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“I had a choice in all of this?” I asked incredulously. “It sure didn’t seem that way when you were in the middle of explaining the prophecy. It sounded more like a ‘you broke it and now you’re buying it’ kind of deal.”

“I am unfamiliar with this rule of breaking and buying,” Jezra said, scratching the bottom of her chin. Her eyes twinkled. “But you were the right human for the job, of that I am certain.”

“No denying that,” Ricky said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Legion chose the wrong humans to mess with.”

Nods of agreement were traded around the room before Elon took the reins of the meeting in hand. It was my hope that he was taking over leadership permanently, along with Arun when she was back to one hundred percent, and that my duties as the Chosen One were at an end. I liked staying in the background, coming to the front if it was life and death, but I was definitely not a leader type of guy.

“I’m sure you all have a list of duties you must attend to, so I’ll try and make this meeting as short as possible,” Elon began. “Our wounded should be cared for first and foremost, and a new way of life established for our three communities to coexist. After this is set up, I’d like to form a coalition of our three races. The future is bright if we stand together.”

“Agreed,” Dama said. “My people will offer any aid they can while we move back to the surface.”

“Likewise, I have spoken to our greater counsel and the Remboshi are eager to move toward peace,” Jezra added. “The gestures of the Rung offering aid and relief have been exactly what they needed to bury past hurts and look toward working side by side.”

Smiles and nods were received by all those in the tent as we all reflected on how we’d gotten to this point in time and the work that was still to be done.

“Once this is all done,” I said, clearing my throat. “I mean, once we’re back on our feet, can I request from the Rung that we are able to look at their craft? I believe that with our combined knowledge, we might be able to get that ship flying in space.”

“Eager to leave us so soon?” Tong asked, disappointed.

“Who said anything about leaving you?” I asked him. “Why don’t you come with us?”

Tong’s eyes brightened at the possibility of exploring other worlds, but I thought that some of that was his enjoyment of being with his new friends. I had developed a fondness for him as well.

“Any knowledge we possess is yours,” Dama agreed. “With the three of our combined resources, I do believe this will usher in a new era of science and technology that will bring our planet on the cutting edge.”

The tent erupted in several more, smaller conversations as details were laid out and plans were set in motion. The Rung and Remboshi would both be departing soon to set in place their own communities now that Legion was no more.

I wasn’t needed at the moment, and to be honest, I could use a break. I also had other “business” to attend to. I walked outside the tent, feeling the suns’ warm rays against my face.

“Come on,” Stacy said, taking my hand and pulling me along with her. She led me to the wall and up the steel steps. I didn’t complain. Why would I? Life was starting to come together, to have more meaning than it did when I was the “Chosen One.” Now, my big concern was being the chosen one of the woman next to me, as corny as that might sound.

We moved along the wall to the spot over the front gates, gazing off into the clear blue sky. It was beautiful here in a way I had never appreciated before. The suns were brilliant in the sky, casting shadows in two different directions as one sun was slightly behind the other in rising and setting. There were two shadows of each of us of different sizes, the big ones and the smaller ones clasping hands in the middle.

“You really think we can get off this rock?” Stacy asked now, turning and taking both my hands in hers. “I mean, you think there’s really a chance we can get back to Earth?”

“We won’t know unless we try,” I said, leaning toward her. Stacy was always beautiful, but the way the sunlight caught her hair now practically lit it ablaze with beauty. I pressed my lips against hers and gave myself away to the lightheaded feeling of euphoric joy that I was feeling.

I didn’t want to let her go, but I knew we had time together now—plenty of time to walk in the sun with her, to explore this world and others.

Stacy didn’t move to end the kiss either.

When it did end, I opened my eyes. Stacy’s were just opening, a silly grin on her lips.

“I was wondering if you were going to do that,” Stacy said, biting her lower lip. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag now. We’re officially official.”

“I guess so,” I said with a heavy sigh as I teased her. “I should warn you, I’m not great with people. I’m kind of a hothead, and there was this prophecy about me.”

“Just shut up and kiss me again,” Stacy said with a laugh as she pulled me in close.

For the second time that day, I didn’t pull away.

Epilogue

Five Years Later

Years of dedicated hard work had been put into the launch. After dozens of failures, we had managed to launch unmanned ships into space. Now, for the first time, we had achieved a manned launch. It was both exciting and frightening at the same time.

I stood looking out of the front window of the ship in awe. The stars around Genesis twinkled brightly, reminding me of the