Boundless Galaxy

Chapter 2

The council building was enormous. Divided into many rooms, lecture halls, stadiums and auditoriums, it served as the gathering place for hundreds of races. It was unquestionably the biggest and grandest building on the planet.

Rooms build from the best of materials, conditions such as temperature, humidity, and even gravity were able to be modified at will in order to provide the most comfortable experience.

In one such room, Seraph and Huginn sat opposite of each other. The silence penetrated the room, the first one who broke it, was Huginn.

"I am retiring soon." Huginn said, his usual playfulness was nowhere to be seen. "And, after I retire, a new representative would be chosen."

It wasn't that much of a surprise for the Seraph. Huginn was already old and compared to the Winged Ones, Idillians' time was limited. While they could prolong their lives with the newest medical and technological advancements, almost everything has its limits. And it seemed like Huginn was approaching his own.

"Soon, even more turbulent times will come. I have to make sure, that my successor will be able to handle it."

"You want me to watch over your successor ?" Seraph asked, though it wasn't strange for the Huginn to worry about his future successor. After all, being the representative of a race was one of the toughest job one can have. It was an enormous responsibility.

"Well, yes, but, not only that. You see Seraph, I want you, to make sure that the candidate I know, will be chosen."

Visible disapproval appeared on Seraph's face. He knew what kind of dangers were associated with such interference. If the others heard Huginn's words, it may even lead to war. Especially if those who interfere would be the Winged Ones. A race who always remained neutral.

"Apart from the fact that you are playing favorites, how do you want me to help you. You should know that interfering in the elections of other races is prohibited. If that somehow became public knowledge, we would face a huge backlash. The entire council would go into an uproar in the matter of seconds."

After hearing that, a suspicious smile began forming on Huginn's face.

"While you're right that I am playing favorites, you're wrong thinking that I want you to interfere."

Huginn still smiling asked out of the blue.

"Do you know, how we, Idillians, chose our representatives ?"

That question threw Seraph slightly off guard. He knew how Idillians were choosing their representatives in the past, but now, his knowledge might be slightly outdated. And by slightly outdated, he meant by little more than a hundred years.

"Public elections ?" Seraph answered in a way which was implying that he wasn't sure whether his words were still relevant to this day.

"We used to, in the past." A smirk, that symbolized smugness of the highest degree, formed on Huginn's face. He guessed correctly that this Winged One's knowledge was obsolete.

'They aren't that all-knowing after all.'

After a few seconds of basking in glory, he broke the silence once again. "A public debate."

"Debate ?" The answer threw Seraph even more off-guard than the question itself. Bewilderment appeared on his face.

"Yeah, but our kind of debate is a slightly different from what you're imagining. Let me explain that to you."

His smile widened even more.

"But first things first. And the first thing, or rather the first step towards the succession, is the selection of candidates. There are two ways in which a candidate can be selected. "

After saying that, he lifted his right hand and showed his first finger.

"First, is by ranking among the top on the interplanetary exam. It's basically a massive screening procedure. And to even take part in this screening, there are several strict criteria one has to meet. But, this way is arduous and is not that important. "

A slight disdain could be heard in his voice, indicating that he wasn't fond of these procedures.

"What is important, is the second way."

He lifted his second finger.

"A recommendation by someone. Someone who is placed at the very top."

"Your recommendation ?"

"Exactly. The head of the department is allowed to recommend someone, who, according to them, is worthy to be their successor. Other department heads, too, can choose one candidate who should become that department head. There's also a voting within the department itself. Members of said department vote among themselves, to choose someone, who they think, should become their superior. Those who are recommended by the head of departments and members, skip the entry procedures, and can take the part in the debate directly, without any screening process. Well, assuming they belong to our race and have no criminal records. And the debate, or rather debates, are somewhat unique."

"What do you mean by unique ?" Questioning look appear on this Winged One's face.

"There are two rounds of debates. The first round is the debate among the candidates. Candidates are debating over a set of problems that was presented to them by supervisors, and they try to come up with an appropriate answer. The entire debate is being broadcasted for all the departments to see. Then, every single member of those departments vote on five people who, according to them, performed the best during the debate. Those people who get the highest amount of votes, would take part in the next and final debate."

"But, wouldn't that make the departments vote on those who were selected by them ?" It was a valid concern. Cronyism was something that could corrupt and slowly destroy the governments from within.

"You see, here's a catch." Huginn leaned forward, a weird light flashed through his eyes.

"No one know the identities of the participants. Each participant during the debate has to wear an exosuit. All the exosuits are the same. Same look, posture and height. The voices of participants are being changed by the voice modulators. The only thing that differentiates them, is a number on their back and chest, which is their ID."

"If that is the case, then how exactly do you want me to help you ?"

Seraph asked, if all the participants were anonymous, then the only way for him to help was to either use Aether or some advanced technology. Idillians, as one of the most advanced races, would be surely prepared for that. And, he wasn't that keen on doing something that would go against the law, a law which was set by him and other members of council.

"I want you, to take care of someone for me for a year or two."

"Your candidate ?"

"Yeah, it can even be said, that I want you to take someone under your wing." After saying this, Huginn laughed, he loved that kind of humor.

Seraph was more than used to it. Without even a slight change in his expression, he asked. "How would that help ?"

"You were right earlier saying that direct interference is prohibited, but, guiding others is not. A debate is a battle of knowledge and words. And, while you're in the bottom tier when it comes to expressing yourself in words, you're in the top when it comes to experience and knowledge. Very few races could rival yours when it comes to longevity, and with long life, comes experience and knowledge. If she were to stay with you for a year or two before the debate, she would learn a lot, and get to know a truly unique perspective, even amongst the Winged Ones."

"She ?"

"The one I selected. Let me tell you a few words about her."