The Solar Flare (15 page)

     Ava looked down, as if she were not sure if she wanted to hear what was coming next. He continued the story. “Xavier reluctantly agreed to help us, though I’m sure it was not for my sake.
I feel as though Naomi is sort of a sister to me, Xavier must have felt the same. So, late that night, Andre and I took our dying Naomi to the nearest hospital with Xavier following. We snuck into the hospice ward and located a young blonde woman who was terminally ill from leukemia. She was suffering terribly. We placed them side by side and Xavier used his ability to stop the young woman’s heart. Then, he stopped Naomi’s heart and used his ability to assist her to switch bodies. Her essence and what was left of her energy transferred to the new body and her old one perished. Matches can sometimes transmit energy to each other and Andre gave all that he could to her. The energy cured the cancer, and enabled Naomi to survive, though she was very weak. She still is by our standards and has yet to recover her abilities, but she will. Our energy builds the longer we are in our bodies. After that, Xavier left us that night without saying a word, but I knew his thoughts. He cautioned me to take better care of my family. It’s like our mind almost merges as one when we are that close together. Our energy longs to be re-united. It pulls us towards one another when we are near. He hates it just as much as I do. That’s why we can’t stand being around each other. That was the last time I saw him, about ten years ago.” Wesley looked at Ava to gauge her reaction to his story.

     “I’m not sure if that story makes this Xavier a hero or a monster
,” Ava commented.

     “None of us are perfect Ava. Maybe that’s what makes us more human?
The woman that Naomi became was suffering, she wanted it to end. We tried to make the right choice. There are so few of us, it would have been devastating if Naomi had died. Xavier is many things, but so am I. I wouldn’t describe either one of us as a monster. However, I think it would be safer for both of us if he did not discover you,” Wesley said solemnly.

     “If he already knows you have met me, do you think he’d be angry, especially since it appears you are hiding me from him? Maybe we should just go to him after this th
ing with Kaden is over and explain to him that I want to be with you? That sounds reasonable based on what you have told me about him,” Ava suggested. What would this Xavier be like if she did meet him? Would he harm her?

     “Going
to Xavier is not an option Ava. He must never find you. I’m sure he would be angry. I know this because I would be. We are the same, he and I. There’s no telling exactly what he would do.”

    
“I feel an attachment with you, emotions and a closeness that I can’t even describe. I have since I met you. It’s your energy, it’s like I’m connected to it. I’m not an Asterion, but I am as bonded with you as you are to me.  What would happen if I did meet this Xavier? Would I react to him the same way I do to you?”

     “I don’t know. This has never happen
ed before to any of us. I hope not.” Wesley looked at the ground, apparently not happy about that possibility.

   
“Well, we’d best not waste our time worrying about things like Bryant and Xavier that we can’t control right now. Let’s concentrate on Kaden and Draves. I’ll make some dinner for us before you go to the ship and then I’ll get started packing a travel bag so that it will be ready when I need to leave,” Ava offered.

     Wesley stopped her before she left for the kitchen. “Ava, I’m sorry that I’ve done nothing but complicate your life.
You could have had a normal relationship if you had never met me.”

     “That’s not true Wesley.
Kaden’s actions are not your fault. I love you and I can’t imagine my life without you. You have no idea how much you have meant to me from the beginning. We’re part of each other now. Your problems are my problems and that’s okay. Whatever happens, I have no regrets. I will always love you.” She kissed him and left for the kitchen, eager to prepare their early dinner, to give Wesley more time to make ready the base which would be her safe house during Kaden’s impending attack.

Chapter 12
: Ibis

     As twilight approached, Wesley returned to the Andromeda at the main hangar. Justin was waiting to brief him of everything that had been loaded for Ava’s secret stay at the base on Ibis. He proceeded to tell him all of the details as Wesley looked around.

    “The
re’s enough here to last about six weeks if needed, but I doubt that she’ll need to be away more than two or three depending on how fast Kaden gets here,” Justin commented.

     “Thank you, and Rowan
, for all that you’ve done,” Wesley replied, powering up the ship.

     “Are you sure you don’t want some help?”

     “No, I have to do this alone, for her safety.”

     “How is Ava taking all of this?”

     “She’s coping quite well, considering everything. . . I told her about Xavier.”

     “How did she react
?”

     “Okay I guess. I’m not sure how
she should take that kind of news. It’s complicated,” Wesley stated as he took his seat in the flight deck.

     Justin changed the subject. “Andre and Ash are getting ready to take the Princip
ia up to see if they can detect any nearby transmissions from Kaden. We’ll get through this, we always do.”

     “I know.  I’d better be on my way. I’ll be back by dawn.”

     “Good luck,” Justin said as he turned to exit the ship.

     “Thanks
,” Wesley called after him. As soon as Justin stepped away from the Andromeda, the entrance ramp raised and Wesley lifted off, destination known only to him.

    
Though sunset was just beginning, below him Wesley could see the residents running here and there almost in a state of panic since Vance announced that an attack from Kaden was imminent. The citizens were doing their best to salvage anything and everything they could and be prepared to hide out in the recently built bomb shelters under the village. Back at home, Ava sadly packed her travel bag with things that she might need for an extended stay away. She downloaded music, many books, and movies at Wesley’s suggestion to keep herself occupied. Afterwards she showered and went to bed. She planned to report for work in the morning as he said he’d come for her if anything changed.

