Fifty years ago:

Joyful Finder stood in front of the council. She was still wearing her Scout uniform, rather than the traditional black, and next to her stood Charlie. They were obviously nervous - Joy was nervous too.

An elder of the Copper Diggers spoke "You have returned to us from the stars. And you have brought another."
"Respectfully, Elder, Charlie brought themselves. They had word that I was leaving the Scouts, and came after me."
The elder nodded, acknowledging the correction, "So, what news have you brought to us from the stars?"
"The confederation continues, as do the various offices and boards. There are hints of threats from outside, but the greater threats are from within."
"How long?"
"There is no urgency. It is likely to be many generations before there is a significant breakdown. And much depends on outside threats. An outside force may galvanise and stabilise the confederation."
"This is the conclusion of the Scouts?"
"It is my conclusion from the Scouts' reports," Joy wanted this to be clear. She doubted many Scouts fully understood the significance of the intelligence briefings. It was likely that even some of the people responsible for the briefings did not understand the greater significance.
"And the ships you have both arrived in?"
"They are our own, after a fashion. We remain subject to reactivation by the Scouts."

The elder turned their attention to Charlie. "And you. You intend to settle here. To become part of Joyful Finder's clan?"
"If she will have me."
"Good answer. Are your superiors aware?"
"Yes, I filled in the appropriate paperwork, and filed it before setting off. I was lucky to catch up."

Turning back to Joy "And maintenance of your ships?"
"We have sufficient here to perform it. Especially with the plans and educational materials I have brought with me. We need not ever fear raiders again. Not when we can build our own ships."
"How long?"
"I see we already have small satellites and aircraft. Less than ten years to build the first, if we have the dedication."
"And to ships that can take on the raiders?"
"Less than twenty. And starships too."

With that the audience was over.

Charlie sagged against Joy as they stepped outside. "That was intense."
"It is not over, Charlie."
"What now?" they almost whined.
"Now you get to meet my parents."

Charlie gulped, and wondered if they could go back to the Elders.
Dives Swiftly, Joy's hunting bird and (in Dive's opinion) surrogate parent, appeared from the sky, and landed with a thump on Charlie's shoulder. She started preening Charlies' hair.

"Don't worry too much - Dives approves of you. Mother and Father will like you" Joy grinned.

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Two hours after meeting Seeker:

Alaine knocked on the Captain's door, "Captain, it's Alaine. I have Seeker with me."
"Is it urgent?"
"No, but it is important, Captain."
"Meet me on the bridge in thirty."
"Yes Captain"

Seeker giggled, and Alaine's head snapped around at the unexpected sound to see her composing her face into one that was innocent of any expression. She shooed him towards the bridge. Once they were there, she closed the hatch.

Alaine frowned at her "What was all that?"
Seeker suddenly grinned "Your - our - captain sounded just like great-grandmama when she is with great-grand-Charlie. We interrupted them."
Alaine blushed "And you didn't..."
"No, never amongst friends or family without permission, remember? I've heard that exact tone of voice before, that is all."
"I wonder..." Alaine began.
"None of our business, is it?" Seeker cut him off.
"I guess not," he paused, "Wait! You've interrupted your great-grand parents, but not your parents?"
"My mother raised me on her own, and has never taken a lover. My grand parents died in an air crash. So it has really only been mother and the great-grands."
"I'm sorry."
Seeker smiled sadly and shrugged "I never really knew them, but I know Mother misses them."
"Is your mother like you?"
"Yes, our family has always had at least one in a generation. According to great-grandmama the genetics are uncommonly dominant for us."

Alaine sat digesting this for a time. Then Seeker giggled again, causing him to look up. She held up her hands, explaining "Your expression, that is all. I have seen exactly that expression in old photographs of my ancestor Lorn."
"What?"
"In her private diaries, her partner, Finder, included some photographs that she had taken with Lorn's logger, and Lorn had arranged to have printed. One of the things about Lorn was that she never stopped thinking. You had exactly the same expression."

The bridge hatch opened, and the Captain stepped in. Alaine immediately stood, and Seeker copied him.

