robed men have long beards, and many have long hair.
"Talk about brainwashed Carpati. Look at these idiots. Brothers of Bitani..." Andee nudges towards them with his chin. "What a bunch of lunatics."
"Do these people really worship the Bitani?" Mykee asks shaking his head. "I'm 13 and even I can tell that's crazy."
"Some people are a lost cause." Andee answers walking by one of these bearded men who is handing out pamphlets to passers by.
"We are all a lost cause, but here," reaching out with a pamphlet to Andee, "learn about our saviors, and let them shape your purpose."
"No thanks man, I don't worship people just cuz they live in high castles."
"Brother be free. Take one, and open your heart. The Bitani are spirits of God, our saviors."
"Keep your paper. The Bitani aren't gods, they even say so themselves. Just ask them."
"They are humble my brother."
"We are not brothers." Andee retorts trying to get away but the man jumps in front of him.
"We are all brothers my friend. Don't turn away. The Bitani are humble. They do not demand much from us. Simply that we obey the law and work hard in the fields."
"Their law, and their fields."
"They are but our humble masters, with enough love for us all. Do they not give you light in your home? Water in your faucet? Medicine when you're sick? They give you life, yet you deny them?"
"This is ridiculous. Please get out of my way." But the man skips sideways blocking the two brothers once again.
"They give us life, so we can give them grain. What more would you ask of them?"
"You just gave yourself the clue. If they are gods why do they need to eat our grain? They are people... like us. Carpati like you disgust me. Fool." Andee snaps and forcefully pushes the bearded man out of his way and walks past.
"You are a fool. A lucky fool." The man yells out after Andee.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Andee stops and turns to the man.
"It means that you don't know what awaits you."
"Is that a threat? Punk!" Andee takes a step forward aggressively.
"Brother, I have no threats against you. I only have knowledge that you foolishly ignore."
"What knowledge? You believe people with advanced technology are gods. That's the opposite of knowledge. That's blind stupidity."
"I have knowledge of the Bitani's true power. Their tech is just a tool, like a hammer or a sickle. Their real power is something else."
Andee looks at him with a squinty frown. He's not sure if the man is concocting a sales pitch or maybe he actually has something interesting to say.
"OK, convince me that you have something other than foolishness to speak. What is the other power of the Bitani?"
"It's sad that you should ask. All should know this by now."
"As I thought. You got nothing." Andee turns and starts walking away.
"The Bitani! The Bitani possess the power of the Sacred Warriors." The man yells and Andee stops and turns back.
"You truly are a fool! Now you're mixing in fairytales with..." ...but cuts himself off and turns to his little brother. "Come on Mykee, I've had enough."
"Wait, wait a minute. I want to hear this."
"Don't be gullible little brother. This guy is full of nonsense."
"You and mom never want to tell me about the Sacred Warriors."
"Because it's a dumb fairytale."
"Yeah, but you got to hear it. I want to hear what this guy has to say."
"Old Tom is expecting me. I don't have time for this."
"Then go."
"Fine." Andee concedes then looks up at the approaching man. "You've got one minute." He snaps at the bearded brother.
"Little man listen with your ears open. Don't let your jaded older brother lead you astray." Andee rolls his eyes. "Do you know of the Great War my little man?"
"Of course. It's the only history they teach us in school."
"The Carpati were fighting each other in a great civil war." The man continues.
"That's one version of the story." Andee cuts in.
"The true version." The man responds looking up to Andee, then turns his attention back to Mykee. "It was the Bitani who swooped down from the sky and saved us with their law and order. But there were many Carpati troublemakers who resisted and fought the Bitani, but they were foolish to do so. You see, the Bitani have the power of the Sacred Warriors."
"What are the Sacred Warriors?" Mykee asks becoming more curious.
"A fairytale little brother. The enemies of the moon-fairies, in fact." Andee cuts in and finishes his sentence with a dismissive smirk.
"Not true jaded older brother." The man responds looking up to Andee and then back to Mykee. "They are not enemies. The light-fairies, from the moon, bring us fertility and good fortune, but the Sacred Warriors are spirits that live in us all. We all have a Sacred Warrior within us. You and me." The man points at Mykee's chest and than at his own. Andee stares suspicious but does not interrupt. "The Bitani discovered their inner Sacred Warrior and were able to easily subdue the Carpati. Today most of us Carpati, like your brother here, are still too unruly, to undisciplined, to get in touch with our own sacred warrior. But if you were to follow the path laid down to us by the Bitani, you too could find the warrior within, little man."
