Marcael: A Terraneu Novel, Book Five (16 page)

Brennae walked along the path in New Haven. She had just left her parents
dome and was going to visit Stephanie. Her new constant companion was at her
side. She had named the sacathie Star after the bot from the Elyon. Without the
STARR unit’s help, she never would have made it off the ship.

“Brennae!” She heard her name and stopped to turn around.

“Hey Chloe, what’s up?” Brennae waved at Celeste as she hurried along the
path in the other direction.

“Nothing really, I was going to work with Emma at The Watering Hole but I
needed to ask you something first.” Chloe was pulling at one of the curls on
her shoulder, a sure sign that she was nervous.

“Okay,” Brennae smiled to reassure her cousin. “You can ask me anything.”

Chloe looked around and moved toward one of the benches along the path.
When she had gotten comfortable, she finally spit out the question that was
bothering her. “How did you know Marcael was
the one
?”

Brennae just sat there dumbfounded. She had never expected Chloe to ask
that. She waited a little too long to answer because Chloe started talking
again, “I mean all of our parents have
it
. You know what I am talking
about. We used to always laugh about it growing up.” Chloe sat forward, “But
it’s true. They have
it
...the deep, mental and physical bond that keeps
them together. When they are mad at each other, they make up fast. When they
are unhappy about something, they talk it over and meet in the middle. I don’t
care what name they taught us in school:
 
Love, lust, attraction ...affection. Whatever you call it our parents,
aunts and uncles all have it.” She was tapping her fingers in agitation against
her knee. “I see you look at Marcael the way our parents look at each other and
I need to know how you knew he was the one.”

Brennae felt bad for her Chloe, she was obviously upset. “I don’t know
how to explain it but I’ll try.” She put her hand over her cousin’s to stop the
tapping then moved it back to stoke through Star’s fur. “When Marcael stepped
out of the clearing that day at the oasis I was terrified. It was when he took
down his face guard and I looked into his eyes that something changed. I was
still afraid but inside of my heart, I felt a connection pulling at me. In some
strange way, I felt safe with him already. It wasn’t until I heard his name
that I fully let the emotions hit me, but I was drawn to him the moment I saw
his face.”

She looked around the paths and benches then back to her cousin. “When
I’m with Marcael I know I can be myself. I don’t have to be the ‘first born
girl’ of Terraneu. I’m not the daughter of councilman this or councilwoman
that. I can just be myself. I get to be the crazy sacath lady. The woman who
mucks out sorrem stalls for a living. I’m the woman who barely passed numbers
but loved reading in school.” She looked to see if her cousin was listening and
found her watching intently, “He may not have said the words and I don’t need
him to. I know Marcael loves me. I look at taking mate status with him as
setting me free not being tied down. He gives me the strength to be true to
myself.”

Chloe sighed, “That is what I think I found but was too afraid to face
it.”

“Are you talking about Colle?” Brennae saw the look her cousin tried to
hide. “You act different around him and I just figured he was the one you were
talking about.”

“I am just confused about everything.” Chloe leaned back on the bench and
raised her face to the sun, closing her eyes. “I am dating Jerron but we aren’t
that serious. It is just as you said. I feel like all the men we grew up with
have an idea about who I’m supposed to be...not who I am.” Brennae could
understand that part completely. “Also, they don’t’ mind if we date other men.
Something the newcomers are not at all comfortable with.” She sat bolt upright
and Brennae almost jumped when she muttered indignantly, “Colle actually wanted
me to stop seeing Jerron before he would consider dating me.”

“What did you say to that?” Brennae could imagine how that conversation
went. Her cousin was very stubborn, when pushed she pushed back.

“I told him that I wasn’t ready for a mate and that I could date who I
wanted to. I don’t know that I would have continued to date Jerron, but now I
feel like if I stop dating Jerron then Colle will think he can control me.”
Chloe put her hands up as if she was shaking something, “He just makes me so
frustrated. Why put me in a position like that?”

“I don’t think he was trying to.” Brennae thought for a second, “I know a
little bit more about the males from the Elyon than you do since I was on their
ship.” She offered her opinion, “It was stark lonely existence and a very
dangerous place to have to survive. From what I could see, they were not
allowed anything personal in their living spaces or anywhere on the ship. There
were the sex bots for physical interactions, but there wasn’t anything
personal
about it.” Brennae looked around at the people walking the paths. “Maybe Colle
thinks dating multiple people and not connecting on a deeper level is too much
like the Elyon and he wants more than that after experiencing it for thousands
of years. Did you talk with him at all?”

