He stopped in front of a doorthat was labeled 350 B. “This is my pod. I should warn you it’s asmall, one-person room.”
Michio put his right hand on thecenter panel and the door clicked open. Toemeka stepped inside andlooked around. Two air chairs dominated the center of room. Off tothe side was a small kitchen with a counter and two stools. On theother side was a computer desk. An open doorway revealed a tinybathroom. It was smaller than many cabins on a starship and equallyimpersonal. The standard-issue furnishings didn’t reveal anythingabout her new husband’s tastes or personality.
“Where do we sleep?” Toemekaasked.
Michio laughed. “Tiredalready?”
He punched in a code on the wallpanel. The two air chairs folded up and dropped into panels on thefloor, then the closet door opened. A rectangular box rolled out andstarted to inflate into a single-size airbed.
Once it was fully inflated,Michio swung Toemeka into his arms and set her on the bed. Shereclined back on it and he settled himself on top of her. She grinnedup at him. “I think more than the bed has inflated.”
He braced his elbows on eitherside of her and his emerald green eyes gazed into hers. “I’ve gota feeling that living here is going to be a lot more fun now thatyou’ve arrived.”
“And why is that?” she askedwith a smirk.
“Because I’ll have you in mybed.” He kissed her and the heat quickly built between them. Helifted his head and said, “You’re so beautiful, inside and out.”
The doorbell rang and Michiofrowned. “I could ignore that.”
“Good idea.” She wrapped herlegs around his.
The doorbell rang again.
“I don’t think they’regoing away. I’ll be right back.” He untangled his legs from hersand crossed to the door.
Toemeka sat up, feeling uneasy.Michio spoke to someone at the door, then handed her a thickenvelope. “This came for you on a spacecraft full of refugees fromJelmur.”
Her name was written across thefront in bold handwriting. There wasn’t a return address, but sherecognized the handwriting as her former partner’s. She tore openthe envelope and inside found a crystal matrix and folded piece ofpaper. On the outside of the paper was written: “Play the matrixcrystal before opening.”
She crossed over to the computerand slid the matrix crystal into a port. A two-foot high hologram ofErling appeared in the air before her. He wore a flight uniform andlooked as though he hadn’t slept in awhile. His blood-shot blueeyes had dark circles under them and his blond hair was matted as ifhe’d just removed his helmet.
Hebegan to speak. “Hello, Toe and Mich.”
“Why does he always shorten myname?” Michio asked, sounding annoyed as he came up behind her.
“Shh. He shortens everyone’sname.”
“Ionly have time for a quick message. I’m headed out for an aerialbattle and before I go wanted to deliver this to a friend who isflying to your secret hideout. He and other Initiates of the SecretTeachings from Jelmur are escaping. It’s become too dangerous forthem to stay here because Samrat Condor targets Initiates. Toe, Iwanted to let you know that my family survived the attack on theTemple. Your warning saved their lives. I tried to convince them toescape with the others, but they love Jelmur and want to stay tofight for its freedom.
“Manydied during the initial attack on Jelmur and in the fighting thatfollowed. Raptor troops continue to bomb Jelmur with deadly force.They’ve taken out major harbors, spaceports, and militaryfactories. It’s been nonstop fighting since the attack started. Noone expected such a large-scale invasion. I’m sorry to give yousuch bad news. I’ve included a list of names of those who died.
“Myfamily sends their congratulations to you and Mich. Mother wanted toknow all about him. She’s glad you’re safely away from this. Weall miss you, but I’m glad you’ve found love and happiness. Youdeserve the best.”
Holographic images of Hendora,Onolyn, Jake and Zac stepped into view. All wore flight suits. Theylooked pumped with adrenaline as they always did before an aerialbattle.
Jakespoke first, “The team wanted to say hello.” His cocky smileseemed to defy any danger they would soon be facing. “We’ll missyou when we’re out there flying like the wind, Tiger.”
Greetings followed from Zac,Onolyn and Hendora. Toemeka and Michio had worked with the three ofthem to free Jaipar on their last mission. When their holographicimages disappeared, Toemeka felt an acute ache for her friends.
Her hands shook as she unfoldedthe paper she’d found in the envelope, knowing it contained thenames of those who’d died. The first list was of Initiates killedduring the Temple bombing. As she read it over, she realized entirefamilies were gone. She thought of each person as she read theirname, memories flooding in of the times she’d spent with them. Itwas like losing the people of her village all over again.
Her eyes blurred with tears asshe continued to read. “So many children died!” she said, thepain in her heart growing.
Michio put a comforting hand onher shoulder. “I’m sorry. It’s a terrible tragedy.”
She wiped away her tears. “I’dgotten to know many of the families over the years. Erling grew upknowing them all. He must be devastated.”
“I’m sure he is. It’s goodto know his family survived.”
“Yes, that’s a blessing.Still I wish I’d been able to warn them sooner.”
“Most got out in time. Think ofthe lives you saved, not those you couldn’t save.”
“I wish I’d returned toHeadquarters with my team.”
“You couldn’t have changedwhat happened.”
“At least I would’ve beenfighting alongside my friends.”
She began to read the secondlist, which contained names of Coalition pilots and other militarypersonnel who’d died. She’d flown with many of the pilots andbeen on missions with some of the operatives. She was grateful noneof her closest friends were killed.
“I can’t believe I was socareless as to have gotten pregnant,” she groaned.
“I know how painful this is foryou but—”
“No, you don’t know! Youdon’t have any idea. Raptor troops killed my family right in frontof me and killed nearly everyone I knew in the village. The only onesthey spared were a few young women to use as sacrifices to SamratCondor. If a Coalition team hadn’t rescued me, the soldiers
