“We returned to the Ocean Complex with the survivors and wounded. There was not a family who had not lost at least two family members in the battle. Some families were totally wiped out, some had only one or two members remaining. There were children who had lost both parents, parents who had lost their children. The devastation wreaked upon our race was almost unsurvivable, but survive we did. New families were formed. Parents without children took in children with no parents. Families of one or two were incorporated into new, larger families. Those widowed connected with other widowers. During this time, Enok continued to recover from his injuries and, somehow together, he and Medaron dealt with the loss of Tiree. They reunited and their love for each became even stronger. And from that great love you were produced, Earon, a true sign of life’s renewal. With Enok and Medaron’s guidance, we began to rebuild our society, but it was a slow process. And while we rebuilt it we remained secured and hidden deep in the ocean depths for over eight hundred years.”
“As before, we sent scouts out into the world to search for any signs of Terrians while we remained hidden in the ocean’s depths. Occasionally we found a few and immediately eliminated them, but their numbers were small. After the first three hundred years we found no evidence any more existed. As for JeffRa, to the best of our knowledge he died that day Medaron shot him. But since we found no body, we had no way to prove his death. ”
“Why would there be a body?” Terrance inquired. “Since he was an Oonock, wouldn’t he have flowed out into the dirt?”
“Yes, that is true, Terrance, if JeffRa was still Oonock,” Jeanip replied “Remember, he had been living as a Terrian for many millennia and we had no way of knowing if he would retain his human form, a Terrian form or revert back into a Waters and flow out. So as a precaution, we kept open the possibility he was still alive.”
“During the first several hundred years of our isolation, as families were being rebuilt, we were blessed with forty male Oonocks, including Earon, and five female Oonocks, two of which were born away from the Complex. Tragically, the three females born at the Complex did not survive past their tenth year. Females are very rare in our society and highly valued. Their loss was devastating to the Complex and showed us to what extent JeffRa’s revenge had extended into our lives. Evidently, JeffRa had spent his years of searching for us to imagine and invent every conceivable way to end our existence and eradicate us from the universe. He had embedded inside his bendicor a silent weapon to interfere with our ability to not only conceive, but it prevented any female child that was born at the Complex from reaching adolescence. Our medical personnel tried to correct the problems but, by the time we discovered JeffRa’s trickery, the virus was too ingrained in our systems to be removed, thus meaning that once the current Oonocks have flowed into the Waters of Life, our race on this planet will no longer exist. And if we are the last remaining Oonocks still alive, when we are gone our race will exist no more.” Jeanip looked at the trio before him, watching the looks on their faces. Like Chancee and himself, Europa, Earon and Terrance realized the doomed future of the Oonock and the elimination of a great and noble race.
There was a knock at the door and a young female from the galley entered announcing she had brought lunch for them. Jeanip said it was a good time to take a quick break while the galley personnel brought in salads, sandwiches, fresh fruit and deserts. Twenty minutes later everyone was seated around the table preparing to eat while Jeanip continued his story.
“Now, where did I leave off? I believe I had just explained about our procreation problem.”
“Even though our Complex was beautiful, and had anything we needed, it still was confining. It became more difficult to keep up the Oonocks’ morale, especially after we learned the devastating truth of our future and inability to conceive. In an attempt to deal with this devastation, Enok and Medaron encouraged everyone to transform into other forms of life and live apart from the Complex. Some returned to the main land as humans, some transformed into Mobies to explore the oceans and some decided to remain in their true form and pursued new areas of study. With the threat of JeffRa and the Terrians gone, some even chose to try to contact the other ships that had fled Europa. A group that became known as the ‘Callers’ transformed into Mobies and began singing high-pitched whale songs into space, hoping their songs would be heard and a rescue would come.”
