The Cycles of Revelation Series

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

Episode 30: Takyra shows the elders undeniable proof how her people have remained alive in cryostasis since the Rahn’naa crashed.

The next morning, Ardyn sat on the couch, nursing a cup of tea and fiddling with the key. It still glowed whenever he touched it, and with a small programming change, it now glowed for Jevan as well.

I can’t believe how amazed I was by this. After everything we’ve found here, it seems so ordinary now. Finishing his tea, Ardyn slipped the key into the pocket of his jacket that hung over the back of a chair and went to take a shower. It’s funny how quickly we’ve become accustomed to living like this. I wish the elders could appreciate all this the way I do.

They had been living onboard the Rahn’naa for a little over a week now, and Ardyn found he enjoyed the quiet time he had in the mornings, before Jevan woke. As he stepped out of the shower and dried himself with a towel, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Jevan. I enjoy these moments to myself, but I find I enjoy being in Jevan’s company even more.

Another smile crossed his face when he saw Jevan in the kitchen getting a glass of water. The look on Jevan’s face whenever he saw Ardyn naked was adorable. “Good morning.”

Flashing him a bright smile, Jevan gulped some water before asking. “Are you ready for another day of dealing with them?”

Rolling his eyes, Ardyn began to dress. “Don’t remind me. Although, I think we need to talk to Takyra first. I don’t know what else we can do to convince Druyndar.”

“Yeah, maybe she’ll have a better idea of what else we can try,” Jevan said, heading toward the bathroom. “Can you make more of that stew we had last night? That was great.”

After they’d broken their fast, they headed toward the primary control center, finding Takyra and Aerys busy at their stations.

Takyra swiveled her seat around as they entered. “How did it go yesterday?”

Ardyn gave a sigh of frustration. “About as well as I’d expected. Taeglyn and Mathias seemed willing to listen, while Aelrynd said little. Druyndar will be the most difficult to convince. He’s stubbornly refusing to see the truth, even claiming Cytra was the spirit of an ancestor.”

“We need to find another way to convince them that this isn’t some old temple holding the remains of their ancestors,” Jevan said. “We left the tablets for them, but other than Mathias, I doubt they’ve touched them.”

“I think we can help with that,” Takyra said. “Aerys and I have completed our plans to revive those in cryostasis. Perhaps we could have them observe the revival process. That should prove that our cryopods contain living Athla’naa and aren’t merely a tomb for those long dead.”

“Maybe that will work,” Ardyn said. “We may sway Aelrynd, but I have my doubts about Druyndar.”

Aerys stood from his seat. “I’ll get some security techs to go fetch them and we can meet them in the revival chamber.”

After making their way to the chamber, the security techs brought in the elders and ard. As they shuffled onto the platform, Druyndar was still indignant. “What is the meaning of this? Why do you continue to defile the tomb of our ancestors?”

“This isn’t a tomb, and we will prove it to you,” Takyra said. “We’re here to begin the revival process of the Athla’naa, still in cryostasis.”

When Druyndar did nothing but harrumph, she turned to Ardyn and Jevan. “Aerys’ report confirmed my worst fears. Many of the pods are close to the point of failure and over a dozen have already failed. Those inside died within the last year.”

“When the pods fail, why don’t those inside wake up?” Jevan asked.

“Cryostasis isn’t that simple,” Takyra explained, making her way over to the control console, selecting those to revive. “This isn’t my area of expertise, but to sustain and prolong life, the cryopods placed each of us into a medically induced coma, while they circulated a specially formulated chemical through our systems. It fixes any cell damage that normally would cause aging. The pods also kept us nourished and cleaned out our bodily waste. When the revival process begins, it must purge this chemical from our system before we’re brought out of the induced coma.”

Ardyn struggled to imagine what Takyra described, but didn’t want to interrupt. I can ask Cytra later to help me understand.

Takyra continued as she worked the control console. “By making these selections, I am beginning the first stage of the revival process.”

Aerys then stepped forward to explain further. “If the pod fails, then the occupant will not have the chemical cleansed from their bodies or given the necessary medication and stimulus to wake. Eventually, they will die of starvation.”

Jevan looked shocked. “That sounds horrible. I’m glad we came along in time, or you could have all died.”

A shudder ran through Ardyn as he imagined arriving too late, only finding a tomb of the dead. Then he had a realization. “This is what our ancestors had intended all along… for this place to become a tomb. They knew the cryopods would eventually fail, didn’t they?”

“This is utter nonsense,” Druyndar proclaimed. “This has always been a crypt of the dead. Our ancient texts are very clear on that.”

Aerys walked up to Druyndar and stated emphatically. “Your ancient texts are wrong. I lived and worked alongside your ancestors. They betrayed you as surely as they betrayed us by writing those lies.”

Takyra put a hand on Aerys’ shoulder, while addressing the elders. “That’s why we’re here, to show you the truth. Cytra, please begin the final stage of the revival process for Amyra.”

“Right away, Chief Technician Takyra.”

Ardyn watched as the giant arm went to retrieve one cryopod, making the elders behind him gasp. When the pod was in place on the platform, they watched and waited as the revival process completed and the doors of the pod opened. Out stumbled a female Athla’naa, and Takyra rushed over to help her.

“What trickery is this?!” Druyndar demanded when Aelrynd smacked his shoulder.

“Do you not believe what you have witnessed with your own eyes?” Aelrynd reprimanded. “I have been skeptical, but even I cannot deny the truth any longer. That wasn’t a dead ancestor within that casket… cryopod. She lives and breathes!”

“Everyone, please meet Amyra, Chief Medical Technician of the Rahn’naa,” Takyra introduced before Druyndar could respond to Aelrynd.

“I will not stand here and bear witness to more blasphemy!” Druyndar yelled, before turning and pushing his way past the two security techs behind him. As he approached the doors, they opened automatically, and he fled down the corridor.

The security techs looked at Takyra and Aerys for guidance. “Let him go,” Takyra said. “If this wasn’t enough to convince him, I’m not sure what else would.”

“Do we need to worry about him?” Aerys asked the elders.

“He’s harmless,” Taeglyn replied. “Druyndar is full of bluster, but he is only one voice of the Triumvirate.”

The recently revived Amyra looked bewildered. “What is going on?”

“There’s a lot you need to know,” Takyra said, before turning to the remaining elders. “Will you remain with us until we can explain everything to you fully?”

“Yes, I think we must,” Aelrynd replied.

“Absolutely,” Mathias agreed.

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