Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Crimson Rock Inn, Duskrock, Arizona, Planet Earth, One Earth Month Later…
Pure darkness did not exist in this human dwelling.
Lunar stood in the corner of the hotel room where the shadows were densest, but even here, light leaked in persistently.
It came in the form of sunlight from the window that Solar refused to cover, in the artificial illumination from the blinking devices, and even the glow from Solar's skin as he basked near the window like a hatchling in its first light cycle.
What did he do to deserve this Earth hell?
The room was basic and crude. Two sleeping platforms, draped in synthetic fabrics, occupied the space.
The walls, made of thin material, offered no defense against attacks.
A humming cooling unit, used for food preservation, emitted a frequency that could drive shadow-dwellers into madness.
Most unsettling of all, there were no private areas where true darkness could be found.
Personal Log, Earth Arrival:
We have survived the incompetence of Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides and their trainee pilot.
Our landing was catastrophic by any reasonable standard.
The craft is damaged beyond repair by my assessment.
Our supplies are all but lost. Our communication with the corporation representatives is intermittent at best. I suspect this was by design rather than accidental.
Earth is brighter than I hoped. Even their night cycle offers minimal relief with artificial illumination scattered throughout their settlements.
My energy reserves are already being depleted from constant exposure to light.
I estimate I can maintain full functionality for approximately seven Earth days before requiring deep shadow immersion.
Eclipse has secured temporary accommodations at a structure known as the Crimson Rock Inn. The name is misleading as it is not crimson, nor is the building made of rock. Solar has claimed the area nearest the window, maximizing my discomfort. Eclipse mediates as usual, accomplishing nothing.
"Are you planning to lurk in that corner all day, night-crawler? Even humans will find that suspicious." Solar's voice intruded on his thoughts.
"I am observing," Lunar replied, not bothering to emerge from his position. "Our mission requires understanding Earth customs before interaction. Perhaps you should try it instead of glowing like a distress beacon desperate for attention."
Solar scoffed, his skin brightening in irritation. The electronic devices in the room flickered in response. "I'm absorbing energy. Unlike you, I require light to function properly."
"Both of you, lower your voices," Eclipse cautioned from his position by the door. He had been examining the primitive locking mechanism with undisguised concern. "These walls are not secured. Anyone could be listening."
Lunar had already determined the room's vulnerabilities within minutes of arrival.
The door lock could be bypassed with minimal effort.
The window latch was equally inadequate, not that it would take much to breach the glass.
The ventilation system provided multiple access points for surveillance devices.
Humans apparently lived in constant exposure to both elements and to one another.
"I require darkness," Lunar stated flatly.
"Not happening," Solar replied. “Unless, Eclipse, we can inject him into deep space?”
Eclipse sighed, the sound familiar after cycles of the same argument. "We need to adapt to local conditions. According to the information packet, humans typically sleep during their night cycle and are active during daylight. We should attempt to follow this pattern to blend in."
That sounded like a horrible idea.
"Adaptation?" Lunar moved deeper into his corner as Solar deliberately flared brighter. "How am I to adapt when sharing quarters with a living light source? You cannot expect me to walk around in constant light."
Instead of answering, Eclipse picked up a small rectangular device left in the bag by the handlers.
He activated it, revealing a primitive data display.
"This will give us directions and provide access to electronic currency.
We should acquire necessities before establishing contact with potential mates. "
"I'm not sharing a sleeping platform with the shadow," Solar declared, gesturing to the two beds. "He'll probably try to smother me in my sleep."
"If I wanted to eliminate you," Lunar countered, "I wouldn't wait until you were sleeping."
Eclipse moved between them, holding up his hands. "No one is eliminating anyone. We will construct a sleeping arrangement for Lunar in the bathing chamber where it's darker."
He found the compromise acceptable. The bathing chamber was the only partially tolerable space in the dwelling, a small room with no windows where Lunar might find relief from constant illumination.
