Nine hours later…

Battleship Endeavor, Infirmary Wing

Terra Firma, high orbit over Africa

December 24, 2012 - Christmas Eve morning

People would either think twice going on an alien ship or beg to be on one. Scott, Reba, the totems, and I had the privilege to go aboard to receive aid and be respected with great hospitality. I was uncomfortable about it, those movies of aliens doing unspeakable things really made me nervous, no matter how fake they were. It was too bad that my broken arm and the exertion of magic made me fall asleep on the dropship to say otherwise.

I woke up a few hours later in the ship’s infirmary wing with my arm and bruises completely healed. I opened my eyes fearing some cliche’ examination room, but thank goodness it wasn’t.

The rectangular resting room, reserved for patients that required a quiet environment to recover, held technology and magical items unrecognizable to me, except for my personal EKG machine with alien symbols. The sheets and my temporary clothes were awesome against my skin, silk I figured. In front of me there was a window, and I gasped in awe with a spaced-out feeling, I was overlooking planet Earth from space. Arana and Keeji were on my bed; Arana said good morning and Keeji licked my face. Then I saw an alien, or something, approaching my bed. I yelped and squirmed in my sheets because it looked nothing like flesh and bone. It reacted and apologized, then calmed me down and introduced “herself” as Comet, one of the chief medical officer’s nurses. It appeared as a collection of rune-engraved rocks circling a bright red light, body formed and shaped as something with a skirt, a female chest, two arms and hands, and a cone head slanted back. She was friendly and explained how my injuries were healed—every bit very confusing—but was hesitant when I mentioned Scott. She gestured at the bed beside me.

Scott was still unconscious with a mask strapped over his mouth and nose. His exposed chest had small devices attached to monitor his vitals. I sat up. The scythe scar was there; pale as clouds in the sky. Comet told me that they had fully healed the rib cage, but the chief medical officer in charge of the surgery had gotten scared seeing the mana heart seal up and heal on its own. I had no comment. Keeji said he figured out how to stop mana production, thanks to Arana, just so the wound is healed before applying pressure. If not for a human anatomy walk through the surgeon retrieved, Scott would’ve died. I thanked her I don’t know how many times. I got up and clenched Scott’s hand.

Reba was taken care of quicker. I didn’t see her until she heard that I was awake. She looked cleaned up in the same replacement clothes I had, looked radiant, and fully had fully embraced her new future after making amends with her totem. She still kept the ponytail. Later I met the captain, a very swell guy, for a grey, and he told me how lucky we were to have survived a reaper attack. He said the crew was calling Scott a hero, but I wasn’t too sure about the lives lost after the mana nearly killed it. I asked him what a reaper was. He didn’t mutter a word. To me, that sounded bad enough to not meddle with.

Brill was saddened by the loss of his soldiers, and he was obviously distressed about it. There were over forty slaughtered; all were in body bags lined up in the hanger. He said it was the biggest loss in five years. I felt bad about it and all I could was say I’m sorry. He understood.

But down on Earth, the attack on Area 51 wasn’t the only topic on the news channels.

Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Miami, and all other cities in the States were overrun with zombies. The whole country had literally collapsed in ten minutes, then all zombies died at once, pinning the country into a state of unrest. Christmas Eve will never be the same. Neighboring countries had to send aid to “hold our hands” to cope with the loss and transformations as the States got back to semi-normal. Just imagine, for ten minutes a quarter of a million zombie bodies littering the streets. Only two pieces made the dead relate to each other: the open cavity where their brain exploded (experts still haven’t figured out how) and the highest percentage of the dead were military. The rest ranged from poor and homeless to the ridiculously rich. Oh and politicians were there, but mostly out of the capitol.

The president had finally showed up, but explained, in his own words, that Griffon’s agents had held him and his family captive under the White House during the containment program. He went out saying his apologies for his absence and opened opportunities to bring in aid faster. The agents had disappeared afterwards when secret service found him.

The scary part was that other countries had experienced the same zombie attack. From that point it seemed the whole world was gonna implode. Instead of zombies dying like in the United States, they reverted back to normal with no memories of being a zombie. I dove deeper. My country had death, but Canada and Mexico didn’t, not even Alaska or Hawaii. It didn’t make sense.

