Heritage.
by Nic (stardestiny@bigfoot.com)
22/01/1997
NOTES:
In the midst of writing "Devon, Alone" pt III, this idea suddenly
crept up me and I was compelled to tell the tale.
"Heritage" is quite a different story. It deals with Uly's
parentage (a fascinating topic!), and I admit that I have taken
liberties with the characters on the grounds that people change
as they age.
A warning for those of you who are anti-romantics :
"Heritage" is primarily a love story, with a PG rating.
Many thanks to Tressa, for proofreading/editing "Heritage". Her
assistance and wonderful suggestions were much appreciated.
DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations contained within belong
to Universal/Amblin Entertainment. No copyright infringement is
intended.
=================================================
HERITAGE
Ulysses Adair wandered across the temporary campsite, a look
of intense concentration upon his young face. A gentle wind
ruffled his hair as he kicked at the dirt with scuffed shoes and
then stopped to idly trace out a pattern. Two stick figures - his
mother, himself - and then the beginnings of a third, the unknown
quantity in his life. Uly wondered if that third figure should be
there at all, and as he saw True approaching, he quickly dusted it
out.
"Hey Uly," she called. "Watcha doin'?"
"Nothing much," he replied quickly. "Just thinking, you know."
True nodded, and crossed to stand by him and study his crude
drawing. He watched her, and suddenly wished that she wasn't so
inquisitive. True always seemed to want to know what was going on,
and although she was his friend (most of the time, anyway) he
couldn't help being a little annoyed at her presence on occasion.
Like right now.
"Who are they?" True asked.
Uly sighed heavily, realising that he would have to answer her or
she wouldn't leave him alone. "Me and Mom."
True knelt down in the dirt, and sketched out her own picture.
"This is my family," she stated proudly. "Me, Dad, and my mother.
Have I told you about my mother?"
Uly mumbled, "Yes," hoping that he wouldn't hear about True's
mother yet again. The lady wasn't even around, but True repeatedly
reminded him that if she was here, with True, everything would be
wonderful; and that her mother was the most beautiful person who
ever lived.
He didn't want to hear this. Especially not now, while he was
so confused himself. Uly had never thought to ask these questions
before, but somehow, ever since he turned nine, it was becoming
important. Almost too important for him to ignore anymore, so Uly
was working up the nerve to finally ask questions. That was why he
had to go talk to Yale, as soon as the tutor was finished
discussing their route through the mountains with the other adults.
True finished her drawing, and stood back with her hands on
her hips as she sceptically studied it. "Mmmm, doesn't look quite
right," she mused, reaching down to adjust her mother's hair. "I
just wish I could see her, and get to know her a little. Even one
time would be good. She's a part of me, and my heritage, and, you
know, it'd be kinda nice to find out if she was anything like me."
True's eyes were saddened as she thought of the mother she never
knew.
Uly watched her, and felt a deep empathy with the girl.
They shared this, the absence of one parent, only Uly did not even
know if he had a father.
Looking at True, Uly was compelled to console, "But your Dad's
great, isn't he?"
"Yeah!" agreed True rapidly. "He's the greatest dad in the
universe!"
To this, Uly had no reply, so he mumbled, "I have to go talk to
Yale. See ya later, True," and walked off. True paused for a
moment to gaze at Uly's drawing once more, and wondered about the
scuffed area. But all too soon, she shrugged and was on her way
again.
***
Stepping inside the door of the tent, Uly paused while his
eyes adjusted to the darker interior. It was the middle of the day
and the light outside was brilliantly white, not to mention the
heat that came with it. Eden Advance were temporarily camped at
the foot of a large mountain range while the best path through it
was discussed and charted.
This was wonderful news to Uly, who grew tired of travelling
*every* day with no respite. He enjoyed the chance to explore an
area and get to know it properly, as well as the rest opportunities
the days of no travel offered. It reminded him of the winter camp
- a place that was dear to his young heartt.
"Uly? What is it?" Devon Adair's voice broke his thoughts,
and he turned towards his mother.
"Hi Mom," he said awkwardly, still standing in the doorway.
Nervously, he looked at the ground and shoved his hands into his
pockets. Uly heard the sounds of Devon swinging around her chair
to face him, and the boy swallowed hard. When Uly had talked to
Yale earlier, the cyborg told Uly that it was not his place to
answer Uly's questions, that was best left to his mother. A chore
Uly wasn't sure if he could face.
"Do you have something to say, Uly, because I'm extremely busy
with these maps..." said Devon, pushing her hair back from her
face. Every time she thought they'd discovered a feasible trail,
another difficulty was encountered and the whole thing was too much
of a headache.
Finally, Uly gathered the courage to speak. "Mom, how
come..." He paused, not quite sure how to phrase his question.
"True has a dad, and a mom. But I only have you. How come...why
don't I have a father?"
Devon gasped imperceptibly. This was a question she hadn't
expected so soon, and something she had hoped to avoid for a few
more years to come. It was far too difficult for her to bring all
of this up now, so she gave a clipped response. "You just don't,
that's all. Not everyone needs two parents."
"I know that," said Uly, shyly ducking his head. "I was just
sorta - wondering about it all."
Sighing, Devon motioned for Uly to come across to her. "Uly," she
began, a sadness tugging at her heart as she looked at his
innocent, wondering face, "I've tried my hardest to be a mother and
a father to you as you've grown up."
"I know that, Mom," said Uly, impulsively giving her a hug
which Devon openly received. She felt as if he were growing up too
fast, and welcomed any displays of affection for they would not
last.
"I love you more than anything," Devon continued. "You know
that if you ever need someone, I'm here for you. Yale is too, he
loves you like a son."
Uly pulled back. "Yeah, but what if..." The boy stopped,
unsure of how to express his thoughts.
