For One Nen (9 page)

“How is it so far?” Tala whispered with her beautiful smile.

“Nothing I’ve ever dreamed of or even imagined,” Deni smiled back. She bounced her red curls off her face with a shake of her head. Then, not allowing herself to grow too serious she looked into Tala’s loveliness and said with a smirk, “I always imagined we’d be in the library stacks.”

“You knew where I worked? How long have you known?” asked Tala.

“I didn’t. I mean I caught a glimpse of you twice leaving the dining hall and heading to the library but I didn’t know you worked there. Had I realized, I mean, I would’ve been in there sooner. Once I waited at a table in the dining hall just to watch you come back out. I sat there for four hours.” Deni pressed her hand over her heart as if it were about to burst. “To see you; just watch you exit the library and walk back down the hall to the elevator was worth the wait. But I’ve always known you liked reading and even writing and such. It just seemed to fit when I thought of you over the years. Roaming the library; looking for that perfect story; those obscure forgotten stories, not the ones that come over the central computer that everyone can read but the ones only the Goweli are privy to. In my mind, you were always out of my league; one of the beautiful people – the Goweli.” Deni blushed a moment and added, “I didn’t know I had any more words left to say.”

Tala put her hands on Deni’s face and pushed her head playfully from side to side. “Silly,” she said.

Taking her hands away their smiles faded and together they pressed their bodies closer and enjoyed what they had both desired for so long.

Leaving the dining hall the next morning Teltel saw Mathis heading to class. He took a few giant steps to catch up to him, but when he did Mathis stopped and looked up at his giant classmate. His forehead wrinkled and his tentacles began to turn red, showing his fear.

“Hmm,” Teltel snorted with a half-smile. He ruffled Mathis’ hair like a little pet. After giving him a pat they continued on to class. Though they arrived at the same time Teltel sat across the room from Mathis.

As the other students gathered into the open space for class Tanik addressed Teltel.

“Have you given your heart to Mathis once again?”

Teltel pulled his massive body to his feet and looked at Mathis.

“Yes,” Teltel said.

He sat down again and turned his face from his classmates. Teltel was somber as he wished for time to move quickly so he could visit the ladies in the garden.

Raising his hand, he asked, “Tanik, I’m not feeling well. May I go to my quarters?”

“No,” Tanik said quickly. She exhaled a little huff and added, “But you may go to sick bay.”

He moved slowly as he left the area of the class but as soon as he was in the main deck hallway
, he raced past the library, past the great dining hall and around to the main garden door.

“Can I help again?” Teltel shouted breathlessly as he burst through the door.

Deni laid tiny seeds across a tray and slid it into a metal rack where many other trays were already placed.

Without waiting for an answer, Teltel gained control of his breathing and came close to the tall rack. “What’s that smell?”

“Mint,” Deni said as she worked. “Don’t you have class at this hour?”

“Um,” Teltel stuttered as he looked at Deni working.

Deni turned her golden eyes directly at Teltel, “You know I only accept the truth.”

Teltel dropped his eyes and admitted, “I told Tanik I wasn’t feeling well. She sent me to sick bay.”

Deni crossed her arms and leaned her back against the planting station.

“Does class make you feel unwell?” Deni asked evenly.

Teltel slightly shrugged his massive shoulders.

“Always did me,” Deni confessed with a laugh, “and I was only in regular school.”

Teltel looked up to Deni who smiled back.

“Today we’re making sprouts,” she said as she took another empty tray and instructed Teltel how to plant seeds for edible sprouts. She never said another word about the giant teenager missing school.

“And there’s a pot of mint tea down there,” Deni motioned with her dirty wet hand to the clean section at the end of the row. “I always like my mint tea in the mornings.”

“But I thought we were planting mint.”

“No,” Deni said. This is mung beans,” Deni explained. “Haven’t you ever eaten your sprouts?”

Teltel shook his head.

“I think it’s nice to try new things,” Deni said. “And in four days you can try your first mung bean sprouts.”

Teltel wasn’t sure if mung bean sprouts were anything to be excited about.

Instead, he leaned in close and his voice grew soft as he asked, “Is she here?”

“Who?” Deni said without breaking her rhythm of work.

Teltel leaned his head and shaped his lips as if trying to speak.

Still working, Deni said with wide-eyes, “I know, son. I get it. She’s just so damn pretty.”

Teltel giggled and blushed but became straight and serious when he saw Tala walking down the aisle with her silky dress flowing around her.

