by Lyra Shanti
Ayn shook his head, confused. “I don’t understand, but I’m glad to see you! More than glad!” Rushing to him, Ayn grabbed Zin in his arms. “I thought you had died or became a slave and was lost forever!”
“No, Ayn… not exactly, although one might say that becoming heir to my father was tantamount to slavery.”
“My Lod,” said the ominous, red-skinned man, “perhaps you should hurry your explanation so The Bodanya may fully understand our dire situation.”
Ayn looked at the red-skinned man with curious eyes. He seemed so familiar, as if he had walked out from one of Ayn's forgotten dreams.
“It’s alright,” said Ayn, smiling, “there’s plenty of time to talk about what happened to you.”
“No, Ayn… actually, there isn’t. You see, when my father died from Plasma Sickness, there was a bounty on my head to bring me back to Ohr, forcing me to become king, which is a big joke considering the Prime Minister doesn’t let me do or say anything, let alone rule the kingdom! Anyway, a bounty hunter bought me at the slave auction, then took me against my will to Ohr. Shortly afterward, my mother suddenly went missing. Vax tried to convince me she just went on vacation, but I had my suspicions about what really happened. When I finally confronted Vax, he took Raven from me and-”
“Wait, wait…” said Ayn, completely lost. “Raven? You mean, Lady Raven? She’s with you?”
“She came to live with me, yes… until Vax had her sent to The Dome.”
“What’s The Dome?”
“It’s deep under the ocean of Ohr. It’s a prison… or maybe a hospital, I’m not sure. All I know is that once someone goes there, they never come out. Ayn, my mother had Plasma Sickness… and she disappeared! And once I spoke against Vax, Raven became sick and was sent to that place as well! I know they’re both there, Ayn, but I need your help to find them! I didn’t know you were alive before, and I had given up hope! But once I saw you on the news, I realized I had to fight to see you, even if it meant Vax would kill me. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you were The Bodanya, my friend. I was wrong. I was so very wrong! Will you help me?! I beg you!”
Ayn exhaled, long and steady. “Zin… my dear friend, please calm down. I’m sure there is a way to find your girlfriend if we-”
“My wife. Well, she isn’t technically my wife, but…. my assigned wife is Vax's daughter, and she's a silly girl. Raven is my wife in soul. Vax's daughter is, well, not for me.”
“Alright,” said Ayn, “your soul's wife is probably safe. Don't worry, we’ll find her, Zin. I promise.”
“No, Ayn, you don’t understand! Raven is in terrible trouble, if she’s even alive. You see, Vax regards sickness as if it were criminal. He treats the ill as prisoners and throws them into a bio-dome so deep under the water, even our plasma-diving machines can’t go there. Only his drones can access it, but they are controlled by Vax alone. Ayn… I need your help. If something isn’t done, everyone on Ohr who gets sick will disappear and die! He’s enacting genocide on his own people! My people!”
Ayn saw the terror in his long lost friend’s eyes and felt the weight of his words.
Ona saw it too and said, “Ayn, we must do something.” Turning to Zin, she placed her hand on his arm and gave him a comforting smile. “We will help you, Lod Zin, though it may take some time to form a plan. Until then, you have our promise that you may stay with us as a friend who is seeking amnesty. If Minister Vax wishes to pursue his dominance over you, then he will have to explain to us first why he is not letting Ohr’s own king rule his people. I doubt he will be willing to do so, and you shall be allowed to stay on Deius for as long as possible… until we have decided the best course of action.”
Zin smiled at Ona and said, “Your Majesty, you are truly the holy flower of Deius and Kri. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Ayn struggled to accept and understand everything Zin had explained, but he felt Ona was right to give Zin amnesty. The red-skinned man’s presence, however, was another matter.
Axis didn’t feel comfortable with the unknown man either. Coming directly up to him, Axis said, “And how do you fit into all this? You smell Hunian, yet you manipulate plasma and wear the markings of the red dragon. Are you an enemy of Vax? Why are you helping Zin to defy him? Do you work for Zin?”
