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This is a continuation (Book #12) of the series that follows Chapter 28 of Starting Over by TheDoctorMulder. The War has begun. The Quauhtin have a new leader, and struggle to find their place in the universe. Meanwhile, a new, menacing enemy grows under their nose.
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Chapter 1 - Ashena's Request
Logan walked behind Ashena and Oen through the hallways of the Doctor's ship. Ashena's hair was covered in a long dark cloth. Both of the ladies wore elegant robes that flowed as they moved.
Logan rubbed the side of his head and really wished he was more sober than he currently was. It was taking a lot more attention than it normally did, to walk a straight line.
Damn that Legate.
Licis walked next to Logan. "Legate is on the surface?"
Logan nodded, "Yes, sir. Genie requested he return. They have a lot of extra children there at the school, tonight."
Ashena lead them to her suite and opened the door. "Mother. Please come in and make yourself comfortable."
Oen smiled at her daughter and took her hand as they sat down on the sofa together. "Could I be so bold to ask Logan to make us a cup of tea?"
Logan bowed his head. "It would be my pleasure, ma'am."
Logan went over to the food replicator in the wall.
Licis pat Logan on the shoulder. "I need to go to Lewis. Are you alright here?"
Logan nodded and told Licis quietly. "I have to admit that I don't have a clear head at the moment."
Licis chuckled. "I'll ask for someone to come onboard to be close by. Adriano …. Oh. Good he's here. You'll be fine."
Logan nodded and took a deep breath. "Okay."
Licis noticed his reaction. "You alright?"
Logan rubbed his eyes. "I should have known better than to, drink with Legate."
"Don't bullshit me, kid. I can smell that."
"We did that, too. He insisted that I needed to relax. I didn't know you were headed straight here!"
Licis chuckled and rocked on his feet. "Brilliant. Legate is just like Poltious-"
"I'll consider myself warned then."
Licis turned and stood to face the ladies. "Your majesty-"
"Oh, call me Ashena, Licis! Geez!"
Licis bowed. "As you request. The Honorable Oen. I'm headed to the surface and leaving your safety in Logan's capable hands. There are also three Quauhtin onboard who stand ready."
Logan brought a tray with tea to the table in front of Oen and Ashena.
Ashena sat up straightly and nodded, "Thank you, Licis. Please give my regards to Primus Lewis."
Licis bowed and left the room.
Logan served Ashena a cup of tea, and then Oen. Both of the ladies thanked him and then he sat down on a chair next to them and rubbed his face.
Oen sipped her tea. "Logan. You look exhausted."
He grinned and rubbed his hands on his jeans. "My apologies. Legate has kept me rather busy this afternoon."
Ashena smiled. "Yes. I asked Legate to get Logan to relax. He's so worried about me."
"Shen, that's my job."
Oen nodded, "It's true, it is. What has Samuel said about your hair?"
"He's working on it, Mother. I'm sure the solution will take some time."
Logan took a deep breath. "He interviewed me tonight, after Legate and I ….. well. Never mind."
Ashena giggled. "After you and Legate what?"
He stood up and pointed towards the bedroom. "Did anyone do a security sweep? Excuse me."
He quickly left the room.
Oen laughed. "He is so jumpy. What's wrong?"
Ashena smiled. "I blame Legate."
Oen sat down the tea glass. "And it's so late. Ashena."
"Yes, Mother."
"Samuel needs to sort out this hair problem before we appear together. It could very well be the result of the people who destroyed the ship."
Logan walked back into the room. "And everything is fine. I agree with The Honorable Oen."
Ashena nodded. "I know you do. About everything."
Logan stood with his hands held out in surprise. "We're going to talk about that, too?"
Oen stood up. "Not tonight. It's late, and after that flight out in that tiny craft, I'm anxious to rest."
Ashena stood up and smiled at her. "Certainly. Logan will take to your suite to rest."
Logan bowed. "Yes. It's just next door. Adriano is on the other side, and I'll remain here with Shen."
Oen smiled. "Thank you, Logan."
She turned and kissed Ashena on the cheek. "We'll get an update on everything in the morning. Try to rest."
Ashena smiled. "Of course."
Logan escorted Oen out of the suite.
Ashena sat down and sipped the tea he had made her.
Within minutes, he was back. It was clear he was more relaxed with Oen gone.
He walked into the room and collapsed in a chair next to the sofa where Ashena sat. He rubbed his face. "Shen. Legate says everyone has gone silent who was on that ship."
She sat down her tea glass. "I know."
"There was no report of anyone shooting at it."
She nodded. "Nor a mechanical malfunction. John has said he has Quauhtin looking into it."
He propped his face up on his fist and looked at her. "You are lovely. Have I told you that today?"
She smiled at him. "You are drunk. Or stoned."
He grinned. "Both. But I had a good chat with Samuel."
"I hesitate to think about what."
"Why didn't you tell him I had stopped taking that birth control?"
She sighed. "I didn't want him to….know."
"What? That we thinking about trying?"
"That has to be out of your system for months for anything to work."
"That works."
"You know what I mean."
He sighed, "Shenny, we don't even know if we can have children together."
She groaned. "Logan. This is something that has to happen for the kingdom."
He waved his fingers at her. "See. I hear that. I know that. I respect that. But…"
"But?"
"It rather makes me feel like a piece of meat."
She giggled. "What sort of meat?"
"A really, expensive steak." He teased.
She giggled. "Logan. I want us to be life partners-"
"That's what two people of the same sex are called where I'm from. Can we please call it something else?"
She rolled her eyes. "That's so strange. Terra. Weird. But…."
"But what?"
"There are some gorgeous men from there."
He rested his elbow on the chair and grinned at her. "I think you're just trying to get in my pants."
She laughed, "I can't believe you would say that to a Queen."
