Renegade Reborn (32 page)

Karm has only added to the spite, making science the one end all argument and claims the Scientific Method is able to explain away anything and everything! But, that statement itself, it is a self-defeating argument. Why? Because, the Scientific Method cannot explain, nor prove that statement correct. The Scientific Method was built to be a tool in order to study observable evidence. Establish a problem, yes, that works, then, what comes next? Form a hypothesis, and there! That’s where the problem lies! Already, the user of the method is bringing his own bias into it, and looking through rose colored glasses for his own outcome, ready to fit his theory to facts, rather than facts to his theory, theories that only answer the questions of ‘how’, but not ‘why’. To answer ‘why’ we need to pair the Scientific Method with Philosophy and Theology!

We need all three tools to fill the gaps if we want to grow as a world, but now? Karm, in his ignorance, he wishes to be rid of them? Outlawing such tools as Philosophy and Theology to our youths in school? All in favor of fitting people of various faiths, cultures, and beliefs into one common barrel, all the while shouting for equality and tolerance, as he does just the opposite? It’s ridiculous! Tolerance, PAH! As a great philosopher once said,

‘Tolerance is the last virtue of a depraved society. It creates a whole new world in which only the intolerant critic of intolerable evil, is evil.’

Why can’t these people see? Why can’t people just think?” Purah sputtered out.

“Not everyone is gifted with your intelligence and conviction, Purah.” Charley said.

“I know! That’s why I attempted to simplify things, and now look, and listen to where it’s got us!” Purah said, sighing deeply.

“It’s hard for you. You’re clever. You see how things fit together, see things differently than the average man. The world is hard to understand, and some, would rather live comfortably, than search for truth. Yes, Oak County was Vadid’s dream, but what is your dream?” Charley asked.

“To make the world a better place than I left it.” Purah said.

“And, what do you believe when it comes to our society?” Charley asked.

“I believe in personal responsibility. I believe that we are the creators of our own destiny, but I also believe that circumstances can both change, and make a person who they are. Both sides are right, and I know that. That’s why, at my core, I’m, I’m . . .” Purah started, pausing.

“A Renegade?” Charley asked with a smile.

“Yes,” Purah said, with sudden clarity forming in his tone.

“And you said it yourself. You feel a war coming. And how do you prevent a war? What did your Class Master, Brennan, teach you?” Charley asked.

“That there is power in yielding. Like a cork atop the water, you will merely, when struck, bounce back with equal force, and without effort, tiring your opponent and when your opponent tires, so will his will to fight.” Purah said.

“That’s right. I believe you’ve answered your own question. You don’t stand alone in your opinions. You have Falcon, you have Moordin, you have Shax, you have Lokin, and all your Renegade brothers and sisters walking through this city, right now, interfering only when needed, being a beacon to aspire to. Sure, you have some differences on the surface, like the two parties in Oak County, but your core values, they are the same, and most importantly, you both love and respect one another. You want my advice? I say we begin a new dream and we do what we Renegades have always done. Become an example for others to follow, but only if they wish to. I say we keep our gaze to the Heavens, not on Thera, and we build ourselves a shelter, for all and any willing to follow us, while at the same time, giving a place for the Flarian’s to thrive with those who would accept them!” Charley said. Purah sat there for a moment, his chin on his fist, then, slowly, a smile crept across his face.

“Yes, YES!” Purah said, and just like that, he was beaming, smiling and showing all his teeth. “I’ve always asked myself if we as Renegades are doing too much or too little? When does intervention become domination? Thera must be allowed to search for its own destiny. We can't carry them there, like Drakearon. But why should they need us at all then?” Purah started.

“To pick them back up if they fall.” Charley said.

“You’re right. You always are. We will re-build, no, we will start anew! We will build ourselves a grand city filled with Flarians, Aquarians, Naforians, and Soarians, all with the same, enlightened, core beliefs, filled with Renegades! Yes! YES! Imagine, imagine what we could do? Imagine what we could accomplish together! Imagine a society where everyone does their part and we all need to work together to survive!” Purah said.

