Dimension of Abnormality, Part VII: The Repatriate

By Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer

The Great Tree had never looked so haunting to Nova; its large branches seemed to twist at odd angles, its crown of leaves casting shadows onto her as the Tree blocked the light from the triplet moons. The grass under her was swallowed up by darkness, making her feel as if she were walking through a void.

A void leading towards her punishment.

Nova didn’t know what to do except obey the Alaptera guards as they ushered her through the looming gates. She had known the risks that would come with going behind the Chieftess’ back and breaking a human soldier out of prison, but she couldn’t bear not to see her father again.

She should’ve heeded the Chieftess’ warning when the creature had confronted her and told her not to let humans take advantage of her. But she had been ready, her power stronger; strong enough that she could open up a portal to Caligo and return home, but she had been too late. The guards that had found her and Amias in the cave held their weapons to their prisoner’s backs as they marched them into the Great Tree and up the never-ending spiral staircase.

Nova’s body felt so weak that she had to force herself to climb up the stairs without collapsing. Her heart was throbbing in her throat, her head spinning as they drew closer and closer to the Chieftess’ chambers.

This could be her last night. The Chieftess would undoubtedly sentence her to a brutal death or—even worse—cast her into the dungeons for the rest of her life, where the suffocating heat and poisoned rodents would become her friends. Or maybe the Chieftess would exile her. Was it possible to be exiled twice?

No matter her fate, Nova regretted losing the chance to see her father. The memory she had of him in that field beside her would be the last she would ever have to remember him by. She wouldn’t even get to say goodbye before he passed.

On top of that, she had betrayed her friend Adira for nothing. Her visit to her friend only an hour ago had been to say goodbye not only in departing but also to their friendship. Now that she’d been caught, Nova assumed that Adira would only remember her as the traitor with a weak heart.

The stairs seemed to twist and turn more than normal, and the top of the tree looked as if it were miles away. Nova felt her arms and legs grow numb, and she stumbled to the side – at once, her skin made contact with a warm, muscled chest. She turned her head and saw Amias had caught her and was holding her up. Her body felt hot all over, but the feeling vanished in seconds when she took in his unreadable face.

He must’ve been angry at her for getting them caught, she thought. He had suggested they leave immediately, but she had gotten too emotional and went to see Adira. If she had just left when he had said, they would have avoided this confrontation altogether, though she wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye to her friend… not that it mattered anymore.

Even when they were marching to their potential death, she wondered what would become of her and Amias after this. There was something between them, she had no doubt about that. The shared gazes, brushing of hands, warm smiles, and intimate conversation had to mean something. If the circumstances weren’t so dire, Nova would have wanted to explore it further… if there was even something to explore now.

They finally made it up the stairs, where the guards shoved them forward through the large doors of the Chieftess’ chambers.

This is it, Nova thought with a chill down her spine. Time to face punishment.

The doors opened to the tall chambers, beautifully adorned with vibrant flowers lining the ceiling and large windows. It was quite ironic to Nova how beautiful and welcoming this room was when she was about to be sentenced to her death, almost chuckling to herself when she remembered being in the same chambers just a few weeks ago, when Amias crash-landed on Apricus. A time everyone trusted her and she wasn’t a traitor.

The Chieftess sat at the end of the room, resting on her large, metallic throne that was covered in flowers of many kinds. Her claws tapped against the golden armrests, the clanking rebounding off the walls, and her blue and gold fur was covered in a black robe, which flowed all the way to her talons and splayed out at the foot of the throne.

Her dark eyes were unreadable, her mouth pressed into a thin line. Her ears were pointed upwards, nose twitching as if she were reading Nova with her senses.

A sharp pain exploded in Nova’s back as a guard shoved her to the ground. Stars painted her vision but soon disappeared as the pain subsided. She heard a groan and found Amias shoved to the ground beside her.

Her fingers were growing numb to the roughness of the wooden floor, and she felt like her heart was going to come out of her throat. She felt too weak to even raise her head up to look at the Chieftess.

Fortunately, the Chieftess rose from her throne and touched a long, sharp claw to Nova’s chin, raising it up so she could look at the creature. Nova winced at the contact, wondering how easily the Chieftess’ claw could pierce through her skin; the thought brought a wave of nausea to her stomach.

“My dear girl,” the creature’s voice was like velvet, but Nova picked up an edge in it. The Chieftess’ eyes were as black as a void as she continued, “Why did you bring this upon yourself?”

