Chapter 15 #2
"Intelligence Specialist Lunar," the head councilor began once they were positioned in the center.
"Your mission parameters were clear. You were to assess Earth's potential value or threat, determine if cross-zone cooperation was viable in an isolated environment, and report your findings.
We have read your preliminary transmissions. Now we will hear your assessment."
Solar looked at him and his surprise hit Lunar like a wave.
"Yes. That was the outline to my," he gave a meaningful look at the head councilor, "private directives. Though I assume since you have revealed the plan in front of Solarestabinian of the Solarus Elite Guard, it no longer carries that designation, and I may speak freely."
The head councilor retracted a little at having been called out for his mistake.
Lunar didn't pause as he launched into his report. "Earth possesses technological development beyond previous estimates. While still primitive in many aspects, they have made significant advancements in energy manipulation, biological sciences, and communications."
"Summarize the Milano threat," another councilor demanded.
"Milano Enterprises is a human organization with access to technology derived from previous extraterrestrial encounters," Lunar explained.
"They have developed weapons capable of disrupting Zorveyan energy patterns across all three signature types.
They have detailed knowledge of our physiological vulnerabilities and apparent ambitions toward interstellar expansion.
They are a faction and do not represent the whole of the human race. "
The council members' shadow essences rippled with what might have been concern or anticipation. Lunar couldn't determine which, and the realization disturbed him. Before Earth, before Poppy, he would have read their reactions with perfect clarity.
"And the cooperation experiment?" the head councilor asked. "Did you and the light-dweller manage to coexist without conflict?"
Lunar glanced at Solar, who stood radiating with barely-contained impatience beside him.
"We did," Lunar confirmed. "Under Earth conditions, with shared objectives, cooperation was achievable. Furthermore, we both formed connections with Earth entities that facilitated a deeper understanding of the planet."
"Connections," a councilor repeated. The word carried unmistakable disapproval. "Yes. We have reviewed the preliminary reports from Galaxy Brides. You allowed emotional entanglements to compromise your judgment."
Lunar's shadow essence contracted defensively. "The connections formed were consistent with mission parameters."
"You chose to remain on Earth," another councilor stated accusingly. "You only returned because the extraction field required your energy signature. Your primary loyalty shifted from Lunaris to an Earth female."
Lunar frowned. Their alien hosts must have been watching them very closely. He hadn’t discussed his desire to stay on Earth with their Galaxy Brides escorts. That meant Gary and Bob must have spied on them and reported everything.
The urge to throw Bob, Gary, and Harris into a blackhole was strong.
Lunar found he could no longer deny the truth of it. His connection to Poppy had indeed altered his priorities in ways that shadow protocol would consider compromising.
"My loyalty to Lunaris remains intact," he stated carefully. "However, my experience on Earth revealed possibilities beyond our traditional understanding."
The council's collective disapproval manifested as a deepening of the chamber's darkness, a pressure that would have intimidated him before. Now, having experienced Poppy's acceptance of his true nature, their judgment seemed hollow.
"The Milano threat is real," Solar interjected, his light pulsing with barely contained frustration as he reacted to the shadows. "Their weapons could destabilize any Zorveyan who ventures to Earth. Their knowledge of our energy signatures suggests preparation for potential conflict."
"And what would you suggest, light-dweller?" the head councilor asked, his shadow essence practically dripping with disdain.
Solar stood straighter, his golden form brightening.
"A joint mission. Representatives from all three zones, properly equipped and supported, to establish diplomatic relations with Earth while neutralizing the Milano threat.
Our human contacts are willing to help us further integrate. Eclipse is already there."
“Bring Earth-Entity Dani,” a member ordered. “Let us see these Earth creatures.”
Dani was led into the chamber and instantly went toward Solar.
“Does she understand us?” the head councilor asked.
Dani touched beneath her ear where Galaxy Brides had implanted a translator. "Yes. I understand you.”
“Have her turn around,” one told Solar.
Dani crossed her arms over her chest and refused.
Several members allowed their shadow essences to reach for her. She gasped, swatting her hand through the air. Touching Solar’s arm, she pulled on his energy. His light fed into her hand, giving her a threatening glow. The shadow essences automatically retreated.
