A Love Written In The Stars

       After perhaps ten more minutes of speaking, the formal part of the event ended. Astra and I left the head table and walked hand in hand toward the audience. Our first stop was at the table of our three secret-sharers. Lin-Erri gave us the hugs and kisses of a dear friend, and said, "Congratulations to you, my beloved brother and sister. And you have no idea how difficult it was for me to contain the wonderful information that you entrusted to us. But I am elated that it was withheld until this evening. What a perfectly splendid way to unveil it!"
       "May I, brother Bob?" Orii asked as he stood in front of Astra.
       "But of course, good sir." He leaned forward, kissed Astra's cheek and said softly, "Go in light, my sweet sister!" She smiled broadly at him and whispered, "Thank you, my big brother!"
       He then moved over to me, and said in a more Orii-esque manner, "No kiss for you. You're not my type."
       "Well, I should most certainly HOPE not." We smiled as we exchanged the handshake of two close friends.
       "So, brother Bob, or shall I call you Kal-Thar, are you sure you're ready for this?"
       "Either name will do, brother. And I've been ready for this for a really long time."
       "I have to echo Lin-Erri's comment. Kalen and I had a wager as to who would break first. But will power prevailed."

Kalen and Akrim then joined us, and reached out to take our hands in theirs. The contact imparted a tingling sensation and a blissful sense of well-being. Kalen spoke for them. "My children, I am honored that you decided to share your intentions with me. I must say that I have suspected for many years that this union was written in the stars, as your Terran idiom so fittingly says it. I have watched with joy as your acquaintance grew into friendship, and then into love. The Infinite One had his hand on your lives as two people in a deep, abiding love. Now he will be beside you as you join and walk as one with Him. May his boundless blessings be upon you, my beloved children. And as you said in the Old Words, 'May the light of the Infinite One guide you in all your paths.'"

Astra looked into his eyes with the reverence that he deserved and said softly, "Thank you, honored Master. Your friendship and camaraderie over the years have been a constant source of inspiration to us. Thank you for everything."
"I can add nothing to what my lady has said, gentle sir. You've been my teacher, my confidant and my friend. By the power of the Infinite One, may that always be so."

Akrim then spoke for a moment in uplifting words that were too personal to include in this narrative, and then our hands separated. The ecstatic feeling remained with us. The Masters then left to join the other officials. Arta and ArKay took their places. While Arta talked with Astra, ArKay and I exchanged the handshake of friends. "Congratulations, my brother, and I must say that you two are a perfect match. It has been an honor to work with both of you, and I hope that it continues for a long time to come. There is still much work to be done."
"Thank you, brother, and rest assured that you are numbered among my nearest and dearest friends. I look forward to it."

       He and Arta exchanged places. After exchanging greetings, Arta said, "So will you be needing your body double in the future?"
       "Who knows, brother? With the way computer use is expanding on Earth, I suspect that personal trips might be going the way of the buggy whip. But I'm sure that there are still mysterious absences in the works. And you're my number one man."
       "Consider it done."

The next half hour or so was spent mingling with the attendees, reacquainting myself with the many people from nearly four decades of contacts and meetings, and getting to know all the new faces. The bond with these wonderful people grew stronger with each passing moment, and it was almost disappointing to learn that it was time to leave. However, an evening at Director Karlon-Remi's home was waiting, and it would simply not do to be late.

With Astra's hand in mine, we bade adieu and headed for the exit. The crowd outside had dissipated, but the few who remained called out their best wishes for a long and happy life as we passed by them. We waved in acknowledgement as we walked and a moment later were aboard Astra's vehicle. The solitude was refreshing as we sat there just looking into each other's eyes, saying nothing as serenity and happiness enveloped us. A moment later, we leaned toward each other over the center console, our lips met and the world faded away.

CHAPTER 9: PARTY TIME!

When we had returned to a semblance of reality, Astra went through the start-up sequence and we lifted off, heading back toward the residential sector. Five minutes later we descended and landed in a fairly large parking area beside a stately home. A dozen other vehicles and several personal disk crafts were already there, indicating that the event was well-attended. We dropped into a spot marked by flashing blue lights. There were no news vehicles or cameras, so I assumed that this was a private event. Near the side entrance, what appeared to be a large van was the only out-of-place vehicle. Astra said, "I recognize the markings. It belongs to one of Vrell City's most prestigious catering services. Food for the stars, your people might say."
"How appropriate for my Little Star," I said as we touched down. The look of love in her beautiful eyes spoke a million words.

