Page 7 of Ancient Rising

He stared and then moved swiftly to the body laying in the sun.There was a slow trickle of tears from the eyes, and as he stared, another laboured breath sawed into her lungs, causing a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.He crouched, examined her face, caught the familiar scent, and lifted her in his arms.She was broken in many places, but his bots could heal that as long as she was still alive.She was warm, so he needed to get her into stasis until he found the settings that her people required.

Ra returned to his home and passed the folk who tried to speak to him.Her sent was that of a female of the House of Geb, but she was pale and very large.Perhaps she was a mutation.He needed her healthy so he could question her.

He took her to his lab and settled her in the stasis chamber he had just left.He waited until it confirmed her weight and biology before sealing it to stop her descent to death.She exhaled with a rattling sound, the chamber kicked in, and she quieted.

Ra stared at her for a moment, including the clothing around her legs.It was unseemly for one of his handmaids to be dressed in such away.He could correct that when she was repaired, but he needed to know more.

The scanners began their work as he brought up the security display from the incursion.“Huh.Little warrior, you knew he was coming.What?Ah, you have mind skills.”He watched her move away from the door and stop where the ship would suddenly halt as she raised her hands and seemed to be pushing against it.The shield she generated was visible as the energy strikes hit it, but then, it failed, and she was struck over and over.

That was when she began coughing blood.She sat up and raised her hands, and invisible projectiles shredded the attacker.That explained the mess on the floor.

After the other was dead, she spoke to her team and then got up and pushed the ship out of his home.How thoughtful.

He switched displays and saw how she tilted her face to the sun as she lay dying.

The machine announced that it had completed blood and DNA analysis, and it was surprising.She had the same species signature as the people he had visited so long ago.Evolution must have taken a turn, or she was from a colder region.

With that identified, he noticed the broken limbs, dislocations, and the pierced lung.They were relatively simple repairs and would be completed in a few days.

He activated the repair unit inside the stasis chamber.When her ribs and lung were repaired, he would allow it to activate a breathing protocol to help the lung heal.

He took her measurements, transferred them to the manufacturing unit, and started getting appropriate clothing prepared for her.

Once that was done, he locked the folk below out of his private spaces.

To his astonishment, there was an incoming message.It was an eventful day.

He went to his office and opened the com.To his surprise, a familiar face was looking at him.“Kethen?”

“Elder Ra.It is good to know you are up and moving again.”

“How did you know?”

“The Terran grapevine.My mate has a friend who has another friend who has another friend, and there is a seer who described you.So, welcome back to the living worlds.”

“Thank you.What is that sound?”

Kethen chuckled.“A moment.”

He disappeared and came back with a tiny being with Kethen’s mark on his chest.“That’s a baby.”

“Yes.My mate produced him after nearly a year of development.He looks just like me and has little wing buds that are growing as he gets closer to walking.” Kethen smiled.“He’s adorable, and I am waiting until I can ask Janessa for another.”

“What?You are breeding?No one is a match for the elders.”

“You know, that is what I thought until I caught her scent.You spent enough time with your handmaids.Didn’t you ever bring forth the next generation?”

“No.I tried, but it wasn’t in my destiny.”

“Well, keep an eye out for a Terran or Urther or human.They are soft, sweet, and can punch like a Cavor.”

A female voice sang out, “Kethen, are you talking about me?”

“Yes, pet.I am very proud.” Kethen’s bluntly carved face showed his delight.“One of the other elders has woken.Would you like to see him?”

A woman with golden braids tied into her hair slid in front of the camera, checked on her daughter, and looked at Ra.“Whoa.Are you sure you are from the same factory?He is awfully skinny.”

Ra blinked.The creature looked exactly like the handmaid.“Your species.What is it?”

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