On the surface of the enormous marble-stone vessel, a minuscule section opened up, small enough to be seen as just a black dot, and a tiny ship launched from it and headed towards the planet. Once it was clear, the section retracted and blended back with the ship seamlessly. As the craft descended to the surface it had the resemblance of an old Victorian-era wooden carriage, with four stationary gold lanterns on the corners and purple velvet curtains hung in the glass windows. The only thing missing where the wheels and an outer seat where the driver would be perched upon. This was a futuristic shuttlecraft made to look like a passenger carrier of the past.

A novelty of the time, each governing galaxy of the Human Empire had paid homage to specific time periods and designed their modes of transit to fit the ones they were emulating. The Orion Galaxy, having chosen the 19th Century as a permanent culture, crafted all their technology and architecture to that time period. Such is the way with all human occupied galaxies in the universe; history is reborn in every single one, from the very beginning of our primitive origins, to the current equivalent of what would be deemed modern for this particular age.

Hardly ever has any galaxy ever attempted to create a contemporary culture to mirror, people in this time choose to model the past, a means to remember who they were and the source of their ancestry. This has been the case for a considerable span of time. Even Max could not ascertain when and how this homage to humanity started.

With a sense of boredom, Max stared out of the window as the carriage flew through the dense layers of clouds, until eventually the ground came into view. The planet Adonnius was nothing remarkable. The bleak, rocky scenery and the dull, monotone sky had all the warmth and character of a sandstone with deep divots. This arid and seemingly inhospitable environment was the only world that could accommodate the large number of galactic representatives without destroying its ecosystem - hardly the place one would think the Human Empire would be based. Max and Lily could see the main city more clearly as the ship continued its descent through the terrain.

The magnificent structure of Haven One, inspired by Ancient Roman architecture, was awe-inspiring and a sight to behold each time it was seen. This crafted creation appeared totally out of place in the barren wasteland, yet was perfectly modelled and blended to fit in with its surroundings. As the carriage approached, the shielding dome which surrounded the entire area opened up a tiny entrance, so that they could move through it without any trouble. Bernard Crovitius the First, the third Supreme Emperor of Humanity, was the last individual to live in this location as their home and the last to ever take up reign as ruler.

Every surface of the temple was adorned with sculptures and golden embroidery of the man. Strighton was always repulsed by the décor, considering it to be the epitome of vanity in its most extreme expression. It was always a source of amusement for Lily to observe his head shaking and she couldn't help but stifle a snicker. Max had clearly had enough of looking at that man's face, even though they only visited here every fifty years.

All humans in the universe, including Strighton, are blessed with the gift of immortality. By utilizing the advancements in technology, lifestyle changes and medical advances through the centuries, they have been able to live agelessly. Max viewed this perceived blessing as an affliction and a manipulation of the universe, while many others saw it as the greatest gift of all. As the solitary humans living in the entire cosmos, they have been freed from the bonds of sickness and aging, and death has no sway over them. Strighton has only heard of a few cases of people leaving this life by being vaporized or sent out into the vacuum of space, a highly extreme and dangerous way to go.

But he was sure there were many more than that, given the rampant boredom of everlasting life. He had considered himself as well, but, felt that would be an easy out than just dealing with the pain of living on till the end. He was a man of conviction. Life was life. It must endure and see its own conclusion over the course of time. The Order Of The Universal Truth was a religious sect that believed this to be so. Having also learned this from Valtor, his mentor and faithful monk of the order, Strighton carried on the values and virtues of this teaching.

The carriage flew approached the Roman-like city and landed on a marble landing pad that rose out of the enclosure. As it proceeded downward back inside, Max opened his pocket watch and looked at the time. Lily closed her eyes and lowered her head slightly.

"We are almost ready to disembark, the carriage is powering down." She quickly opened her eyes and nodded to him, "Docking completed, sir."

"All right then." He stated abruptly closing his watch, "Let's get this over with."

"Remember,” she said tapping on his forehead playfully, “Enjoy yourself."

Max grunted in frustration and then showed his dear companion a mere smirk of happiness.

Echoing through the massive corridors of gold and marble, a distinct sound of music and merriment of many could be heard as Strighton and Lily approached the main doors. A row of Roman armoured guards stood on either side and bowed to them as they entered through the tall doors. Lily looked up in wonder as the archway was embroidered with mirrored silver and diamonds, as where the doors themselves, donning etched out galactic heroes and former rulers of the past.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

What awaited them inside was a room of sheer wonder. If the corridors and outer doors were impressive, it paled in comparison to the spectacle of what they gazed upon next. A crystal cathedral that seemed to spread across forever. The ceiling itself was so far beyond that clouds had formed in its enclosed sky. The floors twinkled like shimmering glass as they stepped through and down the spiralling stairs that took them to the next level.

