After boarding and completing the screening process, Ohre’Na walks down a corridor toward the entrance that knowingly, she was not coming out of. The transition through screening left her nothing more than a thin white gown as a covering, along with a blue pill in a small chest pocket, which is to be taken once instructed.
Her athletic bipedal Feline features and graceful movement typify the physical characteristics of a young adult Torgehn female.
Being keenly cognisant of the surprise induced in those passing by, she responds in kind to the respectful bowed heads, since Torgah are highly regarded for their astute insight and wisdom, even at a relatively young age and it was not common for a Torgehn to be see in bodily form outside their home world of Urehn Dek.
How she came to be here is difficult to rationalise, only that a gossamer thread pierced her heart and drew her from a distant segment of the galaxy, concluding on the other side of the approaching doorway.
Aware of the plight on the planet currently orbited, she understood that her Soul would soon become an intrinsic part of its unfolding destiny.
Passing through a scanning field as she reaches the entry, it confirms Ohre’Na’s identity before opening and allowing admission, then closing behind, once she enters the moderately crowded holding chamber.
“No turning back.”, is the sensation that subtly bursts from within, having now come to the end of her mystical navigation aid.
The entire facility is lined with a semi-reflective, mostly homogeneous metallic material. There are no furnishings of any kind, apart from a boxed section along the entire perimeter, incorporated into the walls and floor. Small openings in the vertical face indicate a venting network of sorts and given the suitable proportions, the ductwork functions as seating for some of those present.
Observing the attendees, it seems as though a multi-racial gathering is underway, owing to sentient life-forms from across the galaxy and beyond represented. Most recognisable, a few not.
Then, as her eyes continue scanning, they fall upon a familiar form, one that was not expected in this place. A form, that like her own, is rarely found outside the fourth planet of the Urehn system.
The Torgehn male is seated on the peripheral formwork, across to the left side of the entry. Patiently waiting, yet watching those arriving, with only a barely perceptible change of expression as Ohre’Na establishes a visual connection.
Memories of her late grandfather wash over her like a wave, whilst making way toward a familiar presence. His large gleaming sapphire-blue eyes, similar to her own, help in promoting feels of ease amongst the tense apprehensiveness of the room.
“Greetings Shah.”, she offers. Shah, being a respectful term for elder males of their race.
“Well met young one.”, the old Torgehn replies. With a depth of calm intent in his voice, that gestures to the many long years of wisdom gained. Even for a Torgehn, his age is noteworthy, but far from frail is the physique and demeanour exhibited. As the muscular frame of a Feline male in his prime is still enduring.
“It seems you and I find ourselves far from home, young siekha.”, he continues.
Expressing an endearing smile, impressions of Ohre’Na’s grandfather become more vivid, as, “young siekha”, is how he often referred to her.
“It is an age since I was last called siekha, Shah.”
“Given my protracted life, you are still young enough for me to call you siekha.
I am Ghen and like you, find myself in this place, at this time.”
“Ohre’Na is my name. Protracted life or not, I am pleased to find you here.”
“Come, sit by me young siekha. This waiting would be better filled with some pleasant company.”
“Thank you, Shah Ghen.”
Ohre’Na sits, leaning against the wall behind her. Feeling somewhat relieved that the journey to this point was over.
“Have you been aboard long?”, Ghen inquires.
“I have not yet seen a full day of this world’s cycle and you?”
“Ah, several I have witnessed and they have proven quite intriguing.
Indeed, just the day past, a strange occurrence arose about the ship.”
“In what manner?”
“A few days prior, a Kah Duhran by the name of Ardath was invited to board, along with many other prominent members of various races. However, I am unable to discern the nature and purpose of their visit.
Then, the day gone past, a rather unusual presence surrounded this vessel. It was as though the history of a billion lifetimes opened wide a hole in space and enveloped the entire craft within itself.
Truly peculiar experience.”
“Perhaps this is reason for the Kah Duhran’s attendance?”
“Yes, I sense a correlation.”
Meanwhile, the entry doorway at the far side of the enclosure opens once again, giving way to a curious and very large creature. It appears somewhat Human, apart from a covering of sizeable calloused growths that have an approximate resemblance to plate armour. At least, this is inferred from the arms and legs, which are not concealed by the uniformly prescribed gown.
“I am not familiar with this race.”, comments Ohre’Na, upon observing its appearance.
“Nor I.”, the old Torgehn responds.
They both watch, as it strolls up to a group of Rengeth, then pokes one in the arm saying,
“Taarak stand here now.”, in a heavy gruff voice.
As the Rengethi stumbles sideways from the force of the push, this, “Taarak”, steps forward onto the spot vacated and simply stands there. Blasting his nostrils, whilst scrunching his face.
The shorter and slender Rengethi, clearly displeased by the rude incursion, chooses to not escalate and moves off with the rest of his group, over to the other side of the premises.
