This was Yoongi’s idea.

And Jimin is…Jimin is not happy with this idea.

He’s also a little miffed. Clearly Yoongi could be sneaky and had his own way of doing things. Jimin knew he couldn’t trust him after the Human cheated Taeh’yung in a childish game involving “hotels” and “taxes”. It almost makes Jimin smile but he’s trying to look as impassive as possible.

Which is difficult to do because Yoongi has the tendency of speaking with the slightest push of his lips, a soft drawl that drags his words in both a raspy and whiny way that’s hard to not be endeared by.

Or maybe because this is Yoongi. And because Yoongi’s idea is in fact, well thought out, and well planned, with good reasoning.

‘I don’t see why not,’ Sk’jin remarks from where he stands. ‘This is probably the safest place to try this. And to make sure both of you are safe.’

‘I don’t think we should tell Amme,’ Hoseok frowns, perched on the desk. He hadn’t spoken before, listening intently while he absentmindedly watched the screen tracking Namjoon’s movements.

‘We don’t- but she’ll be here in case something happens,’ Yoongi explains, ‘Also, Taeh’yung could help.’

‘I can!’

‘You don’t have to,’ Sk’jin cuts across firmly before adding with a serious tone, ‘Taeh’yung, I don’t think you should be exercising what you can do so freely or without warning like you did in Grisial.’

Jimin eyes the Zhak’gri, sitting on the floor against Hoseok’s legs. Jimin thinks for a brief moment Taeh’yung might argue, or flat out refuse.

But he just pouts and nods, as though reprimanded.

‘I won’t,’ he nods solemnly.

‘Won’t it hurt?’ Jungkook asks, and to everyone’s surprise, he’s asking Yoongi. With concern.

‘Life is pain-‘ Yoongi begins in a deadpan tone but Sk’jin is quick to whack the top of his head with a stiff hand.

‘Stop being a dramatic ,’ Sk’jin snaps before he adds, ‘Jungkook’s right- last time you guys did this,  no offence but this Human came out.’

Yoongi is probably throwing up an offensive gesture which Sk’jin reflects back.

‘What Sk’jin is saying,’ Hoseok cuts in firmly, standing up straight after gently nudging Taeh’yung to the side, ‘-is that we don’t know what will happen if you try this thing again.’

‘Which is why we’re doing this in a Yisheng ship,’ Yoongi counters immediately. ‘We need to know more. And while I don’t think Amme has lied to us about what she wants to tell us,’ he makes a funny face at that, ‘I still think we need to find out more – and I know, I can feel that I still have…memories- that are important, that I can’t remember-‘

‘-I agree with Sk’jin,’ Jimin says tersely, ignoring how Sk’jin says ‘see? Even the boyfriend thinks he’s a .’

Before Yoongi can try to counter Jimin, his expression imploring, Jimin looks away and continues to explain.

‘The last time you tried to remember what was happening- what happened,’ Jimin corrects himself as he addresses the floor, ‘it hurt you- not just…not just physical pain- you-‘

‘-I know,’ Yoongi says quietly, ‘I know, but you also know this is important. We need to know.’

Every second Yoongi stayed here- every moment of Time he existed here, the erosion that stretched to the point of snapping. Jimin can see it so clearly- see the weight of it crushing Yoongi and he can’t cure it. Can’t stop it. But he couldn’t just allow something that would fast-forward the erosion before his very eyes.

‘We will time you,’ Hoseok states, ‘Let’s say we try to wake you in an hour-‘

‘-half,’ Jimin shakes his head, sighing out slowly, ‘Half an hour-‘

Yoongi gives him a small smile.

‘So, what,’ Sk’jin asks, looking displeased, ‘We just shake you awake in half an hour? What if that doesn’t work?’

‘Then Taeh’yung will try to do something,’ Yoongi looks across at the Zhak’gri expectantly as he adds, ‘You’re allowed to do that.’

Taeh’yung gives them an eager double thumb’s up.

‘If not, a bucket of water is always helpful,’ Sk’jin tries at an attempt to lighten up the atmosphere.

‘And if worse comes to worse, we call Amme,’ Yoongi concludes.

They had finished checking the new ship they were to use to replace the Užkulisai, making lists and notes on what additional items they would need to outfit it to their liking. That was when Yoongi called for their attention to announce this plan. To map out his memories like they had before- to see into places and thoughts Yoongi had once experienced and felt, to better piece together useful information. And Jimin understands the importance of this, the rationale and logic behind it.  

When Jimin looks up from the floor, he realizes that everyone is looking at him.

They were waiting for him.

Jimin does not want to do this. The first and only time they had done this, Jimin was under the impression that it would be safe. But all things considered, he had only worsened things for Yoongi.

So instead of saying anything, Jimin just nods stiffly.

He knows that he should do this- that searching through Yoongi’s memories would benefit them as a whole. But a part of him wants to take Yoongi, and hide him away forever, to keep him safe.

‘Okay great- so we just wait for you to fall asleep?’ Sk’jin fake yawns.

‘No- I can uh, I can start,’ Jimin still can’t quite look at Yoongi. He sits closer to the middle of the bed, all of them having gathered in Hoseok’s temporary room aboard the Yisheng ship. Yoongi also adjusts his position, coming to sit in front of Jimin, their crossed legs touching at the knees. Yoongi holds his hands forward, palms up.

‘Hey, we’ll be here,’ Hoseok says as he kneels before them, ‘We’ll wake you up in 30 minutes.’

Again, Jimin just nods.

He takes Yoongi’s hands in his, closing his eyes immediately but Yoongi nudges him with his foot.

‘Sunshine,’ he calls quietly.

Jimin just shakes his head. He knows it’s childish. But he can’t help it. His throat tightens, his eyes burning beneath the lids.

He hears Yoongi shuffle a little before there’s a press of lips against his forehead.

‘Sunshine, open your eyes.’

Reluctantly Jimin opens his eyes.

He’s in a narrow corridor. The walls unfinished and grey, their unending flatness only disrupted by equally spaced narrow doors all around. The lights are dim, but it’s enough to allow Jimin to see properly. The door directly in front of him opens, revealing stairs that lead downwards through a room lined with symmetrical clear cased cabinets and drawers, all containing rows and rows of compressed medication and chemicals. Jimin can’t make out the labels on the fronts of the drawers.

But his feet take him towards the door at the end of this strange anteroom, and through the doors he finds himself in a wide room, filled with OrTanks not too different from the one he had been in. They’re much taller, bigger- allowing whatever/whoever was growing in there the space they needed. And there are many of them- many Beings, in varying stages of growth, of age, of stages of development. Jimin walks past, a sense of disassociation settled in him, as though what he saw wasn’t surprising.

And maybe it’s because when he sees his own reflection, it’s because Yoongi is looking back at him.

‘This is a place we both know. A place that is…that has meaning. Of something.’

‘I- Hoseok asked him I think- it hurt you both,’ Jimin finds himself saying.

‘We want to know. We both do. All of us.’

‘I wish we didn’t-…we didn’t have to do it like this.’

‘You don’t hurt me.’ Is all Yoongi says.

The Beings inside the OrTanks all turn in their suspension, watching them with sleeping eyes even in this waking dream.

‘This way,’ Yoongi tells him, before looking away and guiding them towards the distant side of the room.

Jimin simply watches, there is no movement, no action from his side. He was simply observing. He was here to witness, and to understand.

‘Yoongi?’

‘Yes?’

Jimin doesn’t have a question really, just wants to hear his voice. And he says as much.

‘Just wanted to hear your voice.’

‘I’m always here.’

They reach a wall – which is odd because Jimin felt almost as though this current space somehow expanded infinitely. There are some doors here too. Widely spaced and different to the ones outside in the narrow hallway. These doors are well secured and had little windows, as though to look into.

Jimin looks in.

This one is empty, only what appeared to be some sort of Medical Bed. But it was different. With massive coils of wires draping downwards from the ceiling to the floor and up to the divided center between the two halves of the Bed. The space perfectly fits the size of the dent on Yoongi’s back.

Jimin makes his way through the side of the room, some of the rooms empty, some containing Beings, until he comes across a door that opens to him. He’s not surprised to find Yoongi asleep in there.

Like the others Jimin saw in the rooms, he’s shirtless, with a strap across his hips and shoulders fitting him into the bed.

‘He’s dreaming.’

‘What is he dreaming about?’

‘I can’t remember.’

‘Okay- we-…we can look.’

‘I can’t go there with you.’

Jimin takes a deep breath, taking Yoongi’s lax hand in his.

‘That’s okay- it’ll be okay.’

‘Will you?’

Yoongi sounds unsure.

‘I don’t know,’ Jimin whispers back, surprised at the question- he had never thought about himself in this situation. ‘But we have to…’

‘I wish we didn’t – it will hurt.’

‘You don’t hurt me.’ Jimin manages to say.  

‘I’ll be waiting for you.’

Arms wrap around him, breath against his neck, hair tickling his ears.

Jimin holds the arms around him, taking a deep breath.

‘This will hurt you I think,’ he whispers as he reaches out again to take Yoongi’s still hand.

‘You don’t hurt me.’

Nothing happens.

Jimin waits a few seconds, wondering what was wrong.

‘Yoongi-‘

Jimin looks around. He’s alone.

‘-…-………………….-……’

Jimin jumps at the strange cut whisper.

This wasn’t Yoongi’s voice. This wasn’t…wasn’t a voice he knew.

The room is flooded with light – a powerful flash that fades just as quickly as it appeared.

‘Human?’

Jimin stumbles around, his wall hitting the back as the source of the unknown voice suddenly appears before him.

He’s slender, tall- maybe a little unhealthy looking what with the pale pallor of his skin and purple bruises under his eyes. He looks-…he looks Human. But not quite. His eyes are large, hair a dirty blond that curls just a little. He looks…he looks like a sad memory.

He doesn’t seem all too solid. All too clear. A strange and faded projection almost.

Then suddenly, he looks up, straight at Jimin.

‘How are you here?’ Jimin asks, his throat strangely choked. He’s witnessing something absolutely strange.

‘I am.’ His voice clear but soft as a whisper. ‘And he is.’

‘What are you doing? You- you’re the dream-‘

‘-he is Human. As I once was.’

‘Was?’

‘She’s gone, isn’t she?’

‘She?’

‘Earth…home. She’s gone.’ He looks thoughtful. ‘So that would be my end.’

‘What are you talking about-‘

‘You have to stay,’ he continues, looking straight at Jimin, ‘You have to stay, and you need to protect them all.’

‘I-…I will-‘ Jimin finds himself promising. ‘I will-‘

‘It will hurt.’

‘I know-‘ Jimin manages to say, his voice breaking midway. ‘I know it will-‘

He smiles, his eyes are beautiful- sparkling suddenly with light and life, ‘There is another lifetime. And you will meet and-’ The absolute hope, the strength of the promise: the pure love in his words.

‘-and I’ll be waiting,’ Jimin whispers faintly, the words coming out of them, spoken in harmony with this stranger. This other Human.

‘Who are we in Time?’ he asks before he leans down over Yoongi and putting his hand over his head, calls out, ‘Wake up brother, and be as you were, and as you are. You are Alive.’

‘I’ll always come back to you.’

Yoongi states it so clearly, deep asleep and unaware, before he starts awake. The restraints against his shoulders holding him back.

And for a moment, Jimin swears Yoongi looks straight at him.

Yoongi struggles for a moment before he pushes the restraints off of himself. With a strange tugging sound, Yoongi sits up, a long black wire attached down the length of his back. The skin doesn’t look inflamed, nor does it look irritated. It almost appeared natural.

Yoongi looks around confused, blinking hard as he tries to regain his sense of surrounding. Jimin watches the way he studies the Bed, his restraints, how he gently touches at his back. Yoongi isn’t the most lucid, but he’s trying his best. He gets out of the bed shakily, his legs weak and unsupportive. He makes his way to the door and Jimin also looks out.

It’s changed from what Jimin had walked through. They both reach out, their hand on the handle and they quietly push the door open.

It’s dim, the lights only coming from the OrTanks. The Beings inside are as varying as it was when Jimin saw them in the future just moment ago.

Jimin doesn’t stray far from where Yoongi walks, just a few steps behind him. They circle the OrTanks, trying to understand what it was he was looking at. Jimin stops when Yoongi pauses to catch his breath, leaning against an OrTank when Jimin pauses to look at the Being inside.

Textured grey skin, hairless head, and if their eyes were open, they would be sulfuric yellow with dotted black irises.

What was a Megibīyan doing here, in the Yisheng Directory?

Jimin does not recognize the Being in there- but he knows very clearly the species from his own System. This was before Yoongi was taken to “Bhumi” – before the attacks were reported from Megibīya.

Yoongi jumps at a small sound, making Jimin duck down too. They quickly make their way back to the room Yoongi was kept in. Jimin watches with half of his attention as Yoongi puts himself back onto the Medical Bed, feigning unconsciousness as the door opens once more to reveal blank-faced Beings. Jimin can’t make their figures out- only senses their forms and shapes rather than see them. They pull Yoongi’s bed along, and Jimin follows after them at once.

This memory is blurred- the colours and lights shifting and glitching, as though the memory was just an adaption of sound and previous sight. As though Jimin were walking through a projected memory based on the sounds Yoongi was hearing as he feigned unconsciousness.

