All I wanted to feel was my rage.

I had lost my prestige, my men, my ship, and Terra. My anger was the only thing left within my control, so I unleashed it until the bruises on my knuckles bled.

"Jidden, stop," I heard a frail voice attempting to shout. "Punishing yourself won't bring her back."

Lucina entered the training yard, her blonde hair hanging in ungroomed tangles over her petite frame. She looked worried. The world was going topsy-turvy. It was usually me worrying about her.

"Don't defend her. She abandoned you as well," I reminded her, leaving the target behind. I tried to walk past Lucina, but she grabbed my arm. Her hold wasn't strong, but it was an improvement from earlier.

"Have you gotten your appetite back?" I asked.

"I've forced food down, just like you must force down reality. I know things between you and Terra have been strained lately, and you're lost, but you can't let your anger turn you into..."

"What?" I demanded angrily. "I can't let it turn me into the Surtu? Because that's what I am. I am a Surtu soldier who took a pledge to protect his people from extinction. It's about time I acted like it."

"I was going to say Kalij," Lucina said. She spoke of the bastard who claimed her and broke her will. "You can't let your anger turn you bitter, like Kalij."

I was insulted. "Is that what you think of me?"

"No. Of course not. I shouldn't have made the comparison. But I know you're angry, and anger can be misdirected. You hurt because Terra left, but it's not the only thing that hurts you."

"I don't feel like I betrayed my people," I said, knowing where she was headed. "I did the right thing."

"Then why are you so angry?"

"Because I haven't done anything since then!" I shouted, speaking louder than I meant to. "I vowed to find a way to save my people, but what can I possibly do? There's no cure for the disease. Our light can't destroy it. And even though humans and Surtu are capable of loving each other freely, it may not happen in time to save us. Domination is cruel, but it may be the only way for the Surtu to survive. I don't agree with it. I'll continue to resist it, but I don't know another way. My vow is worthless."

"You feel you are worthless as well," Lucina concluded. She stretched onto her tiptoes and put a hand on my cheek. It was platonic, like the touch of a sister, which made it all the more comforting. "You are not worthless, Jidden. You are a hero. Remember that. Not only did you help us escape at great sacrifice to yourself, but when the beacon guided us here, you used your instincts and good judgement to follow it. Because of you, we are safe. Because of you, humanity has hope."

I gently moved her hand away from my cheek. "Humanity has hope, but about the Surtu?"

"You'll figure it out," she maintained. "I believe in you. And so does Terra. She never would have left without you if she didn't think you belonged here."

My anger began to slip away. "You're a lot wiser than you look," I teased.

"Hey!" she protested, shoving me, though I didn't budge. "I'm wise beyond my years."

"Then you won't take it personally when I say that you should stop letting your grief wear you down. You need to build your strength as much as I need to find my purpose. So let's make a pact. No more wallowing in sorrow."

Lucina blinked. I could tell she struggled, but it was an inner battle she had to fight and win. "Okay," she finally agreed. "It's a deal."

"So you'll eat a proper meal tonight, and you'll join me here tomorrow for training?"

"Yes, if you'll stop playing puppy to Godfrey. I know she's a General, but that doesn't mean she knows what's best for everyone. You have as much say as she does. Assert your authority and use it to serve all our people."

"Don't be so hard on Godfrey. She's doing the best she can. We have an understanding. We've both given up our positions in the military to help others escape."

"Yes, you did," Lucina agreed. "You've helped others escape. Now help them live."

Pleasantries were something for other people. Except for the Surtu High Command, I ordered, and people obeyed. The nicest word I'd ever used when addressing others was, "Sir." The only reason I did that was the hope that one day I would be in a position where I never had to call anyone, "Sir," again.

So I appreciated it when Lucina called a meeting on my behalf. We gathered near the lagoon. The waters sparkled beneath the haze of the light rain and the glare of the two suns.

Behind us, in the treetops, we had started construction of the new colony. The wildfire that had driven us away from our old site was gone, extinguished by the rain. The colonists were happier for it, but rebuilding was yet another reminder that none of us were home.

