Legend of Gemini Chapter 1

I: Planet Chrome and Planet Exilon

 

“Please position yourself in the pod. The safety seatbelt will automatically fasten.” The virtual a.s.sistant commanded.

 

I properly positioned myself inside and then the vehicle’s cover automatically locked. From my seat, I saw the watery blue eyes of my mother. She cried so hard and it made me feel her pain. Her rosy lips even turned pale from sadness. Without wasting this opportunity, before leaving, I look and observe her coffee colored-hair, her pearl-like cheeks and her heart-shaped face that I inherited.

“Select the auto-pilot mode to maneuver the pod.” I pressed the auto-pilot b.u.t.ton on the console. The sound of the pod’s engine followed. I wear my s.p.a.ce helmet to protect my head because the depressurization of the air started.

A moment later, I feel that the pod had finally started to levitate from the ground. I’m not used to things like this since I grew up being accompanied by the Royal Escorts in my Royal s.p.a.ce Probe whenever I go to another planet. This pod is not like my probe because it is small. I can’t move around and my mind became preoccupied with this fact, plus the fact that I know too little on how to operate this.

While sitting, I carefully scanned the console and pressed the instructional diorama. Thank goodness! Good thing that at least there’s a feature like this in this junk waste of a pod! I followed the instructions given by the female virtual a.s.sistant and then I see the opening of the force field above. After it opened, the engine automatically screeched and then the pod flies out of the bunker.

If only I had listened to that stupid and boring teacher in s.p.a.ce Odyssey Simulator, one of the subjects for my special courses, I must have been able to maneuver this thing! How I wish my father had at least asked that stupid teacher to send me off to the other planet. If only someone guided me, I won’t be feeling mad like this. I know they don’t want the secret to leak, but it’s very easy to just kill the person or deal with him through yzrah. After all, it has been proven already that an underling will be more loyal when given that.

In less than nineteen minutes, I reach the outer s.p.a.ce. I almost vomited due to its speed so I temporarily took off my s.p.a.ce helmet. I truly didn’t expect the pod to fly this fast.

When I glance outside, the sight of my beautiful planet mesmerized me. It is full of lights and vibrants. Wherever I sweep my eyes to, I can only see my mother’s eye color – blue, because my planet, Chrome is full of bodies of water. It’s also rich in natural resources.

Whenever I see my home planet from the outer s.p.a.ce, I always thought of my happy days together with my mother. She is the only one who always made me feel I’m being loved. The others? I’m sure they only treated me nicely due to the fact that I am a prince. Right now, I can still recall how the media view me – I actually ace the list of the most hated individuals in the world. They said I grew up being spoiled, a being born with a silver spoon on my tongue, a Tudor with a lion’s heart.

Because the pod traveled the s.p.a.ce in the speed of light, reaching Exilon’s atmosphere only took me nine hours. I must prepare for the atmospheric entry since all things which try to forcibly enter a planet’s atmosphere might be burned by its strong applied pressure. It is a good thing that this pod is fire resistant so it did not melt when it came into contact with the atmosphere.

“Prepare for the atmospheric entry, alt.i.tude of 110 kilometers. You might experience a sudden vibration which could lead you to injury. Please wear the s.p.a.ce helmet for your safety.” the virtual a.s.sistant commanded. “Activate the module coatings for thermal protection system. Prepare for impact.”

The sudden wild beating of my pulse is the result of the fast collision outside.  The whole pod was shaken. It lost its balance when it crashes with the gentle part of the ground. Once again, I feel my extreme dizziness. When the pod skid onto a gigantic rock, a power surge occured then it lost its power. I can still hear the engine’s explosion outside. The smokes emitted from the turbines became like a blanket which covers the surroundings. When way out opened due to the automatic activation of the Pneumatic Emergency Evacuation mechanism, I hurriedly went outside, removed my helmet then throw up. Even my das.h.i.+ng jumpsuit had been dirtied by own vomit. It even seems like I puke my intestines because of heavy dizziness.

I gasp for air.

I still feel lightheaded.

And exhausted.

I lean on a nearby tree and decided to wait until my strength comes back. I breathe deeply, close my eyes and calm myself. Bit by bit, strength find its way on me. I stripped off my s.p.a.ce suit that has been tarnished by gross stuffs. If only I have a servant with me, I won’t let myself wear it off personally. After that, I decided to get my flashlight, navigational compa.s.s, survival suitcase and laser gun under the console. It will be tricky if someone tried to capture me yet I’m weaponless. No matter what, I must at the least have a laser gun with me even if I don’t know how to use it.

