Weeks after the destruction of the space factory and the elimination of the Illixi army, the warmth of Summer reaches Xindyria. Juno rests in her pitch-dark cold room with several blankets over her body— her favorite way to sleep. White noise plays in the background, when suddenly…
A knock interrupts her dreamless state.
"Mm… Coming…" Juno rises from the comfort of her bed and unlocks her door. Much to her surprise, Violet Hallows stands in the entryway.
"Hi, Juno."
"Ms. Hallows. How may I be of service?"
"I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"
"It's no problem. What do you need?"
"Well, Adam and I found a report on something this morning that I thought you'd be interested in checking out."
"Go on…" Juno says, her curiosity piqued.
"Maybe it's better if I show you. I'll give you a minute to get ready first." Violet closes the door. Immediately after she leaves, Juno shoots Castor a quick text.
Are you awake?
Moments later, her phone beeps.
Good morning, Mirror! Yes, I'm awake. What's up?
I think Ms. Hallows is sending me on another mission today. Would you like to come with me?
I'd love to! I'll get ready.
Juno changes into a simple black tank top with jean shorts and a dark bluish-green flannel with the sleeves rolled up, then freshens up in her bathroom. After braiding her hair, she puts on a pair of Converse and then opens the door.
"I'm ready now."
"Excellent. Come with me," Violet says.
Juno follows her down the hallways and up into the astral observation tower. Sunlight pours through its glass ceiling and onto the countless star maps splayed across the walls. She looks around, her eyes sparkling in the warm Summer sun.
"What do you want to show me?"
"Check this out." Violet presses some buttons on the main panel in the room and reveals an SOS message.
"I see. A distress signal, huh?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I've seen plenty of those. What makes this one so different?"
"Well, the signal itself is standard, that is true. What's odd about it, though, is where it's coming from."
"Where it's coming from…?"
"Yes. Here, take a look." Violet moves aside so Juno can see what she's looking at. Before her lies the bright orange and red Phoenix Nebula, twinkling with hundreds of stars. Juno's eyes narrow. Nothing is off so far. She zooms in on the image only to find…
"Wait… Ms. Hallows, I don't understand. Nothing's there."
"Exactly. We have no idea who or what is sending out this message."
"I assume you want me to investigate, yes?"
"If you want. Chances are high that it's nothing, but it could still be worth looking into if you so choose."
"Very well. I'll check it out and report back."
"All right. Need anything from me before you take off?"
"I don't think so."
"All right."
Juno starts to leave when Violet stops her.
"Juno…"
"Yes?"
"Good luck," Violet says.
"Thank you."
***
After suiting up for the journey ahead, Juno slowly takes her ship out and flies towards Castor's apartment. She pores over the screens in front of her. She lifts her fingers to her lips in thought. Maybe Wrivin would have answers to this mystery. She stands up and descends into her ship's interior. It's time to return to the pool room.
Removing her outfit until she's only in her underclothes, she dives into the pool, her magic spreading around her like blood in the ocean. She lies flat on the bottom, closing her eyes.
Are you there?
Ita. Quid est, Juno?
Can you tell me anything about this distress signal?
Quaeris responsa non possum.
Why not?
Scire debes.
What should I know? I don't understand. What's out there waiting for me?
Mox videbis te.
Juno receives no further response from Wrivin.
Cryptic as always. Oh, well. Worth a shot.
She opens her eyes and swims up to the surface of the pool. Once she breaches the surface, she pulls herself out and dries herself off. She redresses, pins her hair off her neck again, and returns to the controls. Juno continues scanning over documents on the Phoenix Nebula, the nearby exoplanets surrounding the signal's location, and any other information she can find until she ultimately arrives at her destination.
She lands her vessel at the nearby shipyard and then reaches Castor's apartment door. She knocks.
"Be right there!" Castor calls from behind. A few minutes later, he opens the door wearing a short-sleeve black button-up covered in roses and black jeans.
"Hi, Castor."
"Hey, Mirror." Castor smiles. "So, where are we going today?"
"I'm… not sure yet."
"Huh?"
"Dr. Graves and Ms. Hallows received a distress signal from the Phoenix Nebula."
"Yeah? What's the issue then?"
"Well, I did more research on the way over here. According to my information, the signal… comes from nothing. No exoplanet, no vessel—just a blank void."
"All the more reason to investigate!" Castor throws out a peace sign and winks, sticking his tongue out. Mirror laughs.
"You're silly, Castor. Shall we go?"
"Yes! I'm excited!"
"All right. Ah, I should ask— have you… ever been in space before?"
"I, uh, haven't. Will that… be a problem?"
