My people – people of Skarsia and Dolparessa, Volparnu and Sideria, Dalgherdia, Eirelantra and Eden. All my people, human and Nau’gsh. I have come to deliver a message to you on this joyous day of union. I have come to tell you that you are the chosen of the gods.
Our enemies have accused us of creating bioweapons – as if the K’ntasari were toys assembled in a genetics laboratory. But they are not. They were created by me, a proud species, warriors perhaps, but not weapons. Perhaps the Central Government of Earth and Its Associated Territories has made this accusation because it is the only explanation still available to them in the constricted space of their imaginings. Half-machines themselves, they cannot conceive of miracle – there can be no growth, no springing-forth into life, only deterministic construction. Is it surprising that they see these children of God as mere devices?
The K’ntasari are valiant warriors as is evidenced by their vital role in the liberation of Dalgherdia. But that is not the purpose for which they were created. They were created as but one flowering of the Domha’vei, one of many still to come, a flower upon the tree which is the destiny of the universe. A new empire combining the kingdoms of animal and plant. A wholly organic empire where evolution is the result of wisdom and inspiration, guided by the hand of the gods. An empire in opposition to the crumbling destiny of CenGov, a people in process of reducing themselves to machinery for the sake of practical advantage, short-term and short-sighted. Each individual becomes a machine in the belly of a greater machine, a machine capable of making choices only according to the logic of survival.
But what is the purpose of mere survival? If such expediency is the only measure of success, then in our galaxy, the cockroach is king.
Have they forgotten, the people of Earth, what it means to be human? Have they forgotten love and joy and sublime tragedy? Have they forgotten that to be human is to desire to be more than human, that every work of art, every song, every cathedral is an offering of the soul to the universe that we might be more? Ah, but they have. They have cast away their art as expendable. Machines have no need for it.
The Nau’gsh never forget what it means to be a tree. A tree is always in the process of embracing its destiny. To be a tree means to grow. It means to reach towards the light and thrust through the darkness. It means to desire to become more than we are. When humans first came to Dolparessa, the Cu’endhari understood this. Humans were so much more than we were. And we were so much more than human. There was so much to be gained in a union between us. But how to bridge such an enormous divide?
The Cu’endhari had the power and the skill to create such forms for ourselves that we could enter into the human experience. And when we did, we discovered that it was humanity which held the secret to unite our species. Love. Human love.
We will never embrace an expediency which turns its back on love. We will never embrace an expediency which rejects beauty as inefficient.
The K’ntasari were not created to be warriors although they can – and will – fight if needed. The K’ntasari were created to be travelers. They were created to be the first seeds of our empire, the beginning of a growth which will spread thorough the galaxy, through the universe, through all the universes. A growth which will extend beyond our imaginings, past our dreams, and into the territory of the unknown.
I call upon Earth’s Central Government – surrender now. Withdraw your fleet from our system and from the Tasean system. You cannot defeat us. Destiny is on our side.
More than that, reconsider the path you have taken. Consider that you could share in the glorious empire of organic life, ever evolving and growing. Or you can share in the fate of all machinery – inevitable obsolescence.
As for you, my people, stay proud. Stay strong. There will, of course, be hardships. We have faced – and overcome – many hardships before. At the end is a new day, a bright future, a flowering and fruition of all that is promised by our potential.
*****
[Scene – a chamber in the palace of Court Emmere has been converted into a makeshift interview room. Three chairs have been placed in front of a small group of musicians; the central one is unoccupied. The chairs to the left and right hold, respectively, Mosha Raval’li and Bobert Crandon, two journalists from the popular talking heads show, Plasma Topics. They are surrounded by flowers and exquisite artwork; to the side is a small, well-stocked bar.]
MR: Happy spin, people of the Domha’vei and beyond! This is Mosha Raval’li of Plasma Topics, a GalMedi production. I’m here with my fellow pundit, Bobert Crandon, on a momentous occasion, the acceptance of the K’ntasari as a member civilization of the Skarsian Matriarchy.
BC: And a fine rotation to everyone. I’m sure we’ve all seen the magnificent speech given by His Holiness. I’ve never heard something so inspiring.
MR: I knew you’d think so, Bob, but I found it maybe a wee bit jingoistic. Leaning a bit towards propaganda. Do you really believe that CenGov is going to roll over and die?
BC: Time will tell, Mosha, destiny will tell. But we aren’t here to analyze the Archon’s speech. We’re here because we’ve been granted an exclusive interview with the Archon’s new emanations – all six of them! In an unprecedented act, the emanations of the Goliath Tree have been appended to the disclosure of Ashtara. That means, of course, that the Matriarch now has six new husbands.
