Star Bate Saga: V

Firmament stood looking out at the galaxy. Just from the glass, the space beyond her years felt cool and refreshing. It felt satisfying, like this is what she'd been destined to see. It was gratifying. She could see her hopes dangling like stars and felt pensive like gas and ice. Tentatively, her fingers touched the glass and she closed her eyes. She knew, she was almost home.

Chatoyant came up quietly and slyly next to her. They stood contently, looking out over the beauty of untapped potential. 

"He didn't know."

"I know."

"Do you forgive him?"

"I never forgive."

"How's that going for you?"

"I'm still alive aren't I?"

"Are you?"

Firmament paused and drew her attention away from the abyss and towards Chatoyant. "I am now."

Chatoyant nodded robotically. As she was about to continue on, the doors slid open and Grayson sauntered in. He was wearing black fatigues, although they were cut and and ripped and taped off with various ribbons like tourniquets.

"Captain, ship is heading into unmapped territory. Shall we proceed?" 

"Yes. At warp."

"Understood Captain." Grayson looked down and then chuckled. "Captain. This is so professional! We actually did it! We got a ship and we're going to find the Brio galaxy and it's going to be beautiful and maybe we'll stop by the Rose galaxy too and-"

"Lieutenant,"

"Yeah?"

"No."

"Right."

"Dismissed."

"Right." Grayson saluted and then winked. Firmament smiled faintly. As Grayson turned to leave, he paused and asked softly, "Hey Fe, what was your planet called?"

Firmament paused and replied softly back, "Sidereal." 

Grayson nodded politely and left the two of them alone again.

Chatoyant folded her hands. "Sidereal. I believe a rough English translation can be made.  Determined by the stars and constellations. How poetic."

"It's true you know." Firmament said after a moment. "We were savage. Our gods lay in masses of inanimate gas and rock. Our philosophies were spacial anomalies. Our fates were emptiness and silence."

"I'm guessing you don't believe."

"In sabaism? How could I? My people prayed day and night for our planet to be saved. For our system to be saved. And how did the gods reward us? By not existing."

Chatoyant turned and looked at Firmament directly. Her eyes shone vividly, a sister to the stars. "Sometimes things aren't so cut and dry. The gods did not damn your people. You are still here to carry on their legacy. That is why you must have faith. You need to find yourself among the stars. Sabaists do not worship inanimate balls of gas. They worship hope and light and destiny and wonder. They believe that leos roar like lions and tarsus rage like bulls. They believe that you are just as special and as celestial as the stars above. Firmament, it is your destiny to make sure that all that wonder and belief is not lost. That the stars aren't just stars. They are hope."

Firmament looked away from Chatoyant and out at the galaxy. She felt cold, like the universe had chewed her up and spit her out. She slowly kneeled down and sat on the cold volcanic tile flooring. She brought her knees up to her chest and leaned against the now devoid galaxy. Chatoyant kneeled down with her and wrapped her arms around her. 

"There are others." Chatoywant whispered. "You are not alone."