‘All good?’

‘Yes, ing hell, I already told you less than a minute ago.’

‘Yeah well, Humans are weak- gotta make sure.’

‘I’ll ing show you weak you bean pole- move!’

His friend cackles as he jumps away from his swinging punch.

‘Short arms! Are all Humans small like you?’

‘Literally fight me.’

‘Nah- I don’t fight children.’

‘You two! We’re still on mission!’

‘Sorry!’ they both yell back, but their team-leader has a suppressed smile on her face. Or a grimace. Either one, it was hard to tell with her features. But it was probably a smile; because they were finally out in clear open air, in-planet, and not inside a ship.

They jab at each other as they track through the rocks, low but strong lights illuminating their paths from their hand-held TeorSers.

‘You still haven’t told them about this have you?’ he asks as they stop goofing around. They couldn’t help it. They’d been stuck in a ship for almost a year. And this was the first planet they were able to dock into. And it smells fresh, but at the same time, it smells old. Up until now, they were walking over ancient igneous rock; black and smooth. But he knew they would soon approach; the massive valley they had flown over. Visibility was low- but morning was just beyond the horizon and they were walking towards it. Heavy storm clouds hung overhead, but with no sign of rain.

‘They’ll worry,’ he replies. ‘I don’t want her to worry. Besides, it’s not like I could anyways. Confidentiality and all that .’

‘Confidentiality or honest to goodness no communications line? I feel so stranded here.’

‘We got here just fine didn’t we? We’ll get out all right,’ he snorts, pausing a moment to catch his breath.

‘It’s getting steeper.’

‘Yeah, no Sherlock.’

‘Sherlock?’

‘Human phrase,’ he waves his hand dismissively.

‘What did you tell them?’ he asks.

‘I said it was a special case study; that I was part of a diplomatic mission,’ he explains.

‘Well…that’s not entirely a lie.’

‘No…no it’s not.’ He agrees.

‘You didn’t even tell them that you were joining the corps were you?’

‘I don’t think they would like the idea of it,’ he shrugs. ‘They think I’m still part of the Raksane Tayi Scientific Panel.’

That part wasn’t a lie. He was still part of the Scientific Panel. Maybe just not the “scientific” branch of it though.

‘She’ll find out when she joins the schools in Tayi; you know that, right?’

‘Yeah- but that’s something I will worry about in 2 years’ time.’

They walk in silence for a while. Their team is spread out but evenly, all within eye-sight. They’d been walking for nearly 5 hours now, but they encountered nothing. No insect, no animal, no Beings.

‘You think we could discover anything though? I mean; we were given permission but this still sort of feels like breaking and entering.’

‘The entire planet is under their supervision- their people as well,’ he shrugs. ‘We’ll be fine.’

‘Yeah; I hope so. Can’t wait to sleep on the ing ground with rocks and everything.’

‘I’m not that desperate.’

‘Yeah sure-..what was that?’

He pauses, ears pricking up at once.

‘What is it?’ their team-leader asks at once.

‘Do you hear that?’ he asks. They all trusted his ears the most. His species were known for their particularly keen hearing abilities- rumors were that they could even hear thoughts if they tried hard enough (all complete bull, according to him).

Everyone quiets down, alert and cautious. Then he hears it.

A soft quiet voice, singing in the distance, carried by the wind.

They were in a wide rocky terrain, the wind could pick up on the sound, no matter how far, and spread it wide and around, bouncing and echoing on the rocks.

‘Is that…is that singing?’

‘I think it’s singing.’ He confirms.

‘Bring out the frequency-radar,’ she orders one of the others. ‘Run a scan- is it digital or real. It’s too clear to be heard-‘

Then a loud very real, very deep sound permeates the air followed by a flash of bright magenta light.

They all cover their eyes immediately but he’s still looking up at the sky, into the stormy clouds, pupils following movement over the dark sky.

‘What is it-?’ he tries to ask but the sound is gone just as immediately as it had come. The singing had stopped too.

‘What was that?’

‘A ship,’ he reports at once. ‘Extremely large- very fast. Round in shape.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Positive.’

‘We can’t take chances- we’re in unchartered territory; we need to make careful moves. We need to be cautious.’

‘I thought it was said that the planet was dormant?’ one of them demands. ‘Practically unknown to the rest of the Universe?’

‘That’s what the readings say- we can’t be sure.’

‘Did you recognize the design?’ she asks him.

‘No,’ he replies at once. ‘I’ve never seen it before. And I don’t think anyone would forget it.’

‘All right- we stick to the plan. No splitting up, no deviating. Just keep a sharp eye out; anything unusual, you report at once. Everyone clear?’

‘Clear.’

‘Run that frequency –radar, let’s find that source.’

*

Curses leaving his mouth in a rough torrent of languages, Sk’jin finds himself on a mildly cool marble floor, patterned with light and think veins of gold.

‘Sk’jin, thank you for coming to meet me.’

Khol’isa etiquette dictated that you bow, lowering yourself while bowing your head once. They had a culture of being courteous; an entire culture situated around the elegance of movement, of refined and systematic gestures used to convey and or reflect thoughts and behavior. The Khol’isa were known as some of the most elegant, noble, and wise Beings living in the Universe.

But Sk’jin does none of this. He feels far from elegant, far from refined. He’d been jumped- and then knocked out. When he had come around, he had found himself bound, gagged, and stuffed into a cage of sorts.

He just stands at the doorway, looking into the office he remembers all too well.

‘What do y’want?’ Sk’jin demands at once.

‘I just wished to speak to you,’ K’mara states simply. ‘When we awoke from the Bloodmoon, only 73, 821 of us were sane enough to survive. Ever since then, only 48, 104 of us adapted to the new world we found ourselves in. I know each and every of my people- I know them by face, by name, and by the nightmare we all shared. And yet, I do not know you. I do not see you in my memory. Who are you?’

Sk’jin doesn’t reply, instead he makes himself comfortable on the chair. The office is incredibly pristine, opulent but not tasteless. Sk’jin feels out of place in here. It was a complete reversal from his current living conditions. Speaking of which.

‘I wasn’t aware you knew where I lived,’ Sk’jin scowls at the Khol’isa in front of him. ‘How’d you find me?’

Their eyes lock and the sharp, bright pull of her eyes summons a blinding pain to his temples. He hates himself for looking away. Hates himself for the way the world of red, hands, and glass spear through his memories.

‘I have a very good team under my command,’ she says instead. ‘No one can truly hide from me. Where there are Beings, there is greed, there is need, there is desperation. This greed, their desperation, can all be bought in exchange of information.’

‘Well congratulations then,’ he spits out.

‘So, will you speak with me? You are the prodigal son, long lost, and now returned. I would welcome you amongst our people again- to give you a home-‘

‘Nice try- it ain’t happening,’ Sk’jin sneers. ‘I’m here, livin’, doin’ what I want, not getting’ ‘to trouble. I ain’t causing , so you can leave me ‘lone. T’was nice meetin’ you and - so I’m gone.’

Sk’jin stands, pushing back his chair.

‘How is Zitao?’

Sk’jin was expecting this. So he doesn’t show any change in his expression. He also knew that he couldn’t lie to K’mara.

He had known, the moment the guards had shown up at his door. He had hoped that he would be able to live, undisturbed, just for a while, before he felt ready and sure enough to move out into the Universe again.

Taeh’yung had done his best. Bringing him back, pulling him out of that space- he had been given no explanation, because Taeh’yung didn’t know how to explain it. He did, however, carefully and gently tell him one thing that now haunted his steps and every move.

‘I’m sure y’know better than me,’ he mutters, still standing. ‘Didn’t ya say ya got eyes everywhere? Why ask me when you probably track ‘im?’

‘It’s safety precaution- and we do not invade privacy. I just simply know where he is- and besides, it’s not like he’s hiding either. Unlike you.’ K’mara leans back on the chair, lifting her chin a little to look him straight in the eye again. Sk’jin looks away.

‘As you well know; I was able to find out more about your life- a little more about your story. You were difficult to track- but you lead quite the illustrious life didn’t you?’ K’mara smiles before she lifts up an incredible flat and highly customized screen. She taps across the surface for a moment in feigned contemplative action. ‘Sk’jin, you were the leader of what most would consider to be the largest pirating network in the Known Universe. You controlled more than half of the Underverse and you were one of the main reasons why the Venture Unit couldn’t buy or deal connections with the Underverse. Such power- a pity it all fell away because of one smartly placed agent who lead you awry.’

Sk’jin grits his teeth down, hands itching to rub at his temples because his headache was persisting now.

Lies, he thinks.

‘That was a lifetime ago,’ he manages. ‘It’s irrelevant.’

‘Is it?’ She tilts her head to the side. ‘It says here you went to Orẹ 7 months ago- how is that irrelevant? Wasn’t he from Orẹ? Why did you go there if it was irrelevant?’

‘Why are you following me?’ Sk’jin demands.

‘Please sit down Sk’jin, and allow me to explain why I asked you here-‘

‘-your ing men dragged me here out of force!’ Sk’jin gesticulates wildly.

‘And I apologize for that,’ K’mara replies smoothly. ‘We had no choice but to use force; I knew you would refuse to come see me if I asked you.’

Sk’jin stares down at K’mara for a while before he takes a seat stiffly again. K’mara smiles and leans forward as though preparing herself to speak. Clearing , she starts.

