Copani Story

[Ogg]

Far away a strange little being smirked and half laughed..no need to rest indeed, more like Bandemini marathon runners He sat silent for a minute. Then with a deep belly laugh he said aloud “The Sun Emperor is coming, and for all my limitless power there is nothing I can do to stop him. I have gathered many powerful races and beings all be it somewhat unwittingly to my cause. Yet I fear it will not be enough or in time.” Then the strange little man was gone…

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

The battle had not yet been won.

The Emperor's Glory was adrift in space. Several of the smaller pirate ships were racing toward her internal docking bay to reclaim the battleship. That was something I could not allow.

"Helm, plot the fastest vector out of here and stand by to engage. First Officer, I want this area cleared of vessels. We can't have any witnesses left....this is a trade route, though, so try not to leave too many large pieces for the merchants to bump into." I glanced over the First Officer's head as he began passing orders to weapons crew and made eye contact with Tor-bar. "Send the fourth signal out, General."

Tor-bar clicked his jaws and tapped a button on one of his displays. On the THD the space around the planet suddenly became alive with new points of light. Only half of my Alae had initially attacked the planet - the rest were held in reserve in case the Emperor had moved in to aid the defenders. It would have been a wiser course of action, but the former pirate captain had let greed outweigh wisdom.

I felt the deck vibrate through the soles of my boots as the first salvo was fired from the NPL batteries. Watching a target be destroyed by NPL fire never ceased to amaze me.

Neutron Pellet Launcher. There were only 12 people in the empire who could explain what in space a neutron pellet was, but they were also the only ones who would be able to understand the answer. The only thing I needed to know was that they worked, and worked well, at destroying large starships.

Glowing orbs with a slight bluish tint streaked across space and impacted the hull of the disabled battleship. Where they struck glowed slightly and the glow quickly expanded across the hull. After a few moments the glow faded and where it had been there were now gaping holes in the armor and the hull. It would take a few moments to reach the ship's anti-matter power core. I tore my eyes from the disolving starship and turned my attention back to the planetary defenses.

The defenders were not so effective now that their command ship was not directing them. The concept of pulling the ships back to form a defensive sphere around the planet was not a difficult one though and after a time the pirates even achieved a ragged spherical formation. The Appies also assumed a spherical formation and steadily began to close it in around the planet. It took the Alae only half a mug of m'kaa to thin the defenses down enough to move to the next stage of the attack.

A wedge of APA Copani-class ships smashed their way through the defenders' line and then widened the gap as the elements of the wedge seperated and turned to attack more pirate vessels. Tor-bar snapped something in the gutteral language of his people and more ships uncloaked to pour through the gap. These ships streaked down toward the surface of the planet and by the time I took the last gulp of m'kaa several battalions of Appies were on the planet. Once the Appie soldiers on those ships debarked there was no way to stop them until there was nothing sentient left to kill. Given the poplulation on that world, there would be quite a mess to clean afterwards. I handed the empty mug back to the waiting orderly and sighed. Bloodstains were always the worst to get out of a new headquarters.

"We have almost breached engineering hull, sir."

"Already? Excellent shooting." I studied the image on the main display. One more barrage would breach the hull and cause an...energetic...matter/anti-matter explosion. None of the remaining pirate vessels plinking ineffectively away at our shields would survive it. "Engage your course Helm."

By the time the time dilation engines spooled up to full power the NPL batteries had cycled and fired their last barrage. The Emperor vanished in an expanding cloud of debris as the engines engaged and the first shock waves passed our ship before we jumped. There was a slight electronic hissing sound and for a moment the cloaked Appies on the bridge were visable.

The orderly gave me what passed for a sheepish look on the complex Appie face.

He had been drinking my m'kaa. I knew it...

I shrugged my shoulders and tried even harder not to think about it...

 

[Cadfael]

Originally posted by Stranger
"Or else you and I are going head to head right fu----g now, hoss".

Stranger rarely swore like that. K'th-Na could see the man was on the verge of going psycho on him. He should have known. You simply didn't mess with Morgana.

Someone had once joked that the quickest way for a man to commit suicide was to irritate Morgana when Stranger was around. But K'th-Na knew that was no joke.

DennizM looked at Stranger, his head cocked to one side…”Tell me…” he asked quietly… “How come you are still stuck on pre-Dark Age Earth with your knowledge of Tech, and yet you still manage to pick up a modern way of cussing?”

“Ahhh… er… ” Stranger stammers, of all the reactions he expected… it was not this, and sweat began to frost his brow… this was not good… “I am not sure what you are getting at…”

“Does not matter” DennizM replied… “As it happens I am just in the mood for a fight…” Stranger tenses, but DennizM turns and walks into the forest… Strangers jaw drops, and he makes to follow. Morgana grabs his arm… he eyes following the back of DennizM as he disappears into the trees.

“Leave him…” she pulls him back…”I think we have reached a crisis” she looks at him and smirks…”when he gets back… he is either going to kill you… or we are going to find out a few things… I am not sure what I fear the most. He is right… there is something in my head I cannot work out. Maybe I am a danger”

“You are joking…”Stranger looks at her with open sceptism… “Damn him!!! He even has you doubting yourself now!”

***************

DennizM walks for about an hour… until he reaches a large clearing. Looking around, he decides this will do…

“Okay you red bastard” he simmers… “Get the hell out here… NOW!” His arms flash out as he begins an incantation.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally posted by Zack Ryan
...The only reason Zak and P'Mela stopped the following morning was exhaustion.

When Zack awoke the next morning, P'Mela was already gone. Looking around her quarters, he found the bath still lingered with steam and noticed that her jumpsuit was missing. As soon as he had finished his morning ritual, he went looking for her.

"Te'Zsing" P'Mela was speaking softly and rapidly to him when Zack Ryan entered the control room "that's the last of the trip protocols for you to log in. Perform pre-time dilation jump checks and get my bio-bed prepared, please."

Zack's temper erupted again and they launched into another long argument about why she had to go back into j'Son'jon Empire space. P'Mela was calm, too calm almost, as she walked her ship checking all sub-system panels, a function unnecessary yet one that she found relaxing before a hard jump sequence. Zack was angry and kept trying to pull her to him, feeling he was loosing her forever again. Something he had not been prepared to do after just finding her.

P'Mela may have been calm to her ship's observances, but when arguing with Zack she was far from calm, yet her arguments were logical. Slowly she made Zack understand.

"The j'Son'jon Empire is an advanced society but it clearly has expansion objectives in mind. Why, "khoenumiia"? If the information I collected is correct, and we both know it is, then the empire is about to launch war over contested space. Why? Why would they chance an instellar holocaust and break a 1000 year peace with the Copani and with the Auroras? It doesn't make sense. Their society is rich, stable, so why would they risk so much over contested space?"

When Zack started to answer, P'Mela continued and silenced him. "As Chief of Staff for the Sonjon War Council, I will have access to everything about the empire. Imagine the information I can bring out for us the Copani and we can save contested space. We're talking billions of lives scattered throughout contested space. Mostly low tech primitive planets like Earth or even more primitive, but still these people all need a chance to grow and evolve...." Zack argued back "The Copani are more advance than the Sonjon, we can effectively fight them without you taking these kinds of chances."

She smiled at him, let her fingertips rub along his Copani ears, sending a little shutter through him. "Itienne, you and I both know, there are very very few Copani." He captured her human like hands in his golden Copani ones and held them.

