Star Crossed: Finding the other - 3. Dreams or Reality?

Mekaias

After a good hour of sitting there with Aileta, trying to calm me down, she walks me to the other club in silence.

I didn’t even bother looking around on the way there. I concentrated on the stone in my hands, desperate to feel my mother's warmth.

We finally arrive at the other strip club, it is called Sacred Cavern because it is built into a mountain of yellow rock.

When we reach the front entrance, a giant fuzzy alien with pretty blue and gold feathers on the sides of his face grins at me and Aileta. He gives a small nod as Aileta walks off to the back of the club.

She pretty much left me with Mr. Fuzzy Muscle man with pretty feathers.

“Come with me,” He says while offering his hand and a small smile.

I just stare at his huge hand.

Surely this man wouldn’t try to hurt me right? He seems like he could snap me in half with a simple push!

I barely reach the top of his stomach!

“Don’t worry, I am only leading you downstairs." He says. "You can follow me if you want to.”

He turns to walk in and I follow.

Inside is honestly very new to me. There is music blasting way too loud, male dancers being very friendly with their customers, I even see a few stealing treasures from them. The customers are too entranced to notice.

A lot of these dancers are big and muscled. Very few small at all. Maybe one or two.

There seems to be a theme of wearing a silver mask. It covers their entire face creating a new face that seems to resemble a feline.

How convenient...

Mr. Fuzzy Muscles looks back and continues to smile at me.

He's checking to make sure I’m following I think. I just wish he would stop smiling.

He seems nice but I have seen people hold fake smiles for long enough.

We reach a locked door that Mr. Fuzzy opens and then we start going down some stairs.

I will admit that I was expecting maybe a dressing room here. What I didn’t expect was a full on gym.

There are mats everywhere, along with weights and other various machines that I'm not so sure how they are even used.

I most likely I can’t use them.

I see one area with what looks like dozens of training dummies.

Not sure what a club like this would use with that.

A loud noise goes off upstairs and I shriek, rushing behind Mr.Fuzzy, only because he seems like the best protection as of yet.

At least before I use the stone.

Mr. Fuzzy's eyes widen at my reaction and holds his arms around me but not touching.

It weirdly helps?

“Do not worry, it was just an act upstairs where a dancer throws a small love bomb at a group of customers," I give him a look of confusion and he laughs, "no it’s not real. It’s just water.”

He grins and motions for us to keep walking.

We arrive at a new room that is pretty far underground. I don’t even hear the music anymore.

I step away from Mr.Fuzzy and lower my head.

He walks around the new room setting things up, not at all acknowledging my show of submission.

Strange.

I look around from under my bangs and notice this room is actually a room to live in. There is a bed, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

I tiptoe over and peek into the bathroom. I see a nice big bathtub and a mirror.

I definitely don't want to look into that right now.

Moving back, I take it all in but I see Mr. Fuzzy staring at me.

“My name is Arnio," He grins, "Aileta wants me to be your guard dog. She will arrive in a bit after you get some rest. You can eat and drink whatever you want in there.” He points at a steel box in the kitchen.

I just nod and awkwardly stand in the middle of the room. He gives another small smile, a nod, then moves to leave.

I almost trip on my feet as I run after him to grab his hand. He looks back, a little surprised but he tries to hide it.

“Yes?” He raises a colorful eyebrow.

I’m not sure why I feel the need to ask him this, but I so desperately need some comfort that I have not had in years.

I take a deep breath and pull him back in, well more like he allows me to, and then I finally speak.

“Can...can you join m-me in the bed?” I cringe at myself.

Surely this would be seen as a way to have sex with him but that is not at all what I want! I haven’t had any body heat to sleep next to in forever.

Before I was taken I would always have my Mother or Lucain.

It’s in my nature to want to be next to body heat while I sleep! Now that I can finally have the chance for it, I need it!

Arnio gives another damned smile and nods, almost like he understands.

Something tells me Aileta has told him everything about where I have been for the past ten years.

We get under the sheets and he pulls me on top of him. He is much too large for this small bed.

He puts an arm around my back and tells me to rest.

My body can’t help but shiver at this. This feels too good. I missed this so much!

In almost seconds I blackout.

 

~~

 

“Arnio?” I hear a voice call.

