by S. J. Smith
“I’m fine.” I nod, trying to disguise the tears. “I just don’t want you to go.”
Arlaf doesn’t allow me to get emotional, which is exactly what I need in that moment. Instead, he tugs me towards him, and he kisses me with a fiery passion that makes me forget absolutely everything.
It’s hard, the knowledge that they’re still leaving remains in the back of my mind, but I’m still able to lose myself in the sensations that are flowing through my body as Wrotg and Arlaf explore me, shifting their shapes and experimenting much more than last time.
The orgasms that crash through my body are intense, all powerful, but also bittersweet. I’m glad this has happened, that we’ve had the chance to be together once more, but it makes me even sadder to be losing them.
There has to be something I can do. There must be a solution here, I just need to think.
*****
They’ve gone. They’ve really gone.
I couldn’t solve it. I tried, I really did, but it was already too late. There was nothing I could do.
I stood there, watching them leave. I saw the ship take off with my own eyes. They vanished from sight without even a glance back, without any kind of emotional goodbye. Of course, I have no real idea to how their culture works in this sort of scenario, but I do know that I’m gutted. I know that my heart is ruined, and that I might never be the same again.
Everyone else is over the moon to finally have our planet back; they’re practically throwing a party. I don’t think I ever would have been that happy for life to return to what the others consider ‘normal’, but now I’m absolutely devastated.
Life in the war has been my entire life; it’s all that I know. Even without the fact that I’ve just lost the men that I really think I might love, I would be hating this. The long bleak future that stretches out ahead of me is almost unbearable.
My dad has been serendipitously shooting me looks over the last few hours, wanting me to acknowledge the fact that he’s won, but I refuse to even see him. I may be dead to him, but so is he to me. In fact, I might just leave this colony all over again. Everyone else might be happy to live under his control, but there’s no way that I can do it again.
***
But I don’t go. I’m too depressed to even think about leaving. I simply stay, existing, doing only what needs to be done to get by. My dad is loving his new found role, relishing being in charge, but even that isn’t enough to give me the motivation to go.
Everyone now has homes, jobs, structure… they all think that he’s the best thing in the entire world. Even I have a place in this new found society, but I still don’t feel a part of it. I still feel like an outsider.
I know that I could be making a real go of things here, I really could be making an effort, but I don’t want to. I just want to exist for as long as I can until… well, I don’t know really. I don’t exactly have a plan.
I guess I’ll just figure that out as I go along.
*****
Then, all of a sudden as if from nowhere, everything takes a turn for the worse. I become so incredibly ill that I’m convinced I’m going to die. It’s the only thing that makes me glad I stayed; at least here I don’t have to be completely by myself in this horrific situation. I can go and see a doctor any time I like.
And I will, as soon as I work up the ability to move.
I’m sick, sweaty, flu like, and I have no idea where from. There isn’t even anything going around. It came on so quickly, and has stuck around for far too long to be normal.
I need to see a medical professional soon. I just need to be able to get up and move without violently vomiting.
It takes me a couple of days, but I eventually make my way to the front door. It’s a horrible journey, which makes me feel a million times worse, but I’m too afraid to stay in any longer. I don’t want to die, not here, not alone, not like this.
As I stagger through the streets of our new community, I’m aware of all the eyes on me, but no one stops to speak to me, or to help me. They all know who I am, and they’re aware that my dad hates me, so none of them bother to talk to me. Of course they don’t want to hear my side, why would they, I’m the betrayer.
“Okay.” the doctor finally says, in a bored sounding voice. “We don’t have the ultrasound technology to do any dating or checks, but I can confirm from your bloodwork that you’re pregnant.”
There has been a baby boom since things have been safe – people wanting to restart the population, which is why it’s unlikely that he’s surprised by the revelation.
But I sure as hell am!
“No,” I sit up, shaking my head. There’s no way. I can’t be pregnant; I’ve never had…
Wait!
Is it possible? Could that even happen? If so, then what does that mean? Surely it can’t be good?!
The doctor is still talking to me, giving me a lot of advice about what to and what not to eat, but it’s all going over my head. There’s only one thought that keeps swirling around inside my head.
I’m having a baby. An alien baby. Wrotg and Arlaf have somehow managed to defy all logic, and now I’m pregnant.
I glance down at my stomach, panicking heavily at the prospect of something unknown, something new growing inside of me.
What is it? Human? Nya? A combination?
Something dangerous…?
*****
I remain in bed for a few days, just pondering on my new dilemma, only getting up when I need to vomit for what feels like the one millionth time. I have no idea how the hell I’m going to deal with this situation by myself, what the hell can I even do? There’s no option for me, I’m going to have this baby, but what then? What’s next for me?
What I really need to do is find a way to communicate with Wrotg and Arlaf to let them know, to ask them for help. They may know what will happen to me, they may have some of the answers I’m looking for.
