Who chose that ghastly tune anyway,” he muttered, leaning over my shoulder to push the lever, the sudden quietness, encouraging.
    “I did,” I grouched.
    “Alright you lazy seadogs get your backsides up and moving we are entering the devils lair.” James bellowed.
    Moreover, we were, I thought as the small vessel began to roll and shift, slanting first this way then swerving the other way, a tiny man made ship in a vast inky silver blackness sure to be ripped asunder, and we were only at the beginning, or the ending.
    “Everyone to your stations. James, man the monitor, if she so much as creaks I want to know. We are on our way.”
    “Aye, captain. I guess this means there’ll be no time to jump ship.” He cackled his excitement all too evident as he quickly buckled himself. Quick fingers already pushing state of the art buttons only he could begin to read as the intricacies of the entire ship became visible to his practiced eye.
    James watched as the petite captain’s hands skillfully began the intricacies of maneuvering a beastly amount of tin into the breakers, soft and gently riding the wave like a professional surfer catching water. Shaking his balding pate and knowing why she volunteered for this gig, he sadly acknowledged this suicide mission for what it was, he believed they were on a fool’s errand in no way would he ever believe they would find her family. Sighing sadly, he continued to let his mind wander to the memory of her parents the most sought after couple. Each of them Captains and explorers volunteered to investigate the splitting of our universe, never dreaming the monstrosity of the apparatus. Too late, would they learn their foolish actions would cause their deaths, as only he would know? Watching from the protection of his own capsule of death as the ship was sucked into the waste, disappearing completely . . .
    “James! James . . . damn you man, wake up! This is no time for lolly-gagging. Is she pulling apart?”
    Shaking out of his reverie, James quickly assessed his monitors, “Nay, Captain, she’s holding her own.”
    Narrowed apple green eyes stared irritably towards the one man she knew she could trust, dismissing for the moment his lack of involvement in such a justifiable moment. What in carnation was he doing back there, how could he so easily miss the creaking, moaning dislike as this massive craft twisted and molded to the demands of what? 
    “I think you have her sweet ling,” James shouted over the roar of what sounded like a single roar of a lion magnified ten thousand decimals. “Keep her on course; ride her for all she is worth,” the din about them lessening with the softening of his voice. A mighty curse on his lips as his white head nearly bopped the side of the ship.
    “No time for rejoicing,” Korie yelped in response, ignoring his endearment, “we are only drifting right now; I have no control or steerage of this weak-willed jumble of iron. Hang on, this wave looks brutal, and I’m not sure we are going to crest her.” The ludicrous thought almost made her giggle uncontrollably. Unsure of when they actually would crown what felt like a twenty story building, everyone quietly waited holding their breath as they soared what they hoped would not be the end. Instinct alone kept Korie’s hands glued to the steering stick afraid to loosen or give even an inch of her resolve or might.
    Eyes practically glued to the scene before her she could hardly believe the impression, as thousands of stars rose and fell the awesome sight both beautiful and terrifying. The wave, or tsunami as it was aptly named, how could one surf the stars rippling, twisting smashing as if sailing the seas, each crest rising and falling, the stars twirling like the waves in the seas, outstanding implausible, incredible.
    “Oh my, James what the toggle was that?”
    Peeking out the porthole next to him, he swallowed hard, blinking his eyes rapidly to adjust to the motion, the sight before him nearly causing his heart to flip-flop from his bold chest. “Sweet Jesus,” unsure, his fingers tapped wildly, to expand the opening his entire body swiveling, first one way then the other, it was, he was sure of it, floating on the wave of stars was a ship mate well known to all especially his sweet Korie. James blinked again only to be rewarded with a piece of the prominent Super-Star, suspended for a slight second, the very ship Korie’s parents and he himself were sailing, and searching for. Careful not to gain her attention, he suavely and with good conscience lied “Some sort of debris, captain.”
    Exasperated, Korie shouted, “I know that! Any part of her recognizable?”
    “None, Captain.”
    Sighing heavily, Korie just barely held the reigns. The sudden flash of metal whizzing past her nearly caused her to loosen her grip, every fiber of her being begging to peek and identify that one piece of metal. James’ acknowledgement made her more resigned than ever to move forward . . .
    “James?”
    “Aye, Captain?”
    “Take over, we seem to be in a lull, I need to stretch a bit,” tired fingers silently rubbing the ache in her lower back, every appendage screaming in protest as she carefully handed the steering stick over to James. “I’ll be in my cabin if you need me. Do not be a hero. Bleep me immediately; my unit will be on at all cost.”
    “Aye, Captain.”
    “I mean it.”
    “Your orders are duly noted, Captain.”
    “Fine, I’m going to my cabin,”
    “Yep.”
