by Saxon Andrew
“I’m not ready to start my study but thank you for saying that.” The Senior nodded and Jixie went home. “Mom, I’m sorry I didn’t stop by first. It’s so good to see you. I’ve learned so much.”
“Jixie, how’s my overachiever doing?”
“Oh Mom, you’re just too nice.”
“No Jixie, I mean it. You’re all your hatching talks about.”
Jixie sighed and said, “Well, I need to get back and I wanted to see you first.” Jixie immediately saw her Mother’s expression change. “What’s wrong, Mom?”
“Jixie, do you know how long you’ve been gone from your playmates?” Jixie felt something inside her tighten as she stared at her mom and shook her head. “You’ve been gone for ten of their years.”
Jixie collapsed to the ground, “How long!?!”
“Ten years, Jixie.”
“Oh no! How could that much time have passed?”
“The Senior didn’t tell you about the time required?”
“He said it wouldn’t take very long.”
“Jixie, how long is long for us?”
“I’ve got to go!”
Her mother slowly shook her head, “Jixie, I’ve been watching your playmates.”
Jixie turned, “And?”
“One of them has suffered immensely and I think it’s too late now.”
“No, Mom, NO!”
Jixie disappeared and her Mother shook her head. “She didn’t decide to stay?”
“Senior, you knew what you were doing. Why didn’t you tell her?”
“We need her here.”
She felt the connection end and knew that Jixie’s happiness was not a priority with the Senior. She was not going to allow him to hurt her daughter anymore.
• • •
Jixie’s ship arrived in the Bristone system and she immediately began looking for Sam. She knew she was blind to him, but she knew she might be able to see him visually. She searched and couldn’t find him. Where could he be!?! She forced herself to calm down and thought, who would know. Jennifer! She looked for Jennifer and found her in a spiral galaxy across the universe from Bristone.
Jennifer hugged her two year old and sang softly trying to get him to sleep. Suddenly Jixie appeared and Jennifer jumped up yelling, “Jixie, you’re back!” The baby woke and stared crying as Jennifer rushed forward and hugged Jixie with her free arm.
“Who is this, Jennifer?”
“This is our son, Jixie.”
“Son?”
“Yes, Robby replaced his father four years ago when he fell ill. We were married immediately after he assumed the title and now you’re looking at a Duchess. Did I make a good choice or what?”
“He’s beautiful, Jennifer. I know how happy you must be.”
“You have no idea. My life is wonderful.”
“Jenn, where is Sam?”
Jennifer’s expression changed.
“What’s wrong?”
Jennifer sat and started rocking and her baby stopped crying and closed its eyes, “Jixie, you’ve been gone for ten years; almost eleven. Sam left the regiment to Dort and Gon and left to fight in other parts of creation.” Jennifer looked at Jixie and said, “Something died in him, Jixie. He wasn’t the same when you didn’t come back.”
“Jennifer, I had no idea so much time had passed. I was absorbed in a study and had no way of knowing how much time was passing.”
Jennifer sighed, “Even so.”
“What did he do?”
“He took the regiment and removed all of the aggressive civilizations in this universe. The Realm loved him before but they worship him now. There was a woman that made a move on him seven years ago.”
“What!” Jixie stared at Jennifer and said, “What happened?”
“I’m not sure. We moved here and I was out of the loop as far as what was happening in Fleet Operations. She worked in Admiral Gardner’s office, so she saw Sam during their meetings. I’m really not certain what came of it. You might check with Jason.”
“Jason?”
“Admiral Gardner retired and Jason replaced him. I suspect he might know where Sam is. Can’t you find him?”
“I’ve always been blind to him. I’ll come back and visit later, Jenn. I need to find Sam.”
Jennifer shook her head, “I’m not sure he’ll be the same, Jixie. I just don’t know.”
“I owe him an apology, if nothing else.”
Jixie vanished and Jennifer hoped she wouldn’t hurt Sam when she found him. He had been through enough.
