Chapter 6: Clearing The Air

It's been days since she has been down there. In the little lab basement. Everything her mother said ringing and replaying in her ears. Feeling a little heart broken and confused. The only time she came up was when she needed to shower or use the bathroom or to take calls from her friends and texts from her father. Quinn and the others dropping off some little things just to check in on her. She still hasn't answered or responded back to Jaxon. As she told him that day she wanted a few days for him to rethink everything over. Even though her father made it perfectly clear no matter what she thought this was still going to happen it was just to much to deal with at the moment she just wanted to focus on the matter at hand.

All the information she was finding out was overwhelming. Her mind keeps going back to the damn alien man who is still maybe roaming around her lab. What was she supposed to do now that she can speak, understand, read and write in their damn language. It's not like he can add that in her resume under special skills. She has to go back to the lab today in a few hours. The sun is coming up and she is still down below watching her mothers videos there's enough to keep her busy for weeks maybe a month in total. Thinking since the video is almost over she will o make herself look like less of a zombie before work don't need anyone on her case today.

"Well now that I got that out of the way I need you to understand a few important things. One is this Night plant I will go over more of it later but right now just make sure no matter what you keep this little guy growing and in plenty of stock. Trust me you need this more than anything else in the whole lab throughout the building. I will go into more detail about it later but PLEASE take great care of it. Knowing you and the way this flower looks I'm guessing it's probably your favorite now anyway." Her mother laughed sliding the plant away from view of the camera.

She did know her so well. Now I want to tell you a bit of what happened recently-ish the main problem we are having here in the lab. You already know we are not alone in this world. There is just no way. I mean if our planet which is just a drop in the bucket compared to all the rest of the majestic things in this universe has life on it than there has to be others. Right I mean that was always the main thought and theory. You know what baby girl we were right. We were right hundreds of times over." Taking a deep breath.

"Now don't get me twisted her honey. It's not that we weren't careful and even scared a little bit when we encountered most of them we were. Hell after learning about their advances not only in technology but in life we have every right to be. However it's amazing to know that we are actually a superior species. That's what we learned working and dealing with the hundred of alien species. EARTH IS INVALUABLE! Yup you heard me right."

"Other planets are so similar to ours it's crazy how they mirror each other to be almost the same. Only problem and difference is certain plants they need to keep their planets population living can only be grown here. All of the species knew that. So over the years the experimented with us on little test. They used some humans like pharaohs and old kings to enslave people and similar things to see if maybe they can use us as natures keeper in a way but on their terms it did not go well."

With wars, depression, droughts and other horrible things the lands were not as prosperous as they all needed it to be. Hundreds of years ago they came across a farmer family with many children. They were a sweet beautiful family who kept to themselves mostly but were free and happy they tended to the crops around them with love and care. Even saw how the young daughters would sing and speak to the plants like they were friends. After speaking to the head farmer he told them they were happy living their lives freely. They had peace in their home their land was home. That's when they figured out if they just let us be on our own nature would be just fine for the most of it. Well they were kind of right until the outbreaks happened."

"This world all but destroyed each other I am so grateful you were to young to remember most of it. I pray to whatever higher power can hear us none of you will ever remember that time. Once everything came into light for us here it became more than a mission for me to take my job to another level and that's why everywhere herbs, trees, flowers, and plants are now met with the outmost care. See we can do something the aliens can not do themselves we can keep everything fertile."

Yup that's right apparently we were not the only ones who are in a reproduction crisis at the time. Hundreds of aliens were coming to us to help cure their males and females to make sure they can start to reproduce. Apparently the need to carry on a species or race of alien is something we all strive for. Here's the thing I kept reminding your father who's ego was starting to expand the more they came to us for help. They need the materials of this planet. However they didn't need humans to be around to care for it. They can just as easily train and use their own people. So I had to remind him over and over to dial back his alpha instinct about MY LAB!"

It turns out even other dimensions and galaxies have a hierarchy system and they all answer to one superior alien race the D'marlians. They are the kings of kings. Their technology and people can wipe out planets and species as easy as a flick of a wrist. They are a very resourceful and smart race they can do things with their minds that no other being can. It's like what superheroes are made of. They came to us and told us everything. Not to mention other aliens have mentioned them before. It was only a matter of time before they would come.