‘I will not ask you for details regarding your life while you were away, or pry into how you are here, or about Zitao,’ she declares. ‘These are private aspects of your life-‘

‘-so now you respect my privacy?’ Sk’jin mutters scathingly. Nonplussed, K’mara continues.

‘Private aspects of your life and so it shall remain. I have brought you here because I wish to offer you a deal.’

‘No.’

‘No?’

‘No.’

‘You don’t know what I’m going to say.’

‘No I don’t, and I don’t care either,’ Sk’jin shrugs. ‘I ain’t about whatever you do ‘round here.’

‘So you’re saying you’re not at all curious? About what happened to you? Why it happened? ‘Don’t you want to know more?’ K’mara asks. ‘You were tricked by-‘

‘Look,’ Sk’jin interrupts. ‘I was played- happened. It’s not a big deal ‘nymore. It happened, so it happened. It’s in the past.’

‘How generous of you,’ K’mara smiles. ‘So are you saying you don’t want to read his files?’

Sk’jin’s eyes snap up to meet K’mara’s.

‘What the do y’mean?’

‘He was an agent- of course he kept records and made reports. He also had a highly detailed private account- it was only recovered less than a sol ago, after we were able to finally go through all of the remains on that planet.’   

‘He worked for the Venture Unit,’ Sk’jin says sharply. ‘Why do you have it?’

‘Under the GLA Clause of mission-related recovery on GLA-authorized mission, the recovery and or discovery of such items is under the property ownership of the organization responsible for bringing it back,’ K’mara says smoothly. ‘Any and every thing we found on that planet is under the GIU now. Including you.’

Sk’jin tenses.

‘I am a living Being- I am not owned,’ Sk’jin hisses out.

‘But are you?’ K’mara leans forward a little bit again. ‘What happened to your horns?’

‘ you,’ Sk’jin hisses. ‘I’m through here.’

‘You can’t leave. I won’t allow it.’ K’mara states simply. ‘Please sit down. You may leave after I explain everything.’

‘Then stop ing talkin’ in circles and get to the point!’ Sk’jin snaps.

‘As Khol’isa, we come the closest to immortality,’ K’mara says instead. ‘Immortality, as we both know, is nothing more than just extending a single nightmare. A nightmare you can’t escape, make what you will of it.’

‘The are you trying to say?’ Sk’jin sighs out.

‘The Hyper-Reality Expansion program was designed to look into the possibility of creating an alternative dimension that would be able to control and manage large numbers of Beings. Not just within planets; this program, if successful, would have been able to control Systems and galaxies- maybe even the entire Universe. Of course, as we both know, it was not successful.’ K’mara laughs lightly. ‘Creating this blanket would have required a source of energy- a force that could continue on and on, ever expanding, ever growing- continuously over and through time and space. And of course, you would think Life-force is the answer. But I think we both know it’s not.’

Sk’jin feels his palm sweating.

‘I won’t ask you about what you know- but I think we both know what I’m talking about. Who we’re talking about,’ K’mara emphasizes lightly.

‘What does this have to do with me?’ Sk’jin asks tersely.

‘As you know, the Gaia case has been closed and shut from the mass public,’ K’mara sips on her tea for a moment before continuing. ‘No one is to know about what took place- who orchestrated it, and why it was done.’

‘Sure,’ Sk’jin shrugs.

‘And it is regrettable to say that though this discovery has been one of monumental exposure of just how truly enriched in evil we are as a system of organizations, it has also exposed unexplainable additions that we cannot explore openly.’ K’mara adds with a pause, ‘Additions that could all combine to form and create another Gaia Case.’

‘This has nothing to do with me,’ Sk’jin mutters.

‘It does.’ K’mara replies carefully. ‘When you were the pirate-lord of the Underverse, you kept all alliances between the Venture Unit and the pirating networks at bay- or at least most of it. After you left, we were able to form a stronger alliance with the Underverse- we were able to trace and find stronger connections within our cases, purge those who would wish to harm the lives of innocents and ruin what we have worked so hard to achieve.’

‘Well, I’m sorry I stole that from y’all,’ Sk’jin scoffs with an eye-roll. ‘Spaces, the entire in’ GLA and GIU couldn’t ing break through the Underverse- it’s no wonder y’didn’t catch wind of any of what was happenin’ ‘round you- you in’ think you’re all doin’ a good job aren’t you? Think twice- y’don’t know ‘bout anythin’.’

‘And I agree,’ K’mara nods. ‘We don’t know anything. If what has happened recently implied anything, it is that we’re blind. Extremely blind- and it’s not just us- not just the GLA, not just the GIU- even the Underverse. There are forces, there are dimensions, creations and Beings beyond the scope of our understanding- with abilities and power we cannot hope to understand.’

‘And I’m here because you want me to go back ‘n stop it all for you? Sweet, but not ‘nterested- sorry,’ Sk’jin raises his hands up.

‘Not stop it. I want you to go and understand it for me.’

‘You want me to work for you?’

‘I do.’

Sk’jin laughs, throwing his head back.

‘There is a mission being created and put together right now; by myself, and a few others who think like me- perhaps not all honourable or trustworthy, but we all still stand by the same thing,’ K’mara says, ignoring the way Sk’jin slumps against the table, still wheezing.

‘Oh yeah?’ Sk’jin hiccups. ‘What’s that side?’

‘The side where I can still live as I do- where I can still do as I please,’ K’mara states simply. ‘I am not going to try and sell you GLA propaganda and tell you that this is for the betterment of the Universe and all living Beings. I am here, asking you to risk yourself for me because I am selfish and will not allow some misinformation, or ignorance, to take away what I’ve worked so hard for.’

Sk’jin is taken aback.

‘Well- y’ain’t holdin’ back anythin’ are you?’ Sk’jin laugh humourlessly.

‘I do not lie to my fellow Khol’isa,’ K’mara says. ‘And I do not think you would appreciate it either.’

‘And what’s this mission ‘bout?’

‘We were able to trace back, with information we were lucky enough to gain directly from an eye-witness and source, about the possible genesis of what triggered the start of the Gaia Case,’ K’mara explains. ‘I think you might have met him before.’

Sk’jin doesn’t respond to that, a vivid image of striking silver eyes comes to mind.

‘When we studied this information further we came across an “addition”,’ K’mara says carefully.

‘You mean when the GLA or the GIU do something they’re not supposed to do and things up?’ Sk’jin offers.

‘Possibly yes,’ K’mara sighs. ‘We were able to trace this information to Bhumi- an estranged System that refused the GLA but signed a treaty of peace as long as they were left undisturbed.’

‘’m guessing this peace didn’t last long.’

‘It did not. They were a strange race of species- their abilities and skills, not to mention their elemental structure- it was all ancient­- they had a culture, a whole new life and existence beyond anything we have ever seen and known- untouched and hidden almost.’

‘But you found them- or did at least once.’

‘An accident,’ K’mara says carefully. ‘There are no details further explaining what happened.’

‘Sure.’

For the first time since this entire ordeal started, K’mara seems to lose her composure at Sk’jin’s lack of interest. And before she can say anything Sk’jin makes a show of yawning and gets up.

‘Well- this was fun ‘n all, but I’m gonna go-‘

‘Some of them are still alive,’ K’mara says abruptly.

‘What?’

‘Members of your crew- some of them are still living,’ K’mara says gently. ‘Some are in prison- some are still roaming the Underverse.’

Sk’jin doesn’t say anything- doesn’t speak.

‘Don’t you wish to see them?’

See them and do what?

‘I cannot imagine what you must have gone through,’ K’mara says quietly. ‘I cannot imagine the pain you must have suffered. It was as though the Bloodmoon followed you there.’

‘Yeah well- what’s done is done.’

‘And this could all repeat again.’ K’mara says emphatically.

‘And what do you want me to do about it?’ Sk’jin demands. ‘Sure I know - sure I went through - I’m not involving myself anymore-‘

K’mara pulls out another screen and slides it over to Sk’jin.

‘These are all the files he ever had- reports, entries, everything,’ K’mara pushes it towards him. ‘I am sorry I had to break your privacy to read it.’

‘My privacy?’ Sk’jin repeats.

‘You were mentioned many times in there.’ She smiles. ‘I am sorry.’

Sk’jin frowns.

‘Consider this my gift to you,’ she says with a small sigh. ‘And if you are willing to speak to me again; then you can come to me any time.’

Sk’jin wonders just how many sols it took for any single Being to ever find themselves truly free of what once held them together.

‘Or I’ll come find you,’ she smiles. And it’s a promise. A threat. Sk’jin’s wariness spikes up again as he looks up from the screen on the table to K’mara’s face.

‘Would you like a new place to stay perhaps? I’d hate to see a brother in such an unfair disposition.’

‘I’m doing quite well- thank you,’ Sk’jin says in clipped tones, stepping back. ‘I would appreciate you not comin’ ‘round to bother me ‘nymore.’

He turns and walks towards the doors.

‘You won’t take it? I think you should.’ K’mara calls after him.

‘The past is in the past,’ Sk’jin turns to look her straight in the eye even though his head hurts as a result. ‘That’s the problem with our people- we live in the past. We can’t move on.’

His hand is on the door-handles when K’mara calls after him again.

‘Sk’jin.’ She says quietly. ‘He left you a message.’

