All too soon, Iika and Bahan were the last of the Beyonders to fade away. They spoke as one.
Our task is done. We must go. Farewell brave Naero. Bright Shetharra.
Naero was already crying. Goodbye, again, my beloved friends.
Shetharra leaned in and kissed them even as they faded. Goodbye pretty ones!
They were gone the next instant. Shetharra turn around in her mother’s arms. Don’t worry, Mama. They’ll be waiting for us. We’ll meet them again, someday. But I have so many questions. The head bad one. Was he really my uncle?
Naero sighed deeply, but the best answer was always the truth. At least as much truth as a very wise seven year old needed to hear.
Yes, Shetharra. He was Uncle Jan’s twin brother, and my little brother as well. Unknown to our family, the enemy captured him long ago when he was a baby, and hurt him very badly for many years. That forced him to choose to become as bad as them. Possibly even worse in some ways.
That was a very bad thing, Mama. Maybe that’s why he was so sad and messed up inside. I wish we could have helped him somehow. He’s gone now, right Mama?
Yes, sweet girl. He’s gone forever. He had to be stopped. I couldn’t let him harm us any longer.
Can we go home now, Mama? I’m tired and hungry and I want to see Papa and everyone else. And then I might want to nap for a bit. I’m tired. Will you sing to me?
Naero closed her eyes. I will always sing to you, my little duck.
Baeven came up to them and put his arms around them both protectively. I think we’re done here. Your friend’s going to stay behind with her people for a bit. They have a lot more catching up to do, she said. And they want to join the Alliance to help protect their people. You two all right?
Naero nodded. Sure we are, uncle. Let’s go home.
20
There would be other battles to come. Their list of foes still seemed endless. But for the present, the enemy had been thrown back once again, and disaster averted. Remnants of their broken plots were still on the loose here and there. They still needed to be hunted down and taken out; but that was all for another day.
However brief the respite was, triumph needed to be savored and fully enjoyed.
Naero and Khai celebrated by summoning Womi and taking a two day tour sweeping throughout the wonders of the Astral Plane. They took Shetharra, Daeyen, and Kathron with them. The kids loved it all.
Where else could they get to zip around on the back of a kilometer long dragon creature and see sights that would amaze anyone with a heart and soul?
At one point another remnant group of enemy-possessed feeders attempted to swoop in and attack them.
Before anyone else could respond, a blinding white wave of Cosmic force raced forward at impossible speed, overwhelmed and obliterated the enemy forces with astounding speed and fury.
After the devastation cleared, Shetharra floated before them defiantly, both of her open hands outstretched. Waves of Cosmic energy coruscated around her advanced, astral energy form. Her long white hair whipped around her, fully aflame like a young star.
She turned to back to them, her third eye wide open, blazing with white fire. Orbs of the same white fire encased both of her tiny hands without harming her.
Naero gasped. That fire wasn’t just ignited from the Lifespark. No, it was the Flame Eternal itself, and Shetharra wielded it naturally, without hesitation.
The greatest force in the universe.
Only the Seven Dreamers of the Kexx had been capable of summoning the Flame Eternal, and in the end, that pure flame had destroyed both them, and the Six Champions of the G’lothc.
“They meant to harm my family,” she explained. “I saw into their minds the terrible things they intended to do. I could not allow that. I will never allow such. They will need to get past me first, and I will fight them with all that I am.”
The white fire fades and flickered away. Shetharra returned to her regular astral form, and floated back into the waiting arms of her parents.
“You are our blood. We’re proud of you for protecting those you love,” Khai told her.
Naero wept and kissed her brave little duck. “This is the blood you come from and you are of the flame eternal. But in the future, sweet girl, let your father and I be the first line of defense. If any of the enemy ever break through past us, then you can deal with them, Shetharra. Do you understand?”
She nodded. A great weariness came over their spacechild, no doubt from her exertions for one so young, and Naero held her close, monitoring her and regenerating her energies for a long while.
The rest of their holiday in the Astral plane went without incident. Womi showed them wonder after wonder. They all learned of many things that only the Kahn-Dar understood and knew about. Naero’s children interacted with Womi as if he were their friend as well, and soon they were. A great fondness between them developed–especially between Womi and Shetharra.
Naero had guessed that might happen.
Upon their return, it was soon time for the next member of the family to join Clans William and Maeris.
Naero re-considered and granted the honor to Sharrah, who was incredibly moved and thankful for the kind gesture.
It was Sharrah’s wish, and easy to grant, for all that she did.
Khai and Naero were present at the birthing. Naero did all that she could with biomancy to help the process go smoothly and quickly, with a minimum of time and the associated pain.
Allantar Thaeved Williams was born at three bells, strong and healthy–if not a little squished looking, and took his names from his mighty fathers of old.
Khai cut the cord very carefully with Yii.
Sharrah held the new little scion first, and then Naero and Khai.
Naero felt the overpowering love that all Spacer mothers felt for all of their children, and quietly vowed to herself to embrace every moment of life, no matter what came their way.
That was the way to live, to defy all of the odds and the dangers and rocket straight ahead. Naero wasn’t going to slow down. She wasn’t going to stop as long as the breath of life still coursed in her breast.
For the first time in her life, she felt in control of herself and her own destiny. She was free to live her life the way she chose–in freedom.
Naero Amashin Maeris held up her beautiful new son Allantar and looked forward through his eyes. That was one of the big secrets in life, in everything. Nothing ever stopped.
Everything around Naero kept going, changing, and evolving.
And so would she and all that she held dear.
Joy always mixed with sorrow, and everything in between.
Naero curled one corner of her mouth into a sly smile and took in a deep breath.
More threats and challenges would certainly continue to hurtle their way at top speed.
By all the Powers…let them come.
The End
Follow the continuing adventures of Naero and her Allies in:
The Gamma Quadrant
TBA
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