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

Six hours after:
Alaine finally put down the book, and looked back at the notes he had been taking.

Starting with Lorn two hundred and sixty odd years ago, there had been a tiny but constant immigration of Scouts to this world. Every ten or twenty years one would simply stay. Up until Joyful Finder's departure and return with her partner, Charlie. Since then, no-one.

But still he had questions. How had Finder of Unnoticed Details known about Lorn during her crash? How had Joyful Finder's hunting bird known how to pull a circuit breaker on an unfamiliar ship?

He wrote up a summary of what he had learned, and forwarded it to both the Captain and Engel. After a moment, he also sent a copy to Dyani.

Then he got up, and went looking for Seeker.

He found her in the number one turret, it had space for two people, but was usually operated remotely from the bridge. Turrets were often targets and crew were harder to replace than equipment.

Seeker had the blast armour open, with the armoured glass exposed. This was used when sighting in targeting cameras, or during weapon tests. Or when a member of the crew wanted to look at open space.

"Alaine, how nice of you to join me. It is a remarkable sight, is it not?" Seeker, as usual, seemed like she had a hidden joke going on.
"Seeker, um, yes, it is. We don't often get to look down on a planet like this."
"But that's not why you are here, is it?"
"No. It was my expression, wasn't it?" He had been trying to work out what things she was picking up on with her "deductions".
"Mostly, yes. You have a question for me?"
"A couple actually. First, though, is the black dress. The Archivist was wearing something similar, as were a few of the Council. What does it mean?"
Seeker's air of humour dropped. "That is a very deep question Mister Haughton." She had never used that name with him before. Had he gone too far? But then she continued "It is a difficult one to answer as well, as what we are does not translate well into Standard. I understand the Scouts usually translate our status as 'Shaman', although that is rather misleading. I suppose you could call us 'conduits'."

Alaine was silent for several minutes. "I think I begin to understand," he said finally, "Although it sounds insane to actually ask it."
Seeker looked back from the view of the planet, and stared at him. "Ask the second question" she commanded.
Alaine gulped, and then pressed on "Seeker, can you read minds and send your thoughts?"

She regarded him steadily for a few moments "Yes. All of our people learn how to shield our minds, but only a few can sense and send. Hence 'conduits'".
"Have you been reading our minds?"
"Not since making myself one of your crew. It is rude to pry into the mind of a friend without permission."

Alaine slumped into the gunner's couch. "So why tell me now?"
"Because you learned enough to ask. That is what I was waiting for."

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

One week later:

Alaine had watched Seeker, and seen how she had interviewed every member of the crew other than the Captain and Engle. About their homeworlds, families, the Trade Board, all sorts of subjects. Even such things as popular music and entertainment.

So he was outside the Captain's cabin now, and knocked. "Come!" came her voice from within.
He opened the door, and stepped in, closing it behind him. "Captain, I have a request."
She waved a hand indicating he should go on.
"I would like permission to go station-side and see if there is a public archive feed."
"You've checked remotely?" was her instant response.
"Yes, Captain! No archive feeds. In fact, Captain, the station-side data feeds are rather sparse."
"They are aren't they? Very well, but take Dyani with you, she's got training in xenosociology."
"Yes Captain!"

He found Dyani in the cabin she shared with Sparks. "Dyani, I'm going station-side to try and find a public archive. Captain wants you to come with me."
"That's going to be interesting, Alaine. How are you going to read it?"
That brought him up short "I ... had not thought of that."
"It is still worth having a look. Even kid's picture books can teach you a lot."

The station-side guards proved to be perfectly happy to point them in the right direction, and thirty minutes later they were at the public archive. Stepping in, they were greeted by a short middle-aged man in flowing black. "Ah! Our guests!" he exclaimed with a large smile, "What can I do for two traders this day?"
"Uh, hi," Alaine managed, rather overwhelmed by the enthusiastic greeting. "Uh, we were hoping to read up a bit on your history."
"I know just the book for you! It is a popular tale, you know."
"Sorry?"
"You'll see, you'll see!" the archivist said cheerfully, "Just wait here."

