easily
infuriated him to no end and only added to the potent emotional
mix.
When she had walked through
the middle of the landing bay, long hair flowing, blue eyes bright,
he knew he was in trouble. So much for
keeping a low profile . He set his teeth.
How was he supposed to protect her when she walked through the
busiest bay in Vaasa looking like that?
Somewhere halfway across Landing Bay Number
Sixty Two, disgust and common sense finally weighed in. She was
right. He was acting downright psychotic. At this stage in his
life, it wasn’t a pleasant revelation. He slowed his pace and shot
a scathing glance around. Any onlookers had the common sense to
turn away or steer clear.
Cidra continued, undaunted. “No one can
predict what the future holds, Captain. You may decide you don’t
really need me after all. It’s not as if you had any choice to
begin with.”
They reached the waiting shuttle and Grey
shoved her into the cool passenger section next to Barrios. He
sprawled into the seat facing her, eyeing her ominously as the
shuttle lurched forward.
She thrust her chin up. “What if you found a
better pilot? What would you do with me then?”
As Grey’s eyes locked onto hers with
devastating intensity, Cidra belatedly realized she’d pushed too
far and now found herself trapped. Again.
A few tense moments passed before Grey
drawled, “Don’t worry about it. I’d think of something for you to
do.” He stated it with exquisite calm and conviction.
Cidra stole a shaky breath and tore her gaze
away from him to the scenery whizzing by. She was trembling all
over and wondered if she would ever be able to handle the hypnotic
impact of Captain Grey Stone’s absolute and undivided
attention.
Vaasa spread out before her and it didn’t
take long to discover that this was a planet at ease with itself.
Everything hailed of a gracious spirit with its wide tree-lined
streets, immaculate homes, and spectacular natural beauty. Graceful
domes and arches dominated the architecture and landscape.
Through her extensive studies of the
sector’s planets and civilizations, Cidra knew Vaasa chose to
embrace technology for convenience sake, but still clung to the
simpler pleasures for day-to-day living. Vaasa’s inhabitants were
as relaxed and welcoming as their planet appeared. No false
pretenses, no hidden agenda, nothing to conceal.
Conversely, Avion came to mind with its
rigid, restrictive society. A society controlled by the privileged
few in the Central Consortium, the governing body, who fostered the
undercurrent of conduct, superiority, and promotion of Avion to the
rest of the universe.
They portrayed Avion as a planet with high
standards and morality, sophistication, and righteousness. And
enforced that image through quiet coercion, deception, and
propaganda. It was a dark secret known only to native Avions. Most
accepted it for the chance to shine in the universe. Some, like
Cidra, Grey and Barrios, saw it for what it was... a lie.
They had achieved it by hiding behind the
shield of the loyal and highly respected Kin-sha. Although the
Kin-sha were not native to Avion, they had been welcomed and
promoted aggressively by the Central Consortium.
In hindsight, it had been a grievous mistake
for the Kin-sha. The same Consortium, intolerant of those who upset
their carefully orchestrated image of Avion, had summarily
condemned and abandoned the Kin-sha after the Dakru incident.
Looking back, she realized Syrus had been
wise to protect her from the same twisted sense of justice that had
allowed the sacrifice of the Faulkner family. As Barrios observed,
the Consortium condoned the d’Hont attack by its ambivalence or
worse. She hated to admit it, but even Mora’s condemnation of Avion
had held truth. The Consortium indeed wielded the authority to
dictate who received the vaccine. A power they were all too proud
to brandish.
The last emotion Cidra felt towards Avion
was loyalty, but the fact remained. The redemption of
infuriated him to no end and only added to the potent emotional
mix.
When she had walked through
the middle of the landing bay, long hair flowing, blue eyes bright,
he knew he was in trouble. So much for
keeping a low profile . He set his teeth.
How was he supposed to protect her when she walked through the
busiest bay in Vaasa looking like that?
Somewhere halfway across Landing Bay Number
Sixty Two, disgust and common sense finally weighed in. She was
right. He was acting downright psychotic. At this stage in his
life, it wasn’t a pleasant revelation. He slowed his pace and shot
a scathing glance around. Any onlookers had the common sense to
turn away or steer clear.
Cidra continued, undaunted. “No one can
predict what the future holds, Captain. You may decide you don’t
really need me after all. It’s not as if you had any choice to
begin with.”
They reached the waiting shuttle and Grey
shoved her into the cool passenger section next to Barrios. He
sprawled into the seat facing her, eyeing her ominously as the
shuttle lurched forward.
She thrust her chin up. “What if you found a
better pilot? What would you do with me then?”
As Grey’s eyes locked onto hers with
devastating intensity, Cidra belatedly realized she’d pushed too
far and now found herself trapped. Again.
A few tense moments passed before Grey
drawled, “Don’t worry about it. I’d think of something for you to
do.” He stated it with exquisite calm and conviction.
Cidra stole a shaky breath and tore her gaze
away from him to the scenery whizzing by. She was trembling all
over and wondered if she would ever be able to handle the hypnotic
impact of Captain Grey Stone’s absolute and undivided
attention.
Vaasa spread out before her and it didn’t
take long to discover that this was a planet at ease with itself.
Everything hailed of a gracious spirit with its wide tree-lined
streets, immaculate homes, and spectacular natural beauty. Graceful
domes and arches dominated the architecture and landscape.
Through her extensive studies of the
sector’s planets and civilizations, Cidra knew Vaasa chose to
embrace technology for convenience sake, but still clung to the
simpler pleasures for day-to-day living. Vaasa’s inhabitants were
as relaxed and welcoming as their planet appeared. No false
pretenses, no hidden agenda, nothing to conceal.
Conversely, Avion came to mind with its
rigid, restrictive society. A society controlled by the privileged
few in the Central Consortium, the governing body, who fostered the
undercurrent of conduct, superiority, and promotion of Avion to the
rest of the universe.
They portrayed Avion as a planet with high
standards and morality, sophistication, and righteousness. And
enforced that image through quiet coercion, deception, and
propaganda. It was a dark secret known only to native Avions. Most
accepted it for the chance to shine in the universe. Some, like
Cidra, Grey and Barrios, saw it for what it was... a lie.
They had achieved it by hiding behind the
shield of the loyal and highly respected Kin-sha. Although the
Kin-sha were not native to Avion, they had been welcomed and
promoted aggressively by the Central Consortium.
In hindsight, it had been a grievous mistake
for the Kin-sha. The same Consortium, intolerant of those who upset
their carefully orchestrated image of Avion, had summarily
condemned and abandoned the Kin-sha after the Dakru incident.
Looking back, she realized Syrus had been
wise to protect her from the same twisted sense of justice that had
allowed the sacrifice of the Faulkner family. As Barrios observed,
the Consortium condoned the d’Hont attack by its ambivalence or
worse. She hated to admit it, but even Mora’s condemnation of Avion
had held truth. The Consortium indeed wielded the authority to
dictate who received the vaccine. A power they were all too proud
to brandish.
The last emotion Cidra felt towards Avion
was loyalty, but the fact remained. The redemption of
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