Chapter 31

Two years later….

The crystals in the watch activated at the snap of Beau’s fingers and spun around in a circle in the enclosed round chamber. The strange alien energy was activated and seemed to have a life of its own.

Blue flames and alien energy lite up and glowed making the device run hot in his hand. He frowned and waited watching the energy continue to move at his command as he focused on keeping them moving and active with his mind. Droplets of sweat came down from his brow as he maintained the focus long enough for him to slowly close the mirror face of the watch and then he waited. The energy held and didn’t go out as the seconds ticketed by into a minute and then another.

Beau smiled as the device he had been working on for two years finally lite up and maintained it’s glow for more then two seconds. He pushed the button on the side of the watch and found himself in his small kitchen.

“Hot damn.” He said pleased with himself. He reached for his phone as the device went cold and checked the timer on his desk.

10 minutes. The device lasted for a ten minute jump. It needed more work but he was making head way. His phone rang from across the room on his work desk.

Beau reached for it and the phone flew into his hand and rang twice. He pushed the receive. “Hot damn. Sexy you won’t believe me but I finally got the damn thing going. Boss lady we about to hit the big time. This changes everything.”

“Beau!” a soft female voice called his name.

Beau froze and stared at nothing. He frowned. “Sissy Bee.” He said.

“It is you. Yeah. It’s me. Your little sister. So. How you been? No better question is where the hell have you been?!” She said.

Beau sighed and gathered the watch in his hand. “Dead and in between working and crawling my way out of a bottle of jack Daniels. How’s the family?” He said.

There was a long pause. Beau grimaced at his bluntness but he couldn’t lie to his little sister. Not then and currently not now. Though he for damn sure wasn’t going to get into the details.

“The family is good. James is getting married to your ex though.” She said.

Shit. Beau had a bad feeling. “Oh. Well it’s no big thing. As long as their happy then-” He said.

“She was with you when New Dawn happened. She got changed along side you. Does she know your alive?” Sissy asked in a demanding voice.

“I died on hell day. That’s the truth. What I came back as you wouldn’t be able to-” He said.

“So she knows your alive then and didn’t tell us? That says enough about her for me.” She said.

“I didn’t say that. She saw me speared clean through by one of the monster’s teeth. She thought I was dead-” Beau said.

“But, you talked to her afterward. You showed yourself to her and she didn’t believe you or pretended you were dead anyway. What happened next?” She said.

Beau sat back in his chair frowning. Something about her tone and the authority or power in it had his alarm up. “Who do you work for?” He said.

“What?” She said.

Beau nodded. “You must work for the normals now on conscription. I just crawled myself back out five years of conscripted service to the government, I got something good going now. I’m not interested in being used or rejected. My parents and siblings don’t need the headache of dealing with a rehash of what happened. It’s been years ago now. You call me again with this bullshit or try to use me to break up James relationship with his girl then you can go to hell with the rest of your normal masters.” Beau said and ended the call.

Beau’s phone rang five times before he decided to pick it up again. “What do you want from me?” He asked.

“I want to talk with you and I need your help. Not with my job. It’s Mom and Daddy. Their not doing good lately. Your birthday came this year and with James’ announcement it got them really down. If you could talk to them or let me tell them alive I know it would do better for them.” She said.

“Again there are a lot questions I can’t and won’t answer.” He said.

“That’s fine. It’s fine. I can ease them into it and tell them that I found you and your doing well. Please.” She said.

Beau sighed. “I’ll think about it from now on if we do talk I ain’t telling you nothing about my job or people and business. You work for them so I’m sure you can dig up whatever information you want about me and my past. How are you doing? You married yet?” He said.

“Me?! Married. Hell no.” She said.

Beau rolled his eyes. “So your not seeing some 6 plus sized big shit house on the side.” He said.

“His name is Barney Hill and he’s only 6’2. He’s good guy. I met him at work but we’re not getting married.” She said.

“How long you two been together?” Beau asked.

“Next year it will be six years. Our first born turns three then.” She said.

Beau sighed. “Your a baby Momma now?” He said.

“Get off my ass about that bullshit. We don’t believe in normal marriage. Besides the fact we aren’t afforded any rights anyway with it. What the fuck is the point to it anyway. Are you seeing anybody?” Sissy said.

“I’m seeing a whole lot of beautiful females and have a turn with a lot of them.” He said.

“Damn. You sound just as arrogant as Audy right now. You never sounded like this.” She said.

“That’s because I was dating your future sister in-law at the time but doesn’t mean I couldn’t pull a female if I wanted one. Now that she’s out of the picture I don’t see a need to hold back on my options.” He said.

“Holy shit. You need to stop it with the alpha player shit. When can I meet you?” Sissy said.

Beau heard a knock at his door and then the lock was released and Jessica came in a short peach dress. “Well hello, beautiful. Your looking…like a nice day off.” He said.

“Oh lord. I’ll call you later. Love you.” Sissy said and hung up.

Jessica frowned at him. “It’s Friday. We’re all going out to eat. Get dressed.” She said.

Beau held up the device. “I got it working.” He said.

Jessica didn’t change her expression. “Get dressed we’re going out. Work can wait a few hours more until tomorrow.” She said.

“Techno what you think about the news about Lightning?” Qade asked him after their dinner and drinks had arrived at the table. He asked.

Beau frowned. “Lightning? Whose that?” He said and then looked around at his five other co-workers and friends shocked faces at his statement.

Qade stared at him. “Lightning Rider. Blue Lightning. He’s getting out of prison on Thursday. I thought you heard about it. My Dad says you knew him back in the old days of blue dawn.”

“Rider. Rider’s getting out. Wow. Damn. It’s been two years already.” He said in quiet shocked voice. He smiled. “My projects have been keeping me busy and I don’t keep up with what’s going on in the news lately.”

Beau had wondered why Jessica had insisted on going out with their friends tonight. Now he knew the reason. He stared at Qade who still couldn’t meet his direct stare. He was always carefully now around him even though he had learned to adjust himself.

That still bothered Beau occasionally seeing that look on his friend’s face it some times mirrored the reaction he got from others in Homeworld. One night, as his old suit had been enough for him. He much prefered being in the lab, having conversations with his friends and chasing women then having to deal with the pain in his thighs and back.

“That’s good to hear. All we can do now is hope they’ll let him go so he can enjoy life with his girl.” Beau said almost to himself and grabbed up his bottle of beer and took a drink.

Qade gave him a look of surprise. “Damn. I didn’t know Lightning had a girl waiting for him outside?” He said.

Damn. Beau was really slipping revealing that bit of information but then he shrugged. What harm could it cause now. Besides the fact E could take care of herself. She had enough money and resources now. “Yeah. They met a while back. Got married before the normals locked up Rider. She’s been waiting for him. Well this is good news.” Beau said with a real smile now and allowed himself to hope for a future for his old friend.