"All the stores I've searched keep coming up empty. Does anyone else have eyes on them?" I ask after searching my third store.

           "No. But I found daddy and his men. Apparently, they search a lot faster than we do." Amancia's voice says, coming through the CCD. "I'm going to go see how their search is going."

          "I haven't found them either. But I'm about to go through my third restaurant. Hey! Watch it!" Amlican shouts. "Sorry guys, some idiot nearly ran into me. I don't know, maybe they aren't here. Wait!"

          "What? Did someone run into you, again?" I ask stifling a laugh, as I walk a lap around the store.

          "No! I found them. Or rather I found her!" Amlican shouts excitedly.

           "Where are you?" I ask, as I leave the store.

          "It's a little restaurant called Frengrens. There's a small shop selling various creatures, just outside. Hurry up. I'm going in now, to talk with her." Amlican says.

          "I passed that place not too long ago. I'm on my way." I say, rushing across the common area. In my hurry to get to them, I don't pay attention to where I'm going, and I run full force into a female Talfarian, and knock her to the ground.

         "Excuse you!" she shouts at me.

           "Sorry!" I shout, looking back at her, while running. This is possibly the worst idea I've had because as soon as I turn around, I see the large cage sticking out. I attempt to stop, but it's too late, I crash into it and flip over it. I land, hard, on my back. I seem to have landed on some sort of large plant, with orange flowers.

          "Get off me flowers!" the shop keeper shouts.

            I roll over and jump to my feet. I quickly dust most of the orange pollen off my clothes and run into the restaurant. My eyes dart around the room, looking for mother and Amlican. Come, on! Where are they? I finally spot them, midway of the restaurant. They seem to be having a chat about something or another. I slow my pace, so I don't freak her out, and head for them.

          "You are the princess?" I ask, when I approach.

           Fear fills her eyes when she sees me. "Yes. I am Nova."

          "Good. Come with me. We need to get you out of here before Malum comes back." I say, turning to walk away.

         "It's okay. She's here to help you." I hear Amlican saying.

         I wait for them to catch up, before moving on. "Malum is a bad guy. His intentions are to murder you. I am here to make sure he doesn't."

         "Why do you care? I thought your people hate my people." she asks, quietly.

         "Most of them do. But if Malum's plan succeeds, not only will he murder you, but he will also annihilate my entire race. I can't let that happen. I will get you as close to your planet as I can, and Amlican will see to it that you make it the rest of the way. Just promise me you will not marry Malum, for any reason." I say.

         "I promise." she says.

         "Astra! Over here." Amancia says waving me over. She is standing in a large group of Copaie, right next to her father.

         "I don't think this is a good idea." Nova says, backing up. "Malum and Henric both said to stay away from the Copaie."

          Two of Soltig's men step forward and each grab one of Nova's arms. "Come with us. We will make sure Malum's plan doesn't succeed." Soltig says. They march her through the crowds and onto the elevator, with me following close behind.

          We ride the elevator down to the bottom, back to where Amlican and I started our journey. We walk the long narrow hallway, passing door after door, not stopping until we reach one with the number forty-two above it. Soltig runs his hand across the door, and it opens to reveal a large black ship.

           "Soltig? I mean, sir? Can I ask where we are going?" I say nervously. I remember reading that the Copaie chain of command is all males and that they demand respect, especially from their women. Unlike the Talfarian people, which is a Matriarchy, the Copaie are a patriarchal society. If I want to survive amongst my own people, I better start respecting their traditions.

          "Home. Where we belong." He says before boarding the ship.

           "What about Nova?" I ask and then I add, "sir."

          He turns and looks at me, grunts, and then answers, "She is coming as well. Now, no more questions. Go with Amancia and go to sleep. We will be home in the morning." He waves me off and disappears into a room.

        "Wait. No. Let me go. I am supposed to be meeting Henric and Addy." Nova says, struggling with the guards. But it doesn't do her any good, they don't loosen their grip. All three of them disappear into another room.

         "Come on." Amancia says, pulling me towards another room. "She will be fine. Daddy won't hurt her. He plans on negotiating for a few Talfarian owned planets. That won't work if the princess is dead." She places her hand to a scanner and a door opens. We step into the small room, and I see that it has nothing but an even smaller bathroom and two sets of bunk beds.

         I collapse onto the nearest bed and fall asleep. I wake up to Amancia shaking me. "What?" I ask, sleepily. I crack my eyes open and see Amancia bent over me.

          "We made it. We are home." she says, straightening up.

         "Home?" I ask, fully opening my eyes, and stretching. "You mean, Saltu?" I jump out of bed. Saltu. The home of my people. I can't wait to check it out. I follow Amancia off the ship, through the corridors of the station and outside. The first thing I think is how beautiful this place is. Tall trees, that are bigger around then I am tall, are everywhere. Their leaves form a shady canopy high above our heads. Where are all the buildings? All I see is trees.