Fantasy Anthology: Book Three

1

Teko’s Tale: Teko in Space

Teko stared up at Dahlia, her head resting in her lap.  Teko’s eyebrow raised, unamused at Dahlia’s repetitive tapping of her nose.  Why are you assaulting me? She asked incredulously .

Dahlia is bored.  She shrugged in response, unable to speak herself.  Teko was the only person alive able to hear her thoughts.  

Oh?  Teko said, moving her eyes to the branches of the tree they were under.  You were the one who wanted to come out here, my Dahlia. She sighed gently, perfectly contented where she was.

You know, Dahlia kind of hates you in moments like this.  Dahlia only suggested it to escape your infuriating sister.  Dahlia scowled down, never relenting her furious assault upon Teko’s nose.

Teko sighed again, slightly irritated at the mention of her sister.  "Tch, it isn’t like I wanted her as a sister-"  Teko’s words caught before she finished, she and Dahlia both feeling as if all the air was immediately cut off.  They began to lift from the ground, accelerating rapidly, aware of it for no more than a second before their world went black around them.

Teko’s eyes flicked open, immediately shutting them against the blinding light above her.  She felt a cold metal beneath her, and straps holding her arms and legs down. She began to struggle, but she wasn’t strong enough to break free.  She was small after all, standing a slight five foot three inches and wasn’t particularly muscular.

Hey!  She shouted, still wincing at the light in her eyes.  Where am I? What happened? She couldn’t tell if anyone was in the area around her.  The light was beginning to spot her vision. She turned her head away as much as she could, finding little respite.  Dahlia? Where is my Dahlia?! She began screaming, thrashing in her bindings.

Specimen, A metallic voice said, stop moving.  A metal arm moved the light from her eyes. She still couldn’t see.

Who are you?  Where is my Dahlia?  Where am I? Answer me you bastard!

Doctor, the metallic voice said, she seems to hold a penchant for some type of flower?  I would assume it is considered in high regard by her primitive mind.

My Dahlia is not a flower you bastard!  Teko continued to shout and thrash. She’s a person!  Where is she?!

Quiet now, child.  A gentle voice caressed Teko, instantly calming her.

Who are you people?  Teko panted, her vision almost clear.  She could see two figures, a blue-grey sphere floating next to a female.  Why can’t I see?

That will pass, child.  The woman said. Let me first apologize for this.  I was wholly against it. Kidnapping children from their time is nothing I ever agree with.  Who can say what you two might have done? But what’s done is done.

Teko’s vision cleared.  The woman standing next to her was tall, she couldn’t guess how tall, and dressed in clothing she couldn’t make sense of; A skintight purple bodysuit, with a metal facemask and some form of clear material over her head, likely to protect her… blue hair?  Teko couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at the woman’s body, especially her hips… She shook her head, face reddening.

And the woman’s companion?  Teko’s eyes shifted. A grey sphere floating next to her with a clear head displaying symbols Teko didn’t understand.  What is that thing? A monster?

A monster?  Oh my sweet child, no.  It is an AI. The woman said.

What on Kósmos is an AI?

The woman turned to the object, tapping its head a few times.  Almost how Dahlia tapped Teko’s nose in boredom. Where is my Dahlia?  Teko began to struggle against her restraints.

Ah, the woman said ignoring Teko.  So, Kósmos is where you’re from? She sighed, I had thought perhaps you knew of greater systems, odd that, is it not?  The continent you’re from uses a very archaic word for ‘Universe’.

I told you doctor, she’s primitive.

I really don’t like that little bastard.  Teko growled. Where is my Dahlia?!

Calm yourself, child.  She had an injury and is being repaired.

Repaired?  Nothing is wrong with her!

You are aware she cannot speak?

Teko’s breath caught.  You- You can fix that?  Where are we? Why did you take us?  Teko’s eyes landed on the table next to her, it had clearly been in use recently.  She had to take the woman’s word for it.

Why of course, child.  The woman said. I can’t tell you where you are at the moment, but I can assure you that you are safe… For the moment.  Your Dahlia will be returned shortly, though I can likely say that she will have some adjusting to do. You, however, are in perfect health minus a terrible parasite infestation that we exterminated.

Parawhat?  What’s a parasite infestation?  Teko’s skin crawled, feeling somewhat violated.

I assure you, you’re better off not knowing, child.

