Page 4 of Eclipse Bound
“Peccadillos pudding,” Harris inserted, not making sense.
"Very strict," Gary added, pushing Harris behind him. “Bob, turn that off. This is the wrong presentation. And we only lost track of those Killians for a few days. Barely even made the Earth news, and all females were recovered and their minds erased. They're fine.”
Eclipsyionic felt a pain forming in his head. "Perhaps we should focus on the diplomatic benefits of the?—"
"Oh yes!" Bob brightened. "We have an excellent package deal. Three trips to Earth for the price of two, plus complementary skin-suits and internal sound translators for blending in with the local population."
“Three?” Eclipsyionic shook his head in denial. “No. There are only two delegates.”
"Skin-suits?" Luniaren's voice dropped dangerously low with disgust. "You want us to look like the Earth humans?"
"Just a precaution," Gary said quickly. "Though the last batch did melt a bit in the sun. We're still working out some kinks, but if that happens, just tell the locals you were disfigured in a vat of acid accident. No problems. Some Earth women like deformed monsters. Just hand those women a book."
“We arranged for two transports,” Eclipsyionic insisted, gesturing at his two companions.
Bob and Gary shared a look.
“The signed contract said—” Bob began.
“We are not supposed to say the contract was already signed.” Gary frowned. “They need to think they had a say. Remember, they’re delicate beings.”
Solarestabinian and Luniaren share a look. No one had ever accused anyone on the planet of Zorveya of being delicate.
“Well, that ship has flown out of the quadrant, am I right?” Bob laughed. He returned to the device and scrolled through more pictures. Eclipsyionic watched as images of various aliens chased terrified Earth women, others proudly held them flailing upside down by their ankles in front of a body of water, and a wormlike creature with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth tried to bite off a woman’s head.
“Look in my direction,” Bob ordered.
A device flashed. Solarestabinian sparkled. Luniaren grunted and lifted his arms to block the light.
Eclipsyionic didn’t move. He had a bad feeling about this whole situation. This simple assignment was spiraling, and he could feel the edges of control slipping through his fingers like fractured starlight.
“There we are,” Gary said, smiling. A photo of Solarestabinian appeared on alien documents. Sparkles shone around his eyes like surprised fireworks. “We have already set up the necessary paperwork so you can assimilate easily into Earth culture. Your human name will be Solar.”
“My earned name is Solarestabinian. It means the great warrior of the light guard who fights for the external truth.”
“It means wormhole licker,” Luniaren muttered under his breath.
“Convenient, right? The Earth humans have a similar name. Solar, of the sun,” Gary said. “Very prestigious.”
“And popular,” Bob added. “Interesting fact, on Earth, you need what they call a surname, a second name belonging to your related family, so you do not mate with a biological replicant. Your surname will be Bound.”
“Solar Bound,” Gary interjected with excitement. “I picked it myself.”
Luniaren smirked. “That sounds accurate.”
Eclipsyionic grimaced. Bound was slang for a man caught self-pleasuring in the vine forest.
The image changed to Luniaren’s face. His eyes were closed, and his face was scrunched from the harsh flash.
“Meet Lunar Bound,” Gary announced.
“No,” Luniaren stated.
“Yes,” Gary insisted.
“No, I am not family to him,” Luniaren’s voice hardened in anger. A wave of energy came off him, and the shadows followed him as he aggressively challenged Gary.
“M-moving on,” Gary stammered, cowering from the sudden dark cloud looming over him. “Bob?”
