The Cowboy Who Strolled Into Town (39 page)

              I could only think of one solution. I opened Jarab 's father's cabinet and pulled out two metal chalices. The metal that the chalices were made from was as precious to our planet as gold is to yours. I then took out my flask and poured my own ration of water into one of the chalices, then took the antidote from Jarab 's hand and poured it in the other. I told him that I would close my eyes and he was to place both chalices on his father's desk. I would select one chalice to drink from and he would select the other. This was not the best plan I admit but it was all that I could think of at the time. Jarab agreed and we made an oath to not tell another soul of the bargain that we struck."

"What happened Lucien, what happened next?" Vanna asked, tingling with anticipation.

"We both drank. At first I thought that I tasted a hint of something besides water, but when I saw the grimace on Jarab 's face as he swallowed the vile liquid, I knew that I had made the right choice. We both drank until our glasses were empty and held them out for the other to see. 'You made the right choice' I told him 'My chalice contained only water. It is how it should be.' Jarab smiled at me and said 'You are mostly right Lucien, except for one thing. Your chalice did not contain only water, it contained mostly water. A small portion of the antidote flows through your veins. You will not leave me alone any time soon Lucien.'"

              Vanna understood now why Lucien had not been among the millions that had died from the plague. She also gained deeper insight into Jarab 's character. She was beginning to soften towards him. She saw through Lucien's eyes that Jarab could be caring and loyal. She just did not know how to be the recipient of his affections.

"Why Lucien do I not feel scorched by your touch as I do Jarab 's?"

"Because I am afraid that the small portion of the antidote that I received has fought the plague off, but has no effect on my age. I am nearing the end of my time on Alpha Aquila. Death is near.  I can feel it lingering outside my door. I am thankful that I will not be leaving Riji alone, now that you are here to take care of him.

              Vanna kissed Lucien on the cheek and then made her way into Jarab 's laboratory. She felt the weight of responsibility that Lucien had placed upon her shoulders. She would need to be the one to take care of Jarab now. She knew that the best way to lift his heavy burden would be a successful implantation. If she could carry and bear a child, Jarab could finally see the fruits of his many years of lonely labor.

              Jarab met Vanna in a treatment room and prepared her for implantation.

"Are you ready?" He asked. There was tenderness in his eyes that Vanna had not seen before.

"Yes" She said as the medicine that was to put her to sleep began to make her drowsy. As she drifted off to sleep she thought that she felt Jarab grasp her hand. It felt warmer to the touch than a human hand would, but it did not scorch her skin. Vanna was perplexed. Before she could make sense of the sensation, drowsiness so powerful that it could not be ignored caused her to enter into a deep slumber.

              The implantation was a success. Jarab shared the good news with Vanna as soon as she awoke. She was happy and excited to become a new mother, but did not feel as if she was truly carrying the seed of Jarab. She did not know if she could ever become used to the scientific way of procreation, but she would do anything to make Jarab happy. She had felt herself warming up to him and growing fonder of him with each brief one-hour visit. She hoped that he felt the same, and the way that he was looking at her now caused her to believe that this might be the case.

"You need to rest Vanna, there is still a chance that the pregnancy will terminate if your body rejects the implantation. All of the tests that I have performed indicate that we can be hopeful. Still, I would rather keep you safe.

She was glad, so very glad. She remembered the sensation that she felt as she drifted off to sleep.

" Jarab, I thought that I felt you grasp my hand."

              Jarab looked and quickly turned back to her heartbeat monitor.

"Vanna, you know that is impossible." It was Lucien. Vanna had not seen him before, he was standing in the back of the room and looking as proud as her father had when he had told Vanna that her mother was expecting twins.

              Vanna felt foolish. She realized now that Jarab 's tender caress had been too much to hope for. Her skin still tingled from the sensation. Vanna decided that it could have been a hallucination. Maybe it had felt so real because it was her heart's greatest desire.

" Jarab, you have much more work to complete, let me accompany Vanna back to her bed."

              Jarab agreed without turning around.

              Lucien scarcely looked as if he could make the journey to her palace from the laboratory himself, but Vanna was too weak to protest. Lucien helped her up and Jarab turned around.

"Thank you Vanna," Jarab appeared to be holding back a flood of tears. "You have no idea what this means to me. To Alpha Aquila.

