"We're going home," I affirmed, my voice softer now, filled with a tender promise. The female Ixik’tryl rolled her eyes but smiled knowingly as her partner gathered our belongings.
Isla sat beside me, dressed in her tunic and robe, and kissed me on the cheek. “We’re going home.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
ISLA
Ky'rn glided effortlessly through the clear waters of the tank, his strong physique on full display. Every now and then, his gaze would find mine, and there was a twinkle in his eyes that made my heart race.
The mossy lounge chair beneath me was soft and inviting, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from the massive window wall.
The vast underwater dome surrounded us, but as much as I tried to lose myself in its mesmerizing depths, a nagging question kept resurfacing in my mind.
"Ky'rn," I called out, my voice echoing slightly in the expanse of the suite. "How are we supposed to take off from here? Doesn't the water hinder the engines?"
Pausing his laps, Ky'rn floated towards the water's edge, leaning on the tank’s rim as he regarded me with a smile. Water droplets cascaded down his sculpted chest, shimmering under the light. "The dome we're in will rise out of the water," he explained. "Then it'll split in four, opening to the sky above. Only then will we take off."
His explanation only gave rise to more questions. "Why keep such an elaborate setup underwater? Especially if humans can't access or even find Atlantis?"
His expression turned somber, and he sighed. "Because we can never be too safe. The universe is vast, and there are countless threats and unknown entities, one can never truly be safe. Concealing our launch points underwater adds an extra layer of security."
As I processed his words, a chill ran down my spine.
The waters of the tank shimmered with Ky'rn's every move, his mesmerizing form captivating me. But my thoughts were elsewhere, contemplating the vastness of the universe and the unknown entities that might reside there. "Are there…dangerous aliens out there? Ones that aren't part of the IPA?"
Ky'rn stilled. His eyes locked onto mine. "I won’t lie to you. There are always potential threats," he admitted. "Even within the IPA, there are many within the same species with different intentions, some not always pure. Just like how not all humans are bad, nor all members of the same species are either. But you have to understand that on my planet, we're united. We have allies, shared understandings. We aid each other in times of crisis and trade with one another openly."
"Will I encounter other species where we'll live?"
He chuckled softly. "Mostly, you'll see more Ixik’tryl. They occasionally vacation in the jungle regions of our planet. Speaking of which, there's the Calyzis, a plant-like species, who reside deep within the jungles. They're biologically tied to their hometree. And in the desert areas, the Szelsei, a serpentine species, have their underground lairs."
"But what about the open waters?" I inquired, curious about who else shared Ky'rn's home planet.
"Just a few settlements of the Krukken," he said. "But the majority, like me, are Makezu."
Before I could delve further, a sudden tremor interrupted our conversation. The ground beneath us shook, and my heart raced as the dome began its ascent from the watery depths.
As we broke the surface, sunlight flooded the room, blinding in its intensity.
A beautiful spectacle unfolded before my eyes. The dome's thick slabs began to move outward, the mechanism so fluid and silent it seemed almost organic. Like petals of a blossoming flower, the dome divided into four segments. They expanded outward, revealing the enormous spaceport that had been hidden beneath the ocean's surface.
I stared wide-eyed, gripping the edges of my seat. "Ky'rn!"
"We're about to take off," Ky'rn warned, a hint of excitement in his eyes. “This is what we’ve been waiting for.”
I glanced around frantically. "What should I do? I've never done this before!"
His laughter echoed with warmth, a reassuring sound in this unfamiliar environment. "Just buckle up and enjoy the view," he advised, pointing to the harness on the mossy chair.
Taking a deep breath, I followed his instructions and braced myself. As the vessel's engines roared to life, a sense of anticipation filled me.
The ground beneath us trembled and then, with an exhilarating rush of speed, we lifted off. I watched in awe as the scenery below began to shrink.
Buildings, trees, and landmarks became smaller and smaller, transforming into mere specks on the vast canvas of Earth. The ground, the seas, the familiar continents, all shrank to minuscule proportions.
As we soared higher, I could make out the entire continent, its intricate details merging into a blue-green mosaic.
And then, the familiar sight of the moon appeared, looming large and radiant against the backdrop of space. As we flew past, I saw the craters and scars marring its surface.
