//------------------------------// // Broken Family // Story: Mother X: Father // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// Following the starmap, Alinivar guided the ship close to the sun, coming to a halt at the tiny planet of Mercury. “There’s...power here,” he murmured softly. “I can feel it. We should land.” “We can’t,” Zarbol spoke up. “There’s a barrier of some sort, like what was around Earth.” “Think you can get us through without crashing this time, Boing?” Col. Saturn asked Niiue. Niiue shot the pink blobby alien a playful glare before floating out of the ship. Opening the door in the barrier, he left a path free for others to land. “I won’t go with you all this time,” he spoke calmly. “My information on Mercury is...missing. However...Moondancer, I’m not sure if you should go or not.” “I’ll go,” Moondancer spoke firmly. “I...I feel like I have to.” Niiue nodded, letting the group go down to the planet’s surface. The surface of Mercury was gray, dusty, and scattered with occasional debris. At first, it seemed as though there was nothing there of interest...until Alinivar spotted a broken signpost next to a rocky pillar. “Signs mean civilization, even if it’s a ruin,” he stated firmly as he approached. “And ruins might have useful weapons.” “There’s a door around the back!” Moondancer called out, uncertain how she knew that. As they approached it, however, she felt a distance resonance as her PSI waves hit...something, or...someone she was somehow linked to. Through the door, a long stairwell led them through a dark metal tower chamber, deep beneath the planet’s surface. At the end, a single door led into an identical circular chamber that was somewhat better lit. In the distance they could make out the opposite side of the room, paths looping around the walls moving up and down to various chambers. “...this could take a while...” Alinivar murmured worriedly. The group explored carefully, hoping to find answers. What was surprising to them the most was that several side chambers contained display chambers with aliens of various sorts from around the Sol system, seemingly content and with data placards on the front of the containment units. The first line of each was in Geeg characters, followed by a long, rambling, detailed description in common script. After reading several of the entries, Moondancer recognized the pattern from the time Niiue had told her what a Mook was...and why his answer had been like a data entry. Cerue, she thought to herself. She’s here somewhere...the one who should have been my Mom... With that realization, Moondancer paid closer attention to the data entries, trying to see if she could get inside the female Geeg’s head. At first, she had no luck...until they came across the entry on Starmen. The entry spoke of how the race had once been organic, but forcibly fused with cybernetic augments to the point they were now manufactured. One line leapt out at Moondancer, thought. Though their species forced conversion was a mistake, the design itself is impressive. “A...mistake? *whirr*” Larice gasped in surprise as Moondancer read that part. “Then...whoever wrote this *click* does not agree with what was done to *whirrr* the Martians?” “She doesn’t agree with Geeg policies...” Moondancer murmured in shock. “I wonder why...” Eventually, the group’s random explorations led them to opening a tube that dropped them into a containment tank. Though they were trapped, for some reason none of them could bring themselves to care. It was just so...peaceful inside. “Oh, I forgot I left that passage open,” a voice called out. A Geeg walked over, one with softer features than Giegue but looking about the same age. “I apologize for the enclosure. Don’t be frightened-” “Cerue,” Moondancer spoke up softly. The Geeg flinched back in surprise. “How...how do you know me?” she demanded, her voice quavering somewhat as she kept the words spoken rather than thought. “...if I tell you, it won’t be pleasant,” Moondancer answered after a time of thought. “Or so I’ve been told.” “I prefer having unpleasant answers to riddles,” Cerue insisted coldly. “Alright,” Moondancer allowed. “You were my mother.” Cerue flinched back visibly from the statement, looking almost wounded. “...oh...” She walked over to the controls and released the group. “I suppose...we have something to talk about. How...how is Giegue?” “...broken,” Moondancer admitted sadly as the others pulled back, Larice moving to collect a Reboot Orb from the corner of the room. “He couldn’t hold himself together anymore...and now he’s in pieces.” “I’m...sorry to hear that,” Cerue offered, a bit of sadness in her voice. “I...I had hoped he might get better...even if we never will...” She turned towards a screen, taking calming breaths as she focused her mind on the streams of data. “Can I ask you some things?” Moondancer asked hopefully. “About you and...Dad?” “...if you must,” Cerue allowed. “How did you know Dad, before?” “Control samples.” Moondancer blinked in confusion. “I...don’t understand.” “Giegue was an experiment to see what effect being raised by humans would have on a Geeg, to see how best humans could be conquered,” Cerue responded flatly. “To contrast it, there were two control samples. One was a Geeg infant raised by other Geeg. The other was a Geeg infant kept in total isolation save robotic care units to provide physical necessities. I was the second sample, which is why I don’t socialize well, and am so at home with computers.” Her arms slowed her manipulations of her console. “When Giegue’s parents...well, when the experiment fell apart, the whole thing was abandoned. The infant raised by Geeg was taken back with the Geeg, as a Geeg. But Giegue and I...we were abandoned as flawed Geeg. When we found each other, we were able to bond. We found common ground, and a way to be...happy together. We were. “However, we didn’t know how to be. We often went our separate ways as we engaged in our own projects. My passion was study...but Giegue was determined to fix what was ‘wrong’ with humanity, that broke him and his parents. It...it’s wrong to meddle with life to that degree. A whole culture and all its beauty was destroyed and all but erased when the Geeg turned the Martians into Starmen...and Giegue couldn’t see that what he wanted to do to humans was no different. He enacted an experiment while I was off studying and collecting samples...and he was broken when he came back. “We fought, then. Not physically, or with PSI...but I wish it had been. This fight was far worse. Because of this fight...we were. And every day since that parting, I’ve wished it could have been different. But that is...in vain...” “...I don’t understand the bond you speak of completely,” Moondancer spoke up softly. “I’m just a kid. Then again, I probably wouldn’t even if I were an adult. But...love seems to be a part of it.” She walked up to Cerue. “I love Dad...and when he’s whole, he loves me. You...love Dad, and he loves you still, or this wouldn’t hurt so much.” She floated herself up closer to Cerue. “And...though we only just met, you are my Mom...and I love you. Can...you love me? As a daughter?” Cerue turned her eyes to Moondancer. “I...I don’t know,” she offered sadly. “I...can try?” Smiling gently, Moondancer floated closer, putting her forelegs around Cerue in a hug. To her surprise, Cerue returned the embrace. After a time, Cerue guided the group to the lowest level of the facility. “Down there is the core of Mercury,” she explained softly. “It is the essence of the planet’s power. It’s a mere fragment as compared to the power of Earth, which will be the key to stopping Giygas should he take complete shape...but it could still help you. Connect - just a little - to Mercury, if you can.” Moondancer tried to open her mind to the planet...and found herself somewhat overwhelmed. She felt the power there, but could not quite grasp it. She felt it become a part of her, however, as it became a part of Alinivar. “I...when you leave, I can’t let you back in,” Cerue offered softly, apologetically. “If Giegue encountered me in his current state, or knew I was here...it would be bad. You can’t tell anyone...not even the one you call Niiue.” “...will I ever see you again?” Moondancer asked hopefully. “If you manage to save Giegue from himself, and he is able to pull himself back together...I will find you,” she promised softly. “If you can’t...” She shivered softly. “Though we were, part of that broken bond remains. I...I do not believe I could survive feeling his death...” “Then we’ll save you, too,” Alinivar promised. Cerue smiled softly. “Goodbye...and good luck.” When the group returned to the ship, Niiue immediately pulled Moondancer into a hug. “I know...” Nodding, Moondancer burrowed into the hug as Alinivar set a new course.