He would guide it.
As he moved deeper, Kranix found a signal being emitted from the Falcanian and amplified by the background radiation of the universe. Kranix felt the other Falcanians on board his sepulcher. The sense of the over-soul reached out to ensure that Kulcarin still remained among it. Before the over-soul could notice him the dragon went further, and concealed himself away in Kulcarin's mind. He would have time, but not if the Falcanians noticed him first.
Kranix would wait. He did that well. His mother made him into the perfect creature and he would bring perfection to the Universe’s inherit chaos. He needed for Kulcarin to become a willing partner in his cause. He would teach Ironsol that his was the right way, for both himself and his people just as he had done before his imprisonment by the Kri-Skar.
When Kulcarin Aranskrai awoke he knelt before the sarcophagus, a pile of ash in front of him with no memory of Kranix.
[Vanguard Island: Early Morning. November 28, 2030]
Clang, clang, clang! The sound of a hammer as it struck an anvil filled his ears. He opened his eyes to find himself in a forge. The sound of ringing metal behind him and a cloaked figure stood before a heavy anvil and held a sturdy hammer, her weapon and her tool.
“Welcome, Sharr Khan,” the cloaked being said in a female voice.
The Shotar knew full well who he stood before. This was Falcania herself in the forge deep inside Mount Shira where she had taken three broken blades and fashioned them into one arched knife. That is at least how the myth went, none of it was reality, but it was truth. Char existed in a dynamic state understood the Shotar. The collective impulse of Falcania and the other Telchar had reached self-realization and gained free will. This became abundantly clear after the Telchar had performed an act of independent creation. Kalitas Rann, the whole and original DataStream given flesh had been an attempt by the Telchar to broach the vast gap between the virtual and corporeal.
Falcania pulled back her hood and acknowledged Sharr. She appeared exactly as Sharr had imagined, how he wrote her to be. Dark hair, pointed ears, golden skin and light almond eyes. Falcania had been intended to be the embodiment of his people’s beauty.
“The over-soul is threatened,” warned the Rai.
“I feel the shadow. Can you guide me to it?”
Sharr had to admit access to Falcania's guidance had often proved useful. He took comfort knowing his heirs would also have that to help when it would come time for them to lead the Falcanian people.
“It hides from us and knows we seek it out.” Falcania looked worried. “You must find it for us.”
In a jolt Sharr found that he returned to his office, very much alone. A knock at the door alerted him, Ram Singh, son of a valued ally had arrived.
“We arrive at Vorkrür on a most auspicious time!” Ch'Kran declared. He stood on the deck and looked out toward the amphitheater island which was his homeland. His arms were outspread so that he framed the place for the women in his charge. "Today is my Lord Sharr Khan's birthday as well as the beginning of our most holy festival, the Falcania Kralin.”
Frederika and Mia both gazed at Vanguard Island in awe. The Chrysanthemum Maru had just passed between two wave barriers that were mounted with what appeared to be large cannons. The ship entered the port and the gathered women looked out upon a bustling city populated by winged-beings and travelers from across Asia and Europe.
Chapter 2. The Golden Apple
Unleashed, on wing
Glaive-claws ready
Go Strike.
A shadow rises, the hammer falls.
The whirlwind is upon us.
Things fall apart.
Blood oaths lay in ruin,
Everything turns.
Hatchlings bray,
Hunter, prey: Falcon returns home.
--- Geir Roark, “Cry of the Sundered”
The second she stepped foot onto the dock, Frederika's senses were overwhelmed by Vanguard Island. A cacophony of smells, colors, and sounds assaulted her as the Falcanians celebrated Sharr Khan's fifty-fifth birthday to the fullest.
The music was the most wondrous of all. The sounds of deep druming and stringed instruments filled the air.
Frederika followed the other women as Ch'Kran led them up the golden triangle tiled road toward the palace. It stood on a hill, overlooking a market along with smaller, A-Frame buildings. Since they were creatures of flight, it wasn't surprising that Falcanians liked to build up rather than outward.
