25. Epilogue
Phial - Ten Years Later
It never ceases to amaze me just how many young Holoth and K'Vella managed to have in the decade since they left the ship. Six young in ten years? That seems unhealthy. But then again, I'm not Rytharian, and I'm not female.
For all I know, K'Vella doesn't hate Holoth for having to go through labor six times. Well, soon to be seven, probably. They haven't announced another pregnancy yet, but I've watched K'Vella rub her belly absentmindedly throughout dinner.
Now, all their children sit in their oldest sister's bed, covered in furs that I'm sure smell like their mother and father. I enjoy visiting Holoth and his family on Rythar. We try to make the trip at least once a year, but now that families are growing between the crew, we are here more often than that.
"Come on, start the story!" Athna, Holoth's eldest daughter, pokes me with her foot to get me to start speaking.
I, along with their mother, who's standing in the doorway to make sure I'm fine being surrounded by five young while she nurses the sixth, snort at Athna's impatience.
"Are you sure you all do not wish for a new story this time? I have many."
I already know their answer will be a rejection of my storytelling prowess. No, there is only one story that these little Rytharians like. Well, one story that Athna likes and her siblings all like because they follow her lead. She will be a tiny tyrant when she gets older.
"Tell us about the Sytharians again," Athna says, and her siblings agree with her in a chorus of affirmations.
Does it matter that only three of them remember anything about the story? No, of course not. But that's fine. This is fine. I'm sure this won't be the last time I tell the story, either.
"Fine, but do you all know the rules?" I ask, cocking one of my feathered brows at the pile of blond children staring up at me.
"If anyone from the IA ever asks about it, we don't know what they're talking about," Athna says, beaming up at me because she remembers the first rule of Phial's story time.
The others mumble under their breath, side-eyeing their sister as they speak. It's good enough for me, and really, the IA no longer cares about my past transgressions. They have bigger problems than one male discussing his reason for exile.
"Once upon a time, there was a devilishly handsome Sytharian male named Vial. He lived on a planet made wealthy by the minerals found on it. They were so wealthy that they didn't need to be part of the Intergalactic Alliance. If they were, they would never get paid nearly as much for all of their resources. This made it so the wealthy Sytharians were bathing in their riches, and the less fortunate were stuck toiling away all day in the mines.
"One day, Vial, the devilishly handsome male, if you'll recall. Well, he decided he wanted to find a way out of the mines. Not to cause trouble but just because he longed to be out in the stars, exploring the universe.
"He was young, and he was foolish, but he was also good with explosives. He was so good that he was in charge of detonations across a whole chain of mines connected underneath one of the richest districts on Sythar. This was an honor amongst those in the mines, and he earned the position when he was still a young male.
"Now, Vial didn't have the same skills as those who came from wealth. He wasn't what the rich would call learned, but he knew math, and he knew the mines. He was also charming enough when he needed to be, and more importantly, the mother looked favorably on him in everything he did. They used to say that she was there the day he was born. A sign from the mother meant being blessed in all of life.
"Many saw Vial's position in life as one to strive for. He had enough money for a small shack he shared with his brother and parents until they passed from the illness that took miner's lungs. Yes, his job was dangerous, but it paid better than many others in the mines. Vial wasn't happy, though. No, he was young and eager and thought of ways to change the world. Mostly his own by leaving Sythar, something no one was allowed to do.
"One day, the wealthiest family in all of Sythar came to the mines. Sometimes, the wealthy enjoyed doing that. It made them feel like they were getting a taste of the work being done underneath their lands. No one knew why they came that day, and no one dared to even look at them for fear they would be executed on the spot.
"Unfortunately, Vial had not heard about the family coming to visit the mines and had scheduled many explosives to go off deep, deep in the ground. This was something the miners were all used to. Their world was constantly shaking and shifting in unnatural and scary ways.
"When the mines began to rumble, and the dirt and stone around them began to fall from the walls, the wealthy family started to panic. They saw their lives flash before their eyes. They saw the end of their legacy. Now, this was all perfectly normal occurrences for Vial and everyone else in the mines, but this wealthy family saw it as their end.
