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The Outer Rim

– Episode 4. –

Difficulties

Part I. – Debts

Date: 2349 July 29th (A few days before)

Sector: Solar System

Location: Space, a few million miles from Earth, on an Unknown Lion Spaceship

The Earth. It was like a small, blue, glowing spot in the windows of the ship. I heard millions of stories about the Origin, Planet Number One, The Ancient Home and so on. My species born here, it was my true home… it was because we destroyed it. We sought the knowledge what almost killed us, we invented the Blue Wave Technology what almost wiped out our species. But we survived and now we are the dominant species of the galaxy.

“Come here Grant, there is something wrong with the long range sensors." I heard the voice of my companion and I thought we were the dominant species but it wasn't true anymore. The Lions are stronger and more advanced than us.“What is the problem Helia?" I broke away my attention from the window. Helia was my involuntary fellow traveller. That was the wish of Mira the Goddess so we hadn't had choice.

“Do you see that noise? It shouldn't be there!" She showed me the console. There were at least twenty lines waving in the screen. I was a soldier so if I had to shoot down somebody I was your man, if I had to do some math or scientific remarks, I wasn't the best.

“I agree." I nodded; she looked at me with a frown.

“You have no a single idea what I'm talking about." She debunked me.

“Fine! Call me if you need hands or guns." I turned over and walked away to my quarter.

After an hour we reached the planet. That Lion vessel wasn't the fastest I ever saw but it was cloaked and it had a very large space for weapons and supplies.

Helia wasn't the best roommate, she hated me because I was a human and I kicked her stomach and neck once. Fortunately, she had had needs and I was the only one who could satisfy them. She was good in the bed during the sex but after it, she just kicked me out and threatened me: she will bite off my head if I don't pack off from her near. So I did.

“Are we there?" I visit her in the controlling room.

“Yes, this is the Earth." She confirmed. “The surface temperature is 125C° in light, -97C° in the shadow. There is no oxygen only sulphur, methane, carbon dioxide. Oh and of course some acidic gas. Pleasant, isn't it?" She read from the sensors.

“Just like my early twenties on the Alpha-Zed-Five Space-station near a red giant." I commented with a smile. She snorted in disbelief.

“That Mighty Stone could be anywhere!" She checked the console again. “I can see nothing from here, we need stronger sensors."

“It would be a huge help." I nodded. From there we couldn't spot even a city not some stone hidden somewhere. There were lot of radiation, electromagnetic disturbance and other bothering phenomenon. We had no chance to find anything without help.

“What is that?" I pointed to a little spot on long range sensors. It was like a wreck in the space but my instinct told me it could be important.

“Some scrapped satellite or a small space station." She told me and in a sudden she brightened. “It could have better sensors!" She smiled at me. It was the first what I got not during the sex. She was nice with that smile.

We headed our way to the mentioned object with the hope; it will help find the stone. That hope was weak but that was all we had.

As we reached I was sure we hit the jackpot. It was a scientific satellite so it had had very strong sensors. It could separate the sugar from sand even from one light-year.

“It's almost dead." Helia concluded.

“I'm not surprised. It could be here for hundreds of years." I saw the damage report on the screen. Impact and burn marks on the hull, missing parts and signs of corrosion.

“It could take months to repair." My companion said with a sad sigh.

“What if we take the sensors and build it in our ship?" I got the idea and Helia looked surprised. She looked like she saw a monkey singing or doing unexpected tricks.

“Actually this is a good idea. I didn't expect good ideas from you." She said slowly and I made an obscene gesture. “Don't waste the time. Grab your spacesuit and wait me at the airlock."

The plan was simple: Go out, collect the sensors, come back alive and in one peace. My spacesuit was made for scientist so I got more information on the HUD then I used to. Not just the oxygen level, pressure and the proximity data. There were a few other sensors what I couldn't even interpret. For example, there were moving dots inside of a circle that said: ray scattering. 'What the furry hell is ray scattering' I was wondering till Helia floated next to me.

“If you are already bored with the view, let's go and work." She said reproachfully through the radio.

“Yes ma'am." I saluted.

Maneuvering with the suit was easier than I thought. The feedback of the thrusters was in instant, not like on the military version. It had had a little delay what always got me nervous during the trainings.

Helia used a black suit with spikes, blades and weapons. It wasn't a simple one; it was military grade for space battles. She was faster than I so when I reached the surface of the satellite she was already working on the first sensor.

“Where is the next one?" I asked while got my feet on the hull.

“I sent to your screen." She barked. A green square appeared on my HUD and the title said “Object".

When I was there I removed the covering panels and I let out a sigh.

“Are you kidding me?" I said because there were crystal cylinders, wires and electric parts without any scheme.

“What is the problem?" Helia asked me from the distance.

“As I said before: I'm a soldier not a mechanist." I pushed away a few wires but it didn't solve the main problem. “How should I remove the sensor?"

“Detach the power cords, switch off the backup channel, reroute the data flow and pull out the sensor." She told me.

“Ok-ok. I'll try." I pulled out the big black wire, what seemed to be a good idea. It was the one with the PWR sign. There were five crystals with two options: On-Off so I turned them to Off. On my HUD there was a warning sign.

“Helia, what is the meaning of Electric Discharge Near at Hand?" But she didn't answer. I turned my face to her direction and I saw her floating in the space. She seemed unconscious and was about to hit the sun collector panel of the satellite. “Of course! Now I have to save her life." I grumbled to myself.

I jumped while on my forearm I made ready the thrusters for a sudden and forceful outburst. As soon as I saw I reached the right angle and direction I hit the button.

“Whoaaaa!" I cried as I felt my eyes pressed against my skull because of the acceleration. For a brief moment I saw nothing. When I got back my vision I had had only a second to grab her and pull out from the deadly direction.

I did it!

As we were floating in the space I made a quick damage check on her suit. Fortunately, there were no holes or malfunctioning systems. I saw that the electric shock knocked her out, but according to my sensors she was only unconscious not dead or seriously injured.

“Wake up!" I shouted her but she did nothing. “Don't you tell me that I have to drag you back to the ship!" I said but I was thinking about the proper solution. 'I can't maneuver with her in my arms. The thrusters of my suit are too weak.' I shook her for sure, but she was just floating peacefully.

“What the…" She was awakening after a half hour so I laughed up happily. “What happened? Where are we?" She pushed her away from me and looked confused. Our ship was far away under us.

“You'd been knocked out by an electric shock. I had to save your life. You are welcome!" I told the little tale.

“You saved me?" She didn't believe me.

“It was a moment of weakness." I smiled and did a movement like it was just a little something.

“My body is hurting." She said with a snarl. She had been great pains.

“Forget the sensors and let's get back to the ship." I said sympathetically. She didn't argue.

We had had great luck because she was fine after all. Only a little muscle pain because of the shock but besides she only needed long sleep.

“It was a stupid idea." I admitted as I helped her into the bed. Her movements were cumbersome.

“No, the idea was good. I should have expected electric discharges." She laid down and looked at me unreadable.

“I don't know what I should say." She shook her head but she regretted as soon as the pain hit her neck.

“For what?"

