by Alyssa Ezra
“The merging of the living with technology is a speciality of the Mystic Folk,” Storm Kar said with more than a hint of pride. “None of the other tribes can match our prowess in this field. The ancient tribal legends say that the secrets of the Celestial AI were passed to the Mystic Folk in the Beginning Time and made us guardians of the Vision Land.”
“Celestial AI? You mean like a computer?” Simone asked.
“That’s a crude description but yes, that’s what the AI is essentially is. The Celestial AI was created by the Grandmother Race who seeded this part of the solar system.
Many eons ago, the Grandmother Race fought a terrible war with the Reptile People, which wiped out billions of life forms and destroyed many of the habitable worlds in this part of space. Eventually, the Reptiles were defeated but at a heavy price. My people, the Noble Kin were all but decimated and our home world had been incinerated in the long fighting.
Because we had been instrumental in the Reptile Peoples’ final defeat, the Grandmother Race wished to make reparations to us. They used the last of their resources to create the Celestial AI. It was, as you say, a super computer capable of designing new worlds and technology. It began to slowly rebuild this part of the galaxy and the Vision Land was its masterpiece.”
Simone listened raptly fascinated by the extraterrestrial history Storm Kar was telling her. “This Celestial AI, is it still making worlds?”
Storm Kar shook his head. “As the galaxy began to recover and civilizations re-established themselves, many envious eyes turned to the AI as a source of knowledge and power.
There were numerous attempts to board the AI, which a world in itself, and eventually it decided to leave this universe altogether. The Grandmother Race had already left our reality as well, and when the AI departed, the last link to our ancient heritage was gone.”
Simone nodded trying to process all this information. Looking out of the howdah, she watched as Jedediah picked his way nimbly through the Woodrens, waving at other Podderers who ambled around nearby. Leaving the living forest behind, they moved across vast plains toward a rugged wall of rose-tinted mountains, shimmering beneath the aquamarine sky. The strange colors of the panorama appealed to her for some reason, and she revelled in the beauty being presented before her.
“Your world is truly breath-taking Storm Kar,” she concluded as she watched magenta cotton ball clouds drift by. “You must feel very proud to live here.”
“I would feel prouder if the Noble Kin were united,” Storm Kar replied mournfully.
Simone gave him a curious look. “I thought you said things were pretty peaceful round here?”
“At the moment yes, relatively,” Storm Kar replied, “but the tribes agitate against each other, seeking to outdo each other in prestige and influence. Grazing Elk Woman and I despair sometimes. If we united together, we could achieve our former greatness.”
“Why don’t you? What’s the problem?”
“During the time when the Celestial AI looked over us, my people were united as one. We were a force for good and knowledge in the galaxy. We helped other societies who struggled with conflict or environmental disasters. We travelled to many worlds and visited nascent civilizations to help them on the road of achieving greatness. We even came to your world and taught Earthlings the secret ways of the other realms and the arts of agriculture and tool making. When the AI left though, wars came to our own world and we fragmented into rival tribes.”
“Earth’s just the same,” Simone replied, giving him a sympathetic smile, “seems like people never learn wherever they live in the universe.”
They fell into a reflective silence and watched the Vision Land go by. The Podderer ambled eastwards until they approached a strange looking outcropping of rock that resembled coral. Simone drank in the vibrant colors of the outcropping, its lush blues, pinks, greens and oranges and stared in wonder at the varied and outlandishly shapes the rocks formed.
The outcropping was roughly divided into tiers and as they got closer, she saw it was honeycombed with caverns. Jedediah came to halt in a wide space of smooth stone that opened out onto the first of the caves. With a loud groan, he knelt down until his spindly body was down low enough for Simone and Storm Kar to climb out of the howdah and step onto the ground.
“Thank you, Jedediah,” Storm Kar said civilly. “You may leave us now. Please return to collect at sun down.”
“Right you are, sir,” the Podderer said, nodding his craggy head. “Nice to meet you, lass,” he said to Simone.
“Thanks,” Simone replied, not sure what else to say. She watched as the strange creature straightened up and meandered away across the plains. She was suddenly aware that she was now alone with Storm Kar.
“There are some people who are eager to meet you,” Storm Kar said.
She looked at him and then to the outcropping. A fiery winged shape suddenly emerged from one of the caves on the upper level and flew up into the sky. It was followed by two similar creatures. They dived as one toward the couple.
“Don’t be alarmed,” Storm Kar said when he saw Simone back away. “They won’t hurt you.”
The creatures came to land in the space before the outcropping, moving together with fluid coordination. They were tall and sleek, with slender male humanoid bodies and fearsome bird-like heads.
Golden feathers merged with smooth gold colored skin and huge bright red wings sprouted from their backs. Simone stared at the white flames burning the edges of the wings perplexed that they were apparently doing no damage at all.
Standing perfectly still, the three bird men nodded their beaks in unison.
“Welcome Storm Kar of the Mystic Folk,” they said together, their identical musical voices twinkling on the air.
Storm Kar brought his hands together and bowed his head. “I am honored to be invited to the Settlement of the Phoenix People,” he said in a formal tone. “Let me introduce Simone of the Earth People.”
