Page 58 of Lunar Bound
The missing piece of her remained missing, but now she understood. He hadn't taken it with him. He'd left it with her, a part of his essence embedded in hers, waiting to be made whole again when he returned.
Coming, the darkness seemed to whisper back. Coming home to you.
Chapter
Seventeen
The council's containment measures were laughably inadequate.
Lunar moved through the shadow barriers as if they were mist, his essence having evolved beyond the simple constraints designed to hold traditional shadow-dwellers. Four cycles of time had passed since his confinement began, four cycles of pretending compliance while secretly preparing for escape. His only reprieve had been when they brought him to the Twilight Belt to question him with Dani and Solar.
He flowed through the final security checkpoint, the guards oblivious to his passing. Earth had taught him subtlety beyond what the people of Lunaris could imagine. His essence had become something new, not merely shadow, but the spaces between, the negative space that even darkness overlooked.
He moved through the shadows of the Citadel's lower levels, avoiding the few guards standing watch. Lunar had memorized the patrol patterns during his confinement, identifying the precise moment when security would be most vulnerable.
Solar waited at the predetermined location on the edge of the Twilight Belt, his golden form dimmed to avoid detection. Beside him stood Dani, tense with anticipation.
"You're late," Solar observed as Lunar materialized.
"The council added tertiary containment protocols," Lunar explained. "They’re suspicious."
"With good reason," Dani muttered. "We're basically committing treason, right?"
Lunar's form rippled with amusement. "My people have no concept equivalent to treason. Only functionality or non-functionality. We will simply be classified as the latter."
"Great. Defective aliens. That's much better." Dani's sarcasm had become familiar during their shared confinement on Zorveya. It became quickly evident that she hadn’t expected to be treated like a specimen during her time there, but that is exactly what happened. She’d spent most of her time locked indoors in the Twilight Belt.
"The transport is prepared?" Lunar asked Solar, ignoring her commentary.
Solar nodded. "Dani convinced Galaxy Brides to provide access. They are eager to avoid further complications with Earth operations. They have been surprisingly cooperative once Dani explained the alternatives. "
"Threatened is more like it," Dani corrected with a smile that reminded Lunar of Poppy's determined expressions. "Turns out they're not exactly licensed to be dropping aliens on Earth. I suggested they might face consequences if certain regulations were enforced. I have no clue who those regulations are made by, but hey, it worked. I figured everyone has to answer to someone. I also had them send a message to Eclipse that we’re coming home. I can’t imagine how worried Poppy must be about you."
"You have my appreciation and I wish to hear more," Lunar acknowledged, "but we must depart immediately. The council has scheduled a special session regarding Earth containment protocols. Our absence will be discovered within six standard units."
The small transport vessel waited in an unused maintenance bay, its systems already primed for departure. Perhaps Bob and Gary possessed more intelligence than Lunar had initially calculated.
"We must leave the atmosphere before the orbital defense grid activates," Solar cautioned as they boarded. "The response to unauthorized departures is aggressive."
"Define aggressive," Dani said, strapping herself into one of the seats.
"Molecular dispersal," Solar replied, taking the pilot's position. His light-dweller training included flying.
"They'll shoot us down?" Dani's voice rose in alarm.
"Only after issuing three standardized warnings," Lunar assured her.
"Oh, well that's comforting," she drawled.
The transport's engines hummed to life. The sound immediately triggered alarm systems throughout the maintenance bay. Solar overrode the automated docking clamps that attempted to engage.
"Security response in four units," Lunar reported, monitoring the Citadel's communication channels.
The transport lurched forward, scraping against the bay doors as Solar forced them open. Alarms shrieked throughout the facility as they broke free of the Citadel's confines and accelerated into the night sky.
"We have company," Solar announced, the sensor display showing multiple pursuit craft launching behind them. "Defense grid activating."
Lunar extended his shadow essence into the ship's systems, diverting power from non-essential functions to the engines and shields. The vessel responded sluggishly, not designed for such maneuvers.