“You saved my life. I saw the sensor log. If I would have hit by that panel I would be dead by now."

“As I said…" I started but she interrupted me.

“No, it wasn't just the moment of weakness. I was unfriendly and rude with you all the time. I hated you because you are a human. So, why did you save me?"

“I don't know. I would miss you." I shrugged uncertainly.

“What do you mean by you would miss me?" She continued asking questions. I shrugged again.

“If you wouldn't be here… I would notice that… and it would disturb me, somehow." I shook my head because I wasn't the man of the words. She nodded slowly.

“Thank you." She said but it was only a whisper. It was the first time she thanked me something. “I owe you with my life." She showed me a weak smile and I returned. I thought it was the moment of the change.

Part II. – The Ferryman

Date: 2349 Aug 7th (present)

Sector: Solar System

Location: Space, A few million miles from Earth, on the space ship Lyra

Our new passenger was a little reticent when I was near him. Leona told me that he was cheerful and prolix when there were only the girls. Fortunately, I was doing my business around the ship. I made my daily checks, the tests and sometimes I only sat down in a corridor and read a book. I felt a little excluded myself but it wasn't a surprise for me. They have known each other for years and that little family had reunited. I was the true outsider.

“I looked for you." Leona found me deep inside a service tunnel near the engine-core.

“I don't think so." I snorted.

“Don't be rude. George is like my brother and Zily is my sister. But don't forget that you are my love. There is no point to judge me because of this. I'm here to prove you that I miss you." She said and rubbed her head to me in this small space. She could only have stood up with a bowed head and bent knees.

“I missed you too, honey." I returned the gesture, with a small kiss on her nose.

“The bright side: Zily is too busy with George to bother you." She smiled with all teeth then we both laughed.

When I was about to grab some food and have a short rest before we reach the Earth, I met with George in the dining room. He was chewing on some vegetables and dried meat.

“What's up Tim?" He barked between two mouthfuls.

“Nothing special." I opened the MRE (a.k.a.: Junk Food) container and pulled out a bag with barcode on it.

“Leona told me that you almost shot down Zily." He told me and sipped a small from a metal jar. I opened the MRE bag and realized I got some fried chicken with potatoes. 'Not bad, I have a lucky day' the saliva converged in my mouth.

“Yes. She kept annoying me with her presentations about how she would eat me alive. She kept scaring me out of my skin with her sudden jumps and snarls." I confessed and sat down to a chair at the opposite side of the desk.

“I think she is not that bad. She is cute." He said and I almost choked on a bite.

“Cute?" I laughed. “I wouldn't say this." I calmed down slowly and continued the eating.

“Yes I admit. She could be… rough. But I like her blood temperature." He smiled.

“You were her boyfriend for years. I wouldn't have expected anything else." I bit into a chicken wing.

“She was my first love." He admitted and I didn't know how I should have reacted. 'Should I be surprised? Should I nod in understanding?' I thought. Then I did nothing but eating.

It was the first time on that week when I woke up with Leona next by me. We were too busy; once I was awake sooner and done my business, next time she was somewhere else when I woke up. But I was happy on that morning. It was a relief that I could hug my love and kissed her head while she smiled on me.

“I missed that." She whispered into my ears.

“Me too." I rolled her onto her back and looked into her eyes. She wasn't resisting because she wanted me too.

“I love you." I reached her bottom end and pressed my hip to hers. I wasn't in her yet but I was ready down there.

“I love you too." She told me and licked my cheek. I positioned myself to her opening when the proximity alarm signal disrupted the moment.

“Warning to all passengers! Unknown Space Anomaly is heading to our coordinates." Lyra shouted into the air. I jumped into my pants what was a difficult because of my erection, but I managed it. Then I ran to the bridge.

“What the hell happened?" I asked with anger in my voice then turned on the sensor's screen. It was some kind of distortion in the space but on a collision course.

“Change the route to 3, 4, 4 and 8, 2, 7." I commanded and armed the weapons also. As I said I was a little paranoid.

“Done. The anomaly aligned to us. It's still on collision course." Lyra reported back.

“It's not an anomaly! It's a cloaked ship!" I realized the situation and Jumped into captain's chair. With a horizontal wave from right to left I summoned the tactical screen.

“Tim, what is happening?" Leona asked.

“Take the sensors." I gave the order. As soon as she sat to the console Zily and George stepped into the room. “Zily, to the communications, George take the navigation."

“I see nothing." Zily read the signals from the screen.

“Send the following message: Uncloak your ship and change your route or I will shoot." I load the front cannons. Everything was green, ready for the battle.

“They are responding." Zily shouted. I lifted my finger higher from the 'Fire' button.

“Something is happening on the sensors. A ship comes out from cloak." Leona read the console.

“This is Helia from the Ferryman. Don't shoot!" I heard the radio message.

“Helia? Is that you?" Zily said but not for us.

“Zily? Nice to hear you again sister."

“Our big sister is with me also." She said referred to Leona.

“Sissy-face? I can't believe!" The lioness at the other end sounded really happy.

“Don't call me that! My name is Leona, please use this." My love looked ashamed.

“So you have a new name? I can't wait to see you again." Then she hung the radio.

Helia was the smallest among the lionesses on my ship. She brought a human, called Grant and he was a U.S.M. soldier as it turned out. The three girls welcomed each other with exuberant joy.

“The sisters are back together!" Helia said and rubbed her head to Leona and Zily.

“Please don't tell me that you saw Mira also." I asked from Grant while the girls were busy with their little stories.

“She appeared in front of me when I was sure I will die." He told me and seemed restrained. Sure I knew that the presence of Mira was… stressful. Even for me.

“Mira and her little plan… Three lionesses and three humans together… to save the galaxy." I sighed and shook my head.

“Yes. Like a cheap book." Grant nodded and smiled.

“What about you and Helia?" I asked a few minutes after and gesticulated meaningful.

“What do you mean?" He didn't get it.

“You know. Zily and George is a couple again. Leona and I are wife and husband… sort of. So you and Helia…" I inquired.

“No… Yes… Maybe." He rubbed his face embarrassed.

“These are the options. Pick one." I interjected.

“It's complicated. A few weeks ago we were enemies. She would kill me on sight if Mira wouldn't have told her that it's prohibited. Although we had had sex a few times during the trip… and it was fantastic I admit. Then I saved her life and she is more… kinder with me since that. So I don't know if we are friends, brothers in arms or what." He explained and he was embarrassed again.

“I see." I patted his shoulder.

We spent the day on my ship and packed the supplies from Ferryman to Lyra. I had the strongest, biggest and better ship in all means. So it was out of the question which ship became our new home.

“Great! More passengers! I feel myself like a cheap, crowded, piss-smelling train." Lyra complained while I packed boxes into a store room.

“I don't like it either but I can't argue with a Goddess. This was her wish." I closed the door when I finished and bent my back to the wall. I was hungry and thirsty… and of course horny because of our interrupted love making with Leona.

“Helia and Zily are dangerous just like the ex-U.S.M. soldier, Grant. If I would shoot them out from the airlock would you mind?"

