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Chapter Fifty One With
the sounds of reversion bells going off throughout the ship, it is not hard to
figure out that the
SkyDancer has finally reached its destination.
Seated around the galley table are three generations of women in the same
family. They all glance at each other with hope and a bit of wistfulness.
Knowing that their arrival means more changes, but at least this time, they will
face the changes together. Being
the matriarch, Elassi makes the first move and speaks up, “Well, I suppose we
should get our things together before we reach the atmosphere.” Rising from
her seat, Elassi straightens her gown. “No
need to hurry, Mother. It will be a few hours before we reach planetside.
Because of the gravity well projected by the moon, the hyperspace reversion
point from the Chandrillan leg of the Perlemian Trade Route is much farther from
atmosphere than the other points.” Cherié answers her mother’s comment with
a little known fact, completely unaware of the real purpose of her intent.
Elassi just shakes her head at the information Shani,
not being one to hold back from a joke when they were away from the public eye
speaks up first, “Thank you, Proctor, and if the lesson is done for the day,
may we please retire to our quarters for tym cakes and shrilyn milk?” They all
sit quietly for a brief a moment before the laughter overtakes them all and they
begin to laugh out loud. “Oh
yeah, sorry. Why don’t we all get our stuff ready for the departure.” Cherié
blushes slightly at the joke in her expense and then rises from the table as
well, clearing her tunic as she does so. “Thank
you,” Xana says as she too rises from the table, “I suppose I should check
on Jae before we depart. He may still be reeling from our discussion yestereve.”
Her smirk lets them know that she bears no ill will for the grilling the women
performed on Jae when they were given occasion to share a meal with the young
man of Xana’s interest. “Yes,
of course. I am certain the poor boy could use some reassuring after Cherié got
through with him.” Elassi gives her daughter a slightly disapproving glance. Feigning
hurt Cherié responds, “Hey, I thought I was terribly generous with the boy.
If you think that was bad, just wait until Tannan and the rest of them get a
hold of him.” Cherié winks at Shani with her reply. “Yes,
well I imagine then they will at least allow him his weapon of choice before
squaring off with him.” Shani shoots back to continue the joke. Xana
and Elassi chuckle at their jibes, but Xana also speaks up, “I thought he
fared very well, seeing as he was terribly outnumbered… I suppose I should
have also invited Meesahran to the meal, to have been fair.” Raising
her brow in a puzzled expression, Cherié asks “We are talking about the same
Meesahran, right? The one who received that rather sizeable lump on her head
yesterday? The same one whom has been known to torment people into submission
with her biting wit? That Meesahran?” At
this they all begin to laugh out loud once more. “Well, I suppose you have a
point, but none the less, I should be checking in on Jae before we reach
Sanctuary… If you will all excuse me?” Getting a nod from each one in
agreement, she departs the room. Watching
the flaxen haired young woman exit the room, Elassi touches a hand to her mouth,
“She is so very much the image of her mother.” The
remaining women in the room approach the aging matriarch, each placing a hand
upon her shoulder, but it is Cherié who speaks, “And in doing as we have, we
have been rewarded for our sacrifices… Her life has been as Corre wished it.
And for that we can only be grateful.” Covering
her daughter’s hand with her own, she looks back into her eyes and sees the
truth of those words shining back at her. Nodding her head in agreement, “Yes,
this is truth, but truth is no easier to swallow when it is justified… I still
feel the pain of the years we have lost in this endeavor, though I do not wish
them back, I still feel their pain.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Looking
around the corner, into the cockpit, Master Falion Mussiri finds things just as
he expected them to be: Meesahran diligently setting in the course for the
multifaceted planet ahead of them out the viewport. As he catches sight of the
planet he can see the many lights dotting the surface, even from so far away.
Very quickly the planet has become a thriving megalopolis, due is most part to
its location at the center of every major trade route. Many have found this to
be the deciding factor to settling upon this world. However,
the approach upon which this vessel lies is the edge of this industrial era,
away from the bustle and business of the day to day life on the soon to be
city-planet. They are headed home, home to a place they have not even come near
to in more than a standard year. To Sanctuary.
How close that word comes to the truth is sometimes frightening for Master
Mussiri. It is their touchstone, the place they may always find safe harbor,
even in the sea of doubt and turmoil that the galaxy is fast becoming. Without
realizing it, the Master releases a deep sigh, “Oh, Master Falion, I didn’t
hear you coming.” Meesahran greets her master with a smile, “It should only
be a couple of hours before we reach the port. I’ve been working on the
calculations since we left Chandrila, and I think I’ve managed to shave off
half the time it will take to reach Sanctuary Valley.” Looking
down at his apprentice, he can see the pride welling up in her, as well as her
anxiousness, “Excellent use of time, young one, but I thought you were going
to be doing some more meditation during our journey?” “Calculations
are like meditation to me, Master… I find something very calming in working on
the intricacies of astronavigational calculations.” The master smiles, because
he knows all too well how this woman’s mind works. For her to spend so much
time paring down sublight travel times in her head and with her datapad means
that she has found a certain amount of peace. A peace he fears will be sorely
lacking in their immediate future. “Very
well, my child… I shall alert the others to our accelerated arrival time…
Have you prepared yourself for departure?” “Yes,
Master. Bag is all packed and I just have to grab it and go once we reach Home
Port One.” The excitement in her voice can be heard, but Master Mussiri can
also feel the exuberation flowing from her as well. He turns to exit the cockpit
when her voice causes him to stop, “Do you want me to take care of Jae while
we’re here?” He
pauses a moment to contemplate an answer, “No, I believe Young Master Reklaw
shall be comfortable in my quarters… You shall be staying in your usual
chambers, I take it?” “Yes,
Master.” And with that he departs. This journey has only just begun, there
will be many more discoveries and trials ahead for Master Mussiri and his
companions. Yes indeed… There is much more to come.
Creator: PtrsonsZOO (Jennifer)
*SPECIAL NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond our control, the rest of the story will be written by PtrsonsZOO (Jennifer)
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