Home is a sacred place.

Home is built on familiarity, security- on the sanctity of memory, old and new and yet to be formed.

Home is everything you yearn for, home is everything your heart calls for. Home is what you return to, a soft light forming the shape of window in the dark distance, the promise of warmth, comfort, safety.

Namjoon has lived through his life without this promise.

Lived through the eruption of pure evil that erased forever what housed the sanctity of his first memories; the sanctity of everything that made his home.

He knows there’s nothing he can do about it. That there was nothing he could have done- they were innocent, unknowing; barely past the evolutionary stage of continental migration and civilization. Yet he always lived with the burden, the guilt, the regret of what if. Logically, Namjoon knows there was nothing that he, a child of no more than 12 summers by Kutsoglerin Reckoning, could have hoped to accomplish. There was nothing he was capable of; even death was an option taken from him, and here he stood now.

Jimin doesn’t say much; he isn’t talking much. There’s a hardness to his jaw, a look in his eyes that Namjoon recognizes because he saw it in himself for so long.

‘I can’t feel anything,’ was what he had said when they first spotted Megibīya.

‘No sign of life?’ Sk’jin had inquired gently.

‘I can’t feel the call of home.’

Once they leave Megibīya, Sk’jin follows Jimin’s trajectory towards a vast stretch of empty space. Immediately, the closer they get to this location, the alerts and warnings of radiation levels hit them at once. Sk’jin is quick to shut it off, only allowing the text-warnings light up to the side of his dashboard. Their transporter violently shakes for a while before it settles almost immediately. Just like Jimin said it would.

It’s strange to think that they’re all uniquely, in their own individual way, able to understand what Jimin was experiencing. None of them had a place to call home- a place that held that sanctity of warmth, comfort, and rest.

It’s strange to think that they would be the ones to find a home for those born without it.

Most Beings would call it Fate.

‘This is where I landed,’ Yoongi speaks through the Comm Device, ‘This is where we believed we would be able to access the broadcasting signal to reach the GLA.’

‘So I’m guessing this area here, is Udāvana?’

‘Yes,’ Jimin replies from his seat, unmoving, simply looking ahead beside Sk’jin, ‘If we’re able to find the remains of any GLA archives, it would be there. That is, if they have not been harmed.’

Ever since they arrived here, Jimin’s tone has been careful. Not allowing himself to feel too much, to hope too much; it’s exhausting, Namjoon knows.

‘Yoongi, Jungkook, if you guys are done with searching the area, let’s move forward,’ Hoseok suggests, ‘I think we should head for Udāvana- we might get something more- it’s also not very damaged compared to the map we have from the GLA Jimin corrected.’

Namjoon, Jimin, and Hoseok had spent a considerable time correcting and adjusting the map of Megibīya, as well as the rest of Menigišiti. Namjoon has memorized every single map and alignment, and he knows for a fact that Sk’jin spent most of the time they slept studying through each aspect of these new maps, making his own notes.

‘Hobi- um, can you give me some more time please?’ Taeh’yung asks suddenly.

‘What is it?’

‘Um- I’m not quite sure yet- it’s been a bit difficult, but I think I can…hear something.’

Namjoon glances over at Jimin but he’s showing no reaction.

‘Hear? What are you hearing?’ Hoseok asks, sounding slightly bewildered.

‘Dreams.’

Jimin finally looks down at his own screen, held somewhat loosely in his hands.

Namjoon glances down over at Taeh’yung’s Iris view. The forest they’re in is aged- not in a way that it has lived for a long time, but rather, as though it has been dying for a long time. The crumbling trees seem to break apart at an angled slope, as though something large crashed through there. Namjoon is able to spot the wing of a transporter amidst the fading trees.

‘Yoongi, double back to Taeh’yung’s position,’ Hoseok has also clearly seen it, ‘He’s found a transporter.’

‘On my way.’

‘Buggy, just stay put for a while yeah?’

‘Okay!’

‘Kookie, could you come get me?’

‘On my way!’

‘That’s not a Yisheng grade transporter,’ Sk’jin says after he chances a look down at his own screen, ‘Looks like every other nondescript transporter a pirate would use.’

Namjoon nods in agreement though Sk’jin can’t see him.

‘It’s what I thought too,’ Hoseok replies, ‘Yoongi, you almost there?’

‘Almost.’

Obviously they’re expecting this. Signs of other Beings having come here, mostly pirates, to make stops. And with the added knowledge that Axudar was most definitely using this place as a pick-up spot or location, it was safe to assume that Beings like Khonen, and even Camil came here to deliver the eggs.

‘Kookie- circle around the area, if the wing is here, the other parts of the transporter should be around too.’

What is unnerving in a sense is the almost perfect preservation of the towns and cities. There was a decay here- a pause in time that stripped life of this place but also somehow maintained it in that state. As though the longevity of life here was stretched past the point of their deaths.

Stretched, and yet not quite breaking.

‘I know we’re not in any immediate danger, but these radiation levels really don’t make me happy,’ Sk’jin mumbles, alarms still blaring at him from the dashboard.

‘Well, this is a Yisheng grade transporter,’ Namjoon replies, ‘We should be okay.’

‘You have a way with words,’ Sk’jin quips dryly.

Suddenly, Jimin sits up straight, head leaning forward, eyes seeing something they clearly couldn’t.

‘What’s wrong?’ Sk’jin asks immediately, already engaging both defense and offence controls on the transporter.

Namjoon, not for the first time, is somewhat begrudgingly grateful for Sk’jin’s wide skill set.

‘Close, we’re close,’ Jimin says, getting out of his chair, ‘I can see it.’

Namjoon can’t see whatever it is that Jimin can, and neither can Sk’jin.

‘Okay-‘ Sk’jin breathes out, ‘Okay great uh- once again, you’re sure this is a good idea?’

Jimin gives him a small smile, ‘It is. I need to be close.’

‘It’s just, y’know, we were both thrown into space and we’re lucky we survived it.’ Sk’jin says. He still had some bruising on him, faded variations of mottled purples and grey-blue spread about his visible skin. However, Jimin seemed clear of any bruising.

‘I know,’ Jimin smiles, ‘But this is…this is safe. For me- I know this place, I know everything here.’

Sk’jin doesn’t seem to placated but he nods anyways. It’s hard to argue Jimin’s reasoning after everything they’ve seen. After everything they’ve all been through as individuals.

‘It might take some time,’ Jimin reminds them again, ‘I won’t be able to respond. But if there’s any issue, I’ll activate the panic button.’

Namjoon nods in understanding, standing up to walk along with Jimin, ‘We’re keeping you tracked nonstop. I’ll come get you when needed.’

Not only does he have the GI’s helmet on him, he’s also wearing the suit in advance. This part of the plan was met with the most protest from everyone. Which was why a short-radio transmission alarm was built specially for Jimin. It’s attached to his wrist, using a sturdy wrist wrap, easy to access if something goes amiss.

Quite suddenly, the lights within the ship flicker out, their engines shutting down. Namjoon feels himself slowly float up as their gravity generator loses energy. Namjoon grabs onto one of the ledges on the walls, balancing himself while Jimin doesn’t bother. Sk’jin activates the emergency air-lock around the cockpit and even readies himself with his very own GI helmet.

‘Okay,’ Jimin floats without any push towards the doorway, ‘We’re almost there- I think it will be better if we stop here.’

Sk’jin nods and activates their headlamps. Nothing is illuminated, seeing as there is nothing to illuminate except for space dust.

‘Namjoon, just because you have a metal doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prep,’ Sk’jin calls, pushing the helmet over his own head. Namjoon barely rolls his eyes, pushing the helmet over his head as Jimin steadies himself before the doorway, his hair a halo of light and movement around him.

‘All clear here,’ Sk’jin calls, turning on his seat to watch. Namjoon suspects he has a worried look to him despite not being able to see him. ‘Our communication is a little unstable but we’re holding.’

Jimin simply nods before pushing on the door release. Sk’jin confirms the lift and though not strictly required, the central cabin decompresses and finally the door opens.

The familiar tug of space pulls in all around Namjoon. It’s not as bad as it would have been without this suit and helmet, and even then it’s not too bad for him. And he knows, that in a realistic sense, Jimin should be in agony right now. But instead, he simply stretches a hand out, past the doorway, into the darkness that lay infinitely before him.

A shimmer of light, almost too faint and too quick to be real flickers around Jimin. Then he quite literally steps out.

‘What the ?’ Sk’jin echoes exactly what was in Namjoon’s mind. Namjoon shuts the doorway again before pushing himself through the air and towards the cockpit. Pushing through the customized Atmoshield around the cockpit, Namjoon attaches himself to Jimin’s vacated seat and with Sk’jin eagerly look outside.

‘Spaces, can’t believe we’re just letting him do this,’ Sk’jin says to him quietly.

‘This as in this,’ Namjoon gestures to the nothingness around them, ‘Or this as in, all of this.’

‘Both,’ Sk’jin sighs out before he jumps slightly in his chair, ‘There he is.’

The lights of the headlamps illuminate Jimin as he walks, almost as though underwater, through the endless void of space. There’s an unnatural eeriness to it- to Jimin, as they watch.

‘, this is ing creepy,’ Sk’jin mutters, ‘Spaces, this all looks so wrong- dammit, he’s so creepy.’

Namjoon can’t help but laugh.

‘No wonder Yoongi worships him, they’re fit for each other,’ Sk’jin continues to rant, his foot bouncing nonstop. ‘, you think he’ll be all right?’

‘You need to learn how to express your worries better, rather than trying to insult the Being you’re asking after,’ Namjoon chuckles, watching Jimin’s stark outline walk ahead, distant stars twinkling as though this were some glitched simulation gone wrong.

‘ you, I am perfectly adept at expressing myself,’ Sk’jin replies without missing a beat.

‘If you say so.’

‘Jiminie, is everything okay out there? Give me a thumb’s up if you can hear me!’ Sk’jin orders, head turned towards Namjoon and he can picture his glare perfectly.

Jimin turns, a smile on his face as he lifts his hand in a thumb’s up before pointing ahead of him.

‘Okay, good good- uh, keep going,’ Sk’jin is clearly struggling to be supportive. ‘How was he injured last time he was exposed like this, but now he’s fine?’

‘I think it’s just, well, proximity, I guess.’

‘To his home?’

Namjoon hums, watching Jimin’s slight figure retreating into the distance, ‘Possibly.’

He glances down at Jimin’s stats to find them completely normal. He briefly glances at the static-filled footage from Hoseok as well, noting that they were deep down somewhere in an area that looked heavily damaged.

There’s a weird blink of light- one Namjoon’s not entirely sure he imagined but he knows he hasn’t from Sk’jin’s reaction.

‘Where did he go,’ Sk’jin sits up straight, ‘- where did he go-?!’

Looking up, Namjoon is staring out into a void.

‘- Namjoon, he was right there and then-‘ Sk’jin is scrambling to attempt to restart the ship using the emergency protocol. Quickly, Namjoon checks their isotope-scanners and nothing shows up.

Jimin’s little tracker is gone.

‘- -‘ Namjoon passes Sk’jin the screen, rushing out of his seat.

‘Namjoon!’ Sk’jin yells, ‘Don’t you ing go out there right now-!’

‘He might be compromised,’ Namjoon replies, skidding a little as he pauses by the door, ‘I need to check-‘

There’s a flash of light- this one much brighter, lasting more than a fraction of a second.

‘Wait!’ Sk’jin yells, holding an arm up.

There’s another flash of light- this time slow, flooding the transporter with a golden silver light, highlighting Sk’jin’s raised hand in hues of rose and gold.

