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CHAPTER 20: THE LAST NIGHT

       The time was 19.40K. Astra and I had begun to feel the effects of our very busy day. We stood and bid fond farewells to our dearest friends. With the hugs and kisses reserved for family, we forever sealed our relationships. Kalen walked with us to Astra's vehicle and said, "We will be leaving at 14.00K tomorrow. The news networks announced it shortly before you arrived here tonight. They also found out that Astra will be with us, so it will most likely be even more crowded than it was yesterday. I will see you then, my children. Go in love and light."

       "Thank you for your hospitality and your friendship, Master," I said with great respect. "You honor us deeply. Go in love and light." Astra added her feelings, and kissed him on his cheek. He waved and rejoined Orii and Lin-Erri. A moment later we were in her craft. We rose to a travel lane and headed for a residential area close to the edge of the city. Astra said, "This will be my last night on Korendor for a while, so with your approval we can spend it together in my residence." I just nodded, and watched as we cruised over the lights of the suburban area. A few minutes later we descended and parked in a marked space outside what appeared to be a multi-unit building.

       As we walked toward the well-lit front entrance, Astra said, "This is a four-residence facility. You would call it an apartment building. There are two units on each floor. Mine is on the top left, facing the city. It's a very peaceful view at night from my balcony." The door swung open as she approached. We entered a partitioned hallway that extended from the front to the rear. A staircase on each side led up to the second floor. We arrived at a second divided hallway, with her door immediately ahead. On the floor by the door were gifts, cards and handwritten messages, apparently from children. She sighed and said, "My neighbors are treasures!"

       She opened the door and I helped her bring them inside. I took a moment to look around the apartment. On Earth, a comparable one would go for at least $1000 a month. As expected, it was neat, orderly and immaculately clean. We put the gifts on the dining table. She said to no one I could see, "Messages, please." A computer responded, "There are seven messages in the queue. Shall I play them now?" On a screen over the computer, she scanned the list of senders, then replied, "No. I will review them later. Thank you."

       "So what do you think of my humble little abode, sweetheart?" I kissed her and said, "It's great, but it could be a cave and it would be heaven with you there." She wrapped her arms around my neck and said softly, "I love you, mialana." Our lips met and two worlds joined.

       And then the chron chimed the arrival of the new day. My sweetheart took my hand and we went out to the balcony. A recliner similar to the one in the Amar observation deck provided a comfortable way to relax and look at the city in the distance. We sat close together, and she pointed out some of the buildings that stood out in the skyline. The white peak of the Hall of Korendor was unmistakeable. A cylindrical tower caught my eye. "That's the shopping complex where we were yesterday." My mind flashed back to standing on the roof calling out to Korendor to meet my beloved. So many memories were made in so little time.

       I squeezed her hand gently and those three words said it all. "I love you!" She rested her head on my shoulder and whispered, "And I love you, darling." She closed her eyes and drifted away. A moment later, the day caught up with me.

       And then it was morning. I turned toward my sweetheart, and discovered that she had already awakened. "Good morning, mialana!" she called from inside. "You were sleeping so peacefully that I couldn't bring myself to rouse you."
       "What's the time, love?"
       "About 9K. No hurry."
       From the open doorway, a delightful aroma piqued my interest. "What's cooking?"
       "Just a typical hearty, healthy Korendian breakfast. If you'd like to use the bath, there's plenty of time."
       "It's a definite first stop." I gave her a long kiss. "Now THAT is the way to begin a new day."
       "I could get used to that very quickly," she said with a big smile. "The bath is around the corner. The laundry unit is behind the folding door."
       "Be back shortly, sweetheart. Don't leave without me."
       "No chance of that. You're mine, big guy!"