Deryl and my family had told me all that. I was allowed calls to the planet after I convinced Brill my family and friends were worried about me. For them, Deryl and his family had barricaded themselves in a government building until the zombies all died. I feared that his daughters were scared. My family was in the same situation, locking themselves in the cellar. Three of our workers, good friends of the family, turned zombie and screamed, “Witnesses must die.” I still can’t figure out what that meant. They were traumatized, Jacob and Mom mostly, but everybody was still pretty shaken up.

They knew of the containment protocol and asked if we were all right and I told them yes, refraining from Scott’s condition. When they asked where we were, I hit a wall. Come on, be honest, how can I tell them I’m on an alien ship? I just cut the connection saying were fine and be home by morning.

So for nine hours Arana and I pondered about the whole reaper thing, working off what I knew since no alien wanted to tell me what it was. One reaper, that Griffon guy or whoever that was, having the power to control the whole country. A real devil, I thought. Good enough for a theory right? I’m still frightened every time I think of its shape, its mouth, and that scythe. Remembering back to what it said (took me a while), it demanded something from Scott to regain control. What exactly?

Could it be that the Wave, the crystals, and the transformation had something to do with it? Was there something deeper involved? Could there be more reapers on Earth, meaning they disappeared to not kill more zombies? Is it all just one big coincidence? I don’t know about you, but I hate clusterfucks.

I stayed in the medical wing, never leaving Scott’s side and I never explored the ship. I anxiously waited for his eyes to open. Comet checked on him from time to time, but there was no change. I slept for an hour. The rest of the time was spent keeping my eyes open.

I was woken up by the nurse’s gentle but rocky nudge on my shoulder. Looking up while rubbing my eyes she held to me a glass of water with a round ball of ice. The glass hovered from her granite fingers. “Just water, Ms. Walsh, 100% H2O.”

I groaned and thanked her. I sipped the ice water and then it hit me, it was my first drink offered by an alien, and I forgot to ask if it was okay. Stupid grogginess. She noticed my mistake.

“It is fine, miss, nothing will bring harm to you here. Brill promises that. To me, I’m still accepting you’re… I mean, was human.” Her crystal eyes glanced at Scott. “I’ll come back in a while.” She left after the doors hissed shut and the room was quiet except for Scott’s heart beeps. A two-way mirror blocked off my view of the wing, but I knew that there were patients and curious soldiers watching us; it didn’t bother me, there was always a crowd. For a moment, I was beginning to worry about Scott. I squeezed his hand tighter. The tip of his exposed tail twitched a little, and nothing else.

“Please Scott, don’t do this to me,” I whispered. Keeji laid on Scott’s legs, staring at him with saddened eyes. Arana was perched on his EKG machine.

All a sudden, a miracle happened.

Just as I ducked my head feeling drowsy again, Scott’s body shot upright and gasped in air, nearly ripping the respirator off the wall. I screamed and fell onto my butt, almost hitting my head on my bed. The totems yelped and screeched with Keeji rolling off and falling to the steel floor. Scott’s eyes were wide open and he heaved air every second. A while back I thought the level of brain activity meant he couldn’t wake up for a long while. Wrong. My worries coming home without Scott was gone.

“Scott, you’re awake!” I screamed.

Scott looked around and panicked. He ripped off the respirator, “Sonofabitch, what the hell happened?” He asked rubbing his face.

I shot up and plowed into him, giving my boyfriend one great bear hug. Tears formed in my eyes. “I was worried sick, Scott. I thought you weren’t gonna make it.”

He screamed and grimaced, “Ah… chest. Chest hurts,.” he exclaimed.

“Oh shoot I’m sorry.” I pulled away. “Got a little carried away there.”

Scott’s eyes fell on the window and scooted back. “Holy crap. We’re in space?”

“Yes, yes. Hang on, let me get the nurse.”

“Wait. Are we on the alien ship?”

“Yep and plenty more,” Keeji said grinning then jumped back on the bed and licked Scott’s face until he pushed Keeji off.

I ran around and went out to the main medical area. , “Scott’s awake!” I saw Comet treating a patient, becoming confused I believed, and rushed over with Decathan, the one that had saved Scott’s life, right behind her. I turned back seeing Scott feeling his temporary clothes. There were so many emotions running through me I had to let them out.