Frustrated, Zack finally agreed to her trip, trying to put limits and conditions on her but she waved off his arguments. "Zack, listen to me. When I have done everything I can from inside, I will get out and come back. But, I need you to do a favor or two for me. Inside Command Headquarters, the emperor has empaths who constantly observe the commanding officers for revolutionary or inappropriate thoughts. If I go back as a Copani like now, my hatred of the Sonjon is so strong, my emotions so unsettled, the empaths will detect me. I need you to put back the mental racial block on me, stopping my Copani thoughts. I need you to reestablish my memories and indentity as Lady P'Mela Piaue LeonDocTchi, loyal Draksan citizen of the Blessed j'Son'jon Empire. When I step in their world again, I need to be believable to their empaths."

Again they erupted into argument, but Zack knew she was right. Her Copani emotions bubbled just under the surface. They poured off her like liquid heat, as least to him they did. P'Mela added "I think I can hide my feelings for Earth but not for you ZakRianan, Copani. I need an additional block that makes you human Zack Ryan in all my memories. Please do these things for me and let me go. The longer I stay with you the harder it is going to be for me to leave."

She looked at him so pitifully, he agreed. But he decided a private talk with Te'Zsing would be the last thing he did, after she was inside the bio-bed and asleep, he would give the ship some final instructions of his own.

And so he walked with her back to her quarters, getting her to revert to Copani for their last goodbyes. Then slipping into Sonjon identity, she connected to the bio-bed, and laid back. As his fingerstips touched her face, she said "Te'Zsing, will you sing to me during the trip? And keep ambient temperature warm please." The ship answer very softly, like a warm breath against her cheek "Yes, My Love. The jump protocols are ready. I will see you when I wake you for the stopover at Draksa." P'Mela laid back and got comfortable, feeling the sleep inducer flowing warmly into her bloodstream. "Te'Zsing, we're going to upgrade your jump capabilities once back at Sonjon Headquarters. The new technology is such, I don't have to undergo these stasis immersions."

Zack touched her forehead and put in the blocks she had requested.

 

[Zack Ryan]

SSC Aglaian

Zak stayed in her quarters, staring at her face in it’s relaxed state, almost if he needed to burn her image into his mind, until the procedure was complete. He turned slowly and left the room and walked back to the hatch that led to his ship and stopped, sliding to the floor and sitting, head in hand, worried that he would lose her, to a Son’Jon or to death.

It was necessary for Te’Zsing to touch Zak to make the Copani aware again. He stood slowly and the android informed him they were due to leave shortly. Zak nodded and began to speak directly to the ships mind;
"Te’Zsing, do you know who I am?”
"Yes, I do."
“I have several instructions for you. Most of all you are to react instantly to the verbal command.” Zack gave the android the code word, the unlock trigger, and instructions on how to reach him, but not unless P'Mela was compromised. When he was certain that Te’Zsing could remember those instructions, he gave him several more and then the final one, which could be the single most important of all of them. “If the little one comes aboard, you are to allow him to give you instructions. When he leaves, you will wash that segment of your brain by giving the following code word.” He was done and after a few final words, he was gone.

Zak stepped out of his Demon and stripped. He quickly communicated with the ship and then told Ontanon to leave him alone until he requested assistance. He began running then, long strides that ate up the distance to docking port. Then he turned, hardly breathing hard and started back. The run didn’t help his mood one bit. He still felt, one way or the other, he had lost P'Mela.

“Excuse me sir, but it is time to wake the Supreme Squadron Commander. May I have your selection so I can begin the process? Since it will take several hours, sir, you have time to clean up.” Zak looked at Ontanon and nodded. He gave the name of the selection and left to clean up.

Zack took the elevator to the section that Aglaian was located in. He strode to where Ontanon was and looked in the transparent enclosure. He looked closer this time, not sure whether to believe his eyes or not.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

P’Mela remained in the bio-bed for nearly three weeks as Te’Zsing made his way first to Draksa, “her” homeworld, though for her it seemed that no more than a day had passed. Once her two day stopover is completed, she will make the last short hop to Sonjon Command. After coming out from the jump sleep, she quickly showered and then dressed in the light colored coarse robes which would provide protection needed on the desert planet. Giving Te’Zsing last minute instructions, she took the only flier and headed for home.

Recording to personal diary:
I couldn’t remember the last time I had come home. Maybe 40, no 60 years, since I had stopped for a visit. Draksa was as beautiful as ever. You have no idea what is feels like to see your home planet from right above her! It is always an epiphany, the realization that one place sustained you, molded you, and then sent you out to bear its witness. They say one can never go home again. But there she is, waiting for me. For reasons unknown, I feel more emotional coming home this time.

Draksa, a rare desert planet inside the j’Son’jon Empire, is a gem in the royal crown, in my opinion. Her reddish glare, from the iron ore trapped in her surface, and the brownish clouds, which arise from particulate matter trapped by constant howling winds, always reminds me of dragon eyes. My favorite book as a child, and truth be told still, tells of great dragons who patrol the universe keeping evil from the good people and punishing all bad deeds. The illustrations for that book always showed dragon eyes - red with swirls of brown reflected in them - which looks exactly like my planet from this altitude. So beautiful, so strange, so unique. It’s a planet of particular harshness as well, which produced a defiant freedom-loving people.

As my personal flier follows my ancestral home’s beacon, I smile at its hard edged beauty. A desert planet has little rushing rain and thus Draksa has sharp, crusty mountain ranges that rim large plains of reddish lava flows. Hard and gleamed by millions of years of sun, the lava flows are home to the empire’s LavaSurfing Competitions. LavaSurfing is a sport practiced by only the most agile and skilled surfers. Most planets have ice or snow surfing, or water skiing. But LavaSurfing is far harder, physically and literally. The slick glass like surface, pitted and gouged, is totally unforgiving to a body who misjudges and crashes the sail and skid. After suffering numerous cuts and bruises, and a broken arm, I gave it up for WindSailing on the sand plains! When I miscalculated and fell, sand forgives, a little anyway. Lava does not!

As the flier descended through atmosphere and got beneath the clouds, I could see the multitude of small isolated oases that dot the planet. These are the center of life for a Draksan. Oases draw various wildlife, which draws the hunters. In the beginning, it was natural for clans and villages to spring up around the oases. And as a part of evolution, the less successful clans died out simply from lack of food source and accessible oases. It was a matter of survival of the stronger and more adaptable among the hunters. During these evolutionary changes, Draksans developed 3 lungs, which in a thin atmosphere helps to process more breathable air, increasing stamina for the hunt, enabling the hunt to keep going until the prey is brought down.

For reasons still unknown, the most unusual physical trait of a Draksan is their blue eyes (anywhere from extremely pale to deeply dark). Blue eyes are not suited to a desert planet. We know that Draksan are not native to this planet, however their origins remain a mystery.

Our people, being desert wise, conduct most activity in the early morning, late evening or during the night while temperatures are relatively cool and the sun at its least damaging. Traditionally, the heat and brightness of day are for sleep or meditation. But must we journey forth during the heat of day, we wear light colored robes with hoods and facial guards. The way I am now dressed.

And as I approach the small landing space nearest the LeonDocTchi ancestral home, I am filled with love for this world, and for my people. I am tight with emotion, almost unable to breath, even with 3 lungs. I don my face guard and lower my hood, securing it tightly against the winds. And I feel like I never want to leave this place again. I swear my allegiance silently - to my world, to my people...and to myself. When I complete my mission at Sonjon Command, I will retire here, and take my place - whatever it is - among this beautiful hard world. Among my people is all I want to be.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Recording to personal diary:continued
It is said that you can never come home again. But for a Draksan, that is simply not true! The entire tribe awaited my arrival. Though many of the elders have died since my last visit, and many of the youngsters I knew are now adults. I know most everyone and they know me. It is thrilling and emotional. The tribe escorts me home amidst the chattering of my language. It is wonderful to hear the clicks and hisses and singing style of my natural language. It is more beautiful than any language I have ever heard, despite my wild flung travels. Every other language, especially Sonjon Standard, is gutteral compared to Drak. Drak Standard is a language with sounds and words for every thing. No dual meanings, just clear, precise and musical.