Nova couldn’t speak. Her throat was dry. Her brain was a jumble of thoughts. She didn’t even know how to answer a question like that because she couldn’t even answer it for herself. What was wrong with her? Why was she doing this? Why? Why? Why? Was it for her father? For honor? For her to see if humans were still as heartless as everyone thought?

Her stomach plummeted as the Chieftess stalked back to her throne, but it wasn’t because of the creature.

Now present beside the Chieftess’ throne were piercing black eyes and crimson fur. This creature’s large, feathered wings were wrapped around her body like a robe, and her eyes never left Nova, glazed with emotion. Her ears hung low, casting shadows over her taut face.

“Adira,” Nova choked. She was surprised she could get a word out.

Her friend turned her eyes away from her, making contact with Amias. The glassy look in her eyes transformed into something else entirely, igniting like fire.

“You’re not feeling guilty now, are you?” The Chieftess returned Nova’s attention to her. The creature’s face was now covered in a haunting smile. “You have betrayed your friend. Better yet, you have betrayed the entire colony. What do you have to say for yourself, young girl?”

She spat the last word like something bitter was in her mouth. Nova trembled like a weakling, unable to speak.

“It sounds to me you don’t feel guilty,” the Chieftess huffed out a harsh chuckle. “Why shouldn’t I be surprised? You came from a human planet after all. It is only natural for one to desire to go back to their family, even if that family is full of immoral and cruel creatures. I knew your heart was growing soft for the humans, but I wanted to see it for myself; hence, why I conveniently assigned my guards to other posts the day I locked up that human.”

Nova jerked her head up. All her concerns had been confirmed: the Chieftess knew everything she had been doing from the start.She wanted to get a rise out of her, and it worked. Nova was afraid…so afraid she had to go back and see Adira, which made her miss her chance at leaving.

Was that part of the Chieftess’ plan, too?

“But why?” Nova asked weakly. “You wanted to watch me try to escape and fail?”

“I wanted to see a girl with powers fight and train with all her might to achieve something she believed in, only for her to realize that whatever emotions she’s letting blind her vision don’t fix the mass killings of her kind by humans,” the Chieftess replied darkly, the smile never wavering. “And you followed along.”

“I still don’t under—”

“You’re the monster,” a deep voice interrupted Nova. She turned her head to see Amias standing, his hands clenched into fists. “You took advantage of her so you could keep her here, and you call humans the monsters? Hypocrite!”

Nova felt warmth in her chest when he defended her, but it was quickly replaced with horror. “Amias, watch your mouth! You’re talking to the Chieftess.”

“No, no,” the Chieftess waved her claws in the air to brush her off, her face eerily calm. “Let him believe what he wants. Humans are very emotional creatures. They allow their pride to blind them so they can’t see themselves for who they really are: murderers.”

Nova couldn’t take this anymore. She knew she shouldn’t be siding with the humans, but it was too late to back down. Her and Amias’ lives were on the line, not to mention her father.

“Please, Chieftess,” she forced herself to stand, catching herself when she swayed. She kept her eyes focused on the creature before her, though she felt Amias’ platinum eyes burning her side. “I know what the humans did to your former planet, and that was monstrous of them, you’re right. And I know I shouldn’t have gone behind your back to break a human out of prison, but you have to understand why I did it. I need to see my father one last time. My father may be a human, but he isn’t a monster.” She paused before adding, “Wouldn’t you do anything for your family?”

The Chieftess narrowed her eyes at Nova, tapping her claws against the throne once again. After what felt like an eternity, she stood up. “Maybe you are right, girl.” She sighed deeply, her robe flowing side to side. “I think I have made my decision on what to do with the two of you.”

Nova swallowed the bitterness in her throat. It was happening. Today’s the day I die.

“You two will be…”

Goodbye, father… I wish I could’ve told you I loved you one last time. And I wished things could’ve been different with Adira and Amias.

“…permitted to return to Caligo.”

Nova thought she would snap her neck by how fast she turned to gaze at the Chieftess. Amias and Adira followed her movement.

“What?” The three of them asked in shock, though Nova felt her voice come out like a squeak.

The noble creature smiled. “You heard me. I will allow you to return to your home planet if it is what you truly desire.” She chuckled at Nova and Amias’ gaping faces. “I’m not a monster, young ones. I won’t hold you hostage if this is what you want. I just thought you’d make the better choice, Nova.”

“You’re just letting them leave?” Adira shrieked, her ears twitching in anger as she approached the Chieftess. “They’re both guilty!”

The look on her friend’s face broke Nova’s heart. Did Adira really want her to be locked up forever or killed? Even though she probably deserved it, it still hurt.

