The Tomb World Ch9 (Patreon)

Watched in bewildered awe as the hyoomahz completed another lap around the white ship they called Lorree. Dan-yalzz and Sahm had already down several laps at what they had claimed was an easy pace, which was twice as fast as Fezzen could have moved on the ground. They huffed air in and out in an even rhythm, and a thin sheen of sweat coated their skin. Their arms swayed in a circular pattern in time with each step as they ate up ground at an impressive pace.

“We would surely lose every foot race against these aliens.” Fezzen murmured.

“We would lose in almost every physical competition.” Foric grunted unhappily.

Today was their fifth meeting with the hyoomahz, and it was the day of their long awaited physical demonstration. Foric had gathered the strongest and fits men and woman in the ground forces in an attempt to impress the hyoomahz. But with few exceptions their alien visitors out classed them in almost every regard. Muscle strength, carrying capacity, speed, and endurance. They especially excelled in the field of endurance. Ehl-ai-zah, who was an expert in the biology of hyoomahz, had said that endurance was the physical task they most excelled at, seconded only to their ridiculously dexterous hands.

Sahm, and Dan-yalzz had originally started jogging with a group of twenty ground troopers. But after several laps the ground troopers grew tired and had to slow down, while Sahm and Dan-yalzz seemed to only get better and better with every lap. Ehl-ai-zah said it was very normal, that their bodies were built to switch into a sort of runners mode, and that with proper training some hyoomahz could run for whole days. Which Fezzen suspected were longer than Gotari days since the hyoomahz never looked tired after their meetings.

In the last meeting Veena and Dan-yalzz felt both sides had learned enough about each other’s for them to have more complex conversations. So instead of acting out words endlessly they instead taught each other different intelligence based games for them to begin comparing their intellects. Sahm and Dan-yalzz both protested that they weren’t that smart by their peoples standards, but in the game of chehss both humans beat Fezzen and Foric everything. They claimed that it was because they knew the game better, but when they played a Gotari game they came out on top every game. They just seemed to have brains built for examining the ins and outs of things and figuring out the best way to take advantage of that. And their ability to think five or ten moves ahead was outstanding.

After that meeting, Foric, Fezzen, and Veena both agreed to never get into an argument with a hyoomahm because there was no way they’d win. Foric also left with a burning desire to find one area where the Gotari were naturally better than hyoomahnz. They had failed on the cognitive field, so now he was looking for something to best them at. However once again the Gotari came out behind the alien visitors.

For the hyoomahnz part they seemed unsurprised by their victories, and did their best to reassure them that there were definitely places where the Gotari excelled where hyoomahnz fell short. But Fezzen got the impression that they were holding something back, like there was something they were afraid to tell them.

“And you say you aren’t the fastest or strongest species out there?” Veena asked to Ehl-ai-zah.

“No” she said in her crisp bell like voice. Impossibly smooth, and capable of conveying so much meaning in simple words. “Among other alien races the Baleek-stroh can run five times our fastest runners. While the Kay… Triakss are much stronger.”

“I see” Veena said softly. The Hyoomahnz had shown them images of themselves with these other alien races, who seemed even stranger than the Hyoomahnz. “But would you say your above or below average?”

Ehl-ai-zah worked her jaw and gave them an… ashamed look? Fezzen was still trying to learn their facial expressions, but he was pretty sure it was shame. “We’re above average.” She said finally.

“How above average?” Veena asked after seeing Ehl-ai-zahs reticence to answer the first question.

“Traiks are the strongest, Bahleek-stro are the fastest, and hyoomahns are second to them in both. As long as we don’t count the uhplihf’tehd.”

“What was that word?” Foric asked bruskly. Still sore at losing out to the hyoomahnz in every challenge.

Ehl-ai-zah sighed. “I guess now is the time.” She pursed her lips together and made a shrill high-pitched noise, like a sunrise rocket squealing into the sky. Foric, Fezzen, and Veena all flinched, while Dan-yalzz and Sahm jogged over.

