The Legacy of Thealynara Veeris

They say the first interview is always the worst, but as Thea steps into Humfree’s office for the final interview, her heart wouldn’t stop pounding inside her chest.

“Ah, Thea, dear friend! Welcome, welcome, please come in.” His voice is as upbeat and energetic as always. As Thea walks into his office, she takes a deep breath to calm herself down. “Settle in, settle in. You must be a whiz at these interviews after going through all of the others. I’m sure the others have all asked you about your research and plans for the biology department, but I’m afraid that lands outside my area of expertise. I was wondering if you had any plans for outreach, on how to attract new researchers and biologists to the Guild.”

The interview passes in a blur. Some of Thea’s responses are more prepared than others, but all are genuine, her love for biology shining through. A wave of relief and exhaustion washes over her as she steps out of Humfree’s room. Now all she can do is wait.

Thea paces around her room, waiting for a response, checking her inbox every few seconds. Nothing. Refresh. Nothing. Refresh. Still no-

“Dear Wing Commander Thealynara Veeris,

Following your application, we are happy to welcome you to your new role as Head of Biology and Plant Science. The distribution within the leadership council is being adapted to accommodate this as one of the nine roles.

Your selection is on a probationary trial period, subject to full appointment once it is concluded.

We congratulate you on this, and are glad to have you within the team.

Regards,
The Guild Leadership Council”

“First day on the job, huh?” Humfree Didac walks beside Thea, cheerfully smiling. “So much to learn, so much to do, so little time! But fear not, my friend, for I’m here to help!”

The pair walk through the corridors of the Guild, Humfree leading the way. As they turn a corner, Humfree narrowly avoids bumping into Ashlis. “Ah, didn’t see you there, Ashlis! Oh, yes, I’ll need you and Lightning to meet the two of us in a few kiloseconds.”

Ashlis nods and gives a small encouraging wave at Thea, who smiles in return as Humfree continues down the hallway, whistling. He stops at a door, nondescript except for the placard hanging next to it with “Thealynara Veeris” engraved in metal.

“Here’s where your office is. As a Guild lead, you’ll receive many requests for equipment, materials and other resources. They should be sent to your inbox, or some people still prefer the good ol’ feel of pen and paper.” Humfree picks up a nearby paper form, shaking it gently once or twice. “Regardless, they’ll find their way to your desk and all you have to do is fill out this part of the form to deny or approve their request.” He gestures to a large blank square at the bottom of the page.

“Anyways, come along, come along.” Humfree steers Thea to a different room. “This is your personal lab.” As Thea steps inside, she stops, staring at all the equipment lining the walls. Next to a personal workbench is a row of incubators. Along another wall is a collection of shelves filled with dozens of materials, chemicals, and tools. Thea barely has time to appreciate it before Humfree drags her back out, continuing the whirlwind pace of the tour.

He directs Thea into a different room, one she’s never seen before, where Ashlis and Lightning are already waiting. The room is filled with various lights, backdrops, tripods, and other film equipment.

“Perfect,” Humfree exclaims. “Looks like that’s all the new Guild leads here. As you all know, I’m head of public relations, and I thought it would be to start an outreach campaign to introduce everyone to all of you. Get people excited about the Guild, and hopefully drive up recruitment too.” He whips out a camera, and points it at the three subjects, adjusting the lens slightly. “Smile!”

After a day full of headshots and filming short adverts, Thea walks back to her room with Lightning Meets the Sea by her side. “So, how was your first day?” Lightning asks, as the two turn into the residential area of the station.

“Just as busy as your first day was, I guess. Wasn’t expecting us to do a whole press release.”

Lightning Meets the Sea gives a gentle laugh. “It was a bit chaotic, huh? I’m still settling in myself. But you know what? I know that we’ll do great, leading the Guild. Together.”

Thea nods her head, wrapping that word and all its warmth and promises around her. “Together.”

