by Brian Fisher
EPILOGUE
T'Sula watched as Corin's ship settled gently to the ground. The ship was battered, but it was still a welcome sight. She watched from the distance as the hatch opened, and Corin strode confidently out. Behind him was a Caldonian that T'Sula wasn't sure that she would ever see again.
She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, and then stepped out of the rocks. She walked quickly, but forced herself not to run. There were so many things that she wanted to tell Corin, so many things that had happened, that T'Sula didn't know where to begin.
The distance disappeared quicker than T'Sula was prepared for, and before she knew it, she was standing mere centimeters away from the man that haunted her dreams.
"You came for me." She managed to say before she wrapped her arms around Corin. She pulled him close, and sank into his embrace.
"I told you I would." Corin grinned. "Besides, I was worried about you."
T'Sula couldn't stop herself from gazing deep into Corin's eyes. She stood there, lost to everything else, and didn't notice the Caldonian woman, or the Bakeeron girl that came to stand beside Corin and Narja.
"T'Sula!" Mekala squealed in delight, as she jumped down from Prinelle's arms.
"What?" T'Sula brought herself back to the here and now, releasing Corin. "Mekala?" She asked as she reached down, and picked the girl up, taking her into a tight embrace.
"Where did you come from?" Tears started to fall freely from T'Sula's eyes. "I've missed you."
"I guess you two have already met." Corin shook his head, completely bewildered. How could T'Sula and Mekala know each other? "Anyway, ah, T'Sula this is Prinelle. Prinelle, this is T'Sula Mir."
"I've heard much about you, Commander." Prinelle said, stepping forward and taking T'Sula's hand.
"I hope it's all been good." T'Sula smiled at the other woman. She didn't know why, but she immediately liked Prinelle. "It is nice to meet you."
"Major, I'm happy to see you again." T'Sula turned her attention to Narja, as Mekala hugged her tightly about the neck.
"Commander, the pleasure is mine." Narja shifted a bit, looking very uncomfortable. "We should not be exposing ourselves like this. Especially on enemy land."
"It's all right." T'Sula reassured her comrade. "The war is over."
"How can the war be over? The fighting continues, just as it always has. There's been no treaty, no cease fire, nothing." Prinelle's questions brought everyone's attention to T'Sula, as if she would have the answers. "How can we be standing here, on Earth, without the Ta'Reeth swarming us? We were fighting two fighters, and then they simply broke away. Why?"
T'Sula took her time, gauging the expressions of Corin, Narja, and Prinelle. What she had done, and what she had to say had the potential to change everything. She wanted desperately to be just any other woman. She wanted to be with Corin, but she knew that what she had to tell him would make that dream impossible.
She didn't want any of the responsibilities that she now had. She wanted to give them to someone, anyone else. There had to be another person that was better suited to govern the Ta'Reeth than her. There had to be some other way.
Deep in her heart, T'Sula cried. She knew that there could be no easy answer to the problems that she faced. There was no other person to take her place. She had to face the fact that she was Queen of the Ta'Reeth, ruler of the most powerful faction in the galaxy.
T'Sula gently handed Mekala over to Corin. Taking her time, she made sure that she had everyone's full attention before she spoke.
"I am now Queen of the Ta'Reeth." T'Sula Mir paused, and breathed before she continued. "The war is over."
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Thank you for taking the time to read 'The Key'. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. T'Sula's adventures will continue, as will the adventures of the other characters that you met (and and a few that you haven't), so please watch for more of their story to unfold. Until then, please be happy and safe.
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Sincerely,
Brian
P.S.: Here's a little something extra (in rough draft form) from my upcoming novel 'The Choice' to tide you over.
The Choice
