The Hybrida Chronicles

Year 2301, 1145 hours, New Alexandria Business District, Planet Mars

For the last four hours, All Vega did, was talk to the woman he had just met, after saving her. She had insisted on him coming to lunch with her, and to get some new clothes for him. It was the least she could do for being a complete bitch to him. Vega had learned that her name was Terresa, while walking to a small diner that was half way across the district.

Upon entering the establishment, Vega automatically had the patrons eyes locked on him. He felt his face flush as he felt their eyes bear down on him. Terresa stepped forward and led him to a booth. Vega quickly followed her and took a seat across from her. After several moments of complete silence, a Waitress came to their booth with a disapproving face.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but this place isn't a charity. The boy will have to leave." She said getting a scowl from both Vega and Terresa .

"I'm not here for charity, and neither is he. Now do your minimum wage job and bring us our menus." She growled causing the waitress to flinch. Vega wore a satisfied smile as the Waitress walked off to grab their menus. "I swear, she doth not care for her customers." Terresa said with a smile, getting a smirk from Vega.

"It's Alright, I'm use to that kind of treatment." Vega mumbled as he wrung his hands nervously. "Being at St. Augustus, you kinda gotta learn to fend for yourself. That includes stealing..." He added shamefully as he looked at his lap. "Please don't take me back there..." He whispered.

Terresa was about to reply when the waitress came back to their booth and slapped down two menus. "What would you like to drink..." She sighed as the two picked up their menus.

Terresa was the first to answer as Vega stared blankly at the menu. After a few moments, he felt the waitress prod his shoulder with a boney finger. "I can't read..." was he mumbled getting an annoyed look from the waitress.

"Water it is then..." She grumbled as she left with their drink orders. What a bitch... he thought as he set down the menu. Terresa was giving him a sympathetic look, which only caused him to feel more uncomfortable.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Terresa finally spoke up. "Tell me about thou's old Pride. That is, if thou's comfortable with it." She knew she was prying, but it was better than this uncomfortable silence. She could tell by the look on his face, that he was very uncomfortable with the subject and was about to withdraw her question when Vega spoke.

"My Father's name was Arcturus Nocturne. My mother's, Liara Nocturne. As for the rest of the Pride, I know nothing else, other than, that they were highly influential with the military. I had an aunt on my father's side named Alexia Nocturne..." He went on. Terresa immediately stiffened at the last name.

"Would thou please run that last name by ye again?" She asked as her face paled as she hoped she heard wrong. Please don't be her... Please goddess, don't let it be her. She prayed. Apparently Selene wasn't listening, cause she heard the name once more.

"Alexia Nocturne..." He repeated getting guilty look from her. "She married into another family after I was born. I can't quite remember the name though. I do remember my father being very upset when her name came up though. Called her an unnatural slut..." He added finally seeing her look at the table, averting her gaze. "Did I say something wrong?"

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The two ate in relative silence. Vega not knowing how to read, ordered the same thing Terresa did which consisted of Eggs, toasted bread, bacon, diced potatoes, and a white gravy of sorts. He didn't care what it really was, all he knew was that it tasted amazing. He was already on his second plate when Terresa finally finished her first. They must have really starved the children there... She thought as the bitch waitress returned with the check. Terresa simply slapped down two gold credits and got up from the booth with Vega in tow.

As the two left the diner, leaving behind a very pissed off, and tipless waitress. Terresa had decided to take the rest of the day off, and take Vega to get new clothes. The ones he was currently wearing were not gonna do. Oh, Alexia is gonna have hell to pay when we get home... Wait "we"? she thought as she looked beside her to see Vega keeping pace with her. She couldn't help but admire the young boy's steel and resolve after so much shit he's been through in the last three years. Yeah, I guess "we" is the right word she smiled inwardly.

The two walked a fare distance, till they arrived at one of the very many Rapid Transit pads in the city. Terresa Pulled out what looked like a small 21st century USB Thumb drive, and inserted it into the console. After tapping the screen several times, a red and silver Air-car pulled up, and it's doors slid open, revealing an empty interior. Terresa removed the object from the console and got into the driver's seat of the vehicle. Vega got in on the opposite side and took a seat next to her. "Buckle up." She smiled, before helping him with the seat belt.

