After Invasion

 

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

Chapter 1—Her Knight

Chapter 2—All I Ever Wanted

Chapter 3—A Brilliant Future

Chapter 5—Proud Parents

Epilogue

 

Author’s Note:  If you haven’t watched all three seasons of Invasion, I would beseech you to watch them now or this little AU fic won’t make sense.  

 

Chapter 1—Her Knight

 Mitsuki had connected with the alien neural network she had finally connected with Nikil.   All this time she had never known that he had defended her.  He had fought for her, and he did all he could to protect her from being experimented on.   She had seen why he had worn the veneer of a man who had erected so many walls that absolutely nothing could penetrate, but it was obvious that he was a man that was deeply in love with her although he would’ve never admitted it aloud.    He had a reputation to defend after all, and most people hated him.  

Behind Nikil followed Trevante and Jamilla.   Nikil firmly placed the bomb at the base of the massive brain inside the ship and ran towards Mitsuki with all his strength.   Before the aliens could pull her away, the two of them ran out of the ship before it exploded.  

Outside, Aneesha had her own demon to face.   Verna couldn’t be reasoned with, so she, unfortunately, had been shot through the skull.   She had been given no choice but to protect herself but at least Verna could be at peace.     There would be plenty of reconnection beyond the aftermath of the destruction of the hunter-killer’s hive mind, but Mitsuki couldn’t help but continue to hold Nikil’s hand tightly. 

‘You…You could’ve run but you came back.’, she said, genuinely surprised.   Trevante and Jamilla had gone their separate ways, and everyone else was returned to their families and communities.   Meanwhile, Nikil found himself with Mitsuki and an overwhelming glee he couldn’t define.   

‘I wasn’t about to leave you.   I’m…trying to atone.’, Nikil said, straightforwardly.   In his way, he had always vouched for her, even if he had been doing it alone.  

‘So many times you’ve sacrificed yourself…’, she said, feeling her face blush hotly.  The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering uncontrollably but oddly, she could sense nothing but serenity by Nikil’s side.  

‘I was hoping that you could return to your lover’s side…’, Nikil finally confessed.   Mitsuki turned to face him and looked him directly in the eyes. 

‘I already told you, Nikil.  I don’t remember any of that.  Whoever they were, they’re probably long since dead or have moved on by now.   Nikil knew that now, more than ever, he had to confess how he truly felt about her, or he would most likely lose her forever, but then she did something that defied all his expectations.

‘I feel that somehow, I’m still connected to the evolved aliens.   Perhaps we can come to some sort of understanding with them since I no longer need the dampener.’, she said.   Nikil felt his inspiration surging and realized he had to get right to work. 

‘We can work together !’, he said, his enthusiasm continuing to rise.   She agreed right then and there to help him.   The more she was with him, the calmer and more precise she felt.   That growing ardor inside Nikil wouldn’t be quelled, he knew.    However, he decided that if he was going to pursue her, he would do so gently as he had before.   This woman was one that matched him in every way.  Her intellect, her precision was something spectacular and for the first time in his lonely life, he had something other than himself to live for.  

Chapter 2—All I Ever Wanted

                The research continued successfully with others working alongside Nikil.   This meant more free time with Mitsuki.   In the cafeteria, he found her laughing and chatting away with others, but her gaze solely fixed on him when he entered the room.  

                ‘Nikil !  It’s marvelous to see you !’, she said, blushing in spite of herself.  Her heartrate spiked whenever he was near.   Part of her was a little afraid to be vulnerable to him, but being inside the maze had given her an intimate look inside his multifaceted and incredibly erudite mind.   

                ‘I was wondering if you would like to accompany me.’, he began.   The other ladies around her began joshing her, nudging her in the side, and causing her to laugh.   Her giggle was an absolute symphony to Nikil’s ears.   He had wanted nothing more than to see his sweet little Sakura blossom grinning.    All the bombastic pompous fakery dissolved, and his authenticity glowed.  

                ‘Of course I’d love to accompany you.   Where to ?’, Mitsuki asked as Nikil gallantly took her by the arm and walked with her out of the cafeteria.    He whispered that he wanted to see a movie with her, but honestly, he was interested in what she would enjoy doing for a date. 

                ‘There’s a butterfly pavilion not far from here.   I’ve never seen it.’, she said, honestly.   His smile gleamed as he gave her a gentle side hug.  

                ‘What are we waiting for then ?’, he added.   The others watching this interaction unfold almost felt as if they had to pick their jaws up from the floor.   This Nikil was completely different from the one of the past.   His new persona was much more likeable, approachable and he found himself living the life he had always denied himself.  

                Nikil couldn’t take his eyes off Mitsuki.   She was laughing and smiling brilliantly.   Her glee was contagious.   For once she didn’t need the dampener. 

                ‘Do…you still hear anything from the aliens ?’, Nikil asked, wanting there to be zero secrets between them any longer. 

