How do you say Goodbye? Chapter 2: Aisha's Home, an outlaw star fanfic

Disclaimer: This story will make more sense than my last one, I promise... I hope. You know, I wish I even owned a copy of the First season of Outlaw Star. Eventually, I hope to get an opportunity to go over these again and edit out my own turns of phrase, but I don't have that much time on my hands currently. Since I don't have a copy of the first season, it follows logically that I do not own Outlaw Star.

All right, this chapter is a lot more sappy than the first, espicially since I am concentrating on three couples, Jim and Aisha of course, and two sets of original characters. Well, actually one set of ocs, and one set that is an oc and a crossover from the movie Treasure Planet. I don't own that movie either. Sorry everyone, it took me longer than I expected to get it in format.

Disclaimers and authors notes complete. Commencing story

How do you Say Goodbye?
Chapter 2; Aisha's Home

Aisha

All I have of him now are my memories. It had occurred to me as we lifted that I could have invited him to come with me, but as the thought occurred, I knew he would never be happy among my people.

And I, with nothing of him but my memories, stood and stared out of the window at the stars speeding past me.

How small I felt... I sighed and leaned my head against the window. They made me think that the problems of a C'tarl and a human don't amount to much when compared to the problems of a star. As last time, the stars allowed their calm to enter me...

But I still missed him.

My door buzzed. I sent out a searching thought and did not recognize the presence, though it felt somehow familiar.

Spending so much time among the humans, I think, somehow opened my mind in some way. I can recognize people without seeing them, and I can speak to some people without speaking, more like sending them my thoughts. Telepathy, humans call it.

I ignored it, but the presence wasn't leaving. The presence KNEW I was in here.

I only knew of one other C'tarl who could ever do such a thing. but she wouldn't be on a navy ship...

But when I opened the door, there she stood; Lanaya Cait-lyn. From a much younger family then mine, she had her skull cracked open when she was young, and so grew up with telepathy. We had gone to the academy together, but a week before we were to graduate, she quit. She never told me why.

"A conundrum by nature requires little to explain;
But maybe back together, we'll find why we're the same?"

I smiled at Lanaya, and hugged her. In school, we were like family... the only family the two of us had at the Academy.

"News must be exchanged, my friend;
So much has happened to us since then...
So will you invite me in?
Or shall we stand here and confess our sins?" I laughed at the dry humor in Lanaya's voice.

Once we were seated on my couch, I looked at her. She wore a Dancher's uniform with reluctant ease.

"I have to admit, I didn't expect you to go back to the academy." She smiled, ironically.

"Dancher Cait-lyn, the ever ready,
At your service planet-potentiary."

"Why are you Dancher? You always had better grades than I, and were FAR more even tempered." she snorted.

"Daughter of a general, Never was I,
But I need wings with which to fly.
My home is not where we are going, in it's place,
but somewhere out here, floating among space."

"You think my father had a hand on the placement board?"

She only raised her eyebrow, and, failing to find a word to rhyme with naïve, she settled for that pointed look and silence.

After a moment, her face softened. "What's happened to you Aisha? You think now. before you speak, and you listen... a million other subtle differences have occurred that I can't quite touch. What happened?" she asked, dropping her normal poetry and set her hand halfway between us in mid air.

She was asking me if she could scan my memories. I knew her well enough to know that. I also knew her well enough to know that if I let her scan me without some kind of warning, she'd be in shock for about a year (I SAW that once, wouldn't say a thing, had a funny dazed expression on her face, and still got good grades that year. I was very impressed.)

"The short version, my dearest friend, is that I fell in love."

"Yeah, sure, the warrior among brigands?" I said nothing, only reached out, and set my hand on her own. Within my mind, We replayed my memories of the last six years, beginning with my exile to blue heaven. I felt my friends astonishment at the dream I had before I broke Jim's monitor. Her astonishment deepened as my relationship with my youngest crew member began to grow.

A human... trust you to have exotic tastes... we sat in the cave Jim and I shared somewhere between Lanaya's mind and my own.

Not a human, Jim. Jim Hawking, the single person in the entire universe that somehow, without even trying, caught my heart with his own.

She smiled with a trace of bitterness, A human lover is exactly your taste...
I'm glad you, at least, have found your place.

I gave her a strange look, and then reversed the data stream, so that I read through HER last six years. A few flings with various personages, but no sight of a soulmate.

So why did your orders, you obey?
With no reason to come home... and every one to stay?

I wanted to see my family... My brother, Frizko.

And as special as, back home, your lover,
this family is as important? Your brother?

Again, I showed her my memories. There were arguments between us, and fights, but laced through everything we did there was love... swimming in the river, lazing about the backyard, even in our fights, we knew we wouldn't hold back, but neither would we hurt each other.

You lucky wench. I smiled at her because she didn't bother to rhyme it. How could you be so lucky Aisha?

When the buzzer on my door went off, we retreated to the real world, all of about two minutes of real time passed with two hour's worth of physical conversation.

On the other side of my door THIS time was my father.

Admiral Veruse Clan-clan... I thought, clenching my teeth, and in general, psyching myself up for a battle. Lanaya reached over and put her hand on my shoulder. All my rage seemed to drain out of me.

I finally nodded and stood up. I still hated the man, but I hid that as best I could.

"Door open." I did not invite him in.

At least he was smart enough to realize it.

"Planet-potentiary Clan-clan, I was wondering if you would care to join me for dinner?"

"Admiral Clan-clan, as tempting as your offer is, I must decline due to the fact that I already have a dining partner for this evening." he looked at the Dancher sitting next to me, and recognized her with a frown. She only smiled at him politely.

"Very well then, perhaps lunch tomorrow?"

He's not going to give up, besides, I'm on duty during lunch. I sent her a nod of agreement.

"As you would, Admiral Clan-clan." I said and saluted him.

He saluted me with as much dignity as he could muster, and left.

Well... That could have been better done,
Though there is little I would trade to have caught THAT one. she thought with a smile. I smiled sadly back.

"My father..." I said, and slugged the wall.

Well, Lunch the next day with my father was an ORDEAL... It was terrible! To start with, I didn't eat much, in my mind, I was still living with people who ate MUCH less then me, and he spoke of his career, himself, his wife, himself, Frizko, himself, and finally told me of how he managed that last promotion, by sending a ship to it's destruction.

Then he asked me about MY last six years.

I picked at my salad as I pondered several responses. I finally replied with the easiest and most complex.

"Hard... long... lonely. Why did it take the council five years to send for me?"

"I wouldn't dare to question the council, Aisha," he lied easily.

"I see." I cracked my neck loudly gulped the rest of my lunch, and then went on my way, taking myself on a tour of my father's ship; the Queens Knight.

I finally found the workout room, which is where Lanaya found me after her shift.

"He lied to me."

"This should not be a surprise to you,
who have known him to live one life and two."

"I know it shouldn't... but it-! still-! hurts-!" I said hitting a punching bag. I leaned up against it, and thought with furious despair, Jim! WHERE ARE YOU!? Why aren't you with me? Why did I ever leave you...?

Jim Hawking

It had distracted me, but then Suzuka's blade landed on my back... Hard.

"Are you all right Jim?"

"Yeah... fine," I grunted.

"You are not easily distracted, Jim, what is it?"

"I thought Aisha... asked me a question." Suzuka changed her hold on her blade to what I think of as her "ready" stance. Ready for anything from an attack to a proposal. She then narrowed her eyes.

"Were you Gene, I'd say you imagined it, but you are not..." she became lost in thought. when I shifted position, she started. "Shall we call it a day, or shall we continue?"

"Let's call it a day. I'm tired."

"At that distance I would be too." Suzuka said and then, for all intents and purposes, disappeared.

I set my bokuto in it's place and went to take a shower.

Why aren't you with me Aisha? Why are we not at least together?

Coming out of the shower, Mel found me. "Jim, did you forget about your appointment?"

I thought for a moment, then remembered. "Oh, the applicant... She's already here?" I considered what to do.

"If you'd like, Suzuka or I could go today?" I was tempted.

"No. I need to take the first round. It has to go as we planned." I sighed. "Give her my apologies, and ask her to wait for ten minutes while I get dressed... And if you could bring me up something to drink, I'd appreciate it."

"Are you all right Jim, after sparring with Suzuka?"

"She distracted me today, when I was in the middle of a block."

"That's dangerous..." I scoffed, and showed her the nice bruise on my shoulder. She winced in sympathy. "Are you sure you don't want someone else to go today?" I only looked at her, my eyebrow raised. she nodded. "All right. I'll bring you some Fire Tea once I've spoken to Laina."

Laina Jamin... 22 years, tests say she's a Knight Class warrior. I was a Fighter Class, Gene was Gunner Class, and Suzuka was a Ninja Class. I.Q. was 120, and excellent problem solving skills. Knowledge of martial arts was the highest of All the applicants so far, but fights more with swords and staves.

Once I finished my Tea, I went to greet her.

"Laina Jamin?"

"Mr. Hawking?" she said, after a ever so slight hesitation.

"First things first, my name is Jim. I'm not old enough to be considered a Mister to someone who is five years older than I. Second, There are no ranks in this company, only experience. We have done this kind of stuff for going on seven years by now. In Short, I severely hope it wasn't my age that gave you pause. Now, before we begin my first ... challenge, do you have any questions?"

"Could you explain the interview process?" I nodded and sat down. When she sat down across from me, I began;

"Because we are a Jack of All Trades Organization, our people have to be able to do a variety of things, and within that, they have to be able to do things in different ways.

"There are five people in this corporation, and each of us has different specialties, so each of us have to give you at least one test, though two of us have to give you two. In the end, it runs down like this;

"The first day, you and I fight. The second day, you work with Melfina, she drills you about computers, and cooking. The third day, you battle the boss, Gene Starwind, and that is the second fight. After that, the fourth day, We go to the ship, the Outlaw Star. Gilliam drills you on the operations of a ship, and I drill you on the engine of a car. The fifth and final day you face off against our best fighter, Suzuka Twilight.

"Now, bluntly, we don't expect you to be able to pass any of these tests, but they are more like... a pretest. all we want to do is find out how far you can go. All make sense?"

She nodded.

"Then are you ready?" Again, she nodded. "Excellent, follow me."

I led her out back to where there was still a dent in the wall from when I had punched my first instructor into it. I smiled when I saw that but kept walking to the circle I had drawn into the ground. Once we were both in, I took off my bracelet, and set it outside of the circle, then I completed the circle, which then began to glow.

"Wards. I took off the Bracelet, but I don't really need it any more. It opened my mind, so I'm still not quite sure what might happen if I lose my train of thought in a battle, so the wards are for everyone else's safety."

"What about Mine?" we said together. I shook my head.

"I'm taking it easy on you, so I shouldn't be able to hurt you. If, by some chance, you do see me readying an attack you think might actually injure you..." I set my hand on the ward, and symbols appeared every three feet on the wall, about waist high. "Touch any of those. it'll knock me out, the energy will disperse, and the fight will be over. Ready?"

