'Starsha,' Alex called.
Fighting the remnants of sleep, he wiped a hand over his eyes hoping the nightmare would soon fade. He'd dreamt the Yamato and his younger brother perished within reach of their goal, of Iscandar. Afraid for them, he struggled to sit up, the couch impeding his movements. Looking around the room felt empty, devoid of Starsha's comforting presence.
'If they fail,' Alex needed to break the oppressive silence and the sense of mounting danger, 'I may be the only hope for humanity.'
Shuddering at the thought, he concentrated on the incredible bond he'd developed with Starsha in such a short time. Derived from the bioenergy surrounding every living thing on Iscandar, he located her two levels down. Alex became determined to face his saviour with his mounting suspicions. Costing him dearly, he changed into a cream tunic she'd laid out on the chair beside his bed. Searching, Alex finally located the stairwell. Each step increased the depth of their unique link and his alarm.
His sleep, the slumber Starsha fooled him into, had been broken his horrid dreams leanding a sense of urgency. Not entirely restored to his former self, he fought the fatigue still plaguing his every step. Determination to find the truth, to uncover a possible duplicity drove Alex to his destination.
Locating her in a room filled with communication equipment, Alex approached quietly. Gazing out the window, at first he didn't think Starsha heard his approach. Surely she could feel him, the need to communicate rolling off his mind in waves. Taking the time to analyse her body language, Alex realised she'd deliberately diminished the bond between them.
'Starsha,' he questioned. The single word communicated so much.
'I have heard from Desslok,' she confessed in a sad tone.
'Yes,' Alex held his breath, waiting for the news of his brother's death.
'He has trapped the Star Force on Gamalon,' Starsha spoke softly, the sadness palatable in her tone.
'I had a dream,' Alex's mind made the association immediately. 'The Yamato, they're in trouble, aren't they.'
'Yes,' she finally turned, tear tracks drying on her luminescent skin. 'I had hoped you would now be meeting your brother for the first time. However they have been captured in a magnetic beam. Floating on the sulphuric acid seas of Gamalon, if they cannot find a way to escape quickly, their vessel will soon disintegrate. Desslok has no intention of allowing the Earth to survive. He wishes to make it his new home. I cannot allow that.'
'You're rescuing me,' Alex's brown orbs hardened as he secret fear surfaced, 'wasn't completely accidental. You planned to send me back with the cosmo DNA if the Yamato failed in her mission.'
'No,' Starsha moved in her silent way, resembling an apparition gliding across the floor, 'that was never my intention.' Lifting a hand up to cup his cheek, she allowed her energy to infuse his neural system. Unable to lie, she added, 'you're coming here answered a need, for me. I have been so lonely until you arrived. These months, watching the Star Force battle Desslok every step of the way only intensified my desperation. If they do not finish their journey, sending you home with the cosmo DNA may be the only way to save your Earth.'
'You've readied the ship?' Alex asked.
'Not yet,' she replied, the emotion infusing their link almost overwhelming in its intensity. 'I had hoped it would not be necessary.'
Breaking away confused and hurt, Alex accused, 'yet you were planning on sending me back with Yamato.'
'I have no choice in this either,' Starsha watched from lowered eyelids.
'Why?' he demanded.
'To operate the cosmo DNA,' she confessed, 'the machine is not enough. It must be activated by someone able to channel bioenergy. That is why my sister Astra had to go to Earth. She has the ability to draw the lines of power created by every living thing on Earth into the electronics and eradicating your planet of radioactivity.'
'With Astra to activate and control the cosmo DNA,' Alex claimed, 'I am not essential to your plans.'
'I do not want you to stay, sharing my lonely word,' Starsha commented, reaching out a hand to rest over his heart. She needed to make him understand the role he'd play in the fate of his home world. 'Your bond to Iscandar will strengthen Astra's ability to cure Earth. For the fate of your people, you have no choice, you must return, if not with Yamato, then alone with the cosmo DNA.'
