Chapter 19

Sabine

Istretched, reaching out my arms and legs as I lay on a bed of something soft and springy. It smelled like violets and warm cookies. A weird combination, sure, but more amazing than you might think. It was the way I imagined home might smell, if I'd grown up in a normal one. I opened my eyes to see myself surrounded by a beautiful curtain of shimmering flowers and leaves. I ran my fingers over the mattress to find it wasn't a mattress at all, but some sort of mossy ground covering that was strong enough to support me, but soft enough to feel… Oh gosh. So good. Above, more of those vines dangled, moving in a light breeze. I could hear variations of chimes with a vibrating sound, exactly what we heard in the woods. But now, it was closer.

Then I remembered—something had jumped out of the tree. It happened so fast. It was a creature of some sort. I couldn't even remember exactly what it looked like but it was colorful and I was pretty sure it attacked, or tried to. Dakkan had…

I sat up. Where was he? Then I heard the deep rumble of his voice. He was speaking gently, and those vibrating chiming sounds seemed to be coming from the same direction as his voice. I looked down at myself. I wasn't wearing the dirty, ripped-up clothes from before. Someone had put me in a kind of loose, diaphanous gown. The fabric was so fine, I couldn't even see how it was woven, and there were no seams. I remembered something about my leg and looked down, running my hand over my calf. There was a slight bump there, but it was healed. Had I been bitten? Had that attack really happened?

I shook my head, trying to remember, but my memories were scattered and seemed fantastic. Was I dreaming?

I rose to my feet, feeling warm and strong, and stepped through the mossy bed. I gently pulled aside the veil of iridescent vines and leaves and looked out. The other side was a wonderland to my senses. An explosion of colors and light that played together in harmony. Trees moved in the breeze, sending tiny multicolored petals drifting to a manicured garden-like clearing. There were little pools of water and rocks, almost like a playground. And in the center of this, Dakkan sat on the ground, surrounded by beings just like the small, young alien I had treated the day before.

I just stared and watched him smile indulgently as about a dozen small beings—the tallest of which would come up to my mid-thigh—placed flowers in his brakas and hung crystals from his horns. They'd decorated his dark red skin with glowing powder. One of them had placed a garland of flowers over his head and it hung over his leather weapons harness.

My heart melted at the sight. Here was my big, tough alien warlord, surrounded by giggling children, and he was having fun. I could easily imagine him with his own children and it stirred something deep inside of me. Something I hadn't felt before. My own children… Our children. With Dakkan by my side, we could have a wonderful, happy family. It would be different from the one I'd grown up in. Ours would be full of joy, creativity, love.

He spotted me and his gaze riveted on mine, full of concern and relief. One of the young beings had climbed into his arms, and when he rose, he held her easily on his hip as he walked towards me. The children stayed clustered around his legs, leaping and making their little noises. He came over to me, placed his big hand on my cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," I said, looking around. "What happened?"

"Well…" He ruffled the little one's hair and placed them on the ground. "That is quite the story."

He told me about how he'd dressed my wound with his medicine—making sure to point out that I would've died otherwise—then, how he brought me to this nursery and encountered the caretaker of the little ones. This species was called the Ulfris, and there were few of them left.

"The child you helped the other day came through for you. The caretaker, Lom, was going to let you die. Belbi, here," he placed a hand on her head, "is the one that actually saved your life. Something about the powdery film they secrete from their skin healed you." His eyes tightened. "I almost lost you."

"Does this mean we're allowed to leave?" I asked hopefully.

His mouth flattened into an unhappy line. "No. Lom won't release us."

I didn't have a chance to voice my disappointment about that, as a small Ulfris tugged gently on my dress. I looked down to see a small, smiling face. "Are you Belbi?" I asked, crouching down to her level. "Thank you for saving me. How is your leg?"

Her little mouth curled into a grin and she demonstrated how strong it was by hopping on it.

I let out a chuckle. "Glad to see you're not climbing any more trees."

"So, you are the one your mate calls a doctor."

I stood up, reeling from the sudden intrusion of a low, female-sounding voice speaking in my head. It pressed like a sudden, crushing headache. "What…?"

Dakkan placed a hand on my shoulder. "Relax your mind. This is the only way they can communicate with us. The little ones can't do it yet, but Lom is an adult and she can." He turned me to face the owner of the deep, resonant voice. She was the tallest being I'd ever seen in my life at about six meters tall, and she was narrow, with long limbs covered in iridescent, indigo skin.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, placing my hand to my chest in surprise. "Are you their mother?"

