Firedust

By Adrianna Bielowiec

Diana Tretyakov is a young woman, rejected by society for reasons she does not understand. While walking deep in the forest, he accidentally finds herself in an active temporal zone and is transported to the dangerous proto-world of Amyrade, circulating in the matrix between universes where different natural laws prevail.

 

There she meets Rajivark, the would-be ruler of an aggressive species of risanorks, who went into exile after committing hecatombs on his own warriors. Living in an enclave in the middle of nowhere, the man now sees his only hope of redemption in Diana, who accidentally shattered his plans.

 

The woman, however, does not want to cooperate. The cultural and interspecies differences between them, amounting to trillions of light years, lead to constant misunderstandings. When Diana finally begins to trust Risanork more than anyone else, she discovers that she has been drawn into a game that could have devastating consequences for herself and all mankind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Royal Hawaiian Press
• Release date: May 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223772910

Book preview

Firedust

Adrianna Biełowiec

Firedust

By Adrianna Biełowiec 

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All material contained herein is

Copyright © Adrianna Biełowiec 2022 All rights reserved.

Originally published in Poland as OGNISTY PYL

Translated and published in English with permission.

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ePub ISBN: 979-8-2237729-1-0

Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9876759-9-1

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Written by Adrianna Biełowiec

Published by Royal Hawaiian Press

Cover art by Tyrone Roshantha

Translated by Arek Markowski

Publishing Assistance: Dorota Reszke

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For more works by this author, please visit:

www.royalhawaiianpress.com

***

Version Number 1.00

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without prior written permission of the Author. Your support of Author’s rights is appreciated.

The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental, or used in the form of parody.

Table of Contents

Fall of the viero

1. Rejected

2. The Valley of Ghosts

3. The sanctuary of aliens

4. One hundred and eighty-five  years of solitude

5. Altruism above everything

6. Six on the Kardashov scale

7. Traitor and verahinduks

8. Artifact of the Primordials

9. The risanorcs civilization

10. Those who can see the souls

11. The Awakening

12. Battle with the uruladi

Epilogue

I have nothing to lose, and the welfare of others does not interest me. I would not hesitate to push the red button.

Smilehunter from PClab forum

What am I supposed to do

If I want to talk about pea1ce and understanding

But you only understand the language of the sword

What if I want to make you understand

That the path you chose leads to downfall

But you only understand the language of the sword

What if I want to tell you to leave me and my beloved ones in peace

But you only understand the language of the sword

Coexistence, conflict, combat

Devastation, regeneration, transformation

That is the best I can do for you.

Excerpts from the work „Heilung: Krigsgaldr".

Fall of the viero

Rajivark stood at the top of the hill and looked around without the slightest concern. He did so almost unceremoniously, ponying up fate, but being the commander working out the strategy for this mission, he had no intention of making use of his subordinates. The mirider built into his helmet allowed him to scan the terrain in several vision modes, huge swaths of terrain, but still far less than if the man had been scanning from the sky with a flying machine. However, Rajivark and his army had to abandon the strike aircrafts in orbit and land by capsules on the surface of the planet Vikoko. The neurosphere created artificially by the uruladi caused madness even among individuals of such a highly evolved species of risanorcs, which included Rajivark. Flying through this barrier caused auto aggression, hallucinations or panic fear, and the consequence of each case would be the death of the landing troop. But even if autonomous drones were sent to the enemy planet, it would be impossible to track their actions or control them from space, since the neurosphere, visible only to the devices, had a wide range of capabilities in this regard as well, including inhibition of the invader's technology. The Risanorcs, however, called the barrier the neurosphere, because it messed with the head the most. Only primitive capsules with very thick walls protected their components and crew from its pernicious effects. However, once they fell to the ground, they were useless. Except for landing and taking off, they were not suitable for anything else. Therefore, after the landing, Rajivark had to lead the army by land, something they were not trained in, as the warriors were accustomed to long-range attacks, usually using space-planet missiles.

