BOOK OF REEVES 4
Note: If it seems that this story is mimicking the book of Ti'ana with a hint of the Book of Atrus, it's because… well I won't lie, they were great books! I came up with the ideas afterward though of a life gone wrong awhile back. I could never quite get the story right, and so now, here is this better and true story of Reeves. When the story is finished, I will write the Book of M'buhir, so that my friends at UO will understand me more (yeah right).
…
Reeves brushed off his clothes as he entered his home. Or at least, the place he once called home. He didn't knock, but instead walked right up to the door and walked inside.
A servant quickly approached Reeves, then gasped and backed away.
"Master Reeves, you are supposed to be…" the servant couldn't finish her words.
"Dead… I know. Where are my parents?"
"Your mother is upstairs, your father has left for duty."
"Thank you. You have been most kind to me."
"Of course Master Reeves."
Reeves stopped and breathed in a large lung full of musty D'ni air. He looked around his home, the walls were covered with pictures of family and his ancestors. He concluded that none of them looked like him.
He marched upstairs and approached his mother's door. Instead of knocking, he threw the door open and stared directly at her. She was sitting at a desk writing in her journal. She set down the pen she was using and looked at Reeves. Reeves continued his stare.
"Mother… if you are my mother, who… am I?" Reeves asked slowly.
"You are my son. A D'ni. Why do you ask?" She responded, her face was very pale.
"You lie. Gerehn told me I was an Ahrotahn." He now spoke with no emotion in his voice.
"And you believed him?" She faked a smile.
"I am not a child anymore Myrn." For the first time in his life he had addressed his mother using her name.
"My child, you still have D'ni blood. You are still one of us."
"But it is diluted. It is smeared with the filth… of your race."
"What has happened to you? You are still D'ni! So you have a little Ahrotahn blood… many D'ni in history have." She once again tried to lighten the mood by smiling, but Reeves' emotionless face was slowly filling with an anger.
"Do not speak of the D'ni! Who am I?"
"You are Reeves. What is the answer you are looking for?"
"Myrn… I have no time for this. I am gathering books and leaving. I simply want to know who I am."
"That is a question for your father."
"Mother!" Reeves could control his anger no longer. The threw his fist against the wall, causing the stone to crack. A spark of fear crossed Myrn's face.
"Mother, Myrn, whoever you are, I no longer care. What I want to know… you cannot answer." Reeves approached her slowly. Outstretching his arm to embrace her hand in the D'ni greeting. "You have raised me in a way I am sure that my true ancestors could not have. I… am not sure that I thank you for that, but I thank you for your hospitality."
Quietly Reeves turned and walked out of the room, he stopped at the door to his mother's room and inhaled once again, smelling the distinct smell that his mother-figure possessed, the smell of an exotic flower that no longer exists. He then continued to the library.
…
"Sir, Relyimah have reported that they saw Reeves heading in the direction of his home." The Guildsman said.
"Good… he is probably saying his good-byes. Is there any idea what his plans are?" Gerehn said to the Guildsman reporting.
"No sir. We believe that he may be trying to escape to their family age."
"Kanrad… a good place to think. Get our fastest writers to prepare a link to their age. We cannot let this one escape us." Gerehn smiled, then dismissed the reporting Guildsman. He looked back to where the ancient man stood. And again tried to make conversation.
"So… Sukal, have you yet to comment on this whole ordeal?"
"Yes Master Gerehn." The ancient one muttered.
"Spit it out!"
"You… are no better than a kehlahnee-ohk ahno."
"Oh? We shall see ancient. We shall see."
…
Reeves gathered the items he would need quickly. He stuffed firemarbles, ink, descriptive and linking books. He grabbed a few pens also. He also grabbed a book from his shelf titled "Beerah". He was about to grab his D'ni goggles, but instead left them.
He look around his room and grabbed a few D'ni measurement devices from his shelf. Thinking he had thought of everything he walked out of the room, only to hurry back in and grab a slender D'ni dagger. Slipping it into his stolen Maintainer's cloak, he left the place he once called home. He didn't bother to say goodbye to his mother, but did make sure to say goodbye to his favorite servant.
"Where will you be staying master Reeves?" She asked.
"Probably in one of the ages. I will not be returning. This is Goodbye."
"Oh, then make sure you take a few of my Chor Bahkhtee before you leave."
"I will be sure to do that. Thank you for all you have done for me Ket."
Reeves smiled at her then left through the door, then rushed back inside to get the Chor Bahkhtee. Then left once again.
The common Library was on the opposite side of the city from where he was at, and he figured it would take him a while to get there. Deciding there was no time to waste he adjusted the weight on his sack and started walking.
