by Amber Stuart
The one bonus to all this was that it was incredible being a killer whale. When I first saw them, I thought they looked unwieldy and bulky. But in the water, they were something else. They were as agile and vicious as any mammalian predator, and excellent swimmers. Their bulky bodies helped protect them, but that wouldn’t even matter, because the Guruthun’s weapons didn’t work underwater.
We could just slip into the water and use our powerful jaws to bite them and kill them. They would try to heal, but being close to them in their own element meant that we could deal fatal blows before that even happened. It was the perfect solution.
If it worked out, Maia could very well be given a military medal for offering the idea. She had no idea how many lives she was going to save with her quick thinking. Despite our uneasy conversation of the previous day, I found myself feeling glad that I had chosen her. She was not only beautiful and sweet—she was smart.
I had to head to the military lab to help work on testing, so I had my driver take me there. Most of my crew was present, as were others who were involved in the testing process. This facility was even more elaborate than the one in the palace, with enormous lagoons outside to test aquatic forms, like the killer whale.
“King, our overnight tests went well,” said Iskirr, striding up to me. “The whales can see extremely well in the water, as we expected. This should help us even when the Guruthun try to go deeper into the ocean.”
“Excellent,” I said. “Thank you, Iskirr.” That had been one of the problems we had faced—even if we had a form that could swim well, it was unable to follow the Guruthun deep into the ocean, where they could rest while they healed completely. It was infuriating, and one of the major reasons why our battles with them sometimes dragged on for hours, days even.
“It’s about time I did the killer whale drills,” I said. “I’ll do them now.”
“Good idea, King,” said Iskirr. “You will enjoy it.”
“I know,” I said, smiling. “It’s wonderful to finally have a decent form to explore the water with. Can you imagine how our marine biologists will react when we release this to them?”
“They will be thrilled! Perhaps we will even discover new species in the oceans of our own planet,” Iskirr said.
I followed Iskirr further into the building, which was loud with the cacophony of animals, all feeling energetic in the early morning. Some Mirrotirik who didn’t work closely with animals found the sounds irritating, but I didn’t. I loved hearing all the noises of the different life forms we studied.
I arrived at the edge of one lagoon and peered into the clear blue water, which got darker further down, so that I could not see the bottom of the pool. I had played around with being a killer whale, but I didn’t have much experience doing the drills, which was critical for being prepared for battle. I would have to complete a number of cognitive and athletic tasks as a whale, to ensure that I knew how to maneuver the form adeptly. It would also help me control the killer whale’s natural mindset and instincts in the heat of battle.
Not that that was much of a problem with the whale. It was intelligent and powerful, so its mind was relatively quiet and calm. It moved through the water with utter confidence, much like other predators, and even when it was surprised, it was collected enough to avoid making stupid moves—the same could not be said of prey animal forms. This was the ideal mindset for battle.
After stripping, I folded my robes and placed them on a shelf nearby. Then I dove into the water, closing my eyes and imagining my body growing and lengthening and becoming the whale.
Just moments later, I opened my eyes underwater and had a completely different visual experience. This was often the most jarring part—to see the world in different lights and colors—though not as jarring as it would be to see the shift happen if I had kept my eyes open during the transformation. The whale had poor color vision, as everything was mostly in shades of gray, but it could see well into the darkness of the water. Perfect.
I swam further away from the building, enjoying the strength of my muscles as they propelled me through the water. I could see the markers for the drills bobbing in the water. Deftly, I wove through them, though I caught my tail on a couple. I would have to practice a little more.
I also tried jumping a couple of times, which was easy enough, but took some planning to execute properly. That maneuver would have to be saved for emergencies. I wove back to the building and did some laps around the main part of the lagoon, trying to see how fast I could go. Testing a new form could be a lot of fun.
But my fun was cut short when I heard Iskirr’s voice calling me through the water from underwater acoustic devices. I knew he wouldn’t interrupt my practice unless he absolutely had something critical to tell me, so I swam up to the edge and transformed back, using a ladder to get up out of the pool.
Iskirr was waiting for me. “King, there is a situation on Saltar 7.” His face wore the marks of concern, his mouth pressed into a tight line.
I sighed. “Are the Guruthun attacking yet again?”
“Yes, King,” he said as we walked inside. “You should call Skraykirr back.” We stopped into front of a screen and I called the leader of the forces on the planet.
“King! It is good to see your face. We need to deploy the killer whales immediately.” He looked weary, but I could also tell that he was feeling a little optimistic. He was excited about the prospect of squashing all the Guruthun in killer whale jaws.
“I understand, Skraykirr. Thank you for your message. The auxiliary forces will be there shortly.”
I turned to Iskirr. “It appears that we have to outfit the ship and inform the other divisions,” I said.
“Already taken care of, King.” He looked pleased with himself.
“Good. Let’s go.”
I was nervous about heading into battle with a form I hadn’t properly tested yet. Every time I had injected myself with a new vial of serum, I had spent at least a few weeks making sure I was fully in control of the form before using it outside.