“Enok and Medaron knew our race’s only chance of survival was finding the other spaceships that left Europa. They hoped their DNA could be synthesized to produce an antidote to correct our reproduction problem. And, even if it couldn’t, our males might be able to breed with their females since it appeared most of the damage was in our females’ genes. Our ships were no longer space worthy, so Enok followed the Callers lead and designed a signal that could be seen from space. He sent a small team up to the surface and instructed them to find a suitable location, somewhere close to our last city where a signal could be designed into the earth. They returned within days with news they had found the perfect site about eight hundred miles northwest of the destroyed city. It was close to the ocean, which not only made it easily accessible for the Oonocks, but any Oonock ship that did come to investigate the planet would search along the oceans for signs of surviving Oonocks. The site was also remote, thus assuring the signal could be constructed with little human interference and would remain undisturbed. Enok immediately sent out his engineers to burn a message into the ground.”
“What did the message look like?” Earon asked, curious because he had never heard mention of a signal.
“It’s only about a mile long,” Jeanip explained. “It consists of a number of meter wide holes that are located in a strip eight holes deep. From space the holes look like dots and can be read as a message because of the way they are arranged. From the ground, it looks like nothing except random holes.”
“Ingenious,” Earon smiled. “What does the message say?”
“It reads ‘We are here – the Oonocks’,” Chancee replied. “Even though we have had no response yet, we are still hopeful.”
“That was one of the reasons Enok had it constructed in stone – it should last for thousands of years so, even if a ship happens to investigate this planet after we are all gone, they will know we were here once,” Jeanip explained.
“Let’s continue, We have a long way to go yet,” Jeanip stated, as he poured himself another cup of coffee. “I believe it was in the early sixteen-hundreds when Enok decided it was time for Medaron, Earon and himself to return to a life above. Medaron still suffered occasionally from depression and he thought a change of scenery might help her. He sent me and Chancee above to purchase a large parcel of land where a cottage could be constructed. He wanted the land to be on a cliff overlooking the ocean below, with scenic mountains in the background, a place blessed by nature, with fields of wildflowers and lots of trees for the wind to blow through for Medaron and Earon. A serene, peaceful location that would remain so as humans evolved.”
“We found the perfect location, which was claimed by a band of Native Americans. They were a nation of warriors who valued honor and integrity, a peaceful nation that lived as one with nature. We were the first white men they had ever met and they were intrigued by our skin color. Like the forest natives of South America, they believed we were spirits, but Water Spirits, not Forest Spirits, since we had walked out of the water. They invited us into their camp and Chancee was able to quickly learn their language and their customs. He tried to persuade the chief to sell us a large portion of land at the southern end of their territory, promising those who would come to live there would also be one with nature and honor their traditions. He told the chief the new comers had powers which they would use to protect the tribe from their enemies and allow them to live in peace. Understandably, the chief was cautious and would not commit to giving us the land. Luckily for us, a nearby warring tribe captured the chief’s daughter soon after t
his refusal and took her to their camp. Knowing his beloved daughter would be beaten severely and killed, or worse yet, forced to live her life as a slave, the chief came and pleaded with us to use our powers and save his daughter. Seeing a chance to win the land we wanted, we went to the other village and rescued his daughter. When we returned her to the chief, we requested the land we had originally asked for in addition to a good section of land that had belonged to their enemy. He could not refuse.”
“That’s the story I asked you about, Mr. Dark Feather, the one I found in your book,” Terrance stated. “It’s the one my father, I mean stepfather, was interested in.”
“That is correct,” Chancee responded. “However, Jeanip’s telling of the story is a more accurate account than the one I wrote in my book. Now that I know JeffRa survived, I wish I’d never written the dang thing.”
“What happened to the other tribe?” Earon asked. “I cannot imagine you would have killed them for the land.”
“No, we do not kill others so we may possess what they have. That is not our philosophy of life. Chancee thought of a solution which caused them no harm yet granted us the chief’s daughter release and our acquisition of their land,” Jeanip replied. “It was quite ingenious!”
“What did you do?” asked Europa, as she turned to face Chancee, seeing the look of amusement on his face.
