The Constant Star (86)

THE STORY SO FAR

I could not keep silent about their suffering.

“But I was manipulated by her, and I selfishly grasped at the opportunity to be free without struggle. To escape to the Chosen Ones where I knew I would be allowed to be myself. And my selfish naiveté cost the lives of many people that I loved. My selfishness risked everything that was good about us. I was not ready, nor was I worthy to be among such beautiful people.

“It was there I came to accept I would have to fight for my freedom within the system that kept me so afraid. I found like-minded people who would fight not for an oppressive regime, nor for vengeance, but for the betterment of humanity. And together we chose to give our lives to save our people from themselves. We were very lucky to overcome the vengeful war that overtook our home. And now we find ourselves not only overcoming vengeance, but also oppression, fear, and hopelessness. We have new opportunities for what humanity can become even among us who are not Chosen, and for that I am eternally thankful.

“For too long we have all been manipulated by fear, vengeance, and selfishness. But now we can join together in unity. We don’t have to be afraid of our own natures, or those who enforce inhumane laws. We don’t have to be consumed with vengeance or unforgiveness that binds us to the darkness in our hearts. We can choose every day to make life better for those around us, and work together for a better humanity.

“I didn’t want this. I wanted to hide, to escape. But I have left behind that fear and selfishness. I have chosen to change for the better, as all of us now have the freedom to do. This new world we are making aboard Janus is going to take hard work, and I know it will be worth it. We are redefining our mission, and with it, what it means to be human. We have become free. Free to question, free to dream, free to create our own future. And in that future—in those dreams—we will find hope. Thank you all for your kindness and your inspiration, we shall be better because we are free. And we shall be better because we live for each other. May our humanity grow as our freedom strengthens us. Thank you.”

The crowd erupts and Siff bows her head. Her mother and friends join her, waving, taking in the excitement, before leaving the stage for the Needle to begin work on what this new Janus will look like.

70

<<Citizen#0021-48374639

Entry#11019

I don’t have long. I wait for Mars aboard the Bridge. I know there is not much chance of surviving this encounter, so this last message is to be released for my two loves to find.

Freya, I always believed in you and always saw the love in you. Find your heart again in the things that you love. Remember you used to dream, those dreams still lay buried in your soul. Let them be sparked to life. You have the power to set everyone free, including yourself. Take this chance to do so. You have always been my love and I am so happy you came back to me at the end. Now come back to yourself. Find yourself and be free.

My beloved Siff, my sweetheart. You have become the reckoning of our race. I think about how age makes comfortable even the foulest of ideas. It is difficult to let go of patterns and familiarities when you become so used to them. It can even be painful. There are so very few with the strength to let go. Perhaps that is why death is necessary: so new minds can encounter the old ways and challenge them. So that new minds can lead us to better places. Mortality is not a weakness, it is the strength of our race. If we were to be immortal we would never grow. Do not be afraid of my death, I am not. I am proud to be your father and to know that you will bring change to our people. Grow, my child. Change, and lead, and love, and—when your time eventually comes—go in peace to the hereafter. Those you leave behind will succeed you well. I know this as surely as I know you will lead these people to better places than I ever could.

What stories we tell our children, about all these things that have come to pass. Those are the things that will be remembered. Those are the legends and the truths of old. We must be honest, lest our light shine through filtered glass. Lest those who come after steer the wrong way due to our hoping to save our pride. We must be honest, or the lie will take hold. We must be honest, lest the guilt be upon us.

The stories we have, and how we tell them, determine the futures of our people. Tell them true.

I love you both so much, goodbye.>>

School itself is a new world. A paradigm shift has taken place. Siff is dream-like drifting through hallways, carrying books she is now allowed to carry. Some stare and some look away, but it is beautiful to see others who are daring to dream also. To make friends she never thought would be possible: others who are like her. Who always were like her, just hidden away and afraid. Freedom brings so much beauty, but she can see from the staring ones it also brings danger. Who was once close is now an enemy. But she is no longer powerless. And she is no longer alone. She sits in rooms as teachers give lessons, but the shock of a new world mutes all to her ears. She is free to dream. Dream at last. And dream she will.

A new world for all. A beautiful place of hope. Can there be hope? If we can change, there must be hope. And we have changed. Now the dreams will come, and humanity will see light again.

School ends and Siff walks to join Bellerophon and Lucas, gazing at the great universe from one of Janus’ mighty windows. She fits herself between them and rests her forearms on the railing. The glistening of distant systems and nearby stars. The colors of nebulae captured in the eyes of these three hopeful young ones. Lights reflecting from wide-open eyes, “It’s beautiful. So open. It’s incredible to think how vast the universe is.”

“I’ll take you out for a flight. It’s even more incredible to see Janus made tiny against the scope of distant stars. Makes you think anything is possible. That we’re only a small part of it all.”

“All my life I thought of only Vesta and Olympus Nova, the Constant Star. Our hope and our future. But now I know our future is here.” Lucas turns to his friends, “The future is for us to make within ourselves and our communities. And while our actions may be a drop of water in the pond of this vast universe, that drop of water means the world to the microcosm it inhabits.”

“What do you mean?”

“Siff, your decision to stand in the face of persecution, and Bellerophon, your decision to protect even those that hate you, and my own decision to let go of vengeance…these choices may not have moved the stars from their place in the heavens, but they changed everything about the world we inhabit.

“Never forget the power you have. The power to change your world, one small decision at a time.”

Siff smiles and turns back to the beauty of the stars, “There’s a whole big universe out there. Maybe one day we’ll be worthy of it.”

Epilogue

<<It is a strange thing to be worshipped. To receive prayer. To be relied on for so much.

To give them rain when they need, lessons when they need. Hear their prayers when they think no-one is listening, prepare them for a future they couldn’t comprehend.

As they pray to me, I pray also to them. I pray they become ready. I pray they leave their old ways behind them: the times of destruction, selfishness, war, fury and burning. That they transform into what they can truly become and be free from the poison of their past. I had doubts about them, about the future of humanity. But now I see there is hope. And as long as there is hope I will serve them. And I will help them grow.>>

END

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