by A. Petrov
“I thought you weren’t going to come back,” she said in a small frightened voice.
Serik’s eyes widened as he looked her over. He couldn’t explain it but she was somehow more beautiful than before he left. He wasn’t sure how that could be because he already didn’t understand how someone could be as beautiful as her.
“You look… Wow, just you look beautiful… more beautiful than before. I don’t know how that is possible,” he confessed.
Michelle blushed at his words.
“You look taller too,” he said as he arched an eyebrow.
Michelle felt kind of silly all dolled up and standing before Serik.
“I, uhm, Rina was giving me a makeover,” Michelle tried to explain.
“A what?” Serik furrowed his brow. “What are these shoes?” he said as he looked down at her feet.
“Uh, they are high heels I haven’t worn them in many years…” Michelle explained as she tried to control the fire that was ablaze on her cheeks.
“I think I like these shoes,” he grinned.
He stroked her hair gently and lifted her chin up with his hand. “Is there somewhere private we can go to talk?”
Her eyes met his and she nodded as she led the way outside to the porch, a nervous apprehensive feeling swept over her.
“Is something wrong?” she asked trying to control the fear in her voice.
He wants to leave your ass here is what’s wrong, she thought to herself.
“If it would make you happy to stay here,” he began diverting his gaze from her face.
She shook her head and took his hand within hers as tears welled up in her eyes.
“You came all the way back here to tell me that? You left me here, you abandoned me and you came back here to tell me that,” she said unable to fight the tears back.
He pulled her small body close to his. “I’m sorry, baby. I never meant to do that. I just thought you would be happy here with your people. I didn’t know if you would want to stay with me.”
“No,” she stammered. “Please, no, Serik. I need you.”
Serik’s heart soared and he gently squeezed her small body to his.
“I’m tired of fighting, Serik, I’m just so tired of fighting,” she cried. Tears freely flowed down her cheeks. It had just been too much for her.
“I’m tired of fighting this,” he said as he reached down.
His lips gently grazed against hers. Michelle met his lips back surprised at their softness. She could smell his scent clouding her senses.
He pulled back. “I won’t ever leave you, baby. If that’s what you want.”
“Really?” she asked trying to hide the surprised look on her face. She had been so certain that he didn’t feel the same about her as she did him.
He nodded. “I didn’t want you to think you had to stay with me because I saved you. It didn’t matter how much I wanted you to stay, and believe me, nothing in this universe would give me greater pleasure than to have you by my side. I thought it would make you happy to stay here with your people. I didn’t think that you’d want to go back with me. Michelle, your happiness… your happiness means everything to me. I want you to be happy and that’s all that matters to me. That’s all that will ever matter to me.”
She shook her head.
“And I notice how that human male looks at you,” he grumbled.
She laughed. “I notice how you look at me.”
“You’re beautiful and you’re special, Michelle. You’re the strongest and the bravest female I have ever met,” he replied.
Michelle’s blush deepened. She hated that she blushed so easily around him but he made her feel feminine, he made her feel womanly, all things she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
“But you’re even more beautiful when you blush like that,” he grinned.
The look he gave her. She suddenly recognized it; it was the look Aaron gave Kate. It was the look Eric gave Amy. The look that Dru gave Rina. It was the way that her father had often looked at her mother. The look told her everything; he was in love with her.
She smiled warmly at him and moved in closer as her forest green eyes met his blue and golden eyes. He softly moved a strand of her auburn hair from her face. He moved in closer to her. His mouth met hers with a kiss that contained a passionate fury. His lips were soft and inviting. His tongue made his way into her mouth and freely explored.
Michelle pulled back and blushed. She had never in her life been kissed like that. It was as though he was a starving man and she was a delicious morsel of food. He was hungry for her. The kiss brought forth a flood of emotions; she could tell that he wanted her, desired her, needed her.
Soldiers do not kiss, soldiers do not kiss, soldiers do not feel these sorts of things, she sharply reminded herself. She tried to shake to urges he had awoken within her.
“Serik, I…” she stammered. “I have feelings for you, strong feelings but I need some time. I am still dealing with everything. I am still remembering what it is like to be a woman and not just a soldier.” Her knees felt a little wobbly from the kiss. She said a silent prayer, thankful that she did not fall over in her ridiculous shoes and get up.
“Michelle, I have to tell you something,” Serik said in a serious tone.
“What’s that?” she said raising a delicate eyebrow.
“Michelle, well, first there’s something you should know.” He sighed as he tried to find the right words. “I’ve been in love with you this entire time. I just wanted you to know that. I just want you to know that you’re the only female I’ve ever loved. You make me feel complete.”
