by Rachel Burns
The whole thing scared me and sent a shiver down my back.
In the meantime, I grew big. My baby was staying with me this time. I was already seven months along, and horny as hell. My need for Tristan grew by the second. It was worse when he was home. I would literally throw myself at him. He would get hard and want me back, but he stopped me before we could make love.
My sisters and sister-in-laws told me that being pregnant made them horny too. They had slept with their husbands almost daily while they were pregnant. I was dying for a gentle touch.
The last time Tristan had been home, he hadn’t given me a kiss goodbye. He had stood far away from me and held out his hand for a very formal handshake before he left.
I cried for days after he left. This felt like the worse punishment imaginable.
Chapter 26
I was at home watching TV when I heard the door open. I glanced up and saw Tristan walk into the living room. I looked away from him and back at the report that I was watching on TV. I was watching more TV than what I had at the orphanage. We had been easier to handle that way. The same could be said for pregnant women on restrictions.
“How are you feeling, darling?” Tristan sat down beside me and gave me a peck on my cheek.
“Neglected,” I replied, satisfied with my answer. I wanted him to feel guilty.
“Sophia, I don’t want to fight.” He sounded so tired.
“There’s another word with ‘f’ that you don’t want to do,” I stated.
“Watch it,” he warned me.
“Of course, I’m so fat that you probably don’t want to sleep with me anyway.” I burst out into tears again.
“Sophia, trust me. I want to. I can hardly think about anything else. I’m literally throwing myself into my work so I can’t think about you and your body. But I know that the wait will soon be coming to an end.”
“Soon? You do realize that we have to abstain three months after the baby is born too.”
“What? Are you sure?” His forehead wrinkled up.
“My body needs that time to heal from giving birth. Look it up.” I told him.
He did exactly that. His eyes went directly to his wrist computer. “Damn, that means five more months. The last seven have taken an Herculean effort.” His body slumped back onto the sofa. He was staring up at the ceiling.
“Why don’t we just go up and be nice to each other?” I suggested.
“We can’t do that.”
“Yes, we can. I’m past the dangerous time. If something happened, and the baby came today, he would survive.”
Tristan shook his head. “We can’t. I can control myself. All I have to do is remember you crying in your bed after our first baby died.”
“What do you mean the first baby? This is the same baby. You said so.” I was crying again.
In retrospect, it was amazing that he tried to talk to me at all. If I were him, I might not have come home as often as he did. Dealing with me wasn’t easy.
“This is my father being overcautious,” I told him. “This isn’t good for us. It may have made sense in the beginning but not anymore. I should be outside moving around a lot more, but no one will let me. I want to exert myself and then relax from that. Everything I look up says that I should be listening to my body and doing what I want,” I complained.
“The problem is that you didn’t feel anything last time. Your body didn’t warn you that we were about to lose this little guy.” Tristan sat up and laid his hand on my belly.
“We should name him Hercules,” I said as sassy as I could.
Tristan was grinning. “Maybe we should. I like that name. You do know the story about Hercules, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. I know everything. The only thing I don’t know is how to get my husband into my bed for more than sleeping.”
“Provoking me doesn’t help,” he stated.
I sat up and smiled at him. I laid my hand on his upper thigh. “Would you sleep with me if I talked sweetly and said please.”
He was grinning back at me. It suddenly made sense that women were compared to spiders. We spun webs that man got so easily tangled in to. “I’m sorry, we still can’t. I would never forgive myself if anything happened.”
“Then I have no reason to be nice and sweet.” I removed my hand and looked back at the TV.
The President was on TV, telling us about recent talks with the Aliens. In the background, you could hear what the Aliens had said.
The President was reporting it wrong. “That’s not what she said,” I declared.
“What?” Tristan asked me.
“The President lied. She said something completely different.”
I forced myself up. Tristan’s eyes were locked on my huge belly as I walked over to my father’s desk. “Computer, build up a connection to my teacher.”
A moment later I could see my language teacher. “How are you doing, Mrs. O’Brian?” He smiled at me. The whole world was thrilled that I had been matched with Tristan. Daddy was already talking to reporters about the baby’s picture. They were going to do big story on us.
“I’m fine. At least, I was until I saw the news.”
“Yes, that was very disturbing. They don’t want to talk with us. I’m afraid that you learned the language for nothing.”
“But that wasn’t what she said. She said that she was launching an investigation into the attacks.”
“When did you talk to her?” he asked me.
“I didn’t. She could be heard talking in the background on the news.”
My teacher looked pained.
“What happened? Either the President was given the wrong translation, or he lied on purpose.” I surmised.
“Sophia, we need to talk.” Daddy said. He was standing behind me.
“What’s going on?” Tristan stood up, letting everyone know that he was here.
“Captain O’Brian, it’s an honor to meet you.” My teacher bowed his head to Tristan. At the moment, Tristan was considered a superhero, the man who was protecting us from the Aliens. Our last line of defense.
“Tristan, I didn’t know that you were here.” Daddy nodded at him.
