Crystal Decisions

Cheetara studied the elder. The Master gazed intently at the Matrix of History. One day he would no longer awaken. The tumor, which had not responded to any healing, would devour him. It was simply his time to face the Silence. The two other Masters, who had died on Thundera, had already taken that road. The trio of Masters had sundered when Thundera exploded. That he had survived was the greatest shock and blessing she could have received.

"The choice will be made soon," he stated firmly. He narrowed his golden eyes. "But something is...." The ancient cheetah shook his head ruefully, and circled the Matrix repeatedly seeking something hidden in its many facets. Finally he stopped and rested his long fingers on the object. The light from within the crystal grew brighter, illuminating the green-robed elder.

I hope he finds the way to a decision, Cheetara thought. Makani should be chosen. She is older than I, and far more experienced with the deeper levels of the crystal. The cheetah sighed. There were several other historians of higher rank who could also be selected, but none that she liked quite so much as the daughter of Trel and Kalyn'ri, a female she could name "friend".

The tigress had suffered much. The gossip that surrounded the demise of her parents still stung her, but she remained calm and centered in her work. Maybe her duties helped her escape the pain. Still, she was an excellent choice for Master, Cheetara decided, and wished yet again that the Matrix and the current Master would agree. But in the end the crystal would make its choice for successor, no matter any historian's opinion.

A long exclamation of surprise suddenly came from the Master's throat. "Great gods above!" he wailed. "Now I know." He stepped back from the object, and faced Cheetara.

"What is it?" she asked.

He stared at her as if he expected her to do something that would violate every physical law.

"What is it?" she asked again.

The Master shook his head, and departed the chamber.

*****

She hated surprises and secrets, but what the Master knew would be revealed soon, for his time grew very short. She would simply have to be patient, a trait that never really graced the cheetah clan.

A cool breeze blew through her yard. Velma, her snarf helper, had taken the cubs for the day. Panthro and Chandra had gone on patrol. Tygra and his mate were still on the road. It was good to have a steady snarf helper at such times.

Sounds of merchants selling their goods filtered through the trees. Unlike her companions, she preferred the noise of people going about their business, but she did insist on a tall hedge for some measure of privacy. She reclined on the grass. White, fluffy clouds drifted overhead. Although not hot, the day would grow warmer.

A shadow crossed over her. The cheetah sprang to her feet. The desert cat stood before her, a blue rose in his hand. "We need to talk," he said solemnly.

That Dah'ri had returned had pleased her, but she scowled at the new priest of Dandara. "You could have rung the entry bell."

Dah'ri look down, properly chastised. "There is little time for your Master."

The fault she could overlook if he had information. "What have you to say! she snarled.

His blue eyes darkened as if he looked across an expanse at a figure far in the distance.

"The Master knows the truth, but fears to act."

"He has accepted his death."

"But not yours."

Three small words. They sliced into her mind. "The Matrix chooses a new Master. It does not kill," she argued.

"Not in the traditional sense."

Nothing he said was clear. Dah'ri sniffed the rose, a gesture so casual in light of what he had revealed that she grew angry. "How does this knowledge come to you!" she cried.

"The Master would not listen. So the crystal called, and I heard." Dah'ri sighed. "Little rest have I enjoyed with this knowledge."

"There is no choice?" she asked, desperately hoping for a reprieve.

"There is always a choice. You can die and preserve history, or live, and sacrifice it."

"Why me?"

"Three pieces must be joined. Two are ready."

The cheetah jumped to her feet. "No more riddles!"

She ran past Dah'ri. The plain beyond the city walls would take her suffering.

*****

It had been the hardest run of her life. It had dissolved her terror enough for her to question her fate.

The Master sat at his desk. His eyes held the fear of his secrets, but it was time for answers.

It was odd how the afternoon rays of the sun made small waves on the dark furniture. "Why must I die?" Cheetara finally asked.

Shock twisted the ancient cheetah's face. He started to speak, but stopped.

"What is wanted of me?"

The words rose up from deep in the old one's heart. "Your soul."

It was one thing to die. At least what existed beyond the Silence waited. It was quite another thing to yield to oblivion. Fear returned as if she had never run.

