Rei's last day on Earth - 6

Whether you write a single book or a whole series, to make it realistic, you need a backstory for each of the main characters. When the time came to write Rome's Evolution, I finally had an opportunity to blend together all the little tidbits I had sprinkled throughout my novels regarding Rei Bierak's past into a single, self-contained intermezzo. It's a seven part series and here is Part 6:

     “Aw, gee, Sally,” Rei said. “You’re going to make me blush.”
     “It’s the truth, though. Getting the right mix of volunteers was important to them. You deserved it.”
     “Thanks,” Rei said. He held his hands out, palms up. “In fact, I keep wanting to say I can never thank you enough but of course, when you think about it, it’s literally the truth. It’s almost like I’m not even here anymore.” Rei sighed a long sigh. “Getting back to what I was saying earlier, I still remember there was a time when I thought you and I would spend the rest of our lives together.”
     “Come on, Rei,” Sally chided. “Don’t go all gloomy on me. You know what happened in Brazil. It changed me. It would change anyone. It gives you a different perspective. I almost died. After that, I decided I wanted to live my life in the here and now. Not betting it on some uncertain future. ”
     Rei turned and looked up at the sky. “I know. And I know we both agreed this was the best way. It’s just that I’ll never love anyone again the way I loved you. That part of my heart is kind of broken permanently.”
     “No it isn’t,” Sally said. “You’re too good of a person to go through life without somebody to love.” She pointed up in the general direction of the Moon. “Maybe the woman of your dreams is up there, waiting for you. Waiting to love you.”
     Rei focused on where Sally was pointing. On this night, the constellation Orion the Hunter was just to the southwest of the Moon. Light pollution from the city drowned out many of the stars that would have been seen in an earlier age. But Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka, the three stars in a row marking Orion’s belt, were still very recognizable.
     “The star you’re pointing to is the grip on Orion’s shield,” Rei said, trying to be analytical. “I don’t remember its name… Tabit maybe? But we’re not going anywhere near there.” He turned his head, scanning the horizon. “There,” he said, pointing to the southwest. “That constellation down there, just over the trees, it’s called Cetus the Whale. The bright star right in the middle is Tau Ceti. That’s where we’re headed. Ain’t nobody there. And if they are, they’re little and they’re green.”
     Sally shrugged. “Says you.” She paused for a moment as if she were listening to an inner voice then she took in a deep breath. “I know you didn’t believe me when I told you this before. But almost dying made me a little bit psychic somehow. I’m telling you, I think your dream girl is waiting for you up there, somewhere. You just have to go and find her.” Sally smiled warmly. “Or maybe she’ll find you!” she added.

How much more obvious could I be? Rei's statement and Sally's retort were just my way of winking at you because that is what the entire Rome's Revolution series is all about. What if we went to the stars and when we got there, there were already people? I also poked my wife Denise because she always claims I found her but I always claim she found me.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I used a program called Voyager by Carina Software to figure out the position of the Moon and the stars on January 24, 2067 so the scene was (future) historically accurate. Please note that the star that Sally was pointing to was, indeed, Tabit. Tomorrow, the final part.