Apocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection
DescriptionApocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection tells the tale of humanity's collapse as they wage war and reach for the stars, finding parallels in an alien society not too different from their own.
MessageApocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection contains content some may find triggering. Reader discretion is advised.
ImageWRTN/The Asteroid Saga
Original Collection - Before The Bombs, The End, The Asteroid Parts, The Asteroid War, & The Asteroid Home • 65,000 Words
Table of ContentsPrologueChapter 1 - March 13, 2020Chapter 2 - May 17, 2020Chapter 3 - December 15, 2020Chapter 4 - March 13, 2021Chapter 5 - August 8, 2021Chapter 6 - September 7, 2021Chapter 7 - January 1, 2022Chapter 8 - June 28, 2022Chapter 9 - June 23, 2025Chapter 10 - April 17, 2028Chapter 11 - November 8, 2030Chapter 12 - August 9, 2031Chapter 13 - February 28, 2033Chapter 14 - May 22, 2038Chapter 15 - September 12, 2042Chapter 16 - July 4, 2045Chapter 17 - January 6, 2047Chapter 18 - August 12, 2048Chapter 19 - December 24, 2049Chapter 20 - March 1, 2050InterludeChapter 21 - SurvivalChapter 22 - PanicChapter 23 - IdeasChapter 24 - FailureChapter 25 - SaviorChapter 26 - PlanChapter 27 - PossibilitiesChapter 28 - EdenInterludeChapter 29 - StrandedChapter 30 - AwakenChapter 31 - TrimdinChapter 32 - Dangers Of ExplorationChapter 33 - Falling OutChapter 34 - The QueenChapter 35 - Battle Of RevelationsChapter 36 - Battle Of RedemptionChapter 37 - A New KingChapter 38 - The PartsInterludeChapter 39 - The Dawn Of WarChapter 40 - Before We GoChapter 41 - First AttackChapter 42 - QuintenChapter 43 - Bad BloodChapter 44 - Regroup & RefocusChapter 45 - Hardships Of RulingChapter 46 - Rising TensionChapter 47 - The Final StandChapter 48 - A Victor Has Been ChosenInterludeChapter 49 - HomecomingChapter 50 - Catch UpChapter 51 - KiranChapter 52 - DiscoveryChapter 53 - RestorationChapter 54 - HistoryChapter 55 - Pains & PlansChapter 56 - The King Of GodsChapter 57 - HumanityChapter 58 - A New HomeEpilogue
Far too often, the end is shown as if nothing can ever follow it. Even more rarely, is it seen to be a force of good.Yet it is in the most dire moments, in those times when everything is lost, that are we finally aware of what we truly have.Only then do we understand that nothing is truly gone. The cycle continues, the universe remains, life persists.No matter what is found, no matter what happens, no matter what seems real or true, one fact remains: there is no end to your story. There is no end to our story.There is power in loss. Each generation grows from the last: from their triumphs and pitfalls. From their failures.The "end" can be a curse. It can be a blessing.Let it be a lesson.That is the good.
It’s happening. I’m pretty sure it’s happening, and I’m not sure what to do. I just dug this thing out of my backpack, cause I guess I won’t be needing it for the next week or so. The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, or whatever its called. Who cares? Something’s happening in the world, and I need to write about it. No better time to start a journal than a Goddamn global crisis.Literally today, in school, they were telling us about how the school “wasn’t going to shut down;” how we’re “safe” from it. Such BS. I thought about wearing a mask for the past month, and stopped giving people high-fives or handshakes weeks ago. Bunch of liars. We just got an email telling us we won’t have school as they “figure out the next steps.” They say it’s only for a little while, to think of it as a little vacation. I sure hope so. I really do. But it just feels like the end of the world.
It’s my birthday. And we’re even more doomed. How fun! Can I see my friends? Nope. My family? Nope. My father? Kind of, if we want to skirt a few rules. Divorced parents, so fun!Things are definitely… interesting. Why else would I be writing in this stupid thing? From now on this will be where I can talk about things in a pissy manner and no one can complain about it.I turned fourteen today. “Yay. Great,” he says in a sarcastic tone. Getting a cake was a bit hard. Let’s just say it’s not an essential food. I’m surprised there aren’t ration stamps at this point. Toilet paper is hard to get. The stores are a mess of guidelines with greedy bastards taking everything they can, everyone else be damned.
It’s almost Christmas, and I just can’t take it anymore. I thought things were already bad, but the longer the world around me goes on, the worse it gets. Like WTF?School is a pile of nothing right now. I’m actually writing this in class while watching a movie. That’s how bad things are. And the Goddamn teachers can’t even tell. Here’s a good tip for online learning: keep your camera off but do the work. As long as you are turning things in, they don’t care. Plus, it’s not like they can do anything about it.Politics are dumb, too. Everything's divided. No one can agree on what's fact or fiction, right or wrong. And I don't think it's helping the pandemic that's happening. That's for sure.
It’s been one year. ONE YEAR. Some restrictions have risen, and they said they will start this “hybrid” learning thing in school, but it’s all bullshit. The death tolls are in the hundreds of thousands already worldwide, and there seems to be no end.How the hell is a kid supposed to live in all of this? I cut all my friends off at this point, though it’s not like I had many to begin with. All this damn pandemic thing has done is make an already antisocial kid even more antisocial. Quite a bad deal, if you ask me.Nothing is getting better. Mom’s working her ass off to support us. But the prices down here on the Cape aren’t lowering, that’s for sure. But we’ve just got to stick together.
What the hell! What the actual hell? I’m being forced back to school now. What the hell! For a year and a half, I have been stuck at home, initially by force and eventually by choice, and NOW you are making me go back in! I don’t even know what going to school is like anymore. How do you socialize? What will going on the bus be like? How has everything changed? How have I changed? I doubt it will all be the same as it was in middle school. And, yeah, that’s how long it’s been. I started this journey in seventh grade, and am now going into ninth. NINTH! Too much, so much, has happened. The virus is still going around. Everyone is angry at each other. There was a Goddamn insurrection (or "peaceful protest," depending on who you ask) at the Capitol Building earlier this year.I don’t know what is going on anymore. I just hope I can keep it together. No longer can I stay protected from the world behind a computer screen. And no one else can, either.
Just got home. It was the first day. My first day of school, practically ever. I felt like I was in sixth grade again, or, for anyone who has never switched schools, kindergarten. And that’s a rather terrible feeling. The two biggest things I have learned are to have a version of your schedule at all times and to know room numbers by heart. That’s the only way I got around then, and the only way I got around today.No one remembered me. No one, not even my old friends, noticed my re-existence. I mean, to them, I disappeared for almost two years, and I feel the same way. I don’t know who they are anymore, and they don’t know me. It's like the world stopped, and is only getting going yet again now. The best plan of action is to stay away from everyone and isolate. Even with a mask, I can still catch that damn disease or whatever the hell it is. I’ve avoided it this long, and it WON’T get me anytime soon.
I’ve warmed up a bit. School’s been going for a few months now, and it’s gotten better. The world's still shit, but I’m doing better. I feel better. We’re just about to come out of Winter Break, the New Year rolling in. I’m writing this at midnight, funnily enough.I’ve got some friends now, kind of. Two of them are from middle school. Yeah, I was finally able to reconnect with some of them, which is pretty cool. But I’ve also gained another one this year, in an unexpected turn of events. Socially speaking, these are some giant leaps.But that's not too important. I mean, it is, but writing about that is cringy. Though, writing about writing about it is not much better. Nor is writing about writing about writing about it. I think my point is made.I’ve been doing good in English and taking a journalism class as well. This writing thing has really begun to rub off on me. An article here, a poem there, and boom, you're a full-blown author!Also, who the hell is the audience for this journal? Me in the future? Probably. My kids? Ha, I doubt it. Some alien society examining Earth and realizing there was once life on it? Definitely. Things are becoming increasingly like a South Park or Family Guy episode every day, the comicality of life coming right through. I wouldn't be surprised if this was all one big story, one being's hand guiding the very fabric of the freaking universe. Or I could still be recovering from quarantine. Isolation made everyone go a bit crazy.
It’s the last day of school. I’m not even joking. Like, somehow, I have survived most of a pandemic AND an entire school year. That’s impressive. Things seem to be fairly consistent now. I’ve got a good group I hang out with, my grades are on the up and up, and things are generally good, even in the world. There’s been some tension between NATO and Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, but I doubt that thing will last much longer. I mean, it can’t, right? Aren't we a bit beyond that as a species, especially after a pandemic? I think we are. And, I mean, The President is signing so many damn bills to send money over there. If only he could do that to lower the price of gas.
Uh, how do I put this? I forgot about this old thing. Note to self: don’t put things in drawers you never open. But, yeah, I’ve graduated now. I’m going to college.There are so many strange things in this book. Little details, dramatic descriptions, exaggerated feelings. I really thought it was going to be the end of the world! Was it really that abysmal? And South Park, really? I’m not that much older, but man, I was weird.This is definitely an interesting world to be going to adulthood with. I mentioned Ukraine in the last entry, and let me say, it’s gotten worse. Russia won. I’m not even sure how. And now they’ve banded together with China, Belarus, and North Korea to create a new organization. It’s called OCEA, meaning Organization of Central and Eastern Asia. A bit strange, but whatever. Let’s just say things are heating up, and I’m not excited to hear the conversations about it when Thanksgiving comes around.
Things are not good right now. Still in college. But, uh, I’m regretting turning twenty-one. I think war is starting. Scratch that; I know war is starting. OCEA invaded Japan and South Korea earlier this week, and it looks like their next target is India. Shit’s not looking good. NATO leaders are in talks to put a protective border around Eastern Europe. I normally don’t pay attention to politics, but I’m worried.Right now, the temperature is hotter than ever for the middle of April. Some blame global warming, and I’m beginning to see why. It should not be 120° Fahrenheit in Massachusetts for 8 days straight. That’s freaking hot. And funnily enough, Arizona is being blanketed in snow right now! How? I don’t know. Not even my weatherman seems to understand it, and I’ve been watching that dude since I was five.
Prices are through the roof. It reminds me of 2020. People are raiding shelves again. I moved in with my dad just to avoid paying the rent right now. Things are falling and falling really hard.OCEA’s Kremlin has announced that they’ve successfully taken over Australia. My brother was drafted to fight there. He’s gone. But we don't even have his body. They take all the dead from the battlefield and use them for... something. No one knows what, exactly, but it makes it hard to have closure.The world is pretty much going to be split in two. NATO is changing its name to ARCADIA and taking over power from each individual nation. I don’t even know what half of these shitty acronyms mean anymore; all I understand is that the US is now a state of some massive multinational organization. But in reality, this is all just fun names for killers and warmongers.Graduated college. Met a girl there. She’s nice, really nice. Her name’s Autumn. I think I’m finally in love (I’ve never loved before). I don’t know what to do. What should I do? I’m scared, poor, and in love. The American Dream, am I right? Or, I guess, the ARCADIAN Dream?
Put the ring on her finger. I did it last night. On her birthday, too. We’re just too happy together. Her ring was not diamond, as there are no more available to the public. They’re being used by the military for a superweapon or something. The damn thing was just a plain gold ring.Talking about the world, things are VERY apocalyptic. I don’t know if I, in good conscience, can bring kids into this world. Twenty-five years old and I already have to think about that. It’s a bit scary. I just have this feeling that the world will not get better. I’m actually still rooming with my dad (Autumn hates me for that).OCEA is now OCEANIA. They’ve practically colonized the entirety of Asia and Australia. Europe and North America have strengthened their alliance. South America is trying to join ARCADIA. Africa seems to be the only continent left that hasn’t taken sides or been taken. But I’m not sure how long that is going to last.
Goddamn it. I won’t go into too much detail, but I’m having a kid. Oh, for the love of God, I’m having a kid. I probably should have paid a bit more attention in health class.I’m not ready for fatherhood. I’m still barely ready for adulthood. It was only a few years ago when I thought the end of the world was near. Maybe I was right. For all the good that has come, there has been so much bad. Almost too much bad.There has been talk of peace treaties between ARCADIA and OCEANIA. Both sides are hurting more than they'll admit. We’re practically in a war of attrition right now. It’s like WWII mixed with the Cold War mixed with the fact that both sides have more nuclear weapons than they know what to do with. And now I’m meant to bring a child into this world!I love Autumn, I love the idea of having a son or daughter, but I hate the world right now. She’s actually out right now with a bunch of her other barely pregnant friends. The government really doesn’t want us to have kids, but they can’t force us not to (for now). I just hope our rations can stretch for a third mouth to feed.
Left it in a drawer again. I’ve got a wife, kid, and house… well, apartment… well, a place to live. Everything is hard to come by. Poor Noah. Oh, yeah, my son's name is Noah. It’s a bit Biblical, I know, and I'm not particularly into Eden and all of that, but it was Autumn's father’s, and he died from COVID back in 2021.I’m not sure where life is going right now. I’ve got this quote stuck in my head. It’s from Einstein, I think. “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Shit, if that does not strike fear into you, I don’t know what would. I feel like that is exactly where we are going right now. The Earth is literally in half, and the sticks and stones are becoming ever closer.
Is the world stable? No. Is my family stable? No. Am I stable? God no. I won’t lie, I haven’t eaten in 3 days. Been giving it to Noah and Autumn.In a speech mirroring President Kennedy’s back in the ’60s, the ARCADIAN "president" John Oswald announced something insane: we are going to race OCEANIA to Pluto. We are sending two of our own out there to beat their ass. And they are doing the same, drafting anyone with the slightest semblance of qualification. Though I doubt those astronauts will come back. Thank God I miss that mark, my medical history not meeting their strict quota, but for the ones who don’t, my condolences. It seems that the world is actively shitting itself.I’d say money is tight, but there is no money. Everything, and I mean everything, is going to or will go toward the war effort. Food, water, wood, plastic, metal; you name it, and it's out there on the frontline, probably lodging itself into someone as I write. Right now the fight is concentrated around The Congo. The Americas and Europe against Russia, the entire continent of Asia, and colonized Australia, fighting in the middle of Africa. History's gone almost full circle, beautiful lives ending in the birthplace of humanity. It's all for land, for resources, for exploitation, for ego, and the common man is suffering at the center of it.
I’m just sitting on the couch crying, just as I did in the pandemic, missing something. I don’t know what. I have love, I have education, but outside of that, I have nothing. No one has anything. Curfews are in place now. Noah can’t go to school anymore. I live in the Goddamn United States of America, and my child can not go to school! You see how it failed us all the way back in 2020? Are you that idiotic enough to do it again? Oh, the all-encompassing ARCADIA is here to save my day? Stop the shit. There is no news, just lies. There is no food, just hunger. Each year they grow more and more crops to feed hungry soldiers, sucking nutrients out of every square inch of soil they plow, yet "We The People" live either in a fiery hell or a cold one, covered either in soot or rain, starvation and malnutrition taking over. You can't even let your kids play in the snow anymore, because it's impossible to tell if it's that or your neighbor's ashes.Mom’s house got washed away. The Cape is finally beginning to flood. They say that what was supposed to happen in two hundred years is happening in the span of twenty. It’s all gone.Noah’s now what, like nine? Damn. NINE! I mean, I’m only getting older as well. Though this is not the world I want to get old in. It’s barely one I want to die in. I would never go happy if I knew this was what was being left behind. That is, if there’s any world left.
“ARCADIAN Space Agency Director Geo Oswald announces today that lead engineer of The Crunch Initiative Claren Smith will be teamed with botanist and pilot Tim Buchanan as Arcadia’s brave astronauts going to the outer Solar System.”That was what I was greeted with this morning. We all were, actually. It was put on every channel in the known universe. OCEANIA has yet to say anything, though it is suspected their selections have been made and are in active training.I’m sure those two men are shills, scared shitless, or both. Not sure. Even though they were drafted, I think their families are getting “compensation;" an eye for an eye, you know. It's probably like one extra ration a week or something. I know I would do anything to let my family live a slightly better life. Luckily, when your job is a journalist, you don’t run the risk of being forced into space. That is, not yet. But you are tasked to tell some of the most heinous lies I’ve ever seen. Maybe I’m the shill?
I don’t even know who I am, where I live, what my purpose is. I work my ass off in a factory every day making shells for the military. I wasn’t even fired as a journalist. I literally got escorted out along with a dozen others at my office and told to never show our faces again. The top 1% sit high on their pedestals, not having to endure a second of the pain we do, demanding what we do and where we work. Bastards.Autumn is trying to homeschool Noah, but it’s not going well. As he’s gotten older, I've noticed something off about how he learns. We can’t afford to bring him to a doctor or get him analyzed, so who knows? Maybe I’m reading into things a bit too hard. If I were a kid right now, I would just want to cause trouble and be with friends. Who the hell wants to sit down and learn when you know that the end could be around the corner? I was right all those years ago about not wanting to bring a child into this world. It just hurts that it’s worse now.
Apparently, it’s Christmas. There’s no snow. Not sure how, but it’s almost 130 degrees out. I’m not kidding. Everything’s burning. People are hungry. Soldiers line every street in every town in every state and nation across ARCADIA. Walk outside and you're dead, from either heat or bullets. For all the wishes I have made on Christmas, this is the one time I need them to come true. For Autumn, for Noah, and, for the love of God, myself.
I don’t think we have long. Those Tim and Claren bastards stopped communicating with ARCADIAN control; something knocked their ship out. They are not on any sensors anymore, only the OCEANIC craft. Our government is screaming at theirs, and thanks to the terms of the deal, if they make it first to Pluto, we’re gone. But if there was foul play, they're gone. I suspect we're all going. Hands are poised over big red buttons, and who’s going to punch it first, no one knows. But I know something’s wrong; we all do. And all we have left is fear.I’m not going to work anymore. If these are our last days, we need to be together. I can’t let my kid know this is it, but I want to be with him if it is. This is just so effed up, man. In two weeks, no, two days, our world could be a fireball. And no one would know until those sirens sound. But by then, it’s too late.I don’t give two shits about anything else right now: not this journal, not politics, not those astronauts. I’m going to shut the hell up and hug my family. This is the end. I’m pretty sure it’s happening. It’s happening.
March 13, 2050, 7:38 a.m..."Sir, it's time. The bombs have been sent. We expect impact within minutes.""Status on the bunkers?""Almost full.""Do the civilians know?""The ARCADIAN Alert System has been turned on. They know what is coming.""I can't believe this is it. I can't believe we're the ones ending the Goddamn world.""Well, if those OCEANIC bastards never shot down the Discovery!""Kid, you know that's just hearsay, right? We have no idea if they did. But it did spin one hell of a story!""What are you talking about, Mr. President?""The ASA has intel that Buchanan and Smith were likely hit by rocks in The Belt. They're dead either way, but so is the OCEANIC team. It was all a decoy; no one was ever making it to Pluto. I just didn't expect the propaganda to actually lead to all of this!""Why are you telling me this?""It's the fucking end of the world! WE all knew it was coming. You may be the last to learn.""So it was all a lie?""The entire war was a lie! What were we even fighting over?""Democracy! Safety from the barbaric OCEANIA! Freedom!""Open your eyes, my boy. Did the people ever live such a life? Your parents, your friends? No!""This is a lot to take in.""You're not on Air Force One for nothing. Hey, can you get the little one here a drink. Something strong.""Right away," she responded."Anyway, when are these bombs dropping?"The assistant lightly gulped. "7:45.""Well, look at the time." He peered down at his diamond-encrusted watch. "In five, four, three, two, and..."The first bomb dropped. An OCEANIC city was obliterated in seconds.Three more nukes followed. Then ten. Then one hundred.Retaliation ensued.Every major center around the globe was destroyed in an hour. One. Single. Hour.Billions died in a fiery hell. Thousands of years of human history—gone.Once bustling cities were flattened; a once green Earth was now a wasteland.Life ceased to exist.The calm before the storm was a warning; everyone saw it, yet no one acted.But the human story will continue to live, its heart still beating out there. And perhaps, The End had not come. Maybe it was just a gateway to a new beginning….
A mountain of rubble, a sea of radiation. Skyscrapers now bare their steel skeletons.Singed shadows covered whatever stood; blackened human remains displayed, scattered on the barren walls.The few structures that lasted the blast stood still, awaiting imminent destruction. Those who survived had little time to find safety, that is if there was any.Skepticism of war raged on before the first blow, but no one was ready for it to come. Whoever was alive only had mere days to find salvation.In the rubble, in the piles of ash, laid a man; scarred and bruised, burned and charred, but alive, which was the most important part.There he was, the last human on the surface of the Earth: groaning in pain, rolling in agony. No hospitals existed, no medical personnel could help; he was stranded.The dusky days became inky nights, the stars covered by acid clouds and the moon offering little light.All he could focus on was survival, though that was far-fetched. Nothing was left for him, no one to help soothe the pain.Eventually, his mind got the better of him, slowly passing out and waiting for the morning sun, or at least whatever was left of it. Day 2 was on the horizon.
“Why must I be in such pain!” The muddled voice of the man surrounded the desolate area. “Please, just let me die! Please!” He had healed a bit over the night, some of the wounds scabbing over, but his body was still heavily damaged.The once blue sphere of yesteryear was now replaced with a reddish haze and darkened shadows. Solely three cycles of the weather lasted: semi-clear skies, ash flurries, and acid showers.The man continued to lay still, in pure, unbridled pain, and panic soon set in.“My mom, my dad, my wife, are all gone,” he cried. “My sweet, sweet children; my existence, it’s all gone.”Small puddles of tears balled up near his eye, them drooping down the side of his seared face and into the blistering ground below him.He was alone, the boiling day slowly simmering him further and closer to his demise.Sirens still sounded, but began to wane as time continued. They stayed as a constant reminder of what had happened, their blaring screech ringing in the ears of the man, adding to his terror.But as the evening turned to darkness, life only got worse.
The man's body had healed even better; the excruciating pain gradually stopping, gradually ceasing. Though radioactive winds from larger population centers began to seep into the area.By that point, he had gotten over the cries. He was ready for the end. Unfortunately, though, that was not the idea the universe had for him.The agony continued to spread across his body. “I need to get up, I need to move around. I need to find safety from the winds.”Steadily, he began to lift his limp limbs from the soil.“Come. On. Grrrr. Come on…” he loosened the Earth’s grip on his forearms.“Ahhh, shit that hurts. That really hurts. Damn.”The man continued to struggle in pain, the movement discouraging a quick recovery.Time persisted, just as it always has, and soon, it became dusk. Yet again, sleep overcame his struggles, and a brief slumber was on its way.
“Food… food. Water. I need water.”Starvation was starting to take hold, the urge and need for substance, his stomach churning; survival was becoming harder and harder.He failed multiple times to lift himself. No matter what he did, his weak body couldn’t support itself. Muscle was already starting to deteriorate; his skin healing, but getting increasingly pale, comparable to tissue paper.Nothing worked; he was stuck in a spiral. Large amounts of feces and urine surrounded him, permeating every aspect of what was left of his body.Everything he tried, failed. Everything he had dreamed of, halted. The doors of opportunity were slowly closing. Death was near; the end was inevitable.
Dawn struck, the sun rose promptly, and a mysterious figure stood over the man. It was tall, translucent, and shimmering in the morning’s musky mood.“Hello, my dear friend. How are you?” it inquired.The man slowly woke up. “What? Huh? Who are you?”“Ah, friend, why it looks like you need some help? Is that correct?”“Why yes! Yes, I do! I have nothing, no one. I need a savior.”“A savior, you say?” the individual questioned. “I can help you with that… for a price.”“What price?” the man demanded.“What do you desire the most?”“My life back; my family, my home, my everything.”“That’s the want of every human,” it stated. “If you begin to believe in me, in what I say, I can help you. But you have to do as I say. That's the price.”“Yes, yes! I’ll do anything.”“So do you agree, do you consent?”“What do I have to do?” he probed.The figure smiled. “You shall see….”Suddenly, the eerie silhouette's soft, clear hands began to glow a purple shade. It began to rotate its wrists, hovering its palms over the broken man. Slowly, information started to seep into the man's head: a garden, a family, a life.“Oh my,” the man exclaimed. “What… what is all of this?”“I’m giving you a chance at safety, a chance to see the life you could have,” it replied.“What? How?”“Go to Eden, and there, you will receive salvation. Believe in Eden, and you will see what you want.”“Eden?” the man asked. “Eden?”“Find Eden and all will make sense; it’s only a small distance away, a quick journey indeed. You need to believe in something; faith is the only thing that will save you. And there you will get what you want, my child; then you can collect your prize.”The mystic illusion whisked itself away, escaping the presence of the man. He fell unconscious, going into a deep daze.
The man woke up again, staring into the misery above.Hunger ravaged his stomach still, feeling like an infinite pit of emptiness.Now only one question remained in the man's head: Eden.“Eden, Eden. What is Eden? Where is Eden? And who in the hell was that guy?”The man contemplated everything he was told, every detail he was given. But the sparse segments he obtained led to no satisfactory conclusion.He only had one plan: to stay alive, to think of Eden.“The only thing it told me to do was wait, that it was only a short visit away. But I can’t get up, my body is simply too weak.”That was it, that was the plan, that was his goal. Only so much could be done, and all he could do was begin to hope; to begin to believe in what he was told.
After a night of questions, the man only managed to further irritate himself. The deserted lands around him were worsening and increasing in severity.Waves of extreme heat and dust covered the landscape. High levels of radiation pierced through the man, slowly killing him.Different possibilities of what Eden was like ran through his brain. He couldn’t focus on anything else, those thoughts overwhelming his clouded mind.“Is Eden a paradise? Is it hell? Did I make a deal with God, or a deal with the Devil? What if they lied, what if they have nothing for me?”There were too many variations flowing through his head. “Every single one could be true, or none. I’m playing a game of chance. But what do I have to lose? Nothing.”Nothing else flooded his head. Nothing else was available. The only thing left was the hope that it was real.And for the last time, the dark days turned into empty nights. The man posed motionless on the ground. Eden was near.
“Hello, my son,” a booming voice uttered. “Welcome to the place of your dreams!”The man continued to be on the ground, but this time was not surrounded by the rubble of a once prosperous city. Instead, he sat on a glistening white floor, illuminated with a minuscule amount of ambient light.“We greet you with open arms, my child. Now awaken.” The mysterious figure was back, and this time, it was larger than ever. At its command, the man rose from his rest.First, he lifted his head, slowly uncurling himself from the fetal position. The man cautiously opened his eyes, blinded by the vivid colors of the chamber he was now in.“W-W-Where am I? Where did you take me?”“Why, can you not tell? You have made it, you have made it to Eden.”“I have? This is where you wanted me to be?”“Yes, now I have completed my job, my task. My lord, wherever you are, I have done what you required of me, I have saved humanity.”“Lord? Job? Saved humanity?” The man looked up toward the spiritual being. “Who exactly are you?”“As I said before, in Eden, all things will make sense. Eden is the next stage of human evolution; it’s an eternal fortress of prosperity, where life can continue for you and everyone who has believed in Eden. I am merely a pawn in a much greater game, sent to ensure your transcendence at all costs. Death is just a bridge to another world.”“Does that mean… I’m dead?”“Yes, that was the price for salvation: your life.”“And your job was to bring me here? Why not just kill me, or tell me to kill myself?”“I can’t interfere; all I can do is watch it happen, and help you reach it safely.”“Then what is the purpose; why even tell me to come here, why did you see me?”“To give you a chance to trust something. You were nearly dead, but chose to believe. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have made it here. Belief is the most important aspect of life, but you lacked that in the condition you were in before. You gave up. Though, when I told you sanctuary was possible, you began to have a sense of faith."“I didn’t want to lose hope, but I thought all was lost. Everything I ever loved was gone; my home was destroyed. You saved me from that.”“You're welcome,” the being stated, “you were my last priority. My last mission has now been fulfilled; you live forever here in Eden.”“So I can do whatever I please? I can be who I want, be with those who have gone? I no longer suffer?”“Isn’t that the ultimate prize?”“That’s a lot to uncover.”“Well, you have the time, that’s for sure my youngling. Now go off, find those who also believed; enjoy the bliss as it lasts, before it becomes a burden.”“Will do so!”“And remember, this may seem to be The End, but it's really just the beginning; the beginning of something truly special. The start of the real human story….”
Before The Departure....Throughout the annals of human history, one question has remained at the forefront of our minds: Are we alone? For millennia, that question remained unanswered, it being the ultimate inquiry of our existence. That is, until now.In the year 2050, two brave souls traveled among the stars, heading toward the outer reaches of our solar system. Earth was in peril, rising tension and massive egos rushing the mission before the planet itself would be destroyed by war.Tim Buchanan, an experienced astronaut and determined pilot, led Claren Smith, a young engineer, to Pluto, where they were assigned to study and research where no human had gone before, racing an enemy nation to the leftovers of the solar system near the celestial body.Initially, the mission was smooth sailing, as they blasted past Mars and flew through The Asteroid Belt, a ring of rocky material separating the inner planets from the outer gas giants. This treacherous collection of minerals and ice seemed to be no issue for the astronauts, expecting them to be an obstacle along the way. But little did they know, The Belt held more secrets than once thought, as the two men make the discovery of a lifetime. And what they found will change their lives—and their world—forever.
Tim sat in his seat, Claren next to him. Out the window were clumps of debris, shooting past their capsule faster than a bullet. At every moment they were at risk, at every moment they were sacrificing their lives, because if one of those pieces hit their ship, both would be dead in minutes.This thought coursed through Claren’s brain as he sat idly while Tim skillfully brought them through the mess.“Safety was never a guarantee with this career, was it?” Claren sarcastically stated.“No, that’s unfortunately what we get paid for, but at least it’s fun.”“Ha, fun isn’t what I’d call this, but you are doing a fine job trying to make that so.” Tim reapplied his attention to piloting, as the shower of rocks got thicker and thicker. “Never in a million years did I think that we would be the first humans to ever travel to the outer solar system,” Tim added as he looked at his screen.They continued steadily through the belt, their hull pelted with stones minuscule in size. And though they themselves were safe for now, their equipment on the outside was being damaged, unbeknownst to them.Suddenly red lights were flashing, and Tim’s computer showed the last words you would want to see on a mission: ERROR.Claren got up and looked at the monitor near the hatch. It had a view to the outside, where he saw mysterious shards seeping from the side of their capsule. It was their engine.There was no way for them to control their ship, and Claren realized that quickly.“Uhhh, Tim, we have a problem… I think the engine is down.”“That would certainly explain the warning on my screen.”“So what should we do?” Claren asked.Tim gave him a blank stare for a moment.A second later, Mission Control back on Earth radioed in. “There appears to be an issue being reported on our scanners here, what’s the situation, do you copy?”Tim was quick to respond. “Roger, it seems to be that our engines have been knocked out."“Well, that’s quite a problem, we’ll get our teams on a….” BANG, the mics cut out. All communication was lost.“Can you repeat that again?” Tim asked.Claren looked nervously at Tim, and Tim looked back the same way. There was no response back; their antenna was destroyed."Ah, great," Claren joked, "OCEANIA's got a good chance of winning now.""Damn it. We are in the worse place possible for this type of failure.""You can say that again," he responded, this time looking out the window."What do you mean?" Tim asked, moving towards his partner and glancing outside."That." Near them, a massive asteroid orbited, one hundred times larger than their vessel. It zoomed past Tim and Claren, quickly coming close to the ship and sweeping it into its grasp.Even with all of their experience, all of their training, Tim and Claren couldn’t do anything. The remaining sensors on their vehicle started beeping, alarming the men of its danger. They turned them off as swiftly as possible, realizing their fate was now sealed.“What should we do now, Tim?” Claren asked depressingly.“There is nothing we can do, we don’t have the parts to repair anything, and even if we did, it’s unlikely that we would survive in this storm. Let’s just hope we don’t go out in a fiery death, or suffocate, or both, and that we just stay in orbit around this rock until we crash.”A morbid truth for sure, but an accurate one. They had no choice, there were no feasible options, and it would take some creativity to find one. They slowly drifted round and round, getting ever closer to the asteroid, to Tim and Claren’s impending doom.
Tim opened his eyes. He got up, feeling dizzy. Both he and Claren fell asleep as they slipped towards their deaths. Out the windows, there were mountains of rocks and ruins surrounding them.“We managed to live? How?”The events came back to his head; their mission, losing control, contact. He and Claren were stranded, with nowhere to go.While Claren slept, Tim put on his EVA suit, entered the airlock, and exited the craft, in need of assessing the damage.He turned around, starting to examine their vehicle, seeing its metallic exterior scratched by the debris. Tim glanced over to the broken engine, and to his surprise, the damage appeared to be minimal, but they were in total disrepair.So he continued, checking out the busted antenna along with other instruments. They were obliterated, shattered and disintegrated. “Dang, we really abused this poor ship. But if we had the right parts, we could fix it….”Out of the corner of Tim’s eye, he suddenly noticed something on the hull: a small drop of red liquid.“What the heck?” Tim whispered to himself. “Where did that come from?”Tim continued to investigate, and as he went around the broken vessel, he noticed the marks getting substantially larger. They kept going and going, getting bigger and bigger, until the trail ended, leading down.He then looked to his side. Something stood next to him, bleeding.“Holy—what in the world, who are you?” Tim was astonished. “Where did you come from?” The being was unknown to him, mysterious and uncanny.Tim quickly rushed back into the vehicle, the creature following him into the capsule.Claren woke up, opening his eyes cautiously. A light blindingly shined on his face, as he took a breath expecting fresh air, but instead inhaled dust, smelling a strange, unsettling scent. He was cold, feeling the slick metal beneath, and slowly he began to have a sense of consciousness again.When Claren fully arose, Tim was in front of him, and beside him, the unknown figure stood. It was small, green in hue, with a foreign face. The physique of this creature was not human, not Earthly. He knew it wasn’t anything known to him. He knew it was an alien.
Claren got up, scared for his life.“What is that thing, Tim! What is it, why is it bleeding?”“I don’t know what it is, or who it is, but it’s hurt, and we need to help it.” Tim was frantic. “Claren, you stay here with this little guy, I’ll go grab the first aid kit, okay.”“Um, sure,” Claren said with a wobble in his voice.Tim ran over to the other side of the capsule, where the kit was in his bag. He took it out, hurried back, opened it, and took out a bandage, wrapping it around the alien’s arm.The being was content while Tim hastily dressed the wound, accepting the help from the humans without any struggle.~~The initial scare passed, Tim and Claren standing on one side of the interior while the foreigner sat on the other.“What should we do, Tim? First the damage, now this. Our mission has been disastrous so far. We’re stuck on some random rock in the middle of nowhere, and without the right parts to fix our ship, we can’t do anything.”“I know, I know, but maybe this guy can help. Whatever it is, they were doing something to our ship before I found it. They left blood all over the broken exterior, and may be able to get us some help.”“Does that ‘thing’ even know how to talk?” Claren said angrily.“I’m not sure, but we can definitely try. We need to at the very least find a suitable place to survive, and maybe they can help us. It seems to be unaffected by the atmosphere here, so maybe their civilization has similar biological necessities. And if that’s true, then maybe we can live.” Tim was getting impatient with Claren.“Okay, Tim, how about we start off easy with the thing. Get its name, maybe a location.”“That’s good,” Tim replied.Both men walked to the other side of the capsule, over to the alien. They knelt down, getting on the same level with the creature. It looked at them, turning its head and frowning.“Mnm trim-i fics shp,” it said, stunning Tim and Claren.“Well, it can talk, that’s for sure,” Tim uttered.“Yep, but what the heck did it say?”“I’m not sure, but it gives me hope that we can decipher it. Let's see if it can write.” Tim got up and went to grab a whiteboard with a marker.The being was handed the board, and within seconds it began writing.“They seem to be a master writer, I guess,” Claren remarked.“Yeah, maybe their species communicates through text.”The creature turned the board around unexpectedly, its skeleton fingers wrapping around the white, glossy surface.It wrote: “My name is Trimdin, I can fix your ship….”Tim and Claren looked blankly at the board, then at each other.“It can write… in English?” Claren confusingly stated.“It appears so, how strange.”“Does it understand us?”Both men brought their attention back to Trimdin. He looked back at them, smiling, and yet again began writing on the board, his round head bobbing vigorously.“Uh, Trimdin, is it? Do you understand us?” Tim demanded.Trimdin kept writing.“Do you understand us?”The silence continued, tension building while the alien continued to compose.“Do you understand or not? Can you even help us?” Tim snapped.Claren remained still, worried. If Tim can’t handle it, can I? What if we’re not only stranded, but trapped on an unknown asteroid with one of the greatest discoveries in human history.But his worries were soon interrupted by Trimdin, as he turned the board over for the second time.The being wrote: “I know where there are parts to fix your ship. Though your ship is heavily damaged, most of it is focused towards the engine, and I know where a spare one is.”Tim calmed down.; Claren, relieved.“Really! This is great news,” Tim exclaimed, mollifying his anger.“So, uh, where are they? In your garage or something?” Claren joked.Trimdin didn’t laugh though, quickly scribbling another response and turning the board around again. It said two words: “The Queen.”“The QUEEN?” both men muttered.“Yes, The Queen. She and her guards are protecting the parts you need, and without them, you won’t be able to survive.”“Well, where is The Queen, where are they hidden?” Claren asked.“Deep in the asteroid, guarded by her forces and constantly surveyed.”“Oh, well great, just great,” Tim added sarcastically.It was a lose-lose scenario. Tim and Claren had to get the parts.“Can you bring us to her, to the parts?” Tim queried.“Yes, but it’ll be a long, difficult trip,” wrote Trimdin.“How long are we talking? Minutes, hours, days?”“A round trip takes under half an Earth day.”“Well, good, because that’s all my suit has left.”“Mine, too,” Claren remarked.“Okay then, it’s settled. Let’s prepare for this trip. We need those parts more than anything, we need those asteroid parts.”Everyone was on the move. Tim picked up the first aid kit from earlier and shoved it back in his bag, along with two ropes and a small dagger. He slipped into his EVA suit again while Claren grabbed his flashlight, then proceeded to do the same as Tim. Trimdin kept hold of the whiteboard and marker.Both men entered the airlock, the alien standing in front. The hatch closed behind them, the chamber depressurizing. They were ready, they knew that if Trimdin was wrong, if anything went badly, they would die. But that risk was worth it.Tim and Claren’s journey started, following Trimdin’s lead. The initial few steps were difficult, but necessary. They walked and walked, feeling the “ground” of the asteroid under their feet. It was hard, covered in light gray dust made of pulverized rocks and minerals. Sturdy yet frail, rough yet gentle. Anything could happen, the weak gravity of the asteroid barely holding it all together.Little to Tim and Claren’s knowledge, this could be problematic, as they were heavier than tiny Trimdin. Every step taken was hazardous. Every step taken was threatening.And soon this came into effect....
"What’s this queen like anyways, Trimdin?” Claren asked.“She’s our ruler, she’s our leader. I follow her, everyone here follows her. The Queen has ultimate power over my home, and anyone who defies her gets a less than ideal punishment.”“Like what?”“Typically death, but if she’s feeling nice, a life sentence.”“Wait, so why are you helping us?” Tim questioned.“The Queen wasn’t always in control. Before her, we had a king, her husband. But something happened to him, a tragedy, to say the least. An event unparalleled in our history, a death committed by someone close to him. He was a kind ruler, a kind soul. He cared for his subjects, he cared for his family, he cared for his broth….”Trimdin was cut off. The ground began to shake vigorously.“What’s happening?”“An earthquake, or, I guess, an asteroidquake,” Tim remarked.Cracks began to form in front of Claren, splitting him from Tim and Trimdin.“Uh, I think it’s much worse than that, look behind you.”Tim quickly turned around, realizing a massive crevice formulating around Claren. Trimdin did the same, watching it form and quickly writing a response on his board. It read one thing: “RUN!”It was too late for Claren, though, as he was surrounded by a trench, with the floor beneath him fracturing. He was trapped.Tim stood still, while Trimdin slowly moved back.“Oh God no. No, no, no.” Tim cried.“Tim, what should I do? Am I going to die?”“No, Claren, you’re fine. Or at least I hope.”Claren anxiously stood still, expecting his demise for a second time. What should I do? The ground under me is losing stability, and jumping over the crack is impractical. I would need a harness or something, and somehow would need to be pulled up. But we don’t have one, and I packed only a flashlight. He then realized something, the ropes.“Hey Tim, you still have those two ropes in your bag.”Tim heard Claren’s call. “Yeah, I do, but why?”“Do you think it is possible to toss them over to me, and I can create a makeshift harness out of one, using the other to pull me up.”At that moment, Tim knew what Claren was saying and took his bag off.“Trimdin, can you grab the rope in there?”Without a response, Trimdin opened up the sack, pulling out the two tethers. They were long, lightly shaded, and quite heavy for the small being.He handed them to Tim, who now had the challenge of tossing them all the way over to Claren.The crack hadn’t expanded in a while, but the center point was crumbling apart.“Claren, are you ready to catch this?“Yes, Tim, but do you think you could hurry it up? Things are getting shaky over here.”Tim readied to toss the rope over the abyss, bundling it up and placing it in one hand, putting all his strength to it.“3, 2, and… 1.”The rope dashed through the air, the low gravity assisting the throw, carrying it over the crack, letting it glide into Claren’s gloved hand.“Oh, oh, I caught it!” Claren exclaimed.“Yes!” Tim screamed.Trimdin sat in the background, seeing the first task being completed. He smiled, but knew what obstacle came next.Claren wrapped the rope around his waist and legs, producing the most bare-bones gear possible. It tightly hugged his suit, and now he waited for the second rope.“This one should be a bit easier, I hope. At least I hold onto one end of this thing.”“Let’s hope so, because we have little time,” Trimdin wrote.Tim prepared to hurl the cord over, and this time, he would use it to pull Claren over.He swung the rope like a lasso, round and round, and finally whipped it forward. It blazed towards Claren, and he quickly grabbed it. This sudden movement caused the terrain to shift again, and this time, for good.Claren swiftly attached the second rope to a small loop he made with his harness, and the floor beneath him collapsed.Tim had a firm grip of the other end, but was being pulled in as Claren fell.“Hey Trimdin, some help here.” The alien grabbed hold of Tim, and together began to tow him upwards.Claren was dangling, slowly falling towards the rim of the ridge.Tim and Trimdin tugged and tugged, dragging Claren up as they moved back.Claren flew closer and closer to the edge, but was almost at the top.“How is it going up there? Do I have to brace for impact or what?”“Bud, I’m trying, and Trimdin’s helping, but it’s still a struggle. We’ve almost got you.”“How close is almost?” Claren questioned.That answer didn’t matter, though, as right then Claren unexpectedly shot to the top, only centimeters away from the side.“Holy shi… I mean, shoot. I’m alive!” Claren exclaimed.“Yeah, just barely, thanks to your quick thinking.”“No, you were the one that packed the ropes, I just found a way to use them.”“Fair enough,” Tim laughed. “At least you’re on stable ground again.”“Yeah, you and Trimdin really came through with pulling me up.”Both men looked at Trimdin. He stood still, smiling greatly, giving a sigh of relief.Then he began writing. “We have very little time, we need to get moving again."Tim and Claren read what Trimdin wrote.“That’s a good point, we can’t keep wasting time, we need to go now that you’re safe.”“Yes, I am ready to go.”“Great, but let me say, we’re only safe for now. More threats lie ahead, with The Queen and her guards. She is an evil, evil being, so we need to be careful; be quick. It’s only a matter of time before we are in danger again. I am ready, are you?”“Yes, all the way,” said Tim and Claren together.All three continued their trek, their adventure to find the parts. They had mere hours to find them, and were only temporarily secure.Safety was never a guarantee with their career, was it?
“How long has it been since I fell?”“Eh, a few hours or so,” Tim responded.“If we didn’t have to travel over this damn mountain, we would already have found the parts,” Claren cried.“Maybe, but Trimdin said that we only have a couple kilometers before we’d get there.”“Yes, it's just over this mountain, or, more like under it.”“Under it?” asked Tim.“Yes, the entrance to where the parts are is on the other side. That leads to a base under this mountain, where The Queen hides her prized possessions.”“So they’re in a bunker?”“Essentially, yes,” he wrote."What else is kept in there," Claren questioned."Not very much, it is mainly just a secure place for her riches. It also acts as a safe house in case of emergency, as it has a lot of space for expansion and construction.""Interesting.""Yes, it quite is."“How do you know so much about The Queen, Trimdin?" Tim asked. "You seem to have quite the knowledge of who she is, where she hides stuff, and the inner workings of her administration. Who did you learn it from?”He stopped walking. Tim and Claren stopped soon after.“Hey, why did we stop?” Tim asked.There was no response from Trimdin. His large, black eyes became covered with his thick eyelids.“Trimdin, are you ok?” Claren queried.Still no response. Little puddles of water excreted from his eyes, them slowly falling down the mountainside. He was silent.“What did I do, Trimdin, what did I say?” Tim frantically asked. “We are so close to the parts, but we can’t continue if you're hurt.”“Tim, you must have triggered something in him,” Claren suggested.“I guess so. I never meant to press or pry, but….”His words were cut off, as Trimdin picked up the board and started writing. Tim and Claren watched as he swiftly wrote on the board, awaiting a response. Trimdin was still crying, and was visibly upset, but kept on scribbling.Trimdin looked up, then continued stroking the marker against the board.“He must be writing quite a lot,” Claren joked.“Yeah, but whatever it is, it must be important.”“Well, let’s see for ourselves.”Trimdin turned the board around, and the men looked at it carefully. They looked at each other, then back at it again. It said nothing. There was only a drawing.“A drawing?” Claren said.“Yes, a drawing, of what though?”“It looks like a map. Maybe of where he’s from?”“No, that’s a silly idea, Claren. You see the mountain over on the right, and then on its side there’s an entrance.”“Oh, yeah.”“I think he’s showing us where to go, because on the left there is a room, and he drew something on a pedestal in that room.”“It’s the parts, Tim, it’s the parts! Trimdin is telling us where to find them, but why?”“I don’t know. Trimdin, why are you telling us this, why are you telling us where to go?” Tim was confused. “You were meant to lead us to the parts, not just point us in their direction. What did I do to hurt you, what did I say.”Tim took the board from Trimdin, erased it, and turned it back around giving it back to him. “Write something, please. You need to come with us, we need you.”“Tim, stop! Leave him alone.”“Fine, just please Trimdin, write something.”“Tim, he clearly doesn’t want to go on. He probably told us where to go because he doesn’t want to face The Queen. She has hurt everyone here, including him, but he was willing to help us and risk his life.”“You’re right, Claren, you’re right. He’s risking everything for us, to defy his queen.”“Okay, let’s go then, let’s leave him be.“Wait. I need to give something to him before we go.” Tim swung his bag over his shoulder, opened the latch, and took out his dagger. “Trimdin, take this, it should keep you safe, against The Queen, her guards, or anyone who attacks. See it as a farewell present.”He examined the weapon, graciously accepting the gift and stowing it in his pocket.“Now we can go,” Tim said sadly.The men left the grieving Trimdin alone, continuing up the mountain, reaching its peak, and slowly sliding down the slanted surface, landing directly next to the entrance.“My God, this corridor is massive,” Tim said.“It’s so much larger than I thought. If only Trimdin was here to see it.”“Well, that’s my fault, it all is. I'm just under so much pressure; we were so close, but yet I had to say something about how he knew it all.”“We were running out of time anyway, and Trimdin was obviously hurt, so don’t blame yourself,” Claren said sincerely. “We have been through so much in the last few days, so let’s refocus. The parts are most important right now. Trimdin is probably fine, especially with the dagger. No one can put him in danger”“Yeah, you’re right. I at least hope he’s happier now.”“Let’s get this show on the road then; let’s beat that queen!”Tim and Claren marched through the arched doorway, entering a long, dark hall. The only thing they could see was a small opening at the end, illuminating brightly. Every step forward was a step toward the parts, every step forward was a step toward home. This was their chance to live.“What do you think is in there, Tim?”“It has to be the room that Trimdin drew.”“If it is, that means the parts are in there.”“Well, what are we waiting for then?”Both men started sprinting, then running, towards the glow. The parts were closer and closer by the second, no longer would they be stranded.“We’re almost there, Claren,” Tim said ecstatically.“Yes, come on, we're mere meters away!”Tim and Claren kept running, kept going, kept heading towards the blaze.“It’s stunning, Tim.”“What is it though?”They reached the opening, being engulfed by the light.
Tim woke up, this time Claren stood in front of him. “Where am I?” he asked.They were enclosed in a large atrium, heavily decorated with gold and silver. The walls were pure white, with pristine floors and incandescent lighting.“What is this place, Claren?”“I’m not sure, I woke up just like you minutes ago.”“Is this where the parts are?”“No, this is where they’re supposed to be,” Claren stated depressingly.“They’re not here?”“Well, there’s a pedestal here in the center, and nothing is on it. They’re gone!”The room was virtually empty, with no doors, windows, or anything. Tim and Claren were trapped.“This room is so beautiful,” Tim said in amazement.“It would be even better if we knew where we were.”Tim and Claren got up from their corner of the room. There was nothing to see.“So, how do we get out of here?” Tim asked.“I don’t think we do. We thought we were going to The Queen, but I think The Queen was coming to us.”“What makes you say that, Claren?”“Who else would put us in here, in the room where the parts were? She’s taunting us.”“She knew, she knew we were coming. But how?”The room suddenly went dark. Claren took out his flashlight, looking around the area.“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Tim, Claren, so nice to finally meet you.” A mysterious voice surrounded both men.“Who are you?” Tim yelled.“You know exactly who I am.”“The Queen,” Claren shuddered.“So you have heard of me, good. Now I know he didn’t lie.”“Who didn’t lie?” asked Tim.“Trimdin, of course!”“How do you know Trimdin,” Claren said angrily.“Well, let’s just say next time, don’t leave your friend alone on the side of my mountain. He’s crying for help as we speak.”“What did you do to him!” both men screamed.“There are two punishments in The Belt for treason: a life sentence, or death. Guess which one I’m picking.”“So that’s the game here,” Tim quipped.“If this is a game then it just started playing. I have a whole other plan for you two, ha!” The Queen kept cackling, screams playing in the background. But they weren’t just any screams, they were Trimdin’s.The sound then cut out, terminating all communication.~~Both men continued to sit in the dark room, only Claren’s light shining.“What are we supposed to do now? This is like the fifth time in the past day we’ve been left stranded.”“Well, you’re not wrong there, Claren.”“Just how exactly did she know we were coming?"“Let’s see, first we crashed into her kingdom, then traveled with one of her subjects, and then entered her heavily monitored secret base. We’ve done everything to make our location known.“Fair enough,” Claren sighed.The room fell silent. More time passed.“Hello? Hello? God damn it, just let us go,” Tim pleaded. “I know you can hear us, don’t hurt Trimdin, I swear to God.”“Tim, she clearly doesn’t care.”“Well, she better, because the second I see her I’m gonna.…”“What Tim, what are you going to do?”“I don’t know, I just hope he’s okay. She is literally torturing him, and we can do nothing about it. I left him, we left him, and now she captured him.”“We’ll do something about it, we’ll find a way to save him. The Queen clearly has plans not just for him, but for all three of us. We can save him, I know it.”Morale was low; escape was unlikely. Every time they have given up, someone, something, has saved them. But this time, that didn’t appear so.The space lit up again. It was static, empty, just like before.“She’s coming,” Tim whispered.“From where?”“Look up.” The ceiling slowly slid away, a void taking its place. Both men started to float, rising gradually.“What is happening, Tim?”“I don’t know.”The men kept soaring upwards, soon over the room they were in, surrounded by an empty abyss of darkness.“Do you two know where I’m bringing you?” The Queen teased.“You alien bitch, what did you do with Trimdin?”“Hey Claren, watch the language. But yes, where did you put him you alien bitch!”“Calm down, I kept him alive….”“Oh thank God,” Tim sighed.“You didn’t let me finish. I kept him alive so that I could kill him in front of you two.”“If you lay a finger on Trimdin, Tim and I are going to rain fury on your home.”“With what army? You two wimpy humans have nothing, no one, just yourselves. Now, come watch your friend die.”Tim and Claren started to free fall, soaring towards what was once the parts room. It was now colossal in size, with massive corridors and legions of soldiers. But in the center was now Trimdin, along with a much larger being similar in shape. That was The Queen.
“Now we meet face to face,” The Queen said smiling.Tim and Claren gently landed before her, guards surrounding the area and Trimdin tied to a large post.“Trimdin,” Tim yelled.“Silence! Guards, get these two in restraints and take that ridiculous purse of him.”Four walked behind Tim and Claren, taking Tim’s supply bag and cuffing their hands behind their backs.“Watch, my dear prisoners, watch as your friend is put through more pain than you can imagine.” The Queen turned around, laughing as she pivoted towards Trimdin.“Your brother was so good to me, Trimdin. He was too kind with his power, too generous. His death was, let’s just say, unfortunate. But without it, we would have never assumed power. All it took was a bit of poison.”“We? Brother?” Claren interrupted.“Why yes, did Trimdin not tell you about him, about what happened?”“No, he only ever talked about a king—your husband—one that died, one that cared for his subjects,” Tim said, attempting to spite The Queen.“I care for my subjects... only as long as they do what they're told.”“You’re a selfish, power-hungry prick. Why should they care for you?” Tim wailed.“Who put you in restraints?”Tim fell speechless.“That’s what I thought. They have no choice. I'm in control. Only power can do that. Now, back to what we were talking about. Where was I? Oh yes, Trimdin. We were just reminiscing on how I killed your brother.”
A short gold sword, glistening in the bright light, was given to The Queen.“After a bit of verbal torture, how about some real pain? I killed my husband the kind way, but with you, I want to enjoy it. Your death will ensure my rule, and will act as discipline for your crimes, for helping outsiders.”Trimdin stared at the blade, its pointed edge in the hand of his enemy. He couldn’t move, couldn’t act, couldn’t defend; he was trapped. What can I do to free myself? I can’t let her kill me as she did to my brother. Trimdin looked over to Tim and Claren. I need to save them, I know I abandoned them, but they need my help, or else they’ll end up like me.At that moment, Trimdin thought of something. The dagger, the one that Tim gave me! Where did I put it again? He started to squirm around, the guards reapplied their hold. Where did I put that dang thing?Trimdin looked over at Tim again, and he did the same. Tim mouthed two words at him: your pocket.“Okay, Trimdin, I’m ready, are you?” The Queen snapped. She readied the blade in her hand, moving back from the alien and pointing the tip towards him.Trimdin started shaking and moving around again, subtly freeing one of his hands. I’ve got to get that dagger out of my pocket.“Please, stop!” Claren pleaded.“I’m going to hit you where it hurts.” She aimed it at Trimdin’s stomach.“Please!” Claren pleaded again.“Stop, Claren, it’s okay.”“What do you mean okay?“Trimdin’s got a surprise for her,” Tim whispered.“Quiet, you two! How much do I have to tell you that? Now watch your friend die, and make sure they see it.”The guards surrounding Trimdin got redirected to Tim and Claren.The Queen slowly started walking towards Trimdin, her blade directed at him. Then she began to run, getting closer and closer.Trimdin dug around in his pocket, stealthily pulling out the dagger last minute.As The Queen lunged towards him, he lifted his one arm up, knife in hand, ready.She slammed into him, digging her sword right into his stomach. But his weapon hit harder. The Queen let go of her blade, falling to the floor, Trimdin’s dagger in her head.
“Oh my,” Tim exclaimed.Trimdin stood still, the sword impaling his torso.The guards all let go, standing down as the men rushed over to their alien friend. Together, they untied him from his stake, taking him off of it.“Trimdin, buddy, what did you do?”“Where’s the whiteboard?” Tim asked.“I don’t know, we left it with Trimdin when we left him.”“Right, never mind. Can you get me the first aid kit in my bag, Claren?”“Sure, sure.” Claren turned around, running towards the unprotected sack.The guards stood lifeless, closing their eyes and resting their weapons.“Here you go, Tim.”“First we need to remove the sword. Trimdin, if you feel any pain, shake your head. If we remove the sword, we can bandage it over to stop the bleeding.“Shouldn’t we just keep it in then?”“No, just trust me, keeping it in will put Trimdin in more danger.”“Okay, Tim, I’ll follow your lead.”Both men carefully removed the blade from Trimdin, quickly covering the wounds. He remained motionless.“Trimdin, how are you feeling?“Did it work, Tim?”“I’m not sure.”“Well, we need to get out of here soon!”“The parts, where are the parts?” He looked at the guards.No response.“Does anyone know where the parts are? Your queen is dead, she is no longer in command. You can tell the truth!”Nothing.“Do any of you speak English? We know Trimdin can’t, but your queen could.”The guards stood dormant, only looking at Trimdin. They awaited his wakening.“Fine, fine. Claren, do we have anything that we can use to revive Trimdin? His wound is already healing, but he is not waking up.”“Well, I didn’t pack a defibrillator, sorry.”“You’re an engineer, you must be able to think of something to make using what we have here? Something to shock his system.”“Uh, sure, give me a second.” Claren looked around. We have two ropes, a flashlight, swords, a medical kit, and whatever our suits came with. The biggest thing was electricity, conductivity. I need something strong, something with a current, something that could carry that current.It then came to him. The battery in the flashlight, the gold sword, the steel dagger. He could take the current from the battery, transfer it to the weapons, and then to Trimdin. Since he was small, the amount of energy should be enough to stun him.Claren got the needed materials together, and within no time assembled it.“Okay, we need to apply one sword here, and the other here. It should jumpstart his heart, hopefully bringing him back.”Tim watched Claren carefully bring the device near Trimdin’s body, the guards continuing to stand down. "The second it touches, it should cause an instant reaction."He slowly placed it on his chest. His body shook. Trimdin reignited immediately, the soldiers knelt.“Trimdin, Trimdin! You’re awake,” Tim and Claren screamed joyfully. The alien looked at both men, seeing the smiles on their faces.“Let's get you up, Trimdin, let’s get you off the floor,” Claren said.Together they lifted the small creature off the ground, his weak and limp body struggling to support him.The guards stood up again as he rose, watching his every action in synchrony.Trimdin stood still, Tim and Claren holding him up. Everything seemed normal, everything seemed fine. But this didn’t last long.He started shaking, he started trembling. The room was getting darker, his body getting brighter.“What’s happening?” Tim questioned.“I’m not sure.”“Trimdin, what are you doing, what is happening?”Before a response could even be said, a massive gust smashed against the walls of the room, exploding it and pushing Tim and Claren back.On the outside was the surface of the asteroid. The mountain that was over the bunker vanished, chunks of debris hovering over them.In the middle of it all, Trimdin continued, now spinning and slowly flying upwards. He was still ablaze, illuminating the sky above them.“He’s as bright as a star now!” Claren exclaimed.“Yeah, he sure is.”“But why is this happening, how is he floating?”“I don’t know, he killed The Queen, we revived him, now this is going on.” Tim let this thought settle for a second. Killed The Queen, revived him, floating. No one else here can float, no one here can fly. No one had that type of power except for…The Queen.“Claren, what did Trimdin say happened after the first king died?”“Um, it was something along the lines of he died because The Queen killed him. She then came into power.”“That’s it, that's what’s happening.”“What, huh? What do you mean?”“The Queen killed him and gained his power. Trimdin killed The Queen.”“Oh my God, Tim. That means that….”“Trimdin is the new king.”
A massive sphere surrounded Trimdin, it slowly expanding above.“Their monarchs don’t just literally take power, but actually gain powers, Claren.”“Is that how she spoke English, is that how we were lifted out of the parts room?”“Yeah, I think so,” Tim said.“It all makes sense now. Everything.”“I wonder what other gifts he’ll get?”“Tim, look up….”The glowing ball above became orange, Trimdin now spinning rapidly, quickly revolving in the air.The ground started to shake vigorously, pebbles started to levitate.All of the guards looked towards Tim and Claren.“I-I think he’s almost done. His mutation is almost complete,” Tim shuddered.Trimdin kept spinning above them.“You think so?”“No, I hope so.”“Me too, Tim, me too.”The orange orb then started to collapse, Trimdin still moving at breakneck speeds.“There he is, Trimdin! He looks different, though….”“It’s part of the transformation.”The alien was much taller, broader, and was wearing a massive, maroon robe. Atop his head was a shiny golden crown, and on his hands was a purple, magical glimmer.“I think he is starting to slow down,” Claren said happily.“Yes, yes, it appears so.”Trimdin was decelerating, his evolution finished. He started majestically gliding towards the floor of the once room.The guards kept their eyes glued onto both men as they watched him descend.A booming voice then entered the ears of Tim and Claren.“Tim, Claren,” it said.“Yes,” they both stuttered.“I would like to thank you for your help, for your assistance. You both have aided me immensely.” He landed on the ground.“Trimdin?” Claren asked.“No, I am no longer Trimdin, I am King Trimdin now, ruler of this asteroid, ruler of this kingdom.”“Why, yes, we are so sorry,” Tim added.“You don’t have to be sorry, I just want to reiterate that. I am in power now, not that vicious queen. Guards, get the parts and be dismissed. I want to be alone with them."A massive shuffle of the soldiers happened, as most moved out the sides of the room. Only one remained. They were holding the parts.They came up to the new king, kneeling and handing him the unused parts.“Thank you, your duty has been completed, you can go off with the rest now.”He got up and nodded.“Also, send a message to our best mechanics to be at Tim and Claren’s crash site, we need them to fix their ship as quickly as possible.”The guard then finally walked away, leaving the two men with the new King Trimdin.“So, your majesty, what do we do now?” Tim questioned.“Well, we get you to your ship.”“But how, it’s fairly far away from here,” Tim stated.“Are you going to fly us there?”“Claren, that’s a silly question?"“That is a silly question, Claren,” King Trimdin said, “because of course I’m going to fly you there. These powers would be useless otherwise.”Tim stood dumbfounded.The purple glow around Trimdin’s hands brightened up, and soon, Tim, Claren, and The King all started to float, along with the parts.“Whoa, I never thought I would fly in the air like this.”“Yes, it's quite a magical experience, isn’t it?” The King said.“It sure is!”The two men and their alien friend continued to soar in the empty sky above the asteroid, zooming towards their destination.“So Trim… I mean, King Trimdin, what other powers do you gain as a ruler?”“Oh, a few oddball things; levitation, speaking any language, super healing, supreme power and control over everything and everyone, and so on.”“Huh,” touted Tim.“Yeah, I mean that all sounds really useful,” said Claren.“It’s quite the luxury, one that’s worth it though. Revenge is something I have sought for so long, though there is still more to do.“What was all that about?” Tim asked. “She said that the old king was your brother? What happened there?”“Ten Earth years ago, my brother was in rule. He got his power through a duel, one fair and square to see who would be our new monarch. A kind guy, he was; a kind soul, as you already know. Everyone loved him, and he loved them. But some were angered by his policy, by his inherent warmth.”“So what did they do?” Claren asked.“A rebellion started to grow, one by elitists, against the sympathy of my sibling. They were led by a merciless leader, Quinten, and thought the new king was soft; thought that we needed to be in constant war. My brother was giving too much away and stopped the very thing giving Quinten power. So they sent an informant to befriend him, to get close. That was The Queen.”“Where were you in all of this?” stated Tim.“With him, by his side the entire time. We were best friends, and when he came into power, we only became closer. I was his right-hand man, his biggest supporter, and destined to be his successor. But for a while, The Queen seemed the same way with him. They worked wonderfully together, as she slowly built up in his ranks. She started as his assistant, but moved higher and higher, closer and closer, and finally, they fell in love. That put The Queen in the prime position to attack.”The three of them remained flying in the air, quickly approaching their ship.“It was his birthday. Celebrations were happening across the belt. He was preparing for a grand dinner, prepared by the subjects. Of course, we checked every item that was coming in, testing for dangers. But when The Queen contributed to the banquet, we thought nothing of it. Why would his wife do anything to harm him, anything to hurt him? That was her and Quinten’s plan, to slip something in without suspicion. That was his death day.”“They put poison in the food she made, and he ate it. That’s all it took?” Claren added.“Yep, it was a quick and swift death. It was horrifying to watch, seeing your brother just fall after taking a bite to eat… on his birthday... by his spouse. Moments later, she started her transition. We all figured it out quickly: The Queen killed him. His own love killed him. Nothing could be done; the rest is history.”“I’m so sorry for your loss, your brother sounded like such a nice individual,” Tim sympathetically said.“He truly seemed kind and well-intentioned,” Claren added.“He was, but that’s enough of that story, just look below us.”There it was, the crash site, in all of its glory. And next to it was a legion of aliens, the mechanics. They were ready to replace the broken parts, ready to serve their king.The two men started to gradually glide towards the dusted ground of the asteroid, the parts next to them. Down, down, down, until boom, contact.“Ha, yes, the sweet ground again!” Tim cheered.“The last time we smashed into this asteroid, I thought we were dead,” said Claren."Yeah, it hasn't been so nice to us."“Well, those are the dangers of exploration, you two,” The King shouted. “Now get to fixing your ship, and mechanics, help them where possible. I must go, I must secure my kingdom.”His minions got to work, taking the parts from the ground.“So is this it?” Tim asked.“Is this what?”“The end, is this our goodbye?” said Claren.“Well, I guess it is.”“Oh,” both exclaimed.“There is no better time, no better place. First of all, I would like to thank both of you for your help, for your care. I went from a subservient victim to a rightful ruler. Never did I think I could get back what I lost, to get back at the being who hurt me. Never.”“Your welcome, Trimdin, of course. But don’t forget that without you, we wouldn’t be able to return home. You have given us a chance now,” Tim earnestly stated. “We would be dead without you, we would have given up without you. You led us to the parts, and we are eternally thankful for that.”“We’re on even terms then,” Claren said.“Yes, we are. We have been from the start, and always will be. That’s what friends do.”Tim and Claren looked at Trimdin, The King looking back at them. “Friends.” That sank into all of them. “Friends.” Everything they had been through, they did it together. Nothing could keep them apart, not even The Queen. Before, they were stranded. But now, they’re surrounded.“Well, I better go off now.”“Okay,” both men responded.“I hope to see you again soon, I hope you the best of luck on your trip home.”“Same here, and I wish things go a bit smoother around here. I just know you will be a great ruler. One with flaws, with humility; a king fit of this kingdom.”“Thank you, Tim, and I hope they will. For my brother, let his legacy go on, let it continue.”“Yes,” Claren said.“Goodbye, my fellows, goodbye,” King Trimdin boomed, slowly floating away.“Thank you for everything,” the men screamed in unison.The new king hovered away, leaving Tim and Claren with the repair aliens. They quickly commanded the workers, and soon, all the necessary equipment was installed. A new engine, a new antenna; the ship became whole again. The men entered the vehicle, the mechanics doing the final touches.“What do you think is going to happen to Trimdin?”“He’s a king, now. King Trimdin will do as King Trimdin pleases.”“You’re not wrong there.”Tim and Claren sat in their respective seats. The aliens on the outside of the ship banged on the hull, indicating the completion of the repairs.“Yesssss. Let's GO.”Tim flicked a few switches, Claren a few more. They shook vigorously.“Come on! We can do this.”A few buttons were pressed, a few dials turned. They shook vigorously.“It’s almost there!”Bars were pulled, levers moved.“Closer, closer, closer.”“Come on! Come on!”The engine started, blasting their ship into the space above, setting course for Earth.Setting course for their home.
7 Days After The Departure….“You think the separatists are really going to negotiate?” King Trimdin asked.“I hope so, Your Majesty.”“How could those hooligans follow him and that evil queen?”“These rebels are strong, a force to reckon with, trust me. When I served under your brother, I saw firsthand the torture that they commit. Murder, fights, robbery; they’ll do anything to cause chaos.”“I remember. All the sleepless nights, all the times I'd wake up in tears because of this monster. But maybe, just maybe, we can stop them from getting out of hand. I am king now, their monarch is dead, and that lunatics head is getting cut off regardless of what he says today.”The doors to the atrium opened, soldiers standing in the way. Behind them, mobs of subjects, shouting.“Kill The King, kill The King. Let his reign end. We want our queen back, we want our rightful ruler back!” a protester chanted.“You’re weak, just like your bastard brother,” one screamed.King Trimdin and his assistant watched the rallied populace, some trying to push through the protection.“They dare talk about Nardyn like that? He's the reason they're alive!”“Sir, I see him.”Through the horde of aliens, one stood out. He was tall, holding a weapon in one hand, a shield in the other. They marched towards the front, towards the doorway where they stood. The soldiers moved aside, the mysterious figure coming to light.“Ah, old friend. Nice to see you again,” he said.“Why yes, it’s quite pleasant, isn’t it? A crowd of rebels around my palace and a gun in your hand. Very nice.”“I could never risk my life, it’s too valuable. Revenge comes in all shapes and sizes."“You think I'd stoop that low?” The King jokingly asked.“I did,” he responded, a small smirk appearing.“That’s you, I’m me. And you have no idea what I am capable of!"“I think I do. I've fought feisty ones like you before. So sure, so confident. You've got anger, enough so to kill the one who was going to bring peace and glory to The Belt. But I have something you don't: power. The power to control, to dominate, to devastate. That’s who we were with before, and that's who we'll be after I win this war."“No, no. War is not the solution to our problem.”“But oh yes, it is.”“So is that it, are we going to war? Over greed? Over power? What about our society, our home? Give up now, and all of that will be spared.”“It’s not our home. Right now, it’s yours. But soon, it will be mine.”“War it is, then. The cost will be heavy, the toll enormous.”“Yes, King Trimdin, it will," he responded, peering deeply into the inky eyes of the enraged ruler.“Then I shall see you on the battlefield. I shall see you be crushed. You will never win, Quinten. Never.”“Hold that hope as hard as you want; it will never be true.”King Trimdin remained still, watching his enemy walk away, the masses cheering on below. A war, bloody and painful, is to start—the victor deciding the fate of their home, their subjects.The outcome unknown.
