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

5. Abbey

FIVE

ABBEY

As the sun dips toward the horizon, it sets the sky ablaze, painting it in vivid hues of orange and red.

The sun itself is a white-hot sphere, slowly sinking toward the perfectly horizontal line of the inky-blue ocean, casting a powerful, shimmering reflection across the gentle ripples of the surface.

The ocean is deceptively beautiful.

Dangerous things lurk beneath that glittering facade. Crocodiles. Sharks. Deadly stinging box jellyfish.

Sometimes, a beautiful facade hides danger.

I glance at Tarak. He’s staring out across the horizon, his expression unreadable.

The fiery light burnishes his silver skin, making him seem like an otherworldly metal sculpture.

Ordinarily, the sunlight would cause him great pain and discomfort, but Kordolians have figured out a way around these things. They use a special nano-sunscreen that allows them to walk in daylight with no adverse effects. The sunglasses are almost an afterthought, an easy fix for light-sensitive eyes. They’re old-school and back in fashion now.

I think one of us might have accidentally lent a pair to a Kordolian once. Suddenly, they’re everywhere—the Kordolians use them when they’re ‘off duty’ and wearing casual attire.

Having finished her gelato, Ami is happily playing on the playground, climbing up a weblike frame of synthetic cables, her movements swift and confident.

Our child loves to climb.

She’s getting good at it, too. It seems she’s inherited her father’s natural agility and strength.

My heart fills with joy.

To think that only a few months ago, we were holed up on Silence, not knowing when we’d be able to return to Earth.

I sense that Tarak’s sudden willingness to visit random places on Earth that I suggest is his way of making it up to us.

“Do you really think this is going to work?” I ask, leaning against him as he puts his arm around my shoulders. “You think people are going to just let us stroll around in public like any ordinary little family? We can probably get away with it here—this town is a low-key sort of place but in the big cities…”

“There will be more and more of our kind on Earth,” Tarak says simply. “Humans are just going to have to get used to it.”

“But… you’re a little bit infamous. I’m surprised we aren’t attracting more attention. Your image is all over the networks.”

“Out of context, I’m hard to recognize.” Tarak flashes his fangs in a brief smile. “People wouldn’t expect the likes of me to be hanging around in a place like this. Besides, to most humans, we all look the same.”

“You do not. ” Playfully, I punch Tarak on his arm. “I have caught women staring at you as if you’re a forbidden snack.”

“Truly.” Tarak looks distinctly unimpressed. “And you are not bothered by this?”

“Bothered? Why would I be bothered when you’re as oblivious as a rock to that sort of attention? Besides, it’s only looking. They can’t help it.”

“Hm.” Tarak pulls me closer until I’m pressed against him—warm and reassuring. His voice has dropped to a delicious low rumble. “You’re perfectly correct when you say I’m as oblivious as a rock to the attention of other females. I have you. Why would I ever be bothered with anyone else?”

A tendril of desire unfurls inside me. He’s always like this, telling me these surprisingly sweet things that make me go weak at the knees.

Is he even aware of the effect he has on me?

Obviously.

Devious man.

“I can chase them all away,” he growls. “Anyone who dares to bother or disrespect you…”

I wave my hand. “Don’t worry about it. You and I both know you aren’t going anywhere. Let them stare. Besides—and it’s a little petty of me—but it makes me feel proud. That I’m your chosen mate.” I pause, allowing my words to sink in.

The change in his expression is subtle, but I can tell he’s immensely pleased. It’s in the slight upturn of his mouth, the set of his jaw, and the stiffening of his frame.

“Hm,” is all he says.

That’s when Ami loses her grip on the climbing frame and plummets onto the sand, landing on her bum.

Before I’ve even registered what happened, Tarak is moving, fluidly disentangling from me and striding across to where Ami is.

She’s sitting on the ground, arms and legs akimbo, her violet eyes wide with shock.

And then Daddy reaches her, swiftly scooping her up into his arms.

That’s the catalyst for the waterworks bursting open.

“ Waah! ” Ami bawls as Tarak speaks to her in Kordolian, saying soft, soothing things.

I can understand the words now, even if my spoken Kordolian is still pretty basic.

I reach my husband’s side.

“You could have reached her in time,” I whisper to Tarak. “With your reaction speed…”

“It wasn’t a great distance to fall. Zero chance of serious injury. She was taking risks. There was a poor choice of hand placement. She’ll learn from it.” Tarak makes a low, soothing noise as Ami buries her face in his shoulder, gently bouncing her up and down. “Children shouldn’t be overly shielded.”

As the sunset intensifies, silhouetting Tarak and Ami against the blazing sky, I shake my head in wonder.

When did Tarak become so wise, especially when it comes to raising kids?

When I first met him, he was abrupt, headstrong, and ruthless.

He still has those traits, but he’s a lot more measured now.

Maybe the future I hoped for really is possible.

It is.

It’s happening right now.

A normal life, far away from all the dangers Tarak has worked so hard to defeat.

For now.

Tomorrow, I have a meeting with a highly experienced educator. Maybe she’ll be open to my proposal. Maybe not.

But I can be pretty persuasive when I want, especially when it involves our kids.

I’m sure we can come to an agreement.

Our tribe is growing. People don’t understand it yet, but the future of humans and Kordolians is inextricably linked.