Chapter 11 - Outsider

To the surprise of the Baklavaian slaves and the sailors of the Primusian ship, they had been in dock for over a month. The Primusians did not mind being tethered to MW-3 planet. Overall, the metropolis offered a much lusher view and environment than previous globes. To only a knowledgeable few, the reason for staying longer was due to the captain. Some speculated that it was the higher council back at their home world. Others believed it was the higher brass on the ship that were conspiring an underground-market trade. This was based on the small influx of new slaves and the different treatment they were getting than the Baklavaians.

Outside of the ship, the world continued to run without much insight of what was occurring in the slave trader ship. A couple of activist groups protested regarding the aspect of slavery and that no race should be imprisoned. Local authorities kept them at bay and prevented any from trying to broad the ship. The alien exchange students saw this exposure in all sorts of various public opinion. The aspect that a foreign world would both fight for their safety and freedom was wonder and novel. At the same time, there was equal amounts of antagonism at them. This felt more normal given how much differences there was in appearances, language, and culture.

[...in our next segment, the battle against homeless in our city. It has been an ongoing issue for all of us. There have been many attempts at trying to resolve it so that there is no man, woman, or child that is living on the streets. We turn to our colleague in downtown with more details] an news announcer stated on the TV. Aerialus was sitting on the couch and held a warm beverage in her hand. Everyone was out doing work or school leaving her by herself. It had become normal to which it did not bother her at all anymore.

[Thanks Brenda. Many in the government have implemented plans on tackling our city's homeless crisis. Even with the aid of local municipalities, programs, and homeless shelters, the number of homelessness has not fallen. We look further into the issue to get a large picture of what is causing the difficulty of lowering the number of people living on the streets] the reported detailed. The image turned to a video clip of some kind followed by the same individual's voice narrating.

'...the aspect of being homeless...and still having the freedom to choose...how strange,' she thought. Her eyes didn't focus on the TV as she continued her mental talk.

'At the same time...many people here do not look highly upon those labeled as such...as if they have fallen to a lower class.'

'If local authorities do not take control of them and only offer aid...how are they supposed to reform them?

'If they do nothing in particular...do they serve a purpose in society?' she mused with a blink. 'Or is this the extent of what individual freedom really means? To the point that they do not have to listen to authorities if they don't want to?'

'I don't know if this is a good thing...or a bad thing,' the alien pondered. Looking down at the beverage, her mind continued to dwell on the humanitarian issue.

'If authorities offer aid...why would the homeless not seek it? Based on what the program stated...it does not cost the homeless people anything...and it offers a way to integrate back into society.'

'I...don't understand this.'

Though it has been a few weeks since Aerialus entered a relationship with Robert, she was slowly allowing herself to be less guarded. The simple actions of holding hands and being close to each other felt more calming than the dual anxiety and suspicious feelings she had initially. One discussion they had was if she was interested in sitting in one of his classes. The aspect of being educated was new and made her curious. Agreeing, they planned on another campus visit.

After a couple of days, there was an open slot and permission for Aerialus to be a guest in one of his classes. Leaving the house and traveling to the campus, the Baklavaian sat in the passenger seat. Watching Robert drive the vehicle out of the driveway and onto the road, he seemed to be happy. Smiling at seeing his expression, she turned to her window. Looking in the distance of towering trees, she saw a faint pulse of blue light.

'Wonder how long I will be watched for?' she pondered. Turning to look forward, the road ahead of them appeared to be zooming under the car.

'Until an unknown duration...but...we have never stayed on a planet for this long before,' she realized. Though keeping a small smile on her face, her stomach had faint knots inside.

'I am curious to know why the masters want to stay here for this long...and at the same time...I don't want to know.'

Upon reaching the school grounds and getting out of the car, both began walking. Heading to where his first class of the day was, they were passing other students walking the campus sidewalks. Going into one of the buildings, Robert led her to where the course room was. Reaching it and going inside, she saw that there were already humans inside. To her surprise, there were different alien races sitting at the numerous seats. Going to where he normal places himself in the room, she sat next to him and waited.