My arrival has coincided with the annual flood. Draksa is a planet that revolves around the major star of a binary system. Once a year, the planet is caught between the two suns, though luckily the second does not have enough mass to begin radiation. But being inside competing gravity wells causing tectonic shifts, rising volcanic activity and results in melting of the very small polar ice caps, and opening fissures to the trapped water channels below the surface. This annual flooding usually takes 3 weeks from the beginning to end. However, this brief period of flooding, causes our deserts to flourish thickly with foliage, edible foliage. Everyone harvests the foliage and it is cooked and preserved for use during the rest of the year.

For that brief green period annually, it is like my planet is resurrecting itself in sweet fragrant beauty. The red mountains seem to turn to blues and purples in the shadows, desert birds ride the thermals, circling and seeking their own food sources. The winds bring the flower fragrances from the mountain sides to the oases, and the planet’s very nature and scents change. Draksans lovingly refer to Draksa as The Resurrection Planet and seeing her dressed in her flood finery, reminds me of the appropriateness of the nickname.

Arriving at my ancestral home, I am shocked at its changes. Much like an adobe structure on earth, it has been tripled in size, by the successes of my uncle and aunt, and the outside has been stained whiter than I remember. The thick walls are framed by delicate iron scrollwork, and covered in trailing Acuupee vines. The blooms are lavender to purple and so fragrant they can be smelled long before they are seen. They are my favorite herb! The last time I was here, Uncle told me they were working on methods to recover this herb. A blight had appeared suddenly nearly 200 years ago and destroyed nearly all the plants. As many as possible were harvested and dried and stored in deep cellars. Each aristocratic home has an herb cellar, but my ancestral home is known as having the best of the best. My fingertips flutter through the blossoms and I gather large handfulls to my face. The scent is mine, will always be mine. The flat roof is fitted with dew and moisture collectors which syphon the water to cisterns beneath the house. This is the water used for growing vegetables and gardens, providing cooking and bathing. When I left the planet, I deeded over all my ancestral holdings to my paternal uncle and aunt. They have had far more success here than I could have achieved!

My first cousins escort me to my suite of rooms and once again my memories rush at me. I had been adopted by my parents in my late twenties after many years in refugee camps. DNA supposedly linked me to them, showing my ancestry to the LeonDocTchi tribe. When they brought me here, they said I could have any vacant set of suites I wished. My mother’s mother had just died a few months prior to my arrival and her suites became mine. When I saw the delicate pink rose-patterned paper on the walls, faded over many years, the feminine overstuffed chairs covered in pink and cream striped fabric, and the large metal fourposter bed hung with cream silk, I would not agree for my new mother to change a thing. I had never seen a pink rose, yet I was drawn to the imagery and had to have this suite. My suite was the most beautiful thing a woman could want, especially after a life lived from one refugee camp to another. And I was so appreciative at being adopted, I set my goal to become the best and most loving daughter they could have had. I think I did make them happy. At least, that’s what everyone says.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Recording to personal diary:continued:
While everyone else spent the afternoon in sleep or meditation, I wandered my suite of rooms, touching and feeling and smelling everything. I reviewed display after display of family pictures, pulling out my favorites to reproduce. I wanted to take them with me to my new duty post. I toured my mother’s private art gallery and once again looked on her drawings and paintings with awe.

They say my mother was cursed with second sight and could see the future. Her paintings and drawings were all the result of visions, they say. There are at least 30 paintings, however, that make me laugh. Clearly they are of me, my husband, and four children. He is beautiful, with chiseled features, quicksilver blue eyes, a small scar across his left cheek. Mother said he would become The Liberator of Draksa and would be called El Safyre, yet she didn’t say what Draksa would need liberating from. Well, so much for visions of the future! Mother also said I would be known as The Liberator’s Lady, Ela Safyre Bachi, and that our eldest son would become The Emperor known as El Akbar. Well my mother’s second sight was definitely wrong on that score. Draksa doesn’t have an Emperor. With our style of elected government, we have a Regent, elected by all adults in the population. But viewing the art gallery again brings back so many memories, most of which I thought I had forgotten.

My only night staying over was spent in Festival. The entire tribe arrived and everyone participated in the meat grilling and cooking. Music was thick and airborne, and nearly everyone danced. Even the infirmed elders could be seen sitting but their feet danced to the sultry beat of the music. And because the heat of day had diminished and the winds had died down, all we LeonDocTchi women had dressed in our sensual mode. It has often surprised me in my travels that site of the body is considered sinful or something to giggle at. But not on Draksa. We are what we were made. The men dress sensually too. It is not meant to arouse but only to validate who and what we are. We are a people alive every moment of every day, and it reflects in our attire. I chose to wear an outfit I haven’t worn in many years. But I can see the mountains from here, and their shadows are purple. I chose a sheer purple silk pair of thobs and chemise, trimmed in white and lavender braiding for ankles and wrists. I have adorned my face in tribal markings and my hair is appropriately covered.

It was nearly dawn before the Festival was completed. We wished our traveling family members well but Uncle and I had an appointment with attorneys. I had Te’Zsing schedule it as he approached orbit. And after seeing the success that Uncle and Aunt have had with the ancestral home and lands, it is only fitting that I officially make them owners to all my lands, and not merely managers for me. They deserve it, though they argue against it. But I convince them and see them blush in gratitude. And I feel proud of my decision. They agree to keep my suite of rooms available just for me whenever I can come home. In addition, I ask my Uncle to keep the smaller guest house at the next oasis for me for when I return home permanently.

Uncle took me aloft in his special flyer after the lawyer’s meeting to see the new hydro-plant he had built. The top of the line Sonjon technology for recovering water stuck in deep planet cisterns. The oasis around it is nearly 10 kilometers diameter, the largest on the planet. I think if Uncle is left alone, he will tame this desert planet and make it just another lush green one. That makes me a little sad. I love the uniqueness of my desert planet!

My entire visit was a lush tapestry of memories and new experiences but mostly a chance to fill my soul of who I am. I can’t believe that I once left this Garden of Eden. I had felt like I was drowning in its traditions. But after 700 years away, traveling through space, visiting hundreds of other worlds, I now realize the most beautiful and the most equitable world in the universe is Draksa. Right before returning to my flier to depart, I stood with my face buried in lavender Acuupee blossoms, and I vow that upon completion of my next duty assignment, I am retiring and returning to my home Draksa. What I will become, what I will do for a living, what I shall contribute is a mystery at this point. But Draksa is where I want to be. I can feel that to the center of my soul.
End Recording to personal diary

“Te’Zsing!” P’Mela announce happily upon her arrival. “I’m returning to the bio-bed and you can take us to our destination.”

“Understood Captain. Welcome Home, My Love”. smiling at his endearment, P’Mela quickly make it to her quarters. She placed the small vials of herbal oils away for safekeeping. The herb cellar had provided her with plenty to choose from in order to replenish her onboard supplies.

