Feather Fallacy VI

Chancellor Aurok stood with immense anticipation as Synapse made its way to the landing pad adjacent to her primary office. She almost shook with excitement over finally being able to meet Dr. Corvan and his research team so they could begin finding a cure. This could be our salvation, Alestra! Hadjara, bless us.

“Greetings. I am Dr. Anelius Corvan of the Charian Preservation Committee. You are Chancellor Aurok, correct? ” said Dr. Corvan, his fading blue and yellow implants taking Aurok’s attention elsewhere.

“Ummm…yes of course! Pleased to meet you Dr. Corvan. We have our medical staff ready to work with you as soon as possible and our medical facility is ready and awaiting your arriv...” Aurok was instantly interrupted by Dr. Corvan.

“That will not be necessary. I have brought my best and brightest along for this scientific endeavor and we have the necessary equipment aboard our research vessel, the Synapse." replied Corvan in a straightforward tone.

This caught Aurok off guard but she instantly threw her surprise and irritation out of her mind as she began showing the doctor and his team around her colony.

I hope that this will not turn into some scientific mishap or experiment meant to collect data and nothing more. Please allow this man to cure your children, Hadjara.

In the following days Aurok showed Dr. Corvan around the settlement. Her final stop on her tour was the infirmary.

“We will begin our examinations and diagnoses today, Chancellor.” Dr. Corvan was scanning the room with a puzzled look on his face. He was deep in thought before being interrupted by Aurok. His psionic blocking implants had come in handy as he felt Aurok attempt to read him. Corvan wanted to be sure he kept his thoughts in check and to himself.

“Ye...yes that is fine, Dr. Corvan. If you need to speak with me you can use our communication screens located here. I will leave you to your work.” As Aurok made her way out of the facility she stopped at an incubation chamber. She laid a taloned hand on the glass and peered in on Alestra mournfully.

“Hello, Alestra. The long-faced ones are here to make you better.” Speaking through the communication channel set up between the inside and outside of the chamber didn’t seem like it was enough. Aurok had been watching her own offspring’s health deteriorate before her own eyes without being able to do a thing.

“I…I’m so happy you’re here, mother! Will the doctor make me better? I do miss my pretty feathers!” said Alestra in a quiet and raspy tone while lifting a bare wing weakly. I hope Dr. Corvan will be able to figure this out quick. I don’t know how much longer my poor Alestra has to live. Hadjara, be with her.

A few days passed before Dr. Corvan made any report to Aurok on his findings. He informed Aurok that the disease was indeed viral and he had seen something similar to it on a prior expedition.

“It would seem that this affliction is molecularly similar to one I witnessed on my expedition to planet designation DX-9876. My team and I are compiling our data currently.” Aurok was filled with happiness but was still worried as she saw the doctor inputting data into his datapad. Does he care not for my species? Is he always going to be compiling data?

“This is wonderful news, Dr. Corvan, but can you cure my people? My daughter?” Aurok’s neck feathers tensed in anticipation of the answer to this dire question.

“I am unsure as of now, Chancellor. We will do what we can but I make no promise that this will be a simple diagnosis and cure. I am a man of science and science takes precise timing and effort.” Anelius stared out into the infirmary at the afflicted Saraven. Serrano appeared near him. His implants began to dim at the thought of losing yet another species.

“Sir, I believe your implants are dimming due to emotional brain stimuli. We may be able to save this race, but we must think of the other outcomes as well. The statistics would dictate a 47% chance of survival unless we….” Serrano studied his mentor as Corvan introduced him.

“Ah yes, this is my assistant who will be helping me in this endeavor. He’s an expert in xenomolecular biology. He also specializes in mathematics and likes to make brash comments without thought at times. Thank you for your observation, Serrano.” Corvan smiled and motioned for his assistant to leave the room.

“I see…..a pleasure to meet you, Serrano.” Aurok stuttered, feeling uneasy . She made a simple read and failed. They all have psionic blocking implants….why?

