25. Roxanne

Date

I furrow my brow as I try to make sense of the unfamiliar symbols on the holographic display in front of me. It is like trying to decipher a complex code, and I let out a frustrated sigh as I stretch my back to ease the tension that has built up.

As I continue to study the Klendathian language, I feel impressed, and a little jealous, of Krogoth's ability to learn English so quickly. I smile fondly as I recall the rough-around-the-edges version of him I met on Earth. I think he might like it if I could speak a few of his words before we part ways. Plus, it'll be fun to see the look on the Big Guy's face when I remind him I kicked his ass in his own language.

As I peer at the holographic display, I notice the intricate symbols that translate to "Mortakin-Tok" in English, listed simply as a sacred bonding ritual. The meaning behind it holds great significance to Krogoth, and completing the ceremony seems to be a mystery not only to me but also to him, as none of the male Klendathians have done it in so long.

"MOR-ta-kin TOOK," I say slowly, sounding out each syllable.

"Close, MOR-ta-kin TOCK," Krogoth says, correcting.

I turn around in surprise to see the smiling face of Krogoth moving towards me. He is wearing his robe and huge fur monster claw cloak that makes him seem like a regal titan. He lightly kisses me on the head as he approaches. My heart flutters at the sight of him.

"Hail, tiny Pebbles, are you studying Klendathian?" he asks. Excitement and surprise blooms in his face as he looks over the display.

"Yeah, well, trying to, anyway. I was hoping to surprise you with it, though," I state, slightly disappointed that I've been caught so soon.

"This is a surprise! I thought with your decision to return to Earth, the last thing you'd be doing is learning our language," he says, rubbing my back with his huge hand.

I look up into his beautiful purple eyes. "It's been a crazy few days, but it just feels like the right thing to do." I take his hand in my two hands. "When you were at Terminus Exile Station, I missed you terribly. Then almost losing you in that awful duel… I really like you, Krogoth…"

"I feel the same. Always have since I first laid eyes on you," he says, his eyes full of intensity. "I came to ask you on a ‘date,'" he finishes, turning his back.

"A date? Aww, Krogoth, that's sweet you remembered," I say, delighted at the idea. "I'm surprised. You didn't seem to know what I meant last time," I add inquisitively.

He lets out a short laugh. "I didn't! Still not sure, but I looked through Astraxius' notes and it makes more sense now." He paces back and forth, looking unsure.

"I'm so excited. I formally accept your invitation, Korgy. So, what's the date?" I ask, clapping my hands together lightly.

Krogoth stops pacing and stands in front of me, like a criminal mastermind unveiling his master plan. "Like I mentioned before, I want to cook you some proper Klendathian cuisine. I fear the jellied rations are not doing my people's reputation justice," he says in a serious tone.

Delight floods through me as he mentions cooking something special for me. "Ooh! What are you making us?" I ask eagerly, my mouth already watering at the idea of eating something other than weird jelly rations.

"I have a wild boracks which I hunted hung out in the back kitchen cooler. It should be perfect now for us to enjoy," he says with a proud smile.

I try to hide my disappointment as he mentions the boracks. "Boracks… the same animal the milk comes from?" I say, teasing him. "Poor thing was probably waiting to be milked when you blasted her."

"Pfft! This was no domesticated dairy animal but a wild, savage beast! I hunted it in the great forest of Draxxi for half a day, tracking its movements, trying to catch up with it. It must have had my scent, for it evaded me for many hours. Until, at last, it stopped to drink at a river, having been pressed so hard. Then I took my opportunity, pouncing upon it, my arms wrapped round the beast's neck. We wrestled together until it finally grew exhausted, and I threw it to the ground, victorious. I finished the proud creature off with my claws," he says, pacing back and forth during his retelling, almost as if reliving every action over.

"Besides, we Klendathians shun using technology for hunting. It's taboo," he says with a serious expression.

"Wait, you don't use technology. Why?" I ask, suddenly surprised by this revelation.

"We use some, but only for domestic purposes. However, it is passed down on our myths and legends. The Gods look down upon it, teaching us it ultimately will weaken us as a people. We must be able to survive without it," he explains as if it's the most obvious thing in the world…his world.

"But that doesn't make sense. We're in a great big freaking spaceship traveling between stars and you shoot blue laser bolt things out of your gauntlets," I say incredulously.

"We borrow all our advanced technology from the Scythians, except for our warvisors. Five hundred years ago, the elders and some chieftains, overcome with greed for technology and the prospect of making a mark in the universe, accepted a deal with the Scythians. They turned their backs on the old ways, the old teachings, and now the Gods punish us." Sorrow fills his voice, and he casts his eyes down.

"I'm sorry, Krogoth. I didn't mean to bring up old wounds," I offer as I go to him and give him a tight hug.

"It's fine, Pebbles. You need to know the truth. My people call this event ‘The Scythian Schism.' Before it, we had an isolationist existence at peace with the universe. Living simply not because we weren't capable of building more advanced technology but because we followed the precepts. The majority of technologies the Scythians give us are instruments of war, but they are for hunts of a different sort, so we shun them back home, striving to follow the old ways."