Rajivark grumbled under his breath and gritted his teeth, turning off the mirider. Although the uruladi had retreated and eluded his army on Vikoko after losing the space battle, a trace of them had disappeared. As far as the eye could see, valleys covered with sporadic tropical vegetation stretched everywhere, divided into natural sectors by rocky hills. Rajivark found a myriad of only a meager village consisting of a few stone cottages surrounding a pond, but no sign of radiation or warmth from the cruising machines. It was as if developed civilization had not even touched Vikoko's natural virginity.

Did you find anything, viero? Another in the chain of command and also a friend of Rajivark turned to him through the communicator. He used a title that in the human army would more or less mean general.

Just some settlement with savages, the commander replied grimly. Prepare a group of warriors, we'll go check it out. Do not take anything but weapons, because the village is located less than a kersha away. I will come down to you right away.

Of course, confirmed Kariak.

Rajivark adjusted his gun belt on his chest, breathed deeply through his breathing mask. He had a moment to contemplate before Kariak collected the risanorcs. He walked a piece, admiring the nearly cloudless sky marked by warm colors ranging from yellow to red and light purple. The overarching star Vikoko hid behind rocks, and smaller celestial bodies became visible.

Rajivark belonged to an aggressive species, but he could appreciate any display of beauty. Although they had been on Vikoko for the third day, he still couldn't get used to gravity weaker than on the shuttle decks and the risanorcs's home planet, Tirigorian. They did use weights, but the strange sensation remained. On top of that, he felt discomfort in the new, as yet untreated mask suctioned to his face, but he would have survived on Vikoko for a few moments without it, as the high concentration of atmospheric oxygen for his species would have killed him. If translated into human units, it would be forty-one percent among the rest of the gases.

The risanorcs usually despised the species they subjugated or slaughtered. Nearly all of them remained submissive, which, after successive conquests, was already beginning to frustrate Rajivark, in addition, they did not display qualities of value to his people. Only a few species declared war on the invaders, among them were the uruladi, who undoubtedly proved to be worthy opponents. They were intelligent, but also peculiar, for although they had mastered the ability to travel intergalactically and were equipped with many advanced devices, part of the polytheistic society lived in stone domes or made of hard plant parts, adorned their bodies like savages, hunted, gathered and fished the fetuses of the planets that the uruladi had settled and technologically transformed under their biology. The uruladi individual was two-legged and upright, with a delicate skeleton and lean muscles covered by a pearl-like epidermis, from which white hair grew in places. Its greatest concentration was at the nape of the neck; Rajivark met many uruladi whose ponytails or braids reached the ground. From their heads set on slender necks, they resembled alpacas. Narrow ears reached to the base of the anemic tail. The uruladi walked half-naked in everyday life, but for military operations and travel in the planetary, they donned light metal armor.

They weren't looking for a fight with anyone, but when attacked they behaved in a bestial and merciless manner, although their main strategy was to make a diversional escape, then crush the enemy in the traps they set. Rajivark had kept this in mind during his expedition to Vikoko, but after three days of scouting and marching, he was almost certain that this time the uruladi had cruised for good and buried themselves in the meandering jungles and rocks that dominate the planet.

The proud, fearless risanorcs were the opposite of the uruladi. Millions of years ago they began existence with earth worship, but evolution has made them the greatest aggressors of the space, at least the part they have discovered so far. Risanorcs was similar to humans in appearance, except that they were taller, more massive, with thicker bones and heavier muscles. Also, it boasted the presence of a flexible tail, reaching to the knees - which, as in the case of the uruladi, did not interfere with the upright position - and deer-like ears, shifted to the top of the head. Also, the presence of straight claws distinguished human limbs from the risanorc, which were usually left intact on the hands, but trimmed at the feet for the sake of footwear. The hard, hairless skin, ranging in color from lavender to alabaster, was arranged in patches. At their borders, bioluminescent blood with a white pigment shone through when the risanor was agitated. Because of it, the eyes seemed to glow, as if a lamp had been lit in the skull, and one could see the pupils and irises only when one stood close to their owner. The intensity of the glow depended on the health and emotional state of the individual, the blood shone brightest when he was angry, while the glow disappeared in a sleeping, sick or corpse. This trait was another gift of evolution for a species that feared no one and had no need to hide from anyone. However, it still lost out to the phenomenon on the chest of the risanorc: an organic, transparent, crystal-like structure, through which one could study the anatomy of the chest, including seeing the heart. Since the risanorcs have always been connected to the earth, parts of their bodies were covered with epidermal growths that were hard like stone. The warriors took advantage of this in the construction of their armor, creating it to blend in with the growths, making it difficult to see the boundary between flesh and armor.

