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Chapter 9: The Departure

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The two days until the ship was to come passed all too quickly for everyone involved. Each person spent time saying good-bye to friends and colleagues and tying up loose ends. The packing was the hardest part, for everything important in their lives had to fit into a few small bags. They were all leaving the planet they had called home for years to go to one they had no memory of.

On day of departure, Abby, worried and stressed, was finishing some last minute packing in her room when she realized something. She ran out of her room and to her parents', searching for her mother.

"Mom," she gasped when she found Maria. "I need to talk to you." Maria nodded, for she had been expecting this for some time. Abby sat down on the edge of her parents' bed. "I can't do this. I don't know how to be a leader; I don't know how to make life or death decisions. This isn't going to work because I'm going to fail... and then all those people will suffer because of me." Maria sat next to her and stroked her back.

"This will work, because you'll make it work," she said reassuringly. "You've never failed at anything you've ever done. You don't let yourself fail. Remember when you wanted to play the piano, but your fingers couldn't stretch enough to reach all of the keys? You sat at that bench for hours on end each day, refusing to give up, until you could do it. This is the same thing . . . only on a slightly bigger scale. The difference is you have a partner in this. I know Connor. He'll do anything he can to make this easy on you, and I can see the makings of a great leader in him, as long as you're with him to give him strength and determination." Abby nodded.

"I know you're right, I know I can do this. I'm just so scared." Maria hugged her.

"Honey, it's alright to be scared. Hell, I'm scared. Your father won't admit it, but he's scared. We're all scared. And you have alot more to be scared over. But, you'll be fine; I know this. You'll find strength in that fear and turn it into good."

"Thanks, Mom, I needed that," Abby said, standing. She felt much better.

"I know," was all Maria said. "I love you, hon." Abby smiled.

"I love you, too, Mom," she repeated. "And you're right. I can't do this without Connor. But I also couldn't do it without you." With that she left to finish her packing and wait patiently for Connor, who was coming early that evening, to arrive. There was something she wanted very much to tell him.

~*~

Connor arrived at Abby's house at 8 p.m. as planned. They were leaving at 11 in order to reach the landing sight around 12:30. Both wanted to spend their last few hours on Earth together.

"I have something to tell you," Abby said excitedly, when he entered her room.

"Ok," he said, sitting on her bed.

"I've figured it out," she proudly announced, sitting next to him. He looked confused, so she continued. "I know why this is going to work. Why they say neither of us is any good without the other. How the two of us are going to manage to rule five planets."

"Please tell me then," Connor begged, "because I don't have the slightest clue. I'm scared to death." Abby smiled and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm scared too," she said. "But strength comes from fear, and we'll need plenty of that." Connor nodded.

"We're two different personalities," she began. "Do you agree?" He nodded. "I'm more friendly and personable, not just with people I know, but also with strangers. I put people at ease when they're with me, and people like me. You're more quiet and reserved. You know how to judge people for who they are, and you know how to make wise, informed decisions. The only time you make snap decisions is when you're really passionate about something, like going home." Connor again nodded, and she continued. "I'm more of the people person, you're more of the behind the scenes guy. It's perfect. And, furthermore, our talents are matched together perfectly."

"Explain," Connor urged, not quite understanding this last part.

"You can read people," she stated. "You try it all the time with me and I know you do it with everyone around you. I can do it to a smaller extent, you know, reading people's emotions when they are really strong, but that's more of a human quality. My main talent is my ability to influence people in smaller decisions. I can get into their mind and leave ideas there, you know, to help them make the decision that I want them to make. These two abilities, yours and mine, work together. You can see what people are thinking, and I can 'help' them to think another way, if necessary. It works."

"I can see that," Connor said. "Why the sudden epiphany?"

"I was scared to go," she answered, "and my mom helped me see that I could handle this. She told me that you would help me handle it, and that's when I realized that's what this is all about. We help one another, emotionally, psychologically, and rationally. Well, and physically too. That's why this will work, and also why it'll only work if we're together. We're meant to be together.... designed to be together."

"This will work," Connor echoed, kissing her. "You and I will make it work." She kissed him again and he started to pull her onto the bed.

"Wait," Abby said, pulling back up. "There's one more thing." He sat up again.

"What?" he asked. She took his hands in hers and moved as close to him as she could get.

