TL Boehm - Writer

Prologue -Revelation

Rev 12:1  A great Sign appeared in Heaven: a Woman dressed all in sunlight, standing on the moon, and crowned with Twelve Stars. Rev 12:2  She was giving birth to a Child and cried out in the pain of childbirth. Rev 12:3  And then another Sign alongside the first: a huge and fiery Dragon! It had seven heads and ten horns, a crown on each of the seven heads. Rev 12:4  With one flick of its tail it knocked a third of the Stars from the sky and dumped them on earth. The Dragon crouched before the Woman in childbirth, poised to eat up the Child when it came. Rev 12:5  The Woman gave birth to a Son who will shepherd all nations with an iron rod. Her Son was seized and placed safely before God on his Throne.

Rev 12:9  The great Dragon--ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray--thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth.

2410 AD. Global weather patterns precipitated major changes on the face of the planet. Glacial ice reserves melted, releasing fresh water into the major oceans and completely reshaping coastlines world wide. Millions lost their homes, careers and lives as the face of the planet responded to the changing climate and water levels.  The magnetosphere thinned drastically, exposing the world’s populations to toxic levels of radiation, until the poles completed their magnetic shift. The world’s brightest scientists, in an effort to combat widespread outbreaks of terminal skin cancers, developed a genetically engineered vaccine to combat the cancers. This life saving inoculation; however, was not without significant sacrifice. Earth’s human population changed. The cataclysmic forces of nature and science combined to throw the world’s populations into global turmoil. Civilizations, cultures and religions disappeared until the only organized populations of people existed in small self supporting biospheres that dotted the regions formerly known as the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Outside the biospheres chaos reigned.  Life was tenuous. Faith was eclipsed. Jesus had tarried.

Chapter One – The Kopreus Gate

Donavan Eskin stood sentinel, his emotionless gaze fixed on the Great Diaz in the center of the Hall. A single bead of sweat trickled from the young recruit’s hairline, slowly coursing between his skin and the finely woven dress uniform suit he had spent the better part of the morning pressing into regulation readiness. Donavan held his breath and locked his spine as Commander Turza pinned a small silver symbol on the lapel of the recruit to his right. Turza stopped, spun on his heel and proceeded to the recruit on Donavan’s left, completely skipping Eskin in the pinning ceremony. Eskin felt a ball of spittle forming in the back of his throat, as the beads of sweat multiplied in their rush from his hairline to the base of his spine. He pulled in a breath as silently as he could muster and continued to fix his eyes on the Diaz as Turza completed the ceremony.

“Twelve Star Graduates, step forward.” Turza saluted the newly promoted graduates as few dignitaries present at the assembly applauded politely. He waved the recruits off the platform and took a few steps forward until he was nose to nose with Donavon.

“Follow me, Private.”

Eskin kept his emotions in check as he exited the platform and followed Turza through the winding corridors toward Turza’s office. Turza stopped before a set of dark metal plated doors. He lifted a lever and placed his chin on a small ledge while a purple laser beam scanned his face. The doors swung open and Turza waved the young private through.

“Sit, please.” Turza motioned to two straight-backed chairs positioned directly in front of a low, heavy wooden desk.

Eskin sat, stiff necked on the edge of the chair. Only when Turza turned away to survey the collection of gilt bound books on the back wall behind the desk, did Eskin allow himself a brief moment of rapid blinking as he swallowed the mouthful of bile that threatened to burst from behind his clenched teeth. He regained his composure quickly, locking his gaze in a straight line, as Turza turned again to face him.

“Send in Private Rel.” Turza pressed his index finger against his temple, activating a minute frontal lobe implant to relay the terse directive. As High Commander, Turza was hard wired to control the entire complex, via voice and thought commands. Eskin stiffened as the clicking heel strikes heralded the entrance of Private Rel. He kept his frame fixed in the standard at attention posture as the unseen Rel sat down in the adjacent chair. An unsettling warmth formed at the base of his spine, crawling upward between his shoulder blades as Rel shifted position in the chair. Eskin caught the transient scent of wet earth. The bile rose again in the back of his throat as fat droplets of sweat rolled from the brim of his regulation silver trimmed beret. The room started to swim in his vision as he waited for Turza to speak.

“The ceremony has been completed, my cadets.” Turza’s monotone finally broke the palpable silence. “Eskin. You do not wear the standard Twelve Star on your collar.”

