STARWEB 1-5

by M. Modak

  He wondered what he had done to deserve to spend these last years with such a magnificent being. Truly Elohim lives in the heart and some hearts are as ancient as the stars themselves. If he could have found a way to give her more life by taking any or all that he was made of he would have given it. But, he knew, that death was just as much a part of existing as life itself. Some lived for thousands of years but never came close to experiencing a tiny fraction of the life she had known in such a short time.

  He wasn’t crying over her death but his loss. To him she was in a far greater place than he was. And the next life, though not more important than this one, was where the boundless mystery waited for all.

  Death only meant change. Back on TOL, most creatures that passed 10,000 didn’t stay in this realm much longer. Their bodies would have continued indefinitely but the spirit inside them had other adventures, other journeys to take. She had taken the great changed first. One day he would be with her again. He cried because he could not go with her, not yet anyway. He still had work to do here.

  There were other troubles starting to disrupt the galactic peace. A pro-technology rebellion was taking place even in the midst of the greatest technological advancement this galaxy had ever known. It was a revolution against all the natural ways he and Emyeu had believed in, which had shaped and guided the people of the galaxy. It seems that too many had forgotten the lessons of the past. A few Industries had promoted the idea that natural living was somehow slavery to matter. Even though it was clear, the relationship was symbiotic.

  He could not stop them and he didn’t want to. If they wanted city worlds, they could have them. The ones who were starting to preach the dominance of the humanoid mind over matter were the ones who made him shudder. They spoke how matter was separated from them even as they used matter to eat, build and even house their souls. The right to control, to have power over rather than power with was the ideas that had disturbed him most. He had heard that kind of talk before and it had led to true slavery and great suffering.

  In another 120 years, Sleven would be freed. There was a growing body of dissidents who believed that he should return to the prison moons Medloh and Erom where Sleven and the other exiles were still being held and release them. They wanted this even after Blazer had given his full depositions of what the old ones had done to them. Those violations had earned each of the older exiles decades more time on Medloh.

  During this time, the six newly released captives had gone through physical and emotional therapy. They all achieved the highest levels of education offered in most prestigious schools. When it was clear that each understood themselves as being part of life rather than superior to it, Drahca began teaching them the lessons about their home world they had missed when they were children. Blazer, Nalena and Grusaw desired to become protectors, artist and explorers. Drahca trained each of them in the arts of swords he had learned from Master Yrrep. Then he went deeper with them, revealing the worrier’s code and the blue dragon’s mastery with energy.

  The three became the most powerful beings, next to the Grand Master himself, in the entire known galaxy. They used their powers to negotiate treaties and help settle conflicts that were sure to surpass the Galactic Standard of Conflict Resolution Charter.

  Now that he knew the suffering they had caused by that prison arrangement, he felt a need to act. The exiles were still Elohim’s children, even if they had forgotten it themselves. “Group imprisonment had proved to be a very bad idea,” He had said often. He wished that either he or Lavar had been more adept at making prisons. They had nothing to go by.

  Many years ago he and Blazer had returned to Medloh at a time when they would least expect company. Blazer had guided them through the caves to where most of the women, and those now too weak and unable to fend for themselves, hid. There was a brief battle, but the remaining exiles were no match for him and Drahca. He took no pleasure in defeating them. Being back in hell brought no joy.

  They placed all the women in one cave and the old in another one on the dark side of the moon. They were due to return soon and see how they were holding up. Drahca couldn’t allow the systematic torcher of the weak to continue. A violation upon even these creatures, created by their intentional placement together, was his responsibility.

  Drahca squeezed Mia’s and Trannar’s hands. His two older children stood with heads bowed next to them holding their brothers and sisters hands. He could feel Blazer and the other prodigals mixed throughout the crowd, serving as his personal guards while he let his emotions release publicly, so the worlds could see that even dragons weep.

  After the ceremony was over, they all returned to his families’ chateau on Serwin and quietly let the healing process complete its work in their hearts. It brought them all closer together again.

  Mia was expecting. She was well over a hundred and thirty five years old though she still looked to be in her early twenties. She was officially the oldest woman, in this galaxy, to be pregnant. Her husband Jettda was the grandson of the former king of Serwin, King Flowgan. He had given up his kingship to help Drahca in the stewardship his world. Flowgan had died many years ago, a happy old man. All of Serwin had taken a day of silence followed by two months of celebrations. King Flowgan was venerated as the greatest servant to Serwin who had ever lived. Jettda had returned from an off world university and he and Mia had fallen in love. Drahca was proud that Mia and his late best friend’s grandson were together. He was a stout young man, a product of his strong will, environment and nurturing.

  Drahca decided that soon he would retire. Now that Emyeu was gone, and Serwin was on track to truly becoming a sister world of TOL, Mia and Jettda or his granddaughter might be consider by the populace as the next Queen and king; if the people still wanted such a government when they were finished. He would soon be unneeded and that was always his highest goal.

