Standoff, page 76
Malaki and I whirled around to the other window. We could see it splayed out on the beach. When had that happened?
“Holy fuck!” I said.
Malaki let out a whoop whoop, and Bisan did the same.
“We did it?” I asked.
“You better believe your ass we did,” Asan called.
“Where, what?” I said again.
But the skellie gripping the helo was still taking us up, higher and higher. “Err, is this thing under your control?” Malaki asked.
“Yes, ma’am!” he called back. “We’ll reach optimal height and drop you, re-engage engines.”
“Yes!” she cried.
When the skellie let go, we were plummeting a lot faster. This time though, the blades spun, and then we had engines.
“We need you on the beach,” Noel said. “Can you pick any drones up?”
I hooked back in and reached for them. There were a few that had landed softer. I launched my eight spares, giving me sixteen in total. “We’re needed for an escort back to a secured location.”
“Copy that,” I said. “Drones are incoming to your location now.”
It was a hell of a sight to see, the hesacha without all its fire. It didn’t look anywhere near as imposing. In fact, it was about half the size I thought it should be.
But I could see the nites. They still whizzed around its body. It might have gone down, but it was not yet out. It was alive, very much alive.
“You better keep pumping it with that shit,” I instructed over comms. The teams surrounding the creature were already pumping in more of the substance, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this was too easy.
As they hoisted the beast onto an enormous flatbed truck, several smaller vehicles and a BH-21F chopper were commissioned to support its weight, making the convoy resemble a militarized parade.
When they hefted it up and onto the back of one massive flatbed truck to move, the other smaller trucks actually went with it. Surprisingly, the CH47f was also tasked to take some of the weight. It hooked onto the flatbed, and then it moved.
“Yun to the rescue, huh?” I asked.
“We are inbound for a secure location, sending you the coordinates now.”
Malaki expertly maneuvered our helo, ensuring we kept a close watch over the hesacha. But the moment came to pull back.
“RTB,” Noel commanded.
I looked to Malaki, my eyes silently pleading.
“Sir, we have other important business to attend. We will be back as soon as we can.”
I smiled at her and whispered, “Thank you.”
Malaki turned the helo back out towards the ocean, yet no sooner had she done it than Justin dropped in beside us. “Going somewhere without your wingman is kind of unforgivable.”
Amidst our laughter, Kadar chimed in, “I had no idea you were ready for diving.”
I stifled a gasp and answered him with a quick. “Neither were we.”
“You did it with such grace,” he said.
“No, we did it like the Steel Spiders we are.”
It took a while for us to see the sub in our sights again. But there she was, settled off the coast of the power plants.
The beach was alive with soldiers and trucks. Skellies were sat with large bowls of water before them. They were very well looked after.
“Dare I ask,” I said to Malaki.
“I think we’ll wait for the real explanations when we land.”
I swallowed. I really didn’t like water, but the thought of seeing Mira right now, after all of this. I had so many questions and things I had to say to her.
When our helo landed, I was a bag of nerves. Kadar was beside us before I could even get out.
“Steady!” Before I knew it, Kadar was beside me, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. “You’ve just been through some of the fastest helo diving training ever. It will sting.”
“Why am I so wobbly?”
Justin caught a stumbling Malaki. “Takes a while to recalibrate.”
A welcoming party, led by Captain Parker, awaited us. He bowed deeply, a gesture that startled me. “Welcome back.”
“That formality isn’t required, Captain Parker,” I responded.
He looked up, determination evident in his eyes. “It is now. You’ve earned higher respect.”
Though taken aback, I reciprocated the gesture.
“The council awaits you on the command deck,” Captain Parker said, leading the way.
82
With no idea how my legs worked, and the pulsing hum of the sub’s machinery below guiding our path, we were down in the bowels of the sub in a few minutes. Then before us, the ambient blue lights illuminated a sprawling command room.
It was similar to the one the captain would have had in any other vessel. Except this one bore the harmonious blend of Techean technology and human design, showcasing the unity of two races.
Spotting Mira amidst the aquatic displays and tech panels, a rush of emotion surged through me. Without a second thought, I vaulted over the barricade, sending ripples across the water as I splashed towards her.
I wrapped her tight in my arms and kissed her deeply. I never wanted to let go. Never.
Her laughter bubbled around us, and while she didn’t need to surface to breathe, she pushed against my chest, her fingers brushing my face gently. “Hey,” she laughed. “Everyone is watching.”
