Zen rushed towards Layna’s side just as Kiera got there. Senka was already holding down the Guerrero. “Isaias is on his way. What happened?”

‘I don’t know I injected him and then he suddenly fell into convulsions,” Layna explained As Senka held the shaking Guerrero down. Zen stared at the Guerrero and suddenly the world became technicolor for an instant and she could see two battling substances in the Guerrero. She came closer and watched as the two substances crashed against each other. She felt a need to take them out of the Guerrero but before she did anything, she wanted to be sure. Isaias rushed to her side. She turned to him.” Which is the new antitoxin, Isaias? The energy with the green sparks or the blue?”

Isaias gazed at her. “The energy with the blue.”

Zen nodded then spread her hand palm down and absorbed the energy with the green onto her palm. The Guerrero stopped shaking and calmed down.

Zen closed her palm around the energy and it dispersed.

“That was the old antitoxin. The two can’t mix! Get everyone who was given the original together. The original has to be extracted before giving them the new antitoxin,” Isaias said.

“How are we going to extract it,” Kiera asked.

“Zen and I can extract it or at least she can,” he said.

Zen nodded.”I can do it. Get the Guerreros together.”

Isaias and Senka left to gather the ten others who were given the other antitoxin. Zen began extracting the old antitoxin from them and one by one they all fell sick again. Kiera hurried and administered the new antitoxin while Senka helped them to beds to rest off the poison. It was in a female Guerrero when Zen found a difference from her brother.

“Isaias, can you see that little spot of light forming in the woman?”

“What light hermanita? I don’t see anything?”

Zen you are seeing a soul being made. It is a rare gift. It seems your galactical gift deals with souls.

It’s beautiful. Like a star being born!

Indeed it is although the mother may not be as happy

Why?

Isn’t it a custom costume for a pregnant woman not to battle in your army?

No women usually battle till their third trimester but war is especially dangerous. I’ll whisper to the mother and let her make the decision. Maybe she wants this baby?

Zen smiled and leaned over the woman. “Your child is beautiful. What do you intend for him or her?”

The woman’s eyes widened. “I’m?”

“Yup. Just newly formed. It’s just a speck right now.”

“Can you remove it? The father won’t want it and I have nothing to offer it but a low caste life should I leave and I don’t want that for a child of mine.”

Where would I put the child?

Just as your brother can sense out good poisons, you can sense out good souls. Close your eyes and spread your senses out. It will zero in on a good candidate.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Zen closed her eyes and searched deep within her. When she opened her eyes a single strand of light led her to another Guerrera who was resting. Zen walked over to her but then the light bent and headed in a different direction straight to

“Layna?”

Layna looked up from giving another Guerrero the antitoxin. “Yeah? What’s up Zen?”

“I have a predicament.”

“Let’s have it.”

“Well, you see…”

###

Layna stood beside the Guerreras. She was still unsure but Zen said she could find another mother if she was still unsure in a month. So here she was about to get pregnant and not in a fun way.

Zen walked over to the woman and dipped her hand into her uterus fishing for the spark of light. It didn’t want to leave its mother. It’s ok. I promise your new mother will adore you even if she isn’t so sure. Come on little guy. Come here, she coaxed gently and the spark floated into her hand unsure. “It’s ok. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you alright?” The spark lit up in her hand and Zen watched as little sparks danced inside it. “You are a lovely spark. Yes, you are!” She drew her hands from the Guerrera and pulled the spark cupping her hands around it. Then she went to Layna who was waiting tapping her foot. “Look your new mommy is impatient to meet you. Shall we say hi?” The spark shone shyly which she took for a good sign. Zen placed her cupped hand right where Layna’s uterus was and watched the spark enter Layna with no problems. Layna felt a warmness enter her and settle just behind her navel and spread downwards till she was engulfed in the warm feeling. It's as if the baby is giving me a hug or something!

Zen smiled. “It probably is. You are its mother now. It’s changing the constitution of its mother to fit yours. It’s amazing to watch! Like a star being reborn!”

Layna pressed a hand to her abdomen smiling. “Never thought something like this would happen today! I go in curing Guerreros. I come out pregnant!”

Zen smiled. “It is a lot to take in and with war looming over us too.

Layna patted her abdomen. “I’m a spy. Going to be sent into the enemy camp as soon as it’s established but I’m sure I can work something else with Carmelo especially with this little guy coming.”

Zen frowned. “Maybe I should have picked someone else? You are vital for the war.”

“I can still do my job. This little one isn’t big enough to come to harm unless I take a direct hit to the abdomen. I’ll wear extra padding and be extra vigilant. I have another to think of now.”

Zen smiled and nodded. “You do. No risks, ok?”

Layna saluted her. “Got it, boss.”

Isaias walked around the quarantine barracks making sure everyone had a shot of the antitoxin. Zen had reset the time warp for two weeks. It was plenty of time for the Guerreros to heal from the poison and train a bit as well. In fact, Bernado had requested she stop time for all the Guerreros to get some time in training them with the Arachnids. Their methods were similar but there existed a difference. Enough for there to be an out-of-sync beat to their fighting. They would take a month to build some coherence so Zen set the Time warp to two months and as soon as the quarantined Guerreros were fit for active duty, they were to join the rest in the training. The Guerreros and the Arachnids did not get along in the beginning and it showed. There were large groups of just Guerreros and just Arachnids.

Isaias had to be the first to breach the gap making jokes and intermingling with both groups showing them their similarities and basking in their differences. Zen followed and the Dons were seen arguing amicably and sparring together. This more than anything broke the ice and both groups began to mix and the battle beat became far better. It was a hard two months where Zen and Isaias sparred with their uncle and Carmelo extensively as well as worked on their abilities. Zen found that with moving souls she could destroy them too as she accidentally did one day to a butterfly that was annoying her. She just sucked out its soul and watched in horror as the butterfly ceased to be. This is what my dad saw. He was horrified. Now I know why.

You were a child with no control over your abilities. You just found this ability today. Imagine how it would have been as a child.

I’m scared of myself Ishevara

If you can take a soul, you can also make a soul that is a wondrous gift.

Zen closed her eyes and touched the butterfly. She opened her eyes and watched as the spark of life entered the butterfly and it flew away with a new soul. She smiled and laughed. Maybe this gift isn’t so bad.

No, it isn’t. You can heal the soul ironic with what’s been done to you.

Yes, but I’ve got my personal healer for that. I’m working through it. Dark eyes don’t scare me anymore.

Zen stood from the field and went back to sparring. Only a few more days till she could see Stephan again. For him, it would only have been three hours.