Authors: Jude Willhoff
And the number three reason
. I’m a Baptist, he’s a . . . not that I’m really that religious, but in the scheme of things I do believe in God or a superior being. What if he doesn’t believe in anything? What if he can live forever?
And the number two reason
. In the throes of passion, he might turn into some gooey slobbering scary monster. She shivered. Just thinking that if he could have sex maybe a climax might change him into whatever it is that he really is. So far all she’d seen him as was the wolf, a golden boy and as Kole, but what if she was wrong? A chill ran up her spine. What if in his natural state he was some drooling slimy organism?
And the number one reason on her list
. Once I’ve had one, I can’t go back. She cringed inwardly. What if after making passionate love with him he just leaves me alone on planet Earth? Then I have to go through the rest of my life craving what I can’t have, alone with my alien children. This whole situation was just plain old confusing. An Earthling and an alien, the two just shouldn’t mix.
She sighed
. But there was no more denying it. Alien or not, she cared about Kole and longed to be with him in each and every way. She’d just have to take her chances. She capped her bottled water decisively. She was safe here, but someone was out there in the caves trying to kill him. She couldn’t sit here and just wait. Somehow, she needed to help him do what he had come here to do. She picked up the flashlight and started after him.
“
Kole, where are you?” Elle whispered under her breath. Being alone in the pitch black with her bizarre thoughts was unnerving. She stepped lightly near the cavern wall with the loud sound of broken shale crunching under her feet. The noise vibrated against her eardrums like cannons booming in the still air. With each wave of her flashlight she became increasingly fearful that something or someone was going to jump out of the shadows and grab her. She shivered and took slow deep breaths trying to get her nerves under control. It didn’t matter. She had to get to Kole. Slowly she inched her way down the tunnel.
The chill in the deep cavern sunk through her thin clothes and into her bones
. Where could he be? It was as if he had disappeared.
Maybe he already found what he came for and went back to his planet. I could be stranded down here all alone.
No, she wouldn’t go there. Her stomach lurched at the thought. She had to see him one more time. Fate wouldn’t be that cruel.
And in her heart of hearts, she knew he wouldn’t leave her in trouble
. She refused to accept those negative thoughts and moved on through the darkness.
“
Kole,” she whispered, “where are you?”
“
Over here, Elle. I’m over here.” His low voice sounded from the depths of the cavern as if coming from the stones themselves. From out of the solid rock, a crevice appeared. She could see into a bright lit space.
“
Come on down,” Kole called.
Barely believing what was in front of her, she stepped through the cavern wall
. It closed behind her. “What is this?” she asked as she climbed down some oddly shaped steps into the open area.
“
One of our starships.” He said it with a matter of fact voice as if they were talking about the weather. His gaze was magnetic. “I’ve retrieved the information and my ancestor’s ashes. This ship is in bad shape and I have orders to destroy the craft so it will never be found.”
She looked around the interior in awe
. The sleek lines and colorful consoles with large dials and unfathomable mechanisms astounded her. Everything was molded, no sharp edges, everything was round. The lights were a bizarre bluish color like the lights on the newer car headlights. Star systems glowed on the ceiling.
Maybe that’s some kind of starmap. It seems such a waste to destroy this wonderful vessel
.
“
It’s beautiful and doesn’t look like it’s in bad shape.” She sat in one of the chairs close to the console and rubbed her hand across the fine detail of the images etched in the silver metalwork. She could only imagine the worlds the craft had seen and what the etching meant.
“
It’s part of my mission.” He glanced around the starship. “I don’t think the ship would ever make it back so I have to fix it so nobody can find it.”
“
Your mission?” she repeated. She didn’t want to think about him leaving Earth, but she needed answers. Was he a person, an android, a clone or what? But first things first, she wanted to know if he had told her the truth. “You told Dad and me you were an undercover agent for the government. Is that true? Does our government know about you and your people?”