As the bio-bed connected to her forearm and she drifted to sleep, the smile fades from her face. She knows when she awakens in two hours (real time is 4 days travel), she will be at the center of the j’Son’jon Empire, ready to take the job as Chief of Staff for the Sonjon War Council. Her face reflects her dread. As she drifts to sleep and the bed seals itself, the time dilation jump engines are already at 20% light speed but have much further to push themselves. The G-forces continue to build.

 

[e-Morgana]

Stranger threw his hands in the air and stormed off. He would never understand the workings of the minds of these folk. Mind you, he was convinced that if he ever DID start to understand the way they thought, he would have reason to be even more concerned.

Morgana watched the retreating form of DennizM as he headed off into the forest. “How did it come to this?” she asked herself, feeling helpless and alone as she’d never felt before in her life. “Please Dionyses”, she whispered to herself, “talk some sense into him. I can’t stand what this is doing to us.” As if he had heard her silent plea, DennizM glanced around and stared at Morgana thoughtfully, an unreadable expression on his face, before disappearing in amongst the trees.

The Enchantress slumped and decided there was really nothing more she could do for now, but wait till they returned. “What are you thinking? Of course you can do something!! When did you become such a dumb, defeated, female?” she berated herself. She had to figure out what these damn blocks were doing in her brain. She was a Sorceress of the Twelfth Degree for heaven’s sake. Surely some insignificant little block couldn’t pose that big a problem for her awesome powers. If she couldn’t count on Cad to help, then she’d just have to give it a try herself.

Having made up her mind, she found a comfortable spot under a tree and put herself into a deep trance. She wandered the corridors of her own mind, finding all the nooks and crannies – the memories she hadn’t thought about for years, the people, the feelings, all the incidents, large and small, that had made up her life so far. She didn’t allow herself to be distracted for too long though – she had a specific destination in mind and this was no time for reminiscing. Through the mists of time and memory she went, back she travelled to her very vague memories of Drago Prime, almost 3000 years ago, back to her first meeting of K’th-na (well her first remembered meeting at any rate).

It was like hitting a brick wall. She saw a huge Red Dragon come hurtling out of a large building. He was yelling something…a name…Chy’Ria?? All was chaos. Reds and Greens were trying to contain his fury and a large Gold dragon watched on with a horrified expression on her face. Morgana found herself caught up again in the turmoil that surrounded their abrupt departure from Drago Prime. She felt again the anguish of the Red Dragon – even though she didn’t know who he was, or why he was in this state. It took six Red Dragons to finally subdue him, and then they only managed because he had finally collapsed in utter defeat and exhaustion. She hadn’t known this dragon, but she knew she HAD to be with him…and she knew they had to leave this place…and NOW!!

“No” Morgana took a moment to get her breathing back under control. These were only memories. They couldn’t hurt her now. She had to get past them to find out what the furore was all about. Try as she might though, she could not penetrate this barrier…she could remember nothing before K’th-na had come careening out of the building yelling that name like his heart had been ripped from his chest. As she mentally slumped and sat staring at the scene replaying over and over in her mind, she finally saw it…so thin and insubstantial, it was no wonder she had never noticed it before in all the chaos. There was a shimmering tendril of colour that seemed to join her to the dragon. This coloured thread surrounded K’th-na and pulsed ever so slightly. The Enchantress followed the thread back to her end and realised it went straight to the impassable block. What the….??

Just then, her mind felt as if it had been blown apart and the enchantress reeled as Cadragon and DennizM’s voices bellowed into her brain through the connection they shared. They were arguing!! How do you argue with someone who is a part of yourself?? Morgana sat stunned at the fury DennizM was directing towards K’th-na, and then was horrified to see K’th-na prepare to send some of his own fury right back at the raging Dionyses. They were going to kill each other!!

Without a second thought, Morgana swiftly chanted a spell and transported herself to the clearing where the pair stood raging at each other. She placed herself between them (there were two of them?? – no time for that now) and spoke very softly but so that each could clearly hear her.

“What the HELL do you think you are doing? If you plan on killing each other, then you’re going to have to kill me first.”

 

[FoxyShalimar]

Awakenings

She heard sounds, not loud.
They sounded as if they came from a far distance.
She couldn’t see anything, had she become blind?
She couldn’t smell or taste anything.
Desperately she tried to get out of this mist that seemed to surround her.
But she could not.
Was she dead?
SC Aglianan’s thoughts faded when she was drawn back into the darkness.


Why wasn’t she able to move?
She heard voices.
They sounded familiar
“Squadron Commander Aglianan Galadstin, I hereby sentence you, and those loyal to you and your beliefs, to be put into stasis for an unknown duration”
The Council
That voice
She remembered it clearly
Feelings of anger rose in her
This wasn’t now
It was a memory
What was now?
And again SC Aglianan’s thoughts faded and she slipped back into the safety of darkness.

She remembered her father.
He loved her and tried to make her as happy as he could.
As far as she knew he never lied to her about anything.
And even though she grew up without a mother, she never had a really bad feeling about that.
She knew her father had loved her mother but somehow it wasn’t meant to be for them to be the happy little family.
Aglianan had accepted this at a very young age.
Growing up with only a father did have some advantages. Aglainan was very skilled at hand to hand combat and handling weaponry or ships wasn’t that hard for the young Copani girl either.
She loved her father and would do anything for him.
Her talents were quickly noticed by the Counsil members, who took care of her military education after that. Her devotion and intelligent view of tackling problems made her rise through the ranks very quick.
The only problem was her free spirit.
She didn’t like to fall in line with the rest. She loved to stand out and did.
She had gathered a team around her that shared her view.
Because the success rate of their missions always had been 100% Aglianan and her Squadron started to believe they could get away with all their antics. They felt untouchable, after all al they did was for the good of the Copani people.
They had to pay for their arrogance when they were sentenced and put into stasis.

Did she see a light?
Yes!!
It was getting brighter
It got so bright she closed her eyes again.
When she opened them again the light was still there but not as bright.
She still couldn’t move.
Only with her eyes
She moved with her eyes trying to look around.
The stasis pod!!!
But why was she starting to awake?
Would she see the rest of her Squadron?
How much time had passed?
Did a friendly or an enemy find her?
She wished she could move

Again her mind went back to the day of the sentencing and she asked herself if it would matter if a friend or enemy found her. Which would be worse?

“Squadron Commander Aglianan Galadstin you and your Squadron are accused of stealing and selling Copani Intelligence information to the highest bidder. Do you have anything to say on behalf of yourself our your Squadron?”

That voice
She remembered
Her accuser, double faced.
VinZian Ravinian
Once he’d been her lover
Now they were on opposite sides

Squadron Commander Aglianan stood before the Council and remained silent, as did all her Squadron members. They knew. They all did.
They would get sentenced even though they were innocent.
SC Aglianan and her Squadron had known from the start of this mission that it probably would be the longest one ever.
They were not the ones that stole or sold the information.
They’re mission was to find out who did.
They thought it was a Copani called Ryanian Vandestin
But he was just a middleman.
They were closing in on the one they really wanted, but before they could do anything they themselves were accused of those very crimes.
The way SC Aglianan and her Squadron behaved made it very easy for the others to believe they had committed the crimes they were accused of.

VinZian Ravinian
Why did that name keep appearing in her thoughts?
Aglianan got tired from all the thoughts and memories that kept flooding her.
She closed her eyes
She was thinking she didn’t remember opening them before the welcome darkness came again.

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

"Darkness embraces us all. In the Sacred Void between the stars we find birth, death, and rebirth." Tor-bar spoke in a suprisingly patient manner. Perhaps it was the wine mellowing his normal mood. Perhaps this was how the Appies spoke philosophy. "A people who do not embrace all aspects of the Sacred Void are doomed to be swallowed by it."

