Ajiin—for that was her name—had lived a thousand lives by the time humans found Qojja. Her dreamskins had influenced them, of course, for she saw potential in them. She had wanted them to come to her world.
After all, what good was a planet with no life?
She had made animals, of course, and plants, and insects... but the world would not thrive without sentient beings.
For a time, she toyed with the idea of creating her own. But the thought frightened her. She was young and inexperienced, at the time. This was, after all, her first creation. She feared doing things wrong and creating flawed creatures. So, instead, she sought others, out there, who already existed, and had begun to expand their reach through the universe.
The humans brought technology with them, and with technology came civilization.
Ajiin watched and smiled, for it was good.
She lived among them, her beloved humans, under various guises.
When the Zendaar came, she was frightened at first. But then, she saw them for what they were. Flawed creatures with their own inner beauty. And she learned to love them, too.
But then...
But then her dreamskin at the time, the woman known as Julia, became sick.
And Rakash, her beloved Rakash, who was like a son to her, sought to save her through alien technology... not realizing that by doing so, he had condemned her to five thousand years of sleep.
Because only through death could she have moved on to a new dreamskin.
But this time was different. She had work to do. So she chose to return with her true body.
It had lain sleeping in a netherchalk room hidden in the depths of the world, near its very core.
She sat up on the resting pad and waited a few seconds for the nanobots inside her to reactivate and revigorate her bones and articulations.
Then she jumped off and pressed her hand against the nearest wall. A panel slid open, revealing the rock surface behind. She stepped into it and the matter parted way, for it obeyed its creator.
Even as she moved, her mind and body were already busy sending signals deep into the core. Some were intended to analyze, others to stabilize.
By the time she reached the surface, ongoing earthquakes had stopped, hurricanes had settled down, fires had fizzled out, tsunamis had morphed into small waves.
But, most of all, rains died out as clouds parted; darkness dimmed and the rays of the sun shone on Qojja for the first time in two weeks.
***
When the rain stopped and the darkness faded, the whole world looked up at the sky.
It had been such a long time that the light blinded them.
But still they stared, in joy and in awe.
And though the brightness seemed to increase, some pointed toward the sun. Exclamations of surprise and praises rose to the Suryi.
For in the midst of that blinding light there was a form.
The shape of a woman.
And it grew larger as it came closer, flying down to them from the sky.
When she had come close enough they could see her beautiful bright face, she paused, spread her arms, and spoke.
Her voice boomed, confident and powerful, and it was heard by everyone throughout the city.
“People of Ahuaxa, I am Ajiin. Do not fear, for you are safe. The world is at peace again. There was a time when your people knew me as Julia. I loved you then, as I do now, and as I forever will—”
“How can you love these murderous beasts?” yelled a voice from within the crowd.
Ajiin’s eyes did not take long to find the source.
She smiled at Jack.
“They are flawed creatures, as are you. But therein lies beauty. Everyone has flaws. Some people lie, some people cheat, some people kill... They did not choose their fate, nor did you. They are what they are, as are you. I accept them as such, as I accept you.”
Without another word, the winds carried her toward the floating garden, and the mansion which rose at its center...
... the mansion of her beloved Rakash.
***
She landed in the garden, next to the statue of Julia.
Ajiin stared at it for a moment, and a small smile formed on her lips.
As she walked toward the mansion, a crowd gathered around her. All of them knelt before her—servants as well as Zendaar.
It did not feel right to her.
She had always lived among them, after all.
And even when they had adored her, they had never treated her like this.
It was not fear, she knew, but respect. She could appreciate it, but she disliked it nonetheless. This was why she had never wanted to use her real body before. It was easier to drown in the crowd when you were just one other human.
Rakash waited for her at the entrance of his house.
He stared at her as she approached, his expression unreadable.
“Hello, my dear Rakash,” she said.
He squinted. “Is it true, then? You are Julia?”
“Yes.”
“What game have you played with me?”
She was surprised by his reaction, yet also knew she should not be. Was it not in his nature, after all, to play games? To manipulate? Was it not then normal for him to assume others would behave in the same fashion?
