Unipsi, lovely entity
chapter 84c: Iris
4 and half more days of space travel at maximum speed to finally reach Weeping Sky. The planet appeared immense yet surrounded by even bigger masses. With the planet in sight, a distorted message echoed throughout the ship. It was a special encrypted communication that was meant for the ship AI. With the exception of Scilla, all of them were looking at screens showing the outside. They had appeared really close to the planet and immediately started their descent. Soon the ship was piercing through dense clouds. While most stared at the outside cloud washing the ship, Dhalia and Csuicha worried. The ship was not descending correctly. Instead of having the thrusters pointed at the planet, Scilla was descending keeping the ship horizontal.
“Arresto propulsione primaria (primary propulsion shut down)” said the AI.
“Dispiegamento vele (deploying sails)”
The strange pillars in the ship hull extended to 30 meters, long sails popped out of them and connected to each other. They immediately inflated as wind started to increase the more they descended.
“what the fuck? Are you kidding me? Sails?” said Dhalia.
“I’m not. It’s far cheaper to use them.” replied Scilla.
“forme di vita rilevate( life form detected)”
“what did it say?” asked Dhalia.
“nothing, just look outside”
The ship left the clouds and as soon as the coast was clear horrifying screeches were picked up by the external microphones. Those sounds scared Aura and put Csuicha’s guards on alert. Then they appeared. Long flying beasts with strange half-circular wings like the spacecraft. There were about 10 of those creatures that went from 6 meters long to 21 meters. They were flying around pushed by the wind just like them. The smaller also landed on the ship while keeping their heads forward and their mouths open. They were ugly, looking like a mix of a deep-sea shark and a malformed snake. Their sounds were just horrendous.
“what… what are those?” asked Paz.
“Iris calls them Schiluga. They sort of behave like flying whales. They filter air from pollen and microorganisms suspended in air”
“how the hell do they fly?” asked Dhalia. But before Scilla could say anything Alba replied.
“Gravron. This is really Weeping Sky. My queen’s home world.”
“you know more than what I assumed”
“we extract the little we have on Astera. We kind of observed that the closer you are to the rift the more you find”
“That’s right.”
“Our expansion kind of stopped but judging by what I’m seeing. We must be really close to the Magno’s rift.”
“we are not close, we are on the other side”
“fair enough. I suppose you can’t disclose the exact location” replied Alba. She believed 100% that Scilla lied to avoid exposing the planet. After all there was no way to move into the rift, especially this fast.
“you don’t have to believe me right away. I’ll ask Iris to go for a walk tonight. All you will have to do is stare at the sky”
They had reached Weeping Sky at the start of dusk. The sky was growing red while light was slowly reducing. As they flew above the main base Nixie asked.
“aren’t we going too fast to land here?”
“this is the main base. We are not stopping here.”
“how many people live here?” asked Csuicha.
“none. It’s only me and Iris on the entire planet”
“then why make something so big?”
“it’s even bigger than what it looks. There are more than 10 underground levels as vast as the one you see on the surface. But I never understood why either.”
“it can’t be just empty space”
“it’s not. It’s mostly storage thou.”
“and what does she store?”
“robots, tanks, bombs, nuclear missiles, ammo. You name it and there is probably a storage for it.”
“what’s the point of all of it? Is she preparing for war?”
“For a fair amount of the things she makes I know the answer. For the others not really. Iris lets me play with them and I don’t ask”
“wouldn't you avoid speaking of… the purpose of all this armament production?” asked Alba.
“not really. Iris would tell you without caring but will never elaborate beyond it. All the weapons she makes are built because of The Enemy. Who is the enemy? I have no idea. There is no knowledge of it. Images? Vague descriptions? Possible ways to detect it? no. there is absolutely nothing, yet she still prepares to fight it”
“maybe she just doesn’t tell you.” replied Alba.
“it’s possible. I personally don’t give a shit about her objective or reason. All I know is that she likes to build weapons and to produce them. She is happy and I’m happy that she is happy.”
“you sound like you are already married” said Nixie.
“we complement each other really well… oh and just to warn you. Iris is a bit of an odd creature. So don’t take things too personally”
“procedure di atterraggio avviate. In arrivo a spazioporto Iridana 1. preparasi all’atterraggio. (landing proceedings engaged. Arriving at Iridana’s spaceport 1. preparing for landing)” The AI stopped their conversation as they had flown past the main base and were now approaching Iridana with its only landing zone.
