Arc I - The West Horizon [Eteru/Richard]

There are distant sounds. But he blocks them out as best he could. Ignoring that they exist. That it meant the waking world was trying to bring him back. But he doesn’t want to go back. He wants to stay here. In this haze of warmth and light. He was laying on his side, his head resting on a cushion as his feet pressed against the arm of the couch on the opposite end. He clings on to the sensation of its texture.

It’s real.

He’s nowhere else.

He was trying to crane his head over his sister's wild, chestnut brown hair. The frizzy strands were still damp from her recent shower. The slightest breath had them tickling his nose; her conditioner fills his lungs.

What did it smell like again?

No. Don’t worry about that.

Don’t let it take you out of the moment.

There were indistinct voices nearby. Again, he blocks them out.

His big sis was laying in the same way he was. Her head resting on his cushion, and her chilly toes pressed against his, desperately trying to keep warm. He curled an arm around her stomach, bare and softer than usual. Most likely from the extra long shower she'd taken, or perhaps even from using a new moisturizer Leni had leant her.
She shivered as his breaths puffed on her neck.
He loved seeing that reaction from her.

Natural light touches his eyelids. "No," He whispered. He pressed his eyes closed more tightly, trying to sink into the softness of the couch. But it made him more aware of how hard it actually was. He wasn’t ready to leave the sweetness of his dream.

He never is.

He tries once more to suppress the world calling out for his attention. "I don’t want to go." He was happy here.

The only place he can ever be happy.

He could feel the warmth off of her body. The feeling of her athletic body against his own. He could vividly see the spray of freckles on her cheeks, neck, and shoulder. Hear the sound of her breathing. Hands were holding a phone, they were watching something.

Something. It didn’t matter. Her nuzzle into the crook of her neck. Rubbing his check across her warm skin. He tightened his hold around her stomach. Holding her closer to him as if she was the only thing keeping him afloat.

A loud, distant sound jolted him. She wasn’t solid anymore. The warmth evaporated. The aching in his muscles made themselves known. Her body melted into the blackness of his eyelids. The last vestige of his dream was lost.

He slowly opened his eyes to the truth.

The world is cold and uncaring. Much like the alleyway he was sleeping in. The concrete beneath him gave him no comfort. His arm was around his own stomach. Hugging nothing but empty air. There was no evidence of her to cling to. The last remnant of her existence drifting away into the depths of psyche where it stay until it comes back to torture him when he goes back to sleep.

He laid there for a while. Unaware of the tears already staining his dirty cheeks. Then the tears turned into sobs. He curls into a fetal position out of the mental anguish that fills him. His body shudder with heavy, heaving breaths, almost screams, as he vents his agony.

’Lynn!’

He mentally screamed her name.

’Lynn. Lynn!! LYNN!’

All he could do was repeat her name like a broken record. His heart was so heavy in his chest.

It hurts so much.

For who knows how long he laid there before getting up to his fee for no discernible reason that he can think of. In a way he might as well be pulled along by his body's inherent instinct for self preservation. Looking out into the increasingly busy street he walked out into it. What was the city he was in again? He doesn’t know the name. Much like everything else. The aliens walking by him who he can somehow understand. Some of the signs had words in English. ‘Starport’ frequently popped up.

He wasn’t starving so he walked aimlessly down the streets in a semi-daze. Not really focusing on the fact that he was someplace totally foreign to him. Even the stars themselves were alien to him. In his wandering as a hobo these last few weeks, he came to gather some semblance to know that he was in an alien galaxy even. Hoshizora.

Apparently to the East there had been a civil war. He gazes at the grey sidewalk. Pondering what stupid excuse they had to commit such pointless violence. What tales of grandiose did they spew to justify it? He could already imagine books romanticizing the glory of it. Glossing over the harrowing reality of it to fool the young into thinking that they too can attain glory for themselves and their country.

Why?

Why can’t no one ever understand just how fleeting life is? How transient? All they have is one chance. They’re all so very fragile, not knowing that death walks alongside them in every moment of their existence. The world doesn’t care about them. Because it’s not alive. They have no inherent value to them. Hence why people often call the world unfair and such.

All it takes is an instant. And they are gone forever. All that is left of them is a mass of protein. ‘They’ are no longer there.

They are gone. Never to return to from oblivion.

Forever.

He looked around to look at the aliens. No doubt they all have lives as vivid and complex as his own. So colorful and rich. A precious spark of warmth in a dark universe. Yet much like a candle flame they can be snuffed out. Everything they once were fade into nothingness. There can never be another person like them. All of them are unique.

So why?

Why can’t they understand?

Aren’t you afraid?

Afraid of dying?

Will you be remembered?

For what you're worth, he hopes that you will be.

Thoughts like this plague his mind. He continues to wander the streets. Coming near an outside ‘Etherbucks’ he felt the aching in his legs becoming worse. He was walking for too long, he needed to rest. Seeing an open chair he plopped himself down in it. Looking out into the crowd with bleary eyes his thoughts dissolve into static. For awhile he was just...existing.

The House of Vengeance, alongside their allies that were in the Iammelon Confederacy that had lost the distant Civil War of their Nebula, had started to settle a number of close solar systems around them after they had secured themselves on different worlds. The Eliksni on their mostly oceanic world they had dubbed as ‘Riis Nova’ had settled into a new homeworld that was vastly different to the world they originally came from… Though their proximity to the Etherlane made the planet’s conditions similar to that of their old almost forgotten homeworld.

In the sake of expansion, the Kell of Kells of House Vengeance gave permission for clans and small houses to form beside Confederate volunteers to help expand their united territory. For the sake of creating shipyards and replenishing their Naval numbers after a large number of vessels were sacrificed for the sake of creating their cities that now dot their new homeworld, both on land and far beneath the waves.

One such jointly settled world was named ‘Paxus’. It was a Garden moon, one of several that orbited a strange pink and blue Gas giant they dubbed ‘Cradle’ since all of its seven moons seemed to be able to support life. It favoured Iammelon styles instead of Eliksni designs since they were the ones to have found it, but there was an Eliksni research outpost on the other side of the moon that was looking into why this moon and those like it around this gas giant all made it as viable and life sustaining.

This was the moon that the young man had been aimlessly wandering around. Its sprawling first colony of ‘Tovar’. His aimless wanderings usually went unnoticed since everyone was usually preoccupied with the fact that the colony needed to be self-sustainable before they started producing crops and materials to send back to their homeworlds.

Though most were not inclined to ask about him, he was something of an oddity. No one recognised him, sure this was a colony made up of several thousand people… But he didn’t resemble any of the kids or young adults that came with their families. So rumours started to spread in the first week or so that a stowaway somehow managed to get himself here… Likely on one of the Eliksni vessels since they are the ones that are constantly venturing out into the greater galaxy to find salvage, materials and trading opportunities while the Confederates deliberate what sort of new banner and title they affix to themselves since they didn’t want the Neble to crusade out this way and hunt them down, putting their new allies in danger because of them.

Because of these rumours, no one really sought out to deal with the lost boy. It also didn’t help that he always seemed to be delirious, distant and projected a rather heavy gloom.

Of course, not everyone was so willing to leave the delirious young man to keep wondering. Some have tried to interact with him but without much luck as he would just seem to walk away from them. Most wondered how he survived alone like this… Often finding him sleeping in any back alley or improvised shelter he could muster whenever he was too weak from his wandering. Most gave up, letting him go about his day until he hopefully came to his senses and reached out. That was an issue… A mentality of ‘someone will help him’ would prove fatal if they continued to leave him like that. Though thankfully people were still trying here and there by leaving him food and water, even leaving notes with offers of shelter. But he was always lost wrapped up in himself that he rarely noticed, and rarer still had any thought besides ‘why’ before continuing on, existing but not living. And now he was seen sitting outside one of the colony’s few cafe’s.

Etherbucks, a popular cafe branch opened up by some Tordelian Confederates not long after the Confederates settled on their new homeworld. It was opened with the thought that having a wide spread luxury like this being available on new colony worlds was a good idea, and it was since Eliksni took to it like ducks to water.

As the unknown young man stared out into the crowd of aliens, letting his eyes haze over as he once again fell into a great static of doomed thoughts, his eyes would be met with a crouching figure that had gotten in front of him. One of the more frequent aliens that lived on the planet. An Eliksni as he would have heard them being called by some of the other races.

This new arrival was at least 6ft tall, wearing some Iammelon inspired civilian attire with a breathing apparatus hanging loosely around his neck with tubes that wrapped around his left side and into a pack around his waist with a tank on the back. A thin pale pink mist softly wafting from the breathing device’s mouthpiece every time they take a brief draw and exhale. Taking care not to do so into the human’s face out of courtesy.

