Page 21 of Abalim

At first glance, it looked like a simple black obsidian oval as big as his thumb. It had a sturdy silver ball at the top with a braided leather cord looped through it. The pendant hung to the middle of his breastbone, and he kept it under his clothing.

Only on closer examination did the pendant reveal its intricate details. The engraving on the front was an ancient symbol representing protection and fortitude. On the backside was a small cavity that held three miniature gemstones—a deep-blue lapis lazuli for enhancing wisdom, a fiery-red carnelian for courage, and a shimmering clear-crystal quartz to amplify the energies of the other two gemstones.

The pendant held no magical properties, but it represented a tiny piece of himself that he’d made as a slave. A symbol of freedom when he was forced to endure a series of tests the scientists used to perform on him and his brothers. This reminded him no one could take away who he truly was. Throwing his shoulders back, Abalim shut the mental image down and focused on the here and now. “No, I have everything I need with me.”

The only response from Gilipthor was a high-pitched whistle as he clapped his teeth together.

Abalim couldn’t tell if the guy was annoyed or amused.

They didn’t speak again as they headed to an open field under the dull gray sky tinged with a brownish fog. It was hard to tell if there were clouds above them because the dirty smog blanketing the air was filled with discolored layers. The sunlight bravely tried to pierce through the smudge, but its weak light created muted shadows. The atmosphere held a heavy chemical stench mixed with something burning in the distance.

“JR15?” He spoke out of the side of his mouth to the spybot perched between his neck in his shoulder. “Will this toxic air create any harmful side effects for me?”

“If we stayed much longer, Mister Abalim sir, you would soon experience several respiratory issues, compounded by eye irritation. It would be best if we left as quickly as possible.” His tiny body quivered.

Good thing the little guy could stick to the skin of his neck without making it painful.

Gilipthor hurried his pace, making Abalim pick up his. They ended up in a burned field of dead grasses where a cigar -ship perched in the low light.

The tension between his shoulders melted as he studied it while they approached. It looked to be in good shape, with nary a dent or scratch in sight.

“There she be.The Galactic Serpent.” The pride in the creature's voice was easy to hear. “I’s travel in it wid the good folks from Crichi, likes the cap’in, fer most of me life.”

Before Abalim had a chance to ask anything else, Gilipthor pulled out a communication device similar to the one Saphira used earlier and barked several whistles and clicks into it.

Abalim stood next to him and crossed his arms.

Between one blink and the next, the scene around him changed. He now stood on a rectangular dais that had to be inside the ship. He took in a clean, deep breath and let it out with pleasure.

JR15 hummed his approval next to him.

“Follows me.” Gilipthor trundled down the ramp and headed out an open archway.

Abalim didn’t bother to look around. The diminutive alien might be half his size, but he was quick.

Gilipthor wheezed into his communication device as he led the way to an open door of an elevator.

When they got in, the doors reappeared closed. After several movements of them going up then sideways, the doors faded and opened to a narrow corridor with just enough light to be comfortable. The floors and walls were made of some type of metal. The floor was firm enough to walk on but had a soft give with each step. The hallway appeared to be seamless, with no openings or doorways. Every few feet, a cylinder tube hung from the ceiling a few inches from the wall.

Gilipthor stopped under one of those cylinders.

It lowered until it reached his eye level. Then a yellow light blinked on its bottom.

The alien leaned until a shimmering light coated his eye. “Come here, human man, and put your eye here.”

Abalim wasn’t going to correct Gilipthor calling him a human. To be honest, there were the worst things he could be called. Without a word, he leaned to put his face close to the cylinder when the smaller alien moved away.

The moment he came close to it, the cylinder drew up and was now at his eye level. After a quick burst of light, it shut off, and the cylinder slid back up to the ceiling.

As he blinked to get his eyesight back to normal, he noticed a strange symbol etched into the wall. It looked like a strange mixture of numbers inserted into a hieroglyphic.

“This is where you stays on theGalactic Serpent. But don’t gets too comfortable. The Captain’ll be here soon, and I’ll take youse to meet the crew.” Gilipthor whistled and clicked as he talked. He turned to Abalim and lowered an eye as the other one studied him up and down. “Youse and your littl’ friend stays here real tight-like. And don’t touch nothin’.”

Abalim gave the smaller male a slight smile. “I think we’ll be just fine.”

Gilipthor clacked his claws together with a nod. “Good. That’s good. Don’t need youse causin’ trouble. Go inside and stay there until I comes ta get ya.” He stared at Abalim as he stepped over the threshold. With a slight whistle, the smaller creature twirled around, his cape billowing behind him as he trotted down the hallway.

Abalim jerked back just as the door rematerialized. He looked up and saw another cylinder on the ceiling. He stood under it, waiting for to lower so he could open the door. The damn thing didn’t move. Either he didn’t know how to activate the thing, or he was locked in.

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