The Solar Storm

               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 © 2015 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: Vows

Chapter 2: Life Insurance

Chapter 3: Buried Feelings

Chapter 4: The Mission

Chapter 5:  Mission Accomplished

Chapter 6: Risk

Chapter 7:  The Vector

Chapter 8: The Gift

Chapter 9: Gone

Chapter 10: Farewell

Chapter 11: Changes

Chapter 12: Awaken

Chapter 13: Earth II

Chapter 14: Kaden

Chapter 15: Ava

Chapter 16: Transition

Chapter 17: The New Threat

Chapter 18: Left Behind

Chapter 19: Isana

Chapter 20: Home

Acknowledgements

About the Author

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 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 rebuild. 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 rewire and reprogram 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.

∞

     “Surprise!” A room full of people shouted enthusiastically at Wesley and Ava as they entered Naomi and Andre’s house. What was supposed to have been a casual dinner discussing the wedding turned out to be a wedding shower. Ava felt flooded with relief that she had the good sense to have worn a pretty light blue dress for the occasion.

     Naomi came bounding up to her energetically and hugged her. “I know you said you wanted a low-key celebration, but you simply can’t get married without a shower!”

     “Naomi, you shouldn’t have . . . with everything going on it just doesn’t feel right. But thank you . . . I never really had one when I married Nathan,” Ava stated softly, recalling the distant memory of her plain, long ago nuptials to her late husband. Wesley smiled knowingly at her and squeezed her hand. Andre appeared holding some glasses filled with champagne, giving one each to Ava and Wesley.

     “Cheers! Now let’s celebrate!” Andre said energetically as Naomi dragged the couple further into the crowd. All of her Asterion family was there as well as Trevor and Rochelle Vance, and several other acquaintances Ava recognized. There were also many other people Ava did not recognize but whom knew Wesley. Through the many introductions and well-wishing, Ava noticed all of the beautiful decorations her family had put up as well as several gifts waiting to be opened. The music and the laughter seemed so carefree she actually found herself enjoying it. The appetizers continued coming around and one person or another from her family kept refilling her glass. She observed Wesley talking to some of his friends in the great room and noticed how elated he seemed that the big day was almost here. The thought gave her a warm feeling inside. She had wanted this for so long, remembering how she had dreamed of it when she lived on Orionis and was only able to see Wesley and her friends on the weekends. Now, they truly were her family and she felt lucky to have them. However, something nagged at the back of her mind. She knew she was a human and they were Asterions.

     Ava drifted out onto the patio that overlooked Naomi’s pool and sipped her drink, wondering how they would handle watching her age as they all remained youthful. It was not long before she sensed a feeling of warm sunshine flowing towards her and Naomi appeared.

     “Are you having a good time?” she asked Ava cautiously.

     “It’s a beautiful party, thank you, Naomi. You are such a thoughtful friend to me,” Ava replied giving her a reassuring smile.

     Naomi stood next to her for a few minutes before speaking again. “I know what you are thinking,” she said softly.

     “You do?” Ava asked in surprise. She knew Naomi had the ability to sense emotions, but mind reading?

     “Of course. Don’t worry about the age thing . . . life has a way of evening out. Wesley loves you for who you are, not what you look like. There is no one else for him, and I’ve never seen him happier. You’ve been through so much, let yourself be happy. Time is so precious, don’t waste it worrying about the future.”

     “I didn’t know you could read minds,” Ava said hesitantly.

     “I can’t, thank goodness. I figured it was either that bringing you down or you were getting cold feet, . . . which is also perfectly normal before a marriage.”

     Ava laughed. “Cold feet? You forget I’ve done this before. If anyone would have cold feet, it should be the eternal bachelor over there,” she jokingly gestured to Wesley who was heading towards them.

     “Who has cold feet?” he asked, standing behind Ava and wrapping his arms around her, kissing her on the head. She leaned back into him, closing her eyes, enjoying his touch.

     “Nobody apparently,” Naomi said as she winked at Wesley. “Come on, it’s time to open your gifts,” she said as she ushered them back into the party.

∞

     Ava usually experienced difficulty sleeping in a strange bed, and this night was no different. Tomorrow will be her wedding day and Rowan insisted that she stay the night at her house with Justin so that Wesley could not see her before the wedding. Rowan said it was an old tradition that would bring them luck. When morning arrived, she sat up in the bed and stretched, feeling a smile play across her lips. It was only eight in the morning. The wedding would not take place until five in the evening so she had plenty of time to get ready. A soft knock sounded on the door. She could sense Rowan’s fluttering energy outside. She must have felt me wake up, Ava thought as she called for her to come in.

     “It’s finally here!” she exclaimed as she leaped over to the window to throw open the curtains that were blocking the brilliant sunlight Kyanos was known for. “We have a special day planned for you!”

     “You do?” Ava asked in surprise. She wanted the wedding to be a modest affair because it was her nature, and also because of the tragedy and hardship Kaden had brought to Kyanos. She had chosen Naomi to be her maid of honor and Wesley had chosen Andre to be the best man, and that was the extent of the wedding party. She had wanted the wedding to be at their home, however everyone convinced her it would be so much more elegant by the lake with the greenery and the flowers in bloom. From there they would have a small, intimate reception at the restaurant where Wesley had taken Ava before he proposed to her.

     “First, we are going to give you a hearty breakfast, and then we are off to the spa!” Rowan informed her pleasantly.

     “I don’t feel much like eating right now,” Ava said nervously, feeling the butterflies beginning in her stomach. The fact that Kaden could launch an attack at any moment hung over her like a dark cloud. Her family had a plan in place, however, should that occur.

     “Nonsense! Believe me, you are going to need lots of energy for tonight,” Rowan teased her.

     Ava laughed. “What are they going to do to me at the spa?”

     “Well, all of us ladies are going to be massaged, manicured, and pampered with plenty of time to get you ready for the ceremony,” she replied brightly. “Don’t worry, Ava, . . . nothing, and I mean nothing, shall spoil this day for you.”

     “What are all of the fellas doing today?” Ava asked, getting out of bed. She was curious as to how Wesley would be spending his time before the ceremony.

     “Probably working on the new starship, you know how they are. Justin has already left,” she joked lightheartedly, waiving her hand dismissively. “I told them they would be in big trouble if any of them showed up with grease visible anywhere.” The two women laughed heartily at the thought.

      It felt so good to relax. Ava had never spent much time at a spa before. The music they piped in was calm and soothing. The comforting aroma of lavender permeated everywhere. Ava and her soon to be sisters; being Naomi, Rowan, and Mia, lounged in puffy soft white robes while their therapists worked on their nails. After her massage, with her hair wrapped up, Ava was painted with some type of green clay-like material from top to bottom. After it dried, she was led to a large warm bathtub to rinse it all off. She almost felt like a new person when it was time to leave.

     After all of the pampering, Ava went back with Naomi to her house where the hair stylist would meet them to work on their hair for the ceremony. The two of them had kept the details of Ava’s gown a secret so that everyone else would be surprised when she walked down the aisle. After a light lunch, because Ava’s nerves prevented her from eating any more, she changed into a robe again before the stylist arrived. Ava knew Kira from when she first arrived on Kyanos after escaping from Capri. Her hair had grown out quite a bit since her return. Kira expertly brushed out Ava’s shiny long auburn hair and twisted and styled it into a low elegant bun at the base of her neck. She left a few wispy curled tendrils accenting the style in the front to add softness to the look. Naomi received a similar style, but with the bun placed higher up on her head.  After the stylist left, the two women worked on applying their makeup, Naomi assisted Ava to add some tasteful drama to her eyes.

     Naomi went into her guest room to retrieve the long white garment bag that contained Ava’s gown. She had never worn the traditional white gown when she married Nathan a few years ago on Earth. They simply couldn’t afford it. Since the weather was always hot due to the two suns that shone on Kyanos, she opted for a light slip-like gown. The dress appeared simply breathtaking to Ava, she had never worn anything so elegant. Naomi helped her step into the long gown and zip her up. Ava gazed at her reflection in the mirror. The simple white shiny silk gown was sleeveless, held up by a faint white sheer material that went over her shoulders and down in a V low on her back. It perfectly accentuated her sleek, toned arms and shoulders. In the front, the dress proceeded down the shoulders into a tasteful low V shape. The sheer material holding the dress up on the shoulders seamlessly transitioned into a shiny white silk material to cover her breasts and her body; but still lightly hugged her every curve as it fell to the floor with a short train in the back. The gown itself sparkled tastefully with intricate delicate beading here and there.

     Naomi adorned Ava with the glittering diamond drop earrings Wesley had given her as a wedding present, then added her own diamond bracelet to Ava’s right wrist to be her ‘something borrowed.’ They decided against wearing a necklace as they wanted to enjoy the elegant simplicity of the gown. While Ava slipped into her white silk high-heeled dress shoes, Naomi un-wrapped the veil. The beautiful white sheer material had crystals sewn on here and there as if they were tiny stars. The veil was gathered into an intricate silver diamond encrusted comb, also borrowed from Naomi. She carefully slid it into the top of Ava’s bun at the back, straightening the light material as it flowed down her, trailing on the floor behind them.

     “You look like a beautiful angel, Ava. I think Wesley is going to have a heart attack when he sees you!” Naomi exclaimed, standing in awe of the appearance of the bride to be. Ava stood in front of the mirror and smiled.

     A half hour before the ceremony, Andre drove his wife and Ava to the white pavilion tent that had been erected near the ceremony location to shield the wedding party from the sun and the heat prior to walking down the aisle. Once inside the tent, Rowan pinned a light peach colored rose to the lapel of Andre’s elegant black suit. He kissed his wife and then kissed Ava on the cheek and he was gone. Next, Rowan handed Ava and Naomi their bouquets of white and pale peach colored roses.

     “You are such a lovely bride, Ava. Don’t worry, everything will be just fine,” she said as she kissed Ava on the cheek and squeezed her hand. Rowan gave Ava and Naomi long hugs before she left, taking the single white rose she would need to pin to Wesley’s lapel.

     “It’s time,” the wedding coordinator announced cheerfully a few minutes later as she poked her head in. The music began to be heard by Naomi and Ava in the tent. They had hired a string quartet to play as the two women would walk down the aisle. Naomi hugged Ava again and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and then disappeared out of the tent to begin her trek up the festively decorated aisle. Ava was left alone with the coordinator, who was peeking out to see when Ava needed to go. Time seemed to stand still. She felt so happy, but she had such butterflies in her stomach that she was almost shaking. Then the coordinator stepped behind her and straightened her train and veil.

     “All right my dear, you’re on!” she said happily as she opened the flap to allow Ava access to the aisle.

     Ava stepped cautiously out into the bright sunshine and the whole audience stood for her with enthusiastic smiles on their faces. She looked straight ahead at the only person that mattered to her at this moment, her fiancée standing serenely at the end of the aisle. As soon as he saw her, he smiled widely and his energy seemed to expand all around him in happiness. She felt her nerves melt away as she concentrated on floating calmly up the aisle towards him, knowing this was her destiny. In all of the time she had known him, she had never seen him dressed so formally, in a sharp black suit with a white vest and a white tie.  She looked in awe of his handsome appearance; his shiny black hair, his warm dark brown eyes, and his impressive physique. He could have been wearing his captain’s attire and still would have looked this amazing, Ava thought to herself.

     He reached out to her as she neared and she took his warm hand in hers as they turned to face the officiant for the ceremony to begin. Together they had decided to have a non-denominational ceremony for their wedding as Wesley did not practice a religion and it had been ages since Ava had practiced hers. They had decided to make it a point to choose a religion after the war with Kaden had been resolved. Ava began to calm down as Wesley’s warm energy flowed into her from their connected hands. She handed her bouquet to Naomi when they both turned towards each other connecting their hands together as they said their vows lovingly to each other. She could sense that he took the vows very seriously. He meant every word, every promise, every pledge he gave to her with joy in his heart as he gently slid an elegant gold band on her ring finger. She felt his energy surging into her as she repeated the vows to him, looking deeply into his eyes, connecting with him on so many levels it almost made her blush as she placed a matching gold band on his ring finger.

     After a few more encouraging words from the officiant, they were announced as man and wife. Wesley gathered Ava into a passionate embrace and they kissed several times before turning to face their guests who were standing and applauding enthusiastically. Naomi handed Ava her bouquet back before taking Andre’s arm and walking down the aisle back into the tent where the official marriage license would be signed. Ava took her husband’s arm as they also turned to follow them into the tent. On the way down, Ava noticed how beautiful the whole scene had been decorated with fresh flowers and beautiful fabrics. She had been so nervous and focused on Wesley on the way up, she hadn’t noticed.

      Once inside the tent, Wesley hugged Ava to him as he lifted her up and twirled her around, kissing her passionately before setting her back down. They did it! They were married now, and Kaden hadn’t spoiled it. Ava couldn’t help but laugh happily as all of the tension seeped out of her. Everything was being captured by the photographer who snapped what seemed like a million photos a second to Ava. Together they walked over to the table that had been set up and the officiant, Naomi, Andre, and Wesley with Ava signed all of the documents, making everything legal and binding. Naomi fastened Ava’s train into a chic bustle before she left with Andre.

     After everything was settled, an attendant brought Wesley’s courier around and he scooped his new bride up in his arms and set her down gently inside. A minute later they were speeding off to their wedding reception at Astraea, the restaurant Wesley had taken Ava to the night he had proposed to her. They met their family in the lobby of the large structure before taking the elevators up to the restaurant as guests began to arrive. Wesley, Ava, Naomi, and Andre formed a receiving line as their family and guests began pouring into beautifully decorated space. An elegant wedding cake occupied the center of the room, decorated intricately with fresh white and light peach roses; a design that Ava had envisioned.

     Wesley and Ava took their seats at a large table that seated all of their family and the festivities began. The music set the joyous tone of the evening and the champagne and wine flowed endlessly as dinner began. Tonight there would be no evidence that Kyanos was in the midst of preparing for war. This is how Wesley wanted it to be for Ava, and so this is how it was. The photographer continued to take countless digital images as Wesley and Ava cut their cake, dined, and then expertly took over the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple. Since Ava had learned an appreciation for dance on Sphene, she and Wesley had practiced an elegant waltz for their wedding and their efforts paid off, they looked divine as they moved about the dance floor. 

     The evening was filled with laughter, dancing, and much joy. Ava and Wesley both felt relaxed that everything had gone smoothly and that there were no unpleasant interruptions from Kaden. Shortly after midnight, and most of the guests had bid good evening, the newlyweds decided to call it a day. A spectacular display of fireworks at the dock, courtesy of Andre, awaited the couple as they waited for their courier to be brought up from the garage. Ava hugged both of them and Wesley did the same before the newlyweds hopped into their festively decorated courier that read “just married” in some non-permanent paint on the trunk to head home. Since Ava was more comfortable returning to their home than going to a hotel; that is where they decided to spend their first night as a married couple.

     After they were safely through the gates and parked back at home, Wesley gathered Ava in his arms and carried her up the steps and to his front door. He used his limited telekinesis to open the door and brought her through the threshold before kissing her and setting her down in the foyer.

     “Looks like Justin and Rowan have been here,” Ava said, laughing as she gazed at their home in amazement. Everywhere they could see had been decorated beautifully with flowers in the colors of the wedding; light peach and white. She loved the sweet fragrances she inhaled. It was not something she was accustomed to, growing up underground on Earth and even then after she moved to Orionis.

     “I am blessed to have such a loving wife and family,” Wesley said thoughtfully as he circled his arms around his wife’s waist, looking at the flowers surrounding them.

     “I am equally blessed to have such a loving husband and family,” Ava whispered to him, turning her head back towards him, leaning back and melting into him. After a moment, she turned in his embrace and placed her arms around his neck. “I love you,” she said softly looking up at him before pressing her lips to his.

     Their intertwining energies seemed to ignite the passion between them as they kissed, breathing heavily. Ava slid her hands up and eased Wesley’s formal jacket off. He reached up and gently tugged the comb out of her hair. Naomi had removed the veil prior to the end of the reception so that she could have it cleaned, steamed, and then stored. They continued to kiss desirously as they inched back towards the large staircase. Ava sat down on the stairs and he lifted her right leg and gently slipped her shoe off. Next, he lifted her left leg and gently ran his hand down the length of her shin and the bone that he had healed what seemed like a lifetime ago, before removing the other shoe. Ava stood back up on the stairs so that she was near his height and threw her arms around him kissing him again. As the passion escalated, he picked her up in his arms and raced up the stairs to their bedroom, which they discovered, had also been decorated with countless flowers everywhere as well as a wine chiller containing a bottle of champagne and two glasses ready for them.

     “We’ll get to that later,” Wesley said mischievously with a smile as he continued to kiss his new bride. Ava laughed at his comment before joining her lips to his, feeling the bliss inside of her spread to every inch of her body. 

Chapter 2: Life Insurance

     Ava could not help but grow used to the peace Kyanos experienced in the several weeks following her wedding to Wesley. She continued training with Justin and Rowan, attending meetings, and volunteering for anything that needed to be done as the city continued to rebuild and prepare for whenever Kaden decided to resurface in the Andromeda.

     During this calm time, Ava paid a visit to the local registration office and changed her last name to Robinson, deciding it was time to shed the surname of her late husband. She still missed him from time to time, but the passage of time and the blooming love for her new husband and family had healed her from her grief and she had moved on. Nathan Amherst was now only a fond memory she possessed.

     One day, while Wesley and some of the others were up in the Principia orbiting nearby scouting for signals from their enemy, Ava decided to organize her half of the closet. As she re-arranged some boxes her fingertips glided over a concealed small black case. She paused and took notice that this was the case containing the small handgun James had given her. After hesitating a few moments, balling her hands into and out of fists, she decided to open it. It had been several months since she had left Sphene, but deep down she still missed her other family. She slowly pulled out the bent photo of herself standing in the backstage area of the concert with James. She smiled sadly at the image of herself with Wesley’s other half, wondering how he had coped with their separation after she left. She knew that her relationship with him was over, however she could not shake the guilty feelings she had for abandoning him. Quickly she put the photo back, shut the case, and slid it back into its hiding place.

     As she continued to go through her belongings; she ran across a small black cosmetic bag that she had carelessly tossed into the back of her closet when she arrived home on Kyanos. She realized that she had never opened it. Emma had told her that it was “life insurance” when she gave it to her, however she couldn’t bring herself to open it and find out what was inside at the time. She didn’t want Wesley to know about it and with everything happening on Kyanos including the wedding planning, she had completely forgotten about it. She held it in her hands, wondering whether or not she should open it, and thought about when Wesley would be home. If he ever saw her with something belonging to James, it would probably be taken from her and destroyed. She looked at her watch, Wesley had only been gone a few hours, he would most likely not be home for several more.

     Ava stood up and took the black bag into the study and sat down at the desk. Slowly, she unzipped the case and saw a few items packed loosely inside. The first thing she pulled out was an ID badge of herself, only it was issued by the Intergalactic Transport Organization. It looked just like the ID she had when she first arrived on Orionis, only this one had been issued on Antares. She recognized the photo of herself as the same one that was used on Sphene when James took her to be registered as a citizen. She also took note that her name was different on the ID. The area that contained her name showed that she was now someone called “Diana Taylor.” She felt impressed by how authentic the ID badge looked. Although Ava was no expert, even she could not find any faults with it; it was so well made.

     The next item Ava removed from the bag was a small, unlabeled video disk. She started up the tablet on the desk and inserted it. She nearly gasped as James’ image appeared in front of her on the tablet. He appeared to be sitting inside the Solstice when the disk was made, she noticed. He had recorded a message for her. She watched calmly as she looked upon his handsome face, beautiful blue eyes, and listened to his alluring voice.

     “Ava, if you are watching this then that means you have made the decision to leave me and . . . I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what it has been like to be in your shoes and I know you have not come to this decision easily. If you take anything away from our time together, let it be this. Please believe that I never intended to hurt you and that I’m sorry that I took you away from Kyanos and your family without your permission. I’m not a perfect being, and there were many things I should have done differently with you right from the start. I guess Robinson and I are alike in that respect. What’s done is done and so I offer you this gift, should you need it. After the concert, when it was clear you had mixed feelings for me, some of my family and I traveled to Antares to create a new identity for you. No matter what happens, I love you and I want you to be safe. I know you can no longer exist as Ava Amherst on any of the space stations. This ID has been fully uploaded and approved by the ITO so you will have no problem using it, should you ever have the need to go back to one of the space stations. It is also linked to a bank account created in this name. You will have all of the credits you need, on any of the space stations with this badge. There is another disk we created for you. If you ever desire to come home or to contact any of us again, all you need to do is insert it into an ITO terminal at any of the hangars on the stations and it will run a transmission that will bounce all over the known galaxy until it is picked up by us. We will find you if that is your wish. Goodbye, Ava. Please take good care of yourself. I wish you nothing but the immense happiness that you deserve.”

     Ava had tears in her eyes by the time the screen went black. Seeing him and hearing his voice had stirred up emotions within her she had felt certain were buried. So he wasn’t out repairing satellites after the concert, she realized, he had gone to Antares to make her a new fake ID to ensure her safety and made it back to Sphene just in time to save her from drowning. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She loved her husband, she had made the right decision to return to Kyanos and marry Wesley, but the soft spot in her heart mourned for James. She was his match, the only one he would ever have and she left him. She could go crazy thinking about it, but there was no ideal situation. She couldn’t be friends with him, even though she loved Wesley. If she were near James, she would eventually want more with him and she would not do that to either one of them or herself. She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes and removed the disk from the tablet just as she heard the front door open. Wesley had returned home early. She barely had enough time to put everything back inside the small cosmetics bag by the time he appeared in the doorway.

     “You look sad, sweetheart, has something happened?” he asked as he casually approached her and embraced her. She leaned into him, savoring their close connection, feeling the love between them.

     “No no, I’m fine. How was the surveillance flight?” she replied easily.

     “Everything looks satisfactory from above. The ground defense has greatly improved. The military should be able to shoot Kaden down if we can lure him in close enough. That is . . . when the coward shows his face here again.”

     “Do you think it’s possible that he might never come back?” Ava asked.

     “Don’t count on it. After what we did to his ship and the fact that Xavier killed Cassidy, you can be sure he’ll want some type of revenge. We have no way of knowing just how far he is willing to go to get it.” His words made her shiver in fear. Part of her wished Kaden would never come back to fight and part of her wished he would come back tomorrow, just so that they could try to end the war, and hope for a peaceful future.      

∞

     Far across the universe in the known galaxy, Kaden’s new ship, the Vector, was stationed at Zaniah, the fourth oldest of the space stations. The refurbished ship scarcely resembled the beautiful sleek silver cargo ship it once was, the Andromeda. Kaden was counting on this. He had managed to create new identification clearance for himself and the newly registered “cargo ship” so as to avoid any unnecessary attention from the ITO. Resources had been limited on Earth so he, Torian, and Warren did as much as they could before transferring it here, where they could sell the parts of Robinson’s ship that they didn’t want for the ones they needed. Unfortunately, the only paint color they could obtain enough of on Earth was a dark, almost military, green. It would have to do. They couldn’t keep the starship silver as they did not want to take any chance of it being recognized as the Andromeda, and he didn’t want to paint it black; that would be too suspicious for his previous ship. Although the vessel retained its basic shape, thanks to Torian’s excellent welding skills, certain areas of the exterior had been removed, reshaped, or added to give the ship a more modern appearance.

     What concerned Kaden the most was how to go about obtaining ammunition for his next assault on Kyanos. After they had inspected the ship once they landed on Earth, they had discovered that most of the ammo had been used in the fight against them. Fortunately, Zaniah was one of the most isolated space stations, and like some of the others, if you had the credits and the right contacts, you could buy just about anything that you needed. Kaden and Torian had convinced Warren to join the crew so they would only need two more Asterions in order to have the most ideal operation and defense during the battle with Robinson. Kaden decided to call upon two of his old acquaintances, Brent and Donovan, to see what the lure of a free inhabitable planet could do to win them over.

     Kaden’s hatred flared up inside him as he made his way down to the so-called junkyard district, which is where most ship constructors went for parts when they were needed. He would have no problem affording anything he wanted since most of the credits he had set up were embezzled from the ITO at one point or another. It was such a simple thing he wanted, to destroy Robinson and take over Kyanos. How could seven Asterions stand in his way of that? Their soft emotions make them weak, he thought. He was wasting time, he needed to get back out there and finish them off before they had a chance to strengthen their defenses. Kaden had to admit the security on the Andromeda had posed a challenge to them. They could not hack into the internal network Robinson created other than to fly the vessel. One stroke of luck that they encountered was that they had access to the ship’s circinus chip containing the navigation coordinates back to Kyanos. Kaden had to write his own software to manipulate the weapons and he no longer had the advantage of being able to maneuver the ship as deftly as he would like. It was larger than the Draconis, but it was also more powerful. It would be even more so with the added assault weapons they installed. Now, if they could just get the ammo they needed without a lot of fuss.

     Kaden stalked around the junkyard until he sensed the energy emitting from his two long ago acquaintances. They were at the end of the yard, operating a loader together to move some newly arrived starship parts into their correct locations within the yard. The tall, thin Asterion with black hair and green eyes paused as he noticed Kaden coming. The blonde haired, blue eyed Asterion of average height and build did the same as he saw Kaden’s impressive tall frame, crew cut platinum blonde hair, and steely gray eyes approaching. “Just the two people I have been looking for,” Kaden said as he greeted Donovan, the blonde haired one and Brent, the one with the black hair. Kaden had to admit, the two Asterions before him amused him. They were matched to each other and possessed telepathy between themselves and a powerful synergy. You could not find one without the other and as Asterions go, it is difficult to be separated from your match. In the past, he had even known them to finish each of the other’s sentences. He knew he could not entice one without the other, so he would have to win them both over with his promise of a new world. Maybe then he would have two new powerful crew members that were loyal to each other and to him to aid in the extermination of Robinson and his crew.

     “What can we do for you Kaden?” Brent asked quickly.

     “We haven’t seen you in years,” Donovan added somewhat nervously.

     “It has been a long while. Have the two of you been working here all of this time?” Kaden responded as lightly as he could.

     “What does it look like to you?” Brent said sarcastically, acknowledging the obvious. Donovan smirked.

     “I see,” Kaden said slowly, doing his best to control his temper; he hated to be patronized. “Well, I was wondering if I could ask for your help . . . you see I have a new starship and I am looking for some . . . special parts for it.”

     “What kind of special parts?” Donovan inquired sinisterly. “The destructive kind?” he raised a questioning eyebrow at Kaden.

     “Exactly. In fact, I was wondering if there is somewhere private the three of us could talk. I have a proposition for the both of you,” Kaden said as cordially as he could manage. He was by nature a rough sort of being, not having much talent for pleasantries.

     Brent and Donovan glanced at each other, apparently communicating something between themselves.

     “Give us a few minutes to park this loader and we’ll talk,” Brent replied.

     Kaden nodded satisfactorily, beginning to mentally plan out the speech he planned to give them on his plight to destroy Robinson and take over Kyanos.

∞

     “Are you absolutely sure we need it now?” Andre asked the entire Asterion clan, which now included Ava, at the meeting they were holding along with Vance, some of the higher ups in the military, and some of the engineers assisting them with building the new starship.

     “It’s not just the circinus chip. We also need additional parts . . . as well as ammunition,” Ash replied.  A murmur of approval was heard from the other engineers sitting at the table.

     “I believe it’s time. We can’t go any further with its development unless we have what we need,” Wesley replied calmly, referring to the Centaurus, the new starship they were building.

     “What’s a circinus chip?” Ava asked, trying to figure out what was going on. When it came to advanced starship technology, she was at a loss to comprehend it.

     “It’s essentially is a microchip that is responsible for the technology to allow a starship’s computers to coordinate space travel. It’s sort of a built-in compass and it learns with each journey a ship makes, creating internal maps to fall back on if communication with the ITO is lost, or in our case, is nonexistent. Every starship needs one in order to function correctly. Without it, you could get lost in space and never find your way back,” Naomi explained.

     “Can’t you manufacture one here?” Ava inquired.

     “Unfortunately we cannot. We don’t possess the technology yet. We usually have a few spares around just in case, but one was in use on the Andromeda, and the other one we had here was destroyed in Kaden’s last attack. We just haven’t had the opportunity to track another one down yet,” Wesley answered.  

     “I suppose this means we need to head back to the known galaxy for a while,” Justin commented.

     “It appears that way. I don’t like the idea of leaving Kyanos unprotected for even a day, but I think we have no choice. Ash is right, we need to stock up on ammunition as well. We’ll need to go to our supplier on Sceptrum for that. They also have a pretty good shipyard there as well. We can most likely purchase whatever we need for the Centaurus at the same time.”

     “Once we are back in communication with the ITO I can use the internet to locate a circinus chip,” Naomi offered.

     “Okay. Upload me a roster of the parts that you need,” Wesley asked of the engineers. “Let’s decide who is going to go and who is going to stay.”

     “Aside from you and Ash, Justin, Naomi, and I will go,” Andre suggested to Wesley. “That means Ava, Rowan, and Mia will stay here.”

     “Why do all of the men get to go?” Mia asked, slightly irritated.

     “Because starship parts are heavy,” Andre replied honestly, shrugging his shoulders.

     “I want to go too,” Ava said to the group.

     Wesley stopped himself from saying a reactive “no” to her and thought for a moment. What would be the greater risk? Would it be more dangerous to take Ava with them, or would it be riskier for her on Kyanos? Kaden could strike at any moment and if it happened when he was gone, Ava could be put in terrible danger. He regretted leaving her alone all the time on Orionis, and then he made the mistake of taking her to Ibis. He took a casual deep breath. “You can come with us, Ava, but you will not step foot outside of the Principia, do you understand?”

     “I understand,” she replied with a satisfied smile, relieved that she didn’t have to argue with him this time. “Naomi taught me how to hack into the ITO’s network. I can do some searching to see if I can uncover any reports of suspicious activity or anything that might point to where Kaden is.”

     “It’s settled then. We’ll all go except for Rowan and Mia,” Andre said definitively.

     After everything was decided, they made plans to depart within two days. After the meeting Ava went up to the closet she shared with Wesley and took out a travel bag to begin packing. As she looked around, deciding what clothes would be best to take, her eyes fell on the black gun case. She lifted the small gun up and powered it on. It was still fully charged. She activated the safety mechanism, powered it back down, and gently set it in her travel bag. It’s better to be prepared than not, she thought to herself. Next, she found the cosmetics case she had stashed in a shoe box and pulled out the fake ID James had given her. She hoped she would not have the need to use it, but she again reasoned with herself that it was better to prepare for anything. She hid the cosmetics case containing the two disks back inside the shoe box and continued choosing clothing and other items she might need for at least two weeks. Part of her dreaded heading back to the stations, and another part of her felt relieved to finally be doing something useful in the fight against Kaden.

Chapter 3: Buried Feelings

     Everyone aboard the Principia was on high alert as the impressive vessel lifted off. Once they were safely in orbit, the captain and crew moved about the ship as usual. They all felt the pressure of time slipping away endlessly. Ash punched it to absolute velocity as hard as the vessel could take it to make it a quick mission in order to return to Kyanos, hopefully before Kaden could strike. Ava could sense the concern Ash and Justin had for their mates as they left them behind, hoping that nothing would happen while they were away.

     As soon as they entered the known galaxy and were able to be connected to the ITO’s internet, Naomi set to work trying to locate the circinus chip. Since the destruction of Orionis, the ITO severely limited the sale of essential starship parts such as the one they needed in an effort to keep them out of the hands of space pirates.

     “Are they really that hard to come by?” Ava asked as she watched Naomi search the ITO parts dealers one by one on each station.

     “Ever since Kaden destroyed Orionis there have been many restrictions laid down on their sales. Only registered starship captains with squeaky clean performance records can order them. I have to hack into the ITO’s system to see where we stand since our previous encounter with the space pirates when you were with us last year. We ceased communications with the ITO which is illegal. They might hold it against us, but don’t worry, I can usually erase or alter whatever I have to in order to get us the clearance we need to get the part. You have to be careful too, there are some dealers out there that sell imitation chips or ones of lower quality.”

     “How do you know if the one you are getting will be authentic?”

     “We have a few trustworthy people we deal with on a regular basis . . . and here we go, I’ve got one,” Naomi announced cheerfully.

     “Is that the price?” Ava asked, staring at the monitor in astonishment.

     “Yes. But don’t worry, we can afford it. They do that on purpose to deter the space pirates.”

     “Where is it?”

     “Looks like we are going back to Antares for a little while,” Naomi said softly.

     “Really! Maybe I could see Alexis and Marc when we get there, if only for a few minutes. She must think that I’m dead because I was never able to get in touch with her after I escaped from Capri,” Ava said hurriedly.

     “I don’t know Ava, that would be risky. We have to keep our mission in mind.”

     “But I never had a chance to see their baby, Naomi please . . . you have to help me convince Wesley that I need to see them.”

     “We’ll see, Ava, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Here, can you go to that terminal over there and locate some of the other parts that we need?”

     “Sure,” Ava said with a smile as Naomi handed her a tablet with an itemized list.

∞

     “Absolutely not! Under no circumstances are you leaving this ship!” Wesley said authoritatively to Ava as he yanked his shirt off, getting ready to join her in the bed. It was late and it had been a long day aboard the Principia, but it had been a very productive one. Ava and Naomi were able to locate most of the starship parts they needed on Sceptrum, as Wesley had predicted, save for a few others, including the circinus chip, which were on Antares.

     “Please, Wesley,” Ava begged as she slid up to him as he lay next to her and kissed him on the cheek before resting her head on his chest.

     He placed an arm across her and replied a little more gently, “I’m sorry, sweetheart, it’s just not worth the risk. And besides, we’ll be there tomorrow and we don’t have the time to fabricate an ID for you.”

     “But you don’t have to, I already have one!” Ava said happily.

     “What do you mean you already have one?” he asked in disbelief.

     Ava took a deep breath to gather the courage to tell him. “James gave me one . . . he made it for me when I was with him. He wanted me to be able to move about the stations if I needed to without being chased by the ITO for abandoning my job on Capri.”

     “How . . . thoughtful of him,” he said softly with a slight jealous edge in his voice.

     “This isn’t about James. All I want to do is see Alexis, Marc, and their baby to tell them goodbye for a while. It won’t take long, besides, there is a two day waiting period on the chip. Naomi and I can get it and secure the other parts while you and the others go to Sceptrum to gather the rest. It will actually go faster that way.”

     “You know how I feel about leaving you alone,” he whispered as he tilted her chin up and kissed her slowly a few times.

     She pulled away slightly, leaning up on her elbow and resting her other hand on his chest, continuing her suit. “I wouldn’t be alone, Naomi would be with me. What could happen?”

     “Anything could happen . . . what about that virus that’s still going around?”

     “It will be fine. Besides, we have Justin with us. He could help me again if we needed him to,” she said softly as she leaned into him, kissing him, letting the connection and the passion between them build.

     “You . . . are making this . . . very difficult,” he said between kisses. He took a deep breath and sighed. “Okay . . . you win. But you are going to play by my rules, or I will take you with me to Sceptrum.”

     “I will, . . . you won’t have to worry!” she replied excitedly. “I love you,” she whispered as she leaned in to kiss him again.

     “I love you too, . . . come here,” he bid her seductively as he kissed her and pulled her onto him.   

∞

     “Well, it looks legitimate enough,” Wesley commented as he held up Ava’s fake ID, inspecting it for flaws. He handed it to Andre.

     “I hate to admit it, but this is probably better than what we could have made,” Andre said after a few moments of turning it over in his hands before giving it to Naomi.

     “It is pretty good . . .  I even like the name,” she said reluctantly. “Are you ready for this, Ms. Taylor?” Naomi smirked as she handed the ID back to Ava.

     “Everything is going to be just fine, don’t worry,” she reassured all of them, looking into each of their respective faces. She lifted her small travel bag up onto her shoulders. She packed only the bare essentials to have over the next two days, leaving the small gun she had brought with her in the quarters she shared with Wesley. Weapons were illegal and she would be arrested if she were caught with one.

     “I still want Justin to walk you both to the ITO terminal, just in case he needs to intervene. If there are any problems with the ID, you will abort the mission and go with us to Sceptrum. We can leave Naomi here to get what we need. Is that understood?” Wesley instructed Ava as she and Naomi prepared to exit the Principia into Antares’ hangar.

     Ava nodded as she threw her arms around him to say goodbye for a few days. They had not been apart for more than a day since he brought her back from Sphene and she could not help but worry about him. “Take care of yourself . . . be safe,” she pleaded as she kissed him and released him.

     “I will, . . . you do the same. I love you, Ava. If anything comes up in the next two days, contact us on your PCD.”

     She nodded. “Love you too.”

     Naomi, Ava, and Justin walked casually down the ramp into the busy hangar and approached the check in line at the terminal. Twenty minutes later it was Ava’s turn. Justin hovered nearby as she presented her ID to be scanned. She held her breath as the ITO security officer looked at the ID, then at the screen, and then back at her. His eyes then glanced back at the screen and he raised an eyebrow. Ava started breathe a little faster and sweat a little bit in these few tense moments. She harnessed all of the self-control she could manage not to glance at Naomi, who was as at the terminal next to her, or to Justin who was behind and off to the side of them, pretending to be watching a departure monitor. Finally, the officer handed the ID back to Ava and said, “Welcome back to Antares, Ms. Taylor. I hope your stay will be a pleasant one.” He waived her through authoritatively.

     “Thank you,” Ava said as she picked her bag up off of the scanner and continued on through, meeting Naomi on the other side of the gates. They both turned back to Justin and waved. He nodded and began walking back to join the others on the Principia to continue on to Sceptrum.

     “What took so long?” Naomi asked as she and Ava headed towards the hotel they were going to stay at.

     “I have no idea. I was beginning to worry,” she replied.

     “Once we’re checked in we’d better plug your ID into a terminal and have a look at your accounts,” she suggested casually. “Who knows what Xavier put on there.”

∞

      A half hour later, the two women sat their bags down on the beds in their shared hotel room. Naomi picked up her PCD and began to type a message to Dale, the parts dealer that they were to meet with to place their order for the chip they needed. Meanwhile, Ava fired up the room’s simple computer and waited for the ITO home page to load. Once she located the hyperlink to the ID page she needed she inserted her fake ID into the computer and waited for the information to load. She noted that she was Diana Taylor, a widow of a recently deceased, highly decorated ITO military official whose identity had most likely been fabricated as well. Ava’s mouth dropped slightly open when she saw the other stats on her account.

     “What is it?” Naomi asked as she hurried over to take a look. Ava looked up in just time to see Naomi’s eyebrows raise. “Well no wonder that security guard took his time with you. Look at all of those zeros!”

     “Why would James give me so much money if he knew I was going to leave him?”

     “I don’t think he knew, Ava. Even I had my doubts when I saw the two of you together. Why? Did something happen between the two of you while you were on Sphene?”

     Ava hesitated. She never described her feelings or the details of her relationship with James to Wesley or Naomi. She simply wanted to bury them when she realized that it was Wesley she wanted. She figured none of her family wanted to hear about it either; it was awkward. “He and I were pretty close for a little while,” she admitted.

     Naomi sat down on her bed. “How close, Ava?” she asked softly.

