After stating his name, the boy fell unconscious. It had been so long since Tomo saw another lifeform that she instinctively felt the need to take care of it. Seeing that it was a little boy also reminded her of her 2 sons.
Tomo carried the boy named Gridlock on her back and made her way back to her cave. Even with just some primitive technology, She treated him and healed his wounds just like how she would have for her sons.
5 hours later, Gridlock woke up confused and surprised that his body was okay and he was feeling fine. He looked around and saw Tomo. He said, "Did you do this?"
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to and you reminded me of my boys."
"Well, Thank you."
"Boy, tell me how you ended up in that situation."
That question. It reminded him of everything once more. Because of his confusion, he had forgotten everything for a moment but it was all back now. He began crying uncontrollably.
"Boy, What's wrong?"
"It's just... It's been a lot, kind lady."
"Tell me what happened."
"I'm a slave and I just escaped."
"Oh..."
Tomo, as a vector, had never been familiarized with the concept of slavery. It was hard for her to even imagine there were beings out there with just a horrible fate. She felt great sorry for the boy. He was still crying.
"A- And... My dad died a while ago and th- then my girlfriend died too while I was trying to escape with her..."
"Boy, Relax."
The boy's tears had finally stopped flowing. Tomo came closer and gave a warm hug to the poor little boy.
"You're okay now. Don't worry. I'll take care of you."
"Thanks, lady."
The next day, Tomo and Gridlock went out hunting.
"Listen here, boy. Clearly, this world has been cruel to you. I'll toughen you up and teach you how to fight back."
"Okay, Ma'am", The little boy replied.
"See that little Chinop over there? That blue little bug-like creature? That's the best food you're gonna get around these parts."
"Pass. It looks disgusting, Ma'am."
"Boy, that is not the mentality you need to have when you're in harsh conditions needing to survive."
"Okay..., Ma'am."
"You know what, this is too soon to try and toughen you up. I'll just catch that Chinop myself quickly and your toughening up session will begin tomorrow. Today, you can relax. Alright, Let me tell you a little something about me. I'm what you call a vector and a really special one at that. I can feel that Chinop's next move. It has already sensed us and is gonna go inside that hole. I'll just grow a catchoprite inside and it'll be all ours."
Everything happened as Tomo said and the little boy was fascinated.
After they went back to the cave, Tomo started cooking 10 different chinops she caught while Gridlock was filled with curiosity.
"Ma'am?"
"Yes?"
"What are vectors like?"
"Listen, Vectors are the smartest creatures in the Andromeda Galaxy. They live on the planet Optoh which is naturally the most successful and powerful planet in the galaxy. I was once the prime minister of Optoh but I left my home 200 years ago."
"Woah! 200 years? How long can vectors live for?"
"The oldest Vector in history was a thousand years old."
"Wow... That's Insane..."
"It's normal to us. I was actually surprised when I found out that the human creatures of the Galaxy only have an average lifespan of 80 years. It seems so short."
"But... Why did you leave Optoh?"
"Do you remember me telling you I was special even among the vectors?"
"Yes..."
"Hundred of years ago, I was born in a massive breeding camp. The Vectors of that time wanted our people to progress even further. After many failed attempts, I was finally born with the ability they were looking for."
"An ability? What do you mean, Ma'am?"
"The vectors have a natural ability to sense the emotions of other beings when they are in physical contact with them. The ones running the breeding camp were looking for a much more powerful version of that natural ability. I was born with it."
"Is that how you found me so quickly when I had just crash landed?"
"Yes. Eventually, they gave this new amplified version of our natural ability a name."
"What was it?"
"Omnipresence."
"Woah..."
"With Omnipresence, I could sense the presence and emotions of lifeforms in a planetary scale."
"That's how you caught all those bugs back there."
"After their success, they stopped the breeding camp. I was too young at the time to teach my power to the other vectors so they planned on making me do that later on. I then grew naturally on Optoh. My power was recognized by every vector on the planet and eventually I became the prime minister. I was the most powerful vector by a long shot."
"Your life must have been wonderful. I still don't get why you left."
"By the time I became the Prime Minister, all the vectors were saying that I must have long mastered my abiltiy and now it was time for to teach it globally."
"So, did you?"
"No..."
"I just couldn't... No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't explain anything about how to learn Omnipresence to the other vectors. Experiencing Omnipresence is such a unique unexplainable experience that I had no concept of teaching it to other vectors. It was possible for them to learn it if they had a good teacher since they had the weaker version already. Maybe someone who had experienced both Omnipresence and the natural counterpart could teach it but I couldn't."
"Oh..."
"I was shunned for it. Every Vector lost all respect for me and my power and position was taken for me since they thought I was just being greedy. The constant humiliation and oppression that I received every day, I just couldn't take it anymore. Eventually, I decided to leave the planet and live a quiet life away from all that."
"All of that must have been so tough. I'm sorry you had to go through all that, Ma'am."
"It's okay, boy. Also, I was pregnant with twins at the time I left Optoh. Because I wanted them to have a good life as vectors on Optoh, I couldn't bring them with me here so I transported them to the bodies of two random married female vectors. I wish for nothing but the best for them."
"Do you know anything about how they're doing now, Ma'am?"
"I did make a tiny undetectable drone from spare parts of the ship I arrived on. I then sent it to Optoh in order to gather info about those two."
"So, how were they?"
"One of my sons was named Shin. He became the next prime minister after me so I'm glad I left the planet in good hands. He's running the planet well."
"What about your other son?"
"That one was named Genesis but that drone couldn't get any info about him other than his name. That had me really concerned. I hope he's doing well out there."
"I do too, Ma'am. A son of someone as kind as you must be wonderful as well."
"You're too kind, James. Alright, eat this up and let's get to bed. It's getting cold."
The next morning, Tomo began teaching Gridlock everything he needed to know inorder to become powerful in the Galaxy. She started sharing the vast knowledge of the vectors with Gridlock. Everything from how to operate any blaster to how to create any ship was being taught to Gridlock. She also began teaching him about how to fight without any technology as well. Every form of martial arts invented by the vectors was being taught to James.
5 years later
Gridlock James had now finally mastered everything. He was ready and prepared for the cruelty of the Galaxy. He was finally toughened up.
One morning, Gridlock had come back to the place he crash landed on 5 years ago. The view was just as beautiful. The slight glimpse of it he got when he crash landed here was enough to soothe him after years of torture. Gridlock was being sentimental at the moment.
"It's so beautiful..."
"I know it is... I've been admiring it for 200 years."
"When did you get here, Tomo?"
"Just now... You're planning to leave soon, aren't you?"
"Yeah... Sorry, I can't stay here forever."
"I know... Of course I know that. It still hurts to say goodbye though."
"Thank you so much, Tomo. You have been like a mother to me these past 5 years. I'll always love you."
"Don't say those things, brat. Follow me, I have a surprise for you."
Gridlock and Tomo walked down together next to their cave and there it was. A ship made from combining the parts of the ship Tomo came in and the ship Gridlock crash landed in.
"Wow... It's beautiful, Tomo."
"I know it is, I made it."
"Thank you once more, Tomo. I hope there are more people like you out there."
"I hope the same, son."
Gridlock and Tomo embraced each other with tears in both of their eyes. "I'll miss you.", they both said in unison.
After a crying session, Tomo said, "This is the ship with which you'll travel the Galaxy in." Gridlock replied, "I know it'll feel amazing since a amazing woman like you made it."
"Stop flattering me and tell me what you want to name it."
"Hmm... Let me see..."
"Come on..."
"Oh! I got it!"
"What is it?"
"Tin."