Glancing around, I felt the heat surge from my neck, spreading like wildfire across my face. “Sorry,” I stammered. “I—”
The slap that almost knocked me to the side hit a different nerve. “That’s what I call some precision flying,” Rahim exclaimed.
Automatically, I pivoted to face him, dropping my gaze in deference. “Sir, I’m sorry. Please forgive my intrusion like this. I never mea—”
“Ruslan,” Rahim’s voice was firm yet not unkind. “Stop talking and look at me.”
Hesitatingly, I met the elder’s commanding gaze. “You exceeded expectations today. Exceptionally well done.”
The statement hung in the water, and I replied, almost incredulously, “Sir?”
“Without the love and trust of the woman you hold in your arms,” Rahim continued, his gaze drifting to Mira, “my daughter, you wouldn’t have dived, our missiles would have missed their target, and the hesacha would have won.”
I swallowed and risked looking at Mira. “I would do anything she asked.”
Malaki, standing tall and poised on one of the elevated walkways, chimed in, “As would I.”
“Thank you,” Mira said, dipping her head to my pilot.
“No,” Malaki contested. “Without you…”
But before she could finish, Kadar interjected, emphasizing unity, “Without any of us.” He looked to Rahim. “I am his family, and I stand for him.” Silently, the giant Techean nodded once in acknowledgment.
Justin, unable to resist, reached for Malaki, enveloping her in a reassuring embrace.
“We have a lot to discuss,” Rahim declared. “But you’re all exhausted. Please follow my son and daughter to wash up, and we’ll see you for something to eat in, say, four hours?”
“We won’t rest,” I said. “We’d prefer to dine immediately post our cleanup, then get some assisted rest afterward.” My gaze slid over to the captain, subtly hinting at the much-needed sedative atmosphere they provided for recuperation.
“That’s also doable, thirty minutes,” the captain said. “Asan will wait and escort you.”
As Mira was beckoned by her father, I pulled her close once more, sealing our moment with a lingering kiss. “You’re playing with fire,” she teased, before effortlessly gliding away.
Asan motioned for me, leading the way through a labyrinth of illuminated underwater corridors. Justin, Malaki, and Kadar mirrored our aquatic journey from the transparent walkways above. “I will wait. Please take your time, though.”
“We will,” Malaki assured, her eyes scanning the vicinity with curiosity.
The sensation of warm water cascading down my back felt heavenly. Showers here had an eco-timer, ensuring conservation. The unscented soaps provided a gentle cleanse, reminding me of the precious balance between Techean and human needs. As I towel dried, my eyes fell on the sleek wetsuits tailored for each of us.
“I guess we’re going to be here a while?” Malaki pondered aloud, sliding into her suit with practiced ease.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, adjusting the suit’s collar. “Are you against staying here?”
She paused, considering. “Food and some real rest sound heavenly right now.”
Kadar chimed in, his eyes reflecting nostalgia, “Nothing compares to the tranquility of oceanic slumber.” He marveled at the unique tail adaptation in his suit. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Nothing like it at all.”
Once attired, Asan ushered us towards a cavernous dining alcove. Rahim and Mira, deep in conversation with the captain and another striking Techean, momentarily held my gaze. Their intense discussion hummed in the water. “Who is that?” I asked him.
“That’s our mother.” He smiled.
As she pivoted to greet us, the radiant elegance of her features took me aback. The lineage was evident; Mira’s beauty was a legacy. “Is she a queen?” I asked without thinking.
A chuckle escaped Asan, causing ripples in the surrounding waters. “Not quite, but you’re not alone in that assumption. Come.”
As we neared, the resemblance between mother and daughter was uncanny, save for their contrasting eyes – Mira’s bore a striking resemblance to Rahim’s.
“Oh my,” the woman said and swam towards me and then around me. “This is the sky pilot that has captured our daughter’s heart?”
“It is,” Mira said.
Her mother circled me again, her voice dripping with mirth. “Quite the enigma.” Mira’s cheeks flushed a deep azure.
“Mother,” Mira blushed.
With a gesture of paternal pride, Rahim stepped forward, “Airman Ruslan Korolev, I want you to meet my wife, Reika.”
With her outstretched hand before me, protocol and instinct clashed. Opting for courtesy, I gently clasped it. “An honor, truly.”