     “We were definitely entering relationship territory. In the beginning I was attracted to him but then pulled back from him because I was still in love with Wesley. I think that’s when he decided to make this ID for me. Then when he saved me after I nearly drowned, I fell in love with him again. I don’t know why . . . it’s like he was replacing Wesley. I had a hard time feeling a difference between them. I wanted him so much . . . we almost . . .”

     Naomi listened intently as Ava continued.

     “I mean, if you and Wesley hadn’t found us that night of the party . . . we would have.” Ava took a deep breath and wiped a few tears away from her face with her hands.

     “It’s all right, Ava. It’s over now,” she said soothingly.

     “I feel terrible. I never told Wesley. I cheated on the one person I love more than anything in this universe. How could I have let that happen?”

     “You know it’s not like that. Wesley and James are two parts of the same entity. They just happen to inhabit two different bodies. I believe there is a reason why you are so much like us Ava. I don’t know what that reason is, but I am sure we will discover it someday. It makes perfect sense that you would be just as attracted to James as you are to Wesley. It isn’t your fault, it’s just the way it is. You didn’t do anything wrong. When the two of them are together, their minds merge as one. You might have noticed that they did not speak to each other right away when they met. Wesley was getting a mindful of James’ experiences with you, and James got more than he probably wanted to know about your relationship with Wesley. They were both so wrapped up in their feelings for you that James most likely didn’t think about the ID. Trust me. Wesley knows everything that happened in the relationship between you and James so you don’t need to feel guilty. He loves you so much more for choosing him because he knows what it was like for you to do so.”

     “You think so?”

     “I’ve known them for a long time. I know it’s true. James didn’t have to let you go so easily but he did. He wanted you to be happy, and by the looks of your new identity, he wanted you to be comfortable and safe as well. Don’t worry about the money, you just aren’t used to it. He and Wesley are both loaded so believe me I’m sure what you see there doesn’t even scratch the surface of his bank accounts.”

     “It still feels weird.”

     “What’s done is done. Let’s not worry about it now,” she said lightly as her PCD beeped. “Are you ready? It’s time to go down and place our order for the chip,” she announced as she glanced at the device. Ava removed her ID from the computer and nodded, eager to get started on their mission.

Chapter 4: The Mission

     Naomi and Ava passed below the farming districts as they took the lifts deep into the large station known mostly for its agriculture. Like the great station Orionis had once been, Antares was also divided into different descending levels. The starship parts manufacturers were located several levels down in the station. As the lift slowed to a stop, the two women, along with a few other rough looking starship captains, stepped off onto the platform for Level 6. Ava could hardly believe how industrial the level appeared. The space did not have a solid floor like the other levels she had seen on Antares or all of the other stations for that matter. It was a maze of dimly lit steel grated walkways that interconnected here and there creating avenues towards businesses. After a few moments, Ava realized why. There were many large cargo lifts going up and down all around them transferring parts and materials. Naomi explained that this was why there was no real floor to the level and for the ones above and below. The steel mesh banisters only came up to her chest on the walkways. She could imagine how badly a fight could end down here if someone pitched their enemy over the side.

     “It’s this way,” Naomi explained as she turned to follow some of the captains headed in the same direction.

     Ava took note of her surroundings as they walked towards Interstellar Travel Incorporated, the parts dealership run by the ITO, the only legitimate manufacturer of circinus chips on all of the space stations since the destruction of Orionis. It appeared that the other starship captains they followed were headed towards other parts dealers in the area. The two women approached and entered the sizable storefront. The amount of security surprised Ava. They had to present their IDs to the security at the front to be scanned before they too were asked to walk through a scanner to ensure that they were unarmed and legitimate customers. She noticed that the front of the store was separated into two sections, one for order placement, and one for order pickup.

     “We have an appointment with Dale Sunseri,” Naomi informed the receptionist at the front desk. It seemed to Ava that the place looked more like a financial institution than a parts manufacturer with its numerous lounging chairs and clean, sterile appearance, and bright lighting.

     “Third door on the right, he’s expecting you,” the young man at the desk informed them briskly as he turned back to answer a call.

     Naomi nodded and led the way down the hall. The door was open and a middle-aged, dark complexioned man with dark eyes stood when they paused at the doorway.

     “Officer Regnier, how nice to see you again,” he said cheerfully as he shook her hand and closed the door behind them. “And who do we have here?” he asked curiously looking at Ava.

     “Mr. Sunseri, this is Ms. Diana Taylor, one of our new crewmembers,” Naomi explained as he shook Ava’s hand before beckoning them to sit down in the chairs in front of his desk.

     “Well, Captain Robinson’s crew seems to grow with each passing year,” he said pleasantly. “How is the Andromeda holding up these days?”

     “Not so well. In fact, she sustained a lot of damage in a recent battle with some space pirates. Unfortunately we’ve had to break her down for parts and purchase a new starship,” Naomi lied.

     “Oh?” He tapped a few buttons on his flat keyboard, apparently bringing up some type of order screen. “I’m sorry to hear that . . . let’s see, you need a new circinus chip. Is it for the new ship?”

     “Yes,” Naomi continued to lie. “We’re still working some of the bugs out and the chip the ship came with seems to be malfunctioning.”

     “What is the ship’s name?”

     “The Principia.” Naomi continued to name the license number associated with the vessel as Dale entered the information into his screen.

     “Ah, here it is . . . impressive stats for a starship. I’ll bet Captain Robinson must be very pleased.”

     “Yes he is.”

     Naomi then got down to business placing their order while Ava mainly just sat and listened to the exchange. Once they were cleared for permission to order, Dale rattled off the total amount in credits needed for the chip. Ava did her best not to look surprised when she heard how expensive it was. Naomi nonchalantly handed her ID over to be swiped and charged for the amount.  He also took Ava’s ID and scanned it to witness as she was present during the exchange and sale of the new chip.

     “Now, your order will be ready for pickup in forty-eight hours on Wednesday. Do you have any questions?” he asked politely.

     “Do both of us need to be present to pick it up?”Ava asked.

     “No . . . since you both were present to order the chip, either one of you can pick it up. We appreciate your business. Captain Robinson is one of our most loyal customers,” he said with a smile.

     “Thank you, Mr. Sunseri, it was nice seeing you again,” Naomi said politely as she rose to shake his hand.

     “Always a pleasure, Officer Regnier.”

     “That seemed to go pretty well,” Ava commented as they navigated their way from the platforms back to the lift. The business day was coming to a close and the walkways were nearly empty. It felt kind of eerie to her.

     “Interstellar Travel Incorporated is run by the ITO and they overcharge for everything. They are always happy when people pay their steep prices without a fuss,” she said frankly as she pushed the button to go back to the level their hotel was on. “It’s getting late. Why don’t we find some dinner and call it a day. We can purchase the other parts tomorrow and maybe we can call on your friends if we have time.”

     “I can’t wait to see them again, I honestly never thought I would,” Ava remarked thoughtfully, grateful that she would have another chance to see her oldest friend, even if it may be her only chance for a very long time with the uncertainty of war on Kyanos looming before them.

∞

     After a light breakfast on Tuesday, Ava accompanied Naomi down to Level 5 to try to secure the other parts their new starship would need. This level appeared even more industrial and crowded than the level they visited yesterday. Most of the places they stopped at were essentially junkyards of new and discarded starship parts. She wondered how anything was even organized, or how the store employees could tell where specific things were located.

     “I had no idea parts dealing was such a big business,” Ava commented to Naomi as they approached the catalog desk.

     “You’d be surprised. Don’t let the appearance of these places intimidate you. We’ve been doing this a long time and we know what we need, which is more than I can say for some of the wayward captains that come in here,” she replied softly, under her breath so as not to be heard.

     As they neared the desk, Ava noticed that there was a long line ahead of them. Naomi sighed, “this may take a while, especially if these people have lengthy lists,” she informed Ava.

     It turned out she was right. After an hour and a half waiting in line, it was finally their turn. Naomi expertly rattled off the parts that they needed to the attendant. After twenty minutes and an obscene amount of credits spent, the items they needed from this dealer were ordered and scheduled for delivery to the hangar at the time specified by Naomi to be loaded on the Principia.  “Let’s do one more and then break for lunch,” she suggested as they kept moving.

     The second junkyard appeared even more crowded than the first, and much louder as some of the patrons were arguing over certain parts. After another hour waiting in line to be helped, they finally approached the desk. Naomi again clearly stated the two parts they needed.

     “I’m sorry, we are out of stock right now,” the attendant said without feeling.

     “According to your online inventory you have them in stock,” Naomi persisted.

     The attendant’s eyes scanned the screen. “Looks like they were both sold about half an hour ago. Is there an alternative part I can search for you?” he offered dutifully.

     “No thanks,” Naomi informed him as they turned to leave.

     “What now?” Ava asked.

     “It’s after two. Let’s head up and find something to eat, I’m starving. Then I can go online and see who else carries the last two pieces we need,” she said.

     Naomi connected to the online system with her PCD as they ate. “Well, I have some good news, there are two other dealers here that have the parts we need. The bad news is that they close at five and it’s nearly half after three. If we hurry, perhaps we can place our order before they close.”

     They raced back to the lifts down to Level 5. The first dealer they tried had a line so long, Naomi felt it would be best to move on because they would never be serviced before closing time. A few minutes later they were faced with the same situation at the second junkyard.

     “Why don’t we call it quits on parts for today and call on your friend. We can get down here early tomorrow and acquire the other items before we pick up the circinus chip.”

     “I think that sounds like a great idea,” Ava said with relief, as she had begun to think she might not have an opportunity to see Alexis.

∞

          A short while later Ava stood nervously in front of Alexis’ door, hesitating to ring the bell. It wasn’t like her to show up unannounced, but if Ava plugged in her ID to make a call, Alexis would not know it was her on the caller ID as she had little knowledge of what had happened to her since she was evacuated from Orionis.

     “It’ll be okay, Ava, just be yourself,” Naomi coached her gently with a smile.

     Ava raised her hand and pushed the chime button. A few moments later the door slid open and Alexis’ happy face gazed upon her.

     “Ava! I can’t believe it, come in, come in!” she exclaimed in surprise, pulling Ava into a big bear hug as Naomi followed and the door slid shut after them. “We were so worried about you when we received no response after your message letting us know you escaped Orionis and were on Capri. That was a year ago! Where have you been?” 

     “I’m sorry, Alexis, I wanted to message you, however my life has been very different since Orionis was destroyed . . . but first, how are you? How is the baby? Was it a boy or girl?”

     A big smile spread across Alexis’ lips. “We had a little girl. We named her Christine. I’ll introduce you in a little bit, I just put her down for a nap,” she said as she handed Ava a digital photo frame showing images of her daughter. “I’m so happy to see you . . . and you too, Naomi. I’m sorry, please, do sit down.”

     “Thank you,” Naomi replied as she sat on the couch opposite Ava and Alexis, wanting to give them some space.

     “I hope we’re not imposing on you by showing up unexpectedly. I wanted to call, but we’ve had a hectic mission and I kind of wanted it to be a surprise,” Ava told her softly.

     “You could never impose on me, besides, I’m happy to have the company. Marc is working late at the hospital tonight so I do hope both of you will stay for dinner.”

     “We could order something. I don’t want to put you to work. I know you must be busy,” Ava suggested.

     “That sounds like a great idea, I’ll take care of it,” Naomi offered.

     Alexis looked between the two women and asked with a smile, “will Captain Robinson be joining us?”

     “Unfortunately not this time. He had some business to attend to on Sceptrum. He dropped us off here so we could take care of a few things and so that I could see you.”

     “So you are not working on Capri anymore?” Alexis asked bewildered.

     Ava held up her left hand to show her wedding ring to her friend. “I had to make a choice, and I chose Wesley over my career,” she informed her with a smile.

     “Wow! Well that’s something you don’t see every day,” she said as she touched the gleaming gold band on Ava’s finger with awe. “I’m so happy for you! But I’m also upset, why didn’t you message me? Why wasn’t I invited?” she asked with a mock pout.

     “I’m sorry, Alexis. After Orionis, things got a little crazy and we didn’t want to wait,” she shrugged. There was no way she could tell her the truth about Wesley, the others, or her adventures on inhabitable planets.

     The minutes ticked by rapidly until a few hours had passed. Ava thoroughly enjoyed seeing her beloved friend again and meeting her beautiful daughter. Then, the time came once again for them to leave.

     “Please tell me you’re coming back soon, Ava,” Alexis asked suddenly a little concerned.

     “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but we have been busy with business from Earth II,” Ava lied with a smile, unable to tell her friend about the impending war with Kaden, and that she did not actually know if she ever would see her again.

     “I understand, I know how it is,” she replied encouragingly.

     “Congratulations again, Alexis. Please tell Marc I said hello.”

     “I will, he’ll be sorry he missed you.”

     “Goodbye,” Ava said as she drew her friend in a big hug.

     “Bye, Ava, thank you for coming to see me. At least now I can stop worrying.”

     Ava inhaled deeply to keep herself from becoming emotional. She wished she could tell Alexis everything, but it did not matter now. What will be, will be, she thought. Alexis waived to both women as they walked back out of the residential district towards the lifts to take them back to their hotel.  They would need to get an early start the next morning to lock down the two parts they still needed.

∞

     Wednesday morning began with numerous complications for Ava and Naomi. The two women rose early, ate, and made their way down to where they would catch the lifts only to discover that there had been a security breach by some disgruntled new Antares residents. From what they could tell by listening to the crowds that were gathering, the residents failed to comply with the strict ITO security requirements to enter the hangar and made a fuss about it. As a result, the lifts and access to the other levels was placed on lockdown for a period of several hours. By the time the crowd cleared and access to the lifts was restored, they had just finished eating lunch.

     “There’s no way we will be able to wait for both parts dealers and pick up the circinus chip today,” Naomi told Ava matter-of-factly. It didn’t appear as though she sounded that concerned about it.

     “Naomi, I have an idea. You said the parts dealers were on the same level as Interstellar Travel Incorporated. Since I’ve been there and know what to expect, why don’t I pick up the chip and then meet you at the dealer? We can communicate to each other on our PCDs.”

     “I don’t know, Ava. I promised Wesley I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.”

     “What could happen here? You’ve already told me that you don’t sense Bryant anywhere around. It will be fine. I can get the chip and meet you in less than twenty minutes.”

     Naomi glanced at a nearby wall clock and sighed. “Okay, but stay alert. You can sense Asterions when we are near. Contact me immediately if you feel anything.”

     “I will.” Ava gave Naomi a reassuring smile. How hard could it be to pick up a part and meet up with her? In fact, Ava felt rather pleased that she could be of some help in their mission.

     Once the lift descended, Ava and Naomi stepped out. Naomi pointed Ava in the direction of Interstellar Travel Incorporated while she walked in the opposite direction towards one of the parts dealers. Ava walked calmly with her head up, staying alert for anything out of the ordinary. She couldn’t help but notice how shabby some of the captains and crew members of other vessels appeared as she walked by them. Some of them took notice of her well dressed, strong, and confident appearance, probably wondering what someone like her was down here. Ava tried not to let her nerves get the better of her. She had tons of self-defense training, she reminded herself.

     She gasped as soon as she saw Interstellar Travel Incorporated. The line to the pickup desk was out the door. Taking a spot at the end of the line, she messaged Naomi letting her know it was going to be a while. Ava received a similar message back from her at the other dealer. It’s a wonder space travel is even possible with all of the delays in obtaining parts to repair ships, Ava thought. She let her mind drift to her husband, wondering if he was okay. A small smile brightened her face thinking about how she looked forward to seeing him tomorrow.  She waited patiently in the line as several more people came to stand behind her. Some of them looked respectable, while some of the others looked disheveled. She distracted herself by messaging back and forth with Naomi as both of them waited their turn.

     It was after four when Ava cleared security and stepped up to the desk. The process of picking up one of the most valuable parts a starship needed seemed to take forever. The officer at the desk verified that the payment cleared, scanned her ID and visually inspected it as well as Ava’s face to make sure it was a legitimate pickup. Finally, Ava signed the electronic document and the officer handed her a tiny glass chamber that held the small microchip her family desperately needed. That’s it? Ava thought. It was no bigger than one of Rowan’s spice bottles. Ava put the chamber in the pocket of her jacket and stepped away from the desk. After messaging Naomi to tell her she was on her way. She noticed several of the other patrons eyed her as she walked out of establishment.

      Ava put her hand in her pocket and grasped the precious glass chamber in her hand as she walked quickly towards the dealer Naomi was stuck at. She could not help but feel as though she were being followed, though she saw no one as she frequently glanced behind her. She took another passage off to the right, noticing too late it was a wrong turn but continued quickly, hoping to come to another marked intersection again. She located a sign and began walking back towards the maze of connecting bridges to the dealership. Once out into the main cross section platform she sensed the faint sensation of energy approaching. It was an Asterion, but not Naomi. The energy seemed muted to the point where she could not identify it. She pulled the chip out of her pocket and clutched it in her hand, quickening her pace. She was too afraid it would slip out of her pocket if she ran without holding on to it. As she jogged, she glanced back carelessly and tripped, not seeing a small hole in the metal grating on the platform. She stifled a surprised cry as she pitched forward and the chip sailed out of her hand and through the mesh siding of the walkway, plummeting down, lost to recovery. Ava didn’t even have time to curse herself for being so clumsy as the energy approached quickly and came to a stop just behind her. She gasped as she looked up. She recognized him immediately.

     James Xavier’s dark, tall and broad shouldered profile came into view. He quickly held out his hand and after a few moments Ava saw the microchip float back up and glide gently into his waiting grasp. She stood up and looked around, taking a step back from him. The platform was empty at this late hour and she had no idea what to do.  He looked every bit of alluring as she remembered him, except this time he appeared paler and there were dark smudges underneath his eyes, marring his handsome face. She was so surprised to realize she hadn’t sensed his presence earlier. Under normal circumstances she would have been able to feel his approach long before now. She realized he still kept his energy withdrawn from her in the same way that he had when she informed him she was going back with Wesley.

     “Hello, Ava,” he said politely.

     “James,” Ava replied, hesitating, not sure what she should say to him.

     “I hoped I would see you again. How are you?” he asked slowly, gazing at her.

     “I am well . . . actually I was hoping to see you again too. I never had a chance to say goodbye to you when I left Sphene,” she said cautiously eyeing the precious microchip that was now in his possession.

    He looked down for a moment and then Ava could sense him release some of his energy, it felt just like Wesley’s. Although it was low, at least it didn’t feel like the dark void she sensed after she told him she was leaving him. He took a step towards her and she stepped back. He stopped, inhaling and exhaling deeply. “You don’t have to fear me, Ava . . . I would never hurt you,” he said softly. He extended his arm and held the microchip out to her. She cautiously approached him and took it from him, thanked him, and secured it back in her pocket. She noticed he kept a distance and put his hands in the pockets of his long dark coat.

     “I know that, James. It’s just . . . after everything that’s happened I have a hard time trusting anyone. You did kidnap me remember?” she said lightly, trying to break the ice.

     He smiled grimly. “That’s a mistake that I will never make again.”

     “What brings you out to Antares?” she asked curiously, beginning to calm down.

     “I wanted to spend some time alone, away from my family for a while. So I decided to come here and tinker around writing some software and music,” he shrugged. “I’m actually headed back home in a few hours.”

     “I see. Please say hello to everyone for me,” she said softly. She didn’t know why but she started to feel sad. She loved Wesley, and she knew she would never leave him, but she began connecting with James, suddenly feeling the urge to wrap her arms around him and not let go.

     He nodded. “I take it your presence here on the station is a good sign that Robinson’s war is over?” he suggested, trying to pry some information out of her.

     “Thank you for making me a new ID by the way. It means a great deal to me.”

     “It was the least I could do for you.”

     “We haven’t found Kaden yet. He’s somehow disappeared with the Andromeda and we’re having trouble tracking him,” she said honestly.

     “He’s still alive after all of this time?” James’ voice reflected his surprise, and his concern.

     “Unfortunately,” she replied, instantly regretting telling him.

     “Ava please, stay out of it. He’ll come back eventually when you are all least expecting it! You could die . . .” He took a few steps slowly towards her, his face reflecting the growing concern that seemed to be igniting for her.

     “I know that, James. It’s what I choose,” she said softly.

     “I’ve missed you. You have no idea . . . my life is not the same without you now. I feel like I die a little bit each day because you’re not here,” he said solemnly. “You can still choose me, Ava. Let me take you away from all of this,” he said as he waived one hand dismissively around him. “We can go anywhere you want to go, we can do anything you want to do, if you’ll just come with me. Let me keep you safe,” he pleaded breathlessly with her, inching closer. Ava sensed the connection between them growing in intensity the closer he came.

     “I can’t, James. I am married to Wesley now. I love him,” she said calmly as she held up her left hand, displaying her simple gold wedding band. “Isn’t this final enough for you?” she said gently.

     “Ava, nothing is final until you are dead, which . . . I hope, will not be for a very long time,” he replied with a serious expression. “Even if you don’t want me, at least come and stay with my family until this whole thing blows over. Robinson could come for you after Kaden is history. It would be your choice, he would have to accept it,” James reasoned.

     Ava closed the gap between them and circled her arms around him, embracing him tightly. He wrapped his long arms around her, inhaling deeply, savoring the contact between them. “Thank you for everything you have done for me. I will never forget it. I am blessed to have such a caring family and I have no idea what I did to deserve it. I love all of you, . . . especially you, James, but I will never leave Wesley. It’s the way I need it to be,” Ava explained compassionately. She glanced over to the far side of the platform, recognizing the familiar sensation of Naomi’s bright energy. She must have missed me at the dealership and tracked my PCD, Ava thought. Naomi stared at them with a shocked expression on her face. One of her hands was poised on her PCD, ready to call for help if needed.

     Ava raised herself up on her toes to come closer to James’ face. “I’m so sorry, . . . please forgive me . . . goodbye, James,” she whispered as she gently placed a soft kiss on his cheek and lowered herself down. He released her willingly, his arms and fingers outstretched sliding down her arm and fingers to the very last as she slipped away from him. She walked calmly over to Naomi without looking back. Naomi smiled sadly and nodded at James while she put an arm around Ava’s shoulders as they turned and walked away. Ava used the sleeve of her jacket to wipe away the tears in her eyes after they rounded the corner. Naomi noticed but didn’t say anything. She smiled sympathetically at Ava knowing how difficult the situation was for her.

Chapter 5:  Mission Accomplished

     The evening before their departure, Ava and Naomi ate their dinner mostly in silence despite the very lively public environment of the popular restaurant they were in. Seeing James had drained Ava emotionally. It broke her heart to hear how empty his life had become without her. She pushed her food around on her plate mindlessly, oblivious to Naomi, who was pressing buttons quickly on her PCD. She didn’t tell Ava, but she was watching James’ departure like a hawk to make sure it happened. They decided it would be better not to tell Wesley about the unexpected meeting since it was harmless and he did, after all, help them out by using his ability to retrieve the chip Ava dropped. However, if James was still on Antares when the Principia docked the next morning, Naomi knew there would be trouble that they didn’t need. Finally, Naomi breathed in and let out a deep breath as she confirmed that the Solstice had swiftly departed, just as James had told Ava it would. 

     “Ava, I was wondering if you could help me out tomorrow morning before we meet the others?” Naomi asked, beginning to eat her dinner.

     “Sure, what can I do?” Ava replied as she looked up.

     “I would like to try and get the one last part we need before we leave. I’m planning on getting up very early to wait down there before they even open the doors, that way I can avoid a line.”

     “I can go with you . . .”

     “Actually, I was wondering if you could stay at the hotel and check us out. If it’s not too much trouble, you can take my bag with you through security and meet Wesley and the others. I’ve already messaged them with the delivery instructions for the parts we’ve ordered. I also don’t want to take the chance of having that chip ripped off by taking it back down there,” she said as she nodded towards the pocket in Ava’s jacket that contained the circinus chip.

     “Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?” Ava asked with concern. She disliked Naomi going down there with some of the sketchy space travelers and captains that she had seen so far.

     Naomi gave her a sly look. “Trust me, I can handle myself,” she said with a laugh. Ava laughed with her, seeing the absurdity in her statement. Her Asterion family seemed so normal to her, it was easy for her to forget what they really were sometimes.

     Ava did not wake through Naomi’s stealthy departure from the hotel room the next morning. She slept in and tapped off the alarm on her PCD before getting out of bed. The Principia wasn’t due to dock until eleven o’clock so Ava took her time showering and dressing before collecting the bags before using the room’s computer to check out.  She checked messages on her PCD as she stopped at a nearby café for a light breakfast. She saw she had two of them waiting to be read. The first was from Naomi, letting her know that she was waiting for the final part, a microchip, and would meet her inside the hangar in half an hour. The next was from Wesley. He informed her that they were just about to dock and reminded her how much he loved her and could not wait to see her again in a few minutes. Ava smiled and typed back her own love laced reply and that she was finishing her breakfast and on her way to the hangar.

      As she approached nearer to the hangar she noticed crowds of people everywhere were rushing around to step in line to be cleared by the ITO for departures. She had forgotten that today was a political holiday and many of the businesses were closed. The unexpected congestion made her uneasy, it reminded her of the emergency evacuation on Orionis after Kaden’s bomb exploded. She decided to take a short cut down one of the intersecting alleyways to bypass the masses of people walking in the same direction. The businesses in the alleyway were not open and the passageway was dim, lacking the light from their signs.  Halfway through, Ava sensed she was being followed and quickened her pace, looking behind her. She stopped when she didn’t see anyone. Suddenly someone leapt out from the shadows next to a darkened store front and grabbed her. Ava grunted and dropped her travel bags as she was slammed up against the storefront on the opposite side of the alley. Instinctively she reached down and punched a button on her PCD before it was knocked out of her hand.

      She watched the PCD fall and her attacker kicked it away from them. Her jaw dropped open as she saw who it was pinning her; she recognized the short sandy blonde hair and blue eyes immediately. It was Dr. Tom. Is everybody on Antares these days? Ava thought to herself fleetingly.

     “Ava Amherst, . . . I can’t believe it! I’ve often wondered where you were and as it turns out . . . right under my nose.” he said with a voice like ice.

     Ava pushed back against him but he resisted. “Let go of me . . . I’m warning you!” she growled at him. She immediately realized that it might have been him shadowing her on the lower level yesterday before James showed up.

     “You know the ITO sent two officers to me trying to locate your whereabouts. There is a warrant out for your arrest for abandoning your job and your patients in the clinic on Capri.”

     “I never would have left my job if you hadn’t tried to make me one of your lab rats!” Ava shot back, breathing heavily. Despite what was happening she didn’t feel that she was in terrible danger. The button she pushed on the PCD had most certainly alerted Wesley that she was in trouble. He would be here any moment. She slowly raised up one of her legs and used it to propel herself and Dr. Tom away from the wall. Taking him by surprise, she punched him in the jaw and kneed him in the abdomen. Then she slammed her fists into his back, forcing him down and wrenched one of his arms sharply in an awkward position away from him. He grunted. One of her hands was on his shoulder and one was on the forearm. One act of resistance from him and she would break his arm. She felt pleased with herself, as a calmness that only could be achieved from months of self-defense training could deliver washed over her. Justin would be proud, Ava thought, as she concentrated on keeping Dr. Tom subdued.

     “It doesn’t have to be like this, Ava, I can help get the ITO off of your case. You can come back to work. You don’t have to live your life like those aliens you associate with want you to!”

     “Oh Dr. Tom, haven’t you heard? The ITO isn’t interested in me anymore. My family has made sure of that.”

     “I noticed your boyfriend has a smaller ship now. Why? Did he sell his old one to pay off the ITO for you? I wonder how much money he had to cough up for that,” he said arrogantly.

     “Actually he’s not my boyfriend anymore . . . he’s my husband now,” Ava said smugly.

     Ava paused. She felt the energy before she heard the several sets of boots slamming against the tiled floor approaching them. The few lights that were in the hallway abruptly went dark; the lighting being replaced by emergency battery operated lamps. Wesley appeared before them at lightning speed and with one hand grabbed the front Dr. Tom’s coat and violently slammed him against a storefront as Ava relinquished her hold on him. Dr. Tom’s eyes went wide as he looked upon Wesley’s furious facial expression. He yelped as Wesley failed to contain the energy winding up within as it leaked into him, stinging him like a powerful electric shock.

     “Did he hurt you?” he asked Ava calmly, never taking his eyes from his opponent. She shrugged casually and rubbed the back of her head as she bent down to collect her PCD off of the ground.

     “What are you?” Dr. Tom asked in a panicked voice as he clawed uselessly at Wesley’s grip on him.

      Wesley laughed in amusement. “I’m no one of consequence,” he said darkly. “However, my patience with your obsession for my wife is wearing very thin I’m afraid.”

     “Please let me go, I’ll never look at her again, I promise!” he pleaded as he breathed in quick shallow breaths, sweat pouring down his face.

     “You are definitely right about that,” Wesley hissed.

     “There are security cameras everywhere, you won’t get away with this!” he threatened.

     Wesley laughed harder this time. “In case you haven’t noticed, we seem to be experiencing a power outage right now. Seems to me, all the authorities might see was you assaulting my wife.”

     “Please . . . don’t kill me! I’m not a bad person . . . I just wanted to believe that there is more out there in this universe. I never meant to harm her!” he pleaded.

     “I have a special surprise for you. I’ve brought my good friend Justin Gaines here with me today. You wanted so badly to interview him on Orionis, well, now’s your chance.” Wesley yanked Dr. Tom away from the wall and let go, throwing him back towards the opposite side where Justin grabbed him and pinned him against a store front. Ava watched the events unfolding nervously, wondering what they planned to do with him. Andre came and stood beside her, winking at her as Wesley approached Justin and Dr. Tom.

     “Do you like being a physician, Doctor Grant?” Justin asked casually, eyeing the poor human that didn’t stand a chance trying to wrench himself free of the death grip he was in. Justin continued to toy with him. “All those years of medical school and residency . . . and I could take it all away, just like that!” Justin said with an eerily soothing voice. He let go of Dr. Tom as he snapped his fingers menacingly in front of his face. Dr. Tom stood helplessly against the wall with fear visible in his eyes, knowing there was no hope of escape from these beings. “How about a lift operator? Would that suit you?” Justin continued to threaten, staring coldly at him. Dr. Tom’s mouth dropped open as he realized what Justin was hinting at.

     “Justin,” Ava called softly, trying to lessen the tension of the situation. Although seeing Dr. Tom’s fear gave her some sort of satisfaction, she did not want him to be seriously harmed because when it came down to it, he had never really hurt her.

     “Take a good look at her, Grant! It’s the very last time you will recognize her,” Wesley  announced angrily. Dr. Tom glanced helplessly at Ava as Justin raised his right hand and placed it over the front portion of his skull. His eyes immediately rolled up in his head and he started to slide down the wall as Justin clutched his coat and eased him down roughly. After he finished his task, he took both hands and rapped Dr. Tom’s head sharply back against the wall.

     The three men drifted away from Dr. Tom’s unconscious body back towards Ava. Andre picked up the travel bags and slung them over his shoulder. Wesley placed an arm around her and began to gently usher her quickly towards the hangar.

     “What did you do that for Justin? He was already out,” Ava asked, confused.

     “The concussion I just gave him will explain his sudden memory loss,” he said calmly as the group moved further down the alley.

     “What memories did you take?”

     “Everything that he had of you,” he replied with a grin as they continued out into the mainstream of foot traffic headed towards the hangar. Once they were a safe distance away, Ava looked back as she felt a shift in Andre’s energy. The lights flickered and came back on the alley they had just exited. Another minute went by and none of them looked back again as a siren sounded and they saw some of the local police rushing down to where they had propped Dr. Tom up.

     The four of them took their places in line to once again pass through security as though nothing had happened. Naomi joined them without missing a beat, carrying a small package that contained the last part she had been trying to obtain. She passed it to Justin as she hugged and kissed her husband who she had not seen in several days. Ava smiled and greeted her as they waited their turns. Once through security, they hustled back to the Principia where Ash was overseeing the delivery of the parts Naomi had ordered into the cargo hold. Wesley broke off from Ava to inspect the order while she continued on up the ramp into the starship.

     After a short while everyone was back on board and ready to go. Ash counted down and lifted off as usual, uneventfully. Once the ship stabilized, Ava pulled out the precious circinus chip and gave it to Wesley, who secured it in one of the compartments of the flight deck.

     “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked with concerned eyes as he inspected her from head to toe as he led her up to their quarters.

     “I’m fine. I don’t think he would have hurt me,” she said shrugging it off. After what Justin did, she knew she would never have to worry about Dr. Tom again.

     Once inside their quarters he closed the door behind them. “Did something else happen, Ava? You seem a little more shaken up than you are admitting,” he noted softly as he smoothed her hair back off of her face with one hand while reaching to embrace her with the other. Ava leaned in and kissed him, letting his energy flow into her. Should she tell him about James or not? She wanted to, if only just to be honest with him, but what would that accomplish? She decided to keep with the plan and not mention it.

     “Naomi and I visited Alexis,” she said, gazing up at him.

     “I’m glad you were able to see her again. Is she well?”

     “Yes, they are all fine. Her daughter is beautiful,” she replied with a smile.

     “I don’t know when the next time will be that I will be able to bring you back for a visit. It depends on what happens with Kaden.”

     “I know,” she said solemnly as she raised her chin up and kissed him. “Let’s not worry about that now . . .  I missed you,” she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him and they kissed each other passionately.

∞

     “Have the assault weapons been installed as to your specifications?” Brent asked Kaden as he ran the diagnostics on the programming for the firing sequence commands.

     “Everything seems satisfactory so far,” Kaden responded calmly. “Have you made your decision?” he asked nonchalantly.

     “We are packed and ready to join the crew,” Brent replied confidently. He and Donovan had decided to join Kaden’s mission with the Vector once he described their targeted prize, Kyanos, after they disposed of Captain Robinson and his crew.

     “We are prepared to do whatever it takes to bring Robinson down,” Donovan added seriously as he joined the conversation. “He’s had free reign over the universe for far too long.”

     “That is exactly how I feel,” Kaden said with a grim smile. “Alert the others, I want this ship ready to depart within the hour, it’s time.”

∞

     The Principia glided along peacefully away from the known galaxy back towards Kyanos. The heavy cargo they carried prevented them from traveling at top speed, much to everyone’s frustration. Justin and Ash were especially concerned about the safety of their wives and Kyanos. Ava came to sit with Wesley in the flight deck towards the end of his night shift.

     “Good morning, sweetheart,” he greeted her cheerfully as she kissed him and set a much needed cup of coffee in front of him.

     “Morning, how was everything last night?” she inquired lightly.

     “As peaceful as it can be,” he replied, glancing at all of the monitors before turning his attention back to his wife.

     “Do you have everything you need to complete the new starship?”

     “Almost. We have enough to keep the engineers busy for a long while. It would be easier if we could build her in one of the shipyards on Polaris, but we built this one on Kyanos and she’s just as fine as the Andromeda was.”

     “I’m sorry that she was lost,” Ava commented softly.

     “As am I. I would rather see her blown into a million pieces than in the possession of that monster, but what’s done is done. If we have to destroy her to end Kaden, so be it,” he waived his hand as if it did not matter.

     “You might have recovered her and defeated Kaden if it hadn’t been for me,” she said quietly.

     “Don’t say that, Ava. Don’t blame yourself. It was my choice to go after you. I love you . . . no matter what happens the only thing I will ever regret is that I left you unprotected so many times.” Wesley rose up out of his seat and placed his arms around her. “I’ve been human for over three hundred years and I’ve never been so happy as I am right now. I finally feel that my life is complete.”

     “I love you, Wesley, more than I’ve ever loved anyone,” she said as she smiled up at him. They remained motionless for a few minutes simply holding each other until one of the sensors began alarming. He released Ava to check it out. She watched as he quickly scanned a few monitors and his eyes widened. He wasted no time pressing the alert button to summon everyone on board to the flight deck.

     “What’s wrong?” Ava asked feeling nervous.

     “We’ve picked up a transmission . . . it’s the remote signal from the Andromeda,” he said with a serious expression as they looked into each other’s concerned eyes.

Chapter 6: Risk

     Ava stayed silent and did her best to remain calm, watching helplessly as her Asterion family buzzed around the flight deck in a mixture of excitement and horror. She wished that there was something she could do to be useful, but this situation was beyond what she had been trained for. Wesley ordered transmissions ceased and the ship cloaked so that their enemy would not detect them, if they hadn’t already. For the time being they had the element of surprise.

     “What’s their position?” Andre asked as he started running the sequences to warm up the assault cannons.

     “They’re behind us, right on course to Kyanos,” Wesley replied bitterly.

     Justin breathed a sigh of relief. “That means that Kyanos is safe,” he said visibly pleased that their colonists and the remainder of their family had most likely not been attacked in their absence.

     “What’s the plan?” Ash asked, assuming manual control of their vessel as Wesley studied the pattern and speed of his former starship.

     “You can bet that Kaden has re-armed the ship, look at the modifications he’s made,” he instructed as they looked at a close-up image of what used to be the Andromeda.

     “We should act now, take him by surprise and end this!” Andre advised.

     Wesley remained silent for a few moments, studying his enemy. He took a deep breath and then spoke. “We can’t risk a war between our two ships in open space like this with no back up.” He momentarily looked at Ava and then went back to addressing his family. “We know how fast that ship can go, and we can’t outrun her with all of the cargo we have on board,” he admitted. “If we strike and are unsuccessful at damaging the crucial parts of the ship, he could take off and kill everyone on Kyanos long before we get there. He’s had months to rebuild it and plan for this. We also have no idea whom he has recruited to travel with him or what kind of defensive grid he has set up.”

     “He’s right,” Justin agreed gravely.

     “What do you suggest then?” Andre asked with growing frustration.

     “I want to go in,” Wesley said decisively.

      Ava’s mouth dropped open when she realized what he meant. “Wesley, you can’t! That’s too dangerous and we need you here!”

     “I can’t keep risking the lives of the people I love. Kaden is my problem and I will deal with him,” he responded calmly to her. “It will be just like it was before when I teleported between the two ships on Kyanos’ moon.”

     “The ships weren’t moving when you did that . . . trying to travel between this ship and that one at this velocity will sap your energy,” Justin warned.

     “He would never see it coming. Once inside I can unload some explosives and be out before he knows what’s happening. Damage from inside of the ship will be more severe than trying to break through his shields. Then we can mount our assault once I’m safely back here.”

     “As much as I hate to say it, I think it’s a good plan,” Ash admitted solemnly.

     “Do you think you could keep the Principia in steady alignment with his ship . . . enough for me to do this?” Wesley asked.

     “It won’t be easy, but as long as they don’t detect us, the chances are good. Once the explosions start happening we’ll need to be a minimum safe distance away so you’ll have to be back before then.”

     “Time bombs,” Andre suggested.

     “This is going to work,” Wesley said confidently.

     “There has to be another way,” Ava pleaded with him. “Why do you have to put yourself at so much risk?”

     “I . . . have to do this, Ava, for you, for my family, and for the people of Kyanos. You’re safe now . . . now I need to keep Kyanos safe.  I want you to have a secure home to live out the rest of your days in. That won’t be possible if Kaden is allowed to survive.” He pulled her out of the flight deck so that they could have some privacy and he embraced her. “You’re so brave and I need you to be strong.  I’m going to do this and I promise that I will come back to you.”

