“I’m surprised the building didn’t break,” Aerie admitted, as Exton focused on the flickering console display.
Emery smiled. “We knew we had to build Petra to last. Even though this sort of thing wasn’t what we were expecting, necessarily.”
“I can’t believe she did that,” Exton growled. “Blowing the main engine on a Craftcarrier that size will send the engine’s radiation leaking. It could damage our water supply and harm the crops.”
Aerie came up beside him as the monitor returned to normal. She heard the static from the comms, but there was no need to contact the others now.
Several fighters were flying back toward the campus, as the Craftcarrier, now in several large pieces, fell into the ocean water. Huge waves rose high into the air, as if to embrace the fiery remnants pouring down from the sky.
“Shut the hangar doors,” Exton called. “We’re going to have a small tsunami on our hands.”
“Hang on, I’ll be there in a sec,” Merra said, her voice breaking through the silence on the other side of the comm line, just as Patty pressed the button.
“No, Mom, don’t!” Aerie called, watching in horror as the large hangar doors began to close.
The doors shut, and Aerie saw Merra’s fighter slip inside, but her other forces swung around and headed toward the distant mountains, and the base was swept up in the displaced seawater.
“She doesn’t listen at all, does she?” Aerie asked through gritted teeth.
“Well, what do you know,” Exton said. “Maybe you’re more like her than I thought.”
♦28♦
Over the next several hours, Petra worked hard to return to normal as much as it could. Despite the capsized Craftcarrier pieces piercing the horizon, there was a cloud of excitement in the air all around the camp, one that had nothing to do with burning debris or steam pouring up from the murky bay waters.
They had won. It was not an easy victory, or an expected victory, or a clean victory, but Petra had endured.
Many attributed this to divine providence, while others were content to celebrate their good luck and skillful leaders.
Exton hated them all for it.
They didn’t know how much damage the Craftcarrier, blown apart, would do to Petra’s crops or water, and they didn’t know how much the Palmer Bay area would need to recover from the shock of the attack. They didn’t know how many people died, how many people Gerard had selfishly risked for his own ambition.
“Are you doing okay?”
Exton jolted at Aerie’s voice. He didn’t know how long he had been standing outside the camp, watching as the sun fell back over the edge of the world once more, but as Aerie came up beside him, he knew it had been longer than he’d originally planned.
“I’ll be fine,” he said.
“Cal and Dorian are signed up to take shifts, watching for survivors,” Aerie informed him. “I think they’re just eager to fly again, but Mom is watching them. I think they’ll be okay. They might even be okay with staying here soon.”
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “They’ll want to watch out for you.”
Aerie grinned. “I think they’ll be happier than you think to turn that responsibility over to you.” Her smile disappeared. “Especially if I am as bad as my mother when it comes to following directions.”
“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” Exton replied. “If that’s the deciding factor on whether or not they’ll relinquish you to me, then by all means, you don’t need to follow instructions ever again.”
“I’m not a prize,” Aerie said.
“I know.” He gave her a small smile, running his hands through her hair. “I’m not a monster.”
Aerie blushed at his tender touch. “I’ll make sure to remind you of that.”
“I’ll likely need it as war continues on. And maybe even after we win.” He sighed, seeing the worrisome expression on her face. He wasn’t surprised; she knew as well as he did that there was a price to pay for their pursuits.
“What else is happening?” he asked.
“Emery’s off-duty. And I made her sit down and eat. I know she had a long day.”
“She did. I’m glad to hear it’s over for her.”
“But not for you?” Aerie asked as she slipped her hand inside of his.
“Not for us,” he said, correcting her. “We have some unfinished business to take care of, if you’re ready.” He squeezed her hand in his, and it was enough, after the long day of fighting, and before the long night of planning, to make his heart burn with a renewed fervor.
“I don’t think there’s a way to get ready for everything,” Aerie admitted quietly.
“We’ll learn as we go,” Exton said “You have my word.”
Aerie’s eyes glimmered in the setting sun. “Then that’s enough for me.”
THEIR WEDDING WAS GOING to be small and quiet, a private affair held under the Memory Tree. Very few people were invited, and Aerie had a feeling Exton preferred it that way.
She didn’t dress up in anything special; she wore a new uniform. It was a new one, one that marked her as a member of Petra. On some level, Aerie felt it was symbolic of her future, even as it paid homage to her past, and that was more than fitting for the occasion. At least, she remembered with a small smile, in her opinion. Emery had been less than thrilled at her choice, bemoaning the fact she’d left her wedding dress on the Perdition.
With the new uniform’s longer sleeves and matching gloves, Aerie decided to leave her jacket behind, the one she had worn since Meredith had returned it to her. As she put it down, Aerie heard something break.
“What was that?” she wondered aloud.
Aerie saw something shiny sticking out of the jacket pocket. It was the photo slide, the one where she was standing with Brock and some of their comrades at graduation. As she watched, it fizzled and cracked down the middle, blurring the image.
At once, Aerie felt discomforted at the damage her carelessness had caused. She was secretly glad that Brock was nowhere to be found as she walked out of the campus to find Exton.
