Let Those Who Know, Remember...
Dec. 25th, 2014 10:28 am...my Holiday Gift to the pair of you, my Beloved Kaulitz Sisters..I adore you both...
~The giant greenhouse was like a half buried cathedral, its floor thirty feet below ground level, but its ceiling a set of soaring stainless steel arches glinting in the hard desert sunlight, with crossbeams holding vast sheets of crystal clear but near indestructible plasteen to complete the effect.
Inside, dense jungle vegetation, a tropical rain forest from front to back and wall to wall, reaching up to withing mere feet of those shining arches. The hot and humid air was filled with the loud squawking and screeching chorus of birds and forest animals, endless numbers of insects flitting everywhere.
This was the Deep Amazon Seeding Reserve, a Terraculture instillation meant for transplanting to Alta Kalifornia, The Sisterhood's first Orbital presently under construction in Gaea's orbit on the other side of Sol. Every living thing in there was genetically engineered for compatibility with the Orbitals ecosystem. When it was completed, Alta Kalifornia would have over seven thousand times the habitable surface area of Gaea and become The Sisterhood's new home.
The Reserve itself was three and half miles wide and nineteen miles long. At either end were massive carbon fiber sliding doors, immensely strong but very light. Several feet above floor level, a few human sized hatches were embedded in each door, directly opposite one of the raised walkways that ran the length of the Reserve, branching out at various intervals. Presently, one of these hatches opened and two figures entered, both tall, trim and regal.
Even at a distance, they were instantly recognizable to any Sister and to most of the other peoples of Earth. Mistress Eva, First High Priestess of The Cult of Ereshkigal, known as The Brightness. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a braid, her bright blue eyes sparkled sharply against her glowing honey colored skin, tanned from decades under the desert sun. She wore the Simple Ceremony Gown of her Cult, a fine white cotton sheath with gold trim.
Beside her, her sister, Mistress Erika, First High Priestess of The Cult of Mictecacihuatl, known as The Darkness. Her long brunette hair was also pulled back into a braid, her eyes a dark green, her skin almost mocha. She wore the Simple Ceremony Gown of her Cult, a black silk sheath with crimson trim.
Once upon a time, most would have guessed their age to be mid-thirties, but each of them had already seen a bit more than two centuries worth of birthdays and had borne a dozen Daughters each, followed by scores of Grand Daughters and hundreds of Great Grand Daughters. Over those decades, their bodies had been greatly modified, genetically enhanced and cybernetically augmented, as had all Sisters. It was as yet unknown how long Sisters could actually live.
They had entered alone, their Companions and Servitors remaining outside. The hatch closed behind them. They held hands and smiled softly at each other. A rappeler field activated at their feet and they began to glide down the walkway, gaining speed as they moved. But both stood steadily upright and serene.
This was a pilgrimage they'd made every year for over a century now, a few years after construction had begun upon the Reserve. The previous evening they had, by tradition, spent in Eva's quarters, drinking wine, smoking pot, talking about old memories and had then slept cuddled close together. In the morning, they had eaten cake for breakfast at a table with three settings, the third one empty, but with a plate holding a slice of cake and matching cup filled with coffee.
Very few Sisters paid attention to, or were even aware, of these events. The Sisterhood was mostly busy preparing for its own birthday celebrations two days hence, so this pair of siblings could quietly perform their personal rituals unnoticed by all but a few close members of their respective households.
After breakfast, they were bathed and dressed their Body Servants and then traveled by aircar to the Reserve's secondary Service and Operations Entrance. Their journey was not done in total secrecy. As The Brightness, Eva had been The Face of The Sisterhood to the World for too long for that to take place without complex preparations. Best to keep things simple and personnel to a minimum.
The aircar bore the livery of Mictecacihuatl, which helped keep things low key. Even inside The Sisterhood that Cult was regarded by many with trepidation. Outside of The Sisterhood, its name invoked pure terror. Inside the Cult itself, its Priestess was adored and her sibling always a beloved guest.
These two Cults had built up The Sisterhood from its very beginnings and represented its Light and Dark Aspects. And most outside The Sisterhood were unaware of how frequently Sisters flowed back and forth between them, attending the Rituals of one and then the Rituals of the other.
The Rituals of Ereshkigal were performed in the light of day in open venues and were uplifting and ecstatic. Most of them welcoming all women and a handful of select males, even non-believers were known to have wept with joy upon witnessing them. And it was said that very few human females could attend one and not be converted.
The Rituals of Mictecacihuatl were performed in the dark of night in secret locations and were ferocious and sinister and only fully Initiated Sisters allowed to participate. There were rumors that specially raised and highly pampered Pleasure Servitors were sacrificed on occasion, happily going to their death in a drugged induced ecstasy.