Now that they had a moment to look around, Dyani and Alaine were again struck by how odd these people were. There were no data systems obvious, just shelves and shelves of paper books.

"Here we go!" the archivist almost boomed as he reappeared, "Just be sure to return it before your departure!" And with that, thrust a book into Alaine's hands, and shooed them both out.

Bound in a vegetable fibre cloth, the book had clearly been read many times. Inside the writing was in Standard on alternate pages, and the local language on the others. Just like the signs. Hopefully it would shed some light on everything.

The first two pages started "Log entry - Scout Lorn aboard Gremlin" followed by a date and the coordinates of this system. The date was over two hundred and fifty years ago. "Initial survey detects no radio transmissions, a chlorophyll biosphere, and no mass hydrocarbon emissions. Closing for mapping survey."

Why had the archivist given them this?

"Alaine?" came a voice. He looked up - it was Dyani.
"Yeah?"
"Why was he dressed the same way as Seeker?"
Alaine did not have an answer. Yet.

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

Two hundred and fifty eight years ago:

Lorn had been on this planet "The Mother of All" for two years now. In that time, Finder of Unnoticed Details had made it clear that she found Lorn attractive. And Lorn had not turned down Finder's advances. But even after two years some parts of Finder remained a mystery.

Like yesterday. She had been thinking about making a compound bow to replace her recurve. But that would require pulleys that could stand the wear of the bowstring.

"Finder? Do you know if the Copper Miners know of any harder metals?"

"You mean like a high-carbon steel? Or more like a tungsten alloy? You'd need to talk to one of the Iron Clans for those. " was her reply, leaving her speechless.

This from a society that operated in the mid-Bronze age. Except for their detailed knowledge of microbiology, viruses, and other medical matters.

For now Lorn just stared at Finder's sleeping figure, trying to work out the strange puzzle that was this world. She'd never seen any sign of large settlements, no sign of centres of advanced learning, and yet, they had scientific knowledge that should have been centuries ahead of their level of development.

Finder's hand darted out, and seized Lorn's wrist, startling her out of her thoughts.

"Love, you are thinking too loud. Come, be with me and then sleep. Tomorrow, we shall go on a trip, so you can learn." With a strength that surprised Lorn even after two years, Finder pulled her down, and shortly after rational thought beat a hasty retreat.

Six weeks after:
Lorn gazed at the cliffs on either size of the canyon they were in. They were beautiful, but there was no sign of why Finder had brought her here. Unless ... Lorn tried to focus her mind as Finder had been teaching her, but to no avail.

Nothing. She could hide her mind, but had no talent for anything more. However, the attempt had brought something to mind, and she studied the rock faces more closely. There, almost unnoticeable, was a discontinuity. There was something camouflaged here.

"Well spotted, my love" Finder grinned, "Just what I would expect of one who has made exploration her life. Come, let us say hello."

And she led Lorn into the heart of the secret of this world.

Inside those cliffs was, for lack of any other name, a research university. They studied the sciences and engineering, and passed their findings on to a council of the Elders. They assessed each new finding or development, and determined if they were of benefit to the people of the world. And they had discovered so much! Even such things as mechanical flight and all that that required. And chose to simply not. Even so, they kept everything recorded, so that if at some point it was needed, it could be done.

Instead they chose to keep the world as pristine as they could. And so they had vaccines and chemotherapy, but no cities and no pollution.

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

Three hours later:

The engineering team had been and gone. The agreed to price was roughly half their cargo, and had been the subject of some of the most intense haggling Alaine had seen the Captain take part in. Indeed, the haggling had taken twice as long as the assessment of the damage.

What was a surprise to everyone was the hyperspace coil replacement. These strange people said they could easily fabricate the replacements. It was just something they chose not to do, usually. They did have a few jump-capable ships, but almost never used them, choosing to keep to themselves.