"We can't stay here," I insisted to the small group that gathered mostly military leaders who had abandoned their posts on Earth to lead a new start on the colony, like Godfrey. There were also Surtu in the mix, but our numbers were small.

"This place is all we have," Godfrey objected, tossing her dark blonde hair behind her shoulder. She sent me a look, silently questioning why I had called this meeting without her.

"No, it's not," I said, determined. "We have Earth. And we have Surt. We have our homes. The refuge is all we have for now, but it is not the final solution. We need our homes."

Godfrey huffed. "For that to be a possibility, the Surtu bastards who want to dominate have to leave, and we all know that isn't going to happen anytime soon. The resistance is fighting as hard as they can, but we're losing. So what's the next step? Asking nicely?"

"It was always the plan for the Surtu military to leave Earth. Some soldiers will stay. We need a few to father children and police the planet. The rest will return to Surt, but won't be the end of the invasion. We will transport civilian men to Earth, and they will claim women. It will happen in waves, based on their prestige, and it will be up to each man to decide if he returns home."

Godfrey shook with rage. "So what happens to the women in captivity?"

"They will stay with the Surtu soldiers who used them for children. Those who remain will live semi-normal lives until a male claims them. We would prefer as many women as possible remain to protect the women from exposure to the disease, but it is impossible for everyone to do so. We are not yet ready to say goodbye to our planet. Earth won't know the full force of the invasion until we are."

A man stepped forward. "Our women are immune to the disease. Why does it matter to the Surtu where they are?"

"What kind of a question is that?" Godfrey snapped.

"The more we know, the better."

I answered. "They're immune for now. As children are born, the bloodlines may lose the genetic protection human women have from the disease. The Surtu military will return home, but soon after they will be replaced by wave after wave of civilian men."

Godfrey snapped her fingers. "I think I've got you. As soon as the military leave, that's when we'll kill off the rest of the Surtu and reclaim the capitals."

"No," I said firmly. "Not kill. Just get them to understand."

Godfrey was in disbelief. "When did you become a diplomat and an optimist?"

I was in no mood to entertain her. "I'm not an optimist; I'm an opportunist. We need to move forward. We can do that by continuing our rescue missions, but also by planning for when the Surtu military leaves. If we can get those who remain to see the benefits of peaceful integration, then we might have a chance of negotiating a truce. When that happens, Surtu-human couples will be able to choose where they live. This refuge will no longer be a necessity."

"All good, except for one fatal flaw what about the women the Surtu take with them?" Godfrey asked. "They'll be ripped from their homes. We can't abandon them."

"They already have been ripped from their homes. I know it's difficult," I said, trying to be careful with my wording, "but in a war as big as this, we can't save everyone. Think about it. We have time."

Back in my training yard, I took my frustrations out on the twig-filled target once again. The meeting had gone as well as could be expected, which was poorly. The thought of the others was to continue to outmaneuver the Surtu military by building as many secret colonies as possible, on this planet and others. I knew it would take a considerable effort to convince them otherwise.

All the speaking I was doing about Surt had filled me with a surprising amount of sentiment. One day, I wanted to return to my home planet with Terra. But she would never agree. It was yet another thing about our future that was uncertain and out of our control.

I felt her absence now more than ever. I needed her by my side.

Godfrey appeared from behind the thick foliage, wearing a cropped T-shirt that showed off her tanned stomach above her cargo pants. She moved through the jungle like a cat looking for easy prey. "I like your stamina," she purred.

"Go away," I told her. "I'm not in the mood."

She trailed her hand across a leaf. "I'm in the mood, Jidden, and I have been for a while."

I became tense. I knew what she meant, but I pretended to be ignorant. "What are you playing at, Godfrey?"

"If you ever want to put that stamina to good use, my door is always open. I could use the stress relief." She motioned to my hands, looking at the bruises on my knuckles. "And I'm not the only one."

She left, but her scent lingered in the air.

Frustrated now for an entirely different reason, I punched the target harder than I had before.

TERRA.

