The Autobiography Of An Alien

Chapter 39 - Ambuscade

"Kohgrash?" he whispered, glancing between him and Vi'mrakka, who was simply leaning on his human.

Heth touched his shoulder tentatively, and Rulshkka whipped around with a snarl. Before he could say anything, a slow, faint ebb of calm trickled in from the back of his neck.

"Hush, Vokkra. Both the curious little thing and our egg are fine," Kohgrash said, grabbing his wrist and tugging him away from the Anlam leader. He was surprisingly strong.

"What-?" Rulshkka questioned, completely and utterly confused. Kohgrash turned on him, working his mouth until it morphed into a smile.

"Ah, there. Came so naturally to this face! Look at you! My Vokkra!" Kohgrash cooed, reaching out to touch his face. He was suitably distracted by Vi'mrakka, whose presence got in the way. "And Its perfect little egg." Kohgrash bumped his head against the hatchling's gently, and it was then that Rulshkka started to realize that this wasn't Kohgrash.

"Spirits," Rulshkka said faintly. "This was your...?"

"Shh," Spirits-Kohgrash said, patting his hand. "The curious little thing is a great vessel - he's very loud, were you aware? Through the egg and into the, hm, there's a word in here... speaker."

"I'm sure he'd say the same of you," was his reply before he could remember who he was talking to. "Being loud, that is. I- Oh, Spirits."

Spirits-Kohgrash rumbled with laughter, which sounded strange coming from the tiny human. "That is It, yes. This is a unique experience, for all of us. It mustn't be too long; else One-who-destroys might find It."

"Excuse me," Heth said faintly. Rulshkka didn't even care about where they were right now, and what they had been planning on doing. This... this was insanity. "Lord Kohgrash, are you alright?"

Spirits-Kohgrash turned to him, eyes still blindingly white. He blinked. "Oh! Calm down, little curious thing. Hmm, a spider? Oooh, look at those things. What else have you in here?"

"Spirits," Rulshkka said hesitantly. It felt strange - having his friend being a- a vessel for his god - and he was frightened of what angering the Spirits might do to him. The Spirits turned to look at him, and that funny little smile appeared on Kohgrash's face once more.

"Always so protective," he murmured, and Rulshkka felt another pinprick of calm blooming in his chest. It was not as effective as it was back on A1-308. Spirits-Kohgrash turned back to observe Heth curiously. "You are... Heth. It is the Spirits, of Its planet. Hmm, what do you call it, little thing? A1-308? How charming." He paused. "Of course, it's a name. How silly you are."

Oh, Spirits. Kohgrash was antagonizing them. Of course, he was. What an idiot.

Heth spluttered, his tired mask of calm cracking completely. "Spirits? You are the exodus of the Vokkran planet?"

Murmurs in the hall arose, and Rulshkka startled at the noise. He'd almost forgotten where they were.

"Is that what the Fortieth Child has called themselves?" Spirits-Kohgrash chuckled. "Well, I suppose it's just as good as Spirits."

The Founder ducked his head respectfully. The image of Heth bowing to a tiny thing like Kohgrash was almost comical, especially with the way he smiled at Vi'mrakka every second he wasn't speaking. "It is quite the honor to show yourself to all of us; might I ask... what exactly you are here for, if it not too forward of me?"

"It will speak," Spirits-Kohgrash announced. "It must tell you a tale. It is the truth, do not forget."

The entire hall seemed to hold their breath as the Spirits spoke in quick succession, the battle of their Creator and the subsequent shattering of One-who-destroys and what became of It. It still freaked Rulshkka out, and he's had a year to digest it. When the Spirits were finished, the hall remained quiet. They all looked in various stages of comprehending the tale.