Great Journey
---
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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