The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him. Aija agrees to work along with Etrie on Harvest Stopping Missions.

---- Thieron and Nala check out a new target, and realize that Etrie's team was trailing the same target.

---- Aija's parents tell her that she has received the notice for engagement from The Leadership. She hates the idea of it, but there is no escape. Aija meets Quinn and likes him. Kuna confronts her about Quinn; he seems visibly upset about it. Zuri goes to her place when Kuna is there and she tells him she knows all about them. Kuna is angry with Aija for telling about them to Zuri, who is now insisting that she too, joins them.

---- Goldstar preps for the Transfer to the South Land. Goldstar and the Transfers are attacked by the Savages and Creatures in the Open.

---- They are saved by the Gale squad of the Open. Goldstar is terribly hurt and he is told that his wound will definitely scar.

---- They set out to the South Land.

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****14.4 - Goldstar****

Goldstar found Iyler gone when he roused from his pill-induced sleep. 

Light flooded in through the windows, and the constant sound of the plane's engines filled the space. He yawned as he stretched, and his back felt much better the pain now a dull ache. He heard 'ooh's' and 'aah's' from the end of the plane. He removed his safety belt and stood to see the Transfers' expressions. He was used to their reactions countless times, yet he liked to see them again and again as they saw the ocean for the very first time in their lives.

Awe was sketched on all six of the Transfers' faces as they each leaned on the windows to peek at the ocean. Goldstar always remembered the very first time he had seen the ocean. He had been at a loss for words as he had seen the expanse of blue water meeting the blue sky. There had been tears in his eyes. The ocean looked so peaceful and almost untouched by the Wars' destruction.

"Is that really the ocean?" one of the Transfers asked.

"Yes," Iyler's voice came through.

She was standing with the couple who had run to marry each other. She turned, saw Goldstar looking at her, and smiled at him. He smiled back, wishing that the couple running away was him and Iyler instead. He hoped they could just run away and start a new life in the South Land.

But, they were too involved in the Gale, and they couldn't just shrug off their responsibilities and run. Also, Iyler wasn't ready for it. He had casually mentioned it to her once during one of their Transfers, and Iyler hadn't liked the idea at all. She was hesitant even to let others know of their relationship; running away was a whole other level of commitment. The idea of it scared even Goldstar, for it meant losing his family, he was still ready to do it for her; but her lack of conviction regarding it held him back. He was just going to go with the flow of life, and he let her take the lead.

Iyler was in conversation with the couple, and the other Transfers were admiring the ocean. Goldstar was itching to check updates, but he wasn't allowed to use his Scroll on the plane as connecting to the LINC was forbidden when they were in the air. He wanted to know if the human girl was spotted with Etrie again. He wanted to know if R'ies had sent someone to confirm the location of the Àvo before H'eon sent someone. He didn't know much about the Àvo only that it was needed to take control of the planet and that it needed souls of beings from the planet to be used. No one in the Gale knew how it worked, but they knew R'ies did, and they would prevent its use if they could get their hands on it.

Goldstar didn't like the R'ies organization, but he knew they worked against the H'eon, and they as humans definitely needed all the extra help they could get. At least the R'ies wasn't trying to destroy the human race and take control of the Earth.

Goldstar looked out as they neared the South Land. He wasn't sure what time it was since it was completely dark for several hours for a few months in a year. He could make out the beginnings of the land by the glittering lights. It was the only piece of land undisturbed by the Wars and wholly free of radiation.

Their pilot- Imran Xu – whom Goldstar had met on several occasions, announced that they were landing, and the Transfers were excited. As Iyler took her seat next to him, he told her, "I'm staying back at the South Land for a few days. Stay with me."

He watched as her expressions changed and finally settled on unhappy. "I have a lot of work; new trainees have come in."

"That's never stopped you before," he noted. "Jax will take care of it like always. Iyler, please..."

She thought about it for a while, and she didn't seem very happy as she said, "Alright. But, not for too long."

Goldstar nodded, and they held hands as the plane landed, but Goldstar felt downhearted.

The Gale squad of the South Land received the six Transfers, Iyler Goldstar and the pilot Imran Xu. A van was ready to take them into town.

As soon as they stepped out of the plane, Goldstar took in a deep breath of the fresh, crisp air. It filled his lungs, and he felt instantly refreshed. No matter how pure the air in the Cities was made, it paled in comparison to the fresh air of the South Land. The six Transfers shivered in the cold breeze, and they pulled their coats tighter around themselves. Goldstar felt cold, too, but he welcomed it.

