Chapter 140

  Alexander stood near the entrance of the private docking tube with the rest of Grimnir, watching as the official escort waited patiently by the boarding ramp.

  Galactic bureaucracy apparently moved faster than anything back on Earth. The Station Master had made good on his promise in less than a day, arranging private transport home for each of the departing aliens. Individual rides, tailored to their species’ needs, scheduled and coordinated across multiple star systems to deliver each one home.

  The six who were leaving stood together near the ramp, speaking quietly among themselves. Goram’s rumbling voice mixed with Shimmer’s lighter tones. Chime made soft crystalline sounds. The Quiet One simply watched, as always. Reth kept glancing toward the ramp, claws flexing with barely contained anxiety. Krrsh’s multiple limbs shifted in patterns Alexander had learned to recognize as contemplation.

  On Alexander’s side of the tube, Felix stood elegant in his natural Syltharian form. The flowing silks he’d adopted draped from his shoulders and neck, creating a cascading effect that moved with him without covering his wings. A simple spiral band wound around one slender tail, rainbow stones catching the light.

  He’d adapted to human customs in his own way, finding a middle ground between his species’ typical comfort with nudity and Earth’s preference for clothing. Though they’d become quick friends the day Felix awoke, the Syltharian’s androgynous nature had required some polite discussion and understanding from all involved. Felix, for his part, had found their request about how to refer to him a fascinating departure from his own culture. For Grimnir’s part, naked aliens had already become a part of their daily routine and added little culture shock.

  Apparently many aliens found nudity normal, though in their time on the station, Alexander had seen that there were equally many that dressed, whether in uniforms for work or for other reasons.

  Gilly stood beside Felix, six eyes tracking between the departing group and his friends who were staying. His gills fluttered rapidly, a sign Alexander had learned meant emotional distress.

  The crew had gathered as well. Carmen stood near the front with Ryan beside her. Yuki and Haley hung back slightly. Petra and Davis stood together. Dan had come up from the galley. Even the Chief Engineer had emerged from below decks, arms crossed but present. They’d fought alongside the aliens during the invasion, shared that bond of combat, but they’d only known them briefly.

  Alexander had spent the morning finalizing arrangements with the Station Master’s office. The standard departures were straightforward enough, but Krrsh’s situation had required special coordination. The life debt wouldn’t let him simply stay, but his people also needed to know he’d survived. So Alexander had arranged for a round-trip passage. They’d send Krrsh home, give him time with his brood-mates, then bring him back to The Nexus when he was ready. Grimnir would retrieve him from there.

  The official checked something on his datapad, then looked toward the group with patient expectancy. Time was running short.

  Annie stepped forward, moving toward the departing aliens. “Alright, this is happening. Come here, you guys.”

  She started with Goram, who accepted her hug with what might have been amusement, his rocky form unyielding but his rumble sounding almost fond. Shimmer received a gentler embrace, scales shimmering under the lights. Reth carefully patted her head with the sides of his claws. Chime’s crystalline structure made physical contact awkward, but Annie managed. The Quiet One raised both palms flat, and Annie matched the gesture with a grin.

  Reth separated from the group, moving toward Alexander with careful steps. His claws clicked against the deck plating, and when he spoke, his voice carried an apologetic edge that Droney did a very good job of translating.

  “I need to explain,” Reth said, stopping a respectful distance away.

  “I owe you a debt. All of you. You freed us and gave us home when we had nothing.” His claws flexed again, the anxiety more visible up close. “But I have responsibilities. A clutch. Due to hatch soon. I cannot be away. My people… are less civilized than yours. They will not survive without me.”

  Alexander grabbed his shoulder and squeezed, trying not to dwell on the information. “You don’t owe us anything, Reth. Take care of your family. And just know you have a group of strange alien friends out there.”

  Reth’s tension eased slightly. “Thank you for understanding. For everything.”

  Alexander nodded once. “Safe travels home.”

  Reth grasped Alexander’s shoulder, returning the gesture but careful with his claws, then moved back to the others.

  Krrsh approached her last, multiple limbs moving in a pattern of farewell. “Only temporary,” Krrsh said. “Will return soon.”

  “You better,” Annie replied. Then her voice caught slightly. “Gonna miss you anyway.”

  She turned away quickly, moving back toward where Gilly stood watching with all six eyes fixed on the departing group. He’d said his goodbyes earlier, like most of them, but was still struggling with it.

  When Annie reached him, he made a sound that might have been distress.

  “They go,” he said quietly. “Friends go.”

  “Yeah,” Annie said, her own voice thick. “They do.”

  Gilly looked down at her, confusion and pain mixing in his expression. “On my world, we do not... stay. We swim together, we share, but we do not bond like this. This feeling. When they leave. It hurts.”

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  Annie wrapped an arm around him, pulling him into a side hug. Gilly leaned into it, his smaller form fitting against hers.

  “That’s what caring about people feels like,” she said. “When they go, it hurts because they mattered.”

  They stood like that for a long moment.

  The escort cleared his throat politely. “We need to begin boarding.”

  The six moved toward the ramp. Some walked with confidence, others more hesitantly. Goram’s heavy footfalls echoed in the tube. At the top of the ramp, they turned back one final time. Hands raised and limbs gestured in a very human farewell. Then they disappeared into the transport.

