E:A Vol 3 Ch 3—September 9, 2119

The auditorium, recently brought online, was buzzing with military in dress uniform, and civilians in their best clothes. With the exception of a handful of people, no one knew why they were told why they were there, only that General Cavanaugh ordered them to be there.

Even Mik’kenna and Ky’nayth were in their finest outfits and on their best behavior, sitting politely in between their parents in the front row. It was a Saturday morning, and as hard as it was for the kids to sit still, since it was their natural inclination to go and get hugs and kisses from the hundreds of people gathered, they obediently stayed seated.

Vince went to the platform and as the clock struck noon, he began his speech.

“I know this is all new to you. We’ve never had a formal gathering like this since coming to this galaxy, but it’s good to see everyone still remembers how to dress up. I’m going to keep this brief so you can get to the cake and ice cream we have ready in the ambulatory. Yes, I said cake and ice cream. But business first.

“In the years we’ve been here on Terra 2, there have been many brave acts, many heroic acts by every member of this Expedition. Today, I want to recognize a few of them. I wish I could do this for all of you.”

He mentioned key personnel in each non-military area, drawing attention to their work, above and beyond the call. Simon Harris who had, almost single-handedly, brought the Terra 2 city online and headed up the crew that made sure the inhabitants had running water and electricity in their chambers. Several members of the medical staff, those who had been with the Expedition from the beginning, were also lauded, as were several scientists who had gone off-world to gather information for their fields of study, sometimes ending up in the middle of a Rayth gathering. Finally, Vince announced thirteen names, all military personnel. Each received a rank up and Vince pinned on their new insignia.

Then Kaven and Be’atta were asked to join the general on the platform. After recounting some of their heroic deeds, Zy’nayth rose and went to the podium and gave his own words of praise for the two Andromeda galaxy natives. Then Vince awarded them the title of honorary Marines, to the shouts and huzzahs of those in the auditorium.

Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna each clapped and bounced up and down in their seats, excited by all of the cheers and noise.

“Major Christopher Chapman and Lieutenant Colonel John Hagen please come forward,” Zy’nayth said as the cheers diminished.

The two men, in their dress blues, walked up and saluted the general, then turned to Zy’nayth and gave him a formal bow due the High Chancellor’s station. This time Zy’nayth began the list of their accomplishments, leaving out the secret work they had done for him, then Vince, taking a much more formal tone, finished listing the two men’s deeds.

Though Vince had encouraged the two to go through the process of filling out forms and taking the required tests for ranking up, the men hadn’t really wanted to, and said they might someday. But given this was a top secret Expedition, of which only a handful of people on Earth even knew about, the process of ranking up was changed for all military personnel, relying on Vince’s recommendations and that of two other officers, the paperwork, such as it was, was given directly to the Joint Chiefs and the President. The rank was then conferred.

Vince motioned for the applause to stop and when things finally quieted, he said, “Everyone please rise for our special guest, the President of the United States.”

Victoria helped her children to the ground so they could stand respectfully. Michael Stewart, coming from back of the room walked down the main aisle, shaking hands and saluting the men and women along the way to the platform.

“Christopher Chapman,” the president said, “for your exemplary performance as a member of the United States Marine Corps, as your Commander-in-Chief, I hereby award you the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.” He stepped forward and changed the insignia on Chris’ uniform, then gave him a salute. “John Hagen,” for your exemplary performance as a member of the United States Marine Corps, as your Commander-in-Chief, I hereby award you the rank of Colonel.” John’s insignia was changed, also followed by a salute, then the president took to the podium, but faced John, Chris, Be’atta, and Kaven. “To all four of you, I personally thank you for all you have done for the people of the United States and for Earth. It may go unseen and unheralded by those on Earth, but know that your Commander-in-Chief and his Joint Chiefs of Staff know what you do, what you go through and we all thank you.”

He turned back to the crowd, “And to everyone here, from the janitors to the doctors to the scientists on up to General Cavanaugh, I thank all of you for your hard work and dedication to this Expedition. I thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made, leaving your own homes, your own planet, and giving your best in the midst of difficult, if not downright lethal conditions. All of you should be proud. And if it wouldn’t cause a global upheaval, I would announce to the people of Earth all of the amazing things you have done in almost six years here. I wish to recognize just a few more people who have gone above and beyond the call, whose deeds have crossed my desk in various reports and have left me wishing I could move here and work with everyone on Terra 2.”

