Dark Forest of Stars
Copyright© 2026 by Minefro
Story 3: Kesterion
Dr. Breen sits in a sterilized room. In front of him are several documents containing old folk lore and illustrations of the Cre-Xy. Across the table from him is an officer.
“Can you confirm that you once had or considered working alongside these ... beings?”
“Yes.”
“Do you understand you are considered a trader to humanity for these thoughts or actions?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Well it is protocol to execute all human traders, but you are also 1000 years old and from arth so lets talk.”
“Arth? Don’t you mean earth?”
He jots on a paper. “Noted, now tell me what these beings are like, and why you choose or consider working with them.”
“Wont I just incriminate myself?”
“No, not any further than the evidence can.”
“They are called the Cre-Xy, a multiversal civilization that conquers planets and use whatever life they find for whatever purpose they see fit.”
“And a millennia ago, they found humans, right?”
“Yes, half of humanity joined them in their home universe, and the rest were scattered and studied.”
“And what did humans have that they saw ... benefiting?”
“Our wits mixed with our lying nature.”
“And you said they studied humans, yet we can be sure we were never studied.”
“There are 7 Cre-Xy labs on the 2nd moon of this planet.”
“We are space fairing people, we have charted and studied every inch of our moons.”
“What do you think 1000 years does to a structure in space?”
“Here’s the deal, we will give you a map of Tigui, if you can point out the 7 locations and there is anything there, you are free of all charges.”
They hand Breen a map and he quickly jots X’s where he remembered seeing the old labs on the maps he studied.
“What now?” Dr. Breen sat down.
“Now you join your friends in jail.”
Dr.Breen was led to a wide open jail cell. Inside were the others.
“How’d it go?” Vessa asked.
“Not too bad.” Dr.breen sighed.
The officer, Chopra, sat with another officer.
“So, it went well, and we have some good information. All of them independently call Arth “Earth,” which that specific interpretation is widely regarded within historians as the original name given the evidence.”
“Interesting.” The other officer, Beck, nods.
“Most gave corrections of the illustrations we gave them, but one, the leader Breen, gave us old research bases on Tigui.”
“Interesting ... are we going to check?”
“I ordered a search mission, we should hear back in a week or so.”
Dr.Breen sits across Chopra once again, presented with several photos of ruins dug out with clear Cre-Xy activity.
“Well, you were right within 4km on all 7 sites. There’s not much there, but a deal’s a deal. Welcome to Kesterion.”
The group sits in the lobby of a kind of hotel called a ‘sleep shack.’ Vessa sipped on a drink like if orange juice was more sweet, and a coffee.
“I think this place is eerily different.” Vessa sighed, trying to finish her drink. “How do they even have fruit here anyway, isn’t everything made of metal?”
“You should ask around if you want to know so badly.” Kelly jokes.
“Pass.”
Dr.Breen walks over, “Ok I got us 2 rooms to ip between us.”
Liam stands up first. “Alright nice, I’m tired.”
The group splits into the 2 rooms. Dr. Breen, Kyle, and Alfred stay in one. Dr. Breen was finally able to relax and get some sleep.