Soshe dreaded stepping foot on the wreck and shuddered as the hatch opened. Tajlon took her hand and guided her through to the interior. Her eyes grew wide as they took in the polished steel railings and mosaic floors.

Widbho was at a loss for something to do after leaving Colberton alone the previous evening. All the activity of recent days and intense programming on the Sora had revived his creativity. He couldn't stand being idle and was overcome with boredom. He had turned his attention to decorating the Sora.

The belly of the ship was full of raw materials and might as well be put to use. He programmed the ship to add murals on the walls and create intricate patterns on the floors. With Soshe, in mind he had reproduced pictures of Novaland, Turodey and landscapes of the surrounding the islands, as well as underwater pictures of reefs and tropical fish.

"This is beautiful," Soshe said, somewhat stunned at the unexpected artwork. "Who painted these?"

Tajlon looked to Jejliard for help. Soshe had met Koutou but had no knowledge of Widhbo.

"We wanted to make it feel more like home," Jejliard said. "The ship has unique programming abilities."

The air vibrated and popped as Widhbo teleported to appear beside them.

"You mean I have unique programming abilities," Widhbo said cocking his head to one side and fluffing his feathers.

Soshe was stunned, yet she recognized the bird's voice and mannerisms. "Koutou?"

Widbho bowed. "At your service."

"You're different and a little bigger than I remember."

"Strange. You look a little smaller."

"So where's the minacaw?"

Widhbo looked sad. "He's gone. You should call me Widhbo now."

"What's really going on here?" Soshe asked. She looked to Tajlon for an answer.

"Come on. I'll show you to your quarters and explain everything," he said taking her hand.

"Everything?"

"I promise. I was afraid you couldn't handle it all at once."

"Oh, really? You have no idea what I can handle, Tajlon Castonea, so in the future let me worry about that."

Jejliard laughed. "Apparently a night in the brig and a few bruises don't scare Soshe."

* * *

Jejliard walked into the ships conference room one level above the crew's quarters. Widhbo was already there with handouts and assignments for the crew.

"Looks like you did all the work for me," Jejliard said.

"Yes. Consider me your helper," Widhbo said. "I hope you find everything to your satisfaction."

Widhbo was obviously catering to his bruised ego. Jejliard wasn't sure how to respond and decided it was best to simply ignore it. He focused instead on the round wooden table he saw in the center of the room.

"That table looks familiar," he said. "You made a duplicate?"

"No, peace offering. I took the liberty of teleporting it back from your old conference room last night. It's your family's heirloom and Colberton shouldn't have it."

"On that point we agree completely. Thank you, Widhbo. This old table means a lot to me."

"I know. And now you can pass it down to Tajlon. Assuming he survives Soshe's tongue lashing."

"Yes. I'm keeping my distance," Jejliard said. "I appreciate your filling in for me yesterday and helping Tajlon evacuate these people from Kalara."

Jejliard turned his head on hearing the crew members and their families approaching the conference room.

"I can't take credit for that. Tajlon went by himself," Wihbo said.

On hearing those words, Jejliad turned back to Widhbo, but he had teleported and was gone. This made no sense. Somebody had gone with Tajlon. If not Widhbo, then who could it have been?

The meeting was about to start. He welcomed everyone aboard the Sora, then handed out job assignments to each person and answered all their questions to the best of his ability. He saved the worst news for last.

"Once we launch this spaceship, I can't promise you will ever be able to return to Beldora. We're at war with at least two factions. The Theopians are threatening to drop nuclear bombs on the Agartoon seaport in the next few days. General Colberton has split from the Council of Nations and now controls the security forces previously assigned to his command. Between Colberton and the Theopians, there may soon be enough of these new weapons to destroy the planet."

"Why can't we work with the Council?" a man asked.

"I thought we were. They have now taken Novaland and our NORC facility for their own purposes. We have been betrayed on all fronts," Jejliard answered. "We assisted our presumed allies in developing weapons to counter the enemy forces and planned to give them full access to our technology. We were only a few more months away from being able to control the air space on all of Beldora. The war would have been over before it started. But they were greedy and wanted Novaland's resources, including this spacecraft, for themselves."

The ships warning system came to life. Emergency lights were flashing, and a loud siren wailed. Widbho's voice came over the intercom system.

"Battleship is armed and aiming their cannons to fire upon us. We are preparing to take evasive action."

"Well that didn't take long" Jejliard said. "Everyone to your stations. We're going to launch."

No longer just a fantasy, Jejliard prayed the spaceship was operational. Their lives depended on it.

***

After ventilating her every grievance, Soshe had fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion. Tajlon was lying next to her on a sofa, cradling her in his arms, when the warning siren went off.

"Damn. What now?"

Soshe stirred and woke up. "What's happening?"

Widhbo's message came through with the answer.

"I don't want to leave Beldora, Tajlon. Please get me off this ship."

"Where could you go? There's no safe place in the Sora Islands."

"Then let's find a way to get on the sub and go to the Lost Mountains with me."

"Soshe, we've talked about this. I don't think our finding the spacecraft was a coincidence. It's my destiny to be on this ship. I can't leave the Sora."

"No. You want to be here. You are choosing to stay on the Sora."

"Likewise, you are refusing to come with us," Tajlon countered.

"It's your destiny, not mine."

Tajlon sighed and buried his face in the hair at the back of her neck, taking in her soft scent.

"It's too late now. We're about to launch, but I can take you to the Solar Wave using a transport later. If you had stayed on the sub as planned you wouldn't be in this predicament," he scolded.

Soshe started to say something and stopped herself. "I'm tired of arguing with you, Tajlon."

He pulled Soshe to her feet and down the passageway to a radial intersection where several corridors met. All such intersections were equipped with supplemental oxygen, emergeny space suits and G-force seats. Tajlon buckled Soshe in securely before strapping himself into a seat beside her.

"You promised me a ride below the Wayless Sea to the Lost Mountains. I expect you to make good on that promise," Soshe said bracing for takeoff.

"I'll do my best. Everything has changed, Soshe."

"Have we changed?"

"I still love you." Tajlon took her hand and squeezed it tight in his.

"Just not enough to stay."

"Wherever this ship takes me, I swear I'll come back to you."

* * *

Hal adjusted the new helm Widhbo had delivered the day before while they were napping apparently. Neither he nor Gengor saw Widhbo come or go.

"I'd rather have a working radio," he said to Gengor. "Why couldn't he bring me a new battery while he was at it?"

"Don't ask me, boss," Gengor replied. "What would we do with a radio?"

"Find the sub for starters. I can't contact anyone through this thing. Except Widhbo, of course."

Gengor rolled on his back and soaked up the morning sun. "He's sufficient."

Hal shook his head. There was no point arguing with Gengor. "Widhbo had brought Gengor back from the dead. Who else could do that?" he thought.

As if on cue, the helm hummed, and a message came through.

"Good news, Hal," Widhbo said. "The Solar Wave is entering the waters of the Sora Islands as we speak. I'm sending your coordinates to them."

"So, they'll find me."

"They will," Widhbo said.

"How's things on the Sora?"

"Much better. We have Soshe and are about to launch."

"Seriously? You're taking off without us?"

"No choice I'm afraid. We'll send an aerial transport for anyone who wants to join us on Sora later. I have a job for you first if you're agreeable."

"What is it?"

"Help me sink Colberton's battleship."

"I'm your man."