Notes: The lewd barrier gets broken in this chapter, though it is toned down somewhat for FF. However, it's not being broken in the way you might expect. Not yet, at least. :P
Chapter 11: Breaking Dawn
The calming, relaxing sound of a smooth jazz tune filled the room, courtesy of the home theater system I had put in a couple of years ago. The music fit the ambiance very well; other than the display of the receiver my living room was filled with candlelight. The sweet, sharp scent of cinnamon filled the air; courtesy of one of those candles.
Even more comforting was the presence of arms wrapped around me, the auburn-haired beauty that was currently tucked in against me as we swayed to the music. Fiona's hazel eyes glanced up to mine; a soft, relaxed smile framed in red lipstick a sign that she had fun at the dinner party we had hosted. We had dressed up a bit for the occasion; her sleek, strapless red dress a good compliment to my black suit. "Thank you for agreeing to host the party." My girlfriend grinned up at me; our significant height difference at work. "I could tell Max and Sarah had a great time."
"I figure all of us needed the break." I answered, distractedly dancing with her in my living room. There was kind of a film noir theme to the night; something we had hammed up by turning the lights down low and watching some old movies before and after dinner. The fact that I was the only one in our group who owned a house wasn't lost on me. Fi was living with her folks while she pursued college; Max and Sarah lived in a cramped apartment with neighbors whose primary hobbies were blaring crappy music and thumping around at all hours of the night. It just made sense.
"They've had a rough time recently, especially after the move." They were more her friends than mine. They were all fursuiters; a hobby that I wasn't really attracted to given my predilection to sports cars and building computers. I acted as Fi's handler during events; despite attempts to get me to commission a suit my list of car parts took precedence. "I appreciate you agreeing to host this. I could tell you also had fun." She winked at me, before reaching up and brushing her hand against my cheek.
I nuzzled against her hand, returning her wink. "Yeah, it was nice. Having the chance to cook and entertain for an evening is a different paradigm." I hadn't done that in a long time. I usually just cooked for myself or for Fi when she was over on the weekends. The grilled rosemary salmon, pasta, and rice I had whipped up had been a hit.
"Well, I believe doing an excellent job as a host and chef this evening deserves a reward." Fi's smile became mischievous as she brushed her lips against mine. The kiss was teasingly, achingly slow as she moved in time with the mellow music; her arms gently sliding my suit jacket off of my arms to deposit it on the coffee table in a movement so smooth I thought it was deliberately orchestrated.
Despite a height difference of about six inches and weighing eighty pounds more, Fiona's hobbies of competitive swimming and rock climbing gave her a significant strength advantage over my recent desk driving and wrenching on classic cars. Mimicking a dance move she spun me around, her lips still firmly pressed into mine. This aligned us with my couch; a fact she took advantage of as she gently nudged me forward. It didn't take much effort to overcome my balance in my surprised state; I slumped down into the plush cushions with a muffled whump. I wasn't alone for long as Fi sprang on top of me, her legs straddling mine. I was very familiar with her mischievous look and understood then and there how things were going to progress.
Her fingers deftly attacked the buttons on my shirt as I settled my hands on her hips. The soft texture of her dress was alluring; helping to accentuate her petite yet very much present curves. I gazed into those incredible, off-green eyes; her mischievous smile growing wider as she trailed her hands down my chest. I felt a slight tug at my waistband as those fingers made short work of my belt buckle, button, and zipper. "I'd say you're a tiny bit overdressed for what I have in mind."
"And you?" I smirked, running my hands up her sides as I felt hers tuck underneath my waistband. My palms gently cupped her breasts through the soft, luxuriant fabric; Fiona offering a shaky, pleasured gasp to the empty room in response. It was then that I felt her tug my pants off, pushing off of me just enough to cast the offending articles of clothing down to my knees. The cool kiss of air washed over my body for a brief moment before she fell against me.
"No. I may or may not have planned this." I felt her bare skin against mine as she arched her back, realizing at that exact moment she wasn't wearing anything underneath the dress. That mischievous grin reappeared for a split second before her lips met mine once again. This time her tongue glided against mine; the sharp taste of red wine crossing my senses.
