Chapter 4: The Goddess of Water and Beauty Part 2

17 Earth years ago...

The sounds of splashing water filled the scene. In the distance, the ocean waves continuously rushed against the coast, only to simmer and gently rub the beaches in a never-ending rhythm. The purple liquid was beautiful to some, its dying luminescence made bare by the orange star in the vast horizon that was slowly heading down.

Nighttime was approaching the planet of Shal’tar, at least for the continental island of Besica’tro’tal. The black plants shaped like enormous palm leaves had slowly turned toward the moving star, almost as if they were trying to gulp down the remaining sunlight. There were other sounds as well. Flying bird-like creatures with two pairs of wings and curved beaks were flying about these beaches. From the ocean, a pair of large dolphin-like whales with multiple fins and a horn would poke out from the watery surface, grabbing air before returning to the depths below.

The portion of this vast continent was nothing but beachhead. The plants would grow past the sandy beaches, and the elevation would naturally rise up to evade the continuous waves that hounded the surface. A semi-domed building attached to a rectangular structure could be seen from the low hillside. One portion’s side faced the ocean, with tainted hard glass to provide a full view of the scenery and protect the view of the inhabitants inside it. A polished stone path lined the house, filled with purple and blue-lit boxy lanterns planted to provide a faint light as dusk was slowly setting in.

Veleshar had just exited her home. She was wearing a kimono. It consisted of purple and blue silk mixed together. Black lily pad patterns and pink flowers lined portions of the stomach. Her bare webbed feet stepped onto the stone path as a calm wind blew her free-flowing hair. When the door to the home closed behind her, she began to look around.

It didn’t take long before she found what she was looking for. Along the stone path was an elevated plateau. It was almost the highest peak within 50 meters of the hillside. She began her trek by climbing the route.

There were a series of objects on this plateau, one that Veleshar knew all too well. The lanterns would wrap around a fence that surrounded a series of headstones consisting of coral and sandstone crafted into hexagonal shapes. From the approximate distance, she could see a male Shal’rein standing amongst these headstones. He was dressed in a familiar white and black uniform. The black cape seemed to flow as the salty air would hit him. As Veleshar continued to climb the path, she could see more and more of him.

The male Shal’rein gripped his white gloves. His flowing purple hair was barely restrained by his black cap. His finned tail would slump to the dirt below him. He seemed fixated on a single headstone, almost as if he were a statue overlooking his subjects. His stubby, rounded snout was different than Veleshar’s pointier nose. Only the breathing and fidgeting gloves gave any hint of activity from his short-statured frame.

“Nasasoa... Click Gular’shel,” Veleshar said in Itrean. A big smile appeared on her face as she reached the plateau, greeting her husband and mate.

Gular’shel’s finned ear was tuned to her wife’s voice, yet he did not move an inch. His shark-like eyes remain focused on the single headstone. There was no emotion on his face.

“Nasasoa?” Veleshar said again in hopes of getting Gular’shel’s attention.

There was a pause before Gular’shel finally took in a breath of fresh air through his nostrils, almost as if his body had resumed living. He slightly glanced his head to look in Veleshar’s direction.

“Use the language that I taught you,” Gular’shel said in English. There was no accent and almost no emotion in how it was delivered. It was stated in perfect clarity in an almost deep, harmonious tone.

“This ... language,” Veleshar struggled to say in English. “It ... is hard to speak it.”

“Yet, you must,” he said before looking back at the headstone.

The gravestone marked the buried remains of a person who had long ceased to exist. Itrean letters had been neatly inscribed. It translated as “Eliza’treta, beloved mate of Gular’shel. Your journey ends at the peak of a new world.” There was a second tiny inscription written in English that says, “I love you.” The Itrean time index indicated that she passed away almost 16 years ago.

“What is it?” Gular’shel asked Veleshar.

Veleshar summoned the will to speak. “They are ... calling you back ... to the fleet?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I will leave in three days ... I spoke with the Autarch. He’s agreed that fleet Baldri will not leave for ten more days. Your ship will remain here in orbit to help safeguard Shal’tar.”

Veleshar’s tone became severe. “Shira and I ... we can...,” she tried to say.

