The masses had gathered on the icy grounds of Darkuj, the valley where all grand ceremonies and celebrations took place. Thousands of Kahnus had come from all regions for the occasion. Friends and acquaintances were reuniting, seated in small to large circles scattered across the valley, talking about their lives and the impending danger of Varih-Aru that, it had been recently announced, would be soon averted. Some were listening from their hovering vehicles to the beautiful sounds the Ghervz, tall stick-like creatures, were making in the distance. Others were enjoying sharing pleasures with partners, in various group configurations. Young adults, who had only recently left Kahalla, the pool of birth, were joyfully playing imaginary games, one of young Kahnus favorite pastimes. Along the steep mountainside nearest to the large gathering, several niches carved in the ice were reverberating to the deep sounds of Barks, bulky cup-shaped disks, spinning around giant Zarfha spheres. Next to them, several Kahnus were stumping their oversized feet in rhythm, their low-pitched pounding creating a rumbling effect throughout the entire valley, a truly mesmerizing experience.
“The Shirzu turners. They are the beat keepers of Kahnu and always lead the gatherings with their beautiful rhythms,” Jorh said telepathically. “Tonight, the occasion is one of celebration. Soon, the flying ship Ehoran, will meet with the dwarf planet Varih-Aru and force it off its course, saving our world and its fifty thousand inhabitants.”
Below, large numbers of Kahnus were creating dazzling light shows, colorful displays of love and joy, all bathed in the purple shades cast by Kahnu’s three moons, brightly reflecting on the frozen continent. Further down the valley, the same thing was taking place in the Klomags. Bright flashes of various colors were sparkling like stars all along the giant tree trunks. The dark waterways below them adding to the dazzling effect with their own reflections of the fiery display, the visual result was breathtaking. On the horizon, massive alien machines appeared to hover silently above the purple ocean.
“Vakkehs; transport vessels,” Jorh told them. From afar, they resembled dark pyramids, cruising above the waters of Mohgvar, displacing powerful undulating waves across the purple ocean below. Although not the fastest vessels, they were capable of transporting cargo loads of up to twenty thousand tons and accommodate several hundred passengers. It was the most common mode of transportation on Kahnu, after individual Voks.
The small group of hovering spectators was transported seamlessly across the ice, toward another group of giant Klomags near the coast. Out of the flat icy terrain bordering the purple ocean, giant protruding roots connected the immense trees to the water. The group approached one of the largest Klomags. At its base, the gargantuan was several hundred meters wide. This was a truly enormous edifice. Tendai looked up. They all did. The massive trunk shot so high up into the sky, they could not see its top. A few kilometers above the spectators, the giant tree vanished in the thick upper atmosphere, as if swallowed higher up by an invisible fog. Liu smiled, and they all did. They had just noticed at the same instant the small filaments of light coming down from far up, falling quietly all around the base like stringy snowflakes. A majestic scene.
“This was our home, Klomag-Darh. Thousands of Kahnus lived here.”
They stared in awe as their alien guide slowly led them to the entrance of the towering edifice. They were trying to take it all in. It was odd, and yet so breathtakingly magical. The observers’ attention was suddenly drawn to a fast approaching flying vehicle coming straight behind them. The semi-transparent Vok, not much larger than a small bus, passed right in front of the invisible group without a sound, and rushed on into the large tunnel ahead. They all instantly knew the individual at the control was Jorh. Jorh of the past. Vera and her colleagues turned to the alien near her. He blinked at them and turned his attention back to his past self. The Jorh driving the flying vessel was the first to arrive at Harzo, the Grand Entrance Hall of Klomag-Darh, and was quickly rejoined by three others. After parking their vehicles in their gelatinous spots, the three Kahnus rejoined him. The humans recognized Mahhzee and Gahneo instantly. Serm’s name was given telepathically to them for the third.
“Let’s go,” said the young Jorh.
Rushing along corridors and hallways, weaving through groups of Kahnus and a variety of hovering crafts, the team made its way deeper into Harzo, to the secret passage that lead several levels underground. To the humans, watching these large beings running was interesting, to say the least. Their powerful legs gave them an impressive stride. The background noise of festivities above soon vanished, and the determined aliens quickly kept on.
“What happened?” asked the one named Serm, while running. “I don’t understand. What did Garnak mean?” But no one answered.
When they reached the bottom, the small group rushed through a soft gelatinous passage, and hastily made their way to an immense underground pool. Near its icy edge, a structure François and everyone else immediately recognized as Chasma’s big white cloud, or one identical to it, was floating in the dark waters. Next to it, another Kahnu, even taller than Jorh, was waiting.
“Garnak,” commented Mahhzee.
Garnak, keeper of Darkuj, was one of Jorh’s mentors. He wore a long magenta tunic, as all keepers did, which appeared to be floating around his body. The hovering throne he was standing on showed elaborate sculpting and carvings; lines like the ones they had already seen back at the Gate and inside the Martian cave.
The four Kahnus rejoined their elder quickly. Jorh spoke first.
“Garnak, we heard you. What is wrong?”
“My friends, what I have to tell you is tragic, even more than that, it’s unfathomable. I wish I had better news, but… The Ehoran will not rendezvous with Varih-Aru.”
“What? What do you mean? What happened?”
“I know this is hard to believe, but the Elders have taken the ship and left us to our fate.”
“That cannot be! Why would they do such a thing? You are mistaken,” interjected the alien named Serm, in disbelief.
“We’re doomed. Without the Ehoran, nothing can stop Varih-Aru.” Mahhzee was obviously distraught.
Garnak kept on. “Gihhez lied. He had no intention of saving Kahnu. The Elders left aboard the Ehoran and took twelve of the young ones with them. This is all true, I promise you. I wish it was a lie. They are gone. Without the Ehoran, there is nothing we can do to stop Varih-Aru now. It is only a matter of days before we feel the effects of the dark planet. Kahnu will not survive the destruction fate has placed in its path.”
“We need to tell everyone and—”
“What good would that do, Mahhzee?” he cut her off. “The end is unavoidable now. Let the people rejoice in these last hours. Only panic and agony will follow if they know. No, my friends, I’m afraid we must keep this somber future to ourselves.”
“I still can’t believe the Elders have left us. To go where?” asked the young Gahneo.
“Ahtona.”
“Ahtona!?” all four said almost at the same time.