TE2

Chapter One: Connecting

�Nick, what are you doing?�

The young blonde once again lifted his head and looked around the room.

�Don�t you feel that?� he asked.

�Feel what?�

He looked around again. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Everything looked the same as it did a minute ago, ten minutes before that and an hour before that.

�I�m not sure exactly. Does something seem different to you?�

�No.�

�I guess it�s just me then.�

�Are you feeling alright?�

�Yeah. It�s just....I feel like someone�s watching us.�

His best friend gave him a funny look then turned back to his work.

�You better not let Kevin hear you say that. You know how he would get.�

�Yeah, I know.�

�Know what?� Kevin asked, walking back into the room.

�That I�m never going to pass my League test,� Nick covered.

�Of course you will. You�ll pass and soon you�ll be fighting for Or�deon with Brian and I.�

�You know I�d love to fight for my planet, but at the rate I�m going I�d be lucky if they put me in FP-7.�

�Nick, you already are a better pilot then half the people testing. You�re bound to make it above FP-3,� Brian reassured him.

�That�s easy for you two to say. You�re both in FP-1,� he pointed out.

�And we started out the same as you. The test is tomorrow morning and after that you won�t have to worry about it anymore,� Kevin stated.

�Unless I fail. Then I have to take it again if I want to be in the League.�

�Nick, the only way for you to fail is if you forgot everything about flying and air combat. It�s in you Nick, there�s no way you could forget,� Brian said.

Nick looked at his two best friends. He knew deep down that they were right, but he couldn�t shake this nervous feeling. His whole life he wanted to fight with the League. Everyone in his family had and he wanted to carry on that tradition. He wanted to be the next one to be in FP-1. He took a deep breath and turned back to his books. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to get through this.

************

�Scratch! Looks like I win again. Pay up boys.�

The three burly men standing around the table each threw down a handful of notes and sulked off back towards the bar. Reveling in her victory, the tall blonde reached down and started collecting the notes, her green eyes sparkling.

�Well, well, well. Looks like you swept up another round.�

The voice came from behind her, but she didn�t have to turn around to know who it was.

�I always managed to kick your ass. This was like taking candy from a baby.�

�Oh, how I�ve missed your humbling charm. Keeping things in line for me while I�ve been away?�

�Honey, who are you kidding? You know I run this joint.�

She stuffed the now neatly folded notes into her back pocket. She turned around and flashed him a smile.

�Yeah, well a man can dream. So how you been, Axion?�

�Pretty good Bone, pretty good. I must admit though, the place ain�t the same without you.�

�What can I say? My sparkling personality and rugged good looks are what keep this joint hoppin�.�

�If that�s what it takes to get you to sleep at night honey, if that�s what it takes,� she rolled her eyes at his brazen statement.

�Baby, you know I got it going on,� he replied, the smile on his face widening.

�Yeah, whatever you say Bone.�

He stared at her for a second before her eyes locked with his. Anyone in the room could�ve felt the electricity between them. There was no denying the passion that they had for each other. After a moment Axion relaxed her gaze and turned away from him.

�I really did miss you Alex,� she said softly as she picked her glass up off the table.

The tenderness in her voice made him weak. The only other time he heard that kind of endearment from her was the day he left. In his opinion, it really had been too long.

�I missed you too Angel Face.�

�Aw, isn�t that just the sweetest thing,� came a new voice.

�It�s not as sweet as me beating your ass Kirkpatrick,� Alex replied, turning around to face the newcomer.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. �Gee, and I thought you�d be happy to see me,� he replied.

Slowly a smile spread across Alex�s face. �Not with that sassy attitude,� he said, in a high falsetto.

�You do realize how much you doing that scares me, right?�

�Why do you think I do it?�

Axion just rolled her eyes at the two. They never seemed to grow up.

�I heard you were in town. When did you get back?�

�Last night.�

�Well, you look to be in one piece. I guess that�s a good thing.�

�And where have you been Chris? I haven�t seen you in here in quite some time,� Axion stated.

Chris gave a sheepish grin and glanced around the bar.