The crouching figure kept his four light cyan eyes glued to the gloom and sunken gaze of the young human before them as they chittered in their own thoughts. Seems like this local had finally had enough with waiting around for results and decided to take things at a more direct approach, like they all should have done in the beginning. Noting his vacant gaze he reaches up with one of his smaller arms to snap his fingers. “Are you present, young man? Is your light still with us?” He asks in a raspy yet light voice, a tint of concern and curiosity in his voice while another smaller Eliksni that only stood at around 5ft stood behind him. This one was dressed similarly to the first but was female, her eyes being a more deeper green colour, she had her hand gripping into the larger male’s shirt while she peered over his shoulder to the vacant stranger, eyes filled with curiosity yet filled with a sense of pity with eyes that reflected recognition of his mood. Clearly the boy had suffered something horrible, a most terrible and debilitating loss of some kind...

On the contrary he does reciprocate to the gestures of compassion. He’s hurting, not nihilistic. To him, rejecting an extended hand was to deny the value of kindness. He accepts the food and water that is given to him. Even take up in the shelter they offer for a time before going on his way. He doesn’t feel he deserves anymore than that. Not right now. Guilt and shame still hung on to his bones like a heavy cloak. He does engage in nonsensical conversation with the locals. Commenting on the weather, debating the ideal female breast size, talking about the game in the pub, and other trivial subjects. But nothing deeper than that. Because there wasn’t anything to talk about.

To suggest he has doomed thoughts is a bit misleading. It suggests the mindset of a defeatist. Even if he was, how can he expect failure when he already lost everything? He has nothing to his name. There is no history of him in this galaxy. In a sense, he might as well be a newborn infant. Life arising from oblivion for who knows how long. Why is he here? He has a few guesses. Some of which reaffirms his stance against walking off a nearby tall building.

He knows that the key to find meaning in one's existence is to make a purpose for themselves. The problem is, he doesn’t know what his purpose is. And he was too tired to find it right now. Not when he failed to uphold his last purpose after so many years of hardship. That was two times now he lost his purpose. Two times he failed so utterly. Two times he saw it all slip away from him into the darkness. Leaving him alone to his misery.

He was aware of the alien crouching in front of him. It was a bit cute to see someone with such a large form make them appear smaller to someone else. If anything it was once more telling that they were compassionate people who don’t turn a blind eye to souls in need of some other voice than the one themselves.

”Are you present?

Yes. He’s still here. Or rather, the one who is ‘Lincoln’ is still here to be more precise. He’s painfully aware of who he had been. Who he used to be. The once soul crushing responsibility that once sat on his shoulders wasn’t there anymore much like anything else. He had nothing except for his memories. The only thing he had left. How could he possibly suppress it?

”Is your light still with us?”

He may not know the context of the word usage. But he could sense the feeling through the way he said it. “Yes…” He poke weakly. A soft expression graces his worn features. “...the light is still inside of me” He leaned back in the chair. Craning his head to peer up into the sky. “Enough to outshine any star. But it’s alone in the night sky. With no place to go.” His mind was half-lost in the past. The moments where he found a source of inner strength he needed to secure victory played across his vision. “That’s why it’s heavy. So painful. And I know I can’t ever let go.” If he were to let go. He would be letting go of everything ‘Lincoln’ was.

These rumours are inaccurate, this is true, but in a colony of several thousand the truth can become muddled and warped away from the reality of things. Of course there are people who know of the truth of these things since it was the Eliksni who were the usual suspects to offer aid to the young man with no origin. They are a communal people, there was an innocence in them and in the way they show empathy. They do not like to see misery, they are quite acquainted with such. This is why the pair before the young man reached out now, the familiar sight of losing everything was one they did not usually see amongst the humans they have seen.

As Lincoln spoke up, answering the crouched figure before him, the alien shifted from his crouched stance to pull up a chair for the younger female to sit. The answer gave context and he was surprised with how well the young human took hold of the meaning to his question. As Licoln looked up, the young girl followed his gaze up into the stars and swirling galaxies beyond the pinkish gas giant. His answer was telling for the older Eliksni, his pain was unfortunately relatable for many of his kind. “Your answer is an unfortunate one, one that resonates well here.”

The older Eliksni shuffled back, allowing breathing room now that he had responded coherently, and he did not appear to be injured or ill at all from a physical perspective. Though clearly his heart was broken, his light shined alone in a silent night while it screamed into the dark nothingness all around it. “Truly no place to go? I find it hard to believe young one, you need only look around you to fellow stars that scream out in their own lonesomeness. You are amongst souls who have either had their world and kin sundered by oily shapes and sour notes that blackened the skies of their world, or are amongst honourable refugees whose only crime was fighting for a future they thought was right for their people, and now find themselves unable to return to their world or kin ever again. In this you can never be truly alone.” He didn’t know if these words would work, likely not… He hoped that something would come from it.

The older Eliksni had heard from the rumours and those that pointed him this way to the young man that he reportedly had no past, nothing to his name and seemed heavy with burden. He could certainly see it behind those sunken eyes of his… He started to gesture to himself with his smaller arms while his larger top pair rested on his knees. “I am Sean. This little one is Ialla, my sister.” A surprisingly human name for an alien… Given that their clothes looked very human, perhaps they were the adoptive children of one? The Eliksni woman hesitantly waved to him, so far continuing her silence but following everything the older one and him were saying. “What is your name?”

“I know my pain is not unique.” He says. It was clear to him that the Eliksni went through a lot. But that didn’t make it easy for a connection to be made. “I empathize with the loss of a world, I empathize with being forced away from home. But I’m still alone. Because the things… I want to give my love to those who are not there anymore.” And so it turns into grief. Lasting for as long he loves them. The grief will remain with him to the day he dies. All he can do is learn of a way to cope with it. Otherwise he has nothing.

”What is you name?”

His name. A lot of things are in a name. The meaning changes depending on who says it. It’s the name of a brother. It’s the name of a Magician. It’s the name of a survivor, His name…”My name is Lincoln. Lincoln Loud.” It has no meaning anymore. It bore no weight. Just a name that ties to his face. Gives him definition.

“All pain is unique.” Sean says as he looks to the young man before pointing to Lincoln’s chest. “Events may be similar and the lost may occupy the same places in our hearts, but I am not devaluing any experience.” To lump all pain as the same immediately makes light of it, an offensive notion. But one that is forgiven.

Sean could empathise with Lincoln’s loss of a loved one or loved ones. He was still unaware of the specifics but it was not right for him to pry. The grief in his voice, the finality of it did give him a more complete picture. There was plenty he could say, but he again knew very little. He may say something that may cause unneeded hostility in his efforts to try and help. “You emphasize hmm…”

But this continued notion of being alone perplexed him… The Eliksni are a very communal people, they naturally strive to create communities and groups for safety. Something that has only grown stronger from their centuries drifting through space as Nomads. He understood the lonesome feeling but the woes of continuing to stay alone confused him… It was a very human concept that he was not good with. But what he had at hand helped to a more complete picture. No longer able to return home, and even if he could there would be nothing there for him. The ones he loved…

Now that he was aware of his name Sean shifted again as he thought about his next question… And ultimately what he was building up to. It was ultimately a gamble, he had no idea of knowing how the human may take it. But anything was better than wasting away day after day, leaving yourself absorbed in misery. From what interactions Lincoln has been through with other residents and Eliksni that have given him lodging, it has become known that he had very little idea of just where he is in general. He can speak the human language of English, a basic language that is widely known. But he lacks the knowledge that even a normal spacer or colonist would know about the galaxy they live in.

Rumours and speculation all point to a mismatch of different conclusions. One that was widely accepted was that he was simply someone from another galaxy. It wasn’t far-fetched to think that Lincoln was simply from another galaxy and managed to somehow bumble his way out here… No one knows how. But examples like that have become something of a staple in recent years with tales of how several species that now make Hoshi their home sort of just idly drifted into the galaxy.

“Lincoln Loud.” A very strange last name to have. Then again not the strangest he’s heard from the many humans and humanoids that he knows here on Paxus. “It is no secret that you wander without purpose… Would you like one? You do find yourself in a budding colony. This is no hand out but an offer from someone who has his own unique emptiness. Aimlessly wandering and sleeping in the streets… I do not know of your lost stars, but my own would not wish for me to live like this each day.”

