Alien Perfection

by Megan Edwards

  Once the door to the cabin opened Naelia bolted into the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her. She used the toilet then quickly washed her hands and face. She hoped the cool water would help give her clarity on what her next steps should be. If she knew Earthish she could beg him to stay with her, but, he didn’t speak Venusian and she didn’t speak Earthish.

  Still, she couldn’t allow him to be with Sven or Jada. The more she considered him relieving his sexual tension with another woman the more upset she became. Hell, she couldn’t even wrap herself around the idea that he’d been with either of them in the past. He was an Earthling. Wasn’t he supposed to be romantic and all that? Why had Archon chosen to touch them instead of her? How could she heal and be ready to be with him that way if he chose instead to be with other woman?

  Naelia didn’t want to share him, or worse not be allowed to touch him anymore because he chose to be with the females in his unit. She liked the way Archon felt and she wanted to keep him to herself. He was soft and hard at the same time and she absolutely loved lying next to him in bed. He smelled like a hot summer day in the wilderness.

  As she stood in the bathroom thinking about losing Archon tears slipped silently from her eyes down her cheek. She knew that the tears were directly related to the grief that was filling her heart. She wasn’t ready but she decided that her only recourse was to try to keep him with her in their cabin. No matter what it took. She pulled open the bathroom door and found Archon standing directly in front of her. He reached out and trailed his thumb gently across her cheek. Then he said,

  “I know you don’t understand me but I’m sorry for being so rough. I feel like an asshole. It’s just I got so jealous thinking about sharing you with others. My head and my heart got really twisted up. It was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. Please forgive me…

  I know it’s who you are. You can’t help it. Your race was born to be sexual and sensual. It’s in your DNA. Hell, I know you weren’t asking for them to come back to the room and have sex. You’re not ready to have sex with anyone. That fucking Reptilian hurt you and you still need time to heal.

  Still, just the way they smiled at you made me crazy! It’s not your problem its mine. I am so very very sorry. I promise, I will find a way to accept it and never let my jealous hurt you again. Please, understand and try to find a way to forgive me.”

  Then he gave her a smile he hoped would convey his regret. He was of course right that Naelia didn’t understand a thing he said. In fact, she couldn’t have interpreted his tone, body language and smile any worse. She thought he was trying to tell her that he was heading out for the night to have fun with the ladies and that she should head to bed without waiting. Fury boiled up inside of her. Rage that he would choose them instead of her. Then before she could stop herself she blurted out

  “You stay! You mine! I do! No them.”

  Naelia had expected Archon to get angry with her for trying to claim him as her own. He was a strong, valuable male and she was a weak Venusian. She wasn’t worthy of such a noble partner. By the way he manhandled her down the steps she knew he was a dominant male that expected her to be submissive. She flinched knowing that he would need to punish her and remind her of her rightful place. So when he pulled her close to his chest instead and gently spoke to her she was shocked.

  “Yes, baby, I am yours and you are mine.”

  This time she somehow understood. Archon was staying. Her heart started to beat just a tiny bit faster as his head slowly descended and their lips briefly touched.

  Chapter 11

  By the time Naelia grabbed everything she wanted from the buffet in the galley and went to sit at a table, Archon and the others finished their daily calesthentics and were rushing to get in line for food. The moment Naelia sat down a human male she’d never seen before slid into the seat next to her. He immediately started speaking to her in Venusian, his smooth voice sounding almost musical.

  “Naelia, I’m so glad to finally meet you. My name is Odelin and I am the unit’s doctor. The very handsome gentleman to my left is my lifemate James. He is also our UFE unit leader. All of us in the unit have waited a very long time to meet you. Archon started dreaming of you several years ago. I am so sorry it took so long to find you...”

  He paused and took a breath and rubbed his hand down my thigh before continuing

  “Umm, well… Welcome to the family.”

  Odelin paused again and seemed to search for something in Naelia’s eyes before he smiled in an odd way then continued

  “Tell me Naelia, are you not taking blue cohosh?

  Naelia was just about to take a huge bite of an eggplant sandwich but stopped mid to look questionably back at Odelin. She blinked several times and Odelin and I could see tears welling up in the corner of her eyes.

  “No. As I’m sure you are aware, it’s of no use now.”

  Odelin looked at her apprehensively wondering what game she was up to. Naelia saw the question in his eyes and took a hard swallow. Then she glanced back at the chow line Archon was still in before saying as quietly as she could.

  “I wasn’t on blue cohosh before the Reptilians captured me because I was a virgin. I thought to remain that way until I found my lifemate. Somehow I always knew he’d be an Earthling. I thought my virginity would be a gift to him. The Reptilian forced himself on me. He spoiled my gift to Archon and tainted my body.

  His seed took root in my womb without my permission. I took the blue cohosh to try to rid myself of it but it was of no avail. I will be forced to give birth to the atrocity that now grows with in. I can only pray that Archon will not dispose of me because of the shame this child will bring to me. I was foolish not to take the blue cohosh as a precaution. Everyone at home told me how foolish and stupid I was.”

