by Maia Starr
“Things are as good as they can be, considering the circumstances. I know you and your wife were fortunate enough never to lose a child, so I don’t expect for you to understand.”
Karhal grinned. “It takes a lesser man than I to spawn children that cannot thrive outside their mother’s womb. That is true.”
Hot rage flooded me, but as much as I wanted to lash out at him, it would do no good. He was just as stubborn as his daughter, if not more so, and would never admit to his mistakes. It’s part of what had gotten him to the position of second in command.
I was well on my way to succeeding him; at some point it would become an inevitability, but because of the demand for his mechanical expertise, I hoped the day was far in the future. He was great at putting himself first, and although I had been noted as a great leader, there were some elements of heartlessness that were required in positions of power that I just didn’t personally have.
“I’d like to leave now, Commander,” I said, ignoring the statement. It was just that kind of thinking that had caused my wife to despise the very ground I walked upon. She believed I wasn’t masculine enough to produce her a viable heir.
I knew, however, that there were rumors spread by some of the top scientists of Helna that our bodies were being compromised by diseases somehow spread by human means as a purposeful way to prevent our reproduction and ultimately win the war. It was a dirty trick, one that, if successful, would mean the end of our species once and for all. But if the humans were capable of such forward thinking and ingenuity, I had to admit, I found it impressive.
Still, as impressive as it might be, there was another aspect to this disease that few were speaking about. Perhaps because it was still so new, most men were ashamed to admit they had it. Mostly because there was a significant loss of strength associated with it. Not only did our children die in the wombs of Verian mothers, but our bodies were compromised as well. We became weak in every sense of the word. And it was terrible.
Malnia didn’t know it, but I had been volunteering myself for study at the laboratory near the prison where captive humans were kept. They were researching the trajectory of the disease after one of the prison wardens had nearly died from its effects. Since then, they’d been looking for other men to speak out about their condition so a cure might be found once and for all.
Unfortunately, in the case of the warden, few knew his fate, as he took a captive and sped off toward Earth, clearly delirious, but the scientists were sure they would come up with a cure soon enough.
If Malnia knew that I had the frightening disease, and that my occasional dizziness was also associated with other things, such as profound loss of coordination and musculature, I was convinced that she would want to leave me right then and there. Only the laws of our people would keep us united. It was bad enough as it was without giving her any more ammunition to use against me.
Our marriage had only gotten insufferable after the loss of our first couple of children, and now, it seemed that every time she looked at me, all she could see were the opportunities she’d wasted by marrying me. I could practically hear her thinking, “I should have listened to my father.”
And maybe she should have. It could have done both of us a lot of good.
I tried to push the thoughts away and headed to my ship. Since it was a stealth mission, I would go alone, and only myself and the Commander would know about it until I got back. Of course, my wife would also have a clue as to my whereabouts, but the specifics of the mission would be lost on her. To be completely successful, the fewer who knew of my whereabouts, the better.
But in truth, I was nervous about being on Earth alone. Most of the time, stealth pilots were given a partner to keep in touch with to prevent disaster from befalling the mission, but unfortunately, the combination of the disease and the war meant that fewer and fewer able-bodied Verians were able to make it out onto the field. Most of the men were needed on the front lines. I would just have to go on my own.
***
As usual, the trip to Earth was uneventful, if even a little bit boring. I had made the trek dozens of times before, and always with the same impression. Space was vast and unpleasant, and I would just as soon stay at home than endanger my ever-weaker body to the elements of an unknown terrain.
Maybe if I had some backup, it wouldn’t have felt quite so menacing, but since I was alone, every little thing that jumped out at me had me spooked. I was used to being the strongest among my peers, and knowing there was anything that could slow me down was highly vexing. Getting rid of this disease once and for all was my primary concern. But before I could get back to the lab, where research would continue, I would have to face my limitations once more; and I would do it right in the heat of battle.
I steered the ship carefully through the turbulence of Earth’s atmosphere. Thankfully, it was much kinder than the turbulence of my own planet. Yet another reason the Verians hoped to colonize the planet once and for all.
When I finally landed, near Zone 36 of Earth, I took a deep breath. Regardless of where my people ended up settling down, I had to admit that Earth had a comforting feeling to it. Helna had become so barren over the centuries that it seemed impossible that such a lush, beautiful forest of life could exist anywhere else in the universe. It had been fortunate that we’d stumbled upon Earth. But when we weren’t met with friendly beings, and instead with immense hostility, the war for ownership over these resources began to rage.
I crept from my ship, walking as slowly as I could toward the barriers of Zone 36. It was deep in the labyrinths of this settlement that the brilliant scientists of Earth were said to reside, constantly searching for the next weapon that might end my people. It was deep underground that the weapon was thought to be hiding, but our intel had uncovered that it would be unearthed soon in order to take down the next round of Verian bombers.
“Halt!”
I cringed at the shrill, tweedy sounding human voice that reached my ears from across the field. I was sure I had been spotted but sighed in relief when I saw a human female in a black bundle of clothing running toward the trees.