Rajivark's musings were interrupted by a subordinate who reported that the group was ready to march. Viero glanced once more at the valley with the village, then began to descend the hill. He felt a sense of pride, seeing the organized army resting in the basin.

Viero, we are ready to march, Kariak communicated as Rajivark approached him and the thirty-five waiting warriors. In every area of the risanorcs' life, the seven-system prevailed. The smallest tactical unit consisted of seven men, and subsequent units were multiples of that number, considered in the nation's culture to be the domain of dominators.

Have the scouts returned yet? Rajivark asked.

Not yet, viero, but they should join the army before we return.

Great, then let's get moving.

Although the planet had a predominantly tropical humid climate, the flora rarely formed dense forests or compact habitats. Mostly one encountered solitary huge plant near ponds, under which a mini-system with a dominance of weeds functioned. That's why marching across open terrain, soft from moisture and creeping carpets of flora, was unhindered; Rajivark sometimes had the squad run. The problem arose with reconnaissance, as the group usually moved through canyons with walls as high as two hundred meters, so they had a view of the rocks and sky. And there was plenty to look at. After the setting of the superior star came twilight - total darkness never fell on Vikoko. The reason for this was the stars orbited close enough to the planet to preserve the substitute of daylight at night. The sky after sunset took on the colors of the rainbow. The boundary between colors was drawn sharply, and the view presented itself most interestingly when the air was strongly ionized.

Kariak left the warriors behind and aligned himself with the commander, who shifted his gaze from the sky to him.

Do you think, viero, that the village will be deserted?

Mirider indicated that there are uruladi there, but this band of savages poses no threat to us. If they have scouts, they must have let them out of the village after I came down the observation hill, because I would have seen them earlier. It's possible that they are watching us now and will report the threat before we get there. I'm surprised why they don't run away. They probably know that a huge army has deployed under their noses.

Right, it's strange. Any intelligent being wanting to live would have fled long ago.

Rajivark reflected on his friend's words. The uruladi were not counted among the brave, and they valued holy tranquility the most. The status of the village therefore conflicted with the trait of this species. However, Viero did not fear an ambush, and counted on his companions and equipment. After all, they were pursuing fugitives who chickened out and fled the battle. For such, Rajivark knew no mercy. He supposed that the other uruladi did not care about the settlement, and its everyman did not ignore the risanorc army, but indeed they might not know about it.

Nevertheless, it is better to be careful. Kariak swung and slashed with his fist a large insect that fell from the sky and wanted to penetrate his body, having not yet known such a thing as tough derrakori armor. Let's remember that we are not at home.

I'm always careful, I put the welfare of subordinates on a par with my own. Otherwise, I wouldn't have viero status.

I think you are a great commander.

Rajivark smiled, showing strong square teeth.

You are playing up to me.

I wouldn't dare... replied Kariak with cheerfulness.Let’s not rush to track, let's stay here as long as possible. I like this planet.

Rajivark understood his subordinate. The planet looked pristine, at least its unpenetrated area. It breathed from it a soul-soothing depth, some appealing mysticism, as if it was still inhabited by primordial, supernatural beings, who, according to the myths of the risanorcs, lived on every globe on which intelligence later developed.

And so, it will soon belong to us. We will transform it under our biology.

The canyon walls came into contact with each other, closing the way, but the troop made their way through the cave to the other side. Having checked the chemical and biological composition of the water, they crossed the pond safely, swimming more often than walking along the bottom. On the shore, they were attacked by slimy growths attached to the vault and walls, which began pouncing on the strangers with venomous spikes. And this time the armor protected the bodies of the risanorcs again. The subordinates raised their weapons, intending to dissolve the tissues of the attackers, but Rajivark preempted them, killing all the creatures.

They saw the village after leaving the cave, behind a moving shroud of beaded leaves. The commander made quick hand signs, deploying his men. Hardly a few moments passed, and the lurking risanorcs became invisible to the observer from the side of the village, moreover, the residents' view was made worse by the fires burning in the stone stands.

