Michio looked forward to going tothe monastery, but now that he was married he felt torn. He didn’tlike leaving Toemeka. She was the center of his world.
“You must not battle SamratCondor until you have completed the training,” Master Bakka said.“If you do, it’s likely it will result in your death.
“The wars in the physicalworlds are only a reflection of what is happening in the lower InnerWorlds. When Condor attacks a country, he controls the war from theAstral plane. You are my hope for restoring balance in the physicalworld.”
The Master raised his right handin an ancient blessing and bowed. As Master Bakka walked away, Michiofelt burdened by the Master’s words. How could he be the one Bakkawas training to fight Condor, the most powerful sorcerer in thegalaxy? Surely, there were others warriors who were much stronger andbetter trained than he. He didn’t feel up to the task but knew hecouldn’t turn away from the responsibility.
Michio returned to his room,concerned about Toemeka. She was upset about the attack on Jelmur andnot feeling well. He hadn’t liked leaving her all day and now he’dleft her again to meet with the Master. Things were harder now withToemeka to consider, instead of just his own duties. Yet she added somuch meaning to his life.
In the morning Toemeka awoke,feeing thickheaded from having slept deeply. She peered at her largeaviator watch. “Oh no, you shouldn’t have let me sleep in. I’mlate,” she said to Michio, who was doing a martial arts workout.She began pulling on her flight suit.
“Late for what?” he said,executing a high kick.
“I’m joining the Coalitionfleet flying to Alandra.”
Michio froze, his right handextended in a move she recognized as “strike to the throat.” Shehad his full attention now.
“You decided to wait until thelast minute to spring this on me!” he said.
“I told you I was going tofight in the war yesterday on the Viper.”
“We agreed to discuss it.”
“Well you were gone all day andwe didn’t have a chance to discuss it last night. I was asleep bythe time you returned to the room. This plan will work out well.You’re leaving soon for your training and I’m joining the war onAlandra. I’ve known all along it was my duty to return there.” Awave of nausea roiled through her and she put her hand on herstomach.
“Aren’t we going to discussthis first? It’s an important decision.”
“I’m a Coalition field agentand fighter pilot. You knew that when we got married. We’re in themiddle of a war and I’m needed. What is there to discuss?”
“I thought we’d agreed it wastoo dangerous for you to go into a combat zone.”
“Coalition Headquarters isfighting for its survival. I belong there.” The nausea was growingworse and she was afraid she might be sick.
“If you’re going back onactive duty just because I’m leaving for training, I won’t go.”
“You have to go. You promisedthe Master.”
“I wasn’t married when Ioriginally agreed to the training. Master Bakka will understand if Idon’t go.”
“You need this training and theskills it’ll teach you. The dark power is growing stronger.”Toemeka broke into a sweat. “By the stars, I’m going to be sick.”She rushed into the bathroom and vomited into the toilet. She satdown on the floor and leaned back. The cool wall tiles felt good toher feverish body.
Michio followed her into thebathroom. “Can I get you anything?” he asked, squatting besideher.
“Not right now. I must haveeaten something that didn’t agree with me.” She waited a fewminutes to be sure the worst was over. The queasiness finally abatedand she started to stand. Michio clasped her arm and helped her up.
She rinsed her mouth out withwater. In the mirror over the sink, she saw Michio standing behindher with a concerned frown on his face. “What?” she asked.
“You’re pregnant, aren’tyou?”
Her breath caught in her throatand she shook her head. “No, it’s not possible.”
“You’ve never had a monthlycycle since we’ve been married.”
“I’m often irregular.”
“And you have morningsickness.” He sounded thoughtful not accusing, which made her feela little better.
“Maybe I have the flu.”
He frowned thoughtfully. “Andyou’ve been emotional.”
She walked out of the bathroom toput more space between them. “I haven’t been overly emotional. Imean anyone would be upset seeing the Temple blow up, not knowing ifthe people they love were killed. I can’t be pregnant. We’ve beencareful.”
“Except for the first time.”
She felt a flush of heat gothrough her. “It was close to my time of month. It should have beensafe.”
“Only you never did have amonthly cycle.”
“It’s nothing to worry about.If I’m pregnant, I’m just a little pregnant and we can deal withit when you finish your training.”
“You can’t be just a littlepregnant.” His lips drew into a thin line. “You’re eitherpregnant or not.”
“I mean ifI’m pregnant,which I’m not, I’m not very far along.”
“Nearly a month.”
Was it possible she was a monthpregnant? She curled up on the bed still feeling ill.
“Do you want to keep it?” heasked.
She sat back up. “You want meto abort our baby! My entire family was killed, even my grandmother,aunts, uncles and cousins. This child will be my only bloodrelative.”
He sat on the bed and tucked alock of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t say I wanted you to havean abortion. I just asked what you wanted to do since you seem so seton going off to fight in the war and keep denying you’re pregnant.”
Her throat tightened and hervoice was unsteady. “You don’t seem happy about the possibilityof having a baby.”
“Neither do you.”
“The timing isn’t good.”
“No, it isn’t. It must havecrossed your mind that you might be pregnant.” His eyes narrowedsuspiciously. “Before the program you asked if I wanted children. Ican’t believe you were about to leave to fight in a war withouteven telling me you were pregnant.”
“I don’t knowthat I’m pregnant. I’m just a little late.”
“A month late is more than alittle late.”
A lump formed in her throat andtears filled her eyes. “You don’t want our baby.”
His expression softened as hedrew her close. “Of course I do. A baby is an extension of ourlove. I
