Suucha’dak went on to save several more Skiuterans from death. He was able to use his powers to emit powerful shields around himself and his patients that would deflect incoming projectiles and debris from the surrounding explosions.
One Skiuteran soldier saw the miracles taking place on the battlefield and made the connection with the legends that he had heard as a child about the legendary creature of the beach of Mandocorel, the very beach on which they found themselves fighting now. Soon, all of the soldiers were watching him rush through the battlefield, tending to the countless injured soldiers. The white beaches had become scarlet. The creature seemed to the soldiers like a legendary apparition, giving them renewed courage. They charged at the Synarchy’s soldiers with new vigor, launching a murderous new wave of counter-attack.
Suu’chadak did not realize that he was the source of this new wave of momentum and bravery among the Skiuterans. As he continued to make his way across the battlefield, he finally stumbled upon one of the Synarch’s soldiers who was gravely injured. Mistaking the creature for an enemy fighter, the soldier cried out in terror. Suu’chadak used his powers to heal the man’s skin and and soothe his pain. The soldier looked up at him with a mixture of terror, surprise, and relief.
Suu’chadak was once again the center of attention in the battle. The Skiuterans could not understand his act towards the enemy. Their newfound courage left them as quickly as it had come, and the Synarch’s forces quickly regained control over the battlefield.
As he continued to heal all of the creatures that he could, Suu’chadak began to realize that so many lives were being lost, there would be nothing he could do that would stem the tide of destruction and stop the battle. During these few seconds of realization, he let his guard down and his shield dropped, just as an orbital strike slammed into the beach. Suu’chadak was launched high into the air and came crashing back down onto the beach, unconscious.
This proved to be the final blow to the Skiuterans. The Synarch’s forces celebrated, victorious.
Not far away, the waves washed over Suu’chadak’s immobile body, half-submerged in the sea foam. Several official looking Skiuteran men approached him. A heavy set man, who appeared to be the leader, spoke out first:
“Is this the creature you were telling me about?”
“Yes Mr. Governor. He healed numerous soldiers, Skiuterans as well as subjects of the Synarch”
“He doesn’t look as I pictured him. Who would have imagined a legendary healer looking like some strange cross between a humanoid and a manta ray? Strange.
In any case, get some samples of his blood. I will offer it to the Synarch as a sign of good faith following our surrender. After all, he was wise to become the friend of our invaders, this will cause less problems for us. Oh, and be sure that his actions towards the Synarch’s troops do not become known to the other Skiuterans. I would hate for him to become unpopular…”
A wide grin flashed across the Governor’s face. Despite the defeat, he would be able to preserve his post as governor, and even solidify some favor with the powerful Synarch. He silently congratulated himself for his skills as savvy diplomat.
Suu’chadak awoke a day and a half after the end of the hostilities. Plumes of smoke still rose from the embers of debris littered along the beach. A deafening silence had settled in. When he raised his head, he took score of the disaster. Countless lives had been lost, despite the prodigious healing that he had provided. Tears stung his eyes. He decided to drown them in the sea, and to leave this destructive part of the world, where lives purposefully extinguished other lives.