Chapter Seventeen

VANESSA, 12 YEARS LATER

I watched from the back of the line as six families made their way up a mountain. Today was perfect for a hike. The sun shone brightly, and the sky was a freshly-washed blue.

Auxem was green and fresh everywhere I worked. The day I had arrived on the planet with Avren to start our research seemed like a lifetime ago. A few feet ahead of me, my husband was helping our five-year-old scramble over a tough patch, holding his hand and lifting him when his feet stumbled.

My sweet husband was still alive and well. He was the first one to alter his genes. Once he looked like a success, we had found a thousand Auxem men willing to be test subjects. With their assistance, we tweaked the gene therapy and perfected it. The next step was a longitudinal study changing the genes of ten thousand men and following their progress for ten years. Our study finished two years ago. Arnon, the King of Auxem, gave the approval to expand our project to the entire planet.

We started with the adult men. Once we had finished with them, the Freedom Initiative continued, starting with the oldest hybrid children. Avren and I weren’t intimately involved with the Freedom Initiative any longer. The team had thousands of people and had recently finished treating the last of the children. As of yesterday, anyone with a strand of Auxem DNA was finally free from the pain accompanying their wings.

Newly-born babies wouldn’t need further treatment. When our scientists tested the first children born from parents who had undergone the treatment, the changes to their genetic code had passed on to them and were found to be stable.

The team learned something else, too — the story about Auxem males going infertile wasn’t true. The Auxem scientists had made a mistake and misinterpreted their data. We examined their study and couldn’t replicate their results. Auxem men had produced plenty of children during the time I had been away from Earth.

Halfway through the repopulation program, we dropped the requirement of human women being free from the H4T7 gene. The first few years of births had all been female to make sure we had enough women for the future. Over the last five years, the gender ratio had been mixed, restoring the balance between women and men on Auxem.

In front of my eyes, Allex deployed his wings and grabbed his daughter and a niece, putting one under each arm. The next part of the path was littered with rocks and was hazardous for four-year-olds. They laughed when his feathers tickled them. After he had put them down on the ground, Allex retracted his wings and talked with Priya as if nothing unusual had happened.

The hideous pain that had once accompanied Allex’s transformations no longer plagued him. He was free to take them out whenever he wanted. Avren and his brothers used their wings much more than they ever had in the years before their gene therapy.

My eleven-year-old daughter, Janna, called to me, darting between people to find my place in line. “Mom, we’re having the sing-a-long when we reach camp, right?”

Her earnest, gray eyes watched me carefully. She looked so much like her father. Her brown hair was light and had a reddish tint, which probably came from me. She already knew the answer to her question, but had been so excited about it that she kept asking for constant confirmation.

“Elle said we weren’t going to do anything.” Janna took my hand. I smiled, happy and excited that one day she would have wings and be able to soar through the air without enduring the pain of previous generations. We had received the newborn’s test results earlier in the day, and I thought I might burst from joy at the thought that our work was finally complete.

“Your cousin doesn’t know about it. Maybe Aunt Elle didn’t mention it to her. Don’t worry, it’s on the schedule. We’re going to set up camp, build a fire, and make dinner. When the sun goes down, we’re going to sing songs around the campfire, or else.”

Janna let go of my hand to clap hers together. “I can’t wait, Mom.”

“Why don’t you go walk with your grandmother?” I noticed my mom was walking by herself near the middle of the group. “She just came to our planet, and she doesn’t know anyone else.”

Janna nodded and scampered up the hill. She had a good heart and was always taking care of people. She would make sure Mom felt comfortable.

My calves were beginning to ache from climbing, but it was nothing compared to my aching back. The baby was barely showing when I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. We were going to tell everyone the good news tonight.

I had a huge and loving extended family. We were all in each other’s business, which could be annoying at times, but mostly was wonderful. I had never dreamed so many people would care about me. It was the second best part of life on Auxem.

The best part was Avren.

I looked around for him and found him chatting as he climbed with Ayrie and Ayrie’s friend, Nathaniel. Nathaniel and his wife, Ashlyn, were visiting with their two children from Vandwa. Ayrie and Nathaniel had gone to school together and still kept in touch.

Avren had filled me in on some of the more interesting details of their past, mentioning that Nathaniel had been a pirate in a previous life. He certainly had the look down. I could imagine him at the helm of a ship, shouting at someone to swab the deck. But he didn’t pirate around anymore.

