Mike opened his mouth in awe as he watched Djuma navigate his surroundings with ease, despite his closed eyes.
"How can you see me?" Mike asked. "I mean, your eyes are closed."
"As Anthropters, our visual abilities are restricted in sunlight. It's a characteristic of our species, my Jyuran," Djuma replied.
"However, we rely on our ears to navigate our surroundings, using sound waves to pinpoint locations, detect movement, and build a mental map of our environment," he continued. "This intricate process allows us to interact with and understand our surroundings more deeply."
"But... how?"
"Our ears tune into the vibrational language of our surroundings, translating it into a meaningful experience. Through sound, we connect with reality. You have bats on this planet, don't you?"
Mike's gaze intensified as he studied Djuma's face, searching for any signs of deception. "Yes, we do, but one bat can clearly see during the day," he countered, indirectly referring to himself.
"You are the exception," Djuma said, a small smile escaping his lips. "As the Jyuran, the protector of Perebia, you possess the unique ability to thrive on any planet. Only you can venture onto any planet and survive."
He held Mike's hand, his expression turning serious. "And you're not a bat; you're an Anthropter. Whether you accept it or not, you're one of us now. The sooner you acknowledge this, the better."
Mike's face fell, disappointment evident on his face. "Is there a way..." he trailed off, hesitating.
"To get rid of the Krara?" Djuma intuitively completed his question.
Mike nodded fervently, the weight of his newfound responsibilities feeling overwhelming.
"Yes, can you remove it from me? Perhaps find another host who can understand everything you're telling me?" he asked. "It's just too much for me to accept."
"The difficulty lies in the locked-away memories. Once unlocked, the truth will become clearer," Djuma explained.
"As for removing the Krara, the current host must die for it to be freed and find another host."
Mike's eyes widened in terror.
"But I don't want to die..." he whispered, bowing his head.
"I've learned that you humans often use quotes and sugar-coated words to motivate yourselves whenever you're trying to escape your inevitable responsibilities," Djuma said. "In Perebia, surrender equals death. Weakness is a crime. Thousands—no, millions—count on your return; their lives depend on your actions, my Jyuran."
Suddenly, a movement caught their attention. Mike instinctively transformed into his Anthropter form.
"Oh my God!" Christina's terrified voice echoed from behind.
Mike and Djuma turned to see her. Christina stood frozen, trembling with fear. "What the hell have you become, Mike?" she cried.
"Mike?!" Rachael called out. She and Stefan stood behind Christina, their eyes fixed on the two alien-like figures before them.
"What are you guys doing here?" Mike asked, concern evident in his voice.
Rachael's eyes widened further as she struggled to process the surreal scene. "This is incredible! You can actually transform!" she exclaimed.
Stefan staggered back in fear, his body trembling. "Is this really Mike?" he muttered. "I thought he was joking about... everything."
Overwhelmed, Christina spun around and fled into the woods. Mike and Djuma watched her departure, their gazes following her vanishing form.
"Christina!" Mike called out, but she didn't respond.
Concerned, Mike swiftly turned toward the direction she had gone, preparing to levitate.
"If I were you, I wouldn't approach her in that... form. It might scare her further," Stefan, still shaken, managed to offer cautious advice.
Mike nodded. "Thanks for the advice; it's invaluable." With that, he quickly transformed back into his human form and took off after Christina.
Rachael approached Djuma, closing the distance between them. Surprise was evident on her face.
"And who are you, Mr...?"
"I am Djumara, but please call me Djuma. Nice to meet you, Rachael Smith."
He turned to Stefan. "And likewise, Stefan Haysbert."
Rachael and Stefan exchanged shocked glances. "How did you know our names?" they asked in unison.
"I've been on your planet for nearly two days, accessing and acquiring information from your technology."
His words sent a shiver down their spines.
"Knowing your names is very easy for me," Djuma continued. "I also predicted this encounter two days ago."
