Vinn and Gizzy were feeling the heat of the rising blue sun, the eclipse almost over.

“We have to take shelter.” Gizzy said, “It’s too fucking hot.”

“Guys, I’ve run some ground density scans. This entire area is riddled with caves. It may lead in the same direction you guys need to go, so look for any opening you can find.” Jack said while checking their position. They searched and found a spot where the water ran down into a hole in the “earth”. They both dropped in, looking surprised.

“Jack you won’t believe this. This cave is as lush as the surface, with plenty of soil and trees. Hell the trees on top seem to just be protruding through the top soil and rooted down here. It’s like basement floor to the entire planet, support pillars made of trees, water flowing into creeks, grass, and moss. I’m going to ignore that fleshy purple mass over there and assume it’s harmelsss.”

“I’m a little claustrophobic, honestly. Good thing there’s enough surface holes to give SOME light.”

“When that eclipse is over and that blue sun crosses the horizon you won’t be. Those are going to be hot as hell. Keep moving to the night side where it’s cooler.” Jack insisted.

“Hey, what’s Vicki doing? We haven’t heard from her in a while?”

“She’s probably feeding off the robot or something. She’s been acting strange today. She gets like that. Her depression kicks in and she wants to be alone. I’ve learned to give her space, she usually just ends up reading a book or enjoying the night sky.” Jack explained.

…

Vicki sat in the lab, with the doors locked and the light dimmed. She opened the briefcase with the silver mask, marveling at the hideous detail; at its long demonic teeth, deep filigree, and engravings over every inch.

“What makes you so special to Gizzy. What isn’t she telling all of us?” She asked. She raised it to her face, placing it on. Nothing happened. She stood and stared at the sample tubes, the one marked “Rejected Pitch.” Haunting her. Tempting her like a cure. She resisted, placing the mask in it’s case and hiding it as instructed, heading up to get some snail slime.

…

Vinn panted and sweated, the caves now taking on the blue tint of the fully risen blue star, small flickers of red flame in the form of fires starting from the heat. The blue tinted ash accumulated over the roots made it look almost frosty and cold. That illusion would’ve been kept, if not for the absolute sweltering heat.

“Well, it sucks down here. The tree roots move, there’s horse sized purple maggots slowly moving around, and the ground is covered in hot snow that the weird penis cacti seem to find nutritious. But there is one good thing.”

“Oh please, let me know, I’m dying for a good thing right about now.” Vinn said, wiping sweat.

“We’re not being followed anymore. Jack said the hunters passed us up hours ago and kept moving. Either they don’t give a shit, or they lost us because they are not about to come down here and they seem fine in the heat. You know…shit like this makes me miss being Osirian. This human body is bullshit. You get hot, you get cuts and bruises, and even more! How do humans live like this? Like being made of soft jello that boils at the slightest bit of ambient heat. I’m so over it. I should have gone full robotic, synthetic human skin, and just packed like 8 bodies in crates.”

“You know being organic and mortal has it’s perks too. First off you can feel the joy of touch.”

“We can feel touch too.”

“There’s the satisfaction of maturing and growing and aging gracefully.”

“We age too, just slower and with less health problems.”

“Can you get drunk?”

“Yeah.” She sighed.

“Okay I got nothing, being organic is shit apparently. You couldn’t have packed one full powered Gizzy body for missions like this? Boxed up in a crate in cryo?”

“The radiation signature is too obvious to anyone looking for Osirians, and everyone is looking for us. We’re in uncharted territory. If I send one neutrino pulse to communicate with my hive, I’m flagged, the whole moon is at risk, and they know who I am.”

“Oh look, the surface, and it’s nuclear blue and hot like an Osirian. Boy I bet that would be comfortable for an Osirian body, too bad we’d cook and die out there.”

“Stop complaining Vinn. At least the wildlife down here is ignoring us. Those shiny white tree roots we’re stepping over?”

“Yeah?”

“Forty foot long worms.”

