NaNoWriMo: Day 30 Part 1
Ehehe...I'm still not done with this blasted story. Getting there, hopefully by the end of April!
It's definitely going to be over 10,000 words by the time I'm done, and since I know LJ won't take that big of a block of text, here's part one. As usual, little to no editing has been done (I'm too tired right now, really). It's jumping all over the place; I feel like an ADHD goldfish trying to keep track of everything. If you see weird continuity errors, please feel free to point them out!
Prompt 30: Oasis
Dram was miserable in the humid, stifling rain that drove against the search party as they flew over Old Earth. The sizzling lava pits mirrored his frustration at everything right now - the Council for abandoning the search, not knowing what had become of his family, and his own damn inability to smell them in this weather.
Summit’s group had found the wrecked remains of the Skywatch tower almost a week ago. Everyone had feared the worst, but there were no bodies inside. Which left two options - the bodies had been snatched by scavengers, or they were alive and in hiding.
Dram definitely preferred to believe the second option.
“Much good my superior sense of smell does on a day like today,” Dram muttered. He could smell a human several miles away - tracking his family’s scent from the wreckage should have been a simple matter. Except that there were no scent trails leading away from the tower. It was as though his family had simply vanished. Dram had the sickening thought that they might have been pulled out into the Warp Winds, but Summit had pointed out that the windows of the tower were only broken on the crash side, meaning they hadn’t broken during the transit.
For the thousandth time, Dram wished Apex was with them. Her telepathic abilities would have been a great help at this time. Still, the missing dragonators’ dragons were helping them search for their riders. Dram didn’t have to be psychic to know the dragons were deeply distressed at their partners’ disappearance. Dramen were kin to the flying mounts after all.
Opening a vox channel to the Aristotle, Dram reported in. “There is no sign of them in this sector, Summit. We are returning to the ship for the night.”
“Acknowledged, Dram,” Summit said, his disappointed face appearing on the Vox Box.
“Do not give up hope yet, my brother,” Dram replied, despite his own feelings. He knew that Summit needed him to be strong now most of all. “You of all people know how resourceful Z’neth and the others are. I have every confidence they are alive.”
Summit simply nodded before switching off the Vox Box. Dram sighed, before signaling his team to head back to the ship for a few hours of sleep before beginning the search all over in a new sector tomorrow. To the west, a range of mountains jutted up into the Warp Winds. The sun slowly sank behind them.
Dram somehow felt that the sun was setting on their time for finding the others alive as well.
*****
Peak swore as his Vox Box blew up in a shower of sparks. “Why can’t I boost the signal and get a message out of this place!” he grumbled before chucking the ruined communicator to the ground.
His father Aaron walked over from his own workbench and picked up the Vox Box. Peak still found it so strange to see his father actually walking instead of using the anti-grav belt and staff to move around. "It's probably some combination of the minerals in the rock and the Warp Winds causing interference. There's a reason this place hasn't been discovered in a few hundred years, after all."
"I should be out with Z'neth, Nocturna, and Nora looking for the pathway out of the valley," Peak said with a pout. "You know I'm no good with electronics; not like Summit anyway."
Aaron placed a hand on Peak's shoulder. "Maybe not, but your eyes are the sharpest of us all, and Cifex and I could really use them for a few final adjustments."
Peak wandered over to where his father and Cifex had constructed a small array using parts from their Vox Boxes and some parts that Beltran had generously given them. The people of the valley were fairly technologically advanced despite their isolation - something that Aaron attributed to Captain Elias Bristol crashing there twenty-five years after the Cataclysm. Cifex also thought a lot of the tech felt like natural outgrowths of his era instead of the amber-based systems developed by the Builders who had constructed Airlandis.
Peak found he didn’t much care unless it meant getting out of here and getting home. Or what was left of it anyway. Was Airlandis even still afloat? Peak was going crazy wondering what had happened to the rest of his family.
Cifex started to make adjustments to the array with Peak while Aaron excused himself to speak with Beltran. Despite the android saving his mother and making his sister incredibly happy, Peak still had trouble warming up to Cifex. For his part, Cifex had given Peak space and time to come around. Still…it was just so unnatural. Cifex was a machine - a complex, sentient machine, granted - but Peak had a hard time thinking of him differently than a Vox Box.
“Take a look at the screen while I make these final adjustments,” Cifex asked, pulling Peak out of his reverie.
“Oh, uh, sure,” Peak replied with a nod. Cifex indicated a few places on the screen that Peak needed to watch before digging into the array’s guts of wires. A few minutes passed in silence.
“That ought to do the trick. How do the power levels look?” Cifex asked.
“Everything looks stable,” Peak replied. “Can I send a signal out now?”
Cifex shook his head. “Your father is concerned about revealing the valley’s location to any mutant forces in the area by accident. We’ve agreed not to proceed without Beltran’s approval.”
Peak sighed. “I guess I can understand that…considering what happened to the last possible settlement sites we found. Dread and his cronies have a way of ruining everything good,” Peak added with a dark laugh.
Cifex laid a hand on Peak’s arm, causing him to stiffen. “Don’t worry, Peak. I’m sure Z’neth and the others will find a way out of here.”
Peak brushed it off. “Who says I’m worried? We’ve gotten out of tighter situations before - I’m just bored at having to wait so long!”
*****
Nocturna brandished her scanning equipment and flew close to the canopy of clouds that had blown overtop the valley. They swirled and churned, sending gusts of wind downward and forcing her to flap her wings to stay aloft. But the slightly convex stone walls seemed to prevent the clouds from ever fully entering the Oasis. “These are definitely Warp Winds, Z’neth,” she said over her Vox Box. “They have the correct formations and patterns.”
“Acknowledged,” Z’neth replied from the hilltop he and Nora had set up a base camp on. “Return to camp and upload your readings.” They had been searching for a way out of the valley for several days now, though nothing seemed to be opening up. The people who lived here could not understand their group’s desire to leave, when this was considered a paradise.
Frankly, Nocturna couldn’t stand another minute with these freaky mind-readers, and had fairly jumped at the chance to look for a way out. “See you soon,” she replied.
Looking down at the valley below, Nocturna felt even more alienated here than she ever had in Airlandis. The entire population was human - no mutants, or even dramen. She felt like the people here had been cut off from reality for a little too long. But even she could understand Z’neth and his family being over the moon at finding a legitimate human settlement still on Old Earth. (And no, the midget F.I.S.T. Fighters or whatever they called themselves didn’t count in Nocturna’s ledger as legitimate humans. She was sure there were some interesting mutations hiding in their genetic code.)