“No...,” Gular’shel said. “I will only be gone for four days ... our fleet will... ‘dissuade’ Planet Renlar to not attack us ... utter foolishness.”

“Zedresh ... she is ... powerful.”

“I know. Every move I make, she will counter it. She cannot be scared by mere show of force, and the Autarch is too stubborn to see reason.”

“We should attack them ... the ... United Itrean ... Re ... Repu ... is over. We destroy their will to fight ... Shal’rein win.”

“Anything we do now will only hasten the demise of the United government. The Yutilians and the Aksren are already in border disputes with planet Gaveshro and Newj Click. We are making plans on invading Woditre ... What an utter waste...,” Gular’shel said, shaking his head.

“You ... are a hero ... Master Adjunct. Speak ... convince them ... no war.”

“It isn’t enough. The other Adjuncts are young ... they know no fear of the Emphra ... what they did to us, while the older ones believe they’re destroyed. They only dream of glory ... and the outright demise of the other races that they hate.”

“You should be Autarch. He is old.”

“Not until he dies of natural causes. Until then, tradition must be respected. When he does, I will consider the trial.”

Veleshar sighed. Not much else could be done. She gripped onto her kimono. Gular’shel was unphased by the argument. His slight glance had ended as he remained focused on the gravestone.

“I wish ... I see her,” Veleshar tried to say. “She was ... I don’t know the word.”

He paused. “ ... Today marks the anniversary of her passing,” he said.

“I know. Every two years ... you come here.”

Gular’shel reached into the forward pocket of his uniform. He pulled out a small, tiny flower with five red petals on it. He leaned down and placed it on the headstone before standing back up.

“Jidos...,” Veleshar said.

“Her favorite flower. It reminded her of her native home...”

“Eliza’treta ... why no pictures ... no pictures of her?”

“There are pictures of her.”

“In her armor. Not her face ... Are you afraid? ... the others ... seeing?”

“I am not afraid of the others seeing me mated with a former Aksren.”

That wasn’t a satisfactory answer for Veleshar. Eliza’treta was somewhat odd for a name. It seemed to make sense for an Aksren title, but Veleshar was unsure of ever hearing such a name before. Eliza’treta’s supposed language was unusual as well. It was nothing like the other Itrean languages, yet she was Aksren. There were so many mysteries about her mate’s former mate. Why was it so crucial for the family to learn a language that nobody spoke?

Veleshar wasn’t to question it. Not now. She knew it was important for him. Perhaps it was a way to respect a mate’s former mate. Yet again, it might have been possible that Gular’shel was telling the truth and was lying at the same time. Interspecies relationships were not too commonplace, and a Shal’rein and Aksren being together might have been seen as deviant. Besides, Veleshar looked at it as a potential gift. It was a language that only the family shared together, and that made it special.

“No...,” Gular’shel said as he took a deep breath through his nostrils. “She perished here, this spot, happily in my arms ... a stranger in a strange land ... her memory stays with me ... her final wish.”

Veleshar slowly walked up to her mate. She embraced him even if he remained emotionally neutral to the action. Her arms were locked around his side as the female Shal’rein pressed her snout to his neck. Finally, Gular’shel lifted his gloved hand and gripped it onto Veleshar’s arm.

“Daddy ... Mommy!’ a light female voice echoed from the house.

“Heh,” Veleshar made a few clicks in her voice. “We were outside too long.”

Veleshar let go of Gular’shel. A young Shal’rein girl came running out of the house and was jotting down at almost full speed. Gular’shel remained somewhat unphased at first seeing his young daughter approaching. Veleshar was a little more receptive.

The young Shal’rein appeared more like her father. She had a somewhat stubbier snout than Veleshar and carried a slightly shorter tail. She appeared almost like a human girl, being around six to eight years old, with gray skin and flowing purple hair. In her hands was a framework of a handgun of some sort. In her other hand was a pair of tilons that were neatly pressed to her short purple silk dress.

“Shira,” Veleshar said with a smile. “Jaewa Click”

“Dad,” the little girl said as she practically hopped and skipped up the path. She was bound and full of energy. The look of joy on her face was obvious.

