by Andi J Feron
“Why does it bother you?”
“Because you’re my husband.”
He stopped packing and wrapped me in his arms. “Exactly. I’m your husband. Petra isn’t even a slight threat.” He kissed me and went back to packing.
“It still bugs me.”
“I figured, but maybe when we’ve been married fifty years you’ll finally believe you’re the only one my heart longs for.”
“Damn Ace, you’re good.”
“That’s why you call me Ace.”
“Right, that’s why.” I laughed.
“Why did you start calling me that?”
“Because you used to drive me crazy. Every sim we ran you came out on top so I started calling you that to mock your perfection, but now it’s a term of endearment. You’re still annoyingly perfect, you know.”
“I’ll try to be a little more flawed in the future.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
He grabbed our packed bags and put them by the front door. I went to brush my teeth before Talon pulled me to bed. We woke up in the morning, still holding tightly to one another. The alarm sounded, and Talon rolled over with a groan and shut it off. Talon made eggs, bacon, and pancakes. He poured some orange juice in a glass for me, and I took a drink.
“This is the best orange juice I’ve ever had. Where is it from?” I savored the perfect droplets of citrus hitting my tongue.
“I squeezed it last night.”
“You did not!” I widened my eyes in exaggerated disbelief.
“I did. When you were taking that super long shower that I wasn’t invited to.”
“We have to give each other space sometimes.”
“Does shower time have to be one of them?”
“Sometimes, yeah, it does. Anyway, back to the orange juice, that’s what I’m talking about. What kind of husband squeezes fresh orange juice for his wife the night before they have to get up super early?”
“A husband who wants to make sure his wife gets extra vitamin C to prevent her from bringing deadly visitors back with her.”
“Talon, vitamin C won’t stop a brain parasite.”
He shrugged. We finished our breakfast and Talon had to carry both our bags. I learned not to fight him on that because it made him happy. I finally realized he was completely cognizant of the fact I could carry my own bag, but he wanted to do it because he loved me. I lowered my pride because I loved him.
Our team met us at the docks and we headed to the coordinates of the terraformed planet. When we arrived, we were told that the part of the planet we would be playing the Games on was divided into four sectors. A frozen tundra, a tropical jungle, a hot desert, and underwater caverns. The objective would be to make it through each sector and return with the artifact matching our team color.
Our team color was blue. There were three other teams—red, green, and yellow. We had never met any of the other teams, as they all hailed from other divisions and were never assigned to Saturn base. Apparently, at the last Abilities Game there was a major accident having to do with the teams interacting in the same arena. For this reason, we would have our own sector away from the other teams.
“See, I told you we have this. Talon is a tracker. We’ll find our artifacts and be done with all four sectors before the other teams finish with one.” Elliott looked over our com radios, making sure they’re all turned on. They were similar to walkie-talkies but they worked across hundreds of miles.
Ajax grabbed his radio from Elliott and strapped it to his belt. “The other teams have trackers, too Elliott.”
“Yeah, but Talon is tier-seven. You know how rare a tier-seven anything is. I doubt any of them even come close.”
“The only thing that separates me from a tier-six is I can show other people where things are at,” Talon said.
“I still bet there aren’t even any sixes or fives.” Elliott handed out the rest of the radios.
We were given the choice to do all four sectors together or split up. We decided to risk it and split up to recover the artifacts quicker. The next task became deciding who made up what teams. Talon would stay behind and work from our home base, helping each team navigate to their artifacts.
“Seraphine, you seem to be good at taking on sea creatures. You want the underwater caverns?” Ajax asked.
I was about to agree when Talon interjected. “Seraphine is not doing that one.”
I scowled at him. “I think I can decide that for myself Talon.”
“I know you can, but please don’t.” His eyes begged me.
I knew all he would do is sit and worry which would be a major distraction, so I told Ajax I would take a different one. Helen and Elliott took the jungle, Fayard and I took the desert, Ajax and Petra took the ocean, and we agreed whoever was done first would take on the frozen tundra. I changed into some shorts and a blue tank top before pulling my hair into a bun. Talon had canteens ready for us, then he concentrated on each of our artifacts.
“Seraphine and Fayard, you’re looking for a blue statue of Bast, an Egyptian cat goddess, and you’ll find her at the southern chamber of a large pyramid.” Talon grabbed our wrists and transmitted the location to our minds.
He did the same to the other two pairs, and we set off. Fayard and I hiked for over an hour through endless sand, sweat dripping from every pore in my body. Several large sand dunes appeared before us, and the length was too vast to go around. We would have to climb straight on to them instead.
I sighed. “I guess I won’t have to go to the gym for the next week.”
“Physical endurance only makes for better days.”
“You always have positive things to say, Fayard. How do you do that?”
“I think I have no choice. I can choose how I see reality. We are climbing these sand dunes, and it’s difficult. I can be upset, but that will not stop me from having to complete the task. Therefore, I choose to see the fact that this difficult thing will make me more equipped for the next difficult thing. This mindset builds strong mind and body, things needed for this war. Badly.”
