The Venerate Redemption

by Troy Dukart

  I leaned in and kissed her dry but soft lips and held her like I did before back home. It reminded me that all of my best times in my life had been with her.

  We then stood up and saw that Argenta and Rousseau stood outside. They had decided to take Tom Flint back to the port and have his ashes spread in the ocean so that he could travel the world. Yessa rode back with me and Argenta rode with Rousseau and Tom back to the port.

  Once we returned, we set up arrangements with the local guards to go scavenge the wreck and bring back the deceased Zindaqueans in exchange for rights to the Mag-Truck.

  When the scavengers had returned with all the bodies, the family and community members held a Zindaquean traditional funeral. The Tongwa were removed and put into cages before they would be set free to perform their final act of mating. Afterwards, they would die. Each of the Zindaqueans were wrapped in old tree leaves and coated in aromas and oils believed to help Ren find them in order to guide them safely into the afterlife.

  It was believed that this aroma would help the Tongwa find their old master's scent and follow them after they had laid their eggs. In most cases, bodies were cremated individually, but due to time constraints they would all be sent away together.

  Before the ceremony began, Argenta and Rousseau had asked for a small request, and that was for Tom Flint to be included. The elders said they'd never done this with a foreigner before, but would pay him the respect he deserved for helping to save them.

  Once all the deceased were prepared, they were placed near the ocean line and covered in burnable leaves we bought from the local market. Like candles being lit on a cake, one by one the Zindaqueans went down the row and started the fire to free their spirits. Rousseau held Argenta close as the bushel around Tom Flint was ignited and we stood behind them as the sun disappeared into the horizon. There were songs and chants sung in Zindaquean. I said one more prayer to Tom Flint before his bushel had burned away, “Long live the memory of you sir, master of the Rodin Pirates.”

  Chapter 16

  Rousseau

  I'd struggled for so long, trying to hide who I was. Now, the person who understood and loved me the most, was gone.

  It was the most painful heartache I'd ever experienced. Nobody should have the love of their life die in their arms so young. Some say that true love is once in a lifetime, and I was struggling with the fact I may never have that again. Tom was more than a lover to me, he was my best friend and closest ally. Before he died, he passed onto me his Power of Luck. I noticed that my tattoo on my leg had changed. Neither of us were fortunate to see each other for more than a few seconds before he died.

  After my father had been assassinated by my uncle, I couldn't trust any blokes, even my own people. I ran as fast as I could, but my uncle's cronies kept coming. It was pure chance that Tom and his pirates had infiltrated the lower bowels of the castle and had been stealing from us that I ran in. Knowing them not to be Yuwherian, I said, “Help! I'm an escaped prisoner and if you don't help me I will be forced to tell you were stealing from the King!”

  What pirate could want that? The next thing I knew, they had brought me onto their ship, the Bullrose, and took off before the guards could reach us. They were strange looking, that was for sure, and some smelled like pigs.

  One of them in particular caught my eye, the Captain. He was beautiful, but I couldn't tell if he had an interest in men. All I did until we got out of Yuwherian airspace was kept to myself and did what they told me. One of the pirates, a girl, came up to me, “Cap'n wants to talk to ya.” Later I would find out it to be Charity, the real Charity. I'd no idea that she would be assassinated.

  I followed her to the Captain's room and she nudged me in and shut the door. He was sitting in his chair but it was turned around so I couldn't see him. I cleared my throat, “You wanted to speak to me?”

  Slowly, the chair spun around and the man was smoking a big cigar, blowing smoke rings. With a big smile, he put out the cigar in an ash tray and held his fingertips out, tapping them together. He leaned forward and said, “Ye know, the stuff we were stealin', ain't worth a damn. You though, Mr. Prince, will be worth quite a booty! Me question though, is why ye said ye was a prisoner?”

  Trying to disguise myself, I replied, “I'm not the Prince. You're mistaken.”