He pointed at her. "Ah! Can't do that, Shen."
She giggled and stood up. She slipped the cover that she wore off of her head. "I can do what I like."
"That's against our agreement. You are not the Queen when we're alone. You're just Shenny."
She walked over, and sat on his lap. They wrapped their arms around one another. "Gorgeous men who are obsessed with a game."
He continued to stare at her. "Keeps my head full of something when trying to work something else out."
She rested her forehead to his. "Logan. I'm so fearful that Samuel isn't going to be able to figure this out."
He spoke to her gently. "Shen. Samuel will sort this out. Everything is going to be alright."
"You don't know that-"
"I wouldn't have told you to get an exam from him if I thought differently."
She sighed. "The Andromean people had to know I was okay. John could have done it-"
He shook his head. "I'm not comfortable with that. You were offered to John."
"He didn't say 'yes'."
"But, still. It's….strange."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Logan. You're the only one I can be honest with."
"I'm a steel box. Tell me anything. It never goes any further."
"I'm terrified. A war?"
He caressed her face. "Shen. You would be mad not to be frightened right now. If it was someone who blew up that ship, they are going to try again."
She took a deep breath. "Everyone at home is frightened. I've seen the reports."
He rose her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "I have, too. The Army there is doing what it has been trained to do. They are keeping everyone safe. Everyone is alright. Nothing has been attacked except your ship."
She closed her eyes and sighed. "Logan."
"Shen. You're doing a great job. Don't worry about how everything appears. I'll tell you if you slip. I'm right by your side, and I'm not going anywhere."
"Even if my hair gets sorted?"
"When, your hair gets sorted. I've spoken to Summus about it. My Primary is to always be you. I plan to do two more levels, and stop. So, I can always remain by your side."
"Logan. You've given up so much for me."
"Nah. I only see what I've gained."
"What have you gained that is so wonderful?"
"You!" He insisted as if it should be oblivious. "Really Shen?"
She laughed and held him tightly. "Thank you, Logan."
He kissed the side of her face. "I bet we'll have to meet up with Lartius within the next few days. In the meantime, we need to train your mind for battle. That starts tomorrow. "
"Who is going to do that?"
Logan grinned. "Me. Believe it or not, I've had years of practice."
"Playing football?"
He grinned. "No, playing video games."
"What is that? Video games?"
"I think they will help. And, I'm damn good at them. And I hate to say it, but Legate sucks at it."
She grinned, "Doesn't sound like you hate to say it."
He chuckled. "He really sucks at it."
"Do you think it will help?"
Logan nodded, "I do. Let's give a try. Okay?"
She relaxed and smiled at him. "Thank you, Logan."
"No thanks are needed. Just a kiss."
She cupped his face and kissed him quickly.
He complained immediately. "Is that all I get?"
"You are so stoned."
"I'm just….blurry."
"Blurry? What is that? Never mind, we need to go to bed."
"Trying to get into my pants again. I think, we need to have another chat with Samuel. Talk to him about children. Actually tell him everything."
She sighed. "You're right. I just….I know what you are saying that we should be together for a while before we bring children into this."
"My mother was all on her own for years. Dad didn't mean to leave us, and I don't plan to leave you, but Shen…we don't know if this will work out with us. I don't want a child to be in the middle of that. They are will already be odd because they are of two worlds. How will we even handle that? A child who will be never welcomed on one planet, and never accepted on another one."
"We don't know that-"
"I know that. Terra is not a safe place for anyone not from there. The Andromedean people will question the child's paternal heritage. It could cost them the throne one day."
She sighed. "Oen and you agree on so much."
"It's something that has to be considered. An heir is needed. I know. But, we really need to talk to someone about this before we jump into it. Samuel is not only a Doctor-"
"But, he is from the future. He knows what will happen."
Logan smiled proudly. "What a great idea, Shen. I knew you would think of something."
"Oh geez, Logan. You thought of it."
He grinned, "Well, I'm not just a pretty face."
She ran her hands through his hair. "I thought I had made that clear."
He smiled, "Well, the classes made it better. Didn't it?"
She smiled, "Yes. But, Logan. Did you tell Samuel about that medicine you are taking? To make it last longer?"
"Yes. He said it wasn't affecting you."
"I still don't like you using it. I wish you would stop."
He sighed. "It's what you're used to."
"I'm, used to you. I want you. No drugs, just…you."
"I'm human, Shen. It simply can't last that long."
"I don't need it to! I fear you will hurt yourself!"
He groaned and she stood up.
She sighed. "It's so late. How are you even still awake?"
He grinned up at her. "Waiting on a night cap."
She put her hands on her hips. "You aren't drunk enough?"
He snapped his fingers, "Not a night cap, no. What was our code for that?"
She shook her head. "What?"
"Want to iron the cat?"
She covered her mouth and laughed. "Oh wow."
"Was that it?"
"No! Logan, that sounds terrible!"
He groaned and shook his head. "I'm completely…..dazed. I feel like my head is already in the bed in there."
She held his hand and pulled him to his feet. She wrapped her arms around him and smiled. "You need to sleep."
"Stroke the cat! That was it."
She put her finger over his lips. "No. People will know what that means."
He grinned, "It's just the two of us here. What if, I catch you up, and we….stroke the cat."
"You need to sleep."
He let her go and she turned to walk out to the bedroom. He stood watching her.
She stopped as she got to the bedroom door and grinned at him. "Logan."
He smiled, "Yes, Shen?"
"Could you please help me undress, and perhaps, rock the cat to sleep?"
He clapped his hands together in excitement. "Yes, ma'am. I'd be thrilled to do that."
She giggled and disappeared into the bedroom.
Logan did a silly dance to express his happiness. He mumbled under his breath. "I love that puss puss cat. Oh yes."
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