There was a soft click, as the buckle snapped into place. Afterwards, she did hers, and then began pressing several buttons on the dashboard. A small screen lit up, and a synthetic voice filled the car. "Hello Mrs. Alba, do you need directional assistance?" it asked causing Vega to jump in surprise from the unexpected voice.

"Yes, the fastest route to the market district." She replied casually as the Air-car jolted upwards. Vega felt the vehicle surge forward quickly as it merged into traffic. It was his first time in an Air-car, and already his knuckles were white as he gripped the seat's arm rest. "First time?" She asked, concern clear on her face and features. Vega simply nodded, as he looked at his feet, trying to not look outside the vehicle.

The synthetic voice sounded again after a ringing sound from the console. "Proceed down Main Street, then turn left onto Topaz Way." It said in a monotonic tone. Vega wasn't sure which was more unnerving. Being suspended hundreds of feet in the air, or the damn car talking.

"So... Do you live in the city, or elsewhere?" Vega asked trying to keep his mind off the feeling of flying. He had recently suffered from a fall from four stories up, twelve stories wasn't any better. Terresa smiled at Vega, who was slowly opening up and talking more, with him asking the questions, not her.

"Neigh, my wife and I live in Emerald Falls, two hundred miles outside the city." She replied getting a bewildered and confused look from the child as he tried to comprehend with what he had heard.

"Wife? But arn't you a woman?" Vega asked, getting Terresa to roll her eyes with a faint smile.

"Remember when you told me your father called your aunt an Unnatural Slut?" She asked taking her hands off the steering wheel to make quotations with her fingers to make her point. Vega just paled as she left the wheel unmanned. "Well, that's because she likes women..." She explained as she placed her hands back on the wheel, and merged into traffic. After receiving silence from Vega, she went on. "By the sounds of it, thou's father was a traditionalist. Doth thou know what that means?" She asked.

Vega nodded, comprehension clear on his face. "I understand now Terresa. Thank you for explaining." He replied casually, surprising her that he was bothered none by this revelation, despite his upbringing. "In all honesty, I really don't care who the person likes as long as it doesn't harm anyone else." He added as he stared out the window, watching structures and other air-cars go by. "So who's you're wife?" Vega asked now catching Terresa off guard.

She tightened her grip on the wheel before replying. "Alexia... Alexia Nocturne..." She replied hesitantly. She could hear Vega's heart rate increase, as he wrung his hands to keep calm. "I know it sounds like a cruel joke, but you must beli-"

"Take me to her..." He said cutting her off. His tone was even, but she could tell by looking at the child, he was fuming with anger. He then decided to test her to see if she was playing a cruel joke. Removing the picture from his bag he held it out to her. "Pull over, and tell me which one Is aunt Alexia..." He growled. Terresa complied, and pulled the Air-car into a parking lot, setting it down with a slight bump.

Terresa sighed and took the picture in her hand looking it over. It was a group image of him as a baby in his mother's arms. To his left was his father, to his right, possibly family friends. As she looked harder at the photo, she finally spotted who she was looking for. "She is right here." She pointed at a woman in the far back corner. Vega balled his fists at the revelation of his aunt being alive and well. Terresa was already jumped on it before he could say anything. "I don't know why she hath not taken thou in to live as one of our own. But we will be making amends Vega. I promise you." She said in a near whisper. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as Vega sat there stone faced.

You see, to Hybrida, family and ones Pride is everything to them. If a member of their Pride died, the child of the parents who perished would go to the closest member(s) of the Pride. In Vega's case, he would have immediately gone to his Aunt, Alexia, but instead was sent to St. Augustus Orphanage, for three years of hell.

After a while, the two were interrupted by a very annoying high pitched ring tone. Terresa quickly reached into her purse and fished out what looked like a glass brick, with platinum in the center. She tapped the device a couple times with her index finger and the thing lit up. Bringing it to her ear, she answered. "Terresa... Oh hello love... Oh I'm doing splendid, just found thou nephew Vega is all..." She said into the device, her tone cold as she spoke. "Who... Thou's brother Arcturus' son... Well why don't you meet him for you meet him for yourself then?... We're headed home now..." She continued, before powering off your device.