Frederika smiled at Ch'Kran. Now that they were among his own kind, Ch'Kran had abandoned his gray cloak for just his triangular cut purple vest. His face was relaxed, no doubt relieved to bring the Shotar's entertainment safely to their destination.
Across the bay, Frederika caught sight of a round, domed building attached to the island by a causeway. Three winged statues with raised blades stood guard over the important looking structure. The statues were female warriors, each fierce yet lovely.
An A-Frame structure built from weathered platinum lattice and fiery-glass. A chapel, or temple of some sort glistened solitary in its own plaza. A large, stylized cat head near it, among a group of date palms mischievously grinned. Beyond the temple, a dense forest of what looked like pines concealed much of the area. It seemed the insular island served as some kind of animal preserve and hunting ground. It was Frederika would later learn, also a proficient farm that made the Khanate highly self-sufficient.
A monorail system threaded its way through the towered metropolis. The train swiftly passed inside tunnels and buildings, even into the sea to carry both tourists and Falcanians. Clear Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern influences could be seen in the construction style. In the curved outer wall of the island, a port allowed aircraft of many sorts to come and go. The Morningstar girl noted this. Should her mission fail, she would have a route off Vanguard Island. Oberon trained her in many different areas, and piloting skills were among one of her many abilities.
The golden road crowded with people. The group of exotic dancers walked past vertical farms, three glass cylindrical buildings filled with plant life. Overhead atop the buildings, windmills churned in the breeze from off the bay. All around Falcanians moved about their affairs and did not bother to conceal themselves as they went about their business on this luxurious island.
Out of the corner of her eye, a beautiful Falcanian dancer caught Frederika's attention. Bronzed skinned and black hair flowed down her back. Jewelry adorned her every limb. Her body well built not to mention, barely concealed under the skimpiest of yellow lehnga-choli. The female oozed seduction as she undulated before the crowd. The dancer’s armored tail sparkled silver in the sunlight as it leisurely swayed with her rhythm. She stretched her arms above her head. Her partially outstretched wings changed color, moving from blue to pink to red. At one point the woman's wings achieved a bright Borealis effect.
Suddenly steel hit steel as bare torso male Falcanians sprung at one another, using their Garuda thrusters to help them kick. The warriors clashed weapons: Long forward curved knives, like a bird-of-prey claw. The holy Kraris. Two in each hand struck an offense and defense. The warriors grappled at each other with tri-claw boots. Cheers from the gathered Falcanians honored the warriors in their mock combat who bowed to the crowd and offered a salute with bare blades.
Everything Frederika had seen only affirmed her beliefs – The Falcanians were a magnificent and beautiful people. All were youthful and vibrant. None looked aged or infirm. And their phenotype seemed pretty Eurasian, a nice balance of European and Asian, not favoring one race more than the other. Clearly a new species.
The navel and midriff were 'in' as part of Falcanian style. Many of the females Frederika witnessed boldly displayed pierced bellybuttons. She had several outfits which would take advantage of the fashion trend.
Frederika narrowed her eyes. She noticed that each Falcanian wore a triangular shaped crystal ornament near the lower abdomen. Tiny lights blinked on the crystals housing. She wo
ndered what purpose this device served. Many traditions of the East considered that area the 'Seat of the Soul', a place known as the Dantian, generally thought of as the location where vital energy, Qi, could be cultivated and stored.
A Falcanian mother walked past the group, nursed a child at her breast. The woman appeared to be in her twenties. Frederika wouldn’t dare assume given everyone appeared so young. But it was the baby that held her interest. Stubby wings were anchored to the child's back in a mass of copper colored feathers which tapered down to a tail and ended in a two-pronged blade. The baby's armored-tail waved with reassurance when its mother pressed it closer to her breast. The mother nodded and smiled at Frederika before she went on her way.
