The black lifeless planet below promised one of death and hopelessness. On the other hand, there was a light in the stars, one which promised life and exploration. A hulking creature looked at the sky and wondered at the possibilities. He turned his gaze upon the dying planet below, the bleak rocky terrain emphasized that fact. Giant crevasses in the earth pulsed red, then blue, as far as the eye could see. The planet was made up of countless paths like veins, the faint glow briefly lighting up the planet then faded back into darkness. As the creature watched, the veins of the planet’s core went out, never to light up the dark again.

There was nothing they could do to stop their home from dying now. They had fought and lost. Distant skirmishes occasionally pulled his attention from his brooding mood. The remaining Thrak on the surface had been dealt with but stragglers from underground liked to pop up and cause more damage than they already had inflicted on them.

A deep rumbling sound came from the base of the mountain. The blackened stone stretched as far as the eye could see. An enormous creature stood on all fours gazing out over the mountainside in front of him. He walked up to the edge of the bleak cliff with heavy footsteps and sat down next to the smaller creature. They sat motionless for some time, both lost in their own thoughts.

Khan glanced down at his scaly legs then turned to Felkuru. His friend stared at nothing in the distance, silent, and brooding.

The landscape was dimly lit up by the distant stars, leaving them in shadows. Khan looked to his friend, his eyes pulsating slowly from blue to red and red to blue. His glowing eyes betraying his emotions. Felkuru turned to meet his gaze, looking up, his smaller frame showing his age.

Khan asked in a deep low voice, “I assume you will be leaving then? What did he say to you?

Felkuru hesitated, pondering how to explain to his friend the conversation he had just had. Normally Khan would not believe such a thing but after sharing parts of his memory, he knew his friend’s words held truth.

“He told me I can take as many eggs as I can carry and I will meet someone there. It will be up to me whether I help him or not.”

“That’s it? Do you trust him?” Khan turned his head. “For what it’s worth, I’m skeptical but also glad that if what he says is true, at least one of us will live.”

“I do not wish to leave my home but what else can I do? If there is even a sliver of hope, I must try.” Determination and resolve lit Felkuru’s eyes. “He also said to tell you, don’t be too surprised and listen to what he says.”

“What who says?” Khan wondered. “It sounds like he loves to speak in riddles.”

“I-I, don’t know, Khan. For ones as old as us, we don’t know a lot.”

Khan chuckled slightly at Felkuru’s remark. “How many can you carry?” He changed the subject.

Felkuru turned towards him to reveal a dozen eggs attached to his stomach. “Any more and I fear I will lose them.”

A loud whooshing sound came from over the edge and a tiny black shimmer formed over the cliff, slowly growing. It spun faster and faster then opened. A sudden explosion of light and wind rushed into their faces as they peered over the side. It spun in circles as streaks of white flashed in and out of the black tear in space. Beautiful sparks of light shimmered in and out of focus as if looking into a reflection of something. They both peered over the edge with stunned expressions. In all their years they had never seen anything like it.

“So it’s true,” Khan whispered. “Fascinating.”

“I must go, brother. Forgive me for leaving. I hope we will see each other again.” Felkuru said as he stood up, preparing to jump.

Khan nodded, watching Felkuru leap over the side and into the depths of wherever the spiraling vortex of light took him.

“I doubt we will,” Khan said sadly to himself.

The large scaly creature atop the mountain sat on all fours in silence after the tear disappeared with a blast of blinding light and a gust of wind blew past him.

The silence that followed pierced Khan’s heart; except for the occasional rumble from the planet’s core, he heard nothing. Khan looked down at his long claws and scaled feet again than over the edge where Felkuru had vanished. It was only moments after his friend had left when Khan realized he was not alone. Soft footsteps echoed from behind him and Khan slowly turned his head and watched as the strange figure approached.

“So that’s what he meant,” Khan thought, looking at the small figure.

“Fel? Wh-Where am I?” the stranger asked with a shaky voice.