Preview... 'A Lost Past'

        Crystal walked into the ship after Cobalt, whose talons clacked on the metal floor. He was going to his home planet to retrieve some of his things that he had left. The Cultivator hadn't been very clear when it told them how things would return to normal, and it was very ambiguous for whether Cobalt's possessions would still be on his newly healed planet, but he had to go back and look. One cannot simply leave their life's possessions behind. He hadn't thought about it much, at first, but after the shock ran out, he realized he must return and collect his money if he was going to make a living on the highly sought-after planet of Earth. Real estate there was worth a fortune, but renting was much cheaper.
        Crystal had brought along a heavy caliber pistol with armor piercing rounds, because they had heard that civil protection was having a hell of a time bringing riots and anarchy under control. Some places had even tried to form their own nation with an army and navy.
        So yes, it was good to have some serious weaponry and someone to watch your back when you retrieved and lifted off with items of value.
        “Ready? Buckle your seat belt.” Cobalt asked, his finger hovering over the 'LIFTOFF' button on the touchscreen on the dashboard of the rented vehicle.
        Crystal buckled her seat belt and checked her pistol to see if it was loaded correctly. Even though they had brought along weapons, it would still be dangerous until they had shown them. The thing about muggers was that they were rarely willing to risk their necks. They would wait until an easier target appeared, if they were looking for someone to jump and rob.
        Cobalt pressed the button to get into orbit, and the two avian were pressed against their seats as the ship obeyed the command.
        Seconds later, they were in low orbit, out of atmosphere and in a safe location for a jump(Jumping in an atmosphere would create a massive explosion: the result of going faster than light was much more violent that that of surpassing sound).
        Cobalt entered the coordinates of his planet, and they accelerated into jumping speed. After the initial inertia had been overcome, the ship's artificial gravity and forces took over, allowing the pair of avian to stand up and get out of their seats. Cobalt gazed out at the streaks of light zipping by in the large front window, and Crystal moved to stand beside him.
        They both had much the same thought at the same time: Should I tell him/her? Now would be a good time, before we could both possibly be killed...
        Neither was aware of the secret affection the other had for him or her.
        Unfortunately, neither of the avian confessed their affinity towards the other, so the stalemate continued.
        Crystal was just about to force herself to voice her pressing thoughts, and had even opened her beak to draw a breath when the touchscreen on the dashboard flashed with a red exclamation mark in a yellow pyramid.
        Text quickly typed itself across the screen: AUDIO CORRUPTED. TRANSLATING TO TEXT: Floran CORRUPTED sliced jeans somehow CORRUPTED feature...fun school CORRUPTED anger CORRUPTED engage without CORRUPTED wary assistance...END OF CALL.
        Crystal was at the monitor in half of a second, and she had read the word in the other half. The voice-to-text had obviously messed up. Nobody would send a distress call just to say something about sliced jeans and fun school.
        “Look at the monitor!” Crystal pointed rather unnecessarily. Cobalt had already read the text, and frowned.
        “It's a voice recognition software. A distress call might be a bit hurried and garbled, and the program may have made a mistake. What words sound like those in the text, and which ones make sense?” Cobalt said, examining the words.
        “Spliced genes somehow...feature...some fool, danger, engage without wary assistance...?”
        “Seems unlikely, by I can't think of anything better.” Cobalt said.
        “Should we get aboard and help?” Crystal asked.
        “At least let's take a look around.” Cobalt suggested.
        Crystal drew her pistol, “This pistol fires armor piercing rounds. We won't be defenseless, as long as we're smart. Besides, I'm curious as hell.” Crystal said, showing Cobalt her weapon.
        “We're getting out at the first action of violence, got it?” Cobalt said.
        “Okay.” Crystal holstered her weapon again and stepped over to the teleporter with Cobalt in tow. She pressed the button and they both disappeared.
        They landed in a clean, deserted entrance lobby, and Crystal drew her pistol again. No hurt in being cautious.
        “Hello? Is anyone there?” Crystal called.
        “Don’t shout...someone might hear us.” Cobalt said, “Call me paranoid, but something tells me this isn’t just an equipment failure.”
        “All right...Let’s just keep looking.” Crystal led the way with the pistol, and turned down the hallway leading up to the lobby.
        It was paneled with some white metal, which stood out in heavy contrast with the gruesome scene in front of them. It appeared to have once been an Apex, but it was very clearly dead. Several deep lacerations ran across their back and arms, and their head was nearly demolished. As it was, it was cloven almost in two evidently by some bladed object...