I couldn't help but moan into Fi's willing lips as she lowered herself onto me; the closeness of her body and the passion we shared filling my senses. There was a tickle at the back of my mind, a reminder that this was just a dream; an incredibly vivid dream but still a dream. As I thrust up into her; as her voice joined mine, I realized that this was a memory of the last time we were intimate. The next day I would receive the call that my best friend had taken his own life; two weeks after that I would realize just how much I had been alienating myself from my friends for this relationship.
It wasn't clear which one of us would begin the breakup, but it happened quickly and painfully. As that realization grew the sensations I shared with Fi grew more and more distant. Despite a growing pit in my stomach at the onrush of refreshed heartache, reality was slowly coming back to me. With that realization followed another; on some deep, repressed layer I missed this. Not necessarily the physical intimacy, but the companionship. I found myself pulling away from Fi; my former partner remaining stock still. The expression on her face had frozen to one locked in the throes of passion, yet her skin had become cold. As quickly as the dream had begun it ended; the fragments of the memory fading into an intangible fog of the past.
My eyes snapped open with an intake of breath as the intimate sensations faded away, though I could tell my hormones were still working overtime. I was still caught in that semiconscious state that happens right after you wake up. The sensation of Fi's skin against mine was gone, but the comfortable feeling of holding someone else close in my arms wasn't. The faint scent of cinnamon still lingered in the air, along with exotic floral notes that had faded to an almost imperceptible background. The quiet, rhythmic repetition of breathing reached the notice of my ears as I realized that someone's head was tucked against my neck, complete with fuzzy ears that were brushing against my cheek.
Reality came back to me as my foggy mind started to realize that I was holding onto a certain cerulean-furred vixen instead of the ex that I had broken up with four years ago. With that came panic, knowing exactly what my memories with Fi had involved. Had Krystal and I...? I looked down, breathing a sigh of relief when I noticed both of us were still dressed. Her light green nightgown definitely clashed with my button-down shirt and slacks, but at least I was sure we hadn't become much more physical than we were already. I forced the feeling and sensations of arousal away; not particularly easy considering the circumstances.
I spent a moment to take stock of myself. The dull throb of a headache was on the horizon; the wicked hangover I expected to materialize on top of the punishment I had received over the past day or so hadn't quite taken its expected toll. I dimly remembered the Lylatian miracle goop Krystal had sealed my wound with; that might have something to do with it. Come to think of it, the mild tinnitus I had seemed to have faded into the background. The temptation to get up and leave what would be a very awkward situation before she awakened was very much present; at the same time I was caught between that and not wanting to leave.
I wasn't going to lie to myself. It felt good. The softness of Krystal's fur and the silken texture of her nightgown was something that awakened a long-forgotten part of my psyche; it simply wanted that touch and companionship. It wasn't something I was incredibly comfortable with; I feared that suppressed hunger taking advantage of her. While I had gotten involved pretty quickly with a couple of my exes in the past, some even faster than this(hell, Fi and I went from being acquaintances to sharing a bed within a few days), I just felt out of place. The fact I would jump into danger on her behalf with both feet meant I cared about her, but I wasn't really sure if my feelings extended as far as being interested beyond friendship. I wondered if that held true for her as well; was this simply the loneliness talking or did she actually hold some unfathomable affection for me? I didn't think she was being disingenuous; I just figured she had far better options waiting out there than some complete alien that just wanted to find his way back to a home that wouldn't be very accepting of her presence.
I gave into temptation and remained where I was, taking in the sensations that would probably be over far too quickly. The softness of her fur; the warmth of her body against mine. The way her tail brushed against my legs, shifting every so often with the natural motion of her drawing breath. The soft smile on her muzzle and the little noises she made. The gentle flicking of her ear whenever the air currents hit her just right. The scent of mead had faded away overnight and the floral perfume she wore had just about vanished; leaving her natural scent which reminded me of cinnamon and cloves. Right or wrong, this felt comfortable and I would be a fool to say that I didn't enjoy this level of contact.