She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Considering today’s events, the sentiment is mutual.” Her fingers gave a reassuring squeeze. “Join us. We have much to converse about. Particularly since my husband seems to have granted you our offspring’s trust.”
I stuttered over my words a mixture of nerves and surprise. “If you are displeased in any way…”
She studied me for a moment, then a hint of amusement danced in her eyes. “I am not,” she said and waved to the table they had been sitting around. “Join us, not as Pilots or Drone Pilots,” her gaze shifted to Kadar and Justin, a subtle challenge reflecting in her eyes, “but as friends. And to you,” she focused on me again, her expression softening, “family.”
A lump formed in my throat, making speech nearly impossible. “Thank you,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
We took our positions myself with Mira on one side and Asan on the other.
“I have asked my brother to remote in to hear this. I don’t want him getting any second-hand information.” Rahim announced, his tone conveying the gravity of the situation.
The screen before us illuminated, revealing Anders. He paused, absorbing the faces before him. “Brother?” He looked around the room at all of us and let out a large breath. “It seems both your missions have been a success?”
Rahim nodded gravely. “Indeed,” and with a fluid motion of his hand, he projected a viewing screen for us. “While Ruslan and the soldiers from Artem bravely confronted the hesacha, we dealt critical blows to the traitors within our ranks.” He motioned to the footage. Disturbing images played out – underwater ambushes, chaos on war vessels. “We found that the Hiarky possessed advanced technology and knowledge to control the creatures known as skellies. Their audacity didn’t end there. They used our tech gifts to not just control the deep-sea creatures but the aerial ones as well. Their treacherous assault targeted Artem’s power structures, from the Dam to the nuclear plants.”
A heavy silence fell. Rahim exchanged a meaningful glance with Asan. “It was challenging, but I eventually managed to reclaim the skies, redirecting the primary attackers.”
“You stopped the attack on the power plants from them?”
“I did.” Rahim’s voice held a trace of regret. “However, securing the ground was another challenge. Many of our kind didn’t make it. They were shot down.”
My heart ached. The weight of their loss evident. “I’m truly sorry.”
Rahim’s gaze met mine, a shared pain reflected in his eyes.
Kadar and I both recognized that look. “You felt them die?”
Asan’s expression darkened, his voice barely audible. “Everyone we lost hurt. Yes.”
“But you still came to our rescue.” I said, gratitude evident in my tone.
“I think it was more that we came together.”
I liked the sound of that.
“We did it together,” I said.
Rahim smiled. “Yes, we did.”
A pressing question formed. “So, what’s our next step?”
Rahim looked at me, a playful glint in his eyes, “Now, I’d like to know when you plan on formally wedding our daughter, witnessed by every species.”
My response was swift, the truth undeniable. “I’d marry her right now,” I said, and I meant it. Mira giggled and wrapped her arms around me, snuggling into my chest. “I have one request first, though.”
Rahim’s eyebrow raised. “What is it?”
“I need you to bring my mother and father here.”
He nodded, “Understood. Anything else?”
With Mira nestled close, a vision of our future clear in my mind, I added, “Some time and access to one of your tech labs.”
Reika interjected, her voice dripping with warmth, “Consider it granted. Now, I believe our hunger has been patient enough. Let’s indulge.”
Kadar reached forward for some of the food. “That is a plan!”
We all joined in, the taste of the oceanic feast tantalizing our senses. Asan shared the array of dishes, explaining each one’s significance. Anders, appearing a tad envious, commented, “I’ll join you all in person soon. Enjoy the ocean’s offerings.”
I smiled his way as he cut the feed.
A contented sigh escaped me as Anders disconnected. The meal was delightful, Reika’s playful jibes at her children making it even more memorable. The warmth and camaraderie were palpable, contrasting starkly with my initial assumptions about their reserved nature.
Once our feast concluded and our glasses emptied, Mira led me deeper into the ship. Her voice a lulling whisper, she promised, “I’ll stay beside you till you drift off.”
Exiting the water, I quickly dried off and nestled into the soft bunk. Pulling her close, our lips met in a gentle embrace. “I love you,” I murmured.
Her voice held conviction. “And I adore you. We’ll face all challenges and become one soon.”
The comforting thought warmed me. “I eagerly await that day.”
As sleep claimed me, aided by the light sedative in the drink, I felt at peace, surrounded by love and the promise of a shared future.
83-Epilogue
A hint of hesitation laced the female voice. “You’re sure you want to do this?”