"So these sacred warriors, were they real warriors or was that just a title?" Mykee asks.
"Of course they were warriors. Men of great power and responsibility. Power does not come free. With power comes responsibility and discipline."
"What kind of powers did they have?"
"The greatest of them all could fly."
"In lightships?" Mykee asks confused. Andee, with arms folded, is squinting at the man.
"Anyone can fly in a ship, but the masters of the sacred art could fly by the power of the light within us all. They could simply will themselves to fly, anywhere."
"With their bodies?" Mykee asks bewildered.
"Yes."
"How?"
"It's a myth Mykee." Andee interjects. Then looks up to the man. "You said the Bitani swooped down. So you're saying the Bitani have flying ships?"
"Of course."
"Really? You know this?" Andee responds a bit shocked.
"Everyone knows this. That's how they came to us, and saved us."
"From where? From space?" Andee, responds incredulous.
"Yes."
"See, Mykee fairytales."
"It's true." The man objects.
"Then how come I was told they don't exist, and in school I was kicked out when I questioned this?"
"I know of no such things my friend. Join us and you will learn the truth about the Bitani."
"What else can they do?" Mykee brushes his brother away with a swing of his right hand.
"Their greatest power was as light benders."
"What? What is that even mean?" Mykee asks perplexed but curious. Even Andee suddenly leans in.
"We are all beings of light. Sacred Warriors can reach within and bend it to their will."
"Do you mean that literally?" Mykee asks suspicious.
"Yes."
"How? In what way?"
"They can will the energy that exists in us all. It comes out of them like a light, and they can bend it to their will. Use it like a whip, or even spin it into a shield."
"I don't understand. What light?" Mykee squints at the man bewildered.
"The light in the hole in his head." Andee scoffs dismissively.
"Shut up!" Mykee snaps at him.
"I do not know these things myself, but if you join us you can learn as I learn." The man continues ignoring Andee.
"It's probably some kind of Bitani tech this idiot thinks is magic."
"The sacred is not magic my jaded brother. It's real, and it is in you." Pointing to Andee's chest.
"I still don't get it." Mykee interjects. "What is sacred? I don't understand what that is." "Little man, the sac
red is not understood, it is witnessed."
"So have you seen this, sacred?" Mykee asks with suspicious eyes.
"I have."
"Really, you have?" Andee scoffs and shakes his head once again.
"Our master is a sacred warrior. I am a Priest of the Brothers of Bitani. I had the honor of meting him during my initiation rights into the priesthood. It was a truly glorious day."
"How come I never heard of this guy before?" Andee asks, arms folded, and half disinterested.
"What do you know of our brotherhood?"
"Not much I guess."
"There is your answer. You believe us as fools, but I know the truth. I feel the truth, like I felt it the day of my initiation, a day I will never forget."
"Do you have any sacred warrior powers?" Mykee interjects.
"No, not yet, the priesthood is the first step."
"What's the next step?"
The man reaches out with a pamphlet to Mykee. "Join us, it is the only way to know."
"OK, that's enough." Andee grabs the pamphlet out of their hands in the middle of the transaction. "Come on little brother, we've got to go."
"Don't let your jaded brother lead you astray. Join us and become a priest, and you too will meet his holiness, our master, the great Sacred Warrior." The man's voice rises as the boys walk away. "He is a sight to behold little man! Join us up in the city, in his Bitani temple, and see him with your own eyes! See him gliding towards you in his glorious flowing blue robe!"
Andee stops frozen in his tracks. He snaps round with force. Locks his eyes with this Brothers of Bitani priest and then jumps forward, does two handsprings, and lands in front of the bearded man with his face only an inch away.
"What did you say?"
The man is startled by Andee's sudden move and takes a step back, but does not answer.
"Say it again."
"Ah-join us, you're welcome as well jaded brother..."
"No-no-no-no." Andee cuts him off. "Your master. Describe his robe."
"Why describe it when you can see it. Join us brother..."
