LES MUSICIENS DU MONDE
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
A CROSSOVER STORY
Chapter Sixteen
October 2013, Week 1&2
Jordan
Nearly a week and a half had passed since the knights in the Iberian Peninsula have prepared to head for the coast. First, they'll head for the Capernaum secured town of Tarragona, Spain and board ships. Ships from both Earth, and Capernaum from across the door. From there, they will head for Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. Heading east, events are occurring in the country of Jordan in congruence within and outside of its borders.
Border patrol stood guard for refugees coming in from Syria just a few miles north of the town of Dayr Al Kahf. Many fleeing the civil war, that had been going on for three years with no end in sight. The king has made responses to safeguard his country and escorting refugees in. The past few weeks, however, was different. The king had instructed to escort any shepherd and Bedouin in, no questions. But the term shepherd was used in a different context with regards to their special guests.
"How many shepherds have come in so far?"
"Twenty-four. Six more today when the Immortals arrive."
"The Iranians—Never thought this day would come. Them coming under the banner of truce."
"Not Iranians under the rule of the Ayatollah. No. Only those who still follow the old ways. Fire worshippers."
"Really? I thought they were all in exile."
"Not all. Anyway, the shepherds are to come for their meeting with the king and the security council."
One of the other guards spoke up, "To think grandma was right about all of this stuff! Djinns, mystics, magi, it's all real!"
"Even those?"
"Huh?"
The guards then heard screeching in the skies, followed by a roar. Looking up to see five smaller dragon-like creatures in formation to allow a larger dragon to fly in front. The men were in awe of the larger dragon. As if they could feel even from the ground, the power the larger dragon exuded while the other five lacked it. If that wasn't enough for them, they noticed a young woman riding the dragon while two other women were on the backs of two of the five smaller dragon creatures. The creatures flew southwest.
The men refocused out of their collective stupor, "Get the commander now!" and proceeded to contact headquarters.
After a few moments, the guard was able to patch in with the commander, "Any new shepherds passing through the border?"
"Negative. But—dragons have."
"Impossible!"
"I'm dead serious! My men can vouch for me! And they are taking pictures to send your way as we speak!"
He noticed the guards taking out their phones to take pictures of the wonder. All of whom are sending them to their commander. As this was going on, the man on the phone asked his commander, "Sir, this is going to get bad, isn't it?"
The commander on the end was silent for a moment before responding, "Our grandmothers and grandfathers were right all along. We should have listened to them."
Amman, Jordan
In the courtyard of the Al Husseiniya Palace, their Majesties, the King and Queen of Jordan were presented with representatives of different factions in the courtyard. Escorted and guarded by the palace guard and soldiers from the country's miliary. An anthem was performed for the Majesties guests, the shepherds of the Middle East. Mystics of the desert. Each group represented a different faith. Islam from the Sufi branch, Christianity from the Eastern Orthodox branch, Yazidism, and Zoroastrianism. The other guests representing the Druze, Coptic Christians, and the Kalash would come in due time.
Their Majesties have greeted the mystic representatives and thanked them for coming a long way to discuss a potential problem. They were escorted inside the palace and led to the security council chamber. There they waited for officers from Jordan's military branches to be present and once everyone was there, they were seated.
The Jordanian security council members and the country's military representatives noted the robes worn by the mystics. Though the robes set each other apart by the faith they practiced, the designs of the fabric, embroidery, symbols of their religions, even their hats and beards contrasted with the pressed uniform of the officers. The atmosphere within the chamber was charged with tension on one central question: what to do with the conqueror's presence to the west?
His Majesty of Jordan stood up with his queen seated next to him at the head of the table. Due to the different languages his guests spoke, there was the unspoken agreement to speak the lingua franca of the region, Arabic for today's purposes.
"Everyone, I do recognize the matter at hand with the conqueror making his presence known. Currently he is beginning in America, and a prison fortress was disclosed in the Sahara. Far enough away for now, but for many of us, frighteningly close. Especially concerning our Muslim brothers and sisters in North Africa. However, right now, in this room, we are treated with welcomed guests."
His gaze turned to the mystics, "I, and everyone present, knows the gravity of this meeting. Nothing said here will resolve the problems of the last century, let alone the last millennia. Nevertheless, I do hope we can reach a consensus for what's to come and who can contribute to this cause."
With that said, the mystic representatives looked at each other before returning their gaze to the king, queen, and the military officers. They gave kind smiles and motioned for the king to sit. The king was unsure about this. He expected them to elect one of their own to speak on behalf of the group. However, the mystics did not work in this manner. Not necessarily.