“If I don’t try…”
“He’s not just injured. Look at him, his eyes—He’s a mess.”
Taking a deep breath, another voice assured, “I’ll carry him, don’t worry. I’ve got him.”
“I can help at least get him onto your shoulders.”
Pim had been found. The voices that drifted to him were not ones he knew, at least ones he thought he knew—maybe one was. One he didn’t want to remember.
Lifted into the air, onto thick heavy, muscular shoulders.
The world around him spun. He felt sick, so sick.
The musky scent of sweat and metal assailed his nostrils. Everything was amplified, the smells overpowering. The person carrying him reeked, a mix of man and machine.
Pim wanted to scream at him, to lash out, but nothing of his wanted to work, not like he wanted it to. His fangs were small, sharp, sure, but they wouldn’t hurt someone with tech, especially the tech he could see with his eye.
Yet, something here felt right. Familiar.
Pim drifted for a little while.
The lull of his emotional and physical pain taking him where he’d never been before.
Closer and closer to the arms of death.
Please let it end, he begged. Please. I can’t.
But you can, someone whispered. We need you.
Pim held onto that voice, he knew it, her, his mother.
Finally, when he opened his eyes later, he was blinded by bright lights and yet another lab.
This one though, this was different.
The lull was real, something about it. This place.
Settled him, eased all his pain, his fears.
Where am I?
Why am I?
He knew he was being put back together once again. It was even slower and more painful than ever before. But he didn’t fight any of it. He wanted to feel the pain, to understand what life was like without Shay by his side.
As the days passed, Pim’s leg was reattached, tingling sensations shooting up his spine. His burns were healed, and new skin grafts fitted and soothed.
Yet, something was off—something felt wrong. And then, when he felt his eye removed and new attachments going in, the pain became too much to bear.
“STOP!” His voice, ragged and desperate, cut through the sterile room.
Pim’s gaze locked onto a face: Shay’s murderer.
The young man, taken aback, stumbled backward, his chair clattering as he hit the ground, flailing backward, his features blanched with fear.
Something caught Pim’s attention—a mesmerizing spectacle of dancing light and movement.
Outside the window, fish swam, a parade of all colors and shapes.
The realization crashed over him like a tidal wave: he was underwater, a realm he had never explored, despite it being in his very nature.
“Holy fuck!” I said.
Malaki let out a whoop whoop, and Bisan did the same.
“We did it?” I asked.
“You better believe your ass we did,” Asan called.
“Where, what?” I said again.
But the skellie gripping the helo was still taking us up, higher and higher. “Err, is this thing under your control?” Malaki asked.
“Yes, ma’am!” he called back. “We’ll reach optimal height and drop you, re-engage engines.”
“Yes!” she cried.
When the skellie let go, we were plummeting a lot faster. This time though, the blades spun, and then we had engines.
“We need you on the beach,” Noel said. “Can you pick any drones up?”
I hooked back in and reached for them. There were a few that had landed softer. I launched my eight spares, giving me sixteen in total. “We’re needed for an escort back to a secured location.”
“Copy that,” I said. “Drones are incoming to your location now.”
It was a hell of a sight to see, the hesacha without all its fire. It didn’t look anywhere near as imposing. In fact, it was about half the size I thought it should be.
But I could see the nites. They still whizzed around its body. It might have gone down, but it was not yet out. It was alive, very much alive.
“You better keep pumping it with that shit,” I instructed over comms. The teams surrounding the creature were already pumping in more of the substance, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this was too easy.
As they hoisted the beast onto an enormous flatbed truck, several smaller vehicles and a BH-21F chopper were commissioned to support its weight, making the convoy resemble a militarized parade.
When they hefted it up and onto the back of one massive flatbed truck to move, the other smaller trucks actually went with it. Surprisingly, the CH47f was also tasked to take some of the weight. It hooked onto the flatbed, and then it moved.
“Yun to the rescue, huh?” I asked.
“We are inbound for a secure location, sending you the coordinates now.”
Malaki expertly maneuvered our helo, ensuring we kept a close watch over the hesacha. But the moment came to pull back.
“RTB,” Noel commanded.
I looked to Malaki, my eyes silently pleading.
“Sir, we have other important business to attend. We will be back as soon as we can.”
I smiled at her and whispered, “Thank you.”
Malaki turned the helo back out towards the ocean, yet no sooner had she done it than Justin dropped in beside us. “Going somewhere without your wingman is kind of unforgivable.”
