Zern

by Stella Sky

  So after seeing that look on her face, I did not want to be anywhere near her. I knew that if I were on the same ship as her, she would be stubborn and demand to see me. I would eventually give in. Then I would have to see the look on her face all over again at my wounded, weak body. I did not want to relive that moment. So I decided to take a different ship on the same fleet of over four hundred ships.

  But now that I had cooled off and had a few days to mend, I was starting to see the error of my decision. It wouldn't take long for them to figure out who she really was, and I would not be there to help her get out of that situation. I could help her deny it. Maybe we could say it was her twin sister, anything. But without me at her side, they would not believe any lies that she came up with. They would wonder how I got to the lunar base on Earth, they would figure out our connection. There was much of a mess to be sorted out, and I needed to be by her side when they found out so that I could figure a way out of it. But it was impossible now on a ship with a couple of miles of space between us. It is out of my hands now. I could only find out what information I could. I moved to the flight deck.

  "Captain, what is our destination?” I asked in the most warrior way that I could muster.

  "Good to see that you are on the mend warrior. We were destined to go back to Altid. But we recently received orders to divert all other ships as well. The entire fleet will be going back to Altid, minus ten ships, including this one that will be headed to the Supreme Council on Pourock," he responded.

  "When did you receive this order?” I asked.

  "As of an hour ago. This will be better for you as well. The Supreme Council can take care of you and get you back to your home.”

  "Yes, that is good news. Thank you, Captain,” I said as I left the flight deck. Dammit. They knew. Whatever ship Karissa was on, that captain figured out who she was and now was taking her to the Supreme Council. The fact that the captain I spoke with thought that his ship was going simply to take me to a place where I could get home easily let me know that he did not know the details of what had happened. He did not know who I was. This was not going to be good.

  A few days later, we arrived. We arrived in front of the Supreme Council. I was escorted to the grand room. Then I saw her. Karissa was standing in chains in the middle of the room. As soon as I saw her, my heart went out to her. What had I done? I was angry at her for not coming to me, for not rescuing me, but she did not deserve this. I should have just forced the warriors that rescued me to leave her on the lunar base. Now seeing her, I knew this was my fault.

  "Karissa Lane. You are guilty of killing Yiqua on your wedding night. He was to be your forever mate. You killed him. What do you have to say for yourself?” the Supreme Council asked.

  "I am only guilty of defending myself in whatever way was needed. Yiqua was forcing himself on me. I know that you Corillion do not understand what that means. But if a human female says no, it means no. He did not take this seriously. He was going to take me without my permission. That is grounds enough for his death. Yes, I killed him, but I did it in self-defense. And I will do it again if put in the same position,” she said defiantly, with her chin up in the air. I was impressed at her fearlessness. But it was dumb. The Supreme Council would not understand or be on her side.

  "So you admit that you killed Yiqua?” they asked.

  "I killed him in self-defense. That is what I admit," she said angrily with her blue eyes narrowing.

  "Karissa Lane, you are guilty of taking Captain Kai Spornium by force. After you killed Yiqua, you held Captain Kai Spornium at gunpoint and forced him to take him to his ship, or you would murder him as well. Then you forced him to take you to the lunar base where you took him as prisoner. Are you not guilty of this as well?” they asked her.

  There was a hush and grumble over the Corillion in the room. They were shocked by this human female that was so capable of not only killing Corillion, but also forcing them to do things against their will, like take them prisoner. She was silent, and I opened my mouth ready to yell my side of things. Ready to tell them the truth that she had not taken me, that I had done so by myself, I had offered my help. But before I could get a word out, she said,

  "Yes! That is true."

  I looked at her with wide eyes, and my mouth was open in shock. Why was she lying? Why was she covering for me? She should not do so. I did not need her to defend me.

  "Then you are guilty of murder, and you are guilty of taking a captain prisoner," the Supreme Council said to her. I knew what was coming next. They had defined her crimes, and now they were going to issue her punishment. I needed to do something. I needed to speak up. But I just stood there frozen, not knowing exactly what to do. I wish I had been able to speak to her alone to figure out a plan; she was better at these things than I was.

  She just stood there, silent and defiant. I could see all the eyes in the room admiring her; she was a true warrior, and they knew it. Why would they waste such a beautiful thing?

  "We the Supreme Council will decide your fate, Karissa Lane. For the action of murder, the punishment is death. For the action of taking a captain as a prisoner of war, the punishment is death…”

  My stomach fell to my knees, and I knew that I had to say something to stop this. But what could I say? If I admitted that I had helped her, then I would be sentenced as well, and I would be in no position to help her. If I said nothing, then I would be free and could figure something out, probably have to take her, plan an escape.

  "But these are the punishments that we give to our own Corillion warriors and to human man; we have never come across a human female to do such acts. We do not have a procedure for punishing you. But I believe the verdict shall be similar once we discuss among ourselves; for now, you will be taken to the prison cells to wait for our verdict,” the Supreme Council said.