I'm such a fool. Once again, my curiosity causes others harm. Krogoth is happily bringing me news about our date and now I have him upset remembering all this traumatic history. I desperately want to change the topic to something more upbeat. "That explains why you bravely wrestled our dinner. It'd be a shame to waste it." I smile at him.

"Indeed, we shall honor him with our careful preparations and eager tasting," he says, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Good, I can't wait, Big Guy," I say, my grin matching his own wide smile.

"Meet me in the Command Bridge in… two hours." He rubs his nose against mine as he turns around heading out the room.

Such a big sweetheart. Wait, I've only got two hours to get ready.

After spending some luxurious time in the bedroom's shower before drying and brushing my hair, I slipped into my old Earth clothes. The soft fabric against my skin feels weird after wearing those robes for so long. But now, as I look down at myself, wearing my green dress, white blouse and overcoat, I don't feel like myself at all anymore. Familiar last minute outfit doubt creeps in, and I quickly change back into the bespoke robe I had created for myself before. There, this feels much more comfortable. Oops, I better rush or I'm going to be late!

I stand before the Command Bridge door, my heart racing with anticipation and nervousness. Strangely, I feel almost as nervous now as I did during all the harrowing events of the past few days. As I wait, I take in the surroundings. The black walls of the corridor are cool to the touch, and the hum of the ship's engines fills the air. It makes me wonder how different his planet will be after his earlier revelation. How exciting it will be to visit Klendathor with Krogoth before going home.

It's only been a short time since my fateful date with Robert, but it might as well be a lifetime. Time has slowed to a crawl, and each day brings new experiences and challenges. The contrast between my awkward, hollow dating experiences previously and this otherworldly adventure with Krogoth couldn't be more stark. It's like comparing a dry breakfast bar to a gourmet restaurant's juicy steak. Jeez, I must be hungry!

As the door whooshes open, I step through, and immediately, my senses are assaulted by the rich aroma of meat cooking. My mouth waters at the tantalizing scent, and I can hardly contain my excitement. "Smells delicious!" I exclaim, unable to resist the temptation to inhale deeply.

Krogoth is standing at the table, busily preparing something, and he turns around in a whirl as I enter. "Good timing, and looking beautiful, Pebbles," he says, grinning. "The table has just been set." I take a moment to survey the room, and to my surprise, I see Krogoth has transformed the cold, metallic command bridge into a sophisticated dining area, complete with candles and great solid wood furniture.

I take in his appearance, and I'm momentarily taken aback. He's wearing a huge, purple tuxedo-like garment, the shirt adorned with large white ruffles that stick out of the chest and sleeves. I notice he has fastened a red scarf around his neck and tied back his once long, glossy black hair in an absurd man bun. He looks like he's about to enter a fancy-dress competition. It's the complete opposite of his usual fierce warrior persona. Despite trying to suppress my laughter, a small giggle escapes my lips.

I approach Krogoth, my eyes taking in his unique and eccentric attire. "Ah, that's… an interesting look you've got there," I say, moving towards him.

"It pleases you?" he responds, turning to face me. "I fabricated these based on Astraxius' notes. It mentioned formal attire such as this." He moves his arms to encompass his shape, drawing my attention to the large white ruffles protruding from his purple tuxedo. "This material around the neck is a liability! What if an enemy intended to choke me? Your males are strange creatures." He finishes loosening the scarf around his neck.

I smile at his attempt to look more like a human man, but I shake my head. "The effort is sweet, Krogoth, but I'd rather have the real you, not an imitation of something you're not." I step closer to him and untie his scarf, freeing his neck. I take out his hair tie, allowing his long, glossy black hair to tumble down in waves. "Much better," I say playfully, looking at the rest of his attire. "I'll get to the rest of you later."

As I turn to survey the room, I notice the huge ornate dark wood table and two chairs behind Krogoth. The table has plates covered with a cloche, hiding some deliciousness within. I make my way towards one of the enormous chairs and attempt to hop up onto the seated portion. My face turns red with embarrassment as I realize I can't reach it. Suddenly, I feel Krogoth's huge hands grip me by the waist, hoisting me up onto the chair so that my legs dangle off the ground. I feel like a toddler on a highchair.

He lets out a short laugh. "Tiny Pebbles. We'll get smaller furniture for your visit on Klendathor," Krogoth promises, pushing my chair closer to the table.

"I'm not tiny; you're just overgrown!" I retort, a smile playing on my lips.

He smirks at me as he moves around the table, lighting strange-looking candles that cast flickering shadows on the walls. With a few taps on his console, he turns off the room's normal lights, filling the room with a warm, intimate glow. "You've gone to a lot of trouble, candles and everything." I gesture to the flicking flames.

"The translations in the notes are incorrect. I nearly built a bonfire until I double checked the English." He chuckles as he settles into his chair, the wood creaking under his weight.

"Well, I appreciate it, you big sweetheart. But if I don't start eating whatever that mouth-watering smell is, I might end up drooling," I say eagerly.

