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Memories are moments in time.
Parts of one's life that define who they are at that point. From the time they are born to when one gains sentience over themselves, throughout their adolescence in which they question and try to solve the mysteries that plague their inexperienced souls, to adulthood in which they serve a greater purpose to not only the lives around them but their own. Each memory, however fleeting, leaves an impact on each creature.
Regardless of which world…
"Fire burns away that which still lingers. As his first wife, my flames shall reduce you to cinders."
As the flickering cinders danced around him, one lone boy could only watch in awe as it funneled upwards. Like a swarm of insects, the sizzling flames bombarded his ears yet it didn't faze him in the slightest. Bright red, orange, and yellow particles alike blanketed the darkness. If he were to look close enough, he could easily mistake them for stars.
Done were the flames. They laid scattered beyond the once darkness.
"You, who dared to hurt my beloved, have the gal to act all grand and mighty. You may see me as just a spark, but I can assure you; my lightning will strike twice as hard!"
Next, came shades of purple. Much like the orbs of fire, they crackled. Arcs of tiny electricity jolting about like animals freed from their cage; energy abundant yet unbound. Even as he spun his body to maintain contact with one, he would only get lost to the sight of another.
Like the burning orbs that illuminated the dark, the purple soon blended in granting an unfathomable light. Around him, the empty void was replaced with an indistinguishable landscape.
"Memories are ever-changing. You, a deity who has ravaged the likes of whom I love, shall feel my retribution!"
Seeping from the ground, frigid spheres of ice emerged. The once light that granted warmth was replaced with a veil of gray before the gentle flakes of snow pelted his form. There was no increase in the gentle breeze. His form still held firm yet light at the same time.
Vermilion eyes parting from his eyelids, everything soon comes to a gentle halt.
"For disrupting the peace and bringing destruction to Solaris-3 and New Eridu as well as harming my husband; your fate is sealed!"
Then it came. A human vestige. Among the colored-in landscape, there it stood; a black mist-like figure. Slowly, it reached forward. Highlights of red became more distinct.
Black and red. Those were his colors.
Where the eyes of a human lied, two vermilion orbs mirroring his own emerged.
"Not all Relons have good endings. Will yours?"
As if by command, all ceased. The flaming sun peaking beyond the silent storm, the frigid weather that only previously seemed so abundant now scarce, and the tame wilderness now nothing. Then, all went black.
New Eridu - Morning
The first thing he did upon feeling that ghost touch was snap both his eyes and body upwards. Surprisingly, he hadn't shouted. Likely due to his body having adjusted to experiencing the same dream countless times. Despite this, he still ended up in the same pool of sweat.
Realizing what has transpired, a breath of relief escaped the child before a groan soon followed. Either one of annoyance or frustration, likely both given the circumstances. Falling down with an audible thump, sigh escaped him.
How long has it been since he started having the repetitive dream? Those voices always spoke of lovers. Were each designated to one partner or several? A polygamous relationship or a series of different ones? He could never tell.
Eyes wandering to the empty beds next to his own, the subtle sound of muffled voices stirred any remaining grogginess away.
"Reloooooon, you awake yet? We've got machines to make~."
"Grace, he's probably- Oh. You are awake."
True to their eyes, before them lied the young male nearing the ending of fixing his bed.
"Grace, Zhu Yuan, good morning," he greets with a cheery grin.
"Did you just wake up?" Zhu wonders. "It's already nearing noon."
"He probably just decided to sleep in," Grace interjects, skipping over orbiting the male to peek past towards her female friend. "We were up late making a bunch of stuff!"
"At the rate you two are going, your garage will run out of space."
"Already have~. Twice as a matter of fact!"
"That's… not exactly an achievement, Grace," Relon chuckles to earn a curious look from said girl.
"It's not?"
"Well, at least you're remembering proper hygiene." He sighs.
"Unfortunately, Mom and I have to keep reminding her every morning," Zhu sighs next.
"Hey, I don't smell that bad! Right, Relon?"
"There you go again, running to Relon. You have to be accountable for your own actions, Grace!"
"Awe come on, Sis! Don't be such a meanie! Relooooooon, heeeeeeelp!"
Despite asking for his help, he could only watch as she ran past the both of them and out of sight.
"Grace, hey! Get back here!" Off Zhu went too.
Those two were something, that's for sure. Leaning against the door railing, he could only offer a fond smile at the sight of the two running down the hall.
The runner was the ever lax and machine-crazed Grace Howard. Whereas he never knew his parents, Grace's went missing while on an expedition during their work. With nowhere to go and no other known family, she ended up at the same orphanage as himself. For a while, she'd remain closed off and even after being introduced to the other children, she'd often keep to herself. Though one small interaction over a shared interest in gadgets and, bit by bit, she opened up until they were practically inseparable. Eventually, fate would lead to the duo meeting the well-mannered and strict rule follower Zhu Yuan.
Black hair from her father, chief of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), and red highlights from her mother. With New Eridu's population ordeal given the planet's state, they recognized many new orphans had emerged and more would continue by the day. Thus, one visit later and both were adopted making the family of three now a family of five. At first, Zhu Yuan came off as stiff but like with Grace, time around the two made her feel more at ease. Like her father, Zhu Yuan yearned to be an "upholder of justice" as she often described police work. It was amusing how fast she cycled through her emotions. From second-hand embarrassment over a tease from her mom or Grace to reciting an entire volume of rules straight from the manual.
He cherished each and every one of them dearly, Grace and Zhu Yuan especially. They were both his first and best friends.
Still…
He was different. At least, he felt different. He couldn't see either truly as a sibling. Nor could he see either adult as his parents.
"Relon!"
Head lifting up, he found both now before him. When had they gotten there?
Pouting with puffed out cheeks and all, Grace pinches his cheeks.
"Don't think we didn't notice."
"Ow, ow, ow, what are you-"
"You had that dream again, didn't you?" The once scolding demeanor that faced Grace now had set its sight on him.
These dreams he's constantly had were indeed his. Whether they were truly fictional or not, he couldn't tell. Memories and dreams were not the same. One held the past while the other gave witness to another reality entirely. As a fellow science lover like Grace, he too was aware of the idea of multiple universes.
He couldn't help but wonder what the chances were that there were other Relons out there. That idea alone forced its viewpoint upon him. If there were, then surely those Relons had similar parents if not the exact same. They were living out their own families, their own adventures, their own pain, their own experiences. He was barely 10 years old. To be thinking like this… was not normal.
Many would often praise him for his maturity but was it truly that? He recalled mere years ago how silly and childish his mind was shortly after gaining sentience. He thought simple thoughts and acted on emotions. He still did, do not get him wrong, but… now he thought much deeper than ever before. So much it was frightening at times how different his 10–year-old self was opposed to nine or even eight.
"I… did," he confessed.
He hated hiding things from these two. It felt like lying, something he simply refused to do. They were practically his suns radiating their kindness on those around. He wouldn't dare bring such disparaging thoughts around them if it meant dimming their brightness even by the slightest.
"Don't try to hide it," Zhu spoke. Her expression may have been stern but her voice couldn't be any tender.
"Yeah. We're always watching, Relon." Grace matched Zhu Yuan's own worry.
Instinctively, he wanted to dissuade both but then he'd be lying not only to them but himself. Two crimes were worse than one and even then, he'd still be committing a sinful act.
So he'd embrace his own mistake. Like he always has thus far.
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"Hey, don't be!" Grace immediately shook him from falling into a worsened sadness. "We don't like it when you hide stuff from us so keep us in the loop, 'kay?" Grace added, nudging one side of himself.
"Talk to us more. We're friends but even more we're family." Zhu comforted nudging his other.
Wordlessly with only an exchanged nod, both took his wrist leading him away. He'd long since let them in on his own internal questions and wonders once the jig was up.
Why?
Because denying the chance to dismiss his own troubles by them would be the biggest crime of all. To ensure their own smiles would live on, to assure himself that sadness would never linger on them or anyone, he'd do whatever it took.