"The Long Night"
By Nes Mikel
Acknowledgment;
Standard Disclaimers apply. You know what I'm talking about. Don't sue me. Please.
Two
Looking back now, Lekim realized that the actions Krr took when she caught him making the holographic program were not surprising at all.
Heck, she was the strictest being Lekim had ever known, following protocols and orders exactly to the letter. So it certainly came as a surprise when he learned that Krr didn't report him to the old ones. Instead, she later came into his quarters to request any assistance she could give to help him make the holographic program.
He was skeptical at first, thinking it was an elaborate set-up Krr designed to teach him a lesson. But her skills in computer programming just blew him away, creating a flawless holographic self-portrait program that fooled Pixdixy himself. She was definitely not following protocols at that point.
What surprised Lekim the most, however, is that in exchange for her contribution, she asked him for his help in order for her to create another holographic program; for herself.
It was all coming together now. So that was why she asked for her to be left off at Praxis. In order for this trick to work, they needed to activate the program at the last planet that Pixdixy was letting the caravan off.
He still found it puzzling as to the reason why Krr didn't bother go join the others on the hidden colony in Der Espond. Many members of the caravan who had no homes left of decided to go there, where one of the few other remaining Elder Races lived. There, they decided to attempt to forge their own civilization from scratch again. In fact Lekim was tempted himself to join everyone else, but he was still angry with the old ones from taking his dreams away. He knew it was foolish to think so – Krr taught him that – but emotions were a strange thing.
Regardless, he was happy. As he witnessed Pixdixy's shuttle finally entering the shuttle bay, he took a quick glance towards his right. Krr was there, tall, elegant, and almost cute if you looked at her as a catgirl. He chuckled at that thought. A catgirl! He shook his head. She was almost 300 cycles old, and she was no girl. She was one of the many old ones Lekim respected, one of his many Mentors. He was fortunate to still have her by his side.
"What are you smiling at?" she asked, not even glancing in his direction. He couldn't help it anymore - he laughed. "Oh, nothing."
Krr only raised an eyebrow in response.
Lekim turned his attention back to the shuttle bay, and witnessed Pixdixy advancing towards the air lock. Not that Pixdixy needed air in the first place anyway, but the majority of the Caravan did. Lekim walked down towards the other end of the bridge where the other half of the lock located to punch the codes so he could open the doors to let Pixdixy in. He heard the clank sound in the other end, and the slight hum of Pixdixy's hover engines notified Lekim of his arrival in the airlock cabin. Lekim continued to operate the door console, pressurizing the tiny cabin between the doors. With a whoosh the cabin was filled with freshly oxidized air, and the outer door swung open, and Pixdixy hovered through the door.
Krr touched a panel nearby, closing the image of the shuttle bay on the viewscreen and walked over to Pixdixy. This caught Pixdixy's attention. Although it was naturally hard to read Pixdixy's emotions, Lekim was with him long enough to tell his moods apart. "Krr'isha too? My, isn't this turning out to be a fine party." He was obviously happy.
"Pleased to meet you too, PX-23-DXY." Krr replied somewhat sarcastically, but she too was smiling. It was as if it were a reunion of the caravan, small, but a reunion nonetheless. It was somewhat ironic because they didn't separate that long ago, but it was the bond that forged between them that made them feel that separation was intolerable. Even if it was only for a brief moment.
But nonetheless, it didn't change the fact that the caravan has been disbanded. All that remained of it was on board this ship, the Zero. Only the three of them, all others, gone. It was a concept Lekim found hard to swallow, but he knew that he could only go forward now. He had already made his decision. There was no turning back.
Lekim walked over to Pixdixy and hugged him. It was very awkward; Pixdixy's Meklar body composition reminded him of a spider, and he was almost three times larger than he was, was hovering off the ground, and he was a machine. Hugging him in earnest was a challenge itself. Nonetheless Pixdixy received Lekim's appreciation very well, and didn't complain. "Glad to have you with us, Pixdixy."
That did, and he beeped. "Do I have to remind you every time that I do not appreciate the way you call my name?"
Lekim let go of Pixdixy, and shrugged innocently. "What's wrong with calling you that?"
"First of all, it's wrong, because you're manipulating my name. Second, you've left out the 23, a number that I hold in regard with pride. Thirdly, you're just a spoiled brat." It was Pixdixy's style of humor.
Lekim gave him a light punch against his metallic shell. "Come on, it's not as if it's going to kill you. Get used to it, because I'm going to call you that for the rest of my life." Pixdixy replayed the laugh track programmed inside him, sharing Lekim's enthusiasm. They were having a good time back together already. This, Lekim knew, was how the caravan should be. Always be.
"Now come on you two." Krr interrupted. "This is no time for games. We have things to discuss."
"She is right." Pixdixy promptly disengaged from Lekim and focused his electronic eyes on him. "You still haven't told me what your plans for this ship are."
"He is right, Lekim. I only went along so I could keep an eye on you. You humans are so reckless, I feared that you might go ahead and get yourself into a situation that will kill yourself." Looks like Krr's sarcastic tone was back again, Lekim observed.
Lekim held his hands high up in the air, as if he were surrendering to the other two's demands. "All right, all right. But promise you won't get angry at me."
"That depends." Krr again.
Lekim tried to ignore her and continued. "You already know that I want to make a new caravan. However, I understand the reality of the situation, and I understand the revolution is drawing to a close. But there is one thing I must do before my plans, er, my ideas will come into play."
"Where to you wish to go?" Pixdixy asked.
"Sol."
