"This is High Lady Diana of the Hanson Dynasty Empire, on Chimeara, with an urgent message to the highest authority of the Kretti Empire available." Diana said, her voice filled with power and authority. There was a moment's pause, and then a raspy voice came over the speaker.
 "One moment, your highness." It rasped, almost making highness seem like profanity. There was another moment's wait, then a large, reptilian face filled the view screen. It was seated in a lord's chair, so Diana knew he was of importance.
 "Greetings, High Lady Diana of the Hanson Dynasty Empire. I am Captain Pieet, of the Kretti Empire's ship, Koorhaci. What is the nature of this unexpected, but always welcome calling?" It asked. Diana had to applaud it's (his?) politeness. Diana knew that the Kretti were very crafty, so she remained stony faced.
 "It had come to my attention, that you have one of my ships docked in your ship, Captain." She said stiffly. The captain's expression did not falter.
 "And how, may I ask, did you come across this information?" It rasped, as cool as a lizard being could be.
 "Hansonopoly Intelligence, Captain." Diana answered, not allowing any valuable information to be leaked out.
 "Very well, in answer to your question, yes I do have one of your ships, The Albertane in my docks." It answered. Diana didn't move a muscle.
 "And it's crew?" She asked, trying with all of her inner strength not to let any emotion out.
 "I am afraid I have no records of there being a crew aboard, your highness." It answered.  "Well, I know, for a fact, that two of our officers were aboard that ship, and it is my duty to request the ship, as well as it's crew back, otherwise greater action will have to commence." Diana said. The creature's face still remained the same.
 "Well, in that case, allow me to check my records again. One moment, please." It answered. The screen went dark, and Lady Diana waited impatiently  for a few minutes. When the teeth filled snout filled the screen again, there were two other figures in the background.
 "Oh, well it would appear, Lady Diana, that there aretwo crew members in our custody. I am terribly sorry for the confusion." It said. Diana knew that Captain Pieet knew the supposed 'officers' were her sons, but she could not let on, in case of the slim chance.
 "Well, I would appreciate the return of my officers and ship as soon as possible." She said. The Kretti's dagger like teeth curled up into a sneer.
 "I am afraid that is, impossible, Lady Diana, you see, in the Kretti Empire, these two particular, officers, are wanted, there is a large reward for their capture and presentation to King Mahlahli. So, I am afraid I cannot return these particular officers to your custody. I will see what I can do about the ship." It said. Diana raised a eyebrow.
 "Are you afraid of what your people will do to you, if you release these two officers?" She asked smoothly. The Kretti stiffened.
 "A Kretti does not fear punishment, but, it would not be in my best interest to return these two officers to you, for there is a high price to be paid for the blood of a traitor." It said. Diana narrowed her eyes.
 "Then, I suppose you have not heard of the many, many battles I have led, and won, simply because of a little, misunderstandingbetween two superiors, one of which is two thick headed to return a officer to another's fleet?" She said, the menace and threat in her voice very audible. The Kretti's face stayed the same.
 "There is no need for name calling, your highness. But I found these two officers, and your personal interest in their safety, is not my concern. I am a very busy officer, and if there is nothing further...?" It asked, attempting to end the conversation with a open of his hands. Taylor, in the background was struggling, he kept on yelling something to Pieet, who was paying no attention. A unnoticeable Kretti hit Taylor in his stomach with some sort of bat, ad he double over. Diana tried to reach him.
 Taylor, tell me, what does he know? She asked. Taylor moved a little bit. His reply was faint.
 He thinks..that we have another brother...Ard, that is strong in Gift, and that I am not the middle brother... Taylor thought, it was getting weaker and weaker as the boy lost strength.
 "Captain Pieet, I assume you know of my son, Ard, who is remarkably strong in Gift?" She said suddenly. It was as if Pieet's mind had perked up again.
 "Your sons, have mentioned him." He said, revealing the already known fact the he knew that Taylor and Zac were in fact, Diana's sons. She nodded.
 "Yes. He is, ah, a little bit hard to handle? But very, very powerful. We are willing to exchange Ard, for Taylor and Zachary." She said. The Kretti nodded.
 "I always thought that humans were too soft hearted to make a decision like that, but you, Lady Diana Hanson have proved me incorrect. Where is this Ard?" It asked.
 "He is on Chimaera, he cares not for the well being of his brothers, unlike Isaac." She said, and motioned to the young man standing beside her. The Kretti nodded.
 "Very well. An agreement has been made. We will make the switch when I contact you. Pieet out." The screen went black, and High Lady Diana almost fell out of her chair. She wept, openly.
 "How?" She asked. "How can I do this?" Isaac shook his head, and a tear fell from his eye.
 "I don't know mother, I thought that we could keep Ard hidden, but I guess not..." He mumbled. Diana nodded, and cried softly.

