Evex_Warriors Of Ition

by Maia Starr

  I smiled at him. He kissed me softly. I believed every word he said. I was happy.

  Chapter Eleven

  Evex Ein

  Being with Imuna was what I needed. I felt complete again for the first time since I had let her go. My mind had stopped to going a million miles per hour always thinking about her. Now I could relax as she was with me. But now knowing that she had my child inside of her, it was a completely different feeling than what I had expected. She was the mother of my child; she would be treated with the best care and respect. I would give her everything, the world. It was a shock at first, but once the shock wore off, I knew that this was my child to raise, and I would love the mother unconditionally.

  Now we were on the mothership making way to my home planet. It was an unscheduled trip of course, but I left a small fleet in charge of my responsibilities along the trade path. I could be gone for months at a time. This was the way of things. I wanted Imuna to be comfortable on my planet and to give birth there, not on a ship. She needed to be comfortable. My child needed to be comfortable.

  I set her up in my living quarters of the mothership: our living quarters. It was a long trip to Ionia, my home planet. But things were going well; I was glad that we had escaped Earth and I never received any transmission from the Earth Council. I had my lieutenant, Lieutenant Draxel, taking care of things in my place. He had often been at my side at council meetings; now he would be the one to be involved in the meetings where nothing got done. I had more important matters: getting my human female mate to my home.

  I sat in my office going over some plans. I was making sure that we were on course, and that we would be arriving sooner than later. There were different paths to take, and I wanted to take the quickest one. It was important that I get Imuna to the planet as soon as possible. I wanted her to have fresh air, not the recycled air of the ship. I wanted her to be around nature and others like her. It was important for the health of my child, and the sooner that she could engage in that healthy life, the better.

  “Where did you get this?” I heard her say. I turned around. She stood there trembling. In her hand was the amulet with her digital photo in it that I had stolen from her husband. I just looked at her; I had no words.

  “My husband was wearing this when he left. He never took it off. I gave it to him to take on his missions so that I was always with him. It should be lost in space, lost in the explosion. But you have it! Why?” She screamed a crying scream at me. She already knew.

  I stood up and put my hands out to her.

  “Don’t! Don't touch me!”

  “I wanted to tell you. I didn't know how to; then things got so complicated.”

  “Tell me why you have it. Tell me everything, and do it now!”

  “We were tracking his ship. We took his ship aboard this very ship. We knew that he was a spy, carrying information that we needed. I took that information from him, and when I was questioning him, I saw that amulet. I took it from him. I wanted you immediately as soon as I saw it. We couldn't let him go back to Earth and tell them what we had done. So one of my engineers rigged his ship, to malfunction…”

  “No! You are a monster! I hate you!” she said as she came at me. Her fists pounded against my chest. I let her get her rage out. She had every right to.

  “Imuna, calm down. You don't want to hurt our baby,” I said trying to get her under control.

  She stopped and stared at me with anger that I knew she would never recuperate from.

  “My child. Not OUR child. I could never have a child with you. You are a murdering bastard and an animal! Don’t talk to me ever again. I hate you, Evex! I hate you!” she ran out of the room.

  I sat down in the chair. Hearing her say those words stung deep inside. She had changed me. I had been a ruthless leader when I took her husband but being with her and having her carry my child had changed me, and now I regretted being the one that took her husband from her. But if her husband was still alive, we wouldn't be together. The thought of not being with her was too much to bear. She needed time. I would give her time. It was a long journey to Ionia; I hoped that she would forgive me.

  A week of travel on the mothership toward Ionia passed. Imuna locked me out of the living quarters; I was now staying in one of the smaller guest living quarters, right next door to my own. Even though I had the code to unlock my own quarters, I respected her decision. I would give her all the space that she needed. I would wait until the right time, whenever that might be. I went about my responsibilities as usual. There was a lot of work to be done, especially because I was overseeing Lieutenant Draxel and his responsibilities in dealing with the Earth Council.

  “It has been alluded that your leave was sudden, and there are some suspicions, but no accusations. There is no mention of the human female Imuna in relation to you,” he said in a communication to me that I had to double check was secure.

  “Good. I am glad for it. See to their needs, and I plan to return in a year’s time, but only for a couple of months. I have neglected my clan duties for too long on Ionia. As soon as I return, I plan to make you captain,” I said.

  “I am humbled by the promotion, sir,” he said.

  “Don’t be. You deserve it. You are my most trusted partner, and I feel comfortable leaving the duties of this mess in your hands. You are capable and intelligent,” I said.

  “Thank you, Leader Ein.”

  “Keep me informed and continue the good work. End communication,” I said.

  He nodded, and the screen went black. I was relieved to hear that they did not think I had anything to do with the vanishing of Imuna. It seemed to me that they would have found that message from her friend in her home. That was warning enough that Imuna would take it upon herself to escape the city of Menkara. They would be searching for her in the countryside and beyond. They would not think that she would be as far as Ionia, not yet anyway. This was a very good thing for me.

