by Phoebe Nix
She was beautiful.
“Jerof?” King Lamnox alarmed him.
“Yes?” Jerof finally took his eyes off Liz.
“Please, lead,” the King said impatiently.
“Liz, is it?” Jerof said after a short pause.
“Liz Janeck,” she replied with both of her hands in front of her, on the table.
“Liz Janeck,” Jerof echoed. “Will you please recount how you found your way here?”
Jerof could feel his heart race, but it wasn’t because he was worried about how the meeting would go. That was the least of his worries when he couldn’t stop gazing at Liz’s eyes, which he suddenly realized were absolutely beautiful. He could not fathom how he would be attracted to such a creature with barely any color to her skin. His mother might have been right after all, but he still didn’t want her premonition to come true. He could see no future between him and an Earthling.
Although, he looked down upon her, he began to feel an ounce of respect toward her. Especially when she looked so hypnotizing in that robe.
Liz sighed, glancing at each of the Council members before she spoke. She took a long breath then said, “For starters, I would like to voice my appreciation for hosting me. You have been very kind to me, and I understand that my being here may cause political complications, seeing as there must have been some conflicts with you and my people. Ones that I am in all honestly unaware of. I apologize on behalf of my people if they have ever posed a threat to you.”
She didn’t flinch as she spoke. Liz Janeck of Earth was much more confident that Jerof gave her credit for. He could see Finoa smile as the woman spoke, as though proud of her.
“You’re very kind,” King Lamnox said. “Please, carry on.”
“How and why I’m here is something we’ll both have to find out collectively,” her voice broke for a second. “I was on holiday in a foreign country. Let’s say, a foreign kingdom, to admire it. In that foreign land, I came across a shuttle.”
The Council members nodded. Jerof scanned the faces of the people at the table. He could see in their eyes that they admired this creature almost as much as he did, but possibly for her confidence and visible honestly.
“I was with four other friends, who are also female. We decided to go inside the ship. We intended no harm and did not intend to use it to commute anywhere. That’s where we found a pilot, who looked very strange. Like a mix between a human and something else. I honestly cannot remember. But for one, I’m sure he was dead.”
The King furrowed his brows.
“Before we could find out more, my friend accidentally pressed on a button. The last thing I remember after the incident was blinding light. Then I woke up in the forest, and that’s when Prince Jerof saved my life. And for that, I am absolutely grateful. For all of you,” she said, bowing in her place.
The five Council members bowed back.
“While I sympathize with your situation,” one of the members sitting across Jerof said, “this is a catastrophe.”
Jerof ground his teeth together. He was hoping they would demand to let her go once they found out she had accidentally appeared here.
“Surely,” the other member agreed. “But there must be more to the story that neither side is aware of. It could be a trap.”
“It’s not a trap,” Jerof joined. “This woman’s spaceship broke down on the wrong planet. That’s the whole story.”
“We don’t know that,” the bearded member said. “It could be a trap designed to make us think that it’s all a coincidence.”
“I mean no harm,” Liz said.
“We can see that,” the other member said. “You just arrived at a very significant time. It’s dangerous to assume anything at the time being.”
“I think that’s enough for today’s Summit,” the King said, coughing. “The next Summit must be held as soon as possible. This is more serious than we thought.”
“It is because you want it to be!” Jerof shouted. “We finally have a way to turn this around, and you’re adamant about making more of it than what it seems.”
“Jerof, calm down,” the bearded member requested. “Please.”
“We must look more into this. Someone must be sent to the Icelands to look for this woman’s spaceship. See if there are any engravings that determine where it’s from.”
“I’d just like to note that it’s not my spaceship. And I’ve lost my friends.”
Jerof slammed his fist on the table, which shook, startling Liz.
“To hell with the ship! Why won’t you listen to me? You over-analyze everything.” Jerof rose, heading to the door which slid open for him.
“Jerof, come back here this instant!” The King bellowed before succumbing to another fit of coughing. Finoa rose, leaning against her father and rubbing his back. She ordered one of the guards to fetch his medicine.
Chapter 10
Liz excused herself and rose from her seat. She nearly stumbled on her dress as she made her run to catch up with Jerof.
The guards paid no heed to her and let her run in the direction she pleased. Liz lifted her rob and called out for the Prince.
“Jerof, wait!”
But he didn’t stop.
She followed him through a massive entrance hall with a domed ceiling and was led to a terrace. His back was turned to her, his arms resting on the railing. His braided hair slightly wavered in the air.
Liz was stunned by the way the city looked from where she stood. The night had cloaked the buildings and there were few aircrafts in the air. In the distance, she could see multiple moons at varying distances which lit the capital brighter than any street lights could.
There was no lighting system in this building, and she concluded they didn’t need any. The ceiling shutters were designed to transfer natural lighting to the interior. The technology here made her scratch her head, but it was certainly far more advanced than humans could ever be.
“Jerof,” she said, more quietly.
“What do you want?”