A purpose. A concept he knows well. It isn’t something that can be plopped down on your lap. But something you have to create yourself. While it may be true that two of his former purposes were thrusted upon him. He accepted them. Worked hard to uphold the values that they enshrined. They defined who he is today. Give him strength even. But here, under alien stars, he is left with empty hands. He has lost so much. All the sacrifices he made. The hard choices he took with a firm stance. It was all in vain.

It was true that this was a budding colony. No doubt people would find it easy to start a new life here. But finding a purpose is more easy said than done. There’s a reason why a lot of people who return from war struggle to find their place in society again. He couldn’t return home after the first crisis was resolved because he wasn’t mentally suited to return to normal society at the time. Then he was dragged into the war. Seen things that instill great awe and horror in him.

He closed his eyes. Sean was right. Those like him start finding their purpose by reaching out to the community. Getting themselves involved in activities with other people. Find people to connect with on some level, no matter how small. “It’s vital to find purpose first.” He admits. Opening his tired eyes to look at Sean. “I have...a good hunch why I ended up here.” They didn’t want their friend to meet such a bleach end. Not after everything they all went through together.

He gave a soft chuckle, “They wouldn’t like how much a mess I am. In fact, some of them may have been the reason I got here.” It was so easy to imagine their worried faces. He could hear their phantasmal voices that he knows aren’t there. Some chide him, some speak his name with concern and sadness, some tease him, some yell at him for his ridiculousness. He let out a long sigh.

During his bout of introspection, his eyes drift over to Ialla. He never really looked at her, or any of the Eliksni for that matter, but now he was more alert to his surroundings. He became more aware of her finer features. Eyes tracing her hips and legs. She was rather cute, beautiful even. It was surprising to find things about her stature that reminded him of the human female body. Definitely the most ‘alien’ compared to all the races he saw. Some were pretty much an animal head on a human body. If he didn’t know better, the galaxy must have been made by gods who were furries and scalies.

What was he thinking about? Oh right. He looked back to Sean. “It’ll take time for me to find a new purpose. But...I shouldn’t let myself be alone anymore.” A massive part in him remaining sane during all those years was because he was never left alone. Even when he was sleeping he had at least three people watching him. “Haah, you’re right.” He gave a ghost of a smile. “I’ll get involved with your people.”

Sean and Ialla waited in Lincoln’s silence for his answer, both able to tell that the human was deep in his thoughts. Though their attention became hinged on his words as he ended his own silence with admittance of needing a purpose. Though Sean was surprised to hear that he was ‘sent’ here. He was one of many that thought that he ended up here by some mistake. He looked into Lincoln’s tired eyes while he tilted his head to the left as he went on to say that those lost stars of his may have even sent him here? He was lacking an extraordinary amount of context here he felt… Perhaps he can pry as they get to know each other better. But at least it looked like he had it right perhaps. Those stars were his motivation, without them it felt too empty to likely try.

Sean was caught up in thought before he had noticed that Lincoln’s eyes traced his sister next to him, which came to him as a surprise but it was rather encouraging to see. He personally was worried for his sister since she was always small. They use the same amount of Ether yet her development seemed to be somewhat stunted. So seeing that she could still be seen favourably was a good sign, though that did not mean he was going to readily hand her over… But that did not mean he would bar the way. Lincoln lacked purpose… Perhaps there was one. Too soon to see yet.

Ialla herself did notice that the human’s eyes were tracing over her form with a focus on her toned thighs and jeans filling hips. She felt somewhat self conscious but didn’t mind the attention, she was rather curious about this human since he did not seem like the others that live here. The smooth blue skin turned a shade of purple while her lower pair of arms crossed under her chest and ‘unknowingly’ pushing her perky C cup chest. Keeping an eye on him to gauge his reaction…

Sean gave a quick peek to his sister’s antics with a raised brow. So quickly interested in him. Ialla was always swayed with mystery. He gave a soft toothy smile as he pretended not to notice before he gave a big smile to Lincoln’s answer, even rising to his feet as he found himself overjoyed with his success while his sister showed her own enthusiasm with a delighted smile while she looked up to her brother. Glee is very evident on their faces as Sean reaches out to the young man. “Your answer brings me great joy my friend! Are you well enough to travel?” He asks only because he looks like he was ready to pick Lincoln up and haul him on his shoulders.

Ialla’s silence was finally broken as she recognised her brother’s over enthusiasm. Her voice was light, delightfully fair to hear. “Perhaps you should tell him what he just agreed to first brother. You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

Sean stopped reaching for Lincoln as he peered back over his shoulder to his sister, realising that he was getting rather ahead of himself. He did want to bring him back to their little compound and have mother take a look at him to see if he was okay to start helping him. “Ah! You’re right. A thousand pardons my friend. You see we live outside of the main settlement in a smaller Agri/Ether-farming community connected to Tavor by the tram line. My sister and I helped our parents and the rest of the farming community there. Our mother is the community doctor while our father is the farm’s militia leader. We are essentially working whatever needs doing. A flexible and rewarding job that comes with lodging and access to the extranet.”

Lincoln certainly caught the movement of Ialla’s chest. His eyes centered on them. The science of breasts was well known to men. Many across the ages have argued that a certain cup size is the ideal form. To him however it mostly depends. There isn’t any type he particularly dislikes either. He enjoyed petite women just as much as he enjoyed women with very mature proportions. Ialla was a bit on the latter. For women like her, he doesn’t like breasts being too big on him. He likes it when the body is proportional. Ialla seemed to be still growing as well. It wouldn’t look bad if she went up about three cup sizes. He likes to be able to hold a breast in his hand. It’s especially nice to see them jiggle.

Sean standing up broke him out of his intense concentration. Shifting his focus back to him he listened to what he said. A farming community, that makes sense to him considering what he learned so far. The mention of Ether went over his head. Not knowing what it is but he can make a guess that it’s some kind of resource. Extranet sounds strange as well. Considering a part of the word, something similar to the internet perhaps? Firstly he got himself up onto his feet. Having rested them enough that he can do some walking. He was long used to walking for long periods of time. “Sounds like a nice place. I’m not too worn to travel, but thanks for the offer. I’m interested to see what your home is like.” At least it’ll get his mind off of things.

“Hah, I think you’ll like it. Nice and peaceful. A decent change to the constant noise of the colony. Tavor is not bad, but it’s nice to have some room to think.” Sean gave a toothy smile to Lincoln’s answer, he was glad to see that Lincoln seemed well enough for travel. He started to turn to start leading him away from the nearby Spaceport, Ethercafe and the other myriad of stores and trader outfits that had set up closeby. “We have a truck that we came here in. I parked it nearby, the journey won’t be terribly long as long as traffic out of the colony isn’t bad.” They began to walk back through the streets towards a large market area that was close to the spaceport.

Ialla decided to stay by Lincoln’s side while her brother stayed ahead to guide them. She hasn’t seen him so enthused for a good long while, he didn’t lack the will to work day to day but he was always happy when he could help someone. Make the world that little bit brighter. She had noticed that he became focused on her chest when she was moving it, and it seems her observations of human male behavior were right. They seemed to love breasts no matter the species. She had heard other rumours, human myths and ‘old wives tales’ as she heard them being referred to. Like the myth that massaging one's mounds would help them grow… And while she wasn’t unhappy with her size she had heard the human saying that ‘bigger is better’ and with how she has seen human males flirt with Eliksni captains and even a stray kell who can grow as tall as Taurus, it would seem that saying was not unfounded.

So Ialla decided to test the waters, after hearing some of Lincoln’s story and seeing her own brother rather eager to help she didn’t see any reason to now get friendly with him… Along with testing if some of those human tales were true. Though not here. Not just yet. The farm was quieter, better to get physical without so many prying eyes. But she decided to strike up some conversation while they reached the market. “Say Lincoln, is it true that humans are fascinated with breasts. Is that right?” She says as she uses her lower set of arms to paw at her own over the thick fabric of her sweater.

The market area seemed to be a large bazaar, a large collection of stalls and wares from scrap and salvage, to stuff like strange alien produce and what looked like large vats of pink mist… These had strange labels on them. Though the Pink mist looked similar to the stuff that Sean and Ialla had been breathing through the strange breathing gear they both had on them. There was an English label on one of the vats. ‘Ether’. So this must be the stuff Sean made mention to… There were also stalls for clothes, strange machines, hand held devices that were just as alien, prosthetic limbs and other augmentations, children's toys and disks holding movies and tv shows.

