News of Armageddon’s trial spread across the galaxy as soon as it was announced. The Proximal app was alight with discussion about the trial of the millennium. Lunai walked towards the restaurant with her face towards her wrist. It was time to put the CellPulse down and focus on her date, but she allowed herself one last scroll. The bottom of the page revealed an interesting post.

  [BleeFan]: Anyone think this doesn’t add up?

  Before you guys roast me, I’m not talking about the trial itself. It’s not a question that Armageddon has killed and displaced billions of people. Obviously, the GSA is going to win this trial on those charges.

  What bothers me are the human trafficking charges. Ever since Bliss mentioned this at his press conference, I found it strange. Sure, the stuff on the ship was disturbing, but it doesn’t fit with Armageddon’s actions.

  When he crashed on Kathous, he targeted Lord Podoxec. The attack was targeted, vicious. I went ahead and did some sleuthing. It looks like he’s done that before, targeted some leader with gruesome torture before killing them. Though his attacks destroy worlds, he doesn’t actually attack anyone else unless they get in his way.

  So, why am I saying this? It just doesn’t make sense. These lords are all rumored to support human trafficking in the shadows. If Armageddon is working with traffickers, why kill their wealthiest costumers? Why torture them? It just doesn’t add up. I hope the GSA can keep him contained, but I’m still concerned about this new angle.

  The comments were on fire. Opinions were mixed but generally favored the GSA.

  He tried to kidnap Bliss. That’s what human traffickers do, kidnap humans.

  These lords love trying to skate their dues. Armageddon was probably targeting them for missing payments.

  The poster received scarce messages of support.

  Armageddon’s too crazy to be working for anyone. Don’t know why the GSA is pushing this angle. Maybe they want to hype up the fight against traffickers?

  That was enough Proximal for the day. Lunai put her wrist down and moved forward. The restaurant was in sight. It was a locally owned place located in one of the quieter districts on planet Lusus. Ashetana picked it out, promising it would be good food for a cheap price. Lunai just hoped it wasn’t jungle themed. A lot of people seemed to assume she would like that type of restaurant just because she was Win-gel, but it’s not like she wanted to be surrounded by sacred fauna when she ate. It was intimidating.

  The building was small and unassuming. No fancy decorations outside, just a sign that read “Geyser Gurus” and a menu digitally displayed on the window. The smell of fried food washed over her as she stepped inside. Faint sizzling could be heard coming from the tables. It was warm enough to feel comfortable without being sweaty. She took one cursory look around and found Ashetana sitting in a red booth. Best of all, there were no vines or shrubbery in sight.

  That’s a relief… I don’t want the plants to judge my gluttony.

  Ashetana waved her over and Lunai took a seat across from her.

  “I know what you’re thinking. The efer chose fried food, how original,” she chuckled.

  “What? Of course not!” Lunai frantically shook her head. “I’m just glad there’s no shrubbery to be seen.”

  “Old God! I bet people are always bringing you to places like that.” She picked up her menu. “That’d be like eating in a church, right?”

  Lunai sighed. “Exactly! I don’t want the spirits seeing me with a mouthful of food.”

  She looked at the menu in front of her. It was a vast selection of various ingredients. It looked like they had a variety of plants and meats from different planets. Lunai was relieved to find many options that didn’t upset the spirits. Vegetables that weren’t native to Ya’ar were always a safe bet.

  “Based on the smell, I imagine everything here is fried?” asked Lunai.

  “Oh yeah, but we get to fry it ourselves.” Ashetana tapped the table twice and a black slate appeared in the center.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Oh, a frying panel!” She blinked. “That’s… cool?”

  “Ha! I know, it doesn’t sound very interesting.” Ashetana’s eyes darted downwards. “The sound is nice, though. Reminds me of home.”

  Lunai could picture Ashetana walking on the surface of Cinderlune. Every step received a sizzling sting from the ground. Smoke twirled in the air, falling gently to her shoulders and the floor below.

  “I’ve never been to Cinderlune; I’m a bit too flammable,” she giggled.

  Ashetana reached over the table and tapped Lunai’s wrist. “Maybe you could visit now that you have the GSA’s suit.”

  “Is that an invitation?” asked Lunai.

  “Sure, but it’s a bit too early to meet my parents.”

  They shared a laugh as a waiter came by to take their orders. Lunai ordered a tinsel squash from Cinderlune, eager to experience more of Ashetana’s home planet. The food arrived sliced and raw, emanating a pungent smell. Lunai’s squash glimmered in the light. They threw everything on the panel and turned it on. A wave of heat passed through the food with a satisfying hum. Ashetana breathed the air in and let out a content sigh.

  “Do you feel homesick too?” asked Lunai.

  “Sometimes.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “It’s mostly the scenery. No one likes how Cinderlune looks, so no one tries to emulate it.”

