Journey to the Center of the Galaxy

"Where are we going now Sillan?" Kevin asked.

The effects of worm-hole space began to play out as they made a swift exit from Tarn and The Undellian Star System. Sillan sat fixed in front of the ships controls as Kevin sat across from him.

"We are warping to The Sagittarius Arm of The Milky Way, to the Eagle Nebula. Of the 8,100 star systems of the nebula, we are going to the Fell System; which houses planet Avax and The Vend's main headquarters."

"How fascinating," Kevin replied.

"We are also extremely close to The Federation's main star system, which is located in the 'Pillars of Creation,' as they are called," Sillan explained. "It's a massive solar nursery and the most densely populated part of the galaxy. The Galactic Congress meets on planet Enlo, in the Enlo system. It's the most heavily populated and most important part of the entire galaxy."

"Will we be going there too?" Kevin asked, leaning back in the co-pilot chair.

"At this point," Sillan said, as one of his facial tattoos rotated. "Anything is possible. But first...to Avax and Jenen Trius!"

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Kevin was finding himself to be quickly adapting to (the process of) traveling from one part of the galaxy to another. He pushed Earth Hammer deeper into the giant right pocket of his coat.

"I have to ask you a question Kevin," Sillan asked.

"Ask away," Kevin replied, putting his feet up on one of the control boards.

"Don't put your feet up there."

"Sorry."

"Did you meet anyone who looked truly...uh...not from your planet...at any point, before I found you...besides those two Lower Kal-Vants, who tried to extract the Illawayan information. Not different in an alien way...just in a wonderful way. Like someone truly special."

"Someone truly special?" Kevin replied.

"Yes...someone...what's the Earth word...uh...FEN ELL? Did you meet someone who registered with your soul in an...uh...archetypal fashion. Like your dream girl...that kind of thing?"

"I...did..."

"Where and when?"

"It was a couple days before you found me," Kevin began to explain. "Just moments before the Lower Kal-Vant attacked me at Jack's party. There was this woman...she was...so...I don't even know how to explain it. She was perfect. It terrified me, the way she made me feel, I wanted to be with her forever, but I knew she could never be truly mine...like it was a sin for me to want to possess her."

"FENN!!!" Sillan explained. "You met a goddess--and in your own physical dimension--she manifested as your dream girl."

"She did...she reminded me of Stephanie Kessenich from high school."

"Of course she did; that's how the gods manifest in your dimension. They take on archetypal appearances that are a reflection of your psyche. What did she say to you!"

"She told me to believe in myself."

"That presence, that saved us on the sports court on lower Tarn...did it feel like the same person was there?!"

"It...did..."

"Okay...," Sillan said. "Time to review and reflect."

"For real?!"

"For real."

Sillan began a long and complex monologue:

"I was given a 'Class AAA Security' mission relayed from Jenen Trius' office at The Vend's Avax headquarters. The mission report was sitting dormant since T.C. 12,022, the same year The Vend was established. I was sent to transport the habitant of an especially unique, back-water planet, to The Illawayan for D.N.A information extraction. The D.N.A. information is something you inherited from your great-grandfather, who had the original information encoded inside himself. You encountered a goddess in disguise who imparted some cryptic advice. You were then attacked by two Lower Kal-Vant in disguise. They attempted to extract your D.N.A. information and "reset your consciousness," but failed to do either. Three days later, I extracted you from your Earth watering-hole, when we were attacked by two space demons, and I was forced to violate The Emerging Planet's Act, at a historic level of violation."

"Classic," Kevin said.

"We quickly departed The Orion Arm of The Milky Way Galaxy," Sillan continued. "When we were unexpectedly attacked by Galawan."

"Why does he think you destroyed his planet?" Kevin asked.

"No time for that," Sillan said. "In your inexperience, you jettisoned most of our essential supplies into outer space. We headed for planet Tarn, to re-supply, where we were once again attacked by space demons. We were saved by the gods, or at least one goddess, who you had already encountered at the drug house."

Kevin started to think about the statement that had been projected into his mind.

"Always trust a Lunerian," she had said.

"Did you hear any words or advice projected into your mind at that time?" Sillan asked.

Something deep inside Kevin told him he should keep it to himself.

"I didn't," Kevin replied.

"Hmm...," Sillan said.

Sillan kept his gaze firmly out of the piloting modules front window, one of his tattoos rotated. Countless stars blasted by. He reached over to the main control panel and pressed several buttons.

"Welcome to The Sagittarius Arm of the galaxy!" Sillan said.