Still, the place certainly was…beautiful. Noctura gagged at even thinking the word, but so much had changed for her since coming to Airlandis. For perhaps the first time in her miserable life, she felt...well, those feelings would certainly not amount to anything. There wasn't a chance in hell that he was interested in her that way, though he obviously enjoyed their verbal sparring.
Z'neth and Nora came into view as Nocturna rounded a tall promontory, and her sharp eyes caught a smile cross Z'neth's normally stoic face. She alighted with all her grace, and sauntered past the dragonators to input her data chip. Once the portable console had finished processing, it projected a holographic representation of the valley, including the patterns of the Warp Winds.
Z'neth motioned them to gather around. "We have to assume the valley has no natural exits, or if there are, they have long since been closed off."
"So how do you explain them getting us out of the tower and here then?" Nora asked.
"Those Warp Winds only occasionally cover this Oasis," Nocturna replied. "And with the mental abilities the people here have, it would be simple to redirect the flow of the winds, or even fly out of the valley on their own."
Z'neth nodded. "Those were my thoughts. Beltran healed Father - it wouldn't surprise me at all that they could create a break in the Warp Winds."
"So what you're really saying is that they're our only way out?" Nocturna spat. "If that's true and they haven't told us!..." she trailed off. "We should just send a signal out and to hell with what they want!" Nocturna crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at Z’neth and Nora.
Z'neth held up a hand. "Cool down, Lady Blue - we're not going to jump to any conclusions here. These people's extreme privacy is what has kept them alive for hundreds of years. I can't condone risking that for our own benefit."
"But you'll condone us moldering away here with them?" Nocturna shot back.
“Not at all,” Nora interjected. “While you were taking more readings, we’ve been cooking up a few ideas here. Your data set confirmed that the periodic breaks in the Warp Wind cover appear to follow a fairly precise timing pattern. Every four or six hours the Warp Winds part - the trick is it’s never for the same amount of time. It could be an hour, but it could be for only a few minutes.”
“And we’ve got at least two openings that are coming up tonight,” Z’neth said with a grin.
“Thank the Mistress of the Endless Night!” Nocturna sighed, grateful that she wouldn’t be trapped here forever.
“I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high,” Nora cautioned. “Even if we can get out of the valley, our chances of making it back to Alayas or Airlandis without dragons is pretty slim. There’s no way our exo-wings would last the amount of time necessary for a full trip back, even if we knew exactly where we were.”
“Don’t forget that my wings don’t require power packs, kids,” Noctura said. “I could fly to Alayas for aid and reinforcements.”
Z’neth shook his head. “No, it’s too risky. There are a thousand things that could go wrong with a single dragonator making their way through hostile terrain. No, I want to at least check in with Father about the array he’s constructing before we take such a drastic measure.” He gave Nocturna a sharp looking. “Can I count on you to follow these orders and not take off in the middle of the night?”
Nocturna waved a hand in dismissal. “Fine,” she said with a groan. “But we’d better make a decision soon. My wings are starting to itch for freedom.”
*****
Thank the Builders he was finally alone! Orak looked around the corner again for any signs of his cragface captors, breathing a sigh of relief when he was assured there were none around. The beasts had practically had him working day and night to get Airlandis fully operation again, and most often the motivation had come at gunpoint. Orak hated Dread Wing, but he had more than himself to think of. Aside from the fact that barbecue had never been his preferred method of execution.
It had been a week since Dread Wing had first imprisoned him and Apex here, though Orak was fairly certain Dread still didn’t know who was in the medical capsule. The master technician crept to the capsule that contained Apex, and activated the locked control sequence. Looking over the numbers and body graph display, Orak could see that the healing was progressing nicely. Apex would be able to leave the capsule in twenty-four hours, and fully healed within forty-eight. Orak muttered a curse under his breath. He wasn’t sure that was enough time to sabotage the rebuilt reactor. He had already had a hell of a time trying to hide his special modifications from the irritating Dark Dramen.
Orak had looked all over the city - under the guise of ‘looking for parts’ - trying to find a working Strato-Glider. Part of him was proud all the launch mechanisms his rivetheads kept up had worked perfectly and catapulted the fleet of ships away. Another part of him was irritated beyond belief that not one of them had failed. Which left him with Exo-Wings as his only method of escape.
At least he knew his lunch would be escaping, at any rate. Orak hated the dragonator wings, and had weaseled his way out of emergency courses in their use for years. He had designed the latest models, after all. The truth was he was terrified of flying without a large plasteel hull between him and the sky. But he would do it for Apex. The kid didn’t deserve to be tripped up by his fears.
Satisfied that Apex’s healing was progressing along nicely, Orak locked the medical capsule and picked up his tool kit. Just in time, too, as Fryte’s ugly face rounded the corner and the mutant freak growled at him to get back to work. Oh, I’ll be getting back to work, all right, Orak mentally sneered. I’ll get right back on my plan to send you all to hell.
*****
Gangryn felt nothing. Not his arms, not the deck beneath his feet. He was without physical form. Have I transcended the physical plane? He wondered.
But he could see. All around him, Dramen slave engineers were being directed by the human Orak to get the amber reactor back into working order. Gangryn’s memories returned in a sudden rush - the fight with Apex, and his death by vaporization. Except, curiously, he had not died. Some reaction between the Brain Slave armor and the amber reactor energy had thrown him into this twilight existence.
Gangyn felt a tug at his essence as a Dark Dramen overseer walked right through him. That was worth investigating. Willing himself to follow the beast, Gangryn floated in his path again. The reaction was the same. It almost felt as if the physical body had tried to grab hold of his spirit. Gangryn willed his mind toward the Dark Dramen a third time, and this time he didn’t disavow the connection. Instead, he grabbed hold and pulled himself inside.
The Dark Dramen’s mind was a simple place, as to be expected of such a low-intelligence creature. Gangryn had no trouble displacing its mind with his own.
Sights, smells, sounds. All came rushing toward him, and Gangryn drank them in. Beneath everything, he could feel strength and physical power coursing through this body. It was a unique and novel feeling for the genius mind that had once been trapped in a small, weak body.
But now he was unstoppable. He didn’t have to beat Dread Wing - he could be Dread Wing.
*****
You ask me to expose my people to potential harm, Beltran said, giving Aaron a grave look across the low table. Tea had been set out by one of Beltran's acolytes, and Aaron appreciatively sipped the beverage, enjoying the roasted flavor.
