unwanted

chapter fortytwo

unbeaten

       She's seen some pretty sad things since aliens decided to ruin her world.  And this just might be one of the saddest. 

       San Francisco was a ghost town.  Once alive and full of every kind of humanity imaginable and now it was population three.

       Soon to be population two.

       Jai had safely stored away the last of his plant and land samples and day thirty had come and gone.

       Add him to some of the saddest things she's ever seen.        

       He looked completely heartbroken that she chose not to touch him.  He'd stayed an extra two days in hopes of changing her mind.

       "You have to go Jai.  You can't keep putting it off any longer."

       "Am I to go without being able to touch you?  Without being able to kiss you goodbye?"

       She chuckled and rolled her eyes towards Julian.  "Nice try, buddy, but it's not going to happen."

       "You do not know what you are asking of me.  You are asking me to leave behind the one person who might be my soul mate.  I don't know if I can do it."

       "Might being the key word here."

       "Not knowing is even worse."  He held out his hand.  "What do you have to lose, little one?  If you are not my soul mate you are free, and we'll never have to wonder if the universe brought us together only to lose each other."

       "It's the other option that scares the shit out of me.  I told you I have enough men in my life as it is.  And I'm not planet hopping with you.  I belong here."

       "If we are soul mates none of that will matter to you.  As my other half you'd never want for anything.  You'd never be alone.  Even when apart, it would be like being together.  Your thoughts would be mine, mine would be yours."

       "I already have someone else's feelings; I don't need someone else's thoughts too."

       He smiled softly and step closer.  "We can do it all, little one.  Save my world, save yours.  I'll show you the universe.   I'll give you the moon and the stars."

       Damn if he didn't pip her interest.   She looked over at Julian hoping for some moral support, but he only shrugged his shoulders.

       "If you are my soulmate then you would be once and for all clear of this other guy.  He'd have no claims on you. You'd be free."

       Free of Kellum?  Isn't that what she wanted?

       The fact that she had to ask herself that was enough of a reason for her to reach out for Jai's hand.

       She paused just short of touching him.  After looking at Julian, she looked up at Jai.  "If this works out the way you're hoping, you'll help me save my people?  You won't take me from my sister?"

       "I could not do anything that would cause you harm.  It would be like causing myself harm."

       She laid her hand in his.

       After a moment, his hand tightened around hers.  He didn't have to say it.  She knew. 

       He brought her closer and laid a soft kiss to her lips.  "I was so sure.  I would still offer you the universe."

       "You have a world to save.  Don't let me keep you."  It could have been nice, all the things he offered, and she be a little sad to see him go, but she was far from heartbroken.  "If you're ever in my neck of the woods again, look me up."

       He took one of the lights off his console and laid it on her palm.  "If you ever have need of me all you must do is throw this into the sky.  I will see it and come for you."

       The light crawled to the other side of her hand and became a glowing star on her hand right above her thumb.

       She doesn't know why her, and Julian stood on the cliff of the golden gate bridge looking up.  There was nothing to see, nothing to wave goodbye to.

       He took her hand as she looked at the bridge and imagine it as it had once been.  Full of traffic and life.  Now it stood lonely with no purpose.

       "So, what do we do now?"

       "You know what time it is.  No more putting it off."  Smiling, he threw an arm over her shoulders.  "You and me, babe.  I'm like the unwanted hair on your legs.  You're stuck with me."

       Rolling her eyes, she snuggled into his arms.  "That's gone as soon as I find a razor.  Think I have time to shop before he finds me?  I know a little girl who's going to be very upset with me."

       "She's just going to want you.  No more putting it off, Jess."

       "I suppose you're right.  Guess I would rather go in on my own then be hauled back anyway."

       "You can do this, babe."

       She wasn't so sure.  "What if you're wrong and there is no cure?"

       "I won't accept that without a fight but if it does come down to that, it changes nothing.  You and me against the world."

       "Okay."

       He caught her chin.  "You know we have to do this, right?"

       "I'd rather pull out all my teeth, wax my whole body, and lick the road from here to St. Louis but yes, I know."

       "Just so long as you know."  He joked.

       "Funny boy.  I just might tell Mel all this was your fault."

       "Like she'd believe that."

       Saying a silent farewell to California, she took them home.

       Too bad home didn't mean what it once meant.  Now it meant a sister and aunt who were going to be pissed at her.  An alien who had taken her heart hostage, a bunch old farts who hated her, and a walled city.

       There was no long line waiting for them this time.  Just two men manning the check point who looked surprised to see them.

       "Hello, star boys.  We need a reservation for two.  Deluxe suite if you have one."

       "We'll also be needing a candlelit dinner for two.  Can you throw in some champagne and the little chocolates on the pillows?"

       Grinning, Jess winked in Julian's direction.  She loved it when she rubbed off on him.

       "My Queen, it is an honor to have you present us with your presence."

       Hearing Dezrick from their wrist bands the two men in front of her bowed

       "Well, I'll shit a monkey.  When did that happen, Dez?"

       "On your birthday.  It became official three days ago when the King held the ceremony without you.  He felt it was best.  Welcome home, my Queen."

       She felt Kellum at her back, but she chose to ignore him as long as she could.  "I noticed there were no huge birthday parties in my honor."  She looked at Julian.  "Did you noticed my birthday had come and gone?  I didn't even get a damn cake."

       "You were too busy being a slave, babe."

       "Oh yea, I remember now.  I celebrated my birthday with pain and torture.  Definitely nothing befitting a queen, so I must not be a queen.  Kellum, take down your walls, I want to see my family."

       "You are Queen now, Jessalynn.  If you want it all you must do is, ask for it."

       Finally, she turned to Kellum.  "Is that right?  Then you can start with never calling me that again and staying the hell away from me."

       She offered her best smile to all of them.  "Now if it's all right with you boys, and if there's no more aliens who want to throw me out, ruin my life, or want to kidnap me, I'm going home now."