    Ignoring his sarcasm, Korie turned and left silently, her shining boots making a rapid tat, tat, tat, on the shining steel floor. Double-checking her unit once again, Korie stood motionless, sea green eyes carefully taking in the extravagant scene before her. Shades of a now extinct fall color scheme, decorated subtly, golden hues intermixed with rusty orange, copper, and burgundies. Ignoring the floor to ceiling mirror, reflecting a beautiful scene of its own, Korie quickly walked to the four-poster bed, the size nearly dwarfing the entire room. Pure pleasure sparkled mischievously as if she were still in short pants Korie hastily removed every piece of clothing before letting the soft mattress engulf her petite body, auburn hair swirling about her; she promptly fell into a deep sleep . . .
    Incessant buzzing droning in her ears had Korie groggily jumping to her feet, her hand coming up empty as she realized she had nothing on, racing for her unit and frantically grasping a quiet unit, it finally dawned on her the ringing of her coffee vessel signaled it was time to rise. Rubbing tired eyes, Korie slowly made her way to her wardrobe. “Copper, please,” the rustle of the closet selected several outfits all of different colored coppers, some mixed others solids. Choosing a pattern, she set her uniform on her bed. “Flats, please,” a whoosh noise produced any woman’s dream of shoes all flats every color imaginable, “match please,” once again the slight humming as the closet selected the perfect match to her attire. “Close, please.” Virtually waltzing to her steam room, Korie monotonously took care of her abolitions, letting the vanilla scented steam, caress her entire body.
    More than well-rested, towel in hand, Korie poured a cup of coffee and dialed. “James,”
    “Captain,”
    “Where are we,” an authoritative voice rang out, causing a smirk as she waited patiently for his reply.
    “We seem to be hovering in the lull; all instruments have not changed since we buckled.”
    “Interesting, I’ll be up shortly to relieve you.”
    “Aye, Captain.”
    In front of her vanity her voice rang out once again, “Make-up and hair,” careful not to move Korie waited patiently for her make-up to be applied and her hair to be fixed by the state of the art system rarely used, preferring to perform her own toiletries. Satisfied and feeling overly done, the swishing of her cabin door signified her exit.
    “Comrades,” Korie nodded as she once again resumed her responsibility, nimble fingers greedily reaching for and grasping the steering stick. “Bring me up to speed.”
    “There has been no change for the past day.”
    Screeching an unintelligible curse, Korie could barely contain her anger, “You let me sleep an entire day away?”
    “No harm, Captain,”
    A clearing throat had her swiveling like a shark on attack, “Well, Adams, what is it you have to say?”
    “We all slept, Captain, except, of course, for first mate James.” Stepping forward Adams continued his speech, “We felt if we didn’t take a time out none of us would be any good to you, Captain, or to our mission.”
    Knowing for sure they were right, she merely nodded, missing the audible relief coming from Adams before he beat a hasty retreat to his side of the craft.
    “All right. James, how do we explain this respite? Why was there no movement from the instruments?”
    “Can’t be sure.”
    “Why not?”
    “Never seen this before.”
    “Why not?”
    Exasperated at his beloved tyke of a captain, James merely sniffed.
    “Are you not my first mate?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Well . . .”
    “Are you or are you not the, Captain.”
    Smiling hugely at the ridiculous conversation, Korie snapped a pert salute, “Touché.”
    Bending earnestly towards her instruments, Korie's head flashed to the fore as she heard a whispered, “Mother of God.” Freezing in place, each and every one watched as the immense upsurge began building in magnitude, her beloved stars no longer recognizable. A large portion of the wave had separated itself building a sort of cyclone of stars; panicking Korie shouted “All hands at stations." Every instinct told her they would never make it, however she ranked the highest in her class and damned if she did not claw and fight her way past her parents’ reputation to end her career here.
    “Full speed ahead maties, we are bearing straight for her, with any kind of luck she won’t break apart.” Strapping herself in tightly, Korie zeroed in on a slight misshapen hole hoping they would shoot straight up and over the whirl. Defiantly refusing to close her eyes she watched with revulsion as the tube like structure penetrated to the exact mark, one single tear slipped unnoticed, as the tragedy of her parents became reality, the entity sucked the helpless machine and everything inside refusing to give quarter. The remarkable force causing her to lose consciousness, thereby completely missing the moment when the ship did exactly what she hoped-pushing them over, and up until they vaulted to the surface of midnight water, like a fishing line with a bobber . . .
    The steady, gentle rocking reminded Korie of a time when she was younger, she was aboard the Super–Star, a young child swaying back and forth in an antique hammock her father strung up in her room just for her, she was the only one on board that had one. For hours on end she would lay side by side with  her trusted bob cat Lilly, pretending she was captain of her own vessel, Lilly her first mate, sailing the vast outer reaches of space, always coming home the hero.