Whatever, Teko rolled her eyes.  And please, stop calling me that, I’m nineteen.

A child, you are, The woman laughed.  All right then, what is your name? I am known as Eirika.

Erica?!  What? You’re not my daughter!  Who are you, really? Teko ground her teeth.  

The woman tapped the AI again.  Hm. I see. On the planet you come from, each person is only given one name and nobody shares names?  The population is extremely low in your time. I am Eirika, spelled in your language: E-I-R-I-K-A. I promise you, I am not your daughter.  But then again, neither is she. I must say, looking into it you and Dahlia were very progressive for your time. Two women together, adopting a child… It must have been difficult.  My my, an entire war fought because of it. The woman chuckled as if amused at the antics of creatures so far below her. As if the deaths of so many of Teko’s friends meant absolutely nothing.

How do you know all this?  What kind of magic does that AI use?  I don’t trust it.

Magic?  Oh, no. You misunderstand, AI are not magical creatures.  Quite the opposite, in fact. Eirika tapped the metal guard over her face.  How to explain it to someone whose planet hasn’t even discovered electricity?

A door Teko hadn’t taken notice of hissed open, allowing a large man to enter, pushing a metal table on wheels.

Eirika pointed directly next to Teko, Right there is fine.

The large man grunted.  Teko couldn’t see much of him except his size, he wore a similar skintight bodysuit as Eirika though his was red instead of purple.  Is that my Dahlia? Teko lifted her head as much as she could, discovering her neck was lightly strapped down as well. She was able to see she was dressed the same, her suit being white.  She felt violated again, she’d never show her body like this. It was for Dahlia’s eyes only. Why am I dressed and restrained like this? Dahlia? Dahlia!

The man and woman were indifferent to her pleas.  She managed to move her head enough to see it wasn’t Dahlia.  It was a blonde haired man, completely asleep.

And he was unclothed.  Teko scoffed in disgust, turning her head back to Eirika.  What is this? Why is he naked? Why am I dressed like this?  WHERE IS MY DAHLIA?!

The man moved as if to attempt to silence Teko.

No, Eren.  Eirika waved him off.  The door hissed and slammed shut as he left.

Why did you kidnap us?  Teko said, watching the AI produce another white suit for the man.

Eirika giggled lightly, tapping something next to Teko.  Her restraints released.

Teko immediately rolled from the table, her bare feet pattering the surprisingly warm floor as she ran for the door she’d seen the large man come through.

Darling, stop.  A gentle, familiar voice to Teko said over the hissing of the door.  She stopped immediately. Sathrine, a massive snow white wolf stood in the doorway.

S-Sath!  They got you, too?  Come, help me! Teko made to embrace the matronly wolf.

Sathrine bristled, dropping low with her fangs bared, growling like Teko had never heard.  Have you any idea what happened to Kósmos after you left? Sathrine walked forward slowly, forcing Teko back.

These people took us!

Shut up!  Sathrine snapped.  "I had to watch everyone, EVERYONE WE LOVED DIE!  Sane butchered them!  Because you and Dahlia weren’t there to stop her!  Sathrine’s voice trembled. Erica… Erica worst of all.  She shook her large head, snarling at the memory. I’ve never forgotten.  I will never forget, Teko!"

The specimen knows Ice?  The AI went ignored.

"It has been… Fifteen-thousand years… I have thought of what I’d do to you… Every… Single… Day… Since Erica died.  Your sister lost her mind. Far more than any of us could have ever anticipated, Teko.  I thought about tearing you apart if I ever saw you again. Slowly. Relishing in your anguish!  If I found you both, I’d rip apart Dahlia first, make you watch helplessly! I’ve hated you both… So fiercely over all these years.  My life became dedicated to simply surviving, biding time until I saw someone who looked even slightly like you."  Sathrine broke down into what would be sobs were she human.  She slumped forward, her head nudging into Teko.

S… Teko couldn’t find words to respond.

Darling, I could not protect anyone.  And now I can’t bring myself to bring any harm to you how I’d planned for all these years.  How could I? I had no reason to believe I’d ever see you again. Sathrine said meekly.

We had no idea you could even talk, Ice.  Eirika said, beginning to examine the man.

Sath, how?  What? Teko fell to her knees, hugging Sathrine’s muzzle.  Fifteen-thousand years? They’re gone… Sane? My sister? Teko darted up, slapping her hands to her face to compose herself.  And prove to herself she hadn’t simply fallen asleep in Dahlia’s lap. Have you found her? Sath, if they brought us here, they can put us back, right?

