Zherosha Chronicles- Unknown Origin Read online

  "I guess if something were wrong, someone from medical would be here," Amnika mused.

  Her mother chuckled and grabbed the skirt.

  Amnika took her skirt and put it on. It was a long tube skirt that came down to her ankles. It stretched, somewhat, but it restricted her walk. She internally bemoaned that she wouldn't be able to climb up the embankment to join the Natisien children. She knew she would miss out on listening to the stories they told each other.

  The tunic was next. Amnika grabbed it from her mother and put it on. It looked like the one she usually wears, except it felt smooth like a flower's petal against her skin. She loved wearing it but was afraid of tearing the fabric. She took her time with putting it on.

  Before picking up the surcoat, Amnika ran her fingers on the embroidered design. A woman embroidered in blue held her right hand out as if beckoning. Her hair reached out in tendrils around the surrounding stars. Her silver-blue torso faded to her white lower half. Everything was a symbol of Amnika's distant matriarch, Adeli, gathering the lost Inersiens, who were scattered among the stars, then cast her soul to avoid death.

  "I heard she had another name." Amnika took the surcoat and put it on. It reached to the hem of her skirt.

  Her mother tied the sides and the front, cinching it at the waist. "You could ask your father about it. He may know, but as far as I can tell, no one really knows."

  Amnika looked at herself at the wall image again. She almost looked like an adult.

  "You can take your braids down if you like. I'd ask Natia to braid them again, but she's busy with dinner preparations."

  Amnika watched her mother through the display as she draped Amnika's cape over her shoulders.

  Mother leaned over her shoulder. "If we don't get to the market soon, there may be no dinner, and we'll have nothing for our guests. I don't think meal bars will go over well tonight."

  Nodding and chuckling, Amnika struggled with the clasp of her silver-blue cape. She doesn't recall a time where the clasp was ever simple to deal with. She glanced back at the display, tucked her loose hair into her braid and followed her mother down the lift and out of the building.

  "We are short on time." Mother pointed towards the transport entrance down the lane. "We'll take the transport on the way there."

  "I understand," Amnika said. "But I'm going to miss the garden. The tuft flowers are blooming now."

  The time to get to the market was short. The entrance was only a short walk from the transport tube dock.

  As they reached the entrance, Mother faced Amnika. "I should only be a few moments. Do not wander too far from the entrance. We do not have the time to search for each other."

  Amnika nodded and started to walk away when Mother stopped her.

  "Oh, wait," she said, and she took out a small pouch. "Zakkon gave you a gift. He said to spend it on whatever you want. Father gave this to me a few days ago and said to give it to you the next time we go to the market."

  "Oh, good." Amnika felt the weight of the pouch in her hand. "I can add this to what Oshtron gave me." She glanced down the row of tables. There were too many people for her to see the end. "Unfortunately, what I want is too far so I'll have to get it next time. I'll just be by these first tables. I won't go anywhere."

  "Good," Mother said as she left.

  The Market seemed busier than usual, but Amnika figured it only appeared that way because she wanted to go to the components section at the other end of the market. She noticed that the trinket table was within sight of the entrance, so she walked over to a table occupied by a middle-aged Natisien woman.

  "Amnika!"

  Despite the noisy activity around them, the familiar squeal of her childhood friend startled Amnika. She turned to see her childhood friend standing with the head instructor.

  "Trinka!" Amnika waved her over. The head instructor looked over and followed Trinka to see Amnika.

  Amnika tipped her head down out of respect. "Naei, Rodgistan."

  Rodgistan acknowledged her with a nod. Amnika looked up at him. He was tall for an Inersien. His black hair, broken up by the gray, showed his age. He worked as the Head Instructor, the third level in Leadership, just below her father. He was also the highest level Inersien and Amnika felt intimidated by him. Her face grew hot, and she looked down.

  "Head up, Amnika," Rodgistan said, and she looked up at him. He smiled, which soften his facial features. "You don't need to be afraid of me."

