~Tracey~
After we made love that night, both of us sat on the bench together, talking and whispering sweet nothings to one another. He told me that he would create a plan of attack tomorrow. I wanted to know how much longer we had before it was too late.
“Not much,” he said.
I nodded. I knew that we’d have a lot of struggles coming up. But I wanted to believe in him. I wanted this to work out.
“I’m here for you. Whatever you need, I’ll do it. I don’t know what’s next for either of us, other than to hopefully make it through this. I know the whole mess with your father will have to be fought on your own,” I said.
“Indeed. But you can help.”
I looked at him with an incredulous glance. I thought he’d want to do this on his own.
“How?” I inquired.
“By coming with me and taking care of the experiments. I need someone to kill them off after we get rid of him. As for the fight between myself and him, that’s just between the two of us. I don’t want you getting involved, Tracey, mostly because he’d just use you as a means to get in my head. But, if you want to come with me and still help, then by all means, you can,” he told me.
I nodded. “I want to. I know I’m not strong. I mean, you’re super strong, and you know how to beat enemies. I’m just an artist. But I’ll do what I can,” I said.
He smiled at me, taking my hand and holding it in his own. We looked into one another’s eyes, and I smiled.
“I’m ready to help. However I can,” I told him.
“I know. I appreciate all of this,” he said.
The two of us looked at one another, sharing a kiss that seemed to go past all bounds. We stayed like this for what felt like forever, and then, after that, we parted ways. He told me to meet up at his office after a while, which I decided to do.
I began to brace myself for whatever was to happen next. I mean, I wasn’t going to lie, I certainly did like the feeling of all of this. I started to wonder just how much he enjoyed this as well. After a little while, I finally went back home, feeling smitten and happy.
The next day, I made my way back over to his office. I didn’t paint that day. I had a lot more to do than just that. I began to knock, waiting a while, and that’s when Jives showed up. He looked at me, and I at him.
“Perfect. You’re just in time for the strategy meeting. I also got some news last night. Apparently they are considering staging an attack on us. I talked with Remi, and he said he sent over some ships, but I don’t know if that’ll be enough. I think the main problem is my father though. He’s the one causing all of this trouble,” he told me.
“I think so, too,” I told him.
“That brings us to the next point. I think we should go in, talk a little bit about this, see what we can do, and go from there. If that’s okay?” he told me.
“Fine by me. I don’t know where this will lead, but I’m sure it’ll be something good,” I replied.
He motioned for me to go into the meeting room, and when we got there I sat down across the table from these people. There were a bunch of officials from Earth, along with Jives and a few advisors from Klanden that remained on Earth. The silence in the room was almost too much to take and, after a little while, Jives spoke.
“So, I’ve said to Tracey here, and I’ll say it to everyone, but we need to formulate a plan. I think it’s time that we should take the initiative, work towards our own futures and goals, and start to do away with these people. There is a lot at stake, and a lot to do, but I certainly do believe that finding my father is the first course of action we must take. After all, he’s the one that is causing most of these problems,” he told everyone.
“I agree,” another Klanden said.
“But how do we go about beating him?” the president asked.
“I want you guys to be on the defensive, protecting the embassy and the people here from the invasion. There is word from Remi that they’ve been gearing up, so he’s sending over his own people as well. I’m going to go in and take out my father. Tracey will come with me as backup in case if things get out of hand, but I do believe I can handle this. But, if things go awry, I have her by my side, so we should be fine,” he said.
I blushed, thinking about all that was happening. He was serious about this, totally serious. I felt a bit nervous though, unsure of what I’d be doing next. He finally looked at the president.
“Mr. President, I know that I’m not Remi. Remi is off on our home planet, and I’m the one in charge, but I do ask that we establish a bond to work together, to make it all seem right, and to definitely get what we need completed,” Jives said.
“And, sir, I know that I’m new here as well. I’m not a fighter, but I want to fight with Jives here in order to save everyone,” I said.
“That’s fine. I appreciate that,” he told me.
There was a pause, and then, someone came forward.
“By the way, I wanted to say that there was an announcement from the local prison. An escaped convict is on the loose, and I wonder if he’s a part of this whole mess,” one of the people said.
I tensed. Why did that sound like a bad thing? It was then when I ventured to ask.
“What was his name?” I asked.
“Brad. He was in prison for embezzlement and fraud. He escaped, and there is word that he’s joined up with the scientist in order to fight the people of Earth,” one of the aliens said.
I almost fainted right then and there. Holy shit. This was insane. I began to look at Jives, who seemed to know exactly what was going on.
“That is my ex. I can’t believe he’s working with Jives’ father,” I told them.
“Well, that’s the report that we’ve gotten. If we get anything else we’ll keep you updated,” one of the aliens said.
I turned to Jives, and he seemed to be thinking the same thing. We had a lot of work to do, a lot that we’d need to figure out for ourselves, and I had a feeling that all of this was about to get even worse, and that I’d have to go up against my past, and so would he.
After the meeting, Jives motioned for me to come to his office. When we got there, he sat down, looking at me with concern.
“I know that you’re going to see your ex there. He probably has figured out that I’m behind most of this, hence why I was able to put him away. But, I want to ask, Tracey, will you be okay with this? No matter what happens, will it be all right?” he asked me.
I tensed, slightly unsure of the answer to that. I shrugged, feeling all of the eyes on me.
“I don’t know. I really don’t know,” I told him.
“I understand. Well, if you need help, in any way possible, I’m here for you. If you want to back out now, you totally can,” he admitted.
I didn’t want to back out. I knew that this wouldn’t be easy for either of us, but I felt ready for it, ready for the future, and ready for one another. I began to pull him close, embracing him, and the two of us hugged tightly. I shivered, enjoying the sweet feeling of his body against my own.
“Don’t worry, babe, I’ll be here for you. I don’t care if it is risky, and that I’ll have to see him once again. I know that I’m here for you, for all that you’ve done, and I certainly know that I am ready for whatever is to come,” I told him.
“Good. I am as well,” he said to me.
Both of us hugged one another tightly, and I felt the excitement of it all. I started to shiver, the anticipation of this moment flooding through my head. I felt nervous, unsure of what to make of this, and most of all scared of what was to come, but I definitely did know one thing was for sure: We’d have one hell of a fight on our hands, and we’d have to work together.
“Love will conquer all. I’m sure of this,” I told him.
“I am as well. Let’s take back what is ours, and let’s make this the fight that we win, the one that will determine all of our fates,” he told me.
I nodded, hugging him tightly. I didn’t want to leave, but eventually I had to. Both of us parted shortly after this, ready to fight for our love, and for the future.