Some quick little acknowledgments: Some of my inspirations on names And places come from my favorite novels. (of course:) ! they include: Dune by Frank herbert; Tad Williams' trilogy Memory Sorrow And Thorn; Feedback would be greatly appreciated! Let me know what you think! Oh, And for those of you who aren't up on your Sci-fi, Terran means the same thing as Human. (get it? Terra, Terran! hee hee {giggle}) The song in ch. II is Dru Hill's "These Are the Days." I give it a rating of PG-13 for language And violence.
Prologue
[Two hundred fifty years ago]
Yazashi watched the procession of people as her father was laid to the ground. The scene was very beautiful with all of the colors represented by the tribes of her people. But She saw none of this, the truth was, her father was dead, And She was alone; the actuality of it just beginning to sink in. He had been the only one who accepted her, the only one who understood. Not even her own mother accepted her She didn't even know her real mother. Why did She have to be so different? the few friends She did have had become scarce when they discovered one of her gifts. Actually, they'd run away from her They actually ran! She looked up at the moon, And closed her eyes as a silent tear moistened her cheek.
Yaz stood in the middle of an ocean of grass listening to the wind And her soul. This place was in fact called the Sea of Dreams. The grass was six feet high And the color of a storming sea. When the wind blew, the grass moved like waves of water, The tops of the blades had tiny holes in them making a sweet sound whenever the air passed by. Many had visions in the sea, And thus its name. She listened for what seemed like an eternity. Then, without warning, everything around her hushed. The wind stopped blowing, all life stopped as Chief Baraka Ijaz' body, her father's body, was laid to the ground. She tried desperately to hold back the tears And agony She felt, but it was more than She could bear. Suddenly, the world around her gave out a majestic cry, like it had known the passing of this great man And gave tribute at his passing. She could no longer hold the rush of sorrow She felt in herself. She could feel every thought, every emotion around her The strong feelings of sadness And grief for the loss of her people's greatest leader, And hatred at the one responsible for his death.
No! Not again! She thought. She could hear everything, see everything. She could see the past, the present, And the future around her all at once. Overcome with sensory overload, She fell to the ground, her head swarming with thoughts not her own.
As quickly as the feeling had come, it was gone again. Only one voice remained, And it called out to her, Come Home. It said Come home we are waiting. She concentrated on the voice And a woman's face appeared before her in her mind's eye. She was beautiful, And had the air of a mystic about her her eyes were the same color change eyes with catlike pupils as her own. Was this woman related to her? That moment She realized what She had to do. She had to find this woman who spoke to her The first place She would look would be the Citadel of A'sua. Looking up at the sky once more, She allowed the essence to surround her, And comfort her The wind calmed her fears, And the animal songs soothed her heart. She could feel the Essence rise within her, And when She thought She could hold on to it no more, She released it. The horizon was suddenly filled with every color of the rainbow. The wind picked up And the banners And scarves from all of the tribes of the Zidai'ya flew into the air with an explosion of color tethered only by spears, quarter staffs, scythes, And swords of all the warriors; while their robes struggled to be released in the wind. Yes, this was the right decision. She would find a new place to dwell, even though in her heart She would always call this home no matter where She ended up.
As one, the Zidai'ya Nation sang out in perfect harmony, with the animals, And the wind. The last tribute to Chief Baraka Ijaz, father of Yazashi Ijaz-TyMyika, sank beneath the waves of grass, his body becoming one with the Sea of Dreams.
Chapter 1: Yazashi
[Two hundred years later. . .]
"Yazashi! Yazashi, can you hear me?" someone near her shouted. The voice had been calling her for a long time. She wished it would go away. She felt so tired. Wanting nothing more than to sleep, but that voice was so damned persistent. She struggled to open her eyes, but they were gummed tight with blood. The pain in her head was all consuming. The anguish grew worse, her body and mind could take no more. She screamed in sheer agony as her whole body convulsed spasmodically increasing her pain ten fold. She was beyond her threshold of pain and wanted with all her heart to be released from it, but that accursed voice!
"Yazashi! You have to listen to me. Yazashi listen to my words: relax, take a deep breath, let the rhythm of my voice be your guiding light, you feel peace, you feel strength. Feel the strength of my voice, my touch. Come back to me. Yazashi . . . Zealot! You didn't get that name for nothing. LIVE!!!" And under his breath the voice said to her, "I love you." A silent tear fell from his face to hers.
As the tear fell on her cheek, Yaz felt his strength flow into her She tried to refuse it, didn't want to go on; but this man . . . Emeka? Was this someone she cared for? she couldn't think anymore. All She could do was let his mental And physical arms hold her gently rocking her, as she was pulled back from that terrible darkness.