"I would do anything for you Jarab " Vanna admitted. "Anything that you asked"

              Again, Jarab turned and hid his face.

              Lucien helped Vanna home and to her bedroom. Vanna did not feel tired enough to sleep. She also did not wish for Lucien to leave quite yet. The journey had exhausted him.

"Will you sit with me in my courtyard?" She asked "There is a task that I have been saving for this day."

              Lucien agreed and Vanna helped guide him toward a bench. She went back into her bedroom and located the frock that she had worn on her journey to Alpha Aquila. She reached inside the pocket and removed a cherry pit that she had placed inside months before. She brought it outside and showed it to Lucien.

"It is from my mother's garden. I wanted to plant it here on my new home the same day that life was planted inside of me."

"What a beautiful sentiment. My darling you never cease to amaze me. I shall watch you from here."

              Vanna bent down to the spot that she had set aside. She dug up a portion of the earth. The scent of the soil smelled earthy, like the soil from home, but somehow sweet as well. She did not know if the seed would grow into a tree, just as she did not know that the seed growing inside her now would develop into Jarab's and her child. All she could do was hope. She placed the pit into the ground and began covering it with dirt when she began to feel a sharp pain in her side. She was scared. She turned and screamed

"Lucien! Go get Jarab!"

              All that Vanna remembered was snippets. She remembered the look of panic on Lucien's face. She remembered falling to the ground. She remembered touching her warm and sticky blood. She remembered Jarab scooping her into his arms. She remembered feeling like a failure.

Her pregnancy had terminated. She had failed. Lucien told her that they could try again, that first attempts were rarely successful.

"Jarab will learn from this" He had assured her.

              Vanna wasn't so sure. She told Lucien and Jarab that she wanted no visitors. She spent days in her bedroom sobbing uncontrollably. She told Jarab that he was relieved from their agreed upon daily visits and implored Lucien to get some much-needed rest. She was afraid that he would never recover from the strain of that awful day. He had ran back to the lab to fetch Jarab without precaution. Vanna could not bear the thought that Lucien would soon be gone and she would be all that Jarab had left. She had failed. She had failed her father and her sisters. She had failed Lucien, who had been so kind to her. She had failed Alpha Aquila. Most importantly, she had failed Jarab.

              Vanna looked out her window to the sapling that began to emerge where she had planted the cherry pit. She felt as if the tiny tree was mocking her. She got out of bed and stormed over to it, intending to pull it from the soil and ending its life suddenly as the life that she had hoped would grow within her. As she made a fist around the sapling, a warm hand covered her own.

"Please don't Vanna" It was Jarab.

              Vanna unclenched the sapling and looked up at him.

"I am so sorry Jarab. I failed you. I am strong enough to try again whenever you are ready."

              Jarab brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. Vanna's eyes widened as she fully realized what he was doing. She had imagined this moment so many times before that it felt so natural; she had almost forgotten that it was supposed to be impossible.

"How are you touching me?"

"I am touching you because I can't help myself." He answered. "Vanna, from the moment you opened the door, my hands have ached to do nothing but touch your skin."

"But how is it possible? I thought that you did not care for me. You were always in a rush to leave?"

"I was in a rush," he agreed "But only to get back to the laboratory so that I could invent a cure for this terrible side effect. I have been working tirelessly to ensure that when I touched you, you would not feel an ounce of pain, only pleasure."

"But I have failed you"

"No my darling, it was I who failed you. I spent so many years dreading our meeting. I hated my father for the responsibility he laid at my feet when he gave me the antidote. I had been watching Lucien die slowly, and hating myself for drinking the larger portion of the cure."

              He was seated now on the lawn. Vanna climbed onto his lap and wrapped her legs around her torso. She put her head on his shoulders and he stroked her hair as he gently rocked her back and forth. Vanna felt so warm. Every inch of her skin was flushing from Jarab 's touch.

"I was a fool to think that science could replace a connection of the flesh. Vanna I was relieved when the implantation was unsuccessful. As you were falling asleep and I dared to reach out and touch your hand, you looked up at me and gazed into my eyes for a split second. I knew then that you cared for me as I care for you and I was ready to terminate the procedure. I did not wish to merge our cells together in this cold sterile way but then Lucien came in with such a hopeful look in his eyes and I was afraid I would disappoint him so I went through with it. I am sorry that I caused you so much pain and grief.

