Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Crimson Rock Inn, Duskrock, Arizona
Solar hated Earth sleeping platforms. The soft, yielding material provided inadequate thermal contact for proper energy transfer.
He'd spent the night cycle tossing on the lumpy surface, unable to achieve proper regenerative stillness.
The constant hum of Earth devices didn't help, nor did Lunar's occasional shadow manipulations from his makeshift nest in the human bathing chamber.
Thankfully, his roommate had disappeared into the night and had yet to return.
Nighttime was like being locked in a shadowland prison.
When Earth's sun finally appeared, Solar positioned himself by the window, absorbing what meager rays made it through the transparent barrier.
The radiation here was weaker than on Zorveya, having been filtered through a thicker atmosphere and emanating from a less powerful star.
Still, it was better than the oppressive darkness of space travel.
His skin tingled as it absorbed the sunlight, golden particles activating beneath the surface.
Much better. Now, if only the primitive dwelling had proper nutrition.
The continental breakfast mentioned on the information card had proven disappointing, consisting primarily of carbohydrate-rich substances with minimal energy content, called cinnamon rolls and bagels.
Eclipse had gone out in the night to make contact with the human female he'd shown interest in at the landing site.
His energy stone indicated she controlled accommodations that were much better suited to their needs.
Solar would have protested the exposure, but he needed out of the quarters shared with Lunar.
Eclipse had left them again to meet with the woman. He said her name was Rowan. Strange, but then anything was better than Bound. Solar had doubts about trusting a primitive species with matters of interplanetary diplomacy, but Eclipse seemed unusually invested in this particular human.
"Her biorhythms are calm," Eclipse had explained, as if that justified everything. “We can trust her.”
Solar understood the concept. Even he had felt an unexpected resonance with the fire-manipulating female he'd observed yesterday.
But that didn't mean he was ready to form a meaningful connection with an underdeveloped species.
He was a warrior of the Solarus Elite Guard, not some desperate lunar shadow crawler seeking companionship in dark corners.
Speaking of which, Lunar had vanished during the night and still hadn't returned. Probably skulking around, terrifying the locals with his creeping shadow routine. Or worse, making contact with potential mates without proper protocols.
Not that Solar cared. If the shadow dweller wanted to fail the mission by traumatizing Earth females, that was his problem.
Solar straightened, feeling his energy levels finally reaching acceptable parameters. Time to begin his own reconnaissance. If he were stuck on this planet for a month, he might as well gather useful intelligence. And perhaps locate that flame-haired female again.
For mission purposes, of course.
He examined the Earth garments Eclipse had purchased for them to blend in. Crude fabrics in drab colors, designed for functionality rather than status display. No sign of rank insignia or house markings. How did humans identify their social hierarchies without proper attire indicators?
Solar selected the least offensive garments—a dark covering for his lower extremities, known as jeans, and an upper body wrap in golden hues that complemented his coloration.
The skin-suit went on first, dampening his natural luminescence to levels that wouldn't immediately reveal his extraterrestrial origins.
He hated the sensation, like being wrapped in wet sand, but accepted the necessity.
The final look was tolerable, if undignified. He looked like a low-ranking maintenance worker rather than an Elite Guard, but at least the shirt mimicked some of his natural radiance that wasn't allowed to shine through.
Solar consulted the information device Eclipse had left.
It contained primitive maps of the settlement and instructions for accessing the local currency system.
According to the device, the area called "Uptown Duskrock" contained the highest concentration of social gathering places and commercial establishments. A logical place to begin his search.
The corridors of Crimson Rock Inn were quiet as Solar made his way toward the exit. Most humans were apparently still engaged in their sleep cycle, despite the sun having risen.
Inefficient creatures.
Outside, the morning air was cool but pleasant.
The distinctive red rock formations glowed in the early sunlight, their mineral composition creating interesting energy patterns that Solar's enhanced perception could detect.
At least this planet had interesting geology, if nothing else to recommend it.
He followed the information device's directions, moving with purpose toward the commercial district. Humans he passed gave him curious glances, but didn't seem alarmed by his presence. Perhaps Gary and Bob had been right about this settlement being accustomed to unusual visitors.
Solar absorbed the unfamiliar sights and sounds, cataloging them for later analysis.
He felt a pull of energy and naturally followed it.
Earth vehicles rumbled along paved pathways.
Strange flying creatures made repetitive noise patterns.
Humans consumed liquid stimulants at outdoor tables.
All were so primitive, yet functioning in their own limited way.
A sudden flare of energy caught his attention.
Across an open area came a flash of familiar movement.
The fire-manipulating female from yesterday was setting up some kind of display.
Her distinctive red hair shone in the sunlight, and her actions had the same fluid grace that had first caught his attention.
Solar changed course immediately, drawn toward this potential source of compatible energy. As he approached, he could see she was arranging metallic objects on a cloth covering. Small implements that gleamed in the sunlight, alongside the fire-spinning tools he'd observed her using before.
The female looked up as he approached, her eyes a unique green color. They narrowed slightly. "Can I help you?"
Her voice had a pleasant resonance frequency. Solar felt his own energy signature responding, his skin brightening beneath the restrictive skin-suit.
"I observed your fire manipulation yesterday," he stated, seeing no reason for deception. "It was adequate."
The female's expression shifted, her mouth tightening. "Gee, thanks, mister. Always nice to hear my art is adequate."
Solar frowned. Had he used the wrong Earth term? His translator should have selected an appropriate descriptive.
"Your technical execution exceeded basic competency parameters," he clarified.
The female stared at him for a moment, then laughed. The sound created interesting harmonic vibrations in the air between them.
"You're either the worst flirt I've ever met or you're not from around here," she said, returning to arranging her implements. "Either way, I'm busy setting up."