  The journey continued. During the day I did my duties overseeing the ship, the journey, and Draxel. In the evening hours, I tried to break through with Imuna. It wasn’t going well.

  She wouldn't speak to me. I had food brought to her three times a day and water to drink. She had everything that she could ask for, and I knew that I needed to give her time, but what if she never forgave me? It was true what I did was awful; I didn't see how she could ever get past it. But every day I hoped that she would. Or at least be able to put it behind her. I had made a mistake and never wanted to hurt her on purpose, but things were different now than they were then. Of course, I couldn't make her see that. She had to come around on her own. Still, I tried. I tried every two days or so.

  I unlocked the living quarters and walked in. She stood up and stared at me.

  “I thought that maybe we could talk,” I said. Her eyes narrowed at me, and she walked into the washroom and locked the door. She stayed in there the entire time I was in the living quarters. I finally walked out.

  Two days later, I brought her a tray of food instead of the usual guard that brought it to her.

  “I hoped that you would take a stroll around the ship with me. It is good exercise; you cannot stay locked up in here. You need to move; it is good for the baby.”

  “I will take walks on my own. Not with a monster like you. Now leave me alone. I hate you. I can never love you.”

  Her words stung, but at least she wasn't locking herself in the washroom.

  “I understand. Please, eat, and then take a walk through the hallways of the ship. I won't follow you I promise. I am sorry, Imuna; I am deeply sorry.”

  Then I walked out. I wanted her to get the exercise, so I made my way to the flight deck out of her way so that she could take walks on the ship without seeing me. My guard reported to me that he saw her wandering around, so that was good. It was progress. It hurt me that I hurt her.

  I did my rounds for three days, keeping in communication with Lieutenant Draxel and overseeing the work that he was doing there. I made
sure that my home on Ionia was being cleaned and set up for my arrival. Now that I was in the range of communication with the planet, it was easier to get messages across. I would also need to take a meeting with the clans, but that could be done weeks later. For now, the only thing that mattered was setting up a comfortable home for the mother of my child. Even if she wasn't talking to me.

  Days later, I tried again. I walked into the living quarters. She was laying down on a sofa. I brought in a tray of food and set it down on the table. I looked at her, and she looked at me with the same anger as always.

  “We will be arriving tomorrow, on my home planet of Ionia. I have my home being set up to welcome us. I thought you would want to know. Imuna, I am sorry about your husband. I used him as a victim of the war, and it is my mistake. If I could take it back, I would. I hope that you will forgive me one day. You are carrying my child, and I want us to be able to speak to each other. This child is important to me; this child is our future,” I said.

  She said nothing. I walked toward the door. Then I stopped and turned back to her.

  “Where I am from, it is said that sadness is bad for the child. It is bad for the mother to be in eternal sadness while carrying the child; it can sense it. We are different than humans; I don't want my child to be born with sadness in his heart. Please understand that,” I said then walked out.

  Chapter Twelve

  Imuna Parker

  Finding that amulet broke my heart; it was the worst thing. I had never felt so broken before. I wanted to give Evex the benefit of the doubt. But I knew that Sion had it on him when he left. He never left home without it. There was no other explanation for it. The father of my unborn alien child had killed my husband in cold blood. How could I ever face him again?

  I hated him. I wanted to never talk to him again unless necessary. Yes, I was having his child, but I had planned to somehow have it and not have him be a part of my life on this new alien planet. I didn't know how it would work, but it had to. I couldn't share a home with this monster. How could I ever trust him?

  As the weeks passed on the mothership, I was isolated. I had no one to talk to. My grief was starting to take its toll. Slowly, as Evex came to try to speak to me, I found myself locking myself away less and less just to argue with him. Because at least arguing with some form of contact with someone else. I was growing sadder and putting myself in a dark hole of misery. I had been here before. It was when I stood on that terrace, ready to end my life. This monster was the reason for that too. Now I was feeling that way again, and he was the cause of it. I had nowhere to go. I couldn't escape. I was on a ship in the middle of space, and there was no escape.

  But spending time alone with starting to weigh on me. I did find it surprising that Evex was asking me to exercise by taking walks around the ship, for the health of the baby. He was right. I wasn't giving the baby enough care because I was consumed by my grief and regret. I couldn't let this child suffer for Evex's mistakes and my own.

  Walking around the ship felt good. I hated to admit that Evex was right about getting some exercise and blood flow. I took brisk walks, enjoying the feeling. But anytime I came across an Ition and tried to start conversation, they only had one-word answers for me. I assumed they all feared their leader and didn't want to be accused of flirting. I understood why, but it was also very lonely.

  Evex came to see me every other day; I was starting to look forward to his visits even though I hated him. I needed the company. But on his last visit, he told me that we were approaching his home planet the next day. I was relieved. I wanted to be off the ship and be on solid ground again. But I was also very nervous. I was about to be surrounded by nothing but Ition aliens. On Earth, humans hated them; I was sure that on Ionia they would hate me.

