Terraformed Skies

by Anna Lewis

  That brain of hers is working hard, he thought. I should make sure she’s okay.

  Without hesitation, he walked through the opening of the tent and went to his beautiful lover who smiled as she greeted him, setting the notebook aside. Marching greeted their ears from the distance and they embraced, listening to the sounds of the thumping of boots pass by their tent. It was indeed a hell of a day.

  ***

  During their embrace, Lena sniffled as she realized the situation they were in. It was difficult to understand why this was happening or where it might lead. It was a maddening circle of thoughts that caused her to begin weeping in her lover’s arms. The concerned Trevor laid kisses upon her neck and rubbed her back as consolation while her sniffles began to subside. He leaned back and peered deep into her eyes, searching for that hint of hope that had been there earlier.

  “What’s the matter, darling?” he whispered.

  “I’m just worried,” she said. “And hearing you get praised just made me feel a little…less appreciated.”

  A silence formed between them as Lena continued to sniffle, thinking about the incident that had happened earlier in the day. It was time to tell Trevor.

  “I got fired today,” she said quickly, turning her gaze away from her lover.

  “What?!” he cried.

  “Dr. Grand found out about us and he fired me,” she explained.

  “Why would he do that?” he asked, rubbing her arm.

  “It's part of our oath. We're not supposed to get involved with patients. I thought it would remain a secret, but apparently he found out,” Lena replied. “I just can't believe I lost my job...”

  Trevor’s eyes conveyed sympathy.

  “Sweetheart, you are the brains behind my body,” he reminded her. “There’s no shortage of appreciation from me and from everyone else. That beautiful brain of yours brought me back to life. You should be proud. And screw anyone who can't see how much joy you bring me.”

  Lena smiled, wiping any errant tears that proceeded to fall.

  “I am proud,” she said. “And I’m glad I met you despite the fact that it cost me my job. It's just a little overwhelming. Everything sort of came down on me at once.”

  “I understand. It’s been a rough day for us all. I’m sorry, darling,” he said as he pulled her into another embrace. “I wish there was more I could do to soothe your anxiety.”

  “Just hold me for a while,” she whispered, shoving her face into his neck.

  “Of course.”

  Trevor continued to dot her shoulder with kisses, prompting her to moan softly in the dimming light surrounding them. Laying her back on the bed, she pulled open her coat and pulled him on top, the tiny cot squeaking beneath them. He turned to check the opening of the tent to make sure he had closed it and then proceeded to devour her breasts, taking each one out of its bra cup and wrapping his lips around the nipple. A soft bay escaped her lips and she quickly covered her mouth, hoping nearby soldiers couldn’t hear her. Swift lips slid down her torso and beneath her skirt to remove the barrier of her panties, her mouth humming in response to the stimulation between her soaked lips.

  A tongue unfurled to greet her engorged tulip, tracing circles around the swollen skin that begged to be devoured. Her lips twitched in response to his tongue trailing down to her opening where it penetrated with ease. Fluid rushed from within to meet his mouth which he licked up fervently, relishing the delectable taste of her nectar. Another squeak escaped her lips as she writhed between the sheets, pulling her skirt up higher so she could watch him lap at her delicate flower and moaning at the sight of him licking her clean.

  As he dipped down again, her eyes rolled up and her head fell back upon the pillow, her hips rolling forward as he lapped ardently at her opening. Circling back up to her bud, he pulled the swollen skin into his mouth and sucked, her thighs twitching under his grip. A wave of heat washed over her body as his tongue continued to trace over her petals and she bucked forward while gripping his hair. It inspired him to lick in a fervor, stimulating her into a state of bliss. Another round of moans indicated her impending climax and she shoved his face further into her petals as the moment arrived.

  Her thighs squeezed together and she convulsed, feeling the tingle spread over the length of her torso and up into her throat. As a long moan escaped her lips, Trevor covered her mouth and sucked a little harder to elicit a fit of shaking. Her hands pulled at his hair for him to stop, giggling and shaking intermittently as he pulled away from her soaked lips.

  “Baby, that’s enough,” she whispered through his fingers.

  “I just had to make sure you were done,” he said, wiping his mouth on the sheet beneath them.

  “I’m definitely done,” she said with a giggle. “Where did that come from?”

  “I figured you could use the relief,” he said, crawling up the bed to kiss her lips. “I didn’t want you to feel stressed.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered between kisses. “It felt good.”

  “I’m glad,” he said.

  “Do you want me to return the favor?”

  Just as Trevor was about to respond, they heard a chorus of voices crying out from across the field and a number of explosions following. They both jumped from the cot, fixed their clothing, and ran out to meet the general who was panting. The scene unfolding before their eyes was one only written in books, a slew of colorful rays falling from the sky and causing a chaotic haze. As soldiers dodged the dangerous fire, they shouted between each other in an attempt to communicate. Another wave of rays came down and set the trees on fire in the distance, some of the explosions landing particularly close to their camp and causing them to hit the ground.