"There's nothing wrong with having a single parent," Devon
reassured, wondering if his worries arose from the arrival of the
colonist ship in a few months. So often they'd discussed all the
families that were coming, so perhaps Uly felt he wouldn't fit in.
Devon tried another approach. "Look at True - she grew up
fine with only her father."
"Yeah, but True knows all about her mom. She's even seen her in
VR! So what about me - don't I have a dad? I'm sure that Yale, or
Morgan, could program something for me," said Uly, suddenly getting
excited at the possibility.
Devon froze. There was no way that could happen, never! She
had to get Uly to drop the whole subject.
"Ulysses," she said in a suddenly cold voice, "you do not have a
father. Subject closed."
"But Mom!" protested the boy. "I have to! Yale taught me and
True all about..."
"I said," broke in Devon, her voice unnaturally high, "end of
discussion!" She swung back to her work, so that Uly did not
notice the slight trembling of her hands.
Uly was surprised. "Okay, well, I guess I'll just go now..."
Nervously, he backed out of the tent and hurried away, even more
confused than ever. Did he have a father? Or was it something
worse, like being part of an experiment... He remembered how Julia
was so fascinated with his changes after becoming joined to the
Terrians. Was it possible that his whole life had been some test
project?
Uly shook his head, suddenly knowing that wasn't right. His
mother loved him far too much for him to be a freak, and besides,
she'd always said that he was the most wonderful surprise she'd
ever had. Whatever that meant. Frowning, Uly wandered across the
campsite to sit on a log, and stare up at the mountains as he
pondered the mysteries of his heritage.
***
Uly was not the only one deeply troubled. Devon gave an
exasperated sigh and threw down the map she had been studying.
There was no possible way she could concentrate after Uly's
unexpected questioning, something she wasn't prepared to deal with
until a long time in the future. If the truth came out now, there
would be a lot of -things- to deal with. People could get hurt,
and Devon doubted if she would be able to face many of her friends.
That was the trouble with living in a closed community. They
generally felt like one big family, but if a rumour, or truth, got
out, everyone would be affected by it.
Still, Devon knew she couldn't let Uly's questions go
unanswered. He deserved to know about his father, if only it could
wait at least until the colonists arrived... If they had never
crashed, mused Devon, life would be a lot simpler. She would have
had the freedom to tell Uly of his heritage, or at least part of
it. Briefly, Devon considered fabricating a story that would hold
for a while, but just as rapidly discarded the idea. She couldn't
lie to her own son, but could she tell him the truth?
One thing was certain, she could not make this decision on her
own. And she couldn't ask Yale for guidance, either. No, there
was only one person she could talk to, someone she *had* to talk to
before anything was decided.
Alonzo Solace.
***
"Hey, Dev, why all the secrecy?" asked Alonzo as he half-
tripped over yet another rock. Devon was leading him through the
foothills of the mountains on a confusing path that seemed to do
its best to avoid any line of sight with the camp.
Devon paused, standing on a small rise, and called back to
him, "We're almost there, hang on." She jumped, and promptly
disappeared from view. Alonzo quickly followed, and soon he was
standing beside Devon in a secluded clearing amongst masses of rock
in every direction. Breathing hard, he glanced at Devon who hadn't
even broken a sweat. Instead, she paced nervously before situating
herself on a rock.
"You wanna tell me what's going on?" Alonzo asked again,
taking his own seat across from her.
"I wanted to make sure that no one could hear us," Devon said,
speaking in a whisper.
"I'm pretty sure no one'll find us out here," reminded Alonzo,
gesturing to their surroundings. "And we left our gear back at
camp, so I think you're safe to speak freely." He frowned, worried
at Devon's actions. Her behaviour wasn't usually this irrational.
Devon took a deep breath, and met Alonzo's eyes. "Okay," she
said, this time in her normal tone. "Uly was asking about his
father today."
Now Alonzo understood. "Hell..." he said. Smacking one hand
against his thigh, he continued, "What did you tell him?" The
worry, and slight anger on his face was evident.
"Nothing!" retorted Devon. "What was I supposed to say? Your
father..."
"Shhh!" hissed Alonzo.
"I thought you weren't worried about anyone hearing us?"
"Voices carry sometimes...ah, never mind." Alonzo began shaking
his head. "Hell," he repeated.
"You're right about that," sighed Devon. "Where do I, we, go
from here?"
"Don't suppose you could sorta, well, bend the truth a little?"
Alonzo started to give her a disarming smile, but stopped as he saw
the ice in her eyes.
"I can't lie to *my* son," she said, emphasis on the term of
ownership. "I'm all he's got, 'cause his father never bothered."
"Hey, I thought we already discussed this!" protested Alonzo. "You
know what we decided..."
"Yes," acknowledged Devon. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said
that. We need to work together if we're going to come up with a
solution for *now*. It's not like I can trust Uly to keep it a
secret. He'd try, but it wouldn't be long before True, or anyone
else for that matter, found out..."
Alonzo stared with unseeing eyes around the clearing as his
mind desperately searched for a solution. When nothing immediately
came to him, he turned back to Devon and offered, "I'm sure we'll
work something out." He took her hand and smiled gently.
"Promise."
Devon sat with him in silence, as memories of another time,
another place, and another promise, began to drift over the both of
them...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Devon Adair strode confidently through the doors into the
bustling spaceport, her head held high. She was twenty-three years
old, a renowned station designer, head of a multi-orbit firm; and
already had a formidable reputation. The universe was at her feet.
Many places she went, she heard whispers such as, "That's Devon
Adair, heir to the Adair Corporation." Or "Devon Adair, tipped to
make a billion by the time she's thirty."
Of course, those kind of comments were heard only at high
society parties, full of people Devon's father suggested she
associate with if she wanted to reach the top - a goal she was well
on her way to achieving. When she traversed the common areas of
the station on which she resided, she attracted stares for quite a
different reason. She was young, beautiful, and single.
