Beholder

Posted on Sun Dec 14th, 2025 @ 11:18am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen

426 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Beholder
Location: Skygowan

The High Priest began his morning ritual. Prayer, a simple breakfast, devotionals with the local populace, then communion and the giving of thanks to the Beholder who has kept them safe for so many years. For centuries the statue had stood guard over the prison, the gateways between Skygowan and Vadia 9 now safely open for all to pass through. Still though, they were reserved mainly for the clerics and high priests, being only the purest of heart in the presence of the Beholder.

He strode carefully into the chamber, the stars never ceasing to take his breath away. What power this being must have, to command the laws of space and time itself. He had studied the texts, both those written by the clerics of the time and those by the human Corby. Such strength and humility to dedicate themselves to the task of unending protection. He bowed his head, uttering words of thanks as his feet brought him to the base of the statue. The pedestal was the same as every other visit, solemn, complete, still.

“Oh Blessed Beholder, we give thanks for your devotion…” he began the prayer, laying a wreath of flowers at the base, taking the wilted ones from the previous day into his hands. As he did so something caught his attention. A tiny crack in the brilliant blue of the statue, one that was most definitely not there before? What did this mean? He peered closely, watching the fracture move almost imperceptably along one plane of the figure before him. How was this possible?

He hurried along the platform and was at a dead run when he crossed through the gateway.

“Blessed be the Beholder, what is it Harrius?” The Governor of Skygowan was in the tower when the harried priest had shot through the gateway.

“Something terrible had happened. The Beholder, there is a crack…” Harrius hurried to a nearby painting of their beloved guardian. “Here…the Beholder has a crack here” his hands shook violently.

The Govenor approached and looked over, concerned. “I must see this for myself” she murmoured, although the priest looked shocked.

“Only the clerics and priests are permitted to pass into the chamber” Harrius stammered, still shaking.

“If the Beholder is failing, I must see, and we must call for aid. We must call….them. Perhaps the Beholder’s kind can fix this” the Governor demanded.

“As you wish. The humans have not been here for centuries. Will they come?” The Priest asked hesitatingly.

“The Beholder was human, they will come. Starfleet will come”.

 

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