The Cycles of Revelation Series
Artifact of the Dawn: Accord (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)
Episode 31: Despite failing to convince Druyndar of the truth, the other elders come to an accord with Takyra.
Takyra led them all to the dining hall, while Aerys returned to the main control room. “Now that everyone is in accord, let’s share a meal,” she suggested. “I think our guests can all learn something while I get Amyra up to date.”
Once they were all situated, Takyra explained what had happened so far. Jevan and Ardyn filled in some details from their perspective, although they glossed over some of what happened, giving the elders and ard spurious glances.
It was when Amyra asked questions that everyone at the table became a little tense. “So, after all these centuries, you thought this was some ancient temple filled with your dead ancestors? Not one of you wondered why part of your rituals included checking on the power levels?”
Mathias raised his hands in supplication. “My people are innocent in all this. I knew nothing before we followed Ardyn and Jevan into the Aria’una.”
The Athla’naa elders both looked chastised, and Taeglyn spoke up. “I had my doubts,” he admitted. “But the ancient texts were very clear, and I did not feel I had cause to doubt them.”
Aelrynd let out a frustrated growl. “Admit it, you feared Druyndar. We both are guilty of trying to placate him, lest he revolt and fracture the harmony our people have forged here.”
“What’s past is past,” Takyra said. “Your generation is not at fault for what your ancestors did. They are the ones we should blame for our internment. They knew we would spend a tortured eternity asleep, dreaming one day to waken.”
“You were aware of your slumber, all those years?” Taeglyn asked, taken aback by Takyra’s admission.
“Yes,” Takyra admitted. “Your ancestors knew what life was like inside those cryopods because they had been in the cryopods themselves until they wakened early and crashed the Rahn’naa on this world.”
Ardyn couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Takyra hadn’t told them what it had been like inside the cryopods, and he couldn’t imagine experiencing something that sounded like an unending nightmare.
“We’ve always believed that technology corrupts,” Aelrynd said. “However, it seems corruption can happen, even in the absence of technology.”
“We have never lived with anything more advanced than stone tools,” Ardyn said. “Everything I have learned here shows me that technology is nothing more than a tool to make tasks easier.”
Taeglyn smirked at him. “Even after all the times we tried to beat tradition into you, you never lost that spark of curiosity.”
Ardyn couldn’t stop the sudden well of anger that bubbled to the surface. “Don’t talk to me about your damned traditions,” Ardyn spat, springing out of his chair. “Now that I know the truth, I am sickened at how you used me, bred me, and for what? So, we could maintain a stable population when our ancestors forced five thousand of our people to rot?”
Jevan stood next to Ardyn, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as he seethed with anger.
Looking shocked, Amyra turned her gaze to Ardyn. “They bred you?”
Feeling his face heat from the shameful memories, Ardyn nodded. “Yes. They forced all of us to mate when we come of age, and every male must impregnate at least three different females to fulfill our duty to tradition.”
“We still have more females born than males,” Aelrynd argued, as she turned to Takyra. “The ancient texts instructed us to mate in this fashion, to maintain the proper balance of sexes within our population. It’s one of our most sacred traditions.”
Burying her head in her hands, Takyra screamed in frustration. “That’s not what I meant! This should never be something that is forced on anyone. The Aria’asharra on board the ship had an unbalanced population, with three times as many females as males. After they woke me, and I understood their intentions, I merely suggested that they shouldn’t let their new society become monogamous. Their population was small and would be cut off from Aria’naa. They needed to make sure that all the females who wished to bear a child would have the opportunity.”
“The coming-of-age ritual is very honored among our people,” Taeglyn interjected. “Many of our children look forward to it. Ardyn was unusually reluctant.”
“That’s because I have no desire to mate with females!” Ardyn shouted. “I told you that over and over, but you refused to listen.”
“We were well aware of your preferences,” Aelrynd said. “We never forbade you from pursuing male partners for your sexual gratification, but you knew you were required to produce children, for the good of the community.”
Standing and pounding a fist on the table, Takyra shouted. “Enough!”
Everyone immediately quieted as all eyes turned toward her. “This is not the way of the Athla’naa. This was never the way of our people, and I am disgusted to hear that you devolved into… this.”
“Our ancestors must have had their reasons for what they did,” Aelrynd tried to argue.
“Your ancestors were a small radical faction in our society,” Takyra said. “We had achieved peace and prosperity, yet they were still discontent, and they tried to spread their discontent to others.”
“If you had achieved such prosperity, why did you have to send so many of our people to live among the stars?” Taeglyn argued.
As Takyra took a moment to regain her composure, Ardyn and Jevan sat back down.
“For many reasons,” Takyra replied. “Due to all our advances, we lived longer, healthier lives. Every year more children were born than died. As our burgeoning population grew, we foresaw a time when we would overpopulate Aria’naa and run out of resources entirely.”
“Our scientists searched for, and found, other planets for us to colonize,” Amyra added, joining the conversation. “The aim was two-fold. Sending us into space helped to reduce the population by a fraction. Once the colonies were established, they could also send resources back to Aria’naa, solving two problems at the same time.”
“Many of us jumped at the chance to venture among the stars,” Takyra said. “The prospect of living on a new world and building our own civilization excited us.”
“So, Aria’naa hadn’t suffered from an…” Aelrynd paused, seeming to search for the right words. “From an ecological collapse? Our ancient texts explained that was why they took refuge inside this… this… ship.”
“No, Aria’naa hadn’t suffered from an ecological collapse,” Takyra replied. “Not yet anyway. We recognized that there could be problems in the future if we didn’t slow population growth and find new resources to help sustain our existing populations. Colonization was one of many ways we were trying to prevent a potential catastrophe.”
“From what you’ve told us, that was centuries ago,” Taeglyn interjected. “How do you know Aria’naa isn’t a dead world by now?”
“We’ll soon find out,” Takyra replied. “I sent a subspace beacon into orbit recently and transmitted a message back to Aria’naa. I’m hoping to hear from them soon.”
At that moment, Takyra’s tablet chimed. Activating it, Ardyn could hear Aerys. “Takyra, please come to the main control room. There’s been a response to our message.”
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