"For every one of us who finds a soul among the stars, there is another who has lost one." My first officer was defintely mellowed by the wine and did a credible imitation of the Appie general. Tor-bar laughed and slapped him on the back.

"Yes! I think I am finally getting through that fragile barbarian skull of yours." Tor-bar opened his outer jaws to bare the the teeth on the inner jaws. It was a smile or a death threat depending on context.

Bubbles floated upwards in a slow, endless dance through the amber wine in my glass. I spun the glass gently with my fingertips and watched the last of the day’s light refract through the faceted crystal. There was a slight chill in the air that had nothing to do with nightfall or seasons. The planet orbited the orange tinted sun at a distance that kept the world from ever becoming truly warm.

If it were not for the galaxy draped like a gaudy necklace over the dome of the sky there would be more landing lights above me than stars. The Appies had conquered the planet, purged it of all dark infested life, and were now preparing the world for its rebirth. It would surprise most citizens of the Empire to learn the Appies were accomplished farmers even though it stood to reason a civilization could not obtain space flight with some rudimentary knowledge of feeding itself. Already the enormous mobile processing stations were turning the bodies of our foes into useful fertilizer.

"All of the APA vessels assigned to the Emperor's Glory have returned Tor-bar?" I looked up from my wine and the general's jaws snapped shut.

"Yes, Warlord. They have returned." Tor-bar sat straighter in his chair and looked down at me. Appies were a very tall race. "They wish to join the Dark Nebula and share in our glory."

"I had hoped they would." I looked out at the darkening scenery around us. The rounded hills were nothing like my homeworld yet they somehow made me long to visit the arid lands of my family. Tor-bar and his people were from a world much like my own, perhaps I would get to take him there during our next assignment. The Appians assigned to the Alae of the Emperor's Glory were from a wet jungle world and I thought with minimal terraforming this world would suit them. "I will need half of their Alae to remain here. New colonists from the j'Son'jon Empire will be arriving in 23 standard hours. I do not want them to follow in the path of the previous batch of colonists here."

"You honor us greatly, as always Warlord, with this gift." Tor-bar placed his left hand on his chest and extended his right hand before him in a gesture of deep appreciation. The Appies looked on terraforming as an almost sacred endeavor with colonists as the holy pilgrims.

The colonists troubled me. The population of the Empire was stable according to all the reports available to me, yet there was a constant exodus of colonists to the frontier. They traveled, although saying they were shipped would be more accurate, on older ships in stasis chambers stacked one on top of another in the vast cargo bays of the colony ships. The stasis chambers were prone to malfunctions on the long journey out and the effects on the occupants ranged from memory loss up to death. The memory loss, oddly enough, was universal. None of the colonists I had spoken with could remember volunteering to leave their homeworlds, but all of them were certain they must have.

Sudden promotions, mysterious colonists, massive troops movements, mutiny.

The answers to everything lay at Ch'chockpi, the heart of the Empire. I drained my glass and placed on the table next to me. In little more than a standard day my Alae would be in the space around the capitol of the j'Son'jon, but no one there knew how large the Alae had grown. No one could detect a ship with an Appie cloaking shield. It would be a simple matter to send a few ships out investigating.

I sighed and thought of simpler times on Draska. Then I laughed as I remembered the boredom of those simpler times is what drove me to join the Fleet.

 

[Zack Ryan]

Boro’Sug (Supreme Squadron Commander) Aglianan Galadstin

Zak stood and watched the movements of her eyes beneath the closed lids and her lips as she was dreaming. Hard Sleep, induced after bringing the subject up from stasis, always seemed to induce the memories of whatever brought them to being placed into stasis. But when this one is told what happened after she was put under he hoped desperately would not make it necessary to put her back under.

When he looked at the display above her Stasis Pod it showed she had about 3 ships hours left before Hard Sleep cycled over to Normal Sleep, at which time all chemicals would have been removed from her system, and she would be awoken. Turning, he found Ontanon standing to the side, ever watchful.

“Ontanon, I’m going to the flight deck, notify me when she is awake and can talk. Have Oncanon begin the prep of her Demon, and assign one of the druids to her as you are to me. Understood?”

“Understood ZakRianan” and he moved off, to be replaced by one of the lesser androids.

“You understand your instructions?”
“I do, Boro’Ank”
“Very Well, carry on”

He retreated to the flight deck and his chair, where he brooded over the turn of events over the last few days. He couldn’t shake the feeling of dread whenever he thought of P'Mela. He knew, somewhere deep down in the dark areas of his brain that she was lost to him. Either to her Son‘Jon peers or death, but he would never see her again.

“Sir, she is awake” drew him out of his dark reverie. He mentally shook himself and stood, following Oncanon to her quarters, a short distance down the flight deck from his. He knocked and, when the door was opened by her android, he entered. She was standing, facing the port next to her desk. She turned when he entered, and stared openly at him, her mouth dropping open. She immediately dropped to a supine position and begged forgiveness for her affront.

“What is it with the females around me, must they always drop to the floor when I enter a room?” he thought out loud.

“Your Highness, I have offended you, please forgive me or dispose of me.”
Zak couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing and the release of tension from his body was beyond anything the ship’s medical lab could have supplied him.
“Aglianan, stand, you have not offended me”
She remained laying on the deck.
“GET UP NOW, I AM NOT ROYALTY ABOARD THIS CRAFT. NOW, GET UP IMMEDIATELY!”

Slowly Aglianan rose up and he saw her completely finally. She was dressed in an officer’s tunic, without insignia. He thought he would never see another as beautiful as P'Mela, but she was a close rival. Her skin was pale yellow, and she stood only little less than he did, so she must be about 7 ½ to 8 feet tall. Her Copani figure as appealing as P'Mela’s, but only a 3 or 4 hundred years old, not totally mature yet.

“Aglianan Galadstin, you have been awoken from stasis to assist me in planning and executing a plan to save this part of contested space from the Son’Jon Empire.”
Needless to say her eyes widened slightly and she began to question him. He held up his hand and told her there was a reader and data crystals on her desk. Right now, he wanted her to rest. The meal would be served soon and her personal android would bring her to where we would eat and talk.
“If you are not First Prince ZakRianan here, then what do I call you highness?”
“You may call me Boro’Ank (Supreme Commander).”
“And my rank Boro’Ank?”
Boro’Sug (Supreme Squadron Commander) Aglianan Galadstin is your full title.”
Aglianan stood there, not sure she heard right.

Zak turned and smiled broadly and left her, standing and staring at his retreating back.

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

“The Oh-nine boat has a new contact Admiral. Putting it up on the THD now.”

I studied the icons floating before me in the THD. The 23rd Alae had grown considerably in size since it had first been organized and now the scout boats were far enough away for there to be a lag in their signals. It was not much of a lag though and the main screen soon displayed their contact.

“What fool let an Auroran ship get this far into Imperial Space?” I demanded of no one. We had not seen any other Imperial Fleet ships in this sector other than our own. There were always patrols out in the Rim sectors. The sector commander must be a political appointee with no real background in the Fleet. The new Chief of Staff would no doubt be of similar caliber. Their faults were not mine.

