Alien Perfection

by Megan Edwards

  Naelia heard the hum of the helicopter landing in a distance and looked at Archon and smiled brightly. I glanced over at Odelin’s face and was surprised that it looked sad and disappointed. I thought he would feel happy like I did. Hell, Archon and Naelia’s chance at happiness was what we were all fighting for. Still, I knew his sadness was more about saying goodbye to another friend that it was about losing Archon’s skills in battle. He wasn’t ready to let someone else go so soon after losing Sylvie. Odelin wanted them to stay nearby. He thought the lava tubes under our home base should be good enough. He didn’t understand why Archon couldn’t retire but remain close by. He said more than once that it was akin to cruelty to go so far away. Hell, he even tried to guilt Naelia into staying local by telling her the kids were safer surrounded by our team.

  The rest of us however seemed to understand. We accepted their decision graciously and said we would do our best to visit often. I was even a little envious. I smiled brightly, then winked at Archon before whispering in his ear how I wished I could have whisked Odelin away from the rest of the world and kept him all to himself. Archon looked at the growing crowd then heard Naelia take a deep breath before he heard her soft but confident voice shout loud enough for everyone to hear

  “Thank you all for being so good to me and the kids. I’m so glad I’m a part of such a large family. It's going to be a while before I see you again, but I am forever in your debt. I could never have made it through the past five years without you. This is not goodbye, it’s just so long for now. I love you.”

  Archon heard the shouts of approval and warm wishes of love coming from all of them. He smiled too as he ducked low and climbed into the barely visible cave. Naelia climbed in behind him only second later. He heard her breathed a sigh of relief and knew that she was happy to be heading home. He adjusted the baby on his hip and looked at her and said,

  “Well babe, I think you should lead the way. These tubes are a massive maze and only you can lead us home.”

  Naelia smiled at him and nodded her head in agreement, then took the lead. He smiled at her back and allowed his soul to briefly flair out and wrap itself lovingly around hers. The months during his regeneration, Naelia had changed so much yet remained the same. Intellectually she was now a force to be reckoned with. She used the hours at his bedside to educate herself. Not only through the books that everyone used including the Earthlings, but also through the ancient texts that the UFE kept. Most of which hadn’t been read for thousands of years before Naelia. Some were even written in the old language.

  English she called it. A language that she now mastered along with all the other languages of earth. They should have been unreadable but Naelia cracked the language in no time at all. Her mind moved like lightening and she processed information and more importantly language unlike anyone else on earth. Some including Archon were beginning to think she was some kind of savant. None of that however mattered to Archon. The only thing he cared about was that Naelia and his family would have a chance to live happily ever after.

  After twisting, winding and descending for hours on end, Naelia came to a sudden stop and took a deep refreshing breath of the cleanest and crispest air she’d felt like she ever breathed. It was pure pleasure floating through the lungs. She felt her body tingle with joy. She felt a little intimidation knowing she would be mingling with her old friends and family but in that very moment she knew that she was right where she was supposed to be. Almost instinctively, she let out a deep guttural bellowing sound.

  This was her home. This is where Naelia was meant to raise her children. This place sung to her soul in a way that only a true home could do. Naelia looked towards Archon and could sense that he too was enjoying the smell and feel of the air. He lifted his nose and pulled the sweet smell of pure clean air into his lungs. Naelia watched as his face registered satisfaction.

  She looked around hesitantly at the growing crowd of Venusians that gathered to meet them. Archon called out hello, and Naelia felt kind of magnetism in the air as a particularly well made dark skinned Venusian male stepped forward. He stretched his body oddly then moved just feet away from them. He raised his hands up in the air and said in a very deep and commanding voice

  “Welcome home Naelia. It has been too long but you are now and will always be a one of us. I also welcome you lifemate Archon. We were visited by another UFE woman only a few days ago informing us of your impending arrival. I am Kavalla and I have recently become the new leader here.

  Our people are truly blessed that you have chosen to return home to us and to use the UFE resources to make all our lives better. There are several rooms open all over the west lava wing. The two of you can take a look around and decide which one you would like to move into. Once you two are ready join us in the main hall for a feast to celebration your arrival.”

  Hours later Archon woke up with Naelia twisted around his body. Brielle was calling for her mama from the other room. Naelia groaned and opened one of her eyes to look at Archon. A small blush crept into her cheeks as she thought about the way he’d just thoroughly loved her. They probably missed the entire feast. She was about to kiss him and get things started again when Brielle started crying even louder. Archon hopped out of bed and pulled on a robe. He looked over at Naelia said

  “I’m going to get dressed and head down to the main hall for food. You look like you need a little more rest from our activities. Go back to sleep, I’ll wake up in a few hours. I can handle the children for now.”

  Naelia smiled and blew him a kiss as Archon quietly closed the bedroom door. He walked into the kid’s room and lifted Brielle out of her bed and into his arms for a warm hug. She smiled at him and cooed.