Instead, they motioned for the king to sit down. The first to speak but not necessarily the leader was a representative of his group for the Eastern Orthodox. His beard was groomed and sported wire rimmed glasses. He appeared to be in his early forties. Around his neck was the Eastern Cross.
"Your eminence, as a representative of my church, we are here to escort any volunteers from this country and across the Levantine region to confront the conqueror. The nearest base that houses prisoners of war, is in the Sahara as you have said. In addition, we've received intelligence that an army from the east is making their way here. To Amman."
The king looked to his generals who were as surprised as he was, "What sort of army?"
Then spoke another mystic representative. This time from the Sufis with the title of pir, a guide to instruct his disciples on the Sufi path, "The first is a legion of cavalry from the Kingdom of the Wind in Saudi Arabia."
"Is that all?" One of the generals spoke. But then a Zoroaster priest spoke, "And a band of eight to ten thousand Immortals from Iran."
"The Arabian cavalry and the Persian Immortals? Ancient enemies will never cooperate to defeat an invading conqueror! Ancient Rome is gone, and they will soak the desert with their blood than to put aside their differences!" One general shouted.
Then the Sunni representative spoke to enlighten another development, "And with our collective rival, Europe, she is sending her knights to aid the cause. With the sons of Rome herself, Capernaum—now you can begin to see the extent of the threat."
The general in question couldn't believe what he heard. Ancient enemies bordering their region have now come to head west. The idea of Persian Immortals fighting alongside the Arabian cavalry from the Kingdom of the Wind was laughable enough. But Europe sending knights to aid them, alongside Capernaum legions was ludicrous. Much history was set into the stones, trees, shrub, and sand from Morocco to Pakistan. From Turkey to Sudan. The people met, befriended, and fought against over thousands of years. Many kingdoms have risen and fallen before the days of the Greeks and Romans ventured east for riches and glory.
As the generals discussed in hushed tones, the king continued to look upon the mystic representatives. All of whom were waiting patiently. One of them, another Eastern Orthodox Christian stood up and the other representatives looked up at him and nodded for him to speak. The generals took notice and heard the young-bearded man.
"Your majesty, will you permit me speak?"
The king arched an eyebrow, curious at the young man's humility, "Why ask for permission when you're a representative of your company?"
"Maintaining decorum. That's all."
The king nodded, "Proceed."
The young man looked at those around him and then at the generals. He then began to speak, "We are here because we face a threat. As a mystic, and as a member of the esoteric community, the reason we are here is to showcase our strength and reassuring you all that there is no reason to fear. We are a family. If one of us is targeted by enemies, we stand up and defend our own. All of you are no different."
The king weighed the words the young man spoke. As he looked upon the other representatives, who allowed the young man to speak, and can see the full support they have given him, he relaxed in his seat. Then he stood up.
"There is no doubt of your purpose here. Nor the armies coming from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. We are deeply grateful for your presence. But there is another thing to consider as you march west. The increased activity of djinns in the deserts. Since the two days of darkness from a few months ago, everyone is on full alert. From the Bedouin to various groups of magi and mystics across the region."
Then the Sunni representative spoke, "We are fully aware of the situation. Trade routes on land and sea are more secure as such. And returning to the topic of the armies—they are to arrive by dawn tomorrow. Then, we will march with them to the front."
"And what are your roles," another general asked the mystic representatives, to which the response was, "Healers."
"Healers?"
"Yes. Our role is vital to the success of our armed forces. And this is a special case—the Old World is coming to the aid of the New. Not to discount the guerilla forces the enemy will encounter there."
Then the door to the chamber opened and an officer saluted the generals and the king, "I deeply apologize for disrupting the meeting. But here's something for you all to see."
He handed the manila envelope to one of the generals. He opened it and took out photos. Blown up and cleaned up for better resolution. As the generals looked upon them, this just made an already delicate situation—potentially hazardous. They shared them with the king who looked dumbstruck.
The mystics can clearly see the expressions on everyone's faces. Whatever the officer delivered for all of them was clearly making the king nervous. Another representative, this time, a Sufi mystic stood up and slowly approached the king. He maintained distance as to not frighten the other men any more than they are.
The king looked up at the man's kind face. He moved the pictures on the table for the Sufi to see. The Sufi's face softened, hardened, and relented to an emotion where his fears were confirmed; the young were already moving. He then refocused his attention to the king.
