52 (DSV Nautica) Families
The transport touched down on the platform with a fairly loud clang, conduits shutting down. The fields shut down, allowing all passengers off.
Flare stepped out and over to the edge of the platform. The ocean, blue as ever with the faintest shade of purple stretched out before them. It was already evening time, the sun well on the decline.
Aa'zac was arranging for some fast transport north of here, where the sun clan's camp was.
Wind blew her hair out and down her back, a gentle sea breeze. It had been months since she set foot on New Ayr's shores. It was far too long for her liking. She and the rest of her race maintained a spiritual feeling toward their beloved planet, seeing it as a refuge for them. Nothing enforced this more than the nine dreadnaughts permanently stationed around it.
Towers stood tall and proud on the water, wind whistling a soft melody through them. One of the only true cities that was as peaceful as nature itself. This place was essentially a summer home for those living in orbit.
Aa'zac nudged her from behind. Time to go.
Two streaks of light left the city, headed straight for land. At nearly 200 km/h they both sped on their boards toward the location of the sun clan.Flare gazed at the horizon, letting the board pilot itself, drawing from her will and subconscious mind to steer. It would be good to relax with them again, hear their stories, and remember old times. Though she was certain she would bring a moment of tension to the camp upon her return. They held no grudges against her, she knew. But rather she brought forth memories of another from her past...
Aa'zac peeked over at Flare as she rode. She had a kind of absent-minded look on her face as if she was somewhere else completely. Was it related to their tense moment on the ship? What came from her past that was so painful or upsetting? He sighed. He didn't want to have an argument about it, but he was afraid that they would eventually have to face it. That was not a day he was looking forward to.
The two of them headed slightly north, toward the stone quarries in the high mountains. Despite its name, the Sun Tribe was up north in the high mountains, where the snow was thick. But they were closest to the sun. Flare pointed, using exaggerated motions to make it clear what she was saying. Aa'zac looked and felt his stomach twist in amazement. There was a massive, and he did mean massive, Auril obelisk. It must have been a kilometer tall. The top had a large glowing yellow orb, fueled by yellow conduits twisting up around the whole structure to the top.
"Well...that's..." He chuckled, coming to a stop in midair several kilometers high. Flare joined him, smiling.
"Don't you have something similar?"
"Well, yeah....but...wow."
They both dove toward the ground. The obelisk was at the head of a large valley, wherein laid the Sun clan.
They could see the fires dotting the landscape even all the way up here.Aa'zac followed Flares lead, touching down outside of the camp out of courtesy. They certainly would have seen the two coming from a long ways off. The elders probably knew they would be here even before they had left orbit. Upon touchdown, they stood before a massive arch with the same yellow-gold conduits around the obelisk. Flare pulled Aa'zac over to a solid gold circle in the ground, about 3 meters wide. When standing in the circle, looking at the arch, it appeared the massive globe at the top was resting right on the arch before them. Aa'zac let out an knowing smile. He saw what they had done here; a most impressive display to newcomers.
"How far are we from the Obelisk?"
"About two kilometers from here. We built it far away so we never fell in its shadow, but close enough to travel by foot, easily." Flare took a moment to breath in the sweet mountain air. It had been a long time. Many worlds had industrial revolutions pollute their precious landscape, filling the air with filth. Not here. New Ayr was almost spotless as the day they had settled. Aside from a few monuments and cities that could be uprooted with ease, the planet was relatively untouched. If they picked up and took off, 99% of the planet would appear as if a sentient race had never set foot upon it.
Aki stepped out of the wash room, letting the water drip off of her, staring into a reflection conduit. She saw herself, slim build; her violet skin was bright again, now that it had been cleaned. Her crest was clearly defined again. She looked and felt a lot better. Zhi stepped out behind her, holding her by the shoulders.
"Now there's a good looking female if I've ever seen one."