     Ava couldn’t stop the tears from running down her cheeks. She knew he didn’t have a choice. He’d put her needs over those of his family and his planet too many times and now she had to accept his decision, no matter what the cost. She could feel his love for her and his regret to leave her, but it was now time for him to do his duty and protect the planet he loved. He kissed her gently a few times before Andre and Naomi came to collect him so that they could program the bombs and prepare him for the mission. Unable to let go, she refused to leave him and followed behind helplessly.

      Down in the armory they made quick work of selecting the bombs and setting a time limit of ten minutes. Enough time for him to strategically place a few of them and activate them with his fingerprint. There would be no going back, and no way to disarm the bombs without causing them to self-destruct. Next, Wesley removed anything that would weigh him down and spend more of his energy to reconfigure teleporting through space. He removed his coat, watch, wedding ring, PCD, and utility belt and handed them to Naomi, who hung them up for him. He looped a belt with four bombs fastened to it diagonally across his torso and slipped a rather lethal looking knife inside his boot. Andre handed him a small handgun which he tucked into the back of the waistband of his pants.

     “Ava, could you please get me some water?” he asked softly. She nodded and ran to complete the task, knowing that they were in a hurry to get started with the mission.

     After she was out of earshot Wesley turned to Naomi and Andre. “Promise me you’ll take care of her if something happens to me. Promise me you’ll protect her.”

     They nodded solemnly. They knew more than Ava how perilous and difficult it would be for him to complete this mission. “We will, Wesley, she is part of our family now,” Naomi affirmed. He nodded.

     Ava raced back with a tall glass of water and handed it to her husband. He took it from her and downed it within a matter of seconds. “Thank you, sweetheart.” He placed an arm around her shoulders as they turned to make their way back to the flight deck to go over some last minute instructions. Naomi gave Wesley a hug and the others came to wish him luck and affirm with him that this would work. Finally Ava came to say goodbye. She threw her arms around him and kissed him. He held her for a few moments before he calmly pried her arms off of him. “It’s time. Stay strong and I’ll see you soon,” he said with a confident smile.

     Ava, Naomi, and Justin walked with Wesley to the common area and watched as he closed his eyes and started to focus his energy on getting a feel for the former Andromeda, which they were hovering closely underneath by Ash’s expert piloting skills. He took a few deep breaths and Ava felt his energy shift and he disappeared into thin air. She gasped in horror as events that were beyond their control were now in motion. Naomi clasped one of her hands in support.

     “What do we do now? Should we go back to the flight deck?” Ava asked.

     “That’s a good idea. I’ll walk you up there and then I’m going to sit at one of the terminals and monitor things,” she replied, smiling encouragingly at Ava. “If all goes as planned, he should be back in less than ten minutes.” Ava nodded numbly, there was nothing else she could do except wait.

Chapter 7:  The Vector

     Wesley opened his eyes and took a deep breath in what used to be the common area of the Andromeda. Now it seemed to be somewhat of a storage area. He quickly crouched down behind a nearby crate and muted his already decreased energy in order to prevent detection and to get his bearings so he could complete his mission. Sensing that no one was around, he began to move, heading towards the rear of the ship where he knew the power cells were located. The lighting seemed different than what he was used to. The ship was darker and colder than he had kept it, most likely to conserve energy, Wesley thought. It was eerily quiet as he stealthily crept towards his first target, making not a sound as he tread lightly on the steel mesh grated walkways. The first thing he noticed was that power cells had been divided and heavily shielded. There were half of them where they should be and twice as many emergency air locks. Clever, Kaden doesn’t want to be in a situation he can’t run from, Wesley thought. He proceeded to remove the first bomb, secured it over the cells and activated it. Ten minutes and counting.

     Quickly he made his way back towards the common area, setting another bomb along the way. That’s two. Two more to go. He knew exactly where he wanted to place the next one, over the observation deck, the safest, most secure part of the ship. A breach there would make the ship vulnerable. He moved as silently and as quickly as he could down the long hallway to the deck and stopped dead in his tracks. The passageway had been sealed off. He had not been expecting this delay and time was running out. There would not be enough time to set all four bombs. He decided to abandon searching for an alternate route and stray from the plan and deliver the next bomb directly into the flight deck, where it would surely cause a fatal oxygen leak to anyone left on board after he teleported away.   

     Wesley knew that time was ticking away. He wanted to set the third time bomb in the flight deck and make his escape back to the Principia. Though he was nervous about his mission, he was anxious for it to be successful. He knew that since Ava’s kidnapping from Ibis, Kaden and his greed for a new world was not the only threat to Kyanos. If he could eliminate Kaden from the equation once and for all, he would be free to seek out the new threat and destroy him as well. Wesley’s thoughts were interrupted as he heard too late that shots were being fired. Two blasts ripped through his right flank and he grunted as he fell flat.

     Wesley rose instantly on his feet as his body began to heal. He barely had time to react as he felt the cold, aggressive sensation of his worst enemy’s energy approaching. He pulled his own weapon and aimed at Kaden, but he was too quick and dodged the assault.  Kaden slammed his fist into Wesley’s face and wrenched the gun away from him as he twisted his left arm painfully into an unnatural position until it gave a sickening snap. Kaden showed no mercy as he drove his other fist into Wesley’s abdomen, forcing him down on his knees. By now Torian, Brent, and Donovan had joined the fight and took turns punching and beating Wesley, who was still restrained by Kaden. Wesley tried to fight back, but he could not break away from Kaden’s grip. The teleportation through space had cost him more energy than he thought he needed.

     “Enough!” Kaden’s rough voice called to his crew. “He’s mine, I will finish him. His ship has to be nearby. Find it and destroy it!”

     Kaden ripped the belt containing the two remaining bombs off of Wesley and tossed it to Torian. “Find the others before they detonate!” he commanded. Torian ran immediately back the way Wesley had come, knowing he would most likely be too late.

     “I’ve been waiting for this day for so long,” Kaden hissed as he gripped Wesley’s throat with both hands and raised him up so that his feet were dangling and slammed him against the wall.

     In the background Wesley could hear the sounds of the cannons firing, alarmed that his family was now in danger. “Kyanos will never be yours,” he managed to choke out before he kicked Kaden swiftly in the abdomen, causing him to drop him. He didn’t have much energy left. The teleportation and healing from his wounds had drained him. He estimated there was only about three minutes before his bombs timed out. Before he could get to his feet, Kaden slammed his fist into his face and abdomen again, then he turned Wesley and rammed him face first into the wall, leaving bloody streaks in his wake as he slid down.

     Wesley reached down with his good arm and gripped the wicked looking knife he still had hidden in his boot and swiped ferociously down the left side of Kaden’s face over his eye, taking him by surprise. Kaden yelped and covered his destroyed eye with one of his palms. The two Asterions continued to fight and struggle with one another. Kaden had a hard time keeping a solid grip on Wesley, who was now covered with blood and growing weaker. Wesley was determined that Kaden would not have another opportunity to attack Kyanos or potentially hurt Ava. He thrust the knife deep into Kaden’s abdomen and let go, pushing Kaden down. He could not win this fight in his condition. He had to get back to the Principia. Before Kaden could remove the knife and attack again, Wesley decided he must choose what was right. He chose to use his remaining energy for teleportation rather than healing. In front of Kaden’s eyes, Wesley disappeared, only to reappear in the flight deck of the Vector, taking Kaden’s new co-pilot, Warren, by surprise.

     Warren, realizing what was happening, lunged at Wesley. Wesley mustered the energy to knock him out cold only to be met with another assault from behind. Kaden had caught up to him. Both men were battered, beaten, and bloody but Kaden was much stronger now. He whipped Wesley around and took the knife, the same one Wesley attacked him with and jammed it to the hilt deep into Wesley’s lower abdomen and then yanked upwards forcefully, tearing him apart. Wesley collapsed with a grunt, blood pouring out everywhere. His breaths were shallow and wet with the blood that was invading his lungs.

     “So much for the great Captain Robinson,” Kaden growled down at him, inching closer.

     Wesley closed his eyes and stretched his uninjured arm out weakly. He had to do this one last thing before he quit. Kaden watched as one of the computers in the flight deck started shaking violently. Then a small metal part flew out and landed in Wesley’s hand. Kaden’s mouth dropped open in horror as he realized what Robinson had done. Just as he was about to pounce on him to finish him, the sound of an explosion, and then a violent force shook the ship, knocking him over. Wesley kept his eyes closed and although he was spent, he knew he had to return to Ava. He promised her he would. The Vector had been firing on the Principia and Wesley sensed that Ash had moved them further away for their safety. It’s now or never he thought. With the last of his energy, he disappeared, leaving only blood where he had been lying on the flight deck floor of his former starship.

Chapter 8: The Gift

     Justin and Andre were at their posts waiting to return fire on the Vector until Wesley’s return. Their enemy starship had somehow managed to achieve a direct hit on them and alarms were sounding all over the place. Ash maneuvered the ship erratically trying to avoid more damage as Naomi ran about trying to assess the seriousness of it and silence the alarms. Ava helplessly sat strapped in next to Ash in the flight deck, wishing there was something she could do to help.

     “He should have been back by now!” she cried to Ash. “Something must have went wrong.” She started to hyperventilate from the stress and worry over the situation.

     “Take it easy, Ava, Wesley knows what he is doing,” he replied as soothingly as he could, concentrating on the battle unfolding before them. Then, the two of them witnessed the first explosion rock the Vector. The ship rolled and rotated on its side. Ava’s eyes were glued to the monitor in horror as she watched the Vector lose speed. Half of the ship went dark.

     “Where is he!” Ava screamed. Then a second explosion rocked the Vector, although it was smaller. Ash moved the Principia further away for everyone’s safety. Then Ava felt it. She could sense Wesley . . . he was back!

     “Ava, wait!” Ash called to her as she frantically unbuckled her harness. “We’re not clear yet, you could be hurt!”

     “I don’t care!” Ava yelled back as she raced out of the flight deck towards the common area. Once she reached it, she looked around wildly for her husband but he was not there. Something’s wrong, she thought gravely. She forced herself to stand still and focus on his energy. He is weak, she realized in alarm. She concentrated and got a sense of where he was, he was further down in the ship. She took to the stairwells, almost being pitched over the railing at one point due to the lurching of the ship. She could hear cannons being fired as she ran as fast as she could towards where she felt him. After what seemed like an eternity, she reached the bottom, the cargo bay. She knew he was here. The motion detectors sensed her movements and powered the lights on as she carefully maneuvered around the parts and equipment looking for him. She called his name several times, only to be met with no response.

      Finally Ava saw him lying on the floor, face up, scarcely breathing. “Wesley!” she screamed as she ran to him and knelt beside him. “Oh my God!” she wailed as she took in his injuries; slashed up the abdomen, one arm bent in an impossible position, obviously broken, swelling and bruising over his face and one eye. He was covered in blood. Next, she saw the two holes in his shirt over the right flank where he had been shot.

     Ava was not experienced in trauma medicine, having practiced mostly in primary care since she had graduated from school. Instinctively, she employed what limited knowledge she had in these situations. She screamed his name again as she assessed his pulse and respirations. He opened his eyes weakly. She talked soothingly to him as she continued to assess him. His breaths were rapid, shallow, and wet. His pulse was accelerated and weak. Blood oozed steadily from his abdomen. “You’re going to be okay, Wesley,” Ava said to him, looking around for something, anything she could use to put some pressure on the bleeding. She stripped off her jacket, rolled it up, and pressed in onto his wound, he grunted in pain. “You need to heal yourself, can you do that?” she pleaded with him.

     “So . . . sorry, Ava,” he whispered, looking into her eyes. He was so weak he couldn’t even move.

     She couldn’t stop the tears from running down her already red and flushed cheeks. “I love you. Don’t talk like that. You’re an Asterion, you are going to be fine. Concentrate, . . . you can do this.” He looked so pale. She could feel how cool his normally warm skin was. She started to panic. She raised her PCD to her mouth and called for help. “Justin! Naomi! . . . We need your help in the cargo bay.  Please hurry, Wesley is hurt badly!” Ava pressed harder on his abdomen, trying to stop the bleeding. Wesley feebly lifted his unaffected arm and placed his hand over Ava’s. Ava could feel something metal in his grip and took it from him, studying it briefly before setting it down and squeezing his hand. She knew what it was, it was the circinus chip from the Vector, their former starship.

     “Safe now,” he said softly, his breathing becoming more shallow.

     “No! Wesley, listen to me . . . you have to center your energy . . . try to stop the bleeding!” she pleaded. She raised the PCD again “Justin! . . . Naomi!” she shrieked into the device hysterically.

     “I love you, Ava . . . I always have . . . always will . . .”

      “You can’t leave me, Wesley! You promised me! You promised me you would always be here. I’m the human. I’m one that’s supposed to die, not you!” She had both hands on him, gripping him, trying to will him to fight. She leaned down and kissed him desperately. He kept growing colder and his breathing slowed. Ava could not suppress her sobs. He wasn’t healing, his energy had been drained so much that it could not sustain his injured human body. He was dying. They were in dead space with no help, there was nothing that she could do.

     “Ava, . . . you . . . must . . .” He closed his eyes and took one last breath. She watched helplessly as he exhaled and then his chest didn’t rise again.

     “No!” Ava screamed. “Don’t leave me . . . I love you!” She felt herself become lightheaded as she cried uncontrollably.

     Ava had seen people die before during her training in the hospital when she was in school. She recalled how sad and somber the moments were. She never sensed anything other than silence but she could sense something now. She had collapsed down with her head and arms on his chest, but now suddenly sat up, keeping her hands on him. A sensation, like something within him was being ripped apart flowed over her. Abruptly a jolt, like a powerful electric shock ran through her, forcefully knocking her backwards. Her head hit the ground and her body shook for a few seconds as if she were having a seizure; then it was gone. Winded and dazed, Ava looked back at Wesley and saw a faint glimmer of hazy light rise from his body. The aura seemed to hover for about two seconds; pausing before it hastily ascended and disappeared from the ship.

     “Wesley!” Ava screamed. She scrambled to get back on her hands and knees to crawl back to him; breathless as she reached for him again. His body felt cold. He had no pulse and he was not breathing. Something was different; he didn’t feel like him anymore, like the body was just a husk and she knew the Asterion in him was gone.

     Instinctively she started the chest compressions of CPR, finishing the cycle and giving him breaths. He has to come back, Ava thought. He has to! In her futile efforts she did not notice her family had arrived. Gentle hands grasped her shoulders, trying to pull her away.

     “No! We can still save him!” Ava screamed as she as she struggled against Andre.

     “Ava, he’s gone . . . I’m so sorry,” Naomi said sadly with tears in her eyes.

     “He can’t be gone, he can’t die!” she cried as she pulled against both of them as they lifted her up. Justin knelt down, removed Ava’s jacket and started assessing Wesley’s body as the other three looked on apprehensively.

     “Do something! There must be something you can do!” Ava cried out to him. She could not control the panic that was sweeping over her.

     Justin carefully lifted up Wesley’s arms and placed them over his abdomen and somberly shook his head. He stood up and placed his own left hand over his heart. Andre pulled Ava into a tight embrace, holding her up as she continued to sob uncontrollably into his chest. Naomi, with tears running down her face left the two of them to stand next to Justin, also placing her left hand over her heart. They had lost their leader, their captain, their oldest family member and there was nothing they could have done to save him. After a few moments, Naomi knelt down and picked up the bloody chip that was on the floor next to Wesley.

     “What is that?” Andre asked softly.

     “It’s the circinus chip from the Andromeda,” Naomi said numbly as she held it gingerly in her hands. “He wanted to make sure that Kaden would never find his way back to Kyanos if he survived.”

     “Kaden is dead right? You destroyed his ship didn’t you?” Ava managed to choke out.

     “We sustained a lot of damage after Wesley teleported back. The bombs he placed seriously handicapped Kaden’s ship. They lost momentum and spiraled away from us.” Justin reported softly.

     “You mean he escaped again!” Ava screamed. “You can’t let him get away with this!” She was literally shaking with anger and grief. Something wasn’t right. Her body felt strange, as if there was some kind of unsettled force rising up inside of her.

     “We took a hit over one of our power cells and we can’t chase them with all of this cargo. We have no choice but to continue on to Kyanos,” Andre explained gently to her, looking at her as if he was studying her.

     Naomi handed the chip to Justin and went back over to Andre, who was still holding Ava and put her arms around the both of them. “I’m so sorry, Ava. He was like a brother to me. If there was anything that we could have done to save him, we would have, but he was already gone. We saw his essence depart,” she choked out.

     Ava started sobbing again covering her face in her hands. She had never felt this inconsolable and distraught before, not even as grief stricken as she was when she had learned that her first husband, Nathan, had died on Earth several years ago. There was a powerful sorrowful force within her and it threatened to tear her apart. Naomi and Andre, who had their hands on her looked up at each other and exchanged glances with each other and then with Justin, who was also studying Ava from a few feet away.

     Andre took a deep breath and raised his PCD up. He quietly gave Ash the instructions to get them back to Kyanos as fast as possible.

     “Yes, Captain,” Ash said somberly. The small crowd in the cargo bay felt an immediate surge in the ship’s velocity. Andre, who had been Wesley’s first mate, was now their leader and their captain.

     Ava started shivering from the cold. “Let’s get you up to your quarters,” Naomi suggested gently.

     “No! I can’t leave him, I have to take care of him, I have to . . .” She started crying again.

     “I’ll see to him, Ava,” Justin said softly as Andre and Naomi began to pull her away. She didn’t have any fight left within her, she didn’t feel right. Emotionally and physically she was simply drained.

∞

     Far away in a distant galaxy, the Solstice traveled swiftly back towards Sphene; the green planet that James Xavier and his family called home. James had been piloting the impressive black starship to keep his mind occupied. Now, his shift was up and Nicholas came to take over for the remainder of the trip. James thanked him and stood up. He walked slowly towards his quarters. As he reached the common area he paused, suddenly feeling very strange. He lifted his hands, palms up, and studied them. They trembled; something was not right. Then he raised them to grasp his head which had suddenly begun to throb painfully.

     “What is it?” Lucas said in passing, on the way to the ship’s gym.

     James looked up at him, but before he could respond, he collapsed.

Chapter 9: Gone

     Naomi brought Ava into her quarters on the Principia and sat her down on the edge of the bed. She went into the small bathroom pulled out a washcloth, soaking it in cold water and wringing it out before returning to her. She handed it to Ava, who numbly started sponging her hot, flushed, tear stained face and then her bloody hands. She could not stop shaking and crying. Her husband was dead, and she failed to help him. Naomi disappeared for a few minutes, returning with a glass of cold water and handed it to her. She tried to drink from it, but had trouble choking it down through the tears. Between her own grief and seeing Ava this way, Naomi herself had a little difficulty holding it together at the moment. She went over to Ava’s closet and pulled out some fresh clothes and set them in the bathroom.

     “Ava, you’re freezing. I want you to take a hot shower and put these fresh clothes on,” Naomi said as she took in Ava’s appearance. She had blood stains on her shirt and pants from trying to stop Wesley’s bleeding. Ava did as she was told, stood and moved into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Alone for the first time since her husband’s death, she leaned over the sink and sobbed quietly, letting the tears run down her face. She had Wesley’s blood all over her clothes. She felt ill. She was emotionally and physically sick. She began to feel light headed as she heard ringing in her ears and got down on her hands and knees. She leaned over the toilet and vomited. Afterwards she lay down on the cool floor and cried for several more minutes before she stopped.  Slowly, she stood up again and with shaking hands she removed her shirt and let it fall to the floor. After she had removed everything else she stepped into the shower and let the water run over her. The water was hot, but it did not comfort her. She felt empty inside, she had no idea how to cope with Wesley’s loss. As she stood in the gentle streams of water she started feeling jittery again, as if her blood sugar was low.

     A knock on the door startled her. “Ava, are you almost done?” A concerned Naomi asked.

     “Coming,” Ava replied flatly. She stopped the water and quickly toweled off and dressed, wrapping a towel around her head. “I feel strange, Naomi, . . . I feel sick,” she said as she stepped out of the bathroom.

     “I know, sweetie. I understand that the last thing on your mind right now is your appetite, but do you think you could eat something for me?”

     Ava nodded and Naomi led her over to the small desk in the room where she had a tray of hot food waiting. Ava sat down and looked the contents of the tray over. Naomi had put a variety of things together, hoping she would find something appetizing. Ava felt like her mind and her body were sending her two separate messages. The last thing she wanted to do was eat, but her body felt like it was starving. She took a few spoonfuls of the soup and actually found it appealing. She kept going while Naomi went into the bathroom and removed the bloody clothing. What she did with them, Ava did not know, but she knew she would never see them again. By the time Naomi had returned, Ava had ravenously eaten everything on her tray and had moved to lie down on the bed.

     “Something . . . something is wrong with me. I couldn’t eat for a week after Nathan died. I feel so empty, my new husband is dead and I have no appetite. The thought of eating makes me sick but I just ate a whole tray of food and, . . . I feel shaky and jittery,” Ava admitted nervously.

     Naomi smoothed Ava’s hair back gently. “This is a terrible shock to all of us. Try and rest . . . sleep a while for me.”

     Ava blotted her tears away with her tissue and nodded. She closed her eyes and surprisingly slipped easily into a deep sleep.

∞

     “Is he breathing?” Melanie asked quickly as she rushed to the scene in the common area of the Solstice. Lucas had summoned everyone on board, save for Nicholas, after witnessing James’ sudden collapse.

     “His pulse and respirations are good, but he’s not responding,” Lucas said as Melanie began her own assessment of their oldest family member.

     “What happened before he lost consciousness? Did he say or do anything?”

     “I saw him in the common area looking at his hands and they were shaking, then he grabbed his head as if he were in pain. I asked him what was wrong and he looked up at me . . . then he fell.”

     “Let’s get him to the medical room so that I can evaluate him properly,” Melanie said authoritatively. Blayke and Lucas immediately lifted James’ limp body and hurried him towards the table that Melanie was setting up. She removed his shirt and immediately began hooking him up to various electrodes and sensors connected to several computers and monitors so that she could ascertain a better picture of his condition. After determining that he was at least stable and breathing on his own, she took a stethoscope and listened to his heart and lungs. Next, she lifted his eyelids and shone a small bright light in each of his eyes, noting that both pupils appeared and reacted as normal.

     “What’s wrong with him?” Blayke asked nervously.

     “I’m not sure,” she replied as she continued her evaluation. She made a fist and ground her knuckles hard into his sternum with no reaction. “He’s not even responding to pain, but his pupils are reacting normally and all of his vital signs are stable . . . I’ve never seen anything like this . . . it doesn’t make sense.” She put a tourniquet on one of James’ arms and drew several tubes of blood out and loaded them into the computer for analysis. A few minutes later, the tests she had ordered came back normal.

     “What should we do?” Blayke wondered aloud.

     “I want to put him on the scanner and see if we can detect anything else that could be wrong, and we need to get him back to the hospital on Sphene as fast as possible . . . I don’t like this,” Melanie advised. Blayke immediately raised his PCD up and communicated the news to Nicholas, who instantly picked up as much speed as he could.

     “He mentioned he saw Ava on Antares. He’s been so miserable since she chose Robinson over him. Do you think this has anything to do with her?” Lucas asked.

     “I don’t see how, but perhaps . . . it has something to do with his powers of telekinesis, or maybe if something bad happened to Robinson it could affect him. I’ve never seen this happen to an Asterion before. We need to get him home,” Melanie replied.

     The two men watched with concerned eyes as Melanie solemnly started an IV on James. It was the only thing they could do at the moment as they worried about the health of their oldest, most powerful family member.

∞

     Ava woke during the night and sat up in bed. She instantly felt the absence of her husband, who usually slept close to her. She started weeping again, silently as she did not want to draw the attention of her family. She wanted to be alone. After a while she calmed down and dried her tears. She wondered about what happened to him after she was taken away from the cargo bay. Ava climbed out of her bed and put on her boots. She walked quietly through the empty hallways until she reached the stairwell. The humming of the ship covered her soft and slow footsteps down to the cargo area. After reaching the bottom the lights illuminated the room as they did less than twenty-four hours ago. She wandered over to the area she had found him, but he was gone and the floor appeared clean. She stood there numbly looking at the spot where his body had been when she sensed Andre’s presence behind her. She looked up at him, noticing that he too had red, tear stained eyes and dark circles underneath.

     “Ava, what are you doing down here?” he asked softly.

     “I . . . I just wanted to see him,” she said, looking back at the floor.

     “His injuries were too great for the limited energy he had left to heal. There was nothing you could have done differently to save him.”

     She nodded, tears filling her eyes again. “Where is he?”

     Andre sighed and pulled her into his arms to comfort her. “We have the body stored so that we can have a proper funeral when we get home.” Ava continued to cry for several minutes, soaking the front of Andre’s shirt. “Come on, let’s get you upstairs,” he coaxed gently as he led her towards the lift instead of the stairs. She went willingly with him as the reality hit her that Wesley was truly gone and he was not coming back.

     Ava barely left her quarters over the next day, only venturing out for food to quell her appetite until it was time for the Principia to descend into Kyanos’ atmosphere. Naomi came to sit with her as they landed in the hangar. Neither of them spoke due to the heaviness of grief that weighed upon them. After the ship was secure the two women made their way to the exit ramp and slowly walked down where they were met by two teary eyed Asterions, Rowan and Mia. Trevor Vance, his wife Rochelle, and numerous military personnel were also present with hats off and bowed heads. Rowan, Mia, and Rochelle took turns hugging Ava and Naomi, whom remained silent as they awaited the entrance of the rest of their family members.

     After several minutes, the cargo bay ramp lowered and Andre, Justin, and Ash slowly appeared bearing a stretcher with a black body bag on it, heading towards a waiting vehicle that would take it to the morgue. Ava had to turn away at the sight to keep herself from losing it. She took no comfort from the several pairs of hands on her and seemed to lose track of time and tuned everyone out until Naomi broke through to her after the commotion settled down to lead her to the courier Andre was waiting in for them.  It was late in the day and there were several meetings scheduled to take place the following morning in addition to planning the funeral.

     “Why don’t you come home with us, Ava? We can stop by your house and get a few of the things you need, but you shouldn’t be alone right now,” Naomi suggested.

     “No, please take me home,” Ava said decisively. She was tired of being the focus of everyone’s pity. She just wanted to be alone to think and process everything that had happened. “Tell me what time I need to meet you tomorrow,” she said flatly.

     Naomi took a deep breath and nodded, proceeding to fill Ava in on the details of tomorrow’s meetings. She didn’t feel good about Ava being all alone in her big house, but let it go, sensing that she perhaps needed some privacy.

     Ava pressed her thumb against the sensor plate on her house and the door immediately unlocked. She stepped into the cool, silent dwelling and dropped her travel bag after she closed the door behind her. She walked into the kitchen and filled a glass with ice water before proceeding upstairs to the bedroom she had shared with Wesley. She set the glass down on the bedside table and collapsed down on the bed, proceeding to cry again until there were no more tears left. After a while she collected some pajamas, set her alarm, and stepped into a cool shower before climbing into the bed. Out of the six hours she had to find sleep, she slept for maybe two of them before the alarm went off. The sun shone brightly into her room as she raised the shades from the windows. Then she stared absent mindedly into her closet for several minutes before pulling out some black pants and a black short sleeved light sweater.

     Surprisingly, hunger pangs surfaced and reminded her that she should eat something before she left for the meetings.  After opening the blinds downstairs she sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, taking in the scenery, trying to decide what to eat. She thought it was unusual for her to be so hungry after being touched by the death of the being she loved more than anything. It did not make sense. She sat there sadly pondering this before having a fleeting thought that she wished Mrs. Maclaren would appear and fix her coffee and breakfast for her. She smiled briefly at the memory before her expression went flat. In the end she quickly mixed up a protein shake and was out the door.

     Her entire family attended the first meeting, as well as Trevor and the military officials and some engineers whom dealt with the security of Kyanos. Because Wesley had removed the circinus chip from the Andromeda, it would be extremely difficult for Kaden to find his way back to them. It was decided that although they possessed both the circinus chips from the old Draconis as well as the Andromeda, they could not be certain Kaden did not have a spare somewhere else and would keep atmosphere surveillance at high alert status just in case. Much to Ava’s satisfaction, Andre announced that as soon as the Principia was unloaded and repaired, the Asterions would go back to the known galaxy to search for any signs of Kaden and to do whatever was necessary to end him for good.

     The next meeting concerned the status of the new starship being built, the Centaurus. The engineers were pleased with the parts that the crew was able to obtain on their trip back to the known galaxy. It would be enough to complete the basic structure and interior of the new vessel and would keep the engineers occupied for some time. Andre wanted the new ship construction to be a top priority. The sooner it was completed, the better.

     Finally, the last brief meeting concerned the matter of Wesley’s funeral. The family decided that it would be held in two days. A unanimous decision was made to make the day a holiday for the entire city of Kyanos. The officials would leave the details of the funeral up to Ava and her closest family members. It was at this time that the meetings broke up and Ava remained with her family to discuss what the plans were. A funeral coordinator joined them to assist with some of the details of planning the ceremony.

     At first, Ava was adamantly against a traditional burial. Everyone from her time on Earth and on the stations were cremated after death as there was simply no land to bury anyone. However, Wesley had been a founder of the community, a strong leader, and a role model to many of Kyanos’ citizens. In the end it was decided that they would bury his body traditionally in the ground and an elegant stone memorial would be built around him, commemorating his long life. Ava began to feel overwhelmed when it came time to select a casket, flower arrangements, programs, etc., for the event. It was something she thought she would never have to do. Her head began to spin and she was so emotional and teary she wondered how she would be able to get through it all. She was grateful for the support of her family, without it she felt she would have fallen apart.

     She wanted a private visitation the night before the funeral for close friends and the family as the funeral was going to be a public event. Ava always regretted not being allowed to see Nathan up close to say good-bye one last time before he was cremated several years ago after his sudden death. She demanded that no matter what condition Wesley’s body was in, she wanted to see him one last time before the visitation. She needed it for closure, she needed to see it to believe it. Her request was granted reluctantly even though it would be a closed casket at the visitation and funeral due to the violent nature in which he died.  Finally, Ava made the decision that the funeral would be a celebration of his life as she knew he would not want his family and fellow people standing around feeling sorry for him, after all, his life was full of amazing accomplishments, and unmeasurable acts of kindness and compassion for humankind.

     The next day went by in a blur for Ava. She began feeling shaky and jittery again on and off, which only seemed to be remedied by eating several times throughout the day. Despite her increased appetite and food consumption, she did not seem to be gaining weight. She continued to stay alone at the home she had shared with Wesley. Naomi and Andre arrived with a crate filled with most of Wesley’s things from the Principia. Ava sifted through the crate and pulled out his utility belt, still equipped with all of the things that he used regularly, his PCD, a utility knife, and various other things. Naomi reached into her pocket and held her closed hand out to Ava, gently depositing Wesley’s gold wedding band into her palm. Ava stared at the ring with tears filling her eyes.  She couldn’t believe he was gone. It was only a few months ago that she had slipped the ring onto his finger and taken him as her husband. She unclasped her gold locket, placed the band on the chain with the pendant, and secured the necklace back around her neck.

     They left Ava after a short while as it was time for her to get ready for the visitation. The family would be taking her to the funeral home early so that she could have a few moments alone with his body before they closed the casket for good prior to the official visitation. Rowan had taken Ava shopping the day before so that she could choose two different black gowns for the occasions, as Ava did not have much in the way of black in her wardrobe. She dressed herself slowly and pulled her hair back in a modest tight bun, keeping makeup at a minimum before Rowan and Justin arrived to take her to the visitation.

     Once everyone in the family gathered together, the funeral director came to take Ava to see her husband one last time. Ava chose to be alone during these last few moments. The others would go in couple by couple after she was done. The director discreetly closed the door behind her as she entered the dimly lit room. She noticed that the jitters and shakiness she had been feeling seemed to disappear. She walked slowly up to the open casket, wringing her handkerchief nervously in her hands. She gazed down at his face, which, even though had been prepared and appeared peaceful, still showed subtle signs of trauma from the bitter fight with Kaden. He was dressed in an elegant black suit with his hands folded serenely on top of his abdomen.

     Ava reached up and placed a hand on his face, disliking the alien feel and coolness of his skin. It was his body, but it wasn’t him anymore. She started to cry. This was real, this was happening, and Wesley was truly dead. She didn’t have a speech prepared but she managed to find her voice and tell him all the things in her heart; that she would miss him, and that no matter what happened she would love him until her own life was over someday. After a few more minutes, when she was sure she was finished with her farewell, she leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his lips before turning and silently exiting the room. Naomi and Andre met her in the entryway and hugged her before they entered the room to say their own good-byes. After everyone in the family had a chance to part with him, the casket was closed and the visitation began.

     Ava lost count of the people who came and went over the next two hours. She moved about the room accepting condolences from everyone who had come to pay their respects. For the moment her tears had dried, but always threatened to return. She was surprised to see how much her family cried, as well as many of the other people who arrived. Vance and Rochelle appeared and hugged her, and although Vance did not cry, he did appear distraught. Rochelle was much more emotional than her husband and constantly dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.

     After the visitation ended, Rowan and Justin took Ava home to try and rest before the funeral at eleven in the morning the next day. It would be another night of restless intermittent sleep for her.

Chapter 10: Farewell

     The usual bright and sunny weather of Kyanos actually faltered on the day of Wesley’s funeral. It seemed almost as though it knew of the somber event about to take place, the final farewell for Kyanos’ founding citizen, Wesley Robinson. Ava reached over and turned her alarm off before it had a chance to activate by itself. She had tossed and turned all night and actually felt relieved to see that the weather was overcast instead of sunny.

     Somehow Ava made it through the morning without breaking down. Slowly, she dressed herself in the long black gown she had purchased for her husband’s funeral. She swept her dark auburn hair up into a simple elegant twist and applied minimal makeup. She didn’t bother with much on her eyes as she knew it would end up smeared all over the place or streaking down her cheeks. Ava walked down to the foyer just as Andre and Naomi arrived to pick her up. She collected her black hat and walked out the door.

     Ava watched as the military organized the masses of people who had come to say farewell to perhaps the greatest and most powerful Asterion in existence. Naomi, Rowan, Mia, and Rochelle took their places near the open grave that was surrounded by beautiful flower arrangements. Despite the large number of colonists in attendance, the crowds were orderly and somnolent. The attendees were arranged in neat rows with a clear center aisle. No one dared to approach Ava, who had several military officials watching over her. She had been dreading this moment since she realized Wesley had died. Slowly the hearse approached, also with a military escort. After arrival, Andre, Justin, Ash, and Vance gently lifted the coffin into position. No action was needed to hush the crowd once they saw that the procession was about to begin. Andre quietly announced that it was time and he, along with the other pallbearers silently and calmly began walking forward. Ava counted slowly to ten, like she was told to do, and then began marching slowly behind her husband’s procession.

     She kept her eyes downcast, grateful for the protection of privacy that her wide brimmed black hat provided for her. She felt as though she were being led down a dark path to where the sadness started to consume her. As she grimly followed the procession, her mind started wandering. How could this be real? How could it have come to this? She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. She sensed they were eyes filled with sympathy, and eyes filled with pity. A few tears slipped down her cheeks and she hastily wiped them away with one of the handkerchiefs she had brought.  It would no doubt be soaked by the end of the ceremony, she thought. The walk seemed to go on forever and finally they reached the end. She took her place next to Naomi, who clasped her hand.

     The pallbearers carefully lowered the coffin into place. A pastor started the ceremony with a few words before the orchestra played a mournful tune. Next, each of the pallbearers took turns giving a eulogy. There was more music and then finally one of the military officials took the podium and described the details of the beautiful memorial that would be built around the grave to honor Kyanos’ founding member. Ava found it hard to do anything other than stare numbly at the coffin; she felt so empty inside. The overcast day only amplified her emotions. Fortunately she was sitting down as she felt she might have fainted as she anxiously watched the coffin lower into the ground. Some unfamiliar melancholy force stirred unexpectedly inside of her, taking her by surprise. She took a few deep breaths until whatever it was settled back down and the sensation virtually disappeared. She chalked it up as being jittery from her grief stricken state.

     Ava and her family stood and solemnly dropped flowers into the grave and then Naomi, along with Andre and a military escort, ushered her to the vehicles waiting to whisk them away before the crowds were allowed to move in with their own flowers. She could not bring herself to talk to her family about the strange sensations happening inside of her, nor could she summon the willpower to eat despite the strange hunger that flared within her at the luncheon following the funeral. She sat sadly in her chair, not interacting with anyone. She felt grateful that everyone gave her space. She just wanted it to be over.

     When the time came to leave the luncheon, she allowed Naomi and Andre to take her back to her home.

     “Are you sure you won’t come and stay with us for a while? I hate to think of you being alone here in this big house after all that has happened,” Naomi asked in a concerned tone.

     “I’ll be all right. Thank you for the offer, but I want to be alone now,” was Ava’s simple reply as she allowed the door to slide shut promptly behind her. She could feel them hesitate on her doorstep before walking away as she made her way up the stairs to the bedroom. She took off the horrible black funeral dress and tossed it on the floor of her closet, doing the same with her hat. She wasted no time pulling on some comfortable pajamas, closed the blinds, and crawled into bed. She finally let go and cried relentlessly into her pillow.

∞

     Melanie, along with the rest of her family, navigated the connecting hallways and elevators in the main hospital on Sphene until they arrived at the Intensive Care Unit where James lay resting in a private room.

     “Has there been any change?” she asked the nursing staff who had been caring for him since they brought him in a few days ago.

     “None I’m afraid,” the nurse reported softly. Melanie nodded and proceeded with the others from the nursing station into the small hospital room.

     James’ condition had not improved since he collapsed on the Solstice, save for the numerous tubes, IVs, sensors, and monitors he was now connected to. He breathed slowly in and out as if he were in a deep sleep, but did not move. Blayke’s wife, Emma, gently grasped his hand, hoping the sensation of her energy would stir him, but it did not. His family silently stood watching over him, wondering what could have happened to place him in such a state. The neurologist arrived to check in as usual on a daily basis.

     “Is there anything on the scans that could tell us what is going on?” Melanie asked the doctor gently.

     “All of his scans, X-Rays, blood work, EEGs, and various other tests are normal. Physiologically he is in excellent health,” the doctor said as he looked over some information on the tablet he had in his hands.  “I have no explanation as to why he is in a coma.”

     “A Coma?” Blayke remarked in surprise.

     “I can only speak for the normal state of humans. He is an Asterion after all. Are you sure that this has never happened before to him or to any others of your kind?” the doctor asked inquisitively.

     “Not that I am aware of . . .” Melanie trailed off as she stared down at James.

    “All that we can do now is monitor him and provide supportive care,” the doctor added sympathetically.

      Melanie and the others nodded their heads solemnly. There was nothing else they could do.

∞

     Ava did not leave her house for a few days, nor did she return any calls. She wanted to be alone to grieve without the commiseration from her family. Finally, out of necessity, she ventured out of the house on the third day, only to head to the store to buy food. Psychologically, the thought of eating made her ill, but her body had other ideas; it was starving. She had no explanation as to what was going on. She attributed it to the stress.