“well time to get ready.”
All the landing was done automatically and soon the whole group was outside. Clean air with a bit more oxygen than usual. It was pleasantly chill with a fairly cold wind blowing almost constantly yet lightly. They were immersed in colorful trees, most had green leaves but several had deep red leaves or bright yellow leaves. Pavement connected them to a huge door covered with grass. The sun was starting to set behind the moving plants while unknown creatures emitted eerie sounds in the distance. It was a beautiful place that felt threatening. They didn’t know why, but they felt as if nature was rejecting them.
While walking toward the door a figure appeared from a corner that was devoured by shadows. It was Iris. She was covered from head to toe with her favorite outfit. It was of a really dark green with lighter green leaves making a natural pattern. She had a thick veil that covered her head and ears that partially poked horizontally making her head somewhat bigger. Her mouth was left out and so were her fingers with the ring clearly visible. She had a different ring. Entirely carved out from a perfect emerald. All her drapes, capes, small mantels, and strings of clothes shifted in the blowing wind that started to emit sounds. Each blow was akin to a distant cry or a long low painful wail of a lost soul. She felt dangerous and it reflected on the group. They were scared but Scilla walked on happy and humming some melody. A humming that was soon reciprocated.
Once close enough to each other Iris lifted her arms while Scilla opened them wide each shouting.
“Scilla!”—”Iris!”
They run into each other, Iris jumping on Scilla and Scilla catching her mid-air. Scilla spun around once even if it was totally unnecessary considering how little Iris weighed. Then Iris kissed Scilla. It was a deep and long kiss, uncomfortably long. Then Iris pulled back.
“mi sei mancata (I missed you)”
“mi sei mancata anche tu (I missed you too)”
“chi son questi che ti porti appresso? (who are these you carry around with you?)” asked Iris.
“Nostri ospiti (our guests)”
in those 3 years scilla became really fluent in Estir but without her knowing she didn’t learn the pure version. Iris taught her an Estir that had a different accent and was more of an ancient dialect.
“bhe allora fammi presentare (then let me introduce myself)”
Scilla walked closer to the group and let Iris touch the ground again. She stared at them while moving her hands inside her pockets.
“Hiiiiiii. I’m Idra 608 IS-98-ULm Weeping Sky but you can call me Idra. Welcome to Weeping Sky, my home world. I regret to inform you that you are illegally trespassing on military soil and the only solution is dead.”
They were confused and so was Scilla, but she wasn’t worried. Then Iris jumped in the air, lifting her arms and shouted
“BOH!”
she looked happy about her actions.
Csuicha’s guards reacted and pulled out their guns pointing them at Idra who had already returned to the ground and appeared confused.
“why are they not laughing?” she asked while she turned to face Scilla.
“why should they be?” she replied lifting an eyebrow.
“because I did prank right? Or did I not?”
Scilla started laughing like crazy.
“that was a prank?” she managed to say between laughs.
“so it was not. I don’t understand. Why do yours work but not mine? Aren’t you supposed to scare people and then tell them it was a lie to make... a... prank?”
Scilla laughed even harder.
“it’s your fault. You are a terrible teacher” continued Iris shifting to a more acute tone.
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“I’m not a huge prankster, but they usually work. I don’t think that I’m the issue here. Where are you going?”
Scilla’s last words were out of place. Iris was still there standing on the spot.
“then how is that you know how to speak perfectly thanks to me, but I still can’t prank people or make good jokes or do sarcasm? Just believe in me”
“mmh. You have a point… maybe you are too smart to really comprehend how comedy works.”
“yeah. Maybe… and maybe parasites should know their place”
Iris’s phrase was immediately followed by a scream of surprise and then a thump caused by one of the rear guards hitting the ground. Iris was no longer in front of them but behind Csuicha’s guards and had just slammed one into the ground. The Leans beside wanted to react but instead started couching. The air had just become toxic.
Iris, exhibiting inhuman force, was lifting the guard and then slamming her back into the ground with just one hand. Loud growling mixed with the confusion until Scilla was able to stop it with just words.
“Iris are you killing her for fun?” asked Scilla calmly.
“you know me. Of course not.”
“so what crime did she commit?”
“she pointed her gun at you.”
Scilla’s face shifted from confident to worried. In 3 years she understood that Iris was obsessed with her. No matter how little the threat was, Iris was not going to tolerate it.
The other leans had run out of the cloud of toxin but Scilla immediately stopped them by shouting.