“Since we were spirits of air and water, I thought they should have a trip through the sky. We crammed them into a container and flew them about five hundred miles away and sat them down in a big valley,” Chancee stated, chuckling as he remembered the look on their faces when they saw where they were. “To say the least, they never came back to their lands.”
“How did Mr. Dark Feather end up staying with the first tribe?” Earon asked.
“The chief was more than willing to give us his enemy’s land, but his land came with a condition: that I remain with them,” Chancee reported. “I’m not sure if the stipulation was because they feared me or respected me. But, for whatever reason, the chief knew that, as long as I remained with the tribe, his people could live happily, free from any form of aggression and needing for nothing.”
“So, thanks to Chancee, whom the natives called Thomas Dark Feather, we had the land we needed,” Jeanip continued.
“So that’s how you came to have two names,” Europa stated, now understanding why humans referred to him as Thomas Dark Feather, but Jeanip and the other Oonocks called him Chancee.
“Yes, he is one of the few Oonocks who has two names,” Jeanip smiled, interrupting his story just long enough to answer her question. “I returned to the Complex to advise Enok of our success while Chancee remained in their camp. Enok had been working on the cottage blueprints, along with detailed security measures, while we were away and, upon my return, immediately assigned me the task of building Minnos. Returning with a small band of engineers and builders, we began construction on the dwelling and were able to complete Enok’s plans in several days. But the security measures, including the secret passage, were so extensive and detailed that it took us several weeks to complete them. Even though Enok was almost positive the threat of JeffRa and the Terrians was gone, he was not willing to take a chance with his Medaron and Earon’s lives. Thus Minnos was built, a serene place where Medaron could enjoy life while outfitted with the most sophisticated security system in the universe.”
“Accompanied by a small elite security detail and myself, Enok sent Medaron to the surface to view their new hideaway. I don’t remember what it was, but some urgent business at the Complex kept Enok from coming with her. He told Medaron to decorate the cottage in any fashion she desired and he promised to join her when she was finished. I still remember the look on her face as she took that first step inside – it was the first time I had seen her truly happy since Tiree was killed, except for the day Earon was born. I saw a change in her that day. It was as if all the horrors of the past had been erased. She loved life again and it clearly showed in the twinkle in her eyes.”
“Medaron spent the next three months decorating the cottage. I had never seen her so energized, so excited, so dedicated, so committed to a project. She had us paint the walls, build furniture, add a porch that covered the entire circumference of the cottage. She drew up a list of items to bring up from the Complex to enhance the cottage. Each night she sat by the fireplace, hand sewing curtains for the windows. She purchased rugs, baskets and pottery from the natives. To make the cottage a true paradise, she had us gather seeds and plant fields of wildflowers surrounding it. We even planted an extensive vegetable garden. Medaron turned the cottage and its yard into a beautiful home. Finally, she was ready for Enok to join her. But JeffRa’s revenge was not finished with her or Enok yet.”
“The long awaited day arrived and Enok surfaced to live with Medaron and Earon in the paradise his mate had created for them at Minnos. He was amazed at what she had done with the cottage. He too saw a spark in her he had not seen for a very long time. And he could also see that type of life suited Earon, for he was happy and thriving in the oxygen environment. That night Enok and Medaron slept together in their new bedroom, renewing their deep love for each other, enthralled by their new life and long-denied passions. Their new life had begun and, with it, the promise of a brighter future for their people. But that future was not to be, for when Enok awoke the next morning something was wrong; he had trouble breathing. Each attempt to take air into his lungs became more agonizing than the last. Finally, having no option, Enok was forced to return to the Complex for medical attention and that’s when he learned the injury JeffRa had inflicted upon him hundreds of years before had permanently damaged his ability to breathe when transformed into any air-breathing creature. His and Medaron’s dreams of living above were destroyed. Although Enok tried his best to persuade her to remain above with Earon for a while and enjoy the home she had so lovingly created, Medaron would not hear of it. She and Earon returned to the Complex to live with Enok. On the day she left she commanded me to add the secret attic and store all her valuables, hoping to return one day with her beloved Enok, a day that never occurred.”
