Love, Against All Odds

I Finna - Chapter 3

Alone on the ground beyond the city, Kal remained still, her head held back and her eyes locked on the shrinking spaceship that cut through the planet's atmosphere. With a grumble, she sensed the Betty May pierce Kander's highest layer and leave the planet for its mission to kidnap Victor. She focused on the line that could extend, flex, or bend between Becca and her. Not even the great distance of outer space could break their link to each other. With its constant hum, Kal knew that Becca was alive and safe.

Kal reached in her breast pocket and retrieved the precious watch that Becca asked her to guard again. The tiny mechanical device glinted in the sunlight and revealed the time that Earth was destroyed by humans. Even though the strange markings on the device's face were foreign to her, she imagined they were simple to Becca. With a slight frown, she ran her thumb across the cracked glass. There were countless theories why Earthlings decided to annihilate their own planet rather than fight the Sworne. As a Kalmar, Kal was born with the innate capacity to fight and protect Kander and its people to her death. It was encoded in her blood by Kalatas.

After a sigh, Kal tucked the watch into its temporary home. She had several meetings to attend today, but she had carved out time to visit the temple first. Becca had agreed with Kal's suggestion this morning that she was sorely in need of Tas's counsel. With that in mind, she returned to Tarrak and traded a few nods with passing soldiers. As she wound through the streets, the view of the temple emerged from between the other buildings, and it greeted her with warmth. The temple was one of the few places she found relief from the pressures as Kal and the watchful eyes of her people.

Inside the temple a young couple was speaking with the High Priest. Kal groused when her arrival interrupted them, so she departed to the hallway on the left, hoping the couple didn't feel pressured to leave. She traveled the hall to the end and entered the sunlit room. Before her was a stone table that had been stained with the lifeforms of the Kals before her. With her hands hooked in front of her, she studied the engravings on the top of the slab, then envisioned her own body resting upon it. Soon it will be my turn.

Behind her, the High Priest's familiar scent rolled over her, and the memory triggered her former life before becoming Kal. Her lips curled, and she turned her head sidelong. 'I remembered the day we first met.'

Tas hooked her hands behind her back and shifted to Kal's side. 'Gaular seems so long ago.' She canted her head and asked, 'Then you remember Raine?'

'Ja.' Kal frowned; she had to weigh the best time to tell Becca. She had wanted Becca to remain focused on the mission to capture Victor. Upon her return, they would have time to talk. Or will we? They discussed many things while dancing around other topics that frightened Becca—such as their relationship. But at some point, Becca's curious nature would win out. 'Do you remember my old name?'

Tas chewed on her bottom lip, then shook her head. 'It still eludes me as it does many others.'

'Dorlon seemed to retain it,' Kal said.

'For now.' Tas pivoted toward the door and said, 'It is not your time to be in this room.' Her words left no space for argument, and she escorted her ruler from the gray room. Side by side, they returned to the sanctuary.