The end of worm hole space played out. The kaleidoscope of warping, reddish colors slowly faded away, and they re-entered normal physical space.

The Sagittarius Arm of the galaxy looked very different from The Perseus Arm. Kevin couldn't help but think he had traveled to a different dimension altogether. The very fabric of space felt different here, it was darker, more ancient, stretched further apart, and deeply, deeply foreboding. Kevin could sense an incredibly ancientness, as if, in this space, a million different stories had already played out. Each one, end to end in an eternal chain. He felt like he barely existed at all.

"Take a look to your left," Sillan said.

There was a massive, galactic cloud of gas and shinning stars that stretched on forever. It had three outstretched fingers.

"Those are The Pillars of Creation," Sillan explained. "Where The Galactic Congress is located. Every functional, evolved system in the galaxy is represented there. That represents three-hundred-thousand, one-hundred and five systems. But we are going somewhere else."

Kevin looked even harder at The Pillars of Creation. They looked like a massive hand stretching out into the fabric of the cosmos. It was the hand of god, reaching out, both infinitely fast and infinitely slow.

"I'm going into light-speed travel now," Sillan said. "To The Fell System...they posses some of the most advanced technology in the galaxy...almost as advanced as the Illawayan."

"Are you going to give Jenen Trius a piece of your mind?" Kevin asked.

"I'm going to start with 'giving him a piece of my mind," Sillan said. " I don't know the expression, but I get what it means. Hold on to your laser pistol, Kevin. Things are about to get interesting."

Kevin grasped the alien, wooden handle of Earth Hammer tightly. Sillan did more calculations, and they blasted towards The Vends' galactic headquarters, and the truth.

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If the Sagittarius arm of the galaxy (from Kevin's perspective) was an older, darker place, planet Avax was it's most dark, ancient world. Even from space, the entire planet had a deeply foreboding, dark look to it. The entire landmass was one, geometric super-continent. It had a completely hexagonal design. The super-continent had been completely rearranged using technology Kevin couldn't even fathom. The continent was one giant city, geometrically and perfectly spaced. The city only grew denser towards it's center, with massive, super-structures that jutted out past the planet's sky, and high into the outer atmosphere.

"We are landing again," Sillan said.

Spaceship Ksenia lowered parallel to the planets landmass, and began to sink into it's atmosphere. There was a pleasant sound of air rushing around the ship.

"From this view," Sillan began to explain. "You can see the architecture of the--FEN ELLLL!!!"

The entirety of spaceship Ksenia began to shake violently for a minute, before the A.I. quickly stabilized it.

"You are under arrest!" A sudden voice projected into the ship.

A face quickly came into view on Sillan's video display. She was a young woman, and appeared to be in her twenties. She was wearing a dark blue military uniform that was adorned with many medals. She had short cut blonde hair and an eye patch over her left eye. Her right eye was a luminous blue color. It glowed with both intelligence and ambition, and something else that was hard to explain. The right side of her uniform had a seal that undoubtably represented The Galactic Federation.

"Sillan Octavion," she began to say. "You and your accomplice from Old Casadasius are under arrested for a historic level violation of The Emerging Planet's Act. Surender your ships control immediately or face direct force."

Kevin felt his hand reach for Earth Hammer on it's own.

"Nice to meet you too," Sillan said.

"Now what!?" Kevin asked.

"I guess it was only a matter of time," Sillan said to himself.

He jumped up from his pilot chair, stood in front of the video display, and then began to talk.

"Please identify yourself!" Sillan said.

The young woman on the other end looked annoyed, but didn't break her authoritative demeanor.

"I am Lylan Afee, The Second General of The Federation Special Safety Initiative Board," she explained.

"You're pretty young to be a general," Sillan replied.

"She's so hot," Kevin said.

"I have direct authorization from The Federation to arrest you and commandeer your ship, Sillan Octavion, even if you are Lunerian," Lylan said. "It is likely you and your accomplice will face a Federation Exportation Tribunal."

"That seems a little extreme," Sillan said. "You haven't heard our side of the story yet!"

"Something is wrong here!" Kevin yelled into the video display from across the room. "He's Lunerian!"

"The arrest has already been authorized by The Court of the Safety Initiative Board."

"You haven't let us explain anything," Sillan said.

"I am in employ of The Vend," Sillan continued. "And, in accordance with The Fanyen Treaty, I am allowed to operate outside the restrictions of inter-planetary code. I was simply put in a position where I did not have a choice."

"The Fanyen Treaty has been repealed," Lylan said. "It was voted down in The Galactic Congress this morning. You and your accomplice are now wanted criminals."

