LOTEK

I did present technology to both sides; my own people in the Underdwellers and to the Skylanders. I even did so in equal parts, giving an advantage for a time, just before taking it away.

I did what I did; and my heart was in the right place for it. The technology for the Underdwellers was to aid in our survival. The technology for the Skylanders, even in war technology, was meant as a peace offering. I wanted an end to this conflict and a chance to come out of our tunnels and attempt to clean up the land and air of our Sixth Earth to make it walkable once more.

I did not understand the full consequences of what I had done until the night that I witnessed the Skylander assault on three of our own people on a mere mission of unity with the Aquatitans.

I witnessed that conflict and meant to stop the fight. It did not work out as I watched as our leader and our greatest warrior were injured; perhaps mortally if not for the cybernetic shield tech that I had instilled into them. Thankfully, I did watch as the youngest among us, the bravest yearling of us all, could escape the fire fight; a fire fight that felled me in her place.

Three of us lie wounded because of a misunderstanding between two groups. Only I deserved such a temporary fate until we could all be taken back below as the Skylanders fled in victory.

I did what I did; and I deserve this cell now; at least, until my trial…

There was no sunlight in our Underearth caves. It meant that we did not suffer the devastating heat of Sixth Earth. It also meant that I had no gauge to measure how long I had been jailed for my offenses of treason as my trial before my peers was arranged. It had felt like three days.

We Underdwellers, for our savage appearance, were a civilized race. I needed only to look at how they treated me as their prisoner. I was allowed food and water. I could have visits from those who still had a civilized word for me after what I had done; even in the best of intentions. There were two of our tunnels that I was even allowed to walk each day (under supervision).

Virgor and Kando were healing nicely. Fuja, our priestess, soothsayer, and healer, saw me each night to reassure me of such. I had seen Kala, our youngest, most noble, and most daring, escape the fight that had focused itself on me upon my arrival. From Fuja’s own words, Kala had then safely returned the royal heart locket to the Aquatitans of Aquarius. Against anyone’s guesses, the Aquatitans did not immediately pledge to a side in this conflict; they did vow to keep their technology and their fighting spirits out of our war for a time. It only proved their wisdom to match their vigor and technological prowess; that decision was to be respected.

I sensed footsteps in the cave leading to my cell and glanced up to discover Fuja’s slender, slackjawed, porcelain-colored frame in her clothing of the religious. I saw her approach and righted myself to a standing position by the bars. I suddenly had much more respect for her premonitions and prattlings when the broken sword and claw shield had turned out to be real; those realities had reminded all of us that Fuja’s omens always held some merit. Besides (and this was key to my continuously voiced respect for her), Fuja was not only our religious advisor and seer; she tended to serve as judge as well.

Sure enough, Fuja produced a key and turned it in the lock. The door clicked open and she entered wordlessly to undue my restraints. Fuja was usually more open and ready for a conversation than she was today. Besides, as she undid my cuffs, I realized that I had had my stroll earlier. One of us needed to break the ice to clear the air for conversation. Today, Fuja seemed to be unwilling to do so.

“Seer, are Virgor and Kando healed; and Kala?” I asked.

“The youngling has returned to us as the last of us to worry about.” Fuja answered in an aged, distant voice. “With our full company returned to sanctuary, today is your trial, weaponsmith.”

I could only swallow back my guilt and fear of my sentence as I followed the elder. I knew that what I would ask next was wrong to do so; but I had to know.

“Pardon my asking of the judge,” I added, “but, as a friend, how does my sentence look?”

“Today, I serve as a juror.” Fuja answered, flatly. “Virgor will serve as your judge today.”

The world stopped around me. Virgor, the Strongheart, our leader, would deliver my sentencing. Did I deserve any more clemency of the court of public opinion than that?

“I understand.” I barely managed.

“By the way, also as a friend,” Fuja added, pivoting around and stopping me with a hand to my chest, “why did you do what you did, Lotek?”

My words failed me. The complete logic that I thought that I had acted in had already fallen flat in lieu of the evidence of what it had caused.

“I do not know that answer anymore.” I admitted.

Fuja took in my lack of an answer and shook her head in disappointment.

“To see the evidence of these results, I would no longer stand by your former decisions either.” She informed me, placing a hand to a hidden electronic device that opened up the trial room. “I wish you good fortune today. This way.”

“Good fortune for a just verdict for the most people involved.” I amended as I followed. The hidden tunnel ominously sealed itself once more behind us…

The jury of my peers sat before me. Virgor, our leader, sat in the judge’s bench that Fuja normally occupied. I glanced about the room and even saw some Aquatitans in residence. Aqautitans and Underdwellers together; perhaps this was a good omen of things to come.

A hard-handed gavel smash called my attention forward.

“Lotek, inventor and weaponsmith; indeed, my oldest comrade,” Virgor piped up, grimly, “have you a plea for having sold your technology to two sides?”

An honest answer would satisfy my comrades best as I approached the judge.

“I did present my technological breakthroughs to two places.” I admitted. “At the time, I thought that it would present a bargaining chip to end this conflict. And, see around us; the Aquatitans and Underdwellers are in one place.”

“We all know that that was thanks to Kala’s efforts, not yours.” Virgor amended.

I swallowed in silence again. He was right; they all were. I had been a fool to mention that. Before me, Virgor scratched his chin.

“It was a single attack topside and I have seen no further evidence of you betraying your people to the Skylanders.” Our leader declared. “So long as our tunnels are still safe and I see no further evidence of an outside alliance with our oppressors, I am willing to see your years of service and render my verdict…”

The jury and I had waited with baited breath. We could now sigh in relief. Virgor, the Strong, was also far more lenient than his muscles would declare...

The first laser blast to rock our tunnels from topside made his former leniency null and void. As Skylanders swooped into the safety of our tunnels, found me, and carted me off to freedom, I would have held my doubts as well.

I had never arranged a Skylander rescue; and certainly never an attack on our tunnels. The survivors of that attack will care for the injured and rebuild our civilization again. As for me, my home is not in space, and I cannot go back underground just yet. My place has become aimlessly walking a malnourished, polluted, sunbaked Earth beneath the sun’s devastation and the harshness of winter, even as I endlessly dodged attacks from Skylanders who had forgotten my rescue as I could not return to the safety beneath the earth. That is the cost for my crimes…