"I am their caretaker, not their mother," the being replied. "I am Lom, an old one among my people, assigned to this sanctuary. Every few years a capsule arrives with a young one inside." Lom smiled gently. "I protect and nurture them while they grow to maturity."

"Why do they need a sanctuary like this?" I looked to Dakkan, who appeared to be hearing the same thing I was. Lom was speaking to us both, in our minds.

Lom moved around me slowly, seeming to evaluate me. She had a wide, triangular face with huge eyes that looked like a kaleidoscope, and small features like the little ones. The children were silver iridescent, while she was much darker. "You received a demonstration of what our young ones can do," Lom said. "Their bodies secrete a substance that has incredible healing properties. It disappears when they reach maturity and their skin changes to that of an adult of our species. It's only present when they are very young like this. As I told your mate, my only goal is to protect them and keep them safe while they grow."

"Does someone want to hurt them?"

Lom had something to tell us, but perhaps it had been a very long time since she'd had a conversation. Perhaps the story she had to tell was a painful one.

"Long ago, before your people even knew of life elsewhere in the galaxy, ours had been invaded by an enemy. They stole our young ones and harvested the healing powder they secreted. Do not think for one moment that this process was kind or painless. When the babies grew to the age where they no longer produced the healing substance, they were executed or sent to a breeding facility. Our females were forced to produce babies only to have them taken and tortured for the powder. Some of us were able to escape. We acquired the genomic codes for the biome on our planet and set up nurseries like this, hidden all over the galaxy. This way our babies could grow to adulthood in peace and safety."

I looked at the innocent faces dancing around, laughing. Their joy was evident. My throat tightened as tears burned my eyes. "How could anyone even think about harming these beautiful children?"

"The species called the Sigra had no problems doing so. To this day, they scour the galaxy for my people. The bodies of our children are used to keep the Sigra artificially alive. Our adults have taken refuge in protected systems, but even then, we try to stay hidden. It is not safe for us while the Sigra hunt us." Lom spread her impossibly long arms. "Now you understand why I cannot allow you to leave here."

"No, actually I can't." I stepped forward, folding my hands in front of myself and gazing up at the ancient eyes of the caretaker. "We would never allow any harm to come to your babies. But by allowing people to crash here and die, you are causing the death of innocents. That isn't right either."

Lom blinked. "I am allowing you and your mate to live here."

"What about everyone else? The shuttle we stayed in last night. It belonged to merchants of the Irri-tak species. They were on their way to trade. The Irri-tak people are peaceful. Did they deserve to die for a mistake they didn't even know they were committing?"

"The Sigra would find us if anyone knew we were here. If no one can leave, no one can tell what they saw here." Lom moved her hands in agitation. "I don't like it, but there is nothing else I can do. The nursery must stay secret."

"What about the guardians that patrol this jungle?" I asked. "What happens when you run out of them and there's no one to protect the young ones from say, a ship full of hostile species?"

Lom lowered her head. "The guardians were built in the images of dangerous creatures from our home planet. We will find other ways to protect ourselves."

"Why not let us help?" Dakkan asked. "If you saw into my mind, then you know that we helped to defeat an enemy determined to take over a neighboring planet. It was a powerful enemy called the UCP. My people have access to a powerful energy source called vistran and our space armada is formidable. We can defend you, but this practice of imprisoning unwitting travelers and sentencing them to death has got to stop. For the sake of both our people, please."

Lom looked away and took a few steps. She looked tired. "I wish there was another way. I truly do."

"Hold on." I paced, holding one finger in the air. "What about, instead of a force field-like dome over the nursery that doesn't let anyone leave, it's changed so that it doesn't let anyone in at all."

Lom loped closer, peering down with interest. "Continue."

I looked at Dakkan. "You said that this area is known to be a problem and that Mitran know about it and tend to stay away from it."

He raised a brow. "Yes?"

"What if your people could erect a prohibited zone around this area?" I turned to Lom. "Can you adjust the force field to repel anything that comes near it? That way the Mitrans can make it known to all that the area is off-limits and you have a physical barrier. No one would know you're here."

"Wouldn't some wonder why this region is disallowed?" Lom asked.

"I'm sure Dakkan could come up with a reason why this area would be protected." I waved a hand, thinking out loud. "Like there's some rare plants or a weather anomaly that needs to be left alone. A barrier would prevent ships—like mine—from accidentally getting sucked in and losing power, but they'd avoid the region in the first place."

Lom said nothing for a moment. She just stared at us, thinking.

