Posted by AlOmega on January 20, 2000 at 18:45:39:
In Reply to: Arena I - Near the Rift posted by AlOmega on January 20, 2000 at 18:42:47:
ARENA
Chapter 2
Waiting
by
AlOmega
We’ve been here two days now. We have, we have. I and Slito love this place. It’s almost home for us and
we so like the Waters. And since the local Humans don’t venture far into the jungles around the Deep Pools
(they say Janks live there), we can play and enjoy the little fishes. We love little fishes. Raw they
taste good. The chase and catch are fun, also. But Lou-San says we must be careful and not let the Humans
see us change. Most Humans fear the Furred Ones we know, we are. But we can parse
when they are near.
In the Deep Pools are fishes and other creatures. We’ve found the Janks but they fear us. That
might be because even with their teeth and claws and webbed feet, they cannot catch us. We suspect
everything is slow, though. The fishes are very slow. But I think I know what the Janks fear. We
have Talents that scare them. And we wish to play tag and not fight. Chase them to their dark places we
do. Humans cannot do this for they breath not the Waters. That is as it must be (though we have found
Humans that do and have taught other Humans how). Still I think in the Not-So-Distant future, the
Jank will come from the waters of the Deep Pools and become a Talented people. We sense this.
We know this, My Rzlt and I.
Though not technical, the Humans are quick and smart. And I believe secretly that Lou-San is glad Plard is
not here because the female Humans are very beautiful. We have learned of the Humans that are here with
us. We, my Rzlt and I, have even taken two of them to have Fun with. We needed that for we have
been away from our kind far too long. But we dare not write of that here because Counselor will read this
and having Fun with Humans is not something we should discuss openly. But they are fun to Play with.
And we have been nice and good as Plard has always told us to be. We do not understand this ‘nice and
good’ thing but it means not taking pretties we know. Slito has a shiny that we took from the Deep Pools. I
hve three. But they were ‘found’ and not ‘taken’ from the Humans (we do NOT like the word ‘taken’. We
are NOT thieves.). Besides the Humans could never have found them because they do not breath the
waters. But we have found that Humans do not like thieves. We are not thieves but sometimes there are
people we have found that do not understand that we like pretties.
Toupia does not like it here. He cannot fly nor shapeshift. He must wear the hated helmet-thing always.
The humans like him but he is uncomfortable and when uncomfortable will not play no Play. And he breathes
not the waters so cannot play with us. For him are the skies. We have never envied him the skies for that is
unseemly. Besides we have the waters. Once when we were with Plard and Garnest and Lor’T’An and
Slazzor and more (for we were many, many there), we journeyed on a parched land of sand without much
water. Then WE were uncomfortable. But we do not do as Toupia does. Nor do we play-tricks
like Toupia does either. That is a ‘not-nice’ thing. But here and now, Toupia is not in the mood to do
play-tricks. And we do need him even if he must take the pills to breath. We only wish he could fly for then
he could spy the Anomaly and we could leave.
Lou-San now talks with Petra person and several other Humans in what They call a Conference. We were
not invited because we are like children to the Humans. We think, My Rzlt and I, that we will leave
for the Anomaly Place soon - perhaps today. There are other persons. A leader who is named Sultana.
There is the Vicky one that foolishly attacked Toupia. But she is our friend now that we have
helped her in our way. That always comes when we help Humans. They think of us as
special even though we are not. We are small and look young even if we are older than the Humans. But
that is as it must be.
Oh. I goofed and did not ‘stay the course’ as Librarian would say.
Lou-San is with special Vicky and tall Petra and one called ‘Marty’ (who we think is Vicky’s mate) and
another called Misty of the Veil and another called Chrissy who Journeyed with another who comes from a
far land. She is called Barbanne. There are more and they will be with us when we find the Anomoly similar
to the Orly Constant. And we parse that the High Prestess hates us all and will try to stop us. We
know she fears us for we would change that she would not - and does not - want changed. This is sad for
she would interfer with what we would do. And yet if she would let us, we would love her and Play. But
this she may not do. Maybe someday Vicki will play and we can play safely. And then we can show her the
waters and how to breath the waters and play with the Janks. This we hope for all the Humans.
We do like another here who is most like us in some ways. She acts like Mit who we left at Home. Mit is a
bit sick from eating too much arsenic. We sorta told her but she thinks arsenic is like what Humans call
sweets and doesn’t know to take it in small amounts. Its not that it’ll kill her but it does make her a bit
heavy (as if she isn’t enough already - hehheh), but she cannot fly very well. She would have been better
here than Toupia if Lou-San had wanted someone who could fly.
Oops. Goofed again.
Nice person I talk about. She small like us only smaller. She have sister who is Leader called Sultana. I
forgets I named her already) but she is not like Leader. She is for a Human very, very happy, happy. Well
we had to help her a bit because she fell down with a brain sickness. But we can fix things like that
real easy. Poor Humans will someday learn to help, too. Just not now. Anyway, we think she come
with us. The Humans call her Lisa. She call herself Pixy. We think she should be called Mit Two but we
call her what she named anyway because we must be nice.
Nice isn’t always fun, though.
................................................
Humans can be quite interesting sometimes. They aren’t now!! I wish the sillies would hurry up and decide
when we can go. And I’m a bit concerned about that High Pristess of theirs. If she doesn’t watch out, I’ll
have to remove her from the scene temporarily or permanently. Right now I’m not sure if Toupia is up to
teleporting a flea let alone teleporting her to Tangue. He’s been popping pills a little too much lately. I
know the oxygen content is not up to the level he likes and the humidity is atrocious but he better be careful
or he’ll ruin the whole mission. Neither I nor the Twins can move objects into the Constant. Plard could
have done that since he can do most anything now. And even here he could probably fly. Float actually.
Ever since he... But that’s another something, somewhere else. He’s not here... . I miss his Humax carcass.
Damn him!!
But reflecting, I’m rather glad he’s not here at the moment. That Petra - tall as she is - would appeal to him
as would that snitt, Barbanne. Freckles and tall. Would be worse if either was redheaded. Naturally, I
could change to a redhead with freckles..... .
No. Better not let my mind go that route. I’ve also come to another conclusion. The Twins must not under
any circumstances heal any more of the Humans. It does - I don’t know what - ‘something’ to them. They
begin acting strange. I’ve never seen it in any other Life Forms. Oh maybe in some of the Lesser Creatures.
Vixens will start licking your hand if you give them a piece of raw meat. But this is different. I guess
someday Lor’T’An or one of the other Monitors had better teach me about this Human thing called
Religion. ‘Tis a very strange thing I suspect. But here and now I don’t have the time. Nor the inclination.
Ah. Here they come. As I suspected, Petra and Vicky will journey with us. But they won’t be the only
ones. And... . That High Priestess, Vicki just gave me the nastiest look. Must do something about that.
And soon. So I guess its between her and me.
Hummmmm...... To be or not to be? That’s the question........... For her.