by Pearl Tate
We see each other every night. At first, I was convinced it was all my imagination. But overhearing the conversations my mother—the Sacred Mother—is discussing with the head medical doctor for what they’ve called The Mating Re-Emergence Study, I know that what’s happening to me is just another aspect of our civilization with the matings. Everyone is different, and since I’m so different to begin with, it’s not surprising.
Entering my personal rooms, I rush to the bathing facility, thankful for the small amount of privacy I’ve been afforded. I’d no idea that I’m so different. Sure, I’m blind. But they’ve been hiding that I have the coloring of the Quasar shamans. They’re another sect of our people that I never even knew existed—and all this time they’ve hid that knowledge from me.
Usually they aren’t born blind, though, and I’ve no others to talk to or compare notes with. Any that have been born since my birth have either been sent off planet or disappeared. And when I say sent off planet, I mean to the planet Dactyles… which is another place—a prison planet— I’ve never heard of.
More things that were kept from me—matings, other planets we travel to and live on, and the biggest thing of all… dwellings above ground right above my head. After my first examinations, when the physicians were vague and erratic with what they’d share with me, I spent long periods of time in my daily reflections, listening as conversations would be revealed. Of course, at first I thought I was imagining it, but as my skills developed and I was able to control what I’d overhear and experience, I knew there was so much not being shared.
I’ve made multiple attempts to leave since then in an effort to see whether I’m being watched or monitored. Every time I’ve casually trekked through the halls under the guise of testing my new vision, they’ve stopped me and directed me back deeper into our underground dwellings. From my forays during daily reflections, I know where all the exit points to the surface are now.
There are thousands of others above me. Living, breathing, and traveling off planet. Why this was all hidden, I’m not exactly sure. I assume fear? Fear of my differences and what I’d eventually become or develop into?
Grabbing the small bag of provisions I’ve gathered over the last seven daily rotations in anticipation of this moment, I try to slow my racing heart. My mate is still crying and panicking, and I can’t get to her. My own control wavers as I try to determine quickly where exactly she is.
Could she be on the planet? I sense she’s coming here with others of her race on one of the Quasar spacecrafts. I know they should be arriving any time, but I was under the impression she’d come to me. What could be happening? What’s that creature that I received a glimpse of from her?
Pulling out the long Helper robe with a hood, I put it on, pulling the head covering up and preparing to exit as quickly as possible. I’ve intentionally never tried to work my way toward the closest exit to the above ground, knowing that this day would eventually come. The moment when I’d want to leave as quickly as possible. The only thing I can try to do is move quickly.
Opening the door, I sprint toward my dwelling’s exit, crashing into Helper Tracala as I round the corner. She bounces off of me, sliding back across the floor several feet, something that could have never happened only ten daily rotations ago. In addition to my vision and the markings that glow on my skin, I’ve grown. I’m now close to being as tall as her.
“Mihile! What are you doing wearing the Helper robe?” Her question has me gathering up the hem to turn and spin, running in the opposite direction down the hall from her. “Where are you going?”
Her yell fades behind me as I pick up speed. This is the only opportunity I’m going to get, and I don’t know how much time I’ll have now that she knows my direction. Have they planned for this like I have?
They can’t possibly know what I know. Even I could never have dreamed up the change in my vision that enables me to see the energy around everyone and everything. From what I understand, the way I see the world around me is completely different but just as powerful as the vision everyone else has. Not the same, but maybe even better.
The first time I saw my mother after my new vision solidified, I was horrified. Yes, she has the golden aura of the Sacred line, with a halo of light around her entire body. It flexes and extends sometimes as much as an arm’s length around her, but she also has cyclones of black and grey, swirling vortexes everywhere. I don’t know exactly what they are, but from my experiences over the last rotations, they aren’t good. Some of them extend out of her like lines, latching onto others that she controls.
I was appalled at the three that extended toward me. Despite everything I tried, there didn’t seem to be a way to get rid of them. Now that I’m aware of them, I watch them closely, and they expose the lies and deceit by the way they flicker and pulse during conversations with her.
Nauseated and crushed, I’ve avoided her as much as possible without giving away why. It’s too hard to see someone that I’ve loved and admired my entire life, continue to lie even when I express an interest in things that I know aren’t true. I’ve given her every opportunity to be honest with me.
My heart crashes in my chest as I pant, running full speed toward the exit I know is hidden in the back of the closest Sanctuary. The crowd from the Presentation Day holiday has begun as others wearing their best attire gather. I take advantage of the crowd, dropping my head and slowing my feet. Using the few moments to catch my breath, I work my way toward the back of the Sanctuary to the Presentation Box. It’s the centerpiece for the celebration that we enjoy annually.
I find it ironic that my day of escape from the underground prison that’s confined me my entire life, is also the day we celebrate the Sacred Mother returning from death to lead us to the new world of Quasar. Because our people were divided on whether or not to leave the old world, and the Sacred Mother represented the new thinking and desire to change and get off the planet, she sacrificed herself to the males and mated couples who believed in staying on our previous planet Marsell.