This then was the image that The Sisterhood presented to the world at large. Mistress Eva, the Brightness, her beautiful face, lovely and glowing, smiling at the world while opening her tender heart to all of her Sisters. To those who could see, her strength was obvious, for all of her gentleness. For those who could not see, or to chose to ignore, that strength, just a few steps back and to her left stood her sister, Mistress Erika, The Darkness, her eyes watching everything. No-one mistook her nature or her intent. She stood guard over her sister and The Sisterhood. Together, their strong hands guided The Sisterhood.
And it had been so since the very beginning...
...nearly two hundred years ago when Eva met a strange old man on what was then called the Internet. He was a Prophet and shared with Eva the Vision he had been given of a Global Republic of Amazon Cyber Witches that worshiped The Goddess in all of Her Aspects. She knew he was quite mad, but Goddess had sent her to his door and she found herself thoroughly infatuated with him. And because she and her sister Erika were deeply bonded and yet always in competition with each other, she too was pulled into this new orbit.
Together, they were the perfect combination to build upon that Vision, a powerful Sisterhood that would create a Transhumanist Matriarchy.
Over the next few decades, Her Prophet taught them how to build the thing and guided these two magnificent Sisters though all of the challenges that faced them, both out in the world and inside of themselves. When he finally passed, they were the clear and undisputed leaders of The Sisterhood, which was now had a solid core upon which to build.
In the time since, The Sisterhood had grown from its base in Southern California through its global network to direct political control over all of the Americas and two thirds of Asia, plus a paramount position in Near Earth Space. The European Union, the last remnant of an innervated Humanism, and Sino-Muslim Africa, the final bastion of Patriarchy, were the only significant political entities remaining outside of their sphere of influence. And their days were numbered.
However, while those events were unfold, the old man was slowly being forgotten. Which was his plan all along. “I am like Moses, my Sisters,” he had said. “I can lead you to the Promised Land, but, like my Brothers, I myself cannot cross over. That will require another Turn of The Wheel.”
The holy book he wrote for The Sisterhood, The Explanation had morphed over the decades into De Libro Sororibus; “The Book of The Sisterhood”. It contained all of the Metaphysical Knowledge of the original, but most of the other content had been redacted as being out of date or no longer appropriate or necessary. Certainly, all of the primary goals it laid out had since been accomplished. And the references to Her Prophet were expunged as he had wished. “I am, in the end, a vestige of Patriarchy. Let that fade with me so that no seed of that thing lurks in the heart of our beloved Sisterhood.”
Inside the Reserve, Eva and Erika had traveled several miles along the walkway when it began to rain, a tropical downpour issuing from piping embedded in the steel arches, all of it pumped up from a vast underground lake beneath the Reserve. But the sheets of water slid off the rappeler field, leaving them unaffected. Soon they began to slow and then stopped. They waited a moment as the rain stopped as well.
Opposite them was one of the many cross walkways that ran from wall to wall. Once the rain ended, they proceeded on foot down the side walkway. They paid no attention to the drops that still fell from the leaves. The sound of birds and insects rose again, but the insects did not bother either Sister. They were all cybernetically embedded and programmed to leave humans alone.
At the end of the walkway, right up against the Reserve wall, was a small platform. At its center, an upright brass cylinder about four feet high. Each end was a truncated cone. The base wielded to the platform, the top a circular polished disk. Around its edge, etched into the metal surface in a simple cursive script, the words, “Let Those Who Know, Remember.” Two points on the surface had been discolored by heat, the center and the space between the first and last words.
Inside the cylinder were the ashes of that largely forgotten old man.
The two High Priestess paused a moment in silence before the object. Then Eva produced a votive candle from the pouch on her belt, placing it in the center of the top. Erika pulled a short plug of incense from the pouch of her belt, placed it in the space between the first and last words.
Eva hovered her forefinger over the candle. A blue/white actinic flash sparked from its tip, lighting the candle. Erika ignited the incense in the same fashion. They then bowed their heads and softly murmured prayers.
When she lifted her head, Eva's eyes glistened with restrained tears. Unless they were called for, it would not do for a Priestess to weep during Ritual, even one this small and private.
“I miss you, my old fool,” she said softly.
Erika hugged her tightly. “I miss him, too,” she whispered in her sister's ear. They both wept a little, then parted, wiping their tears.
Erika gently smiled. “But we know his Spirit is somewhere among us again,” she said. Eva nodded, returned her sister's smile.
“Blessed be,” they said in unison, then turned, took each other's hands and headed back down the walkway.
The candle and the incense burned until just before the next rain, which washed away their remnants. In time, when the Reserve's forest and wildlife were transplanted to Alta Kalifornia, the cylinder would also go, where it would remain until it too dissolved into the mists of time.