She smiled and nudged against him as he kissed her on the cheek, she turned around, nuzzling his chest. She wanted this moment to last forever, to just relax against Zhi and feel his warm chest, to hold each other dressed as the day they were born into this world.
But it would not last.
"Captain, we are in need of you back at your ship, an assignment has come through."
Aki sighed, bowing her head. "Time to go."
They dried each other off, taking their time. Aki paused for moment. The scroll, must have fallen between the bed and wall...She reached back and pulled it up, sighing and looking at the constantly changing silver swirls. Zhi sat next to her, furrowing his brow.
"What is that?"
Aki sighed, leaning into him.
"Zhi...look...I need to show you something..."
She could see the concern in his eyes. She kissed his lips, and gently rested her forehead against his. It happened fast. A flood of memories and feelings crossed from Aki to Zhi, everything regarding the scrolls. Their existence, what they were, and that they could be read by her.
Zhi was completely caught off guard. He looked into Aki's eyes she didn't give him a chance, before pushing him over and climbing on top of him. She kissed him on the lips, letting out a sound of contentment. He held her in his arms. He moved to speak, but Aki broke the silence first.
"Zhi, our race doesn't join in unions like others, but if we did, I would join you...."
Zhi felt a rush overtake him. They had been together for some years, but never had Aki mentioned this."Even...after what I...did?" He referred to the incident of sabotage he conducted on the Erebus.
"You...you confessed to your mistake and surrendered. It's going on the record, but I can forgive you this time. But not again." She looked into his eyes before pulling him up.
"Come on. I want my engineer back." She smiled as they both headed out the door. Zhi followed her, his thoughts reeling. The scrolls were real. Aki could read them. And she was in love with him?
On its most basic level, love was a series of chemical reactions triggered in the brain in order for compatible couples to meet and mate. Love between friends and family members were both survival traits. But they had taken such an elementary evolution tool and given it much meaning. Not all Ayr'een did that. Some would even undergo artificial insemination, or mate simply to produce offspring. Aki had been raised in a clan, with a father who valued love as something else. Something more important than what nature had instilled in them. Zhi had been raised somewhat similar, but he had moved around a lot from different clans at a young age, to learn from elders. He saw Aki and desired what she had; a family, a relationship, a mate. Aki was willing to give him that, and because of this, he was the happiest Ayr'een in the solar system right now. He had a lot of questions remaining, but Aki had given him the reassurance he needed during their exchange. He followed her respectfully toward the docks. It was time to be the inferior elite to his captain.
He wasn't happy, none of them were. But this was expected. It had been for some time.
"My master...it worked. The Shinigami craft are fully operational and successfully tested." One of them spoke low, in a tone of hushed respect.
The Ancient One spoke softly. His skin was a midnight blue, with deep aging lines. The edge between blue body and white chest was somewhat blurred, yet another sign of his age. His eyes were a pair of solid black orbs, and didn't seem to have focus. Hair had long since turned white, cut short. Deep cracks and chips all over horns. He was very, very old to say the least. The most noticeable feature, though, was the collar he wore. It was solid black with a blue line around the equator, with a point of light continually traveling around it."G...good..." he managed to nod. He took a deep breath, gasping for air. Those by his side rushed to give him a mask, which he fit over his face and inhaled deeply, leaning his head back.
"Alpha..." The male standing before him, the same one observing the fleet with the female, delivered his report, then stepped forward, arms outstretched toward the elder, who raised his hand motioning for the younger to stop.
"It's....my time." the Ancient one murmured. "I have held on...as long as I can." His voice was barely audible in the giant chamber. Withered arms rested on the throne he sat in.
"But...our victory..."
"Will come. I will know. I will see it. From within the... scrolls..." he closed his eyes and let out his final breath. A look of peace was written across his face, which was something he never had in life. The collar around his neck emitted a shrill beeping that took everyone off guard. Clicking sounds from within caused everyone to draw back, before it split down the back, coming apart like a claw and tumbling down with a loud clang.