Chapter 13

Ashri found himself in silence. It seemed as though a full eternity had passed since the strangers had passed. The old Fumesii had never encountered beings who were so needy, always inquiring of this thing or that. Always so abrupt and rude when he and his young Comrade attempted to show them hospitality.

Ashri had lived a long life; forty years infact. That in itself was an acheivement in this dark time, when most died at a mere twelve years. He remembered in his days as a child when his mother told him of a time when all Fumesii lived for hundreds of years. That was before the great plague though.

perhaps the Xio'shi will be able to complete her work this time. Unlike her predecessor.

Ashri took a deep breath before entering the room he had arrived at. He would miss his silence. He entered the make-shift lab to see the middle aged humanoid. He appeared to be busy, at least for a human. He was slumped over a table watching a petri dish containing what Ashri could only assume was a cell culture. He knew he would shortly receive a lecture on the subject. As he got closer he could hear the human whispering to the petri dish. As though the individual cells inside were capable of hearing and responding to him.

Ashri shook his head shamefully as he placed a tray of food beside the man. He didn't seem to notice.

"Doctor Sek Krall. Your food will spoil if you do not eat." The small Fumesii instructed.

"What use is it?"

"Well, I am unsure as to how your people prefer it, but myself, I tend to find spoiled food to be offencive to my tongue."

"No not the food. The food is inconsequential. I'm talking about my life, my work up to this point. You know I once met a bith surgeon who once told me that life is the universe playing a practical joke on those of us capable of learning about it, because even if you could live forever you could never learn all there is to know. 'The time we have in life, its only enough for us to get a taste of what is out there.' I believe he was right. Perhaps my former master was right as well, in which case what ever I do here is for nothing. Even if I can cure this disease, It will only delay the inevitable eventually we all die anyway." Doctor Krall sat in silence.

"I do not know this 'Bith', but it appears to me for all of his knowledge and observational power, he missed something truly profound. In all my years I have never encountered anything as incredible as life. Its truly a great gift no matter how long it is. Even if I were to live only a day in absolute agony, I would prefer that over having never existed at all. Life isn't about knowing things. It's not about control or influence. Life is about using the time we are given to the full." He sat next to Krall and looked him in the eye. "I am but a lowly servant, have been for the majority of my life, I had dreams that are likely never to be fullfilled, but I am still able to dream. I have laughed. I have cried. Yet most important I have loved, and that is worth living for. Today I can tell you truthfully that despite my mistakes I have no regrets, and if I die today I would be satisfied."

"I'm sorry, Ashri. Its just this plague its beyond me, I dont know why its as though the body just gives up and decays."

"I'm certain you will figure it out good doctor. I may be satisfied, but I still am not ready to die yet." Ashri said as he leapt to the floor. "Now if you will excuse me, I have duties that do not perform themselves."

"Thank you, Ashri." the Doctor muttered to himself after the aged Fumesii departed.

Having completed his morning tasks, Ashri made his way directly to Jiang's private chamber. The path was winding and dark at points but nevertheless he could have arrived even had he been deprived of all his senses. All 12 of them. When he arrived Jiang was sitting at a table there was definitely something causing him great anguish. As Jiang's trusted confidant and friend Ashri was privy to information that even the rest of the council was ignorant to.

"You distress is indicative that everything is in motion." Ashri observed.

"My friend, all the sins of this body are about to be laid bare. Things will change greatly."

"Of course they will master, that is the way of things. With out change there would not be progress." Ashri kindly soothed. "Now, at least we know those who are responsible."

"Yes but that knowledge has cost us greatly. I joined this council in hopes that I could find those responsible, but now I find myself sharing in their sins." he sighed. "Their releasing the plague once more is proof of that."

Ashri had not considered this. He was only a child when the plague first inflicted the Fumesii people. Had he not seen the evidence himself, he would not believe that the council, or at least a few of its members, were at the root of it. Why, though? It made no sense even yet. Was it a manuever to retain the appearance of oppulent caring rulers? Did they wish to kill off their own people? No reason Ashri could concoct made any sense. Both himself and Jiang had lost something precious to the first plague. Jiang; a wife and child, and Ashri; his entire family, save his mother who died a few years later. Had it not been for Jiangs kindness Ashri would have died a lost orphan. Now they both were in a position to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. The question before them was wheather they should. Their actions to follow would change everything. A way of living would have to change over night.

The coming of the new strangers was perfect. It made their entire plan possible. They may not really be the Xio'shii and kaddos, but they certainly fit the legend well enough that it wasnt difficult for Jiang to convince others of this identity.

Now the choice of what to do was not theirs to make, they had been delivered two outsiders who were unbiased. They would be the ones to deliver justice to the Fumesii.

"Perhaps, my master, they will have pitty on us fools."

"We can only hope, my friend."