“It was no game,” she said softly.
“Then why not tell us who you were?”
It was unusual for him to ask questions. It must have felt odd to him too, as he usually was the one with all the answers. She could sense his frustration, and it pained her.
“I prefer to go unnoticed.”
He laughed.
“Is that what this was?” he asked as he gestured toward the sky.
She walked up closer and reached out to him, pressing her hand against his cheek. He did not pull away.
“Rakash, my dear Rakash... I forgive you.”
There was anger in his eyes, but also confusion, and a hint of regret.
“Forgive me? Are you mad?”
“I asked you to kill me, that day, so long ago, but you did not. For that, I do forgive you, because I know you did what you did out of love for me.”
His jaw tensed but he did not speak.
She smiled. “You must let go of me now. You have lived with my ghost for too long.”
Her hand moved to the pendant he still wore, and she pulled it off of him. He gasped, hand clasping his neck.
“Goodbye, Rakash.”
She leaned and dropped a kiss on his cheek, then the winds carried her off.
***
She had heard the goddess speak... first with amazement, then horror when she learned this was Julia. That horrible, despicable woman.
How could it be her?
How could she still be alive after all these years?
A human!
And now she was a goddess?
It made no sense.
When Ajiin had started toward the mansion, Thyria had run to the tower with the hidden elevator.
But the streets were crowded, and she swore as she pushed and shoved people out of her way.
By the time she finally got through, rode up, ran over the bridge and through the halls, and reached the exit... Ajiin was flying away.
She would have loved to throttle her throat... goddess or no goddess!
Rakash turned and froze when he saw her.
He was in a foul mood, that much was obvious.
“What are you doing here?” he spat out.
“What was she doing here would be a more relevant question,” she snapped back.
“I don’t have time for this—”
“You never do!” she remarked angrily.
He paused. “You do realize this is all your fault, don’t you?”
“What?”
“If you hadn’t poisoned Evken, none of this would have happened.”
She blanched.
How did he know?
“I don’t understand...”
“Please. Don’t pretend innocence. Do you think I’m stupid? Did you think I would not investigate how Julia got infected? She had been living in Ahuaxa for months. Our people can’t get sick or suffer from illnesses, but they can transmit viruses to humans. She had been spending most of her time with Evken, so it was not difficult to guess he was the source. Or to confirm it. How he got infected though was the more interesting question.”
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His tone had grown increasingly menacing as he went on.
Thyria took a step back.
“I...” she stuttered. “Julia had you all bewitched!”
“Really? That’s your excuse?”
“She stole Evken from me!” she yelled suddenly. “And then she stole you! You treated her more like a daughter than you ever did me. A human!”
“Apparently not,” said Rakash bitterly.
Thyria suddenly realized this was the reason her father had been so angry with her all these years. She had always assumed it had been because of her momentary lapse of kindness toward the humans.
Rakash walked past her and into the mansion.
She stormed after him.
“Are you going to hold this against me all of my life now? For all of eternity?”
He glanced at her. Grunted. “No.”
She blinked. “What?”
He sighed. “Julia was right... Ajiin. I need to move on. You are my daughter, not her. And I should not blame you for behaving in a way I might have myself.”
Thyria was speechless as she walked next to him.
“But,” he warned, “I am still upset with you. Give me a few years.”
“I can do that.”
She dared to drop a kiss on his cheek before running off—not waiting to see his reaction, and not realizing she had mimicked Ajiin’s own action.
***
He saw her walking down the street and his heart turned to stone. To think he had once loved her...
Their eyes met and Thyria paused.
She hesitated, then walked up to him.
“Evken...”
He turned his eyes away, while his grip on the cane tightened.
“You have every reason to hate me,” she said softly. “I don’t blame you for it. But I wanted you to know... I’m sorry.”
His eyes darted back to her in surprise, but she was already walking away.
Why had she said that?
It was not like her.
She couldn’t have meant it.
And yet... he had sensed a peacefulness in her he had never sensed before.
It didn’t matter, anyway.
Nothing could fix what she had done...
Then again, Julia was not really dead.