Amidst our laughter, Kadar chimed in, “I had no idea you were ready for diving.”
I stifled a gasp and answered him with a quick. “Neither were we.”
“You did it with such grace,” he said.
“No, we did it like the Steel Spiders we are.”
It took a while for us to see the sub in our sights again. But there she was, settled off the coast of the power plants.
The beach was alive with soldiers and trucks. Skellies were sat with large bowls of water before them. They were very well looked after.
“Dare I ask,” I said to Malaki.
“I think we’ll wait for the real explanations when we land.”
I swallowed. I really didn’t like water, but the thought of seeing Mira right now, after all of this. I had so many questions and things I had to say to her.
When our helo landed, I was a bag of nerves. Kadar was beside us before I could even get out.
“Steady!” Before I knew it, Kadar was beside me, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. “You’ve just been through some of the fastest helo diving training ever. It will sting.”
“Why am I so wobbly?”
Justin caught a stumbling Malaki. “Takes a while to recalibrate.”
A welcoming party, led by Captain Parker, awaited us. He bowed deeply, a gesture that startled me. “Welcome back.”
“That formality isn’t required, Captain Parker,” I responded.
He looked up, determination evident in his eyes. “It is now. You’ve earned higher respect.”
Though taken aback, I reciprocated the gesture.
“The council awaits you on the command deck,” Captain Parker said, leading the way.
82
With no idea how my legs worked, and the pulsing hum of the sub’s machinery below guiding our path, we were down in the bowels of the sub in a few minutes. Then before us, the ambient blue lights illuminated a sprawling command room.
It was similar to the one the captain would have had in any other vessel. Except this one bore the harmonious blend of Techean technology and human design, showcasing the unity of two races.
Spotting Mira amidst the aquatic displays and tech panels, a rush of emotion surged through me. Without a second thought, I vaulted over the barricade, sending ripples across the water as I splashed towards her.
I wrapped her tight in my arms and kissed her deeply. I never wanted to let go. Never.
Her laughter bubbled around us, and while she didn’t need to surface to breathe, she pushed against my chest, her fingers brushing my face gently. “Hey,” she laughed. “Everyone is watching.”
Glancing around, I felt the heat surge from my neck, spreading like wildfire across my face. “Sorry,” I stammered. “I—”
The slap that almost knocked me to the side hit a different nerve. “That’s what I call some precision flying,” Rahim exclaimed.
Automatically, I pivoted to face him, dropping my gaze in deference. “Sir, I’m sorry. Please forgive my intrusion like this. I never mea—”
“Ruslan,” Rahim’s voice was firm yet not unkind. “Stop talking and look at me.”
Hesitatingly, I met the elder’s commanding gaze. “You exceeded expectations today. Exceptionally well done.”
The statement hung in the water, and I replied, almost incredulously, “Sir?”
“Without the love and trust of the woman you hold in your arms,” Rahim continued, his gaze drifting to Mira, “my daughter, you wouldn’t have dived, our missiles would have missed their target, and the hesacha would have won.”
I swallowed and risked looking at Mira. “I would do anything she asked.”
Malaki, standing tall and poised on one of the elevated walkways, chimed in, “As would I.”
“Thank you,” Mira said, dipping her head to my pilot.
“No,” Malaki contested. “Without you…”
But before she could finish, Kadar interjected, emphasizing unity, “Without any of us.” He looked to Rahim. “I am his family, and I stand for him.” Silently, the giant Techean nodded once in acknowledgment.
Justin, unable to resist, reached for Malaki, enveloping her in a reassuring embrace.
“We have a lot to discuss,” Rahim declared. “But you’re all exhausted. Please follow my son and daughter to wash up, and we’ll see you for something to eat in, say, four hours?”
“We won’t rest,” I said. “We’d prefer to dine immediately post our cleanup, then get some assisted rest afterward.” My gaze slid over to the captain, subtly hinting at the much-needed sedative atmosphere they provided for recuperation.
“That’s also doable, thirty minutes,” the captain said. “Asan will wait and escort you.”
As Mira was beckoned by her father, I pulled her close once more, sealing our moment with a lingering kiss. “You’re playing with fire,” she teased, before effortlessly gliding away.
Asan motioned for me, leading the way through a labyrinth of illuminated underwater corridors. Justin, Malaki, and Kadar mirrored our aquatic journey from the transparent walkways above. “I will wait. Please take your time, though.”
