by Heidi Skarie
She felt a flush of heat go through her. “It was close to my time of month. It should have been safe.”
“Only you never did have a monthly cycle.”
“It’s nothing to worry about. If I’m pregnant, I’m just a little pregnant and we can deal with it when you finish your training.”
“You can’t be just a little pregnant.” His lips drew into a thin line. “You’re either pregnant or not.”
“I mean if I’m pregnant, which I’m not, I’m not very far along.”
“Nearly a month.”
Was it possible she was a month pregnant? She curled up on the bed still feeling ill.
“Do you want to keep it?” he asked.
She sat back up. “You want me to abort our baby! My entire family was killed, even my grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. This child will be my only blood relative.”
He sat on the bed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t say I wanted you to have an abortion. I just asked what you wanted to do since you seem so set on going off to fight in the war and keep denying you’re pregnant.”
Her throat tightened and her voice was unsteady. “You don’t seem happy about the possibility of having a baby.”
“Neither do you.”
“The timing isn’t good.”
“No, it isn’t. It must have crossed your mind that you might be pregnant.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Before the program you asked if I wanted children. I can’t believe you were about to leave to fight in a war without even telling me you were pregnant.”
“I don’t know that I’m pregnant. I’m just a little late.”
“A month late is more than a little late.”
A lump formed in her throat and tears filled her eyes. “You don’t want our baby.”
His expression softened as he drew her close. “Of course I do. A baby is an extension of our love. I want anything that’s part of you.” He kissed her cheek. “I love you, Toemeka, now and forever.”
“I love you, too. I’m sorry I didn’t mention I was late.”
“I know this isn’t easy for you either,” he said. “But a child’s a blessing, a time of celebration whenever it comes. Everything happens in the right time and place for the experiences we need. I’d better tell Master Bakka that I can’t go to the monastery for training.”
She clutched his arm. “No, you have to go. It’s too important.”
“I’m not going to leave you now that I know you’re pregnant.”
“That’s only a possibility.” She couldn’t let him abandon his training for her.
“A strong possibility and I intend to be with you in case you need me. You’ll be going through a lot of physical and emotional changes. You’ve given so much to be with me, the least I can do is to give up this training so we can be together.”
“You have to do what you’ve agreed to do. You made a commitment.”
“I didn’t know you were pregnant when we discussed it yesterday. The training could take many months.”
“I know and I’ll miss you, but it will work out all right this way. I’ll be gone for at least six months on Alandra anyway. It’s the minimum tour of duty.”
His eyes widened in disbelief. “You can’t go to Alandra. The Coalition doesn’t allow pregnant women into war zones.”
She frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that. I guess I won’t mention the possibility.”
“You’re not going.”
“Why not? Being pregnant doesn’t change my abilities as a combat pilot.”
“Combat pilots can’t afford to get motion sickness.”
“You worry too much.”
“Take a pregnancy test. If you’re not pregnant, you can go back on active duty. I’ll even fly you to the Coalition base.”
Toemeka felt trapped, concerned about what a test might reveal.
4
Domed City of Kanai
Moon Barmin
From the cockpit of the Viper 4X, Toemeka watched the stars and planets turn into streaks of light as Michio’s spacecraft went into a jump. Before leaving the retreat on planet Ritlan, she had reluctantly agreed to take a home pregnancy test.
It was positive.
She took a second test and it showed the same results. Although she was still getting used to the idea of being pregnant, it was clear she couldn’t return to active duty to fight the war on Alandra. Instead she was headed to the secret city of Kanai with Michio.
Toemeka didn’t like space jumps. They usually went smoothly, but sometimes a ship just disappeared and was never seen again. A short jump took only a few minutes, but one to a distant part of the galaxy took much longer. They required a series of jumps and were made on large ships. Fortunately, this was a short jump.
A jolt sliced through Toemeka as stars and planets reappeared in the blackness of space. Looming directly in front of them glowed the large orange planet Ormezd, surrounded by multi-colored rings and numerous moons of various sizes.
“It’s breathtaking!” Toemeka exclaimed. She’d never seen Ormezd before as it was an uninhabitable planet, composed of gases and not on any regular flight routes.
Michio nodded. “Yes, it is. We’re headed for a moon called Barmin. It has a thick atmosphere with the correct temperature and composition to support it. We have to travel through several rings to get there.”
“Traveling through rings doesn’t look safe,” Toemeka said.
“I’ve flown it many times,” Michio said. “ZB, calculate a route through the rings.”
The first ring is unstable. Enter with care, the computer replied.
Michio flew the ship into the outermost green ring. It flowed like a patterned wave similar to ripples in a lake. They flew by asteroids the size of mountains and equally dangerous meteors.
Soaring out of the ring, they flew by a moon, then entered a glowing yellow ring. A large boulder hurtled toward the ship and Toemeka jerked instinctively toward Michio as he maneuvered their ship out of the way.
In the third ring, Michio flew the ship into dense clouds. The ship emerged near the surface of a grayish-blue moon. Michio skimmed the moon’s landscape, passing over mountains, valleys, craters and a wide river.
