Ghosts
You can only run so far
If you're running from your past
For the ghosts of history follow you
As Shadows from your Past
One year later...
Tobias leaned back in his chair. "Report."
<Twelve casualties on our side. Estimated twenty-nine for the Yeerks. We've sustained heavy damage to the main ship, but the Yeerks have retreated. Sancia is secure.>
"Good. When the Deathblade gets here, set us on course for rendezvous with the main dome."
<And the others, Sir?>
"I believe they will stay, however, we are badly in need of repairs, so we will leave regardless of their status."
<Yes, Sir.>
"That is all. Inform me when the Deathblade arrives."
<Yes, my Prince.>
Tobias sighed as the warrior left. Commanding a team of pilots was tiring, but he was needed here.
He massaged the bridge of his nose. That last battle had left him drained. Thankfully, repairs would take at least a deglash, and he could get a break.
Maybe a quick nap would help.
Tobias yawned. He was too tired to morph now, and he was afraid he would sleep right though the two-hour limit.
He checked the clock. He had over an hour left.
I'll go get some food, then morph.
Tobias was by now used to the regiment of demorphing and morphing every few hours. He slept and piloted as a hawk, but otherwise spent his time as a human.
There was both a practical and personal reason for this. By spending less time as a hawk, he was extending the life of the hawk and, therefore, his own. Also, it was rather difficult to fly around in the artificial gravity of the ships. Third, he rather enjoyed being human. Flying was pure freedom, but warm apple pie was pure heaven.
This last thought reminded him of his empty stomach.
Tobias got up and grabbed a ration bar. He'd head down to storage and see if they had any freeze-dried food left.
The halls were mostly empty as everyone was busy repairing or containing damaged areas.
Storage, fortunately, had not been hit.
But to Tobias's surprise there was already someone in the room.
"Hey, who's there?"
The person turned. Tobias realized with surprise that it was a man. A human man.
"Tobias, that you?"
Tobias blinked. That voice... He knew that voice!
"Alex?"
"Yeah. Hey, they said you were debriefing."
"I was. What are you doing here?"
"Trying to find some food."
"You too?"
"Yeah, haven't eaten for twelve hours. I'm starving, and they don't even have a stash of ration bars up there!"
"That's cause I've got them all." Tobias couldn't help but grin.
"Ah, I see. So what are you doing down here?"
"Got a craving for apple pie."
Alex's eyes lit up. "You've got pie here?"
"No, but I think we've got some beef jerky somewhere."
"You’re kidding!" Alex gasped, practically drooling.
"Check that box." Tobias pointed to a container left of Alex.
Alex tried to open it. "Locked." He said disappointed.
"Then it's the right one." Tobias went over, punched in a password, and the lid sprang open. He took out the single gray bag. "Last one," he murmured wistfully.
Tobias shrugged and tore it open. He handed a piece to Alex and popped one into his own mouth, and the two old friends left to talk, catch up, and remember.
"So how have you been?" Tobias asked.
The jerky was long gone, and several ration bars wrappers littered the floor.
"Busy. We've got a lot of missions to take care of."
"Same here." Tobias shook his head. "It almost seems as if the Yeerks are getting stronger rather than weaker."
"So, how's Sarah?" Tobias asked, changing the topic.
"She's good, I suppose. Haven't seen her in two months, but I'm up for leave in three weeks. She's not happy I'm gone so much, but this schedule's worked so far. It's saved our marriage, really."
Tobias nodded. He knew about the plan they had worked out. Sarah would stay on Earth, and Alex would work with the military in space, but come home on leaves.
"We only see each other three months a year, but we've made it work."
Tobias stiffened. The perfection and destruction of his own marriage rushed back to him. "I'm glad." He managed to say.
"But that's not why I'm here." Alex cleared his throat. "I'm here to extend to you a proposition."
"A proposition?"
"A proposition about undertaking a certain mission."
Tobias raised his eyebrow. "Why tell me?"
