Blinking, he heard Maiko screaming that the shield integrity was failing. Stepping to her side, he stared at the strange sight forming before him. It started as mini bolts of electricity, reminding him of lightning. It slowly churned, reminding him of the words the older couple had sent in warning. Beware the vortex. He saw an invisible force tugging Maiko slightly towards it, like someone had an invisible string attached to her waist. Immediately, he knew what the warning meant. Grabbing her, he pulled her all the way to the front of the room, near the door, as he shouted orders.
“Everyone keep back, this is the vortex they warned us to be aware of. We need a force filed between it and everyone in the room.”
Before anyone could respond, the eye of the vortex opened and three people came flying through, landing face down on the floor. Within seconds, the vortex snapped closed. Shar Jalon’s chest constricted painfully, when he realized that one of the people looked similar enough to Maiko to be her clone. Rushing forward, he helped the confused woman to her feet.
When she was steady on her feet, he released her with the intention of stepping back. Much to his fascination, she clung to him. Though he was certain that she had no idea what she was doing, he stepped closer and drew her into the circle of his arms for a brief moment. Watching her catch her breath, he knew in his soul that this was his one. Her lovely eyes were filled with unimaginable pain, bringing out every protective instinct his warrior’s spirit held in reserve. Whatever he’d felt towards Maiko was nothing compared to the wildly possessive urges welling up in his soul for the beautiful, broken woman in his arms.
Eventually, she became alert enough to know she shouldn’t be sharing such an intimate pose with a total stranger. She mumbled a hasty thank you and stepped away with pink staining her cheeks. Shar Jalon found every aspect of this woman intriguing, fascinating, and absurdly charming.
Shar Jalon became aware of dialogue taking place around him and tried to pick up the thread of the conversation but unfortunately everyone had stopped talking.
He stated matter-of-factly to Maiko, “They’re both you.”
As they approached, the older woman spoke, “How beautiful you are, child, with your handsome warrior at your side.” Waving her hand towards Shar Jalon and his clones, she commented, seeming a bit awestruck, “You do all of Krylon proud with your new alliance. I know not who your new friends are, but removing you from the vortex before you could be pulled into the anomaly was a stroke of genius.”
Maiko responded politely, “Shar Jalon realized when he saw the strange static field open, it swirled like a vortex. He pulled us out before it could grab us. Oh, my God, it felt like my skin was getting pulled from my flesh.”
“The sobering reality is, though the vortex opens every two hundred solar years in our dimension, only a handful survived the trip.” Motioning to the woman he’d rendered assistance to, she continued, “As you can see, we aren’t always fortunate enough to find our warrior before our destiny begins.”
That sent a surge of desire roaring through his body, for that meant the newfound object of his affection was unattached. For the first time, he felt real hope growing in his chest. He grew concerned when the lovely woman wrapped her arms around her waist in a pitifully protective gesture before speaking.
“In my timeline, we’re at war with a race of insectoids. When I was first pulled into the anomaly, they were swarming Earth.” Her eyes took on a distant quality as she paused a brief moment before continuing, “I fear all that was, is now gone.”
Shar Jalon had heard of such creatures, but not for many decades. The Shardon first encountered them in deep space near their home world. Their records say the fighting was vicious and many lives lost before the Shardon were victorious. Perhaps in her timeline, the Shardon had failed in their fight and were obliterated. The thought of there being a timeline where his people were extinct, left him feeling shattered.
Trying to focus on the conversation once again, he realized they were talking about the artifacts being devices created to close down the temporal anomaly rather than maneuver it. This new theory made a lot more sense to him. The devices were keyed to Maiko’s DNA pattern and it took three different derivatives of the DNA strand to activate the devices. The why or how of it wasn’t part of their conversation, but those questions had him wondering about the complexities of creating such devices.
As each of the women put their hands against the scanning plate on a different one of the devices, he watched them hum to life. Each lit up, gently lifted off the ground, and slowly spun in a lackadaisical fashion. They were tall torpedo-shaped devices with three different sections, that twisted and turned like a combination lock attempting to unlock itself. Watching it gave him a bad gut feeling.
The older woman explained how each device held a small particle accelerator and she dove into some long, drawn-0ut explanation of how it worked. Shar Jalon listened to her talk about how it would take a total of five hundred microns for the photon reaction to hit critical mass. Once that happened, they had another five hundred microns to place them into position around the anomaly. She tried to explain in the best way she knew how.
When asked what caused the anomaly, she responded self-assuredly, “The temporal distortion is the result of testing on sub-atomic particles by a long extinct race of aliens. They had no idea the dangers involved in their quest for knowledge. As far as we could determine, it made its way around this galaxy at least twice. At the moment of its conception, it created a nexus where we were all drawn into the vortex from different points in the space-time continuum. We’re all intersected at the exact moment in time when the vortex swirled. Only viewing it from our individual different perspectives, makes it seem as though we’re meeting at different points in time.” Her explanations meant little to Shar; he just wanted the danger to be neutralized, and he was willing to take her words at face value.
