Chapter 23
The center of Ailios was breathtaking; the hundreds of streams and ovalt groves each convened in an enormous garden. Ailios Plaza was an enormous garden, the homes and vendors stopped at the plaza’s edge, the sheer number of streams in their circular placement prevented any structure from having a foundation. Beautiful golden scaffolding allowed a hooded Miles and Braes to walk above the streams and foliage. A hundred other Aurrus meandered about on the raised platform. Miles gasped in awe as they neared the center of Ailios Plaza; each of the streams began to spiral along guided metal railings in a funnel. The hundred streams twisted around one another, seeming to never intersect, each individually pouring in to a narrow hole.
“How does one stream, let alone a few hundred, flow into that hole?” Miles asked.
“That is a mystery we have never and will never try to solve.” Braes answered with a smirk. She held Mile’s wrist and set his hand upon the golden rail, its warmth coursed through his body.
“This place is sacred to the Aurrus; it is where all of life on Aurrus flows, to a center point where it then restarts. For eons we have found this to be a universal truth; all life ends, but life begins again… different.” Braes recited, as though a priestess creed.
“It is really beautiful.” Miles said, while he leaned over the rail to look down the swirling funnel. “It smells good too.” He inhaled the fresh air.
“It is, and it does.” Braes allowed herself to appreciate the scene. Finally, she found a purpose; she was responsible for the boy. Where she had failed as a religious leader, she would succeed as a mentor.
“Does anyone ever try to climb beneath the scaffolding to pick the ovalt fruit?” Miles asked curiously, the then amended his thought; “Actually, the streams might be running a little too quickly for it to be safe.”
“Yes, on occasion children will play under the plaza to pick the fruit, it is a very popular game. But, no, the streams actually do not run as fast or as deep as they appear. The Aurrus ordinarily use up a large portion of the water before it reaches the plaza.” Braes smiled.
“Wow. That sounds fun.” Miles thought, after a moment of silence he turned to face Braes:
“What is your plan for me?” He asked, confident, and by Braes’ instinct he was also calmed in the spirit.
“I brought you here to access your spiritual condition. I believe you are already prepared to receive my gift.” She told him, “Come now, it is a long walk to the temple court.”
Miles walked by her side, “Why wouldn’t the temple be next to the plaza?” he asked.
“Much like these streams, the temple was built long before anything was recorded. When you see it I think you will understand.” She explained.
The two walked through the crowded streets, none of the Aurrus paid them any attention, save an Aurrus in grey following at a distance. Each of the Aurrus fumbled with their large fingers to set up their wares in preparation for the Callos arrival; occasionally one Aurrus would look to the sky to check that the Convoy was not yet in orbit. The street was swept clean by several younger Aurrus, while some native Callos yelled loudly in an attempt to prepare their home for their relatives.
“Travel season is always the worst.” Miles joked, Braes didn’t respond, he itched his head; back at home humor translated a little better.
They continued, taking only one break to eat. Miles was hesitant to eat a black furry fruit, which Braes insisted did not actually move as he claimed. The fruit was decent enough, but only after Miles peeled off the fur coat.
They climbed up some stairs to stand on the rooftop of a home, before them was an enormous Aurrus crowd chanting “Larragut! Larragut!”. With a loud squawk and the flash of bright lights a Callos took to the stage; her scales and feathers were neon green as opposed to the normal muted blue. The stage appeared to be made of moving water, undulating platforms and dazzling lights provided a blue fluidity to the stage that wowed Miles. The Aurrus approached the center of the stage and then screamed loudly with delight, Larragut Paras posed as she shrieked loudly. Miles had to cover his ears, Braes sat happily.
“So, you don’t like Larragut Paras?” She chuckled.
“Not really!” Miles shouted over the piercing shriek.
“Come with me.” She took him by the hand and led him away from the concert.
“You don’t seem too shocked to hear about an alien who is capable of blasting light out of their arms.” He mentioned casually.
“I would be, but I knew that you would be coming.” She said dryly.
“What?” Miles’ jaw dropped.
“Lalia didn’t tell you?” She asked, pursing her red lips, she teased him, “Actually, yes. For about a week I was having these terrifying nightmares, I was in this room filled with aliens, they would turn and yell loudly at me. I would run out of the room, and I shattered, like I was made of glass.”
“I can imagine that being scary.” Miles said, reflecting to a very real scene he had lived.
“It was. Until I recognized it was the same every time. The predictability began to comfort me, each time it was the same, but each time it became a little clearer.” Braes said, sipping from a cup. The two sat on a bench facing the flowing water, the birds chirped as Miles finished something much like a granola bar, “Dessert” Braes had told him.
“How did it get clearer?” Miles asked.
“I started to see more details once I was no longer afraid. For instance, the scene kind of began in a blur, but by the end of the week I knew that a feathery creature, much like those,” She directed to the scaly green birds fighting over granola crumbs on the opposite side of the road, “That face, with deep blue eyes began the sequence.”
“Braes, do you think it was possible that your dreams predicted what happened to me?” Miles asked slowly.
“Yes, Miles. I do believe my dreams were visions. Lalia also dreamt of you. We were all connected before anything had even begun.” Braes reflected.
“I have, since hearing Lalia’s side of the story last night, and seeing you…” Braes started, but Miles interrupted;
“Garth! Garth and I didn’t share anything! What if that means something?” Miles shouted, afraid.
“What do you mean?” Braes asked, concerned, holding a crying Miles by the shoulder.
“Does that mean that Garth shouldn’t have met me? That something bad will happen?” Miles cried.
