This is a social media inception post.
Click on the thing from another thing to get to the thing!
💖
E Garver, Author
Cozy Murder Mystery with a twist of fantasy and magic.
Designed with WordPress
Category: Vellas
-
1: Calamity, Cannary Class Docks at the Celestial United
Captain EJ sat in the copilot chair, bouncing her leg nervously as her pilot, Jexica guided their small starship into the docking bay of a much larger ship.
“Calm down, we’ll be fine. We always get out of these things alive,” Jexica said without looking away from her duties.
“This is different though. Zog is on this ship. He knows about us and how I’m an infractor. He’ll gut me and turn my head in for QUID credits.” EJ adjusted herself within the five-point harness that had her buckled in.
“You’re only an infractor because the CU doesn’t know their arse from their food holes. You’re a gallant war hero and you’ve rescued a few enslaved since then, I’ll surely notate,” Jexica said assertively, “Now, we’ve all been briefed on this Zog fellow and we know what to do if we spot him. You just relax and let’s do this quickly. The least amount of time we spend in the belly of the beast, the better for us all, aye?”
“Aye,” EJ sighed, unbuckling when The Calamity’s feet were securely within the boundaries of the docking bay, “But if I lose my cookies or at worst my thinker this is all due to your motivational speech.”
“I can agree to that, Captain,” Jexica said as she unbuckled herself and checked a few levels, “I’ll hang back and make sure we take full advantage of the Celestial United complimentary ship garage while we’re docked.”
“Sounds dazzy, Jex. Keep radios open and wide, heard?” EJ ordered, clearing her throat.
Jex nodded and waved her portable radio that operated from the ship’s communications in compliance.
EJ got completely to her feet and smoothed her vest down and uncrumpled her pants. As she walked to the back of the small Cannary Class starship, she activated her bracer and tested coms to her pilot, Jexica, who replied with full sarcastic tones.
EJ met up with Pax, the ship’s first mate, in the backloading hull of The Calamity that was the only way on her off the ship unless you had a ladder or crawl mechanism to get into the pilot hatch.
“Nice of you to join me, Captain,” Pax said, crossing their four arms across their chest and a smirk across their mouth.
“Don’t give me that, you know my scruples about such a place that can hold me in such legal denouement,” EJ fiddled with her outfit out of growing anxiety, “We have to make this believable.”
EJ placed a small silver disk on her neck just under her ear and pushed it in wincing in pain has the features of her face changed and the pigment of her skin developed into a deep green color. The small silver disk faded away as it burrowed just under the surface of EJ’s epidermis.
“A TeraType? You think you can fool their scanners by becoming a TeraType? Who conceptualized this?” Pax began laughing boisterously and had to fold over to brace themselves to avoid falling over from the audacity.
“Shut it, Pax! Dexton baked up this deception and by using his own DNA I am by all matter of speaking a TeraType for the next twelve hours, then I will get this surgically removed and go through a detox. It will be worth the agony if we make it to the sunset of this whole ordeal,” EJ argued, her voice began slipping into a deeper tone much closer to a masculine rumble like the genetic doner than anticipated.
“Understood, Captain,” Pax said in a more professional tone, “What shall I call you until then?”
“Captain Zuuk from the Isle of Enigma, Dexton has already contacted someone to be my cover for when they run a background check. It helps to have someone on board to help develop such an airtight story, so don’t mock our plan. This will work. It has to, all of our lives hinge on this lie to function,” EJ gritted her teeth as pain gently rippled across her skin, encoding the deception just deep enough to fool scanners.
“Tay, sit this one out, okay? This place is a messy disappointment and you’d be better helping Sliske and Jexica in whatever they need while we’re ported. This place is dangerous but not in the way you’re accustomed,” EJ said into her bracer. If Tay’q wasn’t told specifically to stay on the ship he had a habit of wandering around, the natural explorer he was. Sliske, the ship’s mekany and payload operator waved without looking up from the tablet in her hands. She was casually propped up against the wall playing an idle game on her work tablet, bored of the whole ordeal.
“Gah’da, Cap,” Tay’q’s voice rumbled through her coms.
Without much time to process the fire that spread across EJ’s body like a bad sunburn, the back hatch opened. Three stoic-faced uniformed officers stood before them. Two of the officers held tablets and portable scanners. EJ tried to smile with her new face but only half of the face was responding so she quickly decided Captain Zuuk be stoic as well.