The thought again crossed my mind to get up and break off from, well, whatever this was. I could tell I eventually needed to pay the restroom a visit and that would be a perfect time to avoid paying the piper for being foolishly bold enough to kiss her. At the same time I was comfortable and warm. The hindbrain was perfectly willing to stay curled up against the cerulean vixen who I had known as an attractive fictional character until my ride through whatever the hell this was. It wasn't until I felt a nuzzling sensation against my neck that I realized I had let my moment of potential escape slip. I could feel her stirring in my arms; a subtle tightening of the embrace we shared signaled her awakening. With it came a soft purr as my vulpine companion slowly regained consciousness.
This was shaping up to be one major drunken mistake, I silently mused. I doubted she remembered much of last night. Hell, I didn't. Just a vague memory of doing something I shouldn't and kissing her. At least by the fact we were still clothed, nothing more intimate happened. I wouldn't be surprised if I had soured any rapport I had with her by some admittedly poor judgment.
That line of thought was halted as I felt her good hand caress mine briefly, before interlacing her fingers with my own. It was a curiously intimate action, followed by the sound of her breath tickling my ear; her voice soft and full of contentment as she spoke. "I told you not to worry." Krystal giggled as she stretched, removing her hand to let her arm wind around my waist and pull me in closer. "Are you sure I cannot tempt you to stay for a while longer?" A shiver ran up and down my spine as I felt her lips caress my neck.
I was caught off guard; something that was happening all too often around her. The fact she was a telepath wasn't lost on me; snippets of our conversation last night flowing through my mind along with the memories of my recent dream. "I... I was under the impression that what happened was, well, a drunken tryst? Something that we probably would just want to forget happened in the first place?" In the dim light I felt her pull away; the glint of her emerald eyes glancing into mine. Her confused expression framed a quick shake of her head.
"You don't feel that way." She framed it as a statement instead of a question; her telepathic abilities allowing her to cut right to the heart of the matter. "Neither do I. You seem troubled about how... easily we have seemed to fallen into a place that's more than friendship, but still undefined." The vixen leaned forward a bit; the cool, slightly moist texture of her nose placed against mine. "Especially in such a short span of time." I wasn't prepared for the feeling of her lips brushing against my own, even if only briefly. The sensation of our kiss was electrifying; something that told me that the jumbled, alcohol-soaked memories of last night were not just a fluke.
I guess there was a major reason for being reticent about what was happening. Krystal was different; not solely for the fact she was a telepathic Cerinian vixen that by all accounts should have been just a vivid fever dream. I had known her for maybe a couple of days at this point; with the time I spent unconscious I had no real idea of how much time had passed. She had a lot of admirable qualities. She possessed an unworldly kindness, for one; not just to me but her interactions with both Tricky and the Earthwalker Queen hadn't gone unnoticed.
She had hauled my unconscious, bleeding body down a goddamn mountain, not to mention hauled me out of that cave before one of those armadillo-wolf creatures could rip my leg off for a snack. I might've saved her from being stuffed in that giant jewel and becoming a distressed damsel, but she was kind and willing enough to return the favor. However, nothing good ever came out of getting involved this quickly. I wasn't the type to mess around with someone and leave once I had my fill, but I was also genuinely concerned that catching feelings for each other might lead to us both getting hurt. At the same time, I couldn't deny that for whatever reason something had started to develop between us. I just wasn't sure what that something actually was.
"I'm not used to things progressing this quickly and ending well." This time I was candid; the freshness of that memory with Fi hopefully lending credence to those words. She hadn't been the only one to go from a friend to a lover in a matter of days, though with as few and far in between as my dating experiences were it wasn't difficult to get wrapped up in the heat of the moment.
To my surprise Krystal didn't pull away, though her ears flattened. She looked more embarrassed than angry. Her voice carried softly when she spoke. "I understand your trepidation, Adam. I really do. Those are strong memories. You don't want to experience that pain again." Her expression softened. "You also don't want me to be put through the same pain you feel you put her through."