I screamed and charged at him, careful not to hit his chest. Cupping his chin, we kissed. Scott was surprised for a second, but went with it and returned the favor. Not kissing me for a while was worth the wait. They had to pry us off to do their job.

Scott didn’t leave, he was just examined by the chief medical officer. I swear those pincers for his hands freaked me out sometimes. Someone I forgot brought our clothes back, fresh, clean, and repaired. Although, the smell was… weird. I Can’t describe it in detail but it must’ve been some kind of pungent flower or Jacob’s bathroom. I didn’t care, just glad I was relaxing. After a while, staring at Earth, with all four of us on one bed, our rescuers came.

“I see that Decathan has cleared you two,” Brill smiled.

“Yeah well, I’m just anxious to get back… oh.” I looked just as Scott stopped talking. I gasped a little.

Brill was there with his arms behind him, looking superficial and caring. I wasn’t surprised that Jaruka was there beside him. He was cleaned up in new clothes with his tunic trimmed down a short sleeve, symbols moved, and his dreads were let loose. Except the look in his eyes suggested he was mad about something. He kept looking away, then glaring at us, and then heavily glaring at the third alien randomly. The third alien is what made us gasp.

This one took that tripod gimmick and made us think some scary thoughts. The quills on his head swayed automatically, his eyes stared down at us, and his back was so rigid I thought he would strain. Like the crew, he was unique. I reminded myself not to get on his bad side. His clothes told a different story as they displayed intricate designs and shapes. Royalty I thought.

“Mr. Dunne and Ms. Walsh, allow me to introduce Councilman Trygo Denverbay of the Republic’s Galactic Council. Without him, this operation wouldn’t happen.” Denverbay nodded once.

“Hello,” I said to break the ice. I whispered to Scott, “He’s important. Let’s talk to him like he’s the president.”

“I’m with you,” Scott whispered. We all got up but the totems stayed at the bed.

“Um… pleasure to meet you,” Scott said nervously with his hand out but Denverbay didn’t shake it.

“Lets keep it to words rather than touching,” Councilman said. “So you were human. This is something different.”

I bowed my head, “Thank you. If it wasn’t for you, we would’ve been in the base for a long time. Forgive me; it’s hard to talk to aliens.”

“It’s not a problem, miss, we expect that,” Brill nodded.

Scott brought me closer, not enough to cause pain with his chest. , “So can we go home now?”

“Yes, of course, although…” Brill paused. “There is something we need to discuss.”

“Can we save it for later? This place is uncomfortable. I just want to go home and sleep for a week. What do you need to know more?”

“It’s not that,” Jaruka finally spoke. His jaw was locked, still staring at Denverbay, then at us. “There… There’s a problem.”

Scott and I looked at each other with concern.

Four hours ago…

Several hours ago, I was cleared by Decathan. My minor bruises were gone, my feet cleaned and in sandals, the bullet wound in my shoulder patched with new skin, and in minutes, I was down on the cafeteria like no other, horking down copious amounts of food. Real, hot, food dammit. Nothing came out of a container. If you’re ever on the Endeavor, give credit to the Walcazi brothers, they make one damn good kiraball chili.

Right up to my fifth tray overflowing with goodies and trash talking Kantra about who will win the Howler Cycle championships, Brill found me and told me that Scott had woken up.

I took a swig of homebrew and said, “So Scott finally woke up. Never expected he would come out of it.”

Brill sighed, “Decathan said he never seen a nerve cluster heal so fast in front of him. Mr. Dunne will have chest pains for a few days until the medicine develops new cartilage.”

“He’s calling his mana heart a nerve cluster? Explains the brain trauma.”

“Might be so, but their bodies are something else entirely,” Brill said slowly. “No doubt this is a GMT incident. We keep to keep our guard up.”

“I hear that.” I was feeling my drunken mood coming up. The brew was so good and I was safe, I didn’t care I start singing spontaneously with the crew.

Brill rubbed his big bald head and said, “Come with me to my quarters. We need to talk.” Instantly I noticed something was wrong in my buzzed haze. He walked out fast, for a little guy, and I followed him. We didn’t talk much along the way and that made me cautious because I realized it wasn’t about the body bags.

We entered his quarters, after saying hi to Irna, and he went straight for his wet bar. The glass contained a bigger amount than normal. Dead soldiers were beyond him.

