The Build Up (Darkstar Mercenaries and Dark Planet Warriors Short Stories)

4. Abbey

FOUR

ABBEY

“We won’t hide anymore,” Tarak says quietly as he surveys the streetscape from behind dark glasses. “There’s no need to.”

I can hardly believe we’re walking down the esplanade in broad daylight with Ami between us. She’s holding hands with Tarak and me, laughing as we swing her back and forth.

Tarak takes most of her tiny weight, making it easier on my tired body.

A warm breeze swirls around us, chasing away the humidity for a brief, blissful moment.

The sun is starting to dip toward the horizon, the stifling heat dropping just a little, enough to make it almost… pleasant.

I don’t even know how Tarak’s been tolerating it. He hates hot weather, but considering the kind of discomfort he’s used to tolerating, this probably ranks very low on his list of agonies.

Out of necessity, he’s mastered the art of ignoring pain. He experiences excruciating agony every time he activates his armor-suit.

But he likes to bitch about the heat and sunshine on Earth. I swear he does it for my benefit, to make him seem more human-like.

A wave of affection surges through me. This big, gruff, complicated man of mine. Seeing him now, so relaxed, walking casually along a tropical street, wearing a white linen button-down shirt and loose khaki trousers, and of course, the wayfarer-style shades that accentuate his chiseled features.

Catching me staring, he glances at me, a hint of a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. “So. This is what you humans call a holiday. ”

“It doesn’t need to be big or extravagant,” I reply, wincing as I release Ami’s hand. Our child is getting heavier by the day, and I’m quite achy right now. “Just a few days away can make a difference. Clear the mind. Allow one to readjust their perspective.”

“Hm.”

“Although I have to say, I am surprised that you’re willing to allow us to walk around in the open like this.” Normally, Tarak would be going overboard with the security.

He gives me an indulgent look. “Aren’t you the one who’s always telling me you would like a bit of normality in our lives?”

“It’s just fleeting wishful thinking. I had the most ordinary of upbringings—in a good way. I didn’t even realize how good it was until I look back on it now. Even though his job took him away a lot, my father went to so much effort to try and make sure I had a grounded childhood.” Wisftulness turns into a pang of sadness as I remember my dad.

I was an only child. He was a busy man who worked long hours, rising up the ranks to become Chief Scientist at SynCorp. But he always tried to make time for me. Every year, we went on a holiday—to interesting places like Antarctica and even a floating zoo in Earth’s lower orbit. When he was away, I would stay with Aunt Kenna, who treated me like her own daughter.

Both she and Dad taught me how to grow things.

If not for them, I wouldn’t have been able to set up the floating agricultural stations that will guarantee food security for the entire human species.

According to the official records, he was killed in a factory accident. A walkway above gave way, crushing him underneath.

They said it was a structural fault, but Aunt Kenna and I have always had our suspicions.

I’ve never had the power to do anything about it. We raised our concerns with the authorities, but the evidence SynCorp provided was far too conclusive, so an investigation was never opened.

My way of dealing with it was to bury it—it was too painful to think about. I immersed myself in study and work. I took the job on Fortuna Tau to get away from it all…

To forget.

And that’s where I met Tarak… in the most ridiculous of circumstances. He was a bit of a bad guy at the time, but he’s changed so much—and done so much—since then.

I never wanted power—never even thought about it—but by virtue of who he is, Tarak’s just handed me a shipload of it.

Maybe, when the time is right, I’ll reopen that investigation.

“I’ll give you whatever you desire,” Tarak says quietly, picking up Ami and moving closer to me. He takes my hand. “Whatever is within my power and my means—and that is considerable. I’ll give you and our children the life you deserve. Especially for all your courage and patience in putting up with one such as I.”

“It isn’t like you to be so self-deprecating.”

“Only with you,” Tarak says lightly. “Because I can.”

“You saved all of us from a terrible fate.”

