The Czarnian Pilgrimage

By evolution-500

Genre: Science Fiction/Friendship

Disclaimer: "Mass Effect" is a property owned by Bioware and the Czarnians are a property belonging to DC Comics. I do not own this game nor any of its characters.

WARNING: This story contains references to violence, coarse language, disturbing themes and imagery. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter Three: Questions

"The genuine realist, if he is an unbeliever, will always find strength and ability to disbelieve in the miraculous, and if he is confronted with a miracle as an irrefutable fact he would rather disbelieve his own senses than admit the miraculous also."

- Fyodor Dostoevsky

"So your youth leave your Flotillas and go out on pilgrimages when they're of age?"

Jan nodded as he followed Haken down a corridor leading to the medical wing. "Yes. Every Quarian upon attaining adulthood must leave their birth ship in order to find a new crew to accept them as permanent residents. In order to prove themselves as being worthy, they must leave the Migrant Fleet and search the galaxy for something of value. This is offered to their prospective captain as a gift, proving that they will not be a mere burden on the shoestring resources of the ship. Part of it is merely an attempt to maintain genetic diversity; if the young stayed and married within their birth vessel, the risk of inbreeding would increase sharply."

Haken nodded thoughtfully with a hum, his arms folded behind his back as he and Jan walked together down a corridor. "I see. And the other reason?"

"Generally speaking, it also allows Quarians a chance to experience life outside of the Migrant Fleet. It helps give them perspective and appreciate what they have, which isn't much, admittedly."

"And yet what those few things they do have make them all the more richer," Haken nodded sagely.

Jan nodded in agreement. "Correct."

The Czarnian helmsman then gave him a curious look. "What was yours like, if you don't mind my asking?"

The Admiral scoffed. "Troublesome. I was arrogant and insufferable when I was young, and because of that arrogance, I ended up losing my left leg."

Haken blinked in surprise. "Truly?" He then glanced down at the aforementioned limb. "I gather your leg is automated?"

Jan nodded. "Yes, from the knee down, I had to get that replaced after it was completely shattered."

"What happened?"

He frowned as he vividly recalled the unpleasant experience. "I had a run-in with some Turian bosh'tets."

"'Turians'?" Haken repeated. "This is another race?"

"Yes," Jan nodded. "A...not-so-nice species."

"Hm. And what are, how do you put it...'bosh'tets'?" Haken tested the unfamiliar word.

"An insult," Jan explained.

"Ahh!" The helmsman nodded in understanding.

Jan gave his host a curious look. "Do you have those? Insults, I mean?"

Haken nodded. "We do. Generally we all try to be polite, but the miners on our world tend to use more, how do I put it...colorful language. Their preferred word is "bastich", which, at its lightest, is an obnoxious or contemptible individual."

"Ah."

Haken then gestured to him. "You were telling me about how you lost your leg."

Upon being reminded, Jan pursed his lips. "Yes, I was just starting my pilgrimage when some Turians decided to give me grief for being a "suit-rat", as they would call our people. Since I was a haughty brat at the time, I had decided to give them some lip. Naturally, they didn't take kindly to what I said about their mothers, so one struck me on the back of the head while another broke my leg with a metal pole."

"Ancestors' tears!" Haken winced, looking horrified. "Why in the world would anyone do such a thing?!"

Letting his shoulders sag, Jan weakly shrugged. "Because they could, and because I am Quarian. Sometimes, being the latter is enough to justify their hatred, because all they would see is just another suit-rat," he explained, his tone bitter. "And all we can do is bear the blunt of it. That is what it means to be a Quarian."

The words lingered, a feeling of melancholy falling over the pair.

"I'm..." Haken slowly spoke, his voice low, "...I'm sorry to hear about that."

Jan waved. "No, it's fine. In retrospect, I had it coming. If not for that encounter, I wouldn't have met either Sito nor Yena."

Haken smiled. "Ah, so that's how you met them?"

He nodded. "Indeed. Sito had found me unconscious in an alley, and if it weren't for him, I would have been dead. And Yena..." His mouth curled into a gentle smile, his tone wistful, "Yena had been my nurse at the time, working at some dingy clinic."

"I gather it was love at first sight?"

Thinking back to those times, Jan was silent for a while, his eyes softening in remembrance.

"...Yes," he admitted. "It's because of Yena that I sought to improve my character."

Haken knowingly nodded. "The things we do for love."

"Indeed." Looking up from the path ahead, Jan gave his host a quizzical look. "Do you have a lifemate of your own, Captain?"

Smiling, Haken touched a button on his gauntlet, activating a hologram. The air shimmered, revealing a smiling Czarnian female with long silvery blue hair, a moon-shaped face and a button nose, her smile wide and her crimson eyes filled with mirth. In her arms, she had two children, both boys. Looking at the latter, Jan estimated them to be four, perhaps five-years-old, the oldest looking like their father.