He hesitated for the blink of an eyelash
. With a gentle hand he brushed a stray hair away from her temple. “There’s so much to tell you. I am undercover for the Intergalactic Tribunal Counsel—my government.” His lips curved into a sensuous smile. “When I was talking with your father, I couldn’t say I was an agent from a galaxy far, far away. He would’ve locked me up and thrown away the key. As it is, I’m risking my life by telling you.”
His touch spread warmth through her body
. It made her heart race and she knew. She knew without a doubt in her mind that she was in love with an alien. The truth hit her hard. “I . . . I wouldn’t say anything to anybody. I know what it’s like to be the outsider. Please, tell me more.”
Something in the gleam in his eyes and the jutting angle of his chin made him appear innocent, but was he
? After all, what did she know about him? Confusion spread like rising water in a spring flood through her cluttered mind.
“
As to your question, yes, some people in the higher offices of your government do know about us.” He ran a hand through his hair and sighed in frustration. “However, they prefer to keep the information from the rest of you.”
“
Why? Why would they do that?” It was as she had always suspected. With her sixth sense and inner knowledge, she had always known there were other people or beings out there in the universe. And Earth’s leaders were keeping mum about it. The more she thought about it the angrier she became.
He shook his head
. “Your world is currently broken. The only way to fix it is to change it.” He sighed. Unfortunately, some people on Earth are more concerned with making money. They are working hard at it, depleting the planet, which in turn is destroying the environment, which in the long run will ruin your world and others.” His eyes grew a darker blue and nearly sparked. They matched the intensity in his voice. “This is what first drew us to watch over you. In our way, we must protect Earth from itself. You’re on a path of destruction.”
That he cared about her world touched her deeply
. The thought stunned her and when she probed it for truth it stood the test. Here he was an alien from another world and yet he believed in his responsibility to Earth. He was such an unknown, she didn’t know how to react anymore, but she trusted her instinct when it came to Kole. In all races of people, there were good and bad, and Kole–alien or not–was one of the good guys. For the first time, she was unsure how to proceed or what her next step should be. “What’s your world like?” She wanted to know everything about him and if he knew anything about her past. Could it be that she was one of his race left behind by others. Were her people here to protect the environment? Was that why there was this deep physical attraction to him, one that she couldn’t explain? Was that why she had fallen for him so hard and fast? Then it came to her.
He is an alien.
He sighed and sat in the chair next to her
. “I’m a Martian and at one time Mars was a lot like Earth. We ruined our environment eons ago. Now we live underground in what you would think of as a dome with fake skies, sun, trees, grass, waterfalls, similar to the things you have on Earth.” Moisture shimmered in his eyes. “It’s a poor substitute. They dim in comparison once I’ve seen the real thing here on Earth.” He frowned and swallowed hard. Without our protective shield, we would be lifeless on a huge red rock floating through the universe.”
“
I’m so sorry. I’ve heard that’s what will happen to us if we don’t take control of our situation.”
He touched her arm
. “They’re right. My world is much further advanced than yours with mental abilities and technologies. We know what will happen because it’s happened to us and others.”
“
Our planet needs your help.” Elle sighed deeply. She was at the heart of something vital to civilization as she had always known it.
“
There are citizens from many colonies sent to talk with powerful people of your world, but they aren’t hearing what is being said. And the sad thing is that what is happening to Earth affects other worlds as well.” He hit his hand against the console. “We want to help save your dying race. And that’s what you are. You’re a dying race unless your people change their ways.”
A lump settled in the middle of her heart
. She noted his eyes were more troubled. “I appreciate your honesty, but it’s hard to believe this is going on and the government won’t do something to stop it.” She shivered as the helpless feeling exploded across her chest. What could she, a small town hairdresser, do about saving the world?
He took her hand in his as if he knew what she was thinking
. “This is one of the reasons we’re here. We want people to see us and realize we mean no harm. We are here to help. We want to prepare everyone for when we do land on your planet.”
“
This is almost too much to digest. All this technology, you being a Martian, and my government’s conspiracy. I’m feeling overwhelmed.” She didn’t speak for a long moment then she shifted. “I need to think about this.”