     She stocked up on groceries and loaded them into her courier before heading home. Once everything was unpacked and put away she decided to make herself some dinner. She moved quickly and noticed her hands trembled slightly as she sliced some vegetables for a salad. She paid no attention and kept going. She ate in silence by herself at the breakfast bar, mindlessly chewing mouthful after mouthful of salad. After cleaning up the dishes she felt restless and decided to go for a walk on the grounds. The suns were slowly receding lower in the sky and she tried to clear her mind. Two thoughts kept circulating in her mind. One, she missed Wesley terribly; and two, if Kaden was still alive, she wanted him to pay for what he had done to her husband. Once Ava returned to the house, the hunger rose again. She fixed herself a protein shake and retired for the night.

     Ava woke the next morning famished again. She dressed in some workout clothes and prepared herself an enormous breakfast; then headed to the workout room Wesley had commonly used in his home. She walked up to the punching bag she had sometimes practiced on and gave it a slight push. Usually the bag was too big and heavy for her to move much, however this time it gave farther and faster than she had imagined it would after she pushed it. She stepped back into a ready stance with her fists up and, not bothering to put boxing gloves on, punched the bag with what she thought was not much force. The bag swayed back forcefully and then swung towards her. She hit it again and again, the action giving her the satisfaction of distraction and blowing off some stress. After a while the doorbell rang, pulling her out of her routine. She walked away from the workout room having barely even broken a sweat.

     “Ava, we were worried about you! You haven’t returned our calls and you missed the reading of the will this morning!” Naomi scolded her, stepping inside and giving Ava a hug as Andre, Justin, and Rowan followed.

     “The will? That was today?” Ava remarked. She had totally forgotten about it. Wesley had mentioned that he had made a new one after their wedding.

     Her family silently studied her, but didn’t say anything. Naomi took one of Ava’s hands and lifted it up to inspect it. She did not see bruising or marks of any kind on her skin. “Have you been working out?” she asked.

     “I need the distraction. It . . . helps me,” Ava replied with a shrug, pulling her hand out of Naomi’s grasp. “What did I miss today?” she asked as if she did not care. She had never had much in the way of money or possessions. Wesley could have left his entire estate to charity and it wouldn’t have bothered her. She knew her new family would be there for her no matter what.

     “Well, the attorney wasn’t pleased you did not show, so he’s on his way. You’d better get cleaned up,” Naomi said gently.

     “Okay. Please, make yourselves at home,” she said waiving them towards the family room as she made her way upstairs.

     A few minutes later Ava joined her family and then the doorbell rang again. Andre answered it and let the attorney in. He carried an electronic tablet in his hands.

     “I’m sorry to disturb you at home, Mrs. Robinson, I know that you’ve been through a lot.” The attorney said sympathetically as they all sat down on the couches in the family room.

     Ava nodded silently as the attorney cleared his throat and continued. “This will only take a few minutes of your time. As you know, Captain Robinson helped to found Kyanos and owned a great deal of property, had many business ventures, and to sum up, was a very wealthy man.”

     Ava nodded and he continued. “To simplify it, he left almost his entire estate to you, save for a few miscellaneous accounts that will go to charity and release some business partners, and so forth.”

     She looked up at him unmoved by anything that he had said. She had suspected as much. He then launched into a talk about how his estate would be moved over into her name and that he would need her electronic signature to send her the documents, which she must then review, sign, and send back. She was surprised to learn that he had left her an equal partner in the shares with his family in ownership of the Principia.

     After the attorney had given her the information she needed, he departed, leaving her with her family.

     “How are you doing, Ava? Wesley’s death has been a terrible tragedy for us all. I can’t believe that he’s gone. He was our leader and our friend for hundreds of years. I know he loved you more than life itself. If there is anything we can do to help you, you would let us know wouldn’t you?” Rowan asked carefully with tears in her eyes.

     “Of course I would,” Ava replied as she gave Rowan a hug. “I can’t describe how I feel. I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch, I just needed some time alone. Please don’t think that I’m not grateful for all of you and for what you have done for me. It’s hard for me to . . . be here without him. He wasn’t supposed to die. I was the one who was supposed to grow old and die. Not him!” Ava said with tears in her eyes.

     “He did what he felt he had to do. We owe him our lives and our independence. He would not want you to grieve over him,” Andre replied softly.

     “How have you been feeling?” Justin asked casually.

     “Other than depressed? Hungry I guess. I don’t know . . .” Ava trailed off. At the moment she didn’t feel like discussing the weird sensations she experienced off and on, especially since she didn’t know what was going on yet.

     Justin and the others exchanged glances. “I see,” he said softly. “If you ever want to talk about it some more, give us a call,” he replied gently. Ava nodded.

     Her family lingered for a few more minutes before leaving Ava alone again. She sensed their energy more acutely than she ever had before, even feeling it linger for a while after they left. After spending a few moments pondering this, she went off to the kitchen again to prepare another substantial meal to quell her growing appetite.

Chapter 11: Changes

     Over the next week, Ava remained in a deep state of grief. She varied in her emotions from the deep darkness of sorrow to a fiery rage over her life and the events that had happened to her and to Wesley. She had grown used to, and accepted the idea, that he would always be there for her after she learned what he was. Now, this was not to be. What frustrated her even more was her appearance. What she saw in her reflection in the mirror did not match how she felt mentally. Something was wrong. Ava recalled the early days of grief when she learned that her first husband, Nathan, died back on Earth. She remembered looking at the pale, gaunt, dull eyed and sad person that she was. She gazed at herself in the mirror one morning. Even though she didn’t bother to style her hair other than pull it back and neglected using makeup, she looked vibrant. Her skin seemed to glow with a luminosity she had not experienced since she had received Justin’s blood to save her from the virus that almost killed her. The same could be said for her rosy cheeks and vibrant blue eyes.

     However, she felt different. She did not feel as pumped up and ready for action as she had at that time. What was going on? Why was she always hungry when her mind told her she had no appetite? With each passing day she felt slightly more energized, like something was growing inside of her. This made no sense to her. The disconnect between her emotions and how she felt physically began to worry her.

      Ava spent time with her family to try to distract her from her thoughts but it only fueled her confusion. Somehow she could sense the differences in their energy before Wesley’s death, now it seemed as if that ability was amplified. She could sense them before she was near them, and feel their energy linger around her after she left them. She said nothing but noticed that they were all observing her carefully with worried expressions and exchanged glances.

     Ava woke up the following day feeling jittery with pent up energy. She hastily made herself a large breakfast and headed for her courier. She raced off towards the forest Wesley had taken her to shortly after her very first arrival on Kyanos and stepped out of the vehicle ready for some fresh air. She walked alone through the trees staring at the ground feeling sad over her loss and then noticed something. A sensation inside of her fluttered restlessly. She paused and leaned up against a tree to catch her breath. Standing still she tilted her hands, palms up, and observed them. They were shaking. Making fists, she placed her hands down at her sides and continued to walk. The sky started to darken and some heavy gray rain clouds began to roll in. Ava did not care, she kept going.

     As she walked her mind raced. She thought back to the moments before Wesley died. She remembered it without difficulty. The heart wrenching despair she felt sensing the split of his energy and his essence with his human body. Then she remembered that she had been knocked backwards and had to scramble to get back to him in time to see his essence, his soul, ascend away from her to wherever an Asterion’s essence goes after inhabiting a human body. Wesley had never said anything about that. Perhaps the others knew. She made a mental note to ask them the next time she saw them. The strange powerful sensations inside of her fluttered, pulling her from that thought. Something was not right. Something was happening to her.

     The heavy rainclouds started to unload their moisture and raindrops began pelting down upon her. Ava did not care, she felt numb to the cold. Instinctively, she ran back in the direction of her courier with a speed and an agility she knew she had not previously possessed. Even in the darkness of the storm, her eyesight seemed sharper. She could distinctively hear the pelting of the rain more acutely, to the point where it nearly overwhelmed her. She covered her ears with her hands as she ran. The scent of the rain as it moistened and mixed with the ground engulfed her as she breathed in rapidly. The sensory overload with the jitteriness within began to alarm her. She started to become upset and cry as she reached her courier and sped off back towards home. Ava focused on slowly breathing in and out to try to calm herself but it was no use. Whatever was going on inside of her did not seem to want to cooperate.

     She let the heavy doors of her home shut behind her and leaned back on them still trying to calm her breathing before heading off to the kitchen. Famished, she made a protein shake and downed it in record time. Finally, the sensations within seemed to calm down. She sat at the breakfast bar, exhausted and crying, leaning her head down on her arms. What was happening to her? She grabbed a small kitchen towel and dabbed at her tears, noticing that she could still hear the rain beating down on the roof above her. Being soaked with the air conditioner on, she began to feel cool and decided to take a warm shower.

     Ava stood back in the bathroom and stripped off her cold, soaked clothing and stepped into the shower.  She leaned up against the marble walls letting the water stream down her body. She closed her eyes again and thought of how Wesley had died. The memory of the shock that knocked her backwards kept appearing in her mind. She had not paid it much attention at the time, she merely thought that his energy had separated from his essence and released itself. But what if something else happened? Wesley had told her that he was a sum of an essence and energy that entered a human body. His human body had perished and she saw his essence depart. But where did the very last bit of his remaining energy go? Ava’s eyes snapped open and she gasped. No, . . . it couldn’t be. She was human but somehow was his match. Even he could not explain it. James had been able to share energy with her on Sphene. If Wesley died, would his energy have entered her?

     Her heart rate and breathing picked up as she stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel with shaking hands. Wesley’s energy had been depleted to the point where he could not sustain himself. Even if he transferred his energy to her, how could it remain? She studied her appearance again in the mirror as she combed out her hair and dressed. Her sorrow and grief of his death began to surface again, making her cry. She began to think that a part of him never left her. What if she had absorbed his energy? How could she know for sure?

     A grim, but seemingly rational idea came to her. She calmly walked out to the bedroom and into the closet. She went over to Wesley’s side of the closet and ran her hands down his utility belt that she had hung up. She found what she was looking for. Wesley always kept a large utility knife on him when they traveled. She unsheathed the knife and walked back into the bathroom. She stood before the mirror with the knife in her hand. A few tears slipped down her cheeks. If Wesley were alive, he would be furious with her for what she was about to do. Ava knew this was wrong, but she wanted to know. She had to know. She gripped the knife firmly in her right hand. She raised her left arm up and with shaking hands and tears running down her cheeks quickly sliced a gash on her left forearm. She cried out at the pain and dropped the knife in the sink, watching her blood stream out over it. At the same time the unknown force inside of her immediately rose up violently, as if it were angry at her, and she felt a burning sensation where her newly created wound was.

     Ava forced herself to stand there and watch as her blood dripped steadily into the sink. After a few moments, she gasped in horror as she watched the bleeding slow and the wound clot. She could not believe her eyes when she started to see that the wound slowly started knitting itself back together. Once the healing was complete, the strange force inside of her calmed down to the point where she could no longer feel it. Ava touched the place on her arm where she had cut herself and began to cry. She collapsed on the floor of the bathroom and continued to cry. She wasn’t sure how long she laid there, but guessed it was only a few minutes before she sensed Naomi and Andre’s energy approaching. She heard the front door open and felt their energy intensify as they ran up the stairs and burst into her bathroom.

     Naomi’s eyes glanced from the sink to Ava lying on the floor and she gasped. “Oh Ava!” She knelt down on the ground and began stroking her, trying to comfort her. Andre took the knife out of the sink, cleaned it with a nearby towel, and disappeared with it, only to reappear back in the bathroom to wipe out the sink.

     “Ava, why didn’t you come to us?” Naomi asked softly. “We suspected that Wesley’s energy cleaved with you, but we weren’t certain. We aren’t even sure how it’s possible. . .” she trailed off.

     Ava waited a few minutes to gain control over her sobbing before responding. “You knew? How could you not have told me?”

     “We didn’t know for sure. We sensed his energy lingering on inside of you after he died, but it seems that instead of waning, it has been slowly growing.”

     “What do you mean! Are you saying that Wesley is still alive inside of me?” she shrieked back.

     “No. Wesley has died, his essence has departed, but his energy remained with you,” Naomi explained gently.

     “This is temporary right? Like the time I had Justin’s energy after the blood transfusion. It will last for a few months and then I’ll be back to normal again, won’t I?”

     “You were his match, Ava. His energy knew you; it was bonded to you. When he died, it couldn’t let go so it latched on to you. It seems you are now it’s vessel,” Andre elaborated.

     Ava sat up and leaned back against the wall, drying her tears with the clean towel Naomi had handed her. “This can’t be happening. His energy was depleted, that’s why he died. How can it have transferred to me?”

     “Even a small amount of energy can grow if it has the proper vessel. His body was dying and couldn’t be sustained, but yours wasn’t. So, it transferred to you to save itself. Now that you have it, it should continue to expand and develop. At least that’s what we can tell by sensing what has been going on since his death,” Naomi reasoned.

     “No . . . I don’t want this. I’m a human. This cannot be happening!” Ava choked.

     “Take some deep breaths. Try to stay calm. You are still you. We just need some time to figure this out. We all have questions that we do not have the answers to,” she reassured the best that she could. It was obvious that the revelation that had just occurred had surprised all of them.

     Naomi coaxed Ava up to her feet and then led her into the bedroom, motioning for her to lie down on the bed. She lifted up Ava’s left forearm and ran her thumb over the faint red line that was fading by the minute where she had cut herself. Ava flinched as she felt Naomi’s potent energy flow over her. Andre appeared with a cool glass of water and handed it to Ava, who drank it obediently.

     “We should call Justin. I think that he should be here,” Andre suggested.

     Ava nodded, not knowing what else to do. She numbly lay there on the bed, reflexively disconnecting from the environment and those around her. A million thoughts swam through her mind. She tried to comprehend the revelation of the incredible event that had happened to her but she could not. She was human, how could Wesley have transferred his life force to her during his death? She could not find an explanation in the chaos that was her mind at the moment nor could she see it in a positive light. This new gift to her had come at the expense of Wesley’s life and she found it revolting. What was the point of being alive and changed into an Asterion when the one person you wanted to be with wasn’t there anymore? She could not help but feel cursed. Something in her field of vision broke her from her thoughts.

     “Ava!” Naomi said in a loud voice, waiving her hand in front of Ava’s face.

     “I hear you, Naomi,” she replied softly in a dull voice, looking up to make eye contact with her.

     “Justin, Rowan, Ash, and Mia are here . . . Justin wants to take a look at you.”

     “Fine. Let’s all come in and take a good look at the mess my life has become,” she said dryly.

     “Don’t look at it like that, Ava. What’s happened is incredible. We can feel you more now than ever. Whatever you tried to do to yourself in that bathroom has brought the energy out. You feel like . . . family now. Not that you weren’t before, but this makes it more official. In time, you may feel us like that too,” Rowan said as encouragingly as she could. The dark cloud of Wesley’s death still hung low over everyone. It was hard for them to feel happy and sad at the same time.

     “How are you feeling?” Justin asked as he approached her.

     “How do you think I feel? This is a nightmare!” Ava shot back. The energy she did not know how to harness inside of her made her feel irritable.

     Justin ignored her agitated state and took her now well healed wrist in his hands to examine it. Ava concentrated on his energy as he touched her. It felt so settled and calm where as she felt as though an explosion had taken place inside of her.

     “Your energy is restless . . . unsettled. I don’t blame you for feeling frustrated,” he said smoothly, releasing her hand.

     “You can fix this right?” Ava pleaded. “Take it away . . . I don’t want it. I’m a human, not an Asterion!”

     “I’m afraid I can’t do that. It is done,” he replied solemnly.

     “Done? . . . No! I can’t live like this. I . . . I don’t want to be here,” she admitted; tears running down her cheeks. Her family gathered around her, all with concerned faces learning what Ava really meant by that statement.

     “Don’t say that, that’s not what Wesley would want,” Mia soothed. “It won’t be this uncomfortable for your forever. We all felt unsettled in the beginning,” she continued. Mia was the youngest Asterion in the family and had not yet developed any special abilities like some of the others. “I will do my best to help you through this . . . we all will help you to cope with the changes that are happening within you.”

     Ava glanced at the six faces studying her and nodded slightly. She didn’t have a choice as to what happened to her, but she could choose what she would do with her new existence. She wanted revenge on Kaden for what he had done to Wesley, her family, the people of Kyanos; and finally, for what his actions had inadvertently done to her. He was going to pay for it with his life or she would give hers trying.

Chapter 12: Awaken

     Ava and Mia sat on their yoga mats in the gym of Mia and Ash’s home. With her eyes closed, Ava tried to follow Mia’s guidance to attempt to gain some control over the growing powerful energy inside of her. She took a deep breath and focused, trying to listen to the calm music and take control over the alien force within.

      “Visualize the energy motionless within you. Focus on being its master,” Mia encouraged.

     Ava took a deep breath and mentally pictured herself reigning in the energy to control it, but it did not work. Nothing happened and the internal force within her continued to blaze on to its own tune. She furrowed her eyebrows and dropped back onto her back on the mat. “It’s no use Mia. It’s been days and I can’t even seem to communicate with it.” She breathed out heavily in exhaustion.

      “We will eventually make some progress. Keep a positive attitude,” Mia suggested casually.

     It bothered Ava that her family seemed so pleased that she had somehow bonded with Wesley’s energy. She suspected that because to them, it felt like he was still here. But to her, this felt nothing like what it did when she could sense it flowing from him. It always seemed so calm and powerful; not like the uncontrolled hurricane she felt flowing within her. The jitteriness kept her awake at night, making it hard to rest. It seemed even worse when she was hungry, thus feeling the need to eat a lot to appease it, although it in the end made it even more powerful. Physically she was changing, growing stronger. She felt the most focused when working out and practicing her self-defense skills with Justin and Rowan. Her senses had become more refined and she could sense the energy of her family members more now than ever, even if they were a mile away. The restlessness combined with her sorrow over Wesley started to wear on her. She could not wait for the next mission to begin as she did not know how long she could go on like this. She felt manic, like an old-fashioned watch that had been wound too tight. She wanted peace and rest; there was no way she could obtain that in her present agitated state. She needed a distraction . . . a purpose.

     Usually Rowan, Mia, or Naomi would come and stay with Ava overnight as a precaution. They weren’t sure yet if Ava was not going to be harmful to herself. One evening, while Ava took a shower, Naomi picked up some clothes that Ava had tossed on the floor and carried them to the hamper in the closet. As she started to leave, she noticed a small black cosmetic bag on the floor, partially unzipped. She bent to pick it up and put it away, but noticed what appeared to be a disk inside. It was not like Naomi to snoop around, but given Ava’s present state, she decided to take a look. The disk was unlike what she and her family used. Immediately she knew who had made it. Ava came out of the bathroom in a robe and toweled off her hair, noticing Naomi holding the cosmetic bag in the entrance to the closet. She said nothing.

     “Ava, what is this?”

     “It’s nothing,” she replied softly, moving to the closet to toss the towel in the hamper and then turned away.

     “It’s from James, isn’t it?”

     “Yes. It was given to me before I left Sphene.”

      Naomi turned it over in her hands. “What’s on it?”

     “He wanted to give me a way to contact him if I needed him. Just put it back where you found it,” she said dismissively. Ava sensed a light going on in Naomi’s mind, based on the buzzing of her energy. It had suddenly occurred to her that James was still alive. No one had spoken of him since Wesley’s death.

     “Maybe we should contact him,” she suggested calmly.

     “No.”

     “He might be able to help you, Ava, he shares the same energy!” she said with excitement.

     “I do not wish to see him.”

     “Why not?”

     She couldn’t explain her feelings of apprehension about James. Seeking him out now felt like a betrayal to her lost husband. After all of the times she rejected him she just could not even bring herself to even think about the possibility of being with him.    

     “How can you even ask me that after what happened to Wesley? I can’t face him right now. Just let it go,” Ava said solemnly as she turned away and walked out of the room. Naomi stood in the closet holding the disk in her hands, contemplating on what to do with it.

∞

      After a week, Andre announced that they would take the newly repaired Principia back towards the known galaxy to scout out what had become of their enemy. Ava could not wait. Though the family tried to convince her to stay behind, in the end they agreed that all of them would go as they did not feel she should be left alone on Kyanos in her current state of mind and body.

     Ava stepped aboard the Principia with a heavy heart on launch day. Her Asterion family carried on and followed protocol as usual save for one change; Andre was now the captain. Although they tried not to show it, Ava could tell that they all missed Wesley’s presence and leadership. Andre and Naomi decided that Ava should keep the captain’s cabin that she had shared with Wesley for this mission since all of her personal belongings were still there.

     “Do you think that we’ll find him?” Ava asked Naomi as they sat in the observation deck as usual waiting for the launch.

     “It’s hard to say. Without the circinus chip, Kaden and his crew could be anywhere. They could have run out of fuel, or they could have succumbed to the damage that was done to the ship, they could be docked at one of the stations, or they could simply be lost in space.”

     “What happens if we don’t find them?”

     “We will. If Kaden survived, he’ll turn up again somewhere. If we don’t locate them on this mission, we will on a future one. We recorded some of the transmissions from his ship the last time. We will be able to recognize him sooner when we run across him again.”

     Ava nodded as Ash began the countdown to launch. She tried to suppress the growing energy within her that made her feel jittery, but it was no use. Nothing she attempted mentally could tame the beast that made her mind and her heart race. The constant battle for control had taken a toll on her. She could barely remember what it felt like to be human anymore. She recalled how much she liked having the energy James shared with her what seemed like a very long time ago, but this felt nothing like it. And although she had felt crazy and uncomfortable at times when she carried Justin’s energy after he saved her life from the virus on Orionis; it was nothing compared to the constant feeling of anxiety and unrest she now experienced. All she wanted was for it to end.

     After several days in flight, the Principia entered the known galaxy and Naomi was able to tap into the local transmissions of the nearby space stations. They decided to start with Sceptrum first, since it was the closest space station and one of the last places they had been to on their most recent mission to acquire parts. They docked and began an extensive review of the records from the recent dockings and launches. They found nothing that resembled the description of the former Andromeda or any records of crews that could have been Kaden’s. They filed the new status of the Principia under the direction of Captain Andre Regnier so that it would be easier to restart their cargo hauling business once they dealt with Kaden. Without any leads, they decided to move on to the next station.

     Polaris turned out to be a fruitless search as well. Andre made the decision that they should try to acquire anything that might help the construction of the new ship on Kyanos while they were out as time and fuel were precious. He wanted to make the most out of their trips as he possibly could, as was Wesley’s style. After leaving the second oldest station, they decided to glide past what was left of Orionis to see if Naomi could sense anything. Ava looked upon the images of her former home grimly, seeing for the first time the ruin of the once great space station brought down by Kaden himself. The consequences of losing Orionis were great upon the humans living in space.  The remaining stations had to redistribute what was left of Orionis’ population and were now overcrowded. It was said that migration from Earth was at a standstill because the stations were now above capacity. Naomi didn’t sense any vibes that Kaden had been near here and they moved on as there was no possible way for their enemy to have docked to perform repairs on a station that was still unstable.

     Naomi seemed distant on their brief stay on Zaniah. Ava remembered the story of how she almost lost her life on this station fighting Kaden if it had not been for James’ help transferring her essence to her now existing human body. The evening before their departure, Naomi sat alone at one of the seldom used computer terminals in the Principia, pretending to be searching for Kaden. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Even though Ava was in a separate part of the ship, she could feel her unrest, her anguish over her situation at becoming an Asterion, as well as her grief over losing her husband. Naomi opened her messenger bag and removed the small silver disk she had found in Ava’s closet. She had watched the contents of James’ message to Ava on Kyanos. Although she did not know what possessed her to take the disk from Ava without her knowledge, she now contemplated putting it into the system and activating the signal to summon James and his family to them.

     Slowly she flipped the disk over and over in her hands, debating on whether or not she should do it. She loved Wesley like a brother and now Ava was her sister. They had tried to help her, but she continued to suffer. Naomi knew Ava would not call for James on her own, she was too proud and too distraught with grief. However, Naomi knew that if there was one person that could help Ava cope with the changes happening to her, it would be James.  She took a deep breath and impulsively inserted the disk into the ship’s computer which was connected to the ITO internet. The program activated immediately and she observed that the signal was being uploaded to the known galaxy’s system between the stations. She saw that the signal was encrypted and would cycle and bounce around the stations, identifying their vessel as the source of origin. She let the disk continue to run and left the terminal; wondering how long it would take for James to find them or if he was even within range to receive the signal.

∞

     The search for Kaden continued. Everyone aboard the Principia spent countless hours scanning docking records as well as launch records from the date of their last encounter with Kaden in hopes of locating their enemy. No one searched harder and more diligently than Ava, who could not seem to rest even if she wanted to. There were only two more established stations left to search before they had to come up with a new plan; Antares and Capristine.

     Ava did not leave the ship on Antares. Not even the temptation to call on her friends Alexis and Marc could entice her out. Her fragile and unstable emotions made it impossible for her to concentrate and she was afraid that they would notice her change in behavior, not to mention her physical appearance, which had begun to look a bit haggard. Although Ava burned off as much energy as she could in the ship’s small gym, it was not as effective as her frequent runs in the open air of Kyanos. She wondered on occasion if she would spontaneously self-combust at some point from the fire that seemed to be building within. Having no leads on Antares, the group moved on to Capri.

     The overcrowding of the population on this station meant that all of the crews of the ships could only disembark for a few hours at a time to conduct business and then return promptly to their vessels. Naomi and Ava did a quick sweep of the launch records and again turned up with nothing. No sign that Kaden or a ship matching their description had been there. Ava shrank away from the terminal, disappointed.

     “Well, there are only two other potential places he could be,” Andre mentioned as he learned the news after joining the two women.

    “Where?” Ava asked flatly.

     “I suggest we search out that old hangar on Earth again. After all; that is where he went the first time. We are close so it wouldn’t take long.”

     “And if he’s not there?” Ava remarked irritably.

     “The last place to check would be Earth II.”

     “Earth II? But isn’t it still under construction?” Ava asked in astonishment.

     “It is, however they do have a several functioning hangars to accept deliveries for building materials, and so on. It’s possible he could have landed there and convinced them to stay if he could come up with a valid excuse as far as assisting them with construction issues or perhaps bribery of some kind.”

     “Remember the south hangar on Earth II?” Naomi asked. “Security was lower there than on the other three hangars. If he went in, I’d be willing to bet it would be that one.”

     “Let’s get moving, I’ll notify Ash,” Andre said with authority.

∞

     Sphene was in the midst of a violent thunderstorm. The clock read nearly two o’clock in the morning and the main hospital in the city went about its quiet business as usual. At this hour, the only staff moving about were mostly cleaning crews, nurses, their assistants, and a few physicians. The long-term care unit where James had been moved to remained eerily quiet; save for the occasional beeping of some of the various monitors in charge of monitoring his status.

      He lay there peacefully in the hospital bed, his chest rising and falling serenely as if he were relaxed in a deep sleep. Remarkably, his physical condition had not deteriorated as per usual with patients who are comatose and unable to move for long periods of time. His health care team respected him as a founder and leader of their planet and took excellent care of him, even keeping his face shaved most of the time. His family came every day to see him and try to communicate with him; to try to stimulate him to wake up. To no avail, nothing seemed to work. They had no explanation as to what caused his present state of being. They had decided as a group that if he did not come out of it soon, they would launch the Solstice and travel back to Kyanos to ask Wesley and Ava for their help.

     Outside the storm raged on, throwing violent sheets of rain against the windows and producing deafening claps of thunder. A powerful bolt of lightning touched down nearby, illuminating James’ room. A few minutes later; another bolt struck down outside close by. His head twitched briefly and his eyes fluttered erratically beneath his closed lids. The storm worsened and the hospital lost power, throwing everyone into darkness for a few seconds until the emergency generators kicked in. The rain pounded on the window and a final streak of lightning flashed light into his room, followed by a dramatic clap of thunder. The booming sound of the thunder shook the windows and James’ eyes snapped open.

     He arched his back and inhaled a long sharp deep breath. Immediately he sat up in the hospital bed, looking around himself bewildered. Without thinking he started yanking out the various IV lines that were inserted in his arms. Loud alarms began sounding; prompting the nurses at the nearby station to come running and switch on the light. They gasped as they saw that their comatose patient was now fully awake. James flinched under the bright light that suddenly met his eyes.

     “Mr. Xavier, stop! Don’t pull out your lines, let the physician examine you first!” proclaimed one of the nurses who quickly donned gloves to hold some pressure against his arm that had been bleeding from the trauma of having an IV ripped out. She looked on in surprise as she saw that he had already started healing.

     “No time . . .” James said in a raspy voice. “Get me Lucas Albright . . . need to leave immediately.”

     By this time the house physician had arrived and quickly assessed his status; he hardly knew what to make of the situation. The other nurses on the floor immediately did as he requested, calling Lucas to come to the hospital. The doctor, sensing James was losing patience, ordered all of his lines and other monitors discontinued immediately. He did not want a powerful Asterion, especially one known to have telekinesis, getting angry. James breathed heavily as he was disconnected from the various hospital paraphernalia. It took Lucas and Melanie mere minutes to come to the hospital, both in astonishment and elation that James was now awake.

     “James, how do you feel? Are you okay?” Melanie inquired. The doctor and nurses quickly evacuated the room to give the Asterions their space. 

     “We need to leave now!” James said hoarsely as he reached for the clothes that his friends had brought him.

     “Hold on, we need to make sure you are all right, let me check you,” Melanie insisted as she began performing a standard neurologic exam with James impatiently perched on the edge of the bed.

     “How long?” James said in his weakened voice as he gestured around him, wanting to know how long he had been out.

     “You’ve been in a coma for eight weeks. Nothing would bring you out. Can you recall anything that might have happened to you to cause it?” she asked.

      James stared at the floor in disbelief. “Eight weeks? . . . We have no time to lose. We have to find Ava . . . something is wrong! Prepare the Solstice!”

     “What’s happened to Ava? James . . . she’s with Wesley . . .”

     “I’m not sure and I don’t care if she is with Robinson or not!” James snapped, holding his right hand to his forehead, as if he had a headache. “We need to find her!”

     “Are you sure you’re up for this? Perhaps it would be better to watch you for a few days here first so you can restore your energy. You just woke up from a coma, James!” Melanie tried sternly to reason with him.

     “Get everyone together. I want to launch within the next two hours!” James insisted. The room shook slightly as he began losing control of his telekinesis. The others, remembering how James could be when he was upset knew better than to disagree with him at a time like this.

Chapter 13: Earth II

     The Principia forged its way through a rather aggressive snow storm on the way back to the deserted hangar in the southwest desert of what used to be the United States of America. Once nearby, Andre did as Wesley had previously done at their last visit; he sent a scout in to check things out. The massive starship hovered overhead outside as the captain and crew awaited the images from the small unmanned vessel they sent into the dark hangar. Ava waited eagerly until she saw what Naomi could sense, that Kaden was not here. Her disappointment consumed her. She wanted nothing more than to pay the evil Asterion back for all of the havoc and harm he had caused her, Wesley, and the people of Kyanos and Orionis.

     “Well, it looks like some of the parts we left behind were scavenged, but there are no signs of a large ship being docked here for extensive repairs, which is surely what they would have needed after our last encounter,” Andre mentioned as everyone looked at the images in the monitor.

     “Shall we set our course for Earth II?” Ash asked.

     “It’s the last place I can think of that Kaden could go to. I doubt he would go anywhere else on Earth, it’s way too far gone to support a topside environment suitable enough for what he needs. Let’s do it,” he said as he left with Ash for the flight deck.

     “Let us hope we can discover him,” Ava said softly to Naomi, who merely nodded in agreement.

∞

     “I’m worried about Ava,” Naomi told Andre that evening when they were alone in their quarters.

     “As are we all, Wesley’s death was a terrible tragedy . . . and what happened to her afterwards, . . . no one could have anticipated,” he responded softly, taking his wife in his arms.

     “She is barely keeping it together, Andre, . . . I fear that if we find and confront Kaden in battle, she may do something careless and put herself in danger.”

     “Perhaps. We will need to keep a close watch on her. She isn’t strong enough to face off against Kaden; he would tear her apart.”

     “Andre . . . do you think that James could help her . . . cope?” she asked tentatively.

     “Xavier?” He shook his head. “We needn’t involve him in this. Besides, he could be dead now too for all we know. I’m not sure if, or how, Wesley’s physical death would have affected him. They were still connected despite having two different bodies. Has Ava asked to see him?”

     “No, she hasn’t. She’s too distraught over losing Wesley.”

     “If he is still alive, he would take her away from us. He has the right; she is his match now. We would have no claim on her. It’s better this way. Let us deal with Kaden and wait for Ava to make that move if and when she’s ready. She may never be.” He kissed his wife reassuringly on the forehead. And she nodded, closing her eyes. She could not bring herself to tell him that she had sent out a signal to summon James to them, if he was indeed still out there somewhere.

∞

     Ava sat on the edge of her bed in the captain’s quarters of the Principia. She knew she should try and get some sleep, but sleep did not come easily for her anymore. Despite her family being so near and very supportive, she could not shed the loneliness and isolation she experienced. She no longer resembled the human she used to be. Her body had been taken over by the spark of the life force that belonged to her husband. Why? Why would Wesley allow something like this to happen to her? Why would he want to change her? Did he know that this would happen? No, of course not. Wesley wasn’t like that. If he knew she would be turned into an Asterion by simply being in physical contact with him when he died, he would have told her to let go and step back. Surely. She took a deep breath to try to calm herself, but the energy raged on inside of her; oblivious to her mental commands for it to relax. She clutched his utility belt in her hands. This was the one article of equipment that he was almost never without. She stood up and slipped it around her waist, cinching it tight, tucking in the excess slack so that it would stay up. She touched all of the various gadgets, including the PCD that now belonged to her. She had replaced the knife without Naomi’s knowledge. Next, she went to the closet and pulled out the small gun that James had given her so long ago and placed it in the empty holster. If Kaden was on Earth II, she wanted to be ready to face him.

     It seemed to take forever for the Principia to travel to the far out location of the massive incomplete space station known as Earth II. Ava sat in the observation deck to watch the approach in awe of such an enormous structure. The exterior of the station appeared to be illuminated in some parts as the nuclear energy sources were beginning to be activated. No wonder this would be able to accommodate the rest of Earth’s population, Ava thought. The structure seemed nearly twice the size of Orionis. The illuminated areas of the station appeared as tiny cities on the surface, while portions of the station that were not yet functional seemed to fade into the blackness of space, leaving the station looking incomplete. As with the more modern stations, Earth II did not have stabilizing gravity rings as Orionis once had. Instead, it had several large spiked towers protruding out here and there. Ava guessed that they were communication towers. In scattered illuminated areas she could see a faint glow of green on the outermost levels and guessed they were the oxygen and farming gardens meant to supply the station with food.

     Without realizing it she gripped the arms on her chair, digging her nails into them. She recalled how long it had been since she had lost her first husband, Nathan, and made the bold choice to migrate to Orionis to start a new life. A move that changed everything for her. In the past few years she had seen many things the average human living in space would never see. She had met extraordinary beings that nobody knew existed, and she was now becoming one of them. She had seen not one but two living planets and the style of life that they offered. And she had known love, more powerful than she could have imagined. Ava closed her eyes, letting a few tears escape down her cheeks. She missed her husband and she would do whatever she could to stop Kaden from ever hurting anyone again.

     Andre kept the Principia cloaked in invisibility for protection as it neared the desolate and sparsely populated fledgling station. Their vessel slowly approached the structure and started to circle it. Naomi, waiting with Andre and Ash in the flight deck, began to sense something. She placed a hand on Andre’s shoulder and nodded. Kaden was here somewhere, she could feel his dark energy.

     “Anything Ash?” Andre asked, wanting to know if they could get a signal from the former Andromeda.

     “Nothing, not a blip. She must be completely powered off. It makes sense, if they are still in the process of repairing it.”

       “Take us below the station, I want to see the south hangar,” Naomi said softly. Ash complied and changed course slowly.

     As the Principia glided along to get a view of the scarcely functioning hangar, Naomi’s senses began to heighten. “He’s in there; I can feel it,” she said, glancing at Andre as they looked upon the dark hangar, which was hard to discern on the monitors. This portion of the station was not fully operational and did not accept many deliveries yet. From their previous travels and cargo hauling to Earth II, the Asterions knew that the south hangar had been designed more for industrial purposes and not meant to be the hub of intergalactic travel and commerce.

     “Pull back, Ash, we need to decide how we are going to approach this. I don’t like the idea of ambushing a dark and barely functioning hangar without a plan; there could be humans in there,” Andre instructed calmly. Ash did as he was ordered and the Principia fell back.

     As soon as the ship became stationary, Ava stealthily moved to the flight deck, eager to get the report. On the way, Ash called out on the intercom for everyone aboard to meet there. Once the group assembled, Andre began to speak.

     “Naomi has sensed that Kaden is inside Earth II, either within this hangar or nearby. We need to come up with a plan to destroy him and the Andromeda without putting ourselves at great risk, while also minimizing the damage done to Earth II and any humans that may happen to be in there. We also have no way of knowing who else might be fighting on Kaden’s side.”

     “Do you sense anyone else?” Justin asked Naomi.

     “I can’t be sure, but I feel as though there could be other Asterions in there with Kaden. I don’t know who . . . I do not recognize their energy.”

     “Is there a way to send in the scout without having to open the doors of the hangar?” Rowan suggested.

     “Doesn’t look that way. That would blow our cover if they saw a small drone fly in taking a look around, they would know that it is us,” Andre replied.

     “Are you able to remotely control the hangar doors and get us in there?” Ava asked.

     “It may take a little time, but I’m sure I could hack it,” Ash assured.

     “Maybe we could make it look like a malfunction and slip in keeping the ship cloaked. Then we could dock and assess things further,” Ava suggested.

     “Anyone in that hangar would notice the change in the suction of the air locks, they would be able to tell a starship as massive as ours has intruded and landed whether we are invisible or not,” Andre replied.

     “Couldn’t we just blast the doors open, locate the Andromeda, destroy it, and fall back?” Mia asked.

     “We would have no way of knowing if we got Kaden or not,” Rowan said. “Besides, we could harm innocent people in the process.”

     “We roughly know the layout of this hangar. We know where we could dock close to the doors so that we could make a quick escape, that is if the space is not already occupied. That is the disadvantage here; we have no way of knowing what is on the other side of those doors. If Kaden is repairing his ship, it would most likely be closer to the cargo lifts so that he could acquire parts. It’s quite a bit of distance between the hangar door and the doors to the lifts.” Andre remembered.

     “Could we perhaps go in through another hangar, maybe create some excuse as to why we need to dock? Then some of us could go down to the south hangar and scope things out?” Ava suggested.

     “We have no official business here, and no valuable cargo to fabricate a legitimate excuse to be allowed access in. Security is tight here after what happened to Orionis. That is what I find so interesting; how did Kaden even get in there?” Naomi wondered aloud.

     “Perhaps one of his crew members has an ability to control minds like Justin?” Rowan suggested.

     “It’s possible, or one of his crew members may know someone on the inside. Who knows . . .” Ash mentioned.

