The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Confrontation (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 25: With the help the awakened Athla’naa, Jevan and Ardyn confront their elders, who have found their way into the crashed ship.

Some hours later, Jevan awoke, limbs tangled with Ardyn’s, making him smile sleepily. The fact Ardyn had felt safe enough to sleep so close together meant that he truly had won the elf’s trust. The thought of that made his heart rejoice. He had missed the quiet intimacy of waking up entangled with someone. Knowing there’d likely be nothing more between them, Jevan still felt completely content.

Despite almost slipping last night, tempted to kiss Ardyn, Jevan was happy to remain platonic friends. Yet, he kept a spark of hope. The lithe, beautiful elf had captured his heart. Admitting that to himself caused him a mixture of both elation and fear. He’d never expected to care about someone as much as he cared for Ardyn.

A loud chime followed by an urgent knock on the door of their quarters pulled Jevan out of his reverie and startled Ardyn awake. They disentangled themselves and Jevan jumped up to see what was going on. As he opened the door, Aerys met Jevan with a serious expression.

“Hurry and dress. Ardyn’s people found their way into the ship. They are making a systematic sweep of the upper decks. Join us in the control center and don’t forget to bring your rahn’ora.”

“We’ll be there shortly,” Jevan acknowledged before turning to find a sleepy Ardyn getting out of bed.

“I heard,” Ardyn said as he stumbled toward the bathroom. While Ardyn used the facilities, Jevan changed out of his sleeping clothes and was pulling on his new boots when Ardyn came out and followed suit. Once they were both dressed and armed with their new weapons, they left their quarters and hurried down towards the control center to find everyone else already gathered.

“How many are there?” Ardyn asked.

Takyra pointed at the display that she’d been studying when they arrived. “About six of them,” Takyra replied, pointing at a small group of moving dots. “The security cameras showed us three older and two younger Athla’naa, plus one older Medellan.”

“That’s the same party that we saw hunting us in the forest before we stumbled down into the ship,” Ardyn said. “If reinforcements have not joined them, they probably think we’re still alone, hiding inside this ship. They’ll be in for a surprise.”

“Indeed,” Takyra agreed. “What do you propose, Aerys?”

Stepping forward, Aerys touched the screen to expand one section of the map. “I propose we station half of our people along these points. As this hunting party passes by, the group stationed at this juncture can slip in behind and follow them cautiously.” Aerys explained, pointing at the map. “Then Ardyn and Jevan can meet them at this juncture, with the rest of us lying in wait for them out-of-sight, here and here.”

“So, you’re asking us to lure them into a trap?” Jevan asked.

“Yes. We will have them surrounded, so you will both be safe,” Aerys continued. “Try to engage them in conversation and determine their purpose before we reveal ourselves to them. Can you do that?”

Ardyn nodded. “Yes. If that helps us to avoid bloodshed.”

“Alright everyone, you know what to do. Get into position,” Aerys commanded.

The security detail took their positions while Jevan and Ardyn went to the corridor junction where they expected to confront the party hunting them. Once they were in position, Ardyn felt his heart rate ramp up. The weapon he had hidden in his clothing gave him no comfort. He was unsure if he had the heart to fire it at his own people. Without even thinking, Ardyn reached out and grabbed Jevan’s hand to calm his nerves.

Ardyn hoped no deaths would come from this, but he wasn’t sure how far his elders were prepared to go to maintain this damnable secret of theirs. If Ardyn had left things up to the will of his elders, Jevan would be long dead, and his own life would still have irrevocably changed.

Their only advantage was the knowledge that they only had two Athla’naa hunters with them. It betrayed an overconfidence that Aerys was now going to use to their advantage. Thinking about the two hunters in the party, Ardyn was sure they hadn’t known about any of this before now. He wondered what they thought about everything they were seeing, being inside such a structure. Ardyn smirked when he remembered that much of the writing displayed within the ship had changed to reflect the current written language of the Athla’naa. That must be a surprise, even to the elders.

The elders had betrayed their people for generations, ever since they had first come to this world. It hurt Ardyn’s heart to think about the many generations of lies that had been told. Jevan must have similar thoughts, Ardyn realized. How could life ever go back to normal after this?

Whatever normal was.

Footsteps sounded down the length of the corridor, coming from the next junction. Ardyn felt Jevan squeeze his hand for reassurance, and he squeezed back, holding firm. Then the party appeared around the corner. The elders stalked down the corridor, their boots falling heavily, along with the staves they carried. The hunters’ steps fell softer, as they remained cautious and lithe on their feet. Ard Mathias had taken up a position in the middle, between the elders and hunters.

As soon as they caught sight of the pair, the entire group stopped short. A dark scowl crossed over their faces as they moved to face Ardyn and Jevan, while the hunters notched their arrows.

Stepping forward, Elder Aelrynd looked at them with righteous indignation. “How dare you set foot in the sacred temple of the ancients?!”

Ardyn looked at Jevan, confused. “What sacred temple?”

“You desecrate the temple with your very presence!” Druyndar yelled. “We will execute you both for your crimes!”

Ardyn could no longer contain his anger over the situation. “We have done nothing wrong!” he shouted. “We should judge you for continuing the generations-old hypocrisy and lies that brought our people to this planet over twelve-hundred years ago.”

The hunters lowered their bows as their eyes widened in shock. Feeling a surge of confidence, Ardyn let go of Jevan’s hand and addressed the pair of hunters directly. “That’s right. Our elders have been lying to us for generations. Look around you. This isn’t some sacred temple. It’s a ship that once sailed among the stars in the sky. Our ancestors built all that you see here. Their technology is more advanced than any Medellan has achieved. Surely you must realize this is true, with all the Athla’naa writing literally on the walls.”

Ardyn pointed to a display stating they were on the Engineering Deck, Navigational Subsection. The words may have been meaningless to the hunters, as they exchanged confused looks, but it was clear they were written by Athla’naa.

“Seize them!” Aelrynd commanded. “We will return to Maala’naa with these traitors immediately.”

That’s when Takyra and Aerys appeared, while the security techs surrounded the party. “I don’t think so,” Takyra said, leveling her weapon at Aelrynd.

Stumbling backward, Aelrynd let out a bewildered cry. “Who? What? Where?!” she stuttered.

Aerys stepped forward, his own weapon raised. Nodding to the security techs who had appeared behind the hunters, he commanded. “Disarm them and escort our guests to the holding cells so we can sort this mess out.”

As the security techs tried to take the staves from the elders, Druyndar tried to use his as a weapon, swinging it wildly. Two other techs stepped in and easily disarmed him, securing his hands behind his back as he struggled. “Unhand me! Where have you come from? You’re all traitors to the ancestors!”

While the Athla’naa elders were being secured, Mathias looked on in shock. “They… they told me this temple was an ancient tomb, where they buried their honored dead.” Looking at Jevan, he shook his head. “You say it’s… a ship?!”

Before Jevan could respond, they were all led away. Once they could no longer hear the protestations of the hunting party, Ardyn hugged Jevan, relieved that it was over. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he let go and backed away. “Um… sorry,” he apologized, feeling awkward.

Smiling down at him, Jevan shrugged. “I didn’t mind. Feel free to do that again, anytime,” The Medellan said with a wink.

Aerys coughed awkwardly behind them, and Ardyn felt the heat rise in his face.

“Come, follow me. We need to talk to those fools now that we have them secured.”

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