“Oh what the shit, are you kidding me?”

“Don’t freak out, they don’t seem to care that we’re here. Now let’s be thankful Nicole is alive and these things aren’t going full anaconda on us. Keep moving, it’s supposed to get cooler further down.”

“It better. Frigging cave worms the size of telephone poles, things are just on fire, and it’s 140 degrees in here. Actually why aren’t you dying, humans don’t do well in that heat.”

“The brain cooks first, mine is all software. I assure you my health is not good, if this was my only body I’d be suffering permanent damage right now. I’m detecting severe pain, dehydration; my liver has completely shut down. My body is dying down here, I’m just not feeling the pain, and I’ll print new meat back on the ship. You just can swap memory cards and I’ll clone a new body. I’m dying, I just don’t really give a shit, Vinn. I just got a job to do and I can’t feel anything.”

“That’s metal as fuck. Sorry about the complaining.”

“It’s fine. Be glad you’re not human. It’s absolute bullshit.” She huffed.

After another hour of aimless walking, they reached a strange change in the temperature and environment. The cave became more cavelike, deeper, darker and less full of life, almost artificially carved, and judging by the filled-in supported arched doorways, they were near their destination. A stone stairwell lead upwards.

“Vinn, split up, we can cover more ground, you can move faster than I can, my body is about trashed. If you find Nicole and the key, leave without me, get to a clearing, and call for the shuttle. Don’t argue.” She ordered. He sighed and nodded, taking off further down the tunnels as she slowly made her way up the stairs. She entered a candle lit room, regal and very castle-like with brass fixtures and wooden accents. Nicole’s backpack was sitting in the corner. She dug through it, grabbing the gun and noticing the damaged memory cone on her smart glass phone. She sighed with annoyance and picked up the key, the red gem in the middle of the handle reflecting in the candle light. She pocketed the key and the phone, leaving the rest of the supplies. She followed the room to a door leading outside into some kind of elevated garden terrace, fenced in with blackened wood and overflowing with vines and lamps for candles. The sound of fountains and the glow of blue moonlit night covered the surrounding foliage of the outdoor garden area. Passing thick exotic plants, black and aqua marine in the lighting, she turned and moved her eyes towards the sound of movement. She locked eyes with a figure in the dark, sitting cross-legged and holding a goblet of wine. Her arms and legs draped in sheer black lace, a frilly layered dress of thicker black cloth, the corset and puffed shoulders illuminated a minty green like UV paint. An ornate lace collar with a single UV glowing green gem draped around her nack, her long black hair flowing beside it, and her yellow eyes a similar green in the blue lighting. 2 roses in her hair, and a rather ornately painted cheekbone accented her face with makeup fitting for a dark queen. She stared emotionlessly.

“Nicole?” Gizzy asked. “The hell are you wearing.”

“Why are you in my house?” She asked darkly.

“Nicole we have to leave.”

“That’s not my name.” She said softly.

“Yes it is.” She sighed, holding up the cone-on-a-phone. This is a memory wiping device you apparently stole from me for some unknown reason we’ll deal with much later. You don’t remember who you are, something went wrong, we can fix it on the ship but you have to come home with me.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“I am home.” She said casually. “Master said there would be those who try and take me away, to deceive me.”

“You’re being deceived right now. Your name is Captain Evee Nicole Alekseev of the starship Medusa, I’m your friend, I’m taking you home.”

“She is home.” Said a thundering voice as the Master crawled through the doorway and stood on his back 4 legs, rising up intimidating and bold, draped in ornate clothing and gold. “Aeless is not going with you.”

“Her name is Nicole and she’s not only going with us, but she’s married. So you can fuck right off, or I can cut you in half and take her by force, fix her memory and get her back to her real life where she belongs, with her family, husband, her ship.” She said shouldering the rifle, switching right to armor piercing rounds.