“Arnio.” It's said in a sing songy voice.

“Arnio!” the voice shouts and then the body encircling me jumps up underneath me but not enough to knock me off.

I keep still, not wanting to move from this heaven.

“Just what the hell do you think you are doing?” Oh it's Aileta.

I mentally roll my eyes and bury my face into Arnio’s chest. His fluffy fur makes this all so much warmer.

It’s heavenly.

“Sorry Aileta," Arnio voice rumbles. "The kit wanted to have some body heat. Couldn’t exactly deny him with those pretty eyes.”

“Mekaias,” I feel her cane poke my butt. "I know you’re awake, we have important things to do now. For instance, a bath.”

I sigh and turn to look back at her.

She has changed into a thick red robe. Her hair braided down her back. Her 'morning hair' as I used to call it.

“I could help him with that!” Arnio chirps.

I flinch and cover my face as I see her raise her cane to hit Arnio.

“Ow, Aileta, please!”

I peek through my fingers and see him rubbing the top of his head.

For some reason I thought she was going to hit me with the cane.

I get up quietly, walk over to the bathroom, then close the door behind me.

They start talking in whispers so nothing to listen in on.

I go over and start the water, purposefully avoiding the mirror.

I unwrap and remove the beads and strips of cloth wrapped around the two lengths of hair on either side of my face. Then I strip from my clothes and sink down with a sigh till the water is just under my nose.

That sleep was very much needed. Best sleep I've had in years!

I pick from a wide range of different liquids to clean myself with before stepping out to dry.

I didn’t exactly bring clothes to change into. I don’t really own anything actually.

Peeking out into the room and I see both are now in the kitchen talking.

I look over by the bed and see a basket piled with clean clothes.

I walk over and look through for something to wear.

I pull out a old grey sleeveless shirt and some dark red pants that stop just below the knees. I start to change into them.

It’s only when I lift the shirt up that I look over at the two.

Their talking had stopped.

Arnio has a deep blush and a big goofy grin on his face, using his hand to hold his head up. Aileta however, looks both sad and angry, bouncing her thumb on the top of her cane.

I look down and see the mark of where my tail should be.

At that I feel an itch on the scar.

One thing I learned from the masters, my kind can’t regenerate body parts that are cut off. They tested it once on my tail and never again anywhere else after learning that in their "research".

I reach down to scratch at the pinkish flesh and reach over to put on some rather interesting underwear and then the pants on.

I then start wrapping and placing beads back in their respectful places in my hair.

I find a old off white shirt that's too battered and tear it into strips.

I start wrapping my feet all the way up till it wraps in a bit of the pants.

Aileta waves me over and I take a seat at the table.

Arnio gets up to leave, not before saying that I’d make a great show with a wink.

Aileta throws her drink after him.

I missed her.

“Right then!” She claps her hands as if starting a show and brings water for me. “Today you should exercise. Try and bring that flexibility back why don’t we? Maybe even look into the stone today? Let's make some steps in your newfound freedom, eh?”

Oh I’m still very flexible.

The mast-no...the bastards made sure of that everyday. They didn’t want me to go stiff during their "play."

Of course I won't tell her anything like that.

I just nod and drink the water.

“Mekaias you can talk to me," Aileta says gently. "You are safe now. If anything, I'm sure you can work here with me.”

At that I look up and see her smile.

I wouldn’t mind doing that honestly, but I have a different thing in mind for now.

“I want to kill them,” I say that with as much strength as I can. It more or less came out in a hoarse whisper.

My voice isn't used to speaking anymore.

Aileta stares at me for a moment. Squinting her eyes in that way she does when she’s thinking or making a deal.

She gets up and starts to leave.

I get up as well but she stops me with one hand in the air.

“I’ll help you, but you need to use the stone to train those new powers of yours.” She doesn’t move but she squints again and then points at the stone on the table, “and I'm sure one of them has to be a fighter. I know there were many great warriors in your family from what Camiya said.”

She smiles and turns to leave, not before shouting from the hall, “Feel free to use the gym, Arnio can help you.”

~~
~~

Norian

“Hoshet alechia sho.” Voices whisper in the dark.

Where am I?

“Hoshet alechia sho!” the voices cry out.

