Knacayn: A Terraneu Novel (Book Seven) (5 page)

Kenzie moved along feeling numb from the shock. The port pad on both
Earth and here on
Antilles
were either
destroyed or soon to be
destroyed
. There
would be no going back. She had to find the others of her group and let them
know what was happening. As she had the thought, she spotted them standing
together a short distance away. Rebels on one side, Government faction on the
other. In the middle were a group of males from Terraneu along with some native
Antilleans. Seeing Steph on the edge of the Rebel group talking with Mallex,
she started walking faster. She might as well get this over with. With her
tunnel vision on Steph, she missed Weston as he approached her from the Rebel
side.

“Kenzie! Thank God.” Before she could respond she was wrapped in his
embrace. His arms were strong and comforting. Her head was tucked into his
chest and she felt the tremors running along his body. Or was she the one
trembling? Trying to get control of herself she pulled away.

“Weston.” Smiling
slightly,
she
took his hand and pulled him toward the others. “I am so happy you made it.”
Coming up to the small group of about twenty Rebels she held up her hand.
“Everyone. Can I have your attention…please.” She made sure Steph was listening
also, then she turned to the Government group a short distance away. There were
less of them,
about
ten standing huddled
together.
Sometime
during the
fighting,
the others must have made a run for
their homes. This was everyone that had made it through the portal.

 
“I know I am not your liaison, but
can you please listen for just one moment.”
 
She paused until they quieted and then she told them what she knew.
“Kneus thinks the port pad from Earth has been destroyed. Either to keep the
MAN units from using it or to keep us from returning
through
it, or both. In any
case,
we will not be returning to Earth. In a short
while,
we will all be going to Terraneu.”

As she had expected there was an outpouring of questions.

“Because the port pad on Earth isn’t working, does that mean we can never
go back? There
have
to be other port
pads…some other way…”

“I’m sorry. I am not an expert on the port pads but they are all unique
in which connections they make. With the one on Earth destroyed, there isn’t
any other way back to Earth.
 
Even if a
connection could be made, it is too dangerous. Terraneu will be our home.”

“What about our families and friends on Earth?”

Kenzie squared her shoulders, “We all know humans are resilient. You need
to believe there will be survivors, just like before. The small female named
Star may make headway with the MAN units and at some point in the future we may
learn
of
other survivors on Earth.” Even
if she didn’t have a lot of
hope
this was
true, she had to give these people some peace.

“Will we have to have the change done to live on Terraneu? What if we
don’t want to?”

 
“I think that is something you
will have to ask a council member. If the people of Terraneu could survive on
Earth, we may be able to survive on Terraneu and not have the change.” It had
been assumed the only people going back to Terraneu would be mates. Those men
or women would certainly want the change done. It had never been entertained
anyone going to Terraneu wouldn’t want the change done. Would they be given a
choice? What would she decide if they did? Eight hundred to a thousand years or
another fifty?

 
Holding up her hands she called
for quiet once again. “I just ask, that you please, hold off on your questions
until a male or female from the council can tell us
anything
further.”

Weston pulled her into his arms again and turned her into their group.
“Like Kenzie said, we can wait.” She didn’t argue with him or pull from his
embrace. She was too drained and he was a strong shoulder to lean on. Right now
she needed a friend.

“Thank
you,
Weston.” Her head was
spinning and she was grateful for his strength.

“Even though I was going to choose Mallex and Terraneu in three months, I
never wanted it to be like this.” Steph’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“It’s okay Steph.” Kenzie tried to reassure her friend. Before she could
say anything else they were interrupted.

“We are ready to begin sending your groups to Terraneu.”

Kenzie looked up to see Kniam, Kneus, Knollig, Marcael and Knacayn had
all returned from the command dome.

“Life on Terraneu will be as you expected it to be in the Earth
community. For the males with any questions, please bring them to a male of
Terraneu. Your concerns will be brought to the council. Any female with issues,
please bring those to a female of the community. Your concerns will be brought
to the female council. We will have more information to pass to you in the
months to come. Females will be sent first, and then males. Please arrange yourselves
accordingly.” He gestured at another port pad that was surrounded by Terraneu
males.

Kenzie went to move away from Weston. “I will see you on Terraneu.” She
gave him a small smile over her shoulder as she walked with Steph to the
location Kniam had gestured. Steph paused to give Mallex a lingering kiss and
then they were joining the other women in a line to go onto the port pad.

