Chapter Text
A fear mongering tyrant, after losing his most valuable prisoners and killing the one who returned alone to save innocent lives, makes a trap only to be caught himself. A self-proclaimed prophet uses the loss of several authority figures to take control of their people. A sentient computer program continues her mission to “make life better” for the remnants of the human race. A woman barely old enough to be considered an adult is forced to flee her latest home and tries to make peace by protecting the gravely wounded person she loves.
Some people run from one place to another, others fight to the bloody end, and all suffer for it.
Many others play parts in the chaotic production that follows...such as a brilliant mechanic fighting a war in her own mind, a conflicted young man trying to make up for his mistakes, a bitter girl believing she has nothing left but the fight...and it comes to a head in bloodstained, half-ruined city where a false leader falls in shower of black blood at the feet of the true commander. Two creations of the same genius mind are pit against each other while a throne room is turned into a battlefield with a former leader, a brother, and an exile as the generals.
Such is life on the ground.
The city of light falls as silently as it was created, the commander regains her throne, and those who forgot everything remember and are consumed by pain and remorse. The few deep breaths of relief soon turn to gasps of panic. Distrust, anger, and sorrow run rampant with the cries of the living, and for a time, it seems that all has been won only to be lost.
But the commander’s word prevails, those who must be punished are, and those merely caught up in the struggle are pardoned. The rebuilding can begin.
It takes time to heal the living and pay respect to the dead. It takes time to wash away the blood and filth. It takes time to account for everyone. And when the counting is done, the people from the sky find that they are missing two prominent figures, gone without a trace.
The repentant young man and the once-commander of death, made co-leaders in the unexpected power vacuum, order searches. Questions are asked, clues are found then discarded, and tears are shed. There is only so long people can search when there is nothing to be found.
Before the summer peaks and autumn approaches with winter on its heels, the searches are disbanded. The people of the sky have lost two important figures, leaving a gaping hole that others struggle to fill, but life must continue.
Peace proves fragile, but it holds for a time. People eat, sleep, work, and grieve as necessary, most able to hope each nightfall for a better tomorrow. A lone man hell-bent on revenge makes his move and fails. The resident genius continues to fight her battles and wins. A mourning teenager also fights...and loses.The brother makes up for his past mistakes day by day. His heartbroken sister slowly heals. The young woman who most either hate, look up to, or fear...she survives, and tries to find ways to live, too.
The moon and stars cycle through the sky, the seasons shift, and life goes on for the people in this relatively small, battle-torn corner of the battered world.
Far away to the west, the heavens shift over another varied group of people with their own tumultuous history, strange customs, and bloody conflicts. Their society, much like that in the east during the previous year, teeters on the brink of upheaval. The calm awaits a disturbance or three, and ironically those who would keep the old order are the people to bring one.
And among the resulting insanity, two lost people will look up at the stars and wonder if it would have been better to face the end among them. As it is, their intertwined journeys are far from over.