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Chapter 10 – Odyssey
Mature Theme Advisory
Not enough to warrant an overall M rating for the story, but some readers may be troubled by the latter part of this chapter. Others may find this warning silly, but I'd rather be cautious/sensitive now than apologetic later.
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"It can't be!" he inspected it more closely. "Mortis…"
Ainar tried to subdue his surprise. "You know of it… and its name?"
"I know everything about that world," Vader said under his breath.
"No. You won't know everything until my tale is done."
And so it continued, hurtling toward its end… with Shmi and Ainar hurtling toward a giant diamond in the middle of wild space.
"That's not a planet," Shmi anxiously insisted.
Ainar tried scanning the object, to no avail. "Not like any we've heard of. But it's all we've come across in five hours."
"We're not actually going to land on it?!"
"We have no choice… we're in a deadlock, and the engines won't decelerate!"
"Ainar, we'll crash right into it! There's nowhere–"
Her hysteria was cut short when a sliver of light pierced the object from top to bottom, slowly expanding like a giant gate. The travelers watched, riveted, as they were drawn into the maw, passing through the outer shell into blinding brilliance. Luminous radiance filled the cabin and all without was pure light, free of matter and form.
Was this the opposite of a black hole? A portal to heaven? Were they still alive? They couldn't be sure if they heard their own breaths anymore…
Then, as if passing through a cloud, they saw something materialize. It was land. Fertile, inviting land no less, with meandering streams and verdant waves of flora. Flocks of brightly-winged birds soared below, escorting the ship to its proper landing site.
When they reached the edge of that territory and began descending into the one beyond, Shmi and Ainar exchanged taut looks of anticipation. This region, though not entirely inhospitable, was decidedly less welcoming than the first. A few scrub bushes and short trees dotted the mountainous landscape, which had an obvious focal point: a tiered citadel atop the highest peak. At its apex hovered a slowly spinning crystal that appeared dormant.
At the base of that formation, their ship finally came to rest.
It was several minutes after the engines died before either dared to speak.
"Are we really on solid ground?"
"It feels like it."
"What was that wall of brightness we passed through?"
"Whatever it was, it made the controls spin like toys."
"Should we get out? Do you think it's safe?"
"My back and legs are killing me, so it's now or never."
Stepping gingerly onto rocky soil, Ainar stretched his limbs while Shmi took in the panorama. Nothing but desolate, dreary slopes as far as the eye could see. No birds graced the skies, and no fauna roamed the barren earth.
An unbidden shiver caused her arms to wrap around each other. "I wish we'd landed in that other area. This place feels so cold."
"At least there's some intelligent life here."
"You mean that?" Shmi pointed at the dizzying tower, which showed no signs of life. "It's hard to tell if anyone inhabits it."
"Someone does."
The voice made them both jump ten feet in the air.
It came from behind, spoken by a figure that most certainly had not been there five seconds ago. Ainar instinctively tucked Shmi behind himself, assessing the angular features and long white beard of their visitor. The ancient-looking man in gray robes seemed harmless, yet his abrupt appearance warranted caution.
Although, even if they'd seen him coming a mile away, his eight-foot height would have still triggered alarm.
"Who are you?" Ainar demanded warily.
"I believe I am entitled to ask that question first. You are, after all, standing at the entrance of my monastery."
Having no evidence to the contrary, Ainar obliged. "I'm Ainar Skywalker. This is my wife Shmi."
"Welcome," the man bowed. "I am Father."
What kind of a name is that? Ainar made a face. "Pleased to… meet you."
"And you as well. Tell me, where do you come from?"
Ainar glanced at Shmi. There was no way they'd risk getting sent back to Zygerria.
"Mandalore," Ainar lied.
"A far distance to travel. How is it you found this place?"
"Completely by accident."
Father entwined his long fingers thoughtfully. "Accidents are an illusion."
"Well, I didn't program my ship to fly here!" huffed Ainar. "The wires were either sabotaged or corroded."
"A myopic range of theories."
"You have a better explanation?" he said indignantly.
Looking down his sharply pointed nose, Father gave a faintly patronizing smile. "Perhaps."
Without warning, the crystal above the monastery quickened its rotation, sending pulses of light in every direction. Father raised his arms and cast an eerie voice into the wilderness.
"Come, my children! Leave your bastions of solitude and join me!"
