My Angel of the Dawn (WomanxBoy, ManxBoy, Sci-Fi + Romance)

***Epilogue***

"All clear, sir," one of the bodyguards said after having checked the premises.

Jart Nergan strolled into Star Trek, the best restaurant on Cendar, decorated with real Tryadian stardust. The other bodyguard followed him, keeping his hand on his blaster. No one had yet attempted to assassinate Nergan, but that was the reason for being more careful, not less. The number of Nergan's enemies tended to grow quicker than his bank account.

He had rented a private salon in the restaurant for this meeting. The private salons were not only soundproofed, but also shielded against any wiretap technology. The Star Trek was also known for its exquisite cuisine, so they could eat while talking business.

"Your guests are waiting, sir." The manager smiled and bowed.

'Guests,' huh. That meant Ariel was there too. Yeah, Nelsa wrote that he was still flying with her. Seemed they were doing well, because she also wrote that she had replaced all the Aurora engines and had had her entire external armor redone. "My baby is now like brand-new!"

Nergan realized he was nervous, and smiled at himself. The main reason for that was Ariel. Maybe Nelsa had been right, he would have lost his youthful charm by now, his stunning, almost otherworldly beauty...

No, he hadn't.

Nergan couldn't help but sigh heavily at the sight of Ariel who stood up smiling. He was still beautiful, and his eyes were still sparkling with joy. His blond hair was still long, tied up back in a ponytail. Though he seemed to get wider across the shoulders and a bit taller. The damn boy had grown up into a fine man.

Nergan noticed an old-fashioned gold wedding band on Ariel's finger. Evidently got married as well, the handsome devil... Nergan's heart still hurt a little, but he managed to suppress the feeling. It was all over, water under the bridge. He was with Vic now, and they would marry once he had found time for the honeymoon between the damn business deals.

Nergan forced his eyes away from Ariel and glanced past him, at the young woman who was sitting by the table.

"My apologies, madam. I hope Ariel will introduce us. Ari, don't tell me this beautiful girl is your wife! And where the hell is your captain? Does she want us to start without her?"

Ariel chuckled and turned to the girl. "Pay up, Nell. Ten creds."

She stood up and said a surprisingly familiar voice, "Jart, you bastard, I've lost a bet because of you!"

"Nelsa?"

"Why are you just standing there like some stranger? Jart! Come here!" She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. She was smiling. "Imagine that, I've made a bet with that swindler that you will recognize me before I've opened my mouth. Jart, how could you not, after all those years!"

"Nelsa, but how... Oh hell, am I stupid, or what! Plastic surgery, of course! You look fantastic. Cross my heart."

"I should think so, considering the exorbitant prices and three full months in the clinic. You know, it was time to shed my old skin."

"When I saw her for the first time after the treatment, I felt like a pedophile," Ariel added, looking at Nelsa adoringly. Looking at his wife, Nergan corrected himself as he looked at the matching gold band on her finger.

"Nonsense, I look exactly my age. Maybe a tiny bit younger."

"So had you begun your smuggling career at the tender age of ten?" Nergan affected surprise, always a gentleman.

He stepped back and looked her over. It still felt like a shock to see her like that. That was how she would have looked without that accident or whatever it was that left those scars. She always had a nice body, one could see it even under her pilot uniform buttoned all the way up. Now she was dressed in a silk pantsuit with a low-necked blouse presenting a nice view of her breasts. Her hair was now chestnut, not gray, and reached her shoulders — no usual crew cut. She was a beauty! High cheekbones, small nose, defiant chin, lush mouth — all what had been hidden underneath the ugly scars and burn marks.

Ariel must have always seen her this way.

Nergan wasn't surprised when Ariel put his arm around Nelsa's waist, and Nelsa didn't recoil from his touch, didn't even flinch. Those two had been meant for each other. Deep down, Nergan had always known it.

They get down to business, and Nergan was able to tear his eyes away from Nelsa and Ariel and think straight at last. He came to offer them a job, to teach pilots for him. Nergan was struggling to establish a regular planet-to-planet route with Hyppolita. He had money and ships, but experienced pilots able to navigate through the Easter star cluster were in short supply. Nelsa and Ariel glanced at each other, as if reading each other's minds, and Nelsa said, "We have another proposition for you."

Nergan had always respected Nelsa's business grip. She hadn't lost it in the past years (he wondered, just how much — one and a half, two?). They argued for a while and then went over every detail of the plan, but in the end Nergan had to agree to almost everything. It made total sense.

So the very same day Jart Nergan, Nelsa Thorn and Ariel Dominique registered a new shipping company Aeos, jointly owned by the three of them, which had exclusive shipping rights for the planet of Hyppolita. Nergan was supposed to be the bank, Nelsa the brains and Ariel the chief of staff. They went to a bar, to celebrate their partnership.

Nelsa raised her glass, "Your health, Jart, and yours, Ariel! Both of you have made me an honest woman at last, in every sense!"

"I don't recognize you, Captain." Nergan grinned, showing his white teeth. "Where is the word 'rich'?"

"Gee, that goes without saying! Twenty thousand, not a credit less — that will be our net profit from every flight, partners. And it's completely legit, mind. When God sends something your way, it's a sin to refuse it."

Nelsa Thorn sipped her drink and flashed a radiant smile at her companions.