“Tell the Oh-nine boat to keep tracking them. Have one of the Copani-class ships uncloak outside the Auroran sensor range and move in on them.” My fingers danced across the display panel beside my chair. There was a communications relay not far from the Aurorans. It was naturally programmed to ignore any signals, including distress signals, sent from their ship but I was able to change that with a few commands from my console. The comm technician passed my orders to the scout boat and Tor-bar notified a suitable Copani-class. The icon representing the APA ship flashed to signal the vessel was dropping its cloaking shield. Tor-bar had chosen one of the recent additions to our Alae.

“According to the database we have discovered nothing more interesting than one of the modified medium freighters the Aurorans are fond of using as intelligence platforms. No doubt they tried to hack into the comm relay.” The first officer looked up and grinned as a ripple of quiet laughter ebbed across the bridge. The comm relay was programmed to counter a signals attack with one of its own. It would have hacked into the Auroran computer and crippled several critical systems on the ship.

A window opened on the main screen as our Copani-class entered the sensor range of the Auroran ship. The reptilian face of the Auroran captain was a study in fear and relief. The Copani were closely allied with Aurora, a case of the weak huddling against the weak for protection, and it was obvious he could not believe his good fortune at finding an ally so deep in j’Son’jon. I thought the Auroran’s plea for assistance was rather poetic. Despite being such a disturbing ugly race of beings the Aurorans were a very well spoken people. A second window opened to show the transmission from our ship. The Appians had modified the signal so their captain appeared to be a Copani.

The Aurorans dropped their shields to welcome their brothers and sisters from between the stars. The Appians launched their fighters.

The ensuing one-sided battle was relayed over the common emergency channel. By the time the first j'Son'jon rescue ship arrived on the scene the 23rd Alae had long since moved away from the twisted wreckage cooling in the all embracing darkness between the stars. No one could easily claim now that the j’Son’jon blocked emergency access to our communication relays. The Empire could be outraged by the intrusion into our territory and saddened by the loss of the Auroran ship. The Aurorans would no doubt be eloquently outraged and the Copani would be silent as always.

All in all, the cruise in to Ch’chokpi was quite satisfactory. As the Sonjon Glory moved into orbit over the heavily forested planet I decided to treat myself, and my Appie bodygaurds, to a traditional meal from my homeworld. There was rumored to be an excellent Draskan restaurant not far from Fleet Headquarters.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Te’Zsing had docked at the Ch’chockpi Spaceport as intructed by Command. After coming out of the jump sleep and taking a quick shower, I had dressed in something thick and warm for the initial trip down. Te’Zsing would remain in spaceport while I took a lake house on the planet. Aik Haw had communicated that he had found me a small but extremely nice house, somewhere very close to Fleet Headquarters. Apparently, he predicted we would put in extremely long duty hours and wanted his Chief of Staff close at hand!

Ch’chockpi, a beautifully forested planet, had become the nerve center for the royal court and its intrigue, as well as all diplomatic and military operations of the j’Son’jon Empire. Every race within the tight alliance was well represented on the planet. It had the finest restaurants, entertainment clubs, libraries, theatres, operatic houses, and dance guilds. Whatever one would want, whenever one would want it, could be found here. And Draksan interests, tastes and sensibilities were adequately represented.

Immediately after landing, I sent my luggage ahead to the lake house, and made my way to a tram. I had to report to duty first thing in the morning, and needed to stop by the clothiers for my final fitting in uniforms. Te’Zsing had communicated my measurements ahead when we left Phobos orbit, but I needed uniforms that fit precisely. I tried on each of the 7 dress uniforms, 2 Royal Ceremonial uniforms and 5 sets of dungarees. Except for some minor adjustment they fit fine. I was told they would be completed and delivered to my lake house by evening fall.

From there, I located my lake house and unpacked. It was luxurious! Aik Haw had been sure to furnish it in compliance with my Draksan heritage, even down to the supplies in the cabinets. I thought about all the time I would spend working at Fleet Headquarters and the realist in me thought such indulgences were a waste, but secretly I enjoy it. The elegant house fed my Draksan sensuality.

Right before lunch, I communicated with my new office and identified myself. I was quickly given over to my Special Assistant, and she and I spoke for nearly an hour. I asked her to bring all the personnel datalinks to my house and to have a light lunch with me. She was there within another half hour. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that she was also Draksan.

P’Aylie had been the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for 8 cycles. I put the other datalinks aside and focused only on hers. I noticed that she kept blushing as I watched the holo-display. What most people in the universe fail to realize is the real power base in an office environment. It is not the boss. It is the boss’s Special Assistant - the person who keeps the appointment calendar and meetings schedule. That person has the most implied power of anyone in an office. In this case, it was P’Aylie, a fellow female Draksan. She alone would decide who saw me, who didn’t see me, who got to me first or last, and who got to tell me what and when. Everyone else mattered second to me. The field command officers under me would essentially run their own show. But if I was going to do well, not make any major blunders, then I needed the loyalty and support of this young woman. And I intended to have it.

She and I chatted on a personal basis as we prepared our light lunch. After eating, as any good Draksan hostess would, I had her sit in the place of honor and I slowly indulged in the High K’Nafa Ceremony. In the samovar, I prepared the thick spicy sweet k’nafa as she watched appreciatively. Then a slight bow in her direction, I awaited her permission to sweeten it with the syrup of p’picau berries. She slightly bowed in return and indicated her permission. We sat and talked as the k’nafa brewed. Then again, I stood, bowing towards her and poured each of our cups full. Two handedly I placed her cup before her and then mine at my place. Then I offered her ghoate milk for temperance and she agreed. I poured only a few drops in and waited her preference. P’Aylie indicated a bit more and I complied. Then I lightened mine as well.

As we drank our k’nafa, I offered her Basboosa (butter cake), Baskasweet (sweet biscuits with crunchy spice nuts), and Warrfallkut (a light pickled fish, potato and cheese delicacy). We ate delicately, like Draksan females, and chatted softly. When she left a while later, I knew that I had just bought her loyalty. I walked back to the chaise to review the other personnel files and fell asleep before reading the first one.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Knocking on her door, brought P’Mela jerking awake. It’s the delivery from the clothier and she frowns at the uncomfortable looking uniforms and puts them hidden away in the bedroom closet. Noticing the cold of the rooms, she turned up the ambient heating to a more acceptable Draksa range. Then noticing her growling stomach and the time, she made reservations at the Draksan restaurant advertised at the spaceport.

P’Mela still had Draksa fully on her mind since her visit. It had filled her with renewed appreciation of her customs. So she indulged in her ritual bath and massage, then selected her outfit. It was a sheer, pale aquablue with white and gold braiding for ankles and wrists. She dressed in the thobs and pulled on the elaborately embroidered chemise. The only makeup she applied was a light blush on the cheeks, lip stain, and took time to apply the detailed and exotic eye makeup. After brushing her long chestnut hair vigorously, she twirled it into a braid and brought the veil up and over to her front hair line, securing it with a gold stick pin with an onyx gemstone on the tip. The left ear carried the small diamond stud indicating her unmarried status, and in the right, she hung the large series of onyx loops which dangled to near her shoulder. After slipping into fleece lined boots to protect her feet from the cold night temperatures of Ch’chockpi, P’Mela slipped into the heavy white fur coat. It reached from her shoulders to nearly her ankles and the stand up collar protected her veiled hair from the planet’s gentle winds.

Leaving the personnel datalinks unread, she headed to the Draksan restaurant. Luckily she had made a reservation. The line was extremely long of aliens and Sonjon waiting to get in but she was shown immediately to a Lady’s table in the far side of the restaurant, and the waiter assisted her in removing the heavy fur coat. Inside the properly warmed Draksan restaurant, her tribal attire would be warm enough. She had an excellent view of the entertainment rise. Since she had reservations for one, but was obviously a Draksan Lady, the waiter sat her at a larger table and brought a for-one samovar. She slowly prepared her k’nafa.

