The Chronicles of Qi

by J E Kerry

  Huge prehistoric birds, the size of a house, cross their path and the craft maneuvers around a giant Seismosaurus eating from one of the trees.

  “Spaceballs,” Wang is absolutely amazed.

  Dha-loo-ma points at the Seismosaurus.

  “You see that little whit spot on her head? That’s Ke-ena. When I was young, my father used to take me here and let me play with her while he was counseling at Agartha.”

  The Seismosaurus recognizes Dha-loo-ma’s craft and howls into the sky.

  “I thought dinosaurs were wiped out?” Wang is confused.

  “Some were saved and some recreated by our scientists here at Agartha,” Dha-loo-ma explains.

  More craft uncloak, heading to a large outdoor hub for space vehicles, connected to an ancient alien pyramidal-shaped building in the middle of the rainforest.

  Dha-loo-ma’s craft docks, and the pair materialize on a holo-bridge that leads to the pyramid. Alien language carvings and the ‘Eye of Qi’ symbol decorate the gate.

  Wang activates the language program on his Visuals and translates:

  “The gate of wisdom leads to the eye,” he whispers to himself and stalls, remembering, “The Eye of Qi”.

  His marked hand-palm begins to glow again, almost vibrating as he glances at it and catches up with the princess from behind, steps into the building.

  Inside the pyramid, various alien beings of light bluish, porcelain, Mediterranean and oriental appearance, dressed in their traditional robes, gather around a golden altar, known throughout recorded history as the ‘Golden Altar of Incense’; the ‘Circle of Shambhala’ symbol being the solely ornament on its surface. The altar is a 2 cubits (3 feet) tall offering table, featuring a 1 cubit square with a crown of gold around the top and four golden horns decorating each corner. It is made from acacia wood and stands higher than any other article or furnishing in the holy halls. Its interior carries a golden censer that stores a mixture of three rich and rare spices unknown to the surface people.

  An Agarthian priestess, dressed in a white robe of the priesthood, baring a long mane of silvery-white, waist-length hair and prominent, high cheek bones, performs a sacred blending ritual around the altar.

  “What’s happening?” Wang asks Dha-loo-ma as they respectfully pace down the extensively long aisle.

  She connects with him telepathically.

  “The priestess blends the three sacred spices with frankincense and beats them to a fine powder. She then adds salt and fires the coal.”

  While the tattooed Agarthian priestess meditatively goes on with the ritual, igniting the coal by activating the Qi of her bare, marked hands and pouring the mixture out on the burning coals, Dha-loo-ma continues with her introduction.

  “The formula of this ritual can only be performed by a high priestess in the worship of Gand-rah, the first conscious being of the Mother-Universe and guardian of the ‘Eye of Qi’.”

  The scent of the incense carries delightfully through the halls to arouse the senses of any fortunate enough to smell it, reaching also Wang's nose, who immediately begins to smile, eyelids drooping ever so slightly in ‘high’ relaxation.

  The priestess uses her index finger to scratch along her hand-palm and squeezes blood onto the burning coal.

  “She takes her own sacred blood as an offering to Gand-rah,” the princess continues. “The incense symbolizes the fragrance of love and worship. By worshiping Gand-rah, we show respect to the many sacrifices he made for us.”

  Atop the altar hovers an identical piece of the Cintamani as seen in Professor Azarov’s secret underground chamber. Shrouded in incense, the black slab of stone eerily pulses with a dull emerald-green light at its center in a steady rhythm much akin to a heartbeat.

  Wang curiously studies the faces of the extraterrestrial beings standing around this altar. All bipedal in nature, some of the ten species represented share resemblance with humans in their make-up and structure:

  A THOTH HYBRID stands a bit shorter than the average female human, with smooth skin of a golden-brown tone and little hair to speak of. Its face is very young, even childlike, and bares no expression.

  A SIRI-US HUMANOID is beside the Thoth, standing with hands clasped politely before itself and adorned in a loose-fitting robe that brings out the shape of its body.

