“Are you serious? After all the time you made me wait, I would not have missed it even if the Senedos Seiss themselves commanded me to stay away.”
Candor frowned, reminded of the precarious situation his friend confronted. “Have you any word from them?”
“Nothing yet,” Zyphon replied.
Candor was amazed how at ease his friend appeared. He would have been beside himself with worry if he were in that position. “Well, my friend, I don’t think you’ll hear anything tonight. All the Senedos Seiss will be here to watch the movie.”
“Can I offer you a drink, Sir Zyphon?” asked Jinx.
Zyphon looked to the tray and then to Candor, smiling at his continued use of the term, movie. “And what am I drinking?”
Candor laughed, a sly grin creeping over him. “You know for me, it has to be jenjiss.”
Zyphon chuckled as he picked up a glass and tested it, his face scrunching up as the alcohol burned his throat. He shook his head to ward off the urge to sneeze. “Wow! You certainly do like them potent!”
Candor laughed again. “I needed a little something to take the edge off. It does the trick, don’t you think?”
Zyphon clapped Candor on the back. “It does indeed, my old friend.”
“If you will excuse me,” said Jinx, “I need to attend to our guests.”
“Certainly, Jinx. We’ll continue our discussion another time.”
Candor and Zyphon gazed into the crowd, listening to the lilting melodies of the Tulacoss City Orchestra. As they played in the background, hundreds of citizens conversed, laughed, ate, and drank.
“You certainly know how to present an opening. Everyone is dressed in their finest robes and gowns for the occasion. If I didn’t know any better I’d guess we were going to the Great Hall, and not a movie.”
Candor agreed, although there were some striking differences. Throughout the crowd, attendants in gold robes held trays lavished with food and drink. He thought it still smacked of pretentiousness. However, Jinx insisted, and Candor knew that his friend was right.
At the front of the dining hall, a long table was covered with the finest delicacies Penticore Prime had to offer. While at its center, an ice-sculpture spelled out the title of the moritainyoss.
“I have to admit,” said Candor. “Penticorians certainly do like ceremony. I only hope that when it’s all said and done, that they like my work.”
“That is uncharacteristic of you, old friend.” Zyphon replied, while sipping gingerly at his drink.
“What’s that?”
“It’s not like you to be nervous at an opening. Humility was never one of your defining characteristics. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were terrified.”
“Sure, I’m nervous,” Candor conceded. “But terrified, I don’t think so. I just hope that she…”
His voice trailed off as he caught sight of Shajin Kythonia, and Seiss Theniass. Time felt as if it were standing still as he saw them at the far end of the dining hall. Ghedron walked in behind them, and on his arm, was Thalia. Her stunning beauty and sensual curves held him in rapt fascination. Even from this distance he could see her golden eyes glimmering in the crystal-clear lights overhead.
“Ah, now I see,” Zyphon quipped.
“See what?” Candor replied. And even though he didn’t take his eyes off her, he could feel Zyphon watching him.
“The object of your true affection approaches.”
“Nonsense,” replied Candor, as he tried to reign in a semblance of composure. “Thalia is simply the daughter of my good friend, Ghedron. You yourself know we formed a closer bond after the incarnation of his mother.”
“And just who are you trying to convince with that declaration?”
Candor smiled as he followed her with his eyes, her red dress flowing behind her as she walked. Her shining brunette hair fell in gentle waves down her back, and the long slit at the side of one leg caused his heart to skip a beat, as he struggled to keep his emotions under control.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Zyphon was no fool. Nor was he likely to let the topic pass without first having some sport. “She is beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is…”
Candor flushed, embarrassed at how easily he’d been duped into revealing his true feelings. Zyphon laughed as he clapped his friend on the shoulder. “It’s hardly a secret. I could see it from the way you looked at her, right before the incarnation of her mother. You love her, so just admit it. Since your rejuvenation you haven’t bedded any of your devoted fans, as far as I know. Yet another trait you’ve developed that is out of character for you. Tell me, is it possible that Candor Shuveen is finally ready to settle down? Why, the very notion is frightening in the extreme.”
