Clik had effectively talked her ear off.

No matter how hard Tempest tried to keep up with the buzzing scientist it felt like she was in a never-ending battle.

"Oh, would you look at this. I’ve forgotten about my experiment. I think I need to..."

Then it was over.

Just like that Clik seemed to forget that Tempest was even in the room with him. She chuckled at his intense change of attention. She’d never met anyone like him before in her life though he did reminder of several people she knew that had ADHD but way more intense.

"I guess I’ll leave you to it." Tempest said from the background. Clik merely grunted at her. He was already deep in another world.

She was grateful for the time that she did spend with him, though. He didn’t treat her like she was some fragile prize; he treated her like she was an average person who was there to view his work. He was so excited about everything that had to do with Earth. Even the most mundane things. He spent at least ten minutes explaining the properties of dirt.

Actual dirt.

She’d known a lot of the things that he was telling her, but to see Clik so excited about soil really filled her heart with joy.

But now, thankfully, she had a reprieve. The only problem with that was the fact that Dron wasn’t back yet. He’d been gone a long time.

She bit the corner of her lip trying to figure out what the next step should be. They’d originally come here to make friends with the people in the town. What’s the harm in her going out on her own?

Tempest quietly turned and walked to the door of the small shop. She pulled it open but stopped in her tracks when she nearly ran into two large aliens guarding the way.

This must be the security detail that Dron’s superior was talking about.

"Dron isn’t back yet." She stated when the two men turned to look at her. They didn’t look at her like they wanted her, the way many of the other alphas looked at her. They looked at her like she was a pest. Something to do away with.

Tempest knew these men were put here to protect her, but she didn’t feel extra safe at the moment.

"He’s still with the Mark Chief." The alien on the right spoke.

His voice was much higher than Tempest would have guessed. It almost sounded like he had a never-ending supply of helium he’d been sucking in.

He was a big man. Wide and muscular. He had the same strange markings that Dron had, but instead of the black swirls, this man’s swirls were a light silver color. They wrapped all the way up his arm, around his neck, the points of the tendrils stopping along his cheek.

He had horns, but these were slightly rounded off as if he’d taken a sander and made them so.

She turned her attention to the other man standing there. He was shorter and a little more plump in the midsection which surprised her. So far everyone that she’d come across in this land seemed to be in pristine shape, she wondered if it really matter to the people here what the weight of a person was.

"I figured he was still with the Mark Chief but I’d like to leave now."

The two men looked at eachother for a second before simultaneously stepping to the side. "You can do as you wish, Omega. We’re only supposed to ensure no one comes in here to bother you."

She understood what that meant the second it came out of his mouth. They weren’t there to babysit her. If she walked out of Clik’s shop, she would be on her own.

The thought frightened her, but she pulled her shoulders back and forced herself to be brave. She would have to stay here for a minimum of six months. Tempest didn’t want someone to have to hold her hand through the entire time. She’d have to get out on her own at some point. There was no time like the present.

Tempest smiled at the two men for a second before she remembered that they didn’t know what that meant, she then lifted and dropped her shoulders, hoping that she got the gesture right.

When they didn’t seem to be confused, she took a step forward past the two of them. They didn’t try to grab her or force her to stay. Just as they had said, she was free to walk around as she chose.

Tempest decided to stay in the area, she didn’t want Dron to come out and see that she was missing. Hopefully, he’d see her the second he came out from wherever he went to have his talk with the Mark Chief.

Tempest waved at a few people and was surprised when they didn’t immediately turn and walk away from her. Several people came up to talk with her and soon Tempest began to feel more at ease about walking off on her own.

She stopped at several blacksmith shops and a few places that sold battle necessities like bandages and first aid. She spoke with the shopkeepers and heard stories about the ongoing battle. The war that never ends most described it as.

It seems that the war had been going on for at least a generation, and every time there has been a cease-fire, something happens to start it up again. She could hear from the people’s voices that they were weary of all the fighting. They wanted to just have some peace. They wanted to be able to live in harmony, but until one side won, it would never happen.

Tempest had never been in a war-torn country, but she knew enough about them. Walking around the military class, she had seen more than she needed to.

There was a small blacksmith shop on the far edge of the town Tempest walked into. She’d just been about to walk past when she saw the most beautiful chest plate hanging in the back. It seemed to glow with the light of the sun. It didn’t look very bulky, and Tempest wondered if it would be strong enough to stop an attack.

"That is beautiful." Tempest whispered as she walked closer to the breastplate.

The man working there barely noticed that she’d walked in, and when she spoke, it startled him. He dropped the hammer that he’d been using to mold another piece of equipment and gently bowed at her.

"Omega, I didn’t know that you were here. I’d have welcomed you."

"It’s quite alright. There’s no need for any formalities. I was just looking at the different shops, and that piece of armor caught my attention. Are all your pieces like that?" She looked around the space trying to find out if there were more pieces that shined and sparkled, but she didn’t see any.

"No, that was specially made for Prince Jaqen. He’ll pick it up at some point." The man looked up at the breastplate and sighed. Tempest wondered how long he would be waiting for the crowned prince to pick up his order. It seemed like he had already been waiting a long time.

"It’s something to see, that’s for sure."

"Do you want to feel it?. It’s light but incredibly strong." The shopkeep didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he quickly walked over to the piece of armor and took it down from where it was perched on the wall. He walked it over to Tempest and displayed it for her.

Tempest smiled at the man before she let her fingers skate over what looked to be precious metal. Up close she could see the fine detail of the piece. This man must have really put in a lot of effort to make it.

"You seem to be very interested in things that sparkle, makes one wonder why I was overlooked at the choosing ceremony." Someone spoke from behind her, and Tempest whirled around trying to figure out who it was.

Her heart dropped to her feet when she saw who was standing there.

The man who seemed to bring problems for Tempest everywhere she went.

Rynax.

"I don’t have anything to say to you." Tempest stepped away from the shopkeeper and tried to walk out of the small shop.

"Don’t run off. I’m not going to bite." Rynax took a step in front of Tempest. Her entire body shook with fear. The last time she was cornered by an alpha, Dron nearly lost it. This time Dron wasn’t here to protect her.

"I want to leave." Tempest did her best to keep her voice even. She didn’t want the man to think that she was afraid of him. She’d learned somewhere that predators can smell fear. She had a strong suspicion that Rynax was firmly in that category of predators.

"Well, that’s hurtful. You’ve spoken to everyone here. Is there something wrong with me?" Rynax tilted his head, the charm oozing off him like a wave.

"No, there’s nothing wrong with you, but I’d rather get on with my day."

"I understand. I guess someone has to be extra special to get a moment of your time."

Tempest rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. The manipulation was real with this man. He was trying to make her feel bad because she would rather not talk to him.

It wasn’t like she had anywhere to go. Dron wasn’t out yet and she didn’t want to go back to Clik and disturb him.

"You have something you want to say to me?" Tempest looked up at the man, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Just want to speak with you. See if you are everything everyone is making you out to be."

"I have no control over what people think of me. I’m just a normal woman." Tempest shrugged a shoulder.

"No, Tempest, you are not. You are our savior."