Project - Prometheus Ch. 13

"Yes. My mother, among many other chiefs, believed that we were slowly dying. We had adapted to the climate on Talemkha, but it was a slow process and many people died because of it. With the inter-clan warfare that was happening, we believed it was only a matter of time before our numbers were too low to survive over fifty years on Talemkha," Luminia explained.

"Well, I think your people will see a resurgence soon!" Natalya stated, with the rest of the crew voicing their agreement.

"Well, now that the new dome has met with your approval, did you want to head down to hydroponics and pick out a few choice items to bring down for your people?" Alex asked.

"Yes please! Are we going back down after the Hermes is packed?" Lumi queried.

"That is the plan, yes," Alex responded.

"Well, I would like to go back to my quarters first. Just to retrieve something that I need."

"Head on off and we'll meet you down in hydroponics then," Alex stated, gesturing for the rest of the crew to join him.

"If you don't mind sir, Pree and I will head over to the Hermes and go through the preflight checks and any additional maintenance," Inari stated.

"Sounds idea Commander. Dismissed," Alex said, saluting both women. With that, everyone headed off to their duties, with the rest of them heading down to oversee the harvest.

"So, Korsa, I believe that you mentioned a rite of passage last night?" Kasumi asked, curious about the topic.

"You sure you want to know about it?" Korsa asked the redheaded woman.

"Absolutely! If I'm going to get out into the wider galaxy, I would like to know more about the peoples that inhabit it," Kas stated.

"Well, it originally started as a way for Khontarans to produce more offspring after the war..." Korsa began as the elevator door closed.

******************************

Lumi entered her quarters and headed over to where she had left her ceremonial robes from the day previous. She looked the over and saw that there wasn't a speck of dust or dirt on them. They were as pristine as they had been when they were first made. She was very thankful, for what these humans called 'laundering'. Keeping their clothes clean was essential for not only appearances' sake, but for hygienical ones as well.

She smiled at the look of them, wondering how she would be received when she wore them. She then looked over to where she had left her father's sword, looking the weapon over. Luminia remembered the day he had cobbled the thing together, using many metals he had scavenged over the years. It almost seemed a fool's errand to her, but once he had assembled it, it was a sight to behold.

He'd also used the hide of a Tashkuun beast as its sheath, thinking such a weapon needed a proper case to carry it. She pulled it out of its scabbard, to regard the weapon, knowing that it was one of the few things left of Faal'Dahr. She hefted the weapon, taking a few experimental swings with it, knowing that her father had done what he could to balance it. She felt a small vibration as she kept swinging it through the air, until she stopped, and the weapon literally fell apart.

Luminia's heart sank as the components of the blade clattered to the floor. It couldn't be! It was not possible! Her father's sword had come apart in her hands and she wailed at it! She gathered everything and tried to assemble the components back together, but nothing stuck! She tried inserting everything back the way it was, several times over, but the blade did not hold together.

Lumi wept at this, thinking it a bad omen that the blade had fallen apart, with no way to fix it. She was lamenting having to go back to her village, bringing the broken weapon and having to explain it to her mother. While she was trying to reassemble it yet again, an idea came to her. The Perseus was equipped with a whole section that was used to manufacture entire ships! Since the metal of the sword was similar to the metal of the ship, there might be a way to repair it!

Luminia grabbed a towel and gathered every piece of the blade, wrapping them and the scabbard within it. Leaving her quarters, she made her way to the elevator, then the monorail station. She put in Hydroponics as her destination, knowing that if anything, the Commodore would know how to fix her blade.

******************************

"So, let me get this straight, this ritual, called Touch of the Many, is something that every Khontaran has to go through?" Kasumi asked, her face intrigued and bewildered at the same time.

"Yes. Prikodonlye hengikh, (Touch of the Many) is something that every Khontaran male or female must go through. It is a means of building not only sexual experience but also sexual confidence. It is also a way for them to explore their sexuality, so they can find their way through life much easier," Korsa explained.

"When do Khontarans usually come of age?" Alex asked as he was overseeing the Sentries at their work.

"Between the ages of seventeen to twenty. That is the usual bracket for both males and females when they reach their full height and stature," Korsa told him.

