Epilogue
“By the power vested in me by Terra United, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride and your groom,” President Mikala Aaron announced. Twinkling confetti lights rained from the ceiling of the Golden Pavilion at the Darius 4 Pleasure Resort as Beth’s groom sealed their vows with a toe-curling kiss promising a wedding night to remember. By the time Carter released her, her knees wobbled.
He grinned, and she smiled back, bursting with happiness.
In the front row, a teary-eyed Georgetta and a more reserved but smiling Reuben nodded with approval. It meant the galaxy to her that they had come to support her. They were the closest thing to family she had.
The confetti lights and hover vidcams tracked them as Carter marched her down the aisle, sweeping her off to the reception site, a biodome terraformed to resemble a lush Xenian garden. A faux lavender sky curved over grounds planted with squat blue-leafed trees and equally colorful bushes and flowers.
Androids stood ready with Cerinian brandy to hand to their guests as they passed under the floating arch.
He bent his head to whisper in her ear. “You look utterly amazing. Beautiful. You’re glowing.”
“Thank you,” she said, and then giggled. “I think you’re blinded by my hair.” A Darius 4 android named Karina had styled an intricate braided design embedded with crystals and tiny lights. Her wedding dress had been sewn by a Farian fashion designer. From a silver belt, white and silver iridescent scarves flowed to twirl around her legs and kiss her ankles. Glittering delicate straps crisscrossed her shoulders, leaving her arms bare.
She hugged his waist. “You look amazing yourself.” His crisp dress uniform of a long tunic with a sharp, stand-up collar emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and chest. A faint trace of shadow darkened his jaw, and every time he glanced her way, there seemed to be a sexual gleam in his eye.
The O’Sheas reached the receiving line first. “Thank you for coming,” Beth said with heartfelt sincerity. It had to be difficult for them to view her wedding and not imagine that this day could have belonged to Liza, so their supportive presence meant a lot.
“Thank you for inviting us.” Reuben shook Carter’s hand.
“It was important to Beth,” he answered politely for her benefit. While she’d forgiven the O’Sheas, he hadn’t.
“You deserve all the happiness in the galaxy.” Georgetta embraced Beth.
Mikala was close behind them.
“I can’t thank you enough for performing the ceremony,” Beth said.
“My pleasure. I’m so happy for you both.” The warmth of her hug reassured Beth that the president held no grudges for having been shot and kidnapped. “He’s a keeper,” she whispered in Beth’s ear.
“I know,” she replied.
“Your father would have been very proud of you,” she told Carter.
He brushed a hand over his eyes. “Thank you for that.”
Dale Homme and Illumina came through the line next. Beth embraced the Faria, gratitude filling her heart. If not for her help, this day would never have happened, and Dale’s inventions had saved Carter’s life on several occasions. “Congratulations, you two,” Dale said, and then they moved out of the way as the Empress of Xenia and March Fellows approached.
“Empress, it’s such an honor to meet you,” she said. Should she curtsy?
“Please, call me Julietta,” she replied.
“You two should come to Xenia,” March said. “The resort has done an amazing job in creating a Xenian biodome, but you should see the real thing.”
“Oh yes! Come as our guests,” Julietta echoed.
“I would love that. If it’s anything like this garden, it’s a beautiful place.” She glanced at Carter. “Maybe our next vacation?” This getaway he’d promised her had turned into their wedding and honeymoon.
“We can arrange it,” he agreed.
Guy Roarke and Solia, Kai Andros and Mariska, Sonny Masters and Amanda Mansfield, Dr. Swain. Nearly all of the cyborgs from Cyber Operations and their spouses were attending the wedding.
A little man with six eyes, each staring in a different direction, came through the receiving line. “I am Wivo,” he said. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
She didn’t know him, but he’d been on Carter’s guest list. She shook his webbed hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Carter stuck his hand out, but instead of shaking it, the reddening Wivo reached into his jacket pocket and produced a wrist comm, a couple of rings, a Cerinian brandy shot glass, and a hair comb and placed them in Carter’s palm then scurried away.
He signaled an android attendant. “See that these items get back to their rightful owners, won’t you?”
“Absolutely, sir.”
She gaped. “You invited a pickpocket to our wedding?”
“Wivo is Arcanian. They’re genetically predisposed to kleptomania. He feels bad for stealing, but he can’t help himself.” He shrugged. “He’s also the director of Internal Affairs for the AOP. In the past, he’s been very helpful to Cyber Operations.”
“Oh.” She would have said more, but Penelope Aaron and Brock Mann approached and hugged her. Brock had apologized for not believing her, and she’d forgiven him. She understood how the supposed facts had undermined her credibility.
He thumped Carter on the back. “It’s about time!”
“Just had to find the right woman.”
“You look gorgeous,” Penelope gushed. “Your wedding is so beautiful. Darius 4 is such a great venue. Which biodome did you choose for your honeymoon?”
The pleasure resort terraformed many settings couples or individuals could use for vacation or sexual games. Beach settings to forests to gardens to moonscapes. “Beth has never been on a boat, so we chose the Ocean Voyage theme,” Carter said.
They would stay on a yacht traveling on an artificial ocean the size of Terra’s Lake Superior.
“I didn’t know they had that,” Brock said.
“It’s new. Privately owned. Just opened,” Carter replied.
“What if you get seasick?” Penelope asked.
“Then we’ll try another biodome,” he said.
“We’re staying on for a few days ourselves for a little second honeymoon,” Penelope added.
“Which theme did you pick?” Beth asked.
Penelope turned a little pink. “The treehouse.”
After the last of the guests filed though, Beth and Carter joined them in the reception area. They ate, drank, and danced until a faux moon rose and realistic stars twinkled overhead.
Beth tossed her bouquet. Karina, the android attendant who’d styled her hair, caught it with a squeal. “I’m next! I’m next!”
Beth was still chuckling when Carter grabbed her hand, and they sprinted away under a shower of more confetti lights. After he palmed an scanner, they entered the dock. It swayed under the motion of the water, and they ran for a gleaming moored vessel.
LADY BETH.
Privately owned? She gaped, realization dawning. She swept her hand out to encompass the realistic-looking ocean, the dock, the huge vessel. “Do you own this? Did you do this? Have this biodome created for me?”
He nodded.
She fanned her face as tears threatened to fall then cupped his cheeks in her palms. “You are the sweetest, most impossible man. I love you so much.”
“I don’t know that I’m sweet, but, I’d give you anything in the galaxy you asked. I love you.” Carter scooped her up in his arms and carried her down the gangway and onto the ship.
The End
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