《StarBorn-When Quantum Calls》 Starborn ¡°Inside The Flow, there appears to be an operation system of all reality; mayhap if we could decode this information; we might very well hack the universe¡±- Dr. Aelius Varis It¡¯s my eyes that do it, they''re strange metallic silver, all shiny. A permanent reminder of my brush with the void. People tend to have a reaction when they see them. There are two basic groups of people based on their reactions. Group A; the superstitious when they see me they will look away saying a prayer while forming the sign of the Quant. Like they are warding off an evil spirit. Or maybe mutter ¡°unclean devil¡± or you know, try to kill me. As bad as they are, they aint the worst. That would be group B, they will stare in fascination believing I¡¯m flow touched, reach out and try to touch me. Or ask me to bless their child or something like that. Both groups are annoying as hell, and both groups are right. Love me, hate me I still can''t get my head around it all after all these years. There are a lot of people out there that wish I''d never been born. With all the blood on my hands. I must concede that my detractors may have a point. Truth is, they should have, by all accounts; gotten their wish. But I came into this world subverting one expectation after another. Cuz, here I am, at the end of all things; recording these words despite everything. Probably explains how I¡¯ve lived my life, like I¡¯m dead already. Sorry for the rambling. Damn, I told Tiafan I¡¯m not any good¡­ but he insisted I record all this. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. So where was I? Oh being born, right. To where it all began, or at least, where I began. All I know about my parents is they signed on this pre FTL slow boat colony ship. Way back before the Celestial Hegemony was even a thing. Trying to escape the old earth directorate I imagine. They figured better to live free out under an alien star, than just exist in one the giant combines of earth. Gawd what awful times those must have been. You see, my birth was nothing short of a miracle, or a curse, depending on who you ask. The ship got caught in the gravitational pull of a cosmic monster lurking in the darkness about six years into their journey. Stuck there in time dilation for two millennia, nobody survived but me. According to the records no one was supposed to be able to get pregnant during the trip, drugs in the food or water or something. So evidently the radiation killed everyone else, somehow changed me into something¡­ well me. The Zedoria that found me, took me from my mothers womb. They said her body, like the rest of the colonists, was alive but no soul, no consciousness.The Zeds sent in drones that disrupt causality to extract the ship. The Zed¡¯s may be our enemy and all but they don¡¯t lie. Something to do with their code. I still have a copy of the manifest though, I used to read through the names when I was kid; try and work out which pair of names belonged to me. The Zed¡¯s, being Zed¡¯s, are a bit melodramatic, they decided I needed a name and Starborn was what they came up with. It wasn''t just a name though, but a prophecy, or so they believed. These celestial wanderers, with their eyes always fixed on the vastness of space, saw my survival as a sign. To them, I was a child of the stars, a beacon in the dark, a symbol of life''s persistence against all odds. Didn''t stop them from making me a slave though. The cruel hand of fate had ravaged my life, mercilessly claiming my family. But destiny, in her bitter irony, spared me, casting me into the depths of a slave cage. A twisted joke, really ¨C the most ironic outcome always seemed the most likely. And yet, in some warped way, I owe those heartless captors. Without them, I wouldn''t have had the chance to kick their fuzzy ass¡¯s across the spiral arm. But that''s a tale for later. Back then, I was just an infant, my world limited to the basic needs of survival. Chapter Two: Eggs & Assholes "Within the intricate tapestry of the cosmos, each thread of Quantum Flow weaves the fabric of reality. To understand this is to hold the loom of existence in our hands, shaping the infinite possibilities with the delicate touch of knowledge." - Dr. Aelius Varis Nan bustling around in the kitchen pulled me from my thoughts. "Gabe? You up, love?" Her voice was a familiar melody in the otherwise harsh reality of Lucos IX. "Yes, ma''am," I replied, dragging myself out of bed. The gravity here was a relentless force, pressing down with 2.5 times the weight of what I was meant to bear. It was a burden even for Nan, and probably why she was relegated to the ''light duty'' of raising a foundling like me. Stumbling into our makeshift kitchen-living area, my