Volar's Story - part 03 Volar found his teacher sitting behind his ornately gilded desk. That desk seemed entirely appropriate in this office. They were, like the rest of the hospital, constructed in the classical style. The exacting nature of the hospital's design and maintenance created a pronounced feeling of concern and attention to details. Exactly the reassurance injured people need. Volar's musings ended when Rechat spoke: "Volar, you were classified "gifted" by your instructors in med school. There are only four men and women with this employment classification on Lazavelt. Since then you have received the best possible education by the best teachers. But as you will remember, this comes with a special responsibility: you must use your knowledge and skills to the benefit of society. Great things are expected of you and the others." Volar thought to himself "Hmm. I know all this. Why is he telling me again? I don't think I did anything wrong. Why the practiced speech?" Rechat continued: The other part of the contract states that you must do as I order. This is mostly for efficiency in training, but there are other reasons as well". He handed Volar a very old hand held computer and finished with: "I am now giving you an order. You will take my private hovercraft and drive to the spot designated on this datapad. When you get there, you will ask who is in charge and you will tell him you come from Rechat the Healer. You will then do what this man tells you to do for as long as he tells you to do it. Your instruction with me is over. Speak to no one of this. You will go directly there. You will go now. Good bye, Volar." Rechat then turned his chair around and looked out the windows. This was his usual signal for the end of a discussion. Volar looked dumbfoundedly at the old hand held computer, and again at the back of Rechat's chair... Not knowing what to say, he left the office, walked past the fountain down to the vehicle garage, climbed into the old man's personal hovercraft, and drove out of the city towards the mountains where the datapad indicated he was to go. Rechat's vehicle was completely filled with medical supplies. The smell of the vintage vehicle combined with the smell of new packaging. Volar did not look at them. He didn't need to - he knew all the packages and markings by heart. He didn't stop at his apartment. There was nothing important to him there as he was not a collector of 'things'. He didn't look back at the hospital, so he didn't see his teacher watching him go, or his teacher's tears. He didn't hear the old man's prayer: "Creator-Sustainor, Please watch over him. Please watch over us all. Please grant us life and the strength to keep it." Volar stopped ten tsan outside the city. After the hovercraft had settled to the ground he stepped out. Looking ahead, he saw the pale gray road - empty as far as the eye could see - but then, roads on Lazavelt usually were. Looking around, he saw the mountains, trees, some small critter or another darting from bush to bush, and the city. Having lived and worked in Humana City for the last two years, he knew every building and park. Above the city, a scramjet was flying up into the sky. It would be at it's destination, wherever that was on the planet, within thirty tipas. The sounds of the city could not be heard this far away. Outside looking in, he needed to sort out his feelings. He felt...banished. He didn't know where he was going and he didn't know why. He only knew he must do as he was directed. Perhaps he should not have taken Rechat's order so literally. Perhaps he should have given his parents a call. Looking up at the sky, which the Holy Writings told him was the throne of the Creator-Sustainor, he said aloud " I know You know where I am going. That will have to be good enough." Volar climbed back into the vehicle. While he waited the stipa it took for the air cushion to form underneath, he took another look at the map on the old hand held computer. Just how old was this thing, anyway? Setting it on the worn seat beside him, he drove on. He arrived at the foothills of the mountains ninety five tipas later, just as the sun was starting to set. He drove on. He followed the map as best he could, but it was difficult to find land marks in the dark. He found himself off the road in a valley with steep walls looking at another parked hovercraft. He shut down his vehicle. After it settled to the ground, he stepped out and looked around. The trees were so thick he could not see the stars. Without the hovercraft's built in inertial locator he would have been completely lost. Out of the darkness, up above him somewhere a voice called out "That's close enough. Climb. You're supposed to be up here!" After closing the hovercraft, Volar looked up and said "Up, where? I can't see anything." A small blue light blinked three times and the voice replied "There is a trail about thirty paces to your right". After stumbling around in the dark for a stipa or two, Volar's eyes adjusted to the darkness enough so he could see the trail. Up he climbed. After a hundred paces or so, he came into a clearing. There were a dozen vehicles all