The Topaz Star shone some 2 million kilometers ahead of them. The brilliant blue of the star captivated both their gazes. Alyx sat in the control side of the cockpit while Marcus occupied the parallel seat. The journey through the wormhole had been uneventful, though Marcus still felt gravely uncomfortable going through them after his traumatic experience the first time.
“There it is!” Alyx exclaimed after a long silence, her eyes sparkling as she pointed at the gorgeous blue of the Topaz Star. She didn’t know the exact coordinates of where the planets in the system would be, but she had done her best to estimate their location. “Looks like I hit the mark. We’re close enough now to scan for the planets.”
“It’s stunning,” Marcus said, his eyes wide. Years of being trapped on the mineroid, followed by captivity and then being stuck on this ship, had kept Marcus from experiencing anything truly beautiful. The Topaz Star was magnificent. It sat in the distance, glowing brilliantly with two beams of light pulsating from the star’s poles—a breathtaking display of the universe’s natural power and beauty.
They sat in silence for a moment, lost in the sight, before Alyx moved to the control room to perform the system scans. After what felt like hours, Marcus followed her.
“Good news! The repairs on the scanner worked,” Alyx announced as she studied the data on the screen. “There they are: all five planets around the Topaz Star.”
“Where are we headed?” Marcus asked, curious about her choice.
“Citria, where I was born. It’s not the most impressive planet, but it’s home. Mostly used for agriculture,” Alyx replied with a hint of nostalgia.
Marcus leaned closer to the map’s projections of the planets. They seemed so alive, with city lights twinkling on their dark sides.
“Why hasn’t Finisterra shut this place down? It’s a threat, isn’t it?” Marcus wondered aloud, genuinely puzzled.
“They’re more scared of making martyrs out of us,” Alyx said, her voice steady. “The only thing keeping war between the Freehand Collective and Finisterra at bay is fear. The Supreme Director can’t afford to let the people believe there’s hope outside their control. They prefer to keep the existence of this place a secret from the general public but you cant hide a war”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“That’s a dangerous game to play,” Marcus replied, recognizing the fragile nature of their situation.
“Definitely. But the Collective has thought about making the first move. The problem is, it takes a unanimous vote among all five Celestars to do that,” Alyx explained, her brow furrowing. She couldn’t help but feel a surge of hope at the thought of change, of a future without Finisterra’s oppressive rule. Yet, she also felt a twinge of fear for Marcus. If he became a symbol of that hope, the weight of expectation might crush him, especially in his current fragile state.
“Celestars?” Marcus asked, intrigued.
“They’re the leaders of each planet, elected by the people,” she clarified. “They’ve never been able to agree on taking offensive action. They prefer the fragile peace. But you could change that, Marcus. If they see what you can do, they might take the chance.”
The thought unsettled Marcus. The idea of his abilities sparking an all-out war, resulting in the deaths of millions—perhaps even billions—terrified him. He began to second-guess his decision to come here. While he longed for freedom, it felt as though every time he tried to escape, the trap pulled tighter. He didn’t want to become a symbol of Finisterra defiance for people to rally behind. Some kind of beacon with stories of escaping Finisterra strongholds with ease and the ability to control time. At this point, he barely understood himself, and yet Alyx wanted him to… lead? Marcus shuddered and almost lost the rhythm of his tapping.
But he owed her for saving him from whatever it was that lurked in the void. Besides, she had proven to be a good… friend, he thought. Yes, he could consider Alyx a friend.
This realization filled him with a glimmer of hope. Maybe he didn’t need to be alone. Surely he deserved companionship just like everyone else. For now, he decided to go along with her—for Alyx’s sake.
Alyx smiled faintly, sensing the weight of his thoughts, and led him back to the cockpit. As the ship glided through the star system, Marcus felt a mix of hope and dread. He was about to step into a world that had been hidden from him—a world that might offer freedom but also came with the weight of responsibility and danger.
Alyx glanced at him, her heart a mix of excitement and caution. She hoped that Marcus could be the change they all needed but was acutely aware of how much pressure that put on him. She resolved to support him, but not push too hard, understanding that he had his own struggles to face. With that in mind, she set the course for Citria.