"This is a joint mission to 'test' a new Alliance ship."
"Test?"
"There is a Yeerk base on the second moon of Horizon, a planet in the Omega sector. The mission is to go there and gather an 'intelligence report'."
"Meaning?"
"Destroy the main compound."
"Why the new ship?"
"The Yeerks have sensors installed that'll pick up Shredder radiation. The new ships have modified shields, but we've never tried them out in a real mission."
"They want test subjects."
"Two pilots. One from the Alliance. One from the Andalites. This is a joint venture. It's a Alliance ship, but the planet's in a sector with a heavy Andalite presence."
"Three, maybe for ships. That's not what I'd call heavy."
"But the Alliance has none. We'd have to take off from an Andalite dome or base."
"Alex, if you want me to recommend a pilot, I really don't think I can spare anyone right now."
"No, I don't want you to recommend one of your pilots, I want you come with me."
"Me?"
"You're one of the best damn pilots in the fight, Tobias. And we've worked together before, which increases our chances of succeeding."
"So this is risky."
"Yes. We don't know if the new shields are enough, but we can't wait any longer. The Yeerks are preparing to invade Horizon, which means we have to move now."
"Horizon has no defenses?"
"Not enough. They're in the middle of a fractured peace process. A global war ended just ten years ago. If they're provoked, a nuclear war could engulf the whole population."
"No chance they could fight back?"
"Tobias, think. If the Yeerks had shown up on Earth ten years after World War II, what do you think would have happened?"
"Damn..." Tobias whispered, leaning back. "The Yeerks are crazy."
"They're desperate."
"Someone has to stop them."
"Yes, but are you coming?"
How? How could he go? He had a team to command; a force to train and deploy into battle.
Tobias sighed. He couldn't tell Alex 'no', but what would he tell Command?
"Incoming message from Command for Prince Tobias Fangor. Priority One."
Nice timing. Tobias thought as he opened the letter. But as he read his face became paler and paler.
Tobias reread the letter again. Now his face was red with anger.
It was a suicide mission, pure and simple. And Alex didn't know, or maybe he just didn't believe it. Send someone, Command had said. Someone we can afford to lose.
Tobias let out a long breath. He had sent a lot of pilots to their deaths, but never like this. Never knowing with absolute certainty they would never come back. How could he do that? And how could he let his best friend go?
Think about it later. He told himself. You don't have to decide now.
Tobias scrolled through the rest of the messages waiting for him. Several more from Command, none priority. A letter from Jake, and a letter from...Sarah.
Why would Sarah be writing to him? Was she trying to get a hold of Alex? Tobias's curiosity got the better of him, and he opened it, though he had many other things he needed to do.
Dear Tobias,
I know it has been a long time, but I hope you still consider me a friend. If not, I hope you still consider Alex a friend.
I know what he is planning. I know he will go to you for help, or else he has already done so. I know you cannot stop him, and I will not ask you to try, but please, go with him. He is my husband. I love him, and I do not want to lose him. I trust you, Tobias, and I know if anyone can bring him back safely to me, it's you.
I know you understand how I feel. I know how much you loved Rachel. Please, for the sake of that love, help me.
Oh God... Tobias closed his eyes. She knew. How could she know?
And she was asking... She was asking the impossible. What he knew was Level Five secrecy. He could not reveal it to Alex, but unless he could convince Alex not to go without telling him the truth, then...
Tobias remembered Sarah's words. She was right about Rachel.
How could he ever face her? How could he ever face anyone, knowing he had sent his best friend to his death?
Sarah. She had been his friend. Eight years did not change that. He owned it to her to try.
I'll bring him back, Sarah, I swear. I swear on my life, I'll bring you your husband back.
"Alex!" Tobias jogged down the hall after his friend.
"Tobias! What's up?"
"About the mission..." Tobias hesitated. He couldn't tell him why... For Sarah. "I'm coming with you."