Eskin’s back was drenched with sweat and he dug his nails into the palms of his clenched hands. Pain helped him focus as he waited for his inevitable dismissal from the academy to the dregs of working class society. The cadet in the adjacent chair did not stir, yet the discomforting scent of earth continued to permeate the space between them.  

“You may speak, Donovan.” Turza’s voice softened and he leaned over the young private.

“Yes, sir.”

“You understand the ramifications of failing to merit the Twelve Star?”

“I will be placed with a female of suitable partnership and will carry out the remainder of my existence providing the biosphere with a textile commodity or marketable service. I will parent one genetically acceptable child, who upon its second year, may be considered for training at camp New Ephesus.”

“Are you sure, Private?” the question fell like breaking glass. Eskin’s head involuntarily snapped up and he met Turza’s black eyed gaze. As long as he could remember, Donovan had dismissed the rumors of failed cadets being exiled from the biosphere. Turned out with only their dress linen uniforms, cadets of unacceptable caliber were summarily led to the Kopreus Gate, and into exile, outside the safety of the biosphere. The graphic descriptions of dismembered human carcasses loomed in his mind. Eskin shuddered and quickly averted his eyes from Turza’s face. There were even worse destinies than being consumed by the lizards that prowled the perimeters outside the biosphere.

“Sir, I have completed each course of training as per the mandates of my instructors.” That crawling feeling worked its way down his limbs as Eskin responded.

“Yes, you have. Your performance has been nothing but exemplary. In sixteen years, you have excelled in every aspect of your training. You have been an inspiration to your peers and a source of affirmation for your trainers. You epitomize the ideology of a Twelve Star protectorate.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Eskin could feel Turza’s onyx eyes boring into his skull.

“And yet you fear your destiny.”

“I do not fear my end. Only the means by which I will pass from this earth.”

Suddenly Turza erupted in laughter. “Great Creator, Donovan! Lighten up!” Turza suddenly clapped a beefy hand down on Private Eskin’s sweat soaked back, almost knocking the young man from his chair. “Certainly you do not believe we would make civilians out of our best or worse, feed our brightest to prowling reptiles.”

“It is not my position to question the decision of my commanding officer.” Eskin’s pulse raced and he was aware of a small hissing sound coming from the other cadet.  Turza was toying with them. Perhaps this was a final test before turning him loose to their fate outside the confines of the biosphere.

“Son, your loyalty up to this point has been most appreciated. I only hope you will forge a relationship of integrity and trust with the partner whom you have refused to greet since she took her place at your side.”

There it was. He was to be assigned to the working class after all. Eskin took a deep breath and finally allowed himself to look at the female beside him. In regulation dress, she looked similar to the rest of the cadets to whom he had grown accustomed. In fact she was built more like a boy than the few females who frequented the campus. The female cadet lifted her heavy lashed eyelids and met his gaze suddenly, causing Eskin to recoil. Her eyes were luminous jade, flecked with citrine. The wet earth scent wrapped round his head, threatening to strangle him.

“So this is my female partner suitable for textile making and child rearing.” Eskin looked back at Turza whose lips curled in a rare smile.

“Sure. Private Rel how many kids do you have your feminine appetites set for?”

“Children are the consolation prize for those unfit to excel.” Rel’s voice escaped her lips in a slow hiss.

“Private Rel is also one of our best cadets. I am sure her formidable skills will be of practical use to you during the course of your most critical assignment.” Turza’s lips pulled back into a toothy smile. “Come on. I will lead you both to the Kopreus Gate.”

“But sir?” Eskin broke into a cold sweat, his mind trying to process the series of events. Workers were kept within the safety of the biosphere. Only rejected cadets, and criminals, left via the Kopreus gate.

“Eskin. Trust me. Cadets. Stand to attention and proceed with me. High noon and your destinies wait.” Turza clapped his hands together and Rel fell in behind him. “Eskin. To your feet.” Eskin rose to his feet, fighting the urge to vomit as he fell in step behind the female cadet. The wet earth scent was unmistakably strong and Eskin finally recognized its familiar chilling signature. She smelled like an open grave.