Chapter 11

 Sabec lit the light rod, and went down deep under the Hanson Palace, it was a dank place, and the little life forms of the underworld scuttered on the gravel floor. Sabec hated this dark place, even though he had only been down here twice before...
 Ard, the dirty little secret of the Hanson Dynasty Empire. All of the Hanson children were beautiful, and powerful, but not Ard. He had a dark rugged face, that he doubted would ever be called handsome. His powers were not like the other children, his broke things, and cause pictures and vid-viewers to fly off walls, furniture to flip over, and he once nearly crushed Isaac when they were very young. The only Hanson children that knew of Ard, his full name Ardent, were Isaac, Taylor and Zac. Jessica wasn't born until Ard was, placed in a better facility, as High Lady Diana put it. In other words, they hid him from everyone.
 The tunnel was narrow, and the light rod was beginning to dim in the darkness. Sabec finally came to a end in the maze of corridors, and entered in a secret code that only the high Lady and Lord, knew, apart from himself. There, sitting in a bed fastened to the floor, was a boy. Sabec hadn't seen him for years, for it was usually high Lord Walker that came down to visit him and bring him his food. Lady Diana visited once a week, too make sure he was well. Despite his danger, they still loved him. Ard was asleep, and Sabec feared what he would so if awakened. He slowly crept towards the bed.
 "You don't have to worry, I'm not going to bite." A voice, already into manhood, suddenly said. Sabec nearly stepped back, but his logic told him to remain put.
 "I know that, Ard. I am Chris Sabec. I doubt you remember me, but I am you're brother's care taker, and I was there when you were born, and I was there when you were put here." Sabec said slowly. There was not a immediate response.
 "Really? Then I hate you." Ard said. "I hate you for not killing me the moment I came into this world." Sabec was momentarily taken back.
 "But...that was not a choice at the time." He said, feeling the boy's pain in the air.
 "So you say. There's always a choice. Except for me. I had no choice in the life I was to live." He said, and rolled over so Sabec looked him in the eye. Ard was not a ugly man, but he wasn't as good looking as Taylor, Zac or Isaac, or any of the other Hanson children.
 "Yes, I know. I'm not a knockout. But I realize now that wasn't the reason why Diana and Walker put me down here. They put me down here because they were afraid of me. Of what I can do." Sabec nodded.
 "Your power was too dangerous at the time, and they had not the means to teach you how to use it." Sabec said. There was a stifled snicker.
 "Oh did they? Well, why not bring me out after nine years? I have been forced to stay here for nine years. Only viewing the light day from that hole," He said, and pointed to a skylight, very high up above their heads. Sabec said nothing.
 "Father told me of Taylor's power, and how him and Diana fear that he will not know how to control it. Yet they do not hide him. Why not? I only vaguely remember him." He said. Sabec shifted uncomfortably.
 "I do not know, Prince Ard." Sabec said.
 "Yes, you do." Ard said evenly. "It's because he is beautiful and I am not."
 "No, when you were younger, you were destructive. Always breaking things, and you almost killed Isaac once. You were, and probably still are too dangerous to be out among other people and aliens." Sabec said. There was a moment's silence between the two.
 "Then what are you doing down here?" Ard asked finally.
 "I have been instructed by your mother, High Lady Diana, to bring you to her chambers. Isaac and your younger sister Jessica will be there too." Sabec said. "Come this way, please."
 "Jessica? You know, I have never seen her. They put me away before I could see her."
 "Yes, well, you'll get to meet her now.  This way." Sabec said, and opened the door. But Ard made no motions of leaving.
 "Why does she want to talk to me now?" Ard asked. Sabec didn't want to tell him of her plans, the thought of him not wanting to go scared him, so he simply shrugged his shoulders.
 "I don't know. Maybe she thinks it's time you came out. Now, let's go." He said. The answer did not satisfy Ard, but he stood up anyways. He was about as tall as Taylor, but had more of the same features of Isaac, except with long, dark hair to his shoulders. His eyes were small and beady, and his nose was slightly crooked. But other than that, he was not extremely unpleasant to look at, just not drop dead gorgeous like the others.
 Sabec led him out of the tunnels, and into a room where he changed into some more presentable clothes other than the work slacks and shirt he had on. Sabec braced himself, for what would probably be the most unfitting of family reunions.

