Chapter 9 To: Dim Star (Part 2)

After learning the key information, Stelle immediately took Orion to confront him.

Orion stayed where he was and said, "Wait a minute."

He was thinking about Bernard's reasons for his actions.

Bernard's behavior was intentional, suggesting that he might have known the answer Leslie gave Rocky, but deliberately kept it from him.

"Lies don't hurt, but the truth is the sharpest knife."

As Orion thought about the old man who passionately discussed the situation with him, he couldn't understand why Bernard would act this way. 

Was it possible that Bernard was jealous of Rocky for being younger or not having a wife? Or was it something more significant?

"Leslie... Is she buried in that galaxy?"

After some careful consideration, Orion stopped pondering and asked, "Stelle, did you bring a backup of the surveillance footage?"

"I've had it ready for a while now," Stelle said, holding up the memory device.

"Alright, let's go." Orion felt that this situation was more complicated than it seemed.

If his suspicions were correct, Rocky had a right to know the truth.

The two of them began searching around the space station, but it seemed Bernard was expecting them. He led them to a secluded area.

"Mr. Bernard, please be honest," Orion said, taking the lead.

"If you confess, the punishment will be lighter. If you resist, it'll be severe," Stelle added, crossing her arms with a serious expression.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bernard replied calmly, shaking his head.

Orion's suspicions grew stronger.

"You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can be used against you in court," Orion said with a tone of authority.

Bernard seemed confused, unsure of what these two were accusing him of.

"If young people don't learn properly, they just end up running wild."

"Stop pretending! You destroyed the records of the Galaxy Radio Repeater, didn't you?" Orion said confidently.

"It was all caught on surveillance," Stelle added, holding up the video. The footage clearly showed Bernard.

Seeing the video, Bernard seemed to deflate like a balloon, losing his earlier confidence.

"Do you know about starquakes?"

"Starquakes?"

The answer caught them off guard. They exchanged glances, and Orion signaled to continue listening.

Seeing their confusion, Bernard's tone became more resolute.

"You young people are truly exhausting."

"Listen, Leslie accepted Rocky's confession!"

"What!?"

"Leslie isn't dead?"

"Leslie agreed?"

"Stop jumping to conclusions! What nonsense are you thinking?" Bernard said, clearly exasperated.

"Uh..." Orion scratched his head, realizing he had overcomplicated things. He'd been influenced by too many mystery stories where a disappearance often meant death. 

"Hey, you two..." Bernard sounded disappointed.

"If you think I'm behind this, you're wrong! You're too clever for your own good," Bernard continued.

"Starquakes, when properly managed, are harmless," he explained.

"But the gravitational collapse caused by starquakes can distort the curvature of space-time."

"Distortion of time and space?" Orion thought of the concepts often discussed in science fiction. A terrifying possibility crossed his mind: 

"The speed at which time passes is different for Rocky and Leslie?"

Bernard was silent for a moment.

"You're very perceptive, young man," he finally said, stroking his beard. "I was once young too."

"If Rocky is living in the present, then Leslie..."

"She's already living in the future."

Orion Astra's heart sank. What he thought was just a love story had become something much deeper. When it comes to time, it's the ultimate problem no one can escape.

"Is there really no solution?" Stelle's voice was heavy.

"Space can be transcended, but time can't be touched!" Bernard's tone was firm.

"When time between them is so far apart, it'll take Rocky a lifetime to respond to Leslie's moments."

"There's a massive, unbridgeable gap between them. Time will consume everything..."

"When Leslie returns to the space station one day, she'll be as bright as spring, and Rocky..."

Bernard's voice trembled slightly, "He'll be an old man like me."

Orion was moved by Bernard's emotion. He couldn't help but think about what he would do if faced with such a situation.

"Is there really no way?" Stelle's voice was heavy.

"Even in this world, the only thing that can change time is..."

Bernard took out two video tape-like memories from his waist, one blue and one red.

"A classic, fateful combination."

"Red is truth, blue is lies."

"Choose wisely." Bernard handed the two memories to Orion and Stelle and left.

Bernard left, but the burden of choice was now on Orion and Stelle.

They stood in silence, pondering.

"Silence can avoid problems, but it can't solve them," Orion murmured.

"Lies are painless, but truth cuts deep," he continued quietly.

"But Rocky deserves to know the truth," Orion said firmly. "No matter what he decides, whether he gives up or finds new love, it's better than living a life of lies."

"What about you, Stelle?" Orion raised the red truth in his hand.

"Me too!" Stelle's hand joined his, united in thought.

In the control cabin, Rocky was deep in thought, perhaps already suspecting the truth.

Orion handed him the "truth."

Without hesitation, Orion revealed the answer that spanned tens of thousands of light years.

"Time flows fast?" Rocky's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

He took a deep breath, seemingly swallowing his worries.

"So she's gone to the future, and I'm stuck in the present... is that right?"

Rocky's silent contemplation made him seem similar to his master.

"I never realized time could be so unfair."

Orion noticed Rocky clenching his fist.

"Even if she travels for months and spans light years, by my time, I'll already be an old man."

Rocky's eyes sharpened as he looked at Orion and Stelle.

"Did you really think I was that naive?" Rocky's sad smile caught Orion off guard.

"Haha! Of course, I won't wait for her! I won't wait!"

Rocky laughed loudly, and Orion sighed.

"Maybe this is fate's choice."

Stelle felt the same pity. "I really didn't expect you..."

"I won't wait," Rocky's voice was deep.

"But I'll chase her. I'll chase time!"

Electricity sparked through Orion's heart. He was astonished by Rocky's determination. 

Rocky was a real man!

"If her timeline is a grand canyon, instead of waiting for her to cross it, why don't I just climb over?"

His tone was passionate, his resolve fiery.

"Orion, Stelle," Rocky's voice was sincere.

"I'm setting off immediately. How can I call myself a traveler if I haven't explored the stars!"

"I told my master I'd leave, and if I return safely..."

Rocky paused, "I'd like you to be my groomsmen and bridesmaids."

"Okay," Orion simply replied. A gentleman's word is his bond.

Stelle nodded in agreement.

"Then this poem is for you, farewell, my friends."

Rocky never looked back.

Orion picked up the new poem Rocky had left on the table. The ink was still fresh.

"Goodbye, Herta."

Darkness lines up in the distance, almost cruelly.

Time is dissected, and love's blossoms fall.

Like a ticking bell in infinite space. We have no choice.

We can only slide into the ominous trembling of the universe, like sliding down a twilight slope.

Even so, the stars continue their music, and along the way, we'll see their elegant, weary faces.

Rocky Martinez

After reading the poem, Orion knew it was time to start his own journey.

"Isn't this well written, Brother Rocky?"