Post by grandest on May 3, 2014 18:02:09 GMT -6
Cruendi’has could see it, sitting on the highest point he knew existed. He could see the Terminator, miles away yet still imposing. A veritable wall of atmosphere where the light met the dark and locked in an seemingly eternal struggle. Cruendi’has watched and wondered when the fight would end and what it would finally mean to the people on the planet.
“I wanna see!” A small voice begged.
Cruendi’has looked down and smiled at Laro’sai, his new friend. The younger Batarian had arrived on the planet of Lorek the previous year with his family. Laro’sai’s family took a plot of land adjoining the Tarmiko’s and it was not long before the two became easy friends. They each had so many questions for each other. Cruendi’has wished to know about the stars and life on a spaceship. Laro’sai demanded to be shown every nook and cranny of Lorek.
“Hang on,” Cruendi’has replied. “There’s only enough room for one at a time.”
He hopped down from the boulder resting precariously on a cliff’s edge and offered his shoulder for Laro’sai to climb up. The younger reached the top and gasped.
“Wow.”
Cruendi’has grinned at his friend’s reaction. “It’s nothing compared to space clouds, I’m sure.”
“You kiddin’? All that stuff is either too far off to really notice or you’re right in the thick of it and then, who can tell? This is awesome! Just look at it!”
Cruendi’has peeked as far as he dared around the boulder at the Terminator zone. It was impressive. And immediate. It was also far too familiar. It had all sort of lost its luster. Until he met Laro’sai. The young Batarian introduced a different perspective and allowed to see the worth of Cruendi’has’ home.
Nearly every day the two of them were off on a new adventure, always reevaluating the terrain. A small creek that could become a strong river with only the slightest of prodding. An empty field that could be cultivated to grow any number of useful flora. A deep cave that could be transformed into a reinforced bunker. Colonial life seemed to change the way Laro’sai saw the world. Everything was useful. Everything had potential. It was intoxicating for Cruendi’has to listen to, the younger Batarian’s musings.
“You can see just about everything from here.”
“I guess so,” Cruendi’has agreed.
“Build a watchpost here and nothing can sneak up on you.”
Cruendi’has shrugged. “I guess. Not that anything would bother. My grandfather put up a really good fence to keep out predators when they first got here.”
Laro’sai just smiled politely. “Help me down?”
Cruendi’has’ grandfather had been a very resourceful Batarian-- someone he very deeply admired. But lately, the old one seemed to have been baptized in resentment. Everyday, more grumblings about the Hegemony, and the new immigrants, even his own family. In the deepest spaces of his mind, Cruendi’has had begun to question his elder’s honor. And he wasn’t alone. Even just a few days ago, when Cruendi’has had asked permission to walk about with Laro’sai after daily trainings, Grandfather chastised Cruendi’has for “fraternizing with the enemy,” leading to an open argument between Grandfather and Father. It was something that had never been done, and what’s worse: Father called Grandfather a “Paranoid, old fool.” Silence fell among the family, silence and uncertainty.
Cruendi’has related the event to Laro’sai in the hopes of a different viewpoint, a more hopeful one, but the younger only nodded in comprehension. It made Cruendi’has uncomfortable. Not even the remarkable ingenuity of his colonial friend could find a resolution.
He caught Laro’sai as the young Batarian hopped down from the boulder overlook.
“Thanks.” Laro’sai said.
“Yeah,” Cruendi’has replied, lost in his own thought. “Laro, how strong is your family?”
Laro’sai stared back serenely. “Strong enough.”
Strong enough for what? Cruendi’has thought over the answer and its meaning for days afterward. Strong enough to stay together, even across the stars. Strong enough to influence the Hegemony. Strong enough to show up the Citadel. Strong enough to be kind to Cruendi’has and his family. Strong enough to form the world as they wished. Strong enough for anything. And though he would never say it aloud, Cruendi’has wished for nothing more than to be a part of that strength.
“I wanna see!” A small voice begged.
Cruendi’has looked down and smiled at Laro’sai, his new friend. The younger Batarian had arrived on the planet of Lorek the previous year with his family. Laro’sai’s family took a plot of land adjoining the Tarmiko’s and it was not long before the two became easy friends. They each had so many questions for each other. Cruendi’has wished to know about the stars and life on a spaceship. Laro’sai demanded to be shown every nook and cranny of Lorek.
“Hang on,” Cruendi’has replied. “There’s only enough room for one at a time.”
He hopped down from the boulder resting precariously on a cliff’s edge and offered his shoulder for Laro’sai to climb up. The younger reached the top and gasped.
“Wow.”
Cruendi’has grinned at his friend’s reaction. “It’s nothing compared to space clouds, I’m sure.”
“You kiddin’? All that stuff is either too far off to really notice or you’re right in the thick of it and then, who can tell? This is awesome! Just look at it!”
Cruendi’has peeked as far as he dared around the boulder at the Terminator zone. It was impressive. And immediate. It was also far too familiar. It had all sort of lost its luster. Until he met Laro’sai. The young Batarian introduced a different perspective and allowed to see the worth of Cruendi’has’ home.
Nearly every day the two of them were off on a new adventure, always reevaluating the terrain. A small creek that could become a strong river with only the slightest of prodding. An empty field that could be cultivated to grow any number of useful flora. A deep cave that could be transformed into a reinforced bunker. Colonial life seemed to change the way Laro’sai saw the world. Everything was useful. Everything had potential. It was intoxicating for Cruendi’has to listen to, the younger Batarian’s musings.
“You can see just about everything from here.”
“I guess so,” Cruendi’has agreed.
“Build a watchpost here and nothing can sneak up on you.”
Cruendi’has shrugged. “I guess. Not that anything would bother. My grandfather put up a really good fence to keep out predators when they first got here.”
Laro’sai just smiled politely. “Help me down?”
Cruendi’has’ grandfather had been a very resourceful Batarian-- someone he very deeply admired. But lately, the old one seemed to have been baptized in resentment. Everyday, more grumblings about the Hegemony, and the new immigrants, even his own family. In the deepest spaces of his mind, Cruendi’has had begun to question his elder’s honor. And he wasn’t alone. Even just a few days ago, when Cruendi’has had asked permission to walk about with Laro’sai after daily trainings, Grandfather chastised Cruendi’has for “fraternizing with the enemy,” leading to an open argument between Grandfather and Father. It was something that had never been done, and what’s worse: Father called Grandfather a “Paranoid, old fool.” Silence fell among the family, silence and uncertainty.
Cruendi’has related the event to Laro’sai in the hopes of a different viewpoint, a more hopeful one, but the younger only nodded in comprehension. It made Cruendi’has uncomfortable. Not even the remarkable ingenuity of his colonial friend could find a resolution.
He caught Laro’sai as the young Batarian hopped down from the boulder overlook.
“Thanks.” Laro’sai said.
“Yeah,” Cruendi’has replied, lost in his own thought. “Laro, how strong is your family?”
Laro’sai stared back serenely. “Strong enough.”
Strong enough for what? Cruendi’has thought over the answer and its meaning for days afterward. Strong enough to stay together, even across the stars. Strong enough to influence the Hegemony. Strong enough to show up the Citadel. Strong enough to be kind to Cruendi’has and his family. Strong enough to form the world as they wished. Strong enough for anything. And though he would never say it aloud, Cruendi’has wished for nothing more than to be a part of that strength.