Wednesday, February 22, 2017


This falls somewhere in the middle of the beginning. This scene has been on my mind since we fired and whiskyed (pl. vrb.)
I think we'll start with a brawl that just describes what is happening, then allude to the code within afterword and slowly decipher it with the following actions describing much of the code therein.





Creeping quietly to the edge of the artificial precipice, the proficient could peer out ever so slightly with out being seen by the horde below. Their movements in near perfect sync.
They start from a horse stance and bow to Sifu, then turn to bow to the elders no longer in the cycles.
They start with a flowing crane out then into embrace the moon.
He mumbles the movements to himself in order again and again as to remember.

Pulling down heaven, 
three steps left,
pushing heart palm,
sliding dragon, back to center.
Pebble in pond, 
embrace qi,
embrace moon,
center.
Three steps right.
Repeat all.

I think I've got it.

He runs with the quickness and stealthiness of a great cat from Terra before. As soon as he is out of earshot, he repeats the movements that he saw.
No contemplation. Just clear my mind. Center. Begin.
He runs through the form three times on each side until his muscle memory is locked in. His body will now remember these movements in their sequence for as long as he draws recycled breathes.
He continues on in a less great cat like gallop with a smile from ear to ear.
He doesn't know exactly what the movements mean, but he knows what these movements represent.
They represent the first passing of knowledge from those one hundred cycles before.
They represent the beginning of the uprising.

Running in elation he nearly runs through the sound trap on the front line of camp.
He stops just in time to crawl under the the light line that would alert the
Overs to his presence. That surely would have gotten him a week in solly without a hearing.

It was nearly over before it even began. I need to be more careful. I can't let the elders down.

"Slow down young man!" whispered a voice from the void ahead, "You wouldn't want to wake the sleepers now, would you?"

"Sorry Sifu! I got excited"
He could recognize his teachers voice out of a thousand in a cramped bell entering atmosphere.

"Did you see and remember?"

"Yes Sifu! My body remembers well"

Without a blink of hesitation, the proficient began from a horse stance. He repeated the movements three times on each side until the form was completed. He continued to repeat the form as the elders dropped their Sheng Biao sparring and started to gather around the circle form. He could see each of their individual faces light up with elation as soon as he could make them out through the pronounced gloom and darkness of  holding room three. He continued the form gaining momentum every time until he was breaking a heavy sweat. The elders cheered and grasped each other by the forearm, shaking the other heartily.

"That is sufficient young man. Your service today will not be forgotten."

The proficients beaming smile immediately turned to a solemn downward glance. He knew this meant his presence was no longer desired. He was not to hear the message that he had just relayed to the elders. He stood straight as an arrow and gave each elder a bowing salute.

"Thank you Sifu."

He walked slowly away hoping to pick up on a few words of the conversation before he was too far away.

My mates are going to hang me up and beat me bloody if I don't come back to them with something!

"We pass the message through a proficient with deer horn knives,"
he heard one elder exclaim a little to loudly as he slowed his pace even more, "The mark of the moon of Titan will be cut into the Lotus clans chest during combat.
He is not to be killed. This will signify our continuing support of the Keller uprising and will signal the Lotus clan that we are to take lead in the commencement of operation hip throw."

I knew it! This is the cycle! The battle begins! Oh man, everyone is going to be so envious! 
I wonder who will be the knife bearer. 
Will it be Bau? Maybe Ming?
I cant wait to tell the boys.

The proficients slow crawling pace quickened to a cantor towards the boys lock down, not unnoticed by the elders.

"I felt they should know some of what is to come, my brothers, so they too can celebrate during light out and then prepare in the forward Mark. The next Mark will be a momentous occasion for us all!"  




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