Devon glanced at the time flashed regularly on the wall just
above 'Arrivals', and sighed. The ship was late, and her whole
schedule would be thrown out by the additional waiting. But she
couldn't afford to miss the hastily scheduled meeting with Dison
Blalock, another rising star within the Council. Her father
suggested that she could learn a lot from him.
Moving to the back wall, Devon prepared for the wait. Her
position along the wall was chosen carefully, so she could easily
witness most of the traffic in and out of the spaceport. Devon
enjoyed watching people, wondering about the lives they led. It
made a refreshing change from her own.
A sleeper ship completed its docking procedures, and Devon
curiously watched it. She was intrigued by the notion of people
who willingly gave up part of their lives for a job. She
personally couldn't imagine watching the world age as she remained
young.
The first to exit the ship were a group of tired looking
immigrant workers. Quickly checking the log, Devon saw that they
had just returned from a geological survey of a planet four light
years away, a planet rumoured to be rich in mineable materials, she
remembered. It looked as though the mining had already started.
Next came the better-dressed, obviously Council citizens along
for the ride as overseers, or more truthfully, slave-drivers.
Devon vowed that she would treat all of her employees equally,
should she come into contact with those less privileged than her.
She had led a very sheltered life.
Lastly was the ship's crew, those responsible for getting the
Council citizens and their workers out and back to planet G156. A
young, blonde woman, a taller, dark-skinned man... Devon grimaced
as her vision was blocked by a party of people passing in front of
her. There were many disadvantages to being short, and this was
one of the most annoying.
When the group passed, those from the sleeper ship were just
progressing through decontamination scanning. Her eyes returned to
them, a bustling mob of people who moved as if they were a wave,
surging through the spaceport. She shifted her gaze from one face
to another, and another, and suddenly, she stopped.
Flashing dark eyes looked directly back at her. His eyes were
so full and luminous, set in a face of perfect tanned features and
his head was crowned by luxurious locks of dark hair. He appeared
only a few years older than her, yet his eyes held a wisdom that
seemed far beyond his time. Devon flushed under the intensity of
the gaze, but did not break contact.
He smiled then, and Devon felt her heart jump a little. It had
been a long time since she felt attracted to someone in this way,
and at first sight, too! Slowly, she smiled back and he winked at
her. A private, personal wink and then the wave of people merged
and shifted so she could no longer see him.
Devon rapidly crossed the corridor, hoping for another glimpse
of the mysterious man who had half-captured her heart in only mere
seconds, but as she again searched the faces, she reached the
saddening conclusion. He was gone.
***
The following evening, Devon found herself at one of the more
upper-class nightclubs. It was a friend's birthday, and she had
been unwillingly convinced to come join the frivolity, for a few
hours at least. But looking at the flashing lights and spectacle
of dancing young adults, she couldn't help but muse how different
her life was. Devon had never appreciated a lifestyle such as this
- the youthful freedom in the face of a reestricting world.
Unconsciously, Devon glanced down at her clothing and smoothed
her dress. It was black, a lot shorter than she was used to, yet
it seemed conservative when compared to the outfits of other women
gyrating beneath the lights. Sighing, Devon scanned the masses of
people. Laura, her old friend from university who had dropped out
after only one year, had a very diverse taste in associates, and
there were few people present that Devon recognised.
Another laughing group pushed through the doorway with Laura
in the midst. She was immediately enveloped by a new rush of well-
wishers and gift givers, accepting every gesture with a carefree
toss of her head. Devon wondered if Laura would ever grow up.
Still, it looked as though she was having fun. Now if only Devon
could get near Laura and put in her appearance, she could leave and
devote the rest of the evening to more fulfilling pursuits.
Her meeting with Dison Blalock had not gone down well - Devon
decided she disliked him immensely within a few moments of meeting
the arrogant man. However, as she had been taught over and over,
contacts were extremely useful if she wanted to make it to the top.
Finally, Laura broke free from her group of admirers and made
her way to the dance floor. She caught sight of Devon, and called
out to her. "Devon! Hi!"
Devon waved in response and smiled at her friend. "Happy
birthday!" she called back, holding up a gift. Laughing, Laura
gestured for Devon to come over to her, which Devon resignedly did.
"I'm so glad you could make it," bubbled Laura, taking her
arm. "Have I introduced you to my friends? Everyone, this is
Devon Adair!" The emphasis on Devon's surname made her cringe all
over again. Was that all she was to Laura, a famous acquaintance
whose presence made a social statement?
The small group of those who could hear Laura over the
pulsating music looked at Devon with a new sense of respect, and
Devon smiled tightly. She wondered again what she was doing there.
Laura was loudly making more introductions. "Dane Bridger, Ethan
Schuster, Emily Capulette, and... I'm sorry, I've forgotten your
name!" Laura laughed hysterically, and Devon suddenly realised
that she had already been drinking, early though it was.
Her eyes drifting to the person Laura's introductions had
stopped on, Devon started. The face was familiar, and Devon
suddenly recognised the blonde woman as one of the sleeper ship's
crew that she had watched yesterday. "I'm Cicely Kai," she
offered, smiling with understanding.
"How long have you known Laura?" Devon was compelled to ask.
Cicely smiled sheepishly. "Well, only since yesterday...My friends
and I were out celebrating another successful mission and we ran
into her. She invited us all to her party tonight!"
"That would be Laura," agreed Devon. Suddenly she realised
that *he* could be there too, the mysterious stranger from the
docking port with whom she felt a strange rapport. Devon swung
around and scanned the crowded room, but it was too dim to make out
each person. She turned back to ask Cicely more, but she was gone.
Laura, however, was still there.
"Are you gonna dance, Devon?" she asked, pouting her lip.
Devon shook her head. "No, I don't think so..."
