Page 38 of Interstellar Love Song (Villains in Space #3)

MICAH

It had been three whole days since I’d been spat out into this alternate universe, and while the Musaa hadn’t specified when they planned to send my replacement over, I knew I was operating on borrowed time.

Better make it count!

I missed my Ziggy something fierce. Besides the heartache, it felt like a limb had been amputated, even though I still technically had a piece of him inside me.

I’d debated asking him to remove it before I got swallowed up—in case I actually died— but I knew that would have only made it worse for both of us.

Plus, that drama queen would insist on dying with me.

I also hated missing even a minute of our stellula’s growth, but I reminded myself my man had a support system of family and found family back home, and I trusted them to take care of him—whether he liked it or not .

Zig had been so adamant that our child not be expected to fight, or even serve Astrum Force like he had. The least I could do was everything in my power to ensure a safer world for the next generation.

Just superhero things.

It was wild to be back in a universe where the fabricated divide between heroes and villains still existed, but after a quick, middle-of-the-night field trip to the records room of the United Super Nations, we’d collected enough evidence for Other Micah to blow the lid way off that can of worms after I left.

For now, we have bigger—universe-sized—fish to fry.

Other Micah and Other Ziggy had been shockingly easy to sway to the Rebel Alliance.

Or, maybe not so shocking, considering who I was dealing with.

Even as a future clan leader in this universe, Other Micah had still been smart enough to suspect something was off with supe society, and Other Ziggy, well…

Once the child of two rebels, always the child of two rebels.

I could also tell these two were not-so-secretly hot for each other, since I caught them stealing horny glances at least twenty times a day.

Not to quote Theo, but JUST KISS ALREADY!

One of our first group projects was to lure Theo out of his bougie witness protection program, so we could interrogate him—aka, fast-track the reconciliation with his offspring.

This resulted in some tense moments when I wondered if the big brat would get out of there alive, but Other Ziggy eventually listened to what his maker had to say about Astrum Force Command.

And I made sure to whisper Gabe and Dre’s names in Theo’s ear before we left.

After that, I set up Other Micah with a breathing apparatus, so we could collectively star hop to The Knowledge on Kaalanesea. It was rough, watching Other Ziggy discover the truth about Stellarians all over again, but I hoped me preparing him ahead of time helped soften the blow.

Not that there’s any way to know for sure.

Since this Ziggy hasn’t experienced a session with Dr. Micah yet.

From there, we hopped to Apotelesma, so I could get both of them up to speed on the “planet eating” creature we were currently dealing with .

The True Stellarians were rightfully suspicious of our arrival at first, but after I visually described the archives—and offhand mentioned its attempted destruction back in my world—they agreed to cooperate.

I took full advantage of this access by attempting to contact the Other Musaa through their memory bottle. They didn’t reply—and I had no way of knowing if my message was received without my Ziggy’s involvement—so I made a backup plan, in case they didn’t show up for the showdown.

Other Ziggy didn’t get to meet Honnor during this visit, since his maker was off on a troublemaking mission with Bron, but I got the feeling he was relieved to save that emotional reunion for another day.

A few unbilled therapy sessions may be needed before that happens .

We did talk to Ondor and Valla while we were there, and while the bonded rebels hadn’t been threatened by their Musaa, they reported noticing duplicate planets appearing across the galaxies after Astrum Force Command conquered—or destroyed—the originals.

This confirmed what I’d only started to suspect—that the whole reason these weaker species were being sent here was to continuously supply the more powerful with prey to bat around and destroy.

It also meant these abducted planets were existing on borrowed time, which added another layer of urgency to the situation.

It’s fine.

I’ll just figure out how to tether them to me for the ride home.

All of them…

It’s totally fine.

“Have you ever tethered something that big to you before?” Other Micah asked as we brainstormed aboard the Lodger.

Unsurprisingly, this Micah had been pumped to not only meet a doppelganger from the multiverse, but to learn he was destined to be a space wizard someday.

I was still trying to figure out how to break the news that he’d need to connect with Other Ziggy to level up, but figured he could help me scheme in the meantime.