I parted my lips to respond, only to be stopped by hers. This time the kiss was significantly more passionate; I was trying to get used to the mechanics of kissing her without making it feel awkward and sloppy. Somehow we succeeded; her unbroken arm drawing me in closer as her tongue gently flitted against mine, beginning a dance that I hesitantly joined. I felt more than heard a purr of contentment rise from her throat as my initial surprise melted away. I felt myself responding in kind, pulling her into a tighter embrace as I got used to the unique sensations that came with such an intimate action with an anthropomorphic vixen. I wasn't entirely sure how long our kiss lasted, but by the end of it we were both left almost breathless.
"That's why I don't feel this is a mistake." Krystal's voice was almost a whisper. "You went down into that well after me armed only with a slugthrower pistol. You risked your life to save mine. Either the duraxethi would have claimed me or I would have suffocated as the power pack on my pressure suit ran out." She shuddered as she mentioned that, though her eyes continued to gaze into mine. "I saw into your mind as you did that, just as I saw into your mind as you intervened in my fate at Krazoa Palace. Your intentions were not to coerce or manipulate me into something I wasn't willing to do. In a universe that was completely set on forcing me to do its bidding, you gave me the chance to make my own choices." Even in the dim light I could see that the insides of her ears were blushing brightly, her expression nervous as she explained. "That's why I pushed those boundaries with you." The vixen paused for a moment, biting her lip. "I didn't to be alone last night, and I didn't want you to be alone either. I... even if we had completely given into temptation last night I would have had no regrets."
I wasn't sure what to say. I let my hand trail up her back, being mindful of her healing arm. As of their own volition my fingers drifted away from the silken texture of her nightgown, through the soft fur of her neck and onto her cheek. I fixed her gaze, taking in the soft, nervous smile she offered to me. "Krys, I understand. It's been a long time for you and it's been even longer for me. However, we were drunk; drunk enough that I don't think it would have been a good idea to go that far. I'm not going to lie and say I haven't done that before. Hell, I had a couple of relationships that basically started out with that kind of intimacy. They didn't last long." I idly traced my fingers through the soft fur of her cheek, a similarly idle feeling of amazement laced with amusement as she nuzzled into the display of affection. "I wasn't expecting or intending this to happen. If we're going to continue, well... whatever we've gotten ourselves into, let's take things relatively slow and get to know each other before we cross that road?"
The Cerinian nodded at me, the soft yet nervous smile growing on her features. "I... I would like that. I'm beginning to understand that my ability to sense emotions and thoughts is a very rare gift outside Cerinia. Being able to understand someone else's intentions and feelings goes a very long way to understanding how someone will treat you in a more... intimate setting."
I leaned forward just enough to place a very soft, brief kiss on her lips before withdrawing. I fully understood that we were in the eye of the storm at the moment and the brutal reality would come crashing down all around us soon enough. At the same time, perhaps both of us needed to heal emotionally as well as physically. "I will admit that being involved with a telepath is going to present its own challenges." I grinned. "I think it might be time to get up and greet the day. That and I know I could use an actual shower. Would you like to go first?"
A mischievous grin grew upon the vixen's muzzle. "Are you sure you wouldn't like some company?" I knew she was at least half joking, or so I hoped. I chuckled as I sat up, guiding her up to a sitting position as well. Her hand fell upon mine; the incredibly soft feeling of her fur an unexpected distraction as she once again laced her fingers with my own.
"If I fall in or if I activate the robot ninjas while trying to turn on the tap, I'll let you know." I smirked, glancing down at her injured arm. "That said, how's your arm feeling?"
I felt the vixen nod before she pulled far enough away to look at me. Her emerald eyes almost sparkled in the dim light, and I could see the ghost of a smile upon her features. I felt her other hand encircle our enjoined grasp, adding to the warmth and softness. "It doesn't hurt when I move it slowly, at least. I'll look at the scan data while you're freshening up." The smile deepened as that entrancing emerald gaze locked with mine. "Just don't take too long, or fall in. I'd rather not try my luck with these... 'robot ninjas'." Krystal giggled as I stood up and made my way for the restroom door.