Michelle looked up at him a bit surprised. Serik paused for a moment to take her small hands into his large ones.
“I love you too, Serik,” Michelle replied as she diverted her gaze from him to the setting sun.
“But there’s something else though… something important you need to know. Something I’m not sure you can accept. I won’t blame you if you can’t. I just want you to know that I love you, Michelle. I would give up my life for you. I would do anything for you to be happy,” Serik began in a serious tone.
Michelle looked to Serik taking in his serious look. Before the words could escape his mouth the front door opened. Kyle came running out along with Rina.
“Hey guys, sorry, Kyle was just really excited about you two having dinner with us,” Rina said interrupting their conversation as she stepped out on the porch with Dru trailing not far behind her.
“Dinner is almost ready. Come in and eat with us,” Dru offered.
Before Serik could reply, before he could tell Michelle his dark secret she was already dragging him halfway through the doorway. He couldn’t help but follow her.
I’ll tell her later, he decided. If she can’t accept it then I’ll bring her back here.
“Brother,” Dru said giving Serik an embrace.
“Thank you for having me,” Serik replied with uncertainty.
“Any brother from Baat is welcomed here,” Dru said warmly. Serik wondered if being on Sora for so long had changed his view on things. He didn’t know so he just sat down at the table next to Michelle.
“So, are you her boyfriend?” Kyle asked.
“Hi,” Serik grinned.
“Because she’s my girlfriend,” Kyle said possessively.
Serik chuckled. “OK, well I guess you beat me to her.”
“Serik, that’s Kyle,” Michelle smiled.
“Kyle? You mean your boyfriend?” Serik winked.
“Were you in the army too?” Kyle asked as he scooted his chair closer.
Serik nodded.
“Can I show you my room after we eat?” Kyle asked.
“Sure, kid,” Serik replied warmly.
“Kyle,” Rina called loudly. “You better go wash your hands and face before you eat.”
“Yes, mom.” Kyle let out a heavy sigh and trotted up the stairs.
“Oi,” Serik said in exasperated tone as he looked down at the strange Earth e
ating utensils.
“I taught you how to use a fork remember,” Michelle said warmly sensing his unease.
“Are we having wine?” Serik poked fun.
Michelle shook her head and smiled. His presence made her life worth living. He gave her purpose. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze as they waited for their hosts to return. Things felt right once again.
Dinner passed by quickly. Rina did most of the talking as usual. She was quite excited about their next child on the way. Dru and Serik talked about Baat for awhile. Rina and Michelle did their best to explain things on Earth to them. Michelle wasn’t sure if they understood but she didn’t understand the things on Baat they talked about. All she knew was it felt good to talk about home.
Things started to die down when Serik felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down to see Kyle.
“You wanna see my room now?” he asked with child-like excitement.
“Sure,” Serik replied.
“Can I come too?” Michelle asked.
Kyle shook his head. “No, no girls allowed this time.”
Serik shrugged his shoulders and smiled at Michelle. He followed Kyle up to his room. Kyle showed off his possessions proudly as Serik nodded and trailed behind him.
“Kyle,” Dru called. “Get down here and help me with the dishes.”
“Come on we better go,” Kyle said as he made his way downstairs.
Serik decided to leave a little something else for him as well. He slipped a luvoxko rock in one of his toy Earth cars before he trailed down the stairs behind him. Serik looked to Michelle who had several bags by her feet.
“Some things from Earth they gave me. They wanted to thank me for my service in the army. They said it was the least they could do after I risked my life to help protect everyone,” she explained.
“Ah, OK.”
“I feel bad taking it but I think they will be offended if I leave it here.” She furrowed her brow still unsure what to do.
“You should take it then. Are you ready to go?” he asked.
She nodded.
The goodbyes were both easy and hard. Although it had only been a few days, Michelle felt incredibly close to Rina. She supposed it was normal to feel a familial bond to anyone of your own species when there were only a few of you left in the universe.
“If you ever want to come back,” Rina said wiping her eyes. “I mean it. You can come back if you ever need to. Both of you.”
Michelle gathered Rina’s small frame into her arms and hugged her tight.
“Thank you again.”
Chapter Forty-one
Serik had to make many difficult decisions in his life but none were of this magnitude. He had missed out on the chance to tell Michelle who he really was. After everything, he couldn’t bear to lose her. He decided it would be his secret to keep from her. As unfair as it was, he decided that’s what it would have to be or he would lose her and that was no longer an option for him. She loved him and he loved her. The secret would just have to stay a secret.
A soft chiming noise interrupted his thoughts.
“Incoming call, will you accept?” the ship’s feminine robotic voice questioned.
