Two and the Last Year on Earth ✓ [humor, sci-fi, romance]

Act 24: Prince Chorlos the Second

Two sat across from Triad at Tinker Tonker Go Bonkers which was like a café but with coffee made from Ironic Seeds that, if not brewed properly, could give you an ironic sense of humor for a couple hours. Not the best side effects, but it was better than most.

She had paid, much to Triad's delight, for the Cream Fluffs. Triad was licking his chops every two seconds, relishing in the fluffy cloud sweetness of utmost paradise. It was just that good. Two loved Cream Fluffs just as much as he did.

Next to him sat the clone of Prince Chorlos of Stellagaza, or so phrased in human language. Although a spitting image, it was a relief when she learned he was not her dead boyfriend. It was known to everyone in Stellagaza that Two was once madly in love with the Prince of Stellagaza and he allowed it.

It was also known that Two was never madly in love with anyone else after Chorlos died.

A thank goodness that this Clone Chorlos doesn't have memories from the real Chorlos, Two thought. It would have been very awkward if he did share the memories.

"I may be Chorlos, but I have no memory of the former Chorlos. If it is confusing, you can call me Prince Chorlos the Second. I have heard that you are the top agent and I wanted to ask you a few things. How are things on AERA7-0? Is Creativity returning there, you suppose? Humans are finding the will to live again?"

"Very much so." Two gave a sharp glance at Triad. He had just rested his hand on her hand on the table. She snatched it away. She was with Genji! That was that! Never in her entire life—which was pretty long—did she ever think to date her former colleague! Unheard of!

"Good to hear! Well, hope you have a nice stay here and get some good rest before you return for the last stretch of your mission. It's supposed to be very high star forecast tonight so you might get some good glimpses of the blast of nebulan explosion. Quite a beautiful sight. You should go see with Triad." He gave her a wink and then like a switch flipped, his face became stern.

"The main reason I have accepted the offer to come talk with you is not just to clear things up. I heard you found a Japanese type Stellian with Coger Fiskleweed?"

"Yes, I did." Two sat stiffly suddenly realizing that she had not once thought anything suspicious about Genji, but she could tell where Prince Chorlos the Second was going with this.

"He could well be a clone up to no good, Two. Coger is the pioneer in clone technology upon Stellagaza. While he has used much of his Creativity for the bad, it is because of him this world can still have someone to rule it and keep it in check. I still retain much of former Chorlos' knowledge and Creativity. What do you know about his Rubick's Cube?"

Two relayed that she only knew he had one, it could glow, and she's touched it once, feeling the tinglies beneath it.

"I also marked him."

"And the response was normal?" Prince Chorlos the Second cocked his head.

"You marked him?" Triad nearly dropped his fifth Cream Fluff.

Two was never flustered, but for some reason she was flustered now. For some reason, she didn't want Triad to know what she had done.

"A Stellianorigin was threatening to do something bad to a human I was with and was satisfied when I said I was only friends with him and chose Genji over the human," she said quickly.

"You had feelings for a human?" Triad did drop his fifth Cream Fluff this time, but he didn't even scramble to pick it out from the air before it floated up to the dark matter and disappeared.

"It was not planned, Triad! Stop being so nosy!" Two crossed her arms and felt her face with her hands. Very warm. "Bloody hell," she cursed. Why did things have to be so complicated? Why did others have to barge into her private life? Even Stellians had boundaries. Did he forget that?