Strings Of Eternity

Prologue

Imagine, if you will, that time and space are intricately connected. Not in an obvious way, as you have been taught to believe in school. Rather that they are connected to you. That your personal life, your past, present and future, all exist in a single moment in time. And what would you see if you were able to step outside the flow of space and time? If you could disconnect yourself from it, and observe? What if, in that instance, you could look forward and backwards along that timeline and see everything? Would your view of the world around you change? Would you set aside what would, in that moment, become the petty squabbling of infants? Or would you fight tooth and nail to hang onto those things that drove you and the world around you apart? Are you capable of change?

Chapter 1

Gersh stormed out of the Galactic Federation chambers. His shiny armor glinted in the light from the system's primary star. Gersh had a formidable figure. He was large for a human, standing at 6 feet 5 inches. His golden mane of hair pulled back on both sides into tight braids that met the ponytail at the back of his head. His broad shoulders and chiseled jaw made him incredibly handsome, but the fierceness in his eyes was born of two centuries of battle. He gripped the hilt of his sword, and the sound of his leather glove crinkled in the vast receiving hall. The clank of his armor and the bass of his boots rang out like war drums as he stalked away from the council chambers.

He made his way to his office, fuming the entire time. *I can't believe those short sighted fools*' He was deep in thought as he entered his opulent office, the automatic doors swishing open as he approached. His aid, Andriel, stood up behind her desk as he entered. One look told her everything she needed to know.

"I take it the talks did not go in our favor?"

"They did not."

Andriel watched Gersh for a moment as he stalked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink. He knocked it back in a single shot, and savored the burn of the harsh liquid as it went down his throat. Gersh stared at the empty glass for a moment. His anger welling up inside him again, he hurled the glass across the room. It shattered, quite satisfactorily, against the far wall. As the shards hit the floor, a small robot emerged from a hidden compartment along the wall and set itself to cleaning up. Gersh stalked over to his terminal.

"Computer, begin Immolation Protocol. Authorization 0-0-0 Alpha 1 Zeta; begin."

"Sir?" Andriel raised an eyebrow at Gersh.

"Pack your bags. We depart for Terra within the hour. We won't be back."

Gersh turned on his heel and headed for the door. The robot was quietly beeping to itself as it was cleaning. In a flash, Gersh drew his sword and stabbed it through the small animatronic. It squealed and sparks began to fly from it's small frame, then it went silent. He grinned wolfishly as he snuffed it's tiny, electronic life.

"We are going to war."

The city of Utz sprawled out before them as they made their way to the space port. Utz was often considered to be the crowning jewel of modern civilization. It's tall buildings almost seemed to sparkle in the light of the primary star. Hover-cars raced along traffic flight paths, and the public transport monorails zipped this way and that as the nearly 2 billion residents went about their business.

Gersh and Andriel waited for their transport on a solitary platform that offered a spectacular view of the city. Their shuttle slid into position on the platform, it's anti-grav making a faint warbling sound. The side door opened and they got in.

"Departure hub, diplomatic port." Gersh barked at the on-board computer.

It beeped an acknowledgement and the door hissed shut. He glanced over at Andriel. She was looking out the window, watching the cityscape zip past them. He thought he saw a lone tear drop down her cheek.

"Andriel, I am sorry. I wish we could have stayed longer." He placed his hand on hers and gave a gentle squeeze.

She turned to face him, her eyes red from choking back tears. "I know you did everything you could. We have been here almost 50 years, and I have enjoyed every moment of it with you."

Gersh smiled at his assistant and put his arm around her, pulling her close.

"Maybe this can still be resolved and we can return one day."

"I hope so. But in the meantime, I will miss this place. Maybe… maybe when we return, we can come here as visitors and not as part of the diplomatic corps?"

"That would require me to retire." He leaned in and kissed the top of her head.

"Would that be so bad?"

"Not so long as I am with you."

Andriel wrapped her arms around him, the warmth of his Trimantium armor always surprised her. To the casual observer, it would look like the armor should be cold to the touch, but one of the special properties of Trimantium was its ability to regulate the body temperature of the wearer. Her dress was a Trimantium weave, offering both protection and stunning elegance. Andriel was lost in her thoughts when her wrist-com beeped.

She held it up and activated the neural link, a small hologram springing to life above her overturned wrist.

"Our transport back to Terra is ready for our arrival and immediate departure."

Gersh huffed his acknowledgment and continued to enjoy her closeness. These moments were rare for them. Their relationship wasn't exactly against the rules, but frowned upon nonetheless; especially because he was an ambassador. However, he and Andriel had spent almost a half century together in Utz. Over time they had become more familiar with one another, and that started to blossom into a romance that neither of them could continue to deny.

Gersh couldn't even remember the moment when he realized he was in love with Andriel. It had happened so gradually, that he couldn't even remember a time when he had not loved her. She had teased him about it sometimes, but admitted (on the rare occasion) that she herself felt the same way about him. His heart swelled as he thought about how lucky he was to have the affection of such a beautiful woman. He never wanted to be without her.

"Andriel… I was wondering…" Gersh started, but found he was suddenly uncertain of himself. She looked up into his sparkling, blue eyes questioningly.

*How can this be so hard? I am a battle hardened warrior, and this is when I lose my nerve?*

"Andriel, would you… would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Andriel threw her arms around his neck, beaming a smile that melted his cold, warrior heart. "Yes. A thousand times, yes!" She kissed him deeply, happier than she had been in a long time.

The shuttle zipped it's way through the cityscape on a flight path reserved for diplomats and their staff, heading directly to the spaceport. As it rounded one of the skyscrapers, it was suddenly enveloped by a purple and white fireball. The rear of the shuttle where the primary drive engine was housed had completely blown away, sending the small craft hurtling towards the ground below. A thick cloud of black smoke trailing behind it.