2175 C.E.

VIII: Rorith

Personal Journal: William Aucaman

08/23/2175

I don't think I have much time to write tonight; today has been hectic and I know that there's supposed to be some really important news announcement from the Grushan Senate tonight. I don't know what it is, but it's supposed to be about the war, so everyone in our shelter is pretty interested in whatever it is. That being said, I haven't heard whether it's about the war on Earth or the war on Nova or the war in space. But anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. Rorith arrived today.

When Dumarith introduced us, I had this odd feeling like there was something different about him. I don't know what it is; every once in a while, my mom told me that she would get a feeling about someone or something, not something that she could pin down, she tells me, but something that wouldn't go away and would ultimately affect everything she thinks and does towards that person. She tells me that Dad was that way, and that she just "knew" right off the bat with him, not that that ever helped me that much. But I knew something about Rorith the moment I laid eyes on him. Or maybe it was when he started talking. Obviously, he was translated, but what I heard of his actual voice was one of the most peaceful sounds I've ever heard. I remember learning that the main Grushan language is actually three languages; the names get translated (and I looked this up) as warspeak, songspeak, and dayspeak. Warspeak is a heavy growl like a wolf, dayspeak is kind of a click and grunt language like a dog bark, and songspeak sounds like birdsong. Dumarith speaks with a mix of the three, but mostly in dayspeak; Rorith was exclusively songspeak.

Dumarith called Cynthia and I to his makeshift office in the government bunker. Rorith was there too. As far as Grushan go, he didn't seem remarkable; his feathers were a different color from Dumarith and his aides and a lot thicker, which make me think that he might have come from a different region on their home planet.

"I was told that you were looking for me," he said to Cynthia. That was when I noticed whatever it is that's different about him. It's this weird peaceful air, like he knows what he is and what he wants and everything else just falls away from him like shed feathers, which is something that the Grushan do at certain times of the year.

"My sister is very sick," she replied. "The doctors are saying that she may never recover from the coma she's been in. They say they can't help, and Grushan medicine won't help her either." She sort of paused. "I don't know if you can help either. The ambassador suggested that you might help if the Zaha-Katchem really have some psychic influence."

Rorith must have caught something in her voice. "And you doubt that this is the case?"

Cynthia hesitated. "I do," she said.

"Do you believe that I am a mystic then?" Rorith asked.

"I..." Cynthia looked uncertain. "The ambassador does."

Rorith laughed. "You should consider taking her as a protégé, Ambassador. She answers my question without answering it at all. I suspect she does not believe I am mystic, and is just grasping on the desperate hope that you offered." Then he turned back to Cynthia and sounded very serious. "I don't know either if the Zaha-Katchem really do possess the abilities that they boast to have. But if they do, I will do everything in my power to help, even if it is just prayer." Then he turned to me. "Have you also been touched by these creatures?"

I answered, "Yes, I was in a coma a few days ago. I had nightmares about them."

"I wondered," was all he said. Then he suggested that we go as soon as possible to see Olivia.

The ambassador came with us, along with his bodyguard detail, which is one part Grushan and one part human. There was another bombing raid outside, so we had to wait for a while to set out; when we did we managed to get across the city to our refugee shelter and got inside. Fortunately, there was no damage to the shelter this time; we've all been a bit on edge since the last bombing. We made our way to the shelter's infirmary and the doctor showed Rorith and us to Olivia's bed (she had to be moved a couple of times after the last bombing caused a lot of casualties). The ambassador waited outside.