“If you are ever in need of something it’s likely you’ll find it here. Once every other week we get a strange Fox humanoid selling weapons and oddities here, the weapons usually get snapped up by Ketch Captains and militia forces but his oddities come from all over the galaxy.” Sean says as they navigate through the crowds of eager traders and people browsing their wares.

Once they pass through the hustle and bustle they come to a large car park of sorts with strange cars, vans, trucks and other strange and wonderful vehicles of all different makes and styles. Sean moved over to what looked like a pickup truck, the frame seemed similar to ones he could have seen back home… But one major difference was the lack of any wheels, there are some strange bronzed fins and silvery orbs where the wheels should be. The fins seem to be placed on a rotating axis while they encircle the orbs… The truck looked like it only had room for two people in front but the truck bed could easily fit afew people.

“Ialla could you sit in the back with Lincoln? Wouldn’t want our new friend to be lonely.” Sean says with a smirk, clearly teasing his younger sister while she just smiled back with a soft purple flush on her cheeks before she climbed into the back. “Fine by me!” Sean just shook his head while climbing into the front seat and started it up. The silvery orbs would start to glow while the fins rotated to the top and angled down, discharging arcs of energy that harmlessly flicked at the ground as the truck rose off the ground.

When Lincoln climbs in Ialla would likely stick to him, taking advantage of the situation to press herself and her assets into his arm for the sake of ‘stability’ while they began driving out of the colony. The modern buildings slowly gave way to countryside, grassy plane’s and distant wind and solar farms that helped power the colony with tramlines that stretch out in several different directions that likely branched out to farms, smaller colonies and homesteads across the moon.

Lincoln wasn’t one to be afraid of people in his personal space for a myriad of reasons. He relishes having people around him. Makes the world seem less empty. Being out in the open with no one around gives him an anxiety attack. It’s for this reason that he never slept in spacious areas such as a chair or a bench on the street. Alleyways and empty rooms don’t help but they were better to handle. Most of all, he can’t handle being cold for long. He had bad cryophobia for many years. Along with other fears relating to winter. It had taken a lot of effort for him to see the beauty in winter holidays again. Many aspects of the season still puts him on edge but they no longer leave him paralyzed.

Regardless of his recovery, he still yearns for warmth from the body of another. As he walked with Ialla he swooped an arm around her slender waist to pull her close to him. Her being decently shorter than him gave her a cute charm. He paid attention to how her body moved as she walked. It was fascinating to learn of the differences between her and a human body. Deep down, the feeling of Ialla flush against his side stirred the old kindling in his gut.

Ialla would find that Lincoln was strangely warm when she was this close to him now. There was something more to his normal human body heat. Two things to be precise. One felt like it was running throughout his body and the other felt like it came from someplace deeper, radiating a strange warmth that seeps into everything around him. At the moment it was weak, if one was standing away from him they wouldn’t feel it. But since her body was against them, their legs rubbing against each other, she could feel it. A trickle of liquified light running into her. It was...addictive to a very small degree. Nothing too noticeable.

He found it a bit amusing to see Ialla paw her chest like that. She knew what she was doing. While it was funny to joke about how humans were filthy degenerates, as they are, he highly doubts that people of other species wouldn’t have developed the same desires as them. Otherwise they wouldn’t see the big deal with having two sacks of useless fat on their chest like a certain species he heard about out in the west. “Yes, we even outright worship them.” He rubbed up and down her ribs. He assumes. “Along with the female body. We will go as far as outright throwing our month's worth of salary at an image of a woman.” It was a long time since he last saw virtual tubers. That was before everything went south. He wondered if there was something similar in this galaxy. People seemed horny enough for it.

Walking through the bazaar he took note of the large vats containing pink mist. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together. Looking down to Ialla’s face he eyed her breathing apparatus. “I take it that oxygen is not in your people's natural environment?” Would it be okay for me to breathe it in? I was kinda looking forward to seeing the rest of your face.” He casually said with no shame.

Getting to the truck he gave a nod to Sean. “I don’t mind sitting in the back.” It’ll be a neat experience. It wasn’t a vehicle he ever rode on. More used to militaristic vehicles. He was amused once more when he got on the truck bed and Ialla cuddled his arm. Feeling the need to tease her in return, keeping a hand on her hip he used his other hand to grip her thigh to pull her up on his lap. Making her fully rest her body weight on him. Looking her in the eyes as he rubbed her thigh he spoke in a playful manner. “Are all Eliksni so eager?” He gently set his forehead against hers. His blue eyes staring deep into her own. “I’ll give you a warning then, Ialla. I’m not like other humans. A part of me makes me very addictive when you get a taste.” He was speaking the truth, She could feel more of his strange light now that they were this close. Something sweet and warm was inches away from her.

All she has to do is simply reach for it.

Having no doubt successfully made Ialla hot and bothered he took the moment to look around to admire the passing scenery.

On the trip through the bazaar Ialla would start to feel the odd warmth as Lincoln pulled her close to him. A warmth that she previously hadn’t noticed when she was more than an arm’s length from him, but now that they were close together she could feel something seeping into her. An addictive light that seeped into her very being. Though she didn’t think much of it as she continued to paw at her chest as she felt his eyes on her. Though she let out a muffled exhale of surprise as she felt his hand on her front, he wouldn’t actually feel her ribs but it would seem he could feel smooth plates with some grooves that did not exist where her breasts were.

The smooth exoskeletal plates on her form formed a nice natural defence, though it seems like for some odd reason the Female’s of the species had evolved breasts, removing the layer of defense to their torso in favour of sex appeal… His hunch of the Gods of this galaxy being degenerates might be 100% on the money. The fact she reacted to him running his hand along the plate must mean that they’re sensitive to the touch, which made sense in a way. These mounds were actually for feeding young, unlike a certain race that seemingly had them for no other use than sex appeal out west. Not that the gods complain.

“I-is that so…” Ialla kept her head cool, a thick purple flush on her face, learning that humans outright worship breasts and the female form. Though as he brought up the images of women she would bring up something relevant to his own thoughts. “That would make sense, there are such things as Virtual Idols. I saw Sean watching the other day playing a popular horror game.”

As he asked about their species being unable to process oxygen she gave a soft giggle, removing her own breather to reveal the rest of her face as she gave a soft yet toothy smile to him. “Well of course we can, we can adapt and survive in a number of equitable or inhospitable environments. Ether is… I believe the closest equivalent is your hormones. In us it promotes physical maturation and molting. An Eliksni that lives on our farm, Phenia, says that our old Homeworld had an unlimited amount of it in our atmosphere, I’m sure you’ve noticed plenty of taller and well built Eliksni already. They are what we look like when we reach full maturity, our true forms. Living as exiles and nomads have left plenty of our people stunted, forced to live our lives in adolescent bodies because of rationing.” As he asks about if he could breathe it in, she tapped her chin in thought, she couldn’t recall what would happen.

Sean did speak up on that front though. “Some humans have already tried, it isn’t harmful to humans and it's used as something of a recreational drug, vivid hallucinations, mild momentary paralysis and a serotonin reaction. In short, pleasant and immersive daydreams while you’re unable to really stumble about and get into trouble.”

With all that settled and them already on the road, Sean was focusing on the road. Though it wasn’t long until he was raising a scaled brow to the developments in the back. Ialla seemed very eager to get close to Lincoln, what a pervert she was. She’s never shown this kind of reaction or interest in a male. He gave a smirk and fixed his eyes on the road to give them some peace. It was going to be a long drive as is.

Ialla gave a gasp in surprise as Lincoln touched her thigh and pulled her into his lap, she didn’t mind at all really. It was nice to get so warm as her full weight was pressed into his body, now fully able to feel her perky assets pressed into his chest under her sweater while her heartbeat could be felt getting faster as he teased her more by rubbing her thigh. The emerald green of her eyes gazed back into the baby blues of his, softly narrowing with his question. “Not all Eliksni no, only ones that were raised in human culture. Most of us are rather reserved, too reserved. Dependant on old ways of courtship and arranged relationships and mating contracts. No love, only survival.” Ialla’s gaze didn’t waver as she rested her lower arms on him, her hands slowly exploring his torso while her upper arms loosely wrapped themselves around his neck as their foreheads pressed against one another.

Ialla could already tell that Lincoln was like no other human she’s ever met. The light that she could feel warming her was unique. It was addictive… And it was so close now… So close that she could feel his light begin to kindle a fire all its own in her loins. Her body is growing even hotter than she’s ever felt before. She moved her head into his shoulder as he started to look around at the scenery passing them by, as her breathing became heavier. “You’re right. You aren’t like any human I’ve met before, and it certainly feels like there is something about you that I can’t put my finger on… Maybe I’m fine with that.” She says as she starts to move those toned hips of hers, beginning to rub her rear back and forth along Lincoln’s pelvis.