“Yes?” Gular’shel said with a slight inflection in his voice. He finally turned away from the gravestones and looked down at the little girl. Veleshar leaned down to the dirt floor as Shira almost ran past her mother to gaze up at her father.

“Dad ... I made the...,” Shira was lightly struggling with her English. “I made a ... rev ... revolv.”

“Hmmm ... may I see that?” Gular’shel said, holding his gloved hand to her. Shira happily handed it to him. The construction of the gun was remarkably crude. It was missing a number of components on it. Veleshar smiled as she looked at it.

“Missing a hammer ... cylinder,” Gular’shel said. “However, this is promising work so far.” He handed the frame back to her. “How are your studies coming along?”

“I know it all!” Shira happily said.

“What are the three rules of Ven’jako’tre’londa?”

“Run ... hide and fight.”

“And the second strategy of Kin’dresa the Great? ... In English.”

“Ummm ... always fight so the enemy...” Shira closed her eyes as she seemed to concentrate. “Sees the star?”

“So the sunlight blinds them...,” Gular’shel remarked. “Impressive, little one. Continue reading the English phonics that I gave you. I will quiz you later tonight, and if you do well like you’re doing now, then I will take you to see Rototrein’s memorial site at Wica Island tomorrow.”

“Next to the Delpa long slide park!?” Shira lit up in excitement.

“That too.”

“Yeay!”

With that, Veleshar happily saw Shira turn around and hurriedly jogged back to the cottage home. The big grin remained on the mother’s face as she turned to look back at Gular’shel.

“She is ... so like you,” Veleshar tried to say. “Her English is very good.”

“Not enough ... not yet,” Gular’shel remarked. “The sooner, the better ... the same as you.”

The female Shal’rein gripped onto her mate’s gloves. “Let’s go, my mate.” She gestured at their home. Dusk had fully set as the darkness was taking hold. The lanterns served as a final guiding light to the lonely home in the area as the two began to head back to their residence...

Today...

Veleshar shifted around in her bed. Her eyes finally opened as she was greeted by the wall of her quarters. The dream of a single event seventeen years ago seemed to loom significantly on her mind.

“Ah...,” the female Shal’rein stirred. She lifted her upper body up as the blankets slowly fell free, exposing her dark purple nightgown.

It was a short nap ... the Shal’rein captain was regaining her bearings on reality.

“I miss those days...,” she almost whispered to herself. “She was so innocent ... and Gular’shel ... my dear mate...”

She put her hands on the bedsheets and closed her eyes. The captain put her hands over her eyes before touching her cheeks. A sense of composure filled her body. Any scent of sadness seemed to wash away ... replaced with something else ... serenity.

Veleshar took a deep breath as the air blew into her nostrils. The good memories that led to a dreary outcome were replaced with the current set of events. It didn’t take long before a hint of a grin appeared on her face before she practically tossed the sheets aside. Her webbed feet planted into the comfortable carpet as she stood up and headed over to her small desk.

Upon reaching her little alcove, she typed up on her horizontal keyboard. The digital displays had been activated to project a series of three-dimensional maps followed by a projection of a reddish planet. A sizable ring was around it, kept somewhat close to its tight orbit.

She sat on her shell-like chair, causing her fin-like tail to roll off it and droop to the carpet. Her shark-like eyes were fixated on the planet as if she were in deep thought, contemplating something monumental. She continued to do this for what seemed like minutes. Not a word was spoken. Everything had to be considered: the consequences, the actions, the best move, and so much more.

Finally, a knock could be heard from the closed door. It lightly stirred Veleshar. She reached over and tapped the side panel near her, almost as if she expected him to show up instantly.

The door slid open as Scott stepped inside. He was dressed in workout shorts, gym shoes, and a blue and green t-shirt. The hint of sweat could be seen on his brow. Once he stepped inside, the door closed behind him. A proud smile appeared on the captain’s face as she looked at him.

“Phew...,” Scott remarked.

“First day on the ship, and you exercised,” Veleshar remarked.

The man shrugged. “Just getting some of the jitters out. A good workout always solves problems.”

“And you exercised with Yui’to?”

He nodded his head. “Yeah ... I did.”

“I’m glad that you did.”

“You do?”

