Page 9 of Lunar Bound
He tracked Poppy's energy signature to a building identified as Desert Animal Rescue, where she appeared to be caring for injured non-sentient creatures. He’d been drawn to this place before and found it to be an unusual occupation, but one that suggested useful skills for survival. Patience. Caution. Understanding of biological needs.
After observing her routine for approximately two Earth hours, Lunar had followed her to another location, the Duskrock Yoga and Spa Meditation Center. The facility's design offered abundant shadows for concealment, allowing him to move undetected through its corridors while observing human behaviors.
Or so he had believed.
"I can feel you," Poppy's voice called softly as she stepped into an empty room. The compact space was stocked with supplies and unusual Earth food holding artifacts. "You don't have to hide from me."
Lunar remained in shadow, calculating options. Retreat was logical. Engagement threatened the mission's success. Curiosity, an instinct his shadowy ancestors had fostered as vital for survival, urged him to stay.
“I know you’ve been following me today. Show yourself,” Poppy said louder.
Lunar kept watching, observing her closely. Her form was pleasing, so delicate. And her emotions calmly washed over him. She wasn’t chaotic like the other humans.
“Do you understand me?” Her eyes searched the shadows. “Please, say something.”
"How do you perceive me?" he asked finally, maintaining his shadow form rather than stepping into visibility.
Poppy appeared relieved to hear his voice emerging from the darkness. "I sense energy patterns. Yours is distinct. Like a void that moves with purpose."
"Most humans lack this capacity," Lunar observed.
"Most, yes." She smiled slightly. "I take after my grandmother. We’ve always been sensitive to what she would call shadow frequencies."
"Shadow frequencies," Lunar repeated. The terminology was primitive but conceptually accurate. "Your species classification system does not include such perceptual ranges."
"I'm an anomaly." She took a step closer to his position, her eyes not quite focusing on where he actually stood, but impressively close. "The stone I gave you last night, did it help?"
"It’s not safe for you to know about me," Lunar replied. Solar and Eclipse would not be happy about this.
"I can’t help who I am," Poppy said. “You can trust me.”
Before Lunar could respond, the door burst open, flooding the space with light that disrupted his shadow form. Solar stood in the doorway, his irritated glow barely contained by the deteriorating skin-suit. Golden energy spilled from the edges.
"You," Poppy whispered, looking at Solar. "You're the bright one. From the crash."
Solar ignored her, focusing on Lunar. "Eclipse sent me. We must go to our assigned dwelling. You should not be talking to anyone."
"This human has unusual perceptive abilities," Lunar replied coldly, refusing to be treated like an errant child. "She detected my presence despite shadow concealment."
"That doesn't matter," Solar insisted, his skin brightening with typical arrogance. The room's lighting fixtures began to flicker and buzz with his uncontrolled emissions. "Eclipse has secured new accommodations."
Poppy seemed unaffected by Solar's display, her attention returning to Lunar. "The shadow stones should help. I have more if you need them."
Solar's attention snapped to her. "What do you know of us?"
Poppy met his gaze without fear. "I know you're not from here. I know you crashed near Pete's shop yesterday. I know you're different from each other, light and shadow." She gestured toward them. "And I know you can manipulate energy to the point you’re disrupting the retreat's electrical system."
The overhead light exploded in a shower of sparks as if to confirm her assessment. She gave a small yelp of surprise and jumped out of the way of falling glass.
"Poppy has offered assistance," Lunar explained to Solar, willing the Solarian for once in his life to be calm.
"Poppy?" Solar repeated, his tone suggesting disbelief. "You revealed yourself to a human without authorization. Have you forgotten our mission parameters?"
"I revealed nothing," Lunar countered, finding Solar's hypocrisy typical. "She perceived me through means I have yet to determine."
Poppy stepped forward, her posture suggesting a mediating intent similar to Eclipse's habitual interventions. "Look, I don't want to cause trouble. I just want to help. Duskrock can be overwhelming for sensitive beings."
Lunar hid his amusement at the fact that she called Solar sensitive. It wasn't a compliment.