"No. It's okay. You're strong and healthy enough. I'm sure you'll be fine."
"Great! When do we leave?"
"As soon as possible. However, I need to help you pack."
"Okay. Come inside." Castor moves out of Mirror's way and lets her in. She heads straight for his bedroom.
"We're going to be gone a while. You'll need clothes, hygiene products, and medical supplies. I have food and water aboard my ship, so don't worry about that. You may also bring personal and entertainment items."
"Well, then! Let's get packing!"
Mirror and Castor spend most of the morning gathering up all of Castor's belongings, packing them neatly in suitcases. After sharing a small intimate lunch together, Castor and Mirror leave the apartment. He locks the door behind him.
"Are you sure you have everything?" Mirror asks.
"Yep!"
"Okay. We won't be back for a while, so I want to make sure."
They head for the local shipyard with Mirror telling Castor all about her findings on the way over. She uses her magic to carry all of their belongings. Before they board The Carnation, Castor notices the emblem emblazoned on the front of her ship.
"Hey, Mirror?"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"I never had the chance to ask about that." He points at the symbol.
"Ah, yes. It's the symbol of my people, the Crierce. You may not know this, but each shape represents a core aspect of my culture."
"Care to share?"
"Of course. Circle and triangle symbolism are quite fascinating. Often, circles represent protection, eternity, and harmony. I'm sure you know that perfect circles are rare in nature, but that's what makes them interesting. They have ties to celestial bodies and even flowers. Now, as for triangles, they can have multiple meanings depending on their orientation. Our symbol's triangle is point down, as you can see here, and represents a couple of things: emotions, creativity, and even the ancient study of alchemy." The more Mirror talks, the more Castor smiles, and his heart flutters. She's so cute when she talks about her special interests.
"Do you have a favorite shape?"
"Hmm. A favorite shape…" She ponders his question. "I like stars. They have such unique symmetry and are satisfying to create."
"Good choice!"
"We should go. We can talk more on the way." Mirror smiles at him. No one's ever listened to her so intently before.
She could get used to this…
***
Now aboard Mirror's ship, she and Castor leave the atmosphere and set sail across the stars to the source of the mysterious distress signal.
"Care for a real tour?" Mirror asks. "Last time I… didn't show you everything The Carnation has to offer."
"Oh, yes, absolutely!"
"All right. Come with me, I'll show you where everything is."
Mirror sets the ship to autopilot, then grabs Castor's hand and leads him further inside. He has been here before, but never seen the rest of the interior. Colorful lights glow in the darkness of space surrounding them on every side. Mirror leads him past the sleeping pods and into the main recreation area. It is the largest room on the ship and comes equipped with a small library, a virtual reality station, a mini movie theater, entertainment systems, some exercise equipment, an art and creativity space, board and card games, and a garden.
"Wow. You have a lot of cool stuff here! You must enjoy traveling."
"I do. I've met so many fascinating species throughout my life: maiphra, dahaela, ghox—none of them have ever compared to the wonder of humanity. Don't misunderstand, they are all lovely, unique creatures, and I've enjoyed studying their culture. We Crierce, however, adore humans above all other mortal species. Here. Let me show you."
Mirror walks over to the movie theater area and gestures for Castor to join her. She closes her eyes and uses her magic to project the story above them in real time. Castor lies down next to her and watches.
"Story time!" Castor says, his eyes sparkling. Mirror laughs.
"You see, in the beginning, only a void existed, and within it was a celestial creature who named herself Wrivin. She had the gift of creativity and wanted to make the empty universe her canvas. She began by establishing a realm of her own made of light called Elysia. Next, she made stars, moons, planets, nebulae, and eventually galaxies, scattering them throughout the newborn universe. Her first planet, of course, was Earth."
Castor watches magical threads of blue, green, and white wind together and form the Earth above his head. His mouth opens slightly in wonder.
"After creating countless planets, she released her hold on her humanoid form and spread from world to world, creating new species for all of them: plants, animals, and humanoids alike. Gathering remaining materials from her other projects, she forged thousands of unique species: Sinphai, Omnith, Alain, Crierce— and even Illixi. She spent eight whole days handcrafting all life in the Laniakea Supercluster, down to the most infinitesimal detail. On the last day, she introduced humans: one man and one woman to rule over the Earth—her prized possession."
Above their heads, magical golden threads weave together in the shape of two figures.
"Did they have names?"
"Yes; the man's name was Aurelian and the woman's name was Zaryn. They lived in a massive lush garden full of tasty fruit and kind animals. Her heart overflowing with love, Wrivin was so enchanted by them that she decided to create more humans. She soon made hundreds of thousands of them to cover the entire planet. Once she reached her limit, she returned to Elysia to rest. Wrivin's mind had become weary, after all."