“DON’T REACH FOR YOUR GUN!! DON’T DO IT IF YOU WANT TO LIVE”
The guards stopped as one noticed a strange shifting in the air beside her. She poked the shifting air to immediately jump back as an invisible robot appeared beside her. One by one several war machines equipped with cannons turned off their cloaking devices. Along them, Armed drones arrived at the scene. There was no way to survive against all of that.
“what are you going to do to her?” asked Scilla nervously.
“mmh. Kill her. Obviously”
“Obviously…”
“Scilla?” Csuicha stared at her.
“With this I have we are even Serafia. Iris… do you think you could let her go, for me?”
“mmh. Well I do the rules here so… no. I won’t let her go. But I can let her live…”
Iris let go of the now concussed Lean and a robot took her into custody.
“how about a day in jail. Then if she repents I’ll allow her out for the rest of the stay?”
“that would be perfect. Thanks Iri.”
“are you sure that’s what you want?”
“yep.”
“okay. Bot put her in a cell.”
“Scilla it’s not her fault, she may have…” started Csuicha but Iris interrupted her.
“HEY! You Bianca! (white/also a name). Do you want to end up in jail too?”
“Iris please. She is a friend” replied Scilla.
“Your friend should think more. Being your Liin gives her no privilege here”
“how do you know?” asked Csuicha.
“I can guess all of you from what Scilla told me”
Iris returned to Scilla’s side to face the group frontally. Then she pointed from right to left at each important Lean.
“you white are Serafia Csuicha. The head of the Leans. You have your guards, all too weak to protect you from me. So don’t make me angry. Then Dhalia Hakavor. The heir of the Hakavors. I must have done something to you cause you flinch scared each time I speak to you or get closer…”
“yeah, you broke one of her arms”
“strange. Leaving survivors is against protocols. Well whatever. Then you beside are Mira dragva. An old friend that works in a spaceport…”
“I… I… I’m not important please don’t kill me” said Mira almost crying. She had always been afraid of Esterians.
“I will not hurt you as long as you don’t put Scilla in danger. I’m not a monster”
“do you know who those three are?” asked Scilla pointing at the Ibarras.
“the old one is Paz Ibarra. Then the adult must be your friend. Nuria Ibarra. Then the small one is her child Aura. Nuria…”
“yes?”
“we may not know each other. At least I have no memory of you. But my condolences, it must not be easy to be a widow”
Nuria looked confused and with the same confusion replied.
“I'm… I’m not a widow. I was never married”
Iris looked at Scilla who just nodded motioning to go on to placate her curiosity. So she replied.
“oh. Then how did you have a child?”
“I adopted her.”
“what is that?”
“it’s when you get a child but he was born from someone else.”
“why adopt one? Especially one that is not red?”
Aura clung on Nuria.
“don’t worry kid. You are my child, no matter what others say.” she reassured Aura before continuing.
“because I don’t care about skin color. I liked her very much so I kept her.”
“oh. That’s a really noble thing to do. I get why I gave you a leg”
“wait you noticed?”
“what? That you are wearing Esterian technology? Of course I did. Judging by your actions I would like to replace your leg with something that has less than 260 years.”
Shock on all Lean faces. Except Scilla. She had seen a lot of things in those 3 years.
“What the fuck? You have better legs than this?”
“dah, yeah. That thing is just an adaptation of a prototype that the Founder made. The model you are using was built during the Spike war as a cheap and fast-to-install limb for amputee soldiers.”
“well I suppose I could use some maintenance”
“well then moving on we have Scilla’s pama Liwa and her sister Wiola… Scil do you mind if I hug her?”
“I always tell you that you can do as you please”
“and I did, I pleased to ask you for permission”
Iris walked up to Wiola who timidly opened her arms to welcome a warm hug, followed by sniffing.
“What… what you doing?” asked Wiola.
“me… I’m just looking around… na I’m making sure you are healthy, you are my almost-husband sister after all”
“and you sniff me?”
“yes she does. She is also really good at it” said Scilla.
Done with the hug only 4 people remained. The Esterians that so far remained respectfully distant.
“I can sense that you are a remnant. Being a woman you must be a Nixie.”
“I'm honoured to be here Remanent of the Founder…” Nixie was being formal. She had no doubts that whatever she had before her was a real Idra.
“just call me Idra.”
“as you desire”
“as Scilla told me, allegedly we were friends. So drop the formalities.”
