“Kuria has just as many possibilities waiting for you here,” Dad muses. “Why are you going on and on about Earth? You know I’ve been back a lot lately. If you’ve wanted to come with, I would’ve let you.”
“It’s not… I don’t know. For a while, I tried to stay here, to ignore Earth.”
"I notice," Dad says. He goes to cross his arms, but they're too muscular, so he allows his arms to dangle by his side. "Why was that?"
I wrinkle my nose in frustration. “The others,” I mumble.
“Who?”
“My friends.”
“What did they say?”
“We got into a fight once, and it was because they thought I wasn’t being a good friend.”
“Why? Because you went with me on trips to Earth?”
“Because I wouldn’t let them come with us,” I explain. “I didn’t want to share Earth with them, so I… I picked them over Earth. I stayed away. I’ve always thought I would become a pilot like you—”
“Is that still what you want?” Dad interrupts. “Is that why you haven’t bothered to pick a job yet?”
I bite my bottom lip. “I know the Kurians are lucky that the overlord isn’t forcing us to go into certain professions, that he’s allowing us to come to him with our wants, but…”
“What do you want?” Dad asks gently.
“I’ve been thinking a lot, and that’s why I asked if Mom’s here. I wanted to talk to you both.” I blow out a breath.
“She’s out visiting with a few of her friends,” Dad says. “I already said goodbye to her.”
“She’s not coming with you to Earth?” I ask, surprised. She normally always tags along with him.
“Not this time. She’s been feeling a little under the weather lately. Not that she’s sick! But she just wants to be around friends for the time being.”
I say nothing.
Dad eyes me curiously. “Will talking to your friends help any? I don’t think many of them have chosen careers yet, the lazy bums.” He laughs, but I just scowl. “Sorry. Just trying to get you to lighten up. What did you want to talk to your mom and me about?”
“I actually wanted to see about going to Earth.”
“For a visit like when you were a kid?” he asks.
I nod even though that’s not precisely what I mean.
Dad rubs his chin. “I suppose it won’t matter too much if you’re the one who brings the machines to Earth. They’re all loaded into the ship already. All you would have to do is fly out there. The flight path is already programmed in and everything. The ship could technically fly itself there, but then no one would be able to fly it back.”
“I can do it,” I say eagerly.
“We should maybe talk to Overlord Nestrol about it first, though,” Dad muses, but then he shakes his head. “I’ll handle the overlord. You better pack up anything you want to bring with you because you need to leave within an hour.”
“Thank you, Dad!”
Not even a half-hour later, I'm off, piloting the ship. Yes, I could let the ship automatically fly over, but it's been years since I sat in this chair. When I was little, my dad would let me sit on his lap and let me pilot for a bit. He taught me all of the controls, and I still can recall all of them.
Everything goes perfectly smoothly. I even napped for a few hours, and I’m bright-eyed and curious as I land.
Whistling to myself, I pop open the cargo hold door. Men in uniform wait in two straight lines, and they march on board without saying a word and take the boxes off.
Dumbfounded, I watch their efficiency, and a tall man with gray eyebrows and a nearly shaved head eyes me.
“You aren’t Chrix.”
“No, sir,” I say respectfully. Dad told me to be as respectful as possible. As if I planned on coming to Earth and disrespecting everyone I meet. I’m not a fool, and I won’t do anything that will jeopardize relations between Earthling and Novans and Kurians.
“You look a bit like him,” the man continues.
“I’m his son. Rix.”
“Ah. Rix. That explains it. I’m General Spencer Moore, and I am getting far too old for this. Your father doesn’t seem to age very fast, now, does he?”
“It does seem like Novans age slower than Earthlings, yes,” I agree.
The general grunts. “And you live longer too. Not far if you ask me. Forgive me for rambling. You’re free to stretch your legs, walk around the compound a bit. Grab a bite to eat. Whatever you like.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He grins. “I like you,” he says. “You have a good attitude. I can see why your father entrusted you with this mission.”
“It’s hardly a mission, sir.”
“Just a delivery, I know, but everything you do can be considered a mission. Maybe some of the missions will have a reward at the end.” He grunts. “I want my reward to be retirement, but my missus thinks I’ll kick the bucket if I do, and she might be right. I’ve been in the military for so long that I don’t know what I’ll do with myself if I get out, but I’m sure I’m boring you. Do you want a tour or—”
“I’ll be fine to look around, sir. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Rix.”
And the general walks away.
With a grin, I step off the ship and glance around. Which way to leave the camp? I don’t want to see a military spot. I want to see Earth itself and all the planet has to offer. I want to explore new horizons. Oh, and I want to see if the grass is as green as I remember. Kuria is a red stony planet, and it’s rather ugly and boring in my opinion. Yes, it’s far past time I start exploring.
2
Ava
The hot sun beats down on me, and I groan and rub the back of my neck. If only I could just get this thing up and working… It’s not as if