"I can only imagine."
"Indeed."
"What happened after?"
"Watching her creations thrive in the universe she made, Wrivin had only one wish: she wanted to exist alongside humanity. Of course—unfortunately—she couldn't do this herself. And so, she modeled herself a daughter out of stardust and dark matter who could go in her place. Her name was Mirielda."
Above their heads, white and silver magic threads intertwine and form a woman clothed in white robes with sleek, silver hair. She wears a blindfold over her eyes and has four arms.
"Wow… She's beautiful."
"Indeed. Wrivin gifted her daughter the Earth—her very first planet—so that she could introduce herself to the universe. With her mother's wishes in mind, Mirielda transformed into a new shape and descended into her world, eager to see life thriving there. She too was fascinated with humanity and wanted nothing more than to protect them from harm. They loved her and she loved them. She happily lived out her mother's dreams for quite some time and soon, Mirielda fell in love with a human man named Pollux. He treated her with compassion despite her status as a goddess."
"Now where have I heard that before?" Castor grins, winking at Mirror.
"Yes. Our relationship must be a legend." She smiles.
"Everything sounded so perfect… What changed?"
"Contrary to popular belief, several of Wrivin's creations—excluding humans—soon fell into darkness of their own volition. Wrivin had the best intentions, but even she in all her power could not stop them from wanting more out of life. They were inherently flawed. And she was naive enough to believe that all her creations would live in peace forever. Now, at that time, Mirielda and Pollux had gone out in search of the other creatures and plants that Wrivin had made. She met and befriended hundreds of new species, and Pollux cared for her on their quest. Wrivin watched over them throughout their adventures. She saw their future together and, despite the plague spreading through her creations' minds, she truly thought that no harm would come to either of them. Unfortunately..." Mirror pauses, the magic above them both dissipating.
"Mirror? What's wrong?"
"Mirielda was murdered."
Explosions of blood-red magic splattered across the ceiling above them.
"...what? How? Who killed her?"
"I wish I could share the details. Everything was perfect until someone betrayed her. I do not know who. All I know is that bleeding out light, she came to the Crierce, my people, to die. She couldn't return to Earth in time. Her favorite planet along her quest was Happi. She wanted to see my parents one last time. Mirielda had one final wish: to give up her human form and be reborn so that she could meet Pollux again in another lifetime. Once she died, she dissolved into pure light."
"And Pollux?"
"He never met the Crierce. Mirielda used the last of her power to send him back to Earth alone. He committed suicide soon after Mirielda's death."
"Oh, God. Mirror, I… I'm so sorry. What about Wrivin? She must have been devastated."
"Yes. Wrivin went mad with grief and destroyed those who had killed her only daughter. Afraid of what she had done, she retreated to Elysia. She would come to find out that much, much later, her daughter was indeed reborn."
"Wait, so… you're…?"
"Yes. I am Mirielda."
"And Wrivin is…?"
"She's technically my mother."
"You have a real mother though, right?"
"Yes. Her name is Veilin. And my father is Scogon."
Both Mirror and Castor are silent for a moment.
"So… you've been communing with Wrivin?" he asks, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yes."
"How? Why?"
"I cannot say. I've tried asking her for answers regarding several things, but she always speaks so cryptically that I have no idea what to make of her responses."
"I suppose you could expect that from a goddess."
"True." Mirror suddenly realizes his point. "…Hey!"
"I'm only teasing!" Castor grins, but his smile fades after a moment.
"What's wrong, Castor?"
"I just… I worry that… if our bond is anything like Pollux and Mirielda's… What if you…?"
"I do not plan on dying anytime soon. And as long as you have me by your side, you shall live a long and peaceful life."
"...thank you." Castor's smile returns and he kisses Mirror on the nose.
"Now then." Mirror sits up. "Enough talk about the lore of the world. Why don't we have some dinner?"
"Yes, let's," Castor says. Both of them rise from beneath the cozy blankets in the mini movie theater and together they start to cook a tasty meal. Later that evening, just before both of them are about to fall asleep, Castor finds he has more questions to ask her.
"Mirror? Are you asleep?"
"No. What is it, Castor?"
"I wanted to ask you some more questions."
"Go ahead."
"What is your homeworld like?"
"I wish you could see it." Mirror sighs dreamily. She's missed her home much more than she lets on. "Happi is a paradise: pristine beaches, lush gardens, rich volcanic soil, misty mountains, vast crystalline caves, gorgeous sunsets, stunning eco-friendly cities… it's truly a sight to behold. I do not mean to boast, but I truly believe that Happi is the most beautiful planet in the supercluster."