“Well…” I shrugged. “I once tethered the Lodger and several Stellarians to me for a star hop. And I tethered what was left of Apotelesma to Stellaria after our Musaa sent the other two moons here as punishment…”

Note to self: Bring the moons home too .

“Were you not concerned about tearing yourself in half in the process?” he added, and I froze.

WELL, NOW I AM!

It had not occurred to me, but thinking back, aside from the speed we crash-landed on Ekistron, I hadn’t felt any adverse effects from the experience.

The Lodger is smaller than a planet, Micah.

And definitely smaller than multiple planets…

I mentally replayed the events of that day. “I’ve been told Star Units often collectively hop together using an aerodynamic advantage—like birds in a V formation. If I could figure out how to replicate that somehow…”

“Well, I wouldn’t know,” Other Ziggy muttered bitterly from where he sat across from us at the Lodger’s kitchen table. “I wasn’t considered good enough to join an illustrious Star Unit.”

“Uh-uh!” I waggled a finger in his direction. “It’s because you’re considered dangerous. Remember the prophecy I told you about?”

Other Ziggy blushed adorably as he stole another glance at Other Micah. “Yes… the prophecy where I supposedly meet my stellar collision and take down Astrum Force Command by his side.”

“I dunno… It sounds pretty badass to me,” Other Micah piped in, making Ziggy blush harder. “And kind of hot.”

Just. Kiss. Already.

The only one sleeping pod is just down the hall .

It was interesting that I felt no pull whatsoever toward Other Ziggy—aside from shared resonance recognition—but this budding idiots-in-love romance was their problem, not mine.

I’ve done my duty, planting the seed of horniness.

“What if the inertia of being yanked back to my universe could be enough for anything I’ve tethered to also come along for the ride?” I tapped my lip as I puzzled it out. “Even better if I could turn my tethers into slingshots so the planets take the lead…”

“Or you could create an aerodynamic advantage of your own,” Other Micah added, gesturing at me. “Ride the gravitational waves with those bad bitch powers of yours that can apparently do anything.”

I laughed. “They’re the same powers you have! You just need to get your ass to Ekistron to meet your space wizard sensei. Leeloo will help you level up.”

Banging the hottie across the table will also help.

“Why not simply negotiate the return of all displaced planets and creatures with the Musaa as part of the supposed exchange?” Other Ziggy huffily suggested. “Lightly threaten them a bit if they don’t comply.”

There’s our effortlessly sexy Space Daddy!

“You know, Ziggy,” I teased. “Once you take down Astrum Force Command, you’ll probably be offered the role of Head Commander. That might be your true calling.”

“Head Commander of Astrum Force…” he mused, almost dreamily. “Yes, I could see myself excelling in that role. ”

“Space Daddy babygirl… ” Other Micah whispered under his breath before he awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Just as long as you don’t continue the military dictatorship that’s lied to your people for centuries, thanks!” I playfully scolded, making them both laugh before locking eyes across the table.

Ridiculous.

“Yes, Commander,” Other Ziggy purred, which made me long for my Ziggy all over again.

“Okay.” I clapped my hands together, snapping the lovebirds out of their daze and getting us back on track. “Now we just need to trick the Musaa into thinking they’re sending the other Micah back to my universe instead of me before?—”

*GAIAN*

Well, shit.

*IT IS TIME TO COMPLETE THE EXCHANGE*

I guess it’s showtime.

“W-what was that?” Other Micah glanced around nervously. “I thought I… heard something?”

Was that a question?

“The Musaa— my Musaa—just told me my time’s up.” I stood and cracked my knuckles before hopping in place to get the space wizard juice moving. “Okay! Here’s what we’re gonna do…”

Ten minutes later, Other Micah and I were hovering in front of the terrifying presence of the Musaa, who’d apparently asked Other Musaa for permission to pop over and intimidate the locals.

Like an anti-social call.

I could only hope Other Musaa wasn’t on their side in the end—that they’d heard my plea and request for assistance with saving both our universes.

If not, I’ll just continue making it up as I go.

To his credit, Other Micah was playing his part perfectly—glaring convincingly and dressed in my sparkly Eki robes of deception while I did the mind-talking.

“Listen up, Musaa! I will untether my counterpart once you return all planets and other foreign celestial objects to their proper universe, including the displaced Star Unit soldiers!”