But suddenly, Jimin’s feet aren’t taking him anywhere. He was losing the memory Yoongi had kept- and Jimin can’t move. He can’t escape as the memory ends- and that’s when it hits Jimin hard.

This was Yoongi’s pain.

Some voices are thrown around here and there, the shapes around him contorting and shifting even more- the colours violent and the sounds sharp, piercing slowly through the OrTanks around them. The voices spike in volume and intensity and Jimin realizes it’s screaming- was it his own, or was this Yoongi’s?

Jimin stumbles against unstable bubbling floors, his feet unable to move.

‘Yoongi-!’ Jimin gasps out, the blurred forms pushing against him. Crushing him, bearing down in gnawing points down his back, against the top of his skull-

He’s falling- as recklessly and violently as light piercing the expanse of space, Jimin hurtles through stretched expanses of a singular moment of sounds, movement, and colour.

‘-ow many Yoongi’s do-‘

A multitude of hands erupt, all reaching for him, desperation in their movements.

FOUND-

A massive globe-like space expands around him, cushioning his fall. Wires pour out of him- out his back, spreading like some vine all over and into hidden crevices under white large squared tiles. Suddenly the tiles clear and beneath the tiles are oceans of still movement- of Beings afloat in a dream waiting to awake into pain and waiting only to be found-

They open their eyes, hands moving to point at him, mouths opening to scream in pain-

‘Jimin!’

Jimin stumbles back into a dim hallway, but he doesn’t fall.

‘You’re all right- don’t-‘

His feet feel like they’re about to sink through the floor, to fall back into vortex of pain that pushed deep into his skin, through to his bones. The floor slips and Jimin slips from the hold he’s in but-

‘I got you- I got you!’ Yoongi is holding him- his voice, his presence- it pushes around, shielding him from the pain right behind those walls-

Yoongi’s face appears before him, eyes searching his own face as though for injury.

‘Listen to me- stay here,’ Yoongi orders him gently, ‘You’re safe here, there’s no pain here.’

Jimin’s ears clear from the high-pitched ringing he hadn’t even realized was there until it went away. His breaths are harsh. Gently, Yoongi lifts him from the ground- when did he even fall down? And helps him stand on his two feet. Looking down, the floors are a dark unpolished wood, quite black against his bare feet.

But he’s clean.

No blood, no gore- it’s jarring compared to the pain Jimin just went through. He expected blood to be everywhere.

And in the best possible way, Jimin is overwhelmed with the sheer intensity of how safe he feels here. In fact, all Jimin wants to do is sleep now. It was so comforting being in here- comforting, safe, loved.

‘Where are we?’ he asks, his voice almost sluggish.

Yoongi smiles, taking his hand and tugging him down the hallway.

‘This is where I come to get away from everything else,’ Yoongi explains. ‘It’s safe.’

‘Everything else?’ Jimin repeats, looking around. Behind him is a door, clearly the entrance door. Stairs lead upwards to one side, and there are 2 doors open to the side, revealing a small kitchen, and the other an office space of sorts with a couch pushed up against a window. There’s a soft yellow blanket draped over it, and a mess of items on the short table before it. The designs are simple, clean, and very distinctly Earthian.

‘Is this your home?’ Jimin asks quietly as his feet touch upon a soft rug laid down on the floor. To the other side, beyond the stairs are ceiling to floor windows, wide open, revealing an inky lavender sky.

It was just around dawn, before the sun was even pushing through the horizon. Jimin can spot rolling hills, mist lingering over fields scattered with trees. This felt like winter- or at least, winter right before spring.

He’s gently guided into a bedroom.

There’s a simple but heavy looking desk to one side, bordered by two slender windows. There’s a bed in the center, flanked by little tables. A comfortable chair to one side, and a door probably leading to an en suite. But what catches Jimin’s eye is a yellow telescope to one side.

‘Is this your home?’ Jimin asks again, looking around at Yoongi who was sitting on the edge of the bed now.

‘For now?’ Yoongi looks a little sheepish as he continues, ‘Um, actually I, imagined this place up. I don’t know how to explain it but- but after that time you looked into my memories I just- this is a place I sort of come to. In my own head. Or something, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.’

But it makes sense to Jimin.

Because he’s been in one of these places before. Yoongi’s is smaller, younger – it’s just a single existence. And somehow this relieves Jimin.

The previous one was a long hallway, doors flanked on each side. Jimin can still remember the gentle air of fresh snow around him, falling from a ceiling high above, the thin branches of trees appearing through the mist.

‘It’s beautiful,’ Jimin smiles, coming to sit next to Yoongi.

‘I like to think of us here,’ Yoongi tells him, a smile on his lips, reaching for his hand.

Yoongi’s hands envelope his own.

Jimin looks around, a wide smile growing on his face.

‘I really like it here.’

‘No palaces where you come from, your majesty?’ Yoongi teases, gently shoving their shoulders together. Jimin shoves back, ears feeling hot.

‘It’s just…I really like it,’ Jimin says gently.

‘I uh, I think there’s a space for you here,’ Yoongi tells him, looking unsure. ‘It’s…I don’t know how to explain it. But I think, this place somehow exists in me, because of you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s…-‘ Yoongi stands, ‘Come, I’ll show you.’

He leads them back out again, and up the stairs.

‘Somehow everything just- just came to be, exactly how it should be,’ Yoongi tells him as they reach the top of the stairs. ‘But this place-…I think it’s waiting for you. Or, I guess I should say, I was waiting for you.’

It’s a clear space, no wall on one end, opening up to a sky and what appeared to be a gentle sea stretching out far away. Soft clouds form in the distance, just a little edge with rosy gold as the sun approached rising.

Yoongi smiles as he looks around and then back at Jimin, ‘Yeah- I think we were just waiting for you.’

‘We?’

‘Hmm,’ Yoongi nods, looking around, ‘This was an empty house- it was just me, and then I came to be, and it became more. And now, you’re here. A place that’s safe, and away from…well, away from everything else.’

This place. This house- this home. This was all Yoongi.

Yoongi as he was, an echo of what was, until he remembered- and the music of who he was, who he is, and who he will be reappeared. It took shape, formed into this place. This place that was all him. All Yoongi.

All for Jimin.

There’s a look in Yoongi’s eyes. Like he’s trying to tell him something but can’t bring himself to do it. And Jimin knows what he wants to say. But he can’t bring himself to say it either.

‘What do you think I should do here?’ Jimin asks instead.

‘You could always bring the sun up- though I think it’s already coming up.’ Yoongi looks around.

He looks fresh, young, and incredibly well. His hair is a little messy, like he just got out of bed. He’s wearing a soft sweater of sorts, a trousers with the cuffs rolled up a little though lopsided. His feet are bare and Jimin cannot see his scars.

There’s a gentle warmth that seeps through his clothes, and into his skin as Yoongi speaks. Turning, Jimin realizes that the sun has indeed come up. Walking back down the stairs, Jimin watches as the sun rises slowly.

It washes over him: warmth, strength, love.

It nearly chokes him up when he realizes what this meant.

‘Sunshine,’ Yoongi holds him close.

This is what it felt like to Yoongi. This was what he felt, looking at Jimin.

Yoongi exhales, as though finally relieved.

'You're everything I've wanted to feel.'

‘Do you think we should go back now?’ Jimin asks, after what felt like a gentle eternity, holding Yoongi in his arms, the warmth and comfort of their love all around them.

‘Not yet,’ Yoongi says quietly, his lips brushing against his ears. ‘I don’t-…I don’t want to let go just yet.’

Rain falls softly outside the windows, spectrums of colour colouring the sun-filled light streaming into the hallway. If Jimin listens closely, he can hear the sea upstairs.

‘I want to be selfish and keep you here,’ Yoongi confesses. ‘Want to stay here with you. But we- but we need to look again.’

The rain stops, but there are grey clouds hovering high above, waiting to break open again. The wind picks up outside, stray leaves fluttering across the wide window.

‘It hurts,’ Jimin manages to say. ‘You’re hurt.’

‘But you don’t hurt me,’ Yoongi says it like he’s teasing him. ‘You never have.’

‘But-‘

‘How could this place exist, if you hurt me?’ Yoongi asks, leaning their foreheads together. ‘You can feel it, can’t you? This doesn’t hurt.’

Jimin closes his eyes, nodding, ‘Yeah- yeah I-‘

Yoongi kisses him softly.

‘Just this one time-‘

‘-this is the last time,’ Jimin declares, ‘No more. Not after this. No more. I won’t.’

‘The last time,’ Yoongi agrees before he kisses him one more time, ‘You’re strong. You’re so so strong, my beautiful sunshine.’

‘There’s no need for flattery,’ Jimin says wetly.

Yoongi just grins, leading him all the way down the stairs and then back to the bedroom. He guides him to the bed, crawling over him as Jimin’s back hits the soft blankets and pillow.

‘You’ll need to look past what I can’t remember. The blur, the lights, the sounds- you’ll need to push through.’ Yoongi explains, ‘You won’t see me, but I’ll be there with you.’

Jimin nods, unable to speak.

The lights from the windows cast clear shapes of light against the walls and ceiling.

‘Just the last time,’ Yoongi promises.

Jimin nods, holding his hands up to cup Yoongi’s face. Balancing himself on arm, Yoongi places his other hand over Jimin’s chest- above his heart. He opens his mouth to say something, but he stops. Instead he just smiles.

‘But I can come back here right?’ Jimin asks, almost fearfully.

‘It’s yours,’ Yoongi replies simply.

This time it doesn’t hurt.

Jimin finds himself inside a Transporter. It’s loud and from the way what he can see blurs, from how there appeared to be doubles of everything, Jimin recognizes that the night before Yoongi and Amic had headed out to Megibīya, they had truly drunk themselves into a steady stupor. It was a miracle he had somewhat managed to remember his meeting with Amme just the night before even though he felt it was somewhat of a dream.

Yoongi is slumbering in a state of half-sleep, half-lucidness. Amic next to him is completely knocked out.

His team are all there. Many of whom were also drunk.

Jimin wonders if they all felt that something was wrong.

‘-it’s not that-‘ a voice breaks through the haze of sound and double-sight.

Jimin follows the voice, pushing through the drunken haze that shaped Yoongi’s memory.

‘I’m sorry,’ Jimin whispers quietly before he pauses a moment, hands lifted. A surge of light ripples around him and everything around him clears up.

It’s not a natural feeling. There lines too harsh, the finer details still lost- but the sounds clear up, the colours tone down a little, and most importantly, he hears the voices clearly.

‘-ut there’s nothing we can do about that.’

‘So you’re telling me we’re going to ignore the victims of what is evidently some form of planetary genocide, and we just stroll in?’

It’s Amad’la.

‘What I’m saying is that we have orders to follow,’ another voice says snappishly. ‘I’m flying us out to the border, then you’ll be heading down there.’

‘Just what am I leading my team into? They’re skilled yes, but they’re not experienced enough for a situation like this. What the hell kind of System abandons their own planet like this?’

‘Look- from what Yisheng Ndica and Sstion have said, there’s been some form of revolution within the System- some sort of coup d’état. They’re removing the main people in power and overturning everything.’

‘And with all due respect, but the Yishengs think we should go in now? Without any Yisheng to quell the situation?’ Amad’la sounds pissed. ‘I am grateful for their faith in me and my team, but this is not the time for it.’

Jimin can’t push through the forcefully sharpened and cleared up hallway into what is clearly the main Bridge. It’s fine- he can hear what was happening.      

‘Look, Amad’la, I’m just as lost as  you are in this okay- I’m just doing what I’ve been told, and telling you what I’ve been told. Actually, I’m telling you more than you should know.’ The other voice sighs.

‘So this trip is bull then. We’re being sent in to scout the leftovers of a genocide? Is that it?’

‘Yes and no. The Yishengs want to establish a way of getting in. Apparently the other way is too difficult, or at least they’re trying. The ones responsible for the coup are trying to help from inside the System but it’s been difficult.’

‘And why do the Yishengs want to interfere in something like this? Wasn’t there a Treaty signed over this place?’

The ship starts to distort again. Looking behind him, Jimin sees the way Yoongi falls deeper into sleep.

‘Yes but-‘

‘-this is incredibly shifty to me. As a higher commanding officer, I officially order you to turn this ship around and take us back to Tayi. I will personally speak to the Yisheng Ndica and Sstion if that’s what’s necessary-‘

Jimin concentrates hard, apologizing under his breath as he forces attention in this haze of a memory.

‘-that won’t be needed. Even if you outrank me, I have been ordered by Yisheng Ndica to take you all there- he outranks you. I am just doing my job. You should do yours.’

Amad’la suddenly appears in the doorway leading to the Bridge. Her eyes are angry, and also disturbed. She looks down into the chamber where the others were slumbering.

Her hands are held in a tight fist.

The ship is engulfed in darkness now, shapes crawling under each other.

‘Those are the orders.’ The voice repeats again.

‘What am I doing with this then?’ Amad’la asks, pointing at the device Jimin recognizes. The one that Yoongi had carried up the mountain side, struggling with his breath as he tried to hopelessly fulfill a mission doomed to fail. Everything is starting to leak colour and light.

Something starts to gnaw at Jimin’s skin.