Candor laughed, and then looked at Zyphon, who was practically grinning from ear-to-ear. “You know something, Zyphon, I don’t know. My memories are still fragmented, so who I used to be is gone. I don’t know if it’s wisdom, age, a sense of responsibility, or a need to respect and honor the will of my parents. But I do know this, you’re right. I’m not the same person and yes, I’ve loved Thalia from the moment I saw her.”
Zyphon took another sip of his drink, and smiled. “Then go to her, Candor. Tell her how you feel, and court her in a manner befitting a noble citizen of Penticore Prime.”
Candor struggled with the problem of doing just that. Then he frowned and said. “I can’t, she’s the daughter of Seiss Theniass, leader of the Out-World Faction. Not to mention that every time she looks at me it’s like she’s looking down at me, or is angry with me.”
Zyphon pulled him close, whispering to him in confidence. “My friend, we’re brothers. I tell you that if you don’t pursue her, you shall regret it for the rest of your life. I can’t say what your parents will do, but what does it matter? Can any Penticorian deny the attractions we feel? Are we to deny what makes us who we are, and gives our lives meaning? I say not!
“I think that you worry needlessly over how your parents will react. And as to why the beautiful Thalia does not look upon you with favor, I don’t know. However, I believe that you owe it to yourself to find out. Go and talk to her. The worst that could happen is that she’ll tell you why, and your suffering will end. But at least you will know that you made the effort.”
Candor took a drink of jenjiss, flushing green as the strength of the alcohol hit him. It seemed such an easy thing to do, and he chastised himself as he watched Thalia’s graceful movement through the crowd. He was captivated as she smiled, talking and laughing with those around her. Even Ghedron appeared pleased that she was by his side.
I’d give anything to be him right now, he thought.
Ghedron saw him from across the dining hall and raised a hand, beckoning Candor to come and join them. Candor’s heart leapt in his chest as he thought about coming face-to-face with her, only to discover that he couldn’t bear the thought of being rejected.
Better to be on the fringes, and love her from afar, he thought.
“Chicken!” said a voice from deep inside him. “Pathetic cowardly Candy-ass.”
He knew it was the apparition of the human he’d seen in the mirror. With callous eyes, and words of ridicule that continued to rebuke him.
“You always were such a Nancy! You couldn’t get it up as a human, and now you’re backing away from the best thing that ever happened to you! What have you got to lose? Nothing! So why don’t you grow a sack, and go talk to her!”
A chime sounded, and Candor let out an audible sigh of relief. The voice of the other Candor went silent, even though he could feel the hatred that was brewing beneath the surface.
“Are you all right, Candor? You look distressed.”
“It looks like I’ll have to wait until after the movie to speak to her.”
Zyphon eyed him suspiciously as he tried to determine Candor’s mood. Then he told him. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you looked both disap
pointed and relieved at the same time.”
It was true, and Candor knew it. He shrugged, watching as everyone began entering the stadium. It took nearly a half an hour for everyone to be seated, and along the way, Candor noted that his parents arrived. At first, he thought they looked troubled. Yet as soon as Janesska spotted him she smiled warmly, and blew him a kiss. It was a gesture that calmed his nerves, and dispelled his concerns.
Standing behind the stage, Candor felt his color drain, and his palms grow clammy. He knew he had done this before, and been comfortable with it, even arrogant. Yet now he felt like an insect scurrying over a landscape that was alien to him.
Perhaps I felt this way every time, and just concealed it? He thought, even though something inside of him resisted the notion. Another chime sounded, and the crowd fell silent.
With legs that felt like jelly he emerged onto the stage, and the crowd erupted in applause.
Heck, he thought as he smiled and waved. They haven’t even seen the movie yet. I hope they’re applauding at the end. Jinx said that what we were doing was edgy. Well, here goes nothing.