The Master stood. "It is best that the Matrix speak for itself."

*****

The crystal that had been in her care since they had landed on Third Earth, once more rested before her on a golden stand. She reflected upon the hours she had spent trying to decipher its deeper levels when she had believed that she was the last historian of Thundera. That the crystal desired her was an honor, but not the one she had sought.

"Tell me what I need to know," she said to the facets that reflected the light. The cool clarity changed to gold. It radiated a welcoming warmth. Cheetara placed her fingertips lightly on one of its smooth facets.

In the past the Matrix had shown her fleeting visions, and had touched her soul with the emotions of those that had contributed to its store of knowledge. This time she simply went elsewhere. She stood on a verdant plain that stretched to eternity. She looked down at her hands. Her form had solidity. What has happened? she thought without any fear.

Cheetara looked back across the landscape. Now there was a small cottage before her. But more amazing was the figure and the music it played. A young male of the cheetah clan floated effortlessly above the ground, the sleeves of robe billowed about him as if her were a cloud. The flute he played was long and black. It was only after he finished his haunting piece of music that he looked at her. *Come closer.*

Truly a summons, she decided, shocked by the commanding tone of one who seemed barely past awakening. But she obeyed.

*You are Called.*

*Who are you?*

*You already know the answer.*

The young face had old eyes. *Was it hard for you to give up life?* Cheetara asked.

*I relinquished a certain type of life,* the floating form answered. A past hurt flitted across his features. *In all the many seasons, I never lost my desire for her.* His jaw tightened. *For the sake of our history, I remained strong.*

*And now it is time to leave,* Cheetara remarked cooly. *You may have her again. But I need to know why I must suffer as you have.*

The figure descended. In an instant, they were inside the cottage. He sat on a chair by the fire, and bid her to do the same with a gentle sweep of his hand. The cheetah remained standing, projecting a harsh resistence to the invasion into her life. He won't even give his name, why should I give him any comfort, she decided.

The male looked into the fire. *King Dera tried to erase the past,* he said quietly to her mind. He sighed as if the pain of his decision had never left him. *But with sorcery we saved what we could.*

*All for a price.*

*The Matrix can store individual thoughts and emotions from the witnessing of events by historians, but it also collects on its own. That level of power requires a soul.*

*And you volunteered yours?*

*Upon activation the crystal's magical structure drew to it what it lacked, as iron takes to a magnet.*

Cheetara sat on the other chair by the fire, understanding dawning with sorrow. *It tore you from your body.*

He nodded. *I had made the decision to sacrifice my life, but I never had time for closing the life I had.* His hands gripped the armrests. * But the device worked, and our history was saved.* He studied her as if assessing her strength and her commitment. *Because I am here, the parting will be easier. However, you must decide: your life or our history.*

*If I choose my life....*

*I will cause the crystal to destruct, for it cannot survive without a soul, and I am fading. All the Masters have known that I am here, but never have they conversed with me as you have. We are in phase with the Matrix because it desires you.*

*Why do you fade?* she asked, her sympathy growing against her desire to remain free.

*The original sorcery was worked on Thundera. The Matrix has been deteriorating since we left. Only the Four-Forms had the power to slow the decline when we were "guests" on their world. The Matrix must be ensorcelled anew, here on Third Earth, with a new, young soul. Only Ba'sir the merchant has that level of power. That is why he has not yet left this world. I have spoken to him in dreams. He has agreed to help if you decide to make the sacrifice.*

Cheetara finally quaked with the fear she had locked away. *I love my life more than history.*

*Then be free,* the male replied wistfully. *Nothing is permanent, not even history. And all is but illusion.*

*But I cannot betray my people.* She stared hard at the male. "I will do it in my own time and manner."

*But you should do it soon,* he retorted dismissively. He evaporated like a cloud on a hot day.

Cheetara was once more in the hall. The Master came to her side. The question was on his face. Compassion should have been her response, for he was dying too, but anger replaced all emotion. "I will do this!" Cheetara roared in answer to the unspoken words.

She stormed from the chamber intent on venting her rage on the merchant who was far more than he had seemed, and yet, could not prevent her death.