This is part of Faranesque's World Building Challenge from r/WorldBuilding. Check out my hub post for details.
Preface: Most of my posts from this point on will likely focus on the crew of the Rōnni and the refugees with them, now I've done some of the cosmic establishment from Day 1.
In today's installment, a secret is revealed about the Star-Born.
VIII SECRETS
Outside the windows, space burned. Rubble and debris slowly turned in the long orbit. Panels and shards of Ship hull, misshapen lumps of rock and stone, all of it scorched and blackened. These could be seen largely only as shadows through the haze of the dust and flecks that tumbled past the windows, backlit by the burning red eye of the Star in the distance.
Sleita was in front of the windows, staring out at it all. Izzur had told her the story of Menid's Folly, and she had quietly listened, not even interrupting with some of her usual questions. She tilted her head and watched as a piece of debris-- a vast piece of metal and wire and machinery fashioned into a honeycomb shape, a broken piece of something larger-- slowly cartwheeled by. One hand lifted up and touched feather-light on the clear-steel window, and she glanced back to Izzur and Drazen.
The Maldasi nodded. "Part of the Folly," he said, voice low, quiet. He glanced past her to the Star, and added, "Speak not the Technomancer's name. Speak not the Star's name. These things bring its gaze upon you, yes-yes."
"All of this is still here?" Sleita tilted her head as she looked at the motes of dust and rock and metal just outside the window. "How long ago was it?"
Izzur scratched at his head. "Thousands of years, at least. I only know what I was told in stories." He glanced to Drazen, who shook his head slowly.
"Longer still. Many ages come and go since Anteceptos fall." Drazen folded his arms, carefully watching the space outside the windows. "None come to the Folly with intent. Star knows."
Izzur turned to him. "I'm not going to ask how it knows," he said, "because no one knows how the Stars know or do things. But... it won't bother us, right? It'll know we're just passing through?"
The knife-fighter shrugged. "Star does what Star will. Tales say some pass without harm, others destroyed for crossing its gaze. Star guards the grave-prison. Guards the remains of the Folly." He gestured at the piece of the Star-Cage that had gone past. "Bright minds could study it. Devise its workings. Try to commit a Folly again." He paused, turning to look as the piece of the Star-Cage suddenly halted in mid-tumble.
Both men watched as it slowly turned back on its path, reversing its tumble until it hung before the window, the Star beyond framed in one hexagonal piece of the broken machine. Some of the dust it had swept through curled into slow tendrils which wound around it. Other pieces of debris seemed to hang in place as well, slowly turning and shifting as if looking to find a way to fit into the greater whole.
The Star beyond seemed to flash, and the space beyond the windows went white. When their vision cleared, they saw a figure silhouetted against the glare of the Star. A shape with arms spread and wings of stellar fire blazing behind it. Long hair like woven silk, dark and glinting faintly as if speckled with diamonds, drifted above its head. Armor as black as pitch covered its body but not its arms, and even its blackness was lined with brilliant white light. Skirt-plates hung over its legs as it drifted toward the Rōnni, until they could make out its features. Its skin shone with a blue-white light from within, and above an aqualine nose and full lips set in a line, its eyes were two black orbs with glints of starlight in the center.
"Star-Born," Drazen whispered. He had drawn two of his knives, but the way he held them at his sides told Izzur the Maldasi knew they could not help.
The Star-Born opened its mouth and when it spoke, its voice carried throughout the Ship, reverberating in the very air, thundering. Throughout the Ship, hands clasped at ears, vainly attempting to ward off the volume.
NONE MAY TARRY IN MY STAR'S DOMAIN. THIS IS NOT A PLACE OF RESPITE. The Star-Born gestured at the wreckage of the Cage, sweeping its hand, and sending it tumbling away back into its endless orbit. NO CURIOUS HAND MAY GRASP AT THE KNOWLEDGE WHICH IS NOT FOR MORTALS. THE ONLY KNOWLEDGE TO BE GAINED FROM MY STAR IS A WARNING-- OF WHAT AWAITS THOSE WHO SEEK THE STARS' POWER. A SENTENCE ETERNAL AND DESTRUCTION ON ALL THAT YOU WROUGHT.
The Star-Born's wings flicked, and the dust and debris filling the space between it and the Ship was parted. Another flick, and the space between the Star-Born and its Star behind it was likewise cleared. MAKE YOUR PEACE WITH WHATEVER FAITH COMFORTS YOU. YOU HAVE TRESPASSED HERE, AND THERE IS BUT ONE END FOR IT.
Before the window, Sleita looked up at the Star-Born, her hand still pressed to the clear-steel, and her fingers curled slightly against it. The Star-Born looked down at her, meeting her curious gaze, and then, to Izzur's astonishment, he saw it blink. It slowly drifted down to float before the window, caping its fiery wings behind it, and one shining hand lifted up as if to touch the window in kind.
LITTLE SISTER. The Star-Born's voice was quieter now, though it still hummed throughout the Ship. YOU ARE YOUNG YET, ARE YOU NOT?
Sleita just smiled up at it, slowly nodding. She said nothing, only looking at the Star-Born with something like awe. The young woman's gaze went past to look at the Star beyond, and at the debris around them, before turning back to the winged, armored figure.
SUCH CURIOSITY IS DANGEROUS, LITTLE SISTER. The Star-Born's lips twitched into a faint smile. BUT IN YOU, AT LEAST, IT IS FORGIVABLE. MY STAR ALLOWS FOR THAT.
The two remained there for several moments without speaking, and then the Star-Born slowly tilted its head. WHAT DO YOU CALL YOURSELF, LITTLE SISTER?
The young woman smiled. "Sleita."
SLEITA. The Star-Born nodded slowly. MAY YOUR TRAVELS SHOW YOU WONDERS AND DELIGHTS TO PLEASE YOUR STAR.
"What do you call yourself?" Sleita asked it.
The Star-Born blinked. It was silent for several moments. NONE HAVE ASKED FOR MY NAME SINCE THE GREAT HOST CONVENED. I AM THE LAST OF THAT HOST STILL LIVING. There might have been tears glistening in its eyes. HOW I MISS MY SIBLINGS AND COUSINS. It paused again, composing itself, then addressed Sleita again. I AM CALLED NOMARCA, SLEITA.
She smiled back. "I'm pleased to meet you, Nomarca!"
The Star-Born nodded, and there was a hint of a smile on its lips. Then its gaze shifted, looking over the Ship. YOUR CONVEYANCE SHOULD NOT LINGER. WHILE MY STAR IS PLEASED TO ALLOW OUR MEETING, LITTLE SISTER, IT DOES NOT WELCOME VISITORS. IN THIS INSTANCE, HOWEVER, I THINK IT WILL SUFFER YOUR PRESENCE LONG ENOUGH FOR THE MAINTENANCE TO FINISH.
Sleita looked back to Izzur and Drazen, still smiling. "We don't have to worry! Nomarca says we can stay long enough for the reactor to get fixed!"
I MUST GO. Nomarca drifted back again, wings spreading. I HAVE DUTIES TO FULFILL, EVEN IN A PLACE AS BARREN AS THIS. I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN ONE DAY, LITTLE SISTER.
"Goodbye, Nomarca! Thank you!" Sleita pressed her hand to the window again.
YOU ARE WELCOME, SLEITA.
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