The Genius

by Elin Peer

  “It’s that time when Marco climbed the flag pole in the Motherlands,” Raven whispered to me.

  Looking hilarious with his pink scarf on, Commander Magni pretended to write something down and handed the imaginary note to Boulder. Marco did the same after jumping down to the ground again.

  “It’s the time we beat the girls in the Motherlands,” Nero finally shouted.

  “Yes!” Marco turned to the male audience. “What the fuck took you so long?”

  Khan and Finn were smacking their hands on the table and crying with laughter. “Oh, we knew from the moment Marco stripped out of his clothes. But seeing you four up there was fucking priceless,” Finn said in a voice broken up by laughter.

  “Next time you and Khan can get up here and we’ll laugh at you,” Magni retorted.

  Like most people, Tristan’s shoulders were bobbing up and down with laughter too. “I didn’t see Marco climb the flagpole ten years ago, but I’m so happy I saw this epic moment. At the next reunion in ten years we’ll be up there portraying the time Mila had us playing party games, and she got Magni to dress up as a woman and Marco to climb on top of Hunter.”

  “Yeah, yeah, very funny.” Magni walked over to put the pink scarf on Finn’s head, and the doctor stood up and made a funny impression of being a woman smitten with him and sending him air kisses.

  Once the laughter had died down enough for Mila to be heard she spoke up again. “It took the male audience three minutes to guess the situation. Let’s see if the women can do it faster.” Mila waved us women to the center.

  Less than three minutes and a lot of laughter later, we had won with our theatrical production of the time Archer and Kya got married.

  Competitive to the bone, Raven made a triumphant fist in the air.

  “That’s not fair,” Hunter objected. “We would have won if our audience had known they had to guess it on time.”

  “Nope.” Finn shook his head. “Seeing Magni with a pink scarf was more satisfying than beating the women in some silly party game.”

  Mila’s face fell and he hurried to explain. “Not that your games aren’t great. I mean I haven’t laughed so much in a long time.”

  Khan stood up. “Thank you, Mila, for bringing us such entertainment. I would like to remind all the single women here that just because you weren’t born in the Northlands doesn’t mean that you can’t have a tournament and experience the rush of men fighting over you. We’ve had more than seven women from the Motherlands find a worthy husband that way.”

  “How about you, Rochelle, you’re old enough to have a tournament – would you like me to fight for you?” Storm called out.

  She looked a bit flustered but when she didn’t answer he continued, “If I could win you and a million dollars, I’d risk my life in a heartbeat.”

  My eyes searched Marco’s but he had his head down, staring at his glass of beer.

  Khan swung his arm. “These are some of the finest men of the Northlands; why not embrace our culture and let them fight for you?”

  Marco looked up just in time to see me perform the most impulsive and insane act of love when I lifted my arm to volunteer.

  CHAPTER 30

  No and Yes

  Marco

  I was all over Shelly so fast that she didn’t have a chance to say a word. “No,” I hissed.

  “But…”

  Aware of all the eyes on us, I spoke in a strained tone. “Can I talk to you alone?”

  “Do you need a chaperone?” Khan asked Shelly.

  Boulder stepped forward. “It’s okay, Marco won’t hurt her.” He gave me a nod of understanding when I pulled Shelly with me. I didn’t care how it looked. There was no way I was letting her do something as risky as volunteer for a tournament.

  We walked away at a fast pace, heading for the wraparound deck up by the teachers’ cabins where we could talk out of sight.

  “What the hell was that about?” I asked in an incredulous tone, my hands shaking from shock that she’d do something that crazy.

  Shelly swung her hands out. “I thought you’d be happy.”

  “Happy? Have you lost your mind?”

  “No. Don’t worry, it’s a given that I’d pick you for my champion. I thought you’d be excited that I’m willing to marry you. And with the tournament you could get that million dollars you always dreamed of.” She had that expression that told me she was convinced she was right, but this time we weren’t discussing math or science. I was the expert on Northland traditions and I wasn’t backing down.

  “You don’t understand, Shelly. Nmen have to raise a lot of money to participate in a tournament, not to mention train to be the best warriors. It’s no fucking joke. There are so many holes in your plan.”

  She shrank into herself and looked down.

  “Don’t you get that you couldn’t possibly be a candidate for a tournament when you’re already pregnant and have a mate?”

  She blinked her eyes but didn’t speak.

  “The moment you chose to sleep with me, I became yours and you became mine. Do you understand?”

  “I didn’t mean to make you angry. It’s just that I know how much you long for that million dollars.”

  She wasn’t listening to me, so I raised my voice and squeezed her arms to get through to her. “I don’t give a shit about money at this point. I’m already richer than most men because I have the woman that I love.”

  “But then why are you always complaining about your lack of money?”

  I stepped closer, my hands sliding down to lock around her waist. “If it was just me I could live in a cabin and be happy. The money is only important because I want a family and I want to provide well for that family.”

  “You should know me well enough to understand that money never interested me in the first place.”

  “That’s because you’ve never lacked anything.”

  “That’s the Motlander way. We may not live in mansions but we have enough.”