King Trimdin sat down on his throne.“Sir?” asked his assistant.“Yes?”“Did… Did you just declare war?” they stuttered.“Why yes, I did indeed.”“So, now what?”The King looked down at his underling.“Now what?”“Get our army ready to fight, send messages out to all citizens, get my propaganda department ready. Make sure NO ONE can leave The Capital,” he commanded.“I’ll get right on it, sir!”“We need everyone prepared. Quinten’s forces are strong. Very strong.”“But we are stronger. We have to be," they responded.Trimdin gleefully smiled at his aide. “Don't worry, we are. I beat that bitch of a Queen no problem, and now with an entire army on my side, it'll be no problem.”“Yes, but you have barely secured your rule. You need to assure—”“My kingship is concrete, no one can dominate me,” Trimdin interrupted.“Never assume such a truth. That’s how all great leaders fall.”“What exactly do you mean by that? Is that a threat?”“No, no, just a warning. Your tenure has only started, and there is much more to learn before you finally have what you desire.”“Like what?”“You know what, never mind. I’ll just be on my way.” The assistant then turned around, walking out with a legion of guards protecting him.The noble ruler stayed behind, smirking. “No wonder my brother liked him,” he joked to himself, soon after redirecting his attention to the forces left in the chamber.“Guards, bring me every piece of information we have on Quinten. I want the name of every individual, every soul, every creature that follows his command. No one will be left out of this search.”Without question, the troops marched towards the exit, walked down the stone stairwell, and soon left the sight of The King.~~Hundreds of armed soldiers lined the streets of the city. Large apartment complexes surrounded them, swaths of luscious land covering the desolate area. A large television gifted the place with color, its dazzling hues and gorgeous tones bringing energy to the scared settlement, to the once overworked peasants. The screen only showed three words on it: “Save The King!” News of the conflict was getting out to citizens, fueling fear and confusion among the innocent.The Capital was silent—a rarity indeed—as everyone sheltered in place, preparing for the worse. Only military reserves and volunteers stepped foot outside their homes.King Trimdin similarly remained in his, working away with military commanders, strategists, and informants to create their master plan.“Your majesty,” one said, “what if Quinten attacks our weapon factories? Or maybe his followers start rioting in the streets? What do we do then?” Panic permeated the palace.“A civil war hasn’t been fought in centuries, and the Cross-Beltian Wars against the Kuipernians were ages ago. The Royal Army is ill-prepared; Quinten's has everything our's doesn't."The King stared at his officers, wearing an intense smile. “Why are we assuming he's going to hit first?”“Using what we know from the separatist's past actions, they always start small, but get large quickly. The attacks get bigger and bigger, the trickery increasingly complex. We never know their next move, and they always get what they want.”"Should we call in more soldiers, maybe some fighters from one of our allies?" one asked."No, no, we need to keep this war isolated. The second he can attack more than just us, the worse this will get.""Then what will we do, when will he strike? We need to be ready.""We are...." At that moment, the chief was cut off. Three guards walked in unexpectedly.“Can we help you?” The King questioned.“Sir, we're here to tell you something,” they said.“And what exactly is that?”“The Royal Bank… it’s on fire and… they killed the treasurer.”“Oh. So he’s starting off with the real shit,” someone interjected boldly.“Why yes, it appears so."“Quinten got the first Goddamn strike over with already,” the army general winced. “What’s our play now?”“We hit them back. What’s our status on their base location?” Trimdin demanded.“My King, we have it located on the other side of The Capital, in the outer regions of the asteroid. It's at an elite district set up by the mineral families long before your rule, and has now been fortified and weaponized by the group.”“Great,” The King mockingly mentioned.“But this is his standard M.O. Quinten enjoys angering you, and he knows how to do it well. Don’t forget, most of his warriors are here. He’s a strategist, so be careful.”“Great point and all, but he hasn’t fought me yet. We have everything we need to beat him. Have the emergency services take care of the treasury fire, and request that they protect other public buildings. Make sure all of our soldiers are top-of-the-line; that they are prepared for infiltration. Hopefully, we can punch them where it hurts; hopefully, we can stop this war from getting too bloody. Though he was the first to strike, we shall be the first to attack.”The ploy was set, the mission discovered. Over a few days, forces were built, munitions gathered, and soon, a march to the furthest reaches of the capital was to commence. Their initial assault readied to start; this was the dawn of war.
Propaganda surrounded every settlement. It existed across every screen, every board, every business; it was inescapable. The entire Belt was engulfed within its influential sphere.Inside the walls of his manor, King Trimdin prepared to lead the assault himself, a display of different armor varieties standing in front of him.“Ah, so much to pick from,” he commented, standing in the vast closet alone. “Generations of rulers and their all-important collection of protection.” Trimdin glanced at the individual pieces, evaluating their suitability, watching the evolution of his kingdom come to life. Unique types of materials, styles, and mechanics were featured on each suit, personalized to the might of each ruler in their history. Though none fit the parameters of The King, unable to manufacture his own in time for battle.Eventually, he came up to the end, where Trimdin was met with two things: his brother's armor, and The Queen’s.“Now we’re talking." He viewed the two pieces, weighing the pros and cons of each. But to no surprise, the Beltian king came to one conclusion, lifting the chosen gear off of its pedestal and proudly gripping it.“I will honor you, dear Nardyn, I will take this armor and use it to beat the rebels that killed you. Your legacy must continue.”The next minute, King Trimdin strode out of the room wearing his new attire, two guards now trailing him. He continued to the exit of his castle, hundreds of troops and armed volunteers waiting outside. They stood, anticipating his highly demanded arrival.Trimdin set himself at a podium arranged in front of the crowd, closely hugging the microphone on top of it. He grinned at the masses below, them waiting for his eventual speech. And soon, The King delivered.“Before we go, I have a few words to say: my soldiers, my guards, my loyal subjects. As many of you know, I came into power a short time ago, after one of the most important adventures of my life. Two human men, Tim and Claren, helped me reach this status; they helped me avenge my brother, who that vicious queen wrongfully killed before me!”The audience reveled in his anger, the raw emotion in his voice stirring their souls.“Though now she is dead, now I have murdered her; I have saved you from her tyranny. They helped me do that. But some out there still follow her rule, or more specifically, follow the one who propped her up: Quinten. They think that the poor deserve to be slaves to the rich, that you should fight the constant war of clashing egos. My brother disagreed; when Nardyn ruled, he made sure everyone got what they deserved, that they never would be forced into fighting their horrible cause. I will continue that, but first, we must get rid of those who disagree.”The mob cheered, and Trimdin felt their energy rushing into him. It encapsulated his every word, his every action. This was what it meant to be king.“War has never been my thing, but I will make sure that they don’t win. I will fight until the end, wearing this armor and finishing what I started. Though that means we all have to fight. It is the only way we can beat them, it is the only way to ensure your freedom. This is not my war, it’s our war. Our home is under attack, our kingdom is being infiltrated by radical separatists; ones who hate, hurt, and murder for their own selfish reasons. Yet as I said to my best generals earlier: though they were the first to strike, we shall be the first to attack. We will win this war; for me, for you, for The Belt! Our children will live in a world where they are not stuck working in a factory all night or digging deep in the mines; they won’t die in battle or live at the whim of the few. They will have the life they desire and be who they want to be, not listening to Quinten and his disciples. Now, let us start this march, as our very lives depend on it!”The King then started to float upwards, a purple glow surrounding his opened hands. Everyone in the crowd watched him in amazement. Each individual general got into their designated vehicles, legions of soldiers diligently following them with their weapons.Trimdin led the assault forward, guiding himself with the directions given to him by his navigator. Only he could rally people to fight, only he could lead an attack on this scale. The subjects would follow no one else; they believed in the notion of ending evil. But as they moved forward, more and more hysteria set in. Everyone knew the risks; war always breeds hardship. War always brings pain.And soon, these worries came to fruition….
A herd of soldiers quickly stormed the base, the first attack of war commencing. It was truly a short distance from the main city itself, existing in a privately secured and extremely isolated section of The Capital, fenced off from civilian and royal affairs.Only the ultra-wealthy lived there, making their fortune off of the exploited riches in mining asteroids for minerals. Precious metals made them billions, as they would sell them to third parties and collude with government agencies all around to fuel wars and their economies.As they approached the wall surrounding the area, a specialist team was commanded to enter first. They subtly infiltrated, scoping out the fortresses belonging to those once allied with Quinten.Each home closely matched the style of the palace: roofs made of shining gold, floors of white granite, pillars of the finest limestone in The Belt. They were all built for luxury.After the go-ahead was given, a second wave penetrated the walls of the zone. Then a third. Then a fourth. Within minutes, every road was filled with Trimdin’s fighters, and soon, properties began to get raided.The King continued to be in the sky, standing clear of the initial madness and surveying the land below. “Look at all of this,” he said aloud to himself, his head swaying side to side. “This is what my brother was talking about; this is just sickening. They had everything, The Queen gave them anything they asked.”A radio transmission suddenly came in from one of his military commanders on the ground, interrupting the king's words.“Your majesty, can you hear me?” they asked.“Affirmative. What's the situation? Do I have landing clearance?”“The Silver and Red team check the North Side, and the Blue battalion has just about cleared the South. It appears Quinten's abandoned ship, but where they went, we’re not sure. The Capital has been reported as safe, and no transports have left since your encounter with Quinten.”“He must still be here, then; he and his army are somewhere. Let me land and take a quick look around with them. You never know what I may find. Have the best of each division be at the center, I’ll meet them there.”“Yes, sir!”“I’ll ensure that the Blue battalion fully clears the South; I want complete confirmation of Quinten’s departure.” The radio transmission ceased.King Trimdin slowly made his way to the ground, towards what was the village's center. There, a majestic fountain stood, small figures surrounding it. These were representatives of the six original mine owners in The Belt, the structure built to respect the infamous bourgeoisie.The leader promptly planted his feet on the ground. From there, twenty of his high-class warriors encircled him, holding heavy artillery and plasma shields.“Thank you, my fine soldiers! Now, get me over to the commander in charge of the Blue battalion. We need to talk.”Without a word, the fighters turned towards the South Side, leading The King toward his wanted destination. And within seconds, he was standing in front of the officer he wanted.“Commander, what is the status of your division? What have they cleared so far?”“Uh, well, that’s tough to say.”“What do you mean?” he demanded.“They were just about to clear the building when suddenly we got a transmission. They seemed to have found a strange passageway behind a bureau. We had as much contact as we could as they went through it, but it eventually cut off. Nothing has been sent since.”“Have you sent in more troops?”“No, I wanted confirmation from you.”“Smart thinking,” Trimdin sternly stated, patting the shoulder of the officer, “let me go in and see the issue, see what they found.”“Sir, I can’t advise you to do that. You are too important to just waltz into a place that could be deadly.”“I understand your concern, yet we don’t know what happened. Maybe their transponder broke. Just trust me, I can’t get hurt; I won’t let trouble ensue.”“Whatever you say, your majesty, I follow your orders, not the other way around. The rest of us shall remain, preparing to finish our search and waiting for your word to depart. I just pray you and the team stay safe, and that my troops are okay."“Your worries are appreciated, my friend, and I am sure that nothing went wrong. That sounds like a fine plan. Now, where was their last location reported?”“In that house just over yonder, the one at the end of the road.” The two of them looked toward the structure in question. It was by far the largest home in the area, dwarfing the others with its great magnitude. A deep blue exterior surrounded it, with massive arched windows and golden trim to accent; the house was something only the affluent could afford. Trimdin stood stunned, fascinated by the beauty of the property. But the objective was still a priority, and soon, he directed his legion of soldiers toward it.“Okay, let’s make a game plan before we enter," The King mentioned prior to opening the door to the mansion. "Little is known as to what happened to the Blue battalion, but we have to assume they aren’t in trouble. They likely just hit a dead zone with their communicators or something. Regardless, the moment we go inside, you all need to follow me toward the last ping left by the division. From there, I will have half of you go in, plasma shield on. Have all weapons set to standby. After it is cleared by the first half, the rest of you will go in with me.”“But sir, what if something happened to them, what if they died? Then why should we go in? Could this be a suicide mission, is this all a suicide mission?” one soldier asked in a shaky voice.The King looked at his guard, formulating a calming response. “No, we are safe, you are safe. If you are with me, nothing can happen, and we have our best officers and generals out here working tirelessly and cautiously to make sure we win this war. They will have constant communication with us and vice versa. No one will die. I promise."The soldier lifted her head, looking directly at the ruler. A sense of serenity covered her fears, saddening thoughts overturned with hope.King Trimdin smiled, now looking at the rest of his squad. “I think it’s time we go in now, we have wasted enough of it out here. When we enter the atrium, we go left, and then from there, down a few steps and into a mysterious bedroom discovered. You got it?”All of his troops responded simultaneously with two words: “Yes, sir!” From there, they entered the home, following the specified directions set forth by The King.Eventually, they all reached the illusive room that left the Blue battalion’s status in question. The space was tight, closed, and dark, dim lights granting life to the decrepit room. And sitting at the center of it all was the bizarre bureau, which behind it had a small opening. The dark vacuum was seemingly empty, showing no signs of a pathway. But the first ten soldiers soon entered, shining lights directly into the area, revealing a staircase going directly down for what appeared to be an eternity.Slowly, they crawled along the steps, keeping constant radio contact with Trimdin and the rest of the crew, noticing how the signal worsened as they lowered. However, little seemed to be happening, with the stairs going down and down; seemingly nothing prevailed.Though soon, the first outfit finally reached something: a dark expansive chamber with a door. This entrance was different, as it was heavily armored, fortified with thick steel. A number pad lay on the outside, being the only source of genuine luminosity encountered by the group.No one knew what was in the vault, no one knew what secrets it could hold. Riches? Money? Treasure? Its contents were purely unknown.Though what turns out to be in the safe may be more valuable than anyone could suspect.
King Trimdin, swiftly notified of the team's discovery, ran down the stairwell with the rest of the legion. Instantly, he picked up on certain things about it, noticing the sheer darkness of it all. I was like an artist painted a canvas pure black, an infinite void surrounding him. A strange scent permeated the room, smelling of rotten food and rushing itself into his nose. Though he ignored it, allowing him to start discussing his next move with the unit.“Your Majesty, can I ask you a question?” the female soldier from before asked.“Why yes, you can.”“What do you think is behind the door?”“That’s hard to say from here,” Trimdin responded.“Do you think we should scope out the rest of this area, sir?” another asked.“Yes, that would be a great thing to do.”“Very little appears to be here; it’s just a very large, unlit room, but we should check out the areas that our lights have yet to hit.”“Take a couple of troops with you, and while you do that, I’ll try to crack this code with the others.”“Yes, My King!”From there, sixteen of the twenty fighters went to investigate every corner of the cavity, four at each. The remaining few stood with King Trimdin, the female soldier pulling out a small device.“What is that?” he asked.“Why, it’s only the newest technology created by your regime? Before, we had to hack these number pads using an old machine intelligence program. But this little gadget is much faster, being able to crack the code in seconds. The one problem: it’s single-use"“How useful,” The King sneered.“I know, it’s so cool!”“Yeah, sure,” Trimdin laughed. “What’s your name anyways, soldier?”“Samdin... Kiran Samdim," she said back as the widget was attached to the pad.“Ah, well it’s great to meet you. How is the device going, Kiran?”“Good, good. I have just about hooked it up, and from there, we will get the digits in mere moments.”“Amazing,” Trimdin answered. “I wonder how the rest of the company is—”A scream came from one of the corners of the room, far out of sight.“What was that?” he asked. The screeching continued, seeming to get closer and closer. Soon, The King realized that one of his troop groups was running toward him, panic covering their face.“The-There, there are bodies over there. Soldiers, the Blue battalion, there are bodies over there,” one stated, their voice trembling with fear the moment they returned from the shadows.Another chimed in hastily. “Sir, there are dead, uh, some dead soldiers over there in our area. There was evidence of stab and bullet wounds, the blood recent—”Yet again, they were cut off, as more cries reached the ears of the dear king. Another collection of guards rushed over, telling him the same message: dead bodies lay in their corner of the room. Trimdin became unsettled, noticing now where the strange scent from before came from. The rest of the regiment led by King Trimdin made it back to the vault door, panicked. Kiran activated the instrument, instantly making a short beep. A six-integer code then popped up on its screen, and it was quickly inputted. From there, she pressed the enter button, and the door produced a long buzzing sound, opposing that of the device.Slowly, the heavy metal slab moved backward, swinging on its hinge. It was a tedious process of watching the hatch open, the guards worried but ready to protect their sovereign. Trimdin yet again had a violet aura around his hands, but this time to create a shield around himself. Together, they waited to see what was on the other side, to see what caused such harm to their fellow fighters. Though what they found was a shock.Behind the armored door, a horde of separatists stood. And in front of them was the last alien any of them wanted to see: Quinten, grinning while holding a loaded blaster in a Kevlar suit.
“Oh shit,” Kiran expressed.“‘Oh shit’ are the exact words I wanted to hear!” Quinten mocked.“Well hello, Quinten. So this is how we meet again?”“Yes, Your Majesty. I hoped it would be the battlefield like you said earlier. But this bunker will have to do for now."“So this is a bunker, then?” The King asked. “This is where all your forces are? In a tiny, enclosed space, with my entire army on the surface? Did you think this through much?”“Trimdin, I’m not that naive. Only a few forces are here with me, awaiting your silly arrival, the rest taking care of a quick assignment. I’m not new to this game.”“It doesn’t matter, Quinten, you know you can’t win this. I know you won’t kill me, you won’t be able to even get out of here. You, your puny armor, and whatever you think that weapons can do will not protect you from us.""Speaking of armor, I see you are wearing something that belonged to your brother. How nice. The Queen told me all about it, how it was specially made with the last few dollars your parents left for you two. It was what he won his duel in, and also what he died in. So full circle. I can't wait to see it once again when you meet the same fate.""Yeah, well how would you like it if it was the last thing you saw before you die!" Trimdin replied, moving slightly toward the agitating Quinten.“Your confidence is mesmerizing, Excellency. Why do you so strongly believe you are right, that you will win? I’ve worked on this for years; spent millions in Royal funding on weaponry, forces, fortification, and more. Yet you have only been in rule for what, nine days now? Moreover with no war experience and little military training? You are no match for me.”Trimdin clenched his fists and leered at the looming Quinten. “Ha, so what? I have one thing that you don’t, and that’s a dream, a will to create a better future for all. You only want to make it in your image, for yourself and your peers. Never once have you put others first, and you will never risk your life for the greater good. That’s your one flaw: your self-importance. You will never put yourself on the front line, you will never put yourself at stake for your cause. No, you would rather have hundreds of others die for it, while you sit on your false throne.”Quinten smiled mischievously, laughing off the ideas thrown at him by his rival. “Look at you whining, taking the moral high ground you so badly want. You are wrong, misguided with your ideals. I have fought for more than a decade; I was in the army; I’ve put my life on the line more times than you can count. So much of what I’ve loved and whom I’ve loved have been lost; this is my final mission. You, my kind sir, are in no manner to talk about what I’ve done to lead myself toward my purpose. All you want to do is cause trouble, while I’m the one who wants to bring power, glory, and justice to the belt.”“No, you’re the troubled one. That queen of yours married my brother, gained his trust, and then poisoned him. The only reason she got into power is that she killed the person who loved her, and she did it for you, for your cause. There was true peace before, but the two of you came to destroy it and put your hellish reality back into play. And the only thing you did was watch, reaping the benefits. You didn’t even dare to kill him yourself, you had to have one of your disciples do it. But I know exactly why, and it is the same reason why you won’t kill me.”“Why is that?” Quinten pressured.“Because if you came into power, you would eventually have to die. For centuries, every monarch this belt has ever had has been killed; it is the only way for the magic to go on. But you could never let that happen, you would never have someone kill you. Your ego is too big for that, your lust for power too strong. Plus, a large bullseye would be on your head, meaning no one would ever willingly want to be your heir, just your killer. You would never let yourself become king because the longer you would be one, the bigger the target on your head, making your death more likely. All these factors lead exactly to my point: you can never become king, only one of your ‘loyal’ subjects. I’m not so naive either, Quinten, and I have had just as long as you to plan for The Queen’s eventual collapse. I was always destined to murder her, to avenge my sibling, and I understood that only you would challenge me if I did. But I knew that you never would, that you never could. Because your life is more important than anyone else’s at the end of the day, isn’t it?”“Wow, did you have that speech prepared or something?” Quinten jested. “You seemed to have had that bottled up in you for a while. Honestly, I have no rebuttal, only a small correction to that masterpiece. You’re wrong on one thing, there is a fallacy in what you have said. And sooner or later, you will finally see why. At this moment, I don't want to be king, I can't even be king. Though when that right moment comes, when you least expect it, the tide will change, dear Trimdin. A king does a lot more than just having powers, there is a level of respect, dignity, and strategy that needs to go into it; you need to deserve it. But you didn't know that when you murdered her, did you? You only understand a fraction of what I do, have only lived a small percentage of what I have. My games are a never-ending spiral, incapable of being understood by your meager mind.”“Trust me Quinten, they will meet their end, whether I do it or not. I was meant to kill The Queen, I deserved it, unlike she did. And now, there is only so much time before I finally win.”“You win?” he laughed. “You win? Trimdin, you can never win. My torment will haunt this realm for the rest of its existence, my children will rise from the ashes. But God, all this talk is boring me. Where's the fighting?”“You won’t fight me, Quinten.”“No, good friend, we don’t need to fight. I’ve just been waiting for news from the surface.”“The surface, what do you mean?” Suddenly, a radio transmission came in. Though it was not from Trimdin’s radio, but Quinten’s.“Sir, we have wiped out the forces here on the ground. A few managed to flee, but the rest were eliminated.”Quinten picked up the transponder. “Good, I’ve been waiting for a while. Get everyone to our rendezvous location. I’ve got to finish up with The King quickly.”Fear instantly struck King Trimdin, his face switching from a confident smirk to horrified shock. Kiran and the other soldiers stood astounded, barely managing to stay in their defensive positions.Quinten continued to keep a big old smile on his face, savoring the feat. “You see, King Trimdin, while we have been down here having a dick-waving contest, the rest of my army has been destroying yours. I blocked all radio transmissions from getting in here so you would have no idea of the attack. I knew you were coming, I knew my strike on the treasury would cause you to come. You thought you had the upper hand, but you never did and never will. Quality over quantity, your highness. This is just the start of what I have planned, this is just the start of my siege. You’ve lost.”“What? What? What the hell did you do?” Trimdin asked furiously, pointing his finger at him.“You know exactly what I did. The Royal Army had no chance of beating us. Your military is made up of a bunch of volunteers and under-experienced idiots. My veteran soldiers had years to train while The Queen was in power. Mine were ready, yours were not,” he taunted. “You're an absolute prick, Quinten, you know that? I should have listened to my strategist earlier. You just murdered hundreds of innocent souls, most of whom were good law-abiding citizens.”“I didn't bring them here. You rallied, you led, and they followed. They believed in your every word, and you let them down. So have fun going home and telling their families you failed. Because you were right, I’m not going to kill you, and luckily, I won’t even have my troops kill you. I know that by the time you get back, the subjects won’t want you as king anymore. Now there’s a target on YOUR head, and they are far more likely to sympathize with my cause. Your cockiness was a weight on your shoulder, dear Trimdin, and now it has finally crushed you. One day is all I am giving you, one day to either surrender or be overthrown by my coup. Goodbye my friend, and hopefully the next time I see you, your corpse is in a coffin.” Briskly, Quinten pressed a button, and the hefty metal door began to close. The King stood still, watching his enemy and his forces strut away.The bad blood between the two brewed to new heights. This was a rivalry too big to end, a fight too large to win; the war has found its first tragedy. And for King Trimdin, it needed to be the last.
The King exited the home over the bunker, now standing outside with Kiran and the rest of the legion. Shock hit quickly, staring at the bloodbath that occurred. Every commander, officer, and soldier was killed brutally. Machine guns were newly mounted and fresh out of ammo; thermal detonators left shrapnel on the ground; the bones and brains of his loyal subjects were smeared on the roads. No signs of life persisted, no survivors stood; they had all met their day to go to Eden.Tears began to form around the noble's eyes, devastation overwhelming his mind. The gruesome reality surrounded him, guilt piling on top of him like an avalanche.Kiran watched timidly, realizing the worse had happened, that her fears from before came to fruition. But seeing her king, someone who she looked up to so much, being vulnerable was a new experience. Never before has a monarch shown such emotion and care for his subjects.Every other soldier stood in solidarity, waiting for commands from King Trimdin. Though those never came, as instead, he started to float, the mystic glow yet again around his hands. This time, the rest of the squad also began to do so, them lifting into the air with him.Swiftly, they made it back to The Capital, now having to face the wrath of casualties. Trimdin dropped each soldier back to their respective homes and then brought himself to the palace. His assistant stood by the doorway, readying to open it and expecting celebration. When he entered, though, nothing but a drooping frown sat on his face.“Sir? Sir? What happened?” they asked.King Trimdin looked at them, giving an aggressive command. “Organize a Talk to the Kingdom, I need to tell the subjects something. It needs to be to the entire Belt, on every screen it can be. Something terrible has happened and they have to know.”“Your Majesty, what are you talking about? I mean, yes, I will get a talk instantly, but why the long face?“Just wait, I want everyone to hear together,” he said sniffling. “Unity is important in times of peril.”“Peril? Was it the fight with Quinten? Did something go wrong out there? Did everyone make it home safe?” his assistant pressed.“There was no one to bring home safe! Just get my Goddamn meeting together, please. No more questions. Just do as you’re asked,” Trimdin snapped.“Why, of course, I’ll get right on it.” His aide ran off, getting together with the public relations department and the head of the Royal Beltonian Broadcasting System to prepare for the conference.The King sat down on his throne, his thoughts smashing into each other rapidly. It’s my fault, it all is. I fell into that jerk's trap, he knew exactly what I would do, he knew I would be the aggressor. But why? Why did I let myself chase something so obvious, so dangerous? I was so confident that I could do it, that I could lead my soldiers to war and win. I mean, I practically killed The Queen single-handedly. But my assistant was right, Tim and Claren were right; arrogance got the better of me, and I let my brother down. I let you down. I wore this stupid armor, I talked of peace and security; I thought I could be the ruler you never got to be. But I've failed that test, letting the innocent die because of my hate. Brother, wherever you are, I hope you understand that I will make this right. I MUST make things right. Though no longer via death and destruction, but rather through true kindness. I will do what I asked for in the first place: make peace. Quinten will destroy himself, I will not. He cannot kill me, and now I must not kill him. We will regroup and refocus, bringing us a new way to fight his tyranny. Because that is the only way we will win: with love, not hate, no matter how much pain he has caused.And with that, Trimdin’s assistant suddenly walked back into the main chamber, this time with a full camera crew and a group from his cabinet. They rushed to set it up, quickly getting it together and sending messages out to the entirety of The Belt on all electronic devices. Within seconds, everyone was tuned in, glued to a screen, and awaiting the news from their devastated king.
“Hello. As you may know, I went on a journey with our army to the other side of The Capital. This was where we believed Quinten and his cult followers hid. Well, we were right. Maybe a little too right. They set up a sneak attack on us when I and twenty high-performance soldiers infiltrated an underground bunker where the alien himself stood, protected by his own small legion of fighters. While I and my team focused on the Devil, the rest of his ‘army’ attacked our ground forces, killing two hundred of them. We are the only known survivors. And we were also unable to kill Quinten himself, dropping the bombshell of a twist and then escaping behind a steel door. None of us had any idea of what his fanatics were doing on the surface, as he had a device that cut all our radio transmissions from exiting the area. That was, until, he needed it to get the report of the tragedy. What I am saying is that he tricked us, he tricked me, and that is my fault. I was so confident in my ability to beat him that I disregarded any idea of it being a trap. But that’s exactly what it was, and now there will be families missing mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and so on. I took that away from you, because sure he committed the crime, but I am the reason it happened. I own up to that, I own up to such a horrifying mistake. Though you must understand that now is not the time to hate anyone or anything; now is the time to defeat Quinten once and for all, not via a bloody offense, but an altruistic defense. This is one of the many hardships of ruling, one of the many burdens of power, but full compliance and transparency are critical to a victory. We have roughly one day to choose the lesser of two evils: either I give up and let you all down or Quinten comes here to destroy us. That decision is up to you, my loyal subjects. Do you want the tyranny of Quinten for revenge against me, or do you want to fight this war to the end, ensuring a free and safe future for you and your children? The choice is yours, though all I can say is that revenge is something no one should seek. I should have learned that lesson a long time ago, but I didn’t, and that’s why I failed. Good night to you all, and I pray that all the souls lost managed to find themselves in the afterlife.”The broadcast transmission cut. Everyone in the room stared in both awe and confusion.The King looked back at them, giving a weary face of regret. “That’s it for today guys, go get some sleep, I know I need some. We’ll see later what the citizens want, not only here in The Capital, but also in the rest of The Belt. Though no matter what they choose, I will listen. Now leave me be, you did your job, go be with your families. Thanks.”Hastily, everybody left the room, letting the miserable monarch mourn. Tomorrow would be a hard day for the kingdom, where its residents yet again have to choose between right and wrong, Trimdin and Quinten. The outcome truly unknown.
The night was long, sleep a struggle, as Trimdin’s mind flashed with images of the events that occurred. The bunker, Quinten, the dead bodies; snapshots of the battle flipped through his head. It was so vivid, so clear; he relived every moment, the torture so real. Slowly, his mind managed to slip away, and eventually, the morning came.Light began to peek through the window of his royal bedroom, waking him. The chamber was silent; no noise, just a glare. Leisurely, he rose from his bed, standing up and properly dressing himself. He donned his robe, slid on his shoes, and safely placed the crown on his head. The King was ready for what the day had to bring him. Though when he went to his door, a surprise awaited him.Kiran stood outside of the room, her hand in the air in preparation to knock. Trimdin opened it, seeing his underling behind it and moving back in shock. “Oh, Kiran, what are you doing here at this hour?”“Your majesty, I am so sorry to scare you, but there is a situation,” she responded.“Is it Quinten? Is he here early?”“No, but it has to do with him. There are massive uprises across The Belt, some for, but many against you.”“I’m not surprised by that.”“True, but these ones are especially dangerous, as some are getting arms from Quinten’s forces. We’re talking ammunition, plasma shields, bombs with remote detonators, and worse of all: anger. He is fueling more rebels, subjects who want revenge. What do you want to do about it?”“Damn, that’s what I am waking up to this morning?” Trimdin quipped.“Unfortunately so, sir.”“How many soldiers do we have left?”“Two hundred thousand across The Belt, twenty-five thousand in the local Capital area that can get shipped in.”“Great, keep them where they are. Quinten is here and that’s all that matters. If we send in or out too many ships, there's a high chance he could escape in the chaos. Make sure that all other major settlements protect their citizens. We’ll take care of Quinten. If he falls, they all do; the only thing keeping them together is him, is their goal to destroy me. He is the only one causing any real risk. Keep the subjects out of it. Don’t necessarily suppress the protests, just make sure they don’t get too violent. And here in The Capital, fire only when attacked, and give everyone shields to defend themselves along with a military barrier around all residential properties. Those are my orders.”“You don’t want us to fight back, to destroy them?”“No, keep all deaths to a minimum. I cannot bear this war anymore. We need to change the game, we need to be the good guys.”“Yes, sir, I will make sure that is done. No deaths.”“Not just no deaths, but allow for surrender, allow for mistakes. Give any of his cult members a chance before you shoot. You’d be surprised how many of them are just doing it because they are scared of him, just because they think he has more to offer than he truly does.”“So you don’t want any reinforcements and want all military personnel to protect instead of engaging?”“Yes.”“Is this because of what happened yesterday? You do know that casualties are a commonality in war, that lives need to be lost to have a better future? Whatever happened to that idea?”“I’m not that type of ruler. I know The Queen was brutal, and that many before her were the same way. But I need to be different. I already made that mistake, as my drive for revenge hurt my subjects; my need to avenge my brother, though not through fighting. What I failed to realize before is that he would have hated me for that, he would never be happy with me murdering to make things right. He would never do that, so I shouldn’t.”“Well, King Trimdin, I am happy to hear that. No one ever really wants to fight. It’s just, whenever you speak about Tim and Claren, The Queen, Quinten, and so on, you do it with such power. You do it with such sincerity, such anger, such seriousness; it’s a truly mesmerizing aspect of your rule. We don’t follow you because you are perfect or because we want your brother; we follow you because we believe in what you have to say. You, sir, are the king of this domain, of this belt, no matter what happens.”“Thank you, Kiran. With all of this rising tension, it’s nice to hear that. Now go off and get my orders down the chain of command. I’ll meet up with what is left of my advisors and get a comprehensive plan together.”“Absolutely,” she said smiling, pausing for a second to look at Trimdin’s face before turning around and walking away. Though that smile would soon shy away, as the reality of Quinten’s threat quickly came into view. The war was here.~~On the other side of the asteroid, Quinten and his forces assembled in an unknown location. There, the walls were lined with thousands of weapons, ranging from poison needles to automatic drone sentries. Each soldier grabbed the weapons assigned to them, all taking a plethora of ammunition and an extra “surprise” explosive, just in case. They swiftly put on their armor and lined up in battle-ready formation.Their plan was simple: half of the fighters would march on the surface while the others entered a secret tunnel system once used to discretely transport arms, leading them straight to the heart of The Capital.Quinten remained in the covert hideout, awaiting the one message he hoped to hear: that Trimdin had surrendered. That was the only thing he needed for his scheme to work, for his dreams to be accomplished.And fortunately for him, the plan seemed to perfectly formalize... at first.
“My lord, what do we do? Quinten is coming, the subjects are out of control, and you refuse to fight back? What the heck do you plan to do?"King Trimdin yet again was in his military command room, focusing on the impending onslaught coming from Quinten. Little time remained before the attack, nothing known about how it was to be conducted.“Sir?” the same general asked.“Yes?” Trimdin questioned.“Did you hear what I asked?”“I did indeed, I was just thinking.”“About what?” they probed.“I’m wondering what Quinten is going to pull now, and how we are going to counter it.”“He's a trickster, that's for sure. You can never trust a word he says, always looking for ways to subvert.”“We must never lose like that again. Before I acted out of hate; now I am acting out of logic. So far all we can guess is that his army is on its way and that he will not be leading it. Besides that, we are left in the dark.”“Right, so what’s our next move? There is only one thing that will stop them: your death, or his. Nothing else motivates them, sir. Nothing.”“Exactly, that’s the issue. If I surrender, many may live, but I let down an entire generation of innocent citizens. Fighting will lead to more deaths, but giving up will lead to a life of captivity and forced labor. Which is worse?”“That's like choosing a pound of rocks over a pound of pebbles because one ‘has less.’ Either way, it is a shitty situation.”“Should I surrender? Give my life for the lives of everyone, regardless of quality?”“Maybe so. It seems to be the will of the kingdom.""Their well-being is critical to me, including their will," he responded.“Quinten would run to our doorstep if he found out you were surrendering. He’d probably slice your throat himself,” someone else in the room quipped.“I wish,” Trimdin jested, “but that arrogant ass would never do it himself, though he would gladly watch.”“What makes you think that?” they responded.“From what I can tell, he is not too interested in killing me.”“You could be wrong. Maybe he does? Maybe he just needs you to surrender to do it? And in doing that, you would be listening to the subjects. It's a win-win for him.”“That would be quite the stunt on his part. Using surrender to kill me. Ironic,” The King laughed.“Wait, that's it…” the general stated.“That's what?”“Maybe that’s what he's doing. And if that's true, it's possible we could—” Boom. An explosion was heard outside the building. Boom. Another sound pierced the air around them.“What was that?” Trimdin asked. But no answer arrived, as a horde of soldiers entered the room, closing the door behind them and locking it. The general in the room pressed a button, allowing sirens to go off.“What is happening?” he screamed to the guards. “Was that an explosion? Is he here already?”“Yes, Your Majesty,” they responded, “Quinten’s army is here. They are at the entrance of the city. As soon as we saw them approach on our systems, we rushed over here quickly.”“Great, but what was that sound before you entered?” Trimdin demanded.“It was a bomb at the city gates, it's how they’re breaking in. They are standing by for the approval to continue. Regardless, it's imperative that we load you on The Grandiant and get you out of here.”“No, take everyone else and get them ready to command from there. I will stay. I need to be on the ground and ensure the protection of my citizens.”“Sir, I mean no disrespect, but that’s not protocol. If an attack comes to The Capital, you must leave instantly. If, well, you meet your end in a battle like this, who knows what will happen? If one of those rebels manages to kill you, the outcome could be disastrous.” The soldier was getting upset with his ruler's stubbornness.“Screw protocol. My powers will keep me safe, and maybe, I could even be an asset out on the battlefield if it comes to that. Bring everyone else into the ship; I’ll command from here and fight.”“Alright, Your Majesty,” they forcefully responded.“Thank you. And hey wait, General, what were you going to say before the blast?”“Oh, well I was going to say maybe we could use Quinten's trick against him. You should fake your surrender, and maybe, just maybe, that will fool him into coming here, giving you an open opportunity to finish him once and for all.”“Yeah, but killing him is not my main interest. It's capturing him. Plus, do you think he would fall for something so simple? He’s always five steps ahead. Don’t you think he would notice?”“Isn’t it at least worth a shot? Fewer lives would be lost, that’s for sure, and everyone wants your surrender. This may be our only shot at peace."Trimdin looked deeply into the eyes of his general and everyone else there, noticing a slight shimmer on them as tiny droplets formed and caught the refracted light of a monitor. He knew that it was the only way to save the land he loved so much, to protect their lives, to keep the peace. But besides that, on a screen in the room, Trimdin saw something show up: a secondary rebel team entering the courtyard of the palace.“You sneaky bastard,” he said.“What, sir?”“Look behind you.” At that moment, they all turned around, now seeing what The King saw.“They're coming in through some form of secret entrance. When was that a thing?”“I’m not sure. That’s not in our blueprints. Was it put in place by The Queen?”“You know what, it doesn’t matter where it came from. It exists. Now, you all need to get to go! I’ll worry about surrendering.”“So that's the plan?”“Yes, now move!”The soldiers walked towards the hatch in the room, opening it and leading the rest of the top members into a secret elevator, bringing them close to the surface. They entered the massive royal ship, opened the airlock, and sped away, leaving King Trimdin alone in the room.On the other side of The Capital, Quinten sat in his command chamber, having constant contact with both teams. He awaited one thing: a phone call with Trimdin. If and only if his enemy surrendered would he cease the siege. Though he paused for it to be the right moment, the right point, as to which it now was.Just as King Trimdin gained control of the room, the time came, and the call arrived. Steadily, he looked at the displays surrounding him, knowing exactly who it was. He picked it up, pressing accept and hearing the demonic voice of his mortal enemy penetrate his ear.“Hello, my dear friend.”“Quinten,” The King snarled.“Have you thought about it? Are you going to give up? I mean, either way, you will die, but if you surrender now, fewer lives can be sacrificed. You saw what happens when you make mistakes. Maybe this won’t be one.”“You know what, maybe you're right. Surrender wouldn’t be a mistake. Sacrificing my life to save millions is a worthy trade.”“Really? You are giving up that easily? Just like that,” Quinten laughed. “What’s up with this sudden change of heart? Not too long ago, my victory would ‘never be true,’ but that seems pretty damn incorrect now.”“Well, maybe it is, maybe I was mistaken. Yesterday was the final stand, even though it was my first. I can bear death no longer, and I am sorry I underestimated you. I officially give up.”“Fine by me. I can’t wait to see you!” Abruptly, the phone call ended. An order to Quinten’s army was delivered, giving the authorization to capture King Trimdin.They all charged into the city, carrying high-capacity guns and red plasma shields. Made with the newest blaster and bulletproof technology, they wore slim vests, making foot soldiers able to do more while taking extra damage.The Royal Army was quickly sent the message of what King Trimdin decided to do, not knowing the intentions behind it. All civilians remained indoors, guards standing around them with shields and anti-bomb devices.Quinten’s army crawled closer and closer to the castle, and they were quickly met by the additional separatist unit, pointing guns toward the surrendering Trimdin.Outside, The King saw the entirety of his military standing down, surprised that their once fierce ruler had given up so easily. And in that crowd, Kiran, along with the rest of the special forces crew stood, watching him get pulled out by the enemy.Quickly, the separatists put restraints on King Trimdin, though these were different from the usual ones used. Not only were the cuffs themselves broader, but a strange collar was put around his neck. He was then lifted onto a vehicle, blindfolded, and driven out of the city, leaving the armies behind and letting his subjects down.The journey was not very long, though, to the confused and worried Trimdin, it seemed epochal. Within minutes, they arrived somewhere new, its location remaining anonymous. The King was promptly taken out, led down a strange set of stairs, and sat down in a chair. The rough exterior of rope rubbed against his skin, as he was tied down to the seat. Suddenly, the material over his eyes was lifted, and almost everyone left the room. Only one remained, standing next to two large swords and smiling at the defeated king.“Trimdin,” Quinten said slyly.“What the hell am I doing here? What is this place? What’s this damn thing on my neck?” The King wiggled around, trying to get free. The space around him was dark, large, and heavily fortified, with walls covered in weaponry and arms.“You surrendered, right?”“I thought you would come to me, not the other way around. Also, why are those swords there?”“You’ll see. The thing you're wearing is a magic control ring. It stops you from being able to use your ‘Godly’ abilities. And as to why I brought you here, well, I didn’t want such a public execution. I thought some privacy would benefit. Plus, no pesky soldiers.”“Oh,” Trimdin uttered.“Do you think I would really risk going to The Capital with such stakes? Come on, your majesty, I’m not stupid.”“So you knew what I was trying to do?”“Yes, dear friend, I could see it from a mile away.”“Damn it, I should have known. Yet again, I underestimated your intellect," he teased.“You sure did. Now, let me monologue for a bit. You have little time to live, so I want to make sure I bore you before the killing happens.”“Sure, Quinten. Go ahead.”“I wasn’t asking. Anyways, the swords. They are here for one reason: a duel. I am challenging you to a duel.”“Wait, what? A fight?”“Yes, a fight. You see, I'm not scared to be king, I’m scared of how I’m going to get it. As we chatted about before, becoming a monarch is something you are meant to deserve, and this is the only way to do it. I need to win a fight, fair and square. Every ruler in our history has won their place: I need to do the same. Otherwise, I am no king, just a mass murderer. I need to make a sacrifice; my fears need to be overcome. Who I am today was just the first part; this is the rest. So fight me, and if I am worthy, I will win. If I lose, then it was never meant to be. That’s the test.”“And you were yapping at me for switching up? No, Quinten, I won’t fight you. I can’t seek revenge anymore; it’s not who I want to be.”“Again, it’s not a question. You are going to battle me, dear Trimdin. There is no choice. It is the only way I know our domination is meant to be.”“Come on Quinten. We must solve this diplomatically for once. Let me live, and I’ll give you all the tax breaks in the universe; let me live, and I’ll make sure the mining monopoly stays. What can I do to stop this needless war?”“NOTHING! There is nothing you can do for me. I want war, I need conflict, and you'll soon see why. It’s settled, dear Trimdin. We shall duel to see who deserves to be the ruler of this fine kingdom. Your win would give power to all; mine, the power to crush the ones I hate!”“Please, Quinten,” Trimdin pleaded.“Quiet! You will fight me. Guards, get in here, untie our wonderful King Trimdin, and search for any hidden items. It’s time for a winner to be decided.”
Trimdin and Quinten now faced each other alone, blades in hand, ready to fight. The polished steel of both weapons lightly glistened in the dim light of the room, giving slight beauty to the dire situation. Both got into fighting positions, standing mere meters away from one another, pointing the tips of their daggers at their respective foe.“Are you ready for it?” Trimdin questioned.“Are you?”“Absolutely!”“Don’t forget, dear friend, you can’t use your magic. That collar stops all of it: the levitation, the strength, the healing; it's all gone. We are now just two normal beings, nothing more.”“I don’t need any powers to beat your ass, Quinten. The Queen was killed by her own sheer ignorance and my ability to think quickly. I will use the same against you.”“Let’s get this thing started, then,” Quinten replied, smirking. “On the count of three. One, two, and… go!” The aliens rushed towards each other, swords high in the air, ready to defend. Quickly, they clashed, their sabers scraping against each other, sounding as if they were nails on a chalkboard. Their faces came close together, their armor rubbing. Trimdin could feel the vigor and anger of Quinten, his face scrunching in anguish.“Come on Quinten, there must be a better way to solve this,” he grunted“No, your majesty, there isn’t. As I’ve said before, we don’t want peace, we want power. We deserve to control, to dominate, to devastate.”“But why? Why inflict pain, suffering, and poverty on innocent lives? Why can only you have success? Why do you need war?”“You know exactly why.” Quinten pushed back on Trimdin, forcing him away.“No, I don’t.”“We have enemies out there, and you know it. The Kuipernian Empire has been encroaching on our territory for years. We need to fight them off, we need to unite as one group and get back at them for what they did to us; what they did to me.”“The Kuipernian Empire? What do they have to do with this?”“Remember the Cross-Beltian Wars?” Quinten questioned.“I was only a child when they happened.”“You've heard of it. It's the war that killed your parents. And it's the war that killed everything I knew. My Master taught me the things the world refused to, taught me my strongest traits. But the Kuipernians took him from me.” A tear was shed from his eye. “I’ve lost so much by their hands, and all I want is to destroy them.”“That’s why you want to be king, that’s why you want to rule with an iron fist over the belt? Because you have a sappy revenge dream? Everything that has happened, all that you have built up, is because you want to take on a freaking ally of ours. Nardyn and I hated them, too, but he made peace, and now you want to tear that down for a little power fantasy?”“It’s more than just a power fantasy, dear Trimdin. You have no idea what I went through with them, you have no idea what is out there. The Kuipernians took away my father figure, the only being who had ever loved me. They slaughtered my friends, those who I cared about deeply. No amount of resources could make up for it, just revenge.”“Quinten. For years, I hated you and The Queen for what you did to my brother. Every time I would see your faces on TV, or in the news, or on the propaganda, I’d just get flashbacks to that day. My bitterness grew more and more, until finally, I was given a chance to ‘make things right' with Tim and Claren. And I did. The only problem: I still felt incomplete. Killing her was not enough, so I thought killing you and your army would do it. But with everything that has happened, the countless lives lost because of my rage, I saw the flaws in my ways. Revenge would not make me whole, but peace would. I needed to stop being vengeful and be forgiving; do what my brother did. So don’t go down this path, please.”“I’m beginning to feel like this is less of a duel and more of a therapy session.” He moved back to his original place, readying his sword yet again for another rush. Trimdin prepared to defend against the oncoming attack.“Trust me, I wish I went to school for that instead of public communications,” Trimdin muttered. “But that’s beyond the point here. You need help, you need closure. I can give that to you. You know, set up a meeting with The Empress or something. Maybe some form of apology or reconciliation?” he expressed, naming every option he could. "That would be miles better than trying to overthrow me and become king, just to get back at them."“What would that do anyways? That’s just a bandage to a much larger wound. I already have all I could wish for. The only closure I need is to have the heads of every soldier in their army.” Quickly, Quinten lunged toward his fending enemy, pressing into one another yet again.“Power doesn’t solve all problems. Peace, diplomacy, democracy, and teamwork are the best way to handle things. The endless war, the endless bloodshed; as you already said, it took so much from you before. So why cause it again, why make so many lose those they love for a war you want?”“Because I deserve it, we deserve it. They took from us, so we take from them, no matter how many lives it costs.”“But is that worth it, supplying anger with more anger? Where does that get you?”“Further up the food chain. Both you and I know that something big will come. We need to grow if we want to win.”“There are no threats to our kingdom. I get that you have a bone to pick with them, but we have an alliance with every civilization in our system. And our alliance has treaties with other alliances. The Belt is safe, don’t sacrifice that for your own needs.”“No,” he grunted, “we need to be a powerful society. Alliances are bullshit. They mean nothing. The Queen was ready to break them right before you killed her. We were going to war, and we were going to defeat those bastards. Then, the next target. Then the next, and so on.” Quinten pushed his blade closer and closer to The King’s face.“Do you hear yourself? You sound like some crazy conspiracy theorist.” Trimdin struggled to keep the edge away from his neck. “You want to duel to become king, then make innocent citizens slaves to your rule, and finally fight our most important trade and political partners? Just because you believe ‘something big will come;’ just because you hate what they did to you? And now you want to do that to them? Have you gone mad?”“Dear friend, are you really asking that to me? If you knew what kind of threat this was, if you knew not only what the Kuipernians can do, but what the rest of the universe is capable of, you would do just as I have. They hurt me, God hurt me, and everyone and everything that exists has hurt me. So I’ll return the favor.” The sword was now right against the collar, skimming its metal surface and digging into it. Then, it slipped under, part of the blade touching the device, the other sticking lightly into King Trimdin’s shoulder.“Ah! Come on,” Trimdin painfully groaned, “Come on. Stop, Quinten.”“No!” he pushed down further.“Yes. And I wasn’t asking this time, either.” At that moment, Trimdin reapplied his force on the hilt, using both hands to leverage the enraged Quinten from him, slicing off the restraining neckband.“Oh shit,” Quinten exclaimed, realizing what he had done.“‘Oh shit’ are the exact words I wanted to hear!”“Using my own words against me now, are we?”“Yeah, I Goddamn am. You know what, I lied before. Maybe I do need my powers to beat your furious ass.” The famous purple glow suddenly illuminated Trimdin’s hands, forcing him to drop the blade and lift into the air.“Well, now I’ve definitely lost,” Quinten grinned. “Hey, can I get some guards in here? We got a fighter.”“Quiet you idiotic egomaniac. Those guards can do nothing to me, you know. Every bullet will be stopped; I can literally deflect them instantly. What the hell are they going to do?”“Help is help, my friend.” Right then, five guards came running in, shields ready and weapons active.“Yeah, but that help ain’t going to do much,” The King responded. He lifted his hand out, raising the soldiers off the ground and forcefully pushing them against the wall behind them. They all promptly fell back down, groaning in pain. “Anyone else you want to invite?”“Nah, I’m good. So now, your majesty, what will it be for me? Death, or a lifetime in prison?"“Someone with your list of crimes should be sentenced to death, but as I told you: killing doesn’t lead to happiness. Revenge is no longer how things go around here, even for you. Quinten, you will go on trial for your wrongdoings, we will explore the history you have, and come to a resolution for your problems.”“And what if I refuse? What if I want to die? If I don’t deserve to be king, to get revenge, to lead my people toward greatness, then is life truly worth it?” Quinten lifted his sword near his chest, leveling it with the throat.“Don’t you dare! Quinten, your life, no matter how horrible, no matter how sad, is worth something. You have done terrible things, not only to others, but to me, yet I don’t want you to die. Though a small part understands, the moral and sincere me needs you to live. I beg.”“Trimdin, I have been through enough. There is only one last being I can take revenge on: myself. If only you knew.” “I do. I get it. For so long I contemplated the same thing. My brother was the last relative I had, the only family that remained. No one else was there to take care of me, to love me. When he was taken away, I wanted to join him. But I realized that he would never accept me if I gave in so easily. He always wanted me to be his successor, he told me himself. That was the only thing keeping me going. So yes, I do understand it, as I said before. I guess me and you are more alike than we thought.” “Are you really using that trope against me? Seriously? No, I want to die, I need to die. I am not worthy."“You may not be worthy, but you can make amends, learn to live with the past, and create a better future for all.”“Oh King Trimdin, so innocent at heart, so pure in ideals. Maybe this will give you a quick lesson!”“No, Quinten, no!” but he was too late. At that moment, he sliced his throat, plunging to the ground. Blood rapidly surrounded Quinten, his body lying completely still.The King floated motionless, shrouded with horror, realizing what had just happened. He quickly dropped out of the air, falling knees-first next to the corpse.“What-What have you done? What have I done?” he cried. “Why? Just why?” Tears began to drop on the grieving Trimdin’s face. “I hated you for years, planned to finish you for years, but now that it has finally happened, all I feel is pain. Damn you, Quinten.” He sat for a while next to his rival, looking at the figure.Eventually, Trimdin rose, standing in the elusive bunker and staring at his rival. “May you find your place in Eden… if somehow you can get there.” He then lifted the body with his powers, carrying it horizontally toward the exit of the room. But as he did so, he noticed that the guards were still moving, and as he neared them, one spoke out.“King Trimdin!” they shouted in discomfort.“Yes?” he responded, wiping off some tears.“Where the hell do you think you are going with him?”“Home, to The Capital, where we will decide how to properly take care of him.”“But he's ours, he's our leader; don’t you dare take our Master away.” The soldier was still on the ground, but moved his hand near his waist.“What, what are you doing there?”“Let’s just say I have a bit of a surprise for you.” They unclipped a strap on their utility belt.“And what is that supposed to mean?”“You know that little war Quinten was talking about?”“Yeah?”“He was not the only one affected by it.” They pulled something out.“Many families lost loved ones during it.”“I was one of those families,” they responded, coughing.“Well, I am so sorry for you. It was a true tragedy of a conflict, but we worked it out.”“I lost my wife, I lost my kid! They bombed my house!” A grenade now laid in their hand as they yelled.“What are you doing with that?” Trimdin became defensive, preparing to protect himself and Quinten.“You know exactly what I’m doing.” Their hand now grazed the loop of the pin, the other holding down the lever.“Put that down! You are going to harm yourself and everyone around you.”“I know.” They yanked the pin.“Shit!” The King instantly turned around, placing a shield around himself and storming towards the exit, Quinten’s carcass following.“This is for my family, motherfu—”The handle was let go. Boom.He rushed up the stairs, and the explosion trailed. They were quickly engulfed, wrapped in the fiery hellscape and surrounded by an orange void. The bunker was quickly obliterated, the home over it destroyed by the blast.King Trimdin rushed away, soaring toward the palace. As he was in the air, he scooped Quinten's radio off of his body, scanning into the Royal frequency.Near the palace, everyone remained disoriented by the sudden surrender of The King. Both groups still stood, tensions slowly rising. Shields were activated, though all weapons were set aside. The two teams just stared aimless, lacking significant command.Kiran was there, commanding her part of the military. Though in other divisions, troops started to lose faith, many beginning to turn off their shields and return home. The enemy, on the other hand, made slight advancements forward, attempting to gain territory without a fight. But even then, the most confident of the bunch started to show little interest in upkeeping the offense, only going back when forced to by their commanding officers.Neither side wanted to truly fight, subordinates trying to keep a peaceful status quo. But the higher-ups within Quinten's forces were rowdy, wanting to continue without orders. Kiran noticed this stirring, concerned that it may cause an all-out battle. They seemingly wanted for the war to end once and for all, no matter the outcome of the two leaders. So, as many on her side left the action, they were getting shot and killed by the opposing team, causing everyone to readjust their shields and activate firearms. "What are they doing? They can't do that, that's a war crime," Kiran complained, shocked by the actions of her adversary. "Things are getting bad out here. Where the hell is Trimdin, it's been long enough. Either he's gone, or Quinten is." Though at that moment, crackles began to come through Kiran's device."Hello! Hello!""What was that?" she patted around, attempting to find her transponder."Hello?" it mumbled.Kiran lifted the gadget out of her pocket, now holding it in her hand and tuning it in. "Who is this?" she asked."Qu-Tri-Qu.""Quinten?""No.""Trimdin?" she turned the knob on the side."Kiran, is that you?""Yes, yes it is!""Great. How are things going?""We've got some aggression, and I don't know how to solve it.""Is there a way to get everyone to hear me? I have something to say," he said, his voice tiring."Are you sure you want to tell them that? Now?""Yes, yes. It is the only way. If they know, they will stop, it will all stop.""How do I tell the enemy to listen?""Use the podium. It's still set up, I had it ready in case of a victory. Just go there and hook this thing up to it.""Okay, sir." Quickly, she ran up to the stage, now standing where The King stood just days prior. She crouched down, took out a cord from under the stand, and hooked it up to the radio. Kiran then rose, now looking at the armies below.The system was then turned on, a screech beamed into the surrounding area. Instantly, the attention of every soldier on the ground was obtained, both friend and foe staring at the confident Kiran."Hey, guys. The King has an important message for you all and he would like to say it. Many of you may be able to assume what it is, but here it goes. Your Majesty, whenever you're ready, though try to be subtle.""No. Quinten is DEAD. A victor has been chosen...."~~Two days passed. King Trimdin sat in the throne room, waiting to officially address his subjects. Quinten’s body laid in a coffin, prepared for a ceremony. Media broadcasters from all over gathered to record the occasion, as it marked the beginning of a new era for the kingdom.When the time came, he rose from his royal seat and exited the palace, masses of subjects for and against him anticipating the remark. He walked up to the dreaded microphone, standing behind the very podium that started everything. Trimdin stared at all of their faces, some riddled with anger, others loaded with relief. He noticed every detail: the brimming smiles, the open-mouthed shouting; the ecstatic cheerers, the lonesome grievers. Nearly every form of emotion filled the area, with only one missing: regret. But The King was about to remedy that issue, as his speech soon began.“The Asteroid War is over. A few weeks ago, I became king. One week after that, I told you I would fight the evil that plagued our home. And now, two days ago, I told you the Devil was dead. I promised that we were going to stop the horrors committed by Quinten. We succeeded, but at what cost? At this point, hundreds of soldiers have died, and all we got out of it was one death. I was truly mistaken before when I said this was OUR war, because, in reality, it was just mine. I strived for revenge against someone who had hurt me and thought it would be easy, that it would be painless; I heavily miscalculated. No one should have perished, including the killer. Sure, Quinten may have deserved it; sure, he has done terrible things. But so have I. I had your loved ones sacrificed because I wanted vengeance. He did the same. The only reason we prevailed is that I became the very evil that I was fighting against. It turns out he and I had a similar idea of our fate, though he killed himself because he thought that if there wasn’t revenge, then there was nothing. For the longest time, I thought the same way, but as I said in my Talk to the Kingdom, I found errors in my ways. But he never did. Though I hope now we can ensure that never happens again. Many of you have lost friends and family to war, whether throughout my ruling or times before. Though instead of continuing this violent cycle, we need to come together, to unify. If there was anything at all Quinten was right about, it is that we need to be undivided, we need to work together as a nation and show our true might. His misconception was in thinking everyone else is our enemy, but that is simply not true. We have made peace, we are in harmony, and now, all we need to do is heal the wounds of history. He just made them larger, infecting us with the disease of anger and hatred. So together, let’s make a better future for our society. Together, let’s fix the problems of our past. I am now formally designating the special elite district to be decommissioned as such and turned into a memorial for those we have lost, not only by this war, but by all wars that have been fought in our existence. And we will fund this by seizing all assets held by Quinten, as he and the last of the mineral heirs have perished. The Belt will be ridded of its ridiculous class system; there will be no poor, there will be no rich. Even I will give up many of the luxuries of being king, as I believe I should live as my subjects do. For too long has the immense wealth of our kingdom been held by the few, so now, it will be held by the many. This is what my brother truly wanted. I promise you that not a single fight will happen under my watch, that no more lives are lost. No one will go hungry, no one will be forced into a life of servitude. And, all those who have helped me on this journey will be deified. Tim, Claren, and of course, my brother, have made me who I am today, they have brought me on a voyage of an unforeseen future, and I could never thank them enough for it. Wherever those three are, I hope they are living their best lives, and I pray to all the souls who have been lost in this conflict. May they rest in peace. Also, an honorary mention to Kiran Samdin, as if wasn't for her, we would have never got the mass surrender of Quinten's forces. They are holding his funeral is later today, though I doubt any of you want to come to that. They opened the door to anyone who pleases to join them. After that, his body and the coffin will be burned. Otherwise, that’s all. More plans for reconstruction will be announced soon, and we’ll figure out how to take care of those who committed crimes under Quinten later. For now, mourn those we have lost, but celebrate the freedom you have maintained. We won.”The crowd below cheered, showing appreciation for the words of their ruler. Some remained bitter, but enjoyed the brutal truth of The King. Nevertheless, Trimdin smiled, waving goodbye to them and immediately turning around, walking towards the entrance of his palace. All cameras pointed toward him, as he disappeared behind the doors, now being the head of a new age for The Belt.And only one thought coursed through the sad yet satisfied mind of King Trimdin: My brother would be proud.
3 Months After The Departure….A craft entered the orbit of Earth, tiny compared to its destroyed body and barren soul. In it, two humans sat, guiding their ship toward the planet. But to their surprise, what once was had now vanished; their home, destroyed.“What the hell happened?” one of the men said.“The Earth, it’s a total mess!”“What did we miss on this damn mission? Three months pass and Earth is gone!”The two astronauts looked at each other, squished by the tight interior of their cabin.“Well, that explains why we couldn’t talk to mission control,” one said plainly.“Shit. Holy shit.” The man turned around in a panic and quickly started scanning the space around them, spying for any signs of human activity.The captain looked out the window of their capsule, staring at the sphere below.“It was once so beautiful, so magical.”“It sure was,” said the other man at the radio.“Did you get anything yet?”“Kind of, but the signal is faint.”“What’s the source?”“I’m not sure; let me try to pinpoint its location.” The man took hold of his headphones, looked down at his monitor, and attempted to discover the precise source of the message. He twisted a few nobs, pushed a couple of buttons, and honed in on the signal.“I’ve got it! It's the space station, the International Freedom Station!”“What’s the message?”“Just a series of short ticks and long taps.”“Let me hear that.” The more experienced pilot floated over to the post. He put on his pair of earbuds and listened.“Three short, three long, and three short. And it repeats.” The man looked out the window again. “It’s a Goddamn SOS!”“I knew that. Do you think anyone’s on the station?”“If you knew that, then you wouldn’t hold your hopes out.”“We should head there, anyway. It’ll be loaded with supplies.”“If what I think happened, happened, then we’ll need everything we can get.”The two men sat back in their seats and set course, matching their orbit with the station. Smoothly and swiftly they reached their destination, though instead of life, the place was dead; no lights, no movement, nothing.“That’s not a good sign,” one of the men quipped.“I’m not surprised. The war caused this poor station to be a battleground of ownership. It’s been empty for months.”“Didn’t you spend some time here?”“Long ago, my friend, back when I thought our world was the only.”“The habitation systems are probably down, then. But it’s nothing a reboot won’t fix.”The pilot directed the ship toward a connector in the starboard section.Similar to a football field in size, the station spanned many yards across the darkness of space around the crimson Earth. Like many before, the International Freedom Station was constructed of different modules, a display of national flags and symbols covering its white and silver exterior. A large, cylindrical build allowed it to have vast arrays of solar panels, their glaring blue hue absorbing energy exponentially.As the ship neared the docking bay, its computer system locked onto a target and aligned itself. Inch by inch, their destination came ever closer. And within seconds, they were attached, little arms grabbing hold of small notches in a ring surrounding the exit.“Docking Successful,” their computer screen read.“Ha, great!” the pilot screamed.The men unstrapped themselves from their seats, quickly bolting to their spacesuits.“Damn, these things got really beaten up, didn’t they.”“That’s what happens when you battle on an asteroid,” his underling responded.“Very funny. Now let’s get into this station.”A lever sat on the side of the door, heavily banged up with deep dents covering its dull exterior. But with enough brute strength, they opened it, entered the airlock, closed the hatch behind them, and matched its pressure with that of the larger vessel.“The pressure is too low. I think you were right.”“Well, they didn’t ask an engineer to come on this mission for nothing!”“You’re saying that like we did this willingly.”“I was fine with going to Pluto. I did not agree to meet an alien, battle an evil queen, return to a destroyed Earth, and learn that everyone I loved is likely gone.” “I don’t think that was part of the draft description.”“It wasn’t…” he responded, his voice strained as he looked his partner in the eye. “It wasn’t at all.”“Oh, bud, we’ll make it through this. I know we will. Okay.”“Okay.”The men were in agreement, and soon, opened up the hatch into the station. It was dark inside, empty and cold. A sea of items floated around endlessly; laptops, books, food packages, and more. Both entered cautiously, turning on their flashlights and steering through the mess.“Well, I think we’re alone,” the engineer said.“Let’s scrap this thing for everything we can.”The men got to work, the pilot investing time into every nook and cranny, finding groves of vacuumed-packed food and dozens of sealed plant seeds in the greenhouse. He examined everything he could, saving what was possible. Water was also a necessity, as to which the station's sanitation station for waste seemed to produce an excess of.The other man plugged his computer into the faulty electrical system, attempting to discover and troubleshoot any issues. It appeared that the main circuit breaker was overloaded, and, with the quick flip of a switch, power was yet again delivered to the station.They soon came back together, confident with their discoveries.“At least that wasn’t a total lost cause… thankfully,” one of the men said.“We got plenty out of it, that’s for sure. The station’s on, we have resources for the next few months, and if we play it smart with the greenhouse, we could last for years.”“So now what?”“I’m not sure. This is not what we signed up for.”“You’re telling me!”“We should cannibalize the station to assist the ship's restoration; it is our lifeboat. But we can survive here, too, and maybe find others on Earth. That’s the best option.”“Things are slim, but our best bet is here.”“Then it’s settled. You get on the repairs, and I’ll get on working with the greenhouse and water supply. This is our new home; this is the last residence of the human race.”The two men got to work. They knew the journey ahead would be challenging, but worth it. Nothing is more important than life, than believing in salvation.And soon, the men would get what they wanted: a place for humanity to thrive.~~6 Months After The Departure….“Hello! Can anyone hear me? Is anyone out there?” This message was broadcasted out of the craft, but no one reciprocated. The International Freedom Station stood tall, dancing around a desolate Earth, a man and his partner stranded within its safety.“When you’re in the middle of space, it’s pretty hard to get any responses, isn’t it?” the man said to his companion.“What the hell do we expect? Everyone’s dead. There’s no one out there. We’re lucky if our cries even reach the surface.”“The antennas are just a bit… dysfunctional. Though I’ve seen you do nothing about it, Mr. Engineer. Don’t you have a degree in this stuff?”“I’m not a magician. I’ve done what I can to strengthen the signal.”“Have you decoded more of the stored transmissions?”“I’ve gone through what I can, and it seems pretty telling.”“What is that?” the man asked his crewmate.“A war, a nuclear one, happened. It may have been out of anger, it may have been out of pity, but someone pressed the finalizing button. Retaliations soon occurred, causing everyone to destroy everything, including themselves.”“Survivors are unlikely.”“Between the gust of fire and acid rain, no one’s surviving that.”“So, we are officially the last of humanity?”“It seems so….”The two men sat down, staring out the massive cupola of the station.“Much has happened to us in the past few months. We were meant to be the first of something, not the last,” the leading man reminisced.“Our friends, our families, our society; they’re all gone. Everyone we have ever loved is dead. Never mind in the worst way possible: a fiery hell.”Together they fell silent, letting their thoughts take hold in their heads.“Today, the last of the human race continues to live. Our existence, our place in the universal saga, is ending. That's it,” he expressed.“At least we have the safety of this station, but isolation is no light concept. Our only hope is that something heard my meager cries. That’s all there is left for us….”As the man said that, a sudden message began to transmit to their intercom system. It was in a foreign language, exotic and mysterious.“Udenfy ves, ths ryal comuncte lne of Trm-King, du yo cpy.”“Oh my God!” one shouted, the message playing loudly throughout the station.“What was that?”“It was a message from the speaker. Should I respond?”“Yes!” he said. “Though what type of twisted coincidence was that?”“A good one,” the commander said as he ran to the receiver. “Who is this?”There was no response.“We are two human astronauts stuck around the Earth. War has ravaged our home; we have nowhere to go.”Nothing.“Please, respond!”Both men stood in silence, waiting.Steadily, they picked up the microphone and pressed the shiny silver button on its side. “Can you help us, whoever you are?”“Hlp?” it responded.“Yes, yes, help. We need help! We’re trapped in a big hunk of metal circling a blue marble-looking thing. My buddy and I are the last of our species.”“Hlp?”“Help! Do you need our names? We are Tim and Claren, and we need help.”“Tim? Claren? Tim n Claren!”“Now you're getting it,” the man said with a sigh of relief.The radio fell silent again.“What happened?” his crewmate asked.“I’m not sure. I was just getting the message out to them, but then—”“Hello. Tim and Claren, are you there?”“YES, YES, we are. And you speak English, finally.”“Do you know who it is, though?”“No, who's this?”“Think about it for a second….”The voice sat in their minds. It was recognizable, distinct. And at that moment, Tim and Claren realized precisely who they were talking to.“Wait a minute. Trimdin? Trimdin? TRIMDIN!”“It’s Trimdin?” Claren asked, getting up and walking towards Tim.“Yeah!”“Holy shit, what! How did the signal reach so far out?”“Who cares!”“Do you think he can save us?”“Let me ask,” Tim responded, forcing his attention back to the conversation with their alien friend. “Hey, uh, Trimdin, we’re trapped in orbit around the Earth.”“Around Earth, you say? Trapped? Are you asking to be saved?”“To put it lightly: yes.”“Do you have a precise location?”“All I’ve got right now is orbital velocity.”“That’s fine, I have my ship in the area. Let me get it over to you.”“A ship in the area? Where?” Claren asked.“How long will it take?” Tim questioned Trimdin.“Not very long. It should be there in 3, 2, and….” A massive vessel showed up in the space around their station. “You see it?”“We definitely see it,” Tim responded in awe.“That thing is freaking huge!”“You’re damn right it is. It’s my personal royal ship. It will beam your craft up into its bay, and from there, deliver you directly to me.”“The whole station is going to fit in that thing?” Claren asked.“Station? God no. But you still have your tiny ship, right?”“Of course we do. And Claren has even been doing some repairs to it.”“Wonderful, I cannot wait to see that thing again! How’d the parts work?”“They worked good enough to get us home. We still have no idea how you had the exact parts to fix our ship.”“We’ve captured a few human vessels in our time. Regardless, I shall see you when you get here, my dear friends. There is much to tell you about, and I’m sure you feel the same.”“You bet, your majesty,” both said together into the mic.“See you then!”The transmission cut out, and, quickly, the men rushed into their old ship, slipping on their battered suits and packing everything they could into it, detaching from the station.“Farewell,” Claren said somberly.“We are leaving man’s most impressive feat behind: a ruined sanctuary."“Impressive and depressive,” Claren said back.In unison, the men looked longingly at each other, sitting once again in the very thing that brought them to their not-so-little green friend.And as they reflected, a stream of bluish light surrounded the craft, moving them closer and closer to the opened bay door of the larger vessel.Soon, they were fully engulfed by it and blasted off towards The Asteroid Belt, toward their new home. Toward a new beginning.