‘I don’t care!’ Sk’jin turns around, voice shrill and sharp. ‘I don’t give a about some ing message- or any of this ! It won’t stop what happened- it won’t stop the nightmares- it won’t stop their voices! It won’t bring them back to life!’

‘If that’s so, what’s the harm in taking this?’ K’mara replies calmly, unperturbed by Sk’jin’s retort.

Fuming and disbelieving of his own actions, Sk’jin storms back to the desk and grabs the screen.

‘I’ll be waiting,’ K’mara says, no expression on her face.

Sk’jin slams the door behind him.

*

In the beginning it was different. There was a room he’d be taken to. Once a week.

And at first they do nothing more than analyze him. Strange looking- they were all strange. None of them looked alike. None of them seemed related to each other. Their faces and forms were all strange and different. A few looked like his people, but they clearly weren’t. they spoke a lot- but he couldn’t understand their words.

Then it started changing.

He was taken to another room, at regular intervals. They would look at his skin, apply something cold, or sometimes hot, or simply spray him with something. He didn’t know what was happening.

Until one day he woke from his nightmares into another one. His skin was on fire, and his bones were frozen.

They took him away and put him to sleep.

When he woke up he lay in a bed soaked with blood- his own. And with the side of his body open.

When he screams he’s cut short and made to sleep again. He doesn’t know or understand how they do it but he goes back to sleep.

And when he wakes again, he’s on a cold hard surface. No blood. No colours. Only cold and grey. There are 8 moons above him; shining bright and strong.

He calls for his mother. For his father. For his brothers and sisters. But no one comes. No one answers.

There is no eclipse in the sun. There is no ceremony celebrating the eye in the sky.

Someone steps in front of the 8 moons- a giant it would seem. It speaks, voice harsh and coarse to his ears.

He raises something in his hand- something small but something that looked sharp.

Darkness falls again and he’s in his nightmares again. But he finds safety in them now. Because in these nightmares, he knew wasn’t really in pain. That he wasn’t actually bleeding.

Everything changes when he opens his eyes again.

‘He’s too young for the fights. There’s no point in sending pipsqueaks like him to the fights.’

Their words made sense.

‘We could get the young ones fight against each other.’

‘That’s not gonna entertain- that’s and boring as .’ Another voice snorts. ‘He seems resilient though- not a lot of his category survived you know? It’s been maybe a whole sol since we started? We should use him as one of the study-subjects. I think the researchers will want him.’

How did he understand them?

‘We’ll get paid good for him- he seems more advanced than the rest.’

‘All right- take him away.’

He stops feeling the colours one by one; until everything fades away into one blurred scream of pain and hopelessness. At one point, he just stops feeling.

He no longer felt like himself.

There was only one thing that persisted in him.

And that was colour.

One single colour.

Bleeding into his vision, stinging him under whatever remained of his skin. And despite coming to hate it. Despite wishing it away. It’s the only thing that grounds him. The only thing he can cling on to.

*

Sk’jin really hates himself for this. He was so predictably weak. So predictable. Of course K’mara would come for him from this angle.

He slumps onto the low flat bed of the apartment he’d been hiding in- the owner had apparently left for a holiday of sorts. It was one of the better living arrangements he had gotten into.

It was taking him longer than we wanted, adapting to the Universe and how much it had progressed and changed since he was a part of it. And now he wasn’t sure if he was even part of the universe anymore. Was he even alive?

He takes out the screen and without allowing himself to think much about it, scrolls through the menu tab until he comes across a video message with his name on it.

Hands shaking, Sk’jin takes a deep breath before tapping on the file.

It’s old. The quality of the footage is a little scratched and Sk’jin can tell it’s been edited to clear up the damaged bits of the pixels of the corrupted data. But it does nothing to prepare him.

Despite the jagged edges of the footage and the obvious aged appearance to the video, he has never looked so real to Sk’jin. Dimpled smile on place, large brown eyes filled with nervousness rather than his usual dignified glare. His body language indicated just how high his nervousness must have been when he’d been recording this. It was strange seeing him like this- he was always so reassuring, so well poised, serious, and calm. His mannerism bordering on stoic- egging Sk’jin to heckle and .

It was surreal seeing him like this. What he’d been seeing in his waking nightmares was nothing more than a tinted hazy echo.

It was almost as though he had come back.

‘Hey,’ he coughs. He always coughed when he was nervous. And he was only ever nervous around Sk’jin. ‘I’m guessing this is something you’d watch if…if things don’t go how I planned them to go.’

He looks around for a moment, dark grey hair falling over his eyes before he pushes it away as though annoyed. It did annoy him, Sk’jin knew that all too well. But he grew it out because Sk’jin had told him that he liked his hair like that. That he enjoyed brushing his hair with his fingers.

‘I think you always knew-‘

‘I did,’ Sk’jin whispers in reply, unable to help himself.

‘-but you just kept me around- keep me around,’ he corrects himself. ‘I thought you were gonna toy around with me- then if I was lucky you’d kick me out. Or maybe even kill me. But you didn’t. You uh- you just…sort of…gave me everything. Was that your plan all along? Were you…were you…-did you do that on purpose?’

He huffs as though laughing at himself.

‘I didn’t,’ Sk’jin replies quietly. ‘You know I didn’t.’

‘They sent me here- on an off-chance, that I’d be able to convince you- or maybe influence you. To discover more about the Alliance. To really infiltrate the that’s going on in this Universe. You always said I cared too much- that it would be used against me. That it was a point that could be used to manipulate me. And maybe that is what they used to get me here- and maybe I’ll die because of it. But...I got to meet you, didn’t I?’ he laughs quietly, wiping at his face before he looks down, expression serious.

His chest aches. Sk’jin hasn’t felt this in a long time.

‘It’s not…it’s not just the Alliance. There’s something darker- something far worse than what we think the Alliance is doing. There were records of sightings- rumors and stories. Things that don’t make sense. But it all stemmed from the Underverse- it’s why we’re trying so hard to forge this deal- trying to open the Underverse so that we can get the connections. But…’

‘But you knew that opening that connection would also mean opening it for everyone and everything else,’ Sk’jin says quietly.

‘You’ve lived for so long- not calling you old!’ he grins in that rare way Sk’jin loved; where his dimples seemed to deepen to impossible depths. Sk’jin remembers poking into them sometimes, asking him if he kept food there to eat later. ‘And you’ve seen so much. Been through so much. And I know why you would…try to protect what you have now. Because I try to protect what I have. And at this moment, it’s this place. It’s this ship. It’s you.’ He pauses a while. ‘I want to be serious, but it’s kinda difficult when I can hear you shouting in the Bridge even from here. I think Ti is going to come get me in a moment- she’ll probably scream at me to scream at you.’

That was possible. It was extremely possible. Sk’jin guesses that’s exactly what happens.

‘I still don’t know if you’re just…if you’re just toying with me. I hope you’re not. I hope you weren’t. Or maybe it would be better if you did. I don’t know,’ he pauses, as though distracted. Sk’jin hears his own voice in the background.

He laughs quietly, eyes twinkling in that rare way they sometimes did.

‘I…I think I should just stop this here- and tell you face to face.’

And he did. He did, and Sk’jin now wishes he hadn’t.

‘And I shouldn’t…I shouldn’t leave this for you should I? I should probably also tell you- I have faith. Not in the fact that you have to make the right choice. The right decision or because you feel obliged- morally or whatever. But faith in you. And unless I’m being played. Unless this is all…just a way of messing with me- then I’ll say it here,’ he looks straight at the camera, warm brown eyes serious and heavy. ‘The Universe is so much wider, so much more than we could ever fathom. There are forces that exist- either good or bad, we cannot tell. And I know you’ll say that it’s my “annoying hero-complex” and “stereotypical protagonist who lives with his own self-righteous convictions” speaking but I also know that you understand exactly what I mean. And I know, that you will do it one day. Because you’re not what you make yourself to be. You are so much more.’

He smiles that smile again- impossibly fond and endearing.

‘I NEED YOU TO COME AND CONTROL YOUR DAMNED BOYFRIEND FOR A MOMENT HERE-‘ Ti bursts through the door, light flooding the dark room.

‘NOT MY BOYFRIEND!’ Sk’jin hears himself scream back.

‘I LITERALLY DON’T CARE- DO SOMETHING!’

He chuckles, shaking his head fondly.

‘The Khol’isa make life-long promises and hold true to that,’ he ponders a moment, readying himself to head back to the Bridge. He’s fiddling with the edge of his sweater. ‘And I promise you now, that I’ll make you see it.’

*

It’s a beautiful day.

Šerdesas was typically beautiful all day round- including their nights which Sk’jin preferred. But the sunrise feels nice. 

And dressed as though to match the sunrise, K’mara walks towards him in robes of rosy pink lined with gold leaves.

‘It is a beautiful morning,’ K’mara says in way of greeting before she bows elegantly.

‘It is,’ Sk’jin replies, standing to bow in response. K’mara seems pleased at his mannerism before they both sit on the park bench. They both sit in silence for a while, not speaking.

‘I accept your offer.’ Sk’jin says lightly. ‘Under a few conditions of course.’

‘Of course,’ K’mara laughs in reply before asking, ‘What made you change your mind?’

‘I made a promise,’ Sk’jin replies smoothly, looking up at the rosy sky. ‘I don’t break my promises.’

‘Of course,’ K’mara says again.

