The Solar Flare (9 page)

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

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

     “Another starship?” Ava said in amazement.

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

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

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

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

     “Morning Ash
,” Ava called.

     “Would you like a tour?” He offered.

     “Absolutely!”

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

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

     “The next one?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 8: The Principia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

∞

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

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

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

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

     “Wesley, I’m used to five days.”

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

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

     “Three days.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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