The full armor and shields of the newcomers masked the glare coming from their chests and eyes. All sounds were drowned out by buzzing insects and flying creatures, jazzy above the rocks.

Just as Rajivark had read earlier from the mirider, the houses were made of stone. The reddish-brown bricks matched so perfectly that the surfaces of the walls and sloping roofs looked as smooth as the breast of a risanorc. In the middle of the village was a byre; by the shore an elderly uruladi played a drum for the youngsters. Occasionally someone would enter or leave the house. A couple of females were talking. A villager was dragging a skinny animal on a rope to a one-story building behind a circle of cottages. After observing for a while, the viero realized that he had in front of him an ordinary, sluggish settlement of the most primitive uruladi social stratum. He looked at the black outlines of the rocky peaks, perfectly visible against the colorful sky. He ruled out the possibility that a fleeing army might be watching them from there, at least not directly, because he didn't know too well the technology the uruladi still had in store. And they may have had their own equivalent of a mirider.

Kariak looked at him suggestively. Rajivark was very familiar with this look, as he had seen it more than once before the massacre was carried out. The commander nodded slightly, which was caught by all the subordinates.

The risanorcs emerged from hiding and with a firm, steady step began to walk in a line towards the village. Each warrior grabbed his weapon with both hands.

The first to spot the strangers was a nearly naked, mud-smeared boy rummaging in the dirt at the edge of the settlement. With a squeal, he ran to the circle of buildings, drawing the attention of the residents. 

The uruladi, who first noticed the warriors, stood as if paralyzed. Their ears drooped and clung to their backs; their tails curled. The old man with the drum fell to the ground, surprised, opened his mouth, displaying tiny fangs of a rusty color. The youngsters surrounding him scattered. The females began to scream, then took the babies and hid in their homes. One rushed toward a wall at the edge of the settlement, from where a gate exited to an open area, but a risanorc was quickly at her side and turned the would-be fugitive back with brutal pushes. The uruladi men shouted at the residents and at the enemy. One, screaming, threw himself at the stranger with a javelin, but he fell dead to the ground, similar to a roach, for the risanorc had shot him with energy disintegrating the atoms of the internal tissues.

Kariak placed a warrior at the door of each house to guard the terrified residents inside. Several enraged uruladi men stood clumped in a group next to the byre.

Who is in charge here? asked Rajivark in the uruladi language, crippling grammar and accent - the risanorcs had only recently encountered the species, moreover, their speech organs differed. Viero spread the shield of his helmet, presenting a dispassionate face with breathing apparatus on his nose and mouth. The child, who remained by the old man's side, inhaled deeply, having seen the glittering eyes of the commanding aggressor.

No one answered, the indigenous people swept the strangers with suspicious gazes.

I ask for the second time: who is in charge here? I know you understand me. Speak up, or someone will be killed soon.

One of the young uruladi whined, sharp insults and threats flew. A panicked colleague stopped him with his hand as the braggart wanted to step forward.

Rajivark approached the daredevil and shot him in the head, killing him on the spot. The autochthons reacted variously: they sobbed, stood still while holding their breath,

prayed, closed their eyes, lowered their heads, and clenched their jaws furiously. The old man still sat by the water and gazed with cloudy eyes, as if he did not comprehend what was going on around him.

Uruladi, who was trying to calm his now dead comrade, raised his arm and pointed to one of the houses.

May your leader prove wise, the viero said. He paused before sighing resignedly. Killing conquered peoples did not give him pleasure, he even disliked doing it. He preferred to enslave them, sometimes even let them go free, because in each case some usefulness could be gleaned from the defeated, so it was pointless to waste their potential. Now he couldn't do otherwise, because he was sure that the indigenous people were hiding information about the fugitives. The risanorcs had conquered one hundred and twenty-four species, and they usually had to deal with the situation that their weakest representatives, the least apparent, those who kept to themselves, turned out to be either spies or good informants. The extrapolation was therefore obvious. Only with terror could the necessary information be extracted effectively, especially since the technology allowing mind-reading only worked on risanors and a few thoroughly studied species, which the uruladi did not count among them. Rajivark could still torture the natives, something the risanorcs were really good at, but he didn't want to waste his time on that, because the uruladi had shown an immunity to pain, and it took a long time to break their psyches. So, he had to intimidate them, leave some corpses behind to arouse the anger of possible observers. Then the fugitives would surely give a sign of life, eager to stop the hecatomb. Rajivark has so far not had the opportunity to observe this, but he hoped that the uruladi are at least minimally altruistic like the risanorcs with regard to their own species. Although the example of the village, perhaps abandoned to the enemy, contradicted this.