Then P’Mela saw him and dropped the instruments used in measuring the ingredients. The man in the paintings that her mother had drawn. It was he! The same chiseled features, which could be read as hard or gentle given the circumstances. He looked up and saw her looking at him. P’Mela gasped at his eyes. He was Draksan, absolutely! The pale blue eyes were so pale, they appeared to be quicksilver blue. He bowed his head deeply out of respect but his smile never left him. She noticed the deep tan, probably from exposure to warmer planets than this one. And the scar, a slight scar on his left cheek, just as her mother had drawn it.

He seem to talk to someone around him but there was no one there. Then he smiled at her again, indicating by a gentle open hand that he would like to join her. For whatever reasons, she bowed her agreement by a quick lowering of the head. As he made his way through the crowded restaurant, she asked the waiter to bring her a proper sized samovar, and only the finest of k’nafa ingredients. Then watching him push through aliens and waiters, she felt her breath catching time and again. She giggled nervously as she realized her brief stop over on Draksa had certainly reawakened her passion for all things Draksan! There was a flutter in her deepest abdomen and a tiny thrill through her.

When he got close enough, she quickly checked his attire. There was nothing to indicate he was Sonjon military. Therefore, to be assigned to this planet meant he had to be diplomatic or royal. But definitely not military! Good. There was no need to mention her own military involvement. There was a momentary question in her mind - why did she feel uncomfortable with her military career? But then he was there, and she smiled up at him.

 

[FoxyShalimar]

Aglianan

Still staring at the closed door that Zakrianan had left through, Aglianan tried to comprehend what had just happened.
She had been woke from stasis and the first thing she did was to offend First Prince ZakRianan, who had ordered her out of stasis. Then, to make matters even more unusual, she was rewarded with a promotion to Boro’ Sug and an assignment.
The thing she liked most, though, was that even though he was of THE Royal family he didn’t seem to attach to much value to the title, nor the old ways. Maybe things had changed more than she could possibly imagine.
“Boro’Sug”. Her lips formed her new title and she spoke the words just so she could hear them. She smiled then, but the smile faded quickly when she remembered the other things he had told her. As she recalled her eyes turned a bit darker
“Boro’Sug Galadstin, I’ve had you woken from stasis to assist me in planning and executing a plan to save this part of contested space from the Son’Jon Empire.”
She heard his voice again, as if they had been spoken to her just now. The Son’Jon Empire! She had always known they would be the cause for the Dark Ages that were foreseen in the prophecies

She turned and looked at her desk and saw the data crystals laying there, almost as if he had just left them there for her examination. Aglianan knew ZakRianan wanted her to rest, but her inquisitive mind wanted answers.

She inserted the first data crystal into the reader and began to study the crystal’s files. She hadn’t started out planning on viewing all of the data crystals at once but the information she was reading brought an feeling of determination to her face. Much had happened in all those years she had been in stasis but many things had remained the same.

While she was reading many other emotions, like happiness and sadness, sailed across her mind. There were 3 more data crystals left, but Aglianan felt her strength fade and she was very hungry. She had not noticed the hunger because she had been so absorbed in going trough the files.

When she turned to get up her android was standing behind her. “Boro’Ank ZakRianan is awaiting for your arrival to start dinner,” the android told Aglianan.
Aglianan looked at her android. “If you are going to be with me we need to give you a name. What name do you think is suitable for you?” but before the android could respond Aglianan stood up and said, “ I know what I’m going to call you. What do you think about Stylian? It’s somewhat of a Copani name” Aglianan looked at her android. “Should I put Stylian in my database as my name?” the android asked.
“Yes you should” Aglianan sighed “and we definitely need to upgrade you for personal use, but first you can show me were I can get something to eat. I’m hungry!”
Aglianan followed Stylian through the hatch and headed for the eating area.

 

[Zack Ryan]

As he sat and thought about the days to come, Boro’Sug Galadstin entered and, without remembering what he had told her, immediately fell to her knees and assumed the arm stretched position, and said, “First Prince Zakrianan, your servent…”

“STOP” Zak shouts, “Get your self up, now.

Shakily Aglianan stands but, as protocol demands, stares at a spot 2 inches in front of his boots.

Softly, but not nicely, as many will learn of the Boro’Ank and his temper, quiet and hard is much much more dangerous.
“My title is Boro’Ank, not First Prince. If you do not remember that, then you will be Sanitation Engineer Galadstin. Is that understood?”

She could do nothing other than nod yes.

“Raise your eyes Aglianan, it is just me, Boro’Ank ZakRianan. Aboard this ship, as others are brought up from stasis, they will learn of my identity. It must be indoctrinated to every one of them that I am Boro’Ank, Chief of the Copani Forces in the Disputed Territories. But first, let’s eat, I am hungry.”

Ontanon supervised a small group of androids that brought out plates full of Earth food. He had developed a taste for it, and pointed out a dish and named the closest Copani equivalent. She found the food, for the most part, very tasty, sampling everything and finding several items she liked. One of her favorites was one that reminded her of her favorite food, Likchaq, a fish found in the northern reaches of Copan. She asked what they were and he said they called them Fish Sticks. With each item she liked she had Stylian commit it to memory.

Finally the meal was over and Zak indicated more comfortable seating across the room. As they sat, he leaned forward slightly. He studied her more closely and realized that she indeed look much like P'Mela, from the shape of her eyes to the curve of her lips. Her obvious curves were much like hers but impossible to tell. Her pale yellow skin was flawless, except where there were some scars from previous fights and battles. She was becoming nervous now because of his scrutiny of her. Well, if that is part of the job, then Sanitation Engineer Galadstin would be just fine.

Zak sat back and started to talk, explaining exactly what their mission was and what the time frame was, hopefully. Her next several days would be full, studying, exercising to regain muscle and skin tone. He outlined the Demon training and the quick trip to the Auroran outpost.

It was getting late and they both needed to rest and sleep. Zak had two more things to discuss, then they could rest. First he began to explain the chain of command aboard this ship.

“This is the only Command Fortress Class ship of this size in this part of space. It was being built in secret about the time you went into stasis. There have been 3 others built in the years since this one was built. Obviously the cost of building one this size is beyond the treasuries of many alliances.”

“I have command of all the Copani and Allied forces in this sector of space. My second in command is Boro’Ches Lady P’Mela Piaue LeonDocTchi, Heir to the Raegel Kentaurus who has taken on an important assignment and one which she may not return from.” Aglianan felt something as he talked about this woman; fear of loss, secrets not told, something that troubled him deeply, and feelings towards herself that confused him greatly. She thought that he was very much in love with this female and his fears were consuming him, but apparently not to distraction from the mission at hand.
“Following her comes you Boro’Sug. Effectively at this point in our mission, you are 2nd only to me. Once she is back on board you will become 3rd.”

He stopped there, apparently with nothing else to add.

“It was a lot to absorb,” she thought to herself, “I hope I don’t make a fool of myself.”

“You won’t Boro’Sug, otherwise I would have chosen someone else for your position.”
He hadn’t spoken out loud, but had just thought it and pushed it on its way. When he realized that, he stood, apologized to her for sending the thought to her and turned and left the area. She sat there for a period of time and then left to go back to her quarters.

 

[Cadfael]

Originally posted by Cadfael


DennizM walks for about an hour… until he reaches a large clearing. Looking around, he decides this will do…

“Okay you red bastard” he simmers… “Get the hell out here… NOW!” His arms flash out as he begins an incantation.