The three Phoenix men turned and pierced her with their golden eyes. “We have waited long for your coming,” they said in unison in their lilting voices. “You are welcome to our domain.”
“Thank you, it’s, um, nice to be here,” Simone replied nervously. She shot Storm Kar a look that cried out for help.
“Simone, this is Pevas, the Triad Leader of the Phoenix People,” Storm Kar said. “He has kindly invited us to a festival of welcome to herald your arrival to the Vision Land.”
“You mean a party?” Simone said with surprise, not really sure what a Triad Leader was or, for that matter, which of these three Pevas was either. “Oh wow, that’s fantastic. Thank you so much,” she said politely.
“It is the least we could do,” the three birdmen said together. “Storm Kar helped our people in our darkest hour and we celebrate that he has found a potential mate. We hope your love making will be frequent and vigorous.”
“That’s . . . great too,” Simone replied with less enthusiasm. She looked frostily at Storm Kar. He was staring hard at his feet again.
“Enough talking,” the three birdmen said abruptly. “Let us take you to the festivities. We hope you will be greatly pleased with out efforts.”
Without warning, two of the Phoenix men grabbed Simone and Storm Kar under their armpits and soared upwards into the air. Simone’s heart jumped into her mouth and she let out a sharp scream.
“Relax Simone,” Storm Kar called out in a voice that was less than confident. “We’re quite safe.” He was clinging tightly to the arms of the Phoenix man who carried him and Simone immediately did the same, holding on for dear life to her ride.
In a blur of movement, they swooped over the outcropping, darting between slender, conical rock formations. Simone’s legs were like water and she prayed to every god she knew that she didn’t lose her grip. Thankfully though, the impromptu flight didn’t last very long and they came to land on a wide stone terrace near the peaks of the outcropping that rested on a rock shelf.
As th
ey landed, Simone took a moment or two to glue back together her shattered nerves and realize how absolutely awesome that was, before she was calm enough to take in her surroundings.
The terrace evidently served as a public square for the Phoenix People community, and she more many more Phoenix men, and women, busy laying out food on low trestle tables and putting up brightly colored decorations made of feathers, bones and shiny stones.
As they worked, she noticed that they moved around in groups of three. These triads were either all male or all female, and whenever she heard their musical voices speaking it was always in unison.
As their welcoming committee went off to join the other Phoenix People, Storm Kar came to join her.
“I’m sorry you got a scare back there,” he said apologetically. “The Phoenix People assume everyone else is accustomed to flying the way they do.”
“It’s okay,” Simone said with a weak smile. “I’m still in one piece.”
Storm Kar nodded and then gestured to the terrace. “What do you think?”
“My mind’s blown away with all this,” Simone said with feeling. “There’s one thing I don’t understand though.”
“What’s that?”
“They all seem to be grouped together in threes,” she said, lowering her voice in case she caused offence. “And they all speak in unison, each trio I mean.”
Storm Kar nodded. “The Phoenix People replicate in threes and share a psychic bond within their triad group. Each triad comes from the same egg, and they share each others’ mind and feelings until the day they die. What one experiences, the other two feel too. It is an . . . interesting phenomenon.”
Simone thought about it. “So Pevas wasn’t just one Phoenix guy, he was all three of those Phoenix guys.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Wow, this is trippy,” Simone said.
Storm Kar chuckled, and he didn’t seem so intimidating for a moment. “You’ll soon get used to it. Come on, we need to take our place of honour.”
Simone followed Storm Kar across the terrace, exchanging bows with the Phoenix People they met. All of them showed Storm Kar the deepest respect and appeared genuinely pleased that he was here.
At the far end of the terrace, behind the trestle tables, a brightly colored awning had been erected, with thick cushions and rugs underneath for them to sit on. As Simone settled down cross-legged on the cushions, a timid triad of Phoenix women approached and offered her and Storm Kar wafers with some kind of spicy chutney on it, along with two clay cups of sweet tasting juice.
“Thank you,” said Simone warmly, taking the proffered refreshments from the aliens.
“That’s very nice of you.”
“It is a local delicacy, potential mate of noble Storm Kar,” the bird women trilled pleasantly. “It is called the churillia and increases potency in the male and increases their staying power. We hope it will be of value to you when you become intimate.”
Simone felt her cheeks burning and managed another polite smile. When they had headed away, she turned on Storm Kar. “These guys seem real eager for you to get laid,” she muttered under her breath.
“You must not take it personally,” Storm Kar said. “They are merely happy for me that I finally found someone who might share my life with me. They want me to fulfil my destiny.”
“You’re really respected by them,” Simone observed, trying not to think about all this soul mate business. Though she was finding the Vision Land a fascinating place, she still had every intention to return to Earth when the agreed month was up.
Storm Kar nodded. “They feel obliged to be this way,” he said nonchalantly.
“Several years ago the Phoenix People were struck down by a terrible plague that could have wiped them out completely. Fortunately I was able to develop a cure before it was too late. Ever since then, the Phoenix People have been staunch allies of the Mystic Folk.”
