19 Chapter 19 :

Low Orbit, Maradisaè, 3rd of March 2119.

Starfort Eta, The Idiamasaron.

Time, 19:03

Commander Bentham Magnler

Magnler stood silently in the large, open room. It's flowing designs were elegant and beautiful, but he couldn't appreciate it. Not with Wells staring at him from behind. He couldn't bring himself to make eye contact. Confrontations unnerved him, he just couldn't do it. He was, as many people called it, socially awkward. When it came to speaking to someone intimidating or speaking to a large public, he was rendered incapable. During his doctorate, he nearly fainted. He was given the chance to teach at Earth's most prestigious universities like Oxford, Cambridge and MIT. He declined them all, much to their surprise. He just couldn't speak to an audience.

He even knew why it happened. His mind's internal defence mechanisms were triggered at the sight of crowds, and it caused the Fight or Flight mode to take over. Adrenaline and blood was pumped into his arms, palms and legs, causing them to shake and sweat. The blood that was being pumped there was being taken from the outer reaches of the brain, the areas that granted logic and thought. As a result, he would faint after too long. Thankfully during his doctorate, he was concentrating enough on what he had to do he couldn't panic. Even so, he was faint by the end.

As such, he dreaded his confrontation with his Captain.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ara materialised in one of the booths with a bag slung over her shoulder. He felt any panic or fear drain away from him. It suprised him how much of an effect she had on him. She smiled at him. He returned the gesture.

Behind her came Laecian. The tall Alfan approached smoothly, his eyes passing over them all. With him was Faen. His brother, Byrn, was nowhere to be seen, as expected. Commander Elysium had shot him through the head.

Faen was silent, and his air was reserved. He looked over the humans once, then resolutely gazed past them.

"Come, my friends. Let us meet the Council." anounced Laecian.

Wells nodded, noticing he still had his translator in his ear, and followed him to one of the teleporters. The Alfan stepped inside, pressed a button, and vanished. Ara and Faen followed suit. Then Wells stepped up and beamed down to the planet's surface. It was indeed a very curious feeling, a short moment when you feel in two places at once and then suddenly, you open your eyes and you're standing in a completely different location.

He stepped out into a world of white, gold and bright green. It was so bright he couldn't see much of what lay before him other than those original colors. It was warm and conforting here in the sun after so long in space. He breathed in, the air was pure and smelled like it had just rained.

As his eyes ajusted to the light, he felt someone lean into him from behind. He turned about and saw Xeing, her hand held before her eyes, her pupils shrinking rapidly. He moved out of her way and spun back towards the outside.

"Welcome," proclaimed Laecian, "to Lidaron."

Huge spires of white marble laced with gold and glass rose into the startingly blue sky. Trees towered high, filling the air with the scent of their leaves and flowers. He felt alive. Insects buzzed about, collecting the sugar from the plant's flowers. And not only that, but Alfan were everywhere. Each wearing something different, a gown of blue, green, yellow, red or white or a combination thereof. He spied some elder Alfan, wearing long robes wrapped around them as they discussed unimaginable topics in a beautiful garden. Most of the Alfan simply went about whatever buisness they had planned. Shopping or walking or selling, it was a calm and yet so energetic place. Some younger Alfan, both male and female relaxed lithely against the walls of a low nearby building. They wore casual shirts and trousers as they chatted. One of the women leaned in to one of the guys and whispered in his ear. The Alfan looked over to where they were standing. He turned and muttered something back, then inclined his head towards them.

They began to approach, curiously. But one of the younger looking ones approached much more confidently, at ease.

"Hi dad, what are you doing?" he asked.

He looked a lot like his father, with the same principal features, but without his father's reserve.

Laecian smiled.

"Rynn, Syllin." answered Faen softly, "I will tell you when I get home."

A girl was holding on to the young Alfan's, Rynn's, arm, who Wells assumed was Syllin. She wore a beautiful flower dress and had a flower in her hair.

"So you are coming home this evening?"

"Yes, I need to speak to you and your mother."

"Where's uncle Byrn?" asked Rynn, slowly.

There was silence.

"Your uncle..." began Faen, choking up a little.

"He didn't make it." finished Laecian, "You did hear of the attack?"

The young Alfan nodded, clearly distraught. Unlike the others of their race, they oviously didn't make any effort to hide their emotions.

"Was it them?" Rynn pointed at Wells and his officers.

"No." answered Laecian firmly, "These are our friends. Unfortunately, their former friends think we are the enemy."

The girl, Syllin, averted her gaze. Her flower wilted slightly.

Laecian turned to Faen, "Go home. See your wife. You are dismissed for now."

"Sir, no. It is my duty to protect you and..."

The captain smiled kindly to him, "Go. You have more than deserved it. That is and order."

"Yes captain." he turned to his son.

"Come Rynn." he said quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Let us go home."

The boy followed in silence, his girlfriend following him.

"Tragic." muttered Laecian sadly, "But come, we must not delay."

He waved off the other Alfan and guided them towards one of the tall silvery spires.

"He has children?" asked Wells curiously, watching them as they walked away.

"Of course, he has a son. Rynn. Many would wish to have such a beautiful child as he."

There was a pause in the conversation.

"Do you have a child?" Laecian finally asked him.

"No." answered Wells, kind of finally.

"You have not found your love yet?" he asked, with a hint of sadness.

"I've never really thought about it. I have a brother and two sisters but I hardly see them anymore. In any case, I doubt I could see them again for a while with this situation going on yet..."

"That is indeed a shame."

"What about you, do you have a family?"

He smiled, "Yes, my wife and I have been together for almost half a century. And we have a beautiful daughter. She will be ten this weekend."

"That's nice."

"Yes, you have not met our children yet. They are prized more than anything else. They have something, special about them." he chuckled, "But sometimes they can be some work."

They walked for a half hour, drawing the attention of others as they paraded down the streets.

"Why such a long walk when you can teleport?" asked FTL, who had been uncharacteristically quiet until now.

"Why teleport everywhere when you can walk?" answered Laecian.

This just seemed to confuse the security officer even more, so he closed his rather large mouth and kept walking.

They entered the spire thought large glass doors that slid open as they approached. It was cool inside, and almost a green as it was outside. It also flowed with gold and lapis. On the floor was red velvet, maticulously clean. A long desk stood at the other end of the room, with Alfan sitting behind it. Each one wore an impeccable red and gold suit, each with it's own touches.

Laecian guided them over to one of them, a man with dark blue hair.

"May I help you?" he asked, looking them up and down.

"I have a meeting scheduled with the council." announced Laecian.

The Alfan looked down, his hands moving.

"Mr. Lianaï, sir, please follow me."

He stepped out from behind the desk and led them to a gracefully formed teleporter of gold.

He held his hand out for them to all get on. Once they were all in position, he tapped on a control panel and they vanished in a flash of blue light.