Iya Writes (One Shot Stories)

Through the Stars

Cia drifted through the vast expanse of space, the hum of her starship, The Horizon, providing a comforting rhythm to her racing thoughts.

For years, she had been a drifter, hopping from planet to planet, galaxy to galaxy, always searching for something but never quite sure what it was. A lost relic? A hidden treasure? Herself?The stars outside her window blurred as the ship moved through a jump, pulling her toward her next destination—Solara IV, a planet rumored to hold an ancient artifact of unimaginable power.

It was said to grant its possessor control over time and space, but more importantly to Cia, it was the key to unlocking her past. Memories eluded her like shadows, flickering at the edges of her mind, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this artifact was the missing piece.

Her first memories were of waking up on the asteroid belt of the Andromeda system, with no recollection of who she was or how she had gotten there. Ever since, her life had been one long, winding journey through the stars, trying to piece together a fragmented puzzle.

Now, the pieces seemed to be converging at Solara IV.

Cia adjusted the ship’s course and stood up from the cockpit, heading to the back compartment where her gear was stored. As she strapped on her plasma gun and secured her wrist gauntlet, a faint beeping from her communications panel caught her attention.

An incoming transmission.She flipped the switch and a hologram flickered to life.

A tall, rugged man with deep-set eyes and a scar running across his cheek looked down at her.

His name was Arlen, an old contact who had been a thorn in her side for as long as she could remember.“Cia,” Arlen said, his voice gruff and measured.

“You’re going after the artifact, aren’t you?”Cia narrowed her eyes. “What’s it to you?”“Just thought I’d warn you. You’re not the only one after it. The galaxy’s most dangerous bounty hunter, Zane Kross, is already en route. He’ll kill anyone who gets in his way.”Cia smirked.

“Good to know. But I can handle myself.”Arlen leaned closer to the hologram, his face growing serious. “Cia, this isn’t just about the artifact. It’s about who you really are. There are forces at play here that even you don’t understand yet.

”The transmission cut off before she could respond. Typical Arlen—cryptic and frustrating as always. She shook her head and returned to prepping her gear, her resolve only strengthening.

Whatever mysteries lay ahead, she would face them head-on. She always did.Solara IV loomed before her, its surface a mix of jagged mountains and sprawling deserts. As she descended into the atmosphere, her ship's systems detected several other vessels in orbit.

Zane Kross had to be among them. She would have to move fast.Touching down near the ruins of an ancient temple, Cia wasted no time.

The wind howled as she stepped out onto the barren ground, her boots crunching against the sand. The air was thick with the smell of dust and decay, and the distant rumble of a storm echoed across the horizon.With her plasma gun in hand, Cia approached the temple, its massive stone doors covered in alien symbols.

She placed her hand on one of the engravings, tracing the unfamiliar language with her fingers.

The stone was cold, and a strange energy hummed beneath the surface.“Who are you?” she whispered to herself, a question she had asked a thousand times before.

Suddenly, the ground trembled.

The doors groaned open, revealing a dark hallway that stretched far into the temple. Cia stepped inside, her heart pounding in her chest.

The walls were lined with carvings, each one depicting a figure holding the very artifact she sought—a glowing orb that shimmered with the power of the stars.Deeper she went, until she reached a vast chamber.

At its center, on a pedestal, rested the artifact—a small, glowing sphere, pulsing with light. As Cia approached, a voice echoed through the chamber, low and ethereal.“Cia.”She froze, looking around for the source of the voice, but saw no one.

“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice steady despite the unease creeping over her.“You know who I am,” the voice whispered. “I am the past you’ve forgotten. The truth you’ve been running from.”Cia’s hand hovered over the artifact.

“What truth?”“The truth of who you are. Of why you were chosen. You are not just a wanderer of the stars, Cia. You are the last of the Starborn.

”The word sent a shockwave through her, a distant memory surfacing from the depths of her mind—images of a people with powers that transcended time and space, beings who could bend the universe to their will.

She was one of them.

But before she could process it, a sound behind her made her spin around, gun raised. Zane Kross stepped out of the shadows, his figure imposing in the dim light.“I told you,” he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“You’re not the only one after the artifact.”Cia fired a shot, but Zane was faster, dodging and returning fire. Plasma bolts ricocheted off the walls as they engaged in a deadly dance, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

But Cia’s focus was split—her mind reeling from the revelation of her true identity.With a swift move, Zane disarmed her, knocking her to the ground.

He stood over her, gun pointed at her chest.“This artifact belongs to me now,” he said, reaching for the glowing sphere.But before his hand could touch it, the artifact flared with blinding light, sending a shockwave that knocked Zane back. The light enveloped Cia, lifting her off the ground as energy surged through her veins.

She felt the power of the stars coursing through her, unlocking memories, abilities, and truths she had long forgotten.

As she floated in the air, the voice spoke to her again. “You are Starborn, Cia. You are the keeper of the stars, the guardian of time and space. This is your destiny.”

When the light faded, Cia stood tall, her eyes glowing with the same energy as the artifact. Zane lay unconscious on the floor, and the artifact rested in her hand.

She finally understood. Her purpose wasn’t to find the artifact; it was to protect it. To protect the balance of the universe.

THE END.