“So you got me and kicked human butt. Big whoop. Just drop off the terrans, leave this system, and I’ll be on my marry way with the income I got. No fuss. Its over.”

“Not nearly as over than you think, mercenary,” a voice said and I stopped all together, knowing who the that voice belonged to. I turned around, eyes falling on a familiar person sitting in a lounge chair. Each of his three legs were wrapped and folded onto each other, I could’ve sworn the chair strained from his weight. “We have things to discuss, concerning your future and your reputation.”

I set my bottle on Brill’s desk, feeling pissed. “Oh great. Denverbay. Why are you here?”

Denverbay picked himself up with each leg tapping the floor. “I’m here to settle pressing matters. Forgive me for not being here sooner, I was in the middle of my little daughter's birthday."

"Whatever."

"Have some manners, Jaruka, he's the real man that saved you," Brill said sternly.

I eyed Brill, noting that changed tone of his, then went back scowling at the councilman, “Wait, you’re here personally?”

Denverbay shook his head, “Nano-Summoner. Can’t risk leaving the planet at the moment.”

I rolled my eyes, “So much for breaking your jaw.” Brill covered his eyes and groaned.

"We understand completely of your situation," Denverbay started, "I've reviewed your story from Brill and matched it with several members of Nova. As far as locating and confronting this mysterious client it’s impossible as his whereabouts were erased from known directories.”

“I’m aware of that. The contact number I got is dead. To make sure that there is nothing wrong, you’re aware that I'm a victim of a scam, right?" Denverbay nodded once. "And if I'm not mistaken, that entitles the fault on my client for sending an employee into a dangerous situation. Also that short bastard owes me a new ship and the other half of my pay for compensation. Oh wait, I almost forgot, I don’t get the money because he’s disappeared.”

“I see that but…”

“So what’s the hold up? I’m rescued. I’ve said my condolences to the friends I had in those bags. Let’s… just… go.” My real concern was getting out before the humans sent missiles at the ship, and I really needed to relieve myself. On the other hand, I wanted to run from what Denverbay had to say. Everything he decides for criminals is bad.

He didn’t speak up but just adjusted his councilman robes and cough. I waited for him to talk in the few seconds of that uncomfortable silence.

“Jaruka,” Brill said pointing at one of the chairs, “take a seat.”

Regarding his word, it would be a problem if I didn’t follow. I hate being out-ranked. I sat.

“I want you to be quiet as we explain, Jaruka,” Brill said calmly. “This matter is about the humans and ‘terrans’ more than you.”

The alcohol wanted me to scream and tell Denverbay to go away. I kept my composure.

“What you said, mercenary, is correct,” Denverbay nodded. “Everything you said entitles to pardon and payment. What I want to know, from you, is why you accepted that survey job in the first place.”

“Like I said before, I was broke. I needed money to keep afloat. It’s the same story dammit,” answered truthfully.

“Yes, by means of keeping your assets to not be found by your enemies, more importantly not get caught by your own people.” I almost cracked my knuckles. “Yes, yes, I know your past. Took a lot of trouble digging that up without raising their suspicions. What a ludicrous crime. But as a councilman, I must respect Halcunac beliefs.”

I growled, “Cut to the real facts, Denverbay.”

“For starters, humans realize they’re not alone. From the moment you parked on the asteroid, three humans knew you existed. Three days ago they took the chance. I tried to talk myself out of giving Brill the permission and star charts and to let your body rot as the Council sends the Titan spires to wipe your existence, but that doesn’t matter now when their species is shifting from one form to another.

“You alone broke the Republic’s sacred rights. You crashed landed on Terra Firma without informing Council officials first, you killed humans without consent, and you asked an independent black-ops group to find you. In return, a rogue reaper was spotted and nearly killed. Punishment must be made. You’re lucky the firing squad isn’t part of this conversation.”

Now things were getting bad. “Hang on right there,” I said as I got up. “They shot me. I was overrun with humans. It was purely self-defense. You can’t pin me that crime on me.”

“Yes I can, Mr. Teal, and it’s done.”

I spun to Brill. “Brill, back me up.”

Brill was partially looking at me and his glass. “I’m sorry, Jaruka. What he said.” He took one big gulp.

My whole world circled down the drain and my heart felt heavy. I stood there slack jawed at them. I couldn’t believe I was hearing. How could Brill agree to his words?

