Chapter 20

On their last night aboard the Anamafrid, Kipexo was awoken yet again by the sound of Ethan’s voice, but this time, it wasn’t cries of fear and pain that dragged him from sleep. Ethan and Sam were whispering to each other, and rather than open his eyes and disturb them, Kipexo laid still and silent as they talked.

“You’ll write to me, won’t you?” Sam asked.

“Of course I will,” Ethan replied. “Talk to Andrew. Vroft gave him a transmitter so they could keep in touch. I’m sure he’d let you use it to contact me whenever you want. And who knows, maybe in a couple of years, we can visit each other.”

“I’m nervous about going home. I was hoping we’d get through it together.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be. I get it. You’re doing the right thing.”

“I’m glad you think so because I feel guilty as hell sending you home alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have Grolpre. And, for the record, if it were our choice to make, I would’ve told her to do the same thing.”

“Thank you.”

The Earthlings were quiet for a moment before Ethan asked, “Do you think they’re going to talk before we leave?”

Who was he talking about?

“I don’t know,” Sam replied. “They’re both really stubborn.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“I tried, but she looked so sad when I brought it up that I changed the subject.”

“Yeah, Kipexo didn’t exactly look pleased when I brought it up either.”

They were talking about Kipexo So the ‘she’ they spoke of must be…

Kipexo opened his eyes to find Grolpre awake and staring at him over her Earthling’s head. She had her face tucked behind Sam so Ethan couldn’t see that her eyes were open.

“What do we do if they don’t make up before we leave?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know.”

“They’re best friends. They can’t just… never speak again.”

Grolpre was still staring at Kipexo, and he didn’t look away.

“I think there’s more to it than that,” Ethan said.

“You noticed too, huh?” Sam asked, and they dropped their voice so low Kipexo could barely hear them. “Should we say something?”

“I’m not sure. It might just make things worse. It’s not like it would change anything.”

Grolpre’s eyes slid sadly away from Kipexo’s, and a sharp pain ripped through his chest, nearly taking his breath away.

Sam sighed and closed their eyes. “I guess not. I just hate seeing her so unhappy.”

‘Me too,’Kipexo thought, but Ethan was right. No amount of discussion would change the fact that, tomorrow, they would have to say goodbye. What was the point of deepening that pain? Grolpre’s behavior toward this situation did surprise him, though. She wasn’t one to ignore problems or run from conflict. She was always telling him to talk about his feelings, so why was she being so quiet now when it came to her own? Perhaps she also agreed with Ethan that there was little point in talking knowing the situation wasn’t going to change.

Perhaps she was protecting him by staying silent.

Or maybe she thought he wouldn’t want to hear what she had to say.

He continued to look at her, but she’d closed her eyes again. Sam’s breathing had evened out, and they started to snore. Kipexo could tell by Ethan’s breathing that his Earthling wasn’t asleep yet, so he tightened his arm around him, pulling him closer and snuffling his hair.

Ethan sighed, wound his legs around Kipexo’s, and hugged Kipexo’s arm to his chest. Kipexo waited until Ethan went limp in his arms before he finally closed his own eyes and went back to sleep.

*****

Kipexo and Ethan’s bags were packed and waiting on the walkway just outside the Anamafrid’s door. They’d gotten a message from Sovereign Luxtetana late that morning informing them that the ship’s repairs were complete and that their new quarters were ready for them. Reethis had the hyperjump coordinates to Earth and had poured over every inch of his ship, inspecting all the new equipment and repairs. In the end, he begrudgingly admitted the Lifreet had done a decent enough job. Everything was set and ready for their departure. Knowing they’d all be back on Earth in a manner of hours, the humans’ excitement practically buzzed in the air, and Kipexo didn’t want to make them wait any longer.

With Dex stowed in his carrier at their feet, Kipexo and Ethan stood just inside the ship as many of the humans, more than Kipexo expected, came to say goodbye. They shook Kipexo’s hand, hugged Ethan, and issued endless thanks to them both. Kipexo’s face ached from smiling by the time their friends were the only ones left to see them off.

“I still think yer crazy,” Reethis said as he shook Kipexo’s hand.

“You say that now,” Kipexo replied, “but just wait until I have trade contracts and need ships to fill them.”

