one step back (1)

I grabbed my bags after leaving the old lighthouse, feeling their weight as the salty beach wind blew against my face.

From up on the hill, I watched the sea stretch out to the horizon. The waves broke softly on the sand, and for a moment, my mind drifted...

— Don't even think about it.

Z's voice rang in my ears, slicing through my thoughts like a sharp blade.

— I was just admiring the view.

— No, you were about to jump and use your Gift to create something to break the fall.

Damn. She read me completely.

I sighed.

— I'm going around... now.

— You better. I know you. You'd totally do it.

— I wouldn't. I'm a coward, remember?

— A coward doesn't throw himself in front of an alien to try and save his friends.

I let out a short laugh. Fair. It had been altruistic, sure — but also idiotic.

— I was just being stupid. Honestly... I think I wanted to see the Power Rangers show up and save me.

Z went quiet for a moment.

— But...

— Can I just sit with my thoughts for a bit?

Another pause filled the connection. Then, the music I'd been playing earlier faded back in, filling the silence.

I took a deep breath and followed her advice. I went around.

Didn't think too much. Didn't want to.

For now, I just wanted to listen to the music.

No voices in my head.

Not hers.

Not mine.

And another long walk began — but this time, truly alone.

The walk back was calm. Just me, the music, and the sound of my own footsteps.

When I got to the base, silence ruled the place. No one else was around... except for Z.

She was dramatically seated in a chair in the middle of the main hall, one leg crossed over the other, arms resting on the armrests, as if she'd been impatiently waiting for my return.

The scene was so absurd I couldn't help it — I laughed. Laughed until I almost lost my balance and fell.

When I looked at her again, her face was clearly annoyed.

— WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?! — Z exploded, jumping to her feet. — YOU SHOULD BE ON YOUR KNEES, BEGGING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR BEING SO RUDE TO ME, THE PRINCESS OF SPIRALIS, ZAFIRA VAELMONT!

I stopped laughing instantly.

— Okay, okay, Z... wait, princess? — I raised an eyebrow.

She shot me a side glance, visibly uncomfortable.

— Long story...

I walked closer to the chair, studying her for a second. Sometimes I forgot I was talking to someone from another planet. A planet that maybe didn't even exist anymore. Someone who'd spent way too much time alone.

— Zafira... have you ever left this place? I mean, just to walk around a bit? Want to come with me to my hometown?

For a moment, I thought her eyes sparkled... but it was actually her whole hologram lighting up.

— I DO!

The UFO floating above her head buzzed so hard her holographic body started glitching slightly, like the system was struggling to process her excitement.

Before I could say anything else, Z bolted toward the storage room. From there, I heard the sounds of things being tossed around and shuffled.

While she did... whatever she was doing, I headed to my dorm to unpack the groceries and change clothes.

I took a quick shower, but after so long without proper rest, the hot water felt like something from another world.

Like every drop was washing away not just the exhaustion, but all the tension I'd been carrying.

After getting dressed, I stepped out of the dorm and stopped when I saw Z waiting for me in the hallway.

She was wearing full Victorian attire — an ornate dress, lace gloves, and even a delicate veil covering part of her face.

— How do I look? Never mind, I know I look dazzling.

I tried to hold back a laugh.

— You look… beautiful, but that outfit in modern times… it's a little unusual.

Her hologram seemed to dim slightly, like she'd just received a soul-crushing critique. Without saying a word, she turned around and walked back to the storage room.

I waited.

After a while, Z came out again — this time wearing something completely different.

A simple, all-white dress. Light and flowy. A wide straw hat subtly covered her UFO, and on her feet, white sandals matched the rest of the outfit perfectly.

She looked stunning.

Truly.

I was speechless for a moment, trying to find the right words.

— Wow… you look beautiful.

I wasn't sure if I managed to express what I really felt at that moment, but putting it into words wasn't easy.

Z, on the other hand, flashed a satisfied smile.

— I know.

— Don't get too cocky. — I crossed my arms, looking at her. — But what about your… appearance? It's not exactly common to see someone purple walking around.

Z glanced at the ceiling, thoughtful. She touched her chin, pondered a bit more, and without saying anything, took off her hat and walked toward the wall where the main computer was.

I already knew what was coming.

The stones that supposedly activated the system weren't even touched, but the terminal appeared in front of her anyway. That whole "pressing the stones" thing was probably just a gimmick, designed to let humans access it in a more… interactive way.

Z started typing something, her face illuminated by the screen's glow. Her hologram began flickering, shifting slightly each time it came back. I'd seen this before — she was programming something.

Then finally, her "new version" was done.

Z now had dark skin, keeping the same rich tone that was once purple. Her eyes, previously completely black, now had a dark iris and white sclera — something she didn't have before. The antennae were gone, and her platinum hair was now black, with a few silver strands that shimmered under the artificial cave lights.

She looked...

Wait.

No way.

— Z… did you hack into my phone? — The question slipped out without thinking.

She blinked, clearly confused.

— What do you mean? I was only looking for your preferences.

I went silent.

I really need to explain how privacy works to her.

— Also… — Z tilted her head slightly. — During your "bath," do all humans eliminate unnecessary substances like that?

I froze.

Blinked a few times, trying to process.

Pressed a hand to my forehead and let out a long sigh before facing her again.

