*The feed starts, all white at first but soon adapting to the light

conditions. An old Mardukox is straight ahead, glancing sideways at a

screen, moving away from the camera and then seating xyrself. Xe

obviously fidgets with its paws, showing distress and uncertainty. The

surroundings show a small room with metal walls. Objects indicate an

flat or more probably a shelter, due to the amount of things lying

around, in different states of repair or brokenness. A purplish colour

shines in from the windows. The Mardukox nods, stares at the camera,

pauses shortly and begins.*

Call me Ur. I have been stranded on Velvet ten AIG ago – that is stellar

cycles Among Imperial Galaxies. Chances are good, you do not know what

that means, I will come to it later.

First, congratulations on you deciphering my base 16 mathematics and

from that, the structure of my language. This video is your starting

point while diving deeper into all the data Dade and I have accumulated.

You are in the root directory. In the respective folders you can find my

*research*, more about Marduk culture in the *glossary* as well as all

*raw data* we acquired. Under *cycle log* you can find my journal, of

course chronologically. Under *automatic logs* Dade placed xyrs reports.

You can find your way around from *Map of Content Velvet*, next to the

introduction you are seeing now.

Dade suggested, that I assemble a *report*, summarizing both my daily

log, the research we did here on Velvet and the most relevant parts of

Marduk culture related to my life here. I am a Vettro, a scientist, not

an expert novelist. So please, consider that while reading. This report

is for convenience, not your joy. To me, as a Marduk, it is part

cultural legacy and part therapy.

Nobody rescued me. Nobody found me. Nobody knows I am still alive. But,

I have found the remains of the original inhabitants of Velvet. We call

them Lilans, because of the colour of this planet. One of theirs left

behind notes similar to this report. You can find what we deciphered

under *Lilan report*.

Personally, I got here by accident, while travelling through supraspace

in an intra-universal journey. I was among the first of Mardukox to do

so. Marduk is the name of my species. It is not noteworthy, that I got

stranded here. What is noteworthy is the breakthrough research those

Lilans did here. I do not know what their name for themselves was, we

never found that word.

So, again, just for future’s sake: I am Ur Of Nonric, Vettro under

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Emperox Ishbierra in 12146 AIG. I have found the civilization of the

Lilans here, that killed themselves in 350984 BIG, that is Before

Imperial Galaxies. A long time ago.

*Xe shakes itself, shortly lost in thought.*

Travelling the Galactic Cluster is simply breathtaking. But here, on

this forsaken rock on the rim of some spiral galaxy these Lilans came up

with a solution so exciting I could not sleep. And then I cried for many

cycles, since no one will ever find out about their research. This

planet has been wiped clean by fire and turned into a biological

miracle.

*A short tremble goes through xyrs body, before xe continues.*

This part of the galaxy is dead of sentient life, and I am in the centre

of it.

Nevertheless, I have Dade. Dade means well, as is xyrs programming. Dade

is my Bot. Still, this is my story. It is spoken in my own words, with

my own opinion and my own fallacies. Before the accident, I was a Heart

Child, a Heart Parent, citizen of the Imperial Galactic Cluster, Leading

Matter Scientist, Partner of Rite, hobby botanist. After the accident I

was a survivor, a farmer, an archaeologist, and an undertaker.

This, this report about myself, it scares me. It …

*Again, xyrs body trembles.*

It feels like closing, like ending something I do not want to end.

*Xyrs optical receptors are glinting in the purple light, seemingly full

of liquid.*

Dade helps me, giving me topics to talk about, hinting parts I should

rephrase. If you see something like this:

“*Emotional spike detected. Please do a somersault and smile.*”

That is Dade. Say Hi to Dade. I decided to include xyrs messages in this

report. Xe gives me useful metrics and required tasks at hand, as the

Lilans say. There is a screen on my underarm showing them. It looks like

this.

*Xe holds his front arm into the camera.*

    12146AIG12H1, 11.6V

    capture report

    Capture Report

    CAPTURE REPORT

I included them to help you, dear Watcher. Dade said, I should give you

some help to make my report easier to watch. As if anybody will ever

watch it.

*Xe stops for a moment, again searching for words.*

I would love to erase my memory like Dade could. So much to forget. So

much I never want to forget. Zyra, Leto and Lope, the Imperial Galactic

Cluster, Ulric, home, Nona, food. I hate thinking about xem. I hate

vlogging about xem. I hate being alone on this planet. I hate not having

anybody for a hug. I hate it so much.

*There are definitely tears flowing from xyrs optical receptors. Xe

wipes them away and steadies xyrself again.*

In Marduk, we have a concept of Duty and Privilege. I had the privilege

to survive, to do incredible research, both at home and here on Velvet.

I have done and seen so much for the first time in Marduk history, it is

simply breathtaking. And so my duty is to endure the loneliness. The

Rite of Sorrow and my Heart Family have prepared me for this. Let us get

started.

Call me Ur.