Well, except for the blinking red light on the ceiling device.
Regardless, sharing such confined quarters with Solar would be insufferable.
"I will conduct reconnaissance," Lunar announced, pushing away from his corner. "This settlement must have areas of adequate darkness."
"You can't go wandering off alone," Eclipse protested. "We need to maintain a unified presence."
"I will not be detected," Lunar assured him, already moving toward the door. His shadow-walking abilities were unmatched even among his own kind. On this primitive world with its inadequate security systems, he would be virtually invisible.
Solar snorted. "Let him go. Maybe he'll find a cave to hide in. More room for us."
"Lunar," Eclipse's voice took on its diplomatic tone, the one that normally preceded unwelcome compromises. "At least wear the skin-suit if you leave. Your natural appearance will draw attention."
The skin-suit was repulsive. The thin membrane was designed to mask his shadow-absorbing skin with a dull human-like exterior. Wearing it felt like being wrapped in a layer of congealed oil.
With reluctance, Lunar retrieved the skin-suit from the travel bag.
He retreated to the bathing chamber to apply it, wanting privacy for the undignified process.
The mirror reflected his true form, tall and lean, with skin that absorbed light rather than reflected it, creating a perpetual shadow effect around his body.
The skin-suit covered this distinctive feature, transforming him into a dull, ordinary-looking human. His shadow-walking abilities would be diminished while wearing it, but not eliminated entirely. Still, it was a necessary compromise. He pulled the baggy one-piece over the skin.
When he emerged, Solar laughed. "You look terrible. Like a corpse animated by Franktonian scientists."
Eclipse interrupted, holding up more Earthman garments that had been provided. "These coverings are insufficient. We'll need to acquire something to blend in properly." He presented a piece of paper with crude markings. "There appears to be a commercial district within walking distance."
"I'll join you later," Lunar stated, moving toward the door. "After I check the perimeter."
"Don't get lost in the shadows," Solar called after him. "I'd hate to have to come rescue you from Earth's law enforcement."
Lunar didn't bother responding. Solar's provocations were as predictable as they were tiresome.
The corridor outside their room was mercifully dimmer than their quarters, though still brighter than any shadow-dweller would find comfortable.
Lunar moved quickly, keeping to the walls where the lighting was less intense.
The building's layout was simple. It consisted of a central hallway with rooms branching off on either side, and a stairwell at each end.
He avoided the main exit, instead locating a service door that led to an exterior area behind the building. This space was cluttered with waste receptacles and maintenance equipment, but more importantly, it was partially shaded by the structure itself.
Earth's sun hung low in the sky, marking late afternoon by human standards. The dry, warm air carried unfamiliar smells. Lunar took a deep breath. He isolated the mineral makeup of the soil, the native plants, and the faint chemical traces from human habitats.
Movement caught his attention. A small creature scurried across the ground, pausing to examine him with wary eyes before disappearing into the underbrush. It was some form of local wildlife that had adapted to living in proximity to humans.
Interesting. Perhaps not all Earth species lacked survival instincts.
Lunar moved deeper into the shade, allowing himself to merge with the shadows.
Despite the skin-suit limiting his abilities, he managed to disappear from human perception when there was darkness to draw from.
He started to walk around the building, keeping near the walls and watching quietly without drawing attention.
Humans went about their activities unaware of being observed.
They entered and exited vehicles powered by combustion, not gravity manipulation.
They carried packages and communicated via handheld devices, which seemed to be issued to most. Many wore protective eye coverings to shield their eyes from the sun's radiation. Although this seemed like an evolutionary flaw, Lunar silently slipped past a group and took a pair of glasses from someone’s head without being noticed. The dark lenses helped.
He continued his reconnaissance, circling the entire Crimson Rock structure before expanding outward to survey the surrounding area.
The settlement was built among unusual rock formations of striking red coloration.
Natural energy convergences might explain the humans' choice of location, though their technologies appeared too primitive to detect or utilize such resources.