He removes the cloche from his plate, and I follow suit. Billowing steam blooms from the plate, the heat brushing my face. The savory aroma of cooked meat and gravy greets me as I take in the sight of the giant half a cow-sized amount of steak. This probably weighs the same as me! The meat is covered in brown gravy mixed with some odd colored vegetables of unknown alien varieties. I am about to complain about the size until I see Krogoth nodding towards me with his head, hope in his eyes. Hopefully, this tastes as good as it smells - no pressure.

I take the giant sharp-looking knife, which seems more like a sword in my hands, and cut a small piece. The meat is amazingly tender, the steak parting with almost no effort against the knife-sword. I delicately slide the oversized double-pronged fork into the succulent slice, the sharp tips piercing through the meat with ease. As I bring the bite-sized morsel to my lips, I inhale deeply, savoring the rich, meaty aroma wafting up from the plate. With a gentle bite, the tender meat melts in my mouth, releasing a burst of flavors that dance across my taste buds. The meaty juices flood my senses, coating my tongue with a heavenly sensation that leaves me wanting more. The texture is smooth and buttery, the meat almost dissolving on my tongue. I close my eyes, lost in the moment, as a soft moan escapes my lips.

Krogoth claps his massive hands together in excitement, causing the table to shake. "You like it! Very good." He sits back in his seat, visibly relieved.

"It tastes amazing, Krogoth, the best steak I've ever had. You're clearly a man of many talents," I say greedily, cutting more slices for myself.

We continue eating in comfortable silence for a bit, both of us clearly enjoying the meal too much to talk. I notice, to my astonishment, Krogoth using his sharp claws to cut neatly and spear chunks of the meat, eating it at an incredibly efficient rate. The sight of it makes me giggle as I lean back in my chair and pat my very full tummy, gazing out of the view port at the mesmerizing spectacle of colors dancing outside the ship. The strange hues and shades of light are almost dazzling, yet they also have a calming effect on me, as if I'm watching a beautiful sunset. A perfect backdrop to this lovely dinner, adding a stunning display of color, making me feel at peace in this strange new world.

I look up at him. "Krogoth, do your people know the concept of love?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, of course, we're not monsters," he replies with a smile, a huge chunk of meat dripping gravy on the end of his clawed finger.

Taking a deep breath, feeling nervous and more than a little foolish. "I'm falling in love with you," I confess, looking deeply into his purple eyes.

Krogoth jumps from his seat and rushes over to me, his eyes misty with emotion. "Words cannot express how glad I am that you feel the same way, Pebbles," he says, taking my hand and placing something in it. "I always knew you were special, but I've loved you from the moment you bravely fought against the Scythians. Seeing you standing, terror in your eyes, yet never giving up." He nods to the area where the defense controls are.

"What's this?" I open my hands to behold a beautifully intricate golden necklace with a strange orange glowing stone that swirls in the center. I gasp in shock to behold such a gorgeous piece. "You're giving this to me?" I ask, stunned.

"Of course. Here, let me put it on you," he says, taking the necklace and placing it around my neck carefully. "That stone in the middle is pure Elerium, the most valuable resource in the universe, but it pales compared to what you mean to me." He kisses me on the back of the head, and I feel a rush of warmth spread throughout my body.

Tears well up in my eyes, and I am overcome with happiness. How could I turn my back on him? This feels like the right thing to do. "Oh Krogoth, I want to spend more time on Klendathor. I mean more time with you… You know, complete the bonding ritual the Mortakin-Tok," I say, turning to hug him fiercely, never wanting to let go .

His eyes widen in shock before his usual masculine composure gives way to a trembling lip as his eyes glisten with unshed tears. Then, as if a switch has been flipped, his expression transforms into one of pure joy and happiness, a radiant smile breaking across his face, mirroring my own intense emotions. With a gentle yet firm grasp, he spins me around in his muscular arms, a gesture filled with boundless excitement and affection.

After a moment, he sets me down gently before taking my hand and leading me to the viewport. "I want you to see this," he says, his voice brimming with anticipation and excitement, his eyes shining with the promise of something extraordinary.

As the ship decelerates from hyper speed, the colors outside the viewport blur and dissipate into a wash of white, replaced by the stunning vista of a massive purple sun. The sight before us is truly breath-taking, as the sun seems to be alive, erupting with explosions of molten lava. Its strange light casts an otherworldly glow upon a beautiful greenish-red planet, its surface dominated by a single massive land mass, unlike Earth's oceans.

I feel the awe-inspiring sight wash over me as I take in the vast expanse of the planet's surface. The sheer scale of it all is almost overwhelming. The planet appears to be slowly revolving, its rotation so languid it's almost imperceptible. A large moon orbits the planet, reflecting purple light from the sun onto the planet's surface. The effect is like two purple eyes looking down upon the planet, watching over it like a benevolent presence.

As I lean in closer to Krogoth, I feel his hard, muscular body against me, providing a sense of security and comfort. My senses heightened by the sheer magnitude of the sight before us, Krogoth utters the words.

"Welcome home, Pebbles."

THE END