“Every dream needs a name though. What should we call it?” Charley asked.

“You said it yourself! We will call it, Heaven’s Shelter, a place for all! For anyone with a selfless attitude and a willingness to work toward constant and never ending improvement, and for freedom! This, this will be where the Renegades will call home! Oh, Charley,” Purah said, leaning in and kissing her.

“I love it when you get that look in your eyes, even if it is filled with the boyish gleam of naivety.” Charley said, grinning.

“Hey . . .” Purah said, pulling away from her.

“I didn’t mean that as a bad thing. If anything, this world could use a little bit of naivety. It’s pure, it’s genuine, just like you, come here,” Charley said, as she wrapped her hand around the back of his head and pulled him close for a deep, passionate kiss that set Purah’s body afire. He was about to use such fire, when suddenly, the door burst open and in ran a little girl with blonde, flowing, locks of hair, bouncing to and fro, and her blue eyes sparkling in the morning sun the same way her father’s did.

“DADDY!” The little girl squealed, dropping her school pack and jumping up. Purah scooped her up effortlessly. “Spin me! Spin me, Daddy! I want spins!”

“Spin you? What are you doing home from school?” Purah asked, obliging anyway as he picked up his daughter and spun her all about the room as she erupted into a fit of giggles.

“Snack time, Daddy!” The little girl said.

“That time already? Well, we’ll get you something in a minute . . . but first,” Charley said, pointing to her own cheek. Purah let her down and the little girl, smiling, scrambled up into her lap and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then sat comfortably as Charley wrapped her up in her arms and kissed her atop her head.

“Why so smiley, Daddy?” The little girl asked, looking up at him.

“Oh, it’s nothing, sweetie,” Purah said, staring down at the two lead ladies in his life.

“Tell me Daddy! No secrets!” The little girl demanded.

“Well, Daddy is just, very happy right now, because . . . because no matter what happens, Daddy’s suddenly realized that he has the most beautiful wife on Thera, and the most bouncy, out of control little daughter imaginable!” Purah said, slumping down beside them on the bed.

“SO BOUNCY!” The little girl said, suddenly jumping from Charley’s lap into her Dad’s, her curls bouncing all about as she wrapped him a tight hug with her little arms and nuzzled her face into his chest and then, felt his wife’s hand tangle up in his own, as she leaned against him.

For the first time since the political upheaval, Purah was taken to a place of perfect peace and comfort and knew that everything would be all right. They sat there, together, wrapped up in each other’s love, taking every second that passed as a blessing, before Purah’s thoughts strayed to his new destiny.

“Ok, ladies! We got one girl who needs a snack and another that needs to come with me to talk to some friends.” Purah said, rising to his feet, holding his daughter under his right arm.

“Can I come!?” The little girl asked.

“Oh, I suppose so. Come on, let’s go see what snacks Uncle Shax and Uncle Lokin have,” Purah said.

“What about Uncle Falcon? Can we see him too?” The little girl piped up.

“And Uncle Falcon . . .” Purah said, winking.

“I like Uncle Falcon best, he’s so silly!” The little girl said.

“Oh, he most certainly is. But not as silly as you!” Purah said, as he lifted up the little girl’s shirt and blew a raspberry on her tummy, causing the girl to squeal with laughter as they all made the walk to find the founding members of Heaven’s Shelter.

Chapter Sixteen: The Origin of Heaven’s Shelter

“So many have come . . .” Purah said, standing beside a, short, spikey haired, beardless Falcon Vadid, as the two of them looked down from one of the guard towers of the newly created, Heaven’s Shelter.

“Did you expect anything less?” Falcon asked, raising out his arms in a, ‘viola!’ stance. “I mean, look at this place!”

“For once, my imagination was surpassed by reality. Never could I have imagined how beautiful this place would turn out!” Purah said, now looking behind him, gazing across the grounds. He then heard Falcon utter out a proud sigh, as he rubbed a thumb across his chest, scratching away a dried blob of steak sauce.

