Chapter Six
As Vala lay on her side, she knew she should be sleeping to recharge. But her mind whirred with one thought after another, meshed together with memories of her recent encounter.
Despite the fact Thorin was a muscled, hardened warrior, when she’d threaded her fingers in his hair, she’d felt in control. Every tug or scratch had prodded him to do more of what she liked.
And considering Vala had lacked any real power her whole life, the experience had been exhilarating. For a few minutes, the world had faded away. She wasn’t a Barren and Thorin wasn’t a general. No, they’d merely been male and female. Everything else hadn’t mattered.
Vala pulled her legs closer and curled more into a ball on the bed. She needed to be careful. More than a few of her Barren compatriots had developed feelings for their various warriors. All of the arrangements had ended in heartbreak and confinement to the citadel. Displaying need or want was unfavorable. If she did the same, she could be confined until the ship returned to Keldera and banished to the citadel. She’d then never get to Jasvar.
However, there was still a way to solve her problems. If she found her own cure, she could reach her goal for certain. Less time with Thorin meant less time for desiring or wanting more.
The only real threat was if Thorin showed any more kindness and caring toward her, she might lose her resolve to do whatever it took to join the colony.
No. She refused to let that happen. Vala rose on her elbows and was about to figure a way down to the floor again to reach the public notescreen when she noticed the device on the shelf next to the bed. Thorin must’ve retrieved it at the same time he’d scooped her off the floor.
Surely he wouldn’t have done so if he wanted to deny her access.
Vala plucked the object from the shelf and powered it back on. As it did so, the memory of Thorin finally looking up at her after her orgasm, a light blue glow emitting from his eyes, came back to her. After seeing it three times, she wondered if it was something a Kelderan male did when being intimate. Thorin was her first experience and she hated the unknown.
As the search prompt appeared on screen, she hesitated but finally typed in “male glowing eyes” into the space. Only one source came up and she frowned at the title. It was one she hadn’t seen since her initial training years: Brevkan Prisoners of War: Observations and Biological Discoveries.
Tapping the resource, the relevant entry appeared. She read:
Even with sufficient care and sustenance, Brevkan warriors become antsy and irritable the longer they remain imprisoned. They soon disregard the observers and cameras—or even cell mates—and simply bring themselves to orgasm several times a day. While it’s not unusual for a warrior to ease sexual frustration, the disturbing aspects occur leading up to and during orgasm. Their eyes glow the color of their skin, be it blue, red, or even yellow. However, when they find release, their bodies emit a light of the same color. This is distinct to the Brevkan race, or at least according to the records and observations we have of other alien races encountered by the Kelderan Army.
While no prisoner will answer questions as to why they emit the light, many of the scientists in the facility believe it’s to do with their pride in claiming a female and showing it off to their compatriots.
Still, it is merely a theory. Maybe persistent questioning will yield clearer answers.
Vala laid down the notescreen. The words “distinct to the Brevkan race” repeated inside her head.
Logically, that meant Thorin was Brevkan. However, his light blue skin tone, his markings, and even his facial features looked Kelderan. She was missing a vital piece of information.
She should be horrified that a partially, at least, Brevkan male had touched her. The war between the Kelderans and Brevkans had lasted decades. Vala had been a child when peace had been attained, but horrifying stories of rape, murder, and pillaging still circulated.
Vala stilled. Maybe Thorin was a result of rape. But if that were the case, she had no idea how he’d been allowed to serve in the Kelderan Army, let alone attain the rank of general. Even if his intentions were true, no soldier would listen to a half-Brevkan officer. Too many families had been torn apart or even lost during the Brevkan wars. Many people wanted revenge.
Then she remembered the sole Brevkan-related entry during her initial search for her sudden onset paralysis. Bringing up the search, she found the entry and clicked. Taking a deep breath, she read the entry from an official doctor’s report:
Today marked the third confirmed unwanted pregnancy in recent weeks. The female had been raped during one of the Brevkan raids on our city. While the act itself is dishonorable and far too common in recent months, the female’s detailed account leading up to the tragic event provided new information that I feel is relevant to all medical science.
