Chapter 07

  The Hard Truths

  It was chaos. The sandy fortress that had housed them for the past few months was only half still standing. The other in a heap of rubble on the ground. Dark purple flames raged around it. They didn’t know how many they had lost now. They were all separated. They had no time to prepare. The strike came from nowhere.

  As far as Jupe was concerned, he and Stella were the only ones left. They hid under the ledge of a nearby cliff, trying to phone into the capital with the wormhole transponder they were able to grapple before everything came crumbling down. Streaks of orange and red light occasionally flew through the air, each one sending shivers down their spines. It was only so soon until—.

  “Stella, to your left!” Jupe screamed, trying to warn her of the incoming strike.

  A person jumped from the ledge just beside them. Her weapon: a handle attached to a bulb attached to a curved blade ending in a point.

  Stella threw a quick slash of light blue light at the air, but she was unsuccessful, grazing the enemy’s hair tips.

  Jupe tried to salvage the situation by igniting his fists in his light blue flame, but it was already too late.

  The enemy had stabbed the sphincter right into Stella’s core. She pulsed a wave of red energy through it. The bulb on the weapon ignited in flame. A quiet vibration hummed through the air.

  Stella screamed, trying to pull the weapon out of her core, but there was nothing she could do now. Her light blue color peeked through her pale brown skin. Red dust from the surrounding area twirling around her, trying to pierce into her body. The enemy quickly jumped away from her and back over the edge.

  “STELLA,” Jupe yelled as he watched in slow motion as Stella’s body began to expand and pulse. Bulbous pockets were bubbling on her skin as the energy from her core intertwined with the dust pellets.

  With one final throb, a large wave of blinding blue light exploded from her.

  Jupe tried to shield himself but couldn’t resist the blast. He flew backwards at a shocking speed. He landed sharply on a rock behind him. He could feel the bones in his vertebrae crack. He was still blinded and squirmed from the spot. He screamed in pain, but there wasn’t much he could do. He was paralyzed. He quickly blinked, hoping his vision would return to him. It slowly did, but only just enough to see the blurry silhouette of the star standing above him.

  Sphincter poised, the figure took a stab at Jupe’s core, and there was nothing he could do. The metal at the tip was cold. His core tried to push out the object but was unsuccessful as the entity shoved it in just far enough. He gasped. He felt a wave of energy enter his core, pushing outwards from its center. His whole body felt like it was vibrating. He felt pinpricks of dust as they danced through him. It couldn’t happen any slower as his chest filled with a searing pain, spreading with every throb.

  And after what felt like an eternity, he could feel his core burst the same as Stella’s, ripping at its own central gravity; it popped inside him. The figure was gone now, and he just had to wait as his nova tore out of him. It was the most painful thing he had experienced in his life. He just had to pray that somehow his body wouldn’t completely crumple from the force, an unlikely scenario.

  **BREAK**

  The facility lights had been turned down to a dim, denoting quiet hours in Helyx. Mira was making her way back to her dormitory after her night practice with Castor. Having had two practices in the same day, she was ready to finally rest for the night. She approached her door and swung her fingers, coated in purple flame, to open it. It slid open.

  Inside the dorm room the lights were still on bright. Atlas and Yue were sitting up in their beds. Stephen hung from the ceiling. Clearly they were having some kind of conversation. They all looked over to her.

  “Mira, we were waiting for you. We have something we need to tell you,” Atlas blurted. “I—are you alright? Were you at practice?”

  She knew she was worn, but she didn’t think she looked it. “Just give me a minute,” Mira replied. “I have something to tell you guys too.” She took her nebulant out and took a breath through it.

  “Mira using a nebulant—that’s a rare sight,” Stephen said.

  She cast him a glare.

  “Sorry, what did you need to say?”

  “I—you guys go first. It's kind of big news."

  “Well, maybe the same,” Atlas started. “Has Castor said anything about Rigel?”

  “Besides the fact he doesn't like him very much, no, not really,” Mira replied. “Why?”

  “We’re not sure. Some soldiers in Ophiuchus uniforms came in during practice today and told him to come with them,” Yue said.

  “If you’re saying Castor did something to Rigel, you’re wrong. Don’t think he even wants to bother with him,” Mira said.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Atlas sighed. “If you say so. I just wish we could see him again. Stop having to worry.”

  “Fine, if he’s not at practice tomorrow, I’ll talk to Castor,” Mira said. “Though I think you’re all worrying over nothing.”

  “Thanks, Mira,” Atlas said. “What was it you wanted to say?”

  She paused for a second. She knew he wasn’t going to like what she was going to say—none of them would.

  “I—I’m leaving in four days,” Mira said. “Arcturus requested me on the battlefield, and I’m going.”

  All three of their eyes widened. “What?” Atlas questioned, trying to process the words that just came out of her mouth. “Mira, you didn’t seriously agree to that, did you?”

  “It’s not like I had a choice,” Mira replied. “Besides, I’m finally doing something that matters. I want to.” She bit her lip. While what she said wasn’t completely a lie, she was still scared about leaving.

