Star Brigade: The Supremacy (SB3) (49 page)

The last rounded pyramid rested atop one of the lower Qiidr Mountains, unmistakably taller than the others even from a distance. These pyramids, Mhir’ujiid detailed, were a series of massive circular platforms, the smaller ones stacked atop the larger ones. The stone had a blood-red shade, giving the step pyramids the appearance of gigantic segmented cones, lacquered in human blood. The only angular components on these temple pyramids were the wide stairways reaching up to the bases of their roof combs on both sides.

In front of the closest pyramid three adult Quud chaperoned around two dozen youngsters covered in mud, performing a slow, ritualistic dance in bizarre postures.

Mhir’ujiid continued to play tourist guide. “Three more temples in the lowlands each represent an element of totality.” She gestured to a pyramid in the west atop a narrow river. “The Temple of Estria.” Habraum could see the river bottom clearly under Herope’s afternoon light, though the water’s amber tinge wasn’t from dirt.

“The Temple of Zenith in the mountains represents all the six elements combined, reaching for the Zenith Point itself. Usually only our high votaries and their attendants live there, but many Quud travel up on our most sacred days for worship.”

In the lowland hills bordering the city, scatterings of Qiidr Ol-Chaeda’s more lavish homes sat flawlessly framed against the snowcapped Qiidr Mountains. Unlike the rural dwellings along the outskirts, these homes had multiple stories splashed in vivid rose and cherry paints.

On any developed planet Habraum had seen around the Galactic Union, even the most rural of citizens had some form of modern technology. But in Faroor’s rustic lands, it was as if they had stepped back in time to a society untouched by high-tech advancement.

And compared to other Farooqua cities he’d visited, the grandeur of Qiidr Ol-Chaeda was unparalleled. Mission or not, Habraum couldn’t refuse a quick tour.
If only Jeremy could see this
. The Cerc would find a way to make that so.

CT-1 was enjoying this, also. Tyris gazed up with unabashed amazement at each structure they passed. Marguliese took in everything with purposeful glances, clearly scanning for potential threats. Khal focused most of his attention on Marguliese, unexpectedly annoying Habraum. Cortes’s awe was mainly reserved for the sculptures, while Khrome looked flummoxed by how all this non-tech operated.

V’Korram—well, Habraum had never seen such wonder on this Brigadier’s face. The massive Kintarian was like a big gleeful cub finding something shiny in the grass for the first time. The rural simplicity of the city was clearly getting to him. That pleased Habraum more than he realized.

“We’re here.” Mhir’ujiid drew Habraum’s gaze to another massive pyramid with blocky outer walls. The main building sported a thick band of carvings, wrapping the complex with ancient tales.

Mhir’ujiid walked among them and spoke softly, “I introduce you to my father. Be respectful.” She looked pointedly at V’Korram, who snarled in offense. “Please, try not to stare.”

Tyris frowned. “Why not?”

Mhir’ujiid shrugged. “Not my place to say.” She briskly hiked up the steep staircase ahead. At that point, Star Brigade’s Quud warrior entourage took station at the base of the complex.

Khal used the break in their march to lean in to Marguliese closely, and mutter, “Love how you look with your hair down.” His remark received a sidelong glare from the Cybernarr. She then swiped a hair band from some random Quud standing nearby, making him yelp, and deftly pulled her long red tresses back in a taut ponytail.

“What? It was a compliment!” a puzzled Khal called as she regally strode away without a word.

CT-1 met Mhir’ujiid at the top of the staircase, where she walked through the entrance guarded by six Quud warriors. They all gaped at Khrome. But when the Thulican spun melodramatically, shimmering under the sunlight, the Quud looked ready to faint.

Inside this complex’s primary room, Habraum spied a vaulted ceiling and walls splashed with ornate Quud arts—all lined with spidery cracks. The biggest fissure ran from the base of the floor on the left up the wall to halfway across the ceiling. Quud workers with their scruffier skin pelts clung to the walls and ceilings via adhesive footwear, slathering cement-like sealant over the split.

The room had lighting in the form of glowing spheres attached to various parts of the ceiling.

Habraum frowned at what they were striving to cover up. Mhir’ujiid followed his gaze.

“That happened during the last major skyquake. Ruined one of our oldest works of art. This temple celebrates art works from all tribes.”

“How do those work?” Khrome pointed at one of the bright spheres on the ceiling.

Mhir’ujiid turned to where he pointed. “Those glow stones drink sunlight during the day, then activate during the evening. A popular commodity from Gajj mines.”

