Number 12 Marus stood rooted to the spot.
What had she just said?
An apology?
Sorry?
Had a female of the Proxima Centauri people really said that to him?!
Marus No. 12 raised his head slightly, staring blankly at the female towering over him.
"I..."
His lips moved, but for a moment, he had no idea what to say.
"Aquitas, everything's ready!"
A deep, gruff voice rang out.
"All right! Coming!" the female in front of him called back.
A smooth curve appeared across the top of her Thought Organ again.
Then she turned and headed back toward the storeroom.
Number 12 Marus stared after her.
Aquitas...
That must be her name, right?
Unlike the Marus, true members of the Proxima Centauri people generally had names of their own.
As he thought this, he quietly made his way toward the shop entrance.
Her father would probably come out soon. He did not want to cause trouble for her.
Those two smiles alone were enough.
He hoped she would survive the disaster to come.
A few minutes later, two tall members of the Proxima Centauri people emerged from the storeroom.
When the female named Aquitas saw Marus No. 12 waiting by the entrance of his own accord, she froze.
"Aquitas?"
The taller male spoke in a deep, gruff voice. "It's that Marus by the entrance, right?"
Aquitas nodded gently and followed the male toward the shop entrance.
"Here." The male tossed two large bags in front of Marus with an impatient air. "That's everything. You can go."
Number 12 Marus once again placed his forelimbs atop his Thought Organ to show his respect. "Thank you."
"Oh, right." The male looked at Marus No. 12's small frame, then at the two "enormous" bags beside him, and casually pointed toward the side