star-ocean-universe

Maria bit back a sigh and a scream of aggravation but shot a glare at the newcomers to the search party, Commander Stephen J. Kenny and his science officer, Devon “Cake” Saionji, all the same. It was bad enough she’d had to ask Albel Nox, of all people, for aid, but to have the Pangalactic Federation following her and her crew around as well? ‘Unacceptable,’ she told herself. ‘Fayt is mine to find, not theirs.’ She closed her eyes and inhaled a soft, hopefully inaudible breath. ‘Though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that they’d want to get involved in searching for Fayt. The Vende

Luther let out an involuntary groan, and he shivered. Pain and a series of chills continued to wrack his body, much to his chagrin and dismay and to Fayt’s confusion. Or so the Creator surmised. ‘I can’t keep my eyes open,’ he thought. ‘Why can’t I keep my eyes open? What’s wrong with me? Why isn’t that data . . . Why isn’t Fayt doing more to help me? I don’t understand. Where is he?’ He struggled to open his eyes, and he whimpered in pain as light assaulted his eyes. He threw an arm over them for some much-needed relief, which only lasted for a few moments until the heat fro

For several long minutes, Fayt's breath had become trapped in his chest. He couldn't move, and he couldn't tear his gaze away from the person on the litter. His knees wanted to give out on him, and the urge to flee overwhelmed him. Still, he couldn't move. He couldn't do anything. Luther's gaze remained fixed on him for those moments, too, as equally shocked as Fayt. The blond's breathing was harsh, ragged, and shallow to his hearing. It wasn't lost on him how the other man shivered or how his flesh glistened in the early morning light. A fever of some kind had taken hold of the man, and it wreaked havoc on his body. Then, as quickly as it h

Fayt drew his blanket tighter around his shoulders to ward off the early morning chill. The sun had yet to crest the horizon, not that it would have mattered in chasing away the chill. According to his quad scanner, the day was October 1st on Earth, shortly into the autumn season, and, from what he’d observed from his time there, Elicoor II appeared to be on the same seasonal axis as his homeworld. Given the lack of expansive cities and congestion of traffic but an abundance of natural scenery, he’d made it a point to return to the planet and to view the fall colors. Some old-timers who had been to underdeveloped planets had alway