Reethis scratched his chin. “Trade contracts, you say?”

Kipexo laughed. “You better find yourself a crew fast, old man. If you get in at the start, there could be a big pay off in your future.”

Reethis stepped aside to let Natalie say her goodbyes, but he continued to absentmindedly run a finger back and forth across his chin as he stared at her back the entire time.

“You watch your backs, alright?” Natalie warned. “Don’t go getting all soft and trusting just because the war is over.”

“You’re starting to sound like Reethis,” Ethan said.

Natalie shrugged. “Maybe the old geezer is rubbing off on me.”

Behind her, Reethis harrumphed. They both quickly excused themselves to start their pre-flight checks and prepare the ship for takeoff.

Sara was next, and she gave both of them a hug, which took Kipexo by surprise. “Please be careful,” she said. “I know I don’t have to say it but, watch out for each other.”

“We always do,” Ethan said. He pulled a paper from his back pocket and handed it to her. “For my mother.”

Sara nodded. “Did you tell her about Erin, or should I warn her beforehand?”

“No, it’s all in there. I broke it to her as gently as I could.”

“I’ll help her make arrangements for a funeral. She’ll need the closure.”

“Thank you. Don’t forget the pictures.”

“I won’t.”

Ethan asked Sara to take a few pictures of him and even a couple of him and Kipexo together to show his mother he was alive and well and happy. Kipexo tried not to think about the reaction Ethan’s mother might have to the image of her son hugging a four-armed alien. He hoped someday to introduce himself to her either in person or through a comm and ease her mind about their relationship.

“Where’s Andrew?” Ethan asked.

“Oh, he’s… in the middle of something,” Sara said. “He said he’d be here.” She turned and peered down the hall, but Andrew was nowhere to be seen. “I’ll go see what’s holding him up.”

When she walked away, Sam and Grolpre were the only ones left standing with Kipexo and Ethan. The two Earthlings looked at each other and immediately came together in a tight hug, leaving the two Raugon standing close by, avoiding each other’s eyes. There was so much tension between him and Grolpre it made Kipexo’s skin itch. After everything they’d been through together, it felt wrong to be at odds with her.

“Let me know as soon as you guys get back,” Ethan said. “I want to hear all about it.”

“I will,” Sam promised.

The humans separated and they each looked up at their masters with the same disappointed crinkle in their brows.

“Good grief,” Ethan said in exasperation. “Hug her already, Kipexo.”

Sam motioned toward Kipexo in clear agreement with Ethan, and Grolpre clicked her tongue at them.

Kipexo finally looked at her, and he took one step closer, giving her the choice to join him or back away. To his surprise, she stepped forward too, and they put their arms around each other in the stiffest, most awkward hug of his life. After only a few seconds, she tried to pull away, but he tightened his arms, refusing to let her go. She looked up at him, and when their eyes met, something broke between them, and she softened in his arms. She hugged him tighter and laid her head on his shoulder, and he sighed in relief.

“I’m sorry,” he told her.

“No,” she said. “Don’t be. I told you to put your ghosts to rest and find your purpose. It’s not your fault that purpose doesn’t include us.”

Kipexo winced. “Grolpre… I—”

“Don’t do that either, Kipexo,” she said tearfully. “Please.”

He nodded and finally let her go. “Thank you for believing in a grouchy, broken soldier like me.”

Grolpre laughed as she wiped her eyes. “You were so grouchy. Gods…”

Kipexo laughed with her to keep from crying.

“You two are impossible,” Sam said irritably. “Why did that take you so long?”

Grolpre shushed them and took their hand. “Be safe,” she told Kipexo and Ethan. “Be happy.”

Kipexo put an arm around Ethan. “We will.”

She nodded and walked away.

Sam looked back once and waved.

As soon as the two of them turned the corner out of sight, Ethan broke down in tears. Kipexo rushed to comfort him, but Ethan waved him off.

“I’m fine,” he insisted. “It’s going to be fine.”

“Yes, it is,” Kipexo agreed. “We’ll see them again, I’m sure.”

Ethan nodded and cleaned his face with his sleeve.

Reethis came over the ship’s loud system and announced he was starting warm-up procedures and instructed everyone to head for secure seats.

“We should go,” Kipexo said, and he picked up Dex’s crate.