His form is slowly enveloped is white light, growing stronger, which then splits into two and float to opposite sides of the clearing. One swells and grows, flashes of red flickering across the surface. When both lights simultaneously fade… K'th-na-magywan, his form vaguely transparent looks across at Dionyses Morgarent, dressed in a flight suit, his form also insubstantial. DennizM approaches K’th-na and with barely a hand gesture sends a flare of magic … to K’th-na, it feel as though hand have griped his throat… and his huge head is pulled to down to his friends level…“Are you out of you mind!!!” DennizM screams in to his face… his old friends face black with fury… “How DARE you put me in this position!”

“She is hiding something…” K’th-na replies… rising to his feet… trying to keep his voice calm. “She has a block in her mind. I felt it… when I tried to probe it she nearly killed me! Is this the actions of someone who we can trust? Tell me… tell me… for the Shells sake explain this to me… before my heart breaks! Do you not think this is hurting me as well? I have trusted her with my very soul in the past”

K’th-na is totally unprepared for the slam of white power that hits him, knocking his huge bulk rolling across the clearing. He raises to his haunches… his own anger now beginning to flare… “You go to FAR!!!” he roars… “Do not think because ww are now one being I will allow you treat ME like this”

“She left EVERYTHING for you… and this is how the mighty K'th-na-magywan repays that with the first sign of trouble. You are letting your hope cloud your judgement… your disappointment at what you hoped you had found turn your judgement… Ghi’Ria is gone… get over this!”

"Listen to the great man!" K'th-na sneers "the great advisor... this from a man who has grieved for 3000 years!" He is slammed once more by a wirlwind of wild angry magic.

DennizM never lets up in his anger... “The thing I will never forgive you for… you tore into her mind, you … you violated her you bastard! What is worse you took me with you... made me part of it. Even then… EVEN THEN!!! When her past on Earth was laid before you…” the anger once more consumes him and he lashes out with the art.

K’th-na is ready this time however… and slams DennizM with a wild blast of power. Trees that had stood for hundreds of years exploded into matchwood, as they each traded spell after spell. Finally… they stared across at each other… each one calling upon their power… at the very same instant they, both fling it out…

At that moment... Morgana appeared between them. DennizM, with a scream of terror, desperately draws his spell back within himself, his body thrown back by the backlash. K’th-na launching himself into the air and letting the spell pass over her head… his roar of fear rumbling like thunder… both of them sick with the though of what could have happened to her...

“What the HELL do you think you are doing? If you plan on killing each other, then you’re going to have to kill me first.”

She glared at each one in turn... “Are you boys enjoying yourself” she fumed… “Can I play too… well… can I?”

 

[Zack Ryan]

Originally posted by Zack Ryan
“It was a lot to absorb,” she thought to herself, “I hope I don’t make a fool of myself.”

“You won’t Boro’Sug, otherwise I would have chosen someone else for your position.”
He hadn’t spoken out loud, but had just thought it and pushed it on its way. When he realized that, he stood, apologized to her for sending the thought to her and turned and left the area. She sat there for a period of time and then left to go back to her quarters.

He raced for the hanger deck, stripping off his clothes as he ran. When Zak reached the deck Ontanon gave a mild “ahem” to let him know he was there, waiting for him.

“Yes Ontanon?”
“The Boro’Sug’s Demon is ready sir, and standing ready for her.”
“Is the trainer ready?”
“Yes sir, and the other 200 are being readied as well.”
“Good. Now leave me to my run”

With that he began his, what he calls them, cleansing run. He has reverted, realizing his human body cannot withstand the rigorous runs and he has begun doing them as Copani.

He rebukes himself over and over as he runs and when he has completed his second circuit, at a full out pace, he stops, letting his body rest as he meditates. He realizes that he cannot be that careless again to read or push thoughts for or to anyone.

He heads back to his quarters, needing a vibro shower and sleep.

 

[e-Morgana]

DennizM, horrified at the near tragedy, shook his head and stumbled to the raging Morgana. “My love, are you alright? What did you think you were doing?? You could have been killed,” he says in shocked panic. By this time, K’th-na had swung back around and glided to a landing beside the others.

“Of all the STUPID, IDIOTIC things to do…” he berated her.

“Don’t you DARE yell at me!” she bellows back. “I wasn’t the one about to kill a part of myself. What were you THINKING?? Have you gone completely MAD?!! First you go rummaging through my brain like you own it, then you turn on DennizM….does that sound RATIONAL to you??”

“Oh so I’m mad now am I? Is that why you’ve locked me out? You have some secret you don’t think I can be trusted with. You’re hiding something from me. You tried to KILL me!! So much for unconditional trust.”

“Stop it!! Both of you!!” DennizM tried frantically to interrupt and bring some common sense back to this situation.

Morgana looked at Cadragon in stunned disbelief. “After all we’ve been through…you can’t believe that surely” she implored him. “You’re as much a part of me, as DennizM is of you. You’ve seen into my deepest, inner being. I could never hide anything from you, I swear I haven’t. Not deliberately, anyway.” The confusion and hurt then became too much, and Morgana collapsed sobbing to the ground. As DennizM turned to give K’th-na a piece of his mind, he saw that the dragon also had tears coursing down his face.

“Oh come ON, you two. We have to sort this out once and for all. We are soul mates, and we’re ripping each other apart. It has to STOP!!” DennizM sat himself, cross-legged, in front of Morgana, and cupped her face in his hands. As he wiped the tears away, he gently asked if she could help them understand the blocks in her brain.

The feel of DennizM’s strength and support helped to calm the Enchantress, and she looked gratefully but helplessly into his eyes. “I just don’t KNOW” she told him dejectedly. “I’m so sorry Cad. I know this is hugely important to you for some reason, but I have no idea what’s going on.”

“No my love,” the dragon replied. He laid his head in her lap and looked at her with glistening golden eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I’ve been a complete ass, and it’s time you knew the whole story. It’s just been too painful for me to talk about before, but I can’t stand what this is doing to us. Her name was Be’Thys…she was my EVERYTHING, she WAS me. Be patient…this is really hard….” DennizM put his hand on the dragon’s snout and asked if he might help by explaining some of the details himself. Cadragon nodded in agreement, still finding it hard to control the loss that was as fresh today, as it had ever been.

“I tried to search my memories earlier…before you two rudely interrupted me” Morgana attempted to lighten the mood a little, “but nothing I found makes any sense. When I remember our meeting on Drago Prime, there was so much confusion and chaos, but when I looked more closely, I found this tiny thread which seems to flow from you to the block.” As Cad’s eyes widened in wonderment, Morgana implored him. “What?? What does it mean?? I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

DennizM and Cadragon look deep into each other’s eyes. “Is it possible?” they both wonder.

They decided that there was only one way to find out for sure. As Cadragon was still having difficulty keeping his emotions under control, DennizM took the initiative and asked Morgana if she would be willing to come with him back to the time where this had all happened. Perhaps by seeing things from a different perspective, a solution could be found…or ancient mysteries could be solved.

“We will have to enter each other’s mind so that we can see the whole tragic event,” he explains to her. “Do you trust me?” he asked… knowing that the age-old response may not come quite so easily this time.

“Always!!” she replied immediately, staring directly into his eyes, even though he noticed her hands were trembling.

How could Cadragon ever have questioned her loyalty or devotion to them? His love and admiration for her fearlessness choked any further words from his mouth. He gently transferred both of her hands to one of his, then reached out and placed his finger on the centre of her forehead.