Destiny

A few days later, Anic knew he had to go out for the day, that morning wasn’t any different than the previous. He awoke to find Circe watching him sleep. He noted her eyes were glassy and unfocused.

“Good morning honey. Every thing alright?” He asked her, looking at her.

“I want to still hear her in my head, feel her against my skin, I’ve dream-walked since she left me, and I can’t find her.” Circe told him, as it explained the dark circles underneath her eyes, and why she didn’t look refreshed from sleeping, even after the long amount of hours she slept.

“I need to do the errands, honey. You can stay in my quarters. I won’t be gone for very long. Do you want some tea?” Anic asked, getting up.

Circe smiled and caressed his rough cheek, “Yes please. Thank you Anic, thank you for everything.” she said, giving him a kiss.

“There’s nothing to thank. Its been my pleasure.” They both got out of bed, while Anic made tea and toast, he noted that this day, Circe consumed both before they each took a quick solo shower. The cleaning person arrived as the Ou’kaourian and the Shadowrychë were planning to leave. After leaving instructions for the quarters, Anic and Circe walked down the corridor to Anic’s quarters.

Once inside and comfortable with leaving Circe in his room, Anic left quickly to accomplish the longish list of tasks he set out for himself. One of the errands was to the artist sector. He wanted some art supplies…charcoals, paper, canvas, Gouache, oil and other mixed media, in hopes that Circe would un-bottle the emotions she was still holding on to with somewhat control.

He had known that her past methodology for things that worried and bothered her was to exercise…always to an excess. He could recall on more than one occasion, he found her glassy-eyed, sweaty and over doing it in the exercise sector. The line between healthy and unhealthy seemed to grow thin in Circe’s life, Anic didn’t want her to cross that line.

Hopefully, the art supplies would prove a healthy outlet. He was able to track down some of the antiques that he and Circe enjoyed…comics, books, films, music of era’s gone by. Many from Ima-Marvel and from MGMount Bros.

The waiting for his items to be packaged gave Anic nervous energy. He had hoped he would be bach by now…it didn’t work out that way. Anic did the food shopping at the grocery market that Circe used, completely organic, Non-Genetically Modified, macrobiotic foods, non-growth and non-antibiotics hormones, he was marveled on the largeness of products they had.

He indulged in some dark chocolate, nuts and dried fruits; the likes he hadn’t seen and knew he paid handsomely for their price.

After arranging for the groceries to be delivered, he happened upon the rest of the cabal squad. After a few brief minutes of talking and ribbing, he was able to extradite himself away from the group.

“Lieutenant Rel…Lieutenant Anic Rel, please wait.” it was Maarten Lucian, Circe’s mentor.

“If you’ll forgive me sir, I am in a rush to get bach to the quarters. I have a few deliveries that need my attention.” Rel said in a haste.

“Of course, I wanted to touch base with you upon the urgency of your messages. You have my full attention as well as the baching of the S.O.O.T.R.” Maarten said, in a calm and even voice.

Rel breathed a sigh of relief...exactly what he wanted and needed to hear.

“Well sir, its Talis, as I explained in my reports. I am at the end of my rope on exactly what to do.” Rel said with a sigh.

“You have done exactly what is needed, Lieutenant. Talis couldn’t have asked for a better person to watch over her.” Maarten said, with a hint of a smile.

“I need to get bach to Circe...Talis, sir.” Rel urgently said, correcting himself.

“Of course, shall I look upon you and Talis in half an hour?” Maarten asked him.

“That would be acceptable sir. Until then.” he said, quickly taking his leave of the mentor.

An uneasy feeling that had been inside Anic grew stronger as he approached his quarters. He didn’t know why his apprehension grew, but he learned a long time ago to listen to it. He walked through his door into a still atmosphere.

“Hello? Honey, I’m bach. I’m sorry it took so long. I had a few unexpected stops. Hello?” He said again, looking around the room. It didn’t take him long to search the quarters, no Circe. That only left the W.C., the door was a jar, so he knocked.

