Ender was alive.
And he wouldn't shut up. Message after frantic message came into the Anisible, Mazer desperately trying answer each one as it came. It wasn't just Ender yelling at him through the little screen, but also two young children on Earth and that boy Ender was supposed to have killed. All their questions were quickly sent without a second thought, no time for him to think on one before the next came. This wouldn't do.
Enough! All of you, one at a time. Everyone can get answers, just please slow down.
Uh yeah hey Poke here, are you like…really Mazer or are you punking us because this would be a real shitty prank.
Poke I can assure you I am the real Mazer. Don't really know who else I would be. Poke was a rather odd name for a child.
Where…are you? How did you die? Are the others there, like Graff and Cham? (Also Bonzo says hi) – Ender The others were gone. Still alive, dealing with the fallout of having both Admirals die within mere hours of each other.
I believe I'm still on Eros, or at least that's what it looks like. As far as I know I simply passed due to old age. I'd already served my purpose to that world, I didn't need to stay. The others are still alive, though Graff might be here sooner rather than later. (Hello Bonzo)
Mister Rackham no offence because you're a hero and I wouldn't be here and all, but I think it's kinda funny that it wasn't a Bugger or traitor that killed you, but just being old as BALLS. Mazer smiled. It was nice to be treated as a person who could be playfully mocked, not some legend which had to respected no matter what.
Not to be rude but Poke's right. Do you have a ship on Eros? Stilson and Poke need a ride off planet. (Have you dealt with the Formics at all?)
No ship, but I do have more than enough parts to potential fix one. And no, I haven't seen the Formics. You don't need to worry about them. I can get to you Ender, though it might be a little dangerous.
That's your decision sir. It be nice to have you back, but whether or not to go is completely your choice. Mazer was going. He couldn't stand Eros, and a nagging part of him in the very back of his mind was worried for Ender. Mazer didn't want to admit it, but he'd grown increasingly fond of Ender during their time together, almost like the son he'd had but never gotten a chance to meet. Did he have food? Water? Was the Bonzo kid giving him trouble? They seemed to be getting along, but who knew how long that would last. Mazer jogged to the hallway labeled MD, pushing open the door and bending down to a small purplish circle. There was an identical circle in Graff's secret room, wide enough to hold a man with a little panel in which to input coordinates. A sign behind announced that the little circle told the user it was an emergency exit, only to be used in a planet meltdown or direct attack. He inhaled, stepped on, input the Battle School coordinates that he knew by heart, exhaled and hit go.
"MOTHERFUCKER!" Both boy's heads swiveled to the room next to them, cautiously opening the door. There on the floor lied none other than Mazer Rackham, clutching his ribs as he got up. Ender immediately helped him up, a small tan boy with a green helmet standing in the doorway, ogling the aging war hero. "Why was there a bookcase on top of the-"
"We had to move it to turn on the anisible sir. So sorry. Are you hurt sir? The trip across safe sir?" The other boy, who must have been Bonzo, rattled off quickly, obviously unsure of how exactly to act around Mazer.
"Christ Bon he's fine." Bon? Maybe their relationship wasn't so strained after all. "Mazer, this is Bonzo." Mazer waved. "He's my, um, boyfriend."
"Oh."
"Oh?" Bonzo said, slightly annoyed.
"I just happen to know the circumstances of your death, so this a surprise. Not a bad one, just a surprise." Bonzo grimaced, wrapping his arm around Ender's waist. Ender gently pushed him off, showing Mazer to the Anisible in the other room. "Not bad. The station work like this always?" He said, looking around. Nothing worked on Eros, and he didn't really have the skills to fix an entire station. "Bonzo fixed it up sir. I was, well moping I guess." Ender laughed, the other boy eyeing him. "Have you tried to access any of this?" He typed away at Graff's old logs, moving past the personal logs with a certain amount of disinterest. "N-"
"I have. Got what I wanted about the gravity engine and the lights, but the rests classified shit I didn't need to go snooping around in."
"Language." Ender already knew Bonzo's face was going a light shade of red. "Anyway, we could use his logs and such to fix the ship on the deck. Do you have one of the star-shooters?"
"A jetter? Yeah."
"Before we do anything, we should probably eat." Ender butted in. Mazer nodded and followed Ender towards the cafeteria, but Bonzo stayed behind.
Mazer got here safe, and we might be able to fix up a jetter for you guys. He kinda rude though. Ender keeps acting like the world's fucking fixed now that he's here. – Bonzo
Maybe you're just jealous Ender has someone new to talk to. But the ship's good news. (Also if I was an old war legend I'd say whatever I wanted if only because no one could stop me.) - Poke and Stilson
"AH, FUCKHANDS MCMIKE, KING OF SHIT MOUNTIAN. WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE." "Yo how can he talk to Commander Chamrajnagar like that?" "Shut the hell up man he saved our asses he can say whatever he wants."
Lol, that's worse than what I've heard about that one Battle school guy who had a country accent.
That was Graff. I got chewed out once by him, it was so confusing. "Y'all'dve known better." "Sir no offence but what the fuck did you just say?" "Y'ain't questioning my authority now are you?" "Sir please how the hell are you doing that with your mouth?"
OMFG
"He's an odd choice." Ender stared up at Bonzo, who was still typing away at the anisible. He just shrugged, aware that they weren't the most traditional of love stories. "What happened Ender?"
"What?"
"They gave me the news right before I passed. It might," Mazer covered his face and chuckled, the sound more pained than humorous. "it might have just killed me. Finally too much for me take." Ender placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, Mazer sinking down slightly.
"I missed you Ender." Ender grinned.
"Me too sir."
(Just wanted to add a quick authors note here. I just want to thank aewdragon for not only following the story but constanly reviewing and giving me their thoughts. You're one the reasons I haven't abandoned this little passion project, I'm so grateful. Also shoutout to a really old fic on here by 'moon's the limit' called "Fifteen years too late." It was the orginal inspritation for the story, and Endzo (or Boner lol) fan or not you should consider giving it a read. This is it for now, hopefully updates can stay frequent. Night.)
