The Cycles of Revelation Series

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

Episode 74: Andreesen explains some of the changes to their people’s pair-bonding customs after their eight-hundred-year separation.

When they arrived in the dining hall, they saw the Aterians sitting down to eat, who waved them over. “Jevan! It’s good to see you up on your feet,” Andreesen said. “How is your recovery coming along?”

“Slower than I would like, but even with all this amazing technology, some things just take time. May we join you?”

“Please, have a seat!”

After the long walk to get there, Jevan’s hips and back were aching. “Thank you.”

“I’ll replicate some of that stew you like,” Ardyn said as Jevan slowly sat down.

“That would be great, thanks!”

Mathias and Jenira went with Ardyn to the bank of food replicators, leaving Jevan with the Aterians.

“So, we hear you want to attempt a pair-bond with your Athla’naa friend,” Marta said. “Have other Medellans on Vestos ever pair-bonded with them before?”

“No, not that we know of,” Jevan replied. “That’s why Amyra and Tamaryn are analyzing everything involved in the ritual. Mathias gave them his chalice and quickener, along with a sample of all the herbs that go into the poultice. They also took samples of our blood.”

Marta’s face lit up. “Oh, that’s wonderful. Maybe they’ll be able to figure out how this ritual works exactly. Our scientists have been studying it but haven’t completely figured out how it helps us live longer.”

“Do you have any idea why we make the chalice with that special alloy?” Jevan asked, as the others returned to the table and Ardyn sat a tray before him with a bowl of stew and a cup of herbal tea.

“Yes, we were just wondering about that,” Mathias said, sitting down with a tray filled with an array of colorful Athla’naa delicacies. That made Jevan smirk. “The previous ard taught me the precise formula for the alloy to make the bonding chalice, but he didn’t know why that alloy was necessary.”

Marta wiped her mouth and leaned closer. “You still use a chalice? Wow, I shouldn’t be surprised, but we have not used those in Ateria in decades.”

“You don’t use a chalice anymore? Then how do you perform the ritual?” Mathias asked.

Andreesen sat forward before explaining. “It is important to take blood from both bondmates and mix it in a receptacle made of that alloy with a quickener before they put the mixed blood back into each of the bondmates. However, the ritual part was painful and unnecessary. We now take the blood from each bondmate with a needle and use a machine to do the mixing. Then, the mixed blood is put back into each bondmate with a syringe.”

“So, bondmates in Ateria don’t have bonding scars?” Jenira asked, showing the palms of her hands. “How can you tell who is in a pair-bond?”

Tomas pointed to one of his fingers. “We wear a ring.”

“Oh, so those aren’t just decorative?” Jevan asked. He turned to Andreesen and Marta in confusion. “Why aren’t you wearing rings?”

They both looked uncomfortable at the question and Andreesen had a momentary look of anger that he schooled before replying. “Normally, that would be a rude thing to ask, but I will forgive your ignorance. In my case, it is because my bondmate died.”

Jevan felt mortified as his face flushed hot. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to be impolite.”

Marta cleared her throat, trying to break the tension. “I’ve been uncharacteristically choosy about whom to bond with. I still have a few years, but I know I must make a choice soon.”

“So, if those steps are still necessary, do you know why the alloy is so important?” Mathias asked.

“Our scientists have found that mixing the blood with the quickening metal while it’s touching the alloy changes the blood in some fundamental way,” Marta explained. “However, they don’t understand exactly how it’s changing it yet.”

“Well, maybe Amyra and Tamaryn can solve that mystery,” Jevan said before drinking the last of his tea. “You can join us back in the hospital wing to hear the results when they’re ready.”

Andreesen wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Marta can join you for that. Tomas, Aron, and I have other matters to attend to.”

When they finally summoned them back to the lab, Jevan was finishing up his daily physical therapy. “Oof, I’m not sure I can make it all the way back there. That lab is on the far side of the hospital.”

“I have just the thing for that,” Jevan’s physical therapist said, disappearing into an adjoining room before coming back with what looked like a floating chair. “The new anti-gravity technology is incredible, isn’t it? Please, sit down.”

As Jevan settled himself into the floating chair, Ardyn walked around it. “I saw something like this on Keryth’s ship. They had beds that floated. They used it to lift Jenira up from the floor when she’d passed out.”

Jevan sank into the padding of the chair, enjoying how incredibly comfortable it was. “This is great!”

“You can use these controls here to move on your own, or you can let Ardyn push you.”

Looking at the right arm of the chair, there was a little stick that stood out from the arm. It wasn’t in the best position for his longer arm, but he could reach it by pulling his elbow closer to his body. He pushed the stick, and the chair moved forward. “Oh, this is going to be fun!”

After practicing for a few minutes to get the hang of the controls, he was ready to go. “Thanks again. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jevan said as he steered the chair out into the hallway. It didn’t move too fast, so Ardyn could walk alongside him at a comfortable pace.

“You’ve got to try this thing later,” Jevan said as they rounded a corner. “This is so much fun!”

Ardyn laughed. “I haven’t seen you smile like that in a long time. That’s all the fun I need.”

“Are you as excited as I am to find out the results of their analysis?” Jevan asked.

“Honestly, I’m a little nervous,” Ardyn admitted. “What if my species is not compatible with this bonding process? What will you do then?”

Jevan had tried not to dwell on that possibility. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. Let’s see what the results are before we worry about it.”

When they arrived, everyone was already gathered. “Late as usual,” Mathias teased. “What’s that you’re riding in?”

Jevan did a little spin in the chair before hopping off and pushing it into a corner. “I was a little sore after my physical therapy today, so they gave me that. I think they called it an anti-gravity chair.”

“Yes. We developed anti-gravity technology a few decades ago,” Tamaryn said. “One of the many uses is to help the mobility of people who otherwise struggle to get around.”

They approached the large display that Amyra had put up and Jevan stared at it for a moment, not comprehending anything he saw. Before he could attempt to ask, Ardyn spoke up. “So, are we compatible? Can we pair-bond?”

Amyra laughed at his eagerness. “The short answer is, yes, we believe so.”

Jevan grabbed Ardyn with a big smile. “That’s wonderful news.”

“If that’s the short answer, what’s the long answer?” Ardyn asked.

Tamaryn pointed at one part of the display. “I believe the Medellans have severely damaged DNA.”

Ardyn looked at Jevan and they both shrugged at each other in confusion. “DNA?”