"How many Khontarans usually take part in this ritual?" Kasumi asked, genuinely curious.

"At least three of the opposite sex, between the ages of twenty and five-hundred must participate, but they only do so voluntarily. As many as eleven may join the Khontaran in question during this ritual," Korsa went on, as she was going over the checklist of what they considered safe for the Artucian, which was pretty much everything.

"Why eleven?"

"So that an even number is maintained and some participants can pair off to wait their turn," the big woman stated matter-of-factly.

"Hmm. That makes sense," Alex stated thoughtfully.

"But the ritual isn't just about sex. Various forms of advice are also given by the volunteers to the one who is going through the ritual. The advice is given both before and after and sometimes, contact between participants is kept open over the years."

"Don't the husbands or wives of the Khontarans get jealous of such things happening?" Kasumi wondered, puzzled.

"It does happen from time to time, but the one thing that is valued by all Khontarans is honesty. Very little is kept from our chosen mates, as transparency in a relationship is paramount to us," Korsa replied.

"So, the enzyme you cooked up, is used in these rituals?" Nats asked.

"Yes, though the one I gave Alex last night was a severely watered-down version of it. We Khontarans have great levels of stamina and can have sex all day easily. Prikodonlye hengikh (Touch of the Many), is usually a ritual that lasts for days, usually three or four. It is something that is a staple in our society, as all Khontarans are proud sexual beings," Korsa continued.

"What if the Khontaran in question is gay, or a lesbian?" Shazza wondered.

"Such relationships are allowed, but each Khontaran must sire at least one child with a member of the opposite sex. It's a way of ensuring that our species will continue, but thankfully, there is no stigma about such pairings, as rare as they are."

"So, how long was your Touch of the Many, if you don't mind me asking?" Kasumi said.

"Mine lasted six days, and I had four men and three women volunteer to join me," Korsa said, while blushing slightly.

"Do Khontarans go for that long during the ritual?" Alex asked, wondering but also curious about Korsa's predilections.

"Not generally, but the women of my family are rather... voracious in our... appetites," the red-skinned woman said, while blushing fiercely.

"What's the longest it's ever gone on for?" Shazza queried.

"Two weeks solid, not including breaks for meals and cleaning up. That record is held by my sister, Diranna, who is mated to three men and a woman," Korsa finished.

"Damn! She must be... quite amorous in order to handle four mates!" Alex chuckled.

"You have no idea! She was thinking about adding a fourth man, but the rest of us talked her out of it, as she barely had enough time for her current mates as they are! I swear, that woman can be quite the slut! That and she participates in rituals for both men and women regularly!" Korsa stated, shaking her head as she remembered her sister.

"Is that common on Khontaran society? Polycules I mean," Kas clarified.

"Not usually, but it happens enough to where it is not considered an anomaly," Korsa replied. Other questions were written on everyone's faces and Korsa was ready to answer them, but a puffing Luminia interrupted them. She approached Commodore Tomisic, looking hopeless and despondent.

"Luminia? What is wrong?" Alex asked. In answer, she opened up the toweled bundle she was carrying, showing him the broken blade.

"My father's sword has fallen apart. Can you fix it?" she asked him.

"I would help you if I could, but I don't know how to do that Lumi. I'm a soldier and an officer, but working metal is something that I do not know how to do," Alex told her gently.

"Alex may not know how to repair your sword, but I can," Korsa piped up, having overheard her plea.

"You do?!?" Lumi asked, her eyes wide with hope.

"Yes. Another ritual that is done, with every Khontaran that hopes to become a warrior, is to forge their Thuun'tara blade. Along with crafting their weapon, they must also be taught and know how to care for it, so it does not rust or fall apart," Korsa told her four eyed friend.

"Can you help me rebuild it?"

"I can and will help, but I will also make it so that it is a proper and solid weapon," Korsa told her.

"Jaesa, would you kindly take a moment and direct these two ladies to the machine shop? We still have a few things to do before we leave for Talemkha, so you two have a couple of hours to work," Alex told the alien women.

"With pleasure, sir. Ladies, if you will follow the directions I give you, you should arrive at the Machine shop within five minutes," Jaesa stated. The two women retreated, following the AI's direction as Alex and the remaining women were left alone.