“Yes, I’ll accept the call,” Serik stated.
The viewscreen appeared and Bock’s image was displayed. Bock didn’t ask about Michelle and for that Serik was thankful, instead he told Serik of a bounty on Kapo. It was the same Cabaka terrorist that had been planet hopping. It was the same guy no one had caught. They had upped the pay.
“I got a call for a bounty,” Serik said to Michelle as she looked up from her reading.
He continued, “The bounty I was going to hunt on Redex, well, that was false information, he’s on Kapo. He’s been planet hopping.”
“The Cabaka terrorist?” Michelle questioned putting her tablet down.
He nodded.
“Great. Let’s go!” Michelle exclaimed as she rose to her feet and clasped her hands together.
“What?” Serik questioned. “Are you sure?”
Serik felt unease. It was as though she punched him in the gut. She hated the Cabaka which meant that she hated what he was. The worst part was that he hated it too. He would just have to keep his secret. He loved her too much for her to know.
“We’ve sparred. Do you not think I’m a good fighter?” Michelle frowned.
“No, you are,” he assured her.
“It’s a Cabaka terrorist,” she repeated. “I have to go those motherfuckers took my planet.”
“No, Michelle you don’t understand. This place it’s surrounded by jungle, you have to go through the jungle to get to the town there’s no other way,” Serik tried to explain. He was beginning to think this was a very bad idea.
Michelle began to nervously pace back and forth. “No, Serik you don’t understand I’m a soldier. I can handle myself. I didn’t do shit on Redex except run and get attacked by molcos hunds. Please let me do this with you. Can’t you see this is what I have to do. I have to do this for my people.”
He sighed. “OK, then.”
“Great! What kind of guns you got?” she grinned.
He shot her a smirk back and led the way to his weapons closet. He pulled out a rifle and a then a smaller gun.
“I handled something similar in the Earth Army,” Michelle replied confidently as she picked up the rifle.
“This will be dangerous,” he said in a serious tone.
“I know,” she replied as the same fear and anxiety began to well within her that had first begun when she left Earth. She would surely face death again.
This man saved me. He’s nursed me back to health, given me his love, fed me, clothed me, housed me. I have to do this. I have to be of some sort of use. I have to give this everything I’ve got. This is for my parents, for my fallen squad mates, especially Alex, for Earth, and for him. I have to do this. I have to.
No, she decided she would have to live this time. They both would.
“I have to do this, Serik,” Michelle said with a sullen seriousness about her.
“I understand,” he replied although his heart was heavy.
Chapter Forty-two
Serik had landed the shuttle in a clearing. It was a lot different than landing in a docking bay. It had been a shaky ride and a bumpy landing. They hadn’t even stepped foot on the planet and Michelle already felt shook up.
The planet was a dense jungle just as Serik had advised. The air was thick and humid causing sweat to bead on their foreheads. Michelle felt the familiar heat that she had felt on Redex but this time she was used to it. She wouldn’t let a little heat and sweat get in her way this time. She trudged forward despite the heavy pack and rifle affixed to her back. There were mosquito type creatures that buzzed around. She swatted them away.
Serik cut the brush in front of them so that they could make their way through the vegetation. He looked back to see Michelle not trailing too far behind him. He couldn’t help but to be surprised. He thought back to their sparring, maybe he shouldn’t be surprised. He remembered how hot it was on Redex and reckoned you’d have to be tough to survive there any amount of time.
As always when he had any dealings with the Cabaka, he wondered if the bounty would recognize his half. He wondered if the captured was his cousin, his brother, or even his father. The thoughts haunted him. It seemed as though he couldn’t keep his secret from Michelle for forever. He wondered if she would hate him when she found out. He wondered if they would live long enough to find out. He didn’t know what they were up against when it came to this bounty. I’ll tell her when we are off this planet, he decided. I can’t keep hiding this forever.
They continued their trek quietly for what seemed like hours.
“Shit! What was that?” Michelle shrieked as a giant lizard-type creature skidded out in front of them. It was as big as a crocodile but it darted away before Michelle could take a closer look at it. Her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest.
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��I know it’s big but it’s harmless. I won’t let anything hurt you, Michelle. I’m watching,” Serik replied calmly.
Michelle nodded and continued forward. They traveled in silence for what seemed like hours.
Serik looked up at the sky as the sun began to draw its self closer to the horizon.
“Let’s go ahead and make camp,” he called to Michelle.
She nodded and set her pack down.
She kindled a fire as he set up the tent. Despite camping in the middle of a jungle on an unknown planet, she felt safe with Serik. He always knew what he was doing.