"Let's both stop apologizing" She looked up at him and into his beautiful luminescent eyes.

              Jarab kissed her on her forehead adoringly. Vanna kissed him on his chin with the same tenderness and reverence. Then their lips met and Vanna felt something stir inside her that was the most pleasant and urgent emotion she had ever experienced. His tongue glided over hers as she parted her lips. She finally felt close to somebody, like an equal half to a set.

              Jarab gathered her closer to him and began kissing her neck. She arched her back as his kisses fell down to her breasts. She wanted to feel the heat of his skin against hers and so she began unbuttoning his shirt. He lifted her nightgown off and then spread it out on the grass beneath them. Vanna lay down on the snowy white cotton fabric and he leaned over her.

"This is how life should always begin Vanna"

              She pulled him down and their bodies merged, finally communicating all the emotions that words could not convey. 

              Three months later, Vanna and Jarab were standing hand in hand, watching a spaceship disappear into the sky. The ship contained Lucien's body. Time had finally caught up with him and he had passed on. In his final days, he had told Vanna how grateful he was to her. How it was easier for him to go now that she was able to look after Jarab. When they told him their secret, that Vanna was expecting the first not only one, but two Aquiline, he cried tears of joy.

"Are you ready to go home my darling?" Jarab had adopted the endearment that Lucien gave to Vanna on the first day they met.

              She looked up at him and savored the word. Alpha Aquila was her home now. Jarab was her home. Together they had made new life. She kissed him deeply and answered.

"Yes, let's go home."

THE END.

Zeta Cygnus

Alien Romance

By: Riley Moreno

Chapter 1

Earth:
2195 A.D.

Alexa groaned into her pillow as it dematerialized into dry weightless foam along with her blanket. All of a sudden the room felt as cold as a banshee’s stare on a lonely night as she rolled off to one side, grumbling as she did so.

“For crying out loud Alora what gives?” She blurted out, sending smoke trails into the air.

“Good morning doctor Kayma, the time is exactly 5:31 in the morning.” An anxious voice burst forth into the room “I can see you don’t really care much for the modifications I made to the alarm system.”

Silly computer Alexa thought as she struggled to her feet and headed for the bathroom, “Slight?! It’s cold as a polar bear in here!”

“I am receiving similar sentiments of discontent from the other units; however by my calculation this new modification boosts the average wake rate by approximately forty-two percent.”

At least you sound life-like Alexa thought as she went past the retreating doors that led to the bathroom.

“Doctor have you seen a polar bear before? My database classifies them as extinct.”

Alexa did not answer, making a mental note to update the Alora home program before she hit the button for a hot shower.

Efficiency could not be the be all and end all of everything.

A little less than an hour later, dressed in a grey coverall black, body-length coat, which was the standard uniform of those who worked in the united government building intelligence division, she stepped out of the sliding doors of the apartment unit into the very lengthy corridor that ran across the 256
th
floor of the mega-structure she called home. There were already quite a number of people and an appreciable number of robots and androids scrambling about, to and fro, in a bid to get one thing done or the other. All these constituted the morning rush hour which Alexa abhorred. She nodded and smiled at a few faces she recognized as living on the same floor but mainly she was preoccupied with not getting rundown by the mini-stampede that raged all round her on the floor that easily housed a thousand people. She walked briskly through the melee towards the less crowded routes that led to the power shuttles. The power shuttles were so called less for the way they were powered than for who they ferried. As opposed to the public shuttles, which ferried the general public, the power shuttles ferried exclusively government officials and foreign diplomats, in other words, VIPs of some sort.  There was already a
Bangalorian
couple waiting in the shuttle compartment when she entered. Bangalorians, from the windswept and warm planet of Bangalor, located at the tip of one of the rotating arms of the galaxy Andromeda, tended to belie their acute intelligence by the narrow roundish shape of their heads and curved mouths which looked like small sea lion trunks. This somewhat comic appearance, coupled with and ubiquitous and distinct flowery scent, made meeting them quite a pleasurable experience. Alexa actually knew these two and discretely activated the universal transmitter on her collar. It was hard to tell the gender of each but she knew from experience that the female would make the first social move and invite the male in as per Bangalorian etiquette.

“Hey there!” Alexa greeted, cheerfully grabbing the extended arm of the female.

