A Soldier in Love

by A. Petrov

  “Baby, are you OK?” Serik asked softly.

  Michelle nodded. She was glad she wasn’t in tears as usual. She was sick of crying.

  “I’m fine. She’s was like that on Earth before I left for the army.”

  “What do you mean?” Serik asked as he gently embraced her. He softly pulled her small body against his chest.

  “Even after our planet gets destroyed, she’s still trying to control my life. I don’t know what’s worse, me thinking that she was dead or this just now,” Michelle said as she gently rubbed her temples. Amy was still the same sister she had left in New Shanghai.

  Michelle pulled back and looked into his golden and blue gaze. “I love you, Serik.”

  “I love you too, baby. Nothing will ever change that.”

  Chapter Forty-six

  “So, I guess maybe this isn’t like normal Earth custom but we should go to Baat,” Serik said with excitement. His eyes seemed to twinkle.

  Michelle arched a delicate eyebrow in confusion. She hadn’t seen him get excited over something in quite some time.

  “I want you to meet my family especially my mom and little brother,” he said with a smile. He knew his mother could be proud. It would finally be acceptable for him to return home. It was strange the way Michelle worked in his life. It was as though when he was with her, he was normal. The bad memories, the loneliness, the anger, it all seemed to drift away.

  “Oh,” she said understanding.

  “So, I guess let’s go do our mating ceremony, our webbing, whatever you call it,” he said.

  “Wedding,” she smiled. It was hard for her to believe it was real but it was. It felt as though everything she had been through was beginning to fade to the background to let her finally live her life. She would be free and she would be happy with Serik. His love was like no other she had ever experienced before. It was the most powerful emotion she had ever felt. It superseded the hate that had burrowed into her heart.

  “Sure, wedding. I’ll have to get a giant diamond ring like the females from your planet enjoy wearing,” he offered.

  “Oh, Serik. You don’t have to,” Michelle protested.

  “I do, it is a tradition of your people and we should continue it. Although, I’m not sure how jewelry symbolizes love to your mate on your world,” he said scratching his head in confusion.

  “Well, a ring symbolizes love and commitment,” Michelle began.

  “A ring? That is the jewelry you wear on your fingers?” he asked.

  Michelle nodded. “A ring is shaped in a circle. The circle symbolizes something that continues forever, something that will never end.”

  “Then I will have to get you the very best ring I can find. Although, diamonds are pretty worthless in this part of the universe. I will have to get you a gem such as luvoxko,” he added thoughtfully.

  “Luvoxko?” Michelle questioned.

  Serik nodded.

  “Isn’t that what you were transporting to Sora?”

  “Yeah,” he replied with a shrug of his shoulder.

  “Is luvoxko expensive?” she said furrowing her brow.

  “Let’s just say it’s worth a lot of pesos,” he grinned.

  ***

  The trip had been a quick one. Serik had seemed optimistic and excited. They landed and Michelle had thought she might have finally gotten used to it. She had looked through the viewscreen at the beautiful planet beneath them. There were trees, vegetation, and other green. It all seemed so alive. There was a lushness about the planet, it felt fresh and untainted. It made her feel like her own world was contaminated in comparison. She figured it was. There had been pollution and waste that ravaged Earth.

  Serik grabbed their packs and motioned to come. The planet was warm but temperate. It felt good to be on solid ground again even if it wasn’t her planet. Michelle followed meekly behind and they made their way on a path by the landing bay.

  “This will take us into town,” Serik said as he pointed to something that looked like the high speed trains they used to have in New Shanghai.

  He took her hand and led her onto the platform. It wasn’t long before the train arrived and they boarded. Michelle took her seat next to Serik and looked around. She noticed that there were mostly men around her as they made their way forward on the tracks. She looked around but she couldn’t see another female anywhere near her. Their eyes followed her wherever she went. The stares came from all around her. She had never been the center of attention in such a manner before. She felt like a spectacle. She nervously smoothed out her hair.

  “Serik?” Michelle said as she tried to control the shakiness in her voice.

  “Hm?” he replied as they made their way to a second shuttle station. It was going to be several hours before they got to his family’s house.

  “Why are they looking at me?” Michelle whispered. “Am I dressed funny?”

  Serik laughed. “No baby, it’s because you are one of the most beautiful females to ever grace the planet.”

  “Serik, that is not it,” Michelle hissed feeling the heat rise to her cheeks as the stares continued. She hated the way their eyes felt on her body. She had never been looked like in such a way.