Soon enough, we were on the ship and out in space, swiftly flying to Saltar 7. As the planet approached, I could see the telltale signs of Guruthun invasion; their fighters were darting about in the air and some larger ships were docked strategically in orbit. We gave the fray a wide berth and descended into Saltar City.
Just like last time, we landed the ship along with the others and slipped out. I would have to figure out a way to protect myself until I got to the water. My wolf form was the best at running, so I quickly stripped and dashed out the ship, falling forward and making my way to the front.
I would be vulnerable for a couple of moments while I shifted back to Mirrotirik form and into whale form, and I would have to get into the water. Thankfully, the Guruthun were fairly harmless in the water. Like the humans, they relied on their advanced cognition, and not their strength or swiftness, to navigate the world.
The wolf ran and ran, dodging neon purple weapon blasts and the bright flames of bombs. The sound was deafening to my sensitive ears, but I ignored the pain and went as fast as possible. The quicker I got started on ripping Guruthun flesh, the quicker this would be over.
When I got to the water and started transforming, I saw that other killer whales were in the water, their dark forms slashing the water and weaving majestically. Soon I would be one of them.
I waded out into the water and felt a stinging on my leg. I had to get underwater, fast. I closed my eyes, nervous for that moment of vulnerability, and focused on transforming as soon as possible.
The confidence of the killer whale kicked in soon after, and I immediately started laying waste to the Guruthun. It was a richly satisfying experience after all the frustration I had felt during previous battles.
As the killer whale forms ripped through the Guruthun troops, it became increasingly obvious we were going to win this battle; the forces I had brought with me were exactly what we needed to turn the ti
de. The Guruthun, I noticed, started to retreat, their jelly-like bodies pulsing away, buoyed by strong limbs and wide, paddle-like hands. Abandoned weapons sank to the bottom of the ocean, disappearing into the depths. I could feel my killer whale raring to go after the retreating enemies, killing them, but I held back. It was not the Mirrotirik way to kill more than necessary.
Only a few Guruthun stayed back, fighting until the death. I decided to swim back to the shore, transforming into a wolf again so I could run more swiftly back to my ship. As I looked around me, I saw triumphant, tentative smiles on the faces of my fellow warriors. It was looking like we had won the planet, though I wanted to remain cautiously optimistic.
My crew all returned to the ship as well, just as other troops were returning to their ships to check on injuries and get a head count. All of my crewmembers were alive and mobile, though two had serious injuries which would soon become fatal if left untreated. Quozil, a native of the planet Zokor, had long gashes of silvery blood in his furry, orange flank, which we bandaged tightly, and Iskirr had two broken ribs. But we would all make full recoveries, and that was most important.
After making sure my crew was taken care of, I went to send a message to Maia, telling her that we were all safe. I was surprised by how anxious I was over her. She was in good hands with her servants, and she had a doctor easily available, even though the baby wasn’t due yet… But still, I worried that something or other would happen to her. I couldn’t wait to leave this planet and see her again.
After checking in with Skraykirr, we departed for Tirik. I reflected on how I felt about the battle on my way back. Before I had met Maia, I would have blasted into battle like a maverick, reckless. But now, I valued my life and health more. I couldn’t do something foolish that would leave her to raise my child alone.
If I was being honest with myself, I was a little resentful of this child, even though it hadn’t been born yet. I had made the decision to get married, and I had to own it. But I couldn’t help but see the baby as the reason why my life had become more burdened recently. I had come to be very fond of Maia—I even felt love for her, at this stage in our relationship—and being with her was all very well, but parenthood was the next level.
Well, there wasn’t anything I could do about it now. We were having a child, and I aimed to be the best father I could be. I had to be more cognizant of the future, because I knew I was creating the world my child would grow up in. While all of the kings of Tirik had different ideas about how the planet should be run, we all shared the same values. It was up to me to embody the concepts of responsibility and duty.
That didn’t mean I had to enjoy it fully, though. I hoped that raising a child would be far more interesting than I had previously imagined it to be. I would find out in due time, I thought. The baby would be here before we knew it.
CHAPTER NINE
Maia
I had been so worried about Tal on his mission. He had been away for a long time, and I hadn't heard from him until the battle was over. He hadn't given me the details, but he sounded relieved—triumphant, even. I knew he couldn't tell me everything until he came back, but I suspected that the killer whales were a huge success. A thrill went through me as I realized that I might have helped them win the entire planet.
When I saw him walking down the corridor, I jumped into his arms, squeezing tightly and wrapping myself around him. I couldn't let go. I deeply breathed in his scent. Now I had him back, and I didn't want him to leave ever again. Eventually, I peeled myself away and looked into his face. His eyes were bright green with happiness.
“We did it,” he said. “We won the planet, and it was all because of your suggestion to use killer whale forms.”
“I can't believe it,” I said. “One small thing had such a huge effect.”
