Chapter 10

At sunset, the population greeted the Sun God with the "much'ay" ("mocha" in its Spanish form) sending forth-resounding kisses offered symbolically with the fingertips. After all that, people sang in tune solemn canticles in a low voice that later were transformed into their "wakay taky" (weepy songs), arriving like this to an emotional and religious climax. Subsequently, the Son of the Sun (the Inca king), took in his two hands two golden ceremonial tumblers called "akilla" containing "Aqha" (chicha maize beer) made inside the Aqllawasi. The beverage of the tumbler in the right hand was offered to the Sun and then poured into a golden channel communicating the Plaza with the Sun Temple. The Inca drank a sip of chicha from the other tumbler, the remaining was then drank in sips by the noblemen close to him. Later, chicha was offered to every attendant. Some historians suggest that this ceremony was started inside the Coricancha in presence of the Sun representation that was made of very polished gold that at the sunrise was reflected with a blinding brilliance. The Inca's were dressed in their ceremonial attire with music playing in the background to bring in more feelings with the words. Each of the elder speak of a significant area in their history Tadita began the ceremony with his belief of a better world.

"We felt a strong kinship with nature and believed in omens, dreams, and visions. During the last days of the Ecanda invasion, Huayna Capac, the greatest Inca, had many visions. One was of lightning flashes coming from his feet which he took as an evil omen. In Peruvian mythology, the snake and lightning symbolize forces that can bring disease and decay. He soon received news of an outbreak of bubonic plague in Cuzco. The plague spread rapidly and was a contributing factor to bringing the Inca empire down. More sinister visions occurred. While celebrating, "...the people in Cuzco saw an eagle flying in the air pursued by a flock of smaller birds of prey, which repeatedly attacked it with their beaks. Since he could no longer defend himself, the eagle dropped down into the center of the square in front of the Sun Temple." Its whole body was covered with scabs and it had lost most of its feathers and soon died. Other evil omens occurred, such as earthquakes, floods along the coast, comets appeared in the sky, and the moon had "...three great haloes, one blood-red, another shading from black to green, and another ashen." An ancient oracle of the Inca referred to the coming of "...strange peoples, of a kind that has never been seen before; these would rob us of our empire and destroy its state and religion." These prophecies, visions and dreams foretold the fall of the Inca Empire and played a large role in the religious and spiritual world of the Incas."

A young woman, Namid, in her thirties continued what Tadita had started with in his version of the legend.

"Practically everyone was married among us and in the upper classes polygamy was a revered state, granted only to those in high favor with us. Concubines were given to men in reward for bravery. The first woman a man married was considered the "wife-in-chief" and retained this position until she died. She was the only wife that received an official ceremony and could never be neglected nor abandoned and all secondary wives were subservient to her. If she died, the man could take a new chief-wife, but not from among his secondary wives. This custom prevented the secondary wives from "slaying one another in a grand squabble for the first place."

A young man, Migisi, was the next to speak Deanna and the rest of their guest paid very close attention to the muse. It was very fascinating to both the Encaenian's and the Titan crew.

"Secondary wives were often the former nursemaids of highly born sons who had remained with their "charges" throughout their manhood, teaching them the carnal pleasures with the approval of the parents. Another way of acquiring a secondary wife among the Incas was through capture during wartime, where the women of the defeated people were distributed throughout the conquering army. Inheritance also played a part in securing secondary wives; a son would inherit his deceased father's, or deceased brother's, secondary wives."

Another woman,Nitunabegan her portion of the history of her people; she was only about 15 years old but wise for her years.

"Childhood was difficult to survive in early Peruvian times because it was filled with many hardships. The woman gave birth by herself, away from her people, without aid of any kind. Soon after, the infant was tightly swaddled in cloth and placed in a quirau or cradle, rarely being held in the mother's arms because they thought this would cause the child to cry a lot. The arms of the baby were not unwrapped for three months or more because they believed that it would weaken the arms of the infant. We watched the animals feed their young at three fixed times per day, morning, noon, and night, and they followed this same pattern with their own babies, feeding them only three times per day. The children were often left to their own devices throughout the day. These customs made it difficult to survive the childhood years in early Peruvian times."