Setting the cup down, he gave the psychic master a hard look. Ever since the psychic healing, Aaron's very limited mental abilities had been greatly increased. It still felt foreign, and Aaron was uncomfortable yet with the new powers. He tentatively responded, I only ask that you let us send a signal to our people on Mount Alayas. They no doubt are worried and searching for us. We will use a scrambled frequency that should leave the transmission source undetectable.
Beltran sighed. You rely too much on your technology, my friend. Stay here and learn the pathways of the mind with me. Know inner peace for the first time in many years.
Aaron simply shook his head. Thank you for the offer, Beltran, but peace shall elude me until I am reunited with the rest of my family. Perhaps someday my daughter and I can train with you, however.
Beltran stood up slowly, using his walking stick to maintain his balance. Since your course appears set, I will not stand in your way. Please be careful. He clasped arms with Aaron. We will open the cloud cover for five minutes this evening under the cover of darkness. You may send your signal then.
Thank you, Beltran. Your kindness will not be forgotten. Aaron nodded before executing a small bow and walking from the room. Outside of Beltran’s dwelling, Aaron breathed in the pure air of the valley, savoring the natural beauty. Part of him wished to stay here forever. This was truly it - this was the paradise they had been searching for in vain for so many years. It broke his heart to leave, but Aaron knew that there was no other option that would allow him to live with himself. He would not abandon his family, not when they had been so recently reunited.
He opened a vox channel to Cifex and Peak. “Prepare the array - we’re sending the signal tonight.”
*****
Cifex’s temp gauges read as quite chilly, and for once he was glad for the ability to shut off his temperature receptors. The others were bundled in heavy cloaks provided by Beltran’s people; Nocturna - so used to warmer climes - complained about the cold.
“We’ll be done here soon, Nocturna,” Z’neth chided her.
She rolled her golden eyes. “Not soon enough for me,” Nocturna muttered in response.
Cifex, Peak, and Aaron had set up the array at the hilltop base camp that Z’neth and the others had used earlier as they mapped the valley.
“We’re five minutes from the opening point,” Nora announced, keeping track of their time on the chronometer. “Is everything ready to transmit the signal?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Peak replied from his position seated by Nora. “I just hope that Alayas still has the emergency channel open.”
Cifex would frankly be happy to get back to humans who would speak with him. His neural processors didn’t interface at all with the psychic communication method favored by the people here. It had been a lonely time indeed; Cifex hadn’t realized how dependent he’d become on Apex and Iranda’s presence.
Z’neth and Aaron had been warming up to him with time, and he and Nocturna had even bonded somewhat over their unique positions as outsiders. But Peak seemingly wouldn’t budge on his mistrust of Cifex. Oh, he knew it shouldn’t bother him - that bringing everyone around to the decidedly different relationship between him and Apex would take time - but Cifex had to admit it still stung to have one of Apex’s own brothers remain cool toward him.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Cifex began working the controls for the communication array. The clouds seemed to peel back from above them, and cool, clean air blew down into the valley. The stars were bright and clear. “Sending transmission on all known encrypted emergency channels,” Cifex reported.
“Let’s hope someone’s still out there who can hear us,” Nocturna said quietly, pulling her cloak tighter.
*****
Amod was beginning to doze off as he sat at the main controls of the Aristotle. Night had fallen, and they had docked the ship in a small cave in the mountain range. It was cramped, but at least they were protected and hidden enough to get some good sleep tonight. Still, Amod had volunteered to man the control board for the first quarter of the night, hoping that he could at least get a few hours of sleep afterward.
Sleep was not in his cards for tonight, though. The control board came to life, lights flashing and warning signals blaring. Thinking they might be under attack, Amod set the ship-wide wake-up alarms and began pinpointing the source of the disturbance.
“What’s going on?” Zarkan asked as he ran into the room in nothing but his boxers.
Amod grinned at the sight of him before turning back to the control board. “Not sure yet. The computer started going crazy a minute ago - could be an attack.”
Zarkan grabbed a seat at the co-pilot’s chair and began working as well. “Looks like it’s…a signal.” Dram and Summit filtered into the cockpit, dressed and ready for battle if necessary.
“It’s coming through on one of the old encrypted frequencies,” Amod replied. “I’ll try to decode it.”
“Hold up,” Zarkan replied. “We changed all the encryption codes once we moved to Alayas - it could be a trap.”
“Except Z’neth and my father wouldn’t know the new codes,” Summit said, barely audible. “Amod, decode the message!”
“On it,” Amod replied, his fingers flying over the control board. Several tense, silent minutes passed as he worked on the message. “It appears to be an audio only message, Summit. I’m playing,” he said, pressing a final keystroke.
Though crackling and hard to make out, the voice brought all of them the hope that Amod knew he had been beginning to lose. “To any dragonators or citizens of Airlandis, this is Z’neth. I repeat, this is Z’neth. We are in hiding, but do not know where. Most of our equipment has been destroyed. This message carries a tracer that should lead you back to the source. Please locate use as soon as possible.”
“Amod!” Summit cried. “Can you…”
“Already on it, chief,” Amod replied, his fingers once again dancing over the control board at lightning speed. “There!” he yelped.
The holo-projector displayed the Aristotle’s current location in relation to the source of the signal.
“They are inside this very mountain range!” Dram said. It was true - though the signal came from much farther up and under cover of the Warp Winds.
“Wait,” Zarkan interjected. “You mean to tell me they’ve been surviving inside the Warp Winds all this time? That’s impossible!”
Amod shook his head. “Not if they found a cave or tunnel that could shield them.”
“But what about food and water? I still say this smells like a trap,” Zarkan replied.
“Even if it is, I won’t throw away the only lead we’ve gotten in days,” Summit said. “Time to get dressed, Zarkan. We’re going back up above the Warp Winds and see if we can’t drop through directly to their position.”
“What about the Dread Wing’s spies?” Dram asked.
“We’ll send the dragons on ahead through a further Wind Pit to draw attention away from us. Might be time to use the holo-riders Orak developed as well,” Summit said. “They could be wounded, so I want to get in and out as quickly as possible. We don’t need to get bogged down in a firefight with Dread’s forces.”
Amod nodded. Titan wouldn’t want to split up, but Amod knew there was no choice if they had any hope of luring Dread Wing’s patrols away. Amod sent a silent prayer up that his friends were alive, hoping it would come true.