"You don't have enough fun in your life!" Laura cut in, grabbing
her hands. "Come on, move to the music!"
Classics from the late twentieth century were popular again,
although Devon found it hard to imagine why. She preferred twenty-
first century music so much more. However, every so often there
was a song that grabbed her attention, and Devon reluctantly found
herself dancing.
"That's it," approved Laura, gazing critically at her friend.
"Hey, you're pretty good!"
Devon smiled ruefully, finding that she was enjoying herself after
all. Soon she was attempting more complicated dance steps, and
barely noticed when Laura pranced off in a different direction.
The music changed suddenly to a much slower tempo, and Devon
reduced her movements so as to catch her breath. Around her,
couples seemed to be forming as the flashing lights dimmed. A haze
hung about the room and time seemed to slow down through the
assault on her senses. Slowly, almost if she were compelled by an
outward force, she turned.
Eyes were on her. Warm, dark eyes that held a special message
through the throngs of people. As if in a dream, Devon found
herself drifting towards the magnetic presence, knowing
instinctively that this person was special.
Groups surged in front of her momentarily, but when they parted
this time, he was still waiting. Devon took another step forward,
dimly aware that this was the person she had seen the previous day.
He too, moved closer.
Finally, they reached each other and stood uncertainly, not
quite touching but definitely together. Devon lifted her eyes to
his and their gazes locked. Slowly, he reached out one hand and
took hers, and then the other. They swayed gently to the music.
Devon's heart was pounding inside her at the nearness of him.
She was acutely aware of every point of contact between them and
did not resist as he pulled her closer. The music poured around
them in a wonderful theme of promises and dreams as they danced,
slowly, together for what seemed an eternity.
As the song was ending, the man bent down as if to kiss her,
but Devon turned her cheek at the last moment. It was too soon for
that even if the magic of the moment was almost overwhelming.
Devon didn't even know his name yet, and the volume of the music
prevented serious conversation. She pulled away from his embrace
yet took his hand as she made her way from the dance floor and
outside the nightclub.
Silently, they wandered down a corridor until they reached a
large viewport. This part of the station was empty at this time of
the night, and Devon knew they had complete seclusion from the
outside world while appreciating the beauty of the universe, and
each other.
Seating herself on the chair situated by the viewport for just
that purpose, Devon turned to face the man. She smiled a little
nervously. "I guess I should say hi," she said. He grinned at
her.
"What are words, when such beauty is before me?"
Devon laughed, recognising the levity of his expression.
Obviously, this man was used to charming women of all different
backgrounds.
He took her hand, and this time Devon let him kiss it. A
tingle travelled up her arm and she shivered. As he lifted her
eyes to meet hers again, Devon swallowed and said, "This is
insane."
"What is?" he asked daringly.
"This is!" Devon found herself giggling, a sensation she hadn't
given into for many years. "I don't even know your name!"
"Then allow me to introduce myself," he said, leaning close to
whisper the words in her ear. "Alonzo Solace, pilot
extraordinaire."
"Really?" Devon replied, hearing internal alarm bells go off.
Pilots, especially sleep jumpers, were notorious for their affairs
at every port. But she couldn't resist those eyes...
"Devon," she offered.
"Devon who?" Alonzo asked, lifting his hand to brush the hair
from her eyes.
Swallowing hard, Devon whispered, "Devon Adair." She was
pleasantly surprised to see no reaction at the revelation of her
family name. Perhaps, just once, she could enjoy her anonymity and
the opportunity to be just a regular person. As a sleep jumper, it
was entirely possible that Alonzo hadn't heard of, or didn't care
about, the Adair family.
"It's very nice to meet you, Devon," he murmured, not breaking
eye contact. She studied his face, the rational part of her mind
wondering exactly how many women his beautiful lips had kissed and
where she fit in the greater scheme of things. Alonzo noticed her
frown. "What's wrong?"
"Are you a sleep jumper?" she burst out.
"And what if I am?" Alonzo immediately countered. "Would that make
any difference to tonight?"
"No, yes...I don't know," replied Devon. "I don't even know what
*tonight* is."
"Tonight," laughed Alonzo, "tonight is a dance! A night of
possibilities, a night of magic. Throw away your troubles and live
in the moment," he suggested.
Devon turned to the stars as she pondered his words. The
external view was so beautiful, and she saw a distant comet lazily
spiral its way through the stars. Strains of music from the party
drifted to her ears, and she sighed. "I don't really do parties,"
she revealed.
"That doesn't matter," replied Alonzo, his face brightening as
he recognised the song. "Have you ever done the Macarena?"
"The what?!"
"It was a huge craze in the twentieth century," he explained, "and
one of those dances that seems to last beyond time. Like the
classical dances you would do at those high society balls of
yours."
"How do you know I attend those things?" Devon suddenly
snapped.
Alonzo laughed carelessly. "It's written all over you - I only
have to look into your eyes to know you're a woman of fine
upbringing."
"Oh," said Devon as he pulled at her hands. "Come on, stand
up. It's an easy dance," he promised. "Follow my lead!" He began
to move his arms in a simple, repetitive series of motions which
Devon soon copied with relative ease.
"Right arm, left arm out!" instructed Alonzo. "Now flip them
over, sort of a rolling motion."
"I think I'm getting the hang of this!" Devon gasped. "Now behind
my head, right?"
"You got it!"
The music grew louder and they began to laugh, jazzing up the
steps and each trying to outdo the other. Devon had never had so
much fun in her life.
Alonzo pulled her close, and soon they were going through the
motions as one, his arms joined with hers, her head against his
chest as she glanced up at his face periodically to search for
clues into his persona.
And when the dance was over, they collapsed laughing back onto
the window seat, Devon in Alonzo's arms and feeling completely safe
and happy.
"The Macarena," giggled Devon. "I'll have to teach it to any
children I might have."
"You plan to have children?" asked Alonzo.
