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Everything had been the product of one man’s errors. He had always known it, right up until the end. It was for that reason that he had done everything possible to put it right. A week had passed, and calmness was returning to the fort. However, nobody would be capable of forgetting all of the hardship they had suffered.
Olyr had taken care of everything. With the help of C0-UN1 and the rest of the community, they had made use of the reactors that Denn had brought from the station. Now the fort would have energy again. All the systems were working, and the security had been restored.
Those who had been injured in the beasts’ attack had been abandoned by Neil. Deprived of treatment, many had died. Those who remained alive had managed to be healed thanks to the medical capsule, also brought from the station.
C0-UN1 had told the whole truth to the people, without omitting a single detail. There was no reason to hide anything else. Many had felt annoyance at the station’s hijacking, but they understood that Denn had never had any intention of hurting them. So much so, that he had even given his final breath to free them from Neil. ‘We all make mistakes,’ Olyr had said to a few survivors who decided to forget the past and forgive.
That morning everybody left the fort. They had not had the opportunity to give a place of rest to the fallen. The cemetery had grown, but they trusted that they would not see another death in a long time. Not if they gave the best of themselves.
Every one of them visited the grave of their loved ones, paying their final respects. Olyr, the robot, and Wallace, who was barely beginning to recover from his injuries after a long day in the medical capsule, looked with nostalgia at the two graves of two great people. They would always remember them with affection.
“Are you feeling better?” Olyr asked Wallace.
“This is nothing,” boasted Wallace.
“That grimace of pain does nothing to make your comment very convincing. And that stance ...”
“Does it look like I’m bad, C0?” asked Wallace, standing up as straight as he could, trying to look natural.
“You look terrible,” answered the robot. “Do you want me to carry you?” he asked, causing Olyr and Wallace to start laughing.
“I can’t laugh,” said Wallace, doubling up. “Everything hurts.”
“Where can they be?” asked Olyr.
“They said they’d go and fetch a few flowers.
“I want to go to that shelter, C0... You know, the one the Colonisers built. Olyr and I can do a lot with what we might find there. There must be machines we could use.”
“Of course, Wallace. As soon as you’re better, I’ll take you.”
“But I’m fine.”
“We’re not in a rush, Wallace,” intervened Olyr. “You ought to take it easy.”
“I suppose you’re right. It’s just that it’s fascinating, don’t you think? I want to see what they did there. Who knows what we could potentially find. With the tools that could be there, we could construct a converter for one of the reactors that Denn brought from the station. We could use it for the ship they found.”
“That would be good,” said the robot. “I don’t ever want to have to hand over my reactor ever again. If I hadn’t been unconscious, I would have been able to...”
“You know, I still don’t know why you came back like that,” noted Olyr. “It’s strange, robots are supposed to be made to stop functioning as soon as their reactor is removed.”
“I know. Denn told me. Maybe they made me differently.”
“It’s logical to think so,” said Wallace, “but it doesn’t explain why it took you time to come back. If the reactor was in its place, you should have reacted instantly.”
“I ask myself the same thing too... Before Denn took my reactor, he explained to me everything that could happen; I could not come back, or I could lose all of my memories. I was very afraid, but it was the only thing we could do. Things did not turn out in the best way, but I believe that I am fortunate to not have lost my memories. It would be very sad if I forgot all of you.”
“If you forgot us, how would you know?” said Olyr.
“Even so, it would be very sad.”
“And how do you know you didn’t forget anything?” asked Wallace.
“I believe I remember everything. When Denn activated me on Earth, when we arrived on the station. The time we travelled in space, and the day we arrived on this planet. I remember all of you.”
“I’m happy about that, C0... Look! Here they come.”
The robot turned his gaze, and could see his friends approaching. In his hands he was carrying a bunch of the most beautiful flowers they could find. They were still not completely recuperated. The boy still felt pain in his wound, but nothing was going to stop him from being there that morning. The flowers that Qein was carrying were specifically for the grave of his beloved sister, without forgetting to put a few on the grave to the side. Senlar’s grave.
Denn brought flowers for both of them too. He was in a lot of pain, he had injuries all over his body; so much so, that his friends thought it was a total miracle that he was still alive. He walked, with the flowers, up to the graves, and with his working hand he placed them with affection on the resting place of both.
“I’ll take good care of him,” he said in a low voice, as he left the flowers on Dani’s grave. He stood up and left the boy to arrange them all around.
He took a few steps back and joined Olyr, Wallace, and the robot.
“He’s an amazing boy,” said Olyr to Denn quietly.
