4-Point Star

1. Recognized

Tolo imman Turock strode into the K’Stollian Hall of the Quinary and tried to keep a mask of calm over his features. Bypassing the guards and other security personnel, he walked purposefully into the High Council’s quarters before coming to an abrupt stop a few meters away from the open portal. Various assemblymen continued to flow in and out of the rooms, a few of whom he recognized. He noticed how their eyes or sensors swept over him, but no one approached or spoke to him in passing, for which he was grateful. He’d never dared to hope this time would come. So when the summons arrived, he’d been blindsided, yet overjoyed.

immanAfter some time, the traffic eased, until there were less than a dozen figures left standing, awaiting to be called in and given their orders. Hoping that this was the day they’d be assigned to a ship and sent out to join the war against the Fol’Minites.

A sentry emerged from the inner offices and called out a name. A Badro Pash moved forward to identify itself. The sentry stepped aside, allowing the Pashite to enter the inner chamber. Not long after, the sentry appeared again and called out another name. Tolo noticed no one exited from the room, leading him to believe they’d left via a different portal. If they left at all.

If they left at all.One at a time the creatures or humanoids vanished within the room, until there were less than a handful of applicants remaining. He felt his nervousness rising, until it sat like an acidic presence in his gut. It took great effort to draw deep breaths to try and compose himself.

Steady, old man. Steady. It’s almost over.

Steady, old man. Steady. It’s almost over.“Tolo imman Turock.”

immanTolo stepped forward to identify himself. As before, the sentry turned to face the portal and waited for the Dagian to enter first.

The Quinary was in discussion when he arrived. Once the sentry pounded the butt of his staff on the floor, the councilmen broke apart and resumed their seats. The Maximus stared at him, taking in the man’s physique as well as the confidence and attitude he exuded. Thank the gods they couldn’t see inside him.

“Tolo imman Turock, you are aware of why you were summoned?”

imman“I am, Your Greatnesses.” It was all he could do to contain his apprehension. And his eagerness. Very few Dagians were Called to become a part of a Gaspiel, the four-point star. If the orb accepted him, his life would change in ways he couldn’t begin to fathom.

The Maximus pointed to the far side of the room. “Go and be recognized.”

Turning around, Tolo stared at the glowing black ball of light hovering above the tall plinth. Three other people stood on the far side of the orb. Three of the four had already been accepted and signified as belonging to the next Gaspiel. That left only one more to complete the quaternary.

His feet felt as if they’d been adhered to the floor, and his whole body tensed with expectation. He prayed he would be the fourth. The final man to complete them. Chances were slim, he knew, but he wouldn’t have been called in if there hadn’t been the possibility.

Walking up to the orb, he held his hand out to it and closed his eyes. The air around him grew warm as it made its determination.

There was the faintest hum. It reverberated through his body, analyzing him. Judging him. It rose slightly in volume, and then…

It vanished.

Somewhat confused, Tolo opened his eyes to see the other three with smiles on their faces. Turning around, he looked back at the Quinary, and found them also smiling.

“Congratulations, Tolo imman Turock. You have been accepted to be part of the next Gaspiel. Now, all four of you must touch the orb and have your commands blazoned on your countenances.”

immanTolo glanced briefly as the other three went to stand on the markings on the floor that would place them equidistance from each other. It wasn’t important that he learn their names or their planetary systems of origin now, although the Sharamdoor was distinctive with his tentacles. They would have plenty of time to get to know each other and form the unbreakable bonds between them that would create the force they would need to take into their vessel for the next two celestial years.

The four men checked to make sure to place themselves exactly on an assigned mark. Then, in unspoken unity, they all reached out to lay a hand on the sphere.

There was a brief moment of uncertainty when Tolo wondered if the Architects had been right. If the four of them were Synchronous, and therefore Destined. A quick look around at the others confirmed they must be thinking the same, and he started to comment when he felt a small jolt of warmth zip through his palm. The others jumped slightly as the same reaction also hit them. A moment later, hot, intense radiance plowed into them, lighting each man from within with a white, glowing brilliance.

Tolo felt himself adhere to the orb, unable to move, unable to scream out from the unbelievable power filling him. His bones and muscles temporarily fused together, and his mind went blank, unable to focus on anything else except for the sensations rushing through him. The roaring that resounded within him. He felt something burning into his forehead, and he could smell the stench of his own flesh on fire as the symbol was carved into him.

Invisible hands grasped his lungs, squeezing out all air. They clutched his heart, forcing it to beat harder as it struggled to keep him alive. His skin tightened, stretching almost to the point of splitting. As it did, his d**k jerked upward, going into full erection, thickening and lengthening until he could contain it no longer. As another spike of pure strength leapt into him, he ejaculated into his breeches, pouring his warm seed down his legs, over his feet, and across the chamber"s pale blue tiles.

Seconds later it was over. The orb resumed its darkness, allowing the men to remove their hands. Shaken, they lifted their faces to gaze at each other. Each of them was acutely aware of what had happened, and knew what their combined futures held. Each of them bore the wet stains of their release on the front of their clothing, but they proudly exited the chamber in single file, not caring to hide the evidence.

A day ago they had been total strangers to one another when they had been summoned by the Quinary and given the news. Collectively, they were now a Four-Point Star. They, along with others of their kind, would be responsible for protecting their worlds. Four men, each of them controlling an assigned element on the warships—navigation, weapons, engines, and the one to command them all, the Soget, or captain.

He quickly scanned their faces, noting the marks left by the orb. The left diemont signified he who would control the weapons, the right diemont for the ship’s engines and star drive, the diemont pointing downward maintained the weapons, and he who bore the upward pointing diemont.

diemont diemont diemont diemont.He tentatively touched the symbol permanently carved into his forehead. He saw the right, the left, and the downward. There remained only one symbol left, the upward diemont, signifying who would be in charge of the ship. In command of the other three. Seeing that none of them bore the authoritative mark, that meant it was him.

diemont, But being their captain was secondary to the real source of their power. He wasn’t predestined to be the sole focus. There remained one more and extremely crucial element that would tie them together and provide them the foundation of all energy for the engines to run and their weapons to fire. They needed their Visl. The Strengthener. The one person they required to keep their power at maximum.

VislA female.

Tolo paused in the archway and glanced back at the orb that had united them into a cohesive unit. There would no longer be any doubt that he and the others were bound. In a few short weeks they would be ready to take possession of their specially developed warship, and then they would take their place among the stars with the others.

But first, they had to find their Visl.

VislAgain, he reached up and gingerly touched the fresh wound inscribed between his eyes. When he lowered his hand, his fingertips were stained with blood. At that very moment he knew searchers were out scouring the galaxies, seeking the final puzzle piece to fit the fused groups of men. Tolo prayed their Visl would soon be found. Their solar system was on the verge of collapse, and there wasn"t much time left.

VislGiving the orb and the empty chamber one final look, he turned and left, to follow his men to their new barracks where they would train while they awaited the discovery of the final component.