Andee's eyes are sharp as blades. His left hand shoots out slamming into the man's throat, chocking him hard.
"Describe the punking robe, or I swear I'll snap your neck!" Andee grunts at the man. Mykee rushes up, grabs Andee's arm and struggles to pull him away.
"Stop! What are you doing?"
Andee lets go of the man's throat while Mykee pulls his brother back with all his force. A second later Andee steps back up and grabs the man by the collar, shoving it up into his chin.
"I swear I'll kill you right here! Describe the robe!"
"Brother, brother, relax, OK." The bearded man now becoming more nervous.
"Let him go!" Mykee shouts. Andee lets go, dropping the collar out of his hands, but holds the man hostage with his blade sharp eyes.
"It's a robe, like this one." Pointing to his own. "But nicer, blue, with silver designs on it, kind of fancy." The man's tone and demeanor is now less cultish and more scared.
"Does it have a hood?"
"I think so, but our master wasn't wearing it when I saw him."
"What does he look like, his face?"
"He's an older man, curly white beard and hair, very dark skin." As he speaks other guys in white robes approach after noticing the commotion.
"Brother Pious! Is everything all right?" One of the approaching parishioners asks as they begin to surround the two brothers.
"Come on Mykee we're done here." Andee steps away. Mykee follows.
"This jaded Carpati threatened to kill me!" Pious shouts pointing to Andee as the two brothers walk away. The two biggest men in white robes block the brother's path, while the rest form a circle around them. The robed men have them surrounded.
"We are men of peace." The largest of them all, a big burly guy, now in front of Andee, begins to speak. "But we are on the path to become sacred warriors, and we will defend ourselves if attacked."
Beyond the circle of robed men a crowd of spectators is gathering. Andee looks around concerned, then places his right hand on Mykee's shoulder. He leans to his brother's ear.
"Squat down into a ball if this blows up, and if you can, run to the junkyard." Than raises back up. "Listen... Brother!" Andee addresses the big guy. "Step out of the way, and this will be all over."
"Apologize to brother Pious, and you can be on your way."
"No, you're going to step out of my way." Andee orders the big man unapologetic.
"Dude, don't be thickheaded. Apologize and lets go." Mykee insists nervous.
"Listen to the wise one." The big guy counters.
"I am so sick of bowing down to all things Bitani. Mykee!" Pointing at a gap between the big guys and rest. "Walk through there, and run where I told you. Go!" Mykee cautiously starts walking and passes between the men, while Andee and the big guy hold each other in a stare standoff. The robed brothers do nothing to prevent Mykee from running past them and away.
"You're training to be a sacred warrior?" Andee asks, eyes still locked on the big man.
"I am."
"Then lets see what you've got. Now we'll know if you're the real deal." And without warning Andee flips backwards into a handstand. He starts spinning on his hands with his legs spread out like a propeller, but at an oblique angle so that his feet scrape against the sandy ground kicking up dust. He quickly and skillfully directs the dust into the eyes of the fifteen strong circle around him. The circle breaks quickly as the men scramble to hide their faces. The big guy lunges through the cloud of dust towards Andee. Without breaking rhythm Andee sweeps the big guy's left leg from under him, dropping the man flat on his back. In twice the speed of the big man's fall, Andee is already back on his own feet. Then putting his arms up like a boxer, he lunges towards the other big guy, but instead of a punch, he swings his arm with a hard slap to the side of the his head. The blow is hard enough to cause the man to stumble to the ground, and then as if playing a game, Andee flips and tumbles back and forth, in the now broken circle, each time smacking the nearest guy with powerful blows at an astounding speed.
Some try to counter with their own punch or kick but they are clearly not trained fighters. Their moments are awkward and slow. Andee is like a machine in comparison, three to four times faster than any one of them, and whacks them all. Mostly with slaps, but those who tried to retaliate, either got a punch in the inner elbow, or a kick to the knee. The slaps are hard, but cause no serious injury, just bruised egos and a few limp joints.