I pushed the sweat off my forehead and paused to catch my breath. “I think I would have much rather have completed the ocean course.”
“Yet you chose not to.”
“Talon couldn’t handle it. He’s still not over the brain parasite. It’s getting aggravating.”
“Yes, I could see how that would cause you frustration. I think Talon may need to do a better job of not letting his fear cause him to control your choices. I do understand Talon’s perspective as well.”
“What’s that?” I started walking again.
“Being told the woman he loves was never coming back, and he needed to plan her funeral. Then he went home to empty quarters where every small thing reminded him of you. I saw him and the pain he was fighting. He knows what it’s like to live his greatest fear. That changes a man. For Talon, it showed him he was right—his greatest fear was something he couldn’t live with.
“You showed your husband a kindness today by walking the desert instead. While I understand his behavior, that doesn’t mean he is right in his actions. I think you should talk things out with him and help him see how what he is doing is impacting you and your relationship.”
I contemplated Fayard’s words. I hadn’t actually thought about what Talon went through during my illness. This war brought so much trauma, and we were expected to be emotionless soldiers carrying out our duty. But we were human, and humans can only hold in trauma so long before it eats them alive. When this mission was over Talon and I needed to talk.
We finally made it to the top, and the pyramid spread out before us. As we approached, it became clear that we were not alone. Three giant rock monsters paced back and forth, and before we could think about what to do, they bolted for us. Fayard grabbed my hand to turn us invisible, but it was too late—one of the rock monsters smacked him, throwing him to the base of the pyramid.
Well, he found a free ride.
&nbs
p; I projected a giant rock monster that peered over them and bolted for Fayard who had been knocked unconscious. I dragged him through the pyramid’s opening. One of the rock monsters reached into the pyramid and dragged me out. He looked like one single grey rock with arms and legs. As he picked me up, his skin had the feeling of a pumice stone as it scratched across my body.
“Pretty.” He brought me close to his face.
The other two came over and began to fight about wanting to hold me. He was squeezing me tightly as not to allow the others to rip me from his grasp. As they were arguing, the one holding me began moving rapidly and trying to swat his back. I felt a touch on my hand, and I was invisible. Fayard had climbed up the monster’s back to get to me. Confused, the rock monster opened his palm.
We scaled down, and the monster became irate. I projected an image of myself running away, and all three monsters chased after it. Fayard and I ran into the pyramid. We crossed a very narrow bridge that spanned over a large cavern. I kept waiting for the bridge to be booby-trapped and send us plummeting into the sand pit below, but we crossed safely to the other side where a bunch of snakes were waiting.
“I don’t handle snakes, Fayard. I was bitten by one once. It is not an experience I want to repeat. They look hungry.”
“Then project them lots of food running off those cliffs.”
I liked Fayard’s idea and projected dozens of mice moving and squealing off the cliff. The snakes slithered quickly past us and into the pit below. I sighed with relief and we continued on. We made it up several stories, and there was the Bast statue sitting on a column right in front of us.
“You think we have to switch it for an equal weight item or a giant boulder will chase us?” I asked, thinking back to every adventure movie I’d ever seen.
“Only one way to find out. Be ready to run.” Fayard approached the statue and picked it up and quickly jumped back.
Nothing happened, but we bolted just to be safe. Fayard made us invisible, and we made it beyond the rock monsters with no further issues. We trekked back for an hour and a half, and I was ready for a nap. We put Bast in our window, indicating that we had completed the desert sector.
Ajax and Petra’s sea serpent was already placed, and they went on to the tundra. I was glad because I was too tired to fight the abominable snowman or whatever other icy threat would be waiting for us. Talon left a note saying he left to rescue Helen and Elliott from quicksand and would be back soon. I closed my eyes and fell asleep in a chair.
“I see how it is. We slave away to get two artifacts, and Seraphine gets a nap.” Ajax laughed, putting the tundra artifact in its place.
The alarm sounded, indicating there was an hour left, and we debated going after the other three. Finally, they showed up with a tiki and completed our collection. The alarm sounded, signifying the end. We were sent to the award ceremony where we won gold and Elliott reminded us all that he was right.
“Yeah, but you’re wrong about it being because of me,” Talon said.
Elliott shook his head. “I don’t think so, man. You cut a bunch of time off for us, and you saved an entire team.”
“I barely lifted a finger. This wasn’t on me.”
I knew that Elliott would lose the argument. Talon hated taking credit for things. He was quick to take responsibility but slow to bask in glory. And he wondered why I called him Ace.
On the way back to Saturn base, Helen approached me. “Seraphine, how did you know when you loved Talon?”
I pondered for a moment before speaking. “I think I loved him a lot sooner than I admitted to myself. The first real moment was when I was in the hospital after my ex-boyfriend tried to kill me. Talon not only saved me, but he stayed with me in my hospital room. We sat holding hands in my bed and watched a movie.