"The stories are all real. The djinns, the spirits of old empires, dead armies, creatures that make their home in the sands, and old creatures that came from the skies and seas—they were, and still, are all real. And we need you to cooperate."
The king understood and replied with a silent nod. He looked upon the photos once more. A dragon flying with four dragon like creatures in formation. Atop the larger beast was a young woman in what he can deduce were robes to protect her from the sun. And two other women riding atop the other creatures. But his attention was more on the dragon. It's glistening skin, black and green, with its wings large and slightly translucent. Graceful, terrifying, and this wiped away any remaining doubt the mystics were implying. They were here and will always be here.
Kuiper Belt
Plumber Research Satellite Theta
Marjan looked on the distant Sun from her quarters within the Plumber research facility. The ethereal yellow glow filled her with a longing to return home. Where she can bathe in its warm light, breathe in the air, and dip her feet in the cool water of the Mediterranean. She placed her hand on the thick plasma infused glass where the coldness of space and the warmth of the facility left an imprint of her hand. She dressed in a fitting dress suit in Plumber fashion. Being here, far from her home and family, left her in a state of melancholy. Despite her living quarters being accommodating and her exciting research with Albedo.
The past few weeks of working on the field of prescience, yielded results that were predictably frustrating. Albedo found out by using quantum mechanics and applying them to the macro-systems of human society was a task he underestimated, greatly. There were so many factors, largely micro factors in human society where applying pure mathematics were challenging enough. Either events can be known but the dates were inconclusive, or they were given dates of events, but locations were not known, nor the factors involved. Her conversations with him got her to understand the mindset of Galvins a little bit. Like their seemingly disdain for religion and mysticism. What also intrigued her was their collective fear of the unknown. When she pressed Albedo what that meant, he told her it may be known in their research. She never got any more out of that.
Then Marjan turned around when the doors behind her slid open. It was Albedo who entered. He wore a white suit with a black vertical stripe, and the Plumber ensign on his chest. She removed her hand from the glass, "Good morning."
"Greetings. I do hope you have had a good night's rest."
Marjan nodded, "It's odd to not have the sun as a reliable clock. It's rise and descent," she commented, and Albedo nodded knowingly.
He looked around her quarters and noticed vines with fragrant flowers blooming. No doubt, one of the Florauna biologists took a liking to Marjan and decided to decorate the interior, "These are star blossoms from the Florauna home world, Flors Verdance. These flowers are very important for them. Indicating one of their own having invisible roots. Reaching deep into the earth for hidden water and soil."
"Invisible roots?"
"It's uh—akin to how you humans have magi and mystics. Accessing energy and your bodies and minds operating as conduits for—the ethereal plane."
Marjan nodded as Albedo described what this gesture by the plant vine alien meant. As far as she knew, it was a kind gesture. And a humbling one, "My power has barely awakened. My sister is more along that path than I. She's always has been."
Albedo looked at her, "Maybe. But it doesn't make you less than capable."
"Thank you," she shifted in her position before grabbing her bag on the table, "Well then. Time for research?"
Albedo nodded and motioned her to follow him. The doors slid closed as she left with him. The facility was like Delta, which was in Earth orbit, that's solely for training cadets before sending them to Plumber Academy. This facility, Theta, was for more in depth research that was put online nearly four decades ago. In particularly, research into detection of and experimenting with weapons and shields that can be on par with esoteric techniques. And since the Taiwan Incident, activity in the facility have accelerated. Not including the surprise Vilgaxian invasion.
After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at their location. A chamber where humans and aliens were working on calculations in a combination of sociology, calculus, and quantum mechanics. Marjan observed everyone while Albedo walked ahead when he sees an esteemed colleague of his here. A Galvin who heard of Albedo's situation and asked his superiors from Galvin Prime and work in the Sol System. Albedo was relieved to see him here and work alongside him again. His eyes were gold color, and his frame was slight, much like Albedo's Galvin form.
"Steradian! The rumors were true! You did ask to work here!" Albedo couldn't help but be excited as he shook the Galvin's hand.
"It's good working alongside you again! And putting a couple thousand lightyears between myself and Azmuth is a welcomed vacation," Steradian said as he waved off the mentioning of Azmuth.
He then looked on Marjan, "And is she our new research partner?" He hopped to a table that stood close to her, "Please to make your acquaintance, madame. Your field of study here is I must admit, a fascinating endeavor."
She smiled, "I'm only here to ensure its possible viability, and the inevitable dead end we'll witness." Which caused Albedo to sigh over Marjan's refusal to pursue this field with a degree of seriousness, and Steradian to give a belly laugh.
