Going Across - Chapter 2: Everything Blue

GOING ACROSS

Chapter 2: Everything Blue

 

Nova’s ship trembled violently as it careened toward the surface of an unknown planet, alarms blaring and control panels sparking with chaotic energy. Just as the inevitable seemed near, a radiant white glow erupted on the surface below, enveloping the ship like a gentle net. The trembling ceased. Nova gasped, grabbed a chocolate, and exhaled a deep breath. Before he could process what had happened, a voice crackled through his communicator: “Come out unarmed at once.”

 

As the hatch of his spacecraft lowered, he stepped into a world bathed in surreal hues. Awaiting him was a group of beings cloaked in an almost impossibly deep blue, their forms like gas caught in perpetual motion. Had no faces, but brilliant and catlike eyes, white and unblinking—seemed to pierce through him. Nova could see their hands and feet, but they were airy and hardly opaque. They held strange, sleek weapons aimed directly at him, yet their presence felt less threatening and more… curious.

Nova spoke slowly. “I mean no harm, it was an accident.” His voice was a bit shaky but held resolve. He recounted the events in Wormhole Wten—the violent pull, the inexplicable branching that had thrust him here. The beings exchanged silent glances, or at least Nova thought they did, as their forms pulsed in unison.

 

To his surprise, they listened. The air between them seemed to thrum with understanding. It wasn’t just the stillness of their weapons that calmed Nova—it was as if they could see directly into the core of his being, his pure intentions. Somehow, he knew they trusted him. Without a word, they turned and gestured for him to follow. Nova agreed and followed them, his eyes scanning the planet's landscape with quiet curiosity. "Did I hit my head or, is everything here actually just... blue?", he wondered.

 

The beings finally stopped before the entrance of a cave carved into the rugged face of a rocky blue mountain. “Welcome to Sapphine,” said a being emerging from the cave. He appeared to be their leader --an assumption Nova made based on the long chain he wore, adorned with a blue rock pendant. His presence was commanding, his form radiating an undeniable gravitas. “We are Tovians, the inhabitants of Sapphine, a place purposefully secluded from the galaxy.”

 

Hearing this, Nova once again gazed around the planet, his eyes absorbing every detail. "Oh Hart! This is something!", said Nova out loud. —The entire planet existed only in shades of blue and white, with no other color visible. The white waters of a nearby stream flowed like milk, and the blue soil, blue rocks, and blue the sky looked hypnotizing. Nova glanced down at his clothes, seeking reassurance that he hadn't completely lost his grip on reality. "Good, at least these still have color," he thought with a sign of relief. Everything there, down to the faint air filling his lungs, carried an undeniable sense of otherworldly mystery.

“We are beings of higher consciousness,” the leader interrupted Nova's wandering thoughts. “We see not faces, not words, but intentions. Even the soil of Sapphine rejects the sinful. Only those with hearts of good intentions can walk among us. By Hart's grace Nova, I see that you seek the forbidden jump."

 

The statement caught Nova off guard, but he wasn't surprised. Despite being surrounded by a hundred Tovians, he could sense the peace and subtle, magical energy emanating from them. With a steady resolve, Nova decided to share his mission. “I’m going across the galaxy,” he said, “searching for something… something...” His voice softened hesitantly. “A Woman,” said the leader. Nova nodded silently in agreement.

 

“Nobody has survived the jump,” the leader warned. “Not even the strongest of our kind.” His words were steady, but Nova caught an edge of sorrow. “The shield is absolute. It has claimed the lives of those who sought to cross it. Why should you succeed where many have failed?”

“Because I have to,” Nova said simply. “There’s no doubt about it. It must be done.”

The leader’s words spread quickly among the Tovians. Their silent, flowing forms began to pulse erratically, emitting sounds akin to mournful wails. Nova flinched. “What- Why are they crying?” he asked.

 

“A tragedy,” the leader said, his tone heavy with grief. “Years ago, three Tovian children were taken—stolen by entities of immense power. We sent our best to bring them back, but the shield disintegrated them all into atoms and none returned.”

Nova frowned. “Who could do such a thing? And why?”

The leader shook his head. “We do not know. We only know they sought the youth and energy of our children for purposes we cannot fathom. When leaving, they isolated Sapphine from the galaxy. And yet you found your way here.”

Nova’s heart ached at their story. “Perhaps I was meant to,” he said quietly.

The leader’s form pulsed steadily, his voice echoing with authority. “We want to give something to you, Nova,” he said. “The Stone of Sapphine. It is a part of Old-World Magic, from the Harts. It carries the power to see the true essence of others. But it is not given lightly. Only those with unwavering morality and sharp intellect can wield it responsibly. You must prove you are worthy through a challenge.”

 

Nova smirked, his nerves hidden beneath a veil of confidence. “I always love a good challenge,” he said, his mind racing as he tried to process the meaning of the Old-World Magic from the Harts. What's Old-World Magic? What about the Harts? Why does everyone in the galaxy reference the Harts in their everyday speech? But the thought slipped away as quickly as it came, vanishing when the leader gestured, commanding his full attention once more.

 

The leader gestured, and the crystalline floor beneath them shifted, forming two glowing pedestals. On one pedestal rested a small, blue crystal sphere. On the other, an intricate key, seemingly carved from pure light. “Your task is simple in appearance but complex in essence,” the leader explained. “You must choose the correct item to unlock the chamber of truth, where the stone awaits. But beware—both pedestals are guarded by a hidden mechanism. If your intentions or reasoning falter, you will be trapped, and the stone will remain out of reach.”