“Lyra please! If I can smile and chat with them, you can do it also." I walked along the corridor when I met with Helia.

“Tim, right? Leona told me that you are a… as she said… Lion. I don't like the idea. You are a human and I like the taste of the humans." She licked her mouth.

“Thanks for telling me." I smiled, but my hand was on the gun already.

“Helia. Have you seen my airlock? If not, I can assure you it's pretty. Please take a look!" Lyra said and I almost choked because of the swallowed laugh.

“Stop it Lyra!" I said while I struggled with my facial muscles. “Nice to meet you Helia, but I have to go now." I walked away quickly.

“My eyes on you!" She shouted after me. 'Yes she is a pleasant person.' I thought ironically.

The other two girls and George were in the dining room. Leona told them a story about some mushroom that she found on Oharet a few years ago. She was a talented storyteller so everyone was laughing or thrilled in attention what the situation required. I just grabbed some food and listened.

When Leona finished, Zily started very excited about a strange hunting. The atmosphere became smug shortly and I caught myself on laughing and encouraging her to continue. When Helia joined with Grant and the mood changed to happy. I was glad that I knew them on my ship. I was the part of this small family and it was good.

“You shouldn't tell them! I forbid!" George stood up quickly when Leona mentioned a small case about George and a Lion girl, but he wasn't angry just ashamed.

“What girl?" I asked.

“Ah! I know!" Helia nodded. “That girl with the black spot on her chin. It was funny indeed." She chuckled.

“Stop you two!" He warned them with his index finger.

“Tell us the story!" I shouted and lifted my glass of whiskey. I shouldn't have mention but it wasn't the first or the last glass that night.

“All right!" George raised his hands in resignation. “I tell you." He sat back and started.

I was in a good mood when I headed back to my room with Leona. I admitted that the whiskey helped me a lot; my steps were a little uncertain.

“I hope you won't throw up." Leona pushed me to the right direction as I almost went into a wall.

“Don't worry my fluffy cat! I'm fine!" I said while I relied on her back. I almost fell. “Your fur is soo fluffy." I laughed. “Fluffy little fur ball." I laughed loudly and sat to the ground, grabbed my stomach and I couldn't stop for two minutes.

“Now it's official: You are drunk." She marked for the record.

I couldn't remember the rest of the night, just flashes. On the next day morning I hated myself because I had had the most terrible hangover that I ever had. The lights were like knives in my eyes, the sounds were like nails to my ears and every movement were like I had had a lead bullet in my head, scratching my skull.

“Kill me please!" I answered to Leona's interest. She just shook her head; because she told me on the previous night at multiple times that I had drunk enough, but I didn't listen.

“Maybe I should tear out your spine. Or a quick bite on your neck? I'm wondering which would be the best." She showed me her thinking face.

“Just be quick, honey!" I sat down in front of her and bowed my head.

“May I suggest medicines?" Lyra blurted, fortunately in low voice so I just felt like an axe would have hit my skull, not worst. “They are not as effective as a bite in a neck, but can cure you out from the hangover."

“Whatever." I moaned.

“Did someone mention biting through necks? I'm in." It was Zily on our doorstep.

“He needs medicine. I'll come back soon my love." She licked my cheek and gone. I was there with the most unpleasant lioness I've ever met.

“What do you want?" I asked and I didn't mask my aversion.

“Back off with your fangs little human. I'm here because I…. “ She stopped and acted like she was unsure about that little speech. “George told me that I was evil with you. I just want to say… I'm sorry." She sputtered in the end. I was surprised… no, I was astonished. 'He has good effect on her.' I admitted.

“Ok. No hard feelings." I nodded and I regretted in instant. “My head!" I yelled in pain.

Part III. – The First Stone

Date: 2349 Aug 8th (present)

Sector: Solar System

Location: Earth

The first step on the surface of the Earth caused strange feelings inside me. I was worried but I didn't know why. Maybe the landscape caused it. The planet was abandoned, scorched, tortured. But it was the home where I came from… where my predecessors came from. But it wasn't a home for anyone since decades because we destroyed it long time ago. There was nothing but rocks, ashes and silence.

My armour was the best one in the group. It wasn't a surprise because I made it for hazardous environments and for battles. So I had sensors, shields and weapons. Of course I took the HEPEG with me. As I turned on the HUD I got lot of information. Except the exact location of the stone we were looking for.

“Now what?" Grant stepped next to me, with some scientific suit and a huge gun. He looked funny.

“There were some strange readings near this area. We have to find out what was that." I said and as soon as the rest of the team had joined I closed the ramp. “Lyra, be prepared for anything. Black mode." I turned on the radio. The ship's colour went deep black as the nano-cells of the crystal-metal hybrid hull changed the shape to the Armour mode. It meant that the nano-cells were resonating on high frequency what makes an energy field around the whole ship, protects from missiles and energy-based attacks. Also the main weapons were armed.

“Good. Let's split up." Leona started. “Tim and I will check the sector one to five. George and Zily, sector six to nine. Grant and Helia, ten to twelve." She assigned the tasks. “We keep the radio contact, if you find something, report immediately."

“Why are you in charge?" Helia asked.

“Because, I'm the older sister." She smiled. They had almost the same black full-armour with foldable shoulder cannons, spikes and blades so it was hard to identify them without the HUD and the sensors.

“And she will bite us in half if you are not obeying." Grant patted her on her shoulder.

“Ok… Sissy-face." Helia laughed as Leona growled in angry.

As we went to the desired sector I saw the sun in the distance. It was red, because of the dust in the atmosphere and it gave a strange feeling to me. I was jittery but I didn't know why. Just to distract my thoughts I checked the sensors.

“The weather is really good. 126C°, acidic gas mist on east, the methane concentrate is also on the top." I touched a few holo-icons on my wrist. “But there is no sign of the anomaly that we saw from the ship."

“Sector one, checked." Leona commented. “Let's go to the sector two."

I deep-scanned a few random rocks just to be sure but I got what I expected: nothing. It was like find a pin in the haystack. We spent more than four hours for this nonsense.

“You know... Mira could have been more specific. The Earth is a quite big planet." I drop the rock away and as it landed, green-black dust clouds emerged from the place.

“Mira is a Goddess. She entrusted us with this mission. We will succeed." Leona rubbed her head to me. I patted it among the blades and spikes.

“I agree. But it would be quicker if she would have given a map with a big red sign and the label: This is the stone." I kicked away another stone, and then cried to the sky. “Mira you big cat-shaped lamp!" I started and I heard that Leona hissed in pain. Maybe I was a little rude. “Give us a damn sign where is that stupid stone or…." I looked for the perfect words when George interrupted my thoughts.

“Folks, you have to see this. We found something. Sector Seven." We looked together with Leona. 'Could this be the sign what I asked for?' I was wondering. 'Nope. It was just a strange coincidence' I thought.

“This is something, indeed." Grant marked as we all stared the mentioned place. It was a small statue, not bigger than a human, in a shape of a male Lion roaring. His eyes were just empty holes and it was worn from acidic rains and environmental damages. There was writing on the bottom.