"I can absolutely prohibit entry to this area," Dakkan said. "And I will…if you allow us to leave."

"Allowing one-way passage was considered the most effective way of hiding our young," said Lom. "If the Mitrans were the ones declaring the area prohibited, then it would not implicate my people or give away our position. Would you have to tell all of the other warlords about our existence?"

Dakkan flashed a grin. "No. I am the warlord of the Thrail nearest this sanctuary. It is considered my region."

Lom moved forward, head cocked. "And what about when a new warlord comes to take your place? Will they honor this agreement and the secrecy required?"

Dakkan lifted his chin. "My people follow tradition. My successor will be told that yours is a rare, persecuted people who deserve protection, but not the name of your species. Deep knowledge and many secrets have been handed from warlord to warlord over the millennia. This will be one of them. The name and details of your kind will die with me, but the decree to avoid your region will continue for as long as the Mitran people exist on this planet." He inclined his head and gave Lom a level look. "But in order for this to happen, you need to release us."

Lom was thinking about it. My heart started to beat a little faster, realizing that we had a chance. "It would solve the problem of your diminishing guardians," I said. "I do have one condition."

Lom looked at me sharply. "What is it?"

"You allow Lukan to leave with us. He has lived too long away from his people."

"He could tell someone about us. I have no trust in him."

"Lukan is profoundly lonely." Dakkan spread his hands. "Let me bring him to my Thrail so he may live out his days among his own people. He will tell no one and I will look after him. Please, we beg you this one act of mercy."

Lom walked away. Her long strides were agitated. "If this fails, these babies could be put right back into torturous slavery. At best, I would have to move the entire sanctuary."

Dakkan placed his fist to his chest and spoke with resonant clarity. "I swear to you on the spirits of my ancestors that I will not allow anyone to harm you or these precious children. No one will speak of the Ulfris people. All spacecraft flying nearby will maintain a high altitude or go around this place, and if you change the field around the nursery to a barrier, no one will get in. Your little ones will have the entire sanctuary to explore, learn, and play."

Lom reached out a gentle hand and lifted one of the children in her long palm. The little one curled up and nuzzled her. "Your plan has merit. It has the potential to make my babies safer, which is all I desire." She placed the small one down and turned to us, eyes penetrating. "It also requires me to put a great deal of faith and trust in you."

"Then keep me here," I said.

Dakkan looked at me sharply. "What are you saying?"

I ignored him. "Let Lukan and Dakkan go back to Thrail Sakra. Have the zone set up. If all goes according to plan, you can release me. If not…" I shrugged. "I'll stay here with you."

Lom stepped towards me. "You would remain here as a prisoner?"

I raised my chin. "I would. I know Dakkan will keep his word. And not just for me. His heart is good and kind. He doesn't want to lose any more of his people to this place, either." I opened my arms. "I would not have come here from my home planet to treat the women and babies of his Thrail if I did not believe in the goodness of the Mitran people. Their actions in the war he mentioned spared my planet from being attacked by the enemy they fought. I believe in them and him. If you need to see more, go through my mind as deeply as you have to."

Lom brought her face low, down to my level. It was unnerving to have her large head so close to mine. Her eyes really were like twin kaleidoscopes swirling a little bit with more colors than I could name. I can see him the way you see him, little human female.

Somehow, I knew these words were for me alone. They were clear, intimate in my mind. Dakkan looked at me with a question in his eyes. He wasn't hearing the words Lom was saying to me.

I see things you cannot see.

I swallowed hard. Pushing down my nerves. "Like what?"

Your mind is expansive. As is your love. You love this male and the work you do. Both are like blood in your veins. You worry; there's a small part of you that still worries that you have not known him long enough to tell if this is real.

"Is it?" I asked in a whisper.

He would die for you. He would not allow you to stay here with me, even if I agreed.

My shoulders dropped. "So it's a no? We have to live here forever?"

No, little human. I have decided to trust you and your mate. You may leave. And you may take the Lukan that lives in the swamp, with you. Keep your word. That is all I ask. For the babies' sake.

I reached out and placed my hand to the smooth skin of her face. It felt like the finest silk. And there was something else. Touching this ancient being was like touching the universe. "One day you will have to fight back against those who hurt you," I said.

Her eyes crinkled and her mouth curved. Why do you think we are building our numbers? We have a home planet to reclaim. Someday.

I smiled. "I would like to see that."

You won't, little human. By the time that day comes, your people will have evolved into something else.

She straightened up to her full height and gazed down at us. Long fingers flicked into the air. "Very well," she said to both Dakkan and me. "You may leave."