Alien Gladiator's Claim
Page 17
Maybe, he thought, he could even get the spikes removed from his back. He ran his hand down the back of his neck, feeling the sharp spikes that had been inserted into his skin. He had always hated them, but he had pretended to like them when his first Master had gotten them inserted.
After all, who had he been to counter it as a slave?
Maybe, if they went to the new planet, he could be someone completely different. He could be someone truer to who he really was.
The possibility of being someone else, of having a real future, made Mal giddy as well anxious. He didn’t know how to be a free man. He didn’t know how to think for himself, how to create and have dreams.
But he was sure that Tanya would show him how. She knew how to live as a free woman. And she would hold his hand through it. He just knew she would – it was in her nature to be caring and supportive.
As long as she was at his side, he could do anything and be anyone he wanted.
With her, for the first time, Mal felt complete.
Epilogue
Tanya
Tanya and Mal had been traveling through the universe for a couple of months. The spacecraft they had stolen from Slinin hadn’t been good enough for interplanetary travel. So, they had landed on the first planet they crossed, hoping that no one would arrest them.
They had been lucky enough to find a peaceful planet, and Mal had managed to trade the spacecraft for something a little more apt for traveling.
The ship that they had taken was apparently a very modern, new version, and the creatures they encountered – Domins – were thrilled at the technology they could copy and use for themselves. They had given Mal a ship that was more than perfect for traveling from one planet to the next.
Eventually, they would arrive at the planet they had talked about when they had escaped Saitha. The planet that would accept any race and species.
But on the way, they decided they wanted to see the universe. Every now and then, when they crossed another planet, they stopped and stayed for a while. Days sometimes, weeks other times. All the planets were low-tech planets, based on the outskirts of the galaxy, and they were unlikely to have a large Saithin presence or avid watchers of the gladiator tournaments.
Tanya and Mal were still worried that Mal would be recognized, or that the Saithin that seemed to have infiltrated the galaxy would recognize Mal as a warrior and try to capture him again. They wanted to travel as far as possible and lay low for as long as possible. So that his name could be forgotten. So that they could start a new life without his past catching up with them.
It wasn’t an easy life. Often, they felt ridiculous. But they clung to each other, holding onto the one thing that was solid. Their relationship.
Despite being on the run, so to speak, the traveling was wonderful. Tanya had seen the most beautiful sites she could ever imagine – a waterfall in zero gravity, a planet where the fields lit up every night with glowing flowers as far as the eye could see.
Now, they stood at a calm, sunny beach on a small planet mostly populated by pirates and outlaws. At first, Tanya had been worried that it would be a hostile environment. But since they had arrived, no one had messed with them at all.
Tanya was sure that it was because of Mal’s size, his intimidating appearance, and the fact that no matter what, neither of them would ever allow anyone to enslave them again. It was a determination that seemed to scare off most people who might otherwise get it in their minds to do so.
Tanya looked out over the sea. The beach reminded her of her childhood tropical vacations, with her father and mother who always seemed to be working. Tanya and her sister usually found things to keep themselves occupied with. As they had grown older, Tanya had found things to do by herself, without her sister.
“It’s beautiful,” Tanya said to Mal, who stood next to her. When she looked up at him, he had a look of nostalgia on his face, and she could tell that it reminded him of his own childhood.
He didn’t respond. Tanya knew enough from what he had told her over the past couple of months to know that he was reminiscing too.
“This would be a great place to raise a child,” Tanya said.
She glanced up at him.
“It would,” Mal said. “Getting to know the locals might be a challenge, but everyone has a mean facade to protect themselves.”
“Like we do,” Tanya said.
Mal smiled at her.
“Exactly.
She kept looking at him, but he turned his eyes back to the ocean. He wasn’t getting the hint.
“Mal,” she said. He looked at her. “I’m pregnant,” she said.
Mal blinked at her. “What?”
She nodded.
“I know. I didn’t know it would even be possible.”
“Me neither,” Mal said, shaking his head. “Are you sure?”
Tanya nodded. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure. It would be a while before the baby is born, but we need to start thinking about our future.”
Mal wrapped his arm around Tanya’s shoulders.
“My love, I have been thinking about our future since the day I met you.”
Tanya smiled, huddling tighter against Mal. She loved him so much. The past couple of months with him have been fantastic – every day she got to know a little more about him and she was always surprised, enthralled.
“What are we going to do?” she asked. “Where are we going to live? I don’t want our child to grow up a nomad.”
Mal looked over at the ocean again. “We are going to live right here,” he said. “We are going to make a home and we are going to raise our children to know that the free world is the only world that is worth living in.”
Tanya nodded and embraced Mal. He dipped his head and kissed her. They stood together, watching the twin suns set over the water.
It was perfect.
The End
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Star Gladiators
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