I have been flying, with the scenery of different wild life's with Galiteeya for a while now. It's been roughly an hour, but it felt longer. This whole time we flew, we didn't exchange a single word. I probably should feel proud for flying next to such an angle, but it was so awkward! I didn't know how to break the ice and start a conversation. Even 42 was quiet, and he's the chatterbox!
"Were here!" Galiteeya said and break the silence
We are standing in front of a structure. The hallway altitude is on the surface of the floor now and it is four times bigger and wider than before, only for that structure. It isn't the end of the hallway though, behind the structure the hallway shrinks back to its normal size and continues its path to who knows where. The structure is similar to the portal that 42 took me through to get me to the clinic, except its two times smaller .
"Another portal?" I ask.
"That's correct" Galiteeya replies.
She is working on her tablet to activate the portal. Meanwhile, I am admiring her beauty from the side, without realizing it, and right then she turns toward me, catching me staring at her. Despite of that, I reflexively turned away. I felt my cheeks heating up. Wait a minute! This is the same feeling I have on my crush! Well, at least according to what I remember so far. Why do I feel this way? I don't even know her! On top of that.. We're completely different species! Still, she is just gorgeous. What does that tell about me? Did I fall for every pretty female that came my way? Was I actually a pervert? This discourages me to get my memories back. She'll probably scold me again. I won't blame her, I would scold myself too! I take a deep breath and face her. She is staring at me again, with a strange expression, I can't read her at all. What's worst I have no excuse to say anything this time. For a few moments, which felt a long time, we stared at each other.
"Your a strange human..." She finally said "I haven't come across many of your kind, but the ones I came across bombarded me with questions about what I am or where they are, or who they are...." Then she frowned and said "Some of them had the audacity and try to make a move on me!"
That surprise me, what does she mean by some of us trying to make a move on her? Does she mean some of my kind tried to get close to her romantically?
"That was after they got a lot of their memories back, however." She continues, "Even so, for someone with almost a blank slate, you're unusually quiet.."
"I also agree, compared to other humans that I have assisted, he seems more.... calmer and also more adaptive," 42 adds.
"I'm just not sure how or where to start, So I observe more and grasp my situation more. Then should the opportunity present itself, I will ask accordingly." I respond, which is true. Besides, I already bombarded my questions on Dr. Rosita, but I don't want share this part with her.
Although, I am overwhelmed by her, and it almost makes me forget about the questions I have. Deep down, however, there is just too much to process, so I am focusing on the situation at hand in front of me at the moment. I remember little about my kind, but perhaps it was because I had combat experience, I seem to be calmer? I'm just not sure.
"So your sort of a logical type that's able to stay calm even if your in an unfamiliar terrain," Galiteeya replies. She smiles softly and closes her eyes "That's impressive, I give you that. Even some of our most renowned military personals and Rangers had to train and learn that trait." She opens her eyes, but looking down. "Even then some of them still don't have it..." She kept her smile but frowned again, giving her a better sweet look.
So she's definitely part of the military, or at least works with them. However, she described military personnel and rangers as two distinctly different entities. Are rangers not part of their military? Are they different Rangers than ours? Speaking of our military.. What did we have? I know my unit was some type of special forces, but it must be more specific than this, and I'm positive that we had more units that were specialized in varieties of tasks. Well, no point in thinking on it now, I will probably remember more soon.
Galiteeya is back on her tablet, and she has activated the portal. "Alright, I set the portal.." Then she glance over to me "... Just don't go in the like the way you did last time.."
Last time? Oh... She means the way I crashed in to her? Yup, that was embarrassing, so much so that I scratch the back of my head.
"Ehehe understood." I replied.
"Alright then, lets go" She answered with no particular expression this time.
She step in to the portal and so I follow her. When I step on the other side of the portal, we both arrive in an area where many other humans are gathering. I look up, and see there are drones flying above me in a distance, in all directions from one oval shaped lighted pipe to another on the wall side. Its size is about the same as the Portal I went through for the clinic. Among the drones I occasionally see other beings in suits flying, and sometimes even small unknown flying vehicles, carrying a row of storage or sorts. There many more pipes on higher levels. It seemed to be a three level piping system, then above that is just empty space until the ceiling. The ceiling is in dome shape, which illuminates a reflection of a dim blue light from all the activities down below it. From six meters below the lower level of the oval shape pipes, there are even more portals, same ones that I just walk in from. In each one, there seems to be even more people come out of them, one at a time, in a fast pace. There are four more level of these portals until the ground level, with two meters distance in between the levels, but they all were pretty close on the sides. The people that are coming out of the upper portals had to fly down, but some stay in the air.
Over all the room is almost a round shape, and the portals are all around me until it stops at a certain point. On that side, there is a giant window from the ceiling to the ground. The window gets smaller as it rises higher, so small that it seems only the corner of the end of the window, barely touches the line where the dome takes shape. This made the window look like an arch. I am standing directly on the opposite side of that window, smack center of it, and I am on the ground level. My distance from here to the window is about two football fields, though from the end of my left side to right side of the room seems to be three football field in distance.
I kept following Galiteeya, taken in by the sheer size of the room, and there are no columns at the center to support the ceiling!
"Wow! They are already this many humans here?" 42 said in my ear plug, seemingly surprised *Tsk* "So much for trying to be early..." 42's comment snap me back to my sense from staying in aw. "And there are even more pouring in! I suppose were just in time."
"We have arrived!" Galiteeya said "This is the hall of Descendent, this is where you guys will depart, though personally I don't like the name."
"Why not?" 42 asks
"I'm not sure, it just doesn't set well. It sounds like we're sending them to a journey full of misery," she replies with zero expression.