For a brief moment, the viero felt sorry for the villagers, but he had to do his part.

He nodded at the two warriors and together they headed toward the house. The guard standing in front of the entrance stepped aside and pressed with his hand on a door well preserved with local liniment, as it didn't even creak.

Divided by walls into several rooms, the interior appeared simply furnished. Light came in through the window openings, its other source was the fire in the stone sconces, in addition, a hearth burned nimbly in the fireplace. In front of it stood several pieces of furniture made of plant fibers. The same compressed tissue covered the floor. Rajivark noticed out of the corner of his eye a fur-coated recliner in the adjacent room, a female and her children stood there.

The old chief was sitting upright by the hearth, frequenting the viero with a proud, stern look. His tail hung motionless; the man's fur-covered hands held in his lap. Rajivark wondered if this was a showmanship masking fear, or if the uruladi really wasn't afraid of him, displaying such an attitude. However, he quickly noticed that the savage looked weakened, his muscles twitching and breathing nervously, as if he were sick. If there was indeed something wrong with him, it would explain why, as the head of the village, he did not show himself outside and left his men to the mercy of the enemy. Hailing from a warlike people, Rajivark felt disgusted at the thought that the chief could have been a mere coward.

He unhurriedly approached the uruladi and sat down on a chair facing him. He stared at him intently for a moment before asking:

I understand that you rule the people? Uruladi snorted.

It’s further fate depends on your sanity. Rajivark pointed to the chief with his claw. "You probably know very well who we are.

We are looking for those who chickened out and fled the battlefield, and we will not fail to mark the route of our march with blood. However, my actions will depend on the decisions of the uruladi we meet along the way. If they cooperate, no one will be hurt. Killing for pleasure is not in our nature."

That is, you want to induce guilt in us, the uruladi said in a husky voice. He smiled maliciously, presenting his fangs. How similar to you. You kill those who do not respect you, because that is the easiest way. It is easiest to niche, because bloodless problem solving can cause difficulties. One must then exert oneself; one must think.

Rajivark replied calmly, undeterred by the fact that he and his warriors had just been named to be fools:

The easiest solutions are sometimes the best, and it has always been so, chief of uruladi. It's not worth complicating your life. However, I'm not here to discuss philosophy with you.

The chief tilted his head curiously and puffed out his white lips, which looked as if he didn't understand Rajivark using a foreign accent and muttering every word. Viero then decided to speak more slowly.

Do you know the whereabouts of your warriors, those from the fleet that fought us in space?

Uruladi took a glance at the family standing in the threshold of the bedroom, right next to Rajivark's subordinate, then looked at the interlocutor. Unable to catch his breath for a moment, he coughed a few times.

Yes, he croaked out.

The situation is simple. Point me to your army, at least the direction where they are hiding, and you and everyone in this settlement will survive. Keep silent and I will start killing you one by one. I realize that I'm demanding an immoral thing from you, chief, but the price will be your lives.

Or the life of our army. He giggled. That is, someone is going to die anyway.

Rajivark stood up.

What will you answer then?

We are ready to die.

Viero looked at the uruladi grouped together, their brown eyes expressed fear.

I take it as a refusal?

The chief began laughing insanely, slapping his knee with his hand again and again, tilting his head back, which ended in convulsions and a coughing attack. Rajivark looked at the table, where an almost empty bowl stood - dark liquid lingered near the bottom.

Tomorrow you will be dead by noon! uruladi almost shouted. Your entire army will die. As I said, we will all die. He started laughing again.

He got high, the subordinate standing at the front door said exactly what Rajivark thought of. Viero was convinced that the uruladi was ranting in fear or sickness, but nevertheless his words scratched a tiny trace in the risanorc's mind. Although he had no reason to care about the savage's prediction, he would probably bother with it anyway as he marched across the planet.

