Ian woke up to the humming of the Hova, the feeling was the same as being on a plane and he could tell they were moving. He started panicking and immediately straightened his back looking up at the "captains" seat, "You are not giving me a choice?" There was not much he could do he thought. Out the front display he could see daylight, meaning they had both rested and he assumed that was more than enough for the "Astral soul" she had mentioned to regain enough energy.
She turned back to him and with a smile and soft morning voice said, "No, just taking an aerial view of the area … it's quite beautiful actually, you should come see"
She was not lying, April had completely been mesmerized by the saturation of color on this planet. The vegetation had "plants" that came in all deep shades of different colors, complimented by the light of this planet's star it was all too stunning.
Ian was not reluctant to her offer. Getting up he joined her on the seat next to her left. There were three in total, they black and comfortable contrasting well with the white inner lining of the craft.
April observed him, both their faces were still as bloodied and dirty as the previous night but their eyes had regained some life to them. "We also need a place to wash off, the Hova does not exactly come with a shower" she said to him as he sat down.
Seeing him not saying anything she continued, "I don't mean to rush you but I assume you are yet to make a decision "
"No" Nai simply said.
April did not mind, now more than ever, considering she had ripped out her emotions for Nai. "It must look stupid to you ... well, I'm sorry, I'm not exactly the smartest sixteen year old"
Nai's eyes glanced at her without turning his head and he sighed, "It's not the dumbest idea ... for me, however, I need a stronger "negotiation" hand "
She excitedly turned to him hoping to continue talking, she did not appreciate silence ... it would gnaw at her. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan for that?"
Ian thought for a moment and almost reluctantly, "Abilities and manipulation can someone only be born with them? Maybe somehow ... " He trailed off implying her thoughts on it.
April caught on and would have laughed, "If there was, why would Nai not have sought and accomplished it yet? Why would all the people, not only Humans not seek this method out? wouldn't an army of Warpers be so much better?"
He knew even before asking, still he had hoped. Last night it was all he had contemplated before falling asleep. He had seen what weakness meant, for the possibility this was to be his new reality either for a while or forever, he did not wish to remain weak.
"Even if there was ... " April interrupted his thoughts seeing he was quiet, "you would still be at the first level, what much would you accomplish against someone like me let alone Merim?"
"I get it, it was stupid to ask"
"I don't think you do, Nai lived with that struggle seventeen years of his life ... do you think a day? a month ? Would it be enough for you to solve it?"
"I thought you had removed all your emotions for Nai?" Ian asked, seeing how defensive and confrontational she had gotten about the issue.
"It's more than just about Nai ... "
There was a moment of silence after this as the daylight illuminated their bloodied faces. Nai resting his head back against the chair, arms held in fingers crossed on top of his abdomen he looked out at the expansive landscape. They were both in their thoughts.
"You seem young ... to be out here, or at least I would assume. To have your abilities too I mean" with a slight sigh Ian tried picking up the conversation up again. The soft humming of the Hova like it was muffled by a blanket and the air of silence, just the two of them, was really an atmosphere that induced talking.
She did not turn to him, "Yes I suppose ... I am a prodigy I guess ... technically after advancing to the third level you are allowed and more so expected to participate in the off world or engage in the fights. If I had the choice I wouldn't be here right now but both my parents are gizas, they don't have abilities. Like you said, some have it better than others and me being here will get them, us , better standing ... "
"This was my best chance for them at the very least, Merim was highly against it ... didn't want a child she said, quite hypocritical. My parents abjectly accepted, not much they could do for me and my future let alone theirs" she chuckled then turned to Nai, "sorry, talked too much ... "
Ian looked at her a new look in his eyes, "Still it's impressive, to be so young and willing to take on the weight, god knows I'm scared to face shit in my life ... or was, I suppose"
April smiled and chuckled, "Don't get annoying"
"What? It's the truth" Ian managed his first small smile in a while. The feeling was calming, after everything that had transpired. If only it would have been a normal breakfast at a friend's house and not on a ship trying to decide whether to hand yourself to a sister that wants to murder you and more than that.
"So, what does it feel like? ... the abilities, I mean, or when you first realized you had them" After a moment of peaceful silence he asked.
She glanced at him, "I don't exactly know how to explain it to you, it's natural to someone. You will it, but there is a feeling of tapping into a higher dimension or tapestry. A separation of "self" at first but as you grow in understanding of your manipulation abilities, ascending the levels, it's second nature I suppose"
"So with just a thought you can manipulate anything?" Ian was wholly interested.