“I’ve got to find him, Thomas! Don’t even try to stop me!”
Who could she possibly be looking for? Most humans refused to venture outside the walls of their zones. It would take a female of great bravery and determination to step foot outside the safety of her home and right onto the battlefield. My wife certainly never would have considered it.
The guard shook his head, his weapon raised and pointed at the woman, but when it was clear that she wasn’t going to turn back, he lowered it and watched her, his face drawn.
So, they hadn’t seen me. That was a stroke of luck. Though I should hardly have been surprised – I was the best at what I did.
I quickly forgot the human and continued on my quest around the perimeters of Zone 36, until I reached the coordinates where the bomb was set to launch. If I stayed put, I would be able to intercept the weapon as it was prepared for launch. That way, the platoon of troops coming in to attack Earth would arrive safely and improve our chances of victory in the war. There was nothing more important than ensuring the continuation of the Verian people.
I waited until nightfall, shifting uncomfortably as I waited in the brush with my weapon poised. Finally, I heard a whirring, mechanical sound and saw a red beam of light, about as small as the head of a pin, shine into the night sky.
Without thinking twice, I rushed into the area, my diffuser raised high above my head. I aimed the diffuser at the weapon and fired, and soon the sky was lit up with the brilliant purple energy as superior Verian technology began to counteract the nuclear power that could mean an end to our troops.
“What the hell is going on?!” one of the commanders exclaimed. I dodged out of sight before anybody could see me and left the men to their own puzzled guesses.
Suddenly, the loudspeakers erupted in a booming voice, and an Earth male shouted, “We have an intruder! Code 13 Blue! You kno
w what to look for!”
I grunted in pain when a fist unexpectedly hit my stomach, and I fell backward against a tree. All of the air was knocked out of me, and I struggled to my feet, my hand immediately reaching for my weapon.
But it was gone.
“Got him!”
I struggled against several pairs of arms that grabbed me, but it was futile. The disease I was suffering from made it impossible to fight. Even just two months ago I would have been able to hold my own against all five of these Earthlings, but now, I was helpless, and I had nobody to blame but myself.
***
“It’s okay. Don’t move.”
I winced as I tried to flutter my eyes open, and gasped in a combination of fear and astonishment. A human was standing above me, her dazzling brown eyes studying me closely.
“It looks like you’re going to need a splint. But don’t worry. I can help you.”
I furrowed my brow. Why would she be willing to help me? My people were coming to Earth right at that moment to harvest resources and clear the way for our ultimate usurpation. In just a matter of a few generations, humans would forget that they were ever the natives of this lucrative land and would feel content simply serving their Verian overlords.
“What are you – argh!”
I tried sitting up, but I felt as if I were going to burst into flames. The men at the base had done a good job with me. In fact, I was fairly certain that they’d believed me to be dead, considering the fact that the Verians breathe more shallowly than humans and thus it probably appeared that I had met my untimely demise. Apparently, they’d considered their job finished from there and left me to rot in the battlefield.
Still, I had done my duty and disrupted their mission. The boys from Helna would land safely on Earth’s soil and get to work with their own missions, and hopefully most of them would be able to return safely back to their homes before the new surge of super-soldiers made their first appearance on Earth. That would be a sight to see.
“I told you not to move!” the female said, her voice exasperated. “Don’t you listen?”
She stood up, and I felt a sudden vast sense of loneliness without her by my side. However, she soon returned and lifted my leg callously, causing me to grunt in pain. Maybe I hadn’t missed her so much after all.
“This will help you stay on your feet,” she said, refusing to turn her brilliant gaze back to me, even for a second. “After that, we’re going to have to part ways. I have a job to do.”
She bandaged me up, both of us silent as she worked, and then finally stood. Suddenly, I saw her black robes and recognized her as the woman who had escaped from Zone 36.
“What’s your job?” I asked, wincing as she tied the splint tightly around my leg and offered me her hand. I took it reluctantly, and she lifted me to my feet. She was surprisingly strong for a human female. That, or I was exceptionally weak. Considering my health, it seemed more likely for the latter to be the case.
“My brother is missing, and I have to find him. He’s just a kid,” she said, her dark eyes clouding over. They lit up suddenly, and she pulled a photo out of her pocket and offered it to me. “Have you seen him anywhere?”
I studied the picture. She looked a lot like the boy – each of them had dark eyes, light brown hair, and a nose that was dusted with light freckles. The biggest difference was that her face was feminine and wise, while his was young and reckless. Still, both seemed to have a mischievous glint in their eyes, and I wouldn’t put it past the girl to get herself into situations she would ultimately regret.
“No, I haven’t,” I said. I furrowed my brow as a nagging memory invaded my mind.