She nodded, and got into her own ready position.

I powered up as I took a deep breath, and back down as I let the breath out. We started easy, blows and dodges, and an occasional block, then swiftly advanced as she proved herself... with every blow, kick, block, and dodge, her speed and power raised, to which I responded by raising my own.

Normally, I let this contest go after a half hour, but this time, I hadn't felt her reach her limit yet.

After an hour we were both breathing hard and sweating profusely. I almost smiled... I did smile. It had been a long time since I had been able to bring out my true potential...

"Few people make it this long in a fight... but you're not done yet... If I'm right..." I said slowly, "You've barely begun." I dropped my fighting stance, and stood straight. "Show me your power. Bring all of your energy into you." I said when she seemed confused.

"No," she said with a smile. "Not this close to a planet. I'll bring in about a quarter of my power for you to see."

With that, she closed her eyes, and lowered her head to her chest. In prayer she brought her innate power to the surface... or at least a quarter thereof. I wondered, as I felt one quarter of her power, what would happen if she brought all of her energy into one point.

Her power dropped as if she had dropped a hot pot without potholders.

"In short, I have destroyed planets doing that, and so, prefer not to go all the way."

"Thanks." I touched the ward, which dissolved, and turned to Laina. "Come on, it's a hot day, and after that workout, you could use a shower, a change of clothes, and a decent meal. Your interview may be changed, but you'll be informed of that tomorrow." She nodded, and as she took a shower, Mel laid out some clothes that might fit her while I made a pizza.

I wasn't up to the culinary masterpieces my breakfast's usually were, not yet.

She had gone home, and we were seated around the table, the four of us, discussing Laina.

"You," I said looking at Gene, "Won't beat her... at least I doubt. You," turning to Suzuka, "Might beat her. I don't know how she is with range weapons, but if I had been fighting her, instead of testing her, I would have found myself beaten down severely. We fought for an hour, and she still hadn't reached her top. A fourth of her power was another ten minutes away... She probably would have stopped the fight then."

"So what is your advice?" Gene asked.

"Let Mel, Gilliam and I have our turns, but don't you two bother fighting her... though you should probably find out how good she is with guns.

"I have to go to bed right now. Just this second." I said as I stood up. "Mel, let me know what you guys decide, All right?"

She nodded, "Good night, Jim. Sleep well."

I gave her a weak smile, and a humorless chuckle, "Thanks, Mel."

That was the first night we dreamed together.

How did you get here? I asked as She walked toward where I was sitting on the beach.

I could ask you the same thing, you know. she replied, sitting next to me.

We put our arms around each other and kissed.

How long has it been Aisha?

One week.

Why didn't you invite me with you, Aisha? she shrugged.

The Idea didn't occur to me until we were already past the heliopause.

Ah, I see. So how has your trip been so far? her fur began to stand on end, but she made a conscious effort, and relaxed.

Well, I haven't been able to shove my father out of an airlock yet... and he seems to want to spend some "quality time" with his daughter who has been among humans for so long. On the plus side, I found my best friend again... an image of Lanaya Cait-lyn appeared before us, who then settled down to her knees, and looked at us both.

You two do realize that you are going to wake up tomorrow fried beyond all possible belief? You two are communicating across LIGHT YEARS.

Lanaya, what are you doing in my dream?

I was worried about you. Tomorrow is not going to be an easy day, and you need your sleep. Aisha sighed, but nodded.

Lanaya, This is my boyfriend, Jim Hawking. Jim, my best friend from the Academy, Lanaya Cait-lyn, a Dancher in the C'tarl Navy.

Hello Jim. Now, please, help me out. She needs sleep, and don't you have something to do tomorrow? I sighed, and rubbed my shoulder where I had the bruise from Suzuka. Lanaya sighed in disgust, and turned me around, Let me see it. is all she said.

Aisha walked around to look at the bruise as well.

Jim, what happened?

We were sparring and Suzuka got a lucky strike.

When?

This morning sometime.

It was me, wasn't it. she said with no trace of a question as she laid her hand upon the bruise.

It was NOT your fault Aisha. I was about to continue when I saw Lanaya was still here. Could you please excuse us, Lanaya?

If I leave you're not going to bed for another hour... You don't get REST here, you're too far apart... The price of long distance is greater than what you get sleeping tonight... Just heal that, please, Aisha, and let's go? Aisha removed her hand from my shoulder, and then wrapped her arms around me.

Take a nap tomorrow afternoon, all right? she told me. I nodded, and we kissed again, and then we both fell away from the beach.

When my alarm went off, I forgot that I had replaced my bracelet, so instead of hitting the snooze telekinetically, I blew the alarm clock to small bits.

You know, I should be mad right now... but I just cannot be. I thought, and then drowned in darkness again.

Lanaya

How are they capable of such a long distance meeting? I've met people light years away that I try to contact telepathically, and the most I can get to them is "call me." And these two bring together a Dreamscape on which they both stand. I do Dreamscapes all the time, but a Dreamscape, in which two or more persons physically interact.... I've never heard such a thing being done at such a distance.

How to put in words mere thoughts/impressions that mean so much?
Yet the two lovers, reach across light years...! and more than touch!
How physical can this Dreamscape be?
I suppose it wouldn't matter, not to me.
I who dream of sailing the stars, and surfing the milky way...
Still stand in despair as I try to have my say.
To one single pair of lovers, my best friend and her mate.
It is so easy to love someone, and the same person to hate.
But I do not hate Aisha, my friend,
I will stand by their side, until my heart will mend...
thoughts must be considered on their psychic abilities,
but enough about them for the night!
This ship must be piloted to the best of my skills
At least until my planet of origin is in sight.

Melfina

I heard him destroy another alarm clock, and put that on my list of things to get next time I went to the store. He went through those far too often in a month. I'll have to ask him how he forgot to take off the bracelet later.

Maybe I should have him take it off for a while, to see if it would have an adverse affect on his abilities? I was still considering that thought when Laina arrived.

"Hello Melfina." Her brown hair shook in her braids as she gave a short nod.

"Come in Laina." I told her and led her to the kitchen. "We have much to take care of, but first; your interview.

"Obviously you did better than expected against Jim, considering he did not bother to call it off. He usually ends the battle after a half hour... how long were you two fighting?"

She shrugged, "An hour maybe? Not sure."

"Hmmm..." I thought about that for a moment, and finally shook it off. "Anyway, We all agreed that your interview needed changed. Tomorrow you will meet with Gene as planned, but his test will be sharp shooting. Today I will quiz you in my scheduled tasks, and then, if we have enough time, either Jim or Gilliam will give you their tests. Will three tests be too much for one day?"

She shook her head.

"All right then, did you have any questions?"

We were well into the second exam when Jim finally stumbled out of his room to the kitchen, and rested his head on the kitchen table. I went and got him some milk, and then moved back to Laina.

She was a fair cook, but relied to much on the directions, and as per the computer end, she was almost as good as Jim... Almost.

"All right then, take a rest. You're good for a human." I then went back over to Jim, and sat across from him.

"Are you all right?" He raised his eyes up and fuzzily glared at me through squinted eyes, as though confused.

"Oh... Mel..." he said as he scrubbed his face and yawned.

"I'll have Gilliam give his test today, all right?"

His mind obviously not in residence, he replied; "Yeah, that's fine."

"Go back to bed Jim... you need it very badly." he nodded, and put his head back down on his arms. I smiled sadly; "Dream well Jim." Then escorted Laina to the ship out the side door.

"Why is Jim so fried?"

"First he was sparring with Suzuka yesterday, second he fought with you, but that shouldn't have brought him down that much... aside from those, I don't know. I do know he blew his alarm clock up again. Third one this month too..."

"Third alarm clock?" she asked.

"Yes," I said with a nod.

"What do you mean he blew it up?"

"I'll let him explain that. It's... an involved story. I will say it began with the bracelet."

Aisha

Various people tried to wake me up, but Lanaya made them all go away, for which I was grateful. I woke for an hour at the start of the evening shift, in which Lanaya gave me some food, and said I told you so just as I was falling back to sleep.

I woke again the next afternoon, and curled up on my couch, watching the stars fly past me until Lanaya got off about three hours later. She brought dinner enough for three people. I ate two and a half, and she ate the rest of the third.

"So does twenty eight hours of sleep, out of 32 hours, tell you exactly how much energy you expended in that short conversation with him?"

I nodded, my eyes closed, but still staring out at the stars.

"All things considered, I suppose that's a good thing..." she said mysteriously.

"What?" I wondered aloud.

"The calm of the stars quietly affects you
As your mind takes on their serenity.
Meditation is a good thing to practice
for... one such as yourself, physically active."

I scoffed.

And what do you think we were doing yesterday?
reading a part or staging a play?
"You and Jim stretched across thirty light years, and not only spoke, but touched.
Had I tried the same, I would have paid back much more... very Much."

"What do you mean touched?" I asked as I sat up and looked at her.

"It's like this... if you called Jim right now and told him to look at his shoulder, it would be healed. There would not be a bruise, the muscle would not be stiff, but odds are he would be as tired as you. When we were in your cave the other day, we forged a link between our minds, and then set up that Dreamscape. You and Jim did something similar from a greater distance than the three feet apart that we were.

"You each reached across fifteen light years... and Touched. I had jumped on your bridge, that's why I wasn't wasted... sorry about that."

"It's all right." I said, and stared out at the stars, considering.

"Meditate, sleep, don't try to contact Jim, we are just under forty light years apart now. Good night."

She left me with much more than an empty cabin. I was just thankful she didn't try to RHYME all that.

Jim

The second morning after, I woke refreshed, feeling better than I had yesterday. So Gene, Laina and I went to the shooting range, then I took her out on a job and let her take a look at it. The request had come in while she had been shooting

"So why were you so fried yesterday?" she asked as she looked at the undercarriage of a late model hover car.

"I'm not entirely sure." I said with no hesitation.

"But you know." I looked down at her, around the engine, a curious expression on my face.

"What makes you so sure? Are you a telepath?"

"Not exactly. It's more empathy, but I... Well, let's just say I sense things." She must have picked up on my skepticism, because she continued. "It's like this; I can SEE you standing there," she began as she pulled out from under the vehicle, and continued as she began to check things on the top of the engine, "And while I SENSE that you are here, I don't sense that you are ALL there. Not to imply that you are insane, just to say that a part of you is somewhere else.

"There we are... good baby." I stepped back to watch her as I contemplated her thoughts.

She was very knowing about the engine of this vehicle, she just needed more experience working with cars. I let her stumble a while. every so often she glanced at me, but I was sitting on my computer looking at some things. It took her forty-five minutes to give up, so I went over, and reached under the hood to show her.

She smacked herself on the forehead for such a stupid mistake, and then turned the engine over. Purred like a kitten.

Laina

He took me to a cafe for dinner to apologize for making me stumble around , despite the fact he was testing me.

