TIME:
4.5 DAYS LATER
LOCATION:
HYPERSPACE
ASTRO DAWN
POV:
Lilith Runethari
I look up from my tablet and sigh. I was bored and it was always this way while we were traveling hyperspace. I get up from my bed and head for the door which opens with barely a whisper.
I sluggishly walk towards the shared living space, a frown steadily growing across my face; distantly I heard a video playing on the holo table. I started walking at a much more hurried pace to my destination.
I round the corner and see an old video brought to life on the table. Liza was staring at it with a mesmerized look, the savage probably couldn't even understand what she was looking at.
I quietly approached from behind her. Just as I was behind the back of the couch sporting a smile that did not reach my eyes I tapped Liza's shoulder. I felt her flinch as if she came back to reality before she slowly turned to look at me with wide eyes.
"Mi-mistress? What do you need?" Liza stuttered a response.
With a voice that was clearly not happy I responded, "Nothing, but I am wondering what you have decided to watch while you should be cleaning?"
Her face looks down looking like an abandoned pet. She looks depressed like she has failed her one duty which is true, she has failed.
"I am sorry mistress but I tried my best to find a place where I could clean. However, no matter where I searched this ship was spotless. I came here to ask the mistress's mother if she could help me with finding something else I could do," Liza mutters morosely.
I raise my eyebrow but before I get an answer the previously frozen image on the holo table shifts into a model of my mother's avatar.
"It's fine Lilith, I was the one who distracted Liza from her task. Actually Lilith I would like for you to join us, we were just watching old videos I have from your childhood."
I can feel my heart stutter as I realize what's about to happen, however, I nod my head while shambling towards another seat. I can only pray that Mother shows mercy on me.
The avatar nods its head once, her mask switching to one of a thankful smile. I look up just as the video resets text appearing on the screen.
TITLE: THERIN HIKING ADVENTURE #06
RECORDED: 05/17/5029
I squint my eyes trying to remember this video, but I struggle to find any memory of it. My favorite world to play in was Crythan but sometimes I would visit primeval Therin every now and again. I decide that I will deal with anything embarrassing as it happens and sit back to watch this old record.
The video started from the perspective of Mother as I appeared out of thin air suddenly. The sun was setting, finally dipping behind a large mountain casting our area into shadow. The game trail I appeared on was surrounded on all sides with brush and shrubs though the trees were sparse. The rocky soil made me already feel worried. Therin was home to many steep valleys and it was difficult to traverse the world. The gravely soil made that issue worse; the only way to travel was either through trails like this or the many caverns that snaked through the mountains.
Therin was a geologically active world so many of these caves were in reality old extinct lava tubes. So it was a rather dumb idea to try and traverse them blind without a map; most lead nowhere and it was easy to get lost. But they were how my ancestors used to traverse our homeworld. The surface was after all full of dangers with giant lizards roaming the crags and valleys like mammals do on Earth.
"Mom, where are we going today!" I feel a small smile inch up my face from the old way I often called Mother; it was a more casual and informal time.
I look over to see Liza sporting a smile that makes her thoughts clear, she thought I was absolutely adorable. My avatar in this particular instance was wearing a long sleeved rugged outdoors outfit. I think the closest thing humans have in their language would be safari clothes. I was also wearing a wide brim hat as Mother always reminded me of how I was prone to painful sunburns.
"Today we are hiking the sliesth trail. Remember Lilith don't go off the trail and stay close to me."
My old self nodded with a serious expression across her small face. Thus the hike started, mother would occasionally stop and point out things while we were walking. She was good at keeping me entertained, this simulation was rather barren only having things Mother knew for certain existed on Therin. That is to say there was an over abundance of old animals common in idioms or other sayings but it was mostly empty.
Liza suddenly spoke something under her breath though I heard every word, "Aren't there too many of the same animal? I thought this world was supposed to be the homeworld of the Runethari?"
I decided to speak up before she could get any misunderstanding, "The reason is Mother wanted this to be as accurate as possible. Most of the appearances are just guesses based off linguistic context and educated guesses."
Liza jumps slightly clearly not expecting me to have heard her. We, well mostly Mother had decided to let Liza in on my status as a precursor. The decision was mostly based on how eventually I would slip up, or something would eventually reveal my origins, so it was best to rip the metaphorical bandage off before it became an issue.
Liza was initially surprised and seemed to want to worship me for the day after I told her, but both Mother and I told her to not even think about it. She doesn't know many of my abilities or traits but she does know the basics of the old Runethari Empire and how they were experts in biotechnology. She of course has promised to keep my secret and I made sure she knew what would happen if she spills it.