       By the time I rejoined her, the table was set, and the scent was stimulating. "I could get used to THIS very quickly," I said with admiration. "All this and she's also a chef."
       "Bachelorettes have to learn these things, mialana." As we began the repast, she said, "My father and mother commed us. They wished the blessings of the Infinite One on our lives and on my new position. It seems that they also knew about it. Am I the only one who didn't?"
       "No. I didn't know, either. They don't tell the little people anything," I said with a grin.
       "They said that it took every trace of will power that they had to keep it a secret. And my father told me that one major reason for the reception was as a sendoff."
       "This is absolutely delicious, mialani. I think I'll keep you." Her look of love said it all.

       After a leisurely and very satisfying breakfast, we put the wares into the cleaner and went back out to the balcony. A cooling breeze brought the delicate fragrance of flowers from several gardens in the neighborhood. "Will you miss this, sweetheart?" She sighed and said wistfully, "I will, for a while. It has been my home for a long time. But life goes on. And I'll be where you are. If I had no other reason to depart, that alone would make it all worthwhile." She smiled and added, "I'll transport back at regular intervals as part of the job, so it won't really be a goodbye."

       She took my hand in hers and leaned back, watching absently as occasional vehicles passed by. I took the opportunity to study her beautiful face, and once more wondered why the Infinite One saw fit to bring this wonderful lady into my life. After a moment, she turned toward me and gazed into my eyes. I gently caressed her face and whispered, "I love you, mialani. Don't ever leave me. I couldn't go on without you."
       "I love you so much, my mialana. You are my life." Hand in hand we let the world go by.

       After just enjoying each other's presence for what seemed like hours, I glanced at my wristchron. 11.50K. The sound of the door chime broke the reverie. "My neighbors. Shall we go greet them?"
       "Friends of yours are friends of mine." Nine people were waiting at the door, including two small children and a girl slightly older than Kimi-Jen. Her reaction was wonderful. One of the three women said apologetically, "Astra, I'm sorry. We didn't know..."
       "Please come in, dear friends. Kal-Thar wants to meet you."

       Once we were seated, she introduced them. The children decided that they wanted to sit on my knees, which I as a daddy and grandpa of course welcomed. When Astra introduced the girl, I looked into her eyes and said, "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Tara-Lani. Such a beautiful name for a beautiful young lady." The response was the same as we had been seeing since I arrived. Her parents smiled knowingly at us. Astra said with understanding, "K-T has that effect on young women." Her mother replied with a slight blush, "And on not so young women." The comment evoked laughter from all of us.

       Astra then thanked them for their gifts. She brought out the children's drawings and messages, kissed them both, and assured them that she would bring their works with her to Earth. After a time of small talk and farewells, they rose to leave. We saw them to the door, and with kisses and handshakes we bade them all thanks and blessings. As Tara-Lani was leaving, I took her hand, kissed her cheek, and said softly, "Go in love and light, beautiful one." She said nothing, but it was unnecessary. Her face expressed her emotions.

       Once we were alone again, Astra said teasingly, "She won't come down from that for a week. Maybe it's a good thing that we're leaving, malimani. Another day and they'd be lining up at your door."
       "As I said before, sweetheart, you have no competition." The chron read 13.27. "It's getting close, my love."
       "Yes," she sighed. She typed a code into the main computer and activated the maintenance and monitoring system, then directed that all messages be relayed to her at PlatoCom. With a last look at her Korendian home, she took a deep breath, and with her hand clutching mine, she said with a trace of anxiety, "Let's go, my darling. A new life awaits us." The door hissed closed behind us and we headed for the stairs. Next stop: Vrell City Spaceport, and then to Earth.




CHAPTER 21: HOMEWARD BOUND

       As we boarded her craft, the neighbors all stood on the front steps, waving to us. The ladies seemed to be trying to hide their feelings with happy-faces. With a final wave, we rose and did a wide sweep around Vrell City, and then headed to the spaceport. We both watched as the glory of that great city passed below. I tried to absorb as much as I could during this last ride over the metropolis. At 13:95, we descended into an open space by the magnificent starship that awaited our arrival. Thousands of people crowded the area. When we touched down, Astra pressed a button and said, "Storage." A green light flashed three time. When we left the craft, its doors closed and it headed toward a long building at the far end of the port. "It's a personal-vehicle storage facility. I have a place reserved in it. The vehicle will berth itself and switch to maintenance mode until I return."

