Adventures in Parodyverse:  Zephiir’s Prophecy, Part 4


    Shen Rae’s shuttle proved to be easier to pilot than Kiivan ever imagined.  It even landed itself - he targeted a spot on the ground, and the craft descended until it gently bumped to a stop against the stone ground.

    It was stone rather than sand, because it was a tarmac at Caph’s one and only Space Port.  They used stone rather than any form of concrete because of the scarcity of water - an ingredient used heavily in concrete casting - and because wind and sand erosion wouldn’t let it last long anyway.

    There was a sandstorm brewing, so Kiivan brought along a robe and fabric mask for himself, and one set for Shen Rae.  He led them both out into the hot wind, and then quickly to a large Caphan spacecraft that an attendant had opened and activated for them.

    The wind roared violently outside, and whipped around the fairly small Shen Rae.  Kiivan didn’t have a much easier time than she did, except that he was used to it and knew how to lean into the maelstrom.

    Once they were inside, the attendant shut the door from the outside, and raced back to the safety of the hangar.  It was silent inside the craft, though it could be felt rocking a little from the wind.

    The inside looked like it was made by lots of hand labor.  It was highly decorative, with hand carved wood and metal panels and floors.  The control panels were all hidden behind solid decorative panels, and heavy curtains divided sections of the craft.

    Kiivan lead her straight to the most utilitarian part of the ship.  He opened a metal hatch at the rear of the small passenger cabin.  It led to an extremely cramped room dominated by a large machine, crowded by a maze of pipes and wires.  The machine was as large as one of Shen Rae’s Fighter Wings.  There was a constant buzzing and hissing in there.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“This is the engine.”  Kiivan said.  “It’s highly inefficient, dangerous, and consumes lots of resources for a very short journey.  Unfortunately, it’s also the best we can do.  That’s why most of the time, our space craft are grounded.  They’re very expensive to launch, and one fifth of them...explode.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I see.”  Shen Rae examined the machine carefully.  

    The pipes concentrated some kind of volatile fuel into a high-voltage ignition source, which explained all the wires.  She turned around, and saw just what she expected - a huge bank of batteries.  That brought two different possible causes for spectacular - and explosive - failure...the fuel, and the batteries.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What sort of fuel does this use?”  she asked.

    Kiivan quickly put on gloves and opened a smaller hatch at the top of the engine.  He partially pulled out a round, solid rod that smelled horribly offensive.  He then slid it back in gently and closed the hatch.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They’re loaded through a door in the roof.”  he said.  “About three feet long, and they last...quite a while, but they’re expensive and dangerous to mine.  We mine this material from deep underground, and compress and mill it into an efficient shape.  Unfortunately, the way it’s used as fuel is vaporization, which also occurs during manufacturing...”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“...so the fuel factories explode a lot, I get it.”  Shen Rae guessed.

    Kiivan nodded, acknowledging her guess.

    Shen Rae exited the horrible smelling engine room, and Kiivan followed and shut the hatch.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What does your spacecraft use as fuel?”  Kiivan asked, point blank.  “I mean, if you wouldn’t mind telling me.”

    She stood with her mouth hanging open for a moment, trying to think of how to describe it easily.  “It’s called...a fusion vortex.”

    Kiivan quietly stared at her, expecting yet patiently waiting for more explanation.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You know how you stir a drink to mix its contents, yes?”  Shen Rae asked.  “We...layer two materials that will react and release massive amounts of energy...fuse with each other, like a star.  But we put a third material in between, that will naturally separate them.  When the mixing stops, so does the reaction.  It’s very safe that way.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Are those materials available on Caph?”  Kiivan asked.

    Shen Rae smiled.  She already knew what he was getting at by now.  “Suitable materials are, yes,”  she replied.  “I assume this means you want a jump start into space?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’d appreciate it.”  Kiivan sighed dreamily and looked out the window into the sandstorm now fully engulfing the small Caphan spacecraft.  “It’s a dream of mine.  I’ve been far into space, of course, I wish to share the dream with others of Caph.”

