Wesley looked down at the ground. He still felt bad about the whole incident Ava had no memory of now. “It’s not terribly painful is it? I can’t tell you how sorry I am about that. I mean, I should have made you stay closer to the lighted area near the ship. The floor was too unstable, I should have known better.”
“It’s not bad, some days are worse than others. I’m sure with time it will fade. Don’t worry about it. It isn’t your fault that I tripped and fell,” she replied with a smile.
Wesley changed the subject. “Ava, I’m sorry to have to tell you that the crew and I have another lengthy assignment coming up next month.”
“Lengthy?” Ava paused. “How long will you be gone?” A wave of sadness swept over her.
“It’s hard to say. Most likely three or four weeks.”
“I won’t see you for a whole month?” He had become something of an addiction to her, she loved him and knew she would miss him terribly.
“I know Ava, I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave your for so long, but I must.”
“When?”
“Just after Valentine’s day.”
“Well then, let’s make the most our time left together.” She smiled and reached for him.
The precious commodity known as time slips away so quickly. Before Ava knew it, Valentine’s Day was fast approaching. The holiday fell on a Friday and Wesley told her he had a wonderful evening planned, but wanted to surprise her. He specifically told her not to buy him anything, all he wanted was her company. Ava decided to invest in a romantic, lovely new skirt in pastel dove gray and a top in a muted pink color for the occasion. After work that day Ava rushed home and showered; eager to dress up for their evening out. She gazed in the mirror after she had finished. She looked so different from the starving woman with the sunken cheeks that had looked back at her all those months ago. Her soft chestnut brown hair fell a few inches below her shoulders in the soft curls that she had made. Her complexion seemed luminous, with healthy full pale pink rosy cheeks. Ava wondered if it was her improved nutritional status or the fact that she was in love that made her feel and look so alive.
Wesley arrived on time, as usual, dressed up a little more formal than usual. He handed Ava a single long-stemmed deep red rose with a small red ribbon on it. Ava’s eyes widened. She had never been given a flower before. Flowers were considered frivolous because they were expensive to grow and maintain as they used up precious water and soil and were not a source of food. Ava had not seen any flowers on Orionis since her arrival, the last time she had seen them was on their last trip to Capri. Ava took the flower from him gingerly and inhaled the fresh sweet scent. “It’s beautiful Wesley. Where did you get this?”
“I can’t give away all of my secrets,” he replied coyly as he embraced her and kissed her forehead. Ava did not have a vase, so she settled for a tall glass with a small amount of water in the bottom to place the rose in. “Shall we go?” He held out his hand to her. They walked to the nearest lift and took that to one of the upper levels of Orionis. They continued for a short distance on foot to a romantic appearing restaurant called “Paris.” Ava had heard some of her co-workers talking about this place. It had a reputation for being one of the most expensive restaurants on Orionis. Ava could hardly contain her excitement as they entered and were led to their private table. The restaurant emitted an ambience of luxury with its cushioned seats, soft music, and dim lighting. There appeared to be a dinner under the stars theme. Ava noticed hundreds of tiny lights suspended on almost invisible lines above the entire restaurant at varying lengths swaying gently with the circulating air. The remainder of the room appeared to be decorated as an outdoor area with artificial flowers, bushes, and vines, like an old fashioned outdoor patio. Ava had never seen anything like it.
“What do you think, do you like it?” He asked.
“It’s beautiful, so peaceful and elegant. I can’t wait to see the menu,” she exclaimed excitedly.
Wesley loved watching Ava’s reaction to all new things. He had seen and experienced so much in his long life he enjoyed observing her passionate response to things. In a way it awakened and refreshed his own senses. The restaurant was bustling with quiet activity, but did not feel overly crowded, after all it was an expensive place. The menu displayed a structured layout of a lengthy four course meal. Ava had never seen food so meticulously prepared and elegantly presented. Everything tasted beyond delicious. After a few hours and a bottle of wine it was late and time to leave. They walked slowly with an arm around each other back towards the lift.