‘Wait,’ he repeats again, softer, slower, as though time was stretching his voice out into a strange echo that carries towards Namjoon with the light. The light narrows- a sliver as though shining through a great doorway. The visor of his helmet allows him to see movement within the light- allows him to see Jimin.

Great wheels of light rotate around him, arcs of light erupting from him in sweeping motion- and even from this distance, Namjoon sees his eyes, the darkness of space, the escaping light of the eclipse piercing through.

The light narrows abruptly before diminishing all together, not before it spreads along with the headlamp light, stretching oddly over a strange surface that did not exist there anymore.

The ship hums back to life automatically, gravity pulls Namjoon down and jars him back to the natural flow of time. Sk’jin drops his hand as he pushes the helmet off of his head, rapidly calling as he stands to lean forward against the window as though he had to be closer to understand what he was seeing.

‘Jimin? Are you okay? Can you hear me?’

‘I can,’ Jimin replies, his tone relieved, ‘It’s still here.’

Before them lay a great structure- geometrically intricate and honestly nearly impossible looking- a great stretch of some form of nebula-like metal spread out like a great spiky star. The highest spike morphs into a high tower of glimmering metal that echoes the space around it, camouflaged nearly perfectly- revealed only because it was allowed to do so. It’s an impossible structure- one that defied all technological forms and make- one that should be impossible to create because it would be inoperable to attempt to automate something that looked like living creation. It’s not light that echoes around it- rather, Namjoon is reminded of dropping a pebble into a smooth body of water, ripples faintly distorting what is reflected on it, showing no indication of depth but filled with a promise of endlessness.

‘We’re here,’ Sk’jin suddenly says, his audio is filled with crackling white noise. ‘Spaces, .’

For a moment, Namjoon thinks it’s breathing.

‘Is it-?’ Hoseok’s voice crackles over, static louder than his voice.

‘Yes,’ Namjoon manages to reply, also rushing forward to properly view this great construct, ‘, okay- okay, so far we’re on track-‘

‘Don’t ing finish that sentence. Hobi, we’re-…, I ing-…Hoseok! We’re gonna be busy for a while!’ Sk’jin is still unable to look away, slowly directing the ship closer to what Namjoon can only describe as a star. Which is nonsense because he knows that this is not what stars looked like- but there’s a weight to it- a gravity that seemed filled with life that he cannot explain or properly express.

‘Namjoon,’ Sk’jin says quietly, still staring ahead.

‘Yeah,’ Namjoon mumbles in agreement.

It was almost as though someone was told to interpret all of the universe and represent it into one shape, into one form; an expression of light, of genesis- life reaching out to the highest and most distant points.

Waiting for them, right at the center of this great structure is Jimin.

‘I think…I think when Jimin called it a sort of Dock, I kinda understand that he was trying to describe it in a way we would understand,’ Sk’jin begins, getting ready to land in what appeared to be a liquid stretch of captured space and stars and crystals. ‘Because if he tried to explain this I uh- I don’t think we would have ever imagined this.’

Namjoon nods, really unable to say much.

‘It’s safe in here,’ Jimin tells them.

Sk’jin lands inside the star, a cool light illuminates the space around them in a way Namjoon doesn’t quite understand. He sees no specific source of light, yet everything appeared illuminated comfortably. He removes the helmet and places it down before stepping out of the transporter.

‘Would you judge me if I said I’m scared to step out?’ Sk’jin asks behind him, hand gripping at the side of the doorway, staring down at the liquid like floor, distant stars gleaming beneath their feet. He can still see some bruising peaking out around past his throat, and Namjoon knows there’s more than just nervousness eating at him at the moment. Namjoon holds his hand out for the Khol’isa without saying a word. Sk’jin takes a breath, as though readying himself and takes Namjoon’s proffered hand.

Jimin is smiling at them when they get close enough.

‘So,’ Sk’jin shakes himself a little, patting his face a few times as though to get a grip, ‘This Dock of yours, seems to be in good condition?’

Jimin nods, ‘It’s just as we last left it. It has not been touched. It was difficult unlocking it-,’ Jimin pauses, before breaking out into a small smile, ‘Almost as though purposefully sealed.’

‘Is it still operable?’ Namjoon asks, wondering why that would warrant a positive reaction.

‘If it weren’t we wouldn’t be here,’ Jimin replies, looking around wistfully before adding, ‘It’s asleep.’

Namjoon can’t help but feel nervous.

‘Come, it’s this way.’

The deeper they go, the walls and floors slowly start becoming more opaque.

Namjoon doesn’t know why, but he thinks if he doesn’t pay enough attention or if his awareness slips, he might sink through this strange material and be trapped in this contained space.

‘Communication is still down,’ Sk’jin states to no one in particular. Jimin had said this would happen too. But Namjoon suspects the Khol’isa is nervous.

‘It will be up soon, but it won’t be all that great either,’ Jimin replies.

For a brief moment, Namjoon thought he saw a great high spiraling staircase ahead of them in the distance, but it’s gone when he blinks and instead the hallway continues on, an opening just ahead that lead to a large chamber. Sk’jin seems to notice too, blinking a few more times as though hoping to mimic what just happened.

Namjoon suspects that, similar to Jimin’s existence and the very idea of Menigišiti, their known technology (of which they have only ever really seen one), and a combination of everything Namjoon has heard from a variety of sources, Namjoon suspects that whatever this star was, was built on something that went beyond the term technology.

There’s a strangeness to it- an ancient quality that reminds him of Taeh’yung. Unexplained, and yet inexplicably a part of the Universe- simply hidden and forgotten.

Namjoon belatedly realizes that their steps make no sound.

The chamber they enter is spacious and lofty- Namjoon has a feeling that they’re somewhat quite high up though he can’t explain how or why. The walls are high, tapering up to a singular silver gold point- it’s the light source, Namjoon realizes, that’s illuminating the whole place. There’s an air of quiet in here that Namjoon frequently associates with sites religious Beings considered holy or sacred.

They were most definitely in that tall spike of a tower Namjoon had seen moments ago. But he’s not sure how they could have made it here by simply walking straight ahead.

‘This is the uh,’ Jimin sounds like he’s struggling to find the words, ‘I guess, the Bridge.’

Sk’jin lets out a laugh, head tilted up to look all around, eyes wide. Namjoon notices how the dim red glow of his eyes are somewhat strangely reflected on the walls.

‘If this is a Bridge, I can’t wait to see your engine rooms,’ the Khol’isa exclaims with a sort of genuine enthusiasm.

The great stretches of wide open spaces are windows, Namjoon realizes- the great tower spike of the star was a tower that looked all around, and they were at the very top, at the seat of it all- able to watch over from every angle possible.

There are no seats, no mounted platforms, no operation dashboards or motherboards. It’s a vacant space.

Or so Namjoon thinks because as though triggered by their presence, a ringed frame seems to drop from the ceiling above, stopping directly before Jimin.

When it touches the floor, a semi-circle of projection of moving light streams out to form dashboards that look very much like their own screen projections. And it’s nothing Namjoon has seen before.

‘Wouldn’t a place like this be operated by at least a team of sorts?’ Sk’jin asks, looking interestedly at the smooth streaming light, almost solid looking- it reminds him a little of both Grisial crystals as well as Cheimarosium from the Fytikos Nebula. Looking close at these newly formed light dashboards, Namjoon can’t quite figure out the rhythm or purpose of how they are laid out- though Sk’jin seems to be able to understand them in a way.

‘It can be,’ Jimin explains, tapping a smooth globe projection before he places his palm up ahead of himself at the center of the ring.

Most transporters and ships built in the Standard format was operable in nearly every registered GLA language, dialect, and or with other communicative forms. Every single Being in the Universe was supposed to be able to operate a Standard operated manual even without specific training from a GLA training facility, regardless of their System of origin.

But Namjoon cannot exactly pinpoint any familiarity or similarity to anything that could pertain to this Standard here. There’s a strange fluidity and lack of organized structure that makes it impossible for Namjoon to find where the Navigation Table would be, where the main control panels, the Communication Board, or any other form of technical functionality should be. He feels overwhelmingly out of his element- introduced to something so incredibly foreign.

A small smooth globe of light forms right where Jimin’s hands is held up at, glowing faintly. Then he simply removes it from this projection, as though it were a separate projection of its own form and make, disconnected from the projector, and locks it into streaming dashboard of light before him.

The floor behind him smoothly lifts, showing no seam, no storage facility beneath this dais to suggest it could have been simply been hidden under some floor boards. It’s smooth and seamlessly joins with the floors, little specks of light and other materials move too fast, and too deep into the structure of the dais for Namjoon to understand what it could be.

‘The Akramanan called this places of hiding,’ Jimin explains as he waits for the dais to raise completely, ‘Or simply, Sanctuary.’

It stops smoothly, looking as though it had been there the entire time. Jimin climbs up, his back to the wide tall windows. The dais surface ripples, almost like water again, with Jimin’s steps and the ripples meet at the front pushing forward and up to form a wide dashboard. Or at least Namjoon guesses it’s a dashboard of some sort. He and Sk’jin round about the dais, studying it carefully as Jimin seems to wait for everything to settle down.

‘The Akramanan are much taller than their sister species,’ Jimin explains, ‘But they built this place, and everything else, to accommodate all of us, allowing us to do what needs to be done.’

‘Ah, short even amongst your fellow System species,’ Sk’jin remarks dryly.

Jimin just gives him a wry smile, shaking his head as though amused.

Namjoon walks up to the ring, studying it carefully, not quite daring to touch.

Had his introduction to the Known Universe had been in completely different circumstances, he would have probably viewed all of those bright ships with the same strange awe he was feeling right now.

There’s a hum that rings around them, like a deep breath, verging on the point of awakening- the light around them pulses slowly, and the walls and floors seem to contract, faint points of light moving much too fast, a synapsis of movement Namjoon cannot comprehend.

‘, that’s scary,’ Sk’jin curses, making his way up to the dais himself, his hands gripping tightly onto his screen as though to ground himself in something that was familiar.

‘This might take some time,’ Jimin tells them, looking back briefly, ‘This Sanctuary has been closed for too long.’

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ Namjoon offers, walking up to Jimin.

A soft faint wall of light climbs up before him, thin lines and rings forming and a text Namjoon does not recognize appears. Namjoon may not understand, but he guesses it’s a map of some sort.

‘I’m afraid not,’ Jimin replies, ‘Oh, I was never very good at Akramanan networks? Yeah, networks- they’re very complicated.’

‘That’s very reassuring,’ Sk’jin grunts out as he sits down on the stairs gingerly. ‘How are you a prince and unable to read your own people’s communication form?’

Jimin groans, ‘Not a prince!’ he frowns at the back of Sk’jin’s head, ‘And the high-tongue of the Akramanan language, which is used in their official networks, is very complicated! It has over 45,000 forms!’

‘Uh huh, okay sure,’ Sk’jin makes a show of yawning.

Jimin huffs at him before leaning in to squint at the map before him. He raises his hand to trail his finger over some of the lines and rings, humming quietly to himself.

‘Isn’t this terrible planning anyways? Don’t you guys have like, at least a form of standard language?’

‘We-…we have a lot of planets,’ Jimin says softly, ‘A lot of places to live- but they are small, our people, our population- we are small. According to what I have read, the GLA would have classified our combined population as endangered. Even at its largest.’

‘I understand why Megibīya would have a small natural population,’ Namjoon ruminates, ‘Orbit-locked planets have an extremely small area of land where life can be sustained.’