"The reason we need to hire a new person," he said after the waiter took our orders, "Is because a member of our crew just left us. Her name was Aisha... We are in love. Just as it happened, she was ordered back to her home world. Right now, she is about forty-three light years from here.

"Two nights ago, she was 30 light years from here, we reached out to each other... and, some how... I don't know how to explain it, it's like we weren't light years apart... we were together."

"A Dream Stage." I supplied. "A place between two minds created of imagination where time goes faster. Good place to hold a conversation. But across 30 light years? No wonder you were so fried yesterday. I'm surprised you can move today."

"Well, any way, that's where the rest of me is. Forty-three light years away." I looked At him wondering about the bond he was beginning to describe.

"Lovers?" I asked. He nodded. For a moment I thought about that. They love each other, they have consummated their relationship... Hmm... "Have you heard from her at all beside that Dream Stage?" I wondered aloud.

"Before I met you, Suzuka and I were sparring. I thought I heard her say something, but you don't want to brake concentration when you fight Suzuka, She almost cracked my collarbone." he said with a grimace for the memory.

"Did she say something?"

"Yes... but I didn't hear it."

"Mm-hmm. How is your shoulder?" Our meals came, and he stared at his plate for a while before looking at me. "She healed it in the Dream Stage," I said, guessing the meaning behind is responses.

"You're good." he said, surprised.

Wow. Up until now, it's only been theories and conjectures, mere Ideas...

"Tell me about your bracelet."

Again he paused, this time collecting his thoughts, as he began to speak, I could almost see him rehearsing the story before he spoke it aloud.

"Someone said he found it in the dragon ruins, none of his crew could do with it what he could, and he had used it long enough that he didn't need it anymore, so he gave it to me, because I could use it like he could."

He paused for a moment, reflecting on himself, wondering just what had changed within him since he began to wear the Bracelet.

"It opened... not only my mind, but my skull, so I can leave my body, and find things outside of it..." I nodded, assuring him he was making sense. "It also gave me so much power."

He quit talking and applied himself to his meal. So I took his cue, and ate my meal. This will definitely be interesting.

Jim Hawkins

My solar surfer was working as perfect as normal, and I was winging across the chasm when the orders came through.

Centroid of the Mechanism- I thought to myself with resignation. I finally shook my head, and turned my board back toward the Benbow Inn.

I ran inside and hollered, "B.E.N.!"

"How's it going Jimmy?" he asked loudly as he walked into the room, brass finish shining.

"We've got to get to the ship, Ben, orders just came through." he leaped and landed on his gears and headed towards the door, so we took off, Ben keeping up very well after all our races.

The RLS Legacy II waited at the dock for us. I stowed my board in my cabin and just got on deck when Amelia and Delbert boarded.

I looked at the compliment and wondered where Calistis was. I looked at my watch, a frown creasing my face. I watched my watch as Amelia took her place just behind the helm.

"Admiral On Deck!" I yelled out, continuing to look at my watch

"[Captain Hawkins!]" Was yelled just as Amelia began to address me. I frowned further as the hail was repeated.

[Per... Permission to come aboard Captain Hawkins, sir!]

I frowned at Calistis, and folded my arms to let her understand precisely how disappointed I was.

Calistis was interesting, she was a Gaoul (Gah-ool), big wings, small hands, and one of the best rescue people I have ever had the privilege to know. She worked in the crows nest as my lookout.

On the minus side, she had no sense of time, no sense of humor, and no sense of... I don't know, maybe Depth, or perspective.

"Report to your post Calistis, I will talk to you an hour after supper, understood?"

[Yes Captain.] she said with a nod.

I was then able to turn to Amelia and report, "All crew accounted for captain, how long until lift off?"

"As soon as you can get the Legacy in the air Jim, we'll be on our way." Delbert told me.

"Bringing solar fusion drives online as we speak captain," B.E.N. told me.

"Then take her out Ben."

As he turned back to his station, he queried; "Are you sure you have everything captain? Your mother worries about you, you know." he informed me as he typed commands into his console.

"Yes Ben, I know." I turned to look at Delbert and Amelia, "My mom's watching the Kids?" They both nodded. "Good. Morph will be with her then.

"All right Crew, look sharp!"

I looked over the nine men, women, and Robot that complimented the Legacy II with me as their captain. Introductions will have to wait though, now is the time to surf the STARS.

Laina

So they did hire me, after an intense debate among the crew, they decided that I was good enough that they did not want to risk me working AGAINST them. Which I took because I needed a job. Jim and Mel even helped me move in. All of Aisha's stuff was put in storage, and I was given her old room. I watched Jim remember something bittersweet from his past that must have took place in this room.

On days we had no missions, I would spar with either Suzuka or Jim, because something almost ALWAYS came up on Missions.

Time passed swiftly since it was about a week after their first Dreamscape that they shared their second, the day before Aisha would land on her home world. If he would have warned me he was going to do so, I would have allowed him my power to reach across the distance, but he slept for 72 hours, and was STILL fried when he woke.

Two days before he woke, I received an e-mail from the C'tarl military;

Lanaya's First Email

To: Laina Jamin, Starwind and Hawking Inc.

From: Dancher Lanaya Cait-lyn, C'tarl-C'tarl Navy

I send apologies to one I do not know,
for e-mailing you, and being so bold.

Hello Laina, and forgive me for e-mailing you with out your permission, but they cannot meet like this so often. Aisha is still asleep. While she is asleep, I can sense her memories, and Jim told her about you last night, so I figured I may have found a contemporary.

My name is Lanaya Cait-lyn, a Dancher in my peoples Navy, I drive people crazy by Rhyming every word I speak. Aisha is my best friend, and I would love nothing more than for her to be happy, but Jim and Aisha do not get sleep on their Dream Stage. You know what a Dream Stage is, right? A stage between two peoples minds?

I wanted to talk to you about them. They have only slept together once; Her father showing up pushed their hand on that, but that couldn't be helped. I have suspicions on them and their relationship, and would like to hear of your opinions. Do you know what soulmates are?

Anyway, if you can keep him from trying that again, I'd appreciate it. Aisha needs to get back there as soon as possible, but their Dreamscapes, as comforting as they are to the two of them, are in fact the worst thing they can do for each other. I've been trying to explain that to Aisha, but have had little luck. The problem is that they are too far apart to get any rest. If they were on the same planet, this wouldn't be a problem.

Maybe we can work on a way to boost their power so it doesn't drain them as much? I'd appreciate your getting back to me.

Lanaya

Laina

Interesting... I went and checked on Jim, and sure enough, he was asleep. I pondered what this meant for Jim and Aisha, and for Lanaya.

I went into the kitchen with a hard copy of Lanaya's e-mail, and considered it over a mug of Raspberry tea.

"Hey Laina, do you know where Jim is?" Gene asked as he came in to the room. I gestured to Jim's room but added;

"But he's asleep. He won't be up for another couple days I think."

"Why is That?" Gene asked with a scowl. I handed him Lanaya's letter "Huh, isn't that interesting."

"Yeah it is. Is there anything that I can help you with Gene?"

"Sure, we got a job downtown. I'll explain on the way."

Laina's First email

Dear Lanaya; I appreciate the definition of a Dreamscape, Gene found it helpful, I'm sure. I suppose I ought to be impressed that a C'tarl knows of a Dreamscape. But all this is beside the point. I think that they may be soulmates. There are no easy answers, only more questions. Has Aisha told you about Jim's Bracelet? I think it may be magic... but what kind is a bit beyond me. Thus a second reason that he is not as fried as she normally is. How long did she sleep the first time? He only slept most of the day, woke in the afternoon, stumbled to the kitchen, and rested at the kitchen table, but he wasn't awake, I doubt. Within ten minutes, he stumbled back to his room. Had I known he was going to do that last night, I would have allowed him to use my energy. but then it would be Jim/Laina, not Jim. I'll work on that.

Laina

Lanaya

When she woke, she found herself in the infirmary on the naval base, me nearby. Despite her being asleep, the transfer went smoothly from pilot of the QueensKnight to her personal Aide. QueensKnight already shipped out under the auspices of her father.

Which, all things considered, was probably the best thing that could happen; Veruse took the entire family out for dinner, or would have, and you'll have to imagine what would have happened if Aisha had been there, but I would put my money on a dead body before the night was through.

Where am I? she said, pretending to sleep.

Well, you're here. The council wants you debriefed, otherwise you'd be there. Personally, I'd like to kill you for what you did three days ago... I sighed But I won't. Instead, I became your Aide.

I need an Aide?

Apparently the council thinks so. Shall we find out why?

She then woke up.

"Aisha Clan-clan, Planet-potentiary of the C'tarl-C'tarl navy, Your orders are as follows;

"You and your aide have the next week off, after your vacation, you must report with your aide to the ship yard to claim a ship for your next mission. Orders have already been cut, but you will not receive them until you get your ship. Do you have any questions?"

"How will I choose a ship if I do not know what my mission?"

"The Ship yard will give you the choice of crafts, any of them will do for your mission. Is there anything else?"

Don't do it Aisha... Don't ask them.

She stood there for all of thirty seconds, and finally shook her head.

"Very well then, adjourned." The Seven men and women of the Naval Council stood and filed out of the room. She then turned and glared at me.

"Yep, I'm the bad guy." I said with a nod.

"Why."

"Because... As much as you'd like to rip their throats out, you can't blame them. For all you know it may have been your father who noticed you were missing. besides, questioning their orders you might get lucky and be killed instantly. Worse fate is dishonorable discharge."

"No... The worst fate is never seeing Jim again."

She turned and walked away. She was much calmer now than she had been, so I decided to leave her at that, and we headed for her place.

Frizko

"Hello?!" Was called out from the foyer. I saved my report, and walked out into the main hall since I was alone in the house right now.

I stopped short when I saw the two Naval uniforms in the hall. Both were familiar, but it took me a second to recognize them.

"Aisha?" I asked. The two women looked at me, and then the higher ranking of the two ran at me. I met her half way, and gave my sister a bear hug no weaker than hers.

"And Lanaya Cait-lyn, you went back to the Academy?" I asked my sister's best friend. "Aisha had told me you bailed on the Navy."

"I suppose impatient I have grown,
In leaving the planet that was once my home."

"Can't you be Normal?" I had forgotten that aspect of my sister's best friend.

"A Feat ordered by all but my officer who commands,
and attained by none other than."

"And who's your C.O.?"

"Um... That would be me. Wow, You've grown!"

"Well, that tends to happen." I said, without thinking.

I regretted my words when my sister's eyes began to tear. "I'm so sorry Frizko!"

"No, It's all right," I said hugging her again, only loving her, no blame assigned to her. I happened to glance at Lanaya, who looked shocked. Her face flipped back to neutral when she saw I noticed her.

"C'mon Sis, I think we could all use a swim, how about it?"

Lanaya

After Supper that night, Frizko pulled me off to the side.