“Chancee remained with the natives to fulfill his promise of protection and to manage Minnos. Years later, when a town was built not far from Minnos, he hired a young couple to be caretakers and overseers. Their decedents continued to care for Minnos throughout the years. Medaron would occasionally return to update the cottage, adding the crystal chandeliers, the tapestries and other fine furnishings. During these trips she always made time to visit the native camp to see how they were doing and to inquire if they needed anything.”
“Did the natives or townspeople not wonder why she never aged? If I am not mistaken, we are talking a time span of about three hundred years,” Europa asked.
“The natives believed she was a water spirit, an eternal being that did not age so they would have been shocked if she HAD looked different,” Jeanip explained. “As for the townspeople, Medaron used different names and altered her appearance to look like the descendent of the Waters who came before her. I was always amazed no one ever saw through her disguises.”
“And so life for us continued. Then, about twenty years ago, a miracle happened. Medaron learned she was carrying a female child, the first child to be implanted in over five hundred years, the first female monarch in over eight thousand years. This was joyous news,” Jeanip said, looking directly at Europa. He did not want her to misunderstand the next part of his tale. “Oonocks celebrated the news, your parents were ecstatic and Earon reveled in the fact he was to be a big brother. But, with this fantastic news came the remembrance of JeffRa’s curse: no female conceived or born at the Complex had survived.”
“Enok and Medaron sat down and seriously considered their options. We had been on this planet for over six thousand years and, other than the distress call from Mars, we had never heard from another Oonock. The messages the Call
ers constantly sang went unanswered, as did our message of holes. We told ourselves perhaps the other ships had traveled too far into space to come back for us, perhaps they had perished on other worlds, or perhaps JeffRa had found them and destroyed them before he came to Mars and Earth. Whatever the reason, Enok decided it was time to resolve ourselves to the fact no rescue was ever coming. We were alone. Having no chance of reproducing we would one day start dying off, leaving fewer and fewer Oonocks until only one would remain – you, Europa. Your parents envisioned you living for centuries, possibly millennia alone and without the companionship of others of your kind. They could not, would not condemn you to that fate.”
“But if Medaron became pregnant, couldn’t the other women do the same?” Terrance asked.
“We hoped such, but when our medical personnel examined our females they found no change. I said Europa was a miracle. It was never known what changed to allow her mother to conceive her, for she was never able to conceive again.”
“But the reality that a rescue was not coming was not the only problem. Humans had made huge advancements in their technology. They now had deep sea submersibles capable of exploring the ocean’s depths and robotic submersibles which had almost no limit as to what depth they could explore. Although the humans had explored only about ten percent of the ocean’s floor, Enok knew it was just a matter of time before they would search for new discoveries in the vicinity of the Complex. He believed their technological advancements in the next fifty to hundred years would necessitate the abandonment and destruction of the Complex to keep humans from gaining our technology.”
Looking at Europa, Jeanip continued. “Knowing these facts, your parents decided your only chance of survival and a happy life was to be born on land – as a human. As a human you would live a normal human life span with no special powers, but you would not be left alone. To ensure you a happy life you were never to know your true identity or where your parents came from. You would never know of the terrible war your people fought or the revenge JeffRa afflicted upon us.”
“Also, for your protection, and Earon’s too, Enok ordered Sunam to construct Saint’s Isle. Enok and Medaron wanted an alternative place of sanctuary in case Terrians still existed and were intent on carrying out JeffRa’s oath of revenge. Or worse yet, JeffRa himself was still alive. And, just like our last city, it was totally self-sustaining. Medaron made sure it was filled with everything imaginable to ensure any time spent there would be an enjoyable one. And Enok made sure it was a fortress, a place of sanctuary where neither JeffRa nor any Terrian could ever reach his children.”