"My mate Ximena, and my sons, Citizen R-02045-76 and Citizen R-02045-65," Haken pointed, his eyes filled with love and adoration. "She is the company financial recordkeeper back home. Very good with numbers, but ill-suited for interstellar travel."

"She's not on this ship?" Jan asked with some surprise.

Haken regretfully shook his head. "Unfortunately not. We keep in contact daily, but to be honest, it does feel lonely without her sometimes."

"Hm," Jan nodded sympathetically. He gave the helmsman a curious look. "Why do you identify your children with serial numbers? Don't they have names?"

Haken sighed. "No. On Czarnia, all children are not named until they reach the age of maturity."

The Quarian hesitated. "And what is the legal age exactly?"

"Eighteen years."

"Eighteen years?!" Jan exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up from behind his visor.

"Correct. Granted, some exceptions are made depending on the circumstances here or there, but generally speaking, it is required for all children to be given serial numbers at birth."

"Keelah, why in the world would your people do that?" Jan asked, put off by the revelation.

"It is a necessity due to our being Czarnians."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

The helmsman frowned. "Your confusion is understandable, Admiral. You have to understand, for us Czarnians, names carry power. When a Czarnian attains a name of their own, it is a sign of their having the maturity and wisdom in order to become a functioning and contributing member of society. A child by their nature is a being driven more by their emotions rather than by intellect, one that needs to be guided into controlling their impulses."

"I don't deny that is true to some extent, Captain, but I don't see how that applies to your being Czarnians."

"Hello."

Startled, Jan glanced to see a Czarnian crewman pass by. "Uh, hello," he returned the greeting as Haken turned off the hologram. "You were saying?"

"Hello."

"What the?" Jan looked up, rearing his head back in confusion as he saw the same individual pass by him again.

Doing a double-take, he looked at Haken then back at the crewman as he passed by a second time.

"Hello!" A familiar voice called.

"Huh?" Looking ahead, Jan was startled to see the same crewman waving as he walked past him a third time.

Looking around the white corridor, the Admiral spared glances at some of the Czarnians that conversed with one another as they worked along with those that passed by him.

As if sensing something amiss, Haken glanced at Jan and raised a hairless brow. "Is everything alright, Admiral?"

Knitting his brows in confusion, the latter looked back to his host. "Uh, sorry, I feel like I've had a stroke or something. I swear that I've passed by the same person five times already! Are identical twins or triplets a common occurrence in your species?"

"Sometimes," Haken admitted. "They're more likely to occur in our Blood-born than in Natural-born citizens."

'Blood-born?' Jan pondered.

What did that mean?

Before Jan was able to get him to elaborate any further, the helmsman suddenly stopped in front of a door to his right, gesturing to it. "Well, here we are, Admiral. I'll just let you tend to your family. If you need anything, I'll be in the mess hall to get something to eat. You are more than welcome to join any time. I'll be sure to have a crewmate show you to your quarters."

Jan nodded. "Thank you, Captain. I really appreciate this."

Haken smiled, giving a slight wave. "Oh, think nothing of it, my friend. Say hello to your family for me."

"I will. Thank you again for your kindness, Captain."

With that, Haken departed, leaving the Admiral alone.

Looking back to the entrance to the medical wing, Jan took in a deep breath and entered.

* * * * *

"Yena, you have a visitor!" The Czarnian nurse, a thin woman with an hourglass waist and a large bosom in a white uniform, greeted.

Jan smiled as he saw his lifemate's features, his smile growing as he was greeted with hers.

"Darling!" She exclaimed

"Hello, my beloved," he greeted, reaching out, to touch the curtain. Jan watched as his lifemate pressed her palm against his, relishing her warmth. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, things are good," Yena nodded, gesturing to the Czarnian nurse. "Isla and I were just having a little girl talk."

He watched as the two women shared a warm laugh, their voices melodic, like ringing bells.

"Where is Rael?" Jan asked.

"He's sleeping in the nursery in his bubble," Yena replied.

"Will you be needing anything else, Yena?" Isla queried.

Jan watched as his life-mate waved. "No, I'm fine, thank you."

Isla then shrugged. "Alright then. I'll just give you two some space. If you need anything, though, just push the buzzer on your bed."

And with that, the nurse left, leaving the two of them alone.

Clearing his throat, Jan spoke. "So, uh, how have you been? Have they been treating you well?"

Yena gave a warm smile. "Oh! Exceptionally!"

Jan gave her a considerate look. "You seemed fond of her."

He watched as his lifemate let out a lighthearted laugh. "Yes, I was surprised by how well we've gotten along! She's a pretty funny character." Yena then gave a thoughtful look, her head tilted slightly, "It's strange. Talking with Isla...I was amazed by how easy it was to speak with her, how warm and caring she seemed. Talking to her, it felt like..." She struggled to find the words, then murmured, "Like...talking with another Quarian. Like family."