"Is my sister really in the state I think she is?" he asked me.

"Well, I'd say it was a good possibility,
but she doesn't know herself now, does she?

"That's what I thought." he said and turned away.

"You aren't going...?" I asked shocked.

"No. She would skin me alive. and then weep because she overreacted. Skinning me, would be normal, but to see MY sister weep is more than I would want to bear." he said and turned away.

So they spoke together. I helped them set up a Dreamscape between them, and they spoke for hours... physical hours. probably fought it out a time or two, as well.

I went to my room early, and sat down to write a letter to Laina

Lanaya's second email

Laina;

An interesting turn of events has appeared, but since it isn't official yet, I'd rather not tell you... there is always that one in a hundred million chance that I'm wrong. Jim probably won't be affected by this as far apart as they are, but be warned. I know a vague warning is useless, just keep a close eye on injuries he might feel from her.

Dang they are going to be close when they get back together.

Lanaya.

Laina

I laughed at Lanaya's closing statement, but agreed with it completely.

Huh. A One and a hundred million chance that she is wrong... Jim might not be affected, but personally, I wouldn't hold my breath on it.

None the less, I started looking up the biological data on the C'tarl.

Frizko

Aisha did not get any worse in the week we rested at home. When I got my new orders, there was a cause for celebration; I was assigned to my sister as her second aide.

"But why would I need one Aide, let alone two?" Aisha asked as she studied my orders.

"I suspect... that we will find out tomorrow...
And odds are this will be to our sorrow."

I scowled at her, and she smiled back.

"Quit being a fatalist." She bowed, and went to find her swimsuit.

So the night came, and then the dawn, and once the three of us were up, we were off to the ship yard.

They offered us ships that were staffed by two to six people, thus the reason my sister needed two aides.

Our orders were to be a Diplomatic courier.

"I'M A BLASTED TAXI-CAB!" I don't think my sister liked her new assignment.

Five ships were offered us, and we took a tour of three of them before we got to the newly commissioned, nameless craft. From the second we saw the craft, we knew this wasn't C'tarl in design, "Built, probably, but not designed..." Lanaya said softly as we boarded that ship.

She was a small ship, though bigger than Aisha's old ship, and painted Gold and blue. The aero dynamic head created a slipstream for the rest of the body, which was only just less, the four newton reactors, and ether drive.

And four Grappler arms.

We wandered the ship in silence, and finally, she nodded, then looked at us. We nodded back.

"All right then people, to your posts." Aisha said.

"So what are you going to name her?" I asked.

Aisha

"To name a ship is to decide it's very nature... She shall be the Deraloven."

"Translated loosely, called the Light of Hope," Lanaya said, and then looked at me;
"And they call me romantic? What a dope!"

I smiled at her and took my place in the central seat, and accessed my new orders, filled out the information on my ship, and was told to head for Gemini two where I would meet the delegation from Vega...

I only clenched my teeth.

Laina

And so time passed both on Sentinel, and in Hyperspace. Three months passed before anything interesting happened. They shared a Dream Stage once every month if they were close enough to sleep for no more than four days. Word of Starwind and Hawking Inc.'s work spread, so we were kept skipping, all of us, and I knew everything was dragging at Jim despite the bracelet.

But then it was confirmed.

Aisha

I pushed my plate away as I felt queasy once more.

"I don't know what is wrong with me..."

"You're right about that. You've been so self absorbed since you left him you probably haven't noticed."

"Noticed what?" I asked Lanaya bored.

"Personally, I'd rather you figured it out yourself."

"Lanaya. tell me," I said, annoyed.

"Remind me Aisha; how often do C'tarl women get their period?"

"Once every three to four standard months. Halfway between Bloods, we are in the most fertile of our cycle."

"Right. Now, when was your last Blood cycle?"

I blinked. I hadn't bled at all since...

WHAT?!

I took a deep breath, and stood up, and exited the lounge towards the sick bay of the Deraloven.

After some time, I sat in front of the computer, and accessed the results. I sat there looking at the screen for a long time trying to comprehend the words it displayed.

"I didn't know humans and C'tarl..."

"To be honest, I don't think any one did," Lanaya said as she walked into the room. "I sent an E-mail to Laina, asking her to have Jim expect you tonight. I figured you would want to tell him as soon as possible."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Don't worry about the Ship, I have that under control."

"Thank you Lanaya."

"Telepathy I need not,
To see you worried about Jim's response." she shook her head.
"Jim, I admit, I know not well,
but you love each other... just wait and see who fell." She said, and then left the room.

Lanaya

"It's confirmed." I said as I walked onto the bridge.

"Confirmed?" he looked at me.

"Aisha."

His eyebrows arced high onto his forehead, "Really?" I only nodded. "I wonder if that'll make it better or worse..."

Jim

From the moment we appeared together, I could tell something was up... and she was depressed, but I couldn't understand why.

So Instead of sitting next to her, I sat in front of her.

What's wrong Aisha? she looked off to the side, and gestured.

My best friend tells me I've been a bit more volatile lately... she finally got tired of it today. she said as a Computer screen appeared to our side.

On the screen were Aisha's stats, I looked them over, but didn't see anything to surprise me until I got to the last line that she remembered.

Aisha?

We have been apart for three months, and it's been five since my last period.

Your pregnant? With my...?

She nodded, tears threatening to spill forth.

Then why in hyperspace are you so sad? I asked reaching out to her. Nothing could ever make me happier than to have a family with you Aisha... I love you.

Really? I only nodded, and she threw her arms around me, and hugged me near to choking. When she noticed, she let me breath, but still managed to hold me.

Thank you Jim... I love you.

I love you too, Aisha. I said, and then kissed her. I have some research to do when I wake up, and I have to go shopping.

For what? I shrugged.

Something like this, I think. I said, and then generated an image of a diamond ring in my hand.

You don't have to do that, you know.

Yes I do, I said and kissed her again, Because I want to.

I think we both have some studying to do before we go into anything as specific as that Jim, OK? Besides, if you can wait long enough for me to get back there, you can take Lanaya with you, and she can show you what I like.

What, you think I wouldn't do a good job picking out a ring on my own?

I know you would find the perfect ring for me, Jim, but trust me on this. Wait for a bit and do some research. I will be too, I promise.

Lanaya

"All right, she is back aboard, and should be asleep for... three days. not bad all things considered."

"Indeed." Frizko still didn't understand a lot, but he was learning steadily. I wondered what he would do when we got to Sentinel III, but alarms went off just then.

"Proximity alert, Pirates, most likely." Frizko stated as I made my way to my station.

"We don't attack first,
but if they start a fight, we WILL show them our blood thirst." I informed him as I put on my Grappler Visor.

Their first hit smacked the left side of the bridge. I ejected the first pair of Grappler Arms and Got ready for grappler combat as I fired three missiles.

Jim Hawkins

"Pirate Attack off the Port Bow, Captain!" Calistis yelled

I pulled out my spyglass and turned my attention to where there were two ships in close quarters combat, Grappler combat.

"The One Vessel is confirmed as C'tarl registration, Captain Jimmy."

"And the other? READY THE CANNONS!" I called out.

"Pirates to the Bone," Ben Drawled.

"Open a Channel to the C'tarl vessel."

"Channel open Captain." Said my communication officer, a cyborg by the name of Kobal.

"C'tarl Vessel, this is the Legacy, inquiring if you might be in need of assistance."

I waited a moment for a reply.

"Legacy, This is the Deraloven, my home for now,
And be advised, help would be appreciated, and how."

"Very well then Deraloven, stand by."

"Captain, are you sure you know what you are doing?" Delbert asked.

"When do I not?"

Lanaya

Help? Sure, I could use some.

Then a sail boat came up along side us and started blasting away with it's cannons.

"Whoa."

After the Pirate had been destroyed, two ships left the Legacy, one went to the ruins of the Pirate ship, and the other came to my ship.

"Golem, run a diagnostic on the ship, and get back to me," I ordered the AI as I picked up Frizko and put him on his bed. I then checked on Aisha, just as a knock sounded on the hull.

Permission to come aboard? I thought.

Being the ranking officer on this ship, It was up to me to greet them.

The Airlock read an atmosphere, so I opened it, and there stood a man, a bat, and a robot. The bat was a little shorter than the man, and the robot was a lot shorter.

"Nice place you got here, Deraloven." The robot said as he came in first. "The Name's B.E.N.; Bio-Electronic Navigator."

"Ben is my second in command," The man said as he came in, "And this is Calistis, one of my look outs."

We exchange greetings.

Then I looked at him for the first time.

"I am Captain Jim Hawkins." He had a bowl cut, but had a Horse tail in the back where the hair had grown. He stood Taller than me, but not by much. His name was Hawkins...? I wonder if he could be in some way related to Jim Hawking.

I just stood there staring at him for a minute or two before I realized I was staring. I probably blushed...

"I am Dancher Cait-lyn, Lanaya by name,
I am Crew, but not the Captain.
She is sleeping off a fright,
and my crew-mate got knocked out in the fight," I said as I lead them to the galley.

"Would you like some Tea?"

"Please." Jim said with an ingratiating smile.

"Some medium weight motor oil would be appreciated." Ben said.

[I'll pass, thank you.] Calistis replied.

"You said your captain was asleep?"

I got the tea and went back to the Table. "Sorry, but I don't have any motor oil in the galley."

"That's all right, I'm good. Thank you, though, for offering." I nodded, and then sat down. I tired to put into words what had happened in the past three months, though I failed miserably.

"Captain Hawkins, may I please speak to you inside your mind?"

"All right."

Jim Hawkins

I knew it was a risk, but she seemed so out of sorts, I wondered if she'd be normal in her court. So we set up a Dream Stage where I learned of Aisha, Jim, the shadowy (as in no images of) crew of the Outlaw Star, the ominous shadows of the Naval Council, and her mission for the past three months.

So she'll be asleep for the better part of the next two days after this one.

How far apart did you say Aisha was from her boyfriend? She brought up some star charts, and moved away from me.

For every foot separating us should be about one light year, she said as she was looking around her trying to pin point her position. About here. she said and looked back at me.

She was about forty five feet away.

Light years? She nodded. No wonder she's tired. She nodded again.

Last night's Dream Stage is easily excusable though. She just found out that she's pregnant, and wanted to tell the father as soon as possible.

A human-C'tarl hybrid? Lanaya nodded.

Really, it'll be interesting to see.

I'm sure. So where are you going right now?

Right now, and for maybe a little while, I have to Fix the Deraloven. Once she is, We have to keep heading that way.

I nodded as I exited the Dream Stage.

She took a look at the damage report the AI had gathered for her, and all things considered, they were in pretty good shape. None the less, I asked Ben to remain with her and help with the repairs, and I dispatched Calistis to take a look at Frizko, then I took the boat back to my ship, and reported to the Admiral in my cabin.

"Captain." she said with a nod.

"Admiral." I said saluting.