“
Of course you do, that’s only natural,” he said. He continued to hold her hand. “Take your time. There’s so much more I have to tell you. When we get out of here we’ll have time to talk. I knew you were a believer and I planned to tell you everything before I left Earth.”
Leave Earth, it was true, just as I thought, he would have to go
. An empty space opened in her heart. “It’s all right, but I have so many questions.” She pulled her hand away and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know where to start.”
“
Start with what’s most important to you.” His eyes shone with an unusual intensity as if he were probing her soul.
“
Am I an alien?” She almost choked on the words, but had to know. Her psychic abilities had forewarned her that Kole held the key to her future. Maybe he was the keeper of her secrets.
He gazed into her eyes for the longest time then took her hand in his
. “The answers you seek are within your heart.” He pressed her hand against her chest. “You know what you are.”
“
I’ve always felt different. I’m drawn to the stars.”
Don’t go there
, she told herself.
Just don’t.
“Earth is my home. I belong here,” she said, with her determination growing stronger with each word. “Today, I’m not the outcast child that somebody left behind. I’m a woman in my own right making my way in this world. I’m an Earthling. I am human.”
He visibly relaxed
. She could see the tension leave his face. “Yes, you are all those things and much more.” His eyes spoke volumes as he smiled. “Elle, when I look into your eyes I see the past, the present and the future. And to ease your mind, yes, you are human. But not only human, you are very special indeed. You are a descendant from the Lemerian Star people.”
“
Who are they?” The name tugged at the far corners of her mind. Then it dawned on her. Somewhere, she had heard of those people or dreamed of them when she was a child.
Her heart nearly skipped a beat as she realized after all this time she would have the answers she had been searching for her entire life
. Thanks to Kole. She squeezed his fingertips. “Please tell me about my past. I need to know.”
“
The Star people were an advanced race of people who also happen to be descendants from my star system.” He smiled. “And yes, if you are wondering, I am a human Starseed like you. Starseeds, that’s what they call us, half human and half alien.” He cleared his throat. “You see, we are sprinkled throughout the galaxy. To some degree, we are all related, all aliens.”
She felt safe at last
. He was like her. Relief flowed through her heart as she looked at him, keenly aware of her longing for things out of her reach.
“
Your mother and father were both from this group. You’ve inherited many things from them.” He swallowed. “You always thought we gave you the ability of having visions, but they were gifts from your relatives.”
“
What happened to my parents? Are they still alive?” She had so many unanswered questions. She ached to know her history.
He pulled her close
. “I’m sorry. They died when you were small. While on a secret mission for our government, they were ambushed and killed.” He caressed her back and continued with the story he’d been told by the Ancient One on his world. “After your mother was injured her essence was able to hide you. Right near here. They were checking on the disks.”
“
Near here?” She pushed away from him.
The beautiful woman who gave me the kitty and the blanket as a child
.
That was my mother
.
“
Where?” she asked. “Are their remains there? Is that why I’ve always been drawn to the caves?”
“
Perhaps that’s part of it.” He watched her closely.
“
Can we find them?” she asked, amazed that he knew so much about her past. They hadn’t abandoned her. Her heart felt lighter and clenched with joy at the knowledge he gave her. Her mother had saved her. They had loved her. A deep pain ripped at her chest as if a frozen river was finally cracking with the spring thaw.
“
Yes, but one mission at a time. After I have this package safely tucked away and on its way back to my planet, then I will help you.” He patted his backpack and his eyes sparked with happiness. “Do you have any other questions?” His slow, confident smile nearly knocked her sideways.
“
When I was a child, I dreamed of you, but the first time I saw you was on the starship.” Anxious to get answers, she asked. “Why did they cut my arm and what did they put in me?”
“
Yes, I was there with you.” Tiny lines around his eyes crinkled as he smiled with remembrance. “My mother was with the doctors on that mission. That’s why I was allowed to come along for the journey.” He bit his lip and frowned. “Because you are human and a descendant of the Lemerian Star Children you needed to be immunized. That’s what we did. And now you are a very healthy young woman.”