The god, whose name – Sadira had learned – was Starfire, lay on a raised stone table. The healers had tried their best, but they had not been able to do anything more than ease Starfire's pain. Sadira now sat beside him, holding his blue metal hand.

Imhotep, the chief of the healers, came in then, shaking his head softly.

"He will not survive these wounds."

"What could have done this?" Sadira wondered.

"While we attempted to heal him, Starfire spoke of a dark blade that had injured him."

Starfire thrashed and moaned, speaking words in a language neither of them had heard until now.

"La- Lalai- Lalaidria! NO!"

Starfire clawed the air, kicking and screaming more strange words. Sadira took hold of his legs, even as Imhotep struggled to restrain his shoulders. Eventually, Starfire started to become calmer, the screams trailing off into incoherent moans.

"What has happened?" Sadira asked, as soon as Starfire's shrill screams had ceased.

"I do not know. Perhaps we should ask him," Imhotep suggested.

Starfire groaned softly, bright spots the color of the sky shining like eyes. Sadira gently stroked his forehead, where a crystalline teardrop flashed in strange, disjointed bursts.

"Starfire? What has happened to you?"

"Lalaidria," he answered, sounding shaken. "She has been- " Starfire nearly choked on the word "destroyed."

Before either Sadira or Imhotep could say a word, Starfire sat up, bringing his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. Sadira was about to ask him who Lalaidria was, when he began softly to weep. Abandoning her intentions of questioning him, Sadira wrapped her arms around Starfire's shoulders.

It was odd, feeling cool metal against her skin instead of warm flesh, but the metal was soft, and seemed almost alive. Sadira began to stroke Starfire's midnight blue hair, it was rougher than she expected, almost like spun silver.

Everything about Starfire was metal, and Sadira surmised that he was a god of metalsmiths. But who was Lalaidria? Holding Starfire as he wept, and gently rocking him as if he were a child, Sadira realized that Lalaidria must have been Starfire's wife.

Kissing where his lips would be if he had a mouth, Sadira turned to Imhotep. Softly calling him over, she whispered softly in his ear, not wanting to upset Starfire further.

"His wife has died,"

"He will be with her soon, but I know why he still grieves."

Imhotep softly patted the top of Starfire's head, giving what small comfort he could to the suffering god. Sadira noticed it first, but Imhotep was not far behind. Starfire had ceased to weep, and somehow they both knew why.

"He is at peace with Lalaidria now," Imhotep said morosely.

Sadira only nodded a little sadly, running her fingers through Starfire's metal hair. She knew that they would now be required to tell Pharaoh Djoser of their discovery, and he would insist that Starfire be buried as was befitting a god.

Sadira was not averse to any of this, but she still felt wrong having to leave Starfire, even for the short time it would take to inform Pharaoh Djoser. Turning to Imhotep, Sadira spoke.

"I wish to stay with Starfire, if that is acceptable to you."

Imhotep nodded

"I am sure Pharaoh Djoser will understand," he said, walking away.

Sadira leaned her cheek against Starfire's head, and just let her thoughts scatter to the wind. Sadira had not the slightest idea how long she had stood there, staring at nothing, but the first thing she clearly noticed were the priests. One of them was looking at her.

"Priestess Sadira," the priest, who Sadira now remembered was called Narros, addressed her in respectful tones.

"Yes, Priest Narros?" Sadira answered in the same tone.

"Pharaoh Djoser wishes to see this god, Starfire."

"Of course."

Narros, Sadira and the other priests lifted Starfire's body, now limp and doll-like, and carried it to the main citadel, where Pharaoh Djoser was waiting.

***

The battle was over. Darkblade had watched as the damaged Tekkaman ship fell into the atmosphere of the planet. Darkblade felt that he would return to this planet, but it didn't feel like the right time. Turning away, Darkblade fired his rockets and accelerated into the ethereal darkness.

Omega saw the flare of crimson light, and turned to watch as it arrowed into the blackness.

"Goodbye, little warrior."

Darkblade blazed away, no particular destination in mind. But he had eternity, and there was an entire universe just waiting to be explored…