She was killed by the naysayers in their zealous quest to stop the idea, but when she came back to life three days later, she was hailed as the Sacred Mother. Chosen by God through her sacrifice, she led the faithful to the new world of Quasar. Rounding behind the Presentation Box, I press on the access panel I know leads to the secret stairwell, clearly marked on the plans I accessed earlier. When nothing happens, I realize that it’s programmed.
In my frustration, I pound harder and the stone crumbles easily around the access panel. Digging my fingers into the loose rock, I begin clearing it away quickly, planning to dig myself out if I have to. No one has noticed yet, so I work frantically to get it out of the way.
“What are you doing, son?” My mother’s voice has my heart speeding up as I turn slowly to address her.
Planting my feet, I set my jaw, ready to fight for my freedom. “I’m leaving,” I breathe out, relieved to notice that my mate is alive and calmer than she was only moments ago. Something is happening that’s helping her relax, and it’s good timing for me.
“Leaving? To go where?” Stepping closer, my mother cocks her head to the side. One of the strange vortexes of grey and black, pulses, skittering across my chest, touching down briefly and causing me to shiver in disgust.
She knows. She knows what I intend and why. Why is she still continuing with this lie?
“I’m going to the surface. My mate—”
“Your what?” The genuine surprise on her face is clear because she’d no idea I knew. How can she seem to know so much, but not realize all I now know?
“My mate. The female who I see in my daily reflections… she’s close…” Turning slightly toward the panel I’ve already destroyed half the rock surface around, I demand, “Let me out.”
The steely resolve in my voice has her nodding slowly with a sad smile. “Of course, Mihile.” Gesturing toward the panel again, she adds, “Just hold your hand against the reader, and I’ll get it programmed for you.”
Excited, I don’t stop to consider why she doesn’t just release it. As my hand settles, a surge of energy draws my palm flat against the surface, shooting a wave of power into my body. I’ve never felt anything close to the pain I experience at this moment as my entire body tightens. Wave after wave flows through me as my eyes meet hers in shock.
She seems surprised as we stand looking at each other. Grinding my teeth, I plant my feet firmer onto the rocky surface to push back. Pushing… pushing…. whatever this is… back, sending the pulse of the energy I can feel pricking at all my nerve endings and trying to incapacitate me. Pushing it… away.
I can physically sense the hum of all the energy around us fading. With a strange pop and snap that ricochets through my body, everything goes dark.
CHAPTER FIVE
- Nitara
I trail after Selas with Karen watching my back as we creep through the deserted halls of this strange underground facility on Quasar. It’s taken some time, but I’m finally here. On Quasar.
There have been successes—such as finding Chevepak, April’s mate. He’s leading us into the Mating Re-emergence Study facility that he escaped from because once he told everyone who and what he’d seen here, I knew this was where I’d find my mate.
Ever since this morning when I woke with the Marel standing over me, I haven’t been able to “feel” my mate. It’s strange how quickly I’ve come to terms with always having him available to me. Not being able to check in on his feelings has been hell! Right now, it’s just… blank. I mean, I know he’s still there. It’s like I can hear him breathing, but he won’t wake up.
Since that happened, we’ve been going like crazy too. Once Selas was able to contact the Discovery from the Marel’s spaceship, they sent some teams over to find Brock, who’d gone through the entire craft killing every single one of the aliens they called the Marel! The carnage was incredible. The halls were filled with body parts and black blood that’ll fill my nightmares for years to come.
By the time they’d dealt with poking around with the Marel computer and figured out that more of the creepy aliens are on their way, I could barely stand the sight of the place! We went back to the Discovery to clean up—and get real clothes after Selas put us in some makeshift bedding he found in one of the rooms.
This time, Susan came with us down to the planet instead of Brock to get the abused males with Matthias. To say I was disappointed to find that my mate wasn’t one of the abused males is putting it mildly. I thought for sure he’d be there with them.
But after Selas and Karen took off with the rescues back up to the Discovery, Matthias led Susan, April, and me to the resistance headquarters where Chevepak was found. He’s the one that gave us all the information on where he was briefly held, and what they’re doing there.
We had to leave quickly when the Council’s Contingent showed up, storming the doors and arresting and detaining the members of The Proscribe Movement. We escaped underground and backtracked to where Chevepak had been held.
I won’t admit this to anyone, but I’m glad it happened. I’m not sure they totally believed me when I said I was sure it was my mate they were holding, but when Chevepak described him, with light blonde hair and blue eyes… definitely him.
I found out his name is Mihile. Even though we’ve been able to see each other in dreams and once in my meditations, speaking hasn’t been an option, although I love the cadence of his voice as he mumbles words to me in his language. There have been plenty of times we’ve just sat across from each other staring. His blue eyes are incredible, so blue they’re almost white, although his dark pupil is oval shaped. He definitely doesn’t look quite human.
This place though, it couldn’t look much more like an Earth hospital right out of a cheesy medical drama from television. Sterile, empty halls echo our footsteps as we slowly move through them. The hum of the drone behind me is the only sound as we creep through the deserted corridor.
