Soft golden rays filtered through the room's high windows, casting elongated shadows across the pristine white floor. Lysa slowly stirred, her eyelids fluttering open to a realm of unfamiliarity. The gentle hum of the ventilation system was a soothing lullaby against the backdrop of an alien environment. The bed beneath her was soft, unlike anything she'd experienced before. It cradled her body in a gentle embrace, making her feel like floating on a cloud. She purred softly, a deep and contented sound, stretching out her limbs, feeling the exquisite softness of the sheets against her fur.
"Elara?" she called out, her voice soft and groggy from sleep. Silence. She repeated the call, her voice a notch higher, a hint of anxiety creeping in. Still, there was no response.
Lysa sat up, her movements graceful and fluid, reminiscent of a feline stretching after a long nap. She began to groom herself, her tongue rasping over her fur, smoothing down any dishevelled patches. Every so often, she'd pause, ears perked up, listening for any sign of Elara. The room remained eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of the quarter's systems.
With a sudden realisation, Lysa reached out, her hand extending to the adjacent bed where Elara should have been. But it was cold, untouched. Panic bubbled up inside her, her heart rate quickening. Her vibrant cat eyes darted around the room, scanning every corner, every shadow, but there was no sign of her friend.
"No, no, no," she whispered, a mantra of disbelief. Thoughts raced through her mind. Had the Sky Humans taken Elara? Did they deem her more valuable, or had Aiden betrayed them with his charming demeanour?
But then a counter-thought emerged. Why leave her free? Would they gloat over their capture, leaving Lysa to wander and discover the betrayal alone? She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of sleep and mounting fear. She needed to think, to be rational.
Lysa inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling as she tried to ground herself. Her senses became more acute, the distant hum of the quarter's systems now more evident, the subtle scent of recycled air more pronounced. She slid off the bed, her feet touching the cold floor, sending a shiver up her spine.
She gathered her resolve and approached the door, which slid open with a soft hiss. The world outside was a flurry of activity. The early morning light of Aeloria bathed the Constellar Federation's camp in a warm glow. People moved about purposefully; some engaged in lively conversations, others sharing meals, their laughter echoing in the distance. The camp had expanded since she last saw it, new structures sprouting up, evidence of the Sky Humans' efficiency and industrious nature.
She took a moment to observe, hoping to glimpse Elara. But her friend was nowhere to be seen amongst the sea of faces. Doubt crept in. Had they been too trusting? Were the Sky Humans not as benevolent as they seemed?
But then reason prevailed. It made no sense to kidnap Elara and leave her to wander freely. Perhaps Elara had just gone for a morning walk or to explore the camp. Yes, that must be it.
Clad in her pyjamas, a stark contrast to the uniforms and attire of those around her, Lysa began her search. She moved with a determined stride, her feline grace evident. Every so often, she'd pause, her ears twitching, listening for the familiar voice of her friend. She was on a mission, and nothing would stop her from finding Elara.
The camp was a maze of tents, equipment, and vehicles. But Lysa was undeterred. With each step, she grew more confident, pushing away the nagging fears and focusing on the task at hand. The vibrant camp came alive around her, the sights and sounds painting a picture of a thriving community. And in that moment, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Lysa knew one thing for sure - she would find her friend, no matter the cost.
…
Lysa moved cautiously through the sprawling camp, her eyes wide and alert, taking in the alien technology around her. Here and there, mechanical constructs—robots, Aiden had called them—moved with an eerie sense of purpose. They were tall, metallic, and unlike any golem she had ever seen in the DemiHuman Commonwealth. With each movement, they emitted a low hum as if powered by some mysterious force. For a moment, Lysa considered rubbing against one to mark it with her scent, then thought better of it. Her feline instincts screamed that these were not simple stone golems animated by earth magic; they were something else entirely.
She marvelled at the precision with which they moved, avoiding obstacles and people with an almost… unnatural grace. "Holy whiskers!" Lysa exclaimed, nearly colliding with one of the robots. The creature moved past her, seemingly oblivious to her presence. Lysa watched it go, her eyes wide with admiration and trepidation. She'd seen magic in her time, but this was something else entirely.
As she continued her search, she came across a group of Star Raptors conducting their morning drills. The soldiers moved in unison, their armour glistening and weapons gleaming. Lysa's ears perked up as she observed them, a purr of appreciation rumbling in her throat. Their discipline and coordination were commendable and a stark reminder that these were not mere men. They were elite warriors from another world. Her mind briefly wandered to the military drills in Gryphondale, where her DemiHuman kin practised with swords and shields.
Lost in her observations, she almost didn't notice the patrol headed her way. With a swift roll, she ducked behind a stack of crates, her heart pounding. Peeking out, she watched the soldiers pass by, their footsteps echoing in her ears. The Star Raptors marched with a rhythm that resonated across the camp. Their boots thudded against the ground in perfect sync, their armour gleaming under the Aelorian sun. "These Sky Humans sure know how to put up a show," she thought.