  The earth shook with a great force as the camp erupted into a fit of chaos. Soldiers ran left and right in a frenzy, rushing towards injured comrades and trying to drag equipment to set up to return fire. While watching the wild scene, from the radio came another message in the gargling alien language, which the general asked Lena to translate.

  “Do you have a computer?” she asked.

  The general pointed to the tent.

  “Give me an hour!” she shouted and retreated behind the fabric.

  Typing furiously, she looked between her notes and the screen to see if she could find anything useful in the process. The transmission was loud enough for her to hear through the tent and she made a few more notes on the page. Her eyes darted across the screen and then back to the paper where she rushed to get the information sorted. This was a particularly difficult dialect as it was mostly comprised of hacking and spitting, something she had noted earlier during her brainstorming session. Another piece of the transmission floated to her ear and she stood quickly, knocking over the chair in triumph.

  While running back out to the radio, she tripped over a fallen piece of shrapnel and hit the ground, her notes flying forward and landing at the general’s feet. Trevor helped her up and brushed off her clothing to which she thanked him. Leaning towards the speakers, she listened carefully while looking over her notes and began to vocalize what she thought they might be saying.

  “Useless humans...send scientists...or face death.”

  The general stood in shock over the statement, their eyes locking as she translated more of the garbled language.

  “Face us…and meet your fate.”

  ***

  “What the hell do they need our scientists for?” asked General Sanders while pacing the ground.

  “I’m not sure, sir, but it doesn’t sound good,” said Lena as she listened to the rest of the transmission. “They keep demanding them and saying to meet our fate. That’s all that they’re saying.”

  “We can’t do that,” said the general, holding his head in his hands. “We simply can’t do that.”

  “Then, we must fight,” said Trevor.

  He stood tall in the rain of fire from the sky, his face stern amidst the chaotic panic that surrounded the three of them. Lena admired his stren
gth and nearly fell into a fantasy about it until one of the explosions brought her back to reality.

  “Sir, we must keep firing back. We can’t let them down here. Where are all the scientists now?” she asked.

  “They’re being hidden in the secure base,” the general whispered over the sounds of men crying. “We have to protect that base.”

  “Send reinforcements that way and make sure they don’t penetrate that area. I’ll go out into this field and help these men fire back,” said Trevor.

  As soon as he said so, he dove into the field and began shooting at the drones buzzing about the field. They were relentless, covering nearly every inch of land as he dipped and ducked behind trees. Men around him fell in agony with all sorts of injuries, their blood soaking the earth just as his had weeks ago. Up above, the Vihatagons were speaking heatedly amongst themselves in their spitting, hacking language as they attacked the ground, watching the results of their destruction with what appeared to be grins. It wasn’t easy to tell whether the Vihatagon was smiling as their faces were so distorted into ugliness from the years of killing.

  The smiles upon their faces were a result of not only their destructive force, but of recent news brought to them by an inside source. The message read, “They have a cyborg who is strong and swift. We can utilize him along with the scientists to create an indestructible army.”

  An informant for the Vihatagons had been spying on the poor Trevor and reported back to the species about his abilities. This caught their interest and they discussed among themselves what kind of plan they could put in place to capture the creature. Surely his body would provide the perfect template for the scientists to dissect in order to recreate his modifications for future use. An army of cyborgs would be perfect for sending out into the universe. They would be able to conquer the entirety of existence within a few short years with such weapons at their disposal.

  “We could make millions!” cried one of the gurgling, hacking creatures.

  “An enviable force,” commented another.

  The captain raised a deformed arm up to his chin – or whatever it was – and stroked it pensively. He considered the plan they were formulating, noting that the cyborg might be more vulnerable while in space. Had he been equipped with an oxygen device? There was no telling.

  “We shall proceed with the plan as established,” said the captain. “That will lead the cyborg straight into our arms and we shall reap the benefit of his arrival.”

  “But how will he come to us?” asked the smaller of the three.

  “By tempting him with something he loves,” replied the captain.

  “What does he love?” asked the other.

  “Humans,” said the captain flatly. “He loves his humans. Look at the way he fights. Only a cyborg dedicated to his species would respond in such a way.”

  The three were glued to the monitor that was recording Trevor’s valiant actions, watching as he flipped around and disassembled drones all over the field. They gurgled and spat in response to his actions, admiring the way he fought and hoping to recreate those same abilities with him as a template. A finger reached out to the screen and traced the outline of his body.

  “He will do well for us,” said the captain fondly. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

  Back on Earth, the scientists sat pensively, hidden in the main building as soldiers lined up around the perimeter. The sound outside was disturbing, causing a few of them to lower their heads as if to hide from it. However, there was no way to hide from the terrible sound of fire raining from the sky. The windows were now blackened with soot and dirt that sprayed from the field, blocking their view of what was happening. Lucky for them, the building was reinforced with layers of steel to keep them safe, the new steel that they had been developing for years. It was that special steel that kept the strange fire from penetrating the building.

