A strange heat spreads through my fragments as I listen.
“Caring about good souls like my family, my colony, and you. And protecting those I care about from abusive alien dick heads. Whatever it takes. I don’t regret any of that. I’d do it again if given the chance. Guess that’s love for you.
“It makes us do dumb shit because we’re so desperate to hang onto what matters most. Funny how the one thingthe universe can’t create on its own is the most chaotic, unpredictable driving force. Leave it to humans. If we can overcomplicate something, we will.”
As the sun crests the land, Aera holds my fragment up in a beam of light.
Heat fills my essence.
Her whisper cascades through the pieces of me with powerful force. “Love you, Evo. Wherever you are.”
Chapter 18: Evo
The fragments of my body slowly realign and begin pulling together. It is a painfully long process to remember where everything belongs. But the closer I gather my body together, the stronger I get.
Soon, I can see the sunrise with my own eyes again. I float far above the land, Aera just a speck below me. I can still hear her, still feel her heartbeat and her warmth with me. As the fragments settle in, my body shifts back to a semi-solid form, and my weight eases me back to the ground.
I set down in the field, facing Aera. The way she leaves the ship and runs to me fills me with hope.
Aera slows as she approaches. Her smile is decorated by happy tears. “Can I... Can I hug you or will you...”
“May I have my last pieces, please?”
She looks down at her hand. “I have only one.”
“That one first.”
Aera steps closer, studies the fragment, and places it into the divot over my ultromotor. My body solidifies, taking on a human flesh tone again. But I want her to see the real me because I need to know she can love what I am.
A simple thought is enough to change my body back to its stardust. Then I take her hand, pull it around my side, and draw her against me.
“Aera.”
She laughs nervously. “What happened to your voice?”
I look away. It’s deepened and carries a broad wave resonance that I’ve not heard before. “I don’t know.”
Aera smiles. “Well, I like it. Are you...holding yourself together alright?”
“Much better with my last piece in place.” I kiss her forehead. “Thank you for not hiding from me. I am in a better headspace now.”
She rises on her toes and kisses my chin. “I don’t give up on the ones that I care about.”
“You could have a normal human male who could love you without the risk of him hurting you.”
Aera runs her fingers over my bare chest. Her touch pulls the orbs of light in my body closer like they’re eager for more of her. She laughs. “Oh, trust me. Human males can still hurt me. They have broken my heart a few times.”
“Which ones? I will break theirs by ripping them out with my bare hands.”
Aera beams up at me. “The only one still alive is Daken. And it wasn’t his fault. It was just work. Can’t date coworkers kind of thing. So go easy on him.”
“Daken?” I grumble. “That’s why he’s so protective of you.”
“Maybe. Or just the whole ancient nanotech blood thing. It’s hard to tell now. Besides, you did something he wouldn’t. You let me fight when I wanted to. He always tried to protect me like he didn’t really care what I thought or felt, like what I am is more important than who I am. You stood up for me and what matters to me. And that means more than you know.”
I bury my nose among the soft strands of her hair and take in the luscious scent of life that she carries. “I would still understand if you want human children.”
“I just want you, whatever that entails.”