“Well my dear, what would you like to do now?”
“Can we walk for a little while? I think I ate too much, I need to burn some of it off,” she said contently.
“Of course. I didn’t plan anything else because I wasn’t sure how long we would be in there. It was longer than I thought.”
“Everything, the whole evening was exquisite. Thank you so much. That was an experience I will never forget, especially the company.” She smiled as she looked up at him.
The avenues were almost deserted as the restaurants began to close. Wesley led Ava down a dark passage away from the entertainment district of Level 3. “Where are we going? I don’t think there is anything else back here,” Ava asked.
“It’s okay, there’s something I wanted to show you, it’s not far.”
They continued to walk a short distance and turned down another dark passage. It seemed a bit more industrial than the rest of Level 3. Ava felt pretty sure that they should not be here. They arrived at a solid panel metal door, Wesley opened it effortlessly as it seemed to be unlocked. Inside they found a staircase and walked up two flights of stairs and then down another passage. “It’s just through here,” he said reassuringly as he opened another conveniently unlocked door.
“Wesley, I don’t think we should be here. What if we get caught?”
“Don’t worry, we aren’t going to get in trouble.” He led the way into a small control room and then to another small flight of stairs that opened up onto a large observation deck illuminated with a reddish pink glow. “Ava, this is one of the observation decks that they use to monitor the nearby stars, planets and anything else that might travel through space. The glass is two feet thick.” Ava observed several computers in the wall of the room and a small desk to one side. There was also a massive telescope linked to a computer nearby. They walked over to the large clear floor to ceiling window and gazed out into the darkness of space. Ava could see a few ships coming and going from the hangar a few levels above. She could also see many stars glowing in the distance. The view almost overwhelmed her, it was so beautiful. “How did you find this place? I know we are definitely not supposed to be up here.”
He laughed softly. “I was just wandering around one day and found it, it was a long time ago. I thought this would be a nice place to be alone with you for a little while.” He moved to stand behind her and placed his arms around her waist. She leaned back into him. They stayed like this for several minutes, staring into space. The room was silent except for the gentle air exchange that cycled on and off rhythmically. Wesley held her and began kissing the back of her neck gently. Finally Ava spoke.
“I shall miss you Wesley. I wish you didn’t have to be gone for so long.” She closed her eyes.
“I know. I would take you with me if I could. I think about you all the time, I can’t stand being away from you. I love you too much.” His voice was slightly above a whisper.
Ava opened her eyes as if she could not believe what he had just said. She turned in his embrace to face him, they kissed passionately for a few minutes. “I love you too,” she whispered. He gazed intently into her eyes and began kissing her again. She felt so close to him, he felt so alive, like there was energy flowing through him and through her. Ava knew this was just her imagination. They continued to kiss and caress each other breathing hard. After a few minutes Wesley pulled away slightly and asked “Would you like to go to my quarters?” We
sley, aside from the Andromeda, had a small apartment on Orionis that they hung out in occasionally, but usually when the crew was with them. This time they would be alone and Ava knew what he really meant.
“Yes, I would love that,” she said softly, smiling at him.
He took her hand, kissed it, and led the way out of the observation deck area and back down to the avenues of Level 3. They talked and laughed lightheartedly as they made their way to his quarters. The door slid open silently and they walked inside the cool living room. His quarters were larger and more upscale than Ava’s. She always enjoyed being here the few times that she had been in the past. He took her light jacket from her shoulders and hung it in the closet, doing the same with his own. He went into the kitchen to find some wine while she went to the bathroom. She looked into the mirror as she combed her fingers through her hair. Tonight is our night she thought and smiled at herself.
