Summary: What secrets lie in the depths of space? What are fairy tells told to frighten children, and what are truths. What tyranny lies in the system of government, and betrayle is hidden in subordination and servitude.

Warning: This is not a dialouge based story, most of it is discription. And it may take more reading to get places than with others. It is a sci-fi / action / adventer / angst story. If any of this bothers you I would not advise reading. Dont leave me flames because you dont like the format of writing.

Chapter 1

Awaken from Slumber

It radiated an odd… warmth. A green luster that swirled, growing stronger and brighter in the dark. The warmth encircled him… held him captive to it’s pulsating glow.

What secrets lie hidden in the column of green light? Its vine covered glass walls stretching from floor to ceiling of the cavernous room in which he stood. Leaves sprouting from the deep earth colored roots.

How much were it’s treasures worth?

What were these treasures?

And why could he not break through the glass which enclosed the source of that pulsating light! Gun in hand, the outlaw stepped back a deep exhale of breath sending a mist into the cold air. How he was supposed to find a way out he was uncertain. He had only stumbled in here on accident, while fleeing crafts from the Sector 9 Law Enforcement Division. It was cold in here, at the gaping tunnel entrance… yet much warmer than the surface. Where his Alumni was docked in snow and ice.

The Alumni… a special aircraft that was a mystery in itself. It had been gifted to him by his father on his deathbed. A machine originally created for the use of those in the Sector 2 Aviations Department … or shortly, those with the “worthy” skills to pilot such a machine. Or so judged by the Masonsry Academy of Flight. He… Seiko Renavem had used it to fulfill his goals as an outlaw. Yes… a criminal who, while only known in the Sectors 9 and 5.

Here… outlaws were any who dared defy the Imperial Order, currently ruled by the Queen Mi’vesta XII.

Though, she was not near corrupt as those before her, oppression ran high for those denoted as outlaws.

And things were not much better for Raiders.

All were scouted by the Relophs, an elite division of fighters trained to protect the Order.

And of course, bounty hunters. Though, all of it was a load of bullshit if you asked him…. But anyhow.

Down to business, how was he supposed to get this damned thing open?

Green eyes shot back and forth from wall to wall, it was all too dark to make much sense of what was there. Growling to himself he tapped the button on the side of his visor, a device that wrapped around his right ear and stemmed out with a red glass monocle which covered his right eye. A light streamed forth, painting the walls of the cavern in a dim shade of yellow. His jaw fell lax slightly, “What the hell?”

“General!” The grunt saluted, as the said general turned to look upon him. In his hand, held tightly a file containing info on their most recent target. Blond tresses suppressed in the white and black of the hat which slightly hid mismatched eyes. One a deep burgundy, the other a cool honey. “What is it?” He asked, voice as nails sliding across glass. The man nodded, “The file for the target sir, though. The Units 2 and 4 dispatched to capture him lost sight in the ice storm.” The General’s mouth bent into a flat line, “Fool, this is space there aren’t any ice storms.” The grunt nodded shakily, “Yes… but apparently the winds from some star… well we aren’t sure what it is. But it was coated in ice and snow.” The General’s eyes narrowed. Snatching the file from the grunt he spun on his heel and left the cabin, barking orders as he entered the Pilots Cabin. “Dispatch Unit 8 and prepare Asumdii. Launch the isolation pods in the area and make sure any traffic is monitored.” The grunt stared after the General who seemed to be in a rush to discover what the object of Ice had been.

“Desha??” Came the impatient voice from behind the General which halted his steps to Asumdii in the hanger. “What do you want Sakiya?” He asked coldly. The woman huffed as she marched up to him, red hair pulled back and strung with a visor over her left eye. Purple eyes narrowed as she watched him, “You don’t honestly think that this could be one of the Druidi? Do you..” A cold look from the corner of his eye confirmed her suspicions.

“Asumdii is an Alumni, with the mysteries that I could unlock of it’s power had I the Druidi that might slumber here..” Sakiya growled her impatience, “Some fairy tale machine will not make you any more valuable to the Queen!!” She barked, but he only scowled. “Perhaps not. But think of the power that could be gained. The favor which might fall to me.” Sakiya’s arms fell lax at her sides. “Desha…”

Another zap of electricity flowing through long unused wires, sparks cascading from sockets and outlets hence frozen or covered in vines. “So this wasn’t a planet, how the hell did it generate it’s own atmosphere… and these plants start to grow?” Seiko growled, hands sore and blistered from picking apart the hull of the room. “And what the hell is up with all of these … carvings on the walls!” Depictions of machines much like the Alumni… but with an obvious difference of there being a counted number of them standing out from the rest.

A duct blasted from the floor at his ankle, sparks spewing from the control panel on which his fingers rapidly typed. “What the hell!” He shouted, falling back several steps and growling at the now fried panel. “Dammit!” Grabbing the vent and hurling it at the epicenter of the room, the glowing green column. Metal struck glass, vibrating the calmly pulsating light.

