Evolutionary Liberator

When Dustin managed to climb back into the ship, he was met with both Olivia and his mother waiting on him, confused as to where he had been. They had seen him flying around outside, but hadn't known it was him.

"I had no idea there were creatures that could actually live in space," exclaimed his mother in wonder.

"Well, this was where I first met up with dad, but he's not here, so I'm not really sure how to find him," admitted Dustin, sitting in the pilot's seat and turning to look at them.

"You did say that everything that happened to you seemed to be two hundred years in the future. Maybe he hasn't made it here yet," offered Olivia, sitting in the co-pilot seat.

"Granny and dad seemed to have a history with each other, more than just a normal acquaintance. Maybe if we got her, she could help us find him?" thought Dustin out loud.

His mother nodded thoughtfully, "It will be odd seeing her again. When we separated, I was sure it was for the last time."

With one last look around the asteroid belt, they headed for the nearest fueling station to top off the tanks before starting on their way to the military base Dustin remembered meeting up with Granny. Knowing that it probably wouldn't be abandoned this time, he had to take the route carefully. This little ship didn't have enough of a fuel tank to get very far, and he was starting to get annoyed with all of the pit stops they were having to make.

"I need to stop somewhere and make my nanobots so I can redesign this ship," he complained on the third day.

"Well, find us a place where we can get some decent food too, I'm sick of pretzels and soda," said his mother, grimacing at a small bag of pretzels she had just opened.

Checking the map in the system's database, he wasn't finding anything in the way of a gas station type space station. There was a planet ahead that seemed strangely familiar, that the sensors were picking up on having a good atmosphere and edible food. Maybe someone lived there that they could barter with?

Entering the atmosphere, Dustin was suddenly startled to realize this planet was the same planet he had landed on, that was suffering from self-destruction. The reason he didn't recognize it, was because it was lush and densely covered in plant life. Could the crystal people still be here? Should he warn them of the possible death of their planet?

Landing on an open stretch of land, he led everyone outside to look around. It didn't take long to make contact with the native population. A tall crystal person emerged out of the trees and approached them with a long stride.

Dustin stepped forward, wondering how he was going to communicate with them. When the crystal being stopped in front of him, he started to emit different colors. Dustin sighed and held out a hand. With a moment of hesitation, the being did as well, and he borrowed some of its genetic code to change.

Looking around through the eyes of crystal, he was amazed at the new colors and sights he had missed before. Every nuance of light seemed to sing a song to him, of each things story.

"I welcome you stranger, to my home. Why have you come?" asked the being, in a series of different colors.

"We request permission to acquire food and supplies for our flying vessel before we continue our journey," said Dustin, finding that some of the words he would have normally used came out differently.

"There are plenty of foods and supplies on our planet for the small unit you travel with, we have no issues sharing with you. Why do you travel?"

"We have lost some of our unit and seek to regain them again."

"I sense that you have news that would interest me in the edges of your crystals."

Dustin thought about the proper way to tell him that his planet was doomed, but wasn't sure how to tell him, because the words didn't translate. They had no words for death and destruction.

"I fear for you and your unit here on your planet. Your planet will not be healthy in the near future," he finally managed to say. It actually came out more like it would get a disease or parasites, but the guy seemed to understand.

"This is our only home. We have no where else to travel to. If it dies, then we die."

"If I can get you a safe place to travel to, would you be willing?" he asked, thinking about how he had been setting up places around that one star. The thought also occurred to him, about why this planet had started to self-destruct. That didn't normally happen.

"We would be grateful for such help. I look forward to seeing you again."

Dustin returned to his normal form, to watch it walk back into the trees.

"What did it say?" asked Olivia as he headed back to the ship.

"They don't mind us getting supplies and resting a bit while I do stuff. I think I want to find out a but more about this place, because in the future, the planet was tearing itself apart."

"Dustin, that doesn't just happen on its own. Maybe someone tried to destroy it, or an asteroid ran into it?" said his mother.

"I wondered about that, but we shouldn't have to worry about it for now. I'm going to get busy making my nanobots. Why don't you guys gather some fruit and stuff?"

They turned to look at a few trees that were heavy with fruit and with a shrug, headed that way. Dustin settled down with the two backpacks of alien tech he had brought from his apartment, and got busy. It didn't take him very long to make the first initial batch.

With the nanobots complete, he could finally rebuild this ship into what he really wanted.