The Circle Of Ten

Collaboration

          Fayala set Ohas and Mira on the ground then walked back to Sativia who waited  impatiently at the top of the shuttle ramp, "I will go with you but there are conditions."

Sativia tilted her head, her eyebrows raised quizzically.

"Return the bodies of her family to Ohas, and the two Miorpeans, Melete and Aphaea, will be left here with Mira."

Sativia nodded and motioned to Ceraon who disappeared into the shuttle, she then handed Idiyanale the box containing the bodies of Ohas's family. Idiyanale approached the group of humans who, except for Mira and Ohas, all backed away as she crouched down, opened the box and set it near Ohas. Ceraon returned with the unconscious bodies of his old crew mates and laid them near Mira. Ceraon immediately proceeded back to the shuttle, but Idiyanale stayed.

           Idiyanale looked down on the tiny humans that cowered before her. There was a time when she would feel as they, when she was a meek young girl, shy and riddled with feelings of doubt and uncertainty. The sense of superiority she now felt was intoxicating and when she saw the look of fear in their faces was tempted to reach down and grab one of the puny creatures in her hand. She wanted to feel it squirm and struggle as she closed her fingers around the soft weak body and squeeze it in her fist.

     Then she took notice of Mira who was busy seeing to Melete and Aphaea. Idiyanale realized that her foot was more than twice the size of Mira, the priestess who was the cause of the anguish she suffered at the hands of the Circle. She was within a step of the diminutive priestess who at the moment did not notice she was being closely scrutinized. It would be so easy and satisfying to crush her beneath my foot thought Idiyanale. She shifted her weight and slowly lifted her left foot over Mira. She gently set her heel on the ground with the sole of her sandal hoovering ominously over the unaware priestess.

          Sativia watched Idiyanale with rapt interest and had no intention of stopping her from stepping on the human. In fact Sativia saw this as a positive development in her character, there might be a touch of cruelty in her after all she thought.

Idiyanale also caught the attention of another less understanding observer, Fayala stepped quickly to Idiyanale taking her by the arm and pulling her back away from a startled Mira. Fayala also slammed Idiyanale with a psychic push that sent her reeling into the shuttle's stout sidewall.

     Fayala saw that Ohas had rushed to comfort Mira who was trembling from her near death experience. She  turned her attention back to Idiyanale. "How dare you!" She shouted.

          Sativa realized Idiyanale was struggling to recover her senses from the psychic blow delivered by Fayala and if she did not intervene might end up like one of Ohas's relatives. Sativa stepped in between Fayala and her stricken charge then signed for Fayala to leave her be, she has been punished enough. She  then motioned for Ceraon to help Idiyanale. Ceraon had to practically carry Idiyanale up the ramp into the shuttle, Sativia followed close behind.

Fayala stepped over to Mira and dropped to one knee, "are you alight." Mira nodded yes, Fayala took a deep slow breath to calm her anger then stood and glared at Sativa. "One last thing," Sativia was clearly agitated as she turned and faced Fayala who signed. "I want a message sent to the main ship stating that humans have an affliction, a disease that is deadly to Miorpeans. Instruct them to quarantine this planet, forever."

         Sativia laughed then ordered Ceraon to send the message.

He hesitated, "I do not think that is a good idea, we will be required to go through —"

"Just do it!" Shouted an exasperated Sativa.

Ceraon sighed as he obediently stepped over to the shuttles com panel and opened a link to the mothership. He transmitted the message and within moments a communication acknowledging receipt of the warning was received with a directive to bring the shuttle into Bay A5 and to be ready for personnel decontamination and sterilization.

Ceraon let out a soft moan and gave Sativia an annoyed look. Sativa in turn frowned at Fayala, "will there be anything else?"

Fayala did not answer but climbed the ramp and stepped into the shuttle. She was startled by the actions of the ramp being withdrawn and the shuttle hatch closing. She was able to catch a glimpse of a bewildered Melete and Aphaea reviving and being consoled by Mira while Ohas cradled the body of her niece in her arms. "Goodbye my friends."

           Ceraon strapped his passengers into their seats explaining the need for being secured for take-off and landings of the shuttle then went forward to the pilots' console. Idiyanale was just regaining consciousness and let out a shrill cry as the shuttle powered up and lifted off. Sativia and Fayala were equally alarmed, their fingers digging deep into the soft padded armrests.

     With the shuttle off the ground and lifting quietly through the air Ceraon's passengers began to relax.   Idiyanale not wanting to make eye contact with Fayala turned her attention to the portal next to her which provided a unique view of the clouds and horizon she was unaccustomed to.

Fayala remained seated while Sativia, having regained her composure left her seat moving up to the forward section of the shuttle to stand next to Ceraon, "how long will it take to get to the ship?"

"Not long," he answered. "You will be able to see it once we clear the planet's atmosphere."

          Fayala followed Sativia and stood next to her in the forward cabin.  Both were equally captivated by the view of the planet through the shuttles wide front window. The curvature of the Earth was visible at this altitude, tall mountains could be seen in the distance, individual trees blended in to large green swatches of undulating color cut by blue irregular lines of rivers and streams, square patches of browns and yellows indicating farmed land could be seen. The human towns were also visible still smoldering with the smoke pooling into a circular haze high above. Fayala leaned forward and looking through the viewport could see the thinning wispy clouds that still masked the darkness of space beyond.

           The Miorpean vessel slowly materialized into view, its long dark shape blending into the darkness of space making it difficult to see any details. It blocked out the scattered stars behind it replacing them with ordered rows of artificial lights that emanated from numerous portals along the crafts length. Fayala thought this was the largest thing she had ever seen, she was awed by its sheer size and graceful symmetry. Then the moon came into view, large, clear and bright floating motionless in the darkness. Fayala thought wistfully, Sativia is right, with that vessel and our spiritual power, we would be Gods.