C’Lar waited at the Vale of the Imperium, and when her name was announced she stepped through the mist and into the center of the Glade. Ten meters ahead, and positioned around the Hirst, stood the highest of High and holiest of Holy. She was but a middling scientist and, with much effort, settled her trembling physicality and sense of inferiority.
She could hear the High and Holy but could not distinguish their words. Their timbre surprised her. Voices spoke over one another, palms raised and slammed down, and she grew alarmed at a loud snap that accompanied a swiping motion from one Prelate. Their argument continued far longer than expected, long enough for her to consider the fallacies of their teachings. The Imperium are not always stoic and observant of the Virtues: Patience, Support, Respect and Trust. Instead, they reminded her of her own dishonorable incidents.
A sudden and extended silence intruded upon her unspoken admonitions. A palm reached out and motioned C’Lar into the circle of light. Her steps were careful, and she held fast to her color to ensure no sight or sound of her own making would disturb the High and Holy.
“Report,” said one on the right.
“Your benevolence is greatly rewarding,” she began to bow but was interrupted by a pulsating susurration.
“Please dispense with the obligatory. We need only the explanation of your findings.” Again, this from one on the right, whose bright orange coloring confirmed him as Speaker Tempore.
C’Lar wanted to clear her throat but thought better of it. She simply swallowed the pitch that had risen, and began again.
“The inhabitants of a planet 4.25 light years away appear to maintain similarities to our source heritage. It is advisable to study these similarities. But, their planet is expiring and it is imperative that we launch expedition and rescue missions.”
Grumbles rose and fell amidst the High and Holy.
“You recommend rescuing foreign scions,” said the Speaker.
“Yes," C'Lar said. "Our wanderings have increased the complexities of our biologies to the point of entropy, and our collective divergences require close study to confirm equalities exist between us.”
There was a loud “harrumph” from the left.
“Resolute,” Speaker Tempore said, turning towards the High and Holy who had vocalized the objection, “please identify your conjecture.”
“I have analyzed the observations obtained by our flybys,” said Resolute with a rustle of yellow. “These creatures are rough, shaggy, and inopportune. They are beneath us, and deserve nothing more than our ignorance.”
As soon as Resolute had finished speaking, several others harrumphed and rustled their colors. Speaker Tempore looked at those who objected to Resolute’s words and offered an open palm to one with the highest standing among them.
“Earnest,” he said, “please advise us.”
The reddish-brown of his Holiness turned to the occupant in the circle of light and gave a slight nod.
“Appreciation for your attendance, C’Lar. I recommend you be excused as we ponder your request.” As Earnest spoke, several others tapped in agreement. The sound was soft, like a whisper of leaves in the wind.
Resolute harrumphed again, and did not wait for the Speaker to offer an open palm. “Is it not C'Lar's choice to stay and offer retort or acquiescence to our preponderant deliberations? It is her report to proffer, and her request to defend. This is the law.”
Tapping and grumbles grew across the Hirst. Speaker Tempore slapped a downward facing palm, and the silence was immediate.
“C’Lar,” the Speaker said, "it is your decision to remain or to retire. Regardless, we expect you to satisfy our inquiries.”
C’Lar dipped her head in obeisance, and remained standing in the light. She detected a sardonic smile on the right, and a low rumble on the left.
The Speaker nodded to C’Lar. “Please provide us with justifications.”
C'Lar ignored the challenging rustle of colors from several of the High and Holy.
“We survived the ravages of a decaying sun by star-hopping far from our bygone genesis. We are proud and industrious, and have built a vast topology that spans galaxies. And yet, our evolutionary path has subjected us to degradations that we must expeditiously address. As much as our evolution is deleterious by our wanderings, the evolution of scions on a planet 4.25 light years away is conditioned by their extended and singular residence. More so, they appear to retain certain features that resemble our own anatomy, as well as that of our ancestors.”
In illustration, she swung her head and her arms, and shimmered a rapid kaleidoscope that returned to a vibrant green before shedding could occur.
Rumbles sounded around the Hirst, and several of the High and Holy looked aghast. C'Lar stifled a panic that arose from her unexpected audacity.
"That was courageous," Earnest whispered, the timbre of his voice low and deferential.
Resolute harrumphed. “Courageous? Folly!” he cracked, "and an example of more to come." Taps and rumbles warred again, and Speaker Tempore swatted his palm through the air.
“Thank you for your presentation," the Speaker said, his tone flat and vague. "What is your resolve?”
C’Lar hesitated several moments, to settle herself. “We can support but two expeditions given the exigent of time. The first must be small and fast, and the second much larger and thus slower. Both with sufficient crew to collect and attend to the scions.” She had no time to consider why she refrained from stating the numbers calculated for each mission.
Resolute spoke without forewarning. “The creatures are short-lived. They require constant sustenance and produce voluminous effluents.”
“We will hold them in stasis for the journey home.”
“Stasis? That would require major accommodations to ensure they arrive undamaged.”
C’Lar decided to hold her response, feeling inadequate to articulate scientific discussion amidst Resolute’s interruptions. She looked at the Speaker, who seemed amused as he forewarned Resolute with his palm.
“C’Lar has our attention.”
“Thank you.” This time C’Lar cleared her throat, knowing that the sound might be interpreted as an insult. But she simply wanted to make a point.
"His Highness, Resolute, is correct. At this time, stasis is based on our own biology which may be insufficient to sustain the viability of the scions. Hence, astrobiologists have established a Demonstration that can reach the planet in under one age, to collect and study but nine scions. Survival is the objective but we recognize that viability of the nine is not assured. Therefore, the Demonstration is kept small but sufficient for us to learn what is necessary for the success of the much larger rescue."
"How many are to be rescued?"
C'Lar swallowed pitch again. "824,000," she began, and raised her voice over the loud cracking that arose, "whose full biological survival must be assured so that we may secure our very own."
A quiet regard settled as her last words echoed around the Hirst. The Speaker let out a long sigh.
“Viability of life is our greatest purpose and our greatest reward," he said. He raised a palm to hold the quiet while he pondered his next question. “The Demonstration will be sufficient to determine if their biology is similar enough to our own?”
“That is our theory,” C’Lar said. “Given the variety of species, our final rescue must include the largest quantity and diversity to establish vascular compatibility. And," she added for clarity, ”enough scions for grafting with our entire population."
There was much rustling of colors, and only the faintest of a rumble. The Speaker turned to each High and Holy and received a nod, though Resolute's was barely discernible.
"You have approval," the Speaker said, then motioned for dismissal. C’Lar dipped her head in obeisance and departed the Hirst. She traversed the Glade and beyond the Vale. She did not hear the Speaker comment on how unshorn Resolute had become, nor see the swift chop the Speaker charitably performed on the dead wood hanging low from Resolute's trunk.
All C'Lar knew was that her program was moving forward, and she was determined to bring it to fruition.
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