CH. 1 | CH. 2 | CH. 3 | CH. 4 | CH. 5 (below)
CHAPTER FIVE
“So, you built this place?” Valen asked as Ashfall led through the halls of the Crater Moon the next morning.
“Well, much of the structure was already here. Carved out naturally from either the Moon itself, the Nhyrkahl that live here, ancient civilization, or all three — I’m still not sure. But much of the groundwork for a civilization was already in place.”
“That makes sense. This place feels more grown than forged.” Valen replied. He truly was still in awe of the place. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was a stark contrast from the clean white and too-perfect angles of his home. The Moon was all obsidian moonstone and natural bioluminescence. Left to be what it was, instead of forced into shapes by men.
They reached an arched entryway. “Just wait until you see this,” Ashfall smiled, big and genuine, as they entered.
The space opened up into a huge dome full of lush plant life, clearly native to the moon. Trees with pale bark and luminous leaves towered over and outlined paths with little seating areas. The dome was lit by several yellow spheres that were connected to the ground by dark green vines. They were as bright as sunlight on Astraedane’s clearest days.
Ashfall led them past an orchard where branches sagged with large heavy black fruit. A few people were picking and collecting the fruits in baskets. There were a few big open spaces full of people doing various leisure activities. A group of children ran amok in one, playing some sort of game where they tried to evade the touch of a certain chosen one. Their laughs were so strange, children never laughed on Astraedane.
“This colony needs all kinds of different people: stonecutters, healers, farmers. I just bring them together and give them a reason to try.” Ashfall said, falling into the role of the gentle tour guide.
Valen’s eyes tracked a stream where more children splashed, squealing as glowing fish darted away from their hands. A woman, who looked older than anyone Valen had ever seen, hummed with her feet in the water. She also laughed, toothless and delighted, weaving flower crowns for whomever would sit long enough.
In the center of a nearby field, a young woman led a group of elderly people of all types in some sort of slow reverent movement and stretching. They seemed to be living their lives to the fullest, full of joy way past an age that would ever be allowed to most in the Sovereign Span.
“The Sovereign would have —“
“Executed them all,” Ashfall cut him off. “In the Sovereign Span, if you’re too old, too weak, or too different she casts you out. Or kills you.” He shook his head. “Here, they have a community. A purpose. Something to live for.”
“You saved all these people,” Valen said softly as guilt coiled around his ribs.
“I fight for what is right,” Ashfall corrected. “Saving implies they are weak. They are not. We are not. That’s what she thinks. And that difference is what we are going to use to break her.”
Bright green coils of hair caught Valen’s eye. Rayan was in one of the open areas, helping an older man with a prosthetic leg walk across the field. The man was getting frustrated, but Rayan’s joyous energy was being put to good use.
It made Valen’s heart sink further. He’d just been sitting around in a palace doing whatever his mother said while these people were saving lives. He told himself it was for survival, but maybe if he had got off his ass and actually tried … he could have done something. Like Ashfall.
Rayan led the man to sit by the water with the woman weaving flower crowns, and she noticed us. Her eyes widened with excitement as she jumped up at least a foot. Then darted to us.
“Valen! Hey! And our fearless leader.” She dramatically bowed. Ashfall rolled his eyes. “Are you making crash-victim here fall in love with the moon already?”
“I’m certainly trying —“ a woman with starkly pale skin and a clean shaven head came up to him. She was draped in black robes woven with embedded circuits. Upon closer look, the circuits were also embedded in her skin, trailing up her neck and glowing at the temples. She looked barely older than Rayan, maybe mid twenties, but felt ancient in energy.
“Commander Ione,” Ashfall politely bowed.
“Fearless Leader,” Ione bowed back.
“You don’t have to call me that,” Valen could almost see Ashfall blush.
“There is no time for a semantics discussion. You are needed in the command hall now. Commander Quell and commander Xharn are fighting again. They already destroyed one of the consoles by throwing around energy weapons.”
Ashfall sighed, “Of course,” and turned to face Valen. “I’m sorry, but, looks like I’ve got to go.” He patted his shoulder. It sent a wave down his spine. “Try not to scare him off, Ryan.” He looked at her seriously.
Rayan saluted with exaggerated flair. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I’ll check in on you later, but I hope you feel welcome here, feel free to explore.”
Then he was gone.
Valen let himself watch Ashfall leave … maybe a little too long.
“That ass is built, right?” Rayan said behind him. He looked at her in embarrassed shock before letting out a laugh.
“I mean … yeah, that ass is definitely built.” He responded.
Rayan laughed with an open freedom that caught him off guard. Pivoting closer, her eyes locked onto him like a hawk. “Sooo ... Crash-survivor Valen. Mystery man.” She clasped her hands behind her back, leaning close. “Where’d you grow up? What’s your story?”
Valen checked his mental shields, as natural as breath. “There’s not much to tell.”
“Oh, there’s always much to tell.” She arched a brow. “Family? Lovers? Hobbies besides wrecking?”
“I …” the rehearsed lies would not come out. Honestly, he didn’t want them to. But he couldn’t tell her the truth, either. “I lived a shitty, boring life and crashed here.” he said finally, voice sharper than he intended. Not a lie.
She studied him a beat, unconvinced, then dropped onto a stone bench and patted the spot beside her. “Fine. If you won’t tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine.”
He sat stiffly. Her voice softened, threaded with memory.
“Like I told you, I grew up on Fibratis. Back there, the word for girl didn’t belong to me. No matter how much I knew it should. My family tried to burn it out of me. Literally and figuratively! Convinced if you’re born male you’ve got to stay that way. They were so loyal to the Sovereign’s ideology. My whole world was. When Ashfall and the rebels came … It was the first time anyone looked at me and didn’t see something broken that needed to be fixed … or discarded. They saw me. So I followed. And I fight, so no one else has to live the way I did.”
