“In the last few weeks that we’ve been here, have you seen anyone that you would honestly want to kill if you met them on the street? Face it, the only reason they are targets is because of their religious affiliation. Is it really fair to condemn all of the higher-ranking monks because of the actions of a few corrupt members? We don’t even really have proof that the brutality we’ve seen was endorsed, by the Brother Superiors or the Abbots.” Theo tried to catch Cierra’s eye, but she had walled herself off. There was no getting through to her. Her mind was made up.
“Theo may have a point.” Cherish lowered her eyes.
Makram scoffed. “Not you, too.”
“I’m not saying I totally agree, but what if we are planning on killing innocent, decent people? Wouldn’t that just put us on the same level as the evil we are trying to defeat?” Cherish was obviously torn on the issue. Indecision clouded her face.
“That isn’t our call to make. The grand council decided this was the right course of action.” Makram dropped his arm that had been wrapped around Cherish’s shoulder.
The sudden loss of his touch made her feel more alone than she would have liked to admit. “You’re right. We were sent here to do a job. It’s not our place to question it.” She let out a sigh and sided with Makram and Cierra.
The only one who hadn’t spoken up about their controversy was Irane. All eyes landed heavily on the young man. “I actually agree with Theo. Sometimes true evil is unleashed, by following orders blindly. Our ability to decipher between good and evil is what makes us human. Giving up that discernment in favor of a cause can make us lose touch with ourselves, and our humanity.”
“So, what, are you both refusing to go on with the mission?” Makram was beginning to get heated. They had come too far for any second guessing.
Theo sighed and shook his head. “All I’m saying is that, if I’m going to take a life, I want it to be for a better reason than some council on a different planet told me to.”
“There has also been a new development, I need to share with you all. I discovered it this morning.” Irane surreptitiously wrapped one arm around Cherish’s waist and lifted her a few inches off of the ground. He made her augmented body seem weightless. Irane’s face betrayed no sign of straining. It was as if he had picked up a sheet of paper instead of a cyborg.
“That makes two out of the five of us to receive a Yasta gift. First Theo with his healing, and now Irane with super strength.” Makram admired the feat of strength with barely concealed jealousy.
Irane gently lowered Cherish to the ground again. She straightened out her clothes and cleared her throat. “Theo, you’ve been getting private mentorship for your gift, right? What exactly are they teaching you in there? Have you learned anything about any of the other gifts people have ended up with?”
Theo’s face went a little pale. The mentorship was of a much darker nature than he had let on to the others. Thinking about the last session he had made a cold sweat prickle along the nape of his neck. His stomach twisted in knots. The memory was burned into his mind.
The room the sessions were conducted in smelled strongly of incense. Stained glass from high in the ceiling cast motley colors along the floor. A wooden arm chair was in the center of the room. Theo approached the seat warily. Leather straps hung loosely from the arms and the front two legs of the chair. An older Yasta monk with the same gift as Theo was standing to one side of the chair. On the other side was a rather scrawny looking young man. He seemed to be around Theo’s age.
“Welcome. Have a seat.” The older monk gestured for Theo to sit in the worn-down chair.
Theo sat down hesitantly. So far, the other lessons had been centered around being aware of his body, and studying anatomy charts. “I’m not sure I understand what’s going on. I thought you were going to teach me how to use my gift better.”
“I am.” The old man nodded to the scrawny novice that was assisting him. Even though the assistant appeared to be little more than skin and bone, he was able to hold Theo down while the old man tightened the restraints. That was the first experience Theo had with someone who had the gift of strength. The Brother Superior pulled a small lasana dagger out of his cloak. “Unfortunately, the only way to really practice the gift of healing is to first have something that needs healed.”
“Whoa! Wait! What are you doing?” Theo struggled against the leather straps that secured his wrists and ankles to the chair.
“This is the only way you will learn.”
The monk raised the blade and brought it down swiftly. Theo watched in horror as three of his fingers were severed from his hand. They toppled to the ground. Blood pulsed from the open wound with every beat of his heart. He felt his stomach heave. The sight of his severed fingers rolling to a stop beside his boot made him vomit. Doubts raced through his mind. What if the monks had found out that he was part of the Carbonari? Would they have been so low as to lure him there under the guise of special training only to torture him? Theo began to panic.