“The language is not in my database." Lyra told me when I asked for translation, because none of us was able to interpret. I scratched my helmet but it wasn't helping. 'Stupid riddles!' I thought with a snarl.

“Is this the stone that Mira mentioned?" George asked but I was clueless and as he didn't get any answer I wasn't alone with this problem.

“Maybe we should break it into pieces. The stone could be inside of this statue." Grant came up with the idea.

“Step aside." Zily cried and her shoulder cannons were emerged, folded out. I jumped away in instant.

“Wait sis! Look that symbol! It means water." Helia pointed to the mentioned curved lines with dots around it. It was from the Lion language I recognized also.

“You are right. But there are other symbols without meaning." Leona stepped closer and checked the shapes and forms, but after a minute she shook her head. “I don't know." She sighed. George patted the head of the statue and cleared his throat.

“Where is the stone that Mira mentioned?" He asked from it. Five pair of uncomprehending and surprised eyes was staring at him. “I know it was a bad idea. I had to try." He shrugged after nothing had happened.

“Any intelligent ideas?" Leona looked around meaningful.

There were no tips and hints around the place, so we were thinking and playing with the thoughts. After an hour of pointless word-fights and brain-storms, we had stuck. The only valuable idea was what Grant mentioned before: break the statue into pieces and hope that there is something inside.

“Mirror." I said in an unexpected moment. Everybody looked at me with a huge question mark in their eyes.

“Maybe your oxygen supply has depleted." Helia told me with suspicious voice.

“I mean, the symbols. If we are mirroring them...and skip every second one…" I called out the holo-console on my wrist and showed them.

“Like from the point of view of that lion." Leona realized, waved to the statue.

“…it has a meaning. Look: I'm the Great Urok, master of the fire." I translated. “Who is Urok? Does anybody know?"

“Urok was a war chief long time ago but he had vanished from Oharet." Zily walked around the statue.

“What about that stone?" Grant barked

“He had had a medallion in his neck with a small sapphire stone." Zily continued and her face went into pure surprise than looked at me slowly. “Mira gave it to him." She whispered. 'So the picture had formed' I thought.

“Folks, one problem." George interrupted the moment of the recognition. “The statue has no medallion." He pointed to the mentioned part.

“Of course. It wouldn't be a quest if it would be easy." Grant folded his arms.

“Damn it Mira! Help us a little!" I yelled to the sky. The girls and George hissed up in pain, but I was angry so I didn't care. As I expected, nothing had happened.

“Tim please…" Leona started but I was over with chatting.

“No! Let's go back to the ship! We are leaving!" I turned back and started walking. Leona jumped next to me.

“Calm down! We can solve this little riddle." She looked up me entreatingly. “Don't give up now."

“I'm not giving it up! I have had enough! I ran across the half galaxy to chase some stupid rocks for that idiot glowing riddle-factory! And what she gave me for this? Nothing but more riddles! I'm going home to Oharet. Are you with me?" I stopped and looked down to her.

My heart was beating faster and faster because I saw in her eyes that she made her decision.

“I'm sorry. I love you more than my life but I have to save my… our… people. I'm staying." She said slowly and my heart skipped a beat. I opened my mouth to answer but I couldn't. 'She leaves me. She pushed me away.' I thought with increasing sadness and pain. I had fought with my tears.

“Be it!" I spit it out and walked away from her. I would have looked back, but I didn't I was afraid of the chance that I could have change my mind. I was stubborn, but I was over with everything. I wanted to sit down into a dark, cold corner and cry like a baby. My heart fell apart; she broke it into pieces.

It was my worst nightmare… and it has come true.

After an hour, I was near the engine-core and as I wished: in a dark, cold place. I just kept watching the lights running up and down inside the insulating sheath and my thoughts were like bees flying in a bothered hive.

“She loves you. You know." Lyra told me on the voice of empathy.

“I doubt that." I was absolutely in depression. “I doubt that she ever loved me."

“Don't say that! You pushed her into this situation. You made her decide between you and Mira, her Goddess. What have you expected?"

“As it turned out… too much." I mumbled.

“Look. Do you love her?" She asked me and I picked up my head and opened my eyes full with the tears of sadness.

“I don't know." I shook my head. “I loved her. But now…"

“So you are sad because you lost your love… or are you sad because she didn't choose you in that moment?" She asked the question of the day.

“The second one." I sighed.

“So, you still love her."

“Yes I do." I realized but it was worse than the first option. I loved her but she pushed me away after that all things what we have went through together. Five perfect years… with some little bumps on the road, but I loved her… she was my mate, my other half, my only one. But not I was her choose in the moment of decision.

“So… don't be sad. Don't be angry with her." Lyra continued to console me. I had had a crazy idea.

I stood up, wiped my eyes and hurried to the bridge. I sat into the captain's seat and flipped out the self-destruction screen. I typed my authorization codes, set the timer to ten minutes and pushed the start button. Red lights lit up everywhere, every screen turned into a warning sign.

“What are you doing Tim?" Lyra blurted and her voice was full with fear.

“Just, what I have to do." I whispered. “Mira! You have chosen us for this mission. You have showed us the way to Earth, you have pushed us into this insane." I kept a little pause. “I asked for help and I got nothing. I asked for guidance and you denied it. Now, here is the deal." I stood up and went to the middle of the room. “I will blow up the ship if you won't help us a little more than this. You have eight minutes to answer or you can start looking for another team."

“You have my attention." She appeared in front of me, I let out a smile.

She was beautiful like a dream, just as I remembered. She was glowing in white colour as a strange campfire. Her fur was like made from silk, it waved around her body like a magical, white ocean. The blue curves and lines on her body made her unique and it was out of the question that she wasn't just a strange looking lioness. Her presence filled the room, I could feel her power pickled my skin and it went through my body like an electric shock. She was taller than me, so I had to look up to her. She was far above me and not just with her height.

“You heard me. Decide!" I took heart.

“Self-destruct is in progress. Five minutes remaining." Lyra commented just to highlight my words. Mira looked deep in my eyes and I swore I could hear my bones crackling. I felt increasing pain in my body and she did nothing but staring.

“I know you can kill me and stop the self-destruct." I mentioned because I was afraid that she was about to it. The pain suddenly disappeared.

“I don't want to kill you, child." She took a deep breath. 'Maybe I went too far.' I thought and swallowed a big one.

“Please, help me! I've lost everything!" I sighed.

“You still have the hope. If you have hope, you have everything." She said but I wasn't in the mood for the wise words.

“I have lost Leona, because of you!" I yelled. “You kill us because you are an arrogant bastard!" I poked her chest with my index finger. I knew it was a mistake.

The warmness went out of the room just like the light. I could only see her and the darkness around us. I felt like icicles stabbed in my lungs at every breath.

“I'm not afraid of you!" I said and I meant. “I won't obey to you anymore!" Her facial expression changed to surprised. In the next minute, everything went back to normal.

“You don't have to… neither." She smiled sadly. “You showed me your heart and I like what I have seen inside. Just like Urok. His hearth was a piece of treasure. It was made from flames, frost, lighting and storm... deep inside his chest… beneath his rock-hard skin and flesh." She told me and looked at me meaningful, then she disappeared.