*****
Z'neth sighed as the cloud cover poured back in overtop the valley. "That's it, folks. Let's hope there was someone friendly out there to receive the signal."
As the rest of the group packed up the equipment, Nocturna placed a hand lightly on his arm. "Would you mind if we stayed up here a little longer?"
Z'neth smirked. "I thought you hated the cold?"
Nocturna punched him playfully on the arm. "Very funny. No, I have something I must speak with you about." Her expression turned serious.
Trying to keep things light, Z'neth replied, "As long as we're not having another discussion about you flying out of here." In truth, he had been terrified of Nocturna leaving them and striking back out on her own.
"I promised I'll not fly off," Nocturna replied, before moving off to help Cifex load up some of the more delicate components. Within half an hour, Z'neth and Nocturna bid good night to the rest of their party. Z'neth noticed Peak and Nora clasping hands, and couldn't help but smile to himself. Those two were so different - oil and water if ever there was. And yet somehow they worked; Peak had brought Nora out of her shell, while Nora had tempered some of Peak’s wildness.
Would there ever hope for another unlikely duo? Z’neth knew there had always been something of a mutual attraction between him and Nocturna, stretching back to the days where they would have been more likely to kill than kiss each other. It had certainly never been anything more than a battlefield flirtation, though. Until now. Z’neth knew that humanity’s future was on the ground; humans would either have to work together with the Dramen and mutant populations or face extinction. Did his own future include working together with one particular mutant?
Z’neth sat down on a large flat rock that overlooked the Oasis from their hilltop position. Darkness had fallen, and lights were winking into existence in dwellings across the valley floor. He found the sight beautiful.
Nocturna placed herself next to him on the rock, but left a healthy amount of space between them. “What did you want to talk about?” he asked, running a hand through his white hair.
She looked at him, golden eyes fairly glowing in dusk. “Z’neth, I don’t want to sound ungrateful to you or your family - I’m well aware that you were the only person who believed in me - but I’m not sure I can stay in the humans-only club anymore.”
Z’neth shook his head vehemently. “Don’t prove them right, Nocturna. You’re strong, brave, clever. We need more people like you,” he said.
Nocturna barked a hollow laugh as she drew her legs up to her chest before resting her head on her knees. “Who is this ‘we,’ Z’neth?”
Z’neth knew he had said something stupid again. Damn. Things were so much easier between them before these feelings had popped up. “What I mean is,” he began before Nocturna cut him off.
“What you mean is that I was seeing things that weren’t there,” she said quietly.
Z’neth placed a hand on her knee. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Lady Blue. That’s not what I meant.” Gods above, why was this so hard? He could face Dread Wing and death at a moment’s notice, but asking Nocturna…
“In some ways I’m a simple creature, Z’neth,” Nocturna replied. “I need you to be frank with me.”
Z’neth laughed, breaking the tension. “You are many things, Lady Blue, but a simple creature is definitely not one of them!” His gaze grew serious, then. “Nocturna, there are many things I would like to explore with you should we live through this.”
“I think that was a confession?” she asked, puzzlement written across her face. “But think about this, Z’neth. As you rebuild humanity, a human female partner would be best for you. People will never look on me with anything but fear and mistrust.”
“Since when did you ever start caring what people thought of you?” he asked.
“Since I started wanting more than just friendship with you.”
“Oh.” Silence hung between them for a minute as a Z’neth processed that idea. “Nocturna, there is one fatal flaw in your reasoning. I’m not out to rebuild just humanity. I want to rebuild all of Old Earth - humans, Dramen, and mutants. According to Miriam, we’re not all that different genetically.”
“Genetics don’t matter to most people. Culture matters, appearance matters. In those, we might as well be from different planets,” Nocturna added bitterly.
“Who better to lead by example, then?” Z’neth asked. “Together, we can guide humans and mutants into a new age.”
Nocturna gave a scoffing laugh. “For such a hard edged leader, your dreams are rather rosy.”
Z’neth wouldn’t rise to the bait. Not now. “And yet they are my dreams. What about you, Nocturna? What do you hope for?”
“I’d settle for running away with you and finding somewhere to hide out the rest of our lives. Somewhere my past and your responsibilities can’t find us,” she replied. “Oh, don’t give me that look! It’s nothing more than an idle fantasy, after all. I can never be different than who I am, and you’re far too good a person to throw everything away for the likes of me.” She gave him a funny look then before barking a short laugh. “I guess in many ways you wouldn’t even be the person I admire if you did something like that.”
“Nocturna, you’re a far better person than you give yourself credit for,” Z’neth said.
She kissed him lightly on the cheek before getting up from the rock. “Flattery will get you everywhere with me, Z’neth,” Nocturna said. “Even if you’re lying through your teeth, I appreciate the thought.”
She unfurled her wings then, and Z’neth was again struck by the blue lady’s grace. “Wait, Nocturna,” he said, clasping her arm with his hand. As she turned around, he kissed her full on the lips, savoring the sensation that thrilled along his spine.
When they finally pulled apart, Nocturna raised an eye ridge at him. “That was…unexpected.”
“Hopefully not unwelcome, though,” Z’neth added.
Nocturna made a show of thinking it over. “I think that will require a second round for full evaluation,” she said.
Z’neth couldn’t help but smiling. “Always happy to oblige.” The kiss was gentler this time, and Nocturna wrapped her arms around his neck, digging her claws through his white hair.
When she pulled away from him again, her eyes were sad. “Much as I want this to continue, I don’t want to start down a path that both of us will regret.”
“Who says we’re going to regret this?” Z’neth said.
Nocturna rolled her eyes. “Your family has trouble with the android, Z’neth. And he brought back your mother - I don’t have that cache of points.”
“You just have to give them time, Nocturna. Let them see how different things are now,” Z’neth countered.
“Except I don’t know if things really are different. I may live and work with humans now, but I’m still my bitter, sarcastic, antisocial, opinionated self. I feel like a lava beast living in an egg nest sometimes!” she said.
“And without all of that I wouldn’t have anyone to challenge me,” Z’neth replied. “At least promise me you’ll think about what we talked about. I believe that together we can be so much more; can make the future so much more.”
Nocturna groaned. “You’re almost sickeningly good sometimes, you know?” She turned away from him again, but looked over her shoulder one more time, flashing him a grin. “I’ll think about it, but I can’t promise any more than that. Unless of course you want to pay a visit to my chambers and discuss things in a…different way?”
