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Chapter 6: Peace between the Races

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We landed at a building Julie identified as Eve’s secret safe house in case her facility was destroyed. It was a low, one story building impossible to spot by aircraft. Eve came out alone to meet us, which immediately made me suspicious. Where were the rest of her soldiers?

“What happened to the soldiers you fled the desert with?” Dad asked while keeping an eye on the ridge just above the house. “I know there were at least two thousand of you that got away.”

“That’s…what I need to speak with you about.” Eve replied solemnly. “Please follow me.” Having never heard her speak this way I knew her greatest fear was being realized inside the building.

When we entered the building, rows and rows of beds lined the room. In each bed were Neo Sapiens and all of them were dead or dying. The stench of death was nearly overwhelming “I think I’ll wait outside.” Julie said before going back through to door.

“Do you recognize this?” I asked dad.

“Yes.” He replied before putting a wet rag to his face. “It’s Polio.”

-

“That’s impossible.” Katrin said as she put a wet rag to her face. “It was wiped out nearly 50 years ago!”

“Well, it’s mutated into vaccine-resistant strains over the last few decades.” I replied. “Still, the fact that it killed all these people so quickly…”

“Do you know how it spread so fast?” Katrin asked Eve.

“Everyone is quartered in groups of five hundred.” She replied. “People have gotten sick before and usually we put them and those infected into quarantine. This...it’s just too much…”

“Katrin, can you heal them with your Song of Restoration?” I asked.

“Not this many people at once.” She replied grimly. “And a lot of them are already dead.”

“Having seen how powerful they are in action I admit I feel sorry seeing them go like this.” I said. At that moment a female soldier stumbled over to us. Her face was pale and sweaty and she looked very pregnant. She had almost reached us when she fell to the floor in exhaustion. The three of us quickly ran over.

“You shouldn’t be up.” Eve said to her. “You need to get back in bed.”

“There’s no hope for us, is there?” She asked. “What a way for us to die.” After saying that she stopped breathing.

“She’s dead.” Katrin said after checking for a pulse.

“What the…!” I exclaimed when I saw the woman’s belly beginning to glow and move on its own. When I lifted her shirt we could see several babies inside trying to get out.

“They always do that when the mother dies before giving birth.” Eve replied. “If the mother’s death is quick they can get out in time. In this case, they run out of energy before they can succeed,”

“It’s probably better this way.” Said Katrin. “If they survived we’d have a pandemic on our hands.”

“I agree.” said Eve. “And although we were enemies I will spare the human race what my people have been afflicted with. I have this building wired with enough explosive to destroy it and leave no trace behind.”

“I was just about to suggest that.” I replied as we went outside and closed the door. “That would leave you as the sole survivor then, Eve. What will you do from here?”

“I plan to go to another planet far from here and start anew.” She replied. “Since I am the one all of the Neo Sapiens came from I can breed asexually. You will never see me again and you have my word that I will not start a war with humans ever again.”

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“That eliminates any reason for me to detain you.” Said dad with a smile. “Of course, if you go back on your word I won’t hesitate to kill you.” After going a safe distance from the building Eve blew it up.

“What do we do about the Super Hybrids at Tom’s base?” I asked her.

“I spoke with them telepathically.” She replied. “I told them they can either stay at the base and work for Tom or meet me in space. If any resists just kill them.”

“I’m sure everyone will go peacefully.” Dad replied before turning to Julie. “What about you? Will you be sticking around or will you be going with Eve?”

“Of course I’m staying!” She exclaimed. “We’re supposed to get married, remember?”

“I’m so very happy for you, Julie!” Eve exclaimed. “I know you will do us Super Hybrids proud on earth. As my one true progeny I have great faith in you.” With that, she rose into the air and flew away until she was gone.

--

“What did she mean by that?” I asked Julie.

“Eve’s my mother.” She replied. “As she said, she can breed asexually. Unlike the others, I have a human father.”

“And who would that be?” asked Katrin.

“I have no idea to be honest.” She replied with a laugh.

“Maybe we’ll find out someday.” I said. “Assuming it’s not ME, anyway…”

“Come on, let’s head back.” Said Katrin. “I’m tired and I want to see my kids.”

“You and me both.” I replied as we flew away.

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So ends this story. I know, the ending was short but I kept things tight until the end. What will Ann’s reaction be when Ted returns to Boston with another woman? What will Terra say when she finds out? How many babies is Julie going to have? You’ll find out in the next story entitled ‘As Life Goes On’!