"Even worse, the daughter of the wealthy family had wandered off at some point. She escaped her security detail and was nowhere to be found.
"When she was frightened and alone, she was consoled by a miner. Something that should've never happened because those below the ground weren't to speak to or touch those from above.
"It wasn't just any miner who eased her fears, though. No, it was Vial's brother who knew much better than to even think of thinking about someone so far above him. But the princess was crying, and she was separated from her family, so he did what any good male would do. He tried to aid her.
"Of course, because of his station in life, his actions were not seen as kind or helpful. Oh no. The princess, well, she was smitten with Vial's brother the first time they saw one another. That much was clear to everyone who saw the way she looked at him. But her parents? They would much rather the mines swallow them whole than allow their daughter to be looked at by someone who worked deep in the dirt where there was no light.
"Because Vial's brother was kind enough to walk the princess back to her family, they accused him of trying to befriend her in a way they were not happy with. It didn't matter that the princess was a grown female who could make her own decisions, and it mattered even less that Vial's brother denied such accusations.
"Before anyone could stop it, Vial's brother was hauled away by the princess's security. Vial was already disheartened by the life he was given, and it was only made worse by his brother being taken from him. So, he made some decisions that others might say were bad.
"He became friends with others who were unhappy with how things were, those who thought the only way to bring about change was to make the others see whether they wanted to or not.
"Vial didn't know his brother was being kept in the wealthy family's home above the mine where he worked. It made no sense for Vial's brother to be there, but that is where he was, and that is how the world changed.
"You see, the princess had never wanted anyone in her life. Not any of the wealthy cousins her parents tried to marry her off to."
I have to pause the story at this moment so the children can get their 'ews' out of the way. The amount of inbreeding in Sytharian culture was and still is, to some degree, disgusting. Then again that was among the elite of which I was not.
"And she most definitely didn't want any of the other wealthy royalty across Sythar. However, she was willing to marry whoever her parents chose for her so long as she was able to keep Vial's brother. He would work in her employ, be her friend in secret, and no harm would befall him. Her parents were unhappy, but they allowed it. What other choice did they have since they only had one daughter to marry off and create a stronger fortune with?
"Down in the mines, though, Vial and his companions had no idea that his brother was living a life that none of them could even imagine. So they plotted, and they planned. And they came up with the best way to get back at the wealthy family for how they had always been treated.
"Vial was given many responsibilities when he was tasked with being in charge of the explosives. Because his job was so important, he made sure he never looked suspicious or like he wanted to cause trouble. He was always careful. More careful than he needed to be, but it was important if they were to make their point and get payback for Vial's brother being taken and all of the other hardships the wealthy forced on them.
"One night, many, many nights after Vial's brother was taken, they struck. Vial and his companions gathered up so many explosives that they could blow up the entirety of the estate above the mines. The plan was to make a statement. To tell the elites above them they wouldn't stand for the mistreatment any longer.
"Now, this is the important part of why Vial's companions were so eager to allow him to help them. Yes, yes, it was partially because he could get access to more explosives than they could ever need. But more important than that was his ability to turn nearly invisible. Many Sytharians can, but the effectiveness of camouflage is different for each one. Vial was a lucky male. Like I said, the mother blessed him on the day of his birth.
"So, they worked all through the night when their overseers were asleep. They planted explosives in important places in the mines directly below the estate above. It was dangerous work because they couldn't use any light. Thankfully, all of these males knew the mines like the back of their hands. They were born in the mines, raised in them.
"When morning approached, Vial began to worry if this wasn't the best idea. Many innocent Sytharians could be hurt by what he and his companions planned to do. So, he made a foolish decision. A foolish decision that forced him into leaving his home when all was said and done.
"Right before morning began to lighten the sky, Vial used his camouflage to sneak into the estate. The whole place was set up with security systems that should've alerted someone to his being there, but this was still part of the plan. Every one of Vial's companions thought he was still following the plan. But the mother was whispering in his ear, telling him what he was doing wasn't right.