“We will,” Malaki assured, her eyes scanning the vicinity with curiosity.
The sensation of warm water cascading down my back felt heavenly. Showers here had an eco-timer, ensuring conservation. The unscented soaps provided a gentle cleanse, reminding me of the precious balance between Techean and human needs. As I towel dried, my eyes fell on the sleek wetsuits tailored for each of us.
“I guess we’re going to be here a while?” Malaki pondered aloud, sliding into her suit with practiced ease.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, adjusting the suit’s collar. “Are you against staying here?”
She paused, considering. “Food and some real rest sound heavenly right now.”
Kadar chimed in, his eyes reflecting nostalgia, “Nothing compares to the tranquility of oceanic slumber.” He marveled at the unique tail adaptation in his suit. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Nothing like it at all.”
Once attired, Asan ushered us towards a cavernous dining alcove. Rahim and Mira, deep in conversation with the captain and another striking Techean, momentarily held my gaze. Their intense discussion hummed in the water. “Who is that?” I asked him.
“That’s our mother.” He smiled.
As she pivoted to greet us, the radiant elegance of her features took me aback. The lineage was evident; Mira’s beauty was a legacy. “Is she a queen?” I asked without thinking.
A chuckle escaped Asan, causing ripples in the surrounding waters. “Not quite, but you’re not alone in that assumption. Come.”
As we neared, the resemblance between mother and daughter was uncanny, save for their contrasting eyes – Mira’s bore a striking resemblance to Rahim’s.
“Oh my,” the woman said and swam towards me and then around me. “This is the sky pilot that has captured our daughter’s heart?”
“It is,” Mira said.
Her mother circled me again, her voice dripping with mirth. “Quite the enigma.” Mira’s cheeks flushed a deep azure.
“Mother,” Mira blushed.
With a gesture of paternal pride, Rahim stepped forward, “Airman Ruslan Korolev, I want you to meet my wife, Reika.”
With her outstretched hand before me, protocol and instinct clashed. Opting for courtesy, I gently clasped it. “An honor, truly.”
She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Considering today’s events, the sentiment is mutual.” Her fingers gave a reassuring squeeze. “Join us. We have much to converse about. Particularly since my husband seems to have granted you our offspring’s trust.”
I stuttered over my words a mixture of nerves and surprise. “If you are displeased in any way…”
She studied me for a moment, then a hint of amusement danced in her eyes. “I am not,” she said and waved to the table they had been sitting around. “Join us, not as Pilots or Drone Pilots,” her gaze shifted to Kadar and Justin, a subtle challenge reflecting in her eyes, “but as friends. And to you,” she focused on me again, her expression softening, “family.”
A lump formed in my throat, making speech nearly impossible. “Thank you,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
We took our positions myself with Mira on one side and Asan on the other.
“I have asked my brother to remote in to hear this. I don’t want him getting any second-hand information.” Rahim announced, his tone conveying the gravity of the situation.
The screen before us illuminated, revealing Anders. He paused, absorbing the faces before him. “Brother?” He looked around the room at all of us and let out a large breath. “It seems both your missions have been a success?”
Rahim nodded gravely. “Indeed,” and with a fluid motion of his hand, he projected a viewing screen for us. “While Ruslan and the soldiers from Artem bravely confronted the hesacha, we dealt critical blows to the traitors within our ranks.” He motioned to the footage. Disturbing images played out – underwater ambushes, chaos on war vessels. “We found that the Hiarky possessed advanced technology and knowledge to control the creatures known as skellies. Their audacity didn’t end there. They used our tech gifts to not just control the deep-sea creatures but the aerial ones as well. Their treacherous assault targeted Artem’s power structures, from the Dam to the nuclear plants.”
A heavy silence fell. Rahim exchanged a meaningful glance with Asan. “It was challenging, but I eventually managed to reclaim the skies, redirecting the primary attackers.”
“You stopped the attack on the power plants from them?”
“I did.” Rahim’s voice held a trace of regret. “However, securing the ground was another challenge. Many of our kind didn’t make it. They were shot down.”
My heart ached. The weight of their loss evident. “I’m truly sorry.”
Rahim’s gaze met mine, a shared pain reflected in his eyes.
Kadar and I both recognized that look. “You felt them die?”
Asan’s expression darkened, his voice barely audible. “Everyone we lost hurt. Yes.”
