EvO (Darverius, House of DaR #16)

Chapter 42

Chapter Forty-Two

QWIN

The last two evenings EvO has acted odd, not impersonal, or mad, just distant. Since his Father came on board, he seems distracted, and we have spent little time together since. I understand the amount of work that has been put on him, but I find myself missing him. Bored , I decide to take a walk only to find EvO walking out of a room on one of the lower levels. Instead of the happy smile I normally get when he spots me somewhere, he suddenly looks guilty.

“ Qwin , what are you doing on this level?”

“ Walking , is there a reason I should not be here?”

“ No , you are welcome to go as you please. I simply didn’t expect to see you here.”

“ That’s obvious.” My feelings must flash across my face because I see his change abruptly.

He seems torn and tired. “ Forgive me Qwin , I have been neglecting you. I promise once I get this project done that will no longer be the case.”

My human mind wants to demand he tell me what he is hiding, but EvO has done nothing to make me mistrust him. So , I fight against my own inner demons and decide to give him the benefit of the doubt. “ I hear that Carla had the Destroyer redesign some of the cooking areas, and she announced that we might have cheesecake later if the ingredients work out. She apparently needs taste testers. Would you like to go with me?”

“ I believe I have a half a rising all to myself. I would love to.”

We are only steps away from the makeshift kitchen Carla has been working in when I feel the entire ship vibrate under my feet. “ What was that?”

“ Destroyer report?”

“ ANDI was connecting the space tunnel between us.”

“ I thought Father would not be here until later?”

“ ANDI , made an unauthorized space jump, cutting half a rising off their arrival time.”

EvO runs his fingers through his tattered silver hair, and for a moment he looks overwhelmed.

“ Hey , is there anything I can do to help?”

“ I’m sorry, Qwin things have just been a little crazy.”

“ With them docking this means no cheesecake for me doesn’t it?”

He reaches for my hand, bringing it up to his lips kissing it, before pulling me in for a hug I didn’t know I needed. “ I have to meet them at the dock, but you can go on. Even though I am sure Kira will be asking about you.”

“ Nahh , I’ll come with you.”

I hear Ember squeal before we even get into the dock and I am not shocked to see her hugging another woman when the door slides open. “ I am going to assume that is Kira ?”

“ The one and only.”

The other woman looks up her eyes seeking out the ones around us, only to land on EvO . She kisses Ember on the forehead before making her way towards us. He lets go of my hand the moment she holds her arms out. Bending down he pulls her in for a hug, tucking his head into her neck while she holds him close. They stay like that until a loud growl is heard from the other side of the room. Both of them smile the moment EvO releases her. She walks towards me instantly grabbing both of my hands in hers.

“ You must be Qwin ? By now you know that our EvO is just a big hug, monster.”

“ I didn’t put two and two together, but yes. I believe he is. You are, without a doubt, absolutely beautiful. At first, I thought you were Jane Seymore walking towards me, especially with all that hair.”

“ Thank you dear, you are quite lovely yourself.”

“ So , you’re DaR’s other half?”

“ I am.”

“ I can’t imagine how stunning your babies would be?”

“ Oh , my baby days are over. I will leave that task up to you younger girls, but I do make a great Mamaw . I am all about shaking them up and handing them back.” She pulls me close, hugging me tightly. “ Ohh , I am so happy that you were found along with all the others. I can’t wait to meet them all.”

Before I can say a word another small set of arms is wrapped around both of us and I can’t help but laugh as we all feed off of Ember’s excitement.

“ I didn’t realize how much I missed girls until I was with those guys for what felt like forever. Give me some love you two.”

Kira leans her head against Embers as she pulls her close. “ When we lost contact with the Destroyer I will be honest, Ember . I was terrified we would never see you guys again. I would prefer not to go through that again, but look at all the new friends you must have now.”

“ Kira , honestly I’ve been too sick to socialize. Now , I’m feeling much better and everyone is leaving.”

“ Ember , are you not going planet side for a while?”

“ No , Vin is stationed on the Destroyer and my place is with him. He did promise that once they were settled, we would visit. He wouldn’t let me do anything in my condition anyway, and I would just be in the way. However , I am no longer the only girl on board, so it won’t be so bad.”

