Upon Vestia: Chapter Twenty-One

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Luka made a face. "gross. Computer, regular clothes please." She looked relieved as the gown disappeared and she was just in her usual cargo pants and vest. "Who should we go annoy then?"

Rigel chuckled then shrugged "Gotta put my knowledge to work sometimes" He said teasingly then looked at the parts again, putting them together "Did you want something when you came in?"

They'd meet Starr in a hall not to far from where the babies were. "Hello Starr," Asher said. "Did you and Web have good luck with the project?"

Starr nodded as she looked to Asher and Kay "Yes, we will need to send some goats and supplies through with the kids, but the place is remarkably well maintained for being abandoned for years. It'll take some elbow grease, but it should serve our purposes well."

Luka nodded. "We were talking about plans and.. well... there was the thought that maybe.. we should have an air force to support the ground troops." She looked suddenly awkward.

---

Kay nodded grimly, it was wierd to think of home. And to think of Starr being there.
[They built those old Inns very very well]

"Good, I'm glad it'll work," Asher said. "It'll be about as remote and safe as any place we can find."

Starr nodded then took a breath "Now to tell the kids that we have to send them away for their safety" She said softly.

~
Rigel listened then looked to her again "I know the SD will be in the battle as will Vestia." That was the whole point in preparing both ships, wasn't it? "You are going to pilot this old girl, aren't you?"

"Yes, I suppose we'd better go talk to them now," Asher agreed. "How do we do this, do we tell them all at the same time together, I suppose, and then talk to Danika separately afterward?" He looked uncertain.

Kay nodded hesitantly, biting on his lower lip and fidgeting awkwardly.

---

Luka nodded. "Of course, she won't fly for anyone else." She forced a laugh and patted the wall affectionately. "But we might need more than just these. We need to try to rally those who aren't fleeing, work together or it'll just be chaos up there."

Starr nodded then shrugged "We have to tell them all together first, though I suspect Danika will not want to leave you once she knows."

~~
Rigel nodded "Yeah, they are supposed to be rounding up their craft, though we could ask the other ships at the port to help if they stay, instead of being sitting ducks on the docks."

"All right," Asher said softly. "Let's do this." Oh, this was going to hurt. He wasn't looking forward to it at all.

Luka nodded. "We need any ship with weapons capability up in the air, bombarding the enemy as they try to land, blockaiding their crafts, trying to limit their invasion as much as possible. If they do manage to land troops, aerial bombardment should slow them down, take out any non regenerating troops they have and buy us time to put the keepers down." She brightened, this was her territory, her expertise, it seemed to invigorate her.

Rigel nodded and smiled at her enthusiasm "Alright, why don't you check and see what and if anything is needed on that front? Sounds like you know that area best." Yeah, he hadn't had official training like she had, just what he had picked up on the go throughout his life.

Starr walked into the playroom, smiling at the kids as they ran over to her, though Danika peeled away first to go to Asher and Kay.

Luka nodded. "Of course captain, as you wish!" She saluted, nodded and ran off to go prepare things.

---

Kay crouched down to pick Danika up, looking guilty and feeling awful. He cuddled her.

"Hey guys," Asher said softly to the babies. He came over to pet Danika a bit while Kay held her.

Danika knew something was going on, so she curled up in Kay's hold, looking to Asher then back to Kay "Something bad happen?"

Starr held her two babies, picking them up then going to sit on the couch with them "We have something we need to tell you all."

~~
Rigel chuckled as Luka hurried off then got back to work on his bio-bombs. Nope, didn't need these going off before they were set.

Kay took Danika over to the couch as well.
Not yet little one. He told her, trying to look reassuring.

Asher went to sit down with the others. He looked to Starr and Kay, uncertain. Maybe Starr should start, she was the mother to all of them, after all.

Starr waited for them all to get settled, realizing they expected her to start this. She took a breath then looked tot he three babies, explaining how some bad people were coming and they had to fight them, but that they had to send the kids to a safe place before they could fight. She ended with the hope that they could come back soon to get them back

Asher nodded at Starr's explanation. "We know this is going to be hard for all of you," he told the hatchlings, "but we need to stop the bad people so they won't hurt anyone else, and we need the three of you to be safe."

The three babies held tight to their parents, chirping sadly at the thought of being separated even though they did understand why.

"When?" Danika asked quietly

"Very soon," Asher told her. "As soon as Starr and Web decide the house is ready. Maybe tomorrow?" He looked to Starr for confirmation.

Starr shrugged a little then nodded "Yes, even if it isn't fully ready, we need to get the kids there as soon as possible, just in case the Family pulls a sneak attack entrance."

Kay looked pained. Your uncle Web will take care of you, you'll be staying in the house we grew up in. He was trying to make it sound less awful than he felt about it all. As soon as we can we'll come and get you again. At least, any who survived would... hopefully.
Eugh.
He closed his eyes and tried to push down the panic and fear. That wasn't good for the kids to pick up on. Brave face, put on a brave face.

Danika curled into Kay, pressing as close as she could get to him as Kerr and Vela did the same for Starr.

Asher didn't really know what to do or say. He watched his poor, sad little family and wondered if they were ever going to be together again after the dragons went through the portal. He managed to keep his expression not too miserable, it was probably a good thing the babies couldn't hear his mind though.

Kay petted Danika's head. He dearly wanted to reassure her it would all be okay, but could he really lie to her?
It's only temporary little one, think of it like a vacation. Yeah, he was going to try okay?
Thing was, once the family was dealt with, their most immediate threat would be gone. True, until Star dragons were free there would always be a threat to these kids, but compared to the Family? Slavers didn't seem that much of a threat.
At least when you shot a slaver they stayed dead.