Chapter Three

Whispered words oozed into Jimmy’s ear as a soft, warm hand slipped over his mouth, “It’s me. Mul-Rok sent us. We have to get out of here tonight.”

The dream still burned in Jimmy’s mind as he rolled out of the bed, his feet falling soundlessly to the frosty floor. He could feel the skin-like energy suit he wore come to life as soon as he left the warmth of the thermabed. The suit was the only thing protecting his sensitive earth-grown skin from the harsh Terra winters. It had been ten years since that fateful night when he decided to leave Earth with Mul-Rok and come to Terra. Ten years…

Jimmy grabbed the two leather satchels held out for him while his eyes adjusted to the darkness in the bunkhouse. And as his night vision kicked in, Jimmy smiled. The nanite implants proved worth the three days of blindness he’d suffered through. He focused on the massive blue hand holding the satchels and looked up into the grinning face of Hima, his hulking, prankster of a bodyguard from the planet Nevar.

Everything Hima had ever told him about Nevar suddenly rushed into his mind. The frigid ice planet he once called home had been vaporized when the sun in its solar system went Red. Hima was one of the last of his kind, a gentle blue giant without a home, without a race. Hima reminded him of Dr. Henry McCoy, the X-Men’s Beast. He had a mind for science, a knack for fighting when the situation required, and a sense of loyalty second to none.

Jimmy imagined Hima was the best of everything his race had to offer, blue skin and all. He felt lucky to have his friendship, a friendship forged his very first day on Terra.

Mealtime was the only time when all the Select Few came together from their respective Millennium programs. Even their Terraling Masters knew meshing together all the many races they’d gathered throughout the galaxy would create problems, the biggest problem being the death of one of the Select. Gathering new Select was a dangerous business for the Terralings, a price they paid willingly but one they tried to avoid. Mealtimes were the exception and Hima had been there at Jimmy’s first mealtime when a trio of Graumalings decided they should get a second plate of food before Jimmy had gotten his first. Jimmy stood his ground, but if Hima hadn’t stepped in when he did, the beating he would have gotten might have been the last. As it happened, Hima was more than up for the action and after that, Jimmy's problems with anyone ceased.

“So, you’re sleeping in that pansy-suit now, I see.”

“Well, if you hadn’t made the thing so comfortable…”

“Shhh. What part of this makes you think we’re playing a game?” The sweet chastisement came from the perfect lips of the most beautiful girl Jimmy had ever seen. Julz-Rok was Mul-Rok’s daughter, his youngest daughter of age, as he had been reminded one time when inquiring about her. A Terraling’s youngest daughter of age was taken into the Covenant for service to their God. There could be no marriage, no children, and all ties to family were severed at anointment. Julz took him, once, to the Temple to show him what her life would be like. He knew it was a life she didn’t want…for a lot of reasons.

“Hey Earthling. You’re skin's turning red. That suit too hot?”

Hima was always quick to point out the obvious, especially if it meant making someone a bit uncomfortable. Jimmy flashed the grinning brute a stern look. They both knew how strong Jimmy’s feelings were for Julz. Neither knew for sure how Julz felt. Jimmy suspected there was something there, but she was a Terraling, the daughter of their Master, and destined for religious servitude. Even if she did feel something, Jimmy knew she would never act on it. She couldn’t.

“Enough. Let’s go.” As she spun to lead them out of the room, the long braid of silvery-white hair hanging over her shoulder, swung to her back. She wore an energy suit as well, also a gift from Hima, although it looked rather amazing on her.

She really was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, flawless.