“Hormones, huh?” That was interesting to know. He made a mental note of it. It seems to be something worth studying. Perhaps improved. That thought sparked ideas. For them to be this dependent on the stuff in order to mature meant that Ether was a very valuable resource. If one were to say develop a superior version from it, well one needs to know the power of supply and demand to know that it would garner a lot of pull in terms of influence and economy. Maybe that could be something he could do in his spare time to keep his mind busy. That and he was getting an inkling that it would be a valuable asset to make.

Few minutes later on the moving truck. The fire in his gut roared. But despite the perverse escalation of events. His eyes became very soft. “Survival.” He repeats what she said. A word he weighed down with years of exactly that. “I know what that’s like.” His voice was delicate. Old and worn. He glanced upward to the open sky. “The universe is unfathomably vast. So cold and dark. It doesn’t care about you and I, for it lacks the capacity to do so.” He slid the hand he has on her hip up to the middle of her back. The friction through the sweater sent sparks of light up her spine.

Moving his legs beneath him, he slowly leaned forward. Talking to Ialla through bodily cues that he was gently laying her down. “To share a bit about me. My people are born with something called Origin. The starting point that defines one's existence and directs one's actions throughout life. Mine...is Love.” He spoke the word so lightly, yet it resonated on such a fundamental level of her existence. Ialla now being fully laid on her back he set his hands on either side of her. He looked down at her face. “Survival. Fame. Nationalism. So many go about their lives not knowing the beauty that is in front of them. People create idols and put together ideologies to discern some higher purpose to their lives. Why are we here? Why were we born? Why should we live?”


He motioned his hand to rub her neck. Once more his hand sent sparks of ember into her soul. “They all fail to see the simple truth. The answer is Love. The only, everlasting reason we exist in a cold and dark universe. It’s Love that brought us into this world. It’s Love that civilization is built upon. It’s Love in what we believe in that lets us make the hard choices that many would despise us for. It’s Love that gives us the strength needed to persevere in the harshest of hell'. It’s Love that makes us rise up in the morning to see the sun rise above the horizon. Love...is the root of Life.” He became passionate near the end before winding down to a quiet level. Warm colors fill the sky above them as sunset comes. The sun was glancing off of his white hair. Creating a subtle halo effect.

While it may seem like Lincoln has a strong mental grasp on the world. In truth, it was his Origin flaring up. Temporarily banishing the depressive fog that was suffocating him. If a person becomes awakened to their Origin, it becomes nearly impossible to stray from their Origin if it's even possible in the first place. It becomes an impulsive behavior. Exactly like this scenario. Once he got his brief speech done. He then drifts his hand south to palm her breast. “I taught many of this ultimate truth. Queens, Saints, Demons, not even the Divine could deny the truth of their existence when I filled them with Love.”

He lowered himself. Closing the distance between their faces. “Even a mere kiss was often enough to shake their old world view,” He hovered his lips over her jawline. Breathing hotly on her soft exoskeleton. Then he went a bit lower. Hover his mouth mere millimeters over her neck before opening his mouth to promptly bite down. Not too hard of course, but it was firm as he figured he needed a bit more pleasure for her to feel it. Regardless, the desired effect occurred. Lances of pleasures shot through Ialla’s body. Stars would appear in her vision for a moment from the sudden surge of intense heat and spiritual light.

Letting go he pushed himself back up a bit. Enjoying how much she was panting and squirming now. It made him happy to know he was giving her so much warmth. Sitting on his heels he pulled at the hem of her pants, pulling them off of her slender legs, but leaving her panties on. “You and me, clinging on this world as we swing around the star. I can feel it, you know, we're falling through space, you and me, a tiny little world in the expanse of infinite, chilling darkness. And, if we let go... we fall into that darkness. Never to return.” He gently laid on top of her. Wrapping one of his arms around her waist. Hugging her tight to him. Their eyes were inches apart. Both burning with passion.

“I embrace them in my Love so that they never feel the chill of a dead universe. I pour my light into them so that it keeps the darkness at bay from them forevermore. Submit to my will, and all you will see in the night sky is my Love.” By now, Ialla was sure to be consumed by both the raging inferno in her body but the transcendent light now pouring into her. Taking out his assets out of his pants. He then pushed aside the fabric of her underwear. This’ll serve as the fail nail for Ialla. Once he becomes charged with his Origin, the moment he pushes into her will permanently bind her to him. For the connection is the crystallization of Love. Thus, it's absolute. He locked lips with her. Hugging her with his arms as he makes a thrust into her hot core. His magic circuits come to life. His mana saturating her soul.

At that exact moment, all Ialla will ever know is Love. There is no pain, sorrow, misery, discomfort, or fear. The shadows and the dark no longer feel like they touch her. This was bliss. She was in heaven. Lincoln has shown her the absolute truth of the universe. He devoted his entire life to light up the dark and cruel universe. Now, she’s the first to learn about this. Who knows what she may think next for Lincoln was busy making love to her. Rolling around in a missionary position on the truck bed.

Lincoln wasn’ the only one to have that train of thought about Ether, though as he will eventually learn it would be hard for him to create that luxury with the Leader of Species pushing for strides to make Ether freely available to all of his people to abolish the societal control mechanic that had only the most valuable members of their society receiving large amounts of ether while the clanless, the criminals, and the lower ranking military members getting basically sips of Ether to keep them alive. So while Lincoln’s idea may work, he may quickly come under investigation for this move. Though of course he won’t know any of this until he learns more about the Eliksni, in theory it isn’t a bad idea and it would serve to get him a lot of support.

Ialla began to get swept up by Lincoln's words and his intoxicating light as he slowly laid her onto her back on the truck bed, at first his words were confusing to her but before long the words themselves did not matter as she felt the truth of it fill her body and soul as he helps her to see the simply truth of the universe.

A throaty moan filled her throat each time he became more and more physical with her, from the sudden thrill of him palming her breasts to feeling his teeth dominantly sink on her neck that shot hot pleasure up her spine that made her pant and squirm while her core only grew more and more inflamed. As he pulled down her pants it was easy for the scent of her arousal to him, already plenty of other flowing evidence for that too. The effort she was putting into keeping her voice became less and less important as she gave herself to Lincoln’s Love.

Her squeals of pleasure and exclamations became so bad that Sean had to plug in a set of wired earphones into his truck so he could listen to music to drown out the fact that Lincoln was having his sister right behind him. Hard to believe that he was a woeful thing not 20 minutes ago. Then again I do hear that the act is a great motivator. I don’t know about that rambling of his though, sounds like Dogma to me. He thinks to himself while he ignores the bounding and bucking against the Trucks anti-grav coils keeping the truck in the air as Licoln hammers home the ‘nail’ to Ialla’s ‘coffin’.

It would be here that Lincoln’s Origin would come into interaction with the remnants of a Light far different from his own inside of Ialla. A powerful form of magic that could rewrite natural laws with mere thoughts, though from the looks of it it was severely diminished. Even as the power faded from their veins generations ago even their children were branded by this light. Perhaps it could be rekindled.

Sean would naturally slow the truck to give them enough time, though of course once he was able to spot the farm in the distance he would give a courtesy knock on the window behind him to let them know to wrap it up. That is, if one of them were conscious enough in their rutting to notice the knocking in the first place.

If they were done in time then they would be done in time for Lincoln to finally notice a collective of buildings in the distance. There were eight large hexagonal grids with four different types of crop in rotation that surrounded a large spire-like structure towards the middle of them with lanes in between where each grid meets, the spire was largely rectangular with large solar panels built facing to the sides that cover sunrise and sunset. Several other buildings have similar solar panel placements. On the outside of each hexagonal grid were different structures. Some looked like houses, others looked like dome-like storage sheds and there was one that looked like a large greenhouse. There was a road that connected the entire outside of the community along with the inner lanes that separated the hexagonal grids.

Sean would start to slow the truck down as they were getting close to the one large greenhouse like building. Parking outside it since there was a station with what looked like a hose… For good reason. Right now they were fine enough to get decent since they were out of line of sight with anyone, but someone would have seen the truck approaching from a distance.

In fairness, Lincoln wasn’t putting up an act. Endorphins is a hell of a drug to the brain. Not only does it numb rational thinking, but everything else. It essentially blocks out everything beside the present moment. To him, the only thing that existed in the universe was himself, Ialla, and the back of the truck that they were in. After releasing several loads into her and making her quake at least a few dozen times, he was finally spent. Post-nut clarity fell on him and his mood went back to how it was before he had fun with Ialla.

