The Cycles of Revelation Series

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

Episode 33: After worrying about their future, Jevan and Ardyn are given an important task by Takyra.

Those who had already been revived aboard the Rahn’naa were abuzz with excitement. The news that their homeworld was still thriving after all these centuries lifted many of their spirits, despite the circumstances they found themselves in.

At first, it took time for them to adjust to the news of being stranded on an alien world twelve hundred years in their future. Now there was the possibility of returning to Aria’naa for those who may wish to. It may no longer be the Aria’naa they had left, but at least it was better than the primitive backwater planet they currently found themselves on, as some of them were referring to this world.

With the state the Rahn’naa was in, it would have taken them decades to excavate her before they could repurpose the various ship components into the colony they had planned to build. Now they hoped that they would have help from Aria’naa to help excavate her and set up their colony, either here or on Maal’dak Five.

Ardyn and Jevan were in their quarters breaking their fast a few days after the second message had been received. Jevan frowned as he watched Ardyn pick at his food. “Aren’t you hungry?”

With a bored shrug, Ardyn pushed the bowl away and took a sip from his tea instead. “I don’t know what we’re still doing here. Everyone that’s been revived so far has an assigned task on board this ship, and there’s not much we can help with.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m feeling a bit useless myself, but what options do we have right now?”

“That’s the problem,” Ardyn admitted. “There’s no point ranging around the Rahn’naa. There is no danger of attack from the sar’ora or anything else. They don’t need anyone to go hunting or gathering for food, and I don’t have any other skills to offer.”

Nodding, Jevan grabbed their dishes and went to put them away. “I have the same problem. They have no need for me trading goods for them, either.”

Just then, their door chimed and Jevan rose to find Takyra outside. “Good morning! May I come in?”

Standing aside, Jevan let Takyra enter. “Did you need us for something?” Jevan asked, as he led Takyra to the living area, where there was more seating. Jevan sat on the couch, inviting Takyra to take a seat in one of the upholstered chairs, while Ardyn sat next to him.

“Actually, yes,” Takyra replied. “First, I want to say that I am very impressed by both of you. You’ve taken everything you’ve encountered in stride. You both also represent your respective people very well and you have a way with all the newly revived. After meeting you, several have told me it has helped them process what’s happened. Because of this, I think you would be an asset for helping us get all the newly revived situated.”

Jevan beamed at the idea. After the conversation they’d just had, he knew they’d both appreciate having something useful to do. “I’d love to help. What do you think, Ardyn?”

Leaning forward with an eager look in his eye, Ardyn asked. “What would you like us to do?”

“As we revive each new group, I would like you both to be there to greet them,” Takyra said. “We have a revival schedule in place, along with quarter assignments and duty schedules. We’ll revive them in groups of twenty-five. After greeting them, you would lead them to the dining hall for a meal, and explain to them what’s going on, before leading them to their assigned quarters and handing them their duty assignments.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if they saw you first?” Jevan asked, recalling Takyra’s initial reaction to seeing them the first time.

“I have far too many other things to do to prepare for the arrival of the ship from Aria’naa,” Takyra explained. “I have recorded a short video which will play in the revival chamber after we have revived each group, which hopefully will reassure them.”

Putting a hand on Jevan’s shoulder, Ardyn replied. “We would be honored to help.”

They welcomed the next group of revived Athla’naa that afternoon, after spending the rest of the morning being trained on how to manage each group and how best to inform them of the current situation. Jevan was glad to feel useful, and he used all of his charm to help make each Athla’naa feel relaxed in his presence.

However, after a few missteps with that first group, they quickly realized it was best that Ardyn greet them first, before they introduced Jevan. A few in that first group nearly fainted when confronted by a very tall, dark-skinned alien. Thankfully, Jevan’s warm smile and patient demeanor won them over.

Each group had many questions for them, after they were presented with the reality of their situation. Kyael, a member of the medical technicians, was especially curious about the planet they were on. “What is it like outside?”

“You should take a moment to go up to the observation tower when you get a chance,” Jevan replied. “This land is covered in dense forests. Especially in the areas that the Athla’naa occupy. My people keep to the lowlands and valleys, where it’s easier for us to farm our crops. There is also a large mountain range to the west, where we mine most of the material we craft the metal tools we use.”

“That’s wonderful that your people and ours have learned to live in such harmony,” Kyael said. “We tried to avoid colonizing worlds with sentient species on them because we didn’t feel we had the right to interfere with them.”

Jevan gave Ardyn a look, who took a deep breath before explaining their history.

Kyael and the others were dismayed to hear of the hostilities between the Medellans and Athla’naa, along with everything that had recently come to light. “Oh, that’s awful. I guess we were right to want to avoid going to planets like this one. I’m sorry the Aria’asharra forced us to come here and make such a mess of things.”

Jevan gave him a sympathetic smile. “It’s not your fault, and now that we’ve found you and contacted Aria’naa, hopefully both our people can come to an accord and move forward peacefully together.”

Ardyn gave him a pensive look, and Jevan nodded, saying nothing. Yes, hopefully everything will continue to develop peacefully.

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