“Nothing wrong with a variety of methods in diplomacy,” Z’neth said, giving a grin of his own.
It's definitely going to be over 10,000 words by the time I'm done, and since I know LJ won't take that big of a block of text, here's part one. As usual, little to no editing has been done (I'm too tired right now, really). It's jumping all over the place; I feel like an ADHD goldfish trying to keep track of everything. If you see weird continuity errors, please feel free to point them out!
Prompt 30: Oasis
Dram was miserable in the humid, stifling rain that drove against the search party as they flew over Old Earth. The sizzling lava pits mirrored his frustration at everything right now - the Council for abandoning the search, not knowing what had become of his family, and his own damn inability to smell them in this weather.
Summit’s group had found the wrecked remains of the Skywatch tower almost a week ago. Everyone had feared the worst, but there were no bodies inside. Which left two options - the bodies had been snatched by scavengers, or they were alive and in hiding.
Dram definitely preferred to believe the second option.
“Much good my superior sense of smell does on a day like today,” Dram muttered. He could smell a human several miles away - tracking his family’s scent from the wreckage should have been a simple matter. Except that there were no scent trails leading away from the tower. It was as though his family had simply vanished. Dram had the sickening thought that they might have been pulled out into the Warp Winds, but Summit had pointed out that the windows of the tower were only broken on the crash side, meaning they hadn’t broken during the transit.
For the thousandth time, Dram wished Apex was with them. Her telepathic abilities would have been a great help at this time. Still, the missing dragonators’ dragons were helping them search for their riders. Dram didn’t have to be psychic to know the dragons were deeply distressed at their partners’ disappearance. Dramen were kin to the flying mounts after all.
Opening a vox channel to the Aristotle, Dram reported in. “There is no sign of them in this sector, Summit. We are returning to the ship for the night.”
“Acknowledged, Dram,” Summit said, his disappointed face appearing on the Vox Box.
“Do not give up hope yet, my brother,” Dram replied, despite his own feelings. He knew that Summit needed him to be strong now most of all. “You of all people know how resourceful Z’neth and the others are. I have every confidence they are alive.”
Summit simply nodded before switching off the Vox Box. Dram sighed, before signaling his team to head back to the ship for a few hours of sleep before beginning the search all over in a new sector tomorrow. To the west, a range of mountains jutted up into the Warp Winds. The sun slowly sank behind them.
Dram somehow felt that the sun was setting on their time for finding the others alive as well.
*****
Peak swore as his Vox Box blew up in a shower of sparks. “Why can’t I boost the signal and get a message out of this place!” he grumbled before chucking the ruined communicator to the ground.
His father Aaron walked over from his own workbench and picked up the Vox Box. Peak still found it so strange to see his father actually walking instead of using the anti-grav belt and staff to move around. "It's probably some combination of the minerals in the rock and the Warp Winds causing interference. There's a reason this place hasn't been discovered in a few hundred years, after all."
"I should be out with Z'neth, Nocturna, and Nora looking for the pathway out of the valley," Peak said with a pout. "You know I'm no good with electronics; not like Summit anyway."
Aaron placed a hand on Peak's shoulder. "Maybe not, but your eyes are the sharpest of us all, and Cifex and I could really use them for a few final adjustments."
Peak wandered over to where his father and Cifex had constructed a small array using parts from their Vox Boxes and some parts that Beltran had generously given them. The people of the valley were fairly technologically advanced despite their isolation - something that Aaron attributed to Captain Elias Bristol crashing there twenty-five years after the Cataclysm. Cifex also thought a lot of the tech felt like natural outgrowths of his era instead of the amber-based systems developed by the Builders who had constructed Airlandis.
Peak found he didn’t much care unless it meant getting out of here and getting home. Or what was left of it anyway. Was Airlandis even still afloat? Peak was going crazy wondering what had happened to the rest of his family.
Cifex started to make adjustments to the array with Peak while Aaron excused himself to speak with Beltran. Despite the android saving his mother and making his sister incredibly happy, Peak still had trouble warming up to Cifex. For his part, Cifex had given Peak space and time to come around. Still…it was just so unnatural. Cifex was a machine - a complex, sentient machine, granted - but Peak had a hard time thinking of him differently than a Vox Box.
“Take a look at the screen while I make these final adjustments,” Cifex asked, pulling Peak out of his reverie.
“Oh, uh, sure,” Peak replied with a nod. Cifex indicated a few places on the screen that Peak needed to watch before digging into the array’s guts of wires. A few minutes passed in silence.
“That ought to do the trick. How do the power levels look?” Cifex asked.
“Everything looks stable,” Peak replied. “Can I send a signal out now?”
Cifex shook his head. “Your father is concerned about revealing the valley’s location to any mutant forces in the area by accident. We’ve agreed not to proceed without Beltran’s approval.”
Peak sighed. “I guess I can understand that…considering what happened to the last possible settlement sites we found. Dread and his cronies have a way of ruining everything good,” Peak added with a dark laugh.
Cifex laid a hand on Peak’s arm, causing him to stiffen. “Don’t worry, Peak. I’m sure Z’neth and the others will find a way out of here.”
Peak brushed it off. “Who says I’m worried? We’ve gotten out of tighter situations before - I’m just bored at having to wait so long!”
*****
Nocturna brandished her scanning equipment and flew close to the canopy of clouds that had blown overtop the valley. They swirled and churned, sending gusts of wind downward and forcing her to flap her wings to stay aloft. But the slightly convex stone walls seemed to prevent the clouds from ever fully entering the Oasis. “These are definitely Warp Winds, Z’neth,” she said over her Vox Box. “They have the correct formations and patterns.”
“Acknowledged,” Z’neth replied from the hilltop he and Nora had set up a base camp on. “Return to camp and upload your readings.” They had been searching for a way out of the valley for several days now, though nothing seemed to be opening up. The people who lived here could not understand their group’s desire to leave, when this was considered a paradise.
Frankly, Nocturna couldn’t stand another minute with these freaky mind-readers, and had fairly jumped at the chance to look for a way out. “See you soon,” she replied.
Looking down at the valley below, Nocturna felt even more alienated here than she ever had in Airlandis. The entire population was human - no mutants, or even dramen. She felt like the people here had been cut off from reality for a little too long. But even she could understand Z’neth and his family being over the moon at finding a legitimate human settlement still on Old Earth. (And no, the midget F.I.S.T. Fighters or whatever they called themselves didn’t count in Nocturna’s ledger as legitimate humans. She was sure there were some interesting mutations hiding in their genetic code.)
