"I shall grow to hate this memorial for it shall always be a reminder of our loss." "I shall miss her for many reasons, but mostly due to our, sadly, brief conversations hanging within Honshu system. There will be no more."
Many a time, I had a chance to meet Ambassador DeLuna, the war and violence she tried to root out ultimately overcame her...
She tried many things to complete her goal, more than once she was forced to resort to the mothods she so much despised.
Her example was unfortunately unitary, the battle she waged was against a mass. This shows, ladies and gentlemen, that Sirius and humanity have not learnt anything from the past millenia. From ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, Medieval ages, age of imperialism, the XXth century and the war against the Coalition were all quarrels of the same species. Homo sapiens. This quarrel brought Humanity to the brink of extinction, later, even though the survivors were brohers in arms, they started to compete over illusoric values like religion, politics, history, pride and other imponderabilia.
As long as humans find differences between one another, there shall be no peace. War is written into our genes and history and no mater how much one tries, cannot be removed.
Unless...
Unless more DeLunas appear. Units thinking differently, unificationally, pacifistically. War makes us only weaker, more fragile and exposed to an attack of forces like nomads. The fight for peace must be lead by more than just one, It has to be a mass against mass. When they are equal in numbers, the ancient leader's words will become reality. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, that there are two forces, the heart and the sword. In the long term, the heart always is victorious over the sword.
I raise a toast in the Ambassador's honour for she sets an expamle for the many, who can change the world.
There was one figure in the smallish crowd. The figure was dressed in robes of fine silk, with a cowl covering its head and a veil descending from its nose down obscured its features. However, those of the Veranda recognised the style of this robe. It lacked the gems and tassels that had adorned it before, and was now a plain black color of mourning, but the man who wore that item of clothing was unforgettable. It seems even the Phantoms left a single representative to bid farewell to the DeLuna family. DarkStar himself, although hidden to all except for those who knew him before, was present.
He spoke no words, for his voice was infamous. Instead, he simply caught Reggies' eye and gave a slow nod; A acknowledgment of the somber event. Even the normal insane glint in his eyes seemed somewhat dimmed, although it was no doubt a temporary measure. A special restraint, used only to offer his respect and the sincerity of his coming for this time.
This is the real true story of rock and roll; it was not about anything more then, how to live your life, as a gangster, in sartorial splendor, and turning the world into a place where normality would never return again...- Malcolm McLaren
Mal finally had to crawl atop the bar and whistle to get the noisy crowd's attention.
"Alright! Alright! It would appear that our "reception" has turned into a full-blown wake here, Ladies and Gents. Our host Mr. Waverly was rather exhuasted, and has retired; so myself and Mr. Spike Harris over there will be taking over hosting and headbanging duties in his absence.
"If any more toasts are to be offerred, just bang on something, preferrably not the nearest head, until you have our attention.
There's booze, Kallisti Gold, and coffee aplenty; but we've placed the Blue Sapphire under lock and key. Those bloody junipers won't have decent berries for at least a year!
"The guest rooms here are all spoken for; but we've rented out the entire B&B on Dock street in town; and there will be free shuttles to orbit for anyone brave enough to fly home, or command, afer the wake.
"Before you proceed to get in the spirit, these two lovely globes next to me have some toasts. Dis?"
*To Fiona! That woman knew how to shop!*
"Well, that's important to know! How about you, Sophie."
*To the deLunas! But mostly, to the lady who kept me employed when I was "reborn". I had to remind Reggie how to tie his shoes every bloody morning! She had his silly head that far in the ozone.*
"Now that's mean, Sophie! You're just mad that we kept you in pieces in a box for so long. Two more for me, so fill your glasses! To Jessica, who could mount more missile turrets on one ship than was humanly possible! And, to Sylvia, my intended replacement as leader of the ELF. She would have done a magnificent job! Kampai!"
Deception was difficult for Nebotuda, but necessary. The civilian clothing he war during his brief visit to Canaria made him unnoticeable to all but those who did not know him personally. The Fool had acknowledged the Naval Forces Captain but respected his wish for descretion.
Having traveled down with the contract transport Tekagi-Maru covertly was a feat in and of itself. One did not simply walk away from the Tau campaign operational commander's post without people asking a few questions. If he were caught it would be courts martial at the least, possibly rank or service stripped from him for dereliction. Many favors had been cashed in to get the Captain here anonymously. An uncomfortable but necessary precaution. The Taus were still pretty far from New Tokyo, but that didn't keep the DeLuna's recent plunge in public favor from reaching out to the troops. Rumor control had the Imperial public relations officers working constantly. Sinister implications and strange rumors were emanating from Hiroshima of all places (wasn't that a deserted and desolately wild system?) The fickle nature of public opinion was not lost on Nebo.