“Jeez,” she said. “You’re throwing tantrums and I have very little background on everything that’s going on. Alright?” She stood next to him, having to push on her bare toes to place her arms on the railing the way he did. “Spit it out. Tell me what we did that was so awful to make you hate us so much.”
Jerof sighed. “Your people did not harm us, Liz Janeck.”
“You can call me Liz,” she said. “Janeck is my last name.”
“Alright, Liz. You need not worry about your people harming us. They could not if they even tried. I do not even believe they know we exist.”
“I see,” Liz replied, nodding. “Why is my being here problematic, then?”
He turned his head to her, gazing at her glimmering eyes. He found himself lost in them for a moment before he finally parted his lips to speak. “Because you came here at a very critical time. When we thought we had it all figured out, you appear, and it is all turned on its head.”
Her smile faded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Hell, I’d get the heck out of here if I knew how.”
“It is not your fault. It is far from your fault,” he explained. “Liz, listen. Our people had been enduring wars for as long as we have been alive. Wars between kingdoms, planets and entire galaxies.”
“And humans made it worse?”
“Will you please be quiet until I explain?”
“Sorry.”
“It is a critical time because I am about to be crowned and I am expected to bring together the kingdoms of Hagran, a task that my father had failed to do. If I fail, then I also fail the Allegiance.”
She frowned. Jerof could see she was suppressing her will to ask questions.
“The Allegiance is a way to bring all the kingdoms on Hagran under one rule. That way, when it is time to join the Intergalactic Alliance, we are working as a single unit.”
“Ok,” Liz shook her head. “Too much Star Wars her for me.”
�
�Star Wars?”
“Never mind,” she replied, waving her hand. “Why do you need to joine this Inter-something Alliance?”
“You really have no idea, do you?”
Liz shrugged. “Missed cultural studies when I was in school.”
Jerof frowned in confusion. “You’re a strange one.”
“Part of my charm.”
Jerof squinted at her, clearly confused by her mannerism, then shrugged.
“The Intergalactic Alliance is a bond between fifty planets. Without it, we will surely fail to protect the universe against the Outreach. Each and every life on every single planet will be in danger. Including yours, of course.”
“What?”
“The Swarm is known to be relentless, and savage.”
“You’re losing me.”
Jerof sighed. “How much do you know about your species?”
“Do you mean as in evolution?”
Jerof chuckled. “Far from it. Earth is not the only planet with humans.”
Liz took a step back, her heart jumping into her throat. “Excuse me, what now?”
Jerof leaned forward, readying himself for what looked to be a long lecture. Liz, though, had only one thought on her mind.
We’re not the only ones?
“Eons ago, life on the planets was untainted. It strived, following what you call evolution, with no interference from alien species. A few light years from here, a trio of planets was home to one of the most advanced species the universe had ever known. They were called the First, or the Creators. Their civilization was unmatched, their technological advancement unrivaled. They were a force to be reckoned with, and they explored the galaxies unchallenged.”
“What were they?”
Jerof looked at her. “The first humans. The originals.”
Liz felt her entire body stiffen, and a cold sweat broke out on her brow. “Impossible.”
“I believe you now have a different idea of what is possible and what isn’t, Liz Janeck. Before your arrival here, I doubt you even believed in life outside your own planet.”
She couldn’t reply to that. Her mind was still trying to make sense of what he was saying about the first humans.
“Of course, with power comes greed,” Jerof continued. “The Creators wanted more than just unrivaled power. They wanted to live forever. They traveled the cosmos, invading planets, and running tests.”
“Tests?”
“Disgusting experiments, all meant to find a way to make them even more superior than they were. They would harvest species from different planets and experiment on them. Mostly mixing DNA, creating new species, in a way to make their own even more advanced. Of course, no planet they visited was left the same.”
Jerof ran a hand through his hair. “My species has been around for millenia, but we are not originals. We were once wanderwolves, mixed with human DNA to create the species you see now.”
“You were an experiment?”
Jerof smiled. “My species, yes, as were many others, all across the galaxies. Slaves at one point, free now.”
“What happened?”
“Fate, the Gods, or the human tendency to destroy everything it touches. No one knows for sure, but life on their planets was altered. So much so that the planets burst.”
“Burst?” Liz couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “As in the planets exploded?”
Jerof nodded. “Of course, there were survivors, scattered across space stations the First had constructed. Or at least what remained. Very little is known about the Outreach after the explosion, because no one has ever ventured into it. The remains of the planets became a sort of ring, the Belt as it is known now. Some say it’s a magnetic force that came about when the planets erupted. Again, very little is known. All that we know for sure is that the First were trapped in their own stations, with no resources, no way to exert control.”
“So they couldn’t rule over you anymore.”
“No,” Jerof nodded. “We lived in peace for generations, oblivious to what was happening. Our own civilizations grew, and we traveled the cosmos much the same way the First did. It is how we have been able to communicate with other planets, and how the history of the First became known. Locked in the Outreach, where they can’t harm us.”
