E:A Vol 1 Ch 10—May 22, 2116

“I am going to take you to my home world,” Zy’nayth said. “There is an island there where you will be safe.”

“I don’t understand,” Victoria replied.

It had been two weeks since Zy’nayth uncovered the treachery of his Second Commander. But he still didn’t know the extent to which the treachery had spread. He had some titles and a location, but he was certain that he didn’t have all of them. He also had a location, one he was going to scout and infiltrate or attack if necessary.

If there was one thing Zy’nayth disliked about the Rayth tradition of not revealing names to anyone outside of your close personal circle of family and friends, it made it exceptionally hard to telepathically interrogate someone who could only give you a title or rank. There were hundreds of warships. Each warship, for example, had its own First Flight Commander even several First Warriors, that would only be distinguished by his face or his team number—Team Five, First Warrior. Then you ran into an issue where you may know the title and rank, but not which ship they were on. Or, in the case of a scientist or professor or leatherworker, which planet. So he made it a point to learn every face in his Army and Fleet, so he would “know” who they were. That came in helpful now. After telepathically interrogating his Second Commander, he not only knew their title or rank, but he now knew their face. With that knowledge, he could search the Raythian Army roster by rank, and find the face. Having a photographic memory was indeed an asset.

“Victoria, I am not taking you into what could end up being a battle. I have a home on an island. The Rayth living there are eager to find alternate ways to feed, just as I am. Those with wives, have human wives. You will be safer there than on this ship.” He paused and took her hands into his own. “There is also a bridge portal. You can return to Terra 2 whenever you want.”

“I want to stay with you.”

“It will be too dangerous. I need to know you are safe. Once we have succeeded, I will return for you. Meanwhile, you can continue your work. You will still have computer access, and like I said, you can bridge to Terra 2 anytime you want.”

“All right. But I’m still going to worry about you.”

“I have not lived this long by losing battles.”

Victoria smiled, “Okay, I get it. You’re 10,000 years old and don’t lose. I’ll still worry, it’s in my nature. So when do I get to see this island?”

“We will be there in an hour. If you would like, a couple of the human females have attempted to start gardens, but with little success. If you would like to give it a try, you have my permission to. Perhaps your knowledge from your homeworld will help the other ladies.”

“How long do you expect this battle to last?” she asked, knowing how long it would take to grow vegetables.

The Supreme Commander gave her puzzled look, then a smile. “Not that long. I simply thought that if you wished to remain there for some time, you might like to have your own garden for fresh food.”

“Oh. Well, that would be nice. I loved working in my garden back home. Relaxing.”

“I think you will like it there. It is quite peaceful. It is how human and Rayth should be able to live—together.”

“Why haven’t you mentioned it before?”

“Your work required you to be here. It is also not a place a Rayth would take his human mate…spouse…until after they were sure they would not run or were not a threat to others. Not that I thought you were, it is simply an unwritten protocol.”

“I understand. So this is where your home is?”

“My second home. I have a home in the capital city on the mainland.”

“Do Rayth with human spouses live on the mainland?”

“Some do. Most of my kind do not think we should take human mates, so in places such as the capital city, human females would feel very much ill at ease. Remember, in the eyes of most Rayth, you are…a food source.”

Victoria shook of the image and changed the subject, at least a bit. “Why is it that it seems like only males take human female mates? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention a female Rayth taking a human husband. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a female Rayth.”

“There are very few females, only one in every ten or twenty children born are female. They are indeed a rarity and growing more so with each generation. Between the low birth rate and a disease that affects only our females, of which there is no cure, female Rayth are prized possessions. Some are even sold by fathers to the highest bidder. Others are only objects to further careers. There are exceptions, of course.”

“And your first wife? Gal’lara?”

“My parents were quite wealthy. She was purchased for me, though we had known each other since childhood. But I give you my word, she was not used to further my career, nor was she a possession to me. I loved her. With all of my heart, I loved her.”