“While Sunam worked on Saint’s Isle, I prepared the cottage for Medaron’s return. New security alerts and fences were put in, new security protocols enacted. To ensure your safety, Enok ordered that Medaron, Earon and you, Europa, have a guard with them twenty-four hours a day. I was assigned as Medaron’s protector while Earon volunteered to be yours. Since your protector had to be someone you could take everywhere with you – school, the beach, dates, etc., Earon chose to transform into a canine, a Rottweiler to be exact, a being no one would question why it was with you.”
“I never knew I had a protector,” Earon stated, stunned to hear this news. “Who was assigned to protect me?”
“If you never knew then he certainly did the task assigned him,” Jeanip smiled. “Tinderoon was your protector. Didn’t you ever wonder why he often went places with you, accompanied you when you went out on patrol with Runbee, always rode with you when you went out on horseback? In addition to these times, he often followed you without your knowledge. When you use to accompany Europa to school he was nearby, hidden so you would not see him. You are a monarch, Earon, and as such, security protocol dictates you must be protected at all times. His last act of protection was when he remained in the kitchen at Minnos to keep the Terrians from following you into the cave.”
“I had no idea,” Earon replied, now sorrowful he had not known. “I just thought he came with me because I was closer to his age. I wish I would have done more with him.”
“Like your sister, you cannot know something that is deliberately hidden from you,” Jeanip replied.
Europa looked at Earon. “I know how you feel, Earon. I felt the same way when I learned who Sunam and Misso really were.”
Jeanip smiled, delighted to see the bond between the two siblings. “I brought Medaron and Earon to the surface along with Birea as Europa’s second protector, Misso as Medaron’s helper, Tinderoon as Earon’s protector and Ebar, Mintoo and Sunam. All were highly trained soldiers. And of course Evonic, our personal medic. Even though we may look human, there are differences a human doctor would not be able to explain, so it was necessary to have our own physician.”
“Yeah, like having purple blood,” Terrance chimed in, smiling.
“Like having purple blood,” Jeanip said, smiling back. “Then, about eight months later, you were born, Europa. Our pasts were fabricated so you would have a normal life. The plan was for you to grow into adulthood, pursue your destiny and then, at the appropriate age, pass on, never knowing who or what your parents truly were. But JeffRa changed all that the day he ambushed your mother. Everything else you pretty well know.”
“Mother told me my father died at sea, that he was a treasure hunter,” Europa said. “Was that part of the fabrication also? Is my father still alive?”
Jeanip looked at Earon then back at Europa. “In some respects, your father was a treasure hunter. And yes, he still resides in the Ocean Complex, although your mother believed he was gone.” Jeanip watched Europa’s face as she learned the truth her father was alive. After all that had happened he was not sure how she would take it. He quickly looked over to Earon and could see once more the rage beginning to bubble inside him.
“Why did Mother believe he was dead?” Europa asked
“Your parents had a very deep connection, a connection that far exceeds what humans are capable of. Enok could feel her sorrow and pain caused by their separation. When he was given the news our medical personnel could not cure his breathing problem as they hoped, and he could never live above in human form, he decided it would be kinder for her to believe he had perished. I think he hoped it would lessen her sorrow,” Jeanip answered. “Although he never said it, I believe he regretted this decision years later, but at the time he did what he felt was right.”
“He should never have done that,” Earon stated.
“As I’ve said to you before, Earon, it is not for us to judge him,” Jeanip replied. “He is our Head Monarch and, as such, his word is law, even if we do not agree with it.”
“Jeanip, in the back of my mother’s diary are references to bank accounts totaling billions of dollars. Are they accurate?” Europa asked.
“Yes and no. They were accurate about ten years ago. Since then more has been added to them,” Jeanip replied. “I would estimate the total has probably doubled, perhaps even tripled.”
“But where did all this money come from?” Europa asked.
“From the ocean,” Jeanip answered. “Being creatures of the deep, we had access to a wealth of sunken ships and their treasures. Over the years the gold and jewels were brought up and sold, the money put into accounts for Oonocks to use whenever they spent time above. So you see, in reality, your father, along with all Oonocks, are treasure hunters.”