MR: She’s going to have a busy night, isn’t she? Well, given her reputation…
BC: That’s very disrespectful of Her Eminence.
MR: The real implication is that Cu’enashti marriage had to be redefined as being between a human and a mothman, not a human and a tree. Convenient, isn’t it, how our rulers rewrite the law to suit them?
BC: Mosha, you know as well as I that the changes were approved by the Convocation of the Forest, and it only makes sense. It’s clear that Ashtara is not limited to the emanations of the Atlas Tree. The Goliath Tree was created for the benefit of the citizens of the Domha’vei. Would you rather that we continue with power shortages?
MR: Current projections show that the power grid can now provide all our projected needs for the next three centuries. And after that? Will he grow yet another tree? The Matriarch is going to be a very busy woman with all those husbands, probably too exhausted to run the state.
BC: Your feigned moral superiority is getting tiresome, Mosha. The aristos have always taken lovers. You also don’t understand the theological implications…
MR: Hold off Bob, I’m getting the signal that the Archon is ready to join us. Here comes the honor guard.
[There is a pause while the Archon enters. BC kneels and MR bows stiffly. The Archon pours himself a scotch before taking his seat.]
MR: Six new emanations. I have to ask, Your Holiness, how do you feel about all this? It must be weird…
Ailann Tiarnan: What I feel isn’t relevant. It had to be done. But it doesn’t seem weird, as you put it. It’s wholly natural for my kind. A little noisy, perhaps.
MR: But six at once – that is unusual. I don’t think there’s a record of it ever happening before.
AT: They did emanate one-at-a-time, in a completely usual fashion. It’s just the merger of the two trees that was unique. You should ask them. From their perspective, there are twenty-five new emanations.
BC: Your Holiness, I apologize for the intrusive questions of my colleague. Let’s talk about something more substantial – is it true that the emanation known as Aran is also Archon?
AT: He can control the power grid, yes. The extent of his ceremonial role in Archonism is yet to be determined.
MR: So you’re not sure if Archonism is still a monotheism? That must be keeping the professors of theology awake at night.
AT: I don’t see it as a problem. It’s an opportunity. The problem with the religions of the past is that they were obsessed with the past. Miracles happened yesterday. Yesterday’s prophet was a saint, today’s prophet a madman. And of course, as humanity changed, the old religions were discarded as superstitious nonsense because they were incapable of evolving to suit the times. Archonism is different. I am a Living God. As such, I too can grow and change as required by the needs of my people.
BC: That’s beautiful, Your Holiness. I’m in tears.
MR: That’s convenient. And isn’t it also contradictory to the idea of omnipotence?
BC: You’re being disrespectful, Mosha.
MR: I’m a journalist, not a fanboy, Bob, unlike some people. I have to ask the hard questions.
AT: It’s fine. Mr. Raval’li, I never claimed to be omnipotent, nor have I ever claimed to be the sole god, or even the god who created humanity. I claim that I have access to the limitless power of the nul-universe, and can control and use it such to make life as you know it possible in the Domha’vei. I claim that I created the asteroid Eden and the life-forms thereupon, including the sentient species known as the K’ntasari. I claim that I have been gifted with the extraordinary knowledge capable of steering our peoples towards their mutual destiny.
MR: That’s quite a megalomaniacal statement…
BC: Then why don’t you run the power grid, Mosha, and heal a few sick children while you’re at it?
AT: I was under the impression that you gentlemen wanted to meet the Goliath emanations.
BC: Yes, exactly, Your Holiness. Your subjects are extremely curious.
AT: Then excuse me for a moment, gentlemen…
[The Archon rises, spreads his arms and transforms into his mothman form. He hovers in midair momentarily, then alights, his arms crossed. The blue-white glow dissipates, revealing the first Goliath emanation, Ari.]
MR: Holy crap!
BC: That was awe-inspiring. Mosha, even you have to think it was awe-inspiring.
MR: I’ll admit it. I’ve never seen anything like that. It was very…alien.
Ari: Was that an insult?
BC: Of course not, Your Highness! Mr. Raval’li can be tactless at times.
Ari: Good. A tactless man is an honest man. I prefer honesty.
MR: I predict that you won’t have much of a career in politics, Prince Ari.
Ari: I’m a leader, not a politician. I’ve only recently learned about politics. I find the subject revolting.
BC: But you did lead the K’ntasari to victory on Dalgherdia. If I understand correctly, you spent two years on Eden teaching the K’ntasari how to build a civilization.
Ari: A little under two years. When my body was killed by the Terrans, Manasseh emanated and picked up from where I’d left off.