Chapter Two – The Creator’s Embrace

The ambient light of the biosphere gave no indication of the exact time but Eskin knew, as he was marched out to the Kopreus Gate, that high noon had arrived.  All attempts to clear his mind were failing as panic welled deep within him. His mind raced over sixteen years of training. Why was he being exiled? What series of events had led to his dismissal? Perhaps this was some sort of final test. Eskin’s eyes darted right then left along the path searching for the familiar presence of a professor, or sergeant. From the small gathering of spectators flanked the worn path, jostling each other for a front row view of the ceremony, Eskin saw only the shocked countenances of former classmates and competitors. He focused again on the silver edge of Rel’s beret. Why pair them in a dismissal ceremony? Who was she anyway? Eskin searched his memory but it held no image of Rel prior to the scant moments in Turza’s office. Donovan’s thoughts were interrupted as Turza stopped in front the simple grooved boundary known as the Kopreus Gate. Turza stepped to the side of the pathway.

“Cadets. May the Creator embrace you.” Turza motioned to Eskin and Rel who stepped forward into the grooved portion of the wall. A clear partition slid down behind the two, cutting them off from the biosphere as the grooved panel swung outward. Eskin squinted as his eyes tried to adjust to the brilliant light of an unfiltered sun. Suddenly the ground in front of him erupted and white hot pain seared through his chest. As Eskin fell forward he heard a low hissing sound, then nothing more.

On the other side of the clear barrier, the collection of cadets and dignitaries recoiled at the graphic display of carnage. From their vantage point at the Kopreus Gate, they witnessed Eskin’s coiled attacker quickly strike at the unwary cadet before winding its sinewy body completely around his limp form. The giant serpent unhinged its lower jaw, slowly consuming the victim, head first. Rel, at Eskin’s side. crouched as a smaller serpent struck with deadly precision. In a matter of seconds, both cadets had disappeared. The sated serpents slithered off as the protective biosphere descended, closing the unprotected world from view.

  “Commander Turza!” A young cadet spoke up from a group of silver bereted men and women. “Why Eskin?” The crowd murmured in unison as the Commander took off his own beret, running a weathered hand over his balding head.

“Yes, Eskin was the best. And Rel. Rel was unbeatable. Why sacrifice them to feed the snakes?” Another cadet spoke up.

“Men and women of New Ephesus: Commit to your own endeavors and consider not the destinies of the dismissed.” Turza executed a curt salute in the direction of the departed cadets and turned 180 degrees to face the questioning throng.

“Well maybe Donovan was a bit weak but that Rel. She was the pick of the litter.” A young male cadet elbowed his companion, who started to snicker.

“Supposition is the pastime of the masses. You graduates have received your Twelve Stars. Celebrate tonight, for the rest of your life begins tomorrow. Look forward with no regret for your person or your friends.” Turza turned and walked quickly toward the low line of barracks that housed his office.

“Leonid. Perhaps a bit of human speak would be in order. Especially with graduates.” An aging man with grizzled hair and a dark cloak shuffled quickly to catch up with Commander Turza.

“Jaffa. Do not address me on this matter at this time.” Turza motioned his companion through the door and into one of the long corridors that interlaced the barracks.

“Oh lighten up, Leo. I know you had a soft spot for both of them.”

Turza let out a long sigh as he stopped in front of the office. “Jaffa. Sentiment cripples the disciplined. Do you not have your duties?”

“Serpents cripple the disciplined.” Jaffa rubbed his right hip and leaned against the wall. “My duties resume in the morning.”

“Then you will need your rest, Professor Jaffa.” Leonid tipped the brim of his beret to the professor and entered his suite of offices. He tossed his beret onto his credenza and walked slowly over to the row of shelves behind the desk. Turza stopped for a moment, picking up a picture. May the creator embrace you, Donavan. Turning the picture frame over, he unhinged the back, removed the photograph of his favorite student and tossed the photograph the trash.

Chapter Three – Outside the Biosphere

A strange buzzing noise filled Donovan’s head. He squinted his eyelids as a wave of nausea coursed through his body. His tongue felt fused to the roof of his mouth and his body felt stiff and immobile. The buzzing continued to increase in volume, until it seemed to taunt him with a repeating phrase. Temple index. Temple index. Donovan realized he was lying face down, and rolled slowly onto his back, but the buzzing became incessant.

“Eskin. You’re conscious. Good, we move out now.”

Donovan opened one eyelid and tried to focus on the source of the voice. The scent of wet earth filled his nostrils and his stomach contracted violently. Donavan rolled on his side and retched.

