“Esme!” Leo said his mouth curving into a smile. Then, a smirk formed as he lifted from the hospital bed up the most hideously cute creature she had ever seen. It was shaped like a lizard but a bluish hide covered its body. It had a face like tortoise but its features were rounder than the turtles back home. Esme approached the creature slowly making Eliezer laugh.

“It doesn’t bite. It’s a caeruleus. They are bred not too or well maybe created that way. I can’t remember. Anyways, they are given to patients to reduce hospital anxiety.” Eliezer said leaning back into a plush chair by the window while Malik leaned against the wall. Leo’s bed was simple and white. The walls a calm green and the windows large and welcoming. The storage for medical supplies was situated in the walls and consols were decorated throughout the room for easy access. The creature seemed to fit so well in the room.

“Leo it’s hideous.” Esme said reaching out a hesitant hand towards the creature curled up in Leo’s lap. It was soft somehow and the big bleary eyes that looked up at her made her understand her brother’s infatuation.

“It’s kind of cute. Do you think I could bribe someone to let me take it home?” Leo asked petting the creature. The nurse smiled clearly used to Leo’s antics already as she took an inflated patch off of Leo’s arm. She had a small glowing tattoo on one of her hands.

“Eliezer says they are allergen free.” He said kissing its tiny head.

“I think you would have to smuggle it out. But, it probably still has a tracker.” Esme said.

“It does. You are not the first person who has thought of it,” the nurse said engrossed in a consol. She smiled as the hexagonal shades on the window lightened up flooding the room with afternoon sun.

“When will he be able to leave?” Esme asked the nurse.

“Anytime,” she said exiting the room.

“Thank you,” Esme called after her.

“Ready Leo?” Eliezer asked rising from the chair.

“Where are we going?”

“Well I think we should-”

“To get you registered, briefed, and then back to the mainland.” Malik butted in.

“Mainland?” Esme asked.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Back to your parents,”

“Can’t we get something to eat?” Leo asked.

“You just ate Leo,” Eliezer said gently taking the caeruleus from Leo.

“We might be able to get something later,” Malik said.

“Fine,” Leo said getting up from the bed. They headed out the door and descended to the subyway systems underneath the hospital. Leo was easily distracted by the people mulling on the platforms. It was confusing for Esme too. She squinted at the varying hair colors and stopped to hear the music. It tended to be vibrant and full or melodious and mournful. The clothing varied from the simple practical to alluring dresses and styles she had never seen. When they arrived at the southern quarter, the people were even more diverse. Eliezer explained that people came here to renew licenses, get planetary visas, or even get married.

“Planetary visas?” Esme asked unabashedly gawking at glowing bronze jewlery adorning a women’s head. It contrasted so well to her almost silverly skin and ebony eyes. She looked so human but Esme was enchanted by her alien beauty. She wondered if that is what she thought of her.

“You will find most other species similar to humans. There are only a few kinds of atmospheres that were created to protect advanced species.” Eliezer said.

“Protect?”

“The right side always protects life as Malik says,”

“Why do only your people know about all of this?” Esme said watching Malik try and herd Leo away from the oldest person she had ever seen walk. She was strange looking but Leo was more interested in the caeruleus resting on her shoulder.

“How old is Leo?”

“Twelve,”

“Wait you didnt answer my question,” Esme asked but Eliezer looked into the crowd. He was flushed and his eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“What?”

“Malik.” Eliezer said getting his attention. Elizer pointed his chin towards the crowded hall. A pair of men strided towards them. They were clothed in a dark blue. If Esme could guess, they were soldiers. They wore stern expression and stopped in front of Malik.

“Your mother wants to see you.” The shorter one said.

“Fine,” He said picking up his bag.

“They are coming too.”

“Why?”

“She wants to see them.”

Esme looked between them and then pulled Leo away from the caeruleus. They traveled by train again but this one fit eight instead of four. When they got off the train, they were led up into a large opulent building. Malik and Eliezer entered a study and Esme and Leo were left in a room with white arches that rose above a library. Windows overlooked a flowering garden and pond too. She coughed noticing enormous frogs with lilies on their backs rise up from the glassy water. She looked over at Leo but he was trying to activate one of the many consols around the tiered library. The library was full of books and the letters flickered reflecting off of the black consols. The lacquered floors mimicked sol’s glow like faux leather. Esme wondered if it was possible to have real sol floors.

“Esme.” Malik said his head poking out from the study. She followed Malik into the dimly lit interior. Heidi stood behind a desk made of blank. Esme glanced to the corner where Eliezer was sitting. Her stomach lurched. The big man from the train also lounged behind Malik’s mom. He smiled at her grimly.

“Please sit Esme.”