Soal's Legacy

I was called to the Kazar's council. I strode into the room before the leaders of my cast. Mining and resource gathering and distribution is our mandate. As I was entering the quild hall, I felt the memories of my past well up in my mind. I was not born on Oqthcali, but with my abilities I was tasked to come to the center of our solar system as a child. I grew up in the mines of Soal, and learned of Soal's significance within our culture. The more time that I spent inside of our star, the more it empowered my body.
 
My race, the Ungali, originated on the water world, Aquaian, of the Soal stellar system. Our world rotates on it's axis, unlike Oqthcali, which makes living on Oqthcali different that what I was born into. Unlike most members of my race, I do not have to spend much time in a liquid. I am unique among my people, and that has set me apart from them. My family pod still communicates with me, and I do all that I can for my world. I have not moved far enough up my cast structure to be able to do much, but, as I don't need the rest or food that others of my race, or even most of the other races within the Soal system, I am able to allocate more credits to be returned to my homeworld.
 
I am part of a group that worships Soal for it's power and all that it gives to us, and also, all that it takes from us also. Perhaps, that is why I am being called into the council chambers. Most of the others of my cast do not follow any form of worship. Many of the Ungali still follow other deities, we are not as advanced in some ways as the other planets in our system, but we are not without our technologies. I smile at the thought of some of the things that I had as a child.
 
I shake my head to clear it as I come up to the doors to the chamber. The guards open them upon my approach. I nod to both of them, and thank them as I pass, "Soal, bringer of light, may he bless you both for your dedication to your job." Neither one of them respond, but I see that the one on the left stand just a bit straighter. I smile to myself as I enter the chamber.
 
This is both a small private arena, and yet, can hold many of our cast at the same time. I have heard that some of the council chambers are very ornate places, but we know the value of the resources that we collect, so are not an ornate cast. I enter to the center spot, and stand in front of the three council that are there. I glance to the left and right, and see that two of the council are not there. This is a good sign, I do not believe that I am to be punished. Those council meetings always have all council members in attendance.
 
"Council of the Kazar, I, Ozar of Ungali, navigator of the Sea Horse, have come before you as requested. May Soal bless all in this room." I look at each of the members in turn. Council Sazar, who is sitting in the center is the third of the council, so, while what I have been summoned for is important for the cast, it is not enough to require High Council Benic to preside over the meeting.
 
Sazar speaks "Welcome Ozar of Ungali, son of Soal. We have summoned you here to task you with a new assignment. Will you accept?"
 
I cock my head slightly, my head fins betraying my confusion and curiosity. "Council Sazar, I am the cast's to command. Soal guides me to do what must be done for the Kazar's needs. I formally accept the new assignment." I nod my head in respect to the council. "Where am I to be assigned, and what duties am I to be required?"
 
Sazar chuckles lightly, and glances at the other two. "I told you he would be the correct choice. He has always followed orders." He glances at me "Although, sometimes, he as been very creative in following those orders." My head crest flattens to my head, am I being reprimanded for my creativity, or praised. I keep my voice to myself. "Ozar, we are sending you to help with the retrieval of resources on a newly dark section of Oqthcali. The planet has rotated slightly, and several sectors are now in full dark. Citizens were evacuated quickly, and in some cases, too quickly, as some very important items were left behind. You will report to the commander in charge of the retrieval."
 
I bow again, "As the council commands. I will travel there as quickly as possible." Sazar passes me an info chip with the information that I need on. I take the chip and look to each of the council members. They all nod to me and then turn to each other. That is my clue to leave. I turn and walk back to the doors, and they again open upon my approach. I stand tall and continue to stride down the hall, as I insert the chip into the reader on my arm. It displays the shuttle that I need to board, and where I am going. I have to concentrate to keep my tail from knocking things over as I walk.
 
I arrive at a compound near the newly dark side of the planet. There are several others that have arrived near the same time as I have. I stride over to the Abril who seems to be recording who is here. I wait my turn in the que, then step up, "Ozar of the Kazar reporting to the commander." The Abril barely looks up at me as he motions towards a door behind him. "That way, down the hall, and on the left." He makes a note on his tablet as I start to leave, "Soal's blessings upon you." I don't stay long enough to see his reaction.
 
I enter the building and go in the direction indicated, careful to keep my toe claws relaxed so that they don't cause any damage.
 
I enter the room, and there are seating pods for many. I look around, and see that each seat has a holo name on the desk in front of the seats. I raise my eyebrows in surprise, as the spot for me the seat is designed to accept my tail. I move to the spot with my name, and see two other empty seats near mine. I sit down and wrap my tail around the base of the seat, to keep it out of the way. I begin to study the information in the display before me.
 
While I was distracted the other seats in the hall fill, and shortly the commander comes in.
 
"Welcome. We have a dire situation on our hands. The information packet has told you about the latest quakes that caused Oqthcali to turn slightly. There are now new areas exposed to the light that were in the dark, and others that have been plunged into darkness. You all have been sent from your respective planets and casts to help out. You will be split into teams of three to investigate and retrieve the power systems from your sectors. Any questions?"
 
I receive this assignment with little question. It appears to be straight forward. We are given the information on what needs to be retrieved from our sector. Five of the power systems were left behind. I go to my assigned transport, and there I meet the other two members of my team.
 
Chronos and Kaylon'tar are the others on the group that I am assigned. We talk a little bit, mostly to know each others names. We quickly arrive at the gate to Sector Seven. As soon as we are through the gate, it slams shut behind us. I turn my head, and think to myself, <<So, are we prisoners now, or is there something in here they are trying to keep in. Not as straight a current as I had hoped.>> At the end of the street is a large armored thing just ripping apart some thraum. Thraum, concidered the bottom dwellers. Every egosystem needs the bottom dwellers. As we approach the first intersection, there is a group of 4 thraum standing around one of the power supplies that we were tasked with retrieving. Pulling on the power of Soal I reach out and try to lift the power supply. It was heavier than we were lead to believe. As the waves of light emit from my hand and wrap around the power supply, I speak to the thraum, "That is not your, by the Power of Soal, I command you to leave." Surprisingly, the thraum turn and move towards me. I am not concerned, as they are nothing more than a nuance. How wrong I was. One of the thraum laid his hand on me. I hadn't put up my shield yet. I was thrown back away from the thraum as images filled my mind, overwhelming me. My body seemed to be acting on autopilot. I moved back towards the power supply and started to lift it again. I really didn't see that another thraum was moving towards me.
 
Suddenly, I couldn't see anything, as I was blinded by a great light, different than that of Soals. I felt another touch and was again thrown back. I was fighting to clear my head of the images bombarding me. It seemed like from a great distance, I could hear someone telling me to do something. It was enough that I was able to put up my shielding so that I wouldn't be touched again.
 
I have no clear idea what has happened around me. Slowly the images began to fade as I picked up the power supply and moved it towards the gate. Chronos and Kaylon'tar informed me of what happened. I believe that it was unknown what the thraum could do with just a touch. Perhaps the Abril will learn more.
 
The large armored thing at the end of the street was subdued by Chronos. Chronos 'walked' through him and projected information for us. He was also dropped off by an official vehicle. This current has plenty of eddies and cross currents to navigate through. I let the others know "Other factions are out there, and perhaps there are splits in the ruling council, and instead of swimming with the school, they are swimming on the outside."
 
We return the power supplies, and takes a thraum and the armored guy back with us. Kaylon'tar is an abril, and they are all interested in gathering knowledge.
 
We shall see where the tide takes us. Lead on Soal, may your light guide the way.