Wesley poured the wine and handed Ava a glass when she joined him back out into the living room. They sat on the couch, she leaned against him as he ran his fingers through her hair. They talked about anything and everything, laughing and joking, simply enjoying being with each other. After the second glass of wine Ava began to feel a little tired, and buzzed. She got up to put her glass in the kitchen, Wesley followed, in case she had had a little too much, after all Ava hardly ever drank. He wanted her to be as relaxed as possible, hoping the alcohol would dull her senses a little so that she would not notice the energy he tried so hard to contain from her. He was still not ready to reveal to her the truth about himself. She accomplished her task surprisingly without difficulty and they walked back into the living room. He gently grasped her hand and pulled her close. Ava wrapped her arms around his neck. They began to kiss, slowly at first and then more passionately, edging their way into the bedroom. He took one of his arms away from her briefly, only to touch the button on the control panel to close the door behind them.
It was late the next morning when Ava awoke in a tangle of sheets and arms. She looked around the darkened room at the clock 10:45 a.m. She yawned and took a deep breath. She looked at Wesley, asleep beside her breathing softly, and smiled. He looked so peaceful. She slowly and carefully eased herself up and out of the bed without waking him. She gathered her clothes and stepped into the bathroom to shower and re-dress. Feeling refreshed she stepped back out into the bedroom. Immediately, she noticed Wesley was not in the bed asleep anymore. She made her way into the kitchen where he greeted her with a huge smile, a hug and a long kiss. Ava barely noticed the absence of the slight electric sensation that she normally felt when touching him.
“Good morning Ava, how are you?” He looked so handsome to her. Neatly dressed in fresh clothes and his hair smoothed back into place; he appeared very happy. Ava had been worried the moment would be awkward, but as soon as she saw him the thought vanished quickly.
She smiled shyly at him. “I’m fantastic, how are you.”
“Wonderful.” He gazed at her intently, holding both of her hands. “Would you like something to eat, it’s not quite lunch time but I’ve got some options here.”
“That sounds great. I’m surprised I’m hungry at all after that extravagant dinner we had last night.”
He laughed and winked at her. “Well, we worked most of it off I think.”
She laughed with him. She knew their feelings for each other were real. She could sense his genuine love for her and she no longer felt afraid to show her true feelings for him. One more day, she thought, and they would be parted for a month. How would she be able to stand being apart from him? She did not think it would be easy.
Saturday evening the entire crew met with Wesley and Ava for dinner as this would be the last time they would see Ava for several weeks. Naomi chose a casual, rowdy place on Level Six. They fell into their usual pattern of joking and chattering, like a large family would do. To Ava, they were her family now. She felt happy to be with them however the closer their departure loomed, the more her mood sank.
“We’ll be back before you know it Ava. Just promise us that you’ll stay out of trouble, okay?” Naomi teased.
“I’m seriously not that accident prone, it’s only when I’m around you people,” Ava chided back with a smile.
Wesley pulled Ava aside from the others, his expression serious. “Ava, do you need anything? Money. . . food? Anything at all?” He said softly. She could feel his concern for her well-being. He seemed worried to leave her, like parent reluctant to leave their child alone at school for the first time.
“I don’t need anything, but it’s kind of you to make such an offer; thank you.” His thoughtfulness touched her. “I promise you that I will be just fine. I have Elaine to keep me company and we are busy at work. I’m sure the time will fly by and we’ll be together again soon. Promise me that you’ll be careful. After the incident with the pirates, I worry about you out there. If one thing goes wrong you all could. . .”
“You don’t need to worry about me or the crew Ava. We can take care of ourselves. We’ve been doing this for a long time.”
“Where are you going for your assignment this time that it’s so far away you’ll be gone for a month?” Ava asked.
He paused. He would have to tell her another lie, a thought he hated. The place he and the crew were going to was not known to the general population of humans living in space. “We will be on a lengthy mission transporting cargo and building supplies from Earth to Earth II.” He said flatly.
“That’s good,” Ava replied. At least he would not be near Capri and the space pirates, but then, they could be anywhere now. “It must make you guys feel good to take part in the creation of something so revolutionary.”
“Yes. We are proud to help contribute to the survival of mankind. The Earth will be nothing but a memory soon enough.” At least this is the truth, he thought. He spoke of the Earth with regret. Ava knew the Earth’s impending devastation grieved him.