Becket, Victoria, and Vince were praised. And though he couldn’t name names, he acknowledged Ja’val, Kol’non, and Zy’nayth by their ranks. When he finished, Vince dismissed the crowd so they could celebrate with the treat of cake and ice cream.

***

“So, look at you two,” Victoria said after the celebrations died down and the gang assembled in Zy’nayth’s chambers, “all spiffy with your new little pins.”

Becket sat on the sofa, Amelia next to him. “I can’t believe the president came personally. That must be an incredible feeling. I got to shake his hand, but you two got your new insignia pinned on by the man. I’m so proud of you guys, well, of everyone. We’ve got a good team.”

Alessa sat next to Amelia, then Chris next to her. “That was pretty cool. I was just happy with him allowing my dad to come here. This was almost too much,” Chris said, fingering his oak leaf. “Dad’s gonna love it.”

“When’s he coming?” Amelia asked.

“As soon as I get back to Earth to ask him to come. I mean, I just found out Tuesday night. Vince okayed a two-day leave for Tuesday and Wednesday week after next. Please pray, it may be a tough sell to get him to come, but I really want him here.”

“You know we’ll be praying,” Victoria said, “come on kids, let’s get you into some play clothes.”

“Bay ball hat!” Ky’nayth exclaimed tapping his head.

“We’ll get your hats,” she smiled and led them to their room.

September 10, 2119

“Victoria,” Zy’nayth called out shortly after he entered the chambers, “what has happened to my son’s hair?”

Her laugh could be heard from the kitchen. She walked out, a wide smile on her face, “I think it’s cute.”

“Pike!” Ky’nayth said as he patted the spikey hairdo his mother had given him.

“Rayth do not wear…” Zy’nayth sighed, “You cut it?”

“Zy, it was halfway down his back. I went down to Venetia’s and had her cut it, then we put a little gel in it and, well, he looks so cute.”

“We did not discuss this,” he said, clearly upset. “Did you cut Mik’kenna’s hair?”

“No, just put it up in ribbons. Zy, it’s a haircut. The gel will wash out.”

“I did not approve this,” he said, fighting to hold back the rising anger within, “please wash it out now.”

Victoria sighed, “But…”

“And you do not simply cut Rayth hair! You should have asked.” He handed his son to Victoria then stormed to the bedroom and shut the door.

With Mik’kenna on her heels, Victoria grabbed a clean set of clothes then went to give her son a shower. As soon as she walked into the bathroom, she began to cry. She sat on the floor and hugged her son tight, “I’m sorry, sweetie, Mommy didn’t know.”

Mik’kenna ran back and knocked on the bedroom door, “Dada! Dada!” she called out as she banged on the door. Zy’nayth opened the door and she pointed to the bathroom, “Ma, sad.”

“It’s okay, Kenna,” Victoria called down the hallway when she heard her daughter, “Mommy’s fine.”

“Dada!” Mik’kenna exclaimed again, “Ma, sad. Go help! Go! No sad!”

Victoria was getting to her feet, wiping at her tears as Zy’nayth walked down the hall and looked into the bathroom.

“I am sorry,” he said, “I…I was shocked. Our culture does not do such things to their hair. A tail, a braid, or pulled back is acceptable. We do not put gel in our hair. We do not do these things.”

“Not even cut it?”

He shook his head, “It grows to the length it wants to be and stays there. There is no need to cut it.”

“I didn’t know, Zy. I’m sorry.” She walked over and looked at the braid in his hair, “But it will grow back. Yours did from where you cut the braid out.”

“It will, but…” he sighed again. He took a breath as he bowed his head and calmed himself. Finally, he looked back into her green eyes, “I have gotten too upset over something so trivial. Forgive me.”

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. “I should have asked.”

“You did, a long time ago. About my hair. I did not explain. I am at fault.”

Victoria breathed a sigh of relief, “No one’s at fault. There’s no permanent damage. And I promise it won’t happen again.”

