Blue Roses and Lithium Thorns
Chapter 2: Nye
To Liam's delight, Da'an's entire schedule was altered to make way for these new Taelon arrivals. The meeting was agreed to be held on the Moonbase. Only protectors were allowed, and they were sworn to secrecy. No other human would know the subjects of their discussion. It would be as if they never came.
"You look paler than usual," Liam whispered to Da'an.
"What are you talking about? I feel fine," Da'an lied.
The Synod gathered round with their protectors behind them. Their ship was scheduled to land in a small landing pad far from the traditional staff of the Moonbase. The entire area was locked and sealed.
After some long minutes of anticipation, the group finally came. They were clothed in strange blue and black robes with a symbol that was not of the Taelon language stitched on their backs. Their faces and their hands bore strange black marking. Even their look was strange. Despite the fact that they were in their energy forms, everyone could see the black markings plain as day. Their eyes were narrower than the other Taelons, and Liam could see hairlines underneath their hoods.
The one they all made out to be the leader stepped forward and removed his…or her hood. The clear stands of hair were so long that nobody could be sure.
"You call this a Taelon!" cried one of the Synod members. "It is an abomination!"
"Silence!" Zo'or said sternly. "It is an honor to welcome our fellow brethren to our Moonbase. I am Zo'or, the leader of the Synod."
"We are more than aware of who you are," the leader said. The voice gave her away.
"How is this possible?" Zo'or asked. The same question was on everyone's mind.
"Through a rigorous process that has freed our minds and awakened our true spirits," she said with a strange accent.
"Then it is true," Da'an said more to himself than to her. "You really did it."
"Did what?" Zo'or asked. "What are you referring to?"
The female observed Da'an closely. "I know who you are," she said. "You are Ka'li's protégé, and the last of your family line."
Zo'or looked jealous.
"He was my grandparent, yes," Da'an replied.
"I knew Ka'li," she said extending her hand. She wanted to copy Da'an's façade. "He was a noble leader, a fitting representative of such a noble family line. I am Nye."
"Nye?" Xia'tan asked in surprise and confusion. "As in Ter'a'ku Nye?"
She nodded.
"Nye is dead," Ba'hor denounced. "Her spirit left the Commonality a thousand years ago."
"Nye's spirit never died. Nye's spirit was released," she said gracefully, "and after a thousand years, I have finally found a way to free the souls of other eager Taelons." She turned directly to Da'an and took his hand. Seconds later, a façade formed giving her milky white skin, grayish blue eyes, and shining red strands. Liam could not believe it, but she was gorgeous. Her eyes were focused on Da'an's. "You know of what I speak."
"Da'an, what is she talking about?" the UN companion whispered.
"She is talking about freedom," Da'an said.
"From what?"
Da'an shuddered. "From the Commonality."
"How did you manage to take on this…form?" Xia'tan asked.
"We choose the form that best coincides with our personality. Most, as you can see, have chosen the male form. I, and a select few, have chosen the female form. However, there are still some who are truly loyal to the species, who have chosen to retain their asexuality. We embrace all forms, all shapes, and all sizes."
"True individuality," the East Asian Companion said in awe. "I did not think it was possible. And you have retained your form? You have never devolved?"
"Not once," Nye replied.
"Intriguing," the South American Companion said. "Very intriguing indeed."
"I object to this heresy," Ba'hor said. "No Taelon is physically or spiritually capable of breaking from the Commonality. Even if one was, who but an abomination would abandon the sacred bond our brethren have shared for millions of years? The Commonality has made us strong. Our true strength as a species lies within the common bond."
"I disagree," Nye said slowly. "The Taelon Commonality is very much a spiritual sanctuary. However, to a few—just a select few—the Commonality is nothing more than a mental prison. These are Taelons who desire something more, something greater than the bond we share. These are Taelons who wish to be one with the universe. Our spiritual movement allows for these Taelons to achieve that goal. I would further argue that such Taelons who wish to be free are more of a burden to the Commonality than a brother. If you continue to hold such Taelons longing to be free, they will rebel."
Nye moved back to her followers, who surrounded her in a circle. Her body glowed blue. The faint buzzing returned to the Synod. It made all of them blush.
"What's going on?" Liam asked Da'an.
Da'an took Liam's hand. Liam could feel Da'an's energy rushing through him. Whatever Nye was doing was overwhelmed the other Taelons.
"Da'an," Liam called once more. Da'an shook his head and acknowledged Liam. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"
"Nye…is contacting the Commonality," Da'an panted.
