After a short travel in Lucien's high speed spaceship, they (Lucien and Alex) finally landed on The Blue Marble. It was Alex's first time coming to earth after the great cosmic plague consumed his planet, so most of the things very new to him
The moment the hatch opened, an unfamiliar kind of air, not heavy like the ships he travelled neither like the post plague Nebula, Just something fresh.
The earth felt alive.
But he was still unsettled in this new environment. Maybe because of his past trauma or just being with a unfamiliar person who claims himself as Alex's owner.
Lucien stepped out first, Alex followed him. Alex's eyes began to wander, not of awe but to asses his surrounding, a habit due to his military background. Structures rose high into the sky, sleek and reflective, layered with unfamiliar technologies. Portals flickering lights here and there carrying unfamiliar aliens from worlds unknown.
There were too many unknowns that can't be trusted and one of them was his owner, Lucien.
Lucien begin to walk, without turning back. "Keep up." he said.
Alex followed.
Not because of the command.
But because he had already decided that he would.
The car stopped right in front of a massive gate. Behind the gate there stood a mansion that looked like a masterpiece of minimalist design; something straight out of a sci-fi fever dream.
As soon as they entered the mansion, Van was already waiting.
"Welcome back, sir," he said, bowing his head slightly before his eyes shifted to Alex.
Sharp, observant.
" Everything is prepared," Van continued, "Sylvia is in her room."
"Sylvia?" Alex murmured
Lucien began walking motioning for Alex to follow.
" Sylvia is my daughter and you are now stationed to protect her" he continued " with your life."
Alex answered after a brief pause, " Understood."
Lucien stopped and looked behind him facing Alex, "You hesitate before answering, I don't need hesitation controlling you, You are my slave, you are controlled by me"
Alex met his gaze. "I think before i speak, Master."
A beat. The taunt was felt.
Then Lucien smiled faintly.
"Keep doing that," he said. "Just don't take too long when it matters."
While walking up the stairs, Alex did a short survey of his environment. The mansion was bigger that he imagined. The mansion may looked cold and looked like a cage of metal on the outside, but it felt surprisingly warm inside. Maybe it was because Lucien had a daughter.
Security lined every corner of the mansion but discrete enough that you wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
Threat probability low but never zero. Alex thought " why would he buy me to protect his daughter, if there was no threat."
They reached Sylvia's room. The door was opened slightly allowing them to see what was Sylvia doing inside.
Sylvia was sitting by a wide window, legs tucked under her, staring out at the distant skyline. The light from outside framed her in soft gold, making the city beyond her look almost unreal.
Alex pushed the door ajar. Sylvia turned when she hear that.
" Papa!!!" She screamed in her childish voice giggling.
" You know i made a new friend in my class today!" the preschooler exclaimed happily.
Lucien cold face immediately brightened after hearing her. "awe, you did good my doll, tell me all about your new friend, ok."
But she didn't answer that because she was busy looking at the unfamiliar person her Papa had brought. "Who's he, papa?"
" Oh, he's my friend, Alex, he will live with us from now on" said Lucien. He didn't want his daughter to know that he bought an alien just to protect her from unknown dangers lurking around her. He didn't want her innocent life hampered at any cost. But deep down he knew that her innocence was already crumbling.
"Hi, Alex" Sylvia greeted shyly.
Alex baffled by Lucien's statement took some moment to comprehend what he had said. but before greeting her he still wanted Lucien's permission so he glanced at Lucien. And just after he saw Lucien nodding he greeted Sylvia. " Hello, Sylvia!."
Sylvia seemed satisfied. She nodded once, then turned back toward the window as if that settled everything.
Lucien spoke then.
"Show him around," he said to no one in particular, already turning away. "He should know the layout."
Van stepped forward. "Of course, sir."
Lucien left without another glance.
But he had seen enough.
" Follow me," Van said.
And Alex did.
" This wing is restricted to Sylvia and Mr. Lucien only, primary staff can come only when ordered," Van explained. Walking through the corridor Van showed Alex the emergency exits.
"I have already seen two additional exits" Alex continued "Hidden ones,"
A pause. Then Van allowed a small, almost approving smile.
"as expected."
They continued walking. " your quarters are adjacent to Sylvia's, you are to remain in the close proximity of Sylvia at all times, unless ordered by Lucien." Van said.
"And Lucien?" Alex asked.
Van stopped and turned around. " You don't need to bother him, you just need to follow his orders." "he chose you for a reason, don't misunderstand your position but don't underestimate it either."
Alex didn't respond but he understood.
Later nearly midnight.
Alex was standing on the balcony attached to his room, gazing outside, looking indifferently at the garden below him, blue and purple light reflected on his face due to a nearby portal.
Just then he heard a knock, a soft knock definitely not of a grown person.
He opened his door to see Sylvia standing there with a rabbit plushie in her hand. She walked inside his room.
"were you asleep?" she asked.
"…No." Alex said awkwardly, he couldn't think of any reason why a five year old was awake at that time and also why would she talk to a stranger at this specific time. He couldn't understand that was she just too trusting or something else.
"I don't like it here at night," she said, glancing around. "It's too quiet."
Alex watched her carefully.
"Quiet is safe."
She shook her head.
"Quiet means something's about to happen."
Alex stilled.
That was not a child's thought, she was not the same child he saw that evening.
Alex still confused, why the child had come to his room in the midnight, thought of going outside the room.
Not even after one step towards the door. "Stay" she said suddenly, sitting on the edge of a chair like it was the most natural request.
Not an order, Not a command.
Just trust.
Alex hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then said, "...Alright."
"anyways, what were you doing?" Sylvia asked diverting the topic.
Alex understanding that, " Just watching the view from the window, pretty good garden you have got here, I can even see some flowers from Nebula"
"huh, what is nebula?" Sylvia asked.
Due to it's destruction before even Sylvia was born, about 15 years ago, he understood that she may not know of his home planet. But it still hurt to know that his planet was forgotten.
"It was my home." He said, his face turning dark.
Sylvia wanted to know more about that but seeing the hurt expression on Alex's face she stopped.
From his room, Lucien stood in the shadows, observing through the silent surveillance feed.
He watched Alex.
The way he positioned himself, like he was all aware of his surrounding even while in deep conversation with Sylvia. The way he was never fully relaxed. The way he was softly speaking with Sylvia.
He also knew that his daughter was smart, he could not hide the fact that he brought Alex here to protect her. He didn't need to say, she just understood. And now she was observing her bodyguard.
Lucien watched.
The way Alex styed talking with Sylvia.
The way he stayed, because she asked.
Not because he was told.
Lucien's lips curved slightly.
"Interesting," he murmured again.
Not obedient.
Not broken.
But choosing.
That made him far more dangerous.
and far more valuable.
Lucien turned away, already thinking ahead.
This was going to be far more entertaining than he expected.