Zy’nayth leaned down and gave her a tender kiss. “I should not have snapped at you. It was inappropriate. I love you, Victoria, I am sorry I made you cry.”

She smiled, “You must have had a rough day.”

“It was trying,” he said. “Still, that is no excuse.”

“It’s okay. It rarely happens. Now go on and have your downtime. I’ll get his hair all washed up.”

“No. Leave it. He seems to be quite fond of it.”

“Pike!” Ky’nayth grinned and patted his hair again, “Dada, pike.”

Zy’nayth smiled, “It is cute. And you, Mik’kenna, look very pretty with your ribbons.”

“Tank ooh.”

“Mommy needs to finish up with dinner,” Victoria said. “You guys can go back to playing. Daddy, dinner will be ready in about a half hour.”

The kids went scampering back to their room and went back to their toys and games. Zy’nayth joined his wife in the kitchen. “I would like us to return to the island Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.”

“Okay,” she said, “we can go tomorrow if you want, or need to.”

Zy’nayth shook his head. “Christopher will be proposing to Alessa tomorrow. I wish to be here in case things do not go as he hopes.”

“Oh, she’ll say yes.”

“There is always a possibility that she may not. If she does say yes, I know you would like to be here to celebrate with them when they announce it to everyone.”

“Zy, what went on today? Why are you so tense?”

“I need to make a decision about the energy planet. Ja’val does not think we can neutralize the energy source, and I do not wish to destroy the planet and half of the solar system in the process.”

“Ja’val hasn’t had much time to work on this problem, can’t you give him more time?”

“He needs to be focused on the serum trials.”

“He can’t work on that alone, and you know he likes to multitask.”

“I have been pushing him the last couple of years. He needs time with his wife. I would like to see them have children. I know Ja’val would like that.”

“It’ll happen in God’s time.”

“I just hope it does not take ten thousand years like it did with me.”

“But was it worth the wait?” she smiled.

Zy’nayth kissed her cheek, “It was.”

“Even if your wife put gel in your son’s hair and made it stick out all over the place?”

“Yes,” he replied and wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder as she stirred the gravy. “I need to learn how to cook.”

“Well, this is almost done, but you’re always more than welcome to join me in the kitchen.”

“I will make a point of doing so,” he said.

“Don’t you remember anything your mom made for you when you were young?”

“Rayth do not cook. The food Rayth children require comes in prepackaged containers. They eat that from the time there are babies until their energy extractors work.”

Mik’kenna came bounding into the kitchen holding one of her ribbons, tears running down her cheeks, “Ma fix peez.”

Victoria set the spoon aside and lifted her daughter onto a chair. “Don’t cry, sweetie, here,” she said as she used her fingers to pull her hair back, then she clipped the ribbon into the long white hair. “See, all better.” She set her back down, “Now go and get your brother, dinner’s almost ready.”

The little girl went running back through the chambers and returned with Ky’nayth. Their father put them in their high chairs, then the family prayed over their meal.

September 19, 2119

Chris and Alessa announced their engagement on September 12, 2119, the day after Chris popped the question. A week later, Chris traveled back to Earth to talk to his dad about joining him on Terra 2.

“Are you sure you haven’t been out in the sun too long?” David Chapman asked his son after hearing about Expedition: Andromeda.

“Dad, it’s real. It’s a secret government project. I’ve been given special permission, by the president himself, to tell you about it and to take you there to live.”

“Why would I leave this place?”

“For one, the pollution. Your lungs are a mess from all those years of firefighting. Second, you don’t do anything here. Dad, I can get you healed up on Terra 2. And there’s so much you’d enjoy. There’s grass, Dad…real honest to goodness grass. Trees. Unpolluted water. You can fish all day every day. The city sits on the gulf. And think of all the planets you could visit. I really think you’d enjoy it.”

“How many people there are my age? This little government expedition, as you call it, is probably made up of your generation.”

“Okay, yeah, the military are my generation, and yeah, there aren’t that many people of your age there, but there are some. General Cavanaugh, Jennifer Maison, some of the scientists. Like I said, we’re on friendly terms with over a hundred villages. You’d be able to travel to them and make friends there.”

David sighed, “I like it here.”