“I don’t see any vegetation.” Toemeka peered out the window, fascinated by everything she saw. “It looks like a lifeless world. Are there any plants or animals?”
“We haven’t found any. It’s theorized that it’s too cold to support life.”
A large, glass-domed city came into view.
“There’s Kanai,” Michio said. He pressed the transmission button on the radio. “Michio Kimes requesting permission to land.”
A voice came back, “Welcome back, Michio, permission granted.”
A hangar door opened and Michio flew inside the one-ship landing bay and cut the engines. Toemeka reached for the door handle as the hangar door automatically closed.
“Wait for the bay to pressurize and fill with air and heat,” Michio said. “Barmin’s atmosphere isn’t human-friendly.”
Toemeka spotted a dial on the wall. When the arrow reached the green safety zone, she got out of the ship. Excitement surged through her; this colony would be their first home.
She felt weightless as she started walking. “I feel so light. There must not be much gravity here.”
“About a fifth less than planet Ritlan,” he said. “We’re required to work out every day in the gym, doing calisthenics and weightlifting to keep up our muscle mass. Otherwise when we travel to a planet with average gravity, we’d be weak.”
Michio came around to her side of the ship, carrying their travel bags and whistling cheerfully. “Let’s go.” She turned the wheel that opened the pressurized door, then they stepped into the hall and rode a moving ramp to a bank of tube cars. Tall buildings flashed by as the glass tube car shot upward then slid sidewise along a track. It stopped with a soft jerk and the door slid open. They stepped into a glass, curved hallway and walked past a series of
doorways. Potted plants decorated the halls and many trees lined the street in the city below.
“There are a lot of trees and vegetation here,” Toemeka said.
“We grow plants that thrive in a controlled dome atmosphere since we need them to produce oxygen and food. We can’t count on supplies from the outside world, so the city has to be self-sufficient in making its own breathable atmosphere, producing food, and transporting water from other areas on the moon. It’s not easy living here. The structural integrity of the dome has to be carefully and constantly monitored.
“Everyone is expected to contribute to the community. With your background in science and engineering, I imagine you’ll be assigned to the team that maintains the dome.”
“I didn’t know I’d be immediately put to work, but it makes sense that everyone has to contribute.”
He stopped in front of a door that was labeled 350 B. “This is my pod. I should warn you it’s a small, one-person room.”
Michio put his right hand on the center panel and the door clicked open. Toemeka stepped inside and looked around. Two air chairs dominated the center of room. Off to the side was a small kitchen with a counter and two stools. On the other side was a computer desk. An open doorway revealed a tiny bathroom. It was smaller than many cabins on a starship and equally impersonal. The standard-issue furnishings didn’t reveal anything about her new husband’s tastes or personality.
“Where do we sleep?” Toemeka asked.
Michio laughed. “Tired already?”
He punched in a code on the wall panel. The two air chairs folded up and dropped into panels on the floor, then the closet door opened. A rectangular box rolled out and started to inflate into a single-size airbed.
Once it was fully inflated, Michio swung Toemeka into his arms and set her on the bed. She reclined back on it and he settled himself on top of her. She grinned up at him. “I think more than the bed has inflated.”
He braced his elbows on either side of her and his emerald green eyes gazed into hers. “I’ve got a feeling that living here is going to be a lot more fun now that you’ve arrived.”
“And why is that?” she asked with a smirk.
“Because I’ll have you in my bed.” He kissed her and the heat quickly built between them. He lifted his head and said, “You’re so beautiful, inside and out.”
The doorbell rang and Michio frowned. “I could ignore that.”
“Good idea.” She wrapped her legs around his.
The doorbell rang again.
“I don’t think they’re going away. I’ll be right back.” He untangled his legs from hers and crossed to the door.
Toemeka sat up, feeling uneasy. Michio spoke to someone at the door, then handed her a thick envelope. “This came for you on a spacecraft full of refugees from Jelmur.”
Her name was written across the front in bold handwriting. There wasn’t a return address, but she recognized the handwriting as her former partner’s. She tore open the envelope and inside found a crystal matrix and folded piece of paper. On the outside of the paper was written: “Play the matrix crystal before opening.”
She crossed over to the computer and slid the matrix crystal into a port. A two-foot high hologram of Erling appeared in the air before her. He wore a flight uniform and looked as though he hadn’t slept in awhile. His blood-shot blue eyes had dark circles under them and his blond hair was matted as if he’d just removed his helmet.
He began to speak. “Hello, Toe and Mich.”
“Why does he always shorten my name?” Michio asked, sounding annoyed as he came up behind her.
“Shh. He shortens everyone’s name.”
“I only have time for a quick message. I’m headed out for an aerial battle and before I go wanted to deliver this to a friend who is flying to your secret hideout. He and other Initiates of the Secret Teachings from Jelmur are escaping. It’s become too dangerous for them to stay here because Samrat Condor targets Initiates. Toe, I wanted to let you know that my family survived the attack on the Temple. Your warning saved their lives. I tried to convince them to escape with the others, but they love Jelmur and want to stay to fight for its freedom.