"What additional work do we have to do sir?" Kasumi asked.

"Well Captain, we have potential allies down on the planet below and we still need to draft a formal agreement between us and them. They were once an advanced race, probably before Humanity had even reached for the stars. If we bring them into the Alliance and they return to the technological prowess they once possessed..." Alex let that hang in the air, letting Kasumi put the pieces together.

"They would be staunch allies in helping us rebuild the Alliance! Maybe even help us take back Earth!" Kas finished.

"Exactly so. So, if you three ladies will follow me, we have a lot to do!" the big man stated.

"Sir, should I contact Commander Sunara and Chief Patel? Their opinions and thoughts might be worth weighing in on this agreement you wish to create," Shazza said in a small voice.

"Now that's a hell of an idea!" Kas stated, before realizing she spoke out of turn and blushed in embarrassment.

"Well said, Captain. Sergeant contact the ladies and have them meet us on the bridge," Alex stated warmly.

"At once, sir!" Shazza said, and she tapped the vambrace she wore, interfacing with the communication systems of the Perseus.

"Commander Sunara, Chief Patel, come in please," she called out.

"Yes Sergeant, what is it?" Inari's holographic form replied.

******************************

Korsa and Luminia walked into the long-disused machine shop, looking over the machinery that lay dormant. Many of them were familiar to Korsa, having used Khontaran variants of them before. They all looked a bit dated, but fully functional from what she could see. The memories came back in a rush, a wave of nostalgia washing over the woman.

Korsa remembered slaving for days over the forges, ensuring that the metal was heated to the correct temperature. Then, she had to check that it was cooled properly, then reheated as she worked. The ring of hammers on her blade, the feel of the metal taking shape beneath her hands, testing the edge of the blade to be certain that it would cut. She sighed happily, glad to be in a place that she found familiar and comforting.

"Korsa?"

"I'm sorry Lumi. Was just remembering some good times. Let's get to work on fixing your sword," Korsa told the woman.

She walked over to the various machines, finding the controls for them rather simple. Starting with the forge, Korsa brought it online, firing up the heaters. She doffed her shirt, opting to work only in the bra, as the heat from the forge would make her sweat for sure. Luminia followed her lead, losing her own shirt as the heat from the forge began to permeate the room.

Korsa looked around until she found a tool cabinet, loaded with what she needed, along with a steel anvil. Though everything was dusty, it was still in good shape with little in the manner of wear or tear. She quickly located the compounds she would need to forge weld the components that had come apart. Luminia had been kind enough to layout the sword components on a nearby bench for easy access.

"I would have to say that the cold climate of Talemkha was responsible for holding this weapon together," Korsa observed as she looked over the weapon pieces. "I can see markings that had to have been either ice, or that crystal compound your people use. Did the weapon seem wet at all when you picked it up?"

"A little, yes. There were traces of something there, but they had since... evaporated?" Lumi stated, searching for the correct word.

"Had to have been ice then. How he did this, I'll never know. But now, we will make it so wherever you bring this weapon, you will be able to put it to use," Korsa promised.

Korsa then got to work, taking the three parts the blade had splintered into and glued them together with the compound. Picking up a pair of tongs, she inserted the bonded metal into the now hot forge, heating it. Once it was a bright yellow, she pulled it out and using both right arms, used two hammers to pound the metal together. She worked it, folded it, pounded it some more, and folded it again. She did this until the metal was one solid brick.

Now that it was a singular piece, she reheated it and started shaping the blade. Korsa worked ardently, heating, shaping, cooling and sharpening the metal several times over. There was no wasted motion and soon, the blade began to take shape, looking similar to the way it had, but with a Khontaran flair. Once she had done this process a seventh time, Korsa set aside the blade to air cool, so it would temper properly.

She picked up the crossguard and worked it the same way that she had the blade, heating and folding it over. The reshaping of it took far less time than the blade had, since it was far less material. At Lumi's direction and request, it was shaped into the maw of Tashkuun beast. After the shaping was done, Korsa polished the metal until it gleamed.

Once the crafting of it was finished, both women worked on the grip, heating it slightly, then rapidly cooling it, so they could fit it to Luminia's hand. As they finished with it, they went back to the blade and polished that as well, but not before giving it a final finishing touch.