MR: Why do the Goliath emanations only have one name?
Ari: Why do you have two?
MR: I, uh…well, it’s a custom. I actually have three, Mosha Temar Ravel’li, but most people don’t use their middle names often.
Ari: Isn’t that…what is it that Tara called it? Gilding the lily?
BC: Prince Ari, we don’t have much time with each emanation, so perhaps you have something you’d like to say to the people.
Ari: No, not really.
[A pause]
BC: Oh. Well, maybe we should move along.
Ari: Good. You want us in order? Manasseh next?
MR: Uh, yes…
[As before, Ari transforms into Manasseh].
MR: I suppose I’ll get used to seeing that. It isn’t a common sight, though, the transformation of a mothman.
Manasseh: Yeah, from what they tell me, most Cu’enashti can’t do that. It takes a lot of power to change. Only the big trees swap around. Most of the little guys stick with the same emanation until they really need to switch.
BC: I suppose that power is not an issue for you.
Manasseh: Huh. I never thought about it. Cuinn says that as long as we’re within the power grid, it isn’t. Knowledge was much more of an issue for me than power.
MR: How so?
Manasseh: Oh – I guess I’m not supposed to say. Um, we had a lot of things to teach.
BC: It’s amazing how different you are from Prince Ari. You’re so much…
Manasseh: Smaller? Yeah, Ari’s a big guy. I didn’t really realize how big when we were on Eden. Some of the K’ntasari are as tall as he is. But once we got to Dalgherdia, he made everybody look small. When we took over the science station, those CenGov soldiers would run at him, and they’d be maybe up to his shoulder. And he’d just shove them, and they’d go flying across the room. Ari’s cool.
BC: Actually, I was going to say more relaxed. More talkative.
Manasseh: I’m a prophet. I have to talk. I like to talk. Ari talks plenty, but only if he’s got something to say. I’ll talk whether I’ve got something to say or not. I guess that kind of makes me fit in better with humans. K’ntasari are more like Ari. I’m more like humans. Humans talk about nothing all day long.
MR: They certainly do, especially on political talk shows.
BC: Prince Manasseh, do you something you’d like to say to the audience?
Manasseh: Sure. Hi Tara! [Waves] I’d like to say hello to everybody. We’re having a great party here. I hope you’re having a great party, too. Ailann was talking about making this a state holiday. That’s a wonderful idea. I think people should have more days off to spend with their family and friends. And speaking in my official capacity as a prophet, don’t worry about CenGov. Ailann will handle it. What’s a god for? Okay, bye, I’m going to get Aran.
MR: He’s an official prophet of Archonism? Every now and then, there are moments which define for me why I’m an atheist…
[As before, Aran appears.]
Aran: Sir, I’m not standing for any of this. You’ve taken advantage of Manasseh’s naïve good nature as well as Ailann’s natural dignity. But I’ve heard all that has transpired; furthermore, I heard you insult my wife. Apologize immediately.
MR: I’m only doing my job as a journalist. Freedom of the press…
[Aran places his hand upon Raval’li’s chest. Raval’li transforms into a Sumatran lar gibbon.]
Aran: If you are going to chatter, sirrah, do it more amusingly.
BC: You…changed him…into some sort of primate…
Aran: The idea of a frogtile tempted me, but its brain was far too small to hold his human memories. He would’ve come back as a slathering imbecile when I reverted him. Of course, it might have been difficult to tell the difference.
BC: I suppose that this is another defining moment in Mosha’s religious life. Um, so you’re able to control the power grid as well, Prince Aran?
Aran: Archon. Archon Aran.
BC: So, Your Holiness, you do intend to take an active role in Archonism?
Aran: Absolutely. Ailann will be the good god, and I’ll be the bad one…not an evil god, mind you, but rather referring to the popular law enforcement strategy. I think our religion needs a little bit of fire and brimstone.
BC: Um.
Aran: I have prepared my message for the people. It is this: obey the Matriarch. Her Eminence is a goddess among women, a star among goddesses, an ineffable source of light and wisdom that radiates through the universes. Obey her, or face my wrath. I’ll get Valentin, now. Oh, I almost forgot.
[Aran restores Raval’li to his human form. Valentin appears.]
Valentin: Sorry about that. Aran was joking. He has an odd sense of humor. He was seriously offended, though. You really shouldn’t say insulting things about Tara.
MR: [whimpers]
BC: Your Holiness, please allow me to apologize profusely, on all our behalves…
Valentin: Highness. I’m only a prince. And there’s no need to apologize. I was under the impression that this was a news program.
