Page 20 of Lunar Bound
"I'll accept that. Can you tell me about your world?" Poppy stared up into the darkness. "What's it like to live in eternal night?"
"The Lunaris Zone looks much like this cave," Lunar explained, finding himself unusually willing to share information about his home. "Our cities are built in deep canyons and cave systems, protected from the rare light that might reflect from the Twilight Belt."
"So your people evolved to thrive in darkness," Poppy mused. "Like nocturnal animals here on Earth."
"A simplified comparison, but essentially correct," Lunar confirmed. "We process energy in forms beyond the visible spectrum. We perceive heat differentials, magnetic fluctuations, and shadow densities that light-dependent species cannot detect."
"And the star patterns within you?" Poppy asked, her fingers lightly tracing one such constellation on his arm. "What are those?"
"Energy nexus points," Lunar explained, suppressing a pleasurable shiver at her touch. "Locations where cosmic radiation is processed and channeled throughout my form. The patterns are unique to each individual, like your human fingerprints."
"They're beautiful," Poppy said simply.
They lapsed into comfortable silence, Poppy's head eventually resting against his leg as fatigue overcame her. Lunar remained alert, monitoring the cave system for any sign of intrusion while allowing part of his consciousness to enjoy the simple contact between them.
Chapter
Seven
Hours passed in the timeless darkness of the cave. The vibrations from above told Lunar that Milano's forces had expanded their search pattern. They were deploying throughout the canyons and ridges in a systematic grid, closing in on their location. Occasionally, Lunar detected faint vibrations from the surface world, vehicles passing on distant roads, the movement of larger wildlife, and the subtle shift of temperature as the morning approached the afternoon. None indicated an immediate threat to their specific hiding place.
Despite the circumstances that had brought them here, Lunar found the isolation with Poppy unexpectedly satisfying. In the Lunaris Zone, proximity to others was carefully regulated, interactions governed by strict protocols of necessity and purpose. Casual contact was rare, sustained physical connection rarer still. Yet here in this Earth cave, the simple act of sitting beside Poppy while she slept created harmonies in his energy field that he had never experienced in his home environment.
Eventually, Poppy stirred, consciousness returning as she lifted her head from beside his leg. "How long was I asleep?"
"Approximately eight Earth hours," Lunar informed her. "It is late afternoon on the surface."
"Eight hours? Damn. I must have slipped into a coma." Poppy stretched, her body moving with the grace he had come to appreciate.
"I cannot say. I am unfamiliar with the energy signature of a coma," he said.
She chuckled. "I just meant I must have been more tired than I realized to sleep like that with all that is going on."
"That would be from our energy exchange. I also had to rejuvenate after." Lunar didn't add that a human's rejuvenation process was much less efficient.
"Any sign of trouble?" she asked.
"Milano's forces expanded their search grid above," Lunar reported. "They're deploying vehicles and personnel throughout the canyon system."
"They'll be watching the cottage," Poppy said thoughtfully, "and they'll probably have people stationed at the main access points to the area too."
"A standard containment strategy," Lunar agreed. "They are attempting to restrict our movement options until we are forced to surface."
"Good thing I know all the non-standard exits," Poppy replied with a small smile. She reached for her pack, extracting water and food bars. "Here. I don't know if you need this stuff, but human hospitality dictates I offer."
Lunar accepted the items, finding the concept of hospitality in a crisis situation intriguing. He gave them back to her. "I can process these materials for energy, though less efficiently than shadow absorption. You should keep the supplies for yourself."
She quickly ate in silence.
"I know it's still daylight out there, but we should be able to reach a section of the cave where I can get cell reception," Poppy said, repacking her supplies. "We can contact your friends and figure out the next steps. I don't like the idea of them being hunted."
"A logical approach," Lunar agreed. "But they will know if they are hunted. Just as I did."
Poppy nodded, her expression turning more serious. "What exactly is your mission here, Lunar? And don't tell me again that it's finding compatible humans to prove peaceful coexistence. You already told me there is more to it."
The direct question activated Lunar's security protocols. Information compartmentalization was a standard procedure for shadow operatives. However, he felt an unusual urge to be more transparent with Poppy. Her loyalty and their developing bond built trust that surpassed usual caution.
"You are correct," he acknowledged. "My assigned role extends beyond the stated diplomatic mission."