  “Greatest genetic variety is what our kind most desires in mating. They believe genetic variety gives their offspring the highest chances of survival. They have never seen anyone who looks like you so that makes you most desirable,” he explained.

  “You’re kidding right?” Michelle said with widened eyes. She was certain he was going to start chuckling soon and tell her it was all one big joke.

  He shook his head. “Why do you shy away every time I tell you that you are beautiful and desired?”

  “I guess I never thought I existed like that before. I am so not used to this,” she replied softly.

  “Well, you are beautiful and all those males would be lined up around the entire planet for you if you weren’t with me.” He grinned.

  “I don’t understand something, Serik…” Michelle paused, “but your eyes, you say they mean bad luck but they are different.”

  He shook his head. “That’s different.”

  “I don’t understand you Baat people, nothing you do makes sense,” she grinned.

  He rolled his eyes.

  “Do you think your family will like me?” Michelle asked. She couldn’t hold down the nervousness that ate away at the pit of her stomach. She desperately hoped his family would react to their relationship better than hers did.

  “They will love you. You’ve brought me home, Michelle,” Serik replied warmly.

  She wasn’t sure exactly what he meant but she could feel that it was a good thing.

  Chapter Forty-seven

  “Serik,” a voice called out. A woman appeared. She had a warmth and a glow about her; she almost radiated pure kindness. Her eyes were both icy blue like Serik’s left eye. She was tall, much taller than Michelle, but nowhere near as tall as Serik. Her long blonde hair was neatly braided behind her back.

  “Ma,” he replied as they embraced.

  “Daughter,” she called out with tears in her eyes as she embraced Michelle as well.

  “We are happy you are here,” she continued as she squeezed Michelle’s hands within hers.

  “Thank you,” Michelle replied as she felt another squeeze. She was getting more and more used to how affectionate the Baat were.

  She looked down to see a boy who could almost pass for Serik as a child.

  “That’s Bren,” Serik’s mother informed her warmly.

  Serik ruffled his hair as Bren moved to embrace Serik as well.

  “Come,” Serik’s mother motioned. “I’ve prepared a small meal for us before our large one.”

  Michelle furrowed her brow. She figured that she meant they were having an appetizer of sorts before dinner.

  “Ah, Michelle. I’m sorry I didn’t think to ask Serik what you ate on Earth. I hope this food will be acceptable to your appetite,” Serik’s mother offered
.

  She handed her a small plate of what seemed to be appetizers.

  “Uh, don’t tell me what it is just like me enjoy it,” Michelle replied as she tentatively took a bite.

  Serik’s mother nervously clamped her hands together and watched as Michelle ate.

  “It’s delicious.” Michelle smiled before taking another bite.

  Michelle felt a tug on her sleeve.

  “So, you were from Earth?” Bren asked.

  Michelle nodded as she swallowed the rest of the food in her mouth.

  “Do you know the Earth game, soccer?” Bren asked enthusiastically.

  “I sure do,” Michelle replied with a wide grin.

  “It’s popular all in the universe now. I have a ball but I am having trouble. Will you teach me?” he asked. His large eyes gave her a pleading look.

  She looked to Serik unsure if it was acceptable or not.

  “It’s fine, you guys go play. We have to catch up,” he said.

  “OK, great,” Michelle replied with a smile.

  “Oi, Bren. Don’t take Michelle too far out, yeah?” he called.

  “OK,” Bren replied as he took Michelle’s hand and led her out the door.

  Serik watched as Bren and Michelle made their way outside before turning back to his mother.

  “I missed you, son. I’m glad you came home,” she said with a weary smile.

  “I missed you too, Ma,” he replied giving her another embrace.

  “She is very beautiful,” his mother said thoughtfully. “I knew you would find her.”

  Serik sat down. “I’m glad you did because I was never sure.”

  “All things in love, Serik. All things in love work out in the very end.”

  ***

  Michelle ran after the ball as Bren trailed behind her. Although, she hadn’t played soccer that much on Earth, she still remembered how. They darted back and forth but Bren was too fast and kept stealing the ball away. Michelle laughed to herself forgetting his inherent Baat speed. It was surely an unfair match.

  Michelle watched as the sun began to go down and the moon started to go up simultaneously. She had never seen anything like it before. She wondered if it was a metaphor for Serik. He was both light and dark, just like his planet.

  “Hey,” Serik called.

  Michelle looked over to Serik approaching the field.

  “Bren, I think mom was looking for you,” Serik called to Bren.

  “OK,” Bren sighed and picked up the soccer ball as he scurried inside.

  “Everyone loves you as per usual,” Serik said gently.

  “Really?” Michelle smiled.

