Finish the Story - Sharp Clouds in Eden - @f3nix

Intro:

As the seasons went on, she had not yet accustomed to that sight.

The expanse of clouds unfurled just beyond the edge of the plateau like a harmonious and yet restless carpet, woven from ranks of industrious angels. Only the blue condor, curious to taste the rarefied ozone flavor, occasionally tried to pierce the milky diaphragm.

An unnamed and timeless plateau. It had always belonged to that celestial ocean, cradled by its waves like the head of a gigantic primeval tortoise, asleep for thousands of years.

The woman sat absorbed on the black basalt edge. Lying on her knees stood a tablet with elusive colors. Her tapered fingers danced over it decidedly, following the counterpoint of secret music. A warm upward current ruffled her thick brown hair until she was forced to give in and stop the dance, hastily moving the curls from her forehead.

She procrastinated, holding back her knowledge on the tips of those solitary fingers that, slowing down, now left room for memories. Now the memories were transmuting, stretching in long meditating axons, which she watched parading before her eyes at the capricious rhythm of the clouds.

The plateau had no name and, at the same time, kept all the names, including those that she wanted to forget.

The fingertips resumed drumming on the iridescent surface of the tablet to stop almost immediately. As always, before even hearing him approach, she had felt his eyes on the back of her head.

"I'm almost done, Heitor." It was not true, but she tried to comfort her husband as her fingers flew frantically, receiving small luminous epiphanies from the device.

“Debes beber, mi amor. Al menos esto.” He sat close and gently pushed forward the cup of muña until the mint's scent convinced her to stop and take a couple of quick sips. Hidden among the gestures of daily care, she could not ignore a note of concern in her husband's voice.

"We were fine here until it lasted, weren't we?" The words came out crumpled, making their way slowly through the wood of thoughts. He raised an asymmetric smile at her and blinked the way she liked.

Her distinctive wrinkle of concentration formed between her eyes, two delicious hazelnut drops, while she sighed.

"You know it does not help us, mi vida. I'll join you as soon as I can." At that moment, the importance of what she had to do was the perfect alibi not to raise her gaze on him. She silently kept repeating to herself that this wasn't a goodbye.

The vibrating bark of the imperial ship came suddenly. As it emerged, the clouds frayed around the cobalt metal frigate like impotent fingers, in the last desperate attempt to hold back a blind, deep-water fish.

She watched her husband run back to the house, as planned.

"Let the show begin, bastards." She thought while the ship's jaws already spewed out a black phalanx, heading at a steady pace in the direction of the woman.

"Kalliska Pan, Imperial Master Grower, you're under arrest on evidence of desertion and high treason. Do not resist and follow us spontaneously or I will not hesitate to order coercive measures against you. "

"The Empire has no sovereignty over this soil. Be careful what you do, Colonel. "

"Master Grower, you have lost all diplomatic immunity. I repeat: do not resist. "

"I know the reason for your visit, Colonel. And I regret having to point out that you are not in the position to order anything. We could save time if you left your pathetic bluff right away. "

In an abrupt gesture toward the guards, the black leather of the colonel's glove stood out against the diaphanous sky. "You all. Back to the ship now."

The warm upward current strenghtened, making the imperial frigade's hull resound like a grim stork. They were alone. She held the Colonel's stare.

"There's still time to fix this, Kal .."

"Since long already you have lost any right to call me like that, Musashi"

While even the clouds seemed to stop, the fingers of the Master Grower continued to dance.

My Entry:

Kalliska Pan, her husband Imperial Master Grower, and Colonel Musashi, all stood in a circle without speaking, as if meditating while staring at the grass in the center of their circle.

The sounds of natural ambience became pronounced. The wind rustled the plant life, birds sung songs, and a creek rambled along yards away from their feet.

“Remember when we were all training to become Jedi?” Asked Colonel Musashi almost with fondness.

“Yes, I do, only we are not all ready for the ways of the Jedi. Only Kalliska made it through the final stages,” said Imperial Master Grower.

“Yes, that’s true. I became a Colonel of my own space armada, you a Master Grower of all plant life, and Kalliska the greatest Jedi in the Galaxy. Only why do you run away from the civilization you serve to hide on this remote planet?”

“It’s because of my Jedi training,” answered Kalliska. “We must find the balance for optimal growing conditions. The core of the galaxy has become too industrial. This solar system in this outer spiral arm happens to be the region where solar systems ripen into healthy ecosystems. For this reason, plants thrive in their earliest generations.”

“Kalliska's right. The soil, the temperature, the air quality, and the amount of rain are perfect for plant life. It’s like a planetary green house. We just manage our special plants needed to advance Jedi training. It never really ends for Kalliska you know,” said her husband the Master Grower.

“Yes, only why can’t you keep us informed? We could have convoys harvesting crops for shipments back to the Galactic Core. There are starving children in the planetary cities that would enjoy fresh fruits from an optimal growing zone.” Said the Colonel, hoping that his old friends would jump onboard with his mission here to this far away place on the edge of the Galaxy.

“Don’t you see . . . if we do that it will pollute what we are trying to preserve here on this planet. With civilization and food quotas we’ll be put under all this pressure and strain. The plants will as well, the ones needed for Jedi training, and so the integrity of inner peace gets disrupted.” Kalliska explained.

“Sounds like a Jedi mind trick to me,” joked the Colonel.

“Can we remain here undisturbed Musashi? If you try to kill us; we will kill you. My wife’s Jedi powers keep growing infinitely. She’s like the mother plant of the galaxy. You know the Force guides us to maintain the balance,” added the Master Grower.

“Yes Colonel. We can coexist like we have. However, any attacks will only lead to larger attacks until we destroy the Galaxy. It has been written. Believe me. Don’t start the prophecy as a friend,” pleaded Kalliska.

“You guys are way too deep for me. I’m just a soldier in the Empire. You know the deal. You’re under arrest, and if you don’t leave this planet with me then I’ve been ordered to kill you both. As friends, I can leave you two here only with an agreement on food shipments to the Galactic Core. They’ll be back here to set that up either way.” The Colonel stated the facts.

“OK. Tell them we’ll wait here to prepare manifests on vegetable grows and other edible fruits. The Empire has never eaten food so good,” said the Master Grower.

“Perfect, I’ll be on my way then.” And the Colonel turned and walked back to his spaceship.

Kalliska held the hand of her husband the Master Grower to watch an old friend leave this planet. Only they both knew they would need to leave as well. They had to find a perfect planet for growing plants that the Empire could not find. She knew the Force would help.

Thank you,
Cyrus Emerson

Also, available from the Author:

Fear and Loathing in the State of Jefferson - ebook
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B079R5KLPN&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_GsURAbAVDYNEM

Lost Angel – Introduction with Ray Manzarek of The Doors
https://www.downpour.com/lost-angel?sp=249812

Red Roses - audiobook
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Red-Roses-Audiobook/B07F2LWHPN