Heritage (Under Revision)

Chapter 16 - Leon

“Ouch!”

“Shh!”

“I stubbed my toe!” Stella exclaims quietly. She and I stayed up until midnight working on the Krakens.

“Are you ok?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go, we’re not far from my module. I’ll be fine the rest of the way if you need to get to your—”

“Not a chance, Stells. I’m not leaving you to get busted on your own for curfew. Your HabMod is right up here anyways, I’ll be fine,” I reply helping her retain her balance and handing.

Stella and I held hands the whole way to her Habmod, and instead of being all nervous and sweaty, it actually felt quite natural to me.

“Uh, Stella?” I say in a shy tone as we reach the door of her Habmod.

“Yeah?”

“Well...I was wondering if maybe...well if you’re not doing anything that is...uh...” I stop and take a deep breath and look in her eyes, determined to finish my sentence.

“What is it, Leon?”

“Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow?” I say finishing my question still staring into her beautiful, deep eyes.

She continues staring into my eyes before she finally snaps out of her reverie and answers.

“I’d love to, Leon.”

“Great. Uh...how does dinner and a movie sound? In the ship-town, of course. I can probably borrow Dad’s Hydra,”

“That sounds perfect. I’ll... I’ll see you tomorrow then,” she says to me as she kisses me on the cheek. She then gives me a smile and reluctantly removes her hand from mine.

As she closes her door, she gives me a wave and I give a smile back before turning around and heading to my own Habmod. But first, I decide to give the good news to my parents. I burst into their room with an excited look on my face.

“Mom! Dad! You are not gonna believe what just happened!” I yell, turning the lights on.

“Leon...I swear to you this better be good or I’m confining you to your Habmod for a week.”

“Okay okay. I’ll tell you. You’re gonna love this!”

“Leon...”

“I need to borrow...”

“Leon...”

“The Hydra because...”

“Leon!” my dad finally yells, obtaining my attention.

“Calm...down.”

“Okay dad...I’m calm,” I say taking a deep breath.

“Good. Now what’s this about needing to borrow the Hydra?”

“Well...I asked Stella to my party, as well as asked her to be my date for the party. Plus, I asked her on a date tomorrow...well...today. And I need to borrow the Hydra since there’s no other way of transportation there.”

My father looks at my mother and she slowly grins and nods her head. My father then keys my TAPS into the ignition systems for the Hydra.

Alright Leon. You wreck it though, and I’m literally going to take it out of your ass.”

“I know dad. Thanks!” I say, leaving the room skipping like a school boy.

After reaching my own Habmod, I take a shower, brush my teeth and fall into my bed, stretching my feet out and flexing them to remove any stiffness.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, retaining a smile on my face, thinking of how tomorrow night is going to pan out.

I really hope this means that we’re dating now. I’ve wanted to be with her for God knows how long and now I finally have a chance. I’m psyched enough as it is, but if we’re actually dating, that’ll just add the topping on to everything. I slowly drift into a deep, comfortable sleep, still thinking these thoughts even in my dreams.

“And next week we will be discussing the terrestrial amphibians, starting with the Lanutan species first. For now, I’d like you all to partner up, I don t care who with, and brainstorm for your upcoming Jovian mammals’ projects. Whoever you pick as your partner today, will be your partner for the project and you both will earn the same grade,” Instructor Varns says, sitting back down at her desk.

Everyone then begins to scramble around, trying to be partners with the people they have crushes on or the hottest guy or girl in the class, acting like a bunch of animals.

I see Stella look at me and I motion for her to join me. As she walks over to me Tim Jameson and Joe Marshall walk in front of her. Marshall connects hard into Stella with his shoulder and it knocks her things out of her hands.

It takes a lot for me to not stand up and beat the hell out of him right there, but I manage to suppress my anger and make my way over to Stella.

“Don’t let them know it bothers you, Stells, don’t give them that satisfaction. It just makes them seem more important,” I whisper to her.

After sitting down, we settle on having a slide show for our project, in which we talk the class through the information. The rest of the class period consists of us talking about the Krakens and my party.

I make sure not to give too many details away so that Stella and everyone can be just as excited as I am when they arrive.

“So, what do you want for your birthday?” Stella asks me.

“Stells, you don’t have to get me anything for my birthday. You’re already going as my date, and that’s more than I could ask for,” I reply placing my hand over hers and giving her a smile.

“Leon, it’s your eighteenth birthday, of course I’m going to get you something. And I’d be your date even if it wasn’t your party,” Stella lacing her fingers with mine. I can see the nervousness and alien feeling at the gesture of her holding my hand.

Stella, it’s ok to hold my hand. It’s not like we’re making out or anything,” I whisper to her tightening my grip on her hand.

I just didn’t know if we’re, I mean if you...I just don t know what we are, really, so I didn’t know if that was...acceptable,” Stella says stuttering with her words.

“Well, we can figure that out on our date later. Are we still on for tonight? I was thinking I could pick you up around six at your mod? That way we can have a decent dinner instead of that slop they serve in the Mess Hall, I reserved us a booth at Nova. It’s kind of fancy, Ma and Dad go there all the time,” I say giving a grin to her.

