The Cycles of Revelation Series

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

Episode 72: Jevan finally wakes and begins the long road to a full recovery, while he and Ardyn discuss their future.

Several days later, Ardyn was still at Jevan’s side. After the medical techs deemed Jevan healed enough, they allowed him to sit up and even get out of bed if he could manage it. This morning, Ardyn helped Jevan walk back from the bathroom to his bed. Jevan’s body was stiff and sore, but his broken bones had fully healed. He just had to work all the kinks out of his muscles after laying still for so long.

“Let me sit in that chair of yours for a while,” Jevan said, trying to steer them away from the bed. “I’m tired of laying there all the time.”

Ardyn guided him over to the chair. “When are you starting with that… physical therapy?”

Jevan sat down slowly, still feeling twinges in his hips and back where the bones were repaired. Once seated, he glanced up at Ardyn, who looked a bit rough around the edges himself. “This afternoon. You better get your pack ready, because I’m going to want to go on a long hike as soon as I’m able.”

That made Ardyn smile and Jevan seized the moment, pulling Ardyn down onto his lap. Laughing, Ardyn made a mock protest. “Hey!”

“It’s good to hear you laugh,” Jevan said, pulling Ardyn closer. “I missed hearing that.”

Snuggling against his chest, Ardyn nodded. “So much has happened, and I was so worried about you.”

Jevan wrapped his arms around Ardyn. “I know, but you don’t have to worry anymore. I’m going to be fine.”

“Until the next disaster,” Ardyn grumbled into his chest.

“I’m hoping that things calm down.”

“As long as the Maara’dahl are still out there, I don’t know if that’s possible,” Ardyn said. “We’re still on standby to bring people back here if we hear that they’re coming back. Takyra wanted them all to stay after the battle ended, but most of the Medellans insisted on going home. Even the Athla’naa encampment is half the size it was.”

“No one should put their lives on hold forever,” Jevan pointed out. “Sitting around and waiting for the world to end isn’t something my people are good at.”

“Well, my people are also having an existential crisis,” Ardyn reminded him. “Our way of life will change forever, that much is certain. This has destroyed all our deeply held traditions, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

“You told me you always questioned those traditions,” Jevan said, idly playing with the end of Ardyn’s braided hair.

“I did, but seeing how lost some of my people seem after all this, I sometimes think I should have left well enough alone.”

“Hey, look at me,” Jevan said, shifting in the chair as much as his sore back would allow.

When Ardyn lifted his head and turned his fathomless eyes to him, Jevan gave him a warm smile. “How many people’s lives did we save when we found the Rahn’naa?”

“But how many did we put in danger?” Ardyn countered.

“How many died during the attack?” Jevan asked, having not wanted to broach that subject until now.

“I’m not sure,” Ardyn admitted. “I know at least a dozen died when the Ora’laa damaged the top of the observation tower, but I don’t know how many were killed in the battle. Takyra and Aerys have been meeting with Keryth and the Aterians, but they haven’t included me in any of the discussions. I’ve tried to ask, but Takyra told me to focus on you and not worry about it.”

“I’m sure we’ll find out what happened. In the meantime, you could tell me how much my mother has been pestering you about pair-bonding with me,” Jevan asked with a laugh. “Don’t tell me she hasn’t. I remember that conversation you were having when I first woke up.”

“Not too much,” Ardyn said, ducking his head a little. “We don’t even know if we’re even compatible. From what Jenira has explained, it’s quite an involved process.”

“It is. I don’t even know everything that goes into the ceremony. Only a village ard knows the full process.”

“That’s what Jenira said. She suggested we get Mathias to meet with Amyra and show her the pair-bonding process, so she can analyze how it works. Maybe either Amyra or Tamaryn can figure out how to make it work between our species?”

“Good idea. Where is Mathias these days? Still lurking around here, or did he finally go home?”

“He returned to Yanen to help settle people’s nerves after the attack. I heard he’s coming back tomorrow to attend these talks Takyra has been having.”

The door suddenly opened and Keryth entered. “Jevan! It’s good to see you up, with a lap full of Ardyn, no less. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

Jevan laughed as Ardyn slipped off his lap and scurried to stand behind him, his ears fully flattened.

“No, Commander, we were just talking,” Ardyn said shyly.

Keryth gave them a dubious look and then smiled. “Jevan, I wanted to give you my personal thanks for saving my life. I would not be here now if you had not taken the brunt of that beam. It’s good to see you are recovering.”

Shrugging, Jevan tried to brush off the praise. “I would have done the same for anyone.”

“How soon until you’re up on your feet again?” Keryth asked.

“A couple of weeks, at least. I need to continue to sleep on this bed and get daily physical therapy,” Jevan explained. “We start this afternoon.”

“Amyra also said I should start taking Jevan on walks around the ship soon,” Ardyn added. “Once he’s had a couple of physical therapy sessions.”

“Excellent. Takyra tells me that in the past, you have both expressed an interest in visiting Aria’naa. Is that something you’d both still be interested in?”

After everything that had happened, Jevan had forgotten about that. The idea of leaving his world and visiting another was both exciting and terrifying. “Yes, someday. After everything with the Maara’dahl has settled down and we figure out how our people move forward after everything that’s happened.”

“Agreed,” Ardyn said. “I definitely wish to visit someday.”

“Has there been any word about the Maara’dahl?” Jevan asked.

“The most recent reports from Aramys have been encouraging, but the Maara’dahl still pose a threat,” Keryth admitted. “We’re waiting for information from one of our agents within their ranks to send us information vital to mount a final assault against them.”

“I hope that is soon,” Ardyn said. “I do not know how much longer we can live like this.”

Keryth nodded in understanding. “It is difficult to plan for the future, when you’re worried about even being alive tomorrow. This has dragged on long enough.”

“Jevan, tell me, why are you interested in seeing our people’s homeworld?” Keryth asked, leaning against the wall and perking his ears with curiosity.

Why is he so interested in this? Jevan wondered. “I have always had a restless spirit and a desire to travel. It’s one reason I became a trader, so I could visit distant villages and settlements. The opportunity to visit an entirely new world is not something I want to pass up.”

“Really? And here I thought you just couldn’t bear to be separated from Ardyn,” Keryth said with a wink.

Jevan’s face heated, but he reached behind him, wincing slightly, to pull Ardyn a little closer. “Well, being in Ardyn’s company is definitely a bonus.”

Giving them a knowing smile, Keryth uncrossed his arms before changing the subject. “I hear that you two may undergo a Medellan pair-bond. Is that right?”

“We’ve discussed it,” Ardyn admitted. “We don’t know if it will work because we’re different species, so we want to ask Amyra and Tamaryn to meet with Mathias and discuss what goes into the ritual. Hopefully, they can analyze it and find out if we’re compatible or not.”

“That’s an excellent idea. It surprised me when I heard that your species only had a lifespan of around thirty years if you don’t undergo this pair-bonding ritual. That is far too short of a life.”

“I recently passed into my thirty-fifth year, so I agree. Jevan still has so much more life left to live,” Ardyn said, putting his hand on Jevan’s shoulder.

Reaching up to cover Ardyn’s hand in his, Jevan nodded. “I am glad I finally found someone I honestly feel I can spend the rest of my life with.”

Ardyn squeezed Jevan’s shoulder at those words, and he looked back at him as Ardyn flattened his ears again.

“I must get going,” Keryth said. “Once you’re fully recovered, the council would like you both to appear before us.”

Jevan’s eyes went wide as he turned back to Keryth. “The… council?”