The story so far:

----Luka sacrifices himself to save Earth. Thieron is upset about Luka. Rei learns Vincent is alive. He finds out that Iyler and John helped Ea. Aija finally feels the enormity of Luka's death.

----Rei feels scared about the still glowing Avo.

✽✽✽

****42.2 ZURI****

Quiet moments frightened Zuri.

Peace now only meant violence was due. And the fact that she couldn't predict when and what agitated her.

Zuri sat in bed; Nala slept next to her, fatigued from crying. Zuri's eyes burned too, her tears drained out of her. She hadn't known Luka for long, but his absence pricked her. He'd just been helping Imani with the dishes, making Alex laugh from whatever private joke they'd shared. It'd been hours. Hours. Now Luka lay cold, never to laugh again.

If not for him, Alex would never laugh once more. Because Earth wouldn't have existed at all.

Zuri got out of bed; sitting doing nothing provoked her. And she had the inexplicable urge to talk to Aija. Luka and Aija had shared a sweet relationship even before they'd found out the Ytai were on their side.

"Where are you going?" Nala murmured, voice rough.

"To see Aija; go back to sleep,"

"She's with Ah'n; I checked." Nala's sleepy voice slurred.

"Oh," Zuri pouted. "Let me go, anyway. I need to talk to her."

"Why?"

Why? Zuri could wait to talk to Aija. She was with Thieron. But,

"I must find her. I don't know why. I must see her, now, Iro'h."

Nala yawned, sliding off the bed.

"No, you sleep. I'll go."

"No, I'll go with you. I can't stay here either." 

Zuri felt terrible about disturbing Nala. But she had to go. She didn't know why.

All she knew was, wanting to see Aija.  

✽✽✽