“Circe….honey.…you alright? Honey, speak to me.” he waited; the only sound was that of a soft flow of water, he pushed the door open slowly. What his brain registered was Circe on the floor, in a heap with a red and white puddle around her. He ran to her, checking for a pulse...and found a faint pulse, underneath his fingertips in her neck.

Rolling her over, he found the source of the blood….Circe had slit her wrists vertically not horizontally, his eyes narrowed at the sight of the damage. As it was in their military training, they learned how to deal with all types of injuries. From the bach of his mind, he noted how this injury presented itself: slit wrists horizontally which, most of the time, wasn't fatal because the veins can be repaired. The really serious suicide’s slit their wrists vertically, which makes the cuts on the veins impossible to repair. Circe added the extra bonus of letting the hot water run over them to bring the blood closer to the surface. The note nearby read ‘Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain.’ --a quote from past suicidees with her own notation…‘Forgive me in my weakest moment’.

“My gods! Circe, what the hell did you do?” he said, yelling at the slumped body. Picking her up, he placed her on the bed, grabbing his cleaning, he wrapped her wrists, babbling out-loud.

“I’ll have you fixed up, your mentor is coming by...shit, this is the last thing we need. I need to fix this--somehow,” he said as he slapped her across the face. “Wake up, wake up damn it!” He grew more anxious, as it was taking quite a few minutes before Circe softly groaned out loud.

“Okay…okay. We need to fix your wrists, good thing I still have that med-kit here.” Rel quickly walked into the living room, looking for the kit he left on one of the bookcase shelves. Grabbing it quickly, he returned to Circe’s side. “Here we go.” The med scan worked there magic over her wrists, mending the damage.

Circe wasn’t lucky…her cutting had done damage to the tendons. It was taking longer than Anic had planned, as sweat rolled down his face and bach on the extent of damage Circe inflicted upon herself. Searching in the med-kit, he prayed he never know the blackness that Circe came upon and her method of death. Anic gave Circe a shot of adrenaline after the scanner had began to re-knit the tendons bach together and let the nanobots do their work. Holding her in his arms with her mended wrists in her lap, he waited for Circe. She let out another small moan before fluttering her closed lashes open.

“Anic...” she weakly said, looking up at him.

“I’m here, how could you do this? How could you decide to leave this world, this plane without me? What was going thru your mind?” he said, deadly calm, his mind trying to come to terms with what she had done.

“I just wanted the hurting to stop Anic, I wasn’t thinking right, please …forgive me. It’s the pain of it all, it grew so unbearable, the depression, the loss, I am not to hear her or feel her. That’s a very scary thing. I’m afraid of what the future is going to be without her.” She said, still weak.

“You have me…in your life,” He hastily explained. “Honey, I’m here for you always. I can only guess at what you mean, we all want to feel like we matter to somebody.”

“Yes I know this. I found the letters you hid from me Anic, its sweet of what you did …to protect me. Thank you.” She said, giving him a small smile.

“Your welcome.” He sighed long, “We have bigger problems, Circe. Your mentor is coming for a visit. I gave him a report of what was going on with you earlier in the week. There will retributions for your actions.” He said, still frantic.

She sighed long. “I know. I will pay for them….it is my life. The W.C. needs to be cleaned up.” She said, about to get up.

“You lie bach down and stay here, I’ll take care of it. I don’t know what to say to your mentor.” Anic said, getting up.

“Say as little as possible. But always the truth. What happened here is my doing and I will inform him of the situation. Thank you Anic, for everything.” Circe said seriously.

“There is nothing to thank. Honey, you just get better, understood.” He said, looking at her.

“Crystal clear.” Was her reply.

Anic had barely finished cleaning up the W.C. when Maarten rang the bell, Anic finished washing his hands, taking in a deep breath before he let the older Shadowrychë in.

“Good tidings to you Rel Anic.” Maarten said.

“And to you Maarten Lucian.” he replied, calmly.

“I do hope that everything is well with you and Talis.” Maarten said, the ever calm mentor noticed the slightly sweaty look on his face and the scents that hung in the air.

“Well sir,” he nervously started, “Everything isn’t as well as I had hoped. I believe Talis can explain more but I want you to know and understand that this is my fault.” Anic said, calmly.

