by Anna Lewis
“I don't want to hear anymore lies,” snapped Anna Leigh. “Ward assistant! Have this patient restrained,” she called to a beefy male attendant down the hall.
The ward assistant quickly came to Anna Leigh's aid, grabbing Elu by his arms and dragging him back to his room. When he resisted, they called for another ward assistant and had to pick him up forcefully. Elu's ribs burned as the two ward assistants gripped his body and carried him back to the room, where he was strapped in. His screams were ignored as Anna Leigh walked away, her heels echoing down the hall.
“No!” he cried. “Please, come back!”
He'd ruined everything. Anna Leigh hated him, and Xander was going to prison. He struggled in vain against the straps that held him on the bed. He screaming and struggled and tried to kick himself free, harming his body all over again and causing a headache. As he continued to struggle and cry out, the nurse injected a calming serum into his IV and patted his hand as the room went dark, thrown once again into the black oblivion where no one was by his side.
The End of Book 1
Book 2
A steady beeping sound came from a nearby room as Elu stood in front of the check out counter. He drummed his blue-skinned fingers against the cool, polished marble, waiting for the attendant to give him her attention.
“Name?” asked the attendant.
“Elu Mander Drake,” he replied.
She typed into the computer.
“Alright, Mr. Drake. Your payment has been filed with your insurance company and your co-payment today is 800 flemmings,” she said.
Elu pulled a card from his wallet and handed it over, staring at his fingers that were still scarred up from the blast. A ringing noise filled his ears, images of the explosion suddenly clouding his vision. The explosive sound caused his eyes to widen and he gripped the counter.
“Mr. Drake?” asked the attendant.
He raised his eyebrows.
“Your card, sir,” she said while holding it up.
“Oh,” he said while taking it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Here’s your paperwork from your surgery and prescriptions from your doctor,” she explained. “Have a wonderful day, Mr. Drake.”
Elu carefully took the folder from the counter, nodded, and then walked slowly down the hall towards his log station. Most of the way was quiet, his face grim as he approached his bedroom. The door closed quietly behind him. A picture of him and Xander sat on the dresser. He stroked the frame for a moment, watching as the digital display faded into a new picture of them standing with Anna Leigh. He sighed and shut it off.
As he packed his things, his phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket to find his therapist calling.
“Hello, Dr. Marrow,” Elu said.
“How are you feeling, Elu?” Dr. Marrow asked.
Elu shrugged even though his therapist wasn’t in the room.
“I’m not sure, Dr. Marrow. Maybe a bit empty,” he replied.
“Well, that’s to be expected. Why don’t you come in when you’re finished packing and we’ll have a session?” Dr. Marrow asked.
“Sure thing,” Elu replied.
“Alright. I’ll see you soon,” said Dr. Marrow.
After hanging up the phone, Elu shoved it deep into his pocket and lifted his bag, wincing from the pain in his shoulder. He gripped the strap while gritting his teeth, hot tears returning to his eyes. Pain had never affected him this way before. He was completely vulnerable to his emotions, to every single reminder of that day. As he walked to the door, he saw the digital note Anna Leigh had left next to the light switch that so fondly read, “When the two suns rise, it’s another day with you.” A little heart was drawn next to the fine cursive and he smiled at the memory, tears returning as he set his bag on the ground and covered his face.
“Get it together,” he whispered to himself. “You did what you had to do. It was a job.”
But was it just a job? He asked himself. How could it have been just a job when I feel so incredibly guilty?
Elu sighed and lifted his bag from the ground, stepping out his bedroom door and shutting off the lights. The LED screen of the picture frame glowed in the dark from the desk. He left it, walking away as soon as the thought occurred to him to grab it. When he was halfway down the hall, he turned quickly on his heel and returned to grab it from his desk, shoving it deep into his bag.
After turning his keys in to the main desk of the log station, he went out to the collection of workers leaving for the season, boarding the flight that would take him to the planet Intergalaxis where the Federation headquarters was located. The flight didn’t take more than six hours and Elu occupied his time between the in-flight movie and his debriefing folder which he mostly skimmed listlessly.
Upon arrival on Intergalaxis, he gathered his bag and went straight to Dr. Marrow’s office where he knocked hard on the metal door. No sound came through the steel save for the locks clicking and a voice coming over the intercom.
“Come in,” said Dr. Marrow.
Elu pushed the door open and sat in his usual seat, listening to the sound of the door hiss behind him as it closed. Dr. Marrow sat pensively staring at his glass desk, sliding through different documents as they appeared on the LED screen. He looked up and smiled, pressing the corner of his desk to turn it off and folding his hands on the glass.
“Hello, Elu,” he said.
“Hello, Dr. Marrow,” said Elu. “How are you?”
“I’m doing well. How was your flight?” he asked.
“It was boring,” Elu replied.
Dr. Marrow nodded.
“Were you able to go over your debriefing documents?” he asked.
Elu nodded.
“Do you have any questions?” Dr. Marrow asked.
Elu sat silently for a moment, looking down at the glass desk that was now black. He studied the angled reflection of his therapist and stroked his chin.