Jan nodded in understanding. "These Czarnians are surprisingly personable. A very strange bunch, but pleasant."

'So far,' he mentally added.

As if sensing his thoughts, Yena's smile fell. "You doubt them?"

Feeling guilty under her stare, Jan anxiously eyed the floor. "I...I don't know," he admitted. "I don't know what to make of them. Undoubtedly they expect something from us, but I have yet to find out what."

She scowled. "Jan."

"I know, Yena, but Keelah, am I the only one who doubts the sincerity of these beings? I know based off of experience that nothing is ever free."

"Nothing is," Yena agreed, "but aren't you being too harsh about our hosts? They could have just as easily left us for dead or attacked, but they didn't! They invited us onto their ship and are treating our wounded, and you want to insult them?"

Wincing, Jan anxiously shifted.

"I know how hard it is trust someone, Jan. I know of the things that you have gone through. How those Turians took advantage of your kindness and broke your leg just for a laugh. That Krogan bosh'tet that scammed you of your money?"

He swallowed. "I want to...believe...that our ancestors have blessed us with good fortune, but..."

"But you think it's too good to be true," Yena finished the thought.

Wincing, he regarded Yena. "Is it...is it wrong of me to feel this way? I mean, the Czarnians have been kind, but...part of me can't help..."

Under his lifemate's watching eyes, he shook his head slowly. "What if I'm wrong? What if..." His shoulders drooped, "what if I have unwittingly lead our people to our doom?"

Jan felt Yena's hand clasp onto his through the curtain. "You always worry too much, my love. I can't imagine what it's like to bear the responsibility of so many lives. You carry a heavy burden, my love. You have been through so much, Jan. You have lost so much, and I can't fault you for feeling so scared. But I have faith in you, Jan." Kissing her finger, she placed it onto the curtain and gave Jan's hand an assuring, tender and loving squeeze. "You shouldn't lose your hope, my love."

He scoffed. "Hope?" he bitterly repeated with a harrumph. "Hope didn't save my parents when the damned Batarians gunned down their ship. It didn't save those men and women that I had daily, and knowingly, sent to their deaths."

Her hand squeezed. "You are far too unkind to yourself. You are a good man, Jan. I know more than anyone how much you care about our people. But you need to have hope. Hope is what keeps us going, even when things are at their darkest. Without it, how else can we go on otherwise? Have faith, my love. Have faith in our ancestors, and in yourself. No matter what happens, I will always love you, Saera."

Squeezing back, Jan reached with his other hand, clasping onto Yena's, partly in prayer.

"I'll...I'll try, Saera," he promised. "Ancestors help me, for you and Rael, I'll try."

The two of them remained together in silence, holding onto each other's hands in spite of the curtain, seeking solace in each other's warmth.

* * * * *

Jan stared wide-eyed alongside Jura and Sito as the three of them sat opposite Haken and a few other crewmen in the mess hall, all of whom had large plates filled to the brim with various assortments of strange-looking fruit, fish and some type of meat.

Exchanging startled glances with one another, the Admiral watched in awe as the Czarnians hungrily wolfed down their food using strange-looking cutlery.

To their credit, the latter were not messy at all in how they ate, nor were they eating with their mouths open like some species; in fact, the Czarnians were very clean eaters with fine table manners.

However...compared to most species, Jan noticed, the amount of food that they were able to consume was, to put it mildly...considerable, startling to watch.

Taking a gulp from his drink, a clear unidentified fluid that glowed a strange light bluish hue, Haken set his cup down and cleaned his mouth with a napkin.

"Delicious!" He smiled, his eyes closed, relishing his meal. Opening his eyes, Haken turned his attention over to his guests, tilting his head. "Are you sure that none of you wish to have some?"

Taking his eyes away from his host's plate, Jan raised a hand. "N-No, thank you. We appreciate the offer, but again, our immune systems can't handle it. We have nutrient pastes, so that should suffice."

"Hm." As the Czarnians continued to eat, Haken took another sip of his drink. "Out of curiosity, Admiral, how do you eat with those masks on? Do you ever take them off?"

Jan shook his head. "No. We use an emergency induction port on our masks."

"Ah," Haken nodded in appreciation. "I gather that you have different flavors of nutrient pastes?"

Jan exhaled. "Not really, unfortunately. We subsist on a largely vegan paste diet. This is due to the calories needed, and because space and resources are limited, we are unable to have livestock on the fleet. That being said, we are able to eat meat...but they would have to be properly sterilized."

Haken clicked his tongue, sympathetically nodding. "I see." Resuming his meal, the helmsman took another sip of his cup. "So tell me, Admiral, how are you and your crew taking to your new quarters? Are they up to your standards?"

"Oh, very much, Captain!" Jan eagerly nodded. "If anything, your generosity has exceeded our wildest expectations! I can't express my appreciation enough for your being able to accommodate our people."

