He began by turning away before removing his shirt. His back was coveredin overlapping scars left by a Laser Whip and long healed. "I wasconscripted a... the age of ten to help build the ships for Nokie Doru'sRaiders," he said. "The work was done on a remote planet where they metwith Skecksies who provided those same Interfaces." Reece's?" asked Tarra."No, Earta Four. But I heard rumors about other places. I jumped ship whenDoru stopped on Delphi Seven to collect more Raiders. That's where I. " Oh, I'll make time for this. Why don't you come inside?"Sadie's invitation was one he had been hoping to receive from the moment hemeet her. He had not expected to receive it in a dress, however. Still,Christian decided he could not pass up the opportunity to spend a fewminutes with the pretty girl.Christian closed his door, followed Sadie into her apartment and lookedaround. The apartment had the same dimensions as his, but the furnishingsand decorations were far more feminine."This. " Feya said with a smile.Aria smiled widely. "Dizyn!? I have wanted to see Dizyn ever since I saw pictures of it in class. Who invited you?"Feya leaned in close to her daughter and whispered in her ear. "We were invited by the Empress."Aria's eyes went wide and she yelped. "THE EMPR..." she got out before her mother gently, but firmly, clamped her hand over her mouth.She smiled at her daughter's surprise. She said in a very quite voice, "Not so loud my dearest."Aria nodded and whispered, "When. But she felt guilty. She worried him too much. She saw how disheveled he looked. She knew how scared he had been until she woke up. I can’t put him through that again, she thought to herself. But the thought of pushing him away brought pain so sharp she felt she couldn’t breathe. She thought of her family on the same note, but it was different. She pushed them away all the time yet in the end they were family – together always. It wasn’t the same with Gabriel. He meant more to her. ‘Caitlyn ….