Stellar Saviors

twelfth chapter

Spending the day in the city was a bit tiring, there was more than I realized. The buildings might've looked similar on the outside, but inside they were multiple different businesses.
Besides the outside tables the inside businesses had much to offer from baking to self-defense lessons.
It reminded me of the city before the Shakall. We used to have such a lively city. Weeks of festivities and holidays. Seeing First Colony made me miss it all.
Chrissy listened when I told her how much I missed some things, then she would drag me to a new building. There had to be a building for everything here. Pottery, welding, mechanics, science,there was an art building as well
Some there structures would hold multiple activities in one place. To save space I suppose. Everywhere was busy at this point of day. It honestly made glad to see. But because of the Golden One in my head, there was an unforgetful feeling
I couldn't fit in here. Not while he's a part of me. I wonder if the Khagveks Mothership would know how to detach him from me. If I could go back to being my own mind, maybe I'd feel better.
An orange hue falling over the sky raised my attention to a ship gliding past the city. The moon isn't yet up, it's not the Beacon of Devotion. We have until nightfall for that. I did at least. Chrissy was looking back to the neighborhood sector.
"Marlee I loved our time out together, but I feel I should really head back home. Those kids will be the death of him I swear. Sorry to cut the tour short," she rambled, sending an apologetic look my way. She was about to walk away but then turned back again. "If you're feeling up to it. There's an art museum with the locals artwork in it. As well as some Khagvek pieces. It's open to the public, no fee. It's little Maileys favorite place to go," she ended, pointing to a larger building.
It had no windows, but the roof was mostly made up of glass. I nodded to her suggestion, saying I'd check it out. She smiled one last time then took her leave to the neighborhood sector.
I can do this alone, sure I can. It's an art museum.Meant to be peaceful. My hand rotated the bangle on my wrist as I walked up to the building. A large archway welcomed me in, as well as a worker acknowledging my arrival. He didn't say anything, just waved a hand towards the path. Leading further inside. The lights were dim to nothing. Only the faint light leading in from the roof and single spotlights pointing to artworks provided any actual glow. I quite liked it.
I started off in the 'human works' section. Multiple paintings and clay sculptures were shown off. Each had a small description providing background information about the work and its creator. There was a piece i found which looked a lot like the white plush animal at the house. I learned it was called a lamb and indeed lived before the mutations.
Slowly I ventured into the 'alien' section. Both Khagvek and Shakall work were presented here. I noticed these had two translations for their descriptions. One English and the other one of the two alienic languages.
I felt drawn to a certain work displayed. A painted clay piece of a claw about half my height. The English labeled it to be called the "elder talon", a replication of those on the mothership.
"fascinating, isn't it? A new voice behind me spoke. They walked up to look at the claw with me. A taller human with impressively long platinum hair. To see that sort of length on a human was rare, something surprising. They had many piercings on their face and stretched lobes like the Khagvek. Their eyelids were coated with blue eyeshadow which brought out the brown in their eyes. I was quite fond of the appearance.
"It is cool, yes," I agreed and looked back to the claw. The person standing beside me pointed to the small plaque entailing the description
"The Beacon of Devotion himself made this one. He's very artistic, "they mentioned, taking a short pause for thought, "I wouldn't label him as my friend but I know him a little better than most do. The beacons are all very fascinating."
"I've noticed," I recalled over all the past few interactions. Fascinating is definitely a word for them.
"Your expression tells me you might know them better than I do, am I wrong to think the way I do," the person asked, turning to face me now.
"Of course not, you think the way you want to. I haven't personally met Beacon of Devotion yet, but the beacons I have are all very. . . Quirky? If that's the right word for it. Especially that Rebirth one he's so. . ." I trailed off, not wanting to say something I didn't mean. Part of me loathed him, the other was -- unsure. I just know I don't hate him.
"Quirky is certainly appropriate. That's interesting how you know the Beacon of Rebirth, he's usually so closed off," they revealed them slipped a card out of their pocket. They saved it out for me to take, "I'm Nick, I run a club for better understanding the Khagvek and sharing their history. If you'd like, stop by sometime."
The card had an address on it and Nicks full name. The Khagvek symbol for 'fight' stamped onto the paper.
"Thanks, I'm Marlee by the way," I tilted my head in their direction. The room felt as if it was growing darker, the sky above changing into a purple color. Nick noticed as well and waved a hand.
"Getting late, I hope to see you around Marlee," they ended and walked away from the claw. When I looked back at it I saw the faintest indention of the initials 'L.Y.'. Lightyear. Maybe I should head to the tower.

I didn't head back immediately. I figured I still had some time so I stopped by the house for food. No kids were outside anymore, nor was Chrissys door open. Maybe they've already gone to sleep.
Nevermind that though, I just had another sandwich to satisfy my hunger. Then I made my way to the tower. People were closing up shops and packing items away from the table when I passed. The art museum still looked open, the lights inside were ever shining. The streets weren't crowded anymore, and were mostly Khagvek still out. Some are still working to help the humans while some just chat. I didn't feel as uncomfortable being out here after speaking with Christine and Nick.
That changed quickly when I entered the tower. The cold didn't help.
Lolti was back and was bustling in the lobby. She stopped when she saw me and pointed at the elevator. LightYear wasn't here already was he? I suppose I'll see in a second, I thought as i entered the elevator.
It was a quick trip up, first I'd tried floor 5 but it was empty and all the lights were off. So then I went for floor 10. It was nearly the same except for the room we were all in earlier.
Cautiously walking up to the door and peering inside, I saw mostly familiar faces. They looked dark and concerned.
But there was also a new one.

He was draped entirely in black robes, that dragged well along the floor. A black veil coiled dong his horns. They were lengthy. At first they'd curl up over his head, but at the tips they turned and pointed in opposite directions. I couldn't see much besides his face, but from what I did see, he had no jewelry or piercings in the face or ears.
His eyes were startling fire color. A ring of yellow surrounding the orange of his iris. He was focused on marking a circle onto the wall with a blue stick. The others standing across the room from him. His hand raised, his head turning none, but he beckoned me to come into the room
So I listened, ignoring the sudden pound in my head. He mentioned for me to stand beside him, he was maybe double my height. He had to skip j so he didn't hit the ceiling.
He kept his attention to the circle, now drawing what I assumed to be their andestoral symbols. Much like their tattoos. Which he was covered in, any but of skin id see, there was a symbol. All cross the circle he filled it with similar markings. When he finished he set a palm in the middle, the one space lacking anything.
I watched intently as his eyes closed, reopening to be a full blue color. If the room wasn't entirely silent before, it definitely was now. All eyes on him.
His lips were barely parted, muttering messages in their language. If only I could learn their language or find a translator. My head turned to find the familiar face.
The Beacon of Rebirth. He looked scared. His eyes glossy and his ears down-tilted. He was doing all he could to not look at Lightyear. Strangely, it made me feel nice.
No it didn't, that was the Golden Ones feelings. Not mine.
Hands gripped my shoulders, my head whipping back to meet, the blue eyes. It felt like Lightyear was staring, straight through me. me. His hand left my shoulder and reached upwards, claws reacting out. He spread his fingers atop my head and pressed his thumb down just above the bridge between my eyes.
My mind didn't feel mine and I could feel myself slipping away. Back to that void in my dream.