“No you don’t. You never have. You only lived here because Mom wanted to be close to her family. Please, Dad, come back with me and check the place out. At least then you won’t think I’ve lost my mind.”

David waved off his son’s remark then pointed to his collar. “The president really pin that oak leaf on you?”

“He did. Dad, please, come back with me tomorrow. Just see the place.”

David sighed, “All right, but only to make sure you haven’t gone and lost your mind from the frigid Antarctica weather.”

“I told you, that’s a cover,” Chris said. David grinned.

September 20, 2119

“Dad, this is General Vince Cavanaugh. He runs the place,” Chris said, “and this is my Dad, uh, David.”

“Welcome to Terra 2,” Vince said, shaking David’s hand, “I understand you’re not quite sold on moving here yet.”

“Well,” David said looking around at the enormous bridge portal control room, “I wasn’t quite sure if my son was pulling my leg. This really a different planet?”

“I assure you, it is. And this is Colonel John Hagen. Here, let’s go into the conference room real quick, get a view of where we are.”

“My son speaks highly of you,” David said, shaking the colonel’s hand as he followed the men into the glass-enclosed room.

“As he should,” John grinned then pointed across to the windows, “Have a look.”

David walked over and gazed out. The landscape was unbelievable. He was clearly at least one hundred stories high overlooking a small city below that circled the tower he was in, and the one to his right, but beyond that, the deepest blue water surrounded them, except at what he thought of as the north end of the floating city, which was closer to the shore. Beyond that, a beach-like area that was swallowed up by the forest beyond. He could see rows of plants to the west. “Farm?” he asked.

“Small but growing every day,” Vince said. “A second medical facility, mostly for emergencies from those who work on the farm and the botany labs or in the little makeshift gym we have there. These are the only buildings on the planet.”

“No kidding?”

“This is it. Clean air, fresh water, fresh, non-genetically modified food. We still have to import a lot of food from Earth, but as we come across fresh plants, and find a place to plant them, we add them to our agricultural area. All corn, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes we eat are grown right down there. We have some livestock, cows, chickens. That’s taking a bit longer to get set up. Chickens aren’t an issue, we have plenty of fresh eggs, and we’re keeping up with numbers so we can have fresh meat. Cows are for milking and breeding. We tend to get most of our meat from villages we trade with. We’ve just gotten to a point where we’re breeding enough to be used as meat. But we don’t have the staff or expertise on how to go about that. Yeah, our chefs all know how to slice the thing up, but it’s that prior step we just haven’t figured out yet. Anyway, as far as food goes, we’re slowly becoming self-reliant. Flour mill is just starting up this week. Pretty proud of that. Anyway, take a look around and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Come on,” John said, “Chris and I will show you around.”

At the end of the day, David decided that Terra 2 was the real deal and he told his son that he’d pack up and move to the floating city.

“Can I go back with him and help him pack?” Chris asked Vince as they stood in the general’s office.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“I don’t have much, mostly books,” David said. “I’ll have to sell the condo.”

“We can tend to that,” Vince asked, “Just sold mine. A week enough to pack up?”

“Should be,” David said, “but Chris, you don’t need to come back, I can take care of it.”

“Dad, there’s a lot to do. More than you think. You’ll want to say goodbye to your friends, and there’s banking stuff we’ll have to tend to. I’ve got a list they give people who transfer here from Earth, and having gone through it myself, it’s a lot. Dad, I’m coming. You’re gonna need my help.”

“What about your fiancée?”

“I talked to her already. She knows I need to do this. Besides, she’s busy with work and planning a wedding.”

“Well, all right, but you go say a proper goodbye to her before we leave.”

“I need to pack a couple changes of clothes, too,” Chris smiled, “Dad, you’re not going to regret it. I think you’ll really like it here.”

“And while your son’s off doing that,” Vince said and pulled up the city’s layout on his computer, “let’s find you a nice little place to live.”

September 29, 2119

A week and a half later, Zy’nayth and Victoria returned to Terra 2 to meet David and have a celebratory dinner with Chris and Alessa. Victoria was asked by Alessa to make her lasagna after finding out it was one of David’s favorite dishes. Victoria was more than happy to.

When the door chimed, Victoria ran to answer it while Zy’nayth made sure the children were on their best behavior.

