The Dawning of Fate

The next time I wake up, there isn’t pizza and hot wings waiting for me, as my dream would have me believe. Instead, I get a protein bar and water shoved in my face once I’m strapped into a seat. Talk about disappointment. My body feels a bit fatigued so I guess I should be grateful for the power-up. Unlike before, I get to see the big blue orb called Niscus in person and it’s beyond beautiful. Bright like flaming sapphire, Niscus grows bigger before my eyes. Views and experiences like this make getting kidnapped and thrown in a cage worthwhile. Though that may sound crazy to some. As we draw closer, a large vertical docking station comes into view. Ships of all different shapes and sizes are flying in from all directions. The double shafts seem to be rotating like wheel brushes in a car wash, letting vehicles in and out.

Amondis pilots the ship with expertise and we’re docked and traveling to the trade outpost in no time. The entire system of transport from the docking station to the planet’s surface is extremely complex and I can’t be bothered to understand all the ins and outs.

“Sorry about this,” Azandum says before placing a chain-link leash around my neck.

“What the-”

“Three people walking around in cloaks is suspicious and will draw attention whether intentionally or not. Not to mention the fact that my brother and I are Tumerians. However, if two males appeared to be transporting a captive then the stakes are a bit lower. An unfortunate truth, but a truth nonetheless.”

Great. Niscus is as cursed as it is beautiful. In another situation, this may be considered kinky. Nevertheless, my cloak is firmly in place and I tag along with the two Tumerians into the throng of merchant stands. Sandy gravel crunches beneath the new boots I was given and I can feel the heat of multiple bodies around me. I keep my head down and the hood of my cloak is pulled low. I’m trusting Zan to steer me in the right direction.

As we make our way through, I notice that the market is organized into sections rather than random stalls here and there. Merchants who sell foods and spices are gathered in the same area. Sweet and savory smells flood my nostrils causing my stomach to growl. Luckily, my bodily sounds were pretty low in the grand scheme of things. Zan still heard it though, so he stops momentarily before shoving something on a stick towards me. The pinkish meat smells good but...it’s pink!

“Just so you know, pink and meat are usually two combinations that I try to avoid.”

Zan chuckles. “Eat, you silly Terran.” We continue walking and I take a small bite of the skewered snack. Like carnival food, the meat is what I would consider fried and fatty and everything that I’ve been missing. The involuntary moan that comes after my first bite causes Zan to falter slightly in his steps before tightening his grip on my leash.

I’ll take that as a warning. So I remain silently eating and walking along until we’ve reached our destination, which happens to be a little caravan run by a tiny red creature with butterfly wings. Its short and stocky body defies gravity as it floats around chirping to this person and that. The rainbow-colored wings are lined with black trimming and they look absolutely magical.

Upon catching me staring, the little creature floats over to us. It stands about 3 ft tall. Zan and Amondis must seem like giants. The wings make up for that though as he floats up and meets Amondis face-to-face. Zan strategically blocks me from view while the transactions are being made. It does take long before Amondis is paying and loading the language transplant into his insertion device. It looks just like a piercing gun but hurts worse because it’s going behind my ear instead of through it. When it’s all said and done, it takes a moment for the language implant to stabilize.

“Do you think it’s working?”

“I can’t tell.”

“My products are military grade. You won’t get a device like that from any other merchant here.”

“They better be for the price you charged me.”

I chuckle softly. The conversation is so normal compared to the many other conversations I’ve had during my time away from Earth. A buyer begrudging the seller for an outrageous price. When I glance up, 3 sets of eyes are all staring at me with different expressions on each. Zan looks concerned, Amondis looks irritated, and the merchant fairy-man looks intrigued. I burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all.

“I think she’s broken,” Amondis comments off-handedly and it makes me laugh harder.

“I am not broken,” I wheeze through deep breaths to calm down.

“The device works then. We should be on our way.” Amondis announces before heading back into the crowded streets.

Zan falls into step with him and my leash is tugged to follow. I think he’s getting a little too comfortable with this.

“Thank you, sir,” I say quickly to the fairy.

