Colonization

Shifting Form

Tarian sat in solitary silence, taking in the empty meeting hall and studying the cracked table. The crack ran across its entire length, and the sneering crevasse mocked him. He gripped the hilt of his dagger with white knuckles and lifted the tip of the blade. Tarian let it hover before ramming it into the slab. While he took a deep breath, Tarian twisted the knife into the growing hole. As the seconds ticked away, he stabbed the weapon into the surface repeatedly.

Between strikes, the door swung inward, and Keldon eased into the room. He stared at his friend, assaulting the broken furniture, and sighed. After Tarian drove the blade into the wood another dozen times, Keldon claimed an empty seat and waited for Tarian to stop gouging a hole. But the knife didn't cease. He cleared his throat and said, "Normally, I wouldn't butt into your affairs."

"Then, why start?" Tarian asked as he slammed the dagger into the table.

"Two reasons," Keldon answered. He lifted a pair of fingers and explained, "The first is, it isn't good for you to sit here, sulking for weeks on end."

"And the second reason?" Tarian inquired, plunging the blade through the wood.

"You're damaging the furniture."

"It's cracked, Kel," Tarian replied as he laid the dagger down. "It is not like we'll be making use of this wooden slab anymore."

"You seem sure about that?"

Tarian rose and started pacing around the table. After his second circuit, he responded, "They were adamant about not helping us. Fitik declared that Caleb wouldn't find them again." Tarian stopped and gripped the chair across from Keldon. "And the Dwarves love Caleb. What does that tell you about our relationship with them?"

"That it's fractured."

"Hence why I'm here," Tarian quipped as he resumed his circular walk. "I am trying to figure out what I could have done differently."

Keldon placed his feet on the table and watched his friend pace out of sight. When Tarian emerged in his periphery, Keldon replied, "Which brings me back to you sitting in the hall and sulking, it isn't healthy for you or us."

"What are you going on about?"

"You may ignore all the reports, but that's not stopping those monsters from stirring again."

The words slammed into Tarian like a sledgehammer, forcing him to his knees. He used a chair to stand up and stared at Keldon. "Where have they massed?"

"Far enough that I'm not concerned at the moment," Keldon answered. "But close that I've begun preparations for round three."

Tarian buried his face into his hands. "We wouldn't have survived the last assault if it weren't for our former allies."

"That's true," Keldon concurred. "But knowing that I tasked Loyd with rebuilding our munitions."

Tarian lifted his head and peered through his fingers. "When did you do that?"

"Immediately after round two," Keldon said, lifting Tarian's dagger.

"And he did that?" Tarian inquired while he leaned over the table.

"We have nothing like we did just after the crash," Keldon answered. "Though from what Loyd tells me, we have quite the collection of crude missiles and explosives. While the quantity might not rebuff another assault, I wouldn't want to attempt a siege with the munitions he's stockpiled."

"Instruct Loyd to redouble his efforts," Tarian declared, plucking the knife from Keldon's hands. "There's no reason we shouldn't be prepared for round four before this bout begins."

"I figured you'd say that," Keldon said, letting a smile emerge. "Which is why I've already done it."

"That's good," Tarian replied as he drove the blade into the table. "Now, leave me to my sulking."

Keldon shook his head but pulled his feet off the slab and sauntered to the exit. Without turning around, he replied, "Eventually, you'll have to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Striving for truth upsets people, but you cannot give up."

"Go away, Kel!"

"I'll send some food shortly," Keldon said as he left.

Tarian sat in silence and resumed his assault on the table. After a few moments, the door opened, and Keldon re-entered the hall, striding towards Tarian. With a sudden scowl tattooed upon his face, Tarian vaulted from his chair and glared at his friend. "I told you to leave me alone."

The stoic Keldon pulled a crude dagger from his belt and flew for Tarian.

The leader dropped to the ground and rolled under the assault. He popped up to his knees and spun to confront Keldon. "What is wrong with you?!"

Keldon turned and shifted his stance, preparing for another attack.

Tarian twirled his knife in his hand while placing the table between them. "I do not want to hurt you, Kel. But if you don't stop, one of us will regret this."

In response, Keldon leapt over it, swiping at Tarian's throat.

Tarian deflected the blow with his own dagger and immediately spun slamming his palm against Keldon's diaphragm. While Keldon faltered from the strike, Tarian dropped and swept the legs out from under his friend. The moment Keldon collided with the floor, Tarian drove his blade into Keldon's shoulder, screaming, "Kel, please stop!"

The doors burst open, and Keldon barged into the room. "Tarian, what are you bellowing about?"

"Kel?" Tarian asked. He looked down at the person in front of him and noticed green blood oozing out from the wound. With a scream, Tarian scrambled away. "Keldon, shoot the thing before it gets up!"

Keldon's weapon materialized into his hands, and with a few controlled bursts of fire, the creature's body was riddled with holes. As the smoke wafted up, Keldon pointed at the quivering corpse. "What was that?"

Tarian watched as the figure changed. It's clothes transformed into a white flesh, while the hair receded into the thing's scalp. With trembling fingers, Tarian rolled the thing over, and an alien face stared lifelessly into the ceiling. "I want to know everything about that creature, and I needed it yesterday."

"Yes, sir," Keldon answered.

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