Present Day-Gilliak-2096
The crash of metal against metal filled the echoing dome, followed by the definitive sounds of laughter. Two figures had taken up defensive positions on opposite sides of the arena, swords poised before them, preparing to go another round.
The younger of the two smiled wickedly as she expertly twirled her blade, taunting the man before her. "Getting tired already, Lunk?" she teased, brushing a strand of dark hair from her eyes. "Too much for you to handle?"
Lunk laughed. "You wish, Siara!" He braced himself for a headlong attack, raising his blade as the girl rushed forward, swinging her sword dangerously. The two blades met and countered one another, their owners never budging an inch.
Siara smirked, her light eyes gleaming as she leaned closer. "Oh, don't worry, big brother. I'm sure you can beat me, even without a Bond Creature." As she spoke, her body began to glow blue and the faint form of a leopard materialized behind her, jaws wide and sneering with heated golden eyes burning fire.
Lunk froze at her words, shock flashing across his face. Using his distraction to her advantage, Siara took her chance. With a loud yell, she cleanly knocked away her brother's blade, sending it skittering across the gravel to a nearby podium, and twirled hers showboating-ly before his chest. "I win," she gloated. "Again."
Lunk growled, pushing the blade away, glaring down at her. "You cheated," he huffed.
"Did I?" Siara tilted her head, the cat behind her fading away. "Don't recall. You really should be more alert, you know."
"We agreed not to talk about it," Lunk reminded her, gesturing to the open air where the jaguar had just been standing.
"You're a sore loser, you know that?" She lowered her sword and rolled her eyes.
"We said we wouldn't use Bond Creatures this time," Lunk argued. "You said you wouldn't."
"No, I said I wouldn't attack you with Jasper. I never said anything about showing off a little. Besides, it's not my fault you haven't connected to one yet."
His glare was deadly.
"Oh, stop sulking," Siara laughed, strolling past and slugging him in the shoulder. "You'll get it next time. Count on it."
"Maybe someday I won't have to," he retorted, following slowly. "Because someday I will have my own bond animal and it will be a million times cooler than your boring old Earth-y cat."
"Jaaaaaaggguuuiiirrree," Siara sang, skipping away.
Lunk sighed, pausing to glance around at the delicate structure of the once-great arena. He recalled his parent's stories of what it had been once, before he was born, before the Universal War. Once, spectators from all across the galaxy had come together in an era of peace and unity to watch games and uphold the coalition of the galaxy.
But all that changed when an evil ruler from the distant planet, Frisia, decided he would no longer be content with his world and attempted to overthrow the rulers of the others. (Except for Earth. Apparently, there were many tiny-bit important people instead of kings and queens to govern their subjects. No one had wanted to mess with that bundle of confusion). Sometime during the struggle, the war had reached Gilliak and had destroyed the Coliseum. All that remained now were remnants of the once massive arena, a few marble pillars overgrown with vines and wearing away from age. It was no longer used to host massive events but it still held a special place in the hearts of the Gillian people and it was a great place to train and get away from it all.
Even if he wasn't exactly sure what the all was.
Recently, things had begun to feel...off. Not all cheerful and sun-shiny as it should have been. Siara had suggested he had just grown accustomed to the monotony of life, so she was absolutely no help whatsoever. But she was right about something. Nothing seemed exciting anymore. He trained, eat, slept, and then got up and did it all again. What was his purpose? His hopes and dreams? What did he want? That's the question he had been asked over and over and his answer had always been the same.
To do what is right.
But how could he do that when everything he knew revolved around punches and blocks? What good was he to anyone? What good was a warrior in an era of peace?
Almost unconsciously, his eyes moved from the ruins toward the sunset. The sky was alive with brilliant colors; pinks and purples and oranges, all caused by the continuous setting of the planet's six suns. Now there was a place for him. Something new and exciting. A place where he wouldn't have to live in the shadow of his sister, a place where he could forge his own name. Where he could be what he wanted to be.
He didn't know what called to him from space. He certainly wasn't one to stray from the traditional path; the one that kept him there, doing the same thing day after day. But something was out there, calling for him to find it. And he would. Somehow. Someday.
But for now...for now he could hear Siara calling his name as she ran on ahead, so, taking one more deep breath and giving the heavens a final longing glance, he turned and started down the road after her.
