Chapter 11

Veril watched the cart move off and turned back to Zev. "Well," she said. "Let's get things sorted out." and they went about their respective tasks. They listened attentively every time the call-in came. However as evening fell the first call-in was not verbal but just the acknowledgement chime. So was the second and also the third.

Veril looked over at Zev. "What do you think it means?" she asked.

Zev pursed his lips and shook his head. "Don't know. Perhaps they just can't talk at the moment. Don't fret." knowing that was exactly what Veril was doing.

He went and made some food, fore-going on the spices, knowing that Veril didn't like it as strong as he did. He placed the food in front of her.

"Eat." he said to her as she looked up in surprise. "We'll find out soon enough." He was gratified that she followed his suggestion and ate everything.

"Thank you." she said, and smiled at him. That smile brightened his world and warmed his soul. He returned it.

They cleaned up and Veril went to freshen up, leaving Zev at the consoles, drumming his fingers. 'Make time.' he heard Kerran say. Was now a good time, he thought. What exactly is a good time anyway? Shouldn't it be said whatever the time – good, bad or indifferent? Was that what Kerran meant? Just tell her, it didn't matter when? And isn't this as good a time as any? There's just the two of them, but for how much longer he didn't know and once Kerran and Calan returned they would be too busy. There was always something to do, usually too many things to do.

Making a decision, he stood and walked towards Veril's door. He hesitated a moment, not wanting to disturb her rest. She's been working hard, and worrying. It would be better to let her rest. He began to turn away and caught himself. No! He was making excuses again. It had to be now or never! Resolutely he swung back and pressed the chime.

"Come in." he heard Veril's voice call, and he pressed the door open.

Veril sat on a stool, clad in a thin smock tunic that clung to her figure. Her skin and hair shone with the sheen of water, she must have left the shower not long before. The sight of so much feminine flesh showing almost made him lose his resolve. Veril looked up at him, her blue eyes shining brightly. "What is it, Zev?" her eyes clouded. "Nothing's wrong?"

"No." he hastened to assure her, cursing himself for worrying her. "Nothing's wrong."

"What is it?" She stood and reached up to tie her hair up, her raised arms doing interesting things to the smock and distracting him further. He dragged his mind back to what he was here for. He took a deep breath.

"Veril…."

She looked at him worriedly. "Zev," she interrupted. "You don't look well." She walked forward and took his hands and lead him to sit on her bed, sitting next to him. "Are you alright?"

She was so close to him that he took courage in both hands and all his careful speeches he threw to the wind as he leant forward and kissed her. She didn't pull away, but he didn't push his luck and so broke the kiss and pulled back.

"I've been wanting to talk to you for so long," he said a little breathlessly. "but I could never seem to find the time, the right time."

"I like your opening line." Veril said, looking him straight in the eyes.

He stuttered to a stop, a little taken aback, expecting either shyness or anger or even tears, but this acceptance? He actually hadn't banked on that!

A slow smile spread on Verils's face and with a low chuckle she leant forward and kissed him. When they broke apart this time he was more than a little breathless.

"I wondered if you would say anything, if you felt the same or not."

"You mean..?" he questioned.

"Of course." she replied frankly. "I think we have some catching up to do." and this time the kiss continued.

The cart trundled through the darkness, Calan and Kerran both quiet. Kerran glanced up at the night sky. It was clear, a few stars twinkled. Beautiful, she thought. There weren't too many Federation planets left you could say that about now. Although this planet has been through its trials by fire more than once, and yet it continued to survive. Kerran closed her eyes, face still upturned to the night sky.

Calan concentrated on his driving, but was still aware of Kerran's movements. They weren't lovers, it would be very easy for them to be so, but the doubt as to whether the feelings were theirs or ancient emotions would always hang over them. And until they could lay that doubt to rest, they would do nothing. And Calan knew that even if they did become lovers, it wasn't a love that would keep them together as a couple. They would always stay together now, that he accepted and knew that Kerran was aware of it also, but that togetherness was not to be permanently as lovers. That place was still to be filled by someone else – for both of them. However, would a partner accept what was between Kerran and he? Could they truly understand? That was yet to be seen.