“I want to thank all of you for coming out this evening. I am honored to serve the citizens of Penticore Prime. I would like to thank my parents, Seiss Sador, and Shajin Janesska, for their love and support. I would also like to thank my personal simulacrum, Jinx, and my avatar, Amron. For without their assistance, none of this would have been possible.”
Thunderous applause erupted from the stadium, and Candor felt a chill creep down his spine. His eyes found Thalia, and again he felt his reason depart. He could think of nothing else but her, as her golden eyes regarded him. There was a measure of disdain in those eyes, yet for a moment, Candor saw the briefest glimmer of something else.
Is she surprised? Is it a crack in the iron wall she’s constructed around herself?
He didn’t know. What he did know was that Zyphon was right, he needed to talk to her. Candor looked through the crowd, embarrassed that he hadn’t said anything, even though the stadium was silent. Quickly he moved to end his speech so he could exit the stage.
“During my recent rejuvenation, I was left with a lasting dream. It was a dream about a race of mammals that developed rudimentary science and technology. They called themselves human beings. Quite often they were warlike and cruel, yet they had the capacity to be kind and gentle, given the proper circumstances.
“My dream was incredibly vivid, most likely a byproduct of my occupation as a tale-smith. I have considered the possibility that the Goddess may have seen fit to instruct me on the ways of humility. Or perhaps her intent was to show me an alternative to the Penticorian way of life. This moritainyoss, which I call a movie, was designed to explore those possibilities. It is a personal journey into the depths of my dreams, which allowed me to learn from my mistakes. So now I present to you, Earthly Light.”
Applause sent shivers down his spine for the third time, as he exited the stage. Amron waited for him to take his seat next to his parents, conveniently above where Thalia and her family were seated. As he passed by, Zyphon nodded at him, a sign that his introduction was well received. Once Candor was situated, the houselights dimmed, and the moritainyoss began.
Billions of photonic membranes converged, as the view from space appeared over the gentle clouds of Penticore Prime. The magnificent sun crept over the horizon, eliciting an audible sigh from the crowd, as in the distance, the towers of Eos came into view. Meanwhile, thunderous music echoed in the background, as Candor watched the crowd, noting that everyone was riveted to the opening sequence.
The genre of science fiction was well established for humans, while in Penticorian culture it wasn’t even thought of. Having progressed to the point of searching the stars for a new home, the depiction was a part of everyday life. Anything Candor did along those lines would seem childish, even outdated. Yet the opening sequence was where any similarity to reality ended, and Candor’s masterpiece began.
Moving in on one of the towers, a Penticorian scientist was examining data from the orbital telescope. The female, named Astraea, sat stunned as she realized what the information disclosed. Clutching the data, she ran across the complex as the music dipped low, with dramatic intonations. Candor felt the tension in the stadium rise, as Astraea arrived to find her husband, Notuss, hard at work in the Governing Council of the city of Tulacoss. He was a minor regent with both sound judgment, and the ear of the Council Leader of the Senedos Seiss.
Astraea told Notuss the news, that Penticore Prime was being approached by a fleet of alien ships. While in addition, the armada wasn’t making any attempt to contact them, and exhibited no transmissions that she could detect. The intent of the visitors was unclear. The only certainty was that they would arrive in just under a month.
Sobered by her revelation, Notuss brought his wife before the Senedos Seiss. Astraea informed them of the potential threat, and urged them to take defensive measures in case the alien species was hostile. From her observations, she couldn’t see if the fleet of white oblong craft possessed offensive weapons. Yet from their size, miles in length, she believed that the possibility existed. She also explained that she didn’t understand the nature of their propulsion systems. This fact concerned her, because the armada didn’t leave a trail of background radiation, or spacetime distortions.
Yet even as both Astraea and her husband begged the Senedos to act, their leaders became entangled in debate. With one faction proclaiming that they need do nothing, for the Goddess would protect them. While the other agreed with the couple, and wanted to fortify their defenses just in case. In the end, as time ticked down and the armada drew closer, the debate itself caused them to lose precious time.
