Alright, so I didn't mean to release another side chapter for a while, but with the events transpiring and the time-frame for this one, I figured that if I don't release this now then never will I have the chance. So here is the next side chapter.

Side Chapter

-Me-

So tonight is the promised night. Though the plans have changed a little bit due to my house being blown up, we're still going to the original location we set for the date. I wonder what she'll think of it, it's my first date ever so I don't know if this is how things are supposed to go. Oh well, no going back now~. Ah, night can't come fast enough. Guess I'll go work on my armor until then. Why? Naturally because Crysea and Mae, Saemik's girlfriend, are out right now doing who knows what at who knows where. It's good though, she'll be able to learn more about human society going out with that girl.

"DYO!" I shouted. In response a small cybernetic ball, that could fit in your hand, hovered in front of me. "I would like to start working on the armor so could you please get the lab set up? I'm going to retrieve my brother, he would like to see it and he might be able to give me some ideas." Dyo gave a slight buzz of acknowledgement and zipped away. I've been getting along with Dyo a lot better since Rita reproached us. At the time I thought him a jerk, but now I'm glad he did. With Dyo's newfound ambition, progress with the armor has been greatly increased. Thank you Dyo!

I'm currently working on the close range kinetic barrier, in other words, melee shield. It's significantly more difficult to efficiently create compared to the normal kinetic barrier. The difference? Welllll it's like the difference between making leather armor and steel armor. It's a completely different process, AND I have to incorporate it with the normal barrier so that I won't have to actively switch between melee and ranged, it'll counter both at any given point in time. So painful.

I lost track of time and it wasn't until Sami came to retrieve me did I notice it was starting to get late, as in, it's an hour until the appointed time!! Here I was complaining night couldn't come fast enough. WRONG!!! It came way to fast! Slow down, sheesh... Okay, I know I just contradicted myself there but just ignore it.

When I arrived back at my brother's place I had discovered a dolled up Crysea. She was wearing some kind of fancy slick dress with her hair tied back, with some makeup on as well. Aw that hair was far more gorgeous untied. Just saying. And Mae!! Why did you do this to her!! Sure, it looks pretty, but you're kinda blocking part of her natural beauty you know?! Did you not once see her glowing aura the whole time you were with her? If you did I'm pretty sure you'd never have done this! Sigh, well regardless, she does still look pretty, just a different kind, I guess?

"I tried to tell her, she just..." Crysea trailed off. Whoa... What happened?! You made her trail! She never trails!!! Mae, you're not some demon in diguise are you? Some creature from the deep? You didn't use magic did you? You shouldn't be able to! This is sci Fi remember? Sci, Fi!

"What's the harm in it? I think she looks gorgeous, don't you?" Mae had a sweet, innocent grin on her face. It's a lie. You're the devil aren't you? Damn this cliche!!!

"Mae, before you do something unnatural again, please, just don't do this again." I complained to her.

"What are you saying? Girls need to get properly dressed for such occasions you know? There's a whole different process then what you men do. At least your brother understands." she was mocking me. Totally mocking me. Well she's not even human!!! So your point is invalid. Veto veto veto veto! Go away! I wish I could say these things but I can't. Crysea hasn't given me permission to speak of it, so I shan't.

"You just don't get it do you? Crysea has this natural beauty that makes career models look like dirt compared to her. What you did was actually shackling her beauty rather than enhancing it!" I will not tolerate this blasphemy!!

"You don't get it either. A woman needs to do this kind of stuff in order to represent herself properly, it's considered bad etiquette if she doesn't." Mae countered. None of this matters!! You can't push human society on her!! but dammit I can't tell her that!!

"Look we're not even going to a public place, you couldn't even do what we're going to do in a public place. To much light. Anyway, this whole public thing is made up in your head. Before you can misconstrue something, it's stargazing, we're going to go see the stars. Tonight is the optimal night to see the galaxy, of which she's never seen before, so that's what we are doing. Your efforts were fruitless!!" I destroyed her argument. Haha! Taste bitter defeat! I will not surrender!

"Sky." One word was all I needed.

"Yes ma'am let's go~" I waved to Mae and left with Crysea. After a distance where no one could see us, Crysea turned to her Syrlyn form, picked me up, and took off to our designated spot. By the way, that spot is on a mountain above the cloud level. It was a lucky flat spot on the mountain where we could fully stretch out and have an unrestrained stargazing time. Naturally breathing is a bit more difficult, but it's not impossible. I also brought the necessary items to keep us warm. Crysea is cold as it is and I don't need her getting any colder. I've yet to figure out why she's so cold. So odd.

"Once we arrive I'll be able to test out my invention for just this situation! I call it the heat dome! Ugh, horrible names. Just, horrible names. Crysea, you get to name the next one." She laughed but gave me an ok.

After a bit of time passed she asked me a question. "Sky, why do humans search for mates even when they already have one?"

I laughed. So she saw that huh? Well it was only a matter of time. "That's not a question I can answer, to tell ya the truth. I personally don't understand how people can be unfaithful to the one whom they've chosen as their partner. I have heard of excuses but none of which were actual reasons too. Sorry that I can't give ya an answer."

She became silent when I finished and only stared straight ahead. I decided to go ahead and ask her something. "What about your kind. Do they mate for life, or?"

