Two Weeks after Emergence
"Look at me, Auntie Sophie!"
I was watching from the corral fence as Jack rode a horse. Thena was leading the horse by the reins, walking a long circle and starring Jack as he was holding onto the spare reins. It was late in the afternoon at the farm, the warmth of the day was finally cooling down since it was rather warm along the plains.
It's been two weeks since we were on the island and we stopped the Emergence. Those two weeks at the farm slowed us down, having us have those moments together again that we lost when we were separated. We had family meals together, going on long walks within the plains on paths that were already carved out for us, and even tried to catch up on some of the TV programs that came through on the old TV. We were trying to make it feel like we never separated from one another again. It wasn't the same though, we were missing some people within our circle.
Sprite tried to avoid me for a few hours before she caved and apologized to me one night after dinner. I could see the hurt on her face when she sat with me in the living room while I was reading a book. She explained why she went with Ikaris, then told me that she almost got Sersi killed to stop her. I felt that guilt, I saw it on her face as she was looking right into my eyes.
She told me she was sorry, and it was the first time in a really long time I saw sincerity on her face and genuine guilt. As mad as I saw for her turning against us and almost killing Sersi, I knew I had to forgive her. It was in the past, and there was nothing else within me that wanted me to hate her.
Sersi, while she was still channeling some of the cosmic powers of the Uni-Mind, took Sprite's Eternal ability away and made her human so that she could grow up and live a normal human life. Perhaps it was going to be her kind of punishment, but it was also something she wanted. Sprite was stuck in one body her whole life, not as an adult but not as a child. Maybe that was why she was sarcastic and passive-aggressive through our time together, she wanted something that she could never have. She also wanted love for her own, and now Sprite was able to have it.
The next day after Sprite apologized to me, Sersi took Sprite back over to London to have Sprite go and live with Kingo for a while, the both of them needing space from one another given the situation. I gave Sersi a long hug, having me feel better that she was going to be fine on her own and she was wanting to go back to her old life in London. It was sad to see her go, but she reassured me that we could chat and text each other.
Sersi was going to be fine, I knew she would be.
After they both left, we stayed for a few more days until Phastos was going to take his family back to Chicago. He thought of being out there on the farm was a form of a mini-vacation, being able to reconnect with his husband and son. Makkari and Thena didn't know what they were going to do just yet, Makkari spent her time only on the Domo and she had no other place where she could go. And Thena had her small home in Australia, but I could see she was too reluctant to go back since that house was one she shared with Gilgamesh. If she went back, she would only remember him.
As for me and Druig? I still had no clue.
My back was still having moments of pain from time to time throughout the day. I had spasms right along the spine, white-hot pain that could last for a few long seconds before melting away. Phastos reassured me that my spine was back in place but it'll take a while for me to feel fully normal again. My muscles were feeling tender along my backside, no longer tough as they were before. It was making me move a bit slower, which in return making my patience lessen. I wanted to move freely again, to teleport great distances, and to be back to normal. But the healing was slowing me down, and the more I fought against my healing, the worse my spasms were getting.
I watched Jack going around in circles, grining as he was enjoying himself on the horse. Since Thena had him ride for the first time, he would ride every day and stay on the horse for as long as his fathers would let him. I felt a presence next to me as I was watching Jack, knowing who it was since she was always so quiet on her feet and yet buzzing on her toes.
Makkari.
As soon as I looked at her, I saw she was waiting to tell me something. There was a pep in her stop, almost as if she was too excited to hold in what she wanted to tell me. I then grinned at her, clearly falling for the bait in itself.
I spoke to Thena earlier this morning, She signed to me in excitement as I looked from her over to Then briefly. She was still talking to Jack, showing him how to hold the reins with his fingers. It made me look back at Makkari again, She wants to take the Domo out to space and find other Eternals
Other Eternals? I questioned her, You think they're others? Like us?
There must be! We can't be the only ones, Makkari explained as she leaned against the rails and kept signing at me, Thena wants to go find them and help them.
"Help them?" I asked, not understanding.
