FALAHA'S JOURNEY 2: Graveyard of the Gods

Episode #7

"Well, there's nothing wrong physically with any of you," Neve said, baffled. Eyuran nodded. "No changes in the biochemistry, no external marks." Orewen sat undressed on the examination table, thinking deeply about something. The Kljvk twins were putting back their clothes on. Asa was already dressed and waited for the others.

"Then let's wait for the morning and see what the new day will bring," I said, fresh plan already brewing in my head, and messaged the Bridge, "Tarry, change of plans. Come to the dining area." Of course, I didn't inform my crew of it. Yet. Nor I probably would, to avoid unwanted nagging. Upon connecting to Ore's soma, I found some segments of memory missing from the lifeline. Exactly those when he was at the strange ruins. Soma wasn't damaged, it just didn't remember anything at all. When I scanned the others, I found the same occurrence. Those missing pieces of memory felt like the missing segments of Somg, but not exactly in the same manner. Something out there wanted to stay hidden. Too bad for it then, for it already assaulted my crew.

"I don't like this," Tagai said. "I felt weird ever since we stepped onto this rock, and I still do." He looked at me. I nodded.

"I feel the same, Tagai. You don't feel the others like you normally should, aren't you?"

Tagai nodded, narrowing his nostrils and eyes. He was angry and distressed.

"Something's out there," I said. "Something hostile... or at least something very defensive. And very powerful. It blocks us out." I wonder how... I still could connect to everyone's soma, but only when I was close. At a larger distance I saw and felt nothing.

"I know you, Falaha, very well... You're not planning on investigating this yourself, are you? You got that look about you." Baro stared at me with suspicion. Orewen was eyeing me as well.

"Someone would eventually have to uncover the mystery, no?" I shrugged. He knew me too well.

Everyone in the room frowned.

"We don't know what we're dealing with," Eyuran said. "I will not allow it."

"Hush, love. I shall take Tagai with me. The rest of you will remain on standby, in case we'll need immediate assistance." I stood my ground. "It requires my immediate attention, as Yajur Sangu. I'm not that weak for you to watch my every move."

"I don't care if you're our god now, I will not allow it." Eyuran's look was menacing. Large and powerful, he towered above everyone else in the room. "We should use our drones first. Safety comes first."

"Don't test my patience, Eyuran." I frowned. "I'm not your god, I'm myself. And I want this thing sorted out. As fast as possible. Because I have other things to do afterwards. Danger or not, we must deal with this. Here and now."

"By the Ancestor, Falaha, you're testing my patience," Eyuran said. "Careless and free, that's not what a professional explorer is."

"Enlighten me, dear," I retorted. "Perhaps you want to take Commander's seat? You can have it."

Eyuran growled. "No, I don't want your seat. I just don't want you to die a senseless death on your first exploration mission!"

"I'm not that careless or stupid. I know the dangers that come with the mission. But you have no alternative, love. Accept it or go home."

"My home is where you are, Falaha. If you're going, I'm going in as well." Eyuran was adamant. The rest didn't interfere with the lover's quarrel, simply observing.

"Eyuran, you're my last resort when things go wrong. When things fall apart. So please be patient with me." I sighed. He was impossible. "I need you as my back-up plan. You and the rest of my team. But I must go there. Myself. To figure things out. You know this. That's what my title implies."

"Fine... fine... But at least take Dad with you. While Baro and I will figure something out eventually."

I nodded. "Now we're talking."

"I want to get to the bottom of this myself as well," Ore said. "So if Falaha goes, I'll go in as well. Might as well be of use to her there. Not like the last time... a man to be rescued." Of course, Orewen didn't forget his former encounter with the Baali. He took it as is, but it seems the experience still was haunting him. And his manly ego. He wouldn't allow something like this to happen to him again. Ever.

"Let us return to dinner then," I said. "We'll head out first thing in the morning... or earlier, if you won't be able to sleep well. But for now let's dine in peace."

Everyone agreed.

***

At the dining table everyone sat in silence, too busy with their food. The food was delicious, but I couldn't swallow even a piece. I kept wondering if I was too harsh on Eyuran. He was always worried for me, and I was playing god now. Well, not playing... I was sort of a deity to my people now. But I wanted this fact not to influence my relationship with my men. Yet I had a duty to perform as well. Everything dangerous must be investigated and taken care of. By me. Yajur Sangu.

I got up. "Sorry, I don't have the appetite to eat. I'll head for my quarters now." And left the surprised party at the table.

But before I reached my quarters, Eyuran caught up with me.

"Falaha..." he said, pulling me aside and almost pressing me into the wall of the hall. "What's wrong with you?"

"Wrong? Nothing," I replied, placing my palms to his broad chest and tracing the lines on his black suit with my finger. "I just didn't feel like eating."

"That's a new one," Eyuran said, lowering his head to me, but I still had to lift my head to face him. He was too tall for me. Or maybe I was too short for him... "Something must deeply trouble you if you abandon your favorite pastime."

"Of course I'm troubled. There are things that challenge my position and authority. What do you think I should be doing?"

"Be cautious?"

"I am cautious. But... you know... I'm worried why Shaamta wasn't affected. He found us here without a problem."

Eyuran shrugged and scratched his stubbly chin. "Perhaps he slipped in here before it all started? Maybe he even triggered all this? Considering his personal history with this region... Now whatever there is treats us as the enemy as well."

"Hmm... You do have a point there, Eyu." My palms slid down Eyuran's chest and my arms wrapped around his waist. I pressed my cheek to his suit and felt his arms wrapping around me, holding in a tight warm embrace. "So we do have a responsibility to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible."

"Just... be careful."

"I will."