Companion

PROLOGUE

Naraq, Ruler Supreme

“Humans and Sanctarians are compatible, Ruler Supreme.”

My eyes narrowed on the DNA helix swirling in front of me above the computer module. I strolled around the display, hands behind my back, studying the evidence the previous Ruler Supreme, my uncle, refused to acknowledge or accept before his passing.

“How did you get their DNA?” I asked Alecadad, my first scientist. This Sanctarian possessed a reputation for being extremely difficult, but he was brilliant.

“Your uncle shut down the visitation program after my last mission, but I collected several samples.”

If Alecadad was difficult, my uncle was just as bad, and they’d butted heads more than once. “And you showed this to the previous Ruler Supreme?”

“Yes, many times.”

I knew of my uncle’s resistance to blend another bloodline with our people, but never understood his reasons. As far as I knew, Sanctarians were the only species with one blood type.

“What happens if we don’t ask the people of Earth’s help?”

Alecadad sighed deeply. “Sanctum and its people will cease to exist. We are at a tipping point, Ruler Supreme. Stale blood breeds disease, just like a stagnant body of water. We can treat the symptoms, but the anomalies are mutating faster than we can develop a cure, and our fetuses rarely survive.”

“But we exist in a sterile environment?”

“We created these anomalies, and they’ve adapted, not an outside source,” he answered, shaking his head. “Sanctarians must evolve.”

“Won’t human blood expose us to every disease they’ve contracted?”

“It will, but humans have natural antibodies. Sanctarian blood doesn’t, and we need them to fight this. It’s essentially a virus of our own doing.”

“Can’t we harness their antibodies?”

“We could, but their antibodies evolve and adapt with the introduction of new diseases.”

My eyebrow lifted. “Quite a marvel for such an underdeveloped society.”

“Their technology doesn’t matter, Ruler Supreme. That will come with time. Humans are an intelligent species, and Sanctarians need to bond with them if we are to survive.”

“Bond? Is that possible? Humans aren’t psychokinetic.”

Alecadad smirked. “Our life-force gives them the ability.”

“Then we’re altering them.”

“What we exchange harms neither species.”

“Why do I feel you know them personally, Alecadad?”

“Maybe because I’ve spent my life studying them?”

I kept my suspicions to myself when I knew he’d been to Earth several times. Alecadad’s hesitation to speak freely was for a reason. “If I journey to Earth, will you accompany me?”

“No. I’m at the end of my lifecycle, Ruler Supreme. My time and service would be of better use here.”

“Will blending our bloodlines help those already sick?”

“Maybe, but many will perish while you’re away.”

With a heavy heart, I faced the window, staring at my beautiful planet.

White domes, lush gardens, and soft lights dotted the blue-green landscape.

It was my sworn duty to protect and defend my people, and that included the threat of extinction.

My uncle doomed an entire race with his hate for other species, and it was on my shoulders to fix the mess.

How ironic and sad his lifecycle ended from the very stance he took.

“You have two problems, Ruler Supreme.”

My eyes closed momentarily. “What?”

“Since you haven’t encountered humans, you lack antibodies, but I can assist.”

My lips firmed as I faced Alecadad. “You bonded with a human? When? How?”

“The circumstances are irrelevant.”

“And my uncle knew this?”

“Your uncle refused to share life-forces, knowing I could save him.”

“Why would he do that?”

“His hatred superseded everything.”

“And our people?”

Alecadad glanced out the window as if lost in a memory. “It was once, and I’m one Sanctarian. I cannot save our race, but you can, Ruler Supreme.”

“And my second problem, scientist?”

Alecadad moved beside me. “Turquoise is required, and this planet can only spare enough for a one-way trip.”

“What about the outlying colonies?”

“Not enough, but Earth contains deposits, and you may find more on uninhabited planets along your journey. Scan every planet.”

“So, not only am I going to ask some of them to leave their home planet, but to relinquish one of their resources?”

“Offer something in return, Ruler Supreme. They don’t need the turquoise like we do.”

“Impossible,” I growled under my breath. “I never wanted this responsibility.”

“You may meet your companion, Ruler Supreme.”

“Or I may finish my lifecycles in a foreign solar system.”

Alecadad laid one hand on my shoulder. “Take the unbonded, healthy adults with you. Give them hope, Naraq.”

“What if you’re wrong, and I can’t return?”

“It won’t matter because there will be nothing to return to.”