The audience gasped in a collective groan as the armada arrived, and it was then that Candor’s secret was finally revealed. As instead of limiting the projectors to the stage, photonic strips were installed into the walls and ceiling. So now the patrons would not only be watching the stage, but all around them as the armada halted above the crowd. Some cheered with excitement, while others reached up as they tried to touch the ships floating above them.
The music reached a crescendo, before abruptly dipping into silence. Astraea stood in the observation tower with the Senedos Seiss, waiting to see what the aliens would do. Suddenly a transmission on a tight beam from the lead ship illuminated a panel in the tower. Notuss nodded to his wife, who reached out and activated the control rod. A moment later a photonic image appeared, revealing the aliens at last.
A gasp shot through the crowd as they saw the pink skin of the alien. With a face etched by the deep lines of age, and topped by a shock of wispy gray hair. The alien smiled, his deep blue eyes assessing the gathering before him. The human, who identified himself as General Thomas Whitfield, proclaimed that they came in peace. He went on to explain that they originated from a planet called Earth. It was a world that was no longer habitable, after decades of increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Coupled to that, they suffered horrendous weather which decimated their species, and nearly expunged them from the face of the planet.
The General went on to explain that humans roamed the stars in search of a new home, where they could start over again. Along the way they met many different species, and when they did, they offered to trade. Some cultures provided them with advanced technology, while more primitive races allowed them to restock their provisions. Yet in no uncertain terms, General Whitfield made it clear that since Penticore Prime was inhabited, they would be moving on. He also indicated that they knew Penticorian technology was like their own, and if they would allow them to resupply, they would share their knowledge in return.
The Senedos Seiss embraced the humans as friends. They were relieved that their intentions were not hostile, and they invited General Whitfield to the Great Hall. In turn, all Penticore Prime agreed to hear their proposal, and learn about this strange form of life that took in oxygen through lungs to survive. It was an alien concept to t
hem, the very compound that in large doses meant certain death to any citizen that lingered outside.
As the transmission ended, the mood was upbeat. Everyone congratulated Astraea for a job well done. Yet even as they smiled, there was trepidation. Astraea was convinced that the humans were hiding something. Since communication was so easy for them, she questioned why they waited so long to make contact. And more importantly, she felt that General Whitfield’s words displayed an attitude of superiority, and an abiding sense of disingenuousness.
She was uneasy, yet her fears were dismissed by the Senedos Seiss, who convinced themselves that the humans were benevolent and peaceful. Astraea waited for them to leave before confiding in her husband. He too wanted to believe that the humans would simply move on after they resupplied, yet as he listened to Astraea, he began to share her concerns. The problem was that they didn’t have the power, or any reason, to form a coalition of likeminded citizens. For the moment, they decided to wait, studying the humans and their overtures of peace, while praying that their leaders were correct.
Candor scanned the crowd for a reaction. Since he had seen the movie, his real interest was the patrons. Some of his fellow citizens kept their eyes on the unfolding drama, while others smiled and laughed. Still others were whispering to one another, as they tried to guess what would happen next. Candor knew that what he and Jinx had done was tantamount to a societal sharp stick in the eye. Yet they both understood the necessity to shake up the establishment. Candor was deliberately flaunting the abiding nature of their civilization, and the trusting heart that believed in the intrinsic good of others. It didn’t matter if those others were from another city, or flung to the far reaches of the universe.
As the movie continued to unfold, Candor knew that those precepts would be tested, and those were the elements that concerned him. On several occasions, Jinx expressed anxiety. He worried that too much controversy would erupt, given that what they were doing was new, and potentially volatile. Yet Candor resisted, not able to fully articulate his reasons. He felt that what he was doing was right, and would capture the intent of the message that he was trying to convey. Not to mention that a part of him enjoyed the notion of controversy. His thinking nestled in the belief that if he couldn’t tell a story that had never been heard or seen before, then it wasn’t worth the effort.
Penticore Prime Page 17