"He made it deep into the private quarters of the wealthy family. All the way to the princess's bedroom. Now, he had no plans of hurting the princess. Well, he no longer had any plans of hurting the princess. See, he and his companions were going to sink the estate and its inhabitants into the mines. It was going to be their way of punishing the wealthy family for how they always treated those below them, to bring the land and the house and its inhabitants down to the same level. This would've killed many, many innocent Sytharians, and at the time, it seemed right."
"And killing isn't right," Holoth interrupts my story. I don't know why he even allows me to tell this story if he's going to interrupt it because of his morality. Then again, his children are still very young. They don't know of rebellions or how revolutions are started.
"Yes, yes, killing is wrong," I emphasize Holoth's point, giving each of his children a good long look to make sure they understand. "That's why this is just a story, not a recounting of real events. Now, back to it."
"Vial entered the princess's room. He was going to speak with her. To see if there was an agreement she could take to her parents, an open line of communication so that things might get easier in the mines. He hoped that it would not come down to bloodshed and death, especially now that the mother was on his shoulder telling him what he was doing was wrong.
"However, the princess wasn't alone in her room. No, Vial's brother was there. They were talking with one another over breakfast, a smile on both of their faces. His brother's scales were clean and shiny, his feathers growing back full and healthy. That was when Vial may have thought about making some bad decisions.
"All of this time, he was plotting revenge for his brother's imprisonment. He thought he would never see him again, and yet there he was, happy and healthy. It hurt Vial because, as far as he knew, his brother wasn't going to come back for him, and he wasn't going to tell him that he was safe.
"Vial didn't care about the life of luxury his brother now had, though he would've liked a little for himself. He was upset that he had been forgotten, or at least, he felt as though he had been forgotten.
"Thankfully, before Vial could let his anger win over, his brother spotted him even though he was camouflaged. They had grown up with one another, so his brother knew him even when he wasn't there. That or he was just hopeful that they would see one another again one day. Vial never did get to ask his brother how he knew he was there. It's good he knew, though, because Vial was back to contemplating blowing everything up.
"The princess was more understanding than anyone had any right to be with a strange male breaking into her room with the detonator to so many bombs her whole home would crumble. No, she didn't even shake when she spoke. She kept the poise of the most sound leaders as she told Vial he needed to kidnap her.
"Now, this plan seems foolish, and you're right it was. The only way Vial could keep the princess safe, deep down in the mines, was with his reputation. He was not a strong male nor a fighter, but many knew him and respected him enough that he hoped no one would harm a female he was in charge of. He even explained to the princess the dangers of going into the mines where people would know of her. Where they might want their burdens taken out on her. She told Vial she was his only leverage unless he was willing to pull the trigger.
"So, Vial kidnapped the princess–"
"Alright, I think it's time for bed," Holoth says with a side glance at me.
He thinks it's funny to interrupt my story right before we get to the end. His children groan and whine, begging for just a little longer. When he relents–because, of course, he does, he's only interrupting me to be annoying–all his children think him a hero again.
"No more interruptions," I say before turning back to the young. "Vial's companions all had different ideas of what to do with the princess. Some thought to—"
"Nope, still too young." K'Vella is the one to cut in this time.
"I tell them how my brother and the princess are just friends and are eating breakfast, and you still think I'm going to say things that they are too young to hear?" I whisper hiss at K'Vella.
"Wait, they weren't eating breakfast?" Jovi asks from the hallway as Sloane peeks around the doorframe.
"Someone was eating breakfast," I grumble just loud enough for the adults to hear.
Jovi and Sloane both snort, while Holoth and K'Vella both look scandalized. They live on probably the most sex positive planets in the universe, and yet they act like this. Strange.
"Now, back to the story for the last time."
"Some thought hurting the princess was the best way to make a point. Others thought of using her as a way to communicate with her parents. What Vial didn't know was that his brother and the princess were working for just as long as he was coming up with a plan to shake up how things on Sythar were.