"All weapons need a proper name," Korsa told the Artucian woman. "They are usually named after something they or you have done. Alex's axe is called Yggdrasil, Kasumi's sword is the Tengoku No Ken (Fist of Heaven) and mine, is the Fumest dhun Khontara (Vengeance of Khontara). Giving your weapon a name is, in essence, making it a reflection of yourself."

"I already have a name. It is a fitting one, considering what this weapon has done," Lumi told the big woman.

"Oh? What is it?"

Luminia told her the name and Korsa agreed that it was a fitting one. They then collected the three pieces of the weapon and spent the rest of the time assembling it. Korsa then asked Luminia what the name was in her language and the runes needed to show its name.

"Why do want to know?" Lumi asked.

"Because I want to etch the name into the blade itself. So that anyone who sees this blade, knows that it is yours and shows you the respect you are due," Korsa told her.

Luminia smiled at the thought and, using a pen, sketched out the runes for Korsa to etch into the blade. It took maybe an additional twenty minutes to finish it and by the time it was finished, it was truly a sight to behold. While Korsa had worked on reforging the weapon, Lumi had taken the time to clean up the scabbard, so it looked almost new. She then looked up at Korsa, who was hefting the weapon, like she would use it.

"Korsa?" Lumi wondered almost worriedly. Korsa had set up a piece of scrap metal so it was standing upright, before swinging the weapon. Lumi peeped, fearing she would break the newly forged blade. The screech of metal on metal filled the air for a moment and a second later, the sound was gone.

Luminia was in awe of what she'd seen! The sword had cleaved the scrap metal in half! She walked up to the metal halves and examined them. The cut was as neat as if the metal had been ice! Looking over to the weapon in Korsa's hands, she could see that there wasn't a mark on it!

"You didn't think I would craft you a blade without testing it, did you?" Korsa joked. She then offered the weapon to the Artucian woman, who took it reverently.

"Now, that is a blade is worthy of its new namesake," Korsa said as she went about cleaning up and stowing the tools she had used to craft it. Luminia looked at the blade and her reflection in it, knowing that this was a weapon worthy of a chief's hand. She then looked down to the runes etched in the weapon and spoke its name.

"Beastslayer."

******************************

Alex had just put the finishing touches on the agreement, adding a couple of final points that both sides had to agree to. The assembled crew had already gone over every aspect of the agreement and were now just waiting on Luminia. Though they could have proceeded without her, she couldn't be much of an ambassador if she didn't weigh in on agreements concerning her people.

Kasumi had already called out via the intercom to Korsa and Luminia. They were already on their way up, Kas having caught them while they were in a monorail car. Now all they had to do was wait on the women to arrive. Alex was going over the agreement one more time, to be sure he didn't overlook anything. As he and Kas were going over it, the door to the bridge opened, admitting Korsa and Lumi.

"Ah, ladies, you're right on time! The agreement for the Artucian people has just been drafted. Ambassador Luminia, I would ask you to have a look at it and tell me if there is anything that we may have missed," Alex told the blue-skinned woman.

"Of course... Commodore," she replied as she approached. Alex hit a switch, and the agreement went from English to Artucian. Alex supposed he should be grateful to Jaesa for learning all she could from Lumi about the Artucian. They had learned much of their language, and the written form of it. There were still a few kinks and such that needed ironing out in the language, but that would solve itself over the next little while.

"Commodore, I have just discovered something that requires your attention sir!" Jaesa nearly shouted, her holographic rendering interrupting the reading of the treaty.

"What is it Jaesa?" Alex asked, a little annoyed at having been interrupted like this.

"The deep scans I have performed on Talemkha have yielded the most astounding discovery sir! I could tell you about it, but I think the images I have will convey the message better than words can!" the Ai said excitedly.

"Very well. Put them in the main display, if you please," Alex stated, curious about what could make the AI appear excited.

The AI nodded before disappearing and in her place, was a partially rendered image of a ship. Like the Perseus, it was massive in both size and shape and the design was eerily similar to the Perseus. All conversation on the bridge stopped as everyone gawped at the ship, dumbstruck at it.