I needed to be alone. I thought I could handle the pressure of the last few days, but my mind demanded relief. I was shocked to discover I would be working with the son of the man who hunted me.

I could not believe Kylu and Captain Fore were related. It was a good thing he hadn't told me who he was earlier. If he did, I would have shot him on the spot.

How could my brother call him a friend? It was because of his people that we were at war, and our brother was dead. It was because of his father that darkness had taken over my soul, making it hard to see the light. And it was because of him that our parents were probably slaves. Even if Kylu was not the cause of every bad thing that happened to us, he was responsible for the fate of our parents. I would hold him accountable for that.

I wandered further into the cave, needing some space to myself. I did not want to think. I needed the distraction of exploration.

I was careful. I knew better than to get lost. If I did, I would probably never find my way back, so I left a trail of illumination rocks that I had stolen from the outpost. They glowed softly behind me in electric colors, reminding me that though I wandered, I would eventually have to turn back and face my destiny with Kylu.

I wished Jidden was here. I would feel much safer if he was. Kylu did not scare me, but the possibility that he could inadvertently lead his father here did. I would feel more secure with my lover by my side.

The feeling became stronger when I passed along a ridge and entered a different chamber. It contained a small underground lake. The turquoise waters of the lake were lit by white crystals above it, deeply embedded in the top of the cave where discreet rays of sunshine poked through. Tentatively, I dipped a bare toe into the water, testing the temperature, and I inhaled. There was a fragrance in the chamber that smelled of heavy mineral deposits. When I lifted my toe out of the water and saw that it was unharmed, I guessed it was safe to swim.

I eagerly removed my clothes and waded into the waters. The lake was tepid. It caressed my body, surrounding my flesh with its warmth, including the folds of my core. I moved, dancing in the water, enjoying its touch. It felt smooth and relentless.

It reminded me of a day not long after my arrival when Jidden and I had explored the area surrounding the refuge. We found a watering hole similar to this lake. The water was fresh and welcoming, unlike the acidity of the ocean. Alone, sheltered by the dense jungle foliage, we stripped naked, the light rain coating our sun-kissed bodies, and we entered the water.

It did not take long before Jidden pulled me in close to him. He lifted both of his hands to my face and kissed me with the passion of a lover desperate to feel my body. I pressed myself into him, delighted by the stiffness of his cock as it passed through the water and pressed against my navel. The tip of his cock was warm and smooth on my skin, much like the water I swam in now.

Thinking of Jidden, of his dark hair and toned, muscular body, I reached down and touched myself. I massaged my clit with a soft stroke as I immersed myself into the memory of making love in the watering hole.

As Jidden kissed me, I took his cock into my hand, wrapping my fingers around it as best I could. He had the cock of a bull. In my hand, it was large and swollen. I loved that I could make Jidden so fully aroused that he grew because of me.

With the water as a natural lubricant, I pumped my hand, keeping my navel pressed against the tip of his cock, feeling his wetness escape him. It was sticky against my slick skin.

The more I pleasured him, the harder he kissed me. While his tongue entwined with mine, he took my breasts into his hands and circled my nipples with his palms, grabbing for my flesh the way I did his. I moaned, my knees weak with desire.

Remembering Jidden's touch, I rubbed my clit harder, praying with blissful angst that Jidden would appear and take me now the way he had then.

Letting his hands fall, Jidden picked me up and took my breast into his mouth. He sucked hard then flicked his tongue across my sensitive nipples. My hips, core, and legs were submerged in water that continued to move in tender currents across my skin. I climaxed in his arms, coming into the water as my body shuddered with joy.

With his lust for me radiating within the flecks of light in his eyes, Jidden used my wetness to slip me over his cock. I gasped. With his cock filling me, and the water caressing me more intimately than before, it was like having two lovers pleasuring me, awakening my body to a new extreme.

With his massive strength holding me up, Jidden thrust his hips forward, entering a deeper part of me. I screamed when he did it a second time, the tip of his cock penetrating the back of my sex. He continued to thrust, his movements liquid and euphoric, until a tide of ecstasy ebbed within me then burst forward, seizing my body, lifting me up into a haze of bliss. Jidden came with me, releasing his love inside me.

