Diversion To Urasha

Crystaline sank her aching thighs into the soft warm plushiness of her mother’s old bed. The bed was of a great comfort to her tired limbs. Despite the pain, the memories, and that horrid heavy feeling in her heart, Crystaline loved her mother’s old room. She sank her fingers even further into the soft, silky red bedsheets as she scanned the room all around her. The walls were covered in pictures, drawings of creatures, of people. The artist - her mother, the most wonderful, the most talented artist Crystaline had ever known. As her golden irises reflected on the regally embellishing furniture of the room, Crystaline’s nose tasted the sweet scent of her mother’s fragrance. Even though her mother had passed on years ago, this room still managed to smell just like her. It was one of the reasons why Crystaline came here so much. It was like her mother was here, in this room with her. Crystie was invisible, but maybe she was present? In her own little way? Crystaline sighed, her breath was shaky. She couldn’t prevent this feeling of hopelessness from creeping into her brain. Get real! Crystaline reminded herself. Her mother wasn’t technically here, not really. The same couldn’t be said for all those pictures, all those portraits of her mother.

Crystaline slid around the circumference of the humungous bed until she reached her mother’s old bedside cabinet. Nothing in this room had been tampered with since her mother’s passing. Everything was kept in here just the way it was before she’d died. Even that picture continued to take the proudest spot in the room. Crystaline gently lifted the picture frame from the golden bedside furnishing. It was a drawing she had drawn herself, one of her mother, and her mother’s beautiful flawless face. Crystaline smiled wryly. The quality of her drawing hadn’t been to the highest of standards. She had only been a nine-year-old artist at the time. Despite this, the Crystaline had still managed to capture her mother’s beauty, having paid extra attention to her stunning eyes and her long dark hair. Whenever Crystaline looked in the mirror, her reflection always reminded her of her mother.

Crystaline’s face hardened as she listened to the footsteps pattering in the corridor. Eventually, the noise came to a stop, just outside her mother’s door. Only one other person would come here, Crystos.

Crystaline could sense that her brother was standing at the entrance, as if he were waiting for her to speak first. Crystaline continued to have her back turned to her brother, choosing to focus on the picture instead.

“We set off tomorrow,” he begun. “The humans are as ready as they’ll ever be.” Crystos paused, as if waiting for his sister to respond to him, to at least turn around and look at him. Crystaline did neither, forcing Crystos further into the room. “Would you at least turn around and look at me?” he begged, ever so softly.

Crystaline carefully placed the photo frame back where it belonged, finally turning around to face her brother. “What?” she said, trying to appear nonchalant.

“I said that the humans are ready. I did as you asked. I spent time with each of them. To be honest though, none of them are great with the sworsha, but Cryston is adamant that we retrieve the stone as quickly as possible.”

“And do you agree with our father? Or will you just find another way to defy him?”

Crystos’ eyes sharpened. “I don’t agree with any of this. I don’t see why we can’t just help the humans. Why endanger them needlessly? Cryston is Cryston, selfish, only looking out for himself.”

“He’s looking out for all of us!” Crystaline snapped.

Crystos’ eyes smouldered with rage, bitterness. “So, he’s not up to something, is he?”

Crystaline stood to face her brother, her red lips smirking, her eyes fierce. “What makes you say that?”

“I know what he’s like, what he is capable of. You know him as well as I do, Crystaline, yet you refuse to see.”

Crystaline chuckled, and her eyes softened. “We’re just retrieving the stone, Crystos.” Crystaline’s expression grew sad. “And besides, it’s what she’d have wanted, am I wrong?”

Crystos winced, as if the very mentioning of their mother brought him pain and turmoil. “She’d have wanted the healing stone, yes. But at what cost? She wouldn’t want anyone risking their lives for it.”

Crystaline swallowed hard, as she desperately fought to keep herself from bursting into tears. “We don’t have a choice, Crystos. Neither do they.”

“I know,” Crystos whispered, his eyes warming to his sister. “I just had to check that there wasn’t anything else going on, that’s all. You nearly took the boy’s head off. I don’t see you lose control like that very often.”

