Princess Shaain, veiled in the "late-blooming" admiral's dream, with her image from Arty AI covered in a fractal from Apophysis 2.09, in three different palettes, and layered in Paint 3D -- all process images for this and the princess's full revelation below the story!
Part 1: A Man of Distinction Gets Attention Far and Wide
The wisdom and kindness with which my uncle, Admiral Benjamin Banneker, resolved the conflict between himself and 40-year rival Admiral Thomas Jefferson was not a thing that made the news, and yet at the same time was no secret among powerful personages around the galaxy.
“Well,” Uncle Benjamin said, “when you bury the hatchet on a controversy your ancestors of the same name started since around the time the Uppaaimar left their home planet in the 18th century, and end up being cordial colleagues, people who pay attention tend to pay attention.”
This was good public relations for humanity as well – we had a terrible trans-warp accident to account for, and other races of sentient beings took note at how responsible and how collaborative humanity was being, putting centuries of racial animus and decades of personal pride to the side to get the job down.
But why my uncle said that to me just the way that he did indicated something else: he was thinking of the Uppaaimar, everywhere that they were sojourning since the loss of their homeworld due to changes in their binary stars. They wanted to return home to the Milky Way, but they were concerned about the “younger humanoid” space-going civilizations not knowing what to do with their far-advanced technology.
Nonetheless, the Uppaaimar had a deep, caring interest in humanity as one of the few Looking civilizations who actually had enough knowledge of all stars to know: humanity would produce the Redeemer of the Universe, and His star had been seen exactly where their analog to the wise men, the iMaru, had predicted that a star was missing in all the arrays of the galaxies, a star that would have to transit exactly one yellow star in all of the galaxy: Sol, Earth's sun. The iMaru watched from Uppaim as the wise men of earth followed that star all that year on their way to Bethlehem – so they knew.
The Majestical Houses were charged with the great labor that would be necessary if the Uppaaimarn were to ever come home, and by that time, the iMaru had been received as the ninth such house. They knew better than anyone what was at stake, and so, were assigned the leadership role … so they paid attention to men such as my uncle, and how his brilliance and maturity were helping humanity be more responsible stewards of space.
Meanwhile, thirty years after wisely handling an affair involving rescuing humans who tampered with Uppaaimarn technology, my uncle was still cruising along as a grand old bachelor of 82, with oodles of devoted friends and relatives around him who adored him. He added Prince Shaaka as a friend in his manifestation as fellow scientists Dr. iMaru in due time.
But then the prince's sister happened to come through on a visit, making a quiet cameo while her brother was entertaining Uncle Benjamin, Rufus, and I, and that's how we found out who she was and what she was going through at the time. My family did what it always does when we find out someone is hurting; I invited the prince to bring his sister to us for some encouragement, and Uncle Benjamin autographed a copy of his book, On Discovery's Griefs, in both English Standard and Uppaaimarn as a gift for her. And there we left it ... until my uncle made that comment about him having buried the hatchet in Uppaaimarn historical terms... and then revealed to me what was on his mind.
Part 2: The Woman of His Dreams
“Speaking of the Uppaaimar, I keep having the same dream and just realized today what it is about … a woman in a blooming veil of mist … like the fragrance of a flower, condensed around her, or really three flowers, a perfume of three similar but distinct notes, like the cultivars of roses are different in scent.”
I smiled, but took my time saying what I was going to say next.
“It is rare for you to dream about women, Uncle,” I said. “It must be significant.”
He smiled gently.
“I think of you often, Khadijah my niece, so you have occupied a great deal of my dreams and my nightmares in the last 21 years.”
He paused, and then sighed.
“There is one other woman,” he said, “but that was over before it began … I rejoice in her real life and happiness, and always have, and am glad that she is too vivid to be played with in my imagination.
“As for the rest of womankind, Khadijah, your husband Rufus asked me, and I will tell you as I told him: it is not that I am holding a torch for a match that could have never been. It is just that I strive to be fair and honest with everyone, and unless I could love a woman more than I loved the one I gave up for love, it wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be the right example for you to look at from a man either.”
I sat down by him.
“So then what do you think this dream is about?”
“We have forgotten to check up on Princess Shaain, our good princely doctor's sister. She was wearing a full-length veil when we encountered her, because as the prince says, Uppaaimarn women try not to attract overmuch attention because they are also tamper-intolerant!”
“It's kind of hard, though, to hide all that -- we could all tell she is a beautiful woman of mature age,” I said.
“Her scent, too, was lovely – subtle, but complex, reminiscent of some Cymphalian fragrances, but then we know how many Cymphalian flowers are Uppaaimarn in origin,” he said.
“Right – makes sense,” I said. “I did think of Cymphalian honey when she came through, and the great Uppaaimarn mapping eye she gave Rufus and me still smells of it.”
