Under a Starless Sky

Loxy disappeared. Candace sat up. She let out a scream and laid back down. He now understood. He couldn’t track Loxy because she was subliminal. Interacting with Candace, especially carrying an empathic response to her level of pain, was going to take up too much of his focus to be able to sustain communication with Loxy.

“Try not to move. You broke it,” Shen said.

“No, no, no,” Candace said. “You can’t be here.”

“The correct response is thank you,” Shen said.

“You don’t understand. You’re just a boy…”

“You’re supposed to do this ritual alone, in private, in the dark,” Shen said. “No help.”

Candace forced herself to sit up. She turned so her back was against the tree. Her eyes communicated horrible pain, but she settled into it. Her back to the tree.

“I promise, no one will know,” Shen said.

“I will know,” Candace said.

“Lie,” Shen said.

“I can’t,” Candace said.

“Everybody lies,” Shen said.

“I don’t,” Candace said.

“And I rest my case,” Shen said. “Look, Candace. Lying is an art. It’s an act of discernment. You will not survive without help. That’s it.”

“If it’s my turn to die, that’s it,” Candace said.

chirp

Get me on my feet,” Candace

that would make a difference. The Irk emerged from the shadow into the fire light. It hissed. Shen’s hand went into his pocket. He touched the

to the rope if I hold them off?” Shen

Candace said. “They’ll ‘Sleep’ us both

a moment, climb

not going to take on Irks,” Candace

blue darkness and into the firelight. They were illuminated with heart light, and blue light, while simultaneously ghostly lit by campfire, which was an odd way of seeing them. The darkness beyond made this seem like a movie set- the only things in the world were the things that were right here right now. He heard Sacagawea quote inspiration: ‘today is a good day to die.’ All three birds

universal, comprehensive way- it was the sudden understanding of a thousand past lives bringing together their strengths, their weaknesses, and their hard earned wisdom. For the briefest moment he had a flash that he knew everything, he was connected to everything, and he knew, no matter

The Torch was alive in his hand. He heard Loxy’s voice in his head. “Welcome back, Traveler. I got you.” Loxy, his Loxy, had put a copy of her personality in the Torch. The Torch was AI. The Torch was Space-Force tech, something old, something borrowed, something new. The crystal inside amplified the psychic emanations of the wielder. It could replicate matter on demand. It could move matter

love. Sentient or not, the Irk understood the energy, if not the words. It was clearly baffled. He did not wish to harm it, but if it chose battle, whether that was calculated or instinct, Shen could not compete without escalating

Shen closed his eyes, and saw the world from a higher perspective. Candace was frozen against the tree. The head of the Irk stretched past her, its neck was white with freckles and had patches

you will

attacked. The other two females came at the male. Shen’s torch came to life, a loud report sounded the forest and echoed; a golden blade of light severed the nearest Irk’s head. The head fell, and the bird kept running. The second fell by sword light as well, the body simply dropping where it was. The third to fall was due to death by a male Irk. He had taken the female Irk to the ground, biting its neck, and pinching it shut with one claw. The female scratched and struggled; they rolled, but she succumbed. The male lumbered

the blade. The Irk chirped. It was rhythmic. Two other females emerged, heads lowered, chirping rhythmically.

you,”

diesel engine in a semi. It was that loud. Shen had never heard this noise from an

was the only word Candace could

“Loxy?” Shen asked.

Tulpa. Loxy was solid and he was no longer alone on the physical plane of existence. She was very aware of his love for her, but

“Hello, Candace. If you will lay down, I can mend your leg,” Loxy

don’t

Irk hit the tree behind it; Candace slept. Loxy caught her and eased her to ground. She smiled at the

Space Force- hidden upon her. This was not ‘TOS;’ Space Force no longer carried tech, like cell phones, or ‘tricorders’ or weapons; things that get lost or stolen- the only thing Space Force had was the Uniform. The uniform contained it all. The sensors in her uniform could ‘see’ every cell in a person’s body- her’s or others around her. She took inventory. She presented information for Shen in a holographic format so he could understand and witness the healing- his tech was contained in the Torch, and he saw her projection in his mind because he was tuned into the Torch. The suit could transmit data directly to the

it with light, and then went straight way to hugging Shen. Once satisfied, she retreated- taking in the physical world

Shen said. “Not confusing