Why did she feel so out of it?
“Zak?” She forced her eyes open and struggled to sit up.
Aimee flattened her palms on the concave walls around her.
What the heck was this? Was she back in the terra angel?
She knocked on the clear composite and saw Zak poke his head into the side of the bubble.
“You ready to get out of there?” he asked, scooping his arm behind her back. He turned his head and asked, “is it okay?”
She heard a woman murmur, yes.
Aimee poked her legs out of the egg-shaped canister and used Zak’s assistance to sit up. She cupped her hands on the rim of the bed and looked around. The Bio Ward! The new Bio Ward, not the Horus. If she was in one of these eggs, then that must mean she was sick.
Whoa!
Reality came back with the subtlety of a hand grenade. What the heck had they given her? She had been out.
The crying!
Aimee craned her neck in search of the source. The wailing had simmered to a mewling sound, but where did it go? She had to see.
“Easy now.” Zak’s hands settled on her shoulders. “You’re not ready to stand up just yet. I’ll bring Zon to you.”
Zon!
Her head bobbed from side to side, trying to see around Zak’s robust frame. She caught a glimpse of Raja smiling in the background. Raja handed something to Zak. Aimee’s eyes rounded. Her beautiful husband was holding the most precious package in all the worlds.
“Aimee.” He grinned down at the infant, looking so small in his arms. “Meet our son.”
And just like that, Zon was in her embrace. He was swaddled in a shimmering blanket, but two hands poked out. Two little perfect hands, with ten perfect fingers. He had a faint swathe of dark hair on his head and chubby red cheeks, with pursed pink lips, moving, seeking–
“You’re hungry, little one,” she murmured with a smile that extended to the depths of her soul.
At the sound of her voice, the puffy eyelids opened and she saw the deep amber irises. Zak’s eyes. Her two handsome men. She looked up at Zak and felt her own eyes well with tears. If she wasn’t mistaken, there might have been a sheen to his too.
“We did it?” she asked softly.
“We did it,” he confirmed.
“He’s beautiful.”
“Like his mother.”
“He looks like you,” she stated.
“He only has two eyes at least.” Zak winked. “Those are your cheeks. And look at the fists…definitely yours.”
In awe, Aimee held onto her son, marveling at his perfection.
“What happened?” she asked. “It’s all so fussy.”
Raja stepped forward, smiling down at Zon. Craig’s hands were on her shoulders, an awed look on his face as well.
“I had to give you something for the pain,” she explained. “It made you a little groggy, but your head will clear shortly and you’ll remember it all. You did great, Aimee.” She beamed. “And your baby boy is completely healthy. All tests confirmed so. There were no effects from the trauma on the crater. You have a strong one here.”
Aimee clutched the infant to her collarbone, feeling the soft breath against her skin. It was a sensation that she would never get enough of.
“Half human, half mecaw,” she observed, smiling down at his dark crown.
“Is there anything special I need to do?” she floundered with the question, a blush stealing over her cheeks. “I mean,” she looked up at Zak, “when you were an infant, were you fed from your mother’s–”
Zak looked amused, which made her skin burn even more.
“Yes, Aimee. We eat the same as human babies. Look at me. My favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, and zutti tarts. My son will be as diverse as I am.”
Raja intervened with a more clinical assessment. “I’ve run all the tests. Your son shares both antigens, or blood types. If a different antigen was introduced to a mecaw or a human, antibodies would fight against it, but as these antigens were introduced inside your womb, no antibodies formed.”
“Translation?” Aimee quirked an eyebrow.
“Translation is that you have a healthy baby boy who shares both of your DNA, which means he will grow up to be smart and strong.” Raja added the last part, and extended a smug smile to Craig.
“Very good, dear,” he grinned. “I see you’re working on your bedside manner.”
Smart and strong, Aimee heard. Their little Warrior. Their engineer. Their dreamer. Their shining star in a luminous galaxy. Looking into his eyes was like looking into the sun.