I don’t understand what they are saying.

I look around but don't see anything in the dark.

I look up and then I see stars in the sky. When I reach out, I hit glass.

A glass ceiling?

“Please!” The voices whisper, it sounds like they are crying. It sends shivers in my spine.

A light turns on and blinds me.

I look around and I see that I'm in a small room, hanging on a sort of hammock.

Nobody else is here with me.

I drop down and see that there is a wall of glass. I look through and see nothing but darkness.

I shiver again and back away from that.

Another wall is scratched on, as if to mark each day in here, about half the wall is covered. Dried up blood runs along the walls and the marks.

A door next to the glass opens and a human man walks in.

His eyes are glowing a bright purple. He walks slowly towards me, seeming to grow taller and taller as he come closer to me.

Voices start whispering louder in the strange language.

Just as he gets right in front of me. His head begins to glow, it grows brighter and brighter and then a flash of light!

“Help me!"

~~~

I gasp out and lurch forward, almost jumping out of my seat.

“Jesus, Norian!” Remy reaches out and lays a hand on my shoulder. “What's wrong buddy? This movie too scary for you?”

He laughs at his joke.

Remelia next to him looks over and frowns.

She is on her phone, clearly not wanting to be here at the movie theater like me.

“Sorry, I fell asleep,” I shrug, hoping they’d move on and not bother.

They do thankfully.

That was a weird fucking dream though.

I look at the movie screen and sigh. I think I need to find some company tonight.

I don’t think I’ll be getting any sleep based off that.

When the movie ends, I go back over to Green Neighborhood, a small area that houses some of the people working under U.U.P.P.

It is mainly for the special squadrons who run through missions set around the universe.

I decide to go over and see the Director.

He runs over everything for my squad. He finds the missions to go to and planets to scout over.

To think this used to only be about exploring and maybe having some civilizations join our cause. Now we fight against some group of humans that think they should be rulers over everyone, Firelight.

They sadly rule over a few small planets. The ones that either have a bad reputation with other planets, or the ones that sadly get ignored by everyone.

It’s mostly the latter.

Trying to find planets everyone ignores can be kind of tricky.

There is a small building that is meant to be our headquarters.

While small on the outside, inside it goes down about eight floors.

The Director stays there almost all day, everyday. He definitely doesn't seem to have a life outside of the building.

I go down a few floors and knock on his office door.

The Director is the only one I've told the soulmate thing. Mostly because he learned he had rejected a Metonian long ago.

She had become a statue a few days later and he has felt guilty ever since.

He told me to come in for any help at all with the subject.

I walk in and see him slumped over his desk with a few empty beer bottles on the ground by him.

Guess this isn’t a good time.

I sigh then head back over to my squad house and to my room.

Locking my door, I strip down to my boxers and change into my living form.

The rocky areas retract into my skin and then my skin turns from a dark gray into a very light blueish-gray.

I squeeze my arm and frown at how weak it is. It’s like human skin. Well, not entirely. It's tougher but still feels too weak to me. I made sure to be as big as I can in this form as well with years of muscle growth, but it still doesn't feel good enough!

My mind constantly screams that I must do better so that I am able to protect my soulmate at all moments of my life.

How my parents managed to handle these thoughts is beyond me.

I lay in bed, turn off the lamp, then turn on the planetarium projector next to it.

I know I probably won’t sleep but staring at the thousands of little stars tends to help.

I sigh and mentally pray that my soulmate is fine.

Every now and then I get dreams where I seem stuck in a box like that.

I’ve never seen those stars, so I know I've never been there.

Surely I am seeing through her eyes?

I must find them, especially if I have to save them. I know damn well that I will.

~~
~~

Mekaias

After a quick breakfast made by Arnio, he takes me up to the gym and closes a curtain over the area with the training dummies.

I tell him that I should be alone and he goes off to muscle up somewhere else.

I wrap the stone in a small enough silver cage that should be able to be put into a necklace.

I stretch a bit, loosening my body for who knows what's going to happen, and then sit on my knees and put the necklace on.

I close my eyes and even out my breathing. I hear faint music from Arnio on the other side of the curtain but it’s not enough to distract me.

The stone starts warming against my chest and then I feel it in my mind. A bunch of voices with stories and lessons, each of them long gone.

