The Cycles of Revelation Series

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

Episode 29: Jevan and Ardyn finally get through to two of their elders, but struggle to convince the others.

Ardyn groaned in frustration. Jevan came over and put a comforting hand on his shoulder before looking at the intractable group sitting before them. “Mathias, how much of all this were you aware of?”

Mathias shook his head. “I wasn’t aware of anything. It wasn’t until after we went to search for you. That’s when they began telling me about this temple where their ancient dead lay entombed. When I saw the tower… I’d seen nothing like it before.”

“Is that how you got inside the ship? Through the tower?” Jevan asked them.

That piqued Ardyn’s interest, and his ears moved forward in curiosity. He realized he hadn’t thought about how the hunting party could follow them inside. “Do you also have a key?”

Aelrynd reached within her cloak and pulled out a key identical to the one Ardyn had.

“No wonder you were unsurprised by what we had found in the Aria’una,” Ardyn realized. “You have been here before!”

“Yes, of course,” Aelrynd admitted, tucking the key away again. “We make an annual pilgrimage to give homage to our ancestors and perform the required rituals.”

Ardyn furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes. “Every year when you’re supposedly visiting other settlements, you were venturing into the Aria’una? What rituals were you performing?”

All three were silent until Taeglyn dropped his ears and responded. “Within the tower, the texts tell us to pay homage to the dead, and then check the power levels and… to readjust the solar collectors.”

“We must look to the sun for light and warmth as we turn our backs on the evils of technology,” Druyndar recited.

“Druyndar, you must have suspected the truth, as I did long ago,” Taeglyn said, placing a hand on Druyndar’s shoulder. “There was only one reason this temple… ship… would require power. Look around you. All this technology is wondrous, as Ardyn said. We should listen.”

Druyndar angrily pulled his shoulder away from Taeglyn’s hand and stood. “No! Do not let them corrupt you!”

Ardyn stomped his foot in frustration. “You hypocrite! You refuse to listen, yet you willingly used this technology to patrol the perimeter of the Aria’una and track any incursions. You even used it to track Jevan and I all the way here!”

Druyndar’s ears fell flat despite remaining otherwise indignant. “That… that was a necessary evil. We had to maintain the sanctity of the temple. It was decreed — ”

Not letting him finish, Ardyn pointed out another inconsistency. “Also, since when do we entomb our dead? Our tradition has always been to build a funeral pyre and return our bodies to the dust whence we came, or so you have always recited.”

Druyndar folded his arms. “Those entombed here were left as a warning of the evils of technology. They were left to rot within the very thing that destroyed our civilization.”

“So, you admit that our ancestors left the Baaru’dak here to rot,” Ardyn said, dumbfounded. “You never once thought to question why you were checking the power levels of this place? You were keeping them alive, in an endless slumber.”

With a huff of indignation, Druyndar countered his argument. “Their remains were being preserved. No one can sleep for so many centuries and remain alive!”

Taeglyn interrupted. “That’s enough! He’s right, we are hypocrites for decrying the use of technology, while knowingly benefiting from using technology ourselves. We should listen to what they are telling us.”

“We’re not getting anywhere,” Ardyn said, sighing in resignation. “Thanks for trying Taeglyn. I’m glad you’re seeing the truth.”

Turning back to the uneaten plates of cold food, he realized these were all unfamiliar dishes to his elders. “Let me prepare you something more familiar to eat,” he suggested. “Then perhaps we can talk again tomorrow.”

After removing the plates of food, he picked up the tablet and activated it. “Cytra, could you help me replicate four bowls of a simple meat stew, please?”

“Please state which type of meat you would prefer,” Cytra replied.

He looked at Jevan and shrugged his shoulders. “There are small animals that we hunt for food. We call them paal’dak.”

“Oh yes, jumper stew is one of my favorites,” Jevan said. “Cytra, are you able to scan the forest for small creatures that can jump? That’s the meat we would recommend.”

Cytra activated the external sensors and scanned for the described lifeforms. “Paal’dak lifeforms detected,” she said. “Please indicate the spices to be used in the stew.”

“Please keep the stew simple,” Ardyn suggested. “My elders may not enjoy too much spice.”

A moment later the replicator hummed and when Ardyn opened it, there stood four bowls of steaming paal’dak stew. “This is perfect, Cytra, thank you.”

All the while, the elders and Mathias were watching them as they interacted effortlessly with the technology, as if Ardyn and Jevan had been born to it. Ardyn tried not to smirk at them gawking as he and Jevan placed the four bowls onto the table in the sitting area before going back to fetch some water. “Now, I suggest you all eat and keep up your strength,” Ardyn said. “Even you Druyndar. This food won’t kill you. I promise.”

“Oh, and Mathias, you must try the shower,” Jevan recommended. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to wash myself without hot water ever again.”

The man nodded. “I might do that. I haven’t bathed in many days now,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “Although I don’t have any hope for these three.”

“I will leave these tablets for you. They contain further information and Cytra can add more if you require. If you need anything, ask for Cytra. She will be far more patient than we are,” Ardyn said as they made their way to leave. “We’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.”

Taeglyn and Mathias thanked them while the others remained silent, Druyndar going so far as to turn his back on them entirely. Ardyn sighed and shook his head as he turned to leave.

“I’m glad that Taeglyn seemed to realize what’s really going on,” Jevan said as they made their way back toward their own quarters. “I’m not surprised Mathias is also willing to listen. You were right about Druyndar, though.”

“I think we need to talk to Takyra and Aerys again,” Ardyn said. “Maybe they have some suggestions on how we can convince them to listen.”

“Let’s do that, but after we eat,” Jevan agreed. “That stew looked delicious, and I would love a bowl of that myself!”

Ardyn laughed, looking forward to having some as well. Hopefully, tomorrow would be a better day.

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