Viero turned, looked at the sub-commander by the bedroom, then eloquently at the stunned group. The warrior understood the silent command, grabbed the terrified female, put the barrel to her forehead and approached Rajivark with her.

So, chief, would you like to cooperate?

I don't cooperate with corpses!

Looking frigidly into the eyes of the chief, Rajivark nodded. The subordinate fired, killing the female on the spot. The body, with its liquefied muscle and bone structure, flopped to the ground like the corpse of the poor thing by the pond earlier. The chief looked in disgust at the risanorcs, bared his fangs; the rest of the uruladi sobbed, someone slumped on the floor.

Perhaps now you have changed your mind? asked the viero ruthlessly. I warned you; I told you the truth, I gave you a choice, but you couldn't appreciate it.

I wonder how you will die. One thing I'm sure of: you will suffer terribly, Rajivark, hissed the chief. I curse you.

Viero ordered a second person to be brought in. She met the same fate as her predecessor. The chief clenched his lips, tense all over, turned his head away. When death befell the third member of his household, he clenched his hand on the edge of the table and squeezed so hard that it turned white, as if risanorc blood flowed in it. Bones and tendons shone through the fur-covered skin.

Unexpectedly, the old uruladi shook out his eyes, as if something pained him strongly in his guts. Saliva began to accumulate in front of his teeth. He raised his long ears slightly, but immediately lowered them. An indefinite smile blossomed on his face, as it was partly triumphant, partly like that of someone coming to terms with an inevitable fate.

The chief looked at Rajivark, said something the risanorc didn't understand, then clutched his stomach tightly and fell heavily to the ground. The commander took a step back, watching the lying man closely. Uruladi struggled spasmodically for each additional breath, saliva and a rusty discharge flowed from his mouth. Suddenly he became motionless. His bulging eyes became streaked with a mucous membrane.

The only remaining survivor in the uruladi house nervously pronounced the chief's name, looking at him in despair.

Rajivark glanced at the table top, lifted the stone bowl, moved the valve of the breathing mask for a moment and sniffed the contents.

He croaked with distaste, putting down the vessel.

Poison. That was my guess. I've seen this a few times before with the uruladi. Their leaders kill themselves when cornered. They always do that: either they fight fiercely, mostly the younger ones, or they commit suicide, the viero nodded at the corpse, like the elders.

What a coward and an egotist, commented the warrior sharply at the door. He made a grimace as if he wanted to spit. He killed himself, leaving the rest to fend for themselves against the enemy.

No. Rajivark shook his head. He knew what was going to happen. He knew they would die, but he didn't want to lose their lives at our hands.

The same.

What do we do now? asked the second subordinate.

Viero looked at the panicked young uruladi. He approached him and grabbed him by the arm. He yanked, but the much stronger Rajivark effortlessly guided him toward the door.

Outside, he ordered the risanorcs to gather the frightened villagers in two groups: the children and the rest. Only the old man was left alone, as he had fallen into catatonic stiffness and offered meager resistance when Kariak tried to lift him to his feet.

Get out of the village. Rajivark growled at the toddlers, his eyes flashing bright white. He pointed his weapon at the bushes behind the wall. Go! And don't come back!

The frail children obeyed at once, some stiffly ran ahead, others began to cry, held by the hands of their older friends. Viero watched impassively their escape until the last toddler disappeared from his sight.

Kill the rest, he instructed Kariak. He pointed to the uruladi he had led out of the chief's house. Spare only him.

While the warriors were disposing of the villagers, Rajivark approached the old man, looked at him seriously, first with shining eyes, then with the barrel of his raised weapon. Uruladi looked sadly at the powerful risanorc, cradling his drum. Viero sighed, flicked his tail nervously and withdrew his weapon. Although other commanders would have had no qualms about murdering everyone in his place, Rajivark had developed his own rules, which he practically never broke. He left alone the completely defenseless, who were in no position to threaten the risanorcs. Such included children. Adults could make theirs blood boil with guerrillas, while elders could become a stumbling block of rebellion and organize rebel groups. Rajivark was anxious to arouse the hatred of the fleeing army and get them to come out again to face the risanorcs. He spared the old man exceptionally, he simply felt sorry for this dried-up, resigned and fragile uruladi. Later, the ireo would long be troubled by the fact that he had acted dishonorably, slaughtering someone who was in no way capable of opposing him.