“We will die after twenty seconds Tim." Lyra interrupted my thoughts. I jumped to the console and stopped the sequence. She told me the solution of that stupid riddle… in a riddle of course. But it had had more meaning than anything she said before.

“Just as I thought." I let out a smile again. 'My plans are always perfect.' I gave myself a clap.

When I was on the surface again I saw that the crew still there and still clueless about the stone. They didn't even know what I had done on the ship. They didn't even know that I almost destroyed the whole area including us. As I hurried to the statue I pulled out the HEPEG and set the power to maximum.

“Step aside!" I yelled, pointed to the middle of the lion and when Leona cried “Don't!" I pulled the trigger. Sudden green light lit up, the statue flew to pieces. There was the medallion so I grabbed and stood up. “This is one." I marked for the record and I turned my back.

Part IV. – Consequences

Date: 2349 Aug 8th (present)

Sector: Solar System

Location: Earth

The third law of Newton is that: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I knew that well but I was stupid because I wasn't able to see through the deep meanings of it. I fought with a Goddess I led her into a trap that I made from lies and deception. I was arrogant as I thought I could defeat her. I thought I won, but the nature has seen it different.

I was a fool.

“Tim wait! How did you know that the first stone is there?" Leona took a step after me while I was walking to the ship nearby us, with a glorious smile on my face. The ground trembled, some gas leaked out from the cracks and I felt the effects of gravity… the effect of my acts. The tortured stones, mud and ashes beneath my feet opened up and the darkness engulfed my vision as I was falling into a huge hole. I could remember a cry… it was Leona, she cried my name.

Pain… there was pain everywhere when I got back my conscious. I thought it was a good sign because it meant that I was alive. I moved my legs and yelled up in pain. It was a bad idea.

“Leona, are you there?" I said in a voice of a man in his death bed. The HUD was blinking and showed me 'Error' signs everywhere. There was no communication, life support, sensors… nothing had worked. I couldn't even know where I hurt myself and how much.

“Ok Tim. You are in trouble… not the first time in your life." I turned my head to right but there was only darkness. I was in a crack, deep under the ground, buried alive. The opening had been sealed with rocks and I had had approximately an hour to find a way out or I die because of the lack of oxygen left in my suit.

“First you have to assess the damage." I agreed with myself. I moved my left leg, it hurt me but it worked. Right leg, worked. 'Arms and hands… check' I summarize the success. It wasn't that bad. I slowly rose to my knees and I hissed up in every movement.

“I have to fix the communication." I said then I realized again that I shouldn't have talked because I had had limited air supply without the life support system. My head was hurting also. I grabbed my wrist then I saw that a rock should have broken the console. It didn't work.

“Damn!" I admitted that I was in a big-big trouble.

It took a few minutes while I realized that I had a gun with a small flashlight on it. So I pulled out and switched on. That weak source of lightness was like a nuclear explosion in that dark place. It almost burned out my eyes so I had to blink furiously to get used.

I held high the gun to check the ceiling. It was sealed tight, not even the sun could have broken through. I was trapped and the first time in my life I had had no plan to escape.

“Think!" I took heart and shook my head. It hurt a bit but it cleared my thoughts. 'There should be a way out.' I turned the light in all directions and there was my ticket to home: a small crack on the wall. 'This place is a labyrinth.' I headed my way to the crack.

It was just a bit wider than me so I could only fit and kept going further with caution. I didn't want to ruin my suit more. As I had noticed the small road gone upward direction, I felt hope deep inside myself. But the hope is a cruel bitch. I stuck at the next movement. My chest plate wasn't thin enough for some rocks.

“Come on!" I used more force to push myself through but I have achieved the opposite effect. I stood rooted to the spot as soon as I heard the escaping air from the tortured suit as I cut a hole on the wrist. I knew that I had had a few minutes before I suffocate or froze.

On my left leg there was a small kit for accidents like this. So I grabbed and dropped the gun to the ground… not intentionally, but I was terrified. I pulled out a small tube with a spray on the top and spread a strange, red liquid onto the cloth. It was a 'quick-seal' fluid what was designed for holes on a space suit. Fortunately, it clogged the crack so I survived… for another half hour at least.

From that moment I was more careful with freeing me up from the tight squeeze. It took two minutes but I made it. After a few tentative steps I saw some light right ahead. It was a great relief for me; I thought I didn't have to die alone, buried under the ground.

I was a fool for the second time on that day.

There was a little earth quake again and I was hit by a stone right on my helmet. My visor had broken into pieces. It wasn't designed to stand against high physical damages.

My vision had blurred and the air in my lungs had frozen. I tried to breath but there was no breathable air just acids, methane and other not too pleasant things. After my first exhale I knew I was dead. I felt caustic pain in my face and the darkness had fallen down to my eyes.

My last thought was Leona… and how much I loved her.

Part IV. – The Fourth Horseman

Date: 2349 Aug 8th (present)

Sector: Solar System

Location: Earth

'Leona.' That thought accompanied me into the darkness. There were no other thoughts just this one. It was all I grabbed, it was all what filled me out, and it was my only hope.

It was the barrier between life and death.

“Open your eyes and see me!" I heard a strong male voice but not with my ears. It echoed all around me, it was the space where I floated, it was the universe itself. 'Leona.' I whispered the name that kept me from falling deep into… something bad. I didn't know. I just knew that I must not let this one out from my hand. Everything had vanished from my mind… even my name or where I came from. But Leona was my everything. I must have kept this one thought alive.

“I said, open your eyes!" That voice shouted me again. I obeyed because I couldn't have done anything else.

I was in a castle made from huge stones. Chains and flags hung from the walls and among the columns. I couldn't figure out how I did get there. On the flags, there was a symbol: Two scythes crossed, and a human skull.

“Leona!" I cried and the echo crackled around the huge corridor for a few times.

“Forget her!" I got the order from a bodiless voice.

“I must not forget her!" I debated. That name was my world and I knew she was important to me. But everything had faded away. I tried to recall her face, her voice but I couldn't. I was in panic as I felt that I will lose her in a way or another.

“You must obey me!" The order came from nowhere and I fell to my knees again. It was like a whip would have hit me.

“Leona!" I cried with my all force and shut my eyes. There was pain in my chest; I grabbed it with my both hands… I have tried at least but something held my arms back, like chains. “Leona!" I cried again as the pain became unbearable.

I gasped and my eyes were popped open. I coughed as much as I almost spit out my lungs. My eyes weren't able to focus to the scene; my ears were clogged up with something so there were nothing but pain.

“Emergency life support system is online." A blunt voice told me and I just realized that I was alive. The thoughts and memories were coming back slowly and I know who was I am. Where was I am. A small visor was blocking the outer atmosphere from me and I felt the fresh oxygen came up from the small spiracles.

“It was close." I whispered. I was glad that I had made emergency systems into the suit. “Let's get out of this hell." I arranged the plan with myself.

The light came from the outside it was sure as I got myself closer to it. I had walked, crept and climbed for an hour before I reached the opening and I was able took a look on the sky. That reddish, dusty sky was the most beautiful landscape I've ever seen in that moment.

