Photograph courtesy of NASA.
With a smile on his face, Karrass recited the litany of the Eclipse.
“Dim the lights,
Hush your voice,
Hide your heart.
The Eclipse is here,
The Gods are
Looking at you.”
Eben’s eyes grew wide, reflecting more light than Karass would have thought possible.
“Now you see Eben, the Eclipse happens once a year. Each year in a different star system. As it has happened each year since the beginning of recorded Church history. Every year the Gods remind us of their attention by bathing a system in their darkness. They remind us not to revel in killing, destruction, or lies. Lest we earn their attention and one day we spend eternity in torment for our vile actions. I am a priest, I dedicate my life to teaching my flock how to avoid gaining the Gods' attention. The Professor is an astronomer. She studies the cosmos and how the planets move in relation to the stars. The star system of Fexin is scheduled to have the Eclipse this year. Everyone in the galaxy is planning to stay home, be quiet, and pray that the darkness brought by the Eclipse does not bring the Gods attention to their lives. People stay at home, refrain from talking, and even fast. Fasting is a practice where people refrain from eating, to reflect upon how excess is a vice that the Gods disapprove of.” Eben’s jaw opened in surprise at the thought of people refraining from eating. “But, this year things are different. Can you tell me why things are different? I think you understand more than you’ve let on.”
“Without a planet, there can’t be an eclipse of any kind. You and the professor have both explained that. These gods of yours can’t create their darkness without their Eclipse. Without darkness, there is light. This is why I need to get to Fexin. You understand? The professor says she does, but I don’t think that she understands what I mean. We have a ship, she chartered one for us, with passage booked for three. Because I knew you’d be coming with us.” Eben’s voice, while still the voice of a child, was as serious as any theological debater that Karrass had ever spoken with. There was no arguing with this boy, it was clear to Karrass that this boy would end up in Fexin no matter what happened. He had the resolve of the most ardent Paladin he’d ever met. Nevertheless, Karrass knew he must resist him.
“No, we can’t do that. The gate that leads to Fexin is controlled by the Nagulli navy. Their blockade of the gate is to protect civilian ships from entering the hazardous Fexin system. It’s not safe there, if hundreds of ships are trying to get through there is even less chance of any ships getting through. My cousin Kurl is in command of a battleship there. The navy plans to honor the legion and take their mission even more seriously; a fleet of civilian ships would be destroyed if they even tried to run the blockade. The glory for defeating an invading fleet would alone be a reason to open fire. It’s not possible, it would be suicide. Unauthorized ships have been destroyed for less at the blockade.” Mortigana rested her talons on the stacks of books on the desk, leaning forward to bring her long gray snout closer to the priest's face. Eben leaned in next to her, his smiling felinoid face in stark contrast to her glower.
“One ship could father. One ship could make it past the blockade. One ship, if it had the proper credentials to get past the blockade. In six weeks, there is to be a predicted solar event in the system, one that the Vilithic Church itself has heavily invested scripture in. One ship, to witness the event, with a priest on board known for studying the destruction of Fexin, with a noted astronomer along to study and document the event for the galaxy.” Mortigana surprised herself at her resolve, she’d not spoken with this much passion since she defended her doctoral thesis. Karrass returned her lean in kind, closing the gap between their faces.
“I’ll be excommunicated, cast out, disgraced before the Nagulli Great Arbitrator. My writings burned as those of a heretic. My name struck from the Nagulli competition. If I was lucky, I’d be killed by the navy as we failed to break the blockade.” Eben’s tail swished back and forth, knocking a stack of papers to the book-covered floor.
“But you’ll show your flock hope and the light without darkness. What better way to teach them to avoid the attention of the gods than to show them the light of hope?” Eben’s voice sent a ripple of electric current through the room. Karrass felt the hair on his arms stand on end for a moment. Mortigana felt her cold blood warm from its passing.
“A ship you say?” Karrass laughed as he ruffled the fur on the boy's head. “I don’t have a regular congregation these days. It’s been years since I’ve hosted ceremonies of any kind. Flock isn’t limited to those that attend ceremonies, it’s those that come to the church seeking guidance, assistance, or help. You, my young friend, are now of my flock. Who am I to leave you in the darkness? Professor, you mentioned a ship. I think it’s time that you and I worked on those credentials together.”
Father Karrass locked his office door behind him, followed Mortigana and Eben up the stairs. The three of them making plans to stop for a quick bite of lunch on the way to the starport, idle chit-chat. The sort of thing that fleshies do. PS43 began to sort through data feeds, the Cathedral network, the Hypernews Network, and after a dozen or so robust feeds it found the one it wanted, piggybacked a signal, and hid it inside another feed.
“University Agent reporting update. Priest has joined professor and urchin. Travel to Fexin is inevitable. Be advised, fleshies inbound. Next update in 24 galactic standard hours.”