…
Reeves had spent a year at a training camp for the Relyimah before deciding to be a scientist for the Maintainers. He knew their ways and thus knew he was being watched. They moved like shadows, blending in, and keeping in the dark. No one noticed the shadows walking among them. He wouldn't have either except for the one shadow that was his had three legs for one second.
Reeves smiled at the fact that the Relyimah now wanted him, something quite desired by some of the higher crooks. Reeves didn't have long though, as soon as they could get him unnoticed and his moves predicted Reeves' life would be instantly ended by one of their high-tech-silent guns.
He attempted to lose them in the crowd but he could sense their ever-watching presence. Their eyes pierced directly into his soul, and they never blinked, yet another tiny reminder of the strength of the Maintainers.
They had chosen the wrong Relyimah to be his shadow however, and Reeves constantly noticed mistakes. Either the Relyimah was young, or he was trying to be noticed.
He looked up to see where he was; he was almost to the library, just a few more divisions. He pushed in closer to the surrounding people, bumping a few oblivious citizens.
Then he spotted the Relyimah! In that brief moment he caught the Relyimah's cloak with the tip of his dagger. No one around seemed to notice so Reeves pulled himself closer.
"So Relyimah… I am wanted then?"
The man was completely silent, and humiliated that he had been seen. For the meaning of Relyimah is "the Unseen". Reeves pushed the man into an alley still keeping out of sight of the other citizens.
The Relyimah continued backing away from Reeves. Reeves held out his dagger prepared to strike any moment.
"Tell me Relyimah, who sent you?" Reeves demanded.
"Master Gerehn of the Order of the Unseen."
"Master… Gerehn?" Reeves mumbled in a puzzled manner.
"Look around you Reeves, you're surrounded by Relyimah! Go ahead, take my life, yours will be the next!" The Relyimah remarked.
Reeves smiled at the idea, but decided not to take any chances. He was probably already wanted for murder, no use in ruining any chance of returning. Reeves turned to leave the man but when he did, he was face to face with another Relyimah.
"tor…" Reeves noted.
Reeves threw his dagger backward, pinning the Relyimah behind him, then reached forward and grabbed the Relyimah in front of him by the neck. The Relyimah struggled, but could not free himself from the iron grip that Reeves now possessed.
He knew the other Relyimah would not step in until it appeared Reeves would kill him, instead they would wait. Reeves used this to his advantage and kicked one to the right of him, then threw the one he was holding into one on his left.
He grabbed his dagger and put it into his bag. The Relyimah stood up and cowardly backed away.
"How?" the Relyimah asked.
Reeves did not answer (mostly because he wasn't even sure what was meant by the question). Reeves smiled and began walking down the alley when one of the Relyimah pounced on his back. Reeves bit the man on the hand and then began to run back into the crowd. The Relyimah stayed behind.
…
"He's more violent then I thought." Gerehn said to himself, nearby a Relyimah wrapped his hand in bandages.
The Relyimah and other Guildsmen had been using linking books to give Gerehn updates on the chase for Reeves. They were also using a very high-tech device only used by Relyimah which was similar to the KI, but worked by radio waves, and only traveled short distance.
"You claim he bit your finger?" Gerehn asked the Relyimah.
"Clean off sir." The Relyimah responded.
"This is quite bizarre. You told me… he was aware of you?"
"Yes sir. All four of us. We had our best spy being his shadow, yet somehow Reeves saw him."
"Any theories Nayvoo?"
A woman stepped out from the shadows, she wore similar clothes to the Relyimah, but also wore a badge symbolizing higher authority, and that she was a scientist for the Relyimah. They were also not as tight as the spy clothes, and also made of a different material.
"It sounds as if the recent events have triggered some sort of genetic response." She responded.
"Clarify." Commanded Gerehn.
"I've heard stories from the ahrotahn, that the humans have a genetic 'fight or flight' response. Under stress they will either move faster, or get stronger. A very interesting and useful trait."
"And you think he's human then?"
"No, well, not entirely. He is definitely D'ni, but in the recent events we've noticed… something odd."
"Quit dodging around the point woman! What is this?"
"Relyimah Rihgahfah followed closely to Reeves. He noticed that Reeves' ears and jaws were changing. They also noticed more strength, more then a D'ni of his build should have."
"And what do you think?"
"I think that in all this stress, some of his ahrotahn blood is surfacing and physically altering him; much like our experimental nano-technology. However the difference is, we believe his DNA is restructuring itself. If this is true, then in a few hours we may have a mutant on our hands."
…
Reeves burst into the library, and quickly decided on a Garden Age. He approached the pedestal and smiled. He quietly swore to one day return and show the D'ni their one mistake. Then, he placed his hand on the glowing panel, and felt the sickening lurch, one he may not feel again for a long time.