"You say I'm closed off to you," she began. "You are always trying to read me, and I won't let you, because I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what you might think. To do this, to leave this planet to go be the High King and Queen in another galaxy, we need to trust one another completely, and have nothing between us. My father and mother went through the same thing when they were younger. He wouldn't let her see him because he was afraid to let people in. When he did, however, it only made them closer. I want us to be closer, like they are." She looked into his eyes. "I want you to see me." With that, she let the defenses built up in her mind down, and Connor could see everything she thought.

He could see the present, as well as the past he had already seen. He could see how incredibly frightened she was of leaving, but how certain she was it was the right decision. He felt how much love she had for him, and how much trust she was giving him. He could see her every thought. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her, and, in doing so, transmitted his thoughts and feelings to her. They sat together for an eternity exploring one another's minds, learning all there was to know. Connor had never seen this far into any person's mind, and he had never been able to show anyone his. Their connection was magical.

~*~

The hours passed and it was time. Near 1 a.m. they all stood in the decreed spot, waiting for this transport to arrive. Abby sat with Connor, the two of them having a reassuring conversation with their minds. Everyone looked scared and unsure. No one knew what would happen. Then, right on time, a ship landed. It wasn't what they had expected. It was smaller, about the size of a small bus, but very tall. A man who looked completely human stepped out of the large doors.

"Greetings all," he said, walking forward. "I've taken this shape because it is the most familiar to you. My real shape is something different, as you will find soon enough. In a few moments you will board this transport. A larger ship is waiting above the Earth's atmosphere. We will travel in it to Jacobni, the capital planet of our star system. The journey is a long one and, as you have probably realized, will take close to a month." He paused for a moment, looking around at all the people, human and alien alike, in front of him. "I assume you are all coming?"

"Yes," Max said, stepping forward. "That's not a problem, is it?" The man shook his head.

"Not at all," he replied. "I've just realized several of you are human, and I wasn't sure."

"The humans are coming too," Michael said defensively, wrapping an arm around Maria. "We were told this would be acceptable."

"It is," the man said. "And now for introductions. I am Orophan, from the planet Antar. I am a shape shifter, as I believe they are called down here, a member of the King's special service, the Gizmod. Two of our rank were sent with you when you first traveled here. We protect the King and his family from danger, hence my being on this journey. I need to make a list of all who will be traveling with me, both for your safety and for arrangements upon your arrival." Max stepped forward.

"I'm Max," he said, "or Zan as I was once called." Orophan looked up from the paper he was recording this on.

"My liege," he said, bowing. "We have long awaited your return. Except for a few heretics who serve Kivar, my order has been in exile under his rule. With news of your return he has been overthrown and your throne restored. The men of my order wait patiently to serve you once again." Max nodded and continued.

"This is my wife, Liz, and my daughter, Elena," he said, gesturing at the appropriate people. Orophan nodded. "Over there is my sister, Isabel, and her husband, Kyle. The boy is their son, Alex." Orophan looked at Isabel for a second.

"Vilandra," he said, with more than a hint of disdain in his voice. Isabel looked upset.

"No," Max said, a stern and kingly tone in his voice, "Isabel. Vilandra is dead, and Isabel is most certainly not her." Orophan bowed again.

"Your pardon, my liege," he said. Max nodded, as did Isabel.

"Over there is Ava and Sean," Max said. Orophan wrote this down. "He," Max continued, pointing at Michael, "is my friend Michael, or Rath as he was once called." Orophan bowed to Michael. "The woman is his wife, Maria, and over there is his son, Nathan." Orophan wrote this down and then surveyed the group, noting the two teenagers who had yet to be named.

"And those?" he asked, pointing.

"My son, Connor," Max answered proudly, "and Michael's daughter, Abigail. Apparently, they are the reason for this trip." At this, Orophan dropped the board he had been writing on and walked to Abby and Connor, kneeling before them.

"My King and Queen," he began. "It is my greatest honor to protect you on the journey to our home and to serve you afterwards." Connor nodded and Abby looked bewildered. Orophan stood. "I will go and prepare for take-off," he said, "and you will all follow." He walked inside the dark ship and everyone gathered their belongings, preparing to follow. As they walked forward, Abby realized something. She surveyed her surroundings and then looked at Connor.

"Oh my God," she whispered to him. "My dream, this is my dream." He took her hand, just as in the dream, and lead her to the ship, which suddenly came on and blanketed them in light. She looked into his eyes, as in her dream, and knew everything would be fine. They were going home.