Prisoners of Sol - Derandi Chef (5/7)

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The strongest evidence that the humans were different came in their actions, after the Vascar Monarchy’s figurehead abandoned ship and what was left of the species surrendered. While the Servitors had wanted to wipe out their organic creators, the dimension hoppers wanted a peaceful ceasefire and to concentrate on exploration. Their focus seemed entirely on why the Elusians had involved themselves with Sol and its mysterious wall: their true reasons for coming here were out of curiosity.

“So how did you and Etra meet?” Kayla asked. Judging by the spring in her step and the radiance in her face, she was exuberant to be en route to the Derandi homeworld. “I hope you have a cute story.”

“In fact, we met on the Night of Feathers. It’s a festival, a holiday, a celebration, really, on the windiest day of the year.” I tilted my beak back, though I was still rummaging my mind over how I was going to explain a dimension-hopper guest to my beloved. I hoped she wouldn’t act like Jetti, dragging our children away. “Feathers blown about, as we dance in the messy gusts where only the brave would dare to die. You can see why tempests affect travel at home; it’s a miracle we weren’t the species that wound up with storm gods.”

“I thought you had a Queen-Goddess.”

“We do, but Derandi have a…complicated history with her. In her myths, she shrunk us to humble us, and show us how small we truly were compared to her. She stole the beaks of those who didn’t sing her praises. She made seeds taste delicious to us, so that we’d take plants from the soil and destroy the other, lesser gods’ creation.”

Kayla gawked at me. “What?! That doesn’t sound like a…loving deity.”

“Oh, she’s not. It’s a whole thing with her: the goddess of jealousy. Worship of the Queen-Goddess is based on the fear of what happens if you don’t; not dissimilar to the fawning response you saw afforded to humans, because we didn’t want you to, uh, humble or destroy us. Her believers say you’re her wing—that is, her servants.”

“Humans don’t want to place Derandi beneath us, Vanare. Or to humble you; we want to enjoy what you have.”

“Oh, I know! You can just see how dimension-hoppers that can destroy with a touch totally fit in with her mythos. Not the point. Anyway, the Night of Feathers is a massive gathering to display beauty among chaos, where we regale one another and dance at the heart of our cities. It’s grandiose and splendid, trying to place floats in the sky and see what doesn’t get ripped away!”

“That sounds enchanting! I love a good parade.” The dimension-hopper’s dimples showed with her smile, which was sweet and wistful; it was like she was imagining my description. “There’s something about a procession down the streets, lofting banners and characters to the heavens for onlookers to see. It hits all the boxes of a party while being its own thing.”

“Because you’re in a crowd and a part of something bigger. Being drawn to others like magic is afoot. I was looking to meet people, right as my cooking career was taking off. I was at the top of my confidence game and felt like I was ready to put myself out there, to test the waters. I was looking—ah, strutting around and trading numbers. That’s when I saw my Etra, the parademaster, wrestling with a massive float. It had to be a thousand times her size, and she had only four people helping: one of them tying ropes frantically! Talk about chaos.”

Kayla laughed, an amused smirk lingering for several seconds. “It sounds like quite the scene. What did you do?”

“I ran in to help her, of course. No kitchen fire I’ve ever battled was as harrowing as that first moment of pulling a rope, with zero effect, but when she looked at me…I was whipped. I couldn’t let go; it was like I was holding on to my chance to be in her life. I just knew that she was special. When I moved in, the crowd jumped into action too, and we got it under control. But Etra only had eyes for me too.”

“I hope you count that as your first date, because it’s a hell of a story.”

“I wouldn’t dare to call that a first date, Kayla; I had to do far, far better! We spoke and agreed to meet, I fought beak and talon to win her heart like she’d stolen mine, and the rest is history; we were and are perfect for each other. I keep expecting to see her flaws any day now, when it wears off, but no, she’s just that amazing. I can’t say a bad word about her.”

“That’s so sweet. Cheesy, but adorable,” Kayla chuckled. “I wish I had someone who talked about me like that. My whirlwind ‘romance’ was on a dating app, and it worked until it didn’t. In some ways, it’s good I’m on Pluto Station. I guess I’m not all that. I’m not…present.”

I offered a sympathetic trill. “Maybe you just haven’t met your Etra. I was lucky; I guess sometimes, fate is kind. Your people see the future, but it’s another skill to see the present. Maybe just look for the good things in your life, and recognize them while you have them. The fact we both almost lost our homes these past few days should drill home how important that is.”