• • •
Jixie appeared at Fleet Headquarters and said, “I need to speak with Admiral Mirabal.”
The Captain that was scared out of two years of his life when she appeared pushed a button and said, “Admiral, I have a woman that just appeared out of nowhere and requests a moment of your time.”
“I’ll be right out, let me wrap up this meeting.”
Jixie waited and saw a few familiar faces. Suddenly she heard, “You’re Jixie, aren’t you?”
She turned and saw a beautiful auburn haired woman, “Yes, I am.”
The woman shook her head and turned away. “Wait, how do you know who I am?”
“I’ve seen your picture.” Jixie’s brow furrowed. The woman sighed, “It was your picture that pushed him away.”
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
“I once started a relationship with Sam. We became friends but I wanted more.”
“What happened?”
“I thought I was making progress. He is one of the finest men I have ever met. He had my heart as soon as I spent five minutes with him.”
“He has that affect.”
“The night I lost him, I had finally gotten him to kiss me. I saw a medallion around his neck and I asked to see it. Your picture was on that medallion. I asked him to take it off for the evening. He smiled, ended the evening, and never came back to me. I felt his sadness every time I saw him but it was one of the things that attracted me. I wanted to try and bring happiness into his life. I failed.”
“Jixie, long time no see.”
Jixie turned and saw Jason, “Jason, where’s Sam?”
Jason’s expression clouded, “I honestly don’t know.”
Jixie saw his thoughts and knew he was being honest.
“But I don’t know that I would tell you if I knew.” Jixie stared at Jason and he said, “Sam has suffered enough.”
“I didn’t do this intentionally, Jason.”
“The result is the same. We lost the heart of our Duke and it broke ours to see it. What you did is unforgivable.”
“What?”
“You left without saying goodbye, Jixie. You left him captured in the never-never land of not knowing why. No one should ever have to endure that from someone they love. Dort and Gon are very angry at you. I wouldn’t make the mistake of asking them his whereabouts.”
“Do they know?”
“If they did, they won’t tell you and if I remember correctly, you can’t see their thoughts.”
Jixie stared at Jason and said, “I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I was tricked into not knowing how much time was passing by the leader of my species. He deliberately deceived me in an attempt to keep me with him. I would never…ever…do anything to hurt Sam. I love him more than you can fathom and I’m angrier about this than I can express. I need to see him and I believe he needs me as well.”
Jason stared at her and looked at the woman that had spoken with Jixie. She heard what Jixie said and said, “Even if it’s for only a moment, Sam deserves whatever joy she can bring him. It will at the very least allow him closure and perhaps find peace.”
Jason lowered his head and took a deep breath. He exhaled and said, “Go see Pride. If anyone knows, he will.”
Jixie said, “Thank you. Thank both of you for trying to take care of him. I can see how much he means to you and I’m amazed he chose me. I don’t deserve him.”
Jixie disappeared and
Jason said, “I agree.”
• • •
Jixie arrived on El Prado and thought, “Pride, I need to see you.”
Pride appeared in the clearing and looked at Jixie, “Are you back to play again?”
“No, I’m looking for Sam.”
“Please tell me the difference.”
“What do you mean?”
“You came and played with us and then after your fun, you left without as much as a fare-thee-well. You did help us a lot when you were here. Thank you for that.”
“Pride, I need to find, Sam.”
“I think you’ve done enough damage.”
Jixie stared at the Cat and saw he was not going to tell her. She thought a moment and sent the images of what happened with the Senior. Pride was stunned at the revelation and fell to his stomach on the ground. “You were deceived.”
“I was.”
“What’s to stop it from happening again?”
“I’ll refuse to connect again.”
Pride stared at Jixie and said, “Jixie, a leader like Sam rarely happens in the Realm and the Realm was hurt by what you did to him. He is our greatest warrior and you nearly destroyed him. He tried to abdicate his title and it was a very close thing he didn’t. He’s taken risks that were foolish. I believe he wants to die. If you leave him again, I think he will. Are you really thinking about him or being selfish?”
