The Solar Flare

               Laura E. Collins

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons; living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

     Copyright © 2013 by Laura E. Collins

     All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Capri

Chapter 2: Deception

Chapter 3:  The Truth

Chapter 4: Home

Chapter 5: Putting the Pieces Together

Chapter 6: Getting Settled

Chapter 7: The Tour

Chapter 8: The Principia

Chapter 9: The Promise

Chapter 10: Strategy

Chapter 11: Xavier

Chapter 12: Ibis

Chapter 13: War

Chapter 14: Missing

Chapter 15:  Antares

Chapter 16: Confrontation

Chapter 17:  Earth

Chapter 18:  Sphene

Chapter 19: New Home

Chapter 20:  Acceptance

Chapter 21: The Beach

Chapter 22:  Lessons

Chapter 23:  The Clue

Chapter 24: Geodesic

Chapter 25: Fear

Chapter 26:  Party Time

Chapter 27:  The Decision

Chapter 28: Departure

Chapter 29:  Hope and Doubt

Preview

About the Author

Chapter 1: Capri

     During the middle of the night, Ava completed her rounds in the enormous darkened room, checking on her patients in the makeshift hospital unit on Capri. A few other nurses and some technicians wandered about, assisting people as needed. The vast room, originally a warehouse of sorts, had been sectioned off by partitions into different units although no one could say there was any privacy. It has been only eight hours since the Solar Wind made its uneventful landing and she wanted to make sure her patients were resting comfortably. For the most part, Ava had to give some credit to the Intergalactic Transport Organization, otherwise known as the ITO, for a smooth and seamless transition during the crisis and horrendous evacuation of Orionis. She wondered if the station had been completely evacuated by now and if it would somehow be salvageable after the explosion. One thing she knew for sure, the ITO had immediately cracked down stiff security measures throughout the known galaxy and the existing space stations, including the incomplete Earth II. The corrupt organization now allowed only what it considered to be legitimate business travel.

     After landing on Capri, Ava discovered that the chaos she thought she left behind on Orionis had become one of a different sort. She had never seen such a crowded and tumultuous hangar before. Once Capri had met its limit for evacuees, the ITO closed the hangar to further traffic and since the Andromeda had no official business scheduled, it was not permitted to dock. Ava messaged Wesley, assuring him of her safety, knowing that he must be concerned about her.  She could not stop thinking about his comment to her, admitting that he knew she had sustained a broken leg on E.S. Number One. What seemed even more amazing is that somehow he, or the crew, was able to heal her without her even knowing it. They are more than simple humans, she thought. But what exactly are they? What did they actually do to her to heal her? What did Justin’s blood do to her after the transfusion? She could feel the effects of it even now. What would this ultimately mean for her relationship with Wesley? The thoughts intrigued her, and also frightened her. In all of the history of the Earth and space exploration no one has ever discovered or produced any genuine and tangible proof that extra terrestrials existed, and now she had it, or at least experienced it somehow. She knew she could never speak of this to any other human; or risk ridicule, or worse, becoming some researchers test subject. Whatever Wesley is, Ava realized, she must keep it a secret, and she must find out the truth.

     The next evening, Ava finished rounding on her patients for the last time before calling it a night. All of the specialties had been re-grouped together in one long hallway, two patients to each room, or makeshift cubicle as it seemed. The providers, having left everything behind on Orionis, had been assigned small private quarters one hallway over. Each small temporary room consisted only of a cot and a chair. At least there was a door that closed, allowing them some privacy. Bathrooms were shared between all of the providers and a common eating area had been established. Everyone looked and dressed the same, in the standard healthcare provider uniforms of gray scrubs underneath white lab coats, provided by Capri.

     Ava stopped in the common room to pour herself a glass of water. As she entered, she mentally sighed as she noticed Dr. Tom sitting at one of the few tables in the room working on an electronic tablet he had in front of him. She decided to pretend she hadn’t seen him. He looked up at her as she quickly continued with her task.

     “Ava, do you have a minute?” He spoke to her in a friendly tone.

     “Hi Dr. Tom. Actually, I was just about to . . .” Her reply came out courteous but was interrupted.

     “I just wanted to know if you had a few moments to talk. It seems that Capri has some new information regarding the virus you had.” His blue eyes lingered on her still turned away stance.

    This caught Ava’s attention. “All right, I have just a few minutes.” She wanted to make sure he knew that she wanted to be elsewhere. She casually walked over towards him and sat down at the table opposite him.

      “Great. First of all, how are you? We’ve all been through a lot. Are you okay? Do you need anything?” He seemed genuinely concerned, though it did not touch Ava. She had too much on her mind already.

     “No . . . thank you. I’m doing as well as we can expect, Dr. Tom. Mine as well as my patient’s lives have been completely turned upside down in the last two days. Actually, I think everyone is doing fantastic, all things considered. How is Dr. Grant? I heard the Orionis Medical Center ended up sending him to Antares instead of here with us because they needed more help there.”

     “Yes. He messaged me. He’s all right. He was actually one of the last providers to be evacuated.” Ava detected a note of admiration in his voice. “I have to admit I was surprised to see you reported for your duty. I know my father was very pleased to see you. You could have easily just flown away with your friends.” 

     “Of course I would have fulfilled my obligation,” she replied hastily. His comment began to irritate her. Here comes the anger again, she thought. She took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. “I will be reunited with them as soon as Capri allows them to dock.”

     “I see.”

     “I’m sorry, did you say you had some information about the virus I had?”

     “Yes. I met with some of the infectious disease providers today. Over the last four months they had a total of sixteen cases, thirteen of which were fatal. They were about to issue a station wide quarantine when the research team discovered antibodies in one of their patients.”

     “They found antibodies?”

     “Not only that, within a month they were able to isolate them and develop an anti-virus.”

     “So they have a treatment that quickly?” Ava conveyed her surprise. Good, she thought. Maybe he would leave her alone now.

     “Yes.”

     “Well that’s wonderful news then.” Ava could hardly believe it.

     “It certainly is. However, there is one other interesting part of this.” He sounded so nonchalant about the information he was giving her.

     “What?”

     “In their efforts to discover the antibodies, I sent them a sample of your blood when you were sick.”

     “You sent them a sample of my blood?” This caught Ava by surprise. The stress of things had begun to pile up and she felt her energy and her anger rising again. What could they have discovered? Even she did not know the nature of her recovery, but now guessed it had something to do with Justin’s otherness. “Did they find the antibodies in my blood?”

     “No Ava, they didn’t. That is what I find so fascinating. You seemed to recover so quickly after receiving a blood transfusion from your friend, and there were no antibodies to the virus found in you afterwards.”

     “So?” She tried her best to sound as if she were brushing it off.

     “So what I’m saying is that I think there are more to your friends than you know, or at least more than you let on. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy that you are alive and well. However from my research, and what I know of the virus and what your condition was like, I cannot see how you survived.”

     “Dr. Tom, are you suggesting that there is something wrong with my friends? Really, I think that you should get some rest, it has been a stressful time for all of us.” Ava rose up out her chair and walked as calmly as she could to the door. She no-longer wanted to be in any part of this conversation.

     “Ava, some of Capri’s infectious disease team would like meet with you. They’ve been meeting with the few survivors to review their experience. It’s important because you are a provider. Capri wants to make sure you are completely recovered so that you do not pose a danger to the residents here. Will you be available sometime tomorrow?”

     “We’ll see.” Ava didn’t know what else to say and walked out. She didn’t want to commit to anything. Quickly, she made her way back to her cubicle of a room and shut the door behind her. She sat on the cot, leaned her face into her hands, and took a few more deep breaths to soothe her nerves. If she didn’t meet with the Capri team, would that put her job in jeopardy? With no possessions; her clothes, her Personal Communication Device, and her job were all she had left, save her access to the credits she had saved. Even her savings would run out within a matter of a week if she had to rely on that, considering the steep cost of lodging on Capri right now, that is, if you could find any. Ava glanced down at the bed to the PCD Wesley had given her. It was the only thing she had left that might potentially be worth something, but she couldn’t sell it, she needed it. The small white light blinking meant she had a message to read. The message was brief, but it was enough to take her mind off of Dr. Tom:

Ava, we will be allowed to dock tomorrow for a period of two hours. Please meet me at the entrance of the hangar at 1300 hours, we have much to discuss. I love you. Always –W.

     Ava set the PCD back down on the bed and removed her lab coat. She grabbed her donated toiletries and went down to the common bathroom, combed her long auburn hair, and washed her face. The cool water felt refreshing to her. Then she brushed her teeth and returned, ready for bed. I wonder what we will discuss, she thought. She loved Wesley, and now she felt terrified of him for uncertain reasons. She closed her eyes, but even that could not stop the silent tears from sliding down her cheeks. All I wanted was to start a normal new life when I left Earth, she thought; it has been anything but.

     The next morning Ava checked on her patients, making sure everyone was stable and had what they needed. She had to admit that her nursing staff had been incredible through this whole ordeal, and made it a point to thank them for their compassionate care towards her patients since their arrival. She completed her charting and left for her hour long lunch break at 12:45. She planned to take a late lunch so that she could meet Wesley at the hangar when Dr. Tom arrived unexpectedly.

     “Hello Ava, I figured you would be on lunch now. Do you have a few minutes to spare to meet with the Infectious Disease Team?” He seemed friendly, at least.

     “Actually now is not a good time for me, I’m sorry.” She glanced around nervously but did not see anyone else in the hallway.

     “It will just take a few minutes. We should be done by 1300. It would be better to just get this over with.”

     Against her better judgment she agreed with the meeting. Dr. Tom must think I went on lunch at 1200, she thought. “Okay, fine, let’s put an end to their concerns regarding my health.”

     As they walked down the long deserted hallway to the meeting room, which seemed to be miles away, Dr. Tom continued to talk.

     “Ava, I believe that I can help you,” he said softly, looking at her.

     “I beg your pardon?” She looked at him in confusion.

     “Your friends are not what they appear to be.”

     “I’m not sure what you are talking about, Doctor.” The hair on the back of Ava’s neck began to feel as though it were starting to stand up. Here comes the energy again. She sighed.

     “I know you have not been yourself, but I want you to know that I am on your side and we can get you through this.”

     Ava stopped dead in the hallway, her eyes fixed on him. “Dr. Tom, what are you talking about? Are you feeling all right?” He’s gone crazy she thought, or, has he guessed the truth? Better to pretend not to know anything.

     “Ava, I’ve reason to believe that your friends are not who they say they are.”

     “Oh really?” Ava replied, playing dumb and conveying an amused attitude.

     “After what happened to you in the hospital, I went back and reviewed some of the security surveillance footage of your comings and goings at your quarters on Orionis a while ago.”

     “You what?” She couldn’t understand what she was hearing.

     “I know this sounds odd, but I wanted to watch your friend’s behavior and I found out something interesting. Please just, hear me out.”

     “Dr. Tom, according to the laws on Orionis and the ITO, stalking is a criminal offense. . .”

     “I care about you Ava, but I’m not stalking you; I wanted to learn more about your friends. Anyway, there was one Friday night that you left your quarters by yourself. Then, a few hours later, the footage showed several of your friends, some crew members, coming in to your quarters. Only, you had never returned. Then, a little while later, they left. What’s even more interesting is that the next morning, your boyfriend left your quarters.”

     “Dr. Tom, my boyfriend does sometimes leave my quarters in the morning. What’s your point?”

     “My point is Ava, according to the footage, you never returned home, and there is no footage of your boyfriend coming into your quarters either, yet suddenly he comes out the next morning? Then, later that weekend, you emerged. Now as far as I know, on Orionis, there is only one way in and out of your quarters and that is through the front door. So how do you explain it?”

     Ava’s mind raced. What was he talking about? Then it hit her. The incident at The Labyrinth, where she had almost been victimized. She never really remembered how she got home that night, only that Wesley said he brought her there. Her look of surprise fueled his anticipation. He knows something’s wrong, she thought. Before she could speak, he continued.

     “Ava, I don’t think that you should see any of them again. They did something to you, I know it.” His voice began to rise as he became excited, like he had just discovered something phenomenal. He abruptly took a firm hold on her arm.

     “What are you doing? Let me go!” Ava was certain the pressure in his grip was causing a deep bruise.

     “Don’t worry, we’ll get you to the infectious disease team and run some more tests on you to make sure that you are okay. You haven’t been yourself since the transfusion, we can help you.” He started to pull her towards the end of the hall forcefully.

     “Let go of me!” Ava shouted. She began to resist him and tried to pry his hands off of her arm. I’m going to lose control, she realized too late.

     “I’m not trying to hurt you; I’m trying to help you!” he persisted.

     “Stop it, I’m not going anywhere with you!” Ava practically growled at him as she sensed the energy rising within her. In her panic she could not find the right frame of mind to suppress it, or remember her self-defense instructions. Suddenly, Ava grabbed Dr. Tom’s hand on her arm and pulled it off of her as if it were a child’s hand. Then she reigned in the energy and turned. She shoved Dr. Tom as hard as she could. Her strength surprised them both as he flew back and crashed against the wall in the hallway with what seemed like very little effort to Ava. He had let out a loud grunt when he hit the wall; otherwise it had been a rather discreet incident. She looked down at him, stunned for the moment, and not knowing what else to do, started running in the opposite direction down the hallway.

      Ava did not look back as she sprinted down the halls, past what was left of her co-workers and the patients she had attended. She did not stop, not even when people called out to her. She burst through the door that led to one of the main avenues and kept running towards the hangar. Though her encounter with Dr. Tom had not seriously hurt her, it had upset her, and Ava felt more afraid than anything else. She had nowhere else to go, no one she could trust. She heard a siren howl in the distance behind her as she took a nearby stairwell up three long flights to the level of the hangar. She felt the PCD clipped on her waistband buzz. Wesley is looking for me, she realized. When she neared the hangar, she slowed her gait to a fast walk to avoid collecting any unnecessary attention. Her face showed how flushed she had become from running, she breathed heavily, and her cheeks stung with the salty tears she had shed as she ran.

     There he stood. Always so calm and steady. He moved quickly towards her when he saw her. She started sprinting again and ran straight into his reaching arms.

     “Ava, what happened, are you all right?” He kept one arm around her and touched her face gently, trying to soothe her anxiety. He could see that she was visibly upset. There did not seem to be time for a more gratifying reunion.

     “We have to leave now!” Ava gasped, looking back, breathing hard. She decided she would rather take her chances with Wesley than Dr. Tom and the infectious disease team.

     As if seeming to know what had taken place, Wesley quickly ushered her back through security, speaking rapidly to the crew on his PCD. He did not ask her for her reasons, it did not matter now. Wesley courteously informed the ITO officers that they would be departing immediately. They seemed pleased to have an early clearing in the busy hangar schedule and happily obliged their swift exodus. The officers did not even glance at Ava’s uniform or her flushed face as they walked through. No one asked any questions. This is strange, she thought. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Justin standing nearby, joining them once they were through. Wesley never let go of her as the three of them hurried towards the Andromeda. As they approached, the ramp descended and Ava did not look back as she calmly walked up towards the entrance. She could see Naomi and Andre inside waiting for them. This is it, she thought, there was no turning back now.

Chapter 2: Deception

          Bryant slowly walked through the hangar on Polaris after being cleared by the ITO. He approached the Solstice from behind, looking up at the impressive starship as he neared it. He could easily behold his own reflection in the shiny metallic black finish of the underside of it. Near the top of the oval shaped ship were silver windows spaced evenly, receding from the main windshield in the pilot’s compartment towards the back of the ship. Plain but beautiful he thought, comparing it to the other somewhat beat up looking ships in the hangar. As he neared the middle of the side of the ship, the entrance ramp lowered, inviting him inside. His conversation with Xavier had been brief in the VIP lounge. He had not been permitted to stay long enough to carry out his plan and convince Xavier of his mission as an evacuation drill had been abruptly announced in the theater prior to his performance because of the recent events on Orionis. Xavier invited Bryant to meet them on his starship after the performance to continue the conversation.

     He brimmed with excitement as he entered the cool starship. A tall, athletic Asterion with medium length brown hair and light blue eyes met him. Bryant introduced himself.

     “Blayke Winters,” the tall man replied, gesturing towards himself. “I’ve heard of you. You’re a tracker, right?”

     “That’s part of what I do,” Bryant replied as Blayke led him down the corridor towards the common room.

     “Are you an old friend of Xavier’s?”

     “Not exactly, but I have some information for him that he may find useful,” Bryant replied nonchalantly.

     They reached the door to the common room. “He’s in there. He’s waiting for you. We’re departing in two hours, so you should have plenty of time.”

     “Thanks,” Bryant replied as Blayke walked back towards the direction they had come from. He walked into the room and observed Xavier talking to two other Asterions he did not know.

     “Hello Bryant,” Xavier said politely, standing up as he spoke. Bryant noticed how tall he was, probably six feet four inches, dressed all in black, the same color of his hair. His observant brilliant blue eyes seemed to light up his face. “This is Lucas and Melanie Albright; good friends of mine,” he continued casually, gesturing towards the couple.  A tall well built man with dark brown hair and gray eyes stood and shook Bryant’s hand as did a young appearing woman with ash blonde hair and blue eyes.

    “It is nice to make your acquaintance,” he replied gallantly, smiling at them. They returned the salutation and sat back down.

     “So, what is it that is so important for you to seek me out all the way here on Polaris?” Xavier got to the point quickly. Apparently his friends were staying to hear what Bryant had to say. Bryant glanced at them again but did not let this bother him. So what if they heard the news? Perhaps it would help his cause. Since everyone else sat down, Bryant found the nearest seat to Xavier and sat down casually.

     “Xavier, when was the last time you saw Wesley Robinson?” Bryant looked directly at him, his investigator mode taking over.

     A somewhat surprised look appeared on Xavier’s face. Clearly he was not expecting this. “About ten years ago, why?” Xavier spoke with an indifference Bryant could not understand, knowing what he knew about them.

     “Well, I thought it would be interesting for you to know that he’s finally found his mate,” Bryant announced nonchalantly. Xavier appeared to be amused. After all of this time, perhaps he doesn’t realize what this means, Bryant thought.

     “This is why you sought me out, to tell me that?” He chuckled slightly, not sounding a bit impressed.

     Bryant had been expecting this type of response. He didn’t let it off set him. “Please, just hear me out. I first saw them on Capri a few months ago. He was with a young woman by the name of Ava Amherst, a resident of Orionis. She was traveling with him and the whole crew.”

      “This means absolutely nothing to me,” Xavier replied dryly.

     “They are truly matched, I assure you,” Bryant responded persistently.

     “If you’ll excuse me I have some things to do, sorry you wasted your time. . .” Xavier looked at the others and made as if he were about to rise out of his seat.

     “Xavier, do you realize what this means?” Bryant interrupted him before he had a chance to get up and leave. “If she is his match, that means that she is also yours!”

     “He’s right,” Lucas observed casually.

     “Can you believe it, after all of these years?” Melanie said to no one in particular.

     “There’s more,” Bryant added.

     Xavier finally began to show some interest in the conversation. He looked at Bryant as a cue for him to continue.

     “I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Ms. Amherst on Orionis a short while after that. She is a beautiful young woman, and very intelligent. The only thing that I cannot figure out is that she is human.”

     “She’s human? That’s . . . not possible. She could not be his match . . .” Xavier said matter-of-factly, looking puzzled.

     “I’m not sure how it’s possible, but it has happened.” Bryant tried his best to sound amazed.

     “You’re certain?” Lucas asked, seemingly surprised.

     “Absolutely. It is a true match. Wesley would never have such an intimate relationship with a human otherwise. Of course, you would know that,” he replied, searching Xavier’s face for any spark of concern.

     “So why are you telling me this? What’s in this for you?” Xavier asked suspiciously.

     “I lost my wife many years ago. I know how it is to go through life without the one person that completes you.” Bryant did not have to fake his solemnity with this statement.

     “I’m so sorry for you,” Melanie replied softly back to him.

     Xavier looked at the floor. After over 300 years, he had to admit the thought that a possible match existed for him began to intrigue him. Then, Bryant, sensing he had everyone’s attention, decided to elaborate on his story.

     “I wouldn’t have taken the trouble to find you . . . if it weren’t for the way that he treats her,” he added gravely. This is going to be so much fun, he thought.

      The other three Asterions glanced at each other. “What do you mean?” Xavier asked.

     “I don’t know if it’s because she is human or not. He is cruel to her. I’ve observed them carefully and it seems to me that he is disappointed that she is human. After I met her, they took her from her home on Orionis. They tow her from place to place on his starship, and seem to work her very hard for her keep. She’s practically a slave. The poor thing isn’t allowed to speak to anyone, or go out un-escorted by one of the crew members. They keep her near because she’s Wesley’s match. It’s almost as if . . .  they don’t know what to do with her. She has no hope of escape, how could she, surrounded by a crew of our kind. I fear for her.”

     “James, that’s terrible!” Melanie exclaimed, addressing Xavier by his first name, looking at him.

     “I know if my mate were still alive, I would do anything to keep her safe,” Bryant added.

     “It shouldn’t matter whether or not she is human. If she is truly his mate then Wesley should have accepted her the way that she is!” Lucas added.

     “I just didn’t think it was fair for you not to know about her, given the circumstances, and the way she has been treated. I’ve said what I came to say.  Now that you do, I will let you get back to your business,” Bryant spoke gently, pleased with his lies, rising to leave.

     “Wait.” Xavier stood suddenly. “You are a tracker, are you not?”

     “Indeed I am,” Bryant replied, beginning to feel the sweet sensation of victory.

     “Do you think you could lead us to her?”

     Bryant paused, pretending to think it over. “It may take some time to locate them, but I believe I could.”

     “We’ll leave as soon as you can collect your things from your hotel,” Xavier said resolutely.

     “Certainly.” Bryant exited the Solstice burning with excitement. The pain and emptiness Robinson is going to feel when Xavier takes Ava away from him will be nothing short of what he deserves after he let my wife die, he thought.

Chapter 3:  The Truth

     As soon as Ava boarded the Andromeda and was safely strapped in, Ash lifted off gently. As to what destination, Ava did not know. She had left everything behind her now. She had also probably broken numerous laws within the last half hour; there was no way she could ever go back without accepting some form of consequence.  Wesley had stayed with her during takeoff. Despite her fears, his presence seemed comforting. She had been reluctant to speak, but finally told him what had happened after they were safely in space.

     “Here, Ava.” Naomi appeared and handed Ava a glass of water and a cool damp cloth so that she could wipe her face.

     “Thank you, Naomi.”

     “You’re welcome. Is there anything else I can get for you now?”

     “No thanks. I’m good,” Ava replied quickly.

     “I’ll leave you two alone so you can talk,” she said gently as she walked away.

     “Don’t worry about what happened on Capri, Ava. That doctor will never touch you again. Everything’s going to be fine.” He took her hand and warmed it in his.

     “Will it?” Ava said as if she did not believe it, staring at nothing in particular.

    “I promise.” He sounded so sure.

     “Wesley, we need to talk.” She looked directly at him. “I need to know the truth about you.”

     “I know, . . . it’s time. We have a lot to discuss. Why don’t you go to our quarters and change into something warmer and meet me in the common room?”

     “All right. I’ll be a few minutes.” Ava rose to make her way up to the room she and Wesley usually shared when they traveled. She had to admit, she was a little chilled in the thin material her uniform was made out of. She felt grateful she had the good sense to leave some clothes on the ship on their last trip. It was nice to put on some of her own things, a cream colored warm sweater and black cargo  pants and boots. Once dressed she calmly made her way to the common room. She entered and caught Wesley pacing back and forth nervously. Strange for him, she thought. He came to her as she made her way to a small couch and sat down. He sat next to her, never taking his eyes away from her.

     “Wesley, I know something happened on E.S. Number One. I know that I had a broken leg and that it was healed without my knowledge . . .  how did that happen?” Ava asked the first question, leaving it open for any type of explanation. She wasn’t sure exactly how she should approach this sensitive subject.

     “Ava, I need to tell you about myself. All I ask is that you keep an open mind. I will need to go much further back than that, but I will answer your question.”

     “Okay,” she answered calmly.

     Wesley stood up and walked a few paces opposite her and leaned back against the wall facing her. Then, after a few moments, he began to speak.

     “I’m not exactly what you think I am. I was not born a human like you on Earth. My body is human, but my essence and my energy is not. Let me explain. To be honest, I don’t know how I was created, or born, or what I even am. I’m not sure exactly when I became self-aware, although it was eons ago. Perhaps even the beginning of time itself. All I recall was that I could think, see, hear, and move anywhere I wanted. I had no form; I guess you could compare me to what you would call a ghost, though I have never seen one. I believe that I am a combination of essence and energy. I traveled through the galaxies, observing stars, the sun, the planets, anything and everything.  The things I have seen were incredible, breathtaking, and sometimes terrible, but now are only a distant memory for me. After an unknown amount of time, I saw the big blue planet you knew as Earth. I traveled there and saw humans for the first time. It amazed me; a being that had the power to act on their desires. They could do anything they wanted.”

     He paused. Ava wasn’t sure what to make of this story, but listened as he continued. “I observed humans for a very long time, must have been hundreds of years before I decided that I wanted to be one.”

     “You wanted to be human?” Ava asked in an amused tone.

     “Yes. After being nothing more than a free-floating essence all of my existence I wanted to see through human eyes, touch and feel things, and to interact with people. Humans are the ultimate machine.”

    “Are you saying that you are the only one of your kind?” Ava asked with skepticism.

     “No. There were others like me, and we interacted occasionally, but it is nothing like what humans do, and my kind are few and far between.”

     “So how did you ‘become’ human?” she asked, still not buying into his story.

     “I didn’t know how to do it. I had seen humans being born, and I had seen them die. I figured my best chance had to be surrounding one of those circumstances.”

     “You mean you couldn’t just possess someone?”

     “No. I was an essence, and I had energy, but I could not touch a human. I tried. I had no power to do anything. There is nothing stronger than the seam between a human body and a human soul. That is something only death can break. I had grown tired of my lonely existence observing humans. At one point I didn’t want to exist anymore. So, I decided to give it some serious effort. I decided that the only way for me to become human would be to try to take the body of someone who had just died.”

     Ava shifted in her seat. The thoughts of this made her uncomfortable, even though she wasn’t sure she believed all that she was hearing. She waited for him to go on.

     “I spent a lot of time choosing who I would try to become. Then, one day, I unexpectedly ran across this man,” he gestured towards himself.

     “Who was he?” Ava asked.

     “You wouldn’t have liked him Ava. When he wasn’t out sleeping around, he was busy shooting up at the expense of his parent’s trust fund. He was spoiled, foolish, and weak. He seemed to me a bit of a coward. He had no personality and was downright unpleasant.”

     “Why would you choose such a person?”

     “Because, . . . I had observed his careless behavior. You could say that he was a sure thing. It would be only a matter of time before he overdosed, and when he did, I would be there waiting.”

     “What happened?”

     “One evening, he was in his vast apartment by himself and had the bad judgment to take too much. Wasn’t long before his heart stopped and he collapsed. As soon as the life in him departed, I forced myself in. Looking back, I was just lucky, I didn’t know what I was doing, didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Somehow I channeled my energy to re-start his heart and figured out how to breathe. After a few minutes I opened my new eyes and observed my surroundings.  It was the most amazing experience, but I was weak. Withdrawal is a bitch, but I had to go through it. Took me about twenty-four hours just to figure out how to crawl.”

     “So you revived a dead body?” Ava asked incredulously, still not quite believing it.

     “It’s not that morbid Ava, he had been dead less than a minute. You of all people can understand this. Humans attempt to do this to each other all of the time. Only, you call it cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR is only done on people who are clinically dead.”

     “Yes, but if the person recovers and wakes up, they are still the same person.”

     “That’s true. I can only imagine how strange this must sound to you. Believe me, I don’t think anyone would have missed him, and it’s not like I killed him, he did that to himself. We don’t have the power to touch someone who is alive and well when we are in our vapor like form. Humans are unaware of our existence when we are like that. They really have no idea. Besides, I didn’t even want to try taking over a body that had been long dead.”

     “So you truly are alive. I mean you seem alive, aren’t you?”

     “Yes, I’m alive as you are, and then some. In the beginning I was feeble. After about a week I seemed to recover and I could walk. I ate everything he had stashed in his apartment, packed a bag, took all of the cash he had in his safe, and left. This was long before The Great Impact of 2079. I crossed a few continents, changed my identity and started over. After spending centuries observing humans I had learned some of the languages. It was easier than I thought. After a long while I met Andre. He told me how he had observed me after my transformation and tried if for himself, on a victim of an automobile accident.”

    “He is like you then?”

     “Yes, all of my crew are like me.”

      “What do you call yourselves?” Ava asked, unsure if she could swallow this story.

     “Naomi came up with the idea to call us ‘Asterions’ after the meaning ‘ruler of the stars’ since that’s apparently where we believe we came from.”

     “So you are all Asterions . . .  how many of you are there in existence?”

     “That I’m not sure of. As you could imagine we like to keep to ourselves and not attract a lot of attention. We can sense others of our kind around us. I’ve only run across maybe a dozen others besides my crew. I know that somehow Andre, Naomi, and I knew each other before we became human. Perhaps we are related. They feel like my family, so that’s how we treat each other. I believe that I am the oldest Asterion in existence and that I have been human longer than any other Asterion.”

     “Do humans know about you?”

     “No, not generally. It’s not something we like to announce, you know. After I met Andre, his match, Naomi, followed his steps to become human so that they could continue to be together. We all began our lives. We had many occupations from one time to another. Mostly we worked on the development of the space stations. We had knowledge of the galaxy that humans didn’t and some of us have certain abilities that regular humans don’t.”

     “What kind of abilities?”

     “When we become human we are weak, but over time our essence and energy settle into our bodies and the energy builds. I discovered that I had the ability to teleport myself from place to place.”

     “Teleport?” Ava asked, astonished.

     “Yes, but I don’t like to do it because it drains my energy. That was how I got you home the night you were drugged at the club. I can also do some telekinesis.”

     “You can use your mind to move objects?” Ava replied with disbelief. “Show me, I want to see this,” she said resolutely. His story was nothing if not incredible, but she wanted proof.

      He looked at her, sensing her need to believe, and vanished in front of her. Ava’s jaw dropped and she leapt up off of the couch, looking around for him.

     “I’m here,” Wesley said to her, having appeared in front of the door to the room, some fifteen feet away. Ava’s wide eyes trained on him as he vanished again, this time reappearing next to her. He watched as she backed away, bringing her hands to cover her mouth.

     “Oh my God, you . . . you aren’t lying are you?” she said with disbelief, breathing heavily.

     He held out his hand and the glass of water Ava had brought to the room with her lifted by itself off of the table it rested on and glided smoothly into his hand. He handed her the glass.

     “I’m not lying to you Ava,” he said softly as she took the water from him. She breathed heavily as he put an arm around her shoulders and led her back to sit down on the couch.

      “I also have the ability to heal. When we were on E.S. Number One, we were attacked by marooned pirates while we were repairing our ship. You were safely out of range because you were off looking at antiques but they found you. Long story short, I was shot and had to take a few minutes to heal. You ran out of the hangar and fell through the floor before I could get to you. You could have died, and it would have been my fault. I’m just lucky that it was only your leg that got broken. I was able to heal your leg perfectly, but you have no idea how guilty I feel that you still have pain in it. I wish that I could take that away from you.”

     “Why do I have no memory of this?” Ava asked softly as Wesley looked away.

     “When I healed you, we were not intimate. I wasn’t as familiar with your energy as I am now. So, when I use my energy to heal someone other than myself, it clashes with their own and it’s terribly painful. Healing myself is easy, healing others is very difficult. I’ve . . . killed people trying. You were screaming in pain, and crying. I didn’t want you to remember that so I asked Justin to take the memory away from you.”

     “He can do that?” She found this profoundly disturbing.

     “He has some abilities with mind and memory control. This is also how we just got through security on Capri with no questions asked. From a distance he made them think we had the proper clearance so they didn’t question us.”

     “Yes, I did think that was a little too easy.” Ava looked at the floor.

     “Ava, I’m sorry we did that to you, believe me, our intentions were good.” His voice conveyed his sincerity.

     “What else have you all done to me?” Ava asked, suddenly feeling anxious.

     “Nothing, I swear. . .”

     “What about the blood transfusion that seemed to cure the virus that almost killed me? What did that do to me that I feel this anxious all the time?” She could feel the energy firing up inside her from the anxiety she was feeling now.

     “It is Justin’s energy that you are experiencing. His blood is human, it just carries his energy and you are not used to it. You will be a little bit stronger for a while, and have more energy, but you should return to your normal self in a few months when his blood cells die off and you replace them with your own.”

    “So that’s it. That’s everything?”

     “Ava, there are a few more things that you should know.”

     “I’m sure. . .” Ava’s voice trailed off. This was a lot of information to take in.

     “Ava, I’m not as young as I appear to you,” he said hesitantly, clearly not enjoying bringing up this part of the conversation.

     “How old are you?”

     “When I became human I assumed I would live out the rest of my human life and die like humans do, but I quickly learned this was not to be. I . . . haven’t aged since that day. I have now been like this for 316 years.”

     “Three hundred and sixteen years?” Ava looked at the man sitting next to her, a man who appeared to be somewhere around thirty-two years old.

    “Yes.”

     “You’re . . . immortal?” Ava wasn’t sure how much more she could take today.

     “Not exactly. I don’t know how long I can live like this, but I do know that I am the oldest Asterion that has become human. However, if we are injured and our energy is depleted, we can be killed.”

     “Then what happens to your essence?”

     “I’m not sure. In the few cases I have seen an Asterion die, it is very much like a human death, although, I sensed that the essence sort of floated away, dissipated. I don’t think it would be the same as going back to the way it was before becoming human. It definitely felt different.”

     Ava looked at the floor; tears started sliding down her cheeks. She wasn’t sure what to expect from this conversation. Her home had been blown up, she had left her job, and now the most important person in her life was not what she had believed him to be. She felt as though her fragile world had shattered around her within the last seventy-two hours.

     “I know this isn’t easy for you to hear. It’s a lot. Ava, please, all I ask is that you give me a chance . . .”

    “A chance for what Wesley?” Ava interrupted. She tried not to sound angry. It came out sounding more upset. “How can we possibly be together now? I . . . cannot be what you are! You are going to be forever young while I grow old and die. What would our relationship be like when I’m sixty and you’re still young and handsome?”

     “Your physical appearance is only a small part of my attraction to you, Ava. Believe me, I was just as surprised as you are now when I first saw you. I have never seen an Asterion matched with a human. We match with our own kind, for life. It’s your energy, your essence or soul, whichever you call it. That is what draws me to you. I sensed your presence the moment The Solar Wind landed in the hangar the day it brought you to Orionis. I was there.”

    “That was you?” Ava remembered how she sensed someone watching her that day.

     “Yes.” Wesley continued, his voice soft now. “I watched you check in with the ITO. All I wanted to do was see you, touch you, and feel your energy. But I couldn’t come near you. You would have freaked.”

     “If you saw me that first day, how come I didn’t actually meet you until weeks later, in The Square?”

     “I wanted to help you. I hacked into the ITO system and learned pretty much everything there was to know about you within an hour of your arrival. I knew your name, when you were born, where you came from, your occupation, the fact that you were a widow. As obsessed as I was, I had a hard time coping with the fact that you were human. It’s not supposed to be like this, Ava. I’ve spent my life helping humans, I’ve never had a match, never loved someone. I was supposed to have an Asterion match, like my friends, someone to be with me always. I’ve been waiting for her. I think I was angry initially, like I had been cheated out of something.”

     “I’m sorry . . . you must have been disappointed . . .” Ava began.

     “No . . . I got over it. My friends were surprised but supportive. Ava, I would rather have several wonderful decades with you, than none at all. I feel blessed that after all of this time, I have finally found you. I cyber stalked you for a while, watched you on the security cameras. I learned your habits, your schedule, your route to and from work. I needed to find some way to meet you. People like you and starship captains like me rarely mix socially on Orionis. Believe me, it was killing me inside watching you starving to death. Naomi and the others had to talk me out of just taking you away several times in the beginning. That day in The Square was the best opportunity for me to meet you and present myself to you in a friendly manner. I brought Naomi with me so that you would not feel intimidated, or uncomfortable being alone with me. It was very hard for me not to touch you.”

       “So that static electricity I felt when I shook hands with you was your energy and not static from your ship?”

     “Yes. I’m sorry I lied to you.” He paused and took a deep breath. “We suppress our energy around humans so they do not sense it, however you did. You seem to be very sensitive to it no matter how hard we try. Normally humans don’t feel it if they touch me, or so I’m told.”

     “Why don’t I feel it anymore?”

     “Every human carries energy, but on different levels. When we were intimate for the first time on Valentine’s Day, I was able to, for lack of a better term, tune into you. Being that close to you gave me the opportunity to sense your exact level; it’s like tuning into a radio frequency. Now that I know yours, I know where to match it, so you don’t feel it. What’s great is that now that I am ‘in sync’ with you, I can teleport you more easily, or heal you without pain.” Wesley spoke energetically, as if he were pleased with his explanation.

     Ava did not know what to think of all of this. It was almost too much information. She wanted the truth, and he had given it to her. She looked at the floor and did not speak, although she knew he was watching her. It was not too long ago that she had looked forward to her future, with wishful thoughts of marriage and possible children, and now she was not sure what would happen. She felt emptiness consume her. She lost her home, her job, and now the hope of her future with the man she believed she loved. He was not what he appeared to be. The thoughts devastated her. Her life, or the life she knew and the life she had hoped for was over. How could their relationship go on from here? Did she want their relationship to go on? She wasn’t sure at the moment.

     When she didn’t speak, Wesley figured that he had lost her to her thoughts. “Ava, I know this isn’t at all what you expected to hear . . . “

     “Wesley?” she interrupted him. She’d had enough for one day.

     “Yes?” Her abruptness surprised him, it wasn’t like her.

     “I want to be alone now.” She seemed preoccupied with her thoughts.

    “Okay . . . I’ll walk you up.”

     “No . . . thank you, I just want to go and lie down for a while.” With that Ava got up and silently left the room. All Wesley could do was helplessly watch her leave.

     Ava left the common room and instead of going up to the quarters she and Wesley had shared for what seemed like the longest time, walked down the ramps to the room that used to be her old quarters. She leaned back against the door after it slid shut behind her with her eyes closed. She could not stop the hot tears from coming. It had been a very long time, since perhaps the death of her husband, that she had felt this lost. Slowly, she walked over to the bed and laid down on it, wondering what was to become of her. Wesley remained in the common room, having not moved since Ava’s departure. For the first time in his human existence he feared rejection. If Ava could not accept him, he would have no choice but to let her go.

Chapter 4: Home

     Ava laid on her old bed for several hours without moving, trying to process the confusing explanation Wesley had given her. As strange as things had turned out, she did not fear him they way that she had only a few hours ago. Ava knew she was upset. This extra energy she carried only seemed to amplify things. She wondered if she were only experiencing a fraction of what Wesley and his crew felt all the time, how in the world could they stay sane? She did not sense anger or hostility from her conversation with Wesley, only his hope. Smugly, her thoughts went back to Dr. Tom. He had been right; he was smart enough to figure it out, too bad for him he’ll never know. She never wanted to see him again.

     She sat up and wiped the remainder of the tears off of her face. I must look awful, she thought, feeling her warm, puffy face. After all that had happened to her in her life, somehow, she always found a way to get back on her feet. She thought of Nathan, her beloved deceased husband. What would he do? He always looked on the bright side of things. Perhaps she could do the same, but she wondered how. How bleak exactly was her situation? She had only a few clothes on the ship. She had her ID badge that was linked to her accounts, but if she used it somewhere on another station, the authorities on Capri could locate her and she could face the consequences of abandoning her job, and perhaps worse, Dr. Tom could find her. Even if she did try to start over, she did not have tons of credits saved. The only people Ava could think of to go to were Alexis and Marc on Antares. Surely they could help her. She just felt like she wanted to run far away from everything.

     Ava jumped as a she heard a light knock on her door, pulling her from her thoughts.  She didn’t feel like company at the moment, and she knew she didn’t want to see Wesley right now. After all, he had lied to her from day one, they all had. A small part of her understood that, while the rest of her felt betrayed.

     “Ava, it’s me, Naomi.” Her voice sounded muted through the heavy steel door. “May I please come in? I’m alone.”

     Ava pondered this for a few seconds and decided she couldn’t stay in her room by herself forever. “Okay,” she replied softly, sniffing because her nose still ran.

     The door silently slid open, revealing her friend standing there holding a small tray with a few items on it. She looked concerned. Naomi walked in quickly and the door slid shut behind her. “I thought you might like something to eat. Wesley said that you didn’t get to have your lunch today.”

     Ava looked down at the floor and shook her head slowly. She didn’t really have an appetite, but the food started to smell good. She wasn’t sure how to react to her friend. She had always trusted Naomi, even from their first meeting; Naomi had a warm, nurturing ambience about her. Ava watched as she set the tray down on the small desk in the room and turned to bring her a cup with what appeared to be hot chocolate in it. She looked at the clock, 6:36 p.m. The others surely must be eating their own dinner by now.

     “I know that you love chocolate. It always cheers me up when I’m down.” She moved over towards Ava and handed her the cup. Ava gasped as she sensed Naomi’s potent energy flowing from her. It felt warm, like perhaps how the sun would be if she ever stood in it. Naomi walked into the small bathroom and brought Ava a tissue so that she could blow her nose. She sensed that Ava noticed her energy.

     “Now that you know the truth about us, we don’t have to try to hide our energy as much. Normally humans don’t sense it on any level because we subdue it, but you did.” She paused. “You are so special Ava.” Naomi raised her hand and smoothed back Ava’s hair off of her face, an act that surprised Ava, and comforted her. Ava looked into her blue eyes and at her beautiful blonde hair and wondered what the circumstances were of the young woman that had died before Naomi moved in. Her tears started flowing again, she couldn’t suppress them. Naomi sat down next to her on the bed and put an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder.

      “I know you weren’t expecting any of this. The truth is, . . . we weren’t either. I believe that things happen for a reason and I believe you and Wesley are meant to be together, for however long that will be. The two of you need each other.”

     “I don’t understand any of this. It doesn’t make sense.” Ava mustered some control over her tears and concentrated on breathing slowly to calm down.

     “It will. Give yourself some time. No one expects an instant recovery. You can take as much time as you need. All that Wesley, and we, ask is that you give us a chance.”

     “I’m not sure if I can do that.”

     “I can understand how betrayed and confused you must be, but Ava, please remember that you have been part of our family for a long time now, and we have never acted or pretended any of our feelings, thoughts, or actions towards you. We have only tried to protect you, and yes, we have concealed the truth from you at times, but we have kept your best interest in mind. In all honesty Wesley delayed telling you because he was afraid. He didn’t want to hurt you, and he feels terrible now. It’s not every day we form such a close relationship with a human.”

     “I don’t know what to say.  My head is kind of a mess right now.” Ava’s voice was flat, not revealing any emotion. She found it hard to look directly at Naomi now.

     “I understand. I will leave you to your thoughts. You are not as alone as you think you are Ava, we are all here for you. However, none of us will disturb you tonight, we know that you need to rest and let all of this sink in. Please don’t hesitate to let me, or the others know if you need anything. Andre and I will be right down the corridor, as usual. Take a hot shower and try and get some sleep, it’s very therapeutic. Sometimes things don’t seem so hopeless in the morning.” She gave Ava a reassuring smile, removed her arm from around her and casually walked out of the room, the door sliding shut behind her.

      Ava took a sip of the hot chocolate.  It was warm, rich, delicious, and comforting. Rowan must have made this, she thought, Naomi isn’t always so talented in the kitchen. Chocolate is very expensive. Ava rarely could afford it on her own, let alone have the patience to melt it down and mix it into a drink. It was definitely a weakness. A faint smile appeared on her face, then disappeared. She got off of the bed and inspected the tray on the desk, nibbled at a few of the items and then drank thirstily from the large bottle of water after the hot chocolate was gone. She decided to take Naomi’s advice and took a long hot shower to freshen up. Someone had put toiletries, socks, new underwear, and pajamas in the small cabinet in the bathroom, almost expecting her to be there. Naomi must have guessed what would happen after her conversation with Wesley. How well they know me, she thought as she brushed her teeth and went to bed.

         The stress of things had taken a toll and, by surprise, Ava had slept great, with only a few intermittent awakenings. Her mind felt a little appeased. At least she no-longer had to worry about Dr. Tom snooping around or wonder about Wesley’s mysterious behavior. She took a deep breath and got out of bed. She dressed in some new clothes that had been placed in her closet, freshened up, and decided it was time to come out of her room. She couldn’t stay in there and she did feel curious about where their destination was. After the door opened she peered cautiously out in both directions. Sensing no one, she made her way up to the eating area. As she came closer she could smell coffee. They must be eating breakfast now. Ava paused shyly in the doorway. Rowan, Justin, Naomi, Mia, and Wesley fell silent, paused and turned to face her. Ava almost shrank back, not sure if she could handle all of them at once. Rowan smiled brightly at Ava and started to come over to her. Her wavy red hair bounced softly as she walked and her green eyes seemed to sparkle with hope as she put a hand on her shoulder.  Ava could feel the energy flowing off of her, slightly different from Naomi’s.

     “Good morning, Ava. Won’t you please come in and have some breakfast?”

     She nodded at her.

     Rowan led Ava over to her usual place at the table and she sat down next to Wesley. “Would you like some coffee?”

     “Yes, please,” Ava responded reflexively. She paused, thinking twice about it. “Rowan, you don’t have to wait on me, I can get it.”

     “Oh it’s no trouble at all. You just sit there and relax. You’ve had a rough time with the explosion on Orionis and . . . everything else.” She patted Ava’s shoulder affectionately and turned to gather her breakfast.

     “Good morning, Ava,” Wesley greeted her, his voice cautious and filled with concern. His large warm brown eyes assessed her for any sign of encouragement, but found none.

     “Morning,” Ava replied hesitantly, noticing that Wesley looked tired. He probably hasn’t slept, she thought. Everyone else at the table greeted her pleasantly and then resumed the conversation they were having; something about the evacuation procedure on Orionis. Ava tried to listen to what would normally have been an interesting conversation, but her thoughts started to wander.

     Rowan set a bowl of oatmeal, a small plate of fruit, and coffee down in front of Ava and then took her seat opposite her at the table.

     “Thank you, Rowan.”

     “You’re very welcome. I hope you were able to get some sleep last night. We had a lot of flight turbulence.”

      “I must have slept because I didn’t notice.”

     “How are you feeling?” Wesley inquired. “I was worried about you.”

     “I’m okay, . . . I guess. I’m still a little tired.” She didn’t really know what to say to him, to any of them really. Normally things weren’t awkward like this, but now knowing what she knew, she felt intrigued, and also distanced; almost inferior to them.

     “Ava, I thought you might be worried about your friend Elaine, so I checked on her evacuation status for you,” Naomi quickly said, changing the subject.

     This caught Ava’s attention. “Elaine!” In the aftermath she had totally forgotten about her friend, now she felt terrible. “Is she okay? Did she get out in time?” she asked hurriedly.

     “Yes, she did. No worries. They routed her to Polaris, along with her boyfriend. They must have been standing in line next to each other in order for that to happen. Seems that they are both doing fine.”

     Ava breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God.” At least her friend was safe. Ava now saw this as an opportunity to try to find out what their destination was. “Is that where we are headed?”

     Naomi looked at Wesley, who had turned his posture so that he faced Ava. “No, Ava. After everything that has happened on Orionis and on Capri, I feel it would be best if we stayed away from the stations for a while,” he spoke softly and reassuringly to her.

     “Then, if we aren’t going to a station, are we going back to Earth?” Ava asked suspiciously. How could they go back to Earth? She did not want to live in the cold underground again.

     “Not exactly.” He hesitated as she searched his face for an answer. The thought of possibly going to another abandoned space station, if one existed, frightened her. “We are going to take you to our home . . . to your new home,” he glanced at the others who were smiling thoughtfully at her.

     “What do you mean?” Ava suddenly felt panic sweeping over her. She looked frantically from face to face. What were they talking about?

     “Many years ago we discovered a planet similar to Earth that can support human life. We have spent a long time developing it, populating it, and protecting it. We named it Kyanos.”

     “You have your own planet? An extra solar planet? Does the ITO know?” Ava couldn’t believe this. A new planet could change everything for millions of people. She watched as the others reacted to her statement. She saw some heads shaking back and forth in disagreement.

     “We haven’t revealed the existence of it to anyone except the people whom we have taken to live there. It’s for the planet’s protection. I know this may be hard for you to understand from your point of view; however we have lived long enough to have seen humans destroy the Earth long before the Great Impact.”  Wesley spoke slowly and solemnly. She could tell Kyanos would be a sensitive issue. “Kyanos is smaller than Earth and there would be no possible way for it to support the populations of all of the space stations. While our city has exceeded our expectations, it is still extremely fragile. Our developments there have been slow on purpose. We don’t want our community living beyond its means.”

     The thought of going to a fledgling community on an unknown planet terrified Ava somewhat. In addition to that, she felt acutely aware that she possessed nothing, except for a few clothes. “Wesley, how can I begin a new life in a new world with no credits and no possessions? Perhaps it would be better for me to go to Alexis and Marc on Antares.”

      “Ava, you can start over. In fact, our clinic would benefit greatly from your addition. The healthcare providers perform research when they aren’t seeing patients. You wouldn’t be as busy as you were on Orionis, but I know you would fit right in. And, as far as you not having anything, that isn’t something you need to worry about. I’m going to take care of you, you will have a home, and everything that you need, I promise.”

     “Wesley, I’m not sure about this.” Ava couldn’t pretend she had no doubts at this point, especially after everything that had happened.

     “All I ask is that you please give us a chance, and after some time if you are still unhappy, I will do whatever is in my power to make you happy again, even if that means you want to leave us and go back to a life on one of the stations, under a new identity of course.” Wesley did not conceal the sadness in his voice as he spoke.

      Ava looked at the table and nodded, what else could she do? She stirred her oatmeal mindlessly, still shocked by the news that a new planet existed.

     “Ava, you will love Kyanos,” Mia interjected enthusiastically. “It is nothing like the Earth you knew, and the society is not as cold and isolating like it was for you when you arrived on Orionis. The land is beautiful, the air is fresh, the water is much purer than you have ever tasted, and the food will be fresher than you have ever had before. In fact, the water on our ship that you like so much comes from Kyanos most of the time.”

     “That’s right, and you will not be alone Ava. We are all here for you. I know that you will be able to appreciate all that we have to offer,” Rowan added, smiling proudly at Ava.

     “When will we arrive there?” Ava asked.

     “We will be there early tomorrow morning. We can show you some images and start giving you an informal orientation today if you like,” Naomi suggested.

     “I think that would be helpful, thank you,” Ava responded, still looking away from Wesley. Naomi and Mia waited for Ava to finish eating, which didn’t take long because she still had not recovered her appetite and ate very little. Afterwards, the three women met in the common room while Wesley returned to the flight deck to relieve Ash.

     Naomi began Ava’s education regarding Kyanos with how they discovered the planet, followed by a history of how hard they worked to cultivate the farming community. She described the community which consisted of a small city surrounded by the main hangar, the crop fields, and livestock farming. Ava listened as Naomi described how Kyanos derived most of its energy from solar power resulting from the two suns that gave it continuous twenty-four hours of sunshine, leaving only four hours of the twenty-eight hour day for of night time. Mia gave Ava a rundown of the political structure of the colony, lead by its Chief Officer, Trevor Vance.

     “So you guys are not Kyanos’ leaders?” Ava questioned.

     “No, we wanted Kyanos to be governed by humans, mainly because we are on the go a lot, tracking down things that the colony needs from either Earth or the stations,” Naomi explained.

     “We are considered more of like elders, I guess. We assist them and help guide them as needed. We’ve rarely needed to step in take control. The people there are extremely grateful for their existence and have great respect and love for us,” Mia added.

     “Do they know about you all being . . . Asterions?” Ava asked.

     “Yes, of course. They are the only humans that grow up with, or are given the knowledge of our existence. Since the planet is too far for the ITO to reach and for our colonists to travel away from, there is no contact, and no worry for that information to become general knowledge. Believe it or not, our human population copes quite well with it.”

     “Really?” Ava found this surprising.

     “The oldest residents have known us their whole lives, and the residents that are born into the society grow up knowing us. It’s more . . . natural for them I guess, than, for example, the way that you found out about us. Now that our population is expanding, we do not bring new residents from the stations like we used to, unless we require the knowledge or expertise of someone who works in a profession that we need. Then those people sometimes go through what you might be feeling now, but they get over it,” Naomi spoke thoughtfully. Ava could sense that they cared deeply about the safety of their colony.

     After a few hours of hearing about Kyanos, Ava retired to her quarters to rest a while before dinner. She still felt uncertain of her desires regarding which direction her life should be heading, or whether or not she wanted Wesley to be a part of it. At dinner, she sat beside him as usual and they talked on and off, however she found it hard to relax. She wondered if she could accept him back into her heart.

      The next morning, Naomi came to wake Ava early so that she would not miss their landing on Kyanos. After Ava dressed, Naomi gave her a small tube of white cream and instructed her to rub it into her face, neck, hands, and arms.

     “What is this for? Is it a moisturizer?” Ava inquired, puzzled, studying the tube.

     “Kyanos has two suns, you will need to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from being sunburned.”

     “Sunburned?” This was a concept Ava had only read about in the history books. She had grown up underground and had never actually really seen the sun. She had always dressed for the cold underground temperatures and cool environments of the space stations. Naomi handed Ava a pair of dark glasses.

