Unfair
by
NMCrichton
“There is much in life that’s unfair, we all are
proof of that,” uttered Captain Bialar Crais as he lay on the floor, thrown
there earlier by the Luxan.
Immediately after, he shuddered, hoping the others wouldn’t notice or think it
was a reaction to the beating he took from the Luxan. Crais’ reaction was due
to the statement itself, words he promised his brother Tauvo that he would
never use again. He let his brother down, again, and that lay heavy in his
heart.
Harvest time – Talkudra -- always brought much excitement to the farming
colony. Most of all for the children, it was a carnival like atmosphere with
the arrival of the off-worlders, who haggled over the price of produce while
being haggled over the price of their wares. Young Bialar Crais and his younger
brother Tauvo could never sleep the night before. They were too excited,
mentally planning their day and thinking of the treats the off-worlders always
had to sell.
Early the next morning the Crais family would load their crops in the ground
transport and leave for the marketplace. Bialar’s mother and sister Selmia
would always dress in their finest clothes – mother, to avoid being the topic
of gossip, and Selmia, to flirt with the young male off-worlder’s, much to her
father’s and the local boys’ dismay.
Every year, harvest time also brought disappointment to the Crais children.
Even though their father Theuer seemed to yield the best and the most produce,
Bialar, Tauvo, and Selmia were only given enough currency to chose one item
each. Much less than the other children would get. As their friends walked by
each with a bag full of treats, Bialar and Tauvo would look at their on meager
haul and remark that it wasn’t fair. Each and every time their father would
remark, “There is much in life that is unfair.”
This was Theuer Crais’ standard response for every gripe his children had. The
three children were so accustomed to it that they often uttered it before their
father could. And of course, it always was a topic that evoked late night
giggle fits. Bialar was excellent at mimicking his father’s stoic expression.
So much so, it took all of Theuer’s restraint not to laugh at his eldest son’s
antics. Instead he would remark by saying, “You will find this out for
yourselves soon enough.” Not realizing that he would be living his own words,
“soon enough”.
There was a reason Theuer Crais was so frugal: He was scrimping and saving the
extra currency for Bialar. He decided early on that his oldest son should not
follow his footsteps as a farmer. The currency saved was to send Bialar
off-world to study. Theuer felt Bialar was far too intelligent for farm work;
he had loftier expectations for his oldest son. Tauvo or Selmia and whomever
she chooses as a mate could run the family farm when Theuer was too old.
Theuer’s dreams of a scholar as a son were quickly crushed when Bialar and
Tauvo were selected for Peacekeeper service. He drank almost all of his savings
the next evening, brooding on his last words to Bialar, his pride and joy. All
he could say was to take care of his brother, as if it was an overnight outing.
Bialar took these words to heart, doing so valiantly, often at his own expense.
During the first few weekens of Peacekeeper service, the conscript children
were separated from the bred PK children. This was not done to ease their
transition to the rigors of Peacekeeper life, rather to sort out which
conscripts had promise and which would be assigned to the mundane duties that
most conscripts performed. One conscript caught the attention of his observers.
Though defiant and surly, this conscript demonstrated a fierce intelligence and
was fearless. Qualities High Command expected of their officers.
After Bialar and Tauvo were taken from their home to the command carrier where
they would begin their Peacekeeper service, Bialar would try to sleep over the
cries of his fellow conscripts resisting the urge to join the cacophony. He
would never give his captors the satisfaction. When he was sure he wasn’t being
watched, he would steal his way to Tauvo’s bunk, where he would do his best to
ease his younger brother’s fears. Trying to recreate their late night giggles,
he would imitate their father saying, “There is much in life that is unfair.”
Tauvo realized that Bialar was trying to make him feel better by imitating
their father. But it just made him feel worse, not wanting to upset Bialar he
would force a weak giggle and suppress his tears. Once Bialar returned to his
own bed, Tauvo would cry even more, being careful to not let Bialar hear him.
One night when Tauvo realized his destiny was with the Peacekeepers, he stole
his way to Bialar’s bed. Gently rousing his older brother, he told Bialar he
knew they are with the Peacekeepers to stay. He knew Bialar was trying to help,
and that he promises not to cry anymore if Bialar promises to never repeat
their father’s pet words. Bialar took his younger brother in his arms and
holding him close, he whispered that he would never use those words again.
That was the very night Bialar decided the only way he could protect his
brother and extract revenge to their captors was to rise through the ranks. No
small feat for a conscript, but Bialar vowed that he would succeed or die
trying. Fueled by his hatred for the peacekeepers and love for his brother,
Bialar clawed his way up to the rank of Captain of a command carrier. Tauvo
followed suit and managed to rise to the officer rank, becoming a prowler
pilot.
Exactly one weeken after Bialar finally managed to get Tauvo under his command,
he was struck down by the human John Crichton. Crais’ world fell out under him.
Consumed by his hatred of the Peacekeepers and rage towards the human, Crais
threw all he worked for to the wind and hunted down the human, eventually
losing his command carrier to the Scarren half-breed Scorpius. In a cruel twist
of fate, he found himself seeking asylum from the very ones he vowed to kill.
Ten cycles after Crais went renegade, the marketplace was bustling with
activity. Young Tauvi skipped excitedly, pausing just enough so that her
parents were just within grabbing distance. Then wide-eyed, braids flapping in
unison, she darted ahead just when they caught their breath.
Spying a stall that caught her eye, she bit her bottom lip pondering which
parent to drag that way. Catching her father’s eye she took in his warm loving
smile, the choice was made. Hoisted up to his strong shoulders, she bounced
with joy as he ambled his way to the stall. Tauvi was returned to the ground,
first by being dangled nose almost to the ground, then swooped up and to her
feet.
Before her feet hit the ground, she rushed up to the object of her desire. The
small beast waved its tail excitedly rolling on its back to let Tauvi rub its
round belly.
“Oh, father, can we get her?” She begged.
With much regret her father said, “She’s too expensive, we need to save our
currency.
“You always say that! That’s not fair!” Tauvi cried.
At first avoiding his daughter’s big saucer eyes, he started to say, “There is
much in life that’s unf--”
Stopping abruptly, he caught his daughter’s eyes. Digging deeper in his pockets
he paid the vendor for the pet.
Sheepishly, the three met up with Tauvi’s mother. Playfully scorning her mate
she said, “You just can’t say no, can you Bialar?”