34

'This is such a beautiful story!' said a young girl, putting the newspaper down. 'Mom, I'm not scared of these aliens anymore! They're just like us!'

'Yes, my darling,' said her mother lovingly. 'I wonder if more of the Zeljari people will come and visit us? I should like to meet one of them!'

'I wish I could meet one, too,' swooned her other daughter, who was a teenager. 'They sound so sweet!'

Nearby, a tall figure watched them unpleasantly before walking away in a huff, straight to the agency headquarters.

'What's wrong, Smith?' said the general, looking at his grimace and sensing something was very wrong.

'Have a look yourself,' said the colonel, handing him a copy of that day's Daily Truth.

'What on Earth?!!' exclaimed the general, nearly spilling his coffee over as he read it rapidly.

'There go all our plans!' grumbled the colonel. 'The Daily Truth and the Star Report are the top selling newspapers today! Everyone knows that we've been lying! And I've heard at least ten people say they adore these Zelle aliens before I could even get my morning coffee!'

'Zeljari!' snapped the general.

'What?' said the colonel, confused.

'I said they're not Zelle, they're Zeljari!' said the general, reading on.

'Oh, who cares!' said the colonel, glaring at him. 'How are we supposed to attack them now that everyone is on their side?!'

'Hmm...' said the general, folding up the newspaper and scowling at the table. 'Get me a cigar...'

'But you never smoke in the morning!'

The general glowered at him. 'I never have my plans thwarted in the morning, either! Get it!'

'Fine!' snapped the colonel, handing one over. 'Now, General, what do you propose we do?'

'I still can't believe they all had the guts to mess up with us like this...' muttered the general, looking at their names carefully as he memorised them, vowing to himself that he would have them all punished as soon as he got his bigger problems sorted out.

The colonel followed his gaze and thought the same thing.

'Well!' said the general. 'It's done, then! We go ahead with the attack, anyway!'

'But, the people are against it!' said the colonel.

'Oh, the people!' spat the general. 'They'll change with the times; that's what they've always done and that's what they'll do now! Today, they're with the aliens, tomorrow, they'll be with the A-Unit that we'll dispatch tonight!'

'Are you sure, General?' said the colonel uncomfortably, not liking the idea of sending their best men to be killed, or worse — he didn't know how the aliens treated their prisoners; and if Shen-ja had gone back and told his fellows how he had been treated, they would, no doubt, have a special vengeance for humans.

'Of course I'm sure!' said the general. 'If they succeed, well and good! And if anything happens to them, we'll highlight it and present it as alien cruelty, and people will obviously be on our side again!'

'Is it really worth it?' thought the colonel aloud.

'Have you forgotten how to obey orders, Colonel Smith?' barked the general.

'N—no,' said the colonel. 'I'll see to it right away, Sir!'

'Good! Now hurry!'

'Yes, Sir!'

*  *  *

Airi and Kenji walked together in the moonlight, across fragrant, flower-filled meadows, smiling in content as they talked softly. Their evening stroll had gone on late into the night, but neither of them felt like going back.

'I'm so glad that our story changed people's hearts just like we hoped it would!' said Airi.

'Yes!' said Kenji. 'It had a greater effect than I could have imagined!'

'Love is such a great power...' mused Airi.

Kenji looked at her in sudden realisation.

'What is it?' said Airi curiously.

'It just occurred to me why...' started Kenji, but he paused halfway through. 'I... I guess I should confess something to you, Airi — I tried to use the Force on you once..."

'Really?' said Airi in surprise. 'When? And why? What did you want to make me do?'

'Well...' said Kenji, his ears going down as he spoke. 'Before I told you who I really was, I wanted you to go away, remember? It seemed like the only right thing at the time, because you were so distracting, and... I hope you forgive me for going that far at the time!'

Airi smiled at him. 'That's all right! I understand you never meant any harm! But, how come I didn't go away, then?'

