#sothera

Sorry to ask you this, but do you think it would be possible to re-run a previous poll? This time, maybe breaking up the answers a bit more?

"Would you let a supernatural being feed on you if it meant you would get physically stronger and have greater endurance each time you survived it?"

Yes - Male

No - Male

Yes - Female

No - Female

“…So, these ‘Meltstriders’ actually draw power from their wanderlust. Interesting…”

Tezzeret sat in the captain’s chair, brooding aloud while reading a data log. Meanwhile, his first mate Mm’menon floated by, pausing only long enough to deposit another log on the desk beside their captain.

“Yes,” chimed the jellyfish-shaped alien. “The Eumidians are far from the only examples of this, and their molting empowers them also. But, yes. It is a most curious phenomenon. I brought you another log, in case you wanted to see more historical examples.”

Almost too quickly, Tezzeret closed his current reading and set it down atop the new material. “No. I need only know enough to analyze them as potential threats or temporary allies. Anything more is a waste of time.”

Mm’menon paused, still hovering just above the floor. They reversed, now looming over their captain, and asked, “Is it?”

“Yes. These histories and notable figures are of no use to me or my goals.”

“True. However…” Mm’menon tensed. “Perhaps it is not my place to say, Captain, but-”

“You’re right. It is not.”

“…I am a native to this system. Therefore, these things are familiar to me. Mundane, even. But you are not from here.”

Tezzeret’s tone grew impatient. “Your point?”

“This system, these people, and their ways are all new information for you. Yet…do you not have even a small curiosity for them?”

Tezzeret pondered this in silence for several long moments. His answer, however, was very simple:

“No.”

Mm’menon seemed to want to continue, but quickly thought better of it. They bowed their head and sighed, “That is your prerogative, Captain. However, the second log is still at your side. You may peruse it - or not - at your leisure.”

“Thank you, Mm’menon,” Tezzeret droned. “Is that all?”

“Yes.” The first mate drifted off, leaving Tezzeret to ruminate alone.

“Empowered by wanderlust. Hmph. I’ve heard of faith having power. Never this.” Tezzeret’s gaze drifted to the second log. “Preposterous…”

Billions of years ago, Sothera gave birth to five children. Five worlds to stay warm by her hearth. Today, they are Susur Secundi (formerly Anuki), Adagia (formerly Adawa), Kavaron, Evendo, and giant Uthros.

(There are other children, too, many of them strange. But I will steer you away from them for now.)

Not quite as many billions of years later, Kavaron gave birth to grandchildren: the Kav.

And, as children do, the Kav broke their mothers' hearts."

Can we talk about how hard and beautiful this line is as an introduction? Sothera, sun-mother, interstellar goddess, grandmother to all? A woman so powerful her death forms a black hole, a literal super void, an all consuming presence that shines bright and burns out spectacularly. How magnificent.

“Mm’menon. Bring me all the references you have on Sothera.”

Tezzeret’s Illvoi first mate slithered into view behind him. Despite the jellyfish’s clinical tone, they still managed to convey their annoyance when speaking: “Captain, my databanks contain over five million files pertaining to the Sothera system.”

“Then give me the…fifty most important.”

“Impossible to calculate.” Mm’menon paused, then corrected themself. “In any timeframe that would keep the files relevant.”

“Why? You have them right there in your brain.”

The translucent matter in Mm’menon’s cranium glowed brighter as they replied, “Supplying the information is not the problem. Sorting it is. The data contains so many cross-references, that importance is all but subjective.”

“State secrets, conspiracies, lists of prominent figures. I just want relevant information.”

“Relevant to what?” Mm’menon’s tone grew even icier.

“I have no patience for your-”

“You continuously remain reticent regarding your intentions. I cannot read your mind. Therefore, I cannot predict what is important to you. Therefore, I cannot help.”

Tezzeret’s mouth set in a thin line. “Bring me…any information this plane would provide to an omenpath traveler. Assume I know nothing about the system.”

“Right away.” Relieved at finally receiving some proper direction, Mm’menon eagerly pulled a strand of pale light from their head and channeled it into a nearby terminal. The screen flickered to life, whereupon Tezzeret began to read aloud.

“‘The Universe and You: A Pinnacle First - Contact Primer’…Mm’menon, this is a tourist brochure.”

“Perfect for someone completely unacquainted with the system.”

“You little…” Tezzeret collected himself. “I suppose it’s a start…Thank you.”

“Shall I also provide an accoutrement of a floral print, button-down shirt?”

Finally, Tezzeret cracked a small smile. “I certainly feel like a tourist,” he grumbled, as he scrolled past an image of a lush, diverse planet with the stylized caption “Mana Confluence.”

“…And they saved me! Got me back to my severed umbilical and magicked it back onto my suit!”

In the mess hall, a loose gathering of Sunstar squires all murmured skeptically among themselves at their friend’s story. The storyteller scoffed at this and questioned the crowd:

“What?”

“I don’t know, Pearce,” shrugged one of the other squires. “I hear angels don’t typically intervene like that.”

A second trainee nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Like Captain Slats? He’ll tell you when and where you’re going to die, but won’t lift a finger to save you. I think it’s just an Astelli thing.”

“Yeah, how do we know you aren’t just making this up?” asked a third.

Pearce stared at his friends. “Why would I lie? I don’t know how to prove it, but it’s true.”

“Ok, fine. What did they look like?”

“Easy. They had fiery orange wings and an atom halo. And…Oh yeah! And they were wearing this slinky red cocktail dress…Why are you laughing?”

The crowd’s semi-serious attitude had quickly broken down into fitful laughter. “All right, now we know you’re making it up!”

“Wait, what? Why?” Pearce stammered obliviously at his friends, unsure how they had reached that conclusion.

—

“You have to save him!”

“I do not.”

“But…will you?”

The winged Astelli paused their dance routine to better argue with their partner, a human singer standing beside them onstage. “Unlike my siblings who have thrown in with Sunstar, I hold no stake in their conflict with the Monoists. What chaos might I invite by offering aid to one side?”

“Well…” The singer grimaced at the spacesuited stranger hurtling past the lounge window. “Right now, I just see someone in danger. And there’s no Monoists around to protest. Just. Do it for me? Please?”

“…Fine.” The angelic figure walked toward the airlock with a decided lack of grace. “We’re still finishing the set after I bring him in.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other wayyy!” the human sang, as his partner angrily slammed the airlock door shut.