I'm not too proud to admit that figuring out what was pretty much an alien bathroom took me a while. That and drying off using Lylatian equipment was akin to jumping into one of those hurricane simulators that you would see tucked into the hallways of your average, dying shopping mall. It dried you off quick, though it wasn't an experience I relished.
There were a few takeaways I gathered from my first real exposure to Lylatian technology. First, the Lylat language wasn't English. Anything written I couldn't decipher. I couldn't even tell what were letters and what were numbers; everything was in a flowing script that looked vaguely Arabic but didn't really have any solid connection to any human language I was even borderline familiar with. Second, they really liked holographic interfaces. The haptic feedback was a very slick touch; the only way I could adequately describe the sensation was similar to the fixed home button on newer smartphones, but far more localized and polished. It felt like I was pushing buttons and moving sliders.
Also, the color schemes were a bit weird. We're used to the symbol for cold water being blue and hot being red; Lylatians seem to prefer a dark green to bright yellow scale. It was apparent by how the displays worked that I could set the shower to the exact temperature I wanted and it would stay there. That was probably the nicest thing about the whole experience; no temperature fluctuations or running out of hot water. If I ever got back to Earth, my next place would have to have a tankless water heater.
I also took some time to take stock of myself. Physically I felt fine. The gray goop that Krystal patched me up with seemed to meld with my skin; I couldn't even feel any difference in texture or temperature. It looked like a scar made out of JB Weld that moved seamlessly with my body. Even an experimental poke just produced a dull ache instead of stabbing pain. I checked the wound on my calf; to my surprise the jagged slice had knit together into an angry red scar. I still felt a bit weak; I had put a lot of punishment on my body in the past day or so and the overindulgence didn't help. I didn't drink very often, but I figured the stress of waking up in my particular situation was ample justification to cut loose. Considering the fact that I still felt that I crossed the line with Krystal and just about really crossed the line with her last night, I needed to be careful.
Now that I had a bit of time alone to process what had happened, I could admit to myself that I was confused and conflicted. On one hand, I had seen quite a bit of racy artwork and read my fair share of racy stories regarding the vixen who I just shared a bed with in the most literal sense. She was incredibly attractive and for some unfathomable reason was into me. It felt surreal. On the other hand, despite her reassurances, was what I was doing right? Sure, she could probably read my mind like an open book; hell, she could probably cut through my inner monologue bullshit and severe case of imposter syndrome to figure out what my feelings and intentions were before I could even figure it out. However, what about her? By her own admission she had spent the past year locked up in this tin can. That kind of total isolation would have a major effect on a human, let alone a Cerinian who was likely used to being in contact with other minds on a constant basis.
I wasn't a psychologist, but I had a couple of family members who were and I had been through a significant period of therapy after Kevin's death and my breakup with Fi. I wasn't stupid enough to relate human psychology to Cerinian psychology, but trauma was trauma. For both our sakes I needed to get down to the bottom of what was starting to go on between us. The cat was out of the bag, but I needed to make sure Pandora's box stayed shut. If she got attached to me and I found a way home? I just didn't feel comfortable hurting her like that. Not after saving my life and taking me in like this. I glanced up to the mirror as I finished dressing, exhaling a heavy sigh into the humid air. I had either screwed this up or somehow became the luckiest man in the known universe. The problem was I didn't know which of those statements were true.
I opted to switch my clothes for something more suitable for another outside excursion; the final set I had consisted of an unbloodied pair of jeans, one of my numerous car-related T-shirts, and a gray, lightweight softshell jacket. While lightweight its inner pockets were large; enough to carry the two spare rifle magazines I had brought with me. Now that I didn't feel like the reaper was breathing down my neck, I wanted to explore. With everything that was going on, I was on a freaking alien spaceship on a completely different planet. No matter what, that had to account for something.
I took a deep breath and left the bathroom, emerging into the small living area. The smell of food filled the air, drawing my attention to the small kitchenette that was tucked into the space behind the booth we had occupied last night.
