had originally attacked Katiera and used a type of germ warfare on its people. The Morins left, but the damage they had done was far-reaching. Soon after the Morins departed their solar system, Katiera split into three nations; Katiera, Kiljor, and the Colonial planet. They hadn’t heard anything from the Morins until recently, when they had returned and attacked Kiljor. The attack devastated the Kiljorn people and destroyed a good part of the main city.
“Is there anything I can do?” Rose asked.
Lizzie tapped her chin as she considered Rose’s question. “Would you be willing to come to Kiljor? You could help the other therapists counsel the returning Kiljorns. They’ve been swamped with clients.”
Leave Katiera? She hadn’t thought of doing that. Sure, she knew she needed to put distance between her and ConEL, but this was a big move and she didn’t know how long it would be for. “I need to think about it. I have clients that I would have to reassign to other therapists. Can I have a little time to consider?”
“Yes, of course you should think about it. You’d be leaving the friends you have here. But know that I’ll be there too, and I’m sure you’ll make new friends. I’ll talk to TylOR and find out when we’re leaving. We’ll need an answer soon, though.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know as soon as I make my decision.” Rose wasn’t sure what was making her hesitate. It sounded like the perfect solution to her problem, and a great opportunity.
*****
“So you’re leaving again?” Kat asked.
JadEN could feel her watching him from across the room “Yes. I’m going to Kiljor to help the medics there.”
“Are you going to come back?”
JadEN sighed. “I don’t know. Why do you care?”
“You’re the first friend I made when I traveled here to Katiera. I thought we were still friends.” She walked over to a window and looked out.
“I will always be your friend. I just need some space. It’s hard shifting my feelings and seeing you happy with your family right now …”
“It hurts you? I don’t want to hurt you.” Kat looked at him with such sadness.
“It doesn’t hurt exactly…but it aches. I ache to have what you have. A mate and young, a family that is mine. Once I believed I would have all of that with you, but now you have that with someone else.”
“You can have that, JadEN. You deserve to have that. You don’t have to go to Kiljor to find it. What are you looking for?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, but I haven’t found it here.”
He watched Kat walk to the door and pause before leaving. “Then I hope you find what you need soon. You are a good man and deserve only the best. Goodbye, JadEN.”
“Goodbye, Kat.”
Chapter 4
Two days later JadEN boarded the Kiljorn transport. He headed directly to the medic wing and checked in with the lead medic there, then a lieutenant came by to show him to his sleeping quarters.
As they walked down the corridors, he was surprised to find quite a few Earth females were traveling on board the transport. They had volunteered to come and assist the Kiljorns with whatever they needed. A few of them smiled at him as he passed them by. At least he could seek out one of them if he became too lonely. But none of them really appealed to him.
He wasn’t there to meet females; he was there to help the Kiljorns. He arrived at his quarters and found Commander TylOR waiting for him. He looked up at TylOR’s seven-foot stature. He was the one of the tallest males JadEN had ever met. JadEN was only a little shorter than the average Katieran, but he was still built like a warrior.
“What can I do for you, Commander?” he greeted the other male.
“Elizabeth and I wanted to invite you to our quarters this evening for a small private meal. Unless you have other plans.” He nodded in the direction of a few of the females who passed by smiling at JadEN.
“I was just going to go by the meal room and