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 3
Questions
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A small group of Taelons worked their way through the dark forest. Carefully, they chose a path that would afford them cover and silence. Even the thoughts conveyed through the Commonality were subdued.
They had to hurry. Soon, dawn would come and the light would reveal the small band of survivors. The ground was slick from the rain which had fallen the night before. More than once, a foot slipped.
Da'an reviewed the happenings of the last few days. He had witnessed a complete change in the universe he had known. He had chosen his dream over his companion, and now both were lost.
He admitted now that his choice was not as unselfish as he had believed. His pride stung with the admission. It seemed fate had chosen to punish him for his selfishness and self-delusion.
No, Da'an thought to himself, I am not the only one who has suffered.
He looked to the young Taelon, Zo'or. Da'an had learned last night that Zo'or's parent, Bu'an, had died in the attack. Ru'non had taken responsibility for the youth afterwards.
What troubled Da'an was the youth's unemotional reaction to what was occurring. Even now, Zo'or projected an almost indifferent air.
Da'an wanted desperately to draw the youth out, but he knew it was neither the time nor the place for such an action. Afterwards, if they survived, he would take Zo'or aside and discover if the youth was truly as unemotional as he appeared.
The group of Taelons slowly came to a stop. Da'an stepped to the front of the small band.
"What is it, Sa'der?" he asked quietly.
"We have arrived," Zo'or answered.
Da'an looked at the youth with hooded eyes. He wondered why Sa'der did not remind Zo'or of his place when among elders. He decided it was best not to pursue the matter at the present.
Da'an turned back to Sa'der. "Can we enter?"
Sa'der glanced to Zo'or and nodded.
Zo'or turned to the access panel just to the left of the door. Punching in the necessary codes with ease, he unlocked the hanger entrance.
Da'an watched with intense interest. How did one so young gain the knowledge needed to locate and open a secured building? Surely only those connected with the Synod would have such access.
Sa'der stepped through the portal, followed by Zo'or. Da'an hurried in behind them. He came to a stop a few feet inside the large hanger bay.
His eyes scanned the interior. There were rows upon rows of shuttles, more than enough to evacuate every survivor.
"Why is this here?" he wondered aloud.
"It was a contingency plan," Zo'or replied to Da'an's spoken thought.
"What do you mean?" Da'an questioned.
The youth cocked his head to one side. "The Synod suspected the Jaridians might attack our homeworld at some point. So they ordered hangers built and stocked with shuttles."
Zo'or swept the hanger interior with an indifferent gaze. "Unfortunately, they did not predict the attack would come so soon."
Da'an bristled at Zo'or's apathetic manner. He spoke as if the survival of his race meant no more to him than the wilting of a flower.
Da'an was about to reprimand Zo'or when Sa'der spoke.
"Enough," he said. "We must gather as many survivors as we can. Time is of the essence."
Sa'der assigned two Taelons to be guards while the others searched. He also told Zo'or he must stay behind. The youth merely nodded his head.
Da'an had turned to leave when a hand touched his arm. He glanced behind him. It was Zo'or.
"The one called Ru'non... he was your friend?" Zo'or asked. There seemed to be an almost hesitant quality about the question.
"Yes," said Da'an.
Zo'or nodded, all trace of emotion now gone. "He held an important position here. He was overseer of the shuttles. There were few who had more authority than he."
Da'an stared at the youth, stunned.
"I do not think he recognized me," Zo'or added.
Da'an shook himself from his stupor. "Thank you... for telling me..."
Da'an turned and resumed his journey from the hanger bay. His mind whirled with the deepening mystery surrounding the young Taelon and his friend. He would need to find time later, time to sort out the questions.