Vega could tell she was seething with anger as she placed her phone back in her purse. All Vega really cared about right now, was getting to Emerald Falls and giving his long lost aunt hell to pay. And Terresa was completely on board with it. The vehicle rose into the air once more, and left the parking lot. For the majority of the trip, the two sat in silence.

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1650 hours, Skyway 72, On route to Emerald Falls.

The sun was past it's zenith, as the Air-car zoomed over the red and green Martian landscape. They still had a few hours to go till they reached Emerald Falls, So the two Hybrida started asking each other questions, to better know one another, and to make the trip seem less awkward than it already was. Vega had already broke into another one of his flat sarsaparillas, and was enjoying it as he watched the world pass by outside the vehicle. He had offered Terresa the other one, only to have it declined with a wave of her hand. The way he saw, it was one more for him to enjoy.

"Tell me Vega, What hobbies doth thou enjoy?" She asked as they cruised down the Highway. She was met with silence for a few moments as Vega had to really think about this one. After a minute or so, he spoke.

"Does trying to escape St. Augustus count?" He asked getting a Terresa to chuckle a little, shaking her head. "Well then, I guess I don't have one." He added with a small laugh. "What about you?" He asked getting Terresa to blush beat red.

"Well... Um... You see..." She stammered seeing Vega giving her an expecting look. Oh goddess what do I say?! He's too young to know that! She panicked in her head. Vega simply waved the question off before asking her a different one noticing, she was uncomfortable with it.

"Why are you helping me?" He asked getting her to calm down. She actually didn't know why. Probably her conscious telling her it's the right thing, or that she had a bone to pick with Alexia, and wanted to prove that you don't abandon ones family. A lot of answers buzzed about her head as she concentrated on the road.

"I'm not really sure child. I guess it would be the will of Selene. I hath no clue." She replied matter o'factly as they pulled into an exit. "Are you hungry?" she asked trying to change the subject as they drove to one of the refilling stations. She was answered by the growling of Vega's stomach getting her to laugh a little. "Sounds like a yes." she laughed as she set the Air-car down at one of the fueling stations.

Vega was relieved to finally get out of the car and stretch his legs. There was a series of loud pops, as his joints went back into place. Terresa had given him a bewildered look as she heard his legs pop. Goodness, what did they do to him at the place? She thought as she handed him twelve silver credits. "I want you to go inside and get us something to snack on while I fill the car up." She said, getting a nod from him.

Several minutes passed and Vega returned with a bag full of the pastries he found at the vending machine, and four bottles of water. This elicited a giggle from her as he handed her the remaining credits, which wasn't much. Around one Silver, and sixty bronze credits. Vega Simply went to the passenger side of the car, and sat down, buckling up as he waited for Terresa to finish gassing it up. Not long after they finished fueling up, the two were once again on their way to Emerald Falls.

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2100 hours, Terresa's house. Emerald Falls, Mars

It's been several hours since Terresa and Vega had stopped driving. Night had decended upon Mars, and both moons were waning. The car silently touched down in the drive way, as the engine was shut off. Terresa looked over to the passenger seat to find Vega sleeping soundly. The sight of seeing him look so peaceful, brought a smile to her face. She silently opened the car door and stepped out to a low lit drive way. Her smile quickly faded when her wife came out of the house to greet her. She had a slender frame, and tan skin much like Vega. She was at least six five, with black hair streaked with gold, and scarlet.

"Amor, how was your trip?" Alexia asked as she walked towards the vehicle. She had a smile on her face as if nothing were wrong, and this deeply upset Terresa. Alexia's smile quickly faded as the two stood a foot apart from each other.

"How could you?" Terresa whispered, getting a confused look from Alexia. This only managed to piss her off. "How could you abandon thou own blood?!" She shouted, startling her wife and waking Vega with a start.

"Dear..." She began only to be cut off.

"Don't thou dear me Alexia!" Terresa spat, fuming with rage. "You told me you're entire family was killed! Thou hath lied to me!" She raged, as Vega silently stepped from the vehicle, his fists balled as he looked upon his long lost aunt.The damn that he had constructed to keep his emotions behind, had finally cracked.

