Chapter One 

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Kalila, a World Traveler from the planet Abijah smirked, concealed by the nighttime shadows. She stood on the iconic White House and watched Shafiq stand alongside his wife, K’hym, as sleek, majestic Utuan warships descended with a quiet hum onto the manicured lawn. His focus was unwavering, deliberately avoiding even a glance at K’hym, as if acknowledging her presence would unravel the fragile composure he was determined to maintain. The atmosphere was thick with poignant farewells and whispered hopes. Everywhere Shafiq looked, he saw mentors, priests, and fathers imparting their wisdom to the young, preparing them for a voyage back to a world that lived only in their memories and stories.

In this moment of departure, the Utuans began to reveal their true forms, casting off the human guises they had worn throughout their twelve-year exile on Earth. This mass exodus was a consequence of the violent uprising led by the Mad Priests of Utu, which had forced them into a life of cosmic wandering, seeking refuge in foreign lands. As the warships settled with a resonant finality on the lawn, Shafiq’s thoughts drifted back to his shared life with K’hym on Earth. He recalled his quiet role as a librarian, a guardian of knowledge and keeper of secrets, while K’hym adeptly navigated the intricate world of finance, ostensibly for the benefit of their displaced people. Yet, the illusions they had carefully constructed crumbled the night before, revealing painful truths that had been hidden in plain sight.

In a moment of uncharacteristic boldness, Shafiq allowed his true alien form to emerge, shedding his human disguise. His stature expanded to an awe-inspiring seven foot five inches, his frame swelling to a formidable three thousand pounds of sinewy strength. His skin transformed into a deep, reflective obsidian, while his hair receded, revealing a bald, diamond-studded skull that pulsed with the vibrant energy of his homeland. Despite this transformation, his emerald eyes retained their captivating allure, now intensified to an almost hypnotic degree. In this authentic form, Shafiq possessed unmatched prowess, yet he chose restraint, focusing on the task he had set for himself.

K’hym watched in a mixture of awe and apprehension as Shafiq moved forward, her telepathic voice echoing with desperation in his mind. “Shafiq, it didn’t mean anything. The human didn’t matter. Once we return to Utu, it will be just us … forever.”

His pace quickened, his mind a turmoil of emotions, a storm of betrayal and heartache. “Forever? When you gave yourself to a human?”

Following in his wake, K’hym’s voice persisted, tinged with desperation and a hint of regret. “It was only in human form. He never knew the truth. I did it for the extra money, so we wouldn’t be poor.”

“And you think I shouldn’t feel the hurt of being betrayed by my wife? That’s why you’re returning to Utu alone.”

As the human and Utuan crowds focused on the organized chaos of boarding, Shafiq discreetly exerted his telepathic influence, gently yet firmly compelling K’hym onto the waiting ship. The door sealed with a finality that echoed through the air. A young girl observed as Shafiq seamlessly adopted a new human guise. Their eyes met, and he placed a finger to his lips, a silent request for secrecy. She nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the moment with a wisdom beyond her years.

The ship, carrying K’hym on it, rumbled to life, ascending toward the heavens. Shafiq waved a silent farewell, his heart heavy with unspoken emotions.

“Shafiq? Shafiq! S-S-Shafiq! I love you. We’ll pray to Enlil to make things work.” K’hym’s voice echoed in his mind, a haunting, fading plea as she heard the pilot engage the jump to lightspeed.

“You made this choice, NOT me.” His response, firm and unwavering, severed the last threads of their connection.

“Shafiqqqqqqq!!!!”

As the ship vanished into the cosmic expanse at lightspeed, K’hym’s voice faded away, leaving Shafiq enveloped in solitude, a silence that echoed with the finality of their parting. Shafiq walked away, each step a deliberate stride into a new beginning. With each step, he embraced the promise of a new life, a life where he could be true to himself, free from the chains of betrayals and broken dreams.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

“She’s lyin’!” A traveler seated behind Kalila (who was in the driver’s seat) interrupted her story. “Some of these cool adventures that happen when you travel have to be made up.”

Kalila’s eyes never left the vastness of space, laughing. “...So you’re just gonna cut me off mid-tale, Haran?”

“Yes,” Haran shook his head incredulously. “When you’re full of shit, Kal.”

Kalila put the ship on autopilot, spinning in her chair to face the rest of the crew and everyone on board knew things had just gotten serious. “The Utuans exiled to Earth for twelve years and you’re calling them finally being able to return home ‘bullshit’?”

“Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that.” Immediately realizing the weight and tone of his own words, Haran was taken aback. “I’m glad they got to return home, but the bullshit is you talking about the humans making an Utuan stay so the others could leave. The human race — especially the Americans — has to be one of the most fascinating species in the universe,” Haran continued as Kalila turned back to face the stars. “They truly hold themselves as important in the grand scheme of the cosmos after taking the Utuans in as refugees, so because of that kindness, they required an Utuan to stay. Knowing the humans, they’ll just experiment on it.”

Another crew member, DePaul leaned forward as Haran sucked his teeth in disgust. “All this coming from someone who has never gone to Earth.”

Kalila smiled. “Thank you, DePaul.”

Haran shook his head. “...And you two have then I shouldn’t have to tell you people what a mess the human race is. The Salem Witch Trials... Third Reich… Hiroshima…” Haran gave the Nazi salute and clicked his heels. “...Twin Towers. Now that they expanded galactically, we can only expect trouble from them.”

“It sounds like you’re afraid, Haran.” Kalila smirked, and touched down on the landing pad below. “We should never judge a planet we visit. Humans are odd; they think Order and Chaos are somehow opposites and try to control what won’t be but there is grace in their failings. But we can talk about that later because we’re home.”

Home was a planet located seventy thousand light-years from Earth, in the Stardust Galaxy. A heavy downpour flooded the planet Abijah. Abijah was inhabited by the Abi — a race of tall, elegant, melanted humanoids with long necks who were regarded as a mysterious species that tended to keep to themselves as they were isolationists, only concerning themselves with other world’s if it is profitable. Their almond-shaped eyes, deep black of an unlit void with piercing white pupils, were capable of seeing beyond the visible spectrum, revealing the unseen beauty of the universe. Abijah only has two distinct seasons — a dry, humid season and an extensive rainy season. 

The capital city of Abijah, Susa, was a network of stilt structures that held the city above the massive ocean covering the world. Abi Sea Dragons, was a large, aquatic, reptile-like species that protected the planet from the sky and the water against planetary threats. Domestic apartments located inside the city are highly furnished. Each large dome was designed with a streamlined outer shell used to shed water and wind during storms, with hatches on the sides that could be opened for maintenance or repair. 

Located near the top of the main dome is the Abijah Planetary Defense substation, utilized by Abijah’s defense network. Several turbolaser turrets were located around the top of the dome as a defense mechanism. Kalila, Haran, DePaul walked off the ship. Haran and DePaul headed for the Ruling Council’s Chamber. They stopped when they saw Kalila headed in the opposite direction.

“Hey Kalila,” DePaul called out. “The Council’s Chamber is this way.”

“The knowledge I inquired from my trip to Earth requires immediate recording.”

“If you wanted to him that’s all you had to say,”

Kalila rolled her eyes. “I’ll meet you in the Council’s Chamber in a few. I just need this information to be cataloged.”

“Tell Jibreel we said ‘hey’.” Haran smirked before he and DePaul teleported away with a collective thought.