Chapter 6
I downed the shot and sighed heavily. "I am so doomed."
"Ya kinda brought it on yourself, Bunny."
"I know. I didn't expect him to take me so seriously!"
Blok chuckled. "Face it, Bunny, you're just too damn heroic for your own good."
"Don't remind me."
"From what I hear, you might have just saved the whole Aurin species."
"Only by accident. And it's not like we'd all die if Myala did, we'd just be utterly devastated."
"Yeah, but you still saved her." He sipped his drink. "That Queen of yours is pretty stubborn ain't she?"
"Ridiculously so."
"I heard Arwick practically had to knock her out to get her to evacuate from Arboria."
"If he hadn't, she'd be dead. Silly woman was fully prepared to make a last stand."
"Still, the Dominion was so fixated on her, they reduced forces on the planet to chase her. According to the intel, there's currently a stalemate going on."
"Yeah, the royal guard is still defending the Mother tree."
"Then there's still hope, right?"
"I guess." I stared at my empty glass. "More now than this morning I suppose."
"Cheer up. Looks like ya got another award coming."
I looked up to see Yaenna approaching and sighed. "Am I being summoned again?"
Yaenna shook her head, her large tufted ears swaying. "Arwick is keeping her distracted tonight. I just came to thank you."
"For what?"
"That artifact you found is amazing. I haven't seen her look so healthy since we left Arboria. Thank you so much, Val."
"Just dumb bunny luck."
Yaenna kissed my cheek. "You're not a dumb bunny. Not to any of us."
I snorted. "Yeah, well, um… thanks."
"You know we all like you. You can be silly, but you are not dumb." She cupped my cheek softly. "You've always done your best. I admire that."
"I'm not that admirable, Yaenna."
"Oh, Valya. You are so frustrating at times." She sighed. "But that is just who you are, I suppose." She gave me a smile. "You should get some sleep. I heard about how hard your day was."
"Yeah, in a bit."
"Don't make me drag you into bed, Val. You know I will."
"I know, I'll head to bed soon, I promise."
"No drinking yourself unconscious either!"
Blok laughed. "She won't, I'll look after her for you."
Yaenna gave him a grateful smile and held up a finger. "She can have one…" She emphasized with her finger. "And then bed, okay?"
"Yes Ma'am!" Blok said as he snapped a salute.
She giggled and turned to go, playfully slapping my ass with her tail. I watched her hip sway her way to the door then turned back to the bar to signal the bartender to pour me another shot. I'd only had one so far, but Yaenna would find out if I cheated, so I just meekly sipped my drink as Blok and I chatted.
It was about an hour later when I finally entered my room and sat on the bed. I was feeling pleasant, but nowhere near drunk.
But I could sense I wasn't alone.
I looked around and finally said. "You're here, aren't you? Won't you please show yourself?"
Motes of blue light gathered before me, and she formed in midair. Beautiful, ethereal, and looking at me in puzzlement.
"You're an Eldan aren't you?"
She looked startled for several seconds but eventually shook her head.
"Okay. Well, if you're going to keep hanging around, can't I at least know your name?"
She looked uncertain for a long moment, but finally…
"Drusera." That sweet, soft voice I'd thought I'd imagined so many times, so faint but so melodic.
"Well, nice to meet you, Drusera. I'm Val."
She blushed herself right out of existence.
Still, now I know her name. That's progress I suppose.
I was going through the database in the science center the next morning.
"Drusera, Drusera, ah, there it is. Drusera, Ancient Eldan Goddess. Well, crap. That's a little scary."
The records basically said she was referenced in ancient Eldan myths as the creator goddess, but the goddess described looked nothing like my cute little blue ghost. So, was she actually the same goddess or not? Honestly, she appeared to be a hologram, but the fact she could appear just to me without anyone else seeing her obviously made her something quite different.
And just as obviously, she had some connection to Nexus itself. She'd been shadowing me ever since I'd arrived and had apparently guided Dorian Walker here too. So, was she really a goddess, or something else?
I obviously wasn't going to get any answers from the database, so I decided to change tack. I headed off to a nearby hill with a small spring. It was nice, secluded, and private.
"Drusera… Drusera…" I called out softly.
She swirled up out of the spring and looked at me questioningly.
"I'm sorry I embarrassed you last night."
Her hands rose to wave in protest as she almost blushed herself out of existence again.
"Please don't go. I really want to talk."
She still looked half panicked, but she put one hand on her breast and appeared to take several deep breaths. Gods she was so shy.
But that just made her more beautiful.
"The records say Drusera is the name of an Eldan goddess."
Her hands rose in front of her chest as she peeked out of her hood.
"Yes. I was named for her."
"Named for her? By the Eldan?"
She nodded.
"You said you aren't an Eldan though. What are you then?"
She hesitated for a long moment. "Something else."
"Are you an A.I.?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what are you?"
She looked down. "A- a mistake."
I shook my head. "You don't look like a mistake to me."
"I- I am not as I was meant to be."
"Then what were you meant to be?"
Her lips opened, but then she shook her head and said nothing.
"Did the Eldan make you?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what happened to them?"
"He destroyed them."
"Who?"
She shook her head.
"Okay. I won't ask then. But why are you so interested in me?"
She appeared conflicted. "Because- because you are the one."
"The one?"
She nodded.
"The one what."
"The one-"she stopped and took a deep breath as if working up her courage. "The one who can save me…"
Then she was gone.
I slumped onto a rock and stared into the pool for a long time.
I'm not a hero. I'm just a dumb bunny with dumb bunny luck.
But… she needs me.
Chosen heroes only exist in fairy tales.
Why me? This sounds so much more like a job for Arwick.
And yet she's chosen me.
I was the last person I'd choose.
Aaaaand she's peeking at me from the pool in trepidation.
I sighed. "So, why do you think I'm your one?"
"I- I do not know. I only know that you are who I have waited a thousand years for."
Ooof. Talk about dedication.
I sighed. I really am such a sucker for pretty girls. She was giving me such huge glowy eyes too.
"I don't know if I can really be your savior, dear, but I'll give it my best shot. If you truly want this dumb bunny to be your hero, all I can do is try."
She nodded, hope filling her eyes.
"Now come out of that pool and give me a hug,"
She hesitated, but finally fully emerged from the pool. "What- what is a hug?"
I chuckled and held out my arms. "Stop floating for a moment and come here."
She landed before me, and I wrapped my arms around the space she was projected in. She truly was made of light, but I was careful not to stick my hands into her as I stroked her back. She looked surprised for a moment but hesitantly wrapped her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder.
"I do not understand why this makes me feel so warm."
"It's just what hugs do."
She softly sighed and glowed brighter and suddenly I could feel her faintly. It wasn't a strong sensation, but there was enough of one that I could actually stroke her back. I'd heard of solid light holograms, but this was my first time touching one. It made me wonder if I could eventually get her to solidify enough to hug her tightly.
If she could…
"You know, you don't just have to watch me all the time. If you can make yourself solid, why not join me in bed?"
She blinked at me repeatedly. "I am not certain what you mean."
I stroked my tail along her leg. "Well, you were watching Myala and I the other day. I could do that for you too."
"You- you mean procreation?"
"You're a hologram, dear. All we could do is have sex."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh dear, I made her blush out of existence again."
I put my hands behind my head and whistled as I walked back to camp, immensely pleased with myself