The red-skinned man smiled wide and said, “Yes, I am Hunian, the last of my kind. My name is Zasaban, and I work for no one. I am, however, an enemy of those who seek ultimate power over others and use that power to destroy innocent lives.”
“He’s my teacher and friend,” said Zin. “He’s truly the only one I could trust at the palace, and he used his plasmic abilities to transport us here. You can trust him, Ayn… as I have.”
Ayn didn’t know what to believe, but the mysterious, yet familiar aura surrounding Zasaban was intriguing.
“It’s alright, Axis. Stand down,” said Ayn. “Any friend of Zin is a friend of ours. He may have sanctuary with us as well.”
Zin nodded, relieved.
“Please, relax for now,” said Ona, “and together, we will find a way to help save your planet.”
Calming not only Zin down, but also the other guests in the throne room, Ona told the musicians to play on, letting the wedding festivities continue.
Not everyone felt calm, however. Axis wasn't pleased, nor were Meddhi and Pei, or anyone else in Ayn’s guard. Reese and Baran, however, saw Zin’s testimonial as further proof of Vax’s evil, and began hatching schemes to use Zin to their advantage.
As the party winded down, Zin drank a few glasses of wine and sat with the newlyweds, telling Ayn the details of what happened to him, and how was bought by an Ohrian bounty hunter, then sold to Vax.
“My father must have been useless when he was sick, and Vax took full advantage. I can’t prove it yet, Ayn, but I know he’s been injecting people with Plasma Sickness. It’s how he gets rid of his enemies. He’s the head of the mafia, you see. He runs the entire operation on Ohr, and on Xen! God, I’m so sorry, Ayn. I heard about how you ended up at Seith’s. He even came crying to Vax about it, asking him for protection and vendetta against you, but Vax threw him out, discarding his story about you being The Bodanya. I knew it was true though, and it gave me even more strength to find you. I’m sorry I was weak before. I was so stupid… wanting nothing more than to hide on Xen, pretending I could run away into music. I was such a fool.”
“No…” said Ayn, finally able to get a word in, “we were both young, that’s all. Strength comes with wisdom and time. Music is blameless in our foolishness. It is probably the one saving grace which kept us going. Well, that, and our friendship.”
Zin nodded and said, “Yes, I valued our friendship more than anything. I am sorry I let my jealousy about you and Srah keep me from telling you back then. Speaking of the lovely Queen of Sirin, where is she? I have not seen her.”
Ayn hadn’t noticed, but ever since Zin had appeared, Srah had vanished. “I don’t know,” he replied. “Ona, have you seen Srah?”
Ona shook her head and said, “I saw her dancing with Axis before, but… I don’t know. Let me see if I can find her. I’ll be right back.”
Watching Ona leave the wedding couple’s table, Zin looked at Ayn and grinned. “You have done very well, my friend. I am sure Srah wishes she had become your wife instead.”
“Oh, no, I don’t think so,” said Ayn. “She’s very happy with Axis… I mean, he is her husband, after all.”
“She’s married to the Sarax who helped you win Sirin and Deius?”
“Yes, and they are about to have twins, actually.”
“Oh... wow,” said Zin, a little shocked. “Well, I wish her happiness. I hope she isn’t afraid to see me. We left things… undone.”
“I’m sure she’s fine,” said Ayn, a little unsure if his words were true. He wished he could simply think it to Axis like before, so he could learn about Srah in the flash of a thought.
“Ayn…” said Zin.
“Yes?”
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“Are you really glad to see me? I know you’re surrounded now by friends and loved ones, and even a bonded Sarax... But did you miss me?”
“Zin, don’t be ridiculous. I am beyond happy to see you, and I missed you deeply. I am sorry about your current situation, but I am glad you are here to celebrate my wedding.”
“I’m glad to be here, but… it is all of our situation, Ayn. That’s what I don’t think you understand. You see, if Vax isn’t stopped, he will take back control of Xen, then he will attack Kri, and when you are at your most vulnerable, he’ll take Deius. He wants the plasma, and he wants complete domination. You don’t know him like I do. He’ll stop at nothing. He pretends to be moralistic and sensible, but he’s a sick bastard.”