Still, the place certainly was…beautiful. Noctura gagged at even thinking the word, but so much had changed for her since coming to Airlandis. For perhaps the first time in her miserable life, she felt...well, those feelings would certainly not amount to anything. There wasn't a chance in hell that he was interested in her that way, though he obviously enjoyed their verbal sparring.
Z'neth and Nora came into view as Nocturna rounded a tall promontory, and her sharp eyes caught a smile cross Z'neth's normally stoic face. She alighted with all her grace, and sauntered past the dragonators to input her data chip. Once the portable console had finished processing, it projected a holographic representation of the valley, including the patterns of the Warp Winds.
Z'neth motioned them to gather around. "We have to assume the valley has no natural exits, or if there are, they have long since been closed off."
"So how do you explain them getting us out of the tower and here then?" Nora asked.
"Those Warp Winds only occasionally cover this Oasis," Nocturna replied. "And with the mental abilities the people here have, it would be simple to redirect the flow of the winds, or even fly out of the valley on their own."
Z'neth nodded. "Those were my thoughts. Beltran healed Father - it wouldn't surprise me at all that they could create a break in the Warp Winds."
"So what you're really saying is that they're our only way out?" Nocturna spat. "If that's true and they haven't told us!..." she trailed off. "We should just send a signal out and to hell with what they want!" Nocturna crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at Z’neth and Nora.
Z'neth held up a hand. "Cool down, Lady Blue - we're not going to jump to any conclusions here. These people's extreme privacy is what has kept them alive for hundreds of years. I can't condone risking that for our own benefit."
"But you'll condone us moldering away here with them?" Nocturna shot back.
“Not at all,” Nora interjected. “While you were taking more readings, we’ve been cooking up a few ideas here. Your data set confirmed that the periodic breaks in the Warp Wind cover appear to follow a fairly precise timing pattern. Every four or six hours the Warp Winds part - the trick is it’s never for the same amount of time. It could be an hour, but it could be for only a few minutes.”
“And we’ve got at least two openings that are coming up tonight,” Z’neth said with a grin.
“Thank the Mistress of the Endless Night!” Nocturna sighed, grateful that she wouldn’t be trapped here forever.
“I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high,” Nora cautioned. “Even if we can get out of the valley, our chances of making it back to Alayas or Airlandis without dragons is pretty slim. There’s no way our exo-wings would last the amount of time necessary for a full trip back, even if we knew exactly where we were.”
“Don’t forget that my wings don’t require power packs, kids,” Noctura said. “I could fly to Alayas for aid and reinforcements.”
Z’neth shook his head. “No, it’s too risky. There are a thousand things that could go wrong with a single dragonator making their way through hostile terrain. No, I want to at least check in with Father about the array he’s constructing before we take such a drastic measure.” He gave Nocturna a sharp looking. “Can I count on you to follow these orders and not take off in the middle of the night?”
Nocturna waved a hand in dismissal. “Fine,” she said with a groan. “But we’d better make a decision soon. My wings are starting to itch for freedom.”
*****
Thank the Builders he was finally alone! Orak looked around the corner again for any signs of his cragface captors, breathing a sigh of relief when he was assured there were none around. The beasts had practically had him working day and night to get Airlandis fully operation again, and most often the motivation had come at gunpoint. Orak hated Dread Wing, but he had more than himself to think of. Aside from the fact that barbecue had never been his preferred method of execution.
It had been a week since Dread Wing had first imprisoned him and Apex here, though Orak was fairly certain Dread still didn’t know who was in the medical capsule. The master technician crept to the capsule that contained Apex, and activated the locked control sequence. Looking over the numbers and body graph display, Orak could see that the healing was progressing nicely. Apex would be able to leave the capsule in twenty-four hours, and fully healed within forty-eight. Orak muttered a curse under his breath. He wasn’t sure that was enough time to sabotage the rebuilt reactor. He had already had a hell of a time trying to hide his special modifications from the irritating Dark Dramen.
Orak had looked all over the city - under the guise of ‘looking for parts’ - trying to find a working Strato-Glider. Part of him was proud all the launch mechanisms his rivetheads kept up had worked perfectly and catapulted the fleet of ships away. Another part of him was irritated beyond belief that not one of them had failed. Which left him with Exo-Wings as his only method of escape.
At least he knew his lunch would be escaping, at any rate. Orak hated the dragonator wings, and had weaseled his way out of emergency courses in their use for years. He had designed the latest models, after all. The truth was he was terrified of flying without a large plasteel hull between him and the sky. But he would do it for Apex. The kid didn’t deserve to be tripped up by his fears.
Satisfied that Apex’s healing was progressing along nicely, Orak locked the medical capsule and picked up his tool kit. Just in time, too, as Fryte’s ugly face rounded the corner and the mutant freak growled at him to get back to work. Oh, I’ll be getting back to work, all right, Orak mentally sneered. I’ll get right back on my plan to send you all to hell.
*****
Gangryn felt nothing. Not his arms, not the deck beneath his feet. He was without physical form. Have I transcended the physical plane? He wondered.
But he could see. All around him, Dramen slave engineers were being directed by the human Orak to get the amber reactor back into working order. Gangryn’s memories returned in a sudden rush - the fight with Apex, and his death by vaporization. Except, curiously, he had not died. Some reaction between the Brain Slave armor and the amber reactor energy had thrown him into this twilight existence.
Gangyn felt a tug at his essence as a Dark Dramen overseer walked right through him. That was worth investigating. Willing himself to follow the beast, Gangryn floated in his path again. The reaction was the same. It almost felt as if the physical body had tried to grab hold of his spirit. Gangryn willed his mind toward the Dark Dramen a third time, and this time he didn’t disavow the connection. Instead, he grabbed hold and pulled himself inside.
The Dark Dramen’s mind was a simple place, as to be expected of such a low-intelligence creature. Gangryn had no trouble displacing its mind with his own.
Sights, smells, sounds. All came rushing toward him, and Gangryn drank them in. Beneath everything, he could feel strength and physical power coursing through this body. It was a unique and novel feeling for the genius mind that had once been trapped in a small, weak body.
But now he was unstoppable. He didn’t have to beat Dread Wing - he could be Dread Wing.
*****
You ask me to expose my people to potential harm, Beltran said, giving Aaron a grave look across the low table. Tea had been set out by one of Beltran's acolytes, and Aaron appreciatively sipped the beverage, enjoying the roasted flavor.