Haken smiled in response. "I'm glad, Admiral! If you or your crew are in need of anything, I am more than happy to oblige."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Glancing around, Jan observed his surroundings. "I have to say, Captain, you have a magnificent ship! Your engines are so silent!"

"Thank you, Admiral," Haken nodded. "We Czarnians are always adamant on maintenance and cleanliness."

"So I see," Jan nodded. "Tell me, Captain, does your ship run on eezo like ours?"

Pausing mid-bite, Haken frowned, pulling away from his food. "'Eezo'?" he repeated, testing the word.

"Ah, Element Zero," the Admiral clarified. "Where we're from, eezo is a rare material that, when subjected to an electrical current, releases dark energy which can then be manipulated into creating a mass effect field, raising or lowering the mass of all objects within that field."

Nictating membranes flared as Haken inclined his head, clicking his tongue. "Hm. Interesting material. Can't say that I've ever heard of it myself. But no, Admiral - our ships are powered by plasma reactors and black hole generators."

Jan's eyes widened. "B-Black hole generators?! Such a thing exists?!"

"Yes," Haken replied. "We've been using them for several centuries."

"But-But...how...?"

Haken gave a slight wave. "I can arrange for a tour of our ship later if you like, maybe see if our chief engineer will be available to discuss some of the finer details, but on our planet, Admiral, well..." The corner of his mouth rose, his eyes gleaming as he spoke, "...Let's say that where there is a will, there is a way, and us Czarnians are a people of enormous willpower."

Taking a bite of his fruit, he swallowed, then took another swig of his drink, leaving Jan dumbfounded.

"Keelah," he murmured, feeling almost dazed.

Beside him, Jura curiously tilted her head. "Out of curiosity, Captain," she spoke up, drawing Haken's attention, "what chirality are your people? Levo or dextro?"

Nictating membranes flared. "Neither really," Haken replied. "Our species are -" He murmured a word that Jan didn't catch.

"Ah, I'm sorry, what?" Jan questioned. "I don't know how to pronounce that."

Haken frowned. "My apologies, I don't know how to properly translate it in your language. Our species have no problem eating foods of both chiralities. We Czarnians are a very hardy bunch, with very hardy stomachs to match." He then gestured to a man beside him, a muscular individual with short hair and a beard, "One of my crewmen here, Ronan, once ate a barrel full of radioactive waste."

Parting their mouths in shock, Jan's eyes widened along with Jura's as they exchanged nervous looks with Sito before looking back to the aforementioned person.

"You-You ate radioactive waste?!" Jura sputtered.

Ronan shrugged. "Meh. Not as impressive as it sounds."

"Didn't you get sick?!"

"Meh, not really," Ronan nonchalantly answered. "It has a bit of an aftertaste, but it's surprisingly not the worst thing that I've ever eaten." Seeing the nervous body movements of the Quarians, he gave an assured smile. "I'm not radioactive, in case you were wondering. We're immune to such things."

"You're immune?!" Jura gaped. "But...how?"

Ronan merely grinned. "Like the Captain said, we Czarnians are a hardy bunch. Whether it's the cold of space, the heat of blazing suns, venoms, bacteria and poisons, we can survive anything. We can breathe through acid as you would oxygen."

Staring in stunned awe, Jan shook his head in wonder. "Keelah, I've never heard of a species so resilient! I don't even think either Krogan nor Vorcha are capable of surviving such things."

Sito harrumphed, the only one looking unconvinced. "What rubbish! Obviously they're pulling our legs, Admiral. Next they're going to claim that they're all immortal."

Rather than looking upset, Haken gave a good-natured chuckle. "But we are."

Staring at the Czarnian Captain for a moment, Jan let out a slight laugh. "I have to say, you have a very peculiar sense of humor, Captain."

"I'm being serious," Haken shrugged, causing Jan's laughter to cease. "On Czarnia, we have a number of pools filled with various chemicals and minerals that upon consumption can rejuvenate dead cells, heal all injuries, and cure all ailments, even restore one's youth. It has taken us many centuries to study their properties and properly understand them, but through a combination of intensive spiritual training, genetic engineering and planetary mining, we ended up unlocking the very secrets of immortality, and now it is part of our very genetic code and daily life. On our world, Death only comes to those who choose it as an alternative to everlasting life."

The Quarians silently stared at Haken, uncertain whether or not he was joking.

Glancing uneasily at one another, Jan swallowed. "Are you...are you serious?"

"Of course," Haken replied. "Technically we don't even need to eat in order to survive; our species are mixotrophs capable of using different sources of energy. A Czarnian can go for years without being able to eat a single scrap, and we'll eat about anything. Once, I was stuck on a planet for a few weeks and ate nothing but rocks and mud."

Jan felt his head spin, perplexed by the news.

