[Zach]

Maya met us in the council chamber plaza, an open space with tall windows looking out to a peaceful public garden. She had let her shoulder-length dark hair free and exchanged hospital scrubs for a casual outfit like ours, which seemed to be the predominate fashion around here.

Maya smirked. "You two sure know how to shake things up. The whole colony is in an uproar about the terraform AI."

Avia turned her eyes down. "I didn't mean to cause any controversy."

"Phfft! Humbling the Council now and then is a good thing." Maya tipped her head toward the open door. "Come. You must be hungry. We shall break bread together."

Maya led us along a bricked path, passing green spaces and walled gardens of vegetables and bright flowers. None of the trees, though, reached higher than six meters, and many of these were twisted with trailing branches pointing away from the sea.

"Do you have high winds here?" I asked.

"The storm winds are ferocious," Maya answered, then turned to Avia. "Was it true what you said? Could you fix our weather machine?"

"I would try," Avia replied.

"No more could I ask."

Continuing on, we wound through a cluster of public buildings. Except for the council chamber, the buildings were constructed with low, thick sloped roofs, forming a dome shape that resembled ancient mud huts, although larger. I had seen similar construction on other colonized worlds, built by robotic printers using local materials with a special binder. It made for a sturdy and aerodynamic structure, designed to withstand the winds, I thought.

Noisy children frolicked within a fenced, grassy playground outside of a building, presumably a school. Maya held open a swinging door to another building connected to the first by a narrow, enclosed walkway. "Here we are," she said.

Orderly rows of plas-steel tables with sitting benches filled most of the expansive interior. Rows of narrow windows let in ample light. At one end, a serving line offered food buffet-style. Two white aproned attendants scurried about, cleaning tables or bringing more food from a partially enclosed kitchen.

Maya handed us each a plastic tray. "The dining hall serves two meals a day. Anyone is welcome. Food is mostly vegetarian here, although we sometimes get fish or poultry. The botanists have done wonderful things with genetic manipulation of crops, and we always have plenty of food."

Moving down the line, I chose some sort of pasta dish with mixed vegetables and a fruit salad, while Avia took a steaming bowl of vegetable stew and bread sticks. At the line end, Maya took a small round bread loaf from a basket, then disappeared briefly into the kitchen, returning with two red plastic bottles, giving them to Avia. "Fruit punch," Maya explained. "Popular with the kids because of the sugar content, but thought you might need them."

"Thank you," Avia responded as her face brightened.

After we chose a table and sat down, Maya closed her eyes and lifted the bread loaf, tearing it in half. "Creator, thank you for this food. May it nourish our bodies and strengthen our spirits, by your will." Then she handed pieces to each of us.

"Are people religious here?" I asked, widening my eyes.

"Most are," Maya replied, lifting an eyebrow. "We believe in a loving Creator God that expects us to do the same. Does that surprise you?"

"Yes... I mean no. It's just that I've never seen much good come from religion."

"Well," she countered, "a religion that does no good is the wrong kind."

"How many people live here?" I inquired, changing from an uncomfortable subject. Avia listened intently as the discussion continued.

"Almost ten-thousand," Maya answered. "All are descendants of the original colonists. The terraform company, which incidentally, was a subsidiary of Omni-Corp, wrote off the project as unprofitable. But most colonists wanted to stay, so they bought the planet for a song. It hasn't been easy, but we managed to create a bit of paradise on Eden."

After taking a bite, Maya continued, having anticipated some of my questions. "We govern with a representative democracy, which is the Council you met. They chose Sabine as Council Chief, kind of like a prime minister. We try to blend the best parts of socialism, capitalism, and libertarianism."

"How do you do that," I scoffed, putting down my fork, "without getting the bad parts, too?"

"I have my theories. Any form of government will fail with a corrupt populace, and almost any will succeed with a moral populace. It's more about the people than the political system, and I think a positive religion helps. Also, our struggle to survive catalyzed unity. Prosperity unearned is a bane of humanity, breeding entitlement."

A com-viewer beep interrupted her, and she extracted it from a pocket. "I have to take this." After scanning a message, she said, "Something came up at the hospital. Do you mind if I leave you?"

"No problem," I said. "We'll walk-about on our own."

As Maya walked off with a com-viewer at her ear, Avia noted, "I could see myself living here."

I knew one reason for Avia's favorable impression — this world hadn't reviled her as an Aberrant. "It does seem like a hidden paradise." Taking a bite, I mumbled with a full mouth. "For one thing, the food is good." After swallowing, I continued. "But if we don't find a ride, we might be stuck here."

A sly grin appeared on Avia's face, the kind she made when she had things figured out. "We don't have to worry about that. The Freebird will be here in four days."

"How?"

"The colony has a long-range com that they rarely use. I hacked in and sent the commands to your ship AI. Bubba is doing fine, by the way. He sleeps most of the time."

"How long will it take to repair the terraforming AI?" I asked.

"I already had, even before suggesting it to the Council. Quantum core mapping and fault segregation are actually kinda easy. Let them think I work miracles."

"All without Council permission..."

Avia shrugged. "They didn't tell me not to, either."

I shook my head with a grin. "You continue to astound me, Avia."

Arcadia was well designed. Green spaces and walled gardens separated round clusters of modest homes that each surrounded a common area. Within a central district, colorful flags flapped in the wind, marking vendors and cafes.