“Calm down, Adira. This is my choice to make, not yours,” the Chieftess replied, still as steady as ever.

Adira gave Nova another look and flared her nostrils and her eyes gleaming with moisture as she flew out of the room swiftly.

“Now,” the Chieftess brought Nova’s attention back. “Did you want to leave or not?”

---

She couldn’t believe it was finally happening. This time, there was nothing stopping her. No emotions clouding her vision, no Alaptera guards storming in to take her away, no other distractions. Just the dark bliss of the night. The only light came from her purple eyes and the wormhole spinning infinitely before her. Caligo’s blue skies illuminated Nova’s face like a holograph screen, the cool air floating through space and running through her hair.

She must’ve been staring into the portal forever because Amias cleared his throat beside her. “You ready?”

She looked up into his piercing eyes. They were gazing into hers with that intensity again, but she caught a glimpse of something else. Maybe it was the way his brows began to furrow. Was it… fear?

It had been odd for the Chieftess to let them go so easily. This could be a trap.

No! She was done letting her fears get to her. It was time for her to see her father once and for all. Everything had led up to this moment, and she wasn’t about to waste it again, even when she felt like a hundred things could go wrong. Even when she felt a pair of beady eyes on her from a distance…

Adira was perched on a tree across the clearing, gazing at Nova and Amias. Nova couldn’t read her expression from here, but she knew it would be filled with disappointment. This was going to change things between them forever. Even if Nova came back afterwards—that, she was still trying to figure out—she wasn’t sure how forgiving Adira would be.

But that didn’t matter right now. All that Nova needed to put her mind on was her father. Everything else, she’d figure out later.

“Wait,” she found herself saying, turning to Amias. “I wanted to say thank you… for helping me find my strength and never giving up on me. And for coming to get me, of course.”

The soldier widened his eyes slightly. A weak smile tugged on his lips. “Don’t thank me. I just needed a way to get back home and not be trapped here forever.”

The comment made Nova chuckle despite everything. She looked at him once more. “Also, to answer your question about the cave: those lines were all the days I’ve spent on Apricus ever since my exile. But, because of you, I can finally go home.”

Amias’ expression didn’t change. He only nodded. “Let’s take you home, then.”

Home.

Without another word, the two entered the wormhole.

---

She was taken back to the past. The navy-blue grass swayed, the noon skies were dark and painted with stars, and mountain peaks stood tall from miles away. Standing in this field once again felt like a rarity. It brought Nova both peace and horror.

This was the place she and her father would escape to and enjoy the quiet bliss of the Caligean fields. Her father would always chase her through the tall grass and spin her around, making her laugh until her sides hurt. This was their place of refuge from stressful work days and from all the issues of the world.

Until it had become a place of imprisonment. The day those soldiers marched onto the field and took her away from her father marked the day Nova had realized she was a mistake to the world. She was one of the anomalies who weren’t supposed to exist and deserved to die, yet she was sent away into another solar system.

Maybe she should’ve been thankful she hadn’t faced death like the others, but exile was so much worse. She loved being with the Alaptera and making friends on Apricus, but it didn’t excuse the humans sending her away from her home and her father. Her anger for the humans who had harmed her slowly returned and made her blood boil.

“Nova, are you ready to see your father?” Amias asked beside her. She turned to him and found his outstretched hand retreating back to his side, as if he were deciding against touching her. His brows furrowed, lips turned downward.

She didn’t know what to make of his expression, but she did know she needed to get off this field before it drove her mad. “Yes.”

Amias led her out of the field and towards Starlight Mountain. They followed the winding stone road, passing through the shadowy forests, the indigo rivers, and walking towards the mountains lining the valley. The sun’s white light was weak on Caligo, and the roof of clouds made it seem as if it were night. It was the complete opposite of Apricus, which had blinding days and luminous nights.

Experiencing Caligo’s natural darkness was both nostalgic and chilling. She’d grown up exploring the valleys and mountains, climbing up trees in the forest and having picnics in the mountains with the entire province to see from up there.

She swallowed down her anger, attempting to focus on her success at finally being able to travel here and seeing her father. Her hopes have come true: she would get to say goodbye to her father. The state of her species shouldn’t matter at the moment.

Her legs were burning from all the hills by the time they reached the base of Starlight Mountain, but she wasn’t deterred in the slightest. Her heart began beating swiftly when a troop marched down the mountain towards them, but she took a deep breath and kept her face from showing emotion.

The soldiers halted when they reached the two at the bottom. Amias nodded to the patrol leader, seeming to exchange dialogue with their eyes. Then, he gently ushered Nova towards the soldiers who were now making their way back up the mountain. She followed without a word.

