He thought he'd meet his end, but instead, oddly absurd circumstances broke his binding chains, changing the course of his fate. Where she found no light in the darkness, she found this curious young man to be a fitting ally, sharing joyful tales of...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
// Old art from 2-3 years ago or so - I made a new version of it I included within this chapter; adding it to its corresponding scene ~ Thanks for reading & voting (*￣3￣)╭
+++
In the days that followed, the young Space Pirate fully retreated into the comforting confines of her beloved spacecraft, the Omnis - 'Baby'.
Hidden away from prying eyes, she threw herself into the meticulous task of repairing the ship's battered interior, paying particular attention to the piloting consoles and computer systems. When the inevitable knocks on the airlock came—concerned voices asking if she was alright—they were either ignored entirely or greeted with snappy retorts such as, 'If I needed a therapist, I'd look for one with fewer legs and more brain cells. Now buzz off.'
However, when someone knocked on the airlock bearing food, she would accept it with the grace of a furiously hungry vulture, shut the door behind her, and proceed to devour the offering with gusto before unceremoniously discarding the empty plate. Occasionally, the ship would resonate with the booming strains of electronic music—something that might pass for techno-bass if one were generously inclined. At other times, an intense silence would seep from the Omnis, casting a certain aura of concern over the crew, as if the ship itself were contemplating the meaning of existence.
After a week's time, the young lady emerged from her confinement, continuing her complex work as if nothing had happened, keeping any form of conversation lighthearted and shallow.
Gravity remained a persistent conundrum, as did the lack of thermal heat. For the gravity issue, a potential solution emerged from Marco's musings—based on snippets of wisdom from Ben. The Phoenix theorised that a regimen of simple physiotherapy and lighthearted training might work wonders. He likened it to rehabilitating a bedridden patient suffering from muscle atrophy. While Nemo would always be somewhat delicate due to her diminutive, mouse-sized frame and her accustomed spaceborne nature, with a bit of time and patience, she might just adapt to the conditions of the Blue World. It was a plan that, if nothing else, promised to be as entertaining as it was optimistic.
Often, the Space Pirate seemed reluctant to such ideas, continually mentioning that she couldn't stay 'here' forever. Truthfully it annoyed her, hurt her, seeing such a happy home, such a loving family, knowing that there was no place for her in this vast, seemingly endless universe...
All that remained was a visit to 'Nowhere' – the place of the lost ones...
Thermal issues remained an ever-present challenge, as mentioned. Lacking the materials to repair her heat shield, the young Lunarian convection-mutant had no choice but to rely on the only consistent external solution available: standing near the fire-chad. This ritual involved extending her hand and reluctantly beseeching, "Could you... please... give me heat?"