“I was in control,” Crystaline proclaimed. “He needed it. They all needed it.”

“Yes,” Crystos agreed, walking back to the doorway. “They did get marginally better after your little stunt, I must say. Until tomorrow, Sister. Be ready.”

As the day drew to a close, James found himself winding down in the palace restaurant with his team. Phil had chosen one of the quietest tables that he could find. Finding a private area to eat and drink had certainly been no easy task tonight. Tonight, the restaurant was packed, busier than yesterday, with its loud music blaring across the room in quite an intrusive fashion. Lottie, in particular, looked the most uncomfortable tonight, gingerly munching though her food, and tentatively sipping on her apocoli. James didn’t mind the noise or the chaos. His mind was elsewhere, after all, working hard to process the day’s events. Crystaline. What was her beef? Had she been trying to help, as the king had explained? Or had the pretty young woman had some other ulterior motive? Did Crystaline know that James had seen her last night? Although the whole thing had looked completely and utterly wrong, James also realised that what Crystaline chose to do with her personal life was none of his business. Surely Crystaline didn’t care what he thought about the whole thing? Unless she was doing something she shouldn’t be doing?

James took a sip of his drink, deciding that he wasn’t going to dwell over all this anymore. He needed to get his mind back to the others. As his ears took in the conversation around him, James was a little mortified to hear Crystaline being discussed. He was now trying to cleanse his mind from her, after all.

“Even if we’re useless when it comes to using these sworshas,” Phil had begun. “At least the other four will know how to fight with them.”

“Yeah,” Lottie sarcastically agreed, making a bold and rare move to speak up. “I’m sure that psycho princess will be waving that sworsha around without a single care in the world, killing every poor animal in sight.”

“That I can’t disagree on.” Phil took a bitter sip of his drink.

James opened his mouth, ready to join the conversation, to say something to defend Crystaline. His mouth closed right up before he even got the chance to speak. Crystaline had entered the restaurant, surrounded by an entourage of important looking individuals.

“Oh great! Speak of the devil. Literally.” James heard Lottie remark, watching as Crystaline impassively conversed with her people. The woman didn’t look happy, she just looked blank, uncaring, not wanting to be here in this room with these people. James’ heart skipped a beat, responding to Crystaline’s eyes flitting over to his. The moment was thankfully brief. Crystaline returned her attentions to her people, and James’ shy eyes dropped down to his drink. He only had another couple of sips to go. Feeling suddenly frustrated, James took his drink, gulping down the rest of it. When he slammed the glass back down onto the table, James was shocked to see Crystaline standing over him, waiting for a chance to speak above the loud pumping music.

“My brother tells me that you are ready? The mission will begin tomorrow?”

Phil cocked his head casually to one side. Clearly deciding that Crystaline didn’t deserve his eye contact. “That’s right. We just want this thing to be over with. We can’t stay here.”

“No, you can’t,” Crystaline agreed, hesitantly looking towards James. “And you, do you feel ready?”

“Yeah...yeah I do. Look, I er, I know I was a little useless back there, but I’m better than I look...y’know, more skilled.”

Crystaline nodded slowly, pretending to be convinced by James’ words. “Right...because I didn’t mean it, you know. I didn’t mean to alarm you earlier.” Crystaline’s golden irises glanced over towards a disgruntled Lottie. “Any of you,” Crystaline added, aware of Lottie’s exasperation. “I just needed to make my point. Morcees and Borcees are useless, and so were you. Training with my brother helped though, right?”

“Yes!” James agreed, probably too politely and over-enthusiastically. “Yeah it helped! And please, don’t feel bad about anything. I get what you were trying to do.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

“Listen er...do you want to join us? You know, for a drink? Or a bite to...”

“No,” Crystaline quickly responded. “I have some final matters which need tending to before tomorrow. You should all rest. Until tomorrow.”

After her brief discussion with the humans, Crystaline was gone in a flash.

