Chapter Ninety - Lost

There were currently three major factions ruling the Helixia galaxy during the seventeenth era; The Helixian Empire, The League of Advanced Planets and the Alliance of Worlds. The borders between these three factions fluctuated from time to time when conflicts arose due to planets and moons along the border and there were several areas that could be considered no man's land, where the solar systems remained primitive or simply refused to be swept into the politics of the factions. In one such region of space, considered no man's land as it simply had no value to anyone, three world's circled a dying star.

The world furthest from the red sun was simply known as RS3. As with its sister worlds, archaeologists had found signs that the world's had once been inhabited by a star faring race. In fact, due to the advancement of the race's technology and as proven by age detecting techniques, it seemed the race was already advanced when they lived upon RS1. And when this world was no longer inhabitable, they moved to RS2, then RS3 respectively. Archaeologists concluded that their original world had circled the sun when it was yellow and thriving, but this was probably consumed when the sun reached the stage where it had burned up all it's hydrogen reserves and expanded as it began to feed upon the helium gas waste. In a desperate attempt to survive, they reasoned, the race moved to planets further away from the sun, only to fall in the end. This last was concluded as they had not found any signs of the race or their technology anywhere else in the galaxy and the oldest claimed race reached the stars only five thousand years ago and were from the other side of it.

Archaeologists occasionally revisited RS3 as there was still much undiscovered, but as there seemed no real benefits to disturbing this system's last grave, their visits were short and infrequent due to lack of funds. Guran Vi Du was an intern on the latest expedition, but he did not want to be. In view of filial duty, he had followed his mother to the site and studied archaeology and ancient history in university, but in actual fact, his dream was to be landscape artist! His mother snapped him from his musing, asking him to pass her a fine scalpel laser. He obliged and peered over her shoulder to see what she had found. It appeared to be a piece of metal cut in the shape of a kite and no bigger than his big toe. It really didn't look that interesting to him, but he did notice that it seemed to have escaped the wear of time, with not a speck of rust on it's dull surface.

Just as he thought this, it suddenly twitched. He blinked to see if he wasn't seeing things, but his mother dropped it, startled and backed away. The metal shape suddenly developed tiny legs and scuttled towards them causing them to quickly retreat. Suddenly there was a scream to their left, grabbing their attention. Millions of small things poured out of the cracks in the dry earth and began to swarm down on the archaeologists. Their protective suits were as waste paper, unable to provide any safety from the swarm. Some fled to the ships, but were horrified to see those ships crumble before their eyes as if eaten by the metal creatures.

His mother suddenly shrieked, waving her arm about as the one she had found had crawled up her body while she was distracted, but she was unable to fling it off. Guran attempted to swipe it away for her, but a sharp piercing pain upon his neck somehow took away his ability to move. His bright eyes began to dull as he fell to the ground. He did not witness the creatures swarm him.

*****

The Alliance had lost communications with the small archaeology team almost a week ago, but they were not too concerned as such cheap digs took the barest minimal comforts and communication technology tended to be on its last legs. If it were not for the reputable university that sponsored the team kicking up a stink, the authorities likely would have left the situation alone for another week. They had more important things on their plate that rescuing one small group of archaeologists! Their current clean up of Pirates was not going well and a sun in the fifth quadrant had gone super nova and they were busy rehoming the survivors.

They eventually sent a token force of three ships to RS3, which returned with the group in tact. Apparently, there had been just a few mechanical problems, leading to them being unable to get word out that they were stuck on the planet for the time being. Their ships had now been repaired. They apologised for the inconvenience. The Alliance authorities gave the university face and did not send them any reworded forms of 'I told you so.'

Things moved on in the Alliance as if nothing had happened.

*****

The woman opened her eyes, but did not see through them at the small dark nest of metal surrounding her. Holographic windows flickered about her, giving shots of information that only she could decipher. Her lips curved slightly, but it was as if she was unused to using these facial muscles. Now, with her few pawns moving to strategic positions, she just needed to wait...

*****

"Law, Luck," the teen boy called out, seeming to be nervous about something.

The twin boys both turned to gaze at him at the same time. Another year had passed and though the boys had entered the next stage of their lives, shooting up at the same time to reach the same height, voices deepening at the same time to reach the same depths, there were not many other changes in their lives. They still sought information on planets that not only seemed to vanish from the galaxy, but from the information network and the memories of everyone about them. The last world to vanish this way was Piliri 7, you could not even find their once famous coffee beans anywhere either. And if produce from a world was no longer about... what about the people?

"What is it?" Luck asked. Now that he was more used to this body, he was enjoying this incarnation. From tasting to touching, from smelling to hearing and seeing, everything was a novelty in this form. He especially seemed to enjoy the thrill of being chased by Pirate Hunting Imperialists, his heart would race in his chest and every sense seemed heightened a degree. The sweat that formed in his palms and the nervous anticipation, would they get away this time, would they survive? He couldn't get enough of it! Law shook his head, after sensing his thoughts. Luck, who had never tasted death, was a thrill seeker, who knew?

Zee shuffled upon his feet unconsciously. "Do.. do you think it is wrong or abnormal to like men?"

Law and Luck shared a glance, but the innocent Luck misinterpretated his meaning. "How is it wrong? I like you and you are a man."

"Zee doesn't mean in that way," Law mentioned aloud before adding silently; He means the like that I have for Warren. His heart saddened as he thought about his lover that he would not meet in this lifetime. Luck had already mentioned just a few days ago that the boy had not woken and that a lot less time had passed in the White space than it had here. Luck tilted his head. He sort of understood, but at the same time he did not. Emotions were still quite new to him and he had never experienced the thing called 'Love.'

Law turned to face his friend. "Is there a man that you think you like?" He asked. Zee nodded, shyly.

"I.. I think so," he mentioned, touching his earring. Law had noticed that he did that a lot recently. "I'm not sure though.. it's not like I have seen that person in person for a while, but I can't stop thinking about him."

Law gave him a hug and Luck felt the raise in temperature about his chest. "It's alright. Liking men is not bad. I also like men, but for Luck and I it's a little more complicated than that."

Zee peered up at his young friend, noticing the hurt in his warm black eyes. "Do you think you and Luck will like the same person?" They already had the same taste in food and the same taste in clothes, shared the same skills and thoughts, why not the same like for a person? But Law shook his head.

"While Luck And I are very much alike," Law said, "there are still differences." Zee nodded in agreement. This was also true, for while Law was deep of thought, but very lazy in action unless he felt it worth it, Luck was pure and innocent and very helpful unable to sit still for long periods of time.

"Does Luck like men as well?" Zee wondered aloud. They both turned to gaze upon the boy, whose open expression revealed nothing and his bright eyes remained unchanged. They laughed jointly, Luck was clearly not ready to consider liking or loving anyone in that sense. And then Zee felt saddened, for it was unlikely his friends would ever be truly able to love someone in this lifetime, whether it be due to their own sensitivities or that of the persons that captured their hearts... there were too few people open minded enough to accept that these twins could never truly be apart. And here he was wondering if it was wrong to like a man!

Settling his doubts, he thanked the universe for his two friends and to Swab, who had rescued him from a otherwise dire fate. If it were not for them, he probably would not be able to fall in love at all. And besides, this crush, it was unlikely to go to fruition right? So why was he worrying at all?

Elsewhere, Jariden Thaulow sneezed.