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Much time was spent in the next two days while Taran, Rose and the gwees prepared for their trip. And the strangest thing was that any time Rose would try to look at a map or ask what kind of a place Lia Alit Iil-tia even was, ANTIE, ANTIE-D, Taran, the gwees, and even Rose's own pets ignored her. When she tried to look it up on the computer, ANTIE's face came over the screen, and began this whole big lecture on safegaurds and such. Which made no sense. She was supposed to be safe with this stupid paper cap on her head. So how could knowing where they were going be unsafe? Rose was getting very upset over it.

With everything packed, and everyone rested, they left the bunker on the evening of the second day. It had been hard, convincing the pets that most of them had to stay behind.

And, unexpedtly to Rose, Taran wanted to go, too. She asked why, but he mumbled something about the only time he'd have a chance to see it. But he didn't say what "it" was.

So, all in all, Rose, ANTIE-D, Taran, Tuli, Jaa and Niko all left for Lia Alit Iil-tia after dark. Although Luman might have no control over Rose for now, all he would have to do is knock off the stupid papercap, and she wouldn't be safe. Niko thought they should glue it down. Rose refused. Even blue got upset at that notion. And blue had been quite calm and unbtrusive since they got home, so that was odd.

But not quite as odd as Rose's first surprise. Though, she should have figured, since everyone had been running around to get supplies, but she hadn't seen a quarter of them recently.

They'd all been loaded.

When ANTIE-D led Rose, Taran and the pets through a back-panel door out of the side of the weaponry and down a short hall, both blue and Rose were surprised and curious. Then they rounded a corner, and a door opened out spirally. Rose gasped.

In front of them stood, with its back-hatch open, a starcruiser. The name Dragonfly was painted in metallic green and purple on the side, and the rest of it was all a whitish-gray color.

Apparently, when Lilah, Rose's mom, came to Gaia, she had had a firefly class cruiser. Over the years, it had gotten... weathered, despite its location off the main bunker. But since the creation of ANTIE-D, it had gotten some well-needed repairs and maintenance. And she was ready to fly.

"Shiny." Said Taran. "She sure cleaned up nice." he said to ANTIE-D.

ANTIE-D nodded. "I had been wondering if it was possible to restore her to her original color. But she is in better shape than I thought."

Rose stood there, dumbfounded, jaw hanging. blue was screaming in her head.
'Where did that come from? We don't have one of those! Whose is that? ANTIE, answer me!' but, and Rose thought it was a good thing, blue was not in range of the gwees' speakerthought.

Taran had followed ANTIE-D up the ramp into the ship, and the gwees and Niko had also already gone into it, leaving Rose there, staring like an idiot.

Taran came back out. "Well, that's all the supplies loaded. ANTIE-D is gonna start her up in a few minutes, after she does the last minute sys-check, and then we'll be off." He got a good look at Rose's face. "You... haven't flown in space before, have you?" he asked.

Rose shook her head, finally remembering to clamp her jaw shut.

"It's fine. ANTIE-D took her up for a test drive... last week, I think she said. Did a loop around one of the moons. She's good to go." Taran paused. "Are you?" he asked seriously.

Rose took in a deep breath. blue, while not saying anything, still reeked of worry. Maybe blue thought Rose wouldn't go?
"Let's do this." Rose said finally, and followed Taran up the ramp. A horrible grinding/squeaking noise started, and Rose realized the ramp was being raised. She hurried past Taran, and got the rest of the way in before it closed. Taran was still on the ramp section, and actually laughed.

"It's all safe, Rose, I swear. Be calm." Taran said, trying to ease her worry. "Here, let me lead you to your room. It will take about 4 days to get into the Iil-tia system, and another half a day to Lia Alit itself.

Taran led Rose to her room, though she didn't want to stay in it, and so he gave her the tour. Ten bedrooms, two bathrooms, galley and dining area, maintenance, infirmary, engine area, loading dock (which she complained she saw when they used it to get in), gun pits, emergency evac pods, and finally, the bridge.

ANTIE-D was in the pilot's seat, turning all kinds of switches, flicking them on and off. The pilot's seat faced the main window, but was more of a half-circle desk with a chair planted in front of it. The co-pilot's seat, on the left, was a mirror image. ANTIE-D did not look up at them, but knew they were there (could hear them breathing and their hearts beating) and spoke to them.

"All systems are good. We should have contact with main ANTIE systems until we pass into the Iil-tia system. After that, though, the interference will cause us to lose contact." she turned and looked at Rose. "It's a defense mechanism. All the beings in that galaxy have created a magical barrier that blocks signals." she turned back to her gauges, and then pulled out a tiny antique brass key. She put it in a slot, and turned it, and the engines started up.

"Hold on." ANTIE-D told them. "It's a little bumpy leaving Gaian airspace."

Rose and Taran held on to the ship as a huge hatch opened above them. The tennis court split apart and slid back, and Dragonfly lifted up into the air. Rose looked down, and saw the court sliding back into place.

blue chimed in; 'I always wondered why we had a tennis court, when dad didn't like playing.' Rose laughed, and they sped up and forward, through the clouds, and then past the atmosphere into space. Rose stayed for quite a while, just looking at the stars and the moons and everything in the sky, while ANTIE-D set the autopilot and autoalerts, and left the bridge. Taran stood for a while, watching Rose watch the space around them. Then he also left the bridge.