Unbeknownst to him, his Origin had a reaction with the Light within Ialla. As a Origin, it contains traits relating to the theme. For his Origin, the important ones here are Growth and Reinvigoration. Fortunately, Origins tend to have semi-sentience as evident when his Origin tries to correct him. So while Lincoln could have very well got Ialla very pregnant, especially with his Origin. The Origin was aware to the degree that putting a bun in the oven wasn’t ideal at the moment.

Instead, it focused on Ialla’s Light. Sensing such a diminished part of Ialla’s being it sunk into it like water hitting soil that hasn’t had moisture in years. Her Light quite literally blossomed within her soul. Flowing out into the rest of her body along with Lincoln’s Love. Lincoln didn’t sense the change. Being even more beat to sense something like it. They were still moving so he got Ialla’s pants back on her numb legs. No donut she’s going to walk funny for the next several minutes.

Laying against the back of the truck he pulled Ialla up to lay on his chest. Having one hand under her sweater to massage her chest as he looks out into his surroundings. While it didn’t wow him as much as it should due to his depression. It was cool to see such a futuristic place. He quite likes the solarpunk flair of it. He saw that they were riding up near a greenhouse with what looks like a hoseing station. “Hah, hilarious. But thanks.” He said to Sean.

When they parked he helped Ialla out of the truck. Helping her stand up to get cleaned. As she does so he looks over to Sean who would no doubt be using said hose. “Okay, I admit I’m a degenerate. But it certainly doesn’t help when you all enable it. You Hoshizorans are so raunchy. A day after I first came here a Zerg woman I think they’re known as came by, saw me and offered a blowjob to cheer me up. The other time I went to go get something to eat with my pocket change and a worker at the counter, a Athailian woman I think? Offered me a discount if I gave her a nice fuck over the counter. And I haven’t mentioned the other times yet” Sean could tell that Lincoln was genuinely perplexed by why so many races were lewd. Not knowing enough yet that he just happened to come across women from the most degenerate races in the galaxy.

Inside Ialla a gift long revoked from her people as the bestower fled in self preservation was beginning to be rekindled by Lincoln’s origin. On the surface there would be no change yet, right now it was nothing but an ember in her soul, but deep down the long faded light was growing steadily, reforming to an age of progress instead of peace and deriving new needs for this strength. Magical Light was reacting with the Ether within her body to strengthen and change it according to the themes of Lincoln’s origin. Growth and Rejuvenation. While it was not immediate, Ialla may see some noticeable growth though she will find herself feeling energetic soon enough. It will take days for her Light to truly manifest to any noticeable degree.

Ialla will come to realise it later of course, for now her mind was very much spiralling from the effects of being so thoroughly pounded into the truck bed, it was a good thing Eliksni were a hardy people, though she certainly wasn’t arguing against it while Lincoln massaged her soft mounds while his Love warmed her core.

As Lincoln gave his initial comment to Sean, who more so got out to hosedown his truck bed instead of them, just gave a soft smirk to his new friend while he helped his sister off the truck and get cleaned up. “We enable you huh? I don’t remember offering to give you a hand.” He said with a half merry chuckle as he hosed down the bed of all ‘organic material’ before he had nodded along to Lincoln's logic. It was hard not to give the examples he gave… The Athailian’s were truly frightening in their instability. It was enough to make him shiver. “You raise a fair point, there are certainly more than a few lustful races out there with rampant xenophilia. Athailian’s being the biggest example.”

Once he was done hosing it down he put the house back and stretched, they did just spend a good 2 hours driving. “Zerg is a new one though. I heard that the Union in the West had that species, the Confederates never had any in their ranks from what my dad told me… So you likely met a faker or a rogue Queen. Unless you met a Firstborn, a subspecies that lives down south. We see their types now and again, mostly traders and chartographers.”

Ialla started to regain some of her composure, though she was very much still weak in the legs as she was still bathing in the afterglow of it all. “We don’t get many of the Athailian’s out here. Mother said that her aunt saw a hundred or so of them on Riis Nova and the Confederates' new homeworld.”

“Ah young ones! You have returned!” A deep and booming voice from close by as a large yet lithe Eliksni walked out from the front of the Greenhouse, the Eliksni seemed old. His plated hide was a much deeper gray in contrast to Sean and Ialla’s blue-ish hue. “Your father is in the Ether Spire helping Tessriks. Hoh? Who is your friend?”

Sean was surprised someone had come so quickly, but seeing who it was it was unsurprising that he was already here. “Ah! Lincoln my friend, this is Vaxim! He was once a Kell of a splinter house long ago before the formation of the three founding House’s that made up the House of Vengeance. The ruling House of our people.” He says before he looks to the large former Kell. “Xaxim! You know the rumoured human that’s been wandering around the colony? This is him! We convinced him to come back with us, he’s quite the weary soul.”

Vaxim towered a good 14ft in stature, his eyes brightened with recognition as he knelt down. Despite his seemingly advanced age he was quite spry still. “Hoh? You are the gloomy wanderer? Hmm… You have something about you young man…” Vaxim was one of the original Eliksni that was forced to flee Riis, there were very few like him left that could recall the last days of their world in vivid detail. Stories of insidious fleets of warped vessels with unholy fury igniting their skies with four and blackened magics. Because of this, he was more sensitive than the succeeding generations were to the presence of power. “Hmm.. Well if you are willing to help around here then you are more than welcome to stay.”

Lincoln kept near Ialla as they got hosed down. They were practically joined at the hips. Now that he wasn’t focused on pounding Ialla silly, he was having fun feeling her up. His hands roam all over to feel her alien texture beneath his palm. One grip her secondary arm then slid down it in a sensual manner. He continues further to take hold of her hand. He squeezed it to feel her bones, then started wrangling her fingers with his own. As he does this, he takes advantage of their now soaked forms. Enjoying the sensation of her body texture as they slide against one another. Seeing a rag thrown in his direction to dry off he caught it. Just wanting the excuse to touch Ialla more he helped her dry off.

It was miraculous they managed to get fresh clothes on. Lincoln just took the fresh jeans and underwear. Feeling like going topless. Mainly to tease Ialla. Now that he was all clean he could see that he was quite ripped with a stringbean body. There was a bit of a rugged look to him due to the numerous scars on his body. Some looked like they were once grievous wounds. He definitely looked like he went through a lot.

Right now however his blue eyes were still primed on Ialla. Looping an arm around her stomach to pull her back against him. Taking a hold of one of her hands once more with his other hand. By this time he noticed another Eliksni coming on up. If his mind wasn’t preoccupied with the fact of how good Ialla’s cute rear felt against his pelvis he would have made a sort of connection with the aged Eliksni. Perhaps he will later once this tight, slender Eliksni wasn’t in his presence.

“Oh? Oh, that’s just Ialla.” He pats Ialla’s stomach. He swayed a bit with her. “She got me into a better mood for a while.” Considering how much he relies on lewd antics to numb the pain. Ialla will get a lot of use out of her before he feels like wandering the stars. “I don’t mind helping out at all. Besides, I do need to take responsibility here.” He nipped at Ialla’s neck.

Sean hosed the pair of them down while Lincoln helped Ialla get all cleaned up of sweat and mixed juices, to Ialla it was something that thrilled her to no end as he felt her up under the thin guise of helping her clean up. Her sweet voice tinted the air with soft coo’s of encouragement. Of course Sean had soon found a rag and aimed to throw it at Lincoln’s head. For a guy who barely eats and slept on concrete most of his time here he was surprisingly perceptive and reactive. He was as impressed as he was suspicious of his sudden focus and behavioural 180. He was curious, and since Ialla seemed to be enjoying herself and felt no danger to her he was in no mind to be a killjoy.

Once the pair of them could separate long enough for clothes, Ialla got herself in some spare clothes she had stashed around. Basically just a stretchy white cotton top and shorts under some overalls. And of course seeing Lincoln shirtless was more than enough to make her squeal under her breath. Only noticing the scars moments after though before she knew it she could feel him against her back, happily holding onto her while she used her lower arms to loop around his back and hold onto him.

As Lincoln speaks and teases Ialla, much to her glee as she didn’t mind one bit to his patting of her stomach and nipping at her neck only coaxed coo’s from her while the old Eliksni did raise a scaled brow while he could see Sean thinking spraying the pair of them with the hose again. Best not to fuel that fire he thought, as he reached one of his upper arms over to easily turn off a water valve.