Voices coming near us have us turning towards the volunteers that are going to head towards the surface. Lacie waves when she sees us, as does James , before they head down a long tunnel. I am just turning around to ask Kira something when I see her suddenly sway on her feet.

Her fist is pressed against her mouth as a single tear flows down her cheek. Ember must have noticed her the same time I did because we both grab on to her, but it’s like she is not even here. I jerk back when these black things start scrambling up and down her arms. The weird black things don’t seem to bother Ember as she brushes the tears away, “ Kira , honey, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

“ It can’t be,” she whispers.

Immediately , I start looking around, trying to figure out what has caused this reaction. The only thing going on now is Ricky talking to DaR and EvO about something. He must not have liked the answer he was given, because I can see him practically shaking in anger. He looks towards us, but it’s like he doesn’t notice anyone else there. DaR says something else, and he stomps off down the tunnel.

Kira takes a step forward like she is going to follow Ricky . DaR must have noticed Kira’s reaction and I see his eyes glance back towards the retreating form of Ricky before settling back on Kira .

“ Girls , keep him busy for a moment until I can pull myself together.”

Ember heads towards them, grabbing DaR’s arm when he starts our way.

“ Kira , are you ok? Do you know Ricky ?”

I hear her whisper, Of course, that’s his name before she answers me. “ For a moment there, Qwin . I did, but Ember was right, it was just a ghost. I will be fine, thank you.”

Ember was not able to keep DaR long, and it does not shock me when Kira finds herself in his arms. EvO looks concerned, so I head his way to give them a moment of privacy. ViN has also pulled Ember to the side, questioning her.

“ What happened?”

“ I’m not sure. One minute she was talking to us with a smile on her face, then next there were tears in her eyes. I think she may have known Ricky . What was he talking to you guys about?”

“ He asked Father if he could stay on the ship or be assigned to another one, to look for his wife. He wasn’t happy to find out that we were not going to resume the search.”

“ I’m not sure I would have been in his spot, either.”

“ Father told him that his best course was to help his kind build a world he would want for her. That he would send out a message to all ships to keep a lookout for at least another dozen pods, since we were able to confirm who we found and who was all launched.”

“ EvO , I’ve seen him standing alone at the viewers several times looking out.”

“ Qwin , if that was you out there. I’m not sure what actions I would take to find you. I will speak to Father about this once we get everyone planetside.”

“ Do you think there are more of us out there?”

“ Honestly , no, or not in the same way we found you. Nevertheless , we will still be on the lookout for some that may have been picked up by others. There was a rumor when I took control of the Destroyer . That the Korgons had dumped four cylinders on an unknown planet to keep from being caught when Father issued a decree about the owning and selling of your kind, but it was just a rumor.”

DaR walks past us with Kira in his arms. She is laying against his chest staring out at nothing, as he walks away from us, and back through the tunnel to the ship they arrived on.

“ I cannot imagine that guy being the first alien I’d ever seen. ViN is scary, but DaR is in a category all to himself.”

“ He worships Kira , and because of their bond she can’t hide much from him. I’ve never seen that look on her face before, though.”

We both stand here caught up in our own thoughts when the Destroyer and ANDI appear floating in front of us.

“ Greetings Captain , and our lovely Qwin .” ANDI takes that top hat off once again, bowing to each of us. “ I would like to introduce Destiny in her new and ever changing form.”

Floating in front of us is a miniature girl that seems to be coming in and out of focus.

“ Destroyer , we spoke of this earlier, none of the things you requested were supposed to go in affected until we drydock.”

“ Captain , I am simply playing with the program and have not chosen my final form yet. ANDI is impatient and wants to show me off.”

“ I agree with ANDI , you are lovely, Destroyer .”

“ Thank you, Mistress Qwin . Captain , the shuttle has touched down planetside and so far all is going as planned.” She pops away, leaving ANDI floating in front of me with a confused look on his face like he is trying to find her.

“ Females , always leading us males on a chase it seems. If you will excuse me, Captain , Mistress Qwin .”

I’m not sure who starts laughing first, me or EvO . “ Come on, let’s go see if that cheesecake turned out. While we await their return.”