“The pleasure is mine,” he responds before fluttering his wings and sending sparkles floating around me. A giddy smile alights my face as the particles wink in the sunlight.

One of the two Tumerians scoffs before it’s quickly followed by “If that’s all it takes to make you react like that then maybe I should throw some dust on my wings and flap them around.”

I realize the snide remark came from Azandum and I laugh incredulously. “Is that jealousy that I’m hearing?”

“Yes and I think that was a hint of sarcasm as well Echo,” Amondis taunts. We laugh together like school girls at Zan’s expense.

“I think I liked it better when you didn’t have your implant,” Zan growls which only causes us to laugh harder.

“Despite what my brother says, I’m glad we can talk again. Speaking with Azandum is such a bore.”

“More importantly,” Zan interrupts rather loudly. I snicker softly. “How are we going to find your female?”

“We will need to find our way out of the trade region and towards where the planet’s inhabitants are. It will be far less crowded there so our chances of being spotted will increase but it’s necessary to find the group of people I’m looking for.”

On the way out of the market, Zan helps me pick out some foods for us to snack on later. I also pick out a few spices and herbs that I’d like to try in my cooking. Amondis mutters about this not being a shopping trip but he lets me be. The walk is long and quite confusing but we finally make our way out of all the merchant stands. Oddly, it seemed as though other people were making it their business not to get in our way. The atmosphere wasn’t hostile. Instead, it was like instinct driving smaller animals away from predators. A fitting description.

Amondis manages to secure a ride with some travelers who are going into the city without too much trouble. I thought the slant oval vehicle looked out of place compared to the dusty trade region but as the thing begins to float and move further away, my suspicions are nullified.

The city looked like something handpicked from a fairytale. A large skyscraping bridge separates the trade market from the rest of the planet. Two stone pillars meet in an arch high above our heads. Far below the bridge lies a creek with water that rushes vigorously along the rocky path. As if the entryway itself wasn’t enough, everything in the city was built into the side of the mountain. From the stores and restaurants to individual homes, marvelous stone glistened with its ancient beauty. Goosebumps peppered my skin as I stepped foot out of the hover tram. This city was the difference between looking at a mountain and actually being on one. Underneath the voices of different creatures and bustling machinery, the primordial hum of the mountain rang out.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” The sudden tenor of Zan’s voice in my head shocked me momentarily.

“You know you don’t have to talk to me here anymore right?”

He flashes me a small smirk. “Yes, I’m aware; however, speaking to you directly feels more intimate. When I speak to you within your mind now, it is not because I am required to do so. Simply, I only wish for your ears to hear the words I speak.”

“Careful Azandum, you’ll make me blush.” Soothing laughter fills my head and sends a shiver through my body.

“Who knew the little Terran could be so coy.”

The blush in question heats my face along with a smile. I brush my fingers along his softly and he hooks his index finger with mine.

“No offense Echo but I think you’ve turned my womb-mate into a weakling. Being around the two of you and all your doting makes me want to hunt,” Amondis groans from ahead of us.

“There is no need for jealousy, little brother. We will find your beloved soon enough,” Zan teases in return.

Amondis scoffs. “Jealousy is a condition that does not affect me. Besides, no one cares that you came out of mother’s womb first.”

“No one but him,” Zan murmurs to me and I snicker childishly. It was comical seeing the two of them bicker like normal siblings when they were two adult warriors.

Amondis made sure to thank the travelers for their hospitality as we left their vehicle and we made sure to stay close to each other as we traversed through the city. Niscus was far different from Icturi. Different species from all over reside on Icturi, but here, aside from the trade outpost, there is a civilization of all the same species. Zan called them the people of the Xoid, a highly advanced warrior species.

Despite the war happening ages ago, these two species still have bad blood. And from the sudden change in atmosphere, it seems as though the thing about Tumerians being unwelcome here was not to be taken lightly.

“This may be stating the obvious but I think we should make like a banana and split.”

Azandum takes my hand and begins to walk faster. “I have no idea what a banana is but I agree with you. Let’s move.”