I search through them, finding one with the shared magic that only spreads through my family. Trying to find another like me is a bit tricky since so many are big and tall.

I just need someone to show me what to do!

A fighter would be nice and preferable however.

That’s when I feel it, like a deep purple wave of color in my mind, a shape fleshes out. An Alentian spirit that’s maybe a inch or two taller than me. She’s a bit skinnier but from the stories flashing over her skin, she is definitely a fighter!

Her mind tries and meld with mine. I take a deep breathe and let her take over.

I open my eyes but it’s as if I am sharing a body. She asks to do things and will only do them if I allow it.

I eventually figure out how to turn on a few dummies. The metal bots start floating in place.

The spirit starts giving me a few things to know about the old magic. She says that it has made a few changes to my body.

My eyes can see in the dark better. My stamina has increased, allowing me to fight or run for longer than most other species. Burning stamina unfortunately sends out sex pheromones, I couldn’t help but blush at that.

She says not to, saying that it brings an advantage over your opponent.

I personally don’t think so but alright. I guess I’ll have to give them a boner before they die.

Now we're getting onto the actual power part.

The spirit says she prefers to create shields, blinking around through portals, and creating physical weapons made of energy.

I could learn other ways from other ancestors, but I have a feeling I would prefer this as well.

The most important thing I should know is that using magic takes a toll on my body. It wears it out, making it very tired. Summoning too much, teleporting too far, or holding shields for too long can harm me and wear me out.

I nod, but then cringe at myself since she already feels that I understand. She can hear my mind as much as I can hear hers.

Oh good she’s laughing at me now.

She is asking to take over for a few minutes. I let her.

As I do, my mind and vision become rushed in with colors. Suddenly I am not in the gym, but I am in what i believe is a forest.

I’ve never been to a forest before!

It's so beautiful! So many shades of green and there are flowers I've never seen before! There are blues and yellows, and even more colors I've never seen in my life!

This was the home planet before it was destroyed I think.

I can feel her sadness at that thought but then a rustle to the right calls my attention.

I slip down into tall grass, waiting to see what could be intruding.

Heavy footsteps grow nearer and then a human steps out into the open.

He’s a rather handsome man, considering he doesn’t have an eye. Though his giant gun doesn’t make him very friendly.

He looks around slowly, he’s chewing on some orange fruit I've never seen before.

Perhaps he is looking for me?

Suddenly, my body starts running towards him, my feet barely even make a sound as I am running up behind him.

I hold my breath and then find myself leaping over him while turning my body at the same time. My head is just over the tips of his hair as my hand creates a small flicker of violet magic, it shapes into a dark purple dagger, it becomes physical instantly.

With the momentum of my body turning in the leap, the blade swings in time to slash across his neck.

As I land on my feet in front of him, I look back over my shoulder at his face.

He is in shock as he reaches for his throat, dark red blood spilling out.

I didn’t know their blood was red. It's disgusting but also beautiful?

I watch as the man begins to blur away and then I am back in the gym. In the man’s place is a broken robot splayed out on the ground.

I see the dagger disappear from my hand into nothing and I release the breath I forgot I was holding.

I hear clapping behind me and see Arnio standing against a wall.

“I don’t know about you, but that was pretty hot!” He winks, his face a bit flushed.

I blush, just now remembering what using my stamina does now.

That better not have brought him in here!

I turn around and listen to the spirit some more, learning as much as I possibly can.

That day I learned I favored dual daggers in close range, a long staff at mid range that allows me to summon a blade on either end whenever I want, and for long range I made a sort of ball of purple energy that shoots out an equivalent to bullets.

I don’t exactly understand how guns work enough to actually create a magic gun sadly.

The spirit says it's more respectful to create a fair fight. I can agree with that...just not for the King or man that murdered my mother.

When Arnio came in later that day to say it was time for a break, I was ready to pass out.

I could very much tell that using powers all day really took its toll on you.

I went to my room and Arnio prepared a meal of bread, beans, and cheese. I scarfed it down and then went to bed.

Arnio joined me again when I asked. I fell right to sleep!

That night I dreamed of cutting the head off of King Talemo.

It was a very pleasant night of dreams.