“The hell!" I cried up because I saw a horse near me and a man in full armour riding on it. He had had a huge sword and a scythe on his back and a torn flag pinned to his belt. He looked into my eyes and I felt myself falling into the darkness again despite that I was stood still on my feet. Then he vanished like a smoke in the wind. I swallowed because I recognized that flag and the red-eyed horse.

“Tim? Do you hear me?" The communicator came online and I jumped in fright. It was Lyra. As I looked around I didn't see her so I must have mixed up far away from the others.

“Barely, but yes." I answered. My throat was sore. 'It was just a hallucination because of the toxic gas and suffocation.' I thought and shook my head.

“Leona outraged after you fell into that cave." She said

“Tell her that I'm fine… mostly." I kept a little pause. “Where are you? I can't see you from here."

“Six kilometres to north." I got the answer and the little bit after I started to walk. “The other north."

“Got it!" I laughed and changed the direction.

I felt myself used, exhausted, beaten but I kept walking without any stop. In my ear the only sound was my breathing and my heart beats. I was alive and it was a strange new experience after I almost died. 'I was dead.' I thought because that vision I saw was too realistic. 'It can't be that was real… the castle… the horseman.' I lifted my legs and made steps monotonous.

After an hour I saw the contours of Lyra and a lioness running towards me like a lightning bolt. I smiled but after what I saw I got terrified. There was Leona but I saw that horseman riding next by her. She didn't even notice… I was about to yell her “Watch out!" when the phenomenon disappeared like he did before.

“Lyra, is there any other life form or anything around us?" I asked while Leona reached me, stopped before me.

“Tim! I was afraid that you… you are not alive anymore." She took a tentative step to me and rubbed her head to my chest carefully.

“You were my only thought down under the ground. You kept me alive." I said and hugged her avoiding the spikes and blades of her armour. That was the moment of the reunion and that little quarrel before seemed to be meaningless. She was my life and I was her life. It was out of the question.

Back on the ship after I undressed from the suit Zily grabbed my arm and tugged me into the infirmary. I did nothing against it because I felt myself sick. Leona was there also and George. He had medical knowledge as it turned out and Zily was his teacher so they both could have cured me out from anything.

“Poisoning, exhaustion, nothing serious so far. I will do more tests but you seem to be fine after all." This was the diagnosis from my two doctors.

“I saw nothing unusual around us. The logs are empty." Blurted Lyra and thank to her I got uncomprehending looks from everyone.

“Don't ask!" I held my both hands to prevent the questions.

“I do! What is she talking about?" Leona stepped closer to me and poked me with her nose. I took a deep breath.

“I saw the Fourth Horseman… the Death." She believed me I saw in her eyes. She suddenly hugged me and held me tight. “I think I was dead" I whispered resignedly.

She escorted me to our quarter, it wasn't a problem. I kept her in my reach in case of… I didn't even know. I only knew that I didn't want to lose her again.

“That Horseman…" She started. “Are you sure it was real? Wasn't it just a hallucination?" She continued carefully. I had to admit that I thought the same. It wasn't real… but deep inside me, in my soul, I knew he was there. He was hunting me and as I slipped out from his hand he got angry. I pissed off the Death.

“I don't know. I hope I won't figure out. If he was real, I don't want to see him again. If it was just some weird illusion… I hope I won't see him again." I confessed. She rubbed her head to me and I caressed her back.

Oh, the bed was soft and warm like clouds in the heaven. It engulfed me and I almost fell asleep in instant. Leona laid next to me so I was able to hug her while I drifted away in the realm of the dreams.

Part IV. – The Truth

Date: 2349 Aug 9th (present)

Sector: Solar System

Location: On Orbit, Earth

Next day morning I woke up for hoof beats so I jumped out from the bed like a lightning and grabbed the HEPEG next to the headboard. Leona was also awake and looked for the threat also. There wasn't anything so I lowered the cocked gun and took a few deep breaths.

“What happened?" She asked me.

“I thought… I just…" I was ashamed. Probably it was just a dream… or part of a dream.

“The Horseman?" She touched the point. I nodded. “Don't worry. If he would be here I would kill him." She smiled encouragingly.

“I know, honey." I sat down next to her and she licked my naked back.

“Lay down. I know the best way to forget this." She hugged me and pulled me down into the bed. We exchanged a kiss and the HEPEG fell to the ground. She was right. This was the best way to forget my problems, to forget the horseman, the stones, Mira, everything but Leona. Leona was my world.

I threw away my trousers while we forged together in the kiss and caressed each other's back. She broke the connection and reached my lap with her mouth.

She engulfed my length with a swift motion and the well-known feeling hit me hard. She was good as she knew exactly what turned me on and pulled my triggers. As she moved her tongue under and over my penis, she also sucked it gently in this warm cavern of joy. I also used to the feeling as her whiskers tickled my pelvis and belly. First it was strange and drove my attention away from the main event, but now it would be unusual without this feeling. She suddenly stopped everything and released me.

“So? Better now?" She asked with a smile.

“Yes it is. But not entirely." I sighed and rolled her to her back so I had full access to her private parts. She let out a surprised 'oh' but then she spread apart her legs invitingly. I put my hand on her belly and caressed her nipples, she liked it very much and she was wiggling around in the next minute as I didn't ease her growing desire.

I aligned myself to her dewy dark pussy and suddenly she reached out and pull me in her within a blink.

“Whoa honey!" I laughed as she warped her paws around me and hugged me with force.

“Don't move…" She whispered into my mouth as she kissed me. I knew what that meant, she was about to control everything. And as I bottomed her pleasure canal I felt the muscles inside moving around like in a milking machine. It was her special gift for me.

I felt myself the luckiest guy in the universe as I felt the increasing pleasure in the hugging paws of my big cat lady while we were joined in a long and wet kiss. It was the moment worth for fighting and while we were almost at the top, I start to move my hips up and down to serve the feeling. I become sure I will do everything for Leona to make her happy, forever.

She broke the kiss and started to purr which become louder and louder with every move I made. She was close to the end as I was too. Her insides turned into snakes coiling and crushing around my member, the feeling was almost unbearable. But I made myself strong just for another two seconds. Then she let out a roar, fluids started to flowing in rivers at my pelvis and as she climaxed I gave up the fight too and let my semen erupting inside her.

“Oh my Goddess!" I gasped in pleasure… I was in the heaven.

We collapsed to the bed next to each other and panting heavily. Too much time has passed since we were together like husband and wife.

“I love you." She said and licked my forehead.

“I love you too." I grabbed and kissed her muzzle

The lunchroom was full with our passengers; they had had a breakfast. Zily was next to George, Grant stood still in the opposite corner, like he would have kept an eye on everything. Helia was looking for something consumable in a huge box labelled with Lion letters.

As we stepped into the room they stopped speaking with each other and looked at us. It was obvious that they had had a little conversation about me. Or was I a little paranoid?

“Morning!" I welcomed the little crew what they returned in different ways.