"Really? After last time, I got the impression you didn't want to come."
"Well..." Tobias shrugged. "I thought about it, and I changed my mind."
Tobias wasn't sure Alex believed him, but it didn't matter. They were going.
"Ten seconds to liftoff." The computer chirped.
Tobias looked over at the copilot chair. "You sure you want me piloting? It's your ship.
Alex shook his head. "You're the better pilot. Remember back on the base, we'd do scouting together? Besides," he fingered the weapons controls, "I'm a pretty good shot these days."
He loves this. Tobias thought. He's as excited as a little kid going on his first roller coaster ride. Flying this mission is everything to him.
"Powering engines..." Alex flipped up the controls.
Tobias felt the familiar hum of the fusion engines as the ship powered up.
The hull opened before him. Tobias tightened his grip on the controls.
"All systems go."
Tobias pulled and the ship lifted from its holdings.
With a whoosh, the main engines kicked in. Tobias was amazed by the G-Force, something rarely experienced in an Andalite ship. It was like comparing a Hot Rod to a Cadillac.
"Gets the adrenaline going, doesn't it?" Alex grinned.
Stars flashed by them in a dazzling display of light.
"It's fast." Tobias agreed.
"Powering Z-space engines... Jumping to Z-space!"
The viewscreen faded to blank whiteness.
"We're in."
"Switching to autopilot. We've got just under an hour before we reach Horizon."
Tobias leaned back. And then we go in blind.
No sensors. No communication.
If only, Tobias thought, we weren't carrying these shredders. The signature was distinct. The shields uncertain.
If only we weren't on this mission.
"Approaching Horizon..."
"Manual on."
"Exiting Z-Space...Now!"
"All systems go... We're out."
"Position: Six million meters and closing. Approaching the system at Mach twenty. Out of range of sensors."
"Slowing to Mach one... How are we?"
Alex's eyes flicked over the readings. They haven't detected us yet."
"Good. Shields up."
"Shields up."
"Shut down long range sensors."
"Shutting down..."
"Power down weapons."
"Weapons off."
"Kill the Z-Space engines."
"Engines off-line..."
"Plot course: 89-62 degrees. Mach ten.
"Course plotted."
"Auto-pilot on."
"ETA: 20 minutes."
"Alex, take the controls. I'm going to do a quick morph-demorph."
Alex nodded.
Tobias removed his straps and, bending to avoid the low ceiling, climbed out of the cockpit.
Twenty minutes later, Tobias was back in his seat, orbiting the planet of Horizon.
"Only twenty Bugs in orbit." Tobias observed.
Alex nodded in agreement. "The main base is on land. The Bugs are just enough to deter a direct assault."
If either the Andalites or the Alliance attacked, they would win a space battle, but casualties would be high, and neither force was open to such an unfavorable option.
"Turn on extra shielding."
"X-Shields on."
The row of monitors before him went blank. Sensors could not pierce the shields. Tobias squeezed the hand controls. "Manual on."
He felt a slight jolt as the ship came under his control.
"Entering atmosphere..." Tobias eased the ship down.
"We're in."
Tobias squinted. "I think I see the base."
Alex agreed. "Slowing speed."
"I see it..." Tobias pulled the ship into a tight loop. "Power weapons."
"Ten seconds to maximum power."
Tobias made one last turn. "Systems on."
"Seven seconds."
"Aim."
"Five."
"Steady..."
"Four."
"Dropping basic shields..."
"Three... Two..."
Tobias saw the Bug in the faint reflection off the hull.
"One."
"Go!" Tobias yelled. The Bug was going to fire...
But Alex misunderstood the command. He fired just as Tobias punched the engines.
"Shitshitshitshitshit!" Alex dropped the extra shields and sensors came back on. "Three Bugs on our tail. More on the way."
Tobias wrenched the ship into a corkscrew. "Did you hit the base?"
"Some of it. Missed the Kandrona."
"Damn... Hit the bugs!"
