Enter the Aenar

Posted on Mon Oct 2nd, 2023 @ 7:47pm by Cadet Sophomore Grade Aenardha Sh'vastarth

1,395 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: 0 - Assignment Day
Location: Andoria
Timeline: Some Time Ago

It was a particularly warm summer day, complete with a few hours of sunlight and a high temperature just a hair above water's freezing point. An Aurora Australis shown in the darkening sky as the sun's light waned following an hours-long day. Cold light illuminators began shining through the windows of the ice houses making up the village.

Aenardha sat in a chair, in her gown. Her reflection was looking back at her from the mirror made of a stabilized and contained frozen oxygen medium complete with a crystalline silver alloy backing. It provided flawless reflection with a hint of glowing blue giving Aenardha a false sense that she looked more beautiful than reality would otherwise inform. Either way, it did not matter to Aenardha. Her near complete blindness forbade any physical ability to recognize the image looking back at her. Her mother though, had better eyesight and could at least make out the reflection. Aenardha was able to telepathically see herself through her mother's eyes, but she refused.

"Aenardha, dear, look at yourself."

That was one of the things about an Aenar being around other Aenar. They could always tell when one was or was not using telepathy. Her mother brushed her hair and made parts and braids around her antennae.

"And do keep your antennae standing up." She pushed a drooping antenna straight up. "Else I'll have to figure out how to make them stay up."

Aenardha forced her antennae up and faked a smile. Her mother force projected her vision upon Aenardha and even her reflection looked as though that smile was whole-heartedly fake. And her reflection was supposed to be more beautiful.

"Khrap will be here soon. His ship is en route as we speak."

"Mother, I don't want to marry Khrap. I've never even seen Khrap."

"Nonsense," she brushed with added frustration, "you have his file. I sent it to your computer weeks ago." She let go of a lock of hair and grabbed another. The brushing continued. "Unless if...Aenardha! You've not even opened the file have you?"

"Mother, I have no intention of laying a single hand on Khrap. I certainly do not want to know the history of Khrap."

"Foolish girl. He is a decorated military officer." She grabbed Aenardha by the shoulders and turned her around somewhat and she leaned to meet her daughter's eyes. "He has his own ship." She let go of Aenardha's shoulder and went back to her hair. "Just imagine seeing the stars."

'SEEING that stars.'

"A trophy plaything trapped in his quarters, snatched away from my home and thrust into a marriage that I am the only one not in favor of."

Again with the, "Foolish girl." Her mother moved a few strands of hair around her antennae. "You will one day see the error of your ways and grow to know this day is the happiest day of your life."

"Only because all the days following will be filled with Khrap."

"Aenardha, silence!" Her mother went to making a braid. "He will be here soon. You will meet him. You will hear what he has to say. You will speak only when spoken to. And you will make your choice. And you WILL choose Khrap. Am I understood?"

Aenardha made no comment and that was enough for her mother to take as acceptance. She went back to working her hair. All Aenardha could do was sit there and ignore the vision telepathy her mother was sending her and ponder the prisonous life she was about to be forced into.

Her mother moved about on the stepstool. She turned Aenardha in the chair a bit. "How your father and I produced such a tall Aenar, baffles the both of us."

The years were happy before this day. The family was slowly torn apart through arranged marriages until the last and youngest of the children was to be married off. All that remained in the household of an aging father and a nagging mother was Aenardha.

Who would take care of them as they grew older? Aenardha could only conclude that even they did not care.

"You hear that?"

Aenardha did not care.

"That is his shuttle landing. He will be here shortly. Oh, happy days."

----------

There was Khrap in the middle of the keeping room. Aenardha stepped in. She could already sense his thoughts as well as tap into his vision. He was eyeing here up and down, almost cringing at her height. She was but a good-looking but lowly ship-wife. Her limited vision was enough to know that she towered over the short Khrap. All she saw was a blurry blue blob but she knew he smirked arrogantly and was adorned in his decorated military uniform.

"My word, you are tall. A little clipping below the knees can correct that."

"I shall remain as I am, thank you very much." She stepped further into the keeping room and took a chair. Their eyes finally on the same level.

<='There. That is more like it.'=> "I meant it as a joke of course."

"Of course," she said.

"Allow me to officially introduce myself. I am Khrap, captain of my vessel. It is among the largest in the fleet. And it is time I take a wife. I would plead my case as to why I am a more than adequate choice for you, but you have already perused my profile in detail."

"I have actually n..."

"Then it is settled." He adjusted his stance, straightened his uniform, cleared his throat. "I have but one question, that requires an answer. You've read my profile, you know I have my own ship, you have met me in person, I only ask that you join me aboard my vessel, to travel amongst the stars, as my companion. Aenardha Sh'vastarth, will you consent to become my wife?"

"No," was all she said.

"I beg your pardon, Aenardha, but did you just say..."

"'No.' That is what I said."

<='Should I remind her that no Aenar has ever refused...'=>

"No need to give me a history lesson, Khrap. My answer, is no."

But he insisted anyway. "No Aenar has ever refused this request."

"Then I shall be the first," and Aenardha forced a bit of pride in her voice.

<='And I shall be the first Andorian to be subjected to such a refusal.'=>

"I shall file that under 'Not my problem.'"

"Reading my thoughts I see." He stepped forward.

Aenardha thought to stand. She felt anger well within him. She shifted a little in her chair and stayed put.

"Do you really want to be an old, unmarried maid in this frozen wasteland? Do you really want to be known for your refusal and your arrogance? I tell you this now, no one will ever ask this of you again." <='You are too tall, but I am willing to overlook this sad trait.'=> "For the last time..." though she could already sense the lie, "...I ask you...No, I am telling you. Take my hand in marriage." He held out his hand.

Aenardha was already shaking her head when Khrap grabbed her by the shoulders. "Listen here you arrogant wench. There are plenty of woman out there who would instantly..."

"...then go ask them."

"For the last time," and she could tell this would be the last time before he sought out other means, "you will consent to become..."

All the while, Aenardha could feel the close proximity of her antenna to his as he drew closer, practically yelling in her face. She already knew what the consequences were going to be, but decided to accept what was coming as she pressed the cups of her antenna to the cups of his

----------

Aenardh'a mother ran down the hall toward the keeping room. The shrill cries, clearly masculine, was all that was needed to know what had happened. She burst into the keeping room only to see the sorry pile of Khrap squiming on the floor. He was wide-eyed and swatting into the air as though trying to shoo away whatever cosmic horror was encroaching upon him.

Aenardha sat in her chair, unmoving and offering no help.

"Aenardha," her mother called out as she rushed to Khrap, "what have you done?"

"I said 'No'."

 

RSS Feed