But there were many questions left unanswered. Not only about the end of the DeLunas, but also about the beginning. Yes, questions with no answers. Somehow while Seiji Nebotuda was executing Imperial will in the outer garden of Kusari, the DeLunas had gone from intersystem celebrities to public enemy number one. Wasn't it at Shinkaku that he was hearing that name spoken as a curse? Of course it was common knowledge that Samura executives disapproved of the gaijin embassy in Honshu, but now it seemed there were conspiracy theories blooming in the bars.
These thoughts occured to Nebotuda as he watched the pagan rituals being performed at the DeLuna shrine. The fool, Warbucks and a canine facing each other with eyes closed. The Fool's lips moved but Nebo was too far from the event to hear them. Some commotion, the animal was exited about something. Nebo wondered if the Fool had hidden some small morsel in his pocket for the dog. And then the ritual was over. The participants seemed relieved from their efforts. No reward was produced for the animal, curious that...
The following invocation was brief. Various parties said words no doubt profound between themselves and the departed. Nebo sat in the back, dressed in his civilian's garb. Even if he were able to break his cover and stand before these people to speak, he couldn't find the words. There had been other funerals he had conviened. Military ones to honor the blissfully fulfilled warriors of Kusari who had given their lives taking those of their enemies. They he could be poetic for. But this?...
After the final mourning speaker was finished the group began their adjournment to the reception. Nebotuda did not join them however. He had a headache. Sleep was not coming to him lately and it was beginning to show on the warrior. A voice he heard occasionally when on long patrols in his fighter was egging its way into his dreams. Such lapses of concentration frustrated the highly disiplined man.
Questions needed answering. It was time to return home.
The suns were about to hide behind the mountains and a large shadow began to cover the Plaza. She was touching the largest crystal with both hands and her left cheek. She didn't know why exactly she came here but there was something in this system, on this very planet that she was desperately seeking. And now she was getting sure that she finally found it. There must have been a great power hidden in this place. She felt the resonance coming through her body and closed her eyes.
Chunks of past memories were chaotically flashing on her eyelids...
>...she finally lost her fight and didn't control the ship any more... he did...<
>...she started to loose her memories, faces the people she once knew started to be transparent...<
>...she was consumed by emptiness, her being diminished...<
>...she was laying in a fluorescent pool, looking at the silent faces gathered around...<
>...she heard - 'Rise, Number 23, you are now prepared for your task'...<
>...she was standing by a window of a strange spaceship, observing a colorful nebula...<
>...she had new memories and she knew who she was... Caprica..., but...<
>...she sensed a strange tension whenever she tried to reveal some of her former memories...<
>...she was flying her ship again, exploring a familiar space, she shouldn't have known...<
>...she met a silent man, sitting with his beer in a crowded bar...<
The vision was suddenly blurred and she heard a silent sound of unknown essence.
>...the man looked at her and *&*#&*&(^@^ .... <
The connection was interrupted. After she opened her eyes again she saw the Crystals were still glowing but their shine was fading quickly. She turned around and exclaimed. There was a small dog, sitting there and watching her.
~ Kitty? ~
She wasn't touching the crystal any more but still she heard voices in her head. She was so frightened that she began to run away. Once she was near her ship, which was landed in the middle of Kallisti fields, she jumped in and took off immediately.
There was an old man sitting on a side of a thin pathway, which was cutting the fields. He was probably resting and enjoying the silence. He must have seen a small, flat and oval ship flying up to the sky.
Reggie rose slowly to gain an unobstructed view of the small alien craft as it shot up and out of sight. He had not seen its like before, but had heard of such ships.
Reg continued on towards the central Plaza. He had escaped the raucous wake earlier, and had wanted to say a few last words of his own to Fiona's departed spirit. When he had seen a single shadowy figure on the Plaza, he had stopped on the pathway to watch the brief encounter. When the tall, golden-haired woman had rushed past him, he did nothing to stop her.
When he reached the Obelisks, Fnordie still sat silently, apparently deep in "thought".
"It 'was' Kitty, wasn't it, Fnordie?"
~Yes, Reggie. I am certain.~
"Have you 'told' Rick yet?"
~No. I cannot 'reach' him. His brain is.. foggy. Fnordie think he is drunk somewhere.~
"I see. Well, I will speak of this to no one until you have had a chance to 'talk' with Rick. But you know that I must inform Admiral Wingates and President D'Lunar as soon as possible. This does not bode well for the Colonials."
~Yes. If I do not contact Rick by tomorrow, I will need ship. We will ask Dis or Sophie to take me to Rick, yes?~
Reggie considered. "That may be dangerous for them, Fnordie. They may insist on joining the hunt for their 'sister'. It may be wiser to withold this information from them for now.
"Keep trying to contact Rick. If you cannot 'talk' to him by tomorrow, then I will take you myself. We will find Rick together."