“And they’re held in place by semi-strong magnetic rocks?” the Thulican probed.

Mhir’ujiid nodded. “Glow stones have a heavy metal concentration.”

“Finally, technology that makes sense!” Khrome exclaimed.

The Brigade’s presence drew stares, but most Quud returned quickly to their work.

“I’ll be back.” Mhir’ujiid then scampered off to a small group of older Quud wiping themselves clean of grime and cement.

In a macrom, an older Quud trailed Mhir’ujiid back to the group, dusting dried flakes of sealant off his hands. He stood a few inches shorter than Mhir’ujiid, huge chunks of his bluish pelt burnt off—revealing molted grey patches on parts of his face, right arm, and torso. He sported no shock of bright hair like other Quud. His carriage, however, held unquestionable authority.

Mhir’ujiid smiled proudly. “My father, Kyas’argiid, High Chief of the Quud.”

Habraum gaped, expecting a more regal and less scarred Quud.

The rest of CT-1 displayed similar surprise, though Marguliese simply stated, “Interesting.”

The high chief instantly caught the sentiment. He made several quick gestures to his daughter, who giggled and translated, “My father asks if you expected a fat snob wearing gaudy jewelry and a crown?”

This broke the taut silence with laughter from the Brigadiers.

“Honestly, yes,” Khal chuckled.

A grin pulled at Kyas’argiid’s upturned lips. He gestured swiftly at his daughter. She spoke, “He’s sorry to disappoint you all. And he is extremely grateful for you rescuing me.”

Habraum glared at the high chief. “How about you thank us yourself?”

Khrome, Tyris, and Liliana exchanged astounded looks at Habraum’s unexpected rudeness. Mhir’ujiid leveled a glare at him which all but said “
What
are you doing?!”

But the Cerc didn’t back down. “She’s not translating back to you, meaning you understand.”

For a long moment, Kyas’argiid met the Cerc’s stare through narrowed eyes. Finally, the high chief lifted his chin a fraction and laughed. “Very good, Nwosu,” he said in oily, accented tones. “Standard... not my favorite dialect. Necessary when dealing with outsiders.” His bulbous eyes softened. “And thank you all for saving my Mhir’ujiid.” He gave his daughter a glowing look. “She is...exceptional.” Mhir’ujiid looked down, a blush warming her flat-faced features.

Habraum sighed and returned the Quud chief’s smile. “She’s a good lass.”

“Come now.” Kyas’argiid gestured to a door to their right. “It is almost meal time...and those nouribars my warriors recovered from your transport are not enough to fill one’s eye.”

The Cerc motioned for CT-1 to follow Kyas’argiid and Mhir’ujiid. Only two Quud warriors now tailed Star Brigade as they exited the museum. Habraum couldn’t help but be impressed by this high chief’s low-key persona.

They were now outside in a spacious terrace between three complexes, the area covered by short urbrui grass. Three iokki milled about, grazing. From this terraced platform, Habraum and his team could view vast swaths of Qiidr Ol-Chaeda’s eastern edge, showcasing some of the city’s bustling walkways. Several large, fiery glow stones on tall poles between the many stone sculptures illuminated the activity. Evening had blanketed the sky in velvety purple and crimson, dotted by countless far-flung stars and the startling glow from its moon, Qos.

Kyas’argiid closed his eyes and basked in the moonlight. “It is truly a night of Zenith, which guided my eldest daughter home. We must give thanks.” The high chief made a series of quick gestures at one guard, who scurried back into the primary complex.

In the center of the terrace sat a series of stone-carved seats, positioned around a crackling bonfire with whitish smoke billowing up into the dark heavens.

Mhir’ujiid gestured to the seats. “Food will come shortly.”

Habraum and the others sat down as requested. Several macroms later, Sgt. Fiyan and Specialist Byzlar joined the group, appearing far less upset. “They made Uyull’s body look presentable,” Fiyan shared after meeting Kyas’argiid, “and will deliver him to the UComm at first light tomorrow.” Her face was haggard, but the Nnaxan kept a steadfast carriage. She turned to Kyas’argiid. “Thank you for honoring my subordinate.”

Kyas’argiid nodded. “My daughter say this ‘Uyull’ gave his own gun to her. That…cause enough.”

Two female Quud with waist-length braided hair arrived carrying stone trays of steaming soup bowls. Habraum eyed the dishes, then nodded at V’Korram and Marguliese.

The massive Kintarian stood up to block the Quud females. He bent over the bowls and sniffed them all, then returned to his seat. “Smells fine,” he growled.