Krystal was standing at a contraption that was likely an analogue for a stove, her good arm holding a large fork. She glanced up at me, a soft smile on her features. "My supplies are running low, but I think we need a decent meal." She pointed the fork at the booth. "Sit down; it's almost ready."
I took the few steps towards the booth, though paused before I reached her. "Are you sure you don't want some help?" I noticed two glasses of water already set on the table; this wasn't something she had done at the spur of the moment.
"My arm feels good enough that I have some limited motion." The vixen's smile turned into a grin. "So, sit. I haven't properly thanked you for your help." The fork pointed again, and I complied.
I cast a curious look in her direction but remained silent as she finished with the fork; judging by her movements her arm was healing up faster than I had thought. The state of Lylatian medical technology was downright miraculous in comparison; if the same injury happened to me at home I would have been in that sling for weeks. After a moment the vixen emerged, balancing two small bowls. With a smile she set one in front of me as she took the seat across from mine.
The bowl contained something that looked very much like Cream of Wheat; only possessed of a hint of light green shade to the porridge. Flakes of what looked like some kind of dried fruit were mixed in, reminiscent of a nice, thick oatmeal. While the color was strange it smelled wonderful; a hint of floral sweetness to the mixture. "This is faroi, a traditional Cerinian breakfast porridge." Krystal explained. "It's simple and keeps indefinitely; I also added some dried lakue blossoms for flavor. The Elders stocked the ship well for my journey, but my supplies are almost out." She smiled softly despite the bad news. "However, I think we deserve a few good meals while we recover."
I took an experimental bite; blinking in reaction to the taste. It was delicious; a very delicate, floral sweetness paired nicely with the savory, slightly salty body of the porridge. For such a simple looking dish it was excellent. I nodded to Krystal. "This is excellent, Krys. You're a pretty good cook."
The vixen blushed as she ate, catching my gaze with her brilliant emerald eyes. "Thank you." She paused for a moment; sharing a moment of silence as we continued to eat. "I admit this is quite basic, but it's better than the spacer rations that were also on the ship." Her expression became wistful as she glanced out the window directly outside the booth.
What had been shrouded in pitch darkness last night had given way to a deciduous forest that wouldn't have looked out of place in the Pacific Northwest. I spotted a small lake a couple hundred yards away and an errant thought crossed my mind. How long had it been since I had last swam? I wasn't sure, maybe a few years ago during a business trip? The thought sparked memories of home; my expression soon becoming as wistful as hers.
"This reminds you of home as well." Again, she spoke it as a statement rather than a question. "I felt it from you when we were watching the program on your datapad last night. You miss it, too."
"Yeah, I do." I admitted. "I'm not going to lie to you, Krys. This is incredibly overwhelming, and I hope I don't fuck things up. At the same time, I'm glad I'm not going at it alone. Thank you, by the way." The vixen arched an eyebrow at me, a curious expression on her vulpine features causing me to explain. "For saving my life back on that mountain as well as in the cave. I know I probably didn't make a great first impression, especially not after having to drag my ass out of danger twice."
A soft smile graced her lips; her good hand reaching out to grasp mine. "Maybe not the best first impression, but you have your charms. Rough around the edges, perhaps, but I'm also grateful for your presence." I nodded at her and returned that slight smile.
My gaze returned to the forest outside her ship, giving her hand a slight squeeze. Unanswered questions swirled through my head; so many things were out of place. I wasn't sure if this was the right time to ask those questions, but I had my doubts that we would have the time to discuss the sorts of things I wanted to discuss once we returned to the arduous task of making sure Sauria didn't completely break apart.
Krystal beat me to the punch, her fingers winding around mine as I finished what was left in my bowl. "I'm also troubled about what has transpired." I didn't blame her, though I was relatively certain that what was troubling her was different to what was troubling me. "I was sent here to deliver vengeance to the pirates who attacked my people, however they aren't present. I had prepared myself for a sacrifice that didn't transpire. If they were here, they would have found this ship by now."