I gazed at my husband, grateful for everything I had at the moment. It was better than being a famous scientist, though I had that, too. I worked as a genetic consultant with companies all over the galaxy. Work couldn’t compare with family and love.

Science was fulfilling, but the people in my life brought me joy.

AVREN

“Vanessa seems to be glowing.” Ayrie made sure to speak the words under his breath so no one else could hear him.

I gave him an evil glare. “We’re making the announcement tonight. Don’t think about stealing our thunder.”

He held up his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it, little brother.”

Nathaniel appeared behind Ayrie. “Avren, explain to me how you used our barrier technology to corral your monsters. I heard you couldn’t drop them on the other side of a giant wall, right? Apparently, they’re too dangerous.”

“Yeah, that would never work. Once Ayrie had the brilliant idea to reuse your science, all we had to do was figure out how to put barriers around our cities. It took a little engineering to make the transmitters work outside the water.”

“Are you saying you created many smaller barriers?” Nathaniel looked confused.

Ayrie nodded. “The only safe areas of our planet were right outside the city walls. Once we erected the barriers around the population centers, we started to push them out and drive the beasts back.”

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t the monsters waiting around on the other side? How could you move them away, if they were ready to eat you as soon as you turned around?”

“We made a few modifications to your system. The barrier we designed has a force field extending a few miles. It repels the beasts. After we had turned it on, they retreated as far as we could stretch the force field. We expanded the barriers a little bit and repeated the process.”

“It must have taken forever and used a massive ground crew.”

Ayrie slapped a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder. “It took thousands of men five years to reach our goal, but it was worth it. We finally have spaces like this on our planet.”

I joined in the conversation. “It’s pretty different from twelve years ago when Mr. Verrat kidnapped Vanessa. His people were going to toss her over the edge of the mountain and let the beasts devour her. That would never happen now. In fact, Auxem has never been better.”

“It’s thanks to the magic of genetic engineering — specifically, two magicians named Avren and Vanessa.” Ayrie looked at me with a big smile on his face.

Nathaniel grabbed a little boy as he ran past and swung him up onto his shoulders.

“Daddy!” The boy was small but had a loud voice already. “I want to run.”

“Okay. Don’t forget how to swim.” Nathaniel lowered him to the ground. There was a lot of tickling in the process, and the boy ran off giggling. “I assume you didn’t do a lot of camping as a child, Ayrie?”

Ayrie snorted. “We preferred to stay alive inside the walls. Wildlife ate those who dared to go outside.” Ayrie’s face was deadly serious. “It’s a different world now, happier and safer.”

My mind drifted to the pregnancy test results we had received a few days ago. I had accomplished something with my life. We had freed my race from the pain that had plagued us for generations.

I felt like taking to the skies and turned to my brother. “Ayrie, let’s take the kids up. I don’t want to stay on the ground today.”

Ayrie turned to Nathaniel. “Is that okay with you?”

“My children will love it. It’s a shame we can’t return the favor on Vandwa.”

“We’ll give your kids the first turn. They haven’t flown before.” The air soon filled with me and my brothers taking the children on rides. Father even took our youngest for a ride on his back.

He had changed in the years since Vanessa and I had married. He was kinder and gentler, but the deepest transformation took place when he gave up the crown and let Arnon take over. I was glad he was different, and we were happy to have our father back finally. Better late than never. Our children would never know about the past — they would only remember him as the perfect grandfather. Father would never have given rides to anyone twelve years ago.

I was proud of myself for starting the change with an idea. The laughter and smiles made every hour of painstaking work to bring us to this point worth it. I wouldn’t wish away a single moment. In the end, it brought us together.

VANESSA

After we had finished our dinner and singing, Janna said she loved it. We had told our extended family the newest Madellan would arrive in about five months and received everyone’s congratulations.

The kids were already in bed, and the adults were beginning to look tired, too. We had set up tents for each family. The king and my mother each had a tent to themselves.

I was starting to doze off, but Jayne began talking about Earth. The men had broken off into a separate group.

“My mother has finally let Maria take over TerraMates. Maria’s my sister, in case anyone didn’t know.” Jayne took out a picture of her family and passed it around. “The company’s not making the money it once was, but it’s still doing well enough to support her.”

“Most of the women who wanted to marry an alien came to Auxem already.” Ashlyn blushed in the firelight. “TerraMates is a victim of its own success.”

Jayne looked annoyed. I knew she loved the company and didn’t want to hear it mentioned in the same sentence as the word victim, no matter how accurate the analysis was. Elle realized the problem immediately and started laughing again.

