Kalon

Chapter One-Hundred-Forty: Cami Akur Neda - Part Two

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: Orarak City, above the planet's surface.

Henek and his cousin Averak stand with their heads lowered, as though the words are caught in their throat. Why do they hesitate? What is so important that they waited for hours?

"Speak what is on your mind," I say, breaking the silence that had fallen between the three of us.

"We wish to join your tribe," Henek says finally, "If you do not want us, we understand."

I pause, blinking at them, their heads are still lowered. Join my tribe? Why? To what end? I shake it from me.

"I am not the leader of a tribe," I say to him, somewhat confused by the notion I continue with, "You can speak with Nekam, perhaps he will let you join him."

"We have spoken to him," Averak says, finally speaking. He is timid to find his words.

"What did he say?" I ask, now more confused.

"He said we have his blessing to follow you," Henek says, meeting my eyes, searching them for answers.

I turn towards our lodging room, and I see Nekam standing in the entrance. His arms are folded, and he stands tall, looking at me. He gives me a nod. His spirit seems to have been restored; that is good, he will be useful again.

My mind wanders, thinking of everything that has happened. If I accept them, they will become my charges. Their actions will reflect upon me, good and bad. I think back to when Henek stabbed me, a phantom pain in my belly, back to when we sparred on the mats all those moons ago. It surprises me they wish to follow, after everything between us. Questions form words using my mouth to ask them.

"Why do you wish to follow me?"

"In you we see hope," Henek says.

"In you, we feel the rising of our people. Alakin, we will not disappoint you," Averak says.

There is that word again… Alakin, chosen. The word itself makes me uncomfortable, like they expect me to find salvation for them. That is not why I am here. Still… it would be good to have them under my command. They are not useless, they are skilled, any who have survived thus far must be.

"You will follow my orders, even if they may take your life?" I ask them, peering past the flesh, searching within their souls.

"Uton Ul Jaka Talen," Henek says, dropping to a knee.

"Uton Ul Jaka Talen," Averak says, also dropping to a knee.

My eyes grow wide at this; it is a sacred vow among my people, and I have never seen it given before. It does not translate well from the old tongue, but it means roughly, Where you go, the honor of my blade seeks to follow. It is an old vow, spoken amongst the whispers, of the time before the fall of my people's Empire. A time when we thrived. A time I wish to see return. Their words strike me deeply.

They both pull from behind them a blade, extending it upwards, handle towards me, as is the custom in the stories passed down. I grasp both of the blades by the handles and measure them in my hands, symbolically measuring their honor's weight against the blade. If I wish to see my people rise, I must embody the change, I must show them the way forward. I must move past the hate that I hold in my heart for Nekam, Nevari, and Neeba too. My mind must be spoken before I can let go though. This much I am owed, this much I am due.

"I accept the honor of your blades. Rise my sworn allies," I say, extending the blades back, hilt first. In the stories, it is symbolic, showing that I will always return the honor they give.

"Thank you, Alakin," they both say, taking the blades back.

Grabbing them each under the shoulder, I raise them up to eye level and embrace their arms. The pact between us is sealed. Their burdens are now mine, and mine are now theirs.

"Call me Kalon, not Alakin. Get some rest."

They both nod after a moment and depart, leaving me alone. I see Nekam slap them on the back as they pass, and he gives me a final nod before following them. There is a buzzing on my wrist that draws my attention to my holopad. There are so many notifications I haven't been able to read yet, having focused on training. There is no tiredness in my bones, all of it left after the deep meditation. I sit against the wall and begin to swipe through the notifications.

There are messages from other hunters in my grouping. Many of them. Thanking me for getting them a sponsor. My jaw flexes, I did not even ask on their behalf, this person decided to do it of their own volition. There is a bile trying to rise in my throat as I read all the messages, a bile that stems from the fact that their hope rises from a master's actions. I think of Dargo's words about opening my heart to those not of my people. The thought of it makes me sick, it spurs the anger. Only a few have earned it. I know I should be grateful, I know I should be more than I am, I should be overjoyed that they decided to help, but I know there is always a cost with the masters…

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After I finish reading through the hunter messages, I see there are some from the system. Regarding changes to rules, but there is nothing said about what rules or how they have changed. Before I can look further, my holopad begins to chime, and a system announcement follows.

"Attention Hunter – System Announcement – This is an official notice of an injunction filed against an injunction, which was filed against an injunction that was filed against an injunction relating to yourself – Originating within the Grand Counsel of the Talum Merchant Federation – In accordance with subsection 893.756-B486 – Your sponsorship account has been reopened – End of message."

That's the fourth injunction filed, with no explanation of what it even means. I swipe the notification away and my wrist buzzes multiple times. The sponsor tab, my teeth grit, I will have to thank them now, I will have to swallow my pride, for the sake of those I care about. Not now though, it can wait until the morning, my pride can have one more night before it breaks.

Standing up and walking towards the sleeping quarters, my wrist buzzes still, but I do not look until there is another system announcement. This time it is preceded by the Federation's Anthem.