  After 10,000 years, he realized that his personal education had by no means ended. Some of the lessons learned were under no circumstances let the young of your society be forced to live without love, and allow them all the available facts about how life had gotten this way. The last few decades had showed him that many of those once believed to be hopeless, like Blazer, would choose to make this galaxy greater for everyone.

  The Dragon Exiles had taught him that, although it is wise to be cautious with ones like this, if you neglect any of the youth, if you simply wrote them off or worse you prejudged them, then you will eventually suffer the very fears you have engendered in them. They will become your worst nightmare.

  He sat alone on his balcony overlooking the roaring sea. It was a troubling sight with billowing, purple and gold clouds that swelled high into the sky and past the horizon. For one long moment, he yearned to be a dragon again, fly into that darkening tempest and test his strength against the wind. He shook his head as his thoughts returned to reality. He hoped that the people would see through the lies of those who considered power to be a weapon rather than a tool.

  Great weapons had their place, in times of Great War, but in times of peace, they were like cookies in a jar. There would always be some irresponsible child waiting for the adults to leave the room, so they could find a way into that jar.

  Perhaps this minor anti-Fael faction will burn itself out, he thought to himself. There were now more than five hundred worlds who have taken on the dream of being sisters of TOL, and ironically the Dragon Exiles, now called prodigals, were the most consulted minds, on all five hundred worlds, about how to build an ecology that was truly in harmony.

  Mia walked out on to the balcony and set a silver tray down before him. It was filled with her mom’s favorite tea and cakes. As she sat next to him, Drahca reached over and took her hand in his. Together they watched the rains fall onto the ocean’s blue waters as the sparkling tide came in. Without words, they thanked Elohim for their mother’s life.

  Chapter 24 Snowflake

  and The Princess

  Princess Mia was having terribl
e dreams and was on edge of lucidity when she heard her husband Jettda’s loud voice, “Mia get up!”

  Mia opened her eyes and sat up quickly, looking for her daughter Tuyena, “Where is Tuyena , is she okay? What’s happening?” she said in a panic.

  “Tuyena is in her room resting. We’ve started the conversion process to her room and now it’s in emergency escape mode?” he said as he held her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. It reminded her of the way her father would look her mother in the eyes whenever he told her he loved her, but there was something deeply wrong this time. Then the words, “Emergency escape pod,” registered in her waking mind and her eyes shot open!

  She asked desperately, “Why has her room converted into the emergency escape mode?”

  “Blazer and I just got word that the Dragon Exile Sleven and his followers have escaped their prison. We were all sitting in the news room when we found out, your father had just left and went into his study to activate the prepared response if this happen when we all heard him briefly cry out! I never felt emotion like that before in my life. Blazer and I both felt it. It was a terrible pain, regret even. We rushed into his study and found that most of his body had been dissolved away by acid…”

  Mia started crying. Jettda took a deep breath and went on, “A DNA Scanner confirmed that it was in fact your father’s remains on the floor. Mia, he died quickly, in less than a second. Whoever did this knew they couldn’t just stab or blast him. They knew that it would have to be a fast, overwhelming attack.”

  “Who did this?” Mia said as her anger peaked and the tears stopped. She jumped to her feet, ready to take on an army if need be; she had been trained.

  “We don’t know, but a message was left, and Tuyena was named as the next one to be killed followed by a long list of our family, including the prodigals.”

  Mia said, “I’m going to see Tuyena.”

  Mia and Jettda entered a large room on the highest, outer edge of the chateau. This section was an exact replica of the main chateau, a duplicate built for the little princess as a gift for her seventh birthday. She tried to hide the turmoil inside her as she looked at Jack, the Family Robot Priory. “Jack, I have a new duty for you. It shall be your highest order law. Protect Tuyena from all harm. When I have defeated our enemies and can be with Tuyena again, I will honor Dad’s promise to you. You have served us for so long that your circuits have redeveloped, themselves. You have a thinking mind Jack and I’m starting to feel your heart.”

  Jack started humming. It was a thinking sound he used sometimes to demonstrate that he was not ignorant that you were waiting. He was Polite, and agreeable, both programs he had created and chose to use, most of the time.

  Mia continued, “For now, you will be her only protector, teacher, friend, servant and mentor. You have spent enough time with my family to know how to be a good robot, don’t let me down.”

  Jack, spoke in an uncharacteristically soft tone, “Her life is my highest priority. You have nothing to fear Queen Mia.”

  Mia stared at him for a moment as she realized that her father was dead, he was gone and now she was no longer a princess but the Queen of Serwin. At least until the people voted again. In another 80 years, the monarchy and all local governments were to be dismantled and only the Federal Galactic Constitution would be left. The people would rule this world themselves. It was the last step in her father’s plan for their world to become a true sister of TOL. He believed it would take two more generations and they would be ready for self-rule. Now she had to lead them toward that finish.