Chapter 12

 Ard knew something was up, but he wasn't sure what it was. He vaguely remembered this Sabec fellow, but then again, there haven't been that many people he's met to have to remember. He followed Sabec down a hall, it was brightly lit, and the light bothers Ard a bit, but not greatly. There was a grand entrance, and two guards opened the door. At the end of a long room was a Lady's chair, and in it, sat his mother, High Lady Diana. He wanted to yell at her, ask her why she had put him away. Part of him was also ashamed that she did not see him to be good enough to reign with the other children. He also wanted her to be proud of him, more than anything, he wanted that. But, what did she have to be proud of. There was a man, about 18 or 19 standing to her side. Ard assumed it was Isaac. Isaac had long dark blonde hair, long hair seemed to be a trait in the Hanson Dynasty. There was a little girl, about 11 standing on the other side of Diana. Ard knew this must be Jessica. His eyes lingered on the little sister he never got to know. He had always wanted a little sister. He knew from Walker and Diana that he had 3, Jessica, Avery and a tiny baby Zoe. A beam of hope filled him with the thought of being present for Zoe and his little brother Mackenzie's lives, but it was soon shattered when he realized that he wasn't called up here to be accepted back into the family, who so coldly rejected him.
 "Ard. Welcome." Diana said, and tried to smile. He noticed that she looked very tired, and that Jessica's face was stained with tears. Gift also told him something was wrong.
 "Something is wrong." He said. Diana pretending to ignore is statement, and proceeded to introduce, and reintroduce his two siblings.
 "Ard, I believe you remember Isaac," She said, and gestured to the young man at her right, Isaac nodded, and gave a slight smile. "and Jessica." Jessica smiled, but her eyes were weary and upset.
 "I have already explained to Jessica who you are." She said.
 "Nice to meet you, Jessica." He said as nicely as possible, and then he added to Isaac.
 "Good to see you again, Clarke." He said. Ike shifted uncomfortably.
 "It's Ike, now Ard." He said. Ard raised a eyebrow.
 "Oh really? Going by your second name?" He asked, half mocking. Isaac nodded.
 "So is Taylor."
 "Really? How interesting." He said, not being able to hide the sarcasm in his voice. He was jealous of Isaac, why me and not him?
 "Well, Ard, I don't know if Sabec told you, but we are in need of your assistance." Diana interrupted, getting down to business.
 "Oh?" Ard said, seeming mildly interested.
 "Yes. The Kretti Empire, has captured Taylor and Zac. The refuse to give them up, unless we trade one of our strongest children to them. And you, after Taylor, are the strongest. But they don't know that. They think you are the one superior in Gift." She said.
 "So. What do you want me to do?" Ard said, getting the whole picture.
 "We need you do meet them at a rendezvous point, and together, you and Taylor should be able to hole them off for a while, then you can all come back. Safe, and together." She explained.
 "What's in it for me?" Ard asked simply.
 "Apart from saving your brothers?" Diana asked. Ard nodded.
 "Shouldn't that be enough?" Ike said bitterly. Ard briefly turned his gaze to Isaac.
 "No. I have been locked away for the past nine years, nine years,and I have never even seen four of my siblings, well, three now, and you expect me to go off and risk my life, trying to save two of my brothers, two of my brothers whom are, prettier and less aggressive than I? I don't think so. You put me away because I am not as aesthetically pleasing to look at as Taylor, or Zac, or Ike, or anyone else. Looks shouldn't matter. But I'm not going to do this for you. You have never done anything for me." He spat. Diana's face turned cold.
 "Ard, think about it. They have two of my most powerful and famous sons, and they are willing to trade them for you. If you were mw, wouldn't you do the same?" She said.
 "No. I would send the fleet in and kick their lazy asses." Ard said. Diana sighed.
 "Maybe what I did to you was not the morally correct thing to do. But, you have to remember, that all Hanson children are supposed to be beautiful. How would you feel, if you were constantly being compared to Taylor, or Zac, or Isaac? I have saved you from that. All princes are meant to be handsome." She said. Ard couldn't hold it in any more, he let it all burst out.
 "I can't believe you! You are a awful person! Doing that to your own son! There are ways of teaching me, I don't even know how to use Gift correctly! How in the hell's would I be able to help Taylor defeat the Kretti if I don't know how to use Gift? Tell me!" He screamed. Table and holo's nearby started to rattle, and on table fell over sideways.
 "There you go again! Always letting your anger get ahead of you! This isn't acceptable Ard!" Diana screamed back.
 "What is acceptable? Treating people, your own family, like they don't even matter? Is being beautiful and controllably powerful acceptable?" Ard seethed.
 "Maybe it is!" Diana said. Ard froze his expression frozen to a look of pain.
 "How can you say that?" Ard managed to squeak out. Diana's eyes filled with tears.
 "Do you know how hard it was to give up my son? But the advisors, they said it wouldn't be good if you were to stay in the open, you were too aggressive, and always damaging things, you almost killed Ike's for the God's sake...I didn't want them to take you away somewhere else, where Walker and I couldn't see you." She said. Jessica patted her hand, and whispered something in her ear. Diana jerked her head up.
 "That's it! Jessie, you little genius! Ard, what if, in exchange for helping to save Tay and Zac, you were allowed to live up here with us, your family?" Diana asked. Ard thought about this, he was taken back by the question, but finally, the wish to be with his family and out with all the other people, overcame him.
 "All right. I'll do it." He said. Diana smiled truthfully for the first time in ages.