Then there was Seeker. She had sat in on the briefing and the haggling, but never once spoke a word. Just watched. So Alaine had watched her.

Eventually it was just the two of them in the galley. And she was now watching him.

"How?" Alaine asked after several minutes.

"How what?" Alaine could hear her almost laughing in her reply.

"How did you know so much about us?"

"Ah. That is a question with many answers. Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes! That's why I asked!"

"Even if the answers are uncomfortable?"

"Yes!"

"Alright. Let's start with the simple ones," Seeker paused, "You heard my full name earlier?"

"Err, yes? 'Seeker of Hidden Truths'? Was that it?"

"Exactly. That is not the name I was born with, but it is my adult name. We acquire our names as our nature solidifies."

"So?"

"My nature is to uncover secrets. To find the truth behind things. I saw the way you looked at work teams in their ship suits, and heard your words to your Captain. From that it was easy to deduce your conclusions."

"But how did you know where we were going?"

"Deduction again. Your ship appeared to be running at half power on approach to the station. It is usually the way of your ship builders to match the reaction drive to the hyperspace engine, so I worked out where you had likely come from, and your likely destination based on the likely range of your engines."

"So it was all deduction?" Alaine asked after digesting Seeker's explanation.

"You heard what my great-grandmother said? About untruths?"

"Uh, that your people don't like them?"

"That we despise them. This does not mean that we cannot use them, and do, but they are a sign of poor character."

"What does that have to do with my question?"

"Everything. For while we despise an untruth, we are perfectly happy with a partial truth."

"So there is something else."

"But I am not going to tell you. Not yet."

"Why not?"

Seeker leaned forward "Because we will need to know each other much better first. Now, tell me of your home, your family."

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

Now:

Seeker of Hidden Truths looked over the crew of the Athena again, sensing their confusion, and then looked up at the council.

"They are traders. Honest in their dealings. They planned a shortcut to Ikrundi. They suspect the raiders were rival traders, or sent by the same."

Alaine stared at the young woman, how did she know all this? He glanced at the Captain. She looked just as shocked and confused.

"And us?" one of the men on the Council asked.

"They know nothing. Some believe we are a secret division of their Scouts," Seeker paused and grinned, "On account of the shipsuit designs."

"Which they now know to be not the case, Seeker."

"Elder, they would know soon enough anyway" Seeker's voice sounded defensive.

A different person spoke up, a woman this time, "Complex Tunnels, you know that this would be the case. No need to admonish Seeker. Especially not in front of visitors. What is your determination, Seeker?"

"I think we should repair their ship, for a fair price, and allow them to trade. "

Alaine was running out of amazement - they were just going to let them go?

She continued "However," Alaine's relief collapsed, "the Scouts have left us even more alone, now that we can defend ourselves. We need news of the wider universe."

The old woman's voice sounded amused as it asked "And your solution?"

"We require them to return at least twice in a standard year. And one of us should travel with them, to represent our interests."

The old man, Complex Tunnels, broke in "Ha! The fruit does not fall far from the tree, does it now, Joy? Now, my fellow councillors - do we agree with this course, that young Seeker has set?"

There was a pause, and Joy spoke again "We are agreed. You intend to be that representative, Seeker?"

"Yes, Elder."

"I see I owe Complex Tunnels a brace of pack horses. Very well. Captain?"

"Yes?"

"Seeker will escort you and your crew back to your ship, and we will send an engineering team to quote. We do not use your credit system, so you will have to barter from your cargo to pay."

"Do we get any say in this?" the Captain asked.

"To be frank, Captain, no. You trespassed on our system, albeit without knowledge of us. You know this to be fair."

"It would have been nice to have the illusion of choice, at least," she grumbled.

"Oh, Captain!" Joy laughed "We despise untruth here. However, I invite you and your First Mate to join my family for dinner tonight. I think you and Charlie will get on marvellously. Seeker will mess with your crew, they will need to get to know one another before you depart."

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