"Wow! Sounds lovely!" Castor smiles. "I wish I could go there."
"I would love to have you."
"Tell me more. What else should I know about your world and your people?"
"Well, let's see…"
Mirror goes on and on about life on Happi. She covers everything: food, games and leisure activities, flora and fauna, technology, fine arts—all of it is enough to lull Castor into a vivid state of dreaming. Seeing him peacefully sleeping, she smiles, then drifts off herself.
I'll have to bring you there myself someday.
***
As time goes on, Mirror and Castor spend hours upon hours enjoying everything Mirror's ship has to offer. They play video games, read books, eat meals, tend to the garden, and stargaze together. When they sleep, they dream of each other.
***
A while later—neither Castor nor Mirror is quite sure how long has passed—beeping and whirring sounds indicate that they have arrived in the vicinity of the distress signal. They both enter the ship's cockpit and begin scanning their surroundings. Closing in on their destination, Mirror's senses are on full alert.
"Something's wrong…"
"What is it?"
"I don't sense any life signs here."
"Huh? How is that possible? Could whoever sent the signal be dead?"
"I'm not sure. I'm going to bring us in closer."
Mirror takes control of The Carnation and pilots her deeper in. When she pierces through the hazy layer of space dust, her eyes widen. She stands up and looks through the glass. Before her lies a massive graveyard of ships floating lifelessly around a space station.
"...what?"
"Mirror, where are we?"
"I… I'm not sure."
"Should we check it out?"
"Yes. We have to figure out what's going on here. You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
***
Mirror and Castor don their space suits and slowly enter the space station through a small hidden opening. Once inside, the hatch closes behind them and gravity kicks in. An elevator lies in front of them. Soon, Mirror realizes there is no radiation and that oxygen is available for them both to breathe.
"Castor, it's okay. You can take your suit off now."
"Whew. Good thing. I was getting hot in there."
"Yeah. We should go down this elevator, I think."
"All right."
While they descend, Mirror scans her surroundings using the wristband she picked up off Grinnox's corpse. She figured out how to use it and made a few alterations after retrieving it from Dr. Graves and Miss Hallows. She still does not pick up any life signs. Could the magnetic field surrounding the station be causing these mysterious readings?
"Anything yet?" Castor asks.
"No. Nothing. I'd guess that my scans are distorted due to outside interference."
"But?"
"If that were the case… my body would still be able to sense the presence of living creatures, humanoid or otherwise… but it's not."
"Odd…"
When they reach the bottom of the elevator shaft, they exit and find themselves standing before an ornate door with an intricate lock. Mirror harnesses the power of a quasar to burn through the ancient contraption, thus opening the door.
What she finds is something she never could have expected…
"...what?"
"Mirror? What's wr— Oh." Castor peers over her shoulder. The interior of a luxurious mansion meets their gaze. A massive chandelier hangs from the high ceiling. Beneath the balcony they stand on is a vast marble floor. Rows of massive pillars line the walls and at the far end of the room rests a stage adorned by red velvet curtains. Statues stand majestically on either side of the stage.
"Where are we?" Mirror asks in a whisper, as though the slightest disturbance might destroy the opulent interior of the station.
"I… I have no idea," Castor whispers back.
"Let's head downstairs and see what we can find," Mirror says. Castor nods and together they head into the main room. On the wall next to Castor is a portrait of a stunningly beautiful woman with long dark hair, a ruffled, deep red dress, and chocolate brown eyes. Intricate stone filigree frames the art piece.
"Who is that?" he asks, pointing at the painting.
"I couldn't tell you. She's lovely."
"Yeah. Maybe she's here on the station?"
"Let's find out. Here, we'll go opposite ways and explore. We'll meet back here when we're finished."
"And if we run into trouble?"
"Here. Take this." Mirror reaches into her pocket and pulls out a necklace.
"Huh?"
"Your necklace has a tracking device in it. If you should need my help, press the gem on it and I will come find you."
"Do you have one too?"
"Yes." She opens up her suit a bit to reveal a matching necklace with a colorful gem in the middle. "Good luck. I'll see you soon."
"All right. please be careful, okay?"
"I will."
With those parting words, Castor and Mirror go their separate ways. Just as Castor turns around to start walking the other way, he notices a massive glass window overlooking a lush garden. Birds and butterflies flutter freely among the sweet-smelling flowers. It is there that he spots the very woman from the painting.
"Hey, wait a minute!" He dashes off.
"Castor?"
"Don't go! I want to help you!"