“Yui’to always needed a partner in the gym.”

Scott almost shook his head. “She’s quite strong. I can’t exactly compete on her level.”

“That isn’t the point. She needs a friend more than you realize.”

“You almost make it sound like you really know her personally.”

“More than you know. I don’t exactly work out as much as she does. Much of the time has to be diverted to handling the command of the ship ... thinking of the future.”

“I can imagine,” Scott walked over to the couch as he crashed. “Sorry ... I worked out a little more than I thought.”

“It’s alright,” she said in her soothing voice. “It’s good that you are keeping yourself healthy.”

Scott could feel the hint of awkwardness. Being in the quarters of an alien warship and with the captain, no doubt. However, he couldn’t deny that the place was beautiful.

“What is it that you’re looking at?” Scott asked as he saw the digital display of a planet.

“Do you know what this world is?” she asked him.

“Place with a ring ... wait...,” the man’s eye narrowed some.

The planet that was depicted consisted of more than just a ring. It seemed important. The rings were not naturally occurring. They were artificial in construction. It was quite large, wrapping itself around the entire equator. A series of lights could be seen from the surface where the sunlight didn’t reach. The projection was enough to show a storm of red dots that filled the entire spectrum map.

“That’s ... not a normal ring,” Scott said.

“It’s planet Renlar,” Veleshar answered.

“Renlar ... sounds familiar.”

“It is the most important world in Aksren clan space, the capital of the Empire of Itsis.”

“Wait...” Scott began to think about it. “Yeah, I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never actually seen it before. Some of the Itreans I worked with mentioned about the Aksren world with a ring.”

“Not a natural ring. It is called the ‘Zildrek,’ the ‘Ring of Destiny.’ Do you know of Jalgren the Great?”

“I’ve heard he was somebody very important in Itrean history ... err ... what I know of it. I’m not exactly an expert on that sort of thing.”

“There is much to learn about our past,” Veleshar explained. “Even our historians can’t keep up. However, Jalgren the Great was the Itrean who forged the greatest empire to ever exist in Itrean history. He was the only person to successfully conquer all opposing clans ... forge the Empire of Jalgren.”

“Shit ... I guess it didn’t exactly last forever.”

The woman shook her head. “It lasted for 20,000 of your years. Much of our language is common, including our values and cultural ideals for all species, thanks to his actions. Jalgren was quite effective in his ruling ... at least for a time.”

“He was an Aksren?” the man questioned.

“Yes ... but he was more than that.” She gestured to the planet. “That ring helped make him who he was. It was created long before he was born. Of the five Aksren empires, Renlar was the most powerful. Their ancient colonizers had long ensured that a space ring would be built. It took thousands of years to build it to what it is now, but it serves as one of the primary shipyards for the Empire of Jalgren and now the Empire of Itsis.”

“An entire shipyard...,” Scott was amazed by the image. “The amount of resources needed to build something like that would bankrupt the UWA.”

“Our people can build great things when we work together. We have created so many structures in this galaxy ... No matter what other race finds us, they will find our legacy forged into the worlds we created ... and what we destroyed.”

“I would imagine that the Shal’rein have never managed to attack Renlar.”

Veleshar shook her head. “Those dots that you see ... they consist of many warship patrols, besides the main defense fleets ... not including the weapon installations on the station, royal guard fleets, and planetary surface batteries. Even Gular’shel knew that the Shal’rein had no hope of ever taking it.”

“Too bad we couldn’t take something like that out,” Scott said. “With such a powerful shipyard like that, the Aksren would lose some of their military production capability.”

The female Shal’rein smiled. “Yes ... they would. Not completely, but it would be something more than that.”

Veleshar seemed to think a little bit as if she were distracted. Finally, she reached over and tapped the keyboard to close out most of the displays. Scott leaned his head back on the couch as he continued to regather his strength.

A melody started to fill the room. Veleshar had activated something that began to play from the room’s small speakers. The music consisted of traditional Japanese instruments, including the bamboo flute. A Spanish guitar could be heard in the distance, providing additional harmonics along with a basic slow drumbeat.

“What is that?” Scott asked.

“Something to set the mood,” Veleshar remarked.

“Itrean music?”