  I felt relief. My tense shoulders dropped. I would have some time now to figure something out. But I could not have expected what happens next.

  "Wait! Wait!" a Corillion warrior ran into the large council room. Everyone begin to chatter amongst themselves at this outburst. It was unlike another to interrupt a Supreme Council; it was disrespectful. The Corillion warrior ran to the middle of the room and stood in front of Karissa. What the hell was going on?

  "Your excellent Supreme Council, please excuse the interruption! I have news regarding this case!” he shouted.

  "Please continue,” the Supreme Council said.

  "I was charged with running tests on this human female to find out why she is different than other human females we have come across. I have not found any difference. But I did find one thing that the Supreme Council should know when making a verdict.”

  "The floor is yours. Please tell us what you know,” they responded.

  "This human female, Karissa Lane, is pregnant with offspring.”

  There was a grumble over the room. I looked at Karissa. I was shocked too. Her eyes were wide and her mouth fell open. Then I saw her whisper something: Kai. She whispered my name.

  "What? Are you certain this human female is with offspring?” the Supreme Council asked.

  "Yes, I am certain. And more than that, she is pregnant with a Corillion offspring, not human.”

  Another grumble over the crowd. I knew then that she was pregnant with my offspring. It had to be. I was the only one that she allowed to enter her. She would kill any other Corillion that tried, and she had proven that. It had to be mine. I felt extreme joy, but also extreme pain. What could we do now? Would they still sentence her to death? I could feel her sorrow. She was slightly shaking as she stood there. The strong, defiant woman that had faced certain death with a straight face and courage was now shaking at the news that she was carrying offspring, Corillion offspring. My offspring.

  "How is this true?” the Supreme Council asked her. “Are you saying that you laid with Yiqua and then you killed him? Or is there another? You killed Yiqua for trying to mate with you and yet you allowed another to do
just that without killing him? You must see why we are very confused by your actions, Karissa Lane. Please explain yourself."

  "I will do no such thing. What I do is my own personal business. You have no say over who I am or what I have done in my past,” she said defiantly. She was still covering for me.

  "Be defiant if you wish. We will find out who's offspring it is through the blood work that we have already taken that showed us that you are pregnant. Our science can determine such a thing,” the Supreme Council said.

  Karissa was silent, and she stood tall and proud as she lifted her chin in the air and said, “Do what you must. This is how you treat all human females. I am no different."

  "Then take her and run the test. Our verdict on her punishments for her crimes shall wait until we know every single detail. There is much more to this case than we understood. Take her and run the test to determine if Yiqua is the father of the offspring that she carries,” the Supreme Council said.

  I couldn't hold my tongue any longer.” Wait!” I shouted.

  Chapter 11

  KARISSA LANE

  I was very confused when I arrived on the asteroid of the Supreme Council. I knew why I was there, but I didn't understand why all of the Corillion warriors, and even a few human females that I came across, were looking at me so strangely. They were looking at me as though I were the alien. They were the aliens. It was very strange.

  "I will be drawing a tube of your blood,” a Corillion warrior sad as I sat in a medical room. I was very confused by this. This wasn't my first time with the Corillion, and the first time I was not tested for anything. Did they think I was bringing in some sort of disease to their precious Corillion race? I looked at the Corillion, who looked a little different than the other warriors. I assume that he was a scientist or a doctor of sorts.

  "Why are you taking my blood?” I asked him.

  "To test to see why you are different,” he said very casually. “May I?” he asked politely.

  "Knock yourself out, I guess. Just leave me a enough so that I.. you know… don't die,” I said sarcastically. He sort of laughed. "What kinds of test and why?” I asked.

  "The Supreme Council thinks you are some sort of super-human female. They are aware that you murdered Yiqua. And between you and me, I don't blame you. I met him a few times before and he is vile; you should know that not all Corillion warriors are such rude, brash brutes,” he said in a playful whisper.

  "Yes, I have figured that out on my own and have become quite fond of some of the Corillion warriors that I have met. It is the same with humans as well. Some are lovely, and others are awful. We are not so much different,” I said.

  "Nevertheless, the Supreme Council thinks that you are very different than the other human females that we have encountered. We have never had a human female be so defiant as to kill her mate three times her size. And it was done with skill. Therefore the council has me testing your blood against other human females to see if you are different, superhuman,” he said with a wink.

  "Well, I am not. They will be disappointed. But do what you must,” I said, sticking my arm out to him. This was absolutely ridiculous, but I did not want to be seen as to defiant and like a primitive animal that had no logic. I did not just go around killing like a crazy person. They needed to see it. It was important, and maybe after this test, I would be able to see Kai. Though I knew doing so would get him into trouble. I was stuck.