Setting the cup down, he gave the psychic master a hard look. Ever since the psychic healing, Aaron's very limited mental abilities had been greatly increased. It still felt foreign, and Aaron was uncomfortable yet with the new powers. He tentatively responded, I only ask that you let us send a signal to our people on Mount Alayas. They no doubt are worried and searching for us. We will use a scrambled frequency that should leave the transmission source undetectable.
Beltran sighed. You rely too much on your technology, my friend. Stay here and learn the pathways of the mind with me. Know inner peace for the first time in many years.
Aaron simply shook his head. Thank you for the offer, Beltran, but peace shall elude me until I am reunited with the rest of my family. Perhaps someday my daughter and I can train with you, however.
Beltran stood up slowly, using his walking stick to maintain his balance. Since your course appears set, I will not stand in your way. Please be careful. He clasped arms with Aaron. We will open the cloud cover for five minutes this evening under the cover of darkness. You may send your signal then.
Thank you, Beltran. Your kindness will not be forgotten. Aaron nodded before executing a small bow and walking from the room. Outside of Beltran’s dwelling, Aaron breathed in the pure air of the valley, savoring the natural beauty. Part of him wished to stay here forever. This was truly it - this was the paradise they had been searching for in vain for so many years. It broke his heart to leave, but Aaron knew that there was no other option that would allow him to live with himself. He would not abandon his family, not when they had been so recently reunited.
He opened a vox channel to Cifex and Peak. “Prepare the array - we’re sending the signal tonight.”
*****
Cifex’s temp gauges read as quite chilly, and for once he was glad for the ability to shut off his temperature receptors. The others were bundled in heavy cloaks provided by Beltran’s people; Nocturna - so used to warmer climes - complained about the cold.
“We’ll be done here soon, Nocturna,” Z’neth chided her.
She rolled her golden eyes. “Not soon enough for me,” Nocturna muttered in response.
Cifex, Peak, and Aaron had set up the array at the hilltop base camp that Z’neth and the others had used earlier as they mapped the valley.
“We’re five minutes from the opening point,” Nora announced, keeping track of their time on the chronometer. “Is everything ready to transmit the signal?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Peak replied from his position seated by Nora. “I just hope that Alayas still has the emergency channel open.”
Cifex would frankly be happy to get back to humans who would speak with him. His neural processors didn’t interface at all with the psychic communication method favored by the people here. It had been a lonely time indeed; Cifex hadn’t realized how dependent he’d become on Apex and Iranda’s presence.
Z’neth and Aaron had been warming up to him with time, and he and Nocturna had even bonded somewhat over their unique positions as outsiders. But Peak seemingly wouldn’t budge on his mistrust of Cifex. Oh, he knew it shouldn’t bother him - that bringing everyone around to the decidedly different relationship between him and Apex would take time - but Cifex had to admit it still stung to have one of Apex’s own brothers remain cool toward him.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Cifex began working the controls for the communication array. The clouds seemed to peel back from above them, and cool, clean air blew down into the valley. The stars were bright and clear. “Sending transmission on all known encrypted emergency channels,” Cifex reported.
“Let’s hope someone’s still out there who can hear us,” Nocturna said quietly, pulling her cloak tighter.
*****
Amod was beginning to doze off as he sat at the main controls of the Aristotle. Night had fallen, and they had docked the ship in a small cave in the mountain range. It was cramped, but at least they were protected and hidden enough to get some good sleep tonight. Still, Amod had volunteered to man the control board for the first quarter of the night, hoping that he could at least get a few hours of sleep afterward.
Sleep was not in his cards for tonight, though. The control board came to life, lights flashing and warning signals blaring. Thinking they might be under attack, Amod set the ship-wide wake-up alarms and began pinpointing the source of the disturbance.
“What’s going on?” Zarkan asked as he ran into the room in nothing but his boxers.
Amod grinned at the sight of him before turning back to the control board. “Not sure yet. The computer started going crazy a minute ago - could be an attack.”
Zarkan grabbed a seat at the co-pilot’s chair and began working as well. “Looks like it’s…a signal.” Dram and Summit filtered into the cockpit, dressed and ready for battle if necessary.
“It’s coming through on one of the old encrypted frequencies,” Amod replied. “I’ll try to decode it.”
“Hold up,” Zarkan replied. “We changed all the encryption codes once we moved to Alayas - it could be a trap.”
“Except Z’neth and my father wouldn’t know the new codes,” Summit said, barely audible. “Amod, decode the message!”
“On it,” Amod replied, his fingers flying over the control board. Several tense, silent minutes passed as he worked on the message. “It appears to be an audio only message, Summit. I’m playing,” he said, pressing a final keystroke.
Though crackling and hard to make out, the voice brought all of them the hope that Amod knew he had been beginning to lose. “To any dragonators or citizens of Airlandis, this is Z’neth. I repeat, this is Z’neth. We are in hiding, but do not know where. Most of our equipment has been destroyed. This message carries a tracer that should lead you back to the source. Please locate use as soon as possible.”
“Amod!” Summit cried. “Can you…”
“Already on it, chief,” Amod replied, his fingers once again dancing over the control board at lightning speed. “There!” he yelped.
The holo-projector displayed the Aristotle’s current location in relation to the source of the signal.
“They are inside this very mountain range!” Dram said. It was true - though the signal came from much farther up and under cover of the Warp Winds.
“Wait,” Zarkan interjected. “You mean to tell me they’ve been surviving inside the Warp Winds all this time? That’s impossible!”
Amod shook his head. “Not if they found a cave or tunnel that could shield them.”
“But what about food and water? I still say this smells like a trap,” Zarkan replied.
“Even if it is, I won’t throw away the only lead we’ve gotten in days,” Summit said. “Time to get dressed, Zarkan. We’re going back up above the Warp Winds and see if we can’t drop through directly to their position.”
“What about the Dread Wing’s spies?” Dram asked.
“We’ll send the dragons on ahead through a further Wind Pit to draw attention away from us. Might be time to use the holo-riders Orak developed as well,” Summit said. “They could be wounded, so I want to get in and out as quickly as possible. We don’t need to get bogged down in a firefight with Dread’s forces.”
Amod nodded. Titan wouldn’t want to split up, but Amod knew there was no choice if they had any hope of luring Dread Wing’s patrols away. Amod sent a silent prayer up that his friends were alive, hoping it would come true.
