(So because I don't have enough going on in my life writing/drawing three separate comic strips, I'm also writing a sci-fi novel. I'll be posting sections as I write here in Hive. I'd love to hear any comments, criticism, or suggestions.)
Chapter 1 (continued)
Sensor blips on the nav console indicated a dozen or so vessels around the station. Harrison idly clicked on a few of them out of curiosity. The first two were drones, probably harvesting radioactive gases from the cloud. He skipped over to one closer to the station. It was a remote droid, polishing the exterior of the Buddha sculpture. Harrison ignored the remaining blips and settled back into the controls. The Helsing came to a stop several thousand meters before the massive Buddha’s forehead, the location of the unseen third eye. It then began descending towards one of the landing platforms nestled in a lotus leaf.
Minutes later, Harrison was disembarking from the Hellsing out of the rear cargo ramp. The station’s docking bay was pristine, constructed of an alloy that was silvery white with conduits of gold. Harrison squinted into the bright light trying to get his bearings. His ship in comparison looked like an angry piece of industrial war tech. The fuselage was flat and wide, two large engines integrated into the upper rear were the color of hematite. It was fast, lightly-armored, and armed with four sets of twin Gauss turrets that seemed exceedingly out of place in a Buddhist sanctuary.
As his eyes adjusted to the brilliance of the temple hangar, Harrison saw a man approaching. His head was shaved bald and he wore traditional orange and beige monk’s robes. He met Harrison at the bottom of his ramp and bowed with one fist clasped in an open hand, “Father Medina, it is an honor to receive you once again in the Temple of Eternal Light.”
“Thank you.” muttered Harrison. He had no idea if this was Lee. In fact he didn’t actually know of any Lee’s on the station, but he knew that about one-sixth of the monks had the family name Lee. He was just hoping someone in the tower would recognize his name and grant him passage. “I wish I were here under… better circumstances. I did not know about Grand Master Shu’s passing.”
“He had many years and he is well on his way to being reborn into a better life.” ‘Lee’ smiled at him and Harrison struggled to remember if he had met this monk. It was difficult when there were tens of thousands of bald men wearing identical robes all living on the station. “Come this way, father. I will bring you to Master Wong-Fe-64. He helped teach under Grand Master Shu those of us that were following the path of Flowers.”
“You were one of Shu-Yen’s students?” Harrison asked as he fell into step alongside the monk.
“Yes. For many years. I was deemed unworthy to complete the path of Flowers to become a Master.” ‘Lee’ spoke without a hint of disappointment in his voice as he strode with purpose along gleaming white corridors. “Perhaps in my next life I shall be more suited to the path.”
The station corridors were wide enough for vehicles to drive by although Harrison had never seen any here. Many orange-robed monks walked the hallways, always hurrying though never running. Every ten feet or so in the hallway was a floor-to-ceiling alcove with some sort of plant or tree growing in a nutrient-vat of soil tar. This was a common replacement for dirt in space stations. It not only provided nutrients for plants to grow, it somehow compressed the root structure into a much narrower space. Harrison had seen a hundred foot oak tree growing out of a saucer of soil tar only four inches deep.
“What can you tell me about Master Wong?”
“Wong-Fe-64. He is the most talented Master of Flowers. It is unclear if he will succeed Shu-Yen-14 as the next Grand Master. But he is the highest ranked member of the order currently living here. I hope he will be able to assist you with whatever you need.” The monk led him from the brightly lit entry corridors into the outer courtyards. A massive ring fifteen kilometers across circled the temple proper. The area was always a lit to a subdued twilight level and filled with bamboo plants from floor to 50-meter ceiling. They walked along a direct path ignoring the many crossroads that spiraled off to private grottoes and benches for meditation. “May I ask, Father Medina. Are you here to seek the services of a guardian from our order?”
“I am.” Harrison answered.
“I know that Kau-Chien-51 served you with honor and gave his life to your cause.” ‘Lee’ continued.
“Yes. Yes he did.”
“Although I am nowhere near as proficient as Master Kau was in the path of flowers, I would be equally honored to serve as your guardian.” ‘Lee’ spun around and bowed deeply before Harrison stopping the priest in his tracks. He just as quickly spun back around and continued. Harrison trotted a few steps to catch up with him.