“Well, I am. What is going on?” he demanded to know.
“As you know, war is unavoidable at the moment. The Aliens are pretending that the attacks aren’t important. But you know better. You’re out there.”
“I know that misleading information can be very dangerous. I also know that I’m responsible for the lives of my men. I will not lead any man into an unnecessary battle.” Tristan stood tall and looked so grown up. He would go head to head with Daddy and win if it came to that.
“The Aliens are insisting that the attacks are coming from a group of escaped terrorists. They claim that they are trying to capture them again,” my teacher told us.
“That seems unlikely. There are too many of them, spread over too large an area.” Tristan shook his head.
“I spoke with the Queen personally. She hates talking to me. She tells me one thing one time and something completely opposite the next time. They believe that men are inferior to women. It’s beneath her to talk to a man; a human man makes it worse for her. She is a very difficult person.”
“And I have to take your word for that? Perhaps it would be better if I talked to her.” I informed him.
My teacher traded glances with my father. “She has requested a talk with a woman, but your father turned that down.”
“My father?” I spun around and looked at Daddy. “You don’t have the right to decide that.”
“No, he doesn’t. But I do.” Tristan looked as mad as a hornet. “You aren’t going anywhere near the Aliens.”
“Exactly, thank you, Tristan.” My father was relieved that Tristan was saying no.
I turned back to my teacher. “I could talk to her like you do. I wouldn’t have to leave the house. I could do it right now.”
“No!” Daddy called out. “She would know where you are. She wo
uld trace the talk back to this planet and this house.”
“Then I’ll go to Galexit and talk to her there.” The solution was so obvious.
“The government has decided that I’m the official spokesman for humans.” My teacher told me strictly.
“What if I were to listen in? The translations from two people have to be better than from one. It would give the President more information. We can’t expect him to decide to go to war when you receive information that isn’t clear.”
“No.” Daddy called out again.
“Why not? Galexit is Tristan’s base. We could get an apartment there. I wouldn’t be in the way. The Queen wouldn’t even have to know that I was listening in.” I looked at Tristan. He was my husband; the decision was his.
“Being a language translator is an official job,” Daddy said. “The President himself has to appoint you. He won’t do that, especially not in your condition. I know what I’m talking about. I was so proud of my wife back then when she got appointed. She was the woman who had the Alien Queen’s ear. They talked, and I could have sworn that they were friends, but then the Queen insisted that she meet face to face with my Lily. I never got her back. I flew her to the talks. I did it personally. I delivered my wife and child to the enemy. It was the worst mistake of my life. After the talks, when the treaty was sighed they killed her and our baby. They showed me my wife’s dead body, and then they flew away. The treaty became a useless piece of paper. Then another translator had a talk with the Alien Queen. It was decided that there would be one last battle. If they won, we would have to give up a couple hundred of our planets. If we won, they promised to end the war. I didn’t believe them, but it was a chance to kill Aliens and get an ounce of revenge. I attacked as many of them as I could. It was a hard battle, but I was more determined than the Aliens. They had picked a fight with the wrong man. I would still be up there, but the President forced me to stop, fearing that the war would start again. And now the war is starting again. The Aliens can’t be trusted. They lie and cheat and hurt the most innocent of people. You aren’t going anywhere near them.” Daddy stared me down.
Tears were running down my face. I had never heard the whole story about how his wife had died. I couldn’t imagine surviving that. I stepped forward and hugged him. “I’m so sorry, Daddy. I merely wanted to protect my husband and keep him away from war.”
“My wife wanted the same thing. She had a good heart. If you love your husband, you’ll stay as far away from Aliens as you can.” He tightened his hold on me and then abruptly released me, giving me a push in Tristan’s direction.
I clung to Tristan as he hummed to me.
Chapter 27
I spent my entire time in front of the TV. War had been declared and battles were fought at so many different places around the universe. There had even been a battle fought over my planet. The Aliens had tried to capture us, but then an airship appeared out of nowhere and destroyed them. The battle had been so close that we had been able to watch it from the garden.
A huge airship from our side landed in the garden. It barely fit. Suddenly, Tristan appeared, stomping off the airship and marching over to me.
He gave me a firm whack on my rump. “Why aren’t you inside, hiding? What could be more stupid than standing in the garden watching a battle? I swear if you ever do anything like this again, I’ll take my belt to you.” He threatened me.
I leaned into his body and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank goodness, you’re alive.” I bawled into his chest as he held me. He gave me a passionate kiss, and I thought that he would take me to my room and give me what both of us needed, but he didn’t. Our pounding hearts called out to each other, but he turned away from me. I had to watch him get back on his airship and fly back to war, back to danger.
I broke down and cried. I didn’t even have the strength to stand and wave. “I didn’t get a chance to say thank you.”
Daddy took hold of me and brought me inside. We watched the news together. I fell asleep on the sofa and stayed where I was. Reporters brought more footage of the Queen talking. She begged us humans to stop the war and asked for help with the escaped prisoners. The reporters said that she was scolding us for attacking her.
