Page 2

Twenty-nine years earlier

Nestune (village on Costonia)

Twelve-year old Grulen Jevax stared dry-eyed at the newly turned soil.

After weeks of screaming agony, the bodies of his mother and five sisters lay eerily silent.

A virulent virus swept through their village and every female suffered terrible pain before succumbing to death.

His family was the most recent to be laid to rest. The weight of his father’s hand rested on his thin shoulder as they gazed upon the caskets of his older siblings—Yopa, Fliva, and Riba, his mother, and his little sisters, Muri and Hadili, for the last time.

He already missed the scent of the female that gave him life.

Everything about her, from the warmth of her embrace to the steadfast support when he was sad, embodied love and safety to him.

I’ll never hear their voices and laughter or feel their hugs again.

A broken rumble emanated from his father’s chest. Grulen looked up at the reddish bronze male who appeared to have aged three decades in a month and noted tears in the brown eyes so like his own. I’ve never seen my sire cry before this virus. I stopped crying a week ago. I just can’t anymore.

Remembering his father’s sobbing prayers to the Goddess to spare the females and let him bear their pain pinched Grulen’s heart.

Hearing a decorated warrior repeatedly plead for those he loved broke something in his young soul.

The only mercy is they no longer suffered.

Goddess, please take good care of all our females. They did not deserve this.

His father’s fingers squeezed Grulen’s shoulder.

“It’s time, my son.”

Taking a shovel from his father, Grulen nodded.

Mounds of dirt thunked on the wooden boxes as they worked in silence.

An occasional grunt of exertion punctuated the quiet.

Even the birds refrained from song as if in respect for the solemnity of their grief and toil.

When the graves were full, they cleaned the area and carefully planted the favorite flowers of each family member over their final resting places.

His nose twitched at the irony of the smell of life covering the death below.

The vibrant colors assaulted Grulen’s eyes, and his vision blurred. Guess I do have more tears left in me.

Years later, the memories of the broken village males trying to move beyond the devastation to provide and care for the surviving younglings while dealing with their own grief stayed strong in Grulen’s mind.

It seemed like forever before Grulen’s father began to genuinely smile and stand tall again.

Every morning, his sire taught him training forms. When Grulen no longer needed instruction, they exercised silently side by side.

Grulen found peace in the flowing movements and increasing control of his growing body.

He found memories of their lost females turned from their painful end to earlier ones.

His mother making his favorite dessert and teaching Yopa, Fliva, and Riba how to cook.

Holding Muri and Hadili in his arms when they were born.

The tinkling laughter of all of them when their father splashed them in the nearby lake.

Tugging on their hair and teasing them. Overhearing Yopa tell their mother when a male kissed her.

When the Warrior Academy accepted Grulen, he and his father moved away from Nestune.

More females had survived in the populated area, but all could no longer bear young.

He met females of other species at the spaceports.

With his classmates, he visited erotica establishments and learned to physically please a variety of females.

He teased all and flirted shamelessly, but he kept his heart closed to more.

The memories of shattered male hearts remained, and he vowed never to be in the same position.

Five years earlier

February 2, 2029 (Earth calendar)

Trezoura (Capital city of Costonia)

Standing at attention with his tail relaxed and still, Grulen waited for Commander Vared Durek of House Ruxila to speak.

He surreptitiously took in the large male’s golden bronze skin and scar across one cheek.

Lavender eyes indicated a familial connection to the royal House Davelk.

Like Grulen, Durek preferred to keep his dark hair short.

The Commander had a reputation for a fiery temper but was also known to be fair.

Grulen had no idea why he had been ordered to appear before the male.

Lieutenant Karid Wurvez of House Binova stood next to Durek. Known for his humor and tactical skills, the reddish bronze male’s ponytail kept his long brown hair out of his gray eyes.

“Warrior Grulen Jevax, thank you for coming.” Grulen refocused his gaze on the Commander.

“Sir, thank you for inviting me.”

The males stared at each other. I won’t ask why I’m here.

Durek grunted and leaned his elbows on the desk.

“Sit, Warrior. You aren’t in trouble.”

Grulen sat and waited.

“I’ve recently been assigned to the Invictus and am interviewing potential crew. Lieutenant Wurvez will be my second-in-command and head tactical officer. Your commanding officer recommended you.”

“Sir, I am just a warrior with no special skill sets.”

Wurvez snorted.

“With the exception of programming computers, you excel at your assignments, Jevax, remain levelheaded in stressful situations, and somehow manage to maintain friendly relationships with those around you without obsequious fawning.”

Grulen inwardly flinched as an unbidden memory of Fliva trying to unsuccessfully teach him to program a synthesizer entered his mind.

“You seem to have no political biases that interfere with your duties, other warriors respect you, and according to your commanding officers, you are patient when instructing others to improve their skills. In fact, your team leader said you routinely offer helpful suggestions to your fellow warriors when you notice they may need guidance, but you do so in a manner that lifts their self-esteem, without drawing attention to their lack.”

Durek frowned, his scar taut and white.

“I must keep most of the current space cruiser’s crew. I want solid, proven warriors to join us. I believe you will be a good fit, Jevax.”

“As the flagship of the Svesti fleet, what types of missions could we expect, Commander? I’ll be honest, I would not be happy solely escorting dignitaries.” Grulen leaned forward when Wurvez grinned, his fangs white against his lips.

“We will be on extended duty protecting various planets from the Zuvgran.”

“I see.” Grulen nodded. “If you believe I will be an asset, I am honored to accept reassignment to the Invictus .”

“Expect new orders by tomorrow, Jevax. You will have a lunar leave before you report since we will be away from Costonia for at least a solar .”

Grulen stood.

“As you will, Sir.”

“Dismissed.”

