Dyllys
Chapter Thirteen

Hewas alone in his office facing away from Parris when he entered the room.Parris clutched the gun tightly in his hand and stepped from the elevator. WhenVictor Davenport turned to regard his son he did so straightening the cuff onhis shirt.

“Hectortold me you were coming.”

“Thoughthe might have mentioned that,” Parris intoned.

“So,Parris, have you come to kill me?” Victor sat in his chair at the head of hisdesk with the look of the self-assured.

“Yes,”Parris said, and walked deeper into the room, aiming the gun at his father’shead.

“Thenwhy haven’t you pulled the trigger yet?”

“BecauseI want to see your face as your empire crumbles to dust.”

“Howdo expect that to miraculously happen?”

“Don’tyou know who I am, father?” Parris threw his arms wide with the question andpaused for a moment. He heard an explosion down below. His father grabbed hisdesk in shock as the explosion rattled the office. He pushed away from his deskand looked down at his factory far below from one of the full length windowsthat was on either side of his office, “I’m Paris, Prince of Troy, come home todestroy my family’s empire.”

Hewalked up to where his father stood and pressed the gun against his father’sface, “I want you to know that you’re not dying for what you have done tobillions of people all across the galaxy. You’re dying for what you did to mymother, to Hector, and what you tried to do to me.” Then he pulled the triggerand watched his father’s face contort in surprise. The laser penetrated thewindow and Victor Davenport fell into the wreckage of his empire as his sonwalked away without a second glance.

* * * *

Parriswas the last to make it back to the Salvatore. When he reached the cargobay he smiled when he saw it filled with new refugees. He radioed up to thebridge, “Everyone back Esper?”

“Affirmative.Shall I get us far away from this place?” Esper asked.

“Yes,and quickly please.”

“Parris,”Esper added before Parris could walk away from the com unit, “It’s Dyllys. Youbetter go see her.” Parris left the com unit without another word and ran forthe lift.

Faranwas already by her side when he arrived. “So this is it,” Parris said. Dyllysturned to regard him when she heard his voice. He could already see that allher hair had fallen into silver dust at her side.

“Didn’tthink you would make it back in time,” Dyllys said and smiled.

“Isthere nothing we can do?” Faran asked, He was clutching her hand tenderly. “Idon’t want you to die.”

Shesmiled and tried to laugh. It came out weak and forced. “There you go, beingselfish again. Don’t you care at all what I want?” This made Faran cry.

“Faranisn’t the only one. Sure you won’t stick around for a while and help us setthings right in this galaxy?”

“I’msure you can do that just fine on your own. You wouldn’t deny me the chance tohave eternal sleep with my Faran now would you? Not after all this time I’vewaited.”

“Ofcourse not, Sabine,” Parris said tenderly. Her eyes widened at her name.

“It’sbeen such a long time since anyone has called me that.” She turned and staredat Parris with a smile on her face. “Thank you Parris, for that, and for wakingme up.”

“Mypleasure, Sabine,” Parris whispered and then he leaned against the wall facingaway from her trying to hide the tears that were trailing down his face.

Dyllysturned to Faran. “Faran, could you please make sure that I’m with my Faran,among the stars for all eternity.”

“Ofcourse, Dyllys,” he could barely keep his voice from cracking.

“Evaand I took him to the Pillars of Creation. Parris will know where to replace it,I’m sure.” She paused for a moment trying to hide the sudden pain. “Parris, Iwanted to give you a gift, I hope you like it,” and then she closed her eyes.

* * * *

Onelast memory for her to recall.

Theywere on their favorite hill under a moonless sky. The stars graced the heavensin a brilliant river. She had her head on Faran’s chest and he had his armlying on hers. It was the perfect night, no clouds in this summer sky.

Sabinelistened to Faran’s breath as he inhaled and exhaled and then she leaned herear into his chest to hear his heartbeat. “What do you think happens to us whenwe die?” Sabine mused.

“Igather it’s just an eternal sleep.”

“Wellthen what about what remains of us here?”

“Webecome stars, of course, brilliant stars to light the night sky.”

Sabinerolled over and put her face close to Faran’s. “Then I hope my star is close toyours,” she murmured and then kissed him passionately.

Whentheir lips parted Faran was smiling. “It won’t be close to mine at all, Sabine.We will make up the same star of course. You and I, Sabine, we are alreadyone.” She grinned and then kissed him one last time.

“HereI come, Faran, to complete our star,” she whispered and then the light died outof Dyllys’s eyes turning them to a dull grey and slowly her body fell to silverdust in Faran’s arms.

* * * *

Itwas Esper that was the one to set Dyllys free. When they reached the Pillars ofCreation she took the jar that held all that remained of Dyllys and she wentthrough the airlock. Parris and Faran watched from the bridge as Esper releasedthe silver dust into the clouds of the newly forming star. They glinted as theycaught the light and Sabine was finally joined once again with her Faran. Esperwatched as the silver dust drifted slowly away from her and then she closed hereyes to it.

“Wakeup.” Esper was unsure whether she had thought the words or if someone else hasspoken them, regardless she opened her eyes.

* * * *

“Sowhat do you want to do now, Faran? Do you want to go back to Tossu?” Parrisasked.

Thedoor to the bridge opened and Esper stepped into the room.

“Iwould like to go back and tell Glory what has happened. But I would like tostay with you if you will have me.”

“Idon’t know,” Parris teased. “Esper and I will have to take a vote on that. Whatdo you say Esper, can he stay?” Parris turned to regard Esper and froze.

“Iwould like that very much.” Esper’s voice was a song, and as she spoke shesmiled. Parris just stared into her icy blue eyes and joined her smile.