"Castor, what are you—"
"Wait, please!" Castor stops at the glass and looks through, watching the woman walk along the dewy green grass. She carries a frilly umbrella over her head to shield herself from the sun. He pushes through the glass to reach her, but she loses her umbrella to the wind and, chasing after it, she vanishes into thin air. Castor runs after her a little more until he's standing in the midst of the holographic grass. He then trips and falls into a pool of water beneath him.
"Castor? What's wrong?"
"Huh? Where'd she…? She was… She was just there!"
"Who?"
"That woman from the painting!"
"It's…only a hologram. See?" Mirror steps through the glass and kneels down, running her hand through the ground.
"Oh, um… sorry." Castor rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"It's okay." Mirror smiles.
"I suppose it's… sort of silly to chase after imaginary women."
"Maybe a little. Here. We should keep going."
"Right." Just as Mirror starts to walk away, Castor yells out. "Mirror! Look out!"
She jumps back and crosses her arms in front of her in an x pattern, gauntlets ablaze with blue flames. Now standing in front of her is a small statue of a cherub holding a large bowl above its head.
"My lady, lunch is now served," the statue says.
"I'm sorry?"
"My lady, lunch is now served," the statue repeats. Castor gets up and stands next to Mirror.
"Uh, is it… talking about you?"
"Either me or her."
As they talk, the statue floats away and through the door beneath the glorious painting. Mirror and Castor exchange glances.
"Should we…?"
"I think so, yes. You go ahead and see what lies beyond that door. I'm going to keep looking around elsewhere."
"All right."
Castor follows the path the statue had taken and ends up in a fancy dining hall. Elegant food items are piled high on one end of the table, all ripe for the picking. Castor's mouth waters.
"Mirror, you should see this!"
"Coming." She soon joins him in the dining room. She eyes the colorful fruits, the succulent meat, and even the bottle of vintage champagne sitting in an ice bath.
"I can't believe we found alcohol way out here. We should try some!" Castor says.
"You could be sick if you do." Mirror pauses, watching him pour a glass for himself. "Why is there only food here for one person?"
"Could be that our mystery woman lives here alone."
"Maybe."
Castor sips the champagne from his glass while Mirror looks around the room. She soon spots a statue of a woman in a nook of the wall. Beneath her is a sink. She turns the faucet, but nothing comes out. She looks at the spout from which water suddenly bursts forth. She jumps back and Castor chokes on his champagne. She turns around.
"You okay, Mirror?"
"Yes. Are you?"
"Oh, yeah. You just startled me."
"How's it taste?"
"Good. I think it's vintage."
"We should keep going."
"Okay."
After leaving the food behind—which turned out not to be real either—Castor and Mirror enter the next room together. They are met with a hallway full of doors.
"I sense the distress signal. We're getting close."
"Right. Let's go."
One by one, the pair check the doors. Mirror hears a quiet melody playing behind one of them. She grabs hold of the ornate handle and finds that it is unlocked.
"Over here."
"Coming!" Castor calls lightly. He hurries over to the door and together they enter. Behind the unlocked door is a posh dressing room. Various dresses are strewn about the room and a fancy vanity desk holds makeup, perfumes, jewelry, and other beauty tools, as well as a handheld mirror. On another wall are dozens of photographs of that very same mysterious woman. While Castor checks out the photos, Mirror finds the source of the sound: a windup doll standing on a side table next to one of the plush couches.
"It's beautiful…" Mirror says. As the doll spins around, it moves further and further until…
CRASH!
"Whoa! Mirror, you okay?"
"Y-Yeah…" They both look down at the destroyed doll.
"Oh no, it's broken!"
"Such a shame…"
"Can you fix it?"
"I can try." Mirror uses her psychic energy to lift the pieces off the floor and reassemble them. She uses heat from stars to meld the shards together.
"There! Good as new," Castor says.
Mirror examines the dresses hanging up and lying on the couches while Castor explores the contents of the vanity desk. He gently picks up a pearl necklace sitting on top of a jewelry box. His eye then catches a flowery rose-gold ring with a hexagon-shaped amethyst gemstone, in the center of it. Making sure no one's looking, he slips the ring into his pocket.
"Wow, these dresses sure are pretty."
"Why don't you try one on?" Castor turns around, the pearl necklace still in his hands.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to ruin them."
"You won't. Trust me."
"All right. No peeking."
Castor turns his attention back to the photographs; in most of them, the mysterious woman stands beside men and women dressed in formal wear. He has no idea who they are, but they must be famous somewhere, he guesses. His eyes finally land on a photo of the woman kissing a man in a tuxedo. She's wearing her signature red gown. Who could that be, he wonders.
