CHAPTER 1 – Good-byes make you leak.

She watched as the funeral pyre burned, the pretty blue and red flames in the chamber where her earth mother laid for her cremation gave her some comfort. Miranda wiped a droplet from her face and looked at it... "Oh papa, I'm leaking" she thought to herself recalling her dad's words for when she cried. Now both her parents who loved each other dearly were together, it was just sad that her mom passed of a broken heart only months after her father had passed on. He had only turned 63 based on Earth years and left way too soon. He looked to be about 23 when he left. Miranda learned that a terrible disease from Earth called depression caused some terrible side effects and he was unable to control his actions and he left on by his own hands long before he should have. He hadn't even made it to infancy, which broke her mother's heart. Her earth mother only a year younger than her father but looked very young in Orkian standards and she was often mistaken for a child. Such is the oddity of an Earthling. Miranda knew this all too well.

Her brother Mearth stood close by his somber mood was odd for him since he was such a jovial person. By Earth standards from what she was taught, Mearth was hatched on the Earth at the age of about 70. He took after their father so aged backwards. Sadly due to her father and brother's aging process Miranda understood that her parents had to come to Ork to prevent any major confusion on earth, and questions they wouldn't have answers to. Miranda was born on Ork 11 years after Mearth was born, a year after her parents had returned to Ork. She remembered growing up; her mother telling her about her Earth grandparents and seeing moving shows from when they lived there. Mearth also filled her in since he was born there and knew more than she did. Her parents made visits over the years but very rarely took Miranda or Mearth due to new Orkian travel laws; it's also not like Miranda remembered her trips there either.

Miranda realized she had so much to learn since she was born here instead of Earth. Mearth was about the Earth age of 34 but was actually 36 Orkian years of age, his "Middle" point was next year and he would regress more as he got older and look much younger. If he wanted to go back to Earth, he could; to teach her what she needed to know at first, and he would when that time came, but she would have to pose as his mother in about 20 years time if she decided to stick around. Seeing as he would keep aging backwards Miranda decided it was best to go it alone with just his basic teachings in the beginning and report back to Orwell who was the son to Orson, her father's former boss when he first came to Earth. She had learned modern Earth had changed a great deal since her parents had lived there.

Miranda was a product of her mother, born as a normal human and aging as they would and even though she was so very close to her father she missed her mother a great deal, the last 3 days had been quite depressing. Losing both of them so close together was quite hard since how she lost her parents was still quite rough on all of them, more so her mom in the end. She sighed and reached over to hold Mearth's hand. He gave her a gentle squeeze and conveyed to her his thoughts. He missed them to. They watched at the Orkian governor gave their praises about Mindy and her generous works she had done on Ork and closed the pyre lid and shot her casket into space. There were cheers of a good send off and the governor saluted. She brought forth the Orkian flag and moon roses that had covered her mother's pyre and bowed.

"Your mother was a true inspiration to us all, as was your father. We are thankful they brought emotions back to Ork; life has been truly colorful since. I understand you have a mission of your own to return to Earth?"

"Yes." She replied as she stroked a rose peddle remembering her mother telling her how her dad had brought earth roses to Ork over the years and how Orkian people had crossbred them with moon flowers. The flower glowed brighter at her touch. She looked up at Governor Elest. "I need to learn of my own heritage and there's no better way than if I return to my mother's home planet."

"I understand Miranda. Just understand you have a limited time for observation time on Earth, after this unless there's a mission change you will have to make a choice. You could return with Mearth and end your mission which will mean limited returns to Earth, or you could continue there and only have transport when necessary if we can swing it. It just depends on the council at the time."

"I understand Elest; I plan on reporting back to Orwell while I am there. I know I'm part human, but being raised on Ork since birth will surly make learning difficult but I need to be where my own ancestors are, just as Mearth had to return here."

"Go with a guiding hand my child!" Elest said as she shook her hand good bye. "Nanu-Nanu!" Elest bowed and left.

Mearth looked over at his sister. He nodded his head and walked over to her. "Don't you forget what daddy said?" He smiled and stuffed his finger in her ear and wiggled it making Miranda giggle.

"Yep, you needed to use some crazy glue." Mearth smiled and then hugged her tight.

"Thanks Mearth, dad always said a hug pulls you back together again when you're falling apart, and the crazy glue always helps to."

He smiled again and ruffled her hair. "Come on; I have a package mom put together for you. I think you will enjoy what she did for you. I also can't wait till you see all the stuff I added to."

"Thanks big bro, I knew I could count on you. This is going to be some trip, right?" She looked over to him and saw her dad in him more and more as he aged.

Mimicking a western character her father use to call John Wayne all the time he said as he cuffed her chin lightly. "You can count on me partner!"

"Oh Mearth!" She beamed with delight as she watched her dad's personality flow through him. He smiled back and said, "Smile more often sis, you remind me of mom when you do."

Both had tears in their eyes as the smiled and each reached to the other and wiped away the tears and showed them their tears, and together giggled "Leaking!"