“Hi guys,” she said as the door slid open. Alessa and Chris were given hugs then she smiled at David, “Mr. Chapman, welcome to our little home.”

“David, please,” he said. “Thank you. I’ve heard a lot about you and your family.”

“Come on in,” she said, then walked over to her husband, “and this is my husband, the High Chancellor of the Raythian Empire.”

Though David had seen and even talked to a couple of Rayth during his short time on Terra 2, he was taken aback by the imposing man before him. Seven feet tall, built like a warrior, long white hair that looked unkempt, and piercing silver eyes all wrapped in a white leather uniform. The man was massive, and David wasn’t a diminutive man to begin with. Years of firefighting had him in good physical form, but no one ever would consider him imposing.

“Zy’nayth is my name,” the Rayth said and held out his hand, “it is truly an honor to meet Christopher’s father. I am glad you came to Terra 2.”

Both Chris and Victoria looked at the Zy’nayth, surprised he gave out his name so quickly to both Alessa and David. He had known Alessa since her fall on the dock in April of the previous year, but he did not know her well. And he had just met David. Victoria assumed that if they were going to be part of Chris’s life, then Zy’nayth must consider them part of his inner circle.

David shook Zy’nayth’s hand, “My son has kept me up the last couple of nights telling me stories about you, High Chancellor.”

“I am only High Chancellor in the presence of others. You may call me Zy’nayth. And I hope Christopher has been kinder to me than I deserve.”

“Don’t tell anyone his name,” Chris said, “that’s really important.”

“I remember what you said,” David replied. “And from the things Chris told me, I wasn’t sure you were a real person, Zy’nayth. But then I didn’t think a floating city on another planet was real.”

“I am sure it was quite a shock. Now before they burst from trying to keep still, let me introduce my children,” Zy’nayth said. “This is my son, Ky’nayth, and my daughter, Mik’kenna.”

“Peez meet ooh,” Ky’nayth said with a bow.

“Kiss peez,” Mik’kenna said and held out her arms.

Chris laughed, “I told you, they’re smart and quite affectionate.”

***

“Victoria, that was the best lasagna I’ve ever had,” David said, “no one has ever surpassed my wife’s until tonight. And this cherry cobbler…was worth coming to this galaxy for.”

“Thank you,” Victoria said, “pretty high praise.”

Alessa spoke up, “I just tried making my first cobbler while Chris was back on Earth. It didn’t come out too well. I’m gonna need some help with that, Victoria.”

“You busy tomorrow?”

“Day off. Of course, Chris has to be off-world.”

“Well, come by, we can bake one up for him and I’ll show you a few little tricks.”

“You sure?”

“Of course. Zy’s going to be off with Chris and the Alpha Team, so we might as well spend the day gossiping and baking.”

“I’d love that,” Alessa smiled, “thank you so much. I have so many questions. I never was a very good cook, and baking…way out of my league.”

Chris set his empty dessert plate aside and stood, “Zy, can I have a private word with you?”

“Of course,” he said and stood after feeding his son the last bite of his cobbler. “The bedroom, please.”

Chris walked into the master bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed as Zy’nayth shut the door. “What is the matter, Christopher?”

“I need to ask a really big favor. And it’s hard because I know you don’t want to feed more than you have to, and my favor would mean that you’d have to feed, but…you’re the only one who can help. Well, maybe not the only one, but the only one I feel comfortable enough with to ask.”

“Tell me what it is, Christopher.”

“My dad’s been a fireman since he was eighteen. Forty years of that, even with protective suits and oxygen tanks on…well, his lungs are pretty shot. Becket ran a scan, you know the customary physical when we get new people in…and he found a cancerous tumor. He said the operation is simple, but with all of the other damage… his lungs…”

“I will heal him,” Zy’nayth said.

“I wouldn’t normally ask, but…he’s my dad. He’s the only family I have left.”

“Christopher, you are part of my family, and by extension, your father is part of my family. And your soon-to-be bride is part of my family. Please, do not hesitate to ask for help. I will do whatever I can to help you, to help my family.”

Chris stood and hugged the Rayth. “I love you, big guy. Thank you.”

“Does your father understand how it works?”