I pressed the b.u.t.ton for the settings of the navigational compa.s.s then a detailed holographic descriptions of my location appeared. “Tracing your coordinates on planet Exilon. Please wait for ten seconds.” said the virtual voice from the compa.s.s.

Nothing will happen if I will only stay here so I decided to walk and follow the instructions of the compa.s.s to go to the forest’s edge. I’m now feeling annoyed by all of the unfortunate events. The world is really proving that I’m really being punished by the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses since all bad turns are occurring while it’s nightime. Darkness reign in the forest. I am lucky since I’ve brought my portable flashlight from the pod. I can walk fast because the forest doesn’t have many tall gra.s.ses and bushes. But after a short while, I stopped after hearing those familiar sounds — howls of the direwolves. It was one hair-raising growl. I feel nervous because I clearly heard it nearing me. I ran as fast as I can. I’m afraid to be feasted by those hungry direwolves.

When will the punishment end!? Is there no end to all of these?

Direwolves of the planet Exilon, like those from planet Chrome, are very carnivorous. This is the reason why I didn’t hesitate to runaway. However due their sensitive smell, they found me. Wild direwolves are feared in the forest precisely because of this characteristic, their keen noses.

I can see the direwolves behind me and all of them are already prepared to attack and feast on me. I tried shooting them with the laser gun but I did not manage to hit even one of them. If only I have my bow and arrow, maybe I have already killed some of the wolves. I’m now exhausted. Maybe because I let fear get the better of me, I accidentally trip on the ground of the dense forest. I loudly groan and it seems I can’t stand anymore because of too much fatigue and leg injury caused by the fall. I find breathing difficult but desperately I crawl towards the tree and aim my laser gun to the direwolves.

Three consecutive laser lights killed one of the direwolves. It was followed by a thin and swift sound from a laser gun.

From an unknown direction, laser beams had been shot at those wild direwolves. I realized it too late – that a stranger came and killed them. I don’t know if he is a hunter or a Legion. Probably the latter because if he’s a Legion, he should be wearing elegant attire. If my eyes didn’t play on me though, I see nothing which looks like an armored uniform. On the other hand, if this person is a Legion, I must escape from him because I’m already a demon child. Legions are people task to capture those lost or escapee demon children who are lurking in the Parthenon Galaxy. They have been ordered by the government of the two planets to bring the demons to the Sanctuary. I gritted my teeth and thought to myself, I must not be captured by them!

Yzrah – the currency use in Pathenon Galaxy and is the only legal currency use when engaging in big trades.

*****

 

I did not hesitate. I run from the stranger who is still busy killing the pack of direwolves using his laser gun. Although I successfully escaped, I suddenly found myself facing a wild big cat. Out of the sudden, the large meircat hugged me and caused me to lose balance. The meircat wrapped its body to mine and cheerfully licked my clean face. I collapse on the ground. I am confused on why the meircat did not eat me but instead had showed fondness.  Like a direwolf, a meircat is also a wild beast that is carnivorous in nature.

So, there is definitely something wrong.

I struggle under the disgusting cat. I push away it’s big and heavy body, causing it to change its att.i.tude. His docile face turns into a loathing one. It looks like I made the cat mad at me. Is this my end? Orion Tudor II , a prince, killed by a cat? It is so embarra.s.sing. Is this how I’m going to leave my name on the Tudor’s history logs? Maybe I’m really an embara.s.sment. I might never reach the level of my grandfather and father’s greatness. Maybe even a story-teller will ignore my life’s tale. But maybe, it is really better to die this way, no one will know. No one.

“What are you waiting for? Just eat me already!” I shouted to the meircat then glare to the sky. “This is what you want, right? To make me suffer?! To punish me?!” I blame all the miserable things that I experienced to the G.o.ds, to the spirits, to my father who doesn’t care for me. I feel worse than a slave, an orphan, or even a lost pirate. I don’t deserve this kind of punishment but I  already accept my death and no longer fear and feel uneasy.

“Voxie, he is not your food!” a  reminder from my left.

“Who are you?”

The meircat meekly approached the stranger. I think that maybe it’s his pet since he rubbed the head of the meircat. The stranger removed the fabric covering his hair and mouth. My eyes widen when I saw a long hair which is past her shouder. The black strands look like a thread from a coal. It’s so beautiful. Her lips are like ripe apple while her eyes  are sparkling blue in the darkness of the night.

