Song of Quantum Passion

"Rocks" did not sufficiently describe these structures. The landscape ahead was a jungle of stone with smooth pillars reaching towards the sky as if the planet itself yearned to travel the stars.

Steve's own yearning for the stars was what led him to Relics Rock. The world was changing around him and he couldn't just sit by.

Miko hopped alongside him, vibrating occasionally with what seemed like giddiness. The little woobek was much happier on this planet than he was on the ship. Or maybe happy wasn't the best word.... Miko's state of existence seemed more balanced and peaceful here, as if he no longer needed to struggle just to hold onto this reality.

They were here looking for relics. Really anything that seemed relevant to the origins of the fantomons. It was said that the Ancients used to spend time here at the Rocks millennia ago. I can be a hero. There's got to be something here that can help the council....

***Dawn, a few days later...***

Steve awoke to the happy buzzing of Miko's vibrations, reminiscent of a bee's buzzing but to a gentle, yet urgent, melody.

"Miko what is it buddy?"

As Steve rose, his companion led him towards the sunrise and down into a valley. Rushing along and straining his eyes in the morning sun, Steve could make out faint movement in the distance.

"Wait Miko", he whispered, but the creature buzzed along giddily. "Ah gunk sludge", he cursed under his breath as he followed. Didn't know I was signing up to be a baby sitter...

As they neared the movement, Steve could make out a figure rushing between the rocks. It was a middle-aged man with a scruffy brown beard and hair just long enough to fall over his eyes as he bent forward. He wore a cloak that looked a bit like a lab coat, or maybe a mystic's robe? There were flasks of rare-looking gunks on some table-like rocks around him. He rushed from one rock to the next, dripping liquids into the flasks and then holding up a device before rushing off to another table of gunks. The man was careful with his movements, but oddly enough there was broken glass strewn about as if he had been dropping flasks as he worked.

"Excuse me, sir?" Steve asked, but the man kept rushing about, as if his passion drowned out the rest of the world. Steve caught a glimpse of the man's bloodshot eyes and began to get nervous. "I'm sorry sir, I don't mean to bother you...."

The man clenched his fist tight around a flask until it began to crack. Blood leaked between his fingers, but he did not let go. He lifted his gaze to meet Steve's, "You fool! Leave me be!"

Steve shivered under the mans stare and feared for what might happen next. Just as the crazed scientist began to take a step towards him, Miko's buzzing roared and drew his attention away.

Steve noticed the name "Maxus" stitched into the man's robe. "Mr. Maxus? Sir, we...." He trailed off as Maxus fell to his knees before Miko. The fantomon hovered over a group of gunks, and the substances began to stream out of the flasks and merge with Miko's figure. Miko grew slightly and his skin seemed to thicken.

Maxus had tears streaming down his cheeks. This would not be good.... "Miko, wait!" But the song of vibrations drowned out Steve's pleas.

The scientist was mumbling, "... can change the nature of matter... modifying the planck constants... tether... Quasar...." Steve could just barely make out the words until the man turned towards him, smiling madly.

"This is it!" He pronounced, bloody hands gripping Steve's shoulders. "This will complete my life's work." Miko began to quiet down as the flasks emptied. "The key to understanding why gunks don't act as other matter does at the subatomic level. We can finally understand the way fantomons feed, and how gunks change their nature!"

The man turned back to his work, with even more passion and focus than before. As he did, he called back to Steve, "Trainer, you must contact the council! I am Quantum Physicist Maxus. Write down my every word."

This lore was written by Larkin.