Chapter 9: Crystal Clear Intent

The swirling sand engulfed Stevey and Jack as they left the safety of the barrier. Pelting particles stung their skin where it was exposed as they raced back toward the aquos, and small welts arose from the repeated beating along their hands where they had tried to keep their masks and hats affixed to their heads. There had been no seeing to be done, only keeping pace in the direction that Jack laid in as they left.

“Hoo-wee, Jack,” Stevey let out a cry of relief as they stumbled into the aquos. “I never thought I’d get to feel that experience ever again.”

“I know what you mean,” Jack responded to his buddy, recalling the last time they had been caught in a sandblaster. “What was it four-? No, five cycles ago, right? Digging out the channels west of here if I recall.”

“Yeah, that one wasn’t as fierce, but it did sting quite a bit,” Stevey affirmed, shaking the sand out of his hat and then realizing something. “Do we need to check on the lizards? Their snouts might get covered.”

“Nah, they’ll survive. You’ve never paid attention to their nostril biology, have you?” Jack had already removed his hat and mask as he moved back to his spot in the shelter.

“Nope, never thought to look down their nose, Jack. It just didn’t seem like a smart idea.” Stevey half-joked, setting his holster belt and hat down beside his bag. “What about it?”

“They have flaps inside. They can close them off for instances just like this. Plus, they are already in a trance state, so their breathing will reduce to a mere slip until uncovered again if the storm doesn’t last too long.”

“What’s too long?”

“Around three or four hours, or two Solar sets, if you're talking to a native.” Jack reached into his pack for a canteen and some more Snax strips.

“That long, wow. That’s good to know. So, what about Farrow, Jack?” Stevey stirred the conversation back to their previous encounter. “You going to entertain his proposal?”

“I’m already thinking about it. The reward, if true, is mighty tempting. I could do a lot of good here on Kharm with that capital. I’m indebted to many locals here for their kindness and help. Not to mention the mining craft. Even a small one would be useful for crossing the desert to my mine and back safely,” Jack paused. “I’m just concerned that he didn’t tell me everything. There’s one component missing in his story if not two. You noticed his slip-up, right?”

“Yeah, I did.” Stevey paused a bit before asking a question that burned in his mind. “Jack, is it true? Are you a Shi’ah descendant?”

“Yeah.” Jack's head lowered, and his voice lowered as well. “I found out back when I got the sword.”

“Your grandfather, right?”

“Yeah. He told me in the weeks before he passed. Everything he owned, plus the sword, was transferred to me. I was still a Commander then. I never told anyone. I wasn’t really allowed to. Something about a sacred duty or ritual, or so my Ba’ya said.” Jack tore a piece of meat off into his teeth and started to chew, then swallowed some water to help finish the piece. Stevey stilled in the small silence that Jack had brought with his actions. His canteen hung in his hands like a bottle of rum, waiting to be tasted, considering the mood.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there, buddy.”

“Thanks, man.”

The sand outside whirred in a howling fury as they waited for the storm to abate. Stevey felt like he could hear the scraping particles chattering against the outside surface of the aquos, and he often shifted in his position, expecting the stone to wear away right over him. Jack had to reassure him a few times to ease Stevey’s discomfort.

Twice, during their wait, the cloth flap burst open. Upon the second instance, Jack and Stevey used heavy hides to hold the bottom down with a few boulders on the ends. Nothing short of heavy-weight would do. The winds still pushed around the sides and through the middle slit, but it was far better than being blasted by full-force bursts.

Both the men settled back into their respective zones. Jack had pulled the heating stone from his pack and placed it between them. The cylindrical object stood about two feet in height and had to be about 6-8 inches in diameter, Stevey had guessed by looking at it. He knew what Jack was about to do, but the fact this object could even grant the heat they needed was always a wonder.

Jack grabbed his blaster and focused several bursts of energy onto the stone. It took the energy into itself, glowing crimson at first, then blooming into a fiery orange with a white core inside, only seen by looking at the top of the cylinder. It would take a few minutes, but the heat would eventually spread into the interior of the aquos quite effectively. The winds, along with the inherent dampness in the back of the aquos, could make the interior of these rocky dwellings rather chilly.