  One of the scientists let out a long sigh, looking around at the others with a sullen look as if trying to come up with something deeply philosophical that would cheer their minds. Nothing would bring them a smile, not even a silly joke. It was useless to say anything comforting in this situation given that they were being sought by this strange species of alien. What did these aliens need them for anyway? They seemed to have advanced technology that surpassed theirs.

  “Does anyone want coffee?” asked the man with the beard. “I can make us a pot.”

  “I don’t think I need any coffee, mate,” said another.

  “It might put you at ease,” said the bearded man.

  “How about a cup of tea?” asked the British man. “That should do you well.”

  “I suppose that’s fine,” replied the other.

  And what else could they do to pass the time? It was uncertain how long they would remain in their fortress, the soldiers outside poking their heads in every hour to make sure they were still alive. The British man thought to himself that he should have become a recluse, hiding up in the mountains and only releasing bits of his genius through books under a pen name. They could have all avoided this mess if they had simply remained with everyone else, keeping their knowledge hidden from the rest of the world. But what good would that have done? Many of the advancements they had made during the past few decades had been due to their amazing minds.

  As the bearded man prepared the tea, the five scientists waited for it in silence. None of them spoke for another hour, only commenting every now and again on the situation. The bearded man suggested a game of cards and they all agreed since there was nothing else to do. Cards passed the time for a few hours until one of them stood, exclaiming that he couldn’t sit idly by as the world suffered.

  “What do you suggest?” asked the bearded man.

  “I suggest we fight,” he responded. “Even if it’s to the death.”

  ***

  As the scientists hatched a plan to help the Earth win the war against the Vihatagons, the heroic cyborg was laughing maniacally in the field while fighting off the drones. Many of the soldiers had stepped aside to let him work, intrigued by the way he jumped and danced between the mechanical objects, attacking them with his arm gun. It was wild to see him bounce around and they all gathered about the edges of the field while smoking or chewing a sandwich. Once the drones finally let up, Trevor walked back to the tent covered in sludge and mud, wiping his face with a spare shirt that was handed to him. Lena met him with a quick kiss and handed him a mug.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  “It’s coffee. It should help,” she replied.

  “I need some water. I need sleep,” said Trevor. “We can catch a nap before the next round.”

  “Is there going to be another sortie?” asked a soldier, gesturing towards the emptying sky.

  “I imagine, yes,” replied Trevor. “And I suggest you all get some rest as well. You need your strength for the coming days.”

  General Sanders approached and shook Trevor’s hand, commending his heroic display of power. As he spoke, he also turned to Lena to shake her hand in thanks for modifying Trevor to be able to accomplish such things.

  “If it weren’t for you, I’m sure we would be defeated by now,” said the general. “Thank you, Dr. Clark.”

  Smiling, Lena shook the general’s hand, feeling pride swell in her chest as a result of her work. It was wonderful to be recognized and it sent her off to the tent feeling joyful. She curled up on the cot and invited Trevor to do the same, but he raised his arms.

  “I need a quick shower, my love,” he said with a chuckle. “But I’ll be back for you.”

  “Of course. Take your time. I think I’ll sleep while you do that,” said Lena. “And be careful with the water. The shower should be fine because your cybernetic limbs are resistant to rain.”

  Trevor recalled his physical therapy and cringed.

  “You sure it will be fine?” he asked with some trepidation.

  “Absolutely. You should be just fine.”

  With that, Trevor gave her a
kiss before heading to the shower tent. He stepped into the stream of water with some hesitation, testing his cyber limbs before scrubbing his body vigorously with military soap. It did the job, and he felt much more refreshed as the hot water soaked his body, glad that he wasn't being zapped. This meant he could potentially go swimming again. Closing his eyes briefly, he imagined the world after this mess was over and pictured the family he was going to start with the intelligent, beautiful Lena. Their children would be born with special abilities, no doubt, and he was looking forward to raising them in the advanced world that would form after the galactic war. It would be a place of peace where the warring countries would unite. What else could they do after such a disaster?

  It would be disappointing to find the world tumbling back into a state of chaos after their victory, having learned nothing from being invaded and threatened by an unknown alien species. Who knows what else lurked beyond the edge of human habitation? There could be a plethora of alien species just waiting to take advantage of the Earth and its advancing technologies. Perhaps this wouldn’t be the last invasion to take place. It worried Trevor to his core, causing him to shiver as the water began to run cold. Military showers always went cold after a few minutes. That was something that never seemed to change.

  After stepping out of the shower, Trevor dried off and pulled on the outfit that had been loaned to him by one of his comrades. It was a basic white shirt and military pants that would give him a good range of motion, the cybernetic leg making a strange zipping sound as he pulled the pants up. Even though he was used to his new limbs, they still felt strange while moving around as he never expected them to make the noises that they did. He fixed the shirt and looked into the mirror hanging over the tiny sink.