Chapter 13

 "Are you ready for this, Ard?" Diana asked. Ard nodded, and stood beside his mother. Isaac was in the background. Jessica had gone to see to Zoe, Mackie and Avie. Diana prepared the transmission to the Kretti Destroyer, Koorhaci. Within moments, Captain Pieet's ugly head filled the screen once more.
 "Ah, your highness. I hope this greeting brings good news?" He said, sickly sweet.
 "Perhaps. I have talked with my son, Ard," Diana said, and slightly touched Ard's arm. Ard stared straight ahead at the beast before him. He had never seen a Kretti, let alone many other species, before. "and we have decided, that to better serve the Hanson Dynasty Empire, he will go to trade for Taylor and Zachary." She said. The Kretti nodded.
 "Wise decision. But, you are sure that he is the strongest of your sons?" Pieet asked. Diana nodded. She had no trouble lying to the Kretti, it made Ard wonder who else she could lie to.
 "Then you will send him, alone, on a transport to our docking bay, and we will make the switch there. Pieet out." The Captain said, and the screen, once again went blank. Diana turned to Ard once more.
 "Are you sure you're up to this?" She asked, her voice full of caution. Ard sensed a trace of fear too, as if she actually cared for him. Ard nodded.
 "Yes. Of course." He said.

 The HDE Officers prepared Ard's shuttle. He was to have Blavrers, as well as other weapons aboard to use incase things turned ugly. Taylor knew what he was supposed to do, Diana had managed to contact him to tell him of their plans. Taylor said he could 'kick all their scaly asses in two milliseconds.' Diana wasn't as optimistic. Just before Ard was about to board, Diana pulled him aside.
 "Ard, I want you to have this." She said, and handed him a Handle, about 16 cm long. He looked at it, it was unlike anything he's ever seen before. "You can use Gift to call upon the power within." She said, and demonstrated. She held the object, and closed her eyes. Suddenly a bright display of light came out from the Handle, and formed a long, laser like beam. (Think lightsabre from Star Wars)
 "It's amazing. You want me to use this against the Kretti?" Ard asked. Diana nodded, and handed him two more.
 "These are for Taylor and Zac. Only give Zac his if things start to get out of control. I don't know if he can handle it." She said. Ard nodded.
 "Thank you." He said. Diana smiled, and lightly touched his arm.
 "Bring back my two sons, and yourself all alive and in one piece, Ardent." She said. Ard nodded once more, and boarded.

