by Stone, Ciana
"Yes. And I adore them."
"So, what about Pan? Do you want to be with her again?"
"No. Not in the way I think you mean. Not as lovers or mates. As someone whom I have always loved and will always love, I would welcome the chance to wish her happiness and joy and celebrate the moment when next our paths cross. But my heart belongs to someone else and I cannot change that any more than you can change the choice your heart has made."
Resa looked away, not willing for him to see what would surely be mirrored in her eyes. He was right. No amount of knowledge, memory, and understanding -- nothing had the power to change what she felt for Constantine.
"You could choose to stay here."
She turned to him in astonishment. "Stay? I can't."
"Why?"
"Because!” She jumped to her feet, pacing agitatedly. "Because of all those people back on Earth. What happens to them? And what about the three worlds of V'Kar? What happens to all those millions? How are any of them going to work out their problems if I don't go back?"
"You made that step rather effortlessly, didn't you?"
"What? What are you talking about? What step?"
"Godhood."
"Did you just have a brain fart or have you lost your mind? I'm sure as hell no god, and I definitely don't see myself as one. That's really an ugly thing to say."
"Forgive me if I am in error. However, if as you say, you see yourself lacking god status, then how can you possibly be responsible for all those lives? How can it be up to you and you alone, to determine how those lives should proceed or in what direction?"
"That's not what I'm doing and you know it. I don't think anything's my decision. I just meant that if I don't go back and go to V'Kar then they're all going to die. If they can't reproduce and can only extend life for a finite amount of time, then they are going to become extinct."
"Are they, now? And how do you come by the evidence to support such certainty? These worlds have scientists, have they not?"
"Well, yeah, but they've been trying for god knows how long to figure --"
"Forgive me, but allow me to finish. Why should once race propagate in favor over another? Shall the D’Harahn and Valian reach détente and leave the Nurian to fade into extinction?"
"Well, no. I mean if Azarth can make a genetics program viable then it should be made available to all of V’Kar."
"Under the rule of the Sisterhood?"
"Well… I don’t know. I guess. Who else could be trusted to do what is fair?"
“I know something of Pandora. After all, I did design her. As her designer, I understand the way her mind operates. Perhaps she believes this to be true, but the Order was composed of the most brilliant of the breed, and from what I understand from you, has worked diligently to "improve their breed" so to speak, with each generation."
"True.”
“Resa, what is important is this question: Who has the right to decide the fate of an entire race, except that race themselves?"
"Well, no one."
"No one?"
"Yeah."
"Not even you?"
Resa's mouth opened and then clamped shut. Adahl rose, put his hands into the side pockets of the tunic he wore and sauntered over to stand in front of her. "If those people want to survive, the means is in their hands now. They need only work together and the goal can be reached. If they choose not to, but remain stubbornly divided, lost in animosity, greed, and envy, then they will doom themselves. It's a notion I'm sure you've heard speak of -- "Free Will.” This is the right of every sentient life form. Who are you or I to take that from them?"
The history of earth alone was support enough for his argument. "You're right. The V'Kar can solve their problems if they want to. With this,” she touched the stone,” I can send them back.”
“No, you cannot.”
“Yes, I can. Pandora did it so I can, too.”
The look on his face sent a shiver of dread through her. “What?” She reached for his hand. “What it is?”
“There is nothing for them to return to.”
Dread turned to sick fear. “What do you mean?”
“V’Kar is gone.”
“Gone? How can it be gone?”
“It has been destroyed.”
Resa found herself on her butt on the ground a second later, not even realizing her legs had given way until she hit. “What happened?”
Adahl took a seat on the ground beside her. “There is a grave threat, my child. One that sweeps through the Universe. A race so hungry they will let nothing stand in their way of destroying or assimilating every world they encounter.”
“But how could they destroy an entire star system?”
“By destroying the star that sustains it.”
Fear the likes of which she’d never known gripped her. If whoever destroyed V’Kar should turn their sights on Earth, everyone and everything she’d ever known and loved could be wiped out.
“Why would they do that?”
“Because the Emperor would not surrender.”
As a warrior, she understood that. It was better to die free than live as a slave.
“Only life brings hope,” Adahl commented. “A slave may hope for a better life.”
She knew he was right. How many cultures had been enslaved during the history of man to one day rise and wrest their freedom from those who enslaved them?
“This race. What are they called?”
“Nyx would be the closest interpretation in your language.”
“Sounds like something from Greek mythology.”
“Apt.”
“What you do mean?”
“In your Greek Nyx was born of Chaos and gave birth to Moros, or doom, Thanatos or death, along with many others.”
“And do the Nyx know of Earth?”
“Yes.”
“Then I have to help save Earth.
"My child, everyone you love or have loved, has deceived and manipulated you for their own private agendas. Why go back to a place like that? A place where the most effective deceit rules the day?
"Maybe you're one hundred percent right, but I still have to go back."
"For what?"
"Not what -- who."
He smiled and offered his hand. "Like I said, choices of the heart are strong. However, should you change your mind, you will be welcome."