We can tell them the truth about who they are and what they can do, that they don't have to follow orders from the Celestials, Makkari explained, having me pause and seeing that she was so sure in Thena's plan. But I then realized something else with Makkari too as she was watching me with her kind eyes.
"You're gonna go with her," I commented, seeing her give me a kind look. She was one of those people that could show her what was on her mind before she would have to say it. Makkari sighed, her stare was looking warm and sincere as she nodded her head.
I want to help her find them. Thena wants to show Eternals how be free, to make their own choices. Makkari said to me, I think she wants to not have what happened to her happen to anyone else.
I understood then. Thena still had Mahd Wy-Ry, with Gilgamesh no longer there to ground her and help her in those tougher moments of trauma, she wanted to prevent Mahd Wy-Ry to hurt others. Thena was fending for herself now, and perhaps Makkari wanted to help in that process too.
What about you guys? She asked me, now looking at me wonder, What are you and Druig going to do?
"We haven't talked about it yet," I confessed with a shrug, seeing her smirk at me as I kept talking, "I don't know where we would go anyways—"
I was cut off by another spasm going down my spine. It silenced me and made me slam my eyes shut, having me yelp and duck my head as the pain was shooting up and down my back. The pain was sharp and yet dull, like a knife that wasn't sharp carving over and over into the tender muscles that were still not fully healed yet. I had to ride it out, but as the pain was still running its course, the anger was festering in me that I was not healed yet. My hands were gripping the metal rails and I was gripping so hard I thought I would rip the skin.
Makkari placed her hands on my shoulders as I groaned and tried to breathe through the pain. All I could think about was Ikaris and how he broke me down to this level. It killed me that I was still wounded like this, having a bitter taste in my mouth because of Ikaris even though he was no longer there. He brought me to my knees with something like this, and it was an excuse that I was feeling angry about not being my full self anymore.
Finally, the spasms were going away, though I kept my eyes closed and I tried to breathe again. It was harder to be in the old headspace as I was before I was wounded and I nearly died. I had moments when I would remember the moment when my back was sliced almost in half. It triggered a sense of fear in me, a flash of that moment the I screamed out and I was so vulnerable. It would happen so fast, shaking me to my core before I could re-center myself again. Finally, after taking some breaths and still shaking slightly from the spasm, I sighed in frustration and in anger too.
Why was I still broken?
"Aunty Sophie?" Jack's voice filled the air. I cringed since he sounded so worried. I slowly opened my eyes, my hands loosening their grip on the rails as I saw Jack looking at me from his spot on the horse. He looked so worried for me, seeing me go through this moment of weakness as the anger was festering under my skin. Thena was still holding the reins as she stood right in front of me, placing her hand gently on my own through the rails to silently tell me to calm down. She was giving me a calm stare, her intense eyes watch me every move as I was still breathing out shockingly.
"Breathe," She reminded me, having me take another breath as the back porch door swung open. I was still watching her as I heard several pairs of feet walking up from the house, not wishing to look back to see who it was. I was afraid of how I was looking there, clutching onto the rail like a lifeline and almost collapsing to my knees.
"What happened?" It was Phastos, sounding a bit concerned as Makkari was still rubbing my arms soothingly with her nimble fingers.
"I'm fine," I grunted out, trying to sound calm for the sake of Jack being there in front of me.
"You don't look fine," Phastos commented behind me as I groaned and tried to take another breath, "Your back is still trying to heal and you look like you're about to —"
"Honey now's not the time," Ben said to him calmly then, having Phastos go quiet then after hearing his husband. Thena still watched me and was silently telling me to breathe. I looked at her, almost telling her that I was fed up with all of this. My stubbornness was seeping through now, and the last thing that I wanted to do was lash out while they were trying to help me.
"Get Druig," Thena said to Makkari, having me feel Makkari's hands leave me. She sped off, having Thena still keep her hand on mine and give me a kind look. I gave her a wary look.
"I'm fine—" I said again, but Thena interrupted me.
