Lysander lay in the grass, his back to the ground and his arms outstretched to either side. To the outside observer, it would inherently appear as if he just came down from a crucifixion cross at Golgatha. However, the truth was far less mundane. An energy-force [i]somehow[/i] managed to traverse a thousand years of security, picked out the exact right road out of a multitude of dead-ends and false-leads, then followed that road through defenses that would have brought even an omniscient God to the brink of death just to be in proximity with, all to touch his soul. Which, in and of itself, carried a death sentence in the most gruesome of ways – the breaking down to nothingness on a molecular level. Rapid, forced expansion until there was no longer anything left of the original source. How this…thing managed it was far beyond his comprehension.

In that single moment, however, once that touch finally penetrated defenses nothing could penetrate, and caused him to act in a way that he never would have before – his body went into full-defense mode. Most systems storing secret information, when under intentional assault, have a backup plan. Lysander being an organic creature normally wouldn’t, but for some reason did. As soon as another being managed to break through all of his defenses and lay a finger on his soul, his body shut completely down. Respiratory and nervous systems ceased all activity, and even his soul actually evacuated its tether-line to his body. 

Nothing remained of himself, and his body was only an empty husk as his consciousness floated freely. Of course, that was all part of the plan. All a method of preserving himself from sudden death and the end of his time altogether. He was over a million billion years old, and you don’t live that long by inhabiting the same old body the entire time. Flesh grows weak even with considerable power sources and augmentations in place to keep it strong. And though he was a warrior of considerable strength now, he wasn’t always such an indomitable force of might. Bodies were disposable, and he was sure he’d have to dispose of this one after its impenetrable defenses were [i]somehow[/i] penetrated. 

Regardless, the searching process began. A vast expansion of his consciousness across the planet seeking life. The sight before him, the old body laying on the ground apparently dead dulled – and his vision cast itself across the surface, scanning for a suitable replace. The process, even with an accelerated timeline, would take days, maybe weeks. It was all so frustrating. Suddenly, though, something changed. A subtle shift, like a ripple across the fabric of reality. If he’d been in his own body, it would have never been noticed. But now, as a ghost-like form floating and invisible, barely tethered to the living world, it was as evident as a dolphin diving back into the sea. 

[i] ‘Lifeforms registered on the planet…zero?’[/i] he asked himself, confused. A moment ago there’d been so many specks of light denoting a living creature in his field of view that it blinded him. Now…now there seemed to be nothing. Quickly rotating his consciousness back to his body, he sought out signs of the others. No one. Nothing. 

[i] “I don’t understand.”[/i] his disembodied voice was still prevalent, and could still be heard. If anything was around without showing up, they’d have reacted to a sound coming from nowhere in the dead silence that filled the world. Continuing his search for life, he kept focus on the body below him and began to realize that the flesh-form there was, indeed, the only one left on the whole of Killimara. 

Understanding that was everything, he wouldn’t need a new body after all! Immediately his energy began pouring back through the flesh, and its systems began to live a second time. With an audible, jerking gasp and lurch of his body upward, head tipped back and mouth wide open, life returned. The scream of pain emitted from his lips, blood-curdling and cold, echoed across the silent forest. After a short span of time, the body lay back limp and he opened his eyes upon a dark, empty world. 
[i] “Holy shit. That was a hell of a ride, eh?” [/i] 

[i] “Yeah, it really was…whoever took us on it is going to have to pay, you know.” [/i] 

[i] “Oh, believe me…he will,”[/i] finishing the conversation with his sword, Lysander turned it tip down and used it to lift his body to a standing position. As soon as he put the weight on both of his feet, he almost fell again. It wasn’t the product of atrophy, though. The sensations passing through the process of bringing oneself back, at least in this manner, produced similar affects as being intoxicated. The whole world spun around him, and he steadied himself against the sword a second time. Already the pains in his stomach were coming, and he could feel the end result bubbling in the pit of his gut. He still didn’t know why the planet was empty, but he intended to find out soon enough…just as soon as the rebirthing sickness passed. 

With a sudden, violent jerk of his head, his body tipped forward at the waist and a retching sound became evident. While some small liquid came through, so – too – did a grey substance which, upon exiting his body immediately floated high into the air, condensed upon itself – and then simply vanished. 

The only thing Lysander thought was that it didn’t seem normal, and he surely couldn’t remember ever having that happen before during body changes. He reached through into himself, and decided he felt well enough to begin the search. Opting for the quick route, he reached his right hand outward as it throwing something to the side. 

Nothing happened. 

Immediately realization dawned upon him, and he spewed a string of curses that would make the most hardened sailor blush. 

[i] “He fucking escaped…all that work, all that planning…and he fucking escaped. I didn’t think that could happen, you know. Know this, Hellion of Val’gara, when I’m done here, and when I have paid retribution to the thing that did what none other could…I’m coming for you, boy.” [/i]

With that, Lysander decided he’d have to do this searching bit the old fashioned way, and immediately set off to scour the planet for any living creature he could lay his hands on.