BC, Well, yes.
Valentin: But you’re asked very little that is newsworthy. Don’t you want an analysis of our military strength in comparison to CenGov? Or perhaps more scientific data on the capabilities of the K’ntasari?
BC: Of course, but…
[Valentin leans towards Crandon inquisitively.]
BC: We were planning to leave that sort of thing until later, when only the hard-core news audience is watching. This is more of an, more of an…
Valentin: Entertainment piece? Do you find us entertaining?
BC: Of course not, Your Highness!
Valentin: I’m devastated. You’ll probably prefer Thomas – he can sing. I’m joking, Mr. Crandon. It’s fine. I’m well-aware of the value of entertainment media as a form of propaganda. I’m amused that GalMedi sent you, the sycophant, and Raval’li, the gadfly, instead of Sara Howe-Dumfaller. She’s the truly intelligent analyst on your program. Obviously, GalMedi wasn’t looking for intelligent analysis. Raval’li was supposed to provoke us, and you were supposed to assuage the tender feelings of the devout Archonists in your audience. Give them controversy – make a good show of it! Well, carry on.
BC: Um.
MR: [whimpers]
Valentin: Given the timing of this piece, I suppose I should deliver my message. I’ll make it simple. Ailann is right, but it won’t be easy. If you think it will be easy, you will be disappointed. And disappointment will lead to dissent. We aren’t playing for tomorrow. We’re playing for a thousand years from now. Fourteen-hundred years from now, actually. You might not live long enough to see that. But if we succeed, your grandchildren won’t ever have to die.
BC: That’s some message.
[Thomas appears. He smiles and shakes Crandon’s hand. He attempts to shake Ravel’li’s, but Raval’li coils back in terror.]
Thomas: Oh my. He needs a therapist, I think. Tarlach says…Tarlach says that he should be given 5mg of Calminex. It’s okay, unlike many media psychologists, Tarlach is a licensed therapist.
BC: Tarlach…you, of course, mean my colleague Tarlach Tadgh, the talk show host, and 19th emanation of the Atlas Tree. Now you can talk to Tarlach, even though he’s not a branch of Goliath?
Thomas: Yes. I can’t explain how – it’s a classified secret. Sorry about that. But we do have a means. That’s why the Convocation changed the marriage law. We are two separate trees, but we function as one.
BC: I’d say that’s amazing, Your Highness, but everything about you is unbelievable.
Thomas: You want my autograph? Hey, looks like the band is all set up…
BC: Yes, I was thinking that they would play a fanfare when the Archon entered, but they didn’t. I forgot about them entirely.
Thomas: Nah, I’m going to sing. We figured it would be tough to get through all six of us without a little breather. Hey, are you all right?
BC: I don’t know what to make of this. I think I’m having a religious crisis.
Thomas: The problem with conservatives is that they don’t know how to loosen up. Have one of those Calminex. It couldn’t hurt.
[Thomas sings and pulls a few dance moves as well. It’s a romantic number in an upbeat contemporary club style.]
Thomas: That was my message – boogie down and party. But I’m certain Malachi will say something more profound.
[Malachi appears. He crouches in front of Crandon’s seat, taking Crandon’s hand and looking him in the eye.]
Malachi: Bobert, are you familiar with Ancient Earth mythology?
BC: A bit…
Malachi: The Orphics believed in a magnificent creator god called Eros-Phanes. He was a beautiful man with an angel’s wings, a lion’s head on his breast, the hooves of goats instead of feet, and he was coiled about with a serpent. Eros-Phanes loved nothing more than to play with a toy – a golden ball. We call it the universe. Or there is another story – many tales – of a mischievous boy named Krishna. He loved to steal butter and chase after young milkmaids. Do you understand what I’m saying, Bobert?
BC: Uh…no. Not really.
Malachi: Any god which requires you to take it seriously isn’t really worthy of worship, Bobert. The problem with Earthers is that they do take everything seriously. And so they’re always worried about doing things efficiently, and so they’ve become machines. If you want to be like gods, you have to take it lightly. The business of gods is play.
MR: I see…I see it all now. For the first time in my life, I understand.
Malachi: Calminex is good stuff, Mosha. Hey Bob, you know – don’t worry about it. That’s my message. My message to you and to everyone. Don’t worry about it. We’ve got it sussed. I’m going to do something impressive now, so that we can end on a high note.
[Malachi transforms into the mothman. He rockets into the sky, performs a few elegant turns, and shoots off into the atmosphere.]
BC: There you have it. A message of hope for everyone.
MR: [laughs] Wonderful, wonderful. I’m converting to Archonism. Give me another pill.