Darker can feel a pull, a tugging on his soul. He knows that there is something out there waiting for him, something that can give him the one thing it seems he will never know again; death. Not just death, but a return to that existence he enjoyed before his resurrection, where the only bounds he knew were the ones he wanted, and he could be everything and nothing with a simple thought.
Darker stands on a small asteroid in the Xx Banned Regions staring out at the plane of irregular rocky bodies that constitutes the banned regions, and into the dark sky full of floating bodies and stars in the distance that create a horizon. He wants to hop the asteroids as far as they will take him, to the edge of the regions and the unexplored space beyond to the source of his feelings that promise him peace if he can make it.
He’s been in the banned regions for at least a month RET and he has resisted the pull. Maria is worried enough as it is, but Darker can’t articulate his feelings so he will not leave her without an explanation. But the feeling is harder to resist with each passing day.
He continues his journey to the Universal Infirmary Branch campus where he will meet Eakran and Maria for food. He engages the jet boosters at his waist and back, and he flies through the floating bodies until he sees the impressive UI campus buildings constructed under brightly lit domes on planetary bodies that are larger than other rocky structures nearby, but much smaller than a standard planet with no substantial gravity of their own. There are three main buildings of the UI branch, and Darker goes to the dormitory building that is like an extended-stay hotel. He lands at Eakran’s door and lets himself inside. The space opens on a living room area with a long padded bench along one wall that faces a large screen set into the opposite wall that broadcasts news transmissions from the IP. Maria and Eakan arrange food on the large table in front of the bench and they smile at Darker when they see him.
“Just in time,” Eakran says with a big smile that Darker doesn’t trust. Maria is quiet and stares at him like she is trying to smile. They both seem strange.
“In time for what?” he asks skeptically and looks to Maria for an answer.
“Sit down,” she says, “we can talk while we eat.”
Darker sits and eyes the IP provisions set out on platters. He hasn’t really eaten anything since the food from Earth they had brought with them was destroyed with Eakran’s ship. He doesn’t really need to eat, but he can still enjoy food, he just really doesn’t like the stuff that the IP produces that is consumable by almost any being of the universe and is made synthetically without harming any living creatures.
“I think you should go to Eel,” Maria says cautiously. “I know you had a hard time on Vwrawl and all of this chaos isn’t helping. It’s risky for us to use the wormhole back to Earth, but the Eeling have apparently traveled to Earth before and if you really want to get back, they can take you.”
“Who says I want to go back?” Darker asks, staring at the various shapes of the foods on the table in the muted grays, browns and greens that he finds unappetizing.
“Well, Eel is a good place to relax,” Maria says, honestly surprised that he is resistant to the idea of returning to Earth. “Alia is there.”
Darker feels a spark inside of his chest, like a ball of emotions explode and make his heart race. Alia, he had forgotten about her. Maybe she could tell him what was pulling at him, she is well versed in the mysterious.
“Fine,” he says and looks from Maria to Eakran. “Will you miss me?”
Eakran blushes under his dark skin. The two have been more open about their feelings for one another and though he will miss the presence of his first real friend, Eakran knows that this is best for him. Whadgaf, Kazi Lograt, Representative Prab and Maria are all indicating that things will become more dangerous soon and he wouldn’t want Darker to be traumatized any further.
“We will visit you soon. We will all come and then go to Druont together.”
“Kazi Lograt is already here and he’s headed back to Eel soon,” Maria says.
“Then I guess this is goodbye,” Darker says.
“Are you mad?”
“You’re just doing what you think is best. You don’t want an old man slowing you down while you save the universe.”
Maria chuckles. “I don’t trust you Darker. I see you staring out into space when you think you’re alone. I don’t want to lose you and I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“I appreciate that. I don’t want to lose you either, but honestly, I hardly recognize any of you anymore. This is all too easy for you, for Giovanni. But I’m glad I’m the only one struggling. I love you both, I’ll be on Eel until all this is over I guess. Don’t worry about me.”
Darker stands and Maria stands too. They are both angry with one another, but she goes to the door and motions for him to follow.
“Wait,” Eakran says. “Give Darker and me some time to say goodbye.”
Maria nods, “I’ll be with Lograt. No rush. Let me know when you’re ready.”
Darker hates that she is mad with him, but he is just as worried for her as she is for him, that their space adventures will make her forget who she was, though maybe the person she is now is the person she had always been and he has never been a good friend to her. It pains him to watch her leave.
“Let’s make out,” Eakran says and it shocks Darker out of his feelings. “I’m serious. You are going away and it seems like the whole universe wants me dead. If I never see you again, I want to have experienced human intimacy.”
Darker smiles and grabs Eakran around his waist with both arms. He feels good so close, and Darker inhales him; he smells like a baby, soap and clean flesh.
He feels Eakran wrap his arms around his neck and the two kiss, Darker controlling the amount of tongue they use and they quickly find an intimate rhythm that lasts a few minutes. When they finish, Eakran sighs and stares off past Darker.
“That was intense,” he says, panting softly like he is catching his breath. Darker grabs his chin and forces eye contact. “Let’s do that again,” Eakran says with a smile.
The two explore one another’s body carefully and lovingly on the padded bench. When they are done, Eakran sits up with his eyes wide, Darker with his head in his lap.
“I will definitely miss not being able to do that with you,” Eakran says. He is in ecstacy, and he looks down at Darker with love in his eyes.
Darker keeps his thoughts to himself. It was the last thing he really wanted from life, to be intimate with Eakran and explore the parts of him that he kept hidden. Eakran is not male, he has reproductive parts similar to both male and female humans, and Darker had truly enjoyed them both, but once was all he needed. He can feel the pull away even as he returns all the love that Eakran gives him. He knows that he is seeing Eakran for the last time, and hopes with all of himself that he is right. His life is done and he would see the end. But he would always have his memories with Eakran.
PRL Serials 