He Comes in Peace

The scraping of Kartayon's claws on the glass of the windows made the hair on Skye's neck raise. It sent goosebumps racing down her arms as she felt the vibration through him.

There was much shouting on the ground below them from the ECI, but it was growing fainter and fainter as Kartayon astonishingly gaining speed as he climbed higher, when he should have been slowed down.

Skye gripped his shoulders hard, scared her weight would finally take its' toll, and they would start tipping backwards.

She averted her gaze from the concrete ground, focusing on the swath of scales in front of her nose.

A low growl came from Kartayon. Skye's eyes flickered to the back of his head.

The ECI had entered the building, and they were no doubt climbing the stairs or taking the elevator.

A small pulse of electricity radiated from Kartayon. Skye rested her forehead on his head once more, trying to sense his thoughts.

They came a moment later, faint.

I am getting tired. We must enter the building.

Skye was alarmed at the feebleness of his thoughts. Of all the days she had spent with him, this was the first time she had actually felt scared that Kartayon would fail.

She responded quickly.

Okay. Try and look for a room with no people.

Of course.

He shifted quickly under her, and paused on the outer windowsill of one floor, many, many levels above the ground.

"This one seems safe enough." Kartayon paused slightly on the windowsill, sending the butterflies in Skye's stomach reeling as he swayed.

He was silent for a few moments, thinking. He suddenly twisted, lifting Skye up off his shoulders. She screamed.

Stupidly, she started kicking and writhing.

"Skye, please! You will fall!"

She froze and fell limp in Kartayon's grip. He set her safely down on the windowsill, looking at her reproachfully. He reached out and touched her gently on the head.

"You worry me."

Skye blushed. "I'm sorry. That was really stupid."

Kartayon's expression softened. "You are safe. That is all that matters."

She blushed even more at his words, then turned her attention upon the window. She pointed wordlessly at it.

Kartayon smiled wryly. "Why do you think I removed you from my back?"

Almost comically, he turned, carefully pivoting on his feet. With a twisted expression, he backed into the window.

It creaked and leaned it at his weight and the force he was applying.

Skye watched in silence.

The window gave way after a set of holes were punched in.

Kartayon tumbled backwards into the room, letting out a small yelp.

Skye climbed in quickly. She did not like sitting on a window sill more than twenty floors off the ground. She helped Kartayon to his feet, wincing at the crackling of glass.

"Thank you." He inclined his head and dusted himself off.

He looked funny, with small beads of glass in his hair and on his clothes, the Hurley shirt he was wearing ripped in five places on his back. What made him look even more peculiar was the fact that his eyes were practically glowing neon green.

Skye found herself staring at him at a very inappropriate time.

Only when Tay started to walk out of the room did she snap out of her trance.

"The ECI might be out there."

"They are not. They are currently on the fifth floor because the elevator decided not to work."

Skye blinked. That was an unusual stroke of luck.

"Really?"

"Yes. Let us be off."

There was a hint of something else in his voice, and Skye frowned slightly.

"Tay, did you have anything to do with that?"

"Why do you ask?" he replied quietly while he walked. He peered into rooms as he went.

"It seems weird that the elevator just suddenly stopped working."

"Is it?"

Skye caught up to Kartayon as he ran down the steps, jumping the last three feet. His spikes had receded from his back, leaving him to move around more freely.

"Yes! Tay..."

"What answer would you like? One that you want to hear?"

"The truth, how about that?"

Kartayon paused with his hand on the railing of the stairs. "I sent an electric current through the floors so the elevator would stop."

Skye gaped.

"You can do that?"

Kartayon replied without looking back. "Yes I can, Skye. Please hurry."

They continued on without pausing or speaking.

"Where are you planning on going?" Skye asked abruptly, feeling her heart beating rapidly in her chest from running down steps.

"Anywhere safe."

They burst out of the endless tirade of stairs, to find themselves out on a busy floor. The people paid no attention to Skye and Tay, which was very good. They continued walking along the corridors without much notice.

Skye looked at a metal plate next to the door opening to the stairs. She froze on the spot.

"Tay?"

"What is it?" he asked impatiently.

"We're on the fifth floor."

"What?" He snapped around and glanced at the giant five.

His expression stiffened and he glanced to the elevator. The doors were opening and closing quickly, and beyond it, you could see the struggling and flailing of ECI arms.

"Quick, Skye. Into a room."

As they stepped into the nearest open door, they found themselves in the midst of a meeting.

The adults looked at them.

"Please leave, children."

Skye looked to Kartayon for some help, and his face hardened even more.

Several adults stood up. "Please leave or we will call security. I don't know what a couple of kids are doing in here, but this is a private meeting."

The shrill ding of the elevator sounded behind them, and Kartayon grabbed Skye. In the process, his spikes shot out of his back. He slung her across his back.

The women in the room screamed and half rose out of their chairs, backing away.

The distant thud of feet were growing nearer.

Kartayon backed out of the room several paces before sprinting back in, his body flying over the long table as he jumped.

Skye let out a scream as he crashed through the window, his arms up to shield his face.

The shards of glass flew everywhere; the shattering of the window panes weren't loud enough to mask the shouting of the people they had just left behind.

The wind whipped past Skye's face as they flew through the air.

Gravity wouldn't support them for forever.

They started to free fall.