Project - Prometheus Ch. 08

"How is it you have this kind of crystal down here?" Priya asked, voicing her thought out loud.

"It is because of those," Luminia pointed. Off to the left of the dome's entrance, was a largish alcove and in it, three Artucian worked with what seemed to be large slugs. These slugs moved about like they had not a care in the world, clinging to any surface they could find. As they moved about, they left behind a heavy slime that had a greenish tint to it. Whenever a slug would leave behind a long trail of this slime, one of the Artucian would use small scrapers and scrape as much slime as they could off the rock and walls that they could find.

Once collected, they were careful not to touch it as they transferred it to one of the molds that were scattered around the area. They then scraped it off into the molds, before grabbing various tools to shape the slime to conform to the moldings, before checking for more slime left by these slugs.

"These are called Glaug'kha. They make the compound we use to make our weapons and many of the implements we use. We brought them from our original homeworld, so we could create what we needed, wherever we went. Though this wasn't the original plan for them, they have been of great use in our survival," Lumi explained.

"Interesting," Alex said. "But let's all have a look what is inside here, shall we?"

He indicated the dome which snapped everyone back to reason they were down there to begin with. Valessa approached the door first and walked through. A pair of guards inside turned to speak to her, and she informed them of the reason of her visit. They listened to her before looking behind her and seeing the party assembled. They looked skeptical but nodded at her word and went back to their posts.

She then gestured for the crew to come inside and they did, walking through the door without being accosted. Inside, was a good deal of greenery, far more than they all thought could exist on the planet. It wasn't nearly as large as the hydroponics deck on the Perseus, but it was still considerable. The ground seemed to be a soil, slightly soft and loamy, but a good dark color.

There were plants and vegetation growing, but it wasn't much. Most of it was centered in the center most points of this section of the dome, away from the clear walls. The section of the dome they stood in seemed to be a small sliver of a much larger structure. When looking at the walls, the crew noted a good deal of ice on the other side, the crystalline barrier being the only thing keeping the ice out.

It was also a good deal warmer in here than it was out in the cave or even outside in the settlement. There was a good deal of humidity, but not enough to where it caused any level of discomfort.

"Who built this? Your ancestors I would assume?" Nats queried.

"That is correct Natalya. Our ancestors built these domes as a way of ensuring our race's survival. What they did not expect was the inter-clan warfare that followed, for control of these domes. One by one, over the years, they all succumbed to the snow and ice, or to marauding clans bent on taking them for themselves," Valessa said to them.

There were other Artucian down there, tending the various vegetable and fruit plants that grew down there. Lumi called them Keepers as they kept the various plants alive that fed their people. They used to have more than two dozen down here to tend the place, now they were fewer than eight. With the ice expanding further into their dome and the cold seeping in, their purpose was soon becoming obsolete.

"Mind if I have a look at your systems? I might find out what the problem is with the dome losing so much ground to the cold and the encroaching ice," Talon offered. "Is there a terminal around here that I could plug into?"

Valessa was confused at first by what Taal'ani was asking until she broke the explanation down into terms she could understand. Once that was done, Valessa directed one of the few Artucian keepers to help Taal'ani find what she needed. While Talon was busy looking into the systems, the rest of the crew took several samples of soil and plants that were growing down there.

After speaking with the keepers and what their purpose was down there in the dome, they were more than eager to help the crew of the Perseus gather whatever they needed to make it possible to make it green in there again. Even though everyone had differing specialties in various aspects of their lives, they all had a desire to help these beleaguered people however they could. Taal'ani came trotting up almost twenty minutes later with a grim look on her face.

"Bad news, guys. It seems like this place is literally falling apart at the seams. I did a proper diagnostic of their systems and since this guy here was kind enough to translate the runes and glyphs, I could determine how it's happening," she said, indicating the lanky male Keeper who had accompanied her. Everyone waited for her to continue.

"Basically, there was no latticework placed within the crystalline substructure to keep it heated. Sure, heat could travel along it, but because it was fabricated crystal, the Artucian couldn't risk making it too hot and melting it."

"I don't understand. Our crystal has always been strong, it should have held up against it!" Valessa said.

"It is strong, and it gets stronger, but under cold conditions. The colder it is, the stronger it becomes, but once it gets hot, it loses integrity. I did a thorough analysis of the compound and that's what I've come up with."

"I'm afraid that Miss Taal'ani is correct sir," Jaesa broke in, startling the Artucian gathered there. Valessa was taken aback by the voice but after Lumi explained what exactly Jaesa was, Val calmed down after that and was bold enough to ask a question.

