Khajal

by T. J. Quinn

  Kelbry, her second child, had grown up as fast as his older brother. They were now ten and six years old, respectively and they were two grownup men, at least physically. With no war to force them to mature too quickly, they still kept some traits of immaturity typical of adolescents, and she was happy they did. They would have enough time to grow mature in their long life.

  Amazingly, after two boys, she wasn’t prepared to have a baby girl. When Haycor informed her she was going to have a girl, she was shocked. Boys seemed to be the predominant gender amongst the babies conceived by the women on the new planet. So far, no one had conceived a baby girl, and if Savannah was delighted with it, the rest of the people were thrilled.

  So, when Ireany was born, she decided it was time to celebrate the event as it deserved to be celebrated.

  The war back on Earth was over, the Taucets had left the planet and established on an arid planet in the nearest galaxy. Some had even established a colony in Arcadia, where they were welcomed. Other than the small problem Khajal had had with Anion, the Taucets had always helped the cyborgs escape the humans’ control.

  Of course, they only did it because it benefitted them, but many of the first cyborgs able to escape owed it to the Taucets.

  After the war was over, the cyborgs finally found a way to free themselves from the humans’ control and they had escaped in large numbers.

  The Arcadians knew humans were still breeding new cyborgs, so they kept doing all they could to provide them with the tools for them to escape. They weren’t interested in an open confrontation with the humans, so they just helped from afar.

  In fact, a small human colony was starting to grow in Arcadia. Most were women, attracted by the idea of becoming a cyborg’s mate, but there were a few men too and even families living there now. They supported the cyborgs’ cause and were more than willing to help them get their freedom.

  For the celebration she was having for Ireany’s birthday, Savannah had invited all of those that, in the past ten years, had become part of her family.

  Khajal had grumbled about the fact she was working too hard to feed all those people, but she knew he liked the idea too.

  Being the first couple amongst the cyborgs, they had become somewhat like celebrities in Arcadia. But things had slowly gone back to normal when more and more cyborgs had found their mates. The planet was slowly being populated, not only by the newcomers but also by those being born there.

  Even Jarcor had found a mate, and though most single cyborgs like to use him as an example, Savannah was happy he had found his mate. If someone deserved a little happiness in his life, it was him, especially after all he had been through.

  So, with the help of her employees, she had cooked a lot of food for the feast she had planned.

  With the tables set and ready to receive her guests, she went to her bedroom to get ready. Ireany was up, in her loving father’s arms, waiting for her mother to feed her before the party started.

  She let out a small groan. “I was hoping to have time to bathe before she woke up.”

  Khajal smiled. “You know her, she never acts according to plans,” he replied, with a scowl, remembering the night his girl was born.

  They hadn't had time to get to the hospital, and though Haycor had rushed to their house, he arrived when Khajal was already holding Ireany in his arms.

  “She’s not crying for now. I’ll entertain her while you get ready.” Khajal suggested, with a blissful smile.

  She knew he had fallen for his daughter from the very moment she had landed in his arms the day she was born. Savannah loved to see a man so strong and powerful like him, melting with one of his baby girl’s smiles.

  She nodded and rushed to the bathroom, hoping she would have enough time to at least bathe and get her makeup on.

  Khajal already had his pants on so he would get ready in a blink of an eye. Jerant and Kelbry had promised her they would be ready on time, but she didn’t put her hopes on it. They had gone hunting with Rafaroy and Jarcor’s kids, and when those six got together, they seemed to forget there were other people in the world.

  Sabrina, Jarcor’s mate, used to grumble about that, but Savannah knew she understood the bond that united their children. As an archeologist and anthropologist, she understood them better than anyone.

  Savannah came out the bathroom with just her underwear on, and Khajal turned to look at her.

  “It’s amazing how fast you recover after each pregnancy,” he said, with a lustful shine in his eyes.

  The passion between them was as fiery and strong as it was the first day they met and Savannah used to thank the Taucets for capturing her and giving her to her cyborg. She knew she wouldn’t have been this happy with anyone else in the universe. She was born to belong to Khajal, and she accepted that fact, without even blinking.

  “Thank you… does that mean we can have a few more babies?” she teased him, as she combed her hair in a stylish braid.

  He scowled but chose not to answer her question. He still feared losing her, and he was sure he would never be completely over that feeling. He loved his children, but he wished she didn’t have to go through the pregnancies to have them. He was aware that was illogical, but he wasn’t able to ignore those feelings.

  “Have the kids returned?” she asked him, turning around to get Ireany and feed her.

  “Yes, I heard them stomping through the stairs,” he replied with an amused smile.

  Savannah sighed. Despite their size, the kids were still kids.

  “Please, get ready. Our guests should be about to arrive.”

  But no one arrived before she was ready. Rafaroy and Elena were the first to arrive with both their kids and after that, the guests arrived in groups and soon they had a full house.

  Looking at the crowd gathered in her house, Savannah smiled pleased. Things couldn’t be more perfect. They lived in a pleasant planet, surrounded by friends and so far living in perfect harmony.

  She wasn’t naïve as to think they would never have problems. Envy and the thirst for power was part of both cyborgs and humans, and they were bound to show their ugly face at any time.

  But meanwhile, she was going to enjoy life as much as possible, fighting with Jarcor’s mate to prevent people living on the planet from making the same mistakes of those who had lived there before. Life was good.

  The end