Ranis

By Emmy Ayarza

The sequel to The Quay Way, this is a story of the secret not to be told, a legend of the Bellous, Created, and Quay. The grandchild of the infamous Captain Rains Colle, she has been raised to embrace her destiny to defend and shelter her family and friends. Ranis finds herself thrust into the worlds after being hidden and trained by her parental grandfather the Cast on a remote jungle covered moon. Finding strength and love with the Created and their offspring she ventures into the defense of those being attacked and discovers a new Universe and beginning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514420461

Emmy Ayarza

Emmy Ayarza is a true American of Scottish Irish, German Bohemian, pioneer-immigrant ancestry. She traveled to Europe several times and sought out higher education and learning. Emmy was born and raised on a farm-and-ranch combination and still lives on a ranch with her husband of forty eight years. The middle child of loving parents of a large family of seven children and her rural background sheltered her yet exposed her to a unique life and background of independent, rugged, musical, and yet tolerant family and friends. Both of her parents were small-airplane pilots, and her mother’s love of progress and inventions spurred her own fondness of science fiction and futuristic possibility.

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Copyright © 2015 by Emmy Ayarza.

ISBN:   Softcover   978-1-5144-2047-8

               eBook     978-1-5144-2046-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/23/2015

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Dedicated to my sons and their families

CHAPTER ONE

Ranis swung through the dark jungle on vines looking for her playmates. They were playing their favorite game of flying tag. She loved the feel of flying through the trees fearlessly dogging vines, monkeys, and other foliage. She could out maneuver all of the other children. She had learned long ago she only needed to trust her insight and she could feel everything around her. The village Cast, who was her maternal grandfather, had recognized her talents and was teaching her anatomy and technology to enhance her skills. Her friends were very intelligent and could find most of her hiding spots, but could not keep up with her on the vines.

Ranis swung to her only hiding spot that could not be detected or found. She had placed a combined shield in her hollow tree to keep the others from finding it. It was hidden from sight by the cluster of trees surrounding it. She had only found it when she had fallen from a vine during one of their tag games. Once again she had won the game and swung past the others claiming her win, on her way to the Cast.

Ranis loved her times with the Cast. He told her stories of the Angel War and the history of their planets and galaxy. The Cast had given her a ring he told her she must wear it at all times. It had powerful shields to keep her from being found by the psychic one. She loved his stories but she did not love the one that made her have nightmares. It was the story of her grandmother. A terrifying story for her of how the planet her grandmother had lived on had been devastated by a collision with another planet. Her grandmother was kidnapped when she and her three year old daughter had tried to escape the devastation on her planet.

Her grandmother and her young daughter were taken by the Trigon as slaves. The Trigon were giant orange humanoids that kidnapped slaves and used the women to bear their children and made the others work in their factories and grow their protein. Her grandmother and her daughter had been taken from a Trigon warship by a Quay captain who had seen her mother and took her captive. The captain was Ranis’ paternal grandfather.

The Cast told Ranis it was her grandmother’s golden hair Captain Colle was drawn to. The Cast said he and another friend had been assigned to go with Captain Colle to see if his proposal to the Bellous for technical assistance in exchange for salvage items and goods was factual. When they discovered Captain Colle had Trigon with him it was too late for them to request a rescue. Captain Colle took them to the devastated planet, and what the Cast saw there was frightening. There were many dead humanoids the same species as Ranis’ grandmother. It was on the dying planet they found the animals that now flourish in their jungles.

The Cast told Ranis the animals were the only salvage they had been interested in. Captain Colle kept her grandmother hidden in his room from the Trigon. The toddler daughter was kept with the other females being kept on the warship by the Trigon with two other children. The Cast told Ranis he and his friend tried to protect the women especially the children and took them food. They had a plan to hide the children and rescue them from the ship as soon as they were close to their planets. The Cast told Ranis her grandmother tried to sneak out of Captain Colle’s room to find her toddler daughter. One of the Trigon caught her and was dragging her with him when Captain Colle saw him and demanded the Trigon let her grandmother go. When the Trigon laughed at him, Captain Colle tried to blast him with his weapon. The Trigon put her grandmother in front of him and her grandmother was shot.

