Three months have passed since the Kaa siege. Over 400,000 Kaa and Vindijan soldiers have passed over into the afterlife. Both sides have lost their belief in war, but neither side is willing to give in. The Kaa general Fo Trowd has sworn that he wouldn’t rest until the Vindijan Line is no more. He is more than willing to trade Kaa lives for what he calls Vindijan scum. It is he who orchestrated the Kaa siege and it was he who wasn’t willing to compromise. He told the Kaa soldiers we are free or we are dust, and they agreed without hesitation.
The Vindijan Line on the other bloody hand, are openly weighing the extinction of the Kaa entirely.
Having decided that too many bridges have been burned, peace is only a pipe dream now.
The Alon counsel gathered at s secret location in the Wolfveer Province. The secret location is a sunken valley surrounded by brush. The castles were too hot for a meeting of this importance. They decided to think in the open air. It is nighttime and the 6 Mevery moons are glowing brilliant blue and green. The entire Vindijan hierarchy is in attendance, with the exclusion of Ambassador Ertel. He has yet to be returned since his capture by the Kaa. It’s time and every single member sits in a silver floating throne. There is an orange liquid bubble that surrounds each of them and it is used to amplify their thoughts. A meeting like this means only one thing, the natives are restless.
Ambassdor Geetou is a bulbous man of 490 pounds. He has jet black hair and beautiful blue skin. He is known to be hot headed and few dare to contradict him.
“He who wants more than his hands can hold is an enemy to himself. These impossible Kaa want the world that we created and they want us to give it to them,” said Ambassador Geetou as he floated into the center of the floating thrones.
“True, irresistibly true,” said Coup.
“They think our will is bendable,” said Cleric Cortel as he closed his fist,” but it is unbreakable, Friends!”
“We can see their lack of reason, their blind obsession and we…will…use it against them,” said Geetou plainly.
Coup floated into the center beside Ambassador Geetou and then stood up and said,” These scoundrels, these petulant fools…no matter I came here today with a chalice of good news, Brothers.
Edifus Time’s hideout has been discovered and a strike force has been sent. He will be captured before the night greets the T sun.”
Inside the 4th Banko district at his hillside home Edifus sat with his lover Suces.
“We’re winning this war, Darling Suces, and they have known it. They think we’ll just roll over and perish and that is their first and last mistake,” said Edifus as he kissed her on the lips. He gently caressed her cheek and pulled the hair from her face.
Suces is a beautiful brown skinned purple lipped stunner. She has on a lavender slip and a pair of pink gloves. They sit on the Hool skin rug locked in an embrace. Edifus feels an uneasy sensation. The Amoss birds have stopped singing. He thinks this odd and he gets up and goes to the balcony.
“They’re so dumb they think they can rule over our dreams. They’ll feel our pain and we won’t be fearful of them again,” said Suces as she runs her finger across Edifus’ lips.
Suddenly 2 hands grab Edifus around the neck. The room fills with Vindijan soldiers. Suces screams as the two are overpowered by the soldiers and pinned to the floor
“How’s that revolution working out for you now, Kind Sir?” asked Hammot snidely.
“You fool, my power is beyond anything under the T sun!” shouted Edifus.
“Really, well your power is about as valuable as a Hool nugget now,” said Hammot as he kicked Edifus in the back. Edifus doesn’t fight back, he knows he’s caught. He decides to save his energy.
Back at the Plushi Chateau Coup receives the news that Edifus has been captured. He feels relief wash over him and also a wave of glee. He’s done it, his thoughts race over the possible outcomes of such a thing. In his mind he fantasized about the end of the war and the Kaa surrender. He also thought about the glory and praise the Vindijan Line would shower on him. He is filled with joy. Coup walks around his Empirical suite and kicks Dees into the fireplace, laughing as he does. The Dees burst into flames sending warm air into Coup’s face. Coup grabs 2 bottles of Borco wine and starts devouring their contents. He feels the rush of intoxication shoot into his bloodstream. He starts dancing clumsily around the suite. He smashes the bottles into the fireplace and mutters,” Glory, oh glory has come to Sras Oblique. My children can sing again, play their Covolu flutes in musical rescue, thank you Builder.”
Peastro walks into the Empirical suite carrying a tray of baked rolls. He is wearing the same clothes as Coup and looks like a miniature version of him.
“Coup, I have brought you a snack, I hope it is suitable,” said Peastro as he set the tray on the table in front of the fireplace.
“Peastro, I would love a roll and it is very considerate of you to do this. I have received some great news and I am rejoicing,” said Coup as he put his hand on Peastro’s shoulder.
“What is this joyful thing, Coup?” asked Peastro.