“ok. I have so many questions about how you survived and what you remember but I’ll…”
“oh no. I think you are misunderstanding. Idra 511 didn’t survive at all. I told you my name. I’m Idra 608. we are different. I studied what Scilla was able to salvage from 511 but nothing more”
Scilla’s lie had been exposed immediately. She told everybody that she somehow cloned 511, but it was just false.
“but… but there were no more Idras produced. That’s what 511 told us”
“that’s true. 511 was the last Idra produced. I would love to explain to you how I’m 511 and at the same time I’m not, but I can’t. You don’t have the permission to know.”
“oohh... then you don’t remember us right?” asked the chimeras.
“no. not at all. But I see two younglings connected to each other. You remind me of myself when I was a little kid”
“how little?” asked.
“mmh. About 7 maybe 6 years old. Curious and childish”
“we are not childish”
“you are. Lastly…”
When Iris looked at Alba she kneeled.
“mia regina, sei viva (my queen, you are alive)”
“non sono nessuna regina. La mia gente non c’è più. (I’m no queen. My people are no more)”
“avrai sempre la mia lealtà.(you will always have my loyalty)”
“non ti facevo così fedele. Ripeti chi sei. Rivela il tuo obbiettivo a tutti. (I didn’t make you so faithful. Repeat who you are. Reveal your objective to all)”
“I’m Alba Corvi. I was your intelligence carrier and connection with the ETU. My life purpose was to rely your words to the council. As your previous body was destroyed we lost such connection. My objective is to assist you. But I can’t deny my own egoistical wishes”
“Which are?”
“Your death brought despair between us. It divided us. Some were lost. I was lost. Without a purpose. No more guided by the Remnant of the Founder. We regrouped, clung to our hope to serve the Foundation again. Hope for your return. A stupid hope, I’ll admit that. But we tried to stay strong and follow our Founder. I had to try and meet you. Both for my own selfishness and to ask. Ask to return to us. Rule again as the Founder did. Guide our civilization to greatness. As our only queen.”
“Alba, look at me”
“I can’t…”
“look at me.”
Their eyes met, or at least their faces aligned.
“I'll grant your selfish wish, but I’m not your queen and you are doing a disgrace to our Founder's words...”
Alba returned to stare at the ground, not out of embarrassment for misunderstanding the Founder's words but for sadness to have failed her goddess. Iris grabbed her head and forced Alba to look back at her.
“The Founder himself didn’t rule alone. Elvira was always by his side. He knew that monarchy and tyranny were no solutions. He made our system as it is because he believed it was the right way to move forward. But maybe, after consulting with Scilla, maybe I could speak to our people. To unite them again. Under no false idol, just science”
Alba was now crying and started to mumble something unintelligible. Iris hugged her and as she did the wind blew with extreme force detaching leaves from the trees that fell on them creating a scene worth thousands of paintings. A scene that was going to become part of history and would end up being remembered as “L’anima della Fondazione (the soul of the Foundation)”.
“Iri...yeah.. about speaking with… your people… I have fucked up” said Scilla.
“I kind of promise Serafia the possibility to speak with the ETU council to make her come here… sorry”
“nah, it’s good. Be we should go into our house…”
“your house” replied Scilla.
“no. our house”
“yours”
“ours”
“yours. The house and this planet are all yours. I have no right to them and I don’t want them neither…”
“but…”
“let me finish. I know we kind of fought for 4 months on this but I finally found the way to express it”
now Scilla and Iris were walking side by side, directly followed by all the others who listened carefully.
“all you see is yours and yours only. The house as its physical place doesn’t belong to me. Yet this place is my home. Is the place I wish to return to. The place I wish to sleep at. Rest at. But not because there are these walls. Not because I bought it. But, and it’s a big butt...”
Iris laugh. It was her kind of stupid humor.
“Because you are here. You are my home. Not the house. So this is your house, but it’s our home. As long as I have you, I’ll be home”
Iris didn’t reply. Just smiled and then leaned on Scilla while walking.
“what… what you mean by 4 months of fighting?” it was Aura’s voice. She found the courage to reply and she kinda wanted some revenge for the stream of questions from before.
“exactly as it sounds. Me and Scilla fight often and they are long fights”
“and if they are at the same level of. ‘No this is your house but you are my home’ and bla bla bla I’m going to die from an overdose of cringe love” said Wiola.
The tension had dissipated and the group entered Iridana. The wedding was coming up soon.