"You don't need to lie," She reminded me, "Lying about the pain will not help the pain go away,"
I felt defeat then, seeing how Thena was clearly reading me like a book. It was harder to hide what I was feeling when the others were watching my every move and making sure I was recovering. Since we came to the farm house, I was suddenly under constant surveillance. Druig made sure I had everything in arms each to not overwork my back, Phastos was a concern mother hen at me to make sure I was bending my back properly. The first two days were fine, bu then it was getting old. I felt more like an infant than a warrior. As much as I loved each of them, it felt infuriating at times.
"Hey," I heard Druig behind me, making me realize Makkari sped back with him in tow. I heard him walk up over to my right and place his hand on my lower back. He then reached up to gently have my finger unclasp from the metal railing, having me ease my muscles in my fingers. Once my fingers were free, he laced our fingers together gently and soothingly. I tried to feel that anchor with him next to me, having me remind myself that they were there to help me and not cause me pain.
"Let's go on a walk, okay?" He asked me softly in a whisper, almost low enough for only me to hear, "Just you and me, we can take a breather. Come on, sweetheart. Let's walk," I nodded my head slowly, thinking that was the best thing to do at the moment. Pushing myself up, Druig moved his hand from my lower back to lace our hands between us. I leaned a bit against him, giving him a small smile as he smiled back at me. I saw the worry all over his face, but he was remaining calm not just for the group, but for me too.
"We'll be back before dinner," Druig said over to Thena, who smiled and nodded. I looked back at Phastos, Makkari, and Ben, seeing the three of them watch me and they each gave me small looks of fondness too. I felt bad acting up like this in front of them, but then again they were never ones to be judgmental with how I was still trying to bounce back. I kept walking with Druig, who was still holding my hand between us as we walked along a familiar path that we would take every day in the afternoons. We walked quietly for a few solid minutes, seeing the landscape change from the rural farm area to open plains and tall grass.
I liked walking along the paths there, having me see and feel the deep quiet the was among the grass and in the wind. It was a good time for me to clear my mind, to re-think all that we went through and how we can go on in the future. But on the negative side, I would playback on what I could have done on the beach that would have been more successful. It was both bitter and sweet at the same time.
"I thought I was getting better," I finally confessed to him as we were going over a small slope, my hand reaching down to touch the top of the grass as we were walking in sync, "I keep having nightmares of being back on the beach. They feel so real, and I hate having these spasms. They hurt so much!"
"You're still healing," He reminded me gently, squeezing our joined hands lightly as I was quiet, "The damage that you took was more serious than we thought. It's going to take some time, you have to be patient."
"I don't wanna be patient," I complained to him, feeling him gently bump my shoulder with his own as I was still venting, "I want to move on from this. I wanna teleport without getting a spasm right after! I hate waking up with backaches and pains that make me feel so old,"
"You are old," Druig reminded me lightly, having me look at him and see him give me a light smile since he was trying to make the situation lighter, "And as I recall, I help you with the backaches very nicely, don't I?"
I rolled my eyes as he chuckled, having me slightly grin too since it was kind of funny and he was telling the truth. I then felt my face feel a bit warm now as I was thinking to myself again. Something else was on my mind when it came to Druig and our new relationship. It was festering in my mind for some time, but it wasn't any doubt that Druig loved me. I knew he did, and I loved him too. Yet I was never in a relationship before and I knew there were certain steps in any relationship that would take place. Druig knew my sexuality, and I always wondered if he knew what that meant for the both of us.
"Druig," I said his name, having the both of us stop our walk to watch each other. He was watching me, clearly seeing that I was about to tell him something heavy on my heart. Druig was always patient with me, and since I woke up from recovering from my injury Druig never once second-guessed what was on my mind and heart. He listened and hung on every word, having me feel so loved by him. So this was going to feel nerve-wracking.
"You know that I wouldn't change a single thing in what we have together," I said to him calmly, hoping to make sure this conversation was neutral and calm.
"Neither would I," He said smoothly to me, giving me a small concerned look as he took a step over to me now to be within my personal bubble, "Why? What's on your mind, sweetheart?"