Chapter 14

 "This is the Hanson Dynasty Empire's transport 80311 requesting permission to dock on side boarding." Ard said through the speaker.
 "Permission granted." A raspy voice replied. Ard pulled the little shuttle down into the dock. He could see several armed Kretti standing there, and his two brothers, Taylor and Zac. He opened the hatch, and stepped out. The three weapons concealed beneath his cloak. One of the Kretti stepped forward.
 "Greetings, young Ard. I am Captain Pieet of the ship, Koorhaci. Welcome to your new home." He said. Ard nodded, and gave Taylor a quick glance. He knew that Taylor was fully informed of what he was about to do. A Kretti officer who was holding a readout scanner to the shuttle, turned quickly to Pieet. He said something in native Kretti that Ard couldn't understand. But Zac did. He turned to Taylor.
 "Mee spek doe doun pers du shutt." He said in the Hanson Dialect. Ard's Hanson was very poor, but he understood most of it. They had found the other two people in the ship. Pieet turned to him, and gave a quick hand signal to one of the officer's near Taylor. Within a flash, there was a ray shooter to Taylor's head. Taylor, however, remained calm.
 "Why does my officer detect two more life forms on your ship?" Pieet asked.
 "There are two other officers on board. They escorted me down here, and they will escort Taylor and Zac back to Chimaera." Ard said. The Kretti narrowed his eyes.
 "But why have an escort when we are circling Chimaera already?" He hissed.
 "Precautions always taken by the Hanson Empire." Ard said simply. Pieet seemed to accept this, and signaled his officer to move his gun from range of Taylor's head.
 "You will come this way." The Captain ordered.
 "Can I at least say good bye to my brothers?" Ard asked. The Kretti seemed to sigh, but nodded.
 "Humans are so, emotional. It sickens me sometimes." He said. Ard went to hug Taylor, but he secretly passed him the Handle. Then he hugged Zac, who at first was reluctant, until he received his own Handle.
 "I will miss you brothers." He said, and winked.
 Now! Taylor barked the order, and it echoed throughout the three brother's heads. The each swirled around, forming a circle, and called upon Gift with the Handle.
 "No! Harriesh du matt! Pieet screamed in Kretti. Taylor and Ard started to fight the Kretti. Zac stood there, not quite knowing what to do. There was a noise from the ship, and Ike and Leelu burst out from the shuttle. Ike had his own Handle, and Leelu had her ray gun. They got into the battle as well.
 "What took you so long?" Ard screamed through the laser noise.
 "The door was stuck. Sorry." Ike shouted back. Leelu help Zac fend of Kretti patrollers, and Taylor mostly crushed their heads with Gift. Finally, he got bored of this, and went straight for Pieet.
 "I hate you and your whole freaking race." He growled, and threw him into the wall, without even touching him.
 "I will kill you, pink fleshling!" The Kretti screeched. Taylor held up his Handle, and the laser hummed to life, Taylor swung, and the Handle neatly sliced Pieet in half. Leelu and Zac started to board the shuttle.
 "Guys! C'mon!" Zac yelled. Ard and Isaac followed them up, with Taylor at the rear. There were thousands of tiny, and large blast bolts being fired at them. A bolt singed the side of Ike's shoulder, and he fell against the ramp onto the shuttle. Ard picked him up, and they closed the hatch. Leelu and Taylor took the controls of the ship, and flew out of there.
 "Whoo-hoo!" Zac cheered. Ard slumped against a navigator's chair, and closed his eyes.
 "Hell of a fight." He muttered.
 
 
 

Chapter 15

 "Ike's going to be okay. Second degree burn. Nothing repatch flesh won't heal." The doctor told Diana. She nodded, and breathed a sigh of relief. Walker still wasn't back yet, and she hadn't heard from him. She was fearing the worst.
 "Has anyone tried to contact Marieh?" Taylor asked. Jessie shook her head.
 "Mum said there's no point, since Ike's going to be fine." She answered. Ard just sat there, partly overwhelmed with his family. Leelu was seated beside Zac. She hadn't let him out of her sight ever since they had gotten back. It was as if she was afraid he was going to disappear.
 "I'm going to try to contact Walker." Diana said, and left. The teens sat in the lounge. No one talking. There was a intercom alert.
 "Would all personnel and officers please report to dock A, please report to dock A, the Mississippi has returned with another unidentified ship, there are numerous wounded..." The intercom repeated it's message. Taylor and Zac's faces went white. Jessica looked to her brother's for comfort.
 "That's daddy's ship..." She whimpered. The five teens jumped up, and ran to dock A