It was something that struck fear into my core yet I was afraid it was weird how seeing them for the first time hit me. Their dark grey skin and blackish grey armor covering certain parts of their bodies. They keep mask on them at all times. But you can see their eyes and mouths They are tall and well build. Their very presence screamed power and demanded respect and authority. Something just pissed your dad off instantly. It took me a million times over their stay here to reel him back to his side of the line."

Like I said they needed the planet not us. However we managed to make deals with them and I think so far it was working out well. No other alien race was allowed to come back to our planet they would have to go to theirs directly and get what they needed they had hospitals all over their planet and galaxies to help with the same problems we all face. We were more than thrilled for that. It was starting to get hard to hide the aliens and UFO's and other things from the human people. The last thing we needed was for the rest of the world to find out and go back into global panic."

"Im running out of time baby girl I will tell you more soon. Just remember if you come across one they do what the do for a reason and don't be close minded to them. Don't close yourself up in fear of the unknown to you. Because think about Ana everything in life is unknown at one point to you. You just have to have the courage to give it a try. You will always have regrets if you never give something a try first. Who knows whether it will be good or bad. The best or worst thing you ever do. Life is all about experiences those experiences are how we grew into who we are meant to become. You are meant to become someone truly incredible. Love you Ana." Her mother said blowing her a kiss.

It killed her watching these random videos none of them are in order. It's strange some of them her mother would read the letters she sent home aloud. Making her cry. Others would show her gifts she sent her and gifts she sent back. Even Aunt Paige would be in a couple of videos as they maintained the garden. Getting up and getting ready she couldn't help but look around her pantry sighing to herself she grabbed some things. Just in case. Looking at her phone she grabbed her things and went to work. Being excited she passed through no one knew if she would return today or tomorrow so she was so happy not running into anyone. No one was even on guard yet for the negative 15th floor.

Walking into the lab it looked empty she made sure to put her fake illusion through the windows. It was the best thing she ever did. Checking on everything in the lab she knew she couldn't leave the plants to be unattended for longer than they have been. However they looked great they have been well cared for which only mean tone thing. Taking a deep sigh and sitting down looking over the work on her desk. Going through the paper work knowing very well she isn't the one to play dumb games so she stopped holding back.

"How long are you going to keep hiding in the shadows like a coward?" All of a sudden a very tall dark grey familiar being came out of the corner of her eye. "Took you long enough to show your face." "You're speaking in our tongue?" He tilted his head confused thinking for sure how mad she was about the new ability wondering why she is using it. "Well thought might as well since having something shoved into me without my knowledge or consent is now forever stuck with me might as well use it right otherwise wouldn't all that pain be in vain?" She scoffed to him in a snarky voice.

Guilt filled over he didn't want to do that to her. He could have gone about it in another better way. To his people this was going to happen to her one way or the other. After getting to know her for months, knowing her mother he didn't want anyone else to be the one to do it to her. You form a small bond connection with the being you put it in. He didn't want some heartless soldier or doctor with prejudice to do it she would always feel resented forever randomly throughout her life. Better someone who wanted good things for them. It would make her work better and they can finally get the answers they needed and get off this hateful tortuous planet.

"I am sorry for the pain you went through. I am not sorry for doing it. The feeling about this is what you call the… cultural differences. To D'marlians this is blessing. This is gift. This gift we give you or to the receiver is a sign of trust and place among the people of our home planet. You are accepted by us now. No matter who you meet if they are D'marlians they must treat us as a citizen. I know for you it is not such an honor but I mean it to you it is." He spoke softly trying to get her to see his side.

"I feel stupid for trusting you right now. Do you understand that. I feel violated in my own mind and body. You can't just do things to me without my consent. A gift is supposed to be presented and the receiver should have the right to refuse or accept it. I have enough people in my life taking my life choices from me and I don't need some tall ass alien pretending to befriend to keep doing the same damn thing to me. I am my own fucking person. I should be able to say yes or no to the things being done to me. I DON'T WANT OR NEED ANYONE ELSE TAKING MY DAMN LIFE CHOICES FROM ME ANYMORE! I HAVE FUCKING LOST ENOUGH! IT'S ENOUGH!" She screamed at him tears trying to fall out of her eyes.