“Shh.” Braes tried to calm him, handing him her cup to drink from. “No, just because you didn’t dream share does not mean he is in trouble. Simply because one doesn’t have any lines to speak, does not mean that they don’t have a role in the play.” Braes reasoned.
“I am afraid.” Miles admitted to Braes, “I have been afraid this whole time. I only have been putting it aside in order to get things done. I really just want things to be as they were.”
“I am sure you do, anyone who has ever lost anything wishes that they could undo the past. But you, my dear, were not given the power to move through time, you were given the power to shoot things with light.” She chuckled, “Light from your arms.” She began to laugh loudly.
“What is so funny?” Miles asked, sniffling and wiping at his tears.
“Really, this is the most unusual experience in my life. I am sitting with an alien capable of blowing up planets, laughing at him!” She laughed so hard she began to cry.
“I am sorry.” She caught her breath and apologized. “I cannot understand how difficult this must be for you, but I think with my gift you will feel more capable of accessing your situation.” She stood and helped him to his feet.
“Where do we go now?” Miles asked.
“We are closer now. The temple is just a few more minutes away. You can actually see it from here.” She said, leaning over a bridge to see a bell-tower above the homes.
The Ailios temple was an enormous cathedral, buttresses lined both sides, and in lieu of a stained glass window was a protruding aviary. Colorful birds flew
in an out in droves; the large opening provided a resting place for dozens of the cawing and squawking creatures. The entire temple appeared to be carved out of a single piece of sandstone; its base was connected to the planet. Miles turned to look for similar formations, but the temple was the only such protrusion he had seen on Aurrus.
“The temple was carved from the planet.” Miles said with wonder.
“Yes. Unfortunately, today wasn’t the best day to see my favorite birds; they are bright yellow and look incredibly soft.” Lalia sighed, but continued the awed Miles closer to the temple’s entrance.
Due to the hour, only a few Aurrus children and their parents sat on the temple’s steps, feeding the birds. A grey cloaked Aurrus stood in the large doorway tossing out bread crumbs.
“Braes.” Miles asked, “If you are the priestess, why then do you live so far from the temple?”
“I never really took my position seriously.” Braes confessed, “I am one of fifteen Aurrus priestesses, most of them have given up on the ancient religion. I was the youngest and most naive. These tattoos,” She directed with her hands to the gold and green inscriptions painted on her side, “were symbolic of my dedication. But in the hundred-some-odd-years since: I couldn’t care less.”
The two entered the temple; the chamber seemed to swallow light with its high dark roof where the birds rested on the rafters.
“Don’t worry, they won’t poop.” Braes answered before Miles could ask.
“This entire temple,” Braes shouted, her arms raised spinning in a circle, “goes unused. The Aurrus could never fit into this building; as beautiful as it is, not even a tenth of Ailios could fit. As a priestess I had this room filled, convinced that our planet was devoted to the faith. But even the fullest building isn’t the point of worship, it simply becomes a hazard.” Braes admitted, “As a people we missed the purpose, once I stopped, the whole planet moved on, they couldn’t care less.”
Braes turned to face Miles who was bent over a glowing orb,
“Is this a light bulb?” Miles asked, poking at the orb.
“No, that is a meerkly bulb. They are bioluminescent weeds growing through the floor; we really should just pull them out.” She explained, Miles stooped over to pull the bulbs out from their roots.
Braes continued, coming closer:
“On a more positive note, that means we came at the right time, in a few moments the birds…” she was interrupted.
The Aurrus in the grey cloak entered the temple chamber, the giant doors slammed shut behind him, his arm was raised towards Braes.
“Does he have a gun?” Miles asked. Braes shook her head; she didn’t know.
He stepped into the light, the glint of his gun more evident.
“Temptress!” the Aurrus shouted, “You took all that I had, and dispersed it to your people!”
Braes reached for the gun strapped to her thigh, but the Aurrus stopped her:
“Don’t reach for it. I know you are armed.” He spat.
Miles pulled Braes and tried to back away from the approaching Aurrus.
“Better not move, boy. She will lie to you and take all of your money. She doesn’t care about anyone; all she wanted was a charitable donation.” His words were slurred.
“You’re drunk! You aren’t making any sense.” Braes shouted.
“Am I? I think I need a confession, come with me…” the Aurrus stumbled forward.
“Run!” Miles shouted to Braes, as his arms glowed brightly, a white pulse of light hurled at the drunken Aurrus. His whole body flailed, the gun shot upward.
Miles ran after Braes, jumping over the fallen Aurrus, but the Aurrus caught Miles’ leg. Miles looked up to see the rafters of the temple light up, each of the birds were brightly colored. The Aurrus moaned as he dragged Miles toward him, holding him by the neck. Miles struggled to repel the Aurrus with a blast, but he was unable to draw in air to breath. The light around his arms dwindled. Braes tried to pry open the doors, but was trapped.
Miles vision began to blur, he gasped for air, his punches failed to knock the Aurrus off of him. Miles reached blindly for the dropped gun, he tried to turn the gun towards the Aurrus, but the Aurrus used his free hand to struggle for the gun. Mile’s vision was reduced to brightly colored blurs; he pulled the trigger and fired a round towards the rafters. His eyes began to close, his lungs were starved for air, he was unsure whether Braes escaped. All he could hear was the sound of loud squawking and fluttering wings. The birds scattered in an attempt to escape the temple, their fluttering glowing wings filled the air with light and noise. Distracted the drunk released his choke hold, instead watching the whirlwind of color.
Miles wheezed and coughed, retching for oxygen. He inhaled deeply and jettisoned the drunk to the far end of the temple, where he collapsed. Braes fell to the floor to pick Miles’ head up; she pocketed the drunk’s gun.
“Thank you.” She hugged him, he blacked out.