Vaxim looks to Lincoln as he tries to look past the face value of what he was seeing. Clearly Sean was convinced that the man was in need of help, the scars across Lincoln’s body told him just how much help may be needed. And now the seeming fixation on physical contact and dominance. He’s lived for centuries, seen all kinds of alien behaviors and social signals, and he was left with this mixing dull pain in his heart. He could empathise with those scars covering his body, the times he had escaped death only made his judgement more necessary as he could see a mirror before him. Someone who only knew grief in the face of conflict when duty was no longer necessary… Though this alien mirror handled his pain in a very different way… He either hides his power for convenience or is ignorant to it. Perhaps numb to it instead… Or at worst unwilling to let us know he possesses a Light of his own so we do not seek aid to remove him. I would much rather it be anything other than that.

Vaxim had known for ages that Ialla sought a mate outside of traditional measures, he was not opposed to it seeing as the eras have changed and their society with it. Love must be allowed to bloom now that constraints and rules are no longer needed to strangle their passions. He can see love here, but he also see’s a vice. There was no freedom. Love wielded as a shackle but unaware of the full scope of how it could be wielded. He feared how it could be wielded if left unattended… He didn’t want to interfere in personal affairs, if this could make some positive influence on the human then perhaps all he needs is a push in a less domineering direction. Though that might be an all too arduous task for someone of his advanced age…

I once commanded fleets, armies of my people united under my House to combat aliens that sought to dominate us… Now I’m hesitant in dealing with one horny human… Old age really has bested me. The mournful ex-Kell gave a soft sigh to the open air before fixing his eyes on Lincoln and Ialla once more, the latter seeming unnerved by the somber tone in Vaxim’s voice, having never heard such a thing before. “Responsibility… We shall hold you to this human. Eliksni values community and the safety of those they care for… I would like to talk to you again once your mind is… Clear. Free of your intoxication.” With those parting words the ex-Kell started to walk away to attend to other duties... And prepare for unsightly consequences the only way he knew how to protect those who took care of him.

Sean had an uneasy feeling but just shook it off, moving out from infront of the truck to look at Lincoln. "How about I show you around, show you were you'll be sleeping."

“Sounds fine to me.” Lincoln says while continuing to play with Ialla. Even though he was very much willing to go for a few more rounds. There’s just enough rationality in his one neuron to understand that he does need to get going. Besides by getting a lay of the land he can find places that would be a good private spot to shag someone. Having a place to technically call his own is also nice. It’ll take time for him to be comfortable in it however. He gave Ialla a squeeze with his hug to dispel the thoughts. Letting the sensation of her body against him, to distract him from such thoughts. He leaned a bit to whisper where her auditory organ was. “Let’s have more fun tonight, Ialla.” Giving a peck on her cheek he finally seemed to not be as horny as before.

Lincoln will proceed to follow wherever Sean goes while holding hands with Ialla. Or rather Ialla holding his arm with all of her hands. Fortunately for Sean, Lincoln didn’t physically tease Ialla every step of the way. Her mere presence seems to be enough to sate his hunger for now. Although who knows what will happen if he ever left them alone for even a second.

With the daunting mental image of just what would happen to the pair of them if he left them alone for even a second. But it was all something that Sean could tolerate as long as Ialla was happy. Sean steals himself for the tour while his sister was lapping up the attention of Lincoln. She doesn’t know it right now and likely will later, but she was the only thing likely keeping him in a stable mindset even if that mindset was Nebula dweller levels of horny. Truly no one would question Lincoln where he came from because the rampant xenophilia will give him an Iammelonian label quick enough to dispel any doubt. Still, as he whispered his promise to her she couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement up her back before she held onto his arm and kept at his side. “The greenhouse we parked outside is where we produce our more climate specific produce. Since we can handle a great many different types of climates and environments we can handle making produce outside of their native environments.”

Sean kept a slow pace to make sure the pair of them were following as he led Lincoln around the homestead. Starting off with the fields that surround the main spire. “Our Homestead mainly caters to the needs of the Eliksni communities around here. So we grow a multitude of crops that are useful when creating Ether along with actual produce.” To that he points up towards the large Solar tower in the middle of the homestead. “That building is basically where the homestead generator, a storage area for our resident Servitor and emergency shielding are all located. Once an attack is incoming a multilayered shield is thrown up to keep the homestead safe. Merely a defensive precaution, our colonies have been tempting targets for all manner of pirates, slavers and scum.”

“Servitor’s are what make the ether, the template for ether production is as old as our time running from the disaster that had us fleeing from the Whirlwind.” Ialla adds as she looks up to Lincoln, making soft and happy chittering noises as she keeps holding onto him.

After that he started to show Lincoln to the other buildings like the storage sheds for the produce and materials, along the way meeting the seven other families that live here on the homestead. Mostly Eliksni, but there were some exceptions. Such as, there was a Taurus family that lived here alongside the Eliksni. Along with Sean and Ialla’s parents. Who they were told would not be back until tomorrow since their mother was asked to come help out with an accident on one of the other homesteads.

Sean didn’t like this timing but he just accepted it for the time being. Deciding to take the first leap in wanting to at least get to know Lincoln since it was his idea to bring him here. In the meantime Lincoln will bunk with them in their house until their folks return and they pick out a place for Lincoln to more permanently sleep. Their house was very much of a similar style to the other buildings, a large orbed dome shape that was two stories tall with solar panels on the roof, with a smaller single story dome structure affixed to the left side of the house fixed with some sort of shuttle hatch. “Seeing as our parents won’t be back until tomorrow we won’t have to worry about being interrupted, I was hoping to get to know you some more before they get back. What were you doing before you ended up here on Paxus?”

(Post Theme)

Just like that. All the warmth that was in the air was sucked away. The breeze that rolled across the land was cold. The color draining away from the world as the sun sank deeper behind the horizon served to amplify the change in the atmosphere. The light that shimmered in Lincoln’s eyes dim. The question didn’t invoke any instant reaction from him. He wasn’t sad or angry. Hurt or afraid. If there was a word to best describe the feeling Sean would get from Lincoln it would be hollow. Lincoln gave him a blank stare. After a painful few seconds of silence he gave a light shrug. “Nothing.”

A simple word yet held so many layers from the way he spoke it. It was the voice of a man who understood that he was left with absolutely nothing. “Nothing but memories. All those years of memories weighing down on my bones. All to amount to nothing. Nothing was around me. My hands held nothing….Nothing.” Then there was silence again before he spoke. “I’m tired, Sean.” Was all he said. The small undertones carried a grim implication. But not enough to suggest he was fully in that mindset.

He politely detached himself from Ialla. Fully showing just how much the lively mood withered away if the horndog was willing to part from an attractive alien. Lincoln looked at Sean again, “May I use your shower, please?” Sure he was hose down but that’s not getting clean. Besides, he mainly just wanted to be alone for a bit.

At the time he didn’t mean his question to be so harmful, he was annoyed sure but he did not think it through. Sean did not like conflict, emotional or physical, and seeing Lincoln’s attitude change so drastically from the vibrance of then to the sheer crushing gloom that he had met him in… It hurt. But not as much as his answer.

His curiosity had wounded him, in his simple desire to know more about the human he had brought here he had carelessly opened a wound for Lincoln. And the tonal shift of the atmosphere around them only served to pound that nail harder that he had most certainly messed up.

‘I’m tired Sean.’

The undertones of that cracked away at him all the more, Lincoln was not there yet thankfully. But he had not helped in drawing him away from it… Sean wordlessly hung his head low and opened the door to reveal a small entryway with the living room just beyond it. “You just need to go to the left to find the mini-grav lift upstairs. The bathroom is the first door on your right…” He would let Lincoln head inside first while Ialla’s mood declined sharply with Lincolns, though thankfully she had a clearer head on her shoulders.

Ialla was still obviously upset with Sean, giving him a light punch to his shoulder as she seemed to scowl up at him. “What the hell was that??”

The light punch left a slight lingering pain that was more emotional than physical, Sean even had to flinch as he felt some static from it as it shocked him. He just reached up and started to rub at the back of his neck as he was wondering that very question himself. “I’m sorry, I wasn't thinking about the question.”

“No… You weren’t…” Ialla said with a sigh, fidgeting with her lower arms while she rubbed at her temple with one of her top arms. She knew that this sudden change was likely hard for Sean too, she had to admit that she formed an emotional attachment really quick with Lincoln but she didn’t mind since it seemed to bring a better mood to him. Even if it was really horny. Again she didn’t mind that one bit. “I know you were just trying to be friendly, and likely annoyed… But please be more considerate in the future, yeah?” Ialla didn’t wait for an answer, she left to go after Lincoln to leave Sean to mull over his actions.