Shmi clung to her husband as distant thunder pealed. She and Ainar scanned the horizon, waiting with bated breath for Father's "children" to appear. The crystal overhead now spun too fast for their human eyes to see.
The thunder was drawing closer, ricocheting off canyons and shaking the earth itself. Landslides rained down several mountain faces. Ainar's brain screamed at him to throw Shmi back in the ship and flee, but he sensed that whatever was coming would stop them in midair.
He sensed correctly.
Two enormous winged creatures crested the hills from opposite directions.
From the East came a regal, green-bearded griffin with feathers whiter than snow.
It was a collision course with a razor-toothed vampire bat straight from the bowels of hell.
The air shook with a deafening rumble as the two alighted next to Father. Shmi was on the verge of screaming when both became bathed in transfiguring light. Seconds later, two humanoids replaced the beasts.
Where the griffin landed now stood woman of singular beauty, her thick flowing tresses matching the shade of green on the creature's beard. Grace and purity embodied her as much as wickedness and malevolence embodied her brother. He retained the solid red eyes of his gargoyle self, which poured their color down each pallid cheek. Covered in coarse black attire from head to foot, he stood with feet widely planted, sending withering glares at his sister and father.
"Why have you summoned us, Father?" evil reverberated in his voice.
"As you can see, we have visitors," Father swept an elegant arm toward Ainar and Shmi.
Son scowled at them. "What are mortals doing here?"
"You did not lure them?"
"No. I wouldn't squander my energy on the likes of them."
Father turned to his other child. "Then it must have been you, Daughter."
"No, Father," the fair-skinned goddess sang. "I did not call these two humans."
Frowning, the elderly patriarch began pacing before the Skywalkers. "How can this be? None of us are responsible?"
"I couldn't care less," snarled Son. "Just get them out of my sight already!"
"Not so impetuous, Son. This is a great mystery to be explored."
Daughter took a curious step forward. "Could one of them be…?"
"What, the Chosen One?" Son rolled his blood-red eyes. "How can you still be so foolish as to believe that fable, sister?"
"It is not a fable," Father's voice boomed with authority.
"It's childish fantasy and nothing more," Son crossed his arms.
"It is truth and destiny! Keep your heretical thoughts to yourself!"
"Or what? You'll banish me?" Son taunted, wagging his head. "You've already done that, remember? This pretty little world of ours is my eternal prison!"
"Now is not the time for these grievances," Father sighed heavily and turned to Ainar and Shmi. "Please excuse him. Son cannot help but be contrary and divisive."
Daughter nodded. "It is his indelible nature, just as light and virtue are mine."
Ainar shared an uneasy look with his wife. "We're sorry for any trouble we've caused. We'll gladly leave if you can direct us out of here."
"But you've only just arrived," Father remarked. "Patience, friends. In time, I believe your reasons for being stranded here will manifest."
"Stranded?" Ainar raised an eyebrow. "Other than the navigation, our ship is functional!"
"Is it?" challenged Son.
Agitated, Ainar strode to the ship and leaned in to strike the ignition button. Nothing happened. Fear washed over him as he repeated the action several times with similar results.
"This can't be… it was working fine when we landed ten minutes ago!"
Shmi turned a scornful eye to Son. "What did you do to it?"
He sneered derisively. "Don't flatter yourself. I don't want you here a second longer than necessary."
"Most intriguing," Father's turquoise eyes clouded over in rumination. "The Force must have indeed pulled them here. All doubt is now dispelled."
"What's the Force?" Ainar suspiciously asked.
"That which we are, and breathe," Daughter swayed, dancing to unheard music. "It is within and beyond us at all times, controlling us even as we wield it."
"Say no more, sister!" Son shouted. "They deserve to know nothing! Not even the name of this world, for that is only for the Chosen One's ears. Right, Father?"
The old man lowered his brow. "You know much for someone who decries that fable."
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"Yes. That privilege is for the Chosen One alone."
Shmi glanced rapidly between the three beings. "So what does that mean for us? Are we even allowed to live?"
"Of course you are. You shall live comfortably at the junction of our three lands," Father decreed. "It is a neutral zone where no single power holds sway. Neither of my children will interfere with your life there." The unyielding gaze he aimed at Son and Daughter precluded argument.