“The horrible ache, the cloud of black filth has shifted its course. Edifus will be joining us, Peastro, and his heart will be on our plate,” said Coup snidely.
Peastro smiled and sat down on the couch, while Coup sat down beside him and put his arm around him. The two of them sat silently on the couch eating their warm rolls.
“I want to show you something,” said Peastro quickly.
“Of course, what would you like to show me?” asked Coup as he looked into his eyes.
Peastro pointed his fingers at the fireplace and a red light came out of the tips. The light went through the fire and made the wall behind it transparent. Coup sat up in his seat anxiously. The red light grabbed a crystal vase in the other room and brought it to Peastro’s hand. Peastro set it down on the table in front of Coup. Coup grabbed the vase and held it in his hands.
“How can you do this?” asked Coup in utter disbelief. “I…it is clear you are truly a Venkid. Your divinity is certain in my mind, Peastro. Let’s keep you powers a secret. The Kaa would certainly destroy you if they knew,” said Coup firmly as he felt thrilled by the new discovery and the possibilities.
“I will not speak of it, Coup, never,” said Peastro as he pet a Dees,” I have other powers too.”
The door tone sounded and Coup entered the security code and in walked Cleric Cortel.
“We have Edifus in the liquid heat cell, Emperor. We’re grilling him for information, but he isn’t telling us anything,” said Cleric Cortel as he handed Coup the live hologram feed of Edifus.
“Well, there’s our dear friend in all of his spiteful glory. Boy he doesn’t look happy, maybe we should send him a gift,” said Coup sarcastically,” I want him to undergo the Cuptank series. We’ll see if he’s smiling after that.”
The Cuptank series is a group of 12 torture techniques. The techniques bring most to the edge of insanity and some beyond. It is typically reserved for only hardened criminals and only as a last resort.
“Absolutely yesterday it will be done,” said Cleric Cortel and then he exited the Empirical suite.
Coup and Peastro walked over to the window and Coup draped his arm around him. They stood and watched as the T sun came up and filled the room with light. They stood like a father and son would do.
They could feel the days’ first wave of solar flares. A Vindijan is at their most powerful at dawn.
Coup and Peastro started levitating several feet above the floor. Their eyes glowed and their muscles filled with strength. There is a flock of Amos birds filling the sky. They can see Kaa children fishing for the Mempion fish.
The Mempion fish carries nutrients which sharpen the senses. It also gives a person clearer vision and the Kaa swear by its healing powers.
From the window they could see all the happenings of Sras Oblique stretched out before them. The hustle and bustle of a complex society was never more beautiful. In the distance the black smoke plumes of an early morning battle rose up into the sky. The Gogif Tower- the Vindijans’ place of worship-glistened in the T sun’s shower of light. The tower stood as a reminder of the presence of Jivan in every Vindijan and Kaa’s life.
“I want to share something with you, Peastro, and I don’t want you to be alarmed. Take my hand and walk with me, I want to share my greatest gift,” said Coup as he offered his hand.
Peastro took his hand and the two of them walked over to the black Kabervian tiger statue. Coup pressed in the statue’s eyes and the head rolled back into the body of the statue. A blue bottle rose up from inside. Coup grabbed the bottle, opened the top, and showed Peastro the contents. It was filled with large white pills with the word Rixpo on the side of each. Peastro ran his finger over 1 of the pills and asked,” Are they nutritional?”
Coup took one out and held it in the palm of his hand and said,” They are far more, Dear Son. These have been handed down from one generation to the next. Heriog Vindijan created these pills centuries ago
by using toxic Kilo berries,” said Coup as he lifted a Rixpo up into the sunshine. “The berries no longer grow, so this vile is all we have left. These pills separate ordinary Vindijan’s from extraordinary ones,”
explained Coup as Peastro started to glow. ” One of these pills every 10 years will give you tremendous power. It will enhance all of your strength’s and give you the ability to forget all of your weaknesses. This has been our family secret, and all best secrets are lost in the holder’s mind right.”
“Right, lost to the wind,” replied Peastro quickly.
“Right indeed, I want you to take this,” said Coup as he handed Peastro the Rixpo pill and then continued,” and put it in your cheek ‘til it is halfway dissolved. Your mouth will feel warm and your vision will blur, but it’s only temporary. When the pill is dissolved halfway swallow the rest of it. You will experience shakes and a swelling sensation in your hands. You will lose consciousness and begin the Aaver sleep. Take your divinity and ascend my Son.”
Peastro took the Rixpo pill from Coup’s hand and glanced at him. He held the pill in his hand then slowly placed it in his cheek. He didn’t feel scared because he trusted Coup with every fiber of his being.