I pondered for a moment, staring at his eyes and seeing that he was genuinely willing to listen to what I had to tell him. We always talked like this in the past when we were just friends, being vulnerable to one another and not doubting one another at all. We've talked like this so many times, and now we were together it shouldn't be different. Why did it feel different?
"I can't give you what a lot of humans want in a relationship," I said to him simply, letting myself be raw to him and tell him that it was harboring within me and was growing every day, "I want to be able to be fully there with you. But I know I can't…that I don't want to..." I cringed and I had to stop. It was hard enough to tell Druig that I didn't want to be physical with him, because I knew where my mind went when the physical aspect came to mind.
I never wanted that to begin with, there was no drawl to it. Now that I was with Druig, I never had that need or pull to do be sexual with him. It was never there, all there was is love and adoration. I knew he loved me too, but I was afraid to think that he would want more, and I couldn't give it to him.
"Hey, look at me," He gently said to me, his voice sounding so soft and yet powerful to push through the waves of an ocean. I looked back at him, seeing him give me one of the genet smiles. He only smiled at me in that nature, looking so sure at me and ground in his stance in front of me. He took both of our hands together, linking our fingers and having me feel the feat there being built up.
"I am never going to let you do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable," He said to me calmly as he was searching my eyes with his own, "I won't ever do that to you, ever. Being with you is enough,"
"Is it?" I had to ask, though I already knew the answer.
"It is," He replied with no hesitation, "Soteri, I just want you and only you. Your self-worth is more important to me than being physical. Being with you is all I would ever need in this life, nothing else matters to me,"
I felt like melting there like a puddle on the grassy floor, hearing him say that to me. He knew that I wasn't willing to be physical with him, not for the time being. Of course, I was afraid that he would reject me because of that. But then again, this was Druig. He was never like any other human male on the planet, so I shouldn't have been surprised by his answer to me. But It felt like I need to hear it from him, to get the certainty that he was willing to still be with me and love me fully.
I smiled at him, knowing that I wasn't going to change his mind on the matter. He grinned back too, moving his hand up to push my hair from my eyes lovingly as I watched the gesture. Druig then reached into his letter jacket pocket with his other hand, grabbing something in his fingers and then holding it on in his palm. I looked to see what it was, having me go still for a moment since I knew exactly what it was. I was taken aback so long ago when I first saw this for the first time, my first four of flattery from the humans being placed in front of me. But now it was there, all these centuries later, and Druig was holding it.
The coin from the Gupta Empire.
"I took this with me when I left you all," Druig explained, having me reach down and touch the top of the coin with my fingers. It was still just as shiny and pristine as it was the day I thought I lost it, my portrait still evident on the coin with the rays of the sun around my face and eyes, "I felt foolish taking it, but it always made me remember you and how beautiful you were to me,"
"I thought I lost this," I mumbled, grinning slightly as I looked from the coin up to Druig, "You really took this?"
"At the time, I didn't want to forget you," He admitted, seeming a bit shy about it since he was confessing this to me. I grinned at him, almost enjoying seeing him being placed in the spotlight now, "At least I didn't want to forget your face. I also didn't think I was going to see you again, and this coin was going to be the only thing I had that was yours,"
My love was going deeper for Druig every day I was with him. Every time he would say words of affirmation to me that were only meant for me, or just being able to be close by to anchor me. He always surprised me in these kind gestures, and although he was aloof and stand-offish at times with the others, he never was with me.
"I don't deserve you," I said to him softly, seeing his smile widely slightly before he looked back at me lovingly and cradled my face in his fingers.
"No, Soteri. It's me that doesn't deserve you, and I haven't deserved you for the past 7,000 years. I'm one lucky man," He swooned at me, having me roll my eyes playfully at him as I wrapped my arms around his waist to pull him closer.
"Quit trying to woo me," I playfully said to him, seeing him grin sweetly at me as I cocked my head back at him, "You've already had me for some time,"
"Have I?" He asked in a coy tone.
