Hunters of the Cloud
Third Planet
When the Earth was ancient, civilizations like Teo and Atlantis ceased to exist without explanation. In a wink of time humans develop technology, and societies greedy to engineer molecular structure commit cut-throat atrocities and barbarous acts.
They unleashed an ancient, horrific, and forgotten enemy.
“Teotihuacán, nicknamed 'Teo', is interpreted to mean 'The City of the Gods', or 'Where Men Become Gods'. The term ‘Toltec’ was not meant to define a specific ethnic group...it meant ‘great wise one’.” Dani said.
“Once, the Tol received a report of a Phoenix closing in on a planet in our solar system - it was Mars. The Tol arrived to find that Mar’s natural atmospheric dust, and unusual combination of reflected color and ice, simulated the reddish Cloud’s appearance...it was a false alarm. Fortune has it that before the Tol ship left the system, a Phoenix Cloud did appear, and focused over Earth’s Mesoamerica.” She continued. “Not expecting resistance, the Cloud and its insurgents were annihilated. To prevent further incursion, the Tol infused a radio-electronic, neutrino, and magnetic signature, imitating the ones used before their ship went to time-fold. The pattern imprinted on the surface mimicked the silhouette of a Tol ship, and it was hoped it would deter future visits from a Cloud,” she summarized.
"Teotihuacán, was built over the ship's outline, and has very precise architecture for the era. All the buildings are aligned with the stars and solar system from precise survey points in the nearby mountain range, and appear to demonstrate an advanced understanding of mathematics, geometry and astronomy. For decades scholars puzzled over these ruins. They never realized how the city came to be, nor did they know that the hideous creatures in the native art and statuary did not portray Beasts of fantasy...but were humble depictions of reality.”
THE ARCHER
Wainwright couldn’t remember losing consciousness. She tried to feel her forehead, but her hands were tied behind her back. Command training and experience moved her to observe her surroundings. Lora and Dani were lying across from her, alive, but out cold. They were in a primitive cart, pulled along by large, hairy two-legged beasts. Wainwright risked a glance at the surrounding landscape. The flatland was barren, set between gray rocky crags. The shuttle was nowhere in sight, and she wondered how long they’d been traveling.
Eastbrook and Rios began to stir at the same time. When their eyes focused, Wainwright motioned a hush with her lips. The cart rumbled into a horseshoe-shaped area, surrounded on three sides by rocky embankments. Their arrival was met with the growls and roars of more beasts. Standing over two meters tall, Wainwright thought the monsters resembled the earth legends called “Sasquatch”, except that their under-slung jaws were filled with rows of sharp, yellowing teeth. As they clattered near, Wainwright took note of the savage weapons. Bandoliers held arrows and knives. Long-bows draped their massive shoulders.
Wainwright and Rios were dragged out of the cart, and Dani was tugged to the middle of the dirt-packed arena. There was a single block of stone next to a fire-pit sporting a boiling cauldron. Dani’s slender form was half-dragged to stand next to the block.
With growls and guttural noises, the monster closest to Dani loosened her ties. There were squeals and grunts of approval as the increasing mob viewed her blonde hair, and exquisite features. The crowd animated as the guards wrapped ropes around Dani’s waist and an arm. Forcing her other arm to the sky, one of the captors began a series of grunts. The mob of beasts waved and howled, raising their voices in the universal language of an auction.
As the noise escalated, Wainwright glanced at Rios, and received an imperceptible nod. At once, they kicked their attacker, dropping it flat on its back. Lora jumped up with her hands still bound, and kicked loose a knife from their captor’s bandolier. She slammed the creature in the head with her other foot. Wainwright had to reach backward to get the knife, and their struggles drew attention.
“Captain - Look out!” Lora called.
Two of the creatures lumbered to Wainwright, and clobbered her, then turned on Rios.
Higher in the rocks, another being was witness to the commotion. Dressed in tan-colored clothes and soft boots, she could have passed for one of Earth’s primitive Native Americans. She carried a bow and arrows, as did the Beasts. She took them out, and with impassionate consideration, laid them in a deliberate pattern across the rocks.
The bidding started for Dani’s hand, and then an arm. With the detached observation of a scientist, she noted the lack of planetary vegetation, and the scarce sources of nutrition. It pointed to cannibalism, or this type of opportunism. Struggling up, Wainwright had no such thoughts, and was determined to interrupt the proceedings. Aiming herself like a battering ram, she ducked under her guards and went all out towards the beasts holding Dani. At speed, she launched and hit the two beasts with a flying split-kick. Two more monsters jumped in to stop her. One threw a solid blow to Wainwright’s midsection that sent her tumbling back. The other snatched her up, and held her in place to watch the grisly auction.
The archer, hiding high in the rocks, chuckled at the captain’s attempt to disrupt the festivities, No self-preservation there, she thought with mild amusement. Those bold attempts to defy fate identify that one as the leader of the three.
Dani held her emotions in check as the “auctioneer” raised the large chopping blade over her extended hand. She twisted her body to shield the impending ghastly view from Wainwright. Glancing the other way, Dani was glad to see that Lora was out cold.
Wainwright’s ribs ached, and her heart pounded. She watched, helpless, as the beast raised its cleaver above Dani's head. Up in the rocks, the archer focused her eyes on the silvery flash, and notched an arrow. The metallic glint of the blade provided her first target. She pulled back on the bow, and let out a timed breath.