“You’re right, Vanare. I hope I’m seeing a joyful reunion here. As I’ve said before, you seem like a good father.”

“That’s subjective, but I’ve always done my best. I love my children and try to keep a watchful wing over them. We’ll…see how they react when they find out I came back with a human in tow. Don’t take it personally if Etra has a reaction to that, alright?”

“Well, that depends how personal she makes her reaction. I might get a little bit offended if she insults my cooking skills.”

A mirthful chuckle tumbled from my throat. “Some things are sacred and off-limits. I’ve got your back. At any rate, I think it’ll work out fine. I trust the most perfect person in the multiverse to come around to the truth, and to hear me out. It…might help if you wait back on the ship. Anpero approved my request, but I have Etra to answer to before we move you in.”

“Just holler when you need me. I’ll be right here eavesdropping.”

I leapt up from my seat when the spacecraft landed, and glanced out the window; sure enough, Etra and my three kids were waiting, my wife with the tear-stricken countenance of relief. When the humans had taken me—as well as when I was slated to cook for them at the banquet—I knew she’d thought I was certain to be executed. The same ideas had crossed my mind, and I was beyond grateful to be home and to see their faces again. I bolted toward the exit and ran into her embrace, hugging her so hard that it felt like tugging the parade ropes.

Being separated from my family and not knowing what would become of them, not being there for them while they were in danger: it ate me up on the inside.

I sucked in a sharp breath, meeting her eyes. “Etra, my love. Listen—the humans are stopping the Servitors from killing the organic Vascar. Even after the war, they seem to want peace. They do care about our lives; they just care about the AIs’ lives too. Humans aren’t evil. They’re people who want to be treated like people.”

“I know,” Etra replied. “Because they saved Temura…and they brought you back. They showed mercy to the Vascar when they had no reason to. Redge didn’t help the Derandi; humans did.”

“Oh. Of course, I figured you should understand! So then, I, um, I made a chef friend during the attack on the Space Gate, and we bonded over our shared love of food and fear for our homes. I wanted to show the real humanity, so I brought Kayla here with the hope she could be our…guest, and we could all get to know each other.”

“You…befriended a human? A future-seeing, super-powerful being who could implode anything with a wrong step? And you thought it’s a good idea to bring ‘Kayla’ home, to stay in a house of cards? Vanare!”

“All of those things are a curse when they actually live in such an oppressive dimension. They just want answers and friends, and I thought Kayla would be perfect on the show. She’s away from her children too, so it might be good for her to meet our kids—and you. I sang your praises, Etra; I know you’ll feel bad for them when you hear what humans have been through.” 

“We’ve all been through a lot. The humans need…proper, diplomatic lodgings, surely. And there’s their friendship with the Servitors. Whatever they’ve molded them to be, they are still chummy with the evil AIs, which exposes our family to whatever machine baggage Kayla and her people have. This isn’t sensible.”

“Kayla has nothing to do with the Servitors; all she has is opinions on them, and she explained their perspective well enough. The humans have clearly done something to those AIs. Please, give her a chance? She could be a good friend to us all! We should want the peace and coexistence they talked about—what better to bring people together than food and family?”

Etra stared at me, disgruntled. “You already brought her here, and I still don’t want to upset a human. I’m not thrilled about it, but we owe them our lives. I’m just glad you came home, so I’ll allow it—for a very short time. Promise you’ll look out for the kids.”

“Of course. Trust me, you’ll forget what she is once you’re around her for a bit. The humans are very unassuming and nice. Kayla, come and say hello!”

Derandi diplomats preened themselves nervously, as the human chef ducked out from the shuttle and waved. Kayla seemed relieved when Etra, tense though she may be, fed off of my calmness and returned the gesture. Convincing my wife had gone about as well as it possibly could, since she’d seen reason on her own, without any need for me to speak in the ESU’s defense. I looked forward to our visitor getting to ingratiate herself to my family, to drumming up ideas to bring her onto my show, and to showing her what Temura had to offer.

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A/N - 5! Vanare talks a bit about his people’s largest holiday and its festival, and how he met the love of his life because she was the parademaster. The family reunion goes off smoothly, with Etra having come to her own conclusions that humans weren’t evil, careless monsters thanks to Temura’s salvation and Vanare’s return. She’s still hesitant to take Kayla under her roof, because of the Servitors and super strength, but proves to be pretty understanding.

How do you think Kayla will interact with Vanare’s family, and what should she get to see while she’s there? What do you think about Etra’s reaction, as well as what we learned about Derandi culture?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting!