Into the Dark (Fox Storm and ab103 only)

ab103 wrote:an]"That's the thing that's been haunting me ever since it happened," Alfred groaned. "He was my friend. My mentor. I looked up to him! And then, one night, we were underneath the clock tower and he told me that I had to leave the planet. Leave everything I had known for the past six years behind, but he wouldn't tell me why. So, he forced the crystal into my hands just before someone- I don't know who- shot him. I ran, since there was nothing else I could do, and Releta found me, told me that I was accused of stealing from and destroying ZTQ-3, and I told her I was framed. We left the planet together, and I made the crystal and device into a monocle in hopes I could figure out what had happened that night, but for some reason I don't have access to that information..."

He frowned, brow furrowed in thought. "It's as if that information- why they wanted me off the planet, who shot ZTQ-3- is not attached to the time line. But I don't understand it."

ab103 wrote:
The Healer spoke up this time, placing a hand on Alfred's shoulder. "You will find out the answers at the right moment. But for now, it's evident that we must escort you all to Star Command as quickly as possible. We have just gotten the last of my warriors onto the ship. We are just preparing to leave in..." She took her hand off his shoulder and placed it in her pocket, pulling out what looked like a small silver pocket watch. "3...2...1..Now."

Suddenly, they felt the ship shifting, and a loud noise, like thrusters. It was true; they were now leaving Planet Z.

ab103 wrote:

Alfred thought about asking if he could be dropped off somewhere besides Star Command, but he figured that the others might not like that... Though, he would have to get someone to take him back the planet they had found him on later. His ship was still there and the cloaking was on, so only he would be able to find it. He really needed that thing, after all.

He sighed and then looked at the Healer. "Thank you," he told her.

Fox Storm wrote:
The Healer put away her pocket watch. She then merely bowed her cloaked head in acknowledgement as she slipped her hands back into her sleeves. She sent her attention to Ty, who was still sleeping and recovering, and turned to look at everyone and said, "Now you dears know how Alfred knows about the past and present, I shall tell you everything I can about the future, as Alfred predicted I would."

The Healer pulled out a hand from her sleeves and reached into another pocket and pulled out what looked like a gold compact makeup mirror. It was engraved with a symbol of a crystal ball, and within the ball, there were a wreath of leaves, which circled around a stack of arrows. She cupped the small mirror and showed it to the others. "THIS is how I can see the time stream. I can see anything in the future I wish to see, but ONLY the near future. NEVER the distant future."

Alfred immediately felt a question forming in his mind.

ab103 wrote:

"How accurate is it?" He flinched after asking the question... It was a bit rude. "I know that some people Time favors are told directly what will happen in the form of visions and prophecies... And those people are considered oracles... And... And Time seems to favor you, if you are granted the power to see the future... But, Time is... Fickle? Crafty? ...Does Time give you the chance to change what you see of the future, I mean?"

Fox Storm wrote:
"In some regards, yes. But I can only change what I see of the near future, IF I choose to do anything about it. You see, I can gaze into a certain amount of length of Time. I could ask this mirror to show me what I need to see in any amount of time I choose to. I could ask it for me to look into 5 hours, 7 days...even 1 whole month."

Needless to say, Simone and Pixel were very interested in this device that could see the future. But Pixel was the first to voice a question. "You mean, you could ask that little thing anything you want to see in any amount of time, and it'll show you?"

"Hmm...sometimes. It will usually obey my requests, but there have been occasions where it would not permit me to see what I wish to see. I don't know why, but I trust Time enough to not ask any questions."

Simone thought of a question, although she was almost timid to ask. But she did anyway. "Healer, you make Time sound like...like it was an actual person...is it?"

ab103 wrote:

"He is and he's a jerk," Alfred muttered. He hoped that the others didn't hear him say that. He wasn't really supposed to talk about Time as the actual person around people who did not know of him. But, he broke Time's rules often, so the worst that would happen was that Time would give him trouble for the comment later. Not ever for the fact that he broke the rules and said the comment around Pixel and Simone, but rather because it was an insult.

Fox Storm wrote:
"What?" The dustchaser heard Alfred mutter something under his breath. Alfred assured her it was nothing. She held a suspicious glance towards him, but she let it go since the Healer began speaking again.

"In some aspects, Time is. But Time is a mystery as is the Universe. We believe we know so much about it...yet," She sighed, and glanced at Ty again, seeming vulnerable with her soft tone. "We know so little. But," She turned to the others and once again took on that confident and calm demeanor."Nonetheless, I was chosen by Time to carry the burden of knowing the future for the sake of my people's future, as well as the future of those whom I have decided to watch over, out of my own reasons, as I have said when we have first met, back at Star Command."

