Chapter Text
Prologue
Every single star is a swirling mess of gas and heat, lighting up the hollow emptiness around it. Every star is a possible solar system. Every solar system a chance for life.
Think of the myriads of possibilities of other things that could have, but didn't, happen to our solar system. Imagine if the Sun had gotten just a bit too close to another star and their gravities swallowed each other up, collapsing into a sea of nothing. Imagine if an asteroid crashed into the young Earth and split it back into the pieces it was made from.
Does Fate have us on an iron leash? Or are we merely the children of coincidence?
Part 1
Dear Dan,
I don’t even know if this will be sent properly, but I wanted to at least try. I want to let you know I’m okay, but I miss you so much. There’s nothing much to tell, Martyn’s wedding was great. Your parents and brother were also at the wedding and they’re all well, but of course they also miss you. I saw a bunch of Bluestar flowers in the park the other day and they reminded me of the first day we met. Do you remember? Do you remember that day nearly 15 years ago? The day we met? Almost everything else that long ago is lost to me but not that, never that. It’s been almost 15 years and you’re still as important to me as that day we declared we were each other's “best friends for life” in primary school. 15 years and you’re still the most important person to me. 15 years of us laughing with each other until we’re holding our sides, and 15 years of our silly little arguments, and 15 years later I still love you. I always will. Right now, we’re both so far away from each other, but I promise that once this is all over we’ll find our way back. I don’t know if you’ll even get this, everything I write has too high a chance of being intercepted by the Corpus, but then again, what do they care about this letter? We’re just two people separated by this war, nothing but collateral damage to them. I hope I’ll see you soon love.
Love,
Phil
(P.S. I don’t know if you’ll get this, but if you do, today is October 16th, 5199 for reference)
Year 5184
Amorian Galaxy
New Earth
Blue lights shine at the side of the streets, illuminating the pathway for hover vehicles and pedestrians alike. Another 26 hour day is closing on New Earth. Humans aren't terribly creative sometimes, but they're always terribly nostalgic. As their species scattered among the galaxies, some stumbled upon a planet so close to Earth in size and composition. Immediately, they settled and named it, imaginatively, New Earth.
It's been 928 years since Earth became completely uninhabitable, and 2037 years since humans first found other planets to call home. They spread amongst the stars, conquering galaxies, for better or for worse.
A skinny young boy with ginger blond hair pokes his head out of his house's front door when he hears a maglev truck outside.
His mother tugs at his pale orange shirt sleeve, hissing, "Phil, come back inside, dinner's ready."
"But there's someone here, I want to meet them," Phil whines petulantly.
"I know, they're the new family moving in. Come on, we can say hi in the morning." Reluctantly, Phil heads back inside, ginger hair flashing for a moment in the golden sunlight.
Two houses over, the maglev truck slows to a stop and a family of four hops out, two young parents, a boy around Phil’s age with espresso colored hair, and an infant wrapped in a forest green blanket in the father’s arms. The little boy glances around apprehensively and with awareness far beyond his years. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots a cluster or Bluestar flowers and stoops down to pick one with his short, chubby fingers. The flower is tiny with five petals all colored a blue darker than the sky, lighter than the ocean, and tinged with a hint of purple. It’s a color bordering on periwinkle, but not quite.
“Come on Dan, we’re going inside, it’s getting dark.”, the mother calls behind her.
Putting the flower into his pocket with great care, he follows his mother into their new home. The sleek silver door clicks shut behind him.
~
Leaves rustle as the warm summer breeze blows through, mussing up artfully styled hair, and sending papers flying. Phil rides down the street on a tricycle, giggling and shouting as the wind whistles by. He glances down at the controls for a second. Looking back up, he just narrowly misses crashing into a boy with brown hair and eyes widening at the proximity of the tricycle. Phil swerves and the tricycle topples, sending him rolling into a patch of grass. The boy comes to a stop, and starts running towards Phil.
“You okay?”, the boy extends a hand that Phil takes to steady himself.
“Yeah, I think so.”
Sorry I was in the way. My mummy always says I’m not looking where I’m going and one day I’ll accidentally walk off the planet.”
Phil laughs at his comment, “You’re the new kid right? My mom told me about you.”
“Yep that’s me, new kid.” The boy smiles and points at himself. He seems very energetic.
“So, uh... What’s your name?”
“Dan.”
“I’m Phil.”
“Are you going to year 2 next year too?”
“Yup, wanna be friends?” Phil stumbles over his words in the beginning, unsure to ask.
“Okay.”, Dan responds shyly, eyes lighting up at the prospect of a new friend in a new neighborhood.
“What’s your favorite game?”, genuine curiosity takes over Phil’s features.
“Uhh, tag.”
“Okay, tag you’re it!”
“Hey, you didn’t say we were playing!”Dan laughs as he chases after Phil, with fears about being the new kid with no friends melting away.
~
New Earth’s sun, Stellon, rises and sets as the summer rushes by in a swirl of ice cream cones and games of tag. Dan and Phil have become nearly inseparable before the start of the school year. They spend hours under the blazing sun, only going back inside when it has fully set.
By now, Phil has met the Howells and Dan the Lesters. On days when the wind is just right and the sun not too hot, their mothers sit under the patchy shade of a maple tree and chat, watching their sons immersed in a game of hopscotch.
~
A new excitement fills the air and chatter about needing to get school supplies android-delivered hangs on the lips of parents. The last week of summer has arrived far too soon.
On the very last day of summer, Dan goes over to Phil’s house, a fresh-picked Bluestar in hand. He knocks on the silvery door and is greeted by a smiling Mrs. Lester; she cranes her head towards the stairwell and shouts for Phil, “Phil! Dan’s here!”
As per usual, Phil bounds down the stairs, beaming unable to contain his excitement , “ Hi Dan!”
“Hi Phil,” Dan responds, a smile just as bright on his face, “You wanna go outside and play? Today’s the last day.”
“Sure, let’s go.”
“ Oh and Phil I have something for you.” Dan explains to Phil so quietly, that his voice is carried with the wind.
“Okay, you boys be safe, stay on the street.”, Mrs. Lester reminds them, motherly concern apparent.
“Yes mum.”, Phil sighs petulantly.
“We know,” Dan follows suit.
Dan and Phil race down the street until they reach a small park, breathless.
“Wait, Phil I have something for you.”, Dan pulls the delicate Bluestar out of his pocket, “I found this. I think looks like your eyes.”
Gingerly, Phil takes the flower, “Thanks Dan, I love it.” and smiles.