In Search Of Elysium

Chapter 13

Getting Ready To Take Control

Kevin and Kathy walked to the back of the apartment and stood on a large wooden deck, overlooking the woods and stream. Many birds sang, and it didn't feel like they were still in the center of the city. Even the air was clean smelling, not like the rest of the city.

"Adem was right; this is a beautiful part of the city," Kevin said. He took Kathy's hand and looked into her beautiful brown eyes. "We have had little time to talk, or be alone. There are many things I would like to tell you, about my feelings."

Kathy put her finger to Kevin's lips and whispered, "Kevin. I love you, but I still need time to figure out my feelings. I want nothing too serious right now. We have a big mission ahead of us and we need to be thinking of that."

"True, but the feelings are there. They have been for so many years and I wish we could talk about them, perhaps act upon some of them," added Kevin.

"In time," Kathy said, holding His hands She kissed his cheek and turned to find Cody watching them. Kathy smiled and walked into the apartment, to talk with him.

As Kevin also stepped back into the apartment, Adem and his son, Darden, were saying goodbyes to their guests. They saw Kevin and shook his hand. The group made plans to meet the next day to work on details for the mission to end evil as it was being called.

That evening, Kevin contacted Elee. She was excited and said she also had ideas on how they could proceed. One suggestion was to enlist another ship to help in the mission.

"With two ships," she said, "we can cover more of the planet. Remember, Kevin, two of Adem's sons are compatible with the ship and I could train them to become pilots. All we would then need is three more teens for a second crew."

Kevin told Kathy and Cody what Elee had suggested. They agreed that they should speak with Adem in the morning and ask permission to enlist his sons and search for other crew members.

"I don't want to tell everyone there are thousands of ships on the moon. We should wait until a stable government has been established. Otherwise, we will have too many people trying to capture those ships," Kevin said. "The ships are too powerful to be in the hands of the wrong people."

Camped out in the living room of Darden's apartment, the teens at first couldn't sleep. They felt like little kids again, sleeping on the floor at home. Soon they grew tired and slept.

***

The Final Plans Are Set

Kevin woke to the smell of fresh coffee.

"Oh my God," he said. "There's coffee on Elysium? Can I have a cup, please?"

"Sure you can, son," Adem answered, "We call this brew Conesta. It has caffeine and is a great drink to start the day. My son gets it from the southern areas of Elysium and roasts and grinds his own beans."

As they enjoyed the coffee, the police knocked at the door. Adem told the teens to stay calm and to avoid talking.

"We hear you have three teenagers here who are not from this area?" said the largest man. Both wore long black hooded uniforms that went to the floor and covered most of their faces. They had the look of monks, but none of the kindness associated with monks on Earth.

Adem replied, "Yes, sir. They are my wife's relatives from the south. Children, come here and show this man your papers."

The teens complied and stood with their eyes looking down at the ground. Adem told them this was the correct way to act when confronted; avoiding eye contact was less confrontational.