Dyllys

He was 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. When Victor Davenport turned to regard his son he did so straightening the cuff on his shirt.

“Hector told me you were coming.”

“Thought he might have mentioned that,” Parris intoned.

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

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

“Then why haven’t you pulled the trigger yet?”

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

“How do expect that to miraculously happen?”

“Don’t you know who I am, father?” Parris threw his arms wide with the question and paused for a moment. He heard an explosion down below. His father grabbed his desk in shock as the explosion rattled the office. He pushed away from his desk and looked down at his factory far below from one of the full length windows that was on either side of his office, “I’m Paris, Prince of Troy, come home to destroy my family’s empire.”

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

* * * *

Parris was the last to make it back to the Salvatore. When he reached the cargo bay he smiled when he saw it filled with new refugees. He radioed up to the bridge, “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. You better go see her.” Parris left the com unit without another word and ran for the lift.

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

“Didn’t think you would make it back in time,” Dyllys said and smiled.

“Is there nothing we can do?” Faran asked, He was clutching her hand tenderly. “I don’t want you to die.”

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

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

“I’m sure you can do that just fine on your own. You wouldn’t deny me the chance to have eternal sleep with my Faran now would you? Not after all this time I’ve waited.”

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

“It’s been such a long time since anyone has called me that.” She turned and stared at Parris with a smile on her face. “Thank you Parris, for that, and for waking me up.”

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

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

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

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

* * * *

One last memory for her to recall.

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

Sabine listened to Faran’s breath as he inhaled and exhaled and then she leaned her ear into his chest to hear his heartbeat. “What do you think happens to us when we die?” Sabine mused.

“I gather it’s just an eternal sleep.”

“Well then what about what remains of us here?”

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

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

When their 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 already one.” She grinned and then kissed him one last time.

“Here I come, Faran, to complete our star,” she whispered and then the light died out of Dyllys’s eyes turning them to a dull grey and slowly her body fell to silver dust in Faran’s arms.

* * * *

It was Esper that was the one to set Dyllys free. When they reached the Pillars of Creation she took the jar that held all that remained of Dyllys and she went through the airlock. Parris and Faran watched from the bridge as Esper released the silver dust into the clouds of the newly forming star. They glinted as they caught the light and Sabine was finally joined once again with her Faran. Esper watched as the silver dust drifted slowly away from her and then she closed her eyes to it.

“Wake up.” Esper was unsure whether she had thought the words or if someone else has spoken them, regardless she opened her eyes.

* * * *

“So what do you want to do now, Faran? Do you want to go back to Tossu?” Parris asked.

The door to the bridge opened and Esper stepped into the room.

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

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

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

End.