This was a fun chapter to write. This, and the next one that I'm currently working one, enjoy!

Chapter 5: Past

The completion of Zions left arm meant many things. One, he could finally climb to the kitchen area. Two, he was able to help clean and maintain the observatory. And finally, his overall attitude just seemed much happier.

The ability to reach the kitchen meant he could help prepare meals. He wasn't a spectacular cook, but he knew enough for any man to get by.

Now that he was able, he insisted on helping around the observatory. Granted there wasn't much to do other than some basic cleaning, but he assisted none the less.

He felt really good about himself, even having a good chuckle at his own expense

"Hey Rosalina, I have a question for you."

"Sure Zion, how can I help?"

"If I needed to get to one of the floating islands, or higher parts of the observatory, should I ask you to levitate me there?"

Rosalina giggled, "No need, have you seen the small circular pads around the ground floor?"

"I have," he nodded, "I figured it was a decoration of some kind."

"They're teleportation pads, simply step on them, and they'll take you to different areas."

"Oh...guess I should have tried touching them before now then, huh?"

She smiled, "Indeed, I'm surprised you didn't."

'I really should have used my head on that one.'

It had been a month since that conversation, the same day they fixed his arm. Unfortunately, progress on the chestplate was slow. Not only did it need the most work, but without power, there was no need to rush it.

Today, he was taking a day off from working on his armor. His first instinct was to check another book from the library, so he was making his way there. On the way, he noticed many lumas also flocking into the library.

'Well, might as well see what that's about.' He thought to himself.

Following the lumas, he entered the library. Once he did, he immediately noticed Rosalina in the rocking chair, the lumas surrounding her.

"Alright everyone," he spoke to all the lumas, while looking around the room. Her eyes eventually settled on Zions, "let us begin." She opened the book as Zion leaned against a wall for support.

She told the story of a girl and a luma. It was both hopeful and depressing. Happy, and sad. Love, and loss. As Zion listened, he listened to Rosalina's voice. Some parts he could hear the genuine emotion in her voice. He also saw the pictures when she showed the book to the room. He wasn't a fool, he knew this wasn't just a story.

Eventually, Rosalina concluded the story, "That's all everyone, my story is finished." After she said that, the lumas began to leave the library one after another. But Zion didn't budge. He kept his eyes on Rosalina, who remained in the chair, her eyes closed. Minutes passed, and eventually they were the only two left in the library.

Rosalina opened her eyes, "Well Zion, what did you think of the story?"

Zion looked at her, his expression neutral, "The lumas are like children, they don't pick up on subtlety...I do...you meant exactly what you said. Your Story. The book was about you and the comet is this observatory. Am I correct?"

She nodded, "When you entered, I knew there was no avoiding it. I was certain you would find out. But you didn't answer my question. What do you think, Zion?"

It was a good question, what did he feel? It's not everyday someone spills their life's story before you. "Well, it sounds like you've been through a lot in your life. But from the sound of your story, you're...much older than you appear aren't you?"

Rosalina smiled lightly, "Asking a woman their age are we?" She jested.

Zion didn't flinch, "I am, because I'm fairly certain I'm right."

Nodding in response, Rosalina said, "You are indeed correct, though permit me to not tell you my actual age."

"That's fair," was his simple reply.

…

There was another awkward pause between the two of them. Just as Rosalina was about to rise from her chair, Zion spoke.

"I want...to tell you about my part."

That piqued her interest. She was already quite intrigued with this man. Ever since she rescued him, she'd been hoping to learn more about him, but didn't want to force the issue to the lost man.

"If you are comfortable with sharing, then I would very much like to listen." She said, maintaining her calm appearance, even though she was quite excited.

Zion scratched the back of his head. "Well, it's nothing too special; at least, I don't think it is."

As I said before, I was born on the planet KO-36. Due to a birth defect I was missing the lower portion of my right leg. I was orphaned as a baby. Did they leave me because of my leg? Did they have a criminal past? I never found out anything about them. Not sure how I feel about it, but not being a parent myself, I guess I can't say how they felt.

My childhood was rough, no two ways about it. Everyone makes fun of the kid with the fake leg. I tried to not let it get to me, but it's difficult feeling like no one in the world wants you around. Thankfully, I eventually made friends with a boy named Nathan, or as he preferred, Nate.

Nate was an interesting guy. Didn't talk much, but he sure listened. By the time we were teenagers, he had a whole connection of people trading goods, information, and...well, "services". Good thing too, around the time we were 16, Horde appeared. It destroyed and devoured any world it came across, and one of Nates contacts informed him that our planet was in the line of fire.

The two of us fled. We both tried enlisting in the USF. Nate went into engineering, I was denied. Can't blame them, I would have been a liability. However, luck was on my side. Their R&D department was looking for testers. Whether it be weaponry, armor, or some other weird idea, they needed people to try out and test their stuff. Turns out someone had the thought of making weaponized prosthetics, and incorporating them into the front lines. I don't remember all the details, but the end result was my armored suit, the Strategic Termination and Annihilation of Rouges, S.T.A.R. for short.

I wish I could say I was someone special in the USF, but I'd be lying. I simply fought where I was told, when I was told. Sometime I'd be in the back helping evacuate civilians, and other times I'd be fighting Horde on the front lines. It was during one of those missions where I lost my arm.

It was a straightforward mission: fight off Horde. Most battles go by in a blur, but afterwards, you remember them with clarity. As always, we were outnumbered, we were all fighting to protect each other. One of my comrades guns jammed while a Monstrosity charged him. These things are about the size of a car. They almost look like the lower half is a spider, with the upper potion looking somewhat human. But that insect like head and mandible, it's nowhere near human. I tackled him to get him out of the way, but that damn thing took my arm in the process. I pretty much blacked out from the pain.

When I woke up hours later, they told me they had fitted me with a prosthetic. They integrated the prosthetic with my actual nervous system, it was another experiment of theirs, but it DID help me keep fighting . The initial plan was to have different arms with different weapons, but I ended up here before that could happen.

Losing an arm affected my mental state a bit more than I expected, especially with my whole leg ordeal. I had depression for some time, but talking with the USF psychiatrists helped beyond belief. Eventually, I felt ready to fight again, and was ready for combat, and some payback.

The last mission I was on was an escort mission. Protecting a transport unit with some new tech. Horde ambushed us, destroyed the transport, it was a brutal massacre. I fought them off as best as I could, but I lost. After that, well, here I am.

Rosalina closed her eyes, processing everything Zion had said.

Having completed his story, he sighed, "Well, such is life I guess. Never know what to expect. At least I'm safe here with you."

Rosalina felt a strange idea forming in her head, "STAR," she said, thinking aloud, "perhaps the answer was in front of us the whole time."

Zion looked perplexed, "What's up? Something about my armor?"

Rosalina nodded, "Yes, I have an idea, but you'll need to complete the armor first. How much longer do you think it will be before you're finished?"

Zion scratched at his chin, thinking over the answer, "Hard to say. If I work at it nonstop, maybe a week? Could be longer."

Smiling, Rosalina rose from her seat, "Then I have plenty of time to prepare."

"Prepare for what?" Zion asked.

Walking out of the library, Rosalina looked back at him, giving him a coy smile, "Oh, you'll have to wait and see." She then left Zion alone in the library.

For the second time in a short period of time, a particular thought entered Zions thoughts.

"Man, she really is a beautiful woman"

And that's a wrap for this chapter. I had fun coming up with a backstory for Zion. I wanted him to come off as a bit of a war vet, but without the stereotypes or tropes. Please let me know what you think, as I welcome all feedback.