I sat on a hilltop with the stars fading in the night sky. A poet might call it romantic. I'm not a poet, nor am I in the mood for romance, though one might say romance is at the heart of my troubles. I'm not in love, don't get me wrong, not in a physical sense at least. My love is more like the love a son shows his mother. Our hypothetical poet might well indeed call this a romantic setting. The barest hint of cold on the wind, but a blanket tossed haphazardly around my shoulders. But I would insist that the poet turn about and gaze in horror as his vision of beauty is spoiled by the hideous mass of metal and rock that is Skytomb, home of the evil Lunataks and the source of my troubles.

To be fair I should state the heart of my problems. Alluro. Master hypnotist and the man hopelessly in love with my sister. Every time he comments on her beauty he is treated with a stare as cold as the ice moon from we came. Correct that. Almost every time. The incident that told me things had changed occurred after I took ill. Under Alluro's supervision I became well. Chilla came to my room to speak with me, and I knew I wasn't going to like the news.

"Knave," Chilla said, startling Knave out of his half-dreamlike state.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Alluro has officially declared the quarantine over," Chilla said.

"That's great news," he replied.

"Look, I know this goes against everything our father taught us to do, but I want you to forgive him. Be kind to him and don't harm him in any way," Chilla said.

"That's not great news. What brings this on?" Knave asked, baffled.

"He saved your life. Isn't that enough?" Chilla said.

"After all he's done to you. Bothered you, tormented you, prattled on about his endless love for you, you can forgive him?" Knave said, nearly collapsing from laughter.

"Yes. And I want you to do the same. Alluro and I, we came to an understanding. The truth of it is that I've begun to fall in love with that man," Chilla said.

Knave couldn't have been more surprised if Chilla had revealed that she had had her brain replaced with that of a door mouse. Considering the news he'd just heard Knave wondered if that statement were true anyway.

It hadn't ended there. Soon I saw Chilla and Alluro sitting in the control room. He whispered something to her and she giggled. Chilla never giggles, not since her childhood days. She never showed any trace of emotion, other than anger, when others were around, just me. My earliest memory was of her displaying love to me, but putting up a wall of dispassionate neutrality around my father. I was eight then. I had just scraped my knee badly, doing some childish activity no doubt. Of course my father being the loving man that he was, yelled at me for getting blood on his nice white carpet.

"If you're going to bleed, do it in your own room. Now I'll have to clean this up. Chilla! Come down here at once," Nitro, Chilla and Knave's father, yelled.

"Yes father?" She asked.

"Take your little brother away and clean him up. What if one of the other families came by, they'd think we were a family of clumsy oafs," Nitro said.

"Of course father. The little brat does seem to get himself injured frequently. Probably his mother's side," Chilla commented, covering the wound in ice. "Come along Knave. Let's tend to that laceration." Chilla led Knave down the hall and removed the ice when they were around the corner.

"Now, let's see how bad it is," Chilla said, bending over to examine the knee. It was a nasty gash, but not serious. It looked worse than it actually was. "There, there. Don't cry. Everything's going to be fine. You just have to be more careful, that's all," Chilla said, wiping Knave's tears with her sleeve. "Feel better now?" Knave nodded. "Good, now let's go find Mr. Spaceman and play for a little while."

Even today that memory brings a smile to my face, mostly because Chilla would never act that way now. She'd probably threaten to kill me if she knew I remembered. I wonder what she's doing now. Probably with Alluro, with my luck. No, I can see Alluro wandering around outside. I still feel slightly betrayed by her. All my life we've been defending each other. Why, there was this one time on the ice moon as I was returning home from school. I should've taken Chilla's advice and gone by a different route, but I was stubborn.

"Lookee here. We've got us an intruder," said one of the three kids standing in my way. One was gravity Lunatak while the other two were ice. "Not just any intruder, but the half-breed," the gravity one said.

"Do you know what we do to people who invade our territory? Huh, freak?" the lead ice Lunatak asked.

"No, what?" Knave asked, backing away slightly.

