Chapter 2

Ecliptor had been wondering the forest for what seemed like hours, the sun mercilessly beating down on him, even though he was robotic and didn't dehydrate like humans did, being in the hot sun for too long would take its toll on him eventually.

"I must find shelter." Ecliptor said to himself as he stopped walking and gripped a tree for support.

"I must continue on, or I'll surely perish." and with that, he began his long trek through the woods once again.

Finally, after two more hours of walking, he came across a cave.

"Finally." Ecliptor said to himself, as he swiftly entered the cave.

"This should do nicely." Ecliptor said as he sat down on the cold rocky floor and let out a deep breath, falling asleep within minutes.

That night however, Ecliptor was having a horrible nightmare.

"Astronema!"

"Ecliptor, its you."

"Yes, my princess. It is me, and I'm better than ever."

"What did they do to you?"

"The same thing that will be done to you, my princess."

"Ecliptor... stop!"

"Ah!" Ecliptor was suddenly jarred awake by the dream.

"It was just a dream..."

"I must find her, now."

"Before it's too late." Ecliptor said softly as he got to his feet.

And with that, Ecliptor made his way out of the cave and into the darkness of the night.

Before long, night slowly turned to day as the sun begun to shine above, Ecliptor was still making his way through the forest.

"I'm getting nowhere fast, it seems."

"I've got to rest."

"No! I've got to rest, but I mustn't, No... Not while they're on the loose."

"I must... Protect... My princess... Even at the cost... Of my... Own life..." Ecliptor panted as he felt liked he was gonna pass out, but he was determined to make it through this. After all, he wasn't going down without a fight.

Hours began to pass, hours that felt like days, how long it been since he escaped that wretched hive? Days? Months? Years? Ecliptor couldn't even tell time anymore he was so weary, making his way through the vast expanse of the forest that seemed to drag on forever.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore, his body was taxed beyond its limit, he was worn out and burning up, and he collapsed.

"I'm sorry my princess... I have failed you..." and with that, everything went dark.

"Ecliptor! Look what I made!" Karone, as a child, shouted out in excitement.

"Hello my princess, did you have fun?" Ecliptor asked.

"Yes."

"Let's see what you made..."

"It's beautiful."

"Thanks... I made it for you."

"For me?"

"Yep."

"All by yourself?" Ecliptor asked, Karone gave a simple nod.

"I... I don't know what to say."

"You say thank you, silly."

"Thank you."

"I love you, Ecliptor." Karone said sweetly as she gave him a hug.

"I... Love you too." This was unexpected, no one ever gave him a hug before...

"That dream... it brought back memories..." Ecliptor said to himself, now conscious again.

"All my life, she was the only one to ever show me kindness."

"Where I came from, it was every man for himself... The universe was at war, and you had to look out for number one, otherwise you would surely perish."

"She brought joy to my life when no one else could, she gave me a purpose in life."

"More importantly, she gave me a daughter. Someone that I could love and care for, something that I had never had before."

"I owe so much to her..."

"Astronema... No, Karone... her name was Karone..."

"Astronema was a creation of Dark Specter..."

"I must be getting close to some form of civilization."

"After all, I've been wandering this forest for the past two days."

Just then, Ecliptor heard a ruffle in the bushes

"Huh? Who's there?" he asked.

There was no answer.

"Come out and show yourself!" he demanded.

There was still no answer however, and Ecliptor drew out his sword just to be on the safe side. He began to approach the source of the noise.

"Come out, come out now or else." Ecliptor demanded beginning to get irritated.

He approaches the bushes with caution, after all, he could very easily be walking straight into a trap set by Darkonda. Ecliptor quickly brushes the bushes aside and finally sees what is making all the noise.

"Ah!" a little girl about six years of age screamed in utter terror, and strangely enough, she bore an uncanny resemblance to Karone as a child.

"Uh... A little girl?" Ecliptor uttered to himself, and soon enough the little girl took of running.

"Wait... I won't hurt you! Come back!" Ecliptor took off after her, something told him that maybe this little girl could help him find civilization.

"Wait! I just need to ask you a question!" Ecliptor yelled out as he continued his pursuit.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, the little girl slows to stop, panting after all the running.

"I lost him." the girl said to herself, relieved.

"There you are!" Ecliptor said as she stepped out from behind a tree.

"Ah!" the little girl screamed again as she attempted to run.

"Wait! Stop!" Ecliptor yelled as he grabbed her.

"Help! Help! Mommy! Daddy!" she screamed.

"Calm down! Calm down! I'm not gonna hurt you!"

"Let go of me!" the little girl demanded as she tried to wiggle out of his grip.

"Okay, okay..." Ecliptor complied, and he released his grip on the girl.

"There, you're free to go." he said.

"Are you a bad guy?" the little girl asked.

"No... fortunately, I am not a bad guy... and I mean you no harm whatsoever." he said to the frightened girl.

"What's your name?" the little girl asked.

"Ecliptor... My name is Ecliptor." he replied.

"Ecliptor... That's a strange name." the girl said.

"You're not from around here, are you mister?" she asked.

"No, I'm not." Ecliptor replied simply.

"Are you lost?" she asked.

"You could say that." Ecliptor replied.

"Don't let my appearance fool you... I might look scary to you, but I assure you, I'm telling you the truth when I say I mean no harm." he explained to the girl.

"I've told you my name, now... what's your name?" Ecliptor inquired.

"Kayley." the little blond haired girl replied.

"Ah, Kayley... that's a nice name. You know, you remind me of someone." Ecliptor replied, a sense of nostalgia filling him.

"Her name was Karone, and she looked very much like you." he said to the girl.

"She did?" the girl asked.

"Yes, very much so." Ecliptor replied.

"Was she pretty?" the girl asked.

"She was beautiful." Ecliptor answered.

"What happened to her?" the girl innocently asked.

"I believe that is a story for another day." Ecliptor replied simply.

"You said you had to ask me something... what was it?" the little girl asked.

"You're not scared of me, are you?" he asked.

"No." she replied.

"What is the name of this planet?" he asked.

"Mirinoi." she replied.

"Mirinoi? As in the home of the Quasar Sabers?" he asked.

"Huh?" She asked, confused.

"Never mind." He replied.

"Tell me... What year is it?" he asked.

"2000." she replied.

"2000? two years... I've been gone that long?" Ecliptor asked himself silently.

"Can I ask you one more thing?" he asked.

"Sure you can, mister." she replied.

"Thank you. Can you tell me where I might find civilization?" he asked.

"civil what?" the girl said, confused again.

"Where may I find the nearest city?" Ecliptor rephrased.

"Oh, that's not far at all." she replied.

"How far?" he asked.

"About a mile... I can lead you there, if you want." She replied.

"No, that's alright. You've help me enough, and for that, I thank you."

And with that, Ecliptor began his mile long trek.

"Ecliptor?" the girl uttered his name, causing to stop for a second.

"Yes?" he inquired.

"Be careful." she said.

"I will. Now get back to your parents, It's not safe for a girl your age to be playing this far from home."

With that final sentence, Ecliptor walked off.

End of Chapter 2