Page 54 of Lunar Bound
“Bring Earth-Entity Dani,” a member ordered. “Let us see these Earth creatures.”
Dani was led into the chamber and instantly went toward Solar.
“Does she understand us?” the head councilor asked.
Dani touched beneath her ear where Galaxy Brides had implanted a translator. "Yes. I understand you.”
“Have her turn around,” one told Solar.
Dani crossed her arms over her chest and refused.
Several members allowed their shadow essences to reach for her. She gasped, swatting her hand through the air. Touching Solar’s arm, she pulled on his energy. His light fed into her hand, giving her a threatening glow. The shadow essences automatically retreated.
Solar smirked.
The council members conferred among themselves in private communication. Lunar watched with growing unease.
"Your intelligence is valuable," the head councilor finally stated. "The council will determine appropriate responses to this Earth threat."
"Earth itself is not the threat," Lunar corrected, his essence pulsing with an emotion he would once have suppressed. "Milano represents a specific danger, but Earth contains potential allies. The connections we formed demonstrate compatibility previously thought impossible."
"You keep saying connections like this word means more than duty," a councilor said dismissively. "Your Earth female. The light-dweller's fire manipulator. Even the diplomat has apparently chosen exile for his human companion."
"They are not possessions," Lunar argued. "They are individuals with names. Eclipse studies Earth's knowledge systems with Rowan. Solar shares energy concepts with Dani. And Poppy?—"
He faltered, his body rippling with the emotion he had been containing since he left her.
"Poppy understands darkness without fearing it," he continued, finding strength in speaking her name. "She perceives shadow frequencies no human should detect. She represents possibilities beyond our statistical models."
The council's disapproval intensified, but Lunar found he no longer cared. An Earth month of reflection had crystallized what he had been unable to articulate before extraction. His existence had fundamentally changed through knowing Poppy Jensen.
"You are obviously compromised," the head councilor stated flatly. "We can only assume your judgment is impaired by emotional contamination and alien light exposure."
"If understanding connection is contamination, then yes," Lunar agreed, automatically answering with his usual directness. "I am compromised. As is Solar. As is Eclipse, who chose to remain on Earth. Perhaps the real success of our mission was discovering what becomes possible when we move beyond isolation."
The council members' shadow essences contracted with shock at his insubordination. In Lunaris, such direct challenge to authority was unprecedented.
"Your mission reports will be analyzed," the head councilor stated after a moment of tense silence. "You are confined to the Citadel until further notice. The light-dweller and Earth female will be escorted to Twilight Belt diplomatic quarters."
As shadow guards materialized to escort them from the chamber, Lunar caught Solar's gaze. The light-dweller's golden form pulsed once in what Lunar recognized as silent agreement. They would not be separated so easily.
"Confined?" Lunar questioned. "On what grounds?"
"Potential psychological instability resulting from prolonged Earth exposure," came the cold reply. "Standard quarantine protocol. Three moon cycles in darkness should help realign your priorities."
Lunar's essence darkened with understanding. They had no intention of allowing him to return to Earth. The council had sent them on the mission expecting failure, and now that they had succeeded in unexpected ways, they were being detained.
"You will be contacted for further debriefing," the head councilor informed him as he was led away. "Your intelligence regarding Milano's capabilities is valuable, despite your compromised state."
Dani protested the ruling while Solar attempted to calm her. The guards maintained a careful distance from Solar's light, their shadow essences visibly uncomfortable with his radiance.
"This is bullshit," Dani hissed when Lunar approached, showing she had understood everything with her implanted translator. "They can't just lock you up because you fell in love."
The human terminology still felt imprecise to Lunar, yet he could no longer deny its fundamental accuracy. "They fear what they do not understand. Connection threatens their power structure."
"So what do we do?" Dani asked, looking between him and Solar.
Lunar's shadow essence rippled with newfound determination. "We adapt."