“You’re welcome . . .” Falcon said, smiling. Purah laughed and looked at his friend.

“Oh? And what did you do exactly?” Purah asked. Falcon put on a hurt expression.

“I made sure you all did your jobs! Someone needed to drink all that donated Habanaro Ale. Took the taste buds of a master, but I got it done!” Falcon started, erupting into a belch.

“Still, it breaks my heart. I didn’t want this place to be a secret. I wanted it to be open to everyone, but, after our final meeting with Karm . . .” Purah started.

“Agreed. Someday, when this all simmers down, maybe we can open the barrier for all, but for now, for this to remain a shelter for the downtrodden, and the Flarians, it must remain secret. You heard Karm’s recent monologue to the people, blaming the Flarians for everything and carrying on Drakearon’s lies, lies that were only implemented to bring him more power. It’s a damn shame that such lies are still believed.

I’m the first to admit that we Flarian’s, well, we don’t do well in groups, and we, more than any other race, are a tad more rambunctious and our powers are more destructive, but worse than that, you heard the cries from the Freeists and non-freeists alike in agreement with Karm. Such prejudice still lives, even after all this time. We had no choice, Purah. If we didn’t leave, eventually, they would have hunted us down, until we were no more. In a way, by us leaving, we have united them against a common enemy, us. Who knows, it may turn out for the best, and over time their hearts may change.” Falcon said.

“I believe that you are the perfect living example, of how a heart can change,” Purah said. Falcon smiled.

“Only because of the belief of my friend. If not for you . . .” Falcon said.

“There were others you know, not just me who supported you,” Purah said.

“I know, but there will always be those who don’t, who will look upon me as a traitor and a monster,” Falcon said. At that moment, he felt an eye on him and looked down, to see a blue clad Lamik Strife, staring up at him with a furrowed, unapproving, stink eye, but rather than match it, Falcon lit up in an overly jovial, bright face, smiled and waved at Lamik as if he were a long lost friend. Lamik, disgusted and taken aback, turned his gaze to the ground, growled something to himself and walked away with his hands in his pockets.

“Don’t worry, he always looks like that. Apparently, the eyepatch is supposed to help with his accuracy, so he says . . .” Purah said.

“The one eyed monster . . . heh, get it?” Falcon asked, making Lamik’s face and stroking an invisible appendage, causing Purah to burst out into raucous laughter.

“Hey now! Don’t be coming down to my buffoonish level laughing at dirty jokes. You’re up there in the running for Renegade Chieftain ya know! What would the people of Heaven’s Shelter say knowing their proud leader finds dick jokes hilarious?” Falcon asked. Purah stifled back a laugh.

“I’m a firm believer that the world needs more dirty jokes. They unhinge and offend the uptight, while bringing joy and laughter to the open minded. Besides, what was it Vadid always told us?” Purah asked.

“Only an open minded person can enjoy both the best, and worst humanity has to offer, and find a way, despite it all, to giggle.” Falcon said, forcing a smile, thinking of his gone without a trace Class Master. He then felt his friend’s hand squeeze his shoulder.

“Falcon, whatever you do, don’t go changing. We need laughter in this world, more than anything right now,” Purah said.

“Yeah? What makes you say that?” Falcon asked.

“Come over here,” Purah said.

Together, they walked down the back stairs of the guard tower, and intermingled with The Renegades who were gathered, gazing up at the newly formed, “Welcome to Heaven’s Shelter,” sign, only there was one problem, it wasn’t lit. Purah took a deep breath and made his way out of the crowd, and stood beneath the sign, and raised his hands for silence.

“My name is Renegade Purah, and before you lies an experiment, of what could happen when those from different cultures, races and homes, can come together under one core dream and belief. Welcome, everyone, to our new home, welcome, to Heaven’s Shelter! Foxblade Dredka, if you would do the honors of lighting the colors of the Soarians?” Purah asked.

“No,” Foxblade growled, as he walked out of the crowd, past Purah, and into Heaven’s Shelter.