‘What I’m surprised about is how all 11 planets are somehow all able to host life,’ Sk’jin comments, looking around briefly. ‘I mean yeah, it’s not rare that a System would have a large number of habitable planets, but the conditions are not always necessarily supportive- I mean, look at Khhem- look at Amme. And now look at Jimin- a soft mushy princeling brat.’

Jimin just lets out a huff that’s more amused than irritated.

‘It’s how we were able to all speak each other’s languages- but it’s all similar in a way,’ Jimin explains, ‘Dialect, tone, all of these exist- but we are born of one- and that is how we came to be. And that is why though I do not read and understand all 45,000 forms of the Akramanan writing, I still know enough to know that this,’ Jimin excitedly jumps a little to reach for a looped ring, pulling it down the projection map, ‘is what I was looking for.’

Sk’jin slow claps, no enthusiasm in the gesture, but Jimin ignores him.

‘Okay- here we go-‘ Jimin sounds excited, pulling the looped ring down and then with both hands separating them.

Nothing happens.

None of them say a word but Namjoon can hear Sk’jin attempting to muffle his laughter, letting out faint squeaks here and there.

Jimin looks back sheepishly but mostly with frustration.

‘Don’t worry,’ he tells them, though it sounds more like he’s addressing himself, ‘I’ll get this done.’

Sk’jin actually leans all the way back, arms crossing under his head to form a pillow.

‘I have complete faith in you, your highness.’

*

Being cornered is not something Namjoon enjoys.

It’s not something he really experiences but nonetheless, the few times it’s happened, he’s not enjoyed it. In fact, he’s in this mess because he was cornered by Lmiura out of nowhere.

And he wasn’t expecting this day to start in this way. This way meaning being cornered by Jimin just as he steps out of his shower. At least, unlike Sk’jin, Jimin had the decency of waiting for him to finish his shower instead of barging in out of nowhere.

‘Ah,’ Namjoon greets him lamely, ‘Uh, is there something I can help you with?’

Jimin nods, straight to the point as he says, ‘I want to discuss with you something.’

‘Okay,’ Namjoon indicates to the chair on the side. Out of his window Namjoon spots Jungkook enthusiastically chasing Sk’jin by the beach. He’s being goaded by Taeh’yung and Yoongi. ‘What is it?’

‘The idea,’ Jimin explains. ‘From what we were talking about before we got here.’

‘Have you thought up of something.’

‘Not quite,’ Jimin replies, sitting down on the offered chair. ‘But I’ve…had some time to think. And uh, check on things.’

‘Check on things?’ Namjoon repeats as he sits on his bed.

Jimin gives him a surprisingly sheepish expression and says, ‘I’ve been talking to the GI.’

Namjoon raises an eyebrow at him; well, it’s not like he couldn’t.

‘Talking- so I’m going to guess it’s not quite a verbal exchange, like the one we’re having?’ Namjoon inquires.

Jimin shakes his head, leaning back a little on the chair.

‘When the Red Evil took me, I was submerged into a state of living that suspended me in a time and space I shared with Beings like the GI, like the eggs,’ Jimin explains, ‘It’s similar in a way, to Sk’jin’s experiences. This is a space that somehow…somehow bridges both the unconscious, a shared network of memories, as well as…well, nothingness.’

Namjoon nods slowly.

‘This allows some of us- maybe not all? But just those who were once in this space, to somehow access this connection- which is this space.’ Jimin explains, ‘I learnt how to do this after I met Chen, well, JD,- he showed me what he saw, and he was able to, because of the spaces we were both in some ways, introduced to.’

Namjoon nods again, thinking of the Being he had seen back so long ago, and how he and Jimin had simply just slept. Come to think of it, he had been the one who highlighted Axudar to Jimin as well.

‘I cannot access everyone like this of course,’ Jimin clarifies, ‘It is important that this space is willingly opened- if it is closed, I cannot go.’

Namjoon nods, not quite understanding but accepting it.

‘The GI, they are not quite…all aware,’ Jimin explains, ‘Their thoughts and memories are not quite how we can translate.’

Namjoon remembers the brief moment where in a strange sense, he had connected to how Jimin was connected to the rogue Yoongi that had infiltrated their ship back in Grisial.

‘But I can understand what they have seen,’ Jimin explains.

‘What were you looking for?’ Namjoon asks. He’s not sure how much Jimin would be able to gain from basically scouring the GI’s memories like a surveillance archive.

Jimin speaks carefully, ‘I was not able to speak to Prat’tna.’

Namjoon realizes that there’s more to this than just regret of not being able to speak to an old friend.

‘What are you saying?’

‘I do not doubt what Prat’tna told you about what he saw, what he did, regarding the Great Council and his involvement in what happened,’ Jimin explains, ‘I do not doubt his sincerity or his honesty, regarding much of what he told you.’

‘Okay,’ Namjoon says slowly, interest spiking.

‘I am concerned about his behavior,’ Jimin explains, ‘And why though it would have been so much more beneficial, he did not allow you to contact us after he made his intentions clear to you.’

‘Prat’tna wasn’t quite entirely always himself,’ Namjoon frowns, ‘I mean, in a sense, I guess it’s almost like how-‘ Namjoon pauses a moment, speaking carefully as well, ‘-it’s like how Yoongi isn’t the Human he was when you first met him.’

Jimin doesn’t seem to take this in a bad way so Namjoon continues.

‘The GI are a bit- well, disconnected from a lot of things,’ Namjoon goes on, ‘Their reasoning isn’t always what we would consider to be rational or logical.’

‘It’s not,’ Jimin agrees, ‘It’s the GI in Prat’tna that I trust, not Prat’tna himself.’

It takes Namjoon a moment to understand what Jimin means. ‘What?’

‘The GI- especially the ones who were taken and made around the time I was taken by the Red Evil, have a connection to me that is much more profound and much more connected than simply that space in time that we shared.’ Jimin tells him, ‘You just said that the GI, much like Yoongi, are not quite always themselves. Yoongi is not entirely the Human I met in Megibīya- he is also the GI who I met for the first time in the Pompen Arena.’

Namjoon nods again, trying to follow.

‘Sometimes, the Human Yoongi is the one who speaks, yet his actions may be that of Yoongi the GI,’ Jimin continues, ‘Sometimes, most times now, they are almost one in the same.’

‘Okay?’

‘But the one thing both the Human and the GI share-‘

‘-is their love for you,’ Namjoon completes.

Jimin nods, not looking embarrassed or flustered. Instead he smiles, looking out of the window.

‘Do you believe in love?’

‘I- I mean, sure.’ Namjoon shrugs, ‘Love exists, just as much as hate, anger, fear- our emotions are real, and they exist.’

‘Do you believe that love can exist beyond the continuity of Time and Space?’

‘I…-‘ Namjoon doesn’t know how to respond because well, he’s never thought about this before.

‘Prat’tna was a good Being,’ Jimin says, not adding anything more to the strange questions, ‘He taught me well, he lead by example. He was respected, loved, and his advice was greatly sought after. The Fate before me wrote of him in her journals describing him as a father figure.’

Namjoon’s not sure where Jimin’s headed with this.

‘The GI, in a strange sense are innocent- child-like, in a sense of speaking.’ Jimin states, ‘They are guided by words and or actions that are directed to them, rather than existing on their own. But there is one thing that they are bound to.’

‘Their mission.’

Jimin nods.

‘The GI,’ Jimin says carefully, ‘Especially the regurgitated, who are incomplete in their newness- not whole in their birth as they were abandoned by the Red Evil, cling to what calls to them from somewhere deep in their lost memories.’

‘So basically, they are all inexplicably drawn to you because you are uh, the channel, through which they would have, well, been New Borns?’ Namjoon asks carefully.

‘Because of what happened, to the regurgitated, they are not quite here,’ Jimin says as he nods, ‘Through me, the Red Evil was able to Create- but Yoongi, and the others, are incomplete, they are stuck here, because of me. It’s like…’ Jimin looks out of the window, ‘Like some migratory fish that move following the warm water tides. Some are left behind, and they struggle to catch up; stranded, alone, but following a distant warmth they know they should be reaching, but somehow cannot. And if they survive, starved, diminished, and exhausted, the warmth that should have saved them and taken them to a new life, kills them. But they will always go forward, to that warmth, because it’s all they can remember, all they can hope for.’

‘They’ve all come back to me,’ Jimin had sounded so helpless and lost.

‘What does this have to do with Prat’tna?’ Namjoon asks, not liking the implications here.

‘I do not think he was lying when he spoke of his experience and what he saw in Axudar,’ Jimin says heavily, ‘But he was doomed to repeat his fate. Doomed to continue in that loop- maybe this was the final loop he would have to endure, and that was why he fought as hard as he did.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘His deterioration, doesn’t it remind you of someone?’

Namjoon does not want to mention Yoongi’s name out loud- somehow it felt like a curse to do so. Instead he nods. He’s sharply reminded of what Jimin had said to him all those months ago when Yoongi had first started “waking up”.

‘He’s not supposed to be here,’ Jimin had said, his voice broken ‘He’s not supposed to be here and this is my fault.’

‘Yoongi is fading quickly, but he’s kept at bay because of the GI in him attempting to balance the unnatural bond of their memories shared in a host of new cells,’ Jimin says this in a remarkably even tone. ‘They have reached an equal footing, and that is mainly because of their “love” for me.’

‘Are you saying Prat’tna was divided?’ Namjoon asks, thinking fast.

Jimin nods.

‘How can you tell?’

‘Because Megibīya can be perceived by this Universe.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Namjoon frowns.

‘When Prat’tna explained to you about what happened, said he could not find it, find the cells,’ Jimin echoes what Namjoon had said to him, ‘He told you that if you knew what you were looking for, you would be able to find the cells.’

Namjoon nods.

‘The cells he mentioned are more than just energy diffusers or distributers,’ Jimin explains, ‘It does exactly that, yes, uses the energy overflowing from our quasar to redirect its flow to act as a shield to deflect us from being sighted in an even and steady manner. But it is also a port, a Dock. It has its own protection, endless source of fuel, and does not need to be manually operated.’

That’s very convenient sure, but Namjoon’s not sure where this is heading.

‘If Prat’tna was talking about the cell closest to Megibīya, one of the biggest and strongest cells as it was furthest out, I had ordered for it to be shut down. That means it would have been destroyed.’

Namjoon leans in closer.

‘By having the cell destroyed, it would collapse the gateway we kept open to access Megibīya.’

‘You locked yourselves out?’

‘I didn’t expect to return,’ Jimin tells him frankly, ‘The risk of compromising our safety back in Menigišiti was too high, I could not take the risk.’

‘So…so it was destroyed?’

‘If it was, Megibīya would be invisible just like the rest of Menigišiti,’ Jimin sighs out.

‘Wait-,’ Namjoon holds up a hand, ‘So- wait a second, you knew something was wrong from the beginning didn’t you – ever since you woke up. You were already suspecting something deeper at hand.’

Jimin nods.

‘The idea that the Great Council would do something like this, isn’t that much of a shock to you, is it?’

Jimin shakes his head.

‘From the day of the emergency meeting, I knew something was wrong,’ Jimin confesses, ‘I immediately came to understand that there were Beings who were against me- who would see me as a barrier to their plans as I would not willingly abide by their desires. I had a growing shadow in my mind- a subtle threat that lingered, not over me, but over all of Menigišiti – I did not know what to make of it- I felt I could trust no one, so I spoke of it to no one. It’s why I insisted that we change the approach for the emergency,’ he adds, ‘A response to a threat of this level is normally handled by the Heart, but I put myself there instead.’

‘Prat’tna was involved in this? He was on the side with Ndica?’

