Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out but here's chapter 5

Thank you to all who have reviewed this far, it means a lot and keeps me going. :)

Hope you guys enjoy it.

I have opened my eyes to a sight I have never seen before. We are standing in front of a huge glass window and beyond that window is a sea of Stars. I've walked up to the window and looked closely to everything that is in sight. As I look around I notice there are ships flying next to us, the faint blue glow of their gigantic engines lights up every detail of the ships all around us. It's clear that we are on some sort of space ship and it appears we have joined whatever fleet this is. Star had walked up, joining me next to the window.

"Wow... this is beautiful, I never knew things like this could be real." Her eyes were huge with wonder, like a child mesmerized by never before seen sights. I looked around where we are standing to figure out where we are exactly. We seemed to be in a large viewing room of some kind, maybe a common area? There are chairs everywhere and more windows all around us; at the ends of the room there are two large doors that look to go further into the ship. The room is empty except for us, this is odd considering the size of the room, but we have seen much stranger things in our days. I brushed it off and turned my attention back to Star.

"We should probably get going Star, we don't know if it's safe here or not." Star's eyes left the ships and joined mine.

"You're right, let's go." Just as we are about to make our way to one of the doors, they both burst open reveling two people at each door. They looked human but they are not standing, they are floating, sort of hovering just above the ground. Both of them looked at us and began to advance, I stood in front of Star ready to fight if needed when one of them spoke to us.

"Please do not be alarmed, we mean you no harm." Both of the people had stopped coming toward us and keep a respectful distance. The one who spoke had a soft and welcoming voice, but I have learned not to trust people based on good impressions alone. The other person now spoke to us, but strangely he spoke in the exact same voice that the other person had, it sounded like the same person.

"We apologize if we have frightened you, we are just curious to how you ended up here. We have an exact life form count on the ship and just five minutes ago we detected two unidentified life forms that seemed to appear out of thin air." Right after the man stopped speaking Star took the opportunity to say something.

"We apologize as well for the intrusion but we had no choice on coming here, we were forced into this place." The two people came closer toward us as I let my guard down. If they wanted to do anything to us they probably would have by now. When they got closer I could tell that their faces look identical, as if they were the same person. They are both wearing the same outfit matching down to the buttons.

"If you would follow us we will take you to the admiral of the fleet; I believe he will be able to help you." I looked at Star sharing a moment of thought if we should go with them, but at the moment our options are limited so it looks like we have no choice. We both nodded in agreement as the two men slowly floated toward one of the doors with me and Star in tow. The doors whooshed open reveling another room around the same size as the one we were just in, only this one was filled to the brim with instruments, panels, and stations all manned by people who looked identical. There was no mistaking it now, these people are all the same person, they all talk in the same voice and act in the same way. None of them looked up from their takes as we made our way by, down the narrow passageway that we are being led through.

Star had taken my hand as we walked behind the two men waiting until they took us to whoever this admiral was. After walking through endless corridors and different rooms we finally arrived at what I assumed to be the admiral. We are at a huge set of doors that cracked open slowly revealing a huge central core of the ship. The room is circular with computers all around the walls beeping along, and in the center of the room there is a huge orb with tubes and wires coming out of it all connected to the computers all around us. The orb in the center of the room is glowing a brilliant shade of blue, the light feels welcoming and warm to my skin. There is a small platform right in front of the orb that Star and I made our way toward. The two men who had brought us here are already leaving the room without saying anything. When we reached the platform the blue orb pulsed brightly and spoke in the same voice as all the other people we had heard on our way here.

"Welcome to my home, I am sure you have many questions so let's not waste any time, please ask away." I looked at Star and saw she had the same puzzled look that I was feeling. I was not expecting anything like this, to be where we ended up jumping to. I thought for a slight moment before finally speaking up.

"What... are you? I don't want to come off as rude but I have never met a creature like you before." The orb pulsed brightly again as it responded.

"The feeling is mutual, I have only ever meet mindless beasts in my time. You are the first intelligent beings I have found. Everything you see is all controlled by me. All the ships, computers, and people are a part of me. We are all one being controlled by me here at the center. I see and hear everything the people do instantly and can react as needed. I know that I was built by someone, but I don't know who that being is The earliest memory I have is being powered on, already in space with my primary mission uploaded. My mission is to travel the stars, charting the galaxies for as long as time. I have been doing so for thousands of years. In my travels I have found rogue planets beaming with monsters and beasts who only cared about meat. In all my time I have never meet any intelligent creatures until now. Please tell me how you came upon my ship? I am quite interested how you pulled that off." I looked at Star but she was speaking before I could even think what to say.

"Someone else is the reason we are here." Star grabbed my arm, lifting it up reveling the watch. "We don't know who but someone put this watch on my friend Marco and every twenty-four hours it takes us to a new place in time and space. We have just recently learned how to slightly control it but we don't have full control When we appeared on your ship, that was the watch taking us here." The orb was silent for a few moments until it blinked to life speaking once again.