"No, at every stage or level there are predetermined and limited set of "choices" within the domain of you manipulation ability. That's why there are different stages, each increasing the "choices" basically providing more abilities in that domain"
"So where do you stand, at your third level?"
"There are nine if that's what you are asking ... you need to understand to manipulate the aspect and advance. The essence and idea of it gets more complicated the higher the levels, it's not exactly something someone can explain to you ... everyone has their own unique imprint on the "Astral" and the way it manifests through them into manipulating the different aspects is something they understand on their own"
"Okay, should it not be easy to advance then ... if civilisations are already intergalactic? With science someone could understand the basis of concepts and advance fast ... why are you still at the third level?"
April chuckled and tucked hair behind her right ear, "ouch!" she sighed, glanced at him and continued, "Not exactly, it's more mystical and metaphysical than just an objective understanding ... "
"I see ... " He did not, it also did not currently matter to him that much , even though interesting, April had crushed his hopes of getting these abilities to better defend himself. Deep down however a "maybe" was held. Ian obviously had more questions but he remained quiet for now.
April pointed out the display, "Look, finally" It was a river. Ian tensed and jerked up in his seat. Her hand still pointing, April turned to him, "Relax, it's not the same from earlier" her soft voice surprisingly calmed his untrusting mind.
The Hova came down softly a few meters from the bank its "bumper" facing the river. April's seat rotated slightly and she got up, "I'll go first"
Nai raised his eyebrows, "Are you sure it's safe"
She smiled, "You want us to bathe together?"
Nai's mouth went agape for a moment and twitched, "Not what I mean ... I do not know if you know, but last night I was chased by a "rock" beast"
"I noticed, when you were banging and screaming "Jonah" "
Ian felt slightly embarrassed, "You heard? Why did you not ..." he trailed off after he thought it through, it's not like there was a "door" on the roof of it. "Anyway, that's what I mean ... what if there is a beast like that "rock" one?"
April laughed, "If there is, will you be my hero? For me it should not be as bad ... as long as an animal is not backed into a corner, they usually have weak mental barriers and at my level ... well "
"What if ... you said sentient beings have natural resistance, the planet is alien to you, what if there is one more than that ... intelligent even-" he was genuinely pressing, concerned, when she cut him off.
She had been standing, she slightly bent forward hands on her knees so that their eyes were level and no longer smiling, "I am not letting you see me naked, not even Nai got the pleasure ... if "you" are concerned for your safety, then I'll gladly watch over you when it's your turn ... okay?"
He swallowed but did not answer, his eyes were wide. Seeing the stupified look on his face April answered for him, "Okay ... " she proceeded to walk out after that.
Nai slumped back into his chair after she had left, for a moment she had induced a certain thought in his mind but it quickly faded as he considered everything else she had enlightened him to on their way here.
Nothing he had dreaded happened. About an hour later they were both cleaned up and had changed to the black fitting suits on the craft. At the neck and along the sleeves were silver lining , there was blood clot red here and there that had a pleasing and futuristic design to the suit. It was heavy yet light, comparable to leather but not really, Ian would think. He held some of his pale white blondish locks up in a bun and left some to fall to the sides of his face.
April had observed him doing this and had complimented it looked nice. They broke their fast. Having washed up and ate Ian felt how he would feel back on earth for the first time, relaxed, considering everything.
"Isn't this craft connected to the main ship somehow, if they want to find it if it gets separated?" He asked randomly, missing his phone that helped him avoid conversation. Now that he thought about it he had not seen them using phones apart from the device Domnik had held, ' Did they run out of style or something? '
She looked at him, "Sounds smart, but if it does get captured you wouldn't want the enemy to track back to the main ship?"
He bit his lip, "That sounds cold, to the ones who get lost with the craft ... the cost risk as well"
She chuckled, he had gotten used to it by now and welcomed it in fact, "Yes, why do you think there is about a week's worth of supply for three people here? About the cost ... like you said civilisations are intergalactic, do you think humans are cosmic beggars? They are not that hard or expensive to make "
"Besides, people on these and the main ships are usually Warpers ... "
Raising his lips slightly he nodded, "Makes sense I suppose ... "
Before the silence began getting awkward they heard mummers outside the craft.