  “I feel the same way. Well, not the second part. Plenty of people try to emulate Ya’ar’s jungles but it’s not the same.”

  “You’ll have to show me sometime.” She looked at her skin. “Is soot getting on the fauna a problem.”

  Lunai laughed. “Of course not! Soot is full of carbon and nitrogen. You’d be feeding our precious plants.”

  The words brought a gorgeous, shocked smile to Ashetana’s face. It almost made Lunai sad, thinking no one ever told the woman across from her how precious soot was. Anything that nurtured life was beautiful to her, including the now fried squash in front of her.

  The taste was meatier than anything available on Ya’ar. They finished their meals while discussing future trips to each other’s home worlds. Ashetana grabbed her hand and led her into a stairwell hidden in the sidewall of the restaurant. They emerged on the rooftop, an area meant only for the most seasoned patrons of Geyser Gurus.

  The stars watched them from afar. It was a different kind of beauty than Lunai was used to. They weren’t alive, but they when they were together, they sent a message. Unity and spontaneity all in one.

  Lunai broke the peaceful silence. “You know what’s crazy?”

  “Hmm?”

  She grabbed the railing in front of her. “I don’t think I’ve even just like, sat down and stargazed. Not even since I got here.”

  “Not that crazy. Life’s been mostly work for all of us.” She turned in towards Lunai. “It’ll get better. Everyday we’ll feel more secure.”

  “I’m not sure about that,” Lunai muttered. “It seems like every day is another disaster for my team.”

  “Sorry, I know you didn’t want to bring this up. I saw the news about the trial. I think it’s brave that you agreed to make a statement.” She put a hand to her cheek, lightly caressing the rough bark. “If you feel overwhelmed during the trial, just think about this.”

  She leaned in and her lips met Lunai’s. There was a slight simmer that quickly faded. Her mind was wonderfully blank. No nervous thoughts. No voice to tell her what to do. For that lovely moment, she forgot Armageddon’s face, Armageddon’s grip on her torso.

  Bliss landed on the roof of the prison complex. It wasn’t proper entry into the maximum-security planet. Several guards ran over to him and started waving scanners in his face. He let them finish, unwilling to escalate the situation lest Crux get involved. When they stepped back, he wordlessly made his way to the elevator.

  The entire process was repeated in the basement. Bliss rolled his eyes, but there was nothing to do. The doors opened and he faced his brother once again. Crux’s fragment remained trapped in an endless cycle of maintenance checks, tactfully ignoring Bliss’s entrance. Onder lazily glanced up, but his eyes widened when he realized who it was. He looked tired, more broken down.

  “Mtsi.”

  “Onder.”

  Silence. The unstoppable force met the immovable object.

  What am I doing? I’m better than this.

  “Fine, I’ll go first.” He approached the chamber until he was close enough to touch it. “Your trial’s tomorrow.”

  “Mhmm,” Onder grumbled.

  “Got any plans for your defense?”

  “Nope.”

  Bliss scoffed and started walking in circles around the chamber. “Not planning to say anything?”

  Onder sighed. “Mtsi, what do you want?”

  He stopped. “I have a reputation to uphold.”

  “I know. The rock-man’s face. The galaxy’s toy.”

  Bliss chuckled, putting his finger to the chamber and tracing random doodles. “You talk like it actually hurts me. You’re nothing, Onder.” He paused, carefully crafting the next sentence. “You’re nothing to me. You’re not my brother, and I expect that you won’t pretend I am tomorrow.”

  Onder looked down. “You have nothing to worry about. I wasn’t planning on saying anything.”

  “You - wait, really?” Bliss was shocked. He didn’t think his brother was capable of any filter.

  “I know what I’ve done. I don’t want you to be associated with that. At least, not while you’re still in their grip.” His fists tightened.

  “Oh…” Bliss rubbed his head. “I guess there’s nothing else to say, then.”

  He started walking away, which finally broke Onder’s mettle. His body moved towards the edge of the chamber in another useless effort.

  “Mtsi, Mtsi! Get back here!” His screams were loud, but brotherly. “Mtsi, you will let me out of here this instant! We are leaving this place. Mtsi!”

  The smirk returned to Bliss’s face as he left the room. He had won the silent argument. The unspoken battle of sentimentality. Onder broke and his care for his brother poured out of him, just as Bliss expected. Unfortunately for Onder, Bliss had no warm feelings left in his mind. At least, that’s what Bliss would keep telling himself.

  Performance. Servitude. Detachment. Play along and keep the pain to yourself. The vultures will never have it.

  He couldn’t get lost in the details. He couldn’t tend to useless family members. He wouldn’t let anyone have anything from him. It was the only way he would get rid of the golden words for good.

  Character Art:

  Ashetana Verlot / Ashfall