I know nothing of their technology, Darling.

Then how are you here?

They visited Kósmos five years ago in their ship.  We’re not on Kósmos any longer, Darling. I snuck aboard, curious and wanting to escape that wretched planet.  I caught your scent an hour ago, it took me as long to make my way down here. I could not smell Dahlia, you believe she is here?  Sathrine stood, glaring at Eirika and the AI.

So that is what happened to your planet.  Eirika had stopped her examination, idly tapping her metal faceplate.  Fascinating! It isn’t often we get to discover such things directly from someone who’d lived through them.

You can bring us back, right?  Teko said.

Oh my, no.  Eirika shook her head.  The wormhole we created to tear you from your time is one-way, unfortunately.  Else my job would be much easier. She shrugged helplessly. A creature surviving fifteen-thousand years, as well.  With our best medical advances the average lifespan is only a thousand years. Ice, how is it you survive?"

Then why?  Why did you take us?!  What purpose could we possible serve you?  We’re clearly years beneath you. Teko said, ignoring Eirika’s questioning of Sathrine.

My name is Sathrine, not Ice.  Sathrine growled. And you will answer my Darling, and you will take us to Dahlia.

"Well, Sathrine, had you spoken before now we’d know that, wouldn’t we?  And I really don’t want to have to continually repeat myself.  I never wanted to take you from your time. And Dahlia is being repaired, you do want to hear her speak yourself?"

I-No.  We agreed that is was better for us that she couldn’t speak.

Darling?

"Yes, we did Sath.  But… That was if she were to be captured during the war.  It’s over, isn’t it? Fifteen-thousand years.  Sath?  We’re trapped here, aren’t we?  Dahlia shouldn’t have to be forced to stay mute, right?  What information could they possibly be able to force from us?"

Oh, that wouldn’t matter if she couldn’t speak anyhow.  We can read the neurons in your brain to detect your exact thoughts if we want.  Eirika tapped her metal faceguard, That is how I learned your language.

Teko recoiled, That’s what I do with Dahlia, isn’t it?  How? That’s magic. Orc magic, how do you do it? You said you don’t use magic.

Oh, you know what neurons are?

No, but I can hear her thoughts, it’s the same isn’t it?

Possibly.  I’d have to observe that link between you and her to be certain.  You say it’s magic?

Yes, wolves share it but requires certain conditions to be met.  And for me it is one way, I can only hear others thoughts, they cannot hear mine.  Sathrine said.

Oh?  Eirika stepped towards them, the AI following protectively close.  What would those be? It took us a thousand years to discover such technology.  Fascinating that a race from such an undeveloped planet does it so easily. Perhaps you can show me?

Teko looked to Sathrine apprehensively.  They both half nodded. Teko kept her eyes on Eirika, pressing her hand into Sathrine’s fur.  

This is it, Eirika.  Sath can hear my thoughts and memories just like this.  Between me and Dahlia I don’t have to touch her, don’t even have to be in the same room but it is limited to distance.  We never did figure out exactly how far, and since I can’t hear her now she must be far away.

Hm.  The AI isn’t reading anything between the two of you.  Magic doesn’t work off electricity then?

How should I know?  Teko said. How far away is my Dahlia?

She could be miles away, Darling.  The ship we’re on in massive, I’ve not come close to discovering its secrets.  

Ship?  Teko said.

Yes, that is what they call it.  We are traveling between the stars, Darling.  Sathrine said, snapping her head to the door. I smell her.  It is faint, but I can follow it. Come, Darling.

Teko immediately climbed onto Sathrine’s back, the wolf stopping only to allow the door to slide open.

They traveled through tight corridors, massive open rooms, a men’s bath area that made Teko furiously uncomfortable, and finally stopping on an area Sathrine described as an observation deck.  Teko kept focused asking, How much further? She ignored the window entirely, having absolutely no care for the beauty of space.

Sathrine stepped slowly down a metallic stairway, growling at anyone trying to approach her.  She had explained after the first man that approached them that the white suit labeled Teko as someone that was recommended to stay in the medical bay, where they had met.  It wasn’t required, and Sathrine had evidently acquired a large amount of admiration in her time on the ship.

Some wore differently colored suits, others wore clothes Teko herself might have considered wearing.  Sathrine