Dobin jumped at the chance to see the Greylash planet. Lana was suddenly jealous. She watched as her brother grabbed a few items, shoved them in a bag and was ready to go. She walked Grim, Dobin and Shalt to her ship and watched until the door closed.
She decided since the dalki were still out there, she needed to bring that teleporter to Quinn's ship, it was best not to go too far for now. She decided to spend the rest of the day just being a mother at home. Without Shalt and having the girls focusing on studying her notes, it meant she could have time just her and the babies. She called Biff and asked him to make the delivery for her.
Sil and the adult Blades went to Blade Island hoping to find answers. Sil forgot to say goodbye to her. Eno and his team left immediately after that meeting with Sil leaving moments later in their own ship. They had been discussing their next move while Lana and the other leaders were having their meeting. They felt they could only get the answers they needed on that island.
As Lana had time to reflect, her mind traveled back to Ruby. She had run after Lana to ask more questions about who she was, how did she know Minny, and how did she know the things she did. Lana explained how she met Minny, how her ability allowed her to speak with the plants on the planet. She even showed Ruby her necklace but told her she couldn't have it because she had promised Minny she would give it to her.
"So, he's dead, then." Ruby had let out a small sob, knowing in her heart it was true. After all these years, she could now have closure. Lana hugged her close.
"We'll get your daughter back, somehow. And when we do, I will personally give her this necklace. While I have you here, is this your husband's journal?"
She dug a book out of her bag and showed it to her. Ruby took the book with trembling hands and opened the cover. She instantly recognized the writing of her beloved. She read the first few pages and smiled as tears fell from her eyes. She then flipped pages until she found the last entry. She learned about the beast that captured them and stored them until it was hungry enough to eat them. He described the beast as the canflammarie that Lana and her team had killed, the fire-breathing dog-like beast that had a clubbed tail.
Lana read the portion off to the side because Ruby was taller than her so she couldn't read over her shoulder.
"Oh! That's why the place was deserted! We killed that beast, my team and I."
"Then I wish my husband could have waited for you and your team to arrive and escort him on his mission. Have you been to the place he was trying to get to?"
Lana nodded and described to her what the terrain was like there. That she didn't find anything that would cause electromagnetic interference unless the volcanic heat itself could have that effect. Lana didn't know.
"Thank you, Ms. Plantwell for risking your life to find out the fate of my husband. Our family is in your debt."
"Not at all. I want Minny to be safe. As you can see, I have two and one on the way. I wouldn't want them to go running off looking for their father. I was hoping to give you both piece of mind."
Ruby gave the journal back to Lana, "return this to my daughter as well when she is found."
"It will be my honor." Lana turned and continued on her way.
She wished she could go with her brother to take Mr. Greylash home. Quinn had put his foot down so then it was either go to her home to study something, go to the lab or go to her mother's lab.
Thinking about her mother's lab, she remembered the look in Richard Eno's eyes when she whispered so briefly that she had made it to the inside of her mother's lab. He looked so excited, but only in his eyes. She marveled at his ability to hide his emotions so well, but he did have many centuries to master the skill.
It took Dobin and Shalt four days to return. They had to travel in stealth mode both directions and they were able to record a few ships moving. Dobin dropped the data off at the command post on the way to Lana's house so it could be sent off to Sam.
Dobin hugged his sister, "thank you for allowing me to do that. The Greylash home was so magical! Owen sent you a gift. He was going to send a beast item but I informed him we are allergic to such things."
Dobin presented a black velvet box. Lana took it with trembling fingers. She knew Owen well enough to know whatever was in the box would be precious. Inside it, Lana gasped as she saw necklace of precious stones. The chain was covered in diamonds. The pendant was a sparkling butterfly. Lana instantly had tears leaking from her eyes.
She thought of adding her necklace to her bracelet, which had a dimensional pocket, but while her brother was gone, she learned a new trick. She drew a circle in the air that appeared to be a circle of flames. She put the necklace into the circle then withdrew her hand.
"What the hell was that, Lana?" Dobin said in awe.
"I learned a dimensional storage spell. Everything I own is in there now. Now, if I need to go out, I have what I need regardless."
"Am I ever going to catch up to you?"
Lana chuckled, "you have your own talents. You can learn magic if you want to, I'm sure.'
"Teach me that spell, please!"
Lana chuckled. With not wanting to go to the lab while the war was going on, she decided to give it a shot. By the time Dobin mastered the spell, Lana was informed the dalki were attacking the remaining nine planets under the control of humans.
Live footage was shared from Bonnie and Void once again. Lana watched as people she didn't know started fighting the dalki. She saw a few familiar faces but not the one she wanted to see the most. Eventually the fighting died down and she saw her husband looking hurt and defeated approach Sam. They talked and Sil walked away, hanging his head. It was then that Sam announced to the camera, the Cursed Faction lost the Daisy planet. Lana cried having viewed Helen as a friend. Her fate was not shared, though. Her husband and their friends were forced to retreat. She wanted to race to his side and help but knew that would distract him.
She wanted to shoot down mother ships. To do something. She decided to check the shelter below. It wasn't even half full. She looked at the Blade area. Quinn didn't want to use Vorden and Raten yet so they had returned to the ship and decided to hang out with the children. They had yet to inform Lana what happened on Blade Island.
Looking over their area and assessing the situation, Lana made a decision. "You guys are all moving up to the main shelter. We need to put refugees in here."
They were all in shock but at the same time, it would make their care easier. Their teachers would all be closer and they would be closer to Lana. They quickly packed up and Lana moved them all to the homes near her.
After getting them all settled, Lana decided to piss off Sil. She went through her teleporter then went through the one Sam was on. It took forever to find him because the streets were filled with refugees. The other shelter was unable to take them in. Sam helped her find the shelter leader. She needed help finding those who wouldn't mind the living conditions she provided. After some explanations, Talbot knelt at her feet. He had been trying to figure out what to do with all these people. She handed him the solution.
Daisy had 2,000 combatants and 3,000 civilians. While a lot died, half of that number arrived on his planet. After explaining things, Lana had more ideas and ran home to discuss things with her people.
In Lana's travelers center, which was now a glorified meeting place, all the seats were filled and people lined up along the walls. Lana addressed her people.
"I have just returned from one of the remaining Cursed planets. Things are dire out there. I would like to make more room to bring more people here but they are not of our ways at this time and I don't want them to damage our peace. I need volunteers to go live at the other shelter, the one Ruby was at."
Kattie's father stood up, "I think we Bree would be perfect for that. There will also be room to bring others but if the new people are split between the two shelters, I think we could integrate them better."
Dobin also stood up, "There is a lot of vacant space we have yet to expand to below as well. It will take a while and they would have to agree to our ways but, at the very least, we need to get the Cursed non-combatants to safety. Let me lead a team of Earth users, open the space and save as many as we can."
Lana nodded to both. "Make it happen."
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This story has been re-written as an original story called Feisty Fae. I took my experience from this writing to make the story better. The new version is Romance/Fantasy Adventure. I hope you enjoy it.