"Alright Alaine, what is so important?" her voice just short of scolding.
"Captain, I know why Seeker said what she said when she presented us to the Council."
"Go on," her tone shifting to one of cautious curiosity.
"Captain, you've seen some of the people here wearing all black? It is a symbol. The Scouts call them Shamans. But really, they are something else."
Seeker cut in "Captain, I can project my thoughts, and read those of others. To a certain degree. And, amongst friends or family, only with permission. Or crew mates."

The Captain looked at Alaine.
"Captain, it is all in here," he held up the book "This is the history of the Scouts' involvement here. Starting with one who was shot down by raiders. An ancestor of Seeker."
"Why tell us now, Seeker?"
"Because Alaine worked it out. Until someone did, I was bound to silence."

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Two hundred and fifty four years ago:

Lorn snuggled closer to Finder. Outside their tent, there was a light snow falling, illuminated by the two moons, and visible through the open flap.

"Love, what is on your mind?" Finder whispered, not wanting to break the quiet of snow.
"The raiders, I'm afraid."
"What about them?"
"You've said that they can sense unshielded minds," Lorn was also keeping her voice low.
"Yes, They have mind workers in their number."
"How?"
"That is our greatest shame. In their early raids, they stole children from us - toddlers. Some of those were potential mind workers."
"And they raised them as their own?"
Finder nodded.
"They could not do that aboard a single ship. They must have a base somewhere."
"If they do, it is out of our reach.
"And if you do fight them, some of who you fight would be descendants of your own people."
"Sadly, yes. These are dark topics for a beautiful night."
"Sorry, Finder. My mind..."
"I know, love. It almost never stops." Finder reached over and closed the tent flap "It is nothing we can do anything about at this time. Let me bring you some quiet."
"I think quiet is going to be the very last thing in here," Lorn smiled in the dark, pushing the dark history she had just learned aside.

Three years later the raiders returned. But so did a Scout cruiser. And that had much bigger teeth.

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

They were back at home, and Circe was instructing Angela on how to construct a shrine to the goddess who was her patron. Not, it seemed, that she had any say in the matter.

Her mistress had said that it was 'acceptable' for the new shrine to be next to her own. Apparently the two were sometimes one, and this closeness made a shared space OK. Fortunately, despite being the Goddess of the Hunt, her preferred offering was nothing more complex than honey seed cakes.

"Circe, what about the other gods and goddesses?"
"Oh, they are real enough. But few have enough attention on them to manifest."
"What about the gods of other cultures?" Angela asked.
"They exist as well. There are several that could manifest, but do not. The weight of the human world sits heavy on most of them. I must say I was surprised to see your patron - the unexpected focus must have aroused her curiosity."
"Is that why you keep avoiding her name?"
"Very good. Names do have power. You will do well to remember that." Circe had taken on her 'teacher' voice suddenly.

Angela resumed assembling the shrine, and setting out the initial offerings.

"Have you sensed any other gods manifesting?"
Circe thought for a moment. "Only one. And it was one I had not expected at first. One of the Egyptian gods. The Ibis one, although I think he was making himself look more human."
"What is his area?"
"Writing, wisdom, dreams, and magic. I rather suspect he has adopted technology as a logical extension of magic, too."

Angela put the finishing touches on the shrine. "There. How does that look?"
"Very good darling. Now make an offering, and do use her name."
"Right," she took a deep breath, let it out, took another "Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, accept my offering."
Suddenly there was a third person in the room, inspecting the shrine, and the offerings upon the altar. "Well done my little hunter," she turned to Circe "You have taught her well. Your own patron is well pleased." The goddess turned back to Angela and commanded "Show me your true form, little hunter."
Angela immediately turned into a cheetah.
"Oh, you are a creature of beauty." She turned back to the shrine, and almost all of the offerings disappeared. A few rectangular packages remained. Picking one up, she removed the cellophane wrapper, and broke off a corner, sampling it. "Not honey - but very good. What are they?"
Angela changed back "Sesame crisps, my lady. They are from the Middle East, I think."
"Not traditional, but perfectly acceptable."
Angela started to bite her lip, which Artemis noticed "Worry not, little hunter. I will not come every time you pay me respect. Or even every time you call upon me. But I felt that this should be a special time. A blessing upon this house." And with that, she vanished. Along with the rest of the sesame crisps.

#SF #SFF #IAmWriting #microfic #tootfic #Microfiction #Circe