Post by grandest on Apr 2, 2014 15:37:19 GMT -6
Cruendi’has Tarmikos peeked his head up over a boulder situated next to his family’s home and watched a Batarian frigate descend from the red sky. The ship eclipsed the sun for a small moment and Cruendi’has squinted as the red dwarf star’s light shone down.
More ships had begun to land on the planet of Lorek in recent days in an attempt by the Hegemony to legitimize their claim to the planet. The Tarmikos family had been among the first to arrive, and Cruendi’has was born not long after. It had been nine years since then.
“Ahem,” Cruendi’has’ grandfather coughed.
The young Batarian turned back around and gave a submissive bow.
“You should be with your brothers, Cruendi’has.” Grandfather chided, his arms crossed in a disapproving gesture.
“Sorry, Grandfather. I just like to watch the ships coming down.”
“Hmph,” Grandfather replied. “Bunch of pests. There’s hardly enough land to go around as it is. The Hegemony should learn to pick better planets to colonize and stop taking scraps left at the Council’s table.”
Cruendi’has looked around at the familiar landscape. Large, smooth rock and sturdy vegetation clung to the ground in a bold display of determination against the whiplash-inducing changes in weather that regularly occurred in the terminator zone. Everything was bathed in a warm, pink glow and rocky hills stretched out as far as one could see. Night was unheard of here, but all of the homes were built without windows to accommodate various Batarian sleep cycles.
“What is it like on other worlds, Grandfather?” Cruendi’has asked as they came around a corner of the house and spotted his brothers carrying out their daily weapons training.
“It is… Not something easy to describe. You’ve seen the videos from the Hegemony. Have you not been paying attention to those either?”
“I have, but it’s not the same as being there, Grandfather. You’ve seen the stars. You’ve been face-to-face with aliens. It must’ve been exciting.”
Grandfather sighed and looked back at the horizon the landing frigate now hid behind. “It is dangerous among the stars, Cruendi’has. It becomes tiring in your old age; you will understand that one day.”
As they approached, the four brothers of Cruendi’has halted their movements and stood at attention.
Breaking from his musing, Grandfather addressed the group as a whole. “ But, for now, you are all young, strong, and with family. Remember, children, the Tarmikos clan must always stay together. Always. It keeps us strong. Who is first?”
“The Hegemony.” The boys, including Cruendi’has, recited in a shout.
“Who is second?” Grandfather continued.
“Family.”
“Who is last?”
“All others.”
“Where is Life?”
“Under the Hegemony, within Family.”
“Where is Death?”
“Death is last.”
Grandfather nodded approval. “Stances.”
The five boys immediately picked their spears up from the ground and struck a menacing pose.
“Strike.”
They obeyed, stabbing the air.
“Again.”
Not a movement was wasted as they reformed their stance and stabbed again.
“What do we say to the enemy?”
Standing again, the boys waited.
“Nothing.” Grandfather answered resolutely. “We leave last words for Death, for Death is last.”
More ships had begun to land on the planet of Lorek in recent days in an attempt by the Hegemony to legitimize their claim to the planet. The Tarmikos family had been among the first to arrive, and Cruendi’has was born not long after. It had been nine years since then.
“Ahem,” Cruendi’has’ grandfather coughed.
The young Batarian turned back around and gave a submissive bow.
“You should be with your brothers, Cruendi’has.” Grandfather chided, his arms crossed in a disapproving gesture.
“Sorry, Grandfather. I just like to watch the ships coming down.”
“Hmph,” Grandfather replied. “Bunch of pests. There’s hardly enough land to go around as it is. The Hegemony should learn to pick better planets to colonize and stop taking scraps left at the Council’s table.”
Cruendi’has looked around at the familiar landscape. Large, smooth rock and sturdy vegetation clung to the ground in a bold display of determination against the whiplash-inducing changes in weather that regularly occurred in the terminator zone. Everything was bathed in a warm, pink glow and rocky hills stretched out as far as one could see. Night was unheard of here, but all of the homes were built without windows to accommodate various Batarian sleep cycles.
“What is it like on other worlds, Grandfather?” Cruendi’has asked as they came around a corner of the house and spotted his brothers carrying out their daily weapons training.
“It is… Not something easy to describe. You’ve seen the videos from the Hegemony. Have you not been paying attention to those either?”
“I have, but it’s not the same as being there, Grandfather. You’ve seen the stars. You’ve been face-to-face with aliens. It must’ve been exciting.”
Grandfather sighed and looked back at the horizon the landing frigate now hid behind. “It is dangerous among the stars, Cruendi’has. It becomes tiring in your old age; you will understand that one day.”
As they approached, the four brothers of Cruendi’has halted their movements and stood at attention.
Breaking from his musing, Grandfather addressed the group as a whole. “ But, for now, you are all young, strong, and with family. Remember, children, the Tarmikos clan must always stay together. Always. It keeps us strong. Who is first?”
“The Hegemony.” The boys, including Cruendi’has, recited in a shout.
“Who is second?” Grandfather continued.
“Family.”
“Who is last?”
“All others.”
“Where is Life?”
“Under the Hegemony, within Family.”
“Where is Death?”
“Death is last.”
Grandfather nodded approval. “Stances.”
The five boys immediately picked their spears up from the ground and struck a menacing pose.
“Strike.”
They obeyed, stabbing the air.
“Again.”
Not a movement was wasted as they reformed their stance and stabbed again.
“What do we say to the enemy?”
Standing again, the boys waited.
“Nothing.” Grandfather answered resolutely. “We leave last words for Death, for Death is last.”