"But...if what you say is true, Captain," Jura said slowly, "then why do you eat at all?"

The helmsman shrugged. "Meh, sometimes it's more to savor the taste, really. It gets boring not being able to eat anything after a few years."

"Keelah," Jura murmured.

Tilting his head, Jan questioningly regarded the Czarnian. "If you don't mind my asking, how old are you?"

Blinking, Haken raised a scaly brow. "How old do I look?"

Furrowing his brows, the Quarian Admiral pursed his lips. "Um...I would say...perhaps in your late twenties, early thirties?"

To his surprise, Haken let out a light though pleasant laugh. "I'm flattered." Straightening his face, he shook his head. "But no. I am actually two hundred and fifty-two years old."

Jan's mouth parted. "T-Two...hundred...?!"

Letting out a hearty chuckle, Haken nodded. "Not what you were expecting, huh? But it's true. Due to the pools on our world, our aging has slowed dramatically with each successive generation, to the point where it would take thousands of years before a single one of us would even look thirty."

Jura stared gobsmacked. "Keelah, that long?!"

"Indeed."

Jan leaned forward, resting his chin on his knuckles. "How long do Czarnians live for?"

Nictating membranes flared as Haken considered the question. "Well, I know some people that are over a thousand. The oldest ones that I know of are over the tens and hundreds of thousand, although I've heard rumors that supposedly the oldest of our race is over a million years old."

"A million?!" Jura gaped, her voice a squeak.

Sito harrumphed. "Impossible! Do you really expect us to believe such drivel?! No one can just "choose" how long they get to live!"

Haken merely smiled. "Your reaction is understandable, sir. But perhaps when you see for yourself of our homeworld all of your doubts will be put to rest."

As Haken returned to his meal, Jan was left pondering over his words, wondering if there was any truth in his claims.

For ages, it was a dream of many a Quarian to find the secrets of immortality, if not a way to overcome their debilitating conditions and preserve the memory of their ancestors.

That search was partly what had led to the creation of the Geth, and for that reason, many among the Quarians had viewed their exile as the ancestors' punishment for their hubris.

And yet, these beings...were somehow able to crack that secret?

The rational part of Jan warned against entertaining such fanciful notions.

But...was it...possible...?

Swallowing his food, Haken's nictating membranes flared as he regarded Jan. "Out of curiosity, Admiral, are your species as long-lived as ours?"

Jan scoffed. "If only. The typical Quarian lifespan is somewhere between ninety and a hundred and twenty...provided that we're lucky enough to live that long." He muttered the last part under his breath. "Many of our kind had long dreamed of achieving immortality, but...none of us succeeded. The closest that we have ever come was taking a personality imprint from an individual and developing it into an interface similar to a VI."

"'VI'?" Haken questioned.

"Virtual Intelligence," Jan clarified.

"Ahh!" The helmsman nodded in understanding. "And were you ever successful on that front?"

"Somewhat," he admitted, feeling a little uncomfortable. "But...due to certain events, we stopped doing so."

Haken thoughtfully hummed, taking a sip of his drink.

"Do you have something like that?" Jan questioned.

Haken nodded. "Of course. Our people have made great strides in our technology, with our AIs especially."

A stillness came over the Quarians as they uneasily looked at one another from the other side of the table, causing every Czarnian to give pause.

"Is something wrong?" Haken questioned.

Jan swallowed. "You...You have AIs?"

"We do. If you wish, we can provide you with all of our data on the subject."

The Quarians glanced uneasily at one another, then returned their gazes back to Haken.

"T-That..." Jan swallowed, calming himself as he attempted to mask his distress, "...that would be most appreciated, Captain."

While a part of him felt tempted to reveal their past issues, Jan couldn't help feeling reluctant to do so, partially out of distrust, and partially out of shame, if not some measure of embarrassment.

After all, how does one explain one's misfortunes to a people that, as far as he can tell, had no such concept of such things, that seemed far more technologically advanced?

Haken gave him a curious yet measured look, his brow raising. "Is something wrong?"

Clenching his mouth, Jan averted his eyes, letting his silver orbs drift toward the other Czarnians as they ate. "N-No." He cleared his throat. "No, just mild indigestion, I suppose." As he watched the pale ones ate, he suddenly paused, noticing an odd discrepancy.

Blinking in surprise, he furrowed his brows then carefully observed some of them.

What in the world?

Looking back to Haken, he leaned forward. "Tell me, Captain, if your people are so resilient, why are members of your crew wearing enviro-suits?"

Haken dipped a berry into some sauce. "Good observation, Admiral. Tell me, what else do you notice about them?"

Puzzled, Jan looked back to the Czarnian crew, then took note of the suited beings' considerably smaller sizes. "...They're," he said with a slow and uncertain tone, "...children?"