As the conversation droned on around him, Shar monitored the younger woman who had yet to return to stand with the group. She seemed lost after being pulled out of her proper place in time and space.
Approaching her tentatively, he tried to gauge her reaction to being around him. She smiled warily at him, but didn’t assume her protective pose. Emboldened by her acceptance, he approached slowly so as to not frighten her.
“Do you understand what Reverend Mother is saying?”
Glancing at the older woman still talking as she waved her arms around, he looked apologetic. “I’m afraid not. Though I’ve been studying it for weeks, much of what she’s saying simply isn’t supported by my research.”
The woman smiled at him. “I know what you mean. Once she starts talking about time travel, my brain just short circuits. I know I need to learn everything I can, but honestly, none of it comes close to sticking.”
“How long have you been with them?”
“Almost a year. I still worry about my people.”
“I’m sorry your world was attacked by the creatures you call insectoids. They’re vicious beasts.”
Suddenly, she took a staggering step backwards as her skin paled. “Are… are they here as well?”
Reaching out, he placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “Rest easy, princess; my people destroyed them decades ago. The cost in Shardon life was high but we were victorious.”
Stepping closer, she whispered, “You’re the first person I’ve talked to since leaving my own timeline who even knows what I’m talking about. It’s nice to talk about it without the other person looking at me like I’m crazy.”
Catching her meaning, he responded soothingly, “I believe that unless a world has had contact with the creatures, it would be hard to imagine they could possibly be real. I must admit that learning of such things is part of a clone’s basic education. Unfortunately for me, much of that learning has faded over time.”
“God, you’re so easy to talk to. It feels like it’s been ages since I had a normal conversation with another person.”
They heard th
e older woman explaining how they couldn’t leave once the anomaly was closed. Her reaction was predictable. Her arms closed over her stomach. Shar Jalon wanted to hold her so much it actually hurt, but he wasn’t under the mistaken impression that just because he wanted it, she’d welcome such affection. They overheard Maiko offering lodgings to the older couple.
“Don’t worry, my friend. You’ll always have a place among us, and I’ll see that your choices are honored. Come, I’ll find you accommodations. You must be exhausted.”
Smiling gratefully, she nodded. “Time travel is more tiring than it would seem from the outside looking in.”
“I’m unfortunately very much aware of this fact. I was pulled back in time on three separate occasions since we began this mission. You’re handling it much better than I did.”
“The horrible taste is what bothers me the most. I couldn’t get rid of it for days and now it’s back.”
Shar Jalon held out his hand. “If you’ll come with me, I may have discovered a solution for that as well.”
“You’d be my personal hero, if it works. It feels like I’ve been chewing on copper or something.”
“I’m not familiar with that metal, but the Krylon have this type of flavorful food that’s good at counteracting the taste. It’s crunchy, round, and very dry. They bake them in a hot box.”
Clapping her hands together excitedly, she stated, “They sound like cookies. I love cookies.”
“Yes, Miss Madison calls them meat cookies.”
“Madison sounds like a human name.”
“She was rescued from Earth and became attached to her medical provider. They have recently wed. Lar Jalon is what humans would call my best male friend.”
“You both have the same last name.”
“I don’t know what that is. We share the designation of Jalon because we were created from the same cloning batch.”
Regarding him curiously, she asked, “Why do the Shardon clone people?”
“We’re a race of clones, by necessity not choice. The last Shardon female passed into history over a hundred years ago. We searched the verse for compatible females and until we discovered humans, there were none.”
“You’re biologically compatible with human women?”
“Many species are compatible with human females. Your people are very adaptable, biologically speaking.”
Smiling at him, she shrugged. “All right, I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“It was merely a statement of fact. If I were going to compliment you, I’d tell you that you’re brave and more beautiful than any female I have ever met.”
Grinning openly, she teased him, “You met two more exactly like me today alone, so I can’t be all that unique.”
“You’re nothing like the other two. Your eyes tell me you haven’t lived the sheltered life of a princess. Much like me, you have known your share of loss and hardship.”
Looking startled, she sighed. “I see where this is going. You’re interested in a wife.”
“All males who aren’t broken wish for wives.”
“I’m not just some biologically compatible generic one-size-all-fits-all female.”
Her way with words forced him to laugh aloud and with force. It was embarrassing. “I apologize, that has never happened before.”
“You’ve never laughed aloud? Well, buckle up, mister; I tend to have that effect on people.”
“I wish to tell you something that I have never spoken of before.”
“Let me guess. You pick your nose when no one’s looking and you think it makes you more human. No, you don’t seem the type. Let’s see, you secretly wanted to be a dancer instead of a warrior.”
Grinning like a fool, he tried not to make the embarrassing laugh again. “That would be a secret worth keeping. No, my secret is that I don’t wish a generic one-size-fits-all female, though many think that as a clone, that would suit me perfectly.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply anything disrespectful by my comment.”