We continue to watch, the video getting darker and darker as the sun continued to set. The video now cut forward in sections though I could tell it was artificially brightened for Liza's sake. Soon we reached the end as we crested the final few steps up to the Sliesth plateau, the sky shaded a dark blue as the sun showed its first signs of rising over a small village of tents.
I sit up as the avatar of Mother reappears standing on the table. I can tell however her attention is directed at Liza. A small ember of jealousy burns, but I quickly extinguish it as I remember that she is doing this so Liza knows her superiors better.
"Any questions Liza, Lilith will answer to the best of her ability right Lily?" Mother looks over her shoulder, her serene mask looking at me.
I groan but nod my head in agreement.
"Okay my first one is why did you travel at night? I understand that the animals of Tharin are more active during the day but wouldn't nighttime be confusing to travel?"
I sigh and explain to the ignorant child in a calm voice, "Our species has always had good vision when it comes to dark environments; we only needed the bare minimum light to see."
Liza stares off muttering a simple, "I see" before she sits back thinking about something.
"Mistress, have you ever stood on a habitable planet in person before?" She eventually speaks up just as I was thinking she only wanted to ask one thing.
I shake my head, "No, I stood on one rocky planet in the system I own but that was only once. If there is one thing I'm looking forward to with this next system it's Orenthia at night."
Liza looks at me, her calm face showing a slight sign of confusion, "Why do you want to see Orenthia at night; wouldn't it be more beautiful during the day?"
I frown as I realize something, she doesn't know our species aversion to the sun. I decided to tell her as it would be her job explaining this to other people eventually.
"My species is weak to the sun, we are so modified genetically that a single thing going wrong could be dangerous. Fortunately our bodies are good at purging cells with damaged DNA but it tends to leave us with extremely awful sunburns. That is to say I am basically allergic to sunlight," I finish with a glare in her direction, making it clear that this must never be heard by anyone I do not trust.
"Oh so your people are like vampires! Okay I guess that's weird, but I think I have heard of humans who also are allergic to sunlight though it was extremely rare."
I flinch as she offhandedly says something both Mara and I are stumped by, the fact that a mythological race so similar to ours has managed to persist into this era; 30,000 years after we were rendered extinct. It simply made no sense. Granted their interpretation of us is horribly wrong but they got the important parts correct, we are weak to sunlight, and we need blood to live comfortably. Though I don't know why they seem to believe we are all undead.
I shake my head while taking a deep breath, "I guess in a manner of speaking we were like them. However, we aren't those awful caricatures.
"Now I know you have questions but we are going to arrive in Orenthia in about a day so I need to prepare. I will be in the cargo bay trying to see how much we can fit inside it," I finished this short Q&A before walking off.
'This entire situation with vampires makes me feel proud yet uncomfortable… what else do they remember?'
TIME:
12 HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
HYPERSPACE
ASTRO DAWN
POV:
Liza Velsent
I take a break from sweeping the spotless floor and lean against the wall. It was all so strange, I was already used to cleaning—being a maid for another family—but I never expected I would serve someone not even human. I sigh as I recall our meeting for the first time, I was scared I had just been held hostage only to be freed so suddenly.
Then I spent a week being asked questions, both about my mistress and about my kidnappers. I felt like I would break as a person I was barely given any time to calm down from being kidnapped. 'The odd thing was that they seemed more interested in Lilith, no I mean Miss Runethari.' I slap myself on the check for my error of calling my mistress by her first name that was distinctly not allowed.
Then one day I was guided to a room by some military official and a psychologist. I was told that I would soon have to decide if I wished to stay with my mistress.
When the door opened I remembered the fear I felt when I first set my eyes on her after she took off her armor, but oddly I felt no fear, only a pleasant and numbing calmness. My anxiety that was so persuasive and unflinching finally relaxed, easing away like the tide.
I noticed how beautiful she was and I was overwhelmed for those few seconds. However, shortly after my mistress started discussing something with the military guy my anxiety returned but I already knew who was the reason behind it, it was as clear as crystal. It was that stubborn officer something or another and his partner Mazalenne.
I remember feeling the urge to tell them to be quiet. That my mistress wasn't some Biogen abomination. I however felt my mistress would not like it if I tried to defend her in this environment so I just kept silent.
I will never forget when they eventually asked me if I would like to become her assistant. I felt this sense that I must say yes that if I say it life will be calmer and more certain with her. I of course told them I would and I still think that was my best choice in my life. As my anxiety has become a thing of the past only coming back when I am not near my master.
I smile as I grab my broom and start to pointlessly sweep the floor again. I just knew this was a test, and if I did a good job, mistress Runethari would allow me to stand in her presence for an extra moment. That addicting, numbing calm that surrounds her is truly something I doubt many would be able to understand...