The lights which lined to floor of the room, giving of a faint light flickered. “What the..” The light stopped it’s even pulsations, a soft hum resonating through the room, causing him to clap gloved hands over his ears. Before the green light began to again pulsate, though this time almost with a viciousness that with each vibe sent shivers of brighter light through the column. Until he could no longer look upon the glass, yet only lasted a few moments before fading.

No longer was the column green, the glass seemed… melted away the vines lying friend upon the floor. And a florescent blue light emanted from the column, wires ran up poles and glass encased panels. Yet, no logical source for the light. Allowing his hands to fall to his sides, stepping cautiously toward the column, Seiko’s eyes wandered up and down the odd contraption. “What the hell, is this thing like the brain or something?” He mumbled to himself, stretching out a hand to the door hidden within the jumble of wiring and piping. It was… cool to the touch, and seemed to hum with a life of it’s own. A soft beeping rang from a small screen near the right wall of the door. Suprising him as it sank slightly back and slid from sight.

“What the…” He stepped inside.

A room…. Blue lights ran up the walls, following patterns which separated panels of lights that were the same green the column had been. At the center of the room as a cocoon, or more of a blossom shape. Wires obscured the floor, running to the structure in the center. Which radiated a light that while bright did not hurt his eyes. No key panels or screens in the room, he noted as he stepped closer to the cocoon. Fingers brushing lightly across its surface.

Another beep, which caused him to start and step back slightly. Almost as a flower would, the cocoon opened. Layer after layer revealing the same cool mist as when he breathed in the outer room spilling forth.

Eyes narrowed as the light slowly faded, leaving nothing but a…..

“A kid?” He growled, now furious that he had wasted so much time. Debating how much this thing could be worth. And all he finds is a kid in a fucking cocoon.

He could almost rip his hair out, though that would be rather unsightly. He clapped his hands to the sides of his head. “Why the fuck is it always me!!” He raged spinning around and sighing. “calm down, calm down… you could probably sell the information the kid may know.. or the kid himself to some research facility.” He stopped. That sounded like an idea. He wondered how much the Rasofax Research Academy would pay for the kid. Considering where he had been found.

In his thoughts he not once noticed the pair of florescent blue eyes that watched him, half shaded by ebony tresses. Sliding from the mand before him to the thin hand, the blank eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. Why was he woken? He was still sleepy… but, he had felt the vibe of someone he had been waiting a long time for. Who he was only supposed to wake if he was found by them. So where were they? The only person here was the strange man who looked like he was about to rip out his hair. The light bathed him in a warmth, a warmth he was numb to. Like most other feelings in which a normal being might feel. The bare exposure of his skin did not strike him as appauling, or did it occur to him that most ... humans wore clothing. For these things he did not know. It was hard to wake, only to feel as if you have just been born. And not fully understand the reason for your waking. A sharp intake of breath disrupted his thoughts. The man was staring at him in somewhat of surprise. Maybe shock. And spoke to him, “Hey kid, I don’t know what your doing here but… “

“HALT!” The voices rang harsh, the rhythmic thud of boots and loading of guns causing Seiko to half turn.

“Shit” He breathed, leaping back so that the kid was behind him. And he himself was slightly elevated about the grunt soldiers.

“So I see there was a Druidi here after all. And to think, my dear sister thought they were nothing but a myth.” He knew that voice, the General of the Sinq Division 6. “Druidi?” He mumbled, the General looked at him, almost perplexed. “Come on, don’t tell me you’ve been piloting an Alumni half your life and don’t know what the Druidi are. But then… you are an outlaw. So I guess I cant expect much.” He sighed.

Causing the hot-tempered Seiko to growl, but a light touch on the back of his arm halted him.

OH yeah, the kid.

“You have no where to run, and no escape. Hand over the Druidi and I might let you go. But either way, I win.” A cold smile half curled the Generals lips.

Seiko growled in annoyance. “Dammit, how am I supposed to get out of here? So, the kid’s a Druidi or whatever the hell that is.”

Alumni : Machines piloted by the best of the best. 10 are held by the Imperial Academny's, 1 gifted to the General Dasha and 1 to Seiko's late father Methiki a former General for the Impire. The 8 known to exist, the wareabouts of which are unknown.

Sinq Division 6 : A division of Raleph and Zelu fighters under the command of General Dasha.

Raleph : Elite crafts piloted by some of the best fighters.

Zelu : Regular grunt fighters. Some may be piloted by more than one soldier.

Crafts : Machines fashioned in much the resemblence of a being, though clad in metal and most often engaging in combat using artillery or particle cannons. Few are known to use specialized weapons such as a form of sword or stealth fighting capability.

Carriers : Hangers for the storage and transportation of Units and Zelu and Raleph. Along with housing for the soldiers.

Units : Groups of usually 8 to 15 fighters. The higher the number Unit the more soldiers, the lower, the better the piloting skills and ranking of the pilot and fighter. Thus fewer fighters.