“That sounds great, I’ll be ready by then.

The rest of the class seems to pass as normal, with a few faint laughs coming from across the room from Jameson and Marshall. After the class is dismissed, Stella and I walk to each of our classes together, I even join her and her friends at their table for lunch, earning strange looks from my friends at my usual table.

After classes ended for the day, we reluctantly said goodbye and went our separate ways to get ready for the date that was occurring later on. It took almost as long as it would for a girl to get ready.

Between making sure my uniform is perfectly creased in the right spots and that my breath smelled good, my hair didn’t look crazy and my shoes were nice and shined.

Before heading to Stella’s Habmod, I decide to consult my father on how I looked. I walk to his office and knock on his door. I enter at his word to come in and I ask him how I look.

“Well, I think you look ready for your date son,” he says.

“Awesome. Well, I guess I better go now, I don’t wanna be late for the date I asked for,”

“That’s true. Have fun Leon and show Stella a good time, okay?”

“Of course dad,” I reply as I leave his office.

As I enter Stella’s Habmod I see the most beautiful sight that I have ever laid my eyes upon.

“Wow,” I say barely forming the words, Stella, you& you look amazing.

“Thank you, Leon. You look pretty great too,” she replies, smirking and biting her lower lip.

“These are for you,” I say handing her the flowers that I got her. “Your HabMod is really nice.”

“Thanks, it’s hard to keep it cleaned and organized with classes and extra projects and stuff, but I guess it helps that I’m hardly ever here anyways,” Stella replies smiling at me.

“Uh, well...Dad let me borrow his Hydra, so& if you’re ready, then so am I”

“Yeah, let me just put these in some water,” she says using a water glass to substitute for an actual vase.

“Ready.”

I offer her my arm, and after she takes it, we head down to the hangar talking about things here and there. Once we reach the hangar, I lead her to the Hydra, in which she stares in amazement at.

“Wow...”

“Pretty sweet, eh? Dad rarely lets me borrow it, but I did some pretty good convincing. Wasn’t too hard once I told him I was using it to take you out,” I say, smiling at her.

I open the Hydra with my TAPS and open the door for Stella, being as gentlemen-like as possible. I enter the vehicle myself and start it up. As we leave the runway, I can see Stella stare in amazement at the ground below. She must really love flying like me. She really seems to be continuously more perfect for me every day.

As we land and stop, I’m immediately at her door and opening it for her. As she takes my hand and help her out of the Hydra, I notice that she seems pale and a bit sickly looking.

She must just be nervous.

We hold hands the whole way to Nova. Once arriving, I confirm my reservation for two and the waitress shows us our booth. I choose rather to sit next to Stella than sit across from her. I take Stella’s hand and turn to her with a smile.

“What would you like to eat? Anything you want,” I tell her.

“I think I’ll have the soup and salad,” she replies after looking at the menu for a moment. That s all? You sure you don t want a steak, maybe some lobster?

“Really, soup and salad are plenty. Thank you, though,” Stella replies to me still not looking like she feels very well.

“Alright then,” I say as the waitress comes to take our orders. I take the liberty of ordering for both of us, trying to be a gentleman again.

“I know you said that’s all you want, but you have to try a breadstick, they’re great. Ma loves them,” I say as the waitress gives us the complimentary ice water.

Stella and I talk about the Krakens and Terrestrial Creatures class. We joke and laugh about the so-called friendship between Jameson and Marshall.

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Stella says laughing.

“I love your laugh, Stells,” I say to her rubbing my thumb over her cheek and smiling at her.

I tried to be stealthy and slide in closer to her without her knowing, but I think she figured that out already. I see this as my chance to finally do what I’ve wanted to do. I lower my face to hers and slowly start to move in, getting less than an inch from her face. Just as Stella closes her eyes to accept the kiss, the waitress decides to show up and completely ruin the moment.

I don’t know if Stella or the waitress realized it or not, but I gave that waitress one of the dirtiest looks I have ever given anyone. The waitress annoys the crap out of me.

As we begin to eat our food, I see Stella suddenly push hers away from her face.

“Are you ok, Stells?” I ask concernedly.

“Yeah, I’m fine...the soup’s just hot,” she replies grabbing a breadstick to try and hide the fact that there’s something wrong.

“Oh wow, these are good.”

“Told you,” I reply with a smirk.

“Smartass,” she says to me, grinning. I notice her then clench her stomach in pain.

“Stella, are you sure you’re ok? What’s wrong?” I ask as I refrain from eating and place my hand on her forehead.

“You re burning up, Stells!”

“I...I’ll be fine, I don t want to ruin our date. I just have a bit of a stomachache.”

“Stella, I’m more concerned about your health than our date. We can go on a date anytime, but if you’re sick, I’m taking you to the infirmary right now,” I reply, pulling out my wallet and putting a few bills no the table.