‘When does this  mission start?’ Sk’jin asks, relaxing as he feels the sun on his skin.

‘In two years,’ K’mara replies. ‘You will have plenty of time to catch up, get back on your feet.’

Sk’jin wants to laugh at that. He’d been on his feet for a long time now. Too long.

‘Sounds good,’ he replies instead. He feels K’mara staring at him, her gaze questioning, as though unsure of how to react to Sk’jin’s behavior.

‘Well then,’ K’mara says, a little slowly. ‘I am glad. Welcome back Sk’jin; I hope we can finally conclude this mess together.’

‘Hm,’ Sk’jin hums in reply. He looks over at K’mara, sending her a bedazzling smile that seems to disturb his fellow Khol’isa. ‘I hope so too.’

K’mara is still looking at him with a guarded questioning look.

Sk’jin sits up straighter, turning his body towards the smaller Khol’isa.

‘So, shall we discuss my terms and conditions?’

*

The ground beneath him shakes.

Portends of another fall. Of lives lost.

Of voices screaming endlessly into the void. Of dreams stained black and red and white.

Out of habit, out of routine, out of need he steps out towards the sound.

The sun is neon but bleak- fumes of heat rise about him, the foliage heavy with humidity; almost as though bearing the same fate as all who landed here.

The sound was far off. Perhaps over two or three horizons. But the tremors had reached him- they always did. No matter how far off, no matter how distant. Because he was connected to it- to that world where time was replaced with the fear of slipping into a nightmare. A great plunge, slow, dark, and crushing.

He takes his time walking. Was he even walking? He just was- he just…moved. He felt no form of himself- he felt no shape of his Being, placed within the dimensions of this reality. Or rather, the reality he once knew.

Smoke rises- a tall column, stark yet faded; tinted red.

He can hear their voices before he sees them. Confusion, distrust, panic, worry.

It’s the same.

He watches them for a while- never too close in case it saw him again. It might have forgotten him for a while now; and he preferred it staying that way.

They last longer than the previous ones that fell. It’s unfortunate because it appeared as though they had come to this planet with the intention of finding it. They don’t seem surprised to see that ship- they study it; watching and observing. But they don’t have to look at it from afar to know of its nature when it stood amongst them- wearing the skin of one of their members.

It locks eyes with him for a moment before turning away. It knew he wouldn’t stop him. He never has. He never could.

They were at a stalemate with each other. Grudging forces in tandem with each other.

‘WHY ARE YOU HERE?’ it screamed at him.

‘I don’t know,’ he wanted to reply. It didn’t matter anyways.

In the end, there’s one that lingers. One that has understood. He doesn’t know how this Being has figured it out. But he’s accepting this- accepting the reality around him, or at least trying to, better than anyone he’s seen on the planet. He looks distraught but that was to be expected.

‘Who- who’s there?’ he demands one day, expression wild. He’d been following him around- wandering behind him slowly. Seeing if he was indeed capable of surviving. And so far, he had lasted the longest out of them all.

‘You can see me?’

‘I can ing see everything- get the out there and tell me what’s happening!’ he screams.

Not one to disappoint, he takes a step forward.

The Being, to his credit, doesn’t flinch, doesn’t waver. He just stares.

‘Who are you?’

‘I dunno.’

He seems to accept this answer.

‘How do I know you’re not…not part of that thing.’ He rephrases his question. ‘- how do I know I’m not ing crazy?’

‘Listen- kid, y’know you’re dehydrated and right? Go get some water or somethin’.’

‘No- no I can’t stay- I have to leave- there’s so much- there’s too much, I have to report back-‘ he begins freaking out again. His panic, confusion, and fear seem to coil out of him in smoky ribbons. A strange sight.

‘-they need to know- he needs to know,- if they find him; if they understand this-‘

‘Kid- calm down. Breathe- you need to breathe.’

He suddenly drops on the ground, his body shaking with shivers despite the fact that he’s sweating heavily, skin flushed in a way that suggested over-heating and sunburn.

He knew where everything was in this god-forsaken planet. And he knows that it wouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to get to a stream. Not that he ever used it or needed it; but he liked the sound. It was better than the white-noise that permeated his surroundings. Like some horrendous elegy into a nightmare.

‘Kid- calm down-‘

He’s not calming down. That much was for sure. And he doesn’t know how or why he does it but he swoops down on the Being, grasping onto his shoulders and dives straight into his mind.

Everything is black- and for a  fraction of a second, he sees the inside of a foreign ship, the silhouette of a tall Being, a lopsided lazy grin, and a nice gentle voice speaking.

When he comes around, he goes into shock.

His vision is clear- no red to tint his surroundings. He could smell the damp green in the air, feel the oppressive heat of the humid weather around him. He lifts his hands- talons on his fingers, scales spreading down from his wrist.

‘What are you doing?’ a small voice sounds inside his mind. Or their mind. ‘Who are you?’

‘Jus’sleep for a while kid- I need to do some stuff.’

He takes a while walking back. He wasn’t used to this form; not having a form for so long. But this…this felt different- it felt almost like hope. He drinks from the streams- and his senses go haywire, nearly collapsing under the sudden overload of information and feelings. And he finds himself collapsing onto the ground, breathing in harsh gasps. There was pain, but also comfort.

It felt strange.

And a little like redemption.

When he makes his way back, he realizes now just how bad it had all been. He barely recognizes the ship anymore. It’s entirely covered up in vines, grown over and thick from centuries of growth. The main ship is barely visible. It takes him a while to cross through. He cuts his body a little on the harsher, stronger, older vines. But he finally makes it inside.

It’s strangely preserved. As though he were walking through one of those recreational museums the younger ones were so enthusiastic about.

It takes him a while, but he manages to find all of them. Or at least, what was left of them. He takes them outside, towards a soft brown patch of soil. He dedicates the entire day into digging; keeping himself hydrated regularly.

He places the bones into the pit and carefully covers it.

The sun is low on the horizon and he turns back, walking back to the ship, and towards where he knew he was waiting.

His form is still there- stretched out towards the direction of his room, hand held up.

He still can’t decide if the look in his eyes was of damnation, or if it was of forgiveness.

He takes the fragile skeletal hand in his, remembering the flesh that covered it, the high and free laughter that fell from his lips in peals when he lightened up.

‘Maybe I can live up to that promise now.’ He says quietly, picking up the bones with utmost care. It felt strange to hear himself speak- to hear words mirroring his thoughts into real phonics and sound-waves. ‘I’m sorry it took me this long.’

*

Namjoon’s worried expression greets him when he opens his eyes. Momentarily, instead of Namjoon, it’s him, watching him with a worried look.

‘Hey,’ he says quietly. ‘How are you feeling? Can you hear me?’

Namjoon’s brow is furrowed, expression controlled and careful.

‘Unfortunately,’ Sk’jin replies, shaking himself awake. Neither of them were bound or cuffed- they’re inside a small room with no furnishing. Just bare walls. Namjoon is on one side, not looking too worse for wear. Namjoon’s skin is broken but there’s no bleeding. There’s a smattering of…something- Sk’jin isn’t sure. Bruises of some sort.

Namjoon rolls his eyes but it’s not out of irritation. Rather out of habit.

Sk’jin’s head is pounding and his throat feels as dry and coarse as sandpaper. He hated losing consciousness. Unnecessary memories resurfaced and he couldn’t stand it.

‘So- are we headed to our execution or are we about to witness the apocalypse?’ Sk’jin asks, sitting up carefully. He’s incredibly dizzy but speaks to distract himself.

‘They were just waiting for you to wake up,’ Namjoon jerks his hand to one side of the wall which promptly opens up and Van Seulgaan stands behind it.

‘- go away,’ Sk’jin mumbles irritably. ‘I don’t want to see your ugly face so soon after waking- it was hard enough with him being here.’ He nods at Namjoon who gives him a resigned frown.

‘Cheeky,’ Van chuckles. ‘Get up and follow me.’

‘No “please?”,’ Sk’jin mumbles again as he gets up, fighting his nausea. Namjoon helps him stand up though he waves the Kutsoglerin away the moment he’s stable enough not to totter about.

‘Sk’jin,’ Namjoon grits through his teeth, as though in warning.

‘Yeah yeah I know,’ Sk’jin grumbles in response. ‘Don’t be an etc. Right?’

Oddly enough this makes Namjoon smile. ‘At least you know yourself.’

‘Lead the ing way.’

The ship, now that they’re not crawling through bot-vents, is spacious and well designed.

There were staff, scuttling around in the long hallways. Many of them dressed in medically affiliated uniforms and Sk’jin doesn’t want to think of what takes place in this ship. It was perhaps a bit too ordinary, a bit too neat, and a bit too sterile looking. The stench from the vents still lingers in the air though.

For some reason, Sk’jin expects Van to take them to some prison or something, with OrTanks and cages, maybe throw them in there and aggressively torture them or something along that line. He doesn’t expect Van to take them to a spacious meeting room, overlooking the wide and open Hangar Bay opening, with Pompa looming a little below. There’s a long table at the center with comfortable seats and plates line up in front of three of the chairs. One at the head, and two facing each other.

Van gestures towards the seats and beckons them to sit down as he reclines back, reaching for a silver goblet filled with a pale orange liquid.

