by Karen Kelley
A camera? They were watching him?
That’s all it could be. Great, now he felt like a monkey in a damned zoo! Okay, they wanted to observe the human? He’d give them something to look at. He came off the bed and bent at the waist away from the light. Let them get an eyeful! He raised the cloth he wore, then slapped his butt.
“This is what I think of you and your bullshit planet!”
“What is he doing now?” Torcara asked as she watched the screen on the wall.
Rabare squinted even though the screen took up most of one wall. “He’s slapping his bottom.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It must be some kind of Earth custom.” She cleared her throat. “He’s quite handsome, you know.”
“Yes, he is that.”
“Lara seems to care deeply for him.”
Rabare gave the impression she watched the screen, but Torcara knew her well and wasn’t fooled. She knew exactly what the other Elder was doing.
“I’ll not change my mind. If I let him go, he could cause trouble for all of us.”
“But he was right.” She let out a long sigh. “The people do love us, I’ll not dispute that with you, but they feel stifled. We have to make some changes, or they may make them for us.”
“I know.”
“You do?” Rabare asked with surprise.
“Of course I do. I’m not blind. I can see what’s going on.”
“I have an idea how we can change all that.” Rabare wore a self-satisfied smile.
Torcara didn’t think she wanted to hear her idea. Rabare was a dreamer and had come up with a few slightly off-balance schemes in the past. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear her newest one, but something had to be done.
“Okay, tell me what it is you think will help Nerak.”
Chapter 30
T he door opened, and Lara’s companion unit came to where she was attempting to meditate. She’d hoped to lose herself, maybe connect with Sam and find out what was happening, but she couldn’t keep her concentration and failed miserably.
“Aasera to see you, Healer.”
She jumped to her feet and quickly changed into her green robe. Maybe Aasera had news.
She hurried to the other room. “Aasera, where’s Sam?”
When Aasera turned, Lara saw the pity in the grandmother’s clear gray eyes and understood the news she brought would not be good.
“They’ve locked him away…down below.”
Lara grabbed the back of the lounging sofa to steady herself.
Not down there. Sam would go mad. The rooms were small, windowless. She remembered how much he said he enjoyed the outdoors, exploring. No, he wouldn’t survive locked up.
“I have to help him.” She began to pace the room.
“You can’t. You know this. Torcara ordered the confinement.”
She raised her chin. “And what about you? Are you going to be allowed to stay but never see Lyraka again, or will they exile you back to Earth?”
“I’ll be sent home. They’re only letting me stay a short time, and only if I wear concealment.” She wandered to the window. “I have missed my home, the royals, but I couldn’t live without Lyraka.”
When she faced Lara once again, she frowned. “I don’t like the idea of Lyraka working for Mr. Beacon. He said it was dangerous. I’ll not have my daughter in harm’s way.”
“Take Sam with you,” Lara pleaded. “I’ll find a way to release him without their harming him.”
“No, I can’t. It would be too dangerous. You could find yourself locked away if you’re not careful.”
“I have to try.” She clasped the edge of the lounging sofa. “I know you don’t like Sam, so I’ll not ask you to do it for him, but will you at least consider doing it for me?”
She frowned. “I’ve grown to…tolerate the young man. I’ve carried my anger at Lyraka’s father far too many years. I blamed him for my exile when in truth, it was just as much my fault. It’s time to let it go. I can see Sam cares deeply for you. I’ll help you. We must hurry, though.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ll go with us?”
She shook her head. “I might be able to pacify the Elders by staying. If I left, none of us would be safe.”
“You have seen the Elders at their best,” Aasera said. “I’ve seen their anger. I fear for your safety as it is.”
“I’ll be fine, but we must hurry.”
Before they could leave, the companion unit came into the room. “The Elder wants to see you.”
She could feel the color drain from her face. “Which one?”
“Torcara.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was it, then. They were probably too late to help Sam. Lara felt as if she couldn’t even walk to the door.
“You are a healer, Lara,” Aasera said. “Hold your head high.”
Aasera was right, of course. Sam would want her to be strong. They walked to a chamber where they boarded a multi aero unit that would take them to the Elder’s dwellings. Aasera pulled the hood of her cape over her head, shielding her face from curious eyes.
As they boarded, heads turned Lara’s way, then bowed.