Devon smiled languidly. "Someday," she revealed. "Not for a few
years yet, I don't think there's any way I'm ready for a child this
young in my life! But someday, I will..."
Alonzo looked into her shining eyes, and saw something quite
different to anything he had experienced. Within him was very
little desire to become a father, for in Alonzo's life, the absence
of any attachments were the very things that made him who he was.
He couldn't imagine having a child. But it seemed that Devon
could.
"What would you call him?" Alonzo asked.
"Him?" repeated Devon, feigning outrage. "What if it's a her?"
"I just have this feeling," smiled Alonzo, curling Devon's dark
hair through his fingers. "It's almost as if I can see you with a
baby in your arms."
Devon smiled at that. Could she truly be a real, loving
mother someday? And Alonzo's question was very thought provoking -
what would she call him? "Got any suggestions?" Devon asked.
"About what?"
"You know, a name for him. My baby."
Alonzo's brow wrinkled as he took on an expression of deep
thought. "He needs a brave name, one that shows he will stand up
against all trials and reach victory. A name for a warrior, no,
not quite, a name for a winner."
"You're right," agreed Devon. And at the exact same moment, they
said, "Ulysses."
Devon and Alonzo talked for hours as the night progressed on
without them. They were in their own private world as the
discovered almost everything about each other and realised that
they had found a true friend, and perhaps even more.
Eventually, when station lighting began to increase, Devon
sleepily realised, "It's almost morning."
"Yeah," lazily mused Alonzo. "Amazing, we talked the whole night
away! It's been a while since I did that." He absently stroked
Devon's hair, for she was still curled in the crook of his arm.
"I can't believe that I did this!" cried Devon as the truth of
her unorthodox situation began to dawn on her. "I have so much to
do, meetings to attend..." Her voice became more alert as she
scrambled from Alonzo's arms and desperately combed her fingers
through her hair.
"How do I look?" she snapped.
"Hey, hey, calm down!" soothed Alonzo. "So you lost a little
sleep. There's still plenty of time for you to get home and ready
before the working day starts," he reminded gently. Devon's face
softened.
"You're right," she agreed. "I'm sorry, it's just
that...well, I've never been in a situation like this before!"
"I noticed," grinned Alonzo, standing up and stretching. He gently
removed an eyelash from her cheek, and then said, "You'd better be
on your way."
Devon turned, and then stopped. "Wait! When are you leaving
for your next mission? Will I see you again?"
"You can count on it," Alonzo assured her. "I'll be around for
another few days...what do you say about tonight? Dinner? We can
make it a proper date this time."
Her face twisting as conflicting emotions ran through her
mind, Devon replied, "Wonderful." She gave him her number, not
allowing herself to consider the implications of her association
with a pilot, of all things. What would her father think?
"So I'll see you later?" Devon asked one last time.
"Later," promised Alonzo, giving her such a brilliant smile that
she felt her knees becoming weak. "Now go!" She turned, but every
few steps turned to wave to him one last time. And every time she
turned, he was right there waiting for her.
***
The next week seemed to pass in a whirlwind for Devon. Every
free moment she had was spent with Alonzo, and he delighted in her
company, for they both knew it could not last. They were of two
different worlds, so they decided it was best to enjoy the
friendship and not get too involved. But this was harder than
either of them realised.
For the first time in years, Alonzo wasn't spending his
station time pursuing every girl in sight. He had discovered a
special friend in Devon Adair, and a bond had been forged that he
would have never thought possible. There was something about her
that just - clicked - with him, and it made Alonzo a little afraid
because he knew he had to leave her. In mere days, he would be
heading out on another two year mission, and could he really expect
Devon to wait for him, year after year as she aged and he remained
young? No.
So they were careful in their flirting, and only a few chaste
kisses were permitted by either side because they were too afraid
of saying goodbye.
Alonzo still had to meet any of Devon's family. He'd been
introduced to Yale, who was, as Devon said, practically one of the
family, but he wasn't an Adair. And Alonzo knew he would never be
good enough for the Adairs.
On Alonzo's last day on the station, he was standing just in
front of Devon's door just as Yale exited.
"Hello, Alonzo," the older man said.
"Hi," Alonzo returned the greeting. "Is Devon in?"
Yale seemed to frown. "Yes, I believe she is expecting you."
"Great!" Alonzo started forward, but Yale's heavy hand on his
shoulder stopped him. "Alonzo," he said, "you do realise that this
friendship of yours cannot last? Devon has much to do with her
life, and she is not going to give that up for someone who drops in
every few years."
"I know that," reassured Alonzo. "That's why I have to say
goodbye tonight. She realises it too, but who knows? Maybe we
*can* stay friends through the years. It can't hurt for me to have
a powerful ally every time I drop back in!" Alonzo nearly laughed,
but stifled it quickly at the grave expression on Yale's face.
"I hope so," he cautioned. "Goodbye, Alonzo."
"Bye," Alonzo returned as Yale walked down the corridor. Smoothing
his hair, Alonzo pushed the door chime.
"It's open," called Devon, and he walked inside. Alonzo
stopped short when he saw her. She was wearing a beautiful ruby
coloured dress that caused fiery highlights to play in her hair.
Alonzo swallowed hard. There was a definite physical attraction
between them.
"You look great," he managed.
"So do you," smiled Devon, crossing the room to study him more
closely. Her heart fluttered as she took in his appearance, the
casually pushed back locks of dark hair, the hypnotic eyes, the
smile... She found it hard to believe how much her world had
changed in only a few days.
That's what a whirlwind fling will do to you, an inner voice
suggested. But it wasn't a romance, Devon had to remind herself.
That couldn't happen. He was her friend, that was all.