"Which reminds me...how IS Star Command doing? Have they fixed the spy-ders I told them about?"

ab103 wrote:

"Pixel and I hunted them all down," Alfred nodded to affirm his statement. "And they were setting up a new security system... I hope they went ahead and finished it... There happened to be... um... an accident..." He glanced over at Pixel.

Fox Storm wrote:
Pixel added, "Yeah...I...uh...I got myself into an accident...I accidentally was shot, in the waist."

The Healer's tone took on a surprised shade. "Shot? How did that happen?"

All three of them cringed at that question. But Pixel decided to save Alfred and Simone the trouble of retelling it, and she told the story herself.

"Hmm....so that is why you seemed injured before when my doctors tended to your wound. They told me that they thought you were attacked by Zurg's Hornets, and that is how you received that wound. Only it worsened when you dove from the skies to save Ty from falling to his death."

Pixel didn't know what to say to that, so she merely nodded.

Simone added, "But she managed to save him in time...more or less." She looked over at Ty again, just hoping he'd wake up soon.

ab103 wrote:

Alfred glanced over at his cousin and frowned. "He's not going to accept me as easily as Simone did, is he...?" he whispered, just loud enough that the others could hear. After everything they had been through... Ty was not awake to hear what he had told Simone... Even if he were, it was likely that he was still so blinded by paranoia that he still wouldn't trust him... He frowned, completely unsure what he was to do about that.

Fox Storm wrote:
The Healer comforted Alfred with a soothing promise. "He will, Alfred. He WILL accept you, in spite of everything that happened, in spite of everything he believed you to be, he WILL accept you. You must be patient; it will take him some time to heal more of his wounds, but he will learn to trust you again. But for now..." She took Alfred's shoulder and gently starting pushing him, turning him away from his cousin.

"What HE needs right now is peace and quiet...and I think all of YOU do as well."

"How so?" asked Pixel, curious about what the Healer was implying.

The Healer elaborated, "You've all been through your own trials, and are still on those paths to overcoming those trials. You are well on your way to completing your task, but for now, you need to rest after what you've all been through."

Simone felt a pit of uneasiness growing in her stomach. "How do you mean?"

ab103 wrote:

"If you mean you want us to sleep, I'm all for that right now," Alfred said, shrugging. "If not, then I'm just as lost about what you mean by that. Though, I don't understand what task you are talking about..."

Fox Storm wrote:
The Healer chuckled. "The task I am referring to is overcoming the obstacles that keep you from living. Of course, wounds DO take a long time to heal, but conquering those wounds, the ones that you've all had to bear for some time....it's time you learn how to accept them. And to do that..."

She pulled out a small medicine plastic bottle and handed it to Simone. "...You will need your sleep." Simone looked at the bottle and realized what it was. It was the blue liquid that the Healer gave Ty to drink so that he could sleep.

The pit in Simone's belly exploded. She worriedly stuttered out, "But...But I can't sleep now! What if your warriors need me?..What if Ty needs me? I can't go to sleep without knowing that he'll be okay. And...well, please take no offense, Healer...."

Simone tipped her head slightly. "....I-I just don't feel comfortable with leaving Ty vulnerable like this with your soldiers or doctors...I just don't..."

ab103 wrote:

Alfred furrowed his brow, thinking over Simone's plight. "I'll stay up and watch him, if you don't mind. You do need your sleep, Simone..." He had wanted to sleep as well, but if he needed to, he would stay up for his friends' sake. It wasn't like it was anything he was unused to, after all.

Fox Storm wrote:
Simone shook her head. "That's sweet of you to offer, Alfred, but I can't ask you to stay up and keep vigil on him. You should get some sleep after what you've been through today."

But Alfred disagreed with that.

ab103 wrote:

"Oh, no, trust me. I can stay up." Alfred sighed. "I sometimes go for days without eating or sleeping; I'm sure I can stay up long enough to watch over Ty. Besides, I have some things I need to think about, and I can't be asleep for that..."

Fox Storm wrote:
Simone was about to protest again, but the Healer stopped the Mistimian. "No, my dear. Let him stay with Ty. He needs some things to think about, AND I must speak with him. With my presence, and Alfred's presence with Ty, no one will bother us. You must get some rest, Simone."

"..."

"You have done all you can to help your friend...he would want you to rest as well."

Upon hearing that, Simone meagerly paused, and thought about the Healer's words about Ty...the Healer was right. Ty would want her to get some rest after all she had done for today, with Pixel and him...and her confessions about her past. She sighed. "Alright, Healer. I'll go take a rest."