An unseen hand wiped the blood from her eyes, calming her fears. Yaz opened her eyes. Looked into the face whose voice and strength had called her back from death. It was the face of an angel. The pain in her head screamed. She had to shut her eyes from the pain. When she opened her eyes again with a pleading look to stop the pain, he smiled at her and it seemed he understood. He gently pulled her close. She could feel his strength flow into her. The pain went away, sending her off to sad but blessed dreams.
On the outskirts of a forest, on a rocky plane, near an ancient Citadel, a tall old gaunt man with pale skin and dark brown eyes held a med scanner over an unconscious girl, who looked no older than 16 Terran years. Another man, seeming to be a few years older than the girl, held her in his arms with her head laying comfortably against his chest. "Sir, heart rate And blood pressure have stabilized. I think we should make a litter And carry her to the runabout." Stated the gaunt man with the med scanner over her Emeka just stared at the Lieutenant with deep purple eyes, trying to figure out if the man was serious or not. The lieutenant shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze.
After a few moments Emeka responded in a calm And even voice. "Denzon are you dumb? Or just plain stupid?" he retorted. "She has internal bleeding. If we move her, how do you know we won't make her condition worse?" The lieutenant merely lowered his head, unable to respond. "I thought not. The best we can do for her now is to keep her still And comfortable. Let's just wait for the rescue team. I managed to grab the transponder before the runabout exploded."
The lieutenant turned around. "Yes, but what about her other injuries. She has multiple contusions to the head. I don't think it was wise of you to let her sleep." The lieutenant said challengingly. This guy isn't a doctor either, what did he know? Emeka seemed to hear Denzon's unspoken words, And looked angrily at the lieutenant then responded. "I know more about her physiology than you do."
Denzon couldn't believe Emeka, the guy was weird, he looked weird. And ever since he met this Yazashi girl, he got worse. Far be it from him to deny Two people in love, but when the Two of them were together it seemed like they ignored everybody around them, truthfully. He was disgusted. "I don't get it, they attacked And then don't finish us?" he voiced out loud.
"What's that? Did you say something? All I can think about is this girl." Emeka snapped at him with heavy sarcasm And stared the poor lieutenant down with his big catlike purple eyes. After a few seconds, he shook his head slightly as if he were shrugging off a thought then decided to answer the man's question. "They already got what they came for." Then he looked down at his love.
Just then, both men turned to the sound of a broken twig. "Do not be alarmed. I am unarmed." The shadow said as it walked into the light. "She will live." It wasn't a question, but a reassurance to himself. "Can I speak with her?" The man asked. His voice filled with sorrow.
Emeka had the feeling that this man And her had been lovers. He was suddenly very jealous. "Why? So you can finish the job? What was She so guilty of that She would have to endure pain such as this?" he was furious.
"Murder." Was all the mysterious man could say.
"Murder, She murdered someone?!" Emeka was really upset. The nerve of this guy! "How the hell do you expect me to believe that?! She's been no where near this world for over five years!!" The man looked at him for a moment. Emeka could feel the man probing his mind. I don't take kindly to unannounced visitors in my head. Back off!! he comanded mentally to the mysterous man across from him. The man both physically and psychically moved away.
The man narrowed his eyes. "I know you believe it, because you were there when she did it." Emeka's eyes went wide. "Yes, you remember don't you? I see it in your eyes."
Deciding not to answer him directly Emeka asked, "Then why is she still alive?"
With a sardonic smile his question was answered. "She was pardoned."
"You call beating her almost to her death 'pardoned'?" Emeka said fervently, his eyes glowing with purple fire.
Others would have looked away from him, but this man held the other's gaze. "I am not going to explain our ways to you." After a moment, the man looked down at Yaz. Almost immediately she began to stir and then opened her eyes. It seemed like he was telling her something for she nodded, then drifted back into a healing sleep. "I know I have no right to ask, but can you do me a favor?"
"You're right, you don't. Now get the hell away from us before I shoot you." With that, Emeka raised his arm. On his wrist, was a band with small poisoned darts on it positioned to move to the top after the previous one is fired.
The man backed up a few steps and raised his hands palms up. "Such fury. You must really love her." Emeka motioned him move back. The man drew away a few more paces. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so jealous. I will leave." The man started to turn around, then he remembered what he had come there for. "Please look after her. Though she was pardoned, the Masai bound most of her powers. It will take her some time to adjust." In a voice that matched Emeka's vehemence he said. "They cut her off from the land." The bitches, he thought to himself, but Emeka heard it clearly. "She won't be able to block out . . ." he paused trying to find the right word couldn't find it and let it drop.