As he walked down the hall, he decided to try to talk with his commanding officer. If he needs me to stay a couple weeks, I can shorten my leave. Father doesn’t return from Nestune yet. I would hate to make him cut short his annual trip.

Exiting into the bright sunshine, he looked up at the periwinkle sky and inhaled deeply. I should visit their graves before I report to the Invictus. I’ll go alone as usual. I feel closer to them that way.

After Grulen finished his training forms, he picked up the towel and water pouch from the blue grass next to him.

Muscles loose and limber after his workout, he wiped the sweat from his face and chest before rehydrating.

Even after being on the Invictus for five lunars , he still was amazed by the aquiponics area.

Staggered levels with produce and herbs growing surrounded the enormous space. A pink gravel path circled the lower perimeter with fruit-growing bushes and trees scattered about the area. Smaller clearings dotted the central space such as the one he just used—some with benches and flowering plants.

Tail swaying, his nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath enjoying the fresh scents of Costonia on the space cruiser.

The aquiponics area served multiple purposes.

Fresh food production and cleaner air meant healthier, happier warriors.

Whenever possible, Grulen liked to conduct his forms here and used the designated training areas for sparring and other physical activities.

The routine also helped him meet more of the three thousand warriors stationed on the Invictus .

“Warrior, come here.”

Grulen looked around at the yell and saw the older male who seemed to always be working among the plants gesturing to him. Dark brown hair laced with silver, brown eyes, and a strong body housed the irascible male who seemed to be a similar age to Grulen’s own sire.

“Me, sir?”

“Do you see anyone else? Yes, you.” Grumpy male.

Tucking his water pouch and towel into a pocket, Grulen jogged across the grass to meet the other warrior.

“I require another set of hands to help harvest a section of lobile . The warriors scheduled to assist me are being disciplined by their team lead for their drunkenness last evening.”

“Would those be the warriors that loosened some training bots into one of the hangar bays?”

“Yes. Crekkin’ naroons. Fortunately, none of the ships were irreparably damaged or Commander Durek would be handling their discipline personally.”

“Then the healers would have extra work as well.” Grulen chuckled.

The older male grinned, his fangs white against his face.

“Have you been on the receiving end of the commander’s ire?”

“No, sir, I’ve managed to avoid that type of attention. However, I heard rumors.”

“Yes, he likes to reinforce his lessons with a heavy dose of sparring. What is your name, Warrior? I’ll comm your team lead to let him know you’re aiding me.”

“Grulen Jevax, but I’m not on duty. I’m happy to help.”

“Merix Hunnek.” The old male grunted, kneeled, and proceeded to show Grulen how to properly harvest the purple tubers. Grulen didn’t tell him he already knew how to do it from his time in Nestune.

“ The Merix Hunnek? The one that invented aquiponics areas?”

Brown eyes widened.

“How would you know that?”

“My last assignment was onboard the Diligence , a science vessel. We had a much smaller aquiponics area based upon your research. One of the exobiologists extolled your work.”

“Are you a scientist?”

Grulen shook his head as he pulled a tuber from the dirt and lightly tossed it into a container.

“No. The ship traveled to many planets, and I primarily took a protective role on away missions. Otherwise, I assisted wherever there was a need. Only one hundred of us made up the ship’s complement.”

“Hmm. A big step from the Diligence to the Invictus . Were you not happy?” Hunnek dug out a tuber. His fingers looked misshapen and painful.

“I enjoyed my time there, but when Commander Durek offered me a place on the Svesti flagship, I chose to accept.”

“Have you settled in with the crew? I notice you practicing your training forms here regularly.”

“I believe so. I like the peace of this space when I meditate. Now that we’re in the Quon system protecting Urdite space, I hope I will have more to do beyond learning more about space cruiser operations.”

“Be careful what you wish for, Jevax. If we’re lucky, the Zuvgran will ignore Urdita and the other planets in this system.”

Grulen noted Hunnek occasionally wincing as his fingers dove into the soil.

“May I ask a personal question?”

Hunnek grunted and his tail stiffened before resting on the ground.

“What happened to your hands?”

The older male rotated his head cracking his neck before he looked at his companion from the corner of his eye. He sighed and returned his attention to his work, speaking quietly.

“When the virus took my mother, my mate, and my daughter, I volunteered for the riskier missions to allow warriors with young families time to recover. Consumed by sadness and anger, I took chances I shouldn’t have.

The Zuvgran captured and tortured me. They broke my fingers early on.

I finally escaped, but it was almost a lunar before I could return to a Svesti ship.

The healers did what they could, but they had to re-break my digits to set them correctly and the cartilage deteriorates more rapidly now from the residual damage.

It’s bearable and an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of making important decisions with emotions rather than reason. ”

“I’m sorry,” Grulen said softly. “I was a youngling, but my mother and five sisters succumbed to the virus, leaving only my sire and myself. The anger and grief affected everyone.”

“That experience marked us all.”

Lost in their own thoughts, they continued harvesting and collected five large containers of lobile . Hunnek stood in a single fluid moment. The male may have damaged hands, but there’s nothing wrong with his strength and mobility.

“What’s next, Hunnek?”

“If you want to help me doublecheck the programming for the water reservoirs, you’re welcome to join me.”

Grulen grimaced and shook his head.

“Programming anything other than coordinates for flying or weapons is beyond me. I have difficulty with equipment as simple as a synthesizer.”

“Interesting. I could try to teach you.”

“Many have tried and failed.” Grulen’s tail flicked behind him, and he grinned to soften his refusal.

Hunnek slapped Grulen’s shoulder.

“Thank you for you assistance.”

Grulen smiled as he headed to his shared quarters. Despite Hunnek’s initial grumpiness, he enjoyed his time with the older male. I think I could learn a lot from him.