I offer this to my fellows. I offer this to all Taelons with a desire to be free, Nye called in the Taelon language. In the background, Nye's followers were chanting in Eunoia. Accompany us on our ship, and we will show you the path to spiritual freedom…where the universe is your limit, and individuality lies at the door. I cannot promise that it will be easy, but for those who are strong of heart and for those who have dreamt of freedom…this is your nexus. (Da'an of the noble family…) Follow me to the path to freedom. Follow me to an alternate path to salvation. Individual salvation…(The one who sees the prison bars!)
The Synod awoke from her inflicted trace as if waking from a dream.
"Your purpose has been declared, Nye," Zo'or said grimly. "We leave this issue to the Commonality. Until you have recruited your…followers…you may rest on this Moonbase. We have several facilities that will kin to your needs."
"My humblest thanks to you, Zo'or," Nye nodded. "We look forward to our newcomers' response with great anticipation."
Liam was seeing no illusion. Da'an was definitely paler than usual. Sickly pale.
"Da'an, I know that you feel like you don't have to put your burdens on me, but if I can help you, I want to," Liam said seriously as they walked to his shuttle.
Da'an had barely heard a word.
"Da'an."
That lost in thought look. That blank stare. Why had Nye's words caused such an impact?
"Da'an!"
Da'an gasped. "Liam! What is it?"
"Da'an, I am not seeing things. You are blank pale. What the hell's the matter with you?"
Da'an reached for Liam's hand. He wanted to sit. The floor was cold and hard. They barely noticed.
"I can see the prison bars," Da'an mumbled.
"What?" Liam asked. "What prison bars?"
"The prison bars," Da'an panted. "I think…that I am the only one who can."
"But if there are prison bars…what's the prison?"
Da'an shuddered. "Liam…I lied to you."
"What?"
"I lied about the kryss."
"You've been using?"
"No! I lied about my reasons for abusing it in the first place. I lied because…I was ashamed…I was ashamed that I could see the prison bars."
"What prison bars? What in the hell are you talking about?"
"It is exactly what Nye spoke of, Liam," Da'an said desperately. "The Commonality is a prison. But it is not just a prison to certain Taelons. It is a prison to all Taelons."
"I thought you liked the Commonality."
"I do—I did. There was a time that I would give my life to it. I sacrificed everything for it. My family, my friends, my—the simple pleasures of the universe. I gave it all to the Commonality. We are all trapped, Liam. We are trapped in a prison—a mental prison that bars free thinking, privacy, individuality and feelings. We sacrificed it all for this godforsaken pursuit of spiritual perfection, a pursuit that has left us desperate and barren with-with only half a soul. That is why I took the kryss. I didn't take it to help me. I took it to hide myself."
Liam could not believe that he was hearing this from Da'an, of all people, but the more he thought of it…the more it made sense.
"When I devolved into the Atavus creature, those few hours of freedom were the greatest thrill that I had ever experienced. Anger, aggression, passion…lust—all of it," Da'an said. He spoke of it as if it was a drug. "And ever since that night, my mind has been wandering. I have been confused. I no longer feel as strongly for the Commonality as I used to even though I claim to. And then, one day—the day Lili was… I saw something that I had never seen before. I saw the prison bars. I gave over two-thousand years to those prison bars, completely oblivious to them. The Commonality is a prison to all within. Only…some can see the prison. Most cannot. That is why I feel so strongly for humanity. Had I not come to Earth, I never would have seen my own cell."
"Your only world for thousands of years has been the prison, but now that you see the world outside of it, you can see the cell now."
"Yes, and that made me sad. It made me sad because I realized that there was no way out. Your sha'quarava is gone, and all of humanity's knowledge combined could not free me. Realizing that there was no way out, I wondered if I could shield myself from it. If only there was a way to pretend that those bars were not there. It happened by accident. I took more than I should have. I never meant to. I just mixed up the dosage level that day." Da'an shivered in delight, mesmerized by his own memories. "It was wonderful. When you abuse it, you recall nothing. Everything is nothing more than a dream. When I took it, the prison was nothing more than a dream. It was not real."
"It nearly killed you."
Da'an's stare turned firm as if he had made up his mind. "I want out, Liam."
Liam looked deeply into Da'an's eyes. He was dead serious. "You're gonna take Nye up on her offer? Are you nuts?"
"What other options have I?"