Once she found him, she smiled. “You’re in a new uniform, too,” she said in greeting.
“I know this is quick,” he said. “But I did want you to be pleased by it.”
“I told you before,” Aerie said as she took his hand, “that I was expecting my first kiss at the Military Ball.”
“Which you’re not going to with Brock, by the way.”
“I know.” Aerie rolled her eyes. “But after everything, my first kiss was magical because it was with the right person.”
“And that’s enough to convince you marriage will be magical, too?”
“I’m fine with the logic of it,” Aerie said with a laugh. “It’s not like I’m going to run a science experiment to see if I get any other answers.”
“That’s good. Because I wouldn’t let you.”
“I’m bad at following directions.”
“Directions, maybe, but you don’t seem to mind following my lead when it comes to this sort of thing.”
“What sort of—”
Exton interrupted her, kissing her into silence. He pressed against her, his mouth moving on her hungrily.
She forgot about their discussion as she sought to meet his passion with her own.
When he broke away a moment later, Aerie had already forgotten what they’d been talking about. All that was left, running through her mind, was how much she wanted more.
“Come on.” Exton tugged at her arm, while she steadied her mind’s focus.
They made their way to the Memory Tree, where Reverend Thorne was waiting for them. Tyler was standing there too.
Aerie gave him a hug in greeting. “How is Meredith?” she asked quietly. “Is she ... okay, at all?”
“She’s taken the news of Gerard’s involvement in stride,” Tyler said. “My parents are there to help her through it. She is keeping an ear out to let us know if he arrives in New Hope.”
&n
bsp; “Do you think he will?”
“After that escape? It’s possible, but he’ll likely want to come and fight with reinforcements first. The Gerard Exton and I knew was never so proud,” Tyler said. “But since his reeducation, he has become unrecognizable to us. He has a reputation for cruelty that never would have happened otherwise.”
“I know,” Aerie muttered.
Tyler nodded sadly. “If he does go back to New Hope, he’ll have to answer to Osgood. Gerard knows that the Daddy Dictator doesn’t put up with failure very well.”
Aerie recalled hearing how happy Osgood was to have her arrested. She shook her head. It was too hard, she decided, to try to understand evil and imagine how people became willing participants in it.
But then, she realized, I had almost been a contributor myself.
“I’m glad someone is there for Meredith,” Aerie finally said. “I owe her a great deal for what she did for me.”
“We all owe her a lot for what she does. She also sneaks extra supplies out to one of our churches in New Hope. She’s saved a lot of people by being willing to be placed in such a horrible job,” Tyler told her.
Aerie thought about the day she’d followed Meredith on the street. Was that what she was doing? Aerie wondered.
Reverend Thorne stepped up. “Shall I begin?”
“Not everyone is here,” Aerie said.
“You can start with the opening,” Exton said. He looked at Aerie. “I’m sure the others will get here before the important part.”
“I thought it was all an important part?” Aerie muttered, as she stepped forward.
They began listening to the reverend discuss how he was working on a special festival to remind them in the future of the great miracle of the battle.
Seeing Exton’s irritated expression, as he looked back at the water-logged carrier still bobbing in the sea uncomfortably, Aerie frowned. “Are you okay?” she murmured softly, trying hard not to interrupt the reverend’s speech.
“I’m fine,” he told her. “I was just wondering where your mother was.”
“That’s right. Where is she?” Aerie asked.
Tyler scooted forward at her question. “Merra’s coming with Emery,” he said. “I just talked to her. They’ll be here soon. They’re picking up your sister, too.”
“Serena and Tyra have been working in the med ward together nearly all day,” Aerie said. “I almost forgot about her. I hope she doesn’t ruin this for me.”
“She could never ruin it for me,” Exton told her, reaching over to caress her cheek.
Aerie couldn’t resist; she leaned in and kissed him gently.
Reverend Thorne cleared his throat. “You should just wait,” he said. “We’ll get to that part in a few moments.”
“Give it a rest, Dennis,” Exton replied. He brought Aerie closer to him, pressing into her even harder.
Aerie had a feeling that he was doing it just to irritate the reverend, but she was too enthralled to care much for his reasoning.
“The reverend’s objection is not unreasonable,” Emery called from behind them, winded from her run. “I thought the ceremony was over.”
Aerie grinned as she looked at her. “We wouldn’t start without you,” she said.
It was then that Aerie noticed Emery was carrying Moona. She instantly hurried past Exton and reached for her cat. “You brought Moona!”
“I didn’t exactly have enough time to think of a better gift,” Emery said, as Aerie huddled the white cat against her. “So I thought she would do the trick.”
“What’s my present going to be then?” Exton asked.
Emery folded her arms across her chest. “No dancing,” she said.
He laughed, for the first time in a long time it seemed. “You really do know me well,” he said.
“Of course I do.” Emery stepped up and took her position next to Tyler. “And I love you anyway.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Aerie replied as she reached out and hugged her soon-to-be sister-in-law. “Where’s my mom?”
“She received a message and was delayed,” Emery said. “But she said she would be there in a few moments.”