Ohre’Na, noting the ample free space to stand elsewhere, expected a serious altercation as she watches astonished that the Rengeth uncharacteristically walk away without reprisal and Taarak, unmoved from his newly gained territory, blasts his nostrils, whilst scrunching his face.
A gentle smile, accompanying a lightened mood is the reaction to Taarak’s goofy manner. But after pondering a short while, concerns begin to arise.
“Shah Ghen, why would such a creature have come to be here? Has it lost its way? This seems not the situation for it.”
“Hmm, at times a facade may misrepresent the underlying substance, in favour for, or against. I suspect there is more being obscured.
One moment! Are you able to detect that siekha? The craft is moving toward closer proximity to the planet.”
“Yes.”
“It must soon be time.”
A disquiet percolates within the two Torgehn and once noticing this about themselves, glance around the room to gauge similar sentiment among the rest of their companions.
Ohre’Na spots Taarak leaving his occupied territory, headed in the direction a female D’Jogar, standing in an apparent meditative state, not too far from herself. D’Jogar, are easily identifiable due to the elongate cranial structure. This results in acute analytical abilities, as a consequence of their skulls capacity to house a larger brain.
As the oversized creature comes to a stop behind the D’Jogarri, he inspects her hairless ovoidal head, which reaches the level of his chin, then begins rubbing the top of it in a back and forth screwing motion with the tips of his plump fingers.
Stunned, the D’Jogar whips around to confront the disruption, only to be stunned once more from being looked down upon by a monstrous beast.
After composing herself, the two are left to stare at one other for several moments, when suddenly, Taarak blasts his nostrils, whilst scrunching his face.
Initially perplexed, the D’Jogarren female soon offers a reluctant grin, tapping the impertinent brute on the chest, then continues on with her meditation.
Chuckles emanate from a number of points around the room, as Ohre’Na observes the crowd watching the unfolding antics. Others simply appear more at ease by the unexpected capricious actions from this enormous oddity.
Looking back to Taarak, she finds an intense gaze directed at her. His eyes piercing hers, feeling as if peering into a deep chasm, being drawn inside a well that opens out to a vast overflowing void of emptiness. Perceptions of her present environment fading, the surrounding chatter, falling silent.
She pulls away abruptly, when the sense of getting lost in the irresistible nothingness almost consumes her very essence.
“Is everything satisfactory, siekha?”, enquires Ghen.
“I’m unsure… Yes, I’m fine.”, shaking her head.
The movement of the ship ceases, then an overwhelming sensation alerts to the occasion that has drawn them all here. Prompting attention toward the small blue pill, which each occupant has within the chest pocket of their minimal attire.
“Well my dear Ohre’Na, our time was short, but I bid your Soul a rewarding journey.”
“As I do yours, Shah Ghen.”
Ohre’Na probes the gown pocket, removing the capsule of her finality. Holding it in hand, gazing at it, as thoughts of her life, her family, her friends all come flooding back. The physical heaviness of heart is a feeling that is unfamiliar, even though the earnest sadness and longing are not.
“Do I want to do this…?
Can I leave…?
Should I go back the way I came…?”
A commotion in front distracts from her thoughts, she sees Taarak struggling to recover the blue pill from the pocket of his garment, thick fingers proving cumbersome.
The D’Jogarri turns and also witnesses the difficulty, so reaches in to retrieve it herself and places it in the agitated creature’s hand. Taarak blasts his nostrils, whilst scrunching his face. Then bringing hand to his mouth, sucks down the pelletised potion.
Gratitude illuminates his stout face, as a response to the helpfulness delivered by a gracious stranger, which only moments earlier he rudely disrupted with his mischievous behaviour. Following an acknowledging smile, Taarak seats himself on the floor and after a few deep breaths, lifelessly slumps forward.
While ingesting her pill, the D’Jogarren decides to spend the last repose with a new friend and sits behind the body of this obnoxious annoyance, her back against his. Soon after, head dropping to her chest, signifying the final outcome of mortality.
Turning to look left, Ohre’Na sees Ghen, motionless, propped up by the wall, head to one side.
Surveying the rest of the premises, a silent stillness remains. Her own breathing and heartbeat, being all she can detect.
Leaning back, placing the cap in her mouth, she swallows and closes her eyes. With little time to ponder, the mass of her body becomes significantly more pronounced, when suddenly, a release. Which then gives way to an unbound weightlessness.
The perception of what Ohre’Na was, drifts off down a tunnel, fading into memory. Leaving a formless Awareness witnessing the inanimate shell with detachment. An irresistible vacuum from the desperate planet below, draws the Awareness deeply within its Etheric Field, like nourishment to a starving life-form, in an attempt to revive much depleted vigour.
So with no further life signs detected, a powerful energetic pulse is emitted into the enclosure, atomising all biological material. The venting system quickly evacuates the internal atmosphere out into space, before replenishing it again.
The facility is now clean and ready to be utilised, once more.