Meanwhile, Mirror dons one of the satin ballgowns. Her small yet slightly muscular frame now enveloped in multiple layers of fabric, she ties the corset of the dress's bodice tight around her chest, but enough so she can still breathe.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, I am. You may look now."
Castor turns around and gasps, putting his hands over his mouth. Mirror wears an ombre white to pastel pink gown with small roses adorning the frills on the skirt. She gives Castor a spin and a smile.
"God, Mirror, I…" His eyes shine with tears in the dim candlelight of the room. "Wait!"
"What's wrong?"
"Here." He approaches her and puts the pearl necklace around her throat. She can smell his cologne as he does so. She blushes. "Have to add the finishing touch!" He steps back.
"...do you like it?"
"You look perfect." He smiles sweetly at her. "You should take it home with you."
"I don't know… It's not mine."
"Maybe so, but I think the owner would want you to have it."
"I'll keep it in mind. Here, let me take this off, and then we can keep exploring."
"All right. Do you need help?"
"Yes. If you could undo the corset ribbons for me."
She turns away from him as he loosens the delicate ribbons and removes the necklace. Her breathing quickens, feeling his warm breath on the back of her neck. He pauses.
"Mirror? Are you all right?"
"Oh, um, yes."
"You're trembling. What's wrong, my love?" She turns around and looks into his eyes, holding his hands in her own.
"I suppose I am… not used to receiving affection like this."
"I'm sorry. Am I overstepping your boundaries?"
"Oh, no, not at all!" she reassures him. "I… I don't know how to respond to this is all."
"And that's okay. I want to make you comfortable and happy above all else. We'll take things slow."
"Thank you." She smiles at him, but it fades as quickly as it came. "I'm sorry. With all the partners I've had, you'd think I'd understand love more than I do."
"No need to apologize. I'd never experienced romantic love before until I met you, so I'm not exactly an expert either."
"I guess we'll have to figure it out together then, won't we?"
"I'd like that." Castor pauses. "Mirror, um…"
"What is it?"
"May I kiss you?"
"Of course you can." Mirror stands on her toes and allows him to softly press his lips against hers. He holds her face with his hand. When he releases, he smiles at her.
"We should probably keep going, huh?"
"Good idea. Let me finish removing this dress."
After Mirror changes back into her spacesuit, she and Castor set out once more. Nearby, they find a room filled to the brim with shiny golden trophies. A hologram of the woman singing sits in the center of them all.
"Ah, here she is."
"She must be a famous singer." Mirror kneels slightly and reads the inscription.
Arya Rose
February 8th, 2131
"Now she has a name, but… what happened to her?"
Mirror wanders around the room reading the inscriptions on the trophies.
"Best Soloist… Grand Prize… Golden Prize…"
"She has a lovely voice. She must've been quite talented."
"Yeah. And on top of that, she's been everywhere. Look."
Castor examines the trophies with her. Names of various planets precede the names of the awards.
"Wow. No wonder she has so many dresses. You'd think constant space travel like that would take a toll on her."
"Maybe this station was her retreat from all of her events.
"Yeah, it'd make sense. Do you think she sent out the distress signal because she was lonely?"
"It's a possibility. Still, we have to find her."
Mirror stays in the trophy room while Castor returns to the dressing room to take another look around. Just then, he starts hearing voices…
Your singing was lovely today, Arya! Especially your duet. I can't think of anyone else who could perform as beautifully as you.
"Who's there?" Castor asks, spinning around. Before his eyes sits Arya in the company of her consorts. She carries a bundle of roses in her hands.
Of course. After all, my partner was Scriabin.
She looks at Castor.
Isn't that right?
The others surrounding Arya disappear as she walks up to Castor. She sets the roses down on the table in front of him, then vanishes herself. He blinks and steps forward with his palm outstretched, then drops to his knees.
"Castor?"
"Huh? Mirror?"
"Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah, I just… I saw her, Mirror."
"Arya?"
"Yeah, she was here and then… and then…"
She picks up the flowers which then rot beneath her touch. A letter rests inside.
My love, Arya, from your Scriabin, March 28th, 2105.
"What? How…? She was here!"
"How did you meet someone from the last century?"
"I-I don't know, but she was here. I heard her speak to me."
"You may be seeing ghosts."
"Maybe, but how would a ghost send a distress signal?"
"I'm not sure, but we should keep going. We're running out of time to save Arya."
"O-Okay."
"Might be best if we split up. I can go downstairs and you can go upstairs. You're… not afraid of ghosts, are you?"
"N-No."
"All right. Meet me back in the main foyer when you're finished."