    She started to see the whole plan Kiivan had, possibly from the beginning.  He was clever indeed.  “And because space is such a dangerous place, you’d like some appropriate weaponry installed.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Of course I’d like our mission to be peaceful, but there are certain realities.”  Kiivan admitted.  “And this might be an ideal way to keep an infusion of advanced weapons out of Caph itself.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’ll have to think about that, Kiivan.”  Shen Rae said.  “I think you should too.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I do.”  he whispered.  “Every time I see an alien craft above our city, or landing in the courtyard in front of the palace.  Each time afraid that this will be the last time Caph will be free.”

    Shen Rae sat in one of the cockpit chairs and sighed, as she watched the sandstorm outside.  “I...kind of like Caph as it is.  I don’t really want it changed like this.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Come to see things my way now, eh?”  Kiivan chuckled.  “And at the same time, you opened my eyes to realities I was blind to before.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I suppose this could be called diplomacy.”  Shen Rae said with a laugh.  “Okay, I’ll put the absolute lightest weapon I have in this craft.  Partly to avoid upsetting the balance of the universe, and partly because I don’t think this can handle the heat or the recoil from anything more powerful.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And I’ll forbid its use without specific orders from me.”  Kiivan chimed in.  “That should curb some of the worries I have.”

    There was a long, silent pause.  Finally, Shen Rae said, “This really scares you, doesn’t it?”

    Kiivan nodded.  “But so did Caph’s fight against the Thonagarians for freedom.  There were many of us who would have been content living under their rule to maintain peace.”

    Shen Rae nodded slowly.  “As soon as the wind dies down a bit, I’ll go and pick up some equipment from my ship.  Do you have a hangar or something to work in?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yes.”  Kiivan pointed at a short but wide building across the tarmac.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Excellent.”  she said.  “Between the palace and this spacecraft, it looks like I’m getting a very complete tour of Caph.  Inside and out.”


---


    The Space Port was deserted during a sandstorm.  Though there were no takeoffs scheduled anyhow, the remaining skeleton staff that would have been on duty to prepare in case there was a launch went home.

    Kiivan wandered into the brightly lit hangar, alone.  There was one spacecraft partially disabled in the middle of the room.  The wind howled outside, and puffs of sand forced their way in past the seals on the huge doors, leading to small sand puddles on the floor around each door.

    Finally, after what seemed like an hour of waiting, the silver wristband Shen Rae gave Kiivan long ago chirped.  He didn’t have to look at it to know what it meant.  Instead, he headed to the hangar control panel and opened the door just to the left of the Caphan craft.

    The wind blew in, and blasted sand all over the room.  Kiivan instinctively lifted up his collar to shield his nose and mouth, and turned away to protect his eyes.  He counted down ten seconds, long enough for Shen Rae’s sleek silver shuttle to hover into the hangar, and then he hit the button to close the door.

    There was an intense roar as automatic vent fans spun up and began forcing the clouds of sand back outside, and then they stopped.  The hangar fell silent again - the whirring sound of Shen Rae’s shuttle had been drowned out by the fans, so Kiivan didn’t hear it shut down.

    In the silent hangar, the door of the silver shuttle clicking open almost silently was amplified, and echoed off of the walls.  Shen Rae stepped out.  Then another door beneath the shuttle, a cargo hatch, popped open.

    Without saying a word, Shen Rae pulled out one long, oval shaped silver tube, as tall as she was, and then a second.  Then a smaller tube that had what looked like a rounded glass cap on one end.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Let me help you with those.”  Kiivan said.

    She stopped him.  “Be careful, they’re very heavy.”  she said.

    Kiivan found out what she meant when he tried lifting one tall cylinder, and found himself straining to maintain balance.  Still, he kept up a brave front.  “Where do you want this?”  he asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Those two go beneath the deck, where they can stay cool.  The smaller one goes between them.  We’ll have to cut exhaust ports in the rear for the two engines, and a hole for the glass dome to fit through the front.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“These...are engines?”  Kiivan asked.  He looked through the open hatch on the Caphan craft at the mechanical monster that Caph had been using.  It was easily four times as large as both of the units Shen Rae brought.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Proton drive.”  Shen Rae explained.  “Capable of light speed, but not wormhole navigation.  They come as a pair so you can steer...the power output is one direction only.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What does it use for fuel?”  Kiivan asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Radioactive decay.”  Shen Rae explained.  “Don’t worry, it’s internally shielded.  It has to be, since it uses the radiation to generate electrical power, and leaks cut efficiency.  There won’t be any dangerous waste, either...the engine uses up the rod inside until it becomes inert.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“How long does it have?”  he asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It depends entirely on how hard you push the engines.”  she said.  “On my shuttle it lasts a few years.  My Light Cruiser ship has twelve of those engines, and it needs fuel once a year.”