     “There is no way to avoid a confrontation if we go through those doors no matter how or when we choose to do it. We must all be ready to fight and we must all be prepared to fall back if someone is injured or there is a threat to our ship. I suggest that we wait until Naomi is certain that Kaden is in the hangar before we go in. Ava, I like your idea of creating a diversion with a supposed hangar door malfunction. If we go in shielded, they won’t know it is us initially. That will give us a short window of surprise. It won’t take Kaden long to figure out what is going on. He’s probably expecting it. We have to entertain the possibility that this could even be a trap.” Andre announced with authority, his eyes reflecting his concern. Ava had never doubted that her family wanted revenge as much as she did, but it was satisfying for her to see the conviction in Andre’s countenance. He had changed since Wesley’s death. He was no longer the carefree jokester he had once been. Being in charge as the leader of their family was a job he took very seriously and it showed.

     The group continued to brainstorm on the best way to go about the attack and assigned each crew member an objective. The group hesitated to assign Ava any duty. Although she was becoming an Asterion now, she was extremely weak by their standards and only minimally stronger than the average human. They did not want to see her injured, captured, or killed; especially after the promise they made to Wesley to look after her. However, they knew better than to tell her to stay on the ship, she would not obey. With a plan in place, they made their preparations and readied the ship. One way or another they would reach Kaden.

Chapter 14: Kaden

          Kaden stalked around the dimly lit south hangar of Earth II. After his last battle with Robinson and his crew, his newly refurbished ship, the Vector, was a mess. Robinson had stolen the circinus chip from the main computer in the flight deck before he vanished with it. He seethed with anger and frustration, not knowing whether or not Robinson survived and when he and his crew would come back to fight once again. He ran a hand through his crew cut platinum blonde hair and trained his one remaining steely gray eye on his crew, which consisted of Torian, Warren, Brent, and Donovan, who were hard at work repairing his ship once again. By some miracle they had happened upon the incomplete space station known as Earth II and forged identities as ITO officers on a mission attacked by space pirates and were able to gain access to the hangar to repair their vessel. Fortunately, Warren turned out to be a useful hacker and thanks to him, the humans did not question their presence or interfere with them much. It did not matter, he would destroy any human that interfered with him now. Earth II did not have many spare starship parts so he and his crew had to be creative in repairing the Vector, even removing several sections of the ship that were rocked with the explosions from the bombs Robinson detonated.

     It had been more than two months since the attack. Kaden wondered where Robinson was. Had he been successful at defeating his enemy? Was Robinson dead? Either way, he knew time was running out and wanted to get his ship repaired and uploaded with coordinates to get back to Zaniah where it could be made fully functional again and to acquire another circinus ship. He would find Kyanos once more if it was the last thing he did.

     Kaden walked over to Torian, who was busy welding a section of the ship, and asked for an update. “How long before we can launch?”

     The sparks stopped flying and Torian removed his mask. “I’d say about another week or so. Warren nearly has the computers reconfigured and online,” he responded as a few human ITO officers passed by. Both Kaden and Torian nodded to them politely, still pretending to be ITO officers themselves.  “We need to be out of here as soon as possible, I’m tired of putting up with their questions about our so-called mission,” Kaden said gruffly, referring to the ITO which they had been lucky enough to deceive so far.

     “Brent and Donovan have re-armed the ship so we will be ready if Robinson shows his face again,” Torian mentioned.

     “We’d better be; I am not losing again!” he said bitterly as he left Torian to complete his work.

     Once inside the ship, Kaden sat in the flight deck and removed his fabricated ITO vest that concealed his belt that carried his guns and other weapons. Kaden had a preference for sharp knives and other immobile weapons, especially when he faced Robinson and his crew. He knew that Andre could sometimes control energy and he could not be sure if that extended to laser driven weapons or not. He wanted to be prepared just the same. Kaden did not pass through security often and always kept himself and his crew armed at all times in case they were found out. It was nearly one o’clock in the morning and the others as well as Torian began to turn in for the night. Kaden, however remained in the flight deck, writing some software that they would be needing soon. Shortly after three in the morning, he decided it was time to call it a day. As he walked to the captain’s quarters, he paused. He sensed vibrations from the floor. The hangar doors were opening. Impossible, he thought. No one was scheduled to come through those doors; the ITO would have alerted them.

     Kaden crept down to the exit ramp and watched the far end of the hangar, scarcely visible in the limited light they had down there. Through the airlock he could see that the outer doors groaned open half way and then shut. Kaden waited. The process repeated itself a few minutes later. Must be a malfunction, he thought to himself. He turned to walk back up into the ship and stopped dead in his tracks. He could feel it, faint as though it was, there was no mistake, it was Robinson’s energy. He was here! He ran into the ship and tripped the silent alarm, alerting his crew to ready for a fight. By the time Kaden and his crew were up and armed, the hangar doors had opened completely followed by the air lock. He knew that Robinson’s cloaked ship was approaching.

      “Blast them!” he ordered Torian as he ran down the exit ramp into the hangar.

     The Vector released an explosion of firepower on its yet invisible target, only to have it bounce off of the shields. The assault continued and the Principia returned fire mercilessly. Justin and Andre manned the cannons while Ash continued to keep the vessel hovering near the air lock so that they could make a quick escape if needed.

     “Kaden is in the hangar, he has left the ship! Continue to fire!” Andre commanded.

     The Vector fired aggressively upon the Principia, wearing down the shields. Somewhere in the hangar, an alarm sounded as the security officers on Earth II could see that their station had been breached. One by one the occupants of the Vector ran out into the hangar as piece by piece their ship was destroyed. Finally, all firing from the ship ceased. The Principia continued to blast the Vector until it exploded and was nothing more than a pile of scrap metal.

     “Ash, we have to dock, we will need to continue to fight out in the open! Everybody stick to the plan!” Andre commanded as he moved towards the exit ramp, leaping down it to hunt Kaden before the ship had fully landed. The others filed suit, with Ava bringing up the rear.

     The family had instructed Ava to stay close to Justin and Rowan, who were best equipped to protect her with Justin’s gift of mind control, and she obeyed.  As the family dispersed, the doors to the entrance of the station opened and dozens of armed ITO officers ran in to the hangar and began firing upon the Principia and its captain and crew.

     “Take them down, it’s the space pirates who attacked us!” Kaden bellowed to the humans that scrambled to come to their aid, a cruel smile spreading across his face. The ITO officers complied, adding numbers and force to the wrong side of the fight. Humans are so stupid; Kaden thought as he took cover behind one of the steel support beams in the hangar, watching the battle unfold.

     “Try not to hurt the humans!” Andre commanded as he ran from beam to beam dodging the gunfire, trying to gain on Kaden.

     Warren jumped out from behind another beam and fired shots at Mia, who was close on his trail. She managed to avoid being hit, only to take one from some nearby humans. Her body armor deflected much of the damage, but she fell none the less. She had no choice but to fire upon the ITO officers, killing three of them before she was able to stand and continue pursuit of Warren, who had retreated.

     Brent and Donovan targeted Rowan and Justin, who were shielding Ava. The two of them used their collective telepathy to communicate between themselves on their strategy. As the trio chased Kaden’s men into the darker part of the hangar, Justin used his ability to control the humans to not return fire or give chase. Rowan and Ava fired upon the two Asterions who returned it back. Ava broke away from Rowan to shield herself behind a support beam. The hangar echoed shrilly with shouts, smoke, falling debris, and gunfire. It reminded Ava of the dark battle that she experienced on E.S. Number One, only worse.

     “Stay there!” Rowan shouted to Ava as she ran out behind the pillar and took a flying leap at Brent and Donovan while Justin covered her from behind. She landed just beyond them and attacked them from behind while Justin charged from the front.  Brent took on Rowan while Donovan concentrated on Justin. Helplessly, Ava watched intensely from behind her position of cover so she did not sense Torian sneaking up behind her.

     “Ava! Behind you!” Naomi screamed from somewhere Ava could not see. She turned and fired at Torian who dodged out of the way just in time to miss being hit. He slammed into her, throwing them both onto the ground and Ava lost the grip on her gun. It slid several feet away from her. She could not even scream, Torian’s hands were already on her throat, making ready to crush her. Ava clawed at him viciously to no avail.

     “What are you? You feel like Robinson!” he hissed, momentarily confused.

     Out of nowhere Naomi appeared and slammed into Torian, jamming a long sharp dagger into his back. He screeched and threw Naomi off of him, pulling the weapon out of his back.

     “You’re going to pay for that! We killed you once, we can do it again!” he growled. Naomi charged him, kicking him swiftly in the abdomen. She raised her other leg to strike again and he caught it, bringing her down with him on top of her. Ava recovered her breath and reached for her gun. Torian took Naomi’s dagger and sliced viciously over the right side of her face, leaving a terrible gash and then raised the weapon to plunge into her chest. Naomi fought to keep the knife from herself, but it was a losing battle, Torian was stronger. The blood from her face ran into her eye on the injured side and covered her as well as the floor beneath her. Ava raised her gun, aimed, and fired at Torian’s head. She did not stop, she kept going until she was certain he would not get up again. Naomi sprang up on her feet, pulling Ava away as the ITO officers began to descend upon them with their guns blazing.

     Kaden witnessed the battle unfold, searching for Robinson, but he was not here. He followed the traces of his energy and noticed they were coming from a young woman, the same one he had seen in the elevator on Orionis so long ago. So, he thought, she has stolen his energy, that means he must be dead. Better to kill her to be sure. He went to move towards the young women hiding out close to him when Andre leapt at him. Kaden grabbed him and flung him down.

     “Where’s your captain, Regnier?” Kaden teased. “So weak from fighting with me that he could not survive?” He laughed. Kaden stalked Andre, pulling out a few of the long throwing knives from his belt. “You should not have come here, you’re all going to die!” Kaden roared. Andre leapt up on his feet again before Kaden could throw his knives and punched him fiercely in the face, dodging Kaden’s swipes with the knives. The blow hardly affected Kaden and Andre geared up to try again. Kaden threw the first knife. Andre used his body armor to deflect it and it made a metal clanking noise as it hit the floor of the hangar. Andre pulled his pistol from his belt and fired at Kaden, who managed to avoid all but one hit. Kaden roared and drew his own pistol and fired at Andre, who took a hit in his right thigh and collapsed. A second later, Andre rose back on his feet again and leapt at Kaden, wrestling the gun out of his grip. The two men continued to fight while the ITO officers concentrated on firing upon Naomi, Ava, Justin, Rowan, and Mia.

     As the minutes flew by, it seemed that more and more ITO officers came to aid Kaden and what was left of his crew not knowing how dangerous they, in actuality, were. Laser bullets continued to fly between the steel beams that each side took cover behind. Between the noise from the gunfire, the shouts, the darkness, and the smoke, it was hard to tell who was where; but Ava knew. She could sense them all; especially Kaden.

     She looked over towards Justin and Rowan and saw that they were still fighting with two other Asterions she did not know. They both had blood on themselves and she could feel them tiring. It appeared as though the two unknown Asterions were fighting their way towards the Principia. Naomi followed her gaze. “Stay put, Ava and protect yourself, I need to help the others!” she commanded sternly as they both heard Mia scream.

     I can’t sit here and do nothing, Ava thought. We cannot win this. Her fury for Kaden burned inside of her. If only she could make the energy within her follow her commands. She could sense Andre and Kaden nearby, she knew she must act if she had any chance of avenging Wesley.

     The blows continued between Kaden and Andre. Kaden had the advantage of being taller and more powerful than Andre, but Andre was fast. The two continued to slam their fists into one another. Ava stalked blindly towards the two men, avoiding the shots fired by the ITO. As she ran, she vaguely sensed the floor vibrate, as if the outer doors of the hangar were opening. As she approached the fight, Andre looked up, distracted momentarily by Ava’s appearance, which was all it took for Kaden to plunge his knife deep into his abdomen. He gasped and fell.

     “No!” Ava screamed as she ran forward, firing shots at Kaden.

     Kaden dodged the shots as if he was doing a graceful dance and pounced on Ava as soon as she was within arm’s reach. Once he got a hold of her he smacked her hard across the face. She stopped breathing and saw stars for a moment while he roughly took hold of her arms and held her in front of him.

     “So you are some kind of energy stealer. I can feel him in you even now. Did you watch him die? Do you miss him?” he asked with mock sympathy and laughed while she struggled. It was no use, he was too powerful. “You and your clan are all going to die here tonight. How would he like you to die? We can’t make it too easy, we could skewer you like he did with my Cassidy. Would you like that?” he sneered.

     His grip tightened on her as the airlock doors suddenly flew open. The darkness combined with all of the smoke made it hard to see what was happening but they could sense that another starship had arrived. Ava guessed it must be ITO reinforcements that were unfortunately on the wrong side.

    Kaden had Ava grasped by both of her wrists and squeezed as she struggled. She screamed as she felt the bones in her arms snap, then he kneed her in the abdomen and dropped her. He paused to see what was happening at the other side of the hangar with another starship landing. “Impossible!” he yelled in frustration while looking at Ava. He hauled Ava’s broken body off of the floor, lifted her, and hurled her against a nearby wall. She smashed into the wall with a thud, fell a good fifteen feet, and did not get up. Kaden turned to see the commotion with the hangar’s new arrivals. As he neared closer he could sense Robinson’s energy, though suddenly much stronger than what he had sensed in the human hybrid he had just terminated.

     A sleek black starship had landed and several Asterions he did not recognize ran out with their guns blazing to meet the battle between the ITO officers, his crew, and what was left of Robinson’s clan. It became utter chaos in the hangar. A tall, lean man dressed in black marched towards Kaden, as calm as could be, while two others; a man with dark brown hair and a woman with blonde hair ran towards what was left of the human against the wall. He watched as the newcomer cast a sideways glance at the other two to see that they had reached the human hybrid. Kaden narrowed his eyes at the Asterion approaching him, not believing what he was sensing. This was the energy he felt after Cassidy had died, this was her killer; but he felt like Robinson. “It can’t be,” he murmured to himself, Robinson was dead, but this was not Robinson.

     Kaden gripped one of his knives tighter as the stranger approached. “Who are you and what is your business here?” he bellowed towards the man in black. The man did not answer and continued to approach Kaden with narrowed eyes and his mouth pressed into a grim line. Kaden could see that the man had fierce, angry blue eyes and shaggy black hair. He wore an old cross around his neck. Anger and hate radiated profusely off of him.

     Xavier came to stand about ten feet away from Kaden and sized him up. “Who I am does not matter. I don’t know you, but I am going to end you!” he said in a low threatening voice.

     Kaden looked at the newcomer and laughed out loud. Certainly this lean, unarmed Asterion could not be a threat to him. What a joke. “Well come on then, let’s see what you’ve got!” he challenged as he threw his knife directly at the stranger’s chest. Xavier casually held up his hand and in an instant the knife Kaden had thrown flipped and flew directly back at him taking him by surprise, stabbing him in the abdomen. Kaden grunted as he pulled the knife out of himself, looking up just in time to see his opponent raise his arm and throw several ITO officers through the air and land in a thud on the floor meters away.

     Kaden stood only to be knocked down again to his knees by some unseen force. He finally recognized it as telekinesis, much stronger than what Robinson had possessed.  “I know you, . . . you were the one who killed Cassidy on Earth, admit it!” Kaden rasped as he clutched his bleeding wound.

      “She threatened someone I love; that is the price she had to pay,” Xavier said calmly.

     Kaden started to voice his retort when he suddenly experienced severe pain in his head. He grabbed is head and groaned furiously in anger.

     “Now it is the price you and your crew are going to pay!” Xavier increased the squeeze he had on Kaden’s head as Kaden screamed in pain. Red blood began to run from his eye socket as if he were crying tears of death. Suddenly Xavier released him and Kaden fell to all fours on the floor, slightly disoriented and breathing heavily.

     Deliriously, Kaden started laughing like a hyena. “You are too late. Robinson is dead and so, perhaps is his match.”

     Xavier walked up to Kaden and grabbed him by the collar. “I don’t have to touch you to kill you. But sometimes, I prefer to do things with my own hands. It makes it seem more real and satisfying; don’t you think?” He said without pity. Before Kaden could respond, Xavier grabbed the sawback machete that was strapped to Kaden’s back, roughly shoved Kaden down, and brought the weapon down on him, effectively severing Kaden’s head from his body. Blood sprayed everywhere and Xavier watched as he saw the faint glimmer of Kaden’s essence ascend from his human body, confirming that he was dead. 

      He sensed an Asterion’s presence and quickly looked up to see that Andre had gotten to his feet and stared at him in bewilderment. He had been beaten badly and his shirt was soaked with blood. He held pressure on the wound on his abdomen. Xavier turned from Andre without a word and marched towards where the battle between his clan, Robinson’s clan, and what was left of Kaden’s crew was still going on. Andre stared down at Kaden’s lifeless decapitated body for a few moments just to be sure that he was really dead before the ITO began firing upon them again.

     James hurried through the smoke and gunfire, deflecting bullets along the way to assist his family in the fight with Robinson’s clan to eradicate what was left of Kaden’s thugs. Through the chaos he could feel what he already knew; Robinson was dead and Ava was suffering. He wanted to make this quick so that he could be by her side. Blayke and Emma surrounded Warren, firing shots at him while Naomi ran half carrying Mia back towards the Principia. James used his ability to pull Warren’s weapon from his hand. Warren hardly knew what hit him when he was blasted on both sides by the new Asterions that had joined the fight. After a few moments, they sensed that his essence had departed. James continued on to aid Lizeth, Rowan, and Justin to prevent two other unknown Asterions from entering the Principia. He could feel that Rowan had been injured and was in terrible pain. As he approached, the two telepathic Asterions felt his anger. James wasted no time and used his ability to pick the remainder of Kaden’s crew off the floor and fling them against the nearby support beams as easily as swatting an insect. The others descended upon them and finished the job under James’ cover from the ITO officers who were still firing upon them. Justin picked Rowan up and ran towards the Principia with Andre in pursuit. Naomi waited for them at the base of the entrance ramp to the ship.

     James and his family turned and sprinted towards their own ship, eager to end the fight and be on their way.

     “James has Ava!” Naomi shouted to Andre, who met her at the ramp.

     “We cannot help her now, he is too agitated to negotiate with! We have to go! The Principia has been damaged!” Andre replied tugging at his wife to ascend the ramp.

     “I’m not leaving her!” Naomi yelled over the noise of both starships powering up as she hugged her husband and ran as fast as she could over towards the Solstice. She jumped and ascended their entrance ramp as it was being raised and disappeared. Andre watched helplessly as his wife entered the other ship, which was already off the ground.

     “Ash, get us out of here! I think they are going to blow the outer hangar doors!” Andre bellowed as he ascended the raising ramp and ran to the flight deck.

     Sure enough, James’ ship did not try to hack the code to open the outer doors, they blasted at them aggressively until they were nothing but shards of metal being sucked out into the cold darkness of space. Then, they were gone, leaving no trace behind. Emergency warning sirens began sounding in the hangar as smoke, some of the bodies of the dead Asterions, and ITO officers, along with the Principia were being sucked out of the hangar.

     Ash managed to get the Principia up and out by the skin of their teeth before an emergency airlock closed a second behind them. They sped away from the fledgling station, avoiding some of the ITO vessels that had been summoned to assist with the battle.

     “Is Kaden dead?” Ash asked as Andre joined him.

     “Yes . . . Xavier decapitated him.”

     “Where’s Naomi?”

     “She’s on his ship. She didn’t want to leave Ava.”

     “What now?”

     “I’ll bet they are headed back to Sphene. We can’t travel there without repairs and refueling,” Andre said in an exhausted tone. “Take us to Polaris.”

     “You got it.”

Chapter 15: Ava

     James ran to the medical evaluation area where Lucas and Melanie had Ava resting on an exam table. They had removed her jewelry, wedding ring, and most of her clothing as they were concerned about the swelling in her arms that had already begun.

      “James, you aren’t going to believe this!” Melanie said as he arrived.

      “What is it?” he asked nervously, staring down at the woman he loved who had been badly beaten.

     “I don’t understand, she has somehow absorbed Robinson’s energy! He must be dead!” she announced as she started an IV high up on Ava’s arm, well above the damage.

     “How badly is she hurt?” James questioned.

     “We can’t tell, have a look at the screen,” Lucas interrupted. “It’s nothing but static . . . her energy is unsettled, disjointed even. It is interfering. We can’t get a clear reading!”

     Although she lay unconscious, he could feel her anguish, her sorrow, her pain, and her suffering. Without hesitation James laid a hand on Ava’s forehead, smoothing back her hair. Instantly, he felt the energy within whip into alignment from his touch. The scanner immediately picked up the crystal clear images it needed. Melanie and Lucas ran to the monitors and studied them while James continued to lean over Ava. His eyes were wide and his mouth had dropped open in shock as he slowly walked his hands gently down her body, feeling the energy inside of her. It was Wesley’s energy, . . . his energy! He couldn’t believe it; Ava was an Asterion now.

     “I wish I had his healing powers,” he said softly to Melanie and Lucas who came back to report the injuries.

     “Well, apparently she does, though she is very weak. She has two broken wrists, a concussion, and some internal organ damage. However, it appears as though she has begun to heal. The bones are going to take a few weeks by my estimate. We’ll need to cast them,” Melanie announced. “She needs energy.”

     Without reservation, James placed both palms carefully on her chest and closed his eyes. Just as he had done after her near drowning incident, he let his energy flow into her, strengthening her and giving her what she needed to heal. After a few moments, he opened his eyes and lifted his hands. Even though she was still unconscious, he sensed her pain lessen. He took a satisfied deep breath.

     Naomi, who had been staying back against the wall in the shadows, largely unnoticed slowly crept forward to see Ava.

     James did not even look up. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Ava. “How long, Naomi? How long have you let her suffer like this!” he hissed as he finally raised his gaze towards her. His face resembling a mask of anger and his energy rippled in agitation around him.

      “Since Wesley died, more than two months ago. We tried to help her, but nothing seemed to work,” she choked as she let a few tears run down her face, ashamed that they had been wrong to keep Ava from him.

     Melanie and Lucas exchanged glances, figuring out that Robinson’s death is what had caused James to slip into a coma.

     James slowly stalked towards Naomi. He fumed with anger, even the walls of the ship began to shake. “After everything I have done for you!” he said referring to the time that he helped to save her life. He cornered her and grabbed her shoulders. She flinched but did not struggle. “You should have brought her to me right away!”

     “We were wrong, we didn’t know. Ava wouldn’t have it. I . . . I’m the one who sent the signal. I’m so sorry, James,” Naomi said nervously. The room continued to shake. She could tell how furious he was. He could easily kill her if he wanted to.

     “James, please!” Melanie cautioned him. “What’s done is done, we have her now. She’s going to be okay.”

     James took a deep breath and released Naomi. He turned from her and immediately went back to Ava while the rest of his family watched.

     “Here,” Lizeth said as she handed Naomi a moist towel. “Are you okay?” she asked, gesturing to Naomi’s bloody face.

     “Yes, it has healed. Thank you.” Naomi responded as she shakily took the towel from Lizeth. “Where are we headed?”

      “Back to Sphene of course. The ITO will be looking for this starship as well as yours,” Blayke interrupted, joining the conversation.

     “Can I use your messaging system to notify my family?”

     “Absolutely not!” James interjected. “I don’t need anyone following us home and jeopardizing our safety. You’ve been there before in your ship, your husband knows where to find us. Perhaps you should have thought about that before you hijacked us.” His voice reflected his indifference to her presence aboard his ship.

     Naomi knew better than to press the issue. Andre would figure it out and come for her when he could.  She had promised Wesley that she would look out for Ava and that is exactly what she was doing. She felt sick over the injuries Ava had sustained from Kaden, however relieved that the Asterion in her had now begun to heal her. Lizeth came back and offered to show Naomi to a cabin so that she could rest and shower now that the battle with Kaden was finally at an end.

     James, Lucas, and Melanie remained at Ava’s side. Naomi knew that now James had Ava back, and that she was an Asterion, there would be no way to separate them again. After a shower, a small meal, and a change of borrowed clothes, Naomi went back to the medical evaluation area to find that Ava had been moved off of the exam table into a more comfortable bed. Her wrists and forearms had been casted. Her bruises had begun to fade, and she appeared to be resting peacefully. She sensed that her energy that had seemed so discontent within her had settled and relaxed; most likely due to James’ presence. She could not yet tell if Ava’s energy had done that on its own or if James was controlling it. He sat in a chair next to the bed, stroking her face and forehead. She approached James and began to speak. “Thank you for saving our lives back there; we owe you and your family a debt of gratitude.”

     “You owe me nothing. It was not our fight. I did it for Ava and no one else,” he said solemnly as he removed his hand from her and turned to face Naomi.

     “I want to thank you just the same. She hasn’t been the same since he died.”

     “Of course she isn’t. Can you not feel her sorrow? His death must have been devastating for her. How did he transfer his energy to her?” he asked in a soft voice as if he still could not believe it was possible. She noticed that he didn’t seem a bit surprised to hear of Wesley’s death, nor to show any sort of emotion for it.

     “We aren’t sure.” She described the intergalactic battle with Kaden and how badly Wesley had been injured before he died. “When his essence departed, she was holding on to him. It happened before we could get there. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

     “And I suppose she’s been through hell trying to cope with it. I can feel her unrest.”

     “We tried everything we could think of to help her. We all worked with her, especially Mia, who is our youngest member. We just could not seem to communicate with the energy.”

     “You entrusted such an important task to a juvenile Asterion?” James responded incredulously. “Did it not occur to you that Robinson and I have the same energy and if anyone had a chance to break through to her to help her adjust that it would be me?” He looked directly at her, his voice betraying a slight bit of agitation in it.

     “We weren’t sure if Wesley’s death had affected you . . . and Ava wouldn’t let us. She felt guilty about betraying his memory as her husband so soon. I’m sorry.”

     “You needn’t worry about her any more, she is in my care now. I never should have let her leave Sphene in the first place. The amount of danger Robinson and your family has put her in is unacceptable.” 

     Melanie walked in to check on Ava and handed James a small plastic container. He opened it and lifted up Ava’s gold wedding band; studied it briefly without emotion, and set it back down in the container with her locket. The container also held Wesley’s wedding band and Ava’s gold earrings given to her by her grandmother. Naomi watched as he tucked the small box away in one of the pockets in his coat. She did not say anything, assuming that Ava’s jewelry would be returned to her at some point.

     “She’s stabilized, but she will need lots of rest to complete healing. I’m sure she will be much more comfortable once we get her home,” Melanie reported to James, who merely nodded.  

∞

     Ava slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was James sitting at her side and the current of energy that flowed between them like it never had before as if it were grounding her somehow. As she continued to look around she recognized the interior of the ship as the Solstice. Finally, she gazed down at her forearms, both of which were in casts. She inhaled a deep breath, wincing from the pain and started feebly asking questions.

     “My family . . . where . . .” she started off.

     “They are all fine,” James said soothingly touching her shoulder gently. His touch calmed her. She breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes. She could not believe how normal she felt, aside from the pain in her head, arms, and abdomen.

     “Kaden . . . did he escape again?” She looked directly into his eyes, searching for the truth. She could not figure out why, but she sensed an awkward tension between the two of them that had not previously existed before she absorbed Wesley’s energy.

     “No . . . Kaden and his crew are dead. Their starship has also been destroyed. You do not need to worry about them anymore,” he replied gently, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

     “Who killed him?” she asked with interest. “Was it Andre?”

     “No . . . I did,” he responded honestly showing no emotion. Ava nodded and closed her eyes again, absorbing this bit of information. She felt torn. Half of her felt delighted that Kaden had met a bitter end and the other half of her felt deflated, as though she had been cheated out of the satisfaction of doing it herself.

     “I’m sorry that I did not get to you in time to prevent him from hurting you.”

     “It does not matter, I wasn’t expecting to live through it.”

     “Don’t say that, Ava. I know that you are hurting right now, I can feel it. I won’t even pretend to know how you are feeling with the loss and the transition that you are going through. But trust me . . . in time you will overcome this. You are strong.”

     Ava’s gaze shifted towards the doorway where Naomi had suddenly appeared and moved quickly to Ava’s side. James stood up and left the two women alone so that they could talk. His connection with Ava was so much more real now that she had absorbed Wesley’s energy. He knew she needed to master it herself in order to fully become an Asterion and he knew he was the only one who could teach her.

      Naomi brought Ava up to speed on the outcome of the final battle with Kaden, her injuries, and where they were headed before Melanie shooed her away so that she could check on her.

     “It is good to see you again, Ava, though I regret the circumstances that have brought our families together. I am very sorry for your loss,” she said sympathetically as she assessed Ava’s condition.

     “Thank you, it is nice to see you again as well.”

     “You’ll be completely healed in a few weeks; and I’m sure you’ll feel better once we get you home.”

     “We are going to Sphene?”

     “Yes. We caused quite a commotion back there I’m afraid. Though the smoke concealed our ship pretty well, we don’t want to risk being pursued by the ITO for a while.”

     “I understand.” She hesitated for a few moments and continued; “Melanie, do you think that you can make me human again? Can you extract this life force from me?”

     “I’m not sure if that is possible, Ava. I’m astounded that you absorbed it in the first place. The only one who might have the power to do so would be James. I would caution you though, an exchange of energy such as that could potentially kill you. Give it time. I understand that you are feeling more settled now that the energy is controlled.”

     “Yes, I do. I almost feel normal.”

     “That is how it should be. James can help you. Please don’t shut him out. He only wants the best for you. Don’t make any hasty decisions. Give yourself some time to heal.”

     Ava nodded and closed her eyes. She let her thoughts wander to her life and how it had changed over the past eight weeks. Who would she become now that she was no longer human? Although Kaden was dead, she knew that the struggle for Kyanos’ safety was not over. There remained one more threat to its peaceful isolation from the known galaxy. There was another Asterion that knew of its existence and she owed it to Wesley to see that he would also be dealt with before he could cause any further trouble.

Chapter 16: Transition

          Ava walked as steadily as she could through the ornate front doors of James’ home on Sphene. After she left with Wesley months ago, she believed she would never return here again; but here she was. Mrs. Maclaren greeted her with a warm hug and she received a happy nod from Travis as the rest of the family and Naomi proceeded into the entryway. Several of the other employed staff were on hand, also looking not only pleased to see her, but James as well.

     “It is good to see you in good health again, Sir,” Mrs. Maclaren said off handedly to James. The comment piqued Ava’s interest.

     “Were you unwell?” Ava exchanged glances with Naomi before resting her eyes back on him, curious about the comment.

     “It was nothing, we can talk about it later,” he said amiably brushing it off. He did not care to discuss his eight weeks locked in a coma. “Come, let’s get you settled.”

    Ava did not want to press him for details if he did not want to talk about it in front of the family, but made a mental note to ask him again when they were alone. Her room appeared exactly as she had left it many months before. The family must have messaged ahead, notifying the staff that she would be returning. The bed linens smelled fresh and there was not a speck of dust to be seen anywhere. The clothes that she had not taken with her when she departed still hung in her closet. Her Sphene ID card lay exactly where she had left it. She did not inquire about her missing jewelry or her wedding ring; she assumed that they had been lost in the fight with Kaden. 

     The family regrouped in the living room on the main floor. Everyone seemed happy to be home, save for Naomi, who was technically a guest who hadn’t formally been invited. Naomi sensed a slight irritation from James that she was there. Blayke and Emma graciously invited her to stay with them until Andre and the rest of Ava’s family came to retrieve her. The entire group ate dinner in the dining room and then dispersed. Melanie helped Ava apply the waterproof coverings on her arms to keep her casts dry before she showered.

     “Are you sure you don’t need any help before I leave?”

     “I’ll be fine. When do you think the casts can be removed?”

     “We’ll do another X-ray in few days. Your healing has been unpredictable. One day it seems that great progress has been made and then over the next few days it is as if you have had no change. Keep up a positive attitude, you are almost there. Then you and James can focus on mastering your energy.”

     Ava nodded and Melanie left, leaving her to her business. After she showered and dressed she found James to help her remove the cast covers. They sat on one of the couches together. She enjoyed the reprieve from the erratic forces of the energy within when he was with her. He seemed the same as he did when she was last on Sphene, but there was something slightly off about his energy, she could not put her finger on it.

     “How is the pain?” he asked with concern.

     “Tolerable. I guess it should be a lot worse considering what happened, but the energy has helped quite a bit with that.”

     “There is so much we can learn from each other,” he said softly looking into her eyes.

     “What did Mrs. Maclaren mean by her comment about your health earlier today?”

     He took a deep breath and sighed. “I was in a coma for about eight weeks after Robinson’s death.”

     “A coma? Why?”

     “I’m not sure. We didn’t know of Robinson’s confirmed death until Naomi told us. I guess it happened to me the moment he died, or at least that’s what the timeline of events tells us. That is why I did not come for you immediately after,” he said as he pressed the fingers of one hand over his temples and massaged gently as if he had a mild headache.

     “Are you okay? Did his death leave you with any residual consequences?” She didn’t want to sound as concerned as she did, but she could not help it. Wesley was gone and now being face to face with James again, she found herself worrying about him. Somehow her grief seemed to lessen when he was near her.

      He looked directly into her eyes and lowered his hand. “I’m just fine. I will always be here for you, Ava. Don’t worry about a thing, you are safe with me. We will give you control over your new energy. You will truly be one of us,” he said with an encouraging smile, changing the subject.

     Ava’s conflicted emotions stirred within her. She had wanted more than simply being a human during her last stay on Sphene. She recalled how she wanted to be an Asterion. The power. The strength. The longevity. Now that she had the power, she felt awful because it came at the expense of losing her beloved husband. The thought almost made her sick. She needed to think about this. She needed to decide. Did she want James to teach her to control the fierce energy inside of her, the same energy that long ago belonged to him? Or did she want him to try to find a way to take it from her, to change her back into what she had always known, being human.

     Several days passed and Ava roamed about her new home. Though her casts had not come off yet, she could still walk. She strolled along the beach, remembering her near drowning incident. She passed through the gardens to the patio where her new family had thrown her a party for her birthday that turned into a brawl between James and Wesley. There was no evidence left of the mess anymore. She bent down and inhaled the sweet scent of some of the roses that were in bloom. The beauty and peace of her surroundings seemed to call to her. She pondered whether or not she should ask to go home with Naomi when Andre came for her. Did she want to go back to Kyanos? She felt as if she was in the same place she was the last time she had to make a decision here. She had chosen to go home with Wesley and it broke James’ heart. She did not believe that he would let her go a second time, especially when Wesley was gone and she needed his help to cope with whatever happened to her when he died.

     A few tears escaped down her cheeks as she remembered the great man who she had called her husband. She would never see him again. Never feel his arms around her again, never enjoy his touch or his kisses again. He was gone. She sensed James’ presence before she could hear the soft crunch of gravel and leaves beneath his feet. She turned to face him, not even bothering to hide her sad emotional state, though she knew he could sense it. It hit her again the moment she looked at him, the strange tension between them that never before existed on her last stay on Sphene.

     “I’m so sorry, Ava. I never wanted this for you. All I ever wanted was your happiness.” He stood a few feet from her with his hands in his pockets, as if he was trying to keep himself from touching her. Since their arrival back on Sphene, he once again had his hair cut back into its previous style, removing the evidence of the neglect of it being ignored during his time in a coma. He looked healthy again, no longer sad and pale as he did during the last encounter she had with him on Antares.

     “Can you change me back? Can you undo what was done to me when he died?”

     His eyes widened in shock, as if he could not believe that is what she desired. “I know this has been hard on you. Is that truly what you want? You are an Asterion now.” He paused and took a deep breath. “What he did . . . he did for us, Ava, so that we could be together. To give us what he could not have with you . . . a true match, an everlasting love.” His voice was pleading, sorrowful. He had admitted what she was too ashamed to, that they still had feelings for one another and hoped to be reunited when she was ready.

     “You’re the only one who can undo it. Couldn’t you try? For me . . . if you love me can you change me back?” She was tired of trying to control the energy; it seemed to be driving her insane. She wanted to be human again, to live and die normally, despite her growing feelings for James.

     “I don’t even know if that’s possible.” He stepped forward and lifted his hands, gently placing them on her shoulders. He could feel her sorrow and she could feel his sadness. His touch soothed the energy back into alignment, giving her peace. He closed his eyes and she felt a slight tug on the energy within her as if he was trying to draw it back into himself. He pulled harder and Ava suddenly experienced intense searing pain as the energy gripped even tighter to her being. She cried out in distress and he immediately pulled his hands and energy back from her. She leaned back on the wall of the garden, gasping for breath, the energy within was clearly disgruntled with what James had tried to do. The pain vanished, but she felt more unsettled inside than she had in weeks. He touched her cheek gently and the energy simmered down again. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation. He felt so good to her.

      “I would give you anything you want, Ava, . . . I would do anything for you, but I cannot do this. It would kill you. I won’t do it. I wish I had the power to go back in time and save you from this. I understand you had no choice.” He pressed his forehead against hers and she wrapped her arms around him and sobbed. She allowed him to comfort her. Out of everyone that had tried, he was the only one she felt understood. Her heart was filled with sadness but beneath it all she loved him. She had loved them both for they were the same being. She felt twice as confused as she was the last time she had been with him. “We can get through this. I will help you. In time, you will be one of us. You won’t feel this way forever. All I ask is that you give me a chance. Will you try?”

     Ava lifted her face up to his and looked into his brilliant blue eyes, defeated, and nodded. If she couldn’t go back to being human again, she would let him help her. She was never one to give up and she knew Wesley would not want her to. 

∞

     During the next few weeks Ava rested and reconnected back with her new family and also with Naomi. She and Naomi would take frequent walks along the beach, letting their feet skim the warm water as it surged and receded.

     “You know that we would not be offended if you chose to stay here with James and his family, right?” Naomi said one day.

      Ava, who had been silent, looked at her and nodded. “I don’t know if I can go back to living in the house we shared with him not being there. The memories are . . . overwhelming.”

     “You would be in good hands here. They would all take excellent care of you. James especially, he loves you every bit as much as Wesley did. Wesley would not want you to wither with grief and regret over him. He would want you to find happiness again when you are ready. I believe that you could find it here. Once you are settled, I’m sure there will be no limits as to what you could do or what they would be willing to teach you.”

     “I haven’t decided anything yet. I need time.”

     “There isn’t a deadline, Ava. Time is something that we all have a lot of these days,” she said with a smile.

     Ava gave a half smile in return to Naomi’s comment.

     The family usually dined together each evening. This night Ava and James were alone for the first time in a long time. He had to help her cut her meat due to the presence of the casts on her arms. It took her twice as long as normal to eat dinner due to the handicap of them. She allowed him to help her without objection. She barely ate despite the hearty appetite that blazed within her. Afterwards, she and James went into the parlor where his grand piano rested and she sat and listened as he played a gentle melody for her. She found that it soothed her raw nerves. She observed him as he worked his long elegant fingers over the keys. How calm and self-assured he was. She sensed his dissatisfaction about having to kill Kaden for Wesley since it was not his war, but did so to protect her and end the struggle that had gone on too long. She remembered how she liked his calm and gentle ways and had difficulty picturing him beheading her enemy. After a while he sensed her fatigue and stood up, offering to walk her up to her room so that she could rest. He placed an arm around her shoulders as they walked up. Despite her grief for Wesley, she did not feel uncomfortable with his touch. Once they reached her room he asked her if she needed anything, wished her good night, gave her a hug and then she watched as he walked back down the stairs. As she was about to turn away, she noticed that he ever so slightly raised a hand to massage the temples on his head as if to soothe a headache. She had never noticed this behavior the last time she stayed with him on Sphene. Something had happened to him with Wesley’s death, that she knew. She needed to find out what it was.

