The Cycles of Revelation Series
Artifact of the Dawn: Intractable (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)
Episode 28: Takyra asks Jevan and Ardyn to help their elders understand the truth with the assistance of Cytra, the AI that helps maintain the Rahn’naa.
The next morning in the dining hall, Aerys handed Takyra the report he’d promised on his assessment of the cryopods. “Thank you,” Takyra said. “What is the general status? Have any of the pods failed?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Aerys confirmed. “While others are close to failing. I’ve made my recommendations on the priority of who we revive based on my findings.”
Setting the report aside, Takyra frowned. “Thank you, Aerys. I will study your report and complete the revival plans before the end of the day.”
“Why don’t we meet after the evening meal and discuss the plans then?” Aerys recommended.
“Good idea. Meet me in the primary control room,” Takyra agreed.
Aerys then turned to Ardyn and Jevan. “I have a task I think you are uniquely suited for.”
“What kind of task?” Ardyn asked, eager to be of help.
“We cannot let your people go,” Aerys began. “Not yet, anyway. Not until they have a better understanding of what really happened to our people. However, I don’t want to keep them locked up in the holding cells indefinitely. We have enough room, so I would like them to be housed in the living quarters. They would remain under guard, but be more comfortable.”
“Are you asking us to keep an eye on them for you?” Jevan interrupted.
Aerys shook his head. “No. I have security techs assigned that task. What may be of more use is taking some time to talk to them. Explain to them everything you have learned so far. You understand your leaders better than I do. You may be better at explaining all this information to them.”
Taking a long moment to consider it, Ardyn nodded. “Yes, I think that would be a wise approach. We can meet in one of their quarters. Can Cytra help illustrate certain things when words alone may not be enough?”
“Absolutely,” Takyra replied. “In fact, I’ll make sure you each have a portable tablet that you can give them as a learning tool. They can use them along with the displays within the quarters to help them comprehend. Cytra is connected to each of them and can guide you.”
A few hours later, with tablets in hand, Jevan and Ardyn made their way toward the quarters where they were to meet with their recalcitrant leaders. “Are you ready for this?” Jevan asked.
“No,” Ardyn replied with a shake of his head. “But we must try to make them understand. Druyndar will be the most difficult to convince. He’s always been the most outspoken against any perceived innovation he saw within our community.”
The guards that stood outside of the door greeted them before unlocking it to let them enter. The Elder Triumvirate were pacing while Ard Mathias sat brooding, although he perked up when he saw Jevan.
“Let us out of here!” Aelrynd demanded as soon as she saw Ardyn.
“Not until you understand the truth,” Ardyn replied. “Please, sit down. We have much to discuss.”
“Not until you feed us,” Druyndar insisted. “Starving us serves no purpose!”
Ardyn rolled his eyes. “Didn’t they show you how to use the food replicator?” he asked, making his way into the small kitchen, before seeing plates of uneaten food on the counter.
“I will not touch anything cursed by… by… that!” Druyndar said indignantly, pointing a finger at the replicator.
“It’s perfectly fine food,” Ardyn said, picking up a plate and eating a bite to show them. “Just because you don’t understand how the technology works, does not make it cursed.”
“But the ancestors — ” Aelrynd began.
Setting down the plate with a loud clonk, Ardyn let his frustration have free rein. “Enough about the ancestors! Whatever it is you’ve read in those ancient tomes of yours were lies!”
“How dare you — ” Druyndar tried to interrupt, but Ardyn wasn’t finished.
“Sit down and listen for once!” Ardyn yelled, pointing at the seating area where Mathias stared at him, his mouth open in shock. “I am done letting you tell me what I should say or believe.”
Jevan stood by the doorway, his arms crossed and looking impressed. Reluctantly, the three elders sat down and glared at him.
“I know you have always believed this was a temple,” Ardyn continued. “But think about it. Why would a temple have all these places to sleep? There’s room enough to house ten thousand Athla’naa.”
“This was the last refuge of our ancestors before they nearly destroyed this world,” Druyndar replied. “They had to take refuge underground for generations until the world healed itself. After that, they abandoned all technology, creating the Aria’una to avoid their descendants repeating their folly.”
If Ardyn didn’t know the truth, he might have believed that. “That was what you were taught. That is not what happened.”
“How would you know what happened?” Taeglyn asked, sounding more curious than condescending.
“Because this ship and its abandoned inhabitants told us,” Jevan replied. “We first met Cytra, an artificial intelligence that has been maintaining this ship for all these centuries. She told us about the sleeping Athla’naa in their cryopods. After we woke Takyra, she told us the rest.”
“Cytra, can you explain where we are right now?” Ardyn asked, activating the AI and the display on the far wall.
The elders were startled when Cytra responded. “You are in living quarters number four hundred and twenty-nine, on the primary habitation deck of the Rahn’naa.”
Mathias’ and Taeglyn’s mouths hung open, while Aelrynd looked skeptical and Druyndar seemed furious.
Aelrynd demanded an explanation. “What is going on?”
Turning to face Aelrynd, Cytra responded. “Please clarify.”
“Who are you?” Taeglyn asked.
“My name is Cytra,” she replied. “I am the artificial intelligence programmed to facilitate all operations aboard the Rahn’naa.”
Druyndar scoffed. “Can you not see? She is the spirit of an ancestor. She tests our loyalty to honor their ways.”
“I am not a spirit,” Cytra insisted. “Chief Technician Takyra and her team programmed me, and helped me learn, as I integrated into the primary computer of the Rahn’naa before we left the Athla’naa homeworld.”
Druyndar made a low growl of frustration. “What is any of that nonsense supposed to mean? The ancient texts of our ancestors are very clear about what happened to them. They did not want us doomed to repeat their errors.”
“Then why don’t you teach any of that to the rest of us?” Ardyn challenged, his ears flattening back in defiance. “Why is this the first time I’ve ever heard of this?”
“It is the first commandment in the texts,” Aelrynd replied. “Only the Triumvirate must learn the truth. If others learn of it, the curious ones may venture forth to discover the temple and defile it. Which is exactly what you have done!”
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