For a half beat Frederika's heart stopped, and she allowed herself to gasp. A motif in much of the Falcanian decoration followed a pattern of helices and eggs. A familiar symbol soon became crystal clear. A small green egg decoration which contained GenKon's hourglass helix. Just like the one she had tattooed on the back of her neck. Had Oberon lied to her? Did Genetic Konnections INC., fund the Falcanian's Phoenix Project? Why did the emblem of the corporation which had made her and had overseen her upbringing been placed like a sacred symbol within a Falcanian garden?
Mia noticed Frederika had stopped. She reached out to pull the blonde along with the group lest she end up left behind. Reluctantly Frederika moved on while her friend tugged on her arm. What had Mia said to her on the ship? All her questions would be answered at Vanguard. The young woman had no idea the truth in that advice.
After the slow walk up the curved road the group of women eventually arrived at the Royal dwelling of Shotar Sharr Khan Mingh Drakonis. Black with red trim and embellished by gold studs, the pyramidal Narshin Thryak presided over Vanguard Island from atop a great rise, secure in the coral white curve of a high wall. The complex had a succession of steps and walled gardens radiated out from the palace's core. Two banners flapped from the copper point of a spire, one of which was the black and red Falcanian Phoenix banner. The other was the House Drakonis’s emblem, a gold tri-claw which gripped onto a triangular shield emblazoned by a Kaliburn 'D' flew also and acknowledged that Sharr Khan held residence.
Battle-togged brawny guards stood sentinel before an egg-shaped gateway. They wore an ox-blood, Mongolian style armor which was more than likely made of space-age material instead of leather. Indicator lights blinked on the armor, betrayed it to be faux feudalistic and in truth to be enhanced with cybernetics and other various technology. These Drakorian guards seemed very comfortable under the warm sun in armor which no doubt regulated body temperature.
Each Drakorian held a long pike and at their sides' mean coilguns rested. To her surprise, Frederika noted the coilguns were a Grenadier Firearms design, her family’s company. Foot long, bladeless hilts waited in arm holsters. Hidden behind very stylized helmets, made to resemble a bird-like dragon's head were bearded faces. Both the guards had black wings and tails. When they noticed Ch'Kran the Drakorian came to attention and permitted the group to enter the palace.
The dancers were brought to the nodor. The harem was a group of rooms filled with luxurious furniture and located on the palace's lower levels which opened out to a bright garden where many different types of fauna grew around a small pond and fountain. In a communal room, a large holoviewer stood to one side with a curved couch near intended to seat many in front of the TV. A large, opulent carved wood chair with maroon fabric sat in the room's center. No doubt the chair had been intended for the Shotar for when he visited the dancer’s harem.
Each of the girls were permitted to choose an oval shaped bed from the many that were setup in the sleeping area. Next to each bed sat a vanity and dresser carved from a native black wood. The beds had many pillows and were draped with exquisite covers. Frederika chose one that provided her a view out into the round walled garden.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” A curly haired Falcanian woman entered the nodor. “I’m Priyanka Surai and I bring welcome from his Imperial Highness, the Padishah Shotar Sharr Khan Mingh Drakonis.” Nadia had arranged for her assistant to get a look at the women who were to be her mate's entertainment. Priyanka's job in part entailed giving the women blood tests and mini-checkups to ensure they were all in good health for their stay. The checkup allowed for her to report to the Queen about the females. Nadia, for whatever reason liked hearing about these women.
Ch'Kran's mood changed immediately when Priyanka entered. His face became lighter and definitely happy. The Majordomo reached out and touched her arm and she reciprocated in turn. Frederika watched the exchange between Ch'Kran and Priyanka. Who'd have thought that the aloof Ch'Kran could have a crush?
Priyanka handed out the schedule for the evening. A list of rules was also provided and told the women to please avoid bright-red lipstick as it was verboten in the palace given that the Shotar preferred pink or maroon lips on his women. Priyanka explained there would be medical checkups and she began to move about the room to greet the girls. After a few minutes, she came to Frederika
The woman admired Frederika's body. “You're very pretty.”
“Danke!” Answered Frederika from where she sat on her bed.
“Good choice for a bed. You'll be able to see the Sun rise.” Priyanka said.
“I know.”