"And what did you find?"

"A State of the Art, non-C'tarl designed, C'tarl vessel, one Telepathic C'tarl, one C'tarl who is spread across about 45 light years, one normal C'tarl with a concussion, and one... possibility."

"A Possibility?"

"The Captain is pregnant, and the father is not C'tarl." Amelia crossed her hands and sat back in her chair, and finally let out a sigh.

"Don't make me drag it out of you Jim."

"He is human... and his name... is Jim Hawking."

"Well... My. This is an interesting turn of events. What do you intend to do, Captain?"

"How am I to understand my orders without consulting my elders... Admiral?" I asked stonily.

"All things aside Jim, I have known you for almost Ten years. What do you want to do?"

"I want to help her."

"The Captain?"

"No, a member of her crew."

"Will you tell me?"

"...No."

"All right then. Do you think helping this crew, this ship, will fulfill the prophecy?"

"Yes."

"So we help them?"

"Yes... Amelia... We help them."

Lanaya's Third Email

Laina;

So much has happened... but where to start?

It's been confirmed, Aisha IS pregnant, and the Baby could only be Jim's'. Then we were attacked by Pirates, and I had been fighting them with Frizko, but then he got knocked out, and within moments, I was contacted by a GALLEON!!! It was... a boat that sailed the stars. The pirate was blown to bits by it's solar cannons.

The Captain, who's name is Jim Hawkins (???) has decided to help us. Which is good because I don't want to have to wait two more days before I can leave these coordinates. We'll be headed for home next, back to the C'tarl home world.

She's at least three months along... while a normal C'tarl term is actually eight months, I think this might take longer. We need to get her back to him before the last trimester. Which means we have three more months...

So which is better, get her home early, or right in time. I don't foresee any problems reintegrating into the crew, even with you there... but there is a chance I won't be there to see it.

Talk to you later.

Lanaya.

Frizko

Aisha's mood swings had gotten both better and worse. She spent more time in a better mood, but was much more deadly when she was angered. The only one she was never able to faze, however, and the one she was most desperately trying to get a rise out of, was Lanaya. Why? Anyone's guess.

I knew Aisha held a deep resentment for our father, and to be honest, I couldn't blame her, but I forgive him on a daily basis for his sins. From the moment we landed, however, I felt something was wrong.

Our next mission was in two weeks, so, strangely, the Navy gave us the time off.

Then we realized it wasn't so strange when our father welcomed us home.

Whenever she was in a room and our father entered, the physical temperature decreased at least five degrees, noticeable to anyone, and then she stood and left, without sparing a glance at him. Lanaya and I stopped him from following her three times.

We relaxed for the first week, for the most part. The first day, Captain Hawkins appeared on our doorstep, and offered us a tour of the Legacy. The four of us spent time together that first week going from place to place, or playing games (They tended to pit me and my sister against Jim and Lanaya... did she do that on purpose?). In the second week, we went to some museums. It was near the end of the second week when she ran into someone very interesting. Lanaya was off doing who knows what with the captain of the Legacy, and I was on my way back to Aisha when I recognized who was next to her.

He noticed her first.

"Planet-potentiary Clan-clan, I believe?"

"Councilor Nebol, what are you doing here?"

"Well Aisha, to be honest, and we should always strive to be honest, I came to talk to you."

"Me, Councilor?"

"Nebol, please, I'm not here in any official capacity. Quite the opposite, actually. May we walk?"

"Actually, I'd rather sit... I've been walking for a while." I could tell she was feeling queasy from it too.

So they took a seat on a nearby bench, and then Nebol asked Aisha; "Have you had the opportunity, these past three months, to wonder why it took so long for the council to send for you?"

"I've tried to hard not to. I'm afraid of the answer."

"Why?"

"Because the only one I could think of meant I was abandoned by the empire until my father realized his baby girl was gone."

"So you think you're father told us to go get you?"

"It's the only thing I've been able to think of that made sense."

"Would the opposite make any sense?"

"That My father made you leave me there for five years?" he nodded. "I suppose that's possible, but not likely... I hope..."

"What about one of the council? Might we all have forgotten you until one day one of my contemporaries realized; 'Gee, now where did we leave Aisha, she would be perfect for this mission?'"

"I admit that is a possibility." She leaned back, and tried to stretch, but then changed her mind. She was wearing loose fitting clothes she would have worn on Sentinel, but she didn't want the council to know of her state. "So which is it Nebol? My father or the council, I'm asking you point blank, and you do always strive to be honest."

He stood up, and replied to her; "I would tell you Aisha, but you already know. You know which of those three scenarios it was... You've known the truth all along. You need to admit that you know it." He handed her a sheaf of papers. "The Deraloven is an apology for the five years we left you away from your people, Aisha. This is my gift to you."

He then walked away.

Lanaya

Aisha had erected a barrier in her mind that I bet only Jim could have gotten around, if him. she maintained a state of abstract though and heavy concentration after Hawkins, Frizko and I found her sitting on the bench. I looked at Frizko, and he gave me the story.

We dragged Aisha to the car where she could be comfortable while she thought, and the rest of us did some stuff downtown. I took Jim to an Antique shop.

"What could you possibly hope to find in here?" I was looking at the display cases behind the counter.

"That." I said pointing at the Caster Blaster. a hundred and fifty thousand Wong. "I want that, and how many shells do you have?"

"Shells sell for five hundred each." the clerk said as the Ammo was brought up. I handed him my military ID, which worked for my debit card, and he rang up the Blaster, 20 shells and a belt to hold them.

"A hundred and sixty thousand Wong? I wouldn't have paid that much for a car, let alone a gun and some shells."

"Wait until you see it in action before you judge it." I said as I loaded the shells into the belt. "I'm worried about Aisha," I said as I holstered the Blaster.

"I wonder who that was walking away from her?"

"One of the Naval Council. He gave her a great deal to think about... and when she admits that Nebol was right... There is going to be trouble."

"Why?"

"Because when she understands the truth, someone, or maybe more than someone, will die." Just then Frizko whistled. When we looked at him he pointed to his wrist, then shrugged apologetically. "I gotta go. Veruse has a dinner planned, and if I am not there... Well... I'll call you tomorrow, all right?"

"When are the three of you planning on leaving again?"

"Our mission begins in two days... but I don't think it will be that long. We may be in a hurry when we leave."

Frizko

Naturally, Aisha, being who she is, the sum of every choice she has made in her life, could not sit still on the questions Nebol had asked of her. The council, or her father.

I had no trouble seeing what was coming, so I plunked myself between my sister and our father. Lanaya wished she could have done it, but she knew I was better off there.

I am honestly impressed with the control my sister has developed in the last five years... had she been given this information before the Galactic Leyline, she would have simply ripped his head off. Today she held her peace through our father's attempts to converse with her and throughout dinner.

Good things never last... do they?

"For Five years," Aisha began, staring at the center of the table, "I have lived on Sentinel III. You have known this as well as the Council has known this, and while officially, my mission was to be looking for data on the Galactic Leyline, the C'tarl ship that entered before us should have been able to relay to you that it moved and left no forwarding address, not to mention my report on the mission, so, unofficially, I was an exile.

"Which was all right. Because I had decided to crew a small ship by the name of Outlaw Star. I was one of five crew members, which included a Bio-android, two human males, and one gold-class assassin. Gene Starwind, the Captain, his now Wife, Melfina, the astrogator, Jim Hawking, our tactician, and Suzuka Twylight and myself... Something like security officers.

"In all these five years, I waited, sometimes patiently, sometimes impatiently, for the single sheet of paper that said I was going home... here, ironically enough.

"And now I am here." she said as she began to look around the room. I spared a glance at my father. he seemed confused.

He's not going to survive this, will he? I shot a glance at Lanaya.

Just wait... we may get lucky.

What can save his skin? Which she had no reply to.

"And why, for five YEARS have I been left to crew The Outlaw Star? Let me ask you something Admiral... How many people owe you favors?" she said as she swung an almost feral glare at him.

"More than I can conveniently count, why?"

"Because you wasted five of them to keep me away from home, and I want to know..." She stood from her chair, and walked around me, to glare down at our father from her natural height of six foot flat, "Why you did it."

"And what makes you think I used any of my influence-" She moved so fast I couldn't have stopped her if I had wanted to, a solid right hook, well delivered.

"Wrong answer, father."

"Aisha!"

"Not now, Frizko. I am having a conversation with my father." she said without moving her gaze from his face. "Care to try again, father? Why did you leave me on Sentinel III for five years?"

"Sir," Lanaya said, "If you don't answer her, she will kill you, but if you do, I can... well I can't promise you that she won't kill you anyway... but you have a better chance of surviving if you just tell her the truth."

"Very well." he said tightly. "I admit that I did call in some favors to keep you from the home world, though it didn't take me anywhere near five, I managed it using only three. I had hoped the time away might mature your temperament. How sad I am to find I was wrong."

Aisha stood there, her eyes closed, but tears spilling out at our father's matter of fact statement.

"You weren't wrong Admiral... but you made a mistake. That is now my home." she said, and hit him once more. This in the gut, robbing him of his wits as he slumped to the floor.

"Wow." Lanaya said. Aisha then turned to us.

"I am taking my ship, and going home. Anyone care to join me?"

Lanaya nodded immediately. I simply asked, "As if I'd let you leave without a keeper?"

"Thank you. I'll file my resignation from the heliopause." We nodded at that, and then returned to our rooms to gather what little we needed.

Aisha

In my room, when I got to it... I found I had... nothing. Not even my photo album, that was on the Deraloven. I tossed what few changes of clothes I had in a bag, and left without a backwards glance at the picture on my bedside table, one of my blood family.

But my family was either coming with me, or would be waiting for me when I got there.

Here I come Jim.

Jim

This time, instead of despair, I felt an excitement. At least I wasn't in the middle of a fight this time. I was in my bed, trying to sleep... What would make her so happy? I tried to reach out to her as we slept, but she wasn't reaching for me, so I fell short... maybe if we were spatially closer, like twenty light years apart, I could reach her without her reaching for me...

But she was on the C'tarl home world. So what could excite her there? What could make her... happy?

I was awake again, so I pulled my laptop to me, and continued to research the C'tarl culture, even though the Jewelry box on my dresser waited only for her to come home... So we could have a family, there was still tons to learn about her people.

Lanaya

The Deraloven and the Legacy sailed the stars side by side, with little to get in their way but space. And What space would dare to defy such craft? Both ships were works of art to my mind. The Outlaw Star was also an art work, seen through Aisha's memories, she loved that ship, because, to her, it was home.

A home; a place to hang you hat, a place to store your love, a place to be... Who you were born to be. A very rare place where you can love and be loved without thought.

When Jim showed us the Legacy, I couldn't stop the thought, This could be my home... nor could I drown the sense of longing that thought evoked.

Was it my lot in life to merely drift the stars? Or was I meant for more than that? Where do I want to be?

In the arms of the one I love.