Captain Colle called the Cast and his friend to help her grandmother, and the Cast told Captain Colle she was dead. Captain Colle told them to get rid of her grandmother’s body. The Cast and his friend took her grandmother to the storage bay and hid her in one of the animal crates. They tended her wounds and gave her a protein injection with a sedative so her grandmother could heal and would not make any noise. The Cast and his friend put an empty crate in the airlock and opened the door pretending her grandmother was in the crate.

The Cast told Ranis that same night Angel Ani came to the warship and rescued the women and the children from the warship. Angel Ani was so angry she punished all of them by shocking them for four minutes then blasting the warship. The Cast told Ranis they were in horrific pain, but they all knew Angel Ani could have killed them. Later that night Captain Colle killed the Trigon that tried to hurt her grandmother, and threw his body out the airlock. The Cast told Ranis as soon as they were in the Bellang galaxy they called for rescue. When their rescue warships came, they went to Captain Colle and gave him some very strong shields and weapons and told him that was for the animals.

The Cast told Captain Colle they would not be doing anymore trades with him because of the Trigon, and the horrible things they had saw. They took all the animals and Ranis’ grandmother in the crate from Captain Colle’s warship. They tended to her grandmother’s wounds and hid her from the war, the Trigon, and Captain Colle. When Angel Ani called for their help during the Angel War, the Cast asked her grandmother if she wanted to go with Angel Ani and the other Earthers. Ranis’ grandmother told them her daughter was lost and the rest of her family had perished on Earth. After her experience with the Quay and the Trigon, she did not want to go to the Quay galaxy and wanted to stay with the Bellous. When Ranis’ father was born there was much celebration.

Later when Ranis’ father claimed the Cast’s daughter as his mate, the Cast said he felt it was his payment to her grandmother for their shame of consorting with the likes of Captain Colle and the Trigon. Ranis’ grandmother and the Cast were still very good friends. There were very few Trigon in existence now, as those guilty had been sentenced to celibacy and were given injections to keep them from having children. The Trigon’s planet was given to the Created. Every once in a while a Created visited them.

***

The grandmother, and Ranis always hid when the Created visited, at least that’s what Ranis thought. Ranis used to sneak into the trees and watch as the Created visited. They were very friendly to the Bellous and seemed nice. One time Randal found Ranis watching one of the visiting Created.

They look just like the Quay, only they do not glow like the Quay.

Father, have you seen the Quay in person? Ranis asked.

I have seen many species when we fly to explore the galaxies. I have seen Earthers like your grandmother too. Many Created share the Earther planets with them and also some of the Quay planets, but the planet Algon was given to the Created as a reward for volunteering during the Angel War. You and I look very much like an Earther except for your caramel skin the color of the Bellous and the glow like the Quay. You got your light blue eyes from my father and the smallness and darker color from your mother. I have been told my Quay father had some kind of mental skills and so did his mother. I expect you have inherited your casting skills from your mother and the Cast, and the mental skills from my father’s family.

You have never talked to me of this before, Father. Is there a reason you are telling me this now? Ranis asked.

Yes Ranis, you are having a special birthday soon and you have not been allowed off this moon. I have given you books to read have you read them, Ranis? Randal asked.

Yes Father, sometimes Grams reads them to me at night.

The elders have told me my father’s grandmother has been asking the Bellous if they know of a grandchild she can feel but doesn’t know where she could be. That is why the Cast made you the protection ring.

Randal took Ranis’ hands. You will have to be very careful because you are beautiful and unique and will be sought after by males of all species as you are becoming a woman. You need to be aware my father’s family would steal you away if they ever found you. That is why the Cast is trying to teach you how to use your skills to protect you. The Cast is working on another ring to help you direct and enhance your skills.

Are the Created mean males like the Quay and the Trigon, Father? Ranis asked.

The Created do not believe in causing harm to anyone else only in self-defense. They have only mated with other Created. They are the one species that can be trusted, but our family does not want to take a chance because the Created transmit a lot of their activities to other Created. The Created’s transmissions can sometimes be viewed by other species. You will be Bellous mating age in two years, and some male might want to claim you. What do you think of that, Ranis? Randal asked.

I know what mating means and I am not going to mate with any for now. I will use my skills to make sure they don’t touch me.

Randal laughed. That’s what I thought you would say.

Father, can I go with you and explore sometime? I want to see the galaxy and other galaxies and see what is out in the Universe. The Cast has been teaching me how to fly the airsails.

I think you are too young to fly airsails, but the Cast must have some reason for teaching you. We trust you to be careful, Ranis.

What are Grams’ people like? Ranis asked.