"We pick only one. Even if the other dies, we don't search for another." Whoa. Serious devotion there. I can understand now as too why she couldn't understand how humans go from person to person. I myself have never been in a relationship my whole life. Though, circumstances given, it's understandable. Heh, it's also kinda romantic if you think about it. Devoting your entire heart to one sole person throughout any and everything, while death being only a temporary separation. "I'm glad you see it that way." she said that so genuinely.

After that conversation we were quite for the rest on the travel to our spot. I knew it was going to be hard to breathe but sheesh, this is bad. Almost suffocating, thankfully the heat dome comes with oxygen as well!! Ahahahaha!! I really need to work on my naming sense. Anyway, with this we won't have to worry bout lack of air or heat. Yay!

I began laying out the blanket after activating the heat dome, why? Because there's snow and grass up here and grass irritates my skin when I lay on it. Not at an annoying rate but as in, I get a rash from that shit. Seriously, what the hell? Thus the blanket is a necessity. "Well sit where ever, the dome covers this whole spot so you'll be fine." she didn't budge an inch when I said that. Oookay, I guess I'll sit first then.

When I sat I got a pleasant surprise. When I sat she wrapped her body around me once, then, using her humanoid hands, placed them over my shoulders and on my chest. She then rested her head atop mine, her legs were tucked away and her scythes rested on her sides. Well this was unexpected. I could feel her weight, but it wasn't overbearing, it was more of a weight that let you know she was there, she exists, and you exist to her. For the first time she was warm. I don't know if it's because of the dome, but she had a warmth that you'd never wish to part with. A sense of security. Oops, don't fall asleep.

"I wasn't expecting you to do this..." I started.

"Do you not like it?" she lifted her head and looked at me with a dismal gaze.

"No no no, that's not it. It's just unexpected, but very much enjoyable. Please , continue." I very much enjoyed this. Yup, if ever there were doubt, I know now that I love this woman and I will do everything in my power to make her truly happy. She seemed please with my answer and rested her head upon mine again, only this time I could hear a low res sound emitting from her. Is she purring? Is that even a purr? Don't know what you'd call it but it would crescendo sharply and slow decrescendo. I guess I could call it humming. Let's call it humming. How entrancing.

We ceased our talking and began our stargazing. The stars began to speckle the sky, slowly but surely, illuminating the night sky. First we could see some constellations, one the shape of a man with a bow. Eventually the whole sky was illuminated with stars revealing our galaxy. The different hues of the different systems and clusters vividly fought with each other over dominance for the night sky revealing a spectacle only visible at a time such as this. A normal person may never see their whole life.

'There's something I wish to do, if you're okay with it.' Crysea's thoughts invaded my mind.

'Sure, go ahead.' I approved.

'You don't even know what it is.' doubt huh? No matter, it doesn't bother me.

'It's fine, I'm pretty sure I'll be okay with it regardless.' a little insensitive, probably, but I ain't gonna lie.

'Alright. I hope you enjoy'

Crysea lifted her head towards the sky and began releasing a soft, melodic, gentle sound. She then rose both in intensity and octave starting at a quick tempo then ending with a slow one. She then sank into a deep pitch and slowly, like a winding stream, moved up and down the scale. Then it began. A series of rise and fall, a constant tug-of-war between light and dark, creating a harmony of beauty that could sway the wind and move the creatures of nature. She would hold an occasional note for an extended amount of time sending a chill down your spine, not of fear but of bliss. She then conjoined a melody of serenity with her harmony that one not only heard, but could feel throughout their entire body. The transitions between fast and slow, flats and sharps, soft and loud were done so beautifully it flowed like a gentle raging storm. You could feel your body move along with the melody as it picked up pace, and felt yourself a restful state when she slowed. It was a beautifully joyous song with a touch of melancholy and a cup of hope. A song I wish would never end. One that I'd do anything to hear again. Yeah, I feel the tears with this one.

Her song lasted maybe 10 or 15 minutes but it felt like an eternity of heaven. When she finished her thoughts entered mine again. 'Our kind can sing our emotions, when built enough. It's meant to be a special occasion when we sing, so it has been passed to me. The last time my kind sang was over 1500 years, when we lived on our home world.' I could feel the sullen tone in her thoughts. So that's how long it's been huh? A millennia and a half since they were kicked out of their own home. Well, it might not be the same, but I intend to make this a place they could call a home away from home.

'Well it means, to me, far more than what simple words could describe that you would sing for me. It was beautiful, and that only scratches the surface of how I feel.' I told her my honest opinion. Such a song, words can only bring it insults.

After the song we continued to watch the stars until they began to slowly disappear. Once the sky became empty and the sun started to wake up we left to return to my brother's house, with the unforgettable memory of the night. Heh, I tried to make this an enjoyable time for her and yet, she reversed it on me making me the elated one. This whole being in love thing is new to me, though I don't know her feelings, but I intend to do my best.

"Hey Sky?" She called to me.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"When this is over, and we can live here peacefully..." she paused. I wonder why. "Will you still be able to love me, even if I never take the form of a human again?" I could hear it, only faintly, the insecurity in her voice.

So I tell her the honest feelings in my heart. "Naturally. If I recall you called me strange when we first met. Remember, I fell in love with you at first sight, and which sight did I behold?" Upon my answer I could hear that low hum from her again, I seriously hope that's a sign saying she's happy.

"Thank you." She never said anything else, she didn't need to.

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Oh, and one more thing. This will probably be the last side chapter for a while, most likely not until the events with the... well... not until the current events are over with you can be guaranteed that another won't come out, so I do hope you enjoyed this one. I seriously did. Well thanks for reading, and have a great day!!!