As James wrapped himself deep inside the soft Urashan bedsheets, he felt more determined than ever to get a decent night’s sleep. He knew that this would most probably be his last opportunity to get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow, he wouldn’t even have a bed to sleep him. He would be out there in the Urashan wilderness. Thankfully, James’ determination to sleep paid off. He slept like a baby all night.

When James awoke the following morning, the reality of the situation finally dawned on him. The Urashan wilderness was a dangerous place, and James was about to navigate his way through it. To make matters even worse, he was being separated from Lottie too. How was he going to cope without her? How was she going to cope without him? James sighed, at least Lottie would be safe if she remained in the palace.

Once he’d washed and clothed himself in his usual grey t-shirt, James placed his father’s necklace around his neck. How had his father felt during his first space mission? How had he felt when things got tough and unpredictable? James wished that he had the answer to these questions. Or, to be more precise, he wished that he still had a father to ask these questions to.

Knock knock!

Who was that?

James felt his stomach roiling. Could that be Lottie knocking on his door? For some reason, the very thought of Lottie being at the door right now made James feel very nervous. James took a deep breath, bracing himself to open the door. He was strangely relieved when the door revealed Phil. “What do you want?” James grumbled, trying to hide the relief in his voice.

“I was wondering if I could talk to you for a sec?”

James opened the door wider, inviting Phil into the room. “So, what do you want to talk about?” he asked, clicking the door shut.

“I just wanted to check that you were alright really. I know that you don’t like me fussing. Heck, I know you don’t even like talking to me, full stop, but sometimes, sometimes it’s good to talk, y’know?”

“What is it you want to talk to me about?” James tried to make his response as cold as he could make it.

“Okay, well, this mission is a pretty big deal, right? For a firsttime space warrior, it’s an even bigger deal. It’s scary.”

“I’m not scared,” James lied.

“No? I was. Your father was.”

James felt stunned all of a sudden. “You were there? On his first space mission?”

“Damn straight! We’d trained together, just like you and Lottie. Only your father and I hadn’t schooled together in our younger days. He was like you, y’know. I mean, I knew him well enough to realise that he was terrified. Would he admit it though? No, not a chance in hell. Admitting fear is no weakness, James. You have to acknowledge fear to truly face it, and facing fear is the bravest thing a man can do.”

James gulped, “I’m not scared for me,” he whispered, admitting that something was scaring him.

Phil’s eyes grew soft. “No. But you’re scared for Lottie, right?”

“I never thought I’d have to leave her.”

Phil sighed. “Neither did I. I’ve learnt that sometimes you just have to expect the unexpected, especially out here in a Universe teeming with endless possibilities. And besides, you won’t be separated from her permanently. She will be safe here. It’s us you’ve gotta worry about. We’re the one’s in danger. I bet Lottie’s just as worried as you, and more rightly so.”

James sighed, Phil was right.

It only took a short while for the whole human team to re-group, readying themselves for their separation from one another. James couldn’t help but notice that Lottie’s hair looked a little neater than usual, flowing in an overly brushed manner, draping down past her shoulders. As James walked through the palace with his team, he also noticed that Lottie looked green, ghost green, terrified green. This situation was difficult. James still had no idea what to say to his best friend.

Two Urashan guards met with the humans at the palace’s main exit. One of them had explained that the king was already waiting by the final wall. He was keen to get this mission underway.

As James trudged his way out of the Urashan city, his heart grew heavier and heavier, forcing his brain to think back to that earlier moment in the day when he had been terrified at the very idea of speaking to Lottie. Unfortunately, James still felt the same way, feeling sicker and sicker as the first wall grew closer and closer.

Reluctantly, James exited through the first wall, seeing the comforting sight of the Earthship already being tended to. At least the Urashans were keeping to their end of the bargain, and James was about to start keeping to his.

As the final wall grew closer, James noticed the silver sun’s absence. It was hidden away behind some thick purple clouds. The weather was rather fitting for today. It was gloomy, and James felt sad to be leaving Lottie. He felt apprehensive too.

Now that he was much closer to the last wall, James was finally able to make out the shapes of the blackly clothed Urashans, standing before the wall which practically camouflaged them. Their pale white skin was the only thing which gave them away. They were all there: King Cryston, Crystanaphy, Morcees, Borcees, Crystos and Crystaline.

