Page 15 of Shadows Approach
“I’m not sure my twat can take it every hour.”
“Every other hour?”
“Dream on.”
“Kila, is there any leshella left?”
The entity twitched, absorbing the language, comparing it to what it had gathered from the creature it had rode to board the lifeless vessel. It hadn’t had long to extract knowledge from its mount’s brain, so much of what was said was incomprehensible.
It needed a mount. It regarded the four. It was plain they were too familiar to serve its purpose. Differences in behavior would be noted easily. It would have to find a loner.
Wait and seek better prey. None of these are leader particles. Wait.
The voice had spoken. Distance could break the connection, but the All’s range was vast.
The entity mused the All’s order, seizing on the term “leader particles.” The enemy was of separation. True separation, not temporary. If the small offshoot had been capable, it would have sneered in disgust. Independently formed beings were tolerated by the Other, and the Other was an abomination.
While the four entities were absorbed in each other, the offshoot flitted to the door on its multiple legs. The door didn’t open, but it was of no concern. The offshoot faded into its home dimension and passed through the door like air.
Chapter Four
Earth II
Piper Warren inhaled the air with pleasure as she trotted at the side of her Imdiko clanmate, her blond ponytail bobbing. She’d walked the ground of Earth II many times, but filling her lungs full of its oxygen never got old.
She was amused at herself. She’d visited several worlds, including Kalquor and its moon Lobam, which were as Earthlike as a human could wish for. Nonetheless, the idea this planet was a reincarnation of the one she’d come from made its air sweeter and its breezes purer.
The man striding next to her, his wild and handsome face tense, had been a part of transforming…terraforming…a dead rock in the unclaimed border area between Joshadan space and the Kalquorian Empire. The small planet orbiting a small star had been deemed worthy of the attempt to build displaced Earthers a new home planet.
They neared the outcropping of a mountain, where Piper had discovered her favorite view. It had no official name, but she referred to it as Ulof’s Valley. She grinned up at her Imdiko, bursting with pride.
“I wish we could stay, just so we could build a home here and I could see your work beyond my door each day.”
Ulof shrugged, but a smile threatened to break over his stormy features. “I had the least to do with it. It was the only section I was able to contribute to.”
“You were an important part of the team. If you hadn’t been, they wouldn’t be keeping you on. Give yourself some credit before I kick you in the pants.”
He broke into a real grin, appearing as the caring Imdiko of his official designation. Piper was glad to see it, though she intuited it wasn’t his Nobek half making Ulof stormy. It was the ever-present concern he was incompetent robbing him of his deserved pride.
“I knew you could do it,” Piper enthused, her twangy Southern accent growing pronounced in her eagerness to prove to him what he’d proven to her. “Overcoming adversity is your calling card. You did good, Ulof.”
“I guess. It’s a start, anyway.” The fact he could work in any fashion in terraforming was a big deal to him. It spoke well of his determination to overcome a learning disability. Taking part in Earth II’s development was a dream come true.
They reached the outcropping. Piper sighed in love and regret. She’d miss the place, but Ulof’s continued success meant moving on to the next project. Their entire clan was bent on giving him every opportunity to realize his full potential. Fortunately, there were plenty of opportunities for them all to enjoy success in their given fields.
Voices rose behind them. Piper and Ulof turned from the stunning view of the valley, teeming with yellow, blue, and purple flowers, which surrounded a picturesque lake.
Four Kalquorian men climbed the trail to join them on the outcropping. Given the varied hues of blue shirts and commanding expressions, Piper guessed them to be Dramoks. The foursome paused and bowed respectfully when they sighted her and Ulof. Ulof returned the bow.
One beamed at them as if they were the best of friends, and Piper thought he looked vaguely familiar. He stepped ahead of the rest.
“Hello! I recognize this fellow. One of the terraforming team, aren’t you? I’m Dramok Ospar.”
Ulof, whose first instinct was to regard strangers suspiciously, managed a diplomatic smile. “Imdiko Ulof, Flora Plotting Specialist Trainee. You toured the valley I worked on a few months ago, but we haven’t spoken.”
“I knew I’d seen you before. This view is spectacular. Isn’t this the valley you’re responsible for? It’s gorgeous. Congratulations on such amazing work.”
His enthusiasm made Ulof flush. “I had little to do with it, but thank you.”