The clobbered capsule clashed with the clean core of the craft, steamy streaks of gas surrounding it and a rush of oxygen blasting into the now-closed bay. Tim and Claren remained seated, watching the wonders of alien technology meld with their own. Quickly, they were encircled by mechanical arms, some of which grabbed firmly onto them and locked their ship in place. The men unstrapped from their seats; from there, a bellowing voice spoke out on their comms, talking directly to the fascinated men.“Tim. Claren. You are sitting in one of the largest ships in our solar system: The Grandiant. It is the premiere vessel of The Belt, incomparable in speed. As we speak, it is rushing you to The Capital, where we will once again see each other. Right now, all you need to do is stay put and keep your suits on. We’ll have an upgrade for that soon, but things will be rocky when you first get here. Just know that you are in good hands, and that we have suffered quite a bit since you were here. I’m sure you could say the same. We will discuss it all in no time.”“Trimdin,” Tim asked, “how long will it take to get us there?”“A few minutes at worse. Traveling this distance takes a bit of time.” “Well, it’ll be shorter than anything we’ve ever taken.”“Good, then. Enjoy the ride!”Wait,” but the radio cut out on Tim. “That was a fruitful conversation,” Claren joked.“At least he answered my first question.”“At least. I’m sure we can ask more when we arrive. There’s just so much to learn.”“We’ve only seen a fraction of what his society was capable of. And with this mega-ship, it’s obvious that they are ahead of us in every metric.”“Yeah, it's remarkable.”“It truly is. You should look at some of their tech when we get there. It’s probably an engineer's paradise.”“I’ll have a field day, and I’m sure you will, too. There are probably plenty of ships to pilot in Trimdin’s forces, and years of new scientific advancements.”“For sure!”“I guess being the first humans to discover an alien society paid off, Tim. Good thing you helped Trimdin when you did, when you saw his injury. Or else, we would have died on that dumb rock all those months ago.”“I think we could attribute more than just that. We saved them from tyranny, and in return, we got some ship parts. But now, we are getting the full reward.”“A life for a life, a save for a save. We rescued them, they rescued us. A balance, a compromise, an ending. It’s almost perfect!”“Slow down, Claren, no need to get philosophical. We were just lucky, and unlucky, all at the same time. The price of this journey was the end of another, of our own species. But who knows what would have happened if we got back in time, before the bombs? We understand little about what we are heading towards, about Trimdin’s home. About our home.”“We know enough to recognize that we were blessed to be off-planet when it happened. Earth was on a downward spiral for too long with all the division, all the competition, all the fighting; it was endless, painful. I loved Earth as much as anyone would, but hated the idiots on it. And we’re not innocent in any of it.”“We were just doing our jobs, and everyone was to blame. As a species, we destroyed ourselves. It was hell until the very end, and we are just part of that fate.”“You hated talking about it at the station, but we must face it soon. Our damn mission was a part of their larger scheme of warring egos. ‘Exploration’ it was called, when in reality, it was exploitation. A desperate rush to prove superiority before we blew ourselves into oblivion. I guess they couldn’t hold out long enough, those bastards.”“Claren, we were assigned the impossible during an unimaginable time. Launching a Pluto mission by the decade's end was an insane proposition, and both sides knew it. Everyone did. We knew that The Belt would cause trouble, we knew the stakes were high, and we failed. But our failure is not what caused the end, it was everyones. We share a destiny with billions of others, ours is merely coming later.”“But everything was riding on our task; it was either them or us, and they won,” he responded somberly.“Claren, stop that; no one won. Everyone lost. In the six months we were gone, three of which we had zero communication with mission control, anything could have happened. So stop; there’s no need for pessimism.”“If that’s your wish.”“Thank you. I understand your worries, but let’s just focus on our travels.”“Sure, sure. If ‘travels’ are more interesting to you, then so be it.”Out of nowhere over the intercom system, a reminder came through. “Two minutes until arrival,” it said in a robotic voice.“We’re almost at The Capital,” Tim exclaimed.“Cool,” Claren yapped, giving a slight smirk toward his partner.“We will figure it all out, Claren. Trust me. We have found a new home, a new place to start, and from there, we will learn our fate.”“A home. A new home. So, this is almost like a homecoming?” Claren laughed.“What do you mean?”“It’s like we are going to school. The parts were our first year, and now we're coming back for our second. We’re more knowledgeable; more jaded; more familiar. It’s like Goddamn high school.”“I’ve been out of it for a while, but I see what you mean. My teen years were ruined by the pandemic of 2020. Not fun. Though I’m glad you 2030s kids had a better time.”“Ha, we sure did! Though I’m sure you had loads of pleasure sitting at home on your tiny computers using that ancient software. Such a weird time.”“You talk about it like it was decades ago.”“It was decades ago!” Claren joked.“I think I’m starting to show my age.”“What! No! If anything, you’re lucky you missed dances.”“Were they that bad?”“YES, they were! Though I hope this one's a bit better.”“I’m sure it will be!” Tim laughed loudly. “You see, isn’t it so much better to talk about this than mope around and be all serious? Sometimes a good joke can clear the air.”“Yeah, it is. I don’t want to be all sad, but I need some closure. Once we get there, we really need to talk with someone, get things together, and come to peace with everything. So much has happened, I mean, we went from crash-landing on an asteroid to traveling in our alien best friend's supership!”“It’s been a wild ride, I’ll tell you that, and we deserve to know everything we can. Though at the same time, I’m not sure I want to. I enjoy making random references to high school more than reminiscing on all that death and destruction,” he responded.“But there is more to uncover, and I know it. What about the other team, what about bunkers? Did any trillionaires manage to escape on their shitty ships? I need to know the end of the story, the real end. Both of us do.”“Everyone’s dead. If we couldn’t make it through The Belt, no one could. And what if you don’t like the real answer, what if I don’t? What if we are totally alone, destined to die, never knowing the full story? What happens then?”“Even if we only uncover a fraction of what happened, I will die in peace.”“Well, I can guarantee you that,” Tim replied. “The two of us are the only redemption for them, for those who were lost.”“Humanity has come to its end, and now we must pass the torch to the next. We eradicated ourselves, and that’s the lesson; now, we have the chance to ensure that it never happens again.”“Exactly,” Tim answered. “You’re getting it.”“I’ve got to say, these have been a long few minutes. You think we’re almost there?”“I think so….” At that moment, another voice came booming into their craft.“Approaching The Capital, docking sequence to start momentarily.”“Well, there’s our answer,” he cheered.“I wonder what tech they use to move so fast?” Claren questioned. “We take months, they take minutes. That must be a fine engine.”“Guess that’s what happens when your civilization relies on space travel. These ships are to them what cars were to us. This is just a simple commute.”“That's one way to put it.”“Now, make sure your tank is full. Who knows what we’ll be walking into?”“Trimdin said to keep them on, so good call. I just hope we don’t need them forever.”“I don’t think we will. Remember when he came into this ship all that time ago? He was unaffected by our atmosphere, which made me think: maybe his species has the same needs as ours?”“Yeah, you’re right.”“If that's true, then maybe we’ll be okay. Though that was just a guess. For all we know, he was wearing a suit himself and we had no idea. Or maybe they don’t even need to breathe anything? There are so many questions.”“Well, I think that will be remedied soon,” Claren quipped, feeling the bumps of the larger ship docking with the asteroid. “Remedied for sure.”The Grandiant began to seal itself into place as it slid into the area, it soon closing and pressurizing. Its sleek design and metallic exterior allowed a pronounced reflection off the port's shining lights, creating a form of ethereal beauty to the specialized vessel. The main exit of the craft aligned closely with a doorway inside the docking area, it leading directly into the asteroid.The two men began to feel the light gravity overwhelm them, their covered arms gently floating downward. Yet again, the robotic voice came through, now indicating that they could leave their capsule. So, the men carefully walked toward the hatch, Tim grabbing the lever on the side of the door and lifting it. Both walked into the airlock, closing the first one behind them and now staring toward the second one. Tim yet again approached the door, this one leading to the exterior of their vessel. Claren stayed behind him, watching sensors around the frame, monitoring the pressure and oxygen levels within. He pressed a button, allowing it to match the environment set around their ship. Tim smoothly opened the hatch, revealing the immaculate white interior of The Grandiant. From there, they walked out, the men standing on solid ground for the first time in months.“Damn, this thing looks so cool,” Claren commented.“It feels so big yet this is only one part of the entire thing.”“How do they fit this in with the asteroids in the area? It’s almost the size of one itself.”“Hey, they got some pretty big ones out here, and you know it. Some of the rocks around here were almost planets at some point.”“Sure, but it’s still impressive. I would never expect an entire civilization to exist in these boulders.”“Is that so?” someone said into Tim and Claren’s earpieces.“Whoa, what was that?” Claren asked Tim.“Why, it’s me, my dear friends.”“Trimdin?” Claren questioned.“Yes?”“Oh! Hey,” he responded.“Hello, your majesty,” Tim added.“How did you connect to our earpieces?”“The same way I detected your signal around the Earth,” The King quipped. “Welcome, my friends, to The Captial, the largest city in The Belt and home of his majesty King Trimdin. I will be entering the bay with a legion of guards, so be prepared to greet them and show respect to me. It’s just a formality.”“We get to show respect to the great King Trimdin, such an honor!” Claren jested.“Hey, if it is tradition for them to do this, then let's appreciate that. This is their home, their king, their culture. We are just guests, so respect them,” Tim demanded.“Fine.”“Good. Now pay attention.”An opening appeared opposite Tim and Claren’s ship, the men standing right in front of it and staring toward the snowy void. Then, a tall figure walked out, a crown shining on his head and a majestic red robe wrapping him. A small group of alien soldiers stood to his side, weapons holstered but shields up, leading the influential ruler toward them. Trimdin’s smile was grand, stretching corner to corner across his green-tinted face, The King’s prominent eyes gazing directly at the men.“We meet again at last!”“Yes, your majesty, we have,” Tim replied, placing his clunky knee on the ground. Claren quickly did the same.“I am so glad to see that you have made it. We have much to give you, much to tell you, and much to help you with.”“Absolutely. Sir, we helped you all that time ago, and are honored that you’re willing to do the same for us.”“Yes, yes, we are truly honored,” Claren added.“That is wonderful to hear, and I thank you for being respectful. It’s not usually my thing, but all my top advisors recommended I do. Though we should really be bending the knee to you, and you’ll soon realize why. Quite a reputation follows your names.”“Reputation? What do you mean?”“Do you remember how when you mentioned your names, they instantly got me to come over and talk to you?”“Sure,” Tim said back.“Well, ‘Tim’ and ‘Claren’ are two words that get everyone’s attention around here. They have a certain Godlike presence.”“Godlike?” Claren repeated.“I may or may not have deified you guys while you were gone. Oops.”“Oh,” both men remarked.“So, you are now Gods… along with my brother. And honestly, you may have more power than me because you're actually here. To us, you are living, breathing icons, which comes with good and bad things.”“And I am assuming that is just the tip of the iceberg?” asked Claren.“There is a lot more, but that’s the big one. Now, how about new suits?“Those would be perfect upgrades… that is, if you have them?”“Are you really casting doubt, Claren?”“No, I’m sure you can do it, especially with the might of your subjects, your majesty.”“Great! Let’s get on our way,” The King stated, ending the conversation and turning again toward the opening.Everyone else followed, with Tim and Claren being pushed forward and a mob of soldiers surrounding them. They swiftly walked through it, realizing it was an elevator, and the door slid behind them. Suddenly, they jolted upwards, rocketing toward the core of the rock. The journey took little time, as they soon reached the top of the seemingly endless void and walked out, revealing the beauty contained behind it. They entered the Royal command room, the infinite sea of monitors and strikingly long table stunning the two men. The space's deep maroon contrasted with the ship, but its gold trim and the rich white furniture brought them right back. On the screens, footage from cameras around The Capital streamed, giving insight into the city's happenings. Tim and Claren stood amazed, dazzled by the wonder of it all.“Damn, your majesty. This is one way to show off!” Tim praised.“That was not the intention,” The King cracked.“It worked regardless,” Claren replied.“Follow me to our research and development laboratory.”“Do we need citizenship? You know, like take a test or something?”“At some point, yes. But you will need to study a bit on some of our history before you are granted it. Like all immigrants, you need to be well educated on the place you are moving to, regardless of status. It is only fair.”“We get it. On Earth, going on vacation was tough enough, never mind moving. That was next to impossible. So trust us, a little test is a dream in comparison.”“Remarkable. I am sure you will have a great time hearing about our past and its many twists and turns. Now, to the lab!”“To the lab!” they chanted together, the group now moving through the castle and toward the room. Within moments they arrived outside its entrance, opened it, and walked into the mysterious space. It was enormous, covered in grayish paint with swaths of different experimental technologies standing on large desks. Unique armor styles, mechanized suits, and next-generation engines sat idle, waiting for continued work. But in the very corner, two large models stood, closely matching the size and shape of the men. They held a strange green shade, similar to King Trimdin, with little devices resting near the ears.“What-What are those? The figures. What are they?” Tim asked timidly.“Yeah, and why are they that color?”“Ah, I see they caught your attention. That’s exactly what we wanted. Those are your new suits, and they have a little surprise built-in.”“New suits? But there is nothing there; it's just green.”“Well, if we just press this button….” Trimdin pushed something on a table nearby, and in an instant, the garments got much darker, revealing the true extent of their existence.“Whoa, how’d you do that?” Claren pressed.“These are new technologies. Well, new to you. We call them ClearSuits, made by our finest designers using a nanotech fabric that can become next to invisible around its user. The only side effect is the green tint, but you will not need them all the time, our natural environment being close to what was on Earth.”“So I was right!” Tim exclaimed.“About what?”“Just a theory I had.”“Are they fireproof?” Claren asked.“Not currently. We have been unable to stop flames from eventually getting through, but they do fend off the heat and burns for a while.”“That’s better than these damn things!” Tim added. “One spark, and they’ll go up. We’ve had issues with it in the past if you can’t tell.”“Don’t worry, these suits will work for all your needs. But the main event here is not the suits, but the device on the side. Language will be a barrier here, so those little things will translate what we say into English in real-time. And since everyone else wears one, they can do the same. They also act as a container for the suit, meaning that, when you want, the particles can extend on or off your body.”“Do all your subjects wear a translator?”“We all do, and we all have a suit as well.”“Were you wearing one when we first found you?”“I was,” The King admitted with his bellowing voice streaming to the men's ears. “But I got a tear in my suit, one deep enough to cut me. I was in serious trouble, but Tim, you found me and brought me in. When my sensors recognized it was a safe environment, it turned off, and then you could help me.”“Huh, just like that? It seemed so different on our end. We didn’t even notice the suit or the translator. But I guess we just didn’t know what to expect or what you looked like.”“No, you didn’t, but I am surprised you didn’t realize it earlier. Do you think that I would be able to understand English but not speak it by default? A translator for us is only one way. And I could only write because it told me what symbols to put down.”“How?” Claren questioned.“It just told me where to make a line and I followed. Nothing more.”“Man, it’s really that simple. I thought it had a meaning, that we had some lingual connection or something along those lines.”“That’s a different story. Now, take off those old suits and slip into the new ones! After this, we’ve got a quick meeting, and then I’ll settle you down for the night. How’s that sound?”“That’s good with me. How about you, Claren?”“I’m fine with that.”Perfect! I hope you enjoy them greatly. There is so much to uncover, so much to learn, and I can’t wait for you to see it all. Our home, no matter what, is yours now. Forever.” King Trimdin looked at the men, shedding a slight tear, happy to see his friends again. Tim and Claren glanced back similarly, satisfied yet curious about their future. Together, they took off their beloved suits, removing their gloves, helmets, pants, and torso pieces, revealing the black outfit underneath. The new suits were then turned off, the nanoparticles moving upwards towards the little earpieces. The men then took those off the mannequins, putting them on their ears, and activating them with a tap. Instantly, they were covered in a layer of tiny dots, forming a suit that fit snugly around them. Once complete, they turned transparent, presenting the men in their entirety with only the slight tint tainting their image.“Oh, damn, these things feel so good,” Claren expressed.“Those were coffins in comparison. Man, oh, man,” Tim said, twisting his body.“Good. Now, let’s get going!” Trimdin said in his native language, the men understanding him clearly for the first time in their lives. Everyone walked out together, Tim and Claren yet again guided through the palace, being led to a massive surprise.
Citizens gathered near the palace from around The Capital, waiting to see the men. A camera was set up outside, allowing everyone to watch across The Belt, and watch they did. Millions tuned in to see Tim and Claren, to see that the mythical figures existed, even if only through a screen. Excitement was rampant, even among the Gods themselves, who stood behind the doors to the crowd, thrilled to meet the populace of their new home.“You should have told us we were going on TV. I would have put my dress shoes on,” Tim laughed.“Yeah, a little warning next time.”“This is much better. They want to see you for who you are, for the heroes you are. No fancy clothing would make it better,” The King replied.“Whatever you say, your majesty.”“Are you ready for it?”“I think so,” Claren answered.“Especially with these translators. I have to say, they do a good job amplifying sounds. I can hear everything now.”“Good. And if you ever notice any disparities or discomfort, I’ll get my teams right on it. To most citizens of this kingdom, you are the best of the best, and deserve exactly that.”“Well, thanks. Thanks for everything you have given us; the parts, the save, the suits, everything.”“No, no, thank you.” He switched his attention to the guards in the room. “Now, open these doors. Let the mobs meet the Gods!”Right then, they swung open the entrance, revealing the masses below. The three of them walked out onto the platform, the infamous microphone sitting where it always has, centered and idle. They collectively smiled, waving at the subjects as they cheered.Tim and Claren could fully understand what the alien public was saying, them screaming a wide choice of words and phrases towards the adjusting men.“Tim! Claren!” they cried.“Is it all true?” another shouted.“Bring back our Master! Bring back the real God!” someone chanted.“We love you!” one from the front row said.The men looked at every being they could, attempting to decode their cries.“They really seem to like us, Tim!”“They sure do. I’ve got to give it to you, Trimdin. You took our small act and made it into a God-given miracle.”“We needed heroes; I needed heroes. The majority of us needed you!”“The majority? What do you mean? And what happened? You’ve been all mysterious about it, like we shouldn’t know?” Tim pressed.“You should know, and you will. I’m not trying to be mysterious, I just need a second to figure out how to tell you. Regardless of how safe I try to make it, this place still harbors many dangers. There is so much that has occurred in just the past few months alone, so many changes that I've made, but all you need to know right now is that you are safe.”“Well, the sooner we start, the better,” Claren added. “I am dying of anticipation.”“When we finish this and get you set up, I’ll tell you anything and everything you want to know. I’ll give you the full story.”“Deal,” Tim responded.“You guys aren’t used to the time here, but it is actually late in the day for us. The evening will soon occur, so you’ll need a place to sleep.” The King continued to wave.“How does that even work, with living in an asteroid and all? Like, above us is just the brightness of random lights, so how’s that all go?” he screamed over the crowd.“Those are not just lights; they are adjustable panels. When it is night, we make them dark, and everyone rests for a few hours. The brightness is brought back up in the morning.”“So it’s all artificial? There's no sun?”“It’s based on the sun, actually!” Trimdin replied.“Awesome.”“I bet it is for you, Claren,” Tim teased. “This really is an engineer's paradise.”“An engineer, you say?” King Trimdin questioned. “If you ever want a solid job, we’ve got a need for that type of work. You know, with all the innovation and stuff.”“Yeah, yeah, I would love to. But can we end this hand-flapping and smiling now? I’m getting tired.”“If that’s what you want? I think they got enough content for weeks worth of rewatching, and an experience unmatched by anything else.”“I never thought anyone would want to see me just for the sake of my existence. That is a whole new experience,” Claren said.“Get used to it. For better or worse, your existence is now the focus of many across The Belt.”“It seems to be pretty good! We came from a world of hate, a world where there was only division and unrest. In comparison, this shows how shitty Earth got.”“That’s a strong statement,” said Tim, “but this place can’t possibly be worse than what we came from.”“Oh, you just wait, my dear friends. That was all this place was before me, before my brother. We have been the only two kings to ever bring it to this height, this amount of joy. But even still, some bandits are looking to breed hate, to stem it from the evils of before.”“I’m guessing that will be part of the history lesson?” Claren quipped.“Definitely. War is riddled within it; fighting was a constant. Whether they are recent or from millennia ago, conflict has always been with us. Now, go inside, your room is just waiting to be lived in.”“Absolutely, our king.”“Great. You go on ahead, my guards will show you the way. I just need to get someone quickly, someone of great value for your safety.”“Ah, our safety. I guess the most powerful being in the solar system can’t protect us?”“How flattering. I wish I could, but, you know, I’m a king. I’ve got a job. But this soldier I’m getting you is top of the line; she is the soldier. She fought in the last war and was the one to end it. Nothing can get through her.”“Well, now I’m excited,” Tim stated.“She must be something.”“Trust me, she is. She’ll protect you and be loyal for as long as you live.”“Then it’s settled. Claren, let’s see our new chamber.”“Okay!” he responded, and the two men turned around, commanding the guards to take them. Trimdin stayed behind, pulling a gadget out of his pocket and dialing a number. Moments later, someone on the other end picked up, and The King told her precisely what she needed to hear.“They’re here,” he said in a deep voice.“Who’s here?” she asked back.“Have you seen the news?”“No, not yet. I’ve been a bit busy. You know, using my ‘vacation’ time.”“Well, are you ready to get out of ‘vacation’ mode? I’ve got something better for you to do."“And what exactly is that?” she coyly said back.“Tim and Claren are back, and they need protection. Twenty-four-seven, all day every day. They need someone to keep them safe from the you-know-whos that are left. They need someone they can bond with, someone they can count on, someone who can guard their lives. And only you do I trust with such a task.”“They’re back? Tim and Claren?”“They require a guide, a protector, and I am assigning you to them.”“Well, sir, that is an honor, and I am happy to accept this assignment. I promise to do everything I can for them, and recognize the importance of this mission.”“Excellent. Can you be here by tonight, bags packed and all? They need you.”“Of course. I was getting bored, anyway,” she replied.“See you then, Kiran.”“Yes, your majesty, indeed. I’ll see you then.” The call ended, and a grin graced Trimdin’s lips. He quickly turned around, leaving the crowds and marching back into the palace toward the men’s room, prepared to hear their stories. Prepared to tell them the truth….~~Knock, knock, knock. A hand lightly pounded the exterior of the door, and when opened by Tim, Trimdin walked in, smiling gleefully.“Why, hello. Welcome back,” Tim greeted.“Hello to you, too,” The King responded.“Has your little business been taken care of?” Claren shouted from across the room, eating a package of food.“Yes, it has, dear friends. She will be here soon enough.”“It’s nice to see that you had your teams unpack our ship,” Tim commented.“Had a feeling you would appreciate that,” the ruler said back.“What’s her name? The soldier, I mean,” Claren asked.“Kiran, Kiran Samdin, one of our best soldiers. She was taking a ‘break’ for a while, but I was able to get her back for you two.”“Quite the honor,” Tim replied. “Hopefully, we won’t be too much of a nuisance.”“Oh, no. Annoy her as much as you want. Ask questions, get to know her, explore together; she will be heavily compensated for such activities. We are good friends, and she is more than willing to work with the Tim and Claren.”“Is that so?” Tim answered.“Yep. Now, let’s catch up a little. How about you two first? I want to hear more about the very men I’ve helped so much.” King Trimdin walked over from the doorway, following Tim to the table Claren sat at. The three circled the slab, placing their hands down and preparing to speak.“Who’s going first?” Trimdin questioned.“I guess I will,” Claren replied, finishing his meal.“Good, now start at the beginning. Talk about your life on Earth, where you’ve been, who you are, and so on.”“Sure, sure. Let’s see, I was born all the way back in 2020, am now thirty Earth years old, and lived in the United States of America for my whole life. My parents are… I mean were alive throughout it all, but I never had any siblings, only a boyfriend. As I got older, I fell in love with building, especially engineering, which is what major I eventually chose in college. From there, I got better and smarter, eventually graduating early and landing a job with a space company attempting to build the next rocket to take us to the outer solar system. And then, The Crunch happened.”“What’s that?” Trimdin asked curiously.“The Crunch was where everything we were working on was stalled, as war soon began. Earth’s history is long and complicated, but two alliances had risen within my time on the planet: Arcadia and Oceania. Both competed for resources, for money, for territory, and soon, the dick-waving started.”“Dick-waving,” Trimdin laughed nervously. “Sounds familiar.”“They wanted a goal to beat each other with, something big and bombastic. And, of course, it had to do with space. They wanted to see who could get to Pluto first, who could be the first to make it to the edge of the solar system. So a race commenced, and the crunch to finish our ships initiated. We worked, and worked, and worked, with the due date steaming closer and closer for a December 2049 launch. But both sides needed astronauts to take such a journey, but no one wanted to go.”“Is that you two?” The King interjected.“Yes,” Tim replied.“So they had a draft. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who could qualify to be an astronaut were automatically placed in. Together, the two sides would draw their contenders, and the respective citizens would train as one to beat the other. Our country, the United States, was part of Arcadia, so Tim and I were eventually selected to be part of the program, and we worked with each other from there.”“Huh!” King Trimdin reacted. “That’s one hell of a story, Claren. And I’m assuming Tim’s is similar. Is that right?”“Pretty much,” Tim responded. “I grew up in America and am fifteen years Claren’s elder, but we have one main distinction in our stories. You see, he built the very thing I love: ships. My fascination with space and science has always been at the forefront of my life, and being a pilot was a dream come true. Unfortunately, my love of the great beyond really cut me from having any Earthly connections, as I only had my mother and father left for a while. But when they died many years ago, space became my home. Then, I was selected for this mission, and the rest is history.”“Well,” The King said tenderly, “I am sorry for both of your losses. You said over the radio that Earth is gone. Nuclear war, was it?”“That appears so. We don’t know why, but we know how. The last few messages we could detect were just SOSs, nothing else,” Claren responded. “It’s something that has been lingering with me this entire time. Sure, times were tough and tension was rising, but did we really need to end ourselves that badly?”Tim looked intensely at his partner. “Don’t get into this, Claren. Trust me, we will never know the real answer.”“The real answer to what?” Trimdin questioned.“Ah, nothing, Claren’s just fixed on this idea that we had something to do with the end of the world, that we are part of the blame for our extinction.”“I’m not fixed on that; I just want to know how it all ended. The last time we communicated with Earth, our ship broke down, at the height of the race, don’t forget. The other team likely succeeded in getting through The Belt, and since we had already lost, I guess the punishments were handed out early.”“But that’s a strong assumption,” Trimdin challenged.“Not really,” Tim chimed in. “The stakes were high, and the Oceanic team likely won, so who knows what they did to Arcadia? But it doesn’t matter, because what happened has happened; our failure of a society has collapsed.”“That is simply not true, dear Tim,” Trimdin stated, peering directly at him. “If there is a lesson to be learned, then nothing is a failure. Humanity has seemingly ended, but now you can help us avoid such mistakes. Alongside me, I hope we can all work together to make The Belt a better place for all.”“I was saying that before to Claren,” Tim responded. “We are glad to help you wherever we can, though I doubt we will change its course too much.”“Why yes, that may be true, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you are likely more important than anyone in this universe. You are the last living remnants of a planet, never mind a species, one powerful and mighty. You have much to teach and learn; a way to continue your universal journey.”“Well, we brought a few plant seeds, so technic—”“Claren!” Tim shouted. “Not the time for a life joke.”“Sorry.”“Oh, no, it’s fine, Tim. If anything, it is great that you brought a few plant samples with you. Do you mind if we study them?” Trimdin asked.“Sure, sure, go ahead,” Tim responded.“Great, now where were we?”“We were just going over our depressing stories,” Claren said.“Right. I am saddened by why you are here, but happy for the future that can be built. We have considerable amounts of information to decipher and unravel, and this talk has shown me where you’ve come from. You have been on unfathomable journeys, unknowable narratives, but now, it is time to tell you mine.”
“Quinten was the start of it all, the root of all evil. He and his Devilish mindset corrupted the minds of his followers.” King Trimdin continued to sit at the table with Tim and Claren, delving deep into the lore of his previous adventures.“And then what happened?” Claren asked childishly, as if waiting for the next page of a fairytale.“Oh, we had a war alright, but one I gravely regret, one that has caused me much shame. I realized that I was letting my drive for revenge overpower my ideals, twisting the morals of my brother. I could no longer take it, no longer wanted to take vengeance, so I surrendered.”“But he wanted to fight in a duel? Why?” Tim asked.“Honestly, I’m not sure, but I think it had to do with his ego. Quinten thought that if he was really going to save The Belt, then he had to win the battle fair and square. He may have been deceptive but was always honorable, so when he lost, instead of taking my mercy, the unthinkable happened.” Trimdin looked down, extremely distraught by his thoughts.“Suicide?” Claren questioned.“Yeah.” Trimdin suddenly coughed, clearing his throat. “He killed himself. In front of me. I could have stopped it, I should have done something, but it was too late. I was so tired, so confused, so angry, so stressed. Nothing could be done at the moment.”“That’s a lot, your majesty,” Tim added. “I am surprised so much took place in such a short period of time.”“In about two weeks, I became king, declared war, fought a battle, and ended my enemy's life, yet was it worth it? Were all the lives lost, even though they were so few, worth it? I don’t think I will ever let go of the last words I said to his corpse: ‘I hated you for years, planned to finish you for years, but now that it has finally happened, all I feel is pain.’”“His death never satisfied you?”“No, it did not, Claren. I don’t think it ever could, even with my vendetta against him. It would have only led to me realizing the truth.”"Well,” Tim interjected, “we never could have guessed that any of that would happen to you after we left. I thought you would just be having the time of your life or something, but it is great that you have learned such an important lesson.”“An important lesson indeed. After The Queen, I thought I could take on any enemy, but now, I regret even that part of my past. She was terrible, don’t get me wrong, but I let my anger lead to death, twice I may add. My brother would hate me for that, and nowadays, I hate myself for it.”“The war between Trimdin and Quinten. It sounds almost like a book. You know, the tale of two enemies, drawn together by hate and forced apart by revenge. Would be a good read,” Claren joked.“I’m pretty sure you're missing the point of this meeting,” Tim scolded.“Now, now, my dear friends. It will soon be in a book: the history book!”“That’ll be a good tool for us to have. We do need to continue our education, don’t we?”“Yes, I will have Kiran set you two up with that. You could probably visit the Royal Library, or just use the computer. Whatever I can safely clear for you.”“Where’s the Royal Library located?” Claren inquired.“Just south of the castle, going toward the newly-constructed memorial grounds.”“Fantastic!”“Where even is Kiran? It has been a solid hour since you said she was coming.”“That is an excellent question, Tim. Let me make a quick call.” Trimdin got up from his chair, pulled out a device from his pocket, and appeared to press a button. Quickly, a connection was made, Kiran soon on the other end.“Your majesty?” she asked.“It is almost nightfall. Where are you?”“I am just arriving. Coming from Eros is not an easy trip. Very bumpy. I’m docking right now, should be there soon.”“Great, I will have guards escort you to your quarters, and then you can meet up with us. Soon after, the resting hours will commence.”“Yes, sir,” Kiran responded. “I’m moments away.”“Farewell, soldier,” The King said, ending the call and turning his attention back to Tim and Claren. “She’ll be here shortly!”“Wonderful, just wonderful,” Tim responded.“Hey Trimdin, what did you use to call her? Is that a phone or something?”“Why, yes, it is Claren. A specialized communicator, once used by my brother. It is rather outdated, but I love it dearly. Most of the time, we do it through our earpieces, which is an upgrade I can request for you to have, but for larger conversations, we can now use our suits and holographic technology. The workings of that one are bleeding edge, but the trials have been doing well.”“Why don’t we get the phone call thing by default? Aren’t we Gods?”“We can activate it whenever you want; we didn’t think overloading you with features was a good idea. Plus, isn’t discovery a fun thing to do, anyway?”“I guess if you put it that way,” Claren answered. “So how does it work, is there like a network of satellites connecting every device?”“Claren, this is not twenty-one questions,” Tim commanded. “I’m sure Trimdin would love to answer that, but we have more important things going on.”“No, no, Tim, it’s perfectly fine. This is all part of the experience. Now, Claren, I honestly have no idea when it comes to that type of thing. But you can always go around town, visiting the many scientific buildings and personnel we have. The Belt definitely doesn’t lack intelligence.”“Well then,” Tim readied himself, “if we can ask anything, then can I learn how to fly literally any of your ships? Like, any of them at all? The Grandiant was quite a beautiful vessel, so if there is even a chance—”“Yes, you can. One hundred percent, dear Tim.”“Oh, it was that easy?”“You have more power than you think over me. If I even think of defying you, and the citizens know about it, I could get dethroned,” King Trimdin joked.“I can’t wait!” Tim said, grinning profusely.“Now, let’s get prepared to see Kiran. We’ll meet her in the Royal courtyard. It is quite nice now, as we had recent reconstruction done after the war to fix a ‘flaw’ with the design.”“What kind of flaw?” Claren questioned.“Oh, just a silly old secret entrance installed by The Queen that leads to Quinten’s secret bunker. Nothing more.”“I’m guessing you don’t want to tell that story right now?” Tim asked.“Not really,” Trimdin responded, lightly laughing. He then moved towards the door, opening it. “So, are you two ready?”“I guess? We’re not wearing much, besides our ClearSuits, that is. Our black undersuits aren’t the fanciest things.”“I’m sure she won’t mind. This is no grand event, just a quick meet and then off to bed. But that raises the question of clothing, which we will get on to for you.”“Well then. Claren, you ready?”“Yeah, I sure am, Tim.”“Great!” said Trimdin as he walked out the door, the two men getting up from their chairs and following him to their new friend.Together they entered the luscious courtyard, walking into the ample open space in the center of the palace. All around, stone walls towered them, the only light supplied by the dimming panels above.Nighttime was soon to set in, but the three showed no sign of tiredness. Within moments, a barrage of guards came through, the alien of the hour striding in and quickly kneeling in front of The King.“Your majesty,” she said, looking down from his magnificent crown and towards his large, dark eyes, “I have arrived.”“The honorable Kiran Samdin, Special Forces Agent for The Royal Army. It is great to see you again. You may rise, and the other can leave us. May we have a fruitful conversation regarding our unique guests,” he said, with the legion quickly exiting the area.“Thank you, sir, for this remarkable opportunity.” Suddenly, Kiran got up, now staring directly at the two men. “And thank you, I have heard much about your adventure with our dear king, and am thrilled to be working with such faithful beings.”The men smiled promptly, fascinated by her attire. She wore thick, epic armor, shining brighter than a newly minted coin, with a striking sword sashed to her side. Her height was similar to that of Trimdin before his transformation, before becoming king: around the size of an adolescent.Tim and Claren, without delay, walked forward, now standing directly next to Trimdin and facing their new companion.“Kiran, these are quite obviously who you think they are. Tim, Claren, same to you,” Trimdin stated.“Yeah, I think we could deduct that,” Tim responded. “So, Kiran, it’s great to meet you.” He stuck out his hand, attempting to shake hers.“Likewise,” she reciprocated. “What are you doing with your arm?”“Oh, it's just a handshake. On Earth, we greet each other by extending our hands and interlocking them briefly, showing that you are welcomed.”“Interesting,” Kiran responded. “We don’t do that here. It seems a bit… aggressive.”“Well then,” Tim said, defeated, slowly dropping his arm back to his side.“Anyway, we are truly excited to have you working with us,” Claren quickly interjected. “I know we have a lot to explore and discover, and I hope we can become great friends, just like we did with Trimdin.”“I’m sure you all will. The three of you have done much for me, so I can’t wait to see what you can do together!”“Absolutely, your majesty. I swear that I will defend them with my life, to ensure their safety against the evils of the world, and I will do whatever they ask, whenever they ask,” Kiran pledged.“And I know you will. This will likely be a lifelong commitment, but I can assure you that compensation will be heavy. Never will you struggle, just as it should be for everyone.”“I’m unable to express the great honor this gives me.”“You never have to. This is a present, a gift from me to you. It is the ultimate job any soldier could ask for,” Trimdin replied.“So,” Claren started, “are we beginning our adventures tomorrow?”“Whenever you want,” Kiran answered.“Yes, whenever. And whatever you need to make the trips will be covered. Fuel, food, rooms, security, and anything else will be automatically billed to me.”“Really?” Claren asked.“Like I said before, only the best for you two. Your protection and well-being are our responsibility.”“Can we take The Grandiant?” Tim questioned.“Sure, why not.”“Kiran, what do you think of all of this?”She looked at Claren, seeing his excitement growing rapidly. “I’m on board. Tomorrow it is. I’ll take care of all our IDs tonight, and in the morning we'll get you dressed up, but we’ve got to leave as early as possible, especially with the traffic and danger of traveling mid-day.”“They don’t need identification. I’ll just send a Royal order excusing them from any and all checks. If they need proof, just call me up.”“I stand corrected. No matter what, set your alarms. Where do you want to go first?” Kiran asked.“I know! Bring them to The Museum of Beltian Science on Vesta. You three will love seeing the amazing advancements of our technology and discoveries,” The King suggested.“That’s perfect for us,” Tim responded. “I’ve dabbled in things related to biology and botany with all my time in space, plus Claren here is a full-blown engineer.”“Yeah, that sounds like a good first destination,” agreed Claren.“What about security… besides myself? Vesta’s been having a ‘crime’ spree recently, haven’t you heard.”“A crime spree? What do you mean?” Tim asked.“Oh, it’s nothing,” Trimdin said back, “just some bad actors after the fall of Quinten. They are no worry, though. Vesta’s subjects are extremely loyal. Plus, I’ll send extra guards and our most trustworthy pilot with you!”“Then it’s settled,” Kiran stated. “The museum it is. And while we’re there, we can check out some of the great food they’ve got. Surprisingly, the home of science is also the home of some delicious delicacies. Strange, I know.”“Nothing strange about it. Tim and I have been eating vacuum-sealed junk and kale for the past nine months. Some good grub might do.”“Their infrastructure sucks, though,” Trimdin added. “Half the things built there are based on 'environmentally friendly' and 'clean' materials. Their bricks are made of plants!”“I have to ask,” Tim began, “what kind of food do you even have here? How does stuff even grow? How do the plants in this bloody courtyard grow? You have no sunlight? Are there animals? Do you eat meat? What other creatures live in The Belt?”“And you were yelling at me for asking questions!” Claren quipped.“You’ll see it all soon,” Trimdin interrupted. “Trust me, it's not as weird as you think. We have much in common, and our history will prove that so.”“Nevertheless, your majesty, I am quite tired. May I head to my quarters?” Kiran requested.“Of course. I should be on my way, too. I’ve got a busy day. The memorial opens tomorrow, and I’ve got to make some last-minute approvals. That’ll leave you on your own.”“I’m sure that’s fine. We’re quite tired as well,” Tim added. “We’ve been sleeping in zero-gravity sleeping bags for too long. Goodnight!”“Farewell,” Trimdin said, with a sudden purple glow surrounding his hands.“What are you doing there?” Tim asked. But before he could get an answer, The King blasted upward, leaving them behind.“Where is he even going?” Claren questioned.“It’s just his final sweep. He does it every night.”“Interesting. Well, let’s go, Claren. See you, Kiran.”“So long,” she responded, and they all promptly left the yard, the panels above going fully dark, encompassing the entire populace in a deep shadow.~~Tim and Claren sat in their new bedroom, lying parallel to each other, the table they once sat at across the room. All lights were off, just a mere streak of white streaming through their window from the lamps outside the castle. But the men were not silent; if anything, they were more riled up than ever, waiting for the day ahead.“I’ve got to say, Tim, this room is nice. And I mean, think about it. We are about to sleep in a freaking castle. In a damn asteroid. With our alien friend just down the hall! What have our lives come to?”“I don’t know, bud, but this is the best homecoming I could’ve asked for. Almost half of my life has been spent exploring; has been dedicated to space. But this moment, this past year, has been the craziest part of it all. I’ve lost everything and nothing all at the same time.”“My entire life was on that planet; everyone I loved is gone. I know that we are both devastated, but it hurts the most for me. My parents have perished; my lover is lost. No matter what Trimdin can give us, I don’t know if it can ever compensate for that.”“Trust me, Claren, nothing can replace those you have lost, but we have the opportunity of a lifetime, a second chance to live. And I know they all made it to Eden, every person on that planet.”“I’ve never asked you this, but are you religious? My parent’s used to speak about Eden all the time, but I never understood it.”“Religious? No. But I do like the thought that they are all safe somewhere, that they will have a better life beyond the infinite.”“I will always wonder what’s out there, what we don’t know, what Trimdin doesn’t know. I mean, he has literal superpowers, and we know it is as much a spiritual process as it is a biological one. What does that mean for us?”“I think he’s a Demigod,” Tim suggested.“A Demigod?”“Yeah, I think the powers were given to him by some higher power, and Trimdin is just a physical representation of that. He doesn’t have enough to be a God, but just enough to be sort of one.”“I never thought about it that way.”“I’m sure we’ll learn more during our history lesson. The king thing has to come from somewhere. There is no way it just showed up one day.”“My big question is, why only one? Why is it only contained to the monarch of the time, and is it passed down? Like if they have kids, do they gain powers?”Tim stared blankly at Claren. “Now, that’s a good question. I mean, there really is just a laundry list of these things. The language, the environment, the magic; the longer we’re here, the more confusing things get.”“I’m pretty sure that’s the nature of integrating into an alien society,” Claren joked back. “I get what you mean, though. All these different thoughts have coursed through my mind and I have no idea what to do with them anymore. Talking is the only thing that stops it. But the ringing keeps coming back, the thoughts keep piercing through.”“Answers are coming, I can guarantee that. Trimdin may not know everything, but with the resources of this world, of this society, we can learn whatever we want. The closure is coming, it must, and I know that our futures are bright, no matter the pain we have suffered,” Tim answered, trying to mollify Claren’s worries.“I know I keep saying this, but you’re right. You always are. Anyway, let’s shut up and take advantage of these soft beds. Like you told Trimdin and Kiran, those shitty sleeping bags at the IFS were, well, shit.”“Fair enough,” Tim responded, leading the conversation between the two men to a close. Now only one thing stood to come: the morning ahead.
The two men stood outside their room, waking up a mere hour before. They donned new garments under their suits, wearing nicely fitted white shirts tailored after King Trimdin and inky pants.A legion of guards quickly surrounded them, and their dear friend Trimdin marched forward, Kiran next to him. On the castle's exterior, the lights had only begun to rise in brightness, signaling the radiant day to come.The four were led through the residence toward the docking station, toward The Grandiant. Throughout the night, the vessel was prepared for the trip ahead. A myriad of protectors loaded themselves onto the ship, quickly inspecting it before their adventure. Once approved, Tim, Claren, and Kiran walked forward, said goodbye to their king, and strode through its bay. They were led into an elevator and, from there, showed both the living quarters and the command room. Within minutes they were cleared for takeoff, Tim and Claren ready to be shot into the unknown just as they were on Earth all that time ago.The Grandiant typically had no pilot, controlled automatically by a computer, but this mission was different. Captain Landun of the Royal Space Force was assigned to drive the three of them around The Belt, bringing them wherever their hearts desired.A holographic map sat in the middle of the control room, presenting key hubs across the kingdom. The space was aptly designed like the rest of the ship, with sparkling chrome accents throughout a mostly white layout. Multiple monitors surrounded the back wall, different soldiers sitting in front of them on curved contemporary chairs doing basic surveillance. Mechanics and engineers were close by, but most of the room was empty.After everyone settled, comms came in from the radio, speaking to the charismatic Captain Landun and the flight crew. “This is Base Control, do you read?” they asked.The captain sat at the front of the ship, pointed directly toward a massive screen that gave insight into the space around the ship. With haste, he responded. “Base Control, we hear you loud and clear. Let’s get this show on the road! Our celebrities can’t wait much longer!”To the pilot's side, seats were reserved for Tim, Claren, and Kiran, who could actively hear the conversation between the ship and The Capital. The men’s earpieces worked overtime to translate the messages.“Everything’s set here, Grandiant. We’ve got reports of low traffic to Vesta, and the museum has closed for the day, so safe travels!” Base Control said over the radio to the captain. But then, out of nowhere, a familiar voice pierced their ears. “And if ANYTHING goes wrong, tell them I sent you.”“Haha! Of course, your majesty, we’ll surely mention that if there is any trouble.”“Good. You are now set for departure. Depressurization will happen in 3, 2, and….” On the monitor in front of them, they could see massive vents open, but not to let air in. Instead, they were sucking it out, emptying the docking station of any gas. The vehicle remained habitable, but the space around them had been matched to the surface. Then, the large doors opened, presenting the deep void of space to the lifted ship. The Grandiant sped toward the vacuum, exiting the bounds of The Capital. Leaving the safety of King Trimdin….~~Even though Vesta was only a few minutes across The Belt, chatter soon started, especially between the two men and their pilot.“So, Captain Landun, how long have you been flying for?” Tim asked.“Many, many years, my fine sir. I’ve been through every modern era of this kingdom, flying each ruler across the system and even the galaxy.”“Damn!” Claren responded.“What was it like under The Queen?” Tim questioned.“Well, that was definitely a special time to be part of the forces. As we all did, I followed her orders, and to me, she was not as bad as everyone paints her to be. Sure, she was a little tyrannical, but she put so much money toward this sector I didn’t care much.”“Why?” Claren said.“She wanted to go to war. It’s that simple. She wanted to destroy everyone and everything she could. Billions of dollars went to Quinten and his forces, advancing them to ridiculous heights.”“King Trimdin never really explained that part to us. Like, seriously, how could such a small faction do so much damage?”“He had the best soldiers in The Belt working for him, and with infinite resources alongside years to build, anything was possible,” he responded.“Then why do you seemingly sympathize with her if she drained The Royal Army of resources for Quinten’s?“Ah, that’s the thing,” Captain Landun said, scratching his head. “I was part of Quinten’s army for quite a while, quite a damn while. But eventually, I went against orders, as they wanted me to infiltrate an enemy ship and take its passengers to The Capital, where they would be slaughtered. At the time, I was going through financial hardship, so I took a bribe from the foreign force instead. I was kicked out of the military, but they still murdered who they needed to, all while I secured some well-needed cash,” he said, smiling briefly.“Why would they let you even live after that?” Tim said.“Trust me, those two bastards were more corrupt than I ever was. They needed Beltians to listen, regardless of who they were. So, they let me go with a light punishment.”“I guess they did. Good thing you got out of there,” Claren mentioned.“Yeah, good. Very good,” he responded. “I needed that money more than revenge.”“Is that why you were with them?” Tim asked.“Quinten’s entire thing was revenge. My family was killed during the Cross-Beltian Wars and Quinten offered a solution, so I followed him.”“Did it bring you happiness?”“No,” he responded.“Well, revenge is not the best way to get it, that’s for sure,” Kiran butted in. “King Trimdin has made that clear.”“He’s made a lot of things ‘clear’ to say the least,” The Captain remarked.“What do you mean by that?” Kiran replied angrily.“Oh nothing, it's just that he was initially going in the right direction with everything, but one measly battle stopped him from reaching his full potential.”“That battle murdered hundreds. I would not call that measly.”“Woah, woah, let's calm down,” Tim interjected. “We’re all on the same page here. No need for aggression.”“I agree,” Captain Landun reciprocated. “Plus, we’re almost there. Vesta’s right up here.” On the large monitor in front of them, it stood proud and tall, the oblong asteroid growing slowly as they got closer.Moments later, The Grandiant was lined up with the docking station of Vesta, allowing them to connect with their destination. Finally, they landed, multiple guards promptly walking out and standing around the ship. A pathway toward The Museum of Beltian Science had to be created, ensuring the safe appearance of the three.Mobs already began to grow, even though there was no official news of their arrival. Seeing The Grandiant in the docks, no matter how much they hid, was enough to cause disorder. Though it was nothing they couldn’t handle, as Tim and Claren, following the lead of Kiran, eventually made it to the surface via an elevator.The facility, which had large arched doors, was a deep blue on its exterior. Just like much of the architecture in The Belt, it was partnered with thin layers of gold around the edges. Daunting windows let them peer into the mysterious building, showing its uniquely fashioned interior. Nothing was one consistent look; different eras of The Belt’s history pop out as if vying for attention.Vesta itself held a modern style, matching more closely what the men had seen in The Capital: large, spanning buildings with wide streets and vendors on every corner. Crowds from the community clamored, trying to not get caught in the chaos.Through the craziness, the trio eventually made it inside, being sealed in with an assortment of guards around the entrance. And from there, things quickly started.“Gee, that was a lot just to get in here,” Tim commented.“I guess the news broke,” Claren added.“Well, you’re here. Welcome to Vesta!”“Kiran, we can’t thank you enough for joining us.”“It is amazing that you are here to teach us this and keep us safe. From the way The King talked about you, it sounds like you’re more effective than an entire damn army.”“That guy throws way too many accolades my way,” Kiran responded. “We literally only met a few months ago, and all I did was get the attention for the words HE said. ‘Quinten is dead,’ that’s all I was there for.”“I had that feeling,” Tim said back. “He blew us a bit out of proportion, too. We are Gods now, but why, we don’t know.”“So we can all agree that Trimdin is a bit eccentric?” Claren joked.“That’s him alright,” Kiran responded.“Were you loyal to The Queen?” Claren suddenly asked.“That’s a hard one. We all were, just as Landun said. I hated her, but she was the ruler throughout my entire adult life, right up until I became an Agent. But I never killed for her, and that’s the biggest distinction.”“How old are you, anyway?”“Let’s see, how do I put this in Earth years for you? Give me a second… carry the one, put the five there, uh, twenty? Twenty Earth years.”“That’s it!” Tim reacted. “You look much older than that.”“Well, The King is only twenty-five Earth years old, so put that into perspective.”“Seriously?” Claren shouted.“Our aging is different, clearly,” Tim responded. “Trimdin looks older than Claren, but he’s thirty.”“Thirty?” Kiran laughed. “And let me guess, you’re probably around forty-five?”“Hey, don’t make me feel old!”“Old? Around here you’re still pretty young. Sure we mature faster, but we live for an average of one hundred eighty Earth years.”“So I’m not geriatric yet?”“Tim… come on. You’ve got a lot left in life!” Claren exclaimed.“Thanks,” Tim said, looking dead into his partner's eyes. “How about we get to the real science? I mean, this age thing has already piqued my interest, so what’s next?”“The way this is set up is that it goes from newest to oldest. That means the most recent innovations are here at the front.” Kiran laid his arms out, presenting the first exhibit. “Let’s look at these plasma shields. Blocks all bullets, metal or laser, from penetrating.”“Were they used in the war? Against Quinten?” Claren asked curiously.“They were. Quinten’s teams were the first to have them, actually. His R&D department was quite good, so the Royal one had to catch up quickly. We did… eventually.”“How was he even able to get ahead of the freaking ROYAL research team?”“Yet again, as The Captain was saying, a lot of money was funneled to Quinten. That monster, who was already unfathomably rich, only became richer. King Trimdin honestly entered a fairly cleared kingdom, most of it already siphoned off to Quinten.”“Damn, the more we hear, the more remarkable it is that Trimdin won. That was one war,” Tim stated.“That bitch of a queen was only in rule for five years, FIVE, yet patted us dry. Everything was just pure forced labor, pure military training. Those sick bastards were planning conflict from the beginning, just not one against Trimdin.”“Then who? Who else would they fight?” Tim challenged.“The Kuipernians,” Kiran responded.“Who the hell are those?”“Our biggest enemy… and ally. It depends on when you’re asking.”“The Kuipernians? Like, as in the Kuiper Belt?” Claren questioned.“Are you familiar with them?”“Are you telling me there’s another alien society near Pluto? Really?” Tim exclaimed.“Of course. Has His Majesty not educated you on them? They are why Quinten wanted revenge, why he loved war.”“Tim, you hear that. Even if we made it to Pluto, we were destined to run into aliens.”“Guess so. How did we never notice? You know, humanity. You’re telling me that not one, but TWO alien societies exist in this solar system, and we never knew until now?”“There are much more than two, dear friends. Life is everywhere. Alliances surround us. Travel between nations is common. We are nowhere near alone.”“As if everything we had already been through was not enough, now you’re telling us that the solar system, never mind the universe, is sprawling with life?” Tim shouted.“I didn’t think that was such a big deal. Sorry for giving you existential crises.”“No, no, Kiran, it’s fine. Just a bit mind-boggling. I spent my adulthood in the void, searching for such things, so the fact that you’ve just satisfied that in one minute is impressive. Though I don’t know what I expected.”“This is life-changing. Not only did we find the first civilization outside of our own, but we have confirmed that there are more than we could have ever imagined.”“I guess the museum has already done its part!” Kiran jested. “This is why Trimdin assigned you to me.”“He knows his stuff, I’ll give him that. That alien knew what he was doing when he met us, knew what he was doing when he killed The Queen, knew what he was doing when he became king, and knew to give us to you. Where does it end?” Tim questioned.“His brother was a smart king, too. I was only a kid, but I remember the day I saw his first speech. He gave us everything we wanted, everything The Belt needed. He made peace with the Kuipernians, started welfare programs, raised the standard of living, held Quinten’s tyranny at bay… or so he thought. Trimdin has just taken inspiration from that.”“When he talked about him, we were instantly impressed. Right, Tim?”“Yeah, he sounded like a good guy. That only made his demise even more tragic. Poison, was it? On his birthday? By the wife? Ridiculous.”“The death shocked everyone, even the Kuipernians. All our allies were scared, and I had just started training in The Royal Army. Things were shaky.”“The history of this place is crazy. Damn crazy. Anyway, what’s next here?” Tim walked forward down the hall. “Ah, 2038, The Grandiant is built. That seems relevant to today.”“It was built under the monarch's rule before Trimdin’s brother. He was a strange ruler, to say the least, attempting to live a lavish life while war ravaged around him. He was full of himself; the best thing he did was train Nardyn to rule.“Nardyn? Wait, is that the name of Trimdin’s brother?”“Yes. Yet again, did King Trimdin not tell you this?”“Somehow not,” Claren answered.“In all the confusion and questioning, his name never came up. It was just always ‘Trimdin’s brother.’ But Nardyn, King Nardyn. Now that’s a name.”“Here, let’s recap what we have learned this morning: aging, life, and names. Is there anything else you could ever need to know?” Kiran asked sarcastically.“This journey has already garnered some serious information. And we’re only two exhibits in!”“Shit, that’s it?” Claren hysterically screamed.“I mean, there is still a millennium of scientific discoveries ahead,” Kiran quipped.“How long has your world existed?” Tim questioned.“For thousands upon thousands of years, Earth or Beltian. We have had hundreds of monarchs, dozens of dynasties, but none have managed to cause the chaos of the last few.”“Where does that king thing come from, anyway? Claren and I were talking about it last night. What are the powers that Trimdin has, and why don’t more have them?”“That’s a loaded question, Tim. And unfortunately, we’re not too sure. Every major civilization has someone with powers, but all we have about their origin here are the tales of the First King, which were written almost fifty thousand years ago. Before that, we have no record of anything; no rulers, no powers, no subjects, nothing. The Belt appeared to be empty. We don’t know how we got here; we just did.”But what about the First King? Where did he get them from?”“He claims it was bestowed upon him by a figure. All he could describe it as was ‘le sqott,’ which literally translates to ‘the spot.’ Some higher being visited him and ‘touched his face with the hand of the universe.’ Or so he claims. He was known to be insane, to be an evil ruler, someone who needed to be removed from power. Though his abilities were too strong; every attempt at his life failed. Except one. After years of going on a wild hunt to recreate the encounter, a subordinate tricked him into thinking the God-like figure came back, saying that if he died right now by his hand, he would be sent to some place called The End Realm. Of course, this was total BS, but they were able to murder him, quickly discovering that his powers were passed on to them. That was the start of the lineage.”“So some crazy dude just gained them randomly and someone just happened to kill him? That’s how all of it started?”“That’s the current story. We really have no records of it besides his own accounts, but by no means was he a reliable narrator.”“Though what about everything else? The advancements, the technology, the evolution? How does that link to now?” Claren asked.“Well, let’s keep going down this hall. The answers lay ahead,” Kiran responded while marching forward, bringing them closer to the true discovery.Closer to the dangers of Quinten.
On the other side of The Belt, excitement ran high, as a promise made was about to be fulfilled; the first steps toward restoration were soon to begin. King Trimdin sat on his throne, prepared to speak at the site's opening. Ready to confront the pain he caused.“Guards, bring me my armor!” He put down his script and lifted himself.Seconds later, four aids came out of hiding, steadily holding The King’s armor. This set was different from the one he wore during the war: it was newer, slimmer, and incorporated the greatest protective technology available. But little hints toward his sibling's shell had been added, like black shoulder pads and a blue torso.“Thank you,” Trimdin said to the soldiers. “What is the status of Tim and Claren? How’s Kiran doing?”One of his underlings tapped on the side of their ear, getting a detailed report of their location and doings. “They are safely on Vesta, still exploring the museum. Large crowds have surrounded the building, but they’re protected.”“Perfect! How about The Capital? Is everything good out there before I do this?” At the same time, the suit was being placed on King Trimdin.“The crowds will only consist of veterans, and all other viewers will be at home. We have taken extreme precautions.”“Good. I’ve given Quinten’s former soldiers everything, yet still, some want to kill me? His brainwashing was pretty damn good, I guess.” The last pieces of armor were applied.“Ha, your majesty. Those Quinten wannabes are nothing. This armor is bulletproof, blasterproof, and bombproof. Plus, your magic can stop anything if you act fast enough.”“I know,” The King responded kindly. A sword was placed in the sheath on his waist. “Thank you all.”“Your welcome, sir,” they said in unison.“Now, let’s get going!” From there, they marched out of the palace onto the platform looking below. He quickly moved down the grand staircase to a small vehicle, one that would drive him toward his destination: the memorial, which lived at the heart of Quinten’s home, forcing Trimdin to face the battlefield that scarred him.The drive was quick, The King watching as the small audience came into view around the walled garden. The once beautiful homes were torn and recycled; the bloody streets were demolished and replaced with graves. A large tower sat between it all, each level representing a life lost at the hands of the war.In a show of grace, King Trimdin got out of the vehicle and lifted himself, the purple presence presenting itself for this all-important day. He quickly landed directly on the stage set up for his appearance, now able to look dead on at the suspiciously silent crowd behind the magnificent microphone he stood against.Within moments of settling into position, Trimdin began to lean forward, displaying a large smile. The masses below watched, waiting for his first words.“Hello, veterans and any viewers at home. The past few months have been filled with turmoil, fueled by revenge, and I am sorry that much of that has been caused by me. The Queen: I killed. Quinten: I killed. And tragically, many of my own citizens: I killed, all due to my terrible practices.”Many in the audience stared blankly at The King.“No matter what, there is nothing I can do now to make it up, but I pray that I can at least ease the pain. If you are familiar with my previous speech, you would remember that I promised you all something; I promised a place dedicated to those we have lost, not only in this war but in every war ever committed by the rulers of this kingdom. It has been long overdue that our soldiers get the respect they deserve, that their families feel closure for their wrongful yet patriotic deaths. Now it is finally time that we appreciate the strong fighters of our society, protecting us from evil.”The crowds below remained silent.“So here it is, The Beltian War Memorial, built to withstand the test of time and prove our resilience. The large tower at the center of this all is devoted to the hundreds we lost during The Asteroid War alone, their bodies kept inside. And each of the much smaller stones surrounding it contains the names of every soldier. The rest of this former arena for the rich has been flattened into a field of flowers, each color representing a different era in our history. Tours have been designated to run daily, making this site a fantastic destination to learn about not only the horrors of conflict, but the troubling truth of revenge. Never, and I mean NEVER, should these events be repeated, should these mistakes be emulated. I am taking my personal lessons, things that are near and dear to my heart, and using them to ensure the safety of this beautiful society we have.”No noises commenced.The King continued to smile. “My rule will be one of prosperity, not depression; one of love, not hate. The criminal beliefs of The Queen, Quinten, and their associates have nearly been rooted out, have almost exited our world, so now we can focus on healing. Even though I have called it restoration, it truly isn’t. I don’t want to ‘rebuild’ what was here before, because, excuse my language, what was here before was shit. Following my brother's principles, alongside my own, our home will come into a new age of being. One that stops war; one that makes friends, not enemies; one that knows the citizens are more important than anything that will come out of my mouth. We are run by you, for you, regardless of the monarchy that stands. And this leads to my final topic of which I wanted to discuss. Everyone across The Belt should know that I will not name a successor at the end of my reign because, by the end of it, we will become something unseen in our history: a democracy.”Gasps were audible. Everyone was in shock.Wait, what?” one veteran screamed up to King Trimdin.“A democracy? What the hell is that?” another whined.“Yes, yes, you heard me right. We will no longer be a kingdom, you will no longer be forced into the tyrannical regimes of the past. Rather, we will be a republic with an elected leader, one where the actual inhabitants of The Belt will rule.”“How does that work?” one asked in the audience.“But King Trimdin, we need a monarch. It’s who we are; it’s a tradition. You can’t do this!” a citizen in the corner screamed.“We don’t want a damn republic!” an old guy in the back said.“We need to get revenge!” one screamed.“I’m sorry,” King Trimdin responded, “I thought you would all love this. It shows progress; it shows evolution. We are moving past the jaded system of the past toward something new. Is that not important?”There was rustling in the crowd, many getting up from their seats, ready to leave, only a few appearing to stay.“This is a net positive, everyone. You will have better freedoms, guaranteed freedoms! How could you not want that?” Then King Trimdin remembered what Quinten had told him all that time ago: “Your military is made up of a bunch of volunteers and under-experienced idiots. My veteran soldiers had a lot of time to train while The Queen was in power. Mine were ready, yours were not.”“The entire audience are veterans, right? That means that they are almost entirely former workers of Quinten, were former followers of his rhetoric. And that could mean….” While most of the crowd was getting up, a suspicious figure remained, out of nowhere holding a gun in their hand. “Oh shit,” The King said to himself.The gunman lined up their shot, aiming directly for Trimdin’s head. Guards quickly realized what was happening, some rushing into the crowds while others ran toward The King. But it was too late.The shooter quickly pulled the trigger of his long-barreled handgun, unleashing an array of bullets toward the still-unprotected Trimdin. In a move of instinct, The King made his magical magenta mist form around his hands, hastily trying to apply a shield. But with pellets piercing forward, there was little time.Just as the first bullet was about to hit King Trimdin, he was able to apply protection, merely stopping the shell from killing him. Then, the rest of his body was covered, stopping all projectiles from hurting him.Moments later, the shooter was tackled by guards, stopping the endless spray of slugs. From there, King Trimdin instantly floated in the air, scared for his life, following protocol and heading directly toward the castle for safety.But unfortunately for him, that was only the start….