Of course, they may not but I’d like them to know anyway. I don’t want to be in this alone.
But of course, they’re in another galaxy entirely. There’s no magical way to speak to them…
Or is there?
I suddenly sit up, panic stricken by the new idea that maybe, just maybe, my dad might have a communication method of some sort. From what I heard in whispered rumors, the aliens from the underground movement left a lot of technology behind, just in case.
I throw some clothes on, my heart pounding, and I race across the streets until I reach my father’s home. I probably look like a mad woman, but I really don’t care. I feel mad, so it really doesn’t matter what other people think of me.
Knock, knock, knock.
I pound heavily and furiously on the door, desperate for him to answer. I know he’s ignoring me, I know that he hates me, but this is more important than that. He’s going to have to talk to me, whether he likes it or not.
After what feels like forever, his front door swings open.
“What Angie?” he snaps as soon as his eyes spot me. He eyes me up and down, smirking to himself, before continuing. “What do you want?”
“I just… dad I really need your help right now.”
He must be able to see the sickly look on my face, and the desperation in my eyes because by some miracle he invites me in.
Or maybe he’s just afraid that I’ll embarrass him.
“Come on.”
I step inside, taking a second to look about in amazement at the luxury he’s somehow living in. It’s not like the rest of us are living in squalor anymore, but none of us our homes are anything like this.
Of course, this is all just a part of his ‘I’m better than you’ routine, but I can’t help but feel a little impressed and jealous all over again.
“What’s wrong, Angie?” my dad finally sighs, forcing me to talk.
“I… I need to…” I start stammering, suddenly wondering how the hell I’m going to get this sentence out. I should have planned what I was going to say before rushing over here like
a loon. This is a conversation that I really needed to plan out in advance – I was an idiot for not doing so.
“What?” he yells. “Just say it.” He stands up, looming over me, getting right in my face.
His anger is enough to make me blurt out my request without even thinking. He’s scaring me, and I know that if I don’t speak now I never will. “I need to talk to the Nya dad, it’s important.”
“Oh for God’s sake. Haven’t you left all of that bullshit behind?” He slumps back into his seat, shaking his head frustrated at me. “They’re gone, we won. I know you got a little confused somewhere along the way, but it’s time to put this to bed now.”
“I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important.” The fact that he hasn’t immediately outright said no, that it’s impossible, suggests to me that there might just be a way. He probably has something somewhere; I just need to persuade him to let me use it. But how? “I… I really, really need this.”
“Why?” he shoots back, completely stumping me.
I can’t tell him the reason why, can I? Would it be best to, or will that ensure that he’ll never agree to it? Knowing how much he hates the aliens, he might even have me killed as some kind of example.
No, I can’t tell him that I’m pregnant, but I have to say something.
“I… I…” I try, but like an idiot, nothing comes out.
“Get out, Angie. Stop embarrassing yourself. You have a life now, and you’re going to end up throwing it all away.”
I wish I had something I could throw back, but I don’t. There’s just no way.
I guess I’ll just have to do it alone.
“Never mind, dad. Don’t worry about it.” I stand up, smiling weakly. “You’re right. Just a moment of madness.”
With that I spin on my heels and leave his home without even glancing back. He’s never been a father to me, so why the hell did I expect anything different now?
I’m better on my own anyway, I always have been.
*****
I wait until the early hours of the morning before I sneak back there. Filled with desperation, and a new found determination, the side effects of being pregnant seem to subside for the time being, which is perfect.
This might not work – in fact, chances are it probably won’t – but I don’t have any choice. I have to do something. There’s a chance that I might be able to speak to Wrotg and Arlaf, to finally tell them the truth, and I can’t just let that pass me by.
Security is lax – I guess because my dad is confident in his new found role – so it isn’t a challenge at all for me to get in. I simply slide through one of the windows and creep room to room, until I find exactly what I’m looking for, just what I suspected was here.
Devices, made by the Nya race, and lots of them.
They helped us, and my dad hates them. It’s such a pointless cycle.
I play about with everything, until I find something that I’m sure must be for communication. I can’t be certain, but everything else seems to be some kind of weapon.
I fiddle with the buttons until it all lights up, then I take the chance to relay the message that I’ve been practicing all afternoon. I can’t risk getting caught out before I’ve at least attempted to do what I came here for.
I speak, knowing that it’s probably pointless, knowing that even if by some miracle it’s heard, there won’t be many that can understand it. But it’s the only chance I have, and I need to at least try.
“Erm… okay,” I say, feeling stupid. “This is a message for Wrotg and Arlaf. It’s Angie. This might be crazy but I’m… I’m pregnant. I’m having a baby, which of course is yours. One of yours. I just…” The tears begin to fall as I speak. I’m so overwhelmed by all of this; I don’t even know where to begin. How can I explain my bizarre situation in just a few short sentences? “I don’t know what to do, I don’t know whether it’ll be safe, or… or anything. I just… I don’t know.”