Jixie stared at Pride and lowered her head, “I don’t know. But…I know he’s hurting and I can’t live with that. It may be too late, but I must see.”
Pride sighed and stood. Jixie thought he was leaving but he sent the image of a small ship to her mind. “The ships name is Jixie’s Ghost.”
Jixie’s tears started and she began crying. Pride shook his head, “It’s never good for two species that have such different life spans to bond. However, both of you knew it going in.” Pride looked up at the sky and Jixie saw the battle taking place halfway across creation. She ran forward and hugged the big Cat’s leg, “Thank you, Wise One.” She disappeared and Pride watched to see what happened. He looked up and after a moment looked at Sam’s location. Mother was right, love conquers all. Would this be the one time it didn’t?
Chapter Seventeen
Jixie arrived and the space battle was fierce. Sam’s squadron had lost three ships, but had destroyed more than forty thousand of the massive warships they were facing. Jixie watched and waited. An hour later only one of the massive warships remained and Sam said, “I’m going to allow you to return to your home world and tell them to stay there. Any further invasions will not be tolerated.”
Jixie appeared on Sam’s ship and she said behind him, “You can’t allow that ship to survive.” She saw Sam stiffen into immobility in his command chair. He didn’t turn around.
After a long moment he said, “Why not?”
“They’ve recorded your ship’s frequency and they’ll go back and target their weapons to that frequency. You won’t be able to teleport fast enough to escape their beams. Your ships are the only ones in the Realm that could stand up to them. If you allow that ship to escape, they’ll overwhelm us.”
Sam said, “All ships, destroy that vessel.” The massive warship exploded.
Sam sighed, “It’s always a good thing to have a scout.” He slowly turned around in his chair and said, “Hello, Jixie.”
Jixie saw the sorrow on his face and she said, “I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry.”
Sam stood and took her in his arms. “I told you years ago that if I could only have you for a moment, I’d be happy for the time.”
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. She started crying and said, “I thought I lost you.”
“I told you the only way I would ever leave you is when I die.”
“I’ll not leave you again, Sam. I’ll never leave you again.”
Sam pulled her close and felt his heart start beating again. “I guess I should have left this civilization alone.”
“Yes, the Realm is nowhere close to their technology.”
Sam thought, “Eyes, tell everyone to go home and take some time off.”
Eyes saw Sam’s heart coming back to life and said, “We can all use some time off, Sir.”
Sam continued to hold Jixie and said, “I’ve been off far too long, Eyes.”
“Now you’re back, Sir. It’s good to see it.” Jixie’s Ghost teleported away.
Five hours later a massive fleet arrived looking for revenge and didn’t find anything but wreckage of their fleet. They searched for clues on who had attacked, but Jixie had removed every trace of the music ships. The huge Bronze ships returned to their home worlds, which began constructing new ships.
• • •
Sam teleported to the Algean Ship Facilities and received clearance to dock. He took the ship in and Sprigly saw him and Jixie step out of the ship, “It’s good to see you Your Majesty. Is there something wrong with your ship?”
“Yes there is. I need you to change her name to Jixie’s Dream.”
Sprigly’s leaves turned bright green and he said, “I’ll do it at once and make a quick check of your systems. We’ll be done in an hour.”
“We’ll wait in the observation room. Thanks, Sprigly.” Sprigly noticed that Sam had not released Jixie’s hand once.
“Sam, I need to explain what happened.”
“You can do that tonight. Right now I just want to be close to you.”
“We can’t get as close as I want here.”
Sam smiled and said, “We’ll solve that problem in an hour.”
Jixie smiled and put Sam’s arm over her shoulder as they walked to the observation room.
• • •
“Jon, Jon, where are you?”
