Page 3 of Dark's Savior

The elevator came to a smooth stop, entering one of the many hubs. As the door opened, Aly stepped out and turned left, making her way down a narrow passage. She passed by a few grex. They eyed her with their reptilian gazes, their nostrils flaring, but Aly only nodded her head and gave a small smile, keeping her eyes down, to acknowledge she was no threat. She slipped by and quickly made her way to the central base of the hub.

There were more people as she got closer. She refused to call them aliens like some of her team. Theywerepeople. Just not human. According to the Xolis, in fact, some were silion. But not all.

Aly made her way down the passage until she came to a large opening where, inside, metal crates were being organized by various armbots.

"Smith, over here."

Aly glanced around and saw Braxin gesturing for her to come. She followed the burly, beast-like man into his work unit, where he sat down at his console and pointed to the chair beside him. "Sit."

Aly did as told. She sat quietly, with hands clasped on her thighs, waiting patiently. Braxin watched her with his yellow eyes. The "miserable lion," as Aly liked to call him, was looking more put out than usual.

"I received another report that you got in the way of an abbiot's work," he said with a slight growl in his throat.

Aly bit the inside of her cheek and pushed back the strawberry-blonde locks of hair that were getting in her eyes. "I wouldn't call it getting in the way exactly, sir," she said as quietly as possible.

Braxin tapped a dark, taloned finger on his tableboard. "What would you call it, then? And don't say you were trying to help."

Aly's face heated, water dripping down the side of her face to her neck, making her shiver. She had no response, and with that, Braxin let out a bellow of breath.

"Did they not teach you humans anything at the facility?" Braxin showed his teeth. "Or are you just looking to start something?"

Aly opened her mouth. "No—no, I just happened to be by and was trying to aid—"

"First mistake," Braxin said.

"—And I didn't realize that was seen as very rude to them," Aly finished softly.

"I'll say it again. No one here needs your help. The other humans have learned, why can't you, hm? You have one job. Stick to it. If I catch you trying to aid another group again, I’ll send you to the warehouses. Learn your place. No one is looking to make friends. Just credits."

Aly nodded. "I understand." She got up to go when he stopped her once more.

"And stay in your designated area. I heard you were caught sneaking around past level fifty again. This is your final warning. It's your hide if you want to get eaten or killed. You know the rules." Braxin turned back to his console. "You're off-shift, so I expect you to go straight to your unit."

"Actually, we are having a meeting...my team. In the old station."

Braxin side-eyed her, his nose scrunching slightly. "Go to the meeting then go home. That's an order."

Aly nodded and gave a little smile, then left quietly. When Braxin's door closed behind her, she let out a breath and took her time leaving the hub. She would stick to his orders, but the meeting wasn't for another hour. She would take the long way over.

She thought of the cross bridge and of the moon overhead. A little detour, that was all. And likely, no one would be up there with the shift change.

She had only encountered the bridge a week ago, and only after noticing it while looking up from the platform of level twelve in section C, where the cavern was wider and had an opening above the platform where a long bridge could be seen. It was more like a set of bridges, actually, that intersected one another like a web. And it was set at one of the highest points, close to the surface. Close enough where light actually touched.

No one seemed to use it anymore as it had once been used to get across to other sections but now, with the elevator cars and other transports, the bridge (and many of the stairways) were seldom used. Only Aly cared to ever use them to sneak to various points outside her designated area.

As she exited the hub and made for an elevator once more, her pace quickened.

Just a little detour.

***

The sluth did not see him at first, but it certainly must have sensed him, for it shrieked loudly and shot away into a narrow hole as he passed by its hiding place. It must have caught his scent, but Ryziel didn't much care. It was funny how the sluth could be such nasty, vile creatures and cause even the toughest miner to go running for the surface, but they turned into simpering cowards the moment he made his presence known. They were at least smart enough to know what was prey and what was not.

It had been weeks since he had seen a sluth because it had been weeks since he had left his home. He had been so obsessed with fixing the ship and getting the necessary materials for the fix that he had lost track of time.

It wasn't until Nar told him the second mender had broken and that their drill was slowing that he had any thought to leaving and only because the tools were vital for the ship. Xilya could have gotten them, but she was on a personal mission already and wouldn't be back for another mooncycle. And Nar didn't leave the underground ever.

So, it was up to him alone and, surprisingly, he felt energized, not dread, at having to make his way to the surface. Though, he walked quickly, wanting the deed done so he could go back to his work. The ship still needed many repairs, but he was certain in only a season’s time, it would be completed. Assuming they could get ionx.

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