"The woman's clever, I'll give her that!"
"Marjan, this research will bear fruit, and ensure the safety of your sister's group to fulfill—" But she stopped him by raising her hand.
She walked up to him, while picking up Steradian with her right hand. Allowing him to stand on her palm, "I know. We've discussed this already. But I'm going to warn you again. We may at best, determine legitimate prescience superficially. But true in-depth certainty of future events is a fool's errand. We don't know what we'll find."
"And what do you fear of finding," Steradian curiously asked, half humoring her, but she turned to him with seriousness, and a smile.
"It's not what I fear, it's what both of you will fear in finding for yourselves. What I'll get is confirmation."
Steradian had the look of skepticism on his face and crossed his arms, "Forgive me, but you sound a lot like those who see the stars beyond."
Marjan looked to Albedo for an explanation. He rubbed the back of his head, "On Galvin Prime, we describe a sector of society who use astronomical technology to discover the grand cosmic structure to the universe and beyond. Time travel or dimensional travel is not new to us. But for them, this indicates a grand structure that is so far, unknown."
Steradian chimed in with additional information, "Take the mysterious energy lower intelligences, no offense, call magic. What is magic? Essentially, it is a type of energy where no matter how ludicrous the odds, any potentiality is possible."
Marjan listened to the Galvin before responding, "Well—yes and no. Magic is energy where it makes things the seemingly impossible, possible. But magic is really an umbrella term for a branch of discipline known to esoterics across Earth, since the first dawn."
"You mean, since your recorded history. Right?" Albedo assumed but Marjan nodded a no, "Before."
Marjan excused herself and went to her terminal. She put her hand on a scanner to access her work and got started. Albedo and Steradian looked at each other, "She really is one of those people," Steradian remarked.
Albedo nodded, "Indeed. But I think she has more of a sound mind where reason is used rather than belief."
Steradian looked at him, "Be careful. Like those on our world, I can safely say, these esoterics of Earth could prove to be violent when their beliefs are threatened or belittled."
Albedo nodded, "Their power is impressive. But I am more wary of those who use their minds rather than just the latent power those like Marjan's sister have exhibited. Which is why I'm very grateful you came. Any word that our old mentor would come here to interfere with what is happening?"
Thankfully his old colleague nodded a no, "Even if he decides to come, there is little he can do to affect anything substantially. He may contact the Magistrata in order to issue his complaints or even usurp command from this sector's magister. But that's all."
Albedo acknowledged what his old friend stated. This wasn't just a research project. This was an opportunity to stick his thumb at his old mentor and prove to him once and for all; that knowledge never stagnates. You always learn something new. And seeing Marjan sitting and diligently working in her terminal, he felt determined to pull this off.
Meanwhile, while Marjan was working in her terminal, coding in order to examine the data she was sent, she noticed something peculiar by the results. Instead of predictions of the future, she was given numbers indicating past events. In addition to that, it updated with events on Earth that just occurred. This was a revelation. The future is the past that had not yet occurred. But on the left side of her screen, a graph appeared in order to plot out what was happening. It appeared random, but due to her degree in mathematics, this was a standard in chaos theory.
'There is it is. The present moments are determining the future. But with no approximation, then there is only disorder. But what if disorder is underlying something at the extremes?'
She reached into her bag and took out a notebook. It was old, and it was her sister's. In her sister's notes, there were references to neurological research where manipulating electrical signals in the brain could replicate the experience of becoming one with the divine. Similar results appeared when it came to prescience. Albeit less potent. As she turned the pages, she came across a crude drawing of a cerebral interface, where a person would wear like a bicycle helmet. It appeared more elegant than just attaching electrodes to the subject's scalp.
She rushed to the other end of the chamber and spoke with the lead technician. Albedo and Steradian noticed this and decided to join in.
Meanwhile, back on Earth
Jabal Umm ad Dami, Jordan
[3:00 AM]
Fatma stirred awake. Her dream evaporated like water under the desert sun. What remained were images of spirits that stalked the desert. Clear like water, vaporous as steam, and with faces that were either fair and beautiful, or horrendous to look upon. She looked around her to find everyone, including the aliens and her dragon sleeping.
'Well—dragons are animals. They also need sleep,' she mused as she stood up and stretched a bit.
Then she noticed Kitty sitting along the edge of the camp's boundary. She appeared to have stood guard over the camp while everyone slept. The stars glittered beautifully above, and she can see the mountain rising above near their camp. Fatma then recounted events during the day. Recalling in being one step ahead of desert riders who noticed her, her dragon, and the aliens. Evasively flying under the direction of Kitty to not only avoid capture, but to also ensure the public didn't notice them flying about.