      “Are these sunglasses?” Ava asked, turning them over in her hands, inspecting them.

      “Trust me, you’ll need them, the weather is predicted to be a hot eighty-eight degrees and sunny today,” she said with a smile.

      After Ava applied the sunscreen the two women went to the observation deck to observe the landing. She watched the monitor intently as the Andromeda approached a purplish, bluish looking orb. The ship shuddered slightly as it entered the atmosphere, adjusting to the pull of the planet’s gravity. Ava gasped as she watched their descent towards the colony and what she could see of the hangar. She had never seen anything like it. The sleek silver ship glided effortlessly down and into the large covered structure. She could see buildings scattered here and there and people walking about, or gliding around in what Naomi had described to her as “couriers,” small solar powered vehicles to go from place to place. Then, all motion stopped as the ship officially landed on Kyanos.

     “We’ll meet Wesley at the entrance ramp, and he’ll take you down.” She smiled at Ava, trying to reassure her that everything was fine.

     Within moments of their arrival at the ramp, Wesley appeared, looking a little more hopeful as he came to stand next to Ava as the ramp lowered.

      “Are you ready?” he asked.

     “As ready as I’ll ever be.” She tried to sound positive, despite feeling nervous. He started down the ramp and she followed slowly behind him, the others behind her. Ava observed her surroundings intensely as she walked. The hangar did not appear as large and intimidating as the ones on the stations, and the Andromeda was the only starship there. She noticed there were a few monitors displaying the common numbers and symbols she was used to seeing, and equipment of some kind that appeared to be in storage, but otherwise the place seemed empty. As they walked, Ava noticed two people, a man and a woman, standing near the exit doors to the outside. The woman was holding something in her arms.

      As they neared, Ava could see the woman held a new baby, they appeared relaxed and happy. “Ava, this is our Chief Officer, Trevor Vance, and his wife Rochelle,” Wesley nodded to them as he made the introductions.

      “I’m pleased to meet you,” Ava said, shaking Vance’s hand and nodding at Rochelle who had her arms full. Ava smiled at the baby, who appeared to be a boy.

     “It is nice to finally meet you, Ms. Amherst. You are most welcome to our small community. We hope that you will be very happy here on Kyanos,” Vance replied.

     “Thank you, I hope so.” Ava responded politely. They seemed to be kind people.

     “Congratulations Vance, Rochelle, how old is he?” Wesley smiled at the couple and their new baby.

      “Thank you, Captain. Our son was born three weeks ago.” Vance announced proudly, looking at his baby.

     “His name is Dominic,” Rochelle informed them pleasantly. Ava thought she looked positively radiant.

     “Congratulations, he is beautiful,” Ava remarked, feeling sentimental. She had often wondered if she herself would ever become a mother.

     “Thank you,” she replied, smiling at Ava. “We are very pleased you have come back with the Captain. I know you will feel at home here in no time. If there is anything we can do to help you with the transition, please do not hesitate to ask us.”

      “Thank you, that is very kind of you.” Ava liked Rochelle instantly. She had a calm, pleasant nature about her. She also noticed how both of them treated Wesley normally, like the knowledge that he was as an Asterion did not concern them at all.

     “Has there been any news?” Wesley inquired to Vance.

     “Everything is just fine,” Vance replied calmly, glancing at Ava. “I’ll fill you in on the details later, I’m sure you must want to get Ava settled.”

     “Yes, I’ll touch base with you later. It’s good to see you again.”

     “And you, my friend,” Vance replied, turning back to his family.

     Wesley led the way over towards one of the doors to the outside. Ava stopped abruptly just before he opened the door; she had never been “outside” before. He sensed her apprehension and took her hand in his, which she accepted. “It’s going to be okay,” he said as he smiled at her. “Now, where are your sunglasses?”

     Ava pulled them out of her pocket and placed them on her face. Wesley opened the door and escorted her outside. She walked cautiously looking at the surroundings with great interest. The air smelled sweet and fresh as she inhaled deeply and the heat from the suns surprised her. She had never experienced such intense warmth like this before, and although she wanted to remove her jacket, she did not out of fear that she would be “sunburned.” She could not believe how exciting and beautiful it was, the green foliage, the flowers, the lofty trees, people moving about here and there, dressed in cropped pants and shirts, wearing skimpy looking shoes that she later learned were called “sandals.” She had never seen such a public display of toes before! She almost felt out of place wearing her heavy clothing and tall boots.

      Wesley smiled at her as she took it all in. He had been waiting for this moment for so long. “Welcome to your new home,” he said softly to her, gently squeezing her hand.

     Ava paused from scanning her surroundings and looked up at him. For the first time in a day, she felt a sense of peace; she could almost call it happiness. For the first time since he had told her the truth, she smiled a genuine smile back at him.

Chapter 5: Putting the Pieces Together

     The midnight black Solstice approached the coordinates marked out in space where Orionis had once been. With its gravity stabilizers knocked out of alignment from the explosion rendered courtesy of Kaden, the massive station had drifted out of position. Bryant, using Xavier’s computers in the flight deck, located the station and in no time, brought them right up to the pitiful sight. From a short distance, everyone aboard the starship could see small vessels entering and exiting the station, with other starship “pods” as they were called, stationed along the gravity rings, apparently reconstructing them.

     Xavier looked down at Bryant and began to question him. “So this is where Ava lives?”

     “I have no doubt Robinson evacuated her before whatever went down here happened,” he replied calmly.

     “Hack into their network and find out what happened here,” Xavier said without emotion.

     Bryant’s fingers flew along the flat keyboard. Being part of the ITO investigations unit, he had no trouble getting in. He wanted to show off his tracking skills to Xavier by hacking for the information, but he already had a suspicion as to what really happened. He had recently run across Kaden and his associate, Torian, building a bomb. From what he knew of him, he deduced that he and Captain Robinson were enemies. But why? Why would Kaden want to destroy Orionis? Bryant’s mind raced as he searched. Perhaps it was because Kaden noticed Robinson docking at Orionis frequently and felt he had a chance at destroying him this way? He could not think of any other explanation for it. Better not mention Kaden to Xavier, Bryant thought.

     “Ah, here it is. The transmissions I’m receiving cite an explosion in Orionis’ core. They believe it was some kind of an act of terrorism,” Bryant informed him as his blue eyes scanned the report.

     “Interesting. I wonder who is behind it.” Xavier’s voice was soft. He looked sadly upon the images of the evacuated station, now only a shell. He hated to see anything suffer, particularly humans.

     “Looks like they don’t have any solid suspects at the moment. The good news is that the explosion didn’t completely destroy it beyond repair. They are in the process of fixing the gravity stabilizers in order to rotate it back into its correct axis, then they will begin the process of restoring the station.”

     “That’s going to take them years.”

     “Probably.” Bryant, tired of learning about Orionis, turned his focus back to the task at hand. “I’m going to take a look at the online launch records. The ITO keeps pretty strict records of the coming and goings, even during evacuations.”

     Xavier watched as Bryant performed a search of the starship launches both before and after the explosion. The records were there all right, but not listed in order. They had apparently been uploaded by different operators at different times. “It’s going to take me some time to sort through this, but we’ll find her.”

      “I’ll leave you to it.” Xavier walked out of the flight deck, leaving Bryant with the pilot, Nicholas to complete his task.

∞

     Further out in the galaxy, on the small station known as Sceptrum; the oldest of the functioning space stations, Kaden paced back and forth angrily in the Draconis. He and Torian had caught a flight back to the station, and their starship, after planting and activating their bomb on Orionis. Now he, and his Asterion crew, which consisted of his first mate Darius, his electrician Torian, and his two other crew members, Ranieri and Cassidy, were feeling the frustration as the disappointment hit them at the discovery that the Andromeda had not even been scratched during the event.

     “I don’t understand what happened? That bomb should have erupted with the strength to obliterate that irritating space station,” Torian complained.

     “This is all your fault!” Kaden shouted, pointing the blame on Torian. “We should be reveling in our sweet victory over that poor excuse for an Asterion starship captain and his crew, but we’re not!”

     “We’ll get him yet, don’t you worry,” Darius chimed in. No one wanted Kaden to explode into one of his well known temper tantrums. Someone usually got hurt when that happened.

     “I’m searching the online docking logs for the stations,” Ranieri volunteered.  “Seems like the Andromeda made an uneventful landing on Capri shortly after the explosion. The weird thing is, they were only docked for less than an hour. I wonder why?” she added.

     “Because they were probably re-fueling you idiot!” Kaden had still not calmed down; his energy pulsed erratically through the small meeting room. “I’ll bet you anything that they are back on Kyanos right now with no intentions of leaving anytime soon.”

     “Then we will simply go out there and wipe them out for good,” Darius advised. “They can’t elude us forever. That small planet is worth fighting for. If we have that, then we’ve got it made! No more flying from station to station. We can let those humans do all the work for us. We could finally get some rest.”

     “That is exactly what will be done!” Kaden bellowed as he finally sat down, gaining control over his violent emotions. “Torian, I want you and Darius to completely repair this ship and make sure it is fully armed and loaded before we depart.”

     “Now that sounds like a plan,” Torian agreed.

     “As for me, I’m going to talk to Draves.” A cruel smile appeared across his face.

     Draves would want Kyanos more than anything, Kaden thought. However, Draves would not want to directly face off with Captain Robinson by himself, especially since he was known as the first, the oldest, and the most powerful Asterion in existence. However, if Kaden had Draves’ help, perhaps they could take him down, and collect a beautiful, bountiful planet in exchange. Kaden believed this opportunity might just persuade Draves to work with them.

∞

      Xavier walked back into the flight deck of the Solstice, which hovered near what was left of Orionis, ready to hear of any updates on the search for Ava Amherst.

     “What news?” he asked of his informant.

     “The records are interesting.” Bryant turned away from the monitor to face Xavier and watch his response to the next bit of information. “Shortly after the explosion, both Robinson and Ms. Amherst cleared ITO security into the hangar, but they did not depart together.”

     “What do you mean? I thought he never let her out of his sight?” Xavier furrowed his eyebrows at the thought of their separation. It didn’t match up with the story Bryant had given him a few days ago.

     “Apparently since Ms. Amherst is a nurse practitioner, she had a duty to fulfill regarding the care of patients in the Orionis Medical Center. She had an obligation to stay with them during the evacuation and did so. She departed with them in the Solar Wind and they were routed to Capri.”

     “Capri?” Xavier paused. “That’s not too far from here. Is it possible that she could still be separated from him?” His voice reflected his growing hope and concern for her.

     “It’s possible; however, we will need to go there to access the records to see if he followed her. You can see here in the Orionis log that the Andromeda departed just prior to the Solar Wind, which is odd. I would think that he would depart only after she had safely departed.” Bryant thought for a quick moment, then added, “apparently her safety is not his number one priority, . . . what a shame.” He shook his head and looked down, adding emotion to the validity of the story he had told Xavier about Ava.

     “I don’t believe it,” Xavier replied, clearly stricken with the careless attitude apparently shown by Robinson towards his precious match, Ava, who also happened to be his own. Xavier vowed that this would not go on. “Nicholas?”

      “Are we heading to Capri?” A smile brightened his dark brown eyes.

     “We haven’t a moment to lose.” Xavier stood completely still; focusing on the logs Bryant had pulled up on the screen, unable to break away.

     “You got it.”

Chapter 6: Getting Settled

     Wesley casually walked Ava over towards a stationed courier where the others waited. Some of his crew loaded themselves into one vehicle, while Naomi and Andre waited in a second one for Ava and Wesley. After he had assisted Ava safely into the front passenger seat, he boarded the driver’s side and started the small vehicle. Ava jumped at the jolt.

      “Are you sure these things are safe to . . . drive?” she asked hesitantly, watching him as he began to power it up, ready to go.

      Andre laughed heartily. “Don’t worry, Ava, we’ve only crashed once.”

     “What?” Ava turned around to look at him.

     “Andre!” Naomi scolded him, “Ava’s never seen any of this stuff, give her a break okay?”

     “I’m just kidding, Ava, we’re in good hands,” he said glancing at Wesley.

     Wesley looked at her and gave her a confident smile. “You ready?”

     “I guess so. Where are we going?” she asked, looking around her.

     “Home,” he replied as he turned his attention back to the small open-aired vehicle, then took off at an alarming speed. Ava had a seat restraint on, but held onto the arm rests for dear life as her hair whipped around her. She felt grateful to have the sunglasses on, as they acted more like goggles to protect her eyes from the rushing air.  She tried to take everything in as they raced out of the hangar perimeter towards “The Compound” which Naomi had told her consisted of the houses of the elected leaders of Kyanos, as well as the entire crew. Ava observed that all of the rooftops were constructed of solar panels, harnessing the strong energy from the two suns. She also noticed the existence of innumerable windmills, churning effortlessly in the wind, also collecting energy. She believed the technology and the attention to natural sources of energy were brilliant. But then again, they were on an isolated planet, they had to be a self-sustaining society. After a few minutes, Wesley pulled the small courier up in front of a beautiful stone building and came to a stop.

     “This is us,” Andre commented.

     “This is your home?” Ava asked, wide eyed, looking at the large, beautiful structure as Naomi and Andre climbed out of the back, collecting their backpacks.

     “It sure is,” Naomi beamed proudly. “I’ve missed it terribly.”

     “It’s beautiful, Naomi.”

     “Thank you, Ava. We will have you over very soon to see it.”

     “I’d love that.”

     “Have a great day, we’ll see you later.” Naomi waved as Wesley roared off towards his own home with Ava.

     After a minute they arrived at an isolated structure also made of stones from Kyanos with a solar panel roof. He pulled around the back near a small gate, which opened, allowing them through to the outdoor parking area. “We only use the garage when it rains, because the couriers don’t charge well indoors,” he explained to her, seeing her puzzled look. He stopped the courier, powered it down, and hopped out. He circled to Ava’s side and assisted her out and then collected both of their backpacks. They walked up a flight of stone steps to a patio area with an impressive view of the crop fields and then to a large ornate dark wood door. Wesley pressed his thumb up against the sensor next to it and it unlocked immediately. He opened the door for her and she walked tentatively into the cool interior and removed her sunglasses. As she entered the foyer, she gazed up at the high ceiling and the grand, ornate staircase leading to the upstairs.  Wesley followed her inside and set their bags down.

     “Welcome to your new home, Ava,” he said softly to her.

     She wasn’t sure how to respond to him. She felt terribly grateful to him for all that he had done for her, however the knowledge of his true existence still concerned her. Deep down, she knew she still loved him, however she felt unsure of what the future would hold for them, or if they even had a future. “Thank you,” she said softly. Sensing her coolness, he changed the subject.

     “Well, what would you like to do first? Would you like something to drink or eat? Or would you like to jump right into the grand tour?” he asked enthusiastically.

     “How about the tour?” Ava responded.

     Wesley proceeded to take Ava through the main floor which contained the living area and the kitchen, as well as a recreation area and an entrance to another grand patio with an enormous swimming pool. Ava stared deeply into the crystal blue water.

     “You have a swimming pool? I’ve only seen pictures of these in my history lessons, when I was in school.”

     “Yes, I love to swim when I get the chance. I can’t do it anywhere else besides Kyanos anymore. It’s relaxing.” He studied her, enjoying witnessing her reactions to his home.

     “I don’t know how to swim,” she said looking away from him.

     “That’s okay. I wouldn’t expect you to, you’ve probably never been in more than a few millimeters deep in water at any one time in your life. Water is very precious on the stations, and on Earth, but here, we have natural water sources, and rainwater. I’ll bet we can teach you how to swim in no time.” He smiled encouragingly to her. She returned the smile briefly and then they moved on.

      Up the grand staircase were the bedrooms, an office like space, and a small library. Ava walked into the library and up to one of the nearby shelves and pulled out a book. She felt almost awe struck as she opened it and flipped through the pages. Paper books were rare in her time, everything had been converted to electronic format in response to the dwindling natural resources left on Earth and the new society on the space stations.

     “I was very young the last time I touched a real book,” she mentioned thoughtfully as she gazed at the many shelves of books, recalling the time a book had been passed around in one of her early history classes at school.

     “I remember a time when all we had were paper books,” Wesley recalled. “After we discovered Kyanos, we set out to collect anything that we could to remember the old ways and preserve our memories. My house is full of what you might call antiques, or even artifacts at this point. You are welcome to read anything that you like in here.”

     “Thank you. It’s a shame you know, what happened to the Earth.”

     “Yes it is, but we cannot go back to the past,” he replied, sensing some sadness in her voice. “Shall we continue?”

     “Okay.” Ava slid the book back into its space on the shelf. She followed Wesley further down the hall into a separate wing which contained the master bedroom. The room had been decorated very simply in a light gray paint with elegant trim, large comfy looking furniture, and a silver and black bedspread. Ava had never seen such a spacious bedroom and large bed. All of the beds she had ever slept in had been either a twin size or two twins pushed together after she and Nathan had been married. She continued to walk around and look at everything.

      “Do you like it?”

     “It’s lovely.”

     “Naomi had a hand in decorating it.”

     “I can see that,” Ava replied thoughtfully, giving him a half smile.

     “I have plenty of room in the closet for your things,” Wesley opened a nearby ornate wood door, revealing a large half-filled closet, which was so big, it could be a room on its own.

     “Oh,” Ava said numbly.

     “Is something wrong?” His voice revealed a hint of concern. “If you don’t like how it’s decorated, we could change everything to suit your taste.”

     “It’s not that . . .” Ava wasn’t sure how to tell him how she felt without hurting him. She only hoped she wouldn’t offend him. “I just wondered if it would be possible for me to stay in one of the other rooms down the hall?” She gestured out the door towards a nearby room.

     Wesley studied her for a moment. She could feel the disappointment in the energy flowing off of him. “Yes, of course . . . if that’s what you want.” What else could he say? If she wasn’t ready to share a room with him, he had to accept it.

     “Thank you. Wesley . . . I . . .” She began, feeling and sounding nervous.

     “Ava, it’s okay,” he took her hand gently. “I understand. I cannot imagine what you are going through right now. You don’t have to do anything that you aren’t comfortable with,” he said reassuringly, leading her down the hall to the closest nearby room, which had its own private bathroom.

     “This will be great,” Ava remarked as she moved about and inspected what would be her new bedroom. She noted a large comfortable looking bed, not as big as the one in Wesley’s room, a dresser, side dresser tables flanking the bed, and a small sitting area with a chaise lounge. Everything had been neutrally decorated, with a slight feminine touch. “I can see Naomi has been at work here as well,” she said casually to Wesley.

     “Yes, she has. Actually the last time we were here she had the furniture brought in for you. We suspected that after you found out about us that you might want your own space for a while.”

     “You all know me so well,” she said thoughtfully. Ava walked over to the large walk in closet, which contained a few new items of clothing Naomi must have put there and started unpacking her backpack.  She turned as she heard Wesley’s PCD beep. He looked down at it and pressed a few buttons, then looked up at her.

     “Well, Justin and Rowan haven’t wasted any time, looks like we’ve been invited to dinner.”

     “Do I have time for a quick shower?”

     “Absolutely, it’s not like we have to make a launch,” he chuckled, referring to the strict rules of the space stations, and started for the door to give Ava some privacy.

      “Wesley?” she called to him.

     “Yes?” He stopped and turned, looking back at her.

     “Thank you . . .”

     “You are very welcome, Ava. I love you.” He turned slowly and walked back towards the master bedroom to take his own shower and change into lighter clothing for the evening.

Chapter 7: The Tour

     Ava, wrapped in a towel, perused the few new clothes hanging in her closet, along with a couple sets of the skimpy looking shoes called sandals. Although the room felt nice and cool due to the air conditioning, she knew how hot it would be outside. She chose a sleeveless raspberry pink cotton shirt called a “tank top” and some cropped tan cotton pants with cargo pockets. Naomi has good taste, she thought as she dressed. Then, rolling her hair up in a loose coiled bun on the back of her head, she secured it with a clip she found in the bathroom. Next, she chose a pair of dark brown sandals to complete her look. She sat down on the bed, slipped them on and secured the buckle around her ankle. How naked my feet look, she thought. She grabbed her small purse with her PCD out of habit and walked down the staircase towards Wesley, who was waiting for her. He gazed up at her with a look of longing that she always felt so flattered by, it almost made her heart skip a beat again. His energy engulfed her as he took her hand and led her back outside down the steps to the courier and the short journey to visit Rowan and Justin.

        After a quick trip to the other side of the compound, Wesley pulled up at the back entrance near the terrace of another large gray stone home.  The two suns shone a little lower in the sky as the pair walked casually up the steps to the terrace where a large heated metal contraption called a “grill” sat within the stone wall. Justin, who was attending the grill, nodded as Wesley and Ava approached. She could not keep herself from glancing all around her, in awe of the beautiful landscape, flowers, and sky.

      “Hello, you two!” Rowan exclaimed as she stepped through a sliding glass door to the terrace from the house. In her hands she carried a large tray of dishes and glasses she meant to set the terrace furniture with.

     “Hi, Rowan, let me help you with that,” Ava moved quickly towards her but Rowan had already set the tray down.

     “How do you like your new home?” Rowan asked pleasantly as the two women began to set the table.

     “It’s beautiful. I could not have ever imagined anything like it,” she replied honestly, still in awe about everything in her surroundings. She caught Wesley smile in the corner of her eye. “Your home is exquisite,” she continued, looking up at the large structure.

     “Well, when you live as long as we do, you need a lot of space to store the things you can’t let go of,” she said pleasantly. “Now, what would you like to drink?”

     “Oh, whatever you have is fine, thank you.” Ava didn’t quite know what would be in store for dinner. It could possibly be something she had never eaten before. “Rowan, can I help you with anything inside?”

     “Oh, no thank you, I’ve got everything under control. Naomi and Andre should be here soon.”

      “That’s great. Will all of us be here?” Ava asked, without realizing she had included herself in the group with that statement. It was hard not to think of them as regular humans, they acted so normal.

     “We thought it would be nice for us all to welcome you on your first night, but we know you and Wesley have some things to sort out so we’ll let you have some space if you need it.” With that she took the empty tray and went back inside to pour some drinks. A few moments later Naomi and Andre walked up to the terrace.

     “Long time no see!” Naomi joked.

     “Very funny,” Wesley replied, greeting his friends.

    “Thank you for picking out some fabulous clothes for me, you have a good eye for style,” Ava gestured to her outfit.

     “You are welcome, you look great. Tomorrow I’m going to take you shopping and we’ll get you some more clothes and things that you will need.”

     “But, I don’t have any money yet . . .”

     “That is true,” Naomi gave Ava a mock look of pity, then changed to a happy expression and continued, “but Wesley does.”

     Ava looked at Wesley, who began to laugh. “Don’t worry Ava, I’ve been working for a long time, I’m sure I can afford to buy you the things that you need.”

     Ava glanced at the ground, still never wanting to be in anyone’s debt. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

      “You are very welcome,” he gave her shoulder a gentle rub and turned back to his conversation with Justin and Andre.

     “It will be so much fun! How about I pick you up at ten and then we can shop and eat lunch?”

     “Sounds good.”

     “Everything’s ready, come on over and help yourselves,” Rowan called cheerfully from the table where she had set everything down.

     “Where’s Ash and Mia?” Ava inquired.

     “Oh, I did invite them, but they are our youngest members and they wanted to spend more time alone together doing their own thing tonight,” Rowan replied.

     “Nothing wrong with that,” Andre commented with a smile.

     Ava watched the group closely as they began to congregate around the table and begin filling their plates. Anyone watching them would think that they are normal humans, she thought to herself. She began to wonder whether or not the fact that they were Asterions and she was human should impact her relationship with them at all. The news had shocked her and although it had only been a few days, the sting of it had begun wearing off. Whether she accepted it or not, she felt like she had become part of their family.

∞

     The following morning Naomi arrived in her own courier to pick Ava up. Always stylish, Naomi was dressed in white cropped pants and a silver tank top with silver sandals.

     “Good morning, Ava, did you sleep well last night?”

     “Yes, very well actually. How are you today?”

      “Wonderful. It’s great to be home. Space travel is exciting, and the Andromeda is my second home, but it’s nice to be in one place for a while.”

     “I know what you mean now.” Ava smiled at her friend.

     Naomi fired up her small vehicle and off they went. The first stop would be the shopping center. Naomi wanted to make sure that Ava was well stocked on work apparel as well as casual clothing, toiletries, shoes, sunglasses, hats, and much to Ava’s shock; bathing suits.

     “I’m not used to wearing anything so clingy,” Ava said over the dressing room door to Naomi, referring to the metallic blue swimsuit she was trying on.

     “You’ll love learning how to swim!” Naomi replied enthusiastically. After a long try-on session Ava ended up with two one pieces and two bikinis, which she could hardly believe was enough to wear in public as she still had not gotten used to the hot climate of Kyanos.

     After a quick stop at an outdoor café, Naomi brought Ava to the Capitol building to help her with the online process to become a citizen and be issued a new ID. Since she had been brought there by Wesley, the officials did not ask many questions, so unlike the grilling procedures used by the ITO.

     “We are essentially a closed colony, there isn’t much human immigration. Once you are here, you are pretty much here . . . unless you choose to leave us,” Naomi said solemnly.

     Within two hours, Ava had a new ID badge and new accounts for credits set up in her name, which Naomi arranged for. Ava was given a large sum from Wesley’s account wired into hers so that she would have some personal credits to spend however she wished.

     “Are you sure he won’t mind? That’s a lot of money.” Ava sounded unsure whether or not this was a good idea.

     “Of course he won’t mind, I’m just following his instructions, this is what he wanted you to have. Believe me, he won’t miss it.” Naomi waved the whole matter off like warm breeze.

     “When do you think I’ll start my new job?”

     “Well, today is Friday, I’m sure Wesley has a meeting arranged for you to meet Dr. Sullivan next week. It will be good for you to have a few days to adjust anyway, after all that you have been through.”

     “Naomi, are there any more Asterions like you on Kyanos?”

     “No. It’s only us. But there are other Asterions in existence. Bryant for example, is one of us.”

     “Bryant? The man that was looking for Wesley, the one that talked to me on my way home from work once on Orionis?”

     “Yes, that’s him.”

     “Why were all of you so worried about my conversation with him?”

     Naomi didn’t want to alarm Ava with any of the news of Xavier or Kaden, that would be Wesley’s job. She decided to keep it simple. “We were concerned because we weren’t sure if he would try to hurt you.”

     “Why would he want to hurt me?”

     “To get at Wesley. Unfortunately Bryant was once part of our crew, along with his wife, Alisa. We were on a mission that became very dangerous due to the unstable environment we were working in and Alisa was injured severely. This was very long ago. We were so isolated, there was nowhere to seek medical help from.” Naomi looked down, clearly upset by the memory. “Anyway, to make a long story short, Wesley tried to heal her but he failed and she died.”

     “She died? I thought that Asterions were like, almost immortal?”

     “Not immortal, resilient to aging and injury maybe, but if our energy is drained and we are hurt bad enough it can happen. Bryant was very distraught at the loss of his wife, his match, and he blamed Wesley for her death, despite his efforts to save her. He separated from us just after that and has been on his own ever since.”

     “He seems so pleasant when he’s around any of you.”

     “That’s how he is. Perhaps he has mellowed out a bit since then, it’s been decades, but I’m sure he still harbors some resentment towards us. Ava, if you ever see him again, don’t go near him, just try to get to one of us. We aren’t sure he means to harm you, but just the same it’s better to be safe.”

     “Okay, I’ll do that. He won’t come to Kyanos will he?”

     “No, I don’t think he knows about it, so we shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”

      “That’s good.” Ava breathed a sigh of relief.

∞

          Ava rose at eight in the morning on Saturday. She wanted to try and get used to the current time zone so that she wouldn’t be so out of it when she started work again, whenever that would be. Wesley must have heard her in the kitchen making some oatmeal and came down to sit with her.

     “Do you want some? I made enough for the two of us,” Ava said shyly.

     “Sure. What are you doing up so early for on a Saturday?”

     “I wanted to try and get used to the time change. I’m not used to the longer days and only four hours of night time, or going to bed when it’s so light outside.”

     “Yes, it is a bit strange at first, but it’s like anything else, you get used to it,” he yawned.

     Ava set the bowls on the table and returned to the kitchen to get utensils and some juice. She had only been here a few days but was already in love with the fresh orange juice. “The food is so delicious here,” she said sincerely as she sat with him.

     “It looks like we are supposed to have great weather today,” Wesley mentioned as he tapped a few buttons on the electronic tablet he had left on the table the night before. “If you want, we could pack a picnic lunch and I could take you on a tour of some of the crop fields and then the forest that is nearby. We could do a little hiking if you like.”

     “That sounds like fun. I would like to see more of the landscape and nature around here. I’ve never seen anything like this place.”

     After a few hours, they set off on their adventure. Wesley jetted around the compound in the courier. Periodically he would pause and take a few moments to explain to Ava what they were looking at. He decided to start the tour with the north crop field, closest to the residential compound where his house was. He continued west until they entered the farming and livestock district. Ava marveled at the cows grazing in the soft green grass. They continued on their journey  to the southern crop fields where most of the wheat and soy were grown. They cruised past mile after mile of stalks waving in the wind; it was an amazing sight.  Wesley brought the courier close to what appeared to be a large silo and parked it next to another courier that was parked there.

     “Looks like Ash is here,” he mentioned as he helped Ava out.

     “Where are we? Is this where they store the grain?”

     “Actually no, this is where we are housing our new starship, the Principia. The grain is stored in the silo next door, he said pointing to his left.”

     “Another starship?” Ava said in amazement.

     “She’s just about ready for a test flight,” Wesley explained as they walked inside and Ava caught her first glimpse of the beautiful silver ship that appeared to be an updated miniature version of the Andromeda.

     “It’s incredible! Did you and the crew build this?” Ava asked in astonishment.

     “Well, we had some help from our engineers here,” Wesley laughed.

     “Good morning,” a tall man with dark brown hair and sky blue eyes called as he came down the entrance ramp from the ship to greet them.

     “Morning Ash,” Ava called.

     “Would you like a tour?” he offered.

     “Absolutely!”

     Ash and Wesley proudly showed Ava around the new ship that would allow them and Kyanos more freedom and safety in the years to come.

     “Yup, once we get this baby up and running, we’ll start on the next one,” Ash told Ava quite seriously.

     “The next one?”

     “You can never have too many ships, and the technology is constantly changing. We’ll even have to update the Andromeda soon as well.”

     “When are you going to have the first test flight on the Principia?” Ava asked.

     “Probably in three or four days,” Wesley said matter-of-factly.

     “That soon?” For some reason this made Ava nervous. What if something went wrong?

     “Don’t worry, everything reads normally when we start her up. We don’t anticipate having any problems,” Ash reassured her, sensing her mild anxiety over it.

      “Shall we continue on to the forest?” Wesley didn’t want Ava to worry about the new starship unnecessarily.

     “Yeah, I’m getting hungry, let’s stop for lunch soon.”

     Once loaded back up in the courier, Wesley shot north past the hangar that housed the Andromeda towards the forest that he informed her was called the “Jade Forest” for the rich green color of the trees and foliage that thrived there. He parked in a clearing and they loaded their backpacks and were off. After a half hour of hiking they reached a cleared beach like area at the base of a high waterfall. Ava looked up at it through the mist, amazed at the sight and sound of it. She felt soothed by its simple beauty and white noise. They decided to stop for lunch since there were trees nearby, providing shade.

     The couple sat on a blanket that they had spread out and ate the sandwiches and fruit they had brought with them. Ava had never imagined that anything like this, a simple relaxing afternoon outside, would be possible. Wesley talked more about Kyanos, how they had found it, and some of the trials and tribulations they had bringing it to its current inhabitable and sustainable state. He encouraged Ava to come near the water’s edge and take her shoes off so that she could dip her feet in the cool water. They waded for a long while, Wesley holding on to her hand in case she slipped as she did not yet know how to swim.

     A few dark clouds flowed in and a light rain began to fall. Ava got the playful urge to run towards the trees and Wesley followed suit and pretended to chase her down. She grabbed a tree and waited for him to come closer and she took off again towards a neighboring tree. Her hair and clothing were getting soaked but she did not mind because it wasn’t cold outside. Just as he reached the second tree, she took off again. This time he ran to catch her and held her to him. She laughed because she had never had the freedom to run anywhere but in a gym before. He laughed with her, both getting soaked in the rain, and then he stopped. She looked up into his deep dark brown eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and lowered his face to hers and kissed her. It was the first time they had kissed since he had told her the truth. His energy flowed through her, warming her as they kissed passionately, she raised her arms and placed them around his neck. At this moment she felt as though her life had finally begun. She knew this is where she belonged and that she belonged with him. He had explained that every Asterion has a match and that she was his, she could feel it now. There had to be something of a higher power at work here because nothing had ever felt so right.

Chapter 8: The Principia

     Kaden walked alone to the lifts on Sceptrum, headed towards the most remote and desolate part of the industrial space station. The mission he had in mind was fairly simple; to recruit Draves in his fight against Captain Robinson and his crew and to claim Kyanos for his own. Aside from Robinson, Draves was one of the oldest and one of the strongest Asterions in existence. Or, at least he used to be. Kaden had but one challenge; Draves liked to be left alone. He possessed only one power as an Asterion; “the gift,” or “curse” as he put it, of hearing the thoughts of those surrounding him. In earlier times Draves used this ability for his advantage, but over time he became less able to filter it and the corruption and constant commotion drove him absolutely mad. He loathed the other Asterions besides those that would serve him and loathed humans even more because of their fleeting and innumerable thoughts that congested his mind. Asterions could sometimes shield their thoughts from him if they knew of Draves ability, but most of them couldn’t prevent him from knowing some things.

     Kaden reached the door to Draves unmarked dwelling, deep in the industrial zone. He could sense why Draves chose such a remote location to live, the noise from the machinery and reactors must drown out the noisy thoughts from the humans surrounding him. It should be easy to recruit him, Kaden thought. He would tempt him with thoughts of a peaceful life on a beautiful isolated planet with few humans around, instead of living in a deserted dungeon like dwelling such as this. He hesitated, remembering Draves’ gift, and forced those thoughts from his mind as he did not want to reveal his plan to him up front. Draves had yet no knowledge of Kyanos.

     Kaden knocked only once and waited. A few moments went by. Nothing. He knocked twice this time, louder, with a force that shook the door. Subtlety was never Kaden’s trademark. He waited. The electronic lock to the door unlatched. Kaden took this as a sign to enter. Although he had interacted with Draves before, he never knew how he would react; his mind seemed to be disintegrating slowly over the long years. It was not what it used to be. He tensed up, ready for anything and walked into the dimly lit common area of the dwelling. The stench of rotten food hit him and various items lay strewn about; what a mess. Kaden disliked clutter, it reminded him of revolt.

     “I know why you’ve come,” a hoarse voice from the shadows spoke as Kaden sensed the energy and turned to face him.

     “My old friend,” Kaden replied with a smile. Draves casually stepped out of the shadows. He, like all of the Asterions, had taken the form of the human body they entered. Of average height and weight, Draves did not look particularly threatening. He had grown a mid-length scraggly beard, parts of it graying, though never changing, and his hair had grown out of its cut. His small green eyes darted about, obviously searching for the source of the noises he was hearing in his head.

     “So . . . Kaden, you are still trying to rid the universe of Captain Robinson and his crew.” Draves laughed hysterically for no real apparent reason other than he was amused. Kaden focused to prevent any negative opinions about Draves from forming in his mind. He hated to be insulted, but at the same time remembered why he had come to this place; he needed his help.

     “I have some information you may be interested in,” Kaden replied casually.

     “I know, why else would you disturb me,” Draves spoke, the laughter gone, simply replaced by a menacing tone. Most Asterions who knew of Draves’ ability to basically read their minds avoided him, specifically because Draves would always have the upper hand in a fight. He would know what his opponent’s next move would be, giving him the winning advantage. It was for this reason Kaden wanted him on his side, to win the fight against Robinson and take Kyanos for himself. Draves moved along the perimeter of the room, keeping his distance from Kaden, who was standing in the center.

     “So, your plan to exterminate him on Orionis didn’t work. What a shame.” Draves made a tsk tsk type of noise mockingly.

      Kaden decided talking would no longer be necessary and concentrated his thoughts on Kyanos and on the most recent lost battle between the two starships. Kaden focused hard on the beautiful planet and let his mind suggest to Draves that they all would be much happier living there than on the space stations. He watched Draves carefully as he read the thoughts, searching for some spark of interest on his behalf.

     “Wouldn’t you love to live on a planet like Earth where you can get away and not have to listen to anyone’s thoughts but your own?” Kaden’s mind informed him. He could see Draves pondering it.

     “What’s in it for you?” Draves asked him suspiciously.

     “Death to Robinson and his crew and a new beginning for me and mine,” Kaden thought.

      “Robinson is strong and he will anticipate you coming,” Draves managed to speak seriously for once.

     “That’s why I want your help,” Kaden thought.

     “I see how I can be of assistance,” Draves answered.

     “With my firepower, and your ability to know their next moves, we can exterminate them once and for all and claim that planet for our own. Are you in?” Kaden’s mind asked.

     Draves fell silent for a moment and turned away. He rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache. Kaden focused hard to prevent any negative thoughts from forming in his conscious mind. He did not want Draves to feel his irritation at the delay in an answer.

     “I’m in,” Draves answered at last, and then fell into a bout of hysterical laughter.

∞

     On Monday morning, Wesley brought Ava to the Kyanos Central Hospital, which served both inpatients and housed the outpatient clinics. Dr. Sullivan had been informed of Ava’s arrival on Kyanos and the two of them were enthusiastic about meeting each other.

     “Are you sure you don’t want to take a little more time off to just relax and adjust to your new home? You don’t have to start working right away,” Wesley said to Ava in the courier as he drove her to the hospital he was so familiar with since he helped build it.

     “The sooner the better. I need to find something to do with my time and energy or I’ll go nuts.”

     “How about part time? Three days is probably enough don’t you think?” he rationalized.

     “Wesley, I’m used to five days.”

     “But that was before, you had no choice. I’d like you to have a little extra time to enjoy yourself and so we can spend some more time together. I hated only seeing you on the weekends on Orionis. Besides, the clinic won’t be as hectic as it was for you at the OMC.”

      “Well, we can see each other every day now,” she gave him a sly smile.

     “Three days.”

     “What about a compromise, . . . four?”

     “I can work with that,” he smiled back at her.

     They pulled up in the parking area of an enormous stone structure with a solar paneled roof. Impressive, Ava thought. They got out of the courier and proceeded inside. Wesley led Ava down the corridor to the outpatient clinics. She noticed that the activity there was much slower than that on Orionis.  Once they reached the Internal Medicine Clinic Wesley informed the receptionist that they were there for a meeting with Dr. Sullivan. She nodded and showed them back to his office.

     As soon as he saw them he stood and welcomed them. “Captain Robinson, wonderful to see you again. And this must be Ms. Amherst?” The doctor said, looking at Ava, a mild and pleasant expression on his face. Dr. Sullivan looked to be in his late thirties, with light blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and of average height and build. A nearby digital photo frame flashed with pictures of what appeared to be himself with his wife, much to Ava’s relief, and three elementary aged children; two girls and a boy.

     “I’m pleased to meet you, Dr. Sullivan,” Ava extended her hand.

     “Welcome, Ava. Captain Robinson tells me that you worked for the OMC for nearly a year.”

     “Yes, I worked full time in the Internal Medicine Clinic.”

     “I understand that was a very busy clinic for you. You may feel a bit bored working for us.” He gave Ava a smile. “It’s a shame, what happened to Orionis.”

     “Yes, I feel very lucky to be alive.”

     Dr. Sullivan continued to ask Ava about her past work experience to gain a feel for what type of schedule she should have and what types of patients she would feel comfortable seeing initially. Then he went on to the research aspect of the position. They were currently investigating some of the native plant life on Kyanos for medicinal purposes. Then he took Ava and Wesley for a tour of the clinic and showed Ava where her exam rooms and work station would be located.

     “You’ll find that our resources and medications are a little bit different here than what you are used to. We’ll spend some time with you on your first few days in the office to familiarize you with our policies and procedures. Most of the conditions you will see will be familiar to you, but since we are on a new planet, there are a few viruses and bacterial infections you have not encountered before. We’ll also have to get you scheduled for a physical and perform the necessary vaccinations before you start.”

     “Thank you, Dr. Sullivan, I’m very excited about the position.”

     “You are welcome, Ava. We are looking forward to you joining our team,” he responded pleasantly.

     Wesley and Ava bid him good-bye, scheduled Ava’s exam and walked back down to the parking area to the courier. Since it was nearly lunch time, Wesley brought Ava to one of his favorite cafés.  Ava had fun picking out some items on the menu to try that were new to her. Wesley laughed as she made faces, both good and bad for some of the things that she tasted.

     “Ava, would you like to come with me and the others to the hangar tomorrow? We are going to take the Principia up for the first time.”

     “I’d love to see that. Does that mean I’ll be able to be its first official passenger?”

     “Not exactly. You get to watch. I’m not letting anyone travel in it until we’ve worked out all of the kinks and I’m certain it is safe to operate fully.”

     “I guess that makes sense, but it makes me nervous about you being in it. What if something happens?”

     “Nothing bad is going to happen. We went through the same thing when we built the Andromeda.”

     “Just please be careful,” she persisted.

     He laughed casually. “We will be. By the way, Naomi messaged me. She wanted to know if we would like to join her and Andre for dinner tonight, so that you could see their house. Andre and I need to review our procedures for the test flight.”

     “Sure. It feels strange, like I’m on vacation or something. I feel like I should have to be in bed by a certain time to get up to go to work in the morning.”

     “You will be soon if that is your wish. Ava, you don’t have to work at all if you don’t want to.”

     “I know, but what else would I do with the time? I don’t know the locals or the city. It will be good for me to meet new people.”

     “You are right. I know it will make you happy and that’s all that matters.”

     Wesley gave her a few gentle kisses, and then they were off again. They spent the remainder of the afternoon exploring the city and stopping to get Ava some more of the necessities of life she had left behind on Orionis. It was just after six in the evening when they arrived at the Regnier residence.  Naomi came bounding out of the kitchen to greet them, dressed impeccably as always.

     “Come in! I’m so excited for you to see our home!” She greeted both of them with a hug. Andre appeared out of a nearby office.

     “Let me give you the grand tour while the men take care of business,” she said happily, looping an arm through Ava’s to steal her away. The first stop was the kitchen where they acquired glasses of wine and then they were off. The large exquisite kitchen surprised her as she had never known Naomi to be much of a cook. The wonderful aroma of whatever Naomi was making followed them down the halls. Ava felt amazed. The Regnier residence was every bit of alluring as Wesley’s home. She noticed that like Wesley, they also had a large swimming pool and a deck. After the lengthy tour, they ended up back in the kitchen where Andre and Wesley had taken  seats at the breakfast bar, eating some of the appetizers Naomi set out.

     “How long have you lived here?” Ava asked.

     “When was the house completed, honey?” Naomi asked her husband. “Wasn’t it about eighty years ago or something like that?”

     “Something like that,” Andre laughed.

     “Wow,” was all Ava could say. Something about hearing that they had lived there for so long made her slightly uncomfortable. After all, she wasn’t even twenty-seven years old yet. She looked at the pictures hanging on the walls and in frames over the fireplace. They were pictures of Andre and another woman with children and adults over what appeared to be a long time span.

     “Who is that?” Ava asked, pointing to the young woman with dark brown hair and eyes who had her arms around Andre.

     “That’s me,” Naomi responded, glancing at Wesley, who gave her a slight shake of his head. It was so subtle, Ava did not notice. “That’s who I used to be. I was injured and almost died several years ago. Fortunately I was able to transition into another body, so here I am,” she explained cheerfully.

    “Naomi, why didn’t you tell me?” Ava asked, astounded.

     “It is a long story . . . one best kept for another day,” she said dismissively, taking Ava’s empty wine glass from her and setting it on the counter in the kitchen. Ava took this as a sign not to press her with any more questions about this topic, so she decided to change the subject.

     “Do you have children?” she asked Naomi once they had settled down on one of the nearby couches in the family room adjacent to the kitchen.  Dinner was going to be a few more minutes. Naomi and Andre had never talked about a family with Ava before. But that was back when Ava thought they were newly-wed humans.

     They all seemed surprised at Ava’s inquiry. Naomi looked at her husband, and then to Wesley before carefully answering Ava’s question. “Well, yes, but not in the way that you are thinking.”

     “I’m sorry, I did not mean to pry. I was just wondering about the fact that you have all of this space for just the two of you for so long.”

      “No, no, it’s okay, Ava. You probably have many questions you need answers to.  Yes, Andre and I have raised several children over the years, even before we came to Kyanos. We have adopted three girls and two boys over many decades. Some of our kids have gone on to have families of their own with children, and grand children. And, some of our family has passed away.” She looked sad and thoughtful for a few moments. Ava thought it was strange to think of someone who appeared to be a twenty-seven year old woman, as a great grandmother.

     “I’m sorry.” Ava didn’t know what else to say. “Have you always adopted? You have not had any of your own children?” Ava asked shyly.

     “Our energy makes us different than normal humans, Ava, as you can now attest to. It would be incompatible to fetal development. The energy is too much for conception. From what our research has revealed, if a female Asterion conceives, it just gets, for lack of a better word, burned up.”

     “That’s terrible,” Ava remarked, surprised by what she had just heard.

     “I guess that’s one of the prices that we pay for being what we are,” she replied softly as she rose to finish preparing their dinner.

     “Can I help you?” Ava asked.

     Naomi smiled at her. “I’ve got it, there’s not much else to do.”

     Wesley came over to the couch and set down next to Ava. “Do you have any children?” she asked him.

     “No. I’ve never actually settled down. I was always on the go. Never had time for that sort of thing. I’ve been hoping that since you and I are together now that we might consider having a family in our future.”

     “You mean adoption?”

     “Possibly. You are human. We don’t know what can happen in our circumstance. As far as I know, I’m not sure if it’s even possible for us to have children naturally.”

     “I don’t think I’m ready for that.” Ava suddenly felt a little overwhelmed with all of this. She knew she would like to have children someday. But if she had children with Wesley, would they be normal? Wesley observed the serious expression on her face and laughed, carrying her away from those thoughts.

     “I didn’t mean tomorrow, Ava.” He smiled and slid an arm around her shoulders and brushed a free lock of hair behind her ear. “One day at a time. Besides, we aren’t even married yet,” he said slowly.

      Ava looked at him, shocked by his comment. Marriage? . . . Yet? Before, when her life was much simpler on Orionis, the possibility of marriage to Wesley often occupied her thoughts. She had wanted it more than anything then. Now that she knew the truth and felt the strong bond between them she could not imagine her life without him, but marriage?  After losing one husband she loved, she wasn’t sure if she could go through it again. What if he left her on Kyanos to go about his missions on the stations or Earth and something happened to him? Ava didn’t think she could handle that. At the same time, she could not imagine a life not being married to him.

     “Dinner’s ready,” Naomi’s call interrupted her thoughts. Wesley took her hand and the four of them sat down to eat.

     Wesley woke Ava early the next morning by gently leaving a trail of kisses on her cheeks. Since she had moved her things into his bedroom after their day spent hiking, they shared the same bed. “Time to get up, sweetheart,” he said softly to her.

     “What time is it?” Ava stretched and pulled the covers up over her, not wanting to wake up yet. It had been a late night with Andre and Naomi and she had less than six hours of sleep.

     “It’s nearly six. We have to be at the hangar by seven to meet the others. Today is the big day,” he could not conceal the excitement in his voice. They all had been waiting for this day for a long time.

    Ava slowly pulled herself out of bed and headed towards the shower to get ready. Afterwards she dried her hair, dressed, and met Wesley downstairs for breakfast. He had made her a cup of steaming hot coffee. “Here, I think you need some caffeine this morning,” he smiled as he handed it to her.

    “Thank you,” she took a sip and inhaled the crisp scent slowly. “This is the best coffee that I’ve ever had.”

     “It is pretty good. They grow it not far from here,” he commented. They quickly ate their breakfast and were out the door, headed towards the Principia.

     The hangar buzzed with many people Ava had not seen before when they arrived. They must be engineers, Ava thought. She recognized her friends as well as Trevor and Rochelle Vance.  Monitors were illuminated around the room and small indoor couriers buzzed about, transporting people within the hangar. Ava and Wesley walked over to Naomi, Andre, and the others. Wesley kissed Ava for good luck and after a brief hello with everyone, he, Andre, and Ash  left the group and walked over to the engineers by the entrance ramp of the ship. 

     “They are going to walk through the ship one more time and then fire her up,” Naomi commented. “We’ll have to move up to the indoor observation deck when they are ready.”

     “The people of Kyanos are extremely excited about this,” Rochelle said with a smile as she approached Ava’s circle. Trevor had apparently joined the inspection team. “Sometimes it is a hardship to only have one starship to depend on to bring back the much needed supplies or technology here.”

     “I thought that Kyanos is self-sufficient,” Ava commented.

     “For the most part it is, we have our own way of life here and we have enough to feed and clothe our people as well as provide medical care. But, we strive to keep up with the technological advances of the rest of the galaxy so we don’t fall behind.”

     “From what I have seen of some of the space stations, and of Earth, I wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else.” Ava remarked.

     “It will also be helpful to have another starship to help protect us from the raids,” Rochelle mentioned off handedly, like it was no big deal.

     “Raids? What kind of raids?” Ava asked showing the concern in her voice. She looked at Rochelle, and then to Naomi, who had her lips pursed, apparently not pleased with what Rochelle had just said. Rochelle saw the look on Naomi’s face and fell silent. “Rochelle, what raids are you talking about? I thought the ITO didn’t know about Kyanos?” She persisted, looking directly at her.

     Naomi decided that now was not the time to enter into a discussion about Kaden, especially without Wesley there. “The ITO does not know about Kyanos to my knowledge, Ava. There are still a few things that we need to talk about, however this conversation can wait until after the launch,” she said authoritatively looking at Rochelle.

     “But. . .”

    “They are giving the ‘all clear’ signal, it’s time to go up to the deck,” Rochelle said excitedly, changing the subject.

     A few chimes when off, signaling the impending launch and everyone moved to take their places. Once the hangar was cleared, the entrance ramp raised and then the ship powered up. On the deck Ava could hear the correspondence between the local engineers, Wesley, Ash, Andre, and a few of the engineers inside the ship. Since Wesley was the most experienced, he would be the main pilot, assisted by Ash.

   Another all clear signal chimed and the massive doors of the hangar, which was disguised as a crop silo, slowly glided open.  Ava drew in a deep breath as she witnessed the brand new ship lift a few feet off of the ground and pull up its landing gear. Then, it carefully drifted towards the open doors and outside, where the sun hit it and created a beautiful shimmering silver glare.  The Principia hovered for a few moments. From the sounds of the conversations going on, all was well. Then the ship ascended into the sky and began to take flight. This being the first test, Wesley did not want to push it to its limits. This would simply be a short flight to test the maneuverability of the craft as well as the sensors, computer assist, oxygen stability and cabin pressure.

     “Let’s go outside and see it!” Naomi suggested, grabbing Ava’s arm. They ran down the stairs into the hangar and out the nearest door, followed by several other people that were not needed in the flight tower.

     “It’s magnificent!” Ava observed, looking up at the massive ship. They watched as the beautiful new vessel circled the sky carefully. Applause and cheers were heard from the locals who had gathered outside the gates to watch. Then, the ship started to climb higher and higher in the sky until it disappeared.

     “Where are they going?” Ava asked Naomi.

     “They want to test the oxygen stability so they are leaving the atmosphere for a few minutes,” she said calmly.

     “Is that safe? I mean, they only just lifted off for the first time.” Ava suddenly wished she back in the observation deck so they could hear the transmissions from the flight deck.

    “Of course it’s safe. Wesley wouldn’t do it if he didn’t think that the ship couldn’t handle it,” she said reassuringly.

     “Can we go back to the tower?” Ava asked. Besides, there was nothing left to look at out here.

     “Don’t you want to be out here to see the landing?”

     “I’d rather hear the correspondence.”

     The two women made their way back to the tower. Ava felt relieved to hear Wesley’s voice over the transmission relaying how pleased he was that everything was going  well with only a few things that needed adjusting for the next test flight. Everyone waited patiently for another half hour until the Principia descended the sky and made an effortless landing back inside the hangar, much to Ava’s relief.

Chapter 9: The Promise

     The aftermath of the Orionis disaster left Capri’s hangar congested for weeks. Somehow, Bryant managed to convince the ITO that the Solstice had official business there and they were allowed to dock. Bryant had no idea on what lay ahead in their search for Ava Amherst and suggested that, just in case, the crew of the Solstice store fuel, medical supplies, and stock the ship for a long voyage ahead.

    “Should I go with you?” Xavier asked Bryant as he prepared to exit the ship in search of information.

     “I don’t think that’s necessary. I work better alone anyhow,” Bryant flashed Xavier his most confident smile. “Do not worry, I will find her for you.” He nodded to Xavier and walked down the exit ramp. Being a member of the ITO investigations unit, he had no trouble clearing security. In fact, he was allowed admittance to their main office on the station in order to conduct his “business.” He wasted no time accessing the system and locating the information on Ava.