“You’re full of surprise,s aren’t you,” Simone said, feeling new found respect for him. “No wonder you’re a local hero around here.”
Storm Kar shrugged his broad shoulders. “I did not do it alone,” he said modestly.
“Without Pevas, I could never have succeeded in finding the cure. Together, we managed to save his people. He has a first rate mind, and when his duties here allow, he has helped out as my research assistant back at the citadel. In fact, he is much to blame for bringing you here as I am. You’d be in your rights to leave here and now if you wanted.”
Simone took a bite of the food that had been offered. It really was good. “It’s okay, I’m happy to stay. I love a party, even on a strange alien planet.”
“That is a relief,” Storm Kar said gratefully. “The Phoenix People are good folk, once you get used to them. If my role as Shaman Scientist didn’t command so much of my attention, I would even come and live with them. They are more . . . accepting of my appearance.”
Storm Kar dipped his glowing eyes, and for a moment, she saw the full weight of loneliness that hung over his shoulders. Simone felt her heart go out to him. “The Mystic Folk, they don’t accept you because of the way you are?” she asked in a gentler voice.
Storm Kar’s face became clouded. “I should not have said anything,” he said grimly.
“You think I am looking for sympathy.”
“No, I’m curious to know more,” Simone urged. Without meaning to, she slipped her hand over his. His skin was soft and warm.
“The Mystic Folk accept me as their own still, don’t get me wrong,” Storm Kar said reluctantly, “and Grazing Elk Woman has been a tower of strength when things became challenging for me, but – ”
“But what?” Simone pressed.
“I feel out of place amongst them. There is a difference between me and them, my own kind. Nobody says anything out loud but I can sense it. There is a barrier there because of my appearance and it can never be crossed.”
Simone nodded. “In some way, I can relate,” she said. “I feel like an outsider amongst my own people too.”
“But you are beautiful,” Storm Kar asserted, his eyes flaring as he looked intently at her.
A warm feeling swept through her at the conviction in his tone and fierceness of his gaze. She realized how close they were sitting together and that she was still touching him. It felt nice.
“I’m not sure I’d call myself beautiful,” she said, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. She removed her hand from his and subtly made some space between them.
“It’s not about physical appearance. I just don’t seem to connect with anyone else. It’s been like that all my life, with my parents, friends, and boyfriends, there’s always been a lack of connection, like an invisible wall between me and them. I can’t explain it, but nobody really gets me.”
She paused as she thought of Dean. He was the exception to the rule. The one person she’d ever met who was on the same emotional level as her. She didn’t tell Storm Kar that though. Dean was none of his business.
Storm Kar looked out thoughtfully at the terrace. “We have something in common,” he reflected. “The Great Spirits knew this when they showed me to you. Perhaps, we should take it as a sign.”
“Perhaps, we should just see how things go before we start looking for signs or talk about destiny,” Simone replied coolly, feeling her defences rising again. “This is all still very new to me. I need time to get used to things.”
“Of course, I understand,” he said politely, though she could hear the disappointment he tried to hide in his voice. It made her bristle with anger. He was trying to make her feel guilty when he was the one that was in the wrong for kidnapping her in the first place.
She scolded herself for being so harsh, as soon as she thought that. It must be extremely lonely for him living as an outsider, she reflected, and she should be grateful he had given her the opportunity to visit an alien world. She just didn’t like the idea that she had more in common with him than she first thought.
As
she brooded on this, the Phoenix People had made all the preparations for their festival. Melodic music made by flutes and drums drifted up into the air, and the bird creatures settled down at the trestle tables to eat and drink. The triad known as Pevas came and sat with Storm Kar and Simone and she was offered more many tasty foods and the delicious liquid they called Fire Juice.
In the central area of the terrace, a number of Phoenix People triads began dancing, sinuous beautiful creatures moving with elegant coordination. At several points during the dance, they surged into the air and performed gymnastic displays across the sky, their vibrant wings burning with glorious white fire.
Simone watched every moment of the display like a kid who was going to the circus for the first time. The entertainment coupled with the good food and drink had erased all her concerns and conflicting feelings over Storm Kar. She was caught up in the moment, giving over to simple pleasure.
Once the dancers had finished, Phoenix People in gaudy colored rags and bizarre wooden masks began capering across the terrace, doing wild jigs and somersaults. Some of them urged the more intoxicated members of the audience at the trestle tables to join them in comic dances, which they gamely consented to.
Simone figured they must be the Phoenix Peoples’ version of clowns, and she laughed uncontrollably at their antics. A couple of times, she glanced over at Storm Kar and saw him chortling, his deep laughter sounding like thunder. Seeing him enjoying himself made her feel happier.
The day stretched into evening and tiredness stole over Simone. She feared she had over-enjoyed what the Phoenix People had offered because she felt her eyes grow heavy and her head droop down.
As a group of delicate Phoenix women triads began singing a slow, melancholic song in their unified soprano voices, she nestled closer to Storm Kar’s strong body. She hadn’t done it on purpose, but the song sung in the Phoenix People’s ancient language made her ache for comfort and deep sleep.
She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, the way she used to do with Dean when they sat in front of the sofa, watching a romantic movie.