In Return, a governing council is forced to confront a century-old failure when the fate of a lost colony resurfaces. What begins as routine political procedure turns into a quiet reckoning, where duty, fear, and buried history collide. This science fiction short story explores leadership under pressure, moral responsibility, and the cost of choosing comfort over truth.
Set within a vast council chamber, Return follows a tense debate over whether a forgotten world deserves answers or continued silence. As voices clash and motives unravel, a single vote determines whether the past remains buried or finally acknowledged. This is a story about restraint, legacy, and the quiet weight of decisions made far from the consequences they unleash.
Eerie Stroll is the blues track paired with this story. Its slow, deliberate pacing mirrors the measured debate of the council, allowing tension to build without spectacle. The music lingers beneath the scene, underscoring the unease of reopening wounds long thought sealed.
Return was written between Colonization and Discovery and sparked by a specific image. It prompted me to think about the inner workings of Laria, and gave me an opportunity to explore a time and a people that I didn’t intend on delving into very much. Rather than focusing on action or discovery, this piece centers on permission, the moment where history is either reclaimed or officially abandoned. The council chamber itself became a character, shaped by silence, ritual, and the fear of what answers might demand.
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The council members sat in the hall, whispering among themselves as they waited for the session to begin. As the whispers grew, one voice sliced through the din. “There’s no scheduled vote today. Why are we here?”
“I called everyone here to discuss the failed attempt to colonize Morven.” The statement silenced the council as the lights dimmed, and millions of bluish-white spheres emerged from the central dais. When the orbs coalesced into an imposing figure, it inclined its head, pressing its hands together. “Long ago, some of our forefathers sent an expedition to our sister planet to form a colony.”
A councilor stood, clearing her throat. “Chancellor, while it’s unfortunate that some of our ancestors vanished in the foolhardy expansion, we should leave well enough alone and ignore Morven.”
The towering holographic Chancellor bowed toward the council member. “That’s been our mantra since we lost contact.”
“We don’t want to risk a second expedition to that cursed world!” Another councilman cried out as he slapped his thighs.
“Distracting our thoughts with an attempt to re-colonize our sister planet is a mistake,” a distinct voice declared. As a hush descended on the council chambers, a woman rose and leaned upon the railing. The silence lingered for an instant before she clasped her hands to her chest. “There are too many issues here that require our entire attention.”
The hologram cleared its throat as it scanned every councilor in the auditorium. When the holographic eyes latched onto the standing woman, the figure widened its stance. “We have established programs to address each of those concerns, Jasmine.”
“And you’re aware of the positive reaction to those initiatives,” she said.
The Chancellor waved her worries away and addressed the room. With a smile, the hologram lifted an admonishing finger. “It is long past the time we discovered what befell our kin. We can no longer bury our heads in the comfort of our own affairs. We must explore the planet whose orbit we share.”
Another councilor stood and clapped methodically. The mocking echoes silenced the murmurs as he offered the hologram a false grin. He waggled a finger as he descended to the edge of the dais. “However, you’re not being honest with us.”
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