Chapter 3 #2
My ovaries are exploding, despite the fact that I know I am physically unable to become pregnant and give birth to biological children of my own.
This has caused me to give up entirely on the idea of having children, ever.
I assumed I wasn’t even meant to adopt in the future.
And yet I can’t keep my eyes off this massive, hostile warrior, covered in toddlers, building block towers and letting small half humans climb all over him.
I suddenly find myself wishing I had children too.
What is wrong with me?
I’m an independent woman on a mission to write stories that illuminate the human condition, as well as save other humans from fraud and abuse. I don’t date much, always too busy with my career. Since when do I linger on thoughts of motherhood and find a man playing with children attractive?
“This place was falling apart when I arrived,” Lila continues. “The brothers had been demoted, ostracized. They were living in the worst quarters on the planet.”
I glance around, confused. “These were the worst quarters on the planet? But it’s so nice here…”
“I did a lot of cleaning, gardening, decorating and even ordered some remodeling. We’ve all worked hard to make it that way.”
I steer carefully toward the cold case. “You mentioned earlier that the family was almost destroyed. I understand the brothers lost their parents...”
Lila’s expression changes to sadness and caution.
Across the room, Texon’s shoulders tense. He’s still holding Rux, but he’s listening now. Watching.
“That’s not really my story to tell,” she says quietly. “I wasn’t here when it happened.”
“But you’ve seen how it affects them?”
“Every day.” Her voice drops. “The brothers don’t trust easily, any of them, and they have good reason.”
“The brothers who were there that night when it happened, do you think any of them would be willing to talk to me about it?”
“You’d have to ask them,” Lila says carefully.
“Ines is only here for the love stories.” Texon’s voice cuts across the room. “And nothing else.”
I exhale, annoyed. I’d love to be able to just sit with at least one of the brothers and hear their side of the story.
I’ve read all there is to learn from the news accounts at the time, but I’m certain those don’t tell the whole story of what happened to their parents that night.
None of them certainly think their eldest brother, Daxon, killed their own parents.
They think they were framed and treated terribly.
By whom? And if Daxon didn’t kill their parents, who did?
Any why hasn’t this mystery been solved yet?
I decide to take it down a notch though and wait to come again at this from a different angle. “I’d like to see the mine,” I say instead. “Would you take me?”
Texon studies me for a long moment. Something shifts in his expression, surprise, maybe, that I changed tactics. “Fine. We’ll go after Lila’s settled with the children.”
We quietly walk to public transport together, taking the same route the crew took earlier.
I very much want to grill Texon with a series of questions about his past and present life here on Timbur, but I’m sensing it’s best to take things slow with this male.
I’m truly not here to send back a sensational article about his family.
My job is to send back a terrific, detailed article about the human brides on Timbur.
The other article about his parents is on the side and if it’s not completed, no one will be the wiser.
But if I can break this cold case and help become the catalyst for this family to finally receive justice in order to settle old wounds, that would be amazing.
And if I can write a kick ass article about it, that helps the peacekeepers to jail criminals, that would be fabulous too.
I take a deep breath and look up at the sky, with a smile on my face. I’d seen this small mining community, the front of this compound and the street during the drive over with Chief yesterday afternoon but walking this morning gives me a better perspective.
The air is warm and faintly humid, carrying the scent of flowers and recent rain.
Vibrant green vegetation crowds the pathway, colorful flowers bursting from every corner in shades I’ve never seen on New Earth.
There are deep purples, electric blues and a flower with red petals so bright it almost glows.
The sky stretches wide and endless overhead, a clear blue streaked with wisps of white cloud, and in the distance I can make out the faint outline of two green moons, still visible in the daylight.
It’s wild and lush, completely unlike the crowded streets of Singapore, where every inch of space is claimed by buildings, people and noise.
Texon walks beside me, his massive frame eating up the pathway with easy strides. Residual puddles of water dot the pavement from what must have been an earlier storm.
A jungle planet, I think, with wide open skies. The journalist in me is already composing sentences for my article. Readers would love learning of the exotic beauty of the only place in the four sectors where Illibrium can be found.
We quickly arrive at the transport station and enter a sleek, modern cabin.
We sit side by side, with Texon allowing me the window seat.
He draws stares from other passengers and I learn that everyone seems to know the Fever Brothers.
Some nod in respect. Others look away quickly. He ignores all of it.
“We will be there soon. It doesn’t take all that long to reach the mine.”
The doors close and we zip away, moving swiftly across the little community. He’s not kidding. I’m surprised at how quickly we arrive at the famous Timbur mine and I gape at the scale.
The massive Minecorp admin building rises before us, the ground level of the entire operation. Through the doors, I can see crowds of Xylan moving in organized chaos. The noise reaches us even out here.
We step out of the cabin and soon we are inside the actual mine. I gasp at the sudden onslaught of sound and sensation.