‘Something to eat? Drink?’ he gestures at the table as he grabs a bunch of fruits from a bowl and puts it on his plate. Namjoon doesn’t budge, shoulders a little tense but otherwise putting up a very convincing look of nonchalance laced with some mild irritation. As though he was being awfully delayed or set back with what was happening.

Sk’jin thinks ah it and reaches for a few of the fruits himself. Namjoon doesn’t seem surprised at his movements.  

‘So- we meet again,’ he nods at Namjoon after taking a sip from his goblet. ‘I was honestly just happy, ignoring you and your ship. But then you had to involve yourself with my ship- and you just happened to be carrying something rather interesting, mildly put,- and word is that you’re quite the catch right now.’

He peels one of the fruits, chewing thoughtfully before glancing over at Sk’jin, one eyebrow raised.

‘Sk’jin the pirate-lord,’ he says as though impressed. ‘One of K’mara’s now?’

‘I’d be mad because I’d say you’re racially associating me, but you’re right,’ Sk’jin replies through a mouthful of fruit.

‘Honesty. That’s nice.’

‘t’s expensive,’ Sk’jin manages to reply before swallowing. Namjoon gives him a tired look.

‘That too,’ Van nods in agreement.

‘So- why are we here?’ Sk’jin asks, wiping at his mouth.

‘Well- other than the fact that I caught you sneaking around my ship and completely corrupting my broadcasting channels- you happen to own a very special Being. One I am greatly interested in.’ Van explains. ‘And also, you nearly drove me bankrupt with that little stunt you pulled off in Grezma. I lost a lot of my bonds, most of my dealers, and an entire ship of goods. I had a lot of angry clients- and barely made it out alive.’

‘Pity,’ Sk’jin says before popping a few fruits into his mouth. They were delicious.

‘So it seems like you took my words to heart Namjoon,’ Van turns to address Namjoon. ‘Though I didn’t expect you to just suddenly drop out from the GLA radar like that. Word is that you’ve all gone rogue. Quite the bounty on your heads. Pulling off stunts like this isn’t going to help you out.’

He gestures towards the window, down at Pompa.

‘And I could report you. Or just arrest you right now.’ Van shrugs. ‘But I thought to myself. Why should I disregard a unit of Beings who were able to single-handedly, and I think I must add, unknowingly and unwillingly hindered and destroyed a business transaction that took 2 decades in the making.’

‘Indeed why should you,’ Sk’jin mumbles over his fruit. He feels Namjoon kick him. Instead he twists his feet and latches onto Namjoon’s foot, trapping him down. Namjoon glares at him from across the table, struggling to get his foot out but Sk’jin latches on. Van eyes the two of them, a mild look of judgment on his features before he continues.

‘I’ve long been a patron of the Pageant,’ he declares. ‘I have won some, lost some- it was a hobby of mine. I enjoy watching- something of a past time you could say. But it was never of much worth to me. Until today. In the Pageant, if you win, you could stand to earn a very good amount of units.’

‘You surprise me,’ Sk’jin peels a fruit with some difficulty.

Van hands him a fruit knife which Sk’jin takes with a nod of thanks.

‘And though I am not one for physical wealth-‘

Sk’jin snorts and Namjoon rolls his eyes.

‘-I have lost quite a bit recently. And you and your fellow…”crew members”- are to blame for this.’ Van reaches for a jelly like dessert, again filled with fruits and tucks into it with an elegant silver spoon. ‘So I will now strike up a deal- one that I might add, you don’t deserve-‘-you’re so kind,’ Sk’jin mutters lightly as he reaches for the dessert as well. Namjoon has given up trying to pull his foot away.

‘-and will now offer you to clear up your debt to me, so to speak,’ Van concludes, ignoring Sk’jin’s random inputs.

He looks at the two of them, as though expecting some sort of response to his statement. When he receives nothing but blank stares from both Sk’jin and Namjoon, Van continues.

‘You have an extremely capable fighter at your employment,’ he addresses Namjoon.

‘He’s not under my employment,’ Namjoon replies at once.

Van smiles blandly at that, ‘You have an extremely capable fighter in your crew. And we are now standing before the largest fighting arena in all of the Known Universe and Underverse combined.’

‘We don’t earn money from rogue-rounds,’ Namjoon states, his voice steely. ‘We are fighting to pay off our ransom.’

‘We all know that your GI friend could easily wipe through the rogue-rounds,’ Van waves his hand dismissively. ‘This isn’t a fight worthy of someone like him. He deserves to fight where his true worth can be really seen.’

Sk’jin’s skin crawls at that statement.

‘I have been lucky enough to witness the GI fight before,’ Van says unexpectedly, drawing the faintest look of interest in Namjoon’s eyes. ‘And I’m sure that this one will be able to pull through and win the Pageant for me.’

‘The Pageant?’ Namjoon repeats.

‘Yes. This is where the most money is made.’

‘I hate to be that Being but we aren’t registered,’ Sk’jin states, pushing away the jelly fruit. It was too sweet to his liking. ‘We can’t just hop into the Pageant and start fighting. There’s a process and they’re already at the semi-final rounds.’

‘Yes- that is true- but such contestants can back down and nominate another player in their stead,’ Van declares. ‘I’m sure some Houses and Guilds would prefer to back down, earn a lot of money, save their contestant, and come back for another year.’

‘You’re willing to spend units on that?’ Namjoon scoffs. ‘You contradict yourself.’

‘Not everything is bought with units,’ Van turns to address Namjoon with a thoughtful nod. ‘But you don’t have to worry about that aspect- the GI can enter the Pageant safely and within the rules-‘ he turns to address Sk’jin now and says with a smile, ‘So don’t worry.’

Sk’jin rolls his eyes in response.

‘So- what is your decision? Do you agree, or do I simply hand you over to the GLA?’ Van asks. ‘If you fight for me, and you win me my profits back- you are free to go.’

‘We will not make decisions without the rest of our crew-‘ Namjoon begins.

Van just reaches into his pocket, produces a screen and with a single tap, a holographic 3D live-footage plays.

Hoseok and Taeh’yung are sitting on either side of Yoongi, who appeared unscathed and actually a little bored. His hair was rumpled and his skin a little sweaty. But other than that, he didn’t have a single scratch on him.

‘Your captain wants to speak to you,’ he says to the hologram.

Taeh’yung starts at that and his eyes zero in on the camera lens and he beams brightly.

‘Pa! Jin! You’re both okay?’

‘Fine,’ Namjoon sighs in reply. ‘All good there?’

‘Peachy,’ Hoseok replies casually.

‘Yoongi? Doing all right?’ Sk’jin asks as he cuts up another fruit. The bowl was starting to get empty.

The Human holds up a thumbs up.

‘He won that round so easily! It was so cool! It was like, 10 seconds!’ Taeh’yung says excitedly. ‘He just went and bam! Done!’

Sk’jin and Namjoon share a look at that.

‘So. What’s up?’ Hoseok asks, grimacing and not even bothering looking at the camera.

Sk’jin speaks before Namjoon can, ‘You guys remember Van right? Slaver?’

‘He called me pretty!’ Taeh’yung chirps. ‘It was creepy!’

‘Yes- him,’ Sk’jin glances at Van who is watching all of this as though somewhat amused. ‘Well; it would seem that he lost a lot of units, and he’s holding us responsible for it for some reason.’

Taeh’yung gasps dramatically while Hoseok rolls his eyes. Yoongi is entirely unfazed, attention drawn elsewhere. Sk’jin isn’t even sure if he was listening to them.

‘So he’s saying if we win the Pageant, he’ll let us off of our “debt” and we’ll be “free”, though we had nothing to do with it.’ Sk’jin purposefully intones his voice, dripping with annoyance and irony.

‘That’s unfair!’ Taeh’yung stands up only to be pulled down by Yoongi who says, ‘That’s fine by me.’

Namjoon grimaces at that and again before he can say anything, Van claps his hands together, and smiles as he says, ‘Well- approval from your contestant, and your crew members know enough to understand that there’s no other way than to agree to my terms and conditions.’

Hoseok gives a short nod while Taeh’yung sighs dramatically and also nods.

‘Good.’ Van taps the screen and the hologram dies out.

‘So then, Captain Namjoon,’ he puts his hands together in a contemplative manner. ‘What do you say?’

Namjoon looks over at Sk’jin, one eyebrow raised. Sk’jin rubs his legs between his own, bouncing a little on his seat as he does so. He shrugs in reply, ‘Not much of a choice.’

Namjoon sighs before nodding stiffly.

‘Agreed.’

‘Perfect! Your contestant has 2 more rounds to win in the rogue-rounds, and then we’ll take him up to the Pageant,’ Van claps his hands together. ‘Well- now that that is out of the way. Let’s discuss the OrTank and why you have it.’ Van pushes his plate away, expression still mild and unchanged.

Sk’jin feels Namjoon stiffen though his interest is definitely piqued.

‘Throughout my long years in this business, I have come across many Beings. Rare, dangerous, unique, ancient- some downright abominable; but the most interesting ones I’ve come across are the eggs.’ Van says delicately.

‘The “eggs”?’ Sk’jin repeats, making sure his distaste was loud and clear over on his tone.

‘Yes. It’s what we call them. They’re extremely rare- and only sometimes do we get our hands on them. So when I saw that egg, and found that it belonged to your ship- I was doubly curious.’ Van replies. ‘How did you come by this egg?’

‘We don’t owe you an explanation-‘ Namjoon begins roughly, eyebrows furrowing in that way where his eyes become hooded.