‘You’re supposed to install it inside the tower located in the map. Apparently it will trigger a way to breach through the protective shields around the System.’

The ship lurches- and Jimin tilts forward violently.

He lands painfully on the floor, he feels himself coughing out blood.

‘-this feels wrong.’

‘It’s the orders. Are you questioning the Yishengs?’

‘No of course not I’m just-‘

Jimin is thrown out of the ship.

He feels himself flung out, crashing through large sharp objects.

‘-IMIN!’

‘Yoongi-!’ Jimin gasps out, breath squeezing out of him- pain burning through his skin into his bone into his eyes in through his hair into his teeth and tongue-

‘Jimin!’

It’s not Yoongi.

It’s him again.

‘What-‘

‘Remember,’ he tells him with a beautiful smile, his hair light and golden. ‘You have to stay.’

Hands reach out for him and through the dark ocean he bursts through-

Jimin gasps for air as water drips down his hair, his face- he’s soaked in it.

Yoongi is also gasping, body shuddering from the sudden explosion of cold water. There is blood coming out from Yoongi’s nostril- from both of their own. The remnants of Yoongi’s pain burns under his skin and it makes Jimin cry out. And as though he knew- and Jimin suspects that Yoongi knew exactly what it was- the Human lurches forward to hold him down on the mattress.

‘-I mean you could have warned us before you wanted to bone-‘

‘-he’s in shock-!’ Yoongi gasps, spitting out water as he attempts to straighten and hold Jimin’s body down.

It’s only then that Jimin realizes he’s shaking violently, a strange choking gasp escaping him.

The pain he felt wasn’t his own- but it settled deep into his bones- straight into his very Soul.

‘Call Amme-‘ Jimin hears Hoseok sternly ordering someone but there’s something heavy settling on his head.

Taeh’yung looks down at him, ancient lights deep in his eyes watching him.

Instantly his body stops shaking.

‘You saw him,’ Taeh’yung grins brightly, ‘You saw him.’

‘I did,’ Jimin whispers haltingly. ‘He-…he told me to stay.’

Taeh’yung gives him a smile though his eyes are sad. Jimin feels Yoongi carefully lift himself off, hands still gentle but firm.

‘I saw- I saw them- I saw all of them-‘ Jimin manages to say, finding that he could in fact breathe. He turns his head to find Jungkook watching him, fear in his young eyes. His muscles ache with the memory of pain. With the memory of waiting.

‘Do you want us to call Amme?’ Sk’jin asks, his voice surprisingly gentle.

Jimin shakes his head. Instead he looks up straight at Yoongi.

‘Thank you,’ he smiles.

‘For what?’

‘For taking me there.’

‘Okay this is very nice and all that,’ Sk’jin says irritably, ‘But can Yoongi stop straddling Jimin, there’s a literal child in our midst.’

Yoongi turns bright red and pushes himself off. Jimin feels Taeh’yung help him sit up before he’s pulled into a strong hug despite his soaked clothes.

‘We didn’t wake up?’ Yoongi asks, looking down at his clothes.

‘Actually I just wanted to splash you guys with water. For you know, general revenge.’ Sk’jin shrugs.

‘-you- general revenge!?’ Yoongi squints at Sk’jin, pushing his wet hair back.

‘So- what did you see?’ Sk’jin asks, ignoring Yoongi.

‘There- there was something I wanted to see,’ Jimin says, his body strangely disconnected from his own, a layer of pain still somewhat present but not fully. Is this what Yoongi felt the whole time?

‘Uh- Yoongi mentioned it- when he had first woken- and he was in that room, with the wires on his back-‘ Hoseok nods in understanding, gesturing for Jimin to continue, ‘-and so I- I felt that it might be important and I think- I think Yoongi also thought that.’

Yoongi nods at that.

‘In that memory I -…’ Jimin pauses a moment, ‘I saw one of the GI OrTanks- this was, I am sure, the place where the Yishengs stay-‘

‘-the Yisheng Directory yeah, that’s where the GI headquarters is,’ Hoseok agrees.

‘-and one of the OrTanks- maybe more, I don’t know- had Megibīyan inside,’ Jimin tells them.

And the meaning of this, the implications, clearly don’t fly over any of their heads.

‘I think we can say for sure that there’s something really shady going on- within whoever was involved in the Treaty,’ Sk’jin declares, ‘And maybe Jimin wasn’t made known about it-‘

‘-I think it’s a little too hasty to say that Jimin’s System might have voluntarily done something-‘ Hoseok begins.

‘No,’ Sk’jin shakes his head, ‘Trying to think that Jimin’s System had nothing to do with this is not being optimistic but it’s being foolish. From what has been discussed, there is clearly some double-crossing going on, I will literally bet Namjoon’s working arm on this.’

‘Sk’jin is right,’ Jimin says before Hoseok can add anything more. ‘I believe that to be true. I saw-…I heard something.’

Jimin tells them about the voices in Yoongi’s drunken recollection. Almost word for word.

Hoseok looks uneasy but Jimin can see the way the former agent seems to also be adding things together. They all look uneasy, but at the same time none of them look remotely surprised by this information. It’s almost as though they always suspected it.

‘Someone inside- someone from inside your System, teamed with Ndica and Sstion- they were…they planning on something.’ Hoseok concludes.

‘We don’t know if they succeeded,’ Sk’jin says in a surprisingly comforting tone. ‘Let’s not forget that they didn’t account for the Akramanese to show up.’

Jimin nods.

A coincidence?

We do not bring death.

‘There’s definitely a compromise with what’s happened in your System. Do you think there was anyone who wanted a … a reformation, or to overthrow you and your sister-‘

‘-we’re not-…we’re in power,’ Jimin explains, his mind alight with lingering pain.

‘But you hold the System together don’t you?’ Yoongi says gently, ‘What is a home without those who live in it?’

It’s a resigned and calm acceptance. But it’s not one Jimin wants to claim.

‘It’s difficult to accept it,’ Jimin confesses, ‘It’s…-it’s not something I want to be true. And I am hoping- I am…I am simply begging- that it isn’t true but- all signs point to there. And I-‘ Jimin glances at Yoongi, ‘I will listen to my heart. But I will take my head with me too.’

‘I don’t want to ask a painful question- or to cause panic,’ Hoseok begins gently, ‘But what if this is what we think it means. What would wait for us when we take you back home? If what has happened, has been caused as a result of your…of your System siding with the Yisheng Ndica- what would happen?’

‘Each inhabitable planet in Menigišiti is governed by their own method of rule, government, and belief,’ Jimin explains, finding it odd to explain something so well known within his System. ‘There are representatives who listen to the voices of their regions, or their countries, and who then bring forth this topic to the…the uh ambassadors of each planet. And all of these ambassadors bring these topic together as a council- and Tsirin and I listen to these um, topics.’

‘You’re like, a judge?’ Sk’jin asks with a quirk of his head.

‘No- or…yes.’ Jimin tries, ‘We do not control. We understand, we acknowledge, and we bless. We are the heart, the fate- we listen to all, we are united in our thoughts- all for the heart to…to beat through each planet- through all the people.’

‘That’s nice,’ Sk’jin remarks, without a hint of irony.

‘But you were…well, you were taken.’ Hoseok states bluntly, ‘What would happen with you gone? Would there be a replacement?’

‘The fate is born only after the existing one dies,’ Jimin explains simply.

‘But you…you need both right?’ Hoseok looks a bit confused before he asks, ‘I’m sorry to ask this but I don’t mean it disrespectfully, but if you don’t exactly make decisions- then what is your purpose or meaning?’

But Jimin understands this- knows what Hoseok is trying to ask.

‘Our…um, administrative?’ Jimin tries out, ‘Our administrative position isn’t…isn’t how most see it- with the same uh, political weight or even religious symbology as a lot of planets and Systems in the GLA. Menigišiti is built on harmony – and the Heart, and the Fate, balance Menigišiti to exist.’

‘What happens if the Fate isn’t born?’ Sk’jin inquires, ‘Like, say they’re born a few years late.’

‘That has never happened,’ Jimin replies. ‘We are always born the day they die. In a way, we are continuously reborn. The eclipse is constant, as is the continuity of light- we balance and maintain Menigišiti.’

‘So what would happen, if one or both no longer…no longer were inside Menigišiti?’

‘I don’t know,’ Jimin replies honestly. ‘I really don’t know. It’s never happened before.’

‘Well I guess we’re gonna have to find out once we get there,’ Sk’jin sighs dramatically.

‘Do you think this is something we should discuss with Amme?’ Yoongi asks as he moves to sit on the edge of the bed where it’s dry.

‘I’ll see what I can do,’ Hoseok volunteers. ‘I’m gonna try and check new angles of searching for information around Axudar as well- Amme has helped us out immensely- but that-‘

‘-that doesn’t stop her from being suspicious!’ Sk’jin chimes in with an all to bright smile, swinging his arms.

‘Are you both okay?’ Hoseok inquires carefully, looking over them both with a searching eye.

‘I’d like to get dry,’ Yoongi states rather monotonously.

‘Okay- if you’re both okay, let’s get working on the ship. I want us ready and out as soon as this ship exits warp.’ Hoseok claps his hands together twice.

‘God what a slave-driver,’ Sk’jin remarks though he’s getting up as well to follow Hoseok out. Of course he doesn’t stop there and adds, ‘No funny business you two- it’s not decent; not on a Yisheng ship unless that’s like your kink.’

Yoongi throws his wet shirt at Sk’jin with comic accuracy, the wet blob hitting the Khol’isa with a resounding wet smacking sound.

Out of nowhere, Jungkook tackles Yoongi. A playful growl in his throat as he pushes the Human down. Yoongi dramatically yells, flopping on the bed as Jungkook twists him around.

‘Spaces, I am so adopting him,’ Sk’jin grins from the doorway, throwing Yoongi’s wet shirt away across, landing close the closed bathroom door.

‘Everything good?’

Jimin looks around to find Taeh’yung still there, his expression somewhat thoughtful. Not in a way that made him look like those who came before him, their lives still existing through him and shining through him. This was truly Taeh’yung- thinking and watching and listening under his façade of playfulness and recklessness.

‘I think so,’ Jimin replies truthfully before adding softly. ‘It’s going to hurt, isn’t it?’

Taeh’yung isn’t looking at him when smiles, almost rueful, and definitely sad.

‘It will.’

 

 

 

*

 

 

So.

Obviously there is no avoiding a Yisheng.

Especially when you’re aboard their ship.

Doesn’t mean Yoongi isn’t going to try.

He’s not sure why he doesn’t want to meet with Amme, face-to-face, alone. There’s no actual reason – but that sense of intense trepidation is there and Yoongi tries his best to avoid the Khhemsa Yisheng as best he can. It was fine when she had healed him, because almost everyone else was there. He’s not sure why he’s doing this, trying to slip away.

It works for a total of 3 hours.

The ship that Amme had given to them was smaller than the Užkulisai, and less powerful. It was a pretty standard looking trade-ship. Definitely a lot more common and very easy to ignore amidst, say, a heavy traffic-route in Docks. There are only 2 levels, with the Bridge and cabin area on top, the Hangar and Engine room below. There was a small but equipped Medical Bay, the single Medical Bed making both Yoongi and Hoseok grimace a little. As a whole, the entire crew used the Medical Bed too often and seeing only one was a little worrying. But as Hoseok had eloquently put it ‘pick-pockets can’t pocket everything’.

But what the Laikin-X33 lacked in housing assets, it made up for in powerful anti-matter engines, and a high-grade protective shield equivalent to the one the Užkulisai had.

One of the first things Hoseok and Yoongi had done was to install the “invisibility cloak” as Yoongi liked to refer to it. The term seemed fitting and somehow had an air of reminiscence that he can’t quite point out. He knows that Sk’jin and Hoseok had their own terms for it but somehow they all understood each other when referring to the invisibility cloak.

They then re-installed and uploaded their system into this ship. It would take a little while to calibrate and they would be able to have Lisai working up in the Laikin as well. 

Yoongi was now in the kitchen. Much smaller than the one in the Užkulisai and more so a storage area for food. Hoseok had said he was going to check up on the Bridge one last time, making a joke about allowing Yoongi the time to poison their stock again. Yoongi had snorted in reply but didn’t deny that he was about to do exactly that.

It’s saved them many times now and Yoongi doesn’t see why he should stop. After all, it was because of him they were able to still keep track of Namjoon. The Kutsoglerin was in warp- somewhere in between the space-borders of Lapho and Aquí. Neither of these interstellar regions rings a bell in Yoongi’s mind or recollection regarding his past or most recent excursions. Hoseok had surmised that maybe rather than heading for a specific destination, the GI and Namjoon were simply stalling until they were able to get Jimin’s location.

He scans the last of their supplies, satisfied that they had a large quantity of food specifically for Jungkook, when the hair on the back of his neck stands on end.

It’s not one of danger or alarm- but rather something almost primitive. As though a predator was lurking behind him. Carefully glancing back, he notices the snake-like creature that coiled around Amme, poised and center at the doorway leading inside the kitchen.

‘She won’t hurt you,’ Amme’s voice says as she makes her way up the rather narrow stairwell that circled upwards into the circular dining area.

‘I know,’ Yoongi replies, lowering the jar of salt and placing it back securely into its shelf.