"Thank you.” She went into his embrace and savored the paternal feeling she gained from the experience.
"Well, I guess now is as good a time as any.” She frowned and looked up at him with uncertainty, fingering the key around her neck. "Do you by chance know how I get this thing to call up Earth?"
"To explain it in the most simple terms, it involves the engram imprinting. When your Awakening commenced, a chemical reaction activated the memory engrams, which, in turn, merged with your mind, creating another irreversible chemical change to take place within the brain chemistry, and also creating a "marker", some specific electro-chemical combination that acts as a "dialing mechanism". When you are connected to the device, your energy patterns activate a beacon or probe that searches out the energy of the target, using the energy signal stored in the memories as a tracking device and the target as a homing beacon. If my theory holds, you have a link to Earth, because your creation process began there."
"And should that fail,” he added, "you have my engrams to serve as tracking modules for I know Earth well."
All at once, it clicked in Resa's mind. "That means -- you're -- you're not just my father, you’re the creators of humanity. You created the V’Kar as well as humans. Ah, I see, the Deluge on Earth. They were the ones who survived. But I thought a similar thing happened on Shadallah with the V’Kar. Weren’t all of the hybrids who survived were sent into space?"
"Not all. One group of hybrids used blueprints designed by our engineers for a submersible vessel and constructed such a craft. They survived the Deluge."
"This is ... incredible!” She was staggered by
the implications. "We have to tell them, to explain it to them."
"To what end?"
"Because it's the truth! We -- I mean, they, have a right to know."
Adahl chuckled and patted the side of her face gently. "And so now it is up to you to set the human race to rights, is it? To explain the nature of their creation to them as you know it. Is this really your place, my dear, or is it their right to discover such truth for themselves in their own time? Can you make your truth theirs or will you simply be handing them another myth, something of curiosity and speculation, but possessed of no substance for them to grasp and thus believe? Or perhaps, clever woman that you are, you will provide evidence of this truth you so graciously provide. Perhaps you will reveal the existence of the V'Kar to them. Demonstrate the ability of the Gate you control. Or then maybe you will --"
"Okay, okay, I get it.” She did not need him to tell her what a can of worms that would open. "Guess I got a little carried away there for a moment. Sorry."
"No need. And don't be too hard on yourself. The enthusiasm of youth often sparks impetuousness."
"In other words, look before you leap?"
"A curious way of phrasing it, but essentially, yes."
"I'll try.” She reached for her pendant, feeling the key activate as her hand closed around it. She thought of Earth, of her home, of Constantine.
"Will I see you again?” She asked as the shimmering field appeared around her, distorting the pastoral setting.
"If that is what you wish. You are always welcome here."
"Thanks,” she gave his hand a parting squeeze. "Wish me luck."
"I'd rather wish you love."
With one last look around, Resa closed her eyes.
Chapter Seven
Constantine was in the middle of a strategy meeting with Leonidas and Octavian, going over the plan of attack when suddenly his sense of Resa vanished. He’d never imagined anything as crushing as the pain that overwhelmed him. It literally took his strength and sent him staggering. Octavian reached out to steady him before he crashed into the smart board.
“She’s gone,” Constantine could barely speak.
Octavian’s hand tightened on his arm. To Constantine’s surprise, Leonidas stepped up on his opposite side to help support him. “Dead?” He asked.
Constantine shook his head. “I do not know. Just …gone.”
Octavian and Leonidas helped him to a chair. Constantine’s chest felt compressed, as if crushed. Breathing was an effort. His mind was on fire, seeking frantically for any sense of her. He could not even manage to lift his head the pain and anguish were so great.
Resa!
I am here, my love.
His head jerked up in time to see a shimmer of blue violet light flare on the other side of the room. What appeared to be a bubble of swimming light appeared. A moment later, it vanished. In its place was Resa.
She ran across the room to him. He rose, meeting her half way to crush her in his arms. Beloved.
We are safe. Her thoughts came to him clearly. But we have much to say.
We? He drew back to look at her.
Your son and I.
“We move against the Alliance within the hour,” he announced.
It was then she noticed Octavian and Leonidas. She was eager to tell Constantine all she had learned, but now was not the time. Nor was it the time for war. If what she’d learned were true, they would need the Alliance as allies.
“Call off the attack.”
All three men looked at her in surprise. “I’m safe. There’s no need for rescue.”
“There is need to destroy.” Leonidas growled. “By what means did you escape?”
“You have access to the Gate?” Octavian asked.
Resa looked from one man to the other. “Call off the attack.”
“For what reason?” Constantine asked.
Resa could feel their resolve. It was going to take more than a request to change their minds. She hoped she was not about to make a huge mistake.
“Because V’Kar has been destroyed.”
There was a shocked silence so ripe with pain that followed she felt it like a physical blow. Her hands went protectively to her belly, her body curling down and inward in protection of her child.
Constantine took her arm to steady her, despite the weakness she knew he felt at the news. “I’m okay,” she assured him.
“She lies,” Leonidas’ voice sounded strained.