Alonzo and Devon had planned to go out dancing again, but
somehow, they ended up sprawled on Devon's couch watching old 3-D
movies. Her living quarters were large, tastefully (and
expensively) decorated courtesy of a team of the best interior
decorators which Devon'd had nothing to do with. However, the
couch was comfortable and inviting.
"I love this movie," sighed Devon. "Romeo and Juliet set in
the mid twenty-second century, and yet the original dialogue
remains intact!" Her eyes were glued to the vid-screen as the
tragic tale unfolded.
Alonzo, in contrast, seemed more interested in the warring
families than the time-honoured words. "Which space empire do you
like the most?" he casually asked. "The Capulet Corps, or the
Montague Mining Association?"
"Oh, who cares about those," sighed Devon. She wasn't usually so
sentimental, but this was special. "It's the romance, and the
tragedy, of this film that gets to me every time. Two people, so
right for each other, yet torn apart by circumstances they can't
control."
Alonzo took a sidelong glance at Devon. "Kind of like us," he
suggested. Devon's features saddened.
"You're leaving tomorrow."
"I know."
Their attention returned to the unfolding drama. "She met him
at a dance," said Devon in a hushed voice. "Eyes meeting from
across the room..."
"...and a turned cheek from a kiss," continued Alonzo. "Love at
first sight." He was feeling a strange sense of de-ja-vu and he
moved, almost unconsciously, closer to Devon. She did not protest
when he placed his arm around her and held her close.
"It's just so sad," whispered Devon, not sure if she were
talking about Romeo and Juliet or herself and Alonzo. "At least
they had one night together...one sweet night..." Devon turned to
face Alonzo as she realised her words. He was so close to hers,
and it only seemed natural that they would draw closer together
until their lips finally touched in a moment that seemed to last
for all of eternity.
"We can't do this," gasped Devon as she tried to pull away.
"Shhh," hushed Alonzo. "Think of the moment. Tomorrow, I'll be
gone."
"This is all the time we have left," said Devon sorrowfully. She
looked deep into his eyes, and felt as if she were gazing into his
soul. "One sweet night..."
With a flick of her wrist, the vid screen was off, and then
Devon surrendered herself to the delicious sensation of Alonzo's
lips descending on hers. One sweet night...
***
Morning in the spaceport seemed harsh and bright. Discordant
noises assaulted Devon's ears amongst the dizzying world of
movement and colours. Only Alonzo seemed real.
He was standing stiffly beside her. They did not touch now,
for they both knew it was over.
"It was great knowing you," Devon offered. "I'm going to miss
you."
"Think we'll keep in touch?" asked Alonzo. He knew the next
time he was back on this station, it would feel like only a few
weeks for him. Devon, however, would have aged the full two years,
and who knew what would happen in that time for her?
Devon smiled at Alonzo, and her response surprised him. "You
never know, I just might drop down and visit," she suggested. "And
if I'm ever in need of a good pilot, I know where to go looking."
"That's for sure," promised Alonzo. "I'm your pilot whenever
you need me. I hope we can stay friends."
"We will," assured Devon. She noticed Cicely Kai proceeding into
a large ship. "Looks like your crew is ready to go."
"Yeah." They stood in silence for a few more moments while the
world bustled past.
"Guess I should get going," said Alonzo reluctantly. He
almost lifted his hand to touch Devon's cheek, but changed the
gesture into a simple wave instead. "Bye, Dev."
"Goodbye, Alonzo," she returned, her voice betraying only a hint of
sadness. Slowly, he turned and walked away, Devon's eyes following
him until he reached his ship. There, just before entering the
hatch, he paused to face her one more time. For one last moment,
they were connected as they waved farewell, and then Alonzo was
gone.
Alonzo Solace was no longer a part of Devon's life. But deep
inside, he was somehow becoming a bigger part of her than she ever
dreamed possible.
***************
TWO YEARS LATER
***************
"Life goes in circles, sometimes," Devon mused aloud. Here
she was, again at the spaceport, waiting for someone who was late.
But this time, she would not allow her eyes to be caught by a
mysterious stranger. It was the first stranger she was now waiting
to meet, a stranger who had caused the upheaval of her whole life;
and she vividly remembered the morning of their goodbye.
And even though it was morning again, there was one major
difference in Devon's life, one that ensured that history would not
repeat itself. Her son, Ulysses.
He gurgled happily in her arms, and Devon stared down into his
sweet face. He was pale and thin, but to Devon, none of this
mattered. Uly was the most beautiful baby in the entire universe.
"You're gonna meet your daddy soon," she told Uly, and then paused.
Should she tell Uly that? It wasn't like Alonzo would ever be
around for him. In that case, should she even tell Alonzo?
Perhaps this whole thing had been a bad idea. Alonzo Solace
wouldn't really be expecting to see her again. How could he
possibly expect her to wait? But neither of them had counted on
the extenuating circumstances that had arisen, and the tiny life
that had been created by their brief relationship.
Devon realised she owed it to Alonzo to tell him the truth.
He had a son, there was no doubt about it. Although Uly did not
look a thing like Alonzo (and Devon had the Syndrome to thank for
that) sometimes, she was sure she could see traces of him in Uly's
eyes. Precious moments that helped her cope with the pain and the
worry about Uly's frail condition or the opposition she faced over
being an 'Adair family disgrace'.
Shifting Uly onto her hip, Devon watched closely as the large
ship gracefully docked against the side of the station. With a
hiss as the pressures were equalised, the airlock opened. People
began to pour out, some tired, some laughing, and some merely
indifferent to their surroundings. Cicely Kai limped out,
supported by a medic and Devon was horrified to see the scars on
the once-beautiful woman's face. Again, the dangers of space had
been terribly demonstrated.
