The unique physiology of the Anthropters allowed them to defy the conventions of human flight. Like bats, they utilized their bat-like limbs to sustain flight, while also possessing human limbs that enabled them to walk, hold objects, and perform various tasks.
The bat's limbs grew out of the Anthropters' spinal cord, with the arms situated just beside their shoulder blades and the legs located a few inches above their waist. This remarkable anatomy allowed them to achieve flight, but it came with a cost for Mike.
As he had experienced, the transformation process was excruciatingly painful, as the growing bat limbs caused realignments of bones and created new spaces within his spinal cord.
The Anthropters also possessed an extraordinary ability that allowed them to sustain flight in environments devoid of air, defy gravity, and hold their breath for extended periods, up to twelve hours or more, depending on the environmental conditions. This remarkable capacity granted them the privilege of traversing planets and the cosmos with ease.
As Djuma continued his ascent, the sound of approaching spacecraft filled the air, alarming both him and Christina. However, Djuma's anxiety was short-lived, as he maintained his calm demeanor and swiftly turned toward the two approaching Space Force army ships.
With a subtle glance from his glowing eyes, Djuma manipulated the ships, causing them to veer off course and change direction. The ships harmlessly passed by the duo, heading away from them.
"Whoa! You're so amazing, Djuma!" Christina cooed. Djuma's smile was subtle, but it was enough to acknowledge Christina's praise. He pivoted, continuing their ascent deep into the clouds.
The Earth's atmosphere unfurled before them like a breathtaking canvas of ethereal beauty. Initially, the air was thick and dense, a profound blue hue that seemed to stretch on forever. The atmosphere was filled with a mesmerizing dance of water vapor, aerosols, and pollutants, creating an ever-changing tapestry of light and shadow.
Clouds of various shapes and sizes drifted lazily across the sky, their textures and colors shifting as they interacted with the surrounding air.
As they ascended higher, the blue deepened, gradually giving way to a lighter shade of cerulean. The sky transformed into a brilliant azure, with the morning sun's rays scattering off the atmospheric particles to create a dazzling display of color. Christina's eyes squinted, and she raised a hand to shield her face from the intense brightness.
She recalled learning about the layers of the atmosphere in school and realized that they had entered the troposphere, the layer that receives direct sunlight and scatters it in all directions, making the sky appear bright blue.
Christina's concern for Djuma's well-being grew as she glanced at his face and noticed that he was wearing only sunglasses, not his helmet, and his flight had become clumsy and unsteady. She wondered how he was able to survive in this brightly lit atmosphere.
"Don't mind me, Christy, I'm absolutely fine," Djuma replied, as if he had been reading her thoughts all along.
But Christina's concern was not alleviated by his words. "For real? Isn't it too bright?" she thought within herself, worried. She couldn't understand how he was able to survive in this environment, knowing direct sunlight weakens his kind's energy. The sunglasses seemed like a flimsy protection against the conditions of the atmosphere.
"This place is remarkably bright, but do you feel any heat emanating from it?" Djuma inquired, his voice transmitted directly into Christina's mind through their telepathic connection.
Christina's thoughts were momentarily consumed by the peculiarity of their surroundings. The atmosphere was indeed incredibly bright, yet despite its intense luminosity, there was a notable absence of heat. Instead, the air felt biting cold, a sensation that seemed incongruous with the radiant brightness that enveloped them.
As one of the most intelligent students in her school, Christina possessed an exceptional ability to assimilate and recall information. Her mind rapidly flashed back to a lecture she had attended during her junior high school years, where she had learned about the characteristics of the atmosphere.
She remembered that the uppermost part of the troposphere contained relatively few gas molecules, which were necessary for transferring heat. This explained why Djuma seemed entirely unaffected by the extreme brightness of their surroundings.
But how did he survive during their time in the lower part of the atmosphere, where there's enough air?
Just then, Djuma's voice echoed in her mind once more. "Christy! Remember to breathe!"
It was then that she realized that she had been unknowingly gasping for air. Djuma's hands moved swiftly, his fingers weaving a complex pattern in the air. And suddenly, a shimmering gastral shield materialized around them, its translucent surface glowing with a soft, orange light.
"This shield will extract as much oxygen as possible from the surrounding atmosphere and allow you to breathe," Djuma explained through their telepathic connection. His mental voice was calm and reassuring, but Christina detected a hint of strain beneath.
"But I must warn you, I won't be able to maintain this shield for an extended period. I'm already feeling weakened, and my energy is dwindling rapidly."
His words sent a jolt of concern through Christina's mind. Despite his growing weakness, Djuma pressed on, determined. "I'll increase my speed now, but please be aware that the higher we ascend, the thinner the air will become, and the less oxygen the shield will be able to extract. So, bear with me and breathe slowly. Conserve your energy as much as possible."
Christina's mind was racing with questions, but one concern took precedence over the others. "I understand, but... how are you able to breathe?" she asked curiously after she'd regained her breath.
"I'm not."
"You're not what? Breathing?"
"Save your breath, Christina! As Anthropters, we can hold our breath for an extended time. Preserve your energy for now; we have a long and arduous journey ahead of us."
*****
Mike finally regained consciousness, and he became aware of his body lying on a large, rugged rock. He struggled to his feet, his eyes squinting intensely as they attempted to adapt to the strange, unfamiliar color that bathed his surroundings.
The vibrant hue was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the unusual lighting.
As his vision began to clear, Mike raised his head to behold a breathtaking vista: a vast expanse of colorful sky stretched out before him, a kaleidoscope of red and yellow hues that seemed to dance across the horizon. The sheer scale and beauty of the sight took his breath away, leaving him momentarily awestruck.
Mike continued to gaze upwards, his eyes adjusting further to the strange but convenient lighting emanating from the sky. It was then that he noticed a visualization of a massive, moon-like extraterrestrial body hovering above the planet.
This celestial body was enormous, dwarfing the moon that Mike was familiar with, and it seemed to be situated at an alarmingly close proximity, giving the unsettling impression that it was on the verge of colliding with the planet he was currently on.
Mike's eyes remained fixed intently on this unsettling sight, his mind struggling to process the emotions that were welling up within him. He was unsure whether the sensation he was experiencing was one of wonder or nervousness, but one thought dominated all others:
This cannot be real.
Just then, a soft, feminine voice interrupted his reverie, The tone was calm and polite. "That's planet Noury," she explained. "It may appear to be close to our planet, but trust me, it's a bit farther away than you think."
"Whoa! This is astonishing," Mike exclaimed in bewilderment. "Was it also stabilized by magic, just like your planet?"
"No, it possesses its own inherent source of gravity which serves as a stabilizing force and prevents it from drifting into the vast expanse of space," the voice replied.
"You humans have referred to us as a rogue planet, operating under the assumption that we were once a planet ejected from a solar system," the voice continued. "However, this notion couldn't be further from the truth. Our planet, Noan, has been in existence for millions of years, long before we had any knowledge of your planet's presence in the universe."
"Millions of years!?" Mike echoed, struggling to wrap his mind around the enormity of the voice's statement. "You're saying that your planet is just as ancient as our own?"
The voice didn't reply.
"That's simply incredible!" Mike said.
"Perhaps our planet's history does indeed rival that of your own," the voice finally came again. "And now, by the way, welcome to Perebia, Mike Smith. Or should I say... Jyuran Mike?"
Mike felt his bladder let go, but lucky for him spirits don't piss.
He slowly turned around to behold the being who had been conversing with him all along, and his gaze fell upon a familiar figure.
A gasp of shock escaped his lips.
"Cat!?"