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Kaden
(Two Weeks Later)
A storm was coming to Carbon Creek.
For months, Kaden did everything he could to solve the problem and when he couldn't, managed to hide the problem from the others, but it was only a matter of time.
In a matter of months, the mines, the town's main source of income and protection will be completely depleted and The Coalition will undoubtedly send soldiers and destroy Carbon Creek.
Kaden like everyone else came to Carbon Creek to escape the past.
After the fall of Haven, Carbon Creek became one of the last remaining outliner cities.
Kaden could never forget the fall of Haven, the place of his birth.
As soldiers, Kaden followed orders and never questioned anything.
But when the order came down to destroy Haven, he found himself in an impossible situation.
His family still lived in Haven. Sadly, this did not matter to The Coalition who expected Kaden as the leader to execute the captured rebels and destroyed the city for hiding them.
He did what he was told.
He executed the rebels and destroyed the city.
Shortly, thereafter, overcome with guilt and disillusioned, Kaden and his brother deflected. Kaden using his contacts he built over the years, managed to assist the surviving rebels by supplying them with weapons and expanding their base.
In just a few short years, the rebels came back stronger than ever resulting in mass terrorist bombings, kidnapping and murders of high ranking Coalition members and their families.
To make amends, Kaden used his skills as a general and became the leader of Carbon Creek.
Because of his exploitive use of the mines, he convinced those in power to turn a blind eye towards the ex-cons, deflected soldiers, criminals and everyone else who made up the city's residents.
Over the years, Kaden came to see Carbon Creek as his home and he sought to protect her in a way he couldn't do for Haven.
He would have to find a way to extract more from the mines to give the city a chance.
The sound of the door opening promoted Kaden to get out bed and go the front door; Cale stumbled inside with his shirt unbuttoned.
"Wow! That Stella is a tigress," Cale laughed drunkenly as crashed on the sofa.
Lifting Cale's leg, Kaden joked, "I thought Stella had eyes only for Stronn."
Cale laughed, "No, that woman has eyes for any man who gives her attention."
Kaden's eyes suddenly darken, "Cale, we need to talk."
Lowering his head, Cale responded, "Yes, I know."
Standing over his brother, Kaden's voice became deep and serious, "Each month The Coalition wants more and more and we keep giving it to them. But we can't continue. The mines will be depleted in a matter of months. And then what?"
"Leave."
"And go where? Carbon Creek is our home. Are we to let Carbon Creek fall like Haven?"
"Haven was different Kaden and you know I don't want to talk about Haven."
"No, Haven was our home, the same as Carbon Creek and we destroyed it simply because we followed orders. How do you think history is going to judge us, our actions?"
Cale leaned back on the sofa, Kaden's self-righteous rhetoric added to his hangover pains, "What do you want me to say? You talk about Haven as if it was your fault. You followed orders. I deserted because of you, I became a fugitive because of you, I followed my big brother, and where did it lead me? I am an exile!"
"Are you blaming me? We made a choice!"
Cale attempted to stand, but his hangover made his head feel as if it weighed thirty tons, "No, you made the choice and dragged me into it. I had good life with The Coalition, I could have advanced myself become a general! When you deflected, Kaden, you never stopped to think about me! You selfish bastard!"
Kaden felt anger boiling inside and he stepped back to avoid hitting his brother, "The Coalition made us destroy our home, kill innocent people, and sacrifice our humanity! Standing in the ashes of our birthplace, I made a decision and I don't regret it. No one forced you into anything!"
"What did you think The Coalition would have done to me as the brother of the captain? I am done arguing with you," Cale snapped and leaned back on the sofa.
"We have to think about saving these people," Kaden pleaded.
"You mean Davina and that kid! I don't get why you are in love with her when all she does is spend her free time with Mestral!"
Kaden swallowed his growing anger, "There is nothing going on between Mestral and Davina!"
"Can you be sure? I mean they spend an awful amount of time together," Now Cale was taunting his brother, "I mean what does she see in that guy anyway? His whole family is off."
"The hell do you mean by off?"
"They just seem awkward when it comes to everything as if they never interacted with people before. And they claim they are from Tri-Mane, but I am not so sure."
"Not from Tri Mane?"
Cale sucked his teeth, "People from Tri Mane are mean, vain, selfish, and devoted to The Coalition's cause. Mestral and his family are the complete opposite. Hell, sometimes they seem as if they know nothing about their own city!"
"So what are you implying?"
"That they are NOT from Tri Mane!"
Kaden could feel a lump in this throat and thought it was best to change the subject.
"Mestral and his family are no concern to me, I need to worry about the mines," Kaden went back to his room and left Cale to fall asleep on the sofa.
Pacing back and forth, a single thought ran inside Kaden's mind; what happens when the mines are depleted?
Then another thought; what will happen to Davina and Nell if they are caught?
For years, Kaden tried to redeem himself by swearing to protect Carbon Creek but more importantly, Davina.
He knew her secret.