Sean would stay at the door for a moment longer after his sister went inside. Did he really let it annoy him so much as far as to make Lincoln remember those harsh memories? I really do need some time to think… He turned slightly, closing the door to the house with him still outside. He needed some time to think and being away from this would give them space. Maybe his sister could help Lincoln’s mood.

Inside the house Ialla slowly followed after Lincoln, right now she only knew as much as her brother did about him. But she could gauge him to a degree, and right now leaving in this mood wouldn’t be the best idea. She would let Lincoln get into the shower, it was an easy enough system to understand since it still used the same faucets and was just a simple large glass shower with an opening close to the ceiling and with a drain. Though Lincoln had yet to observe all the tricks at an Eliksni's disposal.

As he was likely standing there in the shower, letting his thoughts consume him once more, he likely wouldn’t notice the sliding door to the room bathroom open. Not that he would see anyone standing in the doorway. There would be several thumping sounds, soft yet noticeable enough over the sound of the showerhead. If he looked he would see the white shirt, shorts and overalls that Ialla had on but he would not see her anywhere outside the shower. That would be because he would soon feel the alien textures of her body pressed into his back while her arms wrap around his torso and begin to help with washing his body. She was very dexterous and moved her hands with delicate precision. Her lower arms easily sought out the tool between his legs while her top arms traced and worshipped his body while she nestled into his back, cooing softly as she defied his reluctance for company. “I’m sorry my brother got you down with that careless question, love. He means well but he lacks subtlety.”

Sensing Ialla casually strolling into the bathroom was rather nostalgic. Enough for him to be in a lighter mood when those memories came to him. In the beginning, his personal guard would prevent other Servants from intruding into his bedroom or bathroom without permission. But over time, by his own hand he pretty much compromised his own personal guard. The guard consisted of four Servants. The spot was on a rotation system. And because he conditioned a good majority of them meant that more often than not one or more of his guards would leave their post to enjoy some time with him. He later disciplined them to stay in their post but made a statement that Servants were allowed to enter his bathroom when he’s in there.

In hindsight it was a foolish mistake. Because now his business in the bathroom takes two times as long given it was now free reign for every horny Servant that he directly is the cause of. Truly, he suffered from success. How could he possibly resist a gorgeous Servant when she disrobe herself in front of him? Strange, for some reason he feels he’s going to get an earful about that in the not too distant future.

The question of his scarcity of his horny time aside. He turned around to face Ialla. Running his hands up her now wet sides. “Do you know what naughty women like you get when they stroll into my shower?” His voice was husky. Lowering his hands he grabbed her rear and lifted her off the floor. Turning a bit to then press her against the wall. “Let me give it to you.” He gave her a sultry look. She was promptly dropped but was held up with something hot and hard. Making her body already quake, especially with how he’s keeping her pinned up to the wall.

Unlike before, he only engaged in about ten minutes of lewd shower play. They were currently brushing their teeth. There was a guest brush he could use but Ialla offered him her own brush. Very lewd he muses, but he figured that since they exchanged saliva so much already it’s not that much of an escalation of degeneracy. Ialla awaited her turn, in the meanwhile she was engaging in a different sort of brushing. Once he was done in both ways he let her use the sink now. He told her to lean forward as he went to crouch behind her to hungrily get a taste of her. Each lash of his tongue was a pleasurable fire against her soul.

One the hygienic ritual was done, Lincoln gave her a hug. “You did well, Ialla.” He gave her a short passionate kiss. The two went to get dressed up, albeit they both dressed each other with plenty of teases mixed in. Finally they were ready to leave the bathroom, but not before he expressed his thoughts regarding what happened earlier. “Haah, Sean certainly isn’t smooth. It’s not really tactful to just confront stuff like that head on.” He doesn’t hold it against him however. Might as well go clear things up with him.

Lincoln ventured down to find where Sean was at. No doubt moping somewhere in the corner. Once he does he approaches him. “Hey man, just wanted to say that what happened is water under the bridge. Don’t beat yourself too much over it.”

“Last I checked this was my house. So it’s my shower actually~” Ialla looked up at Lincoln as he turned to face her, a coy smile on her face as she pressed herself up against him. This smile would twist with joy and and a rush of light up her spine as Lincoln picked her up and impaled her on his mighty spear while he pushed her against the wall shower wall. Certainly ‘letting her have it’ much to Ialla’s euphoria and groans of lustful joy, since no one was home she didn’t need to keep her voice down between the bouts of passionate tonsil tennis she and Lincoln were playing as the water made their bodies glossy and slippery.

Though she certainly did her fair share of ‘servicing’ to Lincoln as they helped each other clean up and get dressed. She didn’t know what he did as he bent her over the bathroom sink but she certainly wanted more of that.

As Lincoln hugged her after their little ritual she hugged him back with a rather pleased smile on her face as they shared that brief passionate kiss. She knew that this wasn't going to make Lincoln all better but she hoped that it helped. “Thank you.. Anytime you need perking up, I’m happy to help~”

Once they were fully dressed again and leaving the bathroom finally Ialla got to wear some of her favourite baggy clothes, she liked being able to move freely in them. Not that she didn’t like clothes that hugged her curves, but she felt like stuff like wasn’t for when she wanted to relax. Not unless someone asked her to wear something. Once the conversation went to her brother’s actions she was just glad that Lincoln wasn’t too critical of Sean. “Sean has a big heart but he was never one for critical thinking. He wears his heart on his sleeve and does the first thing that comes into his head. He wants to make people around him happy but says stuff without thinking them through, but he does have the best intentions in mind usually… Tackling things head on is unfortunately his style. It’s how he got over- Ah. I probably shouldn’t say.” Ialla stayed in the living room of the Homestead while she watched Lincoln start to leave to go find her brother.

As Lincoln ventured out to try and find Sean he would eventually find the lonesome Eliksni on the outskirts of the community in the wilderness not too far from the road. Sean had set up targets using logs, sheet metal and whatever he could use to fashion together armoured training dummies each set up at different ranges. By the time Lincoln finds him, Sean was using an alien looking rifle that the Eliksni called a ‘Line Rifle’. Once Sean knew that Lincoln was there he set the rifle down and took out its ammo supply.

Sean was surprised to hear Lincoln forgiving him so easily, he had come out here to work out his own demons while he trained. Hoping to square them away by imagining the targets had images of his shortcomings. Not killing them to say, but recognising that he needs to do better. Hearing Lincoln telling him not to beat himself did seem kinda ironic, but he would accept the gesture for what it is. He can’t exactly say he wasn’t beating himself up over it. He was, just in a way he thought would help him adapt. “I… I’ll try to. I’m glad to see you’re in higher spirits now at least. I’m sorry… I know it is water under the bridge but I still don’t want to cause unnecessary suffering.”

A relatable desire. He once had that, then he realized that he can’t make everyone happy. He had to make a firm stance and accept that he’ll have enemies because of it. Lincoln watched Sean continue to target practice. The sound of Sean’s line rifle and the sheets being struck would be all that was heard for several moments before Lincoln decided to speak. “I don’t...regret the life I lived.” He said simply. A pause hung in the air for a second. “I’ve seen many things. Things that many people wouldn’t believe. I witnessed the star of genesis that birthed my world. Mountains molten as literal gods come to blows. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.”

Twelve years. That was how long the fantastical part of his life went on. At the end it was surprising it was only that short, it felt like a long longer. “There was a point in my life, where it looked like I was able to return to normal society. But at the time I wasn’t looking forward to it because I couldn’t go back to normalcy before things got surreal. Now, even though I don’t have a clear picture of tomorrow...an easy life doesn't sound like me.” He fell to quietness for a bit.

It was getting dark now. The Elksni must have a bit better eyesight than humans for Sean to keep shooting well. “Imagine if you will. You're eighteen. Been living a mundane life. Had a tragedy in your childhood but that’s about it. The greatest concern on your mind was coming up with a way to get money for university. Then...out of nowhere you’re spirited away to a part of society where magic exists, brought to a place in the south pole where you’re then thrust into a very important position. A position that you spent the next twelve years devoted to, refining it, becoming the best you can be at it.”

Almost half of his entire life was dedicated to that position. He believed that he was the best he could have been. But at the end everything fell apart. “Then, imagine having those twelve years amount to nothing. Nothing as you’re on your knees, alone, as your entire, literal universe crumples into dark matter around you.” He spoke coldly but didn’t fall into a rut like before.