It’s a good look for intimidation and looking aggressive but that’s not what they needed right now. Right now they needed some good ol’ honesty.

‘We’re working on a classified mission issued by the joint authority of the GLA, GIU, Yisheng Directory, and Venture Unit,’ Sk’jin reels off smoothly. ‘We are contractually obliged and restricted from telling anyone else other than those directly involved in this mission about the contents and objective of the mission. If you wish to inquire about our mission, however, please contact Admiral K’mara. She will readily explain to you.’

Namjoon gives him an unmasked and very open expression of disbelief and incredulity.

‘If you are indeed working for the GLA and all of them combined,’ Van waves a hand in a circle in the air. ‘Then why are you on the run?’

‘I am Admiral K’mara’s trusted aide,’ Sk’jin states simply as he leans back, allowing a coy smile to settle on his lips. ‘What has happened so far- being hunted across the Universe, being tracked and traced- is all part of our mission. Your involvement in our plan was not intended- I wish we could gather the full authority of the GLA to clear matters up between us, but that would be under direct violation of our contract as well as mission statement. Not to mention, you would probably not wish for this to take place, considering your position and status.’

‘If that’s the case, as a commanding officer of the GLA, I will further apprehend this egg as well as your mission and take over as advisor,’ Van replies smoothly. ‘By using the clause under the GLA policy of mission failure.’

‘You are first and foremost a member of the GLA are you not?’ Sk’jin asks, ignoring Namjoon’s nudges under the table.

Van nods to that.

‘So you should know that by under the GLA Clause of mission-related recovery on GLA-authorized mission, the recovery and or discovery of such items is under the property ownership of the organization responsible for bringing it back.’ Sk’jin reels off. ‘And this is only applicable if said mission has actually been terminated or has been set to deactivated. This is not the case with our mission, henceforth that clause is null. The egg is under our property and right- and our mission is still set. Whatever inconvenience we are facing at this moment is in fact due to your appearance and involvement.’ Sk’jin leans forward, brushing aside his hair.

‘Or do you want to associate yourself to the failure of this mission?’ Sk’jin asks. ‘And find yourself in court, questioned not only by the GLA but the Venture Unit, the GIU, and the Yisheng Directory?’

Van Seulgaan doesn’t comment. He simply stares straight at Sk’jin. But Sk’jin sees it. Sees him calculating.

Namjoon hasn’t said a word, watching them quietly from the side.

‘K’mara did well in choosing you as her pawn,’ Van says after a while. ‘We are at a stalemate.’

‘As agreed, we will win the Pageant, and all winnings will be transferred to you,’ Sk’jin leans back again, nodding once at Namjoon as though for confirmation. ‘Then we will leave- taking back with us everything that is rightfully and lawfully ours, under the mission statement. If you want to intrude you’re going to have to talk to Admiral K’mara.’

Sk’jin stands and not a second later, so does Namjoon.

‘This was a fun talk- we’ll be leaving now,’ Sk’jin says, giving his best dismissive nod towards Van before turning around and heading towards the doorway. He spares Namjoon a look and he can see the questions in his eyes. In this dim light, his eyes look like a warm shade of brown.

‘You’re relying on the goodwill of one of the most cruel Beings to ever place a seat on the GIU Trifecta,’ Van calls after him. ‘I hope you understand what it is that you’re doing.’

Sk’jin only turns his head around, smiling sweetly at the Tayian.

‘Thank you for your concern Van Seulgaan.’

*

Sk’jin walks past the ranks of Van’s guards breezily, arms clasped behind him as he takes lofty steps down. Namjoon is just a little behind him to his right, grimacing at everything and everyone. They walk out of the Hangar and back towards where their stolen maintenance Transporter was waiting for them. If it was still there.

He can feel Namjoon’s agitation rolling off of the Kutsoglerin in waves. He wants to look back and maybe a bit about it but it’s most likely that he’ll burst out into some agitated speech and Sk’jin doesn’t have time for that.

‘Hey! Hey you two!’

They both pause, finding a bunch of Docking Bay officers approaching them.

‘You’re trespassing- we’re here to take you back to Pompa, back to your ship,’ one of the Pompen states brusquely.

‘Oh! Oh my! We’ve been trespassing Namjoonie!’ Sk’jin giggles at the Kutsoglerin who grimaces even more in reply. ‘Please take us!’

The Pompen eye them suspiciously before they round around them and lead them through another hallway. Sk’jin skips along in the front, looking back to wink at Namjoon. Namjoon shoots him the most unimpressed look he’s ever managed. It’s a new record.

They’re taken to a regular Transporter used by the Pompen Sphere-Patrol and then unceremoniously pushed into a small holding cell with no seats and only hand rails.

‘Cozy,’ Sk’jin comments, leaning up against Namjoon.

‘There’s enough space for us to stand separately,’ Namjoon says brusquely.

Namjoon’s exaggerating- there was barely enough space for two of them. This would be small even for the Pompen.

‘But what’s the fun in that?’ Sk’jin leans a little closer- his head was still hurting. He was going to have to ask Taeh’yung about this- if he could give him an explanation that is. Namjoon tenses up even more, arching his body away despite not being able to.

‘Do I make you nervous?’ Sk’jin asks as he grins at Namjoon’s obvious discomfort. Namjoon stops fidgeting for a moment before sighing.

‘I’m not comfortable with close contact.’ He replies roughly, glancing down briefly at Sk’jin.

His eyes are warm and brown in this lighting.

Shaking his head a little, trying to clear his mind, Sk’jin grins a little late in reply. To make up for that, he leans in even more to the point where he now looped his arms around the Kutsoglerin. Namjoon isn’t the most comfortable Being to lean on but Sk’jin isn’t looking for comfortable. He’s just…teasing.

‘Well I’m comfortable with close contact,’ he says, resting his chin on Namjoon’s shoulder.

They’re quiet for a while. The transporter starts up, the holding cell hums lightly around them. There’s a single bar that’s loose and it rattles ever so slightly, creating a repetitive sound that Sk’jin knows will irritate him in a few minutes.

‘This is humiliating,’ Namjoon mumbles after a moment.

Sk’jin laughs.

‘Are you embarrassed?’

‘I’m uncomfortable.’ Namjoon says, his tone suggesting Sk’jin better move. But moving away would mean being almost face-to-face. And in this lighting, Sk’jin would prefer not to look at the Kutsoglerin’s face.

‘Don’t be- I’ll keep this moment secret and safe.’ Sk’jin readjusts his arms and makes himself more comfortable. ‘Might bring it up randomly but only suggest at it.’

‘Spaces, please don’t,’ Namjoon huffs out, hands awkwardly placed. Namjoon was slightly physically awkward when he wasn’t holding onto a screen or a using the Navigation Table.

‘Hm, sure daddy.’

Namjoon sighs as though exhausted. Sk’jin cackles.

‘How much of what you said was true?’ Namjoon asks.

‘Well- that depends,’ Sk’jin replies with an honest shrug. ‘K’mara does indeed trust me- and the OrTank is ours by law. Van can’t take it from us under the cover of following “laws” without exposing himself.’

‘And what if he does report to K’mara?’

‘He won’t,’ Sk’jin laughs a little. ‘You’re cute- you think he actually will? He knows he can’t.’

Namjoon finally looks down at him at that.

‘Good thing we have you as Communications Manager,’ is what he says and it’s not what Sk’jin was expecting.

‘Only the best for you Namjoonie,’ Sk’jin gives him his most beautiful smile- more effective under the sunlight but this would do for now. As usual, Namjoon is hardly fazed by his smile- Sk’jin isn’t exactly used to Beings not being effected by his beauty. So it’s honestly a little refreshing. Instead it’s like he’s studying him. Again, something Sk’jin is not used to.

Most Beings, when they discover his species, prefer not to look him in the eye. The same way Hoseok didn’t actually really hold eye-contact with him.

‘You’re keeping something,’ he states. It’s not a question, or one of musing- it’s a direct statement. And Sk’jin can’t contradict him. ‘I don’t know what it is. And at this point, I know I should be asking you about it. But I won’t. Because you know more about all of this then you want to explain. Maybe because you aren’t allowed. Maybe because you won’t- I don’t know. But what I want to know, is why you’re here. Why you’re still here.’

Sk’jin studies the Kutsoglerin’s face carefully in turn. At this distance it was hard not to.

There was an almost seamless blend between real and bionic skin- and Sk’jin can only tell the difference because he’s this close. Namjoon’s eyes are dark- a strange combination of something dark yet transparent. His eyes reflected light in a strange manner, making Sk’jin wonder how much of anything did he really see clearly. The strange mottled bruising is slowly fading away- faster in the area where bionic skin covered his face. Sk’jin wants to feel at Namjoon’s skin to see if the textures were different or not.

‘Other than enjoying your wonderful and invigorating company?’ Sk’jin asks in reply.

‘Yes- let’s not use my winning personality as the reason behind everything,’ Namjoon sighs, looking upwards again.

‘Well Namjoonie, it’s because now I see.’

*

He doesn’t know why he dreamt of the eclipse. He didn’t even know that something like that had happened when he was young.

Out of all the memories that could have resurfaced, it had to be one he had no recollection of.

Had it always been that way? Had he always lied to them?

Slowly, he gets out of bed.