'Is there nothing I can do to change your mind,' Alex pleaded.
'No,' Starsha infused their bond with her determination. A hint of her need leaked before she could stop the thought.
Taking a startled breath, Alex read her desire. If he couldn't stay, then he'd leave a small piece of himself on Iscandar. The comment Starsha made several months back suddenly made sense.
'You're sure this is what you want,' he asked.
'Not only will it bring me much pleasure,' she stated, 'it will bond you to Iscandar in a way that will never leave you. Are you ready to pay such a price?' Moving a hand to his rest on the back of Alex's neck, she brought their foreheads into contact. Closed eyes allowed her to form a conduit between their minds. 'Do you understand,' she finally asked.
Unable to speak, his head filled with sensations never before experienced, Alex muttered yes directly into her brain. Pulling her into a tight embrace, he gave into her wish. Tonight he'd spend with Starsha, leaving her with the only gift he possessed. In the morning, either Alex Wildstar would be reporting to Yamato or boarding a small space craft destine for Earth.
Several hours later, exhausted, he finally slept. Starsha moved out of his tight, almost desperate hold. Sitting on the edge of the bed they'd shared, she laid one hand over his heart, the other on his head. Closing her eyes, Starsha completed the final ritual, bonding them eternally. He would slumber for hours while she made her final plans. Once gone, she could rest and weep to her hearts content.
'I love you,' Starsha whispered to her depleted lover while she watched him. He would need his strength. Placing a glass by his bed, she hoped he would stay asleep without the help of the elixir. 'I have asked Iscandar to wake you only when your brother arrives. It is better this way. We have said our goodbyes tonight.'
Floating across the room to the picture window, Starsha looked to the stars above her world. A hand on her belly, she wondered if their genetic material would create the life she craved, the only part of Alex she'd be allowed to keep. Sensing a great upheaval on Gamalon, it signalled the Star Forces ability to defeat Desslok on his own world. In a few hours they'd arrive. Before then Queen Starsha of Iscandar had much to achieve.
The sun barely in the morning sky, the Yamato touched down on the sea before Iscandar's capital city. Waiting half way between her home and the wharf, Starsha gasped at the party approaching her. The young man leading the entourage had to be Alex's brother. They looked so much alike.
'Welcome to Iscandar,' she greeted, her eyes resting on the leader, 'I am Starsha.'
'Derek Wildstar,' he introduced, not making a move to touch her. 'And this is…'
'Astra,' Starsha gasped, wondering why her sister dressed in human clothing and cut her hair. While not forbidden on Iscandar, most considered is sacrilege.
'What?' Nova stumbled, looking to Derek for support. In that moment, Starsha saw the bonds between the two and understood why the universe chose to bring them to her.
'Why didn't you let me know all this time you were with the Star Force?' she demanded in a soft tone. If Astra had fallen in love with a human and, as she suspected, they might be biologically compatible, there would be hope of a future for her world.
'There's some mistake,' Nova attempted again, 'I'm not…'
'I'm sorry Starsha,' Derek shook his head, 'but your sister's plane crashed on Mars.'
'You mean my sister is dead,' she finally understood. Turning to the depths of her life force, she sought to establish a link with Astra. It failed in a way she'd become all too aware of as one after another of her people perished. 'My sister's dead,'
'I am from earth,' the young woman stated, 'my name is Nova.'
'Oh,' Starsha considered this. Looking at the couple before her she realised the young woman's potential. Needing to keep Derek and Nova with her, she requested, 'please tell me about Astra, in her last message she said her ship was being attacked.'
Listening to the demise made her sad. Astra's death in vain, Starsha needed to find another conduit for the bioenergy required to activate the cosmo DNA on earth. Any hope of keeping Alex with her died in that instant.
