Dejah Thoris (
dejah_thoris) wrote2015-04-24 04:30 pm
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[OOM] Third Teean 27, 38 O 94 E
Dejah had thought, by returning to work on the Project, she could forget about her other concerns for a little while. It was only ever the Project in her mind. It had been the Project since those very first days after they'd realized, the Thern threat had been dealt with, once and for all. The War was over. The Project began. Terraforming a planet was no small undertaking. It had been over a century in the works already, and looked to be at least three more in the making. By that time, she expected there would be no way to conceal their presence from Jasoom any longer, and they had to be prepared for that eventuality as well. So, the first iteration of atmospheric generators had been brought online, and the second and third iterations had entered development and testing. Subterranean pump houses were already supplementing what little surface water they had, and they were a long way from open air reservoirs on the surface. Right now, subterranean reservoirs would have to do. And there was so much more to consider on the surface. Topography and geological surveys to be completed. Small scale test environments to be built, merely proof of concepts at this point, but they were no small endeavor in and of themselves.
She'd been back for three days, working straight through, and her people none the wiser that she'd been gone for more than a month through a secret door between universes. She looked over the plans as they stood, and found everything to be on target, just as they'd been when she'd left. So why wasn't the tension behind her eyes relieved?
She knew why. She'd been avoiding thinking about it. About him. She stepped away from her drafting tables and for the first time, thought to herself, Who do I know that could counsel me on this issue? The first question really was, what was it she needed counselling on? There was no one here in the city who could even begin to understand what it was that Curtis had been through. But she thought perhaps, she knew someone who might.
"Sola, I want to go and visit your father."
"Yes, my Jeddak. He should be back in the Old City by the end of next month."
"I want to go visit him now."
"But… My Jeddak, he is on the path now. There was good hunting to be had in the southern reaches this season. He will be with his hunting parties, out in the Warhoon."
"Well, send a flyer to locate him and we shall ride out."
"My Jeddak… Dejah… That is at least five days on thoat back. Might we take a flyer instead?"
"Sola, my friend. I need some time away from the city. I need the desert now. Surely you understand?"
Sola regarded her Jeddak and dear friend with a knowing look. "Are you going into seclusion again? As you did before, when…?" She could not say it, but they both knew what she meant. Dejah had ridden out to the Temple of Iss after John's passing. A journey that should have only taken a week ended up lasting six months.
"No, no not at all." Dejah put a hand on Sola's shoulder. "I merely need to speak with your father. I require his counsel. And the ride will clear my head before we get there."
Sola closed her eyes and dipped her chin, a smile of relief touching her lips. "As you will. I will have the flyer sent out immediately. Mounts to be ready by morning?"
"Let's leave tonight."
"As you will. I will let them know."
Dejah quietly thanked her, and turned back to the room. She hadn't been in the field in far too long. Suddenly, she was actually looking forward to it.
~~~
The flyers located the Thark hunting band eight days ride south of the city of Helium, and Dejah's small caravan of guards and attendants set out to intercept them a few days out from the Old City. She'd had them bring water, enough for a traditional peace offering, along with other gifts of food and wine. She would not be seen to be a burden on the Thark's already limited resources. But not too many gifts. He had his pride as well.
Woola was acting as point, and kept them on target despite the shifting sands and usual dust storms. All she had to do was tell him, "Find Tars Tarkas." And the calot had done the rest. He was his usual grumpy self, as the thoats did not move with near enough alacrity for his taste, but he also seemed to be enjoying the wide open space. He'd adapted as best he could to city life, but he was a calot and as such, belonged in the empty expanse of Barsoom's red desert.
When they caught up with Tars Tarkas and his men, she made sure it was at a leisurely pace, giving them enough time to spot the dust of their trail and send out riders to meet them. It was an hour before sunset when they were escorted to meet the Thark Jeddak and longtime family friend.
She'd been back for three days, working straight through, and her people none the wiser that she'd been gone for more than a month through a secret door between universes. She looked over the plans as they stood, and found everything to be on target, just as they'd been when she'd left. So why wasn't the tension behind her eyes relieved?
She knew why. She'd been avoiding thinking about it. About him. She stepped away from her drafting tables and for the first time, thought to herself, Who do I know that could counsel me on this issue? The first question really was, what was it she needed counselling on? There was no one here in the city who could even begin to understand what it was that Curtis had been through. But she thought perhaps, she knew someone who might.
"Sola, I want to go and visit your father."
"Yes, my Jeddak. He should be back in the Old City by the end of next month."
"I want to go visit him now."
"But… My Jeddak, he is on the path now. There was good hunting to be had in the southern reaches this season. He will be with his hunting parties, out in the Warhoon."
"Well, send a flyer to locate him and we shall ride out."
"My Jeddak… Dejah… That is at least five days on thoat back. Might we take a flyer instead?"
"Sola, my friend. I need some time away from the city. I need the desert now. Surely you understand?"