    He swore softly himself as he learned that she had escaped him once again. By now Robinson must be being very careful, he thought to himself. He spent another half hour looking through the images of the deportations on the date Ava had apparently left, looking for a photo of her. Capri took digital images of all persons entering and exiting the station. He looked puzzled as he found her image. She looked terrible. He observed that she was dressed in a lab coat with a flushed and tear stained face, appearing very distressed. This is odd, he thought. He put a small disk in the terminal and saved the image of her. Xavier would like to see this, he thought smugly. The image of her matched the story he had told him regarding Wesley’s alleged mistreatment of her. He removed his disk and went about searching the employment records to see where Ava had spent the first few days after her arrival on Capri. It did not take him long to learn that she had been sent to the temporary clinic a few levels below. He decided to go down there and pay some of her co-workers a visit. Perhaps they might have some ideas as to why she left Capri on such an unhappy note.

     Bryant located the clinic without difficulty and introduced himself to the receptionist as an ITO officer looking for information on Ava Amherst. The secretary promptly notified Dr. Tom of his arrival. He was shown back to Dr. Tom’s makeshift office within a matter of minutes.

     “Good afternoon, Dr. Grant, I’m looking for information on a former OMC employee, a Ms. Ava Amherst. I believe that you knew her,” Bryant announced formally in a friendly manner as he flashed his ITO ID badge to him.

     Dr. Tom inspected the ID and motioned for Bryant to have a seat. “Yes, I did know Ms. Amherst. She was one of our nurse practitioners.”

     “Do you know of Ms. Amherst’s whereabouts?” Bryant cut to the chase.

     “Unfortunately I do not,” he answered briskly.

     “The records indicated that she worked here for a few days after the evacuation of Orionis. Then she suddenly left? I wonder what the cause was,” Bryant mused, looking at Dr. Tom.

     “I’m sorry, I didn’t really know her that well. I’m not sure why or how she left,” Dr. Tom stated plainly.

     That’s a lie, Bryant thought. He could smell traces of Ava’s scent on him and wondered what had transpired between the two of them.

     “Are you sure you don’t have any information to share with me?” Bryant asked again.

     “Ava had a boyfriend named Wesley Robinson. He’s the captain of the starship Andromeda. I assume that she left with him,” Dr. Tom said dryly. Of course, this wasn’t news to Bryant.

     “Captain Robinson?” Bryant played dumb.

     “Yes, he and his crew of drifters were always around her. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up ruining her life someday,” Dr. Tom divulged. Bryant sensed a hint of jealousy in his statement.

     “I see. Do you have any idea where they might have taken her? Did Ava say anything?”

     “No. I don’t have a clue. From what I understand, no one has been able to track where they went.”

     “I saw a picture of her at deportation. She looked frightened and upset. Do you know why that might have been?” Bryant persisted, looking for any clues.

     “She was probably upset over Orionis, I really don’t know,” Dr. Tom lied.

     “Well, I thank you for your time.” Bryant, sensing he would not get any further information here, rose to get out of his chair.

     “Wait.”

     “Yes?” Bryant turned back to him hopefully.

     “What kind of trouble is Ava in? Something must have happened for someone like you to be looking for her.” Bryant could sense the concern in Dr. Tom’s voice.

      “I’m afraid that’s none of your concern. I bid you good day,” he said curtly, nodding at the doctor and left without looking back.

     Bryant made his way back to the Solstice. Where could they be? He pondered over Ava’s upset condition at deportation. It was unexpected, he thought. If something had happened here, they would be lying low, Bryant thought, especially if Robinson was avoiding Kaden. Then, they would not be on any of the stations. But where? Bryant let these thoughts circle in his mind, trying to figure out where they could have gone. Xavier was waiting for him when he returned.

     “Is she still here?” he asked hopefully.

     “No, Robinson took her. Have a look at the image,” he inserted his disk into one of the onboard terminals and Xavier got his first glimpse of Ava. He looked almost awe struck.

     “Why was she crying?” His blue eyes were large with worry.

     “Probably because Robinson forced her to leave her position. I told you he didn’t treat her well,” Bryant said as he watched Xavier carefully.

     “This is terrible. I never would have thought he would be capable of such behavior. We have to find her. Where would he have taken her?” Xavier asked.

     “Let me do some research. I have a few ideas.” Bryant removed the disk and sat down at the terminal. He took a deep breath and thought back to his past with Robinson. There had to some clue there. He sat alone for a few hours, replaying long past conversations in his head with Robinson and his crew. Finally, he remembered something.

∞

     The afternoon passed quickly at the hangar. Everyone hung around after the successful test flight of the Principia to discuss plans for the next trial run. Wesley seemed pleased with the ship’s performance and the accuracy of the computers, especially since he wrote most of the software and programmed it himself.  Ava stood back watching him converse with Andre, Ash, and some of the engineers. She loved seeing him so happy and excited. Rowan and Justin made polite conversation with her, maybe because they sensed that she felt left out of the day’s events. Finally, the crowd began to thin as everyone started to call it a day. Ava saw Naomi approach Wesley and whisper something in his ear. He abruptly turned and looked at her. She knew Naomi must have told him about her questions. He said something softly to Naomi and then turned and started coming towards Ava.

     “Congratulations, it seems like you have done very well,” Ava spoke encouragingly to him.

     “Thank you. We are very pleased with how everything went today.”

     “When is the next flight?”

     “We aren’t sure yet. Possibly in a few days,” he hesitated. “Are you hungry?”

     “Famished.” Ava gave him a smile.

     “Let’s find some dinner and then maybe you and I can talk more about Kyanos.”

     “I’d like that.”

      The others watched as Wesley circled his arm gently around Ava’s shoulders and they turned to leave.

     “Is he going to tell her about Xavier?” Mia asked.

     “Not tonight. I think he’ll explain Kaden, but I don’t think Ava’s ready to hear about Xavier yet. But, she needs to be told soon. Everything needs to come out if he expects her to trust him completely,” Naomi replied.

     Back at Wesley’s beautiful home, Ava settled into a comfortable couch in the living room. Wesley followed behind with two wine glasses and a bottle of some type of red wine. He set them down on the table and sat beside Ava, beginning to work on removing the cork.

     “Wesley, if you have some powers of telekinesis, why don’t you use your mind to do small things like that?” Ava asked, wondering.

     “Telekinesis is draining. Believe it or not, I’ve spent so much time being non-human that I actually enjoy doing things with my own hands. Besides, it’s better for me to save my energy in case I need it,” he gave Ava a sly smile.

     Once the wine was poured he handed Ava a glass. “I understand that Rochelle mentioned to you that we sometimes have raids on Kyanos,” he said calmly.

      “Yes, she did,” Ava took a sip.

     “I wouldn’t really describe them as raids, they are more like attacks,” Wesley said matter-of-factly as he set his glass down.

     “What do you mean?” Ava asked gently, pleased that he was finally being open with her.

     “Ava, my crew and I are not the only Asterions that know about Kyanos,” he began. She stayed silent, waiting for him to continue. “There is another Asterion named Kaden that knows of this place. He found us by chance a number of years ago when he accidentally crossed paths with us on a return flight and followed us back here without our knowledge.”

     “He has a starship?”

     “Yes, and a small crew. They have been trying to kill us ever since. We believe that they have seen what we have accomplished here and want to take Kyanos for themselves. It’s increasingly complicated to travel from station to station and constantly change your identity when you live as long as we do. You see, here we can live our lives out in the open. We don’t have to hide who we are. The people on Kyanos have no connection with the rest of the galaxy. They accept us for what we are and we all live peacefully together, humanly.”

     “So this Kaden is bad news. Is he powerful?”

     “Yes, he is strong, and persistent. My crew and I suspect that he might have been the terrorist behind the explosion on Orionis.”

     Ava gasped. “Why would he want to destroy Orionis?”

     “I think it was because he noticed we docked there so frequently that he felt he had a good chance of catching us there. I’m sure he was quite angry over the damage we did to his ship in his last attempt to attack our people here.”

     “It’s my fault then.” Ava looked down at the ground solemnly.

     “What do you mean?”

     “You were docked at Orionis so frequently because of me, Wesley. So many people died and a massive space station was destroyed because of me.”

     “Ava, it wasn’t your fault. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I should have dealt with him long ago. Now that we have the Principia, the next time he comes around here we will hopefully be able to detect him early and blast him out of the sky. Ash has been decoding the cloaking technique he used on his ship to evade us in the past. We will have better odds next time.”

     Ava suddenly remembered something about some people she felt strange about riding in the lift on Orionis just before the explosion. “Wesley, this Kaden, what does he look like?”

     “The last time I got a good look at him he had closely shaved platinum blonde hair. He has dark gray eyes and a scar near his right eyebrow from one of our previous fights.” Ava began to have a concerned look on her face. Wesley continued, “he’s about my height and build. Ava . . . what is it?” he asked as he saw the grave expression on her face.

     “I think I saw him.” She looked directly at him.

     “Where, when?” The obvious concern in his voice came through.

     “On Orionis. It was just before you came back, right before the explosion. I was taking one of the lifts down and he was standing behind me. I didn’t talk to him, but I could feel him, like I feel you and the others. It was energy, but it felt darker somehow. I think he was watching me, it really creeped me out.”

     “Did he do anything to you? Did he touch you?” Wesley took a deep breath, shocked that Ava had been so close to his worst enemy.

     “No. He was with someone else. They were both dressed like technicians. I think the other man was an Asterion also. I could feel their eyes on me though.”

     “He may have sensed the energy transferred to you by Justin. Ava, why didn’t you tell me this?”

     “I’m sorry. With everything that’s happened, I just forgot about it.”

     “I am so thankful that he did not harm you. He could have easily. . .” He drew her near on the sofa, close enough for her to rest her head on his chest.

     “It’s okay. I was in the elevator with several other people.”

     “He must never find out about you, Ava. We will find a way to stop him.” Wesley’s eyes burned with contempt for his enemy as he rested his head on hers.

     The next few days passed in a blur for Ava. The Principia was taken on several more test flights at Wesley’s request that the ship be fully functional within the next few weeks. He and Andre had barely slept from the grueling schedule. Wesley usually came home after Ava had gone to bed and rose again and was gone before she woke. His concern for Ava’s safety had grown by leaps and bounds after hearing her near miss situation with Kaden on Orionis. Rowan drove Ava around town to complete her pre-work physical and complete some of the other various training modules needed. She would start work the following Monday. Naomi, Justin, Ash, and Mia took the Andromeda back to the known galaxy for a short mission to Antares in order to collect a few items needed on Kyanos and to attempt to track down both Xavier and Kaden’s whereabouts.

     Ava had barely seen Wesley all week and was surprised that he slept in a little with her on Friday. She showered first and he joined her at the breakfast table after he had also showered and dressed. She noticed he was wearing his typical piloting gear, getting ready to head out the door.

    “Are you working on the Principia again today?”

     “Yes. I’m sorry, but it looks like it’s going to be another long day,” he sighed.

     “It’s okay. I know how important this is for all of us.” She smiled supportively at him.

     Before he left, he came to stand behind her chair and put his arms around her shoulders and leaned down to kiss her sweetly on the cheek before asking softly, “Ava, will you do something for me today?”

      “Of course, anything,” she replied, wondering what it could be that he needed.

     “I haven’t spent much time with you this week and I want to make it up to you. I have a special evening planned for us tomorrow night. I want you to go out today and find a beautiful dress to wear.”

     A grand smile flashed across Ava’s face. “What kind of an evening do you have planned?”

     “It’s a surprise,” he kissed her again and headed for the door.

     “But, how will I know what kind of dress to buy?” 

     “Buy whatever feels right.” He grinned at her and then was gone.

     Ava occupied herself by doing an online training manual for her new job for a few hours before calling Rowan to ask her to take her shopping.  Rowan was happy to oblige.

     “So, what is this special dress for?” Rowan teased Ava as she stepped in the courier.

     “I was kind of hoping you could tell me?”  Ava replied. “Do you know what he has planned?”

     “No, but even if I did, I still wouldn’t tell you.” Rowan quipped back. Both women laughed. “I’m no Naomi when it comes to shopping, but I’ll do my best to help you,” she joked as they drove off in the direction of the shopping district.

     “I guess you haven’t heard from them since they left then?”

     “No, but that’s not unusual. We have no communication with the known galaxy from here. They have to be within a certain range to send and receive transmissions from us.”

     “Did they say when they were coming back?”

     “Possibly on Sunday. They are going to try and locate Kaden’s ship, the Draconis. The sooner we destroy Kaden, the safer we will all be, and the people of Kyanos can live in peace, without fear.”

     “Why is this Kaden such a bad person? Did something happen to him?”

     “We don’t know much about him. He is an Asterion. I think it’s just in his nature to be reckless and do harm to others. Some people’s experiences shape them that way, some are born that way, not that Kaden was actually born but you know what I mean.” Rowan shrugged. Changing the subject, she said, “here we are, let’s see what this place has,” as she glided into a nearby parking spot.

     The two women walked up the paved steps to the beautifully created stone front of the store. The air conditioning cooled them as they entered, looking around at the clothes. There were actually only a few short formal dresses in the store, but none that looked appealing to Ava. After a few minutes the two women walked out and down the pedestrian avenue paved with red and tan bricks leading up to a central fountain.

     “This is so beautiful,” Ava exclaimed walking up to the edge of the fountain, listening to the splashing water and watching the water spurting up in crisscrossing arcs. She was still getting used to seeing large amounts of water and still could not break the habit of taking two minute showers, as was the law on the space stations. “Does the fountain have a purpose?” Ava wondered to Rowan.

     “No. It’s just for decoration. Before the Great Impact on Earth, fountains like this could be found everywhere. We wanted to re-create some of the common things as best we could here. I miss living on Earth. The soil was so rich; it was much easier to grow produce and many different flowers there.”

     “I never saw the Earth that way; I lived underground my whole life, up until I went to Orionis. It feels strange to me to be outside in this heat and sunshine, but I love it!”

     “It’s the way that it’s supposed to be, Ava.” Rowan gave her a reassuring smile as they walked down towards another store and entered it.

     The boutique, called “Lotus Blossom” seemed to have much more to offer than the previous one. The sales attendant pleasantly showed the women to the back of the store where the formal gowns were kept. The population on Kyanos was small in comparison to the stations so most of the stores only kept a few fancy dresses for the occasional wedding or celebration, at least, this is what the saleswoman said.

     “What kind of dress are you looking for, what is the occasion?” the saleswoman asked Ava.

     Ava smiled. “Well, I’m not really sure, but it’s for a fun night out.”

     “Would you like something long or shorter?”

     Ava, used to wearing longer attire, felt more comfortable wearing something that didn’t rise above her knees just yet. “Longer please.”

     The saleslady showed them to some of the evening gowns, mostly of thin, flowing sheer material in various colors.

     “How about this one, Ava?” Rowan pulled out a bright red long gown that had thin straps above the bodice, which was a darker red that faded out to shades of orange and then yellow flowing at the bottom. “You’d definitely have his attention.”

     “I’m not sure that’s me, it kind of looks like a flame,” Ava laughed as she continued her search. She sifted through the racks and came to a simple long strapless black gown. It had a sheer fitted bodice with ruching which opened into a long flowing skirt with a saucy yet tasteful slit up to the mid thigh on one side. “Can I try this one on?” Ava asked the saleswoman, who happily showed her to a dressing room. Ava slid into the gown easily; it seemed to be the perfect size for her and stepped out to the trio of mirrors to show Rowan.

     “What do you think?” Ava walked over to the mirrors to take a look.

     “It’s beautiful, Ava, very elegant,” Rowan complimented.

    “Seems to be a bit long though,” Ava bent down to look at the hem.

     “Try these on,” Rowan said with a smile as she handed Ava a pair of black strappy tall heels.

     The shoes definitely made a difference, however, Ava was not used to walking or balancing in tall heels. “I’m petite, trust me, I wear heels all the time. You will catch on quickly. I’ll bet if you practice today you’ll have no trouble tomorrow.”

     “Okay. I think this is it.” Ava glanced at herself one more time before heading back to the dressing room to change back into her previous outfit. After purchasing the dress, a small evening bag, and the shoes the two women walked back out to Rowan’s courier.

     “What are you going to do with your hair?” Rowan asked.

     “I’m not sure, what do you think? Should I wear it up or down?”

     “It’s going to be hot tomorrow, I’d wear it up. Do you have any jewelry?”

     Ava touched her earrings and the gold locket around her neck, “Just these,” she said.

     “Hmm, I have the perfect things to compliment this dress. Let’s go back to my house and we can practice with your hair and I’ll loan you some jewelry.” Rowan fired up the small vehicle and the two women were off.

     Wesley spent another long day working with the engineers on the Principia and arrived home after Ava went to bed and was out the door before she rose on Saturday morning. When Ava made her way downstairs to make breakfast, the light on her PCD blinked, indicating he had left her a message. It read, “good morning, Ava, I hope you are looking forward to this evening. I’ll be home at six to pick you up. Love you, W.”

     Despite not having much to do, the day passed quickly for Ava. She took Rowan’s advice and practiced walking around in her new high heeled shoes as she explored the contents of the library upstairs. She decided to fit in a quick workout at Wesley’s gym to burn off some of her borrowed excess energy and showered to prepare to start getting ready a little after four. No matter how she tried with her hair, she could not get her elegant bun as perfect Rowan had made it. After several attempts she decided to go with it, although it looked softer and slightly more relaxed that what she originally had in mind. Ava applied her makeup and slipped into her new dress and shoes. Finally, she put on Rowan’s sparkling diamond earrings and matching necklace. She paused before the mirror to examine herself one last time and felt pleased with what she saw. This would never be possible for me on Earth, or on Orionis, she thought. Ava grabbed her small black evening purse and walked out of the bedroom in time to hear the door open. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Wesley paused at the bottom of the stairs looking up on her, smiling widely.

       Ava had no idea what to expect, given what little information he had divulged to her about the evening but she could not have expected this. She had never seen him dressed so formally in a black suit, holding a bouquet of beautiful red roses. She could feel his elevated energy enveloping her as she carefully descended the stairs. He embraced her and they kissed softly a few times before he pulled back and handed her the roses.

     “These are beautiful! I’ve never had more than one or two at a time, there has to be at least two dozen of them here.” She raised them to her nose and inhaled deeply. “Thank you, Wesley.”

     “You’re welcome.  You look so beautiful this evening, Ava.”

     “Thank you. You too, you look so very handsome tonight,” she half-whispered, unable to take her eyes off of him. “Where did you get ready at?”

     “Rowan and Justin’s place. It’s on the way here.”

     Ava nodded.  “Let me put the flowers in a vase.” He followed her into the kitchen while she settled the flowers and then he took her hand.

    “I hope you are hungry,” he hinted cheerfully.

     “Where are we going?”

     “You’ll see.” He led her out to the waiting courier. They headed back towards town to the commerce district by the lake front. They pulled into the underground parking of the commerce building and to the passageway leading to the lifts. There weren’t many people in the lobby as they approached the lift. Ava wondered what they were doing at such a deserted building. Once inside the lift Wesley pressed the button to the top level, which Ava discovered was actually a restaurant called “Astrea” which Wesley explained to her meant “star.”

     They stepped into the beautiful, dimly lit restaurant and Ava excitedly looked around. It had a small, intimate feel and three sides of the wall were made of windows to look out on the beautiful large lake and the city. The suns weren’t setting yet, but the intensity had mellowed, giving the town and water a coppery sheen, which Ava felt was beautiful. All of the tables were vacant and there were fresh flowers and candles lit everywhere.

     “How come the place is empty?” Ava asked, wondering why nobody else was dining at this hour.

     “I wanted to spend some time alone with you, so I booked it,” he said it innocently like it was the simplest thing.

     “You reserved the whole restaurant . . . for me?” Ava flushed, astonished at such a thought.

     “Come, let’s get you settled,” he suggested as a maitre d’ showed them to their spacious table next to the windowed wall overlooking the lake. They ordered drinks and relaxed for a few minutes. A small string quartet appeared and began playing elegant music much to Ava’s surprise. Wesley gently took her hand and they danced slowly in a clearing where some of the tables had been removed. Ava had to admit, Wesley seemed to be a natural when it came to dancing and she felt slow and clumsy in her heels. However, she had no fear of falling or tripping because she knew he would catch her and steady her if it happened.

     “This is like a fairytale,” Ava mentioned as they sat down to eat the first course. “You are the most thoughtful person I have ever met. I love you so much.” She blushed shyly as she said the words.

     “I would do anything for you, Ava, . . . anything,” he said slowly leaning in for a kiss.

     As the end of dinner came, Ava wondered if he had something else planned. It was only a little after eight. “Are we going home?” Ava asked as they left the restaurant.

     “Not yet. I have another surprise for you.” He winked at her.

     “Another one?” She wondered what it could be.

     He led her back to the courier and they sped off toward the docks near the lake. He parked near the dock leading to a large boat, which  Ava learned was called a yacht. “Is this yours?” she exclaimed. Ava had never been on a boat before. They no longer existed on Earth or on any of the space stations. There simply wasn’t enough water for them.

     “Technically yes, but I share it with my family,” he said smiling, meaning the crew members.

     Ava looked at the boards on the dock, and while the dock seemed to be in impeccable condition, she worried about getting her heels trapped in the cracks. Wesley, sensing her apprehension, gently lifted her up in his arms. “Let me give you a lift,” he said quickly as he carried her up to the boarding ramp. Once inside he set her down and then powered up the massive vessel and raised up the anchor.

     “Are we going out very far?” Ava asked, feeling a little apprehensive. She still didn’t know how to swim yet.

     “Not too far, just far enough to watch the suns begin to set on the shoreline,” he mentioned casually as they pulled away from the dock.

     “This is amazing,” Ava said as she stood next to him with her arms wrapped around his waist while he steered the ship around and then dropped the anchor.

     “Let’s go to the upper deck and enjoy the breeze,” he suggested. They quickly stopped in the small kitchen where he collected a bottle of champagne and two glasses. He guided Ava to one of the cushioned chairs on the top deck next to a small table and opened the champagne. He handed her a glass.

     “What shall we toast to?” Ava asked.

     “Let’s toast to our life together. May it be a long, happy, and healthy one,” he raised his glass.

     “I will toast to that,” Ava raised her glass and clinked it with his and then took a sip. She set the glass down and enjoyed the peaceful breeze and the gentle rocking of the yacht, so unlike space travel. Wesley seemed unusually quiet, she thought as she noticed he seemed to be studying her. She got up, wandered over to the railing, and leaned on it. He followed her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her gently on the cheek.

     “Ava, are you happy here on Kyanos?” he asked softly.

     “Yes, I am very happy. I would never have imagined I could be this happy.”

     He put his hands gently on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Do you think you can accept me as I am, as an Asterion?” His eyes cautiously searched hers.

     “Yes, I can . . . I have. I love you, Wesley.” She tilted her face up to his lips and kissed him. After a few moments he slowly pulled back from her.  She gasped as he knelt down in front her, taking her hands in his. She could feel the energy flowing between them; it had never been more potent.

     “Ava, I love you more than anything in this universe. There will never be anyone else for me. I know our life and our love will never be perfect, but I promise you this; I will always be here for you and I will always love you with my whole heart no matter what happens over time. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?” His large soft brown eyes were locked on hers.

     Ava’s eyes became moist with tears. Tears of joy, tears of uncertainty, tears of love. She took a few deep breaths, squeezed his hands and smiled. “Yes. I will!”

      He immediately rose up and embraced her, lifting her up and twirling her around, kissing her passionately. Then they fell into happy laughter. After a few minutes more of speaking excitedly to each other they paused, embracing each other, sitting down to watch the suns beginning to set. Afterwards, Ava wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. He lovingly caressed her back, shoulders, and waist. His warm hand travelled down to her hip and then to her leg, touching her thigh where it peeked through the sexy slit in her dress. He broke free from her, breathing heavily, and took her hand, leading her to the cabin below the main deck.  

Chapter 10: Strategy

      Ava had been asleep for hours when the Andromeda returned to Kyanos uneventfully late Sunday night. Wesley read the message on his PCD prior to joining Ava in the bed. He did not wish to disturb her as she was to begin her first day at work at the Kyanos Central Hospital outpatient clinics with Dr. Sullivan in the morning. The brief message from Naomi did not alarm him, however it did concern him.

      “We need to meet in the morning. We have new information to discuss.”

     The courier and driver Wesley hired to take Ava to and from work arrived on time at 7:30 in the morning. He would have happily done it himself, however, with the demands of the Principia, he could not pretend to know how early or late his days were going to be and Ava did not yet officially know how to drive. As soon as we get rid of Kaden, Wesley thought, I’ll have more time to spend with her to teach her.  Ava finished her cup of coffee, kissed her fiancée, grabbed her purse with her PCD, and turned towards the door.

     “Good luck,” Wesley called as she left, giving her a confident grin.

     “Thanks!” Ava waived as the door closed after her.

     Wesley spent an hour with the Principia at the hangar with Andre, Rowan, and the engineers before his meeting with the crew. 

     “Congratulations!” Rowan gave Wesley a hearty hug. “So that’s what you were up to for your big night out on Saturday. Was Ava surprised?”

     “I think so. She seemed pleased,” Wesley gave Rowan and Justin a big smile.

     “There’s so much to do! Did the two of you pick a date? A location? Anything yet?” Rowan loved weddings and did not conceal her excitement.

     Wesley laughed heartily. “One thing at a time, Rowan. No, we haven’t decided anything yet. I want to hear the report from Justin and Naomi. Ava and I have plenty of time to get married, after this business with Kaden is taken care of once and for all.”

     “Let us hope that is sooner rather than later,” Andre nodded, agreeing with his friend.

     Completing another brief successful test flight, Wesley and the others convened in the den at his home after lunch to discuss what the others have discovered in their first trip back to the known galaxy after they rescued Ava from Capri.  As the crew re-united, there were more hugs and congratulation wishes as they learned of Ava and Wesley’s engagement.

     “I can’t wait to help Ava plan the wedding!” Naomi beamed.

     “I helped Ava find her dress for Saturday. You can get in line behind me,” Rowan sarcastically joked with her friend. The two women broke out into a gale of laughter, joined by Mia.

     “Ladies, I’m sure Ava will be happy to have all of your help. But for now, we need to get back to business and discuss what needs to be discussed before she gets home,” Wesley said seriously.

     “Right then,” Justin began. “After we landed on Antares we immediately started running launch and docking records of the stations. After some difficulty, we did manage to locate the whereabouts of the Draconis on Sceptrum,” he spoke matter-of-factly.

     “You located Kaden’s starship?” Wesley raised his eyebrows, showing his astonishment. Kaden usually kept a low profile.

     “It had been conveniently renamed, but yes. We knew it was him by the specifications that were listed on the craft,” Justin said quietly.

     “Then what are we waiting for, let’s get ready and take care of him out there before he has a chance to come over here,” Wesley spoke excitedly.

    “That’s what we were thinking also. So we immediately left Antares for Sceptrum to see if we could blast his ship right out of the hangar there. However, when we got there, he was gone.”

     “Gone?” Wesley couldn’t believe it.

     “It’s like he knew we were coming or something. The records indicated he had been docked there for some time. He departed right before we arrived. I assume that Kaden and his crew had been repairing the ship after our last battle,” Justin reported. Wesley could sense his frustration.

     “We looked at the deportation logs kept by the ITO,” Naomi continued. “Wesley, do you remember who else likes to hide out on Sceptrum?” she asked carefully, uncertain of how Wesley would react when he heard the news. Wesley looked from Naomi to Justin, and back to Naomi.

     “Who?”

     “Draves.” Naomi’s voice was barely above a whisper.

     “Draves? That psychotic mess of an Asterion? I’m surprised he’s still alive, I would have thought he would have killed himself by now. You know how deranged he’s become over the years.” Wesley wasn’t sure what Naomi was getting at.

     “The records indicated that he boarded Kaden’s starship,” she said softly.

      “No.” Wesley’s eyes widened as he suddenly realized what was going on, he immediately put the puzzle pieces in order. He paced around the room shaking his head, wondering how Kaden could be so desperate as to ask for help from someone like Draves, whom nobody could trust.

     “Well Kaden was never exactly very smart,” Ash added, trying to soften the terrible implications of the news.

     “We can only assume that Kaden has enlisted Draves’ help in his fight against us so that he can have an advantage. We know that Draves does not have to be very close to another Asterion to hear thoughts. He could be in a nearby starship and know what we are thinking. There’s really no telling what he can do,” Andre added.

     “We didn’t linger on Sceptrum much longer than that because we wanted to come back here to warn you and everyone else. They could be on their way here now,” Naomi remarked.

     “All right, Andre, I want you to . . .” Wesley started issuing orders, however Naomi cut him off.

     “Wesley, wait. There is something else we found out.”

     “What is it?” Wesley asked somewhat impatiently.

     “It’s about Xavier. We noticed that the Solstice was recently docked on Capri. The logs documented that Bryant was there. I’m certain he’s tracking Ava for him. We don’t know where they are now.”

     “Bryant doesn’t know about Kyanos. He left us shortly before we planned to explore this part of the galaxy, remember? I doubt he’d even come out this way. I’m not worried about Xavier right now, let’s focus on preparing for Kaden’s attack, which is surely coming,” Wesley concluded authoritatively.

     “What about Ava?” Naomi asked.

     “We will take precautions. I will tell her about Kaden when she comes home.”

     “But Wesley, if Kaden has Draves aboard, he may be able to read any one of our thoughts and if we let it slip about Ava’s existence . . . or Xavier, he could pick up on that. I’m not that concerned about Xavier, but Ava could be in terrible danger if Kaden found out about her,” Naomi explained.

     Wesley paused and thought for a moment. He took a deep breath and sighed. “You are right, but we cannot take Ava back to one of the stations, we don’t have time.”

     “Where to then?” Naomi asked.

     “Ava is strong. I have an idea. I will take her to stay by herself for a while once we pick up on Kaden’s transmissions.  I will be the only one of us that knows, so as not to increase the chances of Kaden or Draves finding out about it.  She will be all right, I can block my mind from Draves if I concentrate hard enough. It’s difficult during a fight, but it can be done. We should all start practicing on focusing our thoughts.”

     The conversation then became a strategy meeting. They notified Trevor Vance, who arrived with several other officers immediately to join them, and spent a few hours determining what should be done next. They would be armed and ready, both on land and in the sky to face whatever terror Kaden might bring to them. Ash and Mia left early, with their orders on what to do to arm and ready the Principia.  A little after four o’clock the sound of the back door opening hushed them all as Ava walked in, back from work early. She set her purse down on the table in the hallway and wandered closer to the group, looking into several concerned faces.

     “Welcome back,” Ava greeted Naomi with a hug, which Naomi returned.

     “You’re home early, is everything okay?” Wesley asked, looking at her closely to see if there were any signs of distress.

     “Oh, well, I had clinic this morning, but then they wanted me to sit through an orientation class after lunch, but we got out early. The clinic wasn’t that busy, so Dr. Sullivan said for me to call it a day. I called the driver to pick me up and here I am. Why do you all look so serious, is something wrong?” Ava asked looking from face to face. Wesley shot them all a look telling them not to say anything.

     “Just the usual,” Andre said jokingly. “I hear you are officially going to be part of the family soon,” he gave her a bear hug and let go.

     “Congratulations, Ava, I am so happy for you both!” Naomi gushed, remembering the happy news.

    “Thank you, I am pretty excited about it.” Ava’s comment fell a little flat over the note that she had picked up on a somber mood.

    “Well, we should go and get started on those things that we talked about,” Andre said hastily, pulling Naomi along with him. Rowan and Justin, along with Vance and the other officers trailed behind them.

     “We’ll get together again soon, Ava,” Naomi called to her as she left.

     “Okay, it was nice seeing you. I’m glad you made it back okay.”Ava watched as everyone filed out the door.

     The room fell silent after they had gone. Ava turned to Wesley with a puzzled look on her face. “What’s going on?”

     “Ava, we need to talk, now,” his voice conveyed his seriousness. She poured herself a glass of water and sat on the couch as Wesley paced the den and told her about Kaden and the new added threat of Draves. She understood the implications of the new threat and did not question him when he told her that he would soon need to move her to a new location, unknown to the others for her protection.

     “You are going to stay with me right?”

     “Ava, I can’t. I will be needed here. You will be perfectly safe, I promise,” he reassured her.

     “Where will you be taking me?”

     “On the other side of Kyanos there is a small uninhabited continent where the land is pretty much desert. It’s almost like a barren wasteland, with dry, hot, sweeping winds, sandstorms and lots of sun. The days are hot and the nights are frigid. We call it ‘Ibis’. We did not settle there because it did not seem like a promising location to start a new community for the obvious reasons. Everyone here has pretty much forgotten about it, it was so long ago. Our plan was to settle this region of Kyanos, and then work on creating decent living structures in Ibis. In the beginning, we set up a small base there in one of the rock formations. It will conceal your presence and keep you safe. No one scanning the planet from above could know you were there or would even think of searching for you in such a terrible location unless you were sending or receiving transmissions of some kind. The base is now empty, but in a few hours, I will go there to power it back up and stock it with supplies, anything that you could possibly need, enough to last you a month or more if necessary. That is what Rowan and Justin are doing now, loading up the Andromeda.”

     “Why can’t I stay in one of the bomb shelters with the rest of the people here? I don’t know Wesley, I don’t feel good about being separated from you. I have a bad feeling about it. What if something, heaven forbid, happens to you? Since we won’t be able to communicate with each other after you take me there, who would know to look for me there?”

     “If Kaden were to find you here, he would torture you in front of me to make me suffer. I cannot risk that for you. The others do not know where I am planning on taking you. We also have a few other empty bases on this planet, in remote regions. I will write down your location and give it in a sealed envelope to Vance. If something did happen to me, or the others, the humans will come for you. It won’t come to that, Ava. You will be safe.” Ava looked down at the ground, having no choice but to accept his decision. “I know this is not ideal, but it’s the best plan for me to ensure your safety on such short notice.”

      “I understand,” she said softly, the beginnings of tears filling her eyes. “Wesley, I know something else is bothering you, I can feel it. It’s not just Kaden and this Draves person. Please tell me what it is.”   

     Wesley took a deep breath. “There is something I need to tell you. I’ve been open with you about every part of my life as an Asterion. However, there is something I haven’t told you about. Unfortunately, another Asterion exists that you should know of . . . his name is James Xavier.”

Chapter 11: Xavier

     After hearing about Kaden’s imminent attack, there wasn’t much else that could have shocked Ava, except for what Wesley was about to tell her. She settled back into the sofa to hear what else he had to say.

     “Ava, do you remember what I told you about the beginning of my existence?” Wesley watched her carefully, trying to sense her reactions.

     “Yes, I believe so. You said you were kind of like a ghost, or a free-floating spirit without a form.”

     “Yes, that is correct, although there is a little more to it than that. I did not tell you everything, I’m sorry.”

     “What do you mean?” Ava’s deep blue eyes grew larger with concern. What else could he possibly say to top his already incredible existence.

     “When I became self-aware, I was a very large entity, perhaps the largest and most powerful of any Asterion ever created. Over time my thoughts and desires seemed to conflict one another. I carried on like that for probably thousands of years. Then, one day, I was especially irritated with myself. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I used my essence and controlled my energy to split myself in two and drifted away from the other half peacefully. The separation brought me, and I suspect my other half, much relief.”

     “Wait a minute. Your essence was split into two different halves?” She looked him over, unsure what to think of what she had just heard.

     “Yes,” he said quietly.

     “Why are you telling me this now?” she asked, nervous butterflies beginning to form in her stomach.

     “It’s important for you to know Ava, because right now James Xavier is out there somewhere looking for you.”  Wesley pointed upwards towards the sky as he spoke.

     “What are you saying?” she wondered aloud quietly.

     “Xavier . . . is the other half of me. We are the same essence and energy, bonded into two different human bodies.” He closed his eyes, apparently unhappy to be telling her this.

     “How would he even know about me? I’ve never met him,” Ava replied, trying to rationalize something she didn’t fully understand.

     “We believe that Bryant has informed him and that, from what we can tell by observing his flight patterns, he has been on our trail for some time now.” Wesley’s voice conveyed no emotion.

    “Why would Bryant do that? What’s in it for him? Does this Xavier even have a starship?” Ava still felt shocked by what she had heard and asking questions seemed to be the only rational thing to do next.

     “Bryant wants revenge on me for his wife’s death. We suspect he located Xavier and told him about your existence to convince him to come and take you away from me so that I would suffer. And, to answer your question, yes, Xavier does have his own starship. He is the lead singer of that band you wanted us to see called Geodesic.”

     Ava figured it out quickly. “So that’s why you didn’t want to see them on Orionis. That’s why you wanted to take me away that night.”

     “Yes. He did not yet know about you then and I didn’t want to take the chance of him sensing you there, so we took you to see your friend.”

     “I don’t believe this, do you know how crazy this sounds?” She felt frustrated with the web of conspiracy among all of these Asterions and all of the new information she was given. “Is there anything else that I should know about you, Wesley, or is that pretty much it, because I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” Ava stood up and marched over to him, looking him straight in the eye.

     “There is nothing else, Ava. I didn’t want to tell you because I never believed that I would have to. I never believed that he would find out about you. If it weren’t for Bryant, he wouldn’t have. Xavier likes to be left alone; he and I don’t get along. That’s why we separated in the first place. Since that time, we have encountered each other only a handful of times. Being around each other is . . . awkward to say the least.”

      “So you are like the good half, and he is the bad one? Is that why you don’t want him to find me?” Ava asked softly, calming down a little.

     “No, Ava, it’s not like that. If it were only a matter of me being good and him being evil, then we’d simply hunt him down and kill him and be done with it. He’s not a bad man. I don’t want him to find you because he would take you away from me. You see, you are my match, which means that you are also his match.” He took her hand in his, pulling her closer.

     “Oh.” Ava suddenly realized what this meant. If the two of them each only had one match, and it was her, they would fight to the death over her. She leaned her head on his chest. “Does he know about Kyanos? Do you think Bryant would track us all the way out here?”

     “It’s unlikely. Bryant left us prior to our discovery of Kyanos. I’m more worried about Kaden than I am of Xavier at the moment.” This comment from him calmed her fears of being kidnapped for the moment, not that an attack by Kaden was a better alternative.

     “What’s he like? I mean . . .  does he look like you, or have the same abilities that you do?” She suddenly felt curious.

     “Xavier’s body is slightly younger than mine and he’s taller than me. He has blue eyes and black hair, at least he did the last time I saw him, which was a little over ten years ago. As far as I know, he has only one ability, but it’s a strong one. He possesses very powerful telekinesis. He can do anything with his mind. If he has any other powers, he has not shown them to me.”

     “How many times have you seen him, . . . since the separation?” Ava asked inquisitively.

     “Only a few. Like me, he wanted to be human. We have the same mind, the same essence. I wasn’t surprised that he became one after I did. I don’t know what the circumstances were. He isn’t evil Ava, he did save Naomi’s life the last time we saw him.”

     “He saved her life? How?” This new information piqued her interest.

     “It was after one of our battles with Kaden. At that time we were on Zaniah, one of the most desolate space stations. Naomi was tracking him and opened fire when she thought she had a chance to finish him, but he returned fire and severely injured her. We chased him off and tried to save Naomi, but her injuries were too fatal. I tried to heal her, but as I’ve told you, it’s painful to others and she couldn’t take it, she asked me to stop and wanted us to accept her death. Andre wouldn’t take no for an answer and begged me to ask Xavier for his help to save her.”

        This story surprised Ava. She never would have thought Naomi could have been in such danger. Wesley continued “I can sense when Xavier is near, particularly when we are on the space stations. It has something to do with the interference in the energy. I suspect we will always be connected in some way. Anyway, by some miracle he was stationed there at the time. I teleported myself over to him and pleaded with him to help us. As you know, we can enter the body of someone who has just died, if the circumstances are right. This is why we needed Xavier.”

     Ava looked down, as if she were not sure if she wanted to hear what was coming next. He continued the story. “Xavier reluctantly agreed to help us, though I’m sure it was not for my sake.  I feel as though Naomi is sort of a sister to me, Xavier must have felt the same. So, late that night, Andre and I took our dying Naomi to the nearest hospital with Xavier following. We snuck into the hospice ward and located a young blonde woman who was terminally ill from leukemia. She was suffering terribly. We placed them side by side and Xavier used his ability to stop the young woman’s heart. Then, he stopped Naomi’s heart and used his ability to assist her to switch bodies. Her essence and what was left of her energy transferred to the new body and her old one perished. Matches can sometimes transmit energy to each other and Andre gave all that he could to her. The energy cured the cancer, and enabled Naomi to survive, though she was very weak. She still is by our standards and has yet to recover her abilities, but she will. Our energy builds the longer we are in our bodies. After that, Xavier left us that night without saying a word, but I knew his thoughts. He cautioned me to take better care of my family. It’s like our mind almost merges as one when we are that close together. Our energy longs to be reunited. It pulls us towards one another when we are near. He hates it just as much as I do. That’s why we can’t stand being around each other. That was the last time I saw him, about ten years ago.” Wesley looked at Ava to gauge her reaction to his story.

     “I’m not sure if that story makes this Xavier a hero or a monster,” Ava commented.

     “None of us are perfect, Ava. Maybe that’s what makes us more human? The woman that Naomi became was suffering; she wanted it to end. We tried to make the right choice. There are so few of us, it would have been devastating if Naomi had died. Xavier is many things, but so am I. I wouldn’t describe either one of us as a monster. However, I think it would be safer for both of us if he did not discover you,” Wesley said solemnly.

     “If he already knows you have met me, do you think he’d be angry, especially since it appears you are hiding me from him? Maybe we should just go to him after this thing with Kaden is over and explain to him that I want to be with you? That sounds reasonable based on what you have told me about him,” Ava suggested. What would this Xavier be like if she did meet him? Would he harm her?

     “Going to Xavier is not an option! He must never find you. I’m sure he would be angry. I know this because I would be. We are the same, he and I. There’s no telling exactly what he would do.”

     “I feel an attachment with you, emotions and a closeness that I can’t even describe. I have since I met you. It’s your energy, it’s like I’m connected to it. I’m not an Asterion, but I am as bonded with you as you are to me.  What would happen if I did meet this Xavier? Would I react to him the same way I do to you?”

     “I don’t know. This has never happened before to any of us. I hope not.” Wesley looked at the ground, apparently not happy about that possibility.

    “Well, we’d best not waste our time worrying about things like Bryant and Xavier that we can’t control right now. Let’s concentrate on Kaden and Draves. I’ll make some dinner for us before you go to the ship and then I’ll get started packing a travel bag so that it will be ready when I need to leave,” Ava offered.

     Wesley stopped her before she left for the kitchen. “Ava, I’m sorry that I’ve done nothing but complicate your life. You could have had a normal relationship if you had never met me.”

     “That’s not true Wesley. Kaden’s actions are not your fault. I love you and I can’t imagine my life without you. You have no idea how much you have meant to me from the beginning. We’re part of each other now. Your problems are my problems and that’s okay. Whatever happens, I have no regrets. I will always love you.” She kissed him and left for the kitchen, eager to prepare their early dinner, to give Wesley more time to make ready the base which would be her safe house during Kaden’s impending attack.

Chapter 12: Ibis

     As twilight approached, Wesley returned to the Andromeda at the main hangar. Justin was waiting to brief him of everything that had been loaded for Ava’s secret stay at the base on Ibis. He proceeded to tell him all of the details as Wesley looked around.

    “There’s enough here to last about six weeks if needed, but I doubt that she’ll need to be away more than two or three depending on how fast Kaden gets here,” Justin commented.

     “Thank you, and Rowan, for all that you’ve done,” Wesley replied, powering up the ship.

     “Are you sure you don’t want some help?”

     “No, I have to do this alone, for her safety.”

     “How is Ava taking all of this?”

     “She’s coping quite well, considering everything . . . I told her about Xavier.”

     “How did she react?”

     “Okay, I guess. I’m not sure how she should take that kind of news. It’s complicated,” Wesley stated as he took his seat in the flight deck.

     Justin changed the subject. “Andre and Ash are getting ready to take the Principia up to see if they can detect any nearby transmissions from Kaden. We’ll get through this, we always do.”

     “I know.  I’d better be on my way. I’ll be back by dawn.”

     “Good luck,” Justin said as he turned to exit the ship.

     “Thanks,” Wesley called after him. As soon as Justin stepped away from the Andromeda, the entrance ramp raised and Wesley lifted off, destination known only to him.

     Though sunset was just beginning, below him Wesley could see the residents running here and there almost in a state of panic since Vance announced that an attack from Kaden was imminent. The citizens were doing their best to salvage anything and everything they could and be prepared to hide out in the recently built bomb shelters under the village. Back at home, Ava sadly packed her travel bag with things that she might need for an extended stay away. She downloaded music, many books, and movies at Wesley’s suggestion to keep herself occupied. Afterwards she showered and went to bed. She planned to report for work in the morning as he said he’d come for her if anything changed.

     Wesley raced through the night sky across the vast purple and deep blue ocean on Kyanos to the desert. He landed outside of the base on Ibis and unloaded a power cell, entered the code on the large metal doors to the base and waited patiently as they groaned open. They had built the sturdy, concealed structure decades ago into a large sandy rock face in the middle of no-where. He remembered the desert fondly as this is where they tested many of the weapons and flight capabilities of the Andromeda, after it was first built. Once inside, he installed the new power cell and illuminated the station. He quickly set to work unloading all of the supplies that Rowan and Justin had prepared for Ava. The base had a main control room, a storage area with a massive water supply tank, a small living quarter area which consisted of two bunk beds, a small bathroom, a sitting area, a decent workout area, and a kitchen, or mess hall as they had called it. The refrigerators quickly cooled down and Wesley loaded them with non-perishable food and water for Ava.  They would bring fresher foods if they were able when the time came. Wesley realized that the small base seemed to resemble Ava’s life on Orionis. She will be perfectly safe here, he thought. There was no threat from desert animals on Ibis, merely only a few insects, at least that’s all they had ever seen. After a few hours, Wesley surveyed his work, pleased with his efforts. He powered the base down to standby and locked it. The return trip back to the main hangar at the compound went quickly. He checked in with the engineers in the control room at the other hangar. As there was no news from the Principia yet, he decided to call it a night and return home for a few hours of rest.

     The people of Kyanos continued to prepare for Kaden’s assault as the week dragged on. Ava went to and from work regularly. She enjoyed being with patients again; it seemed to take her mind off of all of the complications in her new life. She also enjoyed working with Dr. Sullivan, who taught her a lot about the new ailments and conditions she was starting to see on Kyanos. He had been informed that Wesley would be taking her away as soon as a threat from Kaden was detected. Life almost seemed normal for a while. The Principia had meanwhile been lethally armed for battle, just like the Andromeda. Ash and most of the crew went up on surveillance missions daily and returned with no news of Kaden’s whereabouts. Ava knew this concerned Wesley. They could not figure out what was taking Kaden so long, or worse, what he had planned. Then it happened. Ash and Mia detected the faint static of some transmissions late one afternoon. Ava had just arrived home from work and Wesley bounded into the house, informing her that they would need to leave immediately.

     The entire crew gathered in the hangar to quickly hug Ava and wish her well before she and Wesley departed. Ava almost had tears in her eyes. She hated being separated from her new family. Deep down, she had a bad feeling about it.

     “It’s going to be okay. We’ll win this one. Our odds are better now than before. Just think of this as a time for you to relax and take it easy. We’ll come for you as soon as it is safe,” Naomi said trying to soothe Ava’s nerves by brushing it off.

     “I appreciate your efforts to keep me safe, but I really think I should stay with you,” Ava attempted to appeal once more not to be separated from them.

     “It’s too dangerous, sweetheart. I regret that I left you so unprotected on Orionis all of the time. I can’t let that happen again. We must keep you safe from Kaden, and from Draves,” Wesley reasoned with her gently.

     “Good-bye, Ava, try not worry,” Rowan gave Ava a hug and Wesley took her hand, leading her up the ramp of the Andromeda. She took Ash’s seat in the flight deck next to Wesley as he powered up the magnificent starship, raised the entrance ramp, and lifted off. They tore through the sky ferociously as Wesley wanted to waste no time securing Ava and return back to the city on Kyanos to prepare for Kaden.

     After a few hours they touched down gently near the base. They made a few trips to and from the ship, unloading some fresh food and other last minute items Ava might need. Wesley taught Ava the codes to unlock and lock the massive doors, and also how to operate the computer control system once inside the base. He advised her not to use her PCD unless it was an extreme emergency as they sometimes emit frequencies detectable outside of the atmosphere. He did not want any chance of Kaden discovering her. Therefore, there would be no communication between them until the battle was over.

     “I know I don’t need to tell you this, but please take good care of yourself. Rest, relax, read. I’ll be back before you know it.” He smiled reassuringly at her.

     “Can I look around outside of the base?” Ava knew she’d go stir crazy if she stayed inside for more than a few days at a time.

     “If you must, but be very careful. I would prefer it if you stayed in here, but I know you. Don’t stray too far, always stay in sight of the base. You have nothing to fear here, but it does get rather hot during the day and cold at night. Don’t go outside if there is a sand storm.” Wesley looked down at her with concerned eyes.

     “I’ll be fine, I’ll stay out of trouble, I promise,” she reassured him.

     “I love you, Ava. I promise I will come for you as soon as I can.” He gathered her into a warm embrace, allowing his energy to permeate her, not quite ready to let go.

     “Be safe. Take care of yourself and the others. I love you and I need you to come back for me soon. After all, we need to get started planning our wedding.” Ava smiled, reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him. They held each other for a few moments and then it was time. Ava knew he had to get back to defend the city against Kaden. She watched sadly as he left, locking the doors behind him. She ran to the computers and powered up the monitor. She found the outside camera feed and watched as the Andromeda lifted off and sped away. She was now alone.

Chapter 13: War

     Wesley swiftly returned to the hangar in the city and exited the starship to receive an updated report on Kaden’s attack. City engineers quickly began re-fueling and charging the ship, readying it for the confrontation. Four more days slowly passed and still no attack. Wesley, the crew, and Vance along with a few other officers, met twice daily in one of the attached offices of the hangar to discuss strategy.

     “What direction are the signals coming from?” Wesley asked, getting right to the point.

     “It looks as though they are coming from the west, his usual point of entry,” Ash answered and then continued. “I can’t be sure, but I believe that I have also detected a few other scarcely traceable transmissions just outside of the atmosphere.”

     All eyes were now on Ash. “How many other transmissions?” Wesley demanded.

     “I’m not sure, sometimes it looks like one, and other times it looks like two to three but I can’t get a lock on them.”

     “Is it possible that Kaden could have more than one ship?” Vance inquired.

     “We don’t know of any other allies or starships he commands,” Wesley answered. He thought for a moment and then continued, “but with Draves helping him, there’s no telling what they might try. I suppose it’s possible that Draves could have helped Kaden commandeer one of the ships from the space pirates.”

     “They’ll be heavily armed if that’s the case,” Andre interjected.

     “What is the status on the ground defense?” Wesley asked Vance.

     “The people are ready to relocate to the shelters as soon as the siren sounds. We have all of the ground cannons armed and ready to fire at them when they are close enough to be in range.” Vance answered.

     “Good, I’d like to . . .” Wesley began.

     Ash’s PCD began to beep loudly. He lifted it and looked up at Wesley. “They are coming!”

     “Vance, sound the alarms, help get everyone to safety then take your position. We’re going to the ships. We will do our best to protect everyone!” Wesley shouted as people started running to their posts.

     Wesley, Justin, and Rowan boarded the Andromeda. Andre, Ash, Mia, and Naomi ran to the waiting courier to take them to board the Principia, ready to assist in the fight. People ran in various directions shouting and screaming to be heard to each other over the deafening sirens. The scene on the ground looked chaotic, but the residents of Kyanos were used to this and followed procedures well. They were hopeful that this would be the last fight, now that their Asterions had two ships to fight with. Wesley took the Andromeda up, trying to get a lock on the signal. The Principia waited, hidden in its hangar, ready to seize an opportunity to attack from behind, as Kaden did not yet know about their second starship.

     “We’ve got a lock, they’re coming in from the West!” Justin shouted to Wesley in the flight deck.

    “I’m on it,” Wesley swiftly changed directions to meet Kaden head on.

     “We are standing by,” Andre communicated through the encoded transmissions from the Principia.

     Wesley focused his mind on the fight and Kaden, with only a few last thoughts about Ava, feeling happy that she was safe and sound, far from here. Suddenly the Draconis appeared in the distance in plain view. It swiftly changed directions, moving away from the Andromeda. “What’s he up to? He knows that we see them,” Wesley thought out loud. They continued to follow the Draconis, gaining on them. “Wait until I get closer to fire on them,” Wesley commanded to the others, waiting at their posts. The Draconis picked up speed and Wesley punched it.  “It’s like he wants us to follow him. I don’t like this . . .” Wesley spoke over the transmission to Justin and Andre.

     “There’s another transmission!” Justin shouted. “It’s behind us!”

     Wesley swerved sharply to one side and nearly missed the assault on one side of the Andromeda. “There are two of them!”

     Then, the Draconis flipped and charged them head on, the Andromeda caught between the two enemy ships. The Draconis fired on them heavily and made several successful hits on the top of the ship, the shields deflecting most of the damage.

     “We’re coming! You can’t fight them both!” Andre announced. “Which ship is Kaden and Draves in?”

     “I don’t know!” Wesley bellowed, above the noise from all of the weapons firing trying to stay focused, but it seemed as though the new starship mimicked his every move. Wesley flipped the Andromeda, trying to get behind the new enemy and it did the same, staying behind him, firing on him. “I think Draves is in the second ship! Take him out, Andre, Kaden is in the Draconis, they split up!” Wesley continued to attack the Draconis while trying to evade the second ship until Andre could get there. The Draconis suddenly disappeared, just as it had done in their last fight. “He’s using cloaking technology again! The signal is jammed!”

     “Time to try ours out!” Ash announced. “Wesley, drop out of the fight and let them chase you to us, we can surprise them just as well!”

