Chapter Eighteen [Epilogue]
For three days neither Vector nor Rey'elle left the ship. They made love and talked and slept enjoying what time the universe would give them before the next incident demanded their attention.
Food appeared outside the airlock three times a day, likely provided by Lokin and no one interrupted them, even the comlinks were silent and they enjoyed the respite like the gift it was.
They had both learned the lesson of not taking anything for granted, not life or love or each other. They cherished each moment as the fleeting thing it was and took the future, not as a guaranteed commodity, but as seconds waiting to be written to memory and nothing more.
Vector slid out of bed early on the morning of the fourth day and put on his pants, boots and undershirt. He needed some air and to stretch his legs. Glancing down at her sleeping form, he smiled and his heart lurched as it did every time he looked at her face. He never wanted to lose that sensation again.
He was standing on the metal walkway watching the first colors of dawn appear above the treetops. He could see each mote of light and each spectrum of color as the sun spread its glory across the brightening sky. He could taste the change of the atmosphere, the dew on the wind and realized that his connection to the universe and its song was enhanced by his returned humanity.
He heard the boots approaching from the direction of the base and knew the time had come that was dreaded and inevitable.
"Vector," said agent Shan more as a statement than a greeting.
"Agent," replied Vector without looking at the man.
"The name is Theron, and, I suppose you know about Elle and I?"
"She told us."
"So, what do we do now?"
"There is nothing for either of us to do, the decision is hers and always has been, the only question that remains is, do you love her enough?" asked Vector.
"I have loved her since Yavin 4, nearly eight years."
"And we have loved her for eternity. Your point?"
"My point? She nearly went mad not knowing if you were dead or alive. She had everyone searching for you, had me searching for you. She would have given up anything or anyone to find you, where the hell have you been? What the hell have you sacrificed?"
Vector finally turned to look at the man who stood before him. "You have no idea what we have sacrificed for her nor would you understand. We searched year after year, you at least knew where she was but our life, our hands were empty."
Theron's brows knitted into a frown. "She has been through hell for seven years, and she and I have been through hell together the past two years, she nearly died twice. I think that is worthy of mention."
"If you require a history lesson of hell, agent Shan, let us provide one for you. We were there at her side when the Castellan Restraints nearly drove her mad and when she suffered torture on Corellia that few men could have endured. We were there when the knowledge of the Empire's treachery almost broke her.
"We nearly died for her on Hoth and on Voss we laid her on a bed of blankets, stripped her bare and stood guard while another man made love to her so that she could live. Again we ask, do you love her enough?"
"I love her, isn't that enough?"
"If you do not understand the question, then you have no answer. To put it simply, do you love her enough to let her go? To stand by her side knowing you can never touch her again, hold her again, kiss her again. Do you love her enough, Theron?"
"Yes, I believe so. Yes."
Vector exhaled a long sigh. "We do not just believe, we are certain, and have always been. Therein is the difference."
"You sound as if you have already won."
"This was never a contest, agent Shan. We never lost," stated Vector as he walked back to the ship, back to her; his love, his life, his home.
The End