“Kenzie.” She heard her name and turned in line to see Knacayn walking
toward her. “Can I have a moment after you get settled into your quarters?”

“I’m not sure how long that will take.” Kenzie hesitated. “How will I get
a message to you?”

“The person in charge of showing your living quarters to you will
explain. If you are not successful with using the communication system, the
first Terraneu male you find can relay a message to me in mind.”

“Okay.” The line was moving fast and she stepped along to keep up. “I
will send you a message when I am settled.” She and Steph were in the last
group onto the port pad. Before she knew it, they were going through the portal
and landing on Terraneu.

Knacayn stood there watching the last of the females go through the
portal to Terraneu. Kenzie had waited until the last moment and had just left
Antilles
. Now all that was left of the Earth
refugees was the male populations from the Rebel and Government. Weston was one
of those males.

“You know she will never pick you for a long term partner don’t you?”

Knacayn turned to look at the male when he heard that statement. Weston
was standing next to him watching the next group of males
line
up for the port pad. In spite of himself
he had to ask, “Why do you say that?”

Weston just shrugged and answered without looking at him. “I know Kenzie.
She will immerse herself in serving the refugees. Her guilt will not allow her
to be happy. There is already talk of not having the change and making our own
way on Terraneu.”

Knacayn hadn’t even thought of this possibility and the idea made him
panic a little inside. “That would be a mistake. The original fathers of
Terraneu had a very hard time for thousands of years. Not having the change
done and wandering into the wilds of Terraneu is not the answer to the loss of
your Earth communities.”

It was Weston’s turn to join his group and go onto the port pad. “I guess
we’ll see.” Before Knacayn could comment further Weston was gone.

“
Do not let that male get into your
head.”

Knacayn turned to find Marcael had joined them. “
I know he has feelings for Kenzie, so I consider that fact when
weighing his words.”
He paused and then admitted,
“However, I do find some validity in what he said. Kenzie is very
service oriented and we had been arguing the same things when we were taken by
those MAN units. Kenzie had no desire to come to Terraneu or be in a
partnership with me.”

Marcael just laughed and slapped his shoulder. “
Then you have your work cut out for you. What she wanted is now behind
her. You have to show her what life can be like if she picks you for her mate
.”

“
Your uncles and I will be staying
on
Antilles
for a meeting.”
His
father’s voice rang in his mind. “
You and
Marcael go through to Terraneu and see if your help is needed with the
refugees.”
His father called out to them from where he stood in
conversation
with the Antillean leader and his
uncles. “
We will follow shortly
.”

“
Okay
father,
”
Knacayn answered, then thought to warn him, “
The Earth refugees have been talking and
some are thinking to branch out on their own. There is also talk of refusing to
have the change done.”
He had transmitted the information to his father and
uncles. He saw them exchange startled looks and then his father answered.

“
Thank you for the warning Knacayn.
We should all keep an eye on the refugees and see how things progress. The
shock of today will diminish and their feelings on the matter might change. If
it comes to pass that some of them decide to refuse the change and make their
own community outside of Terraneu…then we will accept that as their choice.”

His Uncle Knollig added, “
We can
have a meeting when they are ready. We can let them know the ramifications of
any decisions they make. For now, we should let things settle down.”

With a bow to where his family stood Knacayn stated,
“I will see if I am needed on Terraneu.”
Turning he went toward the
port pad with
Marcael
by his side. His
brother-in-law was right. He needed to work at making Kenzie want a life with
him. The problem was how to go about it? If what Weston said was true, and he
had a sinking feeling it was accurate, Kenzie would fight any feelings she had
for
him…
if she even had any.

There was one person he could talk to freely about his fears. With that
thought in mind when he landed in the porting dome on Terraneu he immediately
called out to his twin, Knadyn. “
I need
to talk…are you free
?”

“
Yes
.” The answer was instant,
“
I am at The Watering Hole with Ava.
Where are you?”

Knacayn could have kicked himself. He had forgotten for a moment his
brother had a mate. “
Never mind. It can
wait.”

“Knacayn.”
His brother’s voice
was stern. “
Do not make me find you. Ava
is helping to show some of the refugees around and will not miss me. So once
again, where are you?”

Knacayn sighed heavily, “
I will
meet you at the park. Near the practice field…”

“I am on my way now.”