Strangely, even after the last of the crew had exited, Alonzo
Solace did not appear. Devon waited for what seemed an eternity,
fear growing in her heart. What if he, too, was caught in the
accident that injured Cicely? Her heart pounding, Devon left the
viewing area and travelled down towards the bay.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but you can't go through there,"
interrupted a uniformed guard. Devon frowned, and with her free
hand searched for her ID card in her pocket. Uly gurgled sleepily
inside his immuno-suit. The suit made him heavy to carry, yet
Devon didn't care. Her son was the most important thing in her
life, and ever since that terrible day when she learnt that he
unquestioningly had the Syndrome, her life had taken a bold new
direction.
Devon's power, and her status, however, remained the same.
She flashed the card, and the guard's expression immediately
changed. "I apologise, Ms. Adair. I had no idea..."
She waved away his excuses and again started through the gate.
Her confident stride did not falter until she was only metres from
the ship's entrance. Then she stopped, wondering if she should go
in there. Perhaps Alonzo hadn't even bothered to come back.
Promises such as they had made were meant to be broken...
A noise drifted to her ears, jaunty footsteps echoing through
an empty space ship. Devon lifted her eyes to the dim hatch as her
heart leapt into her chest. And there he was.
Alonzo stepped from the darkness into full station light, and
Devon smiled. He was exactly as she remembered, right down to the
crinkles by his eyes caused by laughter. They were of similar
physical age now, and Devon was determined to meet him as an equal.
Alonzo glanced up, and a look of almost disbelief crossed his
features when he noticed Devon standing close by.
"Devon!" he said incredulously. "I guess I hoped a little, but I
never expected..."
"Neither did I," she cut in. "But here I am, and, uh, I have
someone for you to meet."
Devon swallowed nervously. Now was the test, to see what
Alonzo was truly like deep inside and if he had the courage to face
the past. Alonzo slowly stepped closer to her, his eyes focussed
on the tiny bundle in the woman's arms. He wanted to reach out to
touch Devon, but something made him hold back. There was a new
sense of maturity in her eyes, and a change. She wasn't the person
he had almost been in love with anymore.
Devon, too, almost sadly realised that she had overcome her
attraction to Alonzo. The two years of steeling herself against
the inevitable; and the new direction of her life had taught her
that any future relationship between them could never be. If the
circumstances were different...but no, that would never happen.
Both Devon and Alonzo had accepted this as a reality.
"You were right, you know," said Devon as Alonzo stared down
at the small child. "I did have a baby boy."
"Yeah," said Alonzo, speechless for once. Carefully, he brushed
aside a tiny lock of hair on the baby's head.
"His name's Ulysses," Devon explained further. Lifting his
head to look directly at Devon, Alonzo knew the answer even before
he asked the question. "Your son."
Alonzo's hand dropped, and something akin to panic darted
across his features. Devon had to laugh. He looked so comical,
standing there as if he were stunned by the knowledge...which he
was. But all too soon, the serious of the situation descended upon
both of them.
"Are you sure?" was all Alonzo could manage to say.
"Of course I'm sure!" returned Devon.
"But he doesn't look anything like me..."
"He has the Syndrome."
Alonzo visibly paled. He hadn't heard much about the illness,
but knew that it killed children without fail. And now one of
those children would be a part of him. "I'm sorry," he offered weakly.
"Don't be," replied Devon brusquely. She took a deep breath.
"I can handle it," Devon lied. "We have the best doctors searching
for a cure right now. I will do anything to save *my* son."
Shyly, Alonzo stepped around Devon so that he could have a
better view of baby Ulysses. "He looks like a fighter. Just like
his Mom."
With a wry laugh, Devon said, "He has to be. You have no idea
of the hell my family's put us through. Demanding to know who the
father was, pressuring me to get an abortion because your family
bloodline wasn't good enough to be mixed with an Adair, and then to
discover that Uly has the Syndrome..." A small gasp escaped her
lips, and Alonzo realised that she was trying not to cry. "It's
just so hard, you know? Even with my power and fortune, nothing is
ever enough..."
Alonzo placed a comforting hand on Devon's shoulder. "I'm so
sorry," he said sincerely. "If I had known...maybe I could've come
back here and helped."
"No you wouldn't," Devon returned. "Your destiny is in the
stars. I couldn't ask you to stay here and support me - we'd just
end up hating each other."
Alonzo nodded, recognising the truth in her words.
"Well, do you want me to, uh, like help with his upbringing?
I earn a lot of credits every space run."
"No," Devon cut off his offer. "I think it's best that you don't
get involved. It's the best for all of us."
"But I want to help!" protested Alonzo. He felt a sense of
duty to look out for his kid, even if he barely knew the little
guy.
"Thank you," smiled Devon, and meant it from the bottom of her
heart. "But I can afford anything he needs, and besides, my family
doesn't know exactly who you are. I don't want to drag you into
the mess."
"So you're saying that I should just stay away?"
Devon sighed. "In essence, yes. I don't think Uly could cope with
a father who dropped in every few years, especially as he's so
sick. And Yale's always there for him, and for me. We're doing
okay."
"And what about when Ulysses gets old enough to ask about his
father? What then?" countered Alonzo.
"Uly might not live long enough," said Devon quietly, bringing the
baby close.
"Devon, look at me," said Alonzo, lifting her chin so that she
met his eyes. "I know you, I know you will find a cure somehow.
I just don't want anyone to get hurt."
Sighing, Devon replied, "Well maybe I can tell him that his
father is an explorer, out in distant galaxies on sleep runs of
decades. Trust me, it's better this way."
Nodding, another thought struck Alonzo. "But what about us?
I don't want to lose your friendship."
"You won't," promised Devon. "You're Mr Solace, Mommy's friend who
drops in to visit every few years."
"I can handle that." Alonzo wasn't ready to deal with the
responsibilities that came with parenthood, not now in his life
when he still had so much to do. It was obvious that Devon loved
her son more than her own life, so he could accept her decisions,
and live with his own.
"That's it, then," said Alonzo. "I just wish it hadn't turned
out this way," he offered.
