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The Wedding Party



Everyone started arriving at the sun started to fall below the horizon. Everything was ready for the big event.



To the east, a bonfire, waiting to be lit. A small scene for the entertainment, complete with a full orchestra. Snacks were ready to go. The main feast is yet to arrive.



Tables and chairs for 240 to sit at. The lights came from small lamps on high poles, 3 to 4 meters in height.



Mother Nature provided most of the decorations -- trees, flowers, a view of a sparkling green lake and a hilltop vista.



A beautiful wedding arch, decorated with flowers, provided the focal point. Coordinated with the arch was sprouting matching flowers adding even more enchantment to an already magical setting.



Two pairs of rings orbited the planet, visible in the night sky. The particles composed primarily of water-ice and range from microns to meters in size. The ring was proberly the remains of a destroyed small moon, several million years ago. It provided the night sky with lots and lots of beautiful light not unlike Alpha Centauri 4. Soft red, pink and purple light from above.



Excitement was buzzing in the air. Alice recalled their wedding day, her head was in the clouds all day long.



It was time. Alister and Sam walked down the aisle, to where Stryker stood underneath the wedding arch. They stopped in front of him.



Stryker looked the couple, sensing their nervousness and excitement. He felt it himself.



He took a deep breath and let it down, to try calm himself down, "Since the days of wooden vessels, shipmasters have had one happy privilege. That of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. In the sight of your fellows, in accordance with our laws, and our many beliefs. We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Samantha Falco and Alister Maxwell. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls, has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures."



Stryker looked at Sammy and Alister. "With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these you. We can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage."



Stryker stopped. This day, this evening is so important, it is not to be rushed. "If we learn no more in life, let it be this. Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Sammy and Alister have come here today to be joined as one in marriage."



Stryker looked at the wedding couple, "Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say."



Stryker paused. "Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. Remember ... Like a stone should your love be firm. Like a star, should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth."



Stryker smiled at Alice for a second. She smiled. "Mind if I say something Sammy ?" Alice asked.



"Of course."



"The last few daa ... days, has been difficult. But I had a moment of absolute clarity. I have life figured out. Life can be summed up in a single word: FEAR."



Alice's fear of public speeches nearly took over, but she was determined. "Also ... Laughter is the key to survival. Always take time to play." Alice looked at the marrying couple, then looked at Stryker. "Love is everything."



A slight murmur rose from the crowd and died down again.



Stryker looked at the Italian bride. "Sammy, I have not the right to bind this to your Groom. Only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring on his hand."



"It is my wish." Sammy placed the ring on Alister's left ring finger.



Stryker turned to the Groom. "Alister, I have not the right to bind you to your Bride. Only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring on her hand."



Stryker spoke to Sam, "Repeat after me.



Stryker paused. "I, Samantha Falco, in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart,take him, Alister Maxwell to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire you and be desired by you, to possess you, and be possessed by you, for I can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in hard times, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, my beliefs, my people, and the ways as I respect myself."



As Stryker spoke the words clearly, Sam was a few seconds behind.



Stryker to Alister, "Repeat after me: I, Alister Maxwell, in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take her, Samantha Falco to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire you and be desired by you, to possess you, and be possessed by you, for I can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in hard times, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, my beliefs, my people, and the ways as I respect myself."



Alister and Sam were both looking antsy. Sam reached out to Alister first. And he to her, and a tight embrace as they kissed. Stryker smiled, "I now declare you Husband and Wife. And you are already doing the kissing part."



Stryker knew that the wedding couple were feeling right now, it is a feeling he shares with Alice, they are the only two beings in the universe, nothing else around them. "Each of you has selected the first two songs of the dance. You shall have the first dance. Now, please excuse me, while I pig out on Haggis."



Cheers everywhere as the wedding couple kissed.



In the chaos and the cheerful celebration that followed, Alice suddenly grimaced in pain. Stryker was standing nine meters away, the crowd`s noise is too much, but she got his attention. Alice have him THE LOOK. Stryker reacted with shock, he looked for Doctor Karen. She was no where to be seen.



He tapped his combadge, "Stryker to Coleridge. IT'S TIME !!"



The chatter and music from the wedding reception nearly drowned it out completely, but Stryker heard the sounds of pleasure from the other end of the commlink.



Alice's face was twisted in pain, watching the watery substance run down her legs, careen all over the grass underneath her feet. Again, Alice was throttled by sudden pain and looked through her grimacing to Stryker. She clutched her bowling ball of a stomach.



"Alice, you need to breathe" a mystery voice said. Alice could not concentrate enough to find the owner of the voice.



Someone said something and the crowd cheered more, their eyes on Alice and Stryker as they made their way away from the wedding reception.



Stryker carried Alice towards a tree to put her down.



Laenia and Eiko got the attention of the rest of the family, and eventually; Rika, Chaz, Nekise and Suelo gathered around Stryker and Alice.



Rika was trying to calm Alice down, waiting for Karen and her medical staff to show up.