"You're about to find out. Roly Poly get him!" the leader said to the gravity Lunatak. In two giant bounds Roly Poly had landed behind Knave and taken the knees out from under him. "Now we brand the little freak with the symbol of the Wild Riders!" the leader said.

"Not so fast!" Chilla hissed, running up. She carried a weapon that all ice Lunataks feared, a flame thrower. Knave suspected that she'd taken it out of her dad's closet but didn't want to know how she got away with it. The three bullies took off rather than fight. Knave stood and embraced his half-sister. "Thanks, I owe you," he said.

"A true ice Lunatak doesn't thank anyone," she replied, imitating her father's voice perfectly, before giving him a sly wink. "Besides, they had it coming."

Our father whipped us good for that one. Her for helping me and stealing a flame thrower, me for getting Chilla in trouble. She defended me and I would defend her, some time later at a dark secluded bar. An overly intoxicated patron had decided to show Chilla "one of the wonders of the world." The only wonder about him was how he'd managed to stay up. Luckily for him I'd gone to the bathroom, unluckily I saw him as I was coming out.

Knave didn't need to think twice about why Chilla, struggling, and an unknown man were heading out a side door. She had had, admittedly, one too many drinks and so was unable to do more than inconvenience the man. She needed help, fast. Knave grabbed his ice pick and plunged out the door after them. There she was, pinned in the corner, fearful of her life, with this drunk fumbling at his pants. Knave nodded to Chilla and she ducked as the ice pick plowed through the man's back, nailing him to the alley wall. As Chilla crawled free, Knave removed the weapon and motioned Chilla into their nearby Ice Runner.

Oh boy. It had taken quite some explaining to our father to tell him what had happened, why Chilla had blood on her clothes. Naturally I got blamed for not stopping things sooner. "Another minute and the scandal would have been all over the papers. As it is, you might still get mentioned for murder," he'd said. Chilla had given me a look that said she was sorry and that she appreciated my heroism. It made the yelling a little more bearable. So why couldn't Chilla see that Alluro was no different from the drunk? Obsessed with one thing, and one thing only. Pure unadulterated sex. Not that he'd be the first man with such ambitions. His name was Psychro, a hypnotist/ice Lunatak hybrid. I didn't like him from the moment I set eyes on him. Chilla had brought him home to meet her parents and myself.

"Mother, father, this is Psychro of the Myntaello clan. Psychro, these are Nitro and Frosticia of clan Iespyk," Chilla said formally.

"I have come to court your daughter that the two of us might form one household and, in doing so, cause both your clan and mine to become stronger for it," Psychro said.

"These are indeed the words of a hypnotist. Even the dumbest man could see through them, right Knave?" Nitro said, striding to stand within a few feet of the intruder. "Tell me. What does your father do for a living?" he continued.

"He outfits ships for the fleet," Psychro replied. This was not a man to trifle with, especially when it wasn’t the family he was after, but a night with his beautiful daughter.

"I see. Noble enough profession, I suppose. Very well. I can’t stop you from taking her away, but if anything happens to her I’ll come knocking," Nitro said, dismissing them both.

Later in the day Chilla entered her room. She still shared it with Knave, though he was usually wise enough not to pry. Tonight, however, was an exception. "How was it?" he asked.

"It was fine. Nothing to write about, but it was a passable evening," Chilla replied.

"Oh. Did anything happen?" Knave asked, receiving a shocked look from Chilla.

"Not that it’s any of your business, but no. It certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying. He even pulled the ‘I ran out of gas’ trick," Chilla said, shaking her head sadly.

"What a jerk!" Knave said.

"Yeah well, men are like that, a lot of the time. Women too, you be careful when you start dating," Chilla said.

"Don’t worry. I will," Knave replied.

It’s funny. I never had a serious relationship thanks to Chilla. I’m sure she scared me into doing so. But Psychro grew even more bold. I’m actually quite thankful that I had some misgivings about this ‘gentleman’. He asked her to marry him. About a week before the wedding I decided that the information I carried was too vital. I stopped in her room.