In an arched-stone cathedral lay eighteen tablets spread across three walls. Behind the altar are the oldest six: the story of the Goddess' descent to the world, and of her wrath laid bare. On the left wall are the middle six: the tale of Lakanashaava and the foundation of the Empire of the Holy Sea.

La Shin Verkanta Tvarala k'Ve Lakanashaava carries out the sacred work of laying the first of the youngest six in its proper place on the wall, and then proceeds in silent reverance down the aisle, lifting each tablet in its turn and placing it where it belongs.

A star falling from the sky. A meeting, between winged angel and powerful princess. A debate, and the angel's return to the sky. A plant, sent in gift from the heavens, that draws out the black blood of the earth. The last casualty of the Azure Death, drawn to the heavens by the Goddess to rest amongst the stars. Finally, the Goddess relieves the angels of death of their duty, and bids them walk the earth free, and as kin to the Shin Verkaan.

Wing Commander Thealynara Veeris steps off the shuttle and onto the surface of ARCOR-B-006 IV. She knows she should not be here, with the treaty banning contact with worlds that do not yet have the capabilities for space travel. And yet to not come would be to betray everything she is.

Her original reason for joining the Cartographers' Guild, to find ways to improve Kallimar’s ecosystems, is no longer the sole focus of her goals. With FTL, the ability to protect life in so much more of the galaxy became possible. And so here she is on ARCOR, protecting life on another planet, even if it is technically against policy to be doing so.

Svaan’s life deserved tribute. And Thea could not stand by as people died of radiation poisoning, locally called the Azure Death, when she had spent so much time researching how to clean radiation.

The new Kallimari radiation cleaning plants had been Thea’s great contribution to the field of botany. With Fern’s help, she was able to adapt the plants to fit the ecosystems on ARCOR-B-006 IV. The plan to have the People’s Army of Kallimar and SNTNL secretly remove all of the spent nuclear fuel scattered across the planet and distribute the plants was going to work well to prevent more lives being lost to the Azure Death; but how could Thea be certain the plants would thrive if the people did not know they were there to help prevent the illness? All her conversations with Lightning Meets the Sea about anthropology had reminded her how important cultural norms are to the success of science. And so, she is here once again, walking towards Svaan’s village.

Once in the village, she goes to visit Svaan’s father, Vaaroste. At his home, Thea looks around and sees piles of boxes as it seems Vaaroste has been packing to leave the village.

Vaaroste keeps sewing, even as Thea enters his home.

Thea speaks, hesitantly, “Hello Vaaroste, are you doing alright? I guess as alright as you can be?

I brought you this plant, in memory of Svaan. I, uh, made it. With help from a friend. It can help prevent Azure Death, so others won’t die like Svaan did.

We have similar illnesses on my world, and I had already been working on ways to deal with the cause.

If you plant this by the temples to the goddess and then leave them alone, they can help keep people safe. My people will be planting more across the empire. But make sure people leave them be, and it should help.

Azure Death may still exist, but it should kill less people.”

At the mention of Svaan, Vaaroste looks up.

“It's… pretty” he responds.

A moment passes before he continues “Svaan would have found it pretty, I mean.”

Thea speaks again,

“I am sure. They seemed very excited about life in general.

Would you be able to plant this, in memory of them and to help prevent others from dying?”

Vaaroste tells her, “Yes. Yes, of course. Thank you.”

Thea hands him the plant and turns to leave before speaking to him one last time. “I’m really sorry. I wish we had been able to do something to help them.”

And with that she leaves.

It is certainly not enough to heal the hurt that was caused or fix whatever happened on this planet, but Thealynara has helped here in whatever small way she can. As the new Guild Lead of Biology, she has a chance to help the whole galaxy even more.

She thinks to herself about how all the losses and mistakes always will cause her pain. She will, however, never let that stop her from caring and helping, and working towards preserving life in the galaxy. Because that is who she is and who she always will be.

Written by Kaiya C.