“Good morning Doctor Kayma” The female greeted with what would pass as a smile on their planet across her face, “you’ve come in on high weather today! Has she not…”

Alexa lost the sound of a name that was too oblique even for the universal translator to get clearly. She chuckled internally, however at the expression “coming in on high weather” which was the Bangalorian equivalent of “you look lovely“. She shook the strong arm that was extended before they were joined by a few other entities, some human some not so, shortly before they were off along the shuttle lines that vascularized the super city.

Another day had begun.

Baleia:
4026.aa (aa=after attrition)

Yaan-Rostan cut a rare sight as he paced about his open air balcony. In place of his usually unfazed demeanor, a heavy brow had set in place. He did not want to, but he could not stop worrying-and with good reason! He could not be right, he hoped he was wrong, but he felt almost one hundred percent sure that the sun was shrinking! The odds of that being true were a zillion to one, but having lived the length of time that he had and seen all the things that he had, he knew those were good odds for anything in a universe as large as this. He had lived for almost twenty-eight Baleian cycles which comprised roughly seven thousand Baleian years-several lifetimes in fact! And, of the many strange things he had seen, none were stranger than his race and its ancient history, which was also intimately intertwined with that of this now diminishing sun.

Baleia was an old planet, one of the very first planets to emerge. This early emergence led to the ready absorption of primo-radiation, or early radiation. The presence of this early radiation gave rise to tall, fair beings that were acutely sentient and endowed with special gifts such that each Baleian was either telepathic or telekinetic. Among these a precious few others existed who were endowed with much more. Known amongst the Baleians as
Strigoi
or
the elevated
, these possessed powers beyond the normal scope and scale of the rest. Strigoi while being telekinetic
and
telepathic could also simplify their material state so that physical objects passed through them and vice versa. They could alter their densities to glide through the air over short distances and they could extricate themselves from the time stream to move freely through it. However, this time travel bit was only possible for fully grown Strigoi, or those who had reached physiological maturity. The species quickly entered a golden age of science, the arts, space, and time travel. Over time they came to understand the source of their telepathy and telekinesis to be their superior brain power which was higher than most sentient species in the, by then, relatively young universe. They also discovered the source of power for the Strigoi to be an enormous repertoire of primo-radiation gyrating deep within the core of their planet. This huge swell of almost living early radiation was always interacting with each Strigoi. Without knowing it, the Strigoi acted as involuntary energy hubs locked in constant exchange with this underground sea. It was like having the sun above their heads and below their feet, both within and without. The planet thrived. Baleia became a cultural hub and important post at the center of that entire area of space that stretched for hundreds of galaxies. All these, while their species was still quite young. They were the envy of other worlds, and “Brilliant Baleia” became a proverb.

Perhaps it was this position of prestige that inspired the first invasion plans. Nobody knows for sure. What we do know is that greed is as old as life, and not even the Baleians could escape its hot, searching, and avaricious stare. Other sentient beings felt that with a source of power such as the primo-radiation, they could do far greater good than that noble race ever did. Prominent among them were the Yelegs; an old, and savage race from the colder reaches of space with hearts as cold as the environment that spawned them, and the Durmsa who were vile creatures looking for a home better than the asteroid they crawled out of. The Yelegs were the first to attack, but not before the Baleians had exhausted every diplomatic means available to no avail. The ensuing war raged on for years, claiming multiple lives on both sides. Telekinetic and telepathic powers that had formerly been used for the fostering of life, and the advancement of science were now used for battle to crush bones and spy on the enemy. Yet the battle raged on. It is said the depth of the strength and abilities of the Strigoi were first fully appreciated during that war, and without them the Baleians would not have held out nearly as long as they did! With each passing year of conflict, the planet suffered, and all other worlds that benefitted previously from “Brilliant Baleia” along with it. Battle weary, with no apparent end to the conflict in sight, the dispute took a decisive turn. Unbeknownst to both parties, the battle had been closely followed by the vile Durmsa who were a much less significant race compared to these two juggernauts fighting. They had bided their time, waiting for both sides to weaken before making a grand entrance, but it had become increasingly clear that the prized planet would be destroyed before such an opportune time. Following the principle of shared interests, the Durmsa brokered an alliance with the Yelegs with a view to sharing the proceeds after the last Baleian was put down. The tide immediately turned against the unfortunate Baleians who immediately realized that the outcome had become a forgone conclusion. They brokered for help from former allies from their previous golden days in a bid to even the tide all to no avail. Nobody was willing to risk entering a war against both the Yelegs and the Durmsa. Each rebuff seemed to spell the end for the golden haired, fair skinned race. It was with their backs against the wall, reluctant to see another generation of their children grow up with the trials of war, that they made the most momentous decision in their entire history.