Sola regarded her Jeddak and dear friend with a knowing look. "Are you going into seclusion again? As you did before, when…?" She could not say it, but they both knew what she meant. Dejah had ridden out to the Temple of Iss after John's passing. A journey that should have only taken a week ended up lasting six months.
"No, no not at all." Dejah put a hand on Sola's shoulder. "I merely need to speak with your father. I require his counsel. And the ride will clear my head before we get there."
Sola closed her eyes and dipped her chin, a smile of relief touching her lips. "As you will. I will have the flyer sent out immediately. Mounts to be ready by morning?"
"Let's leave tonight."
"As you will. I will let them know."
Dejah quietly thanked her, and turned back to the room. She hadn't been in the field in far too long. Suddenly, she was actually looking forward to it.
~~~
The flyers located the Thark hunting band eight days ride south of the city of Helium, and Dejah's small caravan of guards and attendants set out to intercept them a few days out from the Old City. She'd had them bring water, enough for a traditional peace offering, along with other gifts of food and wine. She would not be seen to be a burden on the Thark's already limited resources. But not too many gifts. He had his pride as well.
Woola was acting as point, and kept them on target despite the shifting sands and usual dust storms. All she had to do was tell him, "Find Tars Tarkas." And the calot had done the rest. He was his usual grumpy self, as the thoats did not move with near enough alacrity for his taste, but he also seemed to be enjoying the wide open space. He'd adapted as best he could to city life, but he was a calot and as such, belonged in the empty expanse of Barsoom's red desert.
When they caught up with Tars Tarkas and his men, she made sure it was at a leisurely pace, giving them enough time to spot the dust of their trail and send out riders to meet them. It was an hour before sunset when they were escorted to meet the Thark Jeddak and longtime family friend.
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This being a hunting expedition rather than a war party or diplomatic mission, there's little in the way of pomp or fanfare to be had. Oh, the warriors are very stern and disciplined and all when Tars Tarkas rises from his seat and offers the traditional words of greeting, Jeddak to Jeddak. But that only lasts a few moments before Tars lets out a big booming laugh and moves in for a sweeping hug with all four arms.
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She hugs him back for a long moment, long enough for her guard to start to get uncomfortable about it, and then she finally lets him go. Her hands clasp his as she looks up into his face.
"Tars. My dear friend. How are you? How was the hunting?"
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He glances up towards the the caravan; his eyes narrow a moment in speculation. Then his expression smooths, and he says, "But you, I think- you came out here for other reasons. Am I right?"
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"I would say that the journey is well worth it just to enjoy your hospitality, but -- you are correct. I have need of your counsel. But please, let us sit. My legs are weary and I would enjoy the warmth of your fire and your company."
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"You are too kind, my friend." Her fingers feather through the soft fringe and the scent of the campfire draws an old memory to the surface. A memory of spending nights like this, under the stars. "I have missed this. More than I imagined."
Someone brings her a goblet and fills it with something that is not the wine she brought. She grins, shakes her head. "I see not much has changed."
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He's never been one to mince words, so she thinks he deserves the same honor in return. "I've come to ask you about -- matters a Jeddak might have had to deal with in the past, when the times were especially hard. I know I heard rumors of famine amongst the tribes when the war was at its height."
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She gives the moment a bit of air, as it deserves.
"You honor your ancestors in keeping their wisdom alive. But -- have you ever met a Thark who -- well..." She hesitates, puzzling out the right words. "Have you ever known someone who had lived in hunger for so long, that it -- altered their mind?"
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"When the time drew near for the most recent clutch to hatch, of course they had to send scouts to the place. They had avoided Warhoon notice- but not the eyes of ill fortune. Another band in those lands had been put to the sword, and the Warhoon had slaughtered or stolen every creature in their lands that could be eaten. There was one survivor, a maimed and half-blinded woman named Tharvas. At the end of her strength, she had crawled into what she thought was a quiet place to die."
"An egg creche is a very quiet place. And one who has neither eaten nor had water in many days may do things others are unwilling to do."
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"I have always been raised to believe that, we do what is necessary to stay alive. No matter the cost. I suppose none of us knows what we're capable of until fate puts us to the knife."
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"True. And like any other form of combat, the trouble is leaving that enemy behind once the battle is over. I am beginning to suspect that is the trickiest part of surviving. Figuring out how to live again."
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"Yes, well. As with any burden, they are easier borne with help than by oneself." She glances back up. "How did you know I came on behalf of someone else?"
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Well, for certain values of alive, anyway.
"I am grateful for any counsel you might have to give."
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"I can do that. But I fear my own impatience may be an impediment. Still, that's nothing I haven't had to deal with in the past."
She leans forward and extends her hand to her old friend. "Thank you, Tars. You have no idea how invaluable your words are to me right now. Again, I find myself in your debt."
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He clasps her hand with one of his own. "Return the favor for me one day, and we'll call it even," he says. "I have no doubt there'll come a time when I'll have to knock at the gates of Helium with questions of my own."
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She squeezed his hand and leaned back again, gentle smile back in place.