Chapter 15: Prospero

The Nomad completed its solemn journey to Prospero.

Prospero was not humanity’s first extrasolar discovery, but it had undoubtedly become the new Earth, the true center of human civilization, even if official governments remained headquartered on humanity’s cradle. That cradle, however, was notoriously difficult to access for preservation reasons, particularly for Xenos, so much so that it was commonly referred to as “the Mythical Earth.”

When asked, the average person would tell you that humanity had originated on a distant planet that now resembled a theme park for disconnected elites, only to quickly relocate to the crown jewel of the Big Five.

Prospero was a planet of life and death, air and land. Orbiting a distant blue sun, which filtered into pure white light through its atmosphere, it was more massive than Earth and boasted days exactly 30 hours long. Prospero’s time had become the universal standard.

Xenobiologists quickly validated this ancient planet—one without mountains or saltwater—as ideal for colonization. Its fertile soil hosted vegetation of boundless energy. Pluck one fruit, and another would appear in days. Cut down a plant, and shoots would sprout within the hour. A veritable life factory: if you polluted water, indigenous microorganisms would ravenously devour the toxins and purify it.

Some scholars theorized that this ecosystem was a “Transient artifact,” akin to molecular reconfigurators or the impossible starships these superior beings had left scattered like forgotten picnic items before heading to their incomprehensible destinations.

Regardless of its origins, the planet could sustain an immense population. Early colonies became cities, which grew into sprawling metropolises. Humanity’s furious expansion spewed continental quantities of pollution, only to be absorbed by nature, which thrived on the challenge and demanded more. Cities covered most of Prospero’s singular landmass. Urban layers stacked atop each other—three, four, five levels high—to cater to elites demanding access to blue skies. Today, Prospero’s official census counted a symbolic 500 billion humans, not including its countless Xenos inhabitants.

Under its weight, vast sections of Prospero sank into the earth, piercing its thin mantle and plunging pillars deep into molten lava. As if the planet hadn’t given enough, this vertical churn brought precious metals to the surface: iron, platinum, uranium, cobalt, silica, and most notably, “the brass of the world’s heart,” or Kentrochalcum—a naturally occurring alloy formed in the planet’s core, as light as it was indestructible.

The discovery of Kentrochalcum birthed a new branch of physics called Uberkraft, which sought to replicate the alloy’s structure in other metals. Its greatest achievement to date was Hyperchalcum, derived from rhodium, gold, and bismuth, and rumored to form the foundation of the Wau’s legendary armor.

Even the rivers of lava crisscrossing the surface couldn’t deter Prospero’s flora, which thrived on the immense heat. Like the countless factories and power plants of Prospero’s omnipolis, the vegetation harnessed this energy to flourish in intolerable conditions, reclaiming the planet, layer by layer, as its own.

It was into the twilight of this singular world that the Nomad made its emergency landing. For a brief moment, Astroport 14 halted its activities to welcome the tiny Raven, carrying refugees on the brink of oxygen depletion. A minor political dignitary (only an hour had passed since the crisis began), flanked by gray-suited advisors, journalists, onlookers, medics, and psi officers, all accompanied by specialized drones, gathered to witness the opening of the capsule and the metallic-scented rush of air.

Placing a hand on Salute’s daughter’s shoulder, the official solemnly declared that the HS would do everything possible to compensate the victims of this tragedy—pioneers, no less—and ensure they were integrated into a new life under the best conditions. Through some curious distortion of time and space, the crowd was already mourning a tragedy yet to unfold—one that would not be confirmed for another week.

Ada, who had her fill of refugee care policies, took just enough discreet steps to attract the attention of an official who asked what she was doing there. Then she disappeared into the crowd of onlookers, eventually running far away.

She vanished.

Marie Jespersen, Nikolas Bihotz, and the children didn’t mention her disappearance for various reasons: some respected her escape, others didn’t care about her fate, and some even hoped she’d fall into misery—or better yet, into lava.

A few days passed, washing away this tragedy amid the millions of other events that populated the information networks. Sky, meanwhile, found himself on one of the highest platforms of Astroport 14.

Behind a gray metal railing, warm winds rose from lava flows two kilometers below, carrying the hum of industries, markets, restaurants, temples, and streets, before fading into the murmurs of ship engines landing and taking off incessantly. These ships ranged from Raven freighters to Ozymandias vessels and older models: sleek Acronycta ships resembling silverfish—small courier ships often used as private transports by elites; Adventura vessels, plump with white and gold designs, intended for tourism; and even a colossal Colossus named Espérance, an ancient, seven-hundred-meter-long polygonal transport ship, black with grime and so aged it creaked in the wind, sending chills through its passengers.

It was at this railing that Sky found Ada, her hair blowing in the wind, accompanied by Alpha and Kukth perched on her shoulder. She threw herself into his arms, and he asked:

“How did Alpha end up here?””Well, he told me ... okay, it’s weird, but he drew a picture, and I think he hitched a ride on the ship.””On the outside?” Sky looked at the impassive insect-like creature with admiration. “Well, I’ve heard of Xenos that can survive in space. During a Drift ... that’s a first.””How did you find me?””Well, I was just passing by...””Prospero is kind of a big planet...””Alright, fine, I’ll admit it. I was looking for you. A little bribe to the right person who knows how to ask the right questions to the AIs, and they found you.”