oversized boots in hand, I presented Nan with my secret find ¨C a plasbag of eggs. Her eyebrow arched in surprise. "Where in the stars did you find these, you rascal?" "Just stumbled upon them," I lied with a grin. They must''ve fallen into my pocket recalling an old earth tale Nan once read to me. Story about a Kinder whatever that was. Her eyes sparkled with a rare joy. Should we save them for your birthday? Nah better use them now. Don¡¯t want to catch- a- beaten for contraband. Right, well said nodding her agreement. I watched her skillfully whip up an omelet, savoring the pork and cheese that Luther, her persistent admirer, had brought. I joked about his intentions, but Nan was quick to dismiss the notion of another marriage. Yet, I couldn''t help but notice the way Luther looked at her, with a mix of affection and something deeper. Life for a quant miner started early, and as I left Nan''s quarters, my mind was a mix of contentment and looming dread. I was soon to leave for the bachelor barracks ¨C a rite of passage I wasn''t quite ready for, and in doing so leave Nan all alone. The tram line was a sea of bodies, the thrum of activity a stark contrast to the quiet of Nan''s quarters. My strange eyes, a reminder of my otherness, drew sidelong glances and hushed whispers. But Jax, my Lescate friend, was always there to offer a sense of normalcy amidst the stares. "Hey, don¡¯t mind them," Jax said, nudging me gently. His presence was a comfort, though his own story was as marred by misfortune as mine. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it You will be happy to hear. I was able to secure a bunk in my room. Managed to talk ole Simmons out of his bunk. Oh yeah? I asked, how much? Don¡¯t worry Jax replied, speaking Lescate. Consider it a coming of age gift. Besides, the only reason I¡¯m doing it, is you''re so exceedingly good at finding Quant. Ha I responde. Ha I scoffed, here I was thinking I was all charm. The one thing about being Starborn, it made me a natural quant finder. I can find my quota and pocket the rest. Useful for bribing guards and the like. The tram, a relic of rust and wear, screeched to a halt amidst the bustling crowd. I was pushed and squeezed into its cramped interior, the air heavy with the scent of sweat and dirt. Jax excused himself for a moment, ¡°need to have a word with Telor about the gear,¡± leaving me standing alone among the sea of miners. That''s when Cory the ass hole spotted me. He bulldozed through the crowd, his eyes locked on mine with undisguised malice. "Don''t you look at me with those evil eyes, boy," he spat, jabbing a finger into my chest, his face uncomfortably close to mine, his breath smelling of stale tabac. I¡¯ll not have you putting your curse on me! I met his gaze squarely, the fear in my gut steeled into defiance. "Cory, I hate to break it to you, but you''re a slave, just like me, just like everyone else here. It don¡¯t get much more cursed than this. And honestly, if there''s any curse to worry about, it''s your breath. Now that''s truly terrifying." The words had barely left my lips when a ripple of laughter broke out among the surrounding crowd. Faces that moments ago held only weariness and indifference now lit up with fleeting amusement. Cory''s face turned a shade redder, his eyes darting around at the laughing miners. The embarrassment etched on his features was clear as day. He opened his mouth, possibly to retort, but then thought better of it. Ned, a well-meaning miner, intervened. "Come on, Cory, leave the kid be," he said firmly. Cory whirled on Ned, his aggression peaking. "Shut your hole, Ned, lest you want a beating." The threat hung in the air, a palpable tension building around us. I didn¡¯t want Ned to take on any trouble on my account. So seizing the moment, I found my voice, "You''re brave enough with the old and the young, Cory. Does it make you feel strong?" Cory''s head snapped back in my direction, a mix of anger and humiliation flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth to retort but stopped short as Jax reappeared, his imposing figure silently altering the balance of power. Cory, sensing Jax''s presence, backed off a step, his bravado faltering. Without a word, Jax''s mere presence diffused the situation, his reputation enough to make Cory think twice. "Thanks, Ned," I said, shooting a grateful glance at the miner who''d stepped up for me. Ned just nodded, a wry smile on his lips. "Someone''s gotta keep these young hotheads in line." Jax clapped a hand on my shoulder, a silent sign of solidarity. The tram lurched forward, carrying us towards another day in the mines, and I leaned back against the wall, reassured by the unexpected camaraderie in this tough world of Lucos IX.