 "Can you see anything?" Jessica asked amidst the hoards of people and offworlders.
 '"No, absolutely nothing." Zac answered. Taylor closed his eyes, and put all distractions behind him. He focused on his father. He was alive, he knew that, but where was he? Taylor got a sense in his head, and pushed into the crowd. Someone grabbed onto his shoulder. He whirled around, and stared into Ard's hard face.
 "I'm coming with you." He said. Taylor nodded, and together, they went into Dock A. Taylor spotted the back of a brown head, and ran off in that direction. It wasn't his father. He stopped right in the middle of the walk-board.
 "This is ridiculous!" He yelled. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "HAS ANYONE SEEN HIGH LORD WALKER?" He yelled. Most of the movement stopped.
 "Prince Taylor?" A officer asked him. He nodded. There were whispers. He could just see Zac rolling his eyes now.
 "Yes. DO you know where my dad is?" He asked. The officer checked his readout.
 "He's still aboard, tending to a injured member of the freighter that was fighting alongside them, in the outer rims." The officer said.
 "I want to go aboard the Mississippi." Taylor said. The officer smiled softly.
 "I'm sorry, that isn't possible." He said. Taylor narrowed his eyes.
 "Don't tell me what is and isn't possible, I just kicked a Kretti's Captain scaly ass, and more than half his crew, so don't you think you can tell me what to do! I am Prince Taylor. I do whatever I want." Taylor said, and glanced at Ard.
 "This is my brother, Prince Ard, so you treat him with some respect, and the authority he damn well deserves." He added. The officer nodded weakly. He knew of Gift, and what the Hanson prices could do if they got mad. Taylor barged ahead towards the ship. The officer turned to Ard.
 "I didn't know there was a price Ard." He said quietly. Ard looked at him.
 "I don't get out much. And I don't resemble any of my brothers or sisters, so I'm not mobbed by teenage humanoids everywhere I go." He said quickly, and raced after him fuming brother.
Chapter 16

 "Dad?" Taylor called throughout the busy ship. There was devastation everywhere. And there were many casualties. Taylor stopped a officer hurrying past.
 "Excuse me, have you seen my dad, Lord Walker?" Taylor asked. The officer nodded.
 "He's tending to a officer from the freighter that helped us out. Down the hall, and to the right. The Med center." He said.
 "Why don't they just bring him out?" Ard asked. The officer frowned.
 "She's in critical condition, and may die if moved. Part of her ship exploded." He said, and went off, giving Taylor a salute. Taylor and Ard ran down the hall to the Med Center. Sure enough, their father was standing over a med bed. There was someone in it.
 "Dad!" Taylor cheered. Walker looked up, his face bruised and tired.
 "Oh, Gods, Taylor..." He said. Taylor gave his father a hug. Walker soon noticed Ard as well.
 "Ard! What are you doing here?" He asked, unable to hide his joy.
 "Well, it's a long story. I'm sure Diana-I mean mom will explain it to you." Ard said.
 "I killed a whole lot of Kretti, and this Captain Pieet dude, and-" Taylor began
 "Whoa, hold up. Captain Pieet?" Walker asked. Taylor nodded.
 "He took me and Zac hostage, so mom asked Ard to help get you out, with the help of Leelu and Ike, Leelu is this girl we got from Dakora, which is right near Insearti, which is where Gift originated from, but mom didn't want us to go there, so Zac and I went anyway, and that
s when we got captured by the Kretti. But they're dead now. Isn't that-" Taylor said, going a mile a minute.
 "Yes. It is her. I doubt she's going to make it." Walker said softly. Ard didn't recognize the girl in the Med Bed. the girl had red hair, that was probably usually shiny, but now it was a dull copper.
 "Who is it?" Ard asked. Taylor looked at him sadly.
 "Marieh. The girl Ike is going to marry." He answered.