“Iz et taim?” Dan-yalzz asked in their human language.

“Yehss” Ehl-ai-zah answered.

Dan-yalzz looked to Foric, Fezzen, and Veena. “Last meeting I told you that Sahm and I were the leaders of those two ships” he said with a point towards the ships he called Lorhee and Su. “I’m sure you wondered were the third leader was.”

Foric nodded “you kept them hidden for a reason.” He stated, voicing their suspicions.

Dan-yalzz’ head dipped down than back up, a hyoomahn signal for affirmative. “Our third looks different from us, but he is also from Urth. Please don’t be afraid.” He typed something on the device strapped around his wrist and the hatch on the third ship opened and a massive dark shadow appeared.

The three Gotari stepped back as a great hairy monster dropped down from the hatch, shaking the ground as he landed. The monster stood up straight and loomed over the assembled people and fixed them all within its black beady eyes. Sahm stepped forward and extended her hand, the monster lifted his clawed paw and engulfed her entire hand. They finished the hyoomahn ritual of a handshake and stood next to each other. The dark furred monster standing several tails taller than Sahm, and seeming to fill twice the space with its massive bulk.

It opened its mouth and gave them a good look at its rows of sharp teeth. “Hello.” It said in a deep rumbly voice.

Foric’s body language was tense and he looked ready to run. “I can see why you hid this.” He mumbled.

Dan-yalzz ducked his head. “Kahpten Feedelihs is the leader of Sheelah and our third. We kept him out of our meetings because we were afraid you might get scarred.”

Veena’s eyes were transfixed as she glanced between the monster called Feedelihs and Sahm, marking all the differences between them. It was clear in some undefinable way that they were from the same planet. Something about the way their were built hinted at a similar paradigm of evolution. Beyond that thought the two couldn’t be more different. “You said he was another hyoomahn?”

Dan-yalzz shook his head side to side. “I said he was from Urth, not hyooman. Tohm here is something called a Bairh, they were hunter-meateater animals from Urth. Not people like we are, not until first contact. After we met our first aliens animals like Tohm began to change into people. He is just as smart as us.”

“How does that happen?” Fezzen asked wildly. Did all animals turn into people when aliens visited?

“We don’t know” Ehl-ai-zah answered. “It just sort of happened, we’re still learning the extent to the changes.”

“It did only happen after the Joining established itself on Urth.” Dan-yalzz grumbled cryptically.

“Joining?” Veena asked.

Dan-yalzz looked uncertain “I’m not sure if I’m using that word right. It’s the name of the big alien government. In eeglish we say Yoonyun.”

The bairh Tohm made a rumbling sound, drawing the attention of everyone present. “May I come closer?”

Dan-yalzz looked to Foric, waiting for him to give his approval. Foric’s tail flicked in assent, though from the quickness Fezzen could tell that his uncle was uncertain and nervous. It was one thing to have the towering hyoomahns around with their impressive strength, but this Tohm was a different matter. Fezzen could already tell that he was much stronger than either Dan-yalzz or Sahm.

Tohm stepped forward, Fezzen expected the floor to shake, but it didn’t. Each step of his massive feet was quiet, quieter than the hyoomahns. “It is fine to be nervous, most hyoomahns are also nervous around me. But I wont accidentally break you.” the Bairh rumbled.

Foric’s tail halted its nervous movement “Its not accidents I’m worried about.” He said, now looking the massive beast in the eyes.

Tohm’s face scrunched in strangely hyoomahn like way, conveying thoughtfulness just as easily as theirs.  “Then I promise to make it fast.” He said simply.

Everyone stood as still as rocks as they waited to Foric’s response to this direct challenge.

Foric continued to stare down Tohm before breaking into a series of mirthful hoots and chirps “Good, Good.” He said, diffusing all the tension.