"Interesting, I am trying to think of any other way you could find yourself upon this ship but I don't believe there is one. You see this fleet is protected by a shield that only lets in what I have decided to let in, seeing as how I didn't let you in I don't see any other way that you could have ended up here." I took this opportunity to speak up.

"We are just trying to find our way home, Star and I have been through a lot." I said as I put my had on Star's shoulder. The orb quickly responded in the same blue light.

"I wish I could be of help but sadly I have no records of a time traveling watch and can be of no aid. You are welcome to stay on this ship as long as you like, beds will be provided as well as food and drink. Also if you two are willing I would like to give you a proper arrival to my ship. If you are willing I would love to get to know about where you come from and your traditions so I can give you the welcome you deserve as well as archive the information for my mission." I looked at Star who was already looking at me with a huge smile on her face, that's all it took to convince me.

"I think that would be a great idea, uhh... I didn't get your name by the way." The orb blinked after a slight delay.

"You can call me Star fleet Endeavor, that is what was uploaded as my identity." Star laughed lightly under her breath, I shook my head at her and spoke.

"How about we call you Ed?"

"If you agree to let me throw you the welcome I wish to give and learn about your kind then yes, you may call me Ed." Star nodded at me.

"You have a deal, Ed."

"Oh wonderful, please follow these two, they will get you ready for the welcoming." The two who brought us here had entered the room again, well at least I think it's the same people but who knows. One approached me and the other Star.

"Sir will you please follow me."

"Ma'am, follow me and we can prepare." Star looked and me and smiled.

"I'll be fine Marco, go on! We can meet up when they are ready." I must have looked worried about being separated from her, but she was right, we have plenty of time to spare at the moment.

"Alright, I'll see you soon." Star smiled at me and walked off with her companion to who knows where. I was putting a lot of trust in this orb but I don't have much of a choice. I followed the floating man as he leads me down hallways and passageways alike until we ended up in a medium size room that was filled with different clothes as well as a few other men who look to be busy at work preparing everything. The one who led me here spoke to me.

"If you would sit in the chair there sir, we can get started." The man gestured to a chair at the far end of the room; it looks almost like a barber's chair. I made my way to the chair and sat down, the second I did the chair rose into the air lifting me twenty feet up. The man floated up to me and calmly started asking questions in the same voice as the orb. He asked me hundreds of questions about my family, my life, earth, Star, everything. It took us five hours to get through everything when we finally did the chair lowered down to the ground and the man spoke up again.

"With the information you and your companion have given me I will be able to give you a truly grand welcome! Please take the next hour to prepare yourself with any of the dress ware provided and feel free to use the facilities as well. I will be back in an hour to bring you to the party." The man and all of his assistants floated out of the room leaving me alone. I looked around and noticed that there is a shower area in the back, I haven't had a warm shower in a long time so I wasn't going to waste this opportunity. I stripped down from my dirty old clothes and threw my jacket on the ground, I made my way to the shower and turned it on. It was instantly warm to the touch so I stepped inside and let the water flow all over my body. I felt the sting of the warm water finding the smalls cuts I had from being in the brush so much. It hurt but felt good to clean them out at the same time, just like everything else it was bittersweet. I stayed in that shower for forty five minutes just lost in the warmth of the water, a pleasure I had come to miss greatly. I finally forced myself out of the shower and looked and what was available for me to wear. There was everything from formal wear to street clothes, I figure if this is going to be a 'grand welcome party' I should probably dress the part. I threw on the first black suit I could find that fit me well enough and sprayed some cologne over myself. I never was one to spend a lot of time getting ready. Right when I was finishing up the doors to the room flew open and the man floated back in.

"The party is now ready for your arrival, is Marco ready?"

"As ready as I ever will be for a space party Ed, lead the way." He floated off as I followed. We made our way through a maze of halls until we ended up at an elevator. The doors opened as Ed gestured for me to enter.

"This will take you to the party Marco, please do enjoy. There are already more people up there to aid you, should you need it." The man floated away. It was so weird to think that every single person I talked to was just another Ed. I made my way into the elevator and heard the doors close behind me as I felt the small box I was in start to rise. After a few moments the doors opened up to a huge ballroom with one enormous long table filled with earth food. Everything you could imaging was there! Pizza, burgers, nachos, everything! The ceiling of the room must be made of glass because above me is nothing but stars. Out here, so deep in space they shine so bright. I started to make my way toward the table, watching the different Ed's floating about dealing with last minute preparations. As I reached the table I hear the sound of doors opening behind me and turn to see Star emerging from the elevator dressed in a eloquent red ball gown. She smiled at me and made her way to me.

"How do I look Marco? I figured why not go all out." She had done up her hair and put on makeup; she looked more amazing then I have ever seen her before. I am stricken.

"You look amazing Star..." I couldn't stop looking at Star in her dress. I could feel my face getting red with embarrassment as Star just laughed it off.

"You're so cute when you blush." Star took my hand and led me to the table. Star was wide eyed at all the food set out in front of us. A feast like this is truly a treat for being in our situation.