“That should help us out ‘til this bloomin’ storm passes,” Jack quipped.

“No doubt,” Stevey responded in kind. “I could feel myself beginning to crystalize on my left side.” He chuckled. Jack shifted back into his spot, putting away his container of nibbles and his canteen. The blaster stood at the edge of his bag, nose down into the sand. The whirling sounds of the wind flowing over the opening of the aquos still brought shivers to Stevey’s spine, but he’d been getting better with the rhythm of it. Jack remembered why Stevey was so unnerved by the sound.

“Sorry you had to go out into this me, Stevey. I know how hard it is for you to listen to that sound.”

“No worry, mate,” Stevey answered back. “I need to face this, or I'll never get over the feelin’. It’s about time I learned to accept their fate.”

“I wish I had been there, buddy. I could’ve at least been a shoulder at the time.”

“Yeah, appreciate the thought, but you had nothing to do wit’ their deaths, Jack.”

“Still.”

“Don’t fret it. I know we’re buds. Plus, your Ba’ya was dying at the time. I can’t judge you for not being ‘ere.” Stevey went silent for a moment or two as he listened to the wind outside. He felt he could hear it starting to die off a bit.

“It seems our weather is starting to improve,” Jack mentioned before Stevey did. “We can check the lizzies out once the storm dies a bit further. They should be rousing soon after this. Then, we can be on our way.”

“Sounds great. I was starting to get a little restless sitting around ‘ere.”

“I know the feeling, mate. I know the feeling.”

“Hey, Jack,” Stevey interjected, thinking about something other than the lizards. “I’ve ‘ad a question or two mulling in my head for a bit.”

“Yeah, what are they?”

“The Shi’ah. Is there anything you can say about them that isn’t common knowledge? Much of what I’ve read has always seemed a touch unreal, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I get ya there. My Ba’ya didn’t specify much. He told me a good deal more than the common readings are concerned. I believe it was the training that was meant to be kept secret more than anything. A lot of mystical and inner balance teachings that are supposed to unlock a person’s true potential in the old martial ways.” Jack paused.

“I can’t say I believe in all of it. But I’ve had a few spooky things happen when wielding that blade.” He pointed toward Ba’aron. “That thing seems to have a mind of its own, it feels like.”

“That’s wild, mate. You, serious?”

“Yeah, mate. As serious as I can be. I’m pretty sure that sword and that dragon are bound to meet one day. I just don’t know why. And it worries me. The fact that the military is always so interested in finding that sword and using it on the dragon makes me question its existence.”

“So, that’s why you were ready to kill earlier. Oh God, man! What kinda burden have your ancestors bestowed on you?”

“I don’t know for certain. But I aim to find out. That’s why I became a crystal trader. It’s the fastest way to amass enough wealth to access the Grand Archives on Meridia. Those monks have requested $100,000,000 credits just to enter their ranks, plus another $2,000,000 to read all the books on the sword and the Shi’ah. I’ve managed to become one of them about five cycles ago. Now, I’m rebuilding my wealth and getting my extra for access to the books.”

“So, how much more do you need to return to that level again?” Stevey asked, almost stunned at Jack’s words.

“Around ten mil. Crystals fetch a high price in the right market. Quality is better than quantity, but both play a factor, especially on Calista Prime and Meridia.”

Stevey sank back onto his wall. He knew that Jack had been wealthy, but not how much. The reality of it hit him like a rock.

“Um, Jack, you know I’d love to—”

“Don’t sweat it, my friend. You help me with my next few runs, and I’ll show you who, how, and where. So, you can be set yourself. Not to mention the payment I’ll give you for your services on this adventure. Those Feron chips I gave you earlier. Think about 100 times that. That sound fair?”

“Extremely.” Stevey smiled. He’d been making a good living on Kharm as a consultant and courier for the miners, but now his hopes of living an easier life had come to fruition. With Jack’s connections, he could establish an enterprise spanning the five main planets in the system—Calista Prime, Meridia, Kharm, Nox, and Valos.

“Jack, if we survive this, I’ll love you forever, mate.”

“Yeah. I know, I know. Grab your gear. It’s time to check the lizzies out.”