Alfred inwardly felt relief flood through him. At least Simone was going to rest after all she did today.

Pixel tilted her head. "What about me?"

The Healer looked down to Pixel. "You can go with Simone to make sure she gets some sleep. I know you are well on your way to recovery, but I am sure the sonic boom combined with your reopened wound has left you feeling exhausted. You should get some sleep as well."

Pixel couldn't argue with that. She did feel tired, and her wound, the shocks she received by Zurg's Hornets, AND the sonic boom have left her drained of energy. So she said, "Okay. I'll do as you say."

ab103 wrote:

Alfred sighed in both relief and anticipation. His three friends would all be getting the rest they needed. On the other hand, he'd be talking to the Healer on his own. He didn't think he would have anything to worry about around her, but he was afraid of what she was going to say to him...

Fox Storm wrote:
The Healer waved to the door with a hand. "Very well. There's a spare room for guests with a bed and a sink next to the med bay. You need to wash off after all the work you had to do. There is soap and everything you need to clean yourself up. Now, off you two go then."

Simone and Pixel took their leave and were about to head out the door when Simone suddenly stopped. "Wait." Pixel stopped and turned to look at her. Why did she stop? Simone looked back at the Healer and Alfred and started fiddling around with her braid nervously with a free hand before saying, in a VERY shy tone, "There's something I would like to do first before I go to sleep."

Before either the Healer or Alfred could ask what it was, Simone went over to Ty's bed. She looked down at Ty's face briefly before leaning down and giving him a light kiss on the cheek. She stood back up, and went out the door, before giving Ty one more look. She and Pixel completely disappeared from the room, leaving Alfred and the Healer.

ab103 wrote:

"That better be a good thing," Alfred sighed. "She better be realizing her feelings for him now... Anyway..." He glanced over to the Healer before turning to fully face her. "What... What did you want to talk with me about...?"

Fox Storm wrote:
The Healer turned to Alfred. "We may want to sit down if we wish to speak." The Healer grabbed a chair while Alfred sat in Simone's chair. The Healer turned the chair to face Alfred, and sat down. She crossed her legs and rested her arms on her knees. "I wanted to talk to you about your connection with Time himself. Why were YOU chosen to be a servant of his?"

ab103 wrote:

Alfred sighed and then shrugged. "It really isn't something I know how to answer. I mean... The reason I always assume is that I time traveled before, he didn't like that, and I had to become his servant as punishment. But... to tell you the truth, I think it's more than that. I mean... Fate had her hand in this, leading to me having my monocle. Time never took the function of my monocle away, so if he probably doesn't mind that I have it. And so, I used it and managed to create a way to travel to the past and back to the present. I followed Time's rules for time travel the moment I learned them... And Time didn't even contact me until I had traveled a few times. I think he wanted me to be practiced in knowing the events of time and traveling through it as needed, though I don't know why other than the fact that he keeps me as a servant."

He chuckled and pulled out his pocket watch, looking into the face of it. "Of course, it helps that Time is my patron god. Of my culture's main four: Time, Love, Universe, and Fate, my patron god is the only male of them..."

Alfred frowned and looked up at the Healer. "So, to put all of that rambling simply: I have no clue why I'M his servant, and you're better off asking Time himself, though he probably won't answer."

Fox Storm wrote:
The Healer just listened intently, never interrupting Alfred until he finished. She chuckled after Alfred finishing answering her question. "Of course he will not answer my question. He IS mysterious, as I have said earlier. But he did advise me to ask YOU about why you were a servant of his, since I am more or less a newly appointed servant."

The Healer then sat back against the chair. "I was appointed because I had a GREAT desire to help others, more so than myself. I also had a deep desire to branch out to other planets, to connect with them and create a branch from which they can benefit us, and we can benefit from them. Because he knew of my wishes to broaden the horizons, and futures, for my planet, he gave me this compact mirror. He then told me everything that happened in the past that I needed to know, so that I can know what I had to do for the future, thus eliminating any possible mistakes one would make...like the ones Star Command have made." She ended her mini-rant on a bitter note.

ab103 wrote:

"...I don't think we actually work for the same aspects of Time..." Alfred frowned. "You mean he actually has you doing something 'for the greater good'? That's... honestly the first time I've heard something about that. Well, besides Santa. I mean... I know he favors certain individuals, but... Well... He has ME do paperwork and clean! I don't even get to do field work, unlike that Hunter kid that pops up every now and then..." He pouted and crossed his arms. "I should had known he'd be keeping something from me... Lousy jerk, always making ME do the boring stuff and not even telling me that there are people doing things that actually make SENSE as a servant of Time..."