"Aren't we though? Hehe, I mean we are sending them to a planet that isn't completely terraformed yet, as their sanctuary," 42 said.
Ah, there is our usual chatterbox, I was worrying about him. I thought I damaged him. Even though what he said isn't something funny, but I have been with this guy long enough to know his sense of humor. Though I am worried about where I'm headed to. Galiteeya on the other hand is taken by surprise and she glances at me with a concerning expression. I shrug at her nonchalantly.
"Haha! I'm not sure why you're still calm, but I'm glad your still calm even after hearing that!" Galiteeya said, seemingly pleased, then she returned to her serious expression "Your not bad.. I'm sorry to have miss judge you... Do you have any questions?"
Hmm, well of course I do! Though I think it's best to leave them for later, but I can't let this opportunity go by. This is a golden opportunity!
"Well, no. It's not like I'm in an unknown place, full of strange people with a very limited memory of myself.. so nah I don't have questions." I reply with a sarcastic tone, but keeping my face straight.
Galiteeya looks at me for a few moments with an empty expression "Oh that's excellent to hear! Then I shall carry on to my task." She turns around, flipping her hair and walking away.
"Pfff.. Real smooth there.." 42 said, laughing.
She.. she took me seriously? I feel more embarrass and shock at the same time. Perhaps I should've been more honest.
"W... Wait!" I shout in panic.
Galiteeya stops and looks back with the same expression, without fully turning her body back. Even with her empty expression.. the way she turns around is hot too... I feel my cheeks getting hot, and my heart racing. Oh...no. What is this feeling? Isn't this dangerous for my heart? It skipped a beat! My mind goes blank again. 'Damn it! Keep it together dude!' I whisper to myself.
"Uh... Sorry. Where do I go from here?" I ask.
"I can help you from here" 42 replies in my earphone.
"I don't trust you at the moment," I quickly answer back.
"Hey! After everything we've been through? Ughh this feels like you betray me~," There is no hint of sadness in 42's tone. Rather he sounds happy! Why?
Galiteeya looks at me for a few moments and then she turns toward the center of the room and points to that direction. "Once everyone from your batch gather here, your leader will give you instruction, and your guide will help you follow through the procedure."
She then turns around, this time completely, standing firmly "Any other questions?"
Well, that was short and quick answer. Looks like I have to rely on 42 after all. Though deep down I am just looking for an excuse to talk to her. Is that why 42 didn't sound sad? Or was he just being his usual cheerful self? Even now he's not interfering much. Not that I'm complaining, but he's being more quiet than usual. Maybe I did damage him...
I pay attention to Galiteeya's suit again. I notice her suit is pretty slim. No wonder I could feel her chess... speaking of her chess... her size is between medium to large. Wait... what the hell am I thinking? That's not important! She said she is a ranger, right? Is she part of a military unit? What is someone like her doing here?
"What Are you staring at?" Galiteeya asked, crossing her arms in front of her.
Oops, l been staring for too long, again. OK, lets ask a serious question, lets see if she knows anything about what happened before my kind end up in this situation.
"Sorry, I was thinking about what you said before.." I quickly respond
Galiteeya seems to be a bit surprise judging by her expression.
"Yes, I have a few questions," I continue "It's about you though.. I hope you don't mind me asking."
She raises her head a bit and squints her eyes. Her expression however doesn't seem happy. "You have questions about me?" She said, her voice hinting disappointment.
"Wow, are you going to be like those humans she mentioned?" 42 whispers in my earphone.
Is that why she seems disappointed? Is she thinking I'm hitting on her? I mean, I like to, but I don't think I stand a chance, besides this is no time to do that.
"Oh, it's nothing personal. It's just that you mentioned you are a ranger. Are you..." Right when I was about to ask if she's part of a military unit. She might get suspicious. After all, I'm supposed to be a blank slate!
I see Galiteeya's expression lighten up, and she has her full attention. Guess I have to tweak my question a bit.
"Are Rangers some sort of helpers?" I ask.... Gee, even I don't think this is a proper question.. "I.. I mean, what do Rangers do?"
Galiteeya tilts her head and looks at me with her unreadable expression again.
"You want to know what we rangers do?"
"Yes... I'm carious."
"Hmm, interesting. Well, given that you still remember little, I don't think you'll be grasping much anyway, not at the moment." She then crosses her arms, looks down and closes her eyes. *Sigh* "But.." She looks up at me "I suppose it won't hurt to tell you, besides it might be useful for you once you regain your memories," She puts her hand on her chin and looks up "lets see, We rangers are responsible for various tasks, such as, escorting, security, hunting, gathering resources, doing social service. We even do mercenary, diplomatic, or combat missions. Think of us more or less like space adventurers".
"Space... adventurers?"
"Yes! Well, most of those missions depend on contracts that Rangers receive. Well, that's the summary of it. Your guide can also give you more details, but I suggest you wait till you get your memory back. You seem a bit confused."
She's not wrong, it is hard to follow, but I get the gest of it. "Yah, but thank you for your time, and explanation!" I bow reflexively.
Wait.. why did I bow?
"My... My pleasure" She replies, expressionlessly, but she sounds surprise.
So... Why is she here? Is she alone?
"Galiteeya! There you are!"
The voice that called out her name came from our left side, judging by the voice it seems to be from another female. Right when I'm about to look at the direction of the voice, I feel a dread of cold ora felled with danger, and a shadow looms on me. When I look, I see two figures, giant figures, standing right in front of my face, looking down on me. They are at least twice height taller! One of them is growling at me.
*To be Continued*