     “Affirmative.” Wesley pulled out of the fight and changed directions, heading directly for the Principia, with two ships, one invisible, and one visible giving chase.

     Wesley could not visibly see the Principia but he knew it was there. He ducked the Andromeda beneath its wake as the Principia fired mercilessly in the direction of on the oncoming ships.

∞

           Ava woke up and made herself a small breakfast, took a shower, and went to the computer in the command center portion of the base. She looked out at the sunny desert through the monitor hoping to see any sign of the Andromeda. It had been several days since Wesley had brought her here for her safety, but with each passing day she became more anxious and restless. The desert appeared rather peaceful and serene. Ava decided that today would be a good day to go outside for some fresh air. She glanced at her PCD she routinely wore on her belt out of habit. It was only eight thirty in the morning. She had noticed that the winds seemed to kick up a lot of dust usually around noon time. Plenty of time to explore and be back here before that happens, she thought. Ava dressed in light gray cargo pants, black boots, and a three quarter length sleeved black shirt. She grabbed one of the small backpacks she found in the storage room and placed a small bottle of water inside, along with her hat and sunglasses. She saw there was a small flashlight in the bag and decided to leave it there. After applying her sunscreen, she punched the code to open the massive doors to the base. It took several seconds for them to open completely. Once outside, she repeated the process to close them.

     The bright sun light almost blinded her as she was used to the darker light inside the base, but the sun felt so nice and warm on her. She inhaled the fresh warm breeze as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and put her sunglasses on. She walked slowly observing her surroundings on the rock face of where the base was. There’s no possible way I could get lost, she thought, this looks like it goes on forever. She continued to walk for about a mile along the rock face, feeling good to get out and burn some energy. She recently sensed that the sum of what was left of Justin’s energy transferred to her through the blood transfusion was waning and that she would soon be back to her own normal self.

     Ava looked straight ahead of her as she strolled and was startled suddenly by a large, brightly colored winged insect that flew up in front of her from underneath a rock in the terrain. How beautiful, she thought. The insect flew about as if it were in a dance in front of her for a few moments before it headed off along the side of the rock face. She decided to follow it, as it didn’t appear to be in a hurry. She noticed that it flew into a separation into the rock face ahead. As she reached the opening she gazed inside. She could see the insect flying into another opening further down, although it was a little darker than where she was standing. She decided to go down and check it out. She found some rocks nearby and made a line pointing in the direction she would need to turn to get back to the base just in case she felt disoriented when she came out.

     As she neared the opening she could smell a sweet fragrance, almost like one of Rowan’s flower gardens.  She remembered the flashlight in her backpack and pulled it out and continued on. The walls of the cave glittered with silver bits of minerals, creating a shimmering effect. Ava thought it was breathtaking. Wesley had said there were no animals out here, there’s nothing to fear she thought. She walked for another hundred and fifty feet, looking for the insect she had followed, which she could no longer see. I’d better turn back and go back to the base she thought, going forward another few feet. Unexpectedly, she tripped over a rock that her boot got caught on and crashed down with a loud grunt. Suddenly, there was the sound of innumerable insect wings flapping. She gasped as a large swarm of insects flew out of a nearby tunnel towards her and the entrance. She must have roused them with the noise of her fall. Ava stood up and started sprinting back towards the entrance, which was difficult to see over the thousands of insects flying around her. As she ran, she felt the elevation of the ground dip and she realized too late she was falling into a deep crevice in the floor that she was careful to stay away from when coming in to the cave. She screamed as she crashed into the wall; falling down to the bottom of it, landing in a few feet of water.

     Ava did not lose consciousness but picked herself up and stood still for a few moments, leaning on the side of the crevice, breathing heavily, trying to get a mental grasp of her situation. Luckily, she still had the flashlight in her grip. The right side of her forehead throbbed. She reached up and touched it, feeling a mild scrape with a little blood, but no big deal. Her right leg ached a little, but otherwise she was okay. She turned the flashlight back on and looked at her surroundings. She figured that she was about twenty feet down from the surface of the cave in a narrow crevice, about ten feet wide by fifteen feet long. There seemed to be about almost two feet of water in the bottom, which she was standing in. Ava noticed that there were many rock points sticking out here and there on the walls. She collected herself and set to work to climb out of her situation. The rock face was moist due to the humidity inside the cave and Ava did not have any climbing gear with her. She tried several times and kept slipping and sliding back to the bottom. After about an hour she gave up. I just need to rest for a few minutes, she thought; I can do this, I can climb out. She sat on a ledge close to the bottom of the crevice and pulled her feet up and out of the water, which seemed to be growing colder. She glanced at her PCD, eleven thirty in the morning, and drank a few sips of the water she had brought with her. Only about a half of a cup left, she thought sadly.

      After a few more minutes passed she began a more desperate attempt to climb out. Ten, twenty attempts went by. Ava sank down onto her ledge, feeling worried and exhausted. It was after six now, and she had no food with her. Her stomach growled with the pangs of hunger. This is all my fault, how could I have been so stupid, she thought. Wesley would be furious if he knew she had wandered so far away from the base and got into this situation. Now she was beginning to wonder herself whether or not she would be able to get out of this scrape alive. She had finished the last of her water hours ago and was already beginning to feel the effects of exhaustion and dehydration. On top of that, the cave had been slowly growing colder as the hot suns outside began to set. She turned off her flashlight to conserve the battery, as it also seemed to be waning. Ava pulled her PCD off of her belt and turned it on. Wesley had told her to use it only in an extreme emergency, and though she hated to admit it, she was in danger and she needed help. She began to call for aid, speaking in to the device, not knowing who might be able to hear.

     Ava continued to call out on her PCD throughout the night but received no response. After the suns went down the temperature in the cave plummeted and she began to shiver, resting with her knees drawn up to her chest on the small ledge that she sat on. She had not been this cold since she lived on Earth. That seemed like a lifetime ago, she thought. Ava rested her head down on knees, regretting her foolishness at wanting to leave the base. She wondered if she would pay the price for it with her life. She kept the flashlight off, using it only if she thought she heard something, for the battery was almost drained. After a few false alarms, the battery finally gave out completely. The silence in the cave seemed deafening to her. There were times when she thought she heard something, but it ended up only being her imagination. Finally, the morning suns began to rise and shine a little light into the cave.

∞

     “Why exactly are we combing the galaxy out in the middle of nowhere?” Xavier asked of Bryant. “Surely Ava would be on one of the space stations.”

     “She’s not on one of the stations, I’m certain of it,” Bryant replied, with a subtle hint of irritation in his voice. “Before I left Robinson’s crew I overheard them planning on exploring this section of the galaxy, I believe they were looking for another sustainable planet.”

     “And did they find one?”

     “I’m not sure, I wasn’t with them. But if they did, there is a chance they could be laying low there.”

     “Bryant, can you come up here?” Nicholas called out on the intercom. Both Xavier and Bryant immediately went up to the flight deck.

     “Listen to this,” Nicholas said, raising the volume on the receiver. It sounded like small blips of a transmission with lots of static. Everyone listened intently at the noise. “chhhsshhhh . . . need help. . . . . chhshhhh . . . .fell . . .chhshhhh. . .”

     “That is definitely a transmission!” Bryant announced, excitement rising in his voice. “Can you get a lock on it?”

     “I’ll try, it’s very weak. Do you think it’s originating out there on that small planet coming up on the trajectory? It took me a while to realize that it is a planet, it’s hidden so well by that large moon,” Nicholas said.

     “What planet?” Xavier and Bryant asked in unison, astounded. Nicholas pointed them to one of the monitors. Bryant ran over to it and looked at the coordinates. “Head for it! If the transmission gets stronger that means we are definitely on the right track!” Bryant felt excited now. Part of the reason he was a tracker was that he loved hunting down targets, and he knew he excelled at it.

∞

     After a night of no sleep, shivering, and constant worry, Ava felt run down, thirsty, and hungry. She made another careful attempt to try to climb out and suffered another failure as she slipped and slid back down about six feet from the top. Defeated, she sat down on the ledge and tried the PCD again. Wesley has to hear me, she thought. What if something happened to him? Was that the reason he didn’t come for her? Ava didn’t even want to think about that. She closed her eyes again. A few more hours passed. She felt so tired she almost did not hear the sound of a starship landing nearby. When she realized what the noise was, she started shouting Wesley’s name.

     Nicholas brought the Solstice down in a sandy desert at Bryant’s order. Nobody could fathom why. How could the weak signal they picked up be coming from anywhere around here? He powered the ship down and lowered the entrance ramp after the computer registered the atmosphere compatible. Bryant, Xavier, Melanie, and Lucas walked out into the desert to have a look around, marveling at the discovery of another planet suitable for human existence. Xavier walked over to the massive rock wall that seemed to stretch on for miles. He noticed a small opening in the wall a few dozen yards away. Everyone was armed and on the alert for anything that could happen on an unfamiliar planet.

     “Are you sure the transmission came from here?” Xavier asked Bryant. The wind started kicking up and changed directions.

     “I’m certain of it. Shh! I heard something!” He lifted his hand as if to silence Xavier and began wildly looking around.

     “I hear it too!” Xavier started running toward the opening in the rock face. For once Bryant was a step behind someone. They stopped when they reached the opening to the cave, hesitating.  “She’s here, I can . . . feel her,” Xavier said looking at Bryant.

     Ava could feel Wesley drawing near. She sensed the energy she was so familiar with. “Wesley, I’m down here!” she shouted as loud as she could. The two men pulled out flashlights and ran towards Ava’s voice, with Melanie and Lucas right behind them. Ava kept calling out to Wesley and felt elated when she saw the flickering of light above her. It’s Wesley, he’s come for me, she thought. She stood waiting patiently in her pool of water until two beams of light shined down on her. Ava’s eyes weren’t used to the light so she held up her arm to shield her eyes from the brightness. Suddenly she gasped. That is not Wesley, she realized as her eyes adjusted. She looked up at the four people standing at the top of the crevice staring down at her, recognizing only one of them, Bryant.

     “Ava Amherst,” Bryant announced in a voice reflecting his genuine confusion as to why he would find her in such a state. Xavier stared down at her with wide eyes and his mouth slightly open, shocked at what he saw. Ava shrank back from the light, breathing heavily, unsure of what to do.

     “Ava, are you hurt?” Bryant asked sincerely. Ava shook her head, a state of panic beginning to take over her mind. Everyone seemed to study her for a long moment and all she could do was gaze back. She had no means of escape.

     “Ava, I’m going to lift you out now. Please stay very still,” Xavier’s calm voice broke the silence. He looks and sounds like sort of a dark angel, she thought. As he stood he extended a hand down towards her and then she could feel Xavier’s warm energy, the same as Wesley’s, flowing down to her, wrapping around her gently and slowly she began to rise out of crevice. She sucked in her breath, surprised by what was happening. Normally something like this would have freaked her out completely, but not since she learned the truth about the existence of Asterions. Then she remembered what Wesley had said, that Xavier had the ability of telekinesis. He lifted her out all of the way and set her down softly a few feet away, facing him. She stepped back immediately when his energy released her, breathing erratically while her eyes darted from face to face. Then Xavier walked forward towards her, extending his hand. “I’m James Xavier,” he said, calmly introducing himself.

     “I know . . . who . . . who you are,” she stuttered, partly from being chilled, partly from being afraid. He nodded, knowingly. She looked at his outstretched hand, uncertain as to whether or not she should shake it. Wesley had not instructed her on what she should do if she ever crossed paths with him. She decided it wouldn’t hurt to shake hands with him; he did just pull her out of the crevice. She gingerly took his hand, he placed his other one over hers and held it for a moment before she pulled her hand back, out of his gentle grip. He feels just like Wesley, she thought, with a slightly different twist.

     “You’re cold, . . . here,” Xavier removed his coat and placed it around her shoulders. She had no time to react, but accepted his action without protest. Next, a woman with ash blonde hair approached her.

     “I’m Melanie Albright and that is my husband Lucas,” she said cheerfully as she pointed. She seems kind, Ava thought. The energy bouncing around in the small cave seemed so overwhelming, she almost felt lightheaded from everything going on. She was not used to these new Asterions; she had only ever been around Wesley and his crew. Melanie put a hand on Ava’s shoulder almost shocking her. “Let’s get you outside, it’s chilly in here,” she said as she started guiding Ava towards the entrance of the cave, everyone else followed closely behind, Bryant taking the rear, a smug smile on his face at finally reaching his target. He let his smile vanish as they exited the cave.

     Ava instinctively went to a nearby rock large enough to sit on and sat down. She gasped when she saw the large black starship with silver windows. The others started to converse with each other for a few minutes in what sounded like an old European language Ava did not understand. She saw Xavier raise a PCD up and spoke into it quickly. Less than a minute later a tall, athletic, brown haired man ran down the entrance ramp towards them with a silver flask in his hands. He came over to the group and introduced himself to her as Blayke Winters and handed her the flask of water. Ava drank non-stop until it was empty while everyone watched.

      The bright suns warmed her quickly to the point where she no longer needed Xavier’s coat. She unsteadily rose to her feet and took off the coat. She handed it back to him and the flask back to Blayke. She thanked both of them for their help and started looking around, temporarily perked up from the water. For a few moments, she seemed to forget that she wasn’t alone. She shaded her eyes with her hand and scanned the horizon, remembering she had left the backpack in the crevice, and looked back towards the base. It must be more than a mile away, she thought sadly. She looked down at her PCD, the power was exhausted. Ava’s mind raced; what do I do now?

     The others were watching her intently as the wind suddenly started kicking up. Then, Xavier walked towards her and spoke reassuringly to her. “Ava, I know that we startled you, but I want you to know that you have nothing to fear from us. We will not harm you.” She looked at him, paying real attention to him for the first time since exiting the cave. He continued, “you’re exhausted and dehydrated, why don’t we get you aboard so Melanie can assess your condition and your injuries.”

     Ava suddenly took a few steps back away from them. “No! . . . I’m fine, really. I appreciate all that you’ve done for me, but I’ll be all right.”

     “Ava, you need rest and rehydration, you could die out here,” Melanie reasoned.

     “I won’t be alone very long, Wesley heard my transmissions, he and the others will be coming for me any minute,” Ava continued to protest.

     “Ava, be reasonable. Come with us now, you are in no condition to be alone,” Bryant urged.

     “You stay away from me!” Ava shouted hoarsely, pointing a finger at him. She knew he was not to be trusted. Xavier glanced back and forth between the two of them wondering what was going on.

     Xavier’s PCD suddenly beeped. He answered it in English. Nicholas, the pilot, warned him that the computers on the ship were estimating a sand storm on the way and that for the safety of the ship, lift off was recommended. The way the winds were picking up, Ava knew they weren’t making it up. He looked at her and then up and around at the sky for a few moments as if he were trying to sense something. He shook his head. “No one is coming for you, Ava, I can’t leave you here like this. I’m sorry . . . we have to go now,” he said gently.

     Melanie and Lucas moved in to steady Ava on each side by the arms. “You’ll be safe with us,” Lucas tried to reassure her.

     “Please . . . don’t do this! Please don’t take me away!” Ava pleaded with them, breathing heavily, the lightheadedness returning. She put a hand on her head, feeling weak. There was no way that she could resist them.

     “Ava, you need to rest. Trust us, this is for the best,” Melanie said definitively as she and Lucas started guiding her towards the entrance ramp of the Solstice, Xavier following behind. Bryant brought up the rear. Ava concentrated on her breathing as they brought her aboard, she did not want to faint. She heard the ramp pull up and close right behind them all as the shock of cool air hit her. They brought Ava quickly to a small area of the ship that looked like a medical evaluation room. They sat her down in a chair with reclining abilities that felt more comfortable than it looked and raised her feet up. Lucas brought her more water while Melanie started asking her questions about allergies and her health history. Ava answered her inquiries honestly, though distracted by the sound of the ship powering up and lifting off.

     “I’m going to prick your finger to analyze how dehydrated you are, okay?” Melanie asked.

     “Are you a doctor?” Ava asked, suddenly concerned about how much she should let them do for her.

     “Sometimes,” Melanie said with a smile. “When you live as long as we do, you have to re-invent yourself a lot.” She performed the task and inserted the cartridge with Ava’s blood sample into the computer for analysis. Ava watched with half open eyes. She had been mostly awake for more than a day and wanted nothing more than to sleep. “Looks like we need to start an IV and give you some fluids,” Melanie announced after about a minute. At this point, there wasn’t much else Ava could do except close her eyes and hope that Melanie knew what she was doing. She vaguely remembered a sting in her left arm as Melanie started the IV and Xavier’s concerned watchful eyes on her as she finally passed out.

∞

          “They have another ship!” Kaden bellowed to what consisted of his crew in the Draconis. Draves momentarily paused from commanding Darius, Kaden’s first mate, through encrypted transmissions in the commandeered pirate starship. They had hoped that such a plan would make Wesley believe the two of them had split up when they indeed had not. Kaden had actually been impressed that Draves seemed able to pull it together enough to advise both of them on evasive maneuvers, giving them the upper hand in the battle so far against the Andromeda. The same could not be said about their fight with the Principia. The new ship also performed extremely well, Ash had unraveled Kaden’s code for illusion and applied the same invisibility technology to their ship. The Principia fired mercilessly upon the stolen ship piloted by Darius and pursued the enemy relentlessly.

     “I’m going to take them down to the city, I can’t see them and I’m taking too much heat!”  Darius yelled over the transmission in the commandeered ship. “You deal with Robinson up here!”

     “That’s exactly what they want you to do, you fool! Get up here, we must stay together!” Kaden commanded.

     Darius disobeyed orders and took the pirated ship down into Kyanos’ atmosphere. He emerged just over the city and started blasting buildings and anything else he could see. Fires and smoke immediately began to erupt amongst the collapsing buildings. “They are going to fire upon you from below with cannons,” Draves shouted over the transmissions. At that moment, they did. Vance gave the order to fire at will at the foreign starship sailing just above.

     Meanwhile the Andromeda gained on the invisible Draconis, seeming to sense its presence. Draves, finding it difficult to focus his attention on two situations, turned his attention away from Darius and back to Robinson. The Principia gained on the small ship on Kyanos racing away from the city. “Draves, . . .  Draves! Where do I go from here? I’m blind without you! Answer me!” Darius shouted; smoke beginning to fill the small starship. The sound of alarms could be clearly heard in the background.

     “Forget him!” Kaden ordered to Draves, who did not seem to care anyway.

     Draves cocked his head away from Kaden and the battle, apparently interested in something else that was happening. “What is it?” Kaden demanded.

     “Another starship!” Draves laughed chaotically as he sensed the presence of another ship full of Asterions entering space from Kyanos’ atmosphere.

     “Who is it?” Kaden shook Draves, trying to break through.

     “Very strange,” Draves spoke slowly and deliberately. “It’s Robinson, but it’s . . . not,” he said, frowning in confusion before he started laughing again.

     “What are you talking about, Draves? Robinson is in the Andromeda, I know it!”

     “I said it wasn’t Robinson!” Draves snapped. “Doesn’t matter, it is of no significance now, they are leaving . . . heading off towards the south.”

     “Why would they go south? That’s opposite of the known galaxy . . . there’s absolutely nothing out that way.”

     “I can’t sense their thoughts, they are too far away.   Concentrate on what’s important here! Head for the moon over there and circle slowly around it. Robinson will lose the weak signal he has on us.” Draves advised.

     Back on the Andromeda Wesley cursed as the faint signal he had on Kaden disappeared. “Hang on, I’m slowing us down. I’ve lost them so stay on the alert,” he commanded to Justin and Rowan.

     Down below over the Kyanos city a thunderstorm was brewing. The Principia gained on the pirated ship piloted by Kaden’s first mate.  Darius’ ship seemed to swerve erratically trying to simultaneously deal with the rough conditions in Kyanos’ atmosphere as well as try and avoid being struck by the cannons Vance’s team were firing upon them. A large flash of light erupted and Darius swore as he narrowly missed being struck by lightning.

     “Kaden, I need Draves to guide me out of here, . . . Kaden!” It was no use. He did not receive a reply from his captain.

     “Forget him, he’s not going to help us! Just get us out of here!” Ranieri, Darius’ mate replied from her post at the assault cannon.

     “This ship wasn’t built for maneuvering in this kind of atmosphere, it’s overheating from the exertion. I’m taking her back up,” he decided. Just then their small ship bucked downwards with the impact of being fired upon from the cannons.

     The small ship dove lower in the atmosphere and the invisible Principia followed effortlessly under Ash’s expert piloting skills. “I’m going to try chase him away from the city, then let him have it!” Ash directed Andre.

     “Sounds like a plan, Draves is toast.”

     Ash didn’t need computers to follow the commandeered ship as they could plainly see it on the monitors from behind due to the billowing black smoke pouring from it. They didn’t get the chance to drive the ship away from the city before it spontaneously exploded and crashed down inside the shopping district. Flames and debris were strewn everywhere and several buildings collapsed or were set on fire.

     The Principia uncloaked itself and flipped, making a sweep over the crashed pirate ship. “Now!” Andre commanded as he and Naomi pegged the grounded foreign ship with their assault cannons.  They wanted to make sure that there would be no Asterion survivors within the wreckage.

      The Asterions in the Principia and the members of the ground team cheered as the smoke poured upwards from their fallen enemy.  Andre advised the ground crew to monitor the wreckage to make sure there were no survivors after he instructed Ash to take the Principia back up into space to assist the Andromeda in defeating Kaden.

     “Wesley, Draves is dead, were coming up,” Andre announced over the transmissions.

     “Good,” he replied. He breathed a quick sigh of relief that at least half of the enemy threat to their planet and their way of life was defeated. Surely with two of them they could now dispose of Kaden once and for all. The Andromeda sailed slowly towards one of the two moons overlooking Kyanos and picked up on a few faint transmissions, one from Kaden’s ship and another he could not identify. He did not concern himself with the second signal as it was weak and seemed to be growing weaker. Wesley did not wait for the Principia before speeding off towards the stronger signal to engage, he did not want to miss another opportunity of surprise.

     The Draconis hovered close to the moon, waiting for its enemy to appear. Draves closed his eyes and concentrated on trying to read Wesley’s thoughts. His desire to live free on a sustainable planet away from the annoying thoughts of others drove him to focus and pull himself together enough to get the job done.  “Robinson doesn’t have a lock on us, I’ve sensed his coordinates.  He’s heading this way. Circle around the west side of this moon and attack him from head on,” Draves ordered Kaden. Kaden suppressed his irritated thoughts of Draves as he did not want him to sense them. He hated taking orders from anyone, but did as he was told because his crazy ally had managed to keep them alive this far. He continued to fly with the cloaking mechanism on and picked up speed as he latched on to the transmissions coming from the Andromeda.

     Wesley brought his ship halfway around the moon, increasing the velocity. He let his thoughts wander to Ava; after all, now that Draves was dead, there was no need to keep his guard up. The second faint transmission concerned him, how was it possible that there was another ship in this unknown part of the galaxy? He suddenly became worried, what if the other transmission had come from the Solstice?

     “Fire now before you see them, Robinson is distracted!” Draves yelled to Kaden and what was left of his crew, which consisted of Torian and Cassidy. Kaden issued the order and his team threw out a heavy reign of fire towards the Andromeda’s trajectory.

     The Andromeda flew directly into the line of fire from its invisible enemy and took several direct hits before Wesley could swerve away. The massive ship bucked in order to keep its current velocity. White smoke started pouring out of the ceiling in the hallway adjacent to the flight deck.

     “We’re hit! The shields are down!” Justin roared over the sirens that had started alarming.

     “I know!” Wesley yelled in return. “Hang on to something!” He ordered Justin and Rowan as he rolled the ship to escape what he believed was the expected line of fire.

     Inside the Draconis, Draves went back to laughing hysterically because he knew that Robinson had no idea where they were. He was a sitting duck. Kaden chased his competition down and ordered his crew to fire at will. Torian and Cassidy pounded the Andromeda mercilessly with their cannons, laughing at the smoke pouring out of the once great starship. Kaden had to stay alert to keep from running in to the debris flying off of his enemies’ ship.

     “Wesley, the ship is breached, we have to descend now. If we keep pushing it we might overheat the core. We could self-destruct!” Justin cautioned him.

     “Let the Principia defeat him! We can’t even see them!” Rowan pleaded.

     Wesley refused to give up. Although he could not see his enemy, he had noticed a pattern of assault and started estimating its coordinates, which he called out to Rowan and Justin fire upon. His crewmembers began to fire at will with what was left of their ammunition.

     Draves abruptly stopped laughing as he sensed Robinson seemed to be closing in and cautioned Kaden that he needed to change coordinates. Kaden ignored him, seeing his chance to close in on them and finish the job.

     Although Wesley could not see Kaden behind him, he knew he was there. It’s now or never, he thought. Suddenly, he flipped the Andromeda and headed right for what he thought was the Draconis. Justin and Rowan fired heavily on their invisible target. Suddenly an explosion was seen and the Draconis became visible again.

     “They’re hit, the cloaking technology is malfunctioning!” Wesley announced.

     The Draconis had taken a direct hit, right over the power core. Draves began screaming erratically at Kaden, who ignored him as he tried to maintain control over the ship, which began spiraling out of control.

     The Andromeda’s velocity began to slow as the power started to deplete due to the overheating core. Wesley realized that they would not be able to make it back down to Kyanos and decided to plan for an emergency landing on the moon. He used what he could of the remaining available power to shift the ship into reverse propulsion to slow it down even further. “We’re going to have to make a landing on the moon, prepare yourselves!” he shouted to his friends. The ship began shaking violently against the moon’s gravity as it had no way to counter act it at this point. Wesley glanced at the monitors and noticed that the Draconis, with a trail of smoke, was also headed right for the moon, but at a much faster velocity. His heart soared as he saw small explosions erupt from it as Justin and Rowan continued to fire on it.

     Both ships descended towards the gravitational pull of the moon. The captain and crew of the Andromeda witnessed the Draconis crash into the surface with a large explosion. Wesley slowed and steadied his ship to bring it down as gently as he could without the help of the landing sequence and gear, which had been disabled from the attack. “Get ready!” he shouted to Justin and Rowan who were bracing themselves for the impact. The Andromeda hit the moon at a much slower velocity than the Draconis and after the sudden thud of the impact it began sliding. Alarms began to sound above the noise from the bottom of the ship dragging on the moon’s surface. It slid well past the wreckage from the Draconis before it slowly came to a grinding halt. Wesley immediately contacted the Principia with their coordinates and powered down the ship to prevent the central core from overheating. He called out to his friends in the darkness of the ship, which was growing colder by the second.

     “We have an oxygen breach! Without the power on to keep our oxygen supply flowing, it will all be vacuumed out!” Rowan shouted, running towards Wesley with Justin right behind her. “We have about two minutes!” Wesley pulled out his PCD, the Principia was near. Wesley quickly messaged Ash and Andre with his plan for evacuation while simultaneously explaining it to Rowan and Justin. They had no time to don space suits, and would suffocate and freeze to death if they left the ship. Wesley decided the only option for saving his friends would be to teleport them to the other ship.

     Wesley’s PCD beeped, indicating that the Principia was hovering overhead. Wesley shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to have a good feel for the ship in order to estimate the time and energy to teleport there through dead space. After a moment, he nodded to the others that he was ready. Justin insisted that Rowan go first and she walked up to Wesley and they wrapped their arms around each other. Justin watched as Wesley and Rowan disappeared, leaving him alone in the dark ship that was quickly losing oxygen. A few moments later, they reappeared in the common area inside of the Principia where Naomi and Mia waited for them. As soon as Wesley saw that Rowan seemed okay, he disappeared again, only to rematerialize back inside of the Andromeda. Teleportation drained his energy faster than anything else did. Traveling through space had always been more difficult for him than on a space station, or on Kyanos, and he was out of practice. He leaned over with his hands on his knees and took a few deep breaths, sweat dripping down his face. Then he stood up and signaled to Justin that he was ready. Wesley put his hands on Justin’s shoulders and after a moment, the two men disappeared. Since Justin was larger and had more energy to reconfigure, it took a few suspenseful moments for them to rejoin the group in the Principia. Wesley released Justin and wiped the sweat off of his forehead, breathing deeply. Once he recovered, he ran to the flight deck to join Andre and Ash with a report of Kaden. Ash had maneuvered the ship to hover near the wreckage, but not too close. He did not want to risk being hit by any drifting debris.

     “What news?” he asked the others, still out of breath. He looked at the monitors with the image of Kaden’s wrecked ship meeting his eyes.

     “There is no movement. I can’t see how he could survive that,” Andre reported. “Besides, if the crash didn’t kill him, he will either suffocate or suffer hypothermia.”

     Wesley looked over at the Andromeda, a dark metal shape laying on the surface of the moon, peppered with damage all over the top. “How bad is she?” Ash inquired.

     “The power core almost overheated, and the landing programming malfunctioned. We also had an oxygen leak. She’s not beyond repair. Once the core cools off, which won’t take long out here, she may be functional again.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. The Andromeda had been his favorite starship and served him well over the years. He was sad to see her in such a state. 

      “Well, she was due for a face lift anyway,” Andre joked. “Let’s head back to Kyanos. It’s obvious that Kaden is dead and there’s nothing more we can do here tonight.”

     Wesley nodded. “Once things are secure on Kyanos we can come back for the Andromeda and tow her to the main hangar and get started fixing her up.”

     “Affirmative,” Ash replied and powered up the Principia, heading back down towards the Kyanos city and the thunderstorm that was still raging on. After a short flight, Ash brought the new starship down into the main hangar where the Andromeda had once been. After exiting the ship, Wesley observed that it had come through the fight relatively unscathed.

     “Ash, when we fix the Andromeda, I want you to apply that cloaking technology to her as well.”

     “We’ll have to reconfigure a lot and install a ton of sensors, but it can be done,” he assured him.

     Trevor Vance approached the group of Asterions with a big smile. They had learned of their triumph over Kaden with Ash’s transmissions.

     “We have victory,” an exhausted and worn-out looking Wesley informed Vance.

     “The sacrifice of the Andromeda and the damage to the city was worth it in order to bring us peace,” Vance replied as he put a hand on Wesley’s shoulder, congratulating him on a battle well fought.

     At Wesley’s request, Vance proceeded to tell the Asterions about the extent of the devastation the city sustained under Draves’ low flying attack. He also informed them that two bodies, badly burned beyond recognition, were being pulled from the wreckage.

     After a short debriefing, Wesley regrouped with the others to discuss a few things. Everyone agreed that it would be best to wait until the morning before they flew to Ibis to collect Ava. They all needed to rest.

Chapter 14: Missing

     Ava inhaled deeply, sensing Wesley’s warm hand in hers. She squeezed it gently and opened her heavy eyelids, only to gasp in confusion after she realized it was not Wesley’s hand that she held. She immediately pulled her hand out of Xavier’s soft grip, eyeing him suspiciously, unable to hide her disappointment. He said nothing, although she thought he looked a little let down as he stood up and moved away to allow Melanie by, who greeted her and informed her she was there to take a set of vital signs. She noticed that the IV in her arm had been removed and replaced with a small bandage. Her eyes went to Bryant as she noticed him standing at the entrance to the small room she was in. He seemed to breathe in deeply through his nose.

     “It’s so peculiar. She reeks of Justin Gaines . . . he’s all over her. How is that possible?” he said flatly to no one in particular. Suddenly everyone’s eyes were on her, awaiting an explanation.

     “I guess that’s probably from the blood transfusion I had a few months ago,” she replied coolly, not wanting to tell them about the whole story.

     “Blood transfusion? They infused Justin’s blood into you? Were you injured, . . . or sick?” Melanie asked curiously. “That potentially could have killed you . . .”

     “I caught a virus and I was very ill. They transfused Justin’s blood to me to save my life. That’s it,” Ava said definitively, not wanting to discuss her personal health issues in front of these people who were nothing but complete strangers to her.

    “I see. I sensed that something was off about your energy.” Melanie said, looking at her, beginning to wonder about Bryant’s story of her abusive treatment from Wesley and the others. Ava looked away from her and practically glared at Bryant.

     Xavier noticed Ava’s hostile attitude towards Bryant and changed the subject, asking her how she was feeling. Ava didn’t know how to respond to them. She felt betrayed, lost, exhausted, and a little apprehensive about her new companions. “I have a headache,” she replied honestly, rubbing her right temple. She looked down at her clothes. Her cargos were smudged with dirt and moss stains and also torn in various places from her unsuccessful attempts at climbing out of the crevice. Then she realized that she didn’t smell very fresh as well, with an odor of sweat and dried mud on her clothes. I must look terrible, she thought. They seemed to notice her looking herself over. Lucas arrived with a protein shake for her to drink, which she did slowly, as her appetite seemed to have vanished. Afterwards they let the recliner down so that she was in a sitting position.

      “Ava, if you feel up to it I could show you down to your quarters. Would you like to have a shower and re-dress into some fresh clothes?  You and I seem to be about the same size,” Melanie offered in a gentle tone.

     “That would be great, thank you,” Ava replied softly, deciding that now was not the time to argue with them about taking her back home. She wanted to save that for after she had another night of good sleep to give her time to think of a way to be more diplomatic about it. After a few minutes Melanie walked with her down a level to the living quarters. She opened the door numbered five and they entered a small room with a bed, table, closet, and bathroom. Melanie demonstrated how to operate the controls in the shower and explained the time limits to conserve water.  All very similar things to the Andromeda, Ava thought. Melanie pointed to a small stack of clothes that she put out for her in the closet. After she left, Ava headed straight for the shower. It felt so good to have a hot shower and to wash her hair, which she noticed, had not felt very fresh either since she had left the crevice. Afterwards she toweled off, brushed her teeth, dried her hair, and dressed in the borrowed clothes, which felt strange, but she was grateful they were clean.

     A tap on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Yes?” Ava answered, wondering who it could be. The door slid open revealing Xavier standing there holding a small tray of food.

     “Melanie said that you should start with something small to see how you feel. If you’re still hungry afterwards you can have more,” he said with a casual friendly smile.

     “Thank you, but I’m really not hungry right now.” Ava replied. She watched as he slowly walked past her to set the tray down on the small table on the other side of the room. He turned and gestured for her to come and sit down at the table. She noticed that she did not feel afraid of him and decided to comply. She studied him closely for the first time since she met him as he sat down opposite of her at the table. He appeared a few years younger and was taller than Wesley by about an inch with a much different build. While Wesley was more muscular and athletic, Xavier was well built but seemed more slim and toned with broad shoulders and long arms and legs. His hair was every bit as black as Wesley’s but worn differently. Parted in the middle it fell below chin length and it appeared to be rather thick, to the point where it had been thinned out by trimming it up in the back.

      Next, Ava noticed his striking large almond shaped eyes. They were a beautiful shade of blue Ava wasn’t sure how to describe. They almost seemed to be lit from within. He appeared, like all Asterions, to be in good health. His skin was perfectly luminous and flawless. He had an angular straight nose and flat cheeks over a nicely shaped mouth. He did not wear the typical attire Ava was used to seeing on Wesley and some of the other captains and crews she had encountered in some of her travels. Dressed well entirely in black he looked very much like a musician. She did notice that he wore a nice sized antique cross on a simple black cord around his neck. The cross looked in good condition but very old, much older than the cord it hung from. Wesley had never talked about religion so Ava found this interesting. Overall she could not deny that he was a handsome man.

     It was Xavier that spoke first. “I hope that you are feeling much better now.” He seemed to study her as if he were awed by what he saw, pleased that she looked rested.

     “I am. Thank you for your kindness, . . . Mr. Xavier, what are you planning on doing with me? Where are you taking me?” she asked quickly.

     “Please, call me James,” he responded. She remained silent. “We are going to take you someplace safe.”

     “I was perfectly safe where I was . . .”

     “Really? Things looked differently to me,” he said patiently.

     “I have a reasonable explanation for that.”

     “Ava, believe me, you are going to be safe with us. You don’t have to cover up what’s happened to you because you are afraid. We can give you a new beginning, away from the abuse that you have endured at Robinson’s hands. It won’t be like that with us. I can protect you.”

     “What are you talking about?”

     “It’s okay, Bryant told us all about the cruelty you have suffered with them. I won’t treat you like that. You know what we are, it’s supposed to be different than what you have experienced,” he spoke calmly and sincerely.

     “Bryant? . . . He cannot be trusted! I don’t know what he’s told you, but he’s obviously serving his own agenda here, not mine or yours!” Ava replied heatedly, becoming a little upset figuring out a little about Bryant’s angle.

      Xavier was about to question Ava more about this when Melanie entered the room and interrupted them. “I think it’s time that Ava had some rest, James.” When he didn’t get up, she gave a more authoritative command. “Go on, shoo!” she said lightly to him. “Ava, try and eat a little bit, you’ll feel better and have more restful sleep.” Xavier stood and said a polite “good night,” and left the room.

     Ava could not deny that she was still tired.  She took a few bites of food to please Melanie and then climbed into bed as she left. She had a difficult time falling asleep despite her fatigue as her mind raced to come up with a plan to reason with these people to try and convince them to take her home.

     After leaving Ava’s quarters Xavier walked up to the flight deck to speak with Nicholas. He could sense Ava’s apprehension and anger once they started discussing Bryant and he didn’t like it. “Nicholas, I want you to take us to the nearest space station that will allow us to dock.”

     “A space station? That might take us some time because of the Orionis situation. I thought you wanted to go home?”

     “I do, we’re not staying there long. I want to be rid of Bryant as quickly as possible.”

     “Why?”

     “I don’t trust him.”

∞

     The passing storm gave way to a sunny, hot, humid, and windy day in Kyanos city. Wesley slept in a lot later than he had planned to. Teleportation always drained him for days. He showered, put on fresh clothes, ate, hopped into his courier, and sped off for the hangar. On the way he could already see the cleanup crews and military at work trying to restore balance to the city. He surveyed the damage as he drove, pledging to help with the re-build once Ava was back safely and they had towed the Andromeda down for the repairs to begin.

     Naomi and Andre met Wesley at the hangar that housed the Principia. It had been refueled and readied for their short mission to Ibis to retrieve Ava. Andre offered to pilot the ship to give Wesley a break, but he refused. He raced the starship towards the wind-swept desert eagerly awaiting his reunion with his beloved Ava. He set the ship down outside of the base just as he had done with the Andromeda, powered down, and the three of them approached the heavy doors. They surveyed the landscape out of habit and everything appeared as usual. He thought maybe Ava would have seen them coming and open the doors to greet them but she did not. Wesley punched in the entry code and the doors slowly opened. The cool, silent air of the base hit them as they stepped inside of the dimly lit entry way, which illuminated when the sensors detected movement. Strange, Wesley thought. They waited for a few seconds, expecting to see Ava run out towards them to greet them, but she did not. “Ava!” Wesley called out. Silence was his only reply. The three of them looked at each other, concerned that she did not reply. Then all of them simultaneously started calling her name and fanning out to search for her. No one was faster than Wesley, who started frantically teleporting himself into all of the rooms one after another searching for her.

     After a less than a minute they met back up in the entry-way, with Wesley appearing visibly upset. “Let’s think about this, Wesley, maybe she went for a walk. Andre and I will take the west side of the base, you take the east,” Naomi advised.

     “Okay.” Wesley started to calm down a little. Ava had mentioned that she planned to stretch her legs during her stay. They left the base and closed the doors behind them. They looked for footprints in the sandy ground, but could not even see their own from a few minutes before because of the wind. They split up, each sprinting in opposite directions along the rock face, calling Ava’s name. It did not take Wesley long to reach the opening in the rock face. He suddenly became very concerned as he recalled that there was a cave further back. Surely Ava wouldn’t have gone back there. He jogged back inside of it, drawing a small flashlight from his utility belt. Ava’s name echoed off of the walls as he called out to her. He aimed his light down into the crevice and gasped as he saw a backpack on a rock ledge at the bottom. He teleported himself down to the bottom and picked up the bag, looked around the small enclosed area, and teleported himself back up to the surface. He opened the bag and groaned when he recognized Ava’s sunglasses.

     Wesley ran out to the entryway of the cave and called to his friends on the PCD. Within minutes they were by his side, but not before he got a good look at the ground outside of the cave. The wind and sand had covered most of the evidence, but there they were; small, distinct deep depressions in the dry ground where a starship had landed.

     “There were several Asterions here. It’s faint, but I can feel it. I don’t think it was Kaden,” Naomi announced after they had returned from inspecting the cave again.

     “Was it Xavier?” Wesley asked, unable to conceal his concern. Naomi walked over to a large rock that projected out of the ground and bent to put her hand on it.

     “Ava was here, . . . more recently than in the cave.” Naomi closed her eyes sensing faint remnants of Justin’s fading energy.

     “These depressions are from landing gear. It looks to be about right for the Solstice, from what I remember about its size,” Andre called from his crouching position inspecting a nearby divot in the ground.

     The wind shifted and Naomi inhaled deeply and dropped her head, sensing what they hoped wasn’t true. “Wesley, it was Xavier. He took her.”

     “I can’t believe this. I sensed it! In the Andromeda I picked up on some stray faint transmissions last night when I was fighting Kaden. And I did nothing, I just ignored it!” With eyes wide, Wesley dropped the back pack and put his hands on his head.

     “It’s not your fault, Wesley, none of us saw this coming. We’ll find a way to get her back from him. You know he wouldn’t harm her,” Naomi tried to say reassuringly.

     “We don’t know what he might do to her! She obviously fell down into that crevice inside the cave. Maybe she was running from them. She could be hurt, she could be dying!”

     “She’s not dying, Xavier wouldn’t let that happen. He’s a smart man just like you are. Chances are Melanie was with them.”

     “We have to get back to the hangar, we have to make the Principia ready, we’re going after them!” Wesley put a hand on each of Naomi’s and Andre’s shoulders and spent more of his precious energy teleporting them back to their starship to start the journey back towards the Kyanos city.

     Andre messaged the other Asterions explaining what had happened so that they would be ready to have a strategy meeting when the Principia returned. They returned to the hangar in record time, Wesley wasting no time exiting the ship once they landed. The captain and crew met in one of the large meeting rooms adjacent to the hangar to discuss the plan. Vance attended at Andre’s suggestion.

     “I want to leave in less than five hours,” Wesley announced immediately.

     “We can have the Principia ready by then for you. Do you want all of us to go?” Ash asked.

     “Captain, I know how much Ava means to you and I understand that you need to leave, but if you could spare one or two of your family to help with the repairs of the city it would be appreciated. The people still look to you for leadership,” Vance commented gently.

     Wesley sighed. The longer they delayed, the further away Xavier would take Ava, and the harder it would be to recover her. On the other hand, Kyanos had just been through hell in the attack from Kaden. He was torn between his love for Ava and his duty to his people. He burned with the struggle inside of him. He grew anxious because he could not be certain Ava was safe with Xavier, especially if Bryant was around.

     “I love Ava too, but I need to assess the crop stability. We need to be sure the people here will have plenty to eat next season. Justin and I will stay . . . If that’s okay with you, Wesley,” Rowan said to both Wesley and Vance.

     “The timing of this is bad,” Andre commented.

      “The rest of us will leave today. We will give it one week. If we haven’t uncovered any leads in a week, we will return here and tow the Andromeda back to the hangar so the engineers can get started repairing her. Then we can go back out and search for her as long as it takes. Searching for them would be easier if we had two ships instead of one. How does that sound?” Wesley suggested.

     “All right,” Andre agreed, it sounded like the best plan of action at the moment.

     “I have the coordinates from all of the transmissions I detected earlier in the week. This may guide us towards the Solstice’s point of entry into Kyanos. Maybe we could trace it back,” Ash offered.

     “I doubt Xavier would go back the way he came,” Wesley said softly.

     “Why not?”

     “Because I wouldn’t,” he replied flatly.

     “I’m no tracker like Bryant, but I will do my best to help you find her,” Naomi added, putting a hand on Wesley’s arm.

     “Thank you.” His voice was almost a whisper.

Chapter 15:  Antares

     The small digital clock in the wall read 1:34 p.m. when Ava awoke the next day. She hastily got out of bed, unhappy that she had slept much longer than she had intended to. As she finished getting ready to leave her quarters she noticed that the ship wasn’t making the familiar humming noise that it did when it was in flight. They must be docked somewhere, she realized. She immediately started forming a plan in her mind. Even if she couldn’t escape, she could at least try and make a scene in whatever hangar they were docked in. This could be something that would be documented in the security logs that Wesley could search for, that is, if she could get out of the ship.

     Ava approached the door and paused to listen; she didn’t hear any noise on the other side. She pressed the release button and the door glided silently open. She paused, looked both ways, and felt elated when she didn’t see anyone. She decided to walk slowly and calmly in the corridors, remembering Melanie’s tips on finding her way back up to the main common areas. Reaching the main level, she still didn’t see anyone and decided to proceed nonchalantly past the medical evaluation area she had spent most her time in. This might work, Ava thought. She could see the exit landing a short distance away and kept walking silently towards it, mentally keeping her fingers crossed. A few more yards, almost there! She quickened her pace. Then, her hope died instantly when she sensed that the energy of an Asterion was near.

     “Look at you, . . . sneaking around and trying to escape,” a familiar voice said, sounding amused. Ava turned and gasped as Bryant suddenly materialized right behind her.

      She hastily took a few steps back, “don’t touch me!” she warned him sternly.

     “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied casually. “I do hope you will like your new home, . . . wherever that is going to be,” he grinned sinisterly at her.

     “This is all of your doing!” She stared him down, unable to disguise her anger.

     “Of course it is. Tracking you was the most fun I’ve had in ages. But for the record, Robinson did a pretty good job keeping you hidden from me. Though I have to say I was hoping for more of an exciting confrontation between the two of them. You know, to see them duke it out with each other over you.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Oh well. I’m happy with the results, just the same. He’s never going to find you,” he smugly told her.

     “It’s not Wesley’s fault your wife died. He tried everything he could to save her. How dare you mess with my life like this . . . over something so misunderstood!” She had figured it out, Bryant was on a revenge mission.

     “It’s really not about you . . . however, you should be thankful I did. You would perhaps be dead now if I hadn’t,” he replied sharply, referring to her predicament back in the cave.

     Not sure how to respond to that, and there really was no point to, she just stood there staring at him as she sensed the others arriving. Ava had become more used to sensing the energy of Asterions since Wesley’s family no longer concealed it as much as they used to from her. She noticed that Bryant had a few travel cases stacked near the exit ramp. Bryant turned on his most charming and gracious smile as Xavier and a few of the others approached.

     Blayke tapped in the code to lower the exit ramp. Ava watched with hopeful eyes as she could see the busy activity and smell the staler air of a hangar through the opening, but she did not move.  She tried to think of something, but knew it would be no use. Even if she screamed, no one would hear her over the commotion going on out there. She could hear Bryant and Xavier talking but didn’t really listen to what they were saying, it didn’t matter. Out of the corner of her eye she saw them cordially shake hands. Bryant turned towards his travel cases and approached her on the way.

     “Farewell Ava, you are in good hands,” he said pleasantly to her before he turned away and collected his things. She said nothing and watched as he exited the ship, the ramp raising and closing promptly after him, dashing her hopes for escape.

     She turned towards Xavier and the others. “Where are we?” she asked abruptly.

     “On Antares. We’ll be docked here for a day or so because the pirate activity out there is heavy right now. Don’t worry, the ITO has not published our docking in the public records at my request for anonymity,” Xavier replied honestly.

     Antares! Ava brightened by the possibility of a chance to leave word for Wesley. “I have some friends from Earth here.” She walked towards Xavier, stopping right in front of him, looking into his eyes. “May I please see them, or message them while we are here? Alexis and Marc are probably worried about me; I haven’t been in touch with them since the evacuation of Orionis. Please?” She could hear herself practically begging him.

     “I understand, but I’m afraid not, Ava. There can be no communication because the ITO has a warrant out for your arrest. And if that wasn’t enough, there reportedly is a deadly virus now plaguing the station. Seems there is an antivirus available but it is in short supply due to the number of new cases.”

     “What are you going to do with me? You can’t keep me a prisoner forever,” she replied hastily.

     “That’s really not the idea, Ava. It isn’t our intention to make your our prisoner,” he stated in an amused tone. The others standing nearby chuckled a little bit at the drama going on. “It isn’t safe for you out there,” he continued sympathetically. “Why don’t we go to the common area and talk about this?” He gestured in the general direction and she began walking.

     “The only safe place for me is Kyanos,” she muttered flatly as they walked away from the others.

     “Kyanos? Is that the name of the small planet Robinson had you marooned on?” he asked as he followed her.

     “I wasn’t marooned! I wasn’t in any danger there! This whole thing is nothing but a big mess.  Whatever Bryant told you about Wesley’s treatment of me was untrue. He and I love each other, more than I would have thought it was possible to love someone after what I had been through on Earth.” They had reached the common area and Ava gingerly sat down on a seat directly across from him, staring at him.

     “Tell me everything. Start from the beginning, before you left Earth,” he suggested softly, his gaze lingering on her. Ava shifted slightly in her seat, suddenly feeling slightly nervous. There was something about him, so like Wesley. She wanted to hate him and trust him at the same time, but she couldn’t find it within herself to do so. She remembered what Wesley had told her about when he first discovered her in the hangar on Orionis, after her migration from Earth. He had said he had a hard time staying away from her. She couldn’t be attracted to this stranger, even if he was the other half of Wesley, could she? There was so much about these Asterions that she did not know. Was it possible that the more time she spent with him, the more she would be attracted to him? No, just push that thought out of your mind and remember where you are; Ava thought to herself. She took a deep breath and focused. She found the words and started talking. She described her lonely, cold upbringing in the underground on Earth, her happiness when she married Nathan, and her grief and decision to leave Earth after his death.

     She kept going, as Xavier never interrupted her, and described her first terrible weeks on Orionis and how she had met Wesley and the others and what they had come to mean to her. She related her scary experiences at the Labyrinth and on E.S. Number One, her near death experience with the virus, and finally her frightening encounter with Kaden and the explosion on Orionis. She decided to continue and tell him about her short stay on Capri and the happy new life Wesley had given her on Kyanos. Ava wasn’t sure how much she should divulge to Xavier, but went ahead and described the struggle with Kaden and why Wesley had evacuated her to the desert on Ibis. She hoped her explanations would be enough to sway his sympathy into letting her go.

∞

          The Principia glided through the unknown galaxy towards the location of the space stations. The newly registered cargo ship should have no problems finding admittance to the stations, Wesley thought, as they could make up any excuse they needed to dock. As worried as he was, he began to calm down, now that they were on their way to look for clues as to Xavier’s location. He decided to take Ash’s advice on retracing the Solstice’s locations on the stations to give them some hint as to where the ship had originated from. He knew Xavier did not reside on the stations, but where? If he had gone through a wormhole, they could be anywhere. We’ll search for clues on the stations first, he thought.

     It would be forty-eight hours before he reached the first station. Naomi managed to convince him to get some sleep, reasoning that if they did find Xavier, Wesley would need all of his energy to deal with him. As soon as they were within range of the stations, Naomi hacked into the network and attempted to locate Geodesic’s website, but it had been removed. Xavier’s not taking any chances, Naomi thought. At least this probably means Ava is still alive and that they are attempting to disappear with her, she reported to the others. The first station they approached was Zaniah. After a brief landing and refueling, they detected no leads on the Solstice so they decided to move on. Capri was next up on the list. As hangar traffic still seemed to be a bit congested after the loss of Orionis, they had to wait twelve hours before being permitted to dock.

     Naomi found a record that the Solstice had been docked there several weeks ago. She hacked into the ITO records and found that Bryant had been there at the same time. She knew he had to have been there looking for Ava. After reporting her findings to the others, it was decided that Mia Ambrose would disguise herself as an ITO officer and interview Ava’s old co-workers in the makeshift clinic, as Dr. Tom would recognize Wesley and Naomi. Mia did not have much contact with him back in the hospital on Orionis when Ava was sick, so she was their best bet. Andre printed her a fake ID badge while she applied make-up, pulled her dark hair up into a tight bun, and dressed in an outfit that looked more official than her regular crewman’s attire.

     Without Justin’s ability to help control minds, clearing security would be more difficult. The other’s watched her on the security monitors and practically held their breath as she cleared and went through. Mia marched straight to the clinic and flashed her fake ITO ID to the front desk staff in the clinic. She was shown back to Dr. Tom’s office to wait for him. After several minutes when the doctor had still not arrived, she decided to snoop around a little bit to see if she could find anything on Ava there. After coming up with nothing, she sat back down in the chair just in time for him to arrive. Mia produced her ID for Dr. Tom to inspect. He looked at the ID and then at her.

     “Don’t I know you from somewhere, Agent . . . Adamson, is it?” he said looking at her and then the ID again.

     “I don’t believe so, Dr. Grant,” Mia answered politely. “I’ve come to ask you some questions on the whereabouts of Ms. Ava Amherst.”

     “The ITO is still looking for her?” he asked, astonished to learn that she still had not been found.

     “Yes, she has not been recovered yet,” Mia answered.

     “Well, I’m sorry but I have not seen or heard from her since the other agent named Bryant was here, shortly after she disappeared.”

     “Can you please tell me what you know about Ava’s disappearance? I’ve read Bryant’s report, but sometimes if I hear it again from a witness, it may help me to uncover additional leads,” Mia lied.

    Dr. Tom cooperated and told Mia what he had told Bryant, that he believed she was taken away by Captain Robinson and his crew. “I can’t imagine where that Captain would take her that she could not be found. I hope that nothing bad has befallen her. She has been truly missed here in the clinic,” he said sincerely. Mia detected a hint of sorrow in his emotions, remembering that Ava had mentioned he had a crush on her.

