Kate
Rennek is practically devouring me with his eyes. It’s strange, but it excites me. I shouldn’t feel this way considering everything that’s going on, but I do. I’m embarrassed by it for some reason. This is like some form of Stockholm syndrome, only my guy’s the hero not the kidnapper. Maybe this is hero worship then. Is that a thing? I know there’s penis envy… then I blush. I’m thinking about penis’ now as he stares at me. I hide behind the hot cup of ceata in my hands and can’t bring myself to hold eye contact. His gaze searches me and I realize for the first time that to him, I am the alien. Do I look like a freak, I wonder? Am I disgusting? I hope I'm not, though I guess it shouldn't matter at all to me. I’m suddenly self-conscious of my hair. I try to nonchalantly straighten it a bit.
I tentatively sip the ceata, it’s sort of like tea I suppose. It has an earthy taste that seems out of place on a spaceship and whatever spice he added to it is something quite like cinnamon. “This is good, thank you,” I say. He’s still staring, “Do I look very… different from other people, er aliens?” I ask.
He eyes me, taking his time to answer. A smile plays on his lips. He must be very attractive for whatever he is. “You are… unique,” he says and then he’s silent again. Staring at me.
I give a nervous laugh, “Unique? Is that a nice way to say I’m a freak?”
“No, my Kate. Not a freak. Just unlike any female I have ever seen,” his eyes look appreciative for a moment. “Except for the Goddesses.” He sips his tea.
“Yeah, you mentioned that. What are these Goddesses anyway?”
“Truthfully? You do not know the Goddesses?” he asks skeptically.
“Yeah, no clue. Is it like an origin story?”
“It can be thought of as such. It is the story of who created the universe.”
“Tell me.”
“When I first saw your people, I thought surely you must be descendants of the Goddesses.” He takes me in again as if staring at me will give him the answers. “You are smaller in size, but everything else is what I know of the Goddesses.”
“Well, I hope that’s a good thing.” I say with a question in my voice. “You’ve seen the Goddesses?”
“Hmm, there are temples and monuments built for them,” he sets his cup down and seems to be thinking for a while. “I can show you one day, if you like?”
“Yeah, I… Well, I don’t really know what my future plans are. I guess I don't have any… so I'm certainly free to check out these Goddess temples.”
“Plans will be made soon enough. All will be taken care of once we reach Tennir. You and your people will be protected.”
I smile, “I hope that’s true, but this is just a huge transition… I don’t know what’s waiting for us. Refugees aren’t often treated well on my own planet. I don't know what to expect out here.” I rub my temples. “How about you tell me about these Goddesses? I don't want to have to worry right now.”
He nods his understanding and begins his tale of how the universe was created.
“The Goddesses created the universe and all life. Maia, Asterope, and Pleione.” He ticks off each goddess on his fingers. He has five, I notice, but his thumb is set more toward his wrist than mine. His fingers are each tipped by sharp curved claws. They are like a lion's, or the talons on a hawk. “Sisters,” he continues, “Maia was the scientist. She experimented and created. She made the stars and the worlds among them. She created oceans, mountains and trees and set in motion the laws of physics.”
“Busy girl.”
“Indeed,” he smiles. “Asterope had a light within her, she longed to create something to keep her interest. So, she made all beings and took joy in watching their lives. The small things were exciting to her--work, emotions, building, creating. The things all creatures do. She created life and she was happy.”
“And then there was Pleione. Pleione watched Maia build all of the universe. She saw Maia’s passion for it. She watched Asterope create all life and revel in their daily lives. Pleione longed to find her purpose. So, she searched the worlds. She took to watching the beings and was taken by the idea of love. So, Pleione created the first male.”
“So, there were no men before Pleione created one? Just a bunch of women?”
“Females? Yes. All the universe held was the perfect form. The female form. Strong, powerful, beautiful. Each with the ability to create life just as the Goddesses had. Each with the ability to revel in all they could build and create. It was peaceful and perfect.”
“Yeah, but was there romantic love?”
“Of course. And that was what Pleione longed for, not for the people, but for herself. This is why she created a male. Her desire was not pure. It was not selfless and it made her creation flawed. He was angry--within him was the capacity for malice: to hurt others, to steal, for jealousy, rape and war. He saw what the sisters had built and was jealous of their power. He was jealous of Pleione too, but she loved him and was blind to his flaws.”
“One day he came to Pleione in a rage. He demanded she give him the power she and her sisters possessed. She tried to explain it did not work that way, but he refused to believe her. He killed Pleione and fled.”
“Traveling the galaxy, he was like a plague. He whispered in the ears of all the beings he came across, spreading hate and rape and war. He was a poison on all the sisters had created. Maia and Asterope found their sister Pleione, dead, and set out after the first male. They could not undo what he had done to Pleione, but they hoped to save what they themselves had created and to protect the universe from the ugliness of the first male.”
“It is said they chase him still, one step behind, touching each place he has poisoned trying to save it. They will find him one day and when it is done the universe will know nothing but peace,” Rennek finishes.
“Wow. That’s beautiful and tragic… and kind of super negative towards men. I thought Eve had it bad,” I joke--though I know the reference will be lost on him.
“Help me understand men and Eve,” he asks.
“Men is equivalent to males,” I explain. “In my culture there’s a story about the first male and female. The female gets the bad rap though, but that’s kind of how it is on Earth overall. Do these beliefs affect the roles of males and females?” I ask and he rubs his chin considering my question.
“I have never thought on this before. It is females who rule in the Governing Core. Females are looked to for wisdom… Males are judged on their honor towards females.” He is thoughtful, but then I see his expression darken. “Crimes against females are not common, it is not only illegal--but blasphemous.” He stares at me a moment longer and then rubs his hands over his face, weary. “I am so sorry for what you have endured, my Kate.”
Now, I watch him. He really is something. He’s gorgeous, like an Adonis. He truly looks carved from stone. His weird alien features make him majestic and magical in appearance. He’s got these crazy ram horns on his head for Christ’s sake. His gaze returns to me and we take each other in. I get nervous and look down at the table--our hands are near one another. I take a chance and reach over, taking his hand in mine. It’s huge. My hand is dwarfed by his rock-hard hand. We trace each other’s fingers and palms transiently, exploring. I touch his claws.
“These look like trouble,” I say smiling at him.
“They can be.” His expression is serious.
“How do you do anything with such sharp things on your hands?” He is silent for a moment before he speaks.
“Either very rough,” he looks me in the eyes, “or very gentle.” He pulls my hand slowly to his mouth and kisses my wrist.
We stay frozen in that moment for I don’t know how long, until the ship careens to one side. Rennek and I are thrown to the floor. The lights in the room turn red and a siren starts blaring.
“Rennek!” I scream, but he is there by my side in an instant, lifting me up.
“Are you hurt?” He asks.
“No, I’m fine… are you okay?”
“Come with me,” he shouts over the siren.
“But the other girls?” I ask, hesitant to follow him. I should go to the others, right?
“Come! We will take care of them, I do not want you to leave my side.” His eyes are urgent, and he is pretty much a superhero in my eyes... so, I find I have no desire to decline. I take his hand and we race down the corridors.