Chapter 4 #2
"That doesn't matter." Solar brightened with frustration. The room's lighting fixtures began to flicker and buzz. He didn’t trust Lunar to make decisions regarding group safety. "Eclipse has secured new accommodations."
"The shadow stones should help," the female said to Lunar, seeming unfazed by Solar's display. "I have more if you need them."
Solar's attention snapped to her. "What do you know of us?"
The woman met his gaze without flinching.
"I know you're not from here. I know you crashed near Pete's shop yesterday.
I know you're different from each other, light and shadow.
" She gestured to the space around them.
"And I know you can manipulate energy to the point you’re disrupting the retreat's electrical system. "
As if to emphasize her point, the overhead light exploded in a shower of sparks. She gave a small cry of surprise and moved out of the way.
"Poppy has offered assistance," Lunar said.
"Poppy?" Solar repeated, the Earth name strange on his tongue. "You revealed yourself to a human without authorization. Have you forgotten our mission parameters?"
"I revealed nothing," Lunar countered. "She perceived me through means I have yet to determine."
The female stepped forward. "Look, I don't want to cause trouble. I just want to help. Duskrock can be overwhelming for sensitive beings."
"We do not require your assistance," Solar said firmly. “And I am not sensitive.”
Poppy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, you two can barely be in the same room without causing electrical failures. That seems like something that might draw attention."
The room's temperature seemed to drop several degrees as Lunar's shadows deepened. Simultaneously, Solar felt his own energy rising in response, his skin brightening against his will. The remaining lights in the room began to pulse erratically.
Eclipse charged into the room. "Both of you, control yourselves. You're causing an outage."
"I tracked the shadow-dweller as instructed," Solar replied. "He was engaged in unauthorized contact with this human."
"I was conducting necessary reconnaissance," Lunar argued.
Eclipse turned to Poppy.
"Hi. I'm Poppy Jensen. I work at Desert Animal Rescue," she said. "I felt your arrival yesterday. I gave your friend here a shadow stone last night when I sensed him outside The Crash Zone."
Solar glared at Lunar. "You attended the human gathering place without informing us and made contact?"
Yes, it was a double standard, but then again… This was Lunar .
"I was not aware I needed permission to conduct independent exploration," Lunar replied coldly.
"I have a suite reserved for you," Rowan said quickly. "Private entrance, separate bedrooms, minimal staff interaction. But we need to get you there now before someone calls the electrical company about the power surges."
"You trust this human?" Lunar demanded of Eclipse.
“You can call me Rowan.” Eclipse’s woman pointed at herself.
"Yes," Eclipse replied without hesitation.
"Fine," Solar stated, determining a relocation would be best for all. "Lead us to this suite."
"I wish to speak further with Poppy," Lunar said, not as a request but as a fact.
"You can do so later," Eclipse said firmly. "After we've relocated to a more secure area."
Poppy reached into a pocket and pulled out a small black stone, similar to the one Solar had seen Lunar examining at Crimson Rock Inn. She offered it to Solar.
"Black tourmaline," she explained. "It absorbs negative energy. You might find it helpful for dampening your output."
Solar hesitated, then accepted the stone. It felt cool in his palm, subtly drawing excess energy from his fingertips where the skin-suit had worn thin. Curious, and a little unpleasant, like walking into Lunaris territory.
"We need to go now," Rowan insisted, glancing nervously at the door. "Stephanie just texted me. The maintenance crew is heading this way to check the electrical panel."
Eclipse nodded. "Solar, Lunar, follow us. And please, try to maintain your human appearance."
As they traveled through the corridor, Solar noticed Poppy falling into step beside Lunar, maintaining a respectful distance but clearly intending to accompany them. The shadow-dweller made no move to dismiss her.
Their strange procession moved through the retreat, Eclipse and Rowan leading the way, with Solar following closely behind. Lunar and Poppy brought up the rear, moving through deeper shadows along the walls.
"This way," Rowan directed them down a service corridor and through a door that led outside. "The Desert Suite is separate from the main buildings. It has its own generator backup if needed."
Solar blinked in the bright sunlight, absorbing the radiation.
"The suite was originally designed for celebrity guests who wanted privacy," Rowan explained as they walked along a stone path.
"Your terms?" Solar asked, wondering why this female would help them.
"I used the cash you gave me and paid for a week upfront," she replied. "If anyone asks, you’re listed under the Eclipse Group."
They approached a low structure built into the red rock, its design allowing it to blend almost seamlessly with the natural landscape.
Solar had to admit it was an improvement over Crimson Rock Inn, particularly when Rowan unlocked the door to reveal spacious interiors with separate areas of light and shadow.
"The east-facing room gets morning sun," Rowan said, glancing at Solar. "The west room stays shaded most of the day and has blackout curtains," she added, nodding to Lunar. "And the center room has adjustable lighting."
Perfect for their respective biological needs. Perhaps this human was more perceptive than Solar had given her credit for.
"I'll leave you to get settled," Rowan said, placing a set of keys on a table. "There's a private entrance code for the gate. No one will disturb you here."
"I should go as well," Poppy said, glancing at Lunar. "But I'd like to bring you something tomorrow. A proper welcome basket."
"That would be acceptable," Lunar replied before either Eclipse or Solar could object.
"Convenient that you've both found humans who accept our true nature so readily," Solar observed with suspicion once the females left. "While I alone maintain mission protocol."
Dani, of course, was a completely different scenario. He'd approached her but didn't tell her he was from outer space.
"Your light emissions are hardly maintaining protocol," Lunar pointed out. "You've damaged electronics in two separate locations now that we know of."
Solar felt his skin warming with irritation. "At least I'm not lurking in food holding chambers with random Earth females."
"Enough," Eclipse interjected. "We have suitable accommodations now. We should focus on the next phase of our mission."
"Finding mates," Solar stated flatly. "Although it seems you two have already begun that process."
"I have no interest in mating with Poppy," Lunar said, though Solar noted a slight shift in his shadow pattern that suggested uncertainty. "Her perceptive abilities simply warrant investigation."
"And Rowan is merely facilitating our mission," Eclipse added, a little too quickly.
Solar moved to the east-facing windows, where sunlight streamed in unobstructed. He absorbed the radiation, feeling his energy reserves replenishing. The room assignments were logical. Light for him, darkness for Lunar, and the balanced middle for Eclipse. Just like their home world.
He missed home. He missed the energy of his people.
“I think you’re envious because you have not had a female show interest,” Lunar said.
He instantly thought of Dani.
"I have an engagement tonight," Solar answered. "At The Crash Zone."
"With whom?" Eclipse asked.
"A fire manipulator," Solar replied, "who demonstrates flame control techniques that may be useful for our understanding of Earth combat capabilities. If we are trapped here, we will need to defend ourselves."
"Her name?" Lunar asked, a hint of amusement in his cold voice.
Solar hesitated. "Dani Ember."
Eclipse raised an eyebrow.
"It's research," Solar protested. "Unlike you two, I haven't forgotten why we're here."
Eclipse sighed. "Be careful. And try not to cause any more disturbances."
Solar turned back to the window, allowing the conversation to end.
His interest in Dani's fire manipulation was more than mere research.
There was something about her energy signature that resonated with his own in a way he hadn't anticipated.
And tonight, he would observe her performance, perhaps even attempt the private lesson she had mentioned.
For mission objectives, of course. Nothing more.
Behind him, Eclipse and Lunar had moved to their respective areas of the suite, each claiming their territory as naturally as they would have on Zorveya.
Some patterns, it seemed, were universal.