On Earth, there are three Triads intending to integrate
not only the three peoples and stop the war that threatens to break loose and
slaughter Humans and devastate their world; but to stop the war that consumes
Kiiote economy and Yown’Hoo moral fiber. All three intelligences hover on the
edge of extinction. The merger of Human-Kiiote-Yown’Hoo into a van der Walls
Society might not only save all three – but become something not even they
could predict. Something entirely new...
The young experimental Triads are made up of the smallest
primate tribe of Humans – Oscar and Xiomara; the smallest canine pack of Kiiote
– six, pack leaders Qap and Xurf; and the smallest camelid herd of Yown’Hoo – a
prime eleven, Dao-hi the Herd mother. On nursery farms and ranches away from
the TC cities, Humans have tended young Yown’Hoo and Kiiote in secret for
decades, allowing the two, warring people to reproduce and grow far from their
home worlds.
“We had nearly fallen into stagnation when we
encountered the Kiiote.”
“And we into internecine war when we encountered the
Yown’Hoo.”
“Yown’Hoo and
Kiiote have been defending themselves for a thousand revolutions of our Sun.”
“Together, we
might do something none of us alone might have done…a destiny that included
Yown’Hoo, Kiiote, and Human.” (2/19/2015)
“Yes. Our mission, which I thought
was a Human trick, or an elaborate Yown’Hoo prank…has now been confirmed as
truth in a most startling way,” said Dao-hi.
“What mission?” said Lan-mai-ti.
“We seek the Primeval.” Por-go-el
shuddered alongside her, and the immature Por-go-el dug its claws into Dao-hi’s
side. She continued, “The Primeval chose this world for all of the Herd. It
chose it because it was perfect. At the same time, Kiiote discovered that it was
perfect for them. And Humans have bred here for tens of thousands of year.” She
paused, “It does not strike you as strange?”
Lan-mai-ti, “It is a strange,
perhaps important event, Herd Mother.”
Por-go-el said, “This world is
more than it appears, Herd Mother. It must have been both chosen and ideal for
a reason deeper than we can see.”
The Herd Mother curled her neck to
look down at the potential male. If it continued to grow in such deep thought,
she would have to make sure she bore at least one litter with it. She said,
“Indeed, Por-gel. Indeed. The Primeval is on this world; and we go to meet her.”
“How will we find her?” said Por-go-el.
“Follow, small Herd, we must distance ourselves from the
tunnel. There may be eyes on this world other than those of the Herd, the Pack,
and the Naked Apes.” She usually didn’t refer to Humans in the derogative her
people used in private, but one of their own had bestowed the name, and reading
the text of the manuscript in a few days, she had to agree. Particularly with
the Hoonish observation that “If something bites you, it’s most likely to be
female.” Such was reality in the Herd. Males might have claws and speed, but
females sharp teeth, sharp hooves, and powerful minds.
Such was reality among other species the Yown’Hoo had met
face-to-face in their millennial past. “The Primeval is here; there are two Humans
who have pledged to help us, the first is the Lieutenant Commander Patrick
Bakhsh.” She wondered again at the Hoonish sound of his name.
“We know that one. There is another?” Por-go-el asked from
her back.
“There is another Human who has acted with honor on our behalf
and it is from her that I received a message before we were forced from our
home in the City. The last time I spoke with her face-to-face was before you
broke free of your chrysalis.”
“There was a time before I came from the chrysalis?” said
Lan-mai-ti, stretching his long legs to barely keep up with her though she was
only cantering.
Dao-hi swung her heavy head on its long, supple neck, knocking
the potential male from his feet. “Mother Kan Yuen, Triad Query Marker Guru and
Specialist. You have learned of her; and yes, of course there was a world
before you broke free! You think yourself as one so special as to be the first
of us?”
He dropped back, the physical manifestation of his stupidity
denaturing the adrenaline he needed to keep up with her. On the Homeworld, Dao-hi
had discovered, such stupidity was quickly culled to feed the Hunters who were
still allowed to exist there. But since Dao-hi had never been there and she
knew nothing but legends, it made no sense that she should sentence one of her
Herd – not as one of the true Herd Mothers did. She slowed, whistling encouragement
to the potential male.
Shortly, he caught up again, saying, “I will endeavor to use
my brain for more than a batter ram, Herd Mother.”
“Well said, potential. But we now have greater concerns. We
must find the Primeval. You are the only one who can do that.”
Per-go-el stumbled but didn’t fall. A moment later, he
caught up with her and Lan-mai-ti again and called up to her, “How may I serve,
Herd Mother?”
She shuddered. It was a good response; precisely the response
a potential male should have given. He didn’t apologize. She suddenly realized
that there would be more to being a Herd Mother than simply punishing
stupidity. If she had acted first, then thought second, Por-go-el might have
died back in the snowbank. Instead, he was running with her, willing to help.
She would have to reflect on this. He had no need to know how close he’d come
to death, so she said, “You are potentially male, so your nose is the only one
among us who can detect the microscopically small amounts of Ji-hi, Mother of
All. I cannot as I am female; Lan-mai-ti cannot, for it is simple potential.
This is the reason the Lieutenant Commander Patrick Bakhsh sent you with us.
This is your destiny.” She surged ahead and was gratified when the smaller Por-go-el
followed the surge and kept up with her.
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