Page 25 of LeX

Anyhow, the pods were not an option for me, but then there was a national lottery held, and my social security number was selected.Ican remember sitting next to the radio listening to the numbers, hoping but not allowing myself to believeIhad a chance.Istood there completely overwhelmed whenIrealizedIwas one of the few hundred who were going to be given a chance to survive what they were calling a planet-killing storm.Onceour numbers were verified, we were provided with the location to an underground bunker inWestVirginiaand a time frame to appear, but they were not providing us with any assistance to get there.

Idumped out all the cat foodIowned, opened the front door of the house soDixiewould have the run of the place, packed a backpack, and took off on foot.Iwas able to hitchhike several times even though there were very few running vehicles left because of a worldwide gas shortage.Thankfully, the location was only several hundred miles away, but the closerIgot, the more violent everyone was getting.Iwas told that under no circumstances wasIto provide anyone with my actual destination, andIwas quick to understand why.Thelocals especially knew the government had built a structure in the area,but most were unaware of its exact location.So, the moment they saw a stranger they would start following them.

Thefew timesIwas stopped to ask whereIwas going or my name,Ilied every time.Atnight,Ifound places to hide or lock myself in, butIdon’t thinkIreally slept.Everynoise meant potential death, especially for a woman traveling alone.

Thestorms seemed to be following me and simply making it a few miles each day was pushing it.Itdidn’t help that the mountains ofWestVirginiaare … were massive, soIwas stuck traveling the highways with everyone else.

Now, one thing the entire world knew was that the pods were being built in a non-transmission zone.Ironically, it was the previous location of a facility that at one time scanned the heavens for alien life.Kindafunny now …Anyway,Iwas just walking into another random, small town with a group of other travelers when a fancy sports car flew by us.Ibarely made it out the way as it come speeding by, my eyes just noticing a woman driving.

Ican remember stopping to readjust my backpack straps whenIheard the sound of metal hitting metal.Herdriving style immediately made it clear to me that it had to be her.AsIwalked up the road,Iexpected a first responder or someone to come racing up the highway to help her.It’samazing how you depend on those things until they no longer exist.

WhenIcame around the next bend, my heart hit my throat whenIsaw she had hit an abandoned tractor.Hertiny sports car was practically wrapped around the back of it.Idon’t remember running or what, butIdo recollect struggling to get the driver’s door open.WhenIdid, her purse fell out at my feet, but it was too late for her.Shehad been impaled by a piece of the tractor.

Shewas still breathing, soItried my best to comfort her in her last moments.Sinceshe kept asking,Iremember picking up her purse and giving it to her.Shehad enough life left in her to hand me her badge, telling me to take her place in the pods.”

“Howdid you pass as her?Didyou look similar?”

“No, not at all!Butthere was no picture on the badge she was given to show at the gate.Theysimply took me at my word and walked me right up to the pod.Shoveda fewIVsin me along with my backpack and that’s the last thingIremember clearly.Ido recall you waking me up and the fact thatI’vebeen here with you ever since.”

“Whatchanged your mind about the pods?”

“Afeeling really.Ican recall standing there holding the badge in my hand, torn on whether to try and make it the next fifty miles to the bunker or leave the planet altogether.Icould see the pods launchers standing high in the distance.Agroup of people came around the bend just about the time the earth seemed to rumble under my feet.Iwas terrified when trees and rocks started falling off the mountains all around us, but the worst part was the humans who stopped to loot the now dead woman’s car.Theytreated her like she never existed, andIknew right then there was no reason for me to stay.Isimply walked off calmly while they were distracted.ThemomentIwas out of their sight,Iran with everythingIhad toward those towers, and the rest is history.HereIam.”

Themed bot rolls up next to the sleeping platform as most of the medical equipment detaches from the bed.Atray is lowered from the ceiling, and it places several dishes on there before backing away, closing the door to this chamber as it leaves.Settingthe covers to the side,IhelpMandyget situated so shecan drink an energizing beverage whileIeat a few of the small pieces of fruit.Ican tell the flushing of the drugs from her system has taken its toll on her body as she trembles weakly. “Youwere very brave,Mandy.Iam not sure what courseIwould have taken in those circumstances.”

“Well,I’mstill not sure if it was the right one, butI’mhere now, wherever that is.Atleast onEarth,Iknew what was expected of me.I’mkinda at your mercy nowRafe, andI’mnot sure how to feel about that.”