He knew why she came to Carbon Creek.
And he feared what could happen if either she or Nell was caught.
If all else fails, he would take Davina and Nell and abandon Carbon Creek to its faith.
Darkness engulfed Carbon Creek as Davina stood on top of the large hill; of all the places in town, this was her favorite place.
She loved Carbon Creek.
She loved the peace she found.
She loved the people.
She loved her family.
For years, Kaden managed to shield her from the harsh reality of truth, but that night in Pappy's Grill she saw the look of fear, sadness, and shame in Kaden's eyes.
And then she knew it was all coming to an end.
What would she do?
What would any of them do?
Run?
Hide?
She was tired of running. They all were.
Each day The Coalition got stronger, expanded and grew more ruthless.
People, families, and even entire towns disappeared.
The distant snapping of a twig pulled her away from her thoughts; she turned and smiled, "Mestral!"
Mestral walked slowly towards, Davina, "Do you wish to be alone?"
Davina shook her head, "No, please come here."
Mestral stood next to Davina, "I knew you would be here. I checked in on Nell and Sela, they are still sleeping. I asked my father to check on them in a few hours."
"Nell is very fond of Stronn."
"Indeed."
Tears rolled down Davina's cheek, "Mestral, may I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
Davina stepped back and took a deep breath, "Where do you come from?"
Mestral suppressed a brief but intense moment of fear.
Had someone discovered the ship?
"I know you don't come from Tri Mane. I always knew," Davina continued.
"I thought the policy here was not to ask questions," Mestral responded.
Turing to him Davina eyes flooded with tears, "You should never have come here!"
Mestral touched Davina's shoulder, "What is going on?"
"Kaden….." She cried harder, "The mines won't sustain us for much longer."
"Yes, I figured as much," Mestral added.
"Each month our quota is doubled which at first wasn't a problem, but we can no longer supply The Coalition and ourselves," Davina wiped her face.
"Do they even need these minerals?"
"No, not really, it's a matter of control." "What will happen?"
"They will come and destroy to place just to make an example," Davina punched her fist into the palm of her hand.
Mestral never dealt with human emotions in such a way and he wasn't sure what to do.
"We will need to leave Carbon Creek."
Davina rolled her eyes, "And go where?"
Mestral found himself staring at Davina.
Since their chance encounter, Davina has always been a source of fascination to him.
He tried to dismiss it but standing here, now, in the darkness, he realized it was indeed something more.
But how could he have feelings for a non-Vulcan female?
Over the last few months, Mestral could sense the last of his Vulcan restraints giving way to his emotions. He became more willing unlike T'Mir and Stronn to explore the limits and depths of his emotions.
Now he felt an intense desire to touch Davina's skin, her lips, and all the secret parts of her body.
He wanted Davina in a way he never felt with T'Pena.
As if compelled by a force other than his own, Mestral reached out and touched Davina's cheek.
Startled but amused, Davina touched his hand grazing the tips of his fingers. Breathing hard, she mumbled, "What did I just feel?"
Mestral took her hand and touched her fingertips more firmly, "You felt me, Davina."
A wave of emotion washed over Davina she closed her eyes, "I….feel…you….inside me…."
Mestral moved in closer, he could no longer help himself.
Davina's emotions intertwined with his own creating an ecstasy of lust and passion.
Davina felt Mestral's feelings of love, desire, protectiveness, and jealousy.
However, Mestral's telepathic powers unknowingly penetrated Davina's mind too deeply and her secret spilled out her mind and into Mestral's.
Mestral wanted to pull away but no longer could, Davina's mind pulled him in, and his desire for her consumed him.
They began kissing as hands roamed the landscape of each other's bodies and soon they were laying on the hillside, naked and making love.
And this how Mestral came to know Davina's secret.
"Tell them what you found in the forest, old man," Kai instructed.
"I found something in the woods…..it's unbelievable…." The old man stammered.
Kaden held up his hand and placed it on the man's shoulder, "Relax. Tell us what you found."
The old man took a deep breath, "I went hunting with my dogs, and they ran ahead of me. When I finally caught up to them, I saw it."
"Saw what!" Asked Cale was growing impatient.
"A ship," the man voice got lower, "Look like a spaceship!"
Kaden, Kai and the other men exchanged looks of concern.
"This man is a drunk!" Saren said, "We don't have time for this!"
Waving his arms the old man pleaded, "Kaden, I am not lying. The ship looked as if it crashed. I know it's not The Coalition, it can't be!"
Kaden stood up, "Can you take me there?"
"Yes," the old man smiled, "I can!"
"Alright, we leave tomorrow, but this stays between us, do you understand!"
The man nodded his head and left when Saren opened the door.
"A spaceship?" Cale asked.
"Don't know, but I want to see it for myself. Might be the answer we are looking for to save Carbon Creek," Kaden lowered his head, "Kai, I want you to find Davina, I need to talk to her."
An: Cliffhanger! Enjoy? Let me know!