I closed my eyes, and clenched my teeth and fists.

You are thinking about it too much, Lanaya, and you woke me up... You know how tired I've been getting lately.

I'm sorry Aisha. How do you feel? Do you need anything?

Sleepy, and sleep. Everything else is secondary.

Then sleep. I thought to her with a sad smile.

I stood on the bridge, staring out at the Legacy, thinking about home, and looking forward to meeting Jim Hawking face to face.

I reached behind me to my terminal, and asked to speak to Captain Hawkins.

"He has retired for the night," said the com cyborg, Kobal. "Will there be a message?"

"No, thank you."

I retired to the central chair, the proper place for the ranking officer on duty, and sat.

With my eyes closed I fled my body, and first went to check on Aisha; she was fine, dreaming of Jim... Them on a picnic with the baby wrapped in a purple blanket. I smiled, and decided to get her just that for the baby-day gift.

Frizko, when I checked on him, was awake, and reading a report on mathematics. Chaos theory. stuff like When y = z, but only if K = -(1/3)-(({4510.237}37)/63)8 flying across his mind. I giggled, and he raised an ear. He looked around his room, and finally turned back to his report.

I sailed across the void then, stopping first at Calistis.

[And why does she hang on to him all the time?] she thought with a very small dose of jealousy. The she was me, but I didn't understand what she was thinking about.

The Admiral and her husband were dreaming together, but they were dreaming in NC-21, so I left them alone.

Finally, I found Jim.

He wasn't asleep. he was staring at something in his hand. Suddenly, he got a half smile on his face.

What's the matter Lanaya? Can't sleep? he asked as he put it away, whatever it was.

I'm on duty, and I woke Aisha once already. Are you really awake?

I doubt it, but there are many levels of being both awake and asleep. I can only explain about four.

Please do?

All right... he told me about the wakefulness levels he had discovered, and every hour or so I would open my eyes and check on the Deraloven, but we continued to talk that night, until the next shift.

Hew scoffed, Thanks. Now I get to be asleep for MY shift.

It's your ship, and Aisha will be on Duty here... Thank you Jim... for keeping me company.

It's all right. Sweet dreams, Lanaya.

And to you when you get to have them.

Back on the bridge, Aisha was frowning at me, or rather, was trying to.

I stood up, put my nose in the air and made my way to my quarters. Her laughter echoed through the halls.

Laina

Lanaya had sent me an e-mail telling me what was up, but Jim was not made aware of the fact. I did all this research for him, on the biological health and development for boys and girls in C'tarl and human species... there was no information on the hybrid species, which was just wonderful, though expected. Another new frontier.

But anyway, I don't think Jim was aware that it has been done for him, he just sits at his computer tapping away. Except for when I drag him outside.

"Did you skim through that research I gave you?"

"Yeah. My question is;" he then ducked a punch, and countered with one of his own, "How long before SHE knew did you? And how did you?"

"Three months and two weeks ago Lanaya began to suspect, she warned me to keep an eye on you... it was a very vague warning... I can show you the e-mail later." I planted a kick in his side.

"It was too vague to be of help, but what she didn't say in her letter, the things I'm best at seeing, are what warned me."

"I... See..." he gasped.

"How was that for a warm up?" I asked facetiously.

B.E.N

"Permission granted for geo-synchronous orbit of the RLS Legacy II over the following coordinates." I absorbed the coordinates, and reported to the captain.

"Our parking spot has been reserved captain."

"Excellent, Ben, please take us in. Kobal, I want you to arrange a shore leave schedule. We'll be here for at least two weeks. Two people on board at all times. Calistis?"

[Yes sir?]

"Ready a skiff."

[Aye Captain.]

"Also grab my board out of my cabin if you would please?"

[Aye Captain.]

"Thank you Calistis."

"Jim?" The admiral asked, addressing me without rank.

"Yes Amelia?" I responded in kind.

"You brought your solar surfer with you?"

"After what happened on Treasure Planet? I never go anywhere without at least one. though I keep a back up one in the boat bay."

"Then why bring yours?"

"Because, mine is better than my back up, Amelia."

"I see. Very well then captain. Should we be needed in the next two weeks, Delbert and I will be missing, so try not to need us."

Jim smiled, "Very well Admiral. See you in two weeks."

"By Jim."

"By Amelia." The first skiff left the ship and headed for the distant city.

"Have fun Delbert!" I hollered after them.

Everyone was so deep in the routines of weighing anchor as I looked around at them, that no one noticed Kobal bring Jim a sheet of paper with everyone on two day shifts, so there were two different people on the ship every day, with the exception of Jim and myself, Jim because he was the captain, and tended to do whatever he wanted, though that was normally on the ship anyway, and me, because I'm never too far from Jim's side, unless he orders me to stay behind.

Jim nodded, approving the schedule, and then we made our way to the boat bay where Calistis waited by the second skiff.

Jim

When I woke that morning, I felt something I had not felt in the longest time... So long, in fact, that I could not, immediately, place it, but then an old urge hit me, and after breakfast, I went to the park.

My silent laptop held to my back, all research hidden from me for now, and my communicator was dead anyway... forgot to charge it last night... Oops. Not that they couldn't find me anyway if they needed to, Laina could always pinpoint me.

But why did I need to be here?

I looked around, taking my time in getting to my destination, for while I felt I wanted to be there, verging on need, I was not in any hurry to get there, so I must have had time.

I sat on top of a picnic table, and looked around. It was a Saturday morning, and there were people who were playing with their children, there was a whole group off on the field playing soccer, while there were adults pushing seven year old and less on swings. I don't think they were all parents and children. some of them could have been aunts and uncles.

Finally, I stood up and went over to the bridge.

Inside, I looked over the cave for a while, but nothing had changed... a little bit of dust, but nothing that wasn't cleanable.

"I haven't been here in four months."

"I believe it," she said. "It must have been lonely."

"It was... but... You're worth it." I said as I turned to face her. She was wearing the green dress she had bought to see my reaction. I smiled at her and held my hand out to her, "Aisha, may I say that you look absolutely beautiful in that dress. It really brings out your eyes."

She smiled and blushed a little as she walked over and took my hand, "Thank you, Jim," she said as she gave me a kiss.

I hugged her, and picked her up, twirling her around, which got a shout of glee out of her.

Aisha was home... and everything was right in the world.

Narrator

I wish I could end this story right here... and I could do just that, but then, what will happen to Jim Hawkins and Laina? not to mention Frizko and the Deraloven?

Not to mention Jim and Aisha's kid?!

Mwa hahaha...

Laina

Introductions had been interesting when they first landed, because Aisha did not pass go, did not collect 200 Wong, and left no note, but simply left, so it was up to Lanaya and I first to introduce ourselves, and then to introduce everyone else.

"As a thank you for helping me out, In keeping those two out of trouble,
This is a gift for you, to thank you I would have paid double," she said, and handed me a box. Inside was a Caster Blaster.

"Guns are not the weapon I choose
Even a Magic gun can't guarantee that I won't lose.
So My weapon, it was never meant to be,
But maybe you have a use for it, Just maybe..." I sighted down the barrel, and noticed/sensed it was off to the left by about a one millionth of a degree.

"Very Nice, thank you Lanaya Cait-Lyn, No longer Dancher, correct?"

"Correct, Laina Jamin, a pleasure to meet you.
This is Aisha's brother Frizko, a part of my crew."

"Hello, Laina Jamin," I said as I took my hand, "Strongest fighter on the planet."

He smiled, and folded his arms, "That'll change."

"A challenge?" I asked with a half smile. Then shook my head, "Maybe later. But I will remember, I promise.

"Laina, Frizko, Melfina Starwind, Mel, Aisha's best friend and brother, Lanaya and Frizko."

"Do you normally eat as much as Aisha first did?" They both blinked, confused. "Unless Jim and Aisha beat me to it, I cook, so I was just wondering."

"It'll probably change anyway, eventually... You really aren't human?" Lanaya asked.

Mel shook her head, "Bio-Android; Artificial Life form."

"Cool." Frizko said, looking at her.

"Gene and Suzuka are both on a mission right now, so for now, we are on our own."

Frizko

As she said that, My wrist com went off; Some one was knocking on the hull of the Deraloven. Most likely Jim... I pressed a button, "Who is it?"

"Captian Hawkins, is Lanaya here?"

"Come up to the building, we're inside."

"Right."

"Lanaya," I turned to her She looked at me, her eyebrows raised. I tossed my head to the back, "Door's for you."

Then he knocked.

Melfina started to cook a welcome home feast for her errant crew mate, which left Laina and myself alone.

She looked at me for a while, and finally nodded to herself, "Twenty three."

"How'd you know that?"

"I'm an observer, so while you look bigger than the glimpse I got of Aisha, I can tell that you're not as old... Speaking of whom, do you think we should go get them?"

"Might be a bad Idea." She smiled.

"So true. Well, to fill empty time, shall I show you around?"

"Sure." She looked around her.

"This is the living room, Jim's room is over there, Upstairs," she pointed up to the balcony over the living room, "Is Suzuka's room, my room, the bathroom, and Gene and Mel's room." I said, pointing to each door.

"We're going to have to expand this building, aren't we..."

Jim

We got home a half hour before supper to find Laina and Frizko arguing over a card game, Lanaya was nowhere to be seen Gene was in the Shower, Suzuka sat at the table chatting with Mel, who was still cooking.

Aisha tapped her brother on the shoulder, when she had his attention, she asked him; "Where is Lanaya?"

"With Hawkins." He turned back to Laina, but she grabbed the neck of his shirt, and dragged him back to face her again.

"Allow me to rephrase that; go find her, please. Supper is almost done."

He sighed then glared at me. Finally, he turned to Laina; "Excuse me for a moment please." We continued over to my room, our hands probably seemed, to everyone else, like they were stuck together with epoxy. I asked her to wait outside while I got the jewelry box, and put it in my pocket.

We took our places at the table, and waited for everyone to come in and sit down. None of Laina, Lanaya or Frizko were allowed to feel out of place, for this was a family event, and the fact that they were present made them family.

We each took turns talking, and we weren't ready to go to bed before midnight, but just as everyone was beginning to break up, I called them all back, and presented Aisha with a pair of diamond ear rings, and asked her to marry me. Turns out that is C'tarl culture, only married women can have their ears pierced, so instead of an engagement ring, they have engagement earrings.

"I would love nothing more than to have a family with you, Jim," she said throwing my words back at me.

I smiled and Kissed her. I'll get you back for that.

I hope so, she said as we broke the kiss.

Lanaya and Frizko went back to the Deraloven, I waved them on. Suzuka disappeared as she usually did, Gene and Mel left, and Laina was on their heels.

Aisha and I went to my room, and we laid down together on my twin sized bed.

We need to go shopping for a bigger bed tomorrow. A nod was replied as we drifted off to sleep in each others arms.

Laina

I clapped my hands free of dust and looked over our work with pride. We had done a good job, and I knew it, though I really think we should have made a third couples quarters.