“Yes, I’m quite thrilled to be working with you as well. Now, on your feet, Soldier. Destiny awaits.” Rel held out a hand to Donavan as he rolled back onto his back.

“Oh my Creator.” Donavon struggled to a sitting position. The words in his head pounded as though the disembodied voice was attempting to exit his skull. Temple. Index. Temple. Index. There was something disturbingly familiar in the disconnected words.

“You need hydration. There’s a spring a few meters from here. Stand up and we’ll refresh ourselves.” Rel extended both hands to Donovan who took them and allowed her to pull him to his feet.

“Oh my head is pounding off my neck.” Donavan staggered forward, falling against a tree. “How come you seem so unaffected?”

“I am uniquely engineered to metabolize toxins.” Rel picked up a small pack and swung it over one shoulder. “You’ll be better as soon as you drink some water.”

“So you’re some sort of mutated, hybridized, biogenetic female?”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing.” Rel turned to Eskin and smiled, displaying a row of perfect white teeth flanked by two canine like fangs.

“Uh, yeah well. Nice smile.”

“Oh, thank you.” Rel put a slim hand to her mouth.

“No really. Nice. I suppose the canines are a family thing?”

“Why yes they are, along with all the other biogenetic accutrements. I am no more ‘hybridized’ than you.”

“Of course.” The buzzing in his head increased in timbre and Donavan put his palms against his ears to stifle the sound.

“Something wrong with your hearing?”

“No, it’s just this sound going off in my head. I guess it’s just a side effect.”

“That’s improbable. The toxins only minimize the body’s muscular system leaving the auditory and other senses in tact.”

“So I passed out because?”

“Some people are squeamish around snakes.”

“And I’m hearing commander Turza in my head now because?”

“You’re hearing Turza?”

“Yeah. Over and over in my head, his voice saying, temple. Index. Where in creation is Temple Index?”

“Not a place. A command.”  Rel swung her pack down. “Put your index finger on your temple. Use your cortical communication device.”

“I don’t have a cortical communication device.”

“Then you’re having a very lucid auditory hallucination.”

Donovan placed his index fingers on either side of his temple. Suddenly Turza’s voice boomed from within his head.

Eskin. Can you hear me? Eskin. Put your index finger to your temple. Eskin. This is your commanding officer. Donovan.

“Commander Turza?”

Ah, there you are. How did you enjoy our little reptile show?

“Is this some sort of joke, Commander Turza?”

I will assume, though I never assume, that your insubordinate tone is a result of the toxins still circulating in your system. You should therefore proceed to the nearest body of water and cleanse yourself, and re-hydrate. Rel will then communicate to you in detail what has occurred over the last few hours while you were unconscious.

“So this is not a joke?”

You do not need to speak out loud. You have been fitted with a specific frequencied cortical communication device. You only need to place your index finger to your temple and you will be in immediate contact with my priority line.

“Just think of you, Commander, and you will be available.”

Inappropriate terminology but, yes. I do not have time to communicate further with you. Re-hydration is imperative to minimize long-term toxic effects. I will send the rest of the information you need while you sleep. You will awaken with the information you need. Destiny waits.

“So what are our orders?”

“Well, Turza told me I need a deep cleaning and then you would brief me on what just happened while I was temporarily poisoned.”

“Yes. The water should be this way.”

As Donavan stumbled onto the path behind Rel, his legs suddenly buckled and he fell, face first into the dirt. Rel stopped and returned to him, staring down at him with her hands on her hips.

“I really hope you are better suited physical trauma once the toxins are out of your system. You did come highly recommended.”

“Yeah, well being eaten by a snake was never in my regimental training.” Donovan doubled over on the path and retched again.

“And since you were not in fact consumed by a serpent, your training will still benefit you. Advise me when you have completed purging your digestive tract so we can continue.”

“Committed to our common mission, whatever that mission is.” Donavon struggled back to his feet.

“You are an unusual shade of white.”

“That would be part of my mutated, hybridized, biogenetic sequencing.”

Rel smiled again, this time keeping her teeth concealed behind two full scarlet lips. “Well, your ability to convey your sense of odd humor is a good indicator of your ability to recover fully from your serpent’s kiss.”

“Some kiss. Guess your serpent was not as passionate. Oh right, you are able to process toxins.”

“Only specific types of toxin. The Kopreatic serpents are no more poisonous than a sun spider.”

“Unless you’re allergic to a sun spider.”

