STARCASTER #2

"So...where actually AM I?"

"That's a little tricky to explain..."

"Oh, come on, don't hold out on me now..."

Regan sighs.

"You must forgive me, Miss Gold, I'm not used to talking to humans".

"I'm not used to talking to aliens so, ya know..."

Regan smiles.

"Interesting...you didn't mention the colour of my skin...apparently you humans seem to have an obsession over skin colours..."

"Not sure whether to be offended at that or not. Also; we have something on Earth called 'The Blue Man Group'. They're quite popular, Oh, and Avatar came out last year...wait...you're not called the Na'avi are you?"

"No. Is that important?"

"I guess not..."

They continued to walk round the corridors of the structure. Marion is still trying to process everything.

"We're on a structure known as the Klast. It's built on a ruin of a planet that got destroyed before most of the life in the cosmos at present managed to evolve".

"A planet? I'm on a different planet?"

"Merely a fragment of what used to be. This rock, floating around the galactic field was known as 'The Ark'. It was once the home to what is regarded as the oldest species and civilization in the universe. They were called the Genesis. A peaceful race devoted to living lives of harmony. spirituality and brotherhood. For countless millennia they managed to live peacefully. Until, so the stories say, a wormhole from a different point in time opened and an army, hellbent on destruction, came through and saw the Ark.,,"

"Wait...did you just say 'a different point in time!?'"

"The Genesis, until that stage, thought they were the only life in existence. And their first experience of life outside of their own was belligerence, death and destruction. They were slaughtered. A race of 20 billion strong were decimated to merely 1 billion in a month. Because they had no concept of war, they couldn't effectively defend themselves. So many perished. Eventually, the invaders realised that they could not remain on the atmosphere. Diseases from the world outside penetrated and afflicted the occupants. They started to die out. And, after another month or so, the invaders were all dead. The 1 billion Genesis remaining. They had won. But everything changed. Suddenly, the population that remained became divided into two factions. While both realised they were no longer alone in the universe, one faction believed that all life was going to try and attack them while the other thought they should reach out and try to create a more peaceful universe so that no other race could go through what they did. They both disagreed and a civil war broke out. Eventually, both factions left the planet and went their separate ways. The "good" faction, known as The Exodi, made contact with this galaxy and we founded the Galactic Alliance. The other faction, known as the Dark, went to war with the Andromeda Galaxy and...well...they became an undead army. They possessed many of the dead of the war and used them to fight against their own kind. They transcended. But, as far as we know, they're gone now. Locked inside something called the Dark Heart. The Exodi conjoined the Galactic Alliance and, in a symbolic act of renewal, destroyed The Ark".

"Jeez...and I thought human history was complicated..."

"You say that. Yet there's so much about your own history you don't know yet!"

"Eh?"

They walk into another room. It has another window. Only, this time, it looks like a factory outside of it rather than a field of galaxies. Regan continues.

"That wasn't the only thing that the Exodi created though. From the ruins of their homeworld, they created a new sub-species. One that will give every species in the universe a common thread. A subspecies that you yourself are now a part of".

"...what?"

"The Exodi looked to the power of stars and how they could utilize them in order to better certain people who were deserving. People who felt they could give more than they already do and who feel at the end of their tether".

"Which means what exactly...what did they do with the stars...?"

Regan hesitates.

"I...I...I'm not sure you're going to like it..."

Marion looks unimpressed.

"You've got me this far...come on..."

Regan sighs.

"They removed the blood, lungs and anything related to respiration, ageing and decay and replaced it with a compressed star that they developed themselves due to their superior knowledge of nuclear fission".

Marion suddenly turns grey. She's not sure how to react.

"Did...did they...continue this process?"

"Yes..."

"And...that...happened...to...me?"

"Yes..."

There's a pause. Marion nods for a second.

"I think I'm going to be sick..."

"You can't".

"Huh?"

"You can't 'be sick' anymore".

"You're kidding me..."

"I'm not".

Marion thinks for a moment.

