Elyon

Flight

He looks down at himself, covered in robes. "This is a dream," he says.

"Yes, it is."

"You sent the dreams."

"Yes, I did."

He looks over at Elyon. "I don't understand, why me?"

"I don't want anyone to be away from me, Red. And when I called you, you responded to Me."

Red looks down. "You're not always going to be around for me to talk to, are you? This is a special thing, isn't it?"

"You will not always see me with your eyes, but I will always be here." Elyon's claw pokes Red's chest. "When you accepted me as your commander, you allowed me to live and speak to you inside you."

"That doesn't make sense," Red says flatly. "Am I your puppet then?"

"No." Elyon's voice is stern. "Never a puppet. This is how I keep my promise that I will never abandon you, and you may speak with Me anytime. I will guide you if you let me, but I will never force you."

"Elyon, are you really going to do what you showed Skiftsom and me? Is that really going to happen to you?"

Elyon gazes at him steadily. "It is not going to 'happen to me.' It is something I choose to endure for the sake of the Irken race, just as I have done it for the human race. There isn't a force in existence that could do to me something I did not allow."

Red's throat tightens. "I have never heard of a commander or a leader like you."

"Then it's time to learn, Red." The vision blurs, and Elyon's voice is coming from farther away. "I will always be with you, Red. Listen for me."

.....

Dantie had intended to remain where he was, just like the Tallest told him to. But when the Tallest fell over, well, he couldn't just stay put. Especially not when he caught sight of SIR units on the horizon.

He'd darted forward as fast as he could, noting the black streak returning the way it came while Ayam remained, crouched over Red.

"My Tallest! Ayam! Ayam is My Tallest alright?" Dantie skidded to a stop, unsure how to proceed.

Ayam nodded, slowly stroking Red's antennae. "He'll be alright. He'll wake up a little confused, but he'll be fine." He turned his attention to Dantie. "You will still stay with him?"

"Yes Ayam."

"His road is hard," Ayam warned, "I will be with you both, but it is not easy."

"I will stay with My Tallest, Ayam."

Ayam smiled at him. "You have a strong heart Dantie." He clapped the Irken on his shoulder, and Dantie shivered at the joy that coursed through him. "You will see me again."

And then He was gone. And yet, not gone. There was a strange warmth in Dantie's chest, and he smiled.

The distant sound of search drones snapped him out of his reverie, and he dropped to his knees, shaking Red. "My Tallest!" Red's skin was clean of all blood, and he now wore the same armor Dantie had seen on himself once Red had clawed something away from his eyes in the torture chamber. He set his joy aside, he had to wake his Tallest and get him away from this place.

...

Red felt someone prodding him. Calling him. But he didn't want to get up. There was so much more to talk with Elyon about, even as the dream slipped away, the details started to fade.