"We'll never get them all..." Alex muttered. "Turn around! We'll punch through them. I can take out the base!"
"Alex..."
"Trust me."
Tobias swore, then flipped the ship over. "One shot."
Five Bugs. Past one. Past two... BUG!
Right in front of them!
To late... TURN! More! More... Too close...
CRASH!
Tobias groaned. His head hurt horribly.
He touched his head and felt something warm and slippery. Blood.
Tobias began to panic. How long had he been out? Was he trapped?
He tried morphing and was relieved to find he could still morph.
The pain in his head and leg faded.
It was too dark in the mangled husk of the ship for his hawk eyes to be of any use, so Tobias morphed back.
He untangled the straps that held him to his seat. "Alex?"
No answer.
Tobias pushed the piece of hull off himself and sunlight filtered in.
"Alex?" He called again.
There was a soft moan to his right.
Tobias started pulling debris off. "Alex, can you hear me?"
"Tobias?" The voice was muffled and to the left.
"I'm coming!" Tobias heaved the piece of unidentifiable machinery off.
Alex was pinned to the floor of the ship. His upper body was free, but the lower half was trapped by a piece of hull.
"Oh, God..." Tobias saw the puddle of blood spreading under Alex's body.
"Tobe, what's happening?"
"You're pinned down, that's all." Tobias lied, his voice shaking. He had seen a lot during the war, but this...this was Alex. This was his best friend.
"I can't feel my legs, Tobe."
"It's okay. I'll get you out, and—"
"I'm dying, aren't I?"
"Alex, don't say that!" Tobias whispered desperately, as if, if he didn't admit it, Alex would be okay.
"I'm dying, I know it."
"Oh, God, don't say that..."
"It's true."
"It'll be okay... Just think of Sarah. You'll be okay."
"Tobe, go."
"What? No!"
"The Yeerks'll come after us. You can't get captured."
"I'm not leaving you!"
"Tobias, please."
"No! I won't let you die!"
Alex slipping his wedding ring off of his finger and held it out to Tobias. "Take this back to Sarah and tell her I love her."
"I..."
"Take it! And take care of her. Promise me you'll make sure she's okay."
Tobias handled the ring uncertainly. "I..."
"Promise me!"
"I promise." Tobias slipped the ring onto his right ring finger. He had broken his promise to Sarah. His word was worth nothing, yet what else could he say?
"Tell her I love her."
"I will." Could he? Could he show up on her doorstep without her husband but with his ring and his love? Could he go back at all?
"Goodbye, Tobias." Alex closed his eyes.
"Alex?" Tobias felt for a pulse. There was none.
"Goodbye, Alex."
Alex was dead. Dead. Tobias's mind would not comprehend that. He touched his face and realized he was crying.
"I'm sorry, Sarah," he whispered." He had failed. He had failed to save Alex.v A loud
banging startled him. Tobias turned.
TSWEEE!
Tobias ducked behind his arm to protect his face from the searing heat.
Dracon fire.
"Human!" The Hork-Bajir Controller said, surprised.
Tobias froze. He was trapped and weaponless.
"Surrender!"
"Screw you!" Tobias grabbed a pipe and heaved at the Controller. Capture was not an option.
The Controller fired and vaporized the pipe.
Another aimed at Tobias.
The last thing he remembered was seeing Rachel’s face float before his eyes.
Tobias winced as pain shot through his shoulder.
The pain however, did wake him.
"That the human who shot up the base?"
"One of them. The other bastard's already dead."
They were speaking in Galard, but the translator chip in Tobias's brain worked perfectly.
"When does the Visser want him?"
"In an hour. They're still repairing the pool."
"It'll be a lucky Yeerk who gets this fool. A certain promotion."
The other grunted. "Heard the soldiers fight the most. You have to tie them down to keep them from killing themselves."
The other laughed. "They are merely children. They will break."
Tobias heard the footsteps fade away and lifted his head. Clear.