The Musaa loomed silently for a moment, probably deciding if meeting these bold demands was worth never dealing with my sass ever again.

All signs point to yes.

*VERY WELL*

I only had a split-second to reinforce our shields—and tether us to the nearest space rock—before multiple unidentified flying objects whooshed past us at the speed of light .

JESUS!!!

*DONE. NOW, RELEASE YOUR COUNTERPART*

That the Musaa was continuing negotiations as if they hadn’t just tried to flatten us into space dust made my blood boil. But if all went to plan, I would never again have to deal with this god-complex-having asshole either.

The feeling is definitely mutual.

Just like we’d practiced, I replaced the protective shield around Other Micah with a temporary, gravity-defying bubble—making him appear to levitate like I could.

You’ll get there, space wizard-to-be!

With a parting squeeze on my bicep, he shoved me toward the Musaa, and my one-way ticket home. I managed to twist my body mid-flight, smiling as I saw Other Ziggy appear behind Other Micah, gathering his future stellar collision in his arms to safely star hop them back to the Lodger.

Those two are totally banging in the sleeping pod tonight.

As I shot back through the collective well, my smile only grew to find the Xuni and Hydrassians still raising hell in support of our little rebellion.

Time to lock this down.

Since I had no idea if Other Musaa was going to step up with the tag team assist, I decided to simply seal up the portal behind me the same way I created superpowered butt plugs in the bedroom.

Who said my sex toy crafting skills didn’t count for something ?

Of course, it was only a matter of time before our Musaa discovered what I’d done, but I would handle that black-hole-sized tantrum when it happened.

For now, I’ve got a space husband to get back to.

As soon as I hit our universe, I star hopped as far away as possible, following the sweetest resonance in all the galaxies as it vibrated along invisible strings, leading me back to my gravitational anchor—my stellar collision.

My one true love in any universe.

I landed on the hardpacked sand of Astrum Force’s municipal parking lot, confused why I’d ended up here instead of at the condo.

Because Ziggy hates the condo, Micah.

It was nighttime on Stellaria, and I grinned to see all three moons shining bright in the sky. My grin only widened as I star hopped to our bedroom aboard the Lodger, but it faded the instant I found it empty.

“Zig…?” I called out, spinning when I heard what sounded like crying coming from the kitchen.

Oh no…

I hopped again, my jaw dropping to discover what looked like Ziggy cut open on the table with Gabe putting pressure on the wound.

“ZIG!” I hollered, racing to his side as panicked tears clouded my vision. “What… what happened ? —”

“Your stellula happened!” Gabe called out cheerfully, as if he wasn’t stopping my man from bleeding out .

WHAT?!

Leeloo appeared in my line of sight, cradling a swaddled up something in their arms. “You are just in time, My-kuh.”

“M-Micah?” Ziggy weakly murmured, attempting to sit up only to be gently pushed down by Gabe again. “Are you… you?”

“Yeah, it’s me, baby.” I leaned down to kiss him, unsure whose tears I was tasting. “I’m so sorry for being away for days?—”

“Weeks,” he replied, wrapping his arms around me to pull me close. “You were gone for nearly three weeks, so the stellula needed to come out before things became risky.”

Oh.

Well, I guess I am just in time.

And time passes differently inside a black-hole-created-multiverse.

“Okay, it looks like you’re closed up, Ziggy,” Gabe announced, peeking under the bloodied cloth. “As good as new.”

“I am now that Micah’s back,” Ziggy croaked before releasing me. “Would you like to meet our little Rebel, sunshine?”

“Rebel, huh?” I smiled down at him. “Just like their Space Daddy.”

“Like both their daddies,” Gabe laughed, giving my arm a squeeze, just like Other Micah had done. “Rebel Lux Andromeda. It has a nice ring to it, no cap.”

Ziggy glanced at Leeloo then back at me. “I hope you don’t mind that I decided on a name… you weren’t here and?— ”

Oh, Zig.

“Of course I don’t mind,” I softly replied, reaching for our stellula with grabby hands, feeling pure happiness radiating off me like the sun and all three of Stellaria’s moons. “Now let me see what we created together!”