“Oh, that must be it – I have mine on my night table,” he said. “It keeps me focused on the importance of all that we are doing, in our timeline and many others. But, the point is, we need to follow up with our friend about his sister.”
I will never forget the look on Dr. Shaaka iMaru's face when we called to check up … the only way I can think of to describe it is by imagining him plotting a course through the galaxies, and seeing a path come clear … or perhaps, his face pre-reflected in one of his ancestors, looking among the stars for a light that had to come, and seeing it come, and finding it welcome. His gratitude, and his manner afterward, was of deep gravity … but warm.
“Her Highness my sister appreciates the kindness of your entire family, Admiral and Captain,” he said, “and she has particularly been thinking of you, Admiral, having read your book five times.”
“I'm glad she found it of such value,” my uncle said. “On Discovery's Griefs was the hardest text I ever have penned, but I have heard from those ready for it that it was helpful to them.”
Dr. iMaru paused a moment, then said, “She said, specifically, Admiral, that she felt your love for your fellow fleet commanders, and all sentient beings who have had to do the right thing at exceptionally high cost to themselves. She said that you must know the Redeemer, in the Spirit, exceptionally well.”
“Now, that is a compliment,” Uncle Benjamin said as he bowed, “and one that, if given, must surely be returned, because such things are not seen by one in whom they do not also exist. I therefore return your sister's compliment, with my thanks.”
Dr. iMaru smiled, warmly.
“You will have the opportunity to tell her yourself, if you wish,” he said. “She is in route from Vulcan, and, if it would not be an imposition on your work schedules, Admiral and Captain, she would like to meet you and of course also Capt. Dixon your husband, Captain Biles-Dixon.”
“He just left for the Ventana System and the company post there,” I said, “but you know, this is the first meeting. It doesn't have to be the last. You are our friend, Doctor. We want to make your sister at home too.”
“You know my door is always open provided I'm planet-side, and I only work two days a week right now – the old admiral is getting older,” Uncle Benjamin said. “Give me six hours of lead time so I can get a meal and popcorn together fit for a prince and princess, and just come on.”
“Admiral,” Dr. iMaru said, “this isn't a dignitary's visit … just friends with friends. My sister is interested in your soul, not your ability to put on the admiralty spread. I will give you a day's lead time, and you can pop some popcorn if you wish, but you can spare yourself the rest of that work. Uppaaimarn royals like snacks, too!”
We laughed about that, but Uncle Benjamin wasn't trying to hear that “just popcorn” part.
“Hear me well, Khadijah. If you were coming home after a long journey, you think I would just have popcorn?”
“You never have done that, Uncle,” I said, “and here we go with the fairness doctrine – because you wouldn't treat me that way, now we gotta cook!”
“Khadijah, I'm an admiral now -- there are people paid well to put on admiralty spreads when they are wanted, so don't you worry your captain's hands about it, given that you work five days to my two! Fairness begins at home!”
Fairness was a part of his soul, including how he split the difference in honoring our royal guests who did not want a fuss: we personally prepared five flavors of popcorn, including a Cymphalian flavor blend that – as we knew – included a bunch of edible Uppaaimarn plants that had been naturalized to that world. It was a gorgeous late summer afternoon on the appointed day, and so we set up the backyard to receive our guests, who arrived at the appointed time.
Part 3: The Unveiling (and Deep-Rooting) of Princess Shaain
Princess Shaain … the first thing I noted upon hearing her voice was how deep and sweet it was, and how she spoke English Standard but accented … “Captain” came out all right, but “Admiral” became “Admerrrrrrrrrl” with the soft schwa R of singing … or of the Deep Southern drawl of many of my own African American ancestors, in which “Uppaaimaaaaaaaaaaaarn” rolls off the tongue with a long vowel and just a little rough R at the end to confirm it is an R, and not a vowel.
Princess Shaain had come in her full-length blue-green veil over her violet robes – her more outspoken brother told us how they had gotten all kinds of congratulations on their way to her wedding and how he must be such a proud father to have such a modest daughter! We all laughed as we were meant to, because it was ridiculous … but I also noticed the interaction between the princess and the admiral, spoken and unspoken, in those early minutes, and wondered if the prince were entirely joking after all … my uncle had all kinds of home-ready takes on his official dress uniform, and he was wearing one and still cut a fine figure to go with the aged handsomeness of his face and full head of iron-gray, strongly coiled and freshly cut hair.
I also thought to myself at this time of the strangeness of the event – the Uppaaimarn royals were present at the evacuation of their planet, and had found that aging did not work for them under single, smaller stars – so, neither of them could be younger than five or six centuries old, and I happened to know that in the prince's case, one could put an extra century on top of that. But, the soul is eternal, and maturity is largely a spiritual, intellectual, and emotional choice … so it looked right and felt right to be sitting and talking with the two Uppaaimarn survivors like we had all been extended family all our lives.
