Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Great Journey


Great Journey

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Eisha relished the feel of her black socks as she readied herself to go out into the random variation of extremely divergent events. The socks were old friends. They were worn out a bit but still sturdy and patched up. Lovingly cared for. Eisha had patched them herself reliving the lessons her old uma Martha had instilled in her as a little babe.

Ah yes, Martha the old weaver of tales and nano-material Master of sietch.  Eisha kept her head on the molecular bonds and especially on the levels of energies loose in the fabric.  One had to be aware of a lot of things as one donned their armor for battle. A suit of armor was a living thing. Of modified molecularly manipulated weaves, complex and beautiful. Intelligent and symbiotic. One must be careful when integrating the techno organic mesh with the nervous and biological systems of the body. Eisha donned her skully with the kitten on it. That kitten was yellow though faded from wash.  Then over her  nanoweave she donned her dense polymer armor plate, it was going to be cold out.  Then she put on her snow boots and her scarf.  Then her horned rimmed glasses. Optical interface system spooled through a diagnostic pass as she put them on. Armored up, and integrated. Tech Knight Eisha was ready for battle.

---

On her way down stairs from her bedroom Eisha bumped into her little brother. Paper and crayons in his hands.  An extremely furrowed brow. “Excuse me,” little Leon said. Entirely engrossed in some work he had to complete. Perhaps a masterpiece that would one day be a national treasure. Perhaps the young Mage was working on complex new spell work. She could never tell.  “Hey Eish Ma said you needa get something to eat for you go out.”

“Okay, see ya Lee.” She said in passing.

“Huh?” he said, a finger examining the geological layout of his upper nasal cavity.

“Nothin lee.  Byeee.”  Poor Arcane Artisans, they always get so wrapped up in their work, she thought walking down the old white hallway into the living room.

----

Well the court seemed particularly restive today. This was a good thing for Serah Eisha, battle tested Baroness of Locke. She had plans. The Queen seemed to be in her informal gown, a bit tired but otherwise looking wise and lovely in the relaxed atmosphere. The rest of the Royal court seemed to be engaging in small talk and partaking of a rich breakfast over parlay.  Eisha had no time to get embroiled in petty politics, she had many affairs of state to be about this day. And some domestic decisions to make.  She bowed low to the Queen though, always good to pay respects. “Mornin Ma!”

“Eisha goodness you are dressed already , well sit and get a little breakfast okay? Nene cooked some bacon for me.” said the Queen.

Eisha nodded to the Lady Nene, one of the Queen’s chief ministers. “Thanks Sis,” said Eisha as she sat down at the table and buttered some toast. Grabbing a few pieces of bacon for herself. Eisha poured some Orange juice as well.

They gave each other a light high five. “Ma are you going to rest today?” The poor Queen had been rather overworked. Heavy was the burden on the poor ruler since the King had passed some years back. That’s why Serah Eisha and Nene tried as best they could to lighten the load of ruling the country.

“You know baby? I might do just that, well you look cute. Try not to get dirty okay? “ said the Queen taking leave of the council to retire to her resting chambers.

“By Ne.”

“Alright Eish.”

Eisha finished her orange juice and placed it in the sink on the way out of the kitchen and to the front door.  Time to head out into the City and get some things done.

---

It was pretty rough that first bite of the cold outside. A blanket of snow seemed to have just dropped down on Locke Street. Some cars were in it up to their wheels, weekend laziness afoot. But the streets were relatively clear. A lite snow continued to fall though. Eisha the Wanderer, had been wandering through the cold wastes of the new artic for years now. When her city had perished in the new iceage she’d finally decided to head south to see if there were any other survivors of the icy apocalypse.

Eisha the Wanderer could barely see through this bad artic blizzard though. Darn the old times for destroying the planet with its war and pollution. A pox on them.  What was that ahead? A band of humans?  She crouched low and drew her Natarl with its serrated front and smooth other side. Trouble.

---

Eisha was definitely in trouble. She had been trying to flee off planet. And had made it to the starport’s transliner boarding bay. But alas, it appeared that Imperial Inquisition troops were guarding the entrance. She was going to have trouble if they noticed her. Even more if they decided to inspect her. Marcanese Imperial troops had been really coming down on off planet visitors since the Assassination attempt. Eisha was part of the Free people’s alliance though that assassination hadn’t been her fault. Those idiots in that FPA cell had endangered every operative on the planet. Typical.

Best to try to appear nonchalant. Try to sneak past.

“Hey Eisha,” said one of the larger of the three boys. “Where ya going?” Well the jig is up. Eisha silently gripped the butt of her plasma arc pistol. Maybe she could take em?

“Hey Marcus,” Eisha said, controlling her contempt. Marcus was so darn weird.  If you ignored him he got bad. And he was mean to her even if she didn’t ignore him sometimes.   But then sometimes he was all nice to her.  The boy’s behavior had been puzzling for some time till recently when she had made her discoveries. Now she thinks she had an idea of what the trouble was.

“So you want to hang out with me and Mike and Lar?” Marcus said walking up to her. Mike and Larry were walking up to her as well but spreading out. Swish swishing through the snow. Best to not let them surround her. “It’ll be fun.”

Fun like mud in her hair, which is what happened last it me she hung out with the 5th graders. So much hassle.

“Well?” Marcus said smiling. Well at least his eyes weren’t all funny today. Maybe…. She felt the sharp heaviness of a two ton knife on her back.  Anxiety filling her. She’d read that that might be that feeling was.

Just then the sound of the bus pushing up the street. And stopping a few feet by her. Saved! “Sorry my bus is here! See ya,” Eisha squeaked out as she ran aboard.  The others thankfully didn’t follow her. But she did hear a “Man why you even mess with her anyway, she is weird.”

Whew. That had been close. Somehow she’d managed to fast talk the Imperials. And it was looking like a trip an interrogation in the cold cells of Imp Security.  Her fake documents had held up too.  Too late for them now though this starship was already cutting out of the atmosphere and pulling away from the planet. Then it hit warp and disappeared into FTL travel.

----

Adept Scholar Eisha the Adventurer was nervous and excited. It had been a long journey through perilous ordeals but she had finally made it back!  She had arrived at the hidden Ancient Archives with its vast store house of knowledge. She had survived her latest adventures.

Long ago, a different person had stumbled upon this place and been accepted for training by the Ancient Eidolons who inhabited this place. LeGuin, Gibson, Herbert, Butler, Asimov. And all the rest. They’d accepted her for training and then her world had changed. She had changed. Her world had seemed to become more alive more clear and filled with wonder. It opened on what she considered were limitless paths.  They told her this would happen.  She was learning to travel to other worlds.  Her a little 4th grader from Locke street.  What a treasure this place was how could everyone she knew not see the shining of this place. Outside it appeared a dirty old-style building true. But that was the trick that hid its secrets.  Inside it was filled with warm and pure light. The light of learning.

Eisha gulped and started up the old forest encrusted steps. She wondered what adventures the Eidolons would be sending her on to this time.  They could be tricky and dangerous, but usually taught you good lessons. They also filled you with this energy.

Eisha said hello to Miss Padma, as she returned her books.  Took a big breathe and released a sigh of contentment and then wandered farther into the downtown public library.

----

This is just a little jaunt down memory lane. And some of the old things I used to imagine as I made myself through the day. I would def make up crazy fantasy to cover over the mundane world. Still do. It just wasn’t as varied as it is today, I didn’t read as much. Also a little love letter to reading and one of the most magical place in our world. The public library.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 Terror and Love

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