The two humans locked eyes and knew each other's sentiments instantly. This wasn't Mandalore or any other commercialized planet. It was a far cry from what they'd envisioned as a second home. Yet that was precisely why its advantages were manifold. The natives were bizarre and contentious, but their quarrel was inbred, and they cared not whether their guests were former slaves or the king and queen of Alderaan. Politics and feudalistic power meant nothing here.
Ainar and Shmi might be stranded the strangest planet in the galaxy, but they couldn't have chosen a safer one if they tried. Anywhere else, there'd always be the lingering danger of someone extricating them back to Zygerria – where the punishment awaiting them would far outweigh the strange living conditions here.
All things considered, this place was the unlikely yet unequivocal choice. Maybe there was something credible about this Force after all.
"Thank you," Ainar responded. "We appreciate your hospitality."
"Which direction is home?" Shmi shielded her eyes, scanning the horizon.
Father pointed to the southwest. "Come, I will take you there. Nightfall is almost upon us."
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The humble yet cozy dwelling nestled in a rich, dark-leafed forest was more than adequate for Ainar and Shmi. Its stone walls and stout chimney kept them warm and dry from month to month, not that there was much variation in seasons. They'd been pleasantly surprised to learn that the region's temperance included its climate.
How many acres they were free to roam, neither knew the exact figure. But they knew the boundaries well enough. A crystalline river marked the line to the east. To the south and west, they were not to cross the forest's edge. And the great mountains of the north made the most obvious border of all.
Within these confines were miles upon miles of tranquil land, full of abundant food and wonders to explore. Animals were never in short supply or difficult to hunt. Rain fell at regular intervals to irrigate their gardens, which yielded ample crops throughout the year. The sun rose, shone, and set each day on paradise – or as close to it as any two slave-born individuals could hope to find.
For nearly a full year, they saw not Father, Son, or Daughter. The trio had kept their promise and it seemed they always would. Still, just as they did on clear Zygerrian nights, Shmi and Ainar would behold the night sky and wonder if they'd ever see gargoyle or griffin soar across it again.
The answer came in the least expected way.
It was on an autumnal night that Ainar, lying next to his wife in the cool grass, did a double-take at what was usually her flat abdomen. He thought the dim twilight was tricking his eyes. Wordlessly, he reached over to rest a trembling hand on the mound.
His heart nearly stopped when he felt something kick from inside.
For over a minute, only the lazy chirping of crickets filled the glade in which this miracle was discovered.
"Shmi…?" his voice cracked.
He couldn't take his eyes off her belly to see her grinning. "I was wondering when you'd notice."
"How…"
"It's this place… I'm sure of it," she sighed with deep satisfaction. "There's something magical about it."
"I'll say," he whispered, rubbing the marvelous swell of her stomach. The baby's movements followed him from one side to the other.
Shmi leaned over to kiss him. "Just a few more months and we'll be a family."
Returning her kiss, Ainar soon found himself wearing the same ecstatic grin as she. Then, unbidden laughter erupted from his throat, quickly escalating from a deep chuckle to joyous hysteria. He twirled Shmi under the velvet canopy and rejoiced for all creation to hear.
"The Force be praised! Our love is at last fruitful! A child, with no two parents who could love it more!"
Shmi giggled breathlessly in his arms. "Are you ready?"
"Darling wife, I've been ready since the day I met you!"
"For raising a child, sure," her smile stayed intact. "But what about playing midwife?"
Ainar was too light-headed from his excitement to respond right away. Before he could catch his breath and respond affirmatively, another voice answered for him.
"No midwife will be necessary," hissed a tone as black as the surrounding night.
Out of the inkiest shadows stepped Son, red eyes blazing as he approached the paralyzed couple.
"Let me save you the trouble, Ainar. The child dies tonight."
"Get away from us!" Ainar crouched defensively.
"You're not supposed to be here!" screamed Shmi.
"And you're not supposed to conceive anything here!" convicted Son. "It is forbidden! An abomination as insufferable as bathing in the Pool of Knowledge or drinking from the Font of Power!"
"We don't even know what those are!" Shmi screeched. "And we were never warned against conceiving!"
"Ignorance of the law is a poor excuse," Son shook his head, sauntering closer. "You should've at least had the sense not to project the news loudly enough for me to hear. That was foolish."
"Where are the others?" Ainar gritted his teeth, trying vainly to keep Shmi out of Son's sight.
Son's smile glowed evilly in the gloom. "Their hearing isn't half as good as mine."
"No…" Shmi shuffled backward desperately. "Please, no!"