     “I thank you for your time, Dr. Grant,” Mia excused herself and walked casually out of the clinic and back through security to the Principia.

     “What did you find out?” Wesley asked as soon as she stepped foot back on the ship.

     “Bryant was here,” she reported. “That doctor told him that Ava escaped Capri with us, so that is how he knew to search for us outside of the stations. Bryant knew that under the circumstances we could not take Ava to another station.”

     Wesley took a deep breath and sighed, knowing that Xavier was definitely behind Ava’s kidnapping and that he would take her out of the known galaxy just to keep her from him. He looked at his family after making his decision. “It’s been six days. We no longer need to waste time searching the stations. Xavier has Ava and he’ll do whatever is in his power to keep her. Let’s get back to Kyanos and tow the Andromeda back to the hangar so the engineers can get started on the repairs.  We’re going to need her to comb beyond this galaxy to search for her.”

∞

     Xavier listened intently to Ava’s story, captivated by hearing about her hardships and impressed by her strength and bravery to keep going. After she was finished, he spoke to break the long silence.

     “You’ve been through so much, Ava. I admire your courage.”    

     “So you see, Bryant played you. The things that he told you were not true. He used both of us to get back at Wesley,” Ava remarked, hoping she had gotten through to him, to persuade him to let her go. She felt that she had connected with him during her long explanation of things.

     “How do you know that I wasn’t using him?” Xavier said seriously, looking at her intensely.

     “What do you mean?” she whispered. His comment surprised her, shattering her hopes.

     “I knew he had his own agenda from the start. Do you really think I would trust someone like Bryant?” He rose out of his seat and came over and sat down next to her.

     “Then, . . . why would you listen to him. Why would you go along with it and go to the trouble of finding me?”

     “I wanted to see if it was true, to see if you actually existed.”

     “Now that you know, you’ll let me go back to my family, right?” Ava asked cautiously, not sure what to expect next.

     Xavier shook his head. “I can’t do that Ava.”

     “Why?” The emotions began to build inside her as she became more and more upset.

     “Robinson has explained to you the nature of our existence. Surely he has revealed to you that you are our match?”

     Ava nodded, trying to stay calm.

     “I didn’t think it was possible until I saw you. I’ve never felt anything like this. I’ve always believed that love is a powerful emotion, but I have never experienced it like this until now. I guess I’ve never felt this alive before.” He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

     “You can’t be serious!” Ava stood up, not wanting to be within his reach.  “You have to let me go, I don’t love you!”

     “Perhaps not yet . . . there is a chance that. . .”

     “You can’t do this to me! . . . You aren’t capable of such cruelty, I know you!”  Ava shouted at him, referring to her familiarity with Wesley’s personality as if it were Xavier’s. “Besides, Wesley and I are engaged to be married. You can’t interfere with that!”

     Xavier stood up and walked over to her. “I don’t see an engagement ring on your finger.”

     “That is no longer the custom!” Ava threw her hands up, clearly exasperated by the situation.

      Xavier gently took one of Ava’s hands in his own, his powerful energy, though muted, flowing through to her, feeling so much like Wesley’s. “If things were different, if I had been lucky enough to find you first, you would have gotten to know me instead. Perhaps under better circumstances you would have loved me in place of him . . . Whatever your situation was on Kyanos, he should never have left you alone like that in such a deserted place. I’m grateful that Robinson had the courage and the decency to tell you about me and our kind. I’m sure there are things he hasn’t told you; I would be happy to honestly answer any questions that you may have. If you would at least give me a chance . . .”

     “No! Can’t you understand that’s not going to happen!” she said resolutely.

     “Do you honestly feel nothing for me?” Xavier raised up the hand that he was holding. “Because I can sense that you do. Believe me when I say that I have nothing but love for you and that my intentions are pure.”

     “If that were true, you would respect my wishes and let me go,” Ava challenged.

     “I’m sorry, Ava, but I cannot.” His eyes were sad, but they never left hers.

     Ava shook her head and pulled her hand abruptly out of his grasp and marched off in the direction of her quarters, not stopping to greet anyone along the way. Once safely inside, she paced back and forth in the small area out of frustration. Even though she felt certain that Xavier would not be a danger to her, the hopes she had of convincing him to let her go were fading. Although her knowledge of Asterions grew day by day, she could no longer assume these entities think like humans do. They were older than her, much older, and a great deal more experienced with interstellar space travel and worlds that scientists only dream about. How could she possibly reason with their logic? They seemed to have an affinity for human nature, but Ava could feel it was not the same. She sat down on the bed, not knowing what to do next.

∞

     As soon as Wesley and the others touched down on Kyanos, he immediately ordered that the Principia be readied to tow the Andromeda back to the hangar. His concern for Ava grew with each passing day; he knew he had to keep busy in order to stay relatively calm. It did not take the crews long to prepare the new starship with the equipment needed in order to transport the Andromeda. After a few hours, the entire crew lifted off, headed for one of the two moons of Kyanos. The mission seemed to be going quickly for Wesley as he sensed that they had begun their descent and felt the gravity of the same moon they had crash landed on not so long ago. He, Justin, and Andre were down in the cargo hold of the Principia checking the equipment and were almost finished donning their protective space suits when Ash called out to them on the intercom. “Wesley, you’d better come up here.”

     Wesley and the others, who were in the process of putting their helmets on, abruptly stopped what they were doing and left for the flight deck. What Ash had just said didn’t sound good.

     “What’s going on?” Wesley asked as soon as he got there.

     “It’s the Andromeda . . . she’s gone,” he reported solemnly.

     “What do you mean she’s gone?” He and the others immediately ran to the monitor to look for themselves.

     “She’s not here and I can’t get a remote signal from her anywhere within our range.”

     “Are you sure we are in the right place?” Andre asked gravely.

     “These are the exact same coordinates we were at when we rescued you. You can see what’s left of the Draconis over there,” he panned the monitor to show a view of the fallen starship.

     Everyone stood in silence as they realized what had happened. Wesley leaned his head against the monitor and closed his eyes. Out of frustration he raised his left fist and slammed it into the wall, creating a dent in the metal. It was now obvious that Kaden had somehow survived the crash and managed to patch up the Andromeda enough to steal it and run off again. He took a few deep breaths to keep his anger in check and calmly issued the next orders. “Bring us down over the Draconis. I want to haul the wreckage back and inspect it.”

     Ash immediately complied and Wesley and the others marched back off to the cargo hold to finish getting ready. Once in position he and the others exited the ship and connected the towing cables to what was left of the Draconis in record time. Within two hours they had the large wreckage back inside one of the hangars on Kyanos. They wasted no time soldering open the entrance ramp and after a few minutes were inside the shell checking things out. Deep inside the ship they found a standard emergency bunker with the door open and several space suits missing. Upon further inspection, they noticed some other parts were missing from the ship as well. Parts that would have been appropriate to repair the Andromeda, from Wesley’s assessment.

     The meeting with Vance and the military went smoothly for the most part, after they had all gotten over the shock that their starship was missing, and in the possession of their enemy. Andre suggested that all was not lost. The engineers would salvage what they could from the Draconis and begin working on another starship with the remainder of the parts they had brought to build the Principia.  That would at least keep them busy for a while. Wesley instructed them to remove the remaining functional computers from the Draconis and see what they could learn from any of the information that was stored there. Perhaps they might learn where Kaden might have taken their ship, as it would be in great need of repairs to be reliable again.

     “I would like the Principia stocked for an extended mission,” Wesley announced. “Not only do we have to look for Ava, we also have to try and track down Kaden before he attacks Kyanos again.” He rose up and left the conference room abruptly before anyone could reply, or protest. He now had no choice. He and most, if not all of his crew, would have to leave Kyanos unprotected while they searched for the two most important people in their lives, one they loved dearly, and the one they detested the most.

Chapter 16: Confrontation

     Ava walked slowly back in forth in her small quarters on the Solstice.  She chewed her lower lip absently while lost in her thoughts. She had to think of some way to reason with Xavier to let her go before they took off again. A whole day had passed since their last conversation in the common area. Ava had ventured out briefly only to eat twice since then, for the sole purpose of keeping her strength up. Melanie had brought her snacks a few times and tried to offer her some comforting words about how they were going to “take good care of her” and that “this was for the best” and so on. It only infuriated her further. At least on her worst circumstances on Earth and Orionis, no one had ever taken her freedom away from her. She occasionally heard the faint sound of an electric guitar being played in a slow, soothing melody. She guessed it might have been Xavier. It seemed like an eternity had passed since she last saw Wesley. She wondered if he and the others were okay and whether or not they defeated Kaden. As these thoughts circled in her mind; she phased through many emotions from fear, to sorrow, and finally to extreme anger over her situation.

     Early in the evening a light tap on the door signaled she had a visitor, which turned out to be Melanie again. She walked in casually holding a stack of new clothes. “Since we’ve spent so much time here waiting for the pirates to be cleared out, I thought I would get you some new clothes. I’ve had them cleaned and sterilized today. I don’t want to take any chances of you being exposed to that virus again. It’s really bad out there, the sooner we lift off the better.”

     “When do you think that might be?” Ava asked breathlessly.

     “Tomorrow evening hopefully. Is there anything I can get you?” Melanie asked as she turned towards the door.

     “No. Thank you for the clothes.” She did feel sincere appreciation for them, she really disliked wearing other peoples clothing.

     After Melanie left, Ava sank back down onto the bed and leaned over with her elbows on her knees, resting her head in her hands. She thought of Wesley, how patient and kind he always seemed to her. If he and Xavier were truly the same entity, why didn’t Xavier listen to her and respect her wishes? She had to do something, and do it fast before they launched again. She decided she would make one more attempt to get through to him.

     The next morning Ava showered and dressed in some of the new clothes that Melanie had brought her the previous evening. She practiced the short speech she planned to make the entire time she was getting ready, until it was time to make her move. She quietly made her way up to the common room where she saw everyone going over some of the flight details for the upcoming launch. Ava took a deep breath as she approached them. She calmly and politely asked the group if she could talk to them. Everyone fell silent and watched her intently as she took this as a sign to proceed. Ava approached Xavier and began to speak.

     “James, I know you might believe that I have been mistreated, but I can assure you that haven’t. I know that you have been searching for your match for an eternity, however I’m sorry to tell you that I am not she. My heart belongs to Wesley and no matter how far away you take me or for how long, nothing will change that. Please, I beg you, let me go. Let us end this peacefully.” She clasped her hands together and held them to her chest in a gesture of desperation.

     A silence so deafening you could hear the faint buzzing of the lights continued for at least two whole minutes. Ava felt it would be best to let one of them speak next. Xavier slowly approached her and broke the silence. “Ava, I’m so sorry that you are angry and frustrated right now. Our intentions were never meant to hurt you. I understand how you must feel, but if you would give me a chance, I know you will not find me as terrible as it seems you think that I am.”

     Ava shook her head back and forth in disbelief. It’s like talking to a steel door, she thought to herself. She sensed the rage and energy rising within her, unable to control it. It had been waning for a while now and this might be the last of it, she thought. “What the hell is wrong with you! How could I ever love you! It’s not possible. It’s never going to happen!” she shouted at him, feeling herself losing control. She had not felt this way since the incident with Dr. Tom on Capri. Suddenly she lunged at Xavier and shoved him forcefully with all her borrowed energy. He staggered backwards a few steps, more from shock and surprise than from injury. His mouth dropped open slightly as he watched her with wide eyes. Ava, breathing heavily with her fists clenched at her sides, said only one more thing to the group, “You’re all nothing but monsters!” No one said anything as she stalked off back down to her quarters, with silent tears running down her cheeks. Once inside, she collapsed on the bed, sensing the very last of Justin’s energy fade from her. She didn’t feel particularly good about assaulting Xavier. It wasn’t usually in her nature to confront someone like that. In fact, it probably wasn’t a very smart thing to do since he had the power to kill her with just one look, but she had to try something to break through to him.

     The Asterions in the common area were stunned by Ava’s sudden outburst and started discussing the situation after she was safely out of earshot.

     “I know that she’s been through a lot, but I still don’t see how she says she feels nothing for me. It’s not supposed to be this way . . .” Xavier remarked sitting back down into his seat.

     “I’m surprised she’s acting like this. A match like this has never happened to any of us before. It’s supposed to be like love at first sight, except in this case without the participation of the other person. However, she isn’t one of us; she’s human. When it comes to something like this she has free will. I can’t imagine how you must feel, James. I wonder if it’s possible that she’s bonded with Robinson permanently? If she’s that attached to him, then perhaps her heart may be closed to you.” Melanie said, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation of things.

     Xavier rose up to leave the common area, lost in thought. He wanted to think about this alone. His affinity for Ava was overwhelming. The prospect of letting her go was heartbreaking to him after all of these years of being alone, but feeling her hatred of him was just as worse. Perhaps they were wrong. Maybe they shouldn’t have taken her away from Robinson without her consent. He didn’t want her to hate him and he didn’t want to force her to live a life in contempt of him. Sadly, he realized he had only one choice. He must return her to Robinson.

     Later that afternoon Xavier tapped on Ava’s door and entered. She looked up from where she was sitting, resting against the headboard on the bed with her knees drawn up. She took the remote and turned off the program she was watching on the monitor. She watched him as he slowly came to one side of the bed and sat down on the edge, facing away from her. After a few moments of silence he spoke. “I’ve been doing some thinking. I don’t want to force you to come with me. If you truly feel nothing for me then I shall take you back to him.”

     Ava processed what he said for a minute and replied softly, “do you really mean that?”

     “Yes,” he responded numbly.

     “Thank you,” she smiled and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

     “We’re launching within the hour. Once we are in space we will attempt to locate Robinson. He must surely be out looking for you by now.” Xavier kept his gaze focused on the floor, he couldn’t look at her for fear his resolve would crumble. He didn’t say another word as he abruptly got up and left her quarters without looking back.

Chapter 17:  Earth

     “He should have been here by now!” Kaden bellowed to Draves and his remaining crew members.

     “He’ll be here, give him some more time. The weather conditions aren’t exactly easy for transporting things out there,” Torian responded, his teeth chattering from the cold.

     “It’s bad enough I lost my ship and have to tool around in this heap of scrap metal!” Kaden whined, gesturing at the Andromeda. After hijacking the fallen starship, he, Torian, Cassidy, and Draves flew all the way back to Earth to an old desolate abandoned hangar on the surface to make repairs. They could not have taken it to one of the space stations as it would have been recognized as being stolen, and also the subject of inspection by the ITO due to its assaulted appearance.

     “We’re lucky that we’re still alive!” Cassidy remarked sharply, quickly being irritated by Kaden’s attitude.

     Draves, who sat quietly on a nearby crate looked sharply towards the entryway as a small battery powered truck entered and headed towards them, heaped with what appeared to be starship parts in the back. An average sized man with dark brown hair and eyes emerged from behind the wheel, he was an Asterion. “Torian, long time no see,” the stranger exclaimed casually.

     “Warren, this is Kaden, Cassidy, and Draves,” Torian announced as he introduced the group to the newcomer.

     “What have you got for me?” Warren asked of the group.

     “We need some assistance refurbishing this,” Torian explained as he pointed towards the Andromeda.

     “Isn’t that the Andromeda? Robinson’s ship?” Warren asked nervously, backing away slightly. The last thing he wanted was to get involved in a war between Asterion clans.

     “It’s my ship now!” Kaden announced. “We’ve got your money, now show us the parts!”

     “Right away,” Warren replied, hurrying towards the rear of the truck. Kaden seemed pacified after seeing what Torian’s contact was able to bring them. The abandoned hangar on Earth in the freezing tundra of what used to be a desert would have to do for now. At least they were out from under the ITO’s nose and away from Robinson’s reach for the moment. Draves had informed him that the Captain had been temporarily distracted by the simultaneous kidnapping of his mate. He laughed at the thought, poor Robinson, he never gets a break.

     Despite Draves’ usefulness, Kaden noticed he had seemed to be going downhill over the last few days, often seen muttering, gesturing, and laughing crazily to himself. Perhaps the dashed hope of having a peaceful quiet planet to live on had put him over the edge. Even his energy and strength seemed to have diminished slightly. Kaden decided he would guard his thoughts and watch him for now. If Draves’ sanity continued to decline, he would do whatever was necessary to protect himself.

∞

     Ava enjoyed a new sense of calm and a renewed feeling of hope after her conversation with Xavier. She no longer felt compelled to stay in her quarters all of the time and moved about and explored the Solstice freely. Now that he had promised to take her back to Wesley, she did not feel angry with him anymore. Even though things were much less awkward between the two of them, she still kept a distance and only spoke casually with him whenever she found herself in a situation alone with him. She couldn’t help herself observing all of these new Asterions closely. They seemed like Wesley’s family, a tight knit group. It made her long to be reunited with them soon. After several days in orbit scouting for a signal, Ava’s patience began to waiver. What if something had happened to Wesley during Kaden’s attack? Could that be why they haven’t been able to track him? She pushed these thoughts from her mind; she had to try to remain positive. As more days passed, Blayke finally suggested that they do a sweep near Capri and                         what was left of Orionis, as well all some of the stations closer to the Earth.

     Late one evening, Nicholas called Xavier to the flight deck, “I’ve got him.”

     “Where is he?” Xavier asked calmly.

     “He’s in the southwest desert on Earth, probably in that old abandoned military hangar, we’ll know for sure once we get closer.”

     Xavier inspected one of the monitors. “The transmission is encrypted.”

     “Yeah, I thought that was weird too. It’s definitely him though. He’s probably doing that to maintain a low profile, especially if he’s hunting us and wants an element of surprise.”

     “Bring us in closer and hover. We’ll try to make contact with him. I’ll let Ava know.”

   “No problem.”

     Xavier left Blayke and Nicholas in the flight deck and found Ava in the common room holding a tablet, apparently watching the local news to keep herself occupied. He sat down next to her and she put it down, waiting for him to speak.

     “We’ve found him.”

     “Really!” Ava didn’t even try to hide her excitement from Xavier, although he seemed less than thrilled to be telling her. She noticed how sad he looked. Even his muted energy seemed to dip.

     “Yes, we should be there in about two hours. You may take your clothes and things with you if you like.”

      “Thank you, James, I will never forget your kindness to me,” Ava said sincerely, surprised that she herself felt a little down about their impending separation.

     “You’re welcome, Ava.” He got up and left the room, finding her presence and their forthcoming farewell a bit unbearable.

     As the Solstice descended down towards the Andromeda’s signal, Xavier tried to make contact with Robinson. Ava went with him to the flight deck, just in case Wesley wanted to speak with her. She hoped for a peaceful reunion with her fiancée. As much as she disagreed with Xavier’s kidnapping attempt, she did not wish him or his family any harm, after all they did save her life.

     “Robinson, do you copy?” Xavier’s beautiful voice rang out loud and clear over the receiver. Two minutes went by and no response. He tried again. “Captain Robinson of the Andromeda, do you copy?” His response was nothing but static.

      “He knows we’re here by now, why wouldn’t he respond?” Blayke asked.

     “Can I try? Maybe if he hears my voice he’ll respond,” Ava asked. Xavier handed her the microphone without hesitation.

     “Wesley, it’s Ava. I want you to know that I am okay. Can you hear me?” Her contact attempt was also met with static. Ava handed the microphone back to Xavier.

     “Looks like we’re going to have to go down there,” he announced.

     “Into the hangar?” Nicholas asked, surprised. “They could ambush us!”

     “Wesley wouldn’t do that if he knew I was with you,” Ava reasoned.

     Xavier ignored Ava’s comment. “You’re right, Nicholas, they could be hostile. Arm the ship and put the shields up. Blayke, I want you and Lucas in position to return fire if they start attacking us.”

     “What!” Ava yelped, astonished.

     “It’s only for our protection, Ava, we’re not going to open fire on them unless they do it to us first. Melanie, I want you to wait with Ava near the ramp. I’ll go down first and call you on the PCD when it’s safe to send her down. Nicholas, keep the ship on standby in case we need to leave in a hurry.”

     “Got it,” he replied.

     “It’s going to be freezing in that hangar, let’s get you a coat, Ava,” Melanie said, pulling her away.

     After a few minutes and a flurry of activity, the Solstice slowly descended down into the freezing snow filled sky of Earth’s atmosphere and glided carefully into the massive dimly lit hangar. Nicholas gently set the ship down several hundred feet away from the Andromeda, keeping close to the entryway, just in case they were attacked.

     “What the hell happened to her?” Nicholas asked Xavier in the flight deck as they took in their first shocking glimpse of the Andromeda.

     “Ava said Robinson was in a war with someone named Kaden when we found her,” he replied.

     “His ship is beat to hell. . . I’d be surprised if it’s even safe to fly.”

     “We’ll find out,” Xavier said as he left to meet Melanie and Ava at the ramp.

     Ava, sensing this was her last chance to say good bye to them, started to speak. “James, I . . .” He held up a hand to stop her. “It’s okay, Ava. Just promise me that you will be careful and take good care of yourself.”

      “I promise.” She smiled at him. He nodded and proceeded slowly down the ramp into the hangar.

     He walked a few yards out from the ship and stopped and waited. He looked around the silent, cold hangar; his breath steadily visible as quickly evaporating puffs of air. He didn’t like this; he couldn’t sense Robinson’s presence anywhere.

     A few minutes went by. Ava could no longer see Xavier from her position at the top of the ramp and couldn’t take the suspense anymore. She surprised Melanie by quickly breaking free of her grip and running down the ramp and towards Xavier. She stopped abruptly when she saw the Andromeda. “Oh my God!” She raised her hands to cover her mouth in shock. She could not believe what met her eyes. The once beautiful and impressive silver starship she loved was peppered with damage from the recent battle and now in various states of repair. Parts of the ship and what appeared to be new parts were scattered about the large space.

      Her thoughts immediately went to Wesley. He could be hurt, she thought. She started to run past Xavier to the battered ship but he caught her by putting a firm hand on her shoulder to hold her back.

     “Something’s wrong. Robinson isn’t here. I need you to get back in the ship, Ava,” Xavier told her quickly.

     Before she could respond they saw movement from behind some of the landing gear of the Andromeda. A disheveled looking man with a nervous laugh stepped out from behind it. Ava suddenly became aware that at least two Asterions were with them in the hangar. They made no attempt to suppress their energy and it stung her, making her a little uncomfortable. Then, a woman with short dark hair stepped out of the shadows on the opposite side from underneath the ship. Apparently these two strangers seemed amused that the intruders into their hangar were unarmed. Both of them slowly started coming towards Xavier and Ava.

     Xavier protectively wrapped an arm around the front of Ava’s chest and shoulders, drawing her with her back up against him. She did not protest. Her visible breath in the cold hangar quickened as she sensed the danger they were in. Xavier seemed to study the desperate looking man who turned his attention to Ava. Ava flinched as the stranger locked eyes with her and then began to laugh. She felt as though her mind had been violated.

     “That’s her, that’s the woman!” Draves said quietly and excitedly to Cassidy, then he turned his attention to Xavier. After a moment he spoke. “You’re the other one aren’t you?” He started laughing hysterically. Cassidy looked at him in confusion.

     “Get out of my head, old man,” Xavier responded, annoyed.

     “You should not have brought her here, priest!” Draves said menacingly to Xavier as he slowly moved towards them.

     “I am no priest,” he answered sternly. Ava could feel him start to unleash his energy and direct it towards Draves.

     Suddenly, Draves dropped to his knees and clasped his hands over his mouth. He screamed at Cassidy through his closed mouth; it was if as someone had gagged him. Xavier turned his attention towards the woman, who glanced curiously at Draves, trying to figure out what was happening to him, after all he had been acting more deranged than usual as of late. Cassidy was used to Draves’ odd behavior by now, but she’d never seen him do this. Perhaps the stress of the failed attempt to take over Kyanos was too much for him.

     Xavier studied the woman who was cautiously approaching them. “Where is Captain Robinson?” he asked her in a low, somewhat intimidating voice. The woman stopped coming towards them and laughed shrilly, which Ava found disturbing. She watched this strange woman critically, waiting to hear what had become of her fiancée.

     “Robinson is dead!” she lied, cackling loudly again as Ava gasped.

     “No!” Ava whispered, unable to stop the tears that had started to fall, dragging as they were practically freezing on her face. Xavier continued to stare at the woman.

     “That’s a nice ship you have there,” Cassidy purred as she nodded towards the Solstice. “You wouldn’t mind if I . . . stole it from you, would you?” Her voice was like acid, and suddenly a gun seemed to have materialized in her hand, pointing directly at Ava.

     “I wouldn’t even try it if I were you,” Xavier warned her.

     “Watch me!” Cassidy pulled the trigger and the shots burst out in a red blur streaming directly towards Ava, still clasped against Xavier in his iron grip.

     Xavier’s energy seemed to heighten and course all around them deflecting the stream of laser bullets away while Ava screamed. Cassidy, suddenly realizing what she was up against, stopped advancing on them, apparently frozen in thought. Telekinesis was rare for her kind, and incredibly hard to beat. His energy, on the other hand, frightened her. She was familiar with Robinson’s energy as they had fought many battles in the past, how could it be? This man felt like Robinson, but it wasn’t him. No two Asterions she had ever encountered had the same energy. She began to panic.

      Then things seemed almost surreal to Ava as Xavier released his energy to deal with the hijackers. It consumed both of them, penetrating Ava to the core. She flinched at the familiar sensation, which she had only ever felt when she had been intimate with Wesley. She watched as Xavier raised his free hand and the gun flew out of Cassidy’s grip, then he used his powerful ability to lift her up and slam her high up against the wall of the hangar. As she fell she let out a loud scream as she plummeted towards her doom. She landed face down, and was impaled on, several large thin rods standing upright in racks on the ground. They were parts that were apparently meant for repairing the Andromeda. Bright red blood gushed out from several places on her chest, abdomen, one arm, and one leg. Ava felt the Asterion’s energy rippling about her as she futilely struggled to try to heal and free herself from her death, but it was no use.

      Xavier turned them to face Draves, still in his kneeling position on the ground breathing heavily. Xavier released the hold binding Draves’ mouth shut and he struggled to catch his breath, clearly hearing the deadly thoughts running through Xavier’s mind.

     “Please! . . . Please just do it! I can’t live like this anymore!” Draves requested of Xavier.

     Without hesitation, Xavier let his energy loose and Draves grasped his chest, making some choking and gagging noises. After a few long moments, he collapsed on the ground. Ava had never actually seen anyone kill another person right in front of her and started sobbing from the stress of the situation, and from learning about Wesley’s death. Xavier dropped his arm around Ava’s waist, turned them, and quickly moved them back towards the Solstice. He sensed that there could be more Asterions and did not want Ava around if they decided to come back.

     “Nicholas! Get us out of here!” he commanded as soon as the ramp began to shut behind them, ushering Ava towards the common area. She couldn’t pull herself together, the heightened energy flowing all around her from Xavier and the others felt so potent it was almost as if she was experiencing a sense of impending doom. Once at the common area she pulled herself out of Xavier’s grasp and collapsed down on all fours on the floor, hyperventilating and crying at the same time. He reached for her as the others arrived.

     “Don’t touch me!” she cried desperately.

     He backed off immediately, staring down at her with concerned eyes. Melanie arrived and knelt down by Ava and put a hand on her shoulder. Ava shrieked, feeling the sensation of her energy, and moved back to cling on to one of the seats nearby, resting her head on it. It took Melanie about two seconds to figure out what was wrong. She said something in another language quickly to Lucas, who sprinted off towards the medical evaluation room. He was back in a flash and handed Melanie a small medicine cup with a blue liquid in it.

     “Here, Ava, take this, it will help you to feel better,” Melanie said gently, holding the cup out to her. Figuring it must be some type of sedative; she took the cup from her and tossed it back like it was a shot. She needed the sense of panic to end. After a minute she slowly slumped over onto Lucas, who was kneeling next to her, ready to catch her.

     “Okay, everybody just calm down!” Melanie ordered. “Let’s all take our energy down a few levels.”

     “What happened to her?” Xavier asked in a concerned voice.

     “It’s our energy, . . . she’s so sensitive to it. I don’t think she’s used to feeling it unchecked. She probably didn’t notice it before as much because she had the protection of Justin’s energy on board from that blood transfusion they gave her a few months ago.”

     “Will she be okay?”

    “She should be when she wakes up in a few hours. We should keep our energy muted as we do when we are in public as usual. Ava won’t feel so overwhelmed then. Lucas and I will take care of her,” Melanie answered.

     “Do you think that Robinson is really dead?” Lucas asked.

     Xavier inhaled and exhaled deeply. “I don’t know.”

     “Wouldn’t you have . . . felt something if he had died?”

     “I’m not sure.” He hesitated. “They had the Andromeda, or what was left of it. . . I don’t like any of this,” he said, shaking his head.

     “What should we do now?” Blayke asked.

     “This changes things,” he said slowly. “Even if Robinson isn’t dead, he is surely in a bad situation. There’s no excuse for how careless he’s been with Ava’s safety. I’m heading to the flight deck . . . we’re going home,” Xavier replied resolutely.

∞

          Kaden, Torian, and Warren returned to the hangar after collecting more parts and equipment, just in time to see an unrecognizable black blur of a starship leaving far off in the distance.

     “Who the hell was that?” Kaden bellowed.

     “Feels like Robinson was here,” Torian suggested, looking around cautiously.

     “Cassidy!” Kaden shrieked as he ran over to her. Despite their bickering, she was occasionally his woman. “Who did this to you?” he demanded as he lifted her head up, surveying her injuries, knowing there was nothing more they could do; her energy had been spent.

     Cassidy coughed and spurted blood, losing the battle to breathe. She did not know the man who had done this to her, and she couldn’t think clearly as the fogginess of death overtook her mind. She knew who he felt like. “Robin . . . ssssonn,” she hissed faintly with her last dying breath as she finally gave out.

     The others sensed that her energy was depleted and then they felt her essence lift out of her body and dissipate into the atmosphere. Cassidy was gone. Warren walked over to Draves’ body lying on the ground a little bit further away, checking for signs of life.

     “He’s dead too,” he reported to the others. “It’s strange, there’s not even a mark on him.”

     “How could Robinson have found us so quickly? And why didn’t he stay and fight!” Kaden roared.

     Torian just shook his head. “I don’t understand why he wouldn’t he have tried to take his ship back,” he said looking at the Andromeda, that obviously had not been touched. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

     “He wants a fight! He’s messing with us, and he is going to pay for it! I’ll tell you what, once we overhaul this ship, I swear to you that I’m not stopping until he is dead!”

Chapter 18:  Sphene

          Ava opened her eyes and inhaled deeply, still groggy from the sedative she took. She sat up in the bed, noticing she was still dressed in the clothes she had put on to leave the Solstice. Then, she felt her face grow hot, and then the tears came as she remembered what had happened in the hangar. Could Wesley really be dead? What about the others? What should she do now? She felt drained, exhausted from feeling the energy of the new Asterions she was traveling with and from the two strangers in the hangar. She realized what Wesley had told her, that they kept their energy suppressed so as not to draw attention to themselves from human interactions. She did not feel the energy right now; perhaps they muted it after they realized what had happened to her. She thought of Xavier’s energy flowing through her in the hangar, it felt just as warm and thrilling as Wesley’s with a different twist. It had unintentionally opened a channel between them that she did not know how to close.  She did not fear him. Somehow she knew that no matter what happened, he would not be a threat, nor would he harm her. Even so, watching him kill two Asterions had upset her. Wesley never talked about ending lives, she didn’t even want to imagine him doing that. In the next instant, she felt Xavier’s energy nearing and heard a light tap on the door.

     “Come in,” she said softly. He entered and walked over to her, handing her a glass of water, which she took.

     “I felt you wake up. Are you feeling better?”

     “I’m not sure better is the right word,” she replied as she wiped her tears away on the sheets. Then she took a long drink of the water.

     “I’m sorry if I scared you, Ava. I needed to protect you. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to. . . I don’t like taking lives, especially if they are Asterions. Tends to have the propensity for starting wars . . . did you recognize them?” He sat down on the side of the bed and faced her.

     “No. I don’t know who they were,” she shook her head slowly.

     “I couldn’t leave them alive. They knew too much about you . . . especially that deranged older man. He could hear our thoughts.”

     Ava thought for a second. “Draves!”

     “Who?” Xavier shifted and leaned slightly towards Ava with an intense gaze, inhaling sharply.

     “Wesley said that Kaden chose someone named Draves to fight with him because he could hear the thoughts of those around him, even if they were in another ship, which would give him an advantage in battle,” she explained.

      “That must mean Kaden was nearby. I thought I could sense someone. . .”

     “We have to go back! If Kaden is there then . . .”

     Xavier interrupted her, shaking his head. “We’re not going back, Ava.”

     “Why not?”

     “If that woman I killed was Kaden’s mate, he’ll come after me and my family. There is always retaliation. If Kaden and Draves were able to take the Andromeda away from Robinson, that’s all the proof I need to believe that he is gone. I’ve been thinking about this. That is also probably why Robinson didn’t come for you when you were trapped in the cave.”

     “No! I cannot believe it. He can’t die!” Ava felt herself beginning to panic, deeply disturbed by the recent turn of events.

     “Just because we are Asterions doesn’t mean we cannot die. Robinson should have told you this,” he said softly. She sensed he was tired, probably drained from what happened in the hangar.

     “If you won’t go back to Earth, you have to take me back to Kyanos! I need to see my family. I need to know whether or not he is really dead! I need to see Naomi!” Ava sobbed.

     Xavier put a gentle hand on Ava’s shoulder and rubbed her arm sympathetically. “Ava, please listen to me. Robinson is gone and Kaden is still alive. If your friends are still fighting, then they are involved in a turf battle over that planet. Wars like that can wage on for years. Robinson would want you to be safely out of harm’s reach.” He paused then started speaking again “I cannot take you back to one of the stations either because of that virus that’s spreading around and because of the warrant out for your arrest . . . As if that weren’t enough, if Bryant finds you and discovers that I let you go he might try to kill you himself! And, if Kaden hated Robinson enough to destroy Orionis, imagine what he would do to you if he located you.”

     “But couldn’t you kill Kaden? I saw how powerful you are, you didn’t even have to lift a finger . . .” she trailed off with a shaky voice. 

     “Believe me, . . . I’m exhausted. Telekinesis is extremely difficult, and it takes a significant amount of my concentration. Besides, that’s not the point. This isn’t my war. Kaden is not my enemy.”

     “What if Kaden comes after me?” Ava’s eyes widened in fear at the thought.

     “Then it becomes my problem and I’ll deal with him, you are part of our family now. But, I doubt that he will. There’s no one left alive back there to tell him what happened.”

       “I don’t understand why you can’t help my friends,” Ava pleaded.

     “Where was Robinson when I was fighting my own wars? Where was Robinson when I had the same problems?” Xavier asked, a slight irritation sounding in his voice. He softened and returned to his gentle and calm nature. “Ava, I know you and I got off on the wrong foot and it’s my fault. I am so sorry to have wronged you. However, things have changed and the only way that I know you will be safe is with me now.”

     “What are you saying?”

     “I’m going to take you home with me.” Xavier raised his hand up and gently touched Ava’s tear streaked face, smoothing her hair back behind her ear. She closed her eyes. As much as she hated to admit it, he was making some sense. She didn’t know why, but his touch sort of appealed to her, it felt both soothing and comforting. If she didn’t know Xavier was there, it could have been Wesley touching her. She opened her eyes and studied him. She could feel his sincere concern for her.

     “And, maybe one day if it’s safe, we can try to locate your friends again,” he said sympathetically as he rose to let her grieve alone. Slowly she began to feel her raw, burning emotions dividing into two separate conflicting causes; one longing for Wesley, praying he was still alive, and one emerging for Xavier.

       Ava could not find the will to leave her quarters over the next few days as her new companions came and went, checking on her and bringing her food that she barely ate. She felt anxious and sorrowful over the news about Wesley. She could not be certain what that evil Asterion woman had said to them was true, but Xavier was right, the circumstances looked bleak. She felt her heart starting to break, knowing that whether or not he was still alive, there was no chance of being reunited with him now. One day, after a few ignored knocks on her door, Melanie came in to see her.

     “How are you doing, Ava? We’re all pretty worried about you.”

     “I want to be alone. Can’t you all just leave me be?” Ava responded, irritated with everything happening around her.

     “I’m sorry that I disturbed you. I know you are going through a rough time right now . . . but it’s important that you come with me up to the medical evaluation room.”

     “Why?”

     “There are several vaccines I need to give you.”

     “Vaccines?”

     “Yes. It is for your protection once we land.”

     “Where are we going?” Melanie had Ava’s attention now. She sat up on the side of the bed, feeling a little anxious.

     “Our home is a planet called Sphene. We’ve spent a long time developing it and it is not known to the ITO or the general human population. It will be very peaceful there for you.” Melanie smiled proudly. “However, you might be exposed to some things you have no natural immunity to so I’m being extra careful. Come on,” she gestured for Ava to rise and come with her, which Ava did without question.

     Once in the evaluation room Ava sat down in the same recliner she had been in upon her arrival on the ship. She watched as Melanie produced two syringes that she had pre-filled. She was so emotionally numb from everything that had happened she barely flinched as Melanie administered the two injections. Then Ava took a small nasal device, yet another vaccine, and inhaled its contents sharply.

     Afterwards, feeling depressed over her situation, and being sore from the vaccines, she went back to her quarters to try and rest. The next day, Ava ventured out to find some breakfast. Melanie found her and asked her if she would like to come with her in a few hours to observe their arrival on Sphene. Having recently seen one landing on a foreign planet was amazing enough for a common human, now having the opportunity to see a second one, Ava could not resist the invitation. They sat silently in the observation deck as they approached a planet a little bit larger than Kyanos, from what she could tell. The atmosphere had a slightly greenish haze, which Melanie explained to her was from the vast green tropical forests and large oceans with green plant life living in the shallow portions.

     As they descended, she observed a large sparkling gulf in the shape of a crescent moon, and as they came closer she saw a large white hangar inland, but still near the water. Nicholas landed the Solstice expertly in the hangar that was so familiar to them and within minutes they were all congregating near the entrance ramp, waiting to go outside. The ship’s hum faded as it powered down and the ramp silently lowered to the ground. A blast of hot, humid air hit Ava as she followed James and the others into the covered hangar. Lots of people dressed in uniforms moved about here and there, working on things, and some had come to inspect the Solstice. Far off on the other side of the hangar, Ava could see another smaller starship in the final stages of completion.

     James conversed casually with some of the uniformed personnel for several minutes in a language she found sounded familiar, but still foreign to her. She felt he seemed relaxed as he came to lead her and the others out of the hangar to a small hover-craft like car similar to the couriers on Kyanos. Ava squinted in the sun and felt awkward in the hot, humid atmosphere, which was a great contrast from the frigid cold of outer space. The drive was short, only about ten minutes before they reached a dock on the green hued gulf. James parked the vehicle in an empty spot, which was apparently assigned to them, and hopped out. He shed his long black coat, draping it over his arm, as he helped Ava out of the back. At the dock, the party walked up to a large open-aired boat.  After everyone was situated, James took the wheel and revved it up. He slowly backed away from the dock and then they shot out across the water towards the opposite shore. Ava’s hair whipped wildly around from the wind and James’ half-buttoned un-tucked shirt billowed about him as they sped towards their receiving dock.

      After what seemed like twenty to thirty minutes or so, they pulled up and Blayke hopped out, securing the boat with two different ties. Ava noticed there were two Asterion women waiting for them on land. The boat rocked unsteadily due to the rough waters and the wind making exiting the boat difficult. James took hold of Ava to steady her assent onto the wooden platform since she was not used to this. Once everyone was safely out of the boat, she witnessed Blayke embrace a woman with light brown curly hair and freckles. Nicholas kissed a woman with medium length black hair and hazel eyes. After a few moments, all eyes turned to Ava, and they were all smiling warmly.

     “Ava, I’d like to introduce you to my family. Lucas and Melanie of course, and Nicholas Felton you know. This is his wife, Lizeth,” he said gesturing to the woman with the black hair.

     “Welcome to Sphene, Ava, we are so happy that you are here,” she said genuinely.

     “Blayke’s wife is Emma Lindstrom,” he gestured to the woman with the curly hair and freckles.

     “I’m very pleased to meet you,” she said, coming over to shake Ava’s hand.

     Everyone seemed to stare at Ava with pleased expressions on their faces. Ava felt a little overwhelmed. She seldom liked being the center of attention. Over the last week she had been getting used to everyone’s energy, but the two new Asterion women engulfing her was almost too much. The stress of things weighed heavily upon her. Her energy was low, she felt depressed over mourning and being separated from Wesley and her family, and she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown from feeling all of the energy from these new Asterions. After all, they were beings that she had never even known existed until a little over a month ago. She had barely eaten anything since the incident in the hangar on Earth and it showed in her frail and lifeless appearance.

     “It’s nice to meet you,” she managed to respond. She wasn’t really sure what to say to them. Technically she had been kidnapped and taken away from her home and her family. James had saved her life twice, and even though deep down she knew things were a bit more complicated than that, she still felt bitter over the whole thing. Ava gazed around her new surroundings in wonder and noticed two more vehicles parked nearby. James put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

     “I know this is a lot to take in right now. Come, let’s get you home.”

     She walked with him, Nicholas, and Lizeth towards one of the courier-looking type of vehicles while Melanie, Lucas, Blayke, and Emma went towards the other one.

     “What do you call these?” she asked James, looking at the vehicle.

     “Velas, they run mostly on solar power.”

     “I’ll come and see you tomorrow,” Melanie said to Ava, touching her arm as she walked past her towards the other Vela.

     Lizeth drove them along the coast while Ava stared out at the scenery zipping by. She noticed the lush tropical environment and a fairly well-developed city interspersed with a few isolated homes spaced out further back into the land. After a few minutes, Lizeth pulled up in front of some enormous scrolling black gates with beautiful chrome colored accents. She continued on through after they opened. They coasted along a lengthy drive through a neatly manicured green lawn with flowering trees and shrubs. The sweet fragrance of the blooms cheered her a little. She watched as some strange looking brightly colored insects flew about, landing here and there on the flowers. After pulling around another bend Ava saw a massive white stoned structure with large elaborate archways and a sparkling gray solar panel tiled roof. There were several covered balconies along the upper level resting under some of the beautiful crystal clear glass windows. Lizeth pulled up to the immaculate stone staircase that led to the large front door and stopped the vehicle.

     Ava gazed up at the beautiful house as James helped her out and led her up the steps. The others followed. The large door automatically swung open as they drew near and entered the foyer. Ava couldn’t tell if James did that with his ability or if it was somehow programmed to do it. She felt relieved to have a break from the heat; she wasn’t quite used to it, even though it had been hot on Kyanos. The foyer was enormous, with a high ceiling made of stained glass forming some type of celestial pattern in bright colors. Large white stoned pillars flanked the room, leading off into different wings of the home. The floor also seemed to be made of a white stone; however there was a large elaborately designed rug in the center of the room with a few couches and chairs arranged on it. Ava had never seen anything like it. James noticed her staring and looking about and smiled proudly, happy that she was admiring the home he had worked very hard and long to build.

     An older well dressed woman appeared and walked towards them with a smile. Ava did not sense energy flowing from her and guessed she was human.

     “Welcome back, Sir, how was your journey?” The woman asked pleasantly of James with a hint of an accent.

     “The tour went very well, thank you,” he replied courteously. “This is our new houseguest,” he nodded towards Ava. “Ava, this is my housekeeper, Mrs. Maclaren; Mrs. Maclaren, this is Ms. Ava Amherst.”

     “Hello,” Ava said politely.

     “Welcome, my dear! Oh, you poor thing, you look exhausted. I have a room all ready for you,” she exclaimed sympathetically, no doubt taking in Ava’s sullen appearance. Apparently Mrs. Maclaren was a nurturing, take-charge kind of woman. It did not offend Ava, in fact it comforted her knowing that another human was around, overseeing things.

     “Would you like some refreshment? I can have some drinks brought out onto the terrace,” she asked happily.

     “Thank you, that would be nice,” James answered.

     “You’re welcome, Sir,” she replied and hurried off.

     James led the four of them through the house to the back onto the terrace. The heat enveloped them as they stepped out into the shaded area with a beautiful ocean view. Ava could see the slightly greenish water flowing towards the land, wave after wave, producing that soothing sound she had only heard on television before.

     As they sat down at a table, a tall middle-aged man with dark hair came to them carrying a tray. James made the introductions after he set the tray down on the table. Ava observed that he also was human.

     “Ava, this is my butler, Travis.”

     “It’s lovely to meet you, Miss,” the man replied pleasantly.

     “Happy to make your acquaintance,” Ava spoke as he laid out plates, cloth napkins, and silverware. He poured a yellowish-looking drink out of a large pitcher into four glasses and placed a large bowl of what Ava assumed was cut up fruit in the center.

     “Will there be anything else, Sir?” he asked.

     “No, thank you.”

     “Welcome home, let me know if I can do anything else for you,” he said as he left.

     Ava didn’t know what to make of all this. Her head was spinning with sensory overload. James handed her a glass while Lizeth spooned some of the brightly colored fruit on her plate. She took the glass and sipped on it gingerly. She couldn’t quite figure out what it tasted like but it was cold, slightly sweet, and refreshing. The others were holding their own conversation, something about how great it was to be home again, while Ava was lost in her own thoughts. She saw them eating and decided to take a bite. She took the fork and speared one of the yellow and purple chunks and slowly popped it into her mouth. Again, she could not place the flavor, but it was good. The whole experience was starting to feel surreal to her.

     “How are you, are you okay?” James asked Ava gently.

     “I . . . don’t know what to say,” she replied after a moment.

     Lizeth smiled at her. “Sphene will take a little getting used to. I’m sure it’s a big change from your life on Earth and on Orionis.”

     “You could say that,” she replied. “I don’t get how all of you can live like this, in such . . . luxury when most of the population in the universe is scraping by just to exist on man-made space stations,” she said frankly with a hint of bitterness to her tone. It almost came out as if she were disgusted. She thought of Kyanos, and Wesley’s home. While they too were grand accomplishments, it was not as advanced and as splendid as what she had seen so far of this new environment.

     “It wasn’t easy. We’ve all worked very hard for a long time to achieve a lifestyle like this,” Nicholas defended, his dark brown eyes glared at her. He didn’t sound angry, but Ava sensed his apparent disapproval of her comment. James casually held up a hand, stopping the argument.

     “The humans aren’t as hard up as the ITO makes everyone, including you, back there believe. We can discuss that later. I know this may seem extravagant to you right now, but you will feel at home here very soon.” 

     Ava put her fork down. “And what exactly am I supposed to do with myself here? I used to have a career that I worked hard for, I had a purpose. Here, I have no identity, no possessions, no credits, no family, and no friends! You’ve taken everything I worked so hard for my whole entire life away from me!”

     “I know you are frustrated . . .”

     “You have no idea how I feel,” she interrupted sharply. Nicholas, used to Ava’s resistance didn’t flinch, however Lizeth looked shocked, hardly believing Ava’s reaction.

     “You’ve had a difficult life Ava, I know!” His tone was stern but he wasn’t angry. “You’ve been dealt a bad hand up until now, but I’m going to change that for you. You deserve it. I’m not saying this to offend you, but you look like you could use a vacation. Take a year off. Relax. Clear your mind, train and strengthen your body. You have the rest of your life to work if you want to. Hell, I could waste fifty years doing absolutely nothing without even trying,” he said lightly. The others chuckled. Ava looked at him, unsure of how to respond to that, she felt so numb.

     “And you do have a family Ava, you have all of us, if you’ll let us be part of your life,” Lizeth reassured.

    “I am going to provide for you, don’t worry about anything. You will be safe here, nobody or nothing will harm you. As soon as those vaccinations have had a chance to kick in, I’ll take you into the city and we will register you as a new citizen. You’ll have an identity, . . . anything you want.”

     This was all starting to be déjà vu to Ava, having recently been through all of this on Kyanos. She took a deep breath of the fresh, humid air and nodded. There was no sense in asking him to take her back to Kyanos again right now, she knew the answer would be no.

     A little while later Nicholas and Lizeth took their leave and Mrs. Maclaren came to escort Ava to her new room. James followed behind.

     “Here we are,” she said cheerfully opening a large elaborately carved white door at the end of one long hallway. “I had some clothing brought in according to Melanie’s specifications. Everything you could need you will find in here my dear.” Ava had guessed right, James must have messaged ahead, letting her know that she would be coming to stay.

     Ava walked into a large room with a white stone floor and stone walls. A soft light colored rug ate up most of the floor and went underneath the beautiful, elaborately decorated bed. The end of the room opened and rounded out a little into a sitting area with glass doors leading to a private balcony with an ocean view. She also noticed she had her own bathroom with something she had never seen in person before, a bathtub in addition to a shower. Overall she was impressed, it was not at all what she had imagined; a dark room with prison bars on it.

     “Where is your room?” she asked James curiously.

     “I have the master on the other side,” he said pointing to the opposite side of the back of the house, which was where the other rooms were located. “I thought you might like some privacy.”

     “Thank you.”

     After asking a few more questions, Ava was left alone so that she could freshen up and rest a while before dinner. James knocked on her door to collect her when it was time, since she didn’t know the way to the dining room yet. Due to the reversed time change, she could barely keep her eyes open.

     “I’ll give you the tour tomorrow if you like,” he said as they walked down a large staircase towards the back of the house. He quickly pointed out the kitchen so she knew where to come for breakfast. It seemed strange to Ava that the two of them sat by themselves at a rather large table in the elegant dining room.

     “Do you usually eat in here?” she asked, thinking how lonely that would be for him.

     “No, only when I have guests, or when my family is here. I usually eat in the kitchen.”

     “Oh. How many people work here for you?” She had seen a few other people in the house earlier in the day.

     “Mrs. Maclaren is the lead housekeeper. I’ve known her since she was a child. She is a widow now and her family is all grown. She oversees the cook and the other housekeeping staff. Travis is the butler. He and his family live not far from here. He oversees the deliveries, the gardeners, and some of the other miscellaneous things.”

     “Does Mrs. Maclaren live here?”

     “Yes, she lives in the guest house on the east side of the property.”

     “So they look after things when you are gone?”

     “Yes, but don’t worry. They are all good, honest people and I pay them well for their services. They wouldn’t dare cross me.”

     “Then, they know what you are,” she said. He nodded. “How did you discover this place?”

     “I loved living on Earth. Nothing compares to it, the way that it was before The Great Impact. Afterwards, I couldn’t stay there. So I set out to find a replacement. I was fortunate to meet Blayke and Lucas soon after my transformation. We built a starship and set out on a quest. We found Sphene mostly by accident. Once we checked it out, we wasted no time bringing people and anything else we needed here.”

     “How is this place so . . . advanced?”

     “Robinson spent most of his life helping to develop the stations while I was busy here. I didn’t see much of Kyanos, but from what I could tell it looked like a fairly recent discovery. I also have an advantage over him when it comes to creating buildings.”

     “What is it?”

     He pointed to his head and tapped it. “I can move stone and building materials faster than any crane or machine can,” he said amicably.

     Ava realized the truth in what he said. Wesley had often spoken of how back-breaking the labor was for him at his job, and on Kyanos. James talked as they ate, telling her a few of the details of how his life began on the small planet. She sensed he was very relaxed from how his energy felt. She looked at her plate after she had eaten a piece of bread. Some, what appeared to be vegetables, were laid out elegantly next to a light colored piece of some type of grilled fish with seasoning and herbs on it.  It didn’t smell fishy, but Ava wasn’t much of a seafood fan, having hardly ever eaten it because it was considered a rare delicacy on Earth, and was always previously frozen on the stations.

     “What is this?” she asked as she took a small bite.

     “We call it a Jupiter Fish because they have a mosaic of orange to brown and white scales on them you can see when they are caught. They are pretty plentiful here. Do you like it?”

     “It’s okay,” she replied shyly. It tasted fishier than it smelled, turning her off. Fortunately the vegetables tasted good.

     “I have a lot to learn about you,” he said as she set her fork down, still not having much of an appetite.

Chapter 19: New Home

     The next morning the light in the closet flashed on as soon as it sensed Ava’s presence. She had slept well, surprisingly, but her mood had not improved much. After putting on a short sleeved top and some light cropped pants that she found, she slipped on some sandals and headed down to the kitchen. It was later than she usually ate because she had overslept due to the time difference.

     “Good morning,” Mrs. Maclaren greeted her in the kitchen. “May I call you Ava?”

     “Yes, please do. Good morning.”

     “Would you like some coffee with your breakfast?”

     “Thank you. I can get it if you show me where everything is.”

     “Nonsense. Now you just sit there and relax.”

     Ava watched as the housekeeper busied herself in the kitchen getting her breakfast together. One of the other housekeepers came in, a younger woman, and they conversed in a language Ava did not understand.

     “Mrs. Maclaren, what language is most commonly spoken on Sphene?” Ava asked curiously after she left. She knew French pretty well by now, but nothing else besides English.

     “Our first inhabitants spoke mostly Italian, so that is what has evolved. But, we also teach the children English in school. Of course, Mr. Xavier can speak several languages flawlessly,” she said positively.

     “I’m glad to hear that English is common, because I don’t know Italian,” she told her as she sipped her coffee, which seemed extra strong compared to what she had tasted on Kyanos. “Where is Mr. Xavier this morning?” she asked, wondering why she hadn’t seen him yet.

     “Oh, he had some things to take care of in the city. He’s been gone a long time with the tour and everything.”

     “Does he often stay gone for long periods of time?”

     “This was the first extended trip he has taken for several years. He has plenty to keep busy with. He and the family are always involved in helping with something for the city, or creating new technology or what not.”

