by Lewis, Anna
“Why is it going dark?” he asked.
“Trevor,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
She knelt down beside him, noticing the red pooling on the front of his shirt. That filthy captain had broken the skin with his sharp nails, slicing him open in his solar plexus. Lena took off her cybernetic attachment and immediately applied pressure.
“Alexis, find something to stop the bleeding,” she instructed the frightened girl behind her.
Alexis was frozen in place, staring at the bright red blood that seeped from beneath the white cotton shirt. Her eyes were wide with horror.
“Alexis!” cried Lena. “Find something to stop the bleeding!”
This command catapulted her into action, looking about the room for anything that might have been clean enough to use. Nothing was available. She took off her cardigan and handed it to Lena, hoping it would work. Immediately, Lena pressed the fabric to the open wound and hushed Trevor’s quivering lips.
“Lena...” he whispered, his eyes fluttering.
“Don’t speak. You’ll only make it worse. Just hang on. The troops are on their way,” said Lena while hoping they weren’t too far.
Was there an infirmary nearby? There had to be some kind of medical room on this ship. She recalled the map in her memory, searching it for any place that might have a few supplies. It wasn’t like it would cater to human wounds. This was an alien ship. Still, it was better than nothing. Lena examined the wound, trying to determine whether it was healthy to move him. There wasn’t anything nearby that could act as a stretcher and Lena feared that he would bleed too much if she dragged him. He was probably in a lot of pain.
“I love you,” Trevor sighed. “I’m sorry about this.”
“I love you, too, and none of this is your fault,” said Lena.
“But I just wanted...” he trailed off, a coughing fit taking hold of his body that caused him to cringe.
“Trevor, please, don’t speak anymore. It’s going to be okay,” said Lena.
“That’s a lot of blood...” Alexis whispered while teetering over. “It’s making me woozy.”
Lena kept her hands firmly over the wound.
“Alexis, I need you to get the radio out of my pocket,” Lena instructed. “Call for Wesley to send a rescue team to the other side of the ship.”
Hesitantly, Alexis reached into Lena’s pocket and pulled out the radio, pressing the large button and raising it to her lips.
“Wesley, this is Alexis. Send us a rescue team,” she said.
“What’s your location? Over,” Wesley responded.
“We’re...uh...I don’t know. We’re on the other side of the ship. Just send us a rescue team!” she said, panicking.
“Tell them we have a medical emergency!” shouted Lena from the ground.
“We have a medical emergency,” repeated Alexis into the radio.
“Copy that. Over,” said Wesley.
The room grew silent as Alexis watched Trevor bleed. She wanted to do something to help, but couldn’t think of how she could be useful. Perhaps she could apply pressure to the other side or maybe make him more comfortable. Lena seemed to have a handle on it. There wasn’t much for her to do except watch. She could tell Lena loved him dearly, that her heart was weeping for the man beneath her hands. Blood started to collect around his sides and trickle down the stainless steel arm, droplets decorating the cybernetic addition. Part of her hoped to find a love like that one day.
As the trio sat in the quiet and cold room, a rush of movement came from up the hall. Voices echoed in the distance. Everything slammed into high gear as soon as the rescue team arrived, bringing with them a stretcher on which to transport the injured cyborg. Lena followed them all the way to the transporter ship where she sat next to him for the entire ride back to Earth. A medic inserted an IV into Trevor’s arm and then cleaned the wound, applying strips of gauze to keep anymore blood from escaping his body.
“He’ll need a round of blood,” Lena informed the soldier. “And a dose of morphine after we land.”
“Right away, Dr. Clark,” said the soldier.
As Lena and Trevor headed for Earth, Wesley was still in the mother ship helping people out of the cargo area. A number of soldiers were exploring every crevice of the ship, making sure to destroy any surviving Vihatagons. One of the soldiers asked what they were going to do with the mothership once it was emptied. Another replied that he wasn’t sure. The scientists would likely want to take hold of it and study its alien technology. Perhaps they could learn about the mechanics of this alien civilization that had gone on such a wild killing spree. The most they could understand was that they were particularly preoccupied with taking over the majority of the galaxy by building an army of cyborg-human hybrids.
It was as if the world was holding a collective thought about the invasion, pondering their own fragile existence and how they fit into the balance. When they had started branching out into other inhabitable planets, this question came to light, but it didn’t strike them as much as it did now. Wesley stared at the empty cargo area. It was eerily quiet in the gargantuan room where soot covered the ground. He kicked up a bit of the black dust and thought of his comrades who were amidst the mess. Many people had died here and he would never forget this horrible event. It would haunt him for the remainder of his years, but it would not break his spirit.
The event had strengthened his faith in people. He knew that they could make a huge difference on the planet as long as they remained connected. Perhaps this would be a lesson for them to embrace their differences and work together. After all, there were bigger threats in the universe than each other. Wesley imagined how many more alien species might be out there trying to impose on their planet. What was the potential for another invasion? While the Earth had received quite a few visitors over the past thirty years, they had never encountered such a vile and destructive alien species. Were there more hiding amidst the stars?