“But you still came to our rescue.” I said, gratitude evident in my tone.
“I think it was more that we came together.”
I liked the sound of that.
“We did it together,” I said.
Rahim smiled. “Yes, we did.”
A pressing question formed. “So, what’s our next step?”
Rahim looked at me, a playful glint in his eyes, “Now, I’d like to know when you plan on formally wedding our daughter, witnessed by every species.”
My response was swift, the truth undeniable. “I’d marry her right now,” I said, and I meant it. Mira giggled and wrapped her arms around me, snuggling into my chest. “I have one request first, though.”
Rahim’s eyebrow raised. “What is it?”
“I need you to bring my mother and father here.”
He nodded, “Understood. Anything else?”
With Mira nestled close, a vision of our future clear in my mind, I added, “Some time and access to one of your tech labs.”
Reika interjected, her voice dripping with warmth, “Consider it granted. Now, I believe our hunger has been patient enough. Let’s indulge.”
Kadar reached forward for some of the food. “That is a plan!”
We all joined in, the taste of the oceanic feast tantalizing our senses. Asan shared the array of dishes, explaining each one’s significance. Anders, appearing a tad envious, commented, “I’ll join you all in person soon. Enjoy the ocean’s offerings.”
I smiled his way as he cut the feed.
A contented sigh escaped me as Anders disconnected. The meal was delightful, Reika’s playful jibes at her children making it even more memorable. The warmth and camaraderie were palpable, contrasting starkly with my initial assumptions about their reserved nature.
Once our feast concluded and our glasses emptied, Mira led me deeper into the ship. Her voice a lulling whisper, she promised, “I’ll stay beside you till you drift off.”
Exiting the water, I quickly dried off and nestled into the soft bunk. Pulling her close, our lips met in a gentle embrace. “I love you,” I murmured.
Her voice held conviction. “And I adore you. We’ll face all challenges and become one soon.”
The comforting thought warmed me. “I eagerly await that day.”
As sleep claimed me, aided by the light sedative in the drink, I felt at peace, surrounded by love and the promise of a shared future.
83-Epilogue
A hint of hesitation laced the female voice. “You’re sure you want to do this?”
“If I don’t try…”
“He’s not just injured. Look at him, his eyes—He’s a mess.”
Taking a deep breath, another voice assured, “I’ll carry him, don’t worry. I’ve got him.”
“I can help at least get him onto your shoulders.”
Pim had been found. The voices that drifted to him were not ones he knew, at least ones he thought he knew—maybe one was. One he didn’t want to remember.
Lifted into the air, onto thick heavy, muscular shoulders.
The world around him spun. He felt sick, so sick.
The musky scent of sweat and metal assailed his nostrils. Everything was amplified, the smells overpowering. The person carrying him reeked, a mix of man and machine.
Pim wanted to scream at him, to lash out, but nothing of his wanted to work, not like he wanted it to. His fangs were small, sharp, sure, but they wouldn’t hurt someone with tech, especially the tech he could see with his eye.
Yet, something here felt right. Familiar.
Pim drifted for a little while.
The lull of his emotional and physical pain taking him where he’d never been before.
Closer and closer to the arms of death.
Please let it end, he begged. Please. I can’t.
But you can, someone whispered. We need you.
Pim held onto that voice, he knew it, her, his mother.
Finally, when he opened his eyes later, he was blinded by bright lights and yet another lab.
This one though, this was different.
The lull was real, something about it. This place.
Settled him, eased all his pain, his fears.
Where am I?
Why am I?
He knew he was being put back together once again. It was even slower and more painful than ever before. But he didn’t fight any of it. He wanted to feel the pain, to understand what life was like without Shay by his side.
As the days passed, Pim’s leg was reattached, tingling sensations shooting up his spine. His burns were healed, and new skin grafts fitted and soothed.
Yet, something was off—something felt wrong. And then, when he felt his eye removed and new attachments going in, the pain became too much to bear.
“STOP!” His voice, ragged and desperate, cut through the sterile room.
Pim’s gaze locked onto a face: Shay’s murderer.
The young man, taken aback, stumbled backward, his chair clattering as he hit the ground, flailing backward, his features blanched with fear.
Something caught Pim’s attention—a mesmerizing spectacle of dancing light and movement.
Outside the window, fish swam, a parade of all colors and shapes.
The realization crashed over him like a tidal wave: he was underwater, a realm he had never explored, despite it being in his very nature.