 They managed to get Marieh to the same Med Center in the Hanson Palace as Ike was in. He was devastated.
 "She isn't going to die, no way, not her. She never dies, not for anything..." He said. He was now sitting upright in his bed, although his shoulder caused him immense pain.
 "Isaac, darling, you have to understand, that it was a tremendous battle, and she saved many, many lives. We never knew what hit us out there, it's a good thing her and her crew were there." Diana said. There was a whoosh, and Diina, Marieh's first mate on her ship stepped through. She marched right up to Walker.
 "Where is she?" Diina demanded.
 "Over there." Walker said, and pointed to a Med Bed beside Isaac's.
 "Oh, crap. She looks like hell." Diina said. There was a large bruise on her head. "I can't believe that gas beam fell and knocked me unconscious. We kicked those stupid Kretti's asses, right?" She asked. Walker nodded.
 "That squadron is gone. But Taylor, killed Captain Pieet, the one commanding it all." He said. Diana and Walker had conversed on what had actually happened. Pieet knew that Walker's ship was under attack by part of his fleet, so taking another of the Hanson family would have proved most victorious. But Pieet hadn't counted on Marieh and her ship returning from the outer rims, and her ship assisted the Mississippi in defeating the Kretti's squadron. There were great losses, but none so great as the loss of Walker, Ard, Taylor and Zac would've been to the Hanson Dynasty Empire. Marieh groaned, and opened her eyes.
 "Ooooh, my head..." She moaned.
 "Marieh, oh my Marieh.." Ike said.
 "Ike? What are you doing here?" She asked, and looked around. "Where the hell is here?" She added.
 "You're in the Med Center of The Hanson Palace, Marieh. You were badly injured in the battle, but we defeated the Kretti." Walker told her.
 "Oh, that's good your highness, but, I was there remember." She said.
 "Hey, girl. You look like shit." Diina said. Marieh nodded.
 "I feel like shit too. Kretti shit." She answered. Taylor smirked.
 "What hurts?" Diana asked, genuine concern in her voice, which surprised everyone.
 "Oh, gods, everything. But I can move all my things, so I'm all right." She said. Ike smiled.
 "I told you she was going to be all right." He said. A Doctor came in.
 "Okay, your highnesses, time for the two officers to have their rest. He said, and looked at Diina and Walker. "May I talk to you for a moment?" He asked. Walker nodded, and Diina shrugged. They went into another room, and everyone else left. Isaac and Marieh sat in the Med Room for a few moments, not talking.
 "Ike?" Marieh asked.
 "Yeah?"
 "I'm going to die. I think."
 "Don't say that!" Ike shrieked. Marieh closed her eyes.
 "Why not? It's probably the truth. I can't believe I was so stupid, getting into a dogfight..."
 "It's not your fault, those damn Kretti, first they try to take my brothers, then my father, and now, they might take you away too." Ike said, and looked out the window. It was a dark day outside. Chimaera's normally light lavender sky was a dull royal purple.
 "Looks like a storm's coming." Marieh said, absent mindedly changing the subject.
 "Yeah." Ike said. Marieh turned to look at him.
 "Why doesn't your mother like me?" She asked. Ike sighed.
 "I have no idea. Everyone has to be...perfect to her. You're perfect to me, and she can't see that. Just because you're a smuggler."
 "Then, why does she care so much if I die?" Marieh asked quietly. Ike didn't have a answer for this. At first he thought it was because she was a war hero, and therefore another casualty of the battle, but, he had sensed something else there as well. He didn't know what it was.
 "Maybe she'll feel extremely guilty. But you're not going to die, so it doesn't matter." Ike told her. Marieh stared out the window.
 "Ike, I seriously do not think I'm going to make it. I want you to know that I love you." She said. Ike felt his heart stop.
 "Don't be ridiculous. There is no way you are going to die. I'll get the best healers in the universe to care for you, and Zac and Tay and me'll help with gift, Tay can do it, do can Ard. They're the strongest-"
 "Ike, don't worry. Everything's going to be okay." Marieh interrupted him. The door opened, and Walker and Diina stepped out with the doctor. Diina had a odd look on her face. And Walker looked exhausted.
 "All right, Ike, we're moving you to another room. Marieh needs her rest." Walker said. Two Med Bots came to move Ike's Med Bed to another room.
 "I don't want to leave Marieh, father. No, please, let me stay-" Ike protested, but it was no use."
 "Please, Ike, Marieh needs her rest. Don't worry, Diina will be here, she's going to be well looked after." Walker said, and followed his son out of the room. Diina pulled up a chair, and sat beside Marieh.
 "So, how bad is it?" Marieh asked.
 "Oh, Marieh..." Diina sobbed, and buried her head in her hands.