“Because you are mine. And therefore, everything that’s precious to you is precious to me. Now that the biggest threat to our existence has been neutralized, I only want to give you all of the things you yearn for, my amina. ”

I shake my head gently. “It’s a two-way street. I feel incredibly privileged to be yours, Tarak, but I’m not going to sit back and merely take advantage of you.”

“You could, you know. I wouldn’t mind.”

“Maybe… sometimes ,” I say mischievously. “But not always.” As the direct conduit between Tarak and the entire human species, I have certain responsibilities to live up to. “Besides, you’re the one who said we should govern Earth.”

“I can take it back,” he shrugs. “Deal with it as I see fit.”

“You know we wouldn’t accept that.”

“Indeed. That’s why I gave you the power in the first place.”

“Then how could you possibly say that we can lead some semblance of a normal life?”

“We can do things like this. Simple things. Humans will have to get used to our presence on Earth. It’s as straightforward as that. Other alien species have successfully integrated. And wherever you wish to go, we’ll go. I won’t hide anymore. There’s no need to bother with disguises or subterfuge. Reasonable security measures can be taken, yes, but this is Earth , not Kythia. We have it locked down and secured to my satisfaction, and that’s how it will remain. Life will go on as normally as you wish.”

Oh, Tarak. He’s so romantic when he gets adamant like this. There’s contradiction in what he says, but also truth.

“Besides,” he says softly, surveying passers-by and curious onlookers. Some people stare for a moment longer than usual, but they don’t do anything too crazy. “Do you really think there’s anything in this vicinity that I can’t deal with?”

I laugh. People around here are laid-back, dressing for hot weather in short shorts, slippers, and singlets. Despite its role as a gateway to the rest of the Asia-Pacific region, Darwin remains a bit of a sleepy frontier town, an outpost at the far end of the continent.

Life moves at a slower pace here, and the locals are obsessed with fishing, beer, and footy.

I can’t even imagine the kind of havoc Tarak would wreak if anyone tried to start trouble with him.

“Fair enough.” My attention is captured by Ami, who’s pointing toward a brightly colored shop.

“Ice cream,” she exclaims. “I want ice cream! Daddy, please?”

The most dangerous Kordolian in the Nine Galaxies turns to putty in his daughter’s tiny hands. “Yes. You can have this ice cream… if your mother says it’s allowed.”

“It’s a treat. A sometimes food, am I right, Ami?”

Ami nods, agreeing with me purely so she can get what she wants. That’s what almost-three-year-olds do, isn’t it?

The bargaining phase has begun.

I expect it will remain for a very long time.

“All right, let’s go.” We head toward the shop, which is actually a gelato outlet decorated in bright pastels and with dozens of flavors on offer.

Dino’s Gelato, it’s called.

What else could be better in this hot weather?

The door opens with a gentle chime, and we step into a cool, air-conditioned shop.

How delightfully normal.

The place is busy. There’s a line of at least ten people in front of us.

As Tarak steps inside, silence descends on the shop.

Everyone is staring.

You could hear a pin drop in here.

But he’s as cool as a cucumber, inscrutable behind his dark lenses.

I glare at the most blatant starers until they look away.

We take our position in the line. Ami immediately breaks away, pulling me toward the display freezer to check out the flavors while Tarak keeps our place in the line.

“Which one do you want, Ami?” I ask while keeping a nervous side-eye on my husband. Not that I expect him to do anything worrying. It’s more the other people I’m worried about—what they might say to him, how they might react.

Earth is still coming to grips with the fact that Kordolians are here to stay, and there’s been so much misinformation that a lot of people don’t know what to think.

“Rainbow,” Ami says decisively. She knows what she wants, that’s for sure. I suspect she inherited that trait from her father.

“Rainbow it is, then. And I’ll have watermelon and mint.”

We return to Tarak, who’s moved forward one place in the line. When he stands, there’s an inhuman stillness about him—he never shuffles or fidgets or pays attention to those around him.

He only has eyes for Ami and I.

And yet, I know he’s aware of everything.

