The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Med’Nor (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 62: After the latest attack from the Maara’dahl is thwarted, everyone comes back to the negotiations with a new attitude.

Ardyn was visiting his mother and daughter in the encampment when he received a call from Keryth. “I’m asking everyone to gather on the Wah’kah’ria. May we beam you aboard?”

Immediately, Ardyn’s heart hammered in his chest. “Could we meet down here, please?”

“There was a reason I brought you all up the last time, before we were so rudely interrupted,” Keryth said. “Please, I promise it will be safe. I have launched several long-range scanning beacons. They won’t surprise us like that again.”

“What is it, Ardyn?” his mother asked.

“I have to go,” Ardyn apologized. “You be good for your grandmother, okay, little one?”

“Yes, Papa Ardyn. I will!” Myria said, rushing over to give him a quick hug.

He gave them a last wave and then touched his communicator again. “Okay, Keryth. I’m ready.”

In the blink of an eye, he was once again on the transmat platform. Ardyn immediately leapt off without even thinking, stumbling a little. “I’m sorry. These things still terrify me.”

Jevan had been waiting for him and helped steady him. “After what you witnessed on the Pah’ora, it’s understandable. Come on, everyone else is here already.”

Ardyn followed Jevan, who seemed to know exactly where he was going. “Keryth brought us to his ship’s observation deck this time. There’s more room and an even better view.”

As they entered, Ardyn gasped as he saw the large viewport that overlooked their planet. In front of the viewport was a line of benches. He and Jevan took their seats while Keryth stood before them and addressed the group.

“Now that you’re all gathered, let me explain why I brought you here. Before the Maara’dahl attacked us the other day, my intention was to show you your world from a different perspective. Both of your continents have been very insular for the past few centuries, and each of your societies has different perspectives.”

Turning, Keryth pointed at the planet below. “I hope that by viewing your world from this vantage point will help shift your perspectives. You have a beautiful world that is now home to two different species. Yes, there are other worlds out there, but this world still has more than enough room for both of your societies to flourish.”

“You’re absolutely right. After what happened, I’ve seriously reconsidered my previous stance,” Andreesen replied. “However, I need to know more before I can put the proposal before the Grand Council for consideration. It would require their approval before our people would agree to such a thing.”

“Understood,” Keryth said. “Unfortunately, my star cruisers lost track of the Maara’dahl after they went to warp, and the fleet heading our way wasn’t able to intercept them. We will need to be vigilant until the fleet arrives.”

“How long would it take to build this planetary defense grid that you were proposing?” Andreesen asked.

Takyra looked at him, surprised. “I thought you were against it?”

“Over the past couple of days, I’ve taken some time to talk with Mathias regarding the history of his people on Vestos and their interactions with the Athla’naa they’ve lived beside for so long,” Andreesen explained. “He has convinced me that, beyond this Maara’dahl faction, the Athla’naa are no threat. I will recommend to the Grand Council to allow your people to remain on Vestos if you wish.”

That news made Ardyn smile.

“Thank you for changing your mind,” Elder Taeglyn said. “Many of our people did not wish to leave this world. There was even talk of resisting if it came to that.”

“To answer your earlier question, it will take several months to build a fully operational defense grid, although we could have some alternative defense mechanisms in place in a few weeks. I’ll have my engineers put together the specifics for you to review.”

“What can we do in the meantime?” Andreesen asked.

“My star cruisers will remain in orbit and soon you’ll have an entire battalion from our fleet here to help defend your world until the defense grid is in place,” Keryth replied. “Which brings me to something you may wish to discuss. The name of your world. It would be less confusing if you could agree on a name.”

Chuckling, Andreesen nodded. “If you had brought that up before that attack, I would have stood my ground on calling this world Medellus, seeing as my people are native to this world. However, Aelrynd’s sacrifice has caused me to reconsider that.”

“You’re not considering changing to the Athla’naa name, are you?” Marta asked. “I don’t think the Grand Council would approve that.”

“No, no, I wouldn’t go that far,” Andreesen reassured her. “I thought perhaps a compromise, blending the two names of Medellus and Baaru’nor together. How do you like the name Med’nor?”

Ardyn couldn’t suppress a small giggle at the name, and he saw the other Athla’naa similarly holding back smirks.

“Don’t tell me that med means something amusing… or offensive…? in your language?” Andreesen asked.

“It’s not offensive, no,” Takyra replied. “The word med means a sphere, like a ball. A child’s toy.”

Andreesen laughed. “Oh my, that is a bit too on the nose, isn’t it?”

“I quite like it,” Aelrynd said. “Med’nor. I like how it sounds.”

“So do I,” Aerys agreed. “What do you think, Keryth?”

“Well, it certainly makes this world sound like fun,” Keryth replied. “But it’s up to you to decide what your world should be called.”

“I think the Grand Council would be open to a compromise like this,” Marta said. “Especially since it puts the emphasis on Med first.”

Andreesen smiled. “Excellent. Then I will include the suggested name change in my proposal to the Grand Council. If accepted, it probably won’t take long to be adopted, as our people refer to themselves as Aterians more often, anyway.”

As the group broke off into separate conversations, Ardyn stood and walked closer to the viewport and looked down upon his home. That they may have just renamed Med’nor.

“That’s quite the view, isn’t it?” Jevan said as he stepped up next to him.

“You know, from up here, it looks like a giant ball, doesn’t it?” Ardyn asked, still smirking at the name.

Jevan tilted his head. “Yeah, I guess it does,” Jevan agreed. “But it’s beautiful. I never imagined seeing our world from this vantage point.”

“I’m glad Keryth is here to help us protect it,” Ardyn said, watching the slow swirl of clouds move across Vestos. “Where do you think the Rahn’naa is?”

“Based on the maps I’ve seen of Vestos, I’d say it’s up here,” Jevan pointed at the northern section of the continent. “Do you see that mountain range there? The Rahn’naa has to be west of those.”

“Oh, yes! I can just barely make out the perimeter of the Aria’una,” Ardyn said, stepping closer to the viewport. “See the faint line of red trees?”

“That means Maala’naa is south of them, just there,” Jevan pointed. “Our biggest city is all the way down there, by that open coastline.”

“You said you visited there once? How long did that take you?” Ardyn asked.

“Several weeks,” Jevan admitted. “Thankfully, we have a road that stretches the length of the Medellan lands, from Yanen to Tafaran. There are several villages along that road, and I would stop and rest along the way.”

“With one of Keryth’s shuttles, I bet you could be there in a few minutes,” Ardyn said.

“I’m sure you’re right, but where are you going on my shuttles?” Keryth teased as he came up from behind them.

“We were just speculating how much shorter of a trip Jevan would have if he took your shuttle from his village to the city of Tafaran down on the southern coast,” Ardyn said. “A trip that took him weeks on foot.”

Keryth looked shocked. “You travel on foot? Do you not have any beasts you could ride or that could pull a wagon?”

Ardyn and Jevan looked at each other, trying to picture themselves riding a sar’ora. The idea was equally hilarious and horrifying.