M.K. Eidem - Grim

The sun shines brightly as Lisa crosses the grass to Mark. It is the perfect spring day for a picnic.

Happy Birthday my love. Lisa smiles , setting down the sandwich and drink. She tosses aside a stray blade of grass that has invaded their make shift table as she sits cross-legged in front of him. Yes, it has that stinky blue cheese on it that you love. Ricky remembered just how you liked it. Responding to the question he always asked, leaning back on her hands she closes her eyes, letting the sun warm her face.

The girls are doing fine. Ill bring them by later. Trishas with them while they take their naps. I just wanted some alone time with you. She forces the tears from her golden brown eyes as she looks at Marks headstone.

Mark Wilbur Miller It reads. Loving husband and father.

I miss you Mark. She whispers. I miss our talks. How you could always make me laugh. I miss your arms around me, holding me in the middle of the night, letting me know everything will be okay. I miss our fights.I miss making up. Lisa finds she cant go on.

Sorry. She half chuckles wiping away her tears. Here it is your twenty-seventh birthday and Im crying like an idiot. The birds sing to her in reply as the wind dislodges a strand of long auburn hair to caress her face.

I know. She reaches up tuck ing the piece behind her ear. Youd be here if you could. Protecting us, making sure we have everything we need but were going to be okay. Carly starts school this fall and Miki will have her play group." Lisa sighs deeply thinking how fast her babies are growing. "I was thinking that maybe Id finish up that degree I started before Carly was born. She looks to the stone. Id only have two years left and you always liked how I decorated the house. I mean, Im only twenty four, I wouldnt be that much older than the other students. When the sun dims Lisa looks up frowning, there isnt a cloud in the sky.

Well that was strange. Forgetting about it, she looks back to Mark. Trisha wants me to meet a friend of hers but I told her it was too soon and dont think you can change my mind Mark Miller! Lisa finds she cant sit. Its barely been a year since you died. Im not ready to meet men. I dont want to meet men, no matter what I promised you when you were sick! Theres not a man on the planet that I could love as much as you, who could love our girls as much as you and I wont settle for anything less Mark. I want it allagainor Id rather be alone.

The snapping of a twig , followed by a low growl, has Lisa spinning around, but before she can process what shes seeing, her world goes black.

Through the view port of the control room, Grim glares down at the small blue planet, after weeks of endless searching, he'd finally found it. How had a species so primitive, so backward, been able to amass so many females while leaving them unprotected? How had the planet never been discovered? Dozens of species were scouring the universes searching for compatible females, for they were the most valuable resource in all the universes. They were all that stood in the way of extinction for many since the great infection, including Grims own, the Tornians.

It is why his brother, the Emperor of the Tornian Empire entrusted him with the task of finding his new Empress home planet. Her arrival on Tornian had shocked many, for while she is smaller and softer than their females she is nearly identical in all other areas. No other females in the known universes were as compatible.

Shed been found on a Ganglian slave ship bound for their home world where she would have brought a high price with her pale skin and flaming red hair, for colored hair is as rare a females. Slavery was against Tornian Law and Ganglian ships carrying them were banned from their universe. When Wray's ship intercepted one he discovered Kim hidden away, badly beaten and abused, his rage had known no bounds. The entire crew had been executed and Wray claimed Kim for his own.

The Assembly of Lords had demanded to know where she came from, if there were more females available but Kim refused to tell them. She wouldnt help the Tornians enslave her people.

Things might have settled down and a compromise reached but it was discovered Kim had conceived and warriors from every house threatened to search for the planet on their own, for the chance to acquire a female. To pacify them, Wray proclaimed that a select group of warriors would travel to the Empress' home planet to obtain a small number of unprotected females. These females would to be brought back to Tornian where they would have their choice of only the worthiest Tornian warriors for their Joining Ceremony.

Many argued with the Emperor but on this point Wray would not waver. Until they knew for sure that their joinings would be successful, he would not allow more than a few to be obtained. Grim knew it was also a way for Wray to pacify Empress Kim who continued to withhold what she knew. It was because of this that Wray had entrusted only Grim with what they did know of the planet's location. Wray knew his brother would never betray him, even though Grim would never be allowed to join with one of the females.

"Grim, Luuken as returned with the last female." As Veron walks up to the navigation consul Grim locks it out. No one, not even the Emperors most trusted Captain is allowed to know Earths location. Youve done an amazing service for your fellow warriors.

I have done as my Emperor commanded. Grims voice is rougher than normal, fatigue affecting the already damaged vocal chords. We shall see if it truly serves us or is the thing that finally ends of us.