It takes a while until we reach the front. There’s a family of five before us. They request taste testers of at least a dozen different flavors before making up their minds.

Hurry up, I groan internally, rolling my eyes.

Then, someone’s credit chip is declined. I’m about to step in to pay, but an old lady beats me to it.

“Don’t worry about it,” she says. “Happens to all of us.”

Embarrassed, the teenager offers profuse thanks as she leaves with a small cone of chocolate gelato.

We move forward.

The people in front of us are terse and impatient. People keep filing in, crowding the small shop.

Maybe it’s the heat and humidity, but there’s a certain tension in the air.

All the while, Tarak stands beside us, perfectly patient and preternaturally calm.

Too calm.

He’s always been short-tempered when it comes to humans. He has very little tolerance for stupidity and time-wasting and what he considers to be trivial human things.

Well, except for when it comes to Ami and I.

But still …

I stare at him in disbelief. Who is this zen-like stranger?

At last, it’s almost our turn.

The kind old lady in the breezy linen dress orders her lemon gelato in a cup. She smiles as the server thanks her for paying for the young woman who experienced trouble with her credit chip.

I get it. I’m sure it happened to me more than a few times when I was younger.

As the old lady makes to leave, she glares at us.

What?

Well, maybe she isn’t always so kind.

“You people should bugger off back to where you came from,” she hisses under her breath, staring daggers at Tarak for a split-second.

Then, she attempts to scurry away, trying to have the last word.

White-hot anger surges through me. How dare she?

Without thinking, I chase after her. “ Excuse me? What did you say?”

I cut her off before she reaches the exit. People are staring, but I don’t care.

Anger surges through me, white-hot, obliterating all sense of reason.

All I can think of is how damn disrespectful she was toward my husband for nothing other than the fact that he looks different.

“G-get out of my way,” the woman stutters.

“No.” I’m adamant. “Apologize to my husband first. That was absolutely rude and unnecessary. He has every right to be here.”

Bloody ignorant old biddy.

“I…” She shoots Tarak a dark look. Her lemon gelato is starting to melt. “Leave me alone. Get out of my way. ”

“Apologize,” I growl, obstructing her path.

“You’re assaulting me. How dare you? I’m going to call the Enforcers.”

“I haven’t laid a hand on you. You started it, speaking that way about my husband for no reason. If you insult him, you insult our daughter and me. ”

The woman blinks, momentarily shocked. Her eyes glaze over, and she gives us a blank stare as if struggling to comprehend what’s right in front of her.

She looks down, taking in my pregnant belly.

Still, she says nothing. Her expression is like stone.

I’m about to gear up for round two when a big, familiar hand drops onto my shoulder.

Instantly calming me.

Grounding me.

“Leave,” Tarak growls. “Do not bother my wife ever again, and understand that I saved your life today.”

Deliberately, possessively, he kisses me on my temple.

The entire shop falls silent except for Ami, who’s clinging to her dad’s leg.

“Ice cream,” she reminds us insistently.

The old woman suddenly looks aghast, as if she’s just seen a ghost.

Or perhaps she just forgot.

Who exactly she was speaking shit to.

She disappears through the automated door, drops of melted lemon gelato falling onto the gleaming tiles.

I look up at Tarak, confused. “Wouldn’t you normally… ? ”

I honestly don’t know what the old Tarak would have done.

He chuckles softly and kisses me again with great affection and tenderness. “Such an insignificant bit of ignorance, but I appreciate you defending me with such fervor. You can’t change people’s minds when they don’t want to change, amina. But thank you.”

Heat rises into my cheeks. I swear I’m blushing.

The baby’s kicking again.

“Ice cream!” Ami insists. When she wants something, she’s the most persistent thing.

“All right,” I sigh as we reach the counter. The server, a teenage girl, is hovering around anxiously, waiting to take our order.

I look up at Tarak. “You don’t want anything, do you?”

He hates sweets. All Kordolians do.

He shakes his head, half-smiling. “What more could I possibly want?”