"Mm, I promise it will be relatively painless – for you, anyway. Just one touch of my hand and the life will shrivel and decay into nothing. Then you can be on your merry way… go home and bake a pie, if you wish," he chuckled darkly.
"You monster!" Ainar spat. "If your father or sister only knew–"
"That's the point. They won't. The two of you will remain alive. That's all Father and precious Daughter need to sense."
Shmi's pulse was deafening in her ears. "Please… I'll do anything!"
"All you need to do is hold very, very still."
Son was within two yards of her now, gnarled hand outstretched like the fatal weapon it was. There was no escape. Running was futile. There wasn't an inch of land he didn't know or couldn't find them.
Clenching her eyes shut, Shmi sobbed at full volume, squeezing Ainar's hand more tightly than if she'd been in labor. Labor they'd never get to experience together.
But then, by the same Force that had brought them to this point in time and space, another miracle occurred.
Both Shmi and Ainar's eyes were shut when a sonic blast sent Son careening to the far side of the field. When they opened them, two towering figures stood opposite the skid mark left by their wayward relative.
"By what authority have you come here?!" roared Father, eyes frighteningly illuminated.
Son spat dirt from his mouth. "By the Force itself! You of all beings should know!"
"What crime have these two committed that you should invade their land?"
"See for yourself!" Son pointed a condemning finger at Shmi's stomach.
No emotion registered on Father's face as he stared. "I see. A gift that has eluded you for some time, correct?"
"Y-yes," Shmi buried her face in Ainar's chest, too terrified to look on anymore.
"The Force continues to orchestrate your lives," Father nodded sagely.
"That's all you have to say?!" Son yelled in fury. "They have committed an unforgivable act! You banished Mother for drinking from the Font of Power and bathing in the Pool of Knowledge, yet you will do nothing to punish these two?"
"I have not made my edict yet. I must first deliberate."
"There is no deliberation! The consequences are simple!"
"I can see how for you they would seem to be."
"Father, you know what a child conceived here will grow to be!"
"And is murder the only solution?" Father cried. "I know the law, but so help me, I will not act until I have considered every alternative!"
"The law states that one formed on this world must never know of his origins, and that his parents must suffer," Daughter spoke. "There are many ways to fulfill this."
"Name one!" Son challenged.
"Erase the mother's memory and send her and the child back from whence they came."
"And the father?"
Daughter's eyes filled with melancholy as she beheld the Skywalkers. "Exile him to a corner of the universe so distant, he may never again see home."
Son nodded, rubbing his chin. "Shame and burden the woman with single parenthood. Torture the man with hopeless isolation and an intact memory. I was wrong about you, sister. You do have a capacity for cruelty."
Tears glistened in her eyes. "I take no pleasure in this, brother. It satisfies the letter of the law with far less brutality than your option."
"That it does," Father said gravely. "But there is one last thing. Should he ever succeed in returning, the man must find no brethren. May it be as if he were never born."
The Force responded by raking a single lightning bolt across the sky, accompanied by an explosive thunderclap that knocked Ainar and Shmi to the ground.
"The time has come for you to leave us."
Paradise was dissolving before the couple's very eyes. Cracks and fissures formed beneath their feet, howling wind thrust their hair back from anguished faces, and an unseen power pried their hands apart inch by inch. Each clawed frantically to maintain hold of their beloved, knowing only seconds remained to imprint the other's face.
"I love you!" Ainar's face contorted in agony.
"Ainar!"
"No matter… what happens… I'll never stop searching for you!"
"Don't leave me!" sobbed Shmi.
"Take good care of the baby!" Ainar yelled through the wind.
"It can't end this way!"
"I'll always love you…"
The universe blinked once.
When it opened its eyes again, Ainar was staring at the cramped interior of the ship he'd last piloted. The seat next to his was conspicuously empty. And he knew exactly why. Releasing a soul-shattering cry into the void beyond, his numb hands started the engine.
Countless light years away, Shmi awoke on a narrow bed, head aching as she sat up and stared at the swollen bulge of life beneath her ribs. She'd just woken from that dream again: reliving the moment she told her masters that the baby was a virginal, miraculous conception. They, of course, had refused to believe her, but decided to postpone selling her until a later date.
Ambiguity and adversity lurked in her future. But not half as much as they did for the husband she, and everyone else, didn't know they'd forgotten.
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Puzzle. Pieces. Complete.