Lunara

Chapter One-Hundred-Two: Musings of the Heart - Part Three

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: In low orbit above planet Ora

Despite the worrying glances from Kotina, nothing strange happened on the way to the shuttle. Nothing except Kalon smiling more heartily than I have ever seen him do before. Washing away all doubts that Inquisitor Victoria tried to give me about him. His normally cautious and callous eyes have softened at the reunion with Haki and Daki. Their faces look like they have endured much hardship, but there is relief in them, each one telling Kalon of what has happened to them. Their story is one filled with pain, yet, somehow they do not wallow as they tell it. There is pride in them, the same that Kalon gets. A defiant pride that does not allow the circumstances of their painful memories to weaken them, but rather, strengthen them. The Kuwathi of this world are a hardened people, and I have come to greatly admire them, especially Kalon. He glances over at me, a flutter muses in my heart, remembering the time we have spent together.

"Oi, daydreamer," Kotina says, nudging me, "Did you hear me?"

Blinking, I turn to her, she has an eyebrow raised poignantly, "No, sorry."

She sighs, glancing down the cabin at the pilots in the front of the shuttle.

"I asked how long she gave you to report back," Kotina says.

"She said I have a month."

"A month, that's surprising," Kotina says, flipping through her holopad messages section, "Looks like the House treasurer finally released the funds," her stoic expression shifts, her hand swiping open a new message, I can see the emblem on the corner of it, even from this angle. Official House of Ravena transmission.

"What is it?"

"Your father, he's returned, or well, returning. He's supposed to give a mission brief to the high counsel first, then the Hekate Senate and…" she trails off, "Well, you're not going to like this bit, says he wants you to return to Ravena Minor."

"Not Ravena Prime?" I ask. Why would he want me to… a feeling of uneasiness slides over me, I think I already know.

"He says he wants you to offer prayer at Ravena's temple."

Offer prayer? It must be because now that I have Goddess Leora, my house's Patron Goddess will want me too. My mood sours at the thought. Months ago, I would have given anything to hear even a whisper from her. Now, I would be content with her silence.

"I can tell what you're thinking," Kotina says, giving me a stern look, "If I can tell, then so can she."

"Let her see."

Kotina sighs heavily, rubbing her temples.

"Your father wants me to take you directly there," she turns the holo so I can read it.

One word at the end sends dread through me. Immediately.

"What about Kalon?" I ask her.

"What about him?" she asks, motioning to the brothers, "Mission completed."

"We didn't do that, she did."

"Doesn't matter, what's done is done. Promise fulfilled."

"I… I told him that he could bring some more people with us."

"How many people?"

"Just a few, they are close to him."

She rubs her temples again, clearly stressed, there was a part of the message with my father that she covered with her hand. Whatever it said, it's weighing on her. Turning to look at Kalon, there is anxiety rising in me, how will my father react? I hadn't given it much thought before… before it became real, and tangible. Sweet memories play in my thoughts as I look at Kalon, tender kisses, a warm sensation flows into my chest. He turns to look at me, still deep in conversation with the brothers, but he pauses for a moment, smiling at me before turning back.

"Once we get them, then I will…"

"No, that's not going to fly this time, I'm sorry, but it's a direct order from your father," Kotina sighs, "Besides, Fennec can sort it out. Slaghole needs to pull his weight anyways."

"Not sure I trust him to do it properly," I say, there must be a way that I can convince her to let me stay a little longer.

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She turns to me, shaking her head and chuckling, "That look you're giving me, it's not going to work, you're not a kid anymore."

"Please, Kotina, I just want to make sure everything is settled for him, then I will do what I was asked and present myself to her."

She shakes her head no, "Look at it like this, if you disobey now, your father will be very displeased, if he finds out its for him," she points to Kalon, "Then he'll be even more displeased, is that how you want to open that dialogue with him? Showing him that you can't follow simple orders if he's around?"

My eyes blink at her, she's not wrong. I hadn't considered it like that. Her argument, it's very persuasive.

"How much time will you give me to say goodbye?"

"As long as it takes to walk to the shuttle, or you could just ask him to come, let Fennec sort it out himself."

"He won't leave such a thing to Fennec alone," I say, for some reason smiling now, thinking on the seriousness of Kalon, "He will want to see his friends returned with his own eyes, besides…"

"Besides what?"

My hand tightens on the seat's arm, "I want his old Clan to see him, I want them to see that without them holding him down, he is succeeding. I want them to know that even discarded and beaten down by them, he still rose above them," my gaze rests on Kalon again, "Above all, I want him to see that too."

"That all?"

"Well," I pause, bitter tones fluorescing in my chest, "I also want the woman who broke his heart to see that he has moved on. I want her to see what she has lost."

Silence hangs between us for a few moments, she stops rubbing her temples, straightening herself now.

"You've changed in the months that you've been gone," Kotina says, crossing her arms.

"For better or worse?"

A grin slides over her mouth, it infectiously finds my face now too.