  A member of the AN-DRE-EN race stands opposite, looking very much reptilian in appearance and mannerism, occasionally flicking out a tongue to taste the air. Its rugged bluish skin and expansive bug-eyes lend credence to this, bristling with scales and blinking horizontally only every once in a while.

  The three counselors of the ANDROMED-A race are of slender neck and body, which hold up a head slightly wider at their top than a human, and cloudy eyes that appear to be almost static.

  The ARC-TUR-US race is also present, strikingly similar in appearance to the Andromed-an, yet with smoother features and a flatter surface where the nose should be, replaced with two raised slits.

  A BLUE ARC-TUR-IAN priestess is not too far off, identical to the Arc-turi in almost every way but in a lighter satin robe, draped over her skull, that serves more of a ceremonial purpose than a practical one.

  Two beings of the FIRST ROOT RACE stand side by side with egg shaped heads that expose low but firm cheekbones and a rounded jaw that meets at the curved tip of the chin. The light above glimmers against their bald heads, and their big, black eyes are pools of black oil, one could easily get lost in.

  The two male and female MAYAN look closest to the average human. Their skin is tan, and their black hair is luscious and well groomed. Though, they have a bearing that is distinctly not of Earth.

  A PLEIADI-AN AMBASSADOR, with a neutral expression and slick, white hair twisted into neat corn rows on either side of its head, looks through some information on a transparent slice of thin glass, roughly the size of its palm.

  Behind the council members, the banner of the Council of Agartha decorates the crystalline wall. This complex banner is all but imprinted into the wall, with two six-sided stars of David, complexly multiplying in on themselves to give the impression of a three-dimensional polygon.

  It serves as a representation of not just the intricacy but the symmetry of the universe itself. The background symbolizes with purple the representation of the future, imagination and dreams but also the path to spirituality and the chance to inspire and enhance psychic abilities and spiritual enlightenment while at the same time keeping mankind grounded through the illuminating color of white purity.

  As Wang and Dha-loo-ma arrive at the altar, Queen Ce-loo-me surprisingly reveals herself to them and turns around.

  “The Queen is here?” Wang whispers to the princess.

  “Yes, but don’t address her. And use your Visuals for translation.”

  She gestures him to follow her and bow in front of the queen and council before they position themselves behind Ce-loo-me who then straightens to initiate with her speech.

  “Thank you, Council of Agartha, for meeting us at such short notice,” she says in Saren.

  Wang activates the translation program on his Visuals.

  Thau-ree-na, a green-skinned human-like woman, steps forward. Her orange-gold eyes appear to glow with a dim light. She wears a red gemstone processed talisman in the symbol of her people around the neck. She is the highest-ranking admiral within the Council of Agartha.

  “Please, speak freely, Queen Ce-loo-me of Lyr-a, High Priestess of the Andromed-a Council, daughter of N-drah and E-drah-me,” she welcomes her.

  Ce-loo-me does a step forward, “Thank you, Admiral Thau-ree-na. As you know, Lyr-an children have been kidnapped by Dark Lord Uruk-maan, highest Commander of the Federation of Lur-aan,” she straightens. “We have long waited for the day to find the missing key to their rescue and the fulfillment of the prophecy.”

  “So, you bring good news?” the admiral asks.

  “Yes,” the queen says. “And no.”

  “Please, explain,” Thau-ree-na says, curiou
sly listening to Ce-loo-mee’s update on the recent situation with the Lur-aan.

  “We have found the key,” she reveals and points at Wang.

  The admiral and the council eye him up from the distance. He answers with a locked smile on his asking face as Ce-loo-me resumes.

  “Do we have your full support, Council?” the queen wants to know.

  “What’s the bad news? Thau-ree-na questions further.

  “Uruk-maan’s request hasn’t changed,” Ce-loo-me reports.

  The admiral doesn’t look pleased.

  “There are two options,” the queen continues. “We either bring back what rightfully belongs to the Lur-aan, or we continue the war and risk our universe by becoming victim of another Lur-aan created loop.”

  “We continue,” Thau-ree-na replies decided, almost snapping at her for even thinking about such a silly suggestion.

