Calan - The Immortality Paradox

Chapter Seventeen: The Secrets of Castell, Part Four

Date: 407, OA19,655

Location: Castell, Canol System

Louis had never seen anything like it before.

Endless seating stretched as far as he could see, curving into an oval at least a kilometre at its shortest expanse. At the centre, a hyperboloid tornado of silicate composite supported the wide ceiling above it all. Included in Castell's capacious structure was the auditorium - or as the Calan called it, the Gathering Zone. A communal space for diplomatic debate, collective decision or, in the present case, thrilling entertainment.

Wrapped around the central, midnight-blue feature, a repertoire of fabricated figures and creatures danced energetically to hyperactive music. All were projected conceptions of an underfloor illumination array. Multi-wavelength lasers mixed elaborately to form extraordinary depictions. There were dragons and lions and scorpions racing across the stage, rotating triangles encircling a waterfall flowing from a golden cup, and an eagle hovering over it all, as if floating through the silicate walls itself. Attestations of light danced with it all around the arena. The show was known as "Unity", an anthemic performance by the galactic-renowned Chapterless. From what Louis was aware, the ensemble consisted of nonconformist Humans who advocated interplanetary cohesion. Controversial attendees for a conference for Chapters of Humanity, but the Calan insisted on welcoming everyone.

'Sentimental tripe.' Prime Minister Serrano reviewed proceedings from his allocated perch, surrounded by members of the Patriot Party. They all watched the light show with coordinated antipathy. One of a handful of Chapter delegations who had arrived at the conference so far. Smaller clusters of people in their Chapters and factions were dotted around the auditorium in splotches of colour too far away to resolve. Throughout the celebration - which also included short clips of events across Human civilisations - Louis had tried to catch a glimpse of the Calan contingency. Ever since his private talk with President Cyson Tywysydd, he'd tried to maintain a low profile amongst his pears. Anything to escape the watchful encroachment of his Aquarius compatriots. Strangely, his former companion with her trusted digital display had left him alone for once.

As the energetic music came to a close, the prime minister stretched extravagantly and suddenly made his way over to Louis. The young acting minister felt an uncomfortable shyness consume him. The leader of the Arena government was not an imposing individual, but he had an insincere face and a maddening habit of steering any conversation towards his private life.

'Di Gunga!' he addressed with his usual gruffness. 'What do you make of these Calan?'

Louis didn't need much political experience to know Serrano was testing him. He sat ungraciously in the seat adjacent to Louis, sighing heavily. 'They're...interesting.'

'Is that all you have to say? Interesting?' Louis guessed that the prime minister was searching for a particular answer.

'They have impressive architecture,' said Louis and gestured to the vast place in which they were sitting. Serrano nodded patronisingly.

'How was your meeting with President Cyson Tywysydd?' he spoke with a deep-seated bitterness that Humans often saved for the Calan. Louis noticed him adjusting the position of a bracelet on his arm, wincing as he did. 'Interesting, as well, I imagine. There's quite a lot I'd like to know about them.'

'They're kind,' he replied simply.

'But what exactly did you discuss?' Serrano continued his interrogation.

'Carlos. My brother.' In his periphery, Louis could just about see the prime minister's eyes narrow. Attempting to spot the lie, he supposed. 'The Calan are concerned for his wellbeing. In fact, one of them has travelled to Arena to check on his recovery.'