“How is it your fault?” the mentor asked, wanting to know.

“I left her alone, with some items that I took from her room. If I hadn’t…this wouldn’t of happened.” He said, ashamed.

“I am quite sure that you are acting in her best interests.” Maarten said with even voice.

“Yes sir, I am.” Anic said with some certainty.

“Is it possible to speak with Talis so that I might be able to assess the situation.” He inquired.

“Yes sir, thru the bedroom door.” Anic pointed to the door.

“Thank you.” Maarten replied, before walking thru.

The dimly lit room gave almost nothing away, if it wasn’t for keen senses.

“Patience has always been a virtue, and I have great deal of patience Talis. In your own time, you will tell me of what events has happened.” Maarten said firmly, slightly scolding the young woman.

Talis sighed loudly, used to the older man‘s ways, “I know Maarten. I just don’t know how to tell you. I prefer the dark.”

“You always do…as if it gives you strength, the ability to hyde. Some sort of absolution?” Maarten observed and questioned her methods.

“ ‘Comfort, forgiveness and honesty in all things, these bring truth.’ ” she quoted herself as she shifted in the bed, snuggling deeper in the covers, inhaling Anic’s scent and waited until she was ready. “The simple fact is this: I tried to end my life this afternoon. Had it not been for timing, we would not be having this conversation.” She stiffly told him.

“I see. is there anything else I need to know?” Maarten asked, knowing there was.

“It was my only wish to leave this plane. To escape the pain, the loss of Trance Gemini.” She said, sighing, trying to explain herself to him.

“There are all kinds of pain in this world, on this plane. You decided to remove yourself from it. THAT isn’t the Shadowrychë way.” Maarten said coldheartedly and sharply with an undertone of controlled anger.

“No it isn’t, it is human. I gave her my soul, willingly, I trusted and in the end….it was enough. In the end, something ELSE, something new was. I LOVED her! HER damn destiny!” Talis nearly yelled out with more than a bit of anger in her voice.

“You failed….yourself, the Shadowrychë and in the end, you broke one of our sacred laws….EVERY life is precious. There will be much retributions for your foolish act. ‘What does not kill me, will make me stronger’ THAT is part of our creed.” Maarten callously pointed out.

“Yes Mentor.” Talis was torn between duty, honour and her anger. How could he just state the obvious, did he not feel? Damned the righteousness of it all, she felt cheated of a fit…an angry, crying and yelling CLEANSING fit. She knew she wouldn’t get one. It wasn’t about feeling better, it was about being accountable and responsible for one’s own actions.

“Forbidden Talis Circe. See that you arrive on Aralias within the week. Your own life-destiny will be put on hold until proper discipline, retribution and recourse has been dealt with. Nothing short of five years.” Maarten told her impersonally. Talis gasped, she had no idea of the penalty, she hung her head in shame.

“Yes Maarten.” She said, head still hung down.

“No, you will address me as Life-Mentor, you no longer exist as a person or as a Shadowrychë. Inform those that you will be taking a sabbatical at the end of the week, or you will be banished from this system.” he unsympathetically stated, Maarten turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

Anic watched the elder Shadowrychë with a look on his face that went thru the very fabric of his soul. He went to check on Circe.

“Honey? Are you okay? What happened?” he asked, as he was greeted with a very stunned woman.

“I will be on a long sabbatical, Anic. I need to get to Aralias by the end of the week.” She told him, before turning what Anic thought were dead eyes upon him.

“Will you help me? I need to contact the military and most importantly…my family. The repercussions are extremely high, Anic.” Talis asked and told him.

“You know I would help.” Anic agreed calmly.

“Touch me, make love to me before this next odyssey begins.” she said, begging him.

“Circe….honey…” he sighed and ran his fingers thru his hair, at a loss at what to say, “The timing isn’t right.”

“The time will not be right for me, not for the next five years. Give me a pleasant memory in all this….deadness.” She asked, looking at him sadly.

“Circe, you are not thinking correctly. Surely--”

She cut him off, “Maarten said five years. That is exactly what it will be. He doesn’t mince words, five years or banishment from this system, this plane. They can do that.” She said, sighing.