...this is a Internal Sisterhood Document and not to be shared with those outside of The Sisterhood...
~The giant greenhouse was like a half buried cathedral, its floor thirty feet below ground level, but its ceiling a set of soaring stainless steel arches glinting in the hard desert sunlight, with crossbeams holding vast sheets of crystal clear but near indestructible plasteen to complete the effect.
Inside, dense jungle vegetation, a tropical rain forest from front to back and wall to wall, reaching up to withing mere feet of those shining arches. The hot and humid air was filled with the loud squawking and screeching chorus of birds and forest animals, endless numbers of insects flitting everywhere.
This was the Deep Amazon Seeding Reserve, a Terraculture instillation meant for transplanting to Alta Kalifornia, The Sisterhood's first Orbital presently under construction in Gaea's orbit on the other side of Sol. Every living thing in there was genetically engineered for compatibility with the Orbitals ecosystem. When it was completed, Alta Kalifornia would have over seven thousand times the habitable surface area of Gaea and become The Sisterhood's new home.
The Reserve itself was three and half miles wide and nineteen miles long. At either end were massive carbon fiber sliding doors, immensely strong but very light. Several feet above floor level, a few human sized hatches were embedded in each door, directly opposite one of the raised walkways that ran the length of the Reserve, branching out at various intervals. Presently, one of these hatches opened and two figures entered, both tall, trim and regal.
Even at a distance, they were instantly recognizable to any Sister and to most of the other peoples of Earth. Mistress Eva, First High Priestess of The Cult of Ereshkigal, known as The Brightness. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a braid, her bright blue eyes sparkled sharply against her glowing honey colored skin, tanned from decades under the desert sun. She wore the Simple Ceremony Gown of her Cult, a fine white cotton sheath with gold trim.
Beside her, her sister, Mistress Erika, First High Priestess of The Cult of Mictecacihuatl, known as The Darkness. Her long brunette hair was also pulled back into a braid, her eyes a dark green, her skin almost mocha. She wore the Simple Ceremony Gown of her Cult, a black silk sheath with crimson trim.
Once upon a time, most would have guessed their age to be mid-thirties, but each of them had already seen a bit more than two centuries worth of birthdays and had borne a dozen Daughters each, followed by scores of Grand Daughters and hundreds of Great Grand Daughters. Over those decades, their bodies had been greatly modified, genetically enhanced and cybernetically augmented, as had all Sisters. It was as yet unknown how long Sisters could actually live.
They had entered alone, their Companions and Servitors remaining outside. The hatch closed behind them. They held hands and smiled softly at each other. A rappeler field activated at their feet and they began to glide down the walkway, gaining speed as they moved. But both stood steadily upright and serene.
This was a pilgrimage they'd made every year for over a century now, a few years after construction had begun upon the Reserve. The previous evening they had, by tradition, spent in Eva's quarters, drinking wine, smoking pot, talking about old memories and had then slept cuddled close together. In the morning, they had eaten cake for breakfast at a table with three settings, the third one empty, but with a plate holding a slice of cake and matching cup filled with coffee.
Very few Sisters paid attention to, or were even aware, of these events. The Sisterhood was mostly busy preparing for its own birthday celebrations two days hence, so this pair of siblings could quietly perform their personal rituals unnoticed by all but a few close members of their respective households.
After breakfast, they were bathed and dressed their Body Servants and then traveled by aircar to the Reserve's secondary Service and Operations Entrance. Their journey was not done in total secrecy. As The Brightness, Eva had been The Face of The Sisterhood to the World for too long for that to take place without complex preparations. Best to keep things simple and personnel to a minimum.
The aircar bore the livery of Mictecacihuatl, which helped keep things low key. Even inside The Sisterhood that Cult was regarded by many with trepidation. Outside of The Sisterhood, its name invoked pure terror. Inside the Cult itself, its Priestess was adored and her sibling always a beloved guest.
These two Cults had built up The Sisterhood from its very beginnings and represented its Light and Dark Aspects. And most outside The Sisterhood were unaware of how frequently Sisters flowed back and forth between them, attending the Rituals of one and then the Rituals of the other.
The Rituals of Ereshkigal were performed in the light of day in open venues and were uplifting and ecstatic. Most of them welcoming all women and a handful of select males, even non-believers were known to have wept with joy upon witnessing them. And it was said that very few human females could attend one and not be converted.
The Rituals of Mictecacihuatl were performed in the dark of night in secret locations and were ferocious and sinister and only fully Initiated Sisters allowed to participate. There were rumors that specially raised and highly pampered Pleasure Servitors were sacrificed on occasion, happily going to their death in a drugged induced ecstasy.