Chapter 17

 "Father, she's going to die, isn't she?" Isaac asked his father. Walker closed his eyes, and nodded.
 "I'm afraid so, son." He said. Ike's face went red.
 "Then why can't I stay with her? Gods, she's going to die, and I love her!" Ike screamed. Walker nodded, and put his hand on Ike's shoulder.
 "There's nothing we can do. The doctor said it would be better if you weren't there when she passed away." Walker said.
 "Well he doesn't know laser dust! Put me right back in that room, right now!" Ike yelled. Walker shook his head.
 "I can't. I'm sorry, son." He said, and turned to leave.
 "So you're just going to leave, now? And count her as another casualty of war? All because you don't want me to marry her! I bet you probably told the doctor to let her die-"
 "That's enough, Isaac!" Walker screamed. Ike stopped, surprised at his father's sudden outburst.
 "I may be the best father in the universe, but I do know when I am doing something right. Your mother is the one that is so hung up on family tradition. I don't care who you marry, as long as you love them. Marieh is a amazing warrior, but that's what she is, a warrior. You must've known when you met her that her job as a smuggler was dangerous. This is what happens when you take a dangerous job. She saved many lives in that battle, and I am very grateful for that. But in the process, she fatally injured herself. She's bleeding internally, and with all the medical sciences that we have here, there is not yet a way to stop that. There is hemorrhaging in the brain, and there's nothing we can do! I want her to live, do you understand that? But she's not going to! Face it Isaac, you cannot always take your pain out on other people." Walker said, and left. Isaac sat there, speechless.

 "Ike, are you awake?" Taylor asked his older brother. Ike groaned, and rolled over. His brother was standing at the side of his bed, with Diina.
 "What do you want?" He grumbled. The pillow was damp from crying.
 "Marieh's still alive, and we're taking you to see her." Diina said. Ike bolted up. Taylor got a wheelchair, and Ike sat down slowly in it. The medication used to prevent his laser wound from spreading made him unable to use his legs and walk properly for a few hours. He was still shaky.
 Taylor wheeled him down the hall, to Marieh's room. Diina opened the door, and the three teens went in. Marieh was sleeping. Taylor wheeled Ike right up to her.
 "Oh, Marieh. I'm sorry." Ike said, and held her hand. Taylor and Diina stepped into the other room.
 "You don't think he'll do anything, drastic, do you?" Diina asked Taylor. Tay shrugged.
 "I don't think so. Gods, I can't believe everything that's happened." He said. Diina nodded.
 "Did you really kill Pieet?" She asked. Taylor nodded.
 "Yeah. I sliced him in half." He answered, almost proudly.
 "Spacy. The Kretti are cold blooded freaks." She said. Taylor nodded.
 "Yeah. I want to get rid of every last one of 'em."

 "Marieh, I'm sorry this happened, I love you more than anything." Ike said to the still body infront of him. The Med Equipment told him that she was still alive, and it would beep continuously if she went into arrest. Her eyes fluttered, and opened.
 "Isaac, oh, they let you come. Diina told me she was going to let you come, that....she'd get you here...somehow." Marieh said. Her voice was quiet, and she had trouble getting the words out.
 "Shh...don't talk. It's okay, everything will be all okay soon." Ike said. He couldn't believe his own words.
 "Ike, I love you." Marieh said. "The only thing that kept me going through all those long days on the outer edge was your smiling face. I'm sorry this had to happen, and that we'll never get married." Marieh said.
 "It's not your fault, it's the damn Kretti. At least Taylor killed Pieet." He said.
 "Yeah....then....no one else...has to be...seperated..." Marieh said, and slowly closed her eyes.
 "Oh, gods...Marieh I love you!" Ike cried.
 "Isaa..."  The pulse in Marieh's wrist slowly faded, and she died. Ike just sat there, still holding her hand. It was as if a part of him, a part of his soul was gone. And he knew, there was nothing that anyone could do to fill it again.

Chapter 18

 "Zac, are you ready to go?" Taylor asked his brother. Zac nodded, and turned to Leelu.
 "Ready?" He asked her. She gave him a thumbs up sign, something she'd learned from the boys.
 "Go!" She said. Taylor pushed the lift off throttle, and they blasted off of Cezanne. Ike watched from the control base.
 "Good luck guys. I hope you find what you're looking for." He said evenly. Taylor's voice could be heard over the cator.
 "Thanks Ike. Take care of yourself, and Ard too." He said.
 "I will." Isaac told them. Ard came up beside him.
 "We can meet them on Insearti later, if you want to go." Ard told his older brother. Ike shook his head.
 "No, I want to stay here for a while longer." He said. Ard nodded, and left. Ike was still grieving for Marieh, and his brother's knew he would never get over her. It had already been a month, and she was always on his mind. Taylor and Zac had just left for Insearti, to continue the mission that was delayed by the Kretti. Ike doubted any Kretti ships would stop them now. After Pieet's death, the Kretti fleet had nearly disappeared, pushed to the outer rim of the galaxy. Ike sipped his Voraan tea. Perhaps, later in time, he would join his brothers on their quest for the history of Gift. Perhaps later.
 Maybe.

The End.

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