Chapter's POV: Cross
We stopped right as we saw a large field of... well, nothing but desert. "Welcome to Sandy Bum Canyon!", Tatsu said. "Aka Oblivia.", Era said. "Huh? 'Oblivia'? Friends really name it that?", Tatsu asked. Was he not listening to the briefing? "You know I said Oblivia.", Era said. "Era, listen to Tatsu.", Tatsu said, "This place always have sandstorms. Sands get everywhere! Therefore, Sandy Bum Canyon. Nopon ancestors name it just fine ages ago! Or does Era think she better namer than native Miran peoples?" "What? I... no.", Era said. Personally, I prefer Oblivia over 'Sandy Bum Canyon.' "Good. Tatsu accept Era apology and forgive. ... This time.", Tatsu said.
"Strange.", Deylin said, "There's nothing here. It was hard to tell the scale of it from the grainy images, but that ship should've at least been big enough to spot from here." "Hmm... Yeah... Huh? Elma, look." We looked to see three beings that we've never seen before. "Another new xeno species.", Deylin said. "Hang on, maybe I can pick up what they're saying.", Era said, pulling out her comm. Deylin then pulled his out as well. "Impossible! I'm telling you, just us is impossible, okay?", a voice said from the comm. "Stop talking like that, would you?", another voice asked, "We have to do this, right? For everyone back on the ship!" "But but but how are we supposed to destroy the turrets?", the first voice asked, "This place is likely crawling with Ganglion, no?" "So they're not Ganglion, at least.", Deylin said. "Yeah. It sounded like they're fighting against them, to me.", Era said "Friends, friends, Tatsu knows.", Tatsu said, "Those are Ma-non. Ma-non appeared on Mira maybe... year before friends."
Deylin then crossed his arms and gave a quick hum. "I know that sound... What is it, Deylin?", Era asked. "Just... Tatsu, the Ganglion, and now these Ma-non. Don't you find it a little odd that we can understand these alien languages?" "Huh... good point.", Era said. "Okay, random guess, but maybe they learned English somehow?", I asked. "I doubt it... Tatsu, did you study our language?", Deylin asked. "Friends' language?", Tatsu asked. "... What language are we speaking right now?", Deylin asked. "What language? Nopon, of course!", Tatsu said, "Friends' Nopon very good, by the way." "See?", Deylin asked, "Xenoforms have different anatomy, physiology, different vocal setups in general. It seems likely they would struggle with our pronunciations. And yet, here we are, conversing." "But if they can't even produce the sounds... this shouldn't be possible.", Era said.
"No, it shouldn't be.", Deylin said, "Unless... our words aren't being perceived as sounds at all. Maybe our intent is getting across some other way... But how? ... Could it be something about this planet?" "Heh. Someone sounds pretty intrigued, huh.", Era said. "Well, what if it IS some kind of new phenomenon?", Deylin asked, "Aren't you curious to learn more?" "All right, now you're starting to sound just like L.", Era said. "Okay, already!", Tatsu said, "Friends talk less, help Ma-non more! After all, Tatsu have reputation as heropon to uphold here!" "Suuure... right after a quick... snack.", Era said. Tatsu ran off scared. "I'm not sure how much we can help, but we should at least make contact. Agreed?", Delin asked. Me and Era nodded in agreement.
*To be continued*