"Attention Hunter – System Announcement – This is an official notice of a summons to the Grand Counsel in regards to legal actions filed on your behalf – The summons originates from the Grand Counsel of the Talum Merchant Federation – In accordance with subsection 12.7.402-D39, you are hereby ordered to appear before the Grand Counsel – End of message."

Ordered to appear? I don't understand. I look down at my holopad and open the message from my sponsor tab, hoping to gain understanding about the order to appear. There is a series of messages.

There isn't much time, be ready.

I will guide you.

You must trust me.

Please, there is more at stake than you realize.

Suddenly, the lights all around the assembly room and the sleeping quarters begin to flash red. My heart begins to beat faster. Sirens begin to blare loudly, rousing people from their bunks.

"What is going on?" Nekam yells at me over the blaring sirens.

When he is closer, I reply, "I do not know."

"We are with you," Henek says, coming into my shadow with his cousin Averak.

"Arm yourselves!" Ira yells, throwing spears and shields from the walls to arm people. The points are dulled, but it is all we have.

"Ira!" I yell, she turns and moves my way.

"Kalon, what…" she begins, but I interrupt.

"Get it, we may need it," I say into her ear.

She nods and rushes off.

"What is happening?" Neeba asks as he runs to me, his face has crease marks from the deep slumber he just woke from.

Before I can answer, the sirens stop, and a system announcement begins over the intercom.

"Attention Hunters – System Announcement – Message from Warden Adona – H215-777 is to be remanded into custody, do not resist or you will be dealt with. That is all – End of message."

"That is your number, what do they want with you?" Nevari asks, her hair pulling from the messy bun on her head, "What have you done?"

"Kalon?" Neeba asks.

The crowd begins to form around me now, seeking answers I cannot give. One of the walls opens, and a troupe of thirty soldiers moves into the room with weapons raised. There is silence except for the whir of their metal suits. Tension rises in the crowd as we begin to group in the center.

"H215-777! Step forward!" one of them yells.

I begin to move, to reveal myself. I fear for the others' safety, but Nekam puts a hand firmly on my chest, grasping my clothes, his eyes on the soldiers.

"Release…" I begin, but he gives me a look.

I feel Ira's hand touching mine, a warm piece of something encased in metal being slid into my grasp. I hide it in the folds of my clothes.

"Make it count," she whispers, then forms around me with the others.

They all circle around me, forming a wall. Beginning a chant that we only sing for war. There is dread in my heart, I do not want any of them to die because of me.

Weapons discharge loudly as they shoot at the ground near the crowd.

"We will not ask again!" another says, pointing their weapon with intent.

The crowd still does not move, and the chant is growing louder. Arms begin interlocking together. I am about to reveal myself when I feel a tug at my arm.

"I am sorry, Kalon," Nevari says, in her eyes, there is fear and something else, something I have seen from her before.

"Nevari no!" Nekam yells as he sees the look in her eyes.

"He is here! He is right here!" Nevari yells, throwing up my arm with hers.

My eyes blink as they take in what fills hers, it is a look I have known many times in my life as an Ulima, a look that always preceded horrible suffering. It is the look of betrayal. There is no anger in my heart though, I was about to reveal myself for the sake of everyone else. Something else burns there, disappointment. There is no future that I will find use for her. No future that she will have value in any of my plans.

"You really thought I would let them die for me?" I ask her, pulling my arm from her grasp, "I thought you knew me better."

I can tell she realizes now I was planning to reveal myself, her face skewed with tension as she feels the guilt rise. Guilt I will not take from her. She earned it, it is hers to carry.

"I am here," I say, pushing through the crowd, "Do not fire upon them, I come willingly."

"We can fight them. The gods protect you, we can win this," Henek says, grabbing my shoulder.

"No, not today, not like this," I say, then louder to the group I yell, "Agar Buki T'Akor!"

There is a hush that goes out over the crowd as they hear my words, in the old tongue they mean – Live today so we can rise tomorrow.

The soldier in the front grabs my shirt, pushing me through the archway where the wall used to be. The others move through it after us, the yelling from people growing dull and then silent, as the thick metal wall closes once more. The only sound now is their metal boots upon the floors echoing in the hall.

I take note of the path, my mind feels clearer after eating so much and meditating so peacefully. One of the soldiers puts a hand to his head, near where his ear is. I have seen them do this before, he must be receiving an order inside his helmet.

"Roger that, good copy, target acquired, en route to new coordinates," one of the soldiers says.

"We're changing routes, Sir?" another asks.

"Guess so," the first replies. He appears to be in charge.

We change directions, loading into an elevator, and half of the soldiers must ride a separate one, as there is no space. As we move, an error message pops up on the panel, the lights flicker off, then back on.

"What was that?" the one in charge asks.

"Don't know, Sir, looks like it's back up though."

"Can't wait to rotate out of this dump," the one in charge replies with a sigh.

Where do they take me? Something tells me that there is more happening in the background.

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