Fatma puts on her sandals to comfortably walk across the campsite to approach Kitty. She noticed Kitty stirring, so she stopped. Kitty looked at her and smiled. Using sign language, the two talked.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. I'll take the remaining watch if you like.
Kitty nodded a no, "No, but thank you for offering. We'll leave before sunrise."
"Right." Fatma replied before looking out at the desert landscape before her. Silent, peaceful, yet foreboding. Kitty noticed this and the fear that crept across the young woman's face.
Kitty made sounds to catch Fatma's attention, "Remember. The djinn may reside here at night, but they will only hurt us if you show fear. Do not show fear. Remember why you're here at all."
She was touched by her mentor's words and replied, "Thank you. But it is not only they I fear as we head west. It's the other beings. Nameless, ancient, pre-dating even Göbekli Tepe. When we were still hunter-gatherers. Are such beings real in your world?"
Kitty nodded a yes and further elaborated, "They live in the mountains. Further in than where dragons make their lairs. Deeper than even the deepest dwarven mines. They are not evil per say. But their very presence would cause creatures even dragons to be very wary of. I have never encountered them, but they do exist."
Fatma thought about this. Whether or not there is a solid connection between their worlds. Sure, there were parallels, but they were few. Perhaps going west to the Sahara would reveal new answers and pose new questions. One that resonated with her since leaving Turkey with her dragon was her affinity with it. She should've felt fear towards it. Dragons were descendants of the legendary Tiamat of ancient Mesopotamian myth, Vritra from Hindu cosmology, or even from her family's native Iran, Azhdaha from Zoroastrian tales. Destructive beasts akin to the Leviathan and the Behemoth. Creatures of chaos, only defeated by heroes with assistance from higher powers. But the dragon she rode filled her with awe. A creature from the old world before the Flood was right there, sleeping.
Then she signed to Kitty again, "Can the Door take us close to our destination? Circumnavigating Egyptian borders?"
Kitty responded back, "Absolutely. I've made notes on our map to bypass Egyptian authorities and head straight for the Sahara."
Fatma replied with a thank you and then felt a wind coming in from the east. It chilled her to the bone. Rubbing her arms and closing her eyes, silently praying. Kitty saw this and said nothing. Out of respect for the young woman. But Kitty can also sense what was trying to breach the camp's barrier. She rushed to Fatma's dragon. Fatma heard this and rushed back to her mount as well.
The dragon began to stir, also sensing the eastern wind. It would soon be ready to do battle with the intruder. As Fatma and Kitty sang to the dragon to soothe it, the dragon aliens didn't have such sentiments. They sensed something was coming and awoke. They reached for their weapons to target something coming in with the wind. Nazeria stirred from sleep as she felt the cold wind. So, she slowly got up and got on her knees. She put her hands together, prayed first, and then started to communicate to the invisible entity.
Fatma caught the language her mother was using. Melodically communicating and acknowledging the presence before them. Shrouded in darkness it was, with a rumbling of energy in the earth, and only the stars present. The dragon and the aliens were uneasy by what was going on. Nazeria communicated with the presence in Farsi, Arabic, and Manzanderani. The speech went from questioning, to demanding, pleading to then accepting. When it was nearly over, she saw her mother then demanded the spirit to leave them be when the darkness threatened to penetrate the barrier. The presence attempted to scare her, but Nazeria held her ground. After a few moments, the desert spirit vanished. The wind ceased and only a heavy calm filled the air.
Fatma rushed to her mother, "Mom! Are you, all right?"
Nazeria nodded, "Yes, just winded. Forgive my pun," Fatma chuckled, and she caught Kitty smiling as well.
"Mom, what—what did you say to the spirit? In fact, why did you even communicate with it? You know they are not to be trusted. In our faith or in Islam."
Nazeria tiredly nodded before getting up, "I asked why it was here. This is its domain and warned us to not stay longer than necessary. I then responded we were heading west to the Sahara. Then it warned me about the threat from the stars that came. I understood, then—then I asked about Marjan."
Fatma's throat clenched when her mother mentioned her sister, "And?"
"The jinn warned me about what your sister and your friend are attempting in their research. Albedo wants to learn of prophecies that may aid us in the conflict. Marjan wants to see the creator's design."
