Shel

I looked out the small window in my bedroom. The stars streaked by as we jumped through F.T.L. Owen mumbled something about Vai in his sleep. He rolled over on my bed. If I had been in it, his foot would have kicked me. He didn't want to be alone when we were unsure of what happened with Vai so I let him sleep in my room.

Vai. From the way my mother reacted, I was pretty sure Vai was dead or very seriously injured. The way Warpaint and Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa refused to let Commander Ragear tend to Vai made me think more that Vai was dead than injured. All of our training couldn't protect us in that moment. We needed more of us to ever stand a chance against the Corruption. He even had his shield up and they tore through it like it was nothing. Lieutenant Tanpo's shield held them at bay, but the Awakened One indicated her shield was special. The rest of ours would be like Vai's.

Vai. I swallowed away the hard lump in my throat. I still hoped that he was alive somehow. That hope was the only thing keeping me from despair at the loss of a friend. A friend who was becoming family.

The bedroom door opened. I didn't need the light on to recognize my mother's form. She waved me to follow her. I followed her through the living room and out into the corridor. We didn't go to the elevators. Instead we meandered through the corridors. She finally stopped in a quiet corner.

"Vai will be fine in a few days," she said.

Relief washed through me. I managed to keep my expression stoic - as was my mother - but my legs suddenly felt weak with the release of the tension I had been holding onto.

"How? I thought he was dead or severely injured. Did Commander Ragear tend to him?" The lights in the corridor were dim as most everyone was supposed to be asleep.

"Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa is more than capable of taking care of his son."

That seemed a little odd, but I let it pass. "Does the Lieutenant Commander know about everything? The light and the Corruption and Esther?"

"Yes."

"Then he probably won't let Vai out again." I almost added especially since my mother couldn't protect Vai from the Corruption. I stopped myself before I said it though. My mom was tough in a lot of ways, but I knew she held herself responsible for what happened to Vai. It hurt her even though she wouldn't show it. It wasn't her fault. It was something none of us - even the Awakened One - could have expected.

"He said Vai could see his friends. I imagine he will still spar with us if he can, but he won't have anything more to do with the Corruption."

I nodded. Our friendship wasn't based on the Corruption. I couldn't imagine Vai would like being left out though. We'd have to come up with something to include him. Maybe we could all watch some of the Starwatcher shows Minmin raved about. I didn't look forward to it. The show she liked best was Waters Reaching. She thought it was terrifying, but water wasn't scary for Bundu-Jos. I had a hunch the real reason she liked it was because of the actor Bars. She had shown me vids of him. She had a strange smile and far away look in her eyes whenever she spoke of him. Apparently she was an official member of his fan club. I didn't get it. He just looked like a Starwatcher with cinnamon fur to me. I couldn't figure out what was special about him. But maybe Vai would like the show and it would be something we could still all do together instead of fighting the Corruption.

"Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa did offer his services against the Corruption instead," my mom said.

The Lieutenant Commander was a mysterious man with a lot of secrets and a lot of knowledge. I knew he had worked with my mom before against the Corruption. I was glad to have his help, but preferred Vai's.

"Should we open the light in him?" I asked.

My mother hesitated which was something I hadn't expected. I couldn't fathom why anyone wouldn't want the light knowing it kept out the Corruption.

"I'll offer," she finally said. "But Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa is a man of science and I don't think the light will be easily explained by our science. It is so different for each of us. How can I explain that I can cut with my light, Minmin's is electricity, Owen's is fire. None of them seem connected yet they all must be through the light."

"And who knows what Vai's light is capable of," I said. "Well, the Awakened One seemed to indicate he knew, but was cryptic about it."

"I have a feeling," my mom said, "based on what the Awakened One indicated, that Vai's might be something defensive like Lieutenant Tanpo's."

I nodded. That was something that had crossed my mind.

"Vai might not . . ." My mom stopped and breathed out low. "It's possible he might not have the light. He went through something traumatic and might not be quite the same."

"Why wouldn't he have the light? He was just injured right?"

She didn't answer.

"Mom, you said he would be fine in a few days."