  But Evex had let me know that we already had a home waiting, and that gave me some relief even though I did not want to share it with him. Then he said something else that made me think. He said that where he came from, it was known that the mothers could not be in sadness while carrying a child because it affected them. I realized I didn't know anything about carrying an Ition child. He must be right. Even as a human I knew that an unhealthy mother would not be good for a child, and I was being unhealthy emotionally. That couldn't be good. But how could I forgive him? I would have to find a way for the sake of the child. There was no way around it.

  The next day, we arrived on Ionia. The ship flew toward a purple, blue, and green planet that I could see outside the porthole. It was stunning. It was like Earth, only with a lot of lavender to it. Seeing it from space made me feel homesick for Earth, but I had to remind myself that there was no going back there. I watched out the porthole as the ship entered the atmosphere. The sky was a beautiful lavender with large puffy white clouds. It seemed beautiful and calm. The ship descended onto a land mass that was mostly green with large bodies of crystal-clear lakes. I was shocked by the beauty of it; it was like a fairytale.

  Finally, the ship landed. Evex came into the room.

  “We are here. I will get your bag,” he said, not pushing me any further for conversation. I think he was used to it already. He grabbed my bag and looked at me. I followed him out. We walked down the ramp of the ship. The air smelled like gardenia: rich and aromatic.

  I could tell that we were at a landing port: a soldier base. I was surprised that as I walked alongside Evex, soldiers were not turning to look at me except for a few here and there. I thought they would all stop in their tracks and give me evil looks. But they did not. I even saw one or two smile at me.

  “In here,” Evex said as we walked out of the gates, and there was a small vehicle, like an electric fancy golf cart or something, waiting for us. I sat down as he put my bag in the back. Then he took the wheel and drove it away from the landing port. We drove through beautiful and well-kept lanes that were leading into a village. For the first time, I saw female Itions. They were tall with blue skin just like the males. I was surprised; they were beautiful and well-dressed. They weren't in the staff uniforms that I was used to seeing the soldier Itions in. But I was even more surprised that only a few of them turned to look at me. They nodded their head and acknowledgment.

  “I don't understand. Why are they not shocked to see me? I am a human.”

  “Because you are not the only human here,” he said.

  “What?” I said in shock.

  “You are not the only female human that has become involved with an Ition over these long years that we have been in this complex relationship with Earth. When they become pregnant, they come here. Earth will not have them. Earth punishes them, locks them up. It is our duty as Itions to take them in as one of our own. You will see.”

  I was shocked. I had no idea. I suddenly felt a great sense of relief knowing that there would be other human females around for me to talk to. I wouldn't be completely alone. That meant everything to me.

  “I would like to talk to some. So that I know what to expect being pregnant,” I said.

  “Yes, of course, it is already being arranged, after you rest. It has been a long trip,” he said looking at me with a calm smile. I smiled back. It felt good to have a conversation with him where I wasn’t filled with anger.

  Ten minutes later, we were on the outskirts of the village. He pulled through the high gates. Behind was a lush garden with flowers and colors I had never seen before. It was absolutely beautiful. And beyond the lush greenery was a tall white house that looked like it was made from Earth materials, like white concrete with wooden beam post. And surprisingly reminded me of something I learned in history: the Tudor style. It was happily situated, perfect, and quite large.

  “This is your home?”

  “This is our home,” he said as he stopped the vehicle. He grabbed my bag as I climbed out. Then he led me inside. It was a beautiful and comfortable home. I was shocked by how they manage to combine the advancements of and technology with the comforts of nature and beauty. It was perfect.

  “You can
have the main bedroom, and I will take one of the smaller ones. I will show you,” he said leading the way. I was impressed that he wasn’t going to argue with me or force me to live in the same room with him. It was a big enough house to have space between us, and there was an entire village for me to walk too. I smiled as I followed behind him and let out a sigh of relief. This was not the hostile place that I thought it would be. I was so relieved and felt a bit of happiness for the first time in a long time.

  I settled into the large comfortable room. There was a window that looked out over the garden; exotic alien birds flew around the trees. They were colorful and beautiful. I could smell the fragrant perfume of the flowers coming in with the breeze. The bed was large and plush. As soon as I saw it, I felt exhaustion hit me.

  “There is a private washroom through this door. Large closets for storage, everything you could need. Take your time settling in, sleep if you wish. There is food in the kitchen; this is a water dispenser,” he said pointing things out in the room. Then he stood in the doorway; he looked at me. There was sadness in his eyes. It made me feel bad, guilty. I wanted to think of him as a monster for taking my husband from me, but in truth, I knew in his heart that that act was a soldier against a spy. But he wasn't ruthless, he wasn't mean-hearted; he cared for me, and he wanted to raise this child with me, take care of us both. But I couldn't admit that, not just yet.