“This place keeps getting cooler and cooler,” Claren said. The men and their alien escort continued through The Museum of Beltian Science, examining each innovation.“So this was your first hyper-speed engine?” Tim asked Kiran.“Yes, and without it, we would’ve never been able to trade with the Kuipernians.”“Damn, it was invented quite early on, too. Almost ten thousand years!” Claren added.“You need a bit of haste to travel in space. We can’t wait months, years, or decades just to make it to another nation,” Kiran joked.“No kidding. Our ships on Earth were nowhere even close to this. Our asses took months just to get here.”“I guess my car analogy checks out,” Tim whispered to himself.“We still have more! Come along, now,” Kiran commanded, pointing them forward.Periodically the three would stop at big moments of discovery. The list went on: cloning, weapons of mass destruction, vaccination, decoders; the further back they went, the more primitive the technology got.“Here is the first translation device,” Kiran said, pointing out a large metal box with grills on the top. “Once we started making these, our ability to communicate with the galaxy at large was heavily improved. No matter if we met with a civilization for the first or for the millionth time, they have become useful.”“How long does it take for the translator to work with new languages?”“There is no delay. You see, the technology is based on The King. Any language he can speak, we can translate,” she responded.“How many can he speak?”“All of them. Trimdin, now that he is ruler, can use any language in the universe, even if we don’t know where it originates from. Your little earpieces can convert conversations from any alien tongue no problem.”“If the language exists, The King knows it, and from there, you base your translations?” Claren questioned.“Yep. And it has worked every time”“Okay then,” Tim said. “So that’s how you know English?”“Eh, our relationship with English is another thing. I’m unsure how to explain it, but our language is very similar to yours. Beltian, as we call it, is like a simplified version of English. We are not sure why they are so similar, but they are.”“So there is no direct connection, but they are eerily similar. That answers about… nothing at all,” Tim said jokingly.“Hey, that’s all I know.”“It’s fine,” he laughed. “Just strange.”“Trust me, the more you know about the universe, the less sense it makes,” Kiran responded as she continued to lead Tim and Claren further toward the beginning of time, steaming toward the tale of The Belt's first weapons.“The automatic rifle was invented almost twenty thousand years ago and revolutionized wars. Before, the classic long-barreled handgun worked well for small and accurate assassinations while the bigger semi-auto was for fighting.”“I’m assuming you studied all this for your military training?” Tim asked.“Unfortunately. I’m more of a sword-fighter, as there’s more skill to that than just blasting an enemy full of shells, but mass murder is easier with guns.”“Yeah, we know that all too well. Earth had one too many wars in its days, each worse than the last. And when it came to Arcadia and Oceania, they were brutal. That’s why I stayed in space as much as possible, to escape the ugliness of it all.”“I was not as lucky,” Claren said. “War destroyed my home, our home. We definitely know it all too well.”Kiran looked at the two men in solidarity. “I’ve heard about Earth before. The blue marble of infinite water and luscious land that sits in the middle of our sky; the small dot that houses billions of beings. We don’t learn much about it, but I know you both loved it, that it was your native land, and I can easily understand the pain of seeing history run its course. Your society fell to the very thing mine was close to: self-destruction.”“And I think that’s why we are here,” Tim responded, “to make sure the same mistake is not made twice. Trimdin has done a good job so far, but it needs to keep going.”“Yes, it does,” inputted Claren.“The history of The Belt, even though you know only a fraction of it still, has repeated itself one too many times, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that both Trimdin and you two can make the changes needed.”“And we will. We have to. Why else would we have lived? Why else would Trimdin have been able to kill The Queen? Fate may be playing a part in this.”“Ah, yes,” Claren joked. “How can a man of science believe in fate?”“No, dear Claren, I am a man of fact and logic. But it’s reasonable to think that, after everything we’ve seen, fate may be real.”“It is,” Kiran said coldly. “Fates are real. Religions are real. Gods are real. It all is.”“Really?”“Every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the universe, appears to have some concept of a higher being, of a power above us. Trillions have been poured into the research of it, and all signs point to yes. Even though the First King was insane, he was probably right. He probably did see ‘le sqott.’ Let’s do a quick test. What do you call the afterlife?”“It depends entirely on which religion you follow. Some don’t have one, some believe in reincarnation, some call it heaven, some call it Ede—”“Eden. Oh yes, Eden,” Kiran interjected. “Everywhere we have gone, they have all had some variation of that name. Eddene, Elden, GkEdyn, and even in Beltian it's Edn. Sure they may have other names, but we all have an Eden.”“Seriously?” Claren questioned.“Yeah, seriously.”“Is this another example of ‘no direct connection but are eerily similar?’” Tim asked.“Exactly. That seems to be a constant.”“You were right when you said that the more you learn about the universe, the stranger it gets. Totally.”“What can I say?” Kiran responded.“Trimdin did not prepare us for such revelations, especially in a science museum.”“I don’t think he prepared me, either.”“What do you think Trimdin is doing right now anyway?” Claren asked Tim.“I’m not too sure. He said something about a memorial yesterday.”“Yes, he did,” Kiran answered. “The Beltian War Memorial is opening today.”“Is that for The Asteroid War?”“It is more for all conflicts fought in The Belt. War is so common that we rarely respect the soldiers who’ve died. And that lack of respect, that lack of closure, is what led to the vengeful army of Quinten.”“So that’s why he’s doing it: just to stop others from rising and take Quinten's place?”“No,” Kiran interrupted, “it’s because he feels the need to respect them, too. If there is anything King Trimdin learned from his tenure, it’s that hate will not get him anywhere, but love and care will. Stopping the cycle is more important than continuing it. If only some of those separatist bastards could recognize that!” she screamed.“Woah, calm down. What do you mean? Quinten’s army surrendered, right? You are literally the reason they did.”“MOST of them did. MOST. But there are still some factions out there trying to cause mayhem. The Royal Army has been doing a good job of taking care of it, but they are stubborn, to say the least. I took care of as many of them as I could over my break, but one girl can’t stop an army.”“So they’re still out there; that’s what your vacation was?” Claren asked in fear.“Duh, why do you think Trimdin assigned me to you? Sure, I am supposed to be your friend, but also your protector,” Kiran said.“We don’t need protection; Trimdin does. Isn’t their entire goal to kill him?”“Yes…”“So wouldn’t it be better if you were protecting HIM?”“You really undervalue your importance, don’t you?”“What do you mean?” Tim asked.“You are freaking Gods walking amongst us. You are the most popular—and only—humans in The Belt. You are best buddies with the Goddamn king! If there was anyone those assholes would want, it's you!”“So why did we come here if we would be in even the slightest bit of danger?”“Because you are not. We brought a legion of guards here, you have me, and the people of Vesta are extremely loyal subjects. Nothing can happen to you.”“But what about the crime sprees; what about that scummy pilot, Captain Landun? He literally admitted to liking The Queen, and you did not seem to like him either.”“Fine, Tim, you’ve got me there. The Captain is not my favorite, but I trust The King’s judgment. He would never send us with an untrustworthy pilot or to an unsafe place.”“I don’t know, Kiran. If there are Quinten sympathizers out there, we should be more careful. Trimdin should be more careful. I’m sure they can mask themselves pretty well, and, as always, anything could happen….”At that moment, the earpieces planted in each of their suits started to beep, telling them to tap it to answer. All three did, a call quickly steaming into their ears.“Tim, Claren, Kiran! Can you hear me?” a distressed voice said into their ears.“Who is this?” Tim asked.“It’s Trimdin.”“I see you’ve activated our phone abilities,” Claren joked.“Your majesty, what do you need?” Kiran waited for a command.“I need you to run. RUN, RUN, RUN!”“Wait, why?”“There was an assassination attempt on me. I don’t know if it was organized, but you need to come back to The Capital NOW. We can’t risk your lives.”“Wait, what did you just say?” Claren screamed.“Absolutely, sir. They’ll get home safe. Is this a Code Green or Red?” Kiran questioned.“Red for now. Let Tim pilot. Don’t trust anyone besides me or yourselves. No guards, no Captain Landun.”“Why?”“None of them are responding to my transmissions. I went to tell them about bringing you home, but I have gotten no response. They may have turned, they may have been killed, or maybe the communicators are just off. I don’t really know, and don’t really trust anyone here.”“Okay then, your majesty. Code Red it is.” Kiran turned her attention to Tim. “Do you think you could figure out how to fly our ships?”“Probably,” he responded.“That’s good to hear!”“Then we can do this,” she said back.“What about weapons? Do we need weapons?” Claren asked nervously.“I always travel with a sword,” Kiran proudly stated, tilting her hip toward Tim and Claren. “But for you two, I’ve got no idea.”“Only kill if needed!” Trimdin reminded them. “Please, I don’t want to add to the memorial the same day I opened it.”“No problem, your majesty. But if they attack us, I’m going for the final blow.”“Wouldn’t expect anything different, soldier. Protect Tim and Claren at all costs.”“Yes, sir.”“Then it’s settled. Get the hell out of there and be safe. Go silent. No calls, no radio, nothing. Not even to me.”“Absolutely, your majesty!” And with that, Tim, Claren, and most importantly, Kiran, were set on an unexpected adventure to escape the very place they thought safe, imprisoned by the home of scientific discovery.
“Okay, Kiran, what’s the damn plan here? What’s next!” Claren began rapidly firing questions toward their protector.“Calm down,” Tim said. “Kiran, what do you want us to do? Aren’t we surrounded by guards? Or, at least, we were.”“Do you want to go see?” Kiran looked at the two men, intensely gazing at the green tint of the ClearSuits.“...Sure?” Claren responded worriedly.“Sure? No, you mean SURE!” Kiran said, pulling out her sword, grasping it with both hands. “Let’s go see what's in store for us boys.”“I’m beginning to see why Trimdin gave you to us,” Tim joked.“Just wait until you get to see me in action.” With that, they began to stride forward, marching toward the museum's entrance. Tim and Claren followed the offensive Kiran.They passed each previous exhibit, getting closer to where they had started. And as they did, the three began to see the massive windows of the front, looking out and noticing that it was empty. Everything was empty. The crowds and guards of before disappeared; no signs of life persisted. All they could see was the gorgeous front lawn of the museum.“Where did all the soldiers go? The citizens?”“Trimdin made the right call to say Code Red. Either they turned or got killed. How it happened while we were in here, I don’t know, but it’s the only explanation.”“I mean, a mutiny on that scale would be insane, but there is no way they were all murdered. We would have heard something.”“Could they have just been captured?” Claren asked.“Theoretically,” Kiran responded. “And I’m sure that shithead ‘Captain’ Landun was at the forefront of it.”“I knew that bastard was suspicious.”“He got on my nerves, and I only talked to him for a few minutes. I totally believe that he would throw something like this for a few bucks. But the rest of those guards, I’m not sure. I knew some of them; I’ve trained with them. They were good souls.”“Either way, we can’t trust them,” Tim said as they got closer to the door. The entire scene outside was still barren. “Before we go out, we should throw something and see if it’s safe. Maybe they trapped it.”“Oh, good idea,” Claren said excitedly.“Come on, this is not my first rodeo. Let’s see, what should I use?” Kiran looked around her body, trying to find a small, detachable item.While that was happening, Tim saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was matte, unsuspecting. It had a peculiar look, a reddish glow. And it sat right outside the museum, pointing directly at them. “Claren, do you see that?” Tim pointed out the window to the small buried device.“Yeah, Tim, I do.”“I think it's a camera.”“A camera, where?” Kiran said urgently, stopping her search.“Riiiightttt there,” Tim said in a drawn-out way, comically dramatizing its importance.But Kiran showed no smile; instead, a look of concern hit her face. “We can’t get out this way. That’s no camera, it's a sensor. A sensor that, once we get too close to it, will freaking explode us into smithereens.”“Oh,” Tim said quietly.“So we should not take this way?” Claren commented.“No, we most definitely should NOT.” The three of them backed away slowly.“Is there another way to get out of here? How far is The Grandiant from here?”“Let me think. So, not to confuse you two, but ships dock under the cities. All asteroids with major settlements are split in half, the top part having the living area, the bottom part dedicated to docking, trade transports, and more.”“Kiran, slow down. That’s all well and good, but how does that help us? There are a dozen layers between us and that, so who cares?”“Well, you should let me finish. This is a central building of the Vesta, right, and I know that they constantly have new artifacts being shipped in all the time. And, if they have enough shipments, they may have a direct connection between the two halves.”“Wait a minute, are you saying there may be an elevator around here that could bring us down there, just like the one we used at the ship to get here?” Claren asked.“Possibly, though if I can deduct that, then anyone could. But, and this is a huge but, there’s a slight chance they forgot. We are more likely to die going out this door than trying to find a stairway to the underworld.”“Hey, I’m willing to take that chance. Claren and I have played with luck so many times; what’s one more time going to do?”“Even if we die here, we at least got the chance to live a new one. The people of Earth never got that. My mom never got that. My dad didn’t. My boyfriend didn’t. We’ve made it further than I could’ve thought, and I hope they’re proud of that.”“Claren,” Tim said emotionally, “that’s what I need to hear right now. That’s what I was telling you on the ship. They all loved you, and I know you loved them, and I am sorry that our dumb mission took you away from them. I’m sorry that the idiotic race between the nations pulled you from them. But I am glad that it brought you to me. We have been through so much in so little time, but there’s no one else I would have done it with.” He began to shed a tear, peering deeply into his partner's eyes.Kiran stood by proudly, smiling at the blossoming friendship.“Thank you, Tim. Thank you.” His eyes also began to water. “There has just been so much damn pain and not enough space to get it sorted out. Shit is constantly thrown at us, at our happiness, thwarting whatever sense of normalcy in our lives. But as you said, I am happy to go through it with you. You’re here to balance me out, to smarten me up, but also here to help me get up when I fall.”“Well, buddy, for all that wisdom, I get back pains in return,” Tim said, laughing.“Whatever it is, it’s working,” Claren responded. “I think the closure starting to happen, Tim. It’s starting to come, I can feel it already. The once warm blanket that wrapped me is coming back, slowly.”“I told you it would. Now, we need to get going, right Kiran? I’m sure you no longer need to see this sob story.”Kiran looked up at Tim, showing visible tears on her face as well. “Ah, yeah, sure, let’s get going,” she said, wiping them off.“I didn’t think we were being that dramatic. We should be actors, Claren!” Tim said, holding back some of his emotions.“It was quite the show,” Kiran responded with sniffles. “Now, follow me.”Yet again, the men trailed Kiran, quickly coming across a small tablet device that, with a few clicks of a button, showed a blueprint of the building.“We’re here and… yes, okay, there, and… ah, yes, here we go!” Kiran exclaimed. “It says that if we just go down this hallway, there will be a door. Behind that door is a maintenance room where they store and repair certain display pieces. BUT, if we keep going in the room, we should get to a large staircase that will lead to an elevator. That elevator apparently leads directly to a ship in the docking area.”“Great, that sounds easy enough,” Tim said.“Though there’s one thing: we need a passcode for the elevator to work.”“A passcode? How would we get that?”“There are many ways, many devices that can do it. But we don’t have any one hand right now, not unless you two have anything up your sleeve?”“I don’t think so.”“Not surprised. If only I had that damn thing I used on the vault!”“What thing,” Claren questioned.“When I first encountered Quinten during the war, I used a device that allowed me to crack the code to open his bunker. Though I don’t have anything close to that here.”“Do you think we could just bust it open?” Tim suggested. “I mean, that steel blade of yours can do a lot more than look pretty.”“That elevator uses the hardest lock system in The Belt. My sword will break before the door even gets a dent.”“Maybe we’ll find something on the way. That’s simple enough,” Tim said back.“I like simple!” Claren responded.“Good enough.”Quickly they made their way toward the maintenance room, safely getting away from the dangerous entrance of the museum. From there, they kicked down its door with ease, entering cautiously. The area matched much of the looks of the rest of the building, only having one key distinction: the organization. Instead of the clean and pristine it bore outside of it, the room was scattered with dozens of pieces, technology old and new sitting around on tables. Things were unfinished, abandoned for their arrival that morning.“Well, this place needs some spring cleaning,” Claren quipped.“That’s to put it lightly,” Tim commented.“This is a good thing, though. Look around and see if you can find anything labeled DECODER. We may get lucky with all this junk. An older model may be here for display.”“What would it look like?”“Usually, they have a small screen on them and a wire that you hook up to the device you are trying to open. Something like that.”“Very detailed,” Tim said sarcastically.“Sorry, did you want a full 3D scan of one?”Tim stayed quiet, not responding.“Exactly,” she added with a light giggle. “Let’s get to work.”The men instantly started looking around, scavenging the gray table for any signs of one. Kiran did the same, scoping out for the familiar device, looking for as long as they could.But on the opposite end of the room, the large slope down toward the elevator stood, existing precisely where the blueprints said it would be. Only one thing stood out, imperfectly matching their preconceptions: the size of the elevator. Instead of a large shaft leading down to the docks, it was a small transport, specially designed for item movement, not men. The trio of Trimdin’s friends continued to look for their needed device, not noticing the trouble they were soon to encounter.“Have you found anything?” Kiran yelled to Tim, who was inspecting a small gadget.“Nothing yet!” he responded. “I saw a small dagger, that’s about it.”“What about you, Claren?”“I found something with a screen, but no wires or anything.”“Damn it!” Kiran shouted. “Maybe we should just go to the sword thing,” she said in a small fit of rage. Kiran quickly rushed to the staircase, went down it, and uncovered the elevator. “Oh, that’s not good.”“What is it?” Claren yelled from the top.“Can one of you come down? I’ll need to do a bit of a size comparison.”“A size comparison?”“Yeah, just get down here,” she commanded.Tim rushed toward Kiran, leaving Claren alone in his search. “What is i… WHOA! Is that the elevator?”“I have a feeling this won’t be big enough for us,” Kiran said, looking at it. The lift was skinny and short, barely able to fit the much smaller Kiran. “This thing was clearly designed for item transport, not human.”“I guess so. We could go one by one if we really squish in. Or maybe it’s big on the inside and just small out here?”“Squishing might be possible, but who knows how big the shaft is?”“What the hell are you two talking about down there? I’m a bit concerned based off of the words ‘size comparison’ and ‘shaft.’” Claren jokingly yelled down the stairwell.“Come on man!” Tim shouted back. “No need. Just focus on finding the decoder.”“Well, next time you should stop making good joke setups!”“It’s not a good joke. It’s juvenile.”“I don’t get it,” Kiran said to Tim. “What does he mean?”“Nothing. Claren’s just being a smartass.”“A smartass? If he keeps distracting us, I’ll kick his ass,” Kiran quipped.“You hear that, Claren?”There was no response.“He heard you,” Tim told Kiran.“I sure hope he did. Now, back to the task. The only risk with going one at a time is that they could ambush us,” Kiran added. “I must go first with my blade, ready to fight.”“Fine, but what if you get captured or killed? Then we are defenseless.”“Did you see any functional weapons out there? A knife or something?”“A knife…” Tim thought to himself. “I looked at quite a few things, but a knife….”“Wait, didn’t you just say you saw a small dagger? Where was it?”“You’re right! I totally forgot. It was in the corner of the room, first shelf. It said something along the lines of being ‘the blade that killed Queen Calidon.’”“I wonder why that would be here, in the science museum?” Kiran responded.“My suit told me that it’s made of ‘foreign metals,’ so they were inspecting its origins.”“Wait, Queen Calidon? The Queen? That dagger?”“What are you talking about?”“Do you not remember how it looked? The dagger. That’s the dagger, Tim. It’s the one you gave to Trimdin, the one he killed The Queen with!”“Wait. Queen Calidon? That was her?”“I really need to brush you up on our history.”“Clearly,” Tim said back.“Anyway, go up there and get that dagger. And maybe get Claren while you’re at it.”“I wonder if he’s found anything…” Tim said. And at that same moment, just like many before, they heard a cheer.“I found it, I Goddamn found it,” he yelled.“I’ve got to stop with the coincidences,” Tim commented.“What?” Kiran asked.“Just talking to myself.”With haste, the two ran back up to Claren, who was proudly holding a device in the air.“Tim, Kiran, I think I found it. I did some light digging and found a file on code tech. Then, it said there was going to be an exhibit on it, so I searched for what they were going to put on, and I found it. The Fifth Generation Royal Decoder!” he said.“Good job, man!” Tim came over to Claren and hugged him kindly. “Good job.”“Claren, we have something to tell you, though.”“What is that?”“You see, the elevator has a bit of an issue.”“An issue?” Claren asked, worried.“The size of the elevator is, well, problematic,” Kiran said, trying to be subtle.“It’s too small,” Tim blurted out. “We can barely fit through the doorway, Claren. It will be a tight fit, and we have no idea how large the thing is inside.”“That doesn’t shock me,” Claren said. “An elevator made to transport items will likely be the size of an elevator for those items.”“Great,” Kiran responded, “but that does not solve our problem.”“We’re used to small and confined spaces, Kiran,” Claren stated. “That’s what exploration is all about, right Tim.”“Unfortunately, I’ve gotten paid more than once to risk my safety and live in a cramped space station for months at a time. We can likely squeeze in.”“Well, then grab the dagger and go! We have no time to waste.”“Wait, dagger?” Claren asked.“I’ll explain later,” Tim said back, rushing over to the knife in question. Its shining exterior and prominent tip displayed itself beautifully, reminding Tim of the adventure to get the parts. He then walked by Claren, marching downward with Kiran.“Is that what I think it is?” Claren commented as they moved.“Yes, it is. You made a defibrillator out of it… somehow.”“I still have no freaking idea how that worked,” he said, following them diligently."Again, fate. We have had some extreme luck,” Tim mentioned nearing the elevator, the decoder in Claren’s hand.“If we’re lucky enough, this will all work,” Kiran added.“It should. It has to.”“It will,” Claren said, placing the gadget next to the number panel. Kiran detached it from the wall, keeping the digits illuminated and functional while exposing a wire. Then, the two parts of the puzzle were connected, their decoder starting its calculations.“How long do these things take?” Tim asked.“Claren, you said it was Gen. Five, right?”“Yes.”“Then it will take about two minutes. The ones we have today are super quick, but single-use. These things, I am not as sure about, but I do know that they last a lot longer.”“That comes at the cost of speed, I’m assuming?” Claren said.“Sadly.”“Well, we’re burning good time by talking. We should come up with a plan for this damn thing. What do we do when we get down there?”“I’ll go first and wait, scoping out the area. Then you, Tim, with the dagger ready. And finally, Claren. If you can find a pipe or something, use that. As long as it causes pain.”“Fair enough, I ain’t a good fighter anyway.”“Good. And when it comes to the location of The Grandiant, it is fairly close by. If I remember correctly, it was parked in docking station C, close to the center of Vesta. We are in the eastern part.” “How do you know all of this,” Claren naively asked.“Hey, Claren. When you get this far into the story, you don’t ask questions. I made that mistake with Trimdin. Trust me, she knows what she is talking about.”“Yes, thank you, Tim. My entire job is to know everything to keep you safe. I inspected it all. I know it all.”“Sorry I ever doubted you,” Claren responded mischievously.“Once we all make it down there safely, we have to make it to the ship. Then, just like the elevator, I’ll board first and clear it. Who knows what still lingers on it?”“What if we flew something more unsuspecting? Maybe one closer?” Tim asked.“You mean, like steal a ship?” Claren added.“I don’t know. We’ll see. That would probably be the smartest move, but The Grandiant is Royal property. It was not cheap to make.”“Safety is more important. I can fly anything you throw at me, minus a few translations, maybe.”“Okay then, we’ll find the closest ship. No matter what, we need to be stealthy. Are you ready?” Kiran asked.“Yes, we are,” Tim answered for them both.“Perfect, because I think the decoder is too.” Right then, it made a beep sound. “Claren, here’s the code.”Claren fitted the number panel back on a bit more snugly, inputting the display of digits on the screen. “5172017,” he typed, a small chime following. And then, like magic, the elevator door opened, unveiling its size.“That’s a bit bigger than expected,” Kiran mentioned, “but the plan still follows.“Yes, ma'am.”And with that, Kiran fit herself into the box, her armor rubbing against the sides. She held her sword with two hands in front of her, prepared to fight the minute she got there.Tim and Claren remained, waiting for it to return and talking about their next step.“All of these pains and plans are getting tiring,” Claren cried to Tim.“We’re almost back to the safety of Trimdin. I still don’t get why he would send us all the way here if there was even the slightest chance of danger. It just seems silly.”“As Kiran said, Vesta is seen as pretty safe. It’s probably a Royal anchor on this side of The Belt. I mean, we traveled to the other end of this ring of rocks. That’s no short distance.”“Yeah, but to me, that makes it even weirder. You realize it has only been a day and a half since we were in orbit around Earth. A DAY AND A HALF. Forty-eight hours ago, we were in our sleeping bags, thinking the end was near. The craziness has been non-stop since. Now all I want is a damn nap. A damn break.”“I think Trimdin can do that. If anything, he can do that.” Claren said somberly.“Good,” Tim said, followed by an unexpected chime. The elevator door had opened, now inviting his presence. “It’s my time to go!” he quipped.“Be safe, Tim,” Claren responded, watching his commanding officer enter the small space. He had to crouch down, his ClearSuit condensed against the white sides of the wall.“Adiós!” Tim yelled as the gate closed, shooting him down toward the bay area.“And then there was one,” Claren said, feeling the room's emptiness. “I guess I’ll go find that pipe.”Claren began to walk away from the elevator, heading toward the maintenance room. He looked around at the scattered mess, searching for something long, something metal. Every corner was searched, all in the hopes he would find something.As he skimmed, minutes went by, seemingly without sign of the elevator’s return."What the hell is going on? Tim should have sent it back up by now, right?” Claren questioned aloud. “And is there anything here I can use as a damn weapon!”He soon found himself near the same place the dagger was once held, reading the sign attached. “I’ve got to say, their language really is similar to ours.”Claren kept examining the room, looking at dozens of gadgets and gizmos, all totally useless to him. That was, until he saw a short stick on the ground under one of the tables.“What’s this?” He ducked down, reaching over to the rod. “Is… Is this a baton?” Claren got closer. “Quite a shiny one at that!” The baton was silver plated, with a stubbed point at each end. “That’s the best I’ll get!”Claren got up from the ground, now heading directly toward the elevator. It continued to look as unsuspecting as before, like nothing had changed. And this belief remained, as the all-important chime came through, indicating that the cab had arrived.“Finally,” he exclaimed, excited to enter.The space was tight, so he ducked his head and stuck the stick in front of him. Buttons sat inside, with one at the bottom having a clear picture of a ship. He pressed it, the elevator door slowly closing afterward.“How the hell did Tim fit in this thing!” Claren shouted.The elevator started to move downward toward the docking station. Everything was seemingly normal. Claren could feel the gravity pulling him down slowly, a light-up graphic indicating his descent.“I can’t wait for this adventure to stop. Every second I’m blindsided by a new event, suffocated by danger. Where does it end?” he complained to himself.Eventually, the elevator came to a roaring halt, Claren sensing the solid structure of rock below him. “Finally,” he stated.The shaded slammers slid open, revealing the requested region within Vesta. A wide space sat before him, inviting the crushed Claren in. He quickly walked out, waiting to watch the whimsical ways of the docking stations. But they never came.Tim and Kiran were nowhere to be found; everything was empty. All ships had left, leaving Claren stranded.“Hello!” Claren screamed, confused, his voice echoing in the large chambers. “Where are you guys? Tim? Kiran?” He got his baton ready, gripping it with two hands and lifting it vertically in front of his chest.“Where the hell is everybody?” Claren started to get nervous, sweat collecting around his forehead. Swiftly, he looked around his periphery, swinging his stick senselessly.“Something’s wrong, very wrong,” he voiced, still standing mere feet away from the now-closed elevator door.“Oh, dear Claren. Something is definitely wrong,” a voice said behind him. Suddenly, Claren's head was covered with a sack, a string tightened around his neck as he dropped his baton, suffocated by danger.
“Your majesty! Your majesty!” an aide screamed through Trimdin’s bedroom door.The King secured himself in the castle, refusing to let anyone see him, sitting at his desk and contemplating his decisions.“Your majesty! It’s urgent.”“Get away!” he growled, trying to thwart their efforts. “I am not leaving this room until Tim, Claren, and Kiran come back and The Capital is secured. Something’s going on, something very wrong, and I can’t trust any of you.”“Sir, their lives are not nearly as important as yours. An assassination attempt on the King of The Asteroid Belt should not be taken lightly. We need swift action against them, crushing these outstanding rebels.”“Is there any news from Vesta yet?” Trimdin quickly asked.“Every attempt to contact Captain Landun and his crew have gone nowhere, sir. Vesta is silent, too. There’s been no activity of travel around it; everything is eerily still.”“Have the autonomous drones made it?”“No. They were shot down as they approached.”“How do I know you are telling the truth?” The King asked."Until you walk out of that room, you’ll just have to trust me.”“Fine!” he said in return. “Did the shooter get arrested?”“They’re in Royal custody as we speak.”“I really thought Quinten’s death would be the end of the mayhem. But it’s no surprise some of those imbeciles would want to rise again. It’s in their nature.”“Your majesty, you have done everything you can to stop them, but some need to learn the lesson themselves. You can’t expect everyone to be taught by your mistakes. They will all see in time that you are correct, but they need to do it on their own, just as you did.”“I don’t think anyone can ever repeat it the same way I did. One too many factors played into that one,” King Trimdin joked.“Of course, sir, but what I said is still true. You are fortunate to have learned these lessons, fortunate that millions are willing to listen to them, but you can’t take that for granted. These stragglers are looking for the validation they need; for the validation their pain brings them, and they won’t stop until they find it. Or, at least what they think it is.”“When did you become so wise?” Trimdin questioned his hidden aide.“I picked up a few things from your brother, to say the least.”“Do you think he would be proud of what I have done so far?”“Oh, my king, he’d be more than proud. You’ve caused more disruption than he did in five years. He was no light ruler; so much changed the second he came into power, but you have easily beat him with your accomplishments.”“Would he be proud of me?”“I think so. Lessons have been learned, evil has been swayed, war has been ended; that seems to fit the criteria well.”“And there’s just so much more. This place, our home, deserves so much more than stingy mineral families and corrupt rulers. It needs more than what my measly ideas can bring it. The subjects have earned their right to rule themselves.”“Your majesty, what you said today was revolutionary,” they said, still talking through the door. “Those few words will forever change the way The Belt works, and I think support is much better than what you saw in that crowd. It was just the right thing at the wrong time.”“Democracy is our future. I am not. That IS what my brother wanted.”“Well, if anyone can do this, it is you, sir.”“No, my brother was the mastermind of it all. He was a kind ruler, he cared for his subjects, and all I’ve done is continue that. The only difference is that I am here to see it out,” Trimdin began to shed a tear.They could hear his muffled weeping through the panel. “You are not the only one; you are not alone. I’m here, and so many others across The Belt are here, waiting for you to finish what he started all that time ago. Never mind that Tim and Claren, two HUMANS, are an audience to it as well. More beings than ever want to help you continue his legacy, and I know that he is watching you in Eden with a smile grazing his face.”“Thank you. I doubt most Royal leaders talk to their subordinates like this. You know, talking about feelings and stuff through a door like a teenager.”“This is a first for me, sir, but I enjoy it. These are the words of someone who was thrust into kingship without time to train, prepare, or really understand what they were getting into. But they love it all the same, being more diehard and committed than any experienced ruler would be. That’s what makes them special; that’s what makes you special.”“You could be a therapist. The way you say things is strangely comforting.”“I wish I went to school for that instead of public communications,” they responded.“Me too,” The King laughed. “Those Goddamn degrees mean nothing these days! Anyway, have you heard anything yet about, you know, the actual situation at hand?”“No, your majesty, but do you really think they will tell me? I’m too low ranking; they’d rather send someone here to barge down your door and tell you.”Probably,” Trimdin said back humorously. “They won’t even want to talk to me, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them mutiny after all this.”“Sir, they won’t do that. It’s just a few rotten apples, nothing more.”“Everyone says that, yet it continues happening. How many ‘rotten apples’ are there? And what about the apples that are rotten on the inside but bright and beautiful on the outside? The ones we pick up and eat, trusting them based on appearance, but soon learn that they’re rotten to the core? What about them?”“The illusion of something can be much stronger than the real thing.”“I had an illusion of power, of revenge, of self-worth, but learned that it was nothing but hate. Quinten had real power, real revenge, real self-worth, but was poisoned by his ego. My illusion won, but just by a hair.”“Is that the lesson, your majesty? That an illusion is better than the real thing?”“No, we should not seek these things in the first place, real or not, and recognize that both are a dangerous path to follow, extreme unpredictability plaguing it.”“Ah, I see. Your brother’s smarts are starting to shine through,” they laughed.“He was smarter than I’ll ever be. He was a good negotiator, as well.”“Quinten was pretty good, too. That day he came to the palace and called for war still stuns me. He was the master of trickery, of convincing others to follow him. He made a living off of it. That and his strategizing.”“Yeah, he always knew when it was the right time to do something. He was timely with everything. That’s the only way he could one-up me.” King Trimdin fell quiet. “It was his worst trick.” He began thinking back to the war, glimpses of the bloodshed flashing through. It was so vivid, so clear, feeling like it had just happened again.“Your majesty?” the aide questioned after a few moments passed.“Just give me a moment.” The King got up from his chair, slammed it in, and started to walk around anxiously.“Is it all coming back again? The images?”“Just give me a second.”“Sir, just lay down and think happy thoughts. It’s okay. You're okay.”“How could I ever let that happen!” he screamed to himself. “The damn trickery!”“Sir!”“All those families I let down, all the subjects I got killed, just for vengeance!” King Trimdin continued to stand, now throwing his hands violently in the air.“Sir, do I need to come in there? You need to calm down. Everything is okay.”“It will never be okay. How could it be? You can’t call the slaughtering of hundreds a mistake, can you?”“It was. That’s all it was. You have done everything, have taken away the Devil that did it, have made a memorial and retributed them. Now you must learn to live with that. But that pain, those losses, have brought freedom and justice to all in The Belt. That is something truly wonderful.”“How can it ever be right if so many had to fall to make it happen?”“All good things come from somewhere bad. There can never be happiness without pain first. Once you hit rock bottom, it is only up from there.”“But that doesn’t mean it should have happened.” He was starting to calm down, the extreme emotions settling.“No, it doesn’t,” the assistant said somberly, “but that doesn’t mean that you have failed, that you have caused a negative overall.”The King began to feel better, walking back to his desk and loudly dragging his chair back out, sitting down with a notepad and communicator in front of him.“Good! Thank you for listening. I guess I really should be a therapist.”Trimdin lightly giggled at the joke, transitioning to a calmer state. “You really should,” he said to them. “You really, really should.”“Without everything you’ve done, that wouldn’t be possible. Without the things you have brought to The Belt, the changes you have made, I would have never even made it out of the mines. You did that, sir.”“It was not me. I was just the one watching over it all.”“Even still, it’s because of your leadership. Between your might, your kindness, and your care, you are single-handedly changing Beltian's lives.”“If you want me to write a letter of recommendation to a university, I’ll do it. You NEED to be a therapist at this point!”“If you make it free, I’ll do it. Add it to your welfare budget or something.”“It’s the job you are clearly destined for. Get me the papers!” he quipped.“That’s the King Trimdin I like to hear! I hope it lasts,” they said.“I kind of hope so, too.” But it didn’t.The next second, The King’s communicator started to ring. He picked it up, suddenly seeing the caller's name: Kiran.“What the hell?” he said, confused.“What is it?” they yelled back.“I’m getting a call… from Kiran? Why would she call me? I told them to go quiet.”“Maybe they’re here? Maybe they have arrived back safely?”“Well, is anyone here to kick down my door?”“No.”“Then something’s wrong.”“Can I come in, then?” the aide asked as the ringing occurred in the room.“Why not at this point?” He got up, walked to the door, and promptly unlocked it, letting his underling in.“Thank you,” they said while closing it. “Now answer the Goddamn thing!”“Wow, you’re showing such kindness to your employer. Maybe I’ll change my mind on the free college thing.”“Answer it.”“Okay!” he responded, pressing the proper button and starting the call. “Why the hell are you calling me, Kiran?”“Oh, dear Trimdin, did you really think it was your damsel soldier? Do you think those men were going to make it off Vesta easy? Don’t be so ridiculous. We’ve got them; we’ve captured them. And that legion of guards you sent? Killed, every single one, including that frivolous Captain Landun. Damn traitor.”"Who are you?” Trimdin screamed into the phone. “You know who we are. From the ashes of Quinten, we have risen. The Children of Quinten are coming, your majesty, and we’re starting with your measly friends. You think you’re The King of Gods, The King that saved us from tyranny. But all you’ve brought is pain.”“Where are Tim, Claren, and Kiran? What have you done with them?”“The same thing The Queen did to you all that time ago. Start with the verbal torture, but then get to the real physical stuff.” In the background of the call, they could start to hear faint screams, quickly noticing whose they were.“I’ll send an entire army to your doorstep! This is an act of war. You are killing Royal subjects of the highest caliber. You don’t dare want to be met by that.”“As far as we’re aware, two aren’t even Belitan. They’re not even citizens.”“We should have done those citizenship tests sooner,” Trimdin said to his aide.“You should have. But instead, you sent them to the science hub of The Belt, thinking they would be safe, didn’t you?” one of the Children taunted.“Tim, Claren, and Kiran, if you can hear me, I am coming for you!”“They can’t hear you. We’ll have them bleeding from their ears soon, anyway. You can pick up their ashes when we’re done with them!”“You bastards. What the hell? I mean seriously, what the actual hell? I’m doing everything I can to make this place better, and all you want to do is poison it. Who is gaining from your brutal beliefs besides yourselves? If you want revenge, fine, but don’t subject others to your pain. All that I can tell you is that it will never satisfy you, it will NEVER lead to the happiness you think it will bring.”“But oh yes, it will,” everyone on the other end said in unison.“Such a Goddamn cult,” the aide whispered to Trimdin.“I am going to send every ship, every soldier, every weapon, every bomb, everything to your location. You will be crushed. There is no in-between.”“Then we will just kill them a bit faster. Get your knives out, boys. These lambs are about to go to the slaughter,” they commanded, it being picked up by their communicator.“Wait, how can we solve this more diplomatically? There’s no need for any knives.”“Surrender. Surrender your government, your subjects, your life, to us. That’s it. Do you find that a worthy trade?”“The lives of millions for three?”“Would you not say that they are worth it? I mean, two of them are Gods, right? Does that not increase their value tenfold?”"It does. But you can’t—”“Yes, we can,” they cut him off. “It’s an easy trade, dear Trimdin.”“God, you even talk like him. How does it feel to love that psychopath so much, to follow that unsensible villain?”“Sensibility went out the window the second you became king. Your brother was handled quickly, but you are much harder to exterminate. You’re a cockroach of his ideology, never quite dying no matter how many times we try to stomp it out.” “Tell me about it,” The King said under his breath. “Oh, stop it. If there was one thing our Master was good at, it was keeping things concise with you. I swear, all you Royalists are pure chatterboxes. We eventually gagged your little friends because they wouldn’t shut up,” they cackled over the call.“You’ll see why when we come to destroy you. I have learned from the past, understand your deception, and am more ready than ever to beat your furious asses.”“See you then,” they said elusively, promptly ending the call.Shivers were sent along King Trimdin and his aide’s spines; fear of what would come clogged their psyche. Tim, Claren, and Kiran were in real trouble, and The King of Gods was not prepared to handle it.
King Trimdin rushed out of his room, his aide closely following. He stormed toward the command center, toward his advisors, seeking the help he needed to save his friends.Quickly they barged in, many of them staring at the distraught Trimdin.“I just got a call from someone. They’ve named themselves the Children of Quinten.”“Your majesty,” they all said in unison, kneeling.“Oh, stop the formalities. Can you trace the location of Tim, Claren, and Kiran?”“Yes, sir,” one said in the corner, “do you want the locations of their ClearSuits?”“YEAH.”“Give me a second, sir.” They hastily input something into their computer nearby, linking to the suits and locating them. “I’ve got it!”“Where are they?” Trimdin shouted.“It looks here that they are still on Vesta, deep in its core. They haven’t gone far.”“Good. So what the hell do we do now?”“Well, my king,” a general commented, “what did these ‘Children of Quinten’ say?”The King’s aide suddenly stepped into the conversation. “They murdered the entire legion sent to protect them and are actively torturing the men and their officer.”“They aren’t joking around, then?” the general said back.“No, they’re not,” Trimdin responded. “Those assholes just added thirty new graves to the memorial!”"Did they make any offers? Negotiations?”“Yes… my surrender… and the entire government.”“Sounds like Quinten, all right,” a soldier in the room added.“It sure does,” King Trimdin said, “and they have us in a similar conundrum, too. If we try to attack and they detect it, they will just kill Tim, Claren, and Kiran faster. If we do nothing, they will still die. AND, even if I did surrender, they would probably kill them anyway. How do you get out of that?”“You don’t,” the general said. “You just don’t.”“What do you mean?”“Is sacrificing The Belt worth it for their lives, sir? At the end of the day, two of them are humans who have no home here.”“How dare you!”“Your majesty, I am just stating the truth. You’re the one who almost lost a war because you let your revenge, your personal hate for Quinten, blind you. You’re the one who sat in his bedroom and refused to consult others like an adult! Don’t let your personal love for them, your emotions, hurt The Belt again.”“They are entirely different from Quinten and me. That bastard is why my brother died, the reason this kingdom went under. But Tim and Claren, they are going to be the reason it rises again. How is it bad that I want to save them?” Trimdin shouted back.“Sir, calm down,” his assistant said. “We’ll figure this out.”“Yes, we will. We need to do something.”“We can’t. Your personal feelings can’t get in the way of ruling, sir. We should ask the subjects what they want instead of doing everything behind closed doors? Let’s see if they truly care for these men, for dear Kiran?”“They do. They have to. Without them, I would have never killed The Queen. They are the last of humanity, the last of their kind, and I would not be here without them!”“You talked of democracy, so let’s get it started. Get on a broadcast, tell Beltians what is happening, and let them vote; let them choose what THEY want. This is their home, this is their Belt, and they have the right to make the decision of whether or not we should go after these ‘Children.’” The general looked straight at The King, fully challenging him.“I do want democracy, I think we need it. But is this really the time to implement it when so much evil is lingering?” he laughed nervously.“What time would be better?”Trimdin stood perplexed.“When?” they said again.“I don’t know. Later? When my friends aren’t in crisis.”“Whether or not they are friends doesn’t matter,” they responded. “The lives of Beltians, of your subjects, are most important.”“What the hell do you want me to do? The choice is impossible.”“Leave it to the citizens,” they commanded. “What time is better?”The King was dumbfounded, staggered by the words of his advisor.“Now…” he said in return.“Good. Now is the time.”“Get me the public relations department and the head of the Royal Beltonian Broadcasting System,” The King ordered. “I’m going to prove they care!”~~Deep within Vesta, Tim, Claren, and Kiran stood, tied to poles. They lay bare, gagged by large strips of cloth, dyed by the blood running down their faces.“Oh my, The King is one idiot,” one of the Children said. “Such a Goddamn idiot.” The call had already ended, the three adventures desperately crying for help.“As for you three, we expected better. You’ve been labeled ‘Gods,’ but you’re more mortal than that bastard.”Surrounded by gray stone and large knives, the room they were contained in was nothing short of horrifying for the two men and Kiran to see.“Now, I’m sure you're wondering a million things, right? Like ‘where did you come from’ or ‘why are we here?’ Well, you already know. Especially you, Kiran Samdin. If anyone does, you do. But I doubt your cargo has any idea what is happening. Do they?”Kiran, tied slightly lower than the humans next to her, violently shook in anger.“Trimdin gives you too much credit. ‘Ending the war.’ Really? You did jackshit until you pulled that gadget out and decoded the vault. Yeah, I was there, and damn did I enjoy mowing down the Blue battalion. Sad you weren’t one of them!” they laughed hysterically.They then switched their attention to the men. “And you two are terrible representatives of humanity. Your species was nowhere near ours, but you had some potential. Too bad you’re all that’s left!”The men, blood covering their suits, started to have tears visibly fall down their faces.“Was it nuclear weapons that ended it all? Something along those lines?”They twisted and turned similarly to Kiran.“Ah, it was! Well then, how about we give you some options? When we kill you, how does burning alive sound?”“Oh, yes, good idea, Master,” someone said in the corner of the room.“I’d say so. How about you guys?” The alien looked directly at them, their large, beady eyes pointed toward them. “Numbers 36, 42, and 90, take these bastards down! Let’s do it Earth’s way: in a ball of fire!”Three soldiers got up and marched toward Tim, Claren, and Kiran, knives in hand. Together, their limbs loosened from the stakes behind them, handcuffs being quickly placed around their wrists.“Good! Now, how should we do this? I think a broadcast would be nice!”“A broadcast? Now you’re talking my language,” Number 90 said, who was tightly holding onto Kiran.“I’m sure I am, dear Child. The Master always wanted to do a Belt-wide execution,” they said eagerly. “Lord, we will honor your wishes. Your children are here to continue your legacy, your greatness, and we will murder the weak friends of King Trimdin to prove it!”Every soldier stared in solidarity with the towering creature, quickly kneeling.“Tim, Claren, and of course, Kiran,” they said slyly, “you are getting the best present you could: the chance to go to hell!”With that, the lead alien walked toward a doorway in the torturous lair. Promptly, the three of them followed, pushed by their respective guards. They were driven through a dark, blackened hall, small lamps seldom lighting the entire passage. Quickly, their destination was revealed: a large auditorium with hundreds of figures in the audience.“I’m sure you didn’t expect this!” The ‘Master’ said to them. “We didn’t have long to set things up, so this is the best we’ve got.”Tim, Claren, and Kiran stood amazed, shocked by the sheer number of beings suddenly standing and cheering with their arrival. The floor below them was solid stone, the same as the walls behind the large stakes they were set to burn on.“These are the Children of Quinten, my dear friends. Every single one of them is here to watch you DIE. They are here to revel in your pain!” they shouted toward the crowd, one that rallied in response.Kiran started to show fear in her eyes as they enlarged. She began twisting and turning yet again, but to no avail. The soldier holding her still eventually whacked her on the back with their baton, though to the disapproval of their leader.“Hey, no need for the extra abuse. Save that for the show!”“I’m sorry, sir. Kiran here was just acting a bit out of order.”“Oh, I’m sure she was. She’s the rebellious type, to say the least.”This angered Kiran even further.“She's barely 'rebellious,'” Number 90 said. “She’s barely got enough strength to hold a gun!”“Fuuuu you! Fuuu you!” she tried to scream."What’s that? We hurting your ego? Offending you, maybe? Too bad! We only needed the men; your arrival was a gift from Quinten himself!”Kiran wiggled her arms around in the handcuffs, maddened by the comments.Tim and Claren stood still, petrified by the pure evil on display.“That’s enough time-wasting. Get their asses on the stakes!” they commanded.Seconds later, the three prisoners were brought over to towering poles. They were perfectly centered on the ‘stage,’ a large pile of fuel sitting beside each one. One by one, they were attached to the new set of stakes, forced to gaze at the riled audience.Before they were raised, the chief of the Children added one order: “Remove the gags. They want to hear them scream!”Suddenly, the already rambunctious crowd got even wilder, as Tim, Claren, and Kiran’s masks were removed, their bloodied faces finally having a large weight removed.“You motherf—”“Hey!” Tim interrupted Claren.“Ha, ha, ha, I see that you’re quite excited!” they taunted.“We’re quite excited to beat your Goddamn asses!” Kiran shouted.“How do you think you’re doing that? We took your swords, knives, and… batons? You’ve got nothing,” they said, holding the items out in front of them.“You heard King Trimdin. He knows what you're doing, he knows where we are, and he is going to save us! He has to.”“Kiran, you know more than anyone that Trimdin won’t come. Or, at least, his advisor won’t let him come. He acts out of emotion, not strategy, and that’ll be his downfall.”“That emotion is why he is such a good ruler!” Claren screamed down toward the Children. “The Queen was an evil, heartless bitch, and from what we’ve heard, your ‘leader’ was quite the same!”Gasps arose from the room in front of the men and their companion. The Master looked up at Claren, smiling greatly.“Oh, you’ve just said something you will regret!” they said playfully.“I don’t regret a damn thing.”“Claren, stop it!” Tim screamed.“How about we set you aflame first, Claren? How would you like that?”“I’ve already been to hell and back!” Claren exclaimed.“You’re not helping,” Kiran said softly.“The angrier he is, the better the screams feel as his blood begins to boil and his skin slowly peels off.”“You ‘Children of Quinten’ are a bunch of sickos!” Tim shouted.“How exactly are we the sick ones? How exactly are we doing anything worse than what your wimpy king has done? Then what his brother did? Then what you’ve done?”“Trimdin and Nardyn saved The Belt from war and tyranny. In what way does that compare to you?” Kiran asked.“Saved? SAVED? What good have they brought? Nardyn let the Kuipernians get away with mass murder, axed millions of jobs in the mining industry, and forced us into free labor, promised pay through government-funded ‘support plans.’ But no one saw a cent of that!”“It was not free labor, it was just higher taxes to pay for welfare, you selfish bastards. He wanted to pull thousands across The Belt out of poverty, out of real forced labor, and he succeeded,” Kiran responded viciously. “Nardyn stopped the war machine, ceased the malicious monopoly of the mineral families, and helped all Beltians, not just the rich!”“Wait a Goddamn second,” Tim suddenly stated, “is this seriously a fight between capitalism and socialism?”“What are those?” one of the Children asked.“Yeah, what are you talking about?” Kiran questioned.“It may be different here, but you are literally fighting over something that we had wars about for centuries on Earth. The question between an open market and a controlled market, between the bourgeoisie and the people? Sound familiar, right Claren?”“I don’t know, I fell asleep a lot in history class, but that sounds correct.”“Who cares about your petty wars on Earth? Your measly planet is gone, destroyed by your species' own hubris, so don’t try to tell us what is right or wrong; what is or isn’t,” they shouted back to the men.“But that’s the entire reason we came here,” Tim said. “There’s a reason we lived, that we escaped the demise of our civilization. And this may be why.”“What are you talking about?” Kiran asked.“They’re delusional,” The Master screamed to everyone, “trying to escape with lies!”“Kiran, you said earlier that it is all real, all of it. You said that thing about Eden, about fate, about destiny. We are here because of those.”“Shut up! We should have left the gags on!”“We prefer it this way,” Claren joked.“Well, I’m sure you won’t when we start the show. Guards, get the fuel ready. We’re about to have ourselves a cookout.”At that moment, the numbered soldiers picked up the cans of fuel and opened them. They were large and red, with a skull on the outside. It had the word “Petrlm” on the side, and Tim and Claren quickly understood what it meant.“Are you seriously using crude oil on us? Can’t we at least get the luxury of the refined stuff?” Kiran quipped.“It’s all we have, dear friend. When you’re a secret underground organization in constant hiding, you have to use what you have. Plus, you don’t deserve it.”“At least Quinten taught you honesty,” Claren whispered.“What about ventilation?” Tim suddenly asked. “If you light us in here, won’t you all suffocate in this enclosed space?”“We’ve got vents, you bumbling fool. We’re always a few steps ahead. Don’t think you can stop us THAT easily.”“It was worth a shot,” Tim said, as he was covered in the slippery, thick, and goldish black substance. It sat on top of the complex structure of their suits, the goop slowly rolling down their bodies.“How’s it feel to know death is right around the corner?” one of the audience members shouted out to the two Gods.“It’s not the first time!” Claren yelled in response.“You can say that again,”“You two are really comfortable with death?” Kiran said to them.“A little too comfortable,” The Master expressed. “Do we have the cameras ready? These puppies are going to be the light of the night soon!”“What can we do to stop this,” Kiran asked. “How can we compromise?”“Why are you trying this AFTER we covered you in fuel?”“It doesn’t matter when, it just matters how. How can we live?”“Get your king to surrender, to give The Belt to us, with no protests or hardships.”“You know we can’t do that! Anything else?” she pleaded.“I’m assuming you can’t bring our Master back from the dead, right?”"No, we can't. And it'd be a mistake if we could," Claren shouted.“The only mistake made was not having The Queen kill you. We knew you crash-landed here all that time ago, we knew that Trimdin found you, but never thought all of this would happen. We never thought Trimdin could actually do it.”“But he did,” Kiran said, slightly mesmerized.“Enough, enough, enough,” they roared toward both the adventurers and the audience. “It’s time.”Suddenly, a group of fighters came from doors on the opposite end of Tim, Claren, and Kiran, walking through the crowds with large rods of fire held in the air. The crimson flames crackled crisply as they neared, embers flying off into the void of the room.“Be careful with those things!” The Master mentioned as they approached. “Don’t light them until I tell you.”Large lenses sat around the men and their alien friend, prepared to record the very deaths they so badly wanted to avoid.The soldiers with sticks had now made it to the main stage, to where their stakes were, and readied to ignite them.But just as they gained on them, a ringing started."What the hell is that noise?” The Master asked.“What’s happening?” Claren asked Kiran.“I’m not sure,” she responded.The effects continued, coming from The Master’s pocket, interrupting their session.“Who in the damn world is calling me right now!” they screamed madly. “Number 2, can you pick it up for me.”“Of course, sir,” they said back, coming up to their superior and lifting the small metal gadget from their pocket. Quickly, they hit the accept button, and a distressed voice blasted into the air.“MASTER, MASTER, they are here. The entire Royal Army is here! And citizens are trying to raid our entrance. Should we execute Order 1?”“What!” they growled, snatching the device from 2. “What do you mean the entire Royal Army? How Goddamn stupid is he? Don’t summon Order 1; just make sure they can’t land on Vesta and execute the subjects trying to intervene.”“Sir, they have already destroyed our ship forces.”“And you call me NOW!”“Master, I am so sorry. Please forgive me.”Tim, Claren, and Kiran all showed slight smirks in the background.“Sorry? What the hell is ‘sorry’ going to do! Number 77, find this idiot and kill him.”“Absolutely,” they responded.“Wait, sir, no. Please,” they begged.“Give me a status on the army. How close are they?”“Very. I mean VERY!”“What does that mean?”“Like, they are in the command room right now, holding a gun to my head.”“You piece of shit!” The Master snapped the device in half. “They know where we are.”The mob of Children and traitors of all kinds gasped in pure shock, frantically starting to rise from their seats and scared.“Everyone, don’t worry. They can’t get to us here! This place was built during the Cross-Belitan Wars to withstand a million bomb strikes. Let’s watch the main course here!”“Your Master is lying!” Kiran shouted. “This place probably couldn’t hold off a single explosion! Vesta’s not known for its expert build quality.” She gave a deadpan stare to them.“Trust me, my Children! Our lord and savior, Quinten, chose me to lead you and be a facilitator between Him and you. And He has told me that we are safe!”“But you’re not!” Claren shouted. “There are no facilitators between the living and dead, Mr. Master.”“Claren, don’t speak about things we don’t understand,” Tim muttered.“Why do you suck all the meaning out of what I say!” Claren shouted at his partner.“Claren, this is DEFINITELY not the time.”“Oh my, just light them now.” The Master instructed.Quickly, the mob of fire-holding soldiers stood around Tim, Claren, and Kiran, lighting the ground below them. They had laced it with large piles of fibers and drenched it in fuel. Flames swiftly came about, burning under the tortured group of souls."Good. It has started. This is the end of humanity!”Large cheers filled the auditorium as the fire crept closer and closer to the stakes.But as that happened, another noise occurred, this time from Tim, Claren, and Kiran’s ear devices. “I’m here…” it spoke to them from a personal message, the voice clearly Trimdin’s.And at that moment, the entire room shook, the blaze below burning from side to side. Suddenly, a large explosion sounded, the boom blasting throughout.“Goddamn it! Can we speed this up a bit!” The Master screamed at his soldiers, the audience in peril. “Everything is fine,” they told them, “King Trimdin is weak!”Though the rumbling of the room said different, and when a massive hole was blown in the roof, their tune changed.“Oh shit!” The Master yelled.“‘Oh shit’ are the exact words I wanted to hear!” a roaring voice responded as they dropped down from the sky. A massive robe, redder than blood, covered their blue armor and matched the large, golden crown on their head. A purple glow encapsulated their hands.“The King himself is here to visit!” they said. “Are you ready to negotiate?”“Put out that fire!” Trimdin responded with vigor.“Surrender, and your friends will live.”“This is much larger than me! I’m guessing you missed my little speech?”“I must have. I was too busy trying to kill your little pawns.”“Let’s just say I’ve got a bit of backup!”Abruptly, a shower of soldiers dropped from the hole, landing in the crowds and disabling dozens of Children.“I don’t think you’re ready for this.” The King said, prepared to fight with a smile on his face. “Not ready at all….”
A legion of soldiers collected on and around Vesta, ships of all sizes flying and trying to dock. Citizens from every corner of The Belt came to help under the command of King Trimdin, who, with an empowering broadcast and promise of choice, convinced them to fight for the future builders of their home: Tim and Claren.In the underground base, hordes of fighters dropped down into the atrium using newly designed mechanized suits, protecting them from the precarious fall. Attached to them were large guns, though they were deactivated, instead opting for mass tasers to incapacitate the cult followers.But on the other side of the room, the pile below was still set ablaze, Tim, Claren, and Kiran tied to their stakes, the flames getting ever closer. Though King Trimdin was on their tail, confronting The Master head-on.“Guards, get your guns ready,” they commanded, “and point them at the men!”“You won’t. You can’t.”“Why do you Royalists always say that,” The Master responded. “You know I will.”“Because you have all the strengths and weaknesses of Quinten. That’s how.”“And so do you. You figured that one out quickly.”“We had the same flaws, but different ideals. Though now I have the real power!”“I’m done with this. Shoot!” Right then, each soldier on the stage lined up their shots, preparing to fire at the soon-to-be burned beings.King Trimdin, in response, darted straight forward, whisking through the air and lunging at the enemy troops. In moments, he collided with them, grabbing the tip of one of their weapons and activating his shield.The Master pulled out their pistol from his satchel on his side, aiming it toward Tim’s head. Kiran’s sword and Tim’s dagger dropped onto the floor.The King pushed the soldier with the gun over, pulling it out of their hand and flipping it around. He quickly got hold of its butt, slipped his fingers onto the trigger, and did the unthinkable. A barrage of bullets shot out from it, hitting every rival on the stage.Then, he turned his attention toward The Master, who was just about to pull the trigger just as he did. Trimdin swiftly pointed his weapon toward them, aiming at their head and letting it loose before a single shot could be fired from their pistol.They promptly fell to the ground, The King surrounded by a blood bath of his own making. Though only one thought remained in his head: to save his friends.As The Royal Army continued to invade, Trimdin switched his attention to the fire, watching as it loomed near the men’s feet. “How do I put this out?” he said, rushing over to it.“Hey, your majesty!” Kiran yelled.“Is there like water or something to put this out? Also, what are you covered in?”“Petroleum,” Tim responded. “They really wanted us to burn.”“Well, you will if I don’t put this out.”“Can’t your magic do something? I don’t know, like make gusts of wind or something?” Claren questioned.“I can push things back?” Trimdin said unconfidently.“Could you push the fire back?”“I… guess? But it’s not easy.”“Good enough, just get it done!” Tim screamed, the fire sitting right under his sole.“Let me try,” The King responded, knowing the risk of doing so, now needing to save humanity with the very thing that eradicated it: a gust of fire.At that moment, he floated lightly into the air again, the lavender haze known by all wrapping around him. Then, a sudden spin started as he powered up, cupping his hands together. And with a massive scream, Trimdin released a vast blast, pushing back everyone and everything within its vicinity. Even the soldiers in the suits got forced back, the pure power of it almost half of that when he transformed into the king. Though most importantly, the fire was blown out, freeing the three from their hellish death.“Oh my God,” Tim cheered, “it worked!”“Damn,” Claren commented.Trimdin, who was still in the air, quickly collapsed from exhaustion.Guards from The Royal Army came up the stage stairs, moving toward The King and the trio. They were cut down from their stakes, helped toward the ground, and given water from a canteen, moistening their cracked mouths. But they did not care about getting hydration, collectively rushing to The King, worried about his health. They all knelt next to him, his bulked body flat on the hard stone.“Trimdin! Trimdin!”His eyes were closed, remaining breathless.“Your Majesty!” Kiran yelled.No response.“My king, it is over.”Nothing.“Sir, you did it. You saved us!”A gasp came in, his mouth slightly opening.“Did it work?” The King asked."Yes. Yes, it did,” all three said in unison.And a small smile sat on his face, happy to hear the voices of his friends.~~A week passed since the Battle of Vesta. The King, Tim, Claren, and Kiran safely made it back to The Capital, mostly undamaged, if not for a bit of trauma. They held their respective blades, relieved to return home. Scars, left by the torturing, had begun to heal on all three, finding The Capital more comforting than ever.As he always does, Trimdin was preparing to give a speech after he recovered, suffering from extreme fatigue. But he was ready today, ready to thank his subjects for their effort as he sat on his home: the throne. Though unlike usual, he was not reading a script; there were no words made for him to declare. So, as he walked out the infamous doorway, he had no idea what he was going to say. All he knew was that it was the truth.Tim and Claren stood next to him as he left, Kiran in the background, guarding them. The big, black microphone lay on the flat surface, staring directly at him while a mob of subjects watched either live or through the broadcast. But instead of the despair felt after the war, this crowd was excited, ready to hear an optimistic speech about the future. And King Trimdin delivered exactly that.“I don’t even know where to start this. For the hundredth time during my rule, I am standing in front of this Goddamn podium. This location has been where the beginnings and ends of the worst things in The Belt have been announced. But today, of all days, I’ve got good news, hopeful news, to say the least. Fortunately, we have almost every Child of Quinten in custody, their ring leader dying at my hands. But we lost so many in the process, including a legion of guards and the honorable Captain Landun of the Royal Space Force. Nevertheless, this day is the start, the dawn of big changes for our world. Quinten will never be gone, and I’ve known that since the day he killed my brother, but I think we can move on from him. As much as we like to immortalize the good, history also tends to immortalize the bad. So, let’s not give that luxury to Quinten. Let us remember his efforts as they were: acts of pure evil. And we have the perfect people to help us with that. Tim and Claren, as you all know, were the men who helped me save you. They are why I am here today, that my brother will be avenged. But they are also the last of their species, the last of their civilization. Humanity is gone, destroyed by their own insistent need for more. We should learn from that, learn that conflict is not the solution, because just as it did to Earth, it will do to us, too. Earthlings and Beltians have much to learn from each other, and that is why they are here: not to seek refuge, but to ensure our future, one that they couldn’t do with their own. This is their place now, a new home for them to love and live for. Because as we transition toward democracy and freedom for all, no one is better to lead us than these two. They ARE the future, and together, we can make The Belt a truly perfect place to live. Trade is at an all-time high, unemployment is low, and with the new welfare law I am writing up, there will be something called ‘universal income.’ The details are unneeded; let’s just say you will all get a check from the Royal government each month for the rest of your lives!”The crowds below King Trimdin and the men were cheering for the news.“But no, oh no, that’s not all. The wealth of this kingdom will never be locked away from you, the citizens, again. We are closing the class gap each day, and now everyone below a certain income level will be given FREE education. But university prices across the board will be lowered regardless, unlocking knowledge for millions of Beltians. This is what my brother wanted, this is what I want, and I am sure it is exactly what you want. Though in the future, I will stop just ‘making up’ laws; instead, we will draft them and let you vote!”Everyone was screaming at the top of their lungs, clapping and whistling in happiness. A small tear fell down the cheek of Trimdin, overwhelmed with emotion.“Now, lastly, I am going to have the legends themselves give a personal thanks to all of you. Without your support, they would not have been saved from ‘The Master’ of the Children of Quinten. Give it up to Tim, Claren, AND Kiran.”Kiran, who did not expect such a mention, was pushed up toward The King and the men, who were wearing newly tailored black clothes. Their ClearSuits, which before gave off a green tint, now had a more natural white one, making them almost translucent over them.Together, the three stood proudly, Kiran on a small pedestal to match the height of Tim and Claren. King Trimdin moved back, letting them see the array of aliens below.Yet again, the men were reminded of the swarms who had loved and supported them all that time ago. But the only thing Kiran could think of was the end of the war, as she stood up there, staring at friend and foe, trying to calm the impending battle. But it did not matter, as the three of them quickly got to their objective: to speak.“Hello!” Tim said into the system.“Yes, hello,” Claren nervously echoed.In the audience, there were a myriad of different responses.“Tim!” one shouted.“We love you!” another screamed.“Save us!” a figure in the back mentioned.“This is just like the first day we were here!” Tim stated. “It’s so great to be here, to help you all. We will be on even terms soon, trust us.”“Thank you for your votes to help us, for your fight to help us. Tim, Kiran, and I were uncomfortably close to dying. AGAIN!”The subjects laughed loudly, rumbling the ears of the men and Kiran.“And don’t forget to thank King Trimdin for bringing them here, for allowing me to serve them, for ensuring that we could be saved,” Kiran butted in.“Of course. We thank you for the services you have provided, and we will do the same. Whatever The Belt needs, whether it’s hope or help, Claren and I will be here. It is our destiny to be here, to help you, and with the ever-loyal Royal Army alongside a dedicated king, we can promise that things are changing for the better. Things will be in your hands now!”“Absolutely!” Claren added.“Beltians, this IS their home; this is how we will grow and evolve. A bright future is ahead, one where peace and justice are reached. That starts today!”Behind her, Trimdin watched as Kiran and the others commanded the stage, thinking to himself. This is the place you dreamed of, Nardyn. It’s becoming real before my very eyes. Now, all there is left to see is what the next saga brings, where fate takes me. I just wish I had your guidance; wish I had you here to see it.“I am…” a sudden whisper said into The King’s ear.“Nardyn!” King Trimdin abruptly shouted, interrupting his friends in front of him. He looked around, trying to find his beloved brother, but to no avail.Tim, Claren, and Kiran turned to look at him, confused by the sudden scream.“What is it, your majesty?” Kiran asked.“Yeah, why did you say Nardyn?”“Oh, nothing.”“Well then,” Tim said, “I think we’re done here. We’ve done all the praising we can!”“Good, good,” Trimdin said back, dazed from the words he heard. “Very good!”“Are you sure you’re okay?” Claren questioned.“Yes. It was just a memory. A good one.”“Fantastic, sir!” Kiran responded. “Now, let’s go.”All four of them started to walk away from the podium and toward the castle, ready to plan the future of The Belt, prepared to see where luck would bring them.But those two words kept ringing throughout King Trimdin’s head, bringing a smile to his face. Each time he heard it, the presence of his brother came back:“I am….”“I am….”“I am….”He is.
9 Months After The Departure…."Empress Madeln.”“King Trimdin.”“It’s so great to finally meet you.”“Likewise, your majesty.”“We’ve got a few matters to discuss. You know, Quinten and such.”“Why yes, I am sorry his vendetta against us caused so much trouble in The Belt.”“No, the Kuipernians are not at fault. You are not at fault. That was an old battle; it’s history. Quinten was a troublemaker all on his own.”“I have heard much about the effects. He’s the one that killed Nardyn, right?”“That was years ago. I am here to represent his legacy, to continue what he started.”“He was incredibly level-headed, even as he pulled us out of war. He knew how to talk and compromise when needed, but was bold in action.”“If there is anything he's known for, it’s that. Nardyn knew how foolish the Cross-Beltian Wars were; knew that we both were hurting from them.”“We both did. I’m not a fan of conflict, but that fool of a king before Nardyn was not my favorite. He made things… difficult.”“Well, he’s long gone, but back to why I am here. Many within The Belt are seeking an ‘apology’ from your empire. I understand that—”“Already done. The quicker we can end any form of quarrel, the better.”“Are you sure?”“Yeah, why not. As you said, it’s history now. We are at peace, and trade is better than ever! We got the water, you got the minerals. I’ll do anything to keep that going.”“I’m glad to hear that. Now, what about other matters?”“How are the ‘Children of Quinten’ going?”“A good number are locked up and going through due process, but some resistance groups pop up weekly. They usually disband the second they realize it's a cult.”“Wonderful. We don’t need any of those pesky separatists right now. You, more than anyone, know the need to suppress uprisings and silence negative press.”“Sure, Madeln.”“What do you mean by that?”“I don’t really do that type of stuff. I’m sure you’ve heard I’m turning The Belt into the Beltian republic.”“I did hear about that. I have no idea what that entails, but it sounds fairly interesting. Will it change trade at all?”“No, it’s just a bit of a shake-up in government, not a regime change. I’ll still be king; there will just also be an elected leader as a representative of the people.”“What about the powers? We’ve got to keep these things somewhat exclusive.”“That I’m not sure about. I don’t want a successor, but what will happen if I don’t?”“You might want to figure that one out. These things can’t get into the wrong hands.”Empress Madeln suddenly showed a shimmering sage around her skeleton fingers.“You’re telling me! How about your side of the system? Any news?”“Not really.”“That’s good.”“Well, there is this one matter that I think you will know more about.”“What’s that?”“Those two foreign creatures are still with you, right?”“Tim and Claren? Yeah, of course. Where else would they go?”“They are human?”“Yes.”“The last?”“As far as I know of.”“Are you sure, Trimdin?”“We’ve scanned Earth, and there are no signs of activity. It’s still a ball of fire.”“There aren’t any more?”“Madeln, where are you going with this?”“Let’s just say I found a little ship orbiting Pluto a while ago. It had no fuel.”“So?”“We captured the vessel and brought it in for inspection.”“Wait a second, did you say around Pluto?”“When we opened it, these strange creatures wearing big, bulky blue suits stared at us, terrified. We didn’t know what they were until your broadcasts of the men came around.”“You can’t be serious? We thought they died. There’s no way they made it.”“I thought about telling you earlier, but wanted to wait and tell you live—”“Where are they right now?”“We’ve got them in a secure location, monitored twenty-four-seven by a team.”“There is absolutely no way this is true? How can they be alive?”“Do you want to see them?”“Uhhh, yeah!”“Do you want to keep them?”“What do you mean? They’re not pets.”“I don’t care what they are, they aren’t Kuipernian. That’s all I care about. Plus, this is no place for them to live. Our resources are already spread too thin.”“You don’t understand how big this is. For Tim and Claren, this is the best thing they could ask for. ”“You’re taking a liability off of my hands. It’s more of a favor than a gift.”“This is a gift, likely one of the most important ones in history.”“I’m glad you like it, then.”“So, have you communicated with them? What do you know?”“Let’s go and see them right now.”“Really!”“Calm down, your majesty.”“Sorry, I’m just excited. Let’s go!”At that moment, the two monarchs rose from their respective seats in the chamber of the Kuipernian castle, marching out an arched doorway toward a shimmering silver hallway. They walked, and walked, and walked, adventuring through the palace into an elevator. From there, they entered and inputted their destination, swiftly being delivered.A large sign loomed over them when they exited, stating “Research and Habitation.” Soon after, they arrived at a large glass cell, with two figures sitting inside it. Both beings stared in the opposite direction of The King and Empress, unaware of their arrival. But with a quick tap on the transparent wall, the creatures jerked around, revealing themselves.“Well, I’ll be damned, Madeln. You weren’t kidding!”"No, I definitely wasn’t.”“Tim and Claren are going to like this. They are going to like this a lot!”“I’ll have them packed up quickly. I’m sure you need to head home.”“That would be great. Have my guards load them onto The Grandiant. Thank you, Madeln, for this gift!”“We were getting rid of them either way. I just held out just in case.”“Good thing you did. Very good thing.”King Trimdin stared at the beings, in pure awe of their existence. Their faces were beyond familiar to the experienced ruler, aware of the sheer fear and excitement they appeared to be going through, their eyes wide open but their mouths sewn shut.Together, the rulers walked away, Trimdin excited to bring his friends the miracle of a lifetime. Eager to bring two humans home again….
King Trimdin, Tim, Claren, Kiran, and more will return exclusively to WRTN.