Stefan and Rachael's jaws dropped in disbelief.
"What?!" they exclaimed in tandem.
"You can predict the future?"
*****
"Christina, wait! Please listen to me!" Mike implored, sprinting to close the distance between them. He gently positioned himself in front of her, blocking her path.
"Stay away from me, monster!" Christina shouted, recoiling. "What have you done to Mike? What did you do to him?"
"It's still me, Christina. Look at me. I'm the same person you've known forever."
Mike extended his hands, palms up, in a calming gesture. "I'm right here. I'm still Mike. Give me a chance to explain."
"Explain what? That you deceived me into thinking you were human?" she retorted. "Where is the real Mike? What have you and that creature I saw earlier done to him?"
"What are you talking about, Christina? Of course, I'm human," Mike replied. "Remember yesterday? I told you about the power from the box I found at Tina's house, the power that changed my life?"
"You expect me to believe you after what I just saw? You transformed into... that thing."
"I'm still human, Christina," Mike assured her. "I can transform into that form you saw earlier. The power can leave me only when I die."
"At first, I thought this power was a curse, but when I remembered saving you, it made me realize its true value," he continued. "I don't care if others see me as a monster; as long as I can protect those I care about, I'll embrace it."
Christina wiped her face and raised an eyebrow. "You're not under that monster's influence, are you?" she asked.
"No! Hell no! I'm not controlled by anyone. Today's transformation was my first, triggered by seeing you fall off the rooftop. It brought back memories of Anita," Mike replied. "I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you, especially after we just made up. We still have so much to do together."
Christina took a cautious step forward, still grappling with her fear.
Mike continued, "His name is Djuma; he's from the planet where this power originates. He's here to guide me, not control or manipulate me. He's helping me understand my abilities."
"I… this is overwhelming. I'm..." Christina stammered, doubts creeping in as she debated with herself if she could believe what Mike was saying.
"You don't have to believe me, just please keep today's events to yourself," Mike said. "I can't have the whole world learning of my newfound identity."
He turned to leave, but Christina dashed after him, embracing him from behind as tears streamed down her face.
"I didn't say I wouldn't believe you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry for calling you a monster. You even risked exposing your identity to save me."
Mike turned, his eyes locking onto hers. He gently wiped away her tears. "It's okay," he reassured her. "I'm sorry. I should've told you more about it."
"I want to see... the other you again. Can you transform?" Christina stammered.
Mike hesitated. "I… I don't know how. It happened suddenly, and it's beyond my control."
Christina stepped back. "I thought as much. It's beyond your control. Let's just return to Rachael and Stefan," she said.
Suddenly, Mike's body contorted in excruciating pain. Bone-cracking sounds and flesh-tearing filled the air. Wings burst forth from his back, and his ears elongated.
In an instant, Mike stood before Christina in his majestic Anthropter form.
Christina stumbled backward, stunned by the sudden transformation before her eyes. "But you said it was beyond your control… how did you?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"I think the transformation can sense my thoughts. It knows when I need it," Mike replied. "I'm starting to understand the mystery behind its triggering."
Christina stepped closer, her curiosity slowly suppressing her fear. She reached out to gently cup his alien face in her hands.
"Oh my God, you're so… awful," she breathed, her eyes roaming over his body. "Yet, somehow, it's adorable. I love you."
Mike's glowing eyes sparkled with excitement. His massive wings fluttered wildly, reflecting his enthusiasm.
"I meant the form; don't get the wrong idea," Christina quickly clarified. However, as she explained, Mike's radiant eyes dimmed, and his wings stilled. His Anthropter form reflected his human disappointment.
"You should have made it clear sooner!" he snapped, his frustration evident.
Christina chuckled softly and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around Mike's neck in a tight embrace.
To her surprise, Mike didn't pull away. Instead, he enveloped her in his arms and flapped his enormous wings rapidly. They lifted off the ground, hovering in mid-air as Mike held her tightly.