“Actually, this comes from your people. A person named Elian Hiroto composed this.”

“Really? Hmm ... never heard of him.”

“It says that his father was born in Japan and that his mother is Paloran. A people from two different worlds...”

Scott looked at her. She stood up from her chair, and he could see the full view of her nightgown. It was thinly veiled, enough to just block the view of seeing through it, but enough to suggest that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath it. Her breasts pressed against the fabric with two hardened nipples that further extended it. It was somewhat similar to the kimono but had two light straps extending over the shoulders. It further showed her arms and cleavage, along with her lower legs and tail.

“Ummm...,” Scott said as he looked at her. “I ... could.”

“Can we dance again?” she asked him politely.

The offer was made so innocently with such purity that it took Scott by surprise. The memory of the recent dance was still fresh in his mind. He quickly took his shoes and socks off, exposing his bare feet. It didn’t take much for him to stand up and face her. A smile appeared on his face.

“Of course,” he replied.

Veleshar extended one hand with her palm pointed to the floor. The man took hers and neatly grasped it. Her hands were much bigger than his. The four fingers had neatly trimmed claws that were almost filed down to mere fingernails. She extended one hand to brace the man’s hip as Scott reciprocated and held onto hers.

And with that, Veleshar began to dance slowly. Her head looked down upon Scott as he looked up at her. A calm serenity began to take hold. The entire day began to wash away, replaced with only their slow movements as their hips swayed together.

“How was your day?” she asked him.

“Getting a chance to meet everybody,” he explained. “So many different faces and personalities.”

“If you keep doing what you’re doing, they will get to know you very well.”

“I can only try.”

The man had a hint of a chuckle as Veleshar peered into his eyes.

“What?” she asked with a smile.

“Just ... I wasn’t expecting to be sharing quarters with the ship’s Captain. First day, and I’m already sleeping with her.”

“Would you prefer sleeping in the other quarters?”

The man shook his head. “It’s much nicer in here.”

“Gular’shel and I ... we had so many ideas. He did so much in designing this. It would have been our own private get-together ... a luxurious warship just for us.”

“I can imagine that,” Scott remarked. “It feels like I’m in some hotel.”

There was a pause as Scott’s hand caressed hers with his grip. For a moment, he felt like falling into her, embracing her.

“How did you get so good at English?” he asked her.

Veleshar seemed to hesitate in telling him. “I had a long time to learn it,” she answered.

“When did you defect?”

“Near the beginning of 2350 ... in your calendar.

“Besides the crew here. Was that common for other ships?”

“I can’t say for certain. I heard the stories of a few ship crews from other clans that willing left their clan ... claimed that the ... hmmm ... let’s just say the T’rintar adult videos convinced them that they could have a second chance in reclaiming their lives.”

“What about your family back at home?”

“Hmmm...,” a look of disappointment appeared on her face for a moment as she almost didn’t want to answer it.

“I’m sorry ... I didn’t mean to...”

“I knew what I was doing when I left. My daughter later defected as well.”

“Your daughter? You have children?”

“Yes ... one ... all grown up. She defected to the UWA last year after attacking Aphadus. Her name is Shira.”

“Shira...”

The name sounded familiar before it hit him like a ton of bricks.

“Wait...,” Scott remarked. “You mean that Shira? I heard of a Shal’rein who became Captain of her own ship. I saw a news feed when they commissioned her transport.”

“Yes, that’s her.”

“Wow. I would’ve never known. She looks nothing like you.”

“Because Itrean children usually look more like their fathers than their mothers.”

“Well, I don’t know much else about her. Assuming she’s like you, she must get pretty far in life.”

It was an understatement that Veleshar knew all too well. She repressed saying too much about it. A hint of sadness could be seen on her face before it quickly turned into a smile. It was as if a variety of emotions hit her all at once.

“I mean...,” Scott tried to say. “I’m not going to pretend what you two had to go through.”

Veleshar removed her hand from his hip and gently brushed the man’s face with the back of her hand. A sense of content could be seen on the woman’s face.

“You are so gentle and sweet, Scott,” Veleshar remarked. She stepped forward and hugged the man up close as they swayed their hips.