‘This is not as spacious or comfortable as the Užkulisai,’ Amme says, slightly stooped over in the dining room. ‘I apologize.’

Yoongi indicates his own height and shrugs. Well, here she was. No point in trying to avoid her or feel uncomfortable. After all Amme has seen him .

Most Beings are uncomfortable with .

Yeah, no .

‘How does it feel?’ she asks.

‘That seems a bit vague,’ Yoongi replies.

‘How does it feel to be here again?’ Amme clarifies.

Yoongi pauses.

‘I don’t know really,’ he answers. ‘I’m-…I’m back and…I guess it’s…odd.’

‘Odd how?’

Yoongi gives Amme a wry look.

‘I died,’ he says simply. ‘Bluntly put. I died, and somehow, I’m here again, and it’s not…it’s not comfortable.’

‘What do you mean?’

Yoongi idly fiddles with the lid of the sugar jar. They had 6 different kinds of sugars- all extracts from different sources. The one for Jungkook came from the extracts of a large insect-like creature’s glands and it resembles honey. Except it probably had more questionable additives to it if it was catered for Jungkook’s species.

‘It’s like-…’ Yoongi is careful with his words. ‘I know I’m not supposed to be here. I’m not…I’m not supposed to be alive, here, right now. And it hurts.’

‘How does it hurt?’

Yoongi places the lid back on the sugar jar, making sure it was sealed and rightly poisoned.

‘Have you heard of this ancient text, it’s from Earth,’ Yoongi starts, ‘It’s this character, from an imaginary species called Hobbits. He possessed a uh, ring. Of power. And this ring, extended his life. And he described it…feeling stretched out. Like too much butter on a piece of bread. It sort of feels like that I guess- just…’ he ignores the pain lingering just beneath his immediate consciousness. ‘Uncomfortable.’

Amme doesn’t say anything. Instead she takes a seat, legs folding to one side under the table to accommodate their length. The snake-like creature slithers about, as though exploring the ship.

‘I feel like-‘ Yoongi isn’t sure why he doesn’t want to say it out loud. Almost as though saying it out loud would permanently cement and ground his imaginations into reality.

‘I feel like I will break,’ Yoongi confesses as quietly as he could. ‘Did you know? That this would happen.’

‘I would not have reasoned this outcome,’ Amme replies. ‘When I first saw you again, in the forests behind the Headquarters, I felt as though your memory existed. But I imagined that it was because I knew of you before.’

‘I had memories- distant and un-remembered.’ Yoongi thinks back. ‘Was I always meant to be here?’

‘Fate has a strange way of guiding you,’ Amme places her hands over the smooth dark grey table top. ‘And though sometimes you may strive against it, fate appears within all aspects of who you were, who you are, and who you will be.’

Yoongi snorts a bit, ‘That really sounds a lot like some new-age bull.’

Clearly this statement is lost on Amme so she ignores it.

‘What you saw were not dreams, but memories,’ Amme explains.

‘When I asked you about memories, and about living, you told me you believed in Continuum.’ Yoongi states. ‘What did you mean by that?’

‘It means that what was, will always be, as a repetition, a rebirth, a continuation.’ Amme explains. ‘Yisheng had meant for hatred and death and violence to remain where they escaped from. What Yisheng didn’t know was that they brought it with them. And as Continuum grew with what they built, so did hatred, so did death, so did violence. We are life built on this Continuum, we are pat of this Continuum that will go on, a cycle, a circle – who we once were, in some ways, will always be who we will be.’

‘But not like this?’

‘Maybe not for you,’ Amme is gentle as she speaks, ‘Maybe you are here, because you continued to follow fate.’

Lead, and I will follow.

‘What about the others?’ Yoongi questions, ‘Those other GI? Or, well- the others from when you found us in Bhumi. Will they also remember? Will they also dream?’

Amme looks thoughtful, ‘I cannot make that statement. They showed signs of recognition, of connection to Jimin. But their reactions have never gone beyond that. Has Jungkook displayed these signs?’

‘No,’ Yoongi shakes his head. ‘He’s- he’s not like me. Or the ones from that ship.’

‘He was meant to be GI, was he not?’ It sounds more like a statement than a question, ‘He is young.’

Yoongi gives Amme a small smile at that before he says, ‘I saw the Omhlophe- clearly. They had the same marks down their backs.’

Yoongi is careful as he continues, ‘And…they seemed to honour their dead. I am not sure how much of it was ceremonial- or just…just projection from what they have seen. But it was the same as the Yisheng burial.’

Amme doesn’t say anything, waiting for Yoongi to complete what he had to say.

‘Are they why they Court is afraid, of the GI and the others from the Akramanese ship? That they will become like the Omhlophe? Inherit the dream that the Akramanese followed?’

Amme nods after a moment.

‘Not all of them. But considering the strength of the GI, and the unknown potential the unborn from the Akramanese ship could possibly hold, I would say their fear is quite founded.’

‘Jungkook is not like that though,’ Yoongi says quietly. ‘He was created differently, I know that, but considering…considering what he’s been through. He is…he is quite pure of heart.’

Amme nods to that, ‘We are all the same.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘What or who you are does not lead you to become either or.’ Amme emphasizes lightly. ‘Perhaps Jungkook is the way he is, because it is his choice. The same way Taeh’yung is the way he is, because he chooses to be like this. We cannot vouch for every single unborn, for every single GI.’

‘The…they said something to me. Inside that asteroid,’ Yoongi recollects that moment with vivid clarity. ‘They said “we will not be found”.’

Amme tilts her head, looking curious.

‘And-‘ Yoongi pauses a moment, checking.

‘I was found. I know, because this…this is what it feels like to be found.’

They remain quiet for a while.

‘And I think- when we were in Grisial- when the GI came. There was…another me. And he seemed so…so void,’ Yoongi says heavily, ‘He looked like me. Probably sounded just like me. And he…all he wanted was to just reach for Jimin. To be found.’

‘You don’t know why the Omhlophe, if they were created similarly to you, would not want to be found?’

‘That and-…while questionable, the GI who came to Grisial, they did not harm Jimin. Nor did they harm Namjoon. In a sense- they protected him. But the Omhlophe- it seemed like they wanted to either overtake Jimin or…or kill him.’

‘And what about you?’

‘What about me?’

‘The GI, those who came in Grisial- how did they react to you?’

Yoongi thinks of the end of the TeorSer aimed straight at him.

‘They tried to kill me.’

‘Why do you think they tried to do that?’

Yoongi shrugs helplessly.

‘I don’t know how I can help with this,’ Amme says gently, ‘Have you told your crew?’

Yoongi shakes his head.

‘You should. It would be better.’

Yoongi nods in agreement.

There’s a lot that could be said of it, a lot theorized; but it would all be conjecture. And at the moment, with everything that they knew, with everything that was falling into place, Yoongi was going to wait a while before he would have to disrupt this momentary calm.

‘Is there anything else you would like to discuss?’ Amme inquires, her tone soft.

It triggers a flash of pain. It was as though Amme was giving Yoongi time to tell her what they just did. Why his body was ringing with echoes of pain, pain shared with Jimin though briefly. Amme could probably sense it.

‘You understand,’ Amme intones quietly, ‘Don’t you?’

Yoongi knew that was what Amme had truly come to say. That was what she wanted to clarify with him.

Yoongi nods slowly, ‘I do.’

‘You know what will happen. I cannot heal you of it.’

Amme sounds sorrowful.

‘I know,’ Yoongi tries to give Amme a smile. ‘It’s-…I think it was obvious from the start.’

‘You cannot do what you and Jimin did,’ Amme tells him firmly, ‘It will kill you.’

‘It was a risk I was willing to take- a risk I had to take.’

Amme doesn’t ask for more- doesn’t press for what he saw. What Jimin saw.

‘Perhaps things will change, once you truly return,’ Amme begins tentatively.

‘More butter or less bread?’

‘Perhaps something entirely different.’

Yoongi lets out a small huff of a laugh, ‘Maybe.’

‘I am sorry,’ her remorse is evident. ‘I could not save you. Or your friend. Your crew.’

‘None of us really knew what was happening,’ is all Yoongi can say. And it’s true. ‘There’s no point in beating yourself up about it.’

‘What we have sent you to do,’ Amme continues as though she didn’t hear what Yoongi had to say. ‘What you are about to do – we cannot predict the outcome. We cannot begin to understand what waits for you. What you will uncover. What you will have to do. After what has happened, after Gaia, we cannot allow a repeat.’

‘But all life is Continuum, isn’t it?’

Amme looks down at the table at that.

‘What will happen, will happen,’ Yoongi sighs out, suddenly tired. Something gnaws at the base of his head, threatening to hurt him.

‘Maybe. Maybe not.’

It almost sounds like a gentle rebuke. Yoongi doesn’t know how to answer in all honesty.

‘I don’t blame you,’ Yoongi tells Amme. ‘About what happened. About…about any of this. It’s not your fault.’

Amme genuinely looks surprised to hear this.

The silence continues for a while before Amme stands, her head brushing the ceiling a little.

‘We may not meet again- at least, not in this Continuum,’ Amme declares. ‘But maybe you can change that.’

‘If I do, why would I want to see you again?’ Yoongi snorts.

Amme’s smile is a little disturbing, what with all the glassy teeth on display.

The sound of footsteps approach them, climbing upwards. It doesn’t surprise Yoongi that it’s Jimin. He’s carrying with him an OrTank, probably with some additional supplies.

Jimin eyes both Amme and Yoongi with a little suspicion. It’s mainly directed at Amme though. But Amme seems to find it funny as she bows towards Jimin.

‘S’wezete Amme.’ Jimin bows his head as well.

‘I was making my farewells,’ she informs Jimin who steps into the dining area as Amme makes her way out. ‘I will be at the Bridge if you seek me.’

She descends, her snake-like pet slithers out from the hallway that stretched the distance between the dining space and their own Bridge.

Jimin watches her leave until she disappears. Yoongi walks forward to take the OrTank from him.

‘What’s in this?’ Yoongi asks, squinting at the stamped words over the top. Some form of grain product. Honestly Yoongi’s not sure what Sk’jin thought would be useful for them.

‘Um- I believe Hoseok said more things for you to poison.’ Jimin gives him an amused look.

Yoongi chuckles.

‘Do you think it’s too small for Namjoon? Or even Sk’jin?’ Jimin inquires as he looks around while Yoongi opens the OrTank.

‘Who told them to be so tall?’ Yoongi acts offended, ‘Jungkook’s headed there too I think.’

Somehow, being aboard the Yisheng ship seemed to have boosted Jungkook’s health. Whatever effect being in here had greatly replenished and powered Jungkook’s health. He definitely towered over Hoseok now, having started off just a little taller than Yoongi. Jungkook tried his best to be as helpful, rarely really tiring as he hefted the heavier OrTanks over his shoulders with ease. Yoongi could see Jimin and Hoseok watching carefully. It didn’t help that Taeh’yung encouraged the youngling to carry him everywhere. But Jungkook seemed to view this as a form of exercise. Taeh’yung was often latched onto Jungkook’s back, happily swinging his feet while his ride lifted two heavy OrTanks with ease to and fro the Laikin and the store.

‘Are the Pravasi M’hanun tall?’ Jimin inquires.

‘Quite tall- some of their races grow up to 7-8 feet tall,’ Yoongi grimaces, remembering some he came across personally.

Jimin seems to be calculating that measurement, his head tilting upwards towards the ceiling. Yoongi reaches over to boop his nose. Jimin flinches comically, blinking rapidly as though shocked that Yoongi would do something like that.

‘I think Kook is still a while away from 8 feet tall,’ Yoongi chortles, opening a drawer to place some of the parcels from the OrTank inside. ‘But this place would definitely be too small for him then.’

‘It’s comfortable?’ Jimin smiles looking around and pointing at the upper cabinets with an amused look. ‘We can reach the cupboards easily now.’

Yoongi chuckles. Some of the storage in the Užkulisai was too high up for both of their smaller stature. Something Sk’jin made sure to tease them about, and something Namjoon always patiently helped them with if he was nearby.

‘We should be okay- it won’t be too long,’ Yoongi replies as he pushes the drawer shut, a tiny magnetic locking sound ensuring it was safely secured.

‘What did Amme say?’ Jimin inquires softly as he closes shut the cabinet he had opened for no other reason than to simply demonstrate his ability to do so now.

Yoongi mulls over his words a little before replying, ‘She wanted to ask how I was uh, coping I guess. Like, how I was adapting? Being back and stuff.’

Jimin nods, listening carefully.

‘I think she feels guilty- about what happened,’ Yoongi shrugs, pulling out a bunch of sealed liquid containers. He’s pretty sure some of them had blood-broths for Jungkook. ‘She wanted to apologize? Make peace I guess.’

Jimin clearly understands that something more had been said- something that Yoongi doesn’t want to repeat. Because his expression turns serious. Melancholic.

‘I’m sorry,’ Yoongi tells him quietly. ‘I know that- that you didn’t want to do that. To look in but-‘

‘-it was necessary,’ Jimin shakes his head. ‘It’s needed and it- it helped me too.’

‘How?’

Jimin’s eyes glaze over a little, looking at him with an expression that Yoongi can feel. And he knows- they both know.

‘You don’t hurt me, sunshine,’ Yoongi whispers.