    Wait–she was confused, her parents were dead, or were they. No, she was going to rescue them, she had to. Sudden clarity forced green eyes to open wide, the darkness before her unreceptive. With no fastidiousness, stiff hands slowly removed the lap harness, every muscle screaming in protest. Inhaling deeply, Korie ignored the shooting pain in her chest. Trained fingers sought and found the knobs automatically. With a slight flip, they had light, dim light but light was light, and right now she would take whatever she could. Her first priority was to the needs of her staff, second and just as important, access the damage to the vessel, then find out just were the toggle they were.
    Quiet moans throughout could be heard as her team slowly began to recover. Kicking debris from her path, she embarked on her quest, making her way from one station to the next, assuring herself and them they would be fine. With the ship tossed from one end to the other, Korie reached for and nearly screamed her fool head off as a heavy hand fell on her shoulder scaring ten years off her life, “No, Korie, she’s gone.”
    Spinning warily on her heel to face a familiar voice, Korie merely stammered, “What, are you kidding me! She is just like the rest of us, merely bruised and battered; nothing we have not faced before, give her time she will be fine. She has to be,” doubting the validity of his assessment, Korie bent, intending to check for herself.
    Shaking a gray head, James responded, “I’ve made certain. She is no longer with us, she is on her journey to righteousness.”
    Defeated, Korie merely shook her head, adhering to the inevitable. “Take care of her, and the others, I need to uncover our true point of origin.”
    “Aye, Captain,” James replied before bending to the task.
    With order restored a short time later, and a few short words encouraging Leslie a swift journey to her place in the Kingdom of comrades, Korie stood staring out at the inky blackness, James by her side. “What do you suppose it is, Captain?”
    “With no working instruments, I can only surmise we are floating in water.”
    “Water? How could that be?” James exclaimed.
    “Why would I know, I’m a captain of the stars, I’ve never been trained in matters such as these.” her own voice matching his exasperation. “Shhh . . . what was that?
    Clearing his throat to respond to her panicked whisper, James halted as the noise once again reverberated throughout the vessel freezing him in place. Thump . . . bang . . . screech . . .“What the toggle is that? James to your station, get those panels open, I want to know what the creeps is trying to tear into us.”
    “Aye, Captain.” Tired legs raced as fast as his age would allow, all hands following.
    A sudden brightness intruding on the task before her, that had nothing to do with the lighting inside, Korie turned slightly her breath stolen from and held under lock and key as she beheld the most intense sunrise ever to be her privilege to observe. Brilliant hues of purples, violet, lilac, reds ,copper burgundies,  gold’s light, and creamy, and blues, turquoise, aqua, ascended, each color holding its own shape so as if looking at a rainbow but not a rainbow. There was no great ball of fire rising with the colors, only the most fantastic melting pot of tones. At the exact moment, James managed to open all panels surrounding the ship only to greatly admire the view before him, as the brilliant light flooded throughout warming all within its tentacles.
    So beautiful was the site before them it took a few minutes before, they realized the scratching sound was now beneath the craft. Hair standing on end, Korie once again pushed the button to release the bottom panel, only to close her eyes in abject terror. Her first instinct was right they had landed in water, and beneath them, this very moment was a beast with teeth the size of her hand, row upon row of jagged pointy teeth. Its long snout big enough to swallow her whole was now bumping and exploring the immensity of this creatures body only half-visible. Aghast, Korie stared into the creatures black orbs sure it was looking back at her, knowing it was an impossibility, the tinted glass being space proof, not even a volley of space debris could penetrate the thickness.
    “What the… why not even in my worst nightmares have I seen a creature such as this,” James whispered.
    “I’m certainly with you on that, James,” Korie whispered just as in awe.
    “The water is so clear,” a voice from behind declared mesmerized.
    Shaking herself mentally, Korie asked, “Do we risk stunning this thing or try to move out of its way?”
    “I say let’s try not becoming lunch. We move forward; if it gives us any problems we stun the toggle out of it.” A chorus of “hear, hear” only reinforced what Korie was already thinking.
    “Right, well I need to know in what direction to flee, and since the compass is out of whack, I will be heading topside. Everyone to your stations. James, I will be in touch shortly.”
    “Aye, Captain.”
    Crossing the short distance to the stairs leading above, Korie quickly made her way. Stopping briefly at the glass bubble protecting her from the outside she meticulously observed the vast distance of beauty and nothingness. Sprawling unprofessionally in the leather chair, one leg swinging from side to side, she abruptly made an educated guess and began a steady course forward or hoped she was. Thoughts racing wildly, Korie wondered how they had come to be in such a place. The exquisiteness did not seem to match the emptiness. How does one find their way with no sun or stars? 