Jimin sighs out slowly, looking down at his hands.

‘I believe that many of the Great Council were ensnared by what Ndica said, they believed in his words, believed in the Universe he wanted to create,’ Jimin replies.

‘So…so what Prat’tna told me, told us, it wasn’t true?’

‘I believe there are many truths there- but it all came from a point of guiding us into Axudar,’ Jimin states clearly.

Namjoon thinks hard.

Prat’tna had most certainly pushed them to want to go to Axudar- he’d been bent on pushing that fact against him.

‘Also not to mention that Prat’tna, against all rational thinking, would not allow you to contact us while were with Ilya,’ Jimin continues, ‘He had hoped, that perhaps he would not have had to betray me once more; and that if you delayed, then Axudar would have arrived in Cuab and taken matters into their own hands.’

Namjoon remembers his absolute frustration and lack of cooperation from Prat’tna during that time. He hadn’t understood why he would do such a thing, but had somehow managed to put it down to it being a “GI” thing. Something Prat’tna himself also used as an excuse.

‘But the…the GI in him- his mission,’ Namjoon says slowly, also glancing out of the window to where a few of the GI were milling about. Had his life been spared out of disobedience back in Grisial when the GI kidnapped them? ‘It was to find you.’

‘Namjoon, child and survivor of Kutsoglera, help us, children of nowhere, and teach us to survive.’

They wanted his help- as individuals, and as a group- the GI then wanted his help, wanted to take him back to Prat’tna. When he first spoke to Prat’tna over the Comm as he was being taken away by the GI, he had communicated with the GI side of him. It was starting to make sense now.

‘It’s why he chose not to meet me- it’s why the initial orders in Grisial was to have everyone killed,’ Jimin explains, ‘The attack on the Užkulisai, it was an attempt to stop all of us, and take me back.’

‘And…’ Namjoon remembers how two Yoongi’s fought- and how he had somehow been able to see into the mind see into his dreams- right until the last moment when the unknown Yoongi had stopped, simply looking at Jimin and stepping through the ripped windows. ‘-they could not go against their Mission.’

Jimin shakes his head.

‘I had requested the Akramanan Wenedi and Yyna to destroy the cell in private- so I believe they were both part of the Great Council who sided with Ndica. I believe the attack on Megibīya was not planned by them- that it was most definitely a strange twist of fate,’ he smiles wryly, ‘that brought them there when they did. I believe Prat’tna, Yyna, as well as a few others there were responsible with the task of handing me to Ndica.’

‘But the Red Evil got there first,’ Namjoon says quietly.

‘I looked into Nineti, into Dehin, into Pret, Somhni, Thhua, and Arrth- they only believe in the mission.’ Jimin recalls their name with fondness. ‘They were my personal guards – raised alongside me, they were my siblings, but not by blood.’

‘Will they remember you?’ Namjoon asks gently.

‘I hope not,’ Jimin replies quietly as he looks up. ‘When the GI, these eggs, formed by the Red Evil after taking me were created, we were bonded together- their fates tied and made whole and anew, using me,’ Jimin explains, ‘As the Fate of Menigišiti, the Fate born of a promise made by the First Children when escaping the wrath of Yisheng, the Red Evil secured their new lives onto something that was not quite of this Known Universe.’

‘But not entirely?’

‘Regardless of what Yisheng Ndica, and those who believed in him, and those before him believed, and even what the Red Evil might have believed, we are of this Universe- we were made and born in this Universe- we are not different life forms who are untied to the supposed cruel fate of Continuum- we are a part of it too,’ Jimin explains, ‘We may have lived different lives, Began differently, Lived differently, thought differently- but ultimately we are all the same, bound to death the moment we are born.’

‘So in the end, the Red Evil would not have been able to recreate life separate from the path of this Universe,’ Namjoon concludes.

Jimin nods.

Namjoon takes a moment to think his next question through carefully, ‘So, considering that Prat’tna was pushing us to go to Axudar- something you had initially agreed to at first, I’m guessing, you’re not too sure that you don’t want to go? What of anything Prat’tna said can be trusted or considered. So…so you don’t want to go to Axudar?’

‘I don’t,’ Jimin tells him bluntly, his expression frank. ‘Going to Axudar will consume all of us, and there will be no escape- not even in death.’

‘What…what do you want to do?’ Namjoon asks a little helplessly. ‘We can’t abandon it, and just attempt to ferry our way into Menigišiti?’

Honestly, he’s at a loss as to what Jimin wants to do.

Jimin looks out of the window, the light reflecting in his eyes, a hardened look to his expression.  

‘I want Axudar to expose themselves.’

*

It takes a considerable amount of time, with Jimin cursing colourfully in a wide range of languages as he curses some specific characters and letters, irritably going back and undoing his work. He even quietly wails for someone he refers to as his language coach, apologizing for not paying attention as he squints at a highly detailed section of the map he opened. Namjoon isn’t sure where to start, but just for the sake of doing something, he takes notes on his own screen, transcribing and documenting this foreign language. He still doesn’t understand the rhythm or flow of the characters, unsure which could be separated to form an alphabet, or if this was a form of logography, or Spaces forbid a literal translation of sound waves into patterns (there were a few languages that wrote in this format and Namjoon has had many a desk-flipping moment when he came across these in his past- especially when they were hand-written and Namjoon could only hope to translate the squiggles and into something that made sense). But he notes them down either way, hoping that maybe one day in the future, he can study it better, alongside the language Jimin preferred, and perhaps gain a better understanding of the way Jimin made his decisions.

‘How many cells slash Docks are around Menigišiti?’ Sk’jin asks where he’s stretched out, one arm pillowing his head, the other holding up his own screen. Namjoon’s quite sure he’s perusing a different novel series written by the same author of the Six Hands of Our Love because he’d been discussing the plot with a stone-faced Amad’la just some hours ago.

’33 around Menigišiti,’ Jimin replies, ‘And each planet, except for Megibīya, hosts a network of these Sanctuaries in them- keeps us all connected.’

‘Is your connection smooth because I’d like some right now,’ Sk’jin grumbles, ‘The next chapter won’t load and I need to know if these idiots will finally .’

Namjoon snorts while Jimin allows himself a momentarily laughing break.

‘I’m invested!’ Sk’jin defends himself before groaning and pushing the screen away. ‘Like, speaking of finally ing, not to be crass-‘

‘-you? Crass? Never,’ Namjoon snorts.

‘Silence metallic ,’ Sk’jin waves dismissively at him, ‘I was just going to say-‘

‘-nothing,’ Jimin declares, ‘You were going to say nothing.’

‘Fine,’ Sk’jin rolls over on the floor a few times, ‘Just saying I can tell the difference between a space-related bruise and like, a hickey unlike most Beings on this forsaken crew-‘

‘-no one’s asking and no one’s looking either,’ Namjoon cuts in while Jimin gives him a thankful look.

‘But Spaces everything is so boring-‘ Sk’jin begins but stops abruptly, sitting up and saying, ‘- , did you see that?’

Namjoon looks around to where Sk’jin is pointing towards where they had entered. Jimin also stops, looking into the liquid dark space.

‘What is it?’ Namjoon steps away from where he was standing to get closer to Sk’jin, hoping to see what he saw.

‘Flash of light,’ Sk’jin frowns, ‘You didn’t see-?’

It happens and Namjoon sees it.

‘What in Spaces-‘ Namjoon steps down from the dais to step closer. ‘Jimin is this supposed to happen-‘

Jimin is quick to rush past him, reaching the blinking light just as it flashes again.

‘I got it!’

‘I think I was the one who got it,’ Sk’jin pipes in from the back but Jimin ignores him. Jimin slides his hand down over the smooth surface and the whole wall ripples open to reveal a wide and and cylindrical chamber.

‘Wow,’ Namjoon manages to say, head tilting upwards to gaze upon this huge tower. ‘Wow I-‘

‘-you sound like a broken AI loop,’ Sk’jin says as he smacks him on the arm and immediately wincing. ‘This is clearly just the engine core.’

If it was, then it’s singlehandedly the most elaborate and yet simplistic engine core Namjoon has ever seen. The whole room is shaped like a dome- the floors are definitely see through, showing them a complex network of piping and wiring that gradually turns opaque the closer it gets to the almost perfectly globe made of a metal Namjoon has never quite seen before. Half of it is buried under the flooring they were standing on, while the other half is above. The whole globe is encased in something that reminds Namjoon of flowing water but there was no telling if it actually was. But somehow all of the little charges that light up the walls and ceilings and floors of this whole place seems to lead straight in here. 

‘We need to activate this,’ Jimin explains, pointing to the large globe.

‘I don’t exactly know what this is going to look like, but I can bet my left lung that it’s gonna be bright and hard to miss,’ Sk’jin remarks dryly, standing close to the water-like structure.

‘Be careful,’ Jimin warns him, ‘This room is- it really is like an engine core. The protective casing is also the power distributor- there is a lot of radiation, it can kill you.’

Sk’jin immediately takes several steps backwards, hands raised up to his chest. Sk’jin doesn’t see it, but Namjoon catches a glint of amusement in Jimin’s eyes.

‘I’m guessing no one can come in once it’s activated?’

‘You can,’ Jimin replies as a ring lowers down, similar to the one in the Bridge. ‘But only when it’s stabilized. Just like an engine core.’

‘Most ships require you to wait 2 minutes for the radiation to be safe,’ Namjoon ruminates, studying the simple and smooth globe.

‘It’s about the same here,’ Jimin gestures around, ‘But there is always a timer, and also a sensor to check if there are any life-forms inside here after the countdown. If there is, it won’t activate.’

‘Well, that’s a good safety precaution,’ Sk’jin chimes in brightly, ‘Let’s make sure we are clear out of the way for this thing to work then.’

Jimin just gives him an amused smile before he starts moving his hands over the projections of light.

‘Can’t believe something that looks like this is what’s cloaking all of Menigišiti,’ Sk’jin remarks, arms crossed over his chest as he regards the core with some apprehension. Namjoon reaches forward, placing his palm over the strangely vibrating surface, ignoring Sk’jin’s gasp.

‘This is amazing,’ Namjoon breathes out, ‘It’s almost as though…it’s living.’

‘I guess you can say that,’ Jimin says quietly, ignoring Sk’jin’s affronted expression at having been so easily spooked. ‘Each Sanctuary is alive in it’s own way, feeding and transmitting the energy from Yino.’

‘So that means you’re all like fungi,’ Sk’jin says dryly, placing his own palm over the surface. But his reaction is different; he jerks his hand away, red eyes flashing in surprise.

‘What’s wrong?’ Namjoon asks worriedly.

Sk’jin frowns at the surface, holding his hand over his chest. Jimin regards him curiously from where he was standing, stopping his actions.

‘Are you hurt?’ Namjoon pushes.

Sk’jin shakes his head before he says, ‘I think- I think I could just…I could hear something.’

Jimin makes a small humming sound, looking back to what he was doing, ‘It makes sense.’

‘How come?’ Namjoon pushes his palm over the surface again, wondering what Sk’jin heard.

‘Sk’jin is old,’ Jimin explains. Namjoon’s half-expecting Sk’jin to yell, offended, at Jimin’s statement but he seems to be pondering this explanation carefully. ‘I think Taeh’yung would be able to do the same.’

‘Is this because of the uh, whole First Children thing and being um,’ Namjoon struggles a bit, ‘Prehistoric?’

Sk’jin does smack him, aiming more carefully, at that.

‘Maybe,’ Jimin replies instead, ‘Maybe Yoongi could too. The GI.’

