Feather Fallacy VII

“Ahh….urgh…Chancellor Aurok! It would seem I made a most heinous choice as far as my own health is concerned." Corvan gasped, waking me from my reverie. His blue and yellow implants glowed faintly. I gave him a tired smile, pleased that he had emerged from the coma. Still he gave me hope that he would survive the grievous wounds he had taken.

"Are you well?” he said, looking over at me concern in his bloodshot eyes.

“I am fine, my friend." I began slowly, but something in his responding weak grin made my self control snap. All the stress which had been building up inside me over the past few weeks came pouring out in an unstoppable torrent.

"What in the name of Hadjara had gotten into you? Your man escaped with samples of the virus! My life is inconsequential to the danger you may have put other Sarav...!”

Dr. Corvan's violent cough stopped me short and he put a hand to the bloody bandage which covered his wound grimacing in pain. I was about to speak again, but he held up his other hand, and when well enough composed, replied,

“…I saw the way you looked at your daughter in my testing area. I realize that I acted without much caution by bringing her there to study but….I had only the best of intentions. I knew that her health and that of your people depended not only on my developmental vaccine but on your leadership and prese…”

He began another coughing fit and I moved forward to brace him, ashamed of my previous outburst. Corvan had sacrificed himself for the well being of my family and people.

“….I do not know what to say, Corvan. Thank you, but won’t your assistant sell that disease to the highest bidder," My neck feathers fell at once close to my skin as I felt terrified at the thought, "or worse?”

“I assume he will try, yes..." Corvan winced against the pain as he tried to sit up. "I am putting events in motion to ensure this will meet with failure on all accounts. My cure is being synthesized on my ship as we speak. With your approval, I would like to have my team establish a research and medical base here on your planet to hasten the process cure and inoculation.” Corvan smiled weakly, tapping an implant on his head, awaiting my response.

“I do not know what to say, Doctor. I would have never guessed that an outsider, let alone a Charian, would ever help my people this way. I will, of course, approve this request.” I smiled as I helped Dr. Corvan into a sitting position.

“You’re quite right. The thought of someone outside your culture being so invested in it and your people must be quite peculiar to consider. I have become well versed in Saraven history as part of the process to better understand the evolution of Saraven biology and psyche and am well aware of the reason behind your kind's insular nature. I had hoped I would be able to see this line of work through to the end but alas….my….ehhh….rapid decision making skills seem to have provided a barrier against this intention"

A small flap on Corvan's forearm opened and he carefully withdrew a small datastik from the slot, placing it gently on the bedside table.

"All you will require can be obtained within. You will need to relay the instructions to my team, it has been digitally encoded with my signature so they know it comes from..." he trailed off, and his back arched against the pain.

"See your that people survive Chancellor, utmost impor..." he continued with a snarl. His eyes locked wildly on mine for a moment and the sense of his panic washed over me. He held my eyes for only a moment before he slumped back against the cushions. A high pitched mechanical alarm began ringing from the medical apparatus he was connected to, and I was bustled out of his room by his attendants. But I made sure to take the datastik as I left.

I returned the following day but learned that the medical staff were unable to revive him this time and that he had passed away during the night.

I said my farewell to the enigmatic scientist and had our colony hold a special memorial in his honor, the first of its kind not to honor someone other than a fallen Saraven warrior or official. I was to officiate the event personally. The cure he had left behind as his legacy was proving very promising in its early stages and spirits in the colony ran high. My husband and newly cured daughter stood behind me as I gave my speech to the gathered crowd.

“We stand here today in solemnity and grief for our fallen friend, Dr. Anelius Corvan. Many of you did not know him personally, but I did. He was blessed with a mental alacrity and selflessness that we can but dream of. What some did not know was how much he truly cared for other peoples. This is something rare in the Concordium today. It’s commonplace for some to stick to their own people and practices, never caring for those different than themselves….Dr. Corvan was unique in this regard.” I looked up to see the members of my colony beginning to cheer. My head feathers perked up in happiness at this.

“He knew what risks he was taking trying to help our people and he did so regardless. He knew if he failed it meant the probable downfall of our race. His personal sacrifice in saving my own life shows how much he cared for the Saraven people. His cure and generosity in establishing a research facility here will ensure that not only our colony, but all Saraven are safe from this disease."

I could feel tears streaming down my beak. My husband came closer as we connected psychically. My daughter embraced me as well. The crowd cheered and we laid Dr. Corvan to rest among the heroes of our colony.

"May Hadjara keep you, my friend,” I added quietly. To think that a Charian would ever be honored by an entire Saraven colony was at one time unthinkable and yet here I was overseeing just that.

As I left the podium, I held my family protectively under my wings and I began to think about what was still to come. What I said about all Saraven being safe was not entirely true, but only a small group knew of the remaining danger. Corvan had secured the future of this colony, but thousands of others were still in jeopardy. I narrowed my eyes and set my thoughts to what must still be done.

Now, the hunt for Serrano could begin.

---

A few nights later, Serrano made his way hastily towards the meeting point. He'd found an unnamed buyer for the virus and was salivating at the opportunity to make a deal.

"Those fools at the colony will not stop my efforts so easily. I'm sure this benefactor will utilize this disease to its utmost potential. " Serrano stopped his journey suddenly when one of his implants picked up noise coming from behind him. He shakily turned around to confront the danger.

"Who is there? Present yourself! I am armed! I will use deadly force if necessary!" He scanned the alleyway around him to find a some trash blowing around in the wind. Serrano let out a sigh of relief and continued onward.

He arrived at the meeting point with the virus in a vial housed in a silver and black suitcase. Most of his guards had been imprisoned upon his hasty escape for Aurok's colony. The one's left quickly left his employ soon after. He was truly alone now and grew more and more paranoid each day.

Serrano placed the suitcase at the designated drop area. Two large Ursian bodyguards came from the next street over and one bent down to pick it up.

"I would hope my payment is ready?" Serrano said in a monotone voice, hoping to conceal how nervous he was. He nudged the case back with a foot, preventing the Ursian from taking it.

"This is a highly volatile virus and one that was of the utmost difficulty to acquire." Serrano was shaking and sweating profusely as he looked toward the two guards. They scoffed before throwing over his payment. Serrano moved his foot away as he caught the parcel, glancing inside with a nod as the Ursians retrieved their prize.

Serrano hurried back to the junk ship he'd managed to steal after escaping the Saraven colony. As he walked, a large shadow appeared overhead and he virtually leapt into a darkened doorway. Cautiously, he looked up, and saw a cloud had briefly obscured one of the two moons which illuminated the night of this planet. Letting out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding, he once more emerged, turned up his collar and hurried onward to his ship.

by Zachary Mathiot