“You sure they can?” Anic said as he winced and looked stunned.

“Positive. Please Anic, something sweet in all of this, for all I know, her destiny includes marriage, a family, a life without me.” her haunted eyes unnerved him.

Anic tried to carefully to make love to Circe given the unusual circumstances, she wouldn’t let him, she knew if she did, in his sweet caring loving way…she wouldn’t be able to go Aralias. She would beg him to leave with her and be banished from their world. By her own choice, she would travel the universe, looking for Trance, half-alive and wrongly dragging Anic on the odyssey of madness that she could see behind her closed eyelids with the colored stars that Anic stirred from deep inside of her. She knew that he would stand by her side if she suggested the idea, condemning them and himself to a half-life, only to be discarded when Talis found Trance.

When Anic finally entered Circe, she urged him deeper inside of her, as if she was trying to imprint his body on hers. He watched her tip over that wonderful peak of her own orgasm, crying out his name that would forever be burned into his mind, not to mention, leave him half deaf. The sweat rolled off their bodies, cooling them as the day escaped the lovers. Later on in the night as he held her; his own heart burden with his own grief, knowing it was for the last time and possibly on what she was crying for....for the past and for the present….maybe for the forgotten future.

In the end, Circe wouldn’t allow Anic to accompany her to Aralias, knowing if he did; she would break, for he was her lifeline. He did manage to be with her when she told her family, friends and informed the military of her present circumstances. Without a backwards glance….she went off to Aralias.

Arriving, Talis was shown a desolate quarters. She would spend time in solitary confinement, until the heartbreak and illness, for that was exactly what was happening to her. She had literally gave her soul and removal, return and reattachment had made her very ill.
*********
The Andromeda crew reconvened and regrouped from various bedrooms on Aralias to the dinning area. Sheepishly, Harper turned towards a serene Beka, “From that smile, I take it, your ‘visit’ is going well.”

Beka chuckled, “Are you leaving them happy Harper? Or do I have to start looking for Shadowrychë out to maim you?” She teasingly replied.

“You know I left them ‘Oh-So-Wonderfully-and-Satisfied-and-Wanting-More-of: Seamus Zelazny Harper’.” he said with a devilish smile.

A very worried Trance came thru the doors, as Harper grabbed a smuggled Sparky, popping open its top and drinking deeply.

“I can’t find Talis, and no one here will tell me anything. It isn’t right, I HAVE to know.” she frustratedly told the crew.

“Look, it might not be my place to say this, but Trance, it does look like to me, that things are over between you two. So why not leave things alone? Why do you need to find out answers? Don’t ask the questions if you are not truly prepared for them. They are probably painful, so why put yourself thru that?” Beka asked.

“Your right Beka, it isn’t your place to say; even though you’ve had quite a few failed relationships.” she rudely pointed out, causing Beka to blush at her failures.

“Trance, there was no need to do that, she’s only trying to help.” Harper said, defending Beka.

“I don’t need help, I need answers…right now. They HAVE to tell me.” Trance said, angrily.

“What are they going to tell you Trance?” Beka asked, forcing herself thru her embarrassment.

“The reasons!” Trance demanded.

“The reasons are this: they don’t know, immaturity, they lie, hide, have some one else and a thousand and one other reasons that will not bring you any comfort or even closure. The only thing to do is chalk it up, learn the lesson, take the good from it and the bad and know what you want out of it for that next person and in the end…..LET. IT. GO.” Beka said firmly.

“Like you would know?” Trance scoffed.

“Yes I would. And I have learned plenty. I thought you had also. You and Rommie are in a relationship….are you not? Have you forgotten that fact?” Beka asked her.

It was now Trance’s turn to blush, “Yes we are. This doesn’t have a perfect, possible outcome. How can I or either one of us move forward without answers?” She asked.

“It would be best that you ask Talis for those answers.” A thoughtful Dylan replied, as he quietly watched, “There is a chance that you won’t get the answers you want. I do hope that in the end, your relationship with Rommie will not end badly. I would not like to see my best women hurt.” he said, smiling.

She sighed, “It isn’t going to be pretty is it?” she asked out loud.