“Healer, you honor us.” They stepped away from her, giving her room so they wouldn’t interfere with the harmony of her mind and body.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was what she had to look forward to for the rest of her life. She could only hope that it was a short one, or she’d go mad. She frowned at the four women in the unit. “I won’t disappear in a puff of smoke if you stand near me.”
“We’re sorry if we’ve offended you in any way.” They looked at each other, their foreheads puckered in confusion.
It wasn’t their fault, though. They knew no better. “You haven’t offended me. I’m not in harmony today, that’s all.”
They nodded in understanding.
She wanted to tell them what she really thought but knew they wouldn’t understand. They were much like the companion units who served them. Almost as if they were programmed.
The aero unit stopped, and she and Aasera got off while the others continued on. She would’ve liked to be friends with some of them, but she doubted that would ever be possible. Everyone had a role to play here on Nerak, and unfortunately, they played it well.
She glanced around before she entered the majestic white building and couldn’t stop the pride that swelled inside her. Nerak had its faults, but no one could say it wasn’t beautiful. Maybe she wouldn’t see a deer step out in all his glory, but there was beauty in the sun that splashed its rays down on the gem-encrusted buildings.
She inhaled, breathing in the fragrance the Elders had used this day. It was a pure, clean aroma.
“I’ll miss my home, but there will be many new memories to take with me,” Aasera said.
They went inside. A companion unit stood in the entry, waiting for them. “You’re here to see Torcara.”
They stepped inside. “Transport us to the cleansing area,” the unit said.
She closed her eyes. The cleansing area. They had probably started the process. Then why e
ven summon her? Maybe she would get one last good-bye.
Aasera squeezed her hand. She was surprised by the gesture, and maybe a little touched by it.
“We are here,” the unit said.
They followed him. Not that she had much of a choice. When Torcara summoned, you went, no questions asked. The companion unit led them to a spacious and well-appointed room that had three lounging sofas…and it was quite empty.
“What’s happening, Aasera?”
“I don’t know.”
Before Lara could question the unit, he left. She was too nervous to sit; instead, she walked to the window and waved her hand in front of it. The view of the city was beyond compare. But what was a view if you couldn’t share it with the one you loved?
Lara knew what was missing in her life—had been missing for so long, but she’d never realized it. It didn’t matter where she lived as long as Sam was in her life. But would the Elders allow her to leave with him?
A door opened.
“Lara.” Aasera lightly touched her arm.
She dreaded turning around, but she finally forced herself to. If Torcara had entered, it would be a sign of disrespect not to immediately acknowledge her presence.
She bowed.
“That’s what I like, a woman who knows how to treat a man,” Sam said.
It was Sam! Her head jerked up. Her heart thudded inside her chest. He looked quite striking in black pants, a white shirt, and a long black coat belted loosely at the waist.
“You know who I am?”
“Baby, I don’t think I could ever forget you.”
She picked up her robes and ran to his outstretched arms. And when he enveloped her in his embrace, it felt as if it had been forever since he’d held her like this.
“What are you doing here, and wearing these clothes? Have you escaped?”
“You know as much as I do. A companion unit brought me the Star Wars clothes and then had me follow him here.”
“I don’t care how you got here as long as you’re here. I’ve missed you. Kiss me,” she said, raising her lips to meet his.
“Still demanding, I see.” But he didn’t argue as he lowered his mouth and kissed her.
His lips were hot against hers. He ran his hands over her body, drawing her closer still even when she didn’t think they could get any nearer. His tongue caressed hers. He was fire…he was Sam.
Aasera cleared her throat. A flush of heat stole up Lara’s face. She had forgotten Aasera was even in the room. Sam had blocked everything out.
He didn’t let her draw away from him, not that she had even thought about doing so. No, she wanted to stay as close as she could for as long as she was permitted. And if the Elders never arrived, she would gladly die in his arms because she realized without him, life wasn’t worth living.
“Are they going to copulate?” Torcara said as she entered the room.
“I’m not sure,” Rabare offered. “I would like to know more about this touching of lips, though.”
“It appeared to be a transference of germs.” Torcara went to one of the lounging sofas and sat. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to know more.”
“A very heated transference of germs, though, from what I could see. Aasera, sit since this involves you as well.”
Lara moved away from Sam and quickly lowered her head. “Forgive us. It’s just that it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”
“What were you doing?” Rabare sat on the same lounging sofa as Torcara.
