The Polaris Galaxy, Phylax System
A lone star cruiser orbits the atmosphere of Quantos, and piloting it is a young and terrified markazian. His hair is short, tousled into a mess of brown locks. He's thin, refusing to eat out of stress and worry. The man looks back to his wife, who looks in worse shape than he'll ever be in his life.
She is deathly pale, feverish, and weakened. She stopped dealing with her makeup and hair months ago, and happens to be a month away from her due date. With a sigh, James glances down at the planet before him, recalling everything that brought him to this moment as he closes his eyes.
...
It's a rare sickness that Corinne has, one that takes its victims slowly and without mercy. He's tried so many doctors, of so many different species. They all told him the same thing, and his mind plays it like a broken holo record.
"I'm sorry, sir. There's nothing we can do."
He couldn't afford to lose her. He couldn't afford to lose their baby. He had to try something, anything, to give their family a chance. As a desperate last resort, he went to the IRIS supercomputer and gave his question.
"Is there some miracle out there that can save someone from Death himself?"
Such a vague question should never have given James the answer he was looking for, but it did. "The fongoid shamans of Quantos have been known to perform rare miracles in the past, but it is unclear what force gives them this power. "
Without another word, he downloaded the coordinates immediately.
…
James opens his eyes, and looks back at Corinne. She's fighting to live, fighting to keep their baby alive, so he's sure as hell gonna fight too. As the vessel begins lowering itself to landing range, the planet seems to fight back as a thick storm rages in the skies. Thunder shakes the ship's hull, and lightning gives the air a static charge. Any sane pilot would turn back, not risk such a flight. Not this pilot.
The landing gears kick off, and the ship touches down near a small village surrounding a strange temple. James exits the ship, helping Corinne as best he can. The two expecting parents march through the dense wood, following the moss covered bridges to the village James spotted from the skies. A fongoid child peeks through the brush, catching his eye.
"Excuse me, I need-" Before he can finish his plea, the child glances at the both of them and runs off. "Hey, wait! Please! She needs help!"
The young boy returns moments later, this time with company. The elder with him addresses the couple, eyes narrowed in suspicion. The skies growl, ready to strike, ready to kill. "How did you -eep- find us, outsiders?"
"It's my wife, sir, please. You have to help her. We need a miracle."
The chief slowly steps closer, examining the young woman. He lets out a gasp, and turns his back toward them, gesturing for them to follow. "Come with me, -meeh-. They are running out of time."
The group treks forward, reaching the village. The elder looks to the small crowd that has gathered for the commotion. "You three, take these two inside."
The order is heeded quickly, and the gathered midwives discuss the situation with the not so happy couple. As Corinne's fever is lessened with fongoid charms, spells, and medicine, James hovers over her unconscious body frantically. "Is there anything you can do for her? Can you save them both?"
They whisper among themselves, and James only catches pieces of the conversation. They can...too risky...trust outsiders?
"Please. If you can help them, I'll never tell a soul. I'll do anything. Please."
The women cease their discussions, turning toward the lone man in the room. "We can't help them, not alone, but They can."
"Who is 'They'?"
"The Zoni," they answer. "Their bioenergy is the most powerful force in the Omniverse."
"But..they're just a myth! A childhood story."
The eldest woman speaks up, looking James directly in the eyes. "Orvus and the rest of the Zoni are as real as you and I. Look around you. Do you see their statues? Their temples? Can you feel their power in the air?"
James is stunned to silence by her tone. He nods, and she continues. "If you put your faith in Them, your wife and child will live. Will you do this? Will you put your faith in a story and give your family a chance?"
Corinne stirs beside him, sitting up with a newfound strength. James immediately moves to lay her back down, but she refuses. She can be quite stubborn at times, and now is no exception.
"C-Cori! You should be resting. Lay down."
"I want to try, James. I have faith."
The elder smiles with pride at her determination, locking eyes with James. "Good. You are a brave woman. And you?"
He looks at his wife, then to the fongoid before him. "What do we have to do?"