Prologue
Far too often, the end is shown as if nothing can ever follow it. Even more rarely, is it seen to be a force of good.Yet it is in the most dire moments, in those times when everything is lost, that are we finally aware of what we truly have.Only then do we understand that nothing is truly gone. The cycle continues, the universe remains, life persists.No matter what is found, no matter what happens, no matter what seems real or true, one fact remains: there is no end to your story. There is no end to our story.There is power in loss. Each generation grows from the last: from their triumphs and pitfalls. From their failures.The "end" can be a curse. It can be a blessing.Let it be a lesson.That is the good.Prologue
Chapter 1 - March 13, 2020
It’s happening. I’m pretty sure it’s happening, and I’m not sure what to do. I just dug this thing out of my backpack, cause I guess I won’t be needing it for the next week or so. The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, or whatever its called. Who cares? Something’s happening in the world, and I need to write about it. No better time to start a journal than a Goddamn global crisis.Literally today, in school, they were telling us about how the school “wasn’t going to shut down;” how we’re “safe” from it. Such BS. I thought about wearing a mask for the past month, and stopped giving people high-fives or handshakes weeks ago. Bunch of liars. We just got an email telling us we won’t have school as they “figure out the next steps.” They say it’s only for a little while, to think of it as a little vacation. I sure hope so. I really do. But it just feels like the end of the world.Chapter 1 - March 13, 2020
Chapter 2 - May 17, 2020
It’s my birthday. And we’re even more doomed. How fun! Can I see my friends? Nope. My family? Nope. My father? Kind of, if we want to skirt a few rules. Divorced parents, so fun!Things are definitely… interesting. Why else would I be writing in this stupid thing? From now on this will be where I can talk about things in a pissy manner and no one can complain about it.I turned fourteen today. “Yay. Great,” he says in a sarcastic tone. Getting a cake was a bit hard. Let’s just say it’s not an essential food. I’m surprised there aren’t ration stamps at this point. Toilet paper is hard to get. The stores are a mess of guidelines with greedy bastards taking everything they can, everyone else be damned.Chapter 2 - May 17, 2020
Chapter 3 - December 15, 2020
It’s almost Christmas, and I just can’t take it anymore. I thought things were already bad, but the longer the world around me goes on, the worse it gets. Like WTF?School is a pile of nothing right now. I’m actually writing this in class while watching a movie. That’s how bad things are. And the Goddamn teachers can’t even tell. Here’s a good tip for online learning: keep your camera off but do the work. As long as you are turning things in, they don’t care. Plus, it’s not like they can do anything about it.Politics are dumb, too. Everything's divided. No one can agree on what's fact or fiction, right or wrong. And I don't think it's helping the pandemic that's happening. That's for sure.Chapter 3 - December 15, 2020
Chapter 4 - March 13, 2021
It’s been one year. ONE YEAR. Some restrictions have risen, and they said they will start this “hybrid” learning thing in school, but it’s all bullshit. The death tolls are in the hundreds of thousands already worldwide, and there seems to be no end.How the hell is a kid supposed to live in all of this? I cut all my friends off at this point, though it’s not like I had many to begin with. All this damn pandemic thing has done is make an already antisocial kid even more antisocial. Quite a bad deal, if you ask me.Nothing is getting better. Mom’s working her ass off to support us. But the prices down here on the Cape aren’t lowering, that’s for sure. But we’ve just got to stick together.Chapter 4 - March 13, 2021
Chapter 5 - August 8, 2021
What the hell! What the actual hell? I’m being forced back to school now. What the hell! For a year and a half, I have been stuck at home, initially by force and eventually by choice, and NOW you are making me go back in! I don’t even know what going to school is like anymore. How do you socialize? What will going on the bus be like? How has everything changed? How have I changed? I doubt it will all be the same as it was in middle school. And, yeah, that’s how long it’s been. I started this journey in seventh grade, and am now going into ninth. NINTH! Too much, so much, has happened. The virus is still going around. Everyone is angry at each other. There was a Goddamn insurrection (or "peaceful protest," depending on who you ask) at the Capitol Building earlier this year.I don’t know what is going on anymore. I just hope I can keep it together. No longer can I stay protected from the world behind a computer screen. And no one else can, either.Chapter 5 - August 8, 2021
Chapter 6 - September 7, 2021
Just got home. It was the first day. My first day of school, practically ever. I felt like I was in sixth grade again, or, for anyone who has never switched schools, kindergarten. And that’s a rather terrible feeling. The two biggest things I have learned are to have a version of your schedule at all times and to know room numbers by heart. That’s the only way I got around then, and the only way I got around today.No one remembered me. No one, not even my old friends, noticed my re-existence. I mean, to them, I disappeared for almost two years, and I feel the same way. I don’t know who they are anymore, and they don’t know me. It's like the world stopped, and is only getting going yet again now. The best plan of action is to stay away from everyone and isolate. Even with a mask, I can still catch that damn disease or whatever the hell it is. I’ve avoided it this long, and it WON’T get me anytime soon.Chapter 6 - September 7, 2021
Chapter 7 - January 1, 2022
I’ve warmed up a bit. School’s been going for a few months now, and it’s gotten better. The world's still shit, but I’m doing better. I feel better. We’re just about to come out of Winter Break, the New Year rolling in. I’m writing this at midnight, funnily enough.I’ve got some friends now, kind of. Two of them are from middle school. Yeah, I was finally able to reconnect with some of them, which is pretty cool. But I’ve also gained another one this year, in an unexpected turn of events. Socially speaking, these are some giant leaps.But that's not too important. I mean, it is, but writing about that is cringy. Though, writing about writing about it is not much better. Nor is writing about writing about writing about it. I think my point is made.I’ve been doing good in English and taking a journalism class as well. This writing thing has really begun to rub off on me. An article here, a poem there, and boom, you're a full-blown author!Also, who the hell is the audience for this journal? Me in the future? Probably. My kids? Ha, I doubt it. Some alien society examining Earth and realizing there was once life on it? Definitely. Things are becoming increasingly like a South Park or Family Guy episode every day, the comicality of life coming right through. I wouldn't be surprised if this was all one big story, one being's hand guiding the very fabric of the freaking universe. Or I could still be recovering from quarantine. Isolation made everyone go a bit crazy.Chapter 7 - January 1, 2022
Chapter 8 - June 28, 2022
It’s the last day of school. I’m not even joking. Like, somehow, I have survived most of a pandemic AND an entire school year. That’s impressive. Things seem to be fairly consistent now. I’ve got a good group I hang out with, my grades are on the up and up, and things are generally good, even in the world. There’s been some tension between NATO and Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, but I doubt that thing will last much longer. I mean, it can’t, right? Aren't we a bit beyond that as a species, especially after a pandemic? I think we are. And, I mean, The President is signing so many damn bills to send money over there. If only he could do that to lower the price of gas.Chapter 8 - June 28, 2022
Chapter 9 - June 23, 2025
Uh, how do I put this? I forgot about this old thing. Note to self: don’t put things in drawers you never open. But, yeah, I’ve graduated now. I’m going to college.There are so many strange things in this book. Little details, dramatic descriptions, exaggerated feelings. I really thought it was going to be the end of the world! Was it really that abysmal? And South Park, really? I’m not that much older, but man, I was weird.This is definitely an interesting world to be going to adulthood with. I mentioned Ukraine in the last entry, and let me say, it’s gotten worse. Russia won. I’m not even sure how. And now they’ve banded together with China, Belarus, and North Korea to create a new organization. It’s called OCEA, meaning Organization of Central and Eastern Asia. A bit strange, but whatever. Let’s just say things are heating up, and I’m not excited to hear the conversations about it when Thanksgiving comes around.Chapter 9 - June 23, 2025
Chapter 10 - April 17, 2028
Things are not good right now. Still in college. But, uh, I’m regretting turning twenty-one. I think war is starting. Scratch that; I know war is starting. OCEA invaded Japan and South Korea earlier this week, and it looks like their next target is India. Shit’s not looking good. NATO leaders are in talks to put a protective border around Eastern Europe. I normally don’t pay attention to politics, but I’m worried.Right now, the temperature is hotter than ever for the middle of April. Some blame global warming, and I’m beginning to see why. It should not be 120° Fahrenheit in Massachusetts for 8 days straight. That’s freaking hot. And funnily enough, Arizona is being blanketed in snow right now! How? I don’t know. Not even my weatherman seems to understand it, and I’ve been watching that dude since I was five.Chapter 10 - April 17, 2028
Chapter 11 - November 8, 2030
Prices are through the roof. It reminds me of 2020. People are raiding shelves again. I moved in with my dad just to avoid paying the rent right now. Things are falling and falling really hard.OCEA’s Kremlin has announced that they’ve successfully taken over Australia. My brother was drafted to fight there. He’s gone. But we don't even have his body. They take all the dead from the battlefield and use them for... something. No one knows what, exactly, but it makes it hard to have closure.The world is pretty much going to be split in two. NATO is changing its name to ARCADIA and taking over power from each individual nation. I don’t even know what half of these shitty acronyms mean anymore; all I understand is that the US is now a state of some massive multinational organization. But in reality, this is all just fun names for killers and warmongers.Graduated college. Met a girl there. She’s nice, really nice. Her name’s Autumn. I think I’m finally in love (I’ve never loved before). I don’t know what to do. What should I do? I’m scared, poor, and in love. The American Dream, am I right? Or, I guess, the ARCADIAN Dream?Chapter 11 - November 8, 2030
Chapter 12 - August 9, 2031
Put the ring on her finger. I did it last night. On her birthday, too. We’re just too happy together. Her ring was not diamond, as there are no more available to the public. They’re being used by the military for a superweapon or something. The damn thing was just a plain gold ring.Talking about the world, things are VERY apocalyptic. I don’t know if I, in good conscience, can bring kids into this world. Twenty-five years old and I already have to think about that. It’s a bit scary. I just have this feeling that the world will not get better. I’m actually still rooming with my dad (Autumn hates me for that).OCEA is now OCEANIA. They’ve practically colonized the entirety of Asia and Australia. Europe and North America have strengthened their alliance. South America is trying to join ARCADIA. Africa seems to be the only continent left that hasn’t taken sides or been taken. But I’m not sure how long that is going to last.Chapter 12 - August 9, 2031
Chapter 13 - February 28, 2033
Goddamn it. I won’t go into too much detail, but I’m having a kid. Oh, for the love of God, I’m having a kid. I probably should have paid a bit more attention in health class.I’m not ready for fatherhood. I’m still barely ready for adulthood. It was only a few years ago when I thought the end of the world was near. Maybe I was right. For all the good that has come, there has been so much bad. Almost too much bad.There has been talk of peace treaties between ARCADIA and OCEANIA. Both sides are hurting more than they'll admit. We’re practically in a war of attrition right now. It’s like WWII mixed with the Cold War mixed with the fact that both sides have more nuclear weapons than they know what to do with. And now I’m meant to bring a child into this world!I love Autumn, I love the idea of having a son or daughter, but I hate the world right now. She’s actually out right now with a bunch of her other barely pregnant friends. The government really doesn’t want us to have kids, but they can’t force us not to (for now). I just hope our rations can stretch for a third mouth to feed.Chapter 13 - February 28, 2033
Chapter 14 - May 22, 2038
Left it in a drawer again. I’ve got a wife, kid, and house… well, apartment… well, a place to live. Everything is hard to come by. Poor Noah. Oh, yeah, my son's name is Noah. It’s a bit Biblical, I know, and I'm not particularly into Eden and all of that, but it was Autumn's father’s, and he died from COVID back in 2021.I’m not sure where life is going right now. I’ve got this quote stuck in my head. It’s from Einstein, I think. “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Shit, if that does not strike fear into you, I don’t know what would. I feel like that is exactly where we are going right now. The Earth is literally in half, and the sticks and stones are becoming ever closer.Chapter 14 - May 22, 2038
Chapter 15 - September 12, 2042
Is the world stable? No. Is my family stable? No. Am I stable? God no. I won’t lie, I haven’t eaten in 3 days. Been giving it to Noah and Autumn.In a speech mirroring President Kennedy’s back in the ’60s, the ARCADIAN "president" John Oswald announced something insane: we are going to race OCEANIA to Pluto. We are sending two of our own out there to beat their ass. And they are doing the same, drafting anyone with the slightest semblance of qualification. Though I doubt those astronauts will come back. Thank God I miss that mark, my medical history not meeting their strict quota, but for the ones who don’t, my condolences. It seems that the world is actively shitting itself.I’d say money is tight, but there is no money. Everything, and I mean everything, is going to or will go toward the war effort. Food, water, wood, plastic, metal; you name it, and it's out there on the frontline, probably lodging itself into someone as I write. Right now the fight is concentrated around The Congo. The Americas and Europe against Russia, the entire continent of Asia, and colonized Australia, fighting in the middle of Africa. History's gone almost full circle, beautiful lives ending in the birthplace of humanity. It's all for land, for resources, for exploitation, for ego, and the common man is suffering at the center of it.Chapter 15 - September 12, 2042
Chapter 16 - July 4, 2045
I’m just sitting on the couch crying, just as I did in the pandemic, missing something. I don’t know what. I have love, I have education, but outside of that, I have nothing. No one has anything. Curfews are in place now. Noah can’t go to school anymore. I live in the Goddamn United States of America, and my child can not go to school! You see how it failed us all the way back in 2020? Are you that idiotic enough to do it again? Oh, the all-encompassing ARCADIA is here to save my day? Stop the shit. There is no news, just lies. There is no food, just hunger. Each year they grow more and more crops to feed hungry soldiers, sucking nutrients out of every square inch of soil they plow, yet "We The People" live either in a fiery hell or a cold one, covered either in soot or rain, starvation and malnutrition taking over. You can't even let your kids play in the snow anymore, because it's impossible to tell if it's that or your neighbor's ashes.Mom’s house got washed away. The Cape is finally beginning to flood. They say that what was supposed to happen in two hundred years is happening in the span of twenty. It’s all gone.Noah’s now what, like nine? Damn. NINE! I mean, I’m only getting older as well. Though this is not the world I want to get old in. It’s barely one I want to die in. I would never go happy if I knew this was what was being left behind. That is, if there’s any world left.Chapter 16 - July 4, 2045
Chapter 17 - January 6, 2047
“ARCADIAN Space Agency Director Geo Oswald announces today that lead engineer of The Crunch Initiative Claren Smith will be teamed with botanist and pilot Tim Buchanan as Arcadia’s brave astronauts going to the outer Solar System.”That was what I was greeted with this morning. We all were, actually. It was put on every channel in the known universe. OCEANIA has yet to say anything, though it is suspected their selections have been made and are in active training.I’m sure those two men are shills, scared shitless, or both. Not sure. Even though they were drafted, I think their families are getting “compensation;" an eye for an eye, you know. It's probably like one extra ration a week or something. I know I would do anything to let my family live a slightly better life. Luckily, when your job is a journalist, you don’t run the risk of being forced into space. That is, not yet. But you are tasked to tell some of the most heinous lies I’ve ever seen. Maybe I’m the shill?Chapter 17 - January 6, 2047
Chapter 18 - August 12, 2048
I don’t even know who I am, where I live, what my purpose is. I work my ass off in a factory every day making shells for the military. I wasn’t even fired as a journalist. I literally got escorted out along with a dozen others at my office and told to never show our faces again. The top 1% sit high on their pedestals, not having to endure a second of the pain we do, demanding what we do and where we work. Bastards.Autumn is trying to homeschool Noah, but it’s not going well. As he’s gotten older, I've noticed something off about how he learns. We can’t afford to bring him to a doctor or get him analyzed, so who knows? Maybe I’m reading into things a bit too hard. If I were a kid right now, I would just want to cause trouble and be with friends. Who the hell wants to sit down and learn when you know that the end could be around the corner? I was right all those years ago about not wanting to bring a child into this world. It just hurts that it’s worse now.Chapter 18 - August 12, 2048
Chapter 19 - December 24, 2049
Apparently, it’s Christmas. There’s no snow. Not sure how, but it’s almost 130 degrees out. I’m not kidding. Everything’s burning. People are hungry. Soldiers line every street in every town in every state and nation across ARCADIA. Walk outside and you're dead, from either heat or bullets. For all the wishes I have made on Christmas, this is the one time I need them to come true. For Autumn, for Noah, and, for the love of God, myself.Chapter 19 - December 24, 2049
Chapter 20 - March 1, 2050
I don’t think we have long. Those Tim and Claren bastards stopped communicating with ARCADIAN control; something knocked their ship out. They are not on any sensors anymore, only the OCEANIC craft. Our government is screaming at theirs, and thanks to the terms of the deal, if they make it first to Pluto, we’re gone. But if there was foul play, they're gone. I suspect we're all going. Hands are poised over big red buttons, and who’s going to punch it first, no one knows. But I know something’s wrong; we all do. And all we have left is fear.I’m not going to work anymore. If these are our last days, we need to be together. I can’t let my kid know this is it, but I want to be with him if it is. This is just so effed up, man. In two weeks, no, two days, our world could be a fireball. And no one would know until those sirens sound. But by then, it’s too late.I don’t give two shits about anything else right now: not this journal, not politics, not those astronauts. I’m going to shut the hell up and hug my family. This is the end. I’m pretty sure it’s happening. It’s happening.Chapter 20 - March 1, 2050
Interlude
March 13, 2050, 7:38 a.m..."Sir, it's time. The bombs have been sent. We expect impact within minutes.""Status on the bunkers?""Almost full.""Do the civilians know?""The ARCADIAN Alert System has been turned on. They know what is coming.""I can't believe this is it. I can't believe we're the ones ending the Goddamn world.""Well, if those OCEANIC bastards never shot down the Discovery!""Kid, you know that's just hearsay, right? We have no idea if they did. But it did spin one hell of a story!""What are you talking about, Mr. President?""The ASA has intel that Buchanan and Smith were likely hit by rocks in The Belt. They're dead either way, but so is the OCEANIC team. It was all a decoy; no one was ever making it to Pluto. I just didn't expect the propaganda to actually lead to all of this!""Why are you telling me this?""It's the fucking end of the world! WE all knew it was coming. You may be the last to learn.""So it was all a lie?""The entire war was a lie! What were we even fighting over?""Democracy! Safety from the barbaric OCEANIA! Freedom!""Open your eyes, my boy. Did the people ever live such a life? Your parents, your friends? No!""This is a lot to take in.""You're not on Air Force One for nothing. Hey, can you get the little one here a drink. Something strong.""Right away," she responded."Anyway, when are these bombs dropping?"The assistant lightly gulped. "7:45.""Well, look at the time." He peered down at his diamond-encrusted watch. "In five, four, three, two, and..."The first bomb dropped. An OCEANIC city was obliterated in seconds.Three more nukes followed. Then ten. Then one hundred.Retaliation ensued.Every major center around the globe was destroyed in an hour. One. Single. Hour.Billions died in a fiery hell. Thousands of years of human history—gone.Once bustling cities were flattened; a once green Earth was now a wasteland.Life ceased to exist.The calm before the storm was a warning; everyone saw it, yet no one acted.But the human story will continue to live, its heart still beating out there. And perhaps, The End had not come. Maybe it was just a gateway to a new beginning….Interlude
Chapter 21 - Survival
A mountain of rubble, a sea of radiation. Skyscrapers now bare their steel skeletons.Singed shadows covered whatever stood; blackened human remains displayed, scattered on the barren walls.The few structures that lasted the blast stood still, awaiting imminent destruction. Those who survived had little time to find safety, that is if there was any.Skepticism of war raged on before the first blow, but no one was ready for it to come. Whoever was alive only had mere days to find salvation.In the rubble, in the piles of ash, laid a man; scarred and bruised, burned and charred, but alive, which was the most important part.There he was, the last human on the surface of the Earth: groaning in pain, rolling in agony. No hospitals existed, no medical personnel could help; he was stranded.The dusky days became inky nights, the stars covered by acid clouds and the moon offering little light.All he could focus on was survival, though that was far-fetched. Nothing was left for him, no one to help soothe the pain.Eventually, his mind got the better of him, slowly passing out and waiting for the morning sun, or at least whatever was left of it. Day 2 was on the horizon.Chapter 21 - Survival
Chapter 22 - Panic
“Why must I be in such pain!” The muddled voice of the man surrounded the desolate area. “Please, just let me die! Please!” He had healed a bit over the night, some of the wounds scabbing over, but his body was still heavily damaged.The once blue sphere of yesteryear was now replaced with a reddish haze and darkened shadows. Solely three cycles of the weather lasted: semi-clear skies, ash flurries, and acid showers.The man continued to lay still, in pure, unbridled pain, and panic soon set in.“My mom, my dad, my wife, are all gone,” he cried. “My sweet, sweet children; my existence, it’s all gone.”Small puddles of tears balled up near his eye, them drooping down the side of his seared face and into the blistering ground below him.He was alone, the boiling day slowly simmering him further and closer to his demise.Sirens still sounded, but began to wane as time continued. They stayed as a constant reminder of what had happened, their blaring screech ringing in the ears of the man, adding to his terror.But as the evening turned to darkness, life only got worse.Chapter 22 - Panic
Chapter 23 - Ideas
The man's body had healed even better; the excruciating pain gradually stopping, gradually ceasing. Though radioactive winds from larger population centers began to seep into the area.By that point, he had gotten over the cries. He was ready for the end. Unfortunately, though, that was not the idea the universe had for him.The agony continued to spread across his body. “I need to get up, I need to move around. I need to find safety from the winds.”Steadily, he began to lift his limp limbs from the soil.“Come. On. Grrrr. Come on…” he loosened the Earth’s grip on his forearms.“Ahhh, shit that hurts. That really hurts. Damn.”The man continued to struggle in pain, the movement discouraging a quick recovery.Time persisted, just as it always has, and soon, it became dusk. Yet again, sleep overcame his struggles, and a brief slumber was on its way.Chapter 23 - Ideas
Chapter 24 - Failure
“Food… food. Water. I need water.”Starvation was starting to take hold, the urge and need for substance, his stomach churning; survival was becoming harder and harder.He failed multiple times to lift himself. No matter what he did, his weak body couldn’t support itself. Muscle was already starting to deteriorate; his skin healing, but getting increasingly pale, comparable to tissue paper.Nothing worked; he was stuck in a spiral. Large amounts of feces and urine surrounded him, permeating every aspect of what was left of his body.Everything he tried, failed. Everything he had dreamed of, halted. The doors of opportunity were slowly closing. Death was near; the end was inevitable.Chapter 24 - Failure
Chapter 25 - Savior
Dawn struck, the sun rose promptly, and a mysterious figure stood over the man. It was tall, translucent, and shimmering in the morning’s musky mood.“Hello, my dear friend. How are you?” it inquired.The man slowly woke up. “What? Huh? Who are you?”“Ah, friend, why it looks like you need some help? Is that correct?”“Why yes! Yes, I do! I have nothing, no one. I need a savior.”“A savior, you say?” the individual questioned. “I can help you with that… for a price.”“What price?” the man demanded.“What do you desire the most?”“My life back; my family, my home, my everything.”“That’s the want of every human,” it stated. “If you begin to believe in me, in what I say, I can help you. But you have to do as I say. That's the price.”“Yes, yes! I’ll do anything.”“So do you agree, do you consent?”“What do I have to do?” he probed.The figure smiled. “You shall see….”Suddenly, the eerie silhouette's soft, clear hands began to glow a purple shade. It began to rotate its wrists, hovering its palms over the broken man. Slowly, information started to seep into the man's head: a garden, a family, a life.“Oh my,” the man exclaimed. “What… what is all of this?”“I’m giving you a chance at safety, a chance to see the life you could have,” it replied.“What? How?”“Go to Eden, and there, you will receive salvation. Believe in Eden, and you will see what you want.”“Eden?” the man asked. “Eden?”“Find Eden and all will make sense; it’s only a small distance away, a quick journey indeed. You need to believe in something; faith is the only thing that will save you. And there you will get what you want, my child; then you can collect your prize.”The mystic illusion whisked itself away, escaping the presence of the man. He fell unconscious, going into a deep daze.Chapter 25 - Savior
Chapter 26 - Plan
The man woke up again, staring into the misery above.Hunger ravaged his stomach still, feeling like an infinite pit of emptiness.Now only one question remained in the man's head: Eden.“Eden, Eden. What is Eden? Where is Eden? And who in the hell was that guy?”The man contemplated everything he was told, every detail he was given. But the sparse segments he obtained led to no satisfactory conclusion.He only had one plan: to stay alive, to think of Eden.“The only thing it told me to do was wait, that it was only a short visit away. But I can’t get up, my body is simply too weak.”That was it, that was the plan, that was his goal. Only so much could be done, and all he could do was begin to hope; to begin to believe in what he was told.Chapter 26 - Plan
Chapter 27 - Possibilities
After a night of questions, the man only managed to further irritate himself. The deserted lands around him were worsening and increasing in severity.Waves of extreme heat and dust covered the landscape. High levels of radiation pierced through the man, slowly killing him.Different possibilities of what Eden was like ran through his brain. He couldn’t focus on anything else, those thoughts overwhelming his clouded mind.“Is Eden a paradise? Is it hell? Did I make a deal with God, or a deal with the Devil? What if they lied, what if they have nothing for me?”There were too many variations flowing through his head. “Every single one could be true, or none. I’m playing a game of chance. But what do I have to lose? Nothing.”Nothing else flooded his head. Nothing else was available. The only thing left was the hope that it was real.And for the last time, the dark days turned into empty nights. The man posed motionless on the ground. Eden was near.Chapter 27 - Possibilities
Chapter 28 - Eden
“Hello, my son,” a booming voice uttered. “Welcome to the place of your dreams!”The man continued to be on the ground, but this time was not surrounded by the rubble of a once prosperous city. Instead, he sat on a glistening white floor, illuminated with a minuscule amount of ambient light.“We greet you with open arms, my child. Now awaken.” The mysterious figure was back, and this time, it was larger than ever. At its command, the man rose from his rest.First, he lifted his head, slowly uncurling himself from the fetal position. The man cautiously opened his eyes, blinded by the vivid colors of the chamber he was now in.“W-W-Where am I? Where did you take me?”“Why, can you not tell? You have made it, you have made it to Eden.”“I have? This is where you wanted me to be?”“Yes, now I have completed my job, my task. My lord, wherever you are, I have done what you required of me, I have saved humanity.”“Lord? Job? Saved humanity?” The man looked up toward the spiritual being. “Who exactly are you?”“As I said before, in Eden, all things will make sense. Eden is the next stage of human evolution; it’s an eternal fortress of prosperity, where life can continue for you and everyone who has believed in Eden. I am merely a pawn in a much greater game, sent to ensure your transcendence at all costs. Death is just a bridge to another world.”“Does that mean… I’m dead?”“Yes, that was the price for salvation: your life.”“And your job was to bring me here? Why not just kill me, or tell me to kill myself?”“I can’t interfere; all I can do is watch it happen, and help you reach it safely.”“Then what is the purpose; why even tell me to come here, why did you see me?”“To give you a chance to trust something. You were nearly dead, but chose to believe. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have made it here. Belief is the most important aspect of life, but you lacked that in the condition you were in before. You gave up. Though, when I told you sanctuary was possible, you began to have a sense of faith."“I didn’t want to lose hope, but I thought all was lost. Everything I ever loved was gone; my home was destroyed. You saved me from that.”“You're welcome,” the being stated, “you were my last priority. My last mission has now been fulfilled; you live forever here in Eden.”“So I can do whatever I please? I can be who I want, be with those who have gone? I no longer suffer?”“Isn’t that the ultimate prize?”“That’s a lot to uncover.”“Well, you have the time, that’s for sure my youngling. Now go off, find those who also believed; enjoy the bliss as it lasts, before it becomes a burden.”“Will do so!”“And remember, this may seem to be The End, but it's really just the beginning; the beginning of something truly special. The start of the real human story….”Chapter 28 - Eden
Interlude
Before The Departure....Throughout the annals of human history, one question has remained at the forefront of our minds: Are we alone? For millennia, that question remained unanswered, it being the ultimate inquiry of our existence. That is, until now.In the year 2050, two brave souls traveled among the stars, heading toward the outer reaches of our solar system. Earth was in peril, rising tension and massive egos rushing the mission before the planet itself would be destroyed by war.Tim Buchanan, an experienced astronaut and determined pilot, led Claren Smith, a young engineer, to Pluto, where they were assigned to study and research where no human had gone before, racing an enemy nation to the leftovers of the solar system near the celestial body.Initially, the mission was smooth sailing, as they blasted past Mars and flew through The Asteroid Belt, a ring of rocky material separating the inner planets from the outer gas giants. This treacherous collection of minerals and ice seemed to be no issue for the astronauts, expecting them to be an obstacle along the way. But little did they know, The Belt held more secrets than once thought, as the two men make the discovery of a lifetime. And what they found will change their lives—and their world—forever.Interlude
Chapter 29 - Stranded
Tim sat in his seat, Claren next to him. Out the window were clumps of debris, shooting past their capsule faster than a bullet. At every moment they were at risk, at every moment they were sacrificing their lives, because if one of those pieces hit their ship, both would be dead in minutes.This thought coursed through Claren’s brain as he sat idly while Tim skillfully brought them through the mess.“Safety was never a guarantee with this career, was it?” Claren sarcastically stated.“No, that’s unfortunately what we get paid for, but at least it’s fun.”“Ha, fun isn’t what I’d call this, but you are doing a fine job trying to make that so.” Tim reapplied his attention to piloting, as the shower of rocks got thicker and thicker. “Never in a million years did I think that we would be the first humans to ever travel to the outer solar system,” Tim added as he looked at his screen.They continued steadily through the belt, their hull pelted with stones minuscule in size. And though they themselves were safe for now, their equipment on the outside was being damaged, unbeknownst to them.Suddenly red lights were flashing, and Tim’s computer showed the last words you would want to see on a mission: ERROR.Claren got up and looked at the monitor near the hatch. It had a view to the outside, where he saw mysterious shards seeping from the side of their capsule. It was their engine.There was no way for them to control their ship, and Claren realized that quickly.“Uhhh, Tim, we have a problem… I think the engine is down.”“That would certainly explain the warning on my screen.”“So what should we do?” Claren asked.Tim gave him a blank stare for a moment.A second later, Mission Control back on Earth radioed in. “There appears to be an issue being reported on our scanners here, what’s the situation, do you copy?”Tim was quick to respond. “Roger, it seems to be that our engines have been knocked out."“Well, that’s quite a problem, we’ll get our teams on a….” BANG, the mics cut out. All communication was lost.“Can you repeat that again?” Tim asked.Claren looked nervously at Tim, and Tim looked back the same way. There was no response back; their antenna was destroyed."Ah, great," Claren joked, "OCEANIA's got a good chance of winning now.""Damn it. We are in the worse place possible for this type of failure.""You can say that again," he responded, this time looking out the window."What do you mean?" Tim asked, moving towards his partner and glancing outside."That." Near them, a massive asteroid orbited, one hundred times larger than their vessel. It zoomed past Tim and Claren, quickly coming close to the ship and sweeping it into its grasp.Even with all of their experience, all of their training, Tim and Claren couldn’t do anything. The remaining sensors on their vehicle started beeping, alarming the men of its danger. They turned them off as swiftly as possible, realizing their fate was now sealed.“What should we do now, Tim?” Claren asked depressingly.“There is nothing we can do, we don’t have the parts to repair anything, and even if we did, it’s unlikely that we would survive in this storm. Let’s just hope we don’t go out in a fiery death, or suffocate, or both, and that we just stay in orbit around this rock until we crash.”A morbid truth for sure, but an accurate one. They had no choice, there were no feasible options, and it would take some creativity to find one. They slowly drifted round and round, getting ever closer to the asteroid, to Tim and Claren’s impending doom. Chapter 29 - Stranded
Chapter 30 - Awaken
Tim opened his eyes. He got up, feeling dizzy. Both he and Claren fell asleep as they slipped towards their deaths. Out the windows, there were mountains of rocks and ruins surrounding them.“We managed to live? How?”The events came back to his head; their mission, losing control, contact. He and Claren were stranded, with nowhere to go.While Claren slept, Tim put on his EVA suit, entered the airlock, and exited the craft, in need of assessing the damage.He turned around, starting to examine their vehicle, seeing its metallic exterior scratched by the debris. Tim glanced over to the broken engine, and to his surprise, the damage appeared to be minimal, but they were in total disrepair.So he continued, checking out the busted antenna along with other instruments. They were obliterated, shattered and disintegrated. “Dang, we really abused this poor ship. But if we had the right parts, we could fix it….”Out of the corner of Tim’s eye, he suddenly noticed something on the hull: a small drop of red liquid.“What the heck?” Tim whispered to himself. “Where did that come from?”Tim continued to investigate, and as he went around the broken vessel, he noticed the marks getting substantially larger. They kept going and going, getting bigger and bigger, until the trail ended, leading down.He then looked to his side. Something stood next to him, bleeding.“Holy—what in the world, who are you?” Tim was astonished. “Where did you come from?” The being was unknown to him, mysterious and uncanny.Tim quickly rushed back into the vehicle, the creature following him into the capsule.Claren woke up, opening his eyes cautiously. A light blindingly shined on his face, as he took a breath expecting fresh air, but instead inhaled dust, smelling a strange, unsettling scent. He was cold, feeling the slick metal beneath, and slowly he began to have a sense of consciousness again.When Claren fully arose, Tim was in front of him, and beside him, the unknown figure stood. It was small, green in hue, with a foreign face. The physique of this creature was not human, not Earthly. He knew it wasn’t anything known to him. He knew it was an alien.Chapter 30 - Awaken
Chapter 31 - Trimdin
Claren got up, scared for his life.“What is that thing, Tim! What is it, why is it bleeding?”“I don’t know what it is, or who it is, but it’s hurt, and we need to help it.” Tim was frantic. “Claren, you stay here with this little guy, I’ll go grab the first aid kit, okay.”“Um, sure,” Claren said with a wobble in his voice.Tim ran over to the other side of the capsule, where the kit was in his bag. He took it out, hurried back, opened it, and took out a bandage, wrapping it around the alien’s arm.The being was content while Tim hastily dressed the wound, accepting the help from the humans without any struggle.~~The initial scare passed, Tim and Claren standing on one side of the interior while the foreigner sat on the other.“What should we do, Tim? First the damage, now this. Our mission has been disastrous so far. We’re stuck on some random rock in the middle of nowhere, and without the right parts to fix our ship, we can’t do anything.”“I know, I know, but maybe this guy can help. Whatever it is, they were doing something to our ship before I found it. They left blood all over the broken exterior, and may be able to get us some help.”“Does that ‘thing’ even know how to talk?” Claren said angrily.“I’m not sure, but we can definitely try. We need to at the very least find a suitable place to survive, and maybe they can help us. It seems to be unaffected by the atmosphere here, so maybe their civilization has similar biological necessities. And if that’s true, then maybe we can live.” Tim was getting impatient with Claren.“Okay, Tim, how about we start off easy with the thing. Get its name, maybe a location.”“That’s good,” Tim replied.Both men walked to the other side of the capsule, over to the alien. They knelt down, getting on the same level with the creature. It looked at them, turning its head and frowning.“Mnm trim-i fics shp,” it said, stunning Tim and Claren.“Well, it can talk, that’s for sure,” Tim uttered.“Yep, but what the heck did it say?”“I’m not sure, but it gives me hope that we can decipher it. Let's see if it can write.” Tim got up and went to grab a whiteboard with a marker.The being was handed the board, and within seconds it began writing.“They seem to be a master writer, I guess,” Claren remarked.“Yeah, maybe their species communicates through text.”The creature turned the board around unexpectedly, its skeleton fingers wrapping around the white, glossy surface.It wrote: “My name is Trimdin, I can fix your ship….”Tim and Claren looked blankly at the board, then at each other.“It can write… in English?” Claren confusingly stated.“It appears so, how strange.”“Does it understand us?”Both men brought their attention back to Trimdin. He looked back at them, smiling, and yet again began writing on the board, his round head bobbing vigorously.“Uh, Trimdin, is it? Do you understand us?” Tim demanded.Trimdin kept writing.“Do you understand us?”The silence continued, tension building while the alien continued to compose.“Do you understand or not? Can you even help us?” Tim snapped.Claren remained still, worried. If Tim can’t handle it, can I? What if we’re not only stranded, but trapped on an unknown asteroid with one of the greatest discoveries in human history.But his worries were soon interrupted by Trimdin, as he turned the board over for the second time.The being wrote: “I know where there are parts to fix your ship. Though your ship is heavily damaged, most of it is focused towards the engine, and I know where a spare one is.”Tim calmed down.; Claren, relieved.“Really! This is great news,” Tim exclaimed, mollifying his anger.“So, uh, where are they? In your garage or something?” Claren joked.Trimdin didn’t laugh though, quickly scribbling another response and turning the board around again. It said two words: “The Queen.”“The QUEEN?” both men muttered.“Yes, The Queen. She and her guards are protecting the parts you need, and without them, you won’t be able to survive.”“Well, where is The Queen, where are they hidden?” Claren asked.“Deep in the asteroid, guarded by her forces and constantly surveyed.”“Oh, well great, just great,” Tim added sarcastically.It was a lose-lose scenario. Tim and Claren had to get the parts.“Can you bring us to her, to the parts?” Tim queried.“Yes, but it’ll be a long, difficult trip,” wrote Trimdin.“How long are we talking? Minutes, hours, days?”“A round trip takes under half an Earth day.”“Well, good, because that’s all my suit has left.”“Mine, too,” Claren remarked.“Okay then, it’s settled. Let’s prepare for this trip. We need those parts more than anything, we need those asteroid parts.”Everyone was on the move. Tim picked up the first aid kit from earlier and shoved it back in his bag, along with two ropes and a small dagger. He slipped into his EVA suit again while Claren grabbed his flashlight, then proceeded to do the same as Tim. Trimdin kept hold of the whiteboard and marker.Both men entered the airlock, the alien standing in front. The hatch closed behind them, the chamber depressurizing. They were ready, they knew that if Trimdin was wrong, if anything went badly, they would die. But that risk was worth it.Tim and Claren’s journey started, following Trimdin’s lead. The initial few steps were difficult, but necessary. They walked and walked, feeling the “ground” of the asteroid under their feet. It was hard, covered in light gray dust made of pulverized rocks and minerals. Sturdy yet frail, rough yet gentle. Anything could happen, the weak gravity of the asteroid barely holding it all together.Little to Tim and Claren’s knowledge, this could be problematic, as they were heavier than tiny Trimdin. Every step taken was hazardous. Every step taken was threatening.And soon this came into effect....Chapter 31 - Trimdin
Chapter 32 - Dangers Of Exploration
"What’s this queen like anyways, Trimdin?” Claren asked.“She’s our ruler, she’s our leader. I follow her, everyone here follows her. The Queen has ultimate power over my home, and anyone who defies her gets a less than ideal punishment.”“Like what?”“Typically death, but if she’s feeling nice, a life sentence.”“Wait, so why are you helping us?” Tim questioned.“The Queen wasn’t always in control. Before her, we had a king, her husband. But something happened to him, a tragedy, to say the least. An event unparalleled in our history, a death committed by someone close to him. He was a kind ruler, a kind soul. He cared for his subjects, he cared for his family, he cared for his broth….”Trimdin was cut off. The ground began to shake vigorously.“What’s happening?”“An earthquake, or, I guess, an asteroidquake,” Tim remarked.Cracks began to form in front of Claren, splitting him from Tim and Trimdin.“Uh, I think it’s much worse than that, look behind you.”Tim quickly turned around, realizing a massive crevice formulating around Claren. Trimdin did the same, watching it form and quickly writing a response on his board. It read one thing: “RUN!”It was too late for Claren, though, as he was surrounded by a trench, with the floor beneath him fracturing. He was trapped.Tim stood still, while Trimdin slowly moved back.“Oh God no. No, no, no.” Tim cried.“Tim, what should I do? Am I going to die?”“No, Claren, you’re fine. Or at least I hope.”Claren anxiously stood still, expecting his demise for a second time. What should I do? The ground under me is losing stability, and jumping over the crack is impractical. I would need a harness or something, and somehow would need to be pulled up. But we don’t have one, and I packed only a flashlight. He then realized something, the ropes.“Hey Tim, you still have those two ropes in your bag.”Tim heard Claren’s call. “Yeah, I do, but why?”“Do you think it is possible to toss them over to me, and I can create a makeshift harness out of one, using the other to pull me up.”At that moment, Tim knew what Claren was saying and took his bag off.“Trimdin, can you grab the rope in there?”Without a response, Trimdin opened up the sack, pulling out the two tethers. They were long, lightly shaded, and quite heavy for the small being.He handed them to Tim, who now had the challenge of tossing them all the way over to Claren.The crack hadn’t expanded in a while, but the center point was crumbling apart.“Claren, are you ready to catch this?“Yes, Tim, but do you think you could hurry it up? Things are getting shaky over here.”Tim readied to toss the rope over the abyss, bundling it up and placing it in one hand, putting all his strength to it.“3, 2, and… 1.”The rope dashed through the air, the low gravity assisting the throw, carrying it over the crack, letting it glide into Claren’s gloved hand.“Oh, oh, I caught it!” Claren exclaimed.“Yes!” Tim screamed.Trimdin sat in the background, seeing the first task being completed. He smiled, but knew what obstacle came next.Claren wrapped the rope around his waist and legs, producing the most bare-bones gear possible. It tightly hugged his suit, and now he waited for the second rope.“This one should be a bit easier, I hope. At least I hold onto one end of this thing.”“Let’s hope so, because we have little time,” Trimdin wrote.Tim prepared to hurl the cord over, and this time, he would use it to pull Claren over.He swung the rope like a lasso, round and round, and finally whipped it forward. It blazed towards Claren, and he quickly grabbed it. This sudden movement caused the terrain to shift again, and this time, for good.Claren swiftly attached the second rope to a small loop he made with his harness, and the floor beneath him collapsed.Tim had a firm grip of the other end, but was being pulled in as Claren fell.“Hey Trimdin, some help here.” The alien grabbed hold of Tim, and together began to tow him upwards.Claren was dangling, slowly falling towards the rim of the ridge.Tim and Trimdin tugged and tugged, dragging Claren up as they moved back.Claren flew closer and closer to the edge, but was almost at the top.“How is it going up there? Do I have to brace for impact or what?”“Bud, I’m trying, and Trimdin’s helping, but it’s still a struggle. We’ve almost got you.”“How close is almost?” Claren questioned.That answer didn’t matter, though, as right then Claren unexpectedly shot to the top, only centimeters away from the side.“Holy shi… I mean, shoot. I’m alive!” Claren exclaimed.“Yeah, just barely, thanks to your quick thinking.”“No, you were the one that packed the ropes, I just found a way to use them.”“Fair enough,” Tim laughed. “At least you’re on stable ground again.”“Yeah, you and Trimdin really came through with pulling me up.”Both men looked at Trimdin. He stood still, smiling greatly, giving a sigh of relief.Then he began writing. “We have very little time, we need to get moving again."Tim and Claren read what Trimdin wrote.“That’s a good point, we can’t keep wasting time, we need to go now that you’re safe.”“Yes, I am ready to go.”“Great, but let me say, we’re only safe for now. More threats lie ahead, with The Queen and her guards. She is an evil, evil being, so we need to be careful; be quick. It’s only a matter of time before we are in danger again. I am ready, are you?”“Yes, all the way,” said Tim and Claren together.All three continued their trek, their adventure to find the parts. They had mere hours to find them, and were only temporarily secure.Safety was never a guarantee with their career, was it?Chapter 32 - Dangers Of Exploration
Chapter 33 - Falling Out
“How long has it been since I fell?”“Eh, a few hours or so,” Tim responded.“If we didn’t have to travel over this damn mountain, we would already have found the parts,” Claren cried.“Maybe, but Trimdin said that we only have a couple kilometers before we’d get there.”“Yes, it's just over this mountain, or, more like under it.”“Under it?” asked Tim.“Yes, the entrance to where the parts are is on the other side. That leads to a base under this mountain, where The Queen hides her prized possessions.”“So they’re in a bunker?”“Essentially, yes,” he wrote."What else is kept in there," Claren questioned."Not very much, it is mainly just a secure place for her riches. It also acts as a safe house in case of emergency, as it has a lot of space for expansion and construction.""Interesting.""Yes, it quite is."“How do you know so much about The Queen, Trimdin?" Tim asked. "You seem to have quite the knowledge of who she is, where she hides stuff, and the inner workings of her administration. Who did you learn it from?”He stopped walking. Tim and Claren stopped soon after.“Hey, why did we stop?” Tim asked.There was no response from Trimdin. His large, black eyes became covered with his thick eyelids.“Trimdin, are you ok?” Claren queried.Still no response. Little puddles of water excreted from his eyes, them slowly falling down the mountainside. He was silent.“What did I do, Trimdin, what did I say?” Tim frantically asked. “We are so close to the parts, but we can’t continue if you're hurt.”“Tim, you must have triggered something in him,” Claren suggested.“I guess so. I never meant to press or pry, but….”His words were cut off, as Trimdin picked up the board and started writing. Tim and Claren watched as he swiftly wrote on the board, awaiting a response. Trimdin was still crying, and was visibly upset, but kept on scribbling.Trimdin looked up, then continued stroking the marker against the board.“He must be writing quite a lot,” Claren joked.“Yeah, but whatever it is, it must be important.”“Well, let’s see for ourselves.”Trimdin turned the board around, and the men looked at it carefully. They looked at each other, then back at it again. It said nothing. There was only a drawing.“A drawing?” Claren said.“Yes, a drawing, of what though?”“It looks like a map. Maybe of where he’s from?”“No, that’s a silly idea, Claren. You see the mountain over on the right, and then on its side there’s an entrance.”“Oh, yeah.”“I think he’s showing us where to go, because on the left there is a room, and he drew something on a pedestal in that room.”“It’s the parts, Tim, it’s the parts! Trimdin is telling us where to find them, but why?”“I don’t know. Trimdin, why are you telling us this, why are you telling us where to go?” Tim was confused. “You were meant to lead us to the parts, not just point us in their direction. What did I do to hurt you, what did I say.”Tim took the board from Trimdin, erased it, and turned it back around giving it back to him. “Write something, please. You need to come with us, we need you.”“Tim, stop! Leave him alone.”“Fine, just please Trimdin, write something.”“Tim, he clearly doesn’t want to go on. He probably told us where to go because he doesn’t want to face The Queen. She has hurt everyone here, including him, but he was willing to help us and risk his life.”“You’re right, Claren, you’re right. He’s risking everything for us, to defy his queen.”“Okay, let’s go then, let’s leave him be.“Wait. I need to give something to him before we go.” Tim swung his bag over his shoulder, opened the latch, and took out his dagger. “Trimdin, take this, it should keep you safe, against The Queen, her guards, or anyone who attacks. See it as a farewell present.”He examined the weapon, graciously accepting the gift and stowing it in his pocket.“Now we can go,” Tim said sadly.The men left the grieving Trimdin alone, continuing up the mountain, reaching its peak, and slowly sliding down the slanted surface, landing directly next to the entrance.“My God, this corridor is massive,” Tim said.“It’s so much larger than I thought. If only Trimdin was here to see it.”“Well, that’s my fault, it all is. I'm just under so much pressure; we were so close, but yet I had to say something about how he knew it all.”“We were running out of time anyway, and Trimdin was obviously hurt, so don’t blame yourself,” Claren said sincerely. “We have been through so much in the last few days, so let’s refocus. The parts are most important right now. Trimdin is probably fine, especially with the dagger. No one can put him in danger”“Yeah, you’re right. I at least hope he’s happier now.”“Let’s get this show on the road then; let’s beat that queen!”Tim and Claren marched through the arched doorway, entering a long, dark hall. The only thing they could see was a small opening at the end, illuminating brightly. Every step forward was a step toward the parts, every step forward was a step toward home. This was their chance to live.“What do you think is in there, Tim?”“It has to be the room that Trimdin drew.”“If it is, that means the parts are in there.”“Well, what are we waiting for then?”Both men started sprinting, then running, towards the glow. The parts were closer and closer by the second, no longer would they be stranded.“We’re almost there, Claren,” Tim said ecstatically.“Yes, come on, we're mere meters away!”Tim and Claren kept running, kept going, kept heading towards the blaze.“It’s stunning, Tim.”“What is it though?”They reached the opening, being engulfed by the light.Chapter 33 - Falling Out
Chapter 34 - The Queen
Tim woke up, this time Claren stood in front of him. “Where am I?” he asked.They were enclosed in a large atrium, heavily decorated with gold and silver. The walls were pure white, with pristine floors and incandescent lighting.“What is this place, Claren?”“I’m not sure, I woke up just like you minutes ago.”“Is this where the parts are?”“No, this is where they’re supposed to be,” Claren stated depressingly.“They’re not here?”“Well, there’s a pedestal here in the center, and nothing is on it. They’re gone!”The room was virtually empty, with no doors, windows, or anything. Tim and Claren were trapped.“This room is so beautiful,” Tim said in amazement.“It would be even better if we knew where we were.”Tim and Claren got up from their corner of the room. There was nothing to see.“So, how do we get out of here?” Tim asked.“I don’t think we do. We thought we were going to The Queen, but I think The Queen was coming to us.”“What makes you say that, Claren?”“Who else would put us in here, in the room where the parts were? She’s taunting us.”“She knew, she knew we were coming. But how?”The room suddenly went dark. Claren took out his flashlight, looking around the area.“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Tim, Claren, so nice to finally meet you.” A mysterious voice surrounded both men.“Who are you?” Tim yelled.“You know exactly who I am.”“The Queen,” Claren shuddered.“So you have heard of me, good. Now I know he didn’t lie.”“Who didn’t lie?” asked Tim.“Trimdin, of course!”“How do you know Trimdin,” Claren said angrily.“Well, let’s just say next time, don’t leave your friend alone on the side of my mountain. He’s crying for help as we speak.”“What did you do to him!” both men screamed.“There are two punishments in The Belt for treason: a life sentence, or death. Guess which one I’m picking.”“So that’s the game here,” Tim quipped.“If this is a game then it just started playing. I have a whole other plan for you two, ha!” The Queen kept cackling, screams playing in the background. But they weren’t just any screams, they were Trimdin’s.The sound then cut out, terminating all communication.~~Both men continued to sit in the dark room, only Claren’s light shining.“What are we supposed to do now? This is like the fifth time in the past day we’ve been left stranded.”“Well, you’re not wrong there, Claren.”“Just how exactly did she know we were coming?"“Let’s see, first we crashed into her kingdom, then traveled with one of her subjects, and then entered her heavily monitored secret base. We’ve done everything to make our location known.“Fair enough,” Claren sighed.The room fell silent. More time passed.“Hello? Hello? God damn it, just let us go,” Tim pleaded. “I know you can hear us, don’t hurt Trimdin, I swear to God.”“Tim, she clearly doesn’t care.”“Well, she better, because the second I see her I’m gonna.…”“What Tim, what are you going to do?”“I don’t know, I just hope he’s okay. She is literally torturing him, and we can do nothing about it. I left him, we left him, and now she captured him.”“We’ll do something about it, we’ll find a way to save him. The Queen clearly has plans not just for him, but for all three of us. We can save him, I know it.”Morale was low; escape was unlikely. Every time they have given up, someone, something, has saved them. But this time, that didn’t appear so.The space lit up again. It was static, empty, just like before.“She’s coming,” Tim whispered.“From where?”“Look up.” The ceiling slowly slid away, a void taking its place. Both men started to float, rising gradually.“What is happening, Tim?”“I don’t know.”The men kept soaring upwards, soon over the room they were in, surrounded by an empty abyss of darkness.“Do you two know where I’m bringing you?” The Queen teased.“You alien bitch, what did you do with Trimdin?”“Hey Claren, watch the language. But yes, where did you put him you alien bitch!”“Calm down, I kept him alive….”“Oh thank God,” Tim sighed.“You didn’t let me finish. I kept him alive so that I could kill him in front of you two.”“If you lay a finger on Trimdin, Tim and I are going to rain fury on your home.”“With what army? You two wimpy humans have nothing, no one, just yourselves. Now, come watch your friend die.”Tim and Claren started to free fall, soaring towards what was once the parts room. It was now colossal in size, with massive corridors and legions of soldiers. But in the center was now Trimdin, along with a much larger being similar in shape. That was The Queen.Chapter 34 - The Queen
Chapter 35 - Battle Of Revelations
“Now we meet face to face,” The Queen said smiling.Tim and Claren gently landed before her, guards surrounding the area and Trimdin tied to a large post.“Trimdin,” Tim yelled.“Silence! Guards, get these two in restraints and take that ridiculous purse of him.”Four walked behind Tim and Claren, taking Tim’s supply bag and cuffing their hands behind their backs.“Watch, my dear prisoners, watch as your friend is put through more pain than you can imagine.” The Queen turned around, laughing as she pivoted towards Trimdin.“Your brother was so good to me, Trimdin. He was too kind with his power, too generous. His death was, let’s just say, unfortunate. But without it, we would have never assumed power. All it took was a bit of poison.”“We? Brother?” Claren interrupted.“Why yes, did Trimdin not tell you about him, about what happened?”“No, he only ever talked about a king—your husband—one that died, one that cared for his subjects,” Tim said, attempting to spite The Queen.“I care for my subjects... only as long as they do what they're told.”“You’re a selfish, power-hungry prick. Why should they care for you?” Tim wailed.“Who put you in restraints?”Tim fell speechless.“That’s what I thought. They have no choice. I'm in control. Only power can do that. Now, back to what we were talking about. Where was I? Oh yes, Trimdin. We were just reminiscing on how I killed your brother.”Chapter 35 - Battle Of Revelations
Chapter 36 - Battle Of Redemption
A short gold sword, glistening in the bright light, was given to The Queen.“After a bit of verbal torture, how about some real pain? I killed my husband the kind way, but with you, I want to enjoy it. Your death will ensure my rule, and will act as discipline for your crimes, for helping outsiders.”Trimdin stared at the blade, its pointed edge in the hand of his enemy. He couldn’t move, couldn’t act, couldn’t defend; he was trapped. What can I do to free myself? I can’t let her kill me as she did to my brother. Trimdin looked over to Tim and Claren. I need to save them, I know I abandoned them, but they need my help, or else they’ll end up like me.At that moment, Trimdin thought of something. The dagger, the one that Tim gave me! Where did I put it again? He started to squirm around, the guards reapplied their hold. Where did I put that dang thing?Trimdin looked over at Tim again, and he did the same. Tim mouthed two words at him: your pocket.“Okay, Trimdin, I’m ready, are you?” The Queen snapped. She readied the blade in her hand, moving back from the alien and pointing the tip towards him.Trimdin started shaking and moving around again, subtly freeing one of his hands. I’ve got to get that dagger out of my pocket.“Please, stop!” Claren pleaded.“I’m going to hit you where it hurts.” She aimed it at Trimdin’s stomach.“Please!” Claren pleaded again.“Stop, Claren, it’s okay.”“What do you mean okay?“Trimdin’s got a surprise for her,” Tim whispered.“Quiet, you two! How much do I have to tell you that? Now watch your friend die, and make sure they see it.”The guards surrounding Trimdin got redirected to Tim and Claren.The Queen slowly started walking towards Trimdin, her blade directed at him. Then she began to run, getting closer and closer.Trimdin dug around in his pocket, stealthily pulling out the dagger last minute.As The Queen lunged towards him, he lifted his one arm up, knife in hand, ready.She slammed into him, digging her sword right into his stomach. But his weapon hit harder. The Queen let go of her blade, falling to the floor, Trimdin’s dagger in her head.Chapter 36 - Battle Of Redemption
Chapter 37 - A New King
“Oh my,” Tim exclaimed.Trimdin stood still, the sword impaling his torso.The guards all let go, standing down as the men rushed over to their alien friend. Together, they untied him from his stake, taking him off of it.“Trimdin, buddy, what did you do?”“Where’s the whiteboard?” Tim asked.“I don’t know, we left it with Trimdin when we left him.”“Right, never mind. Can you get me the first aid kit in my bag, Claren?”“Sure, sure.” Claren turned around, running towards the unprotected sack.The guards stood lifeless, closing their eyes and resting their weapons.“Here you go, Tim.”“First we need to remove the sword. Trimdin, if you feel any pain, shake your head. If we remove the sword, we can bandage it over to stop the bleeding.“Shouldn’t we just keep it in then?”“No, just trust me, keeping it in will put Trimdin in more danger.”“Okay, Tim, I’ll follow your lead.”Both men carefully removed the blade from Trimdin, quickly covering the wounds. He remained motionless.“Trimdin, how are you feeling?“Did it work, Tim?”“I’m not sure.”“Well, we need to get out of here soon!”“The parts, where are the parts?” He looked at the guards.No response.“Does anyone know where the parts are? Your queen is dead, she is no longer in command. You can tell the truth!”Nothing.“Do any of you speak English? We know Trimdin can’t, but your queen could.”The guards stood dormant, only looking at Trimdin. They awaited his wakening.“Fine, fine. Claren, do we have anything that we can use to revive Trimdin? His wound is already healing, but he is not waking up.”“Well, I didn’t pack a defibrillator, sorry.”“You’re an engineer, you must be able to think of something to make using what we have here? Something to shock his system.”“Uh, sure, give me a second.” Claren looked around. We have two ropes, a flashlight, swords, a medical kit, and whatever our suits came with. The biggest thing was electricity, conductivity. I need something strong, something with a current, something that could carry that current.It then came to him. The battery in the flashlight, the gold sword, the steel dagger. He could take the current from the battery, transfer it to the weapons, and then to Trimdin. Since he was small, the amount of energy should be enough to stun him.Claren got the needed materials together, and within no time assembled it.“Okay, we need to apply one sword here, and the other here. It should jumpstart his heart, hopefully bringing him back.”Tim watched Claren carefully bring the device near Trimdin’s body, the guards continuing to stand down. "The second it touches, it should cause an instant reaction."He slowly placed it on his chest. His body shook. Trimdin reignited immediately, the soldiers knelt.“Trimdin, Trimdin! You’re awake,” Tim and Claren screamed joyfully. The alien looked at both men, seeing the smiles on their faces.“Let's get you up, Trimdin, let’s get you off the floor,” Claren said.Together they lifted the small creature off the ground, his weak and limp body struggling to support him.The guards stood up again as he rose, watching his every action in synchrony.Trimdin stood still, Tim and Claren holding him up. Everything seemed normal, everything seemed fine. But this didn’t last long.He started shaking, he started trembling. The room was getting darker, his body getting brighter.“What’s happening?” Tim questioned.“I’m not sure.”“Trimdin, what are you doing, what is happening?”Before a response could even be said, a massive gust smashed against the walls of the room, exploding it and pushing Tim and Claren back.On the outside was the surface of the asteroid. The mountain that was over the bunker vanished, chunks of debris hovering over them.In the middle of it all, Trimdin continued, now spinning and slowly flying upwards. He was still ablaze, illuminating the sky above them.“He’s as bright as a star now!” Claren exclaimed.“Yeah, he sure is.”“But why is this happening, how is he floating?”“I don’t know, he killed The Queen, we revived him, now this is going on.” Tim let this thought settle for a second. Killed The Queen, revived him, floating. No one else here can float, no one here can fly. No one had that type of power except for…The Queen.“Claren, what did Trimdin say happened after the first king died?”“Um, it was something along the lines of he died because The Queen killed him. She then came into power.”“That’s it, that's what’s happening.”“What, huh? What do you mean?”“The Queen killed him and gained his power. Trimdin killed The Queen.”“Oh my God, Tim. That means that….”“Trimdin is the new king.”Chapter 37 - A New King
Chapter 38 - The Parts
A massive sphere surrounded Trimdin, it slowly expanding above.“Their monarchs don’t just literally take power, but actually gain powers, Claren.”“Is that how she spoke English, is that how we were lifted out of the parts room?”“Yeah, I think so,” Tim said.“It all makes sense now. Everything.”“I wonder what other gifts he’ll get?”“Tim, look up….”The glowing ball above became orange, Trimdin now spinning rapidly, quickly revolving in the air.The ground started to shake vigorously, pebbles started to levitate.All of the guards looked towards Tim and Claren.“I-I think he’s almost done. His mutation is almost complete,” Tim shuddered.Trimdin kept spinning above them.“You think so?”“No, I hope so.”“Me too, Tim, me too.”The orange orb then started to collapse, Trimdin still moving at breakneck speeds.“There he is, Trimdin! He looks different, though….”“It’s part of the transformation.”The alien was much taller, broader, and was wearing a massive, maroon robe. Atop his head was a shiny golden crown, and on his hands was a purple, magical glimmer.“I think he is starting to slow down,” Claren said happily.“Yes, yes, it appears so.”Trimdin was decelerating, his evolution finished. He started majestically gliding towards the floor of the once room.The guards kept their eyes glued onto both men as they watched him descend.A booming voice then entered the ears of Tim and Claren.“Tim, Claren,” it said.“Yes,” they both stuttered.“I would like to thank you for your help, for your assistance. You both have aided me immensely.” He landed on the ground.“Trimdin?” Claren asked.“No, I am no longer Trimdin, I am King Trimdin now, ruler of this asteroid, ruler of this kingdom.”“Why, yes, we are so sorry,” Tim added.“You don’t have to be sorry, I just want to reiterate that. I am in power now, not that vicious queen. Guards, get the parts and be dismissed. I want to be alone with them."A massive shuffle of the soldiers happened, as most moved out the sides of the room. Only one remained. They were holding the parts.They came up to the new king, kneeling and handing him the unused parts.“Thank you, your duty has been completed, you can go off with the rest now.”He got up and nodded.“Also, send a message to our best mechanics to be at Tim and Claren’s crash site, we need them to fix their ship as quickly as possible.”The guard then finally walked away, leaving the two men with the new King Trimdin.“So, your majesty, what do we do now?” Tim questioned.“Well, we get you to your ship.”“But how, it’s fairly far away from here,” Tim stated.“Are you going to fly us there?”“Claren, that’s a silly question?"“That is a silly question, Claren,” King Trimdin said, “because of course I’m going to fly you there. These powers would be useless otherwise.”Tim stood dumbfounded.The purple glow around Trimdin’s hands brightened up, and soon, Tim, Claren, and The King all started to float, along with the parts.“Whoa, I never thought I would fly in the air like this.”“Yes, it's quite a magical experience, isn’t it?” The King said.“It sure is!”The two men and their alien friend continued to soar in the empty sky above the asteroid, zooming towards their destination.“So Trim… I mean, King Trimdin, what other powers do you gain as a ruler?”“Oh, a few oddball things; levitation, speaking any language, super healing, supreme power and control over everything and everyone, and so on.”“Huh,” touted Tim.“Yeah, I mean that all sounds really useful,” said Claren.“It’s quite the luxury, one that’s worth it though. Revenge is something I have sought for so long, though there is still more to do.“What was all that about?” Tim asked. “She said that the old king was your brother? What happened there?”“Ten Earth years ago, my brother was in rule. He got his power through a duel, one fair and square to see who would be our new monarch. A kind guy, he was; a kind soul, as you already know. Everyone loved him, and he loved them. But some were angered by his policy, by his inherent warmth.”“So what did they do?” Claren asked.“A rebellion started to grow, one by elitists, against the sympathy of my sibling. They were led by a merciless leader, Quinten, and thought the new king was soft; thought that we needed to be in constant war. My brother was giving too much away and stopped the very thing giving Quinten power. So they sent an informant to befriend him, to get close. That was The Queen.”“Where were you in all of this?” stated Tim.“With him, by his side the entire time. We were best friends, and when he came into power, we only became closer. I was his right-hand man, his biggest supporter, and destined to be his successor. But for a while, The Queen seemed the same way with him. They worked wonderfully together, as she slowly built up in his ranks. She started as his assistant, but moved higher and higher, closer and closer, and finally, they fell in love. That put The Queen in the prime position to attack.”The three of them remained flying in the air, quickly approaching their ship.“It was his birthday. Celebrations were happening across the belt. He was preparing for a grand dinner, prepared by the subjects. Of course, we checked every item that was coming in, testing for dangers. But when The Queen contributed to the banquet, we thought nothing of it. Why would his wife do anything to harm him, anything to hurt him? That was her and Quinten’s plan, to slip something in without suspicion. That was his death day.”“They put poison in the food she made, and he ate it. That’s all it took?” Claren added.“Yep, it was a quick and swift death. It was horrifying to watch, seeing your brother just fall after taking a bite to eat… on his birthday... by his spouse. Moments later, she started her transition. We all figured it out quickly: The Queen killed him. His own love killed him. Nothing could be done; the rest is history.”“I’m so sorry for your loss, your brother sounded like such a nice individual,” Tim sympathetically said.“He truly seemed kind and well-intentioned,” Claren added.“He was, but that’s enough of that story, just look below us.”There it was, the crash site, in all of its glory. And next to it was a legion of aliens, the mechanics. They were ready to replace the broken parts, ready to serve their king.The two men started to gradually glide towards the dusted ground of the asteroid, the parts next to them. Down, down, down, until boom, contact.“Ha, yes, the sweet ground again!” Tim cheered.“The last time we smashed into this asteroid, I thought we were dead,” said Claren."Yeah, it hasn't been so nice to us."“Well, those are the dangers of exploration, you two,” The King shouted. “Now get to fixing your ship, and mechanics, help them where possible. I must go, I must secure my kingdom.”His minions got to work, taking the parts from the ground.“So is this it?” Tim asked.“Is this what?”“The end, is this our goodbye?” said Claren.“Well, I guess it is.”“Oh,” both exclaimed.“There is no better time, no better place. First of all, I would like to thank both of you for your help, for your care. I went from a subservient victim to a rightful ruler. Never did I think I could get back what I lost, to get back at the being who hurt me. Never.”“Your welcome, Trimdin, of course. But don’t forget that without you, we wouldn’t be able to return home. You have given us a chance now,” Tim earnestly stated. “We would be dead without you, we would have given up without you. You led us to the parts, and we are eternally thankful for that.”“We’re on even terms then,” Claren said.“Yes, we are. We have been from the start, and always will be. That’s what friends do.”Tim and Claren looked at Trimdin, The King looking back at them. “Friends.” That sank into all of them. “Friends.” Everything they had been through, they did it together. Nothing could keep them apart, not even The Queen. Before, they were stranded. But now, they’re surrounded.“Well, I better go off now.”“Okay,” both men responded.“I hope to see you again soon, I hope you the best of luck on your trip home.”“Same here, and I wish things go a bit smoother around here. I just know you will be a great ruler. One with flaws, with humility; a king fit of this kingdom.”“Thank you, Tim, and I hope they will. For my brother, let his legacy go on, let it continue.”“Yes,” Claren said.“Goodbye, my fellows, goodbye,” King Trimdin boomed, slowly floating away.“Thank you for everything,” the men screamed in unison.The new king hovered away, leaving Tim and Claren with the repair aliens. They quickly commanded the workers, and soon, all the necessary equipment was installed. A new engine, a new antenna; the ship became whole again. The men entered the vehicle, the mechanics doing the final touches.“What do you think is going to happen to Trimdin?”“He’s a king, now. King Trimdin will do as King Trimdin pleases.”“You’re not wrong there.”Tim and Claren sat in their respective seats. The aliens on the outside of the ship banged on the hull, indicating the completion of the repairs.“Yesssss. Let's GO.”Tim flicked a few switches, Claren a few more. They shook vigorously.“Come on! We can do this.”A few buttons were pressed, a few dials turned. They shook vigorously.“It’s almost there!”Bars were pulled, levers moved.“Closer, closer, closer.”“Come on! Come on!”The engine started, blasting their ship into the space above, setting course for Earth.Setting course for their home.Chapter 38 - The Parts
Interlude
7 Days After The Departure….“You think the separatists are really going to negotiate?” King Trimdin asked.“I hope so, Your Majesty.”“How could those hooligans follow him and that evil queen?”“These rebels are strong, a force to reckon with, trust me. When I served under your brother, I saw firsthand the torture that they commit. Murder, fights, robbery; they’ll do anything to cause chaos.”“I remember. All the sleepless nights, all the times I'd wake up in tears because of this monster. But maybe, just maybe, we can stop them from getting out of hand. I am king now, their monarch is dead, and that lunatics head is getting cut off regardless of what he says today.”The doors to the atrium opened, soldiers standing in the way. Behind them, mobs of subjects, shouting.“Kill The King, kill The King. Let his reign end. We want our queen back, we want our rightful ruler back!” a protester chanted.“You’re weak, just like your bastard brother,” one screamed.King Trimdin and his assistant watched the rallied populace, some trying to push through the protection.“They dare talk about Nardyn like that? He's the reason they're alive!”“Sir, I see him.”Through the horde of aliens, one stood out. He was tall, holding a weapon in one hand, a shield in the other. They marched towards the front, towards the doorway where they stood. The soldiers moved aside, the mysterious figure coming to light.“Ah, old friend. Nice to see you again,” he said.“Why yes, it’s quite pleasant, isn’t it? A crowd of rebels around my palace and a gun in your hand. Very nice.”“I could never risk my life, it’s too valuable. Revenge comes in all shapes and sizes."“You think I'd stoop that low?” The King jokingly asked.“I did,” he responded, a small smirk appearing.“That’s you, I’m me. And you have no idea what I am capable of!"“I think I do. I've fought feisty ones like you before. So sure, so confident. You've got anger, enough so to kill the one who was going to bring peace and glory to The Belt. But I have something you don't: power. The power to control, to dominate, to devastate. That’s who we were with before, and that's who we'll be after I win this war."“No, no. War is not the solution to our problem.”“But oh yes, it is.”“So is that it, are we going to war? Over greed? Over power? What about our society, our home? Give up now, and all of that will be spared.”“It’s not our home. Right now, it’s yours. But soon, it will be mine.”“War it is, then. The cost will be heavy, the toll enormous.”“Yes, King Trimdin, it will," he responded, peering deeply into the inky eyes of the enraged ruler.“Then I shall see you on the battlefield. I shall see you be crushed. You will never win, Quinten. Never.”“Hold that hope as hard as you want; it will never be true.”King Trimdin remained still, watching his enemy walk away, the masses cheering on below. A war, bloody and painful, is to start—the victor deciding the fate of their home, their subjects.The outcome unknown.Interlude
Chapter 39 - The Dawn Of War