     “You wouldn’t mind if I took a look around the property while he is out? It’s so lovely, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ava said sweetly to the older housekeeper. She wanted to explore things without the presence of an Asterion near. She wanted to think, to see if there was any way she could find an excuse to be taken back to Kyanos.

     “Of course not my dear, but don’t wear yourself out. . . and put some sunscreen and a hat on before you go, it’s going to be a hot one today. Let me get you a water bottle.”

     “Thank you,” Ava smiled at the housekeeper, finished a few bites of her breakfast and headed back up to her room. She remembered seeing a hat in the closet and the cream in her bathroom before. It didn’t seem that Mrs. Maclaren was privy to the reason why and how she had been brought here, she thought.  

     She walked back downstairs and out the same door to the terrace that she passed through yesterday. She wandered out to take in the view, which was breezy and hazy from the humidity. Ava continued off towards the right, down a stone-paved walkway towards the pleasant smell of flowers and the chirping of what were probably some birds. She walked into the sunny garden which was groomed to have the appearance of a small maze. The walkway changed into a fine gravel, which crunched beneath her as she moved. She saw a red rose bush and went over to it, inhaling the sweet scent deeply. She looked at the bush, which was a vibrant red and green with numerous flowers on it. A tear came to her eye as she remembered that Wesley had given her a similar red rose on the past Valentine’s Day. The gloomy sadness consumed her, a great contrast to the bright and colorful garden. Ava decided to keep walking, sipping on her water.

     She couldn’t believe how large and well-kept the property seemed. She passed a few probable employees working in a vegetable garden as she made her way out towards a cliff. She passed out of their sight and continued on up towards the edge. She never had a reason to be afraid of heights before, never having seen anything like this, and peered out at the ocean and across the horizon. She could barely see the hangar on the other side of the gulf and saw a few boats out on the water. As her eyes searched her surroundings, she did not see any possible way that she could escape by herself. She realized she didn’t know how to do anything here. She didn’t know how to drive a solar powered vehicle or a boat, and she didn’t know how to fly a starship. She was basically at the mercy of James and his family for everything. An idea came to her as she decided to wander back towards the property and to the beach. James had mentioned that he would answer any questions that she may have about anything, and about Asterions. She wondered, could he and his family also teach her the life skills that seemed to be necessary for survival in these new worlds? Would he teach her to drive, and to fly?

     Ava strategized her thoughts until she reached the beach, and cleared her mind as she wandered slowly towards the great green abyss of water. Wesley had shown her sand on Kyanos, but it was paler here, and also more plentiful, making it more challenging to walk. She had seen photographs and movies of people swimming in the ocean, but never thought she would actually see such a grand thing in person, and it was beautiful. She liked the sound of the waves crashing, and the crackling noise it made when the bubbles dissolved on the beach as the water came ashore and then quickly retreated. She wondered if it would be warm or cold. Wanting to know she slowly approached the water, only a few feet away now before she stopped, sensing James’ presence behind her.  

     “I wouldn’t go in just yet . . .  at least not until we’ve taught you how to swim. The currents can be pretty strong here,” he said casually.

     After a moment she turned to face him, encouraged by his comment. If they could teach her to swim, perhaps they would be open to teaching her other things. She was surprised by his appearance. He wasn’t dressed in all black anymore. He had tan linen pants on and a white partially unbuttoned shirt displaying the antique cross still around his neck. His hair was a few inches shorter and smoothed back. She felt herself dismissing a slight urge she had to reach up and run her fingers through it. He looked at ease and well rested.    

     “Did you sleep well last night?” he asked pleasantly.

     “Pretty well. The time change has kind of thrown me for a loop,” she said without emotion.

     He nodded and smiled. “It will get easier each day. I think the coffee will help.”

    Ava cracked a partial smile. “You should have warned me, it was pretty strong. Seemed more like espresso in my opinion.” James laughed. “You look different, your hair is shorter,” she said observantly.

     “Yeah . . . it’s been a while since I had a cut.” He ran his hand through his hair, which was still a bit longer than Wesley’s, with kind of a rocker edge. “Kind of had to. The humidity makes it curl up, it’s annoying,” he remarked lightly.

     Ava turned back to gaze at the ocean.

     “I heard you’ve been exploring this morning. Would you like me to show you the rest of the grounds and the house?”

     “I’d like that,” she took a sip of her water and they continued on.

     James pointed out a few things on the beach; a gazebo, an array of beach furniture, hammocks, cabanas, and a fire pit. Further down was a dock with a motorized boat and a sailboat. Back near the house by the terrace was a large swimming pool with more elegant patio furniture and a storage house with all kinds of equipment and pool paraphernalia. They went back through the vegetable gardens and then the flower garden before coming back into the house to break for lunch.

     Afterwards, James continued showing Ava around her new home. For how long it would be, Ava did not know. They started in the basement which housed a great entertainment area with ancient games called “pinball machines” and other more updated things. James showed Ava the entertainment room set up like a mini movie theater, a gym, and then a large glassed in music room and studio area.

     “This is where the band practices and records,” he explained as Ava walked around and touched some of the numerous instruments set up. There were so many of them; most she could recognize, some she did not. She lingered, walking around the area slowly before they left. Finally they came to another area with a closed door. He opened the door and let Ava have a glance at a workshop of sorts, containing multiple computers of various shapes and sizes and lots of other equipment she did not recognize. There were several large counters and tables set up with probable computers in pieces, laid out neatly.

     “What is all of this stuff?” she asked.

     “It’s my workshop. I come here to mess around with technology. Try to create new things, I guess. It keeps me busy,” he said nonchalantly. He led her out and back up to the main level.

     The first floor, aside from the kitchen and dining areas contained a library with ancient books, a study with more computers, an office, a sizeable music room with a large antique grand piano, a formal living room with elegant old-fashioned regal looking furniture, and then a more modern casual family room with comfortable looking furniture and a large mounted monitor over the fireplace.

     “Where did you get all of the formal old-fashioned looking furniture?” Ava asked finally as the completed their tour of the first level.

     “Some of it we made. Most of it we took from what were some of the finest places on Earth after the Great Impact happened.”

     “You mean you stole it?” she remarked with a raised eyebrow.

     “That’s a harsh way of putting it.”

     “Do you always just take whatever you want?” Ava asked bitterly.

      “No . . . of course not,” he said softly. He continued, “It was a different time back then. Space migration and most of the stations were hardly even in development. There was chaos everywhere, people believed the world was going to end within a few days. Everyone was looting. If I hadn’t taken this stuff, it would have been turned into firewood or something. At least here, it is well preserved. It helps me to remember the old ways and life I lived on Earth. I don’t expect you to understand.”

     “Wouldn’t this stuff be better off in a museum then?”

     “Where? On one of the space stations? I wouldn’t consider that very safe. Look at what happened to Orionis.”

     Ava looked down at the floor. “That was my fault.”

     He paused. “No it wasn’t. You aren’t responsible for Kaden’s hatred.”

     She let it drop and they continued up the stairs to the second story which contained a laundry area, several bedrooms, another family or sitting room with a computer and monitor, her room, and finally the master suite, which was larger and just as elegant as her own room.

     “Your home is so impressive, you must be very proud,” she said sincerely.

     “Thank you. My family and I have worked very hard over the years, helping out with each other’s homes. I hope that in time you will be very happy here.”

     Ava chose to ignore that comment as her separation from Wesley was too fresh in her mind to even entertain that thought. She asked about his family as they walked back down to the main level and sat in the foyer. “Where do Melanie and Lucas live?” she inquired as she gazed at the beautiful stained glass ceiling above her.

     “Just down the coast, not far. You can see their home in the distance from your balcony. I’m sure that they will be inviting us over for a visit sometime soon.”

     “And the others?”

     “Nicholas and Lizeth are also along the coast, south of us near the city. Blayke and Emma prefer the city so they live closer inland.”

     “Is all of Sphene populated?”

     “Not yet. There is still quite a bit of territory to explore. The humans are working on it.”

     “What kind of government do you have?”

     “We have an elected official and team members that oversee everything including the military.”

     “And they stay here? They don’t visit the known galaxy?”

     “They don’t have much interest in that anymore. It is too far for one, and they don’t want any interference from the ITO. If they knew of our existence here, the people wouldn’t have as much freedom.”

     “Seems like everyone wants to avoid the ITO,” she commented.

     “Their deceitfulness runs deeper than you know. About fifty years ago they also discovered a new planet.”

     “Are you serious!” Ava could not help but feel anger towards the corrupt organization.

     “Yes. They call it ‘Arcturus’ and they are currently working on exploring and inhabiting it.”

     “How does the ITO keep something like that a secret from everyone?”

     “Well, for one, they keep the focus on the production of Earth II. And two. . . the new planet won’t be ready for immigration on a large scale for at least a good ten to fifteen years or so. Even then, I’m sure the ITO will be especially selective in the immigration process, mainly by the depth of its applicant’s pockets.”

     “Somebody must know about it. After all, the people who are there working on it must have families . . . people they talk to.”

     “The ITO has a funny way of dealing with that too. If they spot a person who has desirable skills that they need, they simply take them. They don’t care. And if the person doesn’t cooperate, I’m sure it doesn’t end well.”

     “How do you know all of this?”

     “We’ve been around the block a few times so to speak. We know a lot of things.” He paused. “So you see, the human population is in no danger of nearing extinction. I shared this information with you because I don’t want you to feel guilty about living on a planet instead of a space station. But please, let’s just keep this information between us and my family. Right now, the fewer people that know, the better. If this leaks out, the ITO won’t hesitate to kill civilians or anyone else to keep its secrets.”

     “I won’t say anything,” Ava said softly. Truthfully, she had no one to tell anymore. She took a deep breath, feeling tired after only a few hours of being up.

     “The gravity is a little stronger here. It will take your body a week or two to adjust,” he said, noticing her fatigue.

     “I’ve been through this before,” she said flatly, remembering Wesley and Naomi telling her the same thing in the Square on Orionis when she first met them.

     Later in the day, Ava started feeling a little worse, and even started running a mild temperature by the time Melanie and Lucas came to check on her. Melanie seemed to be expecting the problem. Ava was not used to the food and water in this new environment and her body needed time to adapt to the new microorganisms it was coming into contact with. The hours dissolved into days. Although concerned, her new companions remained watchful and calm throughout her experience. She spent her time either in bed or running to the bathroom. She had to admit that Melanie was an excellent doctor and took good care of her. The days evaporated into a week.

     Finally, by the eighth day, Ava began to physically feel better and recover from the ordeal. Between grieving for the loss of Wesley and her friends and being sick, she was miserable and fed up. She didn’t want to feel sad anymore; she told herself that Wesley wouldn’t want that for her. She had already spent a year of her life in sorrow over losing her husband Nathan. She emerged from her room weak, but with a new attitude. She wanted to learn whatever anyone would teach her. If she was going to live with Asterions, then she wanted to be as much like one as she could be.

Chapter 20:  Acceptance

     “Okay, just take a deep breath and try to let go of your fear,” Lizeth coached Ava calmly.  The two women stood at the edge of the beautiful indoor pool at the Felton residence. Several of James’ family members were in attendance to try to teach Ava how to swim, save for Lucas, Emma, and Blayke, whom had things to do. Ava stared down at the large mass of light blue water, unsure whether or not this was a good idea. It was bad enough standing around in a bathing suit, feeling half naked in front of these people, especially James, who were relative strangers to her.

     “This end is only four feet deep, you won’t drown with all of us here. Just follow me down the steps and we’ll begin,” she continued reassuringly to Ava.

     “I’ll try,” she responded unsurely. The others were already milling around in the pool, laughing and bouncing an inflated brightly colored “beach ball” around to each other. They stopped and watched as Ava approached the steps. She gasped in shock at how cold the water seemed to her as she stepped down into the pool, trying to walk with Lizeth a little deeper down towards the opposite end.

     They stopped when they neared the five-foot deep range. “We are going to get you used to floating and being comfortable in the water. Now I want you to take hold of the edge of the pool with your arms, face down, and let your legs float out behind you. Keep your head above the water. I’m going to stay right here with you,” she instructed.

     Ava did as she was told, able to focus and let her legs float up behind her, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness in the water, especially now that it seemed to be growing warmer to her. “Good,” Lizeth praised. “As soon as you feel ready, we can practice some kicks.”

     After a while, Ava felt more encouraged, and even laughed a little as she saw how much fun the others were having, especially Nicholas, who floated by on his back, splashing water on his wife. James seemed pleased as he swam nearer to them, checking to see how Ava was doing, trying his best not to make her feel smothered. In as little as an hour, Ava was able to go from practicing kicks at the side of the pool to using a kickboard so that she could move about within the pool, Lizeth remaining by her side.

     “Tomorrow, we’ll work on this again, along with strokes and treading water. You seem to be a fast learner, but you’ll need lots of practice before we let you go in the ocean. The water is very beautiful, but it can be dangerous if you can’t swim well; but you will!”

     “What’s on the agenda for this afternoon?” Ava asked as she toweled off, standing in the indoor patio area.

     “Thought we’d take you into the city and show you around a little bit,” James said as he approached the two women, already showered and dressed again. “Might be nice to have some lunch on the pier.”

     Ava wrapped herself in a towel and headed towards the spacious guest bathroom near the pool to shower and change. A short while later they were speeding down the road towards the city in two separate Velas. Ava rode with Lizeth and Melanie while James and Nicholas rode together to catch up on business. She looked around curiously as they drove through the heart of the downtown area. She could not deny that the buildings and technology were a few levels above what she had seen on Kyanos. They parked near the pier and got out to walk a few blocks to a small open air restaurant. It was mid-day and the sun shone high and hot, but a nice breeze swept around them, keeping them comfortable, although almost blowing away the ladies’ hats several times.

     Ava saw a large boat on the water that looked similar to the yacht Wesley had taken her out on and proposed to her. She slowed her pace, reflecting back on the memory, how happy she had been and now how empty she felt inside. James must have noticed the dip in her mood and came to walk beside her. She looked up at him, away from the boat and they continued towards the restaurant on the dock, one of Lizeth’s favorite places.

    “I hope you are up for trying some local seafood, Ava,” she said encouragingly as their party was seated in the shade outside. She just nodded, not wanting to tell them that she was not a fan based on her limited previous experiences with it. She stared at the digital menu on the tablet, trying to figure out what was what, not recognizing the names of things. Thankfully Melanie sat next to her and pressed an icon on the tablet, converting the text to English, making it easier for her to pick something based on descriptions. In the end she chose a pasta dish with some type of shellfish and a wine sauce. Lizeth had ordered it before and raved about it.

     The group ordered drinks and Ava observed them as they chattered and laughed with one another. It reminded her of her family, only this time she felt more like an outsider and not part of the group. She was homesick and missed them terribly, Wesley and Naomi the most. She looked down at her lap, trying to keep her composure and not cry. Pull yourself together, she thought to herself. A small jolt of energy surprised her as Melanie rubbed her back sympathetically and James took one of her hands gently in his. They had somehow sensed the change in her mood.

     “I know this is going to be a rough transition for you, Ava. It will take some time. What can we do to help you?” His voice was gentle and calm.

     It took a great deal of willpower for her not to break down and beg him to take her back to Kyanos so that she could find out what really happened to Wesley and the others. In the end, all she could do was accept her current situation. She thought for a moment. “Well . . . it would help if I stayed busy. When my mind is occupied I don’t have much time to think about what happened to my family.”

     “Your family?” Lizeth asked.

     “She means Robinson’s clan,” James explained simply.

     “I’m very sorry, Ava,” Lizeth said. “Naomi was the kindest and had the biggest heart of any Asterion I ever knew.”

     Ava nodded, a little surprised that someone from James’ family would pay such a compliment to a supposed rival. This made her like her a little bit more.

     “We can definitely keep you busy. What would you like to learn?” James asked sincerely.

     “Aside from swimming, I want to learn to drive one of your Velas. And I want to learn how to fight . . . how to defend myself against an Asterion.”

     “I hardly think that’s necessary here on Sphene,” Melanie interjected.

     “It’s what I want,” Ava replied resolutely; all eyes upon her.

     “Then it shall be done, though I agree with Melanie. When it comes to defending yourself against one of our kind, as a human there is not much you can do. However, since you feel so strongly about it, and I can’t blame you given your past experiences, we’ll do the best we can,” James replied, eager to please.

     “Thank you,” she said politely as the food arrived. Ava inhaled the fragrant aroma of her dish, recognizing the scent of garlic. Pleased that it did not smell too fishy, she took a bite cautiously. She was happily surprised that it tasted delicious and started digging in. Over the rest of lunch her new acquaintances discussed what Ava’s training schedule would be like and who would be the best teacher for each activity.

     Afterwards, they strolled around in the downtown area in the light crowds of the locals showing Ava all kinds of buildings and stores until they came to the large stone structure known as the courthouse. Ava gazed up at it and then gave James a confused look.

     “Don’t worry, we’re not getting married,” he chuckled. “The registration office is inside. It’s time to officially make you a citizen of Sphene,” James explained amiably. She followed him inside with the others trailing behind. It wasn’t every day that a new “transplanted” human became a citizen. There wasn’t much of a line and since everyone on Sphene knew who James Xavier was, registration was a breeze. Ava filled out a few electronic forms easily recalling her place of birth, birthdate with other information from Earth and so on. The forms were almost identical to what she filled out for the ITO, when she sent her application for space migration. Only this time, there was no waiting period, no denial, no questions, no stress, and someone else paid the fee. She was surprised to see that she could choose a new name if she wanted. She pondered over this thoughtfully.

     For a split second, she thought of choosing Wesley’s last name over her own to honor him, but decided against it as they were not married. She also entertained the idea of returning to her maiden name since Nathan had died almost two years ago. James observed her hesitating over this field of entry and offered Ava the chance to take his last name if she wanted. She politely, but quickly, declined and in the end kept her name the same. She did, however, list James’ address as her own since she technically lived with him and had no other choice. A few minutes later, her fingerprints scanned, mouth swabbed for DNA identification, and photograph taken, Ava was issued a small plastic ID badge and an online account.

     “We’ll link your ID to a few bank accounts when we come back into town tomorrow,” he said casually as they left the building.

     As the afternoon grew late, the group separated back into the two Velas, Ava with James this time, to head back to their respective homes. James promised to download a few books onto a tablet for Ava to read, the operation manual for one of his Velas being one of them.

     The next day Ava returned to her swimming lesson with Lizeth while the others sorted out the details of her training schedule. After lunch, as promised, James took her downtown to his leading financial institution and opened a few accounts linked to her ID so that she could shop in stores and online, to have some spending money, and also a little freedom. Normally the old Ava would have some difficulty taking money from a man she hardly knew, but under the circumstances she accepted it without objection.

     With the task complete, James met Blayke to check out the training space they had in mind for Ava while Melanie and Lizeth took her shopping.

     “I really don’t need anything,” Ava tried to explain to her new “friends.”

     “Nonsense. I didn’t see any luggage with you when you arrived. Besides, you don’t want to wear the clothes Mel picked out for you forever do you?” Lizeth said with a smirk.

     “What’s wrong with the clothes that I picked?” Melanie said defensively.

     “Mel, I love you, but you aren’t exactly up to date on what’s fashionable,” Lizeth replied gesturing at Ava, in her plain and simple attire.

     “Okay, fine! Where should we start?” Ava said hurriedly, trying to tame the conflict between the two women.

     Lizeth led the way to some of the more popular stores on the block while Ava and Melanie followed behind. Ava had never been on a shopping spree before, and actually did feel cheered at being able to select the type of clothes more suited to her own style and comfort. After three hours, five stores, and the three women loaded down with purchases, they met up with the others and took everything back to James’ place.

     Over the next several weeks, Ava was seldom alone, except in the evenings when she retired to her room. Lizeth called her a natural when it came to swimming. Blayke and Emma decided that Ava needed to work out steadily to gain some strength and endurance before beginning self- defense and weapons training. So she spent most of her afternoons with them at a local fitness center. Her new life began to fall into a comfortable routine. Her uncertainty about the fate of her family and her love for Wesley never left her mind nor her heart, but she had to keep herself going. She had to accept the hand that had been dealt to her at the moment and make the best of it. At the very least, she felt safe and protected; as well as a sense of stability for the first time since she had left Orionis.

∞

     It had been several weeks since Wesley and the others left Kyanos in search of Ava and Kaden. Justin and Rowan stayed behind to help with the rebuild of the city and to examine Kaden’s fallen ship, the Draconis. The technicians were able to extract some of the computers from the scorched flight deck, a delicate operation since they did not want to risk damaging any of the remaining information still encoded on them. Justin had hoped to find some of the voice recordings of the last hour of the battle looking for clues, for anything that might help them locate the current whereabouts of Kaden and the Andromeda.  It took him days to decode the transmissions and even so they were still full of static or corrupted in certain areas. What he found surprised him. After listening to Kaden’s conversation with Draves, Justin immediately routed it to the Principia, hoping the information would aid them in their search, as soon as they became within range again.

     As the search continued, Wesley and his companions still had no leads on the whereabouts of Xavier and Ava. Wesley blamed himself over what happened. Ava had been right; he never should have separated himself from her. He reflected back on their relationship and realized there were many things he would have done differently, even right from the start after he met her on Orionis. His grief began to take a toll on his physical appearance. His obsessive behavior monitoring transmissions, monitors, and configuring flight plans left him little time for his normal routine of working out, eating, and grooming regularly. Many times Naomi and Andre encouraged him to burn off the frustration and keep his strength up by spending time in the ship’s gym, but he refused.  Even he himself could not deny he disliked the person he was becoming. On occasion he would stare at his pale, almost gaunt, un-shaven appearance in the mirror and feel nothing but hate for what he saw.

     “You know, Ava is hardly going to recognize you when you see her again,” Naomi announced one morning at one of the rare occasions that Wesley actually sat down to eat breakfast.

     “I may never see her again, Naomi,” he said flatly stirring his oatmeal absent-mindedly.

     “What’s happened to you, Wesley? You used to be such a strong leader for all of us. You could see us through anything. Now, Kaden could probably kick your ass without even trying if you crossed paths with him. Is that what you want?”

     “I know I don’t want to live without Ava.”

     “And you won’t. We’ll find her eventually, I know it. But it might take some time. In fact, there is something I wanted to talk to you about, please . . . hear me out. I know that you want to locate Ava as soon as possible, we all do, but I believe that it might be easier to find Kaden and the Andromeda first.”

     “What are you suggesting, Naomi? That we abandon our search for Ava and track Kaden instead?”

     “Precisely,” Andre remarked as he sat down to join the two of them.

     “I’m not leaving her alone with Xavier longer than I have to!” he raised his voice angrily at his two best friends. “I can’t even entertain that idea. Who knows what he’s done to her by now?” He threw his hands up in the air in exasperation.

     “You yourself always said he wasn’t evil, Wesley,” Naomi countered. “Remember what he did for me? The two of you have the same mind, and as I suspect, the same heart. I cannot see him hurting her.”

     “We separated ages ago . . . there is no telling what experiences he has had different from mine to shape his current behavior.”

     “Love is an instinct for us, I have a feeling he would be just as protective over her as you were. I don’t know, Wesley, but wherever they are, I’m sure he’s keeping her safe.” Naomi put a hand on his shoulder, trying to reason with him. “We’ve been searching for weeks now and we’ve come up with nothing. This could take years.”

     “Look, Xavier can protect Ava, there’s no question about it. I think this is a perfect opportunity for us to find Kaden and finish him while we have a chance. Then we can spend however much time we need searching for her with the peace of mind that Kaden is out of the equation,” Andre added.

     “Forget it. Ava is our priority, not Kaden,” Wesley couldn’t comprehend what his companions were suggesting at this point in time.

     “But, Wesley, what if Kaden fixes the Andromeda and comes back to Kyanos and we aren’t there to protect the city, and the humans? He would be merciless after what we did to him,” Naomi reasoned.

     Wesley closed his eyes. He hated this. He hated having to choose between his commitment to the beloved planet he discovered and his match, Ava.

     “Ava is one life, Wesley, and most likely she’s safe. Think of a few thousand lives that need your protection right now,” Andre persisted, hoping to break through to his best friend, and his leader.

     Wesley inhaled and exhaled deeply. He loved Ava more than anything, but Naomi and Andre were right. They had to go back to check on Kyanos. Then he would decide what to do next.

     “Okay. We’ll go back to Kyanos. Maybe they have discovered something off of Kaden’s flight deck computers,” he said slowly.

     Naomi and Andre simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll let Ash know right away,” Andre commented, already getting up out of his chair.

     Wesley finished his breakfast slowly, hoping that he made the right decision, hoping that Ava truly was safe.

Chapter 21: The Beach

     “We don’t have to do this today if you’re not ready yet,” James said sincerely as he and Ava walked past the kitchen on the main floor towards what was called a “garage,” the structure that housed his Velas.

     “Of course I’m ready. I read the manual, . . . how hard can it be?” she replied casually. It was a fine Wednesday afternoon. With the sun high in the sky and the winds calm, it seemed the perfect day for Ava’s first driving lesson. Everyone in James’ clan agreed he would be the best teacher for her with the Velas for the obvious reason; safety.

     “Okay, we’ll start out with this one,” he said, gesturing to one of his older models; a large sleek black one with clear windows.

     “I like this one,” she said as she pointed to an updated sportier version, silver with tinted windows.

     “You can drive that one after you’re licensed,” he remarked with a smirk as he opened the driver’s side door for her on the black Vela.

     Even if the silver model had to wait, Ava was still excited to be learning to drive. In time it would give her more independence. Eventually, she hoped the clan would teach her more about their starship and take her out sometime. She began to feel that her time on the Andromeda was taken for granted. Wesley and the others never accepted her help to do anything, and it never dawned on her that it might one day be important for her to learn how a massive vessel like that functions for her own safety and survival.

     She sank down into the seat and waited for James to take his place next to her before she started. As soon as the safety restraints were in place, she tapped the button to open the garage door. The bright light poured in, giving Ava confidence. She placed her finger pad on the start button. James had uploaded her fingerprint to allow her as an authorized driver on the vehicle and the machine roared to life and raised up into its hovering “ready” position.

     She placed her palm on the shifter and slid it down into reverse and released her grip on the break. They slowly drifted out of the garage and into the driveway. She was pleased that she managed to shift and turn the vehicle so it was pointed in the right direction on the first try. She had studied the manual for almost two weeks and was thrilled to finally be practicing.

     James gave Ava a few pointers before allowing her to accelerate. “We’ll stick to the off roads along the coast so we don’t risk running in to anyone. Let’s keep your speed under seventy today.”

     “Okay,” she responded, not bothered by the restrictions, after all, it was her first driving experience. She smiled as she felt the small vehicle glide forward towards the roads.

     “Ease off of the accelerator when you are preparing to make a turn, it will make breaking less abrupt,” he instructed calmly. She followed his instructions and realized he was right.

     “You are doing very well,” he said encouragingly. She smiled back at him, feeling at ease as they glided along the empty roads. After about an hour of winding around the coastal back roads it was time to head home.

     “Can I speed up a little?” Ava asked. She found that she liked the thrill of the speed.

     “If you feel comfortable doing so,” he replied in an easygoing tone.

     Ava revved up the small vehicle and shot forward, cruising along a long straight stretch somewhere over one hundred miles per hour. The landscape on one side and the ocean on the other seemed nothing but a blur as they zipped towards home. She decided to speed up even more.

     “Ava, please slow down!” James called to her over the roar of the wind.

     The road suddenly slanted downhill sharply and the small hovercraft overshot the abrupt change in terrain. The Vela briefly floated forward and fell, grazing the road below. Ava screamed as she lost control and the vehicle started spinning uncontrollably. She felt a quick surge of energy pulse through her and the vehicle, absorbing them both as they spun around several times until it came to an instantaneous halt as James used his ability to still the vehicle and stabilize them. The sensation vanished and he reached over to power the Vela off, and put an arm around Ava, who was shaking and breathing heavily.

     “Are you all right?” His concerned eyes raked over her for signs of injury.

     “I think so . . . I’m sorry, I just lost control . . .”

     “The only thing that matters is that you aren’t hurt.”

     “No. I’m all right,” she replied, calming down.

     “Perhaps we took it a little too fast today.”

     “It’s my fault . . . I didn’t damage your Vela did I?”

     “No, I think it’s fine, other than a few scrapes along the bottom. See . . . this is why I didn’t let you drive the silver one today,” he joked and laughed softly as he removed his arm from around her. She took a deep breath and laughed a little nervously with him. It felt so good for her to laugh; she couldn’t remember the last time that she did. They sat there silently for a few moments until he spoke.

     “Now, why don’t you power us up and take us home.”

     “You sure you want me to drive after what just happened?”

     “Of course. There’s an ancient saying that you live and learn. I reckon you’ll be more cautious as you learn from here on out,” he said lightly.

     She smiled casually at him and fired up the Vela once more, turning them around to head slowly back towards their home, feeling as though the ice had finally broke between them.

     A few hours later, after a long soak in a warm bathtub, Ava inspected herself in the mirror of her dresser as the sun started to set. A month of regular exercise and a well balanced diet had made her feel and look healthier than she ever had before, except than when she had Justin’s borrowed energy. She had chosen a casual long royal blue sun dress made of a stretchy material with some delicate gold beading sewn around the neckline and casual gold sandals to wear to the beach barbeque her new friends had planned for the evening. Like her other family, her new one enjoyed introducing her to novel things, especially food. Since arriving in the hot climate, she had several inches of her hair trimmed off to simplify her routine. Her shiny chestnut brown hair now fell to just below her shoulders. She slid an intricate gold headband into place to hold her hair back before heading downstairs to the terrace to meet the others who had already gathered. James smiled warmly as she joined them. He held one of his old acoustic guitars in one hand. She liked the way he was dressed, in relaxed dark blue “jeans,” as the locals called them, and an un-tucked white dress shirt with thin light blue lines on it. It was partially unbuttoned at the top and she could see the top of the old cross underneath.

     Mrs. Maclaren, Travis, the chef, and several of the other housekeepers and staff were overseeing the preparation of the food and lighting of the grill. Once at the gazebo on the beach, James set the guitar down and poured her a glass of wine before attending to the others.

     Emma and Blayke arrived, also with a guitar in hand. Apparently it was going to be a musical gathering.

     “Hi, Ava,” Emma said as she advanced on her and gave her a quick hug, a gesture that surprised Ava. But, she returned the sentiment just the same. “I heard James took you driving today. How did it go?”

     “Okay I guess,” she said slowly with a shy smile, not wanting to divulge the truth to her.

     “She did very well,” James said out of nowhere, arriving with a glass of wine for Emma. He smiled pleasantly at Ava, who smiled back, grateful that he didn’t say anything about her over-zealousness on her first time out of the gates with the Vela. “We’ll be teaching her how to fly the Solstice before you know it,” he kidded, topping off her glass, then turning back to the others.

     “I’m sure,” Emma laughed. “You look so pretty tonight, I just love this color on you.”

     “Thanks,” was all she could reply. She suddenly felt a little nervous, sensing James’ eyes on her. She nonchalantly turned away from them to stare out at the sea; she never did like being the center of attention.

     When the food was ready, the sun had already been setting for a while. The flames of the candles danced in the wind in their glass enclosures on the table. The dinner seemed much reminiscent to Ava’s experience with Wesley’s family. The fellowship, the joking, the laughing. They were so like the others, but they appeared much more relaxed and at ease. Clearly they felt very comfortable with the life they had chosen and created for themselves in this newly discovered world. After they finished eating, they kicked off their sandals and shoes and sauntered down onto the beach to the fire pit. Lucas had no trouble lighting it and everyone settled into slanted adirondack chairs and within a few moments, James and Blayke began to play their guitars together. Ava listened intently to the sounds of the soothing melody, and maybe it was a combination of the warm weather, the wine, or the dinner, but she actually found herself relaxing back into her chair and enjoying the evening.

     She had to admit, her life had been fairly hectic after meeting Wesley. Traveling here and there, danger and excitement, as well as injury. She began to wonder, would that have been the life for her? Was that what she wanted or could accept? She looked around at the seven Asterions sitting with her in a circle around the fire, the light flickering over their serene faces. They seemed to fear nothing, . . . perhaps they had nothing to fear. She had no idea how far away they had taken her from Kyanos, and the space stations. Were they beyond Kaden’s reach? James had never said another word about it after they arrived here. She could feel their gentle and calm natures as well as the tranquility of their combined energy and it comforted her. She felt better physically, sleeping peacefully at night, eating the right foods, and getting enough exercise. She could not deny that she was sitting here with a new circle of friends that were slowly becoming more to her.

     Her thoughts were interrupted when Blayke began to play a livelier tune and Lucas stood up with Melanie and they started to dance together in the fire lit sand. She smiled, watching the couple move effortlessly from one move to the next.

     “Go on Ava, you and James try it,” Emma suggested playfully.

     Ava glanced at her and then James and simply said “I’m not much of a dancer really,” which was actually the truth.

     “Nonsense, it’s so easy . . .”

     “Emma, if she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t have to,” James said softly, rescuing Ava from her persistence.

     Ava thought for a moment. It did look like fun. “Well, I guess I could try. . .” She didn’t know what possessed her to agree, but she set down her glass, burying the base in the sand so that it would stay upright, and stood up. “But don’t blame me if your feet have bruises on them tomorrow,” she said seriously. Everyone laughed as James set down his guitar and approached her.

     “Just follow my lead, it’s simple,” he assured her as he took one of her hands in his and placed his other hand on her back. Ava almost jumped, sensing the energy connect between them as he began to move, drawing her closer. After a few tense moments she remembered the step repetition and kept a better pace with him, breaking eye contact with him occasionally to watch her bare feet move below her, trying not to step on his toes.

     After a short while Blayke stopped playing and everyone sat back down, the fire light dancing upon their faces.

     “It’s been a while since you’ve done a concert,” Melanie observed.

     “It has,” Blayke replied, “here I mean.”

     “Why don’t you do another one soon? The people would love it!”

     “I don’t see why we couldn’t,” James offered.

     “I can look for a date,” Lizeth suggested. “And you could come, Ava, it would be fantastic! All of the proceeds we earn go to support the local charities and the further development and exploration of Sphene.”

       “Oh, that’s very nice,” Ava replied, sounding as amazed as she was. But then, what did three hundred-something year old Asterions need with more money anyway? Nothing as far as Ava could tell by her living experiences with them. Through further discussion, Ava learned that Geodesic’s profits were mostly donated back to the charities of the particular station the group performed on at the time, save for travel expenses, refueling and restocking of their ship. A fact Ava was surprised and pleased to hear. The group continued to converse more on the details of the proposed concert before, couple by couple they left, leaving Ava alone with James on the beach.

     It was well after dark and James played a slow, gentle melody on his guitar while Ava listened, enjoying the peaceful breeze, inhaling the fresh seaside air and staring up at the twinkling stars.

     “Penny for your thoughts?” he asked after a few minutes, while continuing to play, looking down at his guitar.

     “I was just thinking that it is so peaceful here.”

      “Yes, it is now. We had to work hard for our peace. Sustainable planets such as this are hard to come by.”

     “Are there many other Asterions that have become human out there . . . besides the ones that I’ve met?”

     “Yes,” was his simple answer.

     “Where are they?”

     “They are everywhere and anywhere. You may have even run across some of them and not have even known it. Though, they are few and far between by human standards.”

     “I guess you are right,” she replied thoughtfully.

     “You would know now if it happened again.”

     “How?”

     “You are very perceptive to our energy. That’s what overwhelmed you on my ship. Even now I can feel it, I can sense our connection. We’ve never encountered another human who could sense Asterions like you do.”

     “Do all of you have special abilities?” She wanted to change the subject. However, her interest was piqued now, especially since he was opening up to her and apparently relaxed, continuing to strum his guitar.

     “Not all of us.”

     “Why?”

     “Depends on a lot of things . . . what the Asterion was like before the transformation, the qualities of the human the Asterion inhabits, it just depends on the mix.”

     “Do you know . . . right away I mean, once the transition is complete?”

     James raised an eyebrow, amused by her statement. “Definitely not . . . I guess it’s something you stumble across by accident. For instance, I didn’t know I had telekinesis until I had been human for twenty some years. I remember I wanted my keys one day and I couldn’t remember where I’d left them. Then, suddenly they came flying at me . . . scared the shit out of me actually,” he laughed at the memory. She laughed nervously with him.

     “Do many Asterions have the power of telekinesis?”

     “No. I can think of maybe two others.”

     “And Wesley was one of them?”

     He nodded.

     “Who is the other one?”

     “I think that’s a story for another day,” he replied casually at her, pausing in his current song to take a sip of wine, then resuming it again. “It’s a nice ability to have . . . we make wonderful magicians,” he said with a smirk.

     She laughed at the thought. “I can imagine. Wesley can heal people and teleport also. Do you have the same skills?”

     “No.” He looked thoughtful, almost envious for a moment.

     “Do you have any other abilities then?”

     “Yes.”

     “Well, what are they?” she persisted.

     “I hope I never have to show you,” was his mysterious reply.

     Ava chewed this new information over in her mind and decided to ask him more about himself. “James, when we were on Earth, why did Draves call you a priest?”

     He stopped playing the guitar, gazed up at her and took another sip of wine, setting the instrument down. “I wasn’t sure if you’d heard that comment or not with everything going on,” he said softly.

     After she didn’t say anything he continued. “Draves was hearing our thoughts; a terrible ability to have. He couldn’t turn it off. The constant commotion going on probably drove him mad . . . he wanted to die. But, to answer your question, he was referring to the human whose body I took.”

     “Will you tell me about it?”

     “If you wish,” he replied softly, gazing at her. Ava felt warmed, yet slightly uncomfortable by the friendship that seemed to be growing between them. “In the beginning we, Robinson and I, were one entity. But we are like fire and ice, we don’t mix well together. Our energy is fairly compatible, but it is our essence that drove us apart. Once I was free of him I wanted to be as far away from him as possible . . . so, naturally, we both unintentionally ended up on Earth,” he chuckled and shook his head.

     “Anyway, I sensed his transformation and decided to see for myself what he had become. It made sense. I decided then that I also wanted to assume a human life and be able to act physically upon my desires. After a few years of wandering around, I heard some beautiful piano music one evening.”

     Ava listened as he continued. “I went in closer to see who was playing and it was this man,” he held up his hand towards himself. “I observed him for several months. Not because I thought I would have a chance to become him. He was young and fairly healthy, not a likely candidate for sudden unexplained death. I studied him because I was fascinated at how he was a master of his instruments. I discovered that he was a third year seminary student who loved mainly two things, God and music. I learned a great appreciation for music from him. I knew that one day I wanted that talent as well. To make a long story short, he was finishing up his studies at the library late one evening and when he was walking back to his dorm he was attacked.”

     “He had no money, no worldly possessions, . . . nothing. All he had was this,” his voice waivered with emotion as he lifted his cross out from underneath his shirt to show Ava. “He had no idea how to defend himself. His assailants became angry when they discovered they had jumped someone for nothing and they stabbed him and slashed him several times over his torso.” He unbuttoned his shirt and sat up straight so Ava could see the now very faint well-healed scars catching the light from the flames. Ava gasped, she hadn’t noticed them before, but then, she had never stared at his chest before either. She tried not to notice but she could not help but appreciate his toned and well defined chest and abdomen. She pushed those thoughts away as he continued.

     “They took the cross and fled, leaving him to die alone in the dark. He didn’t deserve it, . . . it was so sad,” he looked down and Ava could feel his emotions in the energy undulating, almost snapping around them. “It was then that I knew it was my time. After his last dying breath, I found my way in. I could heal him for the most part, but I was very lucky. One of his instructors found me and called an ambulance. I was taken to a nearby hospital and coaxed into a recovery. No one questioned why I couldn’t hardly speak, or know how to move. They thought I was him and chalked it all up to the attack. After the physical therapy was over, I was taken back to his room in the dorms. I wanted to find the people who had done this to him so I set out to do just that. It took me some time to locate them and although I was not very powerful back then, I was stronger than the average human.”

     He paused, taking a sip of his wine, effectively emptying the glass. “Imagine their surprise when they saw me,” he smiled bitterly. “I’m not proud of what I did, Ava, and I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, but I rid the world of those two murderers and got his cross back. It felt like justice to me. They killed a very innocent man. After that I went back to his room, ignoring all of his friends, packed up the few things he had that I could use and left. I never looked back.”

     “So that’s why Draves called you that? That and because you wear a lot of black?”

     “I meant it when I said I was no priest. Wherever his spirit is now, he’s probably damning me to hell for all of the things I have done with his body,” James laughed softly, although his eyes betrayed the sadness he felt, even after all of this time.

     “I have another question,” she asked hesitantly.

     “Fire away,” he replied casually.

     “You said you chose him. But, as an Asterion, you could have chosen to be a woman, or . . . even an animal if you wanted.”

     “I suppose so. Though, I don’t think being an animal would have served me much of a purpose, unless I was trying to hide from someone.”

     “Then how did you know you were . . . male?”

     “None of us know really. When we were . . . created if you will, we have no gender. But as an essence we have sort of a yin and yang effect with our matches. Equal parts, a choice of human body has nothing to do with it initially. A certain kind of energy matches with a certain kind of energy.  For example, what would two magnets of the same polarity do if they are held up together?”

     “They oppose one another.”

     “And if you take two magnets of the opposite polarity?”

     “They attract one another.”

     “Exactly. That is the simplest way I can explain our energy. This is what draws me to you.”

     “I see.” She had to admit that his explanation did shed some more light on the situation. He seemed to be waiting patiently for her to ask another question. She decided to change gears onto a new topic.

     “Do you believe in God?” She watched as his eyes grew wide, surprised by her question. He did not hesitate to respond.

     “Ava, you are the only proof I need to know that God does exist,” he said enthusiastically and smiled at her. Accepting that answer she moved on.

     “Are there other aliens out there?”

     He laughed out loud, shaking his head. “We are the aliens, where have you been?” he teased her and then paused. “Yes, there are creatures out there, but not what you would expect. Nothing from a gruesome science fiction movie where they abduct you, do horrible things to you, and then set you free . . . at least not that I’ve seen yet. No, it’s more like small forms of alien plant and animal life. You’ve eaten a lot of it already.” He looked satisfied with his explanation. “Melanie and some of the others are in the process of categorizing and studying it,” he gestured towards the ocean that forever pushed towards them wave after wave. “There are animals, fish, and marine life out there and on land, though we have not identified all of them yet. By the way, that reminds me. When you have your swimming lesson with Emma, stick to the shallows here . . . just in case.”

     Ava looked horrified for a moment. “I can do that . . . I have one other question.” He nodded.

     “Are you disappointed that I am human?”

     James again looked surprised, and then thoughtful for a few moments before he replied. “I think my biggest fear, being what I am, was that I would never know you. Now, if I ever meet my end someday, at least I know that I am never leaving a potential mate alone, searching for me. It brings me a sense of peace.”

     Ava thought about this for a minute, almost clenching her hands at her side, thinking about his comment, acutely aware that he was studying her.

     “Have you ever had a relationship with someone special?”

     “I thought you didn’t have any more questions this evening,” he looked down at the sand.

     “You don’t have to tell me. . .”

     “No . . . it’s okay. I want you to know whatever you want to know about me. Yes, I’ve had a few relationships here and there with human women. It’s not considered very acceptable, or . . . proper if you will, by other Asterions. ”

     “Did they know what you were?” Ava was intrigued with curiosity.

     “Most didn’t, one did. But . . . she has been gone for a very long time now.”

     “I’m sorry.”

     “It’s okay, Ava, I loved all of them, but it’s not the same as what I feel for you. Our lives are long and complicated . . . I’m not perfect. I’ve killed people, I’ve taken every drug known to man just to try and see what it felt like, seen everything that there is to see, and done everything that there is to do in this universe so far.” His openness surprised Ava. Wesley had never been that frank with her about his life. He continued to talk, “and if Robinson never admitted to you any of these things . . . then he’s lying . . . or perhaps just very boring,” he said with a smirk.

     “So you sleep around and take drugs like all of the popular musicians?” Ava raised an eyebrow.

     “Of course not. The drugs didn’t touch me . . . and I don’t like smoke. I don’t have many relationships with women because it’s complicated. I could only be with the ones who didn’t know for a few years before leaving them, before they realized I didn’t age, and it was extremely sad for me when the woman who did know passed away.”

     “I see.” She didn’t know what else to say, she was still trying to digest everything that had been said.

     James noticed Ava’s quiet mood and continued; “you know you can ask me anything right?” She nodded, taking a final sip of her wine. “Come, the fire is burning down let’s go inside, it’s getting late.” He collected his glass and slung his guitar over his shoulder, rose, and offered Ava his other hand. She looked up at his handsome face and decided to take his hand. The energy flowed from him, engulfing her. It felt warm and not at all imposing as they walked up the beach, back towards the house.

Chapter 22:  Lessons

     “You’re gonna have to hit much harder than that if you want to defend yourself.”

     Ava was standing with her fists up in the guard position, scowling at Blayke, who had a grin on his face. Today was the second day of self-defense lesions and Ava was wearing black gym shorts and a black and white sports bra brandishing puffy black boxing gloves. She had been trying futilely to beat him down. Emma stood with her, wearing her own similar attire, except her gloves were red. So far they appraised Ava’s blocking skills to be satisfactory, however her defensive blows were weak in comparison.

     “Again,” Emma commanded.

     Ava once again began her assault jabbing at Blayke’s curved punch mitts, moving as he moved, trying to not let him escape. She was very aware of James’ watchful and amused expression from across the room. He had recently arrived to pick her up.  The sweat poured down her flushed cheeks, her trainers on the other hand, scarcely showed any sign that this was any sort of exertion at all. There weren’t many people in the gym at this hour; it was nearly nine o’clock at night. Between the swimming, driving, weight training, and self-defense lessons there hardly seemed to be enough hours in the day. But then, this is what she had asked for; knowledge and distraction, and she got it.

     “All right, enough for one day,” Emma pronounced as Ava leaned over on her knees, breathing heavily. Blayke removed the mitts and tossed a towel at her. She wiped the sweat off of her face.

     “Good job keeping pace with him,” Emma commented.

     “I just follow the buzz,” Ava replied, her breathing starting to come down.

     “The buzz?”

     “You know . . . your energy.”

     “You can feel us?”

     “Yeah, all of you. You each have a slightly different edge.”

     “Why didn’t you tell us?” Emma exclaimed, exchanging glances with Blayke.

     “I thought you knew.”

     “No! This is great though! It could be a definite advantage for you in a fight.”

     “I never thought about that.”

     “Yes, especially if you are faced with an Asterion adversary.”

     “I thought all humans could sense you if you didn’t conceal your energy?”

     “They usually don’t, but even as quiet as we keep it . . . you can? You are a rare breed Ms. Amherst,” Emma joked. “We should find some way to test your ability,” she continued. Then it looked as though an idea sparked into her mind.

     Ava let it drop as she excused herself to go back to the locker room. “I’ll get my things and be with you in a few minutes,” she said to James as he drew near. He nodded and turned to talk to his friends as she left.

     Ava pressed her thumb on the plate of the steel locker door and it unlocked, giving her access to her things. As she began to undo her hand wraps someone began to speak to her.

     “They’re working you pretty hard aren’t they?” The new voice said from nearby. She looked past her open locker and saw a young woman with red hair, freckles, and green eyes walking casually towards her. No energy. She must be human, Ava thought. “I’m Bridget,” the young woman said as she extended her hand.

     “Ava,” she responded, returning the sentiment.

     “You must be new to Sphene,” Bridget said as she smiled sincerely at her.

     “Yes, I’ve been here for a few months,” Ava replied casually, studying the woman.

     “I noticed you’ve been here a few times and I just wanted to introduce myself, I’m one of the trainers.”

     “It’s nice to meet you,” Ava said pleasantly, going back to undoing the wraps around her other hand and wrist.   

     “You’re friends look like they are doing a great job, but if you ever need anything, let me know.”

     “Thank you, I will.”

     “Have you known them a long time?”

     “My friends?” Ava looked up again, puzzled.

     “Yes,” she laughed.

     “Um . . . yeah,” Ava didn’t know what to say. What could she say? That they were strangers and had taken her away from her fiancée and her family? That they had brought her to this planet without her acquiescence but that now they were her friends and she didn’t totally harbor anger against them? Her relationship with them was a bit complicated and not something she could discuss with anyone.

     “It must be so exciting to have such a close relationship with them . . . especially the band,” she gushed. Ava sensed where this was going and relaxed a little, doing her best not to roll her eyes. “I can’t wait for their next concert,” Bridget continued, leaning thoughtfully up against the lockers, a few down from Ava.

     “I think they are in the process of putting one together.” Ava slid a dry T-shirt over her sweaty work out gear, planning to shower once she got home.

     “James Xavier is so handsome, and he has such a beautiful voice,” Bridget said dreamily.

     Ava finished getting her stuff together and pulled her backpack over her shoulder. “Well, he’s outside, would you like to meet him?” she asked dryly.

     “Are you serious? I’d love to!” she replied enthusiastically, bouncing over to Ava’s side.

     Ava led the way out to the front of the gym where James was waiting patiently for her. Emma and Blayke were nowhere to be seen. They must have gone home, Ava thought. She walked up to him and turned back towards Bridget who followed shyly behind.

     “James, this is Bridget, one of the trainers here. Bridget, this is James.” Ava watched as James smiled and graciously shook hands with the trainer, making small talk with her. She seemed to turn into mush before him, blushing and batting her eyelashes flirtatiously. As she observed them, Ava felt an emotion she could not believe, was it jealousy? She dismissed that thought quickly. It couldn’t be, she told herself, feeling a little nervous. What is happening? Was she starting to have feelings for him? Immediately she felt ashamed. James turned and smiled mischievously at her, nonchalantly taking one of her hands in his. He bid a polite good evening to his fan, who looked enviously at Ava, before leading her out to his silver Vela.

     “Looks like you’re popular here,” Ava mumbled after settling in her seat.

     He shrugged. “That’s one of the reasons l like living on the coast. I like my privacy,” he replied casually, turning the sound system on to a soothing melody before speeding away. “I was watching you practice a little bit tonight. I think you are doing well,” he said thoughtfully.

     “Thank you.”

     “I was also thinking that we should start with some weapons training soon.”

     “Weapons . . . you mean guns?” Ava was shocked. She never in a million years thought she would ever have to use a gun.

     “You need more than just your physical strength to stand up to an attack; particularly if your enemy is an Asterion.”

     “I guess so.” She pondered this as she gazed out at the dark skyline, suddenly feeling a little homesick for her family.

     The days continued to burn away. Ava’s hectic schedule kept her thoughts from wandering back to Kyanos and Wesley. Despite the circumstances, she didn’t hate the people that had now sort of become her friends. She became increasingly more at ease with them each passing day. She spent time with all of them from one day to the next. They had been very patient and thoughtful teachers for her. On the days that James was not with her, he was up in the Solstice with Nicholas and Lucas nearby in space assisting with the repair and maintenance of a few of the satellites orbiting close to Sphene.

     One Thursday Emma informed her that they would be taking a break from her training on Saturday so that they could all attend a local mid-summer festival in town called simply, “The Carnivale.”

     It seemed to Ava that every person in the Sphene city was attending this event. The Carnivale was held in the downtown streets of the city. People walked or drove to the outdoor event. James parked his Vela along with the rest of his clan in a lot not far from the perimeter of the event. Ava could see the colorful bright lights, hear the local music, and smell the food that was being prepared as they approached. It surprised her that she actually felt happy to be attending something she had never seen on Earth, or any of the space stations. Life definitely seemed more celebratory and care free in this society compared to her other living experiences.

     After the clan arrived and met up together, they wandered through the crowds in search of some interesting food for Ava to try. Lizeth instructed the men to go after drinks, and the women to decide on the food. After a short while, and several vendors later, everyone came back to the designated meeting place with trays holding plates of food Ava could not even describe. They rearranged some tables and sat down as a group in one of the outdoor dining areas, mere feet from all of the action happening in the streets. Ava could hardly focus on the food, even though most of it was spicy and delicious. The dancing, shouting, cheering, and singing of the crowds held her attention. Everywhere she looked there were performers dressed in brightly colored costumes, people juggling, and walking on tall stilts. The fire-breather was especially fascinating to her. Her friends laughed as she had a hard time eating some of the more foreign delicacies. Whatever the alcohol-laden drink Blayke brought for her tasted wonderful, but it was much stronger than what she was used to.

     With dinner out of the way, the group wandered towards the game area. Ava stopped to watch as a young man threw a dart at a bulls-eye trying to win his girlfriend a prize. He missed by a narrow margin and they laughed, walking away towards the next game.

     “Would you like to try?” James asked.

     “Sure!” Ava had never thrown a dart, but wanted to try anyway. James paid for a few games and she tried three times to hit the bulls-eye but failed miserably to come anywhere near the center.

     “Let me show you how it’s done,” James teased, taking a dart from her.

     “No cheating!” she warned playfully.

     “I wouldn’t cheat,” he said, with a look of mock insult crossing his face. He focused and tossed the dart effortlessly, landing directly in the center of the bulls-eye.

     “Looks like we have a winner!” The game keeper announced. “Now pick your prize,” he said gesturing to a wall of ridiculous looking small stuffed animals.  James looked at Ava, indicating it was her choice. Embarrassed, she pointed to a small purple and white “teddy bear” as they were called. After collecting her prize they wandered to another booth. This time the goal was to toss a small metal token onto one of the dishes floating in a small pond. The gentle whirlpool underneath the dishes kept them moving. Ava watched as people tossed their tokens, only to see them bounce off and fall into the water. James paid for several tokens for Ava to try. He watched as she bounced a few off of some of the nearby dishes.