*****
Z'neth sighed as the cloud cover poured back in overtop the valley. "That's it, folks. Let's hope there was someone friendly out there to receive the signal."
As the rest of the group packed up the equipment, Nocturna placed a hand lightly on his arm. "Would you mind if we stayed up here a little longer?"
Z'neth smirked. "I thought you hated the cold?"
Nocturna punched him playfully on the arm. "Very funny. No, I have something I must speak with you about." Her expression turned serious.
Trying to keep things light, Z'neth replied, "As long as we're not having another discussion about you flying out of here." In truth, he had been terrified of Nocturna leaving them and striking back out on her own.
"I promised I'll not fly off," Nocturna replied, before moving off to help Cifex load up some of the more delicate components. Within half an hour, Z'neth and Nocturna bid good night to the rest of their party. Z'neth noticed Peak and Nora clasping hands, and couldn't help but smile to himself. Those two were so different - oil and water if ever there was. And yet somehow they worked; Peak had brought Nora out of her shell, while Nora had tempered some of Peak’s wildness.
Would there ever hope for another unlikely duo? Z’neth knew there had always been something of a mutual attraction between him and Nocturna, stretching back to the days where they would have been more likely to kill than kiss each other. It had certainly never been anything more than a battlefield flirtation, though. Until now. Z’neth knew that humanity’s future was on the ground; humans would either have to work together with the Dramen and mutant populations or face extinction. Did his own future include working together with one particular mutant?
Z’neth sat down on a large flat rock that overlooked the Oasis from their hilltop position. Darkness had fallen, and lights were winking into existence in dwellings across the valley floor. He found the sight beautiful.
Nocturna placed herself next to him on the rock, but left a healthy amount of space between them. “What did you want to talk about?” he asked, running a hand through his white hair.
She looked at him, golden eyes fairly glowing in dusk. “Z’neth, I don’t want to sound ungrateful to you or your family - I’m well aware that you were the only person who believed in me - but I’m not sure I can stay in the humans-only club anymore.”
Z’neth shook his head vehemently. “Don’t prove them right, Nocturna. You’re strong, brave, clever. We need more people like you,” he said.
Nocturna barked a hollow laugh as she drew her legs up to her chest before resting her head on her knees. “Who is this ‘we,’ Z’neth?”
Z’neth knew he had said something stupid again. Damn. Things were so much easier between them before these feelings had popped up. “What I mean is,” he began before Nocturna cut him off.
“What you mean is that I was seeing things that weren’t there,” she said quietly.
Z’neth placed a hand on her knee. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Lady Blue. That’s not what I meant.” Gods above, why was this so hard? He could face Dread Wing and death at a moment’s notice, but asking Nocturna…
“In some ways I’m a simple creature, Z’neth,” Nocturna replied. “I need you to be frank with me.”
Z’neth laughed, breaking the tension. “You are many things, Lady Blue, but a simple creature is definitely not one of them!” His gaze grew serious, then. “Nocturna, there are many things I would like to explore with you should we live through this.”
“I think that was a confession?” she asked, puzzlement written across her face. “But think about this, Z’neth. As you rebuild humanity, a human female partner would be best for you. People will never look on me with anything but fear and mistrust.”
“Since when did you ever start caring what people thought of you?” he asked.
“Since I started wanting more than just friendship with you.”
“Oh.” Silence hung between them for a minute as a Z’neth processed that idea. “Nocturna, there is one fatal flaw in your reasoning. I’m not out to rebuild just humanity. I want to rebuild all of Old Earth - humans, Dramen, and mutants. According to Miriam, we’re not all that different genetically.”
“Genetics don’t matter to most people. Culture matters, appearance matters. In those, we might as well be from different planets,” Nocturna added bitterly.
“Who better to lead by example, then?” Z’neth asked. “Together, we can guide humans and mutants into a new age.”
Nocturna gave a scoffing laugh. “For such a hard edged leader, your dreams are rather rosy.”
Z’neth wouldn’t rise to the bait. Not now. “And yet they are my dreams. What about you, Nocturna? What do you hope for?”
“I’d settle for running away with you and finding somewhere to hide out the rest of our lives. Somewhere my past and your responsibilities can’t find us,” she replied. “Oh, don’t give me that look! It’s nothing more than an idle fantasy, after all. I can never be different than who I am, and you’re far too good a person to throw everything away for the likes of me.” She gave him a funny look then before barking a short laugh. “I guess in many ways you wouldn’t even be the person I admire if you did something like that.”
“Nocturna, you’re a far better person than you give yourself credit for,” Z’neth said.
She kissed him lightly on the cheek before getting up from the rock. “Flattery will get you everywhere with me, Z’neth,” Nocturna said. “Even if you’re lying through your teeth, I appreciate the thought.”
She unfurled her wings then, and Z’neth was again struck by the blue lady’s grace. “Wait, Nocturna,” he said, clasping her arm with his hand. As she turned around, he kissed her full on the lips, savoring the sensation that thrilled along his spine.
When they finally pulled apart, Nocturna raised an eye ridge at him. “That was…unexpected.”
“Hopefully not unwelcome, though,” Z’neth added.
Nocturna made a show of thinking it over. “I think that will require a second round for full evaluation,” she said.
Z’neth couldn’t help but smiling. “Always happy to oblige.” The kiss was gentler this time, and Nocturna wrapped her arms around his neck, digging her claws through his white hair.
When she pulled away from him again, her eyes were sad. “Much as I want this to continue, I don’t want to start down a path that both of us will regret.”
“Who says we’re going to regret this?” Z’neth said.
Nocturna rolled her eyes. “Your family has trouble with the android, Z’neth. And he brought back your mother - I don’t have that cache of points.”
“You just have to give them time, Nocturna. Let them see how different things are now,” Z’neth countered.
“Except I don’t know if things really are different. I may live and work with humans now, but I’m still my bitter, sarcastic, antisocial, opinionated self. I feel like a lava beast living in an egg nest sometimes!” she said.
“And without all of that I wouldn’t have anyone to challenge me,” Z’neth replied. “At least promise me you’ll think about what we talked about. I believe that together we can be so much more; can make the future so much more.”
Nocturna groaned. “You’re almost sickeningly good sometimes, you know?” She turned away from him again, but looked over her shoulder one more time, flashing him a grin. “I’ll think about it, but I can’t promise any more than that. Unless of course you want to pay a visit to my chambers and discuss things in a…different way?”
“Nothing wrong with a variety of methods in diplomacy,” Z’neth said, giving a grin of his own.