"I am not from around here," Solar confirmed, stepping closer to examine her tools. "These are your flame projection devices?"
She glanced up again, studying him more carefully this time. "Yeah. Fire poi, staffs, fans. I do performances at the Crash Zone on weekends, and I sell handmade fire tools here during the day."
"You create these implements yourself?" Solar was genuinely impressed. Manual crafting was rare on Zorveya, where most items were produced through automated molecular assembly.
"Every single one." Pride entered her voice. "I'm Dani, by the way. Dani Ember."
"Em-ber," Solar repeated, recognizing the term from his Earth language data packet. "A particle of fire that remains after the main combustion event. An appropriate designation."
Dani tilted her head, her green eyes narrowing again. "And you are...?"
"Solar Bound," he replied, using his humiliating Earth name despite his distaste for it. He waited to see if she'd recoil.
"Solar," she repeated, a smile forming. "Let me guess, you're one of those performance artists from Burning Man? Here for the vortex festival?"
Solar wasn't sure what burning men or vortex festivals entailed, but he recognized an opportunity when it presented itself.
"Yes," he agreed. "I am very interested in fire manipulation techniques. Perhaps you could demonstrate your methods."
Dani's smile widened. "I don't usually do private lessons, but you caught me in a good mood. I'm doing a fire dance at the Crash Zone tonight. Come by around nine, and if you're genuinely interested, I'll show you some basics after my set."
Solar felt a surge of satisfaction. First contact established, further interaction arranged. His mission was progressing more efficiently than Eclipse's diplomatic fumbling or Lunar's shadow lurking.
"I will come to this Crash Zone at the designated time," he confirmed.
"Great," Dani said, turning her attention back to her display. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to finish setting up before the tourists arrive."
Solar recognized the dismissal but found himself reluctant to leave. Something about this human's energy signature called to his own in a way he hadn't anticipated. Her manipulation of fire indicated an affinity for light and heat that most Earth creatures seemed to lack.
Perhaps this mission wasn't entirely pointless after all.
"Until tonight," he said, stepping back. "Your fire demonstration will be impressive, I'm certain."
Dani looked up one last time, her expression unreadable. "We'll see if you still think so after you've watched me perform."
Solar turned and continued his exploration of the commercial district, but his thoughts remained fixed on the fire-manipulator and their upcoming interaction.
This Crash Zone would provide an opportunity to observe human mating behaviors in their natural setting, while also studying this planet’s advanced fire manipulation techniques.
And if Dani Ember's biorhythms proved as compatible as his initial readings suggested, perhaps he could complete the meaningful connection portion of his mission sooner than expected.
As he walked, Solar noticed his skin was glowing more brightly beneath the skin-suit.
Tiny motes of golden light escaped around the edges.
He forced himself to dampen his emissions, though it went against his natural instincts.
On Zorveya, a warrior proudly displayed his light, especially when approaching a potential mate.
These Earth protocols were frustratingly restrictive. How would she know to accept his offer if she couldn’t see its immense glow?
A loud commotion drew his attention. Humans had gathered around a street performer, an elderly male wearing elaborate ceremonial garments decorated with feathers and beads.
Now, this was a man who knew how to dress.
The performer was speaking loudly about ancient alien visitors and celestial wisdom.
Solar moved closer, curious about these claims of extraterrestrial contact.
"The star people have always come to guide us," the human said, his voice carrying across the gathering. "They taught my ancestors the secrets of the universe, and they walk among us still, watching, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves once more."
Several humans in the crowd nodded in agreement, while others exchanged skeptical glances. Solar found the entire scene fascinating. These humans seemed to simultaneously believe in and doubt the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. How did they function with such cognitive dissonance?
The street performer spotted Solar and fixed him with an intense stare. "You! I sense cosmic energy in you, brother. Come forward and let the crowd feel your vibrations."
Solar froze. Had his skin-suit malfunctioned? Was his natural luminescence visible to this perceptive human?
Before he could retreat, the performer grabbed his arm and pulled him into the center of the gathering. "See how he glows with inner light. This one understands the star wisdom!"
The crowd murmured with interest. Several humans pointed recording devices at him. Solar felt his fight-or-flight response activating. If his true nature were exposed, the mission would be compromised.
"I must go," he said firmly, pulling his arm free.
"The star people are shy," the performer declared. "They hide their true nature until we are ready to receive their full glory."
Solar backed away from the gathering, keeping his head down and his emissions tightly controlled. This was exactly the kind of attention Eclipse had warned them to avoid. If the footage of him spread through Earth's primitive information networks, their cover could be blown.
He needed to find a less conspicuous location to continue his reconnaissance. According to the information device, there was a place called Alien Arts Village nearby. Perhaps there he could blend in more effectively among the commercial activities.
As Solar made his way toward this new destination, he couldn't help reflecting on the irony of the situation. The elderly human had been correct about aliens walking among the crowds, yet his theatrical presentation had made the truth seem like an absurd performance.
Earth was turning out to be more complex than he'd anticipated.
Their primitive technology and chaotic social structures masked surprising insights and perceptions.
And some individuals, like the fire manipulator Dani, displayed capabilities that hinted at a greater potential than their species' overall development level would suggest.
Tonight's interaction at the Crash Zone would provide more data. And perhaps, though Solar was reluctant to admit it even to himself, something more than mere mission objectives.
The thought of watching Dani dance with fire created a pleasant resonance.
Yes, this investigation warranted his personal attention.
After all, he was a warrior of the Solarus Elite Guard.
And warriors always pursued their objectives with unwavering focus, even when those objectives involved fiery Earth females with challenging attitudes and intriguing energy signatures.