Evken had brought them out of the Gleaming just in time to hear Ajiin’s speech. It had left him torn inside and with tears in his eyes.
It was difficult for him to comprehend.
Was she a goddess?
Had she been one all along?
He had walked away from his three friends to gather his things and say his goodbyes.
Now that the Gleaming had become known to him, why would he stay?
He had always wanted to leave, to escape Rakash... now he had a real opportunity to do so.
And if his people had come here, to this world, through the Gleaming, did it not mean he could go to other worlds through the Gleaming as well?
The future had suddenly opened to him with an endless stream of possibilities that made his mind reel.
“Hello, Evken.”
He jumped and turned around.
Ajiin stood before him, smiling.
People all around fell to their knees and bent their heads.
She paid them no heed, but held out her hand for him to grab.
He did so and felt the winds rush around them and pick them up and lift them into the air. It was her way of giving them privacy.
“I wanted to see you again,” she said, “to let you know you did nothing wrong. You should not blame yourself for what happened to me—to Julia. It was not your fault.”
“I infected you...” he said with a weak voice.
“You did. But it was not your doing.”
He remained quiet for a moment, just looking at her. She looked different, and yet he still could recognize her beyond the superficiality of her appearance. Her being was the same.
“What will you do to Thyria?” he suddenly asked.
“Nothing.”
“But... she was responsible.”
“Yes, she was. And she will have to live with that guilt for the rest of her life. Is this not punishment enough?”
“You don’t know Thyria if you think that will make her lose any sleep...”
“Maybe, maybe not. But it doesn’t matter.”
She still held his hand with a firm grip. Her skin was soft and warm and he yearned for more...
“Where will you go?” she asked, as if she had read his earlier thoughts.
“I don’t know... wherever you want me to,” he added hopefully.
“It is your fate, not mine,” she said with a sweet smile. “But wherever you go, a part of me will always be with you.”
She leaned closer and they kissed for a long time.
When he opened his eyes, he was back in the street, and alone.
There was nothing more left for him to do here, he realized.
So he closed his eyes again and wished himself away.
***
Though her words had made no sense to him, she had been full of light and of beauty.
If this godlike being was Julia, did this mean she also was Susan?
It was a confusing thought for the detective, but then so much of what he had seen and experienced since his arrival on Qojja had challenged his beliefs.
Even his attempted escape had stretched his understanding of reality.
Thinking Susan was right behind him, he had jumped through the gateway only to find himself in a room filled with surprised Zendaar. They had immediately captured him and sent him back to Ahuaxa.
He had then seen Susan’s body fall from the sky and wondered why she had killed herself. That, too, had made no sense to him.
And then Ajiin had come.
It was a momentous event... at least, for the Zendaar.
He was still a prisoner.
Nothing had changed for him.
Or so he had thought until she reappeared.
She hovered in the sky above him.
He had been reassigned to a more lowly function because of his escape attempt, and now served a merchant in the blood district of Ahuaxa.
“I have been looking for you, detective Ward,” she said with a smile.
He stared up at the godlike being, unsure how to respond.
“You have?” was all he managed.
She came down from the sky and landed near him.
Everywhere she went, people fell to their knees and bowed their heads.
Instinctively, he started to do the same.
But she held out her hand to stop him.
“No. Please. Not you.” She smiled. “I am no god. It is difficult for them to understand, but it should not be for you.”
“What are you then?”
“I am from an ancient species called the Rissl. We use technology to do the things we do—albeit a much more highly advanced form of technology.”
“Oh.”
“You have been good to me,” she continued. “You helped me when you did not need to. I will help you too, now. You are free to go.”
Ward’s current master, who had been kneeling nearby, looked up at this and started to protest.
She hushed him with a single glance.
“I am?” asked the detective in disbelief.
“Yes. No one will stop you. You have my word.”
He believed her.
“Thank you.”
She rose back into the sky with a goodbye wave.
“Ajiin!” he heard a voice call out, but the woman did not hear as she flew off.
Ward turned and saw a man run up to the spot where Susan had been and stare at her in the sky. He had a small scar above his right brow.