Victoria sat beside him and kissed his cheek. “You are a good man with a good heart.”

“Thank you, Victoria. I do not believe that is true. You have seen…and felt…how cruel I can be.”

“But you strive to be better. At least, I think you do. Anyway, as Supreme Commander, isn’t there anything you can do? Stop the selling of these women, something?”

“I am military, not political. I am a tool of the Empire; at least the government thinks I am. But there are more of us learning that there are other options.”

“And those like you are on this island you’re sending me to?”

“Some, yes.”

***

The small, round, two-story wooden house was rustically beautiful. The entrance led to a circular room in the center of the house where a large fire pit was the focal point. Around it was comfortable seating for numerous guests.

The kitchen, study, guestroom, bathroom, and library were sectioned off like pie pieces from the main central room. The second corridor that led to the kitchen also led to the back entrance. The third corridor led to a spiral staircase up to the second floor.

The second floor, only the size of the central gathering area below, was one large, very comfortable circular bed with an area wide enough for one person to walk around it. The staircase was on the south end of the room. Closets, a curved desk, and a bathroom were around the outer edges. But the middle of the floor was covered with a giant pillow-like mattress about two feet in thickness.

“Come,” Zy’nayth said, as he took her hand and pulled her to the large bed. He collapsed flat on his back, pulling her down with him, then pointed to the roof. He gave a command in Raythian and the circular roof that he called an iris began to retract, opening the room up to the night sky.

“Oh my!” Victoria said breathlessly, “That is beautiful!”

“I love this place,” he said.

“What was that gold shimmer when the thing opened?”

“A shield. The iris can stay open even in a storm and not a drop of rain will get in.”

“I think I might like it here.”

“I would like it if you did.”

She propped herself up on her elbow. “So, Supreme Commander, I hear your comlink buzzing. Give me a kiss before you leave.”

He sighed, answered the incoming call, then gave his wife a kiss. “I will miss you terribly. I have informed several of the Rayth here of your arrival. They or their wives will be by in the morning to show you around the village. I wish I could do it myself.”

“I’ll be fine. Be safe and hurry home.”

He gave his wife one more kiss then sent the signal to be teleported to the ship.

May 23, 2116

“It’s beautiful here,” she said to Becket when she contacted him the following afternoon. “The Commander was right, this is how human and Rayth should be living side by side. Several people I talked to are eager for us to succeed in our research. Once the Commander returns, I’m going to see if you can make a trip out here. I think if we both can become friends with everyone here, we might get someone willing to go back to Terra 2 for some of the tests we can’t do on the Commander since his time is limited.”

“That would be a tremendous help. I’m sure you’ll be friends with everyone in no time. But please, be careful. I know the Commander wouldn’t have left you there if it wasn’t safe, but…” Becket sighed, “they are still Rayth, and there is still a part of me that worries that not everything is as it seems.”

“I’ll be fine,” Victoria smiled at him. “Oh! I can bridge back. I forgot to mention that. It’ll make restocking food supplies so much easier.”

“Make sure you don’t give out the bridge portal address to anyone. Cavanaugh won’t take to kindly to that.”

“I know. The Commander already told me how to go about it.”

June 20, 2116

Victoria was tending to her little garden. She had cleared a small area and already had planted some seeds. Now she was debating on whether to clear away another plot and was busy trying to mark out, in her head, how much larger she should go.

“A garden? Does that mean you plan on spending some time here?”

She startled and turned. A huge smile passed across her face as she ran to the Commander and threw her arms around his neck smothering him with kisses. “Are you okay? Was there a battle? Is it over? You didn’t get hurt? How’s your ship? Everything okay now?”

Zy’nayth chuckled and held her close. “I am quite well as is my fleet. I think we have quelled the rebels. Those we know about. For now, anyway. I love you. A month is too long to be apart.” The rest of the afternoon was spent in the second story of the house until Victoria needed to fix herself some dinner.