“You have given no offense. Many Shardon and Krylon males would be happy to have any woman. I find that I require more. I wish a woman who understands and desires me.”
“I’m certain you’ll have no problem finding love. You seem like a sweet, considerate, fun-loving guy.”
They stopped in front of a doorway and Shar Jalon quickly placed his hand on the scanner. “I think you’ll find these accommodations adequate. My room is across the hall, the second door on the left. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“I almost forgot.” Walking into the room, he opened a small cabinet and removed a meat cookie from a metal container. After offering it to her, he bent down, opened the refrigerated unit, and took out a cold hydrating pouch.
She hesitantly put the tiny cookie in her mouth and chewed. “Wow, this is really good. It’s like a burst of flavor on my tongue. Oh, my goodness. The horrible taste is gone. I could just hug you.”
Holding out the hydration pouch, he realized she was just joking. “I’d certainly welcome such an expression of gratitude. But for now, you should drink. It’s important to stay hydrated in deep space.”
“What is this stuff?”
“It’s a simple hydrating liquid. Miss Madison warned me never to give the fish-flavored ones to humans, and was adamant that females prefer liquid that tastes like fruit. This one is flavored from the glavarna fruit which grows wild on my home world. I hope you like it.”
“I’ve liked everything about the Shardon so far, so I’m fairly certain I’ll like this as well. Forget about what Madison said about fish-flavored water. I’m Japanese. We eat raw fish, so that might actually be a go with me.”
“We’ll try that for next time. For now, you should rest. If you wish to leave your quarters, the ship’s onboard computer responds to voice prompts in over three thousand languages. Simply speak and it will see that your needs are met or alert another crew member to attend to you.”
“Will they all be as considerate and polite as you?”
“I’m going to consider that flirting, though I suspect that wasn’t your intention.”
Smiling broadly, she quipped, “I like how you turned that one right around. You’re clever and funny.”
“No one has ever accused me of having a sense of humor before.”
“It’s subtle, but there if one looks hard enough.”
“Rest well, princess.”
“My name’s Keiko.”
“It’s a lovely name. I’m Shar Jalon.”
“I know. The other me mentioned your name. It suits you.”
Reluctantly taking his leave, Shar Jalon went in search of Maiko to discuss the unusual turn of events. They were finally making headway in mitigating the damage done by the temporal distortion. If what the older woman had said was true, they now had a very real chance of closing it down.
She didn’t answer her door prompt, so he headed back to the loading bay containing the artifacts. They were all still spinning slowly and bobbing up and down in a random pattern. He got lost reviewing telemetry data for several hours and didn’t notice Keiko come back into the room.
“Are you going to work all night?”
Spinning around, he almost couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “Clones require very little rest. We’re engineered to complete tedious, detail-oriented tasks that would easily put other species to sleep.”
Moving towards him, she seemed relaxed and happy. “I can’t tell if you’re joking or not, but my best guess is your words are a little of both.”
“Good guess, beautiful princess.”
“I never felt much like a princess. I have to admit that being called beautiful by someone as attractive as you seems like a genuine compliment.”
Stepping closer, he stood looking down into her dark eyes. “Again, that sounds like what the human women call flirting. Are you attempting to initiate the rituals of human
mating with me?”
Laughing, she responded, “You’re a funny man. Just because a woman flirts, it doesn’t mean she wants to court you.”
Boldly reaching out to wrap his hands around her hips, he drew her closer, patiently ignoring the strange looks he received from the assembled scientists. “I’m an appropriate male to direct your interest towards. You’re an imperial princess and though I’m merely a clone, I have recently been given the title of prince on the Sylon home world. That makes us equally matched.”
“I don’t care about any of that. If you think I’ll get hitched because of titles or pedigrees, think again.” She tried to step backwards, but he held her tight.
“Forgive my ignorance of human mating customs. Allow me a moment to tell you about my personal qualities. I’m the leader of my people in this sector of space. Leadership is determined through a series of competitions which pit us against each other in trials meant to test our intelligence, endurance, courage, and resourcefulness. I apologize if I’m being too forward, but I’m bred to be strong willed, tenacious, and take chances to obtain what I covet.”
Melting into his arms, she gazed up at him. He watched her expression change from annoyance to something almost bordering on admiration. “I actually like men who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go for it. The problem is, we have more important matters to attend to than getting friendly.”
Even as she spoke words designed to keep him at a distance, the beautiful human’s hands grasped him closer.
Deciding to ignore her words in favor of body language, he pulled her to his chest, tucked her head under his chin, and held her tight. “I believe every moment I spend in your presence is a gift. I don’t wish to squander it needlessly. Our mission will proceed, but I’ll keep you as close as you allow until I know the danger is passed.”
Twirling a finger around a stray lock of his long, black hair, she responded absently, “You smell really nice and I feel safe when I’m close to you. Maybe that’s the wrong attitude to have in this situation, but I’m tired of putting what I want last.”
Celestial Mates Complete Series Box Set (Books 1-5) (Alien SciFi Romance) Page 45