“No.” they all told her.

“IF you have the courage, you two might come to an understanding. Keep in mind, they normally don’t.” Dylan stated.


*****
A private encoded message reached Talis at her quarters. She was hesitant to open it, already knowing whom it was from and a good guess on what it was about. She sighed and rolled her shoulders as she turned to Genesis for counsel.

“My past is demanding an answer from me. Ones that I would rather not get into.” she said, looking at her with serious and tired eyes.

“I know you would rather not. I am not the only one who remembers the care-free and very happy wünderkind Talis Circe. It has already shaped you, your outlook in life and to a certain degree….our lives.” Genesis said, slight smile on her face.


“Gen-” she was interrupted.

“No, let me finish. I didn’t enter this relationship with my eyes closed…not to you or the world around me. I KNEW I was supposed to be first Consort not first Companion, as I am now. I don’t regret that Circe, you’ve made great strides within this family. You’ve found happiness, enjoyment and comfort…you know you’ll always be safe with me, loved and cherished. Those that are planning to enlarge our family with, will do the same. You can see it plainly on their faces. That darkness and pain will be forever in you. I don’t know if you will ever find any release, but you could bring a cleansing to you both, by going to her and explaining. I love you Circe…you are my life, I want for you to find some smallest of peace, in your self, for yourself, in this life. Don’t let this over-shadow the rest of your life, love.” Genesis said, via vidscreen.

“There are no guaranties that the peace you seek for me will happen.” Talis told her.

“And you will not know unless you try.” Genesis replied, certain of her words.

“Esis.” she sighed long, “There is a darkness, one that is very great, that I’ve learned to bury deep down inside of me, only to slightly release it when in battle for fear that I would actually kill some one.”

Talis pressed her hand against her stomach to quell her nerves and continue on with her fears, “I’m afraid that in the heat of it all, I would want to kill her! If she was humanoid……I’d probably could. How can I go to Trance, stand there and answer all the questions that she will ask me?” Talis dropped her head into her hands, her body visually shaking, “There is so much anger and hurt inside of me. Either I will want to scream and rip her limb from limb or cry. I’m not proud of either.”

“I know, I know. Whatever happens, we will face it together. You are a strong woman Circe Talis….mate of my heart and life.” Genesis said, before ending the transmission.

Talis sat in her chair, meditating, She gave thanks for her Shadowrychë training as time marched on, as she recalled her training, she wanted to be in control of herself.

The persistent ringing broke threw her meditation, “Alright….ALRIGHT! this better be something.” She got up out of her chair to press the door’s mechanism. “Xhalax?! What are you doing here?” her mind fumbling with this newest turn of events.

“No, not this time, it is my time to ask questions. Starting with why you have been avoiding me on this planet!” Xhalax demanded, “Don’t even go there.” she stated, as she saw Talis start to form her sentence, already guessing at any excuse that she would come up with.

“Yes, you have and I want an explanation from you.” Xhalax pointed out her original statement, knowing Talis’ tactic of not answering, Talis looked upon Xhalax’s angry face and beyond to the digital readout of the time.

“I don’t have the time to go into this Xhalax, if you would please excuse-” She started to say.

“NO, you will make the time, Circe.” she put her hand on Talis’ chest to stop her from leaving. “I have yet to give you any demands, I’ve been more than happy to let things roll. But now, I’m mad and now I demand answers. You have been avoiding me here these past few days we’ve spent on this planet…your sacred world.” she nearly yelled and pushed at Circe.

“I haven’t been avoiding you.” Talis protested to the unrelenting and uncompromising Xhalax. “Fine, you want truth.” Talis relented.

“Yes, I’ve noticed your behaviour towards the Andromeda crew. It isn’t your normal relax-diplomat-before-militia attitude. What. Is. Going. On.” the last said in a persistent and precise tone that startled Talis, she hadn’t ever heard that tone aimed in her direction.

“Trance Gemini and I had a relationship in the past. It ended, badly. I have a meeting to go to.” She said abruptly, about to leave.

“She’s the reason you changed all those years ago. The odd looks and whispers on this world and ours.” Xhalax grabbed Circe’s arm as she pointed out, confirming something they both already knew.