“Commander Zuuk, is it?” The leader of the three officers asked.
“Yes, that is me,” EJ extended a hand and shook it as one of the uniformed men waved the wand-shaped scanner across her body, “And this is Lieutenant Pax, my second in command.”
“Regards,” the man said, giving a tight four-fingered extended bow that is the traditional Uccarian greeting. Pax mimicked the motions in respect.
“Esteemed regards indeed! Have you been planet-side or just well versed on Uccarian customs?” Pax inquired.
“I have a Uccarian family member on my mother’s side. We always celebrate Ucca Day Celebrations planet-side. It is a most joyous occasion!” The uniformed officer was fangirling over the first mate while EJ tried not to roll her eyes.
“Shall we move this along, we have an occupational meeting two star clusters over,” EJ again tried to smile but only half her face responded making her words seem more smug than intended.
“Of course, of course. My officers will just check all of your star maps and scan your sleep quarters to make sure you aren’t in possession of any smuggled goods then you’ll be on your way. You are welcome to hang out in the Commander’s Orbit while you wait. All remaining crew is welcome to stay shipside until you depart. I just need you to sign a few things before you step off the ship,” The man nodded joyfully, still giving Pax lovelorn eyes.
EJ hated to sign anything that CU presented, they always had hidden disclaimers and a signature wasn’t just a scribble of a name, a CU signature required an essence sample to bind the document across the galaxy. Luckily, EJ was borrowing a garbled essence that shouldn’t make anything legally binding if these documents were tried before a tribunal, EJ hoped.
EJ carefully placed her thumb on the scanner and held her breath. The three lights beside the touchpad notified her when the scan was complete, she’s done these scans a million times before. Notably, the time she was arrested, donning her a galactic infractor. The first light turned green, then the second; quickly followed by the third. EJ exhaled with relief, allowing her shoulders to relax.
“See, easy as soup through a tonged eating utensil,” The man said smiling.
EJ raised her eyebrows but only one went up making her shocked expression more judicious, “Yes, that. Easy. Spritzy is in order! Shall you accompany me, Lieutenant Pax?”
“You first, Commander,” Pax said stiffly. EJ and Pax made their way off the ship down the hatch ramp. EJ sent back a knowing glance to Sliske, who gave the smallest nod of reassurance.
Read more here:
-
Medusa was not her given name. After thousands of years, though, it is the only name humans knew about her. She often contemplated her given name, although it has been long forgotten. Often, she even forgets how old she is or even what decade the humans are deeming it. Living forever makes time fleeting and redundant. Medusa grew up in a time that outwardly looked different, but no matter what land she was on, the people were all the same. The cults are different and the temples were aesthetically different, but it’s still all the same.
Medusa sighed and stretched her legs out. She was sitting at a park, her normal human shape blended in well with all the other college kids strewn across the quad. Her age was endless but with the style of her hair or type of clothing, she could easily appear just like them. Picking up personas became a side hobby purely out of boredom. Humans were boring. She still had a small sect of followers and her gorgon sisters lived on, but there are only so many cult meetings she could listen in on. It is the same chants, the same robes, the same boring candle lighting ceremony. These humans don’t even sacrifice beasts anymore.
Grade-A Boring.
She arched her back in a stretch and wiggled her fingers towards the sky. Her brown skin shimmered subtly in the sun. The movement is grand and graceful but she remains unnoticed by those around her. She’s just another person to them. No one knows her secret. Medusa lazily gropes around the nearby grass for her flip-flops to put them back on her feet. Begrudgingly she gets to her feet and folds the thin blanket she was lounging on, shoving the blanket into her large purse then slings the bag over her shoulder. Completely unaware of the eyes watching her from a very large tree at the edge of the quad. The tree was quite a bit far away from Medusa and she was distracted gathering her things. The voices in her head were also rather distracting.
Anytime a cult meeting or someone is doing a ceremony in her honor, the sounds of that ceremony fill her skull. The praise and worship don’t happen as often anymore, but there are still some humans that stumble upon some folklore and find themselves lighting a candle to her name, or attending a meeting with a friend that has been a worshipper their entire lives.