From there they could see an ocean of humanity enjoying themselves; Dancing, drinking and conversing loudly over the swell of music spreading over them all. Lily closed her eyes and tried to take in the music filling the dazzling room. It was comprised of every known style of genre or composition over the course of time. It might have sounded like nonsense to someone not living in this final era, but to Lily and the rest of all human kind, this was elegant and beautiful.

Not only was the music multi-era, but the whole human population in that place was like something out of a history book. Strighton looked on as he saw each galactic ruler or representative gliding across the crystal floor. Here you could find every century or historical period being displayed proudly. Like a dancing costume party, all came to celebrate the final days of their existence.

"Behold our end." Max said, passively gesturing to the scene.

“Eh? Pardon?" Lily questioned as she continued to sway to the song.

"I said-" The man spoke louder, "Oh never mind."

"Fine." She quickly retorted with rolled eyes. "You be grumpy and I'll enjoy the party."

"This isn't a party." He shook his head and snickered, "This is a funeral."

Suddenly he felt a hard slap on the back and wincded in pain. At first he thought it was Lily trying to stop his morbid thoughts, but as he turned around to scold her, someone else was standing in her spot with a great big smile.

"Well, well, well. Look what finally came out of the stable to join the rest of the cattle."

Max looked upon a man he had not seen in almost two hundred years; a good friend and the ruler of the Arrington Galaxy - Wes Charlton Adams. An African American cowboy of the western themed sector, his wide black brimmed hat and worn brown leather chaps only enhanced the authentic dark suit of that particular time. He also spoke in a southern twang, a bit much Strighton always thought – seeing how there was no need for such theatrics, but who was he to judge.

"Wes...good to see you." Max smirked, "I see you've not changed. I thought you were going to go for a new look."

"Me?" He said tipping his hat up, "Oh that's right. The last time we spoke, I was going to change my gender, wasn’t I?” Placing a hand on his buckle he gave a nod to Lily. “Be a nice lookin’ filly like her. Naw, I had me a time to think about it. Just got use to getting my saddle the way I like it.” He winked at them. “If you know what I mean.”

In this time, far into the future that is, many could change their sexes with a slight update to their DNA codes. It was fashionable to switch from time to time, to get a new perspective and change up the norm every now and then.

Max had never changed. He saw no need for it. He was born male and seemed rather firm on keeping to that sex. Perhaps it was a way to stay pure human or maybe just a way to defy the trend. For whatever his feeling on the matter it wasn't a priority—for him anyway.

"How has Arrington been?" Lily asked to change the subject, "I thought you had another attack from the – oh, what are they called again?"

"Pirates." Wes stated with a sigh, "Yeah, them no good varmints have been in and out of many a galactic cores. I think they've only come to stir up trouble and kill as many as they can."

"Seems pointless." Max said with irritation, "To simply kill at random for sport. You'd think we'd be far beyond this by now."

"Not all of us,” The cowboy patted him on the back, "I heard about your lil' intervention between the Terra Prime and Garth-anon Minor galaxies. That would have been a bloody feud on both sides."

Lily smiled and proudly looked up at Strighton, he in turn looked at her with hesitation and sighed with some modest humour.

"Guess I just didn't want space to run red with blood."

"I'll toast to that." Wes nodded with an open flask in hand.

Lilly and Max didn't notice him pulling it out as they were talking. Wes had a slight drinking problem and would randomly have his trusted flask in hand. He was fond of the brew he called 'hooch', although if a human of his preferred era took a sip, they would certainly discover the level of alcohol was far greater than they'd be able to withstand.

Lily was quick to change the subject, as she would often do in awkward moments like this, and lowered his hand after he took a swig from the stainless steel container.

"I think we're at a dance, gentlemen...I think I'm in desperate need of some company, wouldn't you agree Mr. Adams?"

Strighton cocked an eye to Wes as he looked back at him with a raised brow. He put the flask back into his pocket and smiled with delight. He bowed to the woman while talking off his hat and held out his arm to her.

"You are so very right, my dear sweet lady! Forgive my manners. I would be so honoured to share a dance with you."

"Thank you." She smiled while locking her arm to his. "I'm glad someone is here for dancing and fun."

Max was taken back by her obvious comment. Especially when she raised her eyebrow to him when they walked away and headed for the crystal floor. He shook his head with disapproval and a slight smile at her cheeky attitude. He would make it up to her later, perhaps on a tune he felt was more to his liking. He never really liked the retro-combined melodies that sounded more like someone flipping through radio channels. He enjoyed the music in its purest form. Hard as it might be to obtain, especially after centuries upon centuries of remakes, various recording styles and manipulations; he would have Lily search endlessly until it was found.

Perhaps it was the archival historian in him, but he always felt humanity lost their originality and needed to get back to those days of simplicity. As Lilly would constantly remind him 'one can't go back to what has already been achieved.', it seemed that was true, and it’s much too late to start something fresh now.