    Kiivan nodded.  “I’m sorry for all the questions.  I’m understandably nervous about this.  Optimistic, but nervous.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I understand.”  Shen Rae smiled.  “I would be too.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It’s a lot like a marriage.”  Kiivan observed.  “Have you ever been married, Shen Rae?”

    The alien laughed quietly and uncharacteristically blushed slightly.  “No, I haven’t.  We...should get to work.”

    The Caphan ruler nodded, and began disassembling the deck of the spacecraft from his world.  “You’re not used to such deeply social conversation, are you?”

    Shen Rae shook her head.  “No.  I suppose I’ve been in business so long, I’m used to...keeping my distance.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Don’t do that anymore.”  Kiivan advised her.  “You have too much to offer.”

    She nodded, still seeming a little unnerved.  “Thank you.”  she said.

    The two began working quietly with some very noisy tools, so not much was said as they worked on into darkness.


TO BE CONTINUED?
    

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2010 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin

Adventures in Parodyverse:  Zephiir’s Prophecy, Part 1


    Caphan society had long revered those of advanced age.  It was a society steeped in custom and history, after all, and those who had lived a long time understood the most of it.

    The mark of Caph was its songs, its stories.  They were known beyond their planetary system, beyond their galaxy, thanks to both brisk merchant trade and the Caphan’s need to tell its stories and spread them as far as possible.

    But there was one story never told.  An a old woman named Zephiir, who once spoke of a people who came from the sky to take glorious Caph from its people, to rob it of its riches, and enslave its people, and it would all begin with aliens living among the Caphans.  She told of a war of the heavens, where flashing lights from the sky would foretell disaster on the world below.

    Caphans all but forgot her story as inane ramblings of an ancient mind that had been dulled by age.  That’s why while they were cautious, the world of Caph welcomes its first strangers from the sky.  They were lucky, that first time, those strangers were benign.

    Or perhaps because at that time, there were no flashing lights in the sky.

    Her lost prophecy came to light one warm night when night became day, there was a bright glow from the heavens.  It drew the Caphans out of their homes in the capital city to watch, mesmerized, until the glow slowly dissipated.  And then came the bad news came from its astronomers on the far side of the planet - one of its moons had been destroyed.

    There was an emergency meeting called by Kiivan’s ruling Advisors.  A quick rush of known facts were tossed around, including that the planet was going to suffer strange storms.  As the Advisors spoke to him, Kiivan checked the wristband given to him by a very alien friend.  He was surprised to see that it was already glowing softly.

    In mid-meeting, a lot of confusion was heard outside.  Through the windows, Kiivan could see more bright flashes of light from the sky.  He stood, excused himself, and raced as quickly as he could to his chambers, excusing his attendants with a wave of his hand.

    He was shocked to see Shen Rae there.  But not quite the one he was used to.  Instead of her crisp blue uniform she wore what looked like a racing uniform with boots, made of charcoal colored shimmering fabric.  Her eyes were bright red, and her hair silver with red streaks.  For some reason, she was more casual, and wasn’t hiding her true form.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Is my planet in danger?”  was Kiivan’s first question.  He meant to cover business first.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yes.”  Shen Rae replied, as her eyes saddened.  “As is mine.”


---


    Kiivan sat on cushions on the floor of his private quarters as Shen Rae explained, while sitting across from him.  As he listened, his cheerful expression disappeared, and became sad, then determined, then angry.

    Shen Rae’s people had been discovered living within the Trade Alliance.  They had each been located, one by one, using genetic scan techniques developed for surveying outside planets, but were, until now, illegal to use within Trade Alliance worlds.  Once found, they were given a “choice” that wasn’t really a choice.