"Siara," he said as she slowed to let him catch up. "Can I ask you something?"
She twisted to look up at him. "Sure, Lunk. What is it?"
He hesitated, unsure how to phrase his thoughts. "When you decided to become the captain of the guard," he started slowly. "How did you know...that it was the right decision? That that was what you wanted to do with your life?"
She thought for a moment. "I don't know. I guess...I kind of just...knew."
"Not to mention your crush on the general."
She giggled. "Definitely not mentioning that. No," she shook her head. "I think it's just something you discover for yourself. Like, when you find what it is you're destined to do, you just...you'll know. Why?" She blinked. "Do you think you've found your calling?"
He could almost hear the unsaid finally attached to the end of her phrase. It wasn't normal for a Gillian of his age to not have a role or a Bond Animal. It was...unique. It was unheard of. And it made a lot of people nervous. "Not yet," he admitted, pointedly ignoring the disappointment on her face. "But I'm getting there," he added, trying to cheer her up. "What do you know about the ISA?"
She wrinkled her nose. "You want to go to space?"
"You're a great little sister and I knew you'd understand," Lunk grunted sarcastically. "But, really, you're normally this walking book of trivial knowledge, so what do you have for me?"
Siara looked as though she couldn't tell whether she should be pleased or offended. Her brother was often puzzling like that. Even after all these years, she still struggled to tell when he was being sincere. "The ISA is a prototype militia, based on the theories and lessons from the Great Alliance before the Universal War in 1981. It combines the strengths and skillsets of all planets involved. Its base is on Galgria, which is exactly 2.3 million lightyears from here. There are four major outposts on Skiltron, Earth, Zamorin, and here actually."
"Wait...there's an outpost here?"
She looked at him with deadpan. "You're joking, right?"
"No...?"
"It's just beyond there," She turned to point past the Silent Forest toward the Hills of Lavvar. It was a place where no Gillian ever went, for the twisted paths would lead the unworthy astray. No one who ventured beyond the city's walls ever returned. So how could Siara possibly know what was out there? "No," she sighed, knowing what he was thinking. "I didn't go through the forest, dummy. I went around it."
He stared and she blew a clump of hair out of her eyes in exasperation. "Look," she went on. "I don't know what you're expecting me to tell you, but if going to space is really what you want, then I think that outpost is your best shot. Why don't you go and see if they can help you? It's not dark yet. You could be there by morning."
Lunk hesitated. Did he really want to go? Was this what he really wanted? He realized the answer to both questions was yes. He needed to do this. The ISA might hold all the answers he'd desperately been seeking. He knew he had to go.
"Thanks, Siara."
"No problem, brother. Just do one thing for me."
"What's that?"
"If you go to space, promise me you won't return so...so..."
"Go ahead. Just say it. You know you want to."
"Spaced-out."
"Ugh."
And with that, the two of them continued their walk, their conversation revolving once more to sword fighting and certain sisters who had certain crushes on certain generals (much to Siara's displeasure, though that's mostly why Lunk brought it up).
His decision already made up in his mind, Lunk started out that night, deciding to follow Siara's advice and take the long way around the Silent Forest. He tried not to think how dangerous it was for him to be there. Especially alone. Especially at night.
But nothing happened and at dawn's first light, he caught his first glimpse of the outpost in the valley below. It seemed...oddly quiet...and he noted the stillness as he pushed open the gates and stepped inside.
No one saw him.
No one was there to see him.
The entire base was deserted.
He frowned, confused, and carefully closed the gate behind him. Something's not right, his mind warned him as he started down the dirt path toward the nearest hangar, a large metal building precariously built near the back of the encampment, surrounded by high-tech vehicles and a large number of tools and supplies. Several buildings appeared in a similar state, charred and black, but still holding strong thanks to their thick metal shells protecting them from the environment. He passed what he guessed was the security tower and two weapons hangars before finally reaching what should have been the general's quarters.
The ISA would never have left their most valuable technology just lying around.
Tensed and ready to swing a punch at a moment's notice, he carefully pushed open the door. It swung loosely from its hinges, squeaking horribly as it did. Lunk waved away ash and dust, peering into the darkness.
"Hello?" he called, scanning the room for signs of life, movement, anything. "Anybody here?"