  I rested my forehead against hers, my heart finally calming down. “Babe, you can’t do impulsive shit like that. When you raised your hand, I aged five years in ten seconds. We’re a team now, a family. Why don’t you get that?”

  Shelly lifted her hand to cup my cheek. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done it.”

  “Here, feel how my heart is racing.” I placed her hand on my chest.

  “Sorry,” she repeated and bit her lip. “Maybe now isn’t the best time, but I got a call from Charlie and I wanted to talk to you about it.”

  “Charlie, the owner of Advanced Technologies?” I didn’t like the serious expression on her face.

  “He’s been trying to get me to work on a project down south. It sounds intriguing and I really think I could make a difference.”

  The hair on the back on my neck stood up. “You’re moving back to the Motherlands?”

  “It’s a sustainable farming project. Marco, it has enormous potential and will do so much good for the planet.” She spoke fast. “Life is relaxed down there, with beaches where the water is warm all year round.”

  I let go of her, my throat tightening and my chest in physical pain. “Talk about mixed signals. Five minutes ago you were willing to let me fight for you in a tournament so we could marry and now you’re planning to leave me.”

  Shelly lowered her brows. “Not leave you. When did I say that I wanted to leave you? I’m asking you if you want to come and live on a beach with me in the Motherlands.”

  “You want me to come with you?”

  She planted both hands on her belly and tilted her head. “How else will we be a family?”

  In a deep exhalation I released the anger and anxiety that had been building inside me, and crouched down.

  “What’s wrong? Couldn’t you at least give it a chance? Think of the positives: you wouldn’t have to work two jobs and you would finally have time to write that book you talked about.”

  I rose up to my full height again. “What about the
robots you’ve been working on?”

  “I’ve been dragging it out, but I could wrap it up within a month if you’d come with me.”

  “How long would we live in the Motherlands?”

  “I don’t know. How about we stay until we get tired of walking barefoot in the sand and wearing shorts all year?”

  “You’re not talking a few weeks or months, are you?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “Wait – so we would have the baby there?”

  Shelly interlaced our hands. “Yes, and you’ll have all the time in the world to be a dad.”

  Images of lying in a hammock with my son or daughter taking a nap on my chest made me interested. “I’m not joining some family unit. It would still be you, me, and our kids, right?”

  “Kids? You said that in the plural.”

  I squeezed her hands and moved nose to nose. “Because I’m hoping we’ll have more than one.”

  “You’re hoping we’re having twins?”

  Placing a soft kiss on her lips, I whispered, “I’m hoping you’ll want to have more children with me after this one. I love you, Shelly, and I’m serious about wanting everything with you.”

  Shelly kissed me back when I intensified my lips’ pressing against hers.

  “I want nothing more than to go up there and ask Khan to wed us. If I had a million dollars, I’d pay it all for that moment of seeing their faces when they realize that we’re a couple.” My excitement was radiating from me and made her smile.

  Without losing eye contact, I kneeled down in front of her. “Shelly Brainy Summers, I know I’m asking you to break a promise to your mom, but will you please, please, please, do me the honor of becoming my wife tonight?”

  This wasn’t the first time I’d asked her to marry me, but it was the first time I’d done it right; and after her impulsive plan to volunteer for a tournament, I knew she had to be open to marriage.

  “I want to say yes.” Shelly lowered herself to settle across from me, on her knees as well.

  “But?”

  “But I’m scared.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not going to be easy to live with. I’m quirky, impulsive, and people say I lack social filters.”

  “Shelly, you don’t have to explain.”

  “And working is everything to me. I want my children to come along on adventures to different parts of the world and explore cultures and different ways of living.”

  I had a soft smile on my face. She wasn’t saying no and that was a good sign. “We’ll figure it out.”

  “I might be distracted sometimes.”

  “Then I’ll pull you back to earth. I’m good at that.”

  “We can come back here and visit if you want, Marco, if you get tired of the heat or miss your friends.”

  “I can live in a cabin by the beach.”

  “It’s not a cabin, it’s a house.”

  “That’ll work too.”

  “So you’ll marry me then,” Shelly asked. “Despite all the things that come with it.”

  “That’s a big fucking yes.” I stopped breathing, hope making my chest swell up. “Did you just say yes to my proposal?”

  Shelly’s pretty face softened and her eyes teared up. “Yes, Marco, I’ll marry you.” Her voice broke a little, and a rush of euphoria made me scream with joy.

  “You mean it?”

  “Yes.”

  Cupping her face with both hands, I stared deep into her eyes. “Right now? Can we do it tonight in front of everyone here?”

  Shelly’s sweet chuckle made me let go of her face. “Yes, Marco, we can marry tonight.”

  Ever since I was a boy my biggest goal had been to become one of the few Nmen to share his life with a woman and enjoy the rare privilege of fatherhood.

  I held Shelly’s hand and felt eight feet tall when we walked back to the others, my insides bursting with the news.

  As soon as we joined the party the white noise of talk went silent.

  “Is everything all right?” Khan asked and got up from his seat. “I got the impression Shelly was interested in a tournament.”

  “She’s not,” I said in a firm voice, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Shelly is only interested in marrying me.”

