Newly Lost

Chapter 1

A Strange Voice

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. They didn’t, however, say how cold the touch of space would be, as Pierre drifted, rather nonchalantly, through the void. Above him was his ship, The Terreta, a trapezoid shaped, silver steel (silver was being too kind as it had devolved into more of a depressing gray through the years) Freighter-class Star-Jumper. Despite perceiving himself to be outside the ship, which one might think a terrifying sight to wake to, Pierre felt as if the ship was tethered to him, stuck as if it were embedded into his very form, guiding him along a path unbeknownst to him amongst the stars. But more confusing to Pierre, how was he not suffocating to death? Pierre wasn’t aware of any advancements of such nature within human biological capabilities in recent memory, but yet here he was, floating in the vacuum of space with absolutely no difficulties.

Then unexpectedly, a pink tint glazed over his vision, turning his ship and the space around him into a less-terrifying, more cartoonish image of impending death. Breathe, you are safe, Star Tamer. And with a startled blink he found himself sitting at The Terreta’s controls, one hand clasped tightly around the black Vilasteel bar in front of him that controlled the ships’ acceleration. Immediately attempting to push it down, it didn’t budge, jammed on whatever failing gear that needed replacing.

There is no need to be scared soothed the voice again, tingling Pierre’s nerves similar to the sensation a puff of leemling grass would impose upon his senses. And with this sensation, he blinked again and found himself in a cave. Smooth stones beneath his boots, wild flowers springing up from between the cracks, lighting the cave with their obvious bioluminescence as they change in color from a light, calming purple, to a freeing yellow, and to an oppressing red, changing in increments of ten seconds. From the ceiling of this cave hung what appeared to be the ribcage of a massive beast, the fossil lodged into the rock, which gleaned back the color of the ever changing glow of the flowers. For what seemed an hour Pierre stood there, frozen in place with wonder, fear, amazement, and curiosity. He wondered how the flowers glowed, for he had never seen such a species, he feared as to what in the chasms was going on, amazed by the size of the fossil of the beast above him, and ever so curious as to who or what it was that had kidnapped him from the comforts of his decaying ship (decaying was putting it nicely).

As he studied his surroundings, a small ball of light emerged from the bloom, floating up, and then coasting on over to Pierre at head level, stopping approximately three feet away. Again, the voice spoke, or more so injected its thoughts into Pierres’ mind. Please, do control yourself Star Tamer, it is quite exhausting to keep up with you.

Hold up, Pierre thought back to the floating ball of light, Whatchu mean “Keep up” with me, you’re the one doing, he motioned to his surrounding area in a motion that would be accompanied with a recorded laugh track comparable to those old shows his grandfather used to watch during longer Jumps in between visiting the various planets of the Linear CORE (Celestial Organic Republic of Elysium), whatever this is! Pierre needed an explanation, he didn’t like not knowing what was happening, especially when said happenings involved him supposedly being teleported from planet to planet. Please let this be a dream please let this be a dream please let this be a dream ple-

You are aware I’m able to hear you, yes?

GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

I’m not in your head, we are communicating comparable to how many species in this galaxy do so using their voices. But we, Star Tamer, are communicating via the neural connection between our respective minds.

…Explain that to me not so vaguely please?

I’m a sentient being with no obvious physical form, I am not however, a scientist versed on the abilities that you and I bear.

Smartass.

I prefer the term “pain in the ass” as my previous Star Tamers’ have dubbed me.

Ya know this would be a whole lot easier for this “Star Tamer” if you told him WHAT A STAR TAMER IS. Even though he wasn’t speaking physically, with every thought of yelling Pierre could feel his neck flex with every word…thought?

Say please.

What?

Say please. Said, or thought the literal ball of light.

I’m-I’m not gonna say please to a being who literally self describes themself not having any “obvious physical form”.

That’s unfortunate, for you. Pierre was starting to notice these blinks were becoming more and more involuntary by the minute, because when he came to, he found himself atop a hill, quite a large one he found out when looking down and seeing the vast expanse of more rolling hills, vibrant with life. Pierre looked down amongst the herds of unknown animals that kicked up clouds of dust all over the immense landscape that laid before him. He then looked up to examine the sky of this planet, to which he found himself staring in awe and horror at the apparent asteroid belt that occupied the sky.

It was at this point that Pierre’s composure began to fail, his brow gleaming with sweat and the taste of salt in his mouth from his sweat. Because now, Pierre knew, from looking at the sky, that he was on the planet Dinimo, a planet known for its asteroid fields that sit around the planet. The only problem with that assumption, was that Dinimo is 100 planets or so away from Pierre’s last known position, if his memory served him correct.

And with a deep sigh of contempt, confusion, and panic all mixed into one, which more or less qualified as a cry for help, Pierre sat down on the flowery floor of the hill, and whispered to himself, “Welp… shit”.