Then I’m shocked by a noise, it cuts me short. I simply switch the machine off and race outside once more. It isn’t until I reach my home that I realize that I’m still gripping tightly to the device, as if my life depends on it.
***
I expect all kinds of things to happen over the next few days, but nothing does. I get no response from the Nya, and my father doesn’t come after me for stealing from him.
Either he doesn’t know, or he doesn’t care.
As time passes, the pregnancy becomes increasingly difficult to hide, meaning that I can barely go outside. Everyone will know the truth, I’m sure of it, and I’m terrified of being lynch mobbed.
I don’t really have any option. If I don’t hear anything soon I’m going to have to leave. I’ll have to do this alone.
I don’t know what I have growing inside of me, and I really don’t want to inflict danger upon the last remaining humans, whatever I think of them. I made the selfish decisions that led me to this position, so it should only be me that bears the consequences of them.
I might be terrified, but I don’t see any other way out. It’s either do this alone, or die.
Once the choice has been made in my mind, I grab the device, the remaining clothes that I have and I sneak out in the dead of night, leaving everyone and everything behind.
*****
Epilogue
One year later…
Wrotg and Arlaf
We did not want to leave Earth, but we had to, to save Angie. If we’d stayed, she would have been killed. We intended to return, when the time was right, but time doesn’t move in the same way for us that it does on Earth. We don’t notice the time passing in the same way that we notice humans do, so it doesn’t feel like we’ve been away for long.
But then we got a message. It was crackled, distorted, and made little sense, but it was her, and that was enough to make us return.
We love her. Our emotions might be different to that of humans, but the concept of love is similar. And that’s what we feel for her.
So now we’re back to find to her. The noise machine is still going on Earth, which is unbearable, but she’s worth it. We need to see her, to find her, to be with her once more.
The only problem is we’ve been examining the human colony for a very long time, and there is no sign of her. We don’t want to communicate with the humans, for fear of starting another war, but we need to see her. We’ve come all this way; we need to find her now.
Maybe she isn’t here.
We think in unison, before starting a hunt. She always did prefer to be away from the rest of the human race, so it’s likely that we’re right about this. Luckily, we have a good sense of smell, so this shouldn’t be too difficult.
We search for a while, up and down the country, until we finally lay our eyes upon her. But she isn’t alone.
Angie is cradling a newborn human Nya hybrid in her arms.
She has a baby!
***
It takes some time, but eventually we manage to build up a brand new colony on Earth, where humans, hybrids and aliens who hated the war live together peacefully. Some of the other Nya came to join us, the ones who had worked alongside us in the underground movement.
It has been challenging, certainly not perfect, but we have now managed to convince the other humans that we’re not out to harm them, just to live peacefully – in the way we thought we were going to in the first place. Even the noise machine is gone, but they still have it, just in case.
But none of that really matters. Not to us. What truly matters is us, Angie, and our baby Jack – the first of many hybrids. We’re happy now, together, and nothing will ever be able to tear us apart again.
THE END
Bonus Story 35 of 40
Stormy Love
Prologue
Lizzy walked into the jewelry boutique to cheer herself up. She was going to have to speak to her mother later and that was always a horrible situation. So she figured buying a nice bracelet would lift her spirits. The owner knew her fro
m a month back, the last time she had to speak to her mother.
“Hello, Miss Storm, it is good of you to return. Is there anything I can help you with, a problem with your last purchase?” The salesman asked. She had to search her memory for his name. She smiled.
“I am immensely satisfied with my last purchase, Reginald, and I was wanting to purchase another. I feel the need for a second bracelet,” she told him. He was pleased she remembered his name. Reginald was an older man, stout with grey hair and a three-thousand-dollar suit.
“Well, Miss Storm we have some wonderful new pieces over here you may be interested in. I am happy you enjoy your first purchase with us,” Reginald pulled out a velvet tray of bracelets she was interested in looking at from the many under the glass counter. Then he looked up as another customer came through the door. Lizzy smiled.
“Go see what he needs, Reginald, I am going to be a minute looking at these,” she told him taking off her coat and setting it with her purse on the counter.
He smiled and moved off greeting the new customer. Lizzy looked over the beautiful pieces. She wanted to buy them all, but despite her trust fund she did not like indulging herself that much. One expensive bracelet would work for today. There was a loose silver chain bracelet with amethysts set all around the metal. She shook her head. She was hard on anything with a clasp. Then she looked at a solid, wide bracelet that would slide over her wrist, but was snug enough to not fall off. It was also silver set with two emeralds and a ruby between them. They were good sized stones too. Wearing it, she raised it up and held it in front of her, looking in the mirror. It fit and looked good. As good as her previous purchase that was on her other wrist. Lizzy had a thing for emeralds and rubies so she decided that she would get that one. It matched her dark red hair and bright green eyes.