  “Don't play dumb with me boy, a prisoner don't be wearin' royal clothin'! Ye talk like a Royal too, no manners! Now, tell me what be goin' on or I'll have ye swimmin' with the sharks!”

  After explaining what had happened, the Captain was dumbfounded. He turned in his chair and began scratching his head. He turned back to me, “Damn. Sorry to hear this boy. I called Yuwheria me home years ago. Ye father, aye, he was a good man. Dastard way to go down, I hope ye mother will be okay.”

  “She, she is strong. Stronger than any woman I know. She will get to the bottom of the murder.”

  “Well, if there be anything ye need, let me know. We be headin' for Crotona to meet up with the people who paid us to almost get killed sneakin' into ye castle! Ahahaha! Don't let these knuckleheads mess with ye! 'Member! Ye a damn prince for goodness sake!” the Captain laughed.

  “Just give me a bed to sleep in, I reckon to hit the hay and count some sheep,” I said.

  As I begin to reach for the door, he was behind me with a hand on my shoulder. He turned me around and looked deep into my eyes. I couldn't tell if he felt what I felt, but when he leaned in and kissed me, I never knew what we would become.

  We spent the next few months together, and I was enjoying my new life as a Rodin Pirate. There was a deep part of me concerned for the crown and my country but another side that was happy to be free from the shackles of royalty. Life as an outlaw was exhilarating as it was liberating; we gave to the poor and stole from the rich. Isn't that a switch?

  One day we received a mission to go to Shinjo, and that was where I met Zon. It was a cloudy day, with a light drizzle of snow. The village we were to pillage had been destroyed. Nothing but smoldering remains of wooden houses and the dead. “Hey! I found a live one here!” Charity yelled.

  Buried beneath a pile of wood was a young man, looked to be around my age, with a sword in his hand. There were strange blue tattoos all over his body, and when Charity went to touch him, he vanished. “Whoa!” we gasped.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure falling from the sky. Zon was coming down to slice me, but I deflected his attack and he rolled down on the ground. The pirates had their guns cocked and pointed at him. He got up slowly and used his sword to prop himself up. Blood covered his face.

  “Easy there lad! Don't do anything stupid, and we won't hurt ye!” Tom said to him.

  “Are you, the Yuwherians?” Zon said between breaths, he looked exhausted.

  Tom looked at me, and shook his head 'no' and replied, “We be nomads mate, not from Yuwheria.”

  Zon collapsed into the snow, unconscious. We tried to take the sword out of his hand, but he wouldn't let go.

  “Must be his ninja power!” one of the pirates joked.

  “He was asking if we were Yuwherians; Tom, I need to know if my people did this,” I told him.

  “Aye, take him aboard mates. And don't forget to tie him down, will ye!? Don't need any heads rollin',” he told his pirates.

  Once he had time to rest, Tom, Charity and I went down to Zon's cell to question him. He was in a straight-jacket, and there was a strange glowing stone hanging from the ceiling. It made me feel weird when I looked at it. Zon was sitting there, meditating, when Tom pulled up a chair and sat in front of him. With his cigar and a big smile, he said, “Tell us a little story about, hmm, why ye was left to die in ye village?”

  Eyes closed, he replied, “I was not left to die. My village was attacked, by a winged-warrior and their Yuwherian forces. I must find the surviving members of my clan and kill who was responsible. If you do not free me, I will kill you as well.”

  “Ho ho! That be some threat from a man with nowhere to go! I saw wha
t ye could do to and had this Siopi Stone brought down to stop ye from cuttin' off our heads. Any who, ye be coming with us until we figure out what we want to do with ye, so get comfy,” Tom said as he walked out the door, Charity followed him.

  I needed to know more, if Yuwherian forces actually did this to his village. When he said 'winged-warrior,' that could have been only one person, Argenta, my cousin.

  “Listen, I, I am sorry for what happened to your village. No average wanker did that back there, I can see. But, when you said Yuwherian Forces, this makes no sense to me mate. I was close to the Royal Family and they never had any intentions of attacking Shinjo. Are you sure…” I questioned before getting cut off.