A force field blocked his cell from the hallway. Two guards stood in front, their backs to him, talking.
Tobias heart pounded in his chest. Soundproof. The field was soundproof.
Shit. He thought.
Nothing would be small enough to get through that barrier.
Not that he could morph in full view of the guards anyway. The moment they knew he was an Animorph and not a regular human, they would infest him on the spot.
Tobias checked his body. Yep, they had stripped him of his weapons.
Tobias shivered. He would either be killed or infested
Let me die. Death was better than being a Controller.
Tobias rolled over into a sitting position. His leg seemed a little banged up and his arms a bit sore, and of course, the headache was a side effect of being Draconed, but otherwise, he was fine. Yeerks are so careful with their prisoners. He thought wryly.
Tobias desperately wanted to know how long he had been in morph and if he was trapped yet, but there was no way to find out. He didn't have the Andalites' natural ability to tell time.
An hour. Maybe two. I just have to wait. I'll be trapped and they'll kill me and I'll be free.
Tobias curled into a fetal position and silent tears ran down his face. He had failed. He had lost Alex. How many had he lost over the years? Rachel. Merdin. Beth. Alex. His pilots. How many? Ten? Twenty? How many had died under his watch?
And the Resistance. All those that died during the war. Christina. The Myen spies he handed orders to.
He was a murderer of the worst kind. They had died because he had told them to. They had died trusting him, believing in him.
And now it was his turn.
He had thought so much of himself that he believed he could bring him and Alex out of this alive. He was such a fool.
It was better that he died here. He would die a hero of the people, praised for his long fight against the Yeerk cancer, loved for the myths.
He would die in battle like his father before him, a hero that was not perfect, but still revered by the people.
And what people was that? Both his peoples, the humans and Andalites like his father, or all the peoples of the world? Who were his people? Did he even have one?
Tobias didn't know. He didn't know who he was or what he wanted, but he did know the legend whispered about him wasn't true. He was not a hero. He was simply a vain fool.
Tobias looked down at his hands.
It was still there. Both of them. Alex's ring and his. His ring was still there, amazingly. A circlet of golden hair, perfect in every way. How had it lasted so long? All those battles, all those morphs. But love survived.
They had gold rings, with a large diamond for Rachel, but they never wore them. Their marriage wasn't built on them. The true rings were the circlets of hair.
Tobias kissed the ring. He missed her now more than ever, so close to seeing her again.
Tobias would die here, and so would Sarah's husband.
He had failed Sarah again.
Leave it all behind.
But Tobias was ready. He wanted rest. He wanted Rachel. So he waited.
"You, Human."
Tobias looked up. Had it yet been two hours? He had sat in his cell for at least an hour, but had it been two hours since he last morphed? He shivered. He hoped it was. He hoped it was over, that he was trapped for certain.
They would infest him. They would know, and then they would kill him.
They had to kill him. He was a sign of failure. No Yeerk would dare to tell their commanders they had squandered the chance for another morph-capable host. That would mean death for them for sure.
The Yeerks would kill him to cover their mistake. Yes, Tobias was sure of that.
If he was trapped. If.
Run. Just run. Try to buy time. Try to get them to kill you. Whatever it takes.
The Controller reached to grab Tobias's arm and dragged him up.
Tobias tensed. He was ready.
But he wasn't ready for what happened next.
As the large Hork-Bajir hand closed around his arm, a loud wailing siren sounded throughout the building.
Tobias stared in shock. An alarm. An alarm.
The Controller shoved Tobias back and ran out hurriedly, resetting the force field as he left.
Tobias jumped to his feet and tried to look as far down the hall as he could. What was going on?
Wait... Could he morph and escape now?
Tobias concentrated on his natural form, but the familiar changes did not come. I'm trapped. He realized, admitting the grim reality. He had gotten what he wished for. And perhaps, it was for the best.
Tobias moved back from the bars. It was over.