     Another week slipped by and the day finally came for Ava’s casts to be removed. She actually managed a genuine smile as she wiggled her fingers and scratched gently at where she had been itchy underneath the casts. Now her training as an Asterion would officially begin. She and James had talked about how to go about it and it was time to put the plan into action. They sat crossed legged on cushions in comfortable clothes in one of the gazebos on the beach facing each other.

     “The only reason I can control your energy, Ava, is because you cannot. You did not become an Asterion by absorbing both an essence and the energy which are interconnected. You have a human soul which needs to bond with the energy. I cannot remove the energy and restore you to your previous natural human state. It is a fact that you will need to accept.”

     Ava nodded. “Where do we begin.”

     “The energy you have flowing through you once belonged to Wesley and I, when we were one entity. When he and I split, he took the energy that you now possess.” He held out his hands to her, which she took to hold in her own. “Can you feel the connection we have?” She nodded. “The energy flows between us and unites us but yet remains separate. This is how it is for all Asterions who are matched to one another. You and I will always be connected,” he said slowly looking into her eyes.

     “How do I control it enough to keep it settled?”

     “You must first accept it as part of who you are now. You have been resisting it on some sort of subconscious level and it senses that. It wants to be one with you and it is unsettled because you have denied it.”

     “How do I accept it then?”

     “That is the missing piece no other Asterion has had to contend with as our essence and energy have always been one. Let’s try a few things,” he said as he released her hands, breaking their peaceful connection. She felt him pull back his energy and at the same time, hers began to feel unsettled again.

     “Close your eyes and focus on calming and welcoming the energy, starting with your head and working your way down to your toes. Take your time and concentrate.”

     Ava did as she was told and tried to rule the force within her. For a few peaceful seconds she felt the energy begin to bond with her. The wind picked up and distracted her momentarily and she lost the focus she had. The energy immediately began to work itself back up onto a frenzy within her. James put a hand on her, halting that process.

     “Not bad for your first real attempt. I think with a bit of practice, you will be able to do this on your own in no time,” he said encouragingly with a smile. She smiled softly back and studied him. She could not help but feel content and safe with him. Although there was something different about his energy since the last time she was with him on Sphene; it was so subtle she hardly noticed it now. Sometimes, when she closed her eyes, she could almost feel Wesley there. She knew this had to be impossible, his energy was within her. James merely brought it to the surface. He stood up feeling her eyes upon him.

     “James?”

     He turned and waited for her to ask her question.

     “I noticed that you seem to have headaches fairly often. Are you certain Wesley’s death has not affected you in some way?”

     “There is nothing you need to worry about, Ava,” he said with a confident smile. He poured them each a glass of water and then returned to his seated position across from her. “Now, let’s try again.”

     Each passing day, Ava became more and more comfortable trying to manage her new life force. In the short amount of time she had been with James, she had made more breakthroughs than she had in the eight weeks she had spent trying with her own family. Naomi noticed the growing affinity between the two of them as she waited patiently for her husband to retrieve her and take her back to Kyanos.

     Ava seemed to be growing more comfortable with James than anyone else. Her eyes tracked him wherever he went when they were together. She found him occupying her thoughts throughout the day, even when they were not with one another. She once again found him erasing the bad memories and the sorrow and replacing it with hope and trust. One day, James, his family, and Naomi spent the evening at his home enjoying a nice dinner and then lingered for drinks afterwards in the study.

     Ava sat on one of the couches talking to Lizeth and Emma, all the while being unable to tear her eyes away from James, who was speaking with Naomi. Although she could not explain it, a streak of jealousy shot through her. James seemed to sense it right away as he looked over at her. The others seemed to take notice of the energy pulsing between the two of them and the gathering broke up quickly afterwards, with everyone wanting to give the two of them their space.

     James politely bid everyone farewell while Ava stayed on the couch, feeling unsure of her emotions. What was wrong with her? Why would she be jealous of Naomi? Naomi was married to her own match, Andre.  She looked up at James with wide, uncertain eyes when he returned to her now that they were alone. Without saying a word, he held out his hand to her and she took it. She rose as he led her out of the study and up the stairs. Instead of taking her to her room, he led her to his bedroom and closed the door softly behind them.

     They stood in the center of the room calmly looking at each other. James did not move; it was as if he were waiting for something. He wanted her to make the first move.

     “I’m not sure what is wrong with me tonight,” she said nervously, staring at him intensely, a fire burning within.

     “Nothing is wrong with you, Ava, this is how it is supposed to be. Our energy longs to be reunited. Do whatever feels right,” he said softly, not moving.

     She took a few steps forward and placed her hands on his chest. The immediate connection of energy thrilled her. She looked up into his eyes, and he looked down into hers. She slid her arms around his neck and brought her lips up against his. He responded by returning the kiss and wrapping his arms around her. What was she doing? How could she want this after Wesley’s death? Her mind conflicted with the energy within that desperately wanted to be one with his. In the end, the energy won out and they kissed passionately for a few minutes. Ava backed James up against his bed and gently pushed him down on it. She paused briefly to remove her sandals and then pounced on him.

Chapter 17: The New Threat

     Darkness still ruled the sky when Ava stirred. She felt completely at ease and whole again. She did not think of the sorrow and grief that normally plagued her upon each awakening. She opened her eyes and found that she was lying on top of James with her head resting on his chest. She could hear the strong, steady thrumming of his heartbeat. One lone sheet had been haphazardly pulled up to cover their mid-sections. Their clothes were strung all over the floor. James had his arms around her with one hand stroking gently up and down her spine leaving tiny tingling sensations in its wake. She could not tell where she ended and he began.

     She lifted her head to gaze into his eyes and smiled. He returned the sentiment easily. They were content and at peace. The strange tension that had existed between them a few hours ago had vanished.

     “I feel different,” she said shyly, raising herself up a little further.

     “So do I,” he said softly. “Now I understand why Robinson could not let you go.” Ava looked away and he continued, “we are bonded to each other now in the same way you were bonded with him. Nothing will ever come between us again, Ava. I love you.” He began kissing her again, letting the passion escalate.

     “I love you too,” was all she could say between the kisses before they lost themselves to their newly found passion again.

     With their bond complete, Ava found the strength within herself to begin the emotional journey of healing from Wesley’s loss. Being with James seemed as easy as being with Wesley, though she never thought of it in that respect. She did love James for who he was and began to let go of her previous relationship with Wesley. James was nothing but supportive, encouraging her to accept Wesley’s life force as a gift of love and that she would always have him with her. Over the weeks, she did begin to accept it. She had grown stronger and even took up a more relaxed training session with Blayke and Emma, just as in the old days. The difference this time being that she was more agile, less susceptible to injury, and more powerful. The distraction began to help her adjust back to a somewhat normal life.

     “Will I be as powerful as you someday?” Ava asked James one night during dinner.

     “Anything is possible where you are concerned, I’ve learned,” he replied lightly back as if he were amused by her comment.

      “But will I have powers like you and Wesley? Telekinesis or his ability of teleportation?”

     James fell silent for a few moments. “You are still very young as an Asterion. Though I can sense your physical aging has slowed to nearly a stop, it will be a long time before we know the talents you may or may not possess. It took me twenty years to realize I had telekinesis, remember? We know that you can heal yourself, perhaps a little better than some Asterions and that is definitely because of Robinson’s traits, but other than that, we will just have to wait and see. It’s an adventure I’m looking forward to. But you mustn’t get your hopes up. There are some Asterions out there that do not possess any special talent other than longevity and accelerated healing. You have a human soul and are technically only half Asterion in some respect.”

     “That doesn’t sound fair. I want to be able to do some of the things that you can do, to be able to put a special talent for the use of good. I want to be as strong as you someday.”

     “And perhaps you will be, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You are strong now, much more than you were. You don’t seem to need my help as much to control your energy anymore. The transition is nearly complete. Enjoy this time, Ava. Great power and talents also come with great responsibility and discipline. I’ve seen more than one Asterion abuse his or her power or go insane from it, . . . Draves for example.”

     “You don’t seem to have any issues. I mean, with telekinesis you could do anything you wanted to and no one could stop you.”

     “I wouldn’t say that. Sometimes it is tempting to simply do as you please without regard to anyone or anything around you. I’ve tried to be as human as I possibly can. It isn’t always easy. Sometimes it is difficult to stay grounded when I am angry. When I saw what Kaden did to you, I almost lost it. I could have shaken that whole space station apart and killed us all in the process. I am not invincible by any means. My energy is still depleted after the last battle and giving you a boost to help you heal. Each day it grows, but there are limits as to what I can do . . . and what you can do. Only time will tell.” 

     “I understand. James, . . . there is something else that I wanted to talk to you about.”

     “What’s on your mind?”

     “I wanted revenge on Kaden for what he did to Wesley so badly, and now that it’s over, I feel like I’ve been cheated out of something. I am incredibly grateful for you and what you did for me, but I feel like I failed somehow.”

     “Revenge is a fine line to walk, Ava. He would have killed you without reservation if I had not stopped him. It is not as easy as you think to take a life for those of us with a conscience. Do you think you could have done it?”

     “Absolutely.”

     “And then what? Suppose it was you that ended Kaden, how different would you feel now?”

     “I think I would feel satisfied that justice had been done and that I was the one to deal it out.”

     “That’s what most people would think. Killing Kaden would not have made you feel any better. You would still be struggling with your grief over Robinson and then have the added stress of coping with the fact you had become a killer with blood on your hands. I’m sure you disliked killing Torian even though he would have killed Naomi if you hadn’t stopped him. It’s not in your nature and you know it. It’s not in my nature but I did it to protect you and I’d do it all over again if I had to. Better to have that on my essence than on your human soul.”

     Ava nodded, not sure what to make of his comment but continued. “I still have another score to settle.”

     “With who?”

     “Bryant.”

     “You feel he is a threat?”

     “Not to me or to us, but he knows about Kyanos. Before I leave that life behind me to begin a new one here with you, I can’t rest until I know that he will not pose a threat to my family or to the people there.”

     James inhaled and exhaled slowly as if he were thinking. “Bryant is unpredictable. He may not even care about Kyanos.”

     “But he knows of its existence. He may try to do exactly what Kaden tried to do, with the ITO backing him up. He may not have a circinus chip but he is a tracker. I’m sure he could convince the ITO to spare no expense helping him relocate it.”

     “You want him eliminated.”

     “Yes.”

     “I won’t allow you to go after him, Ava, he’s much too devious and more intelligent than Kaden. Do not think for one second that he is not dangerous. It’s my fault he knows about Robinson’s planet. I’m the one that brought him there in search of you. If anyone needs to deal with him, it will be me.”

     “I want to go with you.”

     “I will not put you in harm’s way the same way that Robinson did. If getting rid of Bryant will bring you the peace and happiness you need to move forward in your life with me than I will do it for you. But you will stay here and be safe.”

     “But . . .”

     “This conversation is over. I’m sorry but there are some things that you will just have to accept and my protectiveness over you is one of them.” He took her hand gently and placed a soft kiss upon her lips. 

Chapter 18: Left Behind

     Ava stirred, stretched, and took in a slow, relaxed breath. She knew before her eyes were even open that James was not with her. This did not immediately alarm her since he sometimes rose before her to meet with the high council on Sphene to discuss all manner of concerns for the new planet. Other times he simply did not even come to bed, staying up to write music. She got up and started her morning routine, showering and getting dressed. She kept tapping into her senses, trying to feel James’ energy. She could not sense him. By the time she was finished getting ready she had begun to feel a little nervous. No matter where he was on Sphene she was usually aware of his presence somewhere.

     Ava took the stairs two at a time quickly going to the kitchen. She burst through the entryway and was met not by Mrs. Maclaren in the kitchen, but Lizeth and Naomi.

     “Lizeth, you’re here. Is something wrong?” Ava’s eyes darted back and forth between the two women.

     “Check your PCD,” she said casually, gesturing to the small device resting on the countertop.

     Ava glanced at the small silver communicator but did not reach for it. “Where is James?” A small sliver of alarm filled her voice.

     “He left you a message,” Naomi offered calmly.

     Ava picked up her PCD and sure enough James had left her a message. He explained that he and his family had set out during the night to try to track Bryant down and eliminate him so that she could finally have some peace. James also warned Ava to stay put and continue focusing on mastering her energy until his return and that he loved her.

     Ava slammed the PCD down on the counter hard, but not with enough force to break it. “How could he do that to me! How could he just leave without me?” she asked, raising her voice at her two friends standing nearby.

     “Let James take care of Bryant, he’ll be home before you know it,” Lizeth replied confidently.

     “This isn’t fair! I wanted to be the one take on Bryant, . . . or at least be present.  I told him that! I suppose he left the two of you here to babysit me!” she said angrily. She felt fed up being treated like a helpless child.

     “Calm down, Ava,” Naomi said, sensing Ava’s energy rising into a frenzy. “James can handle himself.”

     “Oh I don’t doubt that. I’d like to see how he handles me when he returns!” Ava marched out of the kitchen furiously and down to the beach where she plopped down in the sand, taking deep breaths to try to calm herself. The truth was, it unsettled her to be away from him and despite his strength and abilities, she worried that Bryant would somehow harm him. She lost Wesley, she could not bear losing James as well. The energy within her, although better controlled than it had been, made it difficult for her to reign in her frustration.

     A week went by with no word from James and Ava began to worry. Lizeth and Naomi were practically living at the house to make sure she continued her training. Then one day, Naomi received a transmission from the Principia. They were finally coming to take her home to Kyanos. Naomi tried to conceal her joy from Ava at finally being reunited with Andre and the others but found it difficult to do so. She had not seen him since the battle with Kaden on Earth II. Lizeth coordinated the landing at the hangar by the bay with the Sphene officials as they did not have a reason to keep the arrival a secret. The residents on Sphene turned out in crowds to get a glimpse of the foreign starship and its Asterion crew. They had only known James and his family, therefore seeing more Asterions intrigued them. Unwilling to trust the new arrivals, the military kept a close watch on the new ship and gave it a window of six hours to dock and depart.

     Ava, Lizeth, and Naomi stood silently together inside the hangar as the Principia made its slow and careful descent with numerous weapons pointed at it. When the entrance ramp slowly lowered, Naomi rushed up to it in time to meet Andre, who gathered her up in a warm hug. Ava smiled at seeing her two best friends reunited. After Andre cleared the ramp, Justin followed with Rowan. Ash and Mia were the last to exit the starship. Ava took note that they left the entrance ramp down, apparently not concerned that the security on Sphene wanted to enter the craft and look around.

     “Ava! I’m so relieved to see that you are all right!” Andre exclaimed as he hugged her to him. He paused and looked her over. “And you feel so . . . balanced.” He exchanged glances with Naomi. “I’m sorry, we should have brought you to James as soon as Wesley died. We were wrong to keep you from him. It seems as though he has been the one who has helped you the most.”

     “He has,” she said softly, feeling a pang of sorrow over the mention of Wesley’s name. “No matter. At the time I wasn’t ready. What’s done is in the past.”

     “That’s the spirit!” Rowan said as she hugged Ava. “It’s a shame we have so little time together. We only have a few hours to visit with you before we are required to depart.”

     “Are you going to refuel on the way back to Kyanos?”

     “Yes, of course,” Andre affirmed.

     “We will come back, Ava, we just need some time to work out the details with Xavier . . . when he returns,” Naomi explained.

     “We will have plenty of time. I’m coming with you,” she said casually.

     Everyone fell silent for a moment. Ash and Mia looked at the ground while Justin took a deep breath in and audibly let it out. Andre shook his head, “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

     “What do you mean? I’m part of this family, aren’t I? Can’t I decide where I want to be. James doesn’t own me.” Ava’s voice rose significantly as the anger started to build.

     “While that may be true, this just isn’t the time to piss him off . . . you didn’t see what he did to Kaden and Earth II to save you,” Andre explained.

     “Look, all I want you to do is drop me off at one of the stations. I can take it from there,” she said plainly, regaining control.

     “If we took you from here without his knowledge I have no doubt he would come after all of us,” Justin reasoned.

     “We don’t want any trouble with him, Ava. Now that Wesley is gone, we need him on our side. We need him as our ally . . . not only because of how powerful he is, but also because he is your match now. That essentially makes him part of our family. The rift between James and Wesley is over. It’s time for all of us to heal and move on,” Naomi said reassuringly.

      Ava took a deep breath and nodded. She decided it would be no use to argue with them. She had very little time and knew what she needed to do.

     How quickly time passes. The few hours she had with her family slipped away in what felt like a matter of minutes. Naomi lifted the small travel bag that Ava had given her up over her shoulder and gave her a big hug.

     “I can’t believe the progress you have made in such a short amount of time. This is a wonderful place. You and James will be very happy here.”

     Ava smiled reassuringly. “I’m sure we will.”

     “Don’t worry about him, he will return safely to you.”

    “We will come and visit you soon,” Ava promised.

     “We are counting on it!” Andre said enthusiastically as he came to give Ava one last hug and a kiss on the cheek.

     One by one, Ava said her good-byes to her family and stepped back into the observation deck as they prepared to clear security and board their starship. Lizeth waited with her and the rest of the officers to observe their departure. As Ava watched her family gather to depart, she started to sob pitifully. Lizeth moved to put an arm around her but she backed away.

     “I . . . I just can’t watch them leave . . . it’s just too much . . . let me be,” she sniffed as she took off running in the direction of the restrooms.

     Lizeth, used to Ava’s wild mood swings, decided to let her have her privacy and turned back to watch the launch of the Principia. She had arranged for a large crate of fresh food to be delivered for her new extended family for the long journey home. She watched as a few technicians loaded the crate into the cargo hold at the base of the ship.

      After a few minutes, the impressive starship powered up and slowly and carefully launched into the atmosphere bound for Capri. The crowds of Sphene stood in awe as they watched the vessel leave. Once the ship exited the atmosphere, Lizeth turned her attention back to Ava. As she walked towards the restrooms where Ava had fled, she started to feel a sense of urgency. Usually she could sense Ava, although at times it was sketchy due to her unstable energy. She pressed her mouth into a thin line as she burst through the doors to the restroom. She could not feel her anywhere.

     “Ava!” she yelled futilely, feeling panic setting in. Deep down she knew Ava was not there. She knew where she went, she had been tricked. Somehow, she had stowed away on the Principia.

∞

     Ava focused on maintaining control over her energy but it was tiring. She could not afford to be discovered by her family in the cargo bay. If they found out she hijacked the Principia, she had no doubt that they would turn around and take her back to Sphene. At least the food crate was roomy, she thought. Since learning of James’ departure to deal with Bryant, Ava had practiced suppressing her energy. She remembered the day she made the decision to leave James and return to Kyanos with Wesley so long ago. She recalled his anger, and also how she felt his energy turn inwards and collapse on itself so that she could no longer feel him. It was this inspiration that gave her the courage to try it, although it was more difficult than she thought. She had to maintain constant concentration so that her energy would not escape and be felt by her family. Since they were used to her Asterion energy now, they would not suspect that a human would be onboard.

     Several hours passed. If it were not for her watch, she would have lost track of the time. When she believed that her family would be eating dinner, she opened the food crate and stepped out into the cargo bay. A shiver ran through her as she stopped and stared at the floor; remembering Wesley’s grisly death and the moment she had absorbed his Asterion energy. She fought back the tears and made her way towards the courier stowed in the back; covered by a tarp. She slipped underneath the covering and lay down on the back seat. A feeling of relief overcame her. She knew that as long as she could keep her energy suppressed she would not be discovered and she could get off at the next stop.

     Time passed in the cargo bay. Naomi and Rowan came down to sort out and collect the food from the crate she had stowed away in. Their behavior and conversation gave no indication that they suspected anything. Ava paid attention to the sounds of the ship; she knew them well. Finally, she felt the ship’s velocity slow and transition into a landing sequence. After the ship docked and powered down, Ava leapt into action.

     While still keeping her energy suppressed, she carefully snuck up the long staircase. There was only one thing she needed to do before entering the hangar; she needed to get her fake I.D. from her old quarters. Fortunately, it seemed that the others were occupied by inspecting the next flight pattern and overseeing the refueling. She had to duck into a storage compartment to avoid being seen by Ash on her way up.

     Slowly and carefully, she crept up to her quarters and located the ID badge. She resisted the temptation to grab a few clothes on the way out. It did not matter; she could purchase whatever she needed with the fake identity James had fabricated for her. She made it as far as the coat compartment near the ramp when the others decided to board the ship and hang out in the adjacent common area. Fortunately, they did not open the compartment but Ava began to feel nervous that she might not make it out. Finally, she sensed that they moved away and burst out of the compartment and down the ramp before anyone noticed. She did not stop sprinting until she reached security.

     Once again her ID proved useful as she was allowed through into Capri without any trouble. She waited in the public observation deck for a few more hours until the Principia departed. Ava took a deep breath as she allowed her energy to expand around her. She walked with no fear as she headed towards the entertainment district to secure lodgings for the evening and to have access to a computer so that she could hack into the network to search for any leads on Bryant.

       After registering at the hotel, Ava decided to check out her room prior to going to the shopping district to buy a few new clothes and some dinner. As she pressed her thumb against the access plate on the door to her room, she suddenly felt some energy shift behind her. It was too late for her to react. As the door slid open, the Asterion behind her materialized out of thin air, clamped his hand over her mouth and pushed them inside her room, the door sliding shut behind them.

     Ava tried to employ several of her self-defense techniques against her attacker, but it was no use. Even though she was an Asterion now, she was not as strong as the one she fought against. She felt ashamed as she struggled, she should have listened to James. She turned as she fought to look upon her attacker. Her vision went black as he clamped his hands around her neck but she managed to catch a glance; it was Bryant.

     Some time later, Ava awoke from her induced fainting spell. She found herself bound and gagged sitting upright in a chair in a dark room. Immediately she started struggling, but to no avail, she was not powerful enough to free herself. She sensed Bryant’s energy surge and he appeared out of thin air in front of her, studying her. She glared at him as he approached her.

     “Ava Amherst . . . I never thought I would see you again . . . or feel you for that matter. Looks like you have been through a few changes since the last time we met,” he said sinisterly staring intensely at her.

     Ava didn’t react, but continued to stare back at him. She decided her best course of action would be to try to remain calm. Bryant reached over and removed the gag from her mouth, she did her best not to flinch from the contact of his energy.

     “So tell me, how does a human become an Asterion?”

     “Like I should know?” Ava replied innocently.

     “Oh I think you do. Would you like to tell me or should I persuade you?”

     “I just told you that I don’t know.”

     Bryant raised his fist and backhanded Ava. She grunted as her face flew to the left, smarting from the pain. She knew she was going to have to come up with something or this could go on all night.

     “Let’s start with a different question. Where is Xavier? I thought for sure he’d never let you escape.”

     Ava’s mind raced. She had to do what she could to protect James. She lost Wesley, she couldn’t drag James into her messed up world. In the end, she wanted to be the one to deal with Bryant.

     “Xavier is dead. . . . Wesley killed him to get me back,” she lied.

     She could not help but notice the look of surprise that struck Bryant’s face.

     “You lie! Robinson could never destroy Xavier!” Bryant’s eyes blazed as he spoke.

     “Wesley did what he had to do to get me back. Imagine what he’s going to do to you once he finds out what you’ve done to me here.”

     “If that were true he would never leave you alone on Capri. I saw the Principia depart without you.”

     Ava thought quickly to give him some excuse to uphold her lie. “The two clans are now involved in a war with each other over Xavier’s death. My family dropped me off here so that I wouldn’t be part of it.”

     “Why not take you back to that pathetic little colony Robinson created?” Ava sensed she had Bryant’s attention now.

     “Too far away and not enough protection . . .”

     “So Xavier is gone. . . and you absorbed his energy spark.” Bryant’s demeanor changed. He no longer seemed angry but intrigued. Ava did not believe this to be a good thing. She could practically see the wheels turning in his head. He reached up and cupped her chin in his hand, turning her head left and right, inspecting her before he dropped his hand. “Unprecedented,” he said in awe, staring at her. Ava suddenly had the chills, she did not like the way he was studying her. “With you the possibilities could be endless . . . “

     “Wesley is expecting to hear from me . . . if he doesn’t, he’s going to come looking for me. He can sense me anywhere,” she lied.

     “Oh, I don’t doubt that. That’s why I think we need to act fast. There is so much to be done.”

     Ava’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”

     Bryant turned his back on her and walked over to a briefcase sitting on a table. When he turned to come back to her he had a syringe in one hand. Ava’s eyes widened. “Don’t worry, Ava; I need you alive . . . at least for now. This won’t hurt much,” he said pleasantly as he jabbed the syringe in her neck. She barely had time to register what had happened before she slumped over and her vision went black.

     Ava fought hard to open her eyes. She took a deep breath to fend off the sick feeling that she experienced. She was lying flat, tightly restrained on some type of stretcher. She had no idea how much time had passed. One thing she did comprehend, she was on a starship. She could sense the vibrations and power fluctuations of a vessel in flight. At first she couldn’t tell if it were night time or if the room was pitch black. She had her answer when she sensed Bryant drawing near. Light filled the room as a door slid open and then Bryant switched on the harsh bright lights, blinding her again.

     “Looks like the sedative wore off on you sooner than I expected,” he said. She could see that he had another syringe in his hand ready to go.

     “Wait!”

     “What for?”

     “Why are you doing this? Where are you taking me?”

     “You’ll find out soon enough,” he replied without emotion.

     “Bryant you are going to regret this someday!” Ava shot back.

     “Perhaps, . . . Perhaps not. That is a risk I am willing to take. Sweet dreams,” he said as he injected the syringe into her neck again. Ava’s last thoughts before the sedative took effect were of Xavier. He had been right. She should never have left Sphene. If she died, he would be alone and she couldn’t bear the thought of how disappointed he would be.

Chapter 19: Isana

     A jolt roused Ava out of her drug induced slumber. She opened her eyes to bright fluorescent lighting and immediately noticed that she was being wheeled on the stretcher down a long wide hallway with large windows making up the sides and the ceiling. All she could see was the dark night sky and nothing else. The drag of a foreign gravity told her that she was not on one of the space stations. As she looked around she noticed Bryant’s face above her at the head of the stretcher, pushing her down the hallway. To her left and right she noticed another man and woman walking with him, also Asterions by the way their energy snapped at her. She did not recognize either of them. Whatever conversation the three of them had halted abruptly when they realized she had woken up. Ava closed her eyes and pretended to drift off to sleep again.

     “How much did you give her?” a woman with dark brown hair and eyes asked.

     “Two doses,” Bryant replied.

     “Remarkable. She’s already waking. If she were human she’d be out for a week.”

     “Do you realize if this works it could change everything we know about our existence?” A tall broad shouldered man with light brown hair and hazel eyes said.

     What were they talking about? Ava wondered.

     “We just need to make sure it is done correctly, I only have one shot at this,” Bryant remarked.

     “Have you sensed her presence recently?” asked the dark haired woman.

     “No.” Bryant replied.

     “If you concentrate your efforts and your energy I’ll bet she’ll come back to you,” the other man added.

     “I can only hope so.”

     The motion stopped and Ava opened her eyes again. They wheeled her cart inside what appeared to be a prison cell with clear walls and no privacy. It had the sterile feel of an operating room.

     Ava began to struggle against her restraints, although her efforts were useless. It had been a long time since she had eaten a decent meal and her waning energy levels reflected it. Suddenly she stopped. It occurred to her that it might be best to conserve what little energy she had left.

     “If you promise to behave yourself, we’ll let you up,” Bryant said in an even voice.

     Ava glanced all around her at the three Asterions in the room and gave a quick nod.

     “Ophelia, you get her feet and I’ll take the rest,” he said. The dark haired woman nodded.

     By now Ava had grown used to Bryant’s energy, but the touch from the woman shocked her. All three of them seemed powerful, but it was different energy than what she was used to feeling from her family. She eyed them all warily as she sat up and dangled her legs over the edge of the cart. Suddenly the two strange Asterions were standing in front of her and began assessing her. The woman, Ophelia, began touching her as if to conduct a physical exam. Ava flinched at the contact as the woman moved her head from side to side, used a small light to look in her eyes and mouth.

     “Lidon, I’d like a blood sample,” she said to the light brown haired man. He nodded and opened a small case he had brought with him. She practically jumped when he touched her to apply a tourniquet so he could take the sample.

     “She’s so sensitive to our energy,” Ophelia said to Bryant.

     “Yes, she always has been, even before she absorbed Xavier’s life force.”

     “How did he die?” Ophelia said as her dark brown eyes bored into Ava’s blue ones.

     “I told you,” she said softly, looking at Bryant. “Wesley killed him.” Ava decided she’d lie as much as she needed to in order to give them whatever information they wanted. Somehow they were intrigued with her transition from human to Asterion and she suspected this is what their exam was about. Although certain they had something else planned for her, at least they weren’t hurting her at the moment.

     “How?” she persisted.

     Ava took a deep breath. Her swiftly moving mind came up with a story she hoped they would believe. “Xavier took me to a space station I had never heard of. . . I think he and his family built it. I have no idea where it was but I had no way to escape. After a few weeks we were all awakened at night by an explosion. Wesley had found us and came to rescue me. Xavier tried to keep me from him but Wesley was too powerful . . . he stabbed him in the heart and he died in my arms. Despite the kidnapping, I grew to like Xavier and it broke my heart to see them fight over me.” Ava paused. She wanted to avoid telling them anything that would further their interest in Kyanos or lead them to search for Sphene.

     “An unknown space station?” Lidon asked. Ava nodded.

     “It makes sense,” Bryant added. “Xavier would disappear for years at a time and no one could track him.”

     “Is it possible for Robinson to kill him? Xavier had telekinesis,” Ophelia questioned.

     “They were the same entity. They couldn’t use their abilities on one another.” At least that part is true, Ava thought. “After Xavier died, I passed out and woke up like this,” she said as she gestured to herself.

     “What did it feel like? Did you see anything?” Ophelia questioned.

     Ava had all of their attention now. “I don’t know. I passed out and woke up on the Principia with Wesley,” she lied.

     “She definitely has Xavier’s energy, I can feel it,” Lidon stated.

     The two strange Asterions finished conducting Ava’s exam, asking more questions that Ava had to create false answers to. There was no way she was going to tell them anything that they could use against her families. They were probably going to kill her anyway. Either for the sheer cruelty of it to get back at Wesley or by some twisted experiment they were planning for her.

     “I’m curious to hear what Isana has to say,” Ophelia remarked.

     Isana? Ava thought. She wondered who that was, but knew she would probably find out soon.

     “I’m taking her to her as soon as she gets back,” Bryant said with a grin. Bryant gripped Ava by the shoulders and slid her off of the gurney. He led her over to the small cot on the side of the room and sat her down.

     “Stay,” he commanded as if he were talking to a dog. He turned back to the other two Asterions and then all three of them left the room chuckling. The clear glass door slid securely shut behind them.

     Ava sat there motionless for several minutes.  She used her eyes to evaluate her surroundings. She noticed that the room was bare except for the cot, a toilet, and a sink. At least it was clean, she thought. She could not see anything out in the hallway other than the wall opposite her cell. She closed her eyes. What should she do now? What would Wesley or James do?

     Ava decided the best course of action would be to conserve as much of her energy as possible until a window of opportunity for escape presented itself. The Asterions had taken her watch and her PCD so she had no way of telling how much time had passed. What felt like eight or more hours passed before someone, a human man, appeared with a tray that contained a bottle of water and some food on it. He opened the door only wide enough to set the tray down and quickly shut the door and left. She eagerly went to the tray and gulped down the water in seconds and then devoured the food, not caring whether it was possibly drugged or poisoned or not. She slowly came to grips with the fact that she would probably die here and she would never see James or her families again. Afterwards she paced around her cell for a few minutes. Seeing no means of escape, she laid down on the cot and fell asleep.

     The sting of energy approaching roused her from her dreamless sleep. She sat up as Bryant, along with Ophelia and Lidon, entered her cell.

     “Time to get up,” Bryant said pleasantly.

     “Is it time for my appointment at the spa?” Ava asked sarcastically.

     Bryant laughed heartily. “Not exactly. There is someone important I’d like you to meet,” he replied amicably.

     She stood up and went willingly with them to conserve her energy even though her instincts were telling her to attack them and run. If only she knew where she was. They led her down many cross connecting hallways with dim lighting of what appeared to be a medical facility until they entered a connecting walkway brightly lit with sunlight. Ava stared at the long passageway that connected the building they were in to what appeared to be a different, more elegant building. The passageway resembled more of an above ground tunnel sitting on top of red soil. What Ava couldn’t figure out was why it was enclosed in clear glass. In fact, looking out she could see other interconnected buildings with the same clear glass passageways.

     “Where are we?” Ava asked Bryant.

     “Not that it matters to you much, but it is a newly discovered planet called Arcturus.”

    A small spike of hope flared up within her! James knows of this place, she thought. Part of her wanted him to come for her while part of her wanted him and his family to stay far from danger. “If you didn’t discover it, how did you learn of it?” she asked him.

     “This is the hub of the ITO. You’re about to meet its president.”

     “President Pascale?” she asked.

     “You will see,” was his only reply as they kept ushering her down the above ground tunnels toward a posh looking building made up of many stories, stretching high up in the sky. The building had clear gold toned windows. On the way in, Ava noted some people, humans she sensed, walking about outside of the protection of the tunnels. So they must be able to breathe the air, she thought. Then why the covered tunnels? She pondered this while they moved.

     After a few minutes they walked into and through an impressive atrium filled with strange looking plants and trees. The air smelled fresher here, compared to the cell where she had been kept. She looked up and saw the glass ceiling many stories above her. The many levels of the building made up the perimeter with cable like railings in place. Down several other hallways with humans milling about, they ended up in a large richly decorated conference room with a fancy wooden desk and a comfortable looking high-backed chair near an enormous window. The chair and its occupant faced the window.

     Bryant led Ava up to the desk and she cringed. Whoever was sitting in the chair was an Asterion and emitted a powerful dark energy. It reminded Ava of the first time she felt Kaden’s energy when she was in the lift with him on Orionis; only this energy seemed much more potent and older. She ranked it right up there with Wesley, James, and Andre. They stopped at the front of the desk and Bryant made a slight coughing noise to catch the attention of the Asterion in the chair, who no doubt already knew they were there. The chair turned slowly.

     “So this is the hybrid?” a woman’s voice rang out clearly from the chair as it turned.

     “Yes,” Bryant replied. He turned to Ava. “May I present Isana, the president of the ITO.” As the chair completed its swing towards her, Ava saw a tall, well-built woman with fiery red hair down to her shoulders and pale green eyes; eyes that assessed Ava quickly and warily. Ava’s own human instincts and the gifted energy within practically recoiled at the stinging from this powerful Asterion. She turned to Bryant instead.

     “No . . . no the president of the ITO is a man . . . I’ve seen him,” she said. The woman in the chair laughed easily.

     “Pascale is merely my puppet. He does whatever I order, otherwise he knows that he can kiss his lavish living style good-bye,” Isana said smoothly as she rose from her chair and came around the side of the desk to stand before Ava and Bryant. Ava noticed Ophelia and Lidon stood back several feet to give them space. She didn’t know what to do between her fear and her energy within freaking out, so she just stood there as this ancient Asterion studied her.

     Isana smiled slyly. “This is who Robinson killed Xavier over?” She laughed again. This made Ava angry. “You know for years I thought he was mine,” she continued stepping away a few feet. “He and I could have ruled the universe together . . . what a pity he threw his life force away over you,” she said plainly, gesturing to Ava. There seemed to be a touch of regret in her tone.

     “He never would have joined you,” Ava courageously said slowly back to her with the great deal of certainty she felt emanating from her energy. She watched as Isana held out her hand and a small object came flying into it. Telekinesis! Suddenly Ava remembered something. James once told her on his beach that he knew of only two other Asterions that possessed the ability of telekinesis and Wesley was one of them. This Isana must be the other one. So James knows her, she thought. It was both bad and good, but more fear suddenly struck her. She did not want James coming to this place with an obvious evil Asterion able to control things with the power of her mind. She had seen what such an ability could do.

     Isana smirked at her and turned to Bryant. “How do you propose to do it?” she asked, switching to Italian. Little did she know that Ava had learned Italian from James and his family.

    Bryant cleared his throat. “We need to preserve her body as best as possible. Ophelia and Lidon think the best method would be to weaken her slowly by starvation, then we can attempt the transfer after I have made contact with Alisa.”

     Alisa? Ava thought for a moment. That was Bryant’s late wife.

     “Have you made contact with her recently?” Isana inquired.

     “It has been a long while but I am sure it will be soon. I have often sensed her presence. Once her essence knows we have a chance, she will stay around.”

     “If Xavier could do it, so can I,” she said.

     “Imagine my Alisa with the power of telekinesis,” Bryant said with a big smile, looking at Ava.

     Ava looked back and forth between them keeping a poker face, but her insides were tying themselves in knots. With a sinking feeling, she suddenly knew what they were going to do to her. They were going to weaken her to the point of death and Bryant was going to try to summon the essence of his lost wife to come and take over her body and bind with Wesley’s energy to give her human life again. This Isana would do what James had done for Naomi to prevent her from dying; she would use her powers of telekinesis to control her death and transfer Alisa’s essence into her. Ava paled at the thought.

     Isana looked at Ava and narrowed her eyes. “Can she understand us?”

     “Of course not, I’ve researched her. She knows only English and French. Where would she learn Italian?” Bryant replied.

     They switched back to English. “You certainly feel like him,” she said. “Now let’s see if you really did absorb his energy.” And with that she flicked open a switchblade knife and swiped Ava across the right cheek.

     Ava gasped and turned away as she put her hand over her bleeding cheek. Immediately she felt the heat of anger surge up within her. The wound almost immediately began to close, but it was slower than normal due to her low level of energy. She turned back to Isana and glowered at her, lowering her hand so they could see that she was strong enough to heal herself. She faintly sensed Isana’s energy draw back.

     “Enough!” Bryant said as he protectively drew Ava against him. “We don’t know how well she can heal . . . I don’t want her body all marked up with scars,” he said sternly.

     “Very well,” Isana said dismissively, turning away. “Take her back to her cell and continue with the plan.”

     Ava turned with Bryant as he led the way back to her solitary confinement. Neither of them spoke. They had nothing to say.

∞

     A few days passed with Ava alone in her cell. The so-called scientists Ophelia and Lidon had rationed her down to just enough food to keep her alive, yet drain her energy. She spent most of her time lying on her cot. She had no entertainment to keep her thoughts occupied or anything in the cell she could use to try to escape. They had made her change into a simple bluish-green outfit that resembled surgical scrubs. Her hair fell long and loose. Cameras constantly watched her. She knew she was doomed. Her life could be over as soon as Bryant made contact with his wife’s essence, whenever that would be.