She held a mug of light green liquid with steam dancing over its rim.

“Love, will you get our hard worker a cup of tea? My hands are grimy,” Deni asked.

Tala came alongside Deni and kissed her neck and continued on to the end of the row where the pot of tea sat.

Teltel shuffled close to Deni and asked, “Will she read again?”

“She won’t bite,” Deni whispered back. “Go talk to her yourself.”

Teltel shot Deni an exasperated look.

“Alright, alright,” Deni said with a laugh and turned to face Tala coming back toward them.

Pouring water over her muddy hands, she grabbed her mug of tea. After a sip, Deni spoke in a comical voice, “Our guest requests a story from you, love.”

Tala gracefully handed a mug of hot tea to the giant Het and smiled. She drew out a book she had been holding under her arm.

“Your request shall be granted, kind Sir,” Tala played along, following Deni’s lead to help Teltel feel more comfortable.

Seeing that Teltel was staring at Tala, Deni said, “Drink up, son. We have work to do.”

Teltel brought the mug to his lips but his eyes never left the beautiful sight of Tala until she cut her ocean blue eyes in his direction.

He dropped his eyes quickly and drank his tea.

“C’mon, son. She reads faster when nobody’s watching her,” Deni said as she clapped the giant on the back.

Tala pulled a high-backed stool close and sat down comfortably. She crossed her legs and straightened her silky dress to hang elegantly around her. She really was a breathtaking sight.

1200 BE

Far below the surface of the planet REEN

“You are not well,”
Kent tried to push him into submission.

“I am completely sound, My Lord,”
Atenilek answered, having never been pushed.

“How l
ong have we had these sparsings?” Kent asked in continued total self-control.

“Over a thousand years, My Lord.” Atenile
k said without breaking gaze.

“And
over a thousand years how many Het have sparsed?” Kent said.

“None,
My Lord,” Atenilek answered.

“You should be proud that...” Kent bega
n but Atenilek cut in coldly.

“I am a Het. We are strong and proud.”

297 AE

Aboard the EGRESS

“Cha,” Teltel said with a loud rumble.

“Let her read, son,” Deni said to the Het.

Tala giggled at the boy’s enthusiasm for the stories.

Teltel’s face reddened as he dropped his head.

Tala saw that she had embarrassed the boy so she added, “Cha, indeed.”

Barely raising his head he glanced in her direction and gave a quick smile.

1200 BE

Far below the surface of the planet REEN

“Congratulations.” Kent spat. “You shall be the first.”

There were screams from his parents that rocked the ground. Kent had already planted his feet firmly and hardly swayed in the tremor. Atenilek broke off his intense glare with the Emperor. He turned his full attention toward his mother when she rushed to him and fell on his shoulder in a tight embrace.

“No,” she began to scream, holding him back.

Atenilek pulled her from him and looked at her with such honor and determination. “I would rather give my life for one Nen than to live under the rule of an emperor with only death in his heart.”

“I should never have allowed you to work alongside that filthy Nen. He has turned your heart away from your people,” she roared.

“It isn’t so. I love my people, but I love Tinnen as well.” Atenilek placed his one hand over his heart.

“If he were a Het I couldn’t love him more. I will forever protect his path.”

“If you do this, you will no longer be my son,” said
his mother with a rumbling howl.

His father, though, gave a low gruff growl. “You are my son and I am your father. That is a fact that will not change. I cannot change your mind
nor the path you have chosen.” Atenilek’s father stepped toward his son. “And I don’t intend to try. Yet I fear for you. May the Giver of Life protect you.”

He looked past
several people to make eye contact with Tinnen, “And also your friend.”             

Kent's rage was easily seen on his face as he almost lost his composure. “I grant you your wish. You will sparse this day with Ehic.” He raised his staff and shouted, “On the surface!” He almost growled his demand a second time. “You will sparse on the surface.”

Atenilek's parents screamed again.

“No!” His mother showed her sorrow but his father showed anger.

“This is surely death to them both,” his father shouted like thunder.

Kent, with a screaming growl, barked his directions to several other Het guards.

“Soshin, Penelk Hopek, Keshel take Atenilek and Ehic to the surface.” Hopek was Atenilek’s cousin and Soshin was married to Atenilek’s sister. This was not just Atenilek’s problem, or even just a Het problem Kent was making it a family problem.