The one who save me is a beautiful lady.

“You’re kind, Voxie!” She put off the clothe and tied it on her leg. She continue petting her meircat without caring about the pungent smell coming from it. Disgusting. All admiration I felt vanished into thin air. However, I was really surprised when I saw the stranger is a woman because she is covered by thick fabrics made from direwolf skin. When looked at closely, she is a jungle-person, a wandering hermit in the forest of Exilon.

Silence.

“Who are you?” I ask her again with a louder voice which I purposely did so that she will hear me clearly. I did it in a courteous way since this is how they taught royalty like us.

“Stellar Maxmillan.” Said the girl arrogantly.

“Maxmillan?” I ponder about her reply.

Wait, dooes it mean…

“What you’re thinking is right. I am the daughter of Ja.n.u.s Maxmillan.”

What? This woman is the daughter of one of the trusted executive general serving our clan? – I exclaimed inside my mind. If it’s like this, I can probably trust her. Because of this thought, I try asking. “What is the daughter of the governor-general doing in this planet? Are you a spy sent by the seers?!”

“My father instructed me to get you here.” She answered in a rude tone. I think she was not taught by her father General Maxmillan a bit of good manners. She speaks differently and uncourteously in front of me, a royalty.

“How did the governor-general Maxillan know that I am in the planet Exilon?” I still ask politely.

“The king requested my father to help you search for your soulmate. Wait, wait, can you stop with all the inquiries?! I’m tired! I want to go back and rest in the pit.” She complained. I thought what we are doing is a secret within the family. I thought my father abandoned me. Thank goodness, even if it’s little, he remembered me. But this girl is really cheeky. She must be forgetting that I’m a prince! “You, wear this!” The girl commanded, I caught what she threw at me. “Wear this and burn the clothes and things you currently have so there will be no evidence that will point out you are from the other planet. Also burn the pod.”

I feel my cheeks burning in rage after hearing her words. Preposterous! A little more and all my remaining patience will run out. One more and I don’t know what I will do to her.

“W-what are you d-doing?” I alarmingly asked. She pulled me near her.

“I will cut your hair and change the color.” She pulled out a sharp dagger which she will probably use to cut my hair from her trouser.

I suddenly pushed her and shouted to her. “You’re very disrespectful! Stupid! How did you become General Maxmillan’s daughter when you’re like this? Even saying ‘please’, you can’t even do?!” I lowered my voice then continued my sermon to this insignificant woman. “For your information, this hair is a symbol for Tudor, a royalty.” I saw how her face showed a little bit of fright.

“Ugh!” She suddenly gave me an unkind look and an insulting laugh. “Your highness, forgive me. This is also for your own good, I am not your disciple. Your old man’s hair is not my life. I’m just following the instruction given by the king – to help you! Do you want to immediately spread the fact that you are the prince of Chrome? If the Exilon people learn that you went here to find your soulmate, the whole galaxy will be shocked that their most beloved prince turned into a demon child. The Legion will hunt you, kill you, you will die!” She threatened me.

Stellar’s reasons. .h.i.t the bull’s eye that’s why I remained silent. But I promise to myself that this woman’s tonge will someday taste a whip. Someday, I’ll let you learn your lesson.

I think she knows how I was feared in the palace by my servants. For many instances, I overheard my slaves talking about how I treat their kind. I was once scolded by my parents but they couldn’t straighten me out since this is my real self.

No! this can’t be happening! I am her prince! I am the one she must wors.h.i.+p! Not the G.o.ds! Only me and no one else.

“Try to cut one strand of my hair and you will experience the wrath of…”

“Of what? You’re no longer a prince! You have become a demon child! So the rumors are true, the next king of Chrome is an arrogant spoiled brat! What? Are you coming or not?”

Silence.

The night is already deep. Only the stars in the sky and the round moon give light to the forest. The music sang by the crickets are the only thing which could be heard. Silence. The trees of castercorns, lus.h.i.+ng trees and dusterpines strated to glimmer because of the plants’ bioluminescence property.

“Do you want to go with me?” again, Stellar asked.

I can’t do anything but to humble and swallow my pride. I’ve been thinking that she is my only hope to find my soulmate.  Although her att.i.tude is undeniably irritating, at the present I have no choice but put up with it. However, I promised to myself, one day she will experience my punishment.

translated by: seiji

edited by: ws25 and myn