    “Ahh…Captain,”
    “Speak, James.”
    “I believe we are being followed, can you see anything in the attic?”
    “Hold,” Korie replied, swiveling the chair in all directions. “Umm . . . what do you see?”
    “More of the insects.”
    “Insects! Really, James they are quite bigger than insects, at least those annoying things you can swish away with your hand. However, with these devils we could easily lose an appendage. On second thought, James why don’t you shoo them away?”
    “Very funny,” Korie heard along with an aggravated snort.
    Chuckling at his annoyance with her, Korie pushed the lever, causing a short zap to anything within ten feet, much like a moray eel would towards a foe. “Anything?”   
    “Hold,” James replied, skilled eyes surveying all sides of the craft.
    The sudden deafening screech signaling the aggravation one would feel with a hundred thousand volts of pure electricity needed no explanation. “No answer needed, out.”
    “Out.”
    Resting comfortably once more, Korie watched as the spectacle swam irritably away from his would be lunch. Eyes widening in pure satisfaction as the monster sliced through the air the immense body plowing uninterrupted seeming to search for a banquet elsewhere. Steering a straight course, Korie closed her eyes hoping against hope they would find something in this vastness…
    Elvis Presley’s velvet chords were blaring once again, this time Jailhouse Rock beat out a lively tune. Korie was so absorbed in the lyrics she nearly missed sighting what appeared to be an island. “Land ho”, she shouted, blinking tired eyes, afraid she might be seeing a mirage, or didn’t one see those in deserts, oh well she thought, as  practiced fingers guided the steering stick towards land, knowing they had a few minutes before they touched ground. “Wheels ready?”
    “All good, Captain,”
    “James?”
    “We will touch shortly.”
    “Sandy, rock, or mud?”
    “Appears to be other, I don’t know, looks like sand however I won’t know for sure until I’m able to take a sample.”
    “Fair enough. Meet you at the picture window. Out." Not waiting for an answer, Korie nearly skipped to the front of the ship, sharing her view with the others, the density of the forest before them chilling, the foliage so wild and thick with various branches hanging and drinking from the shoreline. “Oh my . . . that’s something I’ve only seen in propaganda. Will we be able to cut through that mess?”
    “No and yes Mum. We will have to down size to our torch cutters and trollers,” meaning Compact discs, that flew a foot off the ground making missions such as these much easier, along with torches sharp enough to cut a human in half.
    “Alright, let’s get to work. I need air samples, soil samples and the entire island mapped out. Also, I need bodies to volunteer to stay behind, to monitor radial transmissions.” Leaving her staff hard at work, Korie began the chore of sending trailblazers. Unsure of where to propel the radar signals, she blasted all points meticulously, recording each thrust, careful not to over blaze.
    “All set, Captain”
    “Thank you, James. Well, comrades?”
    Stepping forward with a smart salute, Adams began, “The atmosphere is thick. We will have to activate our implants.” Meaning the mesh set at the bottom of the windpipes, evading foreign bacteria, while efficiently filtering and adjusting lung capacity. Long invented by the elders, disease was no longer a worry in this world.
    “Our implants will work?” Korie had to ask, with a slight rising of her brow.
    “Absolutely.”
    “Next.”
    James stepped forward. “The soil samples checked out as well, there seems to be petroleum oil base mixed inconsistently into gravelly sand.”
    “Fine. Next.”
    Corporal Beth stepped up, the tiny computer nestled comfortably in the palm of her hand, as she quickly set about outlining the entire island, each coordinate methodically charted, the device leaving no room for error. Awe in her voice, Beth regaled, “This so called Island is more of an entity of its own.”
    “Explain yourself, Corporal,” Korie ordered.
    “Meaning Captain, it is more like the size of an undiscovered planet, completely self sufficient in all walks of life.”
    “Excellent.” Korie replied, controlling the spasmodic grinding of her jaw. “Great work comrades, we leave tomorrow at first light. One more thing; who is my home team?” Erick and Daniel both raised hands, pleasing Korie immensely, the perfect two, she herself would have chosen. “Dismissed.”
    “Pardon me, Captain. While mapping out the planet, I spotted a rather large dense blimp, completely foreign to the island,” clearing her throat, Beth continued, “I just thought you should know.”
    Her head whirling, Korie's mind immediately wandered to her parents, could that one blip be their vessel? One more day she chanted over and over. One more day. Keeping her emotions in check before replying, “We have waited this long, we will wait a bit longer, I do not, I repeat, I do not want any of my team to be put at risk because of hastiness. Do I make myself clear?” Waiting for affirmation, Korie swiftly turned on her heel, throwing over her shoulder, “James to bed with you, get some rest. I’ll need you to be at your best. The rest of you draw straws I want two up in quarterly shifts. Good night . . .”