With a sigh, Medusa slowly sauntered across the green quad. Her body fully relaxed, her long soft sundress flapping in the warm spring breeze. Her body is thick and strong, solid and muscular. ‘Thin and wispy’ are not words you would use to describe her body. Medusa has never minded the societal pressures of what beauty meant, anyway. Her hair flowed in a big black mass of thick curls that fell around her shoulders and down her back. She still had some braids around her face from the style of her people, back when she was still an actual human. Completely ‘unruly curls’ these humans described it. If they only knew. Medusa’s eyebrows wrinkled together from what she was hearing in her head. The voices weren’t smiting her, but describing a scene she had experienced previously. It was stirring emotions in her that are normally far out of reach.
As Medusa strolled between buildings, exiting the college quad she made sure to not make eye contact with anyone. Not even a glance. Her power never waned, although well hidden. Even in human form, she could stop men in their tracks. Her voluminous locks of hair would turn into slithering serpents if she became angry or on defense. Medusa rubbed her temples trying to get the voices to calm down. One of her sects have gathered for an emergency session and their cries were becoming overwhelming.
Medusa slipped into a janitor closet connected to the public restrooms and let her body relax against the grimy floor and walls. Her mind, distracted, let her outer body transform into its full serpentine glory. Her hair recoiled into thick green snakes, and her brown skin turned scaley. Her wings, shaped similar to dragon’s wings, slowly materialize into existence. Her eyes opened and staring upwards towards the dark ceiling, the whites of her eyes turned blood red and her pupils narrowed into a serpent’s oval shape.
“I’m here. I’m here. I’m here.” She murmured in her native tongue until finally there was a release and a shadow form of her body lifted from her flesh and began its travel towards the group of ladies performing an emergency ceremony. The six women were wearing cloaks and had the traditional snake-like ropes wrapped around their waists. Large ceramic amulets of a gorgoneion hung loosely down past their chests on thick ropes. They were burning sage and other incense and had lit maybe sixty or more candles calling out to her.
They were chanting in Greek, “We call upon you, Medusa.” There was one robed character in a forest green robe versus the black ones everyone else was wearing. Medusa assumed the different cloaked one was their leader. Religious leaders always wanted to be special. Medusa’s astral self hovered at the corner of the room, making sure not to be noticed. Their chanting kept getting louder, with a groan Medusa swept the room making a faint wind and all of the candles flickered.
It’s the middle of the day, what do you humans want?! She wanted to snarl. Instead, she lifted her head in a pious nature and allowed her astral form to become more solid as she landed softly in the middle of the room, full serpent form. Loud gasps and cries were heard from the small pack of ladies. The snakes around Medusa’s face danced with excitement, Medusa’s mouth hinted at a sly smile. Even in full beast mode, Medusa has unmeasurable beauty.
Without thinking, the group looked at her full-on and then instantly covered their faces while crying praises. It was an odd scene of ‘Our mother has returned!’ and cowering behind anything nearby. They believed all of the stories about her gaze. Petty-petty, ignorant, humans, Medusa groaned inwardly.
Medusa sighed and cleared her throat, “Fear not my sisters, for if those stories were completely true there would be a room of stone right now. I would have perished at the hands of the patriarchy. My head would be a mere trophy.” Medusa grimaced, “I am here for you, my sisters. Please, let me be of service. You can look upon my face and see how Athena has blessed me. It is not a trick, my sisters. Athena gave me the gift of life and vengeance against my suppressors. You, my sisters, bode me no ill will. Please, let me help you, dear ones.” Her voice bellowed but wasn’t foreboding. Visibly, the small group of women relaxed and removed their hoods. Each gathering their courage to accept that their Goddess was standing before them. Medusa appeared in her traditional Greek garb. Humans appreciated that; Medusa mused. It was a comfort to them that at least some of the rumors had been true.
Slowly, the high priestess of the group approached meekly, as if towards royalty. “My beloved,” the woman started, “You live! You live and you are here! I am–” she stammered, “We are so honored. We, our group of your sisters, am beyond blessed by your manifestation.” The priestess spoke in a broken Greek language that made Medusa’s eyes roll far back in her head, unable to contain herself.
“To your feet, sister,” Medusa said, kindly, in English. Another gasp. “Yes, I have been around long enough to learn your tongue,” Medusa spoke with very little accent. Although it wasn’t a pure American or English influx, each word was carefully spoken and confidence poured from each syllable. Someone native to Greece could probably pick up her special curls around certain words, maybe even notice some difficulty of getting certain phrases, but the average human in the western hemisphere seemed to be ignorant to her having an accent at all when she spoke their preferred language. “I am here now. Let’s get rid of this fluff and tell me how I am to be of service.” Medusa straightened her back some and made a motion with her hands of ‘get on with it’.