  The ramp sealed. The airlock cycled. Through the viewing port, Alexander watched the transport detach and begin moving away from the station. A short time later, it jumped, disappearing from view.

  A notification appeared in his vision.

  —

  [QUEST COMPLETE]

  Spread the Dream

  Voluntary

  You have successfully sent the rescued Dreamers home. Congratulations on completing your first Guild Quest.

  All participants have been rewarded.

  —

  Alexander blinked. Guild quest? All participants?

  A second notification flashed.

  —

  [SYSTEM NOTICE]

  For completing your first Guild Quest, the Guild Interface has been unlocked.

  —

  He frowned.

  Alexander was about to pull it up when movement caught his eye. Around him, everyone was reacting to notifications of their own.

  Carmen’s eyebrows rose. Ryan straightened, eyes widening. Yuki actually gasped. Down the line, crew members exchanged surprised looks.

  “Did everyone just...” Davis started.

  “Get a quest reward?” Petra finished. “Yeah. Yeah, we did.”

  Carmen looked at Alexander, expression confused. “We didn’t have a quest. How did we...”

  “Alexander!” Gilly’s voice was high with excitement. “I have... choices? What does this mean?”

  Alexander moved toward Gilly, the others following. Augustus, Annie, Talia, and Felix gathered around as Gilly made his reward notification visible to everyone.

  —

  [REWARD]

  Choose One:

  Option 1: Skill Selection

  Select an Ascended attribute and gain a Skill that supports your Dream.

  Option 2: Awakening Step Completion

  Complete one incomplete step in the Awakening process.

  Awakening Process:

  Step 1 - Awakening Catalyst (Injection or Exposure) ?

  Step 2 - Soul Reinforcement ?

  Step 3 - Willpower Threshold ?

  —

  Alexander stared at the screen. The awakening process. Laid out explicitly for the first time. Three steps. Three requirements to become superhuman. Or superalien.

  Talia’s breath caught. “Alexander... this means—”

  The realization hit him like ice water.

  “Don’t choose anything yet!” Alexander’s voice cut across the docking tube, sharp and commanding. “Nobody select a reward!”

  The crew froze. A few hands that had been reaching toward invisible screens pulled back.

  Alexander’s mind raced. Gilly and Felix had both received a reward. The aliens they’d just sent home likely had as well. All six of them likely had step 1 completed.

  If they’d failed at step 2, then the reward gave them the means to overcome it. If they were simply lacking in Willpower, then they had two choices.

  Either way, the reward ensured that each of them had the means to fully awaken. To receive powers and complete the process that Dr. Miller had started.

  “Alex?” Carmen inquired.

  He turned to the crew. “Did anyone pick a reward already?”

  Heads shook. Murmurs of “no” rippled through the group.

  Yuki raised her hand slightly, looking guilty. “I was about to. I really want this. Powers, I mean. The chance to be more than just... normal.” Her voice dropped. “To matter more.”

  Alexander nodded. “That’s fine. And it’s your choice. But you shouldn’t waste the reward on the catalyst. It’s the second step that’s the real problem. Even the third step can be achieved with hard work and dedication.”

  He looked back at Augustus, Talia, Annie, and Felix. “We’ll need to get the serum for the crew when we get back to Earth.”

  Augustus and Felix nodded immediately.

  “Absolutely,” Talia agreed.

  Annie grinned. “Easy.”

  Alexander turned back to the crew. “We’ll get you the serum, if that’s what you want. Save the reward until then. If there’s a problem with step two, you can use it. If there isn’t, then you can choose the extra skill instead.”

  Carmen studied him for a moment. “That’s a good idea.”

  Ryan crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Several other crew members murmured agreement.

  Alexander turned back to Augustus and Talia, his expression darkening. “The aliens going home...”

  Talia’s voice was quiet. “We knew it was a possibility, even if we haven’t seen it happen yet. The quest was clear in its intent. We just assumed proximity awakening required Dreamers with powers… and this almost certainly confirms it.”

  Augustus’s jaw tightened. “Six more worlds.”

  Annie’s grin had disappeared. “It played us.”

  “Masterfully so. Giving them what they need to complete their awakening right after they’ve left us?” Talia looked at the others. “And yet the reward is... generous, too. Offering it to everyone here? That’s more than it needed to give.”

  Alexander let out a breath. “Yeah. Sometimes it feels like it’s trying to kill us. Other times...” He shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s almost as if the System is bipolar or has multiple personalities or something.”

  Augustus’s voice was flat. “Nothing we can do about it either way.”

  Silence settled over the group for a moment.

  “Auggy’s right,” Alexander said. “Let’s head back to the ship.”

  Annie smirked. “Oh yeah! Someone has a ‘hot date’ tonight.”

  Alexander stared at her. “How do you know that?”

  “Everyone knows,” Talia added. “Since Annie told everyone.”

  He turned to Augustus and Felix. Both nodded.

  “Haven’t you heard of privacy?” Alexander asked, fighting a smile.

  Annie laughed. “It’s like rock-paper-scissors. Gossip beats privacy.”

  The group began to move toward the exit. The crew followed, still processing everything they’d learned.

  “Sir,” Yuki called out. “About getting the serum. Isn’t that locked down? The government and the corporations have it under tight control. How are we supposed to—”

  “It’s fine.” Alexander glanced back over his shoulder. “We’re Grimnir. We’ll just borrow some.”

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