And she knew where he belonged.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“I can’t believe we’ve made it,” Sema spoke.
“Your craft was reliable. Maybe not pretty, but definitely reliable,” Gordy said.
“Like me,” Sema quipped at his side.
Gordy’s elbows rested on the hull frame as the tide caught the boat and began to draw it towards the pink shoreline. He stood upright and studied her profile. Rich, brown hair rippled behind her, revealing a determined chin and an upturned nose. A faint scar hooked beneath her ear as his eyes trailed down the soft skin of her neck to the shoulders drawn back in determination.
“No, you’re definitely pretty,” he uttered.
Sema’s head snapped. Her lips parted in shock. He stared at them. Maybe too long. A blush stole over her, and it wasn’t the reflection of the sunrise.
“Maybe my father was right,” she whispered, checking to see if Solont could hear them. He was at the bow of the vessel, far enough away that the wind would occupy his ears.
“How so?” Gordy asked.
“The Lowlanders are crazy. No one has ever called me pretty. Well, maybe my grandmother–”
“Then maybe your people are the crazy ones,” Gordy joked softly. “Because you are definitely are.”
Their eyes locked as the sun touched hers, igniting them. Gordy wanted to touch her. Would that honey-colored skin feel as warm as it looked?
“Sema, how do we slow this thing down?” Solont interrupted.
Sema flinched. She still held Gordy’s gaze.
“We have to lower the sail,” she answered, her voice husky.
“I’ll get it,” Gordy offered, clearing his throat.
Reaching for the post that controlled the sail, his arm brushed against Sema’s. The friction charged up his limb, and rippled inside his chest. Sema’s eyes flared at the contact. He reached with his free hand, cupping her cheek in his palm, leaning in as her head gradually tipped back.
“To the right more,” Solont hollered. “There’s a channel–you see, over there, the shadowed line?” He turned to look at them, and paused. “Oh.” He clamped his lips into a smile and looked away.
“What?” Gordy paused, his hand still under Sema’s hair.
Solont kept his eyes averted. “It’s just that everything else looks too shallow.”
Sema stared into Gordy’s eyes a moment longer and then withdrew. She leaned over the balustrade and beheld the pale blue water. Gordy joined her. Yes, the sand had come up quickly. It was possible they could run aground long before reaching the actual shoreline.
“Solont’s right.” She stepped back and wrapped her hands around the rudder. “How’s that? Better?”
“You’re on the right track,” Gordy encouraged.
“We’ll be close enough soon that we can wade in if need be.” Solont shook his head, the rising sun spinning swirls of silver in his hair. “Listen to me,” he chuckled. “I can’t wait to get into the water.”
“I don’t think we need to worry,” Gordy observed. “It looks like we’ve got a welcome party.”
Solont and Sema followed his pointer finger to locate the group of silhouettes queuing up on the shore. Even from this distance, more figures could be seen jogging across the sand.
“Will they punish me?” Sema asked with trepidation.
“I won’t let them,” Gordy vowed.
“You should.” A frown cut into her forehead. “I let my people punish you. I can’t believe how stupid I was.”
“If you want atonement, help us talk to the Solthumians that are hiding in Aulo. They will listen to you.”
“I’ll try.” She nodded with conviction. “Let’s find them first.”
Sema reached into the sack attached to her belt. She extended the Star Laser to him.
“This belongs to you,” she stated humbly.
Gordy looked at it for a moment and then settled his hand on top of hers. “You’re a pro with this. Hang on to it for now.”
***
Vaulting down into tepid water that lapped around his calves, Gordy reached up, catching Sema under her arms as she leapt down beside him. Solont hefted over the hull, his legs dangling down the side.
“I’ll catch you,” Gordy encouraged.
“I’m not that old,” Solont berated, letting go and landing with a splash. He bent over and dragged his fingers through the water.
“It’s good to be back,” he grinned. “I was just swimming on this beach a renna ago.”
