Chapter 13 Cyber Soul

Chapter 13

Cyber Soul

   Kian’s last contact with Kia was in the great crystal chamber in Older’s Bed, which was where he and Penny now headed. 

 His ship sidled into orbit around Earth slicing into its dense atmosphere at just the right angle to create a glide path and avoid as much air friction as he could. He wanted Penny’s return to Earth return to Earth (Chimera) to be as smooth and pleasant as he could make it. Her eyes swelled with awe and anticipation as the curved blue edge of the Earth filled half the view -screen.

  “Chimera is so beautiful,” she murmured more to herself than to Kian. He heard her anyway, just as the image of the delightful azure ball grew hazy with momentary static. They were entering the atmosphere. The momentary interference was to be expected. However, Penny did not know that. Still seated beside of Kian she grabbed his Kian’s shoulder and hid her face in his chest.

  Laying his right hand over her head, he comforted her, “Penny it’s all right, look sweetie see the sky.”

   Trembling, she slowly turned her face back toward the view screen. Bright sky light greeted her smiling eyes. White fluffy cloud mountains glided by the ship as it winged its way through the creamy blue toward Older’s Bed.

  Kian could feel her body relax against his. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. His heart swelled with love for his new daughter. 

  Soon Chimera’s shimmering inland sea came into view. Kian leveled the ship and descended so low that it nearly shaved off the tops of its’ foamy white caps. It was not long before the Narrow’s knotty necklace of islands crested the horizon filling the view screen as they rushed toward them. The ship swooped up. The islands slid down suddenly replaced by sky again and they were there.  Their arrival on Older’s Bed did not go unnoticed…

  Nessa sat on the ground beside of Kia. While Alex and Micah stood talking in the cool shade of a nearby grove of oaks. Kia sitting knees up but face down did not see the big white bird ease slowly down from the eastern sky and disappear behind the eastern tree line. But Nessa did…

  “Kia,” Nessa whispered into her ear as she drew Kia to her bosom, “I think he’s here.”

  Kia lifted her head and looked around, “Kian?”

  Nessa nodded smiled and pointed toward wooded rise off to the east. “There, a lovely white ship just settled behind that rise, just over there. I’m sure it’s he. Are you ready to go see him, or would you like to wait?”

   Kia covered her face with her hands, “What can do? What can I say? He will hate me.”

  “You don’t know that Kia.” Nessa said as Micah and Alex ran back down to the creek.

  “Did you see that?” Alex asked, craning his neck toward the not so distant skyline.

  “I think its Kian Alex,” Kia said slowly pushing her body up as if nailed to the ground.” Is that why you brought here this morning?”

   Nessa smiled, “We detected his ship’s approach and thought it best to give you this opportunity to reunite. But is you’re not ready we can return to chamber until you are.”

  “No,” Kia said, “Too much time has already passed. He has done so much for others. I must do this for him. Only wish I knew how I felt-what to say.” She looked over at Alex, and then looked at the ground. He rushed to her side.

   He reached for her then let his arms drop and stepped back. “I will of course give you back to him, if, if that is what you want.”

  “Give Alex,” Kia shook her head, “you don’t own me. I’m not yours to give!” She snapped at him.

 Hurt ran all over his face. Kia saw it and took his hand. “I’m sorry Alex, I know what you meant, I’m being mean. It was not my intent.”

  “We will go Kia,” Alex said as pulled her hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, “he came to Older’s Bed to find you. We will not disappoint him.”

  “Just break his heart,” Said Kia turning toward the east as she spoke…