As time got closer to the nearest hour, the instructor walked in. Informing her that he will talk to the teacher, she nodded and watched him go to the desk/podium at the other end of the large chamber. Glancing around her surroundings, no one was directing looking at her or had a negative reaction from her being here. Hearing whispers from behind her, she perked her ears instead of turning around. Not able to decipher what was said, she caught enough to know that she was mentioned.

"..." Aerialus mildly played with her fingers. Trying to calm herself and not worry about what the strangers were talking about, anxiety was eating at her. Seeing Robert come back, he smiled at her while sitting down next to her.

"Nervous?" he asked with a small smile. Looking at him, she gave a small nod.

"...a little...yes. There are a lot of students."

"Classroom sizes are bigger in college. But don't sweat it much. This is just an hour long till we go to the next one."

"Okay...I will try to not to bother anyone."

"Heh heh. You'll be fine. Just relax, sit, and listen. The teach said he was fine with you so you got nothing to worry about being here."

"I will...try my best," Aerialus responded with a small smile and nod.

When the top of the hour hit, everyone began to settle down and got quiet. The teacher welcomed the students back and informed everyone to turn in the assignment due today. The female Baklavaian blinked and watched as almost everyone began retrieve papers from their bags or binders. From the back and going forward, the young crowd of people were handing their documents to the next person ahead of them. When she saw the person behind her hand her the stack of papers, she grabbed them and repeated the process.

By the time all got to the first row of students, all began passing to the left. Watching the instructor go to the last seat, he collected the large amount of papers. Thanking the class, he brought the papers to his desk. Setting them down, he went to the center of his podium desk and turned on a machine. A drop-down drape slowly came down from the ceiling. The white solid cloth was rather massive as it occupied a good portion of the wall and covered over the chalkboard/whiteboard combination fixated behind the instructor.

Opening a box of some kind, the teacher began to type. It reminded Aerialus of the devices that Rob and Haword used at home. Whatever was on the laptop was now projecting to the large pale screen. Going to an application and uploading a file, a program of some kind appeared. After a small animation, the window went away and showed an outline form of many slides. Seeing the facilitator hit a few more buttons, the window changed to one slide.

Hearing the teacher begin to talk, the individual reviewed over what was discussed yesterday. After some minutes, the person then went into the subject of today. For the next hour, the instructor talked while coordinating the next slides to what was informed. Every so number of minutes, the person would break away from lecturing and ask a question to the entire classroom. Getting a flashback of when she was in the prison ship, the posed question was not an order. Mentally shaking her head, she tried to focus and keep still to not disturb anyone.

"Alright, that will be it for today," the teacher stated while looking at his watch. "Just to remind that your group projects are due next month. Please make sure to have your group leader turn them in prior to the due date. If anyone has any questions about today's material or any other, I will be here for the next several minutes."

As if on cue, everyone began moving. Blinking and looking around with her eyes, Aerialus saw the students packing their things together. Glancing at Robert, he was looking to his left and talking to a neighboring individual. Observing her surroundings, some individuals quickly exited while others lingered. A little confused on why there was a difference, she summarized that everyone had differently timed courses.

'This is less structured than the prison schedule...is it from the availability of the classes or can students choose which time they have them?'

"Sorry about that Aerialus," Robert spoke after turning to her. "Was talking to a colleague about the group project we have."

"That's alright. I am just...a spectator here," she informed slightly shaking her head.

"I have a bit of a break till my next course. Is there somewhere you'd like to go to kill time or see?" he asked packing his school supplies in his backpack. Looking at her and thinking she would just shake her head, she looked down a little in thought. Seeing her blink then look back at him, it seemed she was going to answer his question.

"If it is not out of the way...I have noticed that there is a large park area nearby. Is that part of the school site or no?"