"So, when the news came down into the mines of the king and queen both being killed in a way that indicated explosives, well, Vial was blamed for their deaths. He, of course, had no idea what anyone was talking about. He had been with the princess since he brought her into the mines. He rarely ever slept for fear of someone hurting her while he was unconscious. There was never a time he had the chance to kill her parents.
"The princess was not sad to learn of these events. She wasn't fearful to think her use was no longer there. If anything, she seemed to exude more confidence when it was done, and when she told Vial that he had played his role well, he believed her, though he had no idea what he had done.
"The mines were raided later that day. Military forces were sent down to retrieve Vial and the only heir to the wealthiest family on all of Sythar. The bloodshed Vial had wanted to avoid came to fruition even though he didn't want it to. He watched his friends die. He watched the mines crumble and collapse as those unused to how they worked tried to navigate them. When the dust settled, he was put in chains. So many had died, he wondered if it wouldn't have been better to have blown the estate up.
"Vial was only in custody for one day before the princess came for him. She told him he was to leave Sythar and never return, that he was labeled a bad man who had done terrible things. He had incited a rebellion and killed her parents, but the lies would lead to change. She promised him that much, at least.
"Vial had no choice but to accept what the princess told him. No matter the truth, it was his word against hers.
"Everything in Vial's life felt hopeless for a long time after that. He felt as though there was no reason for any of it to happen. Why hadn't he just blown the estate up if things were always going to end with death? If things were going to stay the same?
"His only saving grace was that he was allowed to leave. A single shuttle lifted him from Sythar and transported him to the nearest Intergalactic Alliance asylum seeking office. It was a week long journey, and he was not given food or water, but he had survived under worse conditions.
"When he arrived at the IA, he was told his asylum status had been accepted and that they had heard of the uprising happening on Sythar as the miners all began to take up arms against the ruling elite. There was a new leader demanding change, the princess and her new husband, a lowly miner. Vial's brother and his new wife forged a story they fed to the IA so Vial wouldn't be stuck without protection. They gave him a chance at a new life. But in exchange, he could never go home again."
"But the princess made the world better, right?" Athna asks. She already knows the answer to that question, though this time, I suppose the answer is a little different than the last time I told the story.
"She did make the world better, and though it took many years, Sythar will soon join the Intergalactic Alliance. If the ruling elite don't make appropriate changes, the IA will ensure there are consequences."
I ignore the look of surprise on Holoth's face when I tell the last part. I haven't told anyone but Avery that Sythar will soon be open to all species in the Intergalactic Alliance. I haven't even thought about if I will return to see my brother.
"Thank Phial for telling you the story," K'Vella tells her children, and they all make quick work of giving me their thanks. Well, the ones who speak do.
I leave the room, giving Holoth and K'Vella the space to start herding their children to their correct rooms and beds. Jovi, Alik, and Sloane vacated the hallway when I finished my story, and now Avery is out there waiting for me.
"You're green now," Avery tells me as though I don't already know that my scales have long since shifted their color. "Maybe no one on Sythar would even recognize you."
"Is this your way of telling me I should see my brother?" I ask her, winding my tail through her legs and pulling her close with an arm banded around her waist.
"I think you should do what makes you happy," Avery says, pressing her palms to my cheeks and keeping my attention on her. "We might be able to snag you some of the good explosives if we visit."
A smile curls my lips at her suggestion. "Why do I feel like this is a bad idea?"
"Maybe you should ask the mother what she has to say about it." Avery pats my cheek before turning in my hold. I don't let her get very far before I'm following behind her, close enough that my breath is in her hair.
"Right now, the mother is telling me to get you back on the ship."
Avery looks at me over her shoulder, a soft twinkling in her eyes. "Good, I've been trying to get her to tell you that for over an hour now."
I let out a bark of laughter before scooping Avery into my arms. We don't need to say goodbye to anyone here. They all know we are one comm message away.
Right now, though, I wish to be with the other half of my being. And I plan to be with her alone for at least the rest of the night. Maybe longer if I can convince her we don't need to leave the dome.