— Z… when we get back from this trip, we're having a long talk.

I knew that conversation had to happen someday.

I just didn't expect it to be this soon.

Z just shrugged, unbothered, and started pacing in circles, excited about the outing. Meanwhile, I headed to the teleporter. Now that the location was more precise, I entered the coordinates of my old home.

But in the middle of the process, a question hit me.

— Z, can we teleport back? Or is this a one-way trip?

She paused for a moment, crossing her arms.

— It would've been one-way before, but since you fixed the antenna, we can use it to return. We just need to pre-set the coordinates both here and at our destination.

— Makes sense. — I nodded, adjusting the final settings.

— I'm guessing you have access to the base no matter where you are. So if anything happens, you can just come back here without a problem.

— Yes, that's right. But if something does happen, you're coming with me. Did you forget you'll be doing my job for three weeks?

Before I could answer, the teleporter began charging up, humming at a sharp, irritating frequency. As I turned to face Z, I felt her metallic hands shove me without warning.

— Let's go, let's go, enough talking already!

I didn't have time to react.

The sensation was instant. My body stretched, shattered, and reassembled in seconds, while it felt like a live wire surged through my bones. Like being crammed inside a high-voltage cable.

It was quick.

But it hurt.

And by the time I realized it, I was already on the corner by my parents' house.

Reality hit all at once. My body couldn't handle the shock — I dropped to my knees, gasping for air, checking if I was still in one piece.

Thankfully, I was.

Well... for now.

Because right after, my lunch decided it wasn't staying down.

And I threw up right there on the spot.

Z came over and started patting my back, trying to ease the nausea.

— That's normal. By the fifth time, you'll get used to it.

— FIFTH TIME?! — I shouted, still clutching my stomach.

— Don't be dramatic. You should be thankful.

The teleporters back in my parents' time hurt way more. I mean... from what I remember. Haven't felt anything in a while.

— You'll feel again soon. Don't be dramatic.

— I smirked dryly.

Z immediately kicked me hard enough to make me choke on my own breath. Then she crossed her arms and leaned lazily against a post, waiting for me to pull myself together.

— Come on, idiot. Get up.

I didn't move right away. A second later, she walked over again, looking at me with a slightly worried expression. Maybe the guilt kicked in.

I took a deep breath, gathered what little dignity I had left, and finally stood up.

I led Z to my parents' house.

And now that I think about it...

Maybe that wasn't the smartest decision.

As soon as we got to the gate, I reached out to knock — but Z, as impatient as ever, just swung it open with a single abrupt motion. The metal frame groaned and bent slightly.

— Damn it, Z! — I hissed, rushing ahead of her. I quickly opened the front door, only to be greeted by the classic scene of a household ready to defend itself:

My dad holding a metal pipe.

My mom already on the emergency dial.

My dog lazily napping beside the couch.

The tension in the air was so thick, it felt heavy to breathe. So, I let out a nervous laugh.

— Hey, mom. Hey, dad. Sorry... forgot to mention I was coming. Haha…

My dad relaxed a bit and sighed.

— Son, you scared the—

He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened as he noticed Z standing behind me.

Without warning, he yanked me into the kitchen while my mom stayed in the living room — apparently already diving into a conversation with Z.

— Who is she, son? — my dad asked, his tone somewhere between teasing and genuinely curious. — So, you're living with your friends, huh... you player. She's pretty. I'm proud of you.

I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, my mom's laughter echoed from the living room, followed by the bark of our dog.

My dad and I looked at each other.

Something was happening.

We rushed back into the living room and were greeted by the following scene:

Z was in a full defensive stance, one arm stretched in front of my mom and the other holding a vase — apparently ready to use it as an improvised weapon.

Her eyes blazed with unwavering determination.

— Idiot! — she shouted, staring directly at me. — There's a Sirian here! I'm protecting the queen! Call the Rangers, they're invading the houses!

She was talking about the dog.

My dog.

My poor dog, who just wanted a quiet life, was now an "intergalactic threat" in the confused mind of my alien guest.

I grabbed Z's hand and dragged her to my room, determined to have a "serious conversation." But the moment we got there, she started poking through everything, grabbing random objects and stuffing them into a bag that had appeared out of nowhere.

— Z, please, don't mention anything about the Rangers or, like... anything off-Earth, okay?

She paused for a second and looked at me, curious.

— They don't know? Why don't you tell them?

I let out a deep sigh and rubbed my face.

— It's complicated... For now, let's keep it between us, okay?

— Alright, alright. — Z replied, clearly disinterested, her eyes already shifting to a shirt tossed on my chair.

She walked over, picked it up with the subtlety of a chicken thief, and stuffed it into her bag like I wasn't even watching.

I rolled my eyes but let it go.

When we left the room, I noticed my parents were in the kitchen. How did I know? Because of the unmistakable smell of my mom's coffee.

I went over and grabbed two mugs. Filled them both with coffee, even though I knew Z probably wouldn't drink hers. Still, it helped keep up appearances.

I brought the mug to my lips and took a sip, the familiar warmth sliding down my throat. Meanwhile, Z examined her drink with a curious gaze, spinning the cup like it was a science experiment.

And then, something hit me I hadn't expected.

Damn. That alien really did look beautiful.

I shook my head and turned to face my parents.

Time to start a very long conversation.