"The park?...oh...you mean the garden area?"

"...the...garden area?" she repeated with a surprised look. "That area...is a garden?"

"Well...yeah. That is part of the biology department. There is enough funds that come into the school to have it. It's primarily given to the botany majors so that they have their own area to raise plants for study and host garden shows."

"People...give money to an education organization...to grow things?" Aerialus questioned looking a little bewildered.

"...not directly...more so the combination of the college's allocated budget and contributions from the public," Robert explained and seemed surprised from her reaction. "Is that weird?"

"...ah...um..." the Baklavaian stuttered and began playing with her fingers. "...given my upbringing...and the partaking of upkeeping your mother's garden...yes...the aspect of how it is created and made stable is...very foreign...and wonderous."

"I see...well," he commented. Standing up and getting his backpack on, he extended his hand to her.

"Let's go spend some time there."

"..." Aerialus paused for a second or two before reacting.

Reaching her hand to his and grasping it, he helped her stand up. Feeling motivation from wanting to see something, it was different from being led almost all the time. Exiting the classroom together, both did not pay much attention to the other students that were still remaining. Once out of the building, the human male pointed out where the garden area was. Seeing that it was a relatively straight path, the two headed towards there.

Upon reaching and entering the outside botany lab area, Aerialus saw a massive amount of plant life. Just from entering one pathway, she was bombarded with different colored flowers, shrubs, and trees. Seeing the different kinds of life, each were labeled to explain what they were. Just the sheer amount around her was somewhat overwhelming to her. It was as if a secret world was discovered that made her lose her sense of surroundings. Captivated and amazed, she flinched from feeling a hand placed on her back.

"What do you think?" Robert asked with a smirk. The radiant look on her face made his heart beat faster. It also gave a mental check mark in his mind of what she liked.

"It's...beautiful," the female alien began and began to walk forward. Taking few steps away to admire a flower in front of her, nothing seemed to stop her. Squatting a little to look at the plant, she gently reached out to touch it.

"..." he blinked and saw something from watching her.

Getting his phone out and opening up the camera app, he trained the cell at her. Taking a couple of pictures without moving from his spot, she didn't react to the shutter sound. Seemingly lost in the environment around her, the young man felt good that he was able to bring her a sense of happiness. Looking to his left, he saw the public shop for the garden. Knowing they had brochures and magazines, he wanted to see more of her elated face.

"Hey Aerialus," he called to her. Seeing her turn to him with a smile on her face froze him a little. Shaking his head mentally, he pointed to the small structure that was a few yards away.

"I'm going to pick up some stuff inside. You want to come along or wait here?"

"Would...it be too much trouble if I remained outside?" she asked with a sort of pleading expression. "There is a small bed that is adjacent to the building. I believe...I will still be within safe distance as long as I am still in sight of you."

"...that...sounds reasonable. This won't violate anything from you to your...superiors. Right?" he asked. Flinching a little, the alien stood up and stood in front of him. Feeling her grab his hands, she gave him an assuring squeeze.

"I know...I am being selfish...and acting silly...but...I can't stop this...sensation of being here...I've...never felt this way...before."

'Just...cool your jets Rob...brake check,' Robert told himself despite enjoying what was happening. Giving a slight head nod, he flinched again from getting a hug from her.

"Thank you Robert."

"S-Sure"

Feeling her let go and just smile, the feeling of wanting more of touching her came. Resisting hard, he just followed her to the flower bed that was closer to one of the entrances to the shop. Watching Aerialus approach the large plaque that gave a description of the variety of flowers on the ground, she was engrossed in it. Deciding that the proximity between them would still be close, he entered the campus garden store. Once the door closed, movement occurred in the background.

'New York Aster...a native plant to the eastern states of this country...and this is one of many that grow here,' the Baklavaian spoke to herself mentally after kneeling. 'But there are others here that aren't from around here...'

'I've never seen so many in one place...I've only heard of stories on the ship.'