I tilted my head to behold her puzzled, lost expression. "I dunno, hon." I paused for a moment; had I really called her that? "We've got a chance to breathe and to speculate on some of these questions, but there's a fair few things that are out of place from how the game went, and I'm not talking about me giving the mystery monster that was about to throw you into that jewel a hot lead injection." She nodded at me, not letting go of my hand. The contact was admittedly nice even if it was a bit awkward.
I continued. "The game never went into detail about how you got here. All it mentioned was that you were from Cerinia, your parents were killed, and you were searching for whoever did it. No mention of space pirates. I'm not going to even get into the mental gymnastics of how someone on Earth dreamed up your situation in the first place. As far as I know humans aren't clairvoyant, and we've never had any contact with other intelligent life."
"Also, there's that skeleton sitting in the cave; a human skeleton. That's the only thing I can think of; there's likely some way to cross over between Sauria and Earth. For someone to have knowledge of Lylat in general and you in particular, that's the only way I could see this happening."
Krystal's expression grew pensive; her thumb gently stroking the back of my hand. The remnants of our breakfast went ignored as our discussion went deeper. "I recall hearing stories as a kit about special objects that allowed powerful users of the Gift to move around the whole of Cerinia as easily as one could walk from one house to another, and that they weren't used anymore after those who had that power abused it. Most of us thought these were just old legends." Her eyes fell upon mine, a nervous look falling over her. "The object we found in your house may be what those legends mentioned. It could be a way for you to get home." Her hand gripped mine a little more tightly; I had reason to be concerned with the way things were heading.
"There's a possibility, for that, yes." I locked my gaze with hers, a serious tone seeping into my words. "I understand what's going on. Are you going to be okay if we discover a way for me to return?" She closed her eyes as I continued; her grip on my hand becoming tighter. "I'm not clueless about what's going on between us, even if we're not willing or able to define it. You know I don't want to hurt you; at the same time there are people back home that care about me. You've got people back on Cerinia who care about you. We've got lives and families we want to get back to, and I don't want to keep you from them if I'm faced with that choice."
Krystal remained silent for a few moments, but she didn't let go of my hand. Her eyes opened; the weary expression behind them unable to be hidden. "I... I understand." Her answer was halting. "Please also understand that I was branded a traitor to my Clan and sent here to die, Adam. My family believes I am dead. They have mourned my passing; those who are left. My parents and siblings are also dead, leaving only a few scattered aunts, uncles, and cousins. If I fall on Sauria, the only person who will know the truth about how I fell is you." She blinked a few errant tears away before leaning towards me. "I wasn't being entirely forthright when I spoke of this earlier, but I wasn't sure what your reaction would be had I told you this. If I return home, I am not sure how secure my fate would be."
"Then why tell me that I would be welcomed there?" I asked as I wrapped my other hand around hers. I kept the tone of my voice neutral; I wasn't shocked or angry about the admission but I was curious more than anything else.
"Because I knew that you were as alone as I was. I wanted to give you hope that you could find your place even if you couldn't find your way home." Her eyes closed again, the vixen drawing a deep breath. "I've been alone in this gods-forgotten ship for an entire cycle." Tears formed at the corners of her eyes as she squeezed them shut. "The Sharpclaw wish to either imprison or kill us. Despite their benevolence it is clear that the Earthwalkers and Cloudrunners see us as tools to use against the Sharpclaw. You are the only one who has chosen to stand by my side and help me."
The vixen opened her eyes, that tear-filled brilliant emerald gaze seemingly peering into my soul. "I would not wish that emptiness or loneliness on anyone. You bear those same scars, Adam; perhaps even deeper than you think. You see this as a short time to know someone, and among your kind you are probably right. I just..." She paused for a moment, a nervous expression overtaking her features. "...I see the good in you. Beyond the flippant words and shaky bravado. I see your kindness, loyalty, and willingness to care about what I think and how I feel. For someone who has lost nearly everything, I can't begin to express how much that means to me."
I'm not sure what compelled me to do so, but I found my mind repeating a fragment of that fuzzy memory from last night. I stood up, pulling my hands away from hers; within a few seconds I had slid into the booth next to her. My arms wrapped around her as her head fell on my chest. The softness of her fur against me was comforting; at the same time I understood that she needed that same comfort right now. "I know, Krys." I answered. "I don't really know what to say. There's no magic combination of words that can bring back those we lost. The best we can do is honor their memories by living the best life we can."
