“There are just some people who hate the idea that they were born. And so they set out to punish the whole world for their mothers giving them life. With them it’s either kill or be killed. There is nothing in between.” ~ Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in “Tombstone”

1.

Since then, Col had vanished. Many a rumor claimed that Cirrus was the reason. Some said he had killed the mighty commander, others that he had done something that had caused the great commander leave the empire forever. Few could have realized how far from the truth they could’ve been.

They were wrong about the man himself. He was no killer. He had been a friend of Col’s, but that had been before Col had disappeared. He thought his friend to be dead. And it was this grief that drove him to the brink of sanity.

The Emperor could see what the loss was doing to his second best commander. It hurt to see the man go through so much. He had to allow Cirrus in on the secret.

“C.C.,” he said, as the tall youth appeared before him, having been called forward, “come. I must show you something.”

Cirrus followed his Emperor out of the throne room and down a secret hall. Cirrus had never known this hall ever existed until now.

“Where we goin’?” He asked with trepidation, fear growing in his otherwise fearless heart.

“You’ll see,” the Emperor replied softly, “don’t worry, there’s nothing to fear.”

The hallway opened into a large spherical room lined with stasis chambers. In the center stood one with Col in it. He glanced at the Emperor questioningly.

“It was his design, C.C.,” he replied., “it was his wish to be put here after that last battle secured our Empire and brought on peace. He wanted to sleep until he was needed again. There’s even one here for you and hundreds more who have proven, or will in the near future, their undying loyalty to the Empire. Just say the word and you can join him in the same sleep he is enjoying.”

“I’ll train the next generation, Sire,” C.C. replied, relieved, “for a short while, then I’ll be ready to join him. I must pass on what he taught me.”