Steller, a being so strong, its origins unknown.
Why does it exist? Is it one or two?
Is it humanity's wrath or its friend true?
Readers, I guarantee you this.
Keep reading, for soon Jack shall meet
A man whose past you will not want to miss.
It is as if he lived twice, once in truth and once in myth.
And you, dear reader,
Are you feeling alone?
Like the world leaves you no room to grow?
I understand your pain. The world is cruel, that is true.
But remember,
Be the change you want to see.
Be the light you want to feel.
Some of us leave the ones we love without a word,
Some die thinking they were unloved,
Yet there was always someone who cared.
It is not worth it to die that way. Never commit it indeed.
Look around, the doors may close and walls may rise,
But there is always hope.
Your soul is never burdened
With more than it can survive.
The Genie fulfilled Karoo's wish. He closed his eyes for a few seconds as if concentrating and then reopened them. "Got it."
"The being is called Steller," the Genie began. "It is not a jin. It is alive and breathing. Its powers are far greater than any jin's. It is an entity with its own consciousness and will, separate from Jack himself. It is extremely powerful if used to its full potential. It might even be the strongest. My knowledge of its abilities is where I lack information. What I can be certain about is that it can steal, take, and give Chronotex powers to other users. It has a few other abilities I am not sure of. It does not die easily. It has rapid healing and regeneration, and it can take control of Jack at any time. It is a ticking time bomb."
"Really," Karoo said, "so it can steal abilities and give them to others, it is nearly unkillable, and it is really strong."
"Are you aware of its origins?" Jack asked.
As the Genie looked at Jack to answer, he saw a bright light behind him that no one else could see. It was Steller. Its eyes pierced into the Genie's soul. The Genie shivered for a second and then replied, "I am unaware."
Karoo noticed the Genie staring past Jack. "You okay, Genie?"
"Yes, Master Karoo. I am okay," the Genie answered.
"Before I go back," the Genie continued, "just another thing. Steller can also see into one's memories. Your past, your secrets, everything laid bare with a touch. I am not sure how consistent that ability is." The Genie disappeared.
Karoo sighed. "I guess we did not find anything useful to bring Kairo back."
"The ones who leave this world are dead," Jack replied. "They will never come back and rejoin us. Life is the illusion we run after, while death is the truth we deny. Clearly death was written before life. How ironic that we chase life knowing the truth of death. Thanks a lot, Karoo, but I want to ask you, what is your goal? I think you should stop thinking about bringing Kairo back. There is no way. The world around us denies the dead from coming back to life. Instead, do something better that Kairo would love."
Karoo blinked away tears and managed a small smile. "When my brother was taken away from me, I wanted to kill them, kill the people who brainwashed them for power. Then I realised that I can be the most powerful. If I become strong enough, I could change the world. But power is useless when it isolates a person from everyone and from their goals. It got to my head, but now I see it. My goal is not power as strength. It is what you do for the world. It is the kindness you have. It is the mercy you give. It is the charity you hand out. Even if it haunts me, the memory of my brother, the darkness that fills me, I have unimaginable power, yet my heart still aches. I want to do something that changes the lives of others in hopes that I can change myself. I want the hunger for power that blinded my parents to stop. I want to protect the future generation from this. I cannot blame them, as I love them more than anyone. They are the only ones I have left." He looked up at the sky, crying like a kid. "Brother Kairo, I promise I will be the change I want to see in the world. I miss you, brother."
Jack's eyes almost filled with tears, and he laughed softly. "You are still a kid. At least you are self-aware," Jack said, joking. "Power is not strength or how many people you kill. It is something you will notice. It is something you will feel without killing. It is the respect you get, or it could be the kindness you give. Soon you will get it, Karoo. And by the way, you are never alone. You have everyone. Your parents, your people, and most importantly your fellow comrades. You are a lucky kid. I had none when I was your age. I was simply…" He stopped. He did not want to talk about it, or perhaps he could not remember. "I was simply… I was… I was simply alone. But I remember this one figure, my friend. Oh, how I hope I could remember your name."
Jack Sterling, give me a favour," Karoo asked.
Jack replied, "Yes."
Karoo added, "Don't tell anyone about my past, or my identity either. It would only make life harder for me."
Jack replied, "Do you think I'm dumb? I won't."
"Thank you," Karoo replied.
Jack turned to leave, starting back toward the stairs, but Karoo stopped him. He was about to speak. "Jac…"
Jack heard him. "Yeh? You said something?"
Karoo hesitated, then found the courage. "Would you be my fr… my frie… would you be my friend?"
Jack laughed softly. "It took you a lot of courage to ask that. Of course. It would be great to have a friend whose goals are as pure as yours."
Jack walked off, and something shimmered in Karoo's eyes. It felt like something new, hope or maybe motivation.
Soon the sun had sunk. It was dark, and the great feast had started. Food was ready for everyone to eat.
(Kairo as we know him is not Kairo; it's Karoo, so let there be no confusion. Jack has to pretend that Karoo is Kairo to not let the veil fall.)
The feast had begun. Music drifted in from the courtyards, soldiers were still laughing and drifting between tables, and in the palace hall the banquet room filled with both delegations. Jack, Ramon, Kamil, Khonsu, Kasib, Yune, Noya, Henu Safir and his men, including Usman, sat on one side. On the Nubian side sat Pharaoh Taharqa, Amon, Kairo, Octavius Drexel, Eboke Adome, and the royal guard Elio.
"The food looks nice," Henu complimented. Before them were platters of fresh beef, steaming bowls of broth, honeyed cakes, and many kinds of bread, alongside piled fruits and other delicacies. Trays came and went with bamia, an okra and beef stew simmered with tomatoes and coriander, shallow dishes of garlic and cumin dip, stacks of warm flatbread brushed with oil and sesame, skewers of spiced meat with onions and figs, bowls of grapes, dates, and pomegranate, and little pastries glazed with honey and crushed almonds.
Coincidentally Kairo and Jack sat next to each other. Everyone expected it to go badly, however Kairo offered Jack some food, and General Amon leaned toward Octavius and whispered, "he's acting strange isn't he." They both laughed.
The pharaoh announced, "your more then welcome to stay a lot longer if it needs be if your men want to rest and if you have any future voyages just let the kingdom be aware in advance we will definitely be able to make arrangements."
Henu continued, "thank you for your generosity but as for tomorrow we will be heading out I'm just in wait for the ship you have arranged for us."
The pharaoh replied, "Well, have no worries; the ship will be one of our best, and we hope you will have a great and safe journey. Also, you wanted to show us something, but we didn't have time."
"Well, we can show it tomorrow before we sail off," Henu continued, lifting a spoon of bamia and setting it over a plate of flatbread. He kept eating his beef dish while the servers refreshed soup, water, and juice, and the tables filled again with fruit, bread, and steaming bowls.