won’t
happen,” Seles said.
Celi and Zae
saluted the pair before leaving.
“How did Jesela
get out of this?” Seles asked.
Mira shrugged. “She
technically left a while ago. That was her excuse.”
Seles sipped the
wine. “Everything changes tomorrow.”
“Everything
indeed,” Mira echoed.
* *
*
The command
center bustled with activity as Grigon, Valis, Kivi, Brian, and El Kar stood
around the center table. They watched a real time image of the Confederation
forces closing the areas of Dega Jul around the Kein estate.
“It seems
they’re determined to catch my grandmother,” Valis said. “There’s no way she
can hold out there.”
“Then we’ll have
to go get her,” Kivi said.
“All of us?” El
Kar asked.
Valis looked at
Brian as he stared at the space images around their base. “What is it?”
“They’re
coming,” he said.
“How do you
know?” El Kar asked.
Brian turned and
stared at the Shandi. “I can’t say for sure. But I know something is shifting
the wave patterns.”
Valis looked at
the space Brian was staring at. “Kivi, El Kar, prep your ships for launch,” she
said as she turned back. “The Avoni and Vomada are more than enough to defend
the base if need be.”
“Where should we
go after retrieving her?” Kivi asked.
“The Kalmar
system,” Valis said. “Shiken Ka has promised us protection if we need it.”
“On his honor
and word,” El Kar said. “The Confederation will have a tough time sending ships
into his territory.”
Kivi tapped the
swords on her belt. “Let’s go.”
She and the Shandi
captain took their leave.
“Are you sure
you can trust me?” Brian asked.
“Rarely have
your instincts been wrong,” she said. “Are you alright?” she asked as she took
his hand. Brian snapped out of his trance.
“I’m seeing
things Valis,” he said. “Things that would drive others mad. I’m worried I
won’t be able to handle things soon.”
“We’ll find a
way,” she said. “You have a ship to captain and a cause to fight for. The
choice of giving up long ago left you.”
Brian smiled.
“Thanks.”
“I don’t mean to
interrupt the moment,” Grigon said, “But our sensors are detecting a fleet of
ships inside the perimeter.”
“Your assessment
was correct,” Valis said.
“I hate being
right,” he said.
* *
*
The celebration
in the mess hall of the Avoni continued as Seles and Mira stood together near
the stage. Meldi and Myli joined them.
“Looks like you
finally have command,” Seles said to her former subordinates.
“Not a position
one longs for,” Meldi said.
“If only the pay
were worth the effort,” Myli added.
“Promise me
you’ll protect this ship,” Seles said.
“I promise,”
Meldi said.
“As do I,” Myli
said.
The two saluted.
“We have to take our leave now,” Meldi said. “Take care you two.”
“We will,” Seles
said.
“Take care,”
Mira said.
“We will,” Myli
said as they left.
As time moved
more and more of the crew came over and congratulated them before wishing them
well and leaving. Once the last group of the medical staff said goodbye the
pair were left alone in the room.
“Well, it looks
like we’ve been forgotten,” Mira said.
“Forgotten and
abandoned,” Seles said.
“I forgot the
second part,” Mira said. A moment of silence passed. “Things will never be the
same.”
“No they won’t,”
Seles said. “Since Brian won’t be joining us for a while it’s up to us to get
the job done.”
“I’ll do my best
to help,” Mira said.
“I know you
will,” Seles said. “Are you up for one more tour of the ship?”
“Sure, let’s
have a look just to make sure we’re leaving things in order,” Mira said. “We
can’t be sure our subordinates have figured it out yet.”
“Very true,” Seles
said before they laughed together.
They walked
together and fought tears of happiness from their memories on the Avoni.
Chapter 9 - The
happen,” Seles said.
Celi and Zae
saluted the pair before leaving.
“How did Jesela
get out of this?” Seles asked.
Mira shrugged. “She
technically left a while ago. That was her excuse.”
Seles sipped the
wine. “Everything changes tomorrow.”
“Everything
indeed,” Mira echoed.
* *
*
The command
center bustled with activity as Grigon, Valis, Kivi, Brian, and El Kar stood
around the center table. They watched a real time image of the Confederation
forces closing the areas of Dega Jul around the Kein estate.
“It seems
they’re determined to catch my grandmother,” Valis said. “There’s no way she
can hold out there.”
“Then we’ll have
to go get her,” Kivi said.
“All of us?” El
Kar asked.
Valis looked at
Brian as he stared at the space images around their base. “What is it?”
“They’re
coming,” he said.
“How do you
know?” El Kar asked.
Brian turned and
stared at the Shandi. “I can’t say for sure. But I know something is shifting
the wave patterns.”
Valis looked at
the space Brian was staring at. “Kivi, El Kar, prep your ships for launch,” she
said as she turned back. “The Avoni and Vomada are more than enough to defend
the base if need be.”
“Where should we
go after retrieving her?” Kivi asked.
“The Kalmar
system,” Valis said. “Shiken Ka has promised us protection if we need it.”
“On his honor
and word,” El Kar said. “The Confederation will have a tough time sending ships
into his territory.”
Kivi tapped the
swords on her belt. “Let’s go.”
She and the Shandi
captain took their leave.
“Are you sure
you can trust me?” Brian asked.
“Rarely have
your instincts been wrong,” she said. “Are you alright?” she asked as she took
his hand. Brian snapped out of his trance.
“I’m seeing
things Valis,” he said. “Things that would drive others mad. I’m worried I
won’t be able to handle things soon.”
“We’ll find a
way,” she said. “You have a ship to captain and a cause to fight for. The
choice of giving up long ago left you.”
Brian smiled.
“Thanks.”
“I don’t mean to
interrupt the moment,” Grigon said, “But our sensors are detecting a fleet of
ships inside the perimeter.”
“Your assessment
was correct,” Valis said.
“I hate being
right,” he said.
* *
*
The celebration
in the mess hall of the Avoni continued as Seles and Mira stood together near
the stage. Meldi and Myli joined them.
“Looks like you
finally have command,” Seles said to her former subordinates.
“Not a position
one longs for,” Meldi said.
“If only the pay
were worth the effort,” Myli added.
“Promise me
you’ll protect this ship,” Seles said.
“I promise,”
Meldi said.
“As do I,” Myli
said.
The two saluted.
“We have to take our leave now,” Meldi said. “Take care you two.”
“We will,” Seles
said.
“Take care,”
Mira said.
“We will,” Myli
said as they left.
As time moved
more and more of the crew came over and congratulated them before wishing them
well and leaving. Once the last group of the medical staff said goodbye the
pair were left alone in the room.
“Well, it looks
like we’ve been forgotten,” Mira said.
“Forgotten and
abandoned,” Seles said.
“I forgot the
second part,” Mira said. A moment of silence passed. “Things will never be the
same.”
“No they won’t,”
Seles said. “Since Brian won’t be joining us for a while it’s up to us to get
the job done.”
“I’ll do my best
to help,” Mira said.
“I know you
will,” Seles said. “Are you up for one more tour of the ship?”
“Sure, let’s
have a look just to make sure we’re leaving things in order,” Mira said. “We
can’t be sure our subordinates have figured it out yet.”
“Very true,” Seles
said before they laughed together.
They walked
together and fought tears of happiness from their memories on the Avoni.
Chapter 9 - The
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