You. He approached the other survivor of the massacre, a sobbing uruladi, and almost lifted him off the ground. Find your army. Tell exactly everything that happened here, what we did. Don’t fear for your life, we will not kill you. You are free, we will not follow you. Pushing him lightly on the back, Rajivark attached a small transmitter to the uruladi, which was invisible among the pearly skin covered with fur.

The young man stood like a pillar for a moment, looking either at the impressionable warriors or at the dead bodies littering the settlement’s grounds. He took an uncertain step, then another, until he began to trot toward the gate. He stopped there, turned around, then let himself run in a direction he only knew.

Rajivark glanced at the wrist reader correlated with the transmitter, which fortunately, like the weapon, passed unscathed in capsules through the neurosphere. Viero did not lie when he said he would not follow the uruladi. He had no intention of going with the warriors on his trail, and another form of tracking the uneducated young man did not know.

We're going back to the army, he communicated to subordinates awaiting new orders.

They left the high canyons marking the boundaries of idyllic enclaves with plenty of lakes far behind them. For the second day they marched through open space, where the gray-brown ground differed little in color from the dense clouds swirling overhead. At times they encountered meteorite craters, ranging from tiny ones about the length of a shoe to those capable of holding large transporters of risanorcs. Rock massifs were separated by a distance of up to several kersha that a city could be established between them. Vegetation was scarce, if they found any, it was multicolored and creeping.

Rajivark was certain from the start that the uruladi, who had been let loose, knew - as did the villagers - where the base of the space refugees was located. And he was not mistaken. According to the beacon reading, after several days of wandering, the young man reached the enemy's hideout, located on the outskirts of the vast plateau where the risanorcs were currently walking. The data from myriders proved inaccurate, and the enemy's numbers were difficult to estimate. The devices even began to indicate that the wilderness was dead, but Rajivark knew that the uruladi were using some form of inhibition in an effort to confuse them. They were really good at deception and hiding. This was also the case in space, which led the risanorcs to lose the pursuing units, otherwise, they would have dealt with the uruladi before they reached Vikoko's orbit with its salutary neurosphere. Although the risanorcs traveled on foot and did not have transport or fighting machines, they were still technologically superior to the uruladi with the equipment they carried. Their weapons were capable of shooting down machines from the air. Rajivark made the decision to march only because he was sure of the superiority of his army, otherwise he would not have risked the lives of the warriors. Although he opted for an archaic form of campaigning, as in the days when the blood of the risanorcs had not yet shone and they had not left Tirigorian, where they fought five other intelligent species, the subordinates looked happy. Marching in armor, with full gear, was a balm for bodies accustomed to prolonged hard training. For risanorc of the warrior class, nothing made him feel better than physical exertion.

In the evening, the sky did not clear. Rain fell from several layers of clouds, consisting of water, ammonia and trace amounts of diamonds. Viero raised his hand and watched as shiny particles accumulated on his glove, very similar to hail. The diamonds may have formed because the area adjacent to the neurosphere needed to maintain high pressure and temperature.

Rajivark ordered the camp to be broken up. Once the warriors had rested, eaten and checked their equipment, Kariak sent out scouts. The reports found nothing alarming, so the viero ordered everyone to set out at dawn. He estimated that if they maintained yesterday's pace, they would reach the uruladi hideout before the local star reached its zenith.

Rain accompanied them on their march, rattling the diamonds against their backpacks and armor. Clouds loomed menacingly, similar to cyclones, as if they were fighting a battle among themselves. The warriors encountered no animals or plants along the way; miriders indicated that the enemy was getting closer.

They stopped at rock masses, arranged so that they had a lot of open space in front of them, bounded on the sides by vertical walls. Behind them ran two canyons in parallel. The rain had stopped, the clouds had shifted, and the starlight had greatly improved visibility.

Rajivark let the warriors rest, and went further himself. Stopping, he looked at this left rock wall, this right. According to the mirider's reading, they