‘I felt it,’ Jimin says, his voice fragile. ‘I still feel it.’

‘It’s not your fault.’

Jimin just shakes his head.

He looks small and tired again. But in a different way- in a way that Yoongi knows has something to do with him. Yoongi wants to change that- needs to change that.

He decides that using tactics from Chapter 4 of the “Small Talks, Medium Gestures, Big Effects” on diversions and how to change topics. He glances out of the tiny circular window over the main counter. In actuality, Yoongi is sort of struck with a strange nostalgic sense at some of the design choices inside the ship. They all felt sort of reminiscent of Ancient Earth submarines. With the circular windows, slightly tighter quarters and bunks inside the bare-minimum cabins.

Taeh’yung and Jungkook are outside. And for once Taeh’yung is not pressed up against Jungkook’s back, hitching a ride. But instead he’s aggressively flailing as though mimicking some dance. Jungkook is watching, wide-eyed, confused, but also sort of shuffling along to whatever Taeh’yung was so aggressively throwing himself into.

‘Ah- really feels like we have 2 kids aboard,’ Yoongi comments, nodding towards the window. Momentarily distracted from the change in topic, Jimin takes a few step to peer out though not before looking at Yoongi with some confusion.

He instantly starts laughing, curling his shoulders as though embarrassed.

‘Is- is that dance?’

‘It shouldn’t be.’

This makes Jimin laugh even more, leaning up against the counter to watch as Jungkook hesitantly shuffle-hops on his feet.

‘I think Taeh’yung is a bad influence,’ Yoongi starts seriously, ‘Imagine Jungkook at 8 feet tall, dancing in earnest like that-‘

Jimin looked like he wanted to initially counter Yoongi’s remark about Taeh’yung, but he bursts out laughing instead.

‘I’m sure in some places it’s very beautiful.’

‘What are the dances like in your home planet?’ Yoongi asks, genuinely curious.

‘Uh- not like that,’ Jimin breaks out into giggles, pointing at Taeh’yung who was getting wilder and wilder. Jungkook is genuinely backing up now, though still doing a strange shuffling hop.

‘Earth has nice dances,’ Yoongi begins bravely, disregarding memories of struggling to stay on time to any beat. Having rhythm wasn’t always synonymous to staying on beat weirdly enough. Chaewon would scream when Yoongi and their mum did funny dance moves just to .

‘Not like that?’

‘If you danced like that on Earth, you’d be arrested for public indecency,’ Yoongi snorts holding out both his hands. Jimin takes them without question, though he has no idea what Yoongi was about to do. Which, funny enough, Yoongi himself didn’t know what he was going to do. He rarely ever danced in a serious way.

‘Uh-‘ Jimin cuts into his thoughts, making him realize that he was just staring blankly at their hands and not moving. Jimin’s cheeks are a bit flushed, as though somewhat embarrassed.

‘Right- you uh, mirror my steps.’

Yoongi steps on Jimin’s toes (bare) twice before they get the concept down.

‘I’d dip you, but I’m not at all confident,’ Yoongi says as he manages to take some basic steps forward, back, side to side.

‘Dip?’ Jimin tilts his head, amused by what they were doing.

‘Uh yea- it’s complicated,’ Yoongi huffs.

Jimin laughs, ‘Are you just making this up?’

Yoongi pulls an exaggerated offended expression, making Jimin apologize though it’s more laughter than anything else. So Yoongi spins Jimin out instead, cutting his laughter short.

‘I’m an excellent dancer by Human standards,’ Yoongi grins, making Jimin circle back before pulling him. It’s funny, because neither of them are remotely following a rhythm. Jimin is laughing, bright and clear, hair falling over his eyes in graceful waves.

‘People would flock to see me bust a move,’ Yoongi continues to make extravagant claims, pulling and twirling Jimin around in the small space. Jimin bumps into one of the counters in his enthusiasm to try and twirl Yoongi as well. ‘They’d say –wow look at Min Yoongi go-‘

Jimin collapses against him, head thrown back as he laughs.

‘What? You think I’m joking?’ Yoongi teases, releasing their hands to hold Jimin by the waist as the latter bodily laughs against him. ‘On Ancient Earth, there was this guy called Mick Jagger- I had moves like Mick Jagger y’know?’

Jimin muffles his laughter against Yoongi’s shoulders as the Human does a funny dance move, weirdly shuffling his feet to some random tempo.

‘Stop stop-!’ Jimin wheezes, pulling him to a stop by wrapping his arms around Yoongi. ‘I believe  you!’

‘Good- you should,’ Yoongi holds his nose up high smugly.

Jimin is giggling against him, his body warm and just shaking slightly. Yoongi slowly draws his hands up Jimin’s arms before moving downwards and holding him by his hips. They shuffle side to side, not really moving at all, but just swaying against each other.

‘This is like a waltz,’ Yoongi murmurs.

‘Waltz?’

‘Hmm- Human dance style,’ Yoongi replies. ‘A very lazy version.’

‘What does it look like?’

Yoongi thinks back to the clips from Ancient Earth.

‘Uh- it could be slow. It was considered elegant, classic- very romantic.’

Jimin giggles again, ‘Are you trying to be romantic?’

‘I don’t know- is this romantic?’

Jimin laughs again.

It’s hardly the place to attempt a show of being romantic.

‘Doesn’t dance need music?’ Jimin questions curiously, ‘Or Earth didn’t use music?’

‘I can hear music,’ Yoongi tells him softly, ‘It sounds…sounds like something from a distant memory.’

They take slow steps.

After a few moments, Jimin starts humming.

Yoongi brings Jimin just a little closer, feeling the melody rather than just simply listening to it. He hums along as well, a little slower, a little softer.

‘I think we should definitely learn how to do a dance and become the next galactic dancing stars-‘

Jimin breaks from his humming, leaning away to crouch down on the floor but he loses his balance and falls onto the floor, breaking out into hearty peals of laughter. Yoongi makes waves with his arms, and Jimin is literally flat on the floor, wheezing as his eyes glimmer with tears of laughter.

Yoongi kneels down, still waving his arms, but now also laughing along with Jimin.

It takes a minute but Jimin manages to sit up. Their hands entwine almost immediately, naturally, instinctively.

‘What do you think?’ Yoongi asks, feeling a little breathless.

Jimin’s cheeks are rosy, his eyes shining, his smile and breathy almost squeaky chuckles infectious. Yoongi pushes back his hair, just simply drinking in all of Jimin as he was in this very moment.

‘I think that’s a great idea,’ Jimin beams at him, taking Yoongi’s hand back in his and kissing it. ‘We would be very successful.’

‘Successful because we’re so good, or successful because we’re so bad?’ Yoongi questions, taking Jimin’s hand and kissing it back.

‘Depends,’ Jimin’s expression is so fond, so adoring.

‘You’re beautiful,’ Yoongi says against Jimin’s knuckles. ‘Beautiful sunshine.’

Jimin is very quick to turn red, batting his hands away and shoving Yoongi back. He scrambles up to stand, rapidly talking in his own language, his name thrown in there occasionally.

‘Jiminie-‘ Yoongi rasps out, laughter constricting his throat as he watches Jimin flail in embarrassment. There’s the sound of tentative footsteps and Yoongi isn’t surprised to find Jungkook peeking in, eyes confused and a tad bit accusatory when he regards Yoongi on the floor.

Somehow this makes Yoongi laugh even more and makes Jimin hide his face in his hands. Jungkook, the precious youngling that he is, looks even more confused.

‘Uh- Sk’jin says we should get ready?’ he says, eyeing the two with even more confusion and suspicion.

‘Okay- we’re coming,’ Yoongi grins. ‘Enjoyed dancing?’

‘Dancing?’

Yoongi just shakes his head in reply.

Jungkook continues to eye him suspiciously, unmoving here he stood.

Yoongi rolls his eyes to himself before he makes to stand. Jimin has lowered his hands, now giving Yoongi comic accusatory looks.

Yoongi holds his hand out, ‘C’mon sunshine, let’s go.’

Cheeks flushed, Jimin takes Yoongi’s hand.

They follow Jungkook out, pass the circular dining space. Jungkook takes the stairs in giant steps. It makes Yoongi want to snort at the display. Especially after Jungkook gives him an almost challenging look before disappearing.

Jimin gives him a questioning look. He’s still smiling, eyes still sparkling with laughter and mirth.

There’s also a look of expectation. The same look he had when they dreamt together.

For a moment, Yoongi is back there. In that soft comfortable bed, Jimin smiling at him, his hands on his face. Yoongi leans in to softly kiss his nose and then his lips.

‘You know I love you right?’

Jimin’s eyes widen a little, the eclipse bright and clear.

It’s soothing.

Yoongi remembers that day on Earth. With Chaewon and Amic. How the world is transformed under this light- under this sky- and the entirety of time seems to pause, to allow them to witness this known cosmic beauty for just a few seconds longer- just a few heartbeats longer. Just long enough for him to feel as though he was breathing at the same pace with everyone gathered around them. To feel as though he were looking at the same sky with everyone- to feel the planet sigh at the sight of the eclipse. He remembers with clarity the moment where he realized he would never return.

“It would be just like this.”

Jimin pulls him back and kisses him back just as softly.

‘I know.’

 

 

*

 

 

Feeling better, both in body and somehow in mind than he ever has during the duration of this mission, Hoseok just hopes that this will last.

Their new ship is sturdy, and sure it’s small and they’ll have to find ways for all of them to properly fit in. He’s sure Jungkook wouldn’t mind sharing with Sk’jin and vice versa because they practically roomed in the same Cabin at the Užkulisai. Not that Sk’jin actually needed to sleep or anything- but it was still nice to accommodate each Being. Taeh’yung had gleefully stated that he would room with Jimin, which was somehow immediately and clearly shot down by Yoongi in a way that Taeh’yung found himself agreeing to rooming with Hoseok without realizing it.

Sk’jin had rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t roll all the way back in his head.

‘Welcome back Head Pilot Hoseok,’ Lisai’s voice calls clearly through the Bridge as Hoseok passes through the hallway and into the small Bridge.

‘Thank you- how are the systems? All good?’

‘All systems are at green, waiting for your orders.’

‘Great- we’ll be leaving in an hour. Start up communications channel after we dock out.’

‘Understood. Would you like to link up to previously cut-off channels?’

‘Only for Namjoon’s Comm Device- ignore the rest,’ Hoseok replies as he sweeps over the Bridge one more time. Sk’jin would take over the Navigation until they were able to get Namjoon back. Hoseok’s not sure how it was going to work out- but he’s hoping that the GI (???) that took him would be rational and would see no reason as to why they shouldn’t bring him back. Especially when coming back meant coming back to Jimin. At least that’s what Yoongi and Jimin himself had firmly believed would happen.

Hoseok wanted to be able to track the Omhlophe- to make sure of their location. But if they connect back to their channels in the Užkulisai it would mean that the Omhlophe would be able to track them down too. He’s hoping that with Namjoon back, they might be able to reverse engineer these signals so that only they would be able to receive and use it.

He walks out of the Bridge and into the hallway framed with 3 doors on each side. 4 cabins and 2 washrooms. It’s not what they got used to at the Užkulisai but Hoseok has definitely survived situations where this current living facility could be considered 5-Standard.

The hallway connects to the dining/kitchen and circling stairs that lead downwards to the Hangar area. Putting the Spardyti inside would be a tight squeeze, but according to Yoongi’s measurement they would be set.

It’s not surprising that Amme would not have any weaponry, defensive or offensive, in her ship. So while they’re fully recovered, they were severely lacking in any form of weaponry save for the ones Hoseok and Yoongi had managed to salvage and grab from the Užkulisai. They were definitely going to have to stock up and that was not going to be easy.

Scanning the dining/kitchen, Hoseok notes that everything has been prepped and cleared for taking off. On his way down, he comes across Jungkook. The youngling is snacking on a packet of what Hoseok guesses is some form of dried meat. Jungkook’s increased appetite was both heartening and worrying. Their storage capacity was smaller now, and with Jungkook’s very large appetite, they would have to be careful about stocking up and maintaining supplies. But for now he seemed very happy, eating nearly hour.

‘The Spardyti is here!’ Jungkook tells him at once, clearly being sent to summon Hoseok back down.

‘Thanks Kook,’ Hoseok smiles, ruffling at Jungkook’s fluffy growing hair. Hoseok remembers going through his own growth spurt, though it didn’t span a few days like it did with Jungkook.

Hoseok makes his way into the Hangar, Jungkook behind him. The gates are open and the ramps drawn down. Yoongi is inside the Spardyti, carefully steering it and positioning it to align correctly. Jimin and Taeh’yung are standing some ways outside, Amme next to them.

Sk’jin is nowhere to be seen but he had mentioned something about taking a nice bath before “ inevitably goes down again”.

Hoseok and Jungkook exit the Hangar to allow Yoongi space to drive the Transporter in. Yoongi had taken over repairing it with the maintenance Androids in the Yisheng Hangar next to the one they were in. Yoongi didn’t touch up the exterior to change it- stating that its rather woebegone state was more than fitting and perfect for a trade-ship like their new one. It would better match their new identity as a small trading crew.

Hoseok makes his way towards where the others were now standing. Amme seems to be patiently listening to something Taeh’yung was saying, while Jimin watched/listened with a slightly confused expression.