King Trimdin sat down on his throne.“Sir?” asked his assistant.“Yes?”“Did… Did you just declare war?” they stuttered.“Why yes, I did indeed.”“So, now what?”The King looked down at his underling.“Now what?”“Get our army ready to fight, send messages out to all citizens, get my propaganda department ready. Make sure NO ONE can leave The Capital,” he commanded.“I’ll get right on it, sir!”“We need everyone prepared. Quinten’s forces are strong. Very strong.”“But we are stronger. We have to be," they responded.Trimdin gleefully smiled at his aide. “Don't worry, we are. I beat that bitch of a Queen no problem, and now with an entire army on my side, it'll be no problem.”“Yes, but you have barely secured your rule. You need to assure—”“My kingship is concrete, no one can dominate me,” Trimdin interrupted.“Never assume such a truth. That’s how all great leaders fall.”“What exactly do you mean by that? Is that a threat?”“No, no, just a warning. Your tenure has only started, and there is much more to learn before you finally have what you desire.”“Like what?”“You know what, never mind. I’ll just be on my way.” The assistant then turned around, walking out with a legion of guards protecting him.The noble ruler stayed behind, smirking. “No wonder my brother liked him,” he joked to himself, soon after redirecting his attention to the forces left in the chamber.“Guards, bring me every piece of information we have on Quinten. I want the name of every individual, every soul, every creature that follows his command. No one will be left out of this search.”Without question, the troops marched towards the exit, walked down the stone stairwell, and soon left the sight of The King.~~Hundreds of armed soldiers lined the streets of the city. Large apartment complexes surrounded them, swaths of luscious land covering the desolate area. A large television gifted the place with color, its dazzling hues and gorgeous tones bringing energy to the scared settlement, to the once overworked peasants. The screen only showed three words on it: “Save The King!” News of the conflict was getting out to citizens, fueling fear and confusion among the innocent.The Capital was silent—a rarity indeed—as everyone sheltered in place, preparing for the worse. Only military reserves and volunteers stepped foot outside their homes.King Trimdin similarly remained in his, working away with military commanders, strategists, and informants to create their master plan.“Your majesty,” one said, “what if Quinten attacks our weapon factories? Or maybe his followers start rioting in the streets? What do we do then?” Panic permeated the palace.“A civil war hasn’t been fought in centuries, and the Cross-Beltian Wars against the Kuipernians were ages ago. The Royal Army is ill-prepared; Quinten's has everything our's doesn't."The King stared at his officers, wearing an intense smile. “Why are we assuming he's going to hit first?”“Using what we know from the separatist's past actions, they always start small, but get large quickly. The attacks get bigger and bigger, the trickery increasingly complex. We never know their next move, and they always get what they want.”"Should we call in more soldiers, maybe some fighters from one of our allies?" one asked."No, no, we need to keep this war isolated. The second he can attack more than just us, the worse this will get.""Then what will we do, when will he strike? We need to be ready.""We are...." At that moment, the chief was cut off. Three guards walked in unexpectedly.“Can we help you?” The King questioned.“Sir, we're here to tell you something,” they said.“And what exactly is that?”“The Royal Bank… it’s on fire and… they killed the treasurer.”“Oh. So he’s starting off with the real shit,” someone interjected boldly.“Why yes, it appears so."“Quinten got the first Goddamn strike over with already,” the army general winced. “What’s our play now?”“We hit them back. What’s our status on their base location?” Trimdin demanded.“My King, we have it located on the other side of The Capital, in the outer regions of the asteroid. It's at an elite district set up by the mineral families long before your rule, and has now been fortified and weaponized by the group.”“Great,” The King mockingly mentioned.“But this is his standard M.O. Quinten enjoys angering you, and he knows how to do it well. Don’t forget, most of his warriors are here. He’s a strategist, so be careful.”“Great point and all, but he hasn’t fought me yet. We have everything we need to beat him. Have the emergency services take care of the treasury fire, and request that they protect other public buildings. Make sure all of our soldiers are top-of-the-line; that they are prepared for infiltration. Hopefully, we can punch them where it hurts; hopefully, we can stop this war from getting too bloody. Though he was the first to strike, we shall be the first to attack.”The ploy was set, the mission discovered. Over a few days, forces were built, munitions gathered, and soon, a march to the furthest reaches of the capital was to commence. Their initial assault readied to start; this was the dawn of war.Chapter 39 - The Dawn Of War
Chapter 40 - Before We Go
Propaganda surrounded every settlement. It existed across every screen, every board, every business; it was inescapable. The entire Belt was engulfed within its influential sphere.Inside the walls of his manor, King Trimdin prepared to lead the assault himself, a display of different armor varieties standing in front of him.“Ah, so much to pick from,” he commented, standing in the vast closet alone. “Generations of rulers and their all-important collection of protection.” Trimdin glanced at the individual pieces, evaluating their suitability, watching the evolution of his kingdom come to life. Unique types of materials, styles, and mechanics were featured on each suit, personalized to the might of each ruler in their history. Though none fit the parameters of The King, unable to manufacture his own in time for battle.Eventually, he came up to the end, where Trimdin was met with two things: his brother's armor, and The Queen’s.“Now we’re talking." He viewed the two pieces, weighing the pros and cons of each. But to no surprise, the Beltian king came to one conclusion, lifting the chosen gear off of its pedestal and proudly gripping it.“I will honor you, dear Nardyn, I will take this armor and use it to beat the rebels that killed you. Your legacy must continue.”The next minute, King Trimdin strode out of the room wearing his new attire, two guards now trailing him. He continued to the exit of his castle, hundreds of troops and armed volunteers waiting outside. They stood, anticipating his highly demanded arrival.Trimdin set himself at a podium arranged in front of the crowd, closely hugging the microphone on top of it. He grinned at the masses below, them waiting for his eventual speech. And soon, The King delivered.“Before we go, I have a few words to say: my soldiers, my guards, my loyal subjects. As many of you know, I came into power a short time ago, after one of the most important adventures of my life. Two human men, Tim and Claren, helped me reach this status; they helped me avenge my brother, who that vicious queen wrongfully killed before me!”The audience reveled in his anger, the raw emotion in his voice stirring their souls.“Though now she is dead, now I have murdered her; I have saved you from her tyranny. They helped me do that. But some out there still follow her rule, or more specifically, follow the one who propped her up: Quinten. They think that the poor deserve to be slaves to the rich, that you should fight the constant war of clashing egos. My brother disagreed; when Nardyn ruled, he made sure everyone got what they deserved, that they never would be forced into fighting their horrible cause. I will continue that, but first, we must get rid of those who disagree.”The mob cheered, and Trimdin felt their energy rushing into him. It encapsulated his every word, his every action. This was what it meant to be king.“War has never been my thing, but I will make sure that they don’t win. I will fight until the end, wearing this armor and finishing what I started. Though that means we all have to fight. It is the only way we can beat them, it is the only way to ensure your freedom. This is not my war, it’s our war. Our home is under attack, our kingdom is being infiltrated by radical separatists; ones who hate, hurt, and murder for their own selfish reasons. Yet as I said to my best generals earlier: though they were the first to strike, we shall be the first to attack. We will win this war; for me, for you, for The Belt! Our children will live in a world where they are not stuck working in a factory all night or digging deep in the mines; they won’t die in battle or live at the whim of the few. They will have the life they desire and be who they want to be, not listening to Quinten and his disciples. Now, let us start this march, as our very lives depend on it!”The King then started to float upwards, a purple glow surrounding his opened hands. Everyone in the crowd watched him in amazement. Each individual general got into their designated vehicles, legions of soldiers diligently following them with their weapons.Trimdin led the assault forward, guiding himself with the directions given to him by his navigator. Only he could rally people to fight, only he could lead an attack on this scale. The subjects would follow no one else; they believed in the notion of ending evil. But as they moved forward, more and more hysteria set in. Everyone knew the risks; war always breeds hardship. War always brings pain.And soon, these worries came to fruition….Chapter 40 - Before We Go
Chapter 41 - First Attack
A herd of soldiers quickly stormed the base, the first attack of war commencing. It was truly a short distance from the main city itself, existing in a privately secured and extremely isolated section of The Capital, fenced off from civilian and royal affairs.Only the ultra-wealthy lived there, making their fortune off of the exploited riches in mining asteroids for minerals. Precious metals made them billions, as they would sell them to third parties and collude with government agencies all around to fuel wars and their economies.As they approached the wall surrounding the area, a specialist team was commanded to enter first. They subtly infiltrated, scoping out the fortresses belonging to those once allied with Quinten.Each home closely matched the style of the palace: roofs made of shining gold, floors of white granite, pillars of the finest limestone in The Belt. They were all built for luxury.After the go-ahead was given, a second wave penetrated the walls of the zone. Then a third. Then a fourth. Within minutes, every road was filled with Trimdin’s fighters, and soon, properties began to get raided.The King continued to be in the sky, standing clear of the initial madness and surveying the land below. “Look at all of this,” he said aloud to himself, his head swaying side to side. “This is what my brother was talking about; this is just sickening. They had everything, The Queen gave them anything they asked.”A radio transmission suddenly came in from one of his military commanders on the ground, interrupting the king's words.“Your majesty, can you hear me?” they asked.“Affirmative. What's the situation? Do I have landing clearance?”“The Silver and Red team check the North Side, and the Blue battalion has just about cleared the South. It appears Quinten's abandoned ship, but where they went, we’re not sure. The Capital has been reported as safe, and no transports have left since your encounter with Quinten.”“He must still be here, then; he and his army are somewhere. Let me land and take a quick look around with them. You never know what I may find. Have the best of each division be at the center, I’ll meet them there.”“Yes, sir!”“I’ll ensure that the Blue battalion fully clears the South; I want complete confirmation of Quinten’s departure.” The radio transmission ceased.King Trimdin slowly made his way to the ground, towards what was the village's center. There, a majestic fountain stood, small figures surrounding it. These were representatives of the six original mine owners in The Belt, the structure built to respect the infamous bourgeoisie.The leader promptly planted his feet on the ground. From there, twenty of his high-class warriors encircled him, holding heavy artillery and plasma shields.“Thank you, my fine soldiers! Now, get me over to the commander in charge of the Blue battalion. We need to talk.”Without a word, the fighters turned towards the South Side, leading The King toward his wanted destination. And within seconds, he was standing in front of the officer he wanted.“Commander, what is the status of your division? What have they cleared so far?”“Uh, well, that’s tough to say.”“What do you mean?” he demanded.“They were just about to clear the building when suddenly we got a transmission. They seemed to have found a strange passageway behind a bureau. We had as much contact as we could as they went through it, but it eventually cut off. Nothing has been sent since.”“Have you sent in more troops?”“No, I wanted confirmation from you.”“Smart thinking,” Trimdin sternly stated, patting the shoulder of the officer, “let me go in and see the issue, see what they found.”“Sir, I can’t advise you to do that. You are too important to just waltz into a place that could be deadly.”“I understand your concern, yet we don’t know what happened. Maybe their transponder broke. Just trust me, I can’t get hurt; I won’t let trouble ensue.”“Whatever you say, your majesty, I follow your orders, not the other way around. The rest of us shall remain, preparing to finish our search and waiting for your word to depart. I just pray you and the team stay safe, and that my troops are okay."“Your worries are appreciated, my friend, and I am sure that nothing went wrong. That sounds like a fine plan. Now, where was their last location reported?”“In that house just over yonder, the one at the end of the road.” The two of them looked toward the structure in question. It was by far the largest home in the area, dwarfing the others with its great magnitude. A deep blue exterior surrounded it, with massive arched windows and golden trim to accent; the house was something only the affluent could afford. Trimdin stood stunned, fascinated by the beauty of the property. But the objective was still a priority, and soon, he directed his legion of soldiers toward it.“Okay, let’s make a game plan before we enter," The King mentioned prior to opening the door to the mansion. "Little is known as to what happened to the Blue battalion, but we have to assume they aren’t in trouble. They likely just hit a dead zone with their communicators or something. Regardless, the moment we go inside, you all need to follow me toward the last ping left by the division. From there, I will have half of you go in, plasma shield on. Have all weapons set to standby. After it is cleared by the first half, the rest of you will go in with me.”“But sir, what if something happened to them, what if they died? Then why should we go in? Could this be a suicide mission, is this all a suicide mission?” one soldier asked in a shaky voice.The King looked at his guard, formulating a calming response. “No, we are safe, you are safe. If you are with me, nothing can happen, and we have our best officers and generals out here working tirelessly and cautiously to make sure we win this war. They will have constant communication with us and vice versa. No one will die. I promise."The soldier lifted her head, looking directly at the ruler. A sense of serenity covered her fears, saddening thoughts overturned with hope.King Trimdin smiled, now looking at the rest of his squad. “I think it’s time we go in now, we have wasted enough of it out here. When we enter the atrium, we go left, and then from there, down a few steps and into a mysterious bedroom discovered. You got it?”All of his troops responded simultaneously with two words: “Yes, sir!” From there, they entered the home, following the specified directions set forth by The King.Eventually, they all reached the illusive room that left the Blue battalion’s status in question. The space was tight, closed, and dark, dim lights granting life to the decrepit room. And sitting at the center of it all was the bizarre bureau, which behind it had a small opening. The dark vacuum was seemingly empty, showing no signs of a pathway. But the first ten soldiers soon entered, shining lights directly into the area, revealing a staircase going directly down for what appeared to be an eternity.Slowly, they crawled along the steps, keeping constant radio contact with Trimdin and the rest of the crew, noticing how the signal worsened as they lowered. However, little seemed to be happening, with the stairs going down and down; seemingly nothing prevailed.Though soon, the first outfit finally reached something: a dark expansive chamber with a door. This entrance was different, as it was heavily armored, fortified with thick steel. A number pad lay on the outside, being the only source of genuine luminosity encountered by the group.No one knew what was in the vault, no one knew what secrets it could hold. Riches? Money? Treasure? Its contents were purely unknown.Though what turns out to be in the safe may be more valuable than anyone could suspect.Chapter 41 - First Attack
Chapter 42 - Quinten
King Trimdin, swiftly notified of the team's discovery, ran down the stairwell with the rest of the legion. Instantly, he picked up on certain things about it, noticing the sheer darkness of it all. I was like an artist painted a canvas pure black, an infinite void surrounding him. A strange scent permeated the room, smelling of rotten food and rushing itself into his nose. Though he ignored it, allowing him to start discussing his next move with the unit.“Your Majesty, can I ask you a question?” the female soldier from before asked.“Why yes, you can.”“What do you think is behind the door?”“That’s hard to say from here,” Trimdin responded.“Do you think we should scope out the rest of this area, sir?” another asked.“Yes, that would be a great thing to do.”“Very little appears to be here; it’s just a very large, unlit room, but we should check out the areas that our lights have yet to hit.”“Take a couple of troops with you, and while you do that, I’ll try to crack this code with the others.”“Yes, My King!”From there, sixteen of the twenty fighters went to investigate every corner of the cavity, four at each. The remaining few stood with King Trimdin, the female soldier pulling out a small device.“What is that?” he asked.“Why, it’s only the newest technology created by your regime? Before, we had to hack these number pads using an old machine intelligence program. But this little gadget is much faster, being able to crack the code in seconds. The one problem: it’s single-use"“How useful,” The King sneered.“I know, it’s so cool!”“Yeah, sure,” Trimdin laughed. “What’s your name anyways, soldier?”“Samdin... Kiran Samdim," she said back as the widget was attached to the pad.“Ah, well it’s great to meet you. How is the device going, Kiran?”“Good, good. I have just about hooked it up, and from there, we will get the digits in mere moments.”“Amazing,” Trimdin answered. “I wonder how the rest of the company is—”A scream came from one of the corners of the room, far out of sight.“What was that?” he asked. The screeching continued, seeming to get closer and closer. Soon, The King realized that one of his troop groups was running toward him, panic covering their face.“The-There, there are bodies over there. Soldiers, the Blue battalion, there are bodies over there,” one stated, their voice trembling with fear the moment they returned from the shadows.Another chimed in hastily. “Sir, there are dead, uh, some dead soldiers over there in our area. There was evidence of stab and bullet wounds, the blood recent—”Yet again, they were cut off, as more cries reached the ears of the dear king. Another collection of guards rushed over, telling him the same message: dead bodies lay in their corner of the room. Trimdin became unsettled, noticing now where the strange scent from before came from. The rest of the regiment led by King Trimdin made it back to the vault door, panicked. Kiran activated the instrument, instantly making a short beep. A six-integer code then popped up on its screen, and it was quickly inputted. From there, she pressed the enter button, and the door produced a long buzzing sound, opposing that of the device.Slowly, the heavy metal slab moved backward, swinging on its hinge. It was a tedious process of watching the hatch open, the guards worried but ready to protect their sovereign. Trimdin yet again had a violet aura around his hands, but this time to create a shield around himself. Together, they waited to see what was on the other side, to see what caused such harm to their fellow fighters. Though what they found was a shock.Behind the armored door, a horde of separatists stood. And in front of them was the last alien any of them wanted to see: Quinten, grinning while holding a loaded blaster in a Kevlar suit.Chapter 42 - Quinten
Chapter 43 - Bad Blood
“Oh shit,” Kiran expressed.“‘Oh shit’ are the exact words I wanted to hear!” Quinten mocked.“Well hello, Quinten. So this is how we meet again?”“Yes, Your Majesty. I hoped it would be the battlefield like you said earlier. But this bunker will have to do for now."“So this is a bunker, then?” The King asked. “This is where all your forces are? In a tiny, enclosed space, with my entire army on the surface? Did you think this through much?”“Trimdin, I’m not that naive. Only a few forces are here with me, awaiting your silly arrival, the rest taking care of a quick assignment. I’m not new to this game.”“It doesn’t matter, Quinten, you know you can’t win this. I know you won’t kill me, you won’t be able to even get out of here. You, your puny armor, and whatever you think that weapons can do will not protect you from us.""Speaking of armor, I see you are wearing something that belonged to your brother. How nice. The Queen told me all about it, how it was specially made with the last few dollars your parents left for you two. It was what he won his duel in, and also what he died in. So full circle. I can't wait to see it once again when you meet the same fate.""Yeah, well how would you like it if it was the last thing you saw before you die!" Trimdin replied, moving slightly toward the agitating Quinten.“Your confidence is mesmerizing, Excellency. Why do you so strongly believe you are right, that you will win? I’ve worked on this for years; spent millions in Royal funding on weaponry, forces, fortification, and more. Yet you have only been in rule for what, nine days now? Moreover with no war experience and little military training? You are no match for me.”Trimdin clenched his fists and leered at the looming Quinten. “Ha, so what? I have one thing that you don’t, and that’s a dream, a will to create a better future for all. You only want to make it in your image, for yourself and your peers. Never once have you put others first, and you will never risk your life for the greater good. That’s your one flaw: your self-importance. You will never put yourself on the front line, you will never put yourself at stake for your cause. No, you would rather have hundreds of others die for it, while you sit on your false throne.”Quinten smiled mischievously, laughing off the ideas thrown at him by his rival. “Look at you whining, taking the moral high ground you so badly want. You are wrong, misguided with your ideals. I have fought for more than a decade; I was in the army; I’ve put my life on the line more times than you can count. So much of what I’ve loved and whom I’ve loved have been lost; this is my final mission. You, my kind sir, are in no manner to talk about what I’ve done to lead myself toward my purpose. All you want to do is cause trouble, while I’m the one who wants to bring power, glory, and justice to the belt.”“No, you’re the troubled one. That queen of yours married my brother, gained his trust, and then poisoned him. The only reason she got into power is that she killed the person who loved her, and she did it for you, for your cause. There was true peace before, but the two of you came to destroy it and put your hellish reality back into play. And the only thing you did was watch, reaping the benefits. You didn’t even dare to kill him yourself, you had to have one of your disciples do it. But I know exactly why, and it is the same reason why you won’t kill me.”“Why is that?” Quinten pressured.“Because if you came into power, you would eventually have to die. For centuries, every monarch this belt has ever had has been killed; it is the only way for the magic to go on. But you could never let that happen, you would never have someone kill you. Your ego is too big for that, your lust for power too strong. Plus, a large bullseye would be on your head, meaning no one would ever willingly want to be your heir, just your killer. You would never let yourself become king because the longer you would be one, the bigger the target on your head, making your death more likely. All these factors lead exactly to my point: you can never become king, only one of your ‘loyal’ subjects. I’m not so naive either, Quinten, and I have had just as long as you to plan for The Queen’s eventual collapse. I was always destined to murder her, to avenge my sibling, and I understood that only you would challenge me if I did. But I knew that you never would, that you never could. Because your life is more important than anyone else’s at the end of the day, isn’t it?”“Wow, did you have that speech prepared or something?” Quinten jested. “You seemed to have had that bottled up in you for a while. Honestly, I have no rebuttal, only a small correction to that masterpiece. You’re wrong on one thing, there is a fallacy in what you have said. And sooner or later, you will finally see why. At this moment, I don't want to be king, I can't even be king. Though when that right moment comes, when you least expect it, the tide will change, dear Trimdin. A king does a lot more than just having powers, there is a level of respect, dignity, and strategy that needs to go into it; you need to deserve it. But you didn't know that when you murdered her, did you? You only understand a fraction of what I do, have only lived a small percentage of what I have. My games are a never-ending spiral, incapable of being understood by your meager mind.”“Trust me Quinten, they will meet their end, whether I do it or not. I was meant to kill The Queen, I deserved it, unlike she did. And now, there is only so much time before I finally win.”“You win?” he laughed. “You win? Trimdin, you can never win. My torment will haunt this realm for the rest of its existence, my children will rise from the ashes. But God, all this talk is boring me. Where's the fighting?”“You won’t fight me, Quinten.”“No, good friend, we don’t need to fight. I’ve just been waiting for news from the surface.”“The surface, what do you mean?” Suddenly, a radio transmission came in. Though it was not from Trimdin’s radio, but Quinten’s.“Sir, we have wiped out the forces here on the ground. A few managed to flee, but the rest were eliminated.”Quinten picked up the transponder. “Good, I’ve been waiting for a while. Get everyone to our rendezvous location. I’ve got to finish up with The King quickly.”Fear instantly struck King Trimdin, his face switching from a confident smirk to horrified shock. Kiran and the other soldiers stood astounded, barely managing to stay in their defensive positions.Quinten continued to keep a big old smile on his face, savoring the feat. “You see, King Trimdin, while we have been down here having a dick-waving contest, the rest of my army has been destroying yours. I blocked all radio transmissions from getting in here so you would have no idea of the attack. I knew you were coming, I knew my strike on the treasury would cause you to come. You thought you had the upper hand, but you never did and never will. Quality over quantity, your highness. This is just the start of what I have planned, this is just the start of my siege. You’ve lost.”“What? What? What the hell did you do?” Trimdin asked furiously, pointing his finger at him.“You know exactly what I did. The Royal Army had no chance of beating us. Your military is made up of a bunch of volunteers and under-experienced idiots. My veteran soldiers had years to train while The Queen was in power. Mine were ready, yours were not,” he taunted. “You're an absolute prick, Quinten, you know that? I should have listened to my strategist earlier. You just murdered hundreds of innocent souls, most of whom were good law-abiding citizens.”“I didn't bring them here. You rallied, you led, and they followed. They believed in your every word, and you let them down. So have fun going home and telling their families you failed. Because you were right, I’m not going to kill you, and luckily, I won’t even have my troops kill you. I know that by the time you get back, the subjects won’t want you as king anymore. Now there’s a target on YOUR head, and they are far more likely to sympathize with my cause. Your cockiness was a weight on your shoulder, dear Trimdin, and now it has finally crushed you. One day is all I am giving you, one day to either surrender or be overthrown by my coup. Goodbye my friend, and hopefully the next time I see you, your corpse is in a coffin.” Briskly, Quinten pressed a button, and the hefty metal door began to close. The King stood still, watching his enemy and his forces strut away.The bad blood between the two brewed to new heights. This was a rivalry too big to end, a fight too large to win; the war has found its first tragedy. And for King Trimdin, it needed to be the last.Chapter 43 - Bad Blood
Chapter 44 - Regroup & Refocus
The King exited the home over the bunker, now standing outside with Kiran and the rest of the legion. Shock hit quickly, staring at the bloodbath that occurred. Every commander, officer, and soldier was killed brutally. Machine guns were newly mounted and fresh out of ammo; thermal detonators left shrapnel on the ground; the bones and brains of his loyal subjects were smeared on the roads. No signs of life persisted, no survivors stood; they had all met their day to go to Eden.Tears began to form around the noble's eyes, devastation overwhelming his mind. The gruesome reality surrounded him, guilt piling on top of him like an avalanche.Kiran watched timidly, realizing the worse had happened, that her fears from before came to fruition. But seeing her king, someone who she looked up to so much, being vulnerable was a new experience. Never before has a monarch shown such emotion and care for his subjects.Every other soldier stood in solidarity, waiting for commands from King Trimdin. Though those never came, as instead, he started to float, the mystic glow yet again around his hands. This time, the rest of the squad also began to do so, them lifting into the air with him.Swiftly, they made it back to The Capital, now having to face the wrath of casualties. Trimdin dropped each soldier back to their respective homes and then brought himself to the palace. His assistant stood by the doorway, readying to open it and expecting celebration. When he entered, though, nothing but a drooping frown sat on his face.“Sir? Sir? What happened?” they asked.King Trimdin looked at them, giving an aggressive command. “Organize a Talk to the Kingdom, I need to tell the subjects something. It needs to be to the entire Belt, on every screen it can be. Something terrible has happened and they have to know.”“Your Majesty, what are you talking about? I mean, yes, I will get a talk instantly, but why the long face?“Just wait, I want everyone to hear together,” he said sniffling. “Unity is important in times of peril.”“Peril? Was it the fight with Quinten? Did something go wrong out there? Did everyone make it home safe?” his assistant pressed.“There was no one to bring home safe! Just get my Goddamn meeting together, please. No more questions. Just do as you’re asked,” Trimdin snapped.“Why, of course, I’ll get right on it.” His aide ran off, getting together with the public relations department and the head of the Royal Beltonian Broadcasting System to prepare for the conference.The King sat down on his throne, his thoughts smashing into each other rapidly. It’s my fault, it all is. I fell into that jerk's trap, he knew exactly what I would do, he knew I would be the aggressor. But why? Why did I let myself chase something so obvious, so dangerous? I was so confident that I could do it, that I could lead my soldiers to war and win. I mean, I practically killed The Queen single-handedly. But my assistant was right, Tim and Claren were right; arrogance got the better of me, and I let my brother down. I let you down. I wore this stupid armor, I talked of peace and security; I thought I could be the ruler you never got to be. But I've failed that test, letting the innocent die because of my hate. Brother, wherever you are, I hope you understand that I will make this right. I MUST make things right. Though no longer via death and destruction, but rather through true kindness. I will do what I asked for in the first place: make peace. Quinten will destroy himself, I will not. He cannot kill me, and now I must not kill him. We will regroup and refocus, bringing us a new way to fight his tyranny. Because that is the only way we will win: with love, not hate, no matter how much pain he has caused.And with that, Trimdin’s assistant suddenly walked back into the main chamber, this time with a full camera crew and a group from his cabinet. They rushed to set it up, quickly getting it together and sending messages out to the entirety of The Belt on all electronic devices. Within seconds, everyone was tuned in, glued to a screen, and awaiting the news from their devastated king.Chapter 44 - Regroup & Refocus
Chapter 45 - Hardships Of Ruling
“Hello. As you may know, I went on a journey with our army to the other side of The Capital. This was where we believed Quinten and his cult followers hid. Well, we were right. Maybe a little too right. They set up a sneak attack on us when I and twenty high-performance soldiers infiltrated an underground bunker where the alien himself stood, protected by his own small legion of fighters. While I and my team focused on the Devil, the rest of his ‘army’ attacked our ground forces, killing two hundred of them. We are the only known survivors. And we were also unable to kill Quinten himself, dropping the bombshell of a twist and then escaping behind a steel door. None of us had any idea of what his fanatics were doing on the surface, as he had a device that cut all our radio transmissions from exiting the area. That was, until, he needed it to get the report of the tragedy. What I am saying is that he tricked us, he tricked me, and that is my fault. I was so confident in my ability to beat him that I disregarded any idea of it being a trap. But that’s exactly what it was, and now there will be families missing mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and so on. I took that away from you, because sure he committed the crime, but I am the reason it happened. I own up to that, I own up to such a horrifying mistake. Though you must understand that now is not the time to hate anyone or anything; now is the time to defeat Quinten once and for all, not via a bloody offense, but an altruistic defense. This is one of the many hardships of ruling, one of the many burdens of power, but full compliance and transparency are critical to a victory. We have roughly one day to choose the lesser of two evils: either I give up and let you all down or Quinten comes here to destroy us. That decision is up to you, my loyal subjects. Do you want the tyranny of Quinten for revenge against me, or do you want to fight this war to the end, ensuring a free and safe future for you and your children? The choice is yours, though all I can say is that revenge is something no one should seek. I should have learned that lesson a long time ago, but I didn’t, and that’s why I failed. Good night to you all, and I pray that all the souls lost managed to find themselves in the afterlife.”The broadcast transmission cut. Everyone in the room stared in both awe and confusion.The King looked back at them, giving a weary face of regret. “That’s it for today guys, go get some sleep, I know I need some. We’ll see later what the citizens want, not only here in The Capital, but also in the rest of The Belt. Though no matter what they choose, I will listen. Now leave me be, you did your job, go be with your families. Thanks.”Hastily, everybody left the room, letting the miserable monarch mourn. Tomorrow would be a hard day for the kingdom, where its residents yet again have to choose between right and wrong, Trimdin and Quinten. The outcome truly unknown.Chapter 45 - Hardships Of Ruling
Chapter 46 - Rising Tension
The night was long, sleep a struggle, as Trimdin’s mind flashed with images of the events that occurred. The bunker, Quinten, the dead bodies; snapshots of the battle flipped through his head. It was so vivid, so clear; he relived every moment, the torture so real. Slowly, his mind managed to slip away, and eventually, the morning came.Light began to peek through the window of his royal bedroom, waking him. The chamber was silent; no noise, just a glare. Leisurely, he rose from his bed, standing up and properly dressing himself. He donned his robe, slid on his shoes, and safely placed the crown on his head. The King was ready for what the day had to bring him. Though when he went to his door, a surprise awaited him.Kiran stood outside of the room, her hand in the air in preparation to knock. Trimdin opened it, seeing his underling behind it and moving back in shock. “Oh, Kiran, what are you doing here at this hour?”“Your majesty, I am so sorry to scare you, but there is a situation,” she responded.“Is it Quinten? Is he here early?”“No, but it has to do with him. There are massive uprises across The Belt, some for, but many against you.”“I’m not surprised by that.”“True, but these ones are especially dangerous, as some are getting arms from Quinten’s forces. We’re talking ammunition, plasma shields, bombs with remote detonators, and worse of all: anger. He is fueling more rebels, subjects who want revenge. What do you want to do about it?”“Damn, that’s what I am waking up to this morning?” Trimdin quipped.“Unfortunately so, sir.”“How many soldiers do we have left?”“Two hundred thousand across The Belt, twenty-five thousand in the local Capital area that can get shipped in.”“Great, keep them where they are. Quinten is here and that’s all that matters. If we send in or out too many ships, there's a high chance he could escape in the chaos. Make sure that all other major settlements protect their citizens. We’ll take care of Quinten. If he falls, they all do; the only thing keeping them together is him, is their goal to destroy me. He is the only one causing any real risk. Keep the subjects out of it. Don’t necessarily suppress the protests, just make sure they don’t get too violent. And here in The Capital, fire only when attacked, and give everyone shields to defend themselves along with a military barrier around all residential properties. Those are my orders.”“You don’t want us to fight back, to destroy them?”“No, keep all deaths to a minimum. I cannot bear this war anymore. We need to change the game, we need to be the good guys.”“Yes, sir, I will make sure that is done. No deaths.”“Not just no deaths, but allow for surrender, allow for mistakes. Give any of his cult members a chance before you shoot. You’d be surprised how many of them are just doing it because they are scared of him, just because they think he has more to offer than he truly does.”“So you don’t want any reinforcements and want all military personnel to protect instead of engaging?”“Yes.”“Is this because of what happened yesterday? You do know that casualties are a commonality in war, that lives need to be lost to have a better future? Whatever happened to that idea?”“I’m not that type of ruler. I know The Queen was brutal, and that many before her were the same way. But I need to be different. I already made that mistake, as my drive for revenge hurt my subjects; my need to avenge my brother, though not through fighting. What I failed to realize before is that he would have hated me for that, he would never be happy with me murdering to make things right. He would never do that, so I shouldn’t.”“Well, King Trimdin, I am happy to hear that. No one ever really wants to fight. It’s just, whenever you speak about Tim and Claren, The Queen, Quinten, and so on, you do it with such power. You do it with such sincerity, such anger, such seriousness; it’s a truly mesmerizing aspect of your rule. We don’t follow you because you are perfect or because we want your brother; we follow you because we believe in what you have to say. You, sir, are the king of this domain, of this belt, no matter what happens.”“Thank you, Kiran. With all of this rising tension, it’s nice to hear that. Now go off and get my orders down the chain of command. I’ll meet up with what is left of my advisors and get a comprehensive plan together.”“Absolutely,” she said smiling, pausing for a second to look at Trimdin’s face before turning around and walking away. Though that smile would soon shy away, as the reality of Quinten’s threat quickly came into view. The war was here.~~On the other side of the asteroid, Quinten and his forces assembled in an unknown location. There, the walls were lined with thousands of weapons, ranging from poison needles to automatic drone sentries. Each soldier grabbed the weapons assigned to them, all taking a plethora of ammunition and an extra “surprise” explosive, just in case. They swiftly put on their armor and lined up in battle-ready formation.Their plan was simple: half of the fighters would march on the surface while the others entered a secret tunnel system once used to discretely transport arms, leading them straight to the heart of The Capital.Quinten remained in the covert hideout, awaiting the one message he hoped to hear: that Trimdin had surrendered. That was the only thing he needed for his scheme to work, for his dreams to be accomplished.And fortunately for him, the plan seemed to perfectly formalize... at first.Chapter 46 - Rising Tension
Chapter 47 - The Final Stand
“My lord, what do we do? Quinten is coming, the subjects are out of control, and you refuse to fight back? What the heck do you plan to do?"King Trimdin yet again was in his military command room, focusing on the impending onslaught coming from Quinten. Little time remained before the attack, nothing known about how it was to be conducted.“Sir?” the same general asked.“Yes?” Trimdin questioned.“Did you hear what I asked?”“I did indeed, I was just thinking.”“About what?” they probed.“I’m wondering what Quinten is going to pull now, and how we are going to counter it.”“He's a trickster, that's for sure. You can never trust a word he says, always looking for ways to subvert.”“We must never lose like that again. Before I acted out of hate; now I am acting out of logic. So far all we can guess is that his army is on its way and that he will not be leading it. Besides that, we are left in the dark.”“Right, so what’s our next move? There is only one thing that will stop them: your death, or his. Nothing else motivates them, sir. Nothing.”“Exactly, that’s the issue. If I surrender, many may live, but I let down an entire generation of innocent citizens. Fighting will lead to more deaths, but giving up will lead to a life of captivity and forced labor. Which is worse?”“That's like choosing a pound of rocks over a pound of pebbles because one ‘has less.’ Either way, it is a shitty situation.”“Should I surrender? Give my life for the lives of everyone, regardless of quality?”“Maybe so. It seems to be the will of the kingdom.""Their well-being is critical to me, including their will," he responded.“Quinten would run to our doorstep if he found out you were surrendering. He’d probably slice your throat himself,” someone else in the room quipped.“I wish,” Trimdin jested, “but that arrogant ass would never do it himself, though he would gladly watch.”“What makes you think that?” they responded.“From what I can tell, he is not too interested in killing me.”“You could be wrong. Maybe he does? Maybe he just needs you to surrender to do it? And in doing that, you would be listening to the subjects. It's a win-win for him.”“That would be quite the stunt on his part. Using surrender to kill me. Ironic,” The King laughed.“Wait, that's it…” the general stated.“That's what?”“Maybe that’s what he's doing. And if that's true, it's possible we could—” Boom. An explosion was heard outside the building. Boom. Another sound pierced the air around them.“What was that?” Trimdin asked. But no answer arrived, as a horde of soldiers entered the room, closing the door behind them and locking it. The general in the room pressed a button, allowing sirens to go off.“What is happening?” he screamed to the guards. “Was that an explosion? Is he here already?”“Yes, Your Majesty,” they responded, “Quinten’s army is here. They are at the entrance of the city. As soon as we saw them approach on our systems, we rushed over here quickly.”“Great, but what was that sound before you entered?” Trimdin demanded.“It was a bomb at the city gates, it's how they’re breaking in. They are standing by for the approval to continue. Regardless, it's imperative that we load you on The Grandiant and get you out of here.”“No, take everyone else and get them ready to command from there. I will stay. I need to be on the ground and ensure the protection of my citizens.”“Sir, I mean no disrespect, but that’s not protocol. If an attack comes to The Capital, you must leave instantly. If, well, you meet your end in a battle like this, who knows what will happen? If one of those rebels manages to kill you, the outcome could be disastrous.” The soldier was getting upset with his ruler's stubbornness.“Screw protocol. My powers will keep me safe, and maybe, I could even be an asset out on the battlefield if it comes to that. Bring everyone else into the ship; I’ll command from here and fight.”“Alright, Your Majesty,” they forcefully responded.“Thank you. And hey wait, General, what were you going to say before the blast?”“Oh, well I was going to say maybe we could use Quinten's trick against him. You should fake your surrender, and maybe, just maybe, that will fool him into coming here, giving you an open opportunity to finish him once and for all.”“Yeah, but killing him is not my main interest. It's capturing him. Plus, do you think he would fall for something so simple? He’s always five steps ahead. Don’t you think he would notice?”“Isn’t it at least worth a shot? Fewer lives would be lost, that’s for sure, and everyone wants your surrender. This may be our only shot at peace."Trimdin looked deeply into the eyes of his general and everyone else there, noticing a slight shimmer on them as tiny droplets formed and caught the refracted light of a monitor. He knew that it was the only way to save the land he loved so much, to protect their lives, to keep the peace. But besides that, on a screen in the room, Trimdin saw something show up: a secondary rebel team entering the courtyard of the palace.“You sneaky bastard,” he said.“What, sir?”“Look behind you.” At that moment, they all turned around, now seeing what The King saw.“They're coming in through some form of secret entrance. When was that a thing?”“I’m not sure. That’s not in our blueprints. Was it put in place by The Queen?”“You know what, it doesn’t matter where it came from. It exists. Now, you all need to get to go! I’ll worry about surrendering.”“So that's the plan?”“Yes, now move!”The soldiers walked towards the hatch in the room, opening it and leading the rest of the top members into a secret elevator, bringing them close to the surface. They entered the massive royal ship, opened the airlock, and sped away, leaving King Trimdin alone in the room.On the other side of The Capital, Quinten sat in his command chamber, having constant contact with both teams. He awaited one thing: a phone call with Trimdin. If and only if his enemy surrendered would he cease the siege. Though he paused for it to be the right moment, the right point, as to which it now was.Just as King Trimdin gained control of the room, the time came, and the call arrived. Steadily, he looked at the displays surrounding him, knowing exactly who it was. He picked it up, pressing accept and hearing the demonic voice of his mortal enemy penetrate his ear.“Hello, my dear friend.”“Quinten,” The King snarled.“Have you thought about it? Are you going to give up? I mean, either way, you will die, but if you surrender now, fewer lives can be sacrificed. You saw what happens when you make mistakes. Maybe this won’t be one.”“You know what, maybe you're right. Surrender wouldn’t be a mistake. Sacrificing my life to save millions is a worthy trade.”“Really? You are giving up that easily? Just like that,” Quinten laughed. “What’s up with this sudden change of heart? Not too long ago, my victory would ‘never be true,’ but that seems pretty damn incorrect now.”“Well, maybe it is, maybe I was mistaken. Yesterday was the final stand, even though it was my first. I can bear death no longer, and I am sorry I underestimated you. I officially give up.”“Fine by me. I can’t wait to see you!” Abruptly, the phone call ended. An order to Quinten’s army was delivered, giving the authorization to capture King Trimdin.They all charged into the city, carrying high-capacity guns and red plasma shields. Made with the newest blaster and bulletproof technology, they wore slim vests, making foot soldiers able to do more while taking extra damage.The Royal Army was quickly sent the message of what King Trimdin decided to do, not knowing the intentions behind it. All civilians remained indoors, guards standing around them with shields and anti-bomb devices.Quinten’s army crawled closer and closer to the castle, and they were quickly met by the additional separatist unit, pointing guns toward the surrendering Trimdin.Outside, The King saw the entirety of his military standing down, surprised that their once fierce ruler had given up so easily. And in that crowd, Kiran, along with the rest of the special forces crew stood, watching him get pulled out by the enemy.Quickly, the separatists put restraints on King Trimdin, though these were different from the usual ones used. Not only were the cuffs themselves broader, but a strange collar was put around his neck. He was then lifted onto a vehicle, blindfolded, and driven out of the city, leaving the armies behind and letting his subjects down.The journey was not very long, though, to the confused and worried Trimdin, it seemed epochal. Within minutes, they arrived somewhere new, its location remaining anonymous. The King was promptly taken out, led down a strange set of stairs, and sat down in a chair. The rough exterior of rope rubbed against his skin, as he was tied down to the seat. Suddenly, the material over his eyes was lifted, and almost everyone left the room. Only one remained, standing next to two large swords and smiling at the defeated king.“Trimdin,” Quinten said slyly.“What the hell am I doing here? What is this place? What’s this damn thing on my neck?” The King wiggled around, trying to get free. The space around him was dark, large, and heavily fortified, with walls covered in weaponry and arms.“You surrendered, right?”“I thought you would come to me, not the other way around. Also, why are those swords there?”“You’ll see. The thing you're wearing is a magic control ring. It stops you from being able to use your ‘Godly’ abilities. And as to why I brought you here, well, I didn’t want such a public execution. I thought some privacy would benefit. Plus, no pesky soldiers.”“Oh,” Trimdin uttered.“Do you think I would really risk going to The Capital with such stakes? Come on, your majesty, I’m not stupid.”“So you knew what I was trying to do?”“Yes, dear friend, I could see it from a mile away.”“Damn it, I should have known. Yet again, I underestimated your intellect," he teased.“You sure did. Now, let me monologue for a bit. You have little time to live, so I want to make sure I bore you before the killing happens.”“Sure, Quinten. Go ahead.”“I wasn’t asking. Anyways, the swords. They are here for one reason: a duel. I am challenging you to a duel.”“Wait, what? A fight?”“Yes, a fight. You see, I'm not scared to be king, I’m scared of how I’m going to get it. As we chatted about before, becoming a monarch is something you are meant to deserve, and this is the only way to do it. I need to win a fight, fair and square. Every ruler in our history has won their place: I need to do the same. Otherwise, I am no king, just a mass murderer. I need to make a sacrifice; my fears need to be overcome. Who I am today was just the first part; this is the rest. So fight me, and if I am worthy, I will win. If I lose, then it was never meant to be. That’s the test.”“And you were yapping at me for switching up? No, Quinten, I won’t fight you. I can’t seek revenge anymore; it’s not who I want to be.”“Again, it’s not a question. You are going to battle me, dear Trimdin. There is no choice. It is the only way I know our domination is meant to be.”“Come on Quinten. We must solve this diplomatically for once. Let me live, and I’ll give you all the tax breaks in the universe; let me live, and I’ll make sure the mining monopoly stays. What can I do to stop this needless war?”“NOTHING! There is nothing you can do for me. I want war, I need conflict, and you'll soon see why. It’s settled, dear Trimdin. We shall duel to see who deserves to be the ruler of this fine kingdom. Your win would give power to all; mine, the power to crush the ones I hate!”“Please, Quinten,” Trimdin pleaded.“Quiet! You will fight me. Guards, get in here, untie our wonderful King Trimdin, and search for any hidden items. It’s time for a winner to be decided.”Chapter 47 - The Final Stand
Chapter 48 - A Victor Has Been Chosen
Trimdin and Quinten now faced each other alone, blades in hand, ready to fight. The polished steel of both weapons lightly glistened in the dim light of the room, giving slight beauty to the dire situation. Both got into fighting positions, standing mere meters away from one another, pointing the tips of their daggers at their respective foe.“Are you ready for it?” Trimdin questioned.“Are you?”“Absolutely!”“Don’t forget, dear friend, you can’t use your magic. That collar stops all of it: the levitation, the strength, the healing; it's all gone. We are now just two normal beings, nothing more.”“I don’t need any powers to beat your ass, Quinten. The Queen was killed by her own sheer ignorance and my ability to think quickly. I will use the same against you.”“Let’s get this thing started, then,” Quinten replied, smirking. “On the count of three. One, two, and… go!” The aliens rushed towards each other, swords high in the air, ready to defend. Quickly, they clashed, their sabers scraping against each other, sounding as if they were nails on a chalkboard. Their faces came close together, their armor rubbing. Trimdin could feel the vigor and anger of Quinten, his face scrunching in anguish.“Come on Quinten, there must be a better way to solve this,” he grunted“No, your majesty, there isn’t. As I’ve said before, we don’t want peace, we want power. We deserve to control, to dominate, to devastate.”“But why? Why inflict pain, suffering, and poverty on innocent lives? Why can only you have success? Why do you need war?”“You know exactly why.” Quinten pushed back on Trimdin, forcing him away.“No, I don’t.”“We have enemies out there, and you know it. The Kuipernian Empire has been encroaching on our territory for years. We need to fight them off, we need to unite as one group and get back at them for what they did to us; what they did to me.”“The Kuipernian Empire? What do they have to do with this?”“Remember the Cross-Beltian Wars?” Quinten questioned.“I was only a child when they happened.”“You've heard of it. It's the war that killed your parents. And it's the war that killed everything I knew. My Master taught me the things the world refused to, taught me my strongest traits. But the Kuipernians took him from me.” A tear was shed from his eye. “I’ve lost so much by their hands, and all I want is to destroy them.”“That’s why you want to be king, that’s why you want to rule with an iron fist over the belt? Because you have a sappy revenge dream? Everything that has happened, all that you have built up, is because you want to take on a freaking ally of ours. Nardyn and I hated them, too, but he made peace, and now you want to tear that down for a little power fantasy?”“It’s more than just a power fantasy, dear Trimdin. You have no idea what I went through with them, you have no idea what is out there. The Kuipernians took away my father figure, the only being who had ever loved me. They slaughtered my friends, those who I cared about deeply. No amount of resources could make up for it, just revenge.”“Quinten. For years, I hated you and The Queen for what you did to my brother. Every time I would see your faces on TV, or in the news, or on the propaganda, I’d just get flashbacks to that day. My bitterness grew more and more, until finally, I was given a chance to ‘make things right' with Tim and Claren. And I did. The only problem: I still felt incomplete. Killing her was not enough, so I thought killing you and your army would do it. But with everything that has happened, the countless lives lost because of my rage, I saw the flaws in my ways. Revenge would not make me whole, but peace would. I needed to stop being vengeful and be forgiving; do what my brother did. So don’t go down this path, please.”“I’m beginning to feel like this is less of a duel and more of a therapy session.” He moved back to his original place, readying his sword yet again for another rush. Trimdin prepared to defend against the oncoming attack.“Trust me, I wish I went to school for that instead of public communications,” Trimdin muttered. “But that’s beyond the point here. You need help, you need closure. I can give that to you. You know, set up a meeting with The Empress or something. Maybe some form of apology or reconciliation?” he expressed, naming every option he could. "That would be miles better than trying to overthrow me and become king, just to get back at them."“What would that do anyways? That’s just a bandage to a much larger wound. I already have all I could wish for. The only closure I need is to have the heads of every soldier in their army.” Quickly, Quinten lunged toward his fending enemy, pressing into one another yet again.“Power doesn’t solve all problems. Peace, diplomacy, democracy, and teamwork are the best way to handle things. The endless war, the endless bloodshed; as you already said, it took so much from you before. So why cause it again, why make so many lose those they love for a war you want?”“Because I deserve it, we deserve it. They took from us, so we take from them, no matter how many lives it costs.”“But is that worth it, supplying anger with more anger? Where does that get you?”“Further up the food chain. Both you and I know that something big will come. We need to grow if we want to win.”“There are no threats to our kingdom. I get that you have a bone to pick with them, but we have an alliance with every civilization in our system. And our alliance has treaties with other alliances. The Belt is safe, don’t sacrifice that for your own needs.”“No,” he grunted, “we need to be a powerful society. Alliances are bullshit. They mean nothing. The Queen was ready to break them right before you killed her. We were going to war, and we were going to defeat those bastards. Then, the next target. Then the next, and so on.” Quinten pushed his blade closer and closer to The King’s face.“Do you hear yourself? You sound like some crazy conspiracy theorist.” Trimdin struggled to keep the edge away from his neck. “You want to duel to become king, then make innocent citizens slaves to your rule, and finally fight our most important trade and political partners? Just because you believe ‘something big will come;’ just because you hate what they did to you? And now you want to do that to them? Have you gone mad?”“Dear friend, are you really asking that to me? If you knew what kind of threat this was, if you knew not only what the Kuipernians can do, but what the rest of the universe is capable of, you would do just as I have. They hurt me, God hurt me, and everyone and everything that exists has hurt me. So I’ll return the favor.” The sword was now right against the collar, skimming its metal surface and digging into it. Then, it slipped under, part of the blade touching the device, the other sticking lightly into King Trimdin’s shoulder.“Ah! Come on,” Trimdin painfully groaned, “Come on. Stop, Quinten.”“No!” he pushed down further.“Yes. And I wasn’t asking this time, either.” At that moment, Trimdin reapplied his force on the hilt, using both hands to leverage the enraged Quinten from him, slicing off the restraining neckband.“Oh shit,” Quinten exclaimed, realizing what he had done.“‘Oh shit’ are the exact words I wanted to hear!”“Using my own words against me now, are we?”“Yeah, I Goddamn am. You know what, I lied before. Maybe I do need my powers to beat your furious ass.” The famous purple glow suddenly illuminated Trimdin’s hands, forcing him to drop the blade and lift into the air.“Well, now I’ve definitely lost,” Quinten grinned. “Hey, can I get some guards in here? We got a fighter.”“Quiet you idiotic egomaniac. Those guards can do nothing to me, you know. Every bullet will be stopped; I can literally deflect them instantly. What the hell are they going to do?”“Help is help, my friend.” Right then, five guards came running in, shields ready and weapons active.“Yeah, but that help ain’t going to do much,” The King responded. He lifted his hand out, raising the soldiers off the ground and forcefully pushing them against the wall behind them. They all promptly fell back down, groaning in pain. “Anyone else you want to invite?”“Nah, I’m good. So now, your majesty, what will it be for me? Death, or a lifetime in prison?"“Someone with your list of crimes should be sentenced to death, but as I told you: killing doesn’t lead to happiness. Revenge is no longer how things go around here, even for you. Quinten, you will go on trial for your wrongdoings, we will explore the history you have, and come to a resolution for your problems.”“And what if I refuse? What if I want to die? If I don’t deserve to be king, to get revenge, to lead my people toward greatness, then is life truly worth it?” Quinten lifted his sword near his chest, leveling it with the throat.“Don’t you dare! Quinten, your life, no matter how horrible, no matter how sad, is worth something. You have done terrible things, not only to others, but to me, yet I don’t want you to die. Though a small part understands, the moral and sincere me needs you to live. I beg.”“Trimdin, I have been through enough. There is only one last being I can take revenge on: myself. If only you knew.” “I do. I get it. For so long I contemplated the same thing. My brother was the last relative I had, the only family that remained. No one else was there to take care of me, to love me. When he was taken away, I wanted to join him. But I realized that he would never accept me if I gave in so easily. He always wanted me to be his successor, he told me himself. That was the only thing keeping me going. So yes, I do understand it, as I said before. I guess me and you are more alike than we thought.” “Are you really using that trope against me? Seriously? No, I want to die, I need to die. I am not worthy."“You may not be worthy, but you can make amends, learn to live with the past, and create a better future for all.”“Oh King Trimdin, so innocent at heart, so pure in ideals. Maybe this will give you a quick lesson!”“No, Quinten, no!” but he was too late. At that moment, he sliced his throat, plunging to the ground. Blood rapidly surrounded Quinten, his body lying completely still.The King floated motionless, shrouded with horror, realizing what had just happened. He quickly dropped out of the air, falling knees-first next to the corpse.“What-What have you done? What have I done?” he cried. “Why? Just why?” Tears began to drop on the grieving Trimdin’s face. “I hated you for years, planned to finish you for years, but now that it has finally happened, all I feel is pain. Damn you, Quinten.” He sat for a while next to his rival, looking at the figure.Eventually, Trimdin rose, standing in the elusive bunker and staring at his rival. “May you find your place in Eden… if somehow you can get there.” He then lifted the body with his powers, carrying it horizontally toward the exit of the room. But as he did so, he noticed that the guards were still moving, and as he neared them, one spoke out.“King Trimdin!” they shouted in discomfort.“Yes?” he responded, wiping off some tears.“Where the hell do you think you are going with him?”“Home, to The Capital, where we will decide how to properly take care of him.”“But he's ours, he's our leader; don’t you dare take our Master away.” The soldier was still on the ground, but moved his hand near his waist.“What, what are you doing there?”“Let’s just say I have a bit of a surprise for you.” They unclipped a strap on their utility belt.“And what is that supposed to mean?”“You know that little war Quinten was talking about?”“Yeah?”“He was not the only one affected by it.” They pulled something out.“Many families lost loved ones during it.”“I was one of those families,” they responded, coughing.“Well, I am so sorry for you. It was a true tragedy of a conflict, but we worked it out.”“I lost my wife, I lost my kid! They bombed my house!” A grenade now laid in their hand as they yelled.“What are you doing with that?” Trimdin became defensive, preparing to protect himself and Quinten.“You know exactly what I’m doing.” Their hand now grazed the loop of the pin, the other holding down the lever.“Put that down! You are going to harm yourself and everyone around you.”“I know.” They yanked the pin.“Shit!” The King instantly turned around, placing a shield around himself and storming towards the exit, Quinten’s carcass following.“This is for my family, motherfu—”The handle was let go. Boom.He rushed up the stairs, and the explosion trailed. They were quickly engulfed, wrapped in the fiery hellscape and surrounded by an orange void. The bunker was quickly obliterated, the home over it destroyed by the blast.King Trimdin rushed away, soaring toward the palace. As he was in the air, he scooped Quinten's radio off of his body, scanning into the Royal frequency.Near the palace, everyone remained disoriented by the sudden surrender of The King. Both groups still stood, tensions slowly rising. Shields were activated, though all weapons were set aside. The two teams just stared aimless, lacking significant command.Kiran was there, commanding her part of the military. Though in other divisions, troops started to lose faith, many beginning to turn off their shields and return home. The enemy, on the other hand, made slight advancements forward, attempting to gain territory without a fight. But even then, the most confident of the bunch started to show little interest in upkeeping the offense, only going back when forced to by their commanding officers.Neither side wanted to truly fight, subordinates trying to keep a peaceful status quo. But the higher-ups within Quinten's forces were rowdy, wanting to continue without orders. Kiran noticed this stirring, concerned that it may cause an all-out battle. They seemingly wanted for the war to end once and for all, no matter the outcome of the two leaders. So, as many on her side left the action, they were getting shot and killed by the opposing team, causing everyone to readjust their shields and activate firearms. "What are they doing? They can't do that, that's a war crime," Kiran complained, shocked by the actions of her adversary. "Things are getting bad out here. Where the hell is Trimdin, it's been long enough. Either he's gone, or Quinten is." Though at that moment, crackles began to come through Kiran's device."Hello! Hello!""What was that?" she patted around, attempting to find her transponder."Hello?" it mumbled.Kiran lifted the gadget out of her pocket, now holding it in her hand and tuning it in. "Who is this?" she asked."Qu-Tri-Qu.""Quinten?""No.""Trimdin?" she turned the knob on the side."Kiran, is that you?""Yes, yes it is!""Great. How are things going?""We've got some aggression, and I don't know how to solve it.""Is there a way to get everyone to hear me? I have something to say," he said, his voice tiring."Are you sure you want to tell them that? Now?""Yes, yes. It is the only way. If they know, they will stop, it will all stop.""How do I tell the enemy to listen?""Use the podium. It's still set up, I had it ready in case of a victory. Just go there and hook this thing up to it.""Okay, sir." Quickly, she ran up to the stage, now standing where The King stood just days prior. She crouched down, took out a cord from under the stand, and hooked it up to the radio. Kiran then rose, now looking at the armies below.The system was then turned on, a screech beamed into the surrounding area. Instantly, the attention of every soldier on the ground was obtained, both friend and foe staring at the confident Kiran."Hey, guys. The King has an important message for you all and he would like to say it. Many of you may be able to assume what it is, but here it goes. Your Majesty, whenever you're ready, though try to be subtle.""No. Quinten is DEAD. A victor has been chosen...."~~Two days passed. King Trimdin sat in the throne room, waiting to officially address his subjects. Quinten’s body laid in a coffin, prepared for a ceremony. Media broadcasters from all over gathered to record the occasion, as it marked the beginning of a new era for the kingdom.When the time came, he rose from his royal seat and exited the palace, masses of subjects for and against him anticipating the remark. He walked up to the dreaded microphone, standing behind the very podium that started everything. Trimdin stared at all of their faces, some riddled with anger, others loaded with relief. He noticed every detail: the brimming smiles, the open-mouthed shouting; the ecstatic cheerers, the lonesome grievers. Nearly every form of emotion filled the area, with only one missing: regret. But The King was about to remedy that issue, as his speech soon began.“The Asteroid War is over. A few weeks ago, I became king. One week after that, I told you I would fight the evil that plagued our home. And now, two days ago, I told you the Devil was dead. I promised that we were going to stop the horrors committed by Quinten. We succeeded, but at what cost? At this point, hundreds of soldiers have died, and all we got out of it was one death. I was truly mistaken before when I said this was OUR war, because, in reality, it was just mine. I strived for revenge against someone who had hurt me and thought it would be easy, that it would be painless; I heavily miscalculated. No one should have perished, including the killer. Sure, Quinten may have deserved it; sure, he has done terrible things. But so have I. I had your loved ones sacrificed because I wanted vengeance. He did the same. The only reason we prevailed is that I became the very evil that I was fighting against. It turns out he and I had a similar idea of our fate, though he killed himself because he thought that if there wasn’t revenge, then there was nothing. For the longest time, I thought the same way, but as I said in my Talk to the Kingdom, I found errors in my ways. But he never did. Though I hope now we can ensure that never happens again. Many of you have lost friends and family to war, whether throughout my ruling or times before. Though instead of continuing this violent cycle, we need to come together, to unify. If there was anything at all Quinten was right about, it is that we need to be undivided, we need to work together as a nation and show our true might. His misconception was in thinking everyone else is our enemy, but that is simply not true. We have made peace, we are in harmony, and now, all we need to do is heal the wounds of history. He just made them larger, infecting us with the disease of anger and hatred. So together, let’s make a better future for our society. Together, let’s fix the problems of our past. I am now formally designating the special elite district to be decommissioned as such and turned into a memorial for those we have lost, not only by this war, but by all wars that have been fought in our existence. And we will fund this by seizing all assets held by Quinten, as he and the last of the mineral heirs have perished. The Belt will be ridded of its ridiculous class system; there will be no poor, there will be no rich. Even I will give up many of the luxuries of being king, as I believe I should live as my subjects do. For too long has the immense wealth of our kingdom been held by the few, so now, it will be held by the many. This is what my brother truly wanted. I promise you that not a single fight will happen under my watch, that no more lives are lost. No one will go hungry, no one will be forced into a life of servitude. And, all those who have helped me on this journey will be deified. Tim, Claren, and of course, my brother, have made me who I am today, they have brought me on a voyage of an unforeseen future, and I could never thank them enough for it. Wherever those three are, I hope they are living their best lives, and I pray to all the souls who have been lost in this conflict. May they rest in peace. Also, an honorary mention to Kiran Samdin, as if wasn't for her, we would have never got the mass surrender of Quinten's forces. They are holding his funeral is later today, though I doubt any of you want to come to that. They opened the door to anyone who pleases to join them. After that, his body and the coffin will be burned. Otherwise, that’s all. More plans for reconstruction will be announced soon, and we’ll figure out how to take care of those who committed crimes under Quinten later. For now, mourn those we have lost, but celebrate the freedom you have maintained. We won.”The crowd below cheered, showing appreciation for the words of their ruler. Some remained bitter, but enjoyed the brutal truth of The King. Nevertheless, Trimdin smiled, waving goodbye to them and immediately turning around, walking towards the entrance of his palace. All cameras pointed toward him, as he disappeared behind the doors, now being the head of a new age for The Belt.And only one thought coursed through the sad yet satisfied mind of King Trimdin: My brother would be proud.Chapter 48 - A Victor Has Been Chosen
Interlude
3 Months After The Departure….A craft entered the orbit of Earth, tiny compared to its destroyed body and barren soul. In it, two humans sat, guiding their ship toward the planet. But to their surprise, what once was had now vanished; their home, destroyed.“What the hell happened?” one of the men said.“The Earth, it’s a total mess!”“What did we miss on this damn mission? Three months pass and Earth is gone!”The two astronauts looked at each other, squished by the tight interior of their cabin.“Well, that explains why we couldn’t talk to mission control,” one said plainly.“Shit. Holy shit.” The man turned around in a panic and quickly started scanning the space around them, spying for any signs of human activity.The captain looked out the window of their capsule, staring at the sphere below.“It was once so beautiful, so magical.”“It sure was,” said the other man at the radio.“Did you get anything yet?”“Kind of, but the signal is faint.”“What’s the source?”“I’m not sure; let me try to pinpoint its location.” The man took hold of his headphones, looked down at his monitor, and attempted to discover the precise source of the message. He twisted a few nobs, pushed a couple of buttons, and honed in on the signal.“I’ve got it! It's the space station, the International Freedom Station!”“What’s the message?”“Just a series of short ticks and long taps.”“Let me hear that.” The more experienced pilot floated over to the post. He put on his pair of earbuds and listened.“Three short, three long, and three short. And it repeats.” The man looked out the window again. “It’s a Goddamn SOS!”“I knew that. Do you think anyone’s on the station?”“If you knew that, then you wouldn’t hold your hopes out.”“We should head there, anyway. It’ll be loaded with supplies.”“If what I think happened, happened, then we’ll need everything we can get.”The two men sat back in their seats and set course, matching their orbit with the station. Smoothly and swiftly they reached their destination, though instead of life, the place was dead; no lights, no movement, nothing.“That’s not a good sign,” one of the men quipped.“I’m not surprised. The war caused this poor station to be a battleground of ownership. It’s been empty for months.”“Didn’t you spend some time here?”“Long ago, my friend, back when I thought our world was the only.”“The habitation systems are probably down, then. But it’s nothing a reboot won’t fix.”The pilot directed the ship toward a connector in the starboard section.Similar to a football field in size, the station spanned many yards across the darkness of space around the crimson Earth. Like many before, the International Freedom Station was constructed of different modules, a display of national flags and symbols covering its white and silver exterior. A large, cylindrical build allowed it to have vast arrays of solar panels, their glaring blue hue absorbing energy exponentially.As the ship neared the docking bay, its computer system locked onto a target and aligned itself. Inch by inch, their destination came ever closer. And within seconds, they were attached, little arms grabbing hold of small notches in a ring surrounding the exit.“Docking Successful,” their computer screen read.“Ha, great!” the pilot screamed.The men unstrapped themselves from their seats, quickly bolting to their spacesuits.“Damn, these things got really beaten up, didn’t they.”“That’s what happens when you battle on an asteroid,” his underling responded.“Very funny. Now let’s get into this station.”A lever sat on the side of the door, heavily banged up with deep dents covering its dull exterior. But with enough brute strength, they opened it, entered the airlock, closed the hatch behind them, and matched its pressure with that of the larger vessel.“The pressure is too low. I think you were right.”“Well, they didn’t ask an engineer to come on this mission for nothing!”“You’re saying that like we did this willingly.”“I was fine with going to Pluto. I did not agree to meet an alien, battle an evil queen, return to a destroyed Earth, and learn that everyone I loved is likely gone.” “I don’t think that was part of the draft description.”“It wasn’t…” he responded, his voice strained as he looked his partner in the eye. “It wasn’t at all.”“Oh, bud, we’ll make it through this. I know we will. Okay.”“Okay.”The men were in agreement, and soon, opened up the hatch into the station. It was dark inside, empty and cold. A sea of items floated around endlessly; laptops, books, food packages, and more. Both entered cautiously, turning on their flashlights and steering through the mess.“Well, I think we’re alone,” the engineer said.“Let’s scrap this thing for everything we can.”The men got to work, the pilot investing time into every nook and cranny, finding groves of vacuumed-packed food and dozens of sealed plant seeds in the greenhouse. He examined everything he could, saving what was possible. Water was also a necessity, as to which the station's sanitation station for waste seemed to produce an excess of.The other man plugged his computer into the faulty electrical system, attempting to discover and troubleshoot any issues. It appeared that the main circuit breaker was overloaded, and, with the quick flip of a switch, power was yet again delivered to the station.They soon came back together, confident with their discoveries.“At least that wasn’t a total lost cause… thankfully,” one of the men said.“We got plenty out of it, that’s for sure. The station’s on, we have resources for the next few months, and if we play it smart with the greenhouse, we could last for years.”“So now what?”“I’m not sure. This is not what we signed up for.”“You’re telling me!”“We should cannibalize the station to assist the ship's restoration; it is our lifeboat. But we can survive here, too, and maybe find others on Earth. That’s the best option.”“Things are slim, but our best bet is here.”“Then it’s settled. You get on the repairs, and I’ll get on working with the greenhouse and water supply. This is our new home; this is the last residence of the human race.”The two men got to work. They knew the journey ahead would be challenging, but worth it. Nothing is more important than life, than believing in salvation.And soon, the men would get what they wanted: a place for humanity to thrive.~~6 Months After The Departure….“Hello! Can anyone hear me? Is anyone out there?” This message was broadcasted out of the craft, but no one reciprocated. The International Freedom Station stood tall, dancing around a desolate Earth, a man and his partner stranded within its safety.“When you’re in the middle of space, it’s pretty hard to get any responses, isn’t it?” the man said to his companion.“What the hell do we expect? Everyone’s dead. There’s no one out there. We’re lucky if our cries even reach the surface.”“The antennas are just a bit… dysfunctional. Though I’ve seen you do nothing about it, Mr. Engineer. Don’t you have a degree in this stuff?”“I’m not a magician. I’ve done what I can to strengthen the signal.”“Have you decoded more of the stored transmissions?”“I’ve gone through what I can, and it seems pretty telling.”“What is that?” the man asked his crewmate.“A war, a nuclear one, happened. It may have been out of anger, it may have been out of pity, but someone pressed the finalizing button. Retaliations soon occurred, causing everyone to destroy everything, including themselves.”“Survivors are unlikely.”“Between the gust of fire and acid rain, no one’s surviving that.”“So, we are officially the last of humanity?”“It seems so….”The two men sat down, staring out the massive cupola of the station.“Much has happened to us in the past few months. We were meant to be the first of something, not the last,” the leading man reminisced.“Our friends, our families, our society; they’re all gone. Everyone we have ever loved is dead. Never mind in the worst way possible: a fiery hell.”Together they fell silent, letting their thoughts take hold in their heads.“Today, the last of the human race continues to live. Our existence, our place in the universal saga, is ending. That's it,” he expressed.“At least we have the safety of this station, but isolation is no light concept. Our only hope is that something heard my meager cries. That’s all there is left for us….”As the man said that, a sudden message began to transmit to their intercom system. It was in a foreign language, exotic and mysterious.“Udenfy ves, ths ryal comuncte lne of Trm-King, du yo cpy.”“Oh my God!” one shouted, the message playing loudly throughout the station.“What was that?”“It was a message from the speaker. Should I respond?”“Yes!” he said. “Though what type of twisted coincidence was that?”“A good one,” the commander said as he ran to the receiver. “Who is this?”There was no response.“We are two human astronauts stuck around the Earth. War has ravaged our home; we have nowhere to go.”Nothing.“Please, respond!”Both men stood in silence, waiting.Steadily, they picked up the microphone and pressed the shiny silver button on its side. “Can you help us, whoever you are?”“Hlp?” it responded.“Yes, yes, help. We need help! We’re trapped in a big hunk of metal circling a blue marble-looking thing. My buddy and I are the last of our species.”“Hlp?”“Help! Do you need our names? We are Tim and Claren, and we need help.”“Tim? Claren? Tim n Claren!”“Now you're getting it,” the man said with a sigh of relief.The radio fell silent again.“What happened?” his crewmate asked.“I’m not sure. I was just getting the message out to them, but then—”“Hello. Tim and Claren, are you there?”“YES, YES, we are. And you speak English, finally.”“Do you know who it is, though?”“No, who's this?”“Think about it for a second….”The voice sat in their minds. It was recognizable, distinct. And at that moment, Tim and Claren realized precisely who they were talking to.“Wait a minute. Trimdin? Trimdin? TRIMDIN!”“It’s Trimdin?” Claren asked, getting up and walking towards Tim.“Yeah!”“Holy shit, what! How did the signal reach so far out?”“Who cares!”“Do you think he can save us?”“Let me ask,” Tim responded, forcing his attention back to the conversation with their alien friend. “Hey, uh, Trimdin, we’re trapped in orbit around the Earth.”“Around Earth, you say? Trapped? Are you asking to be saved?”“To put it lightly: yes.”“Do you have a precise location?”“All I’ve got right now is orbital velocity.”“That’s fine, I have my ship in the area. Let me get it over to you.”“A ship in the area? Where?” Claren asked.“How long will it take?” Tim questioned Trimdin.“Not very long. It should be there in 3, 2, and….” A massive vessel showed up in the space around their station. “You see it?”“We definitely see it,” Tim responded in awe.“That thing is freaking huge!”“You’re damn right it is. It’s my personal royal ship. It will beam your craft up into its bay, and from there, deliver you directly to me.”“The whole station is going to fit in that thing?” Claren asked.“Station? God no. But you still have your tiny ship, right?”“Of course we do. And Claren has even been doing some repairs to it.”“Wonderful, I cannot wait to see that thing again! How’d the parts work?”“They worked good enough to get us home. We still have no idea how you had the exact parts to fix our ship.”“We’ve captured a few human vessels in our time. Regardless, I shall see you when you get here, my dear friends. There is much to tell you about, and I’m sure you feel the same.”“You bet, your majesty,” both said together into the mic.“See you then!”The transmission cut out, and, quickly, the men rushed into their old ship, slipping on their battered suits and packing everything they could into it, detaching from the station.“Farewell,” Claren said somberly.“We are leaving man’s most impressive feat behind: a ruined sanctuary."“Impressive and depressive,” Claren said back.In unison, the men looked longingly at each other, sitting once again in the very thing that brought them to their not-so-little green friend.And as they reflected, a stream of bluish light surrounded the craft, moving them closer and closer to the opened bay door of the larger vessel.Soon, they were fully engulfed by it and blasted off towards The Asteroid Belt, toward their new home. Toward a new beginning.Interlude