“But there are humans on Earth,” Liz protested. “And you said we’re not the only ones.”
“Six planets, to be exact,” Jerof said. “Over the past century, we have learned of your existence, and the dangers that come with it.”
“You think we’ll be like the First?”
“No, that is not the greatest worry,” Jerof said. “Eventually, maybe. But for now, you exist as cattle for the Creators.”
“What do you mean?”
“The six human planets were created as harvesting fields. The First, the Creators, were able to create colonies across the galaxies for the purpose of maintaining pure human DNA. It’s also when we realized that they can leave the Outreach.”
“So they’re still experimenting.”
Jerof frowned. “They’re doing something. We have no idea what it is. But what we do know is they are no longer humans. They are something else. We call them The Swarm now. They are a mx of species, a grotesque malformation, aggressive and destructive.”
“The ship back home.” Liz was slowly putting two and two together.
Jerof nodded. “We believe they continued to experiment, maybe even went mad in their isolation. These planets act as farms. Every now and then they would visit them and take humans back to the Outreach. Your kind is being harvested.”
“Harvested?” She was suddenly terrified, taking a step back. His tone definitely made it seem like he was serious.
“Yes, I believe you have been harvested. Well, perhaps not you in particular. Someone was sent to your planet to abduct a sample.”
“Oh my god,” she said. “I’ve only heard stories like this in the movies.”
“We do not know what they intend to do with you, or what they are planning. Which is why the Intergalactic Alliance is important. It is only a matter of time before they leave the Outreach in bulk, and we have no idea how advanced their technology has become, or if it’s even advanced at all.”
He looked at her seriously.
“Your planet is in danger. You are in danger. We cannot send you home just yet. It is not safe, but that is not even the problem, Liz,” he said. “I do not know if I can do this. Not while you are here. I prayed for an answer, and you were sent to me. I do not even know what this could mean. The Allegiance cannot be established with you here.”
The sheer volume of information she had received made her head spin. She was hardly listening to what he was saying anymore, overwhelmed with what had been shared with her. All this time, everything she had ever known was a lie. Suddenly, she felt incredibly small. All her problems, all her worries, were nothing compared to the bigger picture.
And that alone was enough to drive her insane.
She looked up at Jerof, and stared into his eyes. Something there suddenly made her relax. She couldn’t tell what it is. But it was kind, and soft, and made her feel safe somehow. Like a blanket of warm feelings. The tension in her muscles began to relax a bit, and she let the warmth wrap around her like a blanket.
She needed to change the subject. All of this was causing her too much distress.
Jerof scanned her body from head to toe.
Liz gazed back at him, admiring the way his bronze skin shone under the light of the three moons. “Does the way I look disgust you?” she asked.
“Not anymore,” he swiftly replied. “It did not disgust me at first glance, but it was shocking that your people are so bare.”
“We wear clothes, you see. We don’t need fur.”
“We do as well. And we still need our hair. The way you describe it makes me think you deem us some sort of beasts.”
Liz shook her head. He wasn’t wrong. She had thought he resembled a terrifying monster the fi
rst time she had seen him, but only because he looked different and she didn’t trust his intentions. Despite his hot-headed demeanor, she could read him better. He had a kind soul. Someone in his position didn’t have to risk his own life to save hers, but he didn’t think twice when he had chased after the hounds that had almost killed him. Twice.
Liz glanced at his wounds, and it made him follow her eyes.
“Do not worry about me,” he said. “They look much worse than how they feel.”
Liz slowly lifted her hand, landing on finger every-so-gently on one of the cuts, tracing it down to his elbow. “I can’t thank you enough,” she whispered.
“Liz Janeck,” he said. “I think you are the one who will save my life. I just need to figure out how.”
With how surreal her experience had been, Liz hadn’t had the time to think about the fact that she was staying in a Royal building with a Prince. She was now casually conversing with the Royal family, and was becoming good friends with the King’s daughter. It must have been how life was in this kingdom, if not the whole planet. While there was a clear-cut hierarchy, there was little to no sense of superiority amongst Hangrans. Royals only had to worry about their responsibilities, while the Royal residency looked like all the others Liz could see from the terrace.
As much as she admired the technology on this planet, the more Liz thought about it, the more impressed she was with the egalitarianism.
“I don’t know if I can save anyone’s life here. It looks like everyone knows what they’re doing and has their shit together. If anything, I feel like I’m making it worse.”
“You are not,” Jerof replied. “It has been a mess far before you came here. It is why I went to the Icelands in the first place. I only go there when I need to clear my head from all the challenges that keep arising.”
Liz gave a nod, which was followed by a pause. They were both gazing at the quiet city, where the interconnected bridges were lined with dots that slightly beamed in a faint light-blue. The edges of the sky were round, as though she could see where the borders of the land were. The whole capital looked like a glow-in-the-dark world in a crystal ball.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Liz said in awe, her eyes shifting from one corner of the city to the other as she admired the capital. “This place.” She took a breath. “It’s like an ideal version of what Earth could be.”