“I guess we were both too stubborn to get past the dating issue. Once I
dug in, he backed off. Then the mission came up. It’s not like we had longer
than a week to try to figure things out.” When Brennae laughed, her cousin
laughed with her, “Okay, you and Marcael made it happen that fast but maybe you
just got lucky!” Chloe clapped her hands together, “I need to get going or I’ll
be late.” She leaned in and the two women hugged. “Thanks Brennae, you gave me
a lot to think about.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll stop by later at The Watering Hole and we can talk
over water.”

Watching her cousin walk toward The Watering Hole Brennae absently rubbed
Star’s fur and thought about what Chloe had said. She had gotten lucky with a
partner like Marcael. Thinking about a way to show him how much he meant to her
when he got back Brennae moved down the path to find Stephanie. She had
promised she would stop by today. It had been two months since the men had left
on the Earth mission. The woman had all gotten together to distract each other
and it was working pretty well. She only thought of Marcael every
other
minute of the day now.

Five months had passed and Earth was not just a
hellhole as Colle was so fond of saying. It had become an
i
rradiated
hellhole. The only thing Mallex could tell him was that the change in season
from summer to winter must have also changed the prevailing winds. Wherever
this new weather system was coming from had much higher radiation levels then
the readings had shown in the spring. What that meant was things were becoming
dire for them. They had sought refuge in a cave reasonably close to the port
pad. Their equipment was still working, and they had a lot of data to bring
back with them when the time came around. Staying alive to get through the
portal was now the priority. The only problem was their armor was less
effective every day and the lack of sun was making them weaker.

“I think I can create a field that will protect against the radiation.”
Mallex was briefing them on a potential solution. “There is only one problem.”
He looked around at the men gathered and smiled ironically. “I only have enough
to enhance one set of armor.”

Marcael knew who would have to wear the armor. There was only one logical
choice. “It will be Baylech that gets the enhancement.” There were no arguments
that Baylech should not be the one. Everyone on this mission would respect his
decision. “We need to start moving the equipment to the port pad. We can stay
here in this cave during the days, but will continue our work at night when the
weather dies down to try to minimize our exposure.” Marcael stood up, “I want
every male out there to stay vigilant. We do not know that the change in
weather will not force the natives to move around also.”

“Has anything changed in our policy regarding the natives?” Colle had
lost the small bit of tan he had gained on Terraneu. All of his men were pale,
only this time it was from illness.

“No, our policy remains the same. Stay cloaked and do not approach
anyone. Our priority is to get the results from this mission to the port pad.”

“What if the natives look like they have superior equipment, something
that could help us?”

“I do not think that is at all likely.” Marcael made sure everyone
understood exactly where he stood on this issue, “We are not to interfere with
the natives, even if they have equipment we need. I would not take their survival
away from them to save ourselves.”

“Of course, we will get this mission done and get home to Terraneu soon.”
Colle smiled weakly around the group. Marcael thought on his words. Home to
Terraneu, a place to settle down and start families. He wanted nothing more
than to make it back to Brennae, he just was not sure that it was meant to be
for him.

“Let us get back to work.” Marcael went to leave but Baylech asked if he
could have a word with him.

When everyone had a duty and Marcael was standing alone with Baylech he
was asked, “Why me?”

Marcael sighed, “You are the only one—”

“The others have—”

“Mates? Children? Friends and extended family?” Marcael stopped Baylech
before he could argue any further, “We have none of that on Terraneu. The only
one with a true brother who survived the original mission was you. The others
were lost in the fighting. You are the only one Baylech and you need to return
to them.”

“What about Brennae, you can’t tell me that you don’t have a mate.”

“Yes, I do feel that way for Brennae. However, we do not have children. I
do not have a brother, nieces, nephews and friends.” Marcael insisted.

“I just don’t—” Baylech couldn’t finish.

Gripping Baylech’s shoulder Marcael patiently insisted, “I understand how
you feel, but you will wear the enhancement.” Marcael moved to walk away, but
Baylech stopped him.

“How am I going to explain that I survived and everyone else sacrificed
themselves?” Baylech stood firm. “How can I look Brennae in the face? What
about Chloe...everyone saw the way Colle looked at her. How many others were
getting close to someone only to get sick here?” Baylech shook his head, “I
can’t do it. I
won’t
do it.”

Marcael sighed and called for Mallex. When his friend rushed over Marcael
asked, “If we each take turns with the enhancement until the last days before
the port pad is to be active, will that make any difference?”

Mallex thought for a moment then answered, “It will be close Marcael.
Someone has to have enough wits left to enter the security code or the councils
will assume we are compromised and not activate the port pad. If we aren’t
exact in our rotations with the enhancement, nobody will be well enough to do
it.”

“In your opinion is it worth the risk?”
 
Marcael pushed.

Mallex frowned, “I don’t know Marcael, and I think it will make minimal
difference.”

Marcael saw the devastated look on Baylech’s face and decided, “I will
allow the sharing of the enhancement for three weeks, and then you are to wear
it exclusively. Is that understood?”