“I… I…” It was nowhere near screaming about my best friend. “You betrayed me?”

“No Jaruka, I only kept you off the shooting alley’s list. Tell him the choices, Trygo,” Brill said to Denverbay.

“Choices? What choices?”

Denverbay walked to speak with each leg tapping to annoy me. “You will be going against the Council, to be judged for breaking the Primitive Culture Protection Act as one choice. Make a note of that. However, with this situation, we must play it by ear to squeeze your trial in.”

If I had beer in my mouth, I would be spitting that out. “Oh great. I’m on the waiting list. I’ve heard of this. I have to sit tight at a non-disclosed location for the time being. Where am I going to be? No wait, don’t tell me. I will be… held up in some elder’s villa on Creos. Perfect cover.”

“Jaruka, can you just calm down,” Brill huffed.

“I’m drunk, give me a break!”

Denverbay rolled his three eyes, “The time is enough to get your issues settled. Where you will reside is up to you for we are betting you choose the lesser of two evils.”

“Lesser of two evils,” I said with a sneer. “Send me to Mawajan Prison, that’s my choice.”

“Not there. You have friends in the guard ranks and the warden herself. Commandar Kantra said so.” Lousy traitor. “The other choice is a job and it’s workable to combine with the waiting period.”

I didn’t make a come back. Community service can help me get off the trial’s final decision a little. Not much but enough to avoid a death penalty. I couldn’t resist. “Go on.”

Denverbay raised his left arm and pointed at Brill’s window. The view showed a portion of the United States and Northern Asian countries. “From that drunken haze, I assume you really forgot the real problem. We need somebody, like you, to be on Terra Firma and record vital information of their transformation.”

I backed up, nearly knocking down my chair. “Whoa whoa whoa, hold on. You’re saying I must hide out on Terra Firma?” Denverbay nodded. “No, crog that. No. I will get killed.”

“You will have a DNA mask on you at all times. It is inevitable.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” I combed back my oil-free dreads, feeling the distinct grain patterns.

Brill drank the rest of his liquor and shivered. He finally said, “This is for Terra Firma’s sake. What’s happening down there is very important. Humans have access to magic, that’s good enough for the Council to be cautious.” Brill pulled out a small vial from his uniform pocket, it glowed bright blue. “This was recovered from Scott Dunne’s damaged ‘mana heart.’ The properties of this substance is unlike anything I’ve encountered. We need an inside person to feed information to know what we are dealing with. You should take it, Jaruka. You’re the closest man around that knows more about the humans. You know how to survive down there, I can tell.” He placed the vial on his desk.

Resting my hands on my waist I said, “Well I can’t do all of it, too much detail.”

“I’ll help with that, Jaruka. Might be a while before you get partners.”

Just what I needed, more time to wait for backup. “What’s the second choice?”

“Its best to take the first one…”

“No, it’s my decision. Tell me.”

Brill pinched his brow.

Denverbay came closer to me, “We take you back to Viro to wait for your trial.”

That really did it. Viro is my home world, my origin. Denverbay said it and I had reason to believe that he wanted to play with my emotions, just like Griffon, but without that evil glow.

“Oh that’s low, man. That is low,” I muttered.

“We let your own people decide your fate if that’s the case,” Denverbay explained with no poison on his voice.

I got personal and got close to him, looking dead in his eyes. Both my arms were flexing for some action. I kept myself from punching the nanite body. “The only way I go back to Viro is in a body bag. They already have me marked for death if I’m caught off guard,” I yelled. I almost added a growl in those words.

Denverbay leaned back. With each step and movement, I knew I got him. “Fair enough. What is your choice?”

In drama fashion I went for the wet bar. Not for a drink, but to think. I can’t stand Brill’s choice of drink, not used to drinking fungus juice.

So it boiled down to two paths. One leading to certain death. The other immediate death. On one side I get to dive further into how they got unauthorized technology, what they can do with their new powers, and figure out the connection between Griffon and Scott Dunne. The other is just death. I couldn’t allow that.

I made a commitment long ago to keep afloat, to stay alive, and to stay away from my people. Ever since I was born, they had brought me nothing but grief. Except for my father and big twin sister because they had protected me. It’s a long story, don’t bother asking.

“Does Shaotzi know?” I asked. Shaotzi is my big twin sister.