She has been holding back so much resentment from her own life. The guilt spread because he already knew it. He already knew how she truly felt and how much she truly held back. Looking through her vitals she was getting to a point where she needed to calm down. However her mentality was at a point where she needed this release. Heer mind was reeling here chest was tight and her heart was starting to pick up. She heard her mothers voice to trust in the D'marlians they do what they do for a reason. Thinking of the fight between his brother. What good was supposed to come of that. That's nothing like her mother said of them. What the hell happened here.

"Even if you don't believe me. I am sorry for causing you hurt and pain. I am sorry for how I went about it. I am not sorry it is done. I'm sorry you feel broken trust in me. I want to fix it." He tried to say his words correctly he has never apologized to any other being in the cosmos. "No you don't. You want me to continue on with my promise to help you and you don't want to feel the awkwardness and anger flow throughout the room everyday. You need me to trust you so you can feel like you back in charge of me right?" She crossed her arms looking at him.

"Don't even start with lies or flattery because I can tell when you are lying to me. You made me think at one point you were my friend and friends don't lie or hold back from each other whether we want to hear things or not. Somethings need to be said. So be honest with me get it all out on the table there. You want to fix this so desperately." She motioned her finger between the two of them. "Be honest you just need me to get your damn formula and cure so you get the hell off this planet right? You think keeping me happy is the best way to do that that's why you put up with me all the way to now everything has been fake admit." She got loud at the last part.

"No." "NO? No you can't really just admit it?" She laughed out rolling her eyes to the side not able to look at him before looking back in his eyes. "No. I can't admit something that isn't true. It's true I want to get the cure for my people that's nothing shocking and nothing wrong with wanting to help my world. It's true I want to go home and finally be with my whole family. Seeing and having them safe. I mean who in this cosmos doesn't want for those things. I admit to that. You have to be an evil being not to want for those things." He said taking a step closer to her.

"Everything with you was not fake though I will not admit to that. I am your friend. I am thankful you are here. I want you to be happy because I want you to be truly happy. Your mother was a friend to all of my people. She treated us all as friends and her children. It was nice to have a mothers love and care after so many years without it. I made promises to her we all did. She helped us in ways we can't repay her for. It is my right and duty to keep you as safe and protected as your mother did for us. This is all I can do for her now." He told her looking her in the eyes making sure to grab her jaw so she could feel the truth coming from him.

"When you finally came here, walked through the doors it pained my heart a little to see you look so much like her. The smell of her faintly on you for being her offspring. It was painful. You are not the only one who lost a mother or friend in her. Yet you are the only one has suffered alone. You were away and I can see inside your mind many lonely nights on guard being broken with no one there for you. A detached father, no mate, friends all the way around the world except for one and a small soldier group dealing with their own problems. You are the only one who suffers by themself." Tear falling from her eye.

"Get out of my memories." She struggled her chin form his hold but failed. "You went on day after day talking to me as if I was a friend to you. Like your mother once did. It was different though. You look and sometimes sound just like her yet you are so different. You made me get to know you. You are my friend I know you. I open up slowly to you even now. You tell me things before you even knew I was alive things you can never tell anyone else because you know deep down you can't. You can't say how much you want to be free. This is another reason why I say you are friend. You are going through what I and m siblings here are going through we want freedom. We want safety. We want our family safe and happy. We want to protect our people and ourself. We want to do what makes us happy. Not what makes others happy. Like it or not we are the same right now. Even the hatred to your own father is equally matched whether you are aware for far your goes or not I see it there. I know." He told her releasing her chin as the shock caught her off guard.

"I will do all I can to make up to you. To make you feel comfortable around me again to put some trust back between us because we both need each other right now. Analeigh whether you want to admit truth to yourself in reality we are all we really have right now. You can't vent to your family about things you are figuring out down her or through your mom. I can't vent to my siblings because I need ot be strong for them. I made promises to protect them and get them out I will do that by all means. Doesn't mean we have to be alone in the process. Even your mother told me all beings need to vent and be able to breath or you drive yourself crazy. I am not using you for my own benefit. You are not my pawn or tool. That's the truth."