The next to take the spotlight was an young girl, Nova, a 10 year old, one who also had the ability to use telepathy. She was to be the next Shaman.

"At the age of about eight years old, young girls were picked to be a part of the Chosen Women. They were, of course, virgins and were to remain so and suffered dire consequences were they to break this rule. These Chosen Women were secluded in a convent called the aclla-huasi-cuna which was separated from the Temple of the Sun, and all of them had to be of the imperial blood-line. These cloistered women were well taken care of by many virgin girls, not of royal blood, who served them as handmaidens. Every three years, the elders would choose four or five of these women to be the brides for the Sun, and these women would remain virgins throughout their lives. These women would spin and weave and occasionally would serve as sacrificial victims at the festivals. The other women would then be distributed among the favored men as wives and new young virgins would enter the convent to replace them. "

Closing the ceremony was none other then their leader Tadita. With a song of thank you and the air crisp with cold air Tadita finished the legacy by raising a staff with a eagle carved out of the top.

"Now we begin the naming ceremony. Please step forward to me. Now you Mr. Riker will be forever known by my people as ANEVAY ."

"ANEVAY? What does it mean?"

"It stands for superior, you are destined to do great things."

Riker nods as the staff Tadita has in his hand is gently tapped on each of his shoulder and then the ground.

"Mrs. Troi please step forward and stand before me."

Deanna does as is asked and Tadita begins

"You will be known as GALILAHI, it means attractive"

"I'm flattered."

"I will now bless your child."

"Your child will be known as MAPIYA, it means of the sky.

"Your child's destiny is written in the stars."

Tadita does what he did with Riker when he got his name with the staff.

"Lily, please step forward."

You Lily will be know now as KAYA, it means elder sister."

"Wow Kaya it's a pretty name."

Tadita repeats the blessing with his staff.

"Finally Emmy please come forward."

"You will be known now as SHIDEEZHI, it means young sister"

"With the closing our the ceremony we hope that some day you will visit us again soon."

"We will I want to show our baby this beautiful planet."

Tadita approaches Riker with what appeared to be scrolls on soft material.

"This is our history both past and what we have become please take it with you and give it to your Starfleet. Perhaps we should start meeting new people and we will flourish on this new planet."

With a final nod the crew beam up to Titan to do what they always do seek out new life and civilizations.

Six months later:

Deanna is in the birthing chair in the last stages of labor. Her family by her side including Lwaxana hovering over her daughter like a mother hen. All are dressed in sterile scrubs Dr. Campbell is at Deanna's feet encouraging her to push the child out.

"Come on Deanna I can see the baby's head he's right there. Give me one more push and his head will be out."

Deanna does as the doctor asks and strains as the baby's head finally emerges completely. A few minutes later their son is born. Deanna sighs in relief as Doctor Campbell places their son on Deanna's chest.

"Oh Deanna he's beautiful."

Lily and Emmy along with Lwaxana look at the new baby cradled in Deanna's loving arms. Lwaxana smiles and kisses her daughter on the cheek.

"I'm so proud of you Deanna. I have never seen a more dedicated mother."

"No mother you are."

"Mommy look at him he looks just like me."

"Yes he does."

"Mom he's perfect."

"Would you like to cut the cord Captain?"

"Lwaxana why don't you cut the cord."

"I would love to."

The nurse gives Lwaxana a scalpel and she cuts the connection from her daughter to her grandson. Then hands the scalpel back to the nurse.

"Have you thought of a name yet?"

"Yes we have this is Cadean MAPIYA Riker, it means of the sky we were told his destiny is written in the stars.

"Welcome to the world Cadean."

The family share a moment as they welcome the newest member of the Titan crew Cadean.

TBC…Twice Blessed