As the evening drew near to the end, Ava and Wesley separated from the others to spend one last night alone together. Their departure would be at noon tomorrow so Ava said all of her farewells to everyone at the restaurant. Back at Wesley’s quarters Ava realized that when she and Wesley touched, she no longer felt the slight sensation of static electricity she had grown so accustomed to. She dismissed it, believing that it was because he had not spent as much time on the Andromeda lately. Ava enjoyed every second of her time with Wesley, she wanted to savor it all, until they would be together again.
In the days that followed Ava wondered what her future might be like if she and Wesley took their relationship to a more permanent level. Would she leave her career and her job to travel with them, or would things remain the same? Neither seemed like the perfect solution. Ava tried not to think too much about it. She also made herself think positive thoughts about Wesley’s mission. She did not want to worry, but the thoughts of her last trip out with him kept creeping back. She monitored the news diligently, and felt reassured that there were no reports of space pirate attacks. Her friends were out there, and she was on Orionis, life goes on. The clinic continued to be busy. Elaine had become a good friend to Ava. The two women continued to find interesting things to entertain themselves with after the self defense class ended. Ava was thankful for this. She did not know the truth about Wesley and the others, or where they were headed.
Chapter 13: Kyanos
The Andromeda swiftly exited the local solar system known and travelled by the human population and achieved absolute velocity without difficulty. Many decades ago Wesley and his crew happened upon a new blue planet far and away from the limits of human travel. They decided to land their ship and have a look around. The ship’s computer analyzed the atmosphere and temperature, which was surprisingly compatible with human life. This was perhaps the greatest discovery of mankind, and also the most secret. They named it Kyanos and decided to try an experiment. They wanted to attempt to establish a new sustainable human colony. The inhabitants of the
Andromeda had lived long enough to witness the inefficiency of humans and the despicable pollution of the Earth. They had discovered a new planet, a chance for the humans to start over, and they wanted it done right. Kyanos was about one third the size of the Earth, tiny in comparison. They wanted the transplanted inhabitants to respect their environment, even if that meant taking a step back from existing technology, or instigating new technology. After spending several years monitoring and exploring the planet, the crew deemed it suitable to proceed with their plan.
The temperature on Kyanos ranged from thirty to ninety five degrees Fahrenheit; depending on the season. The planet experienced everything from light snow to pouring rain. The humid atmosphere lent itself to frequent violent lightning storms during the rainy season. The mixture of gases were similar to that of the atmosphere on Earth with a slightly higher oxygen level, but still acceptable for human life. The planet received warmth and light from two different suns, creating a twenty-eight hour day, with sunlight possible for near twenty of those hours. Solar power would be the primary source of energy. Unfortunately, the water found in several of the large bodies of water contained many minerals and toxins, rendering it unsafe to drink. However, the high level of precipitation made it possible to collect rainwater for processing, storage, and drinking. If rationed carefully, there would not be a shortage. In time, a technique for filtering and distilling the lake water was developed, solving the water issue from many angles.
The soil analysis revealed a fertile environment for plant life. The mineral composition gave the soil a slight purplish hue. The light reflecting off of the ground created a faint lavender appearance to the sky. The planet had plenty of tall green grasses and slim lofty trees with fern-like foliage, however no obvious sources of food for humans. Rowan held the responsibility for determining the types and amounts of plant life from Earth that would be transferred to the new planet. The delicate operation took several decades and was tightly controlled. Careful experiments were performed to check the compatibility between the plants on Kyanos with the plant life from Earth that Rowan wanted to introduce. The captain and crew did not encounter any major intelligent forms of alien beings. Despite the abundance of greenery on the new planet, there was a scant small alien animal population. Introducing animals from Earth would be a sensitive operation. Once again they did not want to tip the balance by bringing in animals that could potentially destroy the environment. Importation consisted mostly of farming animals, whose population could be monitored and controlled. The crew cautiously hand selected willing humans along the way that they trusted and knew would be key to the success of the new world. In time, these humans would come to know what kinds of beings Wesley and his crew were, and they were surprisingly not at all fazed by it.
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