  Tears flowed freely down Naelia’s cheeks. Both Odelin and I were moved to find a way to console her. I quickly moved around the table to gently pull Naelia into hug. Naelia enthusiastically hugged me back as Odelin said

  “I understand. What the Reptilian did to you was unforgivable. The seed he planted however is not an atrocity. In this world, where death is everywhere a child is always a blessing. Trust me, Archon will see it that way.

  Naelia looked over her shoulder at the line Archon was nearly through then back at Odelin with a very serious face, the said how utterly ashamed she was

  “A Halfling? You think he would consider a Reptilian and Venusian mutt a blessing? I think he will want to kick me and the child to the curb.”

  Her words stunned Odelin into momentary silence. Before he recovered Archon joined is at the table. We had our traditional greeting. Then he made a few off colored comments about mine and Odelin’s late arrival. Once the rest of the unit was seated the real fun began.

  We laughed joked and generally speaking had a good time. The kind of good time only soldiers facing daily death can have. The kind that reminds us how important it is to love. At one point, even Naelia joined in on the merriment. Archon was laughing so hard that he started actually tearing up, coughing and snorting all at once.

  It was in those very seconds, that Archon knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he not only loved Naelia but that he was in love with her. He loved every single thing about her, and he also knew that it had nothing to do with them being fated to be together or a connection of their life essence. No… It was because to him, she was the most perfect woman in the world. He wanted to spend every moment he could with her. Before he realized what he was doing he reached out and gently pulled her into his lap, then said out loud in Earthish

  “Do you mind?”

  Naelia didn’t say a word, she snuggled into his lap. The action didn’t go unnoticed by the others in the unit. Odelin took that same opportunity to ask Archon if he knew about the pregnancy. He asked him in Eridani the greys language since only Odelin and he spoke it. Archon smiled brightly and said back in Earthish so the entire unit understood

  “Yes, Naelia is pregnant. The Reptilia
n that held her captive forced himself on her. I’ve known since the day I rescued her. You would need to be blind, or not about Venusian physiology to miss the yellow ring around her iris. I don’t care that the child is half Reptilian. I will call them son or daughter?”

  The room went silent as everyone shot looks between Naelia and Archon. Then conversation broke out all around them. It took less than ten seconds for Naelia to get the gist of what was said. It helped that several of the unit started congratulating her in Aquarian.

  Still, Odelin knew that any Halfling would have many complications. Pregnancy between the species was always difficult. He needed to examine Naelia as soon as possible. In the meantime, he decided to start asking questions so he could immediately put things in play that would ultimately help to provide assistance later down the line.

  See my lifemate Odelin is far from just a run of the mill Earthling. He was given life during. One of the first genetically engineered test tube babies. The test children’s DNA was designed for maximum intelligence and brain activity. They wanted Savants. With Odelin they succeeded while others are more autistic savants. Incapable of field activities and practical use of their knowledge.

  Odelin, has a photographic memory that he can access faster than a computer. His math, language and music skills are also off the chart. There is no one alive more capable and intelligent then my lifemate. Though, most would have to admit he did lack common sense from time to time. That day common sense was nowhere to be found. So when he opened his mouth and started firing off questions to Archon in Earthish everyone listened. Poor Naelia got the translated version.

  “How long ago did Naelia conceived?”

  “Um, I guess a month ago,” Archon said,

  “Did you count the rings in her eyes to determine how many babies we are expecting?”

  “At least three,” Archon said

  Then Odelin grabbed Naelia’s face and stared into her eyes before saying,

  “I disagree, I think I see four or five rings.”

  Odelin smiled at Archon and Naelia before he suddenly stood and casually strolled away from the table while he continued to talk to himself in a hushed tone. That was typical of Odelin. Something was clearly concerning him and it was clear to me if not to the others in the unit that he was working it out in his mind.

  When he came back to the table he asked if Archon would take Naelia for a walk so he could have a conversation with the rest of our unit. He nodded then encouraged Naelia to take another stroll through the buffet line. While they were gone we discussed the real issues that Naelia would be facing. It was far bigger an issue than any of us could have ever dreamed. When they returned Odelin looked seriously at Archon and said.

  “I have to say something that you are not going to like. Then, you need to make a decision. I am sorry but you and Naelia need to understand. I’m going to say this in Earthish for your benefit and Jada is going to translate for Naelia. This is very personal would you prefer the others in the unit left?”

  Archon glanced at everyone in the galley. Then at Naelia before looking back into Odelin’s eyes and pronouncing

  “They stay.”

  Odelin nodding in agreement and cleared his throat before sitting down at the table and indicating with his movements that Archon and Naelia should sit as well. The moment they were seated he cleared his throat again and launched in.

  “I’m sure both of you are aware that mixed species pregnancies are dangerous. But I have some major concerns for Naelia and her health. Of all the races, Venusian and Reptilian DNA do not mix at all. There are three major concerns when the two species have tried to mix. The first is that Venusians are sulfur based while Reptilians are amino acid based.