"Why?" He asked, with tears in his eyes. "I had spent three years of hell! Frightened, alone, and abused. Tell me why?!" He shouted causing Alexia to drop to her knees, with tears pouring out her eyes. This Pissed both Vega and Terresa off, at her display. She wasn't sad that That Vega had been through hell, but over the fact she gotten caught. "You know what, I don't want to know... I thought the whole family and Pride dead." He went on, as he turned away from the pathetic creature before him. Terresa simply took his hand and led him inside.

Looks like I'm sleeping on the couch this week... Or month... Alexia thought as she sat there on the pavement in a heap.

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After a half hour of self loathing, Alexia entered the house to find her nephew, sitting on the couch waiting for her. He wore a look of discontent as she took a seat next to Terresa. She opened her mouth to speak, but shut it after a moment when no words were formed. It was a very awkward situation for her. More so than when she came out of the closet to her parents a year after Vega was born.

It was finally Terresa whom spoke first. "Vega, how would you like to stay with us?" She asked, getting a "Are you kidding me look" from her wife. Vega sat there in silence as he thought it over. Alexia bumped Terresa's arm to get her attention.

"Terresa love, may I have a word with thou... In private?" She hissed grabbing her wrist and dragging the woman to the kitchen leaving Vega all alone on the couch. Once behind closed doors, she spoke again. "When were you going to ask me to have a child live with us?!" She hissed, throwing her hands up in an over dramatic fashion.

"Before I found out you and I are his aunts." Terresa replied, crossing her arms across her chest. She knew what game Alexia was playing at. She was trying to pin the problem on her, and was failing horribly. "You lost all say in the matter." She added sternly getting a shocked and pissed off look from her.

"Since when did thou start making decisions without ye?" Alexia spat. She knew full well, but wasn't going to admit it.

"Since you abandoned your family. Now this is no longer up for debate... You have a lot of atoning to do..." she replied coldly before walking back into the living, to a waiting Vega. Alexia was close behind, with a look of guilt. "So, What'll it be?" Terresa asked him with a smile.

Vega Simply shrugged before answering. "You're the only family left, and I've nowhere else to go. Plus you seem like decent company." He replied with a yawn. It had been a long and stressful day for him, and he was ready to pass out at any time.

"Then it's settled. You will be staying in the guest room. And Alexia will stay on the couch... For a week..." she added the last part with a stern tone. Alexia simply rolled her eyes.

Called it... She thought as she got up from the couch to grab her emergency sleep kit. This wasn't the first time she was kicked out of her room, but it still annoyed the hell out of her. Even if she was in the wrong and knew it.

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The next morning, 0800 hours, Emerald Falls, Alba House

Vega awoke with a start, shooting up from the covers, looking about the room. His breathing was hard, as he held his right hand to his chest. He looked about the room once more, taking in his surroundings before remembering where he was. Slowly he removed the covers to find himself with no clothes. Why am I naked? he thought as he covered himself back up. Suddenly there was a knock on his door and Terresa's voice was heard on the other side.

"Vega? Art thou awake?" She asked as she slowly opened the door. She found him sitting up under the covers looking at her with a look of confusion.

"Um, Aunt Terresa, where are my clothes?" He asked with a tinge of embarrassment in his tone. She simply laughed, before tossing him a robe, from inside the closet.

"I had those rags burned." She replied, as she turned to leave. "When thou, is ready, breakfast is downstairs." And with that she left him. Vega quickly threw on the robe, finding it not only comfortable, but way too big.

"Well things are off to an interesting start..." He mumbled as he padded over to the door and into the hall way. To his left was the stairs down to the main floor of the house. To his right was the bathroom, and master bedroom. Turning Left, he made his way down stairs to the kitchen where he found both Terresa and Alexia waiting for him at the table.

"Did thou sleep fine?" Alexia asked. She had bags under her eyes, and her hair was a mess. Apparently, she didn't take to sleeping on the couch very well. Vega nodded as he took a seat at the table. The air smelled of fresh brewed coffee, and he noticed they both had a cup of the robust brown liquid. Vega yawned as he looked at one of the cups longingly. "We wouldn't take you for one to enjoy Café." Alexia said as she got up from the table and over to the cabinets, fetching an extra cup.

Vega simply ignored the comment, still feeling very pissed and betrayed by her. For the time being, he and Terresa sat at the table in silence as Alexia fixed a third cup of coffee. He had to admit, the smell was divine.