Her hand reached up to rub the back of her blue neck.

"Mom."

"I specialized in fighting and in secrets," she finally said, "but this secret is not mine to share. Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa has and will do anything for his son no matter how unconventional."

A strange knot started to form in my chest. Something about all of this felt off. "Mom. Was Vai dead?"

She swallowed. "He'll be fine in a few days." She walked back to our quarters leaving me to stand in the quiet, dim corridor with that strange knot growing.

I followed her back. The lights were on in the living quarters. Esther and Minmin sat on the gray couch clearly waiting for us.

"No secrets," Minmin said. "Tell us what's happening."

"I'll go get Owen," I said.

"I'll call Lieutenant Tanpo so I only have to explain once," my mom said.

My bedroom door slid open. It was dark inside. Owen's small form turned away from me on the bed. I couldn't tell if he was still asleep. I walked over and sat on the bed.

"Owen." I shook his shoulder.

He turned to me. Even in the dark I could see the moisture in his eyes and on his cheeks.

"He's dead, isn't he?" he whispered.

"My mom said he will be fine in a few days."

Relief washed over Owen's face and a grand smile touched his lips. He wiped away the tears on his cheeks. "I knew it," he said with his usual bravado. "Vai wouldn't go out that easily. Warpaint wouldn't let that happen."

I smiled and ignored the tightness in my chest. "Of course. Get up. My mom will speak to everyone."

Owen nodded still with that large smile. He bounced off the bed and walked happily into the living quarters.

I let out a sigh. My legs felt like lead - my feet like stones - as I followed him.

Lieutenant Tanpo was projected through my mom's Volo.

"Good, we're all here," my mom said with a comforting smile. Something I rarely saw on her. It made me think even more that something was wrong. The others wouldn't know her well enough to know that.

Owen went and sat next to Esther on the couch. I sat on the arm of the couch next to Minmin. My mom stood in front of us.

"I went and spoke with Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa tonight. Vai will be rejoining us in a few days."

Everyone smiled. Minmin's smile faded slightly as she looked up at me. I didn't know what expression I had on my face, but I changed it to a smile. Minmin's smile faded further. I really couldn't hide anything from her.

"The Lieutenant Commander will let Vai come around to be with his friends, but he can't be involved with the Corruption any more."

"Vai's not going to like that," Owen said.

"No, I suspect not," my mom said. "But we will all comply with Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa. He - in exchange - will help us with the Corruption. He knows a great deal about Aether fields and Aether shields. He should be of great help. Vai will need his rest the next few days so no one is to contact him or try to visit him. Let's all just be grateful that this didn't turn out to be something worse. Lieutenant Tanpo, your shield is our primary defense now. Strengthen it. Learn all you can about it. This was a terrible lesson about how inadequate we all are right now. We need to be stronger. Esther, try to reach the Awakened One. I will do my best to arrange it so that we can meet him again."

Lieutenant Tanpo and Esther nodded.

"I think we can all sleep easier tonight knowing that Vai will be fine. Let's go to bed." She ended the call with Lieutenant Tanpo. She waved us all to our respective rooms. She got out a blanket for herself. She had been sleeping on the couch and letting Minmin and Esther share her room. Esther and Owen stood up and hugged each other.

"He's going to be fine," Owen said. His voice was relaxed.

"Yes," Esther said as she pulled away from the hug. "It's such a relief. I thought I had brought him into this just to have him killed."

"No, no, my friend." Owen walked to my bedroom. Esther walked to hers. "Everything is fine." They both entered their respective rooms.

Minmin took my hand in hers and squeezed slightly. Her eyes did not show the same relief as Owen's and Esther's. I squeezed back, but knew I couldn't lie to her and tell her I thought everything was fine. I almost called her little sister, but remembered the last - and only - time I had done that she had fervently reminded me I was only five days older than her.

"Go to sleep," I said. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, brother," she said.

"Goodnight, sister."

I let go of her hand and went into my room. Owen was already asleep on my bed. He no longer tossed and turned. I crawled into the empty space on the bed and turned away from him.

I didn't sleep.