Sema looked queasy, hugging her arms about herself and warily searching the faces lined up along the shore.
“Don’t worry, Sema,” Solont assured. “It’s time for this civil unrest to be over. We are all Anthumians. A little communication–a little dialogue can fix anything.”
“I hope so,” she murmured. “Some of the men that were sent over here–” she hesitated, “–they’re pretty adamant in their beliefs.”
“We’ll find Vodu,” Gordy assured. “We’ll discuss it with him first.”
“I see my wife!” Solont yelled as he threw his hand over his head and waved it ferociously.
The happiness in Solont’s eyes, and the determination as he hobbled with the tide warmed Gordy. It also made him melancholy. There was no one waiting for him on that shore. No wife. His family would have eagerly welcomed him, but they were still stranded on the mainland. He needed to get back to them. He needed to see them safely transported to Aulo.
Solont’s wife charged into the water, stumbling a few times, and finally tripping into her husband’s embrace. Her white gauzy dress was saturated from the knees down, but the smile on her face showed how little she cared.
“That’s nice,” Sema whispered at his side. “I’m so happy for him. I have no one back home who would welcome me like that.”
“Yeah, me too.” Gordy muttered.
He touched her elbow to steady her from the sand that sucked at their feet.
Just above the advancing crests, the group that congregated on the shore now parted to make way for a new arrival. Gordy recognized Vodu’s distinctive white hair and guided Sema in that direction.
As they climbed the beach, Vodu extended his arms, smiling benevolently. “Gordeelum. It is so good to see you safe. Tell me of the Tok. Our trackers know it went down on the mainland, but we just don’t know–we are uncertain if there were casualties.”
Gordy winced at the thought. “I have not been able to communicate with the ship myself, but when I left them everyone was fine. The module is self-sustaining for quite some time.”
“We’re still trying to construct some crafts for planetary travel. The engineers are just now piecing together some options, but it looks as if you have beat us.” He nodded out towards the curved hull rooted into a sandbar.
“That is Sema’s boat,” Gordy explained. “She designed it herself.”
Vodu vaulted a white eyebrow and smiled his approval.
“Vodu,” he announced, “this is Sema of Solthum Valley.”
Solont moved in to flank Sema’s other shoulder. Gordy appreciated the solidarity, and he knew it would bolster Sema’s confidence.
“She comes to us with quite a tale to share.”
“Solthum Valley?” Vodu frowned. “I have heard of it, but I thought it was uninhabited.”
Sema cleared her throat and glanced at Gordy before speaking. “Yes. Most people thought that. Those who did venture that far–” her voice died off.
Vodu’s smile gentled. He extended his hand. “Come,” he beckoned. “Let’s talk somewhere that you don’t have to stand in water.”
Gordy saw Sema’s expression relax slightly. He wordlessly thanked the man for being the best commander anyone could ever have.
There was a tug on Gordy’s suit. It was Solont looking sheepish. “Do you want me to come along?” he whispered. “You might need a backup–someone to validate the story.”
Glancing past Solont’s shoulder at the woman with long pale hair, and blue eyes wrinkled at their corners, he said. “No, you go home. You deserve it. If need be, we’ll drop by later for a visit.”
Solont sliced his sharp eyes around the crowd. “Do you see any? Any that could be from Sema’s village?”
Gordy shrugged. “Hard to tell. Sema said they would try to conceal their dark hair color so that they went unnoticed.”
Nodding, Solont looked around again. “Okay, well, I’ll keep my eyes open until we meet again. Thank you for everything, Gordeelum.”
Gordy clamped his hand on the man’s upper arm and squeezed encouragingly.
“Sema,” Solont called.
She paused and turned around.
He stepped forward and gave her a bearish hug. Her shoulders clenched, and one of her hands patted awkwardly on his back.
“Thank you,” he uttered thickly.
Tucking her head, she whispered, “No, thank you for accepting me–for forgiving me.”
Solont gave her shoulders a squeeze and then stepped away to join his wife who looped her arm through his and tugged him up the beach.