       We walked toward the starship, acknowledging the waves and smiles of the onlookers. At the foot of the ramp, our three companions awaited us. Newscams paced us as we took our last steps on Korendor. When we reached the ramp, the Master greeted us, and we headed up the steps. At the top, my lady and I stopped and turned for a last look at her wonderful world. There were waves, but the crowd was silent. With long, loud breaths, we mounted the final steps. The ramp closed and sealed behind us. "Goodbye, Korendor," Astra said with deep emotion. "No, not goodbye, sweetheart. Just 'see you later'." She took my hand and we left the airlock. Our friends were waiting for us. We joined them and headed for the control deck.

       We stopped at an observation window, and watched as our ship lifted off. The spaceport disappeared, and Vrell City became a dot seconds later. And then the great globe of Korendor receded into the distance, a small, bright speck hanging in the blackness that quickly disappeared into the glare of Korena. All of us brushed away tears, and we went on to the control deck.

       The same crew greeted us as we took our seats. The jump site sequence began. The Captain commenced the countdown. "Acquisition complete. Jump in five... four... three... two... one... zero." The tingling sensation came again. On the forward viewscreen a yellow-white star expanded. A moment later a small bluish dot appeared and rapidly resolved into a familiar world with its single moon. In my heart, there was a combination of sadness and joy—sadness for the glorious world that we had left behind, and joy that I was home once more. I stood there with my darling, saying nothing, aware of her mixed emotions.

       We approached on the night side and hovered about ten miles above my home. I bid adieu to my three mentors and friends, with a promise of seeing them again soon. Astra and I went to the portal section, and after a last, long kiss, she said, "Go in love and light, sweetheart. We'll be together again very soon." I dried my eyes and said, "Go in love and light, my cherished one. See you soon."

       I turned and stepped into the portal. An instant later I was standing in my driveway. An inch of new snow had whitened the world. It glistened in the light of the waning gibbous moon. I looked up and saw a circular pattern of lights far above. In my head, a sweet voice said, "We were just waiting for you to see us. Good night, my darling. Sleep well." With that, the lights accelerated straight up and quickly disappeared into the night. High in the sky, the familiar reddish glow of Arcturus guided my eyes to the place in Bootes where one day I would return with my precious one to live out our lives in joy, peace and eternal love.

       And then the cold of the night drove me indoors. It seemed as though I had never left. With a glass of milk in hand, I switched on my computer to see what I had missed in my absence. My email accounts were crammed with junk. I surfed around in my usual news and bulletin boards, trying to occupy my mind, with the love of Astra's last, sweet kiss still fresh.

       A half-hour later, the periodic email check reported one new message. Wondering who was trying to sell me something at 2 AM, I maximized the email window. I discovered that it was in my KorPrivate folder. Another click and my heart leaped for joy. The sender was AstraL. Inside was the message, "ArKay provided your address, mialana. I'm going to like it here. I love you! <3 <3 <3 ... Now get some sleep!"

       The bed beckoned and I had many things of which to dream.




CHAPTER 22: EPILOGUE

       As I record this narrative two years later, the memories of our union on Korendor, and the beginning of our lives together, remain crystal clear. Never have two people been happier.

       Before one asks, no children are planned for a while. The portal conversion process poses unacceptable risks for pregnant women and their babies, and is therefore disallowed. When my life on Earth is over, and I am at last free to become one with the people of Korendor, there will be abundant time to begin our own little family. We are content with each other for now.

       In closing, unless something occurs that requires it, this will be the last of my records of personal contacts. Through the TerraKor Files, the Alliance and the Korendians will have a continuing medium for communicating with man of Earth. However, the time for writing of personal experiences is past. It no longer serves a purpose.

       May the Infinite One guide you in all your paths. Go in love and light, my brothers and sisters of Earth.



            


© 2009 Robert P. Renaud -- all rights reserved