"Yes," I answered wholeheartedly, seeing him still smile at me and almost floored in how I told him that I was already hung up on him for quite some time. He leaned in to kiss me, holding it for some time and having me try to pull him closer then. Every kiss we had felt like the first one we shared. There were always butterflies in my stomach, and my head would spin and go light. But my heart and soul felt complete when we would kiss and be this close as if I knew we were meant to be like this together. I felt complete with him, beyond complete.
"We go back to Chicago tomorrow," Phastos explained to us as we all sat together in the kitchen around the table. It was later that night, and after Ben took Jack to bed after seeing how tired he was from riding, we decided to figure out where we were going to go in the morning. We knew we couldn't stay at the farm forever, it wasn't supposed to be this way. Sersi and Sprite already left for London, and we all knew Phastos was going to take his family back to Chicago. But now there were four of us that needed to figure out what to do next.
"I'm going to find other Eternals that could be out there," Thena explained to the group from her spot at the table, leaning back in her chair and looking calm and collected, "There must be others, out there amongst the stars. They're just like us before we knew the truth, and perhaps I can tell them there is another way,"
"You think there are others out there?" Druig asked from his spot next to me, genuinely curious and intrigued.
"There must be," Phastos answered for her, "I mean, it makes sense. We can't be the only ones just for this planet alone. If there are other planets and galaxies out there, there have to be Eternals that out there too,"
I'm going with you, Makkari signed to her, all of us looking at her now as she looked so sure of herself as she signed again, I have nothing keeping me here. Earth is safe for now, so it makes sense in helping other planets.
"I would love the company," Thena hummed to her, seeing Makkari grin at her as she nodded in agreement. That decision was easy enough for Makkari to make, in which Thena was looking over at both Druig and myself since we were the last two to decide on what we were going to do. I thought about it long and hard, where I wanted to go and how I wanted to live from here on out.
On one hand, I had my old life back in Portland, still being a teacher and living in that small apartment. it was a simple life, nothing crazy or nothing out of the ordinary happening. I had a mundane life, a simple life, and it was all that I needed.
But on the other hand, I had this new life that was changed because of the almost Emergence that took place. My old family has somehow reunited again, though shattered in a few places and spots. I felt more connected to myself than I ever did before. But I almost found myself in a relationship with someone who I was in love with for centuries on end. It was a sacred feeling I wasn't ever going to want to lose.
Now there was a new opportunity to once again help and protect. This time, it wasn't humans that needed the help. If there were other Eternals out there in the darkness of space, at other planets that were on the verge of dying, then we can show them a better way to live and survive. We learned how to, so it was possible that other Eternals could too.
"I'll go with you," I said to Thena, the others looking at me almost in shock now as I was still watching Thena, "If there's a possibility we can help other Eternals, then I wanna do it,"
What about your life back at your home? Makkari asked me, having me smile at her and then gesture to the group around the table.
"This is my life," I answered, "You all were my family since we first came to this planet, and you still are. I've done what I needed to do on this planet, and maybe we can do some good on another planet,"
Then smiled at me, having me grin at her. I was going to leave this planet, leave all that I knew behind to go into the unknown and the darkness of space. Sure it was scary to think about, but then again I had to be open to possibilities after we saved this planet from destruction and extinction.
I looked at my hand that was joined with Druig's hand on top of the table, seeing his fingers tightening around my own briefly before I looked over at him. He had his other arm wrapped over the back of my chair, watching the entire conversation in silence. Once again I wanted to know what was going on in his mind, yet I was surprised at the look he was giving us.
"I think it's safe to say, we're a package deal," Druig said to the group, motioning his head over to me briefly before squeezing my hand, "Where she goes, I go. Plus…. I think Thena's right."
"Do you?" Thena asked with a small smile, getting a small chuckle from Makkari as I looked at him fondly.