“I do not wish to kill you, stranger. You are not one of the hunters. You are merely confused and lost, much like she was. You don’t understand how feeble your position is and how powerless you are here, so please, demonstrate your weapon and understand how insignificant you are. You will not be faulted this once.” He said calmly. She switched to high heat incendiary thermite grenades. She placed one directly at his face, splashing off and burning on impact, not even making him blink. She noticed the necklace he was wearing has a similar jewel as Nicoles, and it dimmed back as the grenade burned off, lightening back up and revealing not a singed hair or mark on his unblinking eyes. “Are you satisfied with your mortal place now? He asked in a cocky tone. “I am the lord of the forest, the keeper of the door. My power is beyond your scope of understanding and I WILL gladly kill you, and your friend, and your ship. She does not believe your lies and nothing will take my Aeless away from me. So leave now, and you will be spared, for I am a merciful god and life is precious.” He said as vinn came around the corner, weapon shouldered and approaching the target.

“Vinn, stand down. We have no power here.” She said locking eyes with the Forest Lord.

“Nicole, come on, we’re going home.” He said as she stared at him in the dim light.

“I know you.” She said softly.

“No shit, I’m here to rescue you.” He said.

“She’s had a memory wipe, Vinn.” Gizzy said. “Which is why we don’t play with Gizzy’s pocket cone technology behind her back, insert moral lesson and musical number about trust. She dumbfucked herself on that one.”

“Can you fix her?”

“Yeah. Not here, obviously, and she’s decided to stay.” Gizzy growled, staring the Doorman Forest Lord down with the evil eyes.

“Vinn.” She said softly. “I know that name, I know you somehow.”

“Aeless, they are tricking you with magic to take you away. They only want to take you to hurt me and use you as leverage. I have many enemies and sadly this means so do you.”

“No, I know this man. I used to sit on his shoulders and ride.” She smiled with a tear in her eyes. His antler were grown out and they made great handles. We sat near the fireplace. There was another forrest lord, one with dark red hair and a voice like yours. He told me I was his little one, but all I feel for him is betrayal. Vinn…were we lovers?” she asked.

“Honey, you’re my wife. We’ve been separated one day, you just can’t remember.”

“Enough of this deception. Past lovers, enemy tricks, it matters not what the truth is to them, they are here to take you from your home and keep you prisoner from me, to take what I have that all want so badly. You are a pawn to them, a bargaining trade for the Egg. Nothing more. You are everything to me.” The Forrest Lord said. “So choose wisely strangers, exile or death, there is no other choice, and by refusing to choose, you have chosen death.

“Am I not a prisoner here?” Nicole asked him, looking sad and alone. “I can leave if I come back but I must always return to you. You saved my life and I am grateful, but I do not love you. The feelings I felt for something in my heart… they were for him.” She said locking eyes with Vinn. “I don’t know who is deceiving me, but I am not free here.”

“You are free as you can be. True freedom is death and capture, it is a false freedom to lure you. There is no truly free without being vulnerable to your enemies. You are safe here.”

“I’m not happy.”

“You rarely are at first but each time you return to me, you adapt and learn to be happy. You have many happy years with me ahead of you, it just takes time. Do not chase a beautiful lie. I will protect you from anything, and if I must, for yourself.” He said softly yet manically.”

“Yeah, that would be understandable if she was this Aeless you speak of. If she was really home and belonged here, and wasn’t trapped and taken from her real life. As an overlord myself, I understand the need for bars and gates to protect those who you love, but only if that is truly what’s best for them, not what’s best for you. Learning to be happy as a prisoner is not the way to do it.”

“Exile or death.” He said looking frustrated.

“Exile.” She replied. “Nicole, as yourself if you’re happy, why you always run away and come back unhappy. Ask yourself why you have to LEARN to be happy again until you run away over and over. Just think about it.” She said while turning to leave and stumbling as the ground seemed lower than it should have been, and made of cobblestone rather then polished tile. They were outside the manor, hundreds of yards from the front gate.

“The fuck just happened?”

“We lived to fight another day.”

