[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6DgKSAr.png[/img] [/center] [center][sub][indent][COLOR=FFD700][B]Manhattan, New York City[/B][/color] [color=4682B4]|[/color] [COLOR=FFD700][b]Five Days Ago[/b][/color][/indent][indent][hr][sup][b][color=FFD700]Chapter One[/color][/b] [color=4682B4]|[/color] [b][color=FFD700]Part Two[/color][/b][/sup][/indent][/sub][/center] [indent] Elijah watched as the girl spun around, her bright red hair seemed alive as it whipped around with her excited movements. She scanned the room, pausing briefly on each new, alien object as she took in her new home. It wasn't much, Eli knew. A warehouse on the docks he had known to be abandoned for years, its doors locked tight until today. Maybe 2000 square feet at the most, the interior was largely barren. Several empty crates scattered about, discarded scraps, and the used mattress Eli had brought over the previous night in preparation were all that remained. "It is so..." She paused, considering which word of this new language best fit. "Spacious. Are all Earth dwellings like this?" Eli's lips twitched up into a half-smile. [i]After spending all that time in her space pod, I guess this really does seem huge in comparison.[/i] "Nah," he told her, "this isn't even a house. It's meant to store things. Usually for big companies or shipping magnates. Or the mafia, maybe." "Mafia?" She looked at him inquisitively. "Nevermind." As the girl floated up into the air to observe the rafters above, he thought back to everything she had told him in the past forty hours. Her name was Koriand'r. Starfire, she had informed him after screwing up the pronunciation twice, was the approximate English translation. She was from the planet Tamaran, somewhere in the Vega system, though that meant nothing to Eli. She hadn't provided a lot of details about this next part, but there had been some sort of civil war on her world. In the chaos of fleeing, her escape craft had been damaged and knocked off course, trapping her inside. She was uncertain of how long it had been, but the distance traveled suggested an amount of time that was sickening to even consider. It had only been sheer luck that her trajectory took her close enough to Earth's orbit to be pulled in. Eli could only imagine the trauma such an experience would have on someone. To be not only completely isolated while hurtling through space with little hope of rescue, but to also have seen her homeworld be consumed by war. And, although she had not said anything, he got the sense that Koriand'r had lost someone before her escape. Yet, he noted, she seemed... bubbly. "I'm sorry there isn't anything here for you right now." Eli glanced at the meager mattress that would serve as her cot. "And I know it isn't the most comfortable place in the world, but it's only temporary. I'll try to find someplace else for you." "It is wonderful, Elijah. Please, do not worry." Koriand'r glided back down through the air to land before him. "Your kindness brings me much joy. I will be very happy here." "I'm glad," he said, "but still, I promise I'll do better for you." Her smile brightened. "And you will visit, yes?" "Of course. Every day. I've got school and all most of the week, and some martial arts classes, but other than that I'll be here. You're new to this world, I'm not just gonna leave you out to dry." The golden-skinned girl's face scrunched up. "I do not understand. I am not wet, why would you dry my person?" Elijah momentarily felt his face flush slightly as he caught her puzzled expression, her absurdly beautiful features forming into an adorable frown. "No, uh. It's just an expression. A figure of speech. It means I won't abandon you. I'll be right by your side." "Oh!" Koriand'r floated closer towards him, letting her hands fall onto his shoulders as she smiled once more. "I would very much like that." [center][b][color=slategray]* * *[/color][/b] [sub][indent][COLOR=FFD700][b]Present Day[/b][/color][/indent][/sub][/center][hr] "Well, what do you think?" He looked at Koriand'r expectantly. "I'll be right by your side the whole time." She pursed her lips, her gaze drifting downwards towards her clasped hands. Having now spent the majority of each day for an entire week with her, Eli knew she was thinking intently. Not that it would have been difficult to figure out anyway, as he had come to discover that alien facial expressions and mannerisms were not all too different from a human's. "It will be safe?" Koriand'r asked, her eyes raising to meet his. "My presence will not draw suspicion nor endanger you?" Elijah hesitated before answering. What he was asking of her wasn't a simple task and he wanted to make sure he provided her with every relevant detail and honest answer that he could. "I mean, there's gonna be risks, sure. I've got no personal experience with this sort of thing, but what we'd be doing wouldn't exactly be legal. And there's always a chance someone could get hurt. But it's worth it. I think we could make a real difference. Do some good." "And," he added after a moment, "I can take care of myself." [i]I hope.[/i] Elijah let that brief thought of doubt echo around his mind for only a second before shaking it off. He may not be as capable as his new alien friend, but he had trained for years with the expectation of enlisting one day. It was dangerous, he knew, but Eli was confident in his abilities. And, given his mother's position on the military, this may be his best chance of serving his country. Even if he had to break the law to do so. For months he had watched news coverage of various masked individuals rising to prominence in cities all across the country, and even the globe. Vigilantes using their enhanced abilities and sheer willpower to stand up for what was right. To save people. To put an end to evil injustices just as his grandfather once had seventy-five years ago. As his uncle had after the War on Terror began. And now, here was this powered individual who had practically been sent to him from the sky above. Eli couldn't just sit back and do nothing while knowing there was a role he could play. And, he suspected, neither could Koriand'r. She stood suddenly to her full, statuesque height. Right fist clenched before her chest and eyes flashing with excited passion. "I watched as my home was consumed in conflict by those with evil thoughts and desires. I may not be of this world, but I wish to help prevent it from the same horrors my planet suffered. Yes!" She proclaimed. "I will join you! I will be this [i]hero[/i] you speak of." Elijah joined her on his feet, pumping his fist in victory. It would be a difficult journey, he was sure, but together he felt they could succeed. "Great," he told her. "Then today we go on a test run. Just get you used to being out in the city." Eli paused, looking Koriand'r over from head to toe. "But, first, I've gotta grab you some clothes that won't stand out." [/indent]