     The isolation ate away at her. The silence became overwhelming. More than once she thought she heard voices, but it turned out only to be her imagination. On the third day, Ava sat numbly on her cot and stared at the floor. She heard the door to her cell being opened. After a few seconds delay she looked up. Her jaw dropped when she saw who it was. It cannot be! The thoughts that ran through her mind overwhelmed her as she gaped at him. The human who entered stopped in his tracks and stared at her with a shocked expression on his face. Ava took in several deep breaths as she looked into the familiar hazel eyes of her first husband, Nathan Amherst.

     “Na . . . Nathan?” Ava said softly. “You died on Earth . . . years ago. The ITO . . . they made me identify your body.” Ava stopped. The ITO. The corrupt organization headed by cruel Isana. Then it hit her. They fabricated his death to separate them. They must have wanted only him on Arcturus because he was a nuclear engineer, so they faked his death and sent her to Orionis instead.

     Nathan continued to stare at her dumbstruck.

     “Nathan . . . say something,” Ava asked; shaking as she stood. He took a step back.

     “You are not Ava!” he said sternly, regaining his composure.

    “What do you mean? . . . It’s me!” Ava replied with her arms slightly stretched out to him.

     Nathan extended out a device and pointed it at Ava. It lit up and made a few beeping noises. “You’re not Ava. You are one of those . . . things. So what happened to her? How did she die?” he asked matter-of-factly.

     She paused and thought for a moment. “I know how this seems, but I am Ava. I didn’t die . . . I’m right here.”

     “Impossible,” he said tapping his device.

     “I never died, Nathan! Ask me something only I would know, something between us . . . something personal,” Ava pleaded.

     “Okay . . .” He sighed, clearly gearing up for disappointment. “What color of blouse did you wear on our very first date?”

     “Black,” she answered quickly. He raised his eyebrows.

     “And the wine we drank on our first date?”

     “We didn’t drink wine on our first date. It was so expensive the first time I ever had it was at our wedding.”

     Nathan gasped. “It is you . . . how can that be? You have the energy of those things.” He took a step towards her.

     “I am still me. It’s a long story. I was near an Asterion when he died . . . when his body died . . ., and I absorbed his energy, or what was left of it. I’ve been this way ever since. Nathan, I don’t have much time,” Ava whispered. “They are going to kill me to try and slip the essence of another Asterion into me so that she can live again.”

     “I wouldn’t put it past them.”

     “Please, I need your help,” her voice was barely audible. “Is there any way out of here?”   

     Nathan stared at Ava in disbelief as if he were still trying to process what was happening. He blinked and then continued tinkering with the electronic device in his hands, moving closer to her. “This section of the compound is heavily monitored and guarded,” he whispered. “My access to security is limited, but I will see what I can do.”

     Ava watched as he turned quickly and left, stealing one last bewildered glance at her. She looked around her cell again, memorizing the locations of the two cameras watching her. Her thoughts began to race, indulging her in several different escape scenarios. Maybe Nathan could find a way to smuggle her onto a cargo ship back to the stations, or at the very least hide her somewhere until they could figure something else out. She allowed herself to dream but the reality was there was no way that she could escape. Bryant was a tracker and he would be able to find her anywhere. Her heart sank again. Perhaps she was wrong to ask Nathan’s help in this. She should have known better than to involve him in her Asterion world. If he were caught trying to help her, he could no doubt pay for it with his life. She rested her head in her hands. What a mess things were.

     A few more days passed and Nathan did not return. The tiny amounts of food the scientists allowed her kept her alive, but she could feel her energy waning, sapping her strength. She lay on her cot in the silent cell. Slowly she began to sense something. Familiar energy. Familiar Asterions. They are coming, she thought. She began to laugh hysterically, unable to stop. Bryant rushed in to check her status. When she saw him standing over her she began to laugh again. He stared at her, puzzled. So it begins, she thought.

     The next day as Ava numbly sat on her cot, Nathan arrived in her cell. He didn’t say a word as he approached her and aimed his small electronic device at her to measure the energy radiating off of her. He pretended to have some difficulty with the device and slowly drew nearer to her until she could hear him whisper “tonight” before he turned and left the cell, the door sliding shut and locking behind him.

     Ava sat there without moving for several moments, letting what Nathan had told her sink in. Should she let him try to help her? What was he to her now? Were they technically still married? What had happened to him since they were last together what seemed like an eternity ago? She wasn’t sure at the moment about anything. A few more hours passed. The electricity in her cell seemed to be disturbed. The lights flickered on and off. Maybe there was some type of electrical storm going on outside. She sat up on the cot suddenly as her cell went completely dark. She heard the faintest clicking noise which meant that the lock to the door might have failed. She ran to it to see if she could pry it open before the generators restored the power. She yanked as hard as she could to try to slide the door open, but it was no use. It was still locked. She rested her head against it for a few brief seconds before she leapt back.

     Bryant abruptly unlocked the door and burst in, roughly grabbing her by the shoulders. “It’s time to go, princess,” he said pulling her out of the cell. She tried to resist, but she had only the residual strength equivalent to that of a normal human. She noticed he was alone. Where were Lidon and Ophelia? Apparently getting ready for whatever was about to go down, she thought.

     “Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be,” he said as he half dragged her down the dimly lit hallway.

     “It’s not going to work, Bryant,” Ava growled back at him. He stared hard at her, realizing that somehow she knew of his plan.

     “So you picked up a little Italian somewhere?”

     “I’m a fast learner,” she replied acidly.

     “Xavier taught you no doubt. Too bad he’s not here to help you now. The time has come, Ava. Alisa’s essence is here. I can feel her and nothing is going to try to stop me from bringing her back!”

     “That’s what you think!” a familiar voice said.

     Ava turned in Bryant’s grip, barely just in time to see Nathan approach him from behind with what looked like a taser. Ava wrenched herself free from his grip as Nathan jammed the device into Bryant, who immediately fell and started twitching.

     “This way!” Nathan ordered Ava and the two of them started sprinting down the hallway in the opposite direction.

     “Faster!” Ava cried as she grabbed a hold of Nathan to help speed him up. “He’s coming back!” She could feel Bryant’s energy surging back towards them as they continued to run. All around them sirens began alarming and she could feel several Asterions on the move. It was no use. Bryant was too fast. He caught up with them easily and shoved both of them from behind, causing them to fall face down in the hallway.

     “Thanks for the boost back there,” Bryant said maliciously to Nathan. “Too bad you didn’t give it to her,” he laughed.

     He pulled out a gun and aimed it at Nathan. “No!” Ava screamed as she leapt to her feet. She rushed at Bryant and pushed his arm just a fraction enough as he pulled the trigger to narrowly miss Nathan’s head. With one arm, Bryant enveloped Ava in a headlock, with the other he slammed Nathan against the opposite hall furiously. Nathan fell down and did not get up.

     “I’ll deal with you later,” he said. Just then, the remaining red back up light in the hallway started to flicker and the sirens went silent. Just as Bryant started dragging Ava back the way they had come, the hallway fell totally dark. The generators had stopped completely.  “Damn generators,” he cursed.

     Despite the choke hold, Ava laughed. “That isn’t the generators . . . that is Andre!”

     “What?”

     Even in the pitch black darkness she could feel them . . . all of them. They had come to save her. Then suddenly she sensed him. He seemed to arrive out of nowhere. Strange for him, she thought. He did not waste any time; he freed Ava in a nanosecond. The only thing she sensed was Bryant being flung against the wall and pinned there by an invisible force.

     “James!” she cried as she felt his arms wrap around her. He lifted her up and crushed her to him.

     “Ava, thank God!” he said softly. She sucked in her breath as he let his powerful energy flow into her; easing her anxiety, and restoring her strength.

     Andre arrived a few moments later, carrying a battery operated lamp, illuminating the dark hallway. Ava raised her face and looked into James’ eyes, seeing his emotions and his concern for her. She didn’t wait for him to speak again but pressed her mouth against his, kissing him passionately. When they separated she glanced to the side and saw Bryant watching them with his mouth gaped open. On the opposite side of the hallway, sitting and leaning against the wall, Nathan observed them with a similar expression.

     “You liar!”Bryant said with a voice full of anger to Ava. She could feel his rage as he realized that it was Wesley that had died instead of James.

     James narrowed his eyes at Bryant, which was enough to silence him. Then he quickly turned and focused his energy on Nathan who had stood up. Nathan gasped for air as James began choking him with his ability.

     “James, no!” Ava shrieked as she put herself between the two men. “It’s Nathan . . . It’s Nathan!”

     James abruptly released his death grip on Nathan and eyed him suspiciously.

     Andre stepped up. “Nathan . . . Amherst?”    

    “Yes,” he said with a bit of a croak, straightening up; eyeing both of the Asterion men warily.

    “So you are not dead?” Andre mused.

    “We’ll sort this out later!” James commanded. “Get them to the ship! I’ll deal with Bryant.”

    Andre put a hand on Ava’s shoulder to signal to her to let go of James and come with him.

     “James, wait!” Ava said urgently. “There is an Asterion woman here that has telekinesis, we should all go now!”

     “Yes, I know Isana is here. I can sense her.”

     “You know her?”

     “We’ve met.” he said in an unconcerned tone.

     “She could hurt you, . . . let’s go!” Ava pleaded.

     “I’m going to end all of this tonight, Ava. For you, for the ITO, and for Kyanos.”

     “James, please come with us . . .”

     “I do not fear her, Ava. Do not worry for me, I have some new tricks up my sleeve,” he said casually, brushing his hand across her cheek.

     “Time to go,” Andre ordered as he gently pulled her away.

     Ava cast a lasting look at James before glancing at Nathan who followed as Andre led them away, leaving James with Bryant.

     “Where are the others?” Ava asked as they hurried along. She could feel them but they seemed to be scattered about. Now that her strength was restored, her senses and sanity had picked up. She also wondered why he and James seemed to be working so closely together at this moment.

     “They are making sure we get off of this rock okay because all hell’s gonna break loose once James kills Bryant.”

     “You mean we are leaving him here?”

     “Those are the orders he gave me. Besides, he won’t be alone.”

     “We can’t leave him here with that deranged telekinetic woman, she could kill him!”

     “I don’t mean to interrupt, Ava, but something tells me that your friend back there is perfectly capable of taking care of himself,” Nathan interjected.

     “That he is . . . listen to your ex,” Andre said as he ushered them along. Ava let the gravity of that final comment sink in as they kept moving.

     James released his hold on Bryant and let him fall to the floor. Bryant tried to disappear before James could grab him, but he wasn’t fast enough. James hauled him roughly to his feet and hissed at him “I knew I should not have let you go on Antares. I should have killed you long ago. I won’t make that mistake again.”

     “Please! . . . I didn’t know you were alive. She told me you were dead!”

     “So it would have mattered to you if you thought I was still in the picture? However you thought it was okay to kidnap and torture her if Robinson was alive? Forgive me if your logic doesn’t make sense to me.”

     “You don’t need to kill me . . .  I have information you would find valuable. There are other sustainable planets out there . .  . please!” he stammered.

     “So you want me to spare your life after the things you have done?” James said lightly as he released Bryant by throwing him down the hall.

     Bryant groaned as he hit the floor hard and slid several feet. He tried once again to fade to nothing but James appeared next to him in a flash with a surge of energy. Even Bryant knew that James was not that fast. He wondered what was going on.

     “I can track Kaden for you! You can have your revenge for what he did to Orionis . . . and the danger that he put Ava in!”

     James yanked him to his feet again. “It might be hard for you to track him now, or what is left of his body after I was through with him. I’m sure the humans have disposed of the remains by now,” he replied casually. Then he turned serious. “Who else knows about Kyanos, Bryant?” James slammed him to the floor again. “Who else!”

     “Nobody, I swear! No one else knows! Spare my life and I will serve you.” He tried once again to get up.

     Satisfied that Bryant seemed truthful, James replied “you are free to be with Alisa now, Bryant. Be at peace.” Bryant’s eyes widened with fear as James clamped his hand down over his heart and used his ability to arrest it. Bryant fell silent and went limp on the floor. James did not release his hold until he felt Bryant’s essence rise up and dissipate into nothing. He stood up and began to expand his senses, trying to pinpoint the direction that Isana was in. Ava would never be completely safe if she were allowed to escape.

∞

     Ava and Nathan followed Andre through a maze of darkened hallways as he kept the electricity mute. She could feel a few Asterions and humans closing in on them.

     “Andre!” Ava called.

     “I know!” he replied. “Be ready, they are coming!”

     Andre switched off his lamp as they rounded the corner into one of the above ground tunnels. They could hear the rain pelting down on the glass ceiling furiously. Ava felt the unfamiliar Asterion man arrive before she could see his faint dark shape. Andre apparently dodged a blade being flung at him as Ava heard it whir by her head and bounce off of the side of the tunnel. She grabbed Nathan and pulled him out of the way as Andre lunged at their opponent. The two Asterions fought viciously in the dark.  Ava wasn’t sure what to do. Should she try to help him? Should she and Nathan keep running?  She didn’t know where the ship was. Ava and Nathan backed away from the fight in the dark and turned to keep inching back in the direction they were originally running. Just then a streak of lightning touched down on the ground outside, illuminating the tunnel for a few seconds. Then Ava felt it, humans and Asterions were present at both the entrance and the exit. They were surrounded.

     Then something else happened, Ava sensed familiar energy. “We have to move!” she urged Nathan. They were sandwiched between Andre and his opponent and two advancing armed human guards and one Asterion woman Ava did not know. Just as they advanced and raised their weapons, Ava heard, “get down!”

     It was Naomi with Melanie right behind her. Ava flung herself and Nathan to the floor as everyone seemed to fire their weapons. Flashes of light exploded everywhere, giving a strobe like effect in the hallway, which was quickly becoming a death trap.  One of the human guards fell and Andre yelped. Ava flinched. She could feel the ripple in his energy from being wounded. He had been either shot or stabbed. The lights flickered and then came back on. Andre must be hurt pretty bad to lose his concentration, she thought. She hated this, she wanted to help, but she couldn’t leave Nathan. Even if she was a new Asterion herself, she had more energy and healing power than he did. She had to protect him any way that she could. More lightning flashed overhead and the tunnel rumbled with the thunder. More grunts and groans and finally Andre’s opponent fell. She sensed the essence flow from him just as she had felt Wesley’s essence depart. Melanie and Naomi were doing a good job keeping the remaining human and Asterion from getting close to Ava. Naomi pounced on the human and Melanie advanced on the Asterion woman, but she was fast. She practically turned into a blur that was difficult to sense let alone see. Between Andre, Melanie, and Naomi, they couldn’t catch her, but they were able to keep her away from Ava and Nathan, who were plastered against the wall, trying to stay unharmed. Finally, she gave up and ran past Ava down the tunnel in a flash. Melanie gave chase and disappeared after her.  Naomi ran to Andre, who was panting. They could see the blood spreading over his right flank.

     As she tended to him she spoke, “Ava, take this,” she said, holding out a PCD. “Follow the tracker to the Solstice. Nicholas is waiting to take you up!”

     “What about you? I’m not leaving you here,” she replied in astonishment.

     Naomi helped Andre to his feet and he leaned heavily on her. “Gotta keep moving Ava, get to the ship. . . no matter what happens,” he grunted.

     “Why can’t I help?”

     “We’ll be fine. James has given us all orders. Follow the tracker and you should reach the ship. Take this,” Naomi gave Ava her weapon. She saw that the gun only had a half charge left to it. “Shoot anyone who gets in your way!”  

     “Let’s go, Ava!” Nathan called, pulling her away.

     “None of this makes any sense,” she muttered as she obeyed her friend’s vague orders. “Do you know how to get to the ship from here reading this?” she asked as she handed Nathan the tracker.

     He took it from her and studied it for a few seconds as they continued to the end of the hallway. “This way, C’mon!”

     Ava glanced back down the tunnel to see Andre and Naomi once more, but they were already gone.

∞

     James walked calmly through the passageways and above ground tunnels that were now illuminated in search of Isana. From his senses, it seemed that she was not running from him. Her energy felt stationary. Along the way waves of human guards attempted to stop him. He easily deflected their shots and disarmed them without even having to raise a finger. He had to quickly think of ways to contain them without killing them. Although they were fighting for the wrong side in his opinion, they all didn’t deserve to die. He was an Asterion, but he was not a monster. He contained some of the groups behind locked doors and gates, others were slammed against the walls and knocked out. He wasn’t sure if he would regret his decision to let them live. He knew that Isana sent them in her defense as a way of wearing him down.

     The passageways opened up into a building with a large atrium, several stories high. It seemed to be an office building of sorts. He could see the railings and perimeter hallways with doors and rooms spiraling above him. In the center of the empty space stood Isana, tall and proud. She appeared to be alone, but he could sense the energy of several other Asterions he did not know lingering nearby; ready to spring into action if needed, he thought.

     “I knew you could not be dead,” she said pleasantly as he approached. “You are far too powerful . . . even for Robinson.”

     “I should have known that it was you controlling the ITO all these years,” was his reply.

     “It’s a thankless job,” she mused. “The humans should appreciate me for their continued survival.”

      “You never do anything that does not somehow benefit yourself.”

     “Oh, come now, James. Don’t tell me that you have not found yourself a place to call your own. Your presence on and off the grid over the decades has not gone unnoticed by me.”

     “I’m flattered you pay me that kind of attention,” he said sourly.

     Isana inched slowly closer to him, eyeing him cautiously. “We’re getting off to a bad start aren’t we?” she said.

     James kept his energy mute in the same way that he had when Ava had chosen Wesley over him. He knew she liked to tune into the energy of other Asterions around her to size them up. He stayed still as she circled him, brushing her fingertips against him from his right shoulder, across his back, to the other one.

     “I was hoping to see you again,” she said softly. “It’s been far too long.” She came back around and stood right in front of him.

     Inside he recoiled from her touch, but he kept his poker face. James knew Isana had never found her one true match and that she believed he was hers. He could never understand why. Their energy clashed and he could not stand her cold indifference towards humans. The only thing they had in common was their ability of telekinesis. After meeting Ava for the first time on Kyanos, he’d never been so sure that Isana was wrong for him. There had never been anything between them other than occasional run ins with each other. He had no idea that she controlled the ITO or he would have thought of putting an end to her long ago. He wanted to keep her talking for a little while to stall her. He wanted to give Ava a good chance of escaping, so he played along.

     “I hope you aren’t angry with me for setting back the development of Earth II.”

     She laughed. “Yes, I saw the report. I knew mass destruction of that scale could only have been you. When your human hybrid pet told me you were dead, I was certain she had to be lying.”

     “She’s not human anymore,” he replied calmly.

     “Yes, it would appear Robinson’s death has transformed her somehow. How fortunate for you,” she said bitterly. “Too bad for her she’s not going to be one of us for much longer.”

     James laughed casually. “I wouldn’t threaten her anymore if I were you,” he said darkly.

     “Do not presume to give me orders, Xavier! This is my planet and you and all of your friends are not welcome here.”

     “We’ll be on our way as soon as I kill you,” James said smoothly, as if he were telling someone the time of the day. The venomous smile vanished quickly off of her face.

     “I’d really like to see you try!” she hissed as she stepped back and three Asterions James did not know rushed towards him with weapons drawn. He used his ability of telekinesis to deflect the shots that were being fired as he fought hand to hand with them. Isana stood back, leaning against a nearby wall with her arms crossed as her loyal Asterion followers attempted to bring James down. He wanted to avoid using his telekinesis as much as possible because it drained him fairly quickly.

     It became clear pretty early that these new Asterions wanted to take a crack at trying to defeat the oldest remaining being of their kind. It was even more apparent that they were no match for him. The first one lunged at James, who deflected more shots, turned, and threw the first attacker across the large room. He turned again and wrenched the gun out of the second Asterion’s grasp and slammed it down hard over his head, knocking him out. The third Asterion opened fire on James, grazing his arm with one of the shots. James didn’t even flinch.  He healed almost as quickly as a flash of lightning. He raised his gun and fired mercilessly on his opponent, who dodged the red laser bullets and returned fire as he took cover behind a nearby pillar. As James turned to pursue him, two more Asterions entered the room, including the woman that was too fast for Naomi and Melanie in the above ground tunnel and another tall man with short blonde hair. James pulled a second gun out of his long black coat and fired simultaneously in two opposite directions at his opponents as he ran to take cover from another pillar. The woman appeared next to him in a flash, yielding two very large and sharp knives. She was able to land one quick swipe across James’ chest before he shot her in her left leg. As she fell away, the original three Asterions were back up and gearing for another attack. James moved fast and ducked behind another pillar as the shots targeted him like a hail storm. Debris flew everywhere and the noise was deafening. It took him less than a minute to heal from his injury. Then he decided it was time to end this. Ava should have had enough time to make it to the ship by now, he thought.

∞

     Melanie, Naomi, and Andre set out to track down Ophelia while Ava and Nathan continued to make their way to the nearest exit portal.

     “How much further?” Ava asked. The longer it took to get to the Solstice, the more worried about James she was becoming.

     “Almost there,” he said, out of breath as they rounded another corner.

     Ava sensed them before she saw them. Two armed humans came charging towards them with their weapons trained on them.

     “Put your weapons down and put your hands on your heads!” one of the guards ordered Ava and Nathan sternly.

     Ava’s mind raced. How could she get them out of this before more guards arrived? She decided the best way would be to appear to cooperate. “Okay,” she said calmly as she raised her gun so that they could see it and then slowly set it on the ground. Nathan did the same with the PCD. The guards approached cautiously as they put their hands on their heads. Ava tried hard to remember the training Blayke had given her during her time on Sphene. She reigned in her apprehension and decided to act, it was now or never.

     As the guards approached her, one of them stood by as the other holstered his gun so that he could cuff Ava. As he motioned for her to turn around so that he could place the cuffs on her, she spun around and kicked the gun out of the other guard’s hands then used her left arm to deliver a blow to the unarmed guard. Nathan rushed to tackle the first one while Ava continued to fight with the other one. She surprised even herself with the strength and speed that she possessed. She had felt that with each passing day she was more and more like her Asterion family, though still very much like a human in their eyes. She wrenched his gun out of his holster easily and used it to knock him out. Ava turned to assist Nathan with the other one. The guard had managed to retrieve one of the guns on the floor and the two men were struggling to regain control over it. Shots sprayed out randomly during the struggle. Ava pointed her new gun at the guard and yelled, “Stop, or I’ll shoot!”

     A shot fired from the gun and Nathan yelped. Ava bit her lip and fired her own weapon at the guard, who grabbed his chest, groaned, and fell to the ground. Nathan collapsed near him, holding his leg.

     “Nathan!” Ava cried as she ran to his side.

     “I’m hit, but I think it just grazed me,” he said smiling weakly with sweat beads forming on his face. He started looking pale to Ava.

     She put her gun in the waistband of her pants and started assessing Nathan’s wound.  Blood seeped out of the wound, growing into a large dark stain on his right leg. He was wrong, it was a deep wound to his right thigh; one he could bleed out on if they did not get him some help. She needed to do what she could to slow the bleeding. She tore a length of fabric from the rather unflattering prison attire Bryant had been kind enough to bestow upon her and wrapped it around the wound until they could get to the Solstice. Unfortunately, she had nothing to help with the pain. She collected the other two guns and the PCD. Kneeling next to Nathan, she pulled his arm around her shoulders and hoisted him up easily. “We have to keep moving!” she ordered, glancing at the PCD she held in her other hand.

     He leaned heavily on her as they made their way to the exit portal. The storm had not let up since the initial power outage. Nathan asked Ava to help him over to a large closet like structure in one wall of the small room. He pushed his thumb against a plate near the handle and a small light turned green. Huffing a little, he pulled open the door and looked inside.

     “Shit!” he cursed.

     “What is it? We don’t have time for this, let’s go the exit is over here!” Ava said.

     “You don’t understand . . . we need protection!”

     “Protection from what?”

     “The rain is acid, Ava!”

     Suddenly it all made sense to her. All of the interconnecting above ground tunnels; They were built to protect everybody from the rain so that they could move from building to building without suiting up.

     “There’s only one complete suit here. We need to find another exit!” he explained roughly.

     Ava quickly looked into the storage closet where Nathan stood. He was right, there was only one complete suit. She also saw one additional helmet and a folded tarp. She snatched all of it out of the closet and held out the suit to Nathan. “Let me help you put this on, I’ll take the rest. It won’t be far to the ship, they will come for me. I can take it.”

     “Ava, you’ll be burned!”

     “I’ll survive. We don’t have time to find another suit!”

     She started unfolding the suit and helping him in it. He groaned as he lifted his injured leg. Blood still oozed slowly from his wound. He needed help fast. She attached his helmet and then placed the other one on herself, unfolded the tarp, and helped Nathan over to the door. He entered a code on the flat screen and a nearby light turned green.

     Just as Ava began to turn the wheel on the heavy door to open it, they heard the sound of cannons being fired from overhead. The ground seemed to shake from the impact of whatever was being hit outside. She finished the rotation of the wheel and pulled open the large metal door. The sky was black, night time, but lit up from the firing of a few starships low in flight. The PCD Nathan held began buzzing. She took it from him, removed her helmet, and answered the call.

     “Ava!” It was Lucas.

     “We’re here, Lucas! Where can we meet you?”

     “Ash is drawing the enemy’s fire,” his calm voice explained. “Wait until it is clear and we will touch down for you in the Solstice.”

     “Will do!” she replied. “Come on, Nathan, we have to move now!” She sensed more guards were on the way and quickly put the helmet back on.

     She pulled him out into the rain and secured the door holding the tarp around herself. She said nothing and did her best not to flinch as the rain scorched her where the tarp couldn’t cover. Ava used one of the guns and fired at the control panel next to the door to short it out to prevent them from being followed. She tossed it aside as she noted its charge had been depleted. She pulled one of Nathan’s arms up and around her shoulder so that she could help him as they scurried along the side of one of the tunnels, looking for shelter while they awaited the Solstice to descend.

     Fortunately it was a short wait until Ava heard the familiar engine and then recognized a black blur steadily heading towards them. Her senses started tingling again and she looked to her left, suited up guards began pouring out of one of the exits they had passed. Nathan raised his free arm to point as the Solstice slowed to descend to collect them. Ava noticed a glimpse of another familiar starship covering for the Solstice, the Principia. It fired on one of the local ships before it disappeared with its cloaking mechanism. They began to run as fast as they could together to the ramp being lowered on the impressive black ship. Lucas became visible on the ramp as it continued to lower. He grabbed Ava and Nathan, helping to pull them inside as the ramp raised, barely keeping the two of them safe from the torrent of gunfire.

     The ship lurched as Nicholas took them up without waiting for the door to fully close.

     “Ava! We are so relieved you’re alive!” Lucas commented as he pulled her helmet off and unwrapped the tarp, trying to examine how badly she was burned.

     “I’ll be all right! Check him, he’s been shot and is losing blood!”

     Lucas, seeing that Ava was not gravely injured, did as he was asked and started helping Nathan out of the suit. Lizeth appeared and began to help.

     “Nathan, this is Lucas Albright and Lizeth Felton,” Ava explained.

     “Nathan . . . Amherst?” Lucas said with astonishment.

     “Yes,” Ava replied.

     “How many Asterions do you know?” Nathan asked Ava.

     “They are my family now,” she said softly to him as she helped cut the pant leg off of him while Lucas and Lizeth gathered the supplies. Together they moved him to the same medical evaluation room Ava had been brought to after Kaden nearly killed her. “Where are the others?” she asked Lucas as she started an IV on Nathan.

     “They are in the compound. James was absolutely livid when he found out you stowed away on the Principia and even more furious when he learned Bryant and Isana had you,” he informed her as he began to clean and dress Nathan’s wound, which had finally stopped bleeding.

     “What are the plans?”

     “Bryant is dead now as you can probably sense,” Lucas explained. “James won’t leave until Isana has been dealt with also and all of the other threats to you and our two worlds have been resolved.”

     “Isana is powerful . . . she could kill him and all of the others!”

     “That is a risk . . . yes,” he said solemnly.

     “We have to go back down there and help him!”

     “Forget it, Ava, our orders are to wait here until we receive word that it’s over.”

     “Listen to Lucas, Ava,” Nathan said through gritted teeth. The pain medicine she had administered through the IV hadn’t kicked in yet.

     “I’m sick and tired of being told what to do and what is best for me!” Ava raised her voice.

     The three of them looked at her in astonishment. The burn marks on her body from the rain had already begun to fade. She got up abruptly and raced down to her old room on the ship. She yanked open the closet door and, to her satisfaction, still found some of the clothes Melanie had bought her on her very first stay on the ship. She stripped off the tattered prison attire and re-dressed herself in black cargo pants and a black long sleeved T-shirt. Next, she marched down to James’ quarters and raided his closet for a utility belt. It wasn’t as functional as the one Wesley used to wear, but it would suffice. She slung it around her waist and cinched it as tight as it would go. Then she secured the PCD, and two of the guns to it as she went in search for more weaponry. The ship was deserted, save for Lucas, Lizeth, Nathan, and Nicholas, who was flying the starship. She entered the pass code to the armory and the door slid open.

     To her surprise, most of the weapons were gone. Probably already in use, she thought. She grabbed one of the tranquilizer guns and its respective cartridges. Melanie had shown this to her long ago as the tranquilizers were used mainly on some of the alien marine life they studied on Sphene. She sprinted back to the medical evaluation room to check on Nathan.

     “He’s out cold,” Lizeth said to her softly, joining her as she gazed at the man who was once her husband.

     “Will he be all right?”

     “I believe he has some muscle damage, but I don’t think he’ll lose the leg. The sooner we can get him to a surgeon the better,” Lucas said.

     “Lucas, we have to go back down there and help James.”

     “We can’t. He gave me explicit instructions to keep you out of it.”

     “I need to help him, please! Isana could kill him!”

     “She could kill you too, Ava. You have no idea how relieved we all were when we sensed that she hadn’t already.”

     “He needs help. He’s not well!”

     “What do you mean? James is fine.”

     “No he’s not. Ever since my return, I’ve noticed he’s had terrible headaches. Something is wrong with him. I can’t stand by while he puts himself in danger again on my behalf. It’s my fault we’re all here in the first place!”

     Lucas didn’t seem surprised by her observation about James’ headaches. He shook his head but she felt she was getting through to him. She could sense his growing concern for Melanie and all of the others down there. She continued to press him.

     “I watched Wesley die right in front of me and there was nothing I could do to help him. I’m not going to stand by helpless like that again.”

     “You’re not as strong as you think you are, Ava.”

     “Please!”

     Lucas took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Then I’m going in with you.” He punched a few buttons on a nearby intercom screen and brought Nicholas’ familiar face up.

     “What’s up?” he asked.

     “We’re going back down,” Lucas said authoritatively.

     “That’s not the plan,” he replied matter-of-factly.

     “Ava says there is something wrong with James. We need to find out what’s going on.”

     Nicholas sighed. “If something happens to Ava, he’ll probably kill us.”

     “Yeah,” was Lucas’ only reply.

     Ava sensed the velocity of the ship slowing down as Nicholas turned the ship around and began a descent. She drank a protein shake as she waited by the exit ramp and Lucas paid his own visit to what was left of the armory and came back dressed to kill. He handed Ava a sleek bullet proof vest, which she took and put on without a fuss.

     “We’re going to do this my way, Ava. Do exactly as I say, when I say it.”

     She nodded in reply.

     The ship slowed to a hover and Nicholas lowered the ramp. They did not wait for it to fully descend before they hopped out, hitting the ground running. Nicholas had dropped them off near a quiet entrance to one of the above ground tunnels. Ava was relieved to find it had briefly stopped raining. Lucas placed a small device on the door, hit a button, and then pulled Ava away. Five seconds later an explosion blew open the door. After the flames and debris cleared, they drew their weapons and sprinted inside.

     “Use your senses. If anyone can find James, it’s you. Lead the way and I will do my best to protect you. The others are doing their job to keep the heat off of him so that he can conserve most of his energy to fight with Isana.” Lucas explained.

     Ava nodded and focused her attention to the sensation of James’ distant energy, the now permanent link between them. It was a weak link, she suspected he was keeping his energy muted, but at least had an idea of which direction to head towards.

∞

     James calmly stepped out from behind the pillar sheltering him with one goal in mind. Isana could no longer be allowed to control the ITO. She was too cruel and self-serving . . . and she knew too much about Ava. He could feel his family in the compound all around him hunting the other Asterions that were part of Isana’s team. He allowed his energy to return to its normal state as the first of four Asterions rose to the challenge to attack him again. He ran at James with two guns blazing. James used his ability to deflect the shots and ran to meet his unknown attacker, catching his head in his hands. He gave a sharp twist, snapping his opponent’s neck instantly. The Asterion fell and his essence rose rapidly and dissipated, the energy rippled around them. The female Asterion, who James had previously shot, gave an alarmed shriek.

     The female Asterion charged James at lightning speed with her deadly sharp knives drawn. With a surge of energy James faded to nothing for a split second and she seemed to run right through him. He materialized again in no time. She turned on her heels in a flash, looking confused and surprised. James stood calmly staring her down. She reared again and blazed towards him. He stealthily stepped out her way, pulling one of her knives out of her grip, slamming it into her spine as she passed. She screeched and promptly fell flat on her face. Drawing out one of his guns, he ended her suffering and her essence departed. James eyed Isana, still leaning back against the wall with her arms crossed. He hated taking lives senselessly, but would do whatever he had to in order to keep Ava and his family safe. He could feel his anger for Isana growing and he knew she could probably sense it too. He wanted to end this now. He did not even wait for the other two Asterions to mount up enough courage to attack him. He shot them each a look, unleashing his energy and stopped their hearts, the same way that he killed Draves on Earth, shortly after he met Ava.

     Isana uncrossed her arms as the other two Asterions perished. James moved towards her as she pushed off away from the wall. She didn’t appear the least bit frightened. He raised his weapons and fired on her, knowing full well she would use her ability to deflect the shots. She did so effortlessly, laughing a bit.

     “Oh, come on . . . you don’t honestly think something like that would stop me do you?”

     James did not answer but quickly used the distraction to direct his energy towards her to compress her neck. He managed to succeed, catching her off guard for approximately one second before she used her energy to push back against his, thwarting his attempt on her life.

     “Seriously, . . . can’t you do better than that? You’re supposed to be the big powerful number one!” she taunted as she used her power to hurl a nearby waste receptacle at him. He dodged it easily.

     James advanced on her without any emotion written on his face. He waved his left arm and one of the columns he had previously been seeking shelter behind tore away from its base and flew towards Isana at an impossible speed. She squared her shoulders and raised her palms facing outward, halting the progress of the column. For a few tense moments they held it in the air at a standstill, neither Asterion allowing any give. Finally, Isana waived her right hand and flung the column to the right against a wall with a deafening crash. She glanced up at the wire cable railings that wound all the way up and around the different levels of the atrium. She used her power to rip several of them off and aim them like writhing snakes at James with the intent of binding him and squeezing him to death.

     James half used his ability and half fought with the coils whipping around him with his bare hands. He quickly stole a moment and pulled out a larger caliber gun, raising it and aiming for the glass ceiling high above at the very top of the atrium. He fired and the glass broke with the impact.  A giant splash of rain runoff fell down on both of them, burning them as neither of them broke concentration to shelter themselves. In addition to the rain, shards of glass fell down upon them. One of the coils slapped a large gash near James’ left eye, narrowly missing it. He raised his arms, taking his attention off of the coils for a split second to use his ability to collect the glass shards and send them in a deadly torrent towards Isana. She abandoned the coils to deflect the new threat, although some of the glass pieces made it through, slashing her arms and abdomen.

     While she was distracted, James used his ability to yank a nearby power cord feed, exposed from one of the walls after the shoot out earlier, and brought the live circuit down in the water a split second after he disappeared and transported himself two stories up. Sparks flew and the cord danced all around, making loud humming and popping noises. He had hoped to electrocute Isana with this move, but only got away with lightly shocking her before she quickly realized what was happening. She shrieked and used her telekinesis to propel herself up several stories as if she were flying with her arms outstretched above her. James tapped his fingers against the cable railing in irritation before he followed her maneuver and flew up a few stories to hunt her down again. The electrical surge continued to rage on beneath them, however seemed to have shorted out the power in the rest of the compound. Everything went dark.

∞

     Ava and Lucas paused momentarily when the power went out. Lucas pulled out a small flashlight. So far they had miraculously avoided any guards on their way to find James. She could sense him clearly now, but also Andre, Naomi, Justin, and Rowan.

     “I can feel the others,” she told Lucas. “They are closer, let’s find them and then go for James. We may need their help!”

     “We’ll need all the help we can get if we have to fight Isana,” he replied.

     Ava led Lucas down a hallway to the left. They didn’t have to go far before she could hear and see the bright flashes of light with the gunfire. Lucas carefully peered around the corner, motioning for Ava to stay back. His sharp blue eyes swept the scene quickly to ascertain what was happening beneath the strobe like effect of the gunfire. It appeared to be a medical laboratory of sorts. Naomi and Andre took turns covering each other as they fired on an Asterion woman taking cover behind an overturned massive industrial refrigerator. Lucas pulled back and motioned for Ava to take a look while he covered her from behind.

     “That’s Ophelia, I recognize her energy,” she said in a low voice. “She’s one of the medical scientists that Bryant had studying me.”

     “Naomi and Andre are trying to destroy any evidence of your existence and any other files they may have on you. James doesn’t want anything left behind.”

     “He thinks of everything,” she said, drawing one of her guns out. If her family knew that she was there, they did not show any signs of it. They kept exchanging fire with Ophelia and a few of the humans that must have worked with her, caught in the middle of the situation.

     Just as Ava and Lucas were about to crash the battle scene, they vaguely heard what sounded like a fast approaching gallop of a four legged animal. The noise sounded like claws clattering against the tile floor. It suddenly was on them, snarling and growling with jaws snapping at them furiously. Ava did not have much experience with animals, having come from the cold underground of what was left of the Earth, and then her short life on Orionis. Through the dark light and strobe of the gunfire, she guessed it had to be some kind of large dog, possibly native to Arcturus. Whatever it was, it had large eyes that reflected the light easily in the dark. It went right for Lucas, pouncing on him and knocking him down before he had a chance to react and fire on it. Ava couldn’t shoot it for fear of hitting Lucas. Using her left hand, she quickly drew one of the large knives she had in the utility belt and threw herself into the struggle.

     Though she hated harming any living creature, Lucas needed help. She debated on whether or not to use the stun gun she had brought, but she had no idea whether or not it would be effective on this animal. The animal bit Lucas hard on the forearm and growled as it shook his arm back and forth, trying to rip it off. Ava plunged her knife into the beast, which yelped, releasing Lucas and turning on her. As it charged her, Lucas used his other arm to shoot the creature. Ava fired as well. After multiple hits, if finally died with a low groan. Lucas inspected his arm where he had been bitten, blood flowed freely out where the flesh had been torn. They spent a few moments tearing fabric from their clothes to wrap the wound quickly, they needed to help the others around the corner. They waited for the right opportunity and charged in, guns blazing. Their opponents fired mercilessly sensing the addition of new threats.

     One of the humans fell and Andre advanced on Ophelia. As the laser bullets flew from all directions, the sound muffled the unexpected arrival of three more of the aggressive dog like creatures from behind, where Lucas and Ava had entered. Ava was unable to react defensively as one of the animals pounced on her. Lucas turned to assist while the other two headed straight for Andre. Just as Andre was about to take a bold leap over the overturned refrigerator to finish Ophelia, the two savage animals attacked him, bringing him down. Rowan and Naomi turned their attention to help Andre while Ava and Lucas fought with the first one. It was a gruesome scene with growling, shouting, and shooting everywhere.

