Outer: Return of the Tenth Commander

'God damn it!'

As if his soul was being shredded into pieces, due to an outer force influencing him inside, which he couldn't put into words, Case was left speechless as he continued to endure the excruciating pain that seemed to originate from his bloodied empty eye socket.

"Arghhhhh!"

His screams filled the dark space that only the Dishonest One could hear.

But the Stranger couldn't act either, as it was the only means of escape from the dreaded space.

"Endure it, Case," 

Despite the monotone voice echoing around him, Case's only awareness was the pain consuming his body.

That's why Case couldn't make sense of the words that the Dishonest One's words that follow after that, since the Stranger started to talk.

The creature was talking, but Case could only scream out his lungs.

"Arggggh!"

However, as the pain seemed to gradually settle down, Case was able to catch a few words coming from the Stranger.

"I could only give you this much due to the fact that most of my Authority has been stolen. However, each Authorities has its own uniqueness. For instance, they can be learned and will continue learning. It has no limits."

Case could only intake that knowledge, but had no time to really comprehend it to a deeper level, as the pain slightly became unbearable once more.

'Just when will this fucking end?!'

It wasn't long before the pain dulled, allowing Case to catch the voice of the Dishonest One once more.

"Seeing that you are in a pretty bad shape, taking my authority, it's probably because another authority has been added to it. Timeless One's authority is there."

Case slowly adjusted himself to look at the Dishonest One from afar to utter a single word, but couldn't do so.

Rumble—!

Just as Case was beginning to adjust to the situation, subtle vibrations and visible shifts that distorted the space stirred in their surroundings.

"They are here."

Case tried to make sense of what those sinister words meant as he felt the chilling voice of the Dishonest One descending into maliciousness.

The Dishonest One's pupil flicked restlessly through the space, searching for something Case could vaguely grasp, but not enough to know who the Stranger was looking for.

Soon, the eye's gaze landed on Case.

Rumble—!

The two observed each other quietly in the space where the surrounding area started to crumble and violently shake.

It was as if a power that wasn't the Stranger's authority was trying to barge its way inside, and the Dishonest One could only let it happen.

"Case."

Case heard Dishonest One's voice clearly.

"I don't care what you do with that power, but entities will come for you to get that, even if it means their death."

Case listened attentively.

"Don't let them take it. From now on, it's yours and yours alone."

Rumbleee—! 

As the tremors worsened, cracks split through the space and sparks danced wildly—Case could only watch in helpless confusion before he managed to respond.

"You're very strange, Stranger,"

Soon, the space was forced to open, but Case seemed to slightly trust the Stranger to do what it promised to do.

The hues around him shifted, some turning shadowy and saturated, while others gleamed with an unnatural brightness.

Case wanted to catch a glimpse of those things that came to get the Dishonest One, but the Stranger didn't let it happen.

It wasn't his time yet.

"Goodbye, Case,"

Crack—!

"Thanks, Stranger—"

Boooom—!

Before Case could even fathom what transpired, his vision brightened up to the point that he couldn't make sense of anything aside from radiating light.

"So bright."

In that moment filled with white, Case, the Tenth Commander, died.

…

A familiar thought often surfaced in Case's mind whenever he went out towards Outer.

Like many others who regretted some actions in the past while venturing into space, Case couldn't help but ask himself about the what-if questions. 

What if I did this? What if I did that?

Like the saying goes, one will only regret it once it happens.

For Case, many come into line.

But there's always the one question that always sticks up, no matter what.

What if Earth hasn't been 'visited' by the residents of space?

"Unbelievable,"

Case found himself in a place that both stirred both his memory and unease, and once realization crept in, he could only utter two words in disbelief.

"I'm alive?"

Case couldn't comprehend his situation at all.

He slightly believed the Dishonest One until the end to pave the way towards his escape, but alas, he felt his death right there and then.

The blinding light that kissed his face was the source of it.

If not for the fact that he felt and witnessed everything that happened between him and the Dishonest One when both of them got showered with the same light, Case would've certainly thought everything was just a trick.

"But I'm sitting on a bed… Very different from the bed I used in my quarters. Or my mansion, even! Those beds are big and very comfortable, but this…"

Case squinted his eyes as he made a realization.

"This 'was' my bed back on Earth many, many years ago…"

Case's heart pounded wildly as he jumped out of bed and rushed out of his room, sprinting down the stairs.

"Hey, watch your step!"

Case heard the voice of the woman he had longed to see first after 'regressing', and there she was, preparing meals for her family like it was just another ordinary day.

"Rose?"

Case's mother, who goes by the name Rose Kellys, has long auburn hair that stretches down to her waist.

She had bluish-black eyes that seemed alluring and dangerous, something that Case inherited from her.

Rose appeared nonchalant at first as she slowly approached Case before smacking his head with her hand.

"Rose?! Why are you calling your mother that way!"

Case felt like tears were about to burst from his eyes as he knew the physical love he received was real.

Case smiled sheepishly before jumping towards his mother to hug her.

For some reason, his tears didn't go down.

Instead, the only thing Case felt was her mother's warmth and love she had given him throughout his whole life on Earth.

Rose widened her eyes, surprised by her son's sudden action.

But upon sensing something different from her child, Rose slowly hugged her son as she whispered with a warm tone.

"Is there something wrong? D-did the smack hurt too much?"

Case let out a refreshed smile before replying.

"Nah, I just missed you."

Rose was left unsettled, unable to find the words, so she simply held her son tighter, sensing that he needed it.

"Love you, mum."

Seeing her grown son in such a broken state and hearing his weak voice, Rose couldn't help but tighten her embrace and finally respond.

"Love you too."