| Chapter 83 Nick walked out into the small field the unicorns were grazing in. It was early morning, and he'd had a restless night. The dreams plagued him. Even if he did manage to sleep, he never rested. Always fighting, worrying, struggling in his dreams. He took in a deep breath of the cool morning air, closing his eyes for a moment. He needed this. This quiet, calm. He'd left his guards at the fence, making it very clear he wanted this time to himself. Opening his eyes again, he smiled as Thomas trotted up to him. "Hey boy, miss me?" Nick asked, as the unicorn nuzzled him with his nose and purred. Nick laughed, "I know, I missed you too. Everything's so complicated now ...so hard. I miss our rides, the days I didn't have all this shit to deal with." Thomas nodded as if he understood Nicks pain, staring through him with his big chocolate eyes. Nick stared back for a moment, lost in them, then he pushed the unicorns face away from him, "Stop that, I'm not dead yet," he laughed. Nick looked over to see the white unicorn grazing not far away. "Who's your new friend?" he asked Thomas, walking over to the unknown animal. Nick approached him slowly holding his hand out, "Hey there." The white unicorn looked up, then sniffed Nick's hand before he let him pet him. "So where did you come from?"Nick asked. The creature bobbed its head and neighed. Nick's eyes grew wide, "You did? How come Brian didn't tell me that?" Again the unicorn neighed and grunted. Nick laughed, "Well I guess he was kinda out of it at the time. Thank you." The unicorn nodded again, then trotted off to a new patch of grass. Nick slowly walked around, greeting all the unicorns. It'd been ages since he'd been down to the stables, and he wanted to stay as long as possible. Somehow these creatures calmed him, made him see things in a new light. Thomas followed along like an obedient puppy. Nick welcomed his company, as he and Thomas made their way to a vacant part of the field, far away from the others. As he walked he absently stroked the unicorns neck, his mind drifting. All his memories seemed jumbled together. His family on earth came into the picture ... scenes of their vacations, and holidays, arguments, and bonding. He missed them so much. He shook his head and sighed... the lies they had been told, just to protect what he was. They thought he was kidnaped, what a hell they must be going through, not having any word, or hope for months. Then his mind drifted to his family on Celeste. His dad, or at least who he thought was his dad, smiling at him. Trying to teach him what he needed to know in the short time he had. The grief he felt when he passed away. Sometimes he still felt it, even after everything he had learned. And then, his mother. She was always there, supporting him in her own quiet way. He had a newfound respect for her, for what she had to endure in her life .... all for him, and love. And then there was Anthony, he was a brother to him .... more than just a cousin. He deserved what Nick had, and Nick was going to make sure he got it in the end, no matter what. Mason flashed through his mind, and Nick was surprised to feel a warmth towards the man. He had started out loathing Nick, and the feeling was mutual, but now ....... now there was a love there, where hate once lived. It was awkward at times. The way Mason would look at him, and then his confession that he'd always thought Nick was his son. That tends to unnerve a person. But Nick was slowly warming to the idea. He didn't know if he could ever call him dad, but there was a mutual love and respect between them now, and he had to admit he liked it that way. Thomas nudged him from his thoughts, and Nick looked over. If there was ever concern in the creatures eyes, it was now. Nick half smiled and stroked his nose, "I'm fine, just thinking." Thomas stepped closer, bending his head down to rest on Nick's shoulder, purring softly. Nick hugged his neck and buried his face in Thomas's black hair. "Everything will work out, it has to, otherwise I did all this for nothing," he whispered, "I could've went home when mom gave me the choice..... but I stayed for this. Please let it work, please." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie walked into the control room and over to Ana. "Hey, morning," he said. She pulled her headphones off and smiled, "Morning, what brings you down?" "The council wants the daily reports," he answered. Ana rummaged around and found the papers, handing them over, "So that gofer thing very interesting?" Howie grinned, "I dunno bout that, but at least we know what's going on." She nodded, "True." Howie glanced over and watched Brian at another console. He was in heavy conversation with someone on the other end, and working the controls like he was born to. "He amazes me," Ana said, "It's like he can just pick anything up and do it." "Yeah, he's always been that way," he replied. Brian looked over and waved, never missing a beat in his conversation. Howie smiled, "Well, I better get back, see you tonight." "See ya," Ana said, placing her headphones back on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "So the shipments are coming in as scheduled?" Nick asked. Mason nodded, "Yes, we're due to receive another in a few days." "Good, I want as many as we can get before this thing turns ugly," Nick said, "The less people we have to worry about being on the drug the better." "I still can't believe you found the cure," Joseph said. Nick smiled, "I had a lot of help. Speaking of, the ships from Earth should be here in a few days." "Do you really think it's gonna make a difference? I mean we're facing half the galaxy here," Nathaniel commented. Nick looked down at the table and shook his head, "I don't know, but it can't hurt." Mason looked across the table at his �nephew' and wondered if he really didn't know. Something in the boys eyes was telling he did and just wasn't saying it. Nick glanced up, catching his eye for a moment, then he looked away. "I believe that is all for today," he said, getting up to leave, "Mason, don't forget your obligation." Mason nodded dutifully and without a word, headed down to medical. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marie stood at the nurses station working on some paperwork for the doctor she worked for. She had seen Mason go down the hall, and tried everything to avoid him. When he spotted her, his eyes went directly to the floor, a pained expression on his face. Good, Marie thought, He deserves to feel that way after what he did. She was just as angry as Brian over the entire incident, and it was her idea to make him work here. Maybe seeing the babies everyday for a year would teach him a lesson. She had no idea. Finally, curiosity got the better of her, and she went down to the nursery. She stood back, unnoticed, and watched. Mason was sitting in a rocking chair, holding a newborn. He stared into the child's face, tears evident in his eyes. Marie stepped into the room, nodding at another nurse that noticed her. Mason was humming a song, gently rocking the sleeping infant. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, tears slowly trailing down his cheeks. Mason looked down at the little boy they had given him. Such a sweet innocent face stared back at him, reminding him of what Nick looked like all those years ago. Things should had been different. In a perfect world, he and LaDonna would have married, and had their son to raise and love. But he wasn't in a perfect world. Things got messed up, he and LaDonna were ripped apart and their son was taken from them. Sent to be raised by someone else. He took a deep breath, trying to gain his composure. It was futile though. The child in his arms jumped in its sleep, causing Mason to cuddle it closer to him. He hadn't realized he was humming, until then. It was an old lullaby, one he once hummed to Nick. Mason shook his head, regretting the majority of his life. He gave in to greed and hate, and left love on the sidelines. If he had just been stronger, stood up for what he loved .... things would be so different. He would be different. Not this shell of a man he once was, grasping to find himself again. He stared at the child again, wondering if Brian and Marie's child would have looked like this one. He would never forgive himself for what they went through ...never. And he never expected them to forgive him either. He had ruined their lives along with everyone else's. One of the nurses stepped up and took the sleeping baby from him. "Your time is up for today my lord," she whispered, so as not to wake the child. Mason nodded, standing up and wiping his tear stained cheeks. He turned to leave, and stopped, noticing Marie standing in the corner of the room. He bit his lip, not knowing if he should say something or not. She had tears in her eyes, and a curious expression on her face. He wasn't sure what she was thinking, her demeanor hard to read. The two stared at one another for a few awkward moments, then Marie turned and left the room. Mason watched her go, his heart breaking once again at the pain he had caused her, and so many others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick looked across the fields, his heart in his throat. Thomas pranced around underneath him. Nick tightened the reins, trying to keep him still. He glanced back, seeing his army behind him. Thousands of men, ready to fight at his order. Suddenly a loud boom filled the air and he looked towards the blue sky, knowing the battle there had already started. Nick swallowed hard, this was it, there was no going back now. He took a deep breath and raised his hand. His golden armor shining in the suns light. With one gesture, his army was advancing. Nick took a moment to glance from side to side. Rowland was next to him, and next to him Kevin, riding the white unicorn. Nick looked ahead, into the eyes of his enemies. All different races were marching towards him, all out for blood. Nick lifted his sword and kicked Thomas, speeding their pace. All to soon he was fighting his way through a mass of bodies. Swords flying everywhere. He lost track of everything but what he was doing. It seemed like a never ending supply of foes came to face him. Once one was dispatched, another took his place. Hours of fighting passed, at least it seemed that way to Nick, and still he was facing yet another foe. This man stood above all others, muscles abound. Nick took a deep breath and swung his sword. The man blocked his blow, then pulled him off Thomas before he knew what was going on. Nick scrambled to his feet and turned just in time to block a deadly blow. The man was relentless, and Nick knew he couldn't win. Faintly he could hear Kevin's voice, but he couldn't make out what he was saying. Nick stared the man in the eyes as he lost his grip on his sword and it clanked to the bloody ground. The man smiled, then plunged his sword into Nick's chest. "NO!" Nick screamed, sitting straight up in bed, heaving for air, his hand on his chest. He could feel the pounding of his heart, and tried to calm himself. His door flew open and two guards rushed in, weapons drawn. "My king, are you alright?" one asked. Nick nodded, running his hand through his hair, "I'm fine ... just a bad dream. Sorry guys." The guards nodded, and left the room. Nick pulled the covers back and dropped his feet to the floor, resting his elbows on his knees, he covered his face. He was still shaking, his chest still hurting where the sword had penetrated it in the dream. His door opened again. Nick didn't bother to look up, he just held his arms out as his mother sat next to him and pulled him into a comforting embrace. Nick rested his head on her shoulder. This was the only place he felt safe these days ... in the arms of his mother. He knew he was acting like a child, but he didn't care, he just wanted the fear and dread to leave. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked. He shook his head. LaDonna ran her hand up and down his back, soothing him. "Son, don't keep things bottled up inside, it makes them worse," she said. "I can't tell you this," Nick said, his voice small. LaDonna pulled back and stared at him, "You are so frightened. Please tell me why." A tear left Nick's eye and his bottom lip trembled. He closed his eyes and sniffed, "I wish I could mom, but I can't. I have to deal with this on my own." She nodded, pulling him back into the hug, "I understand, just know this .... I love you Nickolas. No matter what happens, I love you." Nick hugged her tighter, and wondered if somehow she knew what he was struggling with. The queen kissed the top of his head, "Come now, try and sleep." Nick lay down and she placed the covers back over him, bent down and kissed his cheek before turning towards the door. "Mom," Nick said, and she turned around. "I love you." LaDonna smiled then left the room. Chapter 84 |