parked amongst the trees and a man at the top who told him "Between the two trucks there is a trail. Follow it for two hundred paces. There will be a cave on your left. That is where the others are gathering." Just then a third truck came around the rocks, it's safety light illuminating the impromptu parking lot (and blinding Volar again ). Its inducted fans had to be powerful because Volar could feel the wind of it while it was still a hundred paces away. It rode low, so it was heavily loaded. Volar stepped between the two parked trucks and listened as the newly arrived hovertruck was directed to a place beneath some trees. When it settled to the ground and the whine of it's inducted fan ceased, two men stepped out. Obviously father and son, the elder said " I am Nan the Machinist, headsman of the Evets family." As a dozen more men and women climbed out of the truck and gathered around the elder he continued formally "We have received the warning. We come to serve. I and my family with me. The rest of us and our friends will arrive within four littims. They are bringing the rest of our equipment. What does the council require of us?" Realizing he was speaking with a man used to respect, the guide answered "Sir, you and your family complete the number we have been waiting for. For now, it is asked only that you follow me to the assembly place." Turning to the other guide he said "Khofu, continue as I have shown you." The first guide then led Nan the Machinist, his family, and Volar to the cave while the second guide waited for more arrivals. The cave had smooth walls and was wide enough to drive a hovercar into. It wound first right, then left at almost right angles. After fifty paces or so it opened into a large cavern. There was a crowd gathered around a man sitting on a rock. There was one photoelectric lantern set to the side. People were talking quietly among themselves when the guide walked up to the man sitting on the rock and said "Over a hundred are gathered." The Man sitting on the rock looked up from his very old datapad and said "Stand up and listen. You will now be told why you are here." After everyone had stood, He spoke: "Five hundred and nineteen years ago, our ancestors landed on this world after two hundred years of space flight to escape a war with aliens known only as the Shifters. They landed here because their reactors were spent, they had no more supplies, and this place offered both sustenance and protection. Years later, as the last of the colonists crossed over, he wrote a warning. Although it appeared we had escaped the Shifters, that we must still watch and be ready if they came to our new home. For five hundred years the watchers have watched. Now there is a starship in orbit above Lazavelt. I do not know if, after all this time, the Shifters have found us. Since there was a man with them, I do not think so. Let us call them - unknown. But I do know the people have voted an emergency. They have declared that precautions must be taken. We are one of those precautions. A Council of War was held in Second City. Their orders are that an army should be formed. That hidden storage facilities sealed for centuries should be opened. That strong men and women should be gathered into military commands. That leaders should be appointed to train and lead the army. I have the orders here for any wishing to confirm what I have said." He held up the old datapad, and indeed, several men stepped up and read it for themselves. While they did so, the man next to Volar mumbled out loud " A Council of War? What am I doing here? I'm not a soldier. I'm a painter." The woman next to him said "I am only a sculptor." An older man said "I am a macroengineer. But the Council has summoned me. I will fulfill my responsibility. I will serve as the Council directs." The mumbling continued for another five tipas until the men had read the orders for themselves. When they returned to the crowd, the man with the datapad asked "Is there anyone who has doubts about the authority which has been presented to you." When no one answered, he finished his speech with "Then, I am Redel the Dancer, and I assume command of everyone here. We are designated the third company. We will all carry out the orders assigned to us." With that, Redel the Dancer dropped to one knee. The entire company followed suit. Redel, looked up, and prayed aloud "Creator-Sustainor, we know that all life comes from you. We know that all knowledge comes from you. Please grant us life and the strength to keep it. And please grant me the ability to lead." Redel the Dancer stood. Once everyone was standing, He said to the crowd "My first order is for all of you to sleep. At first light we organize and begin a rigorous program of physical exercise." Sharing a smirk with the man who was the guide, Redel added "And, of course, you will all have to learn to dance." Source: Mark Nielipinski These pages are in no way endorsed or sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd or West End Games. ®, TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL). All rights reserved. Trademarks of LFL used by West End Games under authorization.