“In which case you would not be depositing your half digested rations on the roadway, as you would be assigned to textile making and perpetuation of our human species.”

“Hold your thoughts about rations and let’s just get to water.” Donovan staggered forward again on the path. The air around Donavan seemed to shimmer as he started down the road behind Rel. The path itself was hard packed red earth flanked by low bands of bright green foliage. Permeating the ground cover, myriad brightly colored flowers swayed in the slight breeze. Donovan sweat profusely and large droplets of perspiration dripped from his forehead and into his eyes causing his vision to waiver. He wiped his forehead with the back of his gloved hand and squinted up toward the sky. Gone was the ambient light of the biosphere and Donovan stopped for a moment to take in the scene. Low clouds seemed to skim the tops of high branched trees that formed a natural verdant arch above the path. The unseen sun tinted the cottony clouds in spectacular reds, golds and oranges as they slowly drifted opposite the direction Donavan was walking.

“Donavon. We will have ample moments to gaze at the sunset. The water is just over here.” Rel stepped off the path in front of Eskin and disappeared behind the foliage.

Eskin paused for a moment then followed Rel off the pathway. The two progressed for a few moments through dense foliage, and the heady scent welling up from the green fronds and flowers seemed similar to the wet earth scent he had experienced in Turza’s office. He fixed his eyes on Rel’s back pack and followed her closely. Suddenly the brush opened up to display a small rivulet gently coursing underneath the secluded canopy of trees. Rel stopped at the widest spot, where the water ran swiftly through a collection of jumbled rocks. She squatted and put her hand in the water. She then motioned to Donavon who leaned against a tree.

“This water is fresh.”

“Are you sure?” the nausea rose again in the back of Donavan’s throat.

“I am sufficiently educated in properties of fresh water.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Donavan flung his hat off, quickly unbuttoned his sweat soaked shirt. and fell face first into the water. “Oh that’s good.” He raised his head and shook himself like a dog.

“Thank you for the misting, Private.” Rel wiped her wet hands on the sides of her thighs.

“You should taste this! Wait. Did you say it was consumable?”

“Are you dead?”

“I’ll take that as another yes.” Donavan stuck his head under the swiftly running current, gulping great mouths full of the fresh cold water. Taking off his gloves, he cupped his bare hands, filling them with stream water. He brought the handfuls up, releasing the icy water on his face until he was completely soaked. He then sat in the middle of the stream. “Oh the Creator. You really should try this.”

“Perhaps I will indulge my palette a bit upstream.”

“Oh yeah. Sorry.” Donavan looked down at his uniform trousers and boots. “They’re supposed to be waterproof.” He smiled at Rel who carefully filled a container with water. She perched at the side of the stream and slipped off the heavy uniform issue boots. She then gently eased her small feet into the stream.

“So nice to be rid of regulation foot gear. I have heard that the land is softer than the manicured grass outside Turza’s private bungalow.” Rel leaned back against the rock and eased herself down into the water.

“Well, I for one am proud to wear the garments of my regiment.”

“Pity that.” Rel slipped her beret from her head and unwrapped the black cloth females used to cover their hair, unveiling a braid of bright strawberry blonde hair tightly coiled around her head.

“Orange? You have orange hair? Does Turza know? By the Creator!” Donavan struggled clumsily to his feet. Reaching for his waist belt, he unsheathed a small knife which he brandished at Rel.

“Why yes. I do have orange hair. The more technical term would be strawberry blonde.”

“Blonde was a recessive gene obliterated by the inoculations of 2080.” Donavan shook the knife at his partner.

“Blonde is recessive but still occurs in my family. And outside the biosphere. Put your knife away. Turza obviously told you nothing about your partner. Perhaps the information will be in tonight’s download.” Rel pulled out a similar knife and started to shred her regulation beret.

“What are you doing? A soldier is never to mutilate his, uh her uniform.”

“Private Eskin. This is no longer my uniform. And it isn’t yours. I do not know the details of our specific mission but I am aware that we are no longer Twelve Star cadets. The uniform is a liability and we must dispose of those things that tie us to the  New Ephesus biosphere.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Well let me see. Perhaps our staged death and consumption by giant serpents might have given me a clue? I am highly trained in logical thought processes.”