"Chilla, you can’t go through with this marriage," Knave said.

"Jealous, dear brother? Did you want to be the one who got married first between us?" Chilla asked.

"Truth be told marriage is the last thing on my mind, and it should be so for you," Knave said.

"I hope there’s an explanation for all your rambling. I’ve got last minute preparations to make," Chilla said.

"There is, fear not. I did some digging on your future husband. He’s using you. He’s dated fifteen women on this moon alone, been married three times, divorced a few days after the marriage, has five illegitimate children including two ice Lunataks, one hypnotist, and two from the high gravity moon," Knave said, "In other words, after he’s had his way with you, he’ll ditch you and move onto his next conquest."

"What?" Chilla growled.

"If you don’t believe me, I can give you the names and addresses of each of those women. Each one will tell you that after one or two nights of sex with Psychro they were promptly dumped," Knave said, handing her a list.

"I can’t believe this," Chilla said, her fury building.

"I’m sorry. I wish this hadn’t been necessary, but I figured this way there was a chance you could gain some measure of revenge rather than be just another name on this list. I love you as only a brother can. I don’t want to see you hurt," Knave said. Chilla surprised him with a smile.

"There’s only one way to get him back. I’ll let him think he’s won, but on the day of our wedding, he’ll be in for a shock. There’s going to be no bride," she said.

Psychro hadn’t been happy. Many women refused to go out with him after hearing the numbers. It seemed that Psychro went through women like he went through clothes. With the entire Clan Iespyk behind us Psychro couldn’t get near Chilla. I foolishly thought that might be the end of Chilla’s days of romance. Boy, was I wrong. In stepped Kineto, another hypnotist. What is it with Chilla? She always seems to attract hypnotists. Chilla loved him, loved him more than any woman loved any man. The only person she told about it, was me. It was about a month before she ultimately left on the mission that brought her here. I was sitting reading a book on the cold slopes of Mount Darweiher.

"Knave. I need to talk to you, as a man, not my brother," Chilla said.

"I’ll admit. You’ve piqued my interest. What is it?" Knave asked.

"If a woman, any woman, were to come up to you and tell you that she loved you, what would you do?" Chilla asked.

"And how do I feel about this hypothetical woman," Knave asked, reading between the lines.

"I don’t know. Let’s pretend that you’re interested in her," Chilla replied.

"Well, I think I would be happy that this woman has saved me the time and effort of having to ask her out. On the other hand, it might make me feel like she doesn’t have faith in me, that she might be the kind of woman who wants to control my life," Knave replied.

"Should I tell him?" Chilla asked, growing very serious.

"It depends. I don’t know the man you’re talking about. He could be any number of men. ‘The moons are full of people, some are male some are female, but all are Lunataks,’" Knave said.

"What?" Chilla asked.

"It’s a quote by a poet name Nighthawk of the darkness-enshrouded planet. Admittedly it’s not one of his better quotes, but it fits," Knave replied.

"The thing is, you know the man. Anything I say might jeopardize your relationship with him," Chilla said.

"Oh come on. Father would never want you thinking like that. Concern for another Lunatak’s welfare. Pfah! ‘In this world one should only be concerned for oneself, for if you have no concern for yourself, then no one else will be either’." Knave said.

"That one I know. Father’s no poet but he speaks his mind," Chilla replied.

"You can trust me. I won’t go and beat up this man, if you say you truly love him. You know that I would do anything for you," Knave began.

"To the ends of the moon and back. You’ve said it before. All right, his name is Kineto. He’s been helping you on border patrols," Chilla said.

I knew Kineto well. He was a decent enough fellow. A little too dedicated to his work, but that was hardly a vice. The two of us patrolled the moons of Plundarr ensuring that there were no Thunderians roaming about. He was one year my elder, but I had been the one to rise through the ranks. It didn’t make him bitter, not at me, just made him more determined. I told Chilla what I could. I’d mention it to him and see what he thought. That move may have cost him his life and Chilla her heart. We were stopped outside a café when I spoke to him, the rest of our patrol gone.