The vixen shifted around to look at me. "Your words bear truth. What was your best life, before you found yourself here?" I arched a brow at her question. It was curious, but I figured she deserved an answer.
"Kevin and I had a shared interest in sports cars. After his death his uncle got his car and vowed to restore it; I volunteered my time in order to help. After breaking up with my ex, I started getting more involved in those hobbies. At the same time I remained close to my parents and older family members; they were starting to retire and I also volunteered to help them. Between my work, hobbies, and familial obligations I keep busy."
"You mentioned work, and you called yourself something strange last night. Sysad?" Her tone of voice sounded genuinely curious as she shifted into a more comfortable position. "Is that your trade?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Short for systems administrator." I mulled over how to explain that one to her. "I oversee and maintain computer systems and infrastructure for a medium sized company. It requires a moderate to advanced amount of technical skill and training. It's pretty boring stuff and I don't really see how it'll be of much use here, unless the computers here are similar."
Krystal's expression became thoughtful. "Would you want to try it out with the computers here?" I blinked, not really expecting that kind of an answer. "The information I gained about their use is very basic; I seem to be locked out of a lot of it."
"So... you want me to try to break into the ship's systems?" She nodded against me. "How do you know about all this?"
The vixen took a deep breath. "I'm not sure how to thoroughly explain this, and it is a very painful part of my past." I could feel her physically cringe as I held onto her. I opened my mouth to tell her that she didn't need to do so, but her voice headed me off at the pass. "I was forced to receive some of the memories of the pirate who owned this ship; the one the other Guardians captured. High Priest Meran put him through a mind-break; the forced extraction of memories by a trained Guardian. You must understand that this act is one of the most severe crimes one can commit; it is akin to murder."
She trembled slightly as she continued. "It leaves the victim broken in the most horrific, unimaginable way; their memories literally shredded to nonexistence. Those who are put through a mind-break are driven mad; their very essence shredded and tossed back into their mind in a chaotic heap. Even though this pirate committed atrocious acts against my people, my Clan, and my family, he didn't deserve that fate. Execution via Wraith would have been a kinder act."
I remained silent for a moment, processing that information. "So, essentially a mind rape. Christ." I hissed. "And they gave you the knowledge this pirate had?"
"Not all of it." Krystal sighed. "I believe Meran filtered through what he gave me. Even someone with knowledge of the Art can have difficulties if they receive more than a few memories from someone who has been mind-broken. Most of what I have been given seems instinctual; flying this ship for one, or using a blaster."
I nodded. "Explains why you know how to shoot a gun." Contrary to what some may think, firearms aren't the simple 'point and shoot' weapons movies and shows make it out to be. Safety, stance, sight alignment, how to deal with recoil, and basic ballistics are all critical in order to shoot well. I had been putting holes in targets since I was twelve. I wasn't an expert marksman, but as the past couple of days had shown I wasn't horrible either. She was a pretty damn good shot.
She nodded, taking the time to disengage from me and stand up. She was moving much less tentatively, though still favoring her broken arm. She locked eyes with me, a soft determination behind them. "Something you told me last night has made me think about what happened. What I didn't tell you is that I think that Meran slipped thoughts of his own into my mind. I don't know what they are, but when I encountered the Krazoa Spirit in the Palace it told me that my mind had been under someone else's control. I think it freed me of Meran's influence, but I must make sure. Would you help me see if there's something we can recover on this ship's computers that might help reveal what really happened?"
I nodded to her. "Absolutely, hon. I don't know how much help I will be, but I wanted to explore the ship. I suspect the language barrier will be a problem, so I can't guarantee success."
Krystal's smile grew, her hand reaching out to grasp mine. "I believe I can help with that. Shall we start with the lower decks?" Without waiting for a response she tugged me toward the stairs leading to the cargo bay. I followed, curious about what we would find down there.
