Prologue

Aiden and Jadaynia upon the front steps of the Earth Star Defense Headquarters

“Do you think they’ll ever return after this?” Jadaynia’s accented voice spoke softly through the wind, her gaze aloft at the star filled sky. Her hand gently folded together with Aiden’s.

            “They might, but now, Earth will be ready.” Aiden spoke in return. His own voice filled with more conviction that it had been, just four years ago.

            Jadaynia smiled and turned towards the young man, a lieutenant in the Star Defense Corps, her long golden hair flaring out in the wind momentarily as she spun. “You’ve grown up Aiden,” Jadaynia’s smile brightening and a slight blush rising to her cheeks.

            Aiden lowered his head and then grinned.  His eyes coming up to meet the young ladies, who had continued holding his hand, “Thanks Jade, thanks for helping me out over the years.”

            The two gazed into each others eyes for a moment longer before a voice rang out from the top of the steps they were standing on.

            “Stone,” The Captain Major shouted from where she walked down the steps. “You know, you really should look around before you start talking to yourself. People might think you’re crazy.”

            Jade let out a giant laugh as she watched Aiden fumble for a response to his superior.

            “Well, yeah. I guess you’re right.” Aiden finally managed as he inwardly grinned.

            The Captain Major shrugged and continued to walk past the young man, “There’s a meeting of all the senior pilots at 08:00 hours tomorrow. Please be on time!”

            Jadaynia slipped her arm around Aiden’s as they both watched the other woman reach the bottom of the steps and disappear around the concrete wall. “I wonder if anyone suspects that you’re engaged to a ghost.” Jade asked.

            Aiden blushed again, “That’s only until I can get you back to your home world so you can have a new body spawned.”

            Jade giggled. “True, but it’s going to take the Earth Union another 50 years to get that technology online.” She leaned forwards and kissed the young man on the lips softly, “I guess you’ll just be the crazy pilot who talks to himself a lot, till then, huh?”

            Aiden pulled the young woman closer, “That’ll be just fine. I’ve learned some patience you know.”