"So Kineto. Have you ever thought about settling down? Finding a wife, raising kids, the whole package?" Knave asked.

"Somewhat. It’s always been an assumed thing. You’re lucky. Your father will probably set you up with someone. You won’t have to go through the process," Kineto replied.

"Come on. You know my father. He’ll probably set me up with some fat graviton woman. The last thing I want is a family. But I wasn’t asking for myself. Chilla’s been talking about you, quite a lot in fact," Knave said.

"Really? Chilla? I’d never thought she was interested. Figured she’d had it with men after Psychro," Kineto replied.

"If you want her, she’s yours. I won’t stand in your way. You’re a decent man. I trust you with my life," Knave said.

"I’d love to. I’ve always dreamed of having her at my side. Wow, you’re not kidding, are you?" Kineto asked.

"At a time like this, such a lie would be more hurtful than me plunging a dagger through your chest," Knave said. A broad grin spread across Kineto’s face, but faded as rifle fire disrupted the night. A spray of bullets and laser weapons peppered the wall behind them as they rolled to cover. Knave could see that Kineto had taken a nasty shoulder injury. He breathed a sheet of ice between the weapon fire and his companion in such a way that he could rush over to help his friend. "How many of them?" Kineto asked.

"Two. Both Thunderian Panthers," Knave replied.

"Good. Help me to my feet and I’ll thrall them," Kineto said. Knave did so and withdrew his wall of ice. Kineto’s psyche club launched its orb above the two panthers.

"Why bother fighting, Thundercats? You can’t possibly defeat us. We’re on the side of law and order," Kineto said. The wound in the shoulder made it difficult to concentrate. Knave cursed himself. If they hadn’t been talking, they might have seen the Panthers coming.

"Why bother fighting? We can’t beat them," one of the Panthers said, but Kineto’s grasp was too weak. His knees buckled and he collapsed. "Free!" shouted the other Panther running forward with a long sharp knife ready. He threw it with pin point accuracy and ended Kinteo’s life.

That was the first time I ever truly froze a man. I’m not talking about encasing people in ice, that’s easy. But to breathe in such a way that metal becomes similar to glass is a talent that we ice Lunataks don’t use often, and only when enraged. I was enraged then. Chilla had been happy. She had loved Kineto and he was about to return that love. But it was all ended by a simple knife thrower. Neither Panther survived. The first was turned to so much dust after I repeatedly took my ice pick to him. The other had been killed instantly and had been taken away by my patrol, returning.

I never told Chilla the truth. I thought she might feel better if she didn’t think that he loved her. This way at least she could convince herself that it didn’t matter, she wouldn’t berate herself for not telling him sooner. That part always hurts me, having to lie to my sweet sister. It’s the only thing I’ve ever kept from her. Now I can sense that she’s the one holding something back, hiding the true nature of her relationship with Alluro. Alluro. It always comes back to him, doesn’t it?

I’ve seen Chilla hurt far too many times for my tastes. As her unofficial protector I must prevent such pain again. But she has asked me to become more civil toward him, to be polite and try to like him. I don’t think it’ll happen, but I’ll try, for her sake.

There’s a crunch of feet on gravel. I raise my head, the wind blowing my white mane into my eyes. It’s Chilla, walking as gracefully as ever. She hasn’t changed, I’ve realized. She’s developed an exterior persona for those around her, save myself, but deep within she is still the same Chilla I’ve always known.

"You missed dinner. Luna was getting worried, in your condition," Chilla says.

"Tell me something. Do you love him?" I ask, hoping to hear her say no.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. He’s grown on me," Chilla replies. I close my eyes, just for a moment.

"If it will make you happy, I’ll treat him like I treat you: with the utmost respect, with honor and dignity. And I will try my hardest to be as a brother unto him," I say slowly.

"I know you will," Chilla says.

"There are patterns in our lives that must be repeated. Some are doomed to fail in life, others are blessed to succeed at all things in life," an old philosopher’s words, whose name is long forgotten, echo through my mind before I add on my own. "And some are destined to fall in love with hypnotists and get burned."

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