"So I have no blood...I can't age, I can't decay...I can't be sick...is there anything I can do that's remotely human!?"

Regan hesitates again.

"Well...yes..."

"Like what?"

"Well...ummm...I...err...I hear you humans have an obsession with...reproductive practises...you can still do that...if you wished?"

Marion looks shocked.

"O...k...aliens talking about sex is SUPER WEIRD. Can I have children?"

"With help".

"Help?"

"Yes. You can no longer conceive naturally".

"Oh great. Fucking great".

"Well, I know you humans use that word to describe your carnal practises but I'm pretty sure the standard of said procedure will be affected by your new..."

"STOP THERE. Please. Just stop".

"I understand that this is a lot to take in, Miss Gold, but I promise you this isn't as bad as it may seem".

Marion sighs.

"To be honest, I don't know what to think! One minute I'm at home on the bridge and now I'm here!"

She thinks again for a moment. Her facial expression changes.

"Dad...shit, I forgot Dad..."

"Miss Gold, there's something else you ought to know..."

"Is it about my Dad!?"

"Your father is fine. As far as we know".

"Good..."

"But you need to something about your planet...and how much...time...has passed..."

Marion looks at him very sternly.

"What do you mean...'how much time has passed'?"

Regan looks at her head on.

"This may be hard to hear...but the passage of time between us getting you and your awakening is...lengthy..."

Marion realises.

"How lengthy?"

"Five of your Earth years. The year on Earth, currently, is 2015".

Marion looks shocked.

"I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS!?"

"Yes".

"YOU KEPT ME HERE FOR FIVE YEARS!?"

"You were dying. We were hoping to recruit you in the usual way but your sudden need to end your own life made us take drastic action..."

"MY DAD MUST HAVE GONE OUT OF HIS FUCKING MIND"

She walks up to Regan and gets very angry at him.

"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO US!? YOU SHOULD'VE LEFT ME IN THE FUCKING RIVER. AT LEAST DAD WOULDN'T HURT LIKE THIS?"

"And the taking of your own life would've made him feel better?"

"AT LEAST HE DOESN'T THINK I'M MISSING"

"And him knowing you were dead when he couldn't help you is better?"

Marion thinks for a moment and realises.

"There were cameras on the bridge...they would've found it...he thinks I'm dead anyway...doesn't he?"

Regan nods. A tear falls down Marion's cheek as she realises what she's done. Regan turns around.

"I've been studying the human race for some time now. Transmissions, cultures and everything else. And, on your world, you have this strange sentiment known as a 'second chance'. If it makes you feel any better, this could be your second chance..."

Marion looks at him, crying. 

"What good can that be then? I've already hurt the man I love the most...I can't believe I was so selfish..."

Regan turns around.

"If you have a pair of scales and you place more material on them than they can hold, then it breaks. It's just one of those things. In this scenario, you were scales. Taking your own life is not a selfish act, Miss Gold. It's merely an adverse reaction to being too strong for longer than you could cope with".

Marion smiles.

"And, if you believe in second chances, then perhaps this is the perfect chance. Your world faces a lot of threats to its peace and security. The world and everyone within it is in danger from some kind of enemy. From within itself and from outside of it. The idea of your kind is to protect them and be their guiding light in times of great trouble and strife. We picked you out because we felt you could help your world along with the human male we collected. You have a great responsibility...to your world and your father...will you accept it...Marion Johanna Gold?"

Marion wipes the tear from her eye and nods.

"I'm kind of stuck with this so might as well use it..."

Regan smiles.

"I do have one question though, Regan..."

Regan looks in anticipation.

"If we're a sub-species...do we have a name?"

Regan nods.

"Of course".

"What is it, may I ask?"

Regan smiles.

"Your kind are known by a name that resonates throughout the cosmos. Based on the abilities you have and the light and hope you represent. A name not given by us but given by the united peoples of this cosmos".

Marion waits.

"Starcasters".

Marion looks shocked.

"You have GOT to be kidding me..."