It was Terresa's turn to speak this time, as Alexia reached the table with the third cup and set it before him. "So Vega... We were wondering if thou would be up to some clothes shopping?" She asked as Vega took a sip of the dark bitter drink. He made a face, making the two aunts chuckle. "Alexia dear, Please grab the sugar." She asked as Vega set the cup down.

"Well, I guess. But one problem." He replied getting a raised eyebrow from his aunt. "I can't very well go through town wearing this." He said gesturing to the over sized robe he was wearing. Terresa simply nodded in understanding realizing it wasn't the best move to burn his rags that were poor excuses for clothing.

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Outside Time and Space, The Aether, Watching over the Material World

"Sister, is it wise to interfere with mortal affairs?" Said a male sounding voice as he looked down upon the material world. All around him were Nebulas, Quasars, and stars, floating about the Aether. He looked to his left to see a Flawless skinned woman, glowing a silvery white. Her features were soft, and shared many that were of the Hybrida. All but her eyes, which were gold with slitted pupils. Her platinum hair blowing in a nonexistent wind as she looked down on Mars, a single being in view.

"Zerrok, you know just as well as I, that without intervention, the material world will be doomed." She replied coolly as the being became clearer. "Without a champion, not only will all life be destroyed, but soon we will be as well." She continued focusing on the boy.

"But why this one sister? He is but a child..." Zerrok replied curiously, looking back at the mortal displayed before them. "What have you planned?" He asked concern in his voice.

"Brother, I have no plan..." She replied watching the boy fallow two women outside towards an Air-car.

"Selene! You can't be serious! No plan?!" Zerrok nagged watching the child. "But why Vega Nocturne?" He asked again, getting her to look away from the Hybrida child and at him.

"Because of all he's gone through. It drives him forward. Makes him stronger than the other suitors." She replied softly getting a raised eyebrow from her brother.

"You say suitor as if you're looking for a lover... You know it'll never-" He began only to be cut off.

"Why won't it work?! Because he's mortal and I not?! Tell me brother..." She spat, surprising him. She had never acted like that in their entire existence.

"Why are you acting this way?! What do you have planned?!" Zerrok shouted at her, only to receive a blank look. "Fine... Keep your secrets. Just know they always have a price sister." He said turning to leave her alone in her realm within the Aether.

"Zerrok, If only you understood the potential of mortals..." She said with a sigh as she reached out of the Aether and touched Vega as Ion Storm clouds moved in on the small town of Emerald Falls on the unsuspecting Hybrida. "Time to awaken child..."

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The Air-car zipped over the landscape towards the town market center. The town held up to it's name, as emerald green waters cascaded hundreds of feet down to several pools surrounding the town on all sides. It was truly a sight to behold, as the three Hybrida began their approach. Vega sat their in awe, not noticing the Ion storm rolling in. He was cut from reverie as he felt something touch his chest. He looked down only to find nothing but the oversize T-shirt he was given.

Alarms sounded throughout the car as the Synthetic voice spoke through the speakers. "Warning! Ion Storm Imminent. System override enabled, plotting course to nearest shelter." It sounded as the vehicle lurched, being controlled by the internal computer. The air outside began to glow a yellowish gold as massive storm clouds rapidly closed in. Bolts of Ionized plasma arced across the massive clouds, striking everything within their reach.

The car shook hard as it began to get battered by heavy winds. A timer appeared on the windshield, counting down till the storm finally engulfs the town. T-minus twenty five seconds. The nearest shelter was forty eight seconds away. An aura of dread filled the car as realization hit the three. They weren't gonna make it.

"Warning! Systems shutdown. Setting vehicle down..." The computer spoke as it's synthetic voice died along with all the car's lights. Vega looked about the vehicle as it set itself down hard on the rocky cliffs of one of the falls, skidding to a halt. The doors opened, and Ionized air entered the cockpit. Explosions sounded close by, as bolts of plasma struck the martian landscape.

As if on instinct, the three bolted out of the car and started sprinting towards the closest shelter. It's time to awaken child... a voice said, giving Vega pause as he looked about to find the source of the voice. This was all the time needed, as a bolt of plasma struck the boy, sending him flipping end over end for several hundred feet ahead of his aunts. His world went black once more as he hit the ground. All noise, faded to nothingness, as he slipped once more into unconsciousness.

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