  Sulfur and amino acids have an odd effect on each other. They bond but not always the way we’d want them to. Often they bond in ways we’d never expect. Its kind of like vinegar and oil. They go together but they never really mix. Of all the races now living on earth these are the two that should never mix genetically.

  If that’s not enough, there are also some huge prenatal differences. The most obvious is that Reptilian’s are egg layers while Venusians are marsupials. That means Reptilian women only carry their offspring for six weeks, then birth the eggs that the offspring continue to grow in until they are ready. Venusians women carry their offspring for closer to four months then birth their offspring but carry them in their pouch for another four to six months.

  As you are aware, a dozen or more eggs at one time is common for Reptilians. While Venusians never have more than one child at a time. Hell, their pouch isn’t designed to sustain the life of more than one infant. Multiple births, the gestational period and the mixing or rather mingling of genetic makeup is why there aren’t any Reptilian and Venusian Halflings. It’s not that the mothers kill the children as the rumors indicate, it’s that the pregnancies naturally come to an end in the first trimester.

  Yet, Naelia is absolutely in the second trimester. One month. One month is nearly the full gestational period of a Reptilian. So I ask myself how? How is this possible? Then I put two and two together.”

  His hands clapped together before he put up his index and middle finger in the traditional earthling fashion indicating the number two.

  “Naelia wasn’t on blue cohosh when she was captured by the Reptilians, but after they abused her she started taking the blue cohosh. Sadly by the time she ingested the blue cohosh she’d already conceived. That’s why the rings around her irises are so tight.”

  He paused and let the information he just said to all of us sink in.

  “I know you’re thinking so what. Earthling woman have taken birth control while they were pregnant. No big deal right?”

  He shook his head back and forth as he said with emphasis

  “Wrong. There is a huge misunderstanding of the effects of Blue Cohosh on Venusians. Most people assume it is just some form of birth control. It does have that side effect but the real process going on behind the scenes is that blue cohosh doesn’t just block their reproduction cycle it increases Venusian glucose levels and shuts down all of their non-essential body functions like absorbing and creating amino acids. No amino acids mean no bonding process to create life. That’s why it works for the females and the males.”

  He paused again and thinking back, I think we all realized why a small tear escaped Odelin’s eye. He quickly wiped it away but the tone of his voice gave away the sadness that filled his heart as he continued.

  “As I said before the Reptilians are primary amino acid based. So during the fetus’ crucial development timeframe they were being starved of the primary Reptilian genetic code. That eliminated the strange boding issue and instead created an environment where the Venusians DNA grew unhindered by the Reptilian DNA for a period of time.

  Then the blue cohosh was taken away allow the amino acids to flood Naelia’s and the children system. The Reptilian DNA came back into play and bonded with the Venusian DNA that had already well established itself. This is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

  If the children survive, they will not be Halflings or even some combination of Reptilian and Venusian. They will be the first of a new life form. A lifeform that I have no way of predicting what they will be like. Everything about them is open to RNA processing. That means they might not even appear humanoid in form. They may be horrible disfigured or look normal but operate in an all new fashion.”

  He paused and swallowed hard before he continued. Then he said something that even I, his lifemate could not have expected

  “All of this doesn’t even address what this might do to Naelia. She may not be able to survive this. We may lose her and the children before this is all over. I don’t want to say this, but it must be said.”

  He wiped his nose and several more tears escaped his eyes as he barely mumble out

  “It might be better if we end this now. It’s probably far too risky to Naelia and the children to allow this pregnancy to continue
. If it continues, I think we should reintroduce blue cohosh for the remainder of the gestational period. Perhaps it will be enough to make the Reptilian and Venusian DNA compatible. In the least it should prevent Naelia from suffering any ill effects. You and Naelia need to decide right away. There is precious little time.”

  Chapter 12~*~ March 21, 3208 Earth

  Archon’s head was heavy and his mouth tasted like hot dog crap or at least what he imagined hot dog crap tasted like as he stood on deck and looked around. Naelia, stood stoically beside him. Despite the heavy decision they faced, Naelia appeared very comfortable and her heart was beating steady and strong. With his enhanced robotic hearing he was pleased that he could hear the steady low fast heart rhythms of the babies. On the outside, everything gave the impression of being just fine.

  It was hard to believe that only twenty minutes before this very moment, they’d had a very heated an uncomfortable conversation with Odelin as a translator in between them. The bottom line is that both of them thought terminating the pregnancy was the best idea but for very different reasons. Naelia’s reason was simple. She didn’t want to give life to something she already deemed a monster. Archon, however wasn’t willing to believe any life that came from Naelia would be a monster, he didn’t however want to risk her life to create new life.

  With the decision made, Odelin said he would make arrangements for the procedure the moment they reached Fort Nuuk in Greenland. Since Archon could already see the lights off the shore, he knew it was just a matter of hours before they arrived. It was probably time to go inside and begin packing, but he could tell by the saw of Naelia’s body that she wasn’t ready to go below yet.