Page 17 of A Million Stars and Shadows

“I’m so lucky,” he whispered into my ears. “I’m marrying the most beautiful, the most kind, and the most intelligent woman I never could have imagined I could be marrying. I’m beyond blessed, Jana. I love you so much, my Bunny,” he said, squeezing my hands in his.

As the minister, an attractive woman in her forties who could have been my own mother, Maura Sinclair, based on her looks, said the remaining vows and the words, “You may kiss the bride,” the entire ship was filled with applause and cheers from all the passengers, crew, and officers.

The party afterwards was non-stop.

When Thomas and I finally danced our last dance of the night together as a couple, I could barely keep my eyes open. “My feet’s killing me,” I said to him.

“Me, too,” he said.

“I think I danced with every man and some ladies twice or even three times,” I said. “That’s like about a thousand times.”

“More,” Thomas said, staring into my eyes and smiling. “I still can’t believe it, Bunny,” he said. “I’m hitched to you.”

“You’re hitched to me?” I asked. “I’m hitched to you.”

“You asked me to marry you,” he said. “Like I predicted, you would be begging me to make new humans together.”

I playfully slapped his shoulders, “Oh please!”

“So, Dominant One,” Thomas said, “Tonight, I’m all yours to ravage.”

“Oh, please!” I said sarcastically.

“You’ll be saying, ‘Oh, Thomas, please please please,’” Thomas said in a high pitch, trying to imitate a girl.

“Um huh,” I said. Suddenly I was feeling all warm, fuzzy, tired, and wobbly.

A look of concern came over Thomas’ face, “What’s the matter, Jana?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Too much dancing, drinking, working…”

He lifted me into his arms and said, “Time to hit the sack, Bunny.” He looked up and walked to the podium to talk into the microphone, “Thanks everyone for being an important part of me and Jana’s new life together. We’ve been together as a family on the Red Genesis for a while now, and it does feel like we’re all family. Thank you again, and wow, guys, I’m the luckiest man alive!”

He took off with me in his arms as the entire crowd burst out in loud laughter. The men cheered, while the ladies sighed, saying, “Another good one’s taken, girls.”

I smiled, right before I blanked out.

*****

“Jana? Jana?” Thomas’ voice drifted from somewhere in the corner of my mind. His voice came out of the red skies of the barren red desert landscape of my dreams. I was walking in a silver suit with a clear helmet that allowed me to see all around me.

“She should be wakening up now,” I heard an older male voice said. Dr. Herbert.

Dr. Herbert? The ship? Red Genesis?

I opened my eyes.

Dr. Herbert said, “Captain, she’s awake.”

“Thomas?” I called out.

A large warm hand squeezed mine, “I’m here, Bunny,” he said. “Oh, thank God you’re awake! For a moment there, I…” his voice broke.

Dr. Herbert patted me on the shoulder and said, “You were out for weeks, Jana.”

“Weeks?” I croaked. My throat was parched. “I remembered dancing, kissing Thomas, and then nothing…”

“Jana,” Thomas said, “You blacked out on our wedding night, and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong with you. Physically, there was nothing wrong. But you couldn’t wake up. We couldn’t wake you up. I was so worried. I thought you would be in a coma for a long, long time.”

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