Earth's Last Days: The Invasion

Council Leader Vorik sat at the long council table in the ship's council room. The view of space was clearly seen through the window. He waited for the others to arrive. They needed to make a plan to find a new home. Now that they were not controlled by the serum, they wouldn't invade.

The council room door slid smoothly open, and Fleet Commander Lerian, Guard Commander Drevick, Niki, Trei, Aleigha, Jada, Orik, Medic Renn, Mikiel, and Verion entered the council room. It was all those Council Leader Vorik had called to the meeting.

Verion looked around the room. He didn't know why he was there. He was never part of the governing circle. Staying quiet, he waited for whatever instructions Council Leader Vorik had for him.

Council Leader Vorik gestured for everyone to have a seat. He was looking at the small screen embedded in the panel on the table. He didn't speak until everyone sat down.

Just as everyone found their seat, the door slid open again, and Jess walked in. "You're not leaving me out of this," she stated evenly before rushing to the nearest chair and sitting beside Verion. "If you're discussing something that involves all of us, the humans from outside the dome need a representative."

Vorik glanced up at her, nodded, and then continued to look at the screen.

Everyone in the room waited in silence for Council Leader Vorik to speak. When he finally did, they were all shocked into silence.

"I've been studying the star charts. I've found three planets that are safe for all of us to breathe the air on. I don't know yet if there is intelligent life on those planets, but when we get close enough to scan them, we will see. If there isn't, and we find it is habitable for us all, we will call it home. If all three have life on them. Then, we need to figure out how to handle the situation. I won't invade. Not again. I do, however, want to keep our people safe. All of our people. That includes Humans, Ramesians, and Kreq. I am actually hoping to find that one of the planets does not have intelligent life on them. That way, we don't have to disrupt the inhabitant's daily lives."

Aleigha stared at the council leader in shock. Swallowing hard, she spoke. "I think I'm hoping for the no intelligent life on the planet option. I know that if you had tried to contact any of our people on any landmass, then they would have captured you, contained you, and then dissected you alive. Not a good option. It's part of the reason we protect you the way we do. Our leaders like to do things like that. You don't."

Niki smiled, agreeing with her sister. Looking over at Council Leader Vorik. "That's also the reason why I gave you the leadership. You are worthy of leading the people. You don't harm anyone for being different. You care about all life. Not just your own kind."

Jess looked over at her sisters, listening to how they spoke of the Council Leader. She turned to him, her eyes wide. "Wow. If my sisters are sticking up for you like that, you must really deserve it. They never act like that with anyone unless they go above and beyond their expectations."

Jada nodded. "He has. I agree with Aleigha and Niki."

Everyone watched the girls in silence. Council Leader Vorik looked uncomfortable with so many compliments. He still carried the guilt of invading Earth and killing most of the inhabitants. Now, he had the added guilt of destroying the planet itself.

Medic Renn raised his hand, stopping the conversation. "May I ask why I'm here? I don't see how I could help in finding life on the planets you found."

Council Leader Vorik turned to Renn. "I need you to help with the scan. You can use that information to help determine how safe the air is for all of us. As we've seen with the truth serum, it affects us all differently. I want to make sure there is nothing that can harm or act against any of us. The planet needs to be safe for all our races."

Renn nodded, understanding. "Thank you, sir. I believe I can help with that," he assured Council Leader Vorik.

Council Leader Vorik then turned to Verion and Mikiel. "I need you to help Renn. Verion, your skill in healing may be needed at some point. The more you know of the planets we're looking at, the more precautions you can take not to become harmed while healing someone." He told him. "I also want you to train your sister. I don't want either of you to do anything that will harm you. I will not allow you to trade your life and wellness for someone else's."

Jess's eyes widened. Turning to Verion. "You can heal?" she asked, shocked.

Verion kept his head down, embarrassed. It was Aleigha who spoke first, seeing his embarrassment. "He's the one who saved us. We had been given contaminated truth serum and had to go into stasis until a way to remove it safely was found. He healed us. Niki, I, Jada, Hope, and a prisoner that the serum was tested on. Without Verion, we would all be dead right now," Aleigha said, smiling.

Verion kept his head down, afraid to look at anyone. He wasn't used to being talked about with such affection. He wasn't used to compliments. Jess continued to look at the young Ramesian. He finally peered to the side at her, his eyes going wide as he gasped. Jess breathed in sharply, sucking in the air. They kept eye contact, looking at each other in shock.

Jada looked between the two, wondering what was up. Verion had his eye covers on, so his white eyes weren't visible. She knew it couldn't be that. Then it hit her. She smiled widely. "I guess you two are mates."