As Emeka continued to talk to the mysterious man, Lieut. Tyler Denzon became disgusted and stalked off into the nearby forest. I hope they kill each other! he thought to himself.
The forest near the A'sua Citadel, was very large, dense, and beautiful. The trunks of the some of the trees were ebony with purple looking moss. The leaves of these trees shimmered green and electric blue, and had red plum blossoms growing from the branches.Other trees looked somewhat like a cross between a spruce and a weeping willow. Their leaves started out as long thick dark purple needles that spread into more wispy leaves like the willow.
Shrubs and stunted trees mingled with trees that appeared to be taller than even the mighty redwoods of his home on Earth. If this forest wasn't so damn close to that Zen'ya Citadel, I'd bring my son here so that we can spend more time together. He thought with a sigh. After wandering around a bit, he decided to take a quick nap, since Emeka told him the Zen'ya wouldn't return. They'd better not return! I'm tired of getting mixed up with all these freaks! After wandering a little more, Denzon found a small clearing with a large rock shaped like a crescent moon on its side that shimmered like white gold in the Sun. He sat down on the soft blue green grass in the tiny alcove created by the shiny rock, and slowly leaned his back against the rock. Thinking it would be hot from the sun's heat, but it was surprisingly cool to the touch. He shrugged it off and leaned all the way back and got into a comfortable position. In no time was off into the dream world imagining life with no mutants, aliens, or other weirdoes.
Back at the entrance to the forest, Emeka and the mysterious stranger continued their guarded conversation. "I still don't trust you, why do you want me to give her this potion after we get back to the ship?" Asked Emeka, after the stranger handed over a glass container.
"Because, if you give it to her now, the hunters will come back and harm her more." Suddenly the stranger looked up and had a distant look on his face. A few seconds later, he shook his head as if shaking off a thought and returned his attention back to Yazashi. He looked at her as though he were speaking to her telepathically. Her eyes fluttered briefly but didn't open. Then he turned his attention to Emeka. "I must leave, please take care of her. I love her more than life." he paused, "I think you understand what that means." he turned his head away again, when he returned his attention, he spoke with urgency. "It is okay to wake her now, your comrades are near. I must go." Emeka nodded and looked down at his sleeping love. When he looked up, the stranger was gone.
"Casshan..." Yazashi moaned in her sleep.
Emeka looked back down at her slightly confused. "I wonder..." he said to himself but was instantly brought out of his reverie, by the sound of sub light engines approaching. It must be Shadow. He thought quietly, as the runabout came into view. The Alliance only used those old clunky ships when they wanted to get into enemy territory without raising too many eyebrows. They weren't as sleek, graceful, or advanced as the regular ships in the Armada, but they were tough. If he remembered correctly, they were long range shuttle fighters originally manufactured in the Alpha Quadrant. Now they were everywhere, less "armored" versions were the vehicle of choice for many hotrodders. "Mmf" Emeka said to himself. "I bet that's Shadow piloting that shuttle. I know her flying anywhere" Moments later the Runabout made its final approach to the outskirts of the forest. A small wind kicked up as the it landed. Emeka had to shield Yaz against the dirt that had flown up. The outer hatch of the shuttle opened and a med team emerged with a anti-grav sled in tow over to Emeka.
"Falcon! er . . Lieut. Commander Fedykin are you all right? We got here as soon as we could." One of the med techs asked. Then he looked down at Yazashi and winced. She used to be so beautiful. Most of the male population aboard Eyes of Ibad had a crush on her. Now, her bronze colored skin wasn't as shimmery, her hair that used to be a long, silky, dark Indian red was now matted, nappy, and blood red from a gash on her once gorgeous face. Even the jewel sliver embedded in her forehead had the look of fading life.
"How is Ya..." Shadow began when she reached the small group. When she saw her friend's condition her heart broke. "How bad is she?" She asked the med tech with the scanner.
"I'm afraid to move her. She's got a lot of internal bleeding. If we move her too much, . . ." the med tech had to stop, to fight back the tears and sorrow threatening to overwhelm him. Shadow nodded. How can someone with such spirit be so fragile? She asked herself as she began to cry silently. Emeka snapped his head up and looked dead at her when she asked the question she thought only she could hear. His face was so full of anguish and sorrow, that she had to turn away.
"Ensign, why don't they just teleport her aboard the Runabout?" She asked another med tech.