“That staged death was almost too perfectly executed.” Donavan sheathed the knife and sat down at the edge of the river. “I’m still feeling the effects of that snake bite. I need to examine myself for puncture wounds. Who knows what pathogens may be multiplying on my skin out here in the unprotected atmosphere.”

“Well, you won’t find any puncture marks. Perhaps you don’t remember your lessons on New Ephesus’s disposal systems.” Rel rolled the shredded pieces of her beret into a ball and put it in a side pocket of her pack.

“I’m not sure I follow you. What do large aggressive serpents have to do with  New Ephesus’s garbage?”

“Those serpents are neither large, nor aggressive. And they aren’t poisonous either. Had either of us encountered a real poisonous serpent, there would have been no recovery, Donavan. Those snakes are carrion eaters.”

“But I saw them burst out of the bushes, and I felt one of them strike me in the chest.”

“What you saw was a small percussive explosion that released enough chemical sedation compound to render you unconscious. Under cover of the resultant smokescreen, two cadavers were tossed on to the platform from which you fell when you passed out. You were then transported to where you regained concsiousness. Standard operating procedure for sending graduates into deep cover missions.”

“Deep cover.”

“Yes, if you are presumed dead, no one asks questions. Family doesn’t search for you. Or think of you with the possibility of a response.” Rel tapped her index finger against her temple. “I’m sure our assignment is one of great significance. So we must prepare. I wonder, how can we dispose of these shoes?” Rel pulled at the lacing on her boot.

“Why is it that you know all this already and I am completely ignorant?”

“I am specifically trained in the study of most major groups of reptiles. Their habitats, their breeding patterns, their DNA sequencing. As part of my training, I helped husband the cadaver snakes. They’re actually almost pleasant.”

“Nothing reptilian is pleasant.”

“They just take some getting used to, that’s all.” Rel smiled and combed out her long braid with her slender hands. “Now, lose the beret, Eskin. And the boots. I’m going to survey the area to see if we can find suitable sustenance. We should eat and then prepare ourselves for sleep.”

“Well at least my bivouac training will be of use.”

“Yes, we should prepare a platform in the trees. The ground is not safe.” Rel flung her hair over her shoulder and disappeared into the brush.

The ground is not safe and neither am I. Yesterday I was shining these boots for the Twelve Star ceremony and wondering if I would be placed in command of my own regiment, and today I am paired with a female of questionable genetic background. While she scours the jungle for unpalatable wild food, I am contemplating the destruction of my dress uniform. Donavan placed his hands behind his neck and leaned back against the cool granite boulder. The wind gently lifted the edges of the leaves in the arching canopy overhead and the sunlight made shifting patterns across the water. Donavan closed his eyes.

Chapter Four – The Canopy

Donavan blinked rapidly, attempting to adjust his vision to the cloying darkness that enveloped him like a shroud. Two points of light flickered in front of him and he squinted, trying to bring them into focus.

“That’s it. Now you see me.”

“Who are you?” A chill ran through Donavan as he realized the two flickering lights were a pair of citrine eyes.

“Don’t you remember me?” The eyes flicked out as the creature blinked. As it took a step forward, Donavan shuddered at its massive size. He reflexively retreated as the creature continued to advance, until his back was against a cold stone wall. “Donavan. You cannot escape your destiny.” The creature opened its mouth and licked its scaly lips with a forked tongue as Donavan began to scream.

“Eskin. Are you conscious? Are you injured?”

Donavan opened his eyes to see Private Rel’s face just inches from his own. He backed away quickly. “I’m conscious. I was experiencing a dream state.”

“Well, it must have been a pretty intense dream. You were screaming like a small child.”

“Yes, my fear is certainly unreasonable in the light of day. Daylight. By the Creator, I’ve overslept!” Donavan scrambled to his feet, banging his head against a branch. He yelped in pain and muttered an expletive as he rubbed his temple.

“Crude, yet applicable under the circumstances.” Rel folded a thin piece of fabric into a small square and slid it into her pack. “Do you have our instructions?”

“If the branch didn’t knock them from my cortex, I have the strong impression that we need to find a place called Salina. Although I cannot geographically place any area by the name of Salina.”

“You won’t. Here, if you are sufficiently rested, please assist me in breaking camp. It is imperative that we leave minimal evidence, if any, of our presence here.” Rel stopped and placed a cool hand on Donavan’s exposed arm. “Destiny awaits, Donavan.” For a moment, Rel fixed her jade eyes on Donavon, scanning his soul as a hawk scans the valley for prey.

