Sunderbans K: The beginning of the Ky Epic

VI

Mostrel Empire

Near Bask, on the edge of the Sunderbans

MM Crucible

Mariel sat at the navigation console, watching the Sunderbans. She was alone on the bridge. She would be the last to leave once control was completely established below. It was quiet.

She watched the viewscreen before her as it displayed a small portion of the Sunderbans. She thought it was incredibly awesome, watching it as it flowed slowly before the Crucible. She saw its depth of colors and beauty, its orange, brown, red and yellow cloud bands. She could see patterns, and here and there she could see something like a dog, a whale, a mouse, a bird. It reminded her of the time when she was home, on Bask, on Hope Island. When she and her father would lay in the tall grass and watch the clouds go by. Slowly changing their shape as they went. Once they even stayed out after the clouds grew dark and then began pouring rain, her father pointing out the green tint as he ran, carrying her back to the house.

The ship rocked. A sensor system began wailing. Mariel look over the navigator's console and silenced it, then frowned at the readings she saw. The Sunderbans had shifted, moved towards the Crucible, and surrounded it.  She looked up at the viewscreen. "So, you've come for me?"

The panel beeped, Leander called, Mariel confirmed to her that all was well and passed off the last controls. She stood up and turned to leave, but felt as if something was watching her. As she stepped towards the door she tried to ignore it, but a chill went down her back. She stopped, turned around, looked around and listened, but there was no one, nothing. The feeling began to intensify. Then she saw something out of the corner of her eye on the viewscreen, something in the Sunderbans. At first it was just an odd concentrated swirling mass of gas and dust. Then, two dark red glowing orbs appeared in the mass.

They drew closer.

Something began to take shape around them, what appeared to be a head, made of the same wisps of the Sunderbans, but like the eyes, dense. It drew nearer. As it did, a mouth formed and opened to reveal huge jaws, teeth, and a sharp tongue.

Mariel's eyes were as large as saucers and she turned pale. She stepped backwards, attempting to flee the nebulous monster. Her eyes were filled with the beast that now filled the screen, and her heart pounded. Then the ship rocked once more.

Mariel tripped on the top step and yelled as she fell down. The door to the bridge slid open and Zeerith appeared. He noticed she was down and knelt to help her. "Alright?" he asked. She nodded, as he helped her to her feet.

"I'm fine."

Zeerith was skeptical and raised an eyebrow.

"I saw something, in there." She turned to face the screen again, what now was only filled with the Sunderbans, turning and twisting. She frowned.

"Little One?" Zeerith asked as he noticed she was still breathing fast, still a little shaky. Mariel walked back to the navigator's console and looked over the readings. Not satisfied, she checked the sensor station. "I - I was sure that I saw something..."

"What was it?"

"I-" Mariel stopped, still feeling the fear that filled her heart, and she paused for a moment. "It had deep red eyes, the face of a beast, huge jaws and teeth." She said, turning to him to look into his puzzled face.

"And you just saw it, before I came on the bridge?"

Mariel turned back to the viewscreen. "Yes."

"Are you sure, perhaps-"

She shuddered. "We should go now, father is waiting." Mariel stepped backwards while watching the screen. Then she turned quickly and ran.

Zeerith shrugged and followed her, glancing back at the screen and shaking his head. "I think I told her one story too many."