     Wesley raced through the night sky across the vast purple and deep blue ocean on Kyanos to the
desert. He landed outside of the base on Ibis and unloaded a power cell, entered the code on the large metal doors to the base and waited patiently as they groaned open. They had built the sturdy, concealed structure decades ago into a large sandy rock face in the middle of no-where. He remembered the desert fondly as this is where they tested many of the weapons and flight capabilities of the Andromeda, after it was first built. Once inside, he installed the new power cell and illuminated the station. He quickly set to work unloading all of the supplies that Rowan and Justin had prepared for Ava. The base had a main control room, a storage area with a massive water supply tank, a small living quarter area which consisted of two bunk beds, a small bathroom, a sitting area, a decent workout area, and a kitchen, or mess hall as they had called it. The refrigerators quickly cooled down and Wesley loaded them with non-perishable food and water for Ava.  They would bring fresher foods if they were able when the time came. Wesley realized that the small base seemed to resemble Ava’s life on Orionis. She will be perfectly safe here, he thought. There was no threat from desert animals on Ibis, merely only a few insects, at least that’s all they had ever seen. After a few hours, Wesley surveyed his work, pleased with his efforts. He powered the base down to standby and locked it. The return trip back to the main hangar at the compound went quickly. He checked in with the engineers in the control room at the other hangar. As there was no news from the Principia yet, he decided to call it a night and return home for a few hours of rest.

     The people of Kyanos
continued to prepare for Kaden’s assault as the week dragged on. Ava went to and from work regularly. She enjoyed being with patients again; it seemed to take her mind off of all of the complications in her new life. She also enjoyed working with Dr. Sullivan, who taught her a lot about the new ailments and conditions she was starting to see on Kyanos. He had been informed that Wesley would be taking her away as soon as a threat from Kaden was detected. Life almost seemed normal for a while. The Principia had meanwhile been lethally armed for battle, just like the Andromeda. Ash and most of the crew went up on surveillance missions daily and returned with no news of Kaden’s whereabouts. Ava knew this concerned Wesley. They could not figure out what was taking Kaden so long, or worse, what he had planned. Then it happened. Ash and Mia detected the faint static of some transmissions late one afternoon. Ava had just arrived home from work and Wesley bounded into the house, informing her that they would need to leave immediately.

     The entire crew gathered in the hangar to
quickly hug Ava and wish her well before she and Wesley departed. Ava almost had tears in her eyes. She hated being separated from her new family. Deep down, she had a bad feeling about it.

     “It’s going to be okay
. We’ll win this one. Our odds are better now than before. Just think of this as a time for you to relax and take it easy. We’ll come for you as soon as it is safe,” Naomi said trying to soothe Ava’s nerves by brushing it off.

     “I appreciate your efforts to keep me safe, but I really think I should stay with you
,” Ava attempted to appeal once more not to be separated from them.

     “It’s too dangerous sweetheart. I regret that I left you so unprotected on Orionis all of the time. I can’t let that happen again. We must keep you safe from Kaden, and from Draves
,” Wesley reasoned with her gently.

     “Good bye Ava, try not worry
,” Rowan gave Ava a hug and Wesley took her hand, leading her up the ramp of the Andromeda. She took Ash’s seat in the flight deck next to Wesley as he powered up the magnificent starship, raised the entrance ramp, and lifted off. They tore through the sky ferociously as Wesley wanted to waste no time securing Ava and return back to the city on Kyanos to prepare for Kaden.

     After a few hours they touched down gently near the base. They made a few trips to and from the ship, unloading
some fresh food and other last minute items Ava might need. Wesley taught Ava the codes to unlock and lock the massive doors, and also how to operate the computer control system once inside the base. He advised Ava not to use her PCD unless it was an extreme emergency as they sometimes emit frequencies detectable outside of the atmosphere. He did not want any chance of Kaden discovering her. Therefore, there would be no communication between them until the battle was over.

     “I know I don’t need to tell you this, but please take good care of yourself. Rest, relax, read. I’ll be back before you know it.” He smiled reassuringly at her.

     “Can I look around outside of the base?” Ava knew she’d go stir crazy if she stayed inside for more than a few days at a time.

     “If you must, but be very careful.
I would prefer it if you stayed in here, but I know you. Don’t stray too far, always stay in sight of the base. You have nothing to fear here, but it does get rather hot during the day and cold at night. Don’t go outside if there is a sand storm.” Wesley looked down at her with concerned eyes.

     “I’ll be fine, I’ll stay out of troub
le, I promise,” she reassured him.

     “I love you Ava. I promise I wil
l come for you as soon as I can.” He gathered her into a warm embrace, allowing his energy to permeate her, not quite ready to let go.

     “Be safe. Take care of yourself
and the others. I love you and I need you to come back for me soon. After all, we need to get started planning our wedding.” Ava smiled, reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him. They held each other for a few moments and then it was time. Ava knew he had to get back to defend the city against Kaden. She watched sadly as he left, locking the doors behind him. She ran to the computers and powered up the monitor. She found the outside camera feed and watched as the Andromeda lifted off and sped away. She was now alone.

Chapter 13
: War

     Wesley swiftly returned to the hangar in the city and exited the starship to receive an updated report on Kaden’s attack. City engineers quickly began re-fueling and charging the ship, readying it for the confrontation. Four more days slowly passed and still no attack. Wesley, the crew, and Vance along with a few other officers, met twice daily in one of the attached offices of the hangar to discuss strategy.

     “What direction are the signals coming from?” Wesley asked, getting right to the point.

     “It looks as though they are coming from the West, his usual point of entry,” Ash answered and then continued. “I can’t be sure, but I believe that I have also detected a few other scarcely traceable transmissions just outside of the atmosphere.”

     All eyes were now on Ash. “How many other transmissions?” Wesley demanded.