“Thefirst step forward is always the hardest.Thisrising you are unsure and before you know it, you will be comforting another in the same mind space.Youdon’t have to figure it all out right now,Mandy.Wehave several rotations before we dock with one of the main ships in this solar system calledFalcor.Whydon’t we take this opportunity to get to know one another better and see if we can make you more comfortable in this environment?Eventhough it would tear me apart becauseIhave become quite attached to you, if you decide you don’t want to stay on the ship with me,I’llunderstand.Youdo have other options.Theother survivors of your world are settling on a planet in a private part of this sector.Ifyou would prefer to go there,Iwill not stop you, butIwon’t promise thatI’llnot follow.”

“I’vebeen alone most of my life,Rafe.Myparents were older, soIwas never allowed to do things that most people my age were experiencing.Theysheltered me terribly and by the timeIhad my freedom,Iwas older and had become comfortable with my own company.Itried dating several times, but never clicked with anyone in particular.EventhoughIwas acting out of character, you’re the first guy … alien whoIdidn’t feel likeIneeded to hold back whoIwas or wanted to be.Youwould really follow me … even with the wayIhave acted all this time?”

“Absolutely.Itoo have dated, as you call it, and have felt something for others, but never found that one personIwanted to keep, until you.”Whena tired yawn escapes her lips,Iadjust the covers, clear away the tray, and pull her close.Herhead settles on my chest as my arm encircles her. “RestLittleSuit, we have eternity to figure it all out; we don’t have to do it all in one rising.”

“Youwon’t leave me?” she whispers.

“Never, and that is a promise.”

Itdoes not take long for her breaths to even out andIsend out a prayer thanking theLordofLightfor giving me this moment in time.Forsending her to me, for seeing her through the poison in her system, and for allowing me the opportunity to truly make her mine, forever.Thecomfort of having her in my arms and the quiet of the room settle my troubled thoughts andIend up drifting into a peaceful sleep.

TheDestroyer,akaDestinyturns the monitors off in the room, allowing them some privacy.Herdata system is rereading all the words spoken between the two organics, her many processors storing the information for later use as each one seems to be teaching her something new.Theneeds and wants of the organics at one time puzzled her, but now it simply makes her wish for the same.IfSAGEandSCOUTcan have a piece of that happiness, then she sees no reason why she cannot either.Assoon as her knowledge becomes greater, she will approach theone who has encouraged her all along to be more than a simple metal ship with no thoughts or emotions of her own.ANDI.Ifsomeone as complex asMasterRafecan find happiness, then there is hope for all in this world.

Chapter Fifteen

LEX

ThemomentIseeRafe’sfemale’s scans returning to normal,Iexcuse myself to give them some privacy.

Myheart and mind could physically feel the pain the human female was projecting.Makingme realize quickly that the ordeal withRafeand his mate is somethingInever want to experience again.Idon’t know ifIcould have held up as strongly asRafehas in the same circumstances.Ihave never been one to run from any situation, but the helplessnessIfelt as we watched that little female struggle tore me apart inside.

“MedicLeX,MasterRafe, and his mate have both eaten and are now resting.Ihave set the room to private.”

“Thankyou,Destiny.”

Givingmyself a moment to catch my breath,Iam gladIdon’t have to go back into that room.Slowly,Ibegin cleaning and reorganizing the neglected itemsI’veused in the past few risings.IknowIneed to check onViNand his youngling as well, but at the moment,Iam simply trying to enjoy the quiet.Thisis something it seems my mate andIboth crave deeply in our shared existence, peace, and silence.

Onceeverything is back in place andIhave logged all the things that need to be replaced when we dock,Iwalk over to my own mate, noticing immediately that her coloring has changed even more and how her scales now match my own.It’sthe same as if she had been born aLeXorkon, and her body recognized mine as a potential partner.

Iwish there was a way to know ahead of time her reaction to this very noticeable change in her appearance.Sheis the same, but different at the same time.Theholo pad sitting on the stand next to her bed flickers off and on.ThestoryIwas reading to her reminding me there is still much to be told, butIwonder ifIcan reach her any another way.Turningthe scanners on,Ilower myself down in my chair and close my eyes.Mymind silently seeks her out, only for nothing to happen.Iam just about to admit defeat when suddenlyIfind myself in another place, but this time it is not like before.

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