Baylech looked relieved, “Yes. Understood.”

“Let us get back to work then.” Marcael rubbed tired eyes and went about
trying to make this mission a success instead of a total loss.

It was finally time for Marcael to come home.
Brennae had been so excited that she hadn’t slept at all last night. She had
stayed awake talking with her family and preparing Marcael’s surprise. She was
giving him a male sacathie with pure white fur. A few months ago, she had asked
the away mission leader to get a message to Zerxix and his people. If they came
across any white sacath to look for an appropriate aged sacathie for Marcael.
She knew he didn’t have anything to call his own, and she hoped he would love
the little guy as much as she did. Not to mention Star was already bonding with
him and she didn’t want to have to separate them.

“The portal is active. We are just waiting for the
code before we open the connection.” Her Uncle Kneus called out to the anxious
people waiting in the camp.

Everyone waited patiently, smiling and looking at
each other happily. Words like “any minute” and “anytime now” were being
muttered around the camp. After an hour, everyone stopped smiling. After two
hours, everyone drew into a tighter circle to talk quietly. It wasn’t until
three hours later that her father asked everyone to convene to the meeting
tent. Only council members were allowed to stay by the port pad if they wanted.
Someone would bring news when anything happened. Brennae was no exception to
the rule so she reluctantly went with the others. Baylech’s mate Stephanie had
been allowed to come to Antilles. Brennae found her in the tent and sat down
next to her so they could wait together.

“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Brennae wasn’t sure of any
such thing but it seemed like the right thing to say. “Marcael, Baylech,
Mallex, Colle...all of them are strong and capable. I’m sure it’s nothing.” She
had repeated herself but she didn’t know what else to say. To waste three hours
of port pad activity was surely a bad sign.

Thirty minutes later her mother ran into the tent
and yelled that the code had been received. The males should be coming any
second. Everyone cheered and ran out of the tent.

“Stay back!” Her father yelled. “Don’t come any
closer.”

Brennae froze at the order, looking frantically past
him to the port pad.

“What—” Brennae was interrupted by her father.

“Stephanie, it’s Baylech.” Her father began and
Stephanie looked confused at his tone.

“Okay.” She took a step and Brennae grabbed her hand
and held it tight. “Why can’t I see him?”

“He only had enough time to tell us the location of
the others. We have to assemble quickly and get to the rest of the men. Baylech
is in a medical unit and will be transferred to Terraneu as soon as he is
medically fit.”

“Medically fit?” Stephanie was starting to tear up
and Brennae could not breathe waiting to hear everything her father had to say.

“He has radiation poisoning.” Her father stated.
“It’s bad Stephanie, but Kneus thinks the medical unit will be able to heal
him.”

Stephanie had squeezed her hand hard, then let out a
shaky laugh, “Well if Kneus says it’s going to be okay...” She turned to
Brennae and stopped laughing at the look on her face.

“What about the others?” Brennae fought the black
spots dancing across her vision.

“I am sending word to Terraneu to get all the
medical units and medically trained personnel ready for the others. I’m sorry
Brennae that’s all I know.” Her father’s face told her the part that he could
not vocalize.

“We’re ready Kniam.” Her Uncle Knaleg shouted from
across the camp. “We have to get moving.”

“Two teams are going.” Her father moved toward the
port pad. “Team one is to gather the equipment and get it here as fast as
possible. Anyone with medical training is to go with Team Two to find the other
males.”
 
Her father had reached the port
pad and Brennae could only stand there, numb from the shock. “The priority is
the males. Keep your cloaks on at all times, and if we need to leave the
equipment so be it.” Her father’s voice carried to her and she watched as they
disappeared. Her father, brothers, uncles, Ailech, Asteen, Thian...and even her
Aunt Catherine. They all knew how important Marcael was to her. If there was
any chance at this ending happily, her family would fight to see that happen.

“Brennae?” Her mother had walked to stand in front
of her. “Your father will do everything possible to get those men back to us.
He takes these things very personally and won’t rest until he makes it right.”

“I know.” Brennae couldn’t talk about it right now.
She shook herself like a sacath and asked desperately, “Give me something to
do. I can’t take just standing around.”

“Okay.” Her mother soothed her, “I need you to work
with Zerxix and get the camp taken down. Get the help of his men. We need every
available portable medical unit from Terraneu brought here. We can at least do
triage if needed until we can get the wounded to Terraneu. Can you do those
things for me?” Her mother had started back toward the port pad, “Oh and
Brennae make sure your Aunt Gwen is aware of how bad this is. She will need all
treatments ready and available for radiation poisoning and the weakness they
are sure to be suffering from lack of sun. We will need to move fast.”

“I can do that.” Brennae turned and yelled over her
shoulder, “Thank you mother.”