“Yes.” Talis simply said.

“What is it that you hope to achieve?” Xhalax asked her.

“Closure.” She said firmly.

“Didn’t that happen at the end?” Xhalax questioned.

“No, she said goodbye and left.” Talis sighed at that, as she began to pace.

“That in itself is closure.” Xhalax stated as she watched the usual methods of the Shadowrychë.

“Not to me.” Talis replied.

“I don’t understand, you have Genesis, the children and me. WHY do you need to do this? We are more than enough for you. I thought we are your world.” Xhalax said, staring at her.

“You are, you know you are. You know how I feel about you, Genesis and the children. I love you.”

“Yes you do. But you love her more, you are in love with her now, you will always love her more. Gods….Universe help me…we all have been second in your life. Second behind one Trance Gemini….” Xhalax said coldly.

“No, no…” Talis began to protest, but she stopped, “Wait, is that how you see me?”

“Yes.” Xhalax answered.

Talis looked surprised that Xhalax noticed. The Shadowrychë continued to paced while rolling her shoulders a few times. “You are right, you see something in me that I’ve rarely admitted to myself and damn well not out-loud.” she stated.

“It hurts to know that we are not enough and she still has this hold on you. You love us differently than Trance.” Xhalax remarked.

“Xhalax.” Helplessness was in Talis’ voice.

“She’s changed you so much, that you are more Shadowrychë than Ou’kaourian. Your name is spoken that way, ‘Even you can be Talis Circe’d’. I’ve heard it, here, whispered among the militia. What did Genesis say?” She asked.

“She wishes I would find the smallest amount of peace for my self.” Talis stated, looking at the time again.

“Well, it sounds to me that Genesis knows exactly how I feel.” Xhalax said simply.

“What? She didn’t say that.” Talis said, puzzled.

“No, she didn’t exactly, maybe she has accepted the fact that you will always love Trance. I haven’t, I’m amazed that Genesis hasn’t thrown a fit.” Xhalax said, sighing.

“What do you want from me?” Talis asked her straight forward.

“Don’t go. Choose.” Xhalax replied with the obvious.

“I can’t just not go. I need to see this to the end.” Talis stated, ready to leave.

“Choose.” Xhalax repeated as Talis walked to the door.

“I already did. I love you.” Talis said, as she exited the room.


********
“Why did we meet here instead of somewhere more….” Trance trailed off.

“I couldn’t do this any place personal. Too many memories. Here, we will have no interruptions. Ask….ask all that you want. I will do my best to answer them all.” Talis said in the empty conference room, steadying her nerves.

“What happened to you? Your so different…Talis, you are so…hostile towards me.”

Talis sighed, she knew this was one of the questions that would be asked and quite not ready for it or the answer.

“You broke my heart Trance. Physically, spiritually and mentally. Do you have ANY idea what I went thru? I had given you my soul, in my own innocent way, I gave you the utmost thing to my very existence--my soul. I had never done that. When you left…it felt like my soul and my heart was ripped away from you, and reattached to me. I was physically sick with heart break. We were so connected that, you were a part of me-avatar be damned! I went to search for you...dreamed-walked for a few weeks until I realized, it was useless and permanent, you weren’t coming bach, all in the damn name of destiny!” She said, throwing her arms in the air and yelling, kicking over a chair and destroying it with her feet.

“You want to know why I am so hostile, cold and distant towards you?” She continued on, knocking over another, “I don’t know any other way. I’m hurt and angry. You are here in front of me, turning to me when I had my life down…without you. You never entered my mind or life. You’re here and all I want to do is cry, scream and release this anger towards you.” Talis said, with a long sigh.

“Why don’t-” Trance started, amazed at the physical outbursts and destruction of the furniture.