    Trekking slowly in groups, trollers skimming the mud, Korie and James firmly led the way, the sight before her like a knife twisting uncaringly into her guts. There in front of her, half in and half out of the water, were the remains of the Super-Star, her parent’s most prized possession. Without voicing a word, Korie and her team stealthily crept to the open hole. “Beth, check for survivors." 
    Once again aiming the miniature computer, Beth shook her head, “I’m sorry, Captain, no bodies are aboard.”
    “Thank you Beth. Back to square one, James.”
    “Guess so, Captain.”
    Sighing heavily, Korie pointed “You four there, scout out the interior, salvage any supplies, anything that could possibly be saved. The remainder of you, follow within the noon hour, keep in low radio contact. Same for the rest of you, once your finished salvaging, bring up the rear, everyone keep that distance. If for any reason there is trouble, use your blazers, hold the course, make sure each hour there are five minute breaks. Any Questions?” Smiling hugely, she threw out, “Take care of each other; watch your backs; I want every comrade accounted for after this mission. Understand?”
    A bright chorus of agreement widened the grin as she turned her back.
    “Let’s go, James.”
    “Aye, Captain.”
    Sipping slowly out of her drink bag, Korie wiped the sweat from her brow, surprised a place such as this with no sun could possibly bring about such a heated reaction. “Anything, James, anything at all?”
    “Nay, Captain, they definitely used their trollers, otherwise we would have found a footprint by now.”
    “That’s what is so puzzling. Why wouldn’t they stop to rest, just as we have. We are right now leaving our prints for others to follow.” Scrunching her forehead deep in thought, Korie paced, letting her feet adjust to the hard yet soft surface, the only drawback of the disc, the lower extremities needed time to adjust, the feel much like walking on sponges.
    Raising gray brows, James had not the heart to remind his captain that they were the ones to torch a path. If her parents and their team were here, they obviously torched from a different location. Sending out a silent prayer, James hoped all were out of the water before the monster bit through the side. Instruments carefully checking the area James irritably wiped the sweat from his brow, blinking several times at the apparition not ten feet from where he stood, “My God. This monster walks,” he whispered. Ducking quickly behind a massive tree limb, causing a slight squeak from Korie as he roughly dragged her with him.
    “What is the meaning of this James? I mean really. Why did you do that, my uniform has this sticky oil everywhere, it is ruined James!” Using his forefinger, he quickly pushed her head to the side, letting her take in the colossal being before them.
    “I wouldn’t worry about that for the time being, Captain.”
    “Whoa,”
    “Exactly,” James noted.
    “Did it see us?”
    “I don’t think so. While you were busy yapping, I was surveying the area, and there it was.”
    “I never yap,” Korie replied indignantly, her eyes still glued to the gigantic creature. “Did you get a reading?”
 “Not yet,” the sarcasm dripping like sweet honey from James, “I was too busy saving your butt.”
    “Well now that your done saving my butt, do you think you could manage a reading so we might find out if there are others in the area,” Korie's sarcasm equally as sugared. Two pair of eyes glued themselves to the animal, each in their own right terrified to blink. How could one ever explain something so phenomenal to the people back home? The thing stood as tall as a five-story building, its neck long and lean like a snakes, only not as smooth. The hair covered its massive body from head to toe, sort of giving it bangs on the forehead, with fringe over the feet, kind of like a boot, a very fashionable boot, with fur sticking out the tops. Smothering a giggle at her ridiculous analogy of something that could just as easily gobble them up like an hors d'oeuvre, Korie kept a diligent lookout as her comrade swiftly continued to search for others in the region.
    Quickly scanning the area, James kept a watchful eye, careful not to bring undue attention to his actions. Returning to a crouching position, his breathing irregular, he groaned slightly. “They are everywhere.”
    “Right, well, I know you don’t want to hear this, but we need to move forward, program the info into the trollers so we can move around them.”
    “I knew you would say that, it’s already done,” James sighed,
    Amused, Korie bopped his broad shoulder, “Come on, James, I’ve been observing his eating pattern, I don’t think he would like us. It seems to me he would just rather eat the tops of those trees,” she pointed.
    “So you say, Captain, but remember when we become a part of the brunch buffet, I’ll remind you of this conversation.”
    “I’m sure you will James, I’m sure you will.” Onward they continued, always one-step in front of the hairy beasts, sometimes directly under them. His complexion as white as a ghost the first time Korie suggested her plan, hardly giving him time to adjust to her idea before her words became action. Her sides splitting in laughter as he sped forward as if the devil’s soldiers were chasing him.