'Exactly! This question has been haunting me since then!' said Kenji. 'Why the Force didn't work on you, when it's never failed me! And I think I just figured it out! It's because... perhaps, you were so full of love and sincerity at the time, that you unknowingly overpowered the Force!'

'R—really?' said Airi, trying to make sense of it all.

'Yes!' said Kenji. 'The Force is primarily a form of mind manipulation; but like you just said, love is a great power in itself; and that explains why I couldn't succeed in pushing you away with Force at the time! — even though, later, I was able to share my energy with you to help you read Shen-ja's papers!'

'That's amazing! Though the whole thing is pretty complex,' said Airi.

'Yes,' grinned Kenji.

'I'm glad it didn't work,' said Airi, holding his hand. 'Or I would never have gotten to know the true you!'

'I'm glad, too!' said Kenji, wondering happily at how her hand fit so perfectly in his.

'It looks like we've made it,' said Airi, smiling at him. 'We're here, together, and our worlds will soon be at peace, and Shen-ja is recovering fast, and — what's wrong, Kenji?'

Kenji squinted up at the sky and blinked twice to make sure he was seeing what he thought he was seeing — and sure enough, the light he had spotted was growing brighter by the second!

'What is that?' said Airi in alarm.

'It's a lightening pod,' said Kenji, frowning. 'But why would my father send for me now?'

'It looks really cool...' said Airi, gazing at it as it landed in front of them and sprang open.

'Why don't you ride in it with me?' said Kenji suddenly.

'Huh? What? No way!!' said Airi, rather flustered.

'Why not?' said Kenji with one of his irresistable smiles Airi had come to love. 'I would really like you to come! You'll get to see my planet, too!'

'But your father must want to see you only,' said Airi doubtfully.

'Well, he can meet you, too. I told him all about you, you know!'

Airi went slightly red. 'Well, okay, if you insist, but... how do we get in?'

Kenji grinned. 'I'll show you!'

A few minutes later, they were both strapped in securely, and the pod shut itself and began to travel towards Shianxa.

Airi felt rather cramped, but the excitement she felt at the strange journey was far more than any discomfort. The experience and the destination were both wholly unknown to her, but she wasn't afraid; with Kenji next to her, she felt safe and almost at home.

She shifted slightly, her heart skipping a beat as she accidently brushed against Kenji in the process; his warmth lingered longer on her skin than she had expected, and she felt her face flush — she hoped he wouldn't think she had done that on purpose! Silently, she looked ahead of her as she wondered if this would happen again — and went redder still as she realised that she wished it would happen again!

Kenji realised suddenly how unnaturally close he was to her, and he began to regret bringing her along — he was feeling more awkward than he had ever been in his life before! Every time the pod jolted or took a sudden turn, the two of them would be pressed closely together — almost as though they were hugging again — and he hoped Airi would not think he had arranged it like this on purpose! On top of that, it was so dark, that neither of them could see what they were doing — bother, had he just touched her by accident?! That was definitely her shoulder, he thought in alarm, and he hastily drew his arm back; but to his surprise, Airi leaned against him and held his hand in place!

'Are—are you all right?' said Kenji anxiously.

'Yes,' said Airi peacefully, resting her head on his shoulder and making his heart nearly stop for a few seconds, before he eased into the position and placed his arm comfortably around her as they both drifted into a dream-like state, whether from sleep or from their newfound emotions, they couldn't be sure.

'I can hear your heartbeat,' whispered Airi. 'It's so fast!'

'I can hear yours too — and it's so slow!'

'It's because I feel so comfortable...'

'Well, maybe mine is fast because I feel nervous around you,' said Kenji softly, glad of the darkness that hid how green he knew his face was getting.

'Don't be,' said Airi, and Kenji could hear her smiling that comforting smile one else could pull off. 'And you're the one who invited me here, remember!' she added with a giggle.

'I had no idea I was going to feel this way!' grinned Kenji awkwardly. 'But I think I like this feeling, after all! I'm learning a lot of new things with you...'

'Hmmm...' said Airi, closing her eyes again. 'Me too!'