Chapter Title: Through the Stars

Series Title: Unlikely Brothers

Ages in this chapter: Tanner (12) Dashen (20)

POV: Dashen

Chapter Summary: Dashen's memory of Kossi is prominent as he and Tanner fly into the stars.


"I'm gonna be a pilot one day, Dashy. Fly into the stars. I could fly forever up there!"

"A pilot, huh? When did you decide this?"

"Maybe today."

"Yesterday, you were gonna be a cargo-freight operator."

"Yeah. Too slow. I want to fly fast and forever. The stars are endless. Right, Dashy?"

"The are, Kos."

"And you think I can be a pilot and one day fly to the Ovoid moon?"

"You can do great things, little brother. And I know you can one day fly with the best pilots there are. You just work hard and study like you always do. One day you'll be there and you can visit Ovoid or any moon or planet in the galaxy. I can't wait to see."

"You'd be proud of me?"

"I'm always proud of you, Kos. Every single day."

"Nah."

"Nah?"

"You can't be proud of me every single day. Dashy, that's silly."

"Silly, sure. But it's true. And when you fly into the stars one day, I'll be even more proud."

"You'll go with me! And we'll visit the Ovoid moon."

"I'd go with you anywhere, Kos. Anywhere."

—-

"Dash. Dash, wake up. We're there. You wanted me to wake you when we went into orbit."

I woke. My eyes watered. Involuntary, I wiped at them. A dream. About Kossi. A good dream, if melancholy. I focused on the compact form leaning nearby. Pale brown eyes staring at me. Tanner.

"Yeah, okay. I'm awake. Sorry."

"You're sure this is the moon?"

I glanced out the nearby window to see the smallish purplish sphere in the distance. "This is it. Kossi's favorite moon. The one he was absolutely going to visit one day. It's name is Ovoid. Well, that's what he called it."

"Ovoid means oval."

"He liked to call things as he saw them. The obvious. The moon's actual name is something like Persephone. Kossi always though that was to complicated, so he gave the moon an unofficial name. Ovoid."

Tanner shrugged, but smiled. "It's logical and simple."

"Yeah, something you would do." I smirked, my hand reaching out to catch Tanner's shoulder, pushing off it so I could stand. We moved to the viewing window of the ship. Colton's personal cruiser (you know he had one) with Kebrey Pacus at the helm. The moon with the made-up name of Ovoid now in full glorious view.

"He liked the color. Kossi did. His class studied moons and they had to do a report on any one of their choosing. He said you couldn't help but to love a purple moon. Normal moon colors, you know, white and gray, were so exceedingly boring. Then he swore he'd fly into the stars one day to see it. In reality, this is what he wanted. To float within view, slowly in space and just watch it. Boring, I know, kinda like meditation is for you, but he dreamed of it." Tanner frowned, I pulled back the emotion. "Swore to me that one day he'd be a great pilot one day and fly into the stars. He would have been. Damn kid could've done anything he put his mind to."

"It is beautiful." Tanner remarked. "I've not ever seen a purple moon before."

"Promised him - after he died - that I'd make it to the stars for him if I could. That promise fell apart when I fell apart, but I suppose this counts. So, we can orbit here for a while and watch the moon as we float past the stars."

Tanner had me sit in the seat closest to the window, taking a place next to me. Surprisingly, the kid that soaked up information like a sponge didn't know a thing about this moon and he left it that way. What we knew about it was what Kossi wanted us to know. It was round and it was purple. And to get to it, you had to fly into the stars.

Good enough for me.

"Did you ever want to be a pilot, Mouse?" I asked. "I assume it was part of your Jedi training."

"As Jedi we would eventually learn to fly a whole list of different vehicles. Before I was taken as an apprentice, we flew using simulators. Once with Master Ayden, I was to learn so much more. But my time was limited and I didn't gain much actual experience. Never thought much about being a pilot. Some Jedi were amazing pilots, some wanted to stay grounded. Maybe I would have fallen in between. Your brother didn't get to realize his dream, but probably he'd have fallen in love with flying."

As Tanner spoke, My eyes didn't wander from the stars or from Ovoid the moon. Thinking of Kossi the entire time. Like I needed an excuse. That contagious smile that lit his entire face whenever he spoke of the stars or of sailing through them.

"Yeah, he would have. I can take it or leave it. For me, it's just transportation from one place to another. To Kossi, it was bliss. I can only imagine had he'd gotten the opportunity to be here right now."

Kebrey kept the orbit slow, though we did move closer in. Just enough to see that the purple melded into bright blues on some sections of the moon. Oceans or seas perhaps. The moon was a mystery to me. Kossi held those details and I wasn't going to spoil them. The colors together though... they were stunningly gorgeous. A true sight to behold for the naked eye.

I went quiet. Tanner too. Thinking about my long lost little brother. I was living his dream for him the best I could. Not as a pilot, but as a spectator of the stars and the moon and the majesty of space.

Hours passed before I realized I'd fallen into some type of daze. Tanner finally roused my attention with a slight tap to my knee.

"Dash. Kebrey says we should move. There are patrol ships in the area and we need to go before they scout us. You okay?"

I nodded, sniffled and dragged a sleeve across my eyes. "Yeah. We can go. Thank Kebrey for me will you, Mouse? I'd like to stay here and watch the stars on the flight home."

"I will."

Tanner left my side and I sat back, head on the rest. My gaze settled on the vanishing purple moon and the bright tiny clusters of light all around as we pulled off. I didn't once look away until we'd entered the atmosphere of our home planet, Terra. Watching with sadness and wonder and hope and memories of an amazing boy - my little brother Kossi - and his dream of one day flying into the stars, through the endless space beyond, and stopping to wonder a small purple moon he'd named Ovoid.


END