  Trinka grabbed Amnika's hand and pulled her close. They put their heads together, a typical greeting among close friends and family. This gesture made it easier to share their thoughts with each other.

  From Trinka's point of view, Amnika saw Father explaining to Rodgistan of an attack on the staging base. Trinka's parents were safe, and they will be home early, but two Natisiens died. In return, Amnika shared back how concerned her father looked, and it appeared to be related.

  "I guess they'll be seeing you off to formal education after all," Amnika cast a thought to Trinka.

  Trinka giggled a little and nodded.

  "I see you are wearing your formals, Amnika," Rodgistan said. He was back to looking stern. He nodded to something behind her and Amnika glanced back to see a rather large male Natisien make his way down the row with his family following.

  "I didn't really want to, but Mother insisted," she confessed. She took a step aside to let the Natisien pass.

  "Good for her, you should act and look more like an Inersien."

  Suddenly, Amnika began to feel out of place. She glanced around at the Inersien children roughly her age. All young Inersiens under the age of twenty cycles had white-blonde hair and silver-grey eyes. This contrasted Amnika's dark auburn hair and green eyes. She remembered her father once telling her that it was a genetic anomaly, the same genetic anomaly Adeli had.

  "You will have to replace the cape soon." Rodgistan tugged at her hood.

  "I don't mind that, but I haven't outgrown this one yet."

  Nodding, he let go of her hood. His expression didn't change. Since Amnika didn't sense anger from him, she figured that it was how his face always looked.

  "So are you here to purchase components, again?" Trinka asked.

  "No," Amnika said, "Not today. Mother told me to stay near the entrance so that when she is ready to go, I will be able to see her. We are preparing a meal today." She looked in the direction of components booths. "They're out of sight from the entrance."

  "Did she say who was coming?" Rodgistan asked.

  "No, she only said 'guests.'"

  At that moment, Amnika saw a glint of light out of the corner of her eye. It piqued her curiosity, but she knew better than to turn away from an adult who was speaking to her.

  "I see." Rodgistan turned to Trinka, and Amnika glanced over to the booth where she saw the sparkle. A Natisien female stepped in between her and the source.

  "I'll be checking the food section. We'll have scant tonight. Go ahead and find something for your next art project after you are finished speaking with Amnika." With that, he disappeared into the crowd.

  "Thank you!" Trinka called out after him. She looked at Amnika and clapped her hands together letting out a quiet squeal. She shared her excitement with Amnika and then headed off in the direction of the art supplies table.

  Amnika looked towards the glint. There was a looped chain with a what appeared to be a data crystal dangling from it.

  "Advisor's daughter like chain?" The Natisien asked in halting Zherosha standard.

  She grunted her affirmation. There's no "yes" in the Natisien dialect.

  The Natisien woman held up her hand.

  "I'm learning Zherosha Standard," she said. "I practice."

  Amnika nodded. She held the flat, rectangular crystal and looked it over.

  "I'm not that much better." Amnika kept her speech at an even pace. "Father made me practice since the last cycle. Is this a real data crystal, or is it just a niaka decoration?"

  "It's a true
polished data crystal," the Natisien said. "Not sure how good. Comes from Hemeria to take load off Natisien workers but quality isn't as good. Chain worth many data crystals. Will not break."

  "Oh?" Amnika said. She held it up to look it over. She could see some imperfections. Studying the chain, she realized that it was a little long.

  "Can I have it shortened?" Amnika put the chain back on its hook.

  The Natisien shook her head. "Chain all one piece. Forged at once and dropped into a coolant that makes it strong."

  "I can give you five and a half pieces," she said after checking the contents of her pouch.

  "Five and a half?! Seven!"

  Amnika stared at her for a moment. The Natisien woman raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

  "Fine. Six." Amnika scoffed a little. "My funds are a little limited this time."

  The Natisien looked at her for a moment with a half-smile. Without taking her eyes off Amnika, she took the chain off the hook. She held it out as Amnika dug out five large metal beads and two similar beads that were half the size.

  Taking the necklace, Amnika put it on and dropped the beads in the giant outstretched hand. She thanked the Natisien woman who laughed and waved her off.