They all looked very different from each other. Most of the Earth people are very brave and have very good hearts like my mother. There is a rumor that Earth women are said to be desirable and have a gift of entrancing the males. You will have to be careful because many of other species males seek Earth females just to see what their secrets are, and you look like Earth people. That is why Grams watches you so close and why you and Grams have remained hidden here on this moon.

Why is mating so important to so many species, Father? Ranis asked.

You should probably talk to your mom or Grams about that. I will tell you there are many species whose males will mate women just for the pleasure of it and never take the women as their life partner. They sometime violate females and even kill them. The Universe can be a very scary place. There is much evil in the worlds, and you need to learn much more before you decide you want to explore them.

Father, why are the Bellous so secretive? Ranis asked.

They are very smart and knew long ago they could live in mansions and have every wish they desire. They learned it was more valuable to cherish a little than have so much you cannot cherish it all. They are secretive to keep the outside from corrupting them.

Why is there so few of us?

There are many Bellous, Ranis. There are two large planets full of Bellous. We chose to live in this small village on this moon so as not to be influence by any others, even the other Bellous. The Cast brought us here to hide my mother. Some of the Bellous have begun to live like some of the other species.

Why did I not know this? Ranis asked, looking at Randal.

Because you have not asked until now.

Randal and Ranis started walking home. Do you want to meet a Created, Ranis? Randal asked.

I would love to meet a Created.

Stop jumping up and down as one is walking towards us.

Ranis stopped and stood still and closed her eyes. Ranis could not feel the Created. She looked up and he was standing in front of her smiling at her. He held out his hand to her father.

Hello, Randal, who is this lovely girl you have with you today? Chief asked, shaking Randal’s hand.

Good to see you, Chief, this is my daughter, Ranis, she wants to explore the world.

Ranis, such a lovely name.

Chief bowed and smiled. Ranis looked at him. He was tall, silver, and had light blue eyes just like her.

Hello, Chief, I have never seen any other species before. If I am starring I am sorry. You have eyes the same color as me.

You, Ranis, are refreshing you cannot offend me. What would you like to know?

How come I can’t feel you?

Oh, you are gifted then. I can tell you are the Cast’s grandchild.

Would you make sure you are not transmitting? We are very careful with Ranis because of her heritage and her skills, Randal requested.

I never transmit when I am visiting the Bellous here, Randal, out of courtesy to the Cast, Chief said. Ranis, you cannot feel me, because I am not humanoid born. Most Created were made by Master Duu Odelo many years ago. We have evolved and have finally been accepted as living beings because of Angel Ani and her family. If we connect, we would be able to feel each other when we are close. That is not something to take lightly, Ranis. The Created only connect to those they claim as their friend.

I would love to see how that feels. I have never had a friend other than Bellous.

Chief looked at Randal. Randle nodded his head in agreement. Chief took Ranis’ hand and held it. Ranis closed her eyes and she could see Chief.

Wow, I can actually see you. I can only feel others.

Ranis clapped and hopped around excited.

The Master gave us the connection skill so we could protect our humanoid friends.

Chief squatted down so he could look into her eyes. You realize, Ranis, we are now friends and connected. We will know when the other is around if they are close.

Wow, I have never had a friend outside our village before. Thank you for such a wonderful gift.

It is I who is honored to have such a polite and gifted friend, Ranis. I hope you will not hide from me when I come again.

How, did you know I hid? Ranis asked smiling at Chief.

I saw you hiding in the top of the trees. The created have special lens for seeing a very long way.

Randal laughed and hugged Ranis. I am sorry, but I have to get ready to depart, Chief. We have heard a rumor that the Forbidden are up to something and I have been assigned to check it out.

He shook hands with Chief. Ranis gave Chief a hug and he laughed and went on his way. When Ranis and Randal got closer to the village, Randal gave Ranis a hug and kiss.

I love you, Ranis, now you go on to the Cast for you training.

Ranis’ family were the only ones that used the word love in their village. Her grandmother had taught it to them.

I came to find you to tell you to go see the Cast, and then go home. I am going to have to go on an exploration tonight, and I don’t know how long I will be gone.

They hugged and Ranis gave him another kiss. Ranis ran to the Cast’s dwelling.

Cast, father said you have been working on a new ring for me.

The Cast smiled at her and put his hands behind his back.

Now where would I have hidden a ring? The Cast asked.

