The temple was a very old building. The whole structure seemed like would collapse at any time but the industrial standards somehow made its solid walls last.
On the ground floor there was a hall. On the right you could see a bunch of cafes and gift shops. On the middle there were some benches and artificial trees. This part of the hall worked like a park and some families just used to came here and spend one afternoon once in a while.
The left side was a entrance to a museum. On the end of the museum tour, you could take the elevator on the first floor. So I pretended that I wanted to take a tour and entered the line to put my name on the list.
Two minutes latter the woman behind me on the line started to whisper on my ear with a disdainful tone.
- Hm, you are kinda skin and bones. I expect that the deserter would be a little brawny.
I didn't look behind. I just ran.
With all my might I ran past the people. I had nowhere to go. The building was tall but small. I could run and hide, but sooner or latter I would get caught.
I had to fight her.
The place with more privacy that I could though was the bathroom. I looked at the signs and sped up. Had to push lightly some people out of the way. I almost tripped over a kid but managed to change directions in time.
I entered the bathroom.
- GET OUT EVERYONE. GET OUT!
When living here for long enough, you just learn to hear what the people that is maniacally screaming says. Everyone looked at me with pity on their eyes. They left calmly, as trying to appease the crazy lady.
The place stinked. One of the privacy doors was missing and everything seem a little molded. But looked better than the other public bathroons, since it was inside the temple tower.
I took off my carrier bag and put on the ground. I heard a sound coming from the door and looked up, ready to scram the people out... It was that woman that was following me!
She was fast. Before I could think of anything to do or say she kicked me right on my stomach. It made me take 5 steps back and reach the other end of the bathroom, the heavy backpack made me loose my balance and I fell squarely on my bottom. I coughed weakly and gasped for air. My hangover wasn't helping either.
The woman took a step back and locked the door.
- Let's have a little chat, shall we?
She them tied her hair and put her arms up on a defensive position. Her tail slided from under her skirt and took a attacking stance.
I got up and put my backpack on the ground. She seemed like she would wait. I took a defensive position as well but the 3 layers of cloth made it hard to use my limbs, and I could say that was impossible to take my tail out of that mass of clothes to help on the fight.
- So, you must be the other explorer assigned to this planet, aren't you? - I asked.
She didn't answered. Looked like she didn't want to chat after all.
She seemed faster and stronger than me. She took a step forward. I shoot with my laser ring. I managed to hit her shoulder. She screamed and then attacked.
We exchange a few punches. All the blows that landed on me almost knocked me out. I managed to block some, but barely. I tried to hit her shoulder were I made a bad burning mark but she blocked all my blows easily.
She threw a cross punch. I couldn't dodge. I could see the world spin. I took three steps back, or at least tried. Her tail entengled one of my feet and I fell.
I don't want to die.
I picked a knife on my pocket and started to swing it in front of me.
- No! Don't kill me! Please!
She looked at the defeated me disdainfuly.
- What were you thinking? Were you gonna desert with aaaall those habilities?
- I.... I was really drunk last night and could not stand this place anymore. It's like I'm trapped in a nightmare every second that I pass in this place.
- I fell you, but... What a shitty reason. - she said as stepped forward. I swinged my knife again. She hesitated.
- The military seemed to forget me here after I collected all that data. I'm not useful for them anymore, they just left me here to die. Even if I died now, I think I wouldn't change my decision. - And I meant it.
I was ready to shoot her again and run off, but it was me that hesitated this time. She held her hand out.
- I'll help you. And you help me. I'm gonna desert as well.