  “Are you sure you’re ready?” Yue asked.

  “Yeah, Mira, that’s a huge leap,” Stephen added in.

  “I—I think so,” Mira replied and then affirmed it, “Yes, yes, I will be.”

  Atlas had to stand up. He couldn’t bear to listen to it.

  “Mira, I don't like this. You could die out there,” Atlas said.

  “Castor said I was their top priority. They won't let anything happen,” Mira replied.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Atlas responded.

  “That I’ll be fine,” Mira snapped. “They know what they’re doing.”

  Atlas sat back down. “I can’t stop you, I know, but if something happens to you, I won’t ever forgive myself for not at least trying.”

  Mira judged his expression. She knew he wanted to say more. “I told you, Arcturus requested. The Arcturus,” Mira said. “He wouldn’t send me there haphazardly.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Yue questioned.

  “He’s the emperor. He has to know what he’s doing,” Mira replied.

  “Eh,” Yue shrugged.

  “Where are they sending you?” Stephen asked.

  “An outpost, somewhere in the Taurus sector—I don’t know if I should be telling you this,” Mira stopped herself.

  “Think we're going to go tattle to Castor?” Stephen questioned. “You can trust us.”

  Mira nodded. “It was attacked sometime in the last couple of weeks. They want us to take it back… They killed 40 people. Atlas, don’t pass out.”

  “Holy stars,” Atlas said.

  “We’re attacking them with 10x the starpower. We’ll win,” Mira replied. “They’re red stars. How tough can it be?”

  **BREAK**

  Rigel was pacing around his room. The moral dilemma brewing in his head. Was he really just going to leave his students in the dark? He couldn’t, right? He physically clawed at the air. Why did Castor have to come? He hated him.

  He put his foot down. He wasn’t going to let this happen. He flung his door open. Stepping to exit, his core pushed into his throat.

  “Perfect timing,” Castor smiled, floating just off his dock. “Was just about to check in on you.”

  “Castor,” he said, flustered. “I was just headed to get some—caffeine.”

  “A little late, isn’t it?” Castor questioned. “If I didn’t know better, I would say you were about to head to the dormitories. Which, if I remember correctly, I specifically asked you not to do.”

  “I swear it, Castor,” Rigel mumbled.

  “Don’t mind if I join you then,” Castor questioned.

  “No—not at all.”

  “Splendid.” He waved Rigel out of the room.

  They approached the stand located just outside the library. The small cart was equipped with several outlets, each labeled with a different flavor or stimulant. Castor motioned for him to start.

  Rigel plugged his personal nebulant into the rightmost outlet, and the machine whirred as a sweetened caffeine mix pumped into it.

  Castor plugged his into the one left of it, which pumped in a darker-flavored caffeine mix. He motioned for Rigel to find a seat at one of the tables extending off the walls of the library entrance.

  Rigel sat at the nearest one.

  Castor sat down opposite him and took a breath from his nebulant. He watched as Rigel picked his up, observing the noticeable nervous demeanor. Rigel had always been a terrible liar.

  Castor slapped the nebulant out of his quivering hands. It hit the wall across from them, bursting open and causing a blue-brown mixture to haze around the hallway.

  “Cut the bullshit,” Castor growled. “I’m not a fool. You know exactly where you were headed.”

  “Yeah—caffeine,” Rigel said, trying to redeem himself. “Which you just splattered all over the place. Mind if I get a new one?”

  Castor rolled his eyes. “You’re embarrassing.” He grabbed Rigel’s arm. “So let me set it to you straight, since you didn’t seem to understand the first two times. You continue training those idiots the same way you always have. As far as they’re aware, nothing has changed. You do that, and I’ll request Arcturus to keep you here. I know how much it means to you, after all. But if you tell them anything, and I mean anything, I will make sure you spend the rest of your life in an Ophiuchus prison.. It's that simple.”

  Rigel, the color in his skin faded, nodded.

  “Castor—” Rigel started.

  Castor turned his head and let go of his arm.

  “Do you really think Mira should be out there?”

  “No thanks to you,” Castor replied. “But either way Arcturus gets the last say. You of all people should understand that.”

  “What is your grudge against me? We served together. Hell, I’m the only reason you’re still alive, yet you act like I'm nobody.”

  Castor groaned. “It's quite simple, you’re weak. Your nova, your ‘big heroic act. It has made you a nobody.” He poked his finger into Rigel’s chest. “I hoped it would at least make you wise.” Castor took a sip from his nebulant. “I don’t want to have this conversation with you again. Please, Rigel, just do as you’re told,” Castor said. He set his nebulant down on the table and pushed it towards him. “Enjoy.” He dove away, seemingly back to his room.

  Rigel put his head down at the table and banged it with his one fist.

  A student walked out from the library and looked down to Rigel.

  Rigel looked back, noticing her presence.

  “Is everything ok?” she asked, staring over at the light fog that invaded the hallway.

  “Yes, just a quarrel,” Rigel replied. I’ll clean that up.”