  He nodded and took her hand within his.

  “Are you nervous about tomorrow?” he questioned.

  She shook her head.

  “I’m sorry about your family, Michelle. I wish they were here with us,” he offered softly.

  “It’s OK, Serik. They just don’t understand,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “You are what’s important to me.”

  “As long as we are together that is all that matters. The rest of the universe can just fade away for all I care,” he replied.

  Serik hunched down as he placed a gentle hand on her chin. His mouth consumed hers in a soft and slow kiss. Michelle moaned slightly letting him have access to her mouth. He deepened the kiss into a ferocity; a hunger. The kiss seemed to go on forever before he pulled back.

  Kisses like that left her dizzy.

  ***

  Michelle shifted her weight uncomfortably. She knew Serik had told her they would be married in a temple but she hadn’t even asked him about his religion. It seemed like such an important topic, how could she have missed it? Everything seemed like such a whirlwind and now she was waiting in some sort of religious cave within the Baat temple. They were both to have soul cleansings whatever that was. He was in a separate cave as she sat alone.

  Michelle didn’t know whether to feel worse or better when the priest appeared.

  “Look, um, sir, I don’t mean any disrespect but I’m doing this for Serik. I love him and if he says it is necessary then I will do it but I really don’t know about your religion here. I have my God and I’ve met him before,” she stated before he could even say a word.

  The priest nodded. “My child, do not worry our God is the same.”

  Michelle stared at the little man. She didn’t want to insult him but she was fairly certain her God, her God she learned about on Earth was different than his. The God that she had met, the one that had brought her back to life, her God was real, not his.

  “My child, God created the universe not just Earth,” he said interrupting her thoughts.

  “I…uh… how did you?” she stammered. How could he have known what she was thinking?

  “Shhh!” he hissed.

  The little man’s white robe swayed around him as he moved in closer to her. She felt like she was some sort of science experiment he was examining.

  “He brought you back to be with Serik. The pain, the sadness, the hurt in your life, that part of life is over for you now. It is time to be happy,” he said in a chilling tone.

  He continued to wave his hands around her body.

  Michelle furrowed her brow and took a step back. She had enough of his crazy flailing around, not to mention his mind reading.

  “Hold still,” he snapped.

  “I… uh, OK, sir.” She swallowed. She felt immensely uncomfortable.

  “There was another love in your heart before him, before Serik,” he narrowed his thin eyes at her.

  “Aa.. Aa-ron?” he stuttered. It was obvious Earth names were difficult for him to pronounce.

  “How do you know?” she practically gasped.

  “I can sense it. Our kind is different from yours,” he replied.

  “So, does that mean…” she began.

  He shook his head. “No, no my child. Only a few us our sensors trust me, Serik would not be one of them. Those who are, well, we are sentenced to the priesthood.”

  “This Aran,” he began.

  “Aaron,” she corrected him gently.

  “You loved him but the love was different than that you have for Serik. Was it not?” he asked.

  “I loved him as a brother. I loved them all,” she replied softly.

  “There is other hurting in your heart as well,” he said softly.

  Michelle simply nodded in agreement.

  “Alex?” he said in a solemn tone.

  The name stung her entire being. Michelle held back tears. The verbalization of his name somehow made things that much more serious, that much more real. Old wounds had been reopened.

  “He says thank you for trying to save him, trying to avenge him,” he said as a glazed look began to form in his eyes.

  “But I didn’t do anything. I couldn’t do anything to save him,” Michelle faltered.

  “No one could have. It was simply his time,” he replied as though it there was nothing more to it than that. “That is why I’m afraid for my son, he hasn’t had the easiest life either. You can’t bring him down with your hurting.”

  What is this 10 minute therapy with Yoda? With a planet with only 10% females you would think this woman would be happy that he brought home someone, Michelle thought to herself a bit annoyed with the priest.

  “He’s like you, you know? You are a fighter,” he said his hands still waving over her body.

  She wished he would stop with the weird waving thing. It was ridiculous and making her really uncomfortable.

  “You fought for three reasons,” he said quietly as he slowly stopped his waving.

  He rubbed his temples. “You fought for your parents, to protect others, and lastly you fought because of your anger, your own anger and rage.”

  She swallowed and remained quiet. She wasn’t sure what to say.

  “You have to let the anger go,” he stated with a seriousness that flickered in his eyes. “Tell me you will let the anger go before I bond yo
u with my son,”

  “I will,” Michelle vowed. The truth was she had already begun to long ago. The kindness and gentleness Serik had shown her had softened her heart long before their love grew.