  “Make no mistake, pirate, it was so. I cut down many of them before blacking out while fighting the winged-warrior. She was the only one to be able to lay a hand on me, and, I am surprised they did not finish me off. Their mistake will come back to haunt them, one-hundred fold.”

  “If this is true, I want to get to the bottom of this as well! Let me help you find out who started this,” I pleaded.

  With stern eyes, he looked up and said, “You have power, like I do. Nobody else has reacted to this stone like you did. We are, on the same path. My grandfather told me stories of people possessing power like this, and while I don't believe in magic, there is something to this transformation. I have people in Soria; if you want to help, take me there and let me go.”

  “On one condition, you let me help you investigate who really attacked your village,” I countered.

  “Hmm,” Zon shrugged, “It is some world we live in now. The only way I can regain my honor is to trust someone without any.”

  Chapter 17

  Strafe

  There was no greater friend to us than Captain Calico Tom Flint. His loss made the world dimmer and reminded me to never take our time with friends for granted. Seeing the people closest to me hurt wasn't something I was used to. Back in New Santa Barbara, my life was care-free, peaceful and promising. I used to wake up every day with a smile on my face, but now, every day was a challenge. Not only was I responsible for myself but I carried the weight of all those I cared about.

  There were still no leads on Brutus' location and I felt frustrated. Seeing my brother his current state was painful. It was almost if there were two people inside him. The real Zixin was alive though, and I would find a way to save him.

  The sea was a nice change of pace from all the Mag-Trucks, flying and typhoons we had experienced lately. Some of the others on board got sea-sick quickly, but it didn't happen to me until the third day. Our boat was all white except for the golden letters on the port side, which read in Zindaquean, Montoran. Roya said it meant “The Fun One.” I saw soon why because everyone on board was playing cards, dancing, singing and even swimming with a pod of dolphin-like creatures on the crew's breaks. The voyage was calming and the stars in the sky were magnificent at night.

  I spent a lot of time with both Roya and Yessa. They were both in need of support, and I was really the only one here that could be there for them. Roya had just saw her home destroyed and Yessa had no idea where any of her friends here were alive. I wasn't expecting them to get along. To my surprise though, they walked in together holding hands.

  They came in and lied down next to me and we slept together. We didn't have sex but embraced in bed. I think Roya's presence helped calm all of us. She did have the Power of Love after all. Sometimes circumstances can change people's perception of each other, especially in times of conflict. For now, I didn't have to choose between the two. I knew there would be a day when I would though. I loved Yessa but Roya was unlike anyone I had ever met before.

  We were all happy to see land after the week on the ocean. As we approached the port, I was amazed at the city I saw. Crotona was so beautiful. The city surrounded a u-shaped inlet around the bay and had blue and white mountains in the background. There was a small checkpoint we had to cross. Local officers on boats rode beside us and boarded the ship for inspection. On the shoulder of their uniforms I saw an orange shield with a white cross, which Rousseau had told me was their flag. “Looks kind of Swiss,” I mentioned.

  The hats they wore had a point sticking out of them and had a fuzzy orange ball at the tip. They chatted with the captain of our boat for a while before we were allowed to dock. “Sounds good Captain, you are cleared for port,” the officer blessed.

  As we made our way inland, the smell of flowers permeated through the city. There was something special about this place, and it was very calming. Back home in New Santa Barbara I felt safe too but one had to be wary of their surroundings, especially at night. Here, no matter what time of day, even a lone woman could walk the streets without the fear of any attack.

  “This is something else mate,” Rousseau marveled as he walked off the deck.

  “The peace here reminds me of my country,” Zon said.

  “It has always been this way, for hundreds of years. Crotona is known as the “peace-making city.” Coming back is always a pleasure,” Argenta explained.

  “We'll need to warn everyone about the Senti's plans. Where can we go to do that?” I asked her.

  “There is no need traveler, the World's Nations are already planning to meet to discuss the recent world events,” one of the officers piped in.

