Outtake 8

Astra stares at the blank screen of the ended transmission. It has been sixteen years since her first mission aboard the Nova and the hellish experience with Ed'vard; in the following years, she gave birth space side to two truly remarkable children and remained happy with her t'hy'la for the majority of that time, away missions notwithstanding. Life in space has been everything she thought it would be.

"Eden is so secretive about her work," she says aloud, knowing that Khai can hear her from where he is perched with a Pad on the low couch in their quarters. Though Astra has just ended a video transmission with their daughter, Khai remains in contact with Rhydian via messaging, likely talking about the nuances of whatever discovery the Alliance has made recently. Astra likes to tease him and call these interactions "father-son bonding", which Khai dryly denies frequently.

From the couch, Khai merely replies, "Befitting her position."

Astra spins in her chair. "I worry, Khai. Each year that passes without mention of Orion, the boy I told you visited me during my time as Ed'vard's prisoner, I wonder if we have done something wrong."

It has been a plaguing worry, one that began to grow through Ed'vard's trial with the newly-merged Alliance, a joining of the Federation and the Republic, and a worry that has grown since. She often thought about Orion, the maybe-time traveler, and who he could have been speaking about. Logical conclusions had all led her to Eden, but Eden indicated….nothing. Her daughter, brilliant with single-minded intensity just like her brother and father, was unusual even by Astra's standards.

Astra knew deep within her bones that Allene would do something life-altering, something so important that she wouldn't be able to recover from it. Brilliance like Eden's was sure to attract trouble.

And each year that passed without word or mention from or about the mysterious Orion, the more anxious Astra became for her daughter's future.

Khai, though not understanding the complete depths of this concern as he had not experienced what Astra had with Orion, pauses his communication, looking up at Astra with a gentle focus.

"It is illogical to worry for things that have not come to pass."

Astra nods. "Of course," she replies.

But still, she thinks of her daughter, of Eden who is so secluded and secretive, of her beauty and her intelligence, of her strangeness, and of Orion and his words still echoing in her mind after so many years.

And Astra worries.

She worries for them all.