"Uh...oh...FEN," Sillan said. "I knew this day would come."

"Doesn't he get Lunerian privileges?" Kevin yelled.

"I was forced to utilize a laser weapon," Sillan said. "I had no choice, my accomplice here would have died, and the mission would have been a complete failure. Which, ironically, would have been a violation of The Fanyen Treaty."

"Either way," said Lylan, brushing her short hair over her eyepatch. "You are now wanted criminals."

Kevin looked out the front window. The ship Lylan was in was five times as large as Spaceship Ksenia. It was a giant, mostly cube shaped spacecraft. Kevin saw the utilitarian design of Federation ships. The ship had four massive wings that spread out from the respective corners of the center cube. There was a long corridor stretching out from the front center of the cube; at the end of the corridor was another cube shaped bridge; which must have been where Lylan was. There were two giant cannons affixed to the upper right and left sides of the of the main cube.

"This vessel has been retro-fitted with dual rail guns," Lylan said. "They represent the latest matter-cannon technology, and I am authorized to use lethal force. I don't think there is anything on that Alentian slop-job that could withstand them."

"Let's just not do that," Sillan said.

"You have three minutes to surrender," Lylan continued.

"I need to contact some people I know with the Galactic Congress," Sillan said, coughing and looking away from the video display. "There is most definitely a misunderstanding to be sorted out here."

"There is no misunderstanding," Lylan said.

Kevin watched as Lylan's single, cold blue eye took on a fierce, intellectual glow.

Sillan continued to talk, as he walked out of view of the video display, and started looking for something inside the piloting module.

"What are you doing?" Lylan broadcasted.

"I think I have...my copy...of The Galactic...Democratic...Constitution...over here...," Sillan yelled back. "Just give me a minute."

It was obvious to Kevin Sillan was looking for something else entirely. Kevin clutched Earth Hammer again, this time with a very sweaty hand.

"A.I." Sillan began to say.

"I can hear you!" Lylan yelled again. "What are you trying to pull!? You have two minutes now."

"A.I." Sillan said again. "Switch to emergency code, mode-4, Bolan-Crec configuration!"

"WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE DOING!!" Lylan yelled "SUR-

"DO IT NOW! FEN EL!" Sillan yelled.

"Initiating Bolan-Crec mode!" The ships A.I. replied.

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Kevin watched (with a combination of horror and amazement) as the physical fabric of the ships piloting module began to bend and warp like loose blankets. Space folded around him. He was no longer in the physical world he had always known, but something else. He was in the very background of the fabric space. It was an eternal void. He had no idea where Sillan, Spaceship Ksenia, Lylan, Lylan's ship and planet Avax had gone. He didn't know where anything was at all. He reached for Earth Hammer again, it was the only thing that still felt solid.

"Sillan!" Kevin yelled. "WHAT THE FEN EL IS HAPPENING!"

There was a long and incredible silence before anything else happened.

"Casadasius resident!" The A.I. stated (with a bit of an attitude). "We are still in Bolan-Crec Space, please remain clam as you re-connect with the master in normal physical space."

"What!!!?" Kevin yelled back.

For a moment, the terror (of whatever had just happened) slowly morphed into something beautiful and wonderful. Planet Avax came back into view, but in a way that implied the reverse version of the planet itself, as if there was a world of shadows, behind the universe, that Kevin had slipped into. He felt like the universe was cradling him. He slowly floated downwards. With no real sense of scale or physical matter, he couldn't tell where he really was in any sense. He slowly floated downwards, towards the alternate version of Planet Avax. He felt his body become as large as reality itself (whatever that meant at this point). He was then suddenly kicked back out into physical reality.

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Kevin went flying out, sideways, and into the wall of an alien beings apartment. He collided with the wall comedically and then fell on the floor.

"What the f#$% just happened!?" Kevin yelled. "FEN ELL!"

"That's not what that means," Sillan laughed. "You basically just said you are ready for lunch."

Sillan had already been standing in the apartment, looking calm and ready for what came next.

Kevin started throwing up on the floor.

"Looks like lunch is canceled!" Said the alien being who's apartment they were now in.

"How the dishakk are you in my apartment!!!" The alien continued. He looked like a small human being; except he was hunched over like an old man and had one eye in the center of his face.

Kevin stood up fast and saw the alien being. He was wearing a bathrobe and slippers. He was holding a steaming mug of a blue beverage, which had the image of (what was most likely) a famous athlete on Avax. His apartment had the dark, gothic look that the rest of the planet had.

