Moving with haste, Tau ducked into the Oracle's dwelling, thankful to be off the streets. Though the Enforcers did a fair job of keeping Malaki free of crime, they could not prevent everything that occurred in poorer districts.
The streets of the district were dark, but the interior of the Oracle’s dwelling was darker still. Tau blinked as his eyes adjusted and cautiously stepped further into the shadowy room, scanning for a sign of the Oracle. The low ceiling accentuated the oppressive aura of discomfort, lending the room a faint sense of malice. The walls were bare, save for sheets of black silk suspended from clasps mounted at the junction of wall and ceiling. The sheets flowed downward languidly, bunching together at the bottom, so as to hide all corners. As he continued his scan of the walls, he turned and was met with a pair of sharp blue orbs gleaming from the shadow. They struck him still, seemingly studying the depths of his being.
"Looking for someone?" A metallic voice sounded around him, speaking from the walls as not one voice, but many. The voices were cold, unfeeling, as if they did not belong to man, but machine. Tau instinctively glanced around the room, subconsciously searching for an exit. The orbs shifted and moved forward, accompanied by a shuffling sound akin to cloth rustling in the wind. The sound refocused Tau's attention. The merchant once again found himself watched by the blue orbs, only this time they were less than an arm's reach away. The glowing spheres were sheltered behind the menacing visage of a silver mask. The gleaming metal depicted a creature that the merchant did not recognize. It was locked in a grotesque snarl. The calm blue eyes, for Tau suddenly understood what they were, were starkly contrasted against the emotions the mask invoked. He shivered involuntarily, suddenly feeling cold and exposed. "Speak,” the voices commanded, “why have you come?"
Tau stammered, startled by the creature that stood before him. "I, “ he paused and collected his nerve before continuing. “I’m here to have my son read."
The figure studied him for a moment and then gestured silently as a black pedestal slid up in the center of the room. Tau unslung the wrap from his shoulder and placed the child gently on the pedestal.
"Step back," the metallic voices rang.
The creature stepped up to the pedestal, took a silver blade from inside his slate-gray robes and laid it on the baby's chest. The blade shifted and shimmered like smoke, its true shape hard to discern. While Tau was focused on the knife, the figure began to chant slowly, the voices echoing eerily. He spoke in the Old Tongue, the words both mysterious and powerful. The tone of the Oracle’s voice grew in intensity and speed with each passing phrase, the practiced ritual flowing from the still lips of the silver mask like a cascading waterfall, uninterrupted and transfixing.
"Athëli, mayäne, rokum!"
The last word rang with immense power. A strong wind burst from the center of the room, rippling the Oracle’s cloak and the fabric on the walls of the room like the wings of a flock of Starlings fleeing a storm. The blade was glowing now, and Tau could feel the power it emanated humming in his very being. The figure took the blade in his hands, raised it above his head and struck downwards without hesitation.
The keen blade pierced the merchant's son's chest, and the child wailed in shock. Tau had thoughts of stepping toward his son, but the power of what was happening held him in his place. Rather than blood, fire poured from the wound. It swirled around the pedestal and covered the child, obscuring him from Tau's view. His shock turned to curiosity as the masked figure underwent a new transfiguration. The figure's mask melted away, revealing a withered man as old as time itself, the Oracle of Malaki. As Tau studied the man’s face intently, it slowly lost its age and became new and young. After a few tense moments, the man sighed. The transfiguration he had undergone reversed itself in a manner of seconds. His face turned to silver, and became a mask again. The fire receded from around the pedestal, revealing that the blade had disappeared and there was no wound.
Silence fell as the child quieted; one word appeared briefly on the child's forehead and then disappeared.
"Incredible. Your son is among a special few, and the sign that appeared is one that I have never seen before," the Oracle said.
"Special, what do you mean?" Tau asked, overwhelmed by all that had just occurred.
The Oracle disregarded the question and busied himself recording something in a holobook, produced from somewhere within his cloak. As the merchant still stood bewildered, the Oracle ceased his writing, retrieved the child and began to usher Tau towards the door.
"They will come for him in the span of three days. Have a name prepared for him by that time," the Oracle said tersely.
"Wait, what do you mean by special? Who are 'they'?" He frantically asked the Oracle as he was slowly forced out of the hovel.
"If you would, I have more pressing matters to attend to." He placed the child in Tau's arms and abruptly slammed the door.
● ● ●
Three days later, true to the Oracle’s word, Tau and Tahirah were awoken by a harsh pounding on the front door of their apartment. Tau slid out of bed, wrapped himself in a robe and made his way to the door. The door retracted to reveal a squad of four armed Enforcers standing outside in the cold morning air. Clad in onyx and faces hidden behind polarized visors, their appearance unsettled Tau. They all bore the standard of the Emperor, a phoenix gripping a shining silver shield, surrounded by crimson fire. But there was another smaller emblem that struck a chord of dread in Tau’s gut. A golden "A", accompanied by a scroll and a crown adorned their shoulders. These were Academy Enforcers. Before Tau could speak, the first man stepped past him into the living room, the rest of the squad following thereafter.
