Luke sat on the window ledge and absorbed the pale white sunlight filtering through the glass windowpane. Lezah was working just off to the side, legs crossed slightly; her long form stretched out on the sofa that sat underneath the window. She was working away on a data pad, her long hair cascading about her shoulders.

Luke felt a strange sensation, something he hadn’t felt for some time.

He was content.

There was plenty on his mind – and he was far from happy. But he was neither miserable nor restless.

He was content.

The only thing that threatened to pull him from this contentedness was in fact just how used to this life he was becoming. He was comfortable, safe and in pleasant company. It was frightening just how subtly the fight had been sapped from him.

Was he getting lazy? Was he laying down and accepting his fate? Rolling over to die? Was he simply giving up?

Luke let out a sigh; even such pressing thoughts didn’t seem to be enough to pull him out of his mild-mannered complacency.

“Luke, do me a favor and shoot me, okay?” Lezah said, with sarcasm in her voice.

“Um, sure?” Luke half-laughed and peeled his eyes from the outdoors, glancing down to Lezah. It felt strange looking -down- on a Titan. But she was laying on the couch below the window, so he had that advantage.

“Sorry, just tormenting myself over this debt thing. I keep looking over the same information hoping a new idea will hit me….” Lezah, despite the severity of the situation at hand, didn’t sound too downcast. Sullen acceptance had taken over.

Luke was silent for some time, eventually he spoke up. “Lez, have you thought about sub-dividing the land? You could make a fair bit of profit if you sold all that unused forest land, you know.” Luke half-smiled, looking hopeful. He really wanted to help. Like Aisell, Lezah was a real sweetheart. She was hard working, kind and intelligent, she didn’t deserve the weight on her shoulders.

“Ohh Luke, I have…many times. But this place has been in my family for generations. I just couldn’t bear to see it divided. Besides, forest land is a rarity on Archavia. With the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s so rare to have a rural oasis to escape to. It may not be much, but it’s special…and I don’t want to see it stripped and replaced with plaza or a shopping center….” Lezah slumped low on the couch and set the data pad down on her stomach.

“Hmmm, but if it comes down to that, or losing the farm?” Luke interjected.

“Ehhh…but it would only be a temporary solution.” Lezah sighed.

“Explain?” Luke asked with interest.

“Well, the face of farming has changed significantly. Most food is synthesized and mass produced. There is only a small niche for old style natural produce. To make matters worse, most farming operations are fully mechanized for mass production. It really stopped being a small time family business ages ago.” Lezah’s voice dropped significantly, she sounded wistful and sad. “I’m just holding onto a dream Luke, a fading dream.”

Luke remained silent. He loathed his small size at this moment, if only because it was preventing him from giving Lezah a much needed hug.

She was so in need of one, Luke could see the stress in her eyes, he could hear it in her voice. While most thought her cheerful and happy, she was miserable. She carried the weight of everyone else on her shoulders and asked for so little herself.

A helping hand, harmony around the home and good company, that was really all she seemed to want, and nobody could seem to spare her even that.

“So, how long do you have?” Luke asked, his mood taking a dive with hers.

“About a year…maybe more. It depends on how vicious the creditors are.” Lezah shrugged.

“How did you get into debt in the first place? I mean…like you said, the farm’s been in your family for years, right?” Luke asked, attempting to understand.

“Equipment updating, matter manipulator, new struts for the droids, and general maintenance. The expenses add up…a few bad harvests mixed with an already flooded market really. It’s all to easy to fabricate produce, who needs to buy it?” Lezah half smiled.

“Well you said there was a niche right?” Luke narrowed his brow.

“Yea, naturalists, grass roots types. Fabricated food has all the nutrients and health benefits of natural, but it doesn’t quite taste the same. You can’t replicate that crisp, juicy sun-kisses sweetness of a Keva-fruit, or that sharp sour taste of a Duuna.” Lezah smiled. “Also, some produce just can’t be effectively fabricated. Take the Royal Berry. It has chemical properties far too complex to accurately replicate. You can print one, but it’s just not the same.”

“Wait, are you telling me you can, like, replicate things out of nothing? Like tell a computer to -make- you a peach and wham there you are?” Luke watched Lezah in disbelief.

Lezah laughed and gave her head a shake. “No Luke, it’s not like that.” For a moment Lezah sat, trying to think of a way to explain it. She sat up and rested her arm on the ledge next to Luke. “It’s not making something out of nothing, it’s more taking some matter, and turning it into -other- matter.”

“Uh-huh….” Luke watched her, confused.

“Ok, it’s like, taking a lump of raw material, that exists in a very manipulatable state, and messing around with it on a molecular level to convince it to be a mossa berry, Does that make sense?”

“I…think I understand. Like stem cells, only rather than making a liver or a heart…you can make apples and oranges?” Luke rose a brow.

“Eh…well sort of.” Lezah laughed. “Science is really….”

“Aisell’s thing?” Luke grinned.

Lezah smiled coyly and poked Luke playfully with the tip of her forefinger. “It’s rude to finish other people’s sentences, you know!” Lezah teased.