It’s in a box in the cabinet. Ranis laughed.

I can’t hide anything from you.

He walked to the cabinet and took the ring out.

Come my child, I want to put it on you myself, and we will go watch your father’s transport leaving. First, I want to show you my secret book of casting.

The Cast pulled a book from under the bottom drawer in the cabinet.

This book may be important to you one day, and you will inherit it from me when I retire. Child, I have also hidden my favorite airsail in the jungle. I had the Created upgrade it for me. Tomorrow if you can find it, I will let you fly it. There is a surprise on board.

Ranis ran to him and gave him a kiss, and he put the ring on her finger.

Now child, try to put my book back into its hiding place without touching it with your hands.

Ranis thought about putting the casting book back under the last drawer in the cabinet and the book was gone. The Cast went to the drawer and pulled it out and checked. The book was there.

Very good, this ring is not magic all by itself, child. It only enhances the skills you already possess. It will let you learn your skills much faster and make them stronger when you wear it. Be careful with your skills child. You would not want to hurt someone with them. If you are not sure cover your ring in your hands and your skills will be tempered. They will also be hidden from others when you cover the ring.

Ranis looked closely at the ring. The ring was very small and hard to see on her finger as it was caramel like her skin.

I love it grandfather, and I will never take it off.

Ranis gave him a hug and a kiss.

Okay, let’s go see your father leave.

The Cast and Ranis walked to the transport yards.

Grandfather, where is my father going this time?

He is going to the Forbidden galaxy, child. It is very dangerous there. There is rumor the Forbidden are once again planning attacks in our galaxy. They have not bothered us in our galaxy since the Angel War, but we need to make sure this is just rumor as the Forbidden are a very immoral species. They rob, steal and kill and are proud of their immoral doings. They are mortal enemies of the Quay and have involved us before because our galaxy lies between theirs and the Quay galaxy.

Why do they hate the Quay? Ranis asked.

Most Quay hates their immorality and have fought them many times over moral issues.

I thought the Quay were mean. Look what Captain Colle did to Grams.

The Captain was part Obe, and one of the rare Quay that practiced immoral acts, child. Most of the Quay believe no one should cause harm to any living being, in fact it is one of their laws. Did I not tell you that Captain Colle saved the Angel Ani and her family?

No grandfather.

He did my child both his mother and Captain Colle tried to repair their mistakes. No one has seen them again, although every once and a while we hear stories how he continues to seek Angel Ani and has never stopped loving her.

He is my grandfather too. Could I have immoral practice desires, Cast? Ranis asked, feeling sad.

You could never be like that, child. Remember you are also Earther and Bellous. It is not in your nature. You can close your eyes and see yourself and you will know it is not in your makeup.

Ranis closed her eyes and she could see light all around her. What does it mean grandfather I see light all around me? Ranis asked.

It means you are filled with goodness and light my child.

The Cast nodded at her and smiled.

I am so glad. I do not want to be immoral, Cast.

There is no telling what the Forbidden are up to. Your father and his crew will take an airsail and check out the rumor as secretly as they can.

Ranis closed her eyes to see if she could see the Forbidden. She thought if she could see them, her father would not have to go. Ranis felt someone looking at her shocked to feel Ranis feeling her. Ranis quickly opened her eyes and covered her ring. Ranis saw her father getting on the lift. Her father saw her and the Cast and waved. Ranis waved and blew him kisses.

I wish I was going with him.

I know you do, child. You are a lot like me and your father, a bit of an adventurer.

Ranis and the Cast went on their way to Ranis’ dwelling and she danced around as the Cast walked.

Can you point your finger with the new ring on it at a dead branch on a tree? Think of knocking it off the tree and let’s see what happens, the Cast said.

Ranis thought about knocking the branch off the tree and pointed her finger at it. A beam flashed from her finger and the branch was severed cleanly from the tree. Ranis looked wide eyed at the Cast.

Child, you will have to be careful where you point that finger.

They both laughed and the Cast gave her a kiss on the cheek at the door of the dwelling.

Don’t you want to say hello to mama and Grams? Ranis asked.

Not tonight child, I am tired and I have a headache for some reason. I will see you in the morning if you can tell me where the secret airsail is.

Ranis’ mother was waiting for her when she went inside.

Ranis, I was worried, it is late. Season looked at her daughter and smiled at her.