“Ah, no. I haven’t really gotten into that. I didn’t want to get his hopes up.”

“That is quite all right. Come, I will tend to this now.”

They walked into the main room where everyone had gathered. The kids were playing with their blocks and books while Victoria replenished the dwindling iced tea levels.

“Chief Chapman,” Zy’nayth said.

“I’m retired, just call me David, please.”

“David,” Zy’nayth said, “your son told me about the condition of your lungs.”

“My son sometimes worries too much. Dr. McKenna…wait Mik’kenna? Your daughter?”

“She was named in honor of him. Her name is created with two words, ‘mik’ meaning ‘miracle’ and ‘kenna’ meaning ‘flower.’” Dr. McKenna is a sort of godfather to our children.

“What does your son’s name mean?”

“‘Ky’ means ‘fire’ and ‘nayth’ means ‘warrior.’”

“Ah, so almost like a fireman. I think young Ky’nayth and I will have a lot in common.”

“Dad, Zy’nayth can heal your lungs,” Chris said.

“Dr. McKenna said the surgery was quite simple. The radiation and chemo afterwards, probably not so much…”

“No, Dad, you don’t understand. Zy’nayth can completely heal your lungs. He can get rid of the cancer and all of the damage done from your work as a fireman. All of it, without surgery.”

“Impossible.”

“Very possible,” Victoria said. “He’s saved me from near death a few times. And your son, who was about to die from head to toe third degree burns, and that last little trip where you ended up with several bullets inside of you. My husband has an amazing ability to heal.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Not at all,” Zy’nayth said. “If you will allow me, I can heal you right now.”

“Shouldn’t I be in the hospital or something?”

“That is not necessary. Right here is fine.”

David was hesitant.

“I assure you, there will be no pain,” Zy’nayth said as he sat beside David and put his hand on the man’s chest.

David let out a little gasp as the energy hit his system. It was warm, soothing.

“Did Becket mention any arterial damage?” Zy’nayth asked.

“He hadn’t finished going over the scans when we left,” Chris said. “We go back tomorrow before I head off-world. Why?”

“If he mentions it, tell him it is no longer a concern.”

Zy’nayth’s hand lingered on David’s chest for several more minutes. “Have Becket run another scan in the morning. I will go with you in case I missed something.”

“Wow,” David said as he stood up, “my back pain, it’s completely gone. Did you fix that too?”

“I fixed everything that I found wrong.”

“He also looks a little younger. Early fifties instead of early sixties.” Victoria turned to her husband, “Are you going to keep me young and beautiful?”

“That is a discussion we must have some day,” he said. “I can, but do you really wish to live to be as old as I am and to live through so much?”

Victoria bowed her head, “I never thought about that.”

“As I said, we will have this discussion someday. For now, you are still quite young and very beautiful.”

“May I ask,” David questioned, “how did you two meet?”

Victoria smiled, “I was lying in the woods about to die of a couple of gunshot wounds. This guy shows up and heals me.”

“This was before or after humans and Rayth became friendly?” David asked. “Sorry, I’m sure Chris told me, but it’s all been kind of a blur. Too much info at once.”

“Oh, way before we were friendly,” Chris said. “It was because of their relationship that we started any sort of friendly communication. At first, we thought he was sort of using his telepathic abilities to get control of this city. We were all terrified of him.”

“He does have that intimidation factor going for him,” David said.

Zy’nayth let a sly grin pass his lips as his son crawled up onto his lap and fell asleep.

“Back then, he was the Supreme Commander of their army,” Chris continued, “and let me tell you, when he’s in that mode, your knees will start knocking.”

“My knees are knocking now,” David chuckled. “No offense, sir.”

“None taken.”

Chris waved off his comment, “He’s used to it.” Mik’kenna climbed up on Chris’s lap, curled right up, and fell asleep. “And these two little munchkins are so adorable, so loving. I can’t get over it. Nothing like their father.”

“I am adorable,” Zy’nayth grinned.

“They’re human?” David asked, “They’re skin isn’t the ashy-blue of yours, sir.”

“They are only half human,” Zy’nayth said, “the skin will change color in their teen years.”

“We don’t know that for sure yet,” Victoria said. “If the serum works, and they don’t have to feed, the skin may stay the same as it is now.”