“So, the first stone is here." George grabbed the thread, waved to the table where the medallion was. “What is the next target?" He asked. That little gold jewel was not bigger than a human eye. It had a thin socket, engraved with unknown signs. The base was the stone itself, it was blue with white spots what looked like they were moving, but only if you look away and back. It was strange. Lyra told me that she had had no idea what it was made from.

“Gola'va Ka Tila." I said. “It will be an interesting trip because that planet is a melted fireball."

“I should have known." Grant barked from the corner.

“Our suits won't protect us from a planet in fire." Helia said from the box, then she pulled out a shapeless package.

“Lyra won't protect us either." I told them and sat down to a chair.

“It's true. If the outer temperature is more than 1900 C° I will become a fancy, flying oven." She agreed.

“So? How will we find the second stone?" That was the question of the day.

“No way." Said Grant with a shrug then he sipped from a glass nearby him.

We played for an hour with the ideas and thoughts but we skipped the problem. Lyra wasn't designed for extreme temperatures so land on that planet was out of the question. Grant came up with the thought that we should use a tractor beam after we found that stone with the boosted sensors. It was a good idea. Helia noted; Grant wasn't as stupid as he looked.

“I have to reroute the energy straight from the core to the sensors. It will take a few days." I sighed as I started to make a list in my head about the modifications that I had to do.

“I can help with the sensors." Helia volunteered for the task.

“You?" I was surprised.

“I'm an engineer." She said with certainty.

“Yes she is. I'm a pilot, Zily is a doctor, Helia is an engineer." Leona enlightened me. “Of course we all are soldiers also." She marked for the record but it was obvious. I slapped my forehead when I understood why was Zily's presentation, about eating me alive, detailed. She had deep medical knowledge about human anatomy.

“Good to know. Ok Helia, you have to modulate the…." I started but she snarled.

“I know what I have to do." She told me with anger.

“All right." I held up my hands resignedly. She nodded and went out from the room.

“George please check the supplies." I turned to him, he also nodded.

“I will check the medicines and medical stuffs." Zily stood up.

“And I will do a system check on the Bridge." Leona rubbed her head to me. So everyone had a task.

While I was messing with the energy modules I was able to leave behind the problems. I was concentrating to the work and nothing else.

“Who is that?" I asked because I heard someone. There wasn't any answer. “Lyra, is there someone nearby me?"

“No. The closest person is George in the Storeroom B-11." She said. That storeroom was one level higher so it wasn't him. Then I heard that sound again… footsteps from a two legged creature. I grabbed the HEPEG and looked for the threat.

“Tim? Are you ok?" Lyra asked me on low voice. “Your life signals telling me that you are terrified." She continued but I wasn't listening. I saw a shadow at the corner not far away from me. I lifted the gun but my hand was trembling.

“It's not true! It can't be!" I cried because a tall, strong man appeared at the spot. It was the horseman.

“Tim! There is nothing!" Lyra told me but I shot straight into his face of the scary looking man. The energy beam went through him as he would have been nothing but smoke.

“Leave me alone!" I cried and shot for at least nine times before he reached me.

“You are weak; you will be my new toy!" He told me on that strong voice and I felt pain in my chest. My left arm became numb and I had to grab it while I collapsed to the ground. The pain was unbearable. It was like my heart would have exploded.

Everything went black.

I woke up in the infirmary and when a lioness's face swum into my field of view I rolled down from the bed and flung against the wall, ready to fight. It wasn't Leona I knew it immediately, but it took a few heartbeats to recognize, it wasn't a threat… well… it was Zily.

“Don't worry, little human!" She reassured me. “I won't eat you. Leona would bite my head off." She smiled on this strange joke.

“What happened?" I sat down to a chair next to me. I felt myself weak and confused.

“You had a heart attack." She said and to my uncomprehending expression she continued. “There was a toxin in your brain. That's why you saw hallucinations. It overdriven your… let's say… fear-centre what makes you seeing things and gave you a heart attack."

“It was too real." I sighed and rubbed my head with my both hands.

“The brain is a wonderful organ." She marked for the record.

“Is this over? Is there a cure? Can you eliminate that toxin?" I stood up and went to the medical table.

“I did it two hours ago." She smiled.

“Thank you Zily." I was grateful not just because she cured me, but she confirmed that I just imagined it. It wasn't real at all. 'Thank Goddess!'

George showed up from nowhere and right behind him there were Leona also. They both looked worried about my condition but I was fine after all. Lyra told me that I was quite successful with shooting the wall into pieces in front of me so I had to fix it. George reassured me that the hallucinations won't come back. As I was listening to the explanations I caressed Leona's neck and back. She purred to me and I was happy again. I was with my love and with friends on a ship who was my best friend.

Everything else was just a figment of my imagination.

I was in safe.

The reconfiguring was going well but I had to argue with Helia for hours before we could have made an agreement. She was stubborn just like me so it wasn't the best combination. She had useful knowledge about everything on the ship. She was a great help to me I had to admit.

“I will bite you! You meat-bag!" She threatened me one day while we were on the road to the Gola'va Ka Tila.

“I'm right! You are wrong! Accept it, grass-chewer!" I yelled with her.

“Don't make me kill you!" She snarled and took a step closer.

“Just accept it!" I made my stand.

“May I have a remark?" Lyra barked.

“No!" We replied at once.

“All right then. I'm calling Zily to prepare the infirmary… or morgue" She said and that make me laugh. Helia stepped back and looked confused.

“You know Helia..." I started. “You resemble Leona more than you would believe it." She frowned and shook her head.

“All right!" She said. “I was wrong." Admitted.

“Then let's go to work. I got strange readings from the sensors." I stepped to a terminal and showed the data to her.

“Hmm… strange, indeed." She stepped next to me and we were both thinking.

Part IV. – Hard to be a traveler

Date: 2349 Sep 2th (present)

Sector: IC-434 Cloud , Sagittarius Constellation

Location: Unknown, somewhere near Gola'va Ka Tila.

The star of that sector was Alnitak, it was a blue super-giant. It was twenty-eight times massive as the Sun, so you can imagine. I should have expected, but I didn't. The problem was with the gravity, radiation and the anomaly what had been made from unknown particles. Our boosted sensors were only able to functioning like any ordinary sensors. In three words: they were useless.

The planet was within a light-year ahead but the navigation system went crazy. I wouldn't have given a penny to our success. Yep! It was that hard to find a big ball in the open space.

“Mira! You have to be kidding us!" I shouted when Leona told me that we had lost.

“Don't do this!" She warned me and according to my previous experiences she was right. I didn't want another debate with that glowing cat.

“We don't know where we are or where that planet is." I summarized the facts.

“… or the stone." Grant added.

“… or what should we do." George joined into the conversation.

“Thank you!" I bowed to them. “So give me one reason to not curse and scold her." I pointed to Leona's nose with my index finger. She was surprised.

“We know that the planet is somewhere there." Zily summoned a star map. “We are lost here." She highlighted a region. “So we have to travel toward the direction 9, 6, 1."

“Then, what? We won't see the planet through the window." I was Mr. Pessimistic.

“But it's more than nothing." She shrugged.

“Just barely." Helia saw my point.

“What about the drones?" Leona brought up the idea.

