Author: Sparkling Moon Phoenix.
Genre: Anime, Adventure, Fantasy.
Rating: M.
Status: Work In Progress.
Chapter: Act 8.
Standard disclaimers apply. Clamp, Sunrise Television owns the rights to MKR. I am just using the characters for a fiction of my own devising and the enjoyment of Rayearth fans everywhere. Any original characters, spells etc are © Sparkling Moon Phoenix 2013.
Author's Note: Bold italic speech indicates radio conversations. *Starred Italic script like this indicates telepathic speech.* A more adult version of this is in the process of being uploaded at ArchiveOfOurOwn. (Speech like this indicates Knight/Mashin communications.)
Summary: This new MKR fiction begins just after Hikaru Shidou is kidnapped by Eagle Vision. The once mystical realm of Cephiro is falling apart far faster than anyone could ever have imagined. But the meeting of two people could save Cephiro, and possibly more than one world. Echoes of a timeless Prophecy within to emerge within the stricken planet of Cephiro; one that could bring changes for all.
Spirit of Cephiro Heart of Cephiro
Act 8: Thoughts of Family
~(:O:)~
Hours after his High Commander had severed their conversation for the night, Geo still found himself seated in front of his personal console. Reports from all of the ship's departments that fell under his authority flickered on his screen. His duties awaited him, yet he didn't notice. His thoughts focussed upon the face of the young Knight his Commander captured and brought back with him.
Upon catching his first glimpse of her lying upon the cold floor of the Mecha Bay, he had to suppress his shock at how young she appeared to be. The girl, close to physical maturity, seemed to be the same age as his daughter Talisha. Upon thinking of his sole offspring, Geo reached for the holograph sitting on the desk beside his computer. The vivid green eyes of his child stared back at him.
His daughter resembled her mother closely, nothing of him represented in her physical appearance. He had departed his home planet just days before his daughter's seventeenth Ascension, a rather important time in the life of any young Autozamian. His daughter would now take the first steps upon the path of her own choice. A slight smile came to him when he thought of his child's chosen vocation – that of a Healer. An old term for a doctor, albeit one still used by a few individuals. The fact that she had chosen to follow the path of the Healer came as no surprise to him.
She had proven to be a gifted empath, one capable of utilizing the amplifying abilities of a Transducer Crystal. I hope she is capable of using the Transducer Crystal I acquired for her Ascension.
A wry smile came to the burly First Officer as he recalled the day he purchased, at great cost, one of the rare Crystals for his gentle natured daughter. Born with psi abilities that matured as she grew, she displayed a natural aptitude for using a Transducer Crystal. With her mind firmly set on training as a Healer, she would need a more powerful Crystal to focus her empathic gift into healing energy. Using this method had stirred great excitement amongst the medical profession. Some of the physical ravages caused by the pollution were reversed. In some cases, the effects were miraculous. The empathic talents of his daughter were high, the measurements that of Prime level. Talisha would become a Healer of immeasurable skill and power. Geo only hoped she would have time to grow and learn.
I wonder what she is doing now? Probably sleeping. He glanced briefly at the desktop chronometer. The display read 2:00 am Standard Autozam Time. The hours passed swiftly by with him unaware of it. My duty shift begins in four hours, no point in attempting to rest. It wouldn't be the first time I've worked through the night.
Geo set the holograph back beside his personal console. He reminded himself, the mission to invade Cephiro and procure the unlimited potentiality of the Pillar System for his beleaguered home planet was for the last generation of his people. Geo being of a highly ranked military family knew the situation his people and home faced. The words of the last report made available to the High Councillors by the Council of Scientists flowed through his mind.
If a way cannot be found for the atmosphere of Autozam to be purified, the Autozamian Race will not continue past the children born seventeen cycles prior to the accelerated degradation of the planet. The toxins are causing severe damage, not only to the environment but also to the physical bodies of those dwelling on the surface. Relocation to another world is the only choice.
Relocation or extinction – those are the outcomes we face as a civilization.
None of the common people knew how precarious their daily life was becoming. Only the High Councillors and the President knew the full extent of the harm Autozam was now experiencing.
The bio-domes and purification technologies are failing. My world will fall if this mission doesn't succeed. His gaze flicked over to the portrait of his daughter. I'm doing this for her and others like her. That is the sole reason I am here.
The scientific evidence could no longer be suppressed, or the inherent truth ignored. His people faced a dire future unless their mission in this far flung corner of space succeeded. The seemingly miraculous energy of the Cephiran Pillar System would stave off extinction for his home and people. Geo felt a pang of regret that his people had fallen so far from grace. Plundering another world to save his beloved planet did not sit well with him.
I can't think this way. I'm doing this to save all who call Autozam home. Even those as yet unborn. I can't let myself be distracted by that train of thought. For some to prosper, others must be sacrificed. That is the way of life, the law of nature. Geo sighed, massaging his temples. Hunger made itself known, his belly rumbling. Realizing he hadn't eaten for nearly a whole day, Geo pushed his long, muscular frame up and out of his chair.
Strolling over to the automatic food and drink dispenser Geo ordered a mug of the strongest coffee the machine held within its memory banks. As his chosen beverage brewed, Geo dialled another order, this time for some hot food. Once his both his orders were complete, Geo took both hot plate and steaming mug over to his desk. As he took a huge gulp of his coffee, Geo opened the first report that demanded his attention. When he saw the attached note accompanying the report, he nearly choked on his coffee.
The memo displayed the extensive repairs Eagle's battle Mecha required. Geo whistled in surprise. Seems we underestimated those Knights. How strong are the other two? I guess there is a reason for Eagle to go haring off in his FTO whenever we catch a glimpse of the Magic Knights engaged in combat wasn't so crazy after all. The gathered knowledge will prove useful in forming combat strategies.
Geo once more read the note the irate Chief Engineer left.
'Tell Eagle if he damages the FTO like this again, he can fight in a rusty bucket. I've a whole ship to care for. In addition, no, a bottle of wine will not fix this!
Chief Engineer Zazu Torque.'
Geo decided to forward the report, with the note to his commander. He wouldn't warn Eagle of course. Geo privately thought his young commander deserved a kick in the pants now and again, just to balance out his brash side.
Hmm, betting is illegal when we're on missions. But I'll lay a wager that Zazu stays mad at Eagle for a week. I've a very old bottle of Valerian Wine from Dorca 4 that I'm willing to gamble away. I believe Ensign Farrer is the ringleader for the side betting that goes on here.
Leaving the matter of placing a bet until later, Geo once more focused on his work. Reports had piled up over the past few days and he had a lot to catch up on. Who knew what the following day would bring.
Author's note: I know this isn't the chapter I promised, but I thought I'd put the reactions of a character that often doesn't get much of a mention in MKR fictions. Hope you don't mind. Eagle and Hikaru will meet up in the next chapter. After that one, the Spirit Knight comes blundering in!