When Aisha first got back, I decided that Gene and Jim were going to need family quarters, so I designed an expansion to the building.

So for three weeks, Jim Hawking, Aisha Clan-clan-Hawking (Engaged Title, when they get married, she'll be Aisha Hawking), Jim Hawkins, Ben (When they were here, they had to leave a week ago, but would be back in three more weeks approx.), Lanaya Cait-lyn, Frizko Clan-clan, and myself (All Starwind and Hawking could really spare to the effort) heaved, sweated, and worked to build five rooms, Three on ground level, and two above, both of which were accessible from the Living room of the Original building, and outside.

While we were at it, we also built external stairs to the three rooms on the second level of the original building.

As I normally did, I watched everyone as they worked. Lanaya went out of her way to work on the same task as Captain Hawkins, and I noticed he responded on the same wavelength, bordering on psychic. Then I remembered that Lanaya was psychic, so I tried not to read too much into it.

Frizko and I still haven't fought, but I knew that it would come in good time. I wasn't going to fight him on the planet.

Aisha and Jim were never more than twenty feet from each other, and all ways making lover-eyes at each other, it was sickening!

"You have to cut them some slack," Gene told me one evening before we finished the extension, "They are in love."

"There is love, and then there is THAT."

"You've never been in love before, or you'd know that there is no difference." I only shook my head. "Well... One day, you might figure it out... maybe sooner than you think." he said and glanced around the room, then got up and left. I rolled my eyes, turned and bumped into Frizko.

"Excuse me, after you." he said, and then motioned for me to continue on.

Lanaya

Aisha was at five and a half months, give or take a week.

Jim, MY Jim, Hawkins, would be back within a month... maybe I should wave him off... I can't even consider leaving until Aisha's delivered. Well, he should probably already know that, but I'll tell him when we join dreams tonight...

Finally, someone I can share a Dream Stage with... I wonder if only psychics can set up a dream-stage, thus... soulmates are automatically capable of communicating no matter how far apart they are... Something else to think about. One of these days I'll have to write a paper on psychic capabilities of humans... Interesting, a paper about humans, written by a C'tarl.

Aisha is important to me, she's family. but Jim is taking a place in my heart too. Laina doesn't understand.

Speaking of whom, nine times out of ten, Frizko and said person are seen debating about one thing or another... rather interesting, really. I don't suppose anything will really happen until they get a chance to fight though... More is the pity.

"It's going to happen sooner than you think Lanaya," Aisha said, holding out a sheet of paper to me. "I want you, Laina, and Frizko to take care of this with the Deraloven."

I took the sheet of paper, and absorbed the assignment; Pick up some cargo and passengers, transport them to Maredo IV.

"Who is your money on?" I asked her.

"Jim says I'm underestimating her, but I say it will end in a draw." I smiled at my friend, and she smiled back.

"Cool." I said, and stood to gather my crew.

Laina

The whole trip would take a week, and the passengers were going to be underfoot... Dear GOD I am looking foreword to the last leg, when I can meditate again. And the trip hadn't even started yet!

I frowned at the C'tarl control panel in front of me, and then used another magic trick; I closed my eyes and gathered energy around them, and when I opened them, the C'tarl on the board in front of me was translated into Basic.

"That's a cute trick," Lanaya said from the Captain's chair.

"It's a waste of energy." I corrected. "But I don't know C'tarl, and don't really want to. So I'm stuck."

"Does it waste a lot?"

"It doesn't take much but it's constant."

"Spaceport to Deraloven," The Comm. squeaked.

I put the earpiece in and responded; "This is the Deraloven, requesting permission for departure to the City Dock."

"Permission for departure to the City Dock granted. Reminder that liftoff permission must be requested separately."

Do I need permission to rip you to shreds? "Reminder noted." I said and slammed the channel shut.

Five unGodly hours later, we were able to take off. T minus one week... and counting.

Jim Hawkins

She appeared on deck from the galley, though I had been certain that I was here by myself.

I'm sorry to bother you Jim, but I needed to ask you some things. I'll try to make this as short as possible.

So this is a Dream Stage, huh? One of those things that Jim and Aisha can do at 45 light years apart?

Well, we are about that right now, I think. When will you be on your home planet?

I'm there now actually.

Do you have to get up early tomorrow?

No, I was just going to go buy a ticket to come stay with you for a while.

Really? How long? she asked when I nodded.

Until I can convince you to come back with me, I suppose. I said, and brought my hand up to her face, holding it She closed her eyes and leaned into it. I just wanted to let you know... how I feel. and I wanted to be sure we were ALONE when I did it.

Yeah, not something you really get at Starwind and Hawking, huh?

I shook my head, and leaned foreword to kiss her, and she met me halfway.

Three days later, I woke up feeling really good. I would go back to Sentinel III, until Aisha had delivered her Baby, and then, Lanaya and I would come back, together.

Jim

So which would you rather have, Aisha asked after we were curled up for bed, A boy or a girl?

A girl.

Why? I tried to frame a response in words, but failed miserably, so I tried to frame it in emotions, and failed again.

Beauty, love, power, potential... I think a girl would have a bit more potential, but I don't know why. She only nodded. What about you? she smiled.

A boy. A perfect little baby boy to remind me of his father every time I see him, and how much I love them both. I smiled and kissed her.

And how about a name for you perfect little baby boy? she had to think about that.

Light of love; Reylovan Hawking. and your daughter, so full of potential?

Which made ME stop and think.

Raine Hawking.

Raine?

A name to grow into. I thought with a shrug.

I like that.

We spent our days working on computer systems, something a lot of our clients wanted, and something I knew Aisha could help me with... I think I was annoying her, being, perhaps, a little overprotective, but Lanaya was backing me up when she was with us.

I still think you should go see a doctor.

We're not going to find a C'tarl doctor on this planet, Jim.

But the baby is Human too, don't forget. She smiled at me then.

Does it really concern you that much?

There is no data on a Human-C'tarl hybrid anywhere... I want to KNOW that our baby will be born, and be born healthy. She looked at me for a time, and finally nodded.

All right then. Tomorrow, we'll go find a doctor... All right?

Thank you.

Aisha

I thought he was being overprotective, but he had a point... I wanted our baby to be healthy too.

It took a while to convince the doctor to see me, mostly because I was C'tarl. I finally linked her computer to the Deraloven's Main memory bank, and provided the doctor all the information on my kind that she needed. Finally, she agreed.

She took a stethoscope, and plugged it into a speaker, and began to move it along my stomach.

"So how is the baby?" Jim asked her.

"Babies, plural. Two heartbeats," She added as an afterthought. I focused on the sound coming from the speaker and realized that there were indeed two heartbeats. She looked at Jim.

"You are her... friend?"

"Fiancé," He supplied.

"And these?" she asked, moving the stethoscope around some more.

"Yes, they are his. Human-C'tarl hybrids, both of them." I said.

The Doctor sighed. She ran me through a battery of tests, and finally concluded that, as far as she could tell, both babies were doing fine, but I was to limit myself as much as possible.

"In other words, no fights until the Baby is born, and not for a while afterwards either, most likely."

Which meant that I was stuck with Jim watching me like a hawk while we worked on various computer systems. Well, you can't win them all.

Besides, it wasn't a total loss, I got to learn more about computers... As if that took a priority over spending time with Jim.

Frizko

"Great, she's fried." Laina said as she came back to the bridge.

"For how long?"

"At least two days. Why is she so fried?"

I had an idea, but I wasn't going to say it. "That puts us in port when she wakes, right?"

"Bar Pirates, yeah."

"Cool." She rolled her eyes, and I looked to the forward screen and smiled. She was so easy to annoy, but had more power than any. When we did fight I knew I would probably lose, but the fun is in trying. Putting up your best, against an opponent who is doing the same, that is the purest form of Nirvana. I knew I was looking forward to all the passengers getting off just so I could fight her... but she was off. If she was off in the fight, I would win.

Lanaya

When I woke we were just docking. Maredo IV is actually a gas giant (No comment on a gas Giant in the fourth position, or I'll borrow Laina's Caster.), so the dock was the station above it. Only slightly reminiscent of Blue Heaven, but most of the business here was still gray market. Laina went to try and find some caster shells for her caster, Frizko was out looking for something to read, and I was supervising the unloading of the Deraloven.

All told we were there for six hours.

When we left, we headed, not back to Sentinel III, but to an asteroid field that was a bit closer, but would still take us a day and a half to get to. Laina meditated the entire trip, getting herself ready. I sent cameras out ahead of us, to be ready to record the battle, and to make sure no bystanders would be at risk in the battle.

Everyone at Stawind and Hawking would like to see this battle.

Frizko

Lanaya had sent out the cameras, and piggy backing them was an atmosphere generator. Between the eight of them, was a battlefield about a half mile cubed.

"Where did we get those atmosphere generators from?"

"The Deraloven, and the C'tarl military." Lanaya responded from the bridge. "Just remember, it doesn't come equipped with gravity, and as good as I am with Telepathy, I have no kinetics to save either of you if you float outside the range of the generators. Got it a'ight?"

"No problem." Laina said. I only nodded. "I promise I'll try not to go above half power." she said to me. We were standing on separate asteroids, and we both wore comfortable practice clothes. If it wouldn't have gotten in our way, I would have liked to use tethers.

Laina's meditation had primed her for this confrontation.

We were ready.

Lanaya

But are they really? Are they ready, I thought to myself, For what they are about to learn?

Both started lightly, but within twenty minutes, she passed the quarter mark of her abilities, and he was in the upper reaches of his. The fight just kept going, Frizko taking to trapping since he couldn't take her on at her level.

When I thought she must be reaching half of her power, Frizko got a shot in that might have killed her if she hadn't seen it coming, and while she had been braced, it was just the beginning of the response, so the guard wasn't effective. Her energy level was what saved her.

Her fury exploded from her, soaring high above her halfway point, reaching her upper limits, and he responded, tapping energies he didn't often use... Come to think of it, I wonder when the last time Laina had to use this much of her energy.

Man, I will be shocked if either of them wake up before we get home.

They were both charged as much as they possibly could, and leaped off their separate rocks directly toward each other. The resulting shockwave sent everything for a thousand meters back a few steps. Laina and Frizko both got lucky, ending up by the cameras, but they were both out cold.

A Stalemate.

Laina

Where... Am I?

I looked up from where I lay, and recognized the stars above me... it took me time to realize that there were constellations from both the C'tarl home world, and Earth. And Choling from Sentinel...

I was tired, my mind foggy, but I looked around me, and recognized the form next to me as the one I just battled.

Frizko? I asked sleepily.

Just five more minutes, Mom. I smiled, endeared. I nodded, rolled over, and closed my eyes. He pulled me close, and we slept, restfully.

When we woke, we were still in the field near the forest, and the stars were still up.

Think this is real? he asked. I snorted, and shook my head, my eyelids still heavy.