"Da'an, we know nothing about this woman. She could be lying for all we know. How do we even know that she's the real Nye? That could just be a name that she stole. You can't just trust her on a whim, even if she is offering you freedom."
"What do I have to lose?"
"Your life, for one! Your-Your position in the Synod. Da'an, if you go with her, and come back with nothing, your entire career could go straight to hell. You could lose us—the humans. You-You could lose me."
"And what if she is telling the truth, Liam? This could be my last chance. I cannot simply let her pass my thoughts. I-I won't!"
"Look, let's just think about this for one moment. This kind of snap decision is what got you addicted to kryss in the first place. You have to consider what you stand to lose. If not what you stand to lose, then what we stand to lose. The Resistance needs you. I need you."
"The Resistance will be fine without me, Liam. They have you. They have Miss Palmer."
"Da'an, you're not thinking straight. That woman's got you under some kind of spell. You cannot do this to us now."
"Then, come with me," Da'an said taking Liam's hands.
"What!"
"You are my protector, Liam. If you do not trust her, then come with me. If anything happens, we can flee together."
Liam's heart was pounding like a jackhammer. He had never seen Da'an this determined, and he had never felt so confused and…scared.
"Liam, your people say that death is preferable to living as a prisoner. The Resistance is willing to die for it…to kill for it. Why can't a Taelon be free as well? Why does a Taelon have to be a prisoner?"
"A Taelon…is just as entitled to free will as any human. But…there has got to be another way."
"Tell me, Liam. Tell me what other way exists, and I will take it. I will do whatever you ask of me."
"Da'an…I…" Liam couldn't bear to look. Suddenly, he felt like he was looking at a prisoner of war and not his companion. Now he understood humanity's instinctual fear of change. When it comes so quickly before you expect it—what reaction was he supposed to have? "Look," he said slowly, "Nye will be here for a few more days. Let's wait a while to…to think about this a little more. We have to discuss this as friends."
"Am I your friend?" Da'an asked.
"Da'an, after we've had some time to figure this out, then we can make a decision—"
"You don't answer my question!" Da'an cried in frustration.
"Da'an, you've kept my secret from anyone who would try to use it against me. Of course you're my friend."
Da'an smiled faintly as if he was trying to hide it.
"Will you give it some time?" Liam pleaded.
Da'an inhaled deeply. "I'll think about it."
Liam exhaled deeply. "Thank you."
Renee was just as shocked as Liam. As he told her the whole story, she felt her insides start to rumble. Whoever this woman was, she had Da'an by the ropes. Street wasn't as shocked as she was excited. There was another kind of Taelon out there. A Taelon not bound by the Commonality. A Taelon more like them.
"All my life, I've never seen him like that, Renee," Liam continued. "He's been thinking about this for a long time. I'd even go so far as to say that he's been thinking about it ever since he got here. Now, this woman's come with the opportunity of a lifetime—how can we take him from it?"
"We could if she's lying," Street said.
"What if she's not?"
"We can't be sure right now," Renee said. "You're right, we need to discuss this. We have to think about the consequences. Look, how do the other Taelons view this woman?"
"They call her and the others abomination…but you have to see them Renee. They are more human than those Taelons ever could be. That's why Da'an's so intrigued by them. These are Taelons who have become individuals—Taelons who have managed to become what we could never be."
"They all wear the same robes. How in the hell is that individual?" Renee said skeptically.
"It's for religious purposes, Renee. Priests wear uniforms. Rabbis wear uniforms. Buddhist monks wear uniforms. Every spiritual religious on Earth wears ceremonial robes. It doesn't mean they're not individuals. It just means they all have faith. These Taelons do too. They have enough faith to free themselves."
"It all seems like a cult to me," Street said.
"Well, individuality aside, the Taelons see her as an abomination," Renee said. "Even if Da'an does gain his freedom, he'll be branded a traitor forever. Where is he gonna go?"
"That's for him to decide," Liam answered.
"Oh, no he won't!" Renee said firmly. "We have worked too hard for him to just quit on us now! We need him now more than ever."
"That's why I need your help," Liam said. "We have to get a feeling of this woman. We have to get inside their religion and figure out what they stand to gain."
"We need to do more than that," Street said. "If Da'an's as taken to these people as you say he is, he could jet. And he's smart. He knows how to disappear. We'd better watch him, closely."
"We have a tracking device that we could place on him," Renee said. "Liam, can you do it?"
"No problem. I'll bring him here when I can," Liam said.
"Just name a time and a place, and I'll be there," Renee said.
"I'm with you all the way," Street said.