Page 67 of Across The Stars
My fist connected with his jaw and he stumbled a step. But then he returned the blow, swinging his hand toward my head. I ducked and he brought his knee up, knocking stars into my vision. I shook it off, sniffing against the pangs in my sinuses.
“I’m what?” I said, sinking into my stance again.
Solukh was done. I could tell. He circled me, chest glistening with sweat. He was quick to take off his shirt any chance he got while I let the thin material of mine cling to me as perspiration wet my skin.
“You’re being unreasonable,” Solukh finished.
I rushed him, spinning at the last second and elbowing him in the chest. He coughed, stepping backward.
“I’m not being unreasonable,” I panted. “If Innifer can surge, then she’s the important one. It means she can surge with any valerian and if that’s the case, our scientists need to find out why and use that to reinvigorate our people. I should not be a factor in this at all. So, when things calm down, I’ll pose the question.”
“You’re letting a big opportunity pass you by.”
“An opportunity to what? Be disappointed? My life has been set for me. I am a soldier. It was the purpose I was given.”
“So? Tell me this. I think Innifer is quite stunning for a human.” I bristled at that. “Perhaps, if you do not want to pursue what Ak’suk’kaan has put in front of you, then I will.”
“You haven’t surged,” I growled, my voice coming out rough and menacing.
“And? You said yourself that she is the one we needed and not you. So perhaps we pass her to every male we know to see if—”
He didn’t finish.
I swung again. Once. Twice. The third time, Solukh dodged the wrong way and I slammed my forearm into his shoulder, throwing him off his feet. He landed on his back and I crouched, lodging my knee against his neck.
“I know you want to surge more than anything,” I said. “But it is not the heaven it’s assumed to be. It is terrifying, limiting, and stifling. I can think of nothing else when I should be focusing on the gek.”
Solukh wheezed, slapping my leg. I let him up, standing so I could help him to his feet. He rubbed his neck, glaring daggers at me.
“Freeing, overwhelming, and consuming,” Solukh said with a rasp. “You would have described it as such a long time ago.”
“Perhaps. But not now.”
“And your hostility? It is a biproduct of the surge going unanswered.”
“I answered it!” I snarled.
“Hmf. You?”
“I answered it. It was foolish.”
“Wait, you are serious? You mated with her?”
“Do not question me about it. It eased nothing. It only made everything worse.” I took a deep breath and let it out on a long sigh. “I need to see how things are going with the scout ships. Take some food to the women. They will likely be hungry.”
I started walking away when I heard him say, “Why don’t you do it?”
“I am busy.”
Once I changed into less disheveled clothing, I checked in with every military informant I knew near the galactic coms station, I finally headed back to my apartment to wash up. Kasiri had messaged me personally to tell me that small fleets were at four major relay points searching for gek and that things were under control, but I hardly believed that.
I should have been up there in my ship scouring the galaxy for the gek scum. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became and anger didn’t usually get the better of me. Solukh was right. I was aggressive and unhinged. It was not how I was trained to be and it was dangerous.
I had a lot to think about so I walked down the hall to an overlook on the cliff. It was easy to think there. Wind shields made the heavy breeze arc over the balcony and metal railings framed the platform. I walked to the very edge of it and stared out into the pinkish-purple horizon. The mountains were red against the muted light and the forests were a sea of black trees and shrubbery. I’d seen holo-vids of old Earth with all their colorful plants and bushy landscapes. Sylos was filled with dark colors. It was so different from Innifer’s home. Different from my home. The idea of keeping her with me was absurd. Humans were adaptable, but also easily shocked. She’d have to adjust to so much.
“I hear you’ve been very wound up,” a voice said.
I turned to see Akasa striding toward me wearing a white suit with purple thermal veins. I looked her up and down.