They would be returning to Raksane Tayi today. A lot had happened apparently, but he couldn’t bring himself to stay up to date. All he knew was that it was over. Or that was what they had told him.

It was over, and it was thanks to him they were able to uncover so much. Thanks to him that they had come this far.

His hands are still burning, and he’s surprised no fire starts when he folds his blankets up.

It’s white out. The stars pulled into bright streaks as they warp through space, tearing through time and life. They would be there in an hour or so. He stands in front of the window, eyes fixed on nothing until the lines start to slow and form strange shapes and blobs. When he blinks the image is seared into his mind. But all he sees is the eclipse of that memory. Starker, brighter, and stronger than the stars that start to settle into their natural shape and form.

The bright and strangely sparkly lines around the Raksane Tayi System appears before him; her twin suns blinking at him from a high distance.

‘We will be arriving in 15 minutes.’

Mechanically he prepares himself. Logically speaking, he knew that the moment he stepped down, he would be whisked away for questioning and more questioning. Nothing he didn’t go through here in the ship. Then after that he would be expected to testify before the GLA Court, repeat everything he’s been repeating for the past 6 months.

It fell out of his mouth in perfect recital. He no longer felt anything about it anymore. It no longer even made sense to him. He was entirely detached and sometimes he wonders if it was a good thing.

By the time they arrive on one of the outer-system moons, docking the massive ship, he’s someone else. Not that he looked any different- he just could never recover who he was and now he was no one.

His parents always told him that to be a true agent, you had to be no one, and you had to be everyone.

If that was the case, he had done an excellent; because clearly all he had grown to believe and understand had all been a lie.

The moon is lightly populated- seeing as it was used for transit most of the time, the Beings gathered in this massive moon-dock were simply temporary tourists or maintenance workers. However, amongst this faceless crowd one sticks out to him in the most painful manner.

She looks older than the last time he saw her.

But then again, so did he. Or so he was told. Most of the time he barely recognized himself.

They don’t move any closer or any further. They just stare.

Then carefully, as though drawn to each other, they take careful light steps.

And with each step he takes he feels himself ignite. The floor cracks and splits from the heat he emanates- his shadow is warped like a mirage and his body tilts, back bending, head bowing and he can’t take it anymore.

Like a crumbling log of burnt wood, he falls over at her feet.

Air chokes out of him and it’s smoke- black, thick, and smothering.

But her hands are cool- her air is cool and as she falls next to him, he shudders from the sudden cold.

He gathers enough courage to look at her and he finds that he doesn’t recognize her anymore.

‘Was it…was it painless-‘ she breaks down.

The cold is gone, replaced with fire, dark and intense.

‘P-please-‘ she heaves out. ‘Tell me-‘

Broken chants. He can’t say anything more. There was nothing to say. Because words meant nothing now.

Her hair is on fire.

‘I’m sorry.’

*

‘PA!’

A bundle in the shape of Taeh’yung erupts at them as they make their way down the street towards the hosting mansion. The sun was rising behind them and Sk’jin feels his headache abate as the rays of the sun touch down on him. The street looks different from when they had last walked on it less than 10 hours ago.

Landing had been entertaining- apparently Namjoon had done such an effective job, the power was still out in many places across Pompa. And not one to miss out on being petty, Sk’jin thinks it’s well deserved.

‘Are you all right?’ Taeh’yung wails, nearly strangling Namjoon in the process and practically lifting him up into the air much to the latter’s disapproval.

‘I- I’m fine- yes thank you please put me down-‘ Namjoon says in his best stable voice. Sometimes Namjoon spoke to Taeh’yung like he was an animal that could sense fear and would attack him if he showed any signs of discomfort. In Namjoon’s defence, it was likely to happen.

‘Jin!’

Sk’jin is prepared and greets the Zhak’gri with a warm hug. Taeh’yung pretty much rubs his face against his own before he pauses rather dramatically.

‘Oh-!’ Taeh’yung gasps, pulling back to look him dead in the eye. ‘You collapsed again.’

There’s that frown on his face, his eyes dancing with a faint green light.

‘Sun’s out- I’m all right,’ Sk’jin reassures.

‘If you say so,’ Taeh’yung says after a while. ‘There’s food! You want?’

Sk’jin chuckles, wrapping an arm around Taeh’yung.

‘Yeah- let’s go.’

‘Where’s Hoseok?’ Namjoon asks.

‘Oh right! He told me to give these to you guys!’ Taeh’yung reaches into his pockets and hands them new Comm-Devices. ‘Yoongi’s second match is going to start in 10 minutes-‘

‘-it’s what?’ Namjoon demands- frozen halfway in attaching his Comm-Device to his ear.

‘It starts in 10 minutes?’ Taeh’yung repeats.

‘It’s not supposed to be this rushed-‘ Namjoon hisses, now jogging towards the mansion, ignoring the greeting calls of the Pompen hosts by the doors.

‘Oh yeah! They’re doing that because Yoongi’s such a good fighter!’

Namjoon gives him a quick look and Sk’jin grimaces in reply.

‘We can catch the fight now! Hoseok’s taking him down!’

‘Hey- I thought his fight was scheduled only for later tonight?’ Namjoon says at once.

‘That’s what we were told- but no,’ Hoseok sounds tired and disgruntled. ‘We can’t say anything about it. We just have to follow through with it.’

‘I think they want to tire him out,’ Sk’jin tells Namjoon quietly as they make their way down the long stone paved hallway to the arena. ‘This is definitely Van’s doing.’

‘How’s Yoongi?’ Namjoon asks, absentmindedly accepting Taeh’yung’s hand who then takes Sk’jin’s hand and he skips between the two of them, trying to brush the top of his head on the low hanging light fixtures.

‘The same,’ Hoseok replies grimly. ‘I guess.’

‘Yoongi?’ Sk’jin tries.

‘I’m all right.’

‘Hoseok- what was his first fight like?’ Namjoon asks quietly- clearly only for Hoseok’s channel.

‘Short.’ Is Hoseok’s blunt reply.

The cheers of the crowd eggs them forward.

‘I think Van will try to injure Yoongi from this point,’ Namjoon says suddenly.

‘What? But why Pa?’ Taeh’yung’s eyes widen.

‘But doesn’t he want to win?’ Hoseok asks, sounding confused.

‘He does- but he always wants what we have,’ Namjoon replies. ‘He can’t claim it- Pageant laws though twisted are strict. They abide their own laws regarding the ransom. And even though Van’s involved- he can’t twist his way here- he’s only part of the neutral party. He has no actual authority regarding their cultural events. The Pompen were incredibly shrewd in how they managed this. And even more so now with the Pageant hosting in their planet.’

They step into the arena and it’s somehow entirely changed in the past 10 hours. The Beings gathered now appeared less Pompen and more like other Beings. This unsettles Sk’jin and apparently Namjoon as well.

‘Who are all these Beings?’ Namjoon asks no one is specific.

‘They started showing up and the Pompen just dwindled off upwards.’ Hoseok replies tersely. ‘We’re getting ready to leave.’

Sk’jin feels a bitter bubble of discomfort rise up in his throat.

‘This is too much exposure,’ Namjoon says quietly. ‘We’re really going to draw too much attention.’

‘Too late to think about that,’ Sk’jin says quietly as he scans the arena. ‘Yoongi’s going to have to fight upstairs- that’s even more televised.’

‘WELCOME TO THE SEMI-FINALS!’ a high-pitched voice bellows. It’s not the same Pompen, but another- this time male. ‘INTRODUCING THE ONLY REMAINING MEMBER OF THE AUCTION-ARENA! FROM THE HOUSE OF FALLING VITKA’V PETALS- SUGA!’

‘Wait what-‘

‘Suga?’ Sk’jin repeats, laughing and momentarily forgetting his worries.

‘Yeah! It’s because he’s so sweet!’ Taeh’yung explains. Sk’jin doesn’t see that sweetness in the Human but he lets Taeh’yung be.

‘Oh- you were the one who came up with that name,’ Namjoon says as though not surprised.

‘SUGA COMES TO CHALLENGE OUR CONTENDOR FROM THE HOUSE DL’ANG- THE SPLENDID ORNAS!’

‘I guess “Suga” isn’t too bad then…’ Namjoon mumbles a little.

The crowd goes wild as a K’hlak comes charging out of the opposite doorway, leaping around and bellowing a mighty roar just feet from Yoongi. The Human doesn’t even blink, just simply looks up at the hulking beast of a Being.

‘Let’s go get a seat!’ Taeh’yung says excitedly, leaping into the crowd before they can stop him.

‘I missed his first fight- I look forward to this one.’

Van Seulgaan stands behind them, looking down as the arena doors open and Yoongi steps out. Small, discreet even with his pale blue hair and flowing robes.

‘I shall be placing a high bet,’ Van informs them before bowing and walking away.

Namjoon looks over at Sk’jin with an expression Sk’jin can quite place.

‘We might as well,’ the Kutsoglerin says. Sk’jin nods in agreement and makes his way down the steps. They flag Taeh’yung down who was standing to his full height, waving his long arms at them.

No one is sitting- everyone stands, devices clutched to their hands as they cheered and took pictures.

‘ARENA IS CLEAR IN!’

The crowd screams alongside the arena-master.

‘3!’

‘2!’

‘1!’

Yoongi is a brutal fighter. But strangely kind.