Once again there was a knock at the door and a young man stepped in to announce dinner would be ready in twenty minutes. He inquired if they wished him to serve dinner there or in the meal room. Jeanip rose from his seat. “It seems we have a bit of dilemma. My tale is basically over but there is still more I have to tell you and you have not gotten to ask your questions. While I believe it would be best for us to eat now, and then get some rest before we leave, I leave this up to you three. We will have time during the next part of our voyage where I can finish my story and answer your questions. Or we can delay din
ner and skip the rest period and I can tell it to you now. The choice is yours.”
Europa looked at Terrance and Earon. “What do you two think?”
“I know you really want to hear it all, Sis,” Earon responded. “As do I. But I think we are all going to need some rest before we head out again. I vote Jeanip tell us later.”
Europa looked at Terrance. “I’m in agreement,” Terrance replied. “We’re not going to be much good out there if we are too tired to stay awake. Just promise me that once he tells you, you will tell me.”
Europa nodded at Terrance, then turned to Jeanip. “You are right. Right now it is more important we rest and are in top condition for the next part of our journey. We may still have many dangers ahead to face and we will need to think clearly.”
“The true decision of a monarch,” Jeanip stated. “You have put your own needs behind the needs of those you protect.” Jeanip turned and advised the kitchen helper they would dine in the meal room.
“You are going to be a great leader of our people,” Chancee said. “I look forward to your rule.”
“Jeanip, do I have time to ask a few quick questions?” Europa said, as she stood.
“I believe the young male said we had twenty minutes,” Jeanip replied. “Ask your questions.”
“You said the Oonocks transform into Mobies when they come to the surface. The day the Terrians attacked Minnos I saw a whale destroy the Terrian vessel. By any chance was that my . . .”
“Your father?” completed Jeanip. “Yes, Europa, that was Enok. Even though he could not be with you, he always watched over you.”
“Somehow I knew it was him,” Europa stated. “My next question is this: What happened the day my mother was killed? You said you would tell me the truth once we arrived. And Mr. Dark Feather said he would explain why the Orb enabled me to heal you.”
“That we did, Europa,” Jeanip replied, looking at Chancee. “Unfortunately, we do not have enough time for me to explain what happened the day your mother died, but I believe Chancee can give you a condensed version on how you were able to heal me.”
“The truth is, Your Majesty, I am not sure how you are doing the things you are doing,” Chancee confessed. “But, if I were to take an educated guess, I would speculate the Orb is somehow changing you, almost reconstructing your DNA in order to make you into a real Oonock. And, by changing you, it has awaken long dormant powers asleep for thousands of years in Oonocks. ”
“But I thought my Mother was not a healer?” Europa stated.
“That is true, My Child, thus my dilemma on why you are. I believe we will have to wait to see the real reason you were able to heal Jeanip and what else the Orbs have in mind for you.”
“May I ask one more quick question?”
“Of course,” Jeanip replied.
“The incidents you told us about occurred over hundreds, even thousands of years. May I ask how old you are, Jeanip?”
Jeanip looked at her and smiled. “Time here is different than time on Europa. In earth years we came to this planet over six thousand years ago. I, myself, am just under nine thousand.” Jeanip smiled as he saw the astonished look on Europa and Terrance’s faces. “Now, I believe I have given you more than enough to think about. Let’s go and dine, then prepare for the next stage of our voyage.”
As the travelers exited the room Europa looked up at Earon and asked, “If Jeanip is almost nine thousand years old, how old are you?”
“I am just a youngster,” Earon replied, giving his sister a smile. “In Earth years I am one thousand two hundred and fifty-nine years old.”
“That’s considered to be the age of a youngster?” Terrance asked. “Guess that makes Europa and I just gleams in our parents’ eyes.” The three laughed as they walked to the dining area. Jeanip had indeed given them much to think about.
THE VOYAGE CONTINUES