"It’s time," he said shortly.
The words felt cold and without feeling coming from behind the reflective visor of the soldier. Tau nodded numbly and closed the door behind them. With footsteps of lead, he slipped back into their bedroom. Tahirah was awake now, tending to their son. They had named him Garai shortly after returning from the Oracle.
"This is it?" Tahirah asked Tau, her voice quavering.
Tau averted his eyes from her, lest she see the tears forming. He was her strength. She did not need to see his anguish.
"Yes," he said quietly, practically choking on the solitary word.
He stepped over to the cradle and removed his son from it. With a heavy heart, he returned to the living room where the soldiers waited. The man who had first spoken to Tau stood as he returned.
"Your son. Please."
Tau looked at the man's outstretched arms. It was against his every instinct to give up his son to this stranger. As he hesitated, the man shifted with impatience. Reluctantly, Tau placed Garai in the hands of the soldier. Without giving Tau the time to change his mind, the man turned and began walking to the door. The rest of the squad stood from where they were seated and followed him. Tau was surprised when the last member of the squad hesitated at the door. The soldier turned and deactivated their visor, revealing a young girl hardly more than 19 years of age.
"What is his name?" she asked Tau.
"Garai. His name is Garai," Tau said, the anguish hardly hidden in his voice now.
The girl's face softened as she saw Tau's brokenness. She lingered in the doorway, her emotions torn between the grieving of Tau and her sense of duty. She looked at them, her eyes full of compassion.
"He is in good hands, don't worry."
Then she was gone, the door slowly sliding shut behind her.
As the door sealed Tau returned to his room. Tahirah sat on the edge of their bed, deep sadness marking her features. He sat down beside Tahirah, comforting her. Her tears began to flow freely, staining her face.
"It's going to be alright, everything is going to be fine," Tau whispered quietly.
They sat together in solace and silence, sharing their grief.
● ● ●
Snow had begun to fall in the short time that the squad had spent inside the apartment. Sealing her visor, the girl turned from the apartment door and jogged to rejoin the group. She caught up with them shortly and fell into formation at the rear of the squad. Their squad leader glanced in her direction momentarily and snorted his disapproval.
“You’re too soft, Layla. I’m beginning to wonder if you were the best choice for this squad after all.”
She shook her head with a grimace at his remark. The Corps drilled duty over conscience, but Manu was known for his lack of emotion throughout the ranks. His display today only underscored the reason why. The man jogging on her right nudged her. “What was that about?” he whispered. “You know what Manu’s like. You don’t want to get on his bad side, and as it is he already disapproves of you.”
“They were hurting, Aryth, what was I supposed to do?” She looked into his visor, searching for his eyes as if pleading with him.
He shook his head. “I just don’t think you should have broken protocol, that’s all.”
Her emotions in turmoil, Layla didn’t know how to respond. She let Aryth’s comment end the conversation.
The squad reached the outer wall of Malaki about a half an hour later. The snowflakes had ceased to fall and the dark sky was brightening with the rise of the morning sun that crested the mountain peaks which rimmed Malaki. Layla again broke the silence between the two of them.
“Do you never wonder if what we are doing is good, Aryth? Oracle’s decision or not, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something deeply wrong about taking that man’s son like that.”
Aryth was silent for a moment more, considering his response. “I’d say don’t think about it too much. You’ll get yourself into trouble if you keep that up. Besides, it’s not like we do this for a living, this is a special occasion.” He chuckled to himself. “Try not to get yourself kicked out of our squad, will you? I like having you around.”
Layla forced a smile over her sadness and punched him softly. “Whatever.”
They fell silent again, each alone with their thoughts as they traveled up the winding path towards their destination.
Before too long, the looming silver gateway of the Academy came into view. Layla and the rest of the squad passed under the arch and into the main commons of the complex. As they approached the front landing, they were greeted by Dean Nassor, standing head of the Academy. He was a short man, well on in years, but the air of experience that he exuded commanded the attention of any who were in his presence.
He smiled disarmingly. “Welcome! I trust you all are doing well on this fine morning.”
Manu stepped in front of the Dean and spoke quickly. “Sir, reporting as required per section three, clause two of the Unification Treaty, sir! Here is the boy.”
Manu opened his arms, revealing the tiny child. The baby slept, blissfully unaware of the happenings that were transpiring around him.
Nassor’s expression mellowed. “Indeed.”
He gestured to Manu to bring him the child. Manu complied diligently as the rest of the squad looked on.
“I thank you for the service you have performed, Manu, as well as that of your squad.” Nassor looked each of the squad members in the eyes as he spoke. “I know that this particular one can be difficult.” The man paused in reflection, as if remembering something from his past. “Hmm. But no matter. These children are important, perhaps beyond what any of us can possibly know.”
● ● ●