As Wesley pondered the fate of his world, he walked around the alloy hallways and peered into open rooms. The soldiers had started looting much of the equipment and tools. They would likely utilize the drones as well considering how much they could get done with synthesizing technology. A cold draft met his face and he looked around, noticing that he was alone.
“Hello?” he called out to the empty hall.
Nothing responded. No gurgling came from the other end. There were no footsteps. The entire mothership seemed to have become a tomb, its ghastly silence a reminder that everything eventually comes to an end. When a soldier appeared from around the corner, Wesley didn’t hear him calling. His ears were ringing with the sound of ray guns, gurgling, and screams. The soldier stepped forward and called for him again, reminding him that they had to exit the ship soon.
“Wesley!” called the soldier. “Let’s go!”
The abrupt call brought him out of his silence and he followed without hesitation, his feet carrying him to the transporter ship that was waiting for the last batch of soldiers. The group boarded without a word, the scenes from the past week flashing before their eyes as they headed back home. A soldier mentioned that he needed a strong drink and some of the other soldiers chuckled in response, agreeing that they also wanted a beer. Wesley remained silent. There was nothing that could possibly remove the harsh memories of his experience. Nothing could take away the fact that his best friend was destroyed.
Nothing could heal that pain.
Chapter 8
As the transporter landed on the roof of the hospital, Trevor’s eyes fluttered. He had lost consciousness during the trip which made Lena panic. They rushed him from the vehicle as soon as the doors were open and got him into an operating room on the fifth floor, hooking up a few bags of medicine to his IV. This moment was strikingly similar to the initial cyborg surgery. A few of the medical soldiers were helping her prepare him, gathering instruments and sanitizing everything in sight. Lena washed her hands and then pulled on a pair of surgical gloves. She
took a deep breath.
Trevor was lying on the table in a state of shock. The amount of blood he had lost was far too much for a human, especially one who was as damaged by battle as he. Never had he imagined that he would be back on this table where he first saw Lena’s angelic face. Her figure appeared as a silhouette beneath the operating light, Trevor momentarily regaining consciousness and seeing the shape of her head. A small smile crossed his lips. It filled Lena with hope.
As Lena prepared, she hummed a song that she thought might keep Trevor from disappearing into the darkness forever. They had to put him to sleep in order to operate. It frightened her to think he might not wake from that sleep, but it was part of her job to do this. The thought caught her off guard as she realized she no longer had a job at the hospital. Would they reinstate her now that the world was different? Maybe the suspension would be temporary? Perhaps she could get a job working as a medic for the general or join the scientists in their quest for knowledge. But where would that leave Trevor?
Lena quickly pushed all of these thoughts away and focused on the task at hand. She instructed the medics surrounding her of the tools she needed, carefully cutting away the shirt in order to inspect his wounds. Most of his organs were still intact. The nails hadn’t dug too much deeper than the muscles which would need repair.
“Searing pen,” Lena said to the medic next to her.
The man immediately handed her a long wire with a small pen attached. It made no noise as Lena dragged it along the interior of Trevor’s body, being extra careful to seal the muscle back together. More blood was being lost. The medic to her left announced his heart rate while the monitor beeped rapidly. An alert appeared next to his vitals on the screen. Lena ignored it and pressed on.
“Another blood pack,” she said to her helpers.
They quickly moved about the room, bringing her more blood packs and tools that she would need. It wouldn’t be long before the front of his skin was seared back into place. While he was on the table, she made sure to check for broken ribs and ran a few x-rays to see that his body was intact. The results appeared on the screen and she nodded with approval. Everything was fine. The only thing left was for Trevor to rest, the morphine pumping through his system to reduce the pain of being burned by the searing pen.
As the medics moved him to a rolling bed, Lena accompanied him to the recovery room where he would sleep for a number of days. Each meal was eaten next to his bed. She read him books. Soldiers and officers would come to his bedside to offer their thanks, bringing him all manner of gifts. The scientists called at some point to inform Lena of their discoveries on the ship and told her that the military planned on disposing of it within the next two weeks.
“What else did you find on the ship?” Lena asked over the phone as she munched on frozen berries.
Since the hospital was emptied of patients and staff, much of the food had been left behind. It was still fresh and Lena helped herself to the kitchen as did many of the people who were staying in the rooms until their planes arrived to head back to their homes.
“The computers held an enormous collection of data. It will take years to analyze it all. These Vihatagons had stores of knowledge on distant planets that we’ve yet to see. It was wonderful being able to retrieve that before the ship disappears,” replied Dr. Warren.
“That sounds fantastic. I’d love to look through more of those documents if you wouldn’t mind,” replied Lena.
“Absolutely,” he said. “And how is our hero doing?”
Lena sighed. The monitor beeped slowly in the background as she studied Trevor’s face. He looked peaceful resting in the bed, undisturbed by aliens or orders. Or me, she thought.
“He’s alive,” said Lena. “I think he’ll be fine.”
“You’re a wonderful doctor. He’s in great hands,” said Dr. Warren.
“I appreciate that, sir,” said Lena with a smile. “I’m just worried he might never wake up.”
“Have faith in your ability to heal. Your hands have a gift and you can do more than simply operate,” he said in response. “Don’t forget the power of your voice.”
