Page 26 of Her Alien Soldier
That quadrant had been mostly free of such violence for a long time, until the Redlians had arrived and started throwing its weight around.
And the citizens of the quadrant she lived in had been living on eggshells for quite a while now, knowing that, should the Redlian empire take out the last strongholds in that quadrant, they’d be coming here, next.
It looked like, maybe, the Altarians and Bellarians were making sure that wouldn’t happen. Saving their own homeworlds, and saving the rest of the nearby quadrants as well.
The battle dragged on for days. The Redlian military started sending its ships from other areas of the galaxy where they were attacking, clearly hoping to overwhelm the unified forces.
Maggie barely took her eyes off of the newsfeeds. They were constantly on in the bar, so she saw them during work. And when she was in her quarters, she was glued to them.
She didn’t know why. She tried to tell herself it was important to be informed. But she also had the bizarre, nonsensical idea that Xarek would be safe if she was watching.
Damn him.
No matter how many times she told herself that was ridiculous, she’d turn back to the feeds anyway. He might have left without a backward glance, and she knew he was the worst thing for her, that there was no future there despite how fully she’d fooled herself, believing there could be. But she definitely didn't want anything to happen to him.
On the seventh day of the bombardment, news hit the feeds that the unified forces, led by Altarian Commander Xarek A’baijan, had destroyed multiple hidden bunkers where the Redlian leadership had been hiding.
Hours later, the decimated Redlian forces surrendered. The feeds showed the Altarian and Bellarian warships landing on the conquered planet, to the cheers, tears of joy, and complete jubilation of everyone who was in the bar with Maggie whenit happened. Julia was working a shift with her, and she gave Maggie a hug, rubbing her back, knowing after the last few days, everything her friend was going through. Julia had heard it all: how the quiet moments between her and Xarek had made it seem like they were something more, how she’d stupidly started envisioning a future with the burly commander. How he’d left her, without a word or a single glance, a wave, any acknowledgement at all that she mattered.
Julia knew it all, so when they watched together for the rest of that day, she was there for Maggie. When the newsagent had said the name Xarek A’baijan, Julia had looked at Maggie, and all Maggie could do was shrug. She didn’t even know his last name.
The drinks flowed, and the newsfeeds played on, replacing any bands that had been scheduled.
The Redlian survivors and civilians would be given aid, given the chance to turn it around and peacefully join the Interplanetary Alliance. If they were smart, they’d do that.
The interplanetary press was allowed on the planet shortly after the unified forces had it secured. Maggie was getting glasses out of the sanitizer when a cheer went up from the patrons, and she looked at the screen to see Xarek surrounded by a few other Altarians and Bellarians. He looked exhausted but happy. The newsagent was interviewing him, asking how the plan had come together and how they’d disabled the Redlian technology. Question after question, he calmly noted that the details would be in the Interplanetary Alliance’s report when it came out. When the newsagent finally gave up on that line of questioning, they asked Xarek what his plans were next.
He shrugged. “Get things settled here. Assist with the treaty process as much as possible. Work on planetary defense for Altaria, now that we have time to rebuild. And then finally gohome and live in peace,” he said, a tired near-smile quirking his lips.
Maggie watched until he was gone from the screen, Her heart felt both light and like it was fracturing into a thousand tiny pieces all at the same time. Julia wrapped an arm around her, resting her head against Maggie’s as she fought back tears.
This was what he’d worked so hard for. And she was so proud of him, so happy for him and his people.
And it was time to let him go. He’d won the life he’d dreamed of for so long, and she was not part of it.
Chapter Thirteen
Six months later…
“Come on Maggie. I know you can move faster than that!” Julia called, jogging a little ahead of Maggie, turning around and grinning at her. Maggie made a face, then pushed herself, speeding up until she was jogging next to her annoying, lovable, pushy friend.
“Admit it. You feel better after a run,” Julia said, and Maggie flipped her the bird, earning a laugh.
The thing was, she did feel better. It had been six months since Xarek had left, since the Redlians had been defeated, and life had gone on. She’d worked, and read, and spent time with friends. And when Julia had decided she wanted to get healthier, Maggie had decided to join her on her jogs and in her fitness classes. They’d even started a weekly pampering day together, complete with a visit to the station’s salon for manicures, pedicures, facials, and sauna time.
It was something Earth’s health experts had recommended for humans who spent a lot of time in space, including those wholived on stations like Asterion. A way to stay active, healthy, and connected to others. Maggie had always waved off that advice, but she’d definitely felt off-kilter after Xarek’s departure, and it felt like a good time to make some changes in her life.
But that wasn’t the only change. The more time she spent with her friends, and the more her circle of friends on the station grew, the more people she had visiting her quarters for movie nights, knitting circles, or book club meetings. This had resulted in more people asking how they could get the same cozy, relaxed feel in their quarters. So far, four people had hired her to decorate their quarters and find sentimental items from Earth to furnish them with.
She felt like a new person. She’d mostly accepted that her life was what it would be for the rest of her days. She was 42 years old, working on Asterion Station, and spending time on her hobbies. Not a bad existence. But now, it was so much more.
Xarek leaving had sent tremors through her in ways she hadn’t expected. She couldn't even be angry anymore with him for leaving her the way he had. Her life had expanded because she’d felt the need to seek out something more after he’d left that surprising void in her life.
And now, here she was. Life was brighter, more colorful, more fun. And she felt better than she had in years.
She’d kept her promise to herself, not to get attached to anyone who was just passing through. She was friendly and outgoing as always, but she’d kept her friends who lived on the station close, and became friends with even more permanent residents. Like anywhere, the station had a community, and Maggie felt lucky to be part of it, and part of a smaller, close-knit community of other human women on the station. It made her feel like she was part of a family again.
She finished her run with Julia, hung out in her quarters a bit after taking a nice, steamy shower, then made her way to the lounge for her shift. As she stepped through the doors, she was greeted by the regulars, and she stopped at a few tables and chatted with people. A soothing jazz ensemble was set up on the stage at the moment, and it suited her mood perfectly.
