Page 5 of Lunar Bound
The skin-suit was repulsive. The thin membrane was designed to mask his shadow-absorbing skin with a dull human-like exterior. Wearing it felt like being wrapped in a layer of congealed oil.
With reluctance, Lunar retrieved the skin-suit from the travel bag. He retreated to the bathing chamber to apply it, wanting privacy for the undignified process. The mirror reflected his true form, tall and lean, with skin that absorbed light rather than reflected it, creating a perpetual shadow effect around his body.
The skin-suit covered this distinctive feature, transforming him into a dull, ordinary-looking human. His shadow-walking abilities would be diminished while wearing it, but not eliminated entirely. Still, it was a necessary compromise. He pulled the baggy one-piece over the skin.
When he emerged, Solar laughed. "You look terrible. Like a corpse animated by Franktonian scientists."
Eclipse interrupted, holding up more Earthman garments that had been provided. "These coverings are insufficient. We'll need to acquire something to blend in properly." He presented a piece of paper with crude markings. "There appears to be a commercial district within walking distance."
"I'll join you later," Lunar stated, moving toward the door. "After I check the perimeter."
"Don't get lost in the shadows," Solar called after him. "I'd hate to have to come rescue you from Earth's law enforcement."
Lunar didn't bother responding. Solar's provocations were as predictable as they were tiresome.
The corridor outside their room was mercifully dimmer than their quarters, though still brighter than any shadow-dweller would find comfortable. Lunar moved quickly, keeping to the walls where the lighting was less intense. The building's layout was simple. It consisted of a central hallway with rooms branching off on either side, and a stairwell at each end.
He avoided the main exit, instead locating a service door that led to an exterior area behind the building. This space was cluttered with waste receptacles and maintenance equipment, but more importantly, it was partially shaded by the structure itself.
Earth's sun hung low in the sky, marking late afternoon by human standards. The dry, warm air carried unfamiliar smells. Lunar took a deep breath. He isolated the mineral makeup of the soil, the native plants, and the faint chemical traces from human habitats.
Movement caught his attention. A small creature scurried across the ground, pausing to examine him with wary eyes before disappearing into the underbrush. It was some form of local wildlife that had adapted to living in proximity to humans.
Interesting. Perhaps not all Earth species lacked survival instincts.
Lunar moved deeper into the shade, allowing himself to merge with the shadows. Despite the skin-suit limiting his abilities, he managed to disappear from human perception when there was darkness to draw from. He started to walk around the building, keeping near the walls and watching quietly without drawing attention.
Humans went about their activities unaware of being observed. They entered and exited vehicles powered by combustion, not gravity manipulation. They carried packages and communicated via handheld devices, which seemed to be issued to most. Many wore protective eye coverings to shield their eyes from the sun's radiation. Although this seemed like an evolutionary flaw, Lunar silently slipped past a group and took a pair of glasses from someone’s head without being noticed. The dark lenses helped.
He continued his reconnaissance, circling the entire Crimson Rock structure before expanding outward to survey the surrounding area. The settlement was built among unusual rock formations of striking red coloration. Natural energy convergences might explain the humans' choice of location, though their technologies appeared too primitive to detect or utilize such resources.
One human female caught his attention specifically. She moved with purpose between buildings, carrying an injured animal in her arms. Unlike the others, she didn't speak into devices or move with the distracted gait of those absorbed in their own concerns. Her focus was entirely on the creature she held, as she murmured soothingly to it.
The animal, some small, furry quadruped, appeared to be in distress. Yet instead of eliminating the weakened creature, the female was clearly providing care. An interesting behavior pattern. Inefficient from an evolutionary perspective, but perhaps indicative of social structures worth studying.
Lunar followed at a distance, his curiosity piqued. The female entered a building labeled "Desert Animal Rescue" and disappeared inside. Through the window, he could see her carefully placing the animal on a treatment surface while another human approached with what appeared to be medical implements.
Caring for non-sentient species, he noted mentally. This empathy response could be exploited.
Her eyes lifted, and she stared out the window in his direction like she could see him. That was impossible, of course. A current ran through his body. Lunar retreated into the shadows.
He left the mysterious woman to continue exploring the settlement. As darkness finally fell, Lunar felt his strength returning. Earth's night offered him a chance to move more freely without the skin-suit. He located several promising areas of deep shadow and chose a narrow space between buildings to strip out of the disguise. He hid the outfit so he could retrieve it later before meeting back up with Eclipse and Solar. He didn't need them knowing that he wandered the planet uncovered.
When he emerged from the alley, it was in a dark area by a social gathering place named The Crash Zone. This location proved most interesting. Humans were entering the front of the building in significant numbers, many wearing garments decorated with crude representations of extraterrestrial beings. Some even wore wrinkled metallic coverings on their heads, a puzzling choice with no obvious practical purpose.
Through a partially open door, Lunar glimpsed the interior. He swept through the shadows of the club undetected, only to exit on the other side. The space was dimly lit with strange-colored artificial lights, filled with people using substances and engaging in behaviors that seemed related to mating. So this was how Earth species initiated reproductive connections. Chaotic and inefficient, but potentially useful knowledge for their mission. It would be so much easier to tap into their personal biorhythms.
He was about to move on when a female emerged from the rear exit, separated from his position by only a narrow alley. He recognized her from earlier when she cared for the injured animal. She stepped into the dim light, breathing deeply as if the interior atmosphere had been unpleasant to her respiratory system.
Lunar froze, allowing his natural abilities to render him virtually invisible against the darkened wall. The woman should have continued on, unaware of his presence.
Instead, she turned directly toward him.
"Don't run away. I know you're there," she said, her voice carrying clearly through the still air. "I followed you from the clinic. I felt you watching me."
Impossible. No human should be able to detect a shadow-walker in darkness. Their visual systems were inadequate, their perception limited to basic electromagnetic wavelengths.
Yet this female looked directly at his position. Her eyes, unusual in coloration, almost luminous, seemed to pierce his concealment.