    “I think, James, we will make camp over near that clearing. That tree with the long, straggly leaves could just as easily guard us against intruders. Once we set our torch cutters to work, we will be set for the evening.” Something Korie was able to read now, the distinct color pattern, although much like a rainbow, the shifting patterns went from bright to light to deep purple hues, by no means dark. She just associated the patterns to suit her needs, right or wrong. “James?” Frustrated, Korie ventured a look behind, startled to find her fist mate had vanished. “James? Where in the toggle are you?” Confusion, mixed with worry creased her forehead; warring together with plain anger that James would be so fool hearty as to become lost. Where is that man? Korie breathed silently.
    Making short work of their camp, Korie grabbed her black light and went in search of her first mate. Swinging the light in wide arcs, first one way and then the other, while tracking their path she stopped short as she could no longer find a trace of James’ troller, only the emission of her own. Knowing he did not go on foot, because if he did she would certainly have found footprints, Korie swung her light higher towards huge tree trunks, finding no trace he had worked his way up to one of the many massive branches. To be a child in this wooded area would be wonderful, she thought, letting her mind roam for a second. She could easily see her father building a mammoth tree house; heck he could build an entire house on one branch, she thought. Shaking her head at her silliness, she continued her search in vain, finding no trace of his aura. He was gone and she had no way to find him. A horrific thought propelled her back to the safety of her camp, her overactive thoughts scaring the toggle out of her. What if one of those gigantic hairy beasts had snatched him from the ground gobbling him up like after dinner treats? Deciding to call out a warning to the following team, Korie swore a blue streak when she realized James carried the equipment behind him on a second troller. She was now literally on her own, and so were her teammates. “Dash it all, James, what am I to do?” Suddenly feeling both vulnerable and sorry for herself, Korie allowed two fat tears to roll unchecked, as she sat crossed legged under her makeshift canopy her head in her hands.
    If Korie thought she had problems, James felt he had her beaten. Enclosed in some sort of a flying, silken mesh, he realized he was cocooned in a web as soft as satin, yet strong as any steel to be found. Laughing, he now knew he was like the fly to the spider. A sobering thought brought him out of his madness as he hoped he was not going to become some things appetizer. Unable to move his arms and barely able to see, James could only wonder helplessly what was to become of him, and his dear Korie. He certainly had let her down by being caught; he hadn’t even seen it coming. First, he was behind his Captain, next, he was flying through the air, as if a huge net had been lowered, sucking him up in a matter of seconds. Drifting into unconsciousness, James swore he could hear many hearts beating out a rapid tattoo, soothing his frayed nerves . . .
    Korie’s outlook at its bleakest, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stiffened, saluting entirely on their own, at the noise to her right. She turned in time to feel a large hand completely enclose the scream, bubbling to the surface, eyes wide with shock. For the first time in her life, all training left her and she fainted. Missing the aggravated sigh, she was scooped from her position and hefted over broad shoulders, much like an old rug, her intruder methodically climbed the branches where she had dreamed just hours before of building a house. Darkness permeating her entire being; what seemed like hours was in fact only minutes, she lay as still as stone. Korie surmised she was lying in a heap on a wooden floor, unbound. Testing the waters so to speak, her training automatically kicking in she stiffened just slightly, enough it would seem for a humorous voice to demand, with very much authority, where she could not find a single entertaining detail about her present situation, the demand almost forceful, to “relax.”
    “Captain Lester,” the unknown voice sighed, “you are in safe company.”
    Eyes wide open at the direct mention of her name, Korie sprung to her feet, “How do you know my name? Who are you?” her years of training taking in her surrounding in a single glance. If the situation had been different, she would have gladly stopped to admire the fine wood her feet were now firmly planted on and ready to kick butt, or the beautiful matching walls. She would have for sure reverently commented on the beautiful type glass allowing her to engulf what could have been she was sure, the most stunning scene ever to be her pleasure. The limited amount of furniture was painted a high sheen of white, the silky white substance most certainly inviting to her weary bones. The quaintness of it would have most assuredly delighted her at any other time.
    “Captain, you are quite safe.” The voice repeated. Spinning towards the weary proclamation positioned behind and to her left, Korie raised shocked eyes, the apparition one she thought never to see again. Nearly swooning in wonder, she forgot all protocol and launched herself in strong arms, the force nearly knocking both to the floor.
    “Whoa, easy girl, I’m overjoyed to be in your presence as well,” arms and legs clinging like an octopus. Jace Priest, first Lieutenant of the Super-Star, thoroughly unwound her petite body, holding her at arm’s length.
    Uncaring of her position, a million questions spewed in no particular order, the first being the status of her parents. “Where are they Jace? Are they well? Can I see them?”