"Remember the last time she tried to teleport to Eyes of Ibad? They couldn't get a lock on her, and when they did; she cried out in pain before she even began to dematerialize." he said sadly.
Shadow didn't think her heart could sink any lower, until that moment. He must feel so awful. She thought to herself, this time careful to shield her thoughts from Emeka. Oh, poor baby! With his empathy, he must feel all her pain. Oh how awful!
"Falcon . . er . . Emeka, can you float her up to the sled?" asked the med tech who had the scanner.
"I can try. . .I can do." he corrected himself. With that, he closed his eyes and consentrated on raising Yaz' body to the sled, while keeping her body perfectly still. Slowly Yaz' body began to rise. No sooner had he completed his task, he broke out in a cold sweet and nearly collapsed from exhaustion. One of the med techs not currently assisting Yazashi, helped Emeka to his feet. It was then Shadow realized someone was missing.
"Falcon, where's Denzon?"
Emeka looked at her for a second with a blank expression. It took a second for it to dawn on him that she had actually asked a question. He blinked once, then looked around. "I. . .I don't . .know. He was here a while ago. He must have left while I . ." his voice trailed off as he concentrated on finding Lieut. Denzon. After a few seconds of intense concentration, he located him about 2 away. His eyes flew wide open when he realized the Lieut. was not alone. He tried to dash off into the forest, but his legs gave out and he started shaking. Damn! Now is not the time to have a seizure Emeka! he said to himself, as he lost control of his body. "H..h..he'sss..i..i.iin ddddangerrrrr! tttttwwo . . .ooo cccccll . . lliicxxxssss eeeeeeeaaaaastttttt!" he sputtered, trying to stay conscious long enough to get the warning out.
"That way?" Shadow asked.
"yyyyeeeaahh" Emeka responded weakly then lost consciousness completely.
Do not worry Emeka. I will warn to Zidai'ya away before it is too late. Your comrad does not know he is defecating on sacred land. The voice of the stranger, Casshan? spoke to him. If he had had the strength, Emeka would have laughed long and hard. As it was, he could only mentally chuckle at the poor old fool.
"Ahh, that feels good." Lieut. Denzon said to himself with a sigh as he relieved himself by a nearby tree. Out of the corner of his eye he saw flash of movement. he turned around to see what it was, while pulling up his pants and going for his weapon. Before he could draw it, however, he saw another quick movement in front of him then heard a low thud as if someone had been knocked to the ground, then he saw the body that was knocked to the ground and the body that did the knocking. The mysterious stranger stood in front of him in a battle stance. While a young looking warrior picked himself up off the forest floor. A quick glance around revealed others in and around the trees surrounding him. Upon a closer look, the warrior had many of the same characteristics of Yazashi. His skin was a dark bronze color, his eyes seemed to be three or four different colors at once, and had a lithe frame. Although he too had long hair, it wasn't Indian Red, rather it was jet black, and pulled back into a long braid with a spear like fasten at the end of the tail.
The man stood up and began speaking in a language Denzon didn't understand toward the stranger. Apparently the stranger understood, because he responded using the same language. The man who spoke to the stranger made a slight movement and everyone around them seemed to disappear into the wood of the trees. The stranger turned to face Denzon. "Next time you feel the need to relieve yourself make sure you do not take leave on sacred ground." The stranger pointed to a strange symbol on the tree he had pissed on a few moments before. With that, the stranger also vanished into the wood.
Moments later, Shadow found the small clearing Emeka had indicated before his collapse. There she saw Lieut. Denzon standing by a tree with a bewildered look on his face. "Tyler, are you all right? Emeka said you were in danger."
"I was, but someone talked whoever they were into not harming me." he responded almost for a loss of words.
"We have to hurry back, Yazashi is still in critical condition, and Emeka's collapsed." Shadow said, she started to head back when an idea popped in her head. "Tyler, do you know how to ride a horse?"
"Uh, yeah. Why do you ask?" he answered slightly confused.
"Hop on when I change. We can be back at the landing site inside of two minutes." Shadow responded and with that, she turned into a brown horse. With a little hesitation, Denzon mounted Shadow and they road off toward the landing site.
True to her word, Shadow and Lieut. Tyler Denzon arrived at the landing site within two minutes. As soon as Denzon dismounted, Shadow changed back into her normal form and they hurriedly boarded the Runabout. Shadow rushed into the cockpit and made sure everyone was ready. Denzon took a seat at engineering. After a couple of minutes they were free of the planet known only by the name of it's Great Citadel, A'sua.