‘Hoseok.’

Hoseok wonders if he’s imagining the relief in Amme’s voice as she turns her attention to him.

‘Kookie!’ Taeh’yung throws himself at the Pravasi M’hanun. Jungkook is clearly used to this, so he barely stumbles, doesn’t stop eating, and looks nowhere near strained by this additional weight. However Taeh’yung manages to kick the packet Jungkook was holding, so now dried meat bites were all over the floor. Jimin sighs like an exhausted parent and goes to clean up the fallen snacks off of the floor.

‘Is everything to your liking?’ Amme asks.

‘It is. Thank you again.’

‘I am grateful that you chose to come to me,’ Amme tells him, ‘I am glad you allowed me to be part of what you have discovered.’

‘I’ll be frank,’ Hoseok states bluntly, ‘We didn’t have a choice.’

‘I understand, but that does not minimize my gratitude. My eyes have been opened, my understanding and belief renewed.’

‘Well…I guess that’s good,’ Hoseok says somewhat lamely. He really wishes Namjoon were here, Spaces.

‘Be careful,’ Amme tells him quite suddenly. ‘I cannot testify for what information is available- especially in the region you are headed for.’

‘What do you know about Axudar?’ Hoseok tilts his head, eyeing the Yisheng carefully. As promised, he looked deep into Axudar when he had the time, changing his angle of searching for information. But he found nothing conclusive.

‘What we know about Axudar is what they want us to know,’ Amme replies, ‘The Universe is immense, Hoseok.’

‘Sure,’ Hoseok waves aside the excuse. ‘What were you doing there before you decided that Ndica’s way was not yours?’

Hoseok is not easy to fool. And Hoseok also knows that Amme knows that he would conduct searches on her past, her involvement. It wasn’t easy to find of course, but that didn’t mean Hoseok wasn’t going to try. He didn’t have Namjoon to help with the deep dive through the hidden archives available in database, but Hoseok made do.

‘Ndica was sure that he had come across a way to stabilize his work. I never knew what his methods were, or what he was truly creating with the GI. Not until it was too late and after everything that happened not too long ago.’ Amme replies, ‘But he was certain that the answers lay in the beliefs of his people.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Axudar has a complex history,’ Amme explains, ‘While most Systems are incomprehensibly diverse and unique within their own planets Axudar is startlingly uniform.’

‘That’s not too rare,’ Hoseok frowns. He’s sure that the Khhemsa were in fact, pretty uniform in their species diversity when it came to race and gender. Hoseok himself came from a species that had no defined racial identity or gender identity until the Standard was introduced and identification/classification was required.

‘It’s not,’ Amme agrees, ‘But Axudar was once a very diverse place.’

‘What happened? Ethnic cleansing? Genocide?’

‘Not exactly like that,’ Amme replies, ‘The reports on the topic are scarce, and unclear. This all happened in quite a short period of time.’

She sounded unsure, unclear.

‘Did Ndica truly manage to bind so many?’

‘Blinded, maybe, but we all chose to see what we wanted to see,’ Amme replies, ‘There is no excuse on my part.’

Hoseok can definitely understand that all too well.

‘Be careful,’ Amme repeats, ‘I do not mean this in the sense of imminent danger, or fatality. I worry what you might find or uncover once you venture deeper. Especially now that you understand so much.’

Hoseok nods to that.

‘I cannot do much in Axudar. Their new laws, established no doubt by Ndica in the past, and their arrangements- you will need to exercise care and caution.’

It’s Amme’s way of saying that she won’t be able to help. At least, not without alerting the entire Known Universe about what was happening. And while that could be covered up someway or another, the entire premise of their mission was definitely supposed to remain hidden regardless. Especially from the Court, and from a potential growing threat that Hoseok cannot rightly name. And it had nothing to do with the Omhlophe, or with the GI, or with anything they assumed would hinder their mission.

Something else was waiting for them.

‘Do you advise us against going to Axudar?’ Hoseok inquires. Because if that was the case, then Hoseok is more than happy to find another way for them to get to Bhumi/Megibīya.  

‘No- I do not advise what you should or shouldn’t do,’ Amme replies. ‘I understand the choice to enter Axudar.’

Hoseok snorts under his breath, ‘I almost forgot you’re in the Jury. You want to know.’

Amme doesn’t deny this.

‘Well- I guess we’ll have to dive in head first,’ Hoseok sighs out just as Jungkook makes his way back, a series of CleanBots rolling after him and Taeh’yung as though pin-pointing the two as the messiest culprits. Jimin finds it funny, clearly, watching the Bots roll after the two with accusatory sounding beeping sounds.

‘Yoongi has finished parking and securing the Spardyti,’ Jungkook reports shiftily glancing at Amme as he addresses Hoseok.

‘Okay- we’re good to go. Well- Sk’jin needs to come back.’ Hoseok wonders how long a bath even took. ‘We’ll be taking off then Yisheng Amme. Thank you again for coming.’

Amme bows gracefully in reply.

Jungkook clumsily bows, Taeh’yung’s weight on his back making him misbalance a little. Before they can turn to leave, Amme calls the Zhak’gri by name.

‘Taeh’yung,’ Amme addresses the Zhak’gri.

‘Sup?’ Taeh’yung raises an eyebrow.

Hoseok thinks Namjoon would balk at Taeh’yung’s casualness.

‘Thank you for keeping the OrTanks safe,’ she says with a bow of her head. ‘My team are currently taking care of them, away from Grisial’s borders.’

Hoseok sees the way Jimin’s eyes widen at that, blinking rapidly as he stares at Amme and then at Taeh’yung and back again.

Taeh’yung just grins, two fingers sticking out to form a ‘V’ under one eye in reply.

‘You got it babe.’

Namjoon would definitely cringe.

Jungkook turns and walks towards their new ship while Jimin can’t seem to decide to stay or walk after the two.

‘What-‘ Jimin breathes out, confused.

‘The Omhlophe ship wreckage was pushed away from Grisial’s borders,’ Amme explains, ‘Taeh’yung drove them far enough to fall into dead-space borders. They were carrying over 2000 OrTanks according to my first report. Investigations and extractions are underway as of 12 hours ago.’

‘He- he said he destroyed them all?’ Jimin whispers faintly.

‘There were no traces of the Omhlophe. The ship was dead,’ Amme explains, ‘But within their hold, we found the OrTanks safe and secure.’

‘Oh,’ Jimin smiles faintly, eyes filled with unshed tears.

‘He is the Fifth of the First,’ Amme says slowly, ‘Born of the First Awakening. He will see it done.’

‘See what done?’ Hoseok frowns at the words.

‘Continuum,’ Amme replies simply.

But Jimin just thanks Amme again, bowing elegantly in his own custom. There’s a commotion as Sk’jin reappears. Hoseok can practically smell him from where he stood. He did look very pleased with himself that was for sure.

‘Kids let’s get goin-!?’ Sk’jin ends up shrieking as he’s chased by Jungkook, goaded on by Taeh’yung who screams ‘CHARGE!!!!!!’.

‘Well- we should really get going,’ Hoseok reaches over to pull Jimin forward.

But Jimin pauses, turning to look at Amme.

Amme gazes down at Jimin, waiting for him to say something.

‘I will ensure their safety,’ Jimin declares. ‘For all life is equal, in all of Time, in all of Space.’

‘I am sorry,’ Amme sounds truly sorrowful, ‘That you have to bear the inheritance of such a great evil.’

‘I do not think it would have come to this, S’wezete Amme,’ Jimin trails off. ‘I am simply carrying out my retribution.’

 

*

 

There’s something soothing about the new ship. In a way Jungkook can’t quite explain.

He’s not sure what to make of Amme. He’s heard the term Yisheng enough to somehow relate it with something bad. Something cruel.

There’s a lot he doesn’t exactly understand.

But he’s clear on one thing.

‘Jungkookie! I think you should wear these!’ Taeh’yung bounds up to him.

Jungkook instantly tenses, readying himself to carry the Zhak’gri. And he’s not disappointed as Taeh’yung leaps through the air and grapples onto him. Taeh’yung isn’t heavy- he’s quite light for someone his height.

The door to the left of the hallway slides open, revealing Sk’jin. Jungkook sees the way Sk’jin frowns, eyes narrowing as he twitches as though to catch Jungkook if he were to lose balance.

‘Tae- please, we’re in a small space, it’s gonna hurt both of you if you fall and hurt yourselves.’ Sk’jin sounds exasperated, gesturing to the much narrower and shorter hallway.

‘Kookie won’t let me fall,’ Taeh’yung declares boldly, waving around some dark pajama pants with drawstrings. ‘Right Kook?’

‘Um, mm!’ Jungkook nods, holding his hand up to show Sk’jin a thumb’s up.

Sk’jin is not appeased.

‘All right guys, they’re gonna get out of warp in 10 minutes, and we’re good to go,’ Hoseok calls from his own room. ‘Everyone remembers what we’re doing?’

‘Getting out at the borders around the Tyochi Binary System,’ Sk’jin recites, ‘We stay long enough so that the GI-not-GI can get their sensory connection to Jimin-‘ Jimin gives Sk’jin a comically affronted look, ‘-and to set up our channels. Then we detour around back to Māho-5 to grab some weaponry.’

‘And?’

‘And only you and Yoongi will be stepping out,’ Sk’jin makes a funny face, badly mimicking Hoseok’s voice.

‘Perfectly recited my dear,’ Hoseok replies back, sounding almost exactly like Sk’jin. It makes Jimin who was in the Bridge laugh.

Sk’jin sags a little, sighing, ‘Wish Namjoon was here.’

‘We’ll get him back soon,’ Yoongi says, appearing randomly out of nowhere.

They barely flinch now.

‘Great- everyone ready?’ Hoseok exits his room, pushing back his hair from his eyes as he scans all of them. ‘Comm Devices?’

Taeh’yung obliges and turns Jungkook’s head for him, showing off the new hoop attached to his ear, blinking a violet hue.

‘Okay- everyone settle down,’ Hoseok waves them all forward, ushering them towards the Bridge.

‘Sure I wish Namjoon was here so that I can but why don’t we pull a democratic vote and appoint you our new leader?’ Sk’jin grins, jabbing Hoseok as he walks past.

‘Then I democratically vote myself out,’ Hoseok snorts. ‘Even though it’s temporary, this has been stressful enough for me to never want to do this again.’

‘Lone wolf,’ Yoongi mutters under his breath.

‘I don’t know what that means but I don’t think you’re one to speak Suga,’ Sk’jin smacks the Human on his back.

The Bridge just about fits them all. If they had even 2 more Beings (not counting Namjoon) they would have no seats. Jungkook drops Taeh’yung off to sit next to Jimin before making his way next to where Sk’jin sat. The Communications Board was right next to the Navigation Table- nearly sharing the entire dashboard. The Bridge didn’t have distinct levels anymore, but just a single difference in the platforms. The lower and smaller platform seated the cockpit with 2 seats. Yoongi and Hoseok sat there. And directly behind, was the Navigation Table and the Communications Board. On either side were the footstools, narrower but still well structured.

‘Agent Hoseok, the Hangar will now decompress,’ a cool Android voice announces through the Communications Board.

‘Thank you love,’ Sk’jin replies back, ‘We’re all sealed Lisai?’

‘Ready for vacuum, green for warp.’

‘Temporary cap?’ Sk’jin twitches an eyebrow up at Hoseok.

‘Let’s undock,’ he nods towards Yoongi.

‘Everyone safely secured?’ Sk’jin calls out, glancing towards Jimin and Taeh’yung.

They both nod.

‘And in the tongues and dialect of all those who call this Universe their home, I bid you, my brothers, the blessings of one, the blessings of all.’ A voice- Amme’s – suddenly quietly chimes into their Communications Board. ‘And when you find yourself in times of trouble or woe, listen to the music from the stars- and let them guide you with their wisdom, Memory, and Time.’

‘Love you too!’ Taeh’yung trills as the Hangar gates open.

‘Deactivating magnetic strips,’ Hoseok announces.

The ship doesn’t jolt or shift, just simply gently hovers a little at an angle.

‘Pressure valves opening; beamers at 190 degrees,’ Yoongi quietly announces just before they quietly move through the Hangar and out of the gates. Jungkook can sense relief, as well as apprehension. A different kind of apprehension; a distinct unease and trepidation mounts as they fully exit the Yisheng ship.

‘I’m not in the place to say this,’ Hoseok suddenly says, ‘But if anyone wants to turn back and leave, you can. Yisheng Amme would take you in.’

No one says a thing.

‘Starting up Engines 1 and 3,’ Yoongi announces instead. ‘Setting 2.’

Sk’jin starts up one of the projections over the wide and tilted screen over the dashboard. Jungkook remembers Sk’jin sighing at it saying ‘this is some prehistoric set-up though’. It’s surveillance from the back of the ship.

The Yisheng ship is massive, even from distance they were starting to put between them. The edges start to faintly glow, its shape lingering in the form of dazed lights as it warps away.

‘We’re clear,’ Sk’jin reports.

‘Okay- Lisai reconnect with Namjoon’s channels,’ Hoseok orders at once, ‘Let’s start up our negotiations if we need to.’

‘I can speak?’ Jimin offers immediately.