Serrano nodded in acknowledgement before turning towards Corvan with a dirty look on his face. Aurok was visibly upset over how they’d both hastily described their current situation with the disease. The feathers on the back of her neck raised in anger before she spoke.

“I know that your race is not accustomed to much in the way of emotion, but please be careful with your words here. Children and elderly are present who may be alarmed by things you just said. We must give them hope! Hadjara, save us.” Aurok hastily pushed the doctor and his assistant Serrano aside and exited the building.

Dr. Corvan and Serrano looked on in astonishment as Aurok took to the skies.

“That was not how I would have handled that situation, sir.” Serrano scowled at his superior before walking away himself.

“I meant no harm with my words, but we’re both to blame here, Serrano." Corvan intoned at the retreating back of his assistant.

"It would seem they are much more emotive than our studies had shown. We must exercise caution in the future when giving an analysis. Hopefully she will understand.” Anelius mused to himself before throwing it out of mind and returning inside to work.

Aurok sailed through the sky. She needed to remove herself from the situation. She flew for nearly two hours thinking about her current situation. That damn Charian infuriates me to no end! He cares only for scientific discovery! I only brought him here as a last ditch effort to save my people. Hadjara, illuminate and calm me.

As she flew over her settlement, she had an epiphany. I may have been too quick to judge him. My anger sprung from fear of losing Alestra more than losing my people. I can’t allow myself to be clouded with selfish desires. The salvation of my colony ….

The torrid thoughts of the chancellor were abruptly ended by blaster shots hitting her abdomen. She fell from the sky slamming into the ground on her back.

Nerruk…ARGGH! Summon the guards! I’m being attacked 4 miles west of the infirmary near the Doctor’s ship! This thought was instantly felt by Nerruk, who responded with intense emotions of fear and anger as he gathered his best guardsmen and headed out towards his injured wife.

Dr. Corvan rode along with them to Aurok. He was horrified at what he saw. Serrano was surrounded by 4 brigands of some sort who had weapons pointed at Aurok. They looked to be in trouble, so Corvan moved in to investigate.

“Serrano, stay calm. Why are these men here?” Corvan scanned the area and realized the men were not aiming at Serrano. “Are you working with them? To what end? She must survive here! Her safety is of the utmost importance!”

“No! I’m afraid I can’t let you save this one, Corvan. We need the healthy body of a maternal avian to help incubate the disease.” Dr. Corvan was both enraged and horrified at this.

“An incubator? That indicates an intention to take this disease off-world…You’re mad, Serrano! You can’t go through with something like this!” Corvan looked behind his assistant to see Aurok on the ground in massive pain.

“I have to say that your quick reasoning is one of the only things I valued while studying under you. It taught me to take risks and evaluate the costs for my own personal gain. This disease would give us immeasurable power over the Saraven! Imagine what…AHH!” Serrano was knocked back by an unseen psionic force as Aurok lay glaring up at him. Taking the initiative, her guards moved in to subdue Serrano’s men.

“Leave him out of this, Serrano! Take me now and leave them alone!” Aurok was in horrible pain at the blaster wound inflicted upon her and further use of her powers was now being actively blocked. She then saw Serrano walk toward her and raise his weapon at her.

“It would seem that this host is being very uncooperative. We can find others. Time to dispose of this one. No need for loose ends. "Serrano responded coldly as he fired. Miraculously, Corvan dove in the way taking the blast head on. He fell to the ground writhing in pain. Nerruk saw his opportunity and leaped at Serrano, bodily knocking him to the ground with the full force of his bulk.

“Why, Corvan? You could have let me die and no one would have gotten hurt.” Aurok was dumbfounded by the events that had just unfolded in front of her.

“I…errghh….had to inform you of something most pertinent to our situation. Your death would hinder this. I just had a breakthrough. The cure is synthesizing at my lab...”

(by Zachary Mathiot)