“Then don’t be so predictable!” Luke huddled to protect himself against an incoming attack from the digit of his assailant, and gave a snarky smile.

“Oh, you want me to be spontaneous, eh! Okay how’s this for random Mr. Palmer!?” Lezah chuckled, and continued to poke Luke from various angles. For such a dramatic size difference, Lezah was surprisingly gentle. It was hard for Luke to fathom just how something so huge was even capable of being so careful and gentle.

“Hey! Cut it out!” Luke laughed as he attempted to crawl away from Lezah’s assault.

“I’m being unpredictable!” Lezah teased as she allowed him crawl a short distance before snatching his ankle and dragging him back slowly.

“I liked it better when you were awkward and uncertain!” Luke winced slightly as he was pulled back. Despite how uneven the odds were against him, he wasn’t all too put off by her sudden playfulness. It reminded him of Aisell. Or at least how Aisell had been, before he crushed her spirit.

“I’m sorry, maybe you should have thought of that while you were teasing me the whole walk home about Tizen!” Lezah cackled.

“Oh Tizen! Take me away! You can fix my barn any day!” Luke teased, trying to mimic Lezah’s voice.

“It’s not very smart to tease someone so much bigger than you ya know!?” Lezah lifted Luke off the windowsill by his ankles and dangled him above her face. She casually leaned back on the sofa, getting into a comfortable position.

“Oh are we using that to our advantage now? Cheater!” Luke didn’t bother to struggle. There was really no point.

“I am not!” Lezah defended herself boldly. She was unsure what reason for a defense she really had anyhow.

Luke felt strange, and not only because the blood was rushing to his head. A few days ago, a week ago…this would have sent him over the edge. In fact, if it were Aisell in place of Lezah, he may have torn her a new hole. The playfulness drained from Luke’s face as he thought it over. Lezah was really no different than Aisell, it was likely she would have made the same decision Aisell had.

Luke didn’t feel much like playing suddenly, and with a very sullen tone he said, “Lezah, what would you have done in Aisell’s place?”

The smile drained from Lezah’s face as well, and she gazed up at Luke, perplexed. “What do you mean?” she asked, knowing full well what he was asking, she was attempting to stall for time. She really wasn’t sure how to answer.

“You know what I mean.”

Lezah sighed. “The real question, Luke, is what would you have done?’ Lezah said, cleverly deflecting.

“Not fair! I asked first!” There was a hint of anger in Luke’s tone. But it wasn’t directed towards the giant woman dangling him upside down by his ankles over her face. Nor did she appear to receive it as such.

“I’m sorry. But you will torment yourself endlessly wondering what others would have done, if it was right or wrong, but really in the end Luke it comes down to that…if the situation was reversed, what would you yourself have done? What if you found Aisell, dirty, starving and alone, no bigger than your finger and terrified of the world around her?”

Luke was quiet for a while. Once he did speak, it was low and surly. “I wouldn’t have lied to her, I know that much….”

“Okay, that is fair. I don’t think I would have either. It’s ok to be upset about that Luke. Nobody can fault you for that.” Lezah smiled weakly, but sympathetically. “But you avoided the question.”

“So did you!” Luke said, defensively.

“It doesn’t matter what I would have done, I wasn’t there. You were.” Lezah responded firmly.

“I don’t know! I just don’t!” Luke shouted.

“It’s not an easy decision is it? On one hand she would have wanted to stay, she would have wanted to hold on to her hope as long as she could. But on the other hand, you know how hopeless it is, how small that ray of hope is. You don’t want to see her make a bad decision, even if that decision is hers to make in the first place.” Lezah sighed. “Maybe you can make the decision for her! True, she will hate you, and might never forgive you, but she’d be alive to hate you. And maybe that’s easier for you to live with than the alternative?”

“Maybe she wouldn’t have died!? Maybe she would have continued to survive, fought on! She did well enough for herself! She didn’t need anyone…mostly….” Luke sighed.

“But you can’t just leave her to that! Can you? Knowing how alone and frightened she’d be? Never knowing if she was alive or dead, but knowing if she was alive she was likely alone and frightened?”

“What if she met someone else? What if they helped her?” Luke spoke with desperate passion.

“What if they didn’t? What if the next person she met wasn’t as kind to her as you? What if they abused her and hurt her and forced her to live naked in a cage and beg for treats? What then? You know her, she could never accept a life like that, could -she-?” Lezah whispered. “You care for her so much, you could never see her hurt, abused, mistreated. You grew so close to her during your time together, Luke just the idea makes you sick…and so I have to ask again…what would you do?”

“I wouldn’t even have given her a choice!” Luke barked.

“Hmmm?” Lezah held back her smile.

“I said I wouldn’t even have given her a choice! No false hope, no beating around the bush! She was just being stubborn and refusing to admit I was right! Because if she admits I was right….” Luke went silent.

Lezah gently set Luke down in her palm, leaning him against her uncurled fingers. She said nothing, simply watched him closely.

