34. The Grove
34
The Grove
F inding Zalira proved easier than expected. As I approached her "library," I felt her presence before I even reached the door. She was waiting for me, her ancient eyes gleaming in the dim light as the door spiraled open at my approach.
"Come in, young one," she said, her voice carrying the weight of millennia. Her ancient age had her scales hold an iridescent sheen that only came with great age. "I've been expecting you."
Of course she had. Zalira always seemed to know things before they happened. I ducked my head respectfully as I entered her domain. The room was filled with real books—actual paper and binding from dozens of worlds—along with data crystals and scrolls. The scent of age and knowledge permeated the air.
"You've started the bond," she said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes," I replied, my ridges pulsing with joy despite my attempt to maintain composure. "We have."
Zalira's own ridges flickered with interest. "The prophecy speaks true then. Show me."
I held out my hands and she placed hers in mine. Her eyes closed as she read the bond through our touch. After a moment, she pulled back, her expression both pleased and troubled.
"The bond is strong," she said. "Stronger than any I've seen in centuries. But it is incomplete."
"That's why I'm here," I said. "I want to complete the bonding ritual. We've already joined physically and shared our thoughts and feelings. What else must we do?"
Zalira rose from her seat and moved to one of her many shelves. Her tentacles selected an ancient scroll, bringing it carefully to the table between us. "The ritual of complete bonding is sacred, passed down through generations. It must be performed in the sacred grove of K'thara, where the energies of our world align with the cosmic forces."
My hearts sank. "K'thara? But that's leagues away, near our homeworld."
"Yes," she confirmed, her eyes sympathetic but firm. "The ritual cannot be performed elsewhere. The grove has been consecrated by thousands of years of bonding ceremonies. Its energy is essential for binding two souls, especially of different species."
I began to pace, my tentacles writhing with agitation. "It will take twenty rotations to reach K'thara?"
She watched me carefully. "The journey itself is part of the ritual, Zharrox. It tests the strength of your commitment, the depth of your bond."
I ran my hands over my face ridges in frustration. "Twenty rotations... Nova will think I'm having doubts."
"Then you must show her otherwise," Zalira said firmly. "The bond you share is rare and precious. It transcends species, dimensions, even time itself. The universe has chosen you two to bridge worlds, to bring about change. This journey is but the first test of many."
She rose and moved to another shelf, this time retrieving a small crystal box. "Here. These are the sacred oils and incense needed for the ceremony. You will need them when we reach K'thara."
"We?" I asked, surprised.
Zalira's ridges pulsed with amusement. "Did you think I would miss the first cross-species bonding ceremony in recorded history? Besides, you need a high priestess to perform the ritual."
Relief flooded through me. Having Zalira's support would make this easier to explain to both Nova and my crew. Speaking of which...
"I need to tell the crew," I said. "Set our course for K'thara."
"They already suspect something has changed," Zalira observed. "Grixxa knows, of course. And Jorixx... well, he will need convincing."
I nodded grimly. Jorixx had been against keeping Nova from the start. Learning that I intended to bond with her permanently would not go over well.
"Gather them in the command center," Zalira suggested. "Let them see the truth of the bond. It will be harder for them to object when faced with its reality."
I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. "You're right. Will you be there?"
"I will observe," she said cryptically. "But this is your task, young one. Show them the strength of your conviction."
I left Zalira's library with the crystal box tucked safely in my jacket and made my way to the bridge. My tentacles tapped out a message to all senior crew members: Command center meeting in one click.
As I waited for everyone to gather, I paced the length of the room, my mind racing. How would I explain this? How would they react? My crew had followed me through countless dangerous situations, trusted my judgment in the face of seemingly impossible odds. But this... this was different.
Grixxa arrived first, her ridges pulsing with understanding as she saw my agitation. "It's time?" she asked softly.
I nodded. "We need to set course for K'thara."
Her eyes widened. "The sacred grove? Then you really are..."
"Yes," I confirmed. "Nova is my true mate. The prophecy Zalira has been going on about? It's about us."
Before Grixxa could respond, Jorixx stomped in, followed by Daz and the rest of the senior crew. They took their usual positions around the circular command table, though I noticed they left more space between themselves than usual. They could sense something important was coming.
I took my place at the head of the table, my tentacles clasped behind my back in what I hoped was a commanding posture. "Thank you for coming," I began. "There's something important we need to discuss."
Jorixx's three eyes narrowed suspiciously. "This is about the alien, isn't it?"
"Her name is Nova," I said firmly, "and yes, this is about her. But it's also about our future—all of our futures."
I took a deep breath, feeling Zalira's presence somewhere in the shadows of the room. "What I'm about to tell you may be difficult to believe, but I ask that you listen with open minds."
I proceeded to explain everything: the mating bond, the prophecy, what it meant for our future. As I spoke, I let my ridges pulse with the emotions I felt, allowing them to see the truth of my words in the colors that played across my scales.
"The sacred texts speak of a union that would bridge worlds," I said. "A bond between species that would bring about great change. Nova and I... we are that union."
"Impossible," Jorixx growled. "Cross-species bonding is a myth."
"No," came Zalira's voice from the shadows. She stepped into the light, her ancient presence commanding immediate attention. "It is rare, yes, but not impossible. I have verified the bond myself. It is true and it is strong."
Murmurs rippled through the crew. Zalira's word carried weight—she was known throughout our sector as one of the most powerful and knowledgeable priestesses alive.
"But what does this mean for us?" Daz asked, his medical training making him more curious than skeptical. "For our mission?"
"It means change," I said honestly. "We can no longer trade in sentient beings. It goes against everything the bond represents. But the prophecy speaks of great riches—different kinds of wealth that will come from bridging worlds and species."
"So we're supposed to give up our way of life because you've fallen for an alien?" Jorixx demanded.
"No," I corrected firmly. "We're supposed to evolve. To become something more than pirates and traders. To help bring about positive change in the universe."
Grixxa stepped forward. "I've seen the bond between them," she said. "It's real, and it's powerful. And if the prophecy is true, this could be the opportunity we've all been waiting for—a chance to make a real difference."
"The bond must be completed properly," Zalira interjected. "That requires a journey to the sacred grove of K'thara."
Another wave of murmurs swept through the crew. K'thara was near our homeworld, a place many of us hadn't visited in cycles.
"Twenty rotations," I said, meeting each crew member's eyes in turn. "That's how long it will take us to reach K'thara. I'm not ordering anyone to make this journey. If any of you wish to leave at our next port, you may do so with my blessing and your fair share of our current holdings."
Silence fell over the command center. I could see them wrestling with the implications, weighing their loyalty against their doubts.
Finally, Daz spoke up. "I'm staying. This is the most fascinating medical opportunity I've ever encountered. A cross-species bond? The biological implications alone...And I still have patients."
"I'm in too," Grixxa said firmly. "Someone needs to keep you from making a complete fool of yourself.