Disclaimer: Sorry no ownership here...
It was over.
Zhane didn't know what relieved him more, that his powers had worked for the whole fight, or that the fight was, in fact, over. "Hey, Zhane!" Cassie called out.
"What?" Zhane asked, looking for his teammate in the crowds that surrounded him. They left him some room, out of respect, but it was still difficult to see. The Surf Spot had survived the fight mostly intact, and was the site of one of the field kitchens for everyone.
"This is Justin, and his dad. We kept saying you should meet, because you're a lot alike." Cassie said, trailing a boy who looked barely old enough to be a teenager. "Justin, this is Zhane, Zhane, this is Justin." Cassie turned, "Where did Mr. Stewart go?"
"Right here, Cassie," a warm voice said.
Zhane held very still as a tall man stepped out of a crowd. He had light brown hair, almost blond, and hazel eyes. He smiled, and Zhane knew that he knew this man. This man had been the subject of very few pictures but so many of his mother's stories had revolved around this man. "Mr. Stewart, this is Zhane of KO-35."
"How do you do," Mr. Stewart said.
"Very well, thank you," Zhane replied. He took a slight breath, "Mr. Stewart, may I be so bold as to ask; when you were younger, say eighteen years ago, did you meet a young woman named Andrea?"
Mr. Stewart went still, "I did," he admitted finally. "She said she came from the stars."
Zhane nodded, "Andrea," he said, "was my mother." He didn't see it, but he sensed Cassie drawing Justin away as he spoke.
"Really," Mr. Stewart said, looking slightly nervous.
"She loved you," Zhane said, with a smile. He projected his calmest aura as he watched the man who might be his father. "Even though her people wouldn't have accepted me, she never regretted it."
"You said was," Mr. Stewart said, quietly.
"She died," Zhane said, and saw a flicker of a grief as raw as his own, even after so long. "It was a sudden illness when I was young. She left a private journal that was give to me after her death. In it she wrote many things."
"Are you my son?" Mr. Stewart asked his voice harsh with emotion.
"I do not know," Zhane admitted. "I know how to find out, anyway."
"Perhaps when everything calms down," Mr. Stewart suggested. "Things are crazy enough around here without worrying about that."
"I agree," Zhane said. "I only asked because you look like an older version of the man in mom's holos, I mean, pictures."
"That's fine," Mr. Stewart said, "I always wondered what happened to Andrea. It will be nice to hear some stories about her."
"And I would love to hear more about you," Zhane said.
"Ok," Justin said from where he stood, "I have an older brother?"
Zhane dodged the Quantron and spun to deflect the blow of a monster, only to find that his morph was gone. As he fell to the ground, Zhane could hear Andros cry out as Ashley screamed. As darkness filled his vision, Zhane knew he wasn't going to escape this time.
"Zhane!"
Zhane shot up right, stopping just short of hitting the bunk above his. 'What?" He snapped.
Andros leaned against the door, "You were fighting in your sleep again. It's over, no more fighting, remember."
"Sorry," Zhane said, "didn't mean to wake you." He pressed his hand against his chest to help still his heart.
"It's ok," Andros said. "Good night, Zhane."
"Night Andros," Zhane replied.
Once the door closed, Zhane closed his eyes as tears slid down his cheeks. It wasn't over. He'd known that his morpher wasn't fixed, but he had hoped that he could be back here, on the Megaship, with his family. Zhane rubbed his cheeks, and then got up. He dressed in his Megaship uniform and packed his extra clothes into a bag with some of the other essentials he'd need for a trip.
Andros,
I'm sorry brother. I have to leave. The morpher isn't fixed yet, and the dreams are still here. I know who can help me. I'll be back as soon as I can.
Zhane
P.S. Ask Cassie to tell John Stewart that the test came back positive.
A/N: Thus comes the end of Silver Dreams; first part of Silver Warriors. Keep an eye out for the next part, Silver Sight, coming to a webpage near you soon!