“Many died during the initial attack on Jelmur and in the fighting that followed. Raptor troops continue to bomb Jelmur with deadly force. They’ve taken out major harbors, spaceports, and military factories. It’s been nonstop fighting since the attack started. No one expected such a large-scale invasion. I’m sorry to give you such bad news. I’ve included a list of names of those who died.
“My family sends their congratulations to you and Mich. Mother wanted to know all about him. She’s glad you’re safely away from this. We all miss you, but I’m glad you’ve found love and happiness. You deserve the best.”
Holographic images of Hendora, Onolyn, Jake and Zac stepped into view. All wore flight suits. They looked pumped with adrenaline as they always did before an aerial battle.
Jake spoke first, “The team wanted to say hello.” His cocky smile seemed to defy any danger they would soon be facing. “We’ll miss you when we’re out there flying like the wind, Tiger.”
Greetings followed from Zac, Onolyn and Hendora. Toemeka and Michio had worked with the three of them to free Jaipar on their last mission. When their holographic images disappeared, Toemeka felt an acute ache for her friends.
Her hands shook as she unfolded the paper she’d found in the envelope, knowing it contained the names of those who’d died. The first list was of Initiates killed during the Temple bombing. As she read it over, she realized entire families were gone. She thought of each person as she read their name, memories flooding in of the times she’d spent with them. It was like losing the people of her village all over again.
Her eyes blurred with tears as she continued to read. “So many children died!” she said, the pain in her heart growing.
Michio put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. It’s a terrible tragedy.”
She wiped away her tears. “I’d gotten to know many of the families over the years. Erling grew up knowing them all. He must be devastated.”
“I’m sure he is. It’s good to know his family survived.”
“Yes, that’s a blessing. Still I wish I’d been able to warn them sooner.”
“Most got out in time. Think of the lives you saved, not those you couldn’t save.”
“I wish I’d returned to Headquarters with my team.”
“You couldn’t have changed what happened.”
“At least I would’ve been fighting alongside my friends.”
She began to read the second list, which contained names of Coalition pilots and other military personnel who’d died. She’d flown with many of the pilots and been on missions with some of the operatives. She was grateful none of her closest friends were killed.
“I can’t believe I was so careless as to have gotten pregnant,” she groaned.
“I know how painful this is for you but—”
“No, you don’t know! You don’t have any idea. Raptor troops killed my family right in front of me and killed nearly everyone I knew in the village. The only ones they spared were a few young women to use as sacrifices to Samrat Condor. If a Coalition team hadn’t rescued me, the soldiers would have sacrificed me. I owe my life to the Coalition!
“After I was rescued, Erling’s family took me in and his parents and sisters treated me like family. I had terrible nightmares for a long time, but their love and support helped me heal.
“When I’d recovered, I joined the Coalition and have worked for Condor’s demise ever since. And now, when they need me most, I can’t help them. I can’t do what I’m trained for.”
Michio didn’t say anything and she began pacing the small pod. Being pregnant didn’t seem real. Her stomach was still flat and she didn’t feel any movement. Yet, when she focused on the baby, she felt warm energy. And she sensed she knew the soul that was to enter the baby’s body. Perhaps it was the soul of someone
she’d known and loved in another life.
Michio came over to her and drew her into his arms. “I love you, Toemeka. I wish there was something I could say to give you comfort, but I’m afraid any words would sound empty.”
She pressed her face into his chest. “I love you, too.” He smelled faintly of lavender and sandalwood from his morning shower. Despite her longing to help the Coalition, she cherished being with Michio. She always felt his energy when he was in the room and they connected easily inwardly. “I feel like I let my team down by not fighting in the war on Alandra.”
“I understand your feelings. Part of me would like to be there as well. It’s hard to see something like this happen and not be able to do anything about it.”
“So many have died on Jelmur and many more will die trying to stop the takeover of the planet. When will this interplanetary war end, Michio?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Toemeka spent the next week learning about life in Kanai. The city had libraries, lush parks filled with walking trails, spas with swimming pools and exercise rooms, and large common areas for meetings and social gatherings.
She and Michio ate most of their meals at nearby cafes. Michio spent his days working in the government center. She joined a team working on a design to build a new dome that would connect to the city and handle the many refugees arriving from Jelmur.
During the day, she worked long hours to take her mind off the interplanetary war in Alandra, but at night she had nightmares about the Temple bombing.
One day after work, when she was critiquing Michio’s manuscript, he came into the pod with a stricken look on his handsome face.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Jelmur surrendered.”
The blood drained from Toemeka’s face. “They wouldn’t surrender. The Coalition Headquarters is there.”
“The Raptor air fleet destroyed Coalition Headquarters’ defense shield system. Staff evacuated under intense bombing. The Coalition is now operating from starships. Raptor Troops landed and are in the process of taking control of the country.”
“With the Coalition headquarters defeated, all of Alandra will fall. It was the planet’s main military force.”