“You just missed her, looks like,” he said cheerfully—he hadn’t felt this happy in a long time.
The other looked down at him.
“Yes, so it—” He froze and stared. “Ward?”
The detective frowned. “Yes. Do I know you?”
The man laughed. “Indeed you do. Though under different names.”
“What?”
He thought he’d have recognized such a face... It did feel somewhat familiar, but it was the kind of familiarity that comes from seeing someone in TriVid news rather than personal knowledge.
“My name is Xian. But I once was Rosenkrantz, Gyldenstierne, and Brown.”
Ward gaped. “You must be kidding me!”
“I’m sorry I bailed out on you the way I did, but there were more pressing matters I needed to attend to.”
They walked together for a while, discussing their respective experiences.
Until a holovisor call interrupted them.
“I have to take this,” said Xian. “But I suspect we’ll meet again, Brian.”
“I’ll be heading back to Exudia. You know where to find me...”
***
The streets of Joqqal had become peaceful again.
It was an odd thing.
After days of unrest, of dark skies and raging winds, of constant storms and religious uprisings... it all had gone quiet.
Cora stared at the crowds going about their daily business, as if nothing had happened.
Society was a strange thing, she mused.
Was it the same elsewhere?
Ever since that dream Xian had gifted her with, she had yearned for the stars.
The news had stated the spaceport would soon reopen and normal traffic would resume.
She tapped on her wristpad and initiated a call to Xian’s holo ID.
When his now-familiar face appeared on her retina, she smiled.
“I wanted to thank you,” she said.
“What for?”
“Not much. Just saving our whole damn planet.” She laughed.
“Oh, that.” He grinned. “I had some help, though. Can’t take all the credit.”
“I also wanted to say goodbye.”
“You are leaving?”
“As soon as they reopen the spaceport. I plan to be on the first flight out.”
“Good for you,” he said. “My son will be there too.”
“You have a son?”
“Haven’t I mentioned him? His name is Paul. He helped save the world, by the way.”
“Then I’ll have to make sure I thank him as well.”
***
The city was beautiful, as had been the woman floating in the sky.
It was all quite overwhelming.
He had recognized his friend’s voice, too, and that had puzzled him.
What was Jack doing here?
How was he?
He hadn’t seen him in such a long time...
Not since he’d given him the mask.
He had disappeared after that.
It was good to know he still was alive.
Paul searched for him after Ajiin finished her speech.
He found Jack walking aimlessly down an empty street, looking forlorn and dejected.
“Jack! What happened to you?”
His friend turned and looked at him. He closed his eyes and sobbed.
“I’m sorry, Paul, I’m so sorry...”
“What about?”
“Will... I killed him...”
“What?”
“It’s all my fault.”
“You’re not making any sense, buddy.”
“I was dying... they gave me life... but they took Will’s as payment... it was horrible!”
He wiped his mouth, as if a bitter taste lingered on his tongue.
“I don’t understand anything you’re saying...”
And so the two friends sat and Jack told him everything from the beginning. How he had been sick for months, how he had wanted the mask so he could trade it against the secret of immortality, how the price of immortality had been the life of their friend...
“I would never have agreed to it, had I known! But they never told me! They just brought him out and killed him in front of my eyes before I could say anything... These people are monsters! And I am one of them now.”
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Paul didn’t know what to say.
It was a horrifying story.
He was angry at how Will had been treated, but he also understood Jack’s torment.
But why had he not talked to them?
They could have helped him...
Could they have, though?
How?
He had tried to use magic to ease some of his friend’s pains, but it had not been of much help. Of course, he hadn’t been given all the information, but he was no doctor, and doubted he’d have been able to do much more.
“You can’t change what happened,” he finally said. “There is no point dwelling over it. It’s not like you killed him yourself. You did what you had to do. You’re alive, and you don’t have those pains anymore... Will would have wanted that.”
They had talked some more before Paul finally left.
He had decided to leave Qojja.
His parents were here, but...
Thyria was a creature beyond his comprehension. And she always made him uncomfortable.
Xian was more accessible, and he felt like he had bonded with him, but he also knew his father would not stay on this world forever, not now that he had put a stop to the renegade Rissl.