Looking at him. "I'M STILL MAD!" "Ok you should be." "UGH!" She turned away still working. "How is your brother?" She asked him out of nowhere. Even shocked herself. "He is still healing." "How is that possible I didn't beat him that badly I thought you guys healed quick." "We do. Especially battling humans like you we can heal by the end of the day the latest if not hours or minutes after injury. "Than how is he still hurt?" She was confused her head turned to him.

"I am stronger than you." Is all he said her mouth fell open. "You beat up your own brother?" She whispered out. "He crossed major lines. He broke his promise and he hurt you. He had it coming. He is fine. His mate is fine as well. She agreed he needed punishment. Even in our society you don't raise your battle hand to females or those of weaker species. However your strength was out shining his own which angers any male D'marlian warrior so it is taken as a challenge. He lost." Phoenix told him with a small shrug explaining the basic knowledge of it all.

He started to smell the air. Looking around and walked to the bag near the pantry. Looking through it he smiled at all the food in the bag. Looking up to her hiding the smirk. "You are your mothers daughter." "What's that supposed to mean?" "You scold me about everything yet still bring so much food out of guilt no?" He said holding the bag in his hand. "Shut up and just put it away." She turned back ignoring the small chuckle that came out f him. No matter how much she wanted to deny his words and even make him leave. He was right. No matter how you looked at it. They were the same and right now they needed each other because they were all they had.

After her math and reports were done she went around to check on certain plants for experimentation. "You kept the care of everything for me?" She asked out loud knowing her was close tending to the plants. "There is years of care, love and work in this place. These are all important. Can't let that go to waste. Too much importance rides in here. Besides it's what friends do right. Even what is that word colleagues?" "Yup I guess it is. Hey maybe I can go on a nice vacation before you guys go home that way I can relax in peace knowing this place will be in good hands." She joked.

"Where will you go?" He laughed to her. "Europe. I want to go to Ireland, Italy, Scotland so many places. I want to also go to Asia. They have all these flower gardens and huge like tunnel like things to walk through that are just covered in flowers. It's so beautiful. I'd like to see something like that. It's on the bucket list." "We have places like that all around my home. In the city like place I reside in is very much like huge city but also very covered in flowers or vines." "Then you get the need to see it." She smirked too him. He was feeling slightly home sick. She had shown him of the places she wanted to visit on the computer he seen them through the internet. It reminded him of home so much.

There was a knock on the door. That made them stop and look at each other. He walked quickly to his place under the vent he can smell the person on the other side and it wasn't her father or anyone else he needed to worry about being seen. On her phone she took down the windows image without anyone being any wiser so he can see her walk up from the back to check the door. Her heart stopped for a moment. Taking a deep breath and opening it standing in the doorway.

"Why didn't you us ethe walkie?" She asked him. "Would you have answered me?" He asked her back. "Do I have any reason to hide that I'm here?" She asked him in a confusing tone arms opened to show him around her. "I didn't know if you would still be avoiding me like the plague." He was quick to answer her back. "I wasn't avoided you when I told you to wait until I returned back to work and do some soul thinking." She was flat out with a blank face.

"Were you going to tell me you were back today?" He asked crossing his arms. "Please you all know I'm here I'm not that dumb I didn't get hit in the head that hard." She told him making him cringe He hated the thought of her being hurt. "They are waiting for us to eat lunch with them. They are worried and want to see you. I told them I would come collect you. The guard on point is sick and Eddie is backed up today. So no one is manning the post. Use the link your aunt made to watch the elevator switch point." He told her as she nodded walking over to make sure she put it on one of her many monitors.

"I'm sorry." He told her as he was right behind her hand coming up to her waist as she turned around to face him. "I am sorry for how I behaved, the way I said things. Some of those things were so far out of line. I know you better than you think I do and I should have never crossed that line. I did what you wanted me to do and I thought of everything between us. Everything I wanted down the road of the bigger picture of my life. I just can't see you not in it. Everything is better with you in it. It's always been that way. I honestly really love you Analeigh. I'll do anything for you to forgive me." He was looking so destroyed and defeated he looked way worse than she did.

