Chapter one: Left Behind

"Sirius please don't go" Meri begged for what had to have been the tenth time that day alone.

"You don't understand how important this research is to me Meri, this could be my big break. Don't you understand I am doing this for us? "Sirius replied exhausted

. He reached over and pulled his love closer to him as she protested adamantly. He brushed the silky strands of hair from her face and looked into her eyes the way a stern father might. They had been arguing this for last several months since he had made his decision to voyage out into space. His goal was to research the phenomenon known as the key work, the great beam of energy surrounding Heaven's Fence. The people knew God created the Keywork to protect his great creation. It was also know to the denizens of Heaven's Fence that the Keywork was maintained by a race of people deemed The Prise. Aside from that the inner workings of this energy that enabled their travel throughout their world was unknown, but not for long if Astronaut Sirius Amory had anything to do with it.

"I'll be back home to you sooner than you realize my love, and think of the life I will be able to give you when I return. When I come home with my research I'll be able to give you everything you have ever wanted, we'll have security and wealth and think of the greater good that could come of this."

"I care for none of that, Sirius all I want is for you to stay by my side, what if something happens to you out in space? What if you never find the answers you're looking for, Sirius if you go out there you are likely to never return to me? Why must you take this Ludacris interest in the keywork? She shouted angrily.

He had heard this all before over the previous weeks. The tears were beginning to well up in her eyes again. It pained him to see the trouble he was causing the woman he loved, but he was confident in his decision and he felt assured Meri would be alright to care for herself while he was away. He leaned down pressed his lips to her forehead, a last attempt to comfort her.

"Goodbye Meri, I'll be home to you in a few short months, it won't feel as long as you think."

There was nothing else he could do to make this easier for her. He took one last look at his love trying to memorize every detail of her porcelain face before turning his back on her

Meri walked through the streets numbly, ignoring the cold chill in the November air. Sirius had been gone much longer than a few months as she had well expected. When news of his ship "The Meriwell" had turned up, she lost all faith. The very name of this ship he named after her left a bitter taste in her mouth. How could be so selfish, she thought to herself. How could she handle losing the man she loved? She didn't think she could bear the thought of continuing her life with ought Sirius. "What was it all for anyway?" So he could famous and remembered? So that he could go on some grand adventure and prove whatever it was he was trying to prove to himself. Well what about what she wanted!? She almost screamed out loud.

She wanted a home; she wanted to marry the man she loved and have children. She didn't give a care in the world to all the talk of some grand life Sirius always tried to propose to her. She was a simple woman with simple dreams. As she was contemplating she had almost forgotten where she was walking.

She was approaching a particularly noisy bar and could hear the rough beat of industrial music, and the cocktail of scents ranging from sweat, cheap perfume, and smoke, streaming from the doors. Against her better judgment she found herself walking toward the door. What could one drink hurt after all she had been through this day she deserved it.

She stepped through the energetic crowd attentively taking in all of the noises and faces. She decided on unburdening herself onto the vacant seat at the bar, to wait patiently for the flustered bartender to make her way over. It was a busy Friday night and the crowd was particularly rowdy.

"care for a drink?" She jumped startled as a man slipped besides her standing propped up by an elbow rested on the top of the bar.

She studied him over half-heartedly. He wasn't an overly notable man, painfully ordinary if anything. He sported dark messy hair and a smile that hinted friendliness, or at least what Meri perceived as friendliness. She wrapped her hands around the cold perspiring glass being slid in her direction and attempted the warmest smile she could give her current mood. She studied the bubbling glass of amber ale.

"Thank you" she said weakly to the stranger. "Might I ask for the name of the person offering me their kindness tonight?" Again the man flashed a devilish grin and replied "my names Christopher but you can call me Chris." "Well thanks again Chris, for the drink" She said nodding slightly as she began to lift the beverage to her lips.

A hand Appeared over the lip of the cup stopping her promptly. Another man stepped between her and Chris, taking the glass from her hand as he did so and shockingly dropping it to the floor.

"You want to explain to me what that was I saw you put in the drink you just offered this young woman?" The new man spat angrily at Christopher.

A fight broke out as two other apparently armed men seized Chris, placing him in handcuffs and dragging him from the bar.

She followed after the stranger who at intervened in what she had concluded was an attempt to drug her as he exited the shady watering hole. Everything had happened so quickly. He was pacing manically outside the bar swearing to himself fiercely when she approached him.

"What just happened" she asked him still dazed and confused.

"I saw him before he approached you, I saw him put something in that drink, and when I saw his intentions…I had to come help" he said producing a badge from his jacket pocket and handing it to her.

I've been investigating this place for a while now and I was hoping to catch that bastard in the act and make an arrest tonight. I am so sorry for the trouble you have been through tonight.

"A police officer" she looked up at him, the same blank expression she had worn all night plastered to her face.

"My name is Colton" he explained, "Please let me escort you home so that you get there safely, this is a dodgy neighborhood and these are troubling times.