The group of women starred at her slack-jawed while Medusa’s snakes playfully poked at each other and affectionately licked her face. “C’mon, out with it, sister in green. You seem to be their leader. So– lead. Lead me in the information of why you have gathered to chant my name so abundantly.”
“Th-th-th-there has been a grand injustice. Madison has been attacked. She is broken and afraid. We thought you’d protect us. We thought we were protected.” The green garbed woman’s voice trailed off.
“Am I here to be tormented? I am but a Gorgon, not a proper Goddess. I am not omnipotent. There are limits to my abilities. I am gifted those abilities by Athena. Have you not read the ancient texts? You believe everything you have read but cannot comprehend its meaning?”
“Forgive me, mother. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to offend you. Madison was attacked walking home from class. In the quad. Sh-Sh-she was attacked in the same way you were. At the temple. Bu-But in the street. There were witnesses… but he still didn’t get punished. His case was dismissed, they said he had never done anything before so after a couple of months of probation, the asshole will be able to attend classes again. Classes with Madison, even. He’s free to walk around while she is grief-stricken. She’s broken. She’s our sister by your adoration and we love her. We called upon you for guidance. For support. He sends her messages taunting her. She is always reliving what happened. We summoned you for h-h-help.” The room seemed to grow darker with every word that rambled out of the high priestess’ mouth. Visibly, a still-cloaked woman towards the back of the room was bracing herself on a nearby table of candles as her legs buckled and her shoulders shook. Medusa could feel the distraught aura of the cloaked woman in the back as the priestess told the story.
“By not saying this evil deed you are giving it power. You give this beast power by cowering at his attempts to conquer you.” Medusa breezed past the Priestess to the cloaked figure in the back that was now shaking quite obviously beneath her cloak. Medusa began speaking telepathically to the cloaked figure in a soothing tone. The aura around this poor soul was a thunder cloud of darkness. Medusa could see the act of violence that happened as she tapped into the woman’s mind. The woman was reliving it as if in a tormented loop that only Hades could create. Medusa reached out a hand and placed it firmly on the hooded part of the cloak, on the crown of the woman’s head. Without speaking a word anyone else could hear they began speaking to each other.
I am broken. I am broken. I am broken. Madison repeated like a mantra to herself.
No, my sister, you are not broken. You have been thieved of your happiness but you are far from broken. Medusa stood as still as a statue and the room of cloaked woman halted as if frozen in time. The air left the room but no one pulled at their throats or felt gravity crushing their lungs. The candles stopped flickering and stood at attention, unwavering. No puffs of smoke escaped from the candle flames.
No one could love me. I’m a monster. I am tainted. I am broken. I have been spoiled. Madison began to relax with each confession. The cathartic release was mending the poor woman’s soul and Medusa was consuming the pain as if it were a sacrificial gift.
You are amazing. You are strong. You are female and you are a fury that is not to be under-estimated. Take a deep breath, my sister. Medusa released her astral hand from the woman’s skull.
Madison tilted her head back to look Medusa in the eye, her hood falling from her golden hair, a deep breath escaping her lips. Madison felt like it was the first breath she had been able to take since the attack. Tears ran down Madison’s face like little rivers. A faint bruise could be seen across her face. He had hit Madison with a long-handled flashlight and the impression was still visible on her face. Medusa bent down and kissed Madison on her lips. It was gentle and plutonic in gesture. The kiss sent a ripple through the room. All of the candles blew out and everyone dropped to the floor as if they were released from the air itself. Everyone was sprawled on the floor in mass confusion except the battered woman. Madison stood straighter than before; the bruise even faded from her face. No hint of Medusa was around other than the lingering salty smell of the ocean. It was a calming, cleansing smell. A blessed smell of their sister, their chosen Goddess, and equal.
“What happened, Maddy?! Are you okay? That was a trip!” The priestess rushed over and gingerly hugged Madison.
Madison hated the gentle hugs. People hugged her like she was shattered glass lately. Madison brought a couple of fingers to her lips and softly said, “She kissed me. Medusa kissed me and now I know what has to be done.”
Read the Continued Story here….
E Garver, Author 