Mirror descends, her pupils widening to accommodate for the darkness. She looks around, and then lifts her gaze upward. Another doll stands on the ceiling. She gasps as it falls then disappears before it hits the ground. She hurries down the hallway and discovers both a giant mirror and another passageway. Sensing movement, she goes down the hallway.
Meanwhile, Castor finds a more dilapidated area. He wanders around in the dark until he feels something drip on his face. He raises his fingers to it and finds a dark liquid. Shining his flashlight upward, he sees a statue of a woman on the ceiling with the liquid dripping from her eye. He continues forward.
"Mirror, do you have any information on Arya?"
"Yeah. I researched her. According to my information, Arya was born into royalty and had an unmatched soprano voice since childhood. Scriabin was her lover and also a famous singer."
"What went wrong? Why is she all the way out here?"
"After some time, she lost her voice and faced some harsh feedback from her fans."
"I can only imagine what she must've felt."
"Yeah. And then, just before she and Scriabin were to be married…" Mirror pauses.
"What?"
"He died. Murdered."
"By who?"
"Supposedly one of Arya's jealous fans. The culprit was never found."
"Maybe you're right then."
"Hm?"
"About her coming here as an escape."
"Yeah…"
As the two of them explore deeper into the station, their surroundings slowly start to fall apart. Where once had been a pristine mansion interior were now threads of scrap metal, rust, and pools of dark water.
"Mirror?"
"What is it, Castor?"
"Are you all right?"
"Yes. We need to hurry though. The magnetic field is starting to interfere with our connection to The Carnation."
"Okay. I'll try and head back soon."
"Good."
Castor soon finds a wide-open room with a pool at the bottom. He starts down the steps but slips and falls into the water. When he stands up, he sees an ancient piano in the distance that plays a haunting melody with ghostly fingers.
"Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Where have I… heard that melody before…?"
"Castor, I don't hear anything."
"Wait! It's the SOS signal!"
Castor wades through the water until he reaches the piano. His fingers hovering over the keys, he lightly presses one of them, and before his eyes, his surroundings transform into that very same garden he had seen earlier that day. A pristine white gazebo now stands in place around the brand-new piano. Sheet music flutters in the breeze. The scent of roses overwhelms him and butterflies float through the clear blue skies. Castor admires the scenery, when…
"I love you, Scriabin!" Arya's voice calls. Before Castor can react, she runs up and kisses him passionately. His eyes widen. Meanwhile, Mirror wanders around.
"Castor? What's going on up there?" Mirror asks over his communication device. He doesn't answer. "Are you okay?"
She soon finds herself standing on a stage. Theater lights shine down, blinding her. She shields her eyes from them. Suddenly, the rousing sound of applause meets her ears. Bewildered, she looks around. She can now see the props set up on the stage and, over to her side, Arya stands with her back to her. Mirror approaches cautiously.
"Hey… You're… You're Arya, aren't you?"
Just as Mirror gets close to her, Arya brandishes a shiny knife and stabs her in the abdomen. Mirror gasps for breath and, stumbling back, collapses to the floor. She places her hands over the wound, blood staining her hands.
"C…Castor…"
As her vision fades, she starts to hallucinate even more…
***
When Mirror opens her eyes, she sits on a cozy couch next to Castor with plush blankets draped over their laps. Across from them, the fireplace emits a gentle warmth. In the corner of the room, their Christmas tree sparkles and glows with light. A little boy with blond hair and green eyes and a little girl with brown hair and grey eyes open presents as their parents watch their joyful reactions.
Soon, the children hand Castor a gift from under the tree.
Merry Christmas, my love.
Castor hands Mirror the colorful box. She peels off the wrapping paper and opens it, pulling out a floor-length, off-the-shoulder lavender dress adorned with flowers.
Wow… it's beautiful!
I'm glad you're happy with it! I know how you love vintage clothing.
Oh, Castor, thank you! I love you.
Castor and Mirror share a passionate kiss.
Can we open our last gifts now, Mama?
Mirror and Castor's twins peer up at them with wide, hopeful eyes. Mirror laughs.
Of course, sweetheart.
As they tear off the wrapping paper, they find two small spacesuits inside.
Wow! Now Mama and Papa will take us into space!
Maybe not quite yet, honey. Those are just for play. Someday, though! I promise!
But Mama…
All right, kids, let's eat some breakfast, huh? How do pancakes sound?
Yummy!
Castor pushes the blankets off him and walks to the kitchen to start cooking. Mirror hugs her children close.
When breakfast is served, Castor and Mirror share stories about their time in space together. Suddenly, Mirror notices the flowers on the table wither and slowly transform into roses. She drops her tea and stumbles back.
Wait… This isn't real!