“…If I had admitted she was right, I would have had to admit that there was no going back….” Luke sighed and allowed himself to go limp in Lezah’s palm.

“I’m sorry.” Lezah whispered.

“It’s not your fault.” Luke whispered back.

“I know, but it can’t be easy, and Luke…I really am. You lost a lot, and it’s okay to be upset about that. You have to grieve….” Lezah bit her lip. “But….”

“It’s not her fault either.” Luke finished Lezah’s sentence and looked up into her eyes.

Lezah nodded.

“I may have taken a different road to the same end…but I would have done the same thing she did.” Luke spoke with a great sense of realization. As if a weight had been lifted. It felt good.

“I would have as well…if…that helps.” Lezah smiled.

“She did what any real friend would have…” Luke huffed gently.

“I’m glad she did…you know…because if she hadn’t Luke, I’d never of been given a chance to get to know you.” Lezah’s lips curled into warm smile.

Luke smiled somewhat wry and shrugged a little. “Yeah, it hasn’t been so bad here I guess.”

“Hey, am I the only one getting a bit hungry?” Lezah asked, switching the topic before Luke got too uncomfortable.

“I could eat, yeah. Now that you mention it.” Luke half smiled.

“Good! Because I hate eating alone! Why don’t we go find something to snack on?” Lezah sat up, making sure not to jostle Luke too much.

“Actually do you mind if I stay here? I like looking out the window…and I could use a few moments to clear my head.” Luke rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sure!” Lezah set her hand on the window ledge and waited for Luke to hop off. “Here, I’ll crack the window a bit!” Lezah leaned over Luke and opened the window a little.

Luke tried not to stare at the mountain of cleavage that hovered momentarily over his head. Lezah was much more well-endowed than her sister!

“There! Now that’s better!” Lezah said with a grin.

Luke chucked a little; the warm breeze greeted him and he found it difficult not to smile.

“Okay! I will be back in a few! Don’t go running off on me, okay?” Lezah winked as she stood.

“I’m not going anywhere, don’t worry.” Luke gave his head a shake and sat down, leaning against the window frame. The warm sun, the gentle breeze…the signature sounds of summer…or whatever they called their seasons here. It was calming.

Lezah’s face scrunched into a quirky smile, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

He could hear the sounds of Lezah moving about in the kitchen.

There were birds singing songs he had never heard before.

A sharp yelping howl in the distance.

Luke’s eyes began to grow heavy. He would have to apologize to Aisell, for how he treated her.

That would not be easy.

Luke felt a strong gust of wind…it was a warm, dry wind. He opened his eyes, all was still and calm.

He would explain to Aisell why he was upset. She would no doubt apologize and he would tell her everything was cool between them.

Lezah spoke from the kitchen, but Luke didn’t catch half of it, and even if he had she would never hear his answer.

Maybe things could go back to the way they were? Between him and Aisell? Maybe there was a future for them? Maybe he could change her mind?

Luke’s eyes grew heavy and he let them close, the sun was so warm. His body had missed the rich, warm glow of the sun. He was grateful for that. There was no sunlight on Titan Station. Only dark, cool, damp nothing.

Luke opened his eyes. Aisell wasn’t so bad, and neither was Lezah. He could get used to this.

None of it was all that bad at all.

Luke’s eyes closed, he struggled to keep them from closing.

He forced them open.

He hadn’t heard it, nor had he seen it until it was directly upon him. He had no idea how it had entered, or what it wanted.

A figure, roughly his size, cloaked in furs and skins. Bare arms, with a faceless mask covering its expression. Two haunting slits for eyes watched him. It seemed to have come right out of the shadows; it made no sound, and moved as if it were not even there.

Before Luke could mutter a scream, as he was forcing himself awake to react, he felt a sting on his neck, and then darkness.

***

Lezah nearly skipped back into the living room. As always she went overboard with the meal.

“Okay! I warmed up some soup, cut us some bread, made tea, and crushed up some mossa-berries to spread over the bread!” Lezah set the tray down on the small table next to the couch. Her eyes went to where she had left Luke, only to find nothing there.

“Luke?” Lezah’s tone was still upbeat and chipper.

Silence greeted her.

Lezah frowned as she looked over the couch and table, she looked under the throw pillows and even peaked behind the couch itself. A small half smile crept onto her face despite her worry.

“Ook! Not funny Luke! Come on, I’m hungry let’s eat!”

Silence.

“Luke? This really isn’t funny, where are you?” The amusement had left Lezah’s voice as she lowered herself to her hands and knees to look under the couch itself. Nothing but dust and garbage hid there.

Lezah stood up and looked around, narrowing her brow. “Luke? I’m not amused!” She was more worried than annoyed.

Lezah waited a moment before sitting down on the couch and leaning towards the window itself.

A sick feeling came over Lezah and her eyes went wide. “Oh no….” The Titaness whispered, as she nearly leaped at the window.

Lezah stuck her two fingers into a fist sized hole in the screen. Luke wasn’t playing. He really was gone.