“I don’t understand why someone who was such a good person would steal from the Federation,” Elu explained. “He had a great paycheck, a great life, a great girl... Why would he risk all of those things?”
“Perhaps he felt differently about the Federation than you do,” Dr. Marrow suggested.
“Well, that has been quite clear throughout the years. But the Federation has always regulated these things and their efforts to protect resources has been extensive,” Elu said.
Dr. Marrow nodded.
“I mean, he didn’t squander the money. He ended up giving a large portion to some private accounts on his home planet,” Elu went on.
“I remember reading that in your report. Do you think he was protecting family? Friends?” Dr. Marrow asked.
“Possibly. I’ve known him for so long that I wouldn’t put it past him to do such a thing. He was never particularly selfish,” Elu replied.
“Perhaps he had charitable motives,” Dr. Marrow said.
Elu looked down at his fingers, rubbing his thumbs together with a sigh.
“He did say he wanted to treat us to a vacation with Anna Leigh,” he said low. “I never wrote that in my report considering the incident.”
“Have you updated your report since?” Dr. Marrow asked.
Elu shook his head.
“Why is that?” Dr. Marrow asked again.
“I just haven’t...” Elu trailed off with a shrug. “I was resting.”
Dr. Marrow nodded, shifting his gaze to his desk with a slight grin and then looking back up at Elu with a knowing glance.
“Is there anything you would like to tell me today? Our last session before the blast was interesting because you looked incredibly happy about Xander and Anna Leigh even though you knew the ramifications of your actions,” Dr. Marrow explained.
“Of course I knew. I signed up for this job understanding human emotion and the potential for attachment,” Elu said, folding his arms across his chest.
“So, you don’t regret it?” Dr. Marrow asked.
; “Well, no. Never. It was for my job and for the Federation. This is what I do,” Elu said. “The attachment is merely a result of living a double life.”
“That sounds difficult. How did you manage to separate your two lives without them co-mingling?” Dr. Marrow asked.
“Well, you know that better than I do, Dr. Marrow. You’re the one who trained me to steel my mind,” Elu replied.
“I did. That’s right,” Dr. Marrow said.
“And you taught me how to manage emotion from both ends of the spectrum, from positive to negative. I’ve been doing fine with it since,” Elu said.
Dr. Marrow raised a curious eyebrow.
“What?” Elu asked while raising his own. “Don’t give me that look. I know what I said last time. I was confused.”
“If I may be frank, Elu, you didn’t sound confused at all. In fact, it almost sounded like you were in love,” Dr. Marrow said.
Elu huffed.
“That’s preposterous,” he said with a shrug. “How could I be in love with two people, especially another man?”
“Have you ever heard of the attachment of B’khar?” Dr. Marrow asked.
“No, I’m not familiar with that,” Elu replied.
“It was common for your Burskai ancestors to participate in triad bonds where two men and a woman mate for life. They form this attachment called B’khar, originating from Bukhara who was the deity of loving triads. Your family history, as I understand, is rooted from these beliefs and will inspire your yearning for such a bond,” Dr. Marrow explained.
“I remember grandmother mentioning that, but I never understood it,” Elu admitted. “Are you sure, doc? I mean, we’re in a new century. Things are totally different.”
“You mentioned Anna Leigh was of a different alien species, but you never mentioned which one. Do you know?” Dr. Marrow asked.
“She’s of the Kuhlarai planet and tribes,” Elu replied. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Over my years studying different alien races, I came across a bounty of literature explaining love and marriage practices. For humans thousands of years ago, the monogamous couple was the standard, but they have since branched out to adopt more polyamorous practices. The Kuhlarai are capable of triad bonding between one female and two males, and the practice is rare but not unknown. Thus it makes sense the two of you would end up in the same bond,” Dr. Marrow explained.
“But I’m an agent. I can’t afford to be involved in this,” Elu insisted. “If I do, it could mean a great deal of heat from the Federation. I could lose my job.”
“Is that what you want, Elu? To be completely part of the Federation with no future prospects?” Dr. Marrow asked.
“It’s what I signed up for,” Elu replied.
“People change their minds all the time, Elu. No one would blame you if you felt otherwise after this long,” Dr. Marrow explained.
“But it’s my job...” Elu whispered while looking down at his hands again.
He shook his head, tears filling his eyes.
“I miss them so much,” he admitted through a shaky voice. “I miss Anna Leigh. I miss her touch. I miss having my best friend next to me.”
He sniffled, raising a hand to his mouth to stifle the sob that was threatening to surface. How many times had he cried in front of Dr. Marrow yet he still felt ashamed? He shook his head over and over.
“I wish I could change it. If only this had been another time or another place. What if I hadn’t been an agent?” Elu asked out loud. “I don’t understand.”
“What is it you don’t understand?” Dr. Marrow asked, concern filling his face.
“Why does it hurt so much?” Elu asked as a sob rattled his body.
