Polaris

Ashes to Ashes

"Bubbl."

Groaning, I rolled back down onto my chest.

"Bubbl, we're here. We're on Heltix."

Sitting upright, I slowly stretched. Trying to shake sleep from my limbs. Rolling out of the covers and making my way to the closet, to see if there was any clothes within. Or if I'd have to pick up yesterday's clothes from around my room.

"Sure, but can I even go outside right now? If Manic told you of my ... condition." I had been pleasantly surprised that the closet was indeed stocked. The duo must have gone through the living's clothes for sizes, because there was even underwear and socks within the drawers. Thinking nothing of it, I dressed in one of the blue suits. Simply happy to be in clean clothes.

"You honestly believe I'd wake you and immediately tell you that going outside would be-"

"Yes, actually! Sure you might be an artificial intelligence, but how intelligent you are has yet to be seen!" Staring at the ceiling, I waited for some smart remark from Orion. That it was an insult to his intellect.

"This isn't just me you're insulting here. With Manic as my maker, you're implying that he didn't take your condition into consideration while designing me. Or this ship no less! Technically speaking, the only places you are truly safe are in the Icarus and the Aether! Both ships have a special tinting to their glass! So, yes. It is currently sunset. If you feel you will be out past sunrise, there is an umbrella in the stand next to the hanger door."

One thing was certain. This robot had spunk. Chuckling to myself, I bid him adieu before heading out. Grabbing the umbrella as I went of course. Sure I was here. But where to go? What to do?

I could eat.

Roaming the city streets, I found them unfamiliar to me. The streets of Mars engraved into my memory confusing me at every turn. My home planet didn't even feel like home anymore. I felt like a traitor standing here... But, it was almost refreshing to be practically drowning in my language. Signs written in neon Helxian... Rather than squinting up at it confused until my lenses would translate it for me. A handy tool that was becoming a crutch.

But, with my home planet feeling alien to me, it just further cemented the fact of how much that little fishing trawler drifting somewhere near that red rock. With its rag-tag band of misfits.

"Icarus?"

Spinning on my heel, I was face to face with an old friend. Smiling, I waved as her hands came up around her mouth.

"It's been a while. Ain't it, Azzy?" She was quick to rush up and crushed me in a hug. Forcing my arms down at my sides as my umbrella fell from my grip. It was crazy to think this used to be the little kid I watched over. Here she was, age visibly starting to take its toll. Raven black hair was beginning to turn silver at her roots, but besides that? She looked to be in her late 20's. Pulling away, she tabbed at her tears with her sweater sleeve.

"Three years, Icarus! Three year-"

"Icarus is dead. Please don't call me that. It's Bubbl," I explained calmly, watching something flicker in those ocean blue eyes, "Sorry. I hate to phrase it like that. But I'm struggling to get Quill and Manic to understand that. Sure the face is the same, the scars of a past life marr it. But that's the point. Past. Life. I don't remember that life."