  “Allow me one more thought, Admiral,” Ce-loo-me steps even closer. She uses a very warm and intimate tone, trying to convince the admiral. “Since our ancestors took the Cintamani from the Lur-aan, it has brought us only chaos and destruction. Our resources are exhausted to fight a never-ending war,” the queen looks deep into Thau-ree-na’s eyes, suggesting that there has to be some sort of a history between them. “Therefore, shouldn’t we be wiser to restore the balance?”

  The admiral closes the last gap between them, eyeing her suspiciously. She has already made up her mind.

  “Balance is the protection of the Cintamani and of history repeating itself,” she says in her usual calm but determined voice.

  Although Thau-ree-na would love to have a private talk with Ce-loo-me, like in the good old times when they we’re still young and a couple, she is now bound to the etiquette of the Agarthian Council and her duties as the highest admiral.

  Thau-ree-na secretly misses Ce-loo-mee’s fine hands that are fashioned for caressing, her tender kisses, soft lips and the warm and hearty laughs that they used to share, reminding the admiral of the drizzling nights in their secret Lyr-an hideaway, where they would for two or three days a month forget about any obligations to the Council and just enjoy their togetherness. But today, the queen and her admiral have grown apart, their memories being the only connection they still have.

  Ce-loo-me acknowledges Thau-ree-na’s message and bows respectfully, keeping her cover.

  “You have our full support on your rescue-mission but the Cintamani stays with the Council of Agartha, and on Ki,” she adds.

  Ce-loo-me straightens and feigns one of her prominent smiles, “Thank you, Admiral.”

  The three guests leave bowing the altar and march confidently to the exit.

  ∞∞∞

  In the meantime, on the Lyr-an mothership. Unit 12 has gathered on the observation deck of the Lyr-an mothership, peering into space.

  “He was the Dumpling to my Chole … You think he’s still out there?” Rahul asks Aaron, the guilt marked on his face.

  “Well, Brian knows some killer Mushu,” Aaron jokes. “No alien could ever beat that.”

  They exchange a melancholic smile before drifting back into space as Wang and Dha-loo-ma are back from their meeting and join the unit from behind, gazing at Earth.

  “That’s how Chinese goddess Chang’e (goddess of the moon) must have felt,” Jodie says while the Earth seems to shrink with every passing minute, “when she fled to the moon and took the secrets of immortality with her”.

  Sniper moves behind Jodie and intentionally touches her back with his strong, muscular chest. She raises her head up to him and once again blushes, shyly gifting him with a smile.

  Philipe notices their secret interaction from the corner of his eye. It is more than clear now that Sniper and Jodie share a mutual attraction to each other, even though the relationship between teacher and student still bares its danger of getting caught because each soldier has sworn and signed a contract to neither engage romantically or sexually within the unit nor outside of it as long as they are contracted. A soldier’s body and mind solely belong to the AN-CDC and the protection of Earth.

  Defeated, Philipe takes out his smuggled ‘Milky Way’ bar, bites inside, and enjoys this lost battle with a long sigh, “J’ai fini.” (I’m done)

  A familiar hand on Wang’s shoulder lets him turn around.

  “Zhao ge?” Wang wonders surprised.

  “Didi,” Zhao Yun smiles and they embrace a long hug.

  “Why are you here?” Wang wants to know.

  Zhao leads his friend aside for a private moment, unnoticed by the others, and finally deactivates his face-inducer to reveal his true identity.

  There are no words for Wang’s expression on his face. It’s a mixture of surprise, amazement and the question of ‘why’ he didn’t tell him earlier.

  “I promised that all your questions would be answered soon,” Zhao says as he has transformed into a Lyr-an.

  Wang still can’t believe his eyes, “Didi?”

  “There are things you should know,” Zhao says in Chinese as Dha-loo-ma comes up to them from behind and interrupts, “Te-me-uur, may I steel the Dragon from you?” She says with a wink.

  “Of course, my Princess. He’s all yours,” Zhao bows. “We’ll catch up later,” he says to his Didi.

  “I can’t wait,” Wang smiles while the princess grabs his hand and sprints with him to the exit.