Now in Castor's place is Arya.
We never want you to leave, my love…
***
Suddenly, Mirror snaps out of her vision. Where once she was in her living room and then the dining room, she now finds herself in a room filled with a hallucinogenic organic material that pulses around her, as though it were feeding on her mind. She blasts the remains of the illusion with plasma, destroying the images, then runs away in search of Castor.
He's in danger! We have to get out of here!
As she sprints through the collapsing station—the magnetic field has strengthened exponentially—she hears Castor murmuring to Arya.
"CASTOR! Where are you?!" she screams, hoping to break him free from his own hallucinations. Meanwhile, she fights off Arya's little cherub minions, trying not to get herself killed.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"I'm afraid you are leaving me."
"I'll always love you, Arya…"
"Really?"
"Yes. I am yours, forever…"
"I'm so happy, Scriabin…"
Soon, Mirror finds Castor trapped in the illusion of Arya and the garden. His eyes are glazed over. While he whispers sweet nothings to the ghostly woman, Mirror scrambles through the dark water as the station twists and warps around her, trying to drown her and prevent her from reaching him. Out of desperation, she summons the power of a solar flare to eliminate all resistance.
"CASTOR!" she screams. Her voice quivers with terror.
Soon, she finds herself in the garden. Arya sits at the piano.
"Let him go!"
"Scriabin is eternal. I've made sure of it. You must understand. Now, in my memories, he shall be who I wanted him to be."
"Wait a minute… did you… did you kill him?!"
"His cause of death does not matter. Allow me to show you something."
Mirror fires plasma at her new enemy, but she jumps out of the way and creates yet another illusion. Her children stand in front of her, wearing their spacesuits.
Mama!
Mirror gasps for breath and drops to her knees. Castor stands behind them.
"Children? C-Castor?"
Hello, my love. Welcome home.
"Castor, what's h-happening?" As tears stream down her face, she pushes herself off the ground and runs to her family, but the closer she gets, the bloodier they become.
"C-Castor!" she chokes out, now full-on sobbing as she is too late to save them. She hugs her family, Arya standing over her. Just as she is about to surrender to the horrible vision, she hears a familiar voice, faint, but clear.
"MIRROR!"
Her eyes widen. She turns around.
"Castor?!"
"It's not real! You were right! We have to leave, now! The Carnation is falling apart!"
"Wait—"
Castor appears, covered in muddy water and blood. Shooting at Arya, he destroys her, their children, and himself. Grabbing Mirror's waist, he drags her out.
"We need to go!"
"Castor, you're alive!"
"It's okay! I'm here. Hurry, get us out of this cursed place!"
Mirror presses buttons on her wrist device and before everything collapses around them, they warp out and back onto the ship.
"Hang on, Castor!" Mirror takes control of The Carnation and, her magic fueling every single part of her vessel, breaks free of the overpowering magnetic field and speeds off back toward Xindyria. Castor looks out the window and watches the destruction behind him.
Although they have escaped with their lives, the trauma in their minds remains…
***
Much later, they finally reenter Xindyria's atmosphere. Neither of them have talked much about what happened to each other since the day they left. After spending weeks in the cold vacuum of space, experiencing the warmth of late Summer brings them a small bit of joy. Mirror informs Adam and Violet of her arrival but before she returns to the lab, she drops Castor off at his apartment. After unpacking and reorganizing, Mirror asks Castor one simple question.
"How did you escape the illusion?"
"I heard your voice outside the garden and I realized it wasn't Arya. I had a feeling that you were in danger that I couldn't shake."
"If only my experience had been the same…"
"What did she show you?"
"I… I'd rather not talk about it."
"I understand. Just know… I'm here. I'm never leaving you. Okay?" Castor says. Mirror wordlessly hugs him, her chest now heaving with sobs. After a moment, she whispers.
"I love you, Castor."
"I love you too, Mirror. Now." He lifts her face to his. "I think you should go home."
"You're right." She sniffles. "I can't keep Dr. Graves and Ms. Hallows waiting."
She gets ready to leave when Castor pulls her into a gentle kiss. Mirror kisses him back.
***
Later that night, while lying in bed, Juno reflects on everything that happened on the station. Who were those children? Were they truly hers? Are she and Castor going to someday start a family together? She has so many questions about her future, but she's not sure if she wants to know the answers or not. Arya has done quite a number on her mind. Maybe if she sleeps, she'll feel better. Just as she did before she left, Juno turns off every light in her room, sets up her white noise machine, and activates her oil diffuser. Burying her body under multiple blankets, she falls asleep in her cold bedroom, dreaming only of Castor in the rose garden…