Chapter 49 - Homecoming
The clobbered capsule clashed with the clean core of the craft, steamy streaks of gas surrounding it and a rush of oxygen blasting into the now-closed bay. Tim and Claren remained seated, watching the wonders of alien technology meld with their own. Quickly, they were encircled by mechanical arms, some of which grabbed firmly onto them and locked their ship in place. The men unstrapped from their seats; from there, a bellowing voice spoke out on their comms, talking directly to the fascinated men.“Tim. Claren. You are sitting in one of the largest ships in our solar system: The Grandiant. It is the premiere vessel of The Belt, incomparable in speed. As we speak, it is rushing you to The Capital, where we will once again see each other. Right now, all you need to do is stay put and keep your suits on. We’ll have an upgrade for that soon, but things will be rocky when you first get here. Just know that you are in good hands, and that we have suffered quite a bit since you were here. I’m sure you could say the same. We will discuss it all in no time.”“Trimdin,” Tim asked, “how long will it take to get us there?”“A few minutes at worse. Traveling this distance takes a bit of time.” “Well, it’ll be shorter than anything we’ve ever taken.”“Good, then. Enjoy the ride!”Wait,” but the radio cut out on Tim. “That was a fruitful conversation,” Claren joked.“At least he answered my first question.”“At least. I’m sure we can ask more when we arrive. There’s just so much to learn.”“We’ve only seen a fraction of what his society was capable of. And with this mega-ship, it’s obvious that they are ahead of us in every metric.”“Yeah, it's remarkable.”“It truly is. You should look at some of their tech when we get there. It’s probably an engineer's paradise.”“I’ll have a field day, and I’m sure you will, too. There are probably plenty of ships to pilot in Trimdin’s forces, and years of new scientific advancements.”“For sure!”“I guess being the first humans to discover an alien society paid off, Tim. Good thing you helped Trimdin when you did, when you saw his injury. Or else, we would have died on that dumb rock all those months ago.”“I think we could attribute more than just that. We saved them from tyranny, and in return, we got some ship parts. But now, we are getting the full reward.”“A life for a life, a save for a save. We rescued them, they rescued us. A balance, a compromise, an ending. It’s almost perfect!”“Slow down, Claren, no need to get philosophical. We were just lucky, and unlucky, all at the same time. The price of this journey was the end of another, of our own species. But who knows what would have happened if we got back in time, before the bombs? We understand little about what we are heading towards, about Trimdin’s home. About our home.”“We know enough to recognize that we were blessed to be off-planet when it happened. Earth was on a downward spiral for too long with all the division, all the competition, all the fighting; it was endless, painful. I loved Earth as much as anyone would, but hated the idiots on it. And we’re not innocent in any of it.”“We were just doing our jobs, and everyone was to blame. As a species, we destroyed ourselves. It was hell until the very end, and we are just part of that fate.”“You hated talking about it at the station, but we must face it soon. Our damn mission was a part of their larger scheme of warring egos. ‘Exploration’ it was called, when in reality, it was exploitation. A desperate rush to prove superiority before we blew ourselves into oblivion. I guess they couldn’t hold out long enough, those bastards.”“Claren, we were assigned the impossible during an unimaginable time. Launching a Pluto mission by the decade's end was an insane proposition, and both sides knew it. Everyone did. We knew that The Belt would cause trouble, we knew the stakes were high, and we failed. But our failure is not what caused the end, it was everyones. We share a destiny with billions of others, ours is merely coming later.”“But everything was riding on our task; it was either them or us, and they won,” he responded somberly.“Claren, stop that; no one won. Everyone lost. In the six months we were gone, three of which we had zero communication with mission control, anything could have happened. So stop; there’s no need for pessimism.”“If that’s your wish.”“Thank you. I understand your worries, but let’s just focus on our travels.”“Sure, sure. If ‘travels’ are more interesting to you, then so be it.”Out of nowhere over the intercom system, a reminder came through. “Two minutes until arrival,” it said in a robotic voice.“We’re almost at The Capital,” Tim exclaimed.“Cool,” Claren yapped, giving a slight smirk toward his partner.“We will figure it all out, Claren. Trust me. We have found a new home, a new place to start, and from there, we will learn our fate.”“A home. A new home. So, this is almost like a homecoming?” Claren laughed.“What do you mean?”“It’s like we are going to school. The parts were our first year, and now we're coming back for our second. We’re more knowledgeable; more jaded; more familiar. It’s like Goddamn high school.”“I’ve been out of it for a while, but I see what you mean. My teen years were ruined by the pandemic of 2020. Not fun. Though I’m glad you 2030s kids had a better time.”“Ha, we sure did! Though I’m sure you had loads of pleasure sitting at home on your tiny computers using that ancient software. Such a weird time.”“You talk about it like it was decades ago.”“It was decades ago!” Claren joked.“I think I’m starting to show my age.”“What! No! If anything, you’re lucky you missed dances.”“Were they that bad?”“YES, they were! Though I hope this one's a bit better.”“I’m sure it will be!” Tim laughed loudly. “You see, isn’t it so much better to talk about this than mope around and be all serious? Sometimes a good joke can clear the air.”“Yeah, it is. I don’t want to be all sad, but I need some closure. Once we get there, we really need to talk with someone, get things together, and come to peace with everything. So much has happened, I mean, we went from crash-landing on an asteroid to traveling in our alien best friend's supership!”“It’s been a wild ride, I’ll tell you that, and we deserve to know everything we can. Though at the same time, I’m not sure I want to. I enjoy making random references to high school more than reminiscing on all that death and destruction,” he responded.“But there is more to uncover, and I know it. What about the other team, what about bunkers? Did any trillionaires manage to escape on their shitty ships? I need to know the end of the story, the real end. Both of us do.”“Everyone’s dead. If we couldn’t make it through The Belt, no one could. And what if you don’t like the real answer, what if I don’t? What if we are totally alone, destined to die, never knowing the full story? What happens then?”“Even if we only uncover a fraction of what happened, I will die in peace.”“Well, I can guarantee you that,” Tim replied. “The two of us are the only redemption for them, for those who were lost.”“Humanity has come to its end, and now we must pass the torch to the next. We eradicated ourselves, and that’s the lesson; now, we have the chance to ensure that it never happens again.”“Exactly,” Tim answered. “You’re getting it.”“I’ve got to say, these have been a long few minutes. You think we’re almost there?”“I think so….” At that moment, another voice came booming into their craft.“Approaching The Capital, docking sequence to start momentarily.”“Well, there’s our answer,” he cheered.“I wonder what tech they use to move so fast?” Claren questioned. “We take months, they take minutes. That must be a fine engine.”“Guess that’s what happens when your civilization relies on space travel. These ships are to them what cars were to us. This is just a simple commute.”“That's one way to put it.”“Now, make sure your tank is full. Who knows what we’ll be walking into?”“Trimdin said to keep them on, so good call. I just hope we don’t need them forever.”“I don’t think we will. Remember when he came into this ship all that time ago? He was unaffected by our atmosphere, which made me think: maybe his species has the same needs as ours?”“Yeah, you’re right.”“If that's true, then maybe we’ll be okay. Though that was just a guess. For all we know, he was wearing a suit himself and we had no idea. Or maybe they don’t even need to breathe anything? There are so many questions.”“Well, I think that will be remedied soon,” Claren quipped, feeling the bumps of the larger ship docking with the asteroid. “Remedied for sure.”The Grandiant began to seal itself into place as it slid into the area, it soon closing and pressurizing. Its sleek design and metallic exterior allowed a pronounced reflection off the port's shining lights, creating a form of ethereal beauty to the specialized vessel. The main exit of the craft aligned closely with a doorway inside the docking area, it leading directly into the asteroid.The two men began to feel the light gravity overwhelm them, their covered arms gently floating downward. Yet again, the robotic voice came through, now indicating that they could leave their capsule. So, the men carefully walked toward the hatch, Tim grabbing the lever on the side of the door and lifting it. Both walked into the airlock, closing the first one behind them and now staring toward the second one. Tim yet again approached the door, this one leading to the exterior of their vessel. Claren stayed behind him, watching sensors around the frame, monitoring the pressure and oxygen levels within. He pressed a button, allowing it to match the environment set around their ship. Tim smoothly opened the hatch, revealing the immaculate white interior of The Grandiant. From there, they walked out, the men standing on solid ground for the first time in months.“Damn, this thing looks so cool,” Claren commented.“It feels so big yet this is only one part of the entire thing.”“How do they fit this in with the asteroids in the area? It’s almost the size of one itself.”“Hey, they got some pretty big ones out here, and you know it. Some of the rocks around here were almost planets at some point.”“Sure, but it’s still impressive. I would never expect an entire civilization to exist in these boulders.”“Is that so?” someone said into Tim and Claren’s earpieces.“Whoa, what was that?” Claren asked Tim.“Why, it’s me, my dear friends.”“Trimdin?” Claren questioned.“Yes?”“Oh! Hey,” he responded.“Hello, your majesty,” Tim added.“How did you connect to our earpieces?”“The same way I detected your signal around the Earth,” The King quipped. “Welcome, my friends, to The Captial, the largest city in The Belt and home of his majesty King Trimdin. I will be entering the bay with a legion of guards, so be prepared to greet them and show respect to me. It’s just a formality.”“We get to show respect to the great King Trimdin, such an honor!” Claren jested.“Hey, if it is tradition for them to do this, then let's appreciate that. This is their home, their king, their culture. We are just guests, so respect them,” Tim demanded.“Fine.”“Good. Now pay attention.”An opening appeared opposite Tim and Claren’s ship, the men standing right in front of it and staring toward the snowy void. Then, a tall figure walked out, a crown shining on his head and a majestic red robe wrapping him. A small group of alien soldiers stood to his side, weapons holstered but shields up, leading the influential ruler toward them. Trimdin’s smile was grand, stretching corner to corner across his green-tinted face, The King’s prominent eyes gazing directly at the men.“We meet again at last!”“Yes, your majesty, we have,” Tim replied, placing his clunky knee on the ground. Claren quickly did the same.“I am so glad to see that you have made it. We have much to give you, much to tell you, and much to help you with.”“Absolutely. Sir, we helped you all that time ago, and are honored that you’re willing to do the same for us.”“Yes, yes, we are truly honored,” Claren added.“That is wonderful to hear, and I thank you for being respectful. It’s not usually my thing, but all my top advisors recommended I do. Though we should really be bending the knee to you, and you’ll soon realize why. Quite a reputation follows your names.”“Reputation? What do you mean?”“Do you remember how when you mentioned your names, they instantly got me to come over and talk to you?”“Sure,” Tim said back.“Well, ‘Tim’ and ‘Claren’ are two words that get everyone’s attention around here. They have a certain Godlike presence.”“Godlike?” Claren repeated.“I may or may not have deified you guys while you were gone. Oops.”“Oh,” both men remarked.“So, you are now Gods… along with my brother. And honestly, you may have more power than me because you're actually here. To us, you are living, breathing icons, which comes with good and bad things.”“And I am assuming that is just the tip of the iceberg?” asked Claren.“There is a lot more, but that’s the big one. Now, how about new suits?“Those would be perfect upgrades… that is, if you have them?”“Are you really casting doubt, Claren?”“No, I’m sure you can do it, especially with the might of your subjects, your majesty.”“Great! Let’s get on our way,” The King stated, ending the conversation and turning again toward the opening.Everyone else followed, with Tim and Claren being pushed forward and a mob of soldiers surrounding them. They swiftly walked through it, realizing it was an elevator, and the door slid behind them. Suddenly, they jolted upwards, rocketing toward the core of the rock. The journey took little time, as they soon reached the top of the seemingly endless void and walked out, revealing the beauty contained behind it. They entered the Royal command room, the infinite sea of monitors and strikingly long table stunning the two men. The space's deep maroon contrasted with the ship, but its gold trim and the rich white furniture brought them right back. On the screens, footage from cameras around The Capital streamed, giving insight into the city's happenings. Tim and Claren stood amazed, dazzled by the wonder of it all.“Damn, your majesty. This is one way to show off!” Tim praised.“That was not the intention,” The King cracked.“It worked regardless,” Claren replied.“Follow me to our research and development laboratory.”“Do we need citizenship? You know, like take a test or something?”“At some point, yes. But you will need to study a bit on some of our history before you are granted it. Like all immigrants, you need to be well educated on the place you are moving to, regardless of status. It is only fair.”“We get it. On Earth, going on vacation was tough enough, never mind moving. That was next to impossible. So trust us, a little test is a dream in comparison.”“Remarkable. I am sure you will have a great time hearing about our past and its many twists and turns. Now, to the lab!”“To the lab!” they chanted together, the group now moving through the castle and toward the room. Within moments they arrived outside its entrance, opened it, and walked into the mysterious space. It was enormous, covered in grayish paint with swaths of different experimental technologies standing on large desks. Unique armor styles, mechanized suits, and next-generation engines sat idle, waiting for continued work. But in the very corner, two large models stood, closely matching the size and shape of the men. They held a strange green shade, similar to King Trimdin, with little devices resting near the ears.“What-What are those? The figures. What are they?” Tim asked timidly.“Yeah, and why are they that color?”“Ah, I see they caught your attention. That’s exactly what we wanted. Those are your new suits, and they have a little surprise built-in.”“New suits? But there is nothing there; it's just green.”“Well, if we just press this button….” Trimdin pushed something on a table nearby, and in an instant, the garments got much darker, revealing the true extent of their existence.“Whoa, how’d you do that?” Claren pressed.“These are new technologies. Well, new to you. We call them ClearSuits, made by our finest designers using a nanotech fabric that can become next to invisible around its user. The only side effect is the green tint, but you will not need them all the time, our natural environment being close to what was on Earth.”“So I was right!” Tim exclaimed.“About what?”“Just a theory I had.”“Are they fireproof?” Claren asked.“Not currently. We have been unable to stop flames from eventually getting through, but they do fend off the heat and burns for a while.”“That’s better than these damn things!” Tim added. “One spark, and they’ll go up. We’ve had issues with it in the past if you can’t tell.”“Don’t worry, these suits will work for all your needs. But the main event here is not the suits, but the device on the side. Language will be a barrier here, so those little things will translate what we say into English in real-time. And since everyone else wears one, they can do the same. They also act as a container for the suit, meaning that, when you want, the particles can extend on or off your body.”“Do all your subjects wear a translator?”“We all do, and we all have a suit as well.”“Were you wearing one when we first found you?”“I was,” The King admitted with his bellowing voice streaming to the men's ears. “But I got a tear in my suit, one deep enough to cut me. I was in serious trouble, but Tim, you found me and brought me in. When my sensors recognized it was a safe environment, it turned off, and then you could help me.”“Huh, just like that? It seemed so different on our end. We didn’t even notice the suit or the translator. But I guess we just didn’t know what to expect or what you looked like.”“No, you didn’t, but I am surprised you didn’t realize it earlier. Do you think that I would be able to understand English but not speak it by default? A translator for us is only one way. And I could only write because it told me what symbols to put down.”“How?” Claren questioned.“It just told me where to make a line and I followed. Nothing more.”“Man, it’s really that simple. I thought it had a meaning, that we had some lingual connection or something along those lines.”“That’s a different story. Now, take off those old suits and slip into the new ones! After this, we’ve got a quick meeting, and then I’ll settle you down for the night. How’s that sound?”“That’s good with me. How about you, Claren?”“I’m fine with that.”Perfect! I hope you enjoy them greatly. There is so much to uncover, so much to learn, and I can’t wait for you to see it all. Our home, no matter what, is yours now. Forever.” King Trimdin looked at the men, shedding a slight tear, happy to see his friends again. Tim and Claren glanced back similarly, satisfied yet curious about their future. Together, they took off their beloved suits, removing their gloves, helmets, pants, and torso pieces, revealing the black outfit underneath. The new suits were then turned off, the nanoparticles moving upwards towards the little earpieces. The men then took those off the mannequins, putting them on their ears, and activating them with a tap. Instantly, they were covered in a layer of tiny dots, forming a suit that fit snugly around them. Once complete, they turned transparent, presenting the men in their entirety with only the slight tint tainting their image.“Oh, damn, these things feel so good,” Claren expressed.“Those were coffins in comparison. Man, oh, man,” Tim said, twisting his body.“Good. Now, let’s get going!” Trimdin said in his native language, the men understanding him clearly for the first time in their lives. Everyone walked out together, Tim and Claren yet again guided through the palace, being led to a massive surprise.Chapter 49 - Homecoming
Chapter 50 - Catch Up
Citizens gathered near the palace from around The Capital, waiting to see the men. A camera was set up outside, allowing everyone to watch across The Belt, and watch they did. Millions tuned in to see Tim and Claren, to see that the mythical figures existed, even if only through a screen. Excitement was rampant, even among the Gods themselves, who stood behind the doors to the crowd, thrilled to meet the populace of their new home.“You should have told us we were going on TV. I would have put my dress shoes on,” Tim laughed.“Yeah, a little warning next time.”“This is much better. They want to see you for who you are, for the heroes you are. No fancy clothing would make it better,” The King replied.“Whatever you say, your majesty.”“Are you ready for it?”“I think so,” Claren answered.“Especially with these translators. I have to say, they do a good job amplifying sounds. I can hear everything now.”“Good. And if you ever notice any disparities or discomfort, I’ll get my teams right on it. To most citizens of this kingdom, you are the best of the best, and deserve exactly that.”“Well, thanks. Thanks for everything you have given us; the parts, the save, the suits, everything.”“No, no, thank you.” He switched his attention to the guards in the room. “Now, open these doors. Let the mobs meet the Gods!”Right then, they swung open the entrance, revealing the masses below. The three of them walked out onto the platform, the infamous microphone sitting where it always has, centered and idle. They collectively smiled, waving at the subjects as they cheered.Tim and Claren could fully understand what the alien public was saying, them screaming a wide choice of words and phrases towards the adjusting men.“Tim! Claren!” they cried.“Is it all true?” another shouted.“Bring back our Master! Bring back the real God!” someone chanted.“We love you!” one from the front row said.The men looked at every being they could, attempting to decode their cries.“They really seem to like us, Tim!”“They sure do. I’ve got to give it to you, Trimdin. You took our small act and made it into a God-given miracle.”“We needed heroes; I needed heroes. The majority of us needed you!”“The majority? What do you mean? And what happened? You’ve been all mysterious about it, like we shouldn’t know?” Tim pressed.“You should know, and you will. I’m not trying to be mysterious, I just need a second to figure out how to tell you. Regardless of how safe I try to make it, this place still harbors many dangers. There is so much that has occurred in just the past few months alone, so many changes that I've made, but all you need to know right now is that you are safe.”“Well, the sooner we start, the better,” Claren added. “I am dying of anticipation.”“When we finish this and get you set up, I’ll tell you anything and everything you want to know. I’ll give you the full story.”“Deal,” Tim responded.“You guys aren’t used to the time here, but it is actually late in the day for us. The evening will soon occur, so you’ll need a place to sleep.” The King continued to wave.“How does that even work, with living in an asteroid and all? Like, above us is just the brightness of random lights, so how’s that all go?” he screamed over the crowd.“Those are not just lights; they are adjustable panels. When it is night, we make them dark, and everyone rests for a few hours. The brightness is brought back up in the morning.”“So it’s all artificial? There's no sun?”“It’s based on the sun, actually!” Trimdin replied.“Awesome.”“I bet it is for you, Claren,” Tim teased. “This really is an engineer's paradise.”“An engineer, you say?” King Trimdin questioned. “If you ever want a solid job, we’ve got a need for that type of work. You know, with all the innovation and stuff.”“Yeah, yeah, I would love to. But can we end this hand-flapping and smiling now? I’m getting tired.”“If that’s what you want? I think they got enough content for weeks worth of rewatching, and an experience unmatched by anything else.”“I never thought anyone would want to see me just for the sake of my existence. That is a whole new experience,” Claren said.“Get used to it. For better or worse, your existence is now the focus of many across The Belt.”“It seems to be pretty good! We came from a world of hate, a world where there was only division and unrest. In comparison, this shows how shitty Earth got.”“That’s a strong statement,” said Tim, “but this place can’t possibly be worse than what we came from.”“Oh, you just wait, my dear friends. That was all this place was before me, before my brother. We have been the only two kings to ever bring it to this height, this amount of joy. But even still, some bandits are looking to breed hate, to stem it from the evils of before.”“I’m guessing that will be part of the history lesson?” Claren quipped.“Definitely. War is riddled within it; fighting was a constant. Whether they are recent or from millennia ago, conflict has always been with us. Now, go inside, your room is just waiting to be lived in.”“Absolutely, our king.”“Great. You go on ahead, my guards will show you the way. I just need to get someone quickly, someone of great value for your safety.”“Ah, our safety. I guess the most powerful being in the solar system can’t protect us?”“How flattering. I wish I could, but, you know, I’m a king. I’ve got a job. But this soldier I’m getting you is top of the line; she is the soldier. She fought in the last war and was the one to end it. Nothing can get through her.”“Well, now I’m excited,” Tim stated.“She must be something.”“Trust me, she is. She’ll protect you and be loyal for as long as you live.”“Then it’s settled. Claren, let’s see our new chamber.”“Okay!” he responded, and the two men turned around, commanding the guards to take them. Trimdin stayed behind, pulling a gadget out of his pocket and dialing a number. Moments later, someone on the other end picked up, and The King told her precisely what she needed to hear.“They’re here,” he said in a deep voice.“Who’s here?” she asked back.“Have you seen the news?”“No, not yet. I’ve been a bit busy. You know, using my ‘vacation’ time.”“Well, are you ready to get out of ‘vacation’ mode? I’ve got something better for you to do."“And what exactly is that?” she coyly said back.“Tim and Claren are back, and they need protection. Twenty-four-seven, all day every day. They need someone to keep them safe from the you-know-whos that are left. They need someone they can bond with, someone they can count on, someone who can guard their lives. And only you do I trust with such a task.”“They’re back? Tim and Claren?”“They require a guide, a protector, and I am assigning you to them.”“Well, sir, that is an honor, and I am happy to accept this assignment. I promise to do everything I can for them, and recognize the importance of this mission.”“Excellent. Can you be here by tonight, bags packed and all? They need you.”“Of course. I was getting bored, anyway,” she replied.“See you then, Kiran.”“Yes, your majesty, indeed. I’ll see you then.” The call ended, and a grin graced Trimdin’s lips. He quickly turned around, leaving the crowds and marching back into the palace toward the men’s room, prepared to hear their stories. Prepared to tell them the truth….~~Knock, knock, knock. A hand lightly pounded the exterior of the door, and when opened by Tim, Trimdin walked in, smiling gleefully.“Why, hello. Welcome back,” Tim greeted.“Hello to you, too,” The King responded.“Has your little business been taken care of?” Claren shouted from across the room, eating a package of food.“Yes, it has, dear friends. She will be here soon enough.”“It’s nice to see that you had your teams unpack our ship,” Tim commented.“Had a feeling you would appreciate that,” the ruler said back.“What’s her name? The soldier, I mean,” Claren asked.“Kiran, Kiran Samdin, one of our best soldiers. She was taking a ‘break’ for a while, but I was able to get her back for you two.”“Quite the honor,” Tim replied. “Hopefully, we won’t be too much of a nuisance.”“Oh, no. Annoy her as much as you want. Ask questions, get to know her, explore together; she will be heavily compensated for such activities. We are good friends, and she is more than willing to work with the Tim and Claren.”“Is that so?” Tim answered.“Yep. Now, let’s catch up a little. How about you two first? I want to hear more about the very men I’ve helped so much.” King Trimdin walked over from the doorway, following Tim to the table Claren sat at. The three circled the slab, placing their hands down and preparing to speak.“Who’s going first?” Trimdin questioned.“I guess I will,” Claren replied, finishing his meal.“Good, now start at the beginning. Talk about your life on Earth, where you’ve been, who you are, and so on.”“Sure, sure. Let’s see, I was born all the way back in 2020, am now thirty Earth years old, and lived in the United States of America for my whole life. My parents are… I mean were alive throughout it all, but I never had any siblings, only a boyfriend. As I got older, I fell in love with building, especially engineering, which is what major I eventually chose in college. From there, I got better and smarter, eventually graduating early and landing a job with a space company attempting to build the next rocket to take us to the outer solar system. And then, The Crunch happened.”“What’s that?” Trimdin asked curiously.“The Crunch was where everything we were working on was stalled, as war soon began. Earth’s history is long and complicated, but two alliances had risen within my time on the planet: Arcadia and Oceania. Both competed for resources, for money, for territory, and soon, the dick-waving started.”“Dick-waving,” Trimdin laughed nervously. “Sounds familiar.”“They wanted a goal to beat each other with, something big and bombastic. And, of course, it had to do with space. They wanted to see who could get to Pluto first, who could be the first to make it to the edge of the solar system. So a race commenced, and the crunch to finish our ships initiated. We worked, and worked, and worked, with the due date steaming closer and closer for a December 2049 launch. But both sides needed astronauts to take such a journey, but no one wanted to go.”“Is that you two?” The King interjected.“Yes,” Tim replied.“So they had a draft. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who could qualify to be an astronaut were automatically placed in. Together, the two sides would draw their contenders, and the respective citizens would train as one to beat the other. Our country, the United States, was part of Arcadia, so Tim and I were eventually selected to be part of the program, and we worked with each other from there.”“Huh!” King Trimdin reacted. “That’s one hell of a story, Claren. And I’m assuming Tim’s is similar. Is that right?”“Pretty much,” Tim responded. “I grew up in America and am fifteen years Claren’s elder, but we have one main distinction in our stories. You see, he built the very thing I love: ships. My fascination with space and science has always been at the forefront of my life, and being a pilot was a dream come true. Unfortunately, my love of the great beyond really cut me from having any Earthly connections, as I only had my mother and father left for a while. But when they died many years ago, space became my home. Then, I was selected for this mission, and the rest is history.”“Well,” The King said tenderly, “I am sorry for both of your losses. You said over the radio that Earth is gone. Nuclear war, was it?”“That appears so. We don’t know why, but we know how. The last few messages we could detect were just SOSs, nothing else,” Claren responded. “It’s something that has been lingering with me this entire time. Sure, times were tough and tension was rising, but did we really need to end ourselves that badly?”Tim looked intensely at his partner. “Don’t get into this, Claren. Trust me, we will never know the real answer.”“The real answer to what?” Trimdin questioned.“Ah, nothing, Claren’s just fixed on this idea that we had something to do with the end of the world, that we are part of the blame for our extinction.”“I’m not fixed on that; I just want to know how it all ended. The last time we communicated with Earth, our ship broke down, at the height of the race, don’t forget. The other team likely succeeded in getting through The Belt, and since we had already lost, I guess the punishments were handed out early.”“But that’s a strong assumption,” Trimdin challenged.“Not really,” Tim chimed in. “The stakes were high, and the Oceanic team likely won, so who knows what they did to Arcadia? But it doesn’t matter, because what happened has happened; our failure of a society has collapsed.”“That is simply not true, dear Tim,” Trimdin stated, peering directly at him. “If there is a lesson to be learned, then nothing is a failure. Humanity has seemingly ended, but now you can help us avoid such mistakes. Alongside me, I hope we can all work together to make The Belt a better place for all.”“I was saying that before to Claren,” Tim responded. “We are glad to help you wherever we can, though I doubt we will change its course too much.”“Why yes, that may be true, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you are likely more important than anyone in this universe. You are the last living remnants of a planet, never mind a species, one powerful and mighty. You have much to teach and learn; a way to continue your universal journey.”“Well, we brought a few plant seeds, so technic—”“Claren!” Tim shouted. “Not the time for a life joke.”“Sorry.”“Oh, no, it’s fine, Tim. If anything, it is great that you brought a few plant samples with you. Do you mind if we study them?” Trimdin asked.“Sure, sure, go ahead,” Tim responded.“Great, now where were we?”“We were just going over our depressing stories,” Claren said.“Right. I am saddened by why you are here, but happy for the future that can be built. We have considerable amounts of information to decipher and unravel, and this talk has shown me where you’ve come from. You have been on unfathomable journeys, unknowable narratives, but now, it is time to tell you mine.”Chapter 50 - Catch Up
Chapter 51 - Kiran
“Quinten was the start of it all, the root of all evil. He and his Devilish mindset corrupted the minds of his followers.” King Trimdin continued to sit at the table with Tim and Claren, delving deep into the lore of his previous adventures.“And then what happened?” Claren asked childishly, as if waiting for the next page of a fairytale.“Oh, we had a war alright, but one I gravely regret, one that has caused me much shame. I realized that I was letting my drive for revenge overpower my ideals, twisting the morals of my brother. I could no longer take it, no longer wanted to take vengeance, so I surrendered.”“But he wanted to fight in a duel? Why?” Tim asked.“Honestly, I’m not sure, but I think it had to do with his ego. Quinten thought that if he was really going to save The Belt, then he had to win the battle fair and square. He may have been deceptive but was always honorable, so when he lost, instead of taking my mercy, the unthinkable happened.” Trimdin looked down, extremely distraught by his thoughts.“Suicide?” Claren questioned.“Yeah.” Trimdin suddenly coughed, clearing his throat. “He killed himself. In front of me. I could have stopped it, I should have done something, but it was too late. I was so tired, so confused, so angry, so stressed. Nothing could be done at the moment.”“That’s a lot, your majesty,” Tim added. “I am surprised so much took place in such a short period of time.”“In about two weeks, I became king, declared war, fought a battle, and ended my enemy's life, yet was it worth it? Were all the lives lost, even though they were so few, worth it? I don’t think I will ever let go of the last words I said to his corpse: ‘I hated you for years, planned to finish you for years, but now that it has finally happened, all I feel is pain.’”“His death never satisfied you?”“No, it did not, Claren. I don’t think it ever could, even with my vendetta against him. It would have only led to me realizing the truth.”"Well,” Tim interjected, “we never could have guessed that any of that would happen to you after we left. I thought you would just be having the time of your life or something, but it is great that you have learned such an important lesson.”“An important lesson indeed. After The Queen, I thought I could take on any enemy, but now, I regret even that part of my past. She was terrible, don’t get me wrong, but I let my anger lead to death, twice I may add. My brother would hate me for that, and nowadays, I hate myself for it.”“The war between Trimdin and Quinten. It sounds almost like a book. You know, the tale of two enemies, drawn together by hate and forced apart by revenge. Would be a good read,” Claren joked.“I’m pretty sure you're missing the point of this meeting,” Tim scolded.“Now, now, my dear friends. It will soon be in a book: the history book!”“That’ll be a good tool for us to have. We do need to continue our education, don’t we?”“Yes, I will have Kiran set you two up with that. You could probably visit the Royal Library, or just use the computer. Whatever I can safely clear for you.”“Where’s the Royal Library located?” Claren inquired.“Just south of the castle, going toward the newly-constructed memorial grounds.”“Fantastic!”“Where even is Kiran? It has been a solid hour since you said she was coming.”“That is an excellent question, Tim. Let me make a quick call.” Trimdin got up from his chair, pulled out a device from his pocket, and appeared to press a button. Quickly, a connection was made, Kiran soon on the other end.“Your majesty?” she asked.“It is almost nightfall. Where are you?”“I am just arriving. Coming from Eros is not an easy trip. Very bumpy. I’m docking right now, should be there soon.”“Great, I will have guards escort you to your quarters, and then you can meet up with us. Soon after, the resting hours will commence.”“Yes, sir,” Kiran responded. “I’m moments away.”“Farewell, soldier,” The King said, ending the call and turning his attention back to Tim and Claren. “She’ll be here shortly!”“Wonderful, just wonderful,” Tim responded.“Hey Trimdin, what did you use to call her? Is that a phone or something?”“Why, yes, it is Claren. A specialized communicator, once used by my brother. It is rather outdated, but I love it dearly. Most of the time, we do it through our earpieces, which is an upgrade I can request for you to have, but for larger conversations, we can now use our suits and holographic technology. The workings of that one are bleeding edge, but the trials have been doing well.”“Why don’t we get the phone call thing by default? Aren’t we Gods?”“We can activate it whenever you want; we didn’t think overloading you with features was a good idea. Plus, isn’t discovery a fun thing to do, anyway?”“I guess if you put it that way,” Claren answered. “So how does it work, is there like a network of satellites connecting every device?”“Claren, this is not twenty-one questions,” Tim commanded. “I’m sure Trimdin would love to answer that, but we have more important things going on.”“No, no, Tim, it’s perfectly fine. This is all part of the experience. Now, Claren, I honestly have no idea when it comes to that type of thing. But you can always go around town, visiting the many scientific buildings and personnel we have. The Belt definitely doesn’t lack intelligence.”“Well then,” Tim readied himself, “if we can ask anything, then can I learn how to fly literally any of your ships? Like, any of them at all? The Grandiant was quite a beautiful vessel, so if there is even a chance—”“Yes, you can. One hundred percent, dear Tim.”“Oh, it was that easy?”“You have more power than you think over me. If I even think of defying you, and the citizens know about it, I could get dethroned,” King Trimdin joked.“I can’t wait!” Tim said, grinning profusely.“Now, let’s get prepared to see Kiran. We’ll meet her in the Royal courtyard. It is quite nice now, as we had recent reconstruction done after the war to fix a ‘flaw’ with the design.”“What kind of flaw?” Claren questioned.“Oh, just a silly old secret entrance installed by The Queen that leads to Quinten’s secret bunker. Nothing more.”“I’m guessing you don’t want to tell that story right now?” Tim asked.“Not really,” Trimdin responded, lightly laughing. He then moved towards the door, opening it. “So, are you two ready?”“I guess? We’re not wearing much, besides our ClearSuits, that is. Our black undersuits aren’t the fanciest things.”“I’m sure she won’t mind. This is no grand event, just a quick meet and then off to bed. But that raises the question of clothing, which we will get on to for you.”“Well then. Claren, you ready?”“Yeah, I sure am, Tim.”“Great!” said Trimdin as he walked out the door, the two men getting up from their chairs and following him to their new friend.Together they entered the luscious courtyard, walking into the ample open space in the center of the palace. All around, stone walls towered them, the only light supplied by the dimming panels above.Nighttime was soon to set in, but the three showed no sign of tiredness. Within moments, a barrage of guards came through, the alien of the hour striding in and quickly kneeling in front of The King.“Your majesty,” she said, looking down from his magnificent crown and towards his large, dark eyes, “I have arrived.”“The honorable Kiran Samdin, Special Forces Agent for The Royal Army. It is great to see you again. You may rise, and the other can leave us. May we have a fruitful conversation regarding our unique guests,” he said, with the legion quickly exiting the area.“Thank you, sir, for this remarkable opportunity.” Suddenly, Kiran got up, now staring directly at the two men. “And thank you, I have heard much about your adventure with our dear king, and am thrilled to be working with such faithful beings.”The men smiled promptly, fascinated by her attire. She wore thick, epic armor, shining brighter than a newly minted coin, with a striking sword sashed to her side. Her height was similar to that of Trimdin before his transformation, before becoming king: around the size of an adolescent.Tim and Claren, without delay, walked forward, now standing directly next to Trimdin and facing their new companion.“Kiran, these are quite obviously who you think they are. Tim, Claren, same to you,” Trimdin stated.“Yeah, I think we could deduct that,” Tim responded. “So, Kiran, it’s great to meet you.” He stuck out his hand, attempting to shake hers.“Likewise,” she reciprocated. “What are you doing with your arm?”“Oh, it's just a handshake. On Earth, we greet each other by extending our hands and interlocking them briefly, showing that you are welcomed.”“Interesting,” Kiran responded. “We don’t do that here. It seems a bit… aggressive.”“Well then,” Tim said, defeated, slowly dropping his arm back to his side.“Anyway, we are truly excited to have you working with us,” Claren quickly interjected. “I know we have a lot to explore and discover, and I hope we can become great friends, just like we did with Trimdin.”“I’m sure you all will. The three of you have done much for me, so I can’t wait to see what you can do together!”“Absolutely, your majesty. I swear that I will defend them with my life, to ensure their safety against the evils of the world, and I will do whatever they ask, whenever they ask,” Kiran pledged.“And I know you will. This will likely be a lifelong commitment, but I can assure you that compensation will be heavy. Never will you struggle, just as it should be for everyone.”“I’m unable to express the great honor this gives me.”“You never have to. This is a present, a gift from me to you. It is the ultimate job any soldier could ask for,” Trimdin replied.“So,” Claren started, “are we beginning our adventures tomorrow?”“Whenever you want,” Kiran answered.“Yes, whenever. And whatever you need to make the trips will be covered. Fuel, food, rooms, security, and anything else will be automatically billed to me.”“Really?” Claren asked.“Like I said before, only the best for you two. Your protection and well-being are our responsibility.”“Can we take The Grandiant?” Tim questioned.“Sure, why not.”“Kiran, what do you think of all of this?”She looked at Claren, seeing his excitement growing rapidly. “I’m on board. Tomorrow it is. I’ll take care of all our IDs tonight, and in the morning we'll get you dressed up, but we’ve got to leave as early as possible, especially with the traffic and danger of traveling mid-day.”“They don’t need identification. I’ll just send a Royal order excusing them from any and all checks. If they need proof, just call me up.”“I stand corrected. No matter what, set your alarms. Where do you want to go first?” Kiran asked.“I know! Bring them to The Museum of Beltian Science on Vesta. You three will love seeing the amazing advancements of our technology and discoveries,” The King suggested.“That’s perfect for us,” Tim responded. “I’ve dabbled in things related to biology and botany with all my time in space, plus Claren here is a full-blown engineer.”“Yeah, that sounds like a good first destination,” agreed Claren.“What about security… besides myself? Vesta’s been having a ‘crime’ spree recently, haven’t you heard.”“A crime spree? What do you mean?” Tim asked.“Oh, it’s nothing,” Trimdin said back, “just some bad actors after the fall of Quinten. They are no worry, though. Vesta’s subjects are extremely loyal. Plus, I’ll send extra guards and our most trustworthy pilot with you!”“Then it’s settled,” Kiran stated. “The museum it is. And while we’re there, we can check out some of the great food they’ve got. Surprisingly, the home of science is also the home of some delicious delicacies. Strange, I know.”“Nothing strange about it. Tim and I have been eating vacuum-sealed junk and kale for the past nine months. Some good grub might do.”“Their infrastructure sucks, though,” Trimdin added. “Half the things built there are based on 'environmentally friendly' and 'clean' materials. Their bricks are made of plants!”“I have to ask,” Tim began, “what kind of food do you even have here? How does stuff even grow? How do the plants in this bloody courtyard grow? You have no sunlight? Are there animals? Do you eat meat? What other creatures live in The Belt?”“And you were yelling at me for asking questions!” Claren quipped.“You’ll see it all soon,” Trimdin interrupted. “Trust me, it's not as weird as you think. We have much in common, and our history will prove that so.”“Nevertheless, your majesty, I am quite tired. May I head to my quarters?” Kiran requested.“Of course. I should be on my way, too. I’ve got a busy day. The memorial opens tomorrow, and I’ve got to make some last-minute approvals. That’ll leave you on your own.”“I’m sure that’s fine. We’re quite tired as well,” Tim added. “We’ve been sleeping in zero-gravity sleeping bags for too long. Goodnight!”“Farewell,” Trimdin said, with a sudden purple glow surrounding his hands.“What are you doing there?” Tim asked. But before he could get an answer, The King blasted upward, leaving them behind.“Where is he even going?” Claren questioned.“It’s just his final sweep. He does it every night.”“Interesting. Well, let’s go, Claren. See you, Kiran.”“So long,” she responded, and they all promptly left the yard, the panels above going fully dark, encompassing the entire populace in a deep shadow.~~Tim and Claren sat in their new bedroom, lying parallel to each other, the table they once sat at across the room. All lights were off, just a mere streak of white streaming through their window from the lamps outside the castle. But the men were not silent; if anything, they were more riled up than ever, waiting for the day ahead.“I’ve got to say, Tim, this room is nice. And I mean, think about it. We are about to sleep in a freaking castle. In a damn asteroid. With our alien friend just down the hall! What have our lives come to?”“I don’t know, bud, but this is the best homecoming I could’ve asked for. Almost half of my life has been spent exploring; has been dedicated to space. But this moment, this past year, has been the craziest part of it all. I’ve lost everything and nothing all at the same time.”“My entire life was on that planet; everyone I loved is gone. I know that we are both devastated, but it hurts the most for me. My parents have perished; my lover is lost. No matter what Trimdin can give us, I don’t know if it can ever compensate for that.”“Trust me, Claren, nothing can replace those you have lost, but we have the opportunity of a lifetime, a second chance to live. And I know they all made it to Eden, every person on that planet.”“I’ve never asked you this, but are you religious? My parent’s used to speak about Eden all the time, but I never understood it.”“Religious? No. But I do like the thought that they are all safe somewhere, that they will have a better life beyond the infinite.”“I will always wonder what’s out there, what we don’t know, what Trimdin doesn’t know. I mean, he has literal superpowers, and we know it is as much a spiritual process as it is a biological one. What does that mean for us?”“I think he’s a Demigod,” Tim suggested.“A Demigod?”“Yeah, I think the powers were given to him by some higher power, and Trimdin is just a physical representation of that. He doesn’t have enough to be a God, but just enough to be sort of one.”“I never thought about it that way.”“I’m sure we’ll learn more during our history lesson. The king thing has to come from somewhere. There is no way it just showed up one day.”“My big question is, why only one? Why is it only contained to the monarch of the time, and is it passed down? Like if they have kids, do they gain powers?”Tim stared blankly at Claren. “Now, that’s a good question. I mean, there really is just a laundry list of these things. The language, the environment, the magic; the longer we’re here, the more confusing things get.”“I’m pretty sure that’s the nature of integrating into an alien society,” Claren joked back. “I get what you mean, though. All these different thoughts have coursed through my mind and I have no idea what to do with them anymore. Talking is the only thing that stops it. But the ringing keeps coming back, the thoughts keep piercing through.”“Answers are coming, I can guarantee that. Trimdin may not know everything, but with the resources of this world, of this society, we can learn whatever we want. The closure is coming, it must, and I know that our futures are bright, no matter the pain we have suffered,” Tim answered, trying to mollify Claren’s worries.“I know I keep saying this, but you’re right. You always are. Anyway, let’s shut up and take advantage of these soft beds. Like you told Trimdin and Kiran, those shitty sleeping bags at the IFS were, well, shit.”“Fair enough,” Tim responded, leading the conversation between the two men to a close. Now only one thing stood to come: the morning ahead.Chapter 51 - Kiran
Chapter 52 - Discovery
The two men stood outside their room, waking up a mere hour before. They donned new garments under their suits, wearing nicely fitted white shirts tailored after King Trimdin and inky pants.A legion of guards quickly surrounded them, and their dear friend Trimdin marched forward, Kiran next to him. On the castle's exterior, the lights had only begun to rise in brightness, signaling the radiant day to come.The four were led through the residence toward the docking station, toward The Grandiant. Throughout the night, the vessel was prepared for the trip ahead. A myriad of protectors loaded themselves onto the ship, quickly inspecting it before their adventure. Once approved, Tim, Claren, and Kiran walked forward, said goodbye to their king, and strode through its bay. They were led into an elevator and, from there, showed both the living quarters and the command room. Within minutes they were cleared for takeoff, Tim and Claren ready to be shot into the unknown just as they were on Earth all that time ago.The Grandiant typically had no pilot, controlled automatically by a computer, but this mission was different. Captain Landun of the Royal Space Force was assigned to drive the three of them around The Belt, bringing them wherever their hearts desired.A holographic map sat in the middle of the control room, presenting key hubs across the kingdom. The space was aptly designed like the rest of the ship, with sparkling chrome accents throughout a mostly white layout. Multiple monitors surrounded the back wall, different soldiers sitting in front of them on curved contemporary chairs doing basic surveillance. Mechanics and engineers were close by, but most of the room was empty.After everyone settled, comms came in from the radio, speaking to the charismatic Captain Landun and the flight crew. “This is Base Control, do you read?” they asked.The captain sat at the front of the ship, pointed directly toward a massive screen that gave insight into the space around the ship. With haste, he responded. “Base Control, we hear you loud and clear. Let’s get this show on the road! Our celebrities can’t wait much longer!”To the pilot's side, seats were reserved for Tim, Claren, and Kiran, who could actively hear the conversation between the ship and The Capital. The men’s earpieces worked overtime to translate the messages.“Everything’s set here, Grandiant. We’ve got reports of low traffic to Vesta, and the museum has closed for the day, so safe travels!” Base Control said over the radio to the captain. But then, out of nowhere, a familiar voice pierced their ears. “And if ANYTHING goes wrong, tell them I sent you.”“Haha! Of course, your majesty, we’ll surely mention that if there is any trouble.”“Good. You are now set for departure. Depressurization will happen in 3, 2, and….” On the monitor in front of them, they could see massive vents open, but not to let air in. Instead, they were sucking it out, emptying the docking station of any gas. The vehicle remained habitable, but the space around them had been matched to the surface. Then, the large doors opened, presenting the deep void of space to the lifted ship. The Grandiant sped toward the vacuum, exiting the bounds of The Capital. Leaving the safety of King Trimdin….~~Even though Vesta was only a few minutes across The Belt, chatter soon started, especially between the two men and their pilot.“So, Captain Landun, how long have you been flying for?” Tim asked.“Many, many years, my fine sir. I’ve been through every modern era of this kingdom, flying each ruler across the system and even the galaxy.”“Damn!” Claren responded.“What was it like under The Queen?” Tim questioned.“Well, that was definitely a special time to be part of the forces. As we all did, I followed her orders, and to me, she was not as bad as everyone paints her to be. Sure, she was a little tyrannical, but she put so much money toward this sector I didn’t care much.”“Why?” Claren said.“She wanted to go to war. It’s that simple. She wanted to destroy everyone and everything she could. Billions of dollars went to Quinten and his forces, advancing them to ridiculous heights.”“King Trimdin never really explained that part to us. Like, seriously, how could such a small faction do so much damage?”“He had the best soldiers in The Belt working for him, and with infinite resources alongside years to build, anything was possible,” he responded.“Then why do you seemingly sympathize with her if she drained The Royal Army of resources for Quinten’s?“Ah, that’s the thing,” Captain Landun said, scratching his head. “I was part of Quinten’s army for quite a while, quite a damn while. But eventually, I went against orders, as they wanted me to infiltrate an enemy ship and take its passengers to The Capital, where they would be slaughtered. At the time, I was going through financial hardship, so I took a bribe from the foreign force instead. I was kicked out of the military, but they still murdered who they needed to, all while I secured some well-needed cash,” he said, smiling briefly.“Why would they let you even live after that?” Tim said.“Trust me, those two bastards were more corrupt than I ever was. They needed Beltians to listen, regardless of who they were. So, they let me go with a light punishment.”“I guess they did. Good thing you got out of there,” Claren mentioned.“Yeah, good. Very good,” he responded. “I needed that money more than revenge.”“Is that why you were with them?” Tim asked.“Quinten’s entire thing was revenge. My family was killed during the Cross-Beltian Wars and Quinten offered a solution, so I followed him.”“Did it bring you happiness?”“No,” he responded.“Well, revenge is not the best way to get it, that’s for sure,” Kiran butted in. “King Trimdin has made that clear.”“He’s made a lot of things ‘clear’ to say the least,” The Captain remarked.“What do you mean by that?” Kiran replied angrily.“Oh nothing, it's just that he was initially going in the right direction with everything, but one measly battle stopped him from reaching his full potential.”“That battle murdered hundreds. I would not call that measly.”“Woah, woah, let's calm down,” Tim interjected. “We’re all on the same page here. No need for aggression.”“I agree,” Captain Landun reciprocated. “Plus, we’re almost there. Vesta’s right up here.” On the large monitor in front of them, it stood proud and tall, the oblong asteroid growing slowly as they got closer.Moments later, The Grandiant was lined up with the docking station of Vesta, allowing them to connect with their destination. Finally, they landed, multiple guards promptly walking out and standing around the ship. A pathway toward The Museum of Beltian Science had to be created, ensuring the safe appearance of the three.Mobs already began to grow, even though there was no official news of their arrival. Seeing The Grandiant in the docks, no matter how much they hid, was enough to cause disorder. Though it was nothing they couldn’t handle, as Tim and Claren, following the lead of Kiran, eventually made it to the surface via an elevator.The facility, which had large arched doors, was a deep blue on its exterior. Just like much of the architecture in The Belt, it was partnered with thin layers of gold around the edges. Daunting windows let them peer into the mysterious building, showing its uniquely fashioned interior. Nothing was one consistent look; different eras of The Belt’s history pop out as if vying for attention.Vesta itself held a modern style, matching more closely what the men had seen in The Capital: large, spanning buildings with wide streets and vendors on every corner. Crowds from the community clamored, trying to not get caught in the chaos.Through the craziness, the trio eventually made it inside, being sealed in with an assortment of guards around the entrance. And from there, things quickly started.“Gee, that was a lot just to get in here,” Tim commented.“I guess the news broke,” Claren added.“Well, you’re here. Welcome to Vesta!”“Kiran, we can’t thank you enough for joining us.”“It is amazing that you are here to teach us this and keep us safe. From the way The King talked about you, it sounds like you’re more effective than an entire damn army.”“That guy throws way too many accolades my way,” Kiran responded. “We literally only met a few months ago, and all I did was get the attention for the words HE said. ‘Quinten is dead,’ that’s all I was there for.”“I had that feeling,” Tim said back. “He blew us a bit out of proportion, too. We are Gods now, but why, we don’t know.”“So we can all agree that Trimdin is a bit eccentric?” Claren joked.“That’s him alright,” Kiran responded.“Were you loyal to The Queen?” Claren suddenly asked.“That’s a hard one. We all were, just as Landun said. I hated her, but she was the ruler throughout my entire adult life, right up until I became an Agent. But I never killed for her, and that’s the biggest distinction.”“How old are you, anyway?”“Let’s see, how do I put this in Earth years for you? Give me a second… carry the one, put the five there, uh, twenty? Twenty Earth years.”“That’s it!” Tim reacted. “You look much older than that.”“Well, The King is only twenty-five Earth years old, so put that into perspective.”“Seriously?” Claren shouted.“Our aging is different, clearly,” Tim responded. “Trimdin looks older than Claren, but he’s thirty.”“Thirty?” Kiran laughed. “And let me guess, you’re probably around forty-five?”“Hey, don’t make me feel old!”“Old? Around here you’re still pretty young. Sure we mature faster, but we live for an average of one hundred eighty Earth years.”“So I’m not geriatric yet?”“Tim… come on. You’ve got a lot left in life!” Claren exclaimed.“Thanks,” Tim said, looking dead into his partner's eyes. “How about we get to the real science? I mean, this age thing has already piqued my interest, so what’s next?”“The way this is set up is that it goes from newest to oldest. That means the most recent innovations are here at the front.” Kiran laid his arms out, presenting the first exhibit. “Let’s look at these plasma shields. Blocks all bullets, metal or laser, from penetrating.”“Were they used in the war? Against Quinten?” Claren asked curiously.“They were. Quinten’s teams were the first to have them, actually. His R&D department was quite good, so the Royal one had to catch up quickly. We did… eventually.”“How was he even able to get ahead of the freaking ROYAL research team?”“Yet again, as The Captain was saying, a lot of money was funneled to Quinten. That monster, who was already unfathomably rich, only became richer. King Trimdin honestly entered a fairly cleared kingdom, most of it already siphoned off to Quinten.”“Damn, the more we hear, the more remarkable it is that Trimdin won. That was one war,” Tim stated.“That bitch of a queen was only in rule for five years, FIVE, yet patted us dry. Everything was just pure forced labor, pure military training. Those sick bastards were planning conflict from the beginning, just not one against Trimdin.”“Then who? Who else would they fight?” Tim challenged.“The Kuipernians,” Kiran responded.“Who the hell are those?”“Our biggest enemy… and ally. It depends on when you’re asking.”“The Kuipernians? Like, as in the Kuiper Belt?” Claren questioned.“Are you familiar with them?”“Are you telling me there’s another alien society near Pluto? Really?” Tim exclaimed.“Of course. Has His Majesty not educated you on them? They are why Quinten wanted revenge, why he loved war.”“Tim, you hear that. Even if we made it to Pluto, we were destined to run into aliens.”“Guess so. How did we never notice? You know, humanity. You’re telling me that not one, but TWO alien societies exist in this solar system, and we never knew until now?”“There are much more than two, dear friends. Life is everywhere. Alliances surround us. Travel between nations is common. We are nowhere near alone.”“As if everything we had already been through was not enough, now you’re telling us that the solar system, never mind the universe, is sprawling with life?” Tim shouted.“I didn’t think that was such a big deal. Sorry for giving you existential crises.”“No, no, Kiran, it’s fine. Just a bit mind-boggling. I spent my adulthood in the void, searching for such things, so the fact that you’ve just satisfied that in one minute is impressive. Though I don’t know what I expected.”“This is life-changing. Not only did we find the first civilization outside of our own, but we have confirmed that there are more than we could have ever imagined.”“I guess the museum has already done its part!” Kiran jested. “This is why Trimdin assigned you to me.”“He knows his stuff, I’ll give him that. That alien knew what he was doing when he met us, knew what he was doing when he killed The Queen, knew what he was doing when he became king, and knew to give us to you. Where does it end?” Tim questioned.“His brother was a smart king, too. I was only a kid, but I remember the day I saw his first speech. He gave us everything we wanted, everything The Belt needed. He made peace with the Kuipernians, started welfare programs, raised the standard of living, held Quinten’s tyranny at bay… or so he thought. Trimdin has just taken inspiration from that.”“When he talked about him, we were instantly impressed. Right, Tim?”“Yeah, he sounded like a good guy. That only made his demise even more tragic. Poison, was it? On his birthday? By the wife? Ridiculous.”“The death shocked everyone, even the Kuipernians. All our allies were scared, and I had just started training in The Royal Army. Things were shaky.”“The history of this place is crazy. Damn crazy. Anyway, what’s next here?” Tim walked forward down the hall. “Ah, 2038, The Grandiant is built. That seems relevant to today.”“It was built under the monarch's rule before Trimdin’s brother. He was a strange ruler, to say the least, attempting to live a lavish life while war ravaged around him. He was full of himself; the best thing he did was train Nardyn to rule.“Nardyn? Wait, is that the name of Trimdin’s brother?”“Yes. Yet again, did King Trimdin not tell you this?”“Somehow not,” Claren answered.“In all the confusion and questioning, his name never came up. It was just always ‘Trimdin’s brother.’ But Nardyn, King Nardyn. Now that’s a name.”“Here, let’s recap what we have learned this morning: aging, life, and names. Is there anything else you could ever need to know?” Kiran asked sarcastically.“This journey has already garnered some serious information. And we’re only two exhibits in!”“Shit, that’s it?” Claren hysterically screamed.“I mean, there is still a millennium of scientific discoveries ahead,” Kiran quipped.“How long has your world existed?” Tim questioned.“For thousands upon thousands of years, Earth or Beltian. We have had hundreds of monarchs, dozens of dynasties, but none have managed to cause the chaos of the last few.”“Where does that king thing come from, anyway? Claren and I were talking about it last night. What are the powers that Trimdin has, and why don’t more have them?”“That’s a loaded question, Tim. And unfortunately, we’re not too sure. Every major civilization has someone with powers, but all we have about their origin here are the tales of the First King, which were written almost fifty thousand years ago. Before that, we have no record of anything; no rulers, no powers, no subjects, nothing. The Belt appeared to be empty. We don’t know how we got here; we just did.”But what about the First King? Where did he get them from?”“He claims it was bestowed upon him by a figure. All he could describe it as was ‘le sqott,’ which literally translates to ‘the spot.’ Some higher being visited him and ‘touched his face with the hand of the universe.’ Or so he claims. He was known to be insane, to be an evil ruler, someone who needed to be removed from power. Though his abilities were too strong; every attempt at his life failed. Except one. After years of going on a wild hunt to recreate the encounter, a subordinate tricked him into thinking the God-like figure came back, saying that if he died right now by his hand, he would be sent to some place called The End Realm. Of course, this was total BS, but they were able to murder him, quickly discovering that his powers were passed on to them. That was the start of the lineage.”“So some crazy dude just gained them randomly and someone just happened to kill him? That’s how all of it started?”“That’s the current story. We really have no records of it besides his own accounts, but by no means was he a reliable narrator.”“Though what about everything else? The advancements, the technology, the evolution? How does that link to now?” Claren asked.“Well, let’s keep going down this hall. The answers lay ahead,” Kiran responded while marching forward, bringing them closer to the true discovery.Closer to the dangers of Quinten.Chapter 52 - Discovery
Chapter 53 - Restoration
On the other side of The Belt, excitement ran high, as a promise made was about to be fulfilled; the first steps toward restoration were soon to begin. King Trimdin sat on his throne, prepared to speak at the site's opening. Ready to confront the pain he caused.“Guards, bring me my armor!” He put down his script and lifted himself.Seconds later, four aids came out of hiding, steadily holding The King’s armor. This set was different from the one he wore during the war: it was newer, slimmer, and incorporated the greatest protective technology available. But little hints toward his sibling's shell had been added, like black shoulder pads and a blue torso.“Thank you,” Trimdin said to the soldiers. “What is the status of Tim and Claren? How’s Kiran doing?”One of his underlings tapped on the side of their ear, getting a detailed report of their location and doings. “They are safely on Vesta, still exploring the museum. Large crowds have surrounded the building, but they’re protected.”“Perfect! How about The Capital? Is everything good out there before I do this?” At the same time, the suit was being placed on King Trimdin.“The crowds will only consist of veterans, and all other viewers will be at home. We have taken extreme precautions.”“Good. I’ve given Quinten’s former soldiers everything, yet still, some want to kill me? His brainwashing was pretty damn good, I guess.” The last pieces of armor were applied.“Ha, your majesty. Those Quinten wannabes are nothing. This armor is bulletproof, blasterproof, and bombproof. Plus, your magic can stop anything if you act fast enough.”“I know,” The King responded kindly. A sword was placed in the sheath on his waist. “Thank you all.”“Your welcome, sir,” they said in unison.“Now, let’s get going!” From there, they marched out of the palace onto the platform looking below. He quickly moved down the grand staircase to a small vehicle, one that would drive him toward his destination: the memorial, which lived at the heart of Quinten’s home, forcing Trimdin to face the battlefield that scarred him.The drive was quick, The King watching as the small audience came into view around the walled garden. The once beautiful homes were torn and recycled; the bloody streets were demolished and replaced with graves. A large tower sat between it all, each level representing a life lost at the hands of the war.In a show of grace, King Trimdin got out of the vehicle and lifted himself, the purple presence presenting itself for this all-important day. He quickly landed directly on the stage set up for his appearance, now able to look dead on at the suspiciously silent crowd behind the magnificent microphone he stood against.Within moments of settling into position, Trimdin began to lean forward, displaying a large smile. The masses below watched, waiting for his first words.“Hello, veterans and any viewers at home. The past few months have been filled with turmoil, fueled by revenge, and I am sorry that much of that has been caused by me. The Queen: I killed. Quinten: I killed. And tragically, many of my own citizens: I killed, all due to my terrible practices.”Many in the audience stared blankly at The King.“No matter what, there is nothing I can do now to make it up, but I pray that I can at least ease the pain. If you are familiar with my previous speech, you would remember that I promised you all something; I promised a place dedicated to those we have lost, not only in this war but in every war ever committed by the rulers of this kingdom. It has been long overdue that our soldiers get the respect they deserve, that their families feel closure for their wrongful yet patriotic deaths. Now it is finally time that we appreciate the strong fighters of our society, protecting us from evil.”The crowds below remained silent.“So here it is, The Beltian War Memorial, built to withstand the test of time and prove our resilience. The large tower at the center of this all is devoted to the hundreds we lost during The Asteroid War alone, their bodies kept inside. And each of the much smaller stones surrounding it contains the names of every soldier. The rest of this former arena for the rich has been flattened into a field of flowers, each color representing a different era in our history. Tours have been designated to run daily, making this site a fantastic destination to learn about not only the horrors of conflict, but the troubling truth of revenge. Never, and I mean NEVER, should these events be repeated, should these mistakes be emulated. I am taking my personal lessons, things that are near and dear to my heart, and using them to ensure the safety of this beautiful society we have.”No noises commenced.The King continued to smile. “My rule will be one of prosperity, not depression; one of love, not hate. The criminal beliefs of The Queen, Quinten, and their associates have nearly been rooted out, have almost exited our world, so now we can focus on healing. Even though I have called it restoration, it truly isn’t. I don’t want to ‘rebuild’ what was here before, because, excuse my language, what was here before was shit. Following my brother's principles, alongside my own, our home will come into a new age of being. One that stops war; one that makes friends, not enemies; one that knows the citizens are more important than anything that will come out of my mouth. We are run by you, for you, regardless of the monarchy that stands. And this leads to my final topic of which I wanted to discuss. Everyone across The Belt should know that I will not name a successor at the end of my reign because, by the end of it, we will become something unseen in our history: a democracy.”Gasps were audible. Everyone was in shock.Wait, what?” one veteran screamed up to King Trimdin.“A democracy? What the hell is that?” another whined.“Yes, yes, you heard me right. We will no longer be a kingdom, you will no longer be forced into the tyrannical regimes of the past. Rather, we will be a republic with an elected leader, one where the actual inhabitants of The Belt will rule.”“How does that work?” one asked in the audience.“But King Trimdin, we need a monarch. It’s who we are; it’s a tradition. You can’t do this!” a citizen in the corner screamed.“We don’t want a damn republic!” an old guy in the back said.“We need to get revenge!” one screamed.“I’m sorry,” King Trimdin responded, “I thought you would all love this. It shows progress; it shows evolution. We are moving past the jaded system of the past toward something new. Is that not important?”There was rustling in the crowd, many getting up from their seats, ready to leave, only a few appearing to stay.“This is a net positive, everyone. You will have better freedoms, guaranteed freedoms! How could you not want that?” Then King Trimdin remembered what Quinten had told him all that time ago: “Your military is made up of a bunch of volunteers and under-experienced idiots. My veteran soldiers had a lot of time to train while The Queen was in power. Mine were ready, yours were not.”“The entire audience are veterans, right? That means that they are almost entirely former workers of Quinten, were former followers of his rhetoric. And that could mean….” While most of the crowd was getting up, a suspicious figure remained, out of nowhere holding a gun in their hand. “Oh shit,” The King said to himself.The gunman lined up their shot, aiming directly for Trimdin’s head. Guards quickly realized what was happening, some rushing into the crowds while others ran toward The King. But it was too late.The shooter quickly pulled the trigger of his long-barreled handgun, unleashing an array of bullets toward the still-unprotected Trimdin. In a move of instinct, The King made his magical magenta mist form around his hands, hastily trying to apply a shield. But with pellets piercing forward, there was little time.Just as the first bullet was about to hit King Trimdin, he was able to apply protection, merely stopping the shell from killing him. Then, the rest of his body was covered, stopping all projectiles from hurting him.Moments later, the shooter was tackled by guards, stopping the endless spray of slugs. From there, King Trimdin instantly floated in the air, scared for his life, following protocol and heading directly toward the castle for safety.But unfortunately for him, that was only the start….Chapter 53 - Restoration
Chapter 54 - History