     Justin rose up from his crouched defensive position after the last of the guards fell. He turned his attention to Ophelia and began to advance on her. With everyone’s attention directed elsewhere, it was just him and her. He grazed her left shoulder with a hit and she screamed, falling backwards. She scrambled to get away from him as her gun had run out of power. Justin did not notice as she grabbed something as she got back on her feet and sprang at him before he could fire on her. She jabbed a syringe into his chest quickly before he could knock her away from him. He fired on her mercilessly as he yanked the syringe out. In a matter of moments an eerie silence took over the lab as the guards, the dogs, and Ophelia had fallen.

     Rowan ran over to Justin, “are you all right?”

     A small patch of red blood had soaked the front of his jacket where the syringe had been. He put his hand over it. Everyone’s eyes were on him.

     “I’m fine, let’s move out,” he said confidently.

     Ava led the way with Lucas’ small flashlight as she could feel James’ energy even closer now. She ran with Lucas by her side, Naomi and Andre followed, and Justin and Rowan trailed behind.

     “Where are Melanie, Blayke, and Emma?” she asked as they hurried, keeping a sharp look out.

     “They went to finish off Lidon. They are also running a computer virus James created to wipe out their operating system here as well as any records of you,” Naomi informed her.

     An explosion rocked the tunnel they were running down. Everyone paused to take defensive crouching positions until it seemed safe enough to resume their mission. “That would be them,” Andre joked. They continued sprinting with Ava towards James’ energy. Justin leaned heavily on Rowan and wiped sweat from his brow as they continued.

     As they moved towards the main center of the compound back down the same tunnel that Ava, Andre, and Nathan were previously attacked in, another explosion shook the walls around them. Then they heard the deafening roar of a starship engine looming closer.

     “Run!” Andre commanded. The group moved as fast as they could, making it out of the tunnel, narrowly being missed by the starship that crashed not far from where they were. Ava felt relieved to see that it was not one she recognized.

     “Keep moving!” Andre ordered. It was beginning to be like a war zone on this strange new planet.

     The six of them stopped in their tracks and assumed defensive positions as a door burst open in front of them. A dozen guards that James had previously barricaded in there on his way to the atrium had found a way out and they were not happy. They immediately began firing on the group.

∞

     James could sense Ava drawing near. He could hear the gunfire far below and knew he was running out of time. Part of him felt furious with her for disobeying his orders yet again, and a small part of him understood why she couldn’t stay away; especially after she had witnessed Wesley’s gruesome death. He was determined she would not have to go through that again.

     The acid rain finally stopped and Isana had taken the flight all the way through the shattered ceiling to the rooftop. She stepped out from behind her hiding place, the elevator mechanics room. “Come out, James! I’m waiting,” she called sweetly.

    He calmly stepped up out of the stairwell he had temporarily been seeking shelter in as Isana had hurled numerous large objects at him. He decided to dodge them rather than use his precious energy trying to deflect them.

     “Be careful what you ask for,” he said in a low voice. He focused his energy and disappeared, only to reappear next to her in a flash. She had not anticipated this move and did not react fast enough as he wrapped his strong large hands around her throat and squeezed. She struggled against his grip and used her telekinesis to resist him. She clawed at his face, scratching at him and at the same time reaching down to her belt. She pulled out a short knife and jabbed it into his abdomen. He released her and promptly pulled it out, throwing it with great force back at her. She deflected it and used her ability to put a squeeze on James’ heart. He fought back with his own ability. Together they were locked into a power struggle, and he had already spent so much of his energy to get this far.

∞

     Down on the ground level Ava and her group took shelter behind whatever they could find to fire upon the guards. Most of them had fallen, but a few remained. She could feel James’ energy fading and knew she had to get to him fast. She looked down at her last remaining gun and saw that the energy was depleted. She let it fall from her hands. The others were taking care to fire only when they were certain they could hit because after everything they had been through that night, they had precious little ammunition left.

     Ava started to panic. She wanted to be with James, she needed to try to help him. In this current situation, she would never make it. She would never be able to forgive herself if he died. She knew based on her experience with Wesley that is what would happen if he felt it necessary to protect her. Just as she was about to signal to Andre to see if they could come up with a better plan, shots were fired from behind them, aimed towards the remaining security guards. Ava did not need to turn around, she could feel them. She sensed Melanie, Blayke, and Emma. The three of them bounded over towards Ava to help even out the fight.

     “Hey kid, glad to see you are still in one piece,” Blayke joked with her.

     “You too!” she replied. “Blayke, what happened to Lidon?”

     “He’s toast. Only one more to go and we can get the hell off of this rock!”

     The gunfire around them stopped as the remaining guards fell.

     “All right, let’s go!” Andre called as he determined that it was safe to proceed.

     Everyone ran towards the atrium, eager to see if they could try to help James defeat Isana. Rowan and Justin lagged behind. Ava caught a glimpse of him in the dim light of their flashlights and noticed he looked a little pale, but kept moving. Andre was the first one to the atrium and held up a hand to halt everyone behind him. They gasped at the scene of James’ battle with Isana. Shattered glass sparkled everywhere from the live power line that snapped and danced all around. Pools of acid rain water were scattered about. Ava peered up at the blown roof of the atrium and pointed.

     “He’s up there . . . with her!”

     Andre focused his energy and used his ability to shut off the power to the atrium. The live wire immediately ceased to move and the snapping and popping sounds stopped, giving the room a spooky silence. Bodies lay strewn about here and there.

     “How can I get up there now that the power is out?” Ava asked. “We have to hurry, his energy is dropping. The stairs will take too long!”

     Rowan and Justin finally made it to join the group. She must have heard Ava’s question and ran to her.

     “I’ll take you! Here’s my gun.” She grabbed Ava around the waist and leaped high, defying gravity, taking them up together. They cleared two stories easily, stopping to jump from the ledges until they reached the top. Ava muted her energy so that Isana would not feel her approach. With one final leap, Rowan took them up onto the roof.

     They quickly ducked behind the elevator machinery. The energy Ava sensed felt tense and dark. She peered around the side of the small building to survey the situation. James was down on his knees, trying to resist whatever Isana was doing to him and she stood frozen in place, defending herself from his counter attack.

     “I’ve got to help him!” Ava whispered to Rowan. “Stay here.”

     “Hurry Ava!” she said, knowing better than to get involved with this fight. Ava was truly the only one of them that could help him now.

     Ava pulled out the gun Rowan had given her from the utility belt, and a large throwing knife. Keeping her energy muted she sprang out from behind the small compound as fast as she could and rushed at Isana. She looked up, surprised at the intrusion to her fight with James. She appeared worn out in Ava’s eyes. The brief distraction allowed James to rise to his feet and knock her backwards. As she stood up, Ava threw her knife at her. It would have struck her in the throat if Isana hadn’t used her ability to stop it mid-flight and catch it. James immediately projected his energy to shield Ava from Isana’s telekinesis.

     She laughed. “What a pity, I never even got to hear you sing!” she said acidly to James and aimed as if she was going to throw the knife at Ava, but pivoted at the last second and launched the blade at James, burying it in his chest. He gasped. Ava screamed and fired the gun at Isana, who blocked the bullets and ripped the gun out of Ava’s hand with her power. Ava lifted her other hand and quickly grabbed the stun gun, her last remaining weapon, and fired it at Isana, who was temporarily distracted with watching James. He gave up what energy he could to prevent Isana from deflecting Ava’s final shots.

     The darts struck Isana in the leg and abdomen. She turned angrily to Ava, “You think this is going to stop me!” she yelled in rage at her as she yanked out the two darts. James pulled the knife out of his chest and sank down to his knees.

     “You! . . .” Suddenly Isana seemed to sway a little bit. She couldn’t even finish her threat.

     “You wanted to be human,” Ava remarked as she boldly approached Isana, “now you are bound by the limits of a human body.”

     Isana stretched out an arm to Ava as if she was going to try to use her ability on her, but she teetered unsteadily near the edge of the shattered roof of the atrium. She made a few muddled sounds before her eyes rolled up in her head and she fell to her death at the bottom of the atrium. Ava immediately ran to James as she heard the sounds of gunshots from her family ringing far below to make sure Isana was dead. He rested on his back, breathing erratically. Rowan appeared out of her hiding place and came running.

     “James!” Ava cried.

     “You should not have come up here, she could have killed you,” he rasped.

     “I couldn’t stay away . . . I love you too much. It’s now my turn to help you!” Ava took her hands and placed both palms over his chest and his wound and allowed all of the warm energy James had given her earlier to flow back into him. He clamped his hands over hers and closed his eyes and continued his labored breathing. Ava felt as though she were on pins and needles waiting to see if it would be enough to save his life. After a few tense minutes of shallow breathing, the bleeding slowed and his wound began to heal itself. A few silent tears slid down her cheeks as she breathed a sigh of relief.

     She and Rowan helped pull James up into a standing position, though he leaned heavily on Ava.

     “Come, we must hurry. Justin is not well!” Rowan urged quickly.

     Justin! Ava had almost forgotten how pale he looked earlier. Rowan pulled the two weakened Asterions over to the edge of the gaping hole in the roof and put an arm around each of their waists. They looked at her with a little uncertainty before she simply said, “trust me.”

    With strength that Ava didn’t even know Rowan possessed, she pulled James and Ava over with her as she stepped off of the edge, using her ability to slowly float down to the floor far below with the ease and grace of a slowly falling feather landing them softly on their feet, away from what was left of Isana. It was light now as the sun had begun to rise.

     The group watched the trio return safely with relieved, but tense, faces. Ava noticed immediately that Justin was lying on the ground, with Melanie and Lucas kneeling by his side. Rowan gasped and ran to her husband. Ava could sense his energy faltering. As she and James drew near, they could see the large blood stain on his chest. Rowan began to say reassuring things to him. He appeared even paler than before, with sweat glistening all over his face as he breathed quickly and shallowly.

     James and Ava knelt next to Justin as Melanie spoke solemnly. “It’s some type of poison . . . it has already spread through his veins.”

     Rowan began to cry softly as Ava realized what this meant; Justin was dying. She grasped one of his hands and looked pleadingly at James. Ava owed her life to Justin. It was his blood that cured her virus what seemed like a very long time ago on Orionis.  James put a hand on Justin’s chest as if to assess what he could do for him. After a moment he looked up at Ava and Rowan. He inhaled and exhaled deeply saying and shaking his head, “I can’t fix this.” Ava’s eyes widened at hearing the news.

     James looked up sharply at Blayke and Andre who were standing guard above them. “Go!” he simply said. The two men took off running back down the tunnel that they all had come in on. James looked down at Justin and put a hand on his shoulder. “Hold on, my old friend,” he said softly. Rowan grasped Justin’s hand while Ava looked back and forth between all of them, trying to figure out what was happening.

     Justin seemed to worsen each second that Blayke and Andre were gone. After about five minutes that seemed like an eternity, the two men hurried back, carrying one of Isana’s human security guards who had been shot during their recent battle after their ordeal with the dogs. Naomi gently pulled Ava away as they brought the guard over and carefully set him down next to Justin. Ava’s mouth fell open slightly as she realized what they were about to do.

     She could see that the guard was still alive and breathing, having been shot in the right flank. He had lost a lot of blood and was scarcely conscious. James moved out of the way as they placed Justin and the guard shoulder to shoulder. Everyone stood by, intensely watching the scene. James knelt down above their heads as Ava watched with conflicted feelings as he put his hands gently over their hearts. He glanced at a teary-eyed Rowan, who nodded as if giving permission to proceed. Ava felt a slight surge of energy as James used his ability to stop the hearts of both men. She squeezed Naomi’s hand and held her breath in apprehension as they waited a few seconds for Justin’s essence and remaining energy to rise. It was almost too much for Ava to witness, having lived through this same moment when Wesley died. James concentrated and as soon as Justin’s energy and essence were completely separated from his body, he halted it with his ability and transferred it into the body of the guard. Rowan kneeled between the two men and clasped their hands tightly. Naomi gave Ava a weak smile as if to reassure her. Ava remembered how James had done the exact same thing to save her life a little over ten years ago.

     A few seconds ticked by as everyone waited until the guard inhaled and exhaled deeply as Justin’s life force took over. Rowan breathed a sigh of relief as she gently set the old Justin’s hand down and focused on the man who was now the new Justin.

     James quickly moved down to the side of the gunshot wound and did something Ava did not believe was possible. He put his hands over the wound and channeled his energy into it. Justin screamed in pain as James used the last of the expendable energy he had to heal him. Ava stared at him in shock. He said he had a few new tricks up his sleeve but she was not expecting this. After a minute, Justin opened his eyes and looked over at Rowan who was smiling down at him in relief. He spoke with his new voice, “that was close,” and everyone laughed, killing the tension in the air. James looked up at Ava and gave her a warm smile.

     “Let’s get the hell out of here,” Blayke said as he and Andre helped Justin to his feet. He seemed very weak, perhaps even weaker than Ava. He was able to walk out with one arm slung around Rowan and the other over Andre’s shoulders. James took Ava’s hand and started to guide her away with the others. She found it hard to believe that they would leave Justin’s old body there without even looking back. Sensing her emotions, he said reassuringly, “fifteen more minutes and that guard would have died anyway. We do not grow attached to our bodies as natural born humans do. We saved Justin’s life. In time, you will understand.”

     Ava nodded. All fell silent as the group made their way through the tunnels, past the crashed starship. The sun shone brightly as they stepped outside of the large opening Ava and Lucas had come in through. Blayke and Andre called down their respective starships, both landing with ease. She gazed at their magnificence before the group divided and boarded their ships. Melanie and Lucas boarded the Principia with Justin and the others.

     “They aren’t coming back with us?” Ava asked.

     “They are going to stay with Justin. Even though I healed him, he still needs medical care,” James replied.

     Once aboard the Solstice, the delicate operation of space flight resumed. Precautions were taken so as to ensure they could not be followed back to Sphene. They were certain that it would be a long time before they would surface again on any of the space stations or go anywhere near anything operated by the ITO. Ava wondered what would happen to the organization now that Isana was gone. She hoped for a better future for the human population. While James assisted Nicholas in the flight deck, Ava went to the medical room to check on Nathan.

     “He’ll be all right once we get him to the hospital on Sphene,” Lizeth said as she hugged Ava. “I gave him some more morphine about a half hour ago.”

     “Thanks for looking after him,” she replied. Ava checked Nathan’s bandage and assessed his vital signs. He seemed to be resting peacefully.

     “There’s nothing more to be done, why don’t you get some rest,” Lizeth offered.

     “I think I will, thank you.”

     “You’re welcome,” she said with a smile.

     Ava went into James’ quarters and took a much needed shower, afterwards borrowing some more of Melanie’s clothes. Not long after she lay down, he joined her. He sat on the edge of the bed, facing her. She sat up and threw her arms around him. They kissed reverently, allowing their low levels of energy to reconnect. After a few minutes, they simply held each other. The stress of the whole nightmare on Arcturus started to catch up with her and she started sobbing into his chest. He stroked her hair gently and held her close.

     “I hoped you would stay on the ship so that I could have spared you from all of that death and violence.”

     “I couldn’t stay away from you. I couldn’t live with myself if I let you die.”

     “You are so brave, Ava. I am so fortunate to have found you.”

     She sniffed. “All of this was my fault. I should have listened to you and stayed on Sphene. You almost died because of me. Justin almost died; he lost his body because of me. Even Nathan almost died . . . again!”

     “Don’t blame yourself, Ava. There were many factors in play here. Everyone from the family knew the risks going in. No one forced anyone to come for you. We did it because we love you. . . me most of all. I would do anything for you, Ava.”

     She pulled him to her and kissed him passionately. She removed his tattered bloody shirt, briefly noting all of the holes from the various injuries he had sustained and then ran her hands across his chest. He had healed perfectly. Only the original faint scars remained from his long ago past when the human whose body he took was attacked before James found him.

     “How did you heal Justin? I thought you couldn’t . . .”

     James didn’t let her finish her sentence. He pulled her back to him, kissing her regrets away, not letting go.

Chapter 20: Home

          Ava sat alone in the observation deck watching as the serene green planet she knew as Sphene slowly come closer and closer into view. The beauty of seeing a lush, magnificent planet always seemed surreal to her because, in reality, it was all still new to her. She took this time to reflect back on her life from the time she first stepped foot aboard the Solar Wind. If she could go back and change her mind would she? She pondered this for a moment. Even all of the hardships she initially suffered; the stress and the hunger could not change her mind. Because if she had changed her mind, she would never have known such a powerful love as given to her by Wesley, and also by James. She would have also never had such a loving family as what she had now. She would never trade these things for anything. Her only regret was losing Wesley. Although so much time had passed, and he had physically changed her, she knew she would always have a hole in her heart for him.

     She watched, transfixed, as the Solstice slowed in its descent and glided down towards the sparkling green gulf and gracefully landed into the hangar where it belonged. They were home again. The other half of her family in the Principia had decided to make a pit stop on Kyanos prior to the long journey to Sphene to check in to make sure things were running smoothly. They would bring Lucas and Melanie home soon.

     “Ava! We’re getting Nathan ready for transport to the hospital, are you coming?” Lizeth called to her on the intercom.

     “Be right there,” she replied. Nathan Amherst. The ITO had stolen her husband from her and in doing so altered the course of her future forever. The sorrow and loneliness she suffered had affected her physically and mentally. If it were not for her new families, who knows what would have happened to her. Perhaps she would have ended up with Dr. Tom. She chuckled at the ridiculous thought. But what now? Nathan was alive, and he was back in her life. She felt overjoyed at the thought, but remained unsure of what the significance would be.

     By the time she reached the exit ramp, they already had him on a stretcher. Blayke and James hoisted him up and carried him down with Ava following close behind. Once inside the hangar, they moved him towards a waiting ambulance. Ava and Lizeth climbed inside to ride with him to the hospital while the others stayed to brief the military officers on the expected arrival of the Principia soon. Ava grasped Nathan’s hand as she sat down next to him and cast James a glance he returned as the doors to the vehicle closed and they were on their way.

     Ava remained with Nathan through the entire evaluation with the emergency room doctors, and then the surgeon who came to evaluate him after he was admitted. After some quick imaging studies, surgery was recommended to repair his wound. He had lost so much blood that he required several units to be transfused prior to the operation the next day. It was late in the evening and Ava sat alone with him. They had talked some, but his thoughts often seemed muddled to Ava from all of the pain medication he had been given. Lizeth had gone home a few hours ago. She slowly felt the warm energy of James approaching as she sat with her former husband. She looked up as he appeared in the doorway, looking refreshed with new clothes on. She smiled at him and rose to greet him. They embraced for a long moment, leaning into each other.

     “I brought you a PCD,” he said, handing it to her. “Lizeth said the surgery is in the morning.”

     “Yes,” she replied. “They’ve been preparing him by giving him blood all afternoon.”

     “Why don’t you go home and get some sleep. I can stay with him if you’d like. You can take my vela.”

     “I couldn’t ask you to do that,” she said shyly. It seemed awkward to her that her lover would volunteer to watch over her husband so that she could rest.

     He smoothed her hair back and replied, “You would do it for me if the situation was reversed, Ava.”

     She couldn’t argue with that, she knew he was right. She leaned in and gave him a long kiss before turning towards the door. “Thank you,” she said with a slight smile as she left, using the PCD to locate James’ vehicle.

∞

     Two weeks passed and Nathan had sailed through his surgery without any problems. Although he still had to report to physical therapy, he had made great progress in learning to walk again, with only a slight limp. After his discharge from the hospital, James insisted that Nathan stay at the house with Ava and himself. She sensed that it felt a little awkward for him, but since he was a stranger in a strange land, he didn’t have much of a choice. Ava had skirted the issue of telling him about her adventures and her relationship with her family until now. She had to work up the courage to trust him again as he had been out of her life for a few years. He and Ava still had a lot to work out, and a lot of catching up to do.

     Ava helped Nathan down to the patio one afternoon so that they could meander down to the beach and talk. She looped an arm through his as they made slow progress. The Principia was due back any day now and she grew anxious to see her family again.

     “I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever see you again. The officials from the ITO who came to tell me that you had died in an accident wouldn’t take no for an answer. They pressed me in to leaving for a “top secret” assignment . . . they didn’t tell me where and swore me to secrecy. They threatened me actually! I should have known better, Ava. I should have known it was all a lie. I knew it didn’t feel right.”

     “I know how you feel. They told me you died from a virus. They showed me a body, but I wasn’t allowed to get close enough to determine whether or not it was you. I took their word for it. I was so stupid and naïve.”

     They walked further down the beach to the shore and stood silently in each other’s presence for a few moments. She took in his appearance. He had not changed much since she last saw him. She remembered his good natured personality and his short light brown hair and dimples. It brought back memories.

     “Tell me what happened after that. You’re obviously different now Ava. You know all of these . . . Asterions. What happened to you after you left Earth?” he inquired.

     Ava helped Nathan sit down with her on the beach and she began to talk. She related her story of her transition to life on Orionis and the adventures with her new family and Wesley. She told him about the evacuation of the space station after Kaden’s bomb detonated and how she came to live on a new planet that her friends had discovered. He raised his eyebrows a few times after she told him about Wesley and James’ connection and then her rescue and kidnapping from Kyanos and the transition to life on Sphene. She became teary eyed when she spoke of her wedding to Wesley and had to stop a few times to collect herself when she told him about Wesley’s death and how she absorbed his energy without knowing it and has slowly been transitioning into an Asterion ever since. Finally, she explained why she needed to try to stop Bryant so that he could not endanger Kyanos’ existence and how she foolishly went out on her own to do it and ended up being kidnapped and taken to Arcturus.

     Nathan listened intently to her story, squeezing her hand at the emotional parts. She observed that he had a faraway look in his eyes. She felt affection for him but it wasn’t the same as the love she once had for him. She couldn’t explain it. Perhaps too much had happened since they were separated. She wondered what he was thinking and felt unsure about where they should go from there.

     “So you married this Captain Robinson, and his death is responsible for your transformation?” Nathan asked as they rose to head back.

     “Yes,” she replied simply.

     “And James is essentially the same person?”

     “Yes . . . he is the same entity, but his experiences have shaped his personality a little differently.”

     “And now you are with him?”

     “It’s complicated,” she said with a shrug.

     He remained silent for most of their trek back up to the house. Ava held onto his arm to assist him. She could feel him growing tired and needing some rest.

     A few days later Ava, James, Nathan, and the rest of their family returned to the hangar to welcome their extended family back. The beautiful silver ship glided easily through the atmosphere and finally landed slowly on a landing pad next to the hangar the Solstice occupied.  As soon as it was clear and the starship powered down, Ava hurried towards the exit ramp to greet her friends. She threw her arms around Naomi, who was first down the ramp followed by Andre, then Ash with Mia, Lucas and Melanie. Ava waited in anticipation to see Rowan and Justin, whom came down last, hand in hand. She embraced both of them in a group hug.

     She stepped back to take in the sight of Rowan with the new Justin. She sensed his energy had started to restore itself much like she knew her own had. It seemed weird for her to look upon his new face, all the time feeling his familiar energy. She was so used to his tall, strong build with his pale blond hair and blue eyes. Now he was a few inches shorter with short brown hair and hazel eyes, with a nice even voice. He even appeared a few years younger than he used to be, but still age appropriate for Rowan.

     Ava took his hand in hers. “Thank you for risking your life to save me. I’m so sorry for what happened. Are you okay?”

     Justin squeezed her hand back and smiled at her. “I’m perfectly fine, Ava. Don’t worry about what happened, we are all relieved that you were not more seriously harmed.” He glanced down at his wife. “Next time, please listen to James,” he mock scolded.

     “Will you be able to manipulate minds the way you used to?”

     He was silent for a moment. “It’s hard to say. I’m not completely settled into this body yet. Only time will tell,” he said with a shrug.

     “Maybe he’ll have telekinesis!” Andre joked from a few yards away breaking away from his conversation with Nathan.

    James looked over at him and laughed. “I could use someone to spar with.”

    Ava watched as he strolled over to Justin and shook his hand, welcoming him to Sphene.  They continued to converse about what had happened on Arcturus and Justin expressed sincere gratitude to James for saving his life. Ava felt that their friendliness towards each other seemed very easy for them. It was almost odd, she realized observing James and his family interact with hers without any evidence of the rivalry that existed in the past. Perhaps it had only existed between him and Wesley and not the others. 

     After everyone had caught up with everything, they all traveled back to James’ place where Ava’s old family would be staying for a few days. What a change from the first time they were all together on Sphene, she thought as she stood back and observed them all talking and laughing. She couldn’t help but feel sad at the absence of one very special person, Wesley.  She knew he would have been proud of all of them. The war with Kaden was over, Bryant was gone, Kyanos was safe and the ITO will have a new beginning. It felt so sad that he could not be here to enjoy the peace they had achieved. She sensed her energy take a dip at the sad thoughts. James must have sensed it too because he looked up at her, giving her an ‘I bet I can make you feel better’ grin. She smiled at him, feeling his warm energy connect with hers. It was enough to lift her spirits.

     The next day Ava and Naomi took a walk down the beach to talk. It had been a long time since they talked privately.

     “It’s very peaceful here, Ava,” Naomi said serenely, taking in the view of the green tinted water that sparkled here and there as the waves gently reflected the light off of the sun. They sat in some of the adirondack chairs that Travis had brought down to the beach earlier for them.

     “Yes, it is.”

     “How have you been feeling? It has been some time since you have been reunited with James. Has he helped you complete your transition?”

     “I don’t know what I would have done without him. I’m not sure why I fought wanting to be with him for so long. I feel more . . . settled.”

     “And Nathan is back in your life now . . . that was a surprise none of us saw coming.”

     “Yes, I am so happy that he isn’t dead and that we were able to rescue him. It’s hard to believe the turn of events that has happened.”

     “How does James feel about it?”

     “I’m not sure. I’ve sensed a little jealousy, but he’s been nothing but supportive. I feel a little guilty, Naomi. I don’t . . .” Ava took a deep breath.  “I don’t feel the love that I used to for Nathan. I mean . . . I love him, but it’s not the same. It’s more like he’s an old friend that I am happy to have in my life, but nothing more,” she admitted.

     “Have you spoken to him about this? How does he feel?”

     “I’m not sure. I don’t know what he wants or what he expects to happen.”

     “Nathan seems like a reasonable man. I think you should talk to him. You both have been through so much over the past few years . . . you especially, Ava. Take all the time you need to figure things out.”

     “Are you ever wrong, Naomi?” Ava said with a smile.

     “Only on rare occasions.” she joked back.

∞

          The next day James’ family planned an evening farewell party on the beach for Ava’s side of the family because they would again be leaving in the morning. As Melanie, Lizeth, and Emma helped with the preparation of the event, Ava spent the time showing Nathan and her family around the Sphene city. They were nothing short of impressed about what they saw. Andre took notes on his PCD of certain things he wanted to introduce at Kyanos. Nathan seemed awe struck at his new surroundings, taking it all in without saying a word. After a few hours, they arrived back at the house. As the group started to disband, Naomi pulled Ava aside to let her know that she had brought her some crates with her things from Kyanos that had been unloaded and brought to the house. Ava thanked her and figured now was her chance to try to talk to her former husband privately. She slowly drifted over to him.

     “Nathan, I was wondering if I could talk to you?” Ava asked shyly.

     “Let’s take a walk,” he said calmly.

     She put an arm through his and they strolled away from the others casually towards the gardens. The fine gravel crunched softly under their feet. They walked slowly, partly because Nathan was still healing, and partly because it was the pace they used to walk together at when they were together. It was all in the past.

     “How are you feeling?” she started off with.

     “Never better,” he replied with a smile. “This sure beats Arcturus, as well as Earth.”

     “I mean your leg. Do you still have much pain in it?”

     “Nothing the painkillers can’t manage. Though I suspect that isn’t the reason you asked me to walk with you this afternoon.”

     “No, . . . it’s not.” She looked at him with a soft smile.

     “I know why you want to talk,” he said as he took one of her hands in his as they continued to walk away from the house. “I can see what your life has become.”

     She remained silent, allowing him to continue. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been together on Earth. Neither one of us are who we used to be, Ava.”

     “I’m sorry, Nathan. Believe me when I say that I do still love you . . . I always will. It’s just that I’ve been through a lot and you are right, I am not the same person I was. I’m still changing.”

      “I don’t understand much about these Asterions, or how you have become one. But . . .  I can see that they love you . . . that he loves you and will continue to do so long after I’m gone. The way that the two of you look at each other says it all. You love him and nothing should stand in the way of that. I love you too, Ava, but our time is in the past.”

     “Thank you for being so understanding,” she said with a tear in her eye as she hugged him. “What will you do now that you are free from the ITO. We can help you. . .”

     “I’ve been talking with Andre. It seems that they could use someone with my talents on Kyanos. I’ve also been told that there is a rather nice home there that could use a tenant,” he said with a smile.

     “So you are leaving with them tomorrow?” She suddenly felt a little sad.

     “I believe it will be the best thing for us both. Don’t you agree?”

     She squeezed his hand. A flood of emotions from grief, sadness, understanding, and relief flooded through her. “I understand. Thank you, Nathan. You are more than welcome to my old home there . . . you will love the swimming pool!” she said with an upbeat tone. They laughed because they both knew he had never been in one before.

∞

     As the sun started to set over the gulf, the orange glow reflected off of the water. The heat had lessened some, however the humidity remained. James’ family entertained Ava’s family with a beach barbeque that seemed reminiscent of the one they had given Ava after she arrived on Sphene. Since it was a larger crowd, they stayed closer to the house this time. They served food local to Sphene and Travis poured several kinds of mixed drinks for them to enjoy. After dinner James and Blayke brought out their guitars and provided some live entertainment for the group. All of the couples of the group came together and started dancing, even Rowan and Justin. Ava felt content to sit next to Nathan and sip her drink, watching everyone dance and James play his instrument.

     After a few songs, James set down his guitar while Blayke continued to play something slower. He approached Ava and held out a hand to her. Their eyes met and she set down her drink and joined him along with the rest of her family dancing in the sand by the fire light.  As they moved she could sense that his energy had almost restored itself to its usual level. He had no scars or damage or anything to remind her of the nightmare on Arcturus. She closed her eyes and felt his energy connecting with her. For a split second she thought she felt a shift in it. She opened her eyes and looked up into his wondering what it was, but did not sense anything else out of the ordinary. How powerful he seemed. For the first time in a long time she felt safe. She felt like she was home. When the song ended he drew her against him and kissed her, neither of them stopping to think that Nathan was watching. When they pulled apart, she remembered and glanced over at him. He smiled a genuine smile and raised his glass to them. The family started applauding, causing Ava and James to laugh. The party continued late into the evening before the group decided to call it a night. Another day had passed, and the new day would bring the departure of her side of the family again.

∞

     Ava watched as her family filed into the Principia. She bid farewell to Ash and Mia and felt a few tears form as she hugged Rowan. “Thank you,” she whispered to Justin and kissed him on the cheek. He returned the sentiment just the same.

     “Stay out of trouble, do you hear?” he said lightly.

     She laughed, wiping away another tear. “I promise I will this time.”

     Nathan stepped forward. She threw her arms around him and held him to her as a few more tears slipped out. She kissed him on the cheek; he took her hand and kissed it. James approached them and shook Nathan’s hand.

     “Take care of her,” Nathan said with a smile.

     “I will . . . with all that I am,” he replied.

     Nathan nodded and proceeded up the ramp into the Principia.

     Naomi and Andre were last. James stood with Ava face to face with them. Naomi wrapped Ava in a warm hug.

     “This is not good-bye, Ava, it is simply farewell for now. You must come and see us soon on Kyanos.”

     “I will, I promise. I love you, Naomi, take care.” Ava felt the tears forming again in her eyes. She knew they would still see each other frequently throughout the years to come, but it would not be the same as how her life had been before the transformation.

     Andre embraced her next. “We’re gonna miss seeing you every day, it’s not going to be the same without you.” Ava could hardly believe how choked up he was becoming.

     “Thank you for everything you have done for me. I won’t ever be able to repay you for your kindness. I love you too.” Ava squeezed him tight, kissed him, and then let go.

     Ava was taken by surprise by what happened next. Naomi was studying James intensely and then she suddenly took a step towards him and embraced him. He wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug. He kissed her sweetly on the cheek as he let her go. She smiled widely as she stepped back. Next Andre stepped up to James and extended his hand. James reached out and shook Andre’s hand, placing his other hand on top of his before releasing him. It wasn’t like James to show affection like this to her family.

     “You’re in charge now. Take care of them,” James said to Andre as he placed an arm around Ava.

     Andre nodded. “I will, my friend. You must come and visit us soon.”

     James looked down at Ava and smiled. “We will.”

     They watched as the last of Ava’s family walked up the ramp into the ship and then they exited the hangar as the ship powered up for takeoff. James’ family met them outside and together all of them waved as the Principia lifted off and glided away peacefully back to Kyanos. James kissed Ava’s hand as they started heading back towards the dock. She pondered his friendly behavior towards her family as they sailed through the gulf back towards home.

     Everyone went their separate ways at the receiving dock, leaving Ava with James. The two of them headed towards his silver vela. Ava stopped as he opened the door for her. She reached up and embraced him, then began kissing him, feeling their combined energy ignite fiercely. Her first family had gone home, but her second family would very much be a part of her life from now on. This knowledge helped her to feel less empty and sad over it. Now that there was peace between them, there would be no restrictions on visits.

     Once they were back inside the house, Ava went into the family room and started unpacking one of the crates that Naomi had brought her. James hesitated at the doorway as she began. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a few moments before coming over to her.

     “Need some help?” he asked softly.

     She had already unpacked several picture frames with photos of her wedding to Wesley in them. She held one out to him. “I guess I’m not sure where I should put these,” she said gently as a tear slipped down one of her cheeks. James took the photo from her and looked at it thoughtfully.

     “Why don’t we put them on the mantle over the fireplace?” he suggested pleasantly, standing up and walking over to the fixture, setting the frame down in the center.

     “You mean . . . you don’t mind?” Ava asked, surprised. She thought this would be a sensitive issue with him. Making James stare at her wedding photos to Wesley would probably be one of the last things he would want, she thought.

     “This was our wedding. Why would I mind? I love seeing these photos. You looked so lovely that day, sweetheart, these photos have only captured a fraction of your beauty,” he said happily as he turned to face her. There was something different about James. Ava could sense something had changed. 

     “Our wedding?” She could not hide confusion in her voice.

     “If I could have changed anything about that day, Ava I would have found some way to show you how much more I grew to love you with each passing day. But we cannot go back to the past,” he said thoughtfully.

     “What did you say?” Ava whispered. She remembered hearing that last phrase before, Wesley had said the same thing about Earth when he first took her to Kyanos and showed her around his home.

     He smiled serenely at her as she stared at him, then he suddenly vanished into thin air, reappearing right next to her half a second later. Teleportation!

     “Wesley!” Ava screamed as she threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. She didn’t know how it was possible, or why, but she accepted it without question.

     “I’m here, sweetheart. I never meant to leave you. Even in death I couldn’t let you go. My body is gone, but my essence remains. When I realized I couldn’t heal myself I planned to go to James and merge with him. I never thought my energy would latch on to you. I didn’t think something like that would be possible. I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to you, Ava, please forgive me,” he said urgently.

     “It’s okay, it’s okay,” she whispered back to him, still clinging to him, letting their energy flow together.

     “I located James and found a way in, but he is stronger than I am. Without my energy, I was helpless and I can’t control his energy. He was angry, Ava, . . . so angry when I informed him of what happened to us. He suppressed me for weeks, but I didn’t care. He found you and saved you. That’s all that mattered. He loves you as much as I do and he was the only one left strong enough to protect you.”

     “You mean, both of you are in there?” Ava looked up into his beautiful blue eyes in astonishment.

     “Yes. I wanted to be the one to tell you. Ava this is the last time that I will speak to you as Wesley. You have also had your last interaction with James. You see, neither one of us are willing to give you up.” He paused. “However, he and I have come to a mutual decision. Our love for you is overwhelming and it is our common ground. We have decided to let go of our differences . . . all for you. We realize that we are more powerful as one than we are apart.”

     “What are you saying?” Ava asked, beginning to feel nervous.

     “In a few moments, we will allow our essence to permanently merge together again. You won’t have to choose between us Ava because we will be one entity, we will have one energy that we share with you. We will have one cohesive love for you and be your one and only true match.”

    “Are you sure it’s safe . . . what if something goes wrong?”

   “Believe me, he and I will both be more comfortable this way. It’s the way it’s supposed be.” He smiled warmly at her, gathered her in a passionate embrace and kissed her. After a few moments he released her. He stepped back from her a few feet, took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

     Ava covered her mouth with her hands in shock as she felt his energy rise within him. His body took on the light shine she had observed on him before when he was extremely angry about something, but she could sense there was no anger here. He breathed heavily for several moments and then the shine dissipated, leaving him appear as human as he normally did. Slowly he opened his eyes and gazed at her.

     Ava threw herself at him and started crying. “Are you okay? . . . Did it work?”

     He tilted his head down to her and kissed her, wrapping his arms around her. They stayed like this for a long time, neither one of them wanting to break away. She could feel his energy relaxed and intertwined with her own. She could sense how peaceful he felt. After all of this time, the two halves had been made whole again. Two families had come together and all because she wanted to love them all.

     She looked up at him in wonder. “What should I call you now?” she asked shyly.

     He laughed casually. “I think we’ll stick with James, . . . I don’t look like much of a Wesley,” he said gesturing to himself before taking Ava’s hands. She laughed freely for the first time in a long time. Hardly believing how charmed her life was suddenly becoming.

     “There is one more thing we need to do,” he said mysteriously.

     “What is it?”

     James reached down into his pocket and pulled out the wedding rings that she and Wesley had exchanged what seemed like an eternity ago. Except, Ava noticed some modifications had been made. Ava’s gold band was now flanked with narrow platinum diamond eternity bands on each side and his band was flanked with the same narrow bands, minus the diamonds.

     “When did you have time to do this?” Ava said in amazement as she saw the rings. “I thought I had lost mine in the fight with Kaden.”

      “Melanie took them off of you when they brought you aboard the Solstice. She gave them to me shortly afterwards.”

     Ava started to cry as James lifted her left hand to his mouth to kiss it before sliding her wedding band back into place. She gazed happily up into his eyes as she repeated the process, taking his left hand and placing the band on his ring finger.

     “I will always love you, Ava. You are the center of my universe. Nothing will ever keep us apart again.”

     “I will always love you too. I am so happy we have nothing but time for me to show you how much I do,” Ava whispered to him as she embraced him, resting her cheek against his chest. Their shared energy merged and flowed lovingly between them and she could feel his devotion to her. Her love and happiness for them both began to soar.

Acknowledgements

     I hope that you enjoyed reading The Solar Wind, The Solar Flare, and The Solar Storm. It has been a wonderful adventure writing this series and I am truly appreciative for the love and support of my family and friends who encouraged me to explore my imagination and keep writing. If I have entertained you even a little, I invite you to please spread the word and consider leaving me a review on Amazon. It is through your support and comments that I continue to grow as a writer. Thank you!

     Until the next time,

     Laura

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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