It made Lena smile wider as tears came to her eyes, reminding her of how she was humming in the operating room.
“Thank you, Dr. Warren. I need to run a vitals check. Let me know when I can come look through those files,” said Lena.
“Yes, ma’am. Take care,” said Dr. Warren.
“You, too,” said Lena.
When she got off the phone, she stood from the chair and stretched briefly before checking Trevor’s vitals. Déjà vu struck her while she leaned over his body. A rush of images filled her mind of the first time they had made love, of the way his hands had gently curved over her hips and gripped her skin. The skin of her thighs twitched at the thought.
“Oh, Trevor. Please, come home,” she whispered through quivering lips.
It took all of her strength not to break down at that moment, her intense feelings causing her to feel nauseous. She felt like she was about to vomit. As she ran to the bathroom, Trevor opened his eyes and blinked a few times. The room appeared shiny as he returned to the world of consciousness, the sun filtering through the window. It seemed brighter than usual. Clouds of smoke no longer blocked the light, allowing the sun to bathe the Earth in healing rays of orange and yellow. It was the most beautiful thin he’d ever seen besides Lena’s face.
Lena returned from the bathroom to see Trevor awake, rushing to the bed to wrap her arms around him. Trevor groaned.
“I’m sorry!” she said through happy tears. “I’m just happy that you’re finally awake!”
Sobbing, Lena pressed her cheek to his and stroked his hair, breathing in the scent of his skin. She didn’t care that he was covered in sweat and needed a bath. It was him. His scent would always be her greatest memory.
“Oh, Lena...” Trevor croaked. “Thank you.”
He knew she had taken care of him. Her dedication and affection brought him out of darkness and back into light, love leading the way. Happy tears streamed down his face as he stroked her cheek. Lena pulled back to look into his tears, absorbing every bit of affection from his gaze and smiling.
“I have a surprise for you,” she whispered.
Trevor smiled, his throat dry from being asleep for three days. Noticing his discomfort, Lena picked up the cup of water next to the bed and allowed him to drink from the straw. It quenched his thirst and he smiled with gratitude.
“What is that?” he asked.
Lena bit her lower lip. The smile on her face beamed bright in the afternoon light as she pulled a plastic pen from her pocket, holding it up in his line of vision. A blue happy face greeted him on the display to which he yelled triumphantly.
“We’re having a baby,” said Lena through a smile.
The overwhelming joy made Trevor weep, reaching his human arm out to embrace the love of his life. The war was over and the aliens were gone. They could live another day in peace amidst their earthly comrades. Now that they were having a baby, they could truly live the life they had imagined during the invasion. It inspired Trevor to be more than a commander in the Navy, more than a machine bred to cause mayhem and win wars. He wanted to change the world and inspire peace, giving up the life of violence that he had once led. The two kissed in the afternoon light, intermittently laughing and crying as their lips danced together. Delight radiated from their bodies as they cuddled under the sheets. Love had kept them alive.
Love had won the battle.
THE END
Special Bonus Full Length Stories
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Cosmically Yours
Some part of Amelia Stone is sure she was made for greater things. Her love for space and anything cosmically-related had always made her stand out, and it was no surprise when she dove into astronomy studies in college. Soon after she begins studying, a series of dreams leads her to a field
where a beam of light shines down, rapidly pulling her up into the inky sky she had come to love. Appearing before her is the great prince of the universe, Ero’an Sol, who hails from the furthest reaches of the galaxy searching for a beautiful woman to be his wife – and confesses it was purely an accident picking up Amelia. Their personalities are at odds in the beginning, but that quickly gives way to fondness as their adventures take them all over the stretch of existence and to something that seems even more real than the cosmos itself – love and a family that would inspire peace within the galaxy.
Chapter 1
Rapidly dashing between corn stalks and trees was a woman with purple hair. She was rushing to the site of this great light that glittered over a small area in the field. Her hair whipped behind her in flashes of purple and blue, a reflection of the beautiful cosmos that beckoned her to enter it. As she darted between the yellow and green of the corn, she heard her name being called from just a few yards behind her.
“Amelia...”
Strange, enormous flowers came into view, dazzling her with their myriad of colors, and filling her nostrils with a sweet scent that lured her to the light. The field grew thicker with these flowers that illuminated the ground, their bulbs seeming to glow brighter, as the sky above grew darker. Though she had never been here before, she could have sworn it was familiar and reached out to touch the soft petals of the absurd flowers that stood as tall as the corn stalks. The length of their stems was incredible, their petals stretched towards the sky as if calling for the universe to bring down something otherworldly. A slew of colors decorated them, colors that she could not identify. But they inspired such happiness that she pushed on.
The beam of light glowed in the distance, expanding and compressing every so often as to alarm the runner. Her heart was beating fast inside her chest as her legs pumped smoothly against the moving earth, feet trampling stalks that were in her path. The light dimmed suddenly and she thought she might not make it in time to see what it was. For all the years seeking this strange, beautiful light, it would be such a disappointment not to be allowed entry into it. This dream had been a persistent part of her existence and she was determined to discover its meaning, even if it meant pushing the physical boundaries of her body and mind.