"We can show those other Eternals there's another way," He explained with a shrug, "So I'm coming too,"
"Look at you being all soft now," Phastos teased at him, though I leaned in a bit to his side and the arm on the back of my chair wrapped around my shoulders, "I don't know if I'll get used to this though. It's…very new,"
I approve! Makkari signed to us both, then she gave me a wink. I grinned back at her as it was settled at the table. We were all in agreement on what we were going to do from here on out. It was a better decision that we were all not going to be completely separated again, which would have broken my heart. But as long as I was with Druig, nothing else really mattered to me. There could be hope that other planets with other Eternals needed our help. As long as we were willing to help others that were out there, it was going to be worth it.
"The sudden appearance of an enormous stone figure in the Indian Ocean has had more questions than answers…"
The day we were departing the farmhouse we all were eating leftovers and sitting around the TV to see the news talking about the marble Tiamut that was poking out of the Indian Ocean. Ben was watching amazement as the new clips showed Tiamut poking out of the ocean and helicopters flying all around it. His eyes were glued to the TV as we were simply watching it nonchalantly, eating pizza and other foods.
I was sitting in the spare chair, leaving Phastos, Makkari, and Druig on the couch shoulder to shoulder eating silently. I was eating some brownies as Ben looked over at us while pointing to the
"You guys did that?" Ben asked, having Phastos just sigh at his husband before he took a big bite from his pizza.
"I love you so much," He hummed to him as I snorted a bit from my chair. Ben looked back at the TV. It was odd for me to see the Celestial like that too since I never got the chance to see how Sersi froze it in the ocean with her ability and the Uni-Mind. Tiamut was massive, looking bigger than I thought he was going to. But seeing him there on the small TV screen, I was thankful that we were able to stop him from completely destroying everything we knew.
A clutter of sound was heard in the kitchen, we all snapped our heads over to see Thena wielding a spear over Jack's head to retrieve an orange that was too far above for him to grab. Phastos hopped up from his chair in earnest.
"Umm, can you just…give me one second!" He said in a huff as he placed his plate on Makkari's lap before he rushed over to the kitchen. I watched in amusement as he then went to talk with Thena, then I looked over to see Druig about to take Phastos's pizza from his plate. Makkari slapped his hand, having Druig drop the pizza.
"Hey!" Druig grumbled at her as she placed Phastos's plate on the coffee table before she glared at him playfully.
No stealing food! She scolded him.
"He wasn't going to finish it!" Druig reasoned, but Makkari glared at him. Druig looked over at me to defend him, having me throw my hands up and get up from my chair.
"Sorry, honey. You're on your own," I replied, walking away from the both of them. I went to grab my jacket that was hanging on the wall, throwing it on as I took one last look around the place. This farm was always a safe space, and for the past two weeks, it was a safe haven for us to lay low and re-connect with one another. I was going to miss it, but perhaps it was as good as time as any to leave it as it was and maybe come back later on down the road.
I walked by the kitchen as Phastos was talking with Jack and Thena was watching him in amusement.
"Violence, is never the answer. Right, Thee? " Phastos asked Thena in hopes of having her agree with Jack being there, "You gotta always use your brain!"
"Like you did fighting on the beach?" Thena asked him cooly, though she was amused by it. I grinned, leaning against the door frame and watching the whole spectacle as Phastos then redirected that comment for his son.
"Your dad….spoke calmly and firmly to the bad guy, and he had no choice but to listen to me," Phastos explained to Jack in a stammer. I chuckled, seeing Makkari walk past me and eye Thena.
He's 10 years old. He's not stupid! She signed in amusement, then giving Phastos a grin.
"So, when are you guys leaving, when is that happening? That's soon right?" Phastos asked and signed to all of us, having me finally walk over to Phastos and his son.
"We're leaving right now, not before I give this guy a hug!" I commented, leaning down to give Jack a big hug. He hugged me back, having me grin as he squeezed me gently. I pulled away to look down at him, seeing how big he has gotten since I saw him last. I stared at him lovingly, then I pointed to Phastos behind him, "Take care of your dad, okay? He's a little crazy,"
"I will, Auntie Sophie," Jack replied as I hugged him one more time. I looked over Jack's head at his father, seeing him watch our interaction with a glint in his eye as I gave him a wink. It was hard to let Phastos go after our battle, and how he brought me back to health. I was forever in his debt from there on out. Our interaction together in that small farmhouse was calming and much needed. Ajak made this place to be a safe space for us, almost her own personal piece of heaven. So for us to leave it there untouched, it was a solemn feeling.