…
A group of five fongoids circle around Corinne, who is lying flat on her back. As the rain pours over her, she stares at the sky, ready to face what comes next. The high priestess at the top of the circle lifts her staff into the heavens, and as she does so, the gem inside gives off an unnatural, otherworldly glow. The others lift their own staves, remaining silent as the priestess speaks in a clear, stern, powerful voice.
"Orvus, Protector of Time, leader of the Zoni, hear my prayer!"
The thunder claps around them, and the planet shakes. James doesn't know if it's a desperate hope, or a real thing, but it seems to him that something, someone, is listening. He stares at his dear Cori, and her swollen belly. He offers his own prayer to please let this work.
"Lend us your power! Lend us Time!"
The lights from the staves connect with lines of energy, as if creating a net. In the center of an airborne circle, there's a symbol of ancient magic James doesn't recognize. Lightning licks the black clouds above the ritual. There's no going back now.
"Pry this woman and child from the jaws of Death!"
For a moment, time stands still.
As quickly as the silence comes, the gathering onslaught of light comes crashing straight down in a deafening explosion. The force of the blast knocks the markazian off his feet, and he lies there in a daze.
Then he sees it through the thinning clouds. The sunrise. He hears a sound he feared he'd never hear again, and a sound he feared he'd never get the chance to hear.
"Jamie, look."
He lifts himself off the ground, and scrambles to his wife. She's alive, the color has returned to her face, the light is back in her eyes. Her long, straight chestnut hair reflects in the sunlight. And she's holding a baby girl. Their baby girl, who is crying and just as alive as her mother.
She's so tiny, tinier than he expected. Her head is a mess of curly brown locks, and her eyes seem to glow bright blue for a moment, flicker green, then settle on a more natural shade of blue. There are strange scars, birthmarks, burned into her body. Three on each of her arms, three on each side of her torso, and even on her hands, ears and tail. It's unusual for a markazian to develop stripes of all things. In fact, it's unheard of. Impossible. Then again, this entire situation shouldn't be possible.
"Nova. Our little star from the heavens."
James can't form words right away. He instead holds them both, shaking, crying. So thankful that everything's going to be alright. "Cori, Nova. I love you. I love you so much."
The family moment is suddenly interrupted by three floating orbs of light. The energy thickens, taking the form of strange creatures with large, beady eyes. The fongoids and three markazians watch in awe as the figures speak. Nova stops crying.
"Sire's friend has returned. They will meet again someday."
Just as quickly, they leave, and the electricity in the air nearly dissipates. Behind the new family, the fongoids cheer. Whooping, laughing, squealing with glee. James speaks up to the chief amidst the celebrations. "Was that..the Zoni?"
"Yes, outsider!" The chief grips his sides, excitedly bouncing at the recent events. "They answered your -nyeh- prayer! They saved her! Your child is -nah- blessed by Orvus himself!"
A midwife helps Corinne up to her feet, leading her to a bed and a warm meal. "You and the baby are healthy, but you both must rest. You two took a full blast of Zoni bioenergy."
Corinne nods, yawning. James follows her. As she is settled to sleep with little Nova, James asks the head priestess about the Zoni's words. "Who is Their sire? Who is that friend?"
"That is an old story, one that takes place nearly two hundred years ago."
"Two hundred?"
"Yes, and it all begins with those marks on her skin. They are a blessing, and a curse."
"What? How? What do they mean?"
Annoyed, the old woman glares daggers into the young man. "Stay silent for a moment, and I will tell you." James gulps, and lets her continue.
"Now then, it all began in 5354, with the creation of a Zoni soul named XJ-0461. However, your history may remember him by a different name. He was given a robot body on Quartu, and found his lifelong friend and a new name on Veldin."
James's eyes grow wide, and the shaman gives a knowing smile. "Do you know their names, young outsider?"
The names flow from his mouth with great respect, laced with shock that his family is a part of their story. They were great heroes, after all. Only historians know the details at this point, but there aren't many people who don't at least know those names.
"Ratchet and Clank."