Chapter Nine (64,999,998 years ago)

"Dintael?"

"Yes my dear?" Dintael had taken to addressing Alana as 'my dear' she liked to hear it.

"When will you ask me to marry you?"

"I don't know, how about today?"

"Do you mean it?"

"Yes."

"Thank stars!"

"Alana Maltra, will you marry me?"

"Yes, you crazy procrastinator, yes! I was ready to marry you two years ago."

"Why have you not submitted your idea to the science council?"

"They wouldn't accept it."

"Why not? You are probably the smartest person in the outpost, gender withstanding."

"The science council told me that with the current influential political winds it would be unwise to accept the submission of an unbound female."

"Which is a really fancy way of saying..."

"The powers that are leaning on them right now don't want them to accept my proposal because I'm not married."

"Well you can submit that as soon as we're married."

"I plan to."

"When would you like the wedding?"

"Can we have a private ceremony? Later we can have the big elaborate thing with the flowers and decorations and the pretty music, but for right now, I just want a small ceremony out of which I come with a license that legally shows that we are married."

"The ceremony bureau has slots open today."

"That would be absolutely lovely."

Later

Alana and Dintael walked to the Ceremony Bureau wearing the same clothes they had on the night that they caught the last transport back.

They stood in front of the keeper of the ceremonies and held hands. The Keeper of the Ceremonies cleared his throat and said:

"The small gathering we have here today is to bear witness to the joining of Alana Maltra and Dintael Jansok."

"Keeper?"

"Why are you interrupting the ceremony son?"

"There is no gathering, just the bride, groom and you sir."

"Right, therefore I shall skip to the vows. Do you Alana Maltra solemnly vow to love this man and be a faithful friend and companion that only death separates?"

"I so vow."

"And do you, Dintael Jansok solemnly vow to love this woman and be a faithful friend and companion that only death separates?"

"I solemnly vow."

"Then, by the power given me as the Keeper of the Ceremonies, you are joined. Dintael, you may kiss your bride." And boy did her ever! Alana melted into his arms and The Keeper raised his eyes to the ceiling.

"The love is what makes it worth."

That day, Alana moved everything from her home to that of Dintael. As she moved her things odd conversations sprung up.

"What property does your inheritance claim?"

"I do not have much, my father left me with a small claim to part of this outpost and a planet somewhere in another galaxy by the name of Athos."

"Seventeen is a bit young for a matriarch, who did you leave it to, should anything happen?"

"I left it to Sheria and her family. She has three sons."

"Do you know about the power room?"

"Power room? How is that related to the conversation?"

"It suddenly came to mind that I haven't shown you the power room yet. Would you like to see it?"

"Sure." Alana and Dintael set down the piece of furniture that they were moving and they walked out to the center plaza. Dintael pressed a button on the remote on his wrist and white light surrounded them. When Alana looked again, she was in a room that had a chair and several chambers lined one wall.

"Do you have that disc?"

"Yes of course, why?"

"I'd like to take a look at your research."

"Sure." Alana reached into the bag that was never absent from her side and drew out the case that she used to carry the disc.

"Thank you!" Dintael rounded on her as soon as he had the disc.

"Dintael what are you doing?"

"The snakes are the best actors love."

"No! I can't believe this!"

"Believe it love, it is too late for second thoughts." He pushed her back into one of the suspended animation chambers and pressed a button. She was standing, mouth open, ready to strike. From his own bag Dintael pulled four large crystalline structures. He then opened a compartment in the console and locked them into the vacant spaces. On a last thought he pulled out a fifth and placed it in as well. He closed the compartment and walked in front of the chamber. He stood in front of it and said

"Well, there ought to be enough power in those to last you for, oh, seventy million years. And remember, never trust a snake." He sealed the doors behind himself and there Alana Maltra Jansok slept for close to sixty-five million years.