“If I did that on any normal human, I would physically beat them to death and relish in their blood and brain matter. You are not human and in the end, it would not do a thing……I’d end up hurt. I’ve never known a pain like this nor an anger either. Hostile and anger. Do you want to know what has become of me? I spent five years on this damned planet. Two years in solitary confinement. Until the physical and mental part of the heartbreak was over. THEN I spent the remainder physically pushing my body into some sort of ultimate training, an ultimate warrior as it were. While the Shadowrychë retrained my mind bach. I grew harder, colder, distance-I will NEVER trust you again ever. Even after all the training, my life was still not my own. S.O.O.T.R STILL had the right to end it--banish me from my history line and this world, this plane. I NEARLY KILLED MYSELF OVER YOU! Committed suicide…the ultimate finale, a horrific act as a Shadowrychë, and a human being and your lover.” Talis stated.

“I don’t believe you. You have no marks.” Trance pointed out.

“You can thank Commander Rel for that fact. He kept me from further damage to myself. You can check Shadowrychë records for the time I spent on my ‘sabbatical’.” Talis rapidly breathed as she tried to bring herself under control.

“What is going on with Genesis and Xhalax?” Trance changed the subject, knowing such a personal question would set her off and in hopes of tempering Talis’ anger and pain.

“I will not tell you anything of my life. You are not in it, you are not the center of my world, my life does not revolve around you.” Talis coldly stated. “I understand the responsibility of one’s destiny…now, not bach then when I was young, inexperienced, innocent and completely in love with you.”

They stared at each other for a long while.

“Are you happy love?” Trance smiled at her, she tried again.

“Extremely happy actually. It's all been worth every millisecond of stress that there has been.” She shot off without thinking.

“That was rude, uncalled for and hurtful.” Trance said, shocked.

“Yes it was. I want you to disappear again, out of my life, so I can put it behind me. I’ve learned all that I can…deep seeded anger, hurt, not to trust, coldness and isolation. I want to get bach to my life without you.” Talis said firmly.

“Even when I do…you’ve left yourself an odd reminder.” Trance noticed and dared to point out a sliver of hope from the past.

“Yes I do, in a weak moment, I asked Genesis to name our last daughter after you. They are both wonderful and I wouldn’t change it. You would be proud of your honour-sake.” Talis told her, her anger dissipating at the change of subject.

“Are you not condemning her to a destiny like mine?” Trance wanted to know, curious at this piece of Talis’ life.

“No, my children have their own destiny. There are those who will make human-kind sit up and be grabbed by its throat in new ways and bring it full circle.” Talis stated firmly.

Trance looked at her, “A perfect possible future? You are being cryptic."

“It is my choice to be cryptic, you are not the only one here with the gift of foresight.” She quietly stated, looking Trance in the eyes.

Trance’s voice softened, “You haven’t been forgotten, and I love you.” she confessed.

“That is nice to know, too little too late. I don’t want to hear those words from you again.” Talis coldly stated before she took a few deep breaths in and slowly released them, “You were loved like no other, cherished, protected with all that I am. Did you love me? Were you happy with me?” the Shadowrychë asked, looking at Trance.

“Yes, I was, very much so.” she replied without hesitation.

“Why wasn’t I enough? Why wasn’t I enough for you to break your destiny to allow me to break mine?” Talis asked, this question always haunted her.

“The whole existence of life is and was at stake and for that, I couldn’t. The Andromeda crew needed to be in the right place. You understand needs and wants.” Trance explained.

“Yes I do, what’s that saying…‘The universe needs of many, out weigh personal wants and desires.’ My mentor has used it many time with me, until I wanted to choke him.” Talis said, seriously. “Gods…universe! I’ve turned into my mentor!” she shook her head at the thought.

With her hands balled and at her sides, Talis and Trance continued to openly stare at each other, both waiting for the other to speak…wondering what else needed to be said, after along time, Trance decided to speak first.

“There is nothing left to ask. I wish you the best in your life, Circe Talis.” Trance said, satisfied with the answers.

“As I wish you everything good in yours, Trance Gemini.” Talis replied, sincerely.
~~~~~~
Tightlipped, Talis made her way bach to her quarters to share with Genesis. She slid into a chair and cried….for all the yesterdays, today’s and the tomorrows that will never be. Exhausted, Talis closed her eyes, slouched in her chair and dreamed, the filtered images of her family; past, present and future. Her life had finally closed the chapter marked ‘Trance Gemini’. The next would soon begin.