'When I saw a field of flowers on the TV...I didn't think that was real...but Sue and Howard assured me that there were many flower fields all around this planet.'

"Well hello there," someone called out.

"...!?" Aerialus reacted with a start.

Immediately coming to terms of what she was doing, her eyes widen from realizing her error. Anxiety shot through her as she mentally berated herself for being careless. Becoming rigid while staring at the ground she was looking at, there were three shadows near her. All were ahead of her to which her peripheral vision saw legs. Biting her tongue to not panic, she slowly looked up to the voice that called.

Three human males were nearby and staring at her. Recognizing them as the ones that were sitting behind her and Rob in the classroom, her mind set them as hostiles. Blinking, she slowly stood up. All three took closer steps toward her. Quickly glancing at the shop glass door, Robert had his back turned and was facing the reception desk.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing out here?" the middle student spoke. "Going to bounce classes?"

"...n-no..." Aerialus answered taking one step back. The humans didn't stop and began to invade her personal space. Feeling conflicted of needing to stay in close proximity to a host family member, her safety was telling her to flee. Feeling that she will not have protection if she fought back, the Baklavaian went backwards again.

"I'm h-here...visiting...with my...h-host family member."

"Oh...not your boyfriend? Nice."

"Why not hang with us?" the one to her left spoke. He was the closest and reached for her shoulder. She took a quick step back again and evaded from getting a hand on her. Apprehension gripped her as she took a quick look at the store. Robert was nowhere to be seen.

'I screwed up-I screwed up-I screwed up-I screwed up-I screwed up...' the woman repeated over and over in her head.

"No reason to be shy now girl. Just come with us. Will show you a good time in the forest," the man on her right mentioned. Seeing them continue to her, she took another step backwards. Colliding with something solid, it seemed more cushioned than that of a wall. Blinking out of reflex, she was about to leap away when its voice made her stop.

"Hey guys...Can I help you with something?"

"...what...the?" the middle human muttered with shock. The other two students blinked and recoiled a little from who it was. All three glanced back at the garden building then looked forward.

"Dude...how the hell did he..."

"...the hell if I know."

"...hey..." the person behind Aerialus spoke. It was more even and stern in tone. Aerialus saw the males stiffen immediately as if something behind her caused fear in them.

"...get...lost..."

'I've...never heard him use that tone before,' the Baklavaian thought. Blinking and looking down, she saw that white spots were developing on her forearms. It was as if the person behind her was not the same person. Instead, it was some presence that manifested and was very foreign.

'Strange...this feels familiar...why though?'

"Man that...that doesn't look...natural," one of the three students stated. The leader of them was about to open his mouth when the sound of a door closing was heard. Coming behind them followed by the bell that rattled with the door, everyone turned to it. All four individuals went wide eyed.

"...uh...what's going on here?" Robert asked looking suspicious at his colleagues.

"...!?" Aerialus blinked more than once. Perplexed and feeling fear grip her, she turned around quickly. No one was behind her. The nearest person was several yards away facing away from the group.

'H-how did Robert do that?' she said in her mind. Hearing footsteps coming to her, she turned around. The person she thought was behind her went to her side. He was holding a plastic bag that had articles and stuff in it.

"...hey..." one of the three strangers asked. He pointed his finger towards her.

"How did you...appear behind her...then come out of the shop?"

"...?" Robert raised one eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Was that a magic trick or something?" another student from the trio questioned. All three started to relax a little.

"I have no idea what the heck you guys are talking about," the young male stated. Turning to the person beside him, she looked tense.

"You alright Aerialus?"

"W-What?" she reacted with surprise. Turning her head to him, he still looked suspicious of what was occurring.

"Y-yes...I'm f-fine now."

"...hmmm..." Robert commented. Narrowing his eyes, he turned his attention to his classmates.

"I'll say this once...lay off and don't cause trouble for her."

"..." the middle student blinked. His mind processed faster than his mouth to which he didn't say anything. Shaking his head, he just gave a smirk.