“Well, like Ona said,” Ayn replied, a little exasperated, “we’ll find a way to stop him.”
Zin looked at Ayn and knotted his slanted brow. “Something’s changed in you, my friend. I don’t know what it is, but… you’ve lost something vital. I can tell.”
“Excuse me?” said Ayn, slightly offended.
“The person you used to be wouldn’t hesitate to find my woman,” said Zin with a wave of his hand, “and would use his power to save my planet. And he'd have been overwhelmingly happy to see me again! You’re just sitting there, almost as if you wish I had just stayed away.”
Ayn felt anger welling up inside his gut. Trying to control himself, Ayn quietly said, “I am sorry if I am not reacting to your standards of passion, but I have been through things you couldn’t possibly understand. And I thought you were dead. I had to move on.”
“Oh, you moved on? Oh, I see. Well, I’ll have you know I too have been through terrible things!” Zin, who had drunk too much wine, turned his chair to face Ayn directly and said, “Just because you’re this great Bodanya person doesn’t mean you’re any better than anyone else, you know.”
“Oh Gods, Zin. Are we really going to do this? On my wedding day? Really?!”
“Yes! Let’s do this… whatever this is!”
Ayn shook his head and rubbed his brow. “No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“I mean no! I’m not having this conversation with you! It’s stupid! Everything with you is always... about YOU!”
“No, it's not! I am asking you to use your great, inexplicable, divine powers to help my woman and my people! How is that about me? I even risked my own neck to escape Ohr with Zasaban, who is now an outlaw, which makes me an outlaw too! I’m being extremely selfless actually! It’s you who is being selfish!”
“What?!”
“Yes!”
“How?!”
“Well…” said Zin as he swigged another sip of wine, “it seems to me all you want to do is sit back and enjoy your wedding when there are billions of lives at stake! That’s as selfish as it gets!”
“You know what?” snapped Ayn. “I take it back! I don’t miss you at all! You can stay here if you want, but you and I are obviously no longer friends. I’m not even sure we ever were!”
“What?! I loved you before anyone else even tried!”
“Are you kidding me? You didn’t believe in my abilities. You seemed jealous of them now that I think about it. And you tried to steal Srah from me! You were the worst friend possible! You even thought I was crazy for seeing Axis!”
“No, I didn’t. I just didn’t know sphinxes were real! And you didn’t trust me enough to tell me about him!”
“I tried, but you laughed about it before I could really explain!”
“BOYS!” came a woman's voice. It was Srah with an annoyed expression, standing next to Ona who looked just as bothered. “This is a wedding, for Gods’ sake! You are both behaving like idiots! Now, just admit you love each other, like you always have, and hug out your grievances, or I will swat you both over my knee!”
Silent for a moment, Ayn and Zin began to giggle about the absurdity of their behavior.
“Oh, Srah, how I’ve missed you!” said Zin unexpectedly, grabbing her in his arms. “Look at you! You’re so… pregnant!”
She laughed, then said, “Yes, I am. And you’ve grown taller… though not much smarter, I see.”
Laughing, Zin hugged her again, then hugged Ayn. “I’m so sorry, my dearest friend. I’m just so stressed and worried about what Vax will do next.”
“So…” said Axis, who walked up to Srah and put his arm around her waist, claiming her as he spoke, “why don’t you be a real man and fight him yourself? You’re the King of Ohr, aren’t you? Shouldn’t their Lod be able to take down a measly Prime Minister? You even have that strange Hunian fellow as your teacher or whatever. Why don’t you go back with him and leave Ayn out of it?”
Zin shook his head and said, “No… you don’t understand. None of you seem to get it. Vax has a mighty network in his mafia with the greatest scientific minds working for him. He has a bunch of those black hole drones at his command. How long did it take you to destroy only one of them? Perhaps you have that kind of power, Axis, but Zasaban and I do not. We need the power of The Bodanya and his Sarax! Only you and your plasma-bond can save Ohr, and the entire Un.”
Axis looked at Ayn and swallowed back his insecurities. If Zin was right, he doubted they had the necessary power to fight the battle ahead.
--
“Where are you going?” asked Iliya as she watched Reese head to her ship. “Are you going back to Kri already?”