  “So you already have heard?” Zon asked the man.

  “The whole world has known for months now what happened in Soria. They are coming here to gather allies to confront the growing threat rising from Sentium,” the officer said, “Are you from Zindaqe?”

  “In all my heart and mind,” Roya replied to him.

  “My sincerest condolences. I must be off; the meeting will take place at the Grande Galerie de la Paix in the center of town on Wednesday. Good day my friends,” the officer said.

  We said goodbye to all of the others who had crossed over with us and went to town to explore. We had three days before the meeting, and the foreign embassies were closed due to a national holiday. Zon wanted to rendezvous with any Whisper Warriors he could find, so he pardoned himself from the group. Roya wished to help the fellow Zindaqueans that came over on the boat file asylum paperwork. Rousseau said he just needed some time to think, which Roya was hesitant about. He told her he knew how to disappear, even in the biggest of cities. Argenta agreed to go with him as he soul-searched. That left Yessa and I to explore the city.

  We went to see all the tourist attractions we could in the small window we had. I made sure to pick up a map and we were off! The first place we visited was the Progressors Wall, a site with four statues of men across Crotona who established the city as a place for peace. The statues and wall were engraved from a white marble and had some of their quotes etched into it. I thought it was a very powerful piece. Next up was an old Serenity Church of St. Catherine in the older side of the town. The church had been standing for over a thousand years and housed items that had dated back to such times.

  Yessa's favorite attraction was the parks. Walking in the grass bare-footed felt incredible compared to the desert we had been trotting through for so long. In the middle of the city we walked to the Place of Together, which was dedicated to all the war victims of previous atrocities. It advocated for negotiation and the ban of anti-personnel mines. Of course, the one we all loved was the Rainbow Pinnochio. It was a wooden carved man with a top hat and mustache with wooden children sitting in front of him. He had a book open and was facing the kids but all of them were tattered with all the colors of the rainbow. The message I got was that books can open whole new worlds to us.

  After the three days had passed, we all met up and stayed the night at a hotel. I had no idea that what followed in the morning would decide the fate of the world.

  Chapter 18

  Strafe

  The sound of church bells chimed in at daybreak, and the timbre woke the city.

  Representatives from around the world came to discuss recent events, most importantly the Senti aggres
sion. All we hoped for was the best.

  Once we reunited with the others I learned Rousseau and Argenta had pulled some strings to get us in as “witnesses.” I laughed and told them we should've been labeled “survivors.” Yessa agreed to come with us; she would be vital in our case. As I stepped out of the hotel lobby, I noticed a black Mag-limousine pull up to pick us up. The driver said, “No weapons are allowed near the building. You better leave them here.”

  Once we secured them in a safe location, we got in the Mag-limousine and drove down to the Grande Galerie de la Paix in the heart of the town.

  “Damn, these people really live full lives with no fear,” I whispered to Yessa as I looked out the window.

  “Yeah, kinda like home,” she said as she leaned her head against my shoulder.

  There were children running and playing in a nearby park and everyone seemed so happy. It was almost as if they were unaware of the war.

  “Ignorance is a blessing we should all treasure. Politicians pay the price of knowing of all the terrible things this world creates,” Zon commented while looking at the sky.

  “We unfortunately don't fall into either of those categories mate. Remember you're fighting for more than your own life now,” Rousseau told Zon.

  “This is true, but I like how Zon talked. I wish to see the day when war is but stories, not real,” Roya sighed.

  “Just show them your scars, and point to the people responsible. That's all we can do,” Argenta replied.

  When we arrived, the place was lined with reporters, soldiers and politicians. The President of Crotona, Frédéric de la Croix, was there, along with many other nations' leaders and representatives. We were quickly whisked inside by security. The hall was massive, and national flags from all over Eternia were present hanging from the ceiling. It looked like a mix between an opera house and a congressional building. Beautiful architecture of marble and wood lined the walls. We followed our liaison down to our seats.