"So?" he said, knowing she would hear his quiet voice.

"So." she replied, not opening her eyes.

Abe had continued to talk for much longer after dropping the bombshell of Blake's name. And what followed just continued to be more and more startling with every sentence until they were both quite stupefied in trying to take it all in. When he had finally slumped into unconsciousness and they had left, they had said nothing till now.

"How much should we believe?" Kerran then asked him.

"Too much, I think." he honestly replied.

"I thought as much." she said with a sigh. The ship loomed into view. "Let's tell the others. We've got to talk about this."

The cart was stowed and they made their way to the flight deck. Kerran was a little surprised to find no-one there, but then looked at her chrono and realised how late it was.

"Guess they managed to get some sleep afterall. You get Zev, I'll wake Veril. This can't wait till morning."

"I agree." said Calan, making his way off.

Kerran walked to Veril's room and chimed it. She yawned, feeling tired and the door swished open as did her mouth, as it was not Veril who stood before her but a dishevelled looking Zev, who at least had the decency to blush.

Kerran snapped her mouth shut. "Oh." She shook her head a little. "Come to the flight deck, we've got some news that we all need to talk about."

"Okay." he said, and she turned away bemused.

As she walked away, a smile began to spread on her face and by the time she reached the flight deck she was feeling very elated. Zev finally did it, she thought gleefully. Calan was already there, looking concerned.

"Zev's not in his room. I wondered if he's got lost outside."

Kerran couldn't help it, but burst out laughing. Calan looked at her in confusion and she controlled her mirth but not the smile.

"It's okay, Calan. Zev's fine, and perfectly safe."

"Where..?" Calan began, and then he smiled also as the pieces fell into place. "Oh." he finally said.

Kerran nodded knowingly. "Now don't give him a hard time, we don't want to scare him off now he's just got around to telling her."

Calan placed a hand over his heart. "Not a word."

"Good." and footsteps sounded, indicating that the other two were about to join them.

"What did you find? You've been so long!" Veril almost ran to Kerran. Kerran was pleased to see that Veril seemed quite fine and almost glowing. Zev finally telling her of his feelings obviously agreed with her.

"A lot." she said in answer to the question. "And all of it surprising." She then filled in Veril and Zev with the information that Abe had told them.

There was silence for a moment. "Are you certain?" Zev finally asked.

"Of the truth?" Kerran said. "I think we can say it is. Too much rings true. It's at least worth checking out."

"How?" Veril asked.

Kerran pulled out a map and spread it on the table. "We managed to get Abe to pinpoint some places. If we actually find something there I think we can safely say that everything is true that Abe has said. Afterall, he's got no reason to lie. No-one here bothers to listen or believe him."

Zev shook his head. "Blake." he said quietly. "Not a name I thought we would find here." The others sobered.

"No." Kerran agreed. "It seems he ended up here and tried to set up a rebel base using the bounty hunter disguise. From what Abe said it was quite successful at first."

"And the rest?" Veril asked quietly.

Kerran shrugged, and Calan spoke "Abe could give a couple of names only, Blake and the rebel he picked up, Tarrant." He looked at Zev. "I'm sorry."

Zev brushed it aside. "At least I know he was here."

"And if he was here, it's more than likely the others were also." Kerran said quietly. "Abe spoke of a rebel group – that's more than one."

"If we can find the ship as Abe indicated we might be able to get more information from the memory chips, if anything's left after this long." Zev said, turning practical.

"The directions Abe gave may not be exactly precise, he was pretty drunk by this time, but he's pretty certain of it all as well, so I don't think he'll be far off the mark."

"So that's for tomorrow?" Veril asked. Kerran looked at them all. No-one disagreed.

"Looks like it." she said. "Let's get some sleep."

They all reluctantly parted ways. Zev and Veril returned to her room together. Kerran felt glad about that. Calan reached out and touched her arm.

"Stay." he said. She looked at him silently, eye to eye. He continued. "For company only. I feel the past pressing closely on the present this night."

She understood what he meant. They were getting closer, so close. And that thought scared her more than anything. He was right – tonight was no night for any of them to be on their own. And she trusted him - for companionship.

"Alright. Thank you." and she went with him to his room.