“Leon, I don t—”

“Stells, look at me. You re a horrible liar, I can tell you’re sick. I thought you looked pale when you stood up from the Hydra earlier, but I passed it off as you being nervous. Looks like my ego got the better of me again, eh? Old habits die hard,” I say as she gives me a grin before grabbing her stomach in pain once more.

“Ok, that s it. I’m taking you back to base right now. You’re seeing the nurse,” I say putting my foot down and offering her my hand.

“Is everything ok here?” our waitress asks with concern.

“She’s not feeling very well, but thank you, the money’s on the table.”

She walks beside me slowly as we make our way back to the Hydra, one arm firmly around my waist.

“Leon?”

“Yeah, Stells?”

“Talk about something. Anything, I don t care what it is. What did you do today?” Stella asks me as she dabs the sweat from her forehead.

“Well, I think, Oh, uh...I got made Senior Cadet yesterday. I forgot to tell you between all the excitement with the Kraken project and you accepting my date offer.” Stella stops and looks at me with curiosity.

“Stells, are you ok?” I ask.

“I& you& you got made Senior Cadet yesterday? So did I. Your Dad appointed me, she says, turning to me.

Uh, yeah. You did? Dad never told me. What squad are you commanding now?

Omega, Stella answers to my surprise.

What?! That s my squad. Why wouldn t Dad tell me& ah. I m going to kill him, I say grinning.

I don t understand.

Dad put us on the same squad. We re co-captains, basically. I think he did it because we re the best& uh, not to sound arrogant& and he knows that Omega needs the most work. I m not opposed if you re not. I think we can whip those sorry bastards into shape, we do make a good team, I say, explaining to her.

I think it s a great idea, Leon. I& I really enjoy working with you, she says to me as I notice her still holding her stomach.

Oh! I m sorry, I forgot you weren t feeling good for a moment there. Let s get you back to the base.

We make our way to the Hydra and I quickly and carefully help her in. After making the fast trip back I help her to the infirmary where Nurse Lila greets us and quickly show Stella to a bed.

Cadet, you ll have to wait just over there please. I need to help her into a gown, the nurse says to me.

Oh! Yeah, sure, no problem, I say turning around just slightly blushing as Nurse Lila draws the curtain around Stella’s bed and helps her into the gown.

I ll be back in just a moment with some fever medicine and something to settle your stomach, dear. Cadet, you may come back now, Nurse Lila says speaking through the curtain. I pull the curtain back slightly and step through, taking a seat on one of the chairs next to the bed.

Thank you for bringing me here, Leon. I m so sorry I ruined our date. I knew I shouldn t have visited Monica when she was sick. I should ve had the sense to take a biotic blocker afterwards at least, Stella says to me, somewhat rambling.

Stells, you re too hard on yourself. I told you earlier, we can have a date anytime you want, I just want you to feel better, I say to her giving a smile and kissing her on the forehead. Get some rest, ok? I ll be here when you wake up.

Leon, you don t have to do--

I know, but I want to know you re ok.

As Stella starts to reply Nurse Lila comes back with medicines and a biotic blocker for me.

Biotic blocker, take that or I ll have to ask you to leave.

“Yes, ma am,” I say without objection. I can see Stella starting to fall asleep as I stroke the hair from her forehead.

*************************************************************

The night became very long after that. I stayed up with Stella all night until she finally settled and I passed out in a chair. Somehow, I feel Stella staring at me and I slowly open my eyes.

“How’re you feeling?” I ask, moving to the bedside.

“Much better. Thank you for bringing me here last night, Leon.”

“Of course, sweetheart,” I say blushing somewhat at the name I gave her and kissing her forehead.

As I start to turn away Stella takes hold of my neck and presses her forehead to mine. I stand there, not moving an inch as she tilts her head back and looks into my eyes.

“Stella,” I whisper as she closes the space between us and presses her lips to mine.

I feel that same feeling of electricity run all throughout my body and it feels as if the kiss last for an eternity before Stella ends the kiss and stares into my eyes.

I press my forehead to hers again and hold her as if I’m never going to see her again.

*************************Meanwhile***************************

Cadet Marshall stands in front of his bathroom mirror examining the thing that he is.

“Look how disgusting I am,” he says to himself.

He presses a button on a small device and the human flesh disappears as if it’s just a phantom.

“Ah, there we go.”

He grins in the mirror, showing his grotesque, serrated teeth. His eyes are bright neon orange with eyelids that close horizontally rather than vertically. His body is in resemblance to a human, but with differences. His flesh is a pale green with two-inch spikes jutting out from his spinal column all the way down to his lower back.

His skin is of a rougher texture, like that of a reptile. His muscle build is identical to a human’s, only the muscles themselves are of a larger size then a human’s due to the fact that Sekrid are naturally taller and larger than a human.

Marshall continues to examine himself in the mirror when he receives a text from Jameson.

J.M.

new info on Blake’s spawn

I’ll be in touch

T.J.

Marshall chuckles to himself as he reactivates his cloaking device and leaves his Habmod “I wonder what Jameson has for me,” he says to himself.