I didn’t know what to think. I was scared for myself, my child, and mostly for my husband. I feared that there was something going on behind the scenes. I felt that we were being lied to. Someone was using my husband like a pawn in a game. That thought wouldn’t leave me in peace.
~
“Get her out of here.” Those were the words that woke me. My brother Alex shook my shoulder to wake me up. He helped me to my feet.
“Is something wrong?” I asked him.
“I don’t know. But the President is calling Daddy. They want to talk in private,” Alex told me.
I stopped him. “I want to listen in. What if something happened to Tristan? I need to know. Daddy wouldn’t tell me the truth because of the baby. I know it’s about Tristan.”
Alex was an eavesdropper at heart. He was like a curious old lady. He had to know what was going on. Daddy used him to gather intelligence, sending him to bars and pubs to talk to people. He brought a goldmine of information home.
We listened in the adjoining room as the talk began. The President was a friend of Daddy’s. They shared the same political position. The president told Daddy about the fights. They were going on everywhere. So many lives were lost. Then he told Daddy that Tristan’s airship had been captured.
It felt as though my heart was broken. Why hadn’t I been nicer to Tristan when I had the chance?
“The Queen is holding them for ransom,” the President said.
“What can she possibly want?”
“She wants Tristan’s wife. She claims that she knew her as a baby. My translator said he was positive that she was saying that. He often isn’t certain, but this time he was clear.”
“What could she want with my daughter? And what’s that nonsense about knowing her as a baby?” Daddy asked, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.
“Your daughter was adopted. You don’t know her history. Is there a chance that she is part alien? After all, she does speak their language?”
“There is nothing wrong with my daughter. Don’t insult her. This is some trick.” Daddy was getting mad.
“The Queen wants to talk to her. She claims that the war will continue until she sees your daughter.” The President stared at Daddy, waiting to see how he would react.
“She is doing this as a trick. It has to be some sort of diversion. What are we missing while we discuss this nonsense?” Daddy was right. He had to be. I was of no importance other than the fact that I could speak with the Queen. But how did she know that?
“The other translators are getting suspicious. They know that we aren’t getting accurate translations.” The President told Daddy.
“Sophia noticed that too. Her teacher was able to convince her that the Queen said one thing one day and something completely opposite the next. She bought it.”
“Good, we’ll tell the others that too. Nevertheless, I want them rounded up, including your daughter. They need to be kept were no one can hear them. I want this war to go off without a hitch.”
“It will. My children will support me, and we’ll be able to mine the minerals on their planets, but I don’t want my daughter to leave. She is highly pregnant. She needs to stay here close to her doctor in case the baby comes.”
“I’ve already sent someone to collect her. The risk is too great.” The President ignored Daddy’s protest.
“No, she stays here with me. She’s my daughter,” he told him strictly.
“You have others. We can wait until after the baby is born to execute her. I’ll send the baby to you. A mix out of someone like Tristan and Sophia will be your prized possession. You can teach him to be how you want him.”
“No one is going to harm a hair on my daughter’s head.”
“She knows too much.
It’s only a matter of time before she puts the pieces of the puzzle together. If people find out that this war is built on lies, they’ll want our heads on a spike. We both knew that there would be deaths in this war.”
“But not my children. I will fight for her. Call your men back, or I’ll kill them. Alex is here. They’ll never get off of the air pad. He’ll pick them off as they get out.”
“Then you leave me no choice. If anything happens to my men, I’ll bomb your house. Then I’ll scan the planet to make certain that her body is in the rubble.”
“I thought we were allies?” Daddy sounded shocked.
“No, we were never friends. Your hate for Aliens was convenient for me. Your little army of children was also helpful. Tristan will be the next universal hero. That is if he survives the war.” Then it was silent.
Alex grabbed onto my wrist. He ran out of the house, yanking me along behind him. He brought me out to the air pad.
Alex released my arm and opened up a vault in the ground. My jaw dropped when I saw a hidden arsenal chamber. It amazed me what Daddy all did for each of us children to support our strengths.
“Help me clear it out.” Alex waved me down to him.
I waddled down the stairs and picked up as much stuff as I could. I was pretty good at shooting, but no one was as good as Alex. He never missed.
“Where do you want this stuff?” I asked him, assuming that he wanted to protect the house.
“In the airship. You’re flying us to the Aliens. Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.” He carried armfuls of lasers and guns up and out to the ship. “Stay here. I’ll get the rest. You get the ship ready. We have to get out of here before the President’s men get here. They’ll scan the planet, and then they’ll see that you aren’t here and leave the family alone.”
I got the airship ready. It was difficult to sit comfortably and reach around my gigantic belly to push all the buttons, but I was able to take off the second that Alex told me to. I was in space and heading toward the area that I knew the Queen liked to hover with her spacecraft. The Aliens had much larger spacecrafts than ours. They were fortresses. Ours were lighter and easier to maneuver.