  Archon drew Brielle near gave her a kiss and said,

  “Good morning Princess. Let’s try to be real quite so mommy can sleep in. Does that sound good to you?”

  Brielle giggled and smiled as he quietly lifted Bryson out of his crib and headed down the corridor to the main kitchen. As he expected the party was long over and everything was cleaned up. So he decided to scavenge through the cabinets to find something he could feed the children and Naelia when she got up. After a while he realized if they wanted to eat, he would need to cook it. So…pancakes, eggs and bacon. While Archon technically didn’t cooked often, he’d learned many years ago to cook and actually enjoyed knowing that he was capable of feeding and caring for Naelia and the kids. Brielle and Bryson laughed in their high chairs while he prepared everything. He set a plate in front of them and said

  “You two eat first. When you’re finished we can go wake mommy so she can eat.”

  The children probably didn’t understand a thing he said but both of them started shoveling food into their mouths with their hands. It shouldn’t have been, but it was somewhat surprising that Bryson and Brielle at just over a year old inhaled the entire plate so quickly and was looking for more. Then again, they were growing far more quickly than a human child. It seemed they were taking after their Reptilian father and would be full grown before they turned five years old.

  Archon smiled and piled high the plate again. This time Bryson ate a bit slower but still managed to eat every single bite. He were just starting to clean up, when Naelia walked into the kitchen. She looked at Archon and the children with such love in her eyes. She walked over to Archon and placed a small kiss on his lips. Not wanting it to end to quickly Archon pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss that was sure to make her knees weak. When Archon let go of Naelia, he could tell that the kiss had done its job. He smiled and winked at her before saying

  “Hey baby. I made breakfast for you too. It’s on the counter. They both ate. I'm on my way back to our room for a shower. See you in a few.”

  Then Archon ran quickly out of the kitchen. He heard her mumble something to the effect holy crap… that was one heck of kiss your dad just gave me.

  Archon walked up and turned the hot water in the shower and was just going to step in when he heard the
bedroom door open. He looked out from behind the shower curtain to see his very beautiful lifemate coming towards him with just enough mischief in her eyes to know that she was going to pay him back for that kiss.

  THE END

  Sneak peek at Alien Plunder

  Book 2 of the Chronicle from the United Federation of Earth

  Chapter 1 ~*~ August 21, 3209 Earth

  It was the morning of the attack. We were surrounding one of the largest Reptilian bases in the Sahara Desert. The Reptilians are a combative alien race from the planet Cancri. They are similarly shaped to the humans but are actually cold blooded. They are tall, with green scaly skin, three long fingers and an opposable thumb with talons on the ends. They have holes for ears, muscular legs and arms, and large oval shaped eyes. Reptilians also, reportedly have the ability to time travel, I say reportedly because that’s the UFE standard line, but I have seen evidence with my own eyes that proves it to be a fact not a theory.

  Anyhow, due to their cold blood, Reptilians have settled in rainforests, deserts and other warm climate areas. This base was their largest and most fortified. We knew the battle would be long and hard. There would be many casualties. We also knew this battle could turn the war. Inside the walls of the Reptilian compound were scientists creating new ways and a new race to destroy earth. We intended to bring the base down, stop their scientific research and liberate several Halfling children that were being kept inside. Two of the children belonged to one of our own; Archon and his lifemate Naelia.

  I am the commander of the most elite group of fighters in the UFE (United Federation of Earth). We are the last line of defense against the Galactic Unions invasion. I have eighteen of the best soldiers Earth has ever created under my command. Odelin my lifemate is one of them. Sylvie is another. Sylvie lived a life of luxury in France before war. The day the first Reptilian ship landed her life of extravagance and her family became nothing but memories. Now she’s a robotically enhanced resistant fighter in my unit. One of my best.

  The day of the attack, Sylvie’s life was about to take a major turn. I couldn’t say if it was for the worst or for the better but either way, after that day, she would never be the same. Everyone’s life changes dramatically once they meet their lifemate. Hell, before I met Odelin, I thought I was heterosexual. Now, however I couldn’t imagine being in anyone’s arms but Odelin’s. Well, before Sylvie met Quosk, she thought she hated every Alien on earth, even our allies. Anyhow the day started out very differently for both of them but unexpectedly merged together.

  Quosk was in his cell, when several of his own officers entered his tent. All of them had whips in their hands and Quosk knew that were going to beat him again. It was a common occurrence for the last five months of his life. Every day, since Quosk’s troops failed to bring down Fort Nuuk, he was punished. The Andromedain made sure that Quosk was whipped. One lash for every day they failed. His body couldn’t take much more. He needed to escape and he also knew that this was going to be his only shot. We were attacking. He could hear the battle get closer and he was pretty sure he could disappear in the chaos. No matter what, this was his best chance.