He leaned forward and cradled his head in his hands, staring at the tears that fell from his face and decorated the tile floor. He allowed himself to cry knowing that he was meeting later with his superior where he would have to remain calm and collected. This job had taken a harder toll on him than he had originally thought, the tears continuing to roll down his face even after the sobbing had subsided.
“I’d recommend confessing to Xander your true feelings. It would likely mean a great deal to him,” Dr. Marrow said.
“But that’s not in the Federation’s best interest,” Elu rebutted.
“Elu, you’re an amazing worker who has accomplished a great deal for the Federation over the past seven years. Perhaps this is your calling to go separate ways,” Dr. Marrow said. “Don’t you want to give yourself the happiness you deserve?”
Elu nodded slowly while sitting up, accepting the tissue Dr. Marrow handed him.
“Take a chance. Give yourself what you know you deserve,” Dr. Marrow said.
“That would compromise everything,” Elu said. “I might have to give up more than my job and integrity.”
“Do you think it’s worth it for the love that you felt in your triad?” Dr. Marrow asked.
After a moment of silence, Elu nodded. He didn’t want to say the words out loud. It might be documented or used against him, though he didn’t think his therapist would ever do such a thing. After all, what Dr. Marrow was suggesting was in opposition of the Federation’s best interest.
“Do what you feel is best for you and your triad,” Dr. Marrow suggested. “And please, don’t hesitate to call me if you feel upset again. I’m always here.”
Dr. Marrow stood and reached over the desk to shake Elu’s hand. The two stood for a moment in knowing silence, Elu smiling when Dr. Marrow smiled.
“Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
“You’re a good person, Elu,” Dr. Marrow said. “Don’t ever forget that.”
***
Anna Leigh looked down at her wrist's watch app, watching the digital display change from 12:01 to 12:02 through her green skin. She sighed. A nurse walked past the open office door as she sat with her boss, studying the way he shuffled through documents on his digital desk.
“Well, Anna, it looks like there’s an opening for a nurse position at Log Station 86 on the planet Kuhlarai,” he explained.
“That sounds good, Mr. Jones,” she said. “I think I’ll take my leave in between just to make the transition easier, so I can settle in with my mother.”
“May I ask why you’re returning to your home planet?” he asked. “You seemed so happy here.”
“Well, I think I just need a change of scenery,” she replied.
“You haven’t been here more than six months, Anna. Why change so quickly?” he asked again.
Anna Leigh shrugged, twirling a lock of black hair around her green-skinned finger while looking down at her knees. The sound of commotion came from up the hall and she listened to it briefly before responding.
“It just feels like the right thing to do,” she replied. “I would love to be with my mother and recover from that awful blast three weeks ago.”
“It’s not terribly uncommon in this line of work, but I understand. You have my support and recommendation. I hate to be losing such a wonderful nurse, but I know they could use your exceptional capabilities on Kuhlarai,” Mr. Jones said.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate that,” Anna Leigh said.
“It was my pleasure to work with you. Take your time packing and let us know if you need anything,” he said.
Anna Leigh nodded with a smile and stood, turning to leave the office. One of the attendants waved to her and she waved back before leaving the hospital wing, breathing in the scent of disinfectant as she walked through the log station. It smelled like lavender. Panic rippled through her chest as she walked by the robot that was polishing the floor and she picked up her pace to get to her room faster. Inside, she shut the door and leaned against the cool metal, taking deep breaths until her heart stopped racing.
That lavender smelled exactly like Elu’s pen, she thought wearily, remembering Elu's scented pen from the picnic she'd had with him and Xander. I wonder where he is and how
he’s doing.
Since the incident in the hallway, she had dropped Elu as a patient and effectively blocked him from her life. She didn’t answer his calls or texts, each one pleading for her to reconsider the situation.
“I could make you very happy,” he had said in one of his messages. “And we could visit Xander. It could be like before.”
How could it possibly ever be like before? She tossed clothes into a suitcase. How could he assume I would want to be with only him?
As she stuffed her suitcase with the few items she had brought with her, she shrugged her shoulders. A strange tingle had formed in the past few weeks which concerned her. Walking over to her mirror, she lifted her blouse and inspected the area that was itchy. The mirror revealed a few rows of scales on her back, reflecting the light of the two suns coming through the window. They glimmered as she ran her fingers over the smooth skin.
How are they scaly but smooth?
No other symptoms had developed with the scales, but they occasionally itched. She grabbed the bottle of lotion from the dresser and applied it liberally before tossing it into her bag. It helped, but she knew she would have to reapply later in the afternoon, possibly even during her flight back to Kuhlarai. She checked her wrist again and shut her suitcase, zipping it closed before picking it up from the bed.
On her way out the door, she considered stopping by Elu’s room to see if he was still there.
No, she thought. Why bother? I’m too angry at him and I don’t think it would bode well for either of us.
She sighed and continued walking to catch up with the group boarding the connecting ship to Kuhlarai.
“Please, take your seats immediately. Flight 407 to Herringer and Kuhlarai. Ar'ka nak blak vander,” said a voice over the intercom.
Anna Leigh located her seat near the window and placed her bag in the storage bin above it. While she made herself comfortable, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her messages. She came across one from Xander.