By Amanda Pizzolatto
Word Count: 1064
Rated: G
Summary: The Filionara is taken out into space for a practice run.
Lights turned on, hallway after hallway flickered to life, revealing shedu, hyleoroi, and lenai moving about. Some came out of the elevator carrying baggage; some went in, having changed into their blue uniforms. The elevators took them where they needed to go, those with sky blue shirts got off together at one level, and those with navy blue shirts got off together at another, while those with denim blue and regular blue shirts got off at numerous levels, depending on where their job was. Finally, there were those with royal blue shirts, they all got off at one level, otherwise known as the bridge. Like the rest of the ship, it was painted in a pale blue with gold trim, though lights of various colors twinkled off the computer consoles. Already, several were filing in and filling up spots, the lights from the consoles dancing off their gold flame-shaped pins. Soon, all but one seat was occupied, everyone pushing buttons and reading screens until the doors opened for one last figure. Everyone stood once a crew member announced his arrival.
“Captain on deck!”
“Acting captain, commander, acting captain,” the shedu reminded him gently.
“Yes sir, sorry sir. Acting captain on deck!” the lenai corrected. The shedu nodded with approval before walking towards the empty chair. Everyone waited until he sat down before returning to their seats.
“Commander Denavi, report.”
The lenai nodded, “Yes sir, all systems are online and functioning correctly.”
“Good, Lieutenant Pohula, please turn on the intercom.”
“Yes sir,” was the hyleoroi’s reply before pushing a few buttons. She turned and nodded at the captain. He gave a slight nod in response and pushed a button on the arm of his chair.
“Good day, this is Eleon, your acting captain. Thank you for your hard work in getting the Filionara up and running. We are only taking her out on a practice run today, to keep her active. As many of you may have noticed, Fufluns and Amitolana are joining us today, allow me to explain why. On the path we are taking, there are two habitable planets. Fufluns will head a team down to one of the planets and Amitolana will head a team down to the other planet. We will continue our route to a third habitable planet to where I will lead an expedition. We will pick up the two teams on our way back to Antillia. We will prepare our reports as if we are handing them in to the king. Good practice, I think, for when we find him. But, for now, at least they shall be ready for his arrival. Thank you again, Eleon out.” He pushed the button again and glanced at the shedu at the helm. “Lieutenant Leviona, do you have the coordinates?”
The female nodded, “Yes sir.”
“Good, then take us out.”
“Yes sir.” Leviona pushed a few buttons and pulled a lever, the screen in front of her showing them exiting the hanger bay. They moved slowly through the bay until they were clear of the doors, picking up speed, only to pause and turn around. Eleon pushed the button on his chair again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please pause in your work and take a look at the screen closest to you. Unfortunately, in many of these endeavors, we have lost many good shedu, lenai, and hyleoroi while we search for our king, our dukes, and their relations. Their sacrifices will not be in vain, we pause to remember them, and we pause to grant whoever may die in this endeavor one last look at home. Perhaps we will be fortunate in this endeavor and all of us shall return home, but it is not something I can foresee nor promise, so we must go about this as we always do, prepare to die but hope to live. Thank you again for all of your hard work. Please have a moment of silence to remember those who have given their lives for our country, and please take a moment to reflect upon those you love. Eleon out.” There was a moment of silence as the entire crew looked at the island slowly disappearing from view, the golden cities catching the sun’s light in such a way that made it look ablaze. The force field surrounding the island glinted in shades of blue and green, the trees a mere line of reds and browns. Eleon closed his eyes and pictured the island in all its splendor, the seven cities swathed in gold gracing the landscape, the roches, acadis, azaras, rozes, and vinans shedding their fall foliage, the great trees blooming yet again, gilds and bleus bounding through forests of naivis and gilans, while flocks of azivas, skwins, muselas, huclors, colims and ignirs soared across the glittering sky. There were also the hippogriffs, but many had joined them on this expedition, including Eleon’s charge, Verneo. Eleon opened his eyes; the island was further now than before, almost a mere speck on the screen’s horizon. He let out a huff before speaking. “Lieutenant, it’s time to go.”
“Yes sir,” came Leviona’s reply. She pushed a few buttons and pulled a different lever, the ship going into a blue wormhole, their journey had now begun, only a different chapter in their search for the humans, and the genies.
Shedu – Bipedal, talking lions, basically, with four eyes and six cream-colored, angelic wings
Lenai – A humanoid based on the bluebird, with bluebird wings
Hyleoroi – A humanoid based on the hummingbird, with hummingbird wings
Hippogriff – Horse head, legs and body; lion’s mane, tail, and paws; pair of angelic wings
Gild – Golden-horned deer with lion’s mane
Bleu – Blue-furred American buffalo/ bison with golden hooves and horns
Aziva – Miniature, azurite bluebird with golden chest
Huclor – Jeweled hummingbird
Musela – Multi-colored canary
Colim – Dove with crystalline feathers, golden beaks, and golden feet
Skwin – Blue swan with golden beaks and feet
Ignir – Phoenix-like bird that burst into flame at will, but do not burn; amber eyes, azurite beak and feet
Roche – Pink-leafed, red-barked tree with golden roses and cherries
Acadi – White-leafed tree with crystalline flowers and acai berries
Azara – Sapphire-leafed tree with midnight blue bark, azure flowers, and berries that come in every shade of blue
Roze – Golden oak with blue roses
Vinan – Tree that looks like it’s covered in grapevines
Naivi – Pine tree with navy blue needles
Gilan – Cedar tree with golden leaves