Chapter 1
"Hurry up, Orion! You're so slow!"
Orion looked ahead. His brother paraded out in front, a smug smile that always slung across his face glistened. Oenopion was always smiling about something. A lot went through his mind, Orion guessed. They were traveling home from their exploration of the tunnels near the house. They lived in a house far from the city, on a hill that over looked it.
"Oenopion?" Orion whispered.
"Yes, brother?"
"Why do you think our parents won't let us out far?"
It had been a question bugging Orion for the past couple of solar cycles. Lately, their parents had become very…frightened was the best word for it. They would always call them back inside at the first loud noise. It was strange and growing more so.
"How should I know, Orion? You should grow up, stop bugging me about stupid things like that," snapped Oenopion.
"I'm only a stellar cycle younger than you, Oenopion," chuckled Orion.
"A stellar cycle too young," nodded Oenopion.
There was a shuttering crash. The two turned, watching black smoke arise from the city down below. Orion looked to Oenopion. His smile was less but something kept in upon his face. There was a sound of a door opening and voice called out to them.
"Orion! Oenopion! Inside, quickly!"
"Coming, mother," replied Orion.
"Must you always reply?" Oenopion sighed.
"She likes it when we do," answered Orion.
The two ran home. Their mother, a tall but frail femme, held open the door. She was of light color armor with a lighter blue face. Orion took after her side. Oenopion took after their father. Dashing inside, the frail femme shut the door tight, locking it. Orion took in the welcomed feeling of the home. His mother dashed to the windows, shutting each carefully. His father sat in his usual chair, watching her do such. Almost missing it, Orion saw Oenopion dash upstairs.
"Brother?" whispered Orion, following his brother slowly.
The upstairs was much more divided than the lower level. All rooms had doors that were often shut. Orion and Oenopion's rooms were to the right, and their parents' room to the left. A work room was in front of the steps and a game room close beside it. Oenopion had pulled down the ladder, which led to the roof top. It was often his thinking spot up there. Orion followed quietly.
Oenopion often kept to himself. Their mother said that was a trait of hers. He worked on projects that he wouldn't show to anyone until they were finished. He would tease Orion when he wasn't working. The stellar cycle difference was a century to Oenopion. Orion was his little brother, and nothing would change that.
"Oenopion?" Orion whispered, finding his brother on the roof.
Oenopion shushed him. He was looking out at the city. The smoke had worsened. Fire was spreading, and sirens could now be heard. Oenopion looked as if he was watching a fight, careful picking who would win and who to root for. Orion never understood the meaning of picking a side for a fight. Fights were a waste of time.
"Whatcha doing?" Orion asked.
"Watching. I think there's a battle going on in town," Oenopion answered.
"Why watch it then?" Orion hummed.
"Be quiet, will you!"
This was Oenopion signature line, meaning he doesn't know why he does it he simply does it. Orion sighed, sitting down. Oenopion glanced at him but continued to watch the smoke with heavy interest.
"Come on, Oenopion. Let's go do something," begged Orion.
"I'm busy!" snapped Oenopion.
"Please."
"Fine, you big baby!" howled Oenopion, leaving his post. "But tomorrow you're coming with me to the bottom of the tunnels."
"But, mother said…"
"Forget what she said," ordered Oenopion. "We're big bots. We can do this!"
"Fine," sighed Orion, getting to his feet.
Orion went down the steps first, leaving Oenopion with one last glance at the fire. They went to Oenopion's room, where most of the toys had hibernated from the game room. Orion gathered most of the toys, knowing just what to play, while Oenopion watched. His smile was gleaming again. He had something on his mind.
"I've been thinking about changing my name."
"Why? Mother says the names Oenopion and Orion go together," smiled Orion.
"Exactly! Besides, Oenopion is a mouthful. I was thinking of something with mega in it," Oenopion's smile widened.
"Mega? Why mega?" Orion questioned.
"One, it sounds cool. Two, it sounds powerful. Three, it sound cool," replied Oenopion.
"You said cool twice," mumbled Orion.
"Because it is really cool!" cheered Oenopion, falling back on the berth.
There was a moment of silence as Oenopion thought, and Orion set up the play set. When Orion was done, Oenopion seemed to have drifted into his own thoughts. He had lost touch with reality for the day. Orion sighed, picking up the toys again. When Oenopion lost touch with reality for the day there was no bringing him back except for supper and bed.