“I told your father to tell her,” Brill explained. “He’s mad.” Figures. I was grateful that Brill didn’t make me talk to them in person.

“As always,” I muttered. “Do I have the right to make demands?”

“If the circumstances call for it,” Denverbay receeded.

I stared at Brill and Denverbay, “I want a new ship. Not just any other ship, I want the same maker, the same type, and modified by my specs. Human transportation will bore me to death.”

“Jaruka, I don’t think…”

“Done.” Denverbay cut off Brill, “but does this mean you accept it?”

It was the hardest decision I had ever made. I sighed hard and said, “Yes, I’ll do it.”

Denverbay nodded then picked up a small box on Brill’s desk. He explained the conditions of my sentence as he strapped an indestructible Slipspace ankle bracelet to my exposed right ankle. It wasn’t metal, only a flexible alloy of a name I cannot and never will be able to pronounce. “Once we send a monitor satellite here, that is where you send your reports. At the rate the humans predict when the transition will end, your time on Terra Firma will be two years or earlier depending on your trial date. The bracelet also monitors where you are, your condition, a fail safe if you are killed, and the address you will stay at for the time being,” Denverbay explained.

I cocked my head, “Stay at?”

Both looked afraid to say. It took me a few seconds to hit me.

“Hell no.”

“T-Two… two… years?” I stuttered.

“At the… winery?” Katie stuttered.

It felt like the perfect opportunity to turn my pants a darker shade of brown. You would too if you heard what they planned while you’re in a coma.

Brill let out a worried sigh and blinked those large, black eyes.

Denverbay shook his head, “I’m really sorry it came to this but we we’re running out of options. Think of this as for the sake of your people to find the truth. What’s done is done, Mr. Dunne.”

The pain in my chest was still there. There were no stitches to touch or feel; Decathan had said that it was fresh skin and the pain would go away within a month, but checking my butt every five minutes bugged me. One more scar for my depressing collection. I had thought that we were free from the aliens and could go home. That councilman must have a really bad poll record.

“So you find us, bring us here, patch me up, let us stay on this ship watching my world rotate, and you’re going to dump this asshole in our care?” I beamed.

Jaruka was accustomed to our bashing, he didn’t flinch as he looked at Earth. The ship was passing over the Pacific Ocean and we all got a good look at ground zero. It was still covered by thick, grey clouds, circling in a spiral pattern. I glanced at that Denverbay (those tripod legs still creep me out) and he nodded once.

“That’s impossible, sir, I can’t allow it,” Katie shook her head. “My family will freak if they see him. Our whole wine operation could be effected if he comes close to the cellars and the warehouse. He could drive my Mom insane.”

“He doesn’t have to be in the same building as you two,” Brill explained. “He will have a loaner dropship and be somewhere else. Your home will be a place of reference and his check-in point. Believe me, if there was another way to do this, we would be on it in a second.”

“Then why us?” I asked, leaning on my recovery bed.

“You two are the only humans we can trust who don’t want to kill us. Sorry for saying that.”

I sighed hard, “Super.” I looked at Jaruka who still hadn’t looked at us.

“It is best we must part now before Wringheart gets tired. I on the other hand have to make a formal apology with your country, and then somehow force them to issue Jaruka’s citizenship documents. You’ll have a way to contact me if anything happens. In the mean time, treat this as a way to form diplomatic friendships. Best to do for First Contact.” Brill rubbed his head.

“I still don’t like it. He’s crazy,” Keeji spoke.

“He’s a good man, once he’s happy.” Brill sounded sullen after that.

I pulled Katie close to me. “Let’s go home. I had enough.” Jaruka bonked his head on the window.

We walked for the first time in hours, I didn’t want to look too long at what was surrounding me. All of us, including our totems, entered an elevator and rode it to I supposed the hanger bay. I caught Jaruka pulling at the black band around the middle of his right leg, between the knees. Every time he pulled it for some reason, it resisted and shrunk. From his “drunk” attitude I gathered that he hated the thing. He still hadn’t said a word.

“So, will there be more coming to Earth? Jaruka doesn’t seem to be happy about this intelligence job,” Katie asked.

“More will come,” Denverbay nodded. “Customs, background checks, and immunity protocols will take time to process. Personally, I do fear for his sanity.”

“You don’t give an ass about anybody.”