The pill tasted sugary and sweet as his mouth felt warm. Sure enough his hands started to swell. Then his body started shaking violently and he suddenly slipped into the Aaver sleep. Coup held Peastro in his arms and smiled. He then laid him down on a couch. In the Aaver Peastro saw himself flying over Sras Oblique’s countryside. He dipped in and out of every valley and soared inches above Lake Ve Gune, grabbing a Mempion fish in his hands as he did. He could see the T sun rise and set several times. He basked in the Memry Moon’s glow. The sky turned green and he could see a flying armada entering the Sras Oblique sky. Peastro was sitting in a throne at Plushi Chateau with al green skinned women named Faha. She smiled and asked him questions. They were important questions he could tell, but he gave no answer. He stared at Faha’s white eyes and felt love for her, but felt anger that he couldn’t give her what she wanted. Peastro could tell it was a dream, but it was as if it was really happening. He was in an ancient cavern standing in front of a screaming black marble statue. The screams were so loud his ears
were bleeding and he couldn’t move or make a sound. The statue exploded into dust and in its place was a collection of small books. All of the books bore the crest of the 1st Vindijan dynasty The Corrupts. Very abruptly Peastro felt his body turn to that of a Kabervian tiger. He is stalking a Hool herd and has selected a target. He chases after the Hool and corners it in a cave. He pounces on it and tears open its chest.
Peastro awakes and is handed a glass of wine by Coup.
“Vindijan’s drink my Friend, please join our humble family with a toast,” said Coup slyly as he raised his glass. Peastro smiled and toasted with Coup. He drank the entire glass in one swill and then sat up and looked at the Vindijan faces around him. Mela was there and she sat down beside Peastro and put her hand on his thigh.
“We know it’s been hard on you, it can be very painful not knowing your place in the world. Show me a soul who hasn’t made his way home and I’ll show you a difficult life,” said Mela as she fought back tears and continued,” we’ll be there for you in this life and the next. This is your home, Peastro, let your heart sing...inside these walls.”
Peastro started crying as he knew he’d been alone so long that maybe he’d forgotten how to love. He felt worried that he wouldn’t know how to be open, but he also knew that he was home. For the first time in his life he felt somebody’s love given to him. He didn’t have to beg for it. He looked around the room and his eyes welled up and he said tearfully,” The love that I feel and have felt, is the greatest gift under the T sun. I will do whatever is asked of me from here ‘til infinite discovery, to be a part of the Vindijan Line. I never knew my mother and wished I hadn’t known my father, but I will fight ferociously for the Line. This is my Home…you are my family!” Everyone in the room put their finger on Peastro’s head and pressed down slightly. This was the final gesture to induct someone into the Vindijan Line. Once a member, you and all of your offspring are protected and given all the riches of the Vindijan Line. No one owned anything they all owned everything under the T sun. This included the Kaa and all of their possessions. The first 4 days of an inductee’s life in the Line are filled with fulfilling all of their desires,
material or otherwise. There is also the documentation of the Aaver sleep. Every detail you could think of was entered into the Kevelary Text
The Kevelary Text is used as a gateway into a Vindijan’s subconscious. Often times it could also be used to predict the future. Many portions of the Aaver sleep actually come to pass. Because of this fact teams of scholars and clerics pour over the Kevelary Text for a viewpoint into the future. The Kevelary Text has been kept for hundreds of thousands of years and its volumes numbered in the millions. It is kept under lock and key in Gogif Tower. No Kaa has ever read a passage or known of its existence. The wife of the Late Heriog Vindijan insisted that the Aaver sleep be documented. She sat with her husband and wrote down every detail of his dream. She was so enthralled with the journey the Aaver sleep had taken him she titled it the Kevelary Text in dedication to the abstract painter Hoart Kevelary. Hoart’s paintings were based on surreal drug induced dreams he himself had been through. When a wealthy politician was assassinated and the Cone River ran dry, 2 things he had seen in his Aaver sleep it thus began the dissection of the Kevelary Text.
After Peastro had undergone the documentation of his own Aaver sleep he was asked what he desired.
He replied only a hug and a kiss from a beautiful girl. A young lady came to his chamber and he got his hug and his kiss. He wanted a pound of Pent and a Kabervian tiger cub for a pet as well. He also asked that his father’s life be made easier, and it was. He was showered with riches and a new home. He asked that Javis Jo be made to suffer. Javis Jo had beaten up Peastro when he was only 1 year passed. The beating had left his back scarred and crooked. He hadn’t forgotten and fair is fair he thought. Javis Jo did suffer and all of his relatives as well. The cleansing of a Vindijan’s shame was very important. They believed you had to be free of all past disgraces to enjoy future victories. His 5th day though changed everything.