in its docking cradle several meters away. Glancing over his shoulder, he called out, "No more time for questions. We have to get to Sigma Vialla before six men freeze to death. Hey, Hunter! I'm driving!"
StarLight turned and faced her husband. She didn't try to mask the anxiety on her face. "Udo?"
He quickly kissed her. "I'll be back. Don't worry. Remember? Destiny promised we're going to have a son sometime in the future," Hunter teased, and gave her a wink.
She looked behind him to where the slender woman stood almost in the rear shadows of the bay. Although the psychic was uncannily accurate with all her predictions, Star continued to have doubts about Destiny's track record. Nothing was ever guaranteed to work one hundred percent of the time. Sooner or later, the woman had to make a mistake. Star hoped the promise of her and Hunter having a son together would eventually come about. Even with her trepidations, that singular promise was enough to give her some consolation.
Star tried to hug him as best as her big tummy allowed. "Yes, I know you'll return, but there's always the chance you could be seriously injured. Or there could another incident, and you be gone again for weeks or months."
"But I'll be back," he whispered. "I'll be back, and we'll love again. In the meantime, Emma, please watch over your mother and little sister until I return."
At their throats, the ebony HeartCrystal trilled in reply. The almost sentient temporal stone connected them in ways that continued to surprise them.
A final kiss, and Hunter trotted toward the transport as the big ship's engines fired up.
Star remained in the bay while the others filed into the main building. She watched the Guardian fleet's biggest ship gradually lift itself off its cradle, rising slowly upward until it cleared the open bay doors. As the transport's engines roared to life, sending the vessel into space, she blew a kiss in its direction.
"He's right, you know," a familiar and loved figure whispered beside her. A petite hand threaded fingers through hers.
Star gave the hand a squeeze. "I hope so, Fire. I hope you're both right."
Her friend gave her arm a little jerk. "Hey, I'm hungry. Want to share a slice of direlli pie with me? My treat."
Star chuckled. "When aren't you hungry? But come to think of it, I'm feeling a bit hungry, too. We may need to order up two whole slices, instead of sharing one."
Morning Fire grinned. "Sounds good to me."
Star allowed the woman to lead her out of the bay, but not before she took one last look at the empty cradle where Three had docked. As the door closed behind her, she pasted a smile on her face and placed the tips of her fingers on the stone embedded in the hollow of her throat.
You'll let me know if something happens to him, won't you, Emma?
The gem chirped an affirmative. And, oddly enough, it gave her comfort.
Chapter Four
Delay
"What in the name of all that's holy is that?"
Sender's question matched Hunter's own non-verbal surprise as they neared the Mandrus Vialla system. Even with the ship's internal lights on, the phenomenon whirling past the small galaxy was bright enough to throw a swirling palette of colors through the front viewscreen. The hues spun across their features like a giant kaleidoscope.
"It's pretty. I'll grant you that. But it doesn't mean it's not dangerous. I don't know what to make of it, but I'm throwing up the shields just in case," Challenger answered, reaching for the main navigation board.
Hunter kept his eyes glued on the object.