"You know we both meant every single word." "Yeah I guess in a way maybe we did. The were some truly ugly words. There are so many good words still left to be said between as well though and in the end they will always outweigh the bad. Every couple goes through this. They all fight. I promise I will learn to argue better with you. I mean it's healthy and good to have disagreements as a couple it's how we grow together. We learn off each other in a million and one different ways this is no different." Sighing loudly holding both her hands one close to his heart.

"I know I'm not your first or real choice in a husband. I know this wasn't the life you saw for yourself down the road. I know how badly you wish you could leave. This the reality of the world we live in though. You know your father and that there is no way out of this now. It could be a hell of a lot worse than to be stuck in future marriage with a man who not only adores you but is in love with you Analeigh. I do love you and I will make sure to do a lot better job of it here on out. I know how hard you're trying and I know it will take years for you to truly open up to me. I know it will take years for you to truly start letting go of all the things that we cannot change. To let go of all the things we wanted but can no longer have."

"I understand that it will be years for you on all these things because these were things you built from your heart, your sweat, blood and tears in the years making. You worked so hard for years. I nor anyone should just expect you to be able to let it go just like that in a matter of month I know you it will take years. I have seen you trying so hard to make this work and the effort you put in is amazing for me. It is selfish for me or anyone else to demand things form you faster than your heart and mind can give them up. Especially when I'm not the one who sacrificed, lost, or had to give up anything in my life to get the only thing I really ever wanted and that is you. From the bottom of my heart. I am sorry. I ask your forgiveness. You are my whole future Analeigh and I will be and learn to be a better man for you here on out I just need your help along the way." He told he tear falling from him.

"I forgive you. I guess we both have a lot to learn from each other. I'm sorry to. I didn't think about how everything effecting me would affect you as easily as hard I am sorry. I will also try to be better down the road. Let's go meet everyone before they get worried." Looking up he noticed the grey statue. "That thing freaks me out every time I see it. You should put it away. I can get someone to help me put in the storage room after lunch." "Don't you dare. I like him just where he's at. I think he pieces the room together nicely. I even feel more comfortable with him around while working." She was amazed at how the words just fell out of her mouth.

"Still creepy as fuck it's like the scary thing in the horror movie waiting to pop out when you look at it or get close." "Dude you watch too many movies." "It would only take a minute to put it away." He added one more time as he walked close to the door. "No. You're not touching him ever. Besides it's my friend." She told him as he grabbed her hand and walked her to the elevator with a wide smile on her face. Getting down to everyone was such a long tedious task. It was nice everyone was so worried about here and didn't dwell on what had happened. Instead they spoke about Sienna and Jace's wedding and their plans. Even made some calls to help them with the planning on lunch it was fun to be with them and watch them smiling to themselves.

"So should I join you and Quinn Saturday?" "Join us?" She was confused about what Jaxon was going on about. "Yeah you know you guys are getting fitted right for the wedding. I don't have a lot of time coming in soon this week when they will be open I was hoping just to go with you. Maybe squeeze in a date after?" "Sure that would be fine." "Unless you want to try some wedding dresses on while you get fitted for the bridesmaid dress than I'll back out." He told her in a cheerful way. "Why back out?" "The groom isn't supposed to see the dress before the wedding right?" He smiled at her. "Oh no I have a friend whose wife is actually sending me like ten of them to try on to see what style I am going for. She makes them herself and it's her gift to us." Analeigh said simply.

"Wow that's amazing which friend?" "Oh just a guy from my old platoon they are too far away and wouldn't be able to go so she wanted to make sure I still represent them all well." She said sadly. "Well I'll make sure to send them all something special after. To thank them." Jaxon said kissing her head and side of her cheek. "Let's have dinner Thursday." "Fine." With a tight lipped smile she walked back into her elevator. Walking back into the lab she put the window again so Nix can be relaxed. "Ready to get to work?" She asked him in a way that left him feel troubled. Nodding to her they started to bleed out the plants and start cutting them in special ways to start their projects.