X-Calibur: The Descent by R. Jackson-Lawrence

Author:R. Jackson-Lawrence [Jackson-Lawrence, R.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: RJL Books
Published: 2014-10-13T22:00:00+00:00

*****

The crab like creatures began to edge away from the shield dome, retreating into the darkness at the edge of the blue light. Arthur couldn't tell how far they went, the click-clacking of their limbs fading but never disappearing completely. They could be just at the edge of his vision, he reasoned, lying in wait for a chance to attack.

“Daltas!” Triltan exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the older woman. “I knew you were okay!”

“Triltan?” Silan Daltas said sweetly. “Did your father send you? Is he in orbit?”

Triltan stepped back from Silan Daltas and looked down towards her feet. “He tried,” she said, “but the Assembly, they refused. Fortunately, Arthur here agreed to help me find you.”

Silan Daltas turned back to Arthur and helped him to his feet. “Are you human?” she asked. “I didn't think there were any of your species left?”

“It's a long story,” Arthur said with a smile. “Once we're out of these caves, I'll be happy to share it with you.”

Silan Daltas smiled and turned back towards Triltan to find Lance towering above her. “And you?” she said, fascinated. “You're not human, are you?”

“No,” Triltan interrupted before Lance could reply. “This is Lance and he's a Drogan.”

“Dorgan,” Lance corrected, though his eyes showed his disappointment that Triltan had misnamed his species. They had spent a lot of time together on the journey from Teela and he thought they'd come to know each other quite well.

“Dorgan,” Silan Daltas mused, looking Lance up and down. “I don't recall any details of your species in the records. You are remarkable though, aren't you? Much closer to your aquatic ancestry I suspect, closer than the humans anyway. Do you know much about your evolutionary development?”

Lance laughed. “Until last year I believed I'd been created by the Mori,” he said. “Before that? Only Orlac and Ulis know the truth of our beginnings.”

Silan Daltas looked confused until Arthur said, “Like I said, it's long story, but now's not the time. We need to get you out of here and back to your ship.”

“Oh no,” Silan Daltas replied. “No, we can't, not yet. We're so close!”

“Close to what?” Lance exclaimed. “Didn't you see those things? They almost killed us!”

“Quite wonderful creatures though, aren't they?” Silan Daltas remarked. “I believe they spend most of their lives dormant-”

“Please,” Gwen interrupted. “We can discuss it when we get back to the surface.”

“No, you don't understand,” Silan Daltas persisted, becoming more animated as she continued. “We've almost found it. It's near, I know it is!”

“Daltas,” Triltan said, placing a hand on the older woman's shoulder. “Just start from the beginning.”

“This planet,” Silan Daltas began. “It shouldn't exist, not anymore. Every orbit takes it between two stars-”

“We've seen your logs,” Arthur interrupted. “The element, the one you think holds the planet together somehow?”

“Ah, yes, exactly!” Silan Daltas continued. “We found traces of it in the walls of these caves, but not really in the walls, do you see?”

Lance and Arthur exchanged confused looks before Arthur said, “No, not really.”

“These creatures, these remarkable, wonderful creatures,” Silan Daltas said.

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