A friend of Chevepak who works for some news group has met up with us to document—everything. April brought a copy of the Accord agreement made between the Ashen and Quasars thousands of years ago that proves that the Quasar women requested the matings stop. Stored on a crystal stone, it proves the Council was lying all these years while everyone was taught to believe that advanced technology bred the matings out of their systems. But come to find out, it was deliberately done!
The matings disappearing hasn’t had the negative side effects for the women, but the men’s lives have been completely changed. They no longer go entirely through puberty, stunting their growth. In addition to now being smaller than the women, they can’t even get erections naturally, limiting not only their sexual lives but also limiting procreation.
This information needs to be shared with everyone, but so far, only those who’ve seen the agreement know for sure. It’s like a live broadcast in your head, from what April’s said. Unfortunately, it can only “broadcast” to three people at a time and until they can figure out a way to get the information released to the general public, the Councilors—all female, of course—are going to do everything they can to stop everyone from finding out.
Pausing at the juncture to another hall, Chevepak holds up his hand, signaling without words for us to pause. Pressing my back against the wall, I close my eyes as a wave of panic runs through my senses. That’s definitely not my feelings. They’re his.
A strange sense of calm has been enveloping me for the last few hours. Ever since April found Chevepak, I’ve known… just known that everything is going exactly the way it’s supposed to. I mean, what are the odds?
Letting out a relieved exhale, I feel my left forearm grabbed and squeezed lightly and glance over at Karen who’s looking at me questioningly. I smile as best I can before looking to where she’s pointing. Chevepak has already turned the corner, and Selas is looking back at us, waiting for me to get it together.
Jumping forward, I rush toward him, anxious to get to my mate. Knowing he’s panicked but okay is better than not feeling him at all. Now I know what it must be like to be pregnant and just waiting for your baby to move. That anxious, sitting on the edge of your seat feeling was driving me crazy!
In addition to feeling Mihile’s panic, I also realize just how close we are. Picking up my pace, I quickly pass Selas, almost catching up to Chevepak as my excitement ramps up. He’s here!
The rooms we’re passing are all empty, but the closed door near the end of the hall is calling to me. Sure enough, we pass a window I can barely see over the edge of that looks into the room I’m being drawn toward. My skin prickles uneasily as I realize the glass has metal reinforcements. They’re such assholes to be treating him this way.
A rush of air passes over me as the door slides open as soon as I reach it, passing Chevepak who stopped to glance briefly through the glass and into the room. I just want to get in there and make sure he’s okay.
Just as described, I see Mihile strapped to what looks like a recliner, wearing only a pair of skimpy, white underwear. Despite the circumstances, my heart soars into my throat. He’s incredible looking.
I’ve never been attracted to white men before, preferring the dark, brooding good looks from my own heritage, but everything about him is compelling and draws me in. His light hair is plaited to his head in a similar style to most Quasar men. While I hesitate, his large body jerks, eyes opening. There’s very little light, but I can see the reflection and glow from his faint mating marks on his chest.
A sob escapes my lips as I throw myself across his chest, gazing into his enchanting eyes that widen in surprise and horror. Someone flickers on a light, and I tilt back to take in the cut muscles across his chest right before his hair flares out around his head and descends around me, wrapping me up as the strands stroke and dance around me.
A female voice I don’t recognize states loudly, “You’re all trapped now. Let the negotiations begin.” Confused, I pull back, batting away a chunk of hair that seems determ
ined to obstruct my view.
The wall behind me has lit up and an older woman gazes at us, her light blue eyes locked to mine. She looks so much like… Mihile. Could they be related?
CHAPTER SIX
- Mihile
My eyes open to the faint outline of my mother standing over me. Jerking up, large metal cuffs from the chair I’ve been restrained in stop me from sitting up. Flexing my arms, I test the bindings again. “I’m glad you woke up to speak with me.”
Her voice is conversational as if I’m not strapped into a reclining position with no other choice. Ignoring her, I realize what drew me out of unconsciousness. My mate’s so close! Surely... she isn’t in this facility?
The idea that she could be in captivity like I am, makes my heart accelerate in panic and fear. Could this be why my mother is here? To gloat about how they’ve captured her, and we’ll be part of their ongoing study... together?
I was so close… so close to getting out. It’s frustrating to be foiled after waiting so long and taking my time to make sure that I had a plan to leave through an entrance without their knowledge. They must have been watching me closer than I suspected.
But why? Surely not just for my own protection? I know there has to be something better than this, even if I’ve never been above ground. I started to be able to project myself during my daily reflections and I’ve been above ground mentally. It’s beautiful with the hazy sun shining its muted colors, streaming around everything I see.
Lifting my head slightly, I notice that she’s the only one here as she continues on as if I agreed to speak with her. “I never meant for things to come to this between us. Please, Mihile… believe me when I say that I love you and only want what’s best for you.”
Cocking my head slightly, I take in the swirling colors surrounding her as energy displays what she isn’t saying with words. She does believe that she’s doing the right thing. Her energy crackles even as the dark plumes of circular grey energy snaps and flexes between us, making my skin crawl.