"Wow... they really have everything here. I don't know where to start." I laughed at her and sat down.

"Well I'm going for the pizza, that looks so good." Star went right for the nachos, she always did love my nachos back on earth. As we were eating, one of the Ed's came up to us and offered us some drinks; as there is only water on the table we accepted the delight of something fruity. We ate, talked, and drank for hours. Laughing at each other's jokes, talking about the things we have seen and done; we are having a amazing time under the stars. After a few of the drinks we both realized that there was alcohol in them. At this point neither of us cared but we made sure not to drink too much but still had some fun. As we are talking and laughing to ourselves music starts to play as the ballroom floor lit up in a spectacular display of lights. Before I could even think Star had me by the arm pulling me to the dance floor. The music was playing slowly as she pulled me into her. I felt her hands wrap around my neck as she started to sway to the music. I put my arms around her waist and joined in the small dance we are sharing. I looked up into the night sky, at all those bright glowing stars above us. There is so much life out there, so much that we don't know and somehow within all those stars in the sky I found myself my own brightly glowing Star. As we swayed to the music I couldn't help but think of the man who hurt her. Star was so pure and full of life before we left on this journey, but ever since I got her back from him she has been different. I can tell she is trying her best to hide it, but I know that what he did affected her more that she is willing to admit. She will talk to me about it when she is ready and I know that, I'm just so pissed that there is nothing I can do at the moment. He hurt her and I wasn't there to protect her..

"What's wrong Marco?" I must have been lost in my thoughts and drifted from the dance. I smiled at her knowing this wasn't the time for any of that.

"Nothing at all Star, I couldn't be happier." She smiled at me and looked up at the stars as we stopped dancing.

"Do you ever wonder what's out there Marco? If we found this ship in the middle of space who knows what else is in those stars." I looked at the watch, still glowing a soft white.

"If we had control of this watch maybe we could go find out." She laughed at me.

"You really want to spend your life exploring the galaxy Marco? Don't you think that would get old after a while?" I smiled at her.

"Not if I get to explore it with you." Star blushed at me and hugged me tightly.

"You're so sweet Marco." I embraced her back looking up at the stars once again.

"If I could leave with you right now and take control of this watch to go explore the galaxy I would in a heartbeat. You're all I need Star; when I'm with you everything shines so much brighter." Star pulled back from the hug and pulled my eyes from the stars to hers.

"I will follow you to the edge of space and time Marco Diaz." Before I could react she had her lips on mine. The kiss didn't end with a small peck on the lips this time. Star pushed her weight into me passionately moving her lips against mine. I kissed her back wrapping my arms around her, I can feel her tongue pushing against my lips, begging for entrance. I let her in as my mind was lost from everything else. Our small make-out session lasted only a few minutes but they felt like hours. As Star pulled away she smiled at me and laughed.

"I know I said we shouldn't get distracted but I've missed you and have wanted to do that for a while." I smiled back at her.

"Well feel free to do it anytime." She playfully hit my on the arm laughing.

"Don't get your hopes up, mister!" I laughed along with her as we continued to dance the night away in the star lit ballroom. After a few more hours of having fun, things finally settled down.

"I'm so tired Marco, we should get some rest while we can. We don't often get to sleep in safety." In agreement I stood up from the table and took her by the hand, helping her up.

"Let's get going then, my princess!" I said as I bowed to her. Star giggled at me

"I could get used to that." Laughing, I pulled her toward the elevator where a floating Ed was waiting for us.

"Ed, we would like to get some rest now. Can you show us to some beds?" The elevator doors opened as Ed moved us inside.

"I will meet you at the bottom and take you to your room." The doors closed and the elevator darted down the shaft. When we got to the bottom, sure enough, another Ed was waiting for us.

"If you will follow me please, I do hope you have a good time." I put my hand on Ed's shoulder.

"That was the most fun I have had in years Ed, thank you." Ed looks pleased with my response. We had only walked a few feet but we had already stopped at a door.

"Here we are, this will be your quarters for the rest of your stay here. Feel free to come and go as you like." I looked at the watch and saw that we only had ten hours left until our next jump. I looked back at Ed.

"In ten hours we will be taken from here by the watch Ed, I don't know if we will ever meet again so I want to say thank you again for all your help. It's rare to find someone who is willing to aid us." Ed nodded at me in response.

"I will wake you in nine hours then, to say our goodbyes If you need anything in the meantime, please don't hesitate to ask." Ed floated out of the room and the doors whooshed closed. I turned around to see Star had already stripped out of her dress and was in bed. There was only one bed in the room so I looked around for a place to sleep. Star must have noticed because she was giggling at me once again.

"Get over here Marco, I don't bite." I could feel my face getting red but there was no other choice so screw it. I stripped down to my boxers and climbed into bed with Star. She leaned into me and put her head on my chest.

"Thanks for a great night Marco." Before I could respond I watched her close her eyes and drift to sleep almost immediately after she said that. I can hear her soft breaths and feel her chest push and pull against my body. I could feel sleep pulling me in as well and before I knew it I was dreaming of earth once again.