“We’re not leaving without Nicole.”

“No shit, but we can’t fight that thing like this. I got the key, I got the memory cone. We head back to the ship, fix this thing so we can fix her, and we figure out a better plan.” She said turning as plant rustling gave away the position of the hunter standing just beyond them. She readied her gun and they prepared to fight. The smallest one stepped forward, hands out and no weapons as the others held position. It spoke something and waited for response.

“Translator isn’t working.” Vinn said

“Yeah, they don’t work on languages we’ve never encountered. They’re adaptive but not magic, this is an unknown species. Give me a second.” She said, placing her gun down and hugging Vinn, shaking his hand vigorously, then extending her hand to shake to show “friend” the hunter removed his helmet and revealed a reptilian face, large almond eyes and a sort of smile of sharp teeth. It held out a hand and shook.

“Friend.” Gizzy said. The reptile said something back, the translator delaying and repeating “friend” it stepped back and approached it’s other hunter, shaking his hand and saying “friend” it then took out a dagger, slowly pretending to stab and slit his throat. “enemy” the translator said. It walked towards the castle gates and pointed it’s dagger.

“Enemy.” It said.

“Yeah, us too. I agree.” She nodded vigorously, shouldering her gun and firing a shot in the direction “Enemy.” She established.

It approached Vinn, turning the dagger around and awkwardly brushing his fur with the handle.

“Friend, Enemy.” It said.

“Vinn I think I understand this situation.”

“Good because I’m lost as shit.

“They hate the Forrest Lord, or the Doorman or whatever he is. I get why. Did you notice the servants in that house? Reptilian. I’m guessing they don’t wanna be there any more than Nicole. We have a common problem with this asshole. They weren’t hunting US, they were hunting you, because you look vaguely like the big furry shithead who seems to like abducting slaves for his delusional fantasy realm. They get it now. They think you’re one of them but betraying him and on our side. I could also be entirely wrong, I am working with theories and adaptive translation software here. Look. He’s motioning us to follow, leaving his helmet off. That’s turning your back on a stranger. It’s showing trust and we need to follow them. I wanna know this asshole’s weakness before I storm that castle and walk out of here with a Nicole, the Egg, and a big furry head I plan to mount in the cargo bay. I know you want her back but he’s not torturing her or killing her, he’s just keeping her hostage and trying to trick her into being happy and playing into his delusion. We have time to strategize.”

…

They arrived at a camp, where dozens of the reptiles in armor were toiling and resting, looking like they were ready to start a war. The small leader stopped Vinn and motioned to Gizzy, leading him to a large longhouse structure, primitive and temporary like a military camp’s makeshift stronghold. She entered and in the ground was a large pit, inside the pit was a large animal, the same 6 legged furry beast as the Forrest Lord, but older, greyer, and beaten to a pulp, shackled and slumped down. She walked down the steps carved into the dry dirt and into the prisoner pit.

“Wake up nutsack, start talking.” She said as it opened its eyes and squinted at her.

“A human. By what stars and fortune do I see the face of two humans in the same season?”

“Cut the shit, Your false god king has my friend captive and calling her Aeless, and you’re gonna tell me a story about that or I’m removing parts of you that would make it nonsensical for me to call you nutsack again. Comprehend, fuzzy boi?”

“You have come for Aeless, then you truly have come to die. He will never let her go, and you cannot defeat him. Your friend is lost, and you would be wise to mourn her death and leave now. His mercy does not come in pairs, and if you return you will all die. We all have choices.”

“We do, left nut or right nut first.”

“Fine, but it does no good to tell you. I will entertain your desire to know, and you will do what you will with this, I care not for your life, but if I tell you, you will free me, or kill me. That is my bargain. The truth, for my freedom, in flesh or in death. I care not which. They are both better than being here.” He said.

“Alright mister, story time. Fireplace is burning, hot coffee on the table. Entertain me, bitch.” She said, sitting down and waiting impatiently.