“We don't have any… but we can make a few small drones… Helia?" I turned to her.

“It will worth a try. We can't lose anything."

As I said before, we had had plenty of mechanical and other parts in the cargo bay. It was like a playground for engineers or a candy shop for inventors. The fact I wasn't an engineer but I had measurable knowledge about drones, systems and stuffs like this, because I'd lived alone for years on my ship so I had to achieve the knowledge to repair anything. You know… practice makes perfect.

Helia was really aggressive with me every time I'd said something. If I was right then she was unbearable, because I was right. If I was wrong then she scolded me, because I was wrong. So it was a lose or lose game anyway. There wasn't any user's manual for her so I had to experience how to handle her blood temperature. After a few days of endless disputes and quarrels finally I found out, she was good in answering questions. So I approached the conversations from there. I kept asking questions about how should we do or not to do something. Then she answered without raising her voice.

“Should we use this GR-33 instead of GR-67?" I asked referring the engine parts in my hands. I knew that we had to use GR-33 but as I said, it was the only acceptable way to had had a conversation with her.

“I think the GR-33 is better in this case." She said and she took away from me. I let out a smile. She was cute after all.

“Report me!" Leona stepped into the cargo bay like an admiral.

“We need another hour." Helia answered. She accepted the fact that Leona was the older and because of this she was in charge. She was my love so I hadn't had problem with this also.

“Or a little more." I shrugged. We made the seventh drone and according to the problems we had faced we could have stuck at any moment.

“Ok. Just be quick." Leona nodded and went out.

“Lyra, rename Leona to Admiral Cat-Face." I said and we all laughed for a minute.

The drones were done but I was a little concerned about them. We made from scrapped metal, replacement parts and we just improvised at many points of the making. I was not sure about if they would survive the first two minutes in the space, or not.

“They are my children." Helia was proud while she put them into the airlock.

“Don't tell this to Leona." I said but she looked surprised. “If they are your children, then I'm the father, because we made them together. And it would be cheating. You know…" I pointed to the facts. She frowned then she realized that I was right.

“Shut up!" She yelled with me but she had no time to continue, because Grant showed up.

“How is going?"

“We are done." I prevent Helia's sarcastic remarks.

“Good." He said and waved with her eyes 'leave us alone for a minute' so I understood and walked out.

I went back to the Bridge and I had found everyone else there. Leona was at the sensors, Zily and George was at the communications, had some conversation about usable frequencies, so I just sat down into the captain's chair.

“Where are the dawdles?" I got the question from behind.

“Dunno." I shrugged and called out the drone controlling interface. “The little dwarves are ready for some mining." I sang.

“What?" Leona was taken aback.

“The seven dwarves… a child tale from my past… never mind!" I shook my head.

The drones flew away in every direction and the data stream flowed right under Helia's paws. There was everything we had to know. Or at least more than we hoped. Distances, radiation levels, electromagnetic distortions…etc.

“The signal is good. Let's see how far they can go.“ Zily told me so I hit the acceleration button.

“So far so good". She checked the console.

“But for how long?" Grant was sceptic, but secretly I agreed with him. It was a mission impossible so I was prepared; we will fail it.

We have failed it.

We lost the signal from the drones as soon as they reached the one light-year distance. Which was almost more than nothing. Fortunately, they collected a huge amount of data we can analyse. The hope was weaker by every minute. I could see on the others they slowly became desperate.

“Folks… what is that?" George pointed out from the window next by him.

There was a huge debris field not far away from us which was obviously not a good sign. I jumped back into the captain's chair and called out the tactical console.

“Shields are good, but the sensors are weak, I can't see what is that exactly. I don't think it could be a problem as we are far. Damn! I can see only; its debris… lot of debris. Nothing else." But as I was paranoid I loaded the canons just for sure. It felt better.

“What could that be? A Ship?" Helia asked and went to the window.

“Maybe our ancestors." Grant shrugged. “I hope they got farer than us." He added then suddenly Helia and I looked at each other in the moment of the recognition.

“Do you think…" I started

“…I do."

“Then we…"

“…but how? There isn't more…"

“…we have ZR-33 modules…"

“...or we can use RR-18."

“I hope it will work."

“I hope too." We finished while the rest of the crew was taken aback. Then we ran to the cargo bay left everyone behind with dropped jaw.

“Tim, maybe Zily could check your head. You two acting strange." Lyra told sarcastically when we stepped inside of the cargo bay.

“I'm fine." I said not listening and opened a metal box for parts. The idea was simple: The debris was a ship or ships which wandered around this sector and we hope they did from different angles. So if they have memory modules with navigation routs and sensor data, we can interpolate an approximately image where we are and where is the planet we are looking for. Simple isn't it?

“Here, take this and this." Helia dropped a few stuffs to me. We only had to build another drone which will bring back the memory modules from the debris. We couldn't have done it with the Lyra as we were too big and the collisions could get out of hand easily. The Kessler effect could kill us despite we had strong shields. But with a small drone, we can navigate in the field and they were good in the slow distance. Now, when we will find the modules we have to bring them back. So the drone must have something to grab and something to store things.

It took six hours but we managed to improvise another drone. It was smaller and weaker but it will do. We attached a small container to its bottom so we can bring back several memory modules at once. I hope it won't cause any trouble in the field.

“The moment of truth" Helia whispered when we were back on the bridge. She released the drone and I grabbed the control console. The navigation in the field could be hard but I was determined. This was our last chance to find that damn planet or we stuck in the mission and I don't want to motivate the Lioness Goddess anymore. 'If this smart idea won't work I have to do something stupid again' I thought as I was maneuvering among the debris. It wasn't that easy.

“Turn left after ten meters." Helia helped me with the sensors. “Ok, now twelve and two meters forward. There is something I want to check"

“What?" Leona asked as I was busy not to hit something. I was sweating all over my cloths as I was concentrating.

“I don't know yet. But it's oddly familiar." She whispered and the rest of the crew gathered around her. Then I saw that thing. It was a piece of the spaceship's hull and the letters on it was “Lyra".

“What the hell!?" I asked loudly.

“Tim." Lyra called me “I analyzed the data. The debris field is only one ship…" She took a short pause. “It's the spaceship Lyra... it's me" She finished.

We made sure, so we double checked everything, but it was out of the question. Every material, form and label supported the findings. The debris field was Lyra. My best friend and the spaceship I made from U.S.M. and Lion technology. She was unique so it was impossible to be another one like her. I was just sitting at the console and my thoughts were flying around me. But every idea I would have come up sounded crazy.

“I found something. Left side, three meters." Zily pushed me back to the reality. “Something organic." She added which means there was something I don't want to see. As I was driving to the mentioned direction and the object got into the field of view I got sick and I wanted to puke.

“It's…" Leona sighed.

“That is not possible!" George leaned closer to the terminal next by Helia.

“But…" They looked at me at the same time and the uncomprehending eyes were full with questions, doubts but mostly fear.

“He is me." I whispered as I saw myself mutilated and dead, floating away on the screen. I was dead and the Lyra was destroyed.

“How could that be?" I looked at them. “What the hell is this!?" I asked.

End of Episode 4.