Chapter 14
AVERY JONES
When we entered the atmosphere of Kaethon, it took my breath away. I was high on adrenaline as fear over took me. I was about to meet with the Kalazaron rebel warriors. It was a lot to take in. As I looked out the window of the ship while Ankon focused on flying, I was immediately enamored with the sights. It was beautiful. Everything was blue. The dirt was blue, and the sky was blue, the mountains were blue. It was a beautiful color to look at, and unlike anything that I could ever possibly see on Earth.
"This is beautiful, Ankon. I did not expect it to be so stunning," I said to him with my mouth wide open as I took it all in.
"I'm glad you approve," he said as he continued to fly the ship. It was a very dangerous situation to be in. We were in an Earth ship flying over a Kalazaron atmosphere. He had to pay close attention to his maneuvers. I focused all my attention on the sights of the blue planet. It was Earth-like, in a sense, but so otherworldly. I felt privileged to be able to see it.
I knew that I was going to like it on the planet as far as the environment went. It was a natural beauty, just like Earth. I could see that I could call it home. But getting along with others at the rebel base might be another story. I was worried that they would not like me. In a sense, I was glad that I knew that there were other human females living there. But I was different. I was coming to them of my own free will. It made me nervous. They would have every right to be suspicious of me.
Finally, we were at the rebel base, and I was relieved to know that Ankon had in fact told the United Planets Association the truth about where he was from and that there was indeed a rebel faction buried deep in the Blue Mountains. It was all there, just as he had described. Now Ankon was in front of his leaders’ council, just as he had been in front of mine months before. He recounted to them what had happened and introduced me in a way that shocked me.
"This human female is Ambassador Avery Jones. She is to be my wife here on Kaethon. She helped me escape. I am grateful to her. I love her," he said.
I turned to him as he spoke with my mouth open. I did not know that marriage was on his mind. I assumed that he was still struggling in some way to not be with me. I had worried about it for months on the trip to Kaethon. I still did not know when we arrived if he would keep his word to be with me. Or keep his word to himself that he had made long ago to not be with a human female. I never really knew with him, what was going on in his head. It was frightening.
But hearing those words, that he wanted to make me his wife, was a relief. I felt excitement flood my mind and my heart. He wanted me to be his wife, to make it official in front of his Kalazaron warriors on the Blue Mountain. No one seemed to have any objections to this. Everyone was more concerned with the new status of the humans and their ability to capture their ships. It was a relief to me. I was almost not given any attention at all, and I liked that. I wanted to fit in with my new race of beings. It was already so hard to understand and fitting in would make it easier.
I could tell that this was a new era for the Kalazaron race. It was a new era for the humans as well. I was glad that I had come to Kaethon with Ankon. I knew that I would be needed. I knew that I could be essential in the work ahead for peace, after I found my place and settled in with them. I would have to build trust with this new race.
After Ankon had spoken to his counsel, he led me around the Blue Mountain base and showed me around. Many were staring at me. I saw a few human females here and there and was glad for the company. Then Ankon showed me to his living quarters.
"Did you mean what you said to the council about me? I am to be your wife? Did you just say that so that they would accept me? Or do you mean it, Ankon?" I asked as he led me up a flight of outdoor stairs toward his home, toward my new home. They were apartment-like dwellings stacked on top of each other and carved into the mountain. It was a sight to see. We climbed high, to the eighth floor.
"Yes. I meant it. If you will have me," he said as he turned to me and smiled. He suddenly looked more attractive than he had ever looked before and I realized it was because he was in his element. He was home. He was more confident and at ease than ever. I liked this look on him. This was Captain Ankon Brakin, son of Jaylin Brakin and Serena Swands. He was a true Kalazaron warrior, and one of a kind.
"And if you will have me, this will be your new home," he said as he pressed his palm against a panel and the door slid open. I walked in and inside was a simple but beautiful living quarters. It was spacious, with a main living area and kitchen, and a separate bedroom, and a washroom, with glorious, tall windows that looked out over the desert and mountains. It was spectacular.
"I love it. It is beautiful. I am glad to make this my new home. I have so many questions that I have had all my life and now I will know some answers. I am with you, and I love you. I am meant to be here with you."
He took my hands in his hands and said, "I believe you. I think you, of all human females, are essential to being here right now in this moment. You can help bring about this peace and save both the humans and the Kalazaron from a war. You are essential to that."
"I hope you are right. I will do everything that I can to set things right if I can help. But do you not see that you are essential as well?"
"In what way?" he asked.
"In this way," I said, rubbing my hand down his chest toward the spiral on his belly button. “This marking, the spiral tattoo says it all. This is a combining of human and Kalazaron. This is what is happening now. The peace between human and Kalazaron will come from understanding each other. You have that. You have it more than anyone will ever understand. You are essential to the peace between the two. I know that you have a bigger part to play than you already have played in this. There's so much more to come in the future."
He looked down at the spiral on his stomach, and for the first time he looked at it with a smile on his face, and not as an atrocity as he had called it before. I think he understood my reasoning, and for the first time, he felt proud that he was a hybrid of human and Kalazaron. It was a profound moment for both of us.
"Well, now what, Captain?" I asked him playfully.
"Now we turn this place into a good home. A home for a human and a Kalazaron living together in peace and love."
THE END (P.S. See next page for more bonus books!)