"You are certain of this... Jaesa?"

"Beyond any doubt, Chieftainess Valessa. Given the current temperatures of Talemkha and how quickly the ice has encroached on your bio-dome, it will only be a matter of time before everything within it withers and dies," Jaesa answered.

"Is there any way you can help us, as your captain has said?" Valessa almost pleaded.

"I believe that it is possible to reinforce and retake that which was yours, possibly to take back the whole dome from the ice," Jaesa replied. "Though it will involve much in the way of hard work from all who dwell there to make it so."

"My people are unafraid of hard work, especially if their lives are better for it."

"That is good to hear Chieftaness. Captain, I highly recommend that you and the rest of the crew come back aboard the Perseus, so we can begin the process of figuring out what can be done to clear the area and to select whichever plants and trees that can work in the soil there," she said.

"We will also require at least one Artucian, male or female, so we can establish a baseline for which foods are safe for them to eat," the AI finished.

"A sound plan Jaesa. We will be on our way within the hour," Alex responded.

"Very good, sir. I await your arrival."

With that the comms line cut, and the crew gathered all the samples in the containers that the Keepers provided. They then left the Bio-dome, but not before securing a slug and some fresh slime for analysis aboard the Perseus. As they made their way up the path, Alex queried Valessa.

"So, Chieftaness, who would you recommend be sent along to test the various foods we have?"

"Though I am loath to say so, my daughter, Luminia seems to be the best choice. It is clear that she is eager to learn about your people and your ways. She is also the most open-minded of my people I know, despite that she can be stubborn and obstinate at times," she joked.

"Hey!" Lumi called out, as if to retort, but a sassy look from Valessa quieted her, as she hung her head in grudging acceptance of what her mother said.

"I have had experience with people like that," Alex chuckled.

"Though I warn you, should happen to her...." the chieftaness intoned.

"You will need not worry, Valessa," Korsa said, coming up from behind them. "Once we are aboard, I will perform a proper medical examination of Lumi and note any kind of allergic reactions she may have to certain foods, spices or compounds aboard. She will not be permitted to try anything else until I have cleared her medically."

"Thank you.... Doctor Korsa. Are you a mother yourself?" Val asked kindly.

"There are children I have raised as my own, but no, I do not have any that have come from me," she replied, with a slight wince. Valessa caught the facial tic and let the matter drop, not wanting to press it further. It wasn't long before they had reached the initial cave in which they had walked into and in moments, they were back on the surface.

Afternoon had finished its run, and it was giving way to evening as the sky blazed a bright orange. The whole settlement was a hubbub of activity, with everyone taking part in stripping those beasts down to the bone. Small patches of the hides were everywhere, some being hung, while others were scraped of all moisture. Fires were roaring everywhere as the smell of cooking meat permeated the air.

Many of the people were still busy in their chores of preparing the meat to be cooked, smoked and preserved that they didn't notice the group emerging from the ice cave. As they headed toward the Hermes, the visiting chiefs and their honor guards intercepted them. Valessa excused herself to speak with them, motioning for Lumi to follow along, while telling the crew to head to their ship and that she'd meet them there.

They moved along, eager to be back aboard their ship. The ladies could do with proper showers and clean clothes again. Some of them were even going on about attacking the leftovers that were still in the kitchen once they got back. Though they weren't bothered as they moved along, some warriors, hunters and people stopped what they were doing to thank them for their help.

The Hermes was still where they'd left it, with most of the crowd gone. There were still a few stragglers that were busy carving away the last few scraps of meat from the skeletons that were left behind. Now that the beasts had been stripped down to the bare bones, the crew saw just how solidly built their frames were. Also, the amount of razor-sharp teeth in their jaws and skulls was staggering.

"Almost like a shark's mouth," Kas thought out loud.

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing!" Pree commented.

The crew didn't have to wait long before Valessa and Luminia appeared. Their honor guard stood with them as they marched forward. Lumi seemed eager to be away and Inari commented on this.

"It is some other chiefs and what they have presented. Because of Luminia's valor against the Tashkuun Alpha, some of them have put forth their sons as candidates, for potential mates," Val spat.

"Ugh! Arranged marriages? Halfway across the galaxy and other species do that same shit that ours used to do?" Kasumi ground out.

"If this 'arranged marriage' means they are making plans to have my daughter mated to one of their sons, then yes, that is what it is. I have tried to change the minds of some of them on the topic, but some of them are set in their ways and their traditions," Valessa went on.

"Well, you're not alone in your disgust of this 'tradition'," Inari said, placing a comforting hand on Valessa's shoulder. Smiling, Val took Inari's hand and squeezed, thanking her for the comfort.