The female claimed that she detected an unusual scent during her walk to her uncle’s house. Unable to resist, she followed it to the source where she suddenly collapsed and fell unconscious. When she awoke, she couldn’t move her legs. Even crawling with her arms, she didn’t get far. The warrior returned to the area with a colleague. I will omit the struggle and simply jump to the startling end. Once the warrior left her to die, her legs worked once more. I have run a series of blood tests and am waiting for the biological make-up reports. Maybe if some of the paralyzing agent remains in her bloodstream, we can devise a serum to counter these effects. If the females carry a pill or vial of the counteragent, then they may be able to escape the enemy in the future.
The log jumped to a week later:
While my patient’s identity will remain anonymous, I’m including the biological readings and some of my theories of how to counter the effects of the Brevkan paralysis component. I hope others will join me in finding a solution since we have no idea how long the war will continue. No female should carry the shame and repulsive genetic material of our enemies.
Barely glancing at the chemical compounds and formulas, Vala lowered the notescreen. Not because she couldn’t understand them, she could. But she wasn’t sure what to make of the doctor’s account.
Unless Thorin had devised his own version of a Brevkan’s paralyzing compound, which was unlikely, he was indeed part Brevkan.
More than that, he had to know about his parentage. Too many anomalies would show in his adolescent years, if her memory served her from her training, as a Brevkan approached adulthood.
And either he had done a flawless job of keeping his secret from anyone else, or there was something much deeper going on.
For some reason, she looked at the notescreen and reread the final line: No female should carry the shame and repulsive genetic material of our enemies.
The bias and judgment resonated with what Vala had endured her whole life. She may not be an enemy, but most Kelderans viewed her as a waste of resources and space.
In other words, she and Thorin both knew what it was to feel shame about simply being alive. Even if Thorin had preserved his secret, he was aware of the truth. He had said something about being the best a male like him could be, which made a lot more sense in light of her recent discoveries.
Vala leaned her head against the wall and stared at the ceiling. Logically, she should wash her hands of Thorin and try to use the doctor’s formulas as a starting point to regain her freedom without him. And yet, a part of her wanted to find out the whole truth of Thorin’s story.
She’d never imagined finding someone who could be more isolated than her kind, but at least she could live and love those who shared her defect. Thorin couldn’t exactly seek out other Kelderans with a Brevkan parent and talk about his differences or challenges. Others would discover the enemy heritage and either seek revenge through murder or simply ostracize the targeted individuals.
No, anyone with a Brevkan father would probably risk their life to keep the dark secret.
While she couldn’t do anything about how society viewed Thorin and others like him, she might be able to help a sole person. Despite her own wants, Vala had been trained to save and heal lives. Surely there was something she could do to help Thorin smile more or to at least convince him not to despise himself. She had no proof, but his words and actions made her think he detested his father’s people.
The only question was whether learning about Thorin’s past and probing to find out if she could assist him was more important than quietly surviving the journey to Jasvar without incident. The decision should be easy, but as she reread the entry about the Brevkan, Vala wavered.
~~~
As Thorin waited for headquarters to respond to his report, it took every bit of strength he possessed not to tap his fingers against the arm of his chair on the command deck.
Taking care of his ship was his first priority, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Vala rested peacefully or not.
Apart from his mother, Thorin had never dared dream of caring for another person. Allowing people to get close to him could only end in disaster.
And yet, he couldn’t forget Vala’s dark eyes and long, white hair. She didn’t have a choice but to allow him to take care of her for the next little while.
Of course, his Brevkan half only wanted to claim her whenever he was in the same room with the female. However, his honor refused to allow that to happen. He had made several vows to resist until she asked for more. Even if she never did, he would find a way to follow her wishes. The second he gave in to his barbaric half would mark the end of who he’d worked so hard to become.
The science officer Merctor’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “General, about ten of the asteroid-like objects have vanished.”
Thorin waved toward the front. “Magnify the screen, Fyzar.”
Fyzar, the command deck’s ranking operations manager, complied. But as Thorin studied the image, he couldn’t tell the difference; there were too many of the asteroid-looking objects. “Can you share the coordinates of the missing objects to Fyzar so he can highlight their locations for us, Merctor?”
