Mistral | Chapter One

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, white snow fell from the poisonous atmosphere surrounding the coniferous planet of Mistral. A recent victim of rogue hyperscape radiation from an unknown source, and a brutal war between multiple pirate factions for control of the planet which lasted for two staggering years, the entire star system became a toxic wasteland of debris and frozen bodies. The interior of the planet however, being uncharted, undocumented and all around unknown by the Republic, prevented all alien species from knowing about its powerful healing properties. All unfortunate alien souls who did find their way down to the surface, never returned to tell their stories.

The naturally yellow, gold, and transparent atmosphere, which allowed all creatures’ within to freely breathe, altered its atomic compounds into a dense, sapphire, protective barrier to keep out the deadly toxins floating throughout near space.

The human and non-human inhabitants of the sacred planet were a less advanced, more primitive civilization. They were a historic and ancient race of beings who believed in the precious connection of all life through energy, rather than needing to rely on mechanical advancements. In short, they had no starships, ship ports, hyperspace technology, nor weapons capable of defending themselves from any outside invaders. They were however extremely formidable fighters in all manners of -hand-to-hand combat, sword wielding, and telekinetic manipulation.

They knew very little of the endless wonders lingering within outer and deep space, but they were seasoned experts of their own planet. They were intimately connected with Mistral and their unique, yet mortal bodies rapidly evolved in response to their planet’s sudden change in atmosphere. The blue barrier forced the carbon dioxide levels to increase tenfold, making the breathable air poisonous. Every pair of Mistralian lungs sensed the change and rapidly began evolving into non-carbon emitting lungs. Instead of exhaling carbon dioxide, the lungs produced more oxygen, which in turn allowed for the planet to constantly recycle breathable air. The trees, plants and shrubs also evolved, and instead of consuming the carbon dioxide, they began consuming the recycled air and used the energy exhaled by human and animal life to produce chemically altered sugars which they consumed to continue growing in order to keep the planet shaded from the two suns.

“It’s been two years since I’ve seen a snowflake,” Link said, as she stuck out her blue tongue to catch the falling snow, “Ever since the occupation, the weather has never been the same.”

“Neither have we,” Ellam said, taking a deep breath with his newly adapted lungs, “We’re just lucky we caught a few of those bastards, or we would have had no idea what was going on up there.”

Link stuck out her arm, allowing her open palm to face upwards, “Come and stand with me.”

Ellam stepped to the cliff’s edge and tangled his brown fingers within Links and stared out into the snow covered valley below.

Link snuck a quick peek at Ellam, then barked a quick command, “Stick out your tongue or you’ll miss out on all of the good flakes.”

Ellam shrugged off the friendly order, knowing that seeing snow wasn’t a good sign, but he wouldn’t dare upset Link. Especially now. So, being an affectionate husband, he did what he was told and stuck out his sapphire tongue until it was covered in a thin layer of melted ice.

For the next fifteen minutes they stood in silence with their fingers tightly latched together and watched as the two twin suns magically set behind the horizon of snow-capped mountains. For them, the valley beneath the violet and gold sunset was the unmarked grave for their two twin children who perished during the great change. Both of their nine year old hearts were afflicted with a rare disease which led to their deaths when their lungs entered into the rapid evolution process. The village's healers, along with help from Mistral’s natural revitalizing minerals, tried everything they could to save the children. Yet in the end, no herbal medicine or planetary magic could save their lives.

“It’s their fault,” Link said, as she slowly slipped her fingers free from her husbands, “If they hadn't come and started their brutal war over a planet they had no right to claim, the atmosphere wouldn’t have needed to change and they would still be alive.”

Ellam struggled to respond to his wife because everything had already been said. Their children had been dead for over a year and the planet, as well as the rest of the inhabitants, had all moved on with their own lives and problems.

“At least it’s snowing again,” Link said, as she turned away from the valley and began heading towards the forest, “I think it’s time we pay him another visit.”

Ellam knew he couldn’t stop his wife, so he didn’t try to. He also knew that if the planet was snowing it wasn’t due to the natural, shifting seasonal phenomena, it was because of harmful radiation seeping through the atmospheric barrier. Yes, their race may have been primitive, but there were a few among the many who were more in-tune with the planet’s energy field. Allowing them to speak and converse with Mistral on an intimate level. It was a dangerous skill set which led to the uncovering of hard truths and forbidden secrets. At the moment, he chose to refrain from telling his wife one of those hard truths and let her enjoy the falling snow.

Following her inch-deep footprints, Ellam tracked Link to their secluded wood cabin deep within their own privately owned sector of the Ostrarian forest.

A sharp snap, followed by a series of low beeps and the hiss of mechanical gears shifting indicated to Ellam that Link had engaged the dual retinal scanner.

The warm air from inside the temperature controlled cabin blanketed Link’s cold skin with an ominous welcome. She stepped inside, then allowed her trailing husband enough time to enter the chamber before locking the door behind them.

Ellam sat on the cushioned couch near the blast door, and warmed himself by the fireplace which he livened up by adding two fresh logs. Link removed her winter coat, hat and gloves and placed them on the small table beside the now raging fire. Kissing her husband softly on the top of his hairless head, she stalked over to the silver tray of surgical blades. Picking up a double sided, four-inch flaying knife, she used the sharp end to cut the burlap sack free from the prisoner’s unusual face. She then dragged over a large tin bin and slid it beneath the pirate’s chair, just behind his bound ankles.

The alien pirate moaned and squirmed within the confines of the leather restraints, and Link admired the small horns protruding from the large yellow skull which was adorned with red tribal tattoos and black braided hair.

A month ago, Ellam and Link discovered the lost pirate wandering the woods while out on a hunting patrol. At the time, the pirate had two companions, but Link was quick to better their odds and used her manipulation tactics to fatally turn on one another. Once there was only one pirate left, they patiently waited in the shadows for the pirate to lead them back to their crashed Star fighter. Playing the long game, they continued to wait while the foolish pirate repaired and powered up the vessel. Once power was restored, Ellam cleverly lured the pirate out and trapped him in a large game snare.

Since then, Ellam had been studying the ship and learning all he could with extensive help from his telekinetic abilities provided to him by the all powerful Gods of Mistral. Through those abilities, Ellam was able to tap into the lingering energy exerted from the pilots who were in the ship when it crashed. Through his deep sessions of projected meditation, he was able to watch in real-time how the late crew operated the star fighter.

With his newly acquired knowledge of how to pilot a ship, and the prisoners continuous lack of cooperation, they knew that the time had finally come.

“I will give you one final opportunity to tell me what I want to know,” Link said, removing the bonds from his mouth all while keeping her blade pressed against the pirate’s veiny throat, “Why have you come here?”

The pirate remained stoic and loyal to his fellow companions. Link admired the creature for that, yet also acknowledged the stubborn stupidity which was unfortunately being mistaken as martyrdom. Gritting its black teeth against each other, the pirate lunged forward, snapping its jaws like a wild hound.

Ellam rose from his spot in front of the fire, prepared to sink his curved short sword deep into the pirate’s chest cavity, but was stilled by Link’s impossible speed and accuracy.

Copper tinted blood seeped from the large slash across the pirate’s open throat, and began pooling into a dark puddle inside of the bin beneath the chair. Once she was satisfied with the amount of drained blood, Link retrieved one of the iron pokers Ellam had been using to stoke the fire and held it against the flames until the end glowed red. Once she achieved the desired temperature, she brought the scorching tip of iron to the pirate's throat, cauterizing the wound.

Knowing what to do with the blood and body, Ellam immediately got to work.

“Tonight is the night, Ellam. Tonight is the night we leave.”