  "Hello, Amnika," a familiar voice said next to her ear. She already knew who it belonged to without looking up.

  "Hello Rhada, It's been awhile." Amnika closed her pouch and attached it to a loop on the edge of her tunic. Then she looked up at him.

  He straightened up, his beads on his fiery red braids clicked together on his shoulder. Amnika counted three new ones, each with their own colored polished gem.

  "Wow, Rhada!" She took a step back to look at him. "You've changed a lot!"

  "How so?" Rhada crossed his arms.

  "You lost too much fat!" the Natisien woman at the trinket table told him. "You don't eat enough!"

  "I eat!"

  "Not enough! Look at you! Scavengers could mistake you for a skeleton!"

  Amnika chuckled and began to walk towards the entrance but stopped suddenly.

  "Training is not tonight, is it?" Amnika asked.

  Rhada shook his head. "I'm here a few days early. Father won't be here until later."

  Amnika sighed.

  "You still have a hard time with it, don't you?" He nudged her closer to the tables as the larger Natisien male and his family walked back down the row.

  "I don't like hurting you." She watched the Natisien lumber past. She never saw one so large before.

  "You know what must be done, must be done."

  Amnika glanced back at Rhada and started walking again. Rhada followed.

  "I know it's necessary for your training, and I'll do it. It doesn't mean I have to like it." Amnika lamented.

  "Well, I definitely don't like it." Rhada chuckled and shrugged. "But I can take it."

  When they reached the entrance, Amnika's mother met them there. She struggled with her full basket and a couple of larger items.

  "Wow, Rhada," She exclaimed when she saw him, "You grew quite a bit!"

  He beamed at the compliment. "Do you need help with anything?"

  "I could use some help, yes," Mother said. She sounded fatigued. "That is if you don't have anything important to do."

  Her mother's weariness surprised Amnika.

  "It's important to help the advisor's wife," Rhada said as he patted his chest with his hand. he took her basket, and they walked up the path to the transporter tube.

  As they reached the door of her home, Mother asked Rhada if he would stay.

  He declined.

  "I'm staying with my brother's aunt tonight, and they are expecting me," he explained.

  "Is Mihka there, too?" Amnika asked.

  "What?" Rhada scoffed. Am I in his shadow even with my closest Inersien friend?"

  "Zakkon did assign him to guard me when the Hemerians visit. Some of the youth don't like me much."

  Rhada groaned a little and rolled his eyes. "Hemerians are always trouble. No, Mihka is staying in the dorms for the wall guards. I must go. If I see him, I'll tell him you asked of him."

  Amnika touched Rhada's hand. He grinned and put his hand on her head before walking away. She knew that Rhada loved his older brother, even if he was jealous of him sometimes. She went to check to see if she could help with meal preparations. She nearly bumped into Natia, again.

  "Where's Rhada?" Natia didn't look at her but instead, looked over Amnika's head, towards the front entrance.

  "He said he had to check in with Mihka's aunt. He was supposed to spend the night there."

  Natia glowered down at Amnika and pointed to the floor. "That child is supposed to be here."

  The rumble in her voice startled Amnika. She tipped her head to the side. She rarely heard Natia sound stern. After a moment, Natia went back to work, and Amnika tried to follow.

  "There are too many of us in the cooking area already!" Natia shooed Amnika out of the cooking area. "Go work on that project of yours."

  Puzzled, Amnika wondered why Natia didn't step aside to let her help out. She glanced back over her shoulder and Natia glanced at her. With a flick of her hand, Natia waved her off. Amnika hesitated to ask but changed her mind figuring that Natia wanted to talk to her mother in private.

  When she walked into her project room, she realized that the place was a mess. She didn't have time to tidy up before she left to go to the market. Components cluttered the table. Some littered around the recycling bin as a testament to her terrible aim.

  She cleaned up the mess, tossing the working components into the appropriate bins behind the table. Any with a burnt mark went into the recycling bin. When Amnika filled it, she closed it and put it into the disposal chute. She stood by the chute, waiting for the telltale sound of an empty replacement taking its place.