~Yes, Reggie, you are right. Danger to Fnordettes. And Colonials must know. Give Rick and me short time to think of plan. If we do not find this 'new' Kitty very soon, then tell others.~
Reggie nodded his head. "Then let's go home, my small friend." He looked up once more at the rose quartz obelisk, still feeling its residual power touching his heart. "Our fickle Goddess must be bored, Fnordie. We lose one beautiful, mysterious enigma; only to be confronted by another."
The [~V~]Mals small but well-armed shuttle dropped slowly towards the Verandas private landing pad.
Malaclypse had been away for two busy weeks. As he looked down through the front view screen, he was amazed at the riotous growth which was evident on the new Uli Rouge Plantation. Reggie had reported that the tremendous energies near the Obelisks had subsided greatly; but that a residual field from the deLuna vortex was having an amazing effect on the crop growth in the surrounding fields.
As the shuttle grew closer, it was evident that Reggie had been correct. The quadrant planted in coffee was rampant with the white flowers which preceded and nurtured the cacao beans. The stalks of the Kallisti Gold plants were visibly straining upwards towards the double suns of Omega 49. The tobacco and mint quadrants almost glowed with a vibrant emerald color.
As the shuttle touched down, Malaclypse sprang from the exit hatch before the ramp had even touched the ground, and strode briskly towards the main house of the Veranda. He was glad to be home. As he entered the central courtyard, he inhaled deeply of the pungent odors from the surrounding fields; and was pleased to see the activity of countless farm bots as they scurried about on their daily tasks.
He bounded onto the porch of the Veranda just as Reggie came out the main door, bearing two large mugs of steaming coffee. A cheroot protruded jauntily from the corner of his mouth.
Well Ill be buggered if you dont look chipper this morning! said Reggie, as the two sat at a large shaded table. Mal took the coffee mug, and selected a cheroot from the case Reggie offered him.
I feel incredible, old friend! said Mal, as he took a data pad from his own pocket and placed it on the table for Reggie to peruse. Look at these energy figures!
Reggie smiled at Mal as he picked up the data pad and looked at the streaming information. That good, eh?
Mal laughed with delight. The figures are only the tip of the iceberg, Reg. I spent four days hovering at the exact center of our new acquisition; and I cannot begin to tell you what a wondrous experience it was. We must build a Temple there!
And look at the medical data! he continued. My hereditary disposition for melanoma has completely disappeared. That worrisome lack of pulmonary capacity has righted itself. My Goddess, my vision has even improved! Reggie, the effect of those crystals is not only spiritual, but physical as well! The bloody place is the Gods own health Spa! I venture to say that a few days there, and youll never be worried about creaking bones and age spots again, partner.
So its true, then, mused Reggie. The Vortex here on Canaria merely served to amplify the effects of the Obelisk crystals. They contain their own energies independently of the Vortex. This is amazing!
You have not reached the most incredible part, my friend! Reggie said excitedly. Look at the DNA scans.
Reggie punched buttons, and his jaw dropped as he viewed the results. Mal, this data seems to indicate that you are now the proud owner of two new, developed, completely viable DNA strands. I am in the presence of a new species of human. Bless my Pineal!
Mals face became serious. Yes, Reggie, Homo Neophobus has arrived. My concern now is whether the Inquisition will be as excited about our discovery as we are..
I really dont care if they are amused or not, Mal. This is the true birthright of the human species. Those ancients who claimed that Earth was seeded by visitors from Sirius; and who claimed that our destiny was to return here, have been proven to be truthful and correct. This was prophesied since the days of the Egyptians and the Incas. We must give this to the species. Eris wills it.
"Now slow down, old friend." cautioned Mal. "Let's give my little "squishies" a chance to do a bit more atmosperic "poopin'" on oul little moonlet, both inside and out. What good's a Temple to the Goddess, or any colonization of Baffin, if we have to do it in bloody space suits! Eris may will the evolution of her little primate band, but you know as well as I that She can be a bloody pain in the arse when She gets a burr under Her saddle."
"Very well, Mal. Discretion and patience for now. I'll ask for a convening of the TAZ Council. Our usual endless discussions should temper my enthusiasm; but Baffin is looking better and better, as is our future."
Rick's train was orbitting Grand Canaria and he was waiting for the shuttle Reggie insisted to use. He probably wanted to save Rick from performing another crazy stunt, but this time his worries were pointless. Rick came to have some peace and to be close to Fnordie again. He didn't notice a strange flat vessel observing him from distance as nothing showed up on his scanners.
Fnordie contacted him sooner, he 'told' him about a certain tall blond girl, and her odd behavior at the memorial plaza. He was convinced it must have been Kitty and that she is dangerous. But how could that happen? Would it be possible, that the Fnordettes somehow gained human appearance? He needed to talk to Malaclypse.
The shuttle finally arrived and after he entered, it immediately started to descend to the Veranda.
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