 

Nova stepped forward, studying the items. The sphere pulsed faintly, its glow consistent and soothing, while the key shimmered erratically, almost as if unstable. He crouched, examining the pedestals. Beneath each lay a faint inscription, but the one beneath the sphere caught his attention: “In the good lies the path.” The key’s inscription, in contrast, read: “The easy path often deceives.”

 

His mind raced and clearly pointed toward the sphere, but something felt off. The key's presence suggested it wasn’t merely a decoy—it was meant to test him. He stepped back, thinking aloud. “If I trust the sphere because it feels right, am I being pure of intent or just taking the easy path? And if I choose the key, am I overthinking the challenge?”

 

He closed his eyes, centering himself. The Tovians had emphasized morality and intellect. This wasn’t just about logic—it was about choosing with a clear mind. He opened his eyes and reached for the sphere. The pedestal beneath it hummed softly, then dimmed.

 

The leader inclined his form. “You have chosen well. The challenge was designed to tempt those who distrust simplicity, the key was right too, but it would have led you astray, thinking overly into multiple outcomes. You saw the truth and acted with a strong instinct. A sharp mind processes instincts faster than logic.”

 

Nova exhaled a relieved breath. The leader’s form pulsed steadily as he addressed Nova. “For the second challenge, I give you two options:

 

You are in a fight to defeat a great evil.

The first path is to stay honest and fight with integrity. You will win, but your death is certain.

The second path requires you to lie and deceive twice during the fight. You will win, and you will live to see another day.

 

Which path will you choose?”

 

A crystalline wall appeared before Nova, lighting up with vivid visuals of both scenarios.

In the first, he saw himself victorious but lifeless, his sacrifice reflected in the grateful faces of those he had saved.

In the second, he saw himself victorious again, but this time alive, his triumph celebrated, but criticized for the lies and deceit he had used, the weight of his choices reflected in his eyes.

 

Nova’s chest tightened as he stared at the scenes. The leader’s voice resonated. “Both paths lead to victory, but each comes at a price. Choose wisely, for this decision you and the legacy you want to leave behind.”

 

Nova’s gaze lingered on the crystalline wall, his heart pounding as he absorbed the two paths. The first, though noble, filled him with a cold finality. The second, though pragmatic, seemed to weigh heavy with compromise. After a long silence, he stepped forward, his voice steady.

 

“I choose the first, truthful path,” he said. “I’m not afraid of death. If my death is what it takes to defeat this evil and ensure the safety of others, then so be it. Lies might win battles, but they would betray my mother’s teachings, her dedication, and my own integrity. I’d rather leave behind a legacy of honor than live burdened by deceit.”

 

The crystalline wall dissolved into dust. “You have chosen with courage and good moral understanding,” the leader said, his voice resonating through the chamber. “To walk the path of truth, knowing the cost, is the mark of a truly worthy soul. Your willingness to sacrifice yourself for what is right is not a weakness—it is the strength that defines greatness.”

 

The leader’s form pulsed faintly, as if lost in thought. “Another traveler before you chose the opposite in both challenges. We Tovians denied him the stone at first, but his reasoning convinced us to grant it to him. You remind me of him, but in an entirely opposite way.” Nova was about to ask who this traveler was, but the leader cut him short with a gesture, signaling the Tovians to bring forth the Stone of Sapphine.

 

Two Tovians floated forward, carrying something on their airy blue palms. “This,” he said, “is a stone born of Sapphine’s soil. When your skin touches it and you look into any being's eyes, it will reveal their thoughts to you— their light, their dark intentions, and everything in between, as long as you maintain your focus. But heed this warning, Nova: thoughts alone do not define us. It is the choices and our intentions that make us who we are.”

 

Nova took the stone, it was cold, hard and had a smooth surface. "I'll be careful with it. Thank you." Nova said, his mind already contemplating where he would use the stone. He tied it securely in his shirt and tucked it close.

 

The leader inclined his form slightly. “Good luck, Nova. We hope you remember Sapphine and those you leave behind.”
As Nova turned to leave, a small Tovian child approached, and gave him a particle. Without a word, the child extended it to him. Nova knelt, accepting the gift with a smile. “Thank you,” he whispered. The toddler pulsed softly, a farewell in silence.

 

Back aboard his ship, Nova recalibrated his route based on the Tovians’ guidance and took off. Soaring through the dark void of space, Nova encountered a stretch of the path ahead that appeared daunting, riddled with ominous wormholes. He had to take manual control, skillfully maneuvering The Lynx while keeping a vigilant eye on every console.

Something caught his attention—a glint of metal, drifting nearby. He slowed the ship, narrowing his eyes. “What is that? A rescue signal? Haven't you had enough adventure lately, Nova?" he muttered to himself. But his heart wouldn't let him ignore it. With a sigh, Nova gave in and switched The Lynx to manual hover. Activating the grasper and brought the object aboard through the side latch. Still in the outer chamber, he stared at the object, a mix of curiosity and dread swirling in his chest, as he waited for the systems to clear it of any potential dangers.

“What is this thing?” he murmured.

What happens next? Stay tuned for Chapter 3!

The Lynx - Nova's Spaceship

 

Planet Sapphine 

 

The glowing spot on Planet Sapphine

 

Planet Sapphine's everything blue terrain.

 

Planet Sapphine's everything blue landscape

 

Tovians, inhabitants of Planet Sapphine.

 

Nova's gift, Stone of Planet Sapphine's Soil 

 

 

 

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*The artworks are handmade created specifically for this story. Intended to enhance the narrative and provide a glimpse into the universe of Going Across.*

 

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