Solar smirked.
The council members conferred among themselves in private communication. Lunar watched with growing unease.
"Your intelligence is valuable," the head councilor finally stated. "The council will determine appropriate responses to this Earth threat."
"Earth itself is not the threat," Lunar corrected, his essence pulsing with an emotion he would once have suppressed. "Milano represents a specific danger, but Earth contains potential allies. The connections we formed demonstrate compatibility previously thought impossible."
"You keep saying connections like this word means more than duty," a councilor said dismissively. "Your Earth female. The light-dweller's fire manipulator. Even the diplomat has apparently chosen exile for his human companion."
"They are not possessions," Lunar argued. "They are individuals with names. Eclipse studies Earth's knowledge systems with Rowan. Solar shares energy concepts with Dani. And Poppy—"
He faltered, his body rippling with the emotion he had been containing since he left her.
"Poppy understands darkness without fearing it," he continued, finding strength in speaking her name. "She perceives shadow frequencies no human should detect. She represents possibilities beyond our statistical models."
The council's disapproval intensified, but Lunar found he no longer cared. An Earth month of reflection had crystallized what he had been unable to articulate before extraction. His existence had fundamentally changed through knowing Poppy Jensen.
"You are obviously compromised," the head councilor stated flatly. "We can only assume your judgment is impaired by emotional contamination and alien light exposure."
"If understanding connection is contamination, then yes," Lunar agreed, automatically answering with his usual directness.
"I am compromised. As is Solar. As is Eclipse, who chose to remain on Earth.
Perhaps the real success of our mission was discovering what becomes possible when we move beyond isolation. "
The council members' shadow essences contracted with shock at his insubordination. In Lunaris, such direct challenge to authority was unprecedented.
"Your mission reports will be analyzed," the head councilor stated after a moment of tense silence. "You are confined to the Citadel until further notice. The light-dweller and Earth female will be escorted to Twilight Belt diplomatic quarters."
As shadow guards materialized to escort them from the chamber, Lunar caught Solar's gaze. The light-dweller's golden form pulsed once in what Lunar recognized as silent agreement. They would not be separated so easily.
"Confined?" Lunar questioned. "On what grounds?"
"Potential psychological instability resulting from prolonged Earth exposure," came the cold reply. "Standard quarantine protocol. Three moon cycles in darkness should help realign your priorities."
Lunar's essence darkened with understanding. They had no intention of allowing him to return to Earth. The council had sent them on the mission expecting failure, and now that they had succeeded in unexpected ways, they were being detained.
"You will be contacted for further debriefing," the head councilor informed him as he was led away. "Your intelligence regarding Milano's capabilities is valuable, despite your compromised state."
Dani protested the ruling while Solar attempted to calm her. The guards maintained a careful distance from Solar's light, their shadow essences visibly uncomfortable with his radiance.
"This is bullshit," Dani hissed when Lunar approached, showing she had understood everything with her implanted translator. "They can't just lock you up because you fell in love."
The human terminology still felt imprecise to Lunar, yet he could no longer deny its fundamental accuracy. "They fear what they do not understand. Connection threatens their power structure."
"So what do we do?" Dani asked, looking between him and Solar.
Lunar's shadow essence rippled with newfound determination. "We adapt."
As they were separated, Lunar being led deeper into the shadow levels while Solar and Dani were escorted toward the Twilight Belt, he felt a strange calm settling over him.
The council believed they could contain him through traditional means, shadow barriers, energy-dampening fields, and constant surveillance.
They did not understand how Earth had changed him.
In his assigned chamber, a space designed for shadow-dwellers to regenerate in perfect darkness, Lunar allowed his essence to expand fully for the first time since leaving Earth.
He reached outward, sensing the Citadel's security systems, the movement of guards, the energy patterns that regulated access to different levels.
And beneath it all, he felt a faint resonance, a distant warmth that he had carried with him across the stars. Poppy's energy signature, permanently etched into his own.
I will return to you, he promised silently. Not as a shadow operative following mission parameters, but as Lunar, who loves Poppy Jensen with every particle of his existence.
For the first time in his life, duty and desire aligned perfectly. And nothing in the universe would stop him from finding his way back to her.