It was as sudden as it was significant; at a moment in which the setting sun had turned San Francisco's ubiquitous summer fog from gray to violet to our west, and some much higher clouds had picked up a riotous touch of orange and gold, Princess Shaain reached up and touched the part in her burgundy hair, and all once her blue-green veil retracted to an ornament in that hair – and there she was, on that evening backdrop.
Her Highness Princess Shaain revealed, made in Arty AI, with a lavender airbrushed background, violet-black airbrushed on her skin with highlights of gold, with her aura and jewelry all made of pure fractals from Apophysis 2.09, all combined into a mixed media piece in Paint 3D
Uncle Benjamin was dazzled, and quite rightly.
“Your Highness,” he said, “I see why you stay veiled – human eyes are not prepared for such visions of beauty from the ultraviolet realm.”
“Admerrrrrrrrrrrl,” she said, “your heart saw the need of my heart, and met it, and comforted me. Your heart saw me … so then your eyes are safe for me as well, and with me. The honor is mine, as well as yours.”
“You are too gracious and kind, Your Highness.”
“Not at all, Admerrrrrrrrrl – it was you who exceeded all bounds in gracious kindness. I reflect it back upon you.”
That was the beginning of their conversation. The elder iMaru brother and I talked with each other, watched a movie and ate all the popcorn, ordered a real meal and ate that, and then he went home to bring over some Uppaaimarn-style midnight snacks at midnight and brought those back, and we ate those before and after nodding off. Uncle Benjamin and Princess Shaain never moved from the spot they were in save for the absolute human necessities until reveille – and that was only an interruption because Uncle Benjamin had been trained to the habit of a soldier for so long.
“Oh, Admerrrrrrrrrl, I have detained you far too long!”
“Your Highness, since you have done that, I must now detain you for breakfast and not send you away hungry.”
So this man went and ordered a seven-course breakfast from his allotted access to the fleet's admiralty kitchen and had it beamed in hot while I called my husband.
“Rufus, I need you to get back here as soon as you can – remember the princess I told you my uncle was dreaming about? She's actually here and she's been here for 15 hours … well, no, Rufus, Dr. iMaru and I chaperoned everything, but she sat down and practically grew roots in the yard … yes, she's as beautiful as we thought … five centuries plus never looked so good … but I mean, she is as sweet on Uncle Benjamin as Cymphalian honey, and I don't know if he is just being polite or is really caught up. What? Look up Uppaaimarn marriage customs between royals and non-royals? What? We're gonna have to do what?”
In the background, I could hear the elder iMaru brother cracking up, since his ears had picked up my conversation.
“It's not that serious, Captains Dixon … yet!” he said.
“Now, look, Your Highness – y'all and this Uppaaimarn matchmaking stuff – I mean, it worked for me and Rufus, but come on!” I said, and was not at all reassured as he rolled laughing again.
My Process As Author and Artist
We saw Princess Shaain make a cameo in the writing for my entry for Cosmic Creations 1, so, when the next prompt became "AI with a human touch," of course I thought we might like to see her!
This was kind of rough, though ... I notice as any African American woman would how few base images Arty AI has of African women as compared with European women of different types ... the princess is the 19th of 20 attempts ...
... but the nice thing about it is, I also found her "mother" and her niece, so, I refused to complain, and began the process of making her look like an Uppaaimarn woman ... her suns exposed her to a lot more violet and ultraviolet light, so violet-black skin. I then brightened up her hair a little more to frame her face better, and put her on a lavender back with transparent orange and burgundy aura to make her pop out ...
... and then added two earrings to match the gold of her robe by turning this fractal a bit to the side...
... this as a big, jeweled royal pendant, turned about 90 degrees so its strands could both go around her neck and frame her chin in gold...
... and then added a flower for her hair, a flower that is also, in much larger size, her background dream veil ... a bloom in neon purple background for her to sit on since the theme is ultraviolet...
... the first veil over her face to be almost the same purple she was wearing ...
... and the last veil in blue-green with lighter accents...
This last fractal came made to order with the clear space in the middle, so it was just a question of getting them all lined up so the outline of the princess's face can be seen! Her flower and her pendant both are a similar family of fractals: Julia set for the necklace, Julian set for the flower/veil, so they have similar symmetries.
As for the story itself: Admiral Banneker has been with us for quite a long time, and we have been following his character development along with that of Rufus and Khadijah Dixon for all of 2023. In Admiral Triefield's earlier development and story arc, we learned that Admiral Banneker loved her, but knew that because they were both in the fleet, and he was her captain, them together would never work. So, he loved her as mentor and supporter, and kept his heartbreak as a private matter. She found out years into her own marriage to M.A. Kirk how he really had felt, but by that time, he had healed and gone on with his life. Add 20 years on, and here we are in this story! 82 is not so old for humans in the 23rd century; Admiral Banneker could live another 30-60 years, so it is not beyond the pale of possibility that he would be a very late bloomer ... maybe ... stay tuned ...