Nope... It's too beautiful, too... perfect. Almost too bad... it's very restful. he only nodded. If I were to guess, I'd say we were on a Dream Stage.

As tired as we were after the battle?

We don't know how long we've been asleep. We could have gotten enough rest, and then forged the link.

Doesn't it concern you that we didn't decided to make the link?

Not right now, and not until I am awake at the very earliest. I said as I leaned back.

What's your story Laina?

I let out a bark of laughter. My story? I don't even know much of my story. One day I'm here, one day I'm there, never in the same place for long... I've killed, and it's not so tough to do, but I still live in faith that one day, I will stay my had from a finishing move. I look like I'm twenty-two, but I'm actually a hundred and twenty-two, give or take.

How is that possible?

In the same way I am the strongest fighter. Normally a human would stand no chance against a C'tarl, but I can beat everyone. I live in hope that one day someone can beat me.

You're a very... spiritual person, aren't you, Laina. I smiled at that, and turned to look at him.

Not that anyone notices.

So why are you alive after so long?

An experiment that failed. A mixture of science and Tao magic... I don't know the details. All I know is that here I am.

Jim

"For the first time in the time that I have known her, she was relaxed! I wish I could have heard what they were talking about." Lanaya told us. We had watched the video, and I was glad I hadn't bet Aisha over the victor, because I was so sure Laina was going to drop kick him into next century. They were still asleep on the Deraloven.

"What do you mean talking?"

"A Dream Stage had been forged about a day after the battle. It's still in place even now. they are so physically close together it doesn't drain them like it did you when you were forty light years apart."

"I didn't think Laina was psychic?" Aisha wondered aloud.

"She's not, she told me she was Empathic."

"Your not psychic either Jim, what's your point?"

"How can I not be, I talk to Aisha in our minds all the time?"

"Yes, you do, but your telepathy goes directly to her, likewise, yours, Aisha, goes mostly to him, although, you can read me when I broadcast. That must be his influence."

"So when are they going to wake up?"

"As soon as their batteries are fully charged. They used reserves they are not used to using, so it will be a few days yet." Lanaya stood and walked away then, and I stood and stretched.

"Good thing Laina didn't use her caster."

"You can't use weapons if you are fighting hand to hand, it's a matter of honor on both their parts." Aisha said from where she looked at the screen of my laptop.

"Good point. Can I get you anything?"

"Tea, please," she looked up at me with a smile. I smiled in response, and went to get us both some tea.

Suzuka

The next morning, Jim had decided that we hadn't sparred in a while, so asked to.

"I'm afraid I'm getting out of practice." He said as he picked up his bokuto.

And he was right. he was out of practice, but put up a good fight. So that became a routine. Due to her pregnancy, Aisha slept a lot, so Jim put his mornings to good use sparring with either myself, Laina, Lanaya, or Frizko. The only one he beat consistently was Lanaya.

"I'm a pilot, not a fighter, put me in a ship, and I'll be better off."

"Too bad we don't have the Ammo to waste."

For fear of setting off her often volatile, and potentially deadly, mood swings, none of these matches were mentioned in Aisha's presence.

Jim Hawkins returned, and continued to spend much of his time with Lanaya, including taking the Deraloven on missions. Since Starwind and Hawking now had two ships, we were able to accept more space work, it paid better than body guard missions, car jobs and computer jobs. It was mostly cargo missions, occasionally a passenger would accompany the cargo. Thankfully Gene normally went with Mel, Laina and Frizko in the Outlaw Star, leaving Tug assignments to Lanaya, Hawkins, and myself. So if both Ships were gone, Jim and Aisha were left to fend for themselves.

So for the remaining months of Aisha's term, things went quietly and well. Perhaps it was an apology for the first part of her term.

Then came an assignment that required two fighters. The Outlaw Star was gone and would not be back for three days, it was vital to move within the next two hours. Aisha told Jim and I to go.

"Lanaya and Hawkins can keep watch on me all right, and the doctor says we have another week at least, so go, get some energy out of your system." she said with a self-pitying smile.

"I'll be back by tomorrow morning." he said, and kissed her soundly.

"This is a Bounty Mission?" Jim asked once we were on the road.

"Yes, a man known as the Gunslinger. He is a Cyborg with enhanced reflexes, so if we land more than three hits on him out of fifteen, we can count ourselves better than those who have come before us.

"Is this gonna be a range battle?" he asked, startled.

"No. I will draw his fire while you come into close quarters combat."

"Are you sure?"

"I am a swordswoman Jim, You are a fighter, you have a better chance of getting your three shots in and knocking him out."

Jim

We drove into some mountains, and finally had to hoof it.

We had been walking for all of three minutes before a shot in front of my left toe effectively stopped me.

"You are not welcome here." the Gunslinger called out in a monotone voice that seemed to come from everywhere. We looked at each other and nodded. I headed back the way we came and she began to draw his fire.

I swung the long way around him, and almost got the jump on him. Without facing away from Suzuka, he pulled a second shotgun and fired with deadly accuracy.

Now that could have hurt. I thought as I charged him and hit him four times in the chin. He fell, and Suzuka came up to me.

"Jim, are you all right?"

"Sure... I'm fine."

"Jim..." She shook her head, and grabbed the gunslinger, disabling him. Then she helped me to the car. Why am I so weak? I thought to myself. She took us to a hospital, without going back for the Gunslinger, and I finally got the thought that maybe he hadn't missed.

I looked down at myself, and saw the filigree pattern where the shotgun had hit my chest at point blank range.

Aisha's gonna kill me... With Suzuka for dessert. I thought as I passed out.

Lanaya

We were all watching a movie in Aisha's front room, when suddenly she gasped. Her head jerked back into the chair, and she had a shocked expression on her face as if she wondered what happened, but her thought was; How did that happen?

I tried to feel the damage that Jim had just experienced, but my guess was that only she would get it.

She finally relaxed, and was gasping for breath.

"Lanaya?" Jim Hawkins asked me.

"Jim Hawking has been shot."

"...At point blank range... with a shotgun..." Aisha said between gasps. "Suzuka is taking him to the hospital." I nodded and was dialing up Jim's car.

"We are on our way to Point Grace Regional." Suzuka said by way of hello.

"That's over three hours away!" I said as I pinpointed it on my internal map.

"It's only two minutes from where I am though. Can one of you get here to watch Jim while I go back and get the Gunslingers' bounty?"

"I can be there in ten minutes... If I know where I'm going."

"Then both of you go." Aisha said from where she sat in her recliner. "Jim is in trouble. If anything goes wrong with me, I'll call for an ambulance." She said as she closed her eyes.

Aisha

Jim got his Board out of the room he shared with Lanaya and they both got on it, and flew for the stars.

I was worried about Jim... Scared to death. For the first time in about over a year, I couldn't feel his presence in my mind, his love.

And I wasn't supposed to seek it.

Jim was full of the stress of keeping himself alive until he got to the hospital... when I realized he had been shot... I tried to block the trauma from my own body... If I hadn't been PREGNANT!

We both wanted healthy babies, but if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have had to block him out... The Stress is bad for the Babies.

DMN IT JIM!

I lasted for all of three minutes, I should be proud of myself... But Jim... is more of an extension of myself, than he is anything else... after everything that has happened to us. I can't CLOSE the link that sustains me even in our darkest hour.

Jim

The Dreamscape forged this time was darker, more menacing. The calm before the storm.

JIM! I turned to see her, looking radiant, but in pain. I ran to her.

Aisha, you shouldn't be here...! I said, clenching her hand tightly to me.

I know! but I can't block you out any more than I can... cut my hair. Come here, Please? She said, and drew me into a hug, and I knew what she was doing instantly.

She was healing me again, just like she had to the bruise Suzuka had landed on me so long ago.

Aisha!

The Babies are going to need two parents Jim. If they come a little earlier than we expected, at least there will be two of us to help them through it. she said, and rushed all of her energy into me, stretching her reserves all the way to cover me.

After what could have been centuries or moments, but was probably only hours, the sky brightened to the quarter of morning that normally brightened our Dream Stages.

Aisha and I were sleeping in the physical world, and were almost asleep in the Dream Stage as well until she felt a sharp pain. Her hand flew to her stomach. followed, more decorously, by the other hand. She curled in on herself, and gasped.

Jim...? she asked, looking at me, I think it's time.

I smiled at her and told her, I'll be there as soon as I can, all right? She smiled back at me, and we withdrew from the Dream Stage.

Lanaya

From the moment I got there, I watched Aisha and Jim work together to save him while the doctors looked on in amazement as the drugs they administered produced unheard of and impossible affects in the scatter-shot patient.

Finally, Jim's body heaved a sigh of relief as the last wound closed. For a long time he lie there, a smile on his face, and Aisha's aura with him.

When they had finished, I shook my head, and sent Jim Hawkins back to HQ.

Why?

Aisha's about to have her babies, Suzuka is currently MIA, and I have to watch over Jim.

When he woke a short time later, he told me what I already knew, and I told him that Hawkins would be there in another minute and a half to take her to her doctor.

"Then how soon can I be out of here?"

Suzuka

The Outlaw Star was landing just as the Parade got home. Jim and Aisha each came in carrying a car seat. Lanaya and Jim Hawkins were carrying in everything else that was necessary. The parade marched into Jim and Aisha's apartment.

I had gotten lucky, the Gunslinger was still out by the time I had gotten back to him, so I was able to turn him in for the reward. We had over a dozen mission requests waiting on the desktop of Starwind and Hawking Inc, due to the lack of activity over the last three days.

Jim had been shot all of three days ago, and the babies were none the worse for their mother's expenditure of energy just before their birth. If anything, I'd guess the opposite.

The babies, while undeniably small, were exceedingly healthy. Eventually Raine and her younger brother Reyloven would prove to enjoy demonstrating their health, usually when everyone else in the compound was sound asleep. Fortunately Laina had thought of that and made sure their entire apartment was well sound-proofed, so the only ones who usually woke with them was their mother and father.

Frizko set land speed records, I think, in going to meet his niece and nephew. Everyone else came by to admire the babies, but left after short order when they realized how tired the two parents were.

While everyone drifted in and out of their apartment, I started organizing the mission requests waiting for us, That done I went to our Starwind and Hawking Inc.'s internet site. On our home page, I added another job to the list of what we were available for;

Day Care.

Narrator - The End

Well, I think that does it for this chapter, what questions could I have possibly missed? Jim and Aisha are exhausted, but happy, and together forever. I will NOT write a wedding, that would be way too funny, and I would not be able to do it justice.

I WILL be doing a third Chapter... This one will mostly be about the Twins, Raine and Reylovan, but don't expect it for a long time, at least a year, I refuse to limit it to chapter format, and drag things out. At this point in time, I can't imagine a fourth chapter, but anything is possible. A Story for Hawkins and Lanaya is not out of the question, but you'll have to wait on my muse as well as I will.

See you next Story; DSeer