“I can be more specific.” Marguliese dipped a finger into one piping soup bowl, then rubbed it on her tongue, much to the Quuds’ shock. “Hot water, hygeroot, crushed ambir, massuk kernels, iokki milk, river salt, yellow jombol,” she detailed.

“So it’s edible?” Khal asked impatiently.

Marguliese nodded. “Affirmative.” She snatched away the bowl she’d dipped her finger into.

Byzlar gawked in amazement at the Cybernarr. “How does she do that?”

“Excellently.” Habraum then turned to Kyas’argiid. “No offense, I had to check.”

“If we wanted to kill you, it would have happened at Inorskii Fields.” Mhir’ujiid leaned back, folding her thin arms indignantly. “Why wait to do it here?”

Habraum was unapologetic. “One can never be too sure.” The Star Brigadiers and TerraTroopers, except Tyris and Khrome, accepted soup bowls in silence. Habraum found the hot soup had an abnormal piquant tang he’d never experienced, but tasted decent enough. Kyas’argiid and his daughter looked to be in heaven as they gulped down their servings. An attendant was already returning with seconds.

Not everyone was enjoying the soup. Poor Byzlar looked as if he had swallowed putrid saltwater. V’Korram was doing his best to remain neutral, but Habraum could tell the Kintarian would have spat the soup out if the Quud High Chief wasn’t seated across from him.
Different races, different tastes.

Neither Khrome nor Tyris could eat regular humanoids foods, and at their request, the Quud attendants brought out specialized meal options salvaged from the transport. Khrome munched on a few metal nutrient rods. Tyris’s meal was in gas form, inhaled from a short tube placed on his mouth region.

Habraum kept the conversation light while waiting for everyone else to finish their food. “You got any other offspring, besides Mhir’ujiid?”

“I have eleven children,” Kyas’argiid answered proudly, “all from same Quud wife.”

Habraum smiled, but that faded. What began with a slight rattle of his empty bowl abruptly soared into a full-scale tremor that shook the entire pyramid. Soon the quake made all of Habraum’s bones quiver like jelly. Everyone gripped their seats, which did little good.

As the rumbling intensified, Habraum realized the entire city was shaking. On the streets below, Quud scrambled to safety inside the closest buildings, crying out from all over.

“Whoa,” Byzlar said as the rattling waned, looking around, “skyquake.”

“Yes, a skyquake.” Kyas’argiid rose. “If that is what you call them.” He gestured something to an attendant, and she scurried back inside the complex.

A quick glance at his team told the Cerc everyone was merely shaken up, but seeing Liliana rub her temples with eyes squeezed shut gave him pause.

“You okay, Lily?” Khrome asked with concern.

The doctor forced her eyes open as if it were a demanding endeavor. “Yeah...just a bit nauseous.
Not
because of your food,” Liliana quickly added before Kyas’argiid could respond.

Tyris eyed Liliana through narrowed slits, and then turned to Khal. “Pass me your bowl.” The dancing bonfire underscored the comm officer’s perplexed look as he handed his bowl over.

The Tanoeen waved away the offering. “Use your telekinesis.”

Khal’s skepticism deepened, but he did as asked and let go of his bowl. It floated in midair, and the Star Brigadier let out a surprised laugh.

Khal then smugly waved a finger in Tyris’s direction, rocketing the bowl at him. Tyris barely caught it with quick hands and glared coldly at the human.

Habraum frowned at the two and then focused, as always, to activate his biokinetic abilities. He looked down to see his fists glowing bright crimson. Habraum had hated feeling so exposed and powerless. The sensation now lifted from his mind like a physical weight. “Brilliant.” He grinned. The glow around his fists winked out with a thought. “How did you know, Tyris?”

Liliana answered, “During the lightning attack on Thasque, he saw my headache when I used my abilities.”

“Ha!” Khrome clapped his hands in a loud clank, causing everyone to jump. “Star Brigade is back!”

Marguliese stared at him dispassionately. “We never went anywhere, Khromulus.”

“Stop killing my joy! You killjoy,” Khrome snapped, and then continued his fist-pumping.

Habraum saw how this revelation made his Star Brigadiers and the Armada officers sit straighter and with more confidence. But before the hunt for Ghuj’aega could resume, Habraum needed information.

“Now that we got our powers sorted and grub in our bellies...” Habraum leaned forward and stared at Kyas’argiid. “Tell us everything you know about Ghuj’aega and his Ghebrekh.”