They were going to destroy a planet to save a people.

Earth: 2195
A.D.

A group of seven people comprising a panel of six scientists all in grey, body-length coverall coats plus one other, crowded in the small room on one side of the one way glass observing the combat exhibition taking place in the shadowed arena below. An electronic display that constituted of a long, smooth, plasma table, with a holographic display of a human about two inches high, lay to the side nearby. A series of numbers and figures seemingly random in nature chugged away across its surface as vital signs were tracked and analyses produced.

Alexa was among them, and beside her stood the other person. He was odd in the fact that he did not wear grey like the others, and barely looked at the electronic display. Dressed in the light blue suit, with two columns of buttons that stretched from his chest down to his waist, he was no scientist. His name was Jonah Lake.

Placing a tentative hand on Alexa’s shoulders he asked, “Where do we stand now Alex?”

He was the only one who called her that, and she hated it. He, on the other hand, thought it was endearing. She took his hand off her shoulder. In truth, she was not entirely sure if he was talking about the Ultra-genome project or his overt advances recently. She decided it was probably both, but she chose to speak about the former.

“Please, you can call me Dr Kayma. The results are optimistic to say the least. If you could actually read the display you would be amazed” Alexa said, trying to poke at his over bearing ego. Fat chance.

“What do I have to read the display for? That’s why we got you guys isn’t it?” Jonathan boomed into the air. “Us administration types deal with the really big stuff you know. Real life and death too, involving many worlds not just facts and figures like you greys.”

Alexa stifled the urge to smack him across the face. She knew that any of the others who heard his crass remark would feel offended as well.

“So why are you here Sub-prior?” She asked, through her clenched jaw.

Jonah knew she was mad, whenever he heard her calling him by his title in the building. This only further emboldened him.

“For the show!” He boomed again in his usual brash manner, shining a clear row of white teeth.

Alexa smiled despite herself, “Really?”

“And to see my sweet, little pumpkin piece of goodness.” He continued in a lewd tone, and tried to reach for her fire red hair.

A burst of applause went up among the panel however; someone had just pulled off a stunning, and quite inhuman move against the android sparring partner. Alexa took the opportunity to move away. Talk about saved by the bell, she thought. Jonah made her skin crawl.

Maggie Shultz was amazed at how fast she weaved and bobbed around the attacks of her sparring android. If not for the fact that she could still feel the floor beneath her feet, she could have sworn she was flying. She ducked at the latest swing of the android. She felt great! Impossible moves felt routine now, she could not be sure what had been done to her by the grey gang as she called them but she was happy for it.

“You’re too slow Magnora! Shake it off and focus!” A voice barked in her ear. She smiled inwardly, at the thought of she been too slow. Impossible!

“You’re kidding right commander?” She teased the voice as she effortlessly parried two quick jabs to her body, and a side kick aimed at the side of her head.

“No I am not. The ultra-genome project might heighten your senses, increase your strength and speed by ten-fold, making you feel like your own version of a Martian man-hunter on steroids but-“

“Wooo!” Maggie screamed in exhilaration cutting the voice off as she performed an acrobatic miracle to hit the android on the chin to unbalance it. This was the move that sent the panel on the other side into ecstasy, inadvertently saving Alexa from an uncomfortable situation.

“-the outcome of the battle is still based on the basic metal and physical focus of the soldier in the heat of battle” the voice droned on in her ear while she was still in the air, “there is something you must know as well…”

“What?” Maggie asked as she landed…and fumbled! She instinctively knew something was wrong. She felt herself again, she felt heavy. The android recovered in a flash, and lunged at her in a flash. She was glued to the spot, and barely had time to move as she saw a fully formed robot fist coming straight to her face. It all happened in a flash, but it seemed like one, long, silent eternity; she started to block, but closed her eyes knowing she would not make it; wondering if she was going to survive such a direct hit.