"You ain't her girlfriend so it ain't my fault that I'm trying to get to know your friend."

"She is my girlfriend," he retorted with an unpleased.

"That's not what she said," the other countered still smirking. Looking at his friends, his cocky demeanor slowly depreciated. Both of them looked very uncomfortable. Glancing around, there was nothing around other than an icy breeze passing through.

"...h-hey..." one of the two male students uttered. His voice sounded a bit rattled.

"L-Let's just...get out of here man."

"Y-Yeah...I k-kind of feel like...attending my math class right now," the other chimed in with the same tensed tone.

"What the hell are you two saying?" the middle group member questioned confused. Without another word, his two friends quickly walked away heading back to the campus buildings. Left alone, he looked back at the couple. Oddly, they were slowly looking around as if there was something here with them.

"...tsk...screw this," the remaining human male announced. Turning and going in the same direction as his mates, he put his hands in his pockets with irritation on his face. Once he left, a sigh of relief came out of Robert's mouth.

"Sorry about that Aerialus. I didn't think you'd get preyed upon so quickly," he said. Turning to her, she looked at him and shook her head.

"No no...I am sorry...I was so lost in what I was feeling that I didn't think about being watched. I caused you trouble...I will not make the same mistake again," the Baklavaian spoke with a down-casted face. As if she was guilty and being put on trial, Rob leaned his head back a little. Scratching the back of his head with his free hand, he cleared his throat.

"It is alright. I'm not mad nor are you at fault. Just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time," he reasoned trying to comfort. Seeing that she was not getting out of her closed up state, he quickly assessed what he needed to do. Stepping in front of her, he slowly gave her a hug.

"Please don't beat yourself up Aerialus. When I saw you look so happy...you looked free of worry. Not even thinking about the aspect of being owned or a slave. Like an actual person living life regardless of race or alien differences...I...I just wanted to find more ways to keep you happy."

"...!?" she reacted with surprise from the hug. Listening to what he said, it battled against the learned behavior and self-inflicting guilt she bombarded herself with. Feeling safe for the moment, she returned the hug and held him.

"...thank you...Robert...may I ask a question?"

"Sure," he answered. Feeling her let go of him and look up, both were staring at each other.

"...you were...inside the garden building...the entire time...yes?"

"...uh..." the man remarked with a confused look. "Y...yeah? Why?"

'...if what he says is true...' Aerailus thought. Keeping a straight face, her legs began to shake a little from trepidation.

'Then...what was behind me that mimicked his voice?'

"I'm sorry," she quickly spoke and shook her head. "I think...the human males were playing some trick...or something."

"That's what I kind of thought coming out of the shop. Hearing them say I was outside when I was inside was strange."

"...yes..."

"..." Fiona stared hard at the two near the garden store.

'...how...did he do that?' she asked in her mind. Moving her binoculars a little to the surrounding area, there was nothing that looked like the male human's double.

'But more importantly...why did the other humans fear him when he was behind Aerialus? Then when he came out of the small shop and talked to them again...they seemed not afraid.'

'One of them said if he did a magic trick...what is magic?' she continued thinking. Feeling frustrated and curious at the same time, she shook her head from feeling a headache growing.

Not finding anything of a particular bipedal figure standing in the greenery, she moved her sights back to the two. Robert handed the bag to her and opened it. Seeing him speak of what was inside, the Baklavaian's mood seemed to brighten a little. After a short talk between them, he led her back to the school grounds. Watching them, Fiona saw Aerialus glance back to where she stood. Thinking she saw or felt something was there, she turned her sights back to the previous location.

'...there is no one there...' the slave scout thought. Waiting for several seconds to get the feeling of someone watching her, it never came. Shaking her head, she began to gather her surveillance gear. Waiting until the two were out of sight, she began to climb down from one of the high trees with much foliage. Making mental notes of what she would put in her report, she went to following the human and slave.