  She turned and asked her husband, “Will you get Snowflake?” He held back his tears as he nodded and left the room. Then she walked into Tuyena’s bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed. In a singsong voice, she gently called Tuyena’s name until she opened her eyes. The princess was already taller than her dad was, like the rest of her family. Her hair and big eyes were brown like her grandma’s and dad’s but all her other features resembled her mother and grandpa.

  “Yes mommy.” Mia slowly looked over to the window and saw the sun was not up yet. She said, “I feel your sadness mommy, you’re hurting a lot. What happened?” However, before she could answer Tuyena said, “Grandpa is gone; I can’t feel him anywhere. He always answers my heart when I first wake up.” She started crying, “I hear an echo of energy mommy, Grandpa called your name when he… died.”

  Mia started crying again. She tried to hide her feelings but it was impossible with Tuyena, over the past twelve years Drahca had spent more time with her, then all his children combined. When she could manage it she said, “I know honey, I can hear him too. But don’t worry anymore about Grandpa, he is with Maw-maw now and you know how much he loved Maw-maw.”

  “I know, with all his heart.” Tuyena said, “He always said he love me almost as much as he loved her. I was jealous at first but when I compared his feeling for me to the way everyone else felt about me, other than you, dad and Blazer I understood that his love for me was as bright as a star.” A brief smile flashed on both Mia and Tuyena’s faces as they remembered Grandpa’s big love for them.

  Jettda walked into the room holding a white box behind his back. Tuyena said, “You got me a puppy daddy.” Jettda rolled his eyes, he should have known not to try to hide a puppy behind his back from her.

  “Snowflake,” she said before her mom could form the words on her lips. Mia was amazed at just how much she had learned from her grandpa. They would go on long adventures into Serwin’s deep forest and he would share dragon’s tales from TOL. Tuyena knew more about TOL than anyone else alive. The Idea of losing her father and now Tuyena was incomprehensible.

  Tuyena asked, “What kind of dog is this mommy and where did he come from?”

  “He’s a Chihuahua,” Mia answered, “Blazer just returned from a world on the outer edge of the galaxy called Earth. Snowflake really misses his home. Would you like to bring him back home? His friends miss him too and could use a friend like you.”

  “Mom, he doesn’t miss Earth. He really has to go potty,” Tuyena replied.

  “Oh my,” Jettda said. Then they all ran outside onto the small, snow-covered ledge Tuyena used as a meditation garden.

  When they returned, Jettda kissed Tuyena and Snowflake gave a jealous growl. He used a saying, half-jokingly, from snowflake’s home world. He reprimanded Snowflake, “That’s strike two.” That saying, along with many other ideas was now famous throughout the galaxy.

  Honey you are going on a great adventure with Snowflake. You can teach all the forest creatures of the valley what your grandfather has taught you here.”

  Tuyena looked at her mom for a long moment as she hugged snowflake. “Okay mom, we’ll have a great time.”

  Mia looked away knowing she wasn’t hiding anything, “Baby I won’t be going with you, It’ll just be you, and Jack.”

  Tuyena’s eyes brightened as she dreamed of what she could do to change the valley she would be going to. Then she realized that her mom wouldn’t be going and her face darkened. She spoke as tears began to flow, “But mom why can’t you go. I don’t want to go without you and dad.”

  Mia didn’t want to lie to her daughter but she didn’t want her to be more afraid than she already was. How could she tell her that the most dangerous man, a former Red Dragon, had sworn to kill her. She quickly let the thought and fear go before Tuyena could pick it out of her mind and heart. She said, “You’re just going on a long vacation. You are a very special girl and the valley on Earth needs a princess who can show them what your grandfather’s done. You will be very busy. Those animals need you. Remember your goal is never to make them dependent on you. After you’ve shown them all you can, with all the love in your heart, it’s your job to let them do the rest on their own. To grow strong.”

  “I know mom,” she said a little impatiently, “Grandpa always said that.”

  “Good,” Mia said as she held Snowflake, “now let’s get your flying palace ready princess Tuyena. O
h…” She said as casually as she could pointing to the necklace around Snowflake’s neck. The glittering locket sparkled as Snowflake hopped down into Tuyena’s open palm. Inside the locket was a small, silver chip of wood. The light played with the glowing reflection before it sent it back in the form of tiny rainbows. She smiled, “This necklace is very special. Your grandpa placed it on Snowflake before he died. For now, I want Snowflake to keep it for you but when you are a little older it will be in your charge.”

  “When will I be old enough?” Tuyena asked.

  Mia paused for a long moment. She thought, What would dad say to that. Then she knew, “Your heart will tell you.”

  Chapter 99 A New Way In

  Yrrep opened his eyes and took a step back. The damp smells of the Capitol’s basement returned him to the present. 170 years of Drahca and Blazer’s life had passed by him, in seconds. There was more Blazer wanted to share about his life but they had both just felt the presence of Whitman and Void enter the building above.