‘Yeah- that’s a good idea,’ Hoseok nods. ‘Okay- all clear?’

‘Searching for connection.’ Lisai reports.

Sk’jin frowns a little, eyeing the projection over Hoseok’s dashboard. ‘It should have connected immediately?’

They wait, tension building palpably.

‘Failure to connect.’

‘What?’ Sk’jin glares at the projection, ‘How is that-‘

‘-it’s only possible if Namjoon himself has disconnected the lines,’ Yoongi surmises, ‘Or he was told to disconnect it.’

‘No- Namjoon has completely disconnected us,’ Hoseok shakes his head, ‘The channels can still remain open from either side so that if any of us were in a compromised situation, we could still use it for some form of communication. Namjoon and I designed it like that. He’s completely switched it off.’

‘But we’re still tracking him aren’t we?’ Jimin asks, his expression pinched with worry. ‘From the tea?’

‘Yeah we are,’ Hoseok frowns, starting up the tracking tab they had on constantly. ‘He’s still going through Lapho and Aquí.’

‘Okay- how about we use an open channel and try to connect to his location?’ Sk’jin suggests. ‘We could just, I don’t know, issue an announcement that Namjoon would understand. Or something the GI would definitely pick up on.’ He looks to Yoongi who pauses a moment before saying, ‘GI think only in terms of mission statement protocols. I don’t know what mission they’re following- if they have one. But it’s worth trying.’

‘Okay- we have 15 minutes here and then we need to get going,’ Hoseok says tensely, eyeing the view outside the Bridge. ‘Let’s not stay out here for too long.’

They end up staying a full long hour. Because no  matter how hard they try, they cannot connect to Namjoon’s disconnected channels.

‘This metallic piece of -‘

‘-I don’t think it’s the screen’s fault-‘

‘-I was referring to Namjoon!’ Sk’jin snaps tiredly as Hoseok rolls his eyes.

‘What if we can’t direct this channel because our tracker is not actually there?’ Jimin suggests quietly.

‘What?’

‘What if this- is just a decoy?’ Jimin points at Namjoon’s tracker.

‘But that would mean they would have known about the Yoongi poisoned us with-‘ Sk’jin stops before squinting at Yoongi. ‘Is that you poison us with a sort of strictly GI thing.’

Yoongi genuinely looks upset as he nods, as though irritated that he hadn’t thought of it before.

‘Great- so, they’re misleading us?’ Hoseok huffs out noisily, ‘Doesn’t that mean they can track us back too?’

Yoongi immediately shakes his head, ‘Each isotope signal is unique when consumed. Namjoon’s is unique to his make.’

‘…how do you have his unique isotope signal?’ Sk’jin asks hesitantly. ‘Or any of ours.’

‘Biological samples-‘

‘-you’re a disgusting small-‘

‘But why would they go to this length to divert us?’ Hoseok questions, ‘Unless it’s-…I mean, I don’t want to say it out loud but-‘

‘-unless it’s something Namjoon himself did,’ Jimin says slowly. ‘The channel being cut off…he uh, he could research what Yoongi used in the tea. Learnt how to um, alter? Change it?’

Sk’jin frowns heavily at that.

‘Why would he not want to be found?’

Jungkook catches the way Yoongi glances at Jimin, the latter somehow very affected by this statement.

‘…or maybe this-‘ Hoseok looks hesitant.

‘Maybe he did it on purpose because he doesn’t want to come back?’ Sk’jin completes Hoseok’s sentence for him. He almost sounds gentle.

‘I don’t think pa would do that,’ Taeh’yung offers confidently from where he sat, cross-legged.

‘I don’t see why he would-‘ Hoseok begins to say but Jimin reaches out to place a hand on his arm.

‘We should trust him,’ Sk’jin says at once, ‘He’s smart, sometimes, and right now we should trust that he’s doing what he thinks is the best option for his situation.’

‘What do we do now?’ Jungkook asks quietly.

‘Let’s keep the channel open with Namjoon’s Comm Device in case he needs to contact us,’ Hoseok frowns, clearly thinking hard. ‘It’s a risk, considering the GI- and yeah I know you don’t think they’d try to harm us, but they did try to kill Yoongi.’ Hoseok adds more towards Jimin than anyone else. ‘However, we need to move on quickly. We’ve wasted more time here than I’m comfortable with.’

‘We continue onwards then?’ Sk’jin rearranges himself, securing himself on his seat again.

‘Yeah,’ Hoseok nods. ‘3 hours until we get to Māho-5. After this Jimin and I will continue to comb through the public surveillance footage in Grisial to locate or identify the GI and what transporters they used.’

The strain of tension and apprehension lessens a little as the windows turn white with warp-light. But everyone is clearly somewhat lost in their own minds. Jungkook doesn’t know how to feel. Doesn’t know what to do. He’s fidgety but he’s not sure what to do.

‘Kookie!’

Jungkook is startled from his stupor at the quiet whisper.

It’s Taeh’yung, beaming at him from the other end of the Bridge. He waves at Jungkook to follow him out.

Jungkook takes a look around the Bridge. Jimin and Hoseok are at the Navigation Table, both going through layers and layers of projections. Sk’jin is concentrating on something Hoseok is sharing with him over a screen.

Jungkook quietly gets up and makes his way to Taeh’yung.

‘Ah- they get so tense and stuffy so quickly,’ Taeh’yung grins, taking his hand and pulling him towards the kitchen area. ‘Let’s snack!’

Jungkook is never one to deny food so he nods.

Taeh’yung grabs an armful of food before pressing it all into Jungkook’s hold. He then grabs two packets of compressed blood and skips to the dining area. He impatiently taps the table, and Jungkook hastens to carefully drop all of the food there.

‘Here Kookie,’ Taeh’yung hands him one of the packets. Jungkook sits down, ready to just eat his way through his hoard when Taeh’yung asks him: ‘Kookie, tell me about your family.’

Jungkook swallows his mouthful of blood incorrectly and nearly sprays Taeh’yung with it. He manages to stop himself though, just some droplets escaping through his lips and shooting out of his nose. Taeh’yung clambers over the table to sit in front of Jungkook and uses his own sleeves to help him clean up.

‘Um-‘

‘Sometimes when I think of all the babies out there,’ Taeh’yung begins gently, ‘I’m sad that they’re alone.’

Jungkook had never experienced being alone before he was torn from his family. He grew up loved, maybe in an environment that was not the best for a child, but nonetheless he was protected, cared for, loved.

‘There are so many,’ Taeh’yung gently wipes under his nose. ‘And I want to tell them they’re not alone.’

It was hard understanding Taeh’yung. Not when he spoke with so many voices, so many faces, so many lives. But the Taeh’yung before him right now was just…himself. No echo of another, or the other, or them. This was just Taeh’yung as Jungkook saw him plainly.

‘And when we found you, when I saw you, I was so happy,’ Taeh’yung squishes his face a little before kissing his nose. ‘It meant that in some places, my babies grew up loved and cherished.’

Jungkook has now lived without his family for over 5 sols. In the darkness of the cave he was thrown into, he grieved, he broke, he felt himself die.

‘And seeing you, gives me hope.’

‘Me?’ Jungkook whispers.

Taeh’yung smiles before opening a packet of dried meat and handing a piece to him.

‘Yeah,’ Taeh’yung pops the meat into his mouth as well.

‘You…you saved the other babies?’ Jungkook asks. He’s meant to ask this of Taeh’yung from before. But he wasn’t sure how to address it.

‘I did,’ Taeh’yung looks pleased with himself, leaning back on the table on his arms, half the meat still inside his mouth as he chewed on it. ‘I just needed to take them far away enough for Amme to get them.’

‘Did you know? She was coming?’

Taeh’yung gives him a sly grin.

‘She was always close to us,’ Taeh’yung tells him as though it were a secret. It probably was. ‘She’s the smartest out of all of them.’

‘That’s…that’s good?’

‘Sure,’ Taeh’yung shrugs, ‘I guess it is. But enough of that- tell me about your family. I wanna know about your ama.’

‘Who looks like Sk’jin?’ Jungkook clarifies.

‘You don’t mind?’ Taeh’yung looks genuinely thoughtful.

Jungkook shakes his head immediately, ‘No. Wanna talk. About her.’

‘Tell me Kookie!’ Taeh’yung lies on his front on the table, and Jungkook knows Sk’jin would probably literally throw Taeh’yung off. He pushes himself up on his forearms, feet kicking in the air a little. Jungkook squishes the packet of blood in his hands, rolling the soft packaging between his palms.

‘She-…she was pretty,’ Jungkook begins, not sure where to begin. He’s never…never talked about them. Never had to explain who they were, why they were there. Because they were his world- his life, everything.

‘She was tall too. Taller than anu,’ Jungkook recalls, ‘She would take turns with anu and they would sca-scavenge.’

Taeh’yung nods in encouragement.

‘Sometimes she got sick,’ Jungkook whispers, ‘It’s- it’s similar to Yoongi. Her head would hurt. Sometimes she would…she wouldn’t recognize anu. Wouldn’t recognize me.’

‘How long did that last?’

‘Sometimes 2-3 days,’ Jungkook tries his best to recall as accurately as he could. But this felt long ago. Almost like another…something he didn’t live through. Like a story.

‘She always came back?’

Jungkook nods.

‘What about your siblings?’

Jungkook finds himself smiling.

‘Talgun was the oldest. He was very tall, and he had no hair,’ Jungkook giggles a bit. ‘He always helped ama when she left to scavenge. He was very strong but-‘

It’s a distant memory. A nightmare he’s relived many times. Sometimes what happened is strikingly clear to him, and sometimes it’s blurred into a colour of motion and sound.

‘-but he was,’ Jungkook can’t speak. His throat tightens up at once.

Taeh’yung gently cards through his hair, not saying a word. Jungkook clears his throat a few times.

‘-when they came. It was storming,’ he begins to explain. ‘We didn’t hear them. Coming. And Talgun he was fast. He moved fast. But.’

‘It was an ambush,’ Taeh’yung whispers.

Jungkook nods, picking at the dried meat in his hands.

‘He- he fell. I was- I was so angry I-‘ Jungkook’s hands shake.

‘You don’t have to tell me those parts Kookie,’ Taeh’yung offers gently, ‘Tell me happy stories? Stories you love. Don’t want to see my baby cry.’

Jungkook roughly wipes at his face, looking down as though to hide himself even though he knew Taeh’yung could see everything.

‘Uh- Talgun was the oldest. He made funny jokes all the time.’ Jungkook pushes through, ‘And Skezag was short even though…she?’

‘She?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Jungkook admits.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Taeh’yung nods encouragingly. ‘Which ever is the best.’

‘Skezag was short, very big eyes,’ Jungkook widens his eyes as much as he can, remembering the way his sibling would sometimes playfully widen her blue-green eyes at them. Ama called her ‘-pond baby. Because they looked like rain ponds near the mountain basins to the south.’

Taeh’yung grins at the description, grabbing another packet of snacks and munching on it, drinking in every word Jungkook had to say.

‘And uh- Elsang was very dark, he had white hair, like snow,’ Jungkook excitedly remembers, like some forgotten detail in a dream, ‘-he would sometimes create sparkly cold bit when he sneezed. Or if he coughed. It was gross.’

Taeh’yung gives a tiny gasp, ‘Eastern Heladian.’

‘Is that…like me? I’m- P-Pravasi M’hanun?’ Jungkook recites the foreign name carefully.

Taeh’yung nods his head and says, ‘But we are all children, the same.’

‘Anu said that all the time,’ Jungkook recalls, ‘She said we are all the same.’

‘She sounds amazing,’ Taeh’yung’s tone is earnest.

‘She really is- was,’ Jungkook doesn’t remember everything. Doesn’t know how much of what he saw was real, how much imagined, how much exaggerated. All he knows is that he was taken during a storm, and he never saw his family since.

‘Is that all?’ Taeh’yung asks gently.

‘Um- no-‘ Jungkook falters.

Sometimes when Jungkook was delirious with hunger, pain, and sickness, he would see Okanaat from the corner of his eyes. She would giggle, telling him to wake up before he missed morning grub.

‘She-‘ Jungkook smiles, ‘She was my favorite.’

Taeh’yung gasps dramatically, ‘You’re not supposed to have favorites!’

Jungkook giggles, making Taeh’yung lean in to nuzzle their heads together.

‘Thank you for telling me Kookie,’ Taeh’yung tells him sincerely. ‘What a beautiful family.’

Jungkook just nods, not knowing what to say. Instead he asks, ‘Um- could you tell me, about the story, that the- uh, Amme was talking about? About the, uh, Children.’

Taeh’yung makes a comic face of concentration, rubbing his hands over his temples.

‘Hmm, Kookie, my version is a little different from Amme’s- it’s not wrong, but it’s not right either.’ Taeh’yung says thoughtfully, ‘You know?’

No Jungkook doesn’t know but he nods.

‘What Amme said was sort of nearly the same but I guess I just lived it differently,’ Taeh’yung nods thoughtfully, ‘What did you want to know about it?’

‘I- I don’t understand what…what the Children are. Or Yisheng? I thought Amme was Yisheng.’ Jungkook asks carefully.

‘Ah! Okay, I will explain that part,’ Taeh’yung rhythmically taps the table surface excitedly. ‘Once upon a time, Kookie, this cowardly guy wanted to escape the chaos he created. He was mean, and he was dumb too, because he thought he could control what he helped created.’