The older monk stood in front of Theo. The blood-kissed lasana dagger in his hand glistened in the light from the stained window. “Focus. If you don’t focus, you will end up bleeding to death. Remember the anatomy charts you studied. You must channel the gift’s energy. Picture everything that makes up your missing fingers: bone, sinew, skin, blood vessels. Picture it in your mind’s eye, and then imagine each part coming together to reform what you have lost.”
Lost? Was the old man insane? He hadn’t lost his fingers. A dagger-wielding, old codger had chopped them off! Theo gritted his teeth, and tried to do as he was told anyway. To his surprise, a shard of bone began to regrow, forming the skeletal base for his fingers. Next came the blood vessels. Theo could see the blood flowing through them. Sinew crept along the base. Skin sealed off the new fingers. Theo hesitantly wiggled them. They seemed to be working properly.
“Very good.” The older monk nodded in approval. “With time, you should be able to master the other aspects of your gift.”
“Huh?”
“Healing is only the latent part of the full gift you have received.”
Theo was still trying to process what had just happened with his fingers. It was dividing his attention. “You mean there’s more?”
“Yes. Eventually, with practice, you will be able to manipulate your body. You’ll be able to change shape, size, and muscle mass. First, you must learn to be aware of every muscle, tendon, ligament, and organ in your natural body. Something cannot come from nothing. Your original form will be the foundation you use to modify and manipulate your body. To do that successfully, you must know yourself inside and out.” The older monk released Theo’s bonds. “I think that was enough trauma for today. You did well. Make sure you are eating enough. Your body is working to constantly search for and heal any damages you may incur. That means you are going through much more energy than usual. You will need to keep yourself well nourished. Your meal plan has been updated accordingly. Those with the gift of healing are allowed larger rations. I suggest you take full advantage of that. You’re dismissed.”
“Theo?” Hearing Cherish say his name pulled Theo out of his memory. From the look on her face, and the looks he was getting from the rest of the crew, it wasn’t the first time she had tried to get his attention.
“Huh? Yes?” He blinked quickly, and looked away. Theo was embarrassed that he had zoned out like that.
Cherish scanned his face, worriedly. “I was asking what they were teaching you in your lessons. Have you found out anything about any other gifts?”
Theo shrugged and answered the question as quickly and vaguely as possible. Being the center of attention because of his gift made him uneasy. “They’re just teaching me to be more aware of my body. They repeat what we’ve already heard. Batumah endows gifts upon those that are worthy. I haven’t really been around many others with different gifts. They keep our lessons separated.”
“That makes sense, I guess.” Cherish tilted her hea
d to the side. “There’s no reason for someone with the gift of strength to sit through a lesson on healing.”
“I do wonder if there isn’t some scientific explanation behind the gifts.” Irane stared off into space, as if it would provide him with an answer.
Cierra crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe there’s strange particles in the air? Could be some kind of radioactive reaction.”
“I don’t think that’s it.” Theo shook his head. “Remember those Yasta warriors you saw vanish on Relisse? What if it wasn’t some sort of new technology? What if that was just their gift? Gifts work everywhere, not just on Mithuna. If they only worked here, how many people would lose faith when they left the planet?”
Irane raised his index finger thoughtfully. “Actually, some believe that faith is often made stronger when a person is faced with trials and tribulations. Hardship reveals a person’s inner truth.” He lowered his hand, and turned his head towards Theo. “But logically speaking, I must agree with Theo. The radioactive particle theory does not holdup to what limited knowledge we have of these Yasta gifts. If anything, I think the only way to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon is through further research and testing.”
“However they do it, it certainly explains a lot of their political influence. Imagine being threatened, or having your family threatened, by a Yasta monk that has the ability to walk through walls or vanish in one place and reappear in another. In the face of that kind of power, many people would agree to almost anything. Fear is a powerful motivator.” Makram scanned his eyes across the other novices, and Brother Superiors in the room. How many of them had used their gifts for personal gain?