“Ah! My dear humans! You have arrived at last!” As usual, the king was a little on the over enthusiastic side. “I gather you are all ready for today? You have remembered your sworshas?”

James felt his trouser pocket, yes, he had remembered his sworsha. As the king continued, James took a moment to study his best friend, wondering what she was thinking as she stared into the hard, purple ground. The sounds all around James had become muffled. That was until the king had finally instructed everyone to say their goodbyes. James had heard that.

Saying goodbye to Lisa and Karl wasn’t exactly difficult. James would miss Karl’s calm approach and his wisdom. He would miss Lisa’s gutsiness, and yes, he would worry for their safety, but they weren’t his best friends. They were awesome people, but they weren’t Lottie - a gentle fragile woman who was scared out of her brains. She meant the Universe to him.

As James took a big breath of oxygen into his lungs, the air felt heavy, as if it would crush his throat before it even reached his air breathing organs. Gently, he took Lottie’s arm, leading her to the most secluded area he could find. “Are you okay?” he asked her. What a stupid question.

“I’m fine,” Lottie whispered, visibly shaking. “Really I’m fine. Are you okay?”

James laughed, trying to release away some of his nerves. “No, not really. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect to have to leave you.”

“Me neither. Promise me that you’ll let Phil and Zach look out for you? I know you can’t stand Phil, but he’s on our side, James.”

James sighed, Lottie was right. “As long as you let Karl and Lisa do the same for you?”

Lottie raised her eyebrow, looking annoyed. “I’m not exactly the one in danger, am I?” she petulantly mumbled. “Then again, something is definitely up with this place. I really don’t like it here.”

James stroked Lottie’s cheek with his thumb, smiling reassuringly into her anxious little eyes. “This will all be over soon,” he promised. James took off his father’s necklace, proffering it to his best friend. “Will you look after this for me?”

Lottie’s mouth gaped open. “What? James? No! This is yours, it was your father’s! I can’t take this!”

“Please, Lotts. You know how much I miss my dad, what it means to me to finally be able to take a piece of him with me wherever I go. I don’t know what the terrain is like out there. I’m really worried that it could get lost. If I leave it here with you, then I know it will be safe.”

“I don’t…you really want me to take this?”

“Yeah, yes I do. Please?”

“Okay, but you’ve gotta promise me that you’ll come back for it, right?”

James grinned, carefully placing the necklace around his best friend’s neck. “Of course I will, I promise. In the meantime, you’ll always have a piece of me resting above your heart.”

Lottie placed her hand around the gorgeous green jewel, and then she made a rare move, throwing her arms around her best friend. “I really need you to promise me,” she whispered, eventually letting James go.

“I’ll be back before you know it, I promise. I love you, Lottie. I always will.”

James could feel his best friend’s grip tightening. He knew that she didn’t want to let him go, and James didn’t want to let Lottie go either.

“I mean it, James, stick with Phil and Zach. There’s something about those Urashans. I don’t trust them. I really don’t trust them.”

James looked behind him, noticing how fierce Crystaline’s eyes looked as they tore into him. Lottie was an intuitive woman, and there was definitely something off about Crystaline. Despite his inner softness towards Crystaline, James promised Lottie that he would keep his wits about him.

Once everyone was finished saying their goodbyes, the king’s lips curled into a smug smile, as he handed over full control of the situation to his daughter. “Well, my dear, I shall leave them all in your capable hands.”

Crystaline’s grin had become vicious. Her smiling lips and her piercing eyes couldn’t look any less symmetrical right now, as her eyes shot daggers at Phil. “If you’re quite done blathering out your farewells to one another, then let’s get started shall we, Phil? Just for the record, you’re no longer the captain of this mission, I am.”

In that moment, Phil had looked as if his head was about to explode. Nevertheless, he managed to keep his cool, not reacting to Crystaline’s goading.

As James stepped through the last wall’s exit, he turned around one last time to look back at his best friend. This couldn’t be the last time he would ever see her. He had to keep his promise and make it through this.