�I got in a spot of trouble with Drezner and thought it best not to see him for awhile.�

�Let me guess, you owe him money you don�t have,� Axion smirked.

�In a nutshell, yeah.�

�You know, that gambling habit of yours is going to get you into major trouble someday,� she advised.

�What are you talking about someday ? He already is,� Alex replied.

�And that big mouth of yours is going to get you into major trouble someday, AJ,� Chris retorted.

�Children, can we act like civilized adults now?� Axion asked the two.

�No,� they both replied in unison.

They will never grow up, Axion thought, shaking her head. Never.

************

The palace was magnificent. White marble with towering columns. Nestled deep in the clouds, it overlooked the entire planet. From this vantage point one could see the rich forests and shimmering rivers. Everything seemed perfect, the planet was beautiful and the palace was hidden in the clouds, not to be disturbed, to be protected.

Then she appeared. She was a stunning creature. Not human, but not a god. She was just there, peacefully gliding across the land, her long white-blond hair flowing gently behind her. The soft white fabric of her garment wafting in the light breeze. Her crystal blue eyes missed nothing. She was the epitome of beauty. She literally glowed. It seemed nothing could touch her.

It got dark. The beautiful planet was swallowed in shadow. She looked up at the sky and saw a sort-of eclipse. Something was moving in, blocking out the sun�s rays. She knew what it was. She had been praying the readings were wrong, that maybe something had been overlooked or misinterpreted. This is what she had been dreading. If she couldn�t stop this, it would be the end of her people. It would be the end of her planet. It would be the end of her.

They moved in swiftly, wasting no time at all. Flashes of light struck down on the land. The lush forests became ablaze. Towns and villages started to crumble. She waited in the forest. He would be coming for her. His minions would destroy her planet and he would try to destroy her. Patiently she waited, preparing for the worst.

Off in the distance a dark form moved about. Instinctively she took cover. He sensed her somehow and changed his direction. Scanning the dense vegetation, he searched for her. His mission was to kill her and he never failed a mission. He called out to her, knowing she was near by. Staying crouched she said nothing in return. He taunted her, tempting her to relinquish her whereabouts. Pride got the better of her. Defiantly she stood, preparing for the battle that was about to in sue . Everything happened so quickly, but there was no doubt that it was a horrific scene. There was a blinding flash of light, then all went calm.

She appeared again, this time on the ground covered in blood. She was alive, but struggling. Her faint cries were heard and a young man came bounding over the debris. He helped her up and led her back to the palace.
Somewhere far off he stood watching. He had failed. The anger blazed in his black eyes. He would not let it happen again. He would destroy her. He would not be stopped. Another attempt was being formulated. His startling black eyes peered out through the darkness. He knew what he had to do. His venomous wrath echoed through out the galaxy. Being heard.

************

�NO!!!!�

�Justin! Justin, honey, wake up!�

Gently she pushed the young man, but to no avail.

�Justin, you�re having a nightmare. Wake up!!�

This time she shoved him. His eyes popped open and he sat bolt upright. His breathing was labored and a film of sweat broke out across his brow. He glanced nervously around the room, his eyes finally landing on a worried set of chocolate brown ones.

�Are you alright? You were having a nightmare.�

He shook his head to try and rid himself of what was just running through his mind. The images stubbornly refused to go away.

�I had the worst dream. It was so real, so lifelike,� he said.

She gave a soft chuckle at that.

�I guess that�s why you were screaming and tossing all around.�

He looked down at the bed and noticed the disheveled state of the sheets. It looked like someone had been wrestling in his bed.

He gave a sheepish grin. �Yeah, I guess so.�

�Do you want to tell me about it?�

He thought a moment, concentrating on regaining the images.

�I can�t remember it, Wrynn. I just have this strong feeling that someone is in trouble and I don�t know what to do about it.�

�Justin, it was just a dream. I�m sure it�s nothing,� she replied.

He looked at her, letting her words sink in.

�You�re probably right,� he said. �It was just a dream.�

�See? Now try to get some sleep,� she said, lying back down.

Justin laid back down, but he didn�t fall asleep. He wasn�t sure what that dream had meant, but he was sure of one thing.

It wasn�t just a dream.