“I am happy that you like it here,” Zy’nayth said as Victoria ate her dinner.

She smiled into his silver eyes. “It’s so peaceful. Everyone’s been really friendly. Here, try this, it’s really good,” she said pushing her fork towards him.

He shook his head. “It will do no good.”

“I know, but if we can get your digestive system to work again, you’ll already have an idea of what foods you like.”

He tried to wave off her fork but gave in and took a bite of the roasted meat. “It is okay, I guess. I do not think I have any taste buds left.”

“Zy,” she said, “there aren’t any of those storage pods on this island are there?”

“No. We use the bridge portal and go to one of the main…facilities.”

“It doesn’t bother the women here?”

“I believe that would be up to each woman. It bothers you, I know this. I am sure they feel much as you do, and like you, they have come to accept that it is part of who their husbands are.”

“I try to just not think about it. I’m not sure I’ve accepted it.”

“Still, you love me, do you not?”

Her eyes smiled at him. “Very much.”

He stood, walked behind her and kissed her neck. “The ship is calling, I will be right back.”

She nodded as he went to his study. She finished her dinner and cleaned up, surprised he was still in his study. So she went back up to their bedroom and settled back on the bed, staring up at the sky that was just turning orange and red as the sun began to set. It really was beautiful and she often left the iris open at night so that she could enjoy falling asleep under the stars, which she had just done when Zy’nayth came upstairs.

June 21, 2116

“So what do you think about allowing Becket to come to the island?” Victoria asked the next morning, after explaining her idea of having the doctor become acquainted with the villagers so that they might help provide samples for testing.

“I will need to talk to the others. I do not wish to cause any alarm by allowing a human male on the island. Though you have been here a month, they still may not fully trust you. I think more time will be needed.”

“Then you probably shouldn’t mention it to the other villagers yet. Just to be safe. I don’t want to ruin the progress I’m making with them.”

“You are learning,” he smiled. “And you are going to be late unless you leave now for the bridge portal.”

“Oh! Thanks! And I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’d be back yesterday…and I promised Becket I’d be there for this experiment and…”

Zy’nayth gave her a deep kiss, “I understand. I can take care of a few things while you are away. However, I would prefer if you returned here this evening.”

“I usually do. We should be done before dinner, or shortly thereafter.”

“You should stay and have dinner with Dr. McKenna. You and I cannot really enjoy dinner together.”

“Not yet, anyway.” She gave him another quick kiss, grabbed her bag, and headed out for the bridge portal at the other end of the village.

***

“You’re full of smiles,” Becket said as she entered the medical research laboratory.

“The Commander returned yesterday. He thinks they’ve put a stop to the rebellion, at least the group he knew about. Hopefully by capturing the traitorous Rayth, the Gyhan won’t be causing any more problems.”

“You’re really in love with him, aren’t you?” Becket said, seeing that she was still smiling, almost jubilant.

“I am. I really am.”

Becket gave her a strong hug, “I’m happy for you, Victoria. I still worry about your safety, but I am happy for you. Now let’s get this started. The test tissues are in the cabinet over there. I’ll get the serums ready if you get those set up.”

“Yes, sir!” she smiled and headed to the refrigerated cabinet. “Ten samples?”

“Yup.”

She set up the tissue samples on the table, made sure the recording devices and computers were all set up properly then they began testing their latest serum to see if the tissue samples would rejuvenate and start functioning as they were designed to do.

As the day wore on, they noted each change, checking and double checking each other’s notes, the computers, and their equipment. Both were disappointed when there was only a twenty-five percent success rate. They discussed possible changes to the formula over dinner, changes that would take weeks to synthesize, then Victoria returned to the island.

“It is better than nothing,” Zy’nayth said when she told him of her disappointing results.

“I know. I wasn’t expecting 100%, but at least a third. That would have been nice.”

“I think you would still have been disappointed. Did you bring the results back? I would like to look over your work.”