Knacayn turned at the path and walked quickly toward the park. His
brother was mated to an Earth female that used to be part of the Government
faction. If anyone could give him insight into his current predicament it would
be Knadyn. Absentmindedly he answered greetings from other community members.
It seemed everyone was moving about with a refugee or two in tow. When he
arrived at the designated spot it was to see Knadyn striding along the path
toward him.

“
Knadyn.”
He was happy to see
his brother seemed to have recovered completely. “
You are fully recovered?”

“I am.”
They had reached each
other and before he could ask anything further his brother grabbed him into a
bear hug. “Mother filled me in on what happened. You could have all been killed
.”

Knacayn felt the tremor go through his brother and understood. If
anything had happened to their group on Earth, Knadyn would have lost his
parents, brother, sister, two uncles, two aunts and a brother-in-law. They were
very lucky to have survived it.

“
Yes it was a very dire
situation, but we are home now
.”
His
brother pulled back and looked at him aghast.

“A dire situation?” Knadyn started pacing, “Mother said those MAN units
were
unnaturally
strong, with some type
of liquid armor. It is just some fluke Brennae had befriended the STARR unit. I
cannot even imagine what could have happened.”

“I know Knadyn. It is okay. There is something I have to talk to you
about.”

Knadyn seemed to shake himself and then sat down hard on a bench. “I am
sorry Knacayn. I was not able to vent with
mother
since
father
is still on
Antilles
and I did not want to upset her more.
She has been frantically organizing the domes and supplies for the Earth
refugees.” His
brother
wiped nervous
hands on his legs, “Then Aunt Cat and Uncle Knaleg were so angry at the danger
everyone else was in, and they missed it. Not that they would have been any
help.” Knacayn sat next to his brother and waited for him to finish, “Then
there is Ava. She had so many friends back on Earth. She is devastated as well and
trying to hide it. I have been trying to help her as much as possible, but I
think I was just in the way. So when you called…”

“It is okay Knadyn. Everyone is going to be in shock and it will take
some time
to heal. You and Ava are mates. I am
sure she knows you were trying to help.”

His brother took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “I am just so
worried this will bring back bad memories. I love Ava too much to see her
suffering.”

“You will find the right thing to say. Which is one of the reasons I
needed to talk with you. Besides needing to see you were recovered.” He took in
his brother’s
appearance
and noted the
eyes were back to shining, the dark circles
were
gone. His body was thickly muscled and the skin nicely tanned. Being identical
twins Knacayn had felt it deeply when his brother had been tortured. Every
change in his brother was obvious because they had looked so much alike. After
his torture on Earth, their looks no longer matched and it had burned his soul
to see it.

“What is wrong?” Knadyn looked at him intently.

“There is a refugee…” Knacayn started and Knadyn finished.

“Kenzie. I saw the way you interacted at that first meeting in the
Command Tent. Is she the one?”

“The one? You mean the one I am talking about…or ‘the one’ I want for a
mate?” Knacayn hedged.

“Both.” His brother’s bright purple eyes were delving into his.

Knacayn laughed at how quickly his brother got him. “The answer is yes to
both.’

His brother rubbed his chin
thoughtfully
,
“From what I remember, Kenzie was very loyal to her community. Very militant,
in a good way, so do not get angry.” His face had started to flush and he
laughed again. “She was very helpful in getting me rescued. A born
diplomat
or leader or both. So the problem you
are having is, she did not want to leave Earth. The destruction of her
community is going to be a devastating blow and you are not sure how to make
her see you
would
be a perfect mate?”

How had his brother known all of that? “Yes, how did you know?”

“Honestly Knacayn. It is not rocket science. It is just a
basic
observation.” Slapping him on the back
Knadyn continued, “So you need a lesson in Earth women? Here is what you need
to do.
Give
her space, but do not let her
distance herself from the community. Make her feel needed, but do not overwhelm
her with duties. Let her know you want her for a mate, just do not pressure her
with too many demands. Let her keep her friends close, just do not let her shut
herself off from the others. Does any of that make sense?”

Knacayn
listened
as his brother talked. Some of it sounded a bit shaky, but
some of it made sense. “
Yes,
Knadyn.
Thank you for coming to talk with me. I think I have an idea what to do.”

Standing the brothers hugged and then parted. Knadyn made sure to invite
him to his and Ava’s dome in New Haven, the homes for married couples to the
south, the following night.

Knacayn smiled as he headed toward the council domes. He had a fairly
good idea of what to do in the pursuit of Kenzie Kincaid.