Terraformed Skies

by Anna Lewis

  “Victory!” cried one of the soldiers.

  “Let’s head back to the base,” Captain Nyugen instructed.

  He walked over to Erika and Leonard who were still embracing each other and saluted Erika who returned the salute.

  “Great job, señorita,” he said. “You do us honor by joining the battle.”

  “It was my pleasure, sir,” Erika said. “I just wanted to be next to Leonard and help fight off the enemy.”

  The captain nodded and then followed his solders back to the safe base, leaving the happy couple behind who were kissing under the darkened sky. The sun had long since set and they were shrouded in the black night, smoke still creeping along the field around them.

  “This has been the strangest and most emotional day of my life,” Erika said. “I’m just glad we made it through together.”

  “As am I,” Leonard replied. “Let’s get back and get some food. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

  Smiling wide, Erika took his hand and led him back to the safe base where a small banquet was set up on the table. Her chip beeped, alerting her of a news announcement which she tuned into immediately.

  ...officially taken down around 7:32 PM by the Green Province Army. We have General Guye Hardenbrooke on the line to explain what exactly transpired to cause the species to invade earth. General, I understand they came to take over, but why would this species do such a thing?

  For some reason, the Terramites had been in hiding for a number of centuries. Their outer skin made it so that our sensors couldn’t pick up their existence, making it easy for them to sleep through hundreds of years without being detected. When they came out of hiding and found out about our diverse and wonderful earth, they wanted to take a piece of it, so we said no! Our wonderful compadres fought valiantly…

  “That’s quite a story,” Constance commented. “I think I’ll write the whole thing down. It would make a sensational series.”

  “I agree,” Erika said.

  “A story? About this?” Leonard asked.

  “Of course! We need to document what happened, and who better to tell our story than from the perspective of you two love birds?” Constance asked rhetorically.

  “Such a romance belongs in books,” Ulita agreed. “Could you pass me that protein bar?”

  Erika picked up a protein bar and passed it to Ulita who thanked her.

  “I’m not sure,” she said. “Being immortalized in a book is so...so...”

  “Permanent,” Leonard finished.

  Erika nodded.

  “Exactly,” she said.

  “It’s perfect for the two of you,” Constance said.

  The couple looked at each other and smiled, Erika taking Leonard’s hand and kissing his knuckles.

  “I suppose,” she said. “Just don’t use my name.”

  “Done!” Constance said. “Now I can start writing.”

  As Constance zoned out into her head, Ulita munched on a protein bar and Erika reached for a sandwich, her stomach growling loudly.

  “I didn’t realize how much energy I used,” she said. “It’s like I’ve been completely depleted.”

  “I feel the same way. Even with the extended serum, I get extremely tired when my energy is low. The serum only gives me a small boost when I’m on my last 5%,” Leonard explained.

  “I can’t imagine how that feels,” she said.

  “It’s like getting an adrenaline shot and then you sprint for twenty minutes,” he said.

  “That sounds like a rush,” she said.

  “It really is. And it’s definitely worth it until you run out,” Leonard explained.

  “I’m just glad we both made it safely here. What do you think will happen now?” she asked.

  “Well, we’ll have to rebuild,” he replied. “And we might also have to repopulate the earth.”

  “Oh yeah?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” he replied, shimmying close to her.

  Erika giggled.

  “Do you suppose we could start now?” she asked.

  “I’m sure we could manage to do that,” he replied.

  “Captain, do you have any spare rooms here?” Erika asked.

  The captain turned around from the computers and nodded, pointing to the door near the back corner that led to a corridor of rooms.

  “Just find an empty one,” he instructed.

  Erika pulled Leonard towards the door and they located an empty room, shutting the door behind them and locking it. In an instant, he had her pinned against the door, fumbling with the buttons of her jeans in order to yank them off. They were still filthy from the battle, but she didn’t care. The feeling of him pulsing against her petals was incredibly satisfying and she moaned softly in the dark room.

  The barrier of their clothes was quickly removed and Leonard eased himself into her soft portal, causing her to bay and cover her mouth. She giggled and then wrapped her arms around his shoulders, his tongue darting between her lips for her to suck on. He kept a firm grip on her hips as he dove deep into her fields, groaning as she rolled her hips forward to the rhythm he set.

  It wasn’t long before she was shivering with delight and gripping the skin of his back, leaving little marks where her nails were digging in. Leonard grunted and she bayed – they were close. His hips rocked into her faster, the brutal strength of his passion taking her breath away. Reeling back, she braced herself against the door and squeaked, moans escaping her lips with each gasp. He buckled and tensed up, hot honey filling her to the brim with utter pleasure.

  Panting, Leonard lifted her off the door and carried her over to the cot where they wrapped themselves up in the sheets to calm down from their intense sex session. Erika turned to face him, their noses touching.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Glasses clinked together and the room was a wash of color, a digital chandelier displaying an array of warm colors. In the midst of people stood Leonard and Erika who were awkwardly holding on to each other. Leonard gripped her hand. She turned and smiled.

