Earth 2
"Are the ships ready?" The old one asks as he walks along the river.
"Yes, oh wise one." The response comes from somewhere behind him.
"I do not like this business of getting involved in that which we have not anticipated in some way. Yet we promised the light ones when the time came, we would assist our brothers on the home world fight against the dark ones. Tell our warriors to bring extra corn, they must only eat of the food they themselves have grown here. Even though it may look the same, we do not know how it may have changed there."
"Of course Grandfather," one of the group answers.
"This our new home for many thousands of years has been peaceful and prosperous for us The Anasazi. It has been even longer than that since we have fought. Yes, we teach our young ones how to fight, to defend against threats, but this fight it did not start here. It started out there in the stars. We are only getting involved in this fight because if we do not stop the dark ones there. It is only a matter of time before they arrive here."
"We understand Grandfather." Another voice answers.
"Do you? Do you truly understand? Do you know what it's like to take another life, be it human or one of the others? It is not for food, shelter or clothing that you will be killing for. It is for life itself. The dark ones must be stopped." He rails.
"Grandfather, they have killed their earth, their mother, they are killing her, why should we fight for such ignorance?" Asks another.
"There are those who wish to know the way, those who find themselves on the path of the way, they deserve a chance at life. Like our Star Brothers came and brought us here. Those there on the home world who are on the path of the way will be gifted as well with a place such as this. They will understand that all works in harmony. We breathe the food for the plants, the plants with the help of the bee provide us the fruit we need to eat, so that we may breathe."
"Why are we not in a lodge preparing Grandfather?" Another one asks.
"We are going to the most sacred of lodges grandchild. The first lodge ever built here by the ancestors. It is there you and the rest of the warriors will prepare to return to the home world to assist in the battle against the dark ones. Some of you will return, some of you will not. Of those who do return some may wish to go with our Star brothers in search of other worlds, other places. It is my sacred duty to prepare all of you for this journey you will be making. Before we enter the lodge, I must warn all of you, do not enter if there is fear in your heart. Do not enter if you feel you have no place in this fight. Because once you start down this path there is no return, you must follow the path to its completion."
"Grandfather, how many of us must go?" Another voice asks.
"Twelve times twelve thousand of us must make this journey. Myself included." He responds.
"How long will it take us to get there?"
"Four cycles of the sun, four days." He tells them.
"After we leave the lodge what then Grandfather?"
"Four days to make our weapons, four days to gather our weapons, four days to gather our food, four days to load the ships, four days to journey."
"Grandfather how will we know who to fight?"
"You will know the dark ones just as surely as they will know you. Come we have much to do and little enough time to do it in." He answers as he walks into the canyon. He prays the Great Spirit is ready for them and guides them wisely.
"Grandfather, what if we…"
"We cannot, we will not, I will not lie to any you lives will be lost. Many lives will be lost by both sides, all who join this fight believe they are on the side of right. Only the Great Spirit, the creator of all knows who will win. We just follow our path, the path we agreed to walk when our Star Brothers came and took us from there."
"Grandfather of those of us who will not return, what of our families?"
"Your families will honor you, your people will honor you, and there are those who have forgotten the way there." He points in the direction of the earth. "Of those you fight alongside you will meet many. You may choose one with the true heart of the people to come back and be adopted by your family. To be taught the way. They will care for your families."
"Grandfather, we do not have the things here, they have there. Here we adhere to the old way, the true path. We do not subscribe to their way of life. We do not use the technologies of the Star Brothers the way they do. We live and breathe according to the way."
"When the get on the ships that brought us here, when they go into the deep slumber many choose over the disorientation of star travel, certain things will be removed from their memories. They will know before they come their memories of some things will be removed to make their adjustment easier. We cannot allow them to bring their knowledge here. We have always lived according to the way. Some of their knowledge is not of the way."
"Is it necessary Grandfather?"
"It is necessary, our way of life has kept us happy, we do not have the envy, the desire for things we do not need preventing us from enjoying all the Great Spirit has given us. What is better getting up at dawn and going hunting providing meat for your family, the hide providing shelter or clothing. Thanking the earth and the Great Spirit for being able to provide for your family. Or getting up at dawn going hunting for another man, having him take all of the meat and giving you a scrap of hide?"
"Hunting and providing for my family, that is what is important."
"There the things they worship, they hunt for another man who gives them a scrap of hide for their troubles. I warn you now, do not eat of anything we did not bring ourselves, do not eat of nothing you have not hunted yourself."
"Yes grandfather." Their voices in the thousands, one by one they enter into the great Hogan ready for the sweat, the cleansing of their bodies and souls as they prepare to fight a fight not theirs, but to preserve the integrity of their world, their way of life.