“How are my favorite two-legged friends today?” The familiar wheezing laughter of their green Josti friend filled the air. Jaedo clapped all four of his hands together, before hooking one long arm around Irane’s neck. “You, my friend, are needed for a private lesson.” He gestured towards one of the Brother Superiors that had been watching them.
“In that case, I hope you will all please excuse me.” The boy gave a polite smile, and tipped his head, before he left the group to meet with the monk Jaedo had pointed out.
“Hey, Jaedo. Can I ask you a question?” Theo absentmindedly wiggled the fingers that he had regrown.
“Of course!”
“What do you know about the Yasta gifts? I asked some of the teachers about what different kinds there were, but none of them would give me a straight answer.”
Jaedo nodded thoughtfully. “They are being respectful of the other gifted monks. No one wishes to discuss the intricacies of a gift they do not personally possess. It would be like having your neighbor tell a stranger about your personal business. It is considered impolite. Such things tend to give rise to rumors and misinformation.”
“Oh.” Theo felt his hopes sink.
“However, I don’t think a conversation amongst friends would be such a bad thing. Just keep in mind that I don’t have any real inside knowledge. All I can tell you is what I’ve heard.”
“That’s still better than what we know right now, which is basically nothing.” Makram reassured him. He would listen to anything that might help his team prepare better for the upcoming coup.
“You are already familiar with the gift of healing that Theo has. There is also the gift of strength, which I do believe our young friend might have. Other gifts that I have heard of in passing are prophecy, time manipulation, and the ability to converse with plants and animals. Back in the old legends, it was said that Batumah even occasionally gifted some of his followers with the ability to take on another’s gift, just by touching them. That was considered to be the ultimate blessing.” A chime echoed through the hall. “Ah, meditation is about to begin. I think I will take this time to contemplate one of life’s greatest questions: what shall I have for lunch today?” Jaedo folded his arms together and wandered off towards the meditation room.
Theo suppressed a laugh. “You know, I actually really enjoy the Josti people.”
Makram scoffed. “Yes, because they’ve proven themselves so trustworthy in the past.”
Theo’s voice was quiet as they started walking towards the meditation chamber. “Well, I like the goofy ones at least, like Jaedo.” And Hojae.
The meditation room was filled with a soft humming sound. Acolytes and Brother Superiors sat cross-legged on the floor side by side. The time set aside for meditation was one of the few times that ranks did not matter. Everyone was expected to participate, regardless of their station. It was a time for peace and self-reflection. It was also a time where Theo could close his eyes without getting called out on it. He had developed the ability to power nap through the meditation sessions somewhere around week two. Thanks to Cierra’s sleeping arrangements, it was the only real rest he could enjoy, and he planned to continue making the most of it.
Three
That night, when everyone else had already gone to bed, Cherish awoke with a start. Her body trembled, in the darkness. In the blink of an eye, Makram grabbed his gun, and leapt between her and the door to their room. His keen eyes scanned the room. He couldn’t see any sign of trouble.
After double checking that their door was still bolted, he turned to face her. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” His voice was tender, yet urgent.
Cherish felt her chest warm, at his concern. He had been so professional and gentlemanly during the whole marriage charade. It almost made her wish it was real. “I’m fine. I just had a bad dream.”
“Are you sure?” His brow creased with worry.
“I’m sure. I’m just going to go get a drink. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Makram didn’t like the thought of her going out alone, so late at night. No matter how nice the Yasta at the monastery may have appeared to be, he still didn’t trust them.
“No, it’s fine. You get some rest. I won’t be long.” She offered him a kind and thankful smile.
Makram watched her leave their room. Something in the back of his mind pulled up the memory of the morning they had woken up to Philo’s screams, when he had found Chanta’s body. Chanta had only gone a few steps away from the group. She had never made it back alive. A fresh wave of worry washed over him. It took all his self-control not to go after Cherish. He didn’t want a repeat performance.