When it was over, he looked at me, and I knew I was smitten. Then I didn’t see him for a year after that, and there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t have an intense feeling of really wanting him to be with me. Everything I did, I thought of how it would be better with Talon. And I was right, pretty much everything is better with Talon.”
“I kind of remember that. I remember when you would talk about him, your entire face would light up. I think I might love Elliott.”
I grinned. “Something happen in the jungle game?”
“We’ve been casually dating for a few weeks. Then when we were in the quicksand, he kissed me. I don’t know if it was because we thought we might die, a caught-up-in-the-moment thing, or if it was real.”
“I think all you can do is communicate and make sure you’re on the same page. You don’t have to rush anything.”
When Talon and I returned to our quarters, I decided that we should have a discussion about how his fear for my health was getting out of hand. Fayard helped me see Talon’s perspective, but I needed Talon to see mine. It was kind of like what I told Helen, that we needed to communicate to make sure we were on the same page. Taking my own advice, I approached Talon, who was sitting on the couch reading.
I sat next to him on the couch. “Can we talk a minute?”
He put his book down. “Yeah, what’s up?’
“I know me almost dying was very scary for you. But I need you to give me some breathing room and back off on not trusting my choices. I know the entire thing is difficult to cope with, but we can’t become obsessed with losing each other because it will ruin the moments we have each other.”
Talon was silent for a minute, then said, “I know. I have been overbearing and paranoid. I’ve always been scared of losing you, and then I actually did. When I got you back, everything was on constant replay and all I could do to manage it was to think of all the ways I could keep you safe so I never lost you again. But I guess I went too far to the point that I was not trusting your choices, and worse, I was trying to control them. I’m sorry Seraphine.”
“Thank you for apologizing. I understand wanting to keep me safe, that’s all I want for you too. I’m also glad you’re willing to hear me out and discuss things, so they don’t get worse and hurt our relationship.”
“Sometimes I can be pretty dense, so thank you for being patient with me.” Talon kissed me.
After our conversation, Talon started doing better and returned more to himself. I was grateful that we could keep the lines of communication open. Neither of us was perfect. We loved each other imperfectly at times, but always the best we knew how.
Over the next few weeks, Helen and Elliott warmed up to each other, and it was cute watching them cuddle during movie nights. I was glad to see Helen happy, as she never ceased to be a good friend who helped focus me on things that mattered. Six months into their relationship, Helen and Elliott got engaged and we threw them an engagement party.
I was getting ready for the party and wore a forest green dress with long sleeves and a long flowing skirt. My black heels completed the ensemble. Talon wore a black suit with a dark blue tie. I had to take a deep breath so as to not be overcome with the sight of him. I breathed in his delectable scent. He put his hand on my butt firmly and pulled me to him. I pushed my lips to meet his. We walked hand-in-hand to the party room that we had reserved.
“Talon and Seraphine, since you are the most in-love couple I have ever met, do you want to tell us some advice to a lasting marriage?” Elliott tipped his champagne glass our direction.
“Listen to your wife, know she’s the boss, and all will be fine.” Talon winked.
“Talon survives marriage by being whipped.” Ajax laughed.
“Maybe, but it earns me having this beauty in bed with me every night.” He kissed me.
“Listen to each other and being willing to make compromises,” I said.
Fayard stepped forward. “May you always see the good in each other even when your momentary feelings tell you otherwise.”
Petra raised her glass. “Stay hot for each other.”
“Cook for her, Elliott. You’ll have her forever with your lemon cake and sirloin
s.” Ajax started the music.
All of us took to the dance floor. I loved dancing with Talon; it was one of the few times he navigated from his responsibility mode into someone carefree. The music softened, and I slow danced with him. I put my head on his chest as we glided together. The passage of time never deteriorated the intensity in which I loved him.
I watched Helen dancing with Elliott, and they couldn’t stop peering into each other’s eyes. The looks they sent to each other told me they had found their other halves as well.
Chapter Twenty
Talon - September 9, 2010
“The controls seem a little off today. I think we should maybe swap this ship out.” I was talking to Mac, the docking bay manager. I was in charge of doing pre-trip on the ship for our next mission, and there seemed to be too many alerts popping up.
“Needs a little adjusting. Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll have it ready. I think this is the best ship for where you’re going. Folding is better than on the other one I have available, and you’re assigned a lengthy distance. It would take you a while in hyperspace.” Mac began tinkering with the shuttle controls.
Ajax walked up. “What’s going on?” I relayed to him what Mac told me.
Mac completed his adjustments, and I checked them over. “Mac, what about this light here? I haven’t seen it before.”
“Nothing big. Thermostat is being a little sticky and wants to stay around seventy instead of the issued seventy-six.”
“That shouldn’t be an issue unless we get Khalbytians on board, and we would just take them out,” I said.
The rest of the team arrived, and we took off.
“Why is it so cold in here?” Seraphine asked almost immediately.
Helen shuttered. “I agree, it’s freezing.”
“It’s seventy. Normal people find that temperature satisfactory.” I announced to everyone what Mac told me.
“I’m going to put on a jacket.” Seraphine left her post to grab one out of her bag.