The nine of them were greeted by Amelie Caron, who was in charge of receiving new Transfers and helping them settle into life at the South Land.

"Welcome, Goldstar, Ms. Smith." Amelie greeted them, and to the Transfers, she said, "A warm welcome to you. The South Land shall take care of you now."

The Transfers smiled at her, not knowing what to say. But, it was a common occurrence, and Amelie ignored their blank expressions as she led them to the van. They drove across the green lands slowly in the dark. Mr. Brown and Mr. Pestin fell asleep as soon as they took their seats. The rest of them looked out the windows at the new land.

Amelie drove them towards the human Settlement, and the buildings became visible. They weren't the high-rises of the Cities, but modest wooden houses interspersed on the beautiful green land. The Transfers stared in awe. Goldstar had seen the place when sunlight enveloped it for nearly the whole day, and it was more beautiful than when the land was shrouded in this semi-darkness. 

Goldstar loved the South Land and wished he could permanently move here along with his family. He could take up the Gale work here and live peacefully. But, he knew he wouldn't. He wanted to stay on the Main Lands and help the people there escape terrible lives, even if it meant his own life would be hard.

"How long are you staying back this time?" Amelie asked him from the driver's seat.

"A few days..." Goldstar replied.

"The Princess was asking for you," Amelie informed him. "Your timing is great, the Prince is here too."

Goldstar turned away from the window to Amelie Caron as she smiled at him through the rearview mirror. "He asked me if he could meet you."

The Prince wanted to meet him?

Goldstar had heard of the Prince before, but he had never had the chance of meeting him. The Prince would always stay for a very short period, and Goldstar would always miss meeting him by a few days.

"Sure, why not?" he told Amelie.

**

They reached Core, and Amelie directed the Transfers towards their rooms and went along with them. Iyler left for her room as well to get changed. Goldstar stood where Amelie had dropped them off in front of the building. The Core was a huge Mansion housing the Premier's office and residence along with several rooms where new Transfers would initially stay. It was a magnificent building built from stone and surrounded by an aesthetic garden.

He took in a deep breath; the air was heavy with the fragrance of something sweet. The pure air cleansed his lungs off of the artificial City air. There was always something off with the air in the Cities.

"How long do you intend to stand there?"

Zhaleh Ivanov, the Premier of the South Land, was standing near the entrance. She was wearing the Gale uniform – a seaweed green gear, an oversized coat of the same color, and combat boots; her black hair was brushed neatly into a braid. She was as pretty as ever, her smile as sweet as ever.

"For as long as I wish to," he told her as he walked up to her.

Premier Zhaleh was close to Iyler in age and had been Premier for about four years. She had brought her family to the South Land as soon as she had been assigned to the South – the land of the Free.

"Then why did you come in?"

"I'm hungry," he said. "And the South Land has the best food, even better than the food at Innermost."

Premier Zhaleh laughed, "Well, my offer still stands Gold. You can come here permanently with your family." 

"You know how much I'd love to do that, Premier Zhaleh."

"But you won't. Maybe, just send your family here. It'll give you some peace of mind."

Goldstar smiled. "It isn't going to happen anytime soon, Premier. They love the City."

"And that's why you're more focussed on changing the City they love," she observed.

In the Cities, Premier Zhaleh was called the Queen of the Free. She wore the title proudly – she deserved it; she had worked hard to improve the South Land.

"I heard of your trouble in the Open," she said. "I hope you are feeling better now. I can get someone to tend to your wounds, change the bandages."

Goldstar nodded. "Yes, thank you. That would be helpful. It was my scariest experience so far. They are getting desperate; they must be truly starving now."

Premier Zhaleh sighed. "That is sad. I hope your wound isn't too bad."

"Arc said it will scar, terribly."

She smiled, "A battle scar. Be proud Gold, you survived."

Goldstar smiled at her words; it made him feel better.

Goldstar excused himself and went upstairs to the room that was reserved for him whenever he visited the South. He took a long bath, changed into a new set of uniform, and dried his hair with a towel. 

Iyler walked into his room as he was combing his hair.

"The gear suits you so well. Too bad you can't wear it often in the Cities."

"It suits you well too," he said, pulling her close to him.

Iyler kissed him softly, "I love you."

"I love you more, Iyler."

The look in her eyes changed for a mere second as if realizing what he'd said was true. Then she smiled.

"Marry me; one day," he whispered, holding her close.

Iyler looked up at him, surprised. She didn't say a word as she hugged him.

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