  The wiring in her project container was also messy. Since the wires were inexpensive, they were new, but Amnika had to patch the newer connectors into the old components. She had to be careful when tucking them in. Unfortunately, there was not much space, and the project still looked messy.

  After she finished, she walked over to one of the wall panels and slid her finger along its edge. Within moments, she was looking at herself. Blowing a strand out of her face, she realized that she forgot to take her hair down.

  "Well, this is embarrassing," she muttered as she took her hair down. "It must have been like this at the market." She used her fingers to comb her hair, but no matter what she did, it looked messy. She sighed and decided she'll have to put her hair in a bun. As she pulled her curly hair back, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Rhada studying her.

  "Do you want me to braid your hair?" he asked. He studied Amnika's face for a moment. She raised an eyebrow. "Mother had only two sons. No daughters."

  "Yes, please." She let her hair drop.

  He walked over and took her hair in his hands and began braiding. It started out as a two-part braid and ended as a single six strand braid that went down the middle of her back.

  "There," he said, "all you need to do is pin the back. You'll look like a citizen."

  "Thank you!" Amnika went up the lift to grab a pin from the cubbies over her bed. She hurried back down to stand in front of the image. She could see Rhada behind her with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face. She had a vague sense that he was hiding something.

  "Rhada," Amnika said as she faced him. She gave him a sly smile. "You know who's coming, don't you?"

  Putting his hands on his waist, Rhada gave a knowing look. "They'll be here shortly."

  The front door opened and Amnika sensed that her father was home. She went to greet him with Rhada following behind.

  Father hugged Amnika and saw Rhada. Pulling back, he looked at Amnika.

  "He's here early," Amnika explained.

  Father nodded. "Okay, I understand."

  "Are you here for dinner?" He asked Rhada.

  Rhada grunted his affirmation. "Natia came
and got me. She reminded me why I was here in the city. I forgot."

  "Oh, that's why she kicked me out of the cooking area." Amnika chuckled. "She wanted to surprise me." She glanced at Natia who grinned.

  "Good, " Father said, "Your father said you must spend as much time with Amnika as you can while you are here."

  The front door opened and Petrez stepped into the room. Amnika was about to greet him when a vaguely familiar woman followed him in. Amnika couldn't figure out where she had seen her before. What's more, there seem to be something different about them. She could almost sense her brother through the woman.

  "Oh," she exclaimed. She threw her arms around her brother. "You united!"

  Petrez mind shared that he would have united with her sooner but work kept them both busy.

  Greeting his wife, Amnika found out her name was Mahnisha. She worked as the supervisor for the mining community on Zherosha's Largest moon. She was moving to head mentor to make sure that the workers are well trained. Petrez will be taking her place. Briefly, Amnika saw Manisha's point of view. Amnika was in her sixth cycle, and her eyes were red.

  "You were so sad that your brother was leaving," Mahnisha cast a thought to Amnika.

  "Oh, you were his assigned mentor. I remember now." Amnika cast one back. "It's been four cycles."

  Father hugged his son, then greeted Petrez's wife the same way Amnika did. Mother heard the commotion and walked in. She hugged Petrez and embraced his new wife, but she didn't share. Amnika’s Mother wasn't strong enough to share.

  "You must join us for dinner," Mother said, "Natia helped make plenty of food."

  Petrez glanced up at Rhada.

  "Not with him here," he teased, "A growing Natisien needs a lot of food."

  Rhada beamed and put his hand on his stomach. "Well, I am hungry."

  "We do have other plans," Petrez explained. He nuzzled his new wife. "We'll be able to visit again tomorrow before the celebrations."

  Father hugged his son again. Amnika could feel his pride towards Petrez and Mahnisha as they left.

  "Well, that was pleasant," Mother said after the door closed. She sounded tired. Everyone looked at her. Father walked over to her and put his arm around her. She leaned up against him and whispered something in his ear. He looked at her concerned and then guided her to their bedroom.