They passed through several villages scattered across the mountain. On the rocky terraces, small cottages were glowing with life, chimneys puffing out clouds of smoke. Roads were filled with chattering villagers and humming hover bikes. Nova caught a whiff of smelted iron mixed with bitter herbs.

She felt the eyes of Caligean villagers on her as they walked, but didn’t allow herself to tremble. These humans would see her as strong and innocent, completely contrary to what the world has told them to believe about her supernatural kind.

They made it to the plateau of Starlight Mountain, where the Council’s headquarters were located. It was a tall, stone structure with marble pillars on every corner and high arches where the windows were. The infirmary was connected to the right wing of the headquarters, yet the troop led Nova and Amias towards the left entrance into the Council Hall.

Her stomach dropped slightly as she turned to Amias and saw his face remained neutral besides that wrinkle between his brows, as if he were deep in thought.

“Why aren’t we going to the infirmary? Wouldn’t my father be in there?” She whispered in his direction.

Without meeting her eyes, Amias replied in an even voice, “Your father is in the Hall with the Council.”

“Why would he—” her voice was cut off as the large metal doors opened up to the Council Hall. She was greeted with a tall room similar to the Chieftess’ chambers on Apricus, except the Hall had rows of chairs facing towards a big window at the back of the room, under which a long table was surrounded by people conversing. Nova could identify from their golden uniforms and the Caligean logo embroidered with navy crystals on their chests that they were the Council members.

Twelve pairs of eyes turned to her. Her heart stuttered. Part of her wanted to create a portal underneath herself so she could escape the looks, but she kept her chest puffed out, letting them study her disheveled training suit and tangled hair. It didn’t matter what they thought. She was here for her father only.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, my dear,” a deep, female voice sounded from behind the members. They suddenly parted from the front to allow a tall, slender woman to approach Nova.

Pale lips turned upward in a smile, but the woman’s symmetrical face had a sinister gleam to it. She wore a blood red pantsuit and high heels, making her a tower over Nova, peering down at her with cold eyes, that made Nova release a breath.

The Director. The one who told me I should be dead then sent me away.

Nova’s stomach rolled, and she had to swallow again to keep a scream from bursting out of her. She stood her ground as the Director walked circles around her like a vulture scanning its prey. Her sharp cheekbones rose higher as her smile grew, and she brushed her long fingers through the tips of Nova’s brown locks and put a cold, manicured hand on her shoulder. The black polish on the woman’s hands were as dark as her jet-black hair.

“It’s good to have you back,” she said, that haunting smile never wavering. The look almost reminded Nova of the Chieftess.

“Where is my father? I was told he would be here,” Nova asked, keeping her voice as composed as possible.

“Not even a little greeting from you?” the Director chuckled, patting Nova’s back. The girl’s blood began to boil again, and she had the urge to rip the older woman’s arm out of its socket if she touched her one more time. “I am joking,” the Director added while straightening her suit. “I know you’re here for him. Thankfully, you don’t have to look too hard.”

Suddenly another figure emerged from the group of Council members. Ocean-blue eyes met hers, paired with a warm grin on a freckled face. Nova felt her heart stop.

Father! It’s really him!

“My little star,” his voice boomed across the Hall, gentle and sweet. He outstretched his arms for her, his smile growing wider. His posture was upright and strong, his eyes bright with life, his skin clean and healthy. There was no trace of sickness on him. He sounded well and content, just as he did when Nova created the portal to him back on the wrecked ship.

“Father,” Nova breathed, unable to move. Her feet were urging her to run and embrace him, but a sting in her heart stopped her. “Are you well?”

“Of course I am,” he replied with the same enthusiasm, though his smile began to look strained. “Come here, little star. It’s been so long.”

The tone of his voice transformed into something darker and eerie, and it made Nova shudder. She took a step back. “What’s happening? I was told you were on your deathbed. How are you well now? How did you heal so quickly?”

The smile fell from her father’s face at last, and his arms fell to his sides. He exhaled deeply. “It’s complicated.”

“I don’t care,” Nova seethed, her fists clenched. “Explain yourself.”

His eyes went from hers to something behind her, and he nodded slowly. “Why don’t we show you, instead?”

“What do you—”

“I’m so sorry, Nova. You’ll understand soon enough,” Amias said behind her.

Nova shrieked as a sharp pain burned on the side of her neck. Heat shot through her veins, making her vision blur. Everything around her distorted and seemed to slip further and further until all she saw was darkness.

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