  Gasps and mumbling were heard and I let my eyes scan the group of men that I’d once taught. “Shelly is mine.”

  “Is this true?” Pearl stepped forward looking straight at Shelly, her eyes falling to our linked hands.

  “Yes. Marco and I have been seeing each other for a while now. We’re starting a family together.”

  A fist slammed down on a table and I looked over to see Nero stand up. “You lucky bastard, Marco. How did you swing that one? As I recall it, you two used to bicker all the time.”

  I gave a lopsided grin. “That gives hope for you and Raven, doesn’t it?”

  Raven wrinkled her nose up at Nero, who was looking at her. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop! It’s not going to happen in a million years. I’d rather sit in a tree for a year than kiss you.”

  “How about me? Would you kiss me?” Plato called out with a sparkle of humor in his eyes.

  “Does that mean you’ll be moving to the Northlands on a permanent basis, Shelly?” Khan asked.

  “Not right now. Marco has agreed to move down south with me. There’s a wonderful village by the sea where the water is warm all year round,”

  “Not fair.” Nero sat down again and several of the Nmen muttered about beaches with warm water being a fucking dream.

  I couldn’t hide the big smug grin on my face. I would be just as envious if I were them, but this was my time to win the big prize and Shelly was it.

  “Lord Khan, Marco and I would like for you to perform the marriage ceremony tonight,” Shelly said and squeezed my hand.

  “Are you sure about this?” my sister Rochelle asked.

  “Yes, I’ve thought a lot about it and Marco has asked me several times.”

  “You didn’t have to tell them that,” I whispered.

  “I just meant that it’s not a rash decision,” she clarified for Rochelle.

  “No, I can’t imagine you doing anything without analyzing the situation,” Khan said.

  I stared at him. Had he forgotten how she almost volunteered for a tournament ten minutes ago? Why were people so blinded by Shelly’s brain that they didn’t see the spontaneous and adventurous woman she really was? His words made me cough. If only he knew how we’d met.

  As if Pearl had read my thoughts, she tilted her head and asked. “You said that you’ve been seeing each other for months now. How did you reconnect? Was it random?”

  “Ehhm, yes, you could say that.”

  Shelly elbowed me, and I got the warning.

  “Wait a minute.” Storm stood up. “Tristan brought Shelly to the drone race and you mistook her for a sex-bot.” He exchanged a look with Hunter and Tristan. “Does that mean…”

  Shelly interrupted him. “It’s a long story. No need to talk about that now.”

  “I would like to hear it,” Khan said but received a sharp look from Pearl that made him clear his throat. “But then again, who has time for long stories when we have a wedding to perform?”

  “You can’t do it right now,” Mila objected. “At least let us find a white dress for Shelly and some flowers. A wedding should be magical. Maybe we could postpone it until tomorrow and have some flower girls and a cake.”

  I shifted my balance, not wanting to wait another second out of fear that tomorrow Shelly might have gotten cold feet.

  “Do you want to wait?” I asked, my inner voice screaming, Please say no.

  “Flower girls and a cake sounds wonderful, Mila,” Shelly said and my heart sank. “But it’s not necessary and I think we’d prefer to do it as informally as possible.”

  Mila lifted her hands. “But a wedding should be special. It’s a memory for life.”

  “It is special. We are surrounded by all of you, and what is
more magical than marrying here at the school where we first met? This is where I fell in love with Marco so many years ago.”

  I gave Shelly a thankful smile and wrapped my arm around her waist. “I agree. It’s perfect this way.”

  Laura and Mila made sure everyone stood up and formed a half circle around Khan and us.

  Standing shoulder to shoulder, they were all smiling as Khan began the ceremony.

  “When Pearl first suggested a school of inclusion, I made sure we handpicked the brightest, and fiercest Nboys in the country. My hope was that one day it would lead to couples formed of you Nmen and Motlander women. For some reason, that hasn’t happened, yet.” Khan smiled.

  “Maybe they should have handpicked the girls better,” one of the Nmen mumbled and it caused dampened laughter that were quickly shushed by the others.

  “What I didn’t expect was for the mentors to fall in love, but Kya and Archer did and so far, it has resulted in three beautiful children.” We all looked over to Kya and Archer, who stood glued together with soft smiles on their faces. “Tonight, I’m honored to have the two assistant mentors follow suit and form a strong bond of marriage. You have both done outstanding work since you left the school and I’m speaking from experience when I say that with the support of a loving spouse, there’s nothing you can’t do.”

  I was lost in Shelly’s eyes when Khan asked her the question, “Shelly Summers, will you marry Marco Polo?”

  Shelly’s eyes shone bright when she answered, “Yes.”

  “And you Marco, will you take Shelly to be your wife?”

  “There’s nothing I want more.” My voice was loud and bubbly from happiness and pride.

  “Then I declare you husband and wife.”

  Applause and cheers surrounded us as I picked up Shelly and kissed my new wife for the first time.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Marco.”

  We were hugged and congratulated from every angle, and Rochelle laughed at me when I stiffened as she flung her arms around me.

  “Marco, we’re family now. You can hug me.”

  “You’re not mad at me?”

  “No, Shelly is an adult. She makes her own decisions.”