Starfire Redemption

Chapter 12 - Boiling Point

Once Holly and Travis were at the shady tree grove she began to teleport off-world back to Paragosis. A short time later they were warping into Travis's room on Paragosis. To her surprise, Kimberley and Cyrus were gone. Holly could hear voices downstairs. She took Travis's hand and lead him downstairs. They found Kimberley in the kitchen making soup. She was chopping roots and sausage into the bubbling broth. It smelled really good! Kimberley smiled at them as they walked into the kitchen. Holly put her hand around Kimberley's waist softly touching her tummy. "Is a certain 'little' someone hungry," she asked? Kimberley smiled at Holly with joy. Holly smiled at her and then hugged her kissing her on the cheek.

Tony was at the table on his laptop clicking away at the keyboard and moving the wireless mouse he had set on a pad next to it. Holly knew he hated the built-in touchpad mouse on the laptop having mentioned it in the past. Tony spoke up. "Come check this out, you guys! I just found this very interesting video." "Wait up a second!" said Cyrus. "No one has the internet here! How are you browsing earth-side content?"

Tony grinned. "What do you think I have been doing the last day or two? Loafing around? No, I have been working with Caius to create a network interface that works with the AURORA. It forms a bridge connection with one of Earth's satellite network arrays. It's untraceable and just looks like EM noise chatter from the ionosphere. Even if they somehow managed to isolate it the signal is gravity-based and the encoding is based on a Seraphim secure encryption method. They call it something else though. I think he called it avtacha. It uses a naturally occurring modular rotation that is similar to the nuclear binding of the weak force through W and Z bosons. It is based on something they have in their star. It has a unique asymmetrical modular rotation. They have never had anyone crack it before. They even had a team of experts spend weeks trying to do just that. On second thoughts though, I will show you this video later. I think Kimberley has the meal ready. This is family mealtime."

Cyrus returned to the kitchen to help Kimberley bring the soup pot over to the table where the cutting board had been placed with hot pads on it. Kimberley brought the serving spoon and bowls. She set a plate to the side for placing the serving spoon in after dishing out the bowls. Cyrus went back for the bread loaf that had been cut on the counter. It was still steaming hot. Holly's mouth began to water as the fresh bread steam taunted her nose making her stomach growl. Fresh bread was her kryptonite. Kimberley laughed at the little noise from her stomach. "You sure your not eating for two as well?" she whispered teasingly as Holly blushed a deep red at the insinuation. Cyrus whispered back, "She better not be or Travis is going to have an impromptu flying lesson on the front porch." Cyrus smirked quietly adding. "I hear it's a good view out there." Travis just shook his head knowing better than to comment.

Fortunately, he and Holly were spared further embarrassment by dinner being served. Martha and Harvey sat down smiling at them. Sarah came in with Anna May holding her hand. Holly smiled at the little angel as Sarah helped her pull out her chair as she climbed up into it. Everyone ate to their heart's content feeling so much better after having eaten a hot meal. After dinner, they cleared away and the kitchen and cleaned the dining room. Finally, they all sat down on the couches lounging in their food-filled stupor.

Cyrus and Kimberley now entered the room holding hands looking nervous and excited. Holly instantly sat up knowing where this was going! Cyrus cleared his throat. "We have a 'little' announcement to make," he said smiling at Kimberley. He took her hands in his and placed them over her belly. "Kimberley is expecting." Mom burst into tears and so did Martha and Holly who all stood up to hug Kimberley. All of them were now a crying hot mess.

Harvey stood up extending his hand out to Cyrus. Cyrus toon it firmly with a smile. Harvey shook it with his right hand while firmly placing his left hand on Cyrus's shoulder and squeezing it. He looked at Cyrus with a grin. "You wily rascal you," he said with a deep rumble of a laugh. Cyrus nervously laughed rubbing his left hand against the back of his neck. Travis shook his hand saying, "To the man who's treated her better than the rest." Harvey now smiled genuinely at Cyrus. "Son, of all the other men that walked into my house to claim Kimberley none had a backbone. You stand head and shoulders above the rest." He smiled and added with slight emotion. "I'm proud to call you my son." Kimberley was now crying steadily as she hugged her dad and Cyrus.