    Moving awkwardly away from the innocence staring so naively at him, a hand ruffling uncombed hair in aggravation, he began to pace, his actions confusing Korie. “You do know where they are? You do, do you not? I mean you are third in command. How could you not know? Give me the coordinates and I will go to them this minute.”
    Gleaming teeth snarling, Korie backed away, unprepared for his response; “Little girl you have no idea what you’re talking about, we are not at home, you just don’t walk up to these . . . these things and request by the way my lordship, or highness or however the toggle they are addressed, would you be so kind as to release Korie’s parents. You see she came here to visit and would very much like to reminisce.” Her mouth dropping open at such a rude response, Korie could only stare. Irritated herself, she let one foot tap lightly in aggravation, why the audacity of this lowborn, how dare he address me so foolishly.
     Interrupting his second round of nastiness, Korie injected her own scathing recital, “Listen to me, you low born heathen, in no way will I stand here and listen to a nonentity insult my well-bred heritage.” Poking a well-manicured nail none too gently into a broad chest, sea green eyes watched menacingly as Jace turned about and threw himself into one of those very relaxing chairs. “Your stupidity Lieutenant at addressing your Captain in such a way will have you demoted and thrown to the plagues of our laws, so cease your prattle.” Confident she had rightfully put the backwater in his deserved place amongst their laws; Korie followed his lead and sat heatedly into one of the adjacent chairs, too angry to enjoy the deliciousness engulfing her jaded body.
    His annoyance clearly showing, Jace stood towering over his new headache, “Let me inform your well bread heritage, he mimicked, Your father, he bellowed, Your father, promoted me to third Captain the day I signed on with his team, so do not sit there on your high pedestal and look down on me, my Lady.” He bowed, mocking her. Beautiful blue eyes throwing round after round of blazers at her, Jace Threw himself once more into his chair.
    “My father would never allow the likes of you to become his third in command, she screeched nearly bringing the house down about their ears. Closing his eyes, Jace scoffed, “I would say you know nothing about your father, princess.” Hackles rising in all out war, her voice although reasonably quiet, struck out like steel venom, “Where are my parents? Each word pronounced as if talking to a dim wit.”
    “How in the toggle did this conversation get so out of hand?” Raising his hand in defeat, Jace gracefully bowed out for the moment. With all his training coming to the fore, Jace continued to make an effort to regain some semblance of professionalism. “Captain Lester,” Jace addressed civilly, “your parents, as you can plainly see, are not here,” 
    “I know that, she snapped.  “If you would be so kind as to enlighten me on the subject at hand we could begin to have a reasonable conversation,” she relented, her voice now matching his.
    “Look Korie, Jace began, never wavering, These things are not like us,” confident he had her attention he continued, Oh they walk and they talk, or at least our interpreters let us understand their language, however their physical appearance is different.  They stand on two legs with four white fury arms, the sky makes them invisible to the naked eye, and in fact, their whole bodies are covered with tiny white fibers.  They have the look . . . the look of a giant invisible spider.”
    “This whole place is one big contradiction,” Korie inserted, ringing her hands nervously at his words.
    “Please captain," Jace almost pleaded, "let me finish.”
    “By all means,”
    "They look as if they are flying," he continued in a monotony of words, "however, it is the silk that allows them to glide, if you do not know what to look for you will be caught and imprisoned. The eyes are like our own, only slightly sharper, totally out of character." Completely switching gears, he replied, “I can’t believe after all these years anyone was able to find us.”
    Unable to listen to such nonsense she asked, “What are you talking about?  You have been gone a mere month. My team and I were called together as a rescue mission the second the aviation department lost contact. I can only assume there will be a never-ending string of rescue missions.  The high priestess will never stand for failure."
    Confusion written over his entire face, for once Korie became silent.
    “We have been gone no less than five years, I have marked each and every lousy day in my planner, have a look.”
    Catching the proffered item Korie quickly scanned through painstakingly logged pages, some of the details raising disturbed eyebrows. "This is ridiculous," tossing the book only to have it bounce off his chair where it laid with a resounding thud. Unable to sit for any period of time Korie jumped to her feet arms behind her back, an unconscious mimic of her father, she began to pace. “What to do, what to do, her mind raced frantically. Let me get this straight, you have been stranded for a minimum of five years?" she asked for confirmation.
    At his slight but firm nod she continued. "Right," she persisted, "and my parents are alive?"
    Again, he concurred.
    And this place," she waved her arms, "is what, some kind of haven?”
    “More like a prison of sorts.” He interjected.
    Biting her lip, she quickly pulled the chair to face his, hands folded in front of her. “We need a plan, and we need to do it without delay. Grasping his shaking head, she reiterated, we can do this, we are the elite trained by the aviation with the blessing of the high priestess, and my crew is just a few short hours behind me, forgetting she had lost complete contact with them, not to mention James.