“Leave it to Merra,” Exton muttered.
“Serena’s coming with her,” Emery added. “So it shouldn’t be too much of a wait. Your sister seems eager to get this over with.”
“I know how she feels,” Exton said, grinning as he looked over at Aerie. “But I have a much different reason for wishing it so.”
Aerie blushed.
“Enough,” Reverend Thorne said. “If all of you are in such a hurry, I can get right to the point.”
“That’s fine,” Exton said.
“Just a few more moments, please?”
“It’ll be okay, Aerie.”
Aerie felt uneasy, but one look into Exton’s eyes and she couldn’t stop herself from agreeing. There was some part of her, she felt, that was just daring her to hope for the best, and she couldn’t resist it. Not when she knew Exton was waiting for her.
The ceremony continued, with Reverend Thorne calling attention to the permanent things about life and love, the necessity of the simple things, which were never easy but came in steps. Aerie felt bad for daydreaming. She felt like she and Exton were surrounded by love, as though it was a physical, manifest presence between them.
And when they both agreed to take each other in love, all the days of their lives, and sealed the promise with a kiss, Aerie could have sworn the earth moved, crying out in pure joy.
It was only when she looked up, the passion in her eyes clouding her vision, and the love in her heart full to bursting, that she realized it wasn’t shaking or screeching because of her love.
While Moona meowed angrily and darted up the Memory Tree, Aerie watched through her windblown hair as a URS shuttle streaked toward the camp, whipping past them at high velocity, only to land less than a hundred yards away.
“Who is that?” Aerie instantly regretted yelling so loudly, as she accidentally sucked in a lungful of dirt.
Exton coughed and glanced over through the kicked-up dust storm. “I’m not sure who it is,” he answered, “but I’m guessing it’s trouble.”
Before anyone could say anything else, Aerie heard her mother’s voice cry out.
“Victor!”
Aerie, along with everyone else, turned to see Merra running toward the ship. The excitement on Merra’s face, along with the unbridled joy, confused her.
She turned back toward the ship, to see the General coming down the shuttle entrance.
Aerie nearly choked. “What’s my father doing here? Any why is my mom so happy?”
There was a look of stunned horror on Exton’s face, one she was sure that matched her own, as Merra jumped up and grabbed the man, who barely managed to stay standing under the impact.
Aerie was terrified her mother would attack, and she hurried over. But she faltered when it was clear Merra wasn’t interested in attacking.
Aerie watched, dumbstruck, as her mother embraced her father, kissing him passionately as he held onto her.
♦29♦
Exton felt just as bewildered, watching the scene unfolding before him.
“Well,” Tyler said, “I guess you two will have more empathy now for Reverend Thorne, and how he was trying to stop you from kissing so much earlier.”
“I don’t appreciate the attempts at levity,” Exton yelled. He didn’t think Aerie did, either, as he saw the bewilderment on her face.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Reverend Thorne said hurriedly, shutting his book and picking up his long robes. “Well, I must be going now.”
The Reverend’s not-so-subtle desperation was the first thing that made Exton grab his arm.
“No!” Exton said as he stopped him. “No, you stay here. You knew about this, didn’t you?”
“You’d be shocked to know what I know,” Reverend Thorne snapped back. “And it is part of my duty not to repeat it.”
&n
bsp; “We both know you’ve already broken that rule.”
“I aim to break it no further, for my transgressions are great enough.”
“You should still stay,” Aerie said. “In case we need to bury someone.”
Exton was surprised to hear the amount of anger in her voice. He was further surprised to see her stomp off, heading for her parents.
Emery sighed. “I was worried about this.”
Exton felt another round of surprise. “What do you know about it?” he asked.
“I’ve been monitoring for signs of Gerard,” Emery said. “Meredith is off duty for a few days, but I did hear that there was an attempt on Osgood’s life, following the news that Petra was under attack.”
“How long have you known?”
“Just a few hours.” Emery glanced over to where St. Cloud and Merra were still locked in each other’s arms. “There was only a rumor, and it was an unsuccessful attempt anyway. Dictator Osgood is still alive.”
“So you think St. Cloud did it?”
“The thought crossed my mind,” she admitted.
“Why?”
“Because of Marcus,” Emery said. “I never felt right about how Merra managed to leave, and I never understood why St. Cloud would do all those things, but still contact you to let you know where Aerie was when we had gone to get her.”
“You can’t understand evil,” Exton insisted, before he turned and headed to catch up to Aerie.
“What is this?” Aerie was demanding to know. “What you are doing here?”
Exton arrived just in time to see St. Cloud frown. “I guess a father can’t come to his daughter’s wedding without being interrogated like a criminal?”
“You are a criminal,” Exton insisted. “You killed my father, don’t you remember?”
St. Cloud sighed. “Nice to see you again, Exton.”
“You’re too late to stop the wedding,” Aerie told him. “If that’s why you’re here.”
“He’s here because he tried to kill Osgood,” Exton said. “Aren’t you?”
St. Cloud’s eyes darkened. “Word gets around fast, doesn’t it?”
The Breadth of Creation Page 26