‘He didn’t make the Children?’

‘He pushed them into form, directed them,’ Taeh’yung explains, ‘Many believe he created them on his own. But he didn’t. We always existed Kookie. But we came to form.’

Again, Jungkook doesn’t know what to think of that.

‘He was an - all of us had to run away, hide, or we tried to fight back,’ Taeh’yung gives a nonchalant shrug. ‘In the end he won. But he never remained.’

‘Why is he called Yisheng?’

‘He’s the first. The first, and the Whole. The other Yishengs are just weaker versions.’ Taeh’yung explains. ‘They take Yisheng’s name as their own.’

‘Are…are there others?’

‘Yisheng? Too many I think sometimes, but also, not enough.’

‘And uh- the Children?’

Taeh’yung gives him a grin that’s a little dangerous.

‘Not in the way we used to be,’ he replies easily. ‘Some changed, some sleep so deep they…they’re not in form anymore. But some are still here.’

‘How many?’

Taeh’yung lets out a long whining groan, squinting as he thinks hard.

‘I don’t know! A lot!’ he declares, ‘I’ve only met some so far.’

‘Is Jimin one?’

‘Ah-! Tricky question,’ Taeh’yung waggles a finger. ‘He’s born out of the wish of one of the Children. It’s very unique! And I don’t know enough to explain fully either.’

‘Ah…are you?’

‘I’m the Fifth,’ Taeh’yung replies cheekily. ‘Not quite one of the Children anymore.’

‘Okay.’

Taeh’yung laughs, squishing his face again before sitting up.

‘Don’t worry too much Kookie, I’ll protect you. We all will.’

‘But I want to protect you too? And everyone else?’

‘You can, and you will,’ Taeh’yung says with an emphatic nod. ‘But first, help me finish these snacks!’

Jungkook hadn’t mentioned it before.

He thought it was a natural thing, that everyone else could see it too. But now that he thinks about it, he’s sure that maybe only Jimin knew about it. Maybe.

Taeh’yung makes himself comfortable on the table, talking about how he’s tried blood before but didn’t think much of it, and how he did enjoy a form of it that was supposed to be alcoholic. He leans over the table to pick up a packet of something that fell to the floor. A

And all 5 of his shadows follow his movement, the slightest delay in movement, speed, visibility, and sound.

‘I think this is supposed to be really hot- let’s try this one Kookie,’ Taeh’yung sits up again, his shadows fall around him to form a single one again.

‘Okay!’

 

*

 

Sk’jin is bored.

Māho-5, unlike its name suggested, was the only dock of its kind to ever exist. It’s massive. What was once an already large dilapidated abandoned black-hole harvesting ship, was added upon and built upon for over 2 millennia. Why it was called Māho-5 was still unknown. When Sk’jin had been around, actively flying and living as a pirate, he was under the impression it was because the initial crew of pirates who took over the place were probably from a planet called Māho and decided to simply name the new not-exactly-illegal Dock Māho-5.  

It’s a pretty boring place in general.

The GLA had of course, taken their claim over this site. But not too much as to put off pirates and other undesirables: they still needed their connections and Māho-5 seemed like an ideal place to put corrupted officials to benefit the powerful Beings who came here.

But according to Hoseok it had settled a little over the past centuries. But that had been because of the supposed way the Alliance had diminished. But knowing what they knew now, it was a little difficult to figure out what to really expect.

But as they close in, Sk’jin realizes how much it had expanded. How massive it was.

‘Okay this looks nothing like when I last saw it,’ Sk’jin points an accusatory finger at the looming massive rather spiky dock. ‘Like- what is that extension?’

There’s a massive bridge extending out…into nowhere? What for? Aesthetics? Was this what the Universe had come to now?

Hoseok doesn’t pay him mind, instead scanning through more footage they stole off of the private servers and channels across Grisial to find Namjoon. But they have no luck. And that’s not surprising. The GI existed for a very long time without being detected. And Yoongi had said so himself. Being GI just made you practically invisible.

‘Call us in,’ is what Hoseok says instead.

Sighing in a way that Sk’jin knew would probably get a reaction from Namjoon, he places the call. No one bats an eye at him and his theatrics.

‘You guys are so boring,’ Sk’jin complains loudly before their channel picks up.

‘Māho-5 operations- state your name, ID, and business.’ A voice calls out without any of the standard GLA politeness but with none of the default brashness of a pirate-dock.

‘Kosmon Trading representative Arin ID 9221-TA-033 requesting for 3 hours to restock fuel, get some maintenance, and restock on supplies,’ Sk’jin replies back smoothly, without his very elegant eloquence he normally put on for the GLA, and without his exaggerated enunciation and verbal flare as he would with pirates.

‘Permission granted- the Orange Bay is open for you,’ the voice calls back and adds, ‘Will you be taking the tax-bill?’

Hoseok nods from the front. A tax-cut was one of many codes for illicit shopping activities.

‘We will.’

‘Understood.’

‘Is that it?’

‘Yeap.’

‘Huh- things have really changed,’ Sk’jin comments to himself.

And no one hears him of course.

Glancing around, Sk’jin finds himself staring at Yoongi and Jimin.

Something had changed between them. Not in a negative way. Nothing of that sort. But something had definitely changed. It was almost as though they had…- well, in the best way Sk’jin can explain it. It was almost as though they were going through an argument, but had reached some form of reconciliation with each other and were now at peace with each other. That is of course, a hypothetical example, but there’s a sense of stability between the two. The desperation and fear they had despite being together all the time had abated.

And.

That’s nice?

Sk’jin frowns to himself in thought until Jungkook nudges him with a concerned face.

Spaces he was growing tall. Fast.

‘Kookie, do me a favour,’ Sk’jin asks, earnestness dripping from his voice.

‘Hm?’ Jungkook comes closer, crouching down next to his chair, head resting on the arm-rest. Sk’jin cards his fingers through the long strands.

‘Make sure you grow taller than Namjoon okay?’

Jungkook quirks his head to the side, clearly confused but still nods, albeit hesitantly.

‘Good boy,’ Sk’jin ruffles his hair one last time, making it fall over his eyes. Jungkook blows air out of his mouth, spitting hair out in comic protest.

‘Kookie should grow his hair out!’ Taeh’yung exclaims from where he’s sitting wrong on the chair, legs up on the headrest, his back on the seat of the chair. ‘And we can braid it up with flowers!’

Sk’jin thinks that fine, that’d look nice yeah, but he thinks Jungkook might protest. But he’s proven wrong when Jungkook nods eagerly at Taeh’yung and then at Sk’jin as though for permission.

‘Yes- why not, I absolutely approve,’ Sk’jin nods.

‘Kookie come here! Let’s look at flowers!’ Taeh’yung gestures for Jungkook to join him. Jungkook imitates Taeh’yung’s posture immediately on the next chair. Yoongi says something, too quiet for Sk’jin to hear, to Jimin who chuckles, shoulders bunching and eyes turning into crescents.

It’s a private moment almost, and Sk’jin feels just a little guilty for having witnessed it.

They land and dock with no problem.

Hoseok is up at once as soon as they’re clear.

He was definitely agitated. Which was understandable with everything that has happened. And now that they didn’t even know where Namjoon was, they had nothing to go for them about their lost Kutsoglerin captain.

Yoongi follows after Hoseok, quiet as a shadow.

‘Well I guess we just wait then,’ Sk’jin says out loud. Only to realize he’s alone in the Bridge.

Well, , when did that happen?

Sighing out, Sk’jin slumps a little in his chair. This was boring. His other option would be to start stressing – and that wasn’t what he wanted. His own forced calm over their situation was pushing him into bored territories. And a bored Sk’jin isn’t always the best Sk’jin.

‘You want to really torture a Khol’isa? Bore them,’ is what they used to say. Maybe that’s why K’mara was involved in the GIU. Surely no boredom there.

‘Sk’jin?’

Sk’jin won’t admit it but he nearly jumped out his skin.

It’s Jimin.

‘Hello,’ he says rather lamely.

Jimin just smiles at him, his expression amused.

‘What do you want?’ Sk’jin manages, sounding a bit more in control of himself.

‘Just wanted to stay with you,’ is all Jimin says, taking a seat next to him.

‘Okay…’ Sk’jin squints at him before saying, ‘This is awkward.’

‘It’s not!’ Jimin says defiantly. ‘We’re just sitting!’

‘For a member of the royal family you’re really bad at lying,’ Sk’jin remarks dryly.

‘I’m not royal!’ Jimin practically whines, ‘And I can’t lie!’

‘Now that’s a lie,’ Sk’jin snorts.

Jimin huffs at him, sitting deeper into the chair, arms crossed over his chest.

‘A big baby is what you are. All of you are big babies,’ Sk’jin rolls his eyes.

‘Insect!’ Is Jimin’s retort.

It takes a few seconds before Sk’jin nearly chokes on his own breath, laughing out loud at the attempted insult.

‘In-insect!’ Sk’jin gasps out, leaning dangerously to the side as he catches his breath. ‘That’s a good one. Classic.’

Jimin’s face is twitching, like he’s trying to not laugh. It doesn’t work and he bursts out laughing. This makes Sk’jin laugh even harder.

They both stop for a moment when Jungkook comes to check on them, concern written all over his young features. This triggers them both and they both burst out laughing again.

Jungkook warily steps back into the hallway, curious and confused orb-like eyes glowing dimly in the shadowy hallway.

They’re laughing so hard, Sk’jin nearly misses it the first time.

‘-k’jin! -!’

They both freeze.

Jungkook comes scrambling back in.

‘WHAT’S WRONG?’ Taeh’yung screeches, bursting out of his shared cabin in nothing but a towel, hair soaked and way too much bubbles and suds across his body for it to be natural.

‘-!’ Hoseok is cursing, he sounds a little breathless. ‘ they’ve arrested Yoongi!’

‘WHAT?’ Taeh’yung screams again, towel falling off completely as he skids into the Bridge.

‘What-?’ Jimin’s is much more quiet, eyes growing round, panic visibly all over his features.

‘What the do you mean-?’ Sk’jin demands at once before calling out, ‘Stop freaking out- get the tracking out onto the Table-‘

‘-they’re arresting him for the ing Pompen Arena-‘ Hoseok hisses, suddenly whispering. Was he running and hiding? That meant the ship-

‘-you guys need to take off right now I’ll get back, turn on the Blinds- or the Invisibility Cloak- or whatever and just get out now-‘

Jimin is already rushing downwards, followed by Jungkook.

‘How did they-?’ Sk’jin’s mind is rushing as he starts up the ship. Lisai is saying something but Sk’jin’s mind is too messed up. Taeh’yung, stark , runs over to the Communication Board, trying to make himself useful.

‘-his fights- the footage, they were released remember? They must have recognized him or something -‘ Hoseok curses, he sounds a bit more stable.

‘Uh- I think they’re headed for us-‘ Taeh’yung says somewhat nervously, pointing out of the window. ‘Should I take care-‘

‘NOPES!’ Sk’jin shouts, snapping himself to attention. ‘Okay- we’re taking off towards the border and-‘

‘-it’s on!’ Jimin calls out.

‘-and you stay hidden! Jimin get back up and let’s give us a new license this is our shortest track-history with a license-‘ Sk’jin exclaims tiredly as Jimin and Jungkook both come back in sprinting.

‘Everyone secure yourselves in!’

The officers rushing towards them seem confused, clearly using a tracker in their Comm Devices to locate them. But they can’t now. They could see them. But they couldn’t track them. And out there in space, they were practically invisible.

Speaking of invisible-

‘-how did they see Yoongi?!’ Sk’jin demands as he flies them up and away from the dock, ignoring the emergency gates that were closing rapidly. He swiftly overtakes it without even stressing about it.

‘Yoongi is not literally invisible!’ Hoseok says in a normal tone. He was probably all clear, in new disguise, and now mingling with the crowd. ‘I’m gonna follow him and see how we can get him back.’

‘Great- feel free to get arrested too. Seems like a new trend,’ Sk’jin sighs.

‘Namjoon was kidnapped- there’s a clear difference,’ Hoseok retorts.

‘Same difference,’ Sk’jin finds himself grinning, much to Jimin’s alarm to his right.

Sk’jin just gives him a small wink as he sweeps them out into the dark outer borders away from Māho-5.

Now, it wasn’t boring at all.

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author’s notes

 

Okay- so the past few weeks have been tough lol so that’s why the update is late

I’ve been feeling a very strange sense of uhhhhhhhh depression??? Despair??? I think it’s a combination of what’s been happening in the world and also in my immediate life with my ing thesis group work exhibition and miscommunications and people not working how they’re supposed to and expecting me to pick up all the slack. So I just, sat myself down for a while to empty my mind and I am- here to write

Also!!! Namjoon will be coming soon I did not forget him!!! How can I when it’s hIS BIRTHDAY!!!!

You know something funny

Most of my biases are born in either September or March. It’s a trend. Every September and March I find myself retweeting birthday wishes on twitter or rebloggin on tumblr

I hope this overly long chapter makes up for me not updating in like 3 weeks T_T

I most humbly apologize again *bows down to floor*

and 10 points to whoever can figure out who the blond guy is