The man’s face was pressed against the Shal’rein’s bosom. They were so much bigger up close. Her warmth was enticing, but it was something the man continued to repress. Instead, he simply enjoyed the moment and let it happen. Finally, she released her hug as the two held onto each other’s hips.

“How do you feel about me?” Veleshar asked him.

Scott knew the mood was leading to this. He could only be honest with her.

“It’s ... so many emotions...,” Scott replied to her. “I ... never really done this before.”

“Dancing?” she asked.

“No ... heh. I mean, dance with a random stranger and then appear on her ship. I guess ... it was just all the circumstances involved.”

“You wanted to.”

“Yeah ... I did.”

“Why?”

“Because ... I never met somebody like you before ... somebody to just ... sweep me off my feet like that.”

“Sweep ... off the...,” Veleshar almost didn’t understand the terminology.

“Figure of speech,” Scott explained. “My point is that I’m not used to suddenly jumping into a possible relationship ... I mean, if ... you don’t consider it one ... I ... uh...”

A big smile could be seen from Veleshar’s snout. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”

“I am?”

“My former mate was a man that repressed his emotions. To him, it was necessary ... the Emphra War changed him...”

“He accomplished so much, though, right?”

“Yes. He was a strong man in the mind, but any mate would know better. He saw horrors and had to make difficult decisions that would scare even the toughest of Itreans. I knew deep down that it terrified him. Even my poor Shira and what she had to go through...” She closed her eyes and regathered her gentle smile. “But, I see it in you.”

“What is?”

“You repress a part of yourself to me.”

Scott knew that Veleshar was digging into him. Now, he had to make a decision. Was he going to let it happen, or was he going to push her away? No doubt he knew he was already in the captain’s quarters, dancing with a woman he had feelings for while at the same time trying to figure out if this was leading somewhere. Then, he had to make sense of his own feelings.

“I don’t know what to think...,” he said.

“About me or yourself?” she asked.

“Both...”

“What is it that you do know?”

“You’re beautiful ... so beautiful ... kind ... but I just met you.”

“I know humans tend to... ‘date’ the people they want to be with. I also know that I’m your first.”

“First?” he asked.

“Love...”

The man smiled. “I don’t know about that. I’ve had my share of dates in the past, but...”

“You never committed to them. You’re not married, and I know you would have said something about being a parent by now. You’re forty ... for a human. You’ve almost lived half of your life without a mate.”

“My past relationships ... they never got far.”

“You’re a virgin?”

“Yes,” he admitted as he took a deep breath. He almost pushed away from her, breaking his dance with her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked him.

“I ... I can’t do this,” he told her.

“You can’t dance with me?”

“I know where this is going ... it’s ... going too fast for me.”

“No ... that isn’t true,” Veleshar told him. She could see the man’s confusion. “I know what it is that you’re going through.”

“What is?” he asked.

“I looked up the history of your people ... the fact that there were more males than females. Entire generations of bachelors ... never being able to find a mate. It’s a fate I wouldn’t wish on anyone ... not even on my worst enemies.”

“It hasn’t been easy for many men. Companion bots ... basic AI programs became our friends. I remember one who told me to just be gay and date a man and be done with it. Women could be choosy. Anything I did wrong was a black mark for me.”

“You are so handsome, though.”

He turned around and looked at her. “I appreciate the comment, but that’s what they also told me at first. However, it still didn’t stop one of them from cheating on me. I learned to repress my feelings in time. I was a virgin, but ... the desire to lose it began to fade in time. Eventually, you reach this age and you start to see it like losing a companion.”

“It has been a companion for you,” she assured him. “Scott, we, Itreans, live for a long time, much longer than you do. I knew plenty of Itreans that didn’t become mates until they were seventy, eighty, a hundred. Many wouldn’t lose their virginity until then. But it’s what you want to do with the person that you love. Gular’shel might have been a man that repressed his emotions, but we loved each other and I will never forget the sex we had together. As a woman who lost her virginity, I can tell you that it’s only a frame of mind. I still felt like the same Itrean the day after I woke up next to Gular’shel.”

Veleshar took her hand and gently pushed Scott to face her.

“I suppose you’re right,” Scott said.