  Moments later, Dha-loo-ma and Wang enter a mysterious Lyr-an garden, illuminated by a variety of glowing alien bugs and butterflies circling around. They pause in front of the majestic ‘Vessel of Life’ (Tree of Life).

  They are welcomed by Se-fe-era, a Lyr-an Zal-rah (Spiritual Animal). This graceful creature slinks toward them much like a fox, with bright violet fur and blue-turquoise feathered wings on its back that run down to and meet at its base, sprouting into a bright fluffy tail. Se-fe-era’s face is outlined with tattoo-like Lyr-an symbols that light up with its excitement or happiness, almost emphasizing the two translucent horns that curve backward from either side of its head.

  Other Zal-rah peek out cautiously at the new arrivals from their various hiding spots.

  One, less than the size of a human foot, peers on, concealing itself from Wang in some raised grass, where its small frame, somewhere between a frog and an armadillo, is well camouflaged.

  Another, sleek as a cat, walks from tree branch to tree branch, effortlessly and with a small, rounded face that looks translucent, as though it was a portal opening up into the infinite space of stars, planets and the universe itself.

  It is followed by another, skunk-like, Zal-rah of black and white patterns, highlighted by the dull blue light its fur appears to give off.

  A peppy, energy-filled Zal-rah scuttles out of one tree stump tunnel and very quickly disappears into another, where for a moment it raises its eyes, allowing us to see a baby-goat like face, large eyed and with a single horn curving out forward from the center of its skull.

  Another Zal-rah, that could easily be described as a miniature lion, bravely sits beside a tree, leaning its head forward in a relaxed manner and flexing the large, bat-like wings that emerge from its lower ribs.

  Two more stick together, gazing down over the others from a hard-to-reach spot, high in the tree branches. They both resemble the mundane raccoon but with a poly-chromatic array of colors that set them strongly apart, with the first every hue from red to purple and the second, a much more controlled black, white and grey.

  A bit farther away, standing on the soil, is a deer-like creature, made of the same romantic color as the others, staring in a state of frozen-motion, with the occasional twitch from the proportionately small antlers standing up on its head.

  Dha-loo-ma closes the gap to her Zal-rah and makes a first introduction, “This is Se-fe-era, my personal spiritual animal and a ‘Zal-rah’.”

  She pets and kisses Se-fe-era, “The Zal-rah are the most sacred beings of our people and once lived in the Garden of N-ah. But now, their home is here”.

  Se-fe
-era seems to take an interest in Wang and circles around him, carefully sniffing his hand.

  “Se-fe-era is the last high priestess of this ancient tree,” the princess explains.

  She does a step forward and touches the tree’s surface, “The Vessel of Life”.

  Suddenly, another female voice, soft, deep and wise in its sound, enters their conversation telepathically.

  “Everyone else of my kind died during the Ori-on Wars,” Se-fe-era says as Wang pauses, patting her head and looks up wondering to Dha-loo-ma, “Is this…?”.

  “Yes. She seems to trust you,” the princess says with a smile. “That’s why you’re able connect and hear her voice.”

  Dha-loo-ma performs an elegant hand-move and transforms the tree leaves into flying crystal-orgone pyramid energy generators.

  “Spaceballs,” Wang says once again in awe about the variety of energetic vibration unfolding around them.

  The princess does another hand-move to reveal a gigantic oval-shaped window with view on the giant sun that shoots out fire like a roaring dragon defending his treasure.

  “Are we?” Wang can’t believe his eyes.

  “Yes,” Dha-loo-ma confirms with a proud and relieved smile. “We’re heading for the sun.”

  Wang steps closer to the window, “What’s there?”

  “The Future,” she says and holds Wang’s marked hand.

  Back-lit by the sun’s bursting flames, they share another romantic and very spiritual moment as their Qi begins to snake from their hands up and around their arms until it has their bodies entirely wrapped in the beautifully shimmering colors of a 12-spectral rainbow.

  As the mothership hits the sun’s surface, Mai-loo-na’s voice echoes through space.

  “Universes can collide.

  Worlds can be destroyed.”

  The ship passes through a black spot within the solar flares, slowly de-materializing.

  “Qi always prevails.”

  to be continued ...

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