Haken nodded, taking a bite of his berry. "Correct. As adults, our bodies are conditioned to withstand harsh environments. Czarnian children, however, are vulnerable compared to our own. Granted, they have advanced healing like many a Czarnian adult, but they are still developing physically and psychologically. Likewise, when we do interstellar travel, all Czarnian children are kept in suits until they've properly acclimatized. Some adapt quicker than others, but it can take some time and some training. The mental and spiritual preparation is the most time-consuming; for that reason, every Czarnian pup needs to find their centers."

Jan frowned. "'Find their centers'?"

"Yes." Pointing to a nearby doorway, Haken gestured to a strange insignia depicting three overlapping shapes - a red square, a green triangle, and a blue circle, the latter featuring prominently in the middle. "See those shapes over there?"

Nodding, Jan quietly watched the helmsman, allowing the latter to elaborate further.

"Those shapes represent Body, Mind, and Soul," Haken explained. "Like the body, the square has four parts - two arms, two legs. Muscle and bone. Organs and blood. The triangle represents the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious mind, while the circle represents the soul, the inner self. Whenever we start the day, we Czarnians need to properly align our spiritual selves with our physical and intellectual selves through a continuous regiment of exercise, reading, gardening and meditation."

Jan thoughtfully hummed. "Sounds intense."

"It is," Haken nodded, "but a necessary one. Everything in life and in nature requires balance, and only by maintaining that balance is it possible for one to attain true strength and peace." Looking over at the children as they played at the table, his eyes softened. "It will take many years for them to truly master themselves, but...by the time they're ready, they will be able to do what any Czarnian is capable of."

The words lingered as Jan and his fellow Quarians silently observed the children, watching them chatter excitedly amongst themselves and play with their food.

There was something both sweet and charming about the scene, of seeing such innocence on display, and the more Jan watched the Czarnians interact with their children, the more curious he became, and the more he wondered about their people.

Looking back to his host, Jan cleared his throat. "Tell me, Captain...are there...other species like yours?"

Haken nodded as he took a bite of a large round fruit. "There are. Some are as strong, if not potentially stronger. There are the Thanagarians, but we tend to avoid them. We trade with them sometimes, but they are a pretty stiff and sometimes...unpleasant...people to deal with. Very proud and broody bunch. I believe their avian ancestors, the Feitherans, can be found on some distant planet somewhere in the Sol system. Their less militant cousins, the Havanians, are far more relaxed and nicer as well. There are also the Tamaraneans, a felinid species that look uncannily like Czarnians, but their physiology has the unique ability to convert ultraviolet radiation into energy that they can use to defy gravity and fly without the need of artificial enhancements."

A stunned silence fell over the table as Jan glanced at his colleagues.

"T-There-There are species that can...fly?" Jura stuttered in disbelief.

Haken nodded. "Indeed. Thanagarians can fly as well, but they have avian wings. Tamaraneans, however, can do so without wings. They're a very emotional people, but they are also great friends and trading partners. There also used to be a planet two systems away from Czarnia called Krypton five hundred years ago, and from what I heard, they were as strong as our people, but their planet's core had ruptured. They along with their colony on Daxam ended up lost. We've collected many of their fossils for study over the years, but as far as I can tell, nothing of their world remains." His red eyes drooped along with his shoulders, a sad sigh escaping from his lips. "It's a shame really. I've always wanted to visit there."

The Quarians sat still, absorbing Haken's words.

"Keelah," Sito breathed, "to think that there are such beings out there..."

Nictating membranes flared across Haken's eyes as he gave a slight shrug. "What can I say? The universe is a strange and mysterious place," he replied, taking a sip from his drink.

"You mentioned that your people have collected fossils of this..."Krypton", yes?" Jura questioned. "Is that why you're out here, Captain?"

The Czarnian shook his head. "No, archaeology isn't my area. We're a trading and exploratory vessel mostly, although we do have some scientists onboard who are into that sort of thing. We sometimes head out to observe and study some of the space-faring fauna out here such as the astro-dolphins."

"'Astro-dolphins'?" Jan repeated, unfamiliar with the word.

"Yes," Haken nodded, activating his wrist gauntlet. The air shimmered as a three-dimensional hologram appeared right in front of them, depicting a familiar creature.

"Ah! We've seen those!" Jura said excitedly. "They were flying around our ship!"

The Czarnian Captain smiled. "Beautiful, aren't they? There are numerous stories from our people of how the astro-dolphins would come to aid those whose ships end up astray. In some of our oldest myths, it was believed that these creatures would guide the spirits of the dead to the afterlife, where they would be reunited with the rest of our ancestors. They are very curious beings, even playful, although they can get pretty, ah...frisky...during mating season."

Jan watched with some amusement as Haken shifted in his seat, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Are there other creatures like those?" Jura asked.

"A great many," Haken nodded, looking thoughtfully at the holographic image. "There are many wonders out in the cosmos. A testament to Isha's artistry."

"'Isha'?" Sito questioned.