Ah, in a weird way, that explained it, Namjoon thinks to himself, removing his hand from the surface.

Namjoon looks around the dome again. It was hard to figure out where they were, he can’t imagine this dome somehow fitting in right next to the tip of the tower they had seen- if the Bridge had even been there in the first place. He follows the piping and wires that branch out much like roots though they appear so much more delicate. It’s difficult keeping track of the wires as they fade from the opaque to the same indiscernible material as the walls and floors. Focusing some more, he tracks a bunch of the wires, the little blips of pulsing light helping him momentarily, and tracks them through the sloping walls of the dome. They seem to spread into smaller branches- almost hair-like before fusing into what appeared to be faint etching all over the dome. And now that Namjoon can see it, it’s impossible to not see the beautiful etchings on the walls. It’s both fluid yet geometric, spreading out in a way Namjoon can’t immediately identify or predict. But the etchings are all connected, Namjoon notes, thin lines connecting through small clusters and star-like points into gentle curves of rings and circles.

‘Okay,’ Jimin calls out suddenly. ‘I got it!’

‘Hooray,’ Sk’jin cheers dully, ‘So we can leave?’

‘Not yet,’ Jimin jogs towards them, hands making shooing motions, ‘We should get out first and back into the Bridge. Then we can come back and check on the connections!’

He has a happier expression on his face- as though things were finally holding up how he wanted.

‘Ah, yes, no radiation please,’ Sk’jin quickly paces off too, reaching over to drag Namjoon out with them.

The dome room seals behind them, no indication of an engine starting or being activated.

‘I’ll be honest, I was expecting something a bit more uhh- showy?’ Sk’jin waves his hands about.

Jimin just laughs, ‘Why do you think it will be showy? Everything is not showy!’

‘It’s cooler if it’s showy,’ Sk’jin frowns, ‘More awe-inspiring; visual intimidation is real. Like look at Namjoon and then Yoongi- just visually speaking, no one would want to pick on full-metal here.’

Jimin frowns at Sk’jin and then glances at Namjoon, looking him up and down with an actual serious expression before he says, ‘Oh, yes, I see what you mean. I will consider it.’

Namjoon isn’t sure if he should be offended or not.

But before he can argue about off-hand non-compliments, the Bridge lights up faintly, and the previously empty space fills in with light projections and additional rings floating downwards. And then, a pulse of light, clearer and brighter than before, washes over the entirety around them. Then it picks up, the spaces around them expanding and reshaping into something more than just fluid-liquid forms.

It’s almost too bright all at once, but it fades away just as quickly as it flashes and Namjoon finds himself standing in a much more corporeal and well lit Bridge, with crystal like light formations raised up to form dashboards and seats and daises.

‘Well, okay I guess this is flashy,’ Sk’jin blinks, staring about. But Jimin isn’t paying attention, instead quickly making his way back to the engine core doorway that has quietly opened for them.

The globe in the center of the room is lit, the pulses that had awakened the whole Dock clearly emit from here. The crystal-like protective casing around the globe is shimmering faintly like gossamer – it almost seems too fragile to be containing such a massive influx of energy and power that was apparently being poured out of a quasar.

Looking around, Namjoon notes that the dome is made of some form of dark and smooth stone-like material, with etchings filled with glowing-glass particles that pulse in time with the engine-globe.

‘I will connect us to the other Sanctuaries,’ Jimin announces from the ring opposite the globe. He’s looking around the dome, eyes darting about frantically. ‘If we are all still connected- it will show up in the map.’

Namjoon had guessed the dome revealed a map, but hearing it was so much more amazing.

‘This will be quite bright,’ Jimin warns.

Neither Namjoon nor Sk’jin really bother shielding their eyes- and Namjoon’s glad he didn’t.

The light from the globe flares like a nebula, erupting and washing over them in waves of deep colours found deep in the heart of stars. The dome is gone, and they’re standing in an ocean of light, waves washing around them in gentle yet speedy rushes. He hears Sk’jin’s breath getting caught in his throat at the overwhelming sight ahead of them.

Behaving like some crashing wave of water, washing away a wall of sand, the silver-gold light reveals to them a glorious System, sound, whole, and perfect. The light from the quasar dances in swirls and rings, ebbing gently. Planets shine out to them amidst this dance of light, orbiting their quasar in a dance that followed music Namjoon cannot hear- yet it’s almost as though he can see it.

‘Menigišiti,’ he breathes out; they were looking upon Menigišiti, revealed to them as they stand inside this Sanctuary.

Revealed to all.

Namjoon looks around, breathless in a way he’s never experienced before. To his shock, Sk’jin seems changed- eyes neon bright, a ring of light around him, and on his head, like a crown, a great and beautiful growth of stars. Namjoon can’t help but tear his eyes away, a strange primal fear in him before the face of beauty beyond terror and awe.

Looking at Jimin isn’t helpful either- here, before his home.

He’s not terrifying- rather he seems almost too normal in this rush of light- as though he were a misplaced note in the music that orchestrated this System. In comparison, it was almost as though Sk’jin was the one who belonged here.

And like an ocean wave, the light is gone in a rush of motion and to his side, Sk’jin stumbles just a little. The Khol’isa looks the same, though he’s staring down at his hands which were previously embedded in stars with no longer glowing eyes. He blinks rapidly, as though unsure of what he had seen.

Namjoon shakes himself a little- trying to push away what he had just witnessed. No preparation from Jimin could have helped him.

‘They’re-…they’re not alight,’ Jimin whispers quietly. ‘Only less than a quarter of the Sanctuaries are alight- Akramana is…it’s gone.’

Namjoon has to blink a few times, the light of the quasar still burning in his eyes, focusing brighter on Jimin every time he looked at him.

The dome is back to the stone material- but this time the etched glass lines are gleaming. Some are connected, some broken off- whereas many of the rings and lines were completely diminished, blackened and dull. Jimin hurries from his standing spot, pointing towards the map all around them.

‘There- that’s Akramana- it’s not alight,’ Jimin says in a rush, ‘And neither is Eimili, Űy’ler, Dzmbaal, Awọ’nle.’ He stops, breathing deep, ‘The Sanctuaries are alight- but they’re not connected. Only these 3 are connected to each other, and only through the Core Sanctuaries.’

‘That means?’ Sk’jin asks, still sounding a little odd but coming back into the conversation, both of his hands touching at his temples.

‘The camouflage is up- and no one can enter…not without the safety channels at any rate…’ he trails off, eyebrows furrowing. ‘The barriers are in chaos, but it’s almost…almost as though it’s done on purpose.’

‘So Prat’tna was lying,’ Sk’jin says quietly, glancing at Namjoon with a look of regret. ‘Does that mean Menigišiti could still be all right?’

‘There is still…some are still connected- keeping united,’ Jimin says slowly, fearfully, ‘These three planets are the only ones connected- the others are…it’s like they’re lost.’

Namjoon sees how Jimin’s shoulders sink, his head bowing just a little- his biggest fears were coming true.

‘If no one can go in-‘

‘-some of them might be safe but- but at what cost-,‘ Jimin chokes out, staring around at the dome, ‘We cannot enter through here like this- but other Sanctuaries? Maybe they’ve been compromised- ruined and-…-they’re…we are lost. We are all lost.’

‘Jimin,’ Sk’jin says gently, ‘We can do this.’

Jimin nods, ‘I know- I just-…I wish it weren’t so.’

They stay a few minutes longer, Jimin quickly taking notes as Namjoon scans the map on his NaviLet.

‘Regardless of the connection or lack of it,’ Jimin says as they step out into the Bridge, ‘Everyone in Menigišiti will have seen it, and everyone in Axudar will see it.’

‘Well, a quasar is hard to miss,’ Sk’jin snorts. ‘At least this part is in order. Now we just issue the broadcast.’

‘All right, we can head back now,’ Namjoon nods, ‘Is there anything else we need to do here?’

Jimin pauses, looking back at the Bridge, a thoughtful expression on his face as he seems to focus on one of the lowered rings.

‘I think…’ he pauses before he steps forward into the Bridge again. ‘I think I need to send a message home.’

‘We don’t know…’ Sk’jin tries hesitantly, gently, ‘-Jimin, we don’t know who could be listening.’

Jimin nods to that in agreement, ‘I know.’

Sk’jin opens his mouth but stops himself.

‘It won’t be…it won’t be anything revealing,’ Jimin says quietly as he stands before a new ring to one side of the Bridge. ‘Just a song.’

Namjoon has always been sure about 2 things in his life: showers solved a lot of problems, and that time was relative.

And yet somehow, the moment Jimin starts to hum- his voice like some physical resonance echoes around them and out into space, stretching the fabric of space, mass, and time; as though the fabric of existence in itself seemed to move to this melody.

For a brief startling moment, Namjoon believes he can almost see the entirety of the Universe, revealed to him in this strange and beautiful dance of motion, light, time, and Memory. And for that brief moment, it’s almost as though he could understand everything.

The song ends and the resonance around him ebbs, taking this moment away only to be relieved in hazy dreams, filling you with the strange realization that you have Lived this moment in it’s fullness before- in some past lifetime, and it will be a moment for somewhere in the future too.

Their transporter is still exactly where they left it- though honestly Namjoon still cannot determine his coordinates inside this Sanctuary. He’s actually almost too afraid to ask because he’s 100% sure he’s not going to understand the explanation that Jimin will give him.

The moment they’re inside, Sk’jin is quick to reactivate their short-radio frequency. It crackles and pops before emitting an ear-piercing sound.

‘We got it!’ Sk’jin declares as he sits himself down, Jimin doing the same next to him. ‘It’s working! We’re on our way back!’

They hear a terrible white-noise filled sounds of exclamations from the others and relief floods Namjoon.

‘It’s done!’ Jimin also adds, quickly searching for a screen, ‘Hoseok! Are we ready for the transmission?’

‘Yes!’ Hoseok replies at once, voice crackled over their communication lines, ‘Yes it’s ready- we’re connected and ready!’

‘Do it now,’ Namjoon feels a sense of vindication at his words, ‘Let’s up.’

Namjoon’s NaviLet instantly alerts him of the transmission.

‘Jimin! Are you okay?’ Jungkook’s voice crackles over the line.

‘I am, we all are,’ Jimin replies quickly before adding worriedly as he finds his screen, ‘Are you all safe? Has anything been triggered?’

‘No but um-‘ Jungkook sounds hesitant over the crackling line, ‘Um- some of the GI have become unwell.’

‘Is it Amad’la, I swear to Spaces I’ll drop-kick anyone who hurt her,’ Sk’jin threatens, activating the transporter.

‘What do you mean?’ Jimin quickly reconnects and finds the Iris feed, ‘Where’s Yoongi.’

They impatiently wait for the connection to strengthen, Jimin keeps glancing back at Namjoon’s NaviLet as though it would connect faster.

‘I’m here sunshine,’ even over the terrible connection, Namjoon can clearly hear how weak Yoongi sounded, ‘It’s um- I think there’s something here, left by the Red Evil, and it’s been…not good for me, and some of the others.’

‘The regurgitated? Well, , that’s not good,’ Sk’jin says under his breath, looking back briefly at Namjoon with worry in his eyes. They smoothly exit the Sanctuary hanger.

‘We’ve moved away from Udāvana for now,’ Hoseok quickly explains, ‘Jungkook and I are going to investigate a ship that I think was the one that brought Yoongi here. It might still have intact logs and-‘

‘What?’ Namjoon is taken aback- his NaviLet makes a small sound as they reconnect, ‘Okay, screens back online.’

