Page 16 of Guardian’s Heart (Space Guardian’s Mate #1)

NOVA

That was one way of putting it. Complex didn't even come close to explaining this race's way of life. How could one part live in medieval times while the other played Star Wars? "I don't get it."

"It’s complicated but actually kind of brilliant. Their empire is divided into two factions: the New Pandraxians, who are all about technology and expansion, and the Old Pandraxians, who stick to their traditions."

"That’s the part I don’t get. Why split like that? Isn’t it easier to just modernize everything?" I wanted to know.

"You’d think so, but modernization nearly destroyed them once. Thousands of years ago, their home world, Pandrax, became so overpopulated and polluted that they barely survived. Their cities were overcrowded, their air was poisoned, and their people were disconnected—from each other and their culture. Even their children didn’t want to learn real skills anymore. They just sat indoors, playing hologames or watching holomovies all day."

That sounded a lot like Earth, I mused. "So what happened?"

"After a near defeat by their enemy, the Moggadesh, their emperor at the time split the empire into five protectorates and told the lord protectors to rebuild their worlds. They limited population density, restored their lands, and went back to their old ways—farming, fighting with swords, hunting." A small giggle escaped me because of Zaarek's wistful expression.

My curiosity won out over my need to tease him, and I prodded, "And the New Pandraxians?"

"They make up the other half. They embraced technology and became the empire’s military and spacefaring arm. They protect the Old Pandraxians and keep the whole empire safe. It’s a symbiosis: the Old World provides food and resources, while the New World defends them."

That sounded… interesting and like a dangerous balancing act, kind of like the Amish on Earth… I wondered what happened to them. Well, probably the same as it did to the rest of humanity, but I had a hard time imagining how rough this would have been on them. They came from a much more sheltered world.

I knew there should have been a thousand other questions I should have been asking, but my curiosity was spiked. "So how do they balance the whole thing?"

Zaarek looked thoughtful. "I imagine it's not easy. Most likely with a lot of arguing and communication."

"So, will I be given a choice where I want to live? Astrionis doesn't sound that enticing to me." I voiced my worries.

"As far as I know, yes. Like I said, the emperor and the lord protector are each married to human females."

That sounded to good to be true. "And they what? Just influenced their husbands out of the goodness of their hearts to rescue stray humans?"

"Not quite," he admitted. Nothing was ever done from the goodness of one's heart. "The Pandraxians have discovered their mekarries among the humans—"

"Mekarries?" I echoed.

"Soulmate," he translated for me.

I choked on the sip of water I had just drunk and coughed. "Soulmate?"

That had to be some kind of joke, right? Then again, we were talking about a species that lived partly in the Middle Ages and partly in Star Trek, so… still. Soulmate?

Zaarek nodded seriously. "It's not a joking matter for many species in the universe. Many modern civilizations lose sight of it. It seems the Pandraxians have rediscovered it along with their roots."

I shouldn't have been amused, but there it was. How did an alien, highly technologically advanced civilization believe in fated mates? Then again, what did I know? Many races on Earth believed in it. Did it even matter? The fact was that humans needed help, and if the Pandraxians were willing to give it, I shouldn't second guess their reasons why.

"Alright. So humans are the Pandraxian makardies—"

"Mekarries," he corrected with a small smile that was endearing and made me want to kill him at the same time.

"Mekarries." I rolled my eyes. "And the Pandraxians are financing the Ohrurs to send you out to corral us all in?"

"Me and some others, yes."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, why not."

"So you're going to Astrionis?" He didn't look happy about that.

"I don't think I could live on a planet without… running water or electricity." I held up a hand, not sure if electricity was the right word, but hopefully, he would get the gist. "Pandrax sounds more like my kind of place."

"Alright, I'll take you to Pandrax then." He sounded put off and pouty.

I wondered what I had said to piss him off, almost asked, but then thought better of it. A pissed off Zaarek was easier to take than a caring one. The caring one confused my already muddled mind.

"Good," I stated, rising.

"I'm going for a walk," he stated and marched off.

I stared daggers into his back until he was out of eyesight, which didn't take very long since darkness had fallen. Good riddance , I sighed, knowing fully well that I didn't mean it. I threw another log into the fire with more force than necessary and pretended I didn't feel my tattoos as they began to painfully vibrate.

The intensity increased with every minute he was gone, raising my ire. I was tempted to cut my arm off, but it wasn't the only part of my body filled with markings. Unfortunately, I couldn't just cut a bunch of flesh from my hip and side.

The pain wasn't as intense as it had been when they first appeared, but the longer Zaarek stayed away, the stronger it became, enraging me further.