  “It’s alright,” she whispered. “You’re fine.”

  Leonard wasn’t used to polite company. His bulky muscles felt like they might burst from his suit at any moment, but Erika’s hand in his made him feel more confident. He watched as Captain Nyugen raised his glass of bubbly and tap it twice, signaling the room to go silent.

  “I’d like to take this time to recognize a number of people in the room who have displayed bravery and strength in the face of adversity,” he stated. “Not only were they not required to act, they did so not expecting anything in return. I call them the Infallible Four because of their dedication to helping save the earth.”

  Leonard turned to look at Ulita and Constance who were standing proudly next to Erika, the three of them dressed in the most elegant of gowns.

  “Would my wonderful, brave friends please step forward?” he asked.

  The four walked towards the center of the dance floor and joined Captain Nyugen who pinned a digital medal to each of them and then shook their hands. When he was finished, he raised his arms and started clapping, signaling the room to do the same. Their applause sounded like a roar and Leonard smiled while joining along. He turned to Erika who was clapping as well, her smile glittering in the dim light of the ballroom.

  He took a deep breath, knelt down, and held out his hand to her. Shock filled her face and a slew of gasps rippled through the room as everyone stopped clapping and waited to see what was about to happen. Ulita began to cry.

  “My darling,” he said. “I have no ring to give you. I haven’t much to give you other than my strength, my protection, and my love. You have proven to me that you value me for more than that. Your love and your affection have proved to me each day that it is genuine, so I want to return that to you by promising you my body and mind forever.”

  Erika was crying, tears streaming down her face as Leonard rubbed her ha
nds and continued to speak.

  “I never thought I would find a love like this in this lifetime, but now I have thanks to you. I want to make you happy forever, for us to make change in the world while raising our own children. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked.

  Covering her face, she nodded and Leonard stood to give her a kiss. The room roared again, the happy couple twirling about as the band began to play in the background. Ulita and Constance joined in their hug, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

  “Such a lovely ending!” Constance blubbered while holding Erika. “I’m so happy for you!”

  Ulita hugged Erika next, Constance walking over to Leonard to squeeze his hands which caused him to smile. Constance hugged him.

  “You sly fox,” she whispered.

  Leonard winked and walked over to his fiancée who was already beginning to make wedding plans with Ulita. The two looked adorable with their faces lit up, passionately chattering back and forth about flowers, dresses, and other items she would want for the wedding. It made Leonard smile. After a few moment, a waltz began to play and Leonard took up Erika in his arms as she waved at Ulita.

  Captain Nyugen and his wife joined the couple on the dance floor, spinning and swaying across the shining tile. It was the perfect ending for the day, the couple beyond elated to have each other. Leonard wondered how their children might look, whether they would have their father’s brawn or their mother’s intellect. He hoped it would be a fair combination of the two. He knew they needed more strength in this world as well as more intelligence to push forward. They had come a long way in developing the human race, and they could be the first couple to have a more complete earthling.

  While they danced, Leonard brushed a lock of loose hair behind Erika’s ear and she smiled shyly while looking down. The beautiful brown eyes fluttered and then locked back on his, glittering with joy from the events that had unfolded. She looked tired and happy all the same. The slender jaw and full lips invited him to plant a kiss, so he led her off the dance floor towards the hall where there was no one around.

  Without another word, the two pressed their lips together and kissed for what seemed like an eternity. He pulled away and cupped her face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs along her cheeks. She was still crying. A small smile formed and he returned it.

  “Are you happy?” he asked.

  “Of course I am,” she replied. “Why would you ask? Do I not look happy?”

  “You do. I think you are. I was just making sure,” he said. “I just want you to tell me if there is ever a point where I stop making you happy.”

  “Why would you say that?” she asked.

  “Because I want to make sure I’m doing my job,” he replied with a grin.

  She smiled.

  “You’re doing a fantastic job, Leonard,” she said. “I’ve never been happier in my life. I swear.”

  “Nor have I,” he replied. “And I think it’s going to be a great lifetime together.”

  THE END

  Special Bonus Full Length Stories

  As a way to say “thank you” for downloading this book, we have included 16 Special Bonus Full Length Novellas and Short Stories. Happy reading!

  = Bonus Book 1 of 16 =

  More Than Human:

  Cyborg Romance

  Book 1: World War Interrupted

  In a lush field under a cloudy gray sky occurred a great battle of which the people of the West had never before witnessed. Between bloodied trees, men collided in a thunderous roar, shaking the very heavens which frowned upon them with a darkening gaze. A man clad in a Navy uniform carrying an electric ray gun pushed aside some shrapnel with his foot and stepped behind a bush, watching a small troop of soldiers march past him. His name was Trevor Noble and he was a decorated Navy SEAL officer. He thought himself more capable on ocean than land, but here he was. This field was filled with mines and vicious men. It was no place for a sea dog such as himself who took pride in the lavish ships that he helped build.