More importantly, both his parents had lives... he should have one too.
He would stay in touch with them—at least with his father—but he’d found the closure he needed.
Now that he knew where he came from, and why he was the way he was, there were no reasons for him to stay here any longer.
***
His friend was right, but it was difficult to accept...
The Zendaar had tricked him—he knew that, deep inside.
But he still felt filthy and despicable.
How could he have dragged his friend into this?
He was responsible.
Even if indirectly.
And now, not only did he have to live with that knowledge, he had become one of them.
Would he start acting like them, too?
Despite the disgust he had felt, he had enjoyed the taste of Will’s blood. He often found himself longing for more, which made him queasy.
He was just as much a monster as they were.
Not just because of what they had done to him, but even before that... Who would say ‘yes’ when asked if they’d kill to live? Who but a monster?
Maybe he deserved his fate after all.
And Ajiin... that creature... that being of light... whatever she was—he refused to think of her as a goddess—how could she condone such monstrous behavior? She excused it, even, made apologies for it.
It made no sense to him.
As he wandered the streets, he froze when he saw the Face of Xian. Except, this time, it wasn’t a mask. It was a man’s face.
And he was walking right toward him.
“Hello, Mr. Arnett.”
Jack stared at Xian.
“You know me?”
The man’s face was serious as he nodded.
“You’ve given me much trouble, but I know now you were merely a pawn in the Suryi’s game.”
Jack was aghast. “You call this a game? My entire life has been shredded. My best friend was murdered, his blood fed to me.” He winced at the memory.
Xian frowned. “You have fallen deep, and it pains me to hear this.”
“Can you fix me?” he asked with some hope—was this man not supposed to be a god, after all?
The other sighed and shook his head. “I am afraid not. Only the creator of your species could do something for you—maybe. And that is not me.”
Before Jack could ask the man what he meant, Xian had walked away and disappeared into the crowd.
He felt like shouting, like hitting a wall with his fist, like ripping someone’s throat and drinking their blood...
No! Not that! Never!
With a disgusted grimace, he started walking again.
He just wanted to leave.
Qojja, if he could—though he realized he could not, not anymore, now that he was one of them.
The Zendaar could not leave the planet.
But, at least, he could leave Ahuaxa.
Why would he stay here, among them?
They disgusted him.
He disgusted himself enough as it was, he did not need them to add to his misery.
So he took the platform and rose... up, up, up...
And then, without a look back, he lost himself in the depths of the jungle.
***
He searched for her everywhere. He knew she was still here, in Ahuaxa. He could sense her presence, but also he would see her every once in a while rise into the sky and come down to a different part of the city... as if she were visiting people, having private conversations with specific individuals.
Xian finally found her as she was about to leave again.
This time, she heard him call.
She smiled. “It has been a long time since I’ve seen you. Well met, Xian.”
“Actually, not that long if you count our dreamskins. I was the journalist John and, later, the detective Brown, whom Susan both met.”
She laughed. “I would not have guessed. I was another person, then. With no memory of my true self.”
“How did that happen?”
She then told him her story, as he did his.
They talked of the distant past, as well, shared memories from a previous life.
“What will you do now?” he asked.
“What I have always done. Watch over my people.”
“Do you not long to create again?”
“I made other worlds after this one,” she said, “but always I come back here. It is enough for me. How about you? What will you do?”
“Sleep feels very appealing right now.”
She laughed. “Haven’t you slept long enough?”
“I like my dreamskins better. There is something about being a human that I find more appealing.”
“They are fascinating creatures,” she conceded.
When finally they parted ways, Xian rose into the sky as she did, though the winds carried them in different directions
Back aboard his ship, he sat in the circular room and flew off.
His mission here was done.
The runaway Rissl would no longer be a danger to Qojja—or to any other world.
He could dream his lives in peace, now.
It did not matter where his ship was, so he left it in orbit around Ajiin’s world and went back to the white room with the sleeping pod.
Xian lay down inside.
Perhaps he’d join Paul and Cora and travel with them with his new skin.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep.