EvO (Darverius, House of DaR #16)

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

QWIN

Loud voices wake me slowly, but I am so tired. I don’t want to open my eyes to see what’s going on, so I just lay here and listen.

“ Wow , frack, EvO , you really have some nerve criticizing us for making a major decision without involving you. Especially since you didn’t bother to ask for our opinion when you risked your life to save a complete stranger.”

“ That’s different.”

“ I would love to know how the frack that’s different, brother.”

“ ViN , the Destroyer , and her crew are my responsibility, not yours. You and Rafe both have put the entire crew and this ship in direct danger. Not including the humans now attached to the haul who have no say so in all of this. What about their lives?”

“ I am second-in-command, EvO , and I made the logical decision with the information available. The ship was… is doomed if we turn around. Unfortunately , time has also run out for us to hang out and try to locate any more of these pods. We’ve done our job EvO , our next course of action is to take care of the survivors we have. The only way we can do that is get the frack out of this Nebula before the gasses kill us all.”

“ Have you said those words to your mate ViN ? Because I don’t know how happy she would be with you if you had.”

“ EvO , Ember is not stupid. She knew the odds when we came out here and she is grateful for all that we’ve done for her species.”

“ I can’t believe you two gave full access of the controls to the Destroyer , knowing it’s still in its learning mode.”

“ Frack , EvO , quit being so stubborn. The Destroyer is our best chance, and I trust all the programming SCOUT installed into her systems. She has our best interests at heart. The mistakes the Destroyer has made were not just hers alone. We were at the helm this entire time as well. None of the ships in our fleet would have performed any better than she has. Nor were they capable of keeping her crew safe in these types of conditions. So , when the ship is worried, I am pretty damn concerned, EvO .”

“ ViN , it’s a ship. A great big piece of metal floating through space. Not a he, or a she, it’s a machine! Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a very competent, advanced, and well-built one, but still, IT’S A MACHINE .”

“ Yeah , EvO . I will remember those exact words when we get back. I can’t wait to see how SCOUT reacts to you calling SAGE a machine. What about the fact that without ANDI , we wouldn’t have the information about Earth we do now, and let’s not even forget to mention Falcor . One of the biggest and baddest ships ever constructed. These machines deserve our respect, they hold our lives within them, keeping us safe every rising. I personally think we should be just a tad bit kinder.”

“ Fine . It’s not like I can do much from here, anyway, what’s done is done. Even though I am trapped in this room for the time being. I expect to be updated on our status throughout the rising.”

“ Ughh , someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this rising. Brother , you might want to sit down and quit pacing before you fall over. You look like hell. LeX , I thought you said he was healing after risking his life to save her.”

That last statement catches my attention for some reason, and slowly I open my eyes. Blinking , I try to comprehend what I am seeing as their conversation carries on around me.

I don’t know what …who to look at first. The one closest to me is limping slightly as he argues with two, no wait three others. I hate it when he suddenly gets quiet. He has a deep radio voice that I could listen to all night. Shaking my head, I try to clear my thoughts as the conversation with the other girl, Ember , comes back to me.

Aliens . She said we were the aliens, maybe I understood that wrong because I really think I am the only normal one in this area right now. A light touch on my leg pulls my attention back to the one that seems to be enclosed in this room with me. None of them have noticed that I am awake even though my heart is beating out of my chest.

My mind seems to be having a hard time breaking down his features. He is tall, probably six-two, maybe three, with silvery-white hair that seems to be sticking up all over because he is constantly running his hands through it as he talks, well argues with the others. He isn’t super bulky, but the man is ripped. The dark vest and pants he has on only accentuate the flexing of his muscles as he stands at the foot of the bed I am lying on. From this angle, and because the room is still dark. I can only see the side of his face, but besides the fact that he is so dark purple, he is almost black. He looks remarkably human from this position.

I glance over towards the ones he is talking to. One of them is terrifying. It’s like he has been split in two. One side is orange with very prominent male features, whereas the other side looks like it’s been burned or blackened with deep red stripes running through it. I am simply assuming that all three of them are males by their size and the way they hold themselves. The next one that catches my attention is walking around looking at some sort of device, completely ignoring the other two. He is pale yellow, with bright teal-covered hair. He is wearing a long white coat, but from this angle, I can’t see his face plainly.

As I am turning my attention to the other guy, the wall seems to open, and Ember makes her entrance, wearing a big smile. I can’t help but gasp out loud when the big scary one grabs her, kissing her passionately. This is when I notice the red marks that appear to be dancing on her skin, and I swear I just saw scales on her arm.