"Isha, the goddess of art, life, motherhood, agriculture, healing and gardens," Haken explained. "The Universal Mother. Long ago, before the stars were conceived, Isha came into existence. We know not how she came to be, but for many ages, she created a great many wonderous things. First she created the stars, then the sun, then the moons. More and more she created in the cosmos, but during that long expanse of time, Isha became filled with a deep, aching loneliness. For many centuries, she was sad and lonely, until one day, she said, 'I will make a planet unlike any other. I will create the most beautiful garden in existence, and it will be on this planet that I will create the most magnificent people. I will create a world dedicated to art, creation, knowledge, reason, love, happiness, peace and joy, and where no one will ever feel alone. I will create a planet like a comforting hearth, where the sun is always present and warm, where my crops can grow plentiful, and where my children can grow healthy and strong. I will create a world of endless possibility, where dreams can come true, and a people that are both graceful and strong in mind, spirit, and body. I will create a people of such strength, power and love that not only will they be able to thrive in any environment, but they will recover quickly and help those around them. I will make them so strong that one day, they will all be able to overcome Death itself.' And so she started work on this garden. First she created the oceans, then the lands, plateaus, valleys, mountains, and rivers. Once that was finished, Isha then took a piece of herself and crafted the first animals into existence. From her being came an enormous array of animals, including the astro-dolphins, until finally she created the first Czarnian. Thus, her garden was finally complete, and she had been happy ever since. The word 'Czarnia' in our language means 'garden', thus, when we say 'Czarnian', it means 'children of the garden'."

The table fell into silence as the Quarians absorbed Haken's words, though Jura seemed the most taken with the story.

"Keelah," she breathed.

Smiling in spite himself, Jan thoughtfully hummed. "It would seem that our people have that in common with yours, Captain," he said, drawing Haken's attention. "'Rannoch' in Khelish means 'walled garden'."

Blinking, Haken's eyes widened. "Truly?" Giving him a nod, Jan watched as the Czarnian's smile grew. "Well this is a pleasant surprise! What are the odds?" He tilted his head. "Do your people worship Isha and the ancestors as well?"

"Our ancestors, yes," Jan replied. "We have no chief deities."

The two races sat still in contemplation, both of them digesting what the other side had revealed.

A few moments later, Ronan chuckled. "It's funny, isn't it? What are the odds of meeting another race of beings so much like ours? Wouldn't it be something if our ancestors have secretly arranged for this meeting to occur?"

Haken raised a glass. "Indeed."

As the two shared a quiet laugh, Jan cleared his throat.

"That would be great if that were so, Captain, although I imagine that there will undoubtedly be some differences between our cultures." He then shifted in his seat. "Tell me, Captain," he said slowly, "...is it really true that your planet has no military whatsoever?"

Taking another drink, Haken nodded, wiping his mouth. "That is correct."

"And the...disagreements...that your people would have...they would never turn violent?"

Pausing mid-bite, Haken looked up with a puzzled expression along with the other Czarnians. "'Violent'?" he questioned.

"You know. Where one uses physical force to hurt or damage another."

Drawing more blank stares from the Czarnians, Jan stared in disbelief. "Keelah, have your people never experienced violence at all?"

Haken frowned. "What does "violence" mean?"

"You know, using physical force to...injure or kill another."

Blinking in surprise, Haken looked even more perplexed. "Why would anyone do such a thing?"

Staring incredulously at him, Jan exchanged looks with his colleagues before looking back to their host and his crewmen, each of whom were equally puzzled.

"Tell me, Captain," Jura spoke up, "what kind of system of government do you have?"

"Czarnia is a democracy," Haken answered.

"Okay," she said slowly, "so who then enforces the rules? How do you, uh...regulate yourselves?"

"We abide by the rules set forth by our ancestors written in holy texts, by Isha, and by the word of the Czarnian Council."

Perking up with interest, Jan leaned forward. "Can you tell us about the latter?"

"There are four members of the Czarnian Council," Haken began to explain, "each of them embodying the four pillars of Czarnian society and Isha herself. There is the Councilor of Wisdom, the Councilor of Mercy, the Councilor of Truth, and the Councilor of Reconciliation. A councilor's position is annually changed, usually a title given to the eldest members of our society in order to guide the younger generations."

"And how are these councilors appointed?"

"By votes," Haken replied. "These usually occur during autumnal months, with every potential candidate taken from a narrow pool to draw from. They have to be of a very specific age between nine hundred to a thousand years, and they are all vigorously tested in terms of their having the prerequisite skills and knowledge for the position."

"What if a Czarnian breaks the law?"

Haken blinked. "What do you mean?"

"What sort of punishments do you use?"

Exchanging puzzled looks with Ronan and the other Czarnians by his side, Haken gave an uncomprehending look as he murmured, "...'Punishments'?"