In response, a soft groan could be heard from somewhere in the back of the room. Something moved and Lunk braced himself in case whatever it was was dangerous. "Who's there?" he demanded.
"Uggghh...wha...where...w-where am I?"
A voice rose from the shadows, high and frightened. Lunk relaxed a little, realizing this...whatever this was...wasn't a threat. "Come forward," he ordered. "Step out where I can see you!"
"I...don't u-under...stand," the voice said again. "I...I was just...I...don't...know where I...am."
The figure slowly stood and the sunlight pouring through the dusty window revealed the Earthling. His clothes were torn and dirty and he was covered from head to toe in dirt and oil. His hair was untamed and his glasses sat lopsidedly on his nose. He moved shakily, as though he was waking from a coma.
Or was just unconscious, Lunk thought.
"You're from Earth," he blurted before he could stop himself. The male glanced his way, confusion written all over his face, eyes still wide with fear. "Oh, wait," Lunk hastily tried to correct himself. "Maybe I've got the wrong language. Hang on, let me try again."
"No," the human whispered, his voice breaking with fear. "I understood you. I just..." He looked around in despair, his entire body propped against a desk. He was so skinny it was a miracle he didn't snap in half at the effort. "Where am I?"
"Gilliak," Lunk replied promptly, proudly.
"Gilliak," the redhead repeated faintly. "That's...the fourth quadrant. That's...that's over a billion lightyears away and..." He tried to move but his legs crumpled and he fell against a shelf, barely catching himself in time. "I think I need to...to sit down."
Lunk watched in silence as the earthling threw himself into an old chair and ran his hands through his hair, trembling. He didn't see what the problem was. Gilliak was a fine planet if he did say so himself. But obviously, the human did not agree. And he didn't seem to understand how he'd gotten there in the first place.
"Are you all right?" he asked. "Is there anything I can do?" Then, to be polite (Earthlings had this thing for politeness, right?) he added, "I'm Lunk."
"Blip," came the male's soft voice. "Why am I here?"
"I don't know," Lunk admitted. "I just got here. This was supposed to be a base for the ISA, but you're the first person I've seen. You're not with them, I take it?"
The earthling, Blip, let out a weak chuckle. Lunk didn't get what was so funny so he left it be. "No. No, I'm not."
Well, whoever he was, Blip seemed to be in a state of shock. He was probably overwhelmed by everything. And Lunk was beginning to get the impression that he wasn't here of his own free will. "Okay, well, there's no one here," he said, stating the obvious. "But there must be a clue around here as to where everyone went. Come on. Help me look." He motioned to a pile of notes and documents laying spread out across several old dusty desks, not understanding a word of what was written on them.
Blip watched him carefully from between his fingers, not looking totally comfortable. "N-no t-thanks."
"Look," Lunk sighed. "I'm here looking for the ISA. You have no idea why you're here. Wouldn't it be faster for us to work together?"
This actually seemed to make Blip think and he slowly stood up, moving over to a nearby pile of torched papers and crumbled pieces of the roof that had caved in after many apparent years of disuse.
Lunk set to work sifting through files and binders on the shelves before him. Books on codes, how to crack them, star systems, planets, ecosystems, all typical research equipment that one would expect to find at a space station.
But why is everyone gone then?
Had they been attacked? By whom? There had been no reports of mercenaries or warlords in the area for months. But buildings didn't set themselves on fire.
There were only two solutions that made any sense to him. Either the base was attacked...or the ISA torched their own research and made everything virtually disappear.
So, the question became; what could be so valuable to warrant either action? No one attacked (or torched) a simple trading center. What was the ISA hiding?
He moved the last of the binders aside, finding nothing inside to help answer his questions.
And that's when he saw it. "Oh, good stars."
"What?" Blip asked, seeing him stop. "Did you find something?" Before Lunk could reply, the human was already working his way over, still shaky but growing increasingly less like a fish out of water. He reached the table and his eyes fell on what Lunk had found. "Oh...wow..."
They were blueprints.
Blueprints for some kind of gigantic robot.
"What is this?" Lunk demanded.
"It's...it's a weapon," Blip answered, his voice growing faint once again, picking up the paper and holding it toward the light. "And...I don't know why but...I think we're supposed to build it."