Dark Nine ❈ Dark Nine Universe Bk1 ❈

Chapter Five

I had followed Neptune back to the prison, we walked around it and he took me to a separate structure, basically an underground bunker which housed their spacecraft – so it was technically their garage, I guess?

Neptune had jumped down, while I climbed the old ladder carved into the rock.

Below here, the bunker is fitted with grey and white clothes on the walls along with Universal Board accessories, whether they be weapons or official books.

Yup, books were still a thing in the universe in 20,500; by Earth years anyway.

Off to the side of the area where they prepare for intergalactic travel, is the spacecraft itself.

It is a literal triangle, it's very slim and not even that big. I bet it'll hold all of them but not much more.

I waltz over to stand in front of the space craft, where the name is itched into the side.

"E"

At least, it looks like the letter E to me. I'm sure to them, it means something else in their Kor tongue.

I feel safer near something so familiar and human; technology, fashion, a ride... it gave the Kors a new sense of civility.

I assume this is why the mysterious Neptune brought me down here, to show me that side of them so I wouldn't be so scared.

That's how I reason it.

Neptune is empathetic.

While I stand next to E, I look over my shoulder and I freeze.

Neptune has intercepted me again. He is now slightly less invisible, but the air around him somehow provides him features. I finally see his irises, which are neon white. I feel like I'm staring at a hologram, but he stands in the way of all the arrivals.

Yes, all of them.

Behind Neptune, to which I have not dared to adjust my gaze, all the other Kors have arrived.

Mars is with them, Jupiter too, plus six more, of varying colour but all equally giant in size.

"What's happening?" I whisper as quietly as I can to Neptune, who has been waiting for me to speak up.

"Come on board," Neptune reaches above me and presses his hand to the E panel. A circle opens and I feel a gravitational force sucking in, Neptune ushers me toward the door, located under the craft, "I'll help you."

I get the sudden idea that they are helping me off planet.

They must feel with their deep instincts, my unease... they must be helping me go to another part of the universe...

I step toward the door and the pull of the gravity wave is smooth in tugging me into the centre and up into the craft.

It pushes me to the side when I'm through and I land steadily on my two feet. I'm now looking at two long stretches of seats to strap into. Five on either side.

Neptune is next up, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, leading me toward a seat in the middle of the left row. I don't struggle when I know he wants me to sit down.

I turn and obey the suggestion, while Neptune reaches around me for the shoulder straps, pulling them over and buckling me in. As his hands adjust the sizes of the straps, he takes his time, so he can explain to my silent expression of hope, "We get a lot of visitors here, Diana, our planet is designated as a tourist attraction, for the Elion League,"All Elions were not subspecies to humans, such as those gigantic spiders, and yes, they were considered enemies, "We don't stop them dropping by, especially if we feel like hunting, but we don't tolerate them at all if we have female guests that we need to protect," Neptune looks me over, as he steps back to inspect the handy work, "We're all going off world, we can't leave you here undefended," Neptune turns around and walks off toward the front of the ship, where he inputs all the instructions on the one device in the spacecraft.