“Of course. It’s all on my tablet.” She sank onto her stomach on the bed, her head propped up in her hands. “I really want to find a solution. We’re still so far away. Even when we get this to work, we still have to test it to see if you’ll retain your regenerative abilities and make sure you can still use your feeding hands and…”

Her sentence was stopped with a kiss. “We are closer than we have ever been. Do not berate yourself so.”

October 16, 2116

“As I explained, I trust Dr. McKenna, as much as is possible for me at this point. He and Victoria have been working on this serum for a while with my First Science Commander. I do think it would be of benefit to all of us if he were allowed to come to the island.”

“I mean no disrespect, Commander, but how can you be sure?” one of the village leaders asked. “Victoria’s only been here for five months and, though I trust your judgment, to bring in outsiders so soon might not be wise.”

“One outsider,” Zy’nayth replied, emphasizing the “one.” “One who will only have contact with those who wish to meet with him. He will be staying in my house and only allowed into the village when one of us is with him.”

“Us?”

“The village leaders,” Zy’nayth said motioning to those around the fire pit in the center of his home. “If someone wishes to meet with him, they will come here. Any of you are more than welcome to be here to observe or protect, however you wish to look at the situation.”

Victoria was out in her garden, hoping the talks inside were going well. Zy’nayth was rotating leaves for his fleet, and was taking his own time off, though in daily contact with his crew. It helped that there had been no more signs leading to any Rayth traitors, but the Gyhan rebellion continued albeit on a much smaller scale.

She and Becket were at a roadblock and running out of tissue samples for their experiments. Both believed that using the tissue from dead Rayth they’d obtained from Elgolia was part of the stumbling block. They hoped to get some samples from live Rayth, but that would require use of equipment on Terra 2, and that would require willing subjects. The Supreme Commander had undergone a procedure to have small samples of his inactive digestive system tissue removed, but they needed more than a single source.

Victoria also had to deal with General Cavanaugh. She was still part of the Expedition: Andromeda crew, but she hadn’t been spending a lot of time on-site. Though she was still working, it was only on the genetic coding she and Becket were formulating in order to help the Rayth. She wasn’t going on meet and greet trips with her team, she wasn’t helping out in the infirmary, she was living on the Raythian island, playing housewife.

She’d thought about discontinuing her association with the expedition, but that would mean not having free access to and from Terra 2. She knew that to make a formal change in her status would mean she’d be cut off. She and Becket would continue to work together, that was assured, but she wasn’t sure if it was enough to allow her to visit Terra 2 whenever she wanted. Her friends were there, and if Vince said she could no longer travel to Terra 2 at will, it would be much too hard for her to take.

“Victoria.”

“Hmm? Oh! Sorry, I was lost in thought,” she startled. The Supreme Commander’s hand reached out to help her to her feet. “How’s the meeting going?” she asked.

“They are going to consider the proposal.”

“How soon before we know anything?”

“A week, perhaps sooner. I believe that they are willing to allow Dr. McKenna to come to the island. They want a solution as much as we do, and your research has gone far beyond anything our scientists have been able to develop.”

“It’s mostly Becket’s work. I’m just an intermediary between him and the First Science Commander. It’s something Becket can do on his own now. The two of them seem to get along fine.”

“Victoria, we will not have this discussion again. You are not going to leave the Expedition: Andromeda team. As a matter of fact, since I will be returning to my ship in a couple of weeks, I think it would be a good time for you to return to Terra 2.”

“But I thought you wanted us to live here?”

“I do. However, now more than ever, your access to the ancient Mythican database as well as their equipment, and yours, is very much needed. You should resume your normal duties, however, you need to inform General Cavanaugh that you will be living here and will use the bridge portal to get to work each day.”

“And will you be returning each evening?”

“If my duties allow, yes. And should Dr. McKenna be allowed to work here, his visits will be planned, and I shall adjust my schedule accordingly so that I will be here until one of the other village leaders is comfortable to watch over him.”

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