<Prince Tobias!>
Tobias jerked up. Thought-speak. Where? He looked up. There it was! A tiny speck flew down from the ceiling and landed on the floor.
And the bug began to change.
Tobias watched with amazement as an Andalite emerged.
An Andalite he recognized from many years ago. Aelex.
He was older, stronger, and taller, at the prime of his life. He vaguely reminded Tobias of another Andalite from the past.
Across his chest was strapped a belt with a single shredder. Morphing weapons was near impossible, and only small items could be carried.
<Hello, Prince Tobias.>
"Aelex! How did you get in here? The force fields—"
<—Were turned off when the guard entered.>
"You set off that alarm? How?"
Aelex ignored the question. <The guards will return soon. We must move quickly.> Though his words suggested nothing, Tobias sensed a coldness about Aelex.
"What? Aelex, I don't understand..."
<I am here to help you escape.> He said quickly. <Where's Alex?>
"Alex... Alex's dead."
<Another lost on your watch.> Aelex muttered, though obviously not quietly enough.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tobias demanded.
<Nothing.> Aelex turned away.
Tobias frowned. "You hate me. Why?"
<I don't hate you.>
"Dislike me, then."
Aelex was silent for a long time. Finally he whispered. <I did. For a long time, I believed you killed Merdin.>
Tobias was shocked. "Wha? I-"
<You didn't kill him, but he died because of you. That's the same thing.>
"Aelex..."
<He was my brother.>
Tobias stared. "What?"
<Merdin was my brother.> Aelex whispered bitterly.
"You do hate me."
This time, Aelex said nothing.
"Why are you doing this then?"
<You're too valuable. We can't have you infested.>
"Why risk an escape? You could just kill me and leave."
<A Prince's life is worth more than mine.>
"Your life? You're taking my place?"
<Yes.>
"But..."
<I will die.>
He didn't have to explain why. Tobias knew the Infestation Mandate. Every warrior had sworn to never be captured and infested. Many a warrior had died by their own tailblades.
Yet... "Why can't we escape together?"
<The Yeerks will be on guard. They must find a body. A body that looks exactly like you. That body will be me.>
"What? You're going to make them think I'm dead?"
<Yes.> But he was hesitating before answering; He did not meet Tobias’s eyes.
"Those are not your orders." Tobias realized.
Aelex looked away.
"They told you to come and kill me."
<No. They told us to give you instructions to destroy this base. They expect you will die in the process. But there is a crew of four here, and we are saving you.>
Tobias bit his lip. They were risking their lives, ignoring their orders. For him.
"Why?" He managed to croak.
<They are loyal. And they remember. In the military, friendships are made for life.>
Tobias nodded. He knew this. "And you?"
<My brother died trying to save you. If he thought your life was worth saving, then it must be so. If you die here, my brother would have died in vain. I don't want that.>
Tobias didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure he understood.
<I don't hate you, Tobias. I used to but not anymore. Blame can't be placed on anyone, least of all you. I've had a great career. I've seen some horrible things; I've done some horrible things. I never felt anything. But now, I understand it's not about you and me. It's about freedom everywhere. My life used to have no purpose. Now, I'm going to give it one.>
This is about some kind of repentance. Tobias realized.
<As the youngest member of the team, I should have gone back for you, not Merdin. He was trying to protect me.>
"That was almost ten years ago..."
<Honor is still honor. I failed to die for my brother; I will not fail to die for my Prince.>
"Aelex..."
<My brother died in my place, and it was not for nothing. I don't believe in your human gods, but I do believe there is a reason for everything. My brother died and I lived so that I could be here today. It is my turn to join my brother. Please. Let me do this."
Tobias hesitated, then nodded. Honor was everything to an Andalite, and he understood that and believed in it.
Aelex touched Tobias's arm, and Tobias felt the lightheadedness that came with being acquired.
Aelex pressed a button on the communicator on his wrist. <They're waiting.>
Tobias nodded.