“What about Andrew?” Ethan asked.

“He’ll have to comm us with his goodbyes. He’s probably already preparing the baby for a hyperjump.”

Ethan stared down the hall, but when no one appeared, he turned and headed for the door at his master’s side.

“Wait!” Andrew and Sara were hurrying down the hall. He had the baby in his arms while she carried a large bag behind him. “Don’t go yet!” Andrew yelled. They rushed up to Kipexo and Ethan, both out of breath and slightly sweaty.

“I need to ask you a favor,” Andrew said in a rush. “I want you to take Teagan with you.”

“What?” Kipexo and Ethan exclaimed in unison.

“I’ve put a lot of thought into it,” Andrew explained. “I have no idea how we’ll be received back on Earth, but I do know how cruel people can be. I don’t know what her future would look like on Earth, and whenever I try to picture it, I just see… loneliness and isolation, and that’s if our people don’t just take her from me the second we land. She deserves to grow up somewhere free of judgment with others who understand and love her like I do, and if anything were to go wrong as she grows, you’re in a much better position to get her to Vroft than I will be back on Earth. I know you two. I know you protect your own. She’ll be safe with you. So please, take her. Give her the life she deserves.”

“Are you sure about this, Andrew?” Kipexo asked.

“Yes. I know this is the best thing I can do for her. I got her away from Raug, but she doesn’t belong on Earth either. Not to mention, our lifespans won’t even be close to the same. She’ll have barely started her life when I die. You talked about making your own life here, and that’s what I want for her. I want her to find a place where she belongs, where she’ll never be alone, and I think you’re her best chance for that.”

Kipexo looked at Ethan.

Ethan stared back in complete shock.

“Your thoughts?” Kipexo asked.

“I…” Ethan replied. “We… We’ve talked about children, but…” He looked at Teagan. “Are we ready?”

Andrew held the baby out to Ethan, and Ethan sprang forward to take her without hesitation. He hugged her close and turned to Kipexo, and his master could tell by the look on his face that Ethan’s mind was already made up.

Kipexo reached into the blanket and ran a finger across the baby’s soft red cheek. Everything about Kipexo and Ethan’s life was unusual, from the way they met to where they’d chosen to build their future. Who better to raise a baby like her than two people from two completely different worlds who loved each other regardless of their vast differences?

“Alright, Andrew,” Kipexo said. “We’ll look after her for her.”

“No,” Andrew said. “Don’t just look after her. Be her family.”

“We will,” Ethan said. “I promise.”

Andrew nodded and took the bag from Sara. “This is all her things. Clothes, bottles, diapers… Vroft’s transmitter is in here too so you can comm him without using public channels. Oh, that reminds me.” Andrew started flipping through menus on his databand at an impressive speed, and he swiped up toward Kipexo, whose own databand lit up as it received several comm links. “Those are Vroft’s direct channels. He set them up himself. And Ethan, I have something for you too.” A few more menus later, Ethan’s databand lit up too, but since he was holding the baby, he couldn’t look to see what Andrew sent him.

Kipexo noticed the blue lights of Ethan’s implants blink several times then go back to solid blue. “What was that?” he asked.

Ethan’s head whipped around. “What did you just say?” he asked.

“Your implants, they blinked.”

Ethan stared at him, slack-jawed.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re speaking my language!”

“What? No, I’m not.”

“I’m hearing the same words twice, once straight from your mouth then again from your translator.”

Kipexo looked at Andrew. “What did you do?”

Andrew grinned. “I upgraded Ethan’s implants. It’s something I’ve been working on for a while now, and I planned to give it to you sooner, but then the Lifreet entered the picture and I had to go back and reprogram everything to include their language as well.” He reached into his pocket and took out a pair of small devices with curved loops wrapped around them. “Here,” he said, holding the devices out to Kipexo. “These ones are yours.”

Kipexo took them and hooked the devices over his ears. They nestled deep into his ear canal, which was a little off-putting at first, but when Andrew spoke next, the words that came out were perfect Raugon spoken in Andrew’s voice as if he’d spoken the language from the day he was born.

“How do they sound?” Andrew asked.

Kipexo’s translator immediately repeated the question, so he shut it off. “Like I’m not wearing anything at all.”