Calling up her air car, Starsha treated Alex's brother and his bond mate to a personal tour. Accompanying her to the mass graves allowed her to tell the horrific history of Iscandar and its sister world, Gamalon. They took the news well. Intelligent, articulate and sympathetic, she invited them to her home.
'Let's return to the city,' Starsha offered. 'I want you to meet someone.'
'You mean there is someone here from another planet,' Derek queried in an astonished tone.
'Yes,' she smiled, wondering how he would react, 'an Earthling.'
'From Earth,' stunned, Nova couldn't believe her ears.
'Someone from Earth,' Derek asked.
'Yes and when you return to Earth,' determination filled her voice, 'you must take him with you.'
Unable to tell them why, Starsha led them back to the vehicle. With the death of her sister, Alex became the only hope of saving his home world. He alone had the power to switch on the cosmo DNA. Recognising the universe had delivered him into her care for a reason, Starsha felt better about relinquishing him.
'Alex,' Derek cried as comprehension dawned. Is it you.
'Derek,' although he knew his younger brother served on Yamato, seeing him for the first time in almost a year, Alex couldn't believe his eyes. 'Could that be you, Derek?'
'Oh, Alex,' the tone of voice imparted so much more than the simple words. Finally, neither Wildstar existed alone in the galaxy, 'oh my brother.'
Watching on with tears in her eyes, Starsha became aware of the bond between Nova and Derek. The strength surprised her. The energy it produced gave her an idea. Unwilling to force such a responsibility on one so young, she retreated to her communications room.
'Queen Starsha,' aware Nova followed, she refused to turn around and let her misery be openly displayed. 'If I'm intruding, I'll leave,' the young woman offered.
That made up Starsha's mind. There was no choice. Alex Wildstar had to return to Earth. However, finding Nova with her compassion and empathy gave her a backup should something happen to Alex.
'Oh, no,' Starsha turned, a sad smile covering her face. 'Alex Wildstar was taken prisoner by the Gamalons after his ship crashed on Titan. They were taking him back to Gamalon to question him when a terrible storm forced their ship into the seas on Iscandar. Alex drifted ashore, almost dead but I nursed him and now he's well enough to make the long journey back to Earth.'
'Starsha,' just her name rolling of Nova's lips demonstrated her to be the one. The one to able to replace Astra, capable of producing a spark of energy allowing the cosmo DNA to achieve its goal and restore Earth to her former glory.
'Yes,' she had a hard time keeping her countenance.
'Love is the same here as it is on Earth,' Nova stated.
Yes, Starsha agreed silently, you should know. You are in love with Alex Wildstar's brother. The energy that you are able to surround yourself with gives away your feelings and his, yet you do not know the potential you are capable of.
'You love him, don't you,' Nova asked.
'As you love Derek,' Starsha admitted. 'Yet Alex cannot stay, and I cannot go.'
Taking the time to explain, Nova understood Starsha's dilemma. 'What can I do to help?'
'Are you prepared to become part of Iscandar, to feel and control the bioenergy?' she asked.
'I…I,' swallowing hard, Nova nodded her head.
'You understand the consequence,' Starsha had to ensure she explained the way it would always rule Nova's life. 'Once bonded to the bioenergy, your heart, life and destiny will be set. I can see by the emanations you unwittingly give out how you feel about your home world. Love like that cannot be turned off or diminished. It will be the same with the great love of your life. If Alex's brother does not love you as you love him, you will remain forever alone.'
'If he does?' Nova questioned.
'You will share the bond Alex and I have forged. It will not be an easy alliance,' Starsha warned.
'I am ready,' Nova made up her mind. 'You wouldn't have offered me this opportunity unless you've seen something in me, in my connection to Earth and Derek that made you sure. Perhaps it will allow you the happiness you deserve.'
'Then let us begin,' Starsha approached, laying a hand over Nova's heart and temple, she opened the connection to Iscandar's energy, and through it to the universe. 'We must complete this before our men come looking for us.'