    “They have them,”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Your team, they have them, I’m sure by now they are working the silk lines. Exactly where your parents are at this moment, a never-ending process of repairing and strengthening the way they live, build and travel.  “And you Jace did you escape?” Korie asked.  “I was lucky I befriended a rebel wanting change, his great vision to end slavery of his kind while rebuilding the future. Even now as we speak, they are erecting a rebellion.  I can only assume why they did not take you.
    Firing question after question, Korie asked, “Who is this friend?  Are you in contact on a regular basis?  Can he take us to my parents?  Lu . . . Jace, Korie tripped over her words, Jace how can he help us?  My ship is intact, or at least is was, the last time I saw it, we are still beached a full days trolling.  I have two crewmembers blazing and would still be in radio contact if James had not gone an got caught thereby losing all communication.”
    Seeing a glimmer of hope in his eyes for the first time, she sniffed, offended by his next words. “Why didn’t you say your ship was intact, this changes everything, we can easily escape, the corgies.”
    “If you mean those monsters in the water, we sent out a zap sending it on its way.  His voice charged with awe, he continued, "The whole vessel is undamaged."
    Unable to help herself she repeated, “Read my lips, we have every available tool to our use.  There was no damage, she’s whole.” Hands on hips she waited. "Well . . ." impatient to save her parents Korie demanded, "are we going to put a plan to action or are we going to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves?” His deep laughter tingling her every nerve ending Korie smiled, the first since arriving. "My dear Captain Lester, lets get busy, there is no time to waste . . ."
    Scarcely able to control her breathing, Korie sat perfectly still, as the menacing insect picked at her wrapping, its furry legs double-checking for movement. Satiisfied at last it slid further down the line continually investigating for shattered or disturbed breaks, its only existence to check from beginning to end. His fingers to his lips, they once again began the tedious chore of wrapping legs and arms around the silken line inside their cocoon, their progress quite speedy considering the circumstances. Feeling as if her arms and legs were going to fall off she was more than happy to stop when Jace gave the signal.  His lips pressed to her ear so as not to alert the enemy, he informed, “We are here, now this is the tricky part, we will be uncovered as we disentangle ourselves from the lines. Keep your head down at all times, they have disabled the interpreters to humiliate their foes so if they address you just stare as if they are or you are crazy. They will be changing guards shortly and we are going to be wandering aimlessly, just follow my lead.”  Nodding in agreement, the one thing Korie knew she would have no problem with and that would be looking lost and scared, they would be true feelings for sure.
    Dexterously separating themselves, the pair began wandering aimlessly, while stealth fully entering the enormous chamber separating the outside from the silk lines. Concentrating on keeping a detached look on her face she would have laughed along with the creatures at what she could only assume was funny as she smacked into the back of Jace, knocking herself on her backside.
    “Get up,” she heard the deep grinding voice sounding like a blow horn, remembering to ignore the command; she merely struggled to her feet and continued forward.  “Get to work or I’ll slice the hide from your backside,” the blow horn threatened. Never once letting on she could interpret, she continued to follow Jace her hands itching to grab hold of him and never let go. Charily they made their way, the lines seeming to open into a huge chasm of never ending lines,
    “Don’t look so amazed,” Jace gritted between clenched teeth. Miffed, Korie lowered her head yet again, the slanting of her eyes a silent warning. Shooting a devastating smile though briefly in her direction her entire body nearly turned her into a blob of jelly, the handsomeness of this man would be her undoing. Unable to help herself she peeked once more her eyes locked on a familiar group not more than ten long feet from her. When they at last reached the congregation milling in all directions, she almost hugged her beloved James, everyone of her crew accounted for accept the two stationed to guard the ship. Watching carefully she listened as Jace reacquainted himself with his own crew. Letting him lead she stood by his side as he informed all present of their plan. All hell she heard would break loose shortly when it happened they would be on their way.  “Wait, my Father and Mother? James stepped forward his head down, they were out on the main lines and your father escaped with your mother, their no longer here.” Feeling as if the wind were knocked from her, she barely had time to recover when the trumpet sounded, signaling the beginning of the rebellion and the one chance they had for escape.
    “Let’s go mates, this is our opening, we go now or we don’t go at all,” Jace shouted. Acknowledging his friend with a nod of his head, he began the escape, screams of agony and triumph filling all their ears as they raced to freedom.  In no time, all were aboard ship, both Korie and Jace issuing orders to haul anchor.  Hands on the steering stick, Jace in the attic, Korie gingerly set them out to sea. “Um . . . captain?’ 
    “Yes James?”
    “Where to?”
    “I thought that would be obvious. We are off to find my parents . . .”

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