The K’hlak were a fighting species of Beings from a rough and tropical planet some 3 galaxies away. They were 90% muscle mass and 8% roaring and 2% brain. This made fighting them something of a hassle because though predictable and easy to dodge- they practically never tired and had extremely thick skin. And Yoongi was weaponless.

The K’hlak, or Ornas, charges at Yoongi with a bellowing roar.

Yoongi is fast. Sk’jin thought he’d seen him fight before. Seen him really move before. But here.

He’s nothing more than a fleeting shadow, a bright blue blur at some point. It should be impossible for someone of Yoongi’s biological built to move like this. To be able to function in this rate.

‘WOOO!! GO SUGA!!’ Taeh’yung screams from next to Sk’jin.

The first minute is spent dodging and ducking. Yoongi was analyzing the Being before him. Studying his form, looking for weaknesses.

‘He’s going to need a weapon,’ Sk’jin mumbles to himself.

‘Don’t worry!’ Taeh’yung screams into his ear, clearly having heard him. ‘He’ll get one!’

‘What-?’ Sk’jin wants to ask Taeh’yung what he meant but the cheer roars and Yoongi is suddenly sprinting across the arena to one side, diving and rolling and when he stands, he’s suddenly armed with double axes.

‘Who-?’

‘It’s the Obere,’ Namjoon says tensely. ‘They’re trying to help. They’re sponsoring him.’

Sk’jin can’t spot the Obere in this crowd; the screaming and cheering increases. To Sk’jin’s disquiet, Van is clearly seated on a raised step, looking impressed and an expression that was far too collected and calm to Sk’jin’s taste.

‘The fight will be over soon,’ Taeh’yung says excitedly. And not even 15 seconds later, the K’hlak totters around, dizzied by the tight-knit chase Yoongi lead it on.

The K’hlak roars out but it’s made short as Yoongi leaps impossibly high- the ax in his hand gleams bright for a fraction of a second before burying itself into and out of its thick throat. The second ax gleams cold and sharp and with a sound that echoes throughout of the arena, buries itself over its gnarly thick head.

Yoongi lands on his feet nimbly and not 3 seconds later, the K’hlak keels over, a pool of deep purple blood pooling about him.

The crowd cheers on aggressively.

Sk’jin feels a tug on his sleeve as the arena-cleaners move forward, body bags and cleaning props at hand.

‘AND THE WINNER IS SUGA! WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE FINAL ROUNDS IN AN HOUR!’ the high-pitched voice trills.

‘Let’s go,’ Namjoon says quietly. Sk’jin grabs Taeh’yung’s tunic around his nape and tugs, bringing the Zhak’gri with him. Sk’jin feels van’s eyes following them out and when he turns around to look, refuses to acknowledge the small smile on the Tayian’s face.

They try to move quickly away from the arena but they’re interrupted by the appearance of white-garbed Beings. They’re slender and slight in built, a majority of their faces hidden behind a white mask of alabaster-like material. The House of Jtāharū, if Sk’jin isn’t mistaken- they had outbid them during the Gremio Auction. There were three of them in total, all of varying heights but the same slight built carried over on all of them.

‘We will give you 500,000 units for the OrTank,’ the shortest of them says without preamble. His/her (?!? Sk’jin can’t tell) mouth was the only thing exposed and it only opened a small bit. Their voices sound strangely digitized- as though they spoke through a badly wired speaker-unit.

‘The OrTank is ours,’ Namjoon says firmly, eyeing them carefully. If Sk’jin isn’t mistaken, he had also run research on this House, but had found nothing conclusive. Taeh’yung on the other hand seems obviously upset at their appearance and hostile. His features are twisted, frowning heavily and his eyes gleaming. There are patterns swirling just under his skin and to Sk’jin’s absolute disquiet, his hands were starting to glow.

‘We will accept no price-‘ Namjoon is saying, but the speaker of the House of Jtāharū actually takes a step forward and says, ’1,000,000 units for the OrTank.’

Namjoon gawks at them and Sk’jin can’t help but mirror the same expression. Their joint shock distracts them momentarily from Taeh’yung who charges past them and straight at the House of Jtāharū.

‘Taeh’yung-!’ Namjoon scrambles to grab him. But the Zhak’gri pays no heed. He hisses in a different language and actually lunges at them, hands glowing bright green.

But the Beings from the House of Jtāharū are quick. Though the accurate term would be they were fluid.

There’s a strange moment where they seemed to lose their corporeal quality- fading as though a hologram and warping in the air as they shot backwards, reappearing into full solidity. What’s even more disconcerting was that they appeared unfazed by Taeh’yung’s actions.

‘Taeh’yung stop-‘ Namjoon grabs the Zhak’gri back, holding him down.

‘We require the OrTank- we offer you more if you-‘

‘The OrTank is not for sale,’ Sk’jin says sternly, stepping over to stand in front of Taeh’yung and Namjoon. Taeh’yung still hasn’t looked away- eyes gleaming bright green. ‘No amount of unit or trade will buy him over.’

The Beings of the House of Jtāharū turn their heads over towards Sk’jin and his skin crawls.

‘Very well.’ The main speaker says in automated tones. They slip away and disappear into the crowd as the arena momentarily relieves itself of the gathered Beings during the short breaks between the fights.

‘Taeh’yung.’

Sk’jin looks around to find that Taeh’yung is still upset, eyes narrowed and he’s still struggling a little, as though trying to pull away from Namjoon to go after them.

‘What is it?’ Sk’jin asks, wondering if he wanted to know the answer.

‘I don’t like the way they smell,’ Taeh’yung hisses, standing straight and his posture relaxing a bit. Namjoon still holds his arm warily, eyeing the Zhak’gri carefully.

‘Smell?’ Namjoon repeats.

Sk’jin can’t help but glance back, feeling extremely unsettled.

There’s roaring screams, announcing the new up-coming fight.

‘Where are you guys?’ Hoseok asks.

‘We’re coming,’ Namjoon replies, still holding Taeh’yung’s arm in his hand.

‘What do you mean?’ Sk’jin asks quietly.

Taeh’yung doesn’t reply for a moment, his eyes suddenly distant, as though thinking of some distant memory.

‘We should go- let’s not talk here,’ Namjoon says quietly, pulling Taeh’yung firmly but gently. Sk’jin nods in agreement.

‘How’s Yoongi?’ Namjoon asks as they make their way to the dressing-rooms.

‘He’s all right. He got a scratch but it’s not deep- no poison, no toxin.’ Hoseok replies.

‘Jin.’

Namjoon is saying something to Hoseok, guiding them through the hallways. Taeh’yung turns his head just a little bit.

‘What is it?’ Sk’jin finds himself adopting a gentle tone as he addresses the Zhak’gri.

‘Do…-do you remember?’ he asks vaguely. ‘That place? It was white- filled with voices and forms and shapes? Old, a little sad?’

Sk’jin swallows, throat constricting a little bit.

‘What about it?’ he asks.

‘Do you remember the ship-‘

‘Taeh’yung.’

Sk’jin doesn’t even realize he’s stopped walking.

‘Sk’jin?’ Namjoon is looking between the two of them in worry.

‘They smell like that ship.’ Taeh’yung says quietly.

Sk’jin is pulled back- his mind reeling as he pushes away overwhelming memories of that white void- of the endless voices and memories. Of the pain and permanent end of life and death- pushing Time away into nothingness.

‘Sk’jin?’

Snapping out of his involuntary stupor, Sk’jin looks up to find Namjoon looking down at him worriedly, Taeh’yung hovering just behind the Kutsoglerin.

‘What’s wrong,’ he asks carefully.

Sk’jin realizes that Namjoon’s instead holding him up.

‘I think-‘ Sk’jin’s tongue feels heavy.

Namjoon leans forward, as though to urge him to speak.

‘I think we have to report back to the special-jury.’

*

(Author’s Note)

Has anyone watched “Call me by your name”? I’ve been listening to the audio book (DON’T JUDGE ME BECAUSE I LITERALLY HAVE NO TIME TO READ- I WAS LUCKY TO FIND IT ON YOUTUBE AND IT’S BEEN GREAT SO FAR) while doing my assignments and the music for the movie is JUST ING PERFECT I HOPE SUFJAN FINALLY GETS THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD MUSICIAN

And who else was not expecting that Sk’jin flashback. I sure as hell wasn’t.

AND I LOVE MONSTA X’S COMEBACK YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS QUALITY CONTENT I AM HERE FOR THAT

And the next update might be late! It’s my finals week and *laughs nervously* I haven’t even started on one of my final projects *coughs*

BUT AFTER THAT I AM FREE FOR LIKE A MONTH SO EXPECT WEEKLY UPDATES AFTER THAT AYO

Also my jikook heart is singing with that GCF in Tokyo thing I’m crying they’re so precious I love them bye

Also I had to bring up “Suga” because THAT AMA INSTA STORY WAS SO CRINGE-WORTHY- “his smile is sweet as sugar” NO PLEASE STOP ODGHLSDKFGHSLDKFGJSDFGDF my diaphragm inverted into itself when I read that.

But I can’t wait to see my sons dressed to the nines, killing it on the red (?) carpet again. I hope though this time, Jimin looks a little happier this time around *sweats*.

I ALSO ING HOPE THEY DON’T GET ASKED IGN STUPID QUESTIONS AND REPORTERS ACTUALLY ING DO THEIR RESEARCH