Soulbound Ch 13: A Useless Attack, completing one’s Mission

I hovered there for a moment, suspended in the vast nothingness of space, my body still tingling faintly from the soul merge. My hands rested over my lower stomach, the same place where my soulbound—my sweet, beautiful Scott—was resting. I gave the spot a gentle pat, the same way one might soothe a child or a dear pet curled up for a nap. But he was no child, and he certainly wasn't a pet. He was mine. And I was his.

It was time to move.

I turned my attention outward, to the stars around me, to the planet just beneath my toes—Veridia, Scott's home. I reached out into the black canvas of space, stretching my fingers until I felt that familiar tug on the threads of reality. Slowly, space responded. It shimmered, warped, and opened like fabric being pulled apart by invisible hands. My fingers slipped through the opening and came back clutching the glowing orange form of my interdimensional bag.

Its warm energy pulsed gently in my grasp, radiating with potential. I always thought it looked like a tiny sun made soft. Compact, but mighty. "There you are," I whispered, brushing my thumb over its glowing surface.

"Whoa, what is that?" came a familiar voice, slightly muffled but still clear, echoing from deep within me.

I blinked, glancing downward with a soft smile. "Still awake, huh?"

"It's hard to sleep," Scott said. I could almost see him rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm too excited, I guess."

"Understandable," I murmured, cradling the bag like it was precious cargo—which it was. "This is my interdimensional bag. Every Aetherion has one. It's kind of a rite of passage, really. Big enough to protect and hold planets safely. Yours is going in here."

There was a pause, and then, "And that other thing you did... before. The way you opened up space, it looked like some kind of—uh—gate?"

Now that made me smile. "You saw that? Hm. Our connection is growing faster than I expected. Most lesser minds take time to adapt to my perceptions." I tilted my head thoughtfully. "That was my spatial gate. I bought it a few centuries ago at a trade convergence on the edge of Andrelis' Void. It's a custom fold in space where I keep all my... things. I could fit an entire galaxy in there, though it's a bit of a tight squeeze these days. Newer models are better, but let's just say the waiting list is ridiculous."

"That's... wild," Scott muttered.

"Try to get some rest, baby," I said warmly. "I'm about to collect your planet now."

There was a beat of silence, and then, "Can you be careful with it? Please? I just... I don't want my people to suffer."

His voice carried a weight of worry. I gently stroked my stomach, imagining my fingers brushing his hair. "I'll be careful. I promise. I'll do my very best."

I waited. My body was still, floating calmly against the darkness. Then, I felt it—his consciousness dipping. The soft pull of sleep. I smiled to myself and kissed my fingers before placing them back over my belly.

Then I focused.

Opening the bag with one smooth motion, the mouth of the glowing pouch unfurled like a blooming flower. Its warmth stretched across my palms as I guided it toward the planet. The gentle hum of dimensional alignment tickled my senses. I was just about to complete the process when I noticed something—several small glowing objects racing up from the planet's surface.

I arched a brow. "Hm?"

They were fast. Metallic. Projectiles of some kind. I sighed, raising my hand lazily and catching them like one might catch raindrops. They burst harmlessly against my skin, little sparks against the immense strength of my body. I squinted as one managed to pop right against my eye. "Really?" I mumbled, rubbing it gently.

They were attacking me. That was cute.

I held back a laugh, not wanting to wake Scott. Let the little ones try if it made them feel better. I would deal with them later. Right now, I had more important things to do.

Slowly, gently, I guided the bag's opening toward the planet's curvature, adjusting my grip with utmost care. I made sure none of the bag's edges scraped the atmosphere, just like I'd practiced back during training cycles. The bag expanded naturally, adapting to the planet's shape and size, forming a protective cocoon around it. I watched as Veridia shimmered and shimmered... and then with a low pulse, it was secured.

Carefully, I reached out and slipped the bag—planet and all—into the pocket of my spatial gate. The fold shimmered open with a graceful ripple, and the planet disappeared inside, nestled safely within the dimensional buffer.

"Safe and sound," I whispered, brushing my palms together softly.

I turned then, the stars bending gently around my form as I oriented myself. "Now time to go," I murmured. My voice was barely more than a breath, but out here, it echoed like thunder across galaxies.

With a slow, fluid motion, I angled my body and began to drift forward, away from the solar system, away from the sun, carrying the weight of a world and the heart of the one I loved. My pulse was steady, strong. I'd accomplished my goal. My soulbound was safe. His home was safe. And we were together.

Now... our real journey could begin.