“Yes. I'm glad I'm back, though. I missed you the whole time.” He put his hands on my shoulders; they were warm and comforting.
“I missed you too. I have to admit something, though. I wished you hadn't gone all.” My heart skipped a beat.
His face fell. “I had to.”
“I know, but you can't keep doing this with our child on the way. You need to be here for him or her.”
“I know that. It was something I actually realized while I was gone. I don't want to miss out on special moments with my family just because I'm off risking my life for one of dozens of colonies.” He gave me a tentative smile.
My heart lifted a little. It sounded like the hotshot royal warrior was finally coming around. “Really?” I asked.
“Really.”
We held hands as we walked back to my chambers, but then I thought of something. “I’ve come far enough along,” I started, “that there'll be something to see inside me. We might be able to see our child.”
He raised his eyebrow. “We can meet our child?”
“That's a cute way to put it, but yes, we should go see the doctor now. She told me I could come around anytime.”
“Well then,” he said. “We will leave immediately.”
We turned around and went down the corridors to where the clinic was. I had been so wracked with anxiety while he was gone that it hadn't even occurred to me to visit the doctor. It was just as well. Now that I had Tal with me, it would be even more special.
Dr. Lirros smiled when she saw us walk in. She knew exactly what we were here for. She got up from her seat. “Follow me,” she said.
She took us into an examination room where I had a seat, my husband standing next to me. I could feel the buzz of energy coming off of him; he too was excited, though he wasn't showing it in front of the doctor. His face was as expressionless as ever.
I watched as Dr. Lirros opened the cabinet and took out some unfamiliar instruments. It was amazing to me that this species apparently had a strong inclination for making all of their devices resemble hair dryers. She took a cord and attached it to a screen and hiked my dress up, placing the hair dryer over my belly.
“Watch the screen, now,” she said.
I felt warmth spread over my stomach, much like sunshine, and an image showed up on the screen. It was much clearer than an ultrasound, though there wasn't much detail yet. Our baby was still not much more than a fetus, but we could make out its arms and legs. There was our future child.
“This is incredible,” said Tal. “I can't believe I'm looking at my own flesh and blood.”
Dr. Lirros smiled. “Isn't it?” she said. “One of my favorite parts of being a doctor is introducing parents to their children.”
We stared at the screen in wonder, watching our child wiggle around, its tiny heartbeat pulsing. We were transfixed. I didn't want to look away, even though I knew that this beautiful creature was currently right inside me. I was carrying it around every minute, every second, though this was the first time I was seeing it.
“When will we learn the gender?” I asked.
Instead of answering, Dr. Lirros peered at the screen more closely. “In a few more days, certain details will become clearer,” she said. “But I think the way the crest is formed on the skull area might indicate that it's a girl. I cannot be too sure, but that's my best guess for now.”
Watching the baby move around inside me made the reality of my life much clearer. I felt like I was suspended in time and space, savoring this moment where I recognized not only that my life had changed irrevocably, but also that this was everything I wanted. I had a husband who treated me well and cared for me, and I was about to have a beautiful new family. My own family back on earth was taken care of, and I had a life that was comfortable.
It struck me then that applying to Galactic Matrimony was the best thing I'd ever decided to do. It was unthinkable to me now that I'd been so apprehensive back then. I hadn't had any idea that I would have my wildest dreams fulfilled.
“I'll save the image and send it to you, so that you can look at it whenever you want,” said Dr. Lirros. “And of course, you can always co
me visit me if you want to take another look at your child.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Lirros,” I said. “I appreciate it.”
“Thank you,” said Tal.
“Anything for the King and Queen,” she said. She was smiling serenely, the same joy that we were feeling reflected on her face.
After the images were transferred, we went back to my chambers. The whole walk back I was very much aware of the life I was carrying. I wasn't showing yet, but I would soon, and then the new Princess would be born.
Tal and I sat in silence comfortably. I could see activity outside my window. Winged creatures were flying in the forest, and I could see shadows among the stalks, darting around. The sun was shining brightly, and the planets in the sky were colorful and crisp. It was a perfect moment.
“I have to share this picture with my parents,” I said. “They’ll be thrilled.” I took out my own pocket screen and punched in their email address, attaching the photo. I couldn't wait to see what they said.
“I want to show mine too,” said Tal, yawning. “Maybe later.”
“I thought of something, Tal, that I wanted to ask you,” I said suddenly. “Your species wants to preserve the biodiversity of Earth, is that correct?”
He nodded. “We have been to many different planets, hundreds even, but we haven't seen any which have as many different species as Earth.”
“Do you consider humans another species to protect as well?” I asked, twisting my mouth into a wry smile.
“Humans are sentient beings, even if they are very primitive,” he said. “I don't think we see them as something to protect. But just like all other species, their lives are sacred. We respect them and will not hurt them unless we have a reason to.”
“Unless you have a reason to?”
“Well, like the Guruthun, who are attacking the colony. But even on Saltar 7, we did not fight any more than we needed to.”