A free levitated tram bisected the long, narrow city, running from the sea up to the foothills above. But we chose to walk a winding trail that followed a tumbling turquoise stream born of glaciers in tall, craggy mountains above. Flowering bushes, rushes, and willow clumps crowded within the riparian zone. Likely, this reliable source of clean water decided Arcadia's location.

The people we passed were friendly, greeting us as we walked along. A few recognized us from the Council meeting broadcast and engaged us in discussions, particularly Avia, as related to the weather machine, as they called it. She was absolutely delighted that she did not have to hide her abilities.

For power, small dams diverted water through hydroelectric generators, and solar panels dotted many of the rounded buildings. But most of the city's power came from twin fusion generators near fabrication shops on bluffs overlooking the sea.

Turning around, we made our way past rows of greenhouses, each shaped like a long, transparent half-pipe set into the ground. We passed through one. Various fruit trees and hydroponic vegetable gardens surrounded a long pond teaming with darting silvery fish, delighting a mother and two young children who tossed fish food granules into the water.

As we continued, Avia looped her hand around my forearm. Then slowly, tentatively, her hand drifted down my wrist until it rested within my hand. To signal acceptance, I interlaced fingers, and pulled her hand closer so that it brushed my hip. She pressed in, leaning her head against my shoulder, and a pleasant warmth spread through me.

Although she could be mischievous, there was an appealing genuineness to Avia, even a kind of innocence. Underneath it all, despite a turmoiled life, laid a caring heart. And that, as I had come to understand, was beauty in its truest form.

Sirone and Maya invited us to their modest home for dinner and shared more about Arcadia's history. We broke bread together.

At one point, Sirone told Avia, "The Council agreed to let you repair the terraform AI." Not knowing Avia had already completed the task.

While I suppressed a grin, Avia smiled sweetly and said, "I'll get right on it."

Once dinner was over, Maya led us to a nearby vacant studio apartment, apologizing for the hurriedly collected eclectic furnishings. But it was comfortable enough, and we understood, since we had literally dropped in unannounced.

There were two beds, though, avoiding what I thought would be an awkward situation. But soon after I slipped under the blanket, Avia appeared bedside wearing only a long t-shirt as a nightgown that showed off her slim legs.

"Umm, Zach," she stammered, shifting back and forth with big hazel eyes pleaded. "May I, umm... I mean..." Her uneasiness was endearing.

"Of course," I said with a grin.

I lifted the blanket and allowed her to slide into my arms, resting her head on my shoulder. An incomprehensible serene bliss swept through my soul. But it was more than just Avia's closeness, although that was a big part. It was also Arcadia, a paradise on a world that once tried to kill us, and the quest to do something right for humanity, despite the danger.

What had happened to me? The old Zach would have poured on the charm, scheming for hot sex. Perhaps someday with Avia, but not until she was truly ready.

Instead, I quipped, "No offense, but this is much more comfortable than the last time we slept together."

"Yeah," Avia replied with a giggle. "I like this better."

Soon, we drifted off to pleasant slumber.

*****

The next day, we took advantage of unusually good weather for an outing. After taking the public tram high into the foothills, we hiked a short rocky trail, winding around boulders and short, wind-swept trees, to a glacier that supplied water to Arcadia. There on the sunshine warmed moraine, we shared a picnic lunch beside the cold, rushing stream that emerged from beneath the blue ice.

Without thinking, while sitting close beside Avia, I leaned in until only a breath separated our lips, then paused, wordlessly asking permission to continue. Avia responded by closing the distance, pressing soft, full lips against mine, and securing our connection with a hand around my neck. Invisible sparks danced as the kiss lingered on, and the attraction became tangible. Powerful emotions, a combination of passionate intoxication and warm comfort, flooded my heart.

One kiss led to another. And another. Each building on the one previous. In those moments, concerns of present and future faded away.

No words were spoken, and none were needed. Eventually, the sun lowered and chilly winds rushed down from mountain peaks, so hand-in-hand, we returned.

Since hospital duties occupied Maya, Sirone met us for dinner at a small, charming cafe.

"How was your hike?" she had asked.

"Wonderful," we responded in tandem, gazing at each other with warm smiles, to which Sirone raised an eyebrow.

After a delicious meal, we strolled with Sirone back to our apartments, cutting through a greenhouse.

Behind us, an orange furry creature emerged from the foliage. Not having seen it, Avia jerked as it rubbed across her leg, purring and twitching a long tail. Both Avia's and my eyes widened at the large cat, mostly orange with mottled white streaks and a telltale white mark on its forehead.

Avia kneeled down and stroked soft fur, eliciting more satisfied rumbles. "You have a star-cat!"

"This is Josephine, who has the run of the entire colony," Sirone said. "But she usually is not this friendly."

I reached to pet the beast, but a hiss and claw swipe warned me not to touch. Retreating, I said, "Avia has a way with star-cats."

"Her ancestors came over with the original colonists," Sirone explained with a sigh. "But she is the last of her line, and there are no others with which to breed."

Avia looked up into my eyes and that sly smile crossed her face. I returned the expression.

Sirone wrinkled her forehead, glancing first at Avia and then at me. "What?"

"Josephine should hook-up with Bubba."

"Who's Bubba?"