This then was the image that The Sisterhood presented to the world at large. Mistress Eva, the Brightness, her beautiful face, lovely and glowing, smiling at the world while opening her tender heart to all of her Sisters. To those who could see, her strength was obvious, for all of her gentleness. For those who could not see, or to chose to ignore, that strength, just a few steps back and to her left stood her sister, Mistress Erika, The Darkness, her eyes watching everything. No-one mistook her nature or her intent. She stood guard over her sister and The Sisterhood. Together, their strong hands guided The Sisterhood.
And it had been so since the very beginning...
...nearly two hundred years ago when Eva met a strange old man on what was then called the Internet. He was a Prophet and shared with Eva the Vision he had been given of a Global Republic of Amazon Cyber Witches that worshiped The Goddess in all of Her Aspects. She knew he was quite mad, but Goddess had sent her to his door and she found herself thoroughly infatuated with him. And because she and her sister Erika were deeply bonded and yet always in competition with each other, she too was pulled into this new orbit.
Together, they were the perfect combination to build upon that Vision, a powerful Sisterhood that would create a Transhumanist Matriarchy.
Over the next few decades, Her Prophet taught them how to build the thing and guided these two magnificent Sisters though all of the challenges that faced them, both out in the world and inside of themselves. When he finally passed, they were the clear and undisputed leaders of The Sisterhood, which was now had a solid core upon which to build.
In the time since, The Sisterhood had grown from its base in Southern California through its global network to direct political control over all of the Americas and two thirds of Asia, plus a paramount position in Near Earth Space. The European Union, the last remnant of an innervated Humanism, and Sino-Muslim Africa, the final bastion of Patriarchy, were the only significant political entities remaining outside of their sphere of influence. And their days were numbered.
However, while those events were unfold, the old man was slowly being forgotten. Which was his plan all along. “I am like Moses, my Sisters,” he had said. “I can lead you to the Promised Land, but, like my Brothers, I myself cannot cross over. That will require another Turn of The Wheel.”
The holy book he wrote for The Sisterhood, The Explanation had morphed over the decades into De Libro Sororibus; “The Book of The Sisterhood”. It contained all of the Metaphysical Knowledge of the original, but most of the other content had been redacted as being out of date or no longer appropriate or necessary. Certainly, all of the primary goals it laid out had since been accomplished. And the references to Her Prophet were expunged as he had wished. “I am, in the end, a vestige of Patriarchy. Let that fade with me so that no seed of that thing lurks in the heart of our beloved Sisterhood.”
Inside the Reserve, Eva and Erika had traveled several miles along the walkway when it began to rain, a tropical downpour issuing from piping embedded in the steel arches, all of it pumped up from a vast underground lake beneath the Reserve. But the sheets of water slid off the rappeler field, leaving them unaffected. Soon they began to slow and then stopped. They waited a moment as the rain stopped as well.
Opposite them was one of the many cross walkways that ran from wall to wall. Once the rain ended, they proceeded on foot down the side walkway. They paid no attention to the drops that still fell from the leaves. The sound of birds and insects rose again, but the insects did not bother either Sister. They were all cybernetically embedded and programmed to leave humans alone.
At the end of the walkway, right up against the Reserve wall, was a small platform. At its center, an upright brass cylinder about four feet high. Each end was a truncated cone. The base wielded to the platform, the top a circular polished disk. Around its edge, etched into the metal surface in a simple cursive script, the words, “Let Those Who Know, Remember.” Two points on the surface had been discolored by heat, the center and the space between the first and last words.
Inside the cylinder were the ashes of that largely forgotten old man.
The two High Priestess paused a moment in silence before the object. Then Eva produced a votive candle from the pouch on her belt, placing it in the center of the top. Erika pulled a short plug of incense from the pouch of her belt, placed it in the space between the first and last words.
Eva hovered her forefinger over the candle. A blue/white actinic flash sparked from its tip, lighting the candle. Erika ignited the incense in the same fashion. They then bowed their heads and softly murmured prayers.
When she lifted her head, Eva's eyes glistened with restrained tears. Unless they were called for, it would not do for a Priestess to weep during Ritual, even one this small and private.
“I miss you, my old fool,” she said softly.
Erika hugged her tightly. “I miss him, too,” she whispered in her sister's ear. They both wept a little, then parted, wiping their tears.
Erika gently smiled. “But we know his Spirit is somewhere among us again,” she said. Eva nodded, returned her sister's smile.
“Blessed be,” they said in unison, then turned, took each other's hands and headed back down the walkway.
The candle and the incense burned until just before the next rain, which washed away their remnants. In time, when the Reserve's forest and wildlife were transplanted to Alta Kalifornia, the cylinder would also go, where it would remain until it too dissolved into the mists of time.
...this is a Internal Sisterhood Document and not to be shared with those outside of The Sisterhood...