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