“It’s called kissing. A sign of affection.”
Torcara raised an eyebrow. “It looked to be much more than a sign of affection, if you ask me. You may sit also.”
Damn, Sam really did hate all this royalty crap. If they hadn’t come in when they had, he had been planning to try his best to escape with Lara. He would’ve convinced her to leave with him even if he had to kiss her all the way to the craft.
Too late.
Two of the robots stood just inside the closed door. There was no way they’d escape now. Man, he shouldn’t have let testosterone rule. He could’ve grabbed her and been out of there before the Elders arrived, but he’d just had to kiss her.
Idiot!
When Lara tugged on his hand, he knew he didn’t have a choice except to sit, but he was keeping her close to him this time.
“So, are you going to steal my memories or what?” He glared at the Elders.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you had no thoughts of Lara?” Rabare asked. “Without memory of her, there would be no pain in your parting.”
“I would rather suffer a million lifetimes than to go one day without remembering what it feels like to hold her near; to see her smile, hear her laughter; to kiss her, to make love with her.”
“It’s that important to you?” Torcara finally addressed him.
He took Lara’s hand in his and squeezed it. “Yes. I love her very much.”
“And you, Healer, how do you feel about this man?”
“I love him, too.”
“But we can also erase your memory of him. That’s always been a choice when a loved one passes.”
“I would refuse.”
“I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this,” Torcara said.
“Please, Elders,” Lara pleaded.
“I’m not sure this is the right thing to do,” Torcara continued as if Lara hadn’t spoken. “I’ve seen what our society has become. The Elders before us thought to prevent fighting when the loss of their sons became too painful. They manipulated the DNA so only female children would be born into our society.”
Rabare sat forward on the sofa. “And then they eliminated the pain of childbirth so it would make all our lives easier. Each thing they successfully eliminated took away a form of pain that went along with it.”
“But they also took away what made you feel alive in the first place,” Sam said.
Torcara and Rabare looked at each other, then at him. Torcara began to speak again.
“Maybe it’s time we learned how to live again. Not all at once, of course. That would be too much of a shock. But maybe we could introduce a little at a time.”
Lara squeezed his hand, having guessed, like him, where they might be going.
“And where do I stand in all this?” he asked.
“You would help us plan where we’ll start. You would need to train everyone. We would begin interplanetary travels again. Aasera, are you up for the task?”
“Yes, Torcara.” She bowed her head, but Lara saw the tear that slipped from the corner of her eye. She would have the best of both worlds—she’d be able to travel to Earth to see Lyraka, but she would also be doing what she loved. This was good.
“The companion units would have to be reprogrammed. We would need to bring”—Torcara looked at her hands, then back at him—“we would need to reintroduce men into our society, but not too many at once.”
“And chocolate,” Rabare said, nodding her head.
Torcara relaxed, then smiled. “And chocolate.” She sighed. “There will be much that needs to be done. We would need help. Your help, Sam. Would you be willing to live on Nerak?”
He’d thought this might be where she was going, but when she actu
ally spelled it out, the task was daunting, to say the least. They were giving him the chance to spend the rest of his life with Lara and help a new society form.
He studied her face and knew that she wanted him to stay, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask him to give up his home, his friends, his job. It would have to be his decision.
Wasn’t that what he’d wanted her to do, though? Give up everything she knew to live on Earth? Wasn’t that what Mala and Kia had done? Could he do any less?
“I’ll do it,” he said as he looked into her eyes, and he immediately knew he’d made the right choice.
She threw her arms around him, hugging him so tight he could barely breathe. Yes, he’d definitely made the right choice because he was holding her just as tightly, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever let her go.
One of the Elders cleared her throat. Lara immediately moved away.
“Thank you, Elders,” she said, her words filled with deep emotion.
When he looked at the royals, they were smiling. Okay, so maybe they weren’t all that bad.
“Where would you like me to start first?”
“Tell us about sex,” they said in unison.
“Oh, he knows all about sex, and he’s very good at it,” Lara offered.
Was it too late to change his mind? He had a feeling the next twenty or so years were going to be very interesting.
Epilogue
S am thought Lara still looked tense even though she had said she was fine. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
She nodded, burying her face against his chest and squeezing him so tightly around his middle he could barely breathe.
“She doesn’t look fine,” Aasera commented.
“I’m fine,” she mumbled into his shirt.