She made sure that someone was watching the sacathie
she had meant to give Marcael as a surprise. She didn’t remember standing on
the port pad and taking the portal to Terraneu. She couldn’t even recall
getting to the medical dome. She did find her aunt and surprisingly her cousin
Chloe. Her aunt was already running around getting ready, but with the warning
from Brennae, she moved even faster. She was yelling instructions to the males
for all of the portable units from all of the medical domes to be on the port
pad in five minutes.

“One second longer than five minutes and I’ll know
the reason why.” Her aunt yelled at the departing figure of Jax. “Chloe move
out of the way please. I already told you I don’t know anything more. Brennae
was there anything else you could tell me?”

“No. Father just said Baylech had radiation
poisoning and that it was bad. Mother said to tell you it was worse than bad
and to think of any treatments the males might need. I didn’t get to see
Baylech.” She ended weakly and gave her cousin a sympathetic look.

“I’ll have to go down then. I should have been there
already.” Her aunt gathered some last tools and a bag of medicines. “Let’s go.
Chloe go help with the medical units for when the patients arrive. Make sure
that we have enough for all eight of the men on the away mission. I think we
need to worry about radiation contamination at this point. Do not try to keep
them all confined in one medical dome though. I think four medical beds in two
different medical domes. This one and turn the caging dome next door into
another one. There aren’t any animals in that dome right now anyway. Have men
move the cages out and put medical units in. Also, ask Jax to warn everyone
else to stay away no matter how curious. We don’t want to have to worry about
collateral contamination.”

Her cousin nodded her head and went to work on
getting the domes ready.

Brennae hurried along to the porting dome with her
aunt and was relieved to see that the portable medical units were already
arriving.

“Get those units down to the surface right after us.
I want the rest sent as they arrive...do not stockpile them and send them in
one transport. Get them to Antilles as soon as possible. We will need all eight
of them.” Her aunt stepped onto the port pad and Brennae followed.

“Gwen. Brennae,” Her mother was waiting for them at
the transport site.

“Is there any news?” She walked hurriedly next to
her mother.

“No. We are still waiting for the men. Some of the
equipment has arrived and is being cleaned and stored. Kneus and Knalech are
seeking anything helpful in their databases and they can relay that to you
Gwen. Baylech is ready to be moved to Terraneu, Mairi is going to go with him.
His mate Stephanie is going back also.” Her mother moved to a spot away from
the port pad. “Kneus said this is the safe distance from the port pad. We
aren’t allowed any closer.”

“The radiation is that bad?” Gwen gasped out, “This
is about thirty feet away—”

“Yes Gwen.” Her mother looked pointedly at her then
away, “I know how far away it is. Kneus said that Baylech was wearing some type
of enhancement to his suit. His radiation wasn’t as bad—” her mother stopped
talking but she had caught the implications.

“His condition wouldn’t be as bad as the others.”
Brennae couldn’t stop the tears that were flowing down her cheeks. If Baylech
was causing alarm and he had been wearing special armor, how bad must the
others be?

“I’m not going to say that it’s okay.” Her mother
drew her into her embrace, “I can only tell you to have hope. No matter what
condition they find the other males, there is always a chance we can fix them.
Never give up on Marcael. I know he would never give up on you.”

Brennae stiffened her spine. Her mother was right.
Marcael would never give up on her if the situation were reversed. He would
expect that she would come back to him, and she wasn’t letting him off the hook
so easily. He was going to come through the portal. From there she would have
to wait and see.

Time passed and the portable units were set up by
the port pad. Her aunt had gone to help against the vehement protests of her
mate. Now it was just a matter of getting the males into the portable units.
Where were they? It seemed like it had been too long and she was beginning to
worry that the rest of her family would be stuck on Earth.

Suddenly there was activity on the port pad. Brennae
held her breath when she saw the figures materialize. It was her brothers and
they were half-dragging, half-carrying Colle between them. He looked like some
kind of science experiment gone wrong. He was pale, with sores all over what
skin she could see, and he was obviously unconscious.

Her mother grabbed her hand and they waited. There
was more activity on the port pad and another male was brought through. This
time it was Mallex. Brennae waited time and again as the port pad activated and
it wasn’t Marcael. Everyone was accounted for except for her father, Knaleg and
Marcael. When with another burst of energy the port pad lit up and the three of
them were there.

Brennae bit her hand to keep from crying out. None
of the males had been conscious and Marcael was no exception. His silky white
hair looked matted and missing in places where it had fallen out. His skin was
covered in the same ruptured sores as the others had been.

“Kniam...” her mother yelled out relieved.

Her father just looked over as he hurried Marcael to
a medical unit. Some unspoken communication had passed between them and her
mother sighed. “Now we wait.”