While Ehic w
ailed in protest, Atenilek turned to the crowd and raised his giant arm. The chaos of the crowd dwindled into murmurs. Atenilek first looked at his mother, then to the crowd, and lastly his eyes came to rest again in a locked glare with Kent. The other Het guards slowly moved to his side. In a booming voice for all to hear, Atenilek’s voice rang out, “This has to end and let it end with me. I give my life for Tinnen, my heart to Tinnen; my life
For One Nen
.”

Atenilek believed, as everyone did, that Kent was sending him to his death.

Tinnen, so tiny in a crowd that was so large, held his hands to his mouth and repeated his faint protest, “No, no, no…” Without anyone giving him notice, he dashed from the sparsing ground.

Ehic was the wil
dest voice in this chaos of protesters. They laid hands on Ehic and tied one hand with a braided rope to the guard, Hopek. Ehic struggled until another Het guard hit him in the back of the head. His screaming stopped though his breath remained. Hopek tossed him up over his shoulder for the journey.

The other guards grabbed Atenilek who remained motionless without a struggle. They tied a braided rope around his waist, which they connected to each hand. They tied the ends of the rope around the waist of Penelk and Keshel, the other Het guards. The guards escorted him out of the sparsing grounds in the same direction where Atenilek had taken Tinnen to save his life. It took about twenty minutes to reach that cave with the tub-like structure. The journey was slowed because of how they were all tied together.

Soshin led the way. He was married to Atenilek's sister, Eolik. He said very little to Atenilek along the way. Soshin was determining in his mind what he would do once they were out of their underground empire. Soshin could never have imagined how long it would take to reach the surface. There were many hours to think of his decision. If he killed Atenilek, he could never return home and face Eolik. If he didn't kill Atenilek, he couldn't go home and face Emperor Kent.

It wasn't until they stopped to rest t
hat he came to this realization; Soshin knew nothing of the surface. He also knew nothing of praying except the rhetoric prayers he said to Kent their god. But he had always secretly wondered who was greater than Kent. So he prayed.

“Most powerful and Holy existence, if you help me live when I reach the surface then I will let these prisoners live. But if it is as they say and the surface is uninhabitable then I will perish us all.”

He had no idea that Kent had trailed far behind with two Het. After Kent had followed them farther than he had ever known anyone to go he instructed the guards to seal the tunnel. Kent did not want any of them to return. This is why he sent Atenilek's own brother-in-law and cousin to guard the prisoners. He wanted more of Atenilek’s family to be lost.

On the way, Atenilek saw many writings of the Anthro from the time of Hrilla that told of them reaching the surface. These paintings and writings were like those he had seen in the room with the tub-shaped structure. He took careful
note of the details of the story. After the story of Hrilla there were no other paintings. He concluded from these paintings that they surely died not long after surfacing. It confirmed the lie he’d learned as a child.

What Ehic and Atenilek didn't know was that the emperor gave orders to kill both Atenilek and Ehic once they
reached the surface. As the passageways narrowed, it also grew brighter, which brought Ehic to near hysteria. He began shouting, but his words were those of a madman.

They finally saw it – there in front of them, the mouth of the tunnel. They didn't know until one of the guards tried to exit the tunnel
, that they were entering the surface world.

The guards cut Ehic free and left him writhing on the ground in a heap of his own craziness.

Everyone shielded their eyes in the light of the two suns. However, after a short time, one of the suns set and the men’s eyelids could open more easily.

There were lush green hills where houses stood. There were mountains with white tips. There was a valley
, and beyond that - a great body of water. This was all new to these men; even the enormity of the water was vastly different than what they had ever known. The color, the waves, even the way it seemed to have no boundaries – as if the sky itself were holding it in place. The very sky itself was new to them. Atenilek reached his hand up to find where the ceiling of this great land could be.

He had never actually touched the ceiling of his underground world but he could always touch the rocky wall and follow it up with his eyes and see clearly that it curved into an overhead covering.

“Hey,” Soshin said as he motioned toward the buildings he had just spotted.

The men were eager to explore this obviously tranquil land. They had always been taught this was a place that only fire could live. T
hey were quickly learning first-hand that they had been taught a lie.

297 AE

Aboard the EGRESS

“They were lied to,” Teltel said. He had worked himself down the row close to Deni.

“Appears so,” Deni agreed with a sigh.

“Just like us,” Teltel said as if he’d just realized a truth.

Deni looked at Teltel; this boy she’d only recently come to know, and in his moment of questioning the truth, she saw his first steps into manhood.