Once she was outside of their room, Cherish let out a sigh. She performed a self-evaluation maintenance check, as she walked. Part of her was worried that she was experiencing a glitch. She hadn’t had a dream since she was fully human. The experience was so foreign to her now that it made her anxious. Had some of her circuitry come loose during their training? It was unlikely that anyone at the monastery would have enough skill to fix any internal damage. Their small team didn’t even have a way to radio Hubard if something was wrong. Their contact radio had been smashed in the same rockfall that had killed Philo. They were utterly alone.
The night air was cool against her cheek. It helped calm her thoughts. Part of her wondered how Theo and Cierra were fairing, in their own bunk. She had sensed tension between the two of them, for quite some time. If she could sense it in public, she wondered how bad things were in private. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes for a second.
The sound of the water flowing from the fountain in the courtyard was soothing. Cherish dipped her hands into the water and brought it to her lips. She wiped a stray droplet from her lips. The two moons, Kani and Kasha, shone brightly. Both were nearly full. Their intersecting paths illuminated the world around her—not that she needed the light.
“I see I’m not the only one who is awake at this hour of the night.” A soft voice spoke from behind her.
“Grandmother Yasta!” Cherish spun around to see an elderly woman, with a kind smile on her face. As soon as she called the woman by her nickname, Cherish covered her mouth with her hands.
The older woman raised one palm to stop Cherish from apologizing. “It’s quite alright. Do y
ou think I don’t know what the young ones call me? I find it quite endearing. When we join the ranks of the Yasta monks officially, we forsake our names in favor of our titles. We wish only to be known as a portion of Batumah himself. However, as lofty as that idea is, it isn’t always practical. The others must be able to distinguish us in some way, I suppose. I guess I should be thankful that my nickname is such a kind one. Now, tell me. Why are you awake? Are you having difficulties sleeping, child?”
Cherish bowed deeply. A ruddy blush brightened her pale cheeks, to rival the color of her hair. “I’m afraid I just had a bad dream. I thought that perhaps a drink of water and some fresh air would help me clear my mind.”
“A bad dream? I would hear of this dream.” Grandmother Yasta stepped closer to Cherish. She sat delicately on the edge of the stone fountain, and gestured for Cherish to do the same.
Squinting into the distance, Cherish tried to remember the vivid details of what she had seen. “I was on a cloud, high above the planet’s surface. Villages looked like tiny ant hills. I was floating there, looking around. There were four more clouds below me. All of them had this strange, golden glow about them. I noticed that my cloud was glowing, too. Curiosity overcame me. I knelt down, and began pulling the cloud apart with my hands. It came away in soft tufts. I was trying to find the source of the light. After some tugging, I found a tiny, golden insect. It glowed with a light all of its own. My hand reached down to pick it up, and when it did, the part of the cloud where it was resting went dull. I realized that there must be hundreds or thousands of these little insects all throughout the cloud. Together, they made it glow, with such a lovely golden light. I started to put the little insect back, but something stopped me. A large, button wasp had landed on the cloud in front of me. It began eating the cloud. As it ate, wisps of it began to slowly smolder. Fizzing embers flicked away from the wasp like an incinerating ripple. I must admit that I was captivated by both the beauty and the wrongness of it. That’s when I heard it. An inescapable buzzing was growing louder and louder. Large black wasps were surging towards me from the planet below. There were so many of them that it looked like a black mist rushing upwards. They overtook the four clouds below me. Then they came for me. Thousands of them gnawed the wisps of my cloud, until wisp by wisp, tiny glowing insect by tiny glowing insect, the cloud died and blackened. It’s odd to think of a cloud dying, but there really is no other way to put it. My cloud burst into flames. I remember falling downwards. I thought to myself, this is it, this is the end, but then something even more remarkable happened. The tiny insect in my hand grew bigger and brighter until it was far larger than I was. I couldn’t stand to look at it. The brightness was blinding. The insect held me tightly, and we accelerated downwards at an even greater speed. Suddenly, a wormhole opened before us, and we vanished. That was when I woke up. It was so bizarre, and it felt so real. I’ve never experienced any dream like it before.”
Capture: The Relissarium Wars Space Opera Series, Book 6 Page 2