  Around the corner, a general for the opposing side shouted orders to the troop, which spread out as soon as its members received their directions. It wouldn’t be long until Trevor had the general cornered. A few steps to the left and one step forward would reveal the man who had taken his brother’s life. The memory of his slain body was still raw in his mind from the last raid they made.

  Stepping forward, he aimed, his arm becoming tense with the desire to kill the man who had taken his brother from this world. He was so close to getting his revenge.

  Alfonse, he thought. Alfonse, this is for you.

  The electrical gun hummed in his hand as the energy built in order to deliver its intended shot. As he was lining up his sight, a man came barreling from his right and knocked him to the ground. They brawled momentarily until Trevor scurried away, retreating back to the bushes as the general whipped out his gun and pulled the trigger. A beam of light erupted from the end and landed in Trevor’s left leg, sending him tumbling to the ground with a yelp. The soldier who had tackled him wielded his weapon as well, taking a higher shot to the left arm of the naval officer.

  While bleeding out into the soil, Trevor watched the ships pass overhead and wondered how this even began, questioning the very nature of war, all while trying to hold in his very life force. The two men who had fired their guns were drawing nearer. It wouldn’t be long before they decided to blast him once more, finishing him off. He would leave this warring world and join his brother.

  Alfonse came to his mind just then, the freckles of his face like the stars above. What was he fighting for? Why had this ever begun, when Earth was under increasing threat by attackers from another galaxy, the news of whom aired nightly?

  Breathing raggedly beneath the hair strewn across his face, Trevor watched as the two men came into view. Their eyes gathered the image before them, reveling their victory over the enemy that they were about to vanquish. It would be too soon for the men to celebrate as a few men from his troop rushed the scene, jumping over Trevor’s shivering body as he attempted to keep himself awake. Two shots in their direction sent them running and voices filled the air, giving the wounded officer something to focus on. Blood was gushing from his body. His breath came in rapid waves, the humid air forcing him to choke as pain rattled through his body.

  Standing at his side was one of his men. Trevor was wounded, ragged. The man’s lips moved, but no sound came. Had he lost his hearing? Another wave of ships roared through the sky, sending pulses of sound that vibrated the earth beneath his wounded body. It seemed to send a wave of heat with it. Trevor clung to any stimuli that would keep his mind from focusing on the awful stinging pain radiating from his wounds. His lips moved slowly.

  “Please...” he whispered through tears. “Avenge me.”

  As Trevor reached up to grab the arm of his comrade, the world around him plunged into darkness and the silence remained. It rang in his ears as he dipped into unconsciousness. His troop quickly wrapped his wounds and then carried him on a stretcher towards a helicopter that would lift them up over the battle field and transport them to a local Navy hospital. The flight was unsteady as the pilot dodged random ships and flak that shot up from the ground. Most emergency copters were safe in war zones, but this particular battle had been fueled by passion and fury which made it difficult to evacuate the wounded. The building came into view and the pilot maneuvered them down to the landing strip where medical personnel were waiting for him.

  Medics rushed him through a series of hallways while expertly inserting an IV into his arm, checking his vitals and flashing a light into his eyes.

  “Unresponsive,” said one.

  “Heart rate dropping,” said another.

  “Get him to surgery. Call Dr. Clark.”

  A rush of energy pushed them through the last hall and they shoved through the double doors of the operating room. There, nurses dove into their work, cutting away pieces of clothing and checking wounded limbs. Af
ter analyzing the damage, she began to put pressure on the gaping holes in his leg while instructing another nurse to do the same for his arm.

  “There’s far too much damage to the nerves in this leg,” commented one nurse while another jotted information on a clipboard. “And his arm is damaged, too. Those guns are getting stronger by the day.”

  “It’s such a tragedy,” said the nurse holding the clipboard.

  “That’s why we must save him,” replied the other.

  While they put pressure on wounds to stop more blood from escaping, the surgeon overseeing the procedure walked into the room and began studying the naval officer who was lying half dead on the operating table. She was Dr. Lena Clark, a surgeon who had become world-renowned during the last two wars, not only for her surgical expertise, but also her expertise in cryptology and linguistics.

  She looked at Trevor’s face, eyes closed, tired and battered. For a moment, she paused in her work to observe his features. But she got back to work so quickly that no one else even noticed the pause at all.

  She barked orders at the nurses surrounding her and retrieved two large stainless steel limbs from the room next door. Her latest project had been to transform valuable officers into cyborgs who would be ready for battle, a new weapon that could swing the balance in the war against the Eastern Alliance.

  The advancement of medical science by Lena was astounding and she had won a Nobel Prize early in her career, when the world recognized her genius. She stood over the operating table, measuring Trevor’s limbs for proper fitting. The poor man would be in a great deal of pain for a long time with these new additions, but it would be worth saving his life. Some would argue that this sort of life-saving work was actually detrimental to the survivor as they would have to live out their existence as something different than before. But then again, that’s all war did. It changed people into that which was different, returning to their homes as broken shells of their former selves who would never be able to grasp reality in the same way ever again.