The Nest, Rebellion-Held Aviye
Zai
The Nightravens roosted amidst a grove of golden larch and dove trees, the low hills and leaf-covered tarps doing much to hide their presence from land and air.
They were met at the entrance by K'le and and her apprentice Xan, the squad's mechanics. After accounting for Sh'zi and Edam to the pair, Zai brought her frame to the covered workspace before starting to dismount, Dr. Jeng hopping off the hand before it went slack.
"Wait for a bit, Doctor, and I'll show you inside."
"There's an inside to this place?" she asked, looking around. The camp was formed in a semicircle around a large hill, most of what she saw was supplies on bamboo pallets. Ammunition, a radio station, mostly empty boxes that once held heavy ordinance. Everything was hidden under tents or tarps.
"Who's the girl?" K'le asked, her eyes full of annoyance at the state of Zai's frame.
Zai finished her dismount, stepping from the frame. "Someone important. You'll find out soon."
"You didn't radio in. Xan nearly shat himself when he heard you stomping over."
"Couldn't risk it. They had aircraft after us. But look," Zai pulled the basket on the back of her frame out a bit so K'le could see, "I brought the arm back this time."
K'le knew she when was being distracted. "What shit did you get us into this time? And am I going to have to pull triples on Rabbit again?" Rabbit was the name she'd given to Zai's frame. She'd worked herself to the bone getting its specs built for as much speed as she could, since Zai insisted on dashing in whenever the squad was in trouble.
"Hold off on the repairs. I want to tell everyone where we're going next... and remember Sh'zi and Edam."
K'le nodded. She backed away to join the others, who were chatting with Xan.
Zai breathed out a long sigh, before pushing her errant hairs back. Her strait black locks were tied in a simple braid, the final foot dyed dark green. She looked at Dr. Jeng and gestured for her to follow.
"I know it might not seem like much compared to the city, but there's a lot more here than just what you see." Zai said as she led her to what looked like a pallet of empty fuel barrels. The rest of the squad paused to watch as Zai pushed on a corner. The whole pallet pivoted around an unseen bar, and revealed a low concrete tunnel that led deeper into the hill.
"Remember to watch your head." Zai crouched and started walking into the base, looking back to make sure Amri was following her.
They came out into the common area, a circular space with a handful of branching tunnels, all dug tall so that past the entrance everyone could stand. Three years was a long time in war, and the Nightravens had made this place a home since being assigned to conduct independent operations and education in Zuret-ran-Rhosi.
The circular space was filled with cushiony pillows, a low table which still had a tea set out, the pot on a hot plate and a dozen different mugs scattered about. Etheric lights gave the room a warm glow, and there was even light from outside provided by two-inch slits carved at around neck-height, so deeply recessed they were almost invisible from outside. Against one wall, there was even an ancient-looking television, the antenna hidden in the branches of the tree directly above it.
"Welcome to the Nest, Doctor." Zai brought her to the other side of the room as the squad filtered in behind them, each person automatically going to a spot they liked and adjusting the cushions for seating. Shortly, the eight remaining squad members and Dr. Jeng were in a circle, only Lorn standing before Zai gave her a nod and she retreated into the tunnel beside her, reappearing a short time later with a bottle of clear-blue liquor. "Before we begin... let's remember Sh'zi and Edam."
"To the fallen," every soldier intoned. Instead of taking up glasses, Sergeant Lorn took a sip from the bottle before passing it on. Everyone repeated the action in silence, and when it came to Zai's turn, she instead pressed her forehead against the bottle, before handing it to the Doctor.
Dr. Jeng looked around once before taking a swig, then doing her best to suppress a sputtering cough, drawing a few chuckles from the group.
Lorn took the bottle before the doctor could accidentally drop it.
"Thank you for honoring them," Zai said quietly to her.
"I'm not very good with alcohol, Captain. May I ask why you didn't drink?"
"Captain has a vow," Lorn said as she put the cork back in the bottle. "Won't drink until the day of victory."
"Believe it or not, Doctor, I'm worse with alcohol than you are." Zai admitted, drawing more chuckles from everyone.
"I'd pay to see that," Amri said.
"We all would," K'le joked. "Now, Captain, what's this about?"
Zai took a breath. "Everyone, this is Dr. Jeng. She's a defector. She's come to us with some intel, and more importantly she's willing to give it to us to ensure it reaches our leadership. Now... the information is something I believe can help us win the war... but I fully understand that once we know it, the Hegemony will do everything it can to destroy the Sunrise Sword just to keep it from leaking any further. If anyone wants out before we proceed, you're free to go. I won't force anyone to share in this if they don't want to. You'll be free to stay here or go to the village."
No one moved.
"What's the big secret, Captain?" Qal asked.
"The secret of how to become an Ascendant." Dr. Jeng said before Zai could speak.
Zai looked at her and nodded. All of her soldiers now bore surprised looks, except for Lorn. The pause stretched awkwardly, nobody saying what was on their minds, so Zai took action.
"When I call your name, say 'Yes' if you're willing to stay." She took a breath. "Anroh." Zai looked at their demolitionist, a short woman with short hair. She was the one that landed a perfect shot on the enemy CF with a rocket propelled grenade.