     Ava focused harder, picking out some of the dishes further away. She tossed another token and missed again. On the last try she tossed the token gently and it landed on a dish and stayed. As the gamekeeper announced her as a winner, she looked up towards where James had been only moments before but he was gone. She ignored her chance to collect a prize and scanned the crowd around her. None of her friends were anywhere to be seen. Where were they? Did they leave her? She walked further out into the crowd, feeling a little freaked out. She was not used to being without one of them present with her at all times, and the thought of being alone in a crowd full of strangers on a strange planet kind of started to make her panic. She walked out into the crowd, ignoring the mass of bodies dancing and walking all around her.

      They have to be here somewhere, she thought. Then she sensed it. There was energy nearby. She focused harder, looking towards her left. Moving forward, she saw them. Lucas and Melanie were having drink by one of the nearby booths, engaged in a conversation. Ava turned away, looking for the others. Another fleeting sensation of energy. That’s Blayke, Ava thought. She followed it further down the street. Focusing hard, the energy grew more potent and Ava found Emma and Blayke talking to a couple near another food booth. Blayke looked up and smiled at Ava as he signed autographs for his fans. So they are playing a game, Ava thought. Or, is this a training session? One more couple to go. Ava smiled back at him and disappeared back into the crowd. She sensed James first, somewhere to her right, but ignored him. Serves him right for leaving me, she thought. She continued on down further. Nothing.

     She walked another block and kept on going towards the stage. A young woman was singing and playing something that sounded like an electric guitar on stage. She closed her eyes and sensed it. Lizeth was behind her. Ava opened her eyes and dashed back towards where she thought Lizeth was. Even though she couldn’t see her, she was aware she was moving slowly away from her. She increased her speed, careful not to crash into anyone as she followed the energy. Finally, Ava caught up with Lizeth and Nicholas, who had acquired festive masks and were laughing at something.

     “Ava, you found us! Good work!” She hugged Ava.

     “That wasn’t very nice, Lizeth,” Ava said with mock anger as she stood with her friends.

     “It was Emma’s idea. We wanted to test your ability to sense our energy and it worked. We thought it would be hard for you with all of these people and distractions around you, but apparently it wasn’t.”

     “I wouldn’t say it was easy. I’m not done yet.” Ava casually tossed her teddy bear at them and walked away, looking for James.

     She worked her way back through the crowds towards the stage, where she had sensed him earlier but she couldn’t feel him. She moved slowly through the dancers keeping her eyes open until she sensed him, he was moving very quickly towards her. She turned and he embraced her briefly, then he took one of her hands and twirled her into a dance position as the song turned into a slower beat. She went with the flow of the music and the crowd and moved with him into the rhythm of the beat. She didn’t know the dance they were doing but found herself enjoying it. For the first time since she arrived on Sphene she felt as if she could let loose and finally be herself. She didn’t have to worry about earning enough credits to afford groceries. She didn’t have to go home to a small empty apartment by herself each night. She no longer had the company of friends only on the weekends. And, for the first time, she wasn’t afraid of the future.

     After a few songs they took a break, meeting up with some of the others who were hanging out on the sidewalks, closer to the buildings. Lizeth handed them some drinks, containing something Ava learned was tequila, that tasted very strong. She was pouring with sweat. Even though it was night time, it was still pretty hot outside. James gestured for Ava to come and stand beside him, then he placed an arm lightly around her shoulders. He pointed to the horizon and, much to her surprise, the black night sky began to light up with bright and colorful flashes of light and loud booming noises. Her mouth dropped open as she observed her first fireworks display. She remained silent, taking it all in as the crowd yelled and applauded around her. It was a beautiful moment, one she would never forget. She looked up at James, who was grinning down at her. He looks so happy, she thought as she turned back to watch the amazing show in the sky.

     After the fireworks, the band took a break and the crowds started thinning out for it was growing late. The food, the dancing, and the drinking made it hard for Ava to keep her eyes open. James slipped his hand in hers and started leading her slowly back to their Vela with the others. She collected her prize from Lizeth on the way. They had quite a wait to glide through the crowds to get back to the main roads. Ava leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, feeling tired from everything and the sensory overload of the colorful experiences of the Carnivale.

     “Did you have a good time tonight?” James asked quietly as they waited their turn to pull out into the stream of traffic.

     “Mmm-hmm,” she replied hazily before she drifted off into a sleep filled with vibrant dreams.

     A jolt of energy snatched her out of the dreams and she looked around her and saw that they were back in the garage at home. “Let’s get you to bed,” James said gently as he took her hands, helping her to stand up. She swayed a little bit.

      “I don’t think I want any more tequila for a while,” she said slowly, picking up the teddy bear with one hand. He laughed softly as he steadied her and slipped an arm around her shoulders while taking one of her hands in his other hand and they started walking.

     They strolled slowly up to the house. It didn’t disturb her to see doors open and close and lights turn on and off by themselves around them as they made their way into the house and up the stairs to her room.  I wish I could do that, she thought fleetingly. They stopped at her doorway and he removed his arm from around her but let his hand linger in hers. “Do you need anything before I go?” he asked smoothly. She looked up at him, wondering what to say. Her brain seemed to be taking a siesta at the moment. All that ran through her mind was that she really had grown to like the sound of his voice. 

     “I’m all right, . . . James, thank you for taking me tonight. I had a lot of fun.” She smiled shyly at him.

     “I’m glad. Get some rest, I’ll see you in the morning.” He caught her off guard by raising her hand to his mouth and gently placing a soft kiss on it, a faint sensation of energy remaining behind. He released her hand and walked down the hallway, heading off to the other side to his room.

     Stunned, she watched him depart and slowly closed the door to her room, not even bothering to lock it. What just happened? She gently rubbed her hand where he had kissed it; the sensation dispersed the energy away. As tired as she was, she suddenly felt very confused. She remembered somewhere that she loved someone else, but it almost felt like she was forgetting him, like he was a fond distant memory that was being replaced, rewritten somehow. He might not even exist anymore, she thought. And what was worse, she didn’t even feel that concerned about it.  In fact, she had rather enjoyed James’ touch just now.

      She walked over to her dresser and removed her bracelets, pausing to lift her gold locket out of the jewelry box where she kept it. It got in the way of her workouts so she generally did not wear it anymore. Her fingers traced the outline of the crescent moon and finally to the notch on the side, catching it with her fingernail. She opened it and looked at the image of Wesley’s handsome face. The sight drew tears to her eyes. She lowered it back in the box quickly and shut the lid, not wanting to be reminded of the past.

     Ava went into her bathroom, removed her clothes, and headed into a warm shower to try and clear her mind. After redressing into her pajamas and brushing her teeth, she hopped into her bed and closed her eyes. She thought back to one of her last days on Kyanos when Wesley had told her about James. She remembered that she had wondered if it was possible for her to transfer her feelings from one of them to the other. At the time he wasn’t sure. Was that what was happening now? They were one Asterion in two bodies, and they were attracted to her soul and her energy, but what if she was also attracted to them. She thought about that for a few moments. What if it worked both ways? Was it possible for her to love James the same way that she loved Wesley?

     When she first met James the thought of that made her sick. But now, after getting to know him, she felt differently. It didn’t feel so wrong to her anymore; he wasn’t a bad person. She didn’t feel so sad about missing her family because she had a new one. She knew she should feel terribly guilty, but she was losing that familiar emotion too. It had been a long night, and she was tired from the drinking and dancing. She let these thoughts spin in her mind as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep. 

Chapter 23:  The Clue

     The Principia deftly entered the familiar orbit near Kyanos after its long unsuccessful mission to track Ava and Xavier’s whereabouts. The messaging system alerted Wesley and his crew immediately that there was an urgent transmission from Justin. Wesley gathered everyone together to hear the message. They listened intently to the damaged transmission of Kaden and Draves’ recovered conversation, hoping to hear some clues. This is what was heard:    

    Kaden’s rough voice spoke first. “What is it?”

     “Another starship!” They listened to Draves fit of chaotic laughter.

     “Who is it?”

     “Very strange, It’s Robinson, but it’s  . . . not” . . . more laughter.

     “What are you talking about Draves? Robinson is in the Andromeda, I know it!”

     “I said it wasn’t Robinson! . . . Doesn’t matter, it is of no significance now, they are leaving . . . heading off towards the south.”

     “Why would they go south? That’s opposite of the known galaxy . . . There’s absolutely nothing out that way.”

     “I can’t sense their thoughts, they are too far away. Concentrate on what’s important here!   Head for the moon over there and circle slowly around it. Robinson will lose the weak signal he has on us.”

     At the end of the brief transmission the captain and crew of the Principia glanced at each other for they knew what happened after that.

     “South? How can that be possible? We know that they were on Antares.” Andre remarked.

     On the way back to Kyanos they had stopped to refuel their starship on the familiar station. During their time there, Naomi tapped into the system and reviewed the docking records. After Ava disappeared, a ship with the dimension and description of the Solstice had docked there for a few days, the identity of the owner requested anonymous.

     “Why would Xavier dock on Antares after taking Ava? That would mean he changed course after heading south,” Naomi wondered out loud.

     “That doesn’t make sense unless he was trying to throw us off the scent,” Andre added.

     “Or maybe he did mean to head south but changed his mind,” Wesley interjected. “Maybe he wanted to drop someone off.”

     “You mean Bryant?” Naomi asked.

     “Exactly.”

     “So . . . what do we know of the southern region?” Andre asked.

     “Not as much as I would like. Come, let’s descend and get the full report from Vance and Justin.” Wesley’s spirits began to lift for the first time since Ava’s abduction.

     A short while later, the Principia was safely docked in the main hangar and the Asterions were once again reunited. Those who had stayed behind were shocked at Wesley’s physical appearance. Vance approached Wesley to greet him but was also taken aback by the captain’s transformation.

     “Vance, what news of the restoration of the city?” Wesley asked in his usual authoritative manner.

     “It’s slow, but progressing nicely. It is good to see you again, my friend.”

     “Any threats from Kaden?”

     “No, Captain. Have you found any leads on Ava and the Andromeda?”

     “No, unfortunately not.” It was hard for Wesley to hide the disappointment and frustration in his voice. “But, the transmission Justin sent us may provide us with a clue on Ava’s location.”

     “I hope so, Captain,” Vance said quietly. Even though Vance sympathized with him, it seemed as though he disapproved of Wesley’s prioritization of Ava over the safety of the planet.

     “There is always hope,” Justin interrupted brightly, putting a hand on Wesley’s shoulder. “You look terrible.”

     “I’ve been better.”

     “So I see, come on, the meeting is starting.”

     The captain, crew, and high officials of Kyanos gathered in the meeting room to discuss the state of things in the city, the plan for increasing security, long term plans for replacing the Andromeda, and various other things that needed to be sorted out. Wesley listened earnestly to the concerns of his officials and his fellow Asterions. Again, he felt the pull of his familiar duty to his beloved planet and the heartache and guilt he experienced over his failure to retrieve Ava.

     Afterwards he, along with his family, went to inspect the remains of the Draconis in the silo where the Principia had been built. The ship had been dismantled and separated into one neat pile of re-workable parts and one large heap of scrap metal.

     “We salvaged what we could, I’m pleased to say that it is a lot more than what I expected,” Justin informed them.

     Wesley looked at the remains without showing any emotion. “Where are the computers?”

     “In the lab, come, you can see them for yourself.”

     Everyone left the makeshift hangar and headed into the lab where the Draconis’ core computers containing the “black box” of transmissions had been repaired and restored to limited function.

     “Is there anything else on that hard drive worth listening to?” Wesley asked.

     “Not really, just what I sent you. Seems Kaden was surprisingly good at erasing it after each flight,” Justin explained.

     “Let’s hear it again.”

     Justin nodded and pulled up the transmission while everyone listened again.

     “So Xavier wanted to head south, but then made a pit stop on Antares to rid himself of Bryant.” Wesley walked around slowly, lost in thought. “Afterwards, he probably resumed his course.”

     “What do we know of that is south of the known galaxy?” Andre asked.

     “Maybe it’s not what we know . . . but rather what we used to know,” Wesley said mysteriously. “What if we’ve been there before?”

     “You mean before we were human?” Andre could hardly hide the surprise in his voice.

     “Precisely. I knew I’d visited a planet similar to Earth before I became human . . . but that knowledge was lost in the transformation. I don’t remember where it was. In fact, I thought this was it when we discovered it.” He gestured all around him.

     “It makes sense. Maybe that’s why we haven’t run across Xavier very often after all of this time, he’s got his own planet, . . . an extragalactic planet maybe?” Naomi deduced.

     “How are we going to search for a planet we don’t even know for sure exists?” Justin wondered. “It could even be a lone space station for all we know.”

     “I need to think about this some more. We all should. Maybe something will come to us,” Wesley suggested.

     “I think that’s a good idea. Now, let’s all go home and get some rest. We have a few more meetings tomorrow,” Naomi ordered. Wesley turned away, back to the computer, ignoring her. “That means you too, Captain,” she said authoritatively. “If we are eventually going on a mission to find a lost world, you need to recover your strength.”

     He sighed and acquiesced, though the thought of going back to the empty home he briefly shared with Ava depressed him. “Naomi?”

     “Yes?”

     “If Ava is all right and Xavier hasn’t harmed her, do you think that she could actually be happy there . . . with him?”

     She hesitated before answering. “Ava will always love you, Wesley, no matter what.”

    He sighed. “I believe you.”

     “Good. Now please get some rest.” And with that, she left the lab, leaving him with the computers. He stared at them for a few moments before deciding that it was time to pull himself together for Ava, for Kyanos, and for his family.

     Wesley and the others threw themselves into the efforts to restore the city after the attack. The activity proved to be therapeutic for him as it kept his mind occupied. Even after only a few days he began to look and feel better. The clue to Ava’s location motivated him to get back into shape in case he might be up for a fight if and when he found her. He spent long hours studying star charts, trying to decide the best route to his southern mission. Together as a group the Asterions, with some of the engineers, drew up rough plans for building another starship as they could not rely on re-acquiring the Andromeda. A list was drafted for parts Wesley and the crew would need to obtain if they had a chance when they next began to circulate the galaxy looking for Ava.

Chapter 24: Geodesic

     Ava chatted with Mrs. Maclaren at the breakfast bar as she drank her coffee, waiting for Lizeth and Emma to arrive. Over the last week they had been teaching her the basics of boating and swimming in the ocean. There was something about the greenish water that appealed to her. The repetitious soothing sounds and the warmth of the water seemed to pull at her. At the same time, James’ comment about the existence of unknown alien marine life living in the water frightened her. The other Asterions did not seem to fear it as nothing large ever seemed to come within half a mile of the shoreline because it was relatively shallow.

     In Ava’s time with them, she had the opportunity to go with Melanie, Emma, and Lucas along with several local scientists to view and study a large marine animal resembling a whale that had washed up on one of the northern shores.

     After her friends arrived, the women passed James, who was heading out to the hangar, on their way to the beach. Ava had grown used to wearing lots of beach wear and the feeling of being practically naked in front of other people had lessened. She did not miss the heavy clothing and boots that she used to wear on Orionis. She also no longer felt self-conscious about it since she was now in better physical shape than before, not that she was in bad shape, but overall she felt stronger and more toned. He wished them good luck as he headed out the door.

     Today Lizeth and Emma were teaching Ava to boogie board and she could hardly wait. Her swimming skills had significantly improved and she wanted more. It was tricky for her at first to learn how to pull herself up and hold on a floating object. She lost her grip and was hammered off almost immediately for the first several attempts. Slowly, she worked up to being able to hang on and ride the waves for a few seconds before falling off again. She couldn’t remember the last time she laughed and had so much fun. She had a long way to go, but she felt determined to master this someday. They called it quits around lunch time as Ava was exhausted and they were starving. Travis served them a delicious lunch on the terrace as they dried off.

     Afterwards, everyone showered and got ready for shopping. The concert was in a few days and Ava wanted to get something new to wear. Emma and Lizeth drove in the same Vela while Ava followed in James’ silver one. It was exciting for her to finally have some freedom as she had just taken her test and was issued her own license to drive. She felt she had come a long way in the last several months. They had taught her so many things; a new language, self-defense and fighting skills, and now she had a little independence. Eventually as she gained more knowledge of the culture and the language, she might consider going back into the working world. She missed taking care of patients.

     The next day, the group gathered together at an indoor shooting range where the military trained in order to teach Ava how to handle weapons. She had reservations about it, but James insisted. He said that she always needed to be prepared; especially if she had to face off with an Asterion.

     He handed her a small black case containing a handgun that shot red laser bullets, similar to what she had seen the space pirates use on E.S. Number One. He used his own larger gun to demonstrate how to aim, where the safety was, and the indicator showing how many blasts she had left before it was depleted and needed to be re-charged. He held up the weapon and aimed at the target area, which was made up entirely of a black gel-like substance. The target was a giant black and white bulls-eye, also made up of some type of gel. James explained that it would absorb the laser bursts so that they would not bounce off and hit other objects or people.

     “I’m not sure if I could even shoot at another living thing,” she said softly.

     “You would if you were desperate, or if your own life or one of someone you loved depended on it,” he answered sternly.

     Cautiously she held up the gun and aimed towards the target. She pulled the trigger once and one bullet burst from the weapon with a little kick. It was so fast it surprised her. The laser flew through the air and missed the target completely, leaving a small plume of smoke where the energy hit the gel on the ground further away. The group chuckled a little bit as Ava stared in disbelief.

     “Here, let me show you.” James stood closely behind Ava and put his arm around her to place his hand over hers on the gun. He bent down to instruct her. “Look through the front sight here to aim. You want to line up the front sight with the notch in the rear sight. The front sight should be centered in the rear sight’s notch. Then the top of the front sight should usually be level with the top of the rear sight. Hold steady as you fire. Pull the trigger once. It will kick back a little, so be prepared for that. If you hold down on the trigger, it will keep firing . . . but we’ll try that later.”

     “Okay,” she said with some uncertainty. She stood there with James and looked through the sight as she took her aim with him steadying her hand and pulled the trigger. This time she hit the outer rings on the target.

     “Good. Let’s practice this for a while,” he removed his hand form hers and stepped back. She continued to aim and shoot over and over. The others were doing their own target practice at some of the other stations and in some of the other rooms. James had told her that the group regularly practices about once a month to keep their skills up. Even though they lived in peace at this time, they were always prepared to help defend the planet from other Asterions or unforeseen enemies if need be. After what happened on Kyanos, Ava could understand.

     As the group finished up for the day, Ava asked them a question, “so if I were to face off with an Asterion, how would I know if they were dead? When should I stop shooting? You all heal so fast . . .”

     “If you find yourself in that situation, just keep shooting until there is nothing left,” James said simply.

     “Nothing left of the Asterion, or nothing left of the ammo?”

     “Whichever comes first,” he said authoritatively.

     Ava pondered this while James retrieved the case for her weapon. She placed it back inside after powering it down and handed it back to him. He gestured at her. “It’s yours. We’ll practice again next week with moving targets.” She looked at him in disbelief, wondering why he would trust her with a weapon. A few months ago she might have tried to threaten him with it, but now, she had no fear, and did not feel angry with him.

     Friday arrived. Ava had not seen much of James or the other band members as they prepared and rehearsed for the concert. Lizeth came to pick her up since James had left early to oversee the set up of some of the equipment. She handed Ava an armband that identified her as a V.I.P. guest with back stage access and front row seating. The outdoor theater was filled to the brim with people. The sky threatened rain all day but the risk seemed to have blown over. She could not remember the last time she had seen so many people together in one place at one time. The noise and cheering excited her.

     Lizeth parked and led Ava past security into the back stage area. The gang seemed relaxed and at ease, sitting back and enjoying a few drinks before the show. James rose when Ava walked in. “I’m glad you’re here, would you like a drink?”

     “Sure . . . this is so exciting. I wanted to see you on Orionis when you came, but I . . . wasn’t able to.” She regretted saying it as soon as it was said. That was probably awkward for me to say, she thought, remembering how Wesley had taken her away to prevent James from discovering her. If he felt slighted by that remark, she did not read it upon his face. She didn’t know why, but she felt nervous standing there with him. She took the drink from him and sipped on it, taking in his appearance.

     James was back in all black. Dark black boots under black leather pants with a black belt and dark silver buckle. He wore a plain black T-shirt with his cross hanging as usual from his neck. His hair had some slight waves to it from picking up the humidity in the air. They chatted for a few minutes as the opening band played and then it was time for the stage hands to clear it out for Geodesic.

     “Let’s take our seats,” Lizeth said as she looped an arm through Ava’s, leading her towards their seats. She, Ava, and Melanie had seats together in the center of the front row. Melanie handed Ava some black ear plugs. “Here, you’ll need these.”

     “Why? Are they that loud?” Ava yelled over the crowd.

     “Trust me, you’ll be able to hear them just fine,” she shouted with a laugh as she put her own plugs in.

     The lights dimmed and the stage went dark. Then, Blayke, Emma, Lucas, Nicholas, and finally James took their places on the stage and started playing. The entire crowd stood, and remained standing. Ava could feel them more than she could see them. The lights gradually came back up as the music picked up. Lights and lasers of different colors, patterns, and images pulsed along with the music. They started out with a strong song and an aggressive pounding beat. The crowd went wild as James started to sing, playing the electric guitar simultaneously. Ava had never heard him sing in person before and was completely spellbound by his voice. The band stayed focused on their performance and at the same time seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Their songs ranged from heavy fast beats with complicated lyrics and chorus to slower, mellow tunes equivalent to what would be a ballad. Blayke and Emma would sometimes sing back-up and chorus. Some songs were completely instrumental. Ava couldn’t identify some of the instruments that were being played, but recognized several of them from James’ music studio at the house.

     Some of the music sounded like what Ava would call “old school” but most of it was more electronic and modern. It seemed that the crowd loved all of it, dancing, singing, and swaying with the beats. Occasionally during the concert James would lock eyes with Ava; otherwise his gaze swept over the audience or was occupied on his instruments as he moved around the stage. She could sense that even though he was performing, he was still perceptive to the large crowd, alert for any type of a threat to her.

     After about forty-five minutes, the band retreated back stage for an intermission. The others rejoined them. Everyone was sweaty and in a great mood. Ava went over to James, who swept her into a quick hug and released her, keeping his hands on her shoulders.

     “Are you having a good time?”

     “It’s awesome! I had no idea you guys were so good!” she gushed.

     “Is there anything that you would like us to play?”

     Ava thought for a moment. She remembered the name of the song she had heard at the party with Elaine back on Orionis, when she first heard his voice, and asked him to play it.

     He smiled. “I’d love to, what do you think guys?” He looked at the band.

     “You got it!” Blayke said enthusiastically, taking a long sip of his water. A few minutes later the audience was back in place and the band began to play again. Several songs went by and they still did not play Ava’s request. She started to think that they had forgotten about it and then James took the mic and announced that this would be the last song of the evening. Ava smiled as she immediately recognized the song she requested. Contrary to what usually happens, it sounded even better in person than on her music player.

     After the song ended, the group withdrew back stage and the crowd continued to cheer for an encore. After two to three minutes the band came back out and played three more songs. After the last song ended, James introduced each band member and then finally himself before thanking the audience. The lights went down and the performers left the stage. When the lights went back up, the stage hands appeared and started to take down the equipment. Melanie, Lizeth, and Ava waded through the crowds to join the group back in the V.I.P. lounge. Several other fans who were lucky enough to get backstage passes were hovering over the band.

     Three young women and a few young men surrounded James asking for autographs and taking pictures while more fans were crowded around the rest of the group. Ava stared at the gathering of people, surprised at how jealous she felt as some of these women flirted with James and the bolder ones occasionally touched him. He looked up at her and gestured for her to come to him, which she did not hesitate to. He slung his long arm around her waist as he continued to talk to the interviewers and fans. One reporter even snapped a few photos of them together.

     After almost an hour, the crowd cleared out and the group disbanded for the night. Ava hitched a ride with James in his Vela back to the house. Once at home, the lights illuminated as they entered. The rain that had held off for the performance finally began to fall.

     “Have a drink with me,” James said casually as they walked through the kitchen. It was late, after midnight, but she wasn’t tired.

     “Okay,” she said quietly.

     He opened the fridge and removed some juice while she retrieved a couple of glasses and sat at the breakfast bar. Then he went to the pantry and came back with at least two types of alcohol. He poured a bit of each into a shaker with ice and then poured them each a small glass. “Let’s go into the family room,” he suggested, holding a glass out to her. She followed behind him as he led the way.

     He offered a toast as they sat down on the couch. “To your first Geodesic concert on Sphene, cheers!”

     “Cheers,” she repeated, raising her glass and taking a sip.

     The sat in silence for a few tense minutes before they started chatting about the concert. Ava had noticed that over the last week or so their encounters together had grown much more familiar and intimate. They found themselves lingering over dinner, talking about their lives, getting to know one another better.

      She was relieved when James started talking and told her about how they started the band and how long they had been writing music. He talked about some of his favorite artists over his long history, some of them she had heard of, and some of them she had not. Ava finished her drink and set her glass down. She couldn’t figure out why she suddenly felt a little nervous. The storm outside had picked up and she wandered over to the window to peek out. After a few moments she could sense that he had drifted over to her, so that he was just behind her. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, then slowly slid them down her arms to connect with her hands. His touch sent a thrilling sensation right into her core. She closed her eyes as her pulse quickened and squeezed his hands back.

     She could feel the connection between them, warm and strong. He released her hands and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close to him. She leaned back into him, letting him hold her, his energy penetrating her. They stayed like this for several moments before she placed her hands over his and eased his hands away from her and then broke their connection. She felt conflicted. Being with him felt so right, and yet wrong at the same time. She turned to face him, looking up at him. Her eyes searched his, looking for something. Was it acceptance? Confirmation? Love? Reassurance? Suddenly she felt very calm, as if the struggle had ended. She had sensed all of those things and more.  She had no idea why she had always been so sensitive to him or why at this moment she could sense everything he was feeling. His emotions burned inside of him and he wanted her. He needed her. His emotions radiated that had never loved anything or anyone as intensely as he loved her.

     Their first meeting and the events that had followed left him with such little hope that she could ever feel any sort of love for him. Now, things had changed and he could sense her emotions. She did feel very strongly for him. Slowly he embraced her again, pulling her gently to him. She looked up at him and he down at her. Without hesitating he pressed his mouth against hers, kissing her passionately. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body into his, returning his kisses with the same intensity. His hands glided over her back down to her bottom and to her legs and back up underneath her shirt. His energy burned against her skin as he touched her, thrilling her. She ran her hands through his hair and then down over him savoring the ferocity of his energy. Kissing him felt so good, so carnal, she thought. It was as if it was remedying a need somewhere deep inside her. Wesley shares the same energy, a little voice whispered somewhere from the back of her mind.

      Ava suddenly felt very raw inside. She wanted James, but then, she didn’t . . . she couldn’t. She opened her eyes and pulled away from him. The separation was so abrupt she gasped. It almost hurt to have his energy torn from her. He had let her go easily, sensing the change within her and gazed at her with wide, concerned eyes.

      “I’m sorry . . .” Ava said with tears beginning in her eyes. “I . . . I can’t do this.”

     “Ava . . . please . . .,” he held up his hands towards her, as if to reassure her, to beckon her to come back to him. “I know you have doubts . . . it’s okay. I understand if you’re not ready.” Both his face and his voice were filled with sorrow and his breathing was slightly ragged. She could tell how disappointed he was, and she felt guilty. She felt ashamed for wanting James and giving him hope and then pulling back, and upset for betraying Wesley’s love. She shook her head at him, finding it hard to speak with the tears now out in full force, running down her cheeks and she took off.

     She ran as fast as she could up to her room and shut and locked the door behind her. Not that a locked door would keep him out if he wanted to come in, but she did it anyway. She leaned back against the door, closing her eyes, sniffling and trying to calm down. She felt him come up the stairs and stop just outside of her door. She opened her eyes as she felt his energy ebb forward through to her as he placed his palm on the center of the outside of her door. The warmth of his touch reached her back through the door, gentle and calm. She breathed heavily for a few seconds, wondering what he was going to do, and then the energy receded. James removed his hand from the door and slowly moved down the hall towards his own room, his energy dipping with every step. 

Chapter 25: Fear

     New missions always lifted Wesley’s spirits. Kyanos seemed to be well on its way back to normal and the Principia was freshly stocked, powered up, and ready to go. As a family they decided to leave Justin, Rowan, and Mia behind to continue with the rebuild of the city and oversee the beginning stages of another starship. It would be easier this time since they still had the plans from the recently built Principia. The others would travel with Wesley to the southern part of the known galaxy to try to detect a traversable worm hole that may connect to a distant universe, a universe where Xavier could be hiding Ava. It would be a dangerous mission, Wesley made it perfectly plain that if they were to go through a worm hole there would be no guarantee they would survive, or make it back.  It was a risk he was willing to take.

     They sped to the outermost portion of the known galaxy at absolute velocity for several days, slowing down only when they had reached the southern-most tip that they had ever explored. They decided that they would proceed cautiously as they were now in uncharted territory. Ash and Wesley took turns piloting the Principia, recording the coordinates of their mission along the way. Gazing out the monitors, Wesley saw nothing that would indicate a passageway to another galaxy. Xavier sure does know how to hide, he thought sadly. His anger and frustration had burned away, leaving him feeling hollow from Ava’s absence.

     Ash walked into the flight deck to relieve Wesley and looked at some of the calculations from the ship’s computers.

     “Wesley, did you see this?” Ash asked suddenly, looking up quickly at him.

     “See what?” Wesley rose from the chair immediately and moved over towards Ash. He looked at the monitor Ash was studying. “That? . . . That’s just interference from some radiation.”

     “No, . . . look here!” Ash pointed excitedly at some curved graphics on the monitor. “That is the entrance to a wormhole coming up . . . see how the energy is pouring into it!”

     “I don’t believe it! I’ve been looking at that all night. How could I have missed it?” Wesley shook his head.

     “Probably because you’re trying too hard,” Ash replied as he got on the intercom and summoned the others to come up to the flight deck.

     For the first time Wesley took a deep breath, trying not to get too excited. After all, there could be several galaxies Xavier could be in for all he knew. “Let’s get to work then, we need to know exactly how much energy we need to front to make it through alive.”

     Over the next day, Wesley and the others calculated the force of the wormhole and made the ship ready for the rocky ride through.  This was the first time the Principia had ever traveled through one, and first time missions such as this were riskier than usual. After the ship’s computers registered that the ship was stable, everyone headed for the flight deck.

     “I’ll take this one,” Wesley said to the others while Ash assumed his position to pilot the ship.

     Slowly the ship made its way towards the abyss, the flattened cloud of gaseous matter that was swirling and falling into the passageway. Ash powered down the ship’s engines and let it drift towards the opening.

     “Hold on and keep her steady,” Wesley commanded as they all took their seats and buckled up. His chest rose and fell vigorously as he took several deep breaths and shut his eyes, getting a feel for the ship. He let his energy expand, penetrating his surroundings and the ship itself, fortifying and stabilizing it from the tremendous impact the tumultuous passageway they were about to enter. The ship floated quickly into the eye of the storm, rocking and shaking violently, shuddering from the outside force trying to rip it apart. Suddenly, in a matter of a few minutes, almost as soon as it started, it was over. The Principia emerged unscathed and glided peacefully away from the opening. Wesley opened his eyes; he had barely even broken a sweat.

     “That was it?” he asked incredulously, looking at the others who were attentively looking at monitors and checking reports for damage. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he announced as he retracted his energy back inside.

     “Let’s not get too cocky, Captain, we will eventually have to get back out again,” Naomi scolded. The cabin was swept with roars of relieved laughter as they relaxed and looked upon the new territory.

     “Now, if I were Xavier, which, technically I am, where would I go next?” Wesley wondered out loud, looking at the new trajectories on the monitors displayed around him.

∞

     In the days after the concert, life seemed to go back to normal for Ava, save for her interactions with James. She was confused and slightly embarrassed over their encounter in the den after the concert. She felt a little awkward when he approached her the next day to tell her not to worry and that he was sorry and would not cross that line with her again unless she was ready. He must have sensed her ambivalence as he gave her plenty of space to think things through after that. This was one thing she truly liked about James, he wasn’t pushy. His calm, laid back nature appealed to her and it seemed that he always, save for their initial meeting, put her needs above his. She could feel that he wanted to talk to her, but all she wanted was more time to think things through and sort out her emotions.

     By Thursday, Ava was still avoiding James, however started to crave the companionship of her friends. Lizeth called regularly to check on her. They all seemed to sense the tension between the two of them. Ava spent more and more time thinking about Kyanos and her family there. She still mourned Wesley, and missed Naomi and Andre. Her emotions didn’t help her either. One day she could feel so close to James and want him near more than anything, and the next, she didn’t seem to feel anything for him. She hadn’t felt so frustrated since the blood transfusion on Orionis when she was supercharged with energy.

     She spent a few afternoons wandering around the downtown area by herself, observing the other people, other humans, going about their business. She saw many couples holding hands, which stirred mixed feelings within her. She had spent so much time with Asterions these past several months that she almost felt removed from humanity. It would almost be weird for her to have a relationship with a human after everything that she had been through. A short while ago, all she wanted was to be one of them again; to have a normal life, a job, a family . . . and now she didn’t. She wanted more.

     Another week went by and even though she resumed her training, she needed to get out and do something. She needed to clear her head and take her mind off of things. One day she decided to call Lizeth to see if she would be willing to come over the next morning and do a little boogie boarding. It would be the perfect distraction, and the perfect challenge to channel some of the anger and frustration she was having battling her own conflicting emotions. Of course, Lizeth wanted to be there for Ava and agreed to come.

     Ava rose that morning and looked out at the ocean from her balcony. The sun was high and the water was calm. A little too calm. This is no good for my training, she thought. She proceeded to shower and dress in her boarding gear and make her way down to the kitchen. Mrs. Maclaren prepared a light breakfast for her while she sipped her coffee. Ava looked around but did not see or sense James’ presence. In fact, she hadn’t seen him for a few days.

     “Mrs. Maclaren, is James here today?”

     “No dear, he left a few nights ago. Apparently there was a meteor shower last week and one of the satellites needed some emergency repairs. The engineers asked him to accompany them on the mission to fix it. I understand some of the family is with him in the Solstice. But don’t worry, they will be back soon.”

     “Okay.” Ava gave the housekeeper a warm smile as the chime rang out, signaling that Lizeth had arrived.

     Travis greeted her at the door and escorted her into the kitchen where Ava was finishing up.

     “Morning Ava! You’re already to go aren’t you?” Lizeth said, taking in Ava’s appearance as she gave her a quick hug.

     “I’ve been wanting to do this for some time. I’m glad you could come, thank you.”

     “No problem. Hopefully the weather will hold; the forecast didn’t look so good the last time I checked it.”

     “I’m sure it will be fine, Lizeth,” Ava reassured her as she watched her pick up her tote bag to go and change into her boarding gear.

     When she was ready, the two women made their way down to the beach after collecting their boards. Although it was still sunny, the wind had picked up quite a bit.

     “I don’t know, Ava, it’s looking kind of rough,” Lizeth observed as they wandered down to the beach. The waves were crashing a little bit more vigorously than usual on the sand. She paused, surveying the situation. “How about we hang out in the pool and have Travis make us some drinks in a little bit? We could relax and take it easy today. What do you say?” Lizeth made the suggestions lightheartedly, but Ava knew she was trying to protect her.

     “It will be all right, let’s try a few times, and if it gets too rough, we’ll go to the pool . . . okay?” Ava was practically pleading with her. She wanted to burn some of her frustration, and sitting by the pool gossiping and drinking was not going to do it.

     “All right, Ava, but if I say we need to come in . . .”

     “Then we’ll come in,” Ava smiled at her friend, relieved that she was going to get her own way. It seemed childish, but she really wanted to do something challenging for a change.

     The two women swam out and rode the waves back in a few times. Ava was pounded off again the first time. The second time she did a little better. She loved the feeling of gliding back into the shore, challenging the water. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before, having come from a world where water was scarce. The activity certainly did the trick, she concentrated on what she was doing and stopped dwelling on the incident with James, or her feelings for her family.

     After about a half hour the wind picked up even further and the sky became a little overcast. Ava hardly noticed, but Lizeth did. After the two women rode the waves in, Ava getting knocked off again, Lizeth decided it was time to call it quits.

     “But we’ve only just started. It’s not even raining . . .” Ava tried to reason.

     “Ava, the weather is changing, this is not a good idea. You are doing very well and you should be proud of yourself, but the currents are picking up and I’m worried that something is going to happen to you.” Lizeth hated spoiling the fun for the day, but she knew that while Ava’s swimming skills continued to improve, she was no expert. “Let’s take a break by the pool and see how the weather is after lunch, okay?”

     “Can I go just one more time? Then I promise we’ll go up to the pool,” Ava said authoritatively, turning to take her board out to the ocean not waiting for Lizeth to reply.

     Lizeth stood on the beach watching Ava paddle out to catch the next wave. The swelling of the ocean and the ferocity of the waves made her nervous. Ava swam out a little further than usual and then turned into position, ready to catch the next wave, and it was a big one. The wave rose up and carried Ava on the board. Everything seemed okay as Ava started to make her way to the shore, but the currents had picked up and sent more waves at her. Ava sucked in a deep breath as she was knocked off her board. The current carried the board out of her grasp and she swam trying to catch it. More waves came, sweeping her further along down the shore.

     Ava couldn’t hear Lizeth from the beach, shouting for Ava to forget about the board and to come to shore. The sky darkened and more waves came, sending her further away from the beach. Ava started to realize that she was in trouble and gave up on the board and put her energy towards getting back to the shore. She swam as hard and fast as she could, but it was hard to keep her head above the water. She gasped for breath, moving her arms, and kicking her legs the way that she was taught, but she was caught in a current that was dragging her away from the beach. She tried to call to Lizeth, but she couldn’t even see her anymore.

     Lizeth recognized that Ava was in trouble immediately and raced towards the dock and James’ boat, sending a message on her PCD to her family that she was in danger. She reached the boat and powered it up, her energy expanding all around her, giving her an ability to sense where Ava was. She only hoped she would not be too late.

     Ava continued to swim and tried to keep her head above the water. She wasn’t making any progress towards getting to the shore. She sucked in breaths as best she could between the waves, but she was tiring. Despite her best efforts, water seemed to make it into her lungs causing her to cough relentlessly. Her arms and legs felt like they weighed a ton and weren’t moving as effectively as they had been. Lizeth had been right, this was a bad idea, and now I’m going to pay for it, Ava thought fleetingly. She was overcome by a sinking feeling that this was it. She was free. She would no longer have to choose between her feelings for James and for Wesley because this was the end. She had been foolish and careless and this was the price. She continued to try and swim, but it seemed like everything was slowing down, even her thoughts seemed to slow down.

     Bright spots appeared in her vision and her eyes grew heavy. Her lungs burned from saltwater and ached from coughing. Somewhere in the distance she heard a boat engine, but she knew her time was up. The next wave pushed her hard under and she could not find the energy to fight back. Her body went limp and started to sink.

∞

     James received the message and raced down the beach faster than he even thought was possible, with Melanie and Lucas in pursuit. He could feel Ava; he could sense her surrender to the ocean. As he ran, he released his energy in full force and lifted his arms. He couldn’t see her, but he could sense her. The energy found her and wrapped around her. He lifted her out of the water and she soared through the air, closing the gap between the sea and the shore in seconds. He caught her and laid her on the beach, checking her pulse and for breathing. He quickly ascertained that she had a weak pulse but was not breathing. Lucas arrived first and took over. He tilted her head back and gave her a breath; Melanie arrived and monitored her pulse.

     “Blayke is notifying the paramedics,” she announced calmly.

     “Why isn’t she breathing!” James exclaimed, unable to conceal the fear in his voice. He was practically shaking, grasping one of Ava’s hands as if he was holding on for dear life. The others ignored him, continuing to issue rescue breaths. His energy surged all around them like a nuclear explosion had gone off, penetrating everyone and everything around them and beyond. The Asterions around him flinched. He had never been so afraid for anything in his entire existence.

     “Come on, Ava, please! You can’t die, you’re too young to die!” James voice waivered as he continued to try and hold himself together.

∞

     The Captain and crew of the Principia decided that their search should continue towards the east. They had been traveling through space peacefully while remaining on the alert for anything. Since they were now in an unknown galaxy, no one knew for sure what could happen. Ash once again came to relieve Wesley from the overnight shift.

     “Anything interesting?” he asked in passing.

     “Nothing other than a few meteor showers, but that’s about it,” Wesley replied.

     “Get some rest, maybe we’ll see something today,” Ash said thoughtfully.

     Wesley, who was already at the doorframe stopped, took a deep breath and abruptly leaned with both hands on the door frame, closing his eyes.

     “What is it?” Ash asked, alarmed, getting up out of the chair.

     “What’s going on?” Andre asked, coming from the other side of the doorway that Wesley was blocking with his stance. Everyone had their eyes on him.

     “I feel something,” Wesley said slowly.

     “Something? . . . Is it Ava, Wesley?” Naomi asked.

     “No . . . it’s him. I can feel him.” He paused for a few moments with his eyes closed. Suddenly he opened them. “Turn the ship around! Turn around now, we need to head west!” Wesley commanded sharply. Ash ran to the controls and did as he was told.

     “What are you feeling?” Naomi asked eagerly, hoping she may also be able to tap into her ability to feel others and assist with the search.

     “Fear . . . he’s afraid of something,” Wesley said softly.

     “What would Xavier have to fear?”

     “I don’t know . . . unless . . . unless something has happened to Ava,” he said breathing heavy with his voice wavering.          

∞

     Lizeth beached James’ boat and raced to the scene. “Are the paramedics on the way?” she asked as she too came to crouch at Ava’s side. The others were so focused on Ava that they ignored her. “James, I’m so sorry! We were just doing some boarding and we were about to come in,” Lizeth’s voice broke as she began to cry. James glared at her for a split second before turning back to Ava.

     “There’s too much water in her lungs, we need to try and get it out,” Melanie instructed. “James, she needs you, . . . you can do this.”

     James looked up at Melanie and then down at Ava and placed his hands over the center of her chest. He closed his eyes and focused. As he took a deep breath he used his ability to compress Ava’s lungs. Water instantly came pouring out of her mouth from the force on her lungs and she reflexively started coughing. He released her and they all moved together to turn her on her side as she continued to cough and pant violently, trying to get enough air.

     Ava drew her knees up and continued to cough, but also started crying. She grasped James knees, clinging to him and placed her head upon his lap. He wrapped an arm around her and stroked her head and back with the other, trying to soothe her anxiety. Other than being really shaken up, she seemed to be all right. She barely had the energy to open her eyes, and she started to shiver as the sun had retreated behind the clouds.

     “We need to get her to a hospital,” Melanie said.

     “The paramedics are here,” Blayke’s voice announced through Lucas’ PCD. They could see them distantly down the beach at the house, hurrying towards them.

     James carefully picked her up and rushed her towards them, then went on with them in the ambulance to the hospital. His family followed behind. At the hospital James had a hard time being separated from Ava while the doctors ran all kinds of tests and took some images of her lungs. It was certain that if James had not intervened she would have drowned. It was sheer luck that he had been close on his way home when the incident occurred. Much to everyone’s relief, there was no permanent damage done. The doctors mentioned that otherwise, Ava was in excellent physical shape. After an overnight observation and some intravenous fluids, Ava was free to go home the next morning.

Chapter 26:  Party Time

     Ava walked slowly up the stairs back at the house. Melanie was on one side holding one arm and James on the other. She was determined not to be carried, even though she was entirely sapped of energy. The mild exertion left her breathing heavily, however she was motivated by wanting a hot bath. Even though the nursing staff helped clean her up at the hospital, she still had sand in places she didn’t even think was possible. Once inside the bathroom, she didn’t object to Melanie staying to make sure she was okay while she bathed.

     Afterwards, she put on the pajamas the Melanie had laid out for her. She sat at the vanity and allowed Melanie to comb out and dry her hair for her, like she was a child. She was so numb and in shock from what happened she just stared at the floor. Physically Ava was okay, mentally, she was a mess. In her mind she kept repeating to herself that she had nearly died . . . again. Near drowning was definitely more scary than the virus, she thought. James had saved her life and now she felt guilty for treating him so poorly over the last few weeks. She vowed this would change. He was no threat to her, he had not harmed her. She knew he never would. All she could feel was his constant love, just like Wesley, and she could sense him waiting for her in the bedroom. He was worried about her even now.

     Once her hair was dry, Ava stood up and emerged into the bedroom. James was standing near the windows, looking out at the overcast day. He immediately came to her, embracing her.

     “How do you feel . . . do you need anything? Are you hungry?” His eyes searched hers while his hands caressed her shoulders and back.

     “I just want to sleep, if that’s all right,” Ava responded softly. He nodded and guided her over to the bed and helped pull the covers over her as she settled. He kissed her forehead and started to pull away when she stopped him. “James?”

     “Yes?”

     “Please don’t be angry with Lizeth . . . this wasn’t her fault. It was mine. I’m the one that disobeyed her orders to stay on the beach.”

     “You should have never been out there in the first place with the weather like that. Lizeth knows better,” he said sternly.

     Ava grabbed his hand, feeling the electricity connect between them. “Please . . . Please don’t blame her.”

     He sighed and nodded in defeat. “Get some rest now, I won’t be far if you need me.” He kissed the back of her hand and everyone cleared the room after Melanie pulled the curtains, smiling warmly at Ava as she closed the door behind her.

     Ava slept the day away before awakening again. She eased up out of the bed and sat on the edge to steady herself. There was a small desk lamp illuminated on the other side of the room and a glass of water on the bedside table. She took a long drink before getting up. After a quick trip to the bathroom she left her room. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was eight thirty at night. Even though she was still exhausted she wandered over towards the other hallway, looking for James. Seeing no one, she wondered where everyone was.

     She noticed that James’ door was cracked and the lights were on inside. She pushed the door open and stepped inside his room. She had almost no time to take in the elegantly decorated surroundings before he came rushing out of the bathroom with his hair wet, wearing only his cross and a pair of dark linen pants; holding a towel. Ava couldn’t help but notice how sexy he looked coming out of the shower. It took him almost no time to reach her.

     “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern, tossing the towel on the bed.

     “Yes, I’m fine . . . I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude, I was just wondering where you were,” she stated simply, reaching for his hand, which he seemed happy to give her.

     “There is no intrusion, Ava,” he smiled contentedly at her.

     “James, there is something I want to say to you.” She hesitated and when he did not interrupt she continued. “Thank you for saving my life . . . words cannot express the gratitude that I feel.”

     “I would have done anything to save you, no matter what,” he said sincerely.

     “I know that. I also want to apologize to you. I’ve treated you so terribly since the concert and I’m sorry.”

     “You don’t need to apologize for that Ava, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you . . .”

      “But you didn’t! I . . . wanted to kiss you. It’s just that you feel like him and I’m having trouble separating my emotions.” She brought her other hand up to her face, feeling ashamed of her admission.

     He nodded in sympathy, sensing the struggle within her, noticing how exhausted she was, both mentally and physically. “Ava, you’re so tired. Please . . . let me help you.”

     “Help me how?” She looked at him with uncertainty.

     “Come here,” he whispered, gently pulling her to him. She had no time to react as he softly placed a hand upon her chest and felt the powerful sensation of his energy flowing into her. She held her breath as the heat enveloped her as she absorbed some of his life source. This was so different from feeling his energy expand around him, this time it was channeled directly into her. It lasted a few brief seconds before he removed his hand from her chest and she leaned against his naked chest, wrapping her arms around him, hyperventilating slightly.

     “What did you do to me?” she gasped.

     “I just shared a fraction of my energy with you. How do you feel?” he asked with concern.

     “I feel . . . good actually,” she responded with surprise. In fact, she felt more than good, she felt completely recovered, as if the drowning never occurred. It didn’t take her long to put the pieces together. “Is that your other ability?” she asked quietly, still embracing him.

     “Yes. I can share energy with you . . . only you, Ava . . . when you need it.”

     “Your energy? Then why do I feel okay? I’ve been down this road before, with the blood transfusion. Why don’t I feel like bouncing off the walls?”

     “Because Justin’s energy was not meant to be shared with you. Even though they saved your life, they could have killed you.”

     “It didn’t matter, I was going to die anyway.”

     “Thank God they did save you,” he said softly as he brushed his lips over her cheek.

     “Can I have some more?” Ava pulled away slightly, looking at him, feeling enthusiastic as the prospects. She could definitely get used to this.

     He playfully pulled her back into his embrace. “Absolutely not. You are human after all.” He smiled at her warmly. They laughed softly together for a few moments. Ava looked up into James’ serene face and caressed his cheek with one of her hands, running it back and through his hair. He made no move to encourage her affections; the last thing he wanted was a repeat of what happened after they kissed the last time.

     She surprised him and herself when she stood up on her tip toes and used the hand on the back of his head to ease him down to her. She pressed her lips against his and pulled back slowly, looking into his large brilliant blue eyes. She could feel the desire coursing through both of them and still he made no move. “Kiss me,” she whispered.

     He didn’t have the resolve to resist the invitation and brought his face down to hers.
They kissed slowly, hesitantly at first, not in the hurried, reckless way they had after the concert. He pulled her body tight up against him, circling his arms around her, allowing the connection to build between them. Ava relaxed into him, feeling his energy permeate her body, welcoming it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his body. As they continued to kiss, the passion escalated. Their hands roamed and caressed each other lovingly, comforting each other, fulfilling a need that each of them had. As soon as Ava began to wonder how far this was going to go tonight, James stopped kissing her and pulled back, breathing heavily. 

     “What’s wrong?” Ava asked, catching her breath.

     “Nothing’s wrong. In fact, everything is right,” he said pleasantly as he gazed down at her.

     “Then why did you stop?”

     “Because the woman I love almost drowned yesterday,” James said seriously. “My energy will give you a lift but it won’t sustain you. I think you should eat something and rest to recover your strength,” he replied softly.

     Ava smiled, realizing that despite the energy James had given her she was indeed famished. “I guess I am a little hungry. Do you want to come to the kitchen with me?”

     He released her and went into his closet to grab a T-shirt, then took one of her hands and brought it to his mouth. After planting a soft kiss on it he led the way downstairs.

     A couple of days after the incident on the beach, things were back to normal, save for Ava’s relationship with James, which seemed to take a happy turn for them both. She put the events of her past out of her mind and threw her energy and thoughts into beginning a new romance, and falling in step with her new family. It was nice for her not to guard her feelings, or feel guilty for wanting something she told herself was wrong to have.

     James had told her that he had a surprise for her on Saturday, but wouldn’t tell her what it was. She suspected the whole family was in on it because no one would tell her anything when she asked. When the day in question arrived, so did Emma and Lizeth. They showed up early and took Ava for a day of shopping, citing the need for her to dress well this evening. She didn’t know what the occasion was but decided to play along with it, choosing a casual but elegant pale gray strapless dress made out of a flowing chiffon-like fabric that was artfully draped and cascaded down to just below her knees in the front and a little longer in the back. Tiny crystals had been glued to the gown strategically here and there, giving it a shimmering effect. After bringing Ava back home, the women instructed her to be ready promptly at five for her surprise.

∞

     Everyone on board the Principia was on high alert for anything that could indicate the presence of an inhabitable planet that Xavier could take Ava to. It didn’t take them long to detect something major on the trajectory. As they moved closer they were astounded to find a large planet with a greenish hue in the distance.

     “Cloak the ship, I don’t want to ruin our element of surprise,” Wesley commanded.

     The ship virtually disappeared from sight and radar detection thanks to Ash’s new technology. The same technology they had developed after observing what Kaden could do.

     “There’s something else coming up on the trajectory!” Naomi announced.

     “What is it?” Wesley ran to where she was sitting.

     “It appears to be a satellite,” she said in astonishment.

     “Let me see,” Wesley sat down next to her and within seconds a huge smile spread across his lips. “That has to be Xavier’s handiwork, because that’s exactly how I would build it!” He said happily as they passed by it, taking in the appearance of the massive structure. “Now, let’s get a reading and see exactly where he’s hiding out,” he said confidently.

∞

     At five o’clock Ava was dressed and ready as requested. She had pulled her hair up in a casual loose bun and secured it with a silver comb she had acquired at some point since arriving on Sphene. She stood in front of her dresser looking in her jewelry box trying to decide what to wear when there was a soft knock on her door. Sensing his presence, she knew who it was.

     “Come in, James,” she called.

     He smiled as he approached her, coming to stand behind her, embracing her and kissing the back of her neck. “You look beautiful,” he whispered softly in her ear, deeply inhaling the scent of the perfume she had just sprayed on.

     She smiled and leaned back into him. “Thank you, . . . you don’t look to shabby yourself,” she said as she took in his appearance, which was a pair of black trousers and a tucked in formal white button-down shirt with a few of the top buttons undone, revealing a T-shirt underneath and his cross.

     “I have something for you,” he said mysteriously, releasing her and reaching into one of his pockets. He held up a bright platinum necklace with a pendant of a small diamond encrusted crescent moon with a star on the tip. 

     “It’s beautiful!” Ava exclaimed turning and giving him a quick kiss. “Please, will you put it on me?” she asked as she turned back to the mirror.

     He felt pleased that she liked his gift and wasted no time fastening it around her neck. He wanted to give her something to break her habit of wearing her gold locket every chance that she got.

     “This will go perfectly with the earrings that Emma gave me to wear to the concert,” Ava announced as she removed her grandmother’s earrings from her ears and placed them inside the box, next to the locket. Then she placed the small sparkling dangling earrings that she adored into place. “I think I’m ready now,” she said smiling at James, who offered his arm to lead her to whatever the surprise was.