We deboarded and were greeted by Karlon-Remik, Harel Verik, Dal-Tren and Kalen—a prestigious welcoming committee indeed. After exchanging pleasantries, I took a moment to look over the home. It was a two-story dwelling similar to the one where Kalen resides in the PlatoCom residential level. It appeared to be sided with light-colored wood similar to pine. Karlon sensed my thoughts and said, "It is in fact actual wood from the era when we used it extensively for construction. There are synthetics that are identical in appearance to it, but the wood used in this home predates the changeover. It's one of the ways that I use to remember our past so that I can prepare for the future with wisdom."

We then headed for the front entrance. Astra walked hand in hand with her father. I was between Karlon and Kalen. One thing conspicuously absent was the attendant music and noise that we Terrans indulge in whenever we gather to celebrate or enjoy companionship. Through the windows I saw people standing or sitting together, engaged in conversation about who knows what.

In response to my unspoken question, Karlon said, "This is my private home. There is what you might call an executive mansion in the city, but it's used mostly for formal affairs. I prefer my own surroundings."
I nodded in agreement. "There's no place like like home."

The double doors swung open as we approached. The aroma of fine foods and the soft sound of background music greeted us as we entered. At the far end of the hallway, a videographer was inconspicuously recording the events. We walked about twenty feet and turned right into the large parlor where the guests were gathered. The conversation stopped as they turned toward us. I recognized many of them from the reception, but there were several new faces.

       One lovely young lady responded to a nod from the Master and came over to us. Kalen said, "On your first tour of our MassCom base in 1963, I gave you a letter from the daughter of one of my neighbors, asking you if what she had heard about Earth is true. Allow me to introduce you to Kila-Rae."
       I took her hand and said, "I greet you in love and light." Her response was similar to those of the ladies at CI, and I made a mental note to ask the transtechs to make a few changes.
       "Welcome to Korendor, Kal-Thar. I received your reply to my letter, and it gave me hope for your future. I still have your reply in my treasured possessions."
       "I am honored to meet you after all these years, gentle lady." As I studied her face, something clicked. "You're one of the ladies that I spoke to at the Cybernetics Institute."
       "Yes. I know Astra very well. She has told me a lot about you."
       "Don't believe a word of it. I'm really a very nice guy."
       She and Astra both laughed, and she replied, "ONLY a very nice guy? I was expecting a god."
       I looked at Astra with a "What HAVE you been saying?" expression. She just shrugged. "Well, I do tend toward hyperbole on occasion, my love."

While she and Astra talked, Karlon took me around and introduced me to the people that I didn't know. They included a professor in Vrell City University who taught classes on Earth culture and science, a telescreen news commentator, a Confederation ambassador to Korendor, an anthropologist specializing in alien civilizations, and a well-known Earth scientist whose name many of us would immediately recognize. The guest list was pretty much a Korendian Who's Who. Karlon's power and influence on their world was made abundantly obvious.

A chime announced that it was time to partake of the food. We relocated to the spacious dining room where the meal was laid out buffet-style. The table was long enough for thirty people, so the 25 that were present could be accommodated with chairs to spare. There were no place markers, so seating was a matter of choice. After we had filled our plates from the array of fine foods, Astra and I took seats at the far end of the table. Dal-Tren and Dara-Kel were next to Astra. The Master had the Honor Seat at our end, to my right, and Orii-Val and Lin-Erri sat opposite us. On the table, several baskets of a variety of breads and crystal pitchers of pera trala were spaced between arrays of flowers. We filled our goblets and waited.

At the opposite end of the table, Karlon-Remi stood, and we all rose in response. He raised his goblet and said, "My brothers and sisters, my friends, this is a special and most propitious occasion. We are gathered to honor the presence on Korendor of our Terran brother, Kal-Thar of the long-ago Lineage of Derek, and to celebrate his betrothal to Astra-Lari of the Lineage of Setarr." He lifted his cup to chest level and said in the Old Words, "What the Infinite One has ordained, let no one oppose. What bonds he has forged, let no one break. Whom he has united, let no one separate."

Raising the cup to eye level, he continued, "To our brother Kal-Thar and our sister Astra-Lari, I wish love, peace, joy, contentment and long lives in your union. May the light of the Infinite One guide you in all your paths." The rest of our company raised their cups and said in unison, "May the light of the Infinite One guide you in all your paths." And we drank together, their symbol of unity.

Powerful emotions welled up in me, a mere man of Earth, one of no fame, fortune or station. That I should be in their presence at all, let alone their guest of honor, was at once uplifting and humbling. I knew then that my destiny was amongst these wonderful, loving people. Yes, I would return to Earth, but never again would it be my home. I am but a sojourner here, awaiting that day when my stay here is over, and my new day begins in the company of my beloved lifemate.

What a wondrous day that will be.