Sema was wedged in between Gordy and Vodu on their hike up the sand. There was anxiety in her eyes as she looked up at him. He tried to convey assurance with a small grin.
“Wow,” he distracted her by glancing around. “This is the first time I’ve seen Aulo in person. So far, I’ve only seen murals of it.” There was ruin. There was restoration. The blend was striking. “It’s beautiful. Old, but beautiful.”
“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Sema marveled, staring slack-jawed at a temple with majestic columns capped with volutes. The imposing size of every building dumfounded her.
“We build our houses–” she murmured, “–we build them on the façades of caves. The interior is usually cold and dank.” She angled her head up and down the boulevard of majestic temples. “These don’t look like caves.”
“Come,” Vodu called. “Let’s get you to the Bio Ward. You both look a little disheveled. We’ll get you checked out and cleaned up–” he leaned forward, making eye contact with Gordy. “And there’s a surprise there for you.”
A surprise?
“The Bio Ward?” Gordy questioned. “I didn’t think the Horus modules landed that close to the city.”
“This is the new Bio Ward,” Vodu clarified, jutting his head at the grand portico just down the stone-paved road. “Construction and technology had been underway before we landed, but with the arrival of the Horus, they were able to relocate most of the machinery to transform this into a pioneering facility, capable of almost all curative needs.”
Standing at the bottom of three solid marble steps, Gordy gaped up at the colonnade with vaulted arches creating a sheltered walkway. It was wide enough to protect from the sun and sand, but on closer inspection, he detected the faint blue illuminated lines of a laser curtain.
With a nod, he encouraged Sema up the steps. Inside, it took a moment to acclimate his eyes, but under the synthetic lighting his vision soon regulated.
He was surprised to find the unique egg-shaped stations largely occupied. Only under battle conditions was the Bio Ward ever full on the Horus. He was about to comment on it when he felt Sema’s fingers wrap around his arm, tugging him to a halt.
“That man,” she whispered. “See him standing by that terminal?”
Gordy took in the tall figure dressed in the customa
ry white bodysuit often found on Bio Ward scientists.
“Yes?”
“He is from Solthum Valley.”
Gordy halted. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I know him. His name is Lorken. He is one of my father’s top soldiers. He has used greeta juice to lighten his hair and his eyebrows, but his skin is so much tanner than everyone working here. Don’t they notice that?”
“That is not abnormal. The Anthumians have been working on the beach now since they have landed. Most of them are getting color in their skin.” Gordy hesitated, disturbed that danger had infiltrated so close.
“There’s no chance he’s here under good intentions?” he asked doubtfully.
“None at all,” she murmured. “He is an elite soldier. I am certain Lorken has targeted this facility because he knows he can do the most damage here.”
“Yeah, well,” Gordy’s fingers searched for his Star Laser, frowning until he realized where it was. “People tell me I’m an elite Warrior too.”
“Here,” Sema discreetly transferred the weapon into the palm of his hand.
Gordy looked into her eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered.
He could see her throat lob on a slow swallow.
“We’ll talk to Vodu first,” he instructed in a low voice. “But keep Lorken in sight.”
Sema nodded.
“Is there a problem?” Vodu rounded on them, catching their deep frowns.
“Just something we’d like to chat with you about somewhere–” Gordy glanced at the rows of cocoons around him, and the proximity of the tall Solthumian. “–in private.”
Vodu cocked an eyebrow, but dipped his head in acquiescence. “Certainly. I was just taking you to an isolated alcove–” he pointed to the end of the row.
It seemed too far away. Lorken could easily slip out of the Bio Ward. Sema tried to lag behind Gordy so as not to be spotted, but that evasive maneuver did not go undetected by Vodu.
“Or,” he offered, “we could just step into the neurological lab.”
There was a triangular glass-enclosed chamber off to their right. It was large enough to house several suspended examination tables along with monitoring equipment and serums lined in countless colored tubes.
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