“Allow me to introduce you to one of your mother’s clients.” Elle gestured to Ashlyn. “You helped her marry an alien.”

Jayne gave Ashlyn a sideways glance. “Really? I’m interested in hearing about it.”

Ashlyn looked back with a rueful smile. “Yes, I’m a TerraMates bride. But this isn’t my story, it’s yours. Don’t let me interrupt.”

“We’re coming to the end of the agreement between Auxem and Earth. It was set to expire after fifteen years. The statistics from the last Earth census are looking surprisingly good.”

“What about the overpopulation problem?” Priya raised an eyebrow.

Jayne grinned. “They’re getting it under control. After ten years of sending women to Auxem and limiting the number of children per family, Earth is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“The president also passed an executive order to reclaim land and water.” Elle nodded. “Ayrie’s been following Earth politics for a while. You have too, right, Ashlyn?”

“Yes. The planet’s beginning to recover. With another hundred years of both population and pollution control, Earth stands a chance of being livable again.”

“Unbelievable.” Gwen shook her head. “Sometimes I miss Earth, but usually I don’t.”

We all nodded, feeling the same way. It was hard to miss the overcrowded, polluted mess we had left behind.

The stars on Auxem were clear and bright. I gazed at the sky. When I was a young woman on Earth, I couldn’t see the stars from my city. It was hard to believe how far I had come. I searched for the part of the Milky Way I came from and found it quickly.

“There’s our solar system.” The other women looked where I was pointing.

Priya blinked. “It’s so far away, but it’s perfect here. I’m happy with Allex.”

There were murmurs of agreement. We had all found satisfaction with the Madellan brothers. Having a big family gave us all the support and comfort we would ever need.

Gwen yawned. “I don’t know about you ladies, but the hike tired me out. It’s time for me to go to bed.”

The group of men was breaking up as well. I could see Avren heading my way. “I think you have the right idea. Me, too.” Everyone said goodnight, and after a quick trip to the bathroom, I found myself in bed with Avren at my side. The kids were in a deep slumber a few feet away using the sleeping bags.

“Are you happy, Vanessa?”

“Ecstatic, Madellan.”

He gave a contented sigh. “Are you still having the pregnancy issue by any chance?”

I lifted my eyebrows. “Nice way to casually slip it into the conversation. Do you mean the one where I can’t stop having sex with you because I’m horny?” I innocently blinked my eyes at him.

“As a matter of fact, that was the issue I was thinking about.”

I reached down to cup his crotch. A bulge was forming down there.

“Well, yes. I have thoughts I can’t get out of my mind.” I rolled onto my back and spread my legs, kicking off my pants and underwear. Avren removed his pants and climbed on top of me. “I want you all the time.”

Avren’s cock rubbed against my slick pussy. He bent down and slowly kissed me. He was trying to take his time, but I couldn’t wait for him. I reached between us, fitting him against me and pushing my hips against him, pulling him inside.

He grunted as he slid home. “Are you in a hurry?” He pulled out and drove back in. I wrapped my legs around him and held on as he began plunging in and out of me. My pussy started to quiver.

“Don’t stop, Madellan.” I tried to keep my voice low.

“You’re going to have to be quiet.” A predatory glint shone in his eyes. “I’m going to fuck you senseless.”

I started to moan.

Avren clapped a hand over my mouth and shook his head. “Shhhh.” He kissed me as he thrust harder and deeper. I angled my pelvis to receive more of him. He pulled my shirt up and touched our chests together. My nipples rubbed against his hot skin as he moved inside me.

Before I knew what was happening, I exploded, stifling my cries the best I could. Avren clamped his lips over mine in an attempt to keep me silent. Pounding into me even harder, he came suddenly, spilling his seed deep inside me. He pressed his hips tightly against mine as he found an ecstasy of his own. We turned over to lie on our backs.

“I can’t get enough of you, Avren. It doesn’t make sense. I’m already pregnant. Why do I want you so much?”

“I don’t know. But I love it when you’re pregnant.”

I put my hand on my belly. “This baby will be born into a different world.”

“Because of you.” Avren turned on his side and pulled me over to spoon with him.

“No. Because of us.”

“We saved an entire planet. I love you, Vanessa.”

I interlaced my fingers with his. “I love you, too, Avren. We can survive anything as long as we have our family.”

Avren kissed me lovingly on the cheek. “You’re right.”

I drifted off to sleep, safe and happy in my husband’s arms. As amazing as our life was now, I knew it would only get better in the future.