"We can't know of the design if we have evil in our hearts. She knows this!" Fatma never knew her sister would go this far. All her sister inferred to was simply assisting Albedo in this dangerous field of study.
"She does. The jinn knew this, otherwise it wouldn't have warned me. Then out of my own life, I then demanded it to leave us. It took this in jest and wanted to scare me. But it knew I wouldn't, so it left."
Nazeria then noticed her daughter's face. Worry was written all over her face. She did her best to console her with brushing her daughter's hair with a free hand.
"Your sister will be fine," her mother spoke, "We need to have faith in her own wisdom and in her faith in the creator. May Ahura Mazda be praised."
Fatma silently acknowledged her mother's words. She gave her a warm hug before going to consult Kitty's map. Nazeria then approached Kitty and signed to her, "You're not pleased with what I've done."
"It's not my place to criticize. But you did take a risk there."
"I know."
"But what did you plead the jinn for?"
Nazeria was silent before responding, "To know what my young daughter is doing. Is she researching prescience and whether it can divulge any information."
Kitty listened, "But it didn't."
"I was warned to never ask for details. Jinns cannot conduct prophecies. Like us, they are creations of the Lord. Prophecy is forbidden."
"Then why is your daughter even humoring the false man's ambitions in the first place?"
Nazeria thought of this as well, "I suspect more likely is to teach him a very important lesson. But also, for her own bit, confirm something she's suspected about the Lord's creation. Something that was only hinted in mathematics."
Kitty understood but also knew the dangers of even this noble intent, "Even so, she should be very careful. What she may find for the false man, and for herself, may be more than can be handled."
Nazeria didn't feel comforted by this. But the truth was sobering, nonetheless. They soon see Fatma folding up Kitty's map. The dragon aliens were ready to leave, save for one. The lead researcher of the group.
"Why can't we leave in two hours? We barely got sleep," he yawned while carrying his monitoring equipment and feeling the adrenaline winding down after the encounter with the jinn, "And it looks like our ship isn't picking up anything coming our way. Vilgax ships or the Plumbers."
His team's leader scoffed, "Our orbiting ship didn't even pick up the energy anomaly that appeared before us. Face it, our technology may not assist us."
The third member who kept track of the orbiting ship was relaying what has happened to central command using subspace communication then added to the discussion, "Whether our technology will help us or not, we are still heading west. For a vast desert where Vilgax is keeping his prisoners of war from the nine planets he's conquered."
The two nodded silently. Acknowledging the task ahead and why they volunteered to assist the humans in the first place. Should Earth fall, then it will unbalance the delicate diplomacy between Plumber controlled space, and those of the second science. Their home world had dealings with both systems as expert map makers. Thus, making interstellar travel safer and easier.
The fourth member, after stretching his limbs and wings, was largely silent while the other three discussed and shared their thoughts on the situation. As the observer, his focus was largely on the humans and the earth dragon. Whatever will happen was out of their hands. And the appearance of the jinn, solidified his suspicions on what's to come. His attention then snapped back into reality when he saw Fatma putting her bag of belongings around her mount's leg. Then proceeded to headed for a base of the mountain.
She drew a rune symbol on the ground to summon the Door to Anywhere. She uttered it to appear in Farsi and it rose. The stone doors appeared and on them were carvings of the vast desert with languages along the arches. From Berber to Arabic, and other languages she couldn't recognize. She then spoke the location as written on Kitty's map and the doors opened.
Fatma then mounted her dragon, and it outstretched it wings. It then ran for the gate and flew out on the other side. Then the dragon aliens flew through, with Kitty and Nazeria on two of the four dragon aliens. Nazeria as was readying herself, and the eastern wind comforted her. Knowing and believing her daughters have chosen paths that will shape their lives. But relieved that both are strong enough to endure what's to come.
Once all of them passed through the gate, the doors shut behind them. Then, the Door returned to the earth from whence it came. Silence then came in both locations. Only broken by the desert wind.
To be continued
Chapter 17 should come shortly. I wrote both chapters simultaneously to test myself. I learned a lot from this experience. Mainly, what I can practically accomplish. As well as minding my standard for quality over quantity. I do try my best.
Steradian is a name I deliberately chose for a Galvin. Albedo, like Steradian, is a scientific unit of measurement. Albedo is the measurement of diffuse reflection of solar radiation measured on a scale starting with zero. Steradian is a unit of a solid angle in three-dimensional geometry.
Juggling all these different ideas and themes really pushed me to do better. And I could not be happier for it. Well, onward and upward as the saying goes.
Read, review, critique, and I'll see you all very soon.