"Okay, I've had enough of this sneaking around," she exclaimed, a hint of frustration in her voice. She decided that if she was going to find Elara, she needed to be more direct.
Nearby, she spotted a pair of soldiers standing guard before what appeared to be a command post. It was a large tent, but unlike any she'd seen before. It was made of silvery material and looked like it could withstand a dragon's breath. She approached cautiously, her eyes meeting theirs.
"Excuse me, have you seen Elara?" Lysa inquired, trying to mimic the formal tone she had heard Elara use when speaking to strangers, her tail flicking nervously behind her. The soldiers looked at her with puzzled expressions, then began speaking. Their words were incomprehensible to her, but she noticed that their lips didn't match the sounds coming out. Ah, Universal Translators! She remembered Elara mentioning them.
The frustration was mounting. Why hadn't she taken Elara up on those High Aelorian lessons? She would have been able to communicate with these sky-dwellers by now. Now, she was left playing a game of charades with armoured warriors. Scratching her chin thoughtfully, Lysa had a sudden inspiration. The soldiers' expressions, meanwhile, turned from confusion to amusement as they watched Lysa's animated reactions.
Lysa gestured to her ears, trying to mimic the shape of Elara's pointy elf ears. She even went as far as to stand on her tiptoes and make a playful "whoosh" sound, mimicking the sway of Elara's long hair. The soldiers stared at her momentarily, and then realisation dawned on their faces.
The soldiers' faces lit up, and they both exclaimed, "Oh!" in unison. One pointed towards a set of tents resembling a small village of interconnected geodesic domes.
"Thank you!" Lysa meowed—er, said—and then gave them a slight bow, similar to how she'd seen Elara show gratitude. She couldn't help but chuckle at the soldiers' bemused faces as they watched her dart away.
With newfound hope, she sprinted toward the research posts, her bare feet pounding against the ground. Her mind raced with possibilities, and her heart filled with anticipation and fear. What if Elara was in trouble? What if she wasn't there? But she pushed these thoughts aside. She had a lead, and she was going to follow it.
As she reached the entrance of the nearest research dome, she took a moment to catch her breath, her eyes scanning the area one last time. She was in a land filled with wonders and dangers she couldn't even begin to understand. But one thing was sure: she would find Elara, no matter what strange and bewildering obstacles lay in her path. With that final thought, she stepped into the research post, ready to face whatever awaited her.
…
When Lysa stepped into the research dome, she felt she had crossed into an entirely different world—one that defied her most imaginative dreams. Her feline eyes widened, taking in the vibrant arrays of coloured lights that danced across multiple screens. She felt like a mouse that had accidentally stumbled into a wizard's secret lair. And what a lair it was!
Sections of the dome were neatly labelled Engineering, Xenostudies, Astrobiology, and Astrophysics. Scientists bustled about in white coats, resembling alchemists engrossed in their mystical concoctions. But instead of cauldrons and parchment, they were hunched over holographic screens, swiping their fingers through the air to interact with data streams that looked like magical runes to Lysa.
"It's like a festival of floating lights and colours! Except... science-y?" Lysa thought, utterly fascinated but entirely out of her depth. She saw devices beyond her understanding, from complex machinery that whirred and beeped to the holographic displays that Aiden had used. She even saw a floating orb that seemed to be scanning a plant. "Is that thing... talking to the plant?" she wondered, tilting her head in sheer bewilderment.
Just as she contemplated whether the orb would be offended if she tried to bat it out of the air—feline curiosity and all that—she heard it. A voice that was music to her ears.
"Lysa!"
Lysa's head swivelled in the direction of the voice. There, grinning from ear to pointy ear, was Elara. Beside her was a woman with tanned skin, messy black hair tied up in a loose bun, eyes sparkling with intelligence—Dr. Sofia Zamora.
"Elara!" Lysa exclaimed, her voice tinged with relief and a hint of reproach. "Where have you been? I woke up, and you were gone and—"
Elara interrupted her, leaping off the table and grabbing Lysa's hands. "You won't believe what I've been doing!" Elara's eyes sparkled. "I woke up so early; the excitement wouldn't let me sleep! I started wandering and stumbled upon Dr. Zamora here." She gestured to Sofia, who was now making final adjustments to a device. "I've been helping her with the Universal Translator. We're adding Low Aelorian!"
Lysa's ears perked up. "You're doing what now?"
Just then, Dr. Zamora let out a triumphant yell. "Done!" she exclaimed, adjusting the translator's settings. She turned to the pair, a mischievous grin on her face. Speaking in perfect Low Aelorian, she said, "Hello, Lysa. Pleased to meet you."
Lysa's jaw dropped. The words were perfect, and the intonation was spot on. She looked from Elara to Dr. Zamora and back again, her mind struggling to comprehend the marvel she'd just witnessed. Elara, ever the bubbly elf, jumped up and down, clapping her hands with glee. The two exchanged a high-five, a gesture Elara had picked up from the Sky Humans.