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but Baran needs me.”
“I need you! I haven’t seen you in three months, and you’re leaving after a few hours?”
“Honey,” said Reese as she held Iliya’s hands, “I know you feel disoriented being back on Deius, but it was your choice, remember? And I’m First General of Kri. I have duties.”
“I know but… I’m a princess! I’m Princess of Deius! I’m supposed to be here with Cousin Ayn. Aren’t I?”
Reese gave Iliya a sad smile and hugged her tenderly.
“Come on, General,” said Baran, “we must not leave Kri unattended, especially now.”
“Alright, you bully!” said Iliya, defiant. “She’s coming soon!”
Reese giggled, then said, “Be a good girl, my feisty princess. And remember… I love you and always will.”
Iliya began to cry. She knew Reese hated it, but it was impossible for her to stop.
As Reese looked up, she saw Pei in the distance of the landing strip. Reese thought she saw him crying too, which was too much for her to take.
“Alright, I’ll see you on satellite, honey. Remember to study, and eat your vegetables... and all that stuff mother types are supposed to say.”
“You will always be my mother,” said Iliya. “You will always be my Lohee!”
Reese gulped and quickly turned away. Running to where Baran stood, she jumped onto the ship’s hatchway and waved goodbye.
Crying hysterically, Iliya didn’t expect Pei to come up behind and hug her gently. “Oh, Pei!” she exclaimed. “It’s all your fault!”
Releasing a slight laugh, Pei asked, “Really? How so?”
“Because! You should have gone after her and made her stay! You’re a coward though, so you're staying here instead.”
Pei knew Iliya well and didn’t take offense. He assumed she probably felt cowardly herself and was taking it out on him, as she often did with others when upset.
“Sweetheart, I know you’re not happy here. Yet, you are staying because you think it would be some sort of treason if you left Deius. But it is not treason to go where your heart’s desire is, and if you wish to be on Kri with Reese, then I know Ayn would understand.”
Iliya looked at the ship, which hadn't taken off yet, then back at him with her teary, blue eyes. “Really?” she asked. “Well… why don’t you come with me? You still love her, don’t you?”
Pei sighed and said, “Yes… I do. But I don’t think she loves me the same, not exclusively anyway. But you? She adores you, sweetheart. You are like a daughter to her, and I know
she doesn’t show it, but… she would be thrilled if you were with her on Kri. I think you make her life worth living, to be honest, even more than being in The Lirhan or anything else. You are her heart. You always will be.”
“Oh, Pei! You’re so smart! And good! Too good for her! But I will make her love you the way you should be loved, I promise! Just watch me!”
In moment's flash, Iliya ran with her blonde curls blowing in the wind, just barely catching Reese's ship in time before liftoff. The hatch doors opened, and Reese scooped up her soul-daughter. Blowing a final kiss to Pei, Iliya jumped inside the hatch doors before they closed.
Feeling a mix of sadness and joy, Pei stood on the strip in the cool night air.
“You did the right thing,” said Meddhi, surprising Pei.
“I suppose…”
“I am proud of the man you’ve become, Pei. And I know Ayn will be well-guarded and looked after when I am gone.”
“Thank you, but what do you mean by that? Are you going somewhere?”
“I am going to scatter Yol’s ashes. I haven’t decided where yet, but I want to go somewhere that represents freedom, perhaps to the great mountains of the North… or maybe the rivers of the East... as long as it is where Yol can finally be at peace.”
Pei sighed and folded his arms. “I think you were the only one who truly knew him. My father was a mystery to me… and always shall be.”
Meddhi nodded, then breathed in the air. “Yes, well… I like to believe he had a good soul in there somewhere, if only it had been allowed to blossom the way you have. You are the best thing from him.”
“Don’t kid yourself, Meddhi,” said Pei, looking directly into his former Lan's eyes. “Everything I am is because of you and your teaching, which I hope you’re beginning to remember.”
Meddhi smiled, genuinely touched as he reached for Pei’s shoulder. “Yes, I remember… the good parts, anyway.”
“Well, those are the parts one should focus on, right?”