We all looked at Jaruka, finally speaking again. Keeji whimpered and leaned on me, along with Katie. Jaruka slowly looked up with eyes so mad, so sad, he could shoot laser beams at us. “What’s the point? I’ll be going to the gallows after this. There’s nothing left for me.”

Denverbay grumbled, “Also, I will be sending a reporter to record your stories. You’ll hear from us when he or she is coming.”

Seconds passed and before we knew it, the doors opened. I snapped back to see the hanger bay, crowded with aliens. If I was right, the whole crew was there. “Good god,” I whispered.

Ever single Nova soldier was dead silent and dead set staring at us, me specifically. I had overheard that the crew was calling me a hero, the mutant that maimed an unknown but deadly reaper. I almost felt like a celebrity to extraterrestrials. Know this, how can they call you a hero if you were involved with an accidental mass killing? More important, I apparently have the power of a nuclear bomb inside me. They kept looking at us as we were escorted to a part of the hanger, my back felt heavy. I read their faces, seeing how amazed they were, some even walked away. A whole new human with bigger responsibilities.

Look, I know they are our allies, but I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that at any minute, they would go nuts and kill me and Katie. At least Katie held me, her warmth calmed me.

“This isn’t right,” one alien in the distance yelled. I didn’t know who it was.

We stopped in front of two big ships; one was the ship we were carried off in.

“I’m giving you one of our brand new dropships, Jaruka, it’s the closest I can do for now,” Brill said almost reluctantly. “Wringheart’s team modified it to be your temporary home, from a shower to a decent kitchen. All your things we recovered from the Lunar Spear’s remains are already inside. They took the trouble to install custom alarms if any humans take them. I should warn you, don’t kill any unarmed citizens. It will look bad in the future.”

Jaruka stared at the ship, “Whatever.”

Reba walked up beside us, “Can you guys drop me off at the hotel?” She asked.

“I think we can,” Katie nodded. “Be sure to look for me at Temecula, I’ll give you pointers how to cast some spells.” Reba and her leopard totem thanked her. We did by the way, but we had to make one stop at the Sander’s house for our stuff. Most of it we recovered like our laptops and clothes, but my father’s pistol wasn’t discovered in the house. We left a bundle of fresh flowers on their doorstep as we shed tears. Goodbye Mike and Ashley.

“Mr. Dunne, Ms. Walsh, I assure you this wont be a big burden for you two,” Brill promised. “I’ll make it better in the coming months. Count on me. We’ll be in touch.”

As we boarded the ship, the aliens went ahead and gave a collective hoo-rah for us. I think it was more toward Jaruka. They chanted, “Family to the core!” I could understand their sympathy. Brill and Denverbay waved at us as the hatch closed.

“Pig headed, good for nothing, bureaucratic, back stabbing Hammer,” Jaruka cursed. “My friends are treating you like a hero, and I’m the councilman’s convict errand boy. It’s not fair.” He punched the wall with one fist, denting it. All five of us jumped.

“Would it be better if I said sorry?” Katie asked with sympathy.

“Don’t start, miss, I’m more hurt than ever. Come with me and don’t touch my stuff.”

If that was easy, his stuff was overcrowding the largest part of the dropship. It was hard to move without stretching my chest scar. We made it through to the cockpit and sat down on three chairs. The totems entered our bodies for Jaruka’s safety reasons. I sat in between the girls. Buckles and straps shot out and strapped us in.

Jaruka sat down in the pilot’s seat and strapped in. When I thought he was gonna turn the ship on, he started kicking the dashboard with his booted foot several times, grunting every time. After that he sat still, even as lights outside lit him the way off the ship.

“Will he be all right with you guys?” Reba asked us.

“Wanna bet,” I whispered.

“I heard that,” Jaruka grumbled.

We didn’t move several minutes later after Brill’s dropship left. Somebody over the intercom forced Jaruka to activate the engines. We flew and we all watched Earth get closer and closer. The morning sun basked on us.

As much as I know, this adventure was the craziest so far. Our home is changed forever, Katie and I are the future humans, aliens exist, and we have to babysit one for two years. Jonathan Walsh will have a heart attack when we tell him. Certainly, I was really grateful I was alive and I still had Katie.

It’s gonna take a long time for earth to right itself. I just hope we live long enough to see the end.