  That meant, no matter what, Quosk had to try to stop them from whipping him. He attacked the moment they came through the door. Still, several of them managed to swing their whips towards him and he felt the sting as they caught his skin. He was forced to the ground as six of his previously loyal soldiers mercilessly began to beat him. Soon there will be nothing left of him but bloody pieces of flesh.

  Quosk knew he could continue to try to fight, but he also knew he could never defeat all of them. That’s when he decided. If there was no escape in life, then he would have to escape in death. He decided to swallow the poison. He closed his eyes and tried not to see, feel or smell his own death. He swallowed it down in one gulp. The pain was much worse than he thought it would be. He silently screamed out his pain as he prayed to Ewmjir for death. He was desperate for the pain to end. It was so bad in fact, that he no longer cared where he went after this world. Paradise or underworld, it had to be better than here.

  Not far from where Quosk lay dying, Sylvie was bitching about the part she was playing in the attack. Instead of being part of the assault team, she was forced to do recon. Still, she did her job and did it well. Her mission was to make contact with a double agent inside the base and prepare to sneak the children out even before we claimed victory.

  Sylvie was annoyed and even a little angry because it took her so much longer than she expected to arrive at the predetermined meeting point. When she arrived her contact was nowhere in sight. She had a bad feeling that her delay may have ruined her chances of a successful mission. Still she remained hopeful as she looked around the place. Nothing unusual. No contact, no movement of any kind. It was eerily quiet. To quiet, she realized at the same time she was surrounded by almost fifty Galactic soldiers. Greens, Reptilians and even an Andromedain or two.

  Sylvie let out one hell of a battle cry and pulled her sword from the sheath. She sliced, chopped and hit while firing her semiautomatic assault rifle from her other hand. The fight was on. One might say that Sylvie was outmanned and outgunned that day, but when the chips are down Sylvie has always been at her best. For that reason, she let out another battle cry and dove in with more bravado. Victory, wasn’t going to escape her today. It just needed a little more help.

  Svet, Bokamoso and Saanvi was that help. They heard her call and charged in. It took no time at all for them to put the rest of the attackers down. The moment the last Galactic soldier lay dying on the ground Sylvie looked at her unit members and thanked them for helping her out of a bad situation. Bokamoso, Svet and Saanvi just laughed and didn't seem to give it another thought.

  Victory was short lived however. Within moments the yard filled again with even more Galactic soldiers. This time all four of them belted out a battle cry and dove back in. It was clear this time that it wasn’t ever going to slow down again. If Sylvie wanted to complete her mission, then she was going to have to do it under fire. With that in mind she caught Sven’s attention by shouting to him

  "The children should be in one of those buildings on the far side of the camp. I’m going to go and scope out."

  Then, without giving anyone an opportunity to respond, she took off in in the direction of the building. Sylvie followed her instincts straight to where she thought the children would be. By the time she managed to fight her way to the far side of the compound some of the fighting ended. The buildings were mostly empty with the exception of half a dozen or more young Reptilian children and a few dead Galactic soldiers. No Halflings.

  Sylvie looked around in confusion. This should have been the place. She took a deep settling breath and tried to clear her mind. That’s when she felt him. Her lifemate. Her lifemate was somewhere nearby. She caught a whiff of his scent in the air in a corridor off to the right. Sylvie took another deep breath and allowed his woodsy scent to fill her nostrils. Her feet moving themselves in his direction. Each step taking her slowly closer to his nearly silent beating heart. Each beat a little slower than the one before.

  Sylvie let her life force lead her to her lifemate. Who and what she found shocked her to her core. There he was a Reptilian, lying on the concrete floor, bleeding profusely from his eyes, ears, nose and throat. He smelled of poison and his body was covered head to toe in lacerations. The lacerations were horrific but none looked deadly… them again… The poison however would require immediate action. What to do? What to do? Help him, kill him, leave him…

  Sylvie was on her own, no one could help her. His life was in her hands. If she did nothing, he would die. If she did something she would hate herself. Yet… how could she give up her one and only chance at happiness. He was a Reptilian. The enemy. An alien. A despised Alien. Yet… Her heart already called to his. Her life force already loved his. Sylvie screamed as she felt the tears fall from her eyes.

  Her lifemate is a Reptilian. He was Galactic soldier and her
enemy. If her allies or for that matter her own unit… her brother in arms knew that Sylvie was considering saving him, she would be dead in their eyes. If she was going to do this, she knew she had to take him away. Go into hiding somewhere and never look back.

  Her lifemate is a Reptilian, a monster who deserves to die. In her mind she felt like they could never be together yet... Sylvie knew that she couldn’t walk away. So, that day, despite knowing that she was making the biggest mistake of her life, Sylvie grabbed him in her arms and ran. She was going to find a way to save her lifemates life. She knew she couldn't let him die, no matter what he was. Nothing mattered but that she save him. He was her lifemate and Sylvie had save him no matter what happened. Then, later, much later she would decide what was right or wrong.