Merctor complied and a minute later, Thorin counted twelve little dots on the screen and said, “Are there any residual fuel trails to calculate their trajectory?”
“No,” Merctor stated. “Nor are there heat trails or anything else to judge where they went. Only a handful of races has the ability to cloak their appearance so completely.”
And Keldera didn’t possess the same technology. “Is cloaking the only reasonable theory?”
“Teleportation is possible, but if it were used, it’s unlike anything Keldera possesses,” Merctor answered. “I’ll have to analyze the area further to see if there is anything to point to teleportation use or not.”
If someone had used teleportation, then Thorin’s ship would be at a disadvantage. Keldera didn’t have many ways to block teleportation abilities for large spaceships, and for what few options existed, none were aboard his ship.
And if they did start taking objects or people from his ship, it would be a declaration of war.
Not wanting to jump the gun and make a mistake that could cost thousands of lives aboard the ship, Thorin focused on obtaining the facts. “I want a list of all races rumored to have either type of technology. In addition, continue multiple sweeps of the area to ensure there isn’t an infinitesimal trace overlooked in haste. Also, share all of this information with headquarters.”
Fyzar spoke up. “Headquarters is calling us now, sir.”
Thorin sat up taller in his chair. “Double-check that the line is secure before accepting their transmission. I need to divulge the latest development.”
After a few seconds, Fyzar replied, “Secure, sir. Patching through the general.”
A beat later, the image of the second most senior general in the Kelderan Army, Corvel Naytah, appeared on the main view screen of the command deck. The general spoke first. “We’ve received your information concerning the erratic objects you encountered and have also reviewed your request. As a precaution, we will grant you two fighters to escort you all the way to Jasvar.”
“Aye, sir,” Thorin said. “However, there is something else you should know.” Thorin explained the disappearance of the ten objects and continued, “Do you still wish for us to head toward Jasvar, sir? Or should we return to Keldera until the objects are better understood and/or neutralized?”
The general glanced down, no doubt looking at the most recent details Thorin’s ship had sent. Looking back up, he spoke again. “Hold your position until the fighters arrive and then continue the journey to Jasvar. However, I’m going to increase your escort to ten ships. If more of the objects disappear, then send a secure message flagged as urgent. You may have to take more drastic measures if the need arises.”
“Drastic measure” was army code-speak for attacking an enemy with everything you had and possibly evacuating the civilians.
Thorin didn’t like making offensive maneuvers without knowing all the facts. He just needed to have his crew focus their energies on the asteroid-like objects so that they could gather more information. “Understood, sir.”
“Good. Headquarters will reach out to you if needed. The fighter ships should be there soon. Prepare your vessel for both the journey and a possible attack. End transmission.”
The view screen returned to a scene of the asteroid-like objects at some distance. Thorin didn’t hesitate to order, “Command deck to engineering, prepare engine warm-up sequence.”
Enishi, head of engineering, answered, “Aye, aye, sir.”
After a full stop, the engines would take half an hour to restart. Thorin only hoped nothing happened before then. He’d made a huge error in following protocol without further digging into the situation; he should’ve kept his engines at half power.
He could blame his Brevkan instinct for a millennia, but Thorin had let his concern for Vala cloud his brain. He would need to ensure he didn’t repeat that mistake.
Since food and a hover chair would be delivered shortly anyway, he would leave her alone until his ship was out of danger. His own wants didn’t matter. The needs of the thousands outweighed that of one male.
Looking at Merctor, he ordered, “Send several more probes and see if one can get close enough for a better surface reading, if not a sample of the material itself.”
Merctor murmured confirmation of the order and Thorin moved his gaze to his pilot, Nahreen. “Research and ready evasive maneuvers that can be performed with only partial engine capacity. Even if we can’t flee, there has to be a planet, moon, or other large object we can hide behind and use as a preliminary barrier until our own shield capabilities are restored.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Nahreen answered.
Thorin keyed in a sequence on the screen on his armchair and brought up the detailed specs of his ship. While he had studied them in depth prior to his departure, there could always be something that he had overlooked. And when an unforeseen situation or attack occurred, the smallest detail could be the difference between life and death.