One of the Verian fleets had sent a message through the emergency line, speaking of an ambush. A boy was involved, uncharacteristically young for the human’s military, and he had been hauled away for questioning. Right now, he was probably being detained in one of the massive prison cells on Helna. But there was no way of telling whether it was the same boy as this human’s brother, and I kept the information to myself. It wouldn’t do her much good to hear of it. Most men didn’t survive the prison conditions, let alone a young male.
“Well…all right,” she said, standing up to leave.
I put my hand on her arm, and she looked at me, her beautiful brown eyes wrought with confusion.
“What are you doing?”
I hated myself for what I was about to do, but I was under very strict orders from Doyan Vera herself to bring any human females I came into contact with back to the planet Helna with me. And not only that, but now that I had laid eyes upon this female, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be without her. The thought of the two of us parting made my chest hurt inexplicably. If I returned back to Helna without her, would I be able to live the rest of my life knowing that I had let her go? I already knew the answer, and a deep, still voice suddenly spoke up. She had to be mine.
Besides, Zone 36 was going to be targeted for a massive strike. The Verians didn’t take the threat of nuclear attack lying down. If I left her, she would surely die. Especially if she was wandering recklessly in the battlefield. I simply couldn’t allow it.
“I’m sorry,” I said, unable to mean the phrase anymore if I tried. “But you’re going to have to come with me.”
I reached into the inside pocket of my vest and pulled out my back-up weapon, sighing inwardly as I turned it upon the intoxicating human.
“You are hereby ordered to evacuate Earth, under penalty of death.”
I refused to look into her eyes, but I could practically feel the sense of betrayal the human must have been feeling. Still, I had no choice. I was at the mercy of the Doyan, and my own selfish desire. Which meant the female had to come with me.
Chapter 2
Dr. Christina Evans (MD)
I clutched the picture of Luke tightly as the Verian man, who could scarcely move, forced me along with the butt of his laser. What the hell had I been thinking, helping the enemy like that? But I had taken an oath long ago to help anybody who needed it, and to me, that meant far more than letting a helpless man suffer and die right in front of me.
Besides, he had looked almost beautiful at the time when I’d found him, with his long silver hair glittering in the moonlight. His pale skin was flawless, and I knew that beneath his fluttering eyelids lurked a pair of otherworldly eyes that might just be able to see right through me. It was an odd sensation to have, just seeing someone for the first time, but it was overwhelming nonetheless, and I found myself drawn to the man, certain that if he needed me in any way, I would gladly serve him.
At first, I had been afraid he was dead. His handsome face had a type of stillness rarely found in the living, but it was lacking something else telling of death – a sense of peace. I could almost hear his mind working, even through his lack of consciousness, and when I had placed my hand over his heart, I was shocked to feel it faintly beating.
I didn’t know how different Verian anatomy was, but I knew that it couldn’t be much. There were rumors that Verians and humans could mate and breed, and evidence of those rumors supposedly existed in secret encampments in the outskirts, far away from the Zones authorized by the military for protection. According to those rumors, some Verians and humans had even mated and considered each other soul mates, living in happy families in homes with children who thrived.
My scientific mind was fascinated by the possibility, and I had secretly been hoping that, somewhere along my journey to find Luke, I would eventually find myself in one of these camps for myself, to find out just how it was possible for Verians and humans to coexist.
Apparently, I had romanticized Verian men a little bit too much, because I had made a lethal mistake in showing my pity to this one.
I don’t know what made me stop when I saw his ethereal body lying limp in the grass. He looked dead already. The only sign of life was his faint heartbeat. I took his pulse immediately after, which, I had learned in medical school, was actually found in the crown of
the head, above the elaborate ridge of bone that gave the Verians their regal, almost beautiful poise.
“This way,” the Verian man said, hissing in pain as he stepped on his leg wrong.
“Serves you right,” I grumbled. “Don’t bend your knee so much.”
He glanced back at me, a pale eyebrow raised, but said nothing as he turned away and continued to lead me toward his ship. He had no fear that I would flee, as if he knew that his condition was no match for the weapon he liked to keep close to my flesh. I allowed him to lead without making any attempt to escape. All he had to do was aim that thing and I wouldn’t even have a body left behind to bury. My parents had both been killed by Verian weapons technology. It was horrifically efficient, the way their weapons worked. I guessed they didn’t want the planet to be cluttered with bodies when they won the war and eventually moved in.
“In here,” the Verian man said, his obnoxiously handsome face stern as he lifted one of his arms. I was confused for a moment until I realized that he was pointing into a clearing. There was nothing in it, and I raised an eyebrow at him silently. This appeared to fluster him, but he said nothing and gestured to the open field again.
“All right,” I said with a sigh, walking forward. My foot struck something hard, and I cursed under my breath. The Verian let out a chuckle: one that made my blood boil.
“What?” he asked innocently, his handsome face impish and provocative when I glared fiercely at him. I could have slapped him.
“You know, you don’t actually have to act like an ass just because you don’t like humans,” I grumbled, leaning down to check my foot. If I was hurt now, it could be very problematic in the future, especially if I ever hoped to escape from this ridiculous situation. There was no telling what I would encounter.