     They walked down the steps of the main house and out into the heat and onto the terrace. Just when Ava thought they would turn towards the gazebo on the beach, he steered them the other direction towards the rose garden. The sun had just started to set as they entered the garden, which had been turned into an elegant dining area.

     “Surprise!” Everyone shouted at her as soon as they entered the festively decorated area.

      “Thank you . . . this is all so beautiful, but what am I being surprised for?” Ava said with confusion.

     “Ava! . . . It’s your birthday!” Lizeth announced.

     “My birthday? But it’s the wrong day and the wrong month.” She said, looking at James, still confused.

     “Actually . . . you are right. It isn’t your birthday, it was about six weeks ago. I’m sorry we missed it. We recently calculated it out for you since the time is different here,” James explained.

     “I had no idea,” she sounded astonished. How could she forget her own birthday?

     “We’re happy that you’re here and we can celebrate it with you now!” Melanie said as she and Lucas came to give Ava a big hug. The others followed suit and she finally observed her surroundings in greater detail. Pretty white lights had been strewn around and hung festively against the backdrop of the flowers, creating a romantic and happy ambience. It would be even more beautiful when the sun completely set. The garden almost reminded Ava of a past Valentine’s Day she spent with Wesley. She squashed that thought as soon as it surfaced. It was beautiful and there was an elegant table set up for dinner. After a little while everyone was settled and dinner was served.

∞

     “Set us down over there,” Wesley pointed to an empty field off the coast; away from what they could tell was a developed city. They wanted to attract as little attention as they could to maintain the element of surprise. The whole mood of the ship had changed as both Wesley and Naomi could now sense that Ava was near. Although the ship had gone undetected, they would be visible once they stepped outside of it. They would also be able to feel any of the Asterions nearby, and be felt by them.

     After their descent and un-eventful landing they powered up the small courier that was hidden in the cargo area of the ship and eased it onto the ground. As a group, they decided to leave Ash with the ship on standby while Wesley, Andre, and Naomi would go in closer to try to retrieve Ava. They did not know how heavily she would be guarded and felt the best plan to try would be for Wesley to teleport in once they got closer and bring her back. They hoped to avoid a confrontation at all costs until Ava was safely aboard the Principia.

∞

     After dinner, Blayke and James retrieved their guitars and took turns playing for everyone to dance to. Everyone seemed happy and relaxed as the night sky became visible overhead, showing just how beautiful the stars and the little lights were. It was a warm evening with a soft breeze flowing through occasionally. Sphene was heading into autumn, and although it was a tropical environment and was warm all year, it was noticeably cooler in the evenings.

     “Are you ready for your cake, Ava?” Emma asked. “We had to keep it inside because we didn’t want it to melt out here.”

     “Sure, that sounds great!” Ava replied, sipping on her glass of champagne.

     Moments later she appeared carrying a multi-tiered elaborately decorated cake with sparklers fired up. James exquisite voice led the way to sing an extremely old fashioned “Happy Birthday” song that embarrassed Ava. When the singing ended she blew out the sparklers, but apparently they were the trick kind that kept igniting several times for her to blow out, much to the amusement and clapping of her family.

     After the applause had ended, Ava noticed that James and some of the others exchanged some concerned glances.

     “We forgot the plates and serving utensils, . . . we’ll be right back,” Emma said sounding a little off, motioning for Lizeth to come with her. The two of them quickly walked back towards the house. Ava noticed that what they had gone to get was actually sitting on one of the tables against one of the walls further away.

     “Is something wrong?” Ava asked looking around at the faces in the garden, starting to feel butterflies in her stomach as the mood had drastically changed amongst her family. She could tell by the surge in their energy.

     “I’m going to take a look around, stay right here,” James said softly as he motioned for Blayke and Nicholas to come with him. They also walked out of the garden, fanning out as they passed the exit.

     “What’s happening, Melanie?” Ava asked, starting to panic as she looked around.

     “We don’t know yet, Ava. It would be best to stay calm,” Lucas said serenely, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

     “Maybe we should go back to the house . . .” Ava said uncertainly. Then, suddenly, the lights to the entire property, including the garden went out. Ava started to feel very nervous and she clutched her crystal wine glass like she was holding on for dear life.  Lucas left Ava with Melanie and drifted over to the entrance to the garden and peered out.

     “I think I sense something Mel,” Lucas said, calling to her. “Come over here please,” he said calmly.

     “I’m going to be right over there, Ava, stay right here,” Melanie instructed, walking away.

     Ava stood very still watching her friends walk away from her. It was dark, but the moon was nearly full, shedding light on their situation. Suddenly she had an idea. I bet this is a training exercise of some sort, she thought. They are trying to scare me into some critical thinking survival skills or something she reasoned. She breathed a sigh of relief as she sensed James’ energy drawing near. She took a step backwards towards the table she had been sitting at earlier and bumped into something. The something startled her into dropping her wine glass and the sound resonated like a bomb going off.

     Things seemed to happen impossibly fast after that. Ava screamed as some very strong arms closed around her, she struggled before she knew who was holding her, but she recognized the energy after a few seconds. It was James, but he felt different, the energy was slightly different. It had been so long since she had felt it, and it was building, gaining momentum for teleportation. It wasn’t James. Lucas and Melanie were there in an instant, tackling them and bringing them down, halting the process. The arms clasped around Ava protected her in the fall so that she was not injured. Once the fall broke, the arms released her and she rolled to her feet on guard just as how she had been taught, taking a ready stance with her fists up.

     Then it seemed like all hell broke loose as the lights miraculously came back on and Ava saw them. She brought her hands to her face and gasped as she looked upon Wesley, Naomi, and Andre, who looked relieved to see her, but ready for anything. It had been Andre who controlled the lights, she realized. She dropped her fists and started to run to them when Melanie and Lucas grabbed her, pulling her back.

     “Let her go,” Wesley commanded authoritatively. “She’s mine!”

     “We’ll see about that,” James’ stern voice countered as he appeared in the garden, flanked by his family who seemed to be ready to fight if needed.

     The two halves of the whole locked eyes on each other. They did not speak, they did not need to. Being this close together, Ava could sense the animosity between their collective essence. Their powerful energy saturated everything, stinging her. It was almost as if their mind had also merged and they were having a private heated argument between themselves as they walked towards each other in the center of the garden.

      Andre and Naomi backed up, James’ family doing the same, bringing Ava with them, giving the two of them space. It was apparent that the two families no longer had an interest in fighting each other; this was clearly about Ava only. She wriggled free of the death grip her new family had on her and stood there watching the two people she loved most in this world size each other up. Andre and Naomi quickly moved around towards Ava.

     Naomi raised her hands partly up. “I have no quarrel with you,” she said to Melanie as she approached Ava.

     “Nor I you,” Melanie responded, eyeing them cautiously as they came before Ava.

     Naomi enveloped Ava in a bear hug, followed by Andre. The two of them stood with James’ family, each keeping a hold on Ava while the oldest Asterions in existence prepared to face off. Wesley was angry, extremely angry, as far as Ava could tell. She had never seen him this way; he almost appeared as though he had a light shine to his body from the anger. He wasn’t dead after all and she felt elated. She wanted to run to him, to hold him, to kiss him. But she couldn’t, not when he was in such a defensive mode. Ava started to panic. What if James stopped Wesley’s heart? What if Wesley ripped James to shreds? She held her breath, waiting for one of them to use their abilities to hurt the other. But they didn’t. She could sense something between them. They couldn’t use their abilities on one another for some reason. All they had was their physical strength. It seemed Wesley finally had enough of his private conversation with James. He lunged at James, sending them both flying backwards onto the ground, they both grunted loudly. And then it began.

     The two of them launched into a full-blown fist fight, while the others stood by calmly watching with, it seemed, no intention of intervening. James rammed his fists into Wesley’s face and chest, sending him crashing into the table they had just eaten dinner on. The table collapsed, flinging wood pieces everywhere. The birthday cake slid down the table and almost landed on him but he moved quickly and was up in an instant. Ava watched in horror as Wesley punched James in the face, grabbed him, and threw him over the wall of the garden out towards the beach. He teleported out there to attack again but James was already on his feet, punching Wesley fiercely in the abdomen, knocking him down. Wesley rolled out of the way just in time for James to issue a punishing blow to the sand, which went flying everywhere.

     “Stop them!” Ava screamed to Andre and Lucas. Her face was already flushed with tears and heat from being so upset. The two men made no moves to break up the fight. The sound of fists pounding on flesh sickened Ava. She had never seen such a brutal fight before. The two of them wouldn’t stop; they just kept pummeling each other. James was advancing on Wesley, trying to force him back towards the water. Wesley appeared to be aware of what was going in. If they couldn’t overpower one another, they could try to drown one another.

     “Do something! Please do something!” Ava begged the Asterions she was standing with on the beach. Naomi and Andre had released their hold on her after they followed the fight onto the beach. They stood in a semicircle observing the vicious confrontation going on. It was clear they would not, or perhaps could not, interfere from whatever Asterion code of ethics they were following.  However, Ava was not going to stand by and watch these two great men kill each other over her. Her mind raced, she had to do something to get them to stop fighting. She looked around her for something, anything she could use to distract them. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a gun in Andre’s holster. Of course! It was the same one he had on E.S. Number One.

     In one swift movement Ava turned, reached under Andre’s jacket and wrenched the gun out of the holster. She slipped out of their grasp and she ran down the beach as fast as she could, aimed the gun, and fired two red blazing shots in the air. The two rivals still paid her no attention and kept fighting. Ava knew she probably had mere seconds before one of the family took the gun from her so she inhaled a deep breath and aimed. First at James, she fired a few shots.

     He looked up, alarmed, and stopped fighting. He raised his hands and used his ability to deflect the shots while Ava then aimed the gun at Wesley and fired another two shots. He stopped his attack to summon the energy to quickly teleport away from the blasts. Ava advanced on them now that they were apart from one another. “This fight ends here . . . right now!” Ava shouted at them, her voice shaking slightly. She had tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke. The other Asterions had come up closer to behind her but no one tried to take the gun away from her.

     “You taught her how to shoot?” Wesley growled angrily at James, looking at Ava in astonishment.

     “Somebody had to teach her how to defend herself,” he retorted with a smirk, beaming at Ava.

     “Ava, put the gun down please,” Wesley begged quickly, putting his hands up. He was clearly worried that Ava had other ideas on what she could do with the gun, praying suicide wasn’t one of them. He wiped the blood away from his split lip on his sleeve. It was hard to see in the dark, but it was healing and the swelling was already going down.

     “Not until you listen . . . both of you!” she said sternly glancing cautiously at them.

      James picked up on Wesley’s concern and stepped further away from him. “Okay, we’re listening to you, Ava.” He produced a handkerchief out of one of his pockets and mopped up the blood that had run down his face from his broken nose that was in the process of healing.

     “Ava, James, Wesley, . . . everybody just calm down,” Naomi said soothingly. Wesley continued to breathe heavily out of anger, staring at James. “Wesley, we found Ava. Look, you can see for yourself that she hasn’t been harmed. Why don’t we hear what she has to say?” Naomi reasoned coming closer.

      Ava lowered the gun but backed away from Naomi, unwilling to relinquish it just yet. “There’s no reason to fight like this! This is my life . . . and I will decide what to do with it!” She raised her voice, and it came out sounding very stern. She turned to Wesley a little calmer, “We thought you were dead. I’m so relieved, Wesley. You have no idea what I’ve been through.”

     “Then tell me, please tell me,” he said soothingly, moving closer to her.

     “Stop right there Robinson!” James said sharply, moving in closer himself.

     “Enough!” she yelled. “No more fighting, I can’t . . . I just can’t. . .” she said softly, unable to finish her sentence, tossing the gun away from all of them in the sand behind her, where it was promptly reclaimed by its owner.

     “It’s going to be all right, look, I’m fine, come and see for yourself,” Wesley said calmly to Ava. She glanced at James and then slowly walked towards Wesley, raising her hands to touch his face. He enveloped her in a passionate embrace, holding her tightly, feeling her energy. She wrapped her arms around him and started crying. It took every ounce of self-control James had not to interfere and break it up.

     “I was so worried about you, I thought he’d hurt you. I’m so sorry, Ava, you have no idea how sorry I am,” Wesley said softly to her.

     James snorted. “As if I would ever harm her. She’s infinitely safer here with me than she was with you.”

     “All right, that’s it! Ava, say goodbye to your kidnappers, we are leaving,” Wesley said with finality, clutching her to him possessively.

     “Like hell you are! Don’t even try to disappear with her Robinson, or I’ll tear your ship apart!” James threatened.

     “No! Wesley, we aren’t leaving now,” Ava said suddenly, pulling away from him.

     “I don’t believe this, Ava! You are not going to do this to me again!” Wesley bellowed at her. Ava surprised even herself by instinctively taking a few steps back.

     “Careful, Robinson, you’re scaring her,” James scolded coming closer enough to Ava to take her hand. Wesley stared at the handholding as if he were in terrible pain.

     “No . . . this can’t possibly be happening. You can’t have feelings for him, Ava . . . after all that he’s done to you . . . to us?” Wesley choked out. “He abducted you!”

     “It’s more complicated than that . . . James and his family saved my life on Kyanos.” Ava said plainly.

     “What are you talking about? We saw the cave they chased you into . . .”

     “That was my fault. I went exploring and accidently fell in. If James hadn’t come and pulled me out, then I would have died of dehydration.”

     Wesley stared at Ava in disbelief and thought for a moment. “It still doesn’t make what he did right!”

     “What is right in your book, Robinson? You left a defenseless human alone in a desert on a strange planet while you went off to war. What if you had been killed? She would have starved to death eventually.”

     “Ava can handle herself. And my people would have come for her.”

     “Not if they were dead. And what of your enemies? Have you defeated them? We saw what they did to the Andromeda. One of them told us they killed you,” James said matter-of-factly.

     “What? . . . When?” Andre interjected, unable to hide the shock in the expression on his face at hearing this news.

     “A little more than a week after we left Kyanos. You see, Wesley, James was going to bring me back to you. He was going to right his wrong. We thought you were in the Andromeda and that you were out looking for me. That’s when we located it on Earth. They took me down there so that I could come back to you only to find the ship in ruins.” Ava choked up at the recollection of the emotional event.

     Wesley looked from Ava to James. It was he who continued the story, out loud so Naomi and Andre could hear. “They had it in that old hangar in the southwest desert. It was in pieces and severely damaged. From what I could tell they were in the process of rebuilding it. When I realized you were nowhere to be found, two of your enemies stepped out and threatened to take Ava’s life. I dealt with the crazy lunatic that could hear our thoughts easily enough. The woman with the short dark hair tried to kill Ava after she told us you were dead. I didn’t let her live much longer after that.”

     “That would have been Draves and Cassidy,” Andre said looking from Wesley to Naomi. Wesley continued to stare at Ava with a sad look in his eyes.

     “It seemed that there were other Asterions nearby and I couldn’t risk Ava’s safety or put my own family and ship in further danger so we left. I brought Ava here so that she could live a normal life without being tangled up in your rather unfortunate war.”

     “I’m sorry, Wesley, we all thought you really were dead. I’m so sorry,” Ava said softly.

     “You saw that they were rebuilding my starship and you didn’t destroy it on your way out? That was months ago! Kaden could be anywhere now!” Wesley shouted at James.

     “Since when are your enemies my problem?” James said incredulously back at him. “Besides, we had a situation with Ava that was occupying my attention.”

     “What situation? Were you hurt?” Wesley turned to Ava with concern.

     “I don’t know what happened to be honest. It’s just that I started feeling all of the energy from those other Asterions and from James and his family. It began to make me sick because I wasn’t used to feeling it. You and everyone else kept it muted from me so that I never really experienced the full brunt of it. But . . . I’ve since gotten used to it, so I am much better now.” Ava smiled weakly.

     “She’s very sensitive to us. I don’t find it hard to believe since she is my match,” James said evenly.

     “Ava belongs to me, not you!” Wesley replied back darkly.

     “Enough! I don’t belong to anyone. I’m not a possession, I’m a human being!” Ava yelled out of frustration.

     “This is true. Ava is not one of us, Robinson. She has free will, and she will choose who she wants to be with. You and I will accept her decision, no matter what,” James said solemnly and resolutely. Wesley stared at him.

     “I’m going back to the house, and the two of you will not fight any more. Do you understand?” Ava said dropping James’ hand so that she could rub her arms. It was getting colder and she wanted to change into something warmer. She didn’t wait for either one of them to respond before she started trudging in the sand back up towards the house.

     Everyone turned and followed her lead. James and Wesley eyed each other cautiously as they followed behind Ava.

Chapter 27:  The Decision

     Wesley followed James right into his house, not caring whether or not he was intruding, as he was not willing to let Ava out of his sight, in case James decided to flee with her.

     “Oh do come in,” James said with mock sincerity as Wesley, Andre, and Naomi walked right through his door in front of his own family. The two of them watched as Ava walked up the stairs towards her room. Wesley began to follow her, but was stopped by James’ comment.

     “Ava likes her privacy, Robinson. I’m surprised you don’t know that,” he said with a raised eyebrow.

     “I know a lot more about her than you do, I assure you,” he replied angrily.

     “Of course you do,” James said laughing softly as if he did not believe it. He walked into the family room, followed by everyone else, and poured himself a glass of whiskey out of a decanter. “Like a drink?” he offered Robinson before he tossed back his entire half glass, walking over towards the couch, sitting down.

     “Don’t mind if I do,” Wesley said in an exhausted tone as he poured himself one.

     “Why don’t I get you something to drink?” Melanie said to her family as well as Naomi and Andre, who were almost in a stupor watching the events that were unfolding this evening. So far, nothing had gone according to plan.

     “Thank you, may we have some water?” Naomi responded. Melanie nodded and left for the kitchen, returning in a few minutes with a tray holding a pitcher and several glasses.

     Several minutes later, Ava came back downstairs dressed in white cargo capris and a plain black V-necked t-shirt. Both James and Wesley stood as she entered the room. Everyone else remained sitting. Ava walked over to James.

     “James, may I please have a few moments alone with Wesley? I need to talk to him. I promise I won’t leave this room.”

     “As you wish,” James said smoothly to Ava while shooting Wesley a “don’t try anything” look, “I need to change too,” he said gesturing to his clothes, that were now filthy, bloody, and torn in various places from the fight. He glanced again at Wesley before leaving the room and walking up the stairs. The others stood up and obediently filed out after him.

     Ava waited a few seconds for the room to clear before she hurried over to Wesley and threw her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her and twirled her around, like he had done in the past, after first seeing her upon a return from a long mission. They kissed several times passionately, their energy connecting, thrilling them just as it had been in the past. He set her down and she started to cry. “I thought you were dead!”

     “That’s all over now, sweetheart. I’m here, and we’re going to be fine. I missed you so much!” he said tenderly into her ear. He let them drift slightly apart, keeping his hands on her, so that he could get a good look at her. “Ava, you look so beautiful . . . and healthy.”

     “I’ve been doing a lot of training and working out and stuff,” she said proudly.

     “What kind of training, for what?” Wesley sounded amused.

     “I asked them to teach me things, to keep me occupied so that I wouldn’t go crazy over losing you. I’ve learned how to fight, to shoot, to drive, to dance, . . . and to swim.” Ava hesitated over that last part.

     Wesley sighed. “I wanted to be the one to teach you all of those things.” There was an edge of jealously in his voice. “And I thought you didn’t like to dance?”

     Ava shrugged her shoulders and gave him a sheepish smile.

     “So this is where you’ve lived for the past several months . . . have they taken good care of you?” he asked, his voice full of concern as he glanced at the surroundings.

     “Yes, they are all wonderful. They have been so kind to me . . . just the way you and your family have been.”

     “Ava I want you to be honest with me. You know you can tell me anything. Did they hurt you? Or force you to do anything you did not want to do?” He was practically holding his breath.

     “Of course not, Wesley!” Ava was almost outraged at the idea. “James is not evil . . . he wouldn’t do that.  You and he . . . are like the same person in two different bodies. Your energy is the same, but each with its own slightly different edge. I’m different now Wesley, I’m stronger and I have a better understanding of what you both are and why you act the way that you do.”

     “I never painted James as evil, Ava. He and I are the same. I can only imagine how confused you must feel. I tried to keep you a secret from him . . . I’m sorry that you crossed paths with him,” he said softly.

     “I’m not,” Ava replied quietly.

     Wesley gave her a pained look. “Ava, please come home with me. I have crossed the entire universe to find you and I love you more than anything. We can go back to Kyanos, we can be married. It will be like it was before. In time, you will forget him.”

     Ava knew this much was true. In a few months of James’ company, he had taken Wesley’s place in her heart. Now she was torn. What should she do? She loved her new home and her new family, but she also loved Wesley and his family. This was not fair. She couldn’t make herself decide right now so she changed the subject. “What about Kaden and the Andromeda? It’s not over, is it?”

     Wesley looked down. “I will find Kaden and put an end to this for good. I promise you, Ava. Then we will have nothing to fear.”

     “How can you be so sure? Who is protecting Kyanos while you are here with me?”

    “Ava, Kyanos is fine. You are more important to me than Kaden is. Mia, Rowan, and Justin are there. Trust me they are all right.”

     “How do you know that? Do they even have a starship to defend themselves? I assume that you came here on the Principia. Even that is a dangerous mission. You told me it takes several years to work the kinks out of a new ship. Wesley, how could you be so careless?”

     “I had to find you. I promised you I would never leave you and I failed to keep you safe. Now that I have you, we can go home. We can leave right now, then we can worry about Kyanos.”

     “James said that turf wars could rage on for years. He seemed to think I was safer here.”

     “He would say that, wouldn’t he?” Wesley said angrily. “He would say anything to you to keep you here longer so that he could find a way to slither into your bed like the snake that he is!”

     Ava’s jaw dropped at Wesley’s sudden outburst.

     “At least she would know what she was getting in to bed with,” James voice carried as he walked into the family room, showered, clean, and looking perfect next to Wesley who was still covered in dirt, sand, and blood.

     “How dare you!” Wesley roared.

     James crossed his arms. “How dare you? You pretended to be human to her for far too long while you took her under your wing. She really had no idea what she was getting into, did she? Even when you finally took her to your little colony, you did nothing to prepare her for what was to come. It’s a miracle she was even alive by the time I found her. She’s a lot stronger and more intelligent than you seem to think she is.”

     “Oh, and you are so smart? Using Bryant as your bloodhound to find her was reckless. He is one of my most bitter enemies. He could have easily killed her to get back at me when you weren’t watching.”

     James gave him a bored look. “I was on to Bryant from the start. We ditched him shortly after we found Ava. He was too afraid of me to even touch her.”

     Ava had enough bickering for one night. “I can’t do this anymore,” she said softly rubbing her temples.

     “You don’t have to decide anything tonight,” James assured her, touching her shoulder.

     “Ava, the sooner we leave, the safer Kyanos will be,” Wesley said with a slightly urgent edge, ignoring James and taking her hand.

     “Enough!” Ava stood between them and placed a palm on each of their chests to push them apart. As she did so, it seemed that all three of them connected, as if she had been a conduit for their energy, which seemed to want to merge together and form a complete circuit. Overall the sensation felt like a powerful electric shock traveling through her. Ava removed her hands immediately and each Asterion stepped back, rubbing their chests where Ava had touched them. They eyed each other warily as Ava rubbed her hands to alleviate the stinging sensation. She hardly knew what to make sense of the situation. “I’m going to bed,” she said sounding exhausted, turning away from both of them and marching out into the hallway. She could feel the anguish building up inside Wesley as she left, feeling slightly guilty over it, but she needed some time alone to think this through. Out in the hallway she was met by a hopeful looking Naomi and Andre, who both hugged her again. 

     “We were so worried about you, Ava, I am happy to see that you are well,” Naomi said.

     “The boss has been beside himself with grief over you, we’ve never seen anything like it,” Andre added grinning at her.

     “How have you all been? What was the fight with Kaden like?”

     “It was rough. They caused a lot of damage to the city and there were many casualties. We thought we had brought Kaden down when we chased him onto the moon where both the Draconis and the Andromeda crash landed, but when we went back, we found that the ship was missing. Then we hauled what was left of Kaden’s ship back to the city. We’ve been searching for you ever since,” Naomi explained.

     “I’m sorry for what you went through, how awful for you, and for Wesley,” Ava said sadly with tears in her eyes.

     “Ava, please come home with us, Wesley needs you,” she pleaded.

     “I know . . . it’s just that I’m so confused right now. I need some time to process this.” The tears were out in full force again, Ava used the back of her hand to wipe them away. “Please, can’t you all just give me some time?”

     “Of course they can, Ava, don’t let either one of them pressure you tonight,” Melanie interrupted authoritatively coming nearer with Lizeth to bid her good evening. “Take all the time that you need. Naomi and I will make sure they behave themselves while you sort things out,” she said glancing at Naomi who nodded slowly, looking somewhat frustrated.

     Ava nodded and proceeded back up the stairs while Wesley and James stepped out into the hallway with the others to watch her go.

     “I’m going back to my ship,” Wesley said. Then he turned to James, “I’ll be back in the morning and if you dare try anything . . .”

     James narrowed his eyes at Wesley and interrupted him fiercely. “Hasn’t she been through enough! She needs to rest, though I doubt she will be able to sleep tonight. Go back to your ship, Robinson, and keep it invisible if you don’t mind. I don’t need you scaring the locals . . . I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but if you truly cared for Ava’s safety, you’d make the right choice for her and just get back on your ship and leave now that you know she has been safe here.” He turned and marched off into the front music room, leaving the others to see Wesley, Naomi, and Andre out. Wesley watched him go showing no emotion on his face.

     Ava tried to concentrate on doing normal bedtime activities to take her mind off of the situation. She managed to get through brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas without choking on her tears. She grabbed some tissues and laid down on the bed, trying to stay calm. She could feel the energy flowing around from all of the Asterions downstairs and wondered what they were up to. At least she didn’t hear any shouting and took that as a good sign. She heard a door shut and wondered what was going on. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the sensation of energy from James and Wesley. They were nearly identical, though Wesley’s seemed to be growing fainter and James’ energy seemed to be staying in one place.

     She had seen movies in her past about love triangles where one person had to choose between two different lovers but this was not the same. What do you do when the two people you have to choose between are the same person? Ava couldn’t bring herself to think about choosing between them tonight, so instead she thought about Kyanos and how it compared to Sphene. They were definitely not on the same level as far as development and technology, but Kyanos could get there in time. She would be needed on Kyanos, she could get back to helping to take care of people. Here, she had pretty much been on vacation with no real purpose. It would be dangerous on Kyanos. With Kaden still out there, there was no telling what could happen. She had to admit, she did feel safer and more secure on Sphene. She went back and forth in her mind thinking about the pros and cons of each until she felt herself becoming tired. She faintly heard the sound of James playing the piano downstairs; the music was slow and peaceful and eventually helped her fall asleep.

Chapter 28: Departure

     Ava had a tumultuous night sleeping intermittently and ended up oversleeping into the late morning before she showered and made her way downstairs into the kitchen. Mrs. Maclaren greeted her as usual with her coffee and Ava sat at the breakfast bar wondering if this would be the last time that she did. Mrs. Maclaren patted her shoulder affectionately and tried not to stare at the dark circles under Ava’s puffy eyes. She couldn’t be sure, but somehow Ava knew that someone had briefed her on what was going down at the house right now.

     After not eating much of her late breakfast, she decided to wander down onto the beach for the first time since she almost drowned. No one was around, and no one disturbed her. She noticed that some of the staff was cleaning up the remains from the party-turned-into-brawl last night in the garden. She meandered down to the water’s edge and slipped off her sandals. She walked up and down the shoreline in front of the property, letting the shallow waves flow and retreat over her feet as she walked.

     After some time, she sensed Wesley coming towards her. She turned and gazed upon him and smiled. He looked refreshed and perfect again, wearing his typical captain’s attire of black boots and pants, a navy blue T-shirt and his utility belt. There was no sign that he had ever been in a vicious fight less than a day ago. She walked further up from the shoreline and into his outreached arms. It felt so good to be with him again, she closed her eyes and leaned into his strong embrace.

     “How are you?” he asked softly.

     “I didn’t sleep much,” she admitted truthfully. “You?”

     “Not at all,” he laughed softly, gazing at her.

     “What are we going to do now?” she asked, letting her thoughts be spoken out loud.

     “Ava, I cannot make this decision for you. Things have changed, but above all else, . . . what it all boils down to, is that I want you to be happy.”

     “I know. Thank you, that is very selfless of you. I don’t know what I did to deserve your love . . . or his. No matter what I choose, I’m going to hurt one of you, and myself in the process. It just isn’t fair.”

     “No it isn’t and I’m sorry you are burdened with this.”

     Ava let the comforting sensation of his energy flow into her as she leaned into him, feeling herself relax in his embrace. For a long time they stood holding each other. She let her thoughts wander through the past year of her life. She closed her eyes and remembered how she felt when she was falling in love with him and all of the times that he had been there for her. She recalled all of their adventures, the scariness of the virus that almost took her life, and their good times. She couldn’t let it go . . . it didn’t compare to her life now. She needed him as much as he needed her. Suddenly she opened her deep blue eyes and looked up into his warm brown ones. It was all the assurance she required to know that she could never be separated from him again. There was just no way.

     “It’s you! I choose you!” she said breathlessly as she pulled his face down to kiss him. He returned her kisses with a ferocity she did not know was in him until they were both breathing heavy.

     “Are you sure Ava? I cannot promise that our life together will be easy until Kaden is dealt with,” he said honestly.

     “Your problems are my problems, remember?” she replied, smiling up at him. He returned the smile and kissed her once more.

     “We should leave now,” he said softly.

     “We can’t just leave. I have to tell him. I owe him that much,” she said solemnly.

     Wesley held her out at arms length. “No way, Ava, there’s no telling how angry he could become. He might lose control and hurt you. No . . . it’s not worth the risk.”

     “I’m telling him in person whether you like it or not. I cannot just simply run out on him. He deserves an explanation . . . wouldn’t you?” Ava tried to reason with him.

     “I suppose so,” Wesley said with uncertainty. He didn’t like this, but he had to honor Ava’s request. He did not want to argue with her now that she had made the decision to go back with him.

     “I need you to go back to the ship and make whatever plans that you need to. I need some time to speak with James, . . . and pack.” Ava’s voice trailed off. She was already getting emotional at leaving her home. “Can you give me three hours?”

     Wesley nodded, squeezing her hand. “Be careful. I don’t know what I would do if he hurt you.” Together they walked back up to the house. Ava walked inside, and Wesley disappeared, teleporting back to his ship. She stood for a few moments in the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water and trying to collect her thoughts before approaching James.

     The house was quiet and Ava didn’t see anyone, not even the housekeepers. She looked through all of the rooms on the main floor but didn’t see or sense James. She decided to head downstairs into the basement where the studio was. Sure enough he was sitting at one of the keyboards writing music with his headphones on. He was clearly trying to distract himself from what was going on. Ava could feel his energy trembling around him as if he knew what was coming. He saw her approach, removed his headphones and stood.

     “Hi,” he said softly.

     “Hi,” she responded shyly. She took a deep breath. It’s now or never, she thought. “James I want you to know how thankful I am that you saved my life several times. I truly appreciate all that you’ve done for me and the experiences that you have given me, but I have to make a decision and my decision is that I will return to Kyanos with Wesley.”

     James placed his hands on her shoulders and pleaded with her. “No, Ava. Please don’t go back with him! I love you, I can’t bear it if you leave now. His enemies are still out there. He could be putting you in terrible danger!” There were tears forming in his eyes.

     “I’m sorry, James, I’m so sorry. This was not an easy decision for me.” She began to feel tears welling up herself.

     “You have feelings for me, Ava, I know that you do!” His energy pulsed around the room, rising in intensity, absorbing right into her. He embraced her, holding her to him in desperation.

     She gently drew back from him and looked directly up into his eyes. “I do have feelings for you . . . I love you.” She hesitated as he sucked in his breath at her admission. “And if I could split myself in two and stay with you I would. But I love him, and I made him a promise I will not break.”

     “Stay with me, don’t throw your life away fighting in his war!”

     “I can’t, . . . I’m sorry.  We’re leaving at five o’clock,” she looked down at the floor, wiping her tears away with the back of one of her hands.

     Ava felt his energy run cold and start to collapse in on itself. He began to feel like a dark, empty void until she couldn’t feel him anymore. She had never sensed him, or Wesley for that matter, this way before. He was breathing heavily with his nostrils flaring and his bright blue eyes boring into her, but she did not let the sensations around her intimidate her. He pressed his lips into a severe line, removed his hands from her shoulders and stepped back from her. She could feel his anger smoldering within him.

     “If this is your decision . . . then so be it, Ava. I can only hope that he will keep you safe,” he said harshly looking at her one last time. Then he stiffly marched quickly out of the room, leaving her alone with tears running down her face. She wasn’t supposed to feel this sad but she couldn’t help it. She hurt him badly and she could feel how awful it was; he was absolutely devastated. She could feel her heart breaking for James despite the love that she felt firing up inside for Wesley. She didn’t even know how such a thing was possible. She remained there for a few moments to pull herself together before heading back upstairs to pack.

      She stood in front of her dresser just as she had done many times before. She stared at the photograph of her and James at the concert, taken by one of the reporters. She removed her Sphene ID card from her wallet and placed it on the dresser. Then she numbly took her hands and undid the clasp on the necklace James had given her the night before and set it down in the jewelry box next to the earrings she had been wearing. She picked up the gold locket Wesley had given her long ago and put it back in its rightful place around her neck. Next, she put her grandmother’s earrings that she had always been so proud of back in her ears and managed a weak smile at herself to give her the strength to keep going.

     And now for the closet. Ava pulled out a rather large travel bag and pondered what to take. She didn’t have many cold weather clothes, at least nothing suitable for the frigid temperature of space travel. She felt guilty about taking anything from here because all of it was given to her. Then she reasoned that they wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway and started packing some of her favorite clothes and workout attire. About half way through she glanced down at the small safe sitting on the floor of her closet.

     She knelt down and opened it to reveal the case containing the gun James had given her. She picked it up, feeling its weight in her hands, wondering what to do. Quickly, she made a snap decision and grabbed the photo from the dresser and put it in the case. Next, she carefully set the gun back down with the charger, closed and locked it, and placed it in her bag. She proceeded to carefully pack more clothing and shoes around the case to conceal it. There would be no customs or inspections where she was going and Wesley didn’t need to know about it yet anyway.

     At quarter to five she lugged the heavy travel bag downstairs to the foyer and gazed up at the beautiful stained glass ceiling for the last time. She opened the front door and stood there waiting. Mrs. Maclaren appeared from the back of the entryway and gave Ava a big hug. There were tears in her eyes. Ava hugged her back and said she was sorry she had to leave. Even Travis came out to shake Ava’s hand and wish her well. Ava nodded, taking the handkerchief he offered her.

     She wasn’t prepared for what came next. Suddenly they started arriving, leaving their Velas parked all over the front drive. Melanie, Lucas, Lizeth, Nicholas, Blayke, and Emma all arrived at the same time. Ava dragged her bag out onto the porch and down the steps onto the drive to meet them.

     “We heard you were leaving us,” Melanie said softly as she came to hug Ava. Ava hugged her tightly, wondering why life was so full of hard decisions and heartache. Melanie was her good friend and she felt so sad that she had to leave all of them. In a short period of time, they had become her family.

     “I’m sorry,” was all Ava could manage.

     “We understand how it is. Don’t apologize for your decision. You love him and that’s all that matters. Your heart and your mind are like our energy and our essence. You are an exquisite example to us all on what it means to be human. It is what we strive for every day.”

     “Thank you, Melanie.”

     “Take care of yourself kid,” Blayke teased, holding up his fists in a guard position. It made Ava smile.

     “I will . . . I promise.”

     Lizeth was next. “I’m sorry about what happened to you on the beach. Please be careful, Ava.”

     “That was my fault, I was being foolish. Thank you for your friendship, I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss all of you.”

     “Here, take this, it is for your eyes only,” Emma said as she handed Ava what appeared to be a small cosmetics bag.

     “What’s this?” She turned it over in her hands. She could feel there were a few small objects inside.

     “It’s life insurance,” she said mysteriously. “If you should ever need us, inside you will find the code to unravel the signal to contact us. You know, just in case.”

     “Thank you.” Ava wasn’t sure she would ever need it, but put it in her bag anyway.

     Ava hugged them all again. Her face was a wet, flushed mess by the time she saw Wesley’s courier approaching. “Where is James?” she asked Melanie quickly. She had been feeling the sadness building up since the others arrived. She wanted to see him again, just once more to say goodbye before she left for good.

     “He just couldn’t take it, Ava. It’s better this way. Maybe one day, when he’s accepted the situation, we can come and visit you,” Melanie said hesitantly as she smiled sadly at Ava. She nodded back at her, knowing inside that day would probably never come. Before she knew it, Wesley was back at her side. He said a polite farewell to James’ family before ushering Ava quickly back towards the courier. Andre scooped up Ava’s bag as he and Naomi thanked the others for their hospitality and their kindness to Ava and then they were off.

     It took mere minutes to reach the concealed Principia. The cloaking mechanism worked so well to conceal the ship and it seemed odd that they appeared to be driving right up into something invisible. Once inside and the ramp to the cargo area was closed everyone hopped out and Wesley gathered Ava into a passionate embrace and kiss while Andre and Naomi smiled.

     “Come, let’s get you strapped in for lift off. Andre will take your bag to our quarters.” He seemed so happy, but still a little on edge, as if he expected something to happen.

     “Ava! Welcome back!” Ash called to her as they walked towards him on the way to the observation deck.

     “Hi Ash!” Ava smiled at him, looking into his sky blue eyes, happy to see another familiar face.

     “Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten the way home!” he joked.

     “Very funny,” Wesley said dryly as he led the way holding Ava’s hand. She laughed lightly. Once Ava was safely secured in her seat, Wesley took the one next to her and fastened himself in.

     “You’re not going to the flight deck?” she asked, a little confused.

     “I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he said seriously as he took her hand and kissed it.

     Ava leaned back and closed her eyes, concentrating on the familiar feel of Wesley’s energy as Andre counted down and the ship powered up. Everything was just as smooth as she remembered it as the Principia soared upwards into the atmosphere, and then further and further away from the green haze of the planet known as Sphene. She was once again in the company of her trusted family and she should be happy. She was happy, but she was also sad. Wesley seemed to pick up on her emotions and squeezed her hand.

     “Let’s get you settled,” he suggested, unbuckling her safety restraints as the cabin pressure evened out and the Principia glided along steadily. Ava took his hand and walked with him up to his quarters. She noticed that he closed the door behind them once they were both inside. “How are you doing, are you okay? I know how intense he can be.” He seemed very concerned.

     “It’s going to take some time,” she answered honestly.

     He nodded, drawing her close to him. “You’re cold,” he observed, wrapping his arms around her.

     “Wesley, why do you suppress your energy from me?” she asked, remembering how wonderful it felt when James shared his with her.

     “I don’t want to hurt you . . . why?” He looked puzzled.

      “I want to feel your energy, it won’t hurt me if we’re careful. Just . . . turn it up a notch,” she said lightly.

       “Okay,” he said cautiously pressing his lips against hers. “Ava, I love you.” She warmed up immediately as his familiar energy penetrated her, comforted her and excited her. They kissed passionately, their hands roaming over each other.

     “I love you too.” Ava pushed Wesley’s shirt off over his head and ran her hands over his sculpted chest and broad shoulders. His impressive physique never failed to thrill her. It seemed like it had been ages since they had been together and she could feel her spirits rising. Her skin tingled everywhere he touched her as he slowly slid her T-shirt over her head. He leaned forward into her, lifted her up, and gently laid her down on the bed. She could feel his intense desire for her. Their energy started connecting, strengthening the bond between them. She wanted him, she needed him. She needed to forget James. This is how it should be she thought as he kissed her. She had made the right decision.

Chapter 29:  Hope and Doubt

     Wesley slept more soundly than he had over the last several months. As he woke, he reached over to where Ava had been only to find the space empty. He opened his eyes and shot out of bed in a nanosecond, donned some clothes and teleported around the ship frantically looking for her. Naomi and Ava gasped as Wesley startled them when he suddenly appeared before them in the kitchen. The two women were sitting at a small table with mugs of steaming hot tea in front of them.

     “What’s wrong?” Ava asked, getting up and walking over to him quickly.

     “Nothing . . . nothing,” he breathed heavily as his eyes raked her over. “I was just wondering where you were.”

     “I couldn’t sleep. It’s the reverse time change,” Ava explained. “Naomi and I were just catching up.”

     “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Please, . . . go back to your visit. I’m going to shower so that I can relieve Ash.”

     She kissed him softly and smiled at him as he walked out of the kitchen.

     “He’s been beside himself with worry for you since you disappeared. He’ll be okay once we’re back on Kyanos. I think he’s still in shock that James didn’t try to stop you from leaving.”

     “He’s a good man,” she said softly.

     “I don’t doubt that, Ava. He saved my life once.” Naomi smiled at Ava, herself feeling relief that James let Ava go without a fight.

     “How long will it be before we are home?”

     “We’re going to take a little detour back down to Earth first. Wesley and Andre want to check out that hangar where Kaden had the Andromeda. If they are still there we can ambush them, if not, perhaps they left some clues behind as to their whereabouts.”

∞

     Ava sat in the observation deck with Naomi as the Principia neared the wormhole that had brought them to the new universe that James had taken her to.  On her way to Sphene she had been holed up in her quarters on the Solstice and had no knowledge of it. It was comforting to have Naomi’s company during this risky part of the return trip, even though they told her that coming through had been a breeze. The other three Asterions remained in the flight deck. Ava could sense the ship slowing down and feel Wesley summoning his energy to brace the ship for the journey into the abyss. They sat in silence as they watched the monitors.

     The ship shuddered, shaking them in their seats and the temperature dropped several degrees as they began passing through. They could not see much from the cameras, just some occasional bursts of light and what appeared to be clouds of light debris that they were passing through. Sometimes they didn’t see anything at all, except the usual blur that they saw when they traveled at absolute velocity. After some rather wild turbulence and a minor panic attack from Ava, the Principia sailed out into the universe that they had come from.

     Over the next few days on the journey back to Earth, Ava related stories of her experiences on Sphene and what James and his family had taught her to her family. She even recounted the harrowing story of her near drowning experience and how James had saved her only a few days before they had found her. Wesley seemed very distant and looked away during that part of the story, figuring out that was how he had found Ava, through James’ desperate fear that she was going to die. The thought of how much James had come to love Ava disturbed Wesley. The fact that James honored Ava’s wishes to return with him demonstrated exactly just how much he did love her. Deep down, Wesley had doubts that he could have been that strong and felt ashamed for himself.  Ava was human and not bound by their laws or attraction, she had to be the one to make the decision and James had no choice. Wesley felt sorry for him now.

     Ava became somewhat nervous the closer they ventured towards the old abandoned hangar, remembering the events of what transpired there. Ash cloaked the ship again as they pulled in closer and hovered a short distance above and away from the entrance.

     “Let’s send in a Scout first,” Wesley advised.

     The “Scout” was simply a motorized flying remote controlled camera able to give them a visual on what was happening inside the hangar. Ash was proud of his new toy, especially since it assumed the risk of going in first and not them. Everyone congregated into the flight deck to watch what the news would be. At first it was hard to see anything due to the snow flurries but once inside they saw through the night vision that the hangar was empty. Ava could immediately feel the energy of the Asterions around her sink in disappointment and even a touch of fear because there could be no telling where Kaden and whatever new crew he assembled would be by now. She hoped Kyanos was okay, she could not shake the guilty feeling that she was the reason their planet had been left unprotected.

     Wesley inhaled and exhaled out of frustration that Kaden had yet again slipped through his fingers. “Go in for a landing and we’ll see what kind of parts he left behind,” he said softly. Ash brought the Principia down inside the entrance, illuminating the lamps on the front of the ship to give them a view of hangar. Parts that Kaden had apparently felt were inadequate and pieces of the old Andromeda were strewn everywhere. The hangar resembled a junkyard of disassembled parts, computers, and wiring. It was simply a mess.

     Once the ship was secure Wesley wanted to go out and collect what he could of the usable parts, hoping there was something that would help his team of engineers re-build another starship on Kyanos. Ava followed him, Andre, and Ash to the entrance into the cargo area of the ship.

     “Whoa, Ava, I want you to stay on the ship this time. The three of us will handle this,” he said authoritatively.

     “I don’t want to stay in here without you,” she argued. Now that they were back together, she disliked being separated from him.

     “It will be fine. I can sense that Kaden is not here if that’s what’s worrying you. We won’t be long.” He kissed her gently a few times and gave Naomi a look before shutting the door to the cargo area behind him.

     “Come up to the monitors with me, we can watch everything that they are doing. Besides, it’s freezing out there,” Naomi said confidently.

     Ava complied, remembering that she had more than once gotten herself into trouble by not following orders. She watched the three men gather parts and toss them into a large cart that they ran back and forth to the cargo ramp of their ship. From the expressions on their faces they seemed pleased with some of their findings. Ava looked around the hangar, remembering that James had killed two Asterions here, but thankfully, did not see any signs of their bodies.

     She reflected on the events of the past year of her life and felt a great range of emotions flood through her. She had changed and grown so much as a person. She had been gloriously happy and also immeasurably sad. But most of all, she was grateful that she, as a human, had been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to know these wonderful beings that called themselves the Asterions. Melanie had told her that every day they try to learn to be more human, but it seemed to Ava that she herself had been learning to be more human from them.

     As she looked out at her beloved Wesley and her other two friends, she felt a wave of hope sweep through her for the future. Aside from that, she also could not help but instinctively feel a gnawing, sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach that their war with Kaden was far from over.

Preview

Here is a sneak peek at the Solar Wind Series finale. . The Solar Storm

Chapter 1: Vows

     Ava stepped out onto the terrace of the home she shared with Wesley and inhaled the fresh air on Kyanos. The sky, which possessed a slight lavender hue, was calm and bright. She savored the peace that the small planet enjoyed at the moment. Since their arrival a few months ago there had not been any threats from Kaden, but everyone was on edge, waiting for him to come. It would only be a matter of time. Wesley and his family worked night and day with Trevor Vance and the military to develop strategies to protect the residents and the crops from the next assault from their enemy.

      Ava remembered the look on Vance’s face when they landed in the Principia as she stepped out into the hangar. She knew Vance respected her and cared for her safety, but deep down, she felt the look he gave her was one of immense relief. He hoped the Asterions could now focus on what really mattered and what was most important; keeping their planet safe instead of searching for her. She knew it was not her fault that she had been taken from Kyanos, however she could not shake the feeling of guilt that she carried around.

     Ava’s experience on Sphene with James and his family had changed her. She was incredibly happy to be back with Wesley and the others, however she also possessed a void where her second family and home had been. She felt terrible about what had happened with James and the way she had left him, however she was certain that she would never see him again. She failed to understand how she could have become so attached to him in such a short period of time after believing that Wesley had died. She remembered feeling the contempt resonating from him into her after she had informed him of her intentions to leave. The dark emotions she perceived did not sit well within her. The fact that he didn’t even come to say farewell when she left confirmed everything she believed. This was how it had to be and she would have to forget him.

      Wesley could not have been more compassionate and understanding with her during the transition back to her life with his family. He was the only one who could truly understand. Losing James seemed almost as painful as it had been when she thought she had lost Wesley. Ava could not make sense of these emotions. She loved Wesley, and although she knew she made the right choice to return with him, she did not expect to feel depressed over it. Wesley reasoned that it was the energy that he and James share that she had grown attached to. Ava was more sensitive to it than any other human that they had encountered before. James let his energy flow more freely to her than Wesley had. She had, in a sense, become an addict. Wesley and James were the same essence split into two different bodies and Ava was somehow bound to them both, a fact that confused and confounded all the Asterions in both families. Because she was human, she had the ability to maintain her free will which allowed her to choose between them.

     She felt calmer when Wesley was around. He made a conscious effort to emit more energy when she was near him to comfort her and it seemed to help. As the days passed, and the more time she spent with him, she began to feel less sorrow over James’ absence. She knew she could not have them both in her life. Instead, she tried to focus her mind and energy on the positives around her and shelve her troubled feelings about the past. She had come to realize what a privilege it is to live so freely and why peace is so important. She would take her life on Kyanos or Sphene over any day she had lived back on Earth or on Orionis. There simply was no comparison.

     She missed her self-defense training sessions with Blayke and Emma, and above all, she wanted to be useful again. She didn’t want to be a defenseless human standing around needing to be protected all the time. At Wesley’s urging, she did not go back to work right away, but began a new training schedule with Rowan and Justin filling in as her instructors. It was time for her session to begin and Ava walked down to the garage and settled in the new courier that Wesley had given her. Since she had already learned to drive on Sphene, she needed very little coaching to figure out how to operate the couriers on Kyanos. After all, they were not much different from the velas she had originally learned on. Great minds think alike, she thought to herself, remembering that both Wesley and James had told her that they had been the ones to design the small solar powered vehicles.

       Ava loved the feel of the wind on her face as she glided through the city on her way to the training room, which was actually more like a large gymnasium. She usually trained every morning with her two friends and spent most of the afternoons during the week attending strategy meetings with her family and doing volunteer work in the clinic, or on the farms and fields; pretty much anywhere help was needed to re-build. It was satisfying that the citizens of Kyanos respected her because of her relationship with Wesley, and she liked feeling appreciated for the help that she gave. Today was an exception; her training had been moved to the afternoon to accommodate a meeting that Justin and Rowan had to attend.

     “Ready to take it up a notch today, Ava?” Justin asked with his blue eyes shining at her as she entered from the locker room, slipping her gloves on.

     “You know it!” She replied enthusiastically sensing his unique energy, a skill she had been honing since she discovered it as an advantage to her. Every Asterion seemed to feel different to her aside from Wesley and James, whom uniquely shared the same energy.

     “Let’s not go too hard core today you two,” Rowan jokingly warned as she joined them. She handed Justin his punch mitts as she continued, “remember Naomi and Andre are having us all over for dinner in a few hours to go over the final details for the wedding.” Her green eyes seemed to sparkle with happiness for Ava. “Wesley will be upset if she has bruises on her hands that he has to heal again,” she instructed her husband as she swept her wavy red hair up into a ponytail.

     “I haven’t forgotten,” Ava replied with a smile spreading across her face. It seemed ages ago that she and Wesley had celebrated their engagement. Although they were technically in a war, Wesley did not want to postpone their plans because there was no telling when Kaden would attack. It could be today, it could be next month. No one knew. Their wedding was now less than one week away and all of the Asterions were excited. Their energy seemed to swirl around charged with happiness and anticipation of the event.

     “Let’s go!” Justin called to her and they began. After the one-time mind manipulation that he performed on her to forget her broken leg on the abandoned space station long ago, she had experienced some trust issues with him. Since learning the truth about them she let the issues melt away, especially since he sincerely apologized and promised never to do it again.

     Rowan bounced around the room, half floating and half leaping around them, defying gravity and observing their techniques, offering objective pointers. Their different abilities as Asterions intrigued and amazed Ava. Sometimes she allowed herself to feel a little envious of her friends, but also remembered that if the humans in the universe knew about Kyanos, they would feel envious of her, for escaping to a free world away from the corruption of the Intergalactic Transport Organization.

     As they were finishing up, she felt a rush of energy as Wesley appeared before her out of thin air. She gasped, almost startled as he embraced her playfully.

     “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that,” Ava admitted with a smile, sighing and reaching up to kiss him.

     “Thought I’d check up on your progress,” he replied innocently as he slowly started undoing the laces on one of her gloves, while planting a few kisses on her wrist, causing it to tingle.

     “How was your meeting?” She asked as he removed the glove and inspected her hand.

     “Uneventful . . . nothing on the radar. Makes me wonder what that bastard is up to with my ship,” he said calmly, referring to Kaden, as he began to work on her other glove. Wesley had been livid after he discovered Kaden escaped in the Andromeda, and even more furious since learning that he had successfully repaired it and disappeared again. Since their arrival back on Kyanos, he tried his best to conceal his vexation over the situation from Ava. “Ash has a few ideas on how to track him. We built her so I’m sure he hasn’t been able to re-wire and re-program everything to employ a cloaking technology. That’s one thing in our favor.” He frowned and shot Justin a look as he discovered that Ava had a small split with a little dried blood from punching on one of her left knuckles. He held her hand in both of his and pressed his lips on her wound. Ava felt a warm, prickling sensation for a few moments and when he released her from his kiss and lowered her hand, the wound was healed, save for the residual dried blood and a small red mark where the split had been.

     “I’m sorry,” she replied, referring to the Andromeda.

     “It’s not your fault sweetheart,” he responded reassuringly. “We’ll get him sooner or later.”

     Ava made a quick trip to the locker room to change before meeting back up with Wesley in the gym. Rowan and Justin had already left to get ready for their dinner at the Regnier residence that evening. He followed her out to the courier. She playfully raised a questioning eyebrow at him. “Need a lift?” She asked casually, knowing full well he could teleport himself back home in an instant.

     “Actually I do, if you would be so kind, Ms. Amherst,” he managed to say with a straight face. He opened the driver’s side door for her and then hopped into the passenger seat as she revved up the small vehicle and raced back towards their home.

∞

The Solar Storm. . . now available on Amazon!

About the Author

Laura E. Collins is the author of The Solar Wind series and The Twilight Star. She writes paranormal/fantasy romance with unexpected twists. She loves planting flowers in the spring, listening to electronic dance music, and trying new recipes. Laura lives in Illinois with her husband and family.

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