“How can this be?” Octavian asked. “Had there been an event we would have known. Pandora would have…”
“She does not yet know. Communication with V’Kar ended before the attack.”
A cacophony of voices demanding answers, posing questions followed. Resa took a seat, waiting until the questions ended and all fell silent. It was clear now. She had to share what she knew with all of them. They and their people were all that was left of V’Kar. If they were to rebuild their race, it had to be here on Earth. For that, they needed peace.
There was no better time for peace to begin than now.
“Please.” She extended her hands. “Join with me.”
Constantine took her hand and she allowed herself a moment to look into his eyes. Trust her, father.
At the request from their son through her, his hand tightened on hers.
Resa looked at the other two men. “Please, stand with me. I promise no harm will come to you.”
Octavian and Leonidas stepped up close to her. She took the gem hanging from the silver chain around her neck into her free hand and thought of Adahl.
It was time for them to meet her father.
Chapter Eight
Resa was surprised when Adahl asked her to bring Pandora to his world. She left Constantine, Leonidas, and Octavian with Adahl and returned to Earth. Pandora was shocked and furious to discover that Resa had control of the Gate but accompanied her.
Adahl greeted Pandora with a warm embrace, but gently shoved her back when she tried to initiate a kiss. “It is time for you to tell your people the truth.”
“They know what they need to know.” Pandora replied.
“They will know the truth.” It was the first time Resa had heard steel in his voice. She wondered what he would do if Pandora refused. She wasn’t going to find out. Pandora challenged him with her eyes for a brief moment then turned to face the others.
“In the time before the written word, they came - The Gods of Old - the Khan V'Kar. They choose the most fertile land mass on the planet to be their home away from home, the land they called ShaMurh "Land of the Guardians"
“Adahl, one of the leaders, set about building waterworks in the marshy lands to the west, at the head of a body of water he named the Mazian, a gulf. He had the marshlands surveyed; canals cut for drainage and water control, had dykes built, dug ditches, and built structures of bricks molded from the local clays. He joined two great rivers, the Phrazdon and the Griztalh, by canals and at the edge of the marshlands, he built a Water House, with a wharf and other facilities.
“All this was done for a reason. On his original home world -- Birahn --, gold was needed -- both for their space program, but more importantly for their atmosphere. Over exploited and polluted, the only way to protect the planet was to suspend gold particles in the waning atmosphere and in doing so shield it from critical dissipation.
“Adahl was well suited for this mission. Son of DaNurh, the ruler of Birahn, he was a brilliant scientist and engineer. His plan was to extract the gold form the waters of the Mazian Gulf and the adjoining shallow marshlands that extended from the Gulf into ShaMurh.
“But all did not go as planned. Gold production was far below expectations. It was a tedious process to extract the gold from the Gulf but the need for gold was critical.
“Adahl came up with another plan. There was an area rich in underground gold in the land called Primeva. The only problem was that it had to be extracted from the earth through mining. The decision to change over from the sophi
sticated water-treatment process to the backbreaking labor or mining beneath the surface was one that did not come lightly.
“On the home world, the ruler DaNurh agreed to his son's plan but felt that Adahl was not equipped to handle such an undertaking alone. With the equipment, ore ships, and laborers, Adahl requested, DaNurh sent the Heir Apparent, RaNil.
“The Birahnians built a metallurgical center for smelting and refining the ore and called it Tibiria. A beacon-city, to guide the landing spacecraft was constructed and named Parsian. They also built a medical center they called Isban, and put SyFeth, the half-sister of Adahl and RaNil, in charge. She was also a brilliant scientist and geneticist. Last, they built a Mission Control Center in a lavish city called KiBruan. Here, on top of an artificially raised platform equipped with antennas, was a secret chamber where the space charts were displayed and communication with the homeward was maintained.
“For a time gold production increased. Then the workers began to become dissatisfied and production fell sharply. The workers felt they were treated unfairly, that they were made to work too hard, too long, and for too little reward. They elected a representative from among themselves - Sotron, and sent him to appeal to RaNil and Adahl. RaNil dismissed him with distain, overriding Adahl's advice to come to a peaceful settlement with the workers. Sotron reported to the workers, and a plan was set into motion to force RaNil into giving into their demands.
“During this time, Adahl spent more and more time with the laborers. They talked to him about their dissatisfactions and brought their complaints to him. He felt sympathy for their plight, and made numerous requests to RaNil on their behalf. However, RaNil was firm and would not be swayed.
“As production fell off more, RaNil made a surprise visit to the mining area for a tour of inspection. Seizing the opportunity, a signal was given and the workers declared a mutiny. They marked upon RaNil's residence in the area, refusing to work until their demands were met. Nothing would budge them, not even threats of death.
“While RaNil was thus occupied, one of the workers, Sotron broke into Ki Braun and disabled communications with the home world. RaNil was furious and sent a scout ship home to report to his father on the home world. DaNurh, his father arrived and while he listened to Adahl's pleas, he stood behind the Heir, RaNil and refused to give in to the demands of his people. He wanted the name of the traitor who had stolen the vital chips. No one would divulge the name, not even when threatened with execution.
