Fey turned to Li’ara. “And you’re going too?”
“I am,” Li’ara said. “This is the only way.”
The councillor looked back to Kalian. “And there’s no way of talking you out of it?”
“You’ll be fine,” Kalian reiterated. “Together you’ll put the Conclave back together and rebuild the fleet. And you…” he looked at Roland and Ch’len, “well, I guess you’ll do what you do best.”
“The scum of the galaxy isn’t going to catch itself,” he replied with a wink.
Uthor shot the bounty hunter a look. “That’s still illegal.”
Fey raised her hand to stop that discussion from going any further. The councillor walked up to Kalian and took his hand in hers.
“You have… well, you have done more for our people than any other. You deserve some rest.” Her features softened, but her grip intensified. “But not too much rest.”
Kalian squeezed her hand back. “We’ll always be here when you need us.”
The councillor hugged him before moving on to Li’ara. Telarrek approached in all his regal attire, though the Novaarian had no intention of shaking his hand. All four of his arms wrapped around Kalian and embraced him tightly.
“In all my long years, Kalian Gaines, I have never met an individual so… inspiring. You might be leaving us, but the effect you have had on all of us will live on long after you have gone. I hope you finally feel at home among the stars.”
After Telarrek moved along, Naydaalan copied his father and pulled Kalian in for an embrace. “You might not have been bred a warrior, but a warrior you will always be. I will miss you.”
Kalian couldn’t help but smile at all the compliments. “Just keep an eye on them all for me, okay?”
Naydaalan put his upper hand to his chest. “By my honour.”
Roland strolled over with Ch’len in tow. “We’d better make this quick, kid. The little one hates open spaces.” Indeed, Ch’len did appear uncomfortable in their surroundings.
“From what I hear,” Kalian said, “You’re the one being hailed as a hero. ‘The hero of Shandar’ is a title I’ve heard more than once.”
Roland shrugged. “Being a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Turns out, there’s no actual reward for saving the galaxy. Plus, everyone knows my face now, so hunting bad guys just became a lot harder.”
Kalian could see that the bounty hunter was feeling awkward saying his goodbyes. “Just be here when I get back,” he said to Roland. “Teaching you to fly is going to be hilarious.”
Roland laughed, back in his element. “I’ll be ruling the Conclave before you make it back, kid.”
As one, Kalian, Li’ara and the Gomar began their journey across the desert. Of course, Roland had one last thing to say.
“Hey, Red!” he shouted. “When you get bored of him, I’ll always have a bunk waiting for you on the Rackham!”
Li’ara smiled and gave the bounty hunter the finger. “I’m going to miss him…” she said quietly.
Kalian laughed as they waved their last goodbyes before entering the cool air of the ship. Upon their arrival on the bridge, a circular console dominating the centre of the room came to life. A holographic map filled the space with the entire galaxy, laying it bare before them.
Vox pointed at a cluster of stars on the far side of the galaxy. “I want to go here!”
Ariah pointed at another cluster. “We should go here!”
Garrion shook his head. “The data files say there are carbon-based life forms over here. Let’s see what they’re like.”
With no direction, everyone turned to Kalian, who had his arm comfortably around Li’ara’s shoulders. “Let’s get lost…”
The Terran Cycle Boxset Page 162