But we were ready to go and help the rest of the galaxy.
Druig and I walked hand in hand down the slopes of the hills over to the parked Domo. Thena was way ahead of us, walking on her own as Phastos and Jack were following us and Makkari taking the rear. It was a clear morning, perfect for the last moments we were going to have on Earth.
"Okay, that's far enough, Jack," Phastos instructed Jack as they stopped and watched the Domo from a good enough distance.
"Wow! Dad, the Domo's so cool!" Jack said in amazement.
"Yeah. Your dad fixed it with his bare hands," Phastos hummed with a hint of pride in his voice as Jack was watching the ship right in front of him.
"Can we got to space too, one day?" Jack asked him hopefully.
"Hhmm…let's wait until you get your learner's permit. Okay?" Phastos answered, Druig then releasing my hand to walk over and stand next to him.
"Hey, Phastos. Take care, this world is lucky to have you," Druig said to him calmly, sounding genuine as they gave each other a kind smile.
"Thank you," Phastos thanked, holding out his hand for Druig to shake, "I know you're not a hugger, so…"
After Druig gave him a solid handshake, he reached over and hugged him. Phastos chuckled in surprise as they embraced one another. Makkari then walked over, eyeing Druig as Druig released his hold on Phastos and faced her.
"You think when we find the other Eternals out there, they're gonna accept the truth the way we did?" He asked. I had to wonder the same thing too if they too were going to be accepting or they were just going to follow orders. It was a risky thing to weigh in on, even having me wonder if we were going to do the right thing and actually find other Eternals like us. I then was looking from Druig over to Makkari to see what she was going to say about it. She nodded her head and signed back to us one sentence:
The truth will set them free.
It felt like old times flying on the Domo, feeling the hum of the ship as it was going up into the atmosphere. But intreats of 10 of us being around on the ship, there was only 4. It was a solemn feeling, that only a fraction of us was there mingling around. The sound was different with fewer bodies, and the memories of those we lost were lingering there amongst the walls too. But I wasn't sad about it, because I knew we were going to find others and help them along the way too.
I walked over to the window that showed the Earth in the meeting room, looking out at the planet I once lived on for 7,000 years. It was a chaotic but gorgeous planet, filled with beauty and pain at the same time. I saw empires rise and fall, wars destroy countries and new countries blossom too. The pure example of human evolution was seen in all its owners and glory, and I was sitting in the front row seat to see it all.
Now I was leaving that planet behind, the hopes of others out there were stirring in me. I couldn't help but remember the I saw this planet for the first time long ago, waking up for the first time and seeing how beautiful the world looked from where I was. it was still beautiful, having me wonder if I was ever going to go back and see it again.
I felt a hand hold my hand next to me, the familiar calloused hand touching my own hand at the same time as I looked over to my right. Druig was watching the world too, a look of kindness was there on his face as I smiled back at him.
"You ready for what's out here?" he asked me, gesturing to the stars around the earth. I knew that answer before I told him, I knew it for a long time. I was certain in this choice, the choice of moving forward into the unknown and the unseen. Being an Eternal on Earth and learning all I could from humans, I learned how to go with my gut and to protect those whom I loved and cared for. Humans knew emotions, and I learned from them how to love not just others, but myself.
But with Druig, he still loved me just the same. Druig made me certain in that choice, knowing that he has loved and cared for me all this time and it was a good foundation for me to lean on. I loved all of him and he loved all of me, it was a deeper love than I thought I would ever feel with another being. No matter my setbacks or what I thought were going to be obstacles, I still felt love and I never wanted that to end.
I moved to wrap my arm around him and pull him a bit closer to me. He placed an arm around my shoulder then, holding me close as I grinned at him and nodded my head.
"I am ready."