  After the tests, I was taken to a large room with the Supreme Council. I knew what this was about. I was basically on trial. That's when it happened. That is when the scientist that took my blood ran back in and gave me, and everyone else, such shocking news.

  He shouted out to everyone that I was pregnant. It was a shock to everyone in the room, including myself. I felt extreme happiness at the news, and then I felt panic. Then I felt joy. I was a roller coaster of emotions not knowing where to put my feelings. I wished that Kai was in the room with me. I wished that he was happy about this and would run to me and hug me and we would be happy together.

  It shocked me to think of such a thing because I had not planned this. That was supposed to be one night of fun to save his life and to indulge myself, but I guess we were careless about it. Now I was carrying his offspring. I thought I would be dealing with this on my own, and whatever the Supreme Council verdict ended up deciding. So it was a shock when I heard a familiar voice.

  "Wait!" Kai shouted. I turned to see him standing behind me in the crowd. He took brisk and wide steps forward and stood next to me. My eyes filled with tears. I wanted him to hug me. I wanted him to kiss me and tell me that he was happy about this. I wanted to live freely, with him.

  "What is it, Captain Kai Spornium? What is it that you have to add?" the Supreme Council said once the crowd quieted down a bit.

  "It is my offspring that this human female carries,” he said as he stood up straight and courageous. I felt happy to be able to see him again and to be this close to him. He looked well. He didn't look like the sickly creature that I had seen in the dungeons.

  "This is true, Karissa Lane?” the Supreme Council asked as they turned to me.

  "It is. It is this Corillion warrior's offspring that I carry. We have laid together,” I said.

  "Captain Kai Spornium, it is a crime to take a human female that has not been issued to you. You know this," the Supreme Council said.

  "Yes, I am well aware of the rules. However, when I took her, she had already killed the one that she was matched with. She was on my ship heading back to the lunar moon base when it occurred. At that time, she belonged to no Corillion. She was not even in the Corillion galaxy any longer. Therefore I think that rule may be overlooked, considering that she held me as prisoner, as you said,” Kai said. I liked his quick thinking. This would make sense. They already assumed that I was a superhuman female that could kill Corillion warriors at will and could take one as a prisoner; why not believe that I also took him without his permission in a sexual way.

  "We understand. This was no fault of yours, Captain Kai Spornium,” the Supreme Council stated.

  "Yet, if I may so humbly request of the council, this human female now carries my offspring. That offspring is everything to me; it is everything to the Corillion race. Instead of issuing a verdict for her crimes, I think her punishment should be that I take ownership of her. I will take her to my home. She will be my responsibility,” Kai said.

  The moment he said it, my heart felt lighter. I had to restrain myself not to smile and jump on top of him. I was so happy that he was suggesting this. I held my breath, hoping that the council would go along with it.

  "But the council will be putting you in danger if we allow this. She has already killed another; why would she not do the same to you once you take her?” the council asked.

  "I believe I am safe with this human female. If she wanted to kill me, she would have done so long ago. She had plenty of opportunity when it was just the two of us on the ship. She had another opportunity when I was locked in the dungeons of the lunar base. She did not take either of these opportunities. I do not feel that my life is in danger. But if it is, I take that consequence on my own."

  The council spoke to each other in a hushed whisper. I quickly glanced over at Kai hoping that his eyes would meet mine. But he did not look at me. He only stayed proud and stared straight ahead.

  "May I remind the council that this offspring is mine. By right, I own it. Therefore I should own the mother as well. Isn't the entire purpose of the war with the humans is to keep our race alive by mating with the human females?" Kai added.

  "Very well, Captain Kai Spornium. Your request has been granted. Take your dangerous human female to your home where she will be far from us. Since you are a secondary leader of the Spornium tribe, it makes sense that it is time for you to have your own mate. Especially since your first leader, Yiqua, is no longer with us and is currently being replaced. But because you are the leader of the smaller sect of Spornium, you may
claim this human female that carries your offspring. We wish you the best. The property of Karissa Lane is now yours, Captain Kai Spornium,” the Supreme Council said.

  I exhaled a large breath of air, finally breathing normally. I was not going to be put to death. I was going to go with Kai to his home, and although it is not what I had planned, my circumstances had changed drastically with the news that I was pregnant.

  "Keys,” Kai said as he turned to a warrior that was guarding me. The warrior unlocked the chains on me. Then Kai grabbed my arm, harshly.

  "Oh, Kai, I was…” I began to say.

  "Don't. I will hear nothing from you. Just walk in silence for once,” he said angrily.

  I bit my lower lip. I was restraining myself from slapping him in the face. But I knew I couldn't do so here. It wouldn't be seen as a mere gesture of anger toward him. It would be seen as very hostile, and they would be forced to defend him and possibly kill me, and my child. So I stayed silent and let him yank me through the large room. He was practically dragging me. He was still pissed at me. That was fine for now. I understood that we needed to get out of there as quickly as possible before the Supreme Council changed their mind.