Z’Qane The Lonesome and T’Reko The Curious - Steven Valentine (2016)
A thousand light years from Earth, there exists a planet. On this planet there is a small, thriving kingdom-society with beings vastly different from us. The only threads that tether our two ways of life, the only things that matter, are the affairs of the heart.
The Che’Tewakie [Chet-wa-Key] are a peaceful race. They use their brains rather than their fists. They are never angry or hateful. They are loving, understanding, and above all else, curious. Within Che’Tewakie society, every single being is born with two purposes: to use their brains first always, and more importantly, to find their Elo’pai (their Soul Mate). Every Che’Tewakian has their Elo’pai. This is determined by a unique set of genetic code that binds the two Elo’pais upon finding each other. When two Elo’pais meet, the genetic code within them explodes, allowing them great abilities and mental capacity. The Che’Tewakie understand that love is the foundation of life. Love breeds happiness, happiness breeds intelligence, and intelligence breeds peace.
And in their entire vast kingdom, the most curious of all Che’Tewakie is a young being called T’Reko. T’Reko excelled in his studies, he aced all of his exams, always thirsting for the next bit of information he could consume. The only thing that he could never understand was love. How love was the most essential thing to their race’s survival. So T’Reko set out to find out the truth from his elders.
T’Reko asked his mother, “Why must we love?” And his mother simply pat him on the head and told him,
“We must love because we must each find our Elo’pai.” But T’Reko was not satisfied. “Maybe you should ask your instructor, T’Reko.” So he set out to ask his instructor, H’Olen.
H’Olen was famous throughout the world for being vastly intelligent and wise, often teaching and spreading her knowledge to the corners of society. She noticed T’Reko wanting to speak to him. “What troubles you, youngling? “ H’Olen cooed.
“Instructor H’Olen,” T’Reko choked out, “Why must we love?”
H’Olen laughed a hearty laugh and pat T’Reko on his head. She inhaled a deep breath and said, “We love, dear young one, because we are simply born to love.”
But T’Reko was still not satisfied. “Instructor H’Olen, forgive me, but you are just telling me the “school answer”, I want to know so much more.”
H’Olen laughed again. She reached into her robes and pulled out a piece of paper. With a wave of her hand, there was writing on the paper. It was a letter, to be delivered to Zet’Kon (King) G’Rativas. “T’Reko, you have always impressed me with your knowledge and curiosity. The Zet’Kon always informs us Instructors to send him their best students to talk and have dinner.” T’Reko filled with glee, ran out the office, into the streets, and off to his home.
Three sun-cycles later, T’Reko was escorted to the Zet’Kon’s banquet room. Seated were several other students, and of course the Zet’Kon himself. Throughout the night, T’Reko listened to each student ask the Zet’Kon questions and make requests of him. T’Reko had heard Zet’Kon G’Rativas to be a good man, but he was surprised to see just how caring and detailed G’Rativas was in his words and actions. When it came to be T’Reko’s turn, he asked the question that was always burning in his head.
“Zet’Kon G’Rativas, why must we love?”
G’Rativas paused, took a sip of his drink, and scratched his beard. “Haven’t you learned about your Elo’pai yet? Are you sure you don’t have a better question for me, young T’Reko?”
T’Reko shook his head and stamped his feet. “I don’t understand why love is what makes us work. Why can’t we get by any other way?”
G’Rativas chuckled and pat T’Reko on the head. “T’Reko, we must love because it is the only thing that keeps us innovating and improving. We love for our intelligence and our success. That is all that I believe.”
T’Reko remained silent for the rest of the banquet and began his walk home later that night.
After another three sun-cycles, T’Reko awoke to another letter. This letter wasn’t fancy and elegant like the one H’Olen gave him; this one was ragged and seemed dirty. T’Reko read it and discovered it was another invitation, but this was to a home in a small town.
T’Reko traveled a great distance to arrive at this home. He knocked three times and the door flew open. Sitting by a fire was a very old being.
“Sit, T’Reko.” The voice bellowed. T’Reko obeyed and sat on the floor, facing towards the being in the shade. “I am Z’Qane the Lonesome, and I understand you have a very important question.”
“I do, sir.” Said T’Reko. T’Reko had heard of Z’Qane the Lonesome, he was an old man who talked to no one and most notably, never found his Elo’pai.
“Then I shall tell you.” Z’Qane arose from his seat and paced back and forth around the room. “T’Reko, every thousand years, a Che’Tewakie is born more curious than any other in his time. This Che’Tewakie is called the Elo’Kieper. And he or she knows the only truth that no other Che’Tewakie will ever know, the reason why we must love.”
T’Reko grinned and begged Z’Qane to just tell him already.
“Before you know this truth, you must understand that you are the next Elo’Kieper. You are given the sacred oath to keep the truth of love secret until the next one arises in a thousand years. And you will forfeit your connection to your Elo’pai. Do you accept?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, T’Reko agreed. “Tell me, Z’Qane, I am ready.”
“The truth is, we must love because love is the most powerful force in the universe. Yes, you already know that finding your Elo’pai unlocks your true potential, but many see it as just that. Many of us seek love because we want the ability to be better, for ourselves.” Z’Qane lifted a pipe to his mouth and took a long, drawn out drag.
“We love because there is no other way to live that makes sense. Without love, we fight. We must love because it keeps us at peace. It allows us to accept and understand each other, our differences, and our similarities.
“In order to understand, to sympathize, to accept, and to acknowledge one another, we must love.”
Z’Qane pat T’Reko on the head and laughed, “Satisfied now?”
T’Reko nodded and took a deep breath. “I am.”