“This place keeps getting cooler and cooler,” Claren said. The men and their alien escort continued through The Museum of Beltian Science, examining each innovation.“So this was your first hyper-speed engine?” Tim asked Kiran.“Yes, and without it, we would’ve never been able to trade with the Kuipernians.”“Damn, it was invented quite early on, too. Almost ten thousand years!” Claren added.“You need a bit of haste to travel in space. We can’t wait months, years, or decades just to make it to another nation,” Kiran joked.“No kidding. Our ships on Earth were nowhere even close to this. Our asses took months just to get here.”“I guess my car analogy checks out,” Tim whispered to himself.“We still have more! Come along, now,” Kiran commanded, pointing them forward.Periodically the three would stop at big moments of discovery. The list went on: cloning, weapons of mass destruction, vaccination, decoders; the further back they went, the more primitive the technology got.“Here is the first translation device,” Kiran said, pointing out a large metal box with grills on the top. “Once we started making these, our ability to communicate with the galaxy at large was heavily improved. No matter if we met with a civilization for the first or for the millionth time, they have become useful.”“How long does it take for the translator to work with new languages?”“There is no delay. You see, the technology is based on The King. Any language he can speak, we can translate,” she responded.“How many can he speak?”“All of them. Trimdin, now that he is ruler, can use any language in the universe, even if we don’t know where it originates from. Your little earpieces can convert conversations from any alien tongue no problem.”“If the language exists, The King knows it, and from there, you base your translations?” Claren questioned.“Yep. And it has worked every time”“Okay then,” Tim said. “So that’s how you know English?”“Eh, our relationship with English is another thing. I’m unsure how to explain it, but our language is very similar to yours. Beltian, as we call it, is like a simplified version of English. We are not sure why they are so similar, but they are.”“So there is no direct connection, but they are eerily similar. That answers about… nothing at all,” Tim said jokingly.“Hey, that’s all I know.”“It’s fine,” he laughed. “Just strange.”“Trust me, the more you know about the universe, the less sense it makes,” Kiran responded as she continued to lead Tim and Claren further toward the beginning of time, steaming toward the tale of The Belt's first weapons.“The automatic rifle was invented almost twenty thousand years ago and revolutionized wars. Before, the classic long-barreled handgun worked well for small and accurate assassinations while the bigger semi-auto was for fighting.”“I’m assuming you studied all this for your military training?” Tim asked.“Unfortunately. I’m more of a sword-fighter, as there’s more skill to that than just blasting an enemy full of shells, but mass murder is easier with guns.”“Yeah, we know that all too well. Earth had one too many wars in its days, each worse than the last. And when it came to Arcadia and Oceania, they were brutal. That’s why I stayed in space as much as possible, to escape the ugliness of it all.”“I was not as lucky,” Claren said. “War destroyed my home, our home. We definitely know it all too well.”Kiran looked at the two men in solidarity. “I’ve heard about Earth before. The blue marble of infinite water and luscious land that sits in the middle of our sky; the small dot that houses billions of beings. We don’t learn much about it, but I know you both loved it, that it was your native land, and I can easily understand the pain of seeing history run its course. Your society fell to the very thing mine was close to: self-destruction.”“And I think that’s why we are here,” Tim responded, “to make sure the same mistake is not made twice. Trimdin has done a good job so far, but it needs to keep going.”“Yes, it does,” inputted Claren.“The history of The Belt, even though you know only a fraction of it still, has repeated itself one too many times, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that both Trimdin and you two can make the changes needed.”“And we will. We have to. Why else would we have lived? Why else would Trimdin have been able to kill The Queen? Fate may be playing a part in this.”“Ah, yes,” Claren joked. “How can a man of science believe in fate?”“No, dear Claren, I am a man of fact and logic. But it’s reasonable to think that, after everything we’ve seen, fate may be real.”“It is,” Kiran said coldly. “Fates are real. Religions are real. Gods are real. It all is.”“Really?”“Every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the universe, appears to have some concept of a higher being, of a power above us. Trillions have been poured into the research of it, and all signs point to yes. Even though the First King was insane, he was probably right. He probably did see ‘le sqott.’ Let’s do a quick test. What do you call the afterlife?”“It depends entirely on which religion you follow. Some don’t have one, some believe in reincarnation, some call it heaven, some call it Ede—”“Eden. Oh yes, Eden,” Kiran interjected. “Everywhere we have gone, they have all had some variation of that name. Eddene, Elden, GkEdyn, and even in Beltian it's Edn. Sure they may have other names, but we all have an Eden.”“Seriously?” Claren questioned.“Yeah, seriously.”“Is this another example of ‘no direct connection but are eerily similar?’” Tim asked.“Exactly. That seems to be a constant.”“You were right when you said that the more you learn about the universe, the stranger it gets. Totally.”“What can I say?” Kiran responded.“Trimdin did not prepare us for such revelations, especially in a science museum.”“I don’t think he prepared me, either.”“What do you think Trimdin is doing right now anyway?” Claren asked Tim.“I’m not too sure. He said something about a memorial yesterday.”“Yes, he did,” Kiran answered. “The Beltian War Memorial is opening today.”“Is that for The Asteroid War?”“It is more for all conflicts fought in The Belt. War is so common that we rarely respect the soldiers who’ve died. And that lack of respect, that lack of closure, is what led to the vengeful army of Quinten.”“So that’s why he’s doing it: just to stop others from rising and take Quinten's place?”“No,” Kiran interrupted, “it’s because he feels the need to respect them, too. If there is anything King Trimdin learned from his tenure, it’s that hate will not get him anywhere, but love and care will. Stopping the cycle is more important than continuing it. If only some of those separatist bastards could recognize that!” she screamed.“Woah, calm down. What do you mean? Quinten’s army surrendered, right? You are literally the reason they did.”“MOST of them did. MOST. But there are still some factions out there trying to cause mayhem. The Royal Army has been doing a good job of taking care of it, but they are stubborn, to say the least. I took care of as many of them as I could over my break, but one girl can’t stop an army.”“So they’re still out there; that’s what your vacation was?” Claren asked in fear.“Duh, why do you think Trimdin assigned me to you? Sure, I am supposed to be your friend, but also your protector,” Kiran said.“We don’t need protection; Trimdin does. Isn’t their entire goal to kill him?”“Yes…”“So wouldn’t it be better if you were protecting HIM?”“You really undervalue your importance, don’t you?”“What do you mean?” Tim asked.“You are freaking Gods walking amongst us. You are the most popular—and only—humans in The Belt. You are best buddies with the Goddamn king! If there was anyone those assholes would want, it's you!”“So why did we come here if we would be in even the slightest bit of danger?”“Because you are not. We brought a legion of guards here, you have me, and the people of Vesta are extremely loyal subjects. Nothing can happen to you.”“But what about the crime sprees; what about that scummy pilot, Captain Landun? He literally admitted to liking The Queen, and you did not seem to like him either.”“Fine, Tim, you’ve got me there. The Captain is not my favorite, but I trust The King’s judgment. He would never send us with an untrustworthy pilot or to an unsafe place.”“I don’t know, Kiran. If there are Quinten sympathizers out there, we should be more careful. Trimdin should be more careful. I’m sure they can mask themselves pretty well, and, as always, anything could happen….”At that moment, the earpieces planted in each of their suits started to beep, telling them to tap it to answer. All three did, a call quickly steaming into their ears.“Tim, Claren, Kiran! Can you hear me?” a distressed voice said into their ears.“Who is this?” Tim asked.“It’s Trimdin.”“I see you’ve activated our phone abilities,” Claren joked.“Your majesty, what do you need?” Kiran waited for a command.“I need you to run. RUN, RUN, RUN!”“Wait, why?”“There was an assassination attempt on me. I don’t know if it was organized, but you need to come back to The Capital NOW. We can’t risk your lives.”“Wait, what did you just say?” Claren screamed.“Absolutely, sir. They’ll get home safe. Is this a Code Green or Red?” Kiran questioned.“Red for now. Let Tim pilot. Don’t trust anyone besides me or yourselves. No guards, no Captain Landun.”“Why?”“None of them are responding to my transmissions. I went to tell them about bringing you home, but I have gotten no response. They may have turned, they may have been killed, or maybe the communicators are just off. I don’t really know, and don’t really trust anyone here.”“Okay then, your majesty. Code Red it is.” Kiran turned her attention to Tim. “Do you think you could figure out how to fly our ships?”“Probably,” he responded.“That’s good to hear!”“Then we can do this,” she said back.“What about weapons? Do we need weapons?” Claren asked nervously.“I always travel with a sword,” Kiran proudly stated, tilting her hip toward Tim and Claren. “But for you two, I’ve got no idea.”“Only kill if needed!” Trimdin reminded them. “Please, I don’t want to add to the memorial the same day I opened it.”“No problem, your majesty. But if they attack us, I’m going for the final blow.”“Wouldn’t expect anything different, soldier. Protect Tim and Claren at all costs.”“Yes, sir.”“Then it’s settled. Get the hell out of there and be safe. Go silent. No calls, no radio, nothing. Not even to me.”“Absolutely, your majesty!” And with that, Tim, Claren, and most importantly, Kiran, were set on an unexpected adventure to escape the very place they thought safe, imprisoned by the home of scientific discovery.Chapter 54 - History
Chapter 55 - Pains & Plans
“Okay, Kiran, what’s the damn plan here? What’s next!” Claren began rapidly firing questions toward their protector.“Calm down,” Tim said. “Kiran, what do you want us to do? Aren’t we surrounded by guards? Or, at least, we were.”“Do you want to go see?” Kiran looked at the two men, intensely gazing at the green tint of the ClearSuits.“...Sure?” Claren responded worriedly.“Sure? No, you mean SURE!” Kiran said, pulling out her sword, grasping it with both hands. “Let’s go see what's in store for us boys.”“I’m beginning to see why Trimdin gave you to us,” Tim joked.“Just wait until you get to see me in action.” With that, they began to stride forward, marching toward the museum's entrance. Tim and Claren followed the offensive Kiran.They passed each previous exhibit, getting closer to where they had started. And as they did, the three began to see the massive windows of the front, looking out and noticing that it was empty. Everything was empty. The crowds and guards of before disappeared; no signs of life persisted. All they could see was the gorgeous front lawn of the museum.“Where did all the soldiers go? The citizens?”“Trimdin made the right call to say Code Red. Either they turned or got killed. How it happened while we were in here, I don’t know, but it’s the only explanation.”“I mean, a mutiny on that scale would be insane, but there is no way they were all murdered. We would have heard something.”“Could they have just been captured?” Claren asked.“Theoretically,” Kiran responded. “And I’m sure that shithead ‘Captain’ Landun was at the forefront of it.”“I knew that bastard was suspicious.”“He got on my nerves, and I only talked to him for a few minutes. I totally believe that he would throw something like this for a few bucks. But the rest of those guards, I’m not sure. I knew some of them; I’ve trained with them. They were good souls.”“Either way, we can’t trust them,” Tim said as they got closer to the door. The entire scene outside was still barren. “Before we go out, we should throw something and see if it’s safe. Maybe they trapped it.”“Oh, good idea,” Claren said excitedly.“Come on, this is not my first rodeo. Let’s see, what should I use?” Kiran looked around her body, trying to find a small, detachable item.While that was happening, Tim saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was matte, unsuspecting. It had a peculiar look, a reddish glow. And it sat right outside the museum, pointing directly at them. “Claren, do you see that?” Tim pointed out the window to the small buried device.“Yeah, Tim, I do.”“I think it's a camera.”“A camera, where?” Kiran said urgently, stopping her search.“Riiiightttt there,” Tim said in a drawn-out way, comically dramatizing its importance.But Kiran showed no smile; instead, a look of concern hit her face. “We can’t get out this way. That’s no camera, it's a sensor. A sensor that, once we get too close to it, will freaking explode us into smithereens.”“Oh,” Tim said quietly.“So we should not take this way?” Claren commented.“No, we most definitely should NOT.” The three of them backed away slowly.“Is there another way to get out of here? How far is The Grandiant from here?”“Let me think. So, not to confuse you two, but ships dock under the cities. All asteroids with major settlements are split in half, the top part having the living area, the bottom part dedicated to docking, trade transports, and more.”“Kiran, slow down. That’s all well and good, but how does that help us? There are a dozen layers between us and that, so who cares?”“Well, you should let me finish. This is a central building of the Vesta, right, and I know that they constantly have new artifacts being shipped in all the time. And, if they have enough shipments, they may have a direct connection between the two halves.”“Wait a minute, are you saying there may be an elevator around here that could bring us down there, just like the one we used at the ship to get here?” Claren asked.“Possibly, though if I can deduct that, then anyone could. But, and this is a huge but, there’s a slight chance they forgot. We are more likely to die going out this door than trying to find a stairway to the underworld.”“Hey, I’m willing to take that chance. Claren and I have played with luck so many times; what’s one more time going to do?”“Even if we die here, we at least got the chance to live a new one. The people of Earth never got that. My mom never got that. My dad didn’t. My boyfriend didn’t. We’ve made it further than I could’ve thought, and I hope they’re proud of that.”“Claren,” Tim said emotionally, “that’s what I need to hear right now. That’s what I was telling you on the ship. They all loved you, and I know you loved them, and I am sorry that our dumb mission took you away from them. I’m sorry that the idiotic race between the nations pulled you from them. But I am glad that it brought you to me. We have been through so much in so little time, but there’s no one else I would have done it with.” He began to shed a tear, peering deeply into his partner's eyes.Kiran stood by proudly, smiling at the blossoming friendship.“Thank you, Tim. Thank you.” His eyes also began to water. “There has just been so much damn pain and not enough space to get it sorted out. Shit is constantly thrown at us, at our happiness, thwarting whatever sense of normalcy in our lives. But as you said, I am happy to go through it with you. You’re here to balance me out, to smarten me up, but also here to help me get up when I fall.”“Well, buddy, for all that wisdom, I get back pains in return,” Tim said, laughing.“Whatever it is, it’s working,” Claren responded. “I think the closure starting to happen, Tim. It’s starting to come, I can feel it already. The once warm blanket that wrapped me is coming back, slowly.”“I told you it would. Now, we need to get going, right Kiran? I’m sure you no longer need to see this sob story.”Kiran looked up at Tim, showing visible tears on her face as well. “Ah, yeah, sure, let’s get going,” she said, wiping them off.“I didn’t think we were being that dramatic. We should be actors, Claren!” Tim said, holding back some of his emotions.“It was quite the show,” Kiran responded with sniffles. “Now, follow me.”Yet again, the men trailed Kiran, quickly coming across a small tablet device that, with a few clicks of a button, showed a blueprint of the building.“We’re here and… yes, okay, there, and… ah, yes, here we go!” Kiran exclaimed. “It says that if we just go down this hallway, there will be a door. Behind that door is a maintenance room where they store and repair certain display pieces. BUT, if we keep going in the room, we should get to a large staircase that will lead to an elevator. That elevator apparently leads directly to a ship in the docking area.”“Great, that sounds easy enough,” Tim said.“Though there’s one thing: we need a passcode for the elevator to work.”“A passcode? How would we get that?”“There are many ways, many devices that can do it. But we don’t have any one hand right now, not unless you two have anything up your sleeve?”“I don’t think so.”“Not surprised. If only I had that damn thing I used on the vault!”“What thing,” Claren questioned.“When I first encountered Quinten during the war, I used a device that allowed me to crack the code to open his bunker. Though I don’t have anything close to that here.”“Do you think we could just bust it open?” Tim suggested. “I mean, that steel blade of yours can do a lot more than look pretty.”“That elevator uses the hardest lock system in The Belt. My sword will break before the door even gets a dent.”“Maybe we’ll find something on the way. That’s simple enough,” Tim said back.“I like simple!” Claren responded.“Good enough.”Quickly they made their way toward the maintenance room, safely getting away from the dangerous entrance of the museum. From there, they kicked down its door with ease, entering cautiously. The area matched much of the looks of the rest of the building, only having one key distinction: the organization. Instead of the clean and pristine it bore outside of it, the room was scattered with dozens of pieces, technology old and new sitting around on tables. Things were unfinished, abandoned for their arrival that morning.“Well, this place needs some spring cleaning,” Claren quipped.“That’s to put it lightly,” Tim commented.“This is a good thing, though. Look around and see if you can find anything labeled DECODER. We may get lucky with all this junk. An older model may be here for display.”“What would it look like?”“Usually, they have a small screen on them and a wire that you hook up to the device you are trying to open. Something like that.”“Very detailed,” Tim said sarcastically.“Sorry, did you want a full 3D scan of one?”Tim stayed quiet, not responding.“Exactly,” she added with a light giggle. “Let’s get to work.”The men instantly started looking around, scavenging the gray table for any signs of one. Kiran did the same, scoping out for the familiar device, looking for as long as they could.But on the opposite end of the room, the large slope down toward the elevator stood, existing precisely where the blueprints said it would be. Only one thing stood out, imperfectly matching their preconceptions: the size of the elevator. Instead of a large shaft leading down to the docks, it was a small transport, specially designed for item movement, not men. The trio of Trimdin’s friends continued to look for their needed device, not noticing the trouble they were soon to encounter.“Have you found anything?” Kiran yelled to Tim, who was inspecting a small gadget.“Nothing yet!” he responded. “I saw a small dagger, that’s about it.”“What about you, Claren?”“I found something with a screen, but no wires or anything.”“Damn it!” Kiran shouted. “Maybe we should just go to the sword thing,” she said in a small fit of rage. Kiran quickly rushed to the staircase, went down it, and uncovered the elevator. “Oh, that’s not good.”“What is it?” Claren yelled from the top.“Can one of you come down? I’ll need to do a bit of a size comparison.”“A size comparison?”“Yeah, just get down here,” she commanded.Tim rushed toward Kiran, leaving Claren alone in his search. “What is i… WHOA! Is that the elevator?”“I have a feeling this won’t be big enough for us,” Kiran said, looking at it. The lift was skinny and short, barely able to fit the much smaller Kiran. “This thing was clearly designed for item transport, not human.”“I guess so. We could go one by one if we really squish in. Or maybe it’s big on the inside and just small out here?”“Squishing might be possible, but who knows how big the shaft is?”“What the hell are you two talking about down there? I’m a bit concerned based off of the words ‘size comparison’ and ‘shaft.’” Claren jokingly yelled down the stairwell.“Come on man!” Tim shouted back. “No need. Just focus on finding the decoder.”“Well, next time you should stop making good joke setups!”“It’s not a good joke. It’s juvenile.”“I don’t get it,” Kiran said to Tim. “What does he mean?”“Nothing. Claren’s just being a smartass.”“A smartass? If he keeps distracting us, I’ll kick his ass,” Kiran quipped.“You hear that, Claren?”There was no response.“He heard you,” Tim told Kiran.“I sure hope he did. Now, back to the task. The only risk with going one at a time is that they could ambush us,” Kiran added. “I must go first with my blade, ready to fight.”“Fine, but what if you get captured or killed? Then we are defenseless.”“Did you see any functional weapons out there? A knife or something?”“A knife…” Tim thought to himself. “I looked at quite a few things, but a knife….”“Wait, didn’t you just say you saw a small dagger? Where was it?”“You’re right! I totally forgot. It was in the corner of the room, first shelf. It said something along the lines of being ‘the blade that killed Queen Calidon.’”“I wonder why that would be here, in the science museum?” Kiran responded.“My suit told me that it’s made of ‘foreign metals,’ so they were inspecting its origins.”“Wait, Queen Calidon? The Queen? That dagger?”“What are you talking about?”“Do you not remember how it looked? The dagger. That’s the dagger, Tim. It’s the one you gave to Trimdin, the one he killed The Queen with!”“Wait. Queen Calidon? That was her?”“I really need to brush you up on our history.”“Clearly,” Tim said back.“Anyway, go up there and get that dagger. And maybe get Claren while you’re at it.”“I wonder if he’s found anything…” Tim said. And at that same moment, just like many before, they heard a cheer.“I found it, I Goddamn found it,” he yelled.“I’ve got to stop with the coincidences,” Tim commented.“What?” Kiran asked.“Just talking to myself.”With haste, the two ran back up to Claren, who was proudly holding a device in the air.“Tim, Kiran, I think I found it. I did some light digging and found a file on code tech. Then, it said there was going to be an exhibit on it, so I searched for what they were going to put on, and I found it. The Fifth Generation Royal Decoder!” he said.“Good job, man!” Tim came over to Claren and hugged him kindly. “Good job.”“Claren, we have something to tell you, though.”“What is that?”“You see, the elevator has a bit of an issue.”“An issue?” Claren asked, worried.“The size of the elevator is, well, problematic,” Kiran said, trying to be subtle.“It’s too small,” Tim blurted out. “We can barely fit through the doorway, Claren. It will be a tight fit, and we have no idea how large the thing is inside.”“That doesn’t shock me,” Claren said. “An elevator made to transport items will likely be the size of an elevator for those items.”“Great,” Kiran responded, “but that does not solve our problem.”“We’re used to small and confined spaces, Kiran,” Claren stated. “That’s what exploration is all about, right Tim.”“Unfortunately, I’ve gotten paid more than once to risk my safety and live in a cramped space station for months at a time. We can likely squeeze in.”“Well, then grab the dagger and go! We have no time to waste.”“Wait, dagger?” Claren asked.“I’ll explain later,” Tim said back, rushing over to the knife in question. Its shining exterior and prominent tip displayed itself beautifully, reminding Tim of the adventure to get the parts. He then walked by Claren, marching downward with Kiran.“Is that what I think it is?” Claren commented as they moved.“Yes, it is. You made a defibrillator out of it… somehow.”“I still have no freaking idea how that worked,” he said, following them diligently."Again, fate. We have had some extreme luck,” Tim mentioned nearing the elevator, the decoder in Claren’s hand.“If we’re lucky enough, this will all work,” Kiran added.“It should. It has to.”“It will,” Claren said, placing the gadget next to the number panel. Kiran detached it from the wall, keeping the digits illuminated and functional while exposing a wire. Then, the two parts of the puzzle were connected, their decoder starting its calculations.“How long do these things take?” Tim asked.“Claren, you said it was Gen. Five, right?”“Yes.”“Then it will take about two minutes. The ones we have today are super quick, but single-use. These things, I am not as sure about, but I do know that they last a lot longer.”“That comes at the cost of speed, I’m assuming?” Claren said.“Sadly.”“Well, we’re burning good time by talking. We should come up with a plan for this damn thing. What do we do when we get down there?”“I’ll go first and wait, scoping out the area. Then you, Tim, with the dagger ready. And finally, Claren. If you can find a pipe or something, use that. As long as it causes pain.”“Fair enough, I ain’t a good fighter anyway.”“Good. And when it comes to the location of The Grandiant, it is fairly close by. If I remember correctly, it was parked in docking station C, close to the center of Vesta. We are in the eastern part.” “How do you know all of this,” Claren naively asked.“Hey, Claren. When you get this far into the story, you don’t ask questions. I made that mistake with Trimdin. Trust me, she knows what she is talking about.”“Yes, thank you, Tim. My entire job is to know everything to keep you safe. I inspected it all. I know it all.”“Sorry I ever doubted you,” Claren responded mischievously.“Once we all make it down there safely, we have to make it to the ship. Then, just like the elevator, I’ll board first and clear it. Who knows what still lingers on it?”“What if we flew something more unsuspecting? Maybe one closer?” Tim asked.“You mean, like steal a ship?” Claren added.“I don’t know. We’ll see. That would probably be the smartest move, but The Grandiant is Royal property. It was not cheap to make.”“Safety is more important. I can fly anything you throw at me, minus a few translations, maybe.”“Okay then, we’ll find the closest ship. No matter what, we need to be stealthy. Are you ready?” Kiran asked.“Yes, we are,” Tim answered for them both.“Perfect, because I think the decoder is too.” Right then, it made a beep sound. “Claren, here’s the code.”Claren fitted the number panel back on a bit more snugly, inputting the display of digits on the screen. “5172017,” he typed, a small chime following. And then, like magic, the elevator door opened, unveiling its size.“That’s a bit bigger than expected,” Kiran mentioned, “but the plan still follows.“Yes, ma'am.”And with that, Kiran fit herself into the box, her armor rubbing against the sides. She held her sword with two hands in front of her, prepared to fight the minute she got there.Tim and Claren remained, waiting for it to return and talking about their next step.“All of these pains and plans are getting tiring,” Claren cried to Tim.“We’re almost back to the safety of Trimdin. I still don’t get why he would send us all the way here if there was even the slightest chance of danger. It just seems silly.”“As Kiran said, Vesta is seen as pretty safe. It’s probably a Royal anchor on this side of The Belt. I mean, we traveled to the other end of this ring of rocks. That’s no short distance.”“Yeah, but to me, that makes it even weirder. You realize it has only been a day and a half since we were in orbit around Earth. A DAY AND A HALF. Forty-eight hours ago, we were in our sleeping bags, thinking the end was near. The craziness has been non-stop since. Now all I want is a damn nap. A damn break.”“I think Trimdin can do that. If anything, he can do that.” Claren said somberly.“Good,” Tim said, followed by an unexpected chime. The elevator door had opened, now inviting his presence. “It’s my time to go!” he quipped.“Be safe, Tim,” Claren responded, watching his commanding officer enter the small space. He had to crouch down, his ClearSuit condensed against the white sides of the wall.“Adiós!” Tim yelled as the gate closed, shooting him down toward the bay area.“And then there was one,” Claren said, feeling the room's emptiness. “I guess I’ll go find that pipe.”Claren began to walk away from the elevator, heading toward the maintenance room. He looked around at the scattered mess, searching for something long, something metal. Every corner was searched, all in the hopes he would find something.As he skimmed, minutes went by, seemingly without sign of the elevator’s return."What the hell is going on? Tim should have sent it back up by now, right?” Claren questioned aloud. “And is there anything here I can use as a damn weapon!”He soon found himself near the same place the dagger was once held, reading the sign attached. “I’ve got to say, their language really is similar to ours.”Claren kept examining the room, looking at dozens of gadgets and gizmos, all totally useless to him. That was, until he saw a short stick on the ground under one of the tables.“What’s this?” He ducked down, reaching over to the rod. “Is… Is this a baton?” Claren got closer. “Quite a shiny one at that!” The baton was silver plated, with a stubbed point at each end. “That’s the best I’ll get!”Claren got up from the ground, now heading directly toward the elevator. It continued to look as unsuspecting as before, like nothing had changed. And this belief remained, as the all-important chime came through, indicating that the cab had arrived.“Finally,” he exclaimed, excited to enter.The space was tight, so he ducked his head and stuck the stick in front of him. Buttons sat inside, with one at the bottom having a clear picture of a ship. He pressed it, the elevator door slowly closing afterward.“How the hell did Tim fit in this thing!” Claren shouted.The elevator started to move downward toward the docking station. Everything was seemingly normal. Claren could feel the gravity pulling him down slowly, a light-up graphic indicating his descent.“I can’t wait for this adventure to stop. Every second I’m blindsided by a new event, suffocated by danger. Where does it end?” he complained to himself.Eventually, the elevator came to a roaring halt, Claren sensing the solid structure of rock below him. “Finally,” he stated.The shaded slammers slid open, revealing the requested region within Vesta. A wide space sat before him, inviting the crushed Claren in. He quickly walked out, waiting to watch the whimsical ways of the docking stations. But they never came.Tim and Kiran were nowhere to be found; everything was empty. All ships had left, leaving Claren stranded.“Hello!” Claren screamed, confused, his voice echoing in the large chambers. “Where are you guys? Tim? Kiran?” He got his baton ready, gripping it with two hands and lifting it vertically in front of his chest.“Where the hell is everybody?” Claren started to get nervous, sweat collecting around his forehead. Swiftly, he looked around his periphery, swinging his stick senselessly.“Something’s wrong, very wrong,” he voiced, still standing mere feet away from the now-closed elevator door.“Oh, dear Claren. Something is definitely wrong,” a voice said behind him. Suddenly, Claren's head was covered with a sack, a string tightened around his neck as he dropped his baton, suffocated by danger.Chapter 55 - Pains & Plans
Chapter 56 - The King Of Gods
“Your majesty! Your majesty!” an aide screamed through Trimdin’s bedroom door.The King secured himself in the castle, refusing to let anyone see him, sitting at his desk and contemplating his decisions.“Your majesty! It’s urgent.”“Get away!” he growled, trying to thwart their efforts. “I am not leaving this room until Tim, Claren, and Kiran come back and The Capital is secured. Something’s going on, something very wrong, and I can’t trust any of you.”“Sir, their lives are not nearly as important as yours. An assassination attempt on the King of The Asteroid Belt should not be taken lightly. We need swift action against them, crushing these outstanding rebels.”“Is there any news from Vesta yet?” Trimdin quickly asked.“Every attempt to contact Captain Landun and his crew have gone nowhere, sir. Vesta is silent, too. There’s been no activity of travel around it; everything is eerily still.”“Have the autonomous drones made it?”“No. They were shot down as they approached.”“How do I know you are telling the truth?” The King asked."Until you walk out of that room, you’ll just have to trust me.”“Fine!” he said in return. “Did the shooter get arrested?”“They’re in Royal custody as we speak.”“I really thought Quinten’s death would be the end of the mayhem. But it’s no surprise some of those imbeciles would want to rise again. It’s in their nature.”“Your majesty, you have done everything you can to stop them, but some need to learn the lesson themselves. You can’t expect everyone to be taught by your mistakes. They will all see in time that you are correct, but they need to do it on their own, just as you did.”“I don’t think anyone can ever repeat it the same way I did. One too many factors played into that one,” King Trimdin joked.“Of course, sir, but what I said is still true. You are fortunate to have learned these lessons, fortunate that millions are willing to listen to them, but you can’t take that for granted. These stragglers are looking for the validation they need; for the validation their pain brings them, and they won’t stop until they find it. Or, at least what they think it is.”“When did you become so wise?” Trimdin questioned his hidden aide.“I picked up a few things from your brother, to say the least.”“Do you think he would be proud of what I have done so far?”“Oh, my king, he’d be more than proud. You’ve caused more disruption than he did in five years. He was no light ruler; so much changed the second he came into power, but you have easily beat him with your accomplishments.”“Would he be proud of me?”“I think so. Lessons have been learned, evil has been swayed, war has been ended; that seems to fit the criteria well.”“And there’s just so much more. This place, our home, deserves so much more than stingy mineral families and corrupt rulers. It needs more than what my measly ideas can bring it. The subjects have earned their right to rule themselves.”“Your majesty, what you said today was revolutionary,” they said, still talking through the door. “Those few words will forever change the way The Belt works, and I think support is much better than what you saw in that crowd. It was just the right thing at the wrong time.”“Democracy is our future. I am not. That IS what my brother wanted.”“Well, if anyone can do this, it is you, sir.”“No, my brother was the mastermind of it all. He was a kind ruler, he cared for his subjects, and all I’ve done is continue that. The only difference is that I am here to see it out,” Trimdin began to shed a tear.They could hear his muffled weeping through the panel. “You are not the only one; you are not alone. I’m here, and so many others across The Belt are here, waiting for you to finish what he started all that time ago. Never mind that Tim and Claren, two HUMANS, are an audience to it as well. More beings than ever want to help you continue his legacy, and I know that he is watching you in Eden with a smile grazing his face.”“Thank you. I doubt most Royal leaders talk to their subordinates like this. You know, talking about feelings and stuff through a door like a teenager.”“This is a first for me, sir, but I enjoy it. These are the words of someone who was thrust into kingship without time to train, prepare, or really understand what they were getting into. But they love it all the same, being more diehard and committed than any experienced ruler would be. That’s what makes them special; that’s what makes you special.”“You could be a therapist. The way you say things is strangely comforting.”“I wish I went to school for that instead of public communications,” they responded.“Me too,” The King laughed. “Those Goddamn degrees mean nothing these days! Anyway, have you heard anything yet about, you know, the actual situation at hand?”“No, your majesty, but do you really think they will tell me? I’m too low ranking; they’d rather send someone here to barge down your door and tell you.”Probably,” Trimdin said back humorously. “They won’t even want to talk to me, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them mutiny after all this.”“Sir, they won’t do that. It’s just a few rotten apples, nothing more.”“Everyone says that, yet it continues happening. How many ‘rotten apples’ are there? And what about the apples that are rotten on the inside but bright and beautiful on the outside? The ones we pick up and eat, trusting them based on appearance, but soon learn that they’re rotten to the core? What about them?”“The illusion of something can be much stronger than the real thing.”“I had an illusion of power, of revenge, of self-worth, but learned that it was nothing but hate. Quinten had real power, real revenge, real self-worth, but was poisoned by his ego. My illusion won, but just by a hair.”“Is that the lesson, your majesty? That an illusion is better than the real thing?”“No, we should not seek these things in the first place, real or not, and recognize that both are a dangerous path to follow, extreme unpredictability plaguing it.”“Ah, I see. Your brother’s smarts are starting to shine through,” they laughed.“He was smarter than I’ll ever be. He was a good negotiator, as well.”“Quinten was pretty good, too. That day he came to the palace and called for war still stuns me. He was the master of trickery, of convincing others to follow him. He made a living off of it. That and his strategizing.”“Yeah, he always knew when it was the right time to do something. He was timely with everything. That’s the only way he could one-up me.” King Trimdin fell quiet. “It was his worst trick.” He began thinking back to the war, glimpses of the bloodshed flashing through. It was so vivid, so clear, feeling like it had just happened again.“Your majesty?” the aide questioned after a few moments passed.“Just give me a moment.” The King got up from his chair, slammed it in, and started to walk around anxiously.“Is it all coming back again? The images?”“Just give me a second.”“Sir, just lay down and think happy thoughts. It’s okay. You're okay.”“How could I ever let that happen!” he screamed to himself. “The damn trickery!”“Sir!”“All those families I let down, all the subjects I got killed, just for vengeance!” King Trimdin continued to stand, now throwing his hands violently in the air.“Sir, do I need to come in there? You need to calm down. Everything is okay.”“It will never be okay. How could it be? You can’t call the slaughtering of hundreds a mistake, can you?”“It was. That’s all it was. You have done everything, have taken away the Devil that did it, have made a memorial and retributed them. Now you must learn to live with that. But that pain, those losses, have brought freedom and justice to all in The Belt. That is something truly wonderful.”“How can it ever be right if so many had to fall to make it happen?”“All good things come from somewhere bad. There can never be happiness without pain first. Once you hit rock bottom, it is only up from there.”“But that doesn’t mean it should have happened.” He was starting to calm down, the extreme emotions settling.“No, it doesn’t,” the assistant said somberly, “but that doesn’t mean that you have failed, that you have caused a negative overall.”The King began to feel better, walking back to his desk and loudly dragging his chair back out, sitting down with a notepad and communicator in front of him.“Good! Thank you for listening. I guess I really should be a therapist.”Trimdin lightly giggled at the joke, transitioning to a calmer state. “You really should,” he said to them. “You really, really should.”“Without everything you’ve done, that wouldn’t be possible. Without the things you have brought to The Belt, the changes you have made, I would have never even made it out of the mines. You did that, sir.”“It was not me. I was just the one watching over it all.”“Even still, it’s because of your leadership. Between your might, your kindness, and your care, you are single-handedly changing Beltian's lives.”“If you want me to write a letter of recommendation to a university, I’ll do it. You NEED to be a therapist at this point!”“If you make it free, I’ll do it. Add it to your welfare budget or something.”“It’s the job you are clearly destined for. Get me the papers!” he quipped.“That’s the King Trimdin I like to hear! I hope it lasts,” they said.“I kind of hope so, too.” But it didn’t.The next second, The King’s communicator started to ring. He picked it up, suddenly seeing the caller's name: Kiran.“What the hell?” he said, confused.“What is it?” they yelled back.“I’m getting a call… from Kiran? Why would she call me? I told them to go quiet.”“Maybe they’re here? Maybe they have arrived back safely?”“Well, is anyone here to kick down my door?”“No.”“Then something’s wrong.”“Can I come in, then?” the aide asked as the ringing occurred in the room.“Why not at this point?” He got up, walked to the door, and promptly unlocked it, letting his underling in.“Thank you,” they said while closing it. “Now answer the Goddamn thing!”“Wow, you’re showing such kindness to your employer. Maybe I’ll change my mind on the free college thing.”“Answer it.”“Okay!” he responded, pressing the proper button and starting the call. “Why the hell are you calling me, Kiran?”“Oh, dear Trimdin, did you really think it was your damsel soldier? Do you think those men were going to make it off Vesta easy? Don’t be so ridiculous. We’ve got them; we’ve captured them. And that legion of guards you sent? Killed, every single one, including that frivolous Captain Landun. Damn traitor.”"Who are you?” Trimdin screamed into the phone. “You know who we are. From the ashes of Quinten, we have risen. The Children of Quinten are coming, your majesty, and we’re starting with your measly friends. You think you’re The King of Gods, The King that saved us from tyranny. But all you’ve brought is pain.”“Where are Tim, Claren, and Kiran? What have you done with them?”“The same thing The Queen did to you all that time ago. Start with the verbal torture, but then get to the real physical stuff.” In the background of the call, they could start to hear faint screams, quickly noticing whose they were.“I’ll send an entire army to your doorstep! This is an act of war. You are killing Royal subjects of the highest caliber. You don’t dare want to be met by that.”“As far as we’re aware, two aren’t even Belitan. They’re not even citizens.”“We should have done those citizenship tests sooner,” Trimdin said to his aide.“You should have. But instead, you sent them to the science hub of The Belt, thinking they would be safe, didn’t you?” one of the Children taunted.“Tim, Claren, and Kiran, if you can hear me, I am coming for you!”“They can’t hear you. We’ll have them bleeding from their ears soon, anyway. You can pick up their ashes when we’re done with them!”“You bastards. What the hell? I mean seriously, what the actual hell? I’m doing everything I can to make this place better, and all you want to do is poison it. Who is gaining from your brutal beliefs besides yourselves? If you want revenge, fine, but don’t subject others to your pain. All that I can tell you is that it will never satisfy you, it will NEVER lead to the happiness you think it will bring.”“But oh yes, it will,” everyone on the other end said in unison.“Such a Goddamn cult,” the aide whispered to Trimdin.“I am going to send every ship, every soldier, every weapon, every bomb, everything to your location. You will be crushed. There is no in-between.”“Then we will just kill them a bit faster. Get your knives out, boys. These lambs are about to go to the slaughter,” they commanded, it being picked up by their communicator.“Wait, how can we solve this more diplomatically? There’s no need for any knives.”“Surrender. Surrender your government, your subjects, your life, to us. That’s it. Do you find that a worthy trade?”“The lives of millions for three?”“Would you not say that they are worth it? I mean, two of them are Gods, right? Does that not increase their value tenfold?”"It does. But you can’t—”“Yes, we can,” they cut him off. “It’s an easy trade, dear Trimdin.”“God, you even talk like him. How does it feel to love that psychopath so much, to follow that unsensible villain?”“Sensibility went out the window the second you became king. Your brother was handled quickly, but you are much harder to exterminate. You’re a cockroach of his ideology, never quite dying no matter how many times we try to stomp it out.” “Tell me about it,” The King said under his breath. “Oh, stop it. If there was one thing our Master was good at, it was keeping things concise with you. I swear, all you Royalists are pure chatterboxes. We eventually gagged your little friends because they wouldn’t shut up,” they cackled over the call.“You’ll see why when we come to destroy you. I have learned from the past, understand your deception, and am more ready than ever to beat your furious asses.”“See you then,” they said elusively, promptly ending the call.Shivers were sent along King Trimdin and his aide’s spines; fear of what would come clogged their psyche. Tim, Claren, and Kiran were in real trouble, and The King of Gods was not prepared to handle it.Chapter 56 - The King Of Gods
Chapter 57 - Humanity
King Trimdin rushed out of his room, his aide closely following. He stormed toward the command center, toward his advisors, seeking the help he needed to save his friends.Quickly they barged in, many of them staring at the distraught Trimdin.“I just got a call from someone. They’ve named themselves the Children of Quinten.”“Your majesty,” they all said in unison, kneeling.“Oh, stop the formalities. Can you trace the location of Tim, Claren, and Kiran?”“Yes, sir,” one said in the corner, “do you want the locations of their ClearSuits?”“YEAH.”“Give me a second, sir.” They hastily input something into their computer nearby, linking to the suits and locating them. “I’ve got it!”“Where are they?” Trimdin shouted.“It looks here that they are still on Vesta, deep in its core. They haven’t gone far.”“Good. So what the hell do we do now?”“Well, my king,” a general commented, “what did these ‘Children of Quinten’ say?”The King’s aide suddenly stepped into the conversation. “They murdered the entire legion sent to protect them and are actively torturing the men and their officer.”“They aren’t joking around, then?” the general said back.“No, they’re not,” Trimdin responded. “Those assholes just added thirty new graves to the memorial!”"Did they make any offers? Negotiations?”“Yes… my surrender… and the entire government.”“Sounds like Quinten, all right,” a soldier in the room added.“It sure does,” King Trimdin said, “and they have us in a similar conundrum, too. If we try to attack and they detect it, they will just kill Tim, Claren, and Kiran faster. If we do nothing, they will still die. AND, even if I did surrender, they would probably kill them anyway. How do you get out of that?”“You don’t,” the general said. “You just don’t.”“What do you mean?”“Is sacrificing The Belt worth it for their lives, sir? At the end of the day, two of them are humans who have no home here.”“How dare you!”“Your majesty, I am just stating the truth. You’re the one who almost lost a war because you let your revenge, your personal hate for Quinten, blind you. You’re the one who sat in his bedroom and refused to consult others like an adult! Don’t let your personal love for them, your emotions, hurt The Belt again.”“They are entirely different from Quinten and me. That bastard is why my brother died, the reason this kingdom went under. But Tim and Claren, they are going to be the reason it rises again. How is it bad that I want to save them?” Trimdin shouted back.“Sir, calm down,” his assistant said. “We’ll figure this out.”“Yes, we will. We need to do something.”“We can’t. Your personal feelings can’t get in the way of ruling, sir. We should ask the subjects what they want instead of doing everything behind closed doors? Let’s see if they truly care for these men, for dear Kiran?”“They do. They have to. Without them, I would have never killed The Queen. They are the last of humanity, the last of their kind, and I would not be here without them!”“You talked of democracy, so let’s get it started. Get on a broadcast, tell Beltians what is happening, and let them vote; let them choose what THEY want. This is their home, this is their Belt, and they have the right to make the decision of whether or not we should go after these ‘Children.’” The general looked straight at The King, fully challenging him.“I do want democracy, I think we need it. But is this really the time to implement it when so much evil is lingering?” he laughed nervously.“What time would be better?”Trimdin stood perplexed.“When?” they said again.“I don’t know. Later? When my friends aren’t in crisis.”“Whether or not they are friends doesn’t matter,” they responded. “The lives of Beltians, of your subjects, are most important.”“What the hell do you want me to do? The choice is impossible.”“Leave it to the citizens,” they commanded. “What time is better?”The King was dumbfounded, staggered by the words of his advisor.“Now…” he said in return.“Good. Now is the time.”“Get me the public relations department and the head of the Royal Beltonian Broadcasting System,” The King ordered. “I’m going to prove they care!”~~Deep within Vesta, Tim, Claren, and Kiran stood, tied to poles. They lay bare, gagged by large strips of cloth, dyed by the blood running down their faces.“Oh my, The King is one idiot,” one of the Children said. “Such a Goddamn idiot.” The call had already ended, the three adventures desperately crying for help.“As for you three, we expected better. You’ve been labeled ‘Gods,’ but you’re more mortal than that bastard.”Surrounded by gray stone and large knives, the room they were contained in was nothing short of horrifying for the two men and Kiran to see.“Now, I’m sure you're wondering a million things, right? Like ‘where did you come from’ or ‘why are we here?’ Well, you already know. Especially you, Kiran Samdin. If anyone does, you do. But I doubt your cargo has any idea what is happening. Do they?”Kiran, tied slightly lower than the humans next to her, violently shook in anger.“Trimdin gives you too much credit. ‘Ending the war.’ Really? You did jackshit until you pulled that gadget out and decoded the vault. Yeah, I was there, and damn did I enjoy mowing down the Blue battalion. Sad you weren’t one of them!” they laughed hysterically.They then switched their attention to the men. “And you two are terrible representatives of humanity. Your species was nowhere near ours, but you had some potential. Too bad you’re all that’s left!”The men, blood covering their suits, started to have tears visibly fall down their faces.“Was it nuclear weapons that ended it all? Something along those lines?”They twisted and turned similarly to Kiran.“Ah, it was! Well then, how about we give you some options? When we kill you, how does burning alive sound?”“Oh, yes, good idea, Master,” someone said in the corner of the room.“I’d say so. How about you guys?” The alien looked directly at them, their large, beady eyes pointed toward them. “Numbers 36, 42, and 90, take these bastards down! Let’s do it Earth’s way: in a ball of fire!”Three soldiers got up and marched toward Tim, Claren, and Kiran, knives in hand. Together, their limbs loosened from the stakes behind them, handcuffs being quickly placed around their wrists.“Good! Now, how should we do this? I think a broadcast would be nice!”“A broadcast? Now you’re talking my language,” Number 90 said, who was tightly holding onto Kiran.“I’m sure I am, dear Child. The Master always wanted to do a Belt-wide execution,” they said eagerly. “Lord, we will honor your wishes. Your children are here to continue your legacy, your greatness, and we will murder the weak friends of King Trimdin to prove it!”Every soldier stared in solidarity with the towering creature, quickly kneeling.“Tim, Claren, and of course, Kiran,” they said slyly, “you are getting the best present you could: the chance to go to hell!”With that, the lead alien walked toward a doorway in the torturous lair. Promptly, the three of them followed, pushed by their respective guards. They were driven through a dark, blackened hall, small lamps seldom lighting the entire passage. Quickly, their destination was revealed: a large auditorium with hundreds of figures in the audience.“I’m sure you didn’t expect this!” The ‘Master’ said to them. “We didn’t have long to set things up, so this is the best we’ve got.”Tim, Claren, and Kiran stood amazed, shocked by the sheer number of beings suddenly standing and cheering with their arrival. The floor below them was solid stone, the same as the walls behind the large stakes they were set to burn on.“These are the Children of Quinten, my dear friends. Every single one of them is here to watch you DIE. They are here to revel in your pain!” they shouted toward the crowd, one that rallied in response.Kiran started to show fear in her eyes as they enlarged. She began twisting and turning yet again, but to no avail. The soldier holding her still eventually whacked her on the back with their baton, though to the disapproval of their leader.“Hey, no need for the extra abuse. Save that for the show!”“I’m sorry, sir. Kiran here was just acting a bit out of order.”“Oh, I’m sure she was. She’s the rebellious type, to say the least.”This angered Kiran even further.“She's barely 'rebellious,'” Number 90 said. “She’s barely got enough strength to hold a gun!”“Fuuuu you! Fuuu you!” she tried to scream."What’s that? We hurting your ego? Offending you, maybe? Too bad! We only needed the men; your arrival was a gift from Quinten himself!”Kiran wiggled her arms around in the handcuffs, maddened by the comments.Tim and Claren stood still, petrified by the pure evil on display.“That’s enough time-wasting. Get their asses on the stakes!” they commanded.Seconds later, the three prisoners were brought over to towering poles. They were perfectly centered on the ‘stage,’ a large pile of fuel sitting beside each one. One by one, they were attached to the new set of stakes, forced to gaze at the riled audience.Before they were raised, the chief of the Children added one order: “Remove the gags. They want to hear them scream!”Suddenly, the already rambunctious crowd got even wilder, as Tim, Claren, and Kiran’s masks were removed, their bloodied faces finally having a large weight removed.“You motherf—”“Hey!” Tim interrupted Claren.“Ha, ha, ha, I see that you’re quite excited!” they taunted.“We’re quite excited to beat your Goddamn asses!” Kiran shouted.“How do you think you’re doing that? We took your swords, knives, and… batons? You’ve got nothing,” they said, holding the items out in front of them.“You heard King Trimdin. He knows what you're doing, he knows where we are, and he is going to save us! He has to.”“Kiran, you know more than anyone that Trimdin won’t come. Or, at least, his advisor won’t let him come. He acts out of emotion, not strategy, and that’ll be his downfall.”“That emotion is why he is such a good ruler!” Claren screamed down toward the Children. “The Queen was an evil, heartless bitch, and from what we’ve heard, your ‘leader’ was quite the same!”Gasps arose from the room in front of the men and their companion. The Master looked up at Claren, smiling greatly.“Oh, you’ve just said something you will regret!” they said playfully.“I don’t regret a damn thing.”“Claren, stop it!” Tim screamed.“How about we set you aflame first, Claren? How would you like that?”“I’ve already been to hell and back!” Claren exclaimed.“You’re not helping,” Kiran said softly.“The angrier he is, the better the screams feel as his blood begins to boil and his skin slowly peels off.”“You ‘Children of Quinten’ are a bunch of sickos!” Tim shouted.“How exactly are we the sick ones? How exactly are we doing anything worse than what your wimpy king has done? Then what his brother did? Then what you’ve done?”“Trimdin and Nardyn saved The Belt from war and tyranny. In what way does that compare to you?” Kiran asked.“Saved? SAVED? What good have they brought? Nardyn let the Kuipernians get away with mass murder, axed millions of jobs in the mining industry, and forced us into free labor, promised pay through government-funded ‘support plans.’ But no one saw a cent of that!”“It was not free labor, it was just higher taxes to pay for welfare, you selfish bastards. He wanted to pull thousands across The Belt out of poverty, out of real forced labor, and he succeeded,” Kiran responded viciously. “Nardyn stopped the war machine, ceased the malicious monopoly of the mineral families, and helped all Beltians, not just the rich!”“Wait a Goddamn second,” Tim suddenly stated, “is this seriously a fight between capitalism and socialism?”“What are those?” one of the Children asked.“Yeah, what are you talking about?” Kiran questioned.“It may be different here, but you are literally fighting over something that we had wars about for centuries on Earth. The question between an open market and a controlled market, between the bourgeoisie and the people? Sound familiar, right Claren?”“I don’t know, I fell asleep a lot in history class, but that sounds correct.”“Who cares about your petty wars on Earth? Your measly planet is gone, destroyed by your species' own hubris, so don’t try to tell us what is right or wrong; what is or isn’t,” they shouted back to the men.“But that’s the entire reason we came here,” Tim said. “There’s a reason we lived, that we escaped the demise of our civilization. And this may be why.”“What are you talking about?” Kiran asked.“They’re delusional,” The Master screamed to everyone, “trying to escape with lies!”“Kiran, you said earlier that it is all real, all of it. You said that thing about Eden, about fate, about destiny. We are here because of those.”“Shut up! We should have left the gags on!”“We prefer it this way,” Claren joked.“Well, I’m sure you won’t when we start the show. Guards, get the fuel ready. We’re about to have ourselves a cookout.”At that moment, the numbered soldiers picked up the cans of fuel and opened them. They were large and red, with a skull on the outside. It had the word “Petrlm” on the side, and Tim and Claren quickly understood what it meant.“Are you seriously using crude oil on us? Can’t we at least get the luxury of the refined stuff?” Kiran quipped.“It’s all we have, dear friend. When you’re a secret underground organization in constant hiding, you have to use what you have. Plus, you don’t deserve it.”“At least Quinten taught you honesty,” Claren whispered.“What about ventilation?” Tim suddenly asked. “If you light us in here, won’t you all suffocate in this enclosed space?”“We’ve got vents, you bumbling fool. We’re always a few steps ahead. Don’t think you can stop us THAT easily.”“It was worth a shot,” Tim said, as he was covered in the slippery, thick, and goldish black substance. It sat on top of the complex structure of their suits, the goop slowly rolling down their bodies.“How’s it feel to know death is right around the corner?” one of the audience members shouted out to the two Gods.“It’s not the first time!” Claren yelled in response.“You can say that again,”“You two are really comfortable with death?” Kiran said to them.“A little too comfortable,” The Master expressed. “Do we have the cameras ready? These puppies are going to be the light of the night soon!”“What can we do to stop this,” Kiran asked. “How can we compromise?”“Why are you trying this AFTER we covered you in fuel?”“It doesn’t matter when, it just matters how. How can we live?”“Get your king to surrender, to give The Belt to us, with no protests or hardships.”“You know we can’t do that! Anything else?” she pleaded.“I’m assuming you can’t bring our Master back from the dead, right?”"No, we can't. And it'd be a mistake if we could," Claren shouted.“The only mistake made was not having The Queen kill you. We knew you crash-landed here all that time ago, we knew that Trimdin found you, but never thought all of this would happen. We never thought Trimdin could actually do it.”“But he did,” Kiran said, slightly mesmerized.“Enough, enough, enough,” they roared toward both the adventurers and the audience. “It’s time.”Suddenly, a group of fighters came from doors on the opposite end of Tim, Claren, and Kiran, walking through the crowds with large rods of fire held in the air. The crimson flames crackled crisply as they neared, embers flying off into the void of the room.“Be careful with those things!” The Master mentioned as they approached. “Don’t light them until I tell you.”Large lenses sat around the men and their alien friend, prepared to record the very deaths they so badly wanted to avoid.The soldiers with sticks had now made it to the main stage, to where their stakes were, and readied to ignite them.But just as they gained on them, a ringing started."What the hell is that noise?” The Master asked.“What’s happening?” Claren asked Kiran.“I’m not sure,” she responded.The effects continued, coming from The Master’s pocket, interrupting their session.“Who in the damn world is calling me right now!” they screamed madly. “Number 2, can you pick it up for me.”“Of course, sir,” they said back, coming up to their superior and lifting the small metal gadget from their pocket. Quickly, they hit the accept button, and a distressed voice blasted into the air.“MASTER, MASTER, they are here. The entire Royal Army is here! And citizens are trying to raid our entrance. Should we execute Order 1?”“What!” they growled, snatching the device from 2. “What do you mean the entire Royal Army? How Goddamn stupid is he? Don’t summon Order 1; just make sure they can’t land on Vesta and execute the subjects trying to intervene.”“Sir, they have already destroyed our ship forces.”“And you call me NOW!”“Master, I am so sorry. Please forgive me.”Tim, Claren, and Kiran all showed slight smirks in the background.“Sorry? What the hell is ‘sorry’ going to do! Number 77, find this idiot and kill him.”“Absolutely,” they responded.“Wait, sir, no. Please,” they begged.“Give me a status on the army. How close are they?”“Very. I mean VERY!”“What does that mean?”“Like, they are in the command room right now, holding a gun to my head.”“You piece of shit!” The Master snapped the device in half. “They know where we are.”The mob of Children and traitors of all kinds gasped in pure shock, frantically starting to rise from their seats and scared.“Everyone, don’t worry. They can’t get to us here! This place was built during the Cross-Belitan Wars to withstand a million bomb strikes. Let’s watch the main course here!”“Your Master is lying!” Kiran shouted. “This place probably couldn’t hold off a single explosion! Vesta’s not known for its expert build quality.” She gave a deadpan stare to them.“Trust me, my Children! Our lord and savior, Quinten, chose me to lead you and be a facilitator between Him and you. And He has told me that we are safe!”“But you’re not!” Claren shouted. “There are no facilitators between the living and dead, Mr. Master.”“Claren, don’t speak about things we don’t understand,” Tim muttered.“Why do you suck all the meaning out of what I say!” Claren shouted at his partner.“Claren, this is DEFINITELY not the time.”“Oh my, just light them now.” The Master instructed.Quickly, the mob of fire-holding soldiers stood around Tim, Claren, and Kiran, lighting the ground below them. They had laced it with large piles of fibers and drenched it in fuel. Flames swiftly came about, burning under the tortured group of souls."Good. It has started. This is the end of humanity!”Large cheers filled the auditorium as the fire crept closer and closer to the stakes.But as that happened, another noise occurred, this time from Tim, Claren, and Kiran’s ear devices. “I’m here…” it spoke to them from a personal message, the voice clearly Trimdin’s.And at that moment, the entire room shook, the blaze below burning from side to side. Suddenly, a large explosion sounded, the boom blasting throughout.“Goddamn it! Can we speed this up a bit!” The Master screamed at his soldiers, the audience in peril. “Everything is fine,” they told them, “King Trimdin is weak!”Though the rumbling of the room said different, and when a massive hole was blown in the roof, their tune changed.“Oh shit!” The Master yelled.“‘Oh shit’ are the exact words I wanted to hear!” a roaring voice responded as they dropped down from the sky. A massive robe, redder than blood, covered their blue armor and matched the large, golden crown on their head. A purple glow encapsulated their hands.“The King himself is here to visit!” they said. “Are you ready to negotiate?”“Put out that fire!” Trimdin responded with vigor.“Surrender, and your friends will live.”“This is much larger than me! I’m guessing you missed my little speech?”“I must have. I was too busy trying to kill your little pawns.”“Let’s just say I’ve got a bit of backup!”Abruptly, a shower of soldiers dropped from the hole, landing in the crowds and disabling dozens of Children.“I don’t think you’re ready for this.” The King said, prepared to fight with a smile on his face. “Not ready at all….”Chapter 57 - Humanity
Chapter 58 - A New Home
A legion of soldiers collected on and around Vesta, ships of all sizes flying and trying to dock. Citizens from every corner of The Belt came to help under the command of King Trimdin, who, with an empowering broadcast and promise of choice, convinced them to fight for the future builders of their home: Tim and Claren.In the underground base, hordes of fighters dropped down into the atrium using newly designed mechanized suits, protecting them from the precarious fall. Attached to them were large guns, though they were deactivated, instead opting for mass tasers to incapacitate the cult followers.But on the other side of the room, the pile below was still set ablaze, Tim, Claren, and Kiran tied to their stakes, the flames getting ever closer. Though King Trimdin was on their tail, confronting The Master head-on.“Guards, get your guns ready,” they commanded, “and point them at the men!”“You won’t. You can’t.”“Why do you Royalists always say that,” The Master responded. “You know I will.”“Because you have all the strengths and weaknesses of Quinten. That’s how.”“And so do you. You figured that one out quickly.”“We had the same flaws, but different ideals. Though now I have the real power!”“I’m done with this. Shoot!” Right then, each soldier on the stage lined up their shots, preparing to fire at the soon-to-be burned beings.King Trimdin, in response, darted straight forward, whisking through the air and lunging at the enemy troops. In moments, he collided with them, grabbing the tip of one of their weapons and activating his shield.The Master pulled out their pistol from his satchel on his side, aiming it toward Tim’s head. Kiran’s sword and Tim’s dagger dropped onto the floor.The King pushed the soldier with the gun over, pulling it out of their hand and flipping it around. He quickly got hold of its butt, slipped his fingers onto the trigger, and did the unthinkable. A barrage of bullets shot out from it, hitting every rival on the stage.Then, he turned his attention toward The Master, who was just about to pull the trigger just as he did. Trimdin swiftly pointed his weapon toward them, aiming at their head and letting it loose before a single shot could be fired from their pistol.They promptly fell to the ground, The King surrounded by a blood bath of his own making. Though only one thought remained in his head: to save his friends.As The Royal Army continued to invade, Trimdin switched his attention to the fire, watching as it loomed near the men’s feet. “How do I put this out?” he said, rushing over to it.“Hey, your majesty!” Kiran yelled.“Is there like water or something to put this out? Also, what are you covered in?”“Petroleum,” Tim responded. “They really wanted us to burn.”“Well, you will if I don’t put this out.”“Can’t your magic do something? I don’t know, like make gusts of wind or something?” Claren questioned.“I can push things back?” Trimdin said unconfidently.“Could you push the fire back?”“I… guess? But it’s not easy.”“Good enough, just get it done!” Tim screamed, the fire sitting right under his sole.“Let me try,” The King responded, knowing the risk of doing so, now needing to save humanity with the very thing that eradicated it: a gust of fire.At that moment, he floated lightly into the air again, the lavender haze known by all wrapping around him. Then, a sudden spin started as he powered up, cupping his hands together. And with a massive scream, Trimdin released a vast blast, pushing back everyone and everything within its vicinity. Even the soldiers in the suits got forced back, the pure power of it almost half of that when he transformed into the king. Though most importantly, the fire was blown out, freeing the three from their hellish death.“Oh my God,” Tim cheered, “it worked!”“Damn,” Claren commented.Trimdin, who was still in the air, quickly collapsed from exhaustion.Guards from The Royal Army came up the stage stairs, moving toward The King and the trio. They were cut down from their stakes, helped toward the ground, and given water from a canteen, moistening their cracked mouths. But they did not care about getting hydration, collectively rushing to The King, worried about his health. They all knelt next to him, his bulked body flat on the hard stone.“Trimdin! Trimdin!”His eyes were closed, remaining breathless.“Your Majesty!” Kiran yelled.No response.“My king, it is over.”Nothing.“Sir, you did it. You saved us!”A gasp came in, his mouth slightly opening.“Did it work?” The King asked."Yes. Yes, it did,” all three said in unison.And a small smile sat on his face, happy to hear the voices of his friends.~~A week passed since the Battle of Vesta. The King, Tim, Claren, and Kiran safely made it back to The Capital, mostly undamaged, if not for a bit of trauma. They held their respective blades, relieved to return home. Scars, left by the torturing, had begun to heal on all three, finding The Capital more comforting than ever.As he always does, Trimdin was preparing to give a speech after he recovered, suffering from extreme fatigue. But he was ready today, ready to thank his subjects for their effort as he sat on his home: the throne. Though unlike usual, he was not reading a script; there were no words made for him to declare. So, as he walked out the infamous doorway, he had no idea what he was going to say. All he knew was that it was the truth.Tim and Claren stood next to him as he left, Kiran in the background, guarding them. The big, black microphone lay on the flat surface, staring directly at him while a mob of subjects watched either live or through the broadcast. But instead of the despair felt after the war, this crowd was excited, ready to hear an optimistic speech about the future. And King Trimdin delivered exactly that.“I don’t even know where to start this. For the hundredth time during my rule, I am standing in front of this Goddamn podium. This location has been where the beginnings and ends of the worst things in The Belt have been announced. But today, of all days, I’ve got good news, hopeful news, to say the least. Fortunately, we have almost every Child of Quinten in custody, their ring leader dying at my hands. But we lost so many in the process, including a legion of guards and the honorable Captain Landun of the Royal Space Force. Nevertheless, this day is the start, the dawn of big changes for our world. Quinten will never be gone, and I’ve known that since the day he killed my brother, but I think we can move on from him. As much as we like to immortalize the good, history also tends to immortalize the bad. So, let’s not give that luxury to Quinten. Let us remember his efforts as they were: acts of pure evil. And we have the perfect people to help us with that. Tim and Claren, as you all know, were the men who helped me save you. They are why I am here today, that my brother will be avenged. But they are also the last of their species, the last of their civilization. Humanity is gone, destroyed by their own insistent need for more. We should learn from that, learn that conflict is not the solution, because just as it did to Earth, it will do to us, too. Earthlings and Beltians have much to learn from each other, and that is why they are here: not to seek refuge, but to ensure our future, one that they couldn’t do with their own. This is their place now, a new home for them to love and live for. Because as we transition toward democracy and freedom for all, no one is better to lead us than these two. They ARE the future, and together, we can make The Belt a truly perfect place to live. Trade is at an all-time high, unemployment is low, and with the new welfare law I am writing up, there will be something called ‘universal income.’ The details are unneeded; let’s just say you will all get a check from the Royal government each month for the rest of your lives!”The crowds below King Trimdin and the men were cheering for the news.“But no, oh no, that’s not all. The wealth of this kingdom will never be locked away from you, the citizens, again. We are closing the class gap each day, and now everyone below a certain income level will be given FREE education. But university prices across the board will be lowered regardless, unlocking knowledge for millions of Beltians. This is what my brother wanted, this is what I want, and I am sure it is exactly what you want. Though in the future, I will stop just ‘making up’ laws; instead, we will draft them and let you vote!”Everyone was screaming at the top of their lungs, clapping and whistling in happiness. A small tear fell down the cheek of Trimdin, overwhelmed with emotion.“Now, lastly, I am going to have the legends themselves give a personal thanks to all of you. Without your support, they would not have been saved from ‘The Master’ of the Children of Quinten. Give it up to Tim, Claren, AND Kiran.”Kiran, who did not expect such a mention, was pushed up toward The King and the men, who were wearing newly tailored black clothes. Their ClearSuits, which before gave off a green tint, now had a more natural white one, making them almost translucent over them.Together, the three stood proudly, Kiran on a small pedestal to match the height of Tim and Claren. King Trimdin moved back, letting them see the array of aliens below.Yet again, the men were reminded of the swarms who had loved and supported them all that time ago. But the only thing Kiran could think of was the end of the war, as she stood up there, staring at friend and foe, trying to calm the impending battle. But it did not matter, as the three of them quickly got to their objective: to speak.“Hello!” Tim said into the system.“Yes, hello,” Claren nervously echoed.In the audience, there were a myriad of different responses.“Tim!” one shouted.“We love you!” another screamed.“Save us!” a figure in the back mentioned.“This is just like the first day we were here!” Tim stated. “It’s so great to be here, to help you all. We will be on even terms soon, trust us.”“Thank you for your votes to help us, for your fight to help us. Tim, Kiran, and I were uncomfortably close to dying. AGAIN!”The subjects laughed loudly, rumbling the ears of the men and Kiran.“And don’t forget to thank King Trimdin for bringing them here, for allowing me to serve them, for ensuring that we could be saved,” Kiran butted in.“Of course. We thank you for the services you have provided, and we will do the same. Whatever The Belt needs, whether it’s hope or help, Claren and I will be here. It is our destiny to be here, to help you, and with the ever-loyal Royal Army alongside a dedicated king, we can promise that things are changing for the better. Things will be in your hands now!”“Absolutely!” Claren added.“Beltians, this IS their home; this is how we will grow and evolve. A bright future is ahead, one where peace and justice are reached. That starts today!”Behind her, Trimdin watched as Kiran and the others commanded the stage, thinking to himself. This is the place you dreamed of, Nardyn. It’s becoming real before my very eyes. Now, all there is left to see is what the next saga brings, where fate takes me. I just wish I had your guidance; wish I had you here to see it.“I am…” a sudden whisper said into The King’s ear.“Nardyn!” King Trimdin abruptly shouted, interrupting his friends in front of him. He looked around, trying to find his beloved brother, but to no avail.Tim, Claren, and Kiran turned to look at him, confused by the sudden scream.“What is it, your majesty?” Kiran asked.“Yeah, why did you say Nardyn?”“Oh, nothing.”“Well then,” Tim said, “I think we’re done here. We’ve done all the praising we can!”“Good, good,” Trimdin said back, dazed from the words he heard. “Very good!”“Are you sure you’re okay?” Claren questioned.“Yes. It was just a memory. A good one.”“Fantastic, sir!” Kiran responded. “Now, let’s go.”All four of them started to walk away from the podium and toward the castle, ready to plan the future of The Belt, prepared to see where luck would bring them.But those two words kept ringing throughout King Trimdin’s head, bringing a smile to his face. Each time he heard it, the presence of his brother came back:“I am….”“I am….”“I am….”He is.Chapter 58 - A New Home
Epilogue
9 Months After The Departure…."Empress Madeln.”“King Trimdin.”“It’s so great to finally meet you.”“Likewise, your majesty.”“We’ve got a few matters to discuss. You know, Quinten and such.”“Why yes, I am sorry his vendetta against us caused so much trouble in The Belt.”“No, the Kuipernians are not at fault. You are not at fault. That was an old battle; it’s history. Quinten was a troublemaker all on his own.”“I have heard much about the effects. He’s the one that killed Nardyn, right?”“That was years ago. I am here to represent his legacy, to continue what he started.”“He was incredibly level-headed, even as he pulled us out of war. He knew how to talk and compromise when needed, but was bold in action.”“If there is anything he's known for, it’s that. Nardyn knew how foolish the Cross-Beltian Wars were; knew that we both were hurting from them.”“We both did. I’m not a fan of conflict, but that fool of a king before Nardyn was not my favorite. He made things… difficult.”“Well, he’s long gone, but back to why I am here. Many within The Belt are seeking an ‘apology’ from your empire. I understand that—”“Already done. The quicker we can end any form of quarrel, the better.”“Are you sure?”“Yeah, why not. As you said, it’s history now. We are at peace, and trade is better than ever! We got the water, you got the minerals. I’ll do anything to keep that going.”“I’m glad to hear that. Now, what about other matters?”“How are the ‘Children of Quinten’ going?”“A good number are locked up and going through due process, but some resistance groups pop up weekly. They usually disband the second they realize it's a cult.”“Wonderful. We don’t need any of those pesky separatists right now. You, more than anyone, know the need to suppress uprisings and silence negative press.”“Sure, Madeln.”“What do you mean by that?”“I don’t really do that type of stuff. I’m sure you’ve heard I’m turning The Belt into the Beltian republic.”“I did hear about that. I have no idea what that entails, but it sounds fairly interesting. Will it change trade at all?”“No, it’s just a bit of a shake-up in government, not a regime change. I’ll still be king; there will just also be an elected leader as a representative of the people.”“What about the powers? We’ve got to keep these things somewhat exclusive.”“That I’m not sure about. I don’t want a successor, but what will happen if I don’t?”“You might want to figure that one out. These things can’t get into the wrong hands.”Empress Madeln suddenly showed a shimmering sage around her skeleton fingers.“You’re telling me! How about your side of the system? Any news?”“Not really.”“That’s good.”“Well, there is this one matter that I think you will know more about.”“What’s that?”“Those two foreign creatures are still with you, right?”“Tim and Claren? Yeah, of course. Where else would they go?”“They are human?”“Yes.”“The last?”“As far as I know of.”“Are you sure, Trimdin?”“We’ve scanned Earth, and there are no signs of activity. It’s still a ball of fire.”“There aren’t any more?”“Madeln, where are you going with this?”“Let’s just say I found a little ship orbiting Pluto a while ago. It had no fuel.”“So?”“We captured the vessel and brought it in for inspection.”“Wait a second, did you say around Pluto?”“When we opened it, these strange creatures wearing big, bulky blue suits stared at us, terrified. We didn’t know what they were until your broadcasts of the men came around.”“You can’t be serious? We thought they died. There’s no way they made it.”“I thought about telling you earlier, but wanted to wait and tell you live—”“Where are they right now?”“We’ve got them in a secure location, monitored twenty-four-seven by a team.”“There is absolutely no way this is true? How can they be alive?”“Do you want to see them?”“Uhhh, yeah!”“Do you want to keep them?”“What do you mean? They’re not pets.”“I don’t care what they are, they aren’t Kuipernian. That’s all I care about. Plus, this is no place for them to live. Our resources are already spread too thin.”“You don’t understand how big this is. For Tim and Claren, this is the best thing they could ask for. ”“You’re taking a liability off of my hands. It’s more of a favor than a gift.”“This is a gift, likely one of the most important ones in history.”“I’m glad you like it, then.”“So, have you communicated with them? What do you know?”“Let’s go and see them right now.”“Really!”“Calm down, your majesty.”“Sorry, I’m just excited. Let’s go!”At that moment, the two monarchs rose from their respective seats in the chamber of the Kuipernian castle, marching out an arched doorway toward a shimmering silver hallway. They walked, and walked, and walked, adventuring through the palace into an elevator. From there, they entered and inputted their destination, swiftly being delivered.A large sign loomed over them when they exited, stating “Research and Habitation.” Soon after, they arrived at a large glass cell, with two figures sitting inside it. Both beings stared in the opposite direction of The King and Empress, unaware of their arrival. But with a quick tap on the transparent wall, the creatures jerked around, revealing themselves.“Well, I’ll be damned, Madeln. You weren’t kidding!”"No, I definitely wasn’t.”“Tim and Claren are going to like this. They are going to like this a lot!”“I’ll have them packed up quickly. I’m sure you need to head home.”“That would be great. Have my guards load them onto The Grandiant. Thank you, Madeln, for this gift!”“We were getting rid of them either way. I just held out just in case.”“Good thing you did. Very good thing.”King Trimdin stared at the beings, in pure awe of their existence. Their faces were beyond familiar to the experienced ruler, aware of the sheer fear and excitement they appeared to be going through, their eyes wide open but their mouths sewn shut.Together, the rulers walked away, Trimdin excited to bring his friends the miracle of a lifetime. Eager to bring two humans home again….Epilogue
King Trimdin, Tim, Claren, Kiran, and more will return exclusively to WRTN.