The high-pitched alarm that had been sounding though all this suddenly shut down.
<They're coming now.> Aelex raised his shredder and shot the force field. It flashed and shut down.
Alarms blared loudly.
<Go!> Aelex shouted.
They ran.
They led their pursuers on a chase around the compound, blasting as many as they could.
Aelex stopped finally in a corridor. <Almost there.>
Aelex began to morph.
It was disturbing for Tobias to watch Aelex change into himself.
Yet, the Tobias morph was not identical to the original. The eyes were not as blank, nor the face as expressionless. The lips were not pressed tightly together, for the soul was a different one.
A morphing suit identical to Tobias's also appeared. Aelex was now completely human.
The sound of feet pounding on metal reached closer.
"The ship is waiting outside. Here is where we part."
Tobias grasped Aelex's hand and shook it. "Thank you, Prince Aelex."
Aelex's eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you, my prince."
Aelex glanced around the corner. "They're almost here." He pressed the shredder into Tobias's hand. "Hurry. Do it now."
Tobias blanched. Kill him? Aelex was asking him to kill him?
But the look on Aelex's face was a determined one. It had to be this way. Maximum destruction.
Tobias's hand shook as he turned the setting to kill.
"Good luck." Aelex whispered.
"Give Merdin my greetings."
Tobias fired, then turned and ran, blasting the door open.
Outside, he turned back and fired into the roof of the base, bringing the whole section caving down on the guards who had just discovered Aelex's body. Then he tossed the shredder in with the mix and left.
A desperate human with no hope of escape had just committed suicide and taken as many as he could with him.
Tobias easily found the ship where Cinto was waiting.
They waited two hours for the compound to settle, then left undetected.
Tobias could no longer fight safely. His spying capabilities were gone, and because he was no longer a hawk, so was his immunity to infestation.
He was discharged with high honors, but discharge nonetheless.
An offer came from Tactical, but he turned it down. Tobias could not be contained in an office.
And then... a letter. From his old friend Marco, who had remained on Earth. He was getting married, and he wanted Tobias to stand with him.
Going back would be hard. Too many dark memories. Too many broken dreams. But was space any better? Ten years ago, he had left with Rachel to escape the memories of the war on Earth. He had left Earth, thinking he had no home, no family there to make his own. But now his family was gone. His life was gone. And all that was left were memories darker than the old ones.
Tobias realized he had been wrong when he left Earth. He did have a family there. He had his friends. They were his family. He had spent sixteen years of his life there. He had his memories. He had never completely left. As much as he loved space, Earth would always be home.
So he agreed. After all, there was nothing left for him in the Final Frontier.
Tobias was going home.
-/|\-
"The ship is now exiting Z-Space. If you look to your right as we approach, you will notice that from our viewpoint we will see a rare total ellipse of the sun by Earth as viewed from space."
Tobias watched as the alignment began. Earth moved before the sun and became as black as the space around it. Nothing of her features could be seen. Even the oceans that distinguished Earth in space were gone. It was as if Earth had been swallowed by space.
Earth moved. The ellipse was ending. Tobias watched as the black dot that was Earth seemed to touch the blackness of the heavens.
When heaven and earth meet...
A voice quivered his memory.
Only when all the seas dry, and heaven and earth meet, would I ever stop loving you.
Tobias remembered.
His vow... His vow to Rachel
...all the seas dry...
...heaven and earth meet...
Both had just happened.
Tobias shook himself. No, they had only seemed to happen. It merely looked like all the oceans were gone and Earth and space were touching. It had not really happened. The seas were still there. There was still an atmosphere between Earth and space...
And yet...
Tobias stared at Earth. The Earth he was returning to.
Could it be today, today of all days, that he stopped loving Rachel?
No... Never. He could never stop loving Rachel. That was an impossibility.
And yet...
No! No one could ever replace Rachel in his heart.
No one...
Shadows of Ra: Part 6
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