Before I realize I’ve made a sound, I find all eyes turned towards me. Especially the bright yellow ones of the male who has captured my attention from the moment I heard his voice. Neither of us say anything, we just stare at each other. I actually jerk when Ember’s voice comes over the speakers.

“ Oh , thank heavens you’re awake. How are you feeling? I see that you have met EvO .”

“ EvO ?” I whisper out. He bows slightly and for some reason, I find that quite endearing.

“ Hello and welcome. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Captain EvO , Son of DaR , the Commander of Darverius , and grandson of Elder Tyberius .” He smiles down at me and, WOW . He went from oddly attractive to stunning, that smile is dangerous.

“ I’m Qwin Madison Bayle .” I can’t help but smile as I replay that mouthful back in my mind. His eyes seem to be devouring me right now, and instantly I am self-conscious. The heat of his hand through the sheet on my lower leg has me moving absentmindedly, and I see him jerk back like he just realized he was touching me.

“ Forgive me for taking such liberties, let me introduce you to the others present. I believe you are already acquainted with Ember . Her mate, and my brother ViN , is the large overbearing male holding her in his arms. LeX , my other brother, is the mastermind behind our predicament right now, and he is also the one responsible for the fact that both of us are still breathing. At this moment, he is the acting Medical officer of this ship. Welcome to the Destroyer , Qwin .”

The pale yellow one nods his head before turning back to the tablet he was working on.

“ Brothers ?”

Ember doesn’t give him time to answer me. “ EvO , go sit down and get off those legs, give me a moment to explain a few things to Qwin . You and ViN can argue later if you want.”

I watch the big, intimidating one spank her playfully as he puts her down. He says something to the purple guy and then walks out the door. “ What are the marks on your face?”

“ Oh , that’s that long story again, but it’s all linked to that mate and compatibility thing again. Don’t you like them? I think they are rather pretty. Especially when the colors dance around under my skin.”

“ They are unique. Are these guys supposed to be brothers?”

“ Yeah , there are twenty-three of them.”

“ What ?”

“ Ok , let me find a way to sum this all up, so that your brain will wrap around it all easier. How to make this short, but informative.” She put her hand up to her chin, patting her face for a second. “ I will start with Kira . She was the first human found. DaR their father acquired her at a slave market only moments from death. Love story alert, he fell hard for the Earth girl, but things were not so easy for Kira . We don’t adapt well to change and she was taken against her will. So , she struggled with this world for quite some time, but DaR and his love finally won her over.

“ However , because of that one event, all these others have been put in play, like the very fact that any of us are here today. If he had not found her, then they would not have been looking for you and me. DaR is one of two Commanders in this quadrant. Each of them have multiple kids, due to some kinda rule in order to be a leader. DaR has twenty-two, possibly twenty-three boys, if all the stories about SiN are true. However , we’ve been out of touch for so long that we’re not sure what’s happening with that one.”

“ Someone named their kid SiN ? And it sounds like Dad needs to learn how to pull out.”

“ Yeah , I agree it’s not a great title to put on your kid at birth. I mean, you must want him to be a screwup with that name. However , I know it sounds bad, but DaR is the good guy. He didn’t actually sleep with any of these women, but he has been an active part of each boy’s life since birth. There is a lottery held and anyone who wants to enter can, if they win, they are artificially inseminated. From my understanding, it’s a big deal to be a part of the House of DaR .

“ You see this cool mark on my arm? It tells the bad guys I am under DaR’s protection. All his boys are from different worlds. ViN , LeX , and EvO were all in the same training barracks together, as they were so close in age. I think going through that as kids together has made them all rather close as adults.”

“ I think I am more confused now than I was, Ember . So , all these differently shaped and colored guys are brothers, and just how do you and they all know that?”

“ Their essence, what we call DNA , is validated when they are little and if it matches DaR’s , they are marked with his house symbol. They all have it. Up until recently, only the sons were marked, but DaR made an exception when they started finding their mates.”

“ Nothing like getting a tattoo as a child, and you said the word mate when you talked to me before.”

“ I don’t know how it works with all the guys; all I can tell you about is me and ViN . Maybe it’s their bodies or something they were born with, but some of them just kinda know when they meet their mates.”

“ So , you’re saying some random guy … creature could come by and declare I am his mate without my agreement? Don’t I have a say in this?” The growl that penetrates the room has me grasping the covers closer as my eyes seek out the only other person … thing in here with me. He must catch on that he made that noise because he turns away from us, lying down on the other bed, instantly putting his back towards us.

A giggle from Ember has me looking back at her wearily. “ Why are you talking to me on that side of the glass? Can’t you come over here?”

“ No , actually I can’t. You and EvO have both been subjected to some sort of poisonous gas, and LeX has quarantined both of you until it can be vented out safely. Or that’s what he told me, anyway. Your pod was failing and EvO risked his life to save you. That’s one of the many things ViN and he have been arguing about.”

Instantly , I turn from her. “ Why would you do that?”

“ He’s asleep, Qwin . LeX gave him some strong sedatives, trying to keep him off his feet until his legs heal. From my understanding, by the time EvO managed to get you inside, he was in rough shape. ViN was livid, and that’s never a good thing when he found out EvO was only moments from dying.”

“ I don’t understand; why would he take that chance? He doesn’t even know me.”

“ I will give DaR this, he raised his boys right. They are what most girls dream of, if you can get past how different they are from us. Kira calls them a rainbow of masculinity, as few are even close in coloring. They are compassionate, loyal, fun, and brave to the point of recklessness. If they behaved any differently, I would be worried. The moment EvO saw that your pod was failing he didn’t even think about the consequences. Out into the Nebula he went, determined to get you back in here in one piece.”

“ Wow , … I am grateful, and overwhelmed. You seem so happy, how? … I mean don’t get me wrong, I think that’s great. I would never begrudge anyone their happiness, but we’ve lost everything. How did you get past all that?”

I feel bad the moment the smile leaves her face. “ I felt the same way you did in the beginning, but I’ve had more time to come to terms with what has happened. After ViN rescued me, I became solely focused on trying to find as many of us as possible, and I am lucky to have found my other half in the process. To most, ViN is scary, but he is very good to me, even though I am a handful most of the time. However , the circumstances of how we became a couple, and all this has made me a better person. I am no longer that na?ve spoiled rich girl who has only cared about herself and her appearance.”

“ How long have you been here …wherever this is?”

“ Time is different here, but I believe it’s been over a year, maybe even a little more. You and several other pods were trapped inside this Nebula that the Destroyer is now trying to maneuver us out of. That wasn’t the case for me or Miya . Somehow ours got separated from all of you, maybe it was because we were launched at different times who knows. Miya’s pod was found by a set of pirates and sold to a scientist on Targres Four . In the process of all that happening, ViN and EvO just happened to be on the same planet, helping Tordan when ViN saw my pod crash through the atmosphere in their desolate area.

“ ViN is an excellent tracker, so DaR sent him out to find me. As you can see, he was successful, but man was it an experience. One I never want to go through again. While ViN was looking for me. EvO returned to the Destroyer with a plan to find more of us in the location where the pirates said they found Miya . The information he was able to gather led him here to this Nebula .

“ ViN is EvO’s second in command and we almost missed the opportunity to be on the Destroyer due to some ruckus caused by SiN , but SCOUT was able to get hold of EvO before he entered the Nebula . He slowed the ship down until we could board because the ship had to be completely sealed before entering. That’s why ViN and Rafe were arguing with EvO in the first place. He broke his own rules to save you. I know some of these names mean nothing to you, but in time they will. You are by far not alone if that makes you feel any better.”

“ Ember , I am grateful that you are at least trying to give me an idea of what I left and am heading into, but this doesn’t seem real.”

With the sound of a ding, her attention is drawn to what resembles a watch. “ I’ve got to go, Qwin , but I’ll be back in a little while. Rest while you can, LeX is here if you want someone to talk to.”

Watching her walk out the door, I almost miss the yellow one looking at me. “ Now that they have all left, how are you feeling physically?”

“ Like I got run over by a truck. I’m aching all over, and I would love something nice and warm to drink. My bones feel cold.”

“ That’s to be expected with the length of time you spent in the pod. You are experiencing cryo sickness, it should wear off on its own in a few risings. I have left the majority of the medical leads inserted inside your body for now. The leads will help provide the nutrients your body needs quicker. So that you can get back on your feet. There is a refreshing chamber located on the other end of the room. If you need to relieve yourself all you need to do is hit the button on the side of the bed and one of the Med bots will come to assist you. Please don’t try to walk by yourself, especially in the beginning. I don’t want you subjected to any more harm than necessary. The best thing you can do for your future health is rest. I will be monitoring your vitals at all times, making adjustments as we go forward. Slowly strengthening the muscles that have lost their mass due to nonuse for so long.”

“ I appreciate all you have done for me. It’s LeX right?”

“ It’s my duty and honor, Qwin . I am here for more than just your medical needs. What you have awakened to, is a stress on you mentally, and physically. My door is always open.”

“ Thanks . Right now, as odd as this seems, I really would just like some time alone.”

“ There is no right or wrong, Qwin . We all deal with things in different ways. I will have a hot tonic prepared for you, and then I will turn the lights down further so that you can rest.”