“He is! He would only break a promise if it meant saving a friend.”
They looked in silence for a moment without saying anything, bidding farewell to those who were no longer there.
“It’s a beautiful day,” said Denn.
“It really is,” said the robot.
“How are you feeling, Wallace?” asked Denn.
“Why does everyone keep asking that? Do I not look all right or something?”
“You look fine, friend,” said Denn, with a warm smile.
“What about you, Denn?” asked Olyr.
“I’m fine,” he assured, and moved what was left of his arm, covered by the sling, as if to say that his injuries were of no importance to him.
“That medical capsule you brought is somewhat old,” claimed Wallace, “but it can restore your forearm and hand. It will take a few months, however... It’s a shame that the more modern one was destroyed. With that one, it would have taken much less time.”
“It’s true, Denn,” said Olyr. “Your hand will be like new in a couple of months.”
“A couple of months inside the capsule?”
“That’ll be nothing to you,” said Wallace.
“I don’t have time to sleep. We have to build a converter for the reactor, and a jump system for the ship. Just like the Colonisers did.”
“But if you go untreated, you won’t recover your hand,” prompted Wallace, worried.
“Don’t worry. I have something in mind.”
Wallace was silent, there was no point opposing him. He had proven to be stubborn when he set his mind to doing something.
“If we’re going to work so hard in it, perhaps you should give a name to the ship,” said Olyr.
“I’ve already given some thought to it,” replied Denn. “I’ll call it the ValSenlar.”
The boy finished arranging the flowers and stood up, taking the robot’s hand.
“What do you think, C0?” he asked, showing his sweet smile.
“It’s very beautiful, Qein,” answered the robot.
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“Denn, do you think Dani would have liked it?”
“It’s perfect, boy,” he said, causing Qein to smile in satisfaction.
“When are we going to start with the training, Denn?” asked Qein.
“Soon. When you’re completely recovered.”
“But I’m really okay,” he said, patting his wound.
“I know, boy. You’re very strong.”
“I’m serious,” he said, with an expression of irritation.
“Me too, Qein,” replied Denn with a smile. “Now go and help bring more flowers.”
“We’ll go too,” said Olyr, taking Wallace’s hand, who blushed instantly. “Come on, Qein.”
Denn and the robot were left alone, looking at the graves of their friends, whilst the others went.
“You’re going to train Qein?” asked the robot.
“I promised him.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“He’s a very strong boy. When he saved my life, he was so fast that not even Neil could dodge him. If he becomes stronger, he’ll be able to defend himself when we’re not around.”
“Are we going to leave him?”
“You’re not wanting to take him with us on a crusade against the Colonisers, are you?” Denn asked the robot, who went quiet for a moment.
“I hadn’t thought about that ... I suppose you’re right.”
“I always am,” he joked, and gave him a gentle push.
“Not always.”
“Really?” he said smiling. “That would be something new.”
“You were mistaken regarding your dream. You said you would die, but you’re still here.”
“Yes, I was mistaken,” he answered, more serious. “It was never to do with dying here.”
“I told you. It was only a dream that came to you out of fear of what was happening. I knew it would stop.”
“No, it hasn’t stopped. I’m still having it, every night. Nothing has changed.”
“Oh...! It’s only a dream, Denn.”
“No it isn’t... Now I know, it’s a glimpse into the future... But don’t worry about that. We have a lot to think about.”
“Everyone’s understood that we never wanted to hurt them. They’ve forgiven us.”
“I know. They’ve approached me to tell me.”
“And now what next?”
“We need to get so that the ship can travel to other systems. Only that way will we be able to fetch help for them. Besides, we need to show those images we found to someone. Then, we’ll continue with the search. Someone has to know how to find the Colonisers.”
“Where will we look?”
“The planet Viluvae is a good start,” he said, and gave a long pause. “... This has been nothing, C0. Things will get more difficult. I can’t tell you what dangers we’ll encounter, but I don’t plan on sitting back and doing nothing whilst the destruction of the human race is being planned.”
“I’ve seen what you are capable of when it comes to saving the innocent,” noted the robot. “There isn’t anything you can’t do. You’ll manage it.”
“No... We’ll manage it... together.”
“We will!”
Their experience had taken something from them, something that they would never again be able to recover, but it had also made them stronger. In some corner of the galaxy was what they were searching for. Their journey was no more than just beginning.
It was a beautiful day. The birds were singing, and the wind whispered over the green pasture. They both remained in silence, contemplating the kindness of the momentary calm. It was a valuable gift they would not get much of from that moment on. But for now, nothing was going to stop them from enjoying it.