“Well. We better break down this bivouac then, eh? So. How did you get me up in this tree anyway?” Donavan rolled onto his side, allowing the bent branches underneath him to spring back into their former, natural positions.

“Leverage.” Rel smiled as she swung down a slender branch and landed soundlessly on the ground below the canopy. “Let’s move out. Donavan. Shoes?”

Donavan glanced down at his regulation boots. Made of heavy leather, they were polished to a high gloss. The thick black soles served as protection against the roughest terrain, and the inner lining was waterproof and heat retaining. “Rel. Why can’t we keep the shoes?  Do you have any idea how long it took me to polish my shoes?”

“Sable or nylon brush?” Rel smiled. “Look, I understand your pride in your uniform but our training is complete. Our first priority is survival and your glossy boots are not conducive to deep cover. In fact, we shouldn’t even mention New Ephesus. Now, hand over the beret. And loose the boots.” Donavan winced as Rel deftly shredded his regulation beret with the edge of her knife. She wrapped the shredded cloth into a tight ball and pointed to the boots.

“I think I need a moment alone with my boots, Rel.”

“Of course. But only a moment. The sun is climbing in the sky and we need to move.”

“Yes, I’ll be quick.” Donavan stepped off the path and down to the edge of the small creek. Choosing a spot near the water’s edge, he dug a small hole in the soft earth. He unlaced his boots and wrapped them carefully in his dress coat. Looking back over his shoulder he saw Rel standing sentinel at the edge of the path. Donavan turned back, placed the wrapped boots in the shallow hole, and quickly covered them with damp earth.

“Have you settled your heart, Donavan?” Rel swung her pack over one shoulder and started down the small pathway with Donavan beside her.

“A soldier does not need to settle his heart.”

“A mere soldier is not afforded the luxury of independent thought. Only blind obedience, but you Donvan, you are no mere soldier. So at some point you must become resolute to your mission. If you aspire to success.”

“Success would be more tangible if the mission itself were more clear.”

“Seems crystal to me. Find Salina.”

“And how shall we do that?”

“You’re the one with the cortical implant. You tell me.”

“And how am I supposed to do that?” Donavan stopped on the path and glared at Rel.

“Well, I’m no expert in internal communicators but if you need a prompt, put your index finger to your temple and say something like ‘I need directions to Salina.’” Rel tapped her finger against the side of her head.

“Oh fine. I need directions to Salina.” Donavon tapped the side of his head.

“Ok, so what did you get? What’s the first thought that comes to you?”

“Find the Lapis and follow it for a day. Oh yes, that is incredibly clear!” Donavan threw his hands up in the air and spun around on the trail.

“Yes, it is. The Lapis is a large river. We need to find it and follow it, follow the water as it moves down stream…for a sun cycle. Wonderful.”

“I was never informed that cortical communication devices needed external translators.”

“It will get easier, Donavan.” Rel motioned him forward on the path.  

Donavan gazed up at the lush canopy overhead. The green clad tree limbs swayed gently, caressed by a light breeze and the air swirling around his face was fragrant. As he focused on the shifting golds and greens above, he began to notice bright flashes of color freckling the canopy. Gradually he became aware of myriad sweet notes descending from the high branches.

“Yes, the birdsong is exquisite, isn’t it?” Rel followed Donavan’s line of sight, gazing up at the verdant ceiling. 

“I’ve never heard bird calls like these. Why do we have no song birds like this in New Ephesus?”

“How much attention can a 12 Star Protectorate devote to animal sounds?” Rel shifted her gaze from the canopy and focused her eyes on Donavan.

“Ah yes. The biosphere only supports that which is viable and or marketable for the survival and continuance of the human species.”

“Yes, that which cannot be eaten or utilized in the manufacturing of a textile, or other commodity is a waste of time and effort. Cadaver snake food, if you will.”

“You had to bring up the snakes again, didn’t you?” A cold jolt of adrenalin coursed up Donavan’s spine, trickling down his extremities until he shivered involuntarily. The lush canopy loomed ominously above him. “Listen.” Donavan’s hand hovered over the scabbard of his side blade.

“Eskin. I hear nothing.”

“Confirmed. No birdsong, just that noise. Its like…Turza’s teakettle. Hissing. Rel. Don’t move.” Donavan clenched his blade as the low branches behind Rel undulated to life.