“They translate in real time,” Andrew explained. “You won’t need translators for humans, Raugon, or Lifreet. I couldn’t do sign language, though, unfortunately.”

“This is amazing, Andrew,” Ethan said. “Thank you!”

Hearing Ethan speak in Kipexo’s language was surreal. He’d once tried to teach Ethan Raugon, but human vocal cords couldn’t handle enough of the tones and inflection needed to speak it properly. With these devices, Ethan’s voice hit every note perfectly but still kept his unique inflection and speech patterns, something Kipexo loved about his Earthling even though it made Ethan self-conscious.

“Vroft helped a lot with the design,” Andrew said. “We sort of combined our two programs into one.”

The Anamafrid’s computer voice came on over the loud system.

“Systems ready for flight. All passengers please take your seats and fasten all restraints.”

“We have to go,” Sara said, and she took Andrew’s hand.

Andrew leaned down and kissed the baby on her forehead. “I love you,” he whispered. He stood up straight and took a step back, and his lip trembled as he nodded.

Kipexo picked up Teagan’s bag, and he put an arm around Ethan’s shoulders as they turned and stepped out into the walkway. He waved back at Sara and Andrew until the door slid shut, blocking them from view.

“Ooooh my God…” Ethan muttered as they headed down the walkway. “Kipexo, we have a baby.”

“A daughter,” Kipexo said. “Not exactly what we planned, but that’s basically how our life has been since the beginning, right? One surprising twist after another.”

“Everything always works out, though.”

Kipexo would agree if not for the hollow ache in his chest that told him one very big piece was still missing.

They stood in the room at the other end of the walkway and watched the Anamafrid, waiting for the thrusters to kick on and take the ship airborne, but as the minutes ticked by, she remained where she was at a low, humming idle.

“Shouldn’t they be taking off?” Ethan asked.

“What’s the holdup?” Kipexo called to the Lifreet standing at the nearby security console.

“They’ve temporarily delayed their departure,” he replied. “The Captain says they’ll be on their way momentarily.”

Kipexo and Ethan looked at each other, and Kipexo shrugged. They went back to watching the Anamafrid, enjoying the sight of her before she disappeared for the gods only knew how long, maybe forever.

At long last, the thrusters powered up and blasted the floor of the maintenance bay as the Anamafrid prepared for lift off. Over the sounds of the ship’s massive engines revving up came the faint clopping sound of running feet, and Kipexo sidestepped closer to Ethan protectively before two familiar figures came into view on the walkway with bags slung over their shoulders.

“What the…?” Ethan muttered, then he laughed as Sam and Grolpre ran into the room.

Sam dropped their bag and threw their arms around Ethan, being careful not to squish the baby as he laughed and cried at the same time.

Grolpre rushed up to Kipexo with only slightly less enthusiasm than her Earthling and hugged him tight.

“What are you doing here?” Kipexo asked, though he didn’t let her go. “You’re supposed to be on that ship.”

As he said it, the Anamafrid turned to face the open doorway, and its thrusters burst as it headed out of the bay.

“Not a minute after we told you both goodbye, we looked at each other and just… knew,” Grolpre said.

“Knew what?” Ethan asked.

“That we belong here,” Sam said excitedly. “We belong with you. So we told Reethis to wait and we packed our bags in a rush and… well, surprise!”

Grolpre finally relaxed her hold on Kipexo, but she kept her arms around him as she stepped back and looked into his face.

“Is it alright that we chose to stay?” she asked, and though her tone was calm, her eyes flicked back and forth between Kipexo’s nervously.

He smiled. “It’s perfect.”

The smile she gave him nearly stopped his heart.

“I guess we need to tell Sovereign Luxtetana there are three more of us,” Ethan commented. He passed the baby to Sam who sniffled as he gushed happily over her.

“The Lifreet will just have to adjust,” Kipexo said, still smiling at Grolpre. “Families stick together.”

Grolpre looped her arm around Kipexo’s. “Yes, we do.”

Grolpre laid her head on Kipexo’s shoulder, and Sam and Ethan exchanged knowing looks before a Lifreet came in the room and announced he was there to show them to their rooms. He looked a little flustered that there were so many of them, but Kipexo just shrugged, and he led them down the hall and into their new life.