The Falcanian woman took out a stethoscope. “May I listen to your heart?”
Frederika nodded and unfolded her arms to let Priyanka place the scope over her heart.
Priyanka's lips parted as she looked at Frederika's ample bust. She met so many exotic dancers that it had caused her to become somewhat jaded where it came to abundant cleavage, she’d seen a goodly amount of silicon in her time. “Are they real?” she asked.
“They're all mine.” Frederika grinned. “The whole package is rea… The whole package is what I was intended to have from birth,” she said. The word real seemed misplaced. True, her assets were authentic, but they were not 'real' which usually meant natural, rather they were products of an engineer's designs and not of unguided natural forces. She appreciated the pleasant form of her own body and that it had proven most useful to her in the past when she needed to gain things for her nation.
Priyanka completed Frederika's checkup and smiled, her tail swaying calmly behind her. “You have a magnificent heartbeat. Very powerful. Good heart valve action and a superb lung capacity,” she said and made Frederika blush at the notice. “I wonder if you've got intelligence to match your magnificent body.” Priyanka had meant it to be a complement, but it no doubt it had sounded like a statement of arrogance to the visiting girl. She had never examined a normal human who seemed as healthy as Frederika. The blonde fell closer in range to the condition of a Falcanian of her own age than most common humans.
“Hey, Rika! Come see the refreshments,” Mia interrupted before Frederika could reply to Priyanka's accurate assessment of her enhanced body.
“Where's Dad?” Sitara asked.
“In the day room,” Nadia told the two girls who just entered the anteroom of the Imperial chambers located within the golden apex of Narshin Thryak palace.
Hair wet, clung to her body, Nadia had just bathed and had begun to prepare herself for the evening's festivities. She allowed her hair to return to its natural curl as it dried. The Queen had been about to apply her kohl. She always did so with precision, for Sharr had told her he'd fallen in love with her brilliant blue eyes. They were her most legendary feature.
Not only Sitara's best friend, Alira also happened to be her half-sister. Her mother, North Korean by origin, had journeyed to Vanguard Island as a gift from the Shogun to the Shotar. Kitana had captivated him and was awarded for his pleasure to be remade into a Falcanian. Like her mother, Alira had a well-toned dancer’s body. Quite lithe and petite with bright royal blue wings and a black tail. Under thick, dark lashes her angled black eyes twinkled an innate brightness. A mane of shiny black hair flowed down her back. The princess, whose name meant “Winged O
ne” had apprenticed to the Krari Mistress, Teila Karalla and hoped to one-day take up a station on her sister's FS-9 Raptor.
“Be careful,” Nadia warned. “He's reading the letter from your grandfather; you know how he gets about it.” Why Sharr subjected himself to annually reading the note from his unknown father Nadia could never understand. It only succeeded to make him more moody than usual.
Both the Shotar's daughters nodded. One did not speak of Sharr's past and particularly one did not mention his father. All a very a taboo subject. The letter happened to be the only document in existence that had his birth name on it. For most of the year the letter sat locked away along with other documents in a vault that concerned his goings on during the last war. There were also other files which tied Sharr Khan to the rise of the Budjah Monks. He had no idea the Budjah would rise as an ancillary outcome of his Phoenix Project and execute they're own form of havoc on the world. For that the Shotar felt a personal responsibility.
In the letter, Sharr's father had told him he was proud of his son. The Shotar always found that of interest. He had never met his father and this letter was his only link to the man who sired him. He wondered how the man could even know where he was or about his desires. With the note come a bank cheque of a substantial sum which allowed Sharr Khan to fund the Phoenix Project, and supplement his ThunderHawk Enterprises. The letter even mentioned the project by name with many details of his goals as well as particulars about the people involved. Nadia and her parents were referenced, which had slightly unnerved him. Sharr's operatives had done an efficient job to eliminate any traces of his former life from history. It was what he wanted. A clean break. He had become Sharr Khan and did not care but for a few reminders of his old life. This letter and a picture that sat on his desk in his office were all that remained him of who he had been before World War III.
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