Maranda burst into the throne room and found Jon meeting with a delegation from the elected Bristone Council. Jon said, “Dear, can it wait?”
“No, it can’t. Sam is back.” Jon raised his eyebrows and Maranda said, “Jixie is with him.”
Jon smiled, stood, and said, “I’ll meet with you a week from today. See my assistant about a time.” He rushed over and lifted Maranda in his arms and hugged her. “Get Mica ready to travel.”
“Not just yet, Darling. They need some time. She’s just arrived.”
Jon smiled and pulled Maranda as they ran through the door to their personal quarters.
• • •
Sam teleported to the Life Warrior training planet at night and landed the small ship on the hill outside the Headquarters Building. They could have arrived three hours earlier, but had taken some time to be together. Ten Life Warriors appeared as they stepped out of the ship and the Sargent said, “You have not been cleared to land.”
Sam said, “Please notify your flight control officer that Duke Scott Robbins has arrived and apologizes for not asking for clearance.”
The Sargent snapped to attention and, “I’m sorry for the intrusion, Your Majesty. I’ll notify him immediately.” The ten warriors disappeared and word flew through the warriors barracks that the Duke was on the planet.
Sam looked at the lights going on in all the buildings and said, “I guess this wasn’t a good idea.”
“What were you thinking, Sam?”
Sam looked at Jixie and said, “This is where I first kissed you. Do you remember?”
“I’ll never forget it.”
“This is where I want to ask you for a favor.”
Jixie smiled, “What is that, Sam?”
“I want you to be my wife. Jixie, will you marry me?”
Jixie froze. She stared at him and said, “I don’t know what is going to happen, Sam. I could be forced to leave.”
“If you leave tomorrow, I still want you to marry me.”
Jixie looked in Sam’s eyes and said, “I will.”
Sam took her in his arms and kissed her. He finally released the kiss and saw a man walking from Headquarters. They watched him come closer and Sam saw it was the commanding officer of
the training facility. He walked up and bowed to Sam, “Please rise. It is I that should bow to you.”
The Colonel raised his head and said, “I only wish that were so, Your Majesty. The things you have done for the Realm are legendary among our Life Warriors and I came here to ask if you would speak to the warriors that are here being trained and their instructors.”
“I will.”
The Colonel spoke into his wrist unit and the rush to the hill was instant as the warriors ran from their barracks to the small hill. In less than four minutes, ten thousand warriors surrounded the hill. Jixie looked at them and saw their wonder at being able to see the legendary Duke. She saw in their minds that they would tell their future children about this moment. Sam watched them arrive and smiled. This was the heart of the Realm. He started talking to them and afterwards the Warriors were committed to doing everything in their power to make sure the Duke would respect their contributions in the Fight for Creation. Sam and Jixie lifted in their ship and the warriors around the hill stayed watching the ship as it rose into the night sky. The Colonel looked at his warriors and said, “He is what we all strive to become. Never forget this moment.”
None of them did.
• • •
Sam flew Jixie’s Dream directly to Castle Gardner and saw the lights of the city extending to the horizon. Sam hovered the ship a mile above the giant castle. The four Algean Attack Craft holding formation next to his ship wondered what he was doing. Sam said over his radio, “Please show the colors.”
The Algean smiled and the four attack craft burst into brilliant strobe lights that flashed beams colored Crimson and Gold. The brilliant beams lit up the night sky and the citizens in the city and all the millions of vehicles flying over the city saw them and the rush was immediate. Duke Robbins was home and he was going to address the citizens. The five ships remained high over the castle for an hour before they went to the Castle. The first million citizens arrived in less than thirty minutes. An announcement went out that the Duke was going to address the citizens of Ross at midnight.
• • •
Sam landed Jixie’s Dream on the spire and Greg was waiting for him. He saw Sam step out of the ship and then Jixie appeared. Greg rushed forward and hugged Jixie, “I’m so glad to see you’ve come home.”