‘And, we found eggs here,’ Hoseok tells them, ‘Eggs- actual pirates, I’m guessing the same set up as Khonen had with the Omhlophe.’

‘Are- are the eggs okay?’ Sk’jin asks, hesitation in his voice.

‘Three of them were, well- didn’t make it,’ Hoseok seems troubled, ‘We’ve brought them all back in, all 8 of them. Taeh’yung says that they’re okay.’

‘Taeh’yung,’ Jimin immediately addresses the Zhak’gri, eyes glued to his screen as the Iris feed starts to focus, ‘What’s wrong?’

‘I…I don’t think they were here to bring death,’ is the extraordinary reply they get.

‘What? What’s he saying?’ Sk’jin looks around at Namjoon as though he would have an explanation.

‘Hoseok- take Yoongi back further now-!’ Jimin begs, gripping his screen as he looks at the feed, ‘Please-‘

Namjoon finds Hoseok’s feed in time to watch with horror as a very pale and diminished looking Yoongi collapses in a strangely light heap on the ground.

‘Yoongi-!’

Yoongi was stretched. And all they could do was watch him break.

*

Namjoon doesn’t mean to intrude, but well, he’s here now and Jimin doesn’t seem to mind. He did after all, call for him to come here.

Jimin is sitting at the empty seat next to Dehin at the Bridge, hands held together. Namjoon had been under the impression that Dehin was back in Lowet, seeing as he was injured. Apparently he snuck in and remained in the Yisheng ship, easily slipping in amongst the other GI. He even gives Namjoon a sort of sheepish smile.

When Dehin speaks, it’s in a language Namjoon has only heard Jimin, and haltingly Taeh’yung, speak. Jimin smiles, a sweet and adoring one as he replies in kind. Clearly, this Dehin is the one Jimin knew, the one he grew up with. Namjoon quietly makes his way towards them, taking a seat across them and simply observing.

‘It’s difficult for him to remember,’ Jimin tells him, translating slowly, giving a struggling Dehin encouraging nods. ‘He’s mentioned Nineti, from not too long ago – something they did.’

Dehin adds something else, a pained look overtaking his expression briefly before it’s completely gone.

Jimin looks pale, lips drawn to a tight thin line, eyes filled with pain.

‘What is it?’ Namjoon asks gently.

‘He just- I think he remembered for a moment,’ Jimin whispers, ‘Remembered what he last said to me.’

He lets go of their hands and Dehin seems to tilt in his seat for a moment before righting himself. His expression is immediately completely neutral, his posture shifting into the upright and unnaturally still angle all GI seemed to carry themselves in. Yoongi frequently switched between this and a kind of lazy slump Namjoon had previously been worried about but turns out the Human just naturally had terrible posture.

‘Are you trying to find some more helpful memories?’ Namjoon asks.

Jimin nods, a hesitant expression on his face as he says, ‘I’m afraid though.’

‘Of?’

‘I don’t want him to…to wake up- the others,’ Jimin confesses quietly, ‘It…it’s not good for them, it’s so physically draining on them and-‘

Namjoon can’t help but think of Yoongi- he cannot imagine what it must be like for Jimin at this moment. Not only were the Regurgitated Beings from Yoongi’s team, Beings he knew and who were with him in Megibīya, but these were his own team- his Beings. Individuals he grew up with, who were raised alongside him. Namjoon cannot fathom the depths of Jimin’s despair and sorrow, and yet somehow, he can understand being in such a place.

‘When things are done and completed,’ Jimin tells him quietly, ‘I cannot be with them.’

‘The Regurgitated?’

Jimin nods.

‘I won’t,’ he breathes out carefully, reaching forward to squeeze Dehin’s hand.

‘Will going into Menigišiti be dangerous for them?’

‘I don’t know- I cannot tell,’ Jimin replies frankly before adding, as though quoting his words, ‘Time is not what we believe it to be. We carry another Time within ourselves, and by returning to it…we might find that things have changed.’

‘Don’t be sorry,’ Dehin suddenly states.

‘Yeah,’ Jimin smiles at his long-lost friend, someone he regarded as a sibling, ‘I won’t be.’

Dehin makes his way back to the Communication Panel and Jimin turns to him.

‘I spoke to Hoseok regarding your proposal,’ Namjoon begins, ‘I think you’re on to something.’

Jimin simply nods, no relief from the increase in probability of his idea.

‘Axudar is protected by the GLA on the basis of their unstable and delicate native environment. This prohibits visitors, guests, tourists- even the GLA themselves from entering the System.’ Namjoon recounts, ‘So Axudar has experienced nearly next to no check ups from the GLA or associated parties. They’ve had no visitors to their System in a very long time. Of course we know that this is absolutely inaccurate.’

Jimin nods again, leaning in to listen.

‘You can only enter Axudar with the explicit permission of Axudar itself- and that hasn’t happened in a long time. In fact, the last time this happened I believe it was when Ndica hosted those involved in setting up the meeting and treaty with Menigišiti.’ Namjoon throws in, scrolling through the immense records he had pulled up on Axudar with Ems’s help all that time ago. At the time, this information hadn’t felt helpful.

‘So we can say for sure the whole thing was very choreographed and staged- set up to portray a fragile and seemingly normal planetary system so as to not raise suspicion.’ Jimin adds, ‘It’s not surprising, Ndica did portray Axudar as a humble and quiet System.’

‘Doing this is not going to be easy,’ Namjoon feels like he needs to remind Jimin again. Not because he thought Jimin would not realize this, but because he wanted Jimin to see him as maybe a guard who would be able to tell him the probabilities and improbabilities of operations and systematic laws of the GLA.

‘One of the most vital setback that’s crippling us is the need for secrecy,’ Jimin explains quietly, ‘We have always felt the need to operate in complete secrecy, in order to keep safe the New Borns, the eggs. I think it’s very clear, how the GLA view them; and we have also seen how their fear is twisting their rationality and heart. Axudar is also taking advantage of this secrecy- because those who know about it, risk losing their lives.’

Namjoon almost feels like he’s never seen Jimin like this before- like this, Jimin was more than just someone who represented the pinnacle of unity and faith in his System- but instead showed himself as someone who was born and raised into the role of a Being who was meant to guide, protect, and listen.

And Jimin has listened.

‘I’ve been in contact with Jn’young,’ he tells him, ‘I have been discussing a possible plan with him, and with Ilya.’

Namjoon narrows his eyes at that.

‘Does anyone know about this?’

Jimin shakes his head but adds, ‘Maybe Hoseok suspects something. I’m sure Yoongi is waiting for me to explain this to him.’

Neither of them mention Sk’jin.

‘Jn’young had also mentioned the protection act,’ Jimin continues, ‘And he believes that there is actually a simple way in which we can trigger a violation alert, almost like an emergency request from within Axudar. He said that the alarm would be triggered in the Yisheng Headquarters.’

Namjoon can see where Jn’young is headed with this. They had done something similar, alerting the Yishengs to intervene when they had first met Van Seulgaan aboard the Alliance ship. They could definitely trigger an alarm by framing an act of violation in Axudar. It would actually somewhat be quite simple considering their connection with Ilya and his network.

‘You want to bring Ilya into this then,’ Namjoon asks.

Jimin nods before adding slowly, ‘He was the one who reached out to me.’

Namjoon’s not surprised. And the more he thinks about it, the better this sounds. Namjoon has an inkling now of what Jimin wants to do and he can’t help but hesitate.

‘This…this could potentially expose more than just Axudar,’ he says quietly, ‘You know that, right?’

Jimin nods, looking down at this screen, unseeing.

‘I know.’ He replies, ‘I’ve known this.’

‘I am sorry,’ Namjoon finds himself saying.

‘What for?’ Jimin frowns up at him in surprise.

‘We don’t know the full extent of what the Jury ultimately wanted from us- they did however know enough about you to set this whole thing up,’ Namjoon explains, ‘And despite selfish desires and greed, I’m sure that the Jury would have wanted some form of finality- a sort of accomplishment to arise from us, from our mission. And we were all placed here, really, to help you do that. And well,’ Namjoon shrugs, ‘We weren’t the most accommodating nor were we the most stable. I’m sorry you had to work around so much after waking up and finding yourself…well, here.’

To his surprise, Jimin actually smiles, a small laughter escaping him as he shakes his head, ‘Namjoon. I would not have it any other way.’

‘You’re just saying that,’ Namjoon rolls his eyes.

‘I wouldn’t lie,’ Jimin actually winks, though badly. It makes Namjoon snort.

‘Then what was all of that about you saying you wanted to go to Axudar?’ Namjoon shoots and raises an eyebrow, ‘You were lying. Thought you couldn’t do that.’

Jimin actually flushes, looking down immediately, ‘I do not lie!’ he insists, ‘It’s not that I cannot lie- I prefer not to.’

Namjoon just grins at him, ‘Okay then, so you chose to mislead everyone by saying you want to go to Axudar.’

Jimin huffs at him before saying, ‘It’s because I wanted to make sure.’

‘About?’

‘Who was listening to us.’ Jimin looks back around at the GI. ‘I had to make sure, that no one else was aware- was Awake.’

‘And the results?’

‘So far nothing from them,’ Jimin replies firmly, ‘I do not think, with what I know and understand right now, that the Regurgitated have been pulled out of their sleep any further than Dehin’s level.’

Namjoon glances at Dehin, impassive as he scans their channels.

‘I was also, at first, analyzing to see what all of you wanted,’ Jimin tells him bluntly, ‘I am sorry for having to look into your memories.’

‘Uh-‘ Namjoon blinks at this sudden confession, ‘My memories?’

‘I didn’t probe!’ Jimin says quickly, holding his hands up, ‘I just- I just needed to know. If I could trust where you came from.’

‘…where I came from?’

Jimin nods, biting his lower lip a moment before he says, ‘What you are born of.’

Looking into Jimin’s eyes, for a second, Namjoon is back in that forgotten and cursed room, torn away and rebuilt and torn apart again and again and again.

‘I’m sorry,’ Jimin whispers.

Namjoon unclenches his hands, having nearly crushed the edge of the dashboard he was leaning on. He takes a deep breath and instead manages to smile, shaking his head.

‘You were lying,’ Namjoon repeats with a teasing grin.

Jimin just huffs out a small laugh, relieved and also guilty.

‘Sometimes it’s easier to lie – sometimes, in order to continue forward, you need to lie to yourself.’ He says, looking out and through the massive Bridge windows.

‘Oh?’ Namjoon quirks an eyebrow, following Jimin’s line of sight to where Yoongi was standing, pointing something to Jungkook while holding a knife and demonstrating a sweeping motion. ‘When do you know when you can stop lying?’

Jimin chuckles at how Jungkook enthusiastically mimics Yoongi while Sk’jin screeches warnings from the blanket on the sand.

‘You listen to your heart, but take your brain with you.’

*

Flying back in is a lot smoother than before. This is mostly because they don’t use the storm as a cover to mask their entry directly from warp, and Sk’jin was an excellent pilot. But it probably also had something to do with what they had just done in the Sanctuary. Namjoon can’t describe it and he can’t pinpoint it either- because it was almost as though Megibīya had changed- again, he can’t explain how, or where. But in the span of a few hours, there was a difference visible and yet indescribably blatant over the weary planet.

Jimin doesn’t seem to show any more reaction than he did when he first looked upon Megibīya. His expression is still carefully masked- not for the sake of others, but rather for himself. He does however seem to steer himself to move out of his chair once they get ready to land, breathing in slow and deep, eyes closing.

Sk’jin is curious, looking over the area with scrutiny and a sharp gaze. Somewhere in the back of Namjoon’s mind, he realizes that they are one of the very very few Living Beings outside of those native to Menigišiti who have set foot on this planet. 