***

The shuttle has landed in the hangers of Tarvashal, we await Fennec's delivery. I have already told Kalon of the situation, he did not make a fuss, he simply nodded. Though I can tell he was somewhat disappointed. Soon, I will be separated from Kalon again, but I am not sad for it, not truly, because it is not goodbye forever, it is the first chapter of the future we will carve together. He must find the path he chooses to walk, and I must follow mine, someday, those paths will intersect again, and we will walk together. Hand in hand, for all the Galaxy to see. For now though, Kotina is right, we must tread carefully, we must show him to be a benefit to our house, not a liability to my concentration.

Kalon stands next to me, stealing glances with his dazzling yellow eyes, the small juts of black in them striking. He tenses a little at the sight of something behind me. Hesitant to look away from him, I hold my stare for a breath longer before turning, familiar faces greet me.

Ralia and Salia, the twins that work with Fennec. They give me a polite bow before coming to stand next to Kotina on my right. Ralia leans forward, making sure to find Kalon's gaze before she leans back. Kalon looks away from her, muttering under his breath. Looking now toward the large metal door in the distance at the end of the shuttle hanger. Fennec, he comes too. His clothes are tarnished, I don't think I've ever seen him looking so disheveled, his limp certainly isn't helping anything.

When he arrives, escorted by two armed soldiers, he glares at me. The Federation soldiers unlock the wrist restraints on him, giving a small bow to Kotina before turning and marching off.

"Well, don't everyone speak at once," Fennec moans, shooting me another dagger glare, he's pissed. To be fair, Kalon and I did eject him from the shuttle, and I did break his jaw last time I saw him. Fennec shifts his jaw uncomfortably, it's discolored still, looks like they fixed it though, for the most part.

"You look…" Kotina pauses, raising a hand to her chin pensively, "Like a whore's backside."

Fennec shifts from glaring at me to giving it to Kotina now.

"I see you're still pissed that I didn't holo you back last time we… you know." Fennec groans, rolling his shoulder.

My eyes turn to Kotina, her face flushed, but she hides it well with a grin. I didn't realize that they… well, it explains her disposition toward him.

"Why would I want you to call, all you ever ask for is money."

He glares at her, then turns to the twins, "Were you just going to leave me in there to rot?"

"Yes," Salia replies, with a smile.

"You spent all the mission funds, how were we supposed to bribe you out?" Ralia asks.

Fennec rolls his eyes, "As if I haven't been paying you an arm and a leg each."

"You're paying them?" I ask, raising an eyebrow, "I think you mean House Ravena is."

Fennec flinches at my words, or perhaps just me speaking, he doesn't even glance back at me this time. He's really pissed. Honestly though, it makes me kind of happy, frag him. He tried to get me kicked off the mission before.

"Speaking of an arm and a leg," Kotina says, tossing a bag on the ground in front of him, "I got your request for new parts."

Fennec glances at the bag, giving her a discerning look, eyes tracing the grin on her face, "I'm not going to like the replacements am I?"

"Probably not," Kotina chuckles.

"Great," Fennec sighs, looking over at the brothers to Kalon's left, "Are we just collecting Ulima now? Next thing you know the house will be called that."

"A strong house it would make," Kalon says, eyeing Fennec.

"Well, can we get off this dump then?" Fennec asks, grabbing up the bag of robotic parts and slinging it over his shoulder with another groan, "Preferably to a place with reasonable drink prices, I'm apparently poor again."

"You're not done on Ora," I say, waiting for him to look at me, which takes longer than it should, "You need to help Kalon retrieve a few people, then you can go drink yourself silly."

"I don't take orders from the brat," Fennec protests, giving Kotina a look now, "I did my job, I've earned some time off."

"You earned a fragging mountain of debt, after spending all the mission funds, now, unless you want me to put that in my report, I suggest you be a good boy and listen to her request."

Fennec swears loudly, dropping the bag on the ground, running his hand through his greasy unwashed hair, still matted with blood, "Fine, anything else…" he fake curtsies, "My lady?"

"Yes, one more thing," I say, folding my arms in front of me.

"What?"

"Take a shower, you smell horrible."

Kalon bursts out with laughter, it makes it hard to fight back the smile on my face.

Fennec rolls his eyes, "Anything else?"

"No, just that."

***

An hour later, I find myself standing on the loading bay door of Kotina's shuttle, looking out at Kalon and the rest, wishing that I could stay with them, but I have my duties. Soon, I will see him again. In better spirits. I look forward to seeing him in a happier environment than here, on this broken world.

"Come on pup," Kotina says, motioning me to follow her onto the ship.

I give Kalon one last nod before I turn. Each step forward into the ship compounds a feeling in my chest, worry, sadness, I already miss him and he's only a few paces away. She could be watching though, best not to show that he's important to me.

"Luna," Kalon says.

I turn just enough to catch his gaze.

"Thank you," he says, lowering his head to me.

His words burn in my chest, it should be me thanking him.

"Hurry up!" Kotina barks from further in.

"Goodbye."

He nods, a smile on his face that will burn into me as a sweet memory.

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