Standing in the underground lake of the cave, I plunged my fingers into myself until I came, radiating my release as brightly as the crystals above. At that moment, I felt Jidden. I could sense how much he wanted me by his side. He called for me across the universe, our love knowing no bounds.

As I skimmed the ridge on my return to the outpost, I ran into Kylu. He was the last person I wanted to see, especially after the glow I felt leaving the lake. Despite the charming smirk he never seemed to shake, his presence was a warning sign, reminding me slavery was a fate worse than death.

"Hey, cupcake," he called out. "Daniel is looking for you."

Trapped on the ridge, with the cave wall on one side and a wide chasm on the other, there was no way to maneuver around him. "Next time, tell my brother to send someone more worthy."

He laughed. "Glad to see you're still keeping it feisty. Did you find the crystal cave?"

I stepped forward to keep walking, but he didn't budge. He wasn't trying to intimidate me. He just wanted to talk. I wasn't willing to give him the chance. "It's none of your business where I go. How did you find me, anyway?"

He pointed down at the illumination rocks. "It was an easy trail to follow. No one comes down here anymore. This war has everyone disenchanted. It's good to see someone can still appreciate the beauty of the caves despite the dust."

I didn't answer him. Instead, I gave him a slight push. "Move," I said. "My brother needs me."

He honored my request and shifted forward, but before we stepped into the passage leading away from the ridge, he turned back towards me. There was the usual twinkle in his golden brown eyes, but when he spoke, he was serious. "Listen, Terra. I understand why you hate me. I know what my father did to you. I know it isn't easy to forgive someone who took your family captive. I will continue to help your brother find your parents, and I will always have your back. You can count on me. You, Commander Terra Lynch, are my redemption."

Speechless, I brushed past him and stormed forward, following the illumination rocks back to the outpost. I wouldn't forgive him so easily. Family bonds were strong.

Though Captain Fore was a cruel bastard, I didn't believe Kylu could turn away from his father so easily. One day, his father would test the loyalty of his son, and I didn't want to be a pawn in the middle when it happened.

Kylu remained silent behind me. He followed me like a ghost, refusing to leave until I was safe at the outpost again.

"Our next mission is rescuing a group of slaves assigned to fields within the eastern grasslands," Daniel told me. He sat on the cot opposite of me in the sleeping quarters.

Tonight, no one was sleeping. Everyone was awake, preparing for the battle to come. "It's a little more than a rescue mission. They are slaves to a High Commander, who has claimed the land as his personal retreat. The slaves will be leaving. The High Commander and his men will not."

"I'll go with you," I said quickly, before Daniel had a chance to assign me elsewhere or order me to stay behind.

"Of course you will," he replied. "Just don't get yourself killed. After this is over, we need to find our mother."

"And what of our father?" I asked. I was afraid he had information he was not sharing with me.

"We believe it is likely our parents are in different locations. I don't know what has happened to Dad. The best we can hope for is that they enslaved him instead of killing him outright. We know that Mom is alive. She is a warrior, like you, but she needs our help more."

"Okay," I agreed. "We'll look for our mother first, after we rescue the slaves in the grasslands."

Daniel shifted uncomfortably on the cot. "Kylu will be with us. I don't expect you to get along with him, but I do expect you to refrain from murdering him."

I scowled. "Can't you order him away?"

"I'm not in charge here, Terra. I'm not a Commander, like you. But even if I was in command, I'd let him stay. I know he hasn't proven himself to you, but I have seen him in action. Do you know why he was at the house the day you met?"

"Enlighten me," I said cynically, folding my arms.

"That's where he goes to think. Kylu is like my brother. He knows the pain his actions have brought. The house reminds him of the people he hurt, like our parents, and keeps him motivated to fight our cause."

I wasn't impressed. "As opposed to what? Rejoining his father?"

"He would never do that. He has no loyalty left to the Surtu. From what you've told me of Jidden, Kylu is nothing like your light bonded. Kylu does not care about saving his people. He detests them. He's not part of the network; he's part of the resistance."