An ancient Lemurian adorned in the flowing purple robes of the Sky Priests came out a room separated by a curtain as if he’d been waiting. As he spoke in the Lemurians’ Sacred Tongue, Courtney translated from Latin to English so the destroyermen could understand. At the bare bones, the Grik were evil, they drove the Lemurians from their paradise, and somewhere in that time, the first Homes were built. Some landed on hostile shores, some never reached land, but some finally reached this area, the Malay Barrier, and set up shop. And from then until now, the Grik faded into legend.
“Mm-hmm,” Twilight mumbled every so often, taking mental notes as the tale unfolded. All around them, other Lemurians crowded around to listen. They reminded her of kittens huddled around their mother, but the context was a little weird for her to try to explain it to them. Instead, she started calling them ‘Cats to shorten her thoughts and left it at that.
The elderly Sky Priest, Naga, eventually moved on to the original Tail-less Ones. They’d come damaged by storm, their small and fragile Homes creaky and leaking. They traded, especially one called “Salig Mas-tuur,” but eventually he was banned because the Tail-less Ones’ leaders feared sharing too much information. Then he switched to a language dead among even his people, but eventually was kept aboard his ship except for essential exchanges.
After a certain amount of time, some of the Tail-less Ones wished to return home despite knowing that it was gone. They departed to the west with none of their greatest magic and only the crudest of Scrolls. The other two ships went East, off the edge of the world. They left nothing behind, apart from the pendant Naga hung from his neck on a golden chain.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” he asked, opening it to show the destroyermen.
“The HEIC Ship Hermione,” Matt read from the word carved into the inner lid of the pendant, which was really a sailor’s compass. “The Honorable East India Company.”
“As in the British East India Company?” Sandra asked.
Courtney examined it with scientific fascination. “I’m afraid so, my dear. It appears that we are not the first that this predicament has happened to.”
“Do you know where they went other than to the east?” Twilight questioned Naga.
“No, but one of us, Siska-Ta, found the teachings of Salig Mas-tuur and proclaimed to the world to create the Sky Priests. She was a Great Prophet.”
Naga continued to tell them about Siska-Ta and the Tail-less Ones through translation, and other ‘Cats soon crowded around to listen. It was obviously a tale well loved among the Lemurians. Once Naga finished, though, they began to disperse to their respective cliques.
“Is there anything else you need?” Nakja-Mur asked.
“Yes. We need what you call ‘gish.’ Lots of it,” Matt replied through Courtney and Adar. “Keje told us that much can be found around here.”
“You have a need for much gish? Of course. And a pier will be set aside for your iron ship. She must be very tired after the tales Keje-Fris-Ar has told. Make repairs, and we will supply what surplus we have to assist you.”
“And in exchange, USS Walker and her crew will help you fight the Grik.”
“Can you not fight the Grik alone? Is ship ship not made for fighting only?”
Matt sighed. “USS Walker is a ship of war, but we cannot fight every battle for you. That’s not what friends do. What we can do is help you prepare, so that you can kick the Grik when they come. And the first thing we need for that is gish. May I have my crew search for a suitable site?”
“Of course. Baalkpan is a prosperous city, and the People shall fight the Grik once more. Perhaps we can drive them back to their Sacred Home in time?”
“Perhaps. Thank you, Nakja-Mur, U-Amaki Ay Baalkpan. We are forever in your debt.”
“No, Cap-i-taan Reddy,” the large Lemurian assured. “We are simply repaying you in kind for your actions in saving Salissa Home.”