Jan felt a wave of exasperation come over him as he let out a frustrated groan. "Yes, punishments! How do your people police those who've hurt, robbed or raped?!"

"...What are those?" Ronan asked.

Seeing the Czarnians' perplexedly child-like expressions, Jan stared slack-jawed at them before looking over to Jura and Situ, each of whom looked startled by what they were hearing.

"...Captain," Jura said slowly, "...do you mean to tell us that...your world has no...crime or criminals at all?"

Nictating membranes flared as Haken looked at the three of them, then shook his head. "...We don't know what any of your words mean."

Raising a hand to her visor, Jura shook her head. "Keelah. Your world has no issues at all?"

Finally, a look of recognition crossed Haken's features as he awed. "Ah, I see! There are some issues that we disagree on, but generally a lot of our issues are resolved quickly."

"But what if a Czarnian wanted to..." Jan struggled to find a way to explain, "...forcefully assume control of a position and prevent another from rightfully doing so by attempting to alter the results of the votes?"

"That would never happen," Haken shook his head in denial. "For one, we Czarnians can detect one's aura through our sense of smell alone, so it would be impossible for such a person to do such a thing."

Jan hesitated. "Your sense of smell is that strong?"

"Indeed. It is how we track much of the various interstellar fauna out here, including the various astro-dolphin populations. We can detect the smell of one from miles away."

"Even from a different system?"

"Even from a different system, provided that we have their empathic signature."

Curious, Jura rested her elbows the the table, leaning forward. "What do you mean by 'empathic signature'?"

Jan watched as the Czarnians anxiously shifted in their seats, looking uncomfortable.

"As a species," Haken began, "we...have a unique condition."

Concerned, Jan straightened in his seat. "What condition?"

Looking over to his crew, Haken sighed. "We call it the curse of Feetal. In our culture, Feetal is the dark god of night, sensation, the moon and perpetual darkness. Several centuries ago, our people had engaged in mining one of our moons. Over time, however, we all began to notice that we were all experiencing everything around us at unprecedentedly higher levels. Some of our experts believe that when we were mining the moons, we had unknowingly tapped into some unexplained, interconnected link with them on the quantum level, with space and time itself. Others believe that Feetal was angered by our hubris and that he cursed us all with sensory overload. Whatever the cause, whatever one wishes to call it, we all had to learn how to adapt. Imagine being able to feel every sensation and emotion around you - every atom collision like a hurricane, every touch, taste, and smell not even being your own and yet you are able to feel it all just the same. Imagine someone feeling sad or happy and being able to feel that regardless, a continual wave. Even now, from your biorhythms and aura, I can feel your quickening heart-rate, the bubbling in your lower intestine, the itching behind your right knee, and the feel of the fabric against your skin, Admiral."

Jan stared open-mouthed in shock, his eyes wide. "You-You were able to sense all of that even with my suit on?!"

"Yes. That is what being a Czarnian is for us."

The cafeteria was silent as the Quarians absorbed the information, floored by the revelation.

Rubbing his hand against his masked chin, Jan shook his head. "You can feel all that?"

"We feel everything," Haken grimly nodded alongside Ronan and the others. "It isn't an easy thing to live with, but we do what we can to mitigate it by encouraging kindness, compassion, wisdom, law, order, friendship, reconciliation and happiness. I know that in the far distant past our species were once warriors, but because of Feetal's curse, change was necessary. We swore to Isha and our ancestors that we would abandon the old ways, and we Czarnians take our oaths very seriously, for they are our most sacred. Our words are our bonds, and we never break our oaths. As things are, it is physically impossible for any of us to do anything that would negatively impact one another, for if one were to do so, every Czarnian and Xrexian on the planet would feel it."

Now Jan understood why and how the Czarnians were able to achieve such a violent-free society.

To live such an existence...

"H-How..." Jan slowly spoke, "...how can you handle such a sensory overload such as that?"

The Czarnian helmsman shook his head. "Like I said, it's not easy. We have to live very regimented lifestyles, with lots of meditation and training, some of it taking hundreds of years. Sometimes we have to construct and use special isolation chambers and suits made of certain materials in order to alleviate the sensory bombardment."

"And the children have this condition as well?" Jura questioned.

"Every Czarnian and Xrexian does," Ronan nodded.

Upon hearing that, she sadly shook her head. "Keelah, I can't imagine living like that!"

As Haken opened his mouth to speak, a crewman approached and whispered something into his ear.

"Hm. I see. Thank you, Mister 'Ul." Looking back to the Quarians, Haken smiled. "Well, I have some good news! It would seem that we have arrived at our destination." Finishing up his food, he quickly wiped his mouth, then gestured for Jan and the others to follow, "Come with me, Admiral."

"Why?" Jan warily questioned, looking at Sito and Jura in growing confusion as the three of them complied, getting up from the table. "What's going on?"

Haken's smile broadened. "We're home."