They land close to where their ship is stationed. Some of the GI are stationed around the place- stark dark figures that can only be noticed when purposefully searched for. By the partially open hangar gateway is Hoseok and Jungkook, obviously waiting for them to finish landing. The moment they land and they open the door, the youngling rushes towards them and as Jimin exits, picks him up in a crushing hug. But he lets him go quickly enough before he rushes to Sk’jin. Sk’jin fondly cups his face, allowing the youngling to then push his face up against his neck and throat. Namjoon notes how Jungkook is at Sk’jin’s height already.

Jungkook sort of shyly hugs him, making himself small in a way that has Namjoon grinning at the youngling.

‘Doing okay?’ He asks Jungkook as they make their way towards the Yisheng ship.

Jungkook nods, ‘Lots of strange things.’

Sk’jin looks back at that, giving the young Vicitra an encouraging smile and holding his hand out.

‘Come on Kookie- I’m hungry, keep me company and tell me what you saw.’

Jungkook eagerly takes his hand, their shoulders rubbing together.

Jimin has already vanished into the ship, and Hoseok is still standing at the bottom of the ramp, arms crossed over his chest. Sk’jin and Jungkook walk past and the Ngfy’widan greets the Khol’isa with a smile, barely dodging an overly exaggerated kiss haphazardly directed at him. Namjoon slows down his pace, pausing to stand before Hoseok who gives him a grim smile.

‘Guess things aren’t the best in Menigišiti?’

‘Can’t say,’ Namjoon replies honestly, ‘Jimin’s not very hopeful, but I think he’s keeping his expectations low.’

‘We’ll find out soon enough,’ Hoseok nods.

‘Any update?’

Hoseok gives him an easy grin, waving his screen briefly before saying, ‘The Underverse is in an uproar.’

‘The GLA?’

‘The Court is already in session- Šerdesas is not happy. There’s a massive public outcry from all over the Universe.’

‘Any statements from the GIU or the Venture Unit?’

‘According to Jaen they’re both locking down- and Amme is not in Šerdesas.’

‘And the others?’

‘Already in position,’ Hoseok replies immediately, glancing upwards as though instinctively. ‘Now we just wait and see how Axudar reacts.’

‘Jimin says no one can enter Menigišiti –it’s been locked in,’ Namjoon tells him.

‘So it was a ruse then,’ Hoseok sighs out, ‘So far, whether we like it or not, Jimin’s been right.’

‘I don’t think Jimin likes that he’s being right.’ Namjoon replies. ‘Any new development on the eggs?’

Hoseok nods, ‘Two of them are from Ruul, specifically the northern continents. The other 3 are from Klangen, Helada, and S’mrin.’

‘Has Taeh’yung said anything about them?’

‘He said he’s having difficulty hearing them,’ Hoseok replies with a small frown, ‘I think the Khol’isa anticore has…it’s changed him in a way.’

‘Changed? Not weakened?’ Namjoon inquires. Anticores were designed to completely render a Being inert.

‘It might be for the better,’ Hoseok says carefully, ‘Maybe this will help him relearn some things. But other than that, the eggs are as stable as can be for now. The three others that didn’t make it are from Dziko- specifically Dao-2, and a Tayian, and Cabcd.’

‘I lived in Dziko for a while- before we started this. I was in Dao-3,’ Namjoon snorts.

Hoseok gives him a sheepish look before saying, ‘Yeah I know.’

Of course he did.

‘What about Yoongi’s ship? Anything on that?’

Hoseok hands him his screen.

‘I’m still converting the data on to it, but this is what I have so far,’ Hoseok taps at the corner to access the tab. ‘I can almost access the main ship logs from what they have here, so it won’t just be what was on the ship that brought Yoongi and his team here.’

‘That could be informative,’ Namjoon nods, scrolling through the usual Captain’s logs and ship archives on engine status and conditions.

‘The trajectory is set, very directly, from Šerdesas’s border Docks, straight here. The landing coordinates lead them straight into the center of Udāvana.’

‘Well, considering the supposed GLA dock slash immigration outlet is here, that’s not too surprising,’ Namjoon hands Hoseok back the screen.

‘It’s not,’ the Ngfy’widan agrees before adding with a serious look, ‘Something is strange there.’

‘In that city in specific?’

‘It’s not just how Yoongi and some of the GI reacted- Taeh’yung doesn’t seem to like it, and neither did Jungkook,’ Hoseok tells him plainly. 

‘Have you sent the GI to scout?’

‘No,’ Hoseok says with a small frown, looking up at him, ‘I don’t know if that place is a good place to go into, regardless of well, your being, I guess.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s weird,’ Hoseok tells him quietly, nodding towards the direction of forest, ‘There’s something there- I don’t know if it’s…if it’s alive or if it’s just…something’s strange there. I don’t know how comfortable I am looking into it- it’s unsettling I guess.’

‘Do you think we should change the next step of our plan?’

‘I think Jimin will want to check for himself,’ Hoseok tells him with a shake of his head, ‘Yoongi wanted to but I don’t think being here is good for him. Or the others. But I don’t think we should make any decisions- not at this stage, without being thorough.’

Namjoon nods to that, glancing towards the direction where Udāvana lay.  

‘Hey, if you guys want some snacks, come get it,’ Sk’jin calls, ‘It’s super sweet and will give you a rush.’

‘That actually does sound good,’ Hoseok grumbles, turning to climb up the ramp.

‘Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you Cap, you get some good sweet loving too.’

‘Sometimes I hate it here,’ Namjoon sighs.

Hoseok cackles.

Sk’jin is laying back on one of the Lobby couches, Jungkook acting as his pillow. Taeh’yung is also there, listening intently to Sk’jin’s description of Sanctuary with large eyes. They can’t be too comfortable as Sk’jin’s leaning all the way back into Jungkook, and Taeh’yung is draped all over Sk’jin, face uncomfortably close to Sk’jin’s. But none of them seem uncomfortable as they take oddly angled sips from large cups of a pale violet drink.

‘It’s not poisoned!’ Jungkook tells them happily.

‘You know, he has no chance for normalcy,’ Hoseok laments from the table where he’s picking up a cup set out for them. ‘He’s just going to believe everything cooked and made has some form of tracking isotope in it.’

‘Can someone give the lovebirds the drinks too if they’re not afraid of ruining their eyes for what they might see?’ Sk’jin calls from the couch. ‘I’ve already given the others some refreshments but, well, don’t want to wash my eyes out.’

Hoseok gives him a sheepish expression, promptly taking a seat. Namjoon frowns down at him, wondering why he would take Sk’jin’s teasing comment this far. As far as Namjoon himself has observed, neither Yoongi nor Jimin did anything remotely inappropriate or indecent.

‘I’ll go give it to Yoongi and Jimin,’ Namjoon offers. He might as well go and check in on the Human himself and discuss what they should do about Udāvana.

‘You’re a metallic blessing,’ Sk’jin blows him a kiss. Both Jungkook and Taeh’yung mimic his action with gusto.

Making his way to where the Medical Bays were lined up, Namjoon looks into each of the open Bays, catching sight of a few of the GI, laying back stiffly and clearly in an uncomfortable and confused manner. They’re all sipping on their cups of pale violet liquid. He pauses a little before stepping into the Bay where Yoongi was. He’s not sure why, and it has nothing to do with what Sk’jin said either. But it almost felt as though by stepping in, he would be impeding on their time together.

He slowly peaks in, fully prepared to simply take a step back to give them the time if they wanted it.

Jimin is leaning over him, whispering quietly as though making a small joke. Yoongi grins, chuckling quietly, reaching up to gently tweak at the strands of hair that had fallen over Jimin’s face. There’s a light in Yoongi’s eyes, his whole being rested. The harsh shadows soften under his eyes, and he actually looks better. Jimin’s back is turned to Namjoon so he can’t quite make his face out.

And Namjoon does feel like he’s intruding. Like anytime they spent with each other was somehow inherently private and intimate- like it was precious and limited. And yet somehow, for a moment, Namjoon believes that maybe, some things were meant to exist beyond what Time or Space could measure.

Yoongi spots him, giving him a small smile in greeting and lifting a hand.

‘Hey,’ Namjoon says quickly, not wanting to look like he was spying on them. He holds up the tray before him, ‘Refreshments. Sk’jin says it will give you a rush.’

Yoongi snorts.

‘Jungkook also says there’s no poison in it.’

Jimin laughs, throwing his head back, genuinely tickled by this. Namjoon sets the tray down, taking his own cup from the tray before taking a seat on one of the footstools.

‘How’re you feeling?’

Yoongi shrugs, ‘Tired mainly- the closer we got to Udāvana, it was just really weird. Something hurt, but at the same time I just- I just wanted to sleep.’

Jimin’s expression is carefully schooled, picking at the edges of the blanket that covered Yoongi’s legs.

‘I don’t think we should change the next phase of our plans,’ Yoongi tells him, occasionally glancing at Jimin, ‘This is something we can work around.’

Namjoon can’t help but glance at Jimin too, taking in his expression, body language. But Jimin is too good at masking his thoughts and emotions.

‘Well- before we do that, we still have some time, hopefully,’ Namjoon says slowly, ‘I wanted to talk about Udāvana. What do we do?’

‘I want to go in,’ Jimin tells him immediately. ‘I think something is still there- not what it once was, not what it used to be. And in order to see better, and to make adjustments, I need to look into it.’

Namjoon studies both of their faces carefully. Sk’jin’s words from earlier in the Sanctuary of both of them being “creepy” and he can’t help but somewhat agree.

‘All right,’ Namjoon nods, which makes Jimin tip the contents of the cup all the way back, swallowing it with a slight wince and he’s standing up.

‘Uh-‘ Namjoon does a weird, stand and sit and stand on his footstool, nearly upsetting his cup in the process, ‘You mean now?’

‘Yes,’ Jimin places the cup back on the tray. ‘Right now.’

Yoongi doesn’t seem to taken aback, still sipping on his cup.

‘Well- okay then,’ Namjoon downs his cup as well, ‘Let’s go?’

Hoseok joins them, driving them on the transporter over to Udāvana. Not sure about the risks, they don’t take any of the GI with them. And they also firmly tell Jungkook he could not go with them too. Namjoon has never seen someone both terrifying yet endearing. Hoseok smoothly cuts in to remind him that he’s basically the only healthy and reliable one there and this was all about strategy. Jungkook reluctantly accepts this and frowns as he waves goodbye at them from behind Sk’jin’s shoulder.

‘Heh,’ Hoseok chuckles, ‘It’s both cute and scary.’

Hoseok points out the underground network entryway below them, informing them on the mines and remains of what appeared to be signs of living. Jimin adds to that, explaining that they had employed simple mechanical and architectural decoys to disguise the full extent of how Megibīya was actually powered, away from prying eyes. He doesn’t comment on the mines though, his gaze downwards and observing.

However, the closer they get to Udāvana, both Hoseok and Namjoon note how Jimin looks more and more uncomfortable.

‘What is it?’ Hoseok asks as they enter the city.

‘It feels just like it did before,’ Jimin tells them, an edge of nervousness in his voice. ‘When I had- when I had arrived and it was as though the whole planet was on fire. It feels like that here.’

‘Are you sure you want to do this? We can send in automated Iris to scan the place instead,’ Namjoon suggests. But Jimin shakes his head, getting up from his seat.

‘I need to look into this- before we can continue forward,’ he tells them, ‘This is important. I’ll make sure we don’t waste time here.’