"Yes Captain!"
"Eisaf."
The man that answered was stocky, barrel-chested under his binder. "Yes Captain."
"Ezyr."
"Yes Ma'am."
"Fengri."
"Yes, Captain," Sergeant Lorn nodded once.
"K'le."
K'le thought for a moment. "Yes Ma'am. Just don't use it as an excuse to hurt Rabbit."
Everyone chuckled.
"Qal," Zai continued.
"Yes, Captain."
"Xan."
"Y-yes, Captain," the boy responded.
Zai nodded. "Nightravens, the vote is unanimous... Thank you."
"Arah!" everyone crowed at the same time, causing Dr. Jeng to jump.
Turning to the Doctor, Zai gestured for her to stand. "The floor is yours."
Amri stood, looking around the room as she fidgeted with her hands. "First... ah... a bit of history... As you know, many nations have had Ascendants in the past..."
"They have? I thought it was just the Hegemony," Xan interrupted.
Zai cleared her throat at the boy.
"Yes, well, that's the history they've promoted in the Kingdom, but a studious look at primary sources reveals that Aviye had at least three Ascendants since its founding. The first was Queen Ahranzai, whose cultivation gave her mastery over all green and growing things. Then came Jex, her consort and assassin. And last was Mea the Iconoclast, who re-founded Aviye as a republic three hundred years ago..."
"Mea was an Ascendant? I thought Ascendants were all warriors." Xan interrupted again.
"Xan!" Zai raised her voice.
"It's alright, Captain. I actually appreciate the questions." Amri cleared some hair from her eyes. "The Sunrise Sword follows her teachings, so it's not uncommon for people to regard her as an astute philosopher and politician, but what people often fail to see is that becoming Ascendant isn't just about becoming strong... it's about becoming yourself... to such a degree that your very life force is no longer diluted by your flesh, and is able to grow and empower you."
"So... you're saying that because some people in the Hegemony are really into being big assholes, we have to fight people like the Lightning?" Qal took a turn at asking a question.
Amri, to Zai's surprise, shook her head. "No... no. The Hegemons have another way to become Ascendant, but I'd like to save it for the end..." Something about the look in her eyes told Zai that it was something bad. "The point is... with the right practice, people can cultivate some skill or attribute until they embody it in their soul. At that point, the capabilities of the person expand, and they can find their own way to expand other skills and traits until they achieve the apex of their being. Before the Hegemons conquered the continent, there were many Risers. People who were in the first steps towards apotheosis, but over the last few centuries the knowledge and traditions have been worn away. Part of my research was reconstructing the old methods... and testing them."
"What are you saying, Doctor?" Zai asked.
"I'm saying that... through my discoveries, I was able to take the first step... I'm a Riser... and I have the ability to sense understanding in people around me."
Curious sounds rose up around the room. Zai brought her hands up to call for quiet. "How did you achieve that?" she asked.
"Through the old ways... meditation, inquiry... many, many attempts at self-revolution. My skills have always been scholarly... so I managed to stumble blindly through the first steps until I found my way."
"So you can feel when people know what you're saying?" Zai asked.
"That's one way to put it." Amri replied, drawing an even more curious look from Zai before the Captain spoke.
"How many languages do you speak, Doctor?"
"Well, ah, I speak Avsay, same as everyone here. I also know Senthee, Avissene, and Canthic."
"Say something in Canthic." It was the common language of the Hegemons, and Zai had spent many nights teaching basic phrases to many of the crew. "Something difficult."
"Oh, I see where this is going..." Amri cleared her throat and thought for a moment. "Oh Hells and Heavens, God and Goddess, I evoke to thee, the plains of black sand stretching deep are they of Avis aflame, and I for my people to feed and prosper shall strike them from the hand of Avis-kin and claim them for the green."
Zai recognized the quote. It was from a stage play about one of the Hegemon nations invading the continent of Avis, called Elu by the people that lived there, far to the east across the sea, only to be repulsed by disasters and finally a romance between one of the invader captains and an Avisian soldier.
The captain's defection and assassination of his own father ended the invasion, and the Hegemon nations considered the play a lesson in not allowing family dynamics to influence war. But more important than her understanding was proof that Amri had the power she claimed. "Doctor, if you would, tell me how well my people understood."
One by one, Amri pointed. For each member of the squad, she said exactly what Zai expected to hear. Xan was the newest and didn't understand at all. Everyone else ran the gamut from almost no understanding to partial understanding, with the Doctor surprising the captain by specifying who understood what words. It took a few minutes for her to come to Lorn, who understood all but the archaic terms. Lastly, she pointed at Zai.
"You understood everything, and even knew what play it was from."
Everyone in the room was dumbstruck.
"The Fall of Kallas Avrius." Zai smiled. "Alright. Thank you for humoring me doctor. I now believe you know what you are talking about when you say we can grow our souls."
The mood in the room rose, people started muttering to each other, wondering what sort of powers they could cultivate.
"I have one last question though... what's the method that the Hegemons use to grow their souls?"
Amri winced. "That's the thing, Captain... they don't grow their souls." She took a deep breath. "They steal the souls of others."
The room went silent.