“Indeed,” Deni agreed as she continued to watch the giant beside her.

“Others should know these stories,” Teltel said.

Deni poured water over her hands and dried them on a stained rag. Turning around she leaned up against the table garden to face Teltel.

“I agree,” she said. “I think everyone should hear the stories. But wasn’t it nice to have them to ourselves for a little while.”

“Do you think it would be alright if I bring Benai? He’s my best friend. He likes stories. And I know he wouldn’t mind helping in the gardens.” Teltel spoke with wide eyes. “I want to tell others but we must be sure they won’t tell someone that might make us stop reading about the truth.”

Teltel’s
next morning unfolded as usual. The keepers’ class assembled and Teltel arrived just as Tanik was asking Benai, “Is Teltel not feeling well again?”

Teltel came around the large curving pillar into the class area finishing a pastry. He stuffed it into his mouth and sat down next to Benai.

“I’m not so sure that he’s quite himself yet. He only had three doughnuts this morning,” Benai said with a smirk.

“T
hat’s enough to give anyone a belly ache. I don’t know why they serve those things anyway,” Tanik snipped.

“Guess we shouldn’t tell her that you usually eat a dozen,” Benai said with a loud laugh.

Teltel wasn’t amused by his friend’s carefree outburst. He was dreading class and wishing he could just go hear more stories.

However Tanik’s subject for the day grabbed Teltel’s attention.

It was a story that Teltel had heard his whole life in song, and dance, and poetry. He had even painted a picture of the story when he was only six. But on this day it was different.  On this day he felt like he was hearing it for the first time.

Tanik gave her morning dance to gather her students. They joined in by making their smooth movements in the traditional ways the keepers before them had always done.

As they finish the dance they bowed in Tanik’s direction, to the left, and to the right to signify giving their heart to all of their classmates.

At the completion of this seemingly archaic performance, the students crumpled to the ground with many still whining about the heat even though the engineers had been able to restore the main power.

When the Egress was damaged by the gamma burst, it was necessary to shut down the main power generators and switch over to the ship’s reserve power. In bringing the main power back on-line, the engineers had now restored the cooling system as well. Most of the ship’s occupants began to wear more clothes again, but some either liked wearing very little or they were quicker to acclimate to the change in temperature.

Tanik gave no attention to the students that were whining but rather began reciting a story. The class joined in the recitation from the comfort of the cool glossy floor.

“Atenilek was a Het strong and proud

His tribe faithfully guarded the crowd

He had a duty among his tribe

Until his place he would not ascribe

Following instead, a lowly Nen

Who stole his arm and heart and then

He was banished from the Empire

Forever losing his might and power.”

The open space of the room allowed for noises from the corridor and the great dining hall to clang into the room. There was never anything that was too disruptive, but then again, it was never completely silent either.

Tanik was easily disrupted by the sounds
, which made her constantly look at her lesson plans throughout the day.

As Tanik took a moment after the recitation to refer to her notes, Teltel spoke from his lounging position in the back of the room.

“He wasn’t just banished. He was sent to his death.”

The middle-aged teacher spun around clumsily as if she were a gangly teenager on a growth spurt.

“What did you say?” Tanik demanded.

Teltel laughed casually, “He wasn’t just sent away. He was sent to his death. The underground empire believed that sending him to the surface was as good as killing him. And he wasn’t banished because he followed a Nen and rebelled against the Empire. He gave his life for Tinnen, the Nen, so his friend would not be sparsed.”

“Sparsed? What’s that?” Benai asked.

“Killed,” Teltel answered.

Tanik’s beauty faded as her face hardened and her breathing became erratic.

“Enough of this blasphemy,” she scolded. “You know no tribe ever killed except for the Hoth. This is a place for learning the truth, not a place for speculation.”

Mathis brought his chin over his knees and hugged his legs close to him at the harsh words against his tribe.

Teltel looked at Mathis being humiliated by their teacher and for the first time felt a spark of compassion toward his tiny classmate.

“I’m not speculating, Tanik,” Teltel said bravely.

“Where did you hear of such profanity?” Tanik said harshly as she continued to rage.

The students began to change their relaxed lounging position to one of proper student posture as they had always sat before the gamma burst hit their ship and life became uncomfortably hot. They sat straight and tall, their backs like a board, their shoulders squarely facing their teacher, but their eyes darted between Tanik to Teltel.