Author's Note: This story was written before the airing of "The Cloister".
Words between --are thoughts heard through the Commonality. Words in italics are internal thoughts.
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For Those Who Remember
Chapter 2
The Path Turns
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Inside the ship, Da'an trailed behind the other Taelons. His gaze swept over the hallway. It was hard to grasp the fact that the ship he saw was not yet in its completed form. The ship would not reach its full size until they had reached orbit.
Da'an was not a bio-engineer, yet he appreciated the inherent beauty of the design. Perhaps he would inquire about studies in the field. He was certain he could add them to his current ones with little difficulty.
Da'an was considering this when a wave of utter terror engulfed him. He fell to his knees, desperately trying to block out the raging thoughts in his mind.
One single thought cut through the melange: -DA'AN!-
-Ru'non!- The answering thought leapt from Da'an's mind. He struggled to his feet and hurried to the ship's entrance.
Da'an keyed the lock and the door opened silently.
Shock froze Da'an within the portal.
Taelons ran in a confused mass before a storm of energy bolts. An alien ship hovered overhead, firing on the helpless crowd.
Taelons were catapulted through the air by the explosions. Some were struck by flying debris. Others were hit directly by the bolts. Blue sparkles, evidence of Taelon death, polluted the air.
"Da'an!" This time the shout came from behind him. Da'an swung around to see another Taelon rushing down the hallway.
"Come away from there!" the figure demanded. "We must seal the portal and raise the shields!"
Da'an looked from the Taelon to the scene outside. Without word or thought, Da'an leapt from the ship to the ground below.
He looked up quickly at the ship portal. It had already been sealed. As he hurried away, he heard the hum of the shields snap on.
Da'an searched frantically for any survivors left behind. The bodies around him were disintegrating quickly. The few that were still alive would not survive long.
-Ru'non!- Da'an called through the Commonality, hoping he could make contact despite the confusion which now reigned. He scanned the closest Taelons, searching for the familiar presence.
-Da'an...- The thought echoed weakly in his mind. He grasped at it, allowing it to lead him to his friend.
Ru'non was crouched beside one of the buildings surrounding the launch area. The walls had been severely damaged. Chunks of the construct lay scattered on the ground, each new blast from the alien ship caused smaller debris to rain down on him.
"Ru'non!" Da'an called as he approached. "We must go now!" He held out his hand to assist his friend to his feet.
"No..." replied Ru'non in a whisper.
Da'an stared at his friend. To stay where they were was pure madness.
Ru'non drew back from the building, revealing a young Taelon hidden in the rubble. He grasped the youth's arm and directed him toward Da'an.
"Take him," Ru'non said.
Da'an looked from the youth back to Ru'non. Reality crushed him when he gained an unobstructed view of his friend.
Jagged gashes marred Ru'non's torso, the edges glowing a brilliant blue-white. Tiny energy flecks escaped from the numerous wounds.
An energy bolt struck the ground next to the building, shaking the ground. Ru'non stumbled back against the outside wall. Da'an was by his side in a second, abandoning the youth.
"No," Ru'non said again. "You must go. Take this youth with you."
Da'an gazed sadly at his friend but knew he could not argue. Logic told him Ru'non would not survive. He started when he felt his friend's hand in his.
Da'an lifted his hand and found a small device in it.
"What is this?" he asked.
Ru'non smiled.
"Something... you would have been... proud of," he faltered.
Ru'non sent warm thoughts to his friend, then went limp upon the ground.
Da'an stared disbelieving as Ru'non dissolved into a cloud of energy particles. His friend now lost to the void.
A hand rested on Da'an's shoulder. Da'an looked up, startled by the touch. He gazed into the steady eyes of the young Taelon.
He knew he must honor Ru'non's last request. He must not allow this youth, or himself, to die this day.
Da'an stood and took the youth by the arm.
"This way," he said. He began leading the youth farther into a knot of buildings, where he hoped they would gain some cover. Thankfully the youth did not object to his brusque manner.
They could hear the alien ship continue its assault on the launch area. It seemed to prefer the easy targets of wounded Taelons, who could not reach shelter, to the ones now escaping behind the buildings.
Da'an kept the pace quick, heading for the outskirts of the city. He knew of some caverns where they might be able to hide for the present.
The journey to the caverns was surprisingly uneventful. Da'an surveyed the surroundings constantly for enemy forces. It made no sense to attack such a major city and not send ground troops.
Da'an led the youth into one of the largest caverns. Inside, he discovered several other Taelons had already taken refuge there.
He approached a Taelon, whom he recognized as a city leader.
"Sa'der," he said, respectfully bowing his head, "What has happened? Who has attacked us?"
"It is the Jaridians," Sa'der replied. His answer brought silence to the cavern. Every Taelon turned to them.
"What can we do?" Da'an asked.
"I do not know," said Sa'der.
Da'an began to finger Ru'non's device nervously. He had no training in the area of strategy and war. He was not sure what assistance he could offer.
"What is that?" asked Sa'der, eyeing the small device.
"I do not know," Da'an replied honestly. "It was given to me."
Da'an held out the device, wondering what it was. Ru'non had only said it was "something he would have been proud of." But Da'an could not recall his friend telling him of any current projects.
"It is a key to unlock the controls of a shuttle," responded a voice.
Both Sa'der and Da'an turned to the speaker. It was the young Taelon.
The youth stepped forward and continued, "More specifically, the shuttles hidden in the Orochin Plateau."
"How do you know of that?" questioned Sa'der.
The youth looked at them and cocked his head.
"As a future Synod member, it is my duty to know such affairs."
Da'an was about to rebuke the youth for his insolence, but Sa'der stopped him.
"You have much confidence to make such a claim," Sa'der said. "Are you as sure of your information?"
"Yes," the youth stated.
Sa'der considered the young Taelon and made his decision.
"Can you lead us to the hanger?" he asked.
The youth nodded. "I can."
Da'an regarded both the youth and Sa'der. He was not certain he could place such confidence in one so young.
"What is your name?" Sa'der asked of the youth.
The young Taelon gazed steadily at his elder.
"Zo'or."