Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2011 20:01:16 GMT -8
"Aumo."
"Not quite. The last syllable is fuller. Aumo."
Ahska sighed and tried again. "Aumo."
"Better." Sarnah wrapped an arm around the young woman's shoulders. Just an hour ago, Ahska had summoned her to her bed chambers in a panic. Gently, Sarnah had explained what had happened while Ahska recoiled at one end of her bed.
Now, the pair stood in front of the Great Tank. A small, translucent ball was held gingerly in Ahska's hands. Sarnah climbed the ladder, then reached downward toward Ahska, who carefully transferred the object to the wise, old woman. Sarnah dipped it into the tank, then let it float away through the viscous currents. Stepping down, she wiped her hands on a towel and hugged Ahska. "The first of many. You will come here every day, watch them grow. When you do, think of your Alliance and the strength that this has brought to our genetic code."
Nodding, Ahska watched the sphere settle in an eddy, mid tank. An attendant approached with a large, very old book. Clutching her nightgown to her body, Ahska took the pen and wrote in the book. She flourished her royal name onto the page, then hesitated before writing again, this time more solemnly: Dorian Alexander, Captain USS Talon, Klingon/Human. She put the pen down and ran her fingers up to the entry above. Her father, and her mother. Only one Alliance. The Mehtak had stopped it there. Had they succeeded in killing Ahska, there would be no continuation of the lineage. A new book would be made, a new family chosen.
"She would be proud," Sarnah said. Her wrinkled hand covered Ahska's and the attendant pulled the book away.
"Was it always this way," Ahska asked.
Sarnah laughed and touched the tank. "The container has changed, but the medium is still the same. Remember when we followed the river from Retanya as far as we could in a week?"
Ahska nodded. It had been a grand adventure.
"Just past that, through the chasm, is the source. We bring it here, so we can protect the Aumo. It wasn't always so. We lost many when they were placed in the Well. Predators, jealous citizens." She kissed Ahska lightly on the forehead. "You need not worry about yours." Squeezing her shoulder, she added, "now... back to bed for you. Tomorrow, we will tell your father."
"Just a few more minutes," Ahska said.
Once Sarnah returned to her own chambers, Ahska sat down next to the tank and rested her cheek against the warm surface. She wondered what Zakary was doing and what he would think of her now.
"Not quite. The last syllable is fuller. Aumo."
Ahska sighed and tried again. "Aumo."
"Better." Sarnah wrapped an arm around the young woman's shoulders. Just an hour ago, Ahska had summoned her to her bed chambers in a panic. Gently, Sarnah had explained what had happened while Ahska recoiled at one end of her bed.
Now, the pair stood in front of the Great Tank. A small, translucent ball was held gingerly in Ahska's hands. Sarnah climbed the ladder, then reached downward toward Ahska, who carefully transferred the object to the wise, old woman. Sarnah dipped it into the tank, then let it float away through the viscous currents. Stepping down, she wiped her hands on a towel and hugged Ahska. "The first of many. You will come here every day, watch them grow. When you do, think of your Alliance and the strength that this has brought to our genetic code."
Nodding, Ahska watched the sphere settle in an eddy, mid tank. An attendant approached with a large, very old book. Clutching her nightgown to her body, Ahska took the pen and wrote in the book. She flourished her royal name onto the page, then hesitated before writing again, this time more solemnly: Dorian Alexander, Captain USS Talon, Klingon/Human. She put the pen down and ran her fingers up to the entry above. Her father, and her mother. Only one Alliance. The Mehtak had stopped it there. Had they succeeded in killing Ahska, there would be no continuation of the lineage. A new book would be made, a new family chosen.
"She would be proud," Sarnah said. Her wrinkled hand covered Ahska's and the attendant pulled the book away.
"Was it always this way," Ahska asked.
Sarnah laughed and touched the tank. "The container has changed, but the medium is still the same. Remember when we followed the river from Retanya as far as we could in a week?"
Ahska nodded. It had been a grand adventure.
"Just past that, through the chasm, is the source. We bring it here, so we can protect the Aumo. It wasn't always so. We lost many when they were placed in the Well. Predators, jealous citizens." She kissed Ahska lightly on the forehead. "You need not worry about yours." Squeezing her shoulder, she added, "now... back to bed for you. Tomorrow, we will tell your father."
"Just a few more minutes," Ahska said.
Once Sarnah returned to her own chambers, Ahska sat down next to the tank and rested her cheek against the warm surface. She wondered what Zakary was doing and what he would think of her now.