“Feed? I saw them eat,” David said.

“Ah, I didn’t tell him about that part,” Chris said. “See, Dad, the reason there’s a war between humans and Rayth is because Rayth can only survive on one thing…and that’s the energy of a human.”

“I’m not sure I’m following you.”

“Your body and mine, all humans, well, our bodies produce energy, a type only humans can produce. Whatever that is, that’s what they need to feed on. They can’t eat food like we do. Well, they can when they’re little, but then the Rayk DNA, uh, Rayth are part Rayk and part Mythican, they were humans but no longer exist. Anyway, when that Rayk DNA sort of takes over and… after a certain point or uh, age, they can only live off of a human’s life force.”

“I’m still…I just…layman’s terms for this simple man,” David said. “I’m still not getting it.”

“Rayk,” Victoria said sat beside her husband, “are beings that need energy to survive. Not food. Their planet provided that energy. When it began to die, Rayk found that humans had in them a similar energy. So they began feeding off of humans…namely the ancient Mythicans. The Mythicans had no way to stop them,” she motioned around the room, “this is a Mythican city and with all of this technology, they couldn’t stop the Rayk. So they created the Rayth. Part Rayk, part Mythican or rather, human.”

She took Zy’nayth’s hand, turning it up so David could see the two deep lines in his palm. “These lines either allow him to push his own energy into you or take yours from you. When they feed, these hands literally suck your life out of you. You shrivel up and die.”

“But…no…that’s not…Really?”

“It’s true,” Victoria said, “the war is because Rayth, like the Rayk they were created to destroy, have to feed on humans. It was a horrible glitch in the plan. There was no way to reverse the process to transform the human into Rayth. The war’s been raging for over 10,000 years.

“But the good news is that my husband here and his First Science Commander were a few of the Rayth that had been trying to find an alternate feeding source when he ran into me in the woods.

“Becket has a background in genetics, among other things, and though I do as well, I’m no where nearly as talented as Becket is in pure research theory. Anyway, the four of us have been working on finding a way to reactivate their digestive systems so that they can live on fruits and veggies like we do. We started trials about at the beginning of the year. We’ve got a long way to go, but things are going well so far.”

“Don’t take any of this too lightly,” Chris said, “the serum trials are going well, but not for the big guy here. So they’re working on that. And we need to make sure they don’t lose any of their advantageous abilities, like their super strength, speed, telepathy, and their ability to regenerate. Zy’s over 10,000 years old. You met the First Science Commander, he’s over 5,000.”

“And if this serum turns out to mess all their abilities up?” David asked.

“Then we create another serum,” Victoria said, “and keep going until we find one that works.”

“And why is Zy’nayth different?”

“That is a long, boring story,” Victoria said, but if you’re not busy tomorrow and want to come down and get some cooking tips with me and Alessa, I can tell you all about it.”

“I may just do that. Get me some free cobbler while I’m at it.”

“So what are you guys doing off-world tomorrow?” Alessa asked.

“Flight training on the big guy’s battlecruiser and then getting acquainted with the ship he gave us. You know, you still haven’t shown John how to fly this thing. That column came down hiding the command chair, and we can’t get it to go back up.”

“I was hoping to have weapons online before teaching you how to fly her, and remember, when we take this ship up, we’re taking the entire city. Vince will have to make special arrangements for that. I suppose you also need to know how to submerge her too.”

“Really? Oh that’ll be cool,” Chris said.

“I will have to check with the First Science Commander to make sure that is functioning properly before I try that.”

“On a separate note,” Victoria said, “have you two set a wedding date yet?”

Alessa said, “October 20.”

“That soon?”

“I don’t want a big wedding, and, well, it would just be easier. I can’t be traveling back and forth to Earth every week to arrange everything, and neither can Chris. So we’re just going to have a small ceremony at my parents’ place. I just wish I could take all of our friends with us. I’m going to miss having you guys there. I know both of you want to be there and it’s the only complaint Chris has had in this entire process.”

“You’ll be recording it, so we’ll get to see it,” Victoria said. “I wish we could come. Didn’t even have a ceremony for First Science and Lutia, and now I’m going to miss this one.”