Cast took me to see father leave. I am sorry I worried you,

Ranis went to her and gave her a kiss. You are such a sweet child.

Mama, father told me to ask you why mating is so important.

So our girl is becoming a woman and wants to know what that means.

Yes, Mama, I would like to know. Today has been a day of learning for me.

There must be some reason it was a day of learning. Mating has two reasons one accepted and one not. The first accepted is to ensure you and your partners DNA and your species continue on in the Universe. It is a spiritual thing as the Gods wish us to continue our goodness and work to improve our moral traits. The Bellous believe each time a child is born the Bellous improve. The other reason is not acceptable. Some want to mate just for the pleasure they may feel. They do not mate for the spiritual but for the flesh. It is then an immoral mating, and is shameful. My daughter, if a woman has not been with a man a woman is called a maiden. After they have been with a man they are a woman or matron. Once a matron the male can plant his seeds and a child can grow within a woman, if the male has not taken precaution. The Created and the Cast can make the child go away if you do not want it, but it is better to take precaution in the first place.

You said the first type of mating is a spiritual kind. Is having a child the only thing that makes it spiritual? If the males are taking precaution, does that not mean the mating is immoral? Ranis asked.

My daughter, I said the first is accepted. It is not immoral if the mating is done after you have been claimed. Some want to mate without a claim or sometimes with force. That is the immoral act.

If you can only have one child to maintain the population then you only mate once after you are claimed, right, Ranis asked.

No my daughter, that is why you claim each other so you can mate many times without it being considered immoral and from then on you are partners.

Mama, that is disgusting.

Season laughed. Ranis, I remember thinking the same thing, until I wanted your father and he claimed me. I had just turned eighteen and was ready. I purposely set my eyes on your father. I had watched him grow into a man and I liked what kind of a man he was. Strong and good and I liked that he laughed. Laughing was something the Bellous learned from the Earthers as did many species. The first time I saw your father he was laughing. I could not take my eyes from him and from that day on I wanted him to claim me. That was the first time I did not think that mating was disgusting.

Season smiled at Ranis.

I am confused and I still think it is disgusting.

We will probably talk of it many times before you are ready, I hope anyway. You should know, Ranis, I have already seen males watching you. They are afraid of your father and the Cast, but it won’t stop them for long, now. They see you already look like a woman. You must be cautious my child. You are no longer a little child but are beginning to be a woman. Some males will hope you do not know what I am telling you, so they can mate you not accepted. Your father has seen you are readying, and that is why he wanted you to ask me.

Mama, are you telling me I can no longer play games with my friends? Ranis asked.

That depends on what games you are playing now. Next time you are playing games with your friends watch were they go together. I have seen them meeting and exploring by kissing and touching. They are preparing to see who they will want to claim.

No wonder I am winning so much of the time now. I have seen them sitting as couples together. Well, they can count me out, I will not allow any to touch me or kiss me. It all seems so complicated to me.

We will see my daughter I will always be here for you to talk to.

Season kissed Ranis goodnight and went to her bedroom. Ranis went to Grams’ room and she was already in bed. Ranis went to Grams and kissed her.

I heard you and your mama talking, Ranis. Do not let anyone touch you until you are ready my dear. You make up your own mind when. Just because the Bellous believe a woman should be claimed at eighteen does not mean that is right for you. Remember you have three species in your blood and you have the right to choose what is right for you. Women are not here just for man’s pleasure we are capable of so much more.

Thank you, Grams, that’s what father told me too. I am glad I do not have to follow just the Bellous ways.

Have you not looked at any of the males and thought you may want them to like you, Ranis?

No Grams, I don’t want any of them to even look at me either.

Ranis, look in the mirror girl, you are pretty, and so much already shaped like a women. The males can’t help but look at you. It is against nature for them not to look. The Gods made women different from men to attract them on purpose, Ranis, and he gave you extra.

Ranis went to her mirror and looked.

I have not noticed how I have filled out before. Grams, why did I not see those before? What has happened to me? Ranis asked. Ranis ran to Grams crying.

Grams, I do not want males looking at me I don’t even want to look at me.

It is time for us to make you bindings so your curves can be controlled. That will give you some more time to get used to the idea.

Betty got out of bed and helped Ranis put on a binding.

I do not know where you got those curves, Ranis, but you are going to draw a lot of attention with the male that is clear. Now, does that help some? Betty asked, as she tied the binding.

Yes Grams, that is much better.

Ranis