    Due to their shape-shifting abilities, longevity, and strength, they would either have to serve the Trading Alliance as spies and agents, or they would be imprisoned underground, for sedition.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“My father was captured at his office.”  Shen Rae went on.  “He is currently imprisoned.  But he managed to warn me before he was arrested, and I fled with my ship and a skeleton crew.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What does it have to do with...?”  Kiivan looked skyward.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“There are elements of the Trading Alliance who wish to protect my people.”  Shen Rae explained sadly.  “They are losing the battle.  As you can tell, since they were fighting to stop the Galactic Government military from destroying your moon.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And why did they do that?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Some of my people were setting up a underground colony on that moon.”  Shen Rae said.  “It was unfortunately detected and destroyed.”

    Kiivan solemnly nodded.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I need aid, Kiivan.  My race now numbers about a dozen.”  she said.  “We need somewhere to live peacefully.  We are willing to share what we can in exchange for shelter and safety.  Well, some of us, anyway...I suppose I can’t speak for us all, I volunteered to do this but wasn’t elected.”

    He almost opened his mouth, asking Shen Rae if she can guarantee the safety of Caph if her people lived there - both from outsiders, and from her own people as well.  But there was some desperation in her voice; and if there was one thing Caph had never turned a blind eye to, it was hospitality.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And you will lead them?”  Kiivan asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No.”  Shen Rae surprisingly slid back, kneeled fully, and bowed to the Caphan leader.  “You will be the only leader.  No one to question your authority.”

    There was a loud knock at the door, and one of Kiivan’s aides announced loudly that he was desperately needed by the Advisors.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It looks as if today is a day for decisions.”  Kiivan mused only partially to himself as he rose to his feet.  He looked down at Shen Rae, who was still kneeling.  She still looked very sad, and worn by stress.  

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Remain here.”  he said.  “My servants will attend to your every need while I discuss your proposal with my Advisors.  I will return as soon as I can.”

    Kiivan clapped his hands loudly, and a flood of attendants poured in with foot and body lotions.  “Attend to Shen Rae until I return,”  he said.  “Nobody comes in until then.”

    He then headed back to the Great Hall to meet destiny.  He didn’t realize that his decision was key to the Prophecy.


---


    The Great Hall had become chaos as everyone talked at once, some angrily, some speaking just to be heard.  Kiivan had just told them of Shen Rae’s proposal, only he didn’t use names or specifics.  He simply said he wished to offer Caphan hospitality to a few dozen aliens who had no home.

    Caphans were indeed a hospitable race, but they were not trusting.  They were also not used to anything too different from themselves, and they feared it.  They worried about aliens shopping at their markets, corrupting their children with different values, or undermining the structure of their society.  What if they demanded abolishment of the caste system?

    That was when Kiivan remembered something.  Shen Rae mentioned that they were shape-changers.  So he took a risk, and made a promise even he wasn’t sure he could keep.  

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They will be invisible to us.”  he promised.  “We will not have to be concerned with how they will integrate.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What about Zephiir’s Prophecy?”  one of the older Advisors spoke up.

    His question led to a murmur from the people who came to observe the meeting.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Zephiir’s Prophecy has been proven to be false.”  Kiivan said triumphantly.  “We have nothing to fear from it.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Except that now, it seems to be coming to pass.”  the Advisor added.

    Kiivan stood, and frowned.  A hush fell over the entire room, as they had seem him look like that before - he was about to say something from his heart, and he would not be interrupted or deterred.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Our people must do what is right.”  he said.  “Turning these aliens away to watch them die at the hands of others is not what is right.  If Zephiir’s prophecy is to come true, then we shall face it, and we shall triumph, and we shall be better for it.”

    There was a cheer from the crowd of observers that quickly dissipated.

    Then the Advisors voted.


---


    Ã¢â‚¬Å“The answer is yes.”  Kiivan announced to Shen Rae as his attendants quickly shuffled out of his quarters and closed the door behind them.  “But there is one condition I hoped you would agree to.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Which is?”  Shen Rae asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You can change your appearance, correct?  I thought I remembered you mention that...so the condition is, when interacting with Caphans your people must appear Caphan.”

    Before Kiivan’s eyes, Shen Rae’s hair and skin turned a light shade of green, and her eyes turned a deep shade of emerald.  ‘I agree to your terms.’  she said in perfect Caphan.

    Kiivan smiled, appearing amused, and he nodded.  “Then we must feast in celebration.”


TO BE CONTINUED?
    

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2010 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin

Interesting to see the effect the two cultures are having on each other.  I'm not really sure where things are heading, in the relationship between them or in the threat to Caph.  Looking forward to more!