"Thankfully, I was able to have them hold off on doing anything of the sort when I informed them of Luminia's importance to you. They tried to play it off and put one of their own envoys forward to go in her stead, but the fact that she speaks your language fluently prevented them from pushing the matter," Val finished.

"Thank the mother goddess for Stanley, eh?" Alex quipped to Lumi. She smiled beatifically and nodded vigorously as she boarded the Hermes. Everyone else had stepped up the ramp and were strapping themselves in.

"How long before you return?" Valessa asked.

"I would say about five days. That would give us enough time to put together everything we need to help you and your people with taking back control of your lives," Alex said.

"We will wait for your return, with good news, I should hope."

"Worry not Chieftaness, we will do all that we can," Alex said, bowing respectfully.

"Thank you, Captain," Valessa intoned before giving him a rudimentary salute. It surprised Alex but still, he stood at attention and saluted back. Dropping his arm, he turned and headed into the ship as the engines fired up. Once the ramp closed, the Hermes slowly rose into the air and climbed to about two hundred feet before it ramped up to full power and shot up towards the Perseus.

Valessa watched it go and for the first time in a long time, she no longer had such a grim outlook for the survival of her people. This time, she felt the one thing she had believed died with Faal'Dahr all those years ago. Hope.

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The Hermes pushed through the atmosphere, Inari compensating for the heavier gravitational pull to blast free. Once they were in low orbit, the forces that had anchored the Hermes down had let up as it sailed on towards the Perseus.

Luminia chanced a look outside and was astonished by what she was seeing. She was seeing Talemkha as her ancestors had all those centuries ago. Now, here she was, the first to do so since. A sense of excitement dropped over her as she felt that this was the true grand adventure she had dreamed of going on since she was a little girl! Hopefully though, this was just the beginning!

"Excited?" Korsa asked as she neared the young woman.

"Very! I didn't know that Talemkha was so big! It makes all the lands we have explored seem small in comparison!" she breathed. "Being able to fly and see my world like this is truly a marvel!"

"You have seen nothing yet," Natalya smirked from behind Korsa. "Head on up to the cockpit and have a look at the Perseus. We should be nearing it now."

Eyes widening, Lumi rushed to where Inari was piloting the ship and looked through the viewport. She was careful to not touch anything as they had warned her of what could happen if someone pressed if the wrong buttons or switches. When she saw the Perseus, her jaw dropped open at the sheer size of it! Such a construction must have taken years, decades even!

"Impressive, isn't it?" Alex said right next to her. Luminia just nodded, dumbstruck at the ship she was watching grow larger with every second! She could have fit all the Artucian people in this ship and everyone could have had room to spare for several generations before they could even worry about running out of room. She was snapped out of her daydreaming by Jaesa, who appeared on the holo emitter to Inari's right.

"Captain Tomisic sir?" the AI asked, concern tinging her voice.

"Yes Jaesa, what is it?"

"Once you're all aboard, send both Commander McKenzie and Doctor Korsa to the brig sir," she said, agitated.

"Is it the prisoner?" he asked, concerned about what could have happened.

"Yes sir. She is still secure inside her cell, but it appears that she is losing her mind. She's speaking Xuul'khani at the air and screaming out loud at something that isn't there. I fear she may injure or kill herself sir."

"Doctor, you get all that?" Alex called out.

"Yes sir. Kas and I are standing by, ready to disembark the moment we land," Korsa responded.

"Commander Sunara, take us to the hangar bay we departed from. It's closest to the brig, and I'd like to see if we can find out what's going on with our prisoner," the young captain ordered.

"Aye aye, sir!"

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And this is the ending of chapter eight! I took a while longer than I would have liked to get this one finished. Though my pace on cranking out chapters has improved and I'm eager to keep working on it until I have reached the point where I can crank out these bad boys every seven to ten days!

More mysteries abound aboard the Perseus, but what will they be? Well for that, you will have to wait for the next chapter to drop! When will that be? Well, that is dependent on those who vote for their favorite stories, when it is called during each story rotation cycle!

Anyways, thank you for taking the time to read my work and I do hope that you've enjoyed it! I'm open to constructive criticism and will seriously consider any suggestions made about various story arcs. Please feel free to rate and comment on my work down below. If you like what I write, don't be afraid to follow and share, though your views, ratings and comments are quite enough for me.

In the meantime, this is C.H. Darkstrider, signing off to grab a beer and some quality time with the wife! ;) You will attain whatever you most desire, as long as you believe in yourself. Cheers!