Palingenesi Agon

Mariyan  closed the door to the cryo-storage area. The amount and diversity of  the material kept there was starting to dwindle. Soon it would be time  to open the shields and invite visitors to their world. Soon it would be  time for the Games.

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~ * ~

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Lesdema  carefully read through the information in the transmission. Eleutheria  would be opening their planetary shields in a few weeks in celebration  of their Palingenesi Agon.  After years of research into this mysterious society, he now had a  chance to visit the planet. Eleutheria was rumored to be a matriarchal  society, but they guarded their planetary space so well, no one had ever  visited the planet—other than during the games they held every ten  years. He had only managed to track down a few people who had  participated in previous competitions and none of them had spent any  time outside of the area where the games had taken place. And none would  tell him anything about the competitions.

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He  glanced again at the information on his computer screen. There was no  list of events only a brief statement that all competitors would compete  in the first one and from there they would be selected to participate  in others. It seemed unusual, but it was also in keeping with a society  that was very isolated and secretive.

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The  only things spelled out were the prizes: ten people would receive  partial shares in various mining interests held by Eleutheria, there was  also mention of extended residences as well as citizenship on the  planet. He wasn’t sure he really wanted to relocate permanently, but a  chance to visit the planet he had been researching for the last ten plus  years was something not to be missed.

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He  knew the transmission had been sent to all the worlds where humans had  settled in the centuries since leaving Earth. Competition to be selected  would be fierce, but he was going to try.

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The  information directed those interested in participating to transmit the  attached application and to gather at the mining colony on Eleutheria’s  sister planet, Themiscyria. From there, those selected would be  transported to Eleutheria. While it seemed harsh to make people come to  the system before they knew for sure they would be selected—he also  understood this was one of the hoops potential participates were being  asked to jump through in order to qualify. They wanted to make sure all  those who applied were serious. Lesdema completed the required brief  questionnaire, then began making arrangements for transportation to  Themiscyria.

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~ * ~

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Ledesma  stared at the well-muscled dark-skinned woman standing at the front of  the hall where the remaining applicants had gathered. They had been  waiting for three days since the last of the applicants had arrived. He  glanced around and did a quick count of the those remaining. They were  down to less than half the original number. He wondered briefly what had  eliminated them from consideration, but found his attention drawn back  to the woman.

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“Welcome  to Themiscyria. Your applications have been reviewed and you have been  accepted to participate in the Games pending a medical scan. Because  many of the events can be physically taxing, we require that all  potential participates undergo this screening,” she said, gesturing to a  large archway.

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He  watched as the first person stepped under the archway and it lit up.  Another screen displayed information from the scan. The technician  flagged several areas and the light of the arch turned red.

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“I’m  sorry, but you have failed the medical scan,” the technician said. “If  you will take a seat in the room there,” she motioned to a red door, “we  will make arrangements to return you to your home planet.”

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Ledesma  watched as the man nodded and left the area. He lost track of time as  he waited his turn and watched as a large number of the men were  excluded from the games.

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He  found himself holding his breath as he stepped into the scanner. His  skin prickled, he felt an alternating cold and warm sensation flow  through his body for several minutes. Then the light surrounding him  turned blue.

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“Congratulations, you have been approved to compete,” the technician said.

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Ledesma grinned as he stepped out of the scanner. Another step toward visiting Eleutheria was completed.