Smiling sadly, Devon answered, "Our relationship, brief though it
was, was a beautiful thing. I don't regret a moment of it, and Uly
is a true blessing. Don't feel bad." She offered her hand to him,
and Alonzo cautiously took it.
"Friends?" Devon asked.
"For life," ascertained Alonzo.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Do you ever regret it?" Devon suddenly asked, breaking the
silence in the lonely foothills of the mountains of G889.
Alonzo stared hard at her for a moment. "No," he finally replied.
"We did the right thing, given the circumstances. Back then, we
never could have been together. I guess I just didn't know it
could all change so much."
His profound statement echoed through both minds. Devon
watched Alonzo carefully, wondering if his thoughts matched hers.
Ever since that morning, when the future was decided, she and
Alonzo had tried to remain good friends, but their closeness
inevitably diminished as the years went by. And then came the Eden
Project, where they were suddenly thrown together in a way they'd
never dreamed possible.
"Alonzo," Devon spoke carefully. "After we crashed... did you
ever, uh, consider our relationship?"
Alonzo leaned forward to rest his chin upon his fist as he
contemplated her question. He couldn't lie to Devon, not in the
past, and not now either.
"I guess I did," Alonzo admitted. "Not right away, the first
few weeks were pretty hazy. I mean, with my leg, and the
realisation that I couldn't fly anymore, and then facing reality
that this group of people were going to be my life for the next few
years...it didn't sink in right away, but yeah, I considered it."
"And?" Devon prompted. She understood her own reaction
clearly, but it remained to be seen if Alonzo felt the same way.
"And, well," shrugged Alonzo, "by the time I realised that maybe we
could have restarted something, it was already too late. I mean,
what would Uly have thought? What would everyone have thought?"
"Your flirting with Julia didn't help either," said Devon
wryly.
Alonzo merely laughed. "Hey, that's me, that's who I am! You know
that," he reminded.
"Yeah, I do," answered Devon, crossing one leg over the other.
"I know a lot more about you than most people here. Except maybe
Julia..."
Alonzo was nodding in agreement as a new thought struck him. "I
can't believe that Julia never figured it out. She was, uh,"
Alonzo paused, searching for the right phrase so as not to remind
them of the terrible things their friend once did, "studying Uly's
DNA, and she was treating me at the same time. I didn't think
about it then, but surely she would have made the connection!"
"Not if she wasn't looking for it," cautioned Devon. "No one
even suspects that we had that kind of relationship in the past,
and it's incredible how much Uly looks like an Adair rather than
you."
"He doesn't look that much like you, either," Alonzo pointed
out. Devon sighed. "Maybe that's an effect of the Syndrome, maybe
it's his link with the Terrians...and anyway," Devon suddenly
realised, "he has more of his father in him than we think."
Alonzo stared at Devon blankly.
"The Terrians!" she explained. "Why do they dream to you? And
that was *before* they took Uly. Perhaps they knew that you and he
were connected; the Terrians may have been asking *you* for
permission..." Devon's eyes widened as mysteries of the past
suddenly fell into place. Alonzo continued her train of thought.
"Uly and I are still the only ones in our group with strong Terrian
links. That's really...something."
Alonzo sensed a new emotion arising within himself. For
years, he had been avoiding the boy as much as possible, but now,
with discovering the common link they shared, Alonzo felt a sudden
desire to really take time and get to know Uly. Uly was, after
all, his only son, and the only Solace after himself.
"I've gotta tell him," Alonzo suddenly decided. "Dev, he
deserves the truth."
"I know," she said quietly. "But we have to prepare ourselves for
the reaction of the group. I don't like the prospect of," and she
had to swallow before she could say his name, "John's response."
Devon knew that Danziger had kept the truth from True about her
mother for so long to protect her. In a way, Devon had done the
exact same thing. But Uly's father *was* around, so would Danziger
understand why they had hidden the fact for so long? Devon barely
understood it herself. It had just been too busy at the start of
their journey, and then there was no reason to bring it up and so
it was gradually pushed aside until Uly's questions reminded her of
the situation.
"Danziger'll forgive you," reassured Alonzo. "He's made
parenting mistakes himself."
Devon replied, "I know," but she was still worried. "Worse than
that, though, how will everyone react to the knowledge that we were
together?"
Frowning, Alonzo said, "But that was a long time ago."
"It wasn't, really, for you - I mean, what is Julia? Only the
third, or fourth, serious involvement since me?"
Alonzo's response surprised her. "The second," he stated.
"Oh," said Devon quietly. What did that mean? Had Alonzo ever
really gotten over her? Or had she ever forgotten him?
"We -I- don't want to cause any trouble between you two,"
Devon quickly added. "I mean, you and Julia seem so happy
together..."
"And then there's you and Danziger," Alonzo jumped in,
noticing her slight blush. He wondered if Devon would ever realise
how obvious it was to everyone that she and Danziger might make a
great couple some day.
Shifting on her rocky seat, Devon offered, "So no regrets?"
There was more than a note of uncertainty in her voice. Alonzo
heard it come through.
"Did we ever really finish?" he suggested.
Devon looked into Alonzo's flashing, soulful eyes and suddenly
didn't know. Her heart was thrown into a whirlwind of confusion
and she bent closer to him, their eyes still locked.
"I don't remember if we said goodbye forever," Devon
whispered. His face inched closer to hers.
"Forever is a long time," murmured Alonzo. They were so close now
that Devon could feel Alonzo's breath upon her cheek.
"We could have been something beautiful together..."
"But how do we know?" protested Devon. "How can we be sure about
now?"
"One kiss," whispered Alonzo, brushing his lips across her cheek,
ever growing closer to her mouth. In the heartbeat that followed,
Devon made a life-changing decision.
"One kiss, and then we'll know..."
Their lips finally, undeniably, met.
END.
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