It smells decayed out here, Namjoon notes. He’s not sure how- it’s not the rot of vegetation or of organic materials. It’s not chemical erosion either- it’s indescribable, actually. But Namjoon knows there’s something decaying here.

‘Is that Yoongi’s ship?’ Namjoon asks, pointing out to the ship that’s over to one side of the large semi-circle clearing.

‘Yeah,’ Hoseok confirms, ‘We were the first ones to investigate it ever since it got here I think.’

Jimin isn’t looking at the ship, instead he’s staring straight into the dense forest. There’s an overgrown yet decayed look to this expanse. Some strange child-like fear in Namjoon is thankful that they have permanent daylight here. The idea of entering such a place at the quiet stillness of night added with the uncertainty of this forest would honestly be too much to tolerate.

‘The gulf is located there,’ Jimin points without looking towards the high cliffs that slope up to smooth dark mountain slopes. ‘It’s how I came in here, to the Udāvana forest.’

‘Do you have an idea of where you want to go in here?’ Hoseok asks. ‘Or do we just set straight ahead.’

‘Yoongi,’ Jimin calls quietly, ‘Could you guide us?’

‘Of course,’ the Human replies. ‘We set out on the Standard compass south south-west.’

Hoseok quickly pulls up the Standard compass and points to their left.

‘I don’t know how much changed, but we set straight in that direction for several hours. We made camp for the night, so to speak, at a stone archway.’

‘All right, I’ll match that up with our mapping system,’ Hoseok replies, leading the way.

‘Be careful,’ Taeh’yung says quietly.

‘I don’t think we have the time to spend days here,’ Hoseok says, looking back briefly, addressing Jimin more than anyone else. ‘Do you want to get the HoverPorts?’

They had brought with them three HoverPorts, tracked onto their screens, ready to be summoned if needed. But Jimin had said he wanted to go on foot. Insisted even.

Jimin shakes his head, ‘It won’t take that long.’

‘Are you guys seeing everything clearly?’ Namjoon asks, smoothing out the front of his jacket.

‘Maybe if your hand wasn’t in the way,’ Sk’jin responds dryly.

They walk ahead without stopping or pausing for a good hour. Jimin doesn’t seem to want to pause to look at anything or investigate anything. He’s just walking forward steadily, bare feet barely making any sound over the dry layered vegetation that covered the grounds. Namjoon has been to many forests and woods and jungles- but never one quite like this. There’s a fragility here- a strange ash-like quality to the way things seem to strain to cling to its once flourishing forms.

There’s a terrible comparison budding in Namjoon’s mind with what he was seeing around him. But he doesn’t quite want to point it out- recognizing it would only make it inevitable and Namjoon doesn’t want to do that. Not if there is a way of turning it around, or at the very least, stopping it for a while.

No one says a thing, simply moving ahead. Sk’jin will randomly break the silence to give them some updates from the Underverse or from relayed sources in Šerdesas. It’s when they’ve been walking for an hour that Jimin stops.

Hoseok turns around immediately, eyebrows furrowed as he does a quick study of the forest trees around them.

‘What is it,’ Sk’jin asks at once.

‘Not sure,’ Namjoon replies, walking over to where Jimin stood. ‘Jimin?’

Jimin seems to be listening hard, eyes closed. He raises his hand briefly, fingers flexing as though feeling something Namjoon couldn’t see. And then, eyes still closed, Jimin walks in the direction he had held his hand up to. Moving off of their original trajectory, Hoseok and Namjoon both flank Jimin on either side. Hoseok quietly unlocks the TeorSer from its place on his back and Namjoon does the same. The hum of the activated TeorSer sounds invasive, and that’s when Namjoon realizes how unnaturally quiet the whole forest is.

Hoseok shares a concerned look, having also noticed the uncanny quietness of the place. The only sounds are coming from their inhales and exhales, the occasional footfall, and rustling of their clothes as they move. Namjoon notes how Hoseok’s temples and forehead is beaded with sweat despite the temperature being quite cool. There’s a strange pressure in the air as they walk deeper in the direction Jimin takes them. The trees are denser too, much closer together and-

‘Don’t lose track of each other,’ Yoongi says immediately, ‘Stick close.’

Hoseok and Namjoon immediately move closer to Jimin, stepping through the area carefully, eyes and ears alert. And too suddenly, without warning, they step out into a strange clearing. It’s a wide space, perfectly and unnaturally circular. The trees that stand in the way of this clearing are neatly carved out to make space for this unnatural impression in the forest.

Jimin suddenly clutches at his chest, eyes and nose streaming as he chokes out a cough.

Namjoon walks over to him immediately, holding his arm to steady him.

‘The smell is stronger here,’ Hoseok notes, his face wrinkled, swallowing thickly, ‘It’s heavy.’

Namjoon is about to hand Jimin a filter to attach over his nostrils when he suddenly makes a short gasping sound and sets out into a jog to their immediate right. Hoseok is immediately on his heels, positioning himself in a way that guarded Jimin entirely from the right. Namjoon quickly follows, keeping close to Jimin’s left until they stop at the tree line. But Jimin reaches through the spaces in the unnaturally cut foliage, waves of dust falling out in the process, and with a strange dry suction sound, he pulls out the top half of some strange OrTank.

‘What-?’ Hoseok gapes down at the strange object. ‘What’s-‘

Namjoon reaches forward and yanks the strange OrTank out completely, the static trees around it relenting easily and yet stiffly until a sizeable narrow flat rectangular OrTank falls to their feet. Thick dark wires coil out from underneath the base, leading away back into the trees and forest. The casing itself is thick and clear, no scratch or erosion on the surface. The bindings around it are smooth and seamless, edged around the center with what appeared to be a linking mechanism, as though something could smoothly click into place against it. The inside of the OrTank is lined periodically with the black wires- something in Namjoon lurches in a way he identifies as feeling sick.

‘That’s definitely not made in GLA,’ Sk’jin remarks carefully.

‘I’ve never seen this before,’ Hoseok frowns at the OrTank, ‘It’s- it doesn’t seem to be…well, real.’

‘It’s them,’ Jimin still has his hands held up as though unsure what to do with them, as though slightly disgusted with what he’s just touched. ‘The Red Evil made this.’

‘What’s this-‘ Hoseok takes a step back, head turned around to a gap close to where they were standing.

‘Oh I don’t like this,’ Sk’jin mutters as Hoseok reaches towards the gap and yanks out another OrTank, similarly placed and kept, black coils pulling out.

And soon, between nearly every gap, they pull out the strange rectangular OrTank- like slabs neatly stacked and stored into this strange unnatural ring.

‘Follow Jimin,’ Yoongi says quietly, slight urgency in his tone. Whipping his head around, he’s just in time to notice Jimin slipping through the new gaps of the ringed clearing, in his hand he’s holding onto one of the wires that was connected to the base of the OrTank. Quickly, Hoseok and Namjoon squeeze in after Jimin. They track the wires through the stuffed forest until they emerge into yet another clearing. But this time it’s not empty.

Coils and coils of wires loop into the clearing from all directions. It’s absolutely uncanny and disturbing and though there is nothing grotesque about it, Namjoon can’t stop the strange and foreign desire to want to throw up. He notes how Hoseok has turned slightly off-colour himself, looking around, his grip around the TeorSer shaking a little with the force he was applying.

‘What is this place?’ he manages to get out.

Jimin drops the wire and slowly walks ahead. To Namjoon’s horror, the wires seem strangely soft and wet.

‘Be careful,’ Taeh’yung repeats, almost inaudibly.

‘Jimin I don’t think you should go closer,’ Hoseok manages to get out, eyes following the wires to the very center where it seem to gather and sink into a hollowed pit. Thunder rumbles over them ominously, and it nearly masks the strange sound that rustles behind them.

Both Hoseok and Namjoon quickly turn, TeorSer raised and unlocked.

‘Did you hear that?’ Hoseok asks quietly, slowly widening his stance and taking a step back, angling his body.

‘I did,’ Namjoon replies through gritted teeth.

The sound reverberates again and this time the trees themselves seem to move- the trees were waving-

‘Jimin?’ Yoongi suddenly calls out loudly.

Quickly turning around, Namjoon can’t help but yell out a strangled, ‘Jimin!’

Floating at a strange height right above the center of this ringed clearing, Jimin is unresponsive but clearly awake.

‘-!’ Hoseok curses, quickly running around the center, ‘Jimin!’

Jimin’s eyes are wide open, and instead of the usual twin eclipses, his eyes are painfully bright, causing Namjoon to flinch at the sudden brightness.

‘Namjoon watch out!’ Hoseok warns.

Namjoon immediately stops moving, slipping on the tubes. To his horror he realizes the shallow and hollowed center where the wires all converged is suddenly filled with a dark liquid. He scrambles backwards, not having realized how close he was to the edge.

‘Jimin!’ Hoseok roars.

But he’s unresponsive, head tilted up now, mouth opening slowly as though to speak.

‘Taeh’yung what do we do,’ Namjoon asks desperately, looking around for anything he could do to stop this strange madness.

‘I HAVE SEEN IT,’ Jimin sings out, voice unnaturally sonorous before he falls, plummeting straight into the shallow dark liquid.

*

Author’s Notes

Does anyone else feel like when they’re from a mixed race family, that they neither belong here or there. Like you’re not “this” enough, or not “that” enough to be included in somethings. And as a result you’re somewhat ostracized from both your races in a weird way and have no actual grasp of how things work in that way because you’re just not welcome in that community and sometimes you come across a social media account of a person who is the same race(s) as you and you enjoy their content but then they inadvertently make you feel like you’re not “that” enough because you just were never welcome to understand/participate in the things they’re talking about and you feel fake for it? And its like you feel like an imposter in your own culture/race

Yeah

Ofc this is hypothetical

Moving on

Is it just me or is Yoongi just really giving us so much this year, like I feel like us Yoongi biased people are just really living our best lives again when I say ILY it means I love Yoongi

Also the Smeraldo flower shop posts truly give me anxiety what does any of it mean I thought I was somewhat caught up in the BU but I am NOT OMG I SO AM NOT AND AT THIS POINT I DON’T THINK I COULD SIT AND GO THROUGH IT ANYMORE

Updates on My ing notes

DIGITAL SINGLE ON 21^ST AUGUST YOU SAY????????????

SO ING CASUALLY ON A VLIVE THAT GAVE ME SO MUCH SEROTONIN?????????

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH CAN I HOPE FOR SOME CITY-POP 80’S SYNTH SLIGHT FUNK CHILL-URBAN-HOP STYLE SONG PLEASE I BEG

Also next update might be creepy I am already sorry in advance

[ADDED AUTHOR’S NOTE]

Can we all just agree that while we appreciate and celebrate international recognition (by international I do not mean only America) and love to see success at a global scale, it’s so cringey and disgusting seeing all these corporations and companies pandering so blatantly and tastelessly towards fandoms for the sake of clout

I think the reason why it’s upsetting to many of us, including myself as a poc, is the idea that BTS and other groups that do these interviews/promos in especially the US is that they’re seen as nothing more either eye-candy, internet/tv ratings, a fad, something to be added into their “normal” set-up for the sake of “diversity”. Honestly it’s exhausting to see, that these successful, talented, hardworking individuals who have pushed through so hard are reduced to a narrative of “pretty boys and their raving 13 year old fans” because the success and hardwork of poc in a field predominantly seen as “white” can’t be legit and is too strange a concept to grasp

Honestly, we are just asking for the bare minimum at this point. I can’t watch any interview/promo of any group in the US, genuinely i can’t watch it, it’s been like 2 years now, everything about it just makes me want to punch a wall