Andee quickly reaches the end of the circle. The men are all dizzy and stumbling. The big guy is finally back up on his feet. Infuriated, he again lunges towards Andee, this time from behind. He comes with a hard swing, but sensing the big mass behind him, Andee leaps sideways with a spin kick, nailing the guy in the right ribcage, right under his outstretched swinging arm. The man groans, but quickly reorients and tries to lunge at Andee again. This time he awkwardly throws his whole body forward, driven by frustration but impeded by pain. Andee artfully dives to his left, spinning horizontally in the air, and again nails the big guy in his right ribcage with a kick from his spin. The guy falls in a ball.
Andee lands on the ground on his right shoulder and the momentum spins him over his back and up onto his feet, face to face with the other big guy now back on his feet. The man throws some skillful punches, but too slow. Andee easily deflects them, and like a boxer, explodes with a combination of punches into the man's face. Andee's speed is astounding. Four to five punches a second. The man can do noting but fall backwards. Even before the man hits the ground, Andee turns and freezes, and scans the area to asses at the damage. The first big guy is still curled on the ground, groaning loudly and being tended by some of the others. The other big guy is on his back, his face covered in blood. The rest of the men are still scrambling to their feet but a couple look like they are about to lunge at Andee, again.
"Stop!" Andee yells at the fumbling men in robes around him
. Everyone freezes. "Look at him!" Andee yells pointing to the big guy on the ground. "His ribs are broken. You!" Pointing at the two ready attackers, and then sweeping at the rest. "Those slaps... it was just a game. If I hit you again with all my force, I'll break your bones! Look at his face!" Pointing at the other big guy, all smashed up and bloody. "You're all frauds! If there's a warrior standing here, it's me! Do you want to continue?" Andee delivers his speech with power and authority.
At that same moment a truly huge man comes running from an alley yelling Andee's name. Andee looks over and gestures at the giant guy to stop by raising his palm in the air. The gigantic man stops.
"So what's it going to be? Brothers of Lunacy. You want to take me, and my friend on?" Andee asks nudging his head over his shoulder to the gigantic man. The men in robes disperse and rush to attend to their injured brothers. Andee watches them for a moment, then causally starts heading towards the huge guy. Mykee is approaching the same man from behind. Walking towards them, Andee brushes the dust off his clothes. His double-cape jacket and pants are a brownish orange just like the dust. Andee is completely ignoring the robed men. His focus is on finding the orange dust and brushing it off his leather clothes.
"I always have to save you from trouble." The two-meter-plus stocky and muscled man snips with a smile as he puts his giant hand on Andee's shoulder.
"Thanks Mirceu. I can always count on you." Andee nods with appreciation than leans forward to look past Mirceu to see Mykee on the other side. "You OK little brother?"
"Why do you have to be such a jerk?"
"You're over reacting. These guys are..."
"You didn't have to fight them! You should have just walked away."
Andee takes a deep breath and looks up to Mirceu, who shrugs his big shoulders.
The scuffle was near the end of the plaza where the triangle comes to a point. At the tip of the triangle there is an alley between two large buildings, both shops selling hardware and farming supplies. They walk into the alley under a sign that says; 'Old Man Tom's Junk and Antiques.'
A small yellow sun is shining over alpine mountains outside a window framed by the flowing white drapes. Inside the clean glossy white room, Ricio is on the hospital bed surrounded by futuristic equipment, but he is no longer on a respirator. In fact, he is awake, watching a screen formed out of the ceiling above him. He is watching his own rescue. There is no audio, but filmed from somewhere high above, every moment was captured from both far and wide, and so close you can see the color of their eyes. The images cover everything. The crash and flying debris. His falling bubble smashing into the mountain side, and then bouncing and lodging into the crevice. Andee leaping off the outcrop, and Ghimpouring down the cliff side like an agile little beast. Then Andee and Ricio spending time talking before being pulled out. Andee carrying Ricio on his back to the rescue corps. It is all there in color and recorded for posterity.
The automated door opens. Brandberd Bret walks into the hospital room and up to Ricio's bed.
"How are you feeling son? Can you speak?"
Ricio gives his father a long hard look for a moment. "Yes." But the word comes out weak and strained.
"Good. The room is secure you can say anything."
Ricio's eyes go up to the room's upper corners.
"It's secure, all of the recorders are off. We can talk son."
"I... don't... under... stand..." Ricio mumbles struggling to produce the
Lightship Chronicles Chapter 4 : Sacred Warriors Page 4