Mikiel smiled widely, patting his friend on the back. "I guess it's a good thing Jess came to the meeting," he said, chuckling.

Council Leader Vorik smiled. He was happy for Verion. He worried that the young Ramesian wouldn't find a mate. There was too much to discuss, though. He had no choice but to switch the conversation back to the meeting. "Back to business. This is very important. You have plenty of time to get acquainted," he told Verion and Jess.

Jess swallowed hard, then turned to Vorik, nodding slowly. She suddenly felt someone grasping her hand. She looked down to find Verion holding it. She smiled at him, then turned back to the meeting, not letting go of Verion's hand.

"As I was saying. We need to make sure the atmosphere is safe for all of us. We can't live in space on the ship forever. We need to find a place we can call home. We need to make sure it's safe and that it can sustain our lives," Council Leader Vorik continued. Vorik turned to the fleet commander. "I've entered the coordinates into the computer. We need to head for the planets. We need to scan them all and figure out which one we can live on safely."

"Yes, sir. Is it safe to assume we need to make sure we are cloaked and undetectable while we are in range?" Fleet Commander Lerian asked the council leader.

"Yes," Vorik responded. Then, turning to the other, "I want everyone here to work as a team. Our goal is to find a home and make sure it's safe. Renn, you work with Verion and Mikiel for medical situations that may occur. Verion, you need to train your sister. She knows nothing about healing. Guard Commander Drevick. Be sure your security is tightened. Training will commence. We don't know if we will be attacked when we are above the planets. Their technology may be advanced and can see through our cloaking shields. Jess, if you choose, keep the people from outside the domes informed. It is their right to know what's going on. Orik, work with Drevick on training and security measures."

Aleigha looked at the council leader. What do you want Niki, Jada, and me to do?" she asked. "You called us here for a reason. That means you need us for something."

Council Leader Vorik chuckled. "I called you because you three seem to always do things that change the outcome of a situation from bad to making it better. In some cases, it saves us all. I wanted you to stay informed, so if you keep up your track record, you can help resolve a situation if you find the need.

Niki grinned, blushing at the compliment. "Thanks, boss."

*** *** ***

Verion pulled Jess out of the council room. His hand was still grasping hers. Mikiel walked behind them, smiling at his friend and his new mate.

Mikiel and Verion's quarters were next to each other. They were placed like that in order to keep Verion safe from those who chose to attack him due to his white eyes and timid manner. Mikiel hoped that Jess would be a good influence on him.

Verion pulled Jess through the corridors. Joy laced with fear radiated from him as he led her to a doorway. Stopping in front of it, he pressed his hand on the panel. The door slid smoothly open, and he pulled her inside.

"Is this your quarters?" Jess asked him once inside. She scanned the room. "It looks identical to mine."

Verion didn't answer until the door slid closed again. "Yes. It's yours too if you accept me," he said slowly, trying not to stutter, his voice growing quieter with each word. He rushed her to his quarters because he didn't want everyone to see his shame if she chose to reject him. He was happy he found his mate yet afraid she wouldn't want him because of the way he was.

He looked down at their still clasped hands, afraid to look anywhere else. He didn't speak. He wanted to hear her answer before he said anything further.

Jess stepped closer to him, resting her cheek on his chest. She could feel the rapid beating of his heart. She could sense his fear for her answer. "Of course, I accept you," she told him quietly. Then, she looked up at him. "Do you accept me?"

Verion smiled, moving the hand that wasn't holding her, and touched her cheek gently. "I accept you. I've been waiting to find you, but I always feared I would be a disappointment to you," he said quietly. For once, he didn't stutter. He was relieved that he didn't.

Jess reached up, touching the hand that was gently caressing her cheek. "You're not a disappointment to me. You saved my sisters and their friends. Besides, I don't see anything wrong with you."

Verion slowly let go of her and pulled out the small canister he kept with him at all times. He pulled the black eye covers from his eyes and placed them in the canister before looking back at her. "I'm different. My eyes are not normal. I stutter when I speak. Everyone thinks I'm weak."

Jess stepped closer to Verion, forcing him to look at her. "Your eyes are supposed to be white. It is normal for you. Stuttering when you speak does not show that you are weak. It only shows you speak differently. I don't think you're weak. I think you're strong, but you just haven't figured it out yet.

When you think you're weak, everyone who sees you thinks you're weak. If you think you're strong. Everyone will only see strength, not weakness. Others see you as you see yourself. I'm proud to find you. I'm proud that it's you, who is my mate," she told him before reaching up and kissing him gently. He returned her affection. When she pulled away, she smiled. Verion looked at her in awe.