Trials of Beta

Chapter Seven: Requiem for Lunehhy, Part Two

"We are... But... There are certain things you just can't do with an Android..." She said, casting a sidelong glance at Beta. And while the FOmar was rather dense, he wasn't stupid. Taking the initiative, he leaned in to kiss Lunehhy...

Their lips touched for the briefest of instants, and Lunehhy quickly pulled away, looking to the right, away from Beta. "I... I'm sorry. I can't..."

Perplexed by Lunehhy's actions, Beta leaned back, giving her space. "Why not? Is something wrong?"

Lunehhy sighed. "I still love him. It's... It's too soon. Not now..."

"Him?" Beta probed.

"Sephy... My... Fiancée." She said sadly, "I'm so sorry... I... I shouldn't have brought you here..."

"No no... It's alright. I'm glad you brought me here..." Beta said. He carefully selected his words, "So um... This Sephy... He didn't make it onto Pioneer 2, I take it?"

Lunehhy was silent for a few moments, then Beta noticed her lip trembling. He felt... Awkward, unsure how to proceed. "He... He was murdered! The day I arrived on Pioneer 2, someone murdered him!" She suddenly said, then begin to whimper quietly. "Why? Why did he have to die? Why was the love of my life taken away from me, not once, but twice!" She asked, more to life then to Beta.

"No one knows why things like that happen," Beta offered, trying to comfort the girl, "Just... The only you really can do is live... I'm sure Sephy would want you to do that."

Lunehhy chuckled, sniffling back tears. "Yeah, he would want that..." Her eyes were red, tears threatening to come at any moment. "Beta... Could you just hold me... Just for a little while?" Lunehhy asked, turning her head to look up into Beta's eyes. How could he resist that look? Without wasting time, he slipped his arms around Lunehhy, holding her close. Lunehhy placed one hand upon his chest, her other slipping around his neck as she rested her head on his shoulder. "This... Is nice..."

"We can still be friends, right?" Beta asked. Lunehhy giggled, smiling despite herself.

"You cheat. That's my line!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Despite what you might be thinking, it never went any further then that... I felt sorry for Lunehhy, she had lost someone she loved... And now... I've lost her...

~*~*~*~*~*~

Beta came awake by water splashing on his face. He jerked upright, instinctually grabbing his Shadow Rod.

"Whoa! Easy there partner!" Alex said, stepping back away from Beta. The FOmar began to relax, seeing as how there was no immediate threat.

"How long was I out?" He inquired. He noticed they were no longer in the tunnel, but rather somewhere else. Did Alex carry him? The immediate room he found himself in was built more like something inside a space ship then anything previous encountered. There was a transporter pad behind them, and a screen next to the only other exit out was flashing red. The lighting here was bright, a stark contrast to the dim tunnel.

"About an hour, give or take. You were pretty beat, so I let you sleep. I found where the tunnel ends. We're here now, wherever here is..."