"Having someone who speaks the language makes the whole process so much smoother!" Dr. Zamora said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
As Elara and Dr. Zamora exchanged enthusiastic words, Lysa stood there, a bit dumbfounded but mostly amazed. Here she was, in a dome filled with technology she couldn't begin to understand, among people from a world beyond the stars, and yet, for the first time since she'd arrived, she felt a sense of belonging.
She looked at the high-tech marvels around her, then at her friend and the scientist who had just made a monumental breakthrough. It was overwhelming, astonishing, and utterly, completely wondrous.
"As much as I want to bat at that floating orb, I think we've got bigger fish to fry, or... whatever the Sky Human equivalent of fish is," Lysa thought, finally letting herself appreciate the magical science surrounding her.
She smiled at Elara, her eyes twinkling with a new curiosity—one that was eager to explore not just this dome but the endless possibilities ahead.
"Alright," Lysa said, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "What's next on this grand adventure of ours?"
…
The hum of the dome's machinery faded into the background as Lysa and Elara settled at the table, a Holo-Pad placed before them. The translucent screen displayed a series of intricate symbols that made absolutely no sense to Lysa. She squinted at it, trying to discern any semblance of meaning. Beside her, Elara earnestly attempted to pronounce the symbols, her tongue twisting in ways Lysa found both hilarious and endearing.
"Galak...ti...cuh," she stammered, a triumphant smile breaking out when she finally said the word.
Elara, furrowed in concentration, was trying to pronounce more symbols. "Is this an 'S' or a squiggly line dancing?" she muttered, tracing her fingers through the holographic text.
"It's like trying to speak in tongues after eating a mouthful of honey," Lysa muttered, frustration evident in her voice. "What exactly is this?"
Dr. Zamora's lips quirked into a smile. "That, my dear, is Galactic Standard."
Lysa exchanged a puzzled glance with Elara. "Galactic... what now?"
Sensing an opportunity to educate, Dr. Zamora activated the holo-projector embedded within the table. The room dimmed momentarily, and then a stunning image of the Milky Way—The Great Spiral as Aelorians knew it—materialised above them. It was a breathtaking sight, filled with a myriad of colours, stars, and nebulous clouds. The smaller Celestus Expanse, their home, hovered nearby, twinkling like a gem.
Lysa's and Elara's eyes widened in awe. Elara's fingers reached out, attempting to touch the glowing stars, causing ripples in the projection. "It's... it's beautiful," she whispered.
"It is," Dr. Zamora agreed. "And it's vast. The Constellar Federation is just one star among billions. And among those billions, there are countless civilisations." She gestured to a radiant cluster of stars. "The Zelthorians dominate that region." Her fingers moved to another segment. "And over here, we have the domain of the Rhaelari Theocracy."
Elara, the quick learner, said, "So, these are like... different countries, but in space?"
Dr. Zamora grinned. "Precisely! And just as nations on Aeloria have alliances and communities, we have the United Stellar Coalition in space. It's a community where member nations collaborate to improve galactic society."
Lysa's eyes darted from one region to another, her mind whirling. "You're saying there are more... sky people? Like, lots of them?"
"Indeed," Dr. Zamora agreed. "The galaxy is vast. The Constellar Federation is just one star among billions. And among those billions, there are countless civilisations." She gestured to a radiant cluster of stars.
Lysa's head spun. "And... all these... places. They all speak... Galactic Standard?"
Dr. Zamora nodded. "Precisely. When the United Stellar Coalition was formed, a community of multiple star nations, we faced a unique challenge. We had the technology to converse, but the nuances and emotions got lost in translation. So, around 1500 years ago, the Coalition introduced Galactic Standard. A language designed to bridge the gaps."
Lysa looked back at the tablet with its floating symbols, then up at the projection of the galaxy. Her mind raced as she tried to absorb the scale of what she was learning. It was like discovering that your local pond was connected to an ocean that spanned the horizon.
Elara, an enthusiastic learner, was already scrolling through more symbols on the holo-pad, her finger tracing intricate patterns in the air.
"Elara, you're not planning to become fluent in Galactic Standard overnight, right?" Lysa raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing but filled with admiration for her friend's boundless curiosity.
Elara grinned, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, you know me so well. But think of the possibilities, Lysa! We'll be the first Aelorians to speak the language of the stars!"
Lysa laughed, her heart swelling with affection for her friend. She looked at Elara, then at Dr. Zamora, and finally at the mesmerising holo-projection of the galaxy. Here they were, two beings from a medieval world, sitting with a scientist from the stars, discussing languages that bridged entire galaxies.
She shook her head in wonder, her tail swishing in a rhythm that was its form of language—one of happiness, incredible discovery, and adventures yet to come.
"Alright, Galactic Standard," Lysa murmured, her eyes on the holo-pad. "Prepare to be... well, not exactly conquered, but at least enthusiastically muddled through."
As they all laughed, the stars above them twinkled a little brighter as if the universe was joining in on the joke. It was a moment of fun and cosmic unity, perfect in its unique way.