Galen walked carefully through customs, Dureena in tow. The station was as busy as ever. In a way, it was a relief to come back and in a way it was hard to return. He didn't have long to pout though; Dureena had spotted Susan and was currently dragging the mage through the throng of people.
"Welcome back," Susan almost had to yell the greeting; perhaps the station was a bit busier than usual. "What do you say we head to a quieter area?" Susan motioned toward the corridor that would lead them to areas that weren't quite so loud. Dureena nodded and Galen barely had time to shrug before the women were dragging him off again.
"What's with all the people frequenting the station?" Galen asked as a young man with longer blonde hair walked by accompanied by a red haired female. They stepped in front of the Turbo lift. Susan sighed.
"You just walked through the Telepath gathering. And that," Susan motioned toward the young man and woman, "Was Byron and Lyta, the leaders of it all." Susan hit the button to call the lift down, "That's all you really want to know right now." Galen and Dureena looked at each other then shrugged. The lift arrived and the three stepped on. Susan called for the lift to go to the guest sweets. The three rode in awkward silence for a moment. Dureena huffed.
"So, let's see it," Dureena demanded.
"See what?" Susan got a modest smile on her face.
"The ring. I mean you two are getting married right? So let's see it," Dureena inquired. Galen looked on rather amused.
"I don't carry it with me," Susan said in mock anger, "Besides it would probably make my finger fall off."
"The diamond is THAT big?" Dureena's voice was filled with disbelief. Susan looked at the ground, her cheeks turning a bright, cherry red. About that time the doors slid open and Susan hurried out. Dureena stood still in amazement for a few seconds later then rushed after Susan. Galen walked after them, taking his time and enjoying the mood the girls had put on the situation. He heard the girls resume chatter of some sort and was happy that Susan wasn't as sad as she had been when he had seen her kneeling with Marcus in that small corridor. The girls were laughing now and had stopped in front of an open door. They looked at him expectantly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," he stated "Could you say that again?" The girls started laughing, it was unlike them to just break into laughter. Once they controlled themselves, Susan managed to tell Galen that they had reached their destination. She motioned for him to go in. He raised one eyebrow but didn't argue. He kept his eyes on the two girls until he had entered the quarters, then as he turned to greet whoever was inside he got a face full of blackness that shoved him partially back out into the hall and knocked him over onto his back. He laid there for a moment and caught his breath as he felt pain race around the back of his head. At some point during the 'attack' he had shut his eyes. He took a deep breath and opened them. Two pinpoints of white stared back at him.
The two stayed like that for at least a full minute before Galen sat up. He still studied the creature though. It was familiar yet not. He ran his eyes over the black as night coat and marveled the small pinpoints of white. He even awed at the tail that was just as long if not longer then the body, but he was the most awe-struck by the deep pools of blackness that were interrupted only by a small white dots that marked her pupils. Then it dawned on him. A look of excitement ran across his face and stayed there as he lunged forward and grabbed the feline in a bear hug, the pain in his head forgotten. It was rare to find a Technomage in the galaxy anymore, it was hard to find one that showed his emotions, but to find one that cried as Galen did when he realized that the black cat in front of him was his dearest, truest friend was next to impossible. Susan and Dureena stood in the hall with big smiles on their faces and Marcus sat on the small sofa in the guest quarters barely holding back his laughter; but it was he that broke the silence.
"Galen, meet Nite Star."