                ‘My mind is typically quiet.  I’ll receive the occasional whisper.   I keep hearing ‘build’ from them from time to time.’, Mitsuki said.   Nikil couldn’t help but grin.  

                ‘We will have to see if we can contact the new species.   I doubt they would like an invitation if I said, ‘Hey, I’d like to study you for a while’.   Probably sounds a bit too creepy.’, Nikil said.   Mitsuki burst forth with a belly laugh and nodded. 

                ‘It definitely is.  We’ll have to start from the bare minimum, but I’d like to think we can both be envoys.’, Nikil said, wisely.   Nikil wasn’t a perfect man, and Mitsuki knew he was human, but she couldn’t help but enjoy his presence and feel uplifted by his new optimism. 

                Over time, the two collaborated and began speaking to the hybrids.   Little by little, they had adapted to our planet and discovered how to gather people together that had forgotten what community looked like or even how society was meant to function.   Some of course, were too narrow-minded to see this was the new phase of human development but most could see that this had been something most human beings were aspiring towards.  

 

Chapter 3—A Brilliant Future

                It had only been two years since the invasion had ceased, and the aliens had decided to coexist among humans.   There were still fringe radicals that wanted to stir up trouble and lurk as general nuisances, but their numbers were few and far between. 

                Nikil and Mitsuki had only recently gotten married, and life was incredibly blissful.   Mitsuki had a physical and Nikil waited in the doctor’s office for a clean report.   When she came out with a snarky smirk, Nikil wondered what she was keeping from him.   She waited until the two of them were alone in the car to reveal what her OBGYN had told her.     

                ‘We’re going to be parents ?’, Nikil said, overwhelmed with emotion.  He couldn’t help himself, but he began weeping out of joy.  Part of him was terrified but something told him that he and Mitsuki would weather this storm together.   The duet had spoken about having children, but he had wondered if the experimentation had caused her to become infertile.   Luckily, the scientists hadn’t gone that far. 

                ‘That explains the odd cravings !’, Nikil said.  He hadn’t noticed her unusual taste in food and never really questioned it since he was so used to making whatever she asked for.  Besides, the combinations were exceptional, and they didn’t seem weird.    Mitsuki chuckled and she tenderly took Nikil’s hand and placed it atop her stomach.

                ‘She said we’re having twins.’, she said, sweetly.   Nikil couldn’t believe his fortune.  He had been born into a large family, and he had always wanted his own.   From this moment forward, he would adapt to raising kids and becoming an attentive partner to his beloved.   To be honest, he couldn’t wait to see the kids and what they would become, but he knew no matter what, boys or girls or fraternal twins, he would adore their babies.  

Chapter 4—Proud Parents

                Nikil decided he would let Mitsuki name the children once they were born.    When it was discovered, they were fraternal, it was obvious what the babies would be named.   The boy would be named Hoshi and the girl, Hikari.  

                Hoshi and Hikari were born with slight pain, but they had come into the world hale, pink, and hearty.  The boy was the boisterous one, causing quite the racket once delivered.   In his mama’s arms, he calmed immediately.   He even nuzzled Nikil when he was held.  It was as if he knew he had found a safe haven with his papa.    Hikari was more reserved.  She was relaxed the day she emerged from the womb. 

                As the two grew, both had different interests, but it was obvious that they were precocious and brilliant.   They had their mother’s empathy, and they were linguists.  Their care and compassion was all encompassing.   Hoshi would easily become a biomedical engineer, much like his dad before him.   Hikari entered a slightly rebellious phase as a teen, but it wasn’t discouraged.   She had a flair for the creative and became entranced with ham radio.   The parents watched as their fledglings sought out adventures on their own, but they would always come home, knowing loving arms waited for them there. 

 

Epilogue

                The love that Nikil held for Mitsuki only became stronger the older they became.  Even in their nonage, the intimacy they shared was off the charts.    As empty nesters, they enjoyed long sessions of simply being together without worrying that their escapades would wake their kids.   Of course, that ardor eventually faded as most things do, but the abiding love never did.   

                Nikil found himself thanking the stars Mitsuki was with him.  In some waking moments, there were fragments of memories she had shared of a life that didn’t seem to be her own.  

                ‘Are the memories resurfacing ?’, he asked, curiously.   She felt they were foreign, but familiar.

                ‘Before my memories were taken, I had a girlfriend.   I think a piece of me still loves her.’, Mitsuki confessed.

                ‘I don’t judge you for that.   I’m certain that when she died, she was thinking of you.  I don’t know if that brings you closure but I will never hold that against you.   No matter what, I love you for who you are.’, Nikil said.    Mitsuki chuckled and brought her lips close to Nikil, kissing him softly.   He held her, stroking her ebony hair and sighed serenely.   Quietly, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.   Cradling her, Nikil escorted her back to their bedroom for the evening and laid her in their bed, watching her chest rise and fall as she sunk into reverie.    This, he knew, was what heaven would be like when he checked out of this life, but as he lived and breathed, he never once questioned that love truly, was the greatest blessing anyone could ever feel or experience.

The End