"Our apologies!" Sillan explained, dusting himself off. "We made a poorly calculated worm hole jump. We will take our leave now. Have a great week!"

The alien started a long series of expletives in the regional dialect. Sillan and Kevin quickly made their way out of the front door of the apartment and swiftly on to the streets of planet Avax.

"What the hell just happened?!" Kevin asked. "I just watched reality f#$%....melt."

"I told you before," Sillan explained. "I have Bolan-Crec technology."

"That explains the whole thing! Kevin said.

"The Bolan-Crec," Sillan said. "Were so advanced that their technology is still built into the fabric of time and space; even if they are gone now. I've been researching them since I left Luneris."

"They have technology advanced enough to move through reality?! Is that what that was? Was that just what happened?!" Kevin asked.

"You are catching on quick," Sillan said.

"Where the hell are we?" Kevin asked.

"We are on the streets of Benglese, capitol city of Avax."

"And?"

"And I'm trying to figure out how far we are away from The Vend's main headquarters. Considering we just moved through reality; as you aptly explained it."

"Where the hell did spaceship Ksenia go?"

"Uh...Fen Fen," Sillan said." It's sort of everywhere and nowhere now, it's hard to explain...but we will catch back up with it, and the A.I. later."

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The streets of Benglese were remarkably different from Tarn and Earth. They were built with cobblestone and were lined with tall, dark street lamps. They looked remarkably similar to The Victorian era of England. The street traffic consisted of hovering cars, which raised high into sky in countless layers of traffic. The city was densely populated, but had a foreboding, lonely feeling at the same time. The buildings climbed further than the eye could see. Some of the buildings looked like the Art Deco skyscrapers of 1920's New York. On the lower street, the buildings were all made of a stone like material, but as you rose higher, skyscrapers and towering ziggurats dominated the view.

"Okay," Sillan said. "I'm interfacing with the ships A.I. now so I can figure out where we are."

"Haven't you been here before?" Kevin asked. "Since you work for these people?"

"I've been on this planet three times," Sillan said.

They walked a little while longer. Sillan looked anxious, but still calm and collected. Kevin saw seven new alien species as they rushed through the city. He gave up on trying to catalog them all, and decided to go with it from now on. He noticed some lower Kal-Vant walking around, which made him nervous. He clutched Earth Hammer.

"You are going to need that thing," Sillan said. "We don't have very long before Lylan and The Federation catch up to us. We are wanted criminals now, Kevin. At least until we clear all this up. We need to find Jenen Trius before they find us."

"That woman said something that I heard before," Kevin said.

"Which is?" Sillan asked, as his facial tattoos rotated and he checked all around them.

"The two Lower Kal-Vant that tried to process me at Jack's party...they said the same thing she said...that they were with the 'Special Branch of the Safety Initiative Board."

"FEN ELLLL!" Sillan said, looking like he just had an epiphany. "That explains everything!"

"Care to share?" Kevin asked, as he almost tripped over an overly elevated cobblestone.

"Hold fast Kevin," Sillan said. "I'll explain everything later. We need to focus right now. We have about ten minutes before Lylan and whoever else send their probe ships down here."

"How close are we to The Vend's main-

"FENNN!" Sillan said, making a swift turn off of the small street they were on, and towards a very busy, main street that led to the center of the city.

Kevin and Sillan pushed through more alien beings, they all seemed to be going the opposite direction as them.

"This planet is in danger," Sillan said. "I can feel it."

Sillan's facial tattoos rotated and resonated in a way Kevin had never seen before.

"The Vend's main headquarters should be up here," Sillan said.

They exited the darkly lit, cobblestone part of the city and were now in a massive business district. There was a giant, deeply blue, neon moon glowing above. It was ten times the size of Earths moon. The buildings gave way to ziggurats of increasing sizes. Some were the size of normal Earth houses, some were the size of large office buildings, and even more towered massively (and menacingly) deep into the nighttime skyline, far beyond the range of vision.

"This looks like Bladerunner," Kevin said.

They stepped on an automated tread that was fully packed with nighttime commuters. Sillan pushed through them swiftly.

"How long do we have?" Kevin asked.

"We have fifteen minutes until they figure out where we are," Sillan said.

The struggle through the automated tread was intense and went on for what seemed like forever. Kevin watched as a sea of alien faces (of all kinds) protested and shouted, while they quickly made their way to the headquarters of an intergalactic bounty agency. His friend, who could travel wherever he wanted, and do anything, moved swiftly ahead of him, as they both careened into an inevitable collision with forces far beyond their current comprehension.