#20 the road home
It seemed like days had passed since they boarded the federation ship bound for earth but in reality it had only been a few hours. Sophia had tried to explain to him why a mountain of paperwork had to be filled out before he could go to earth but Albel simply didn't understand why complete strangers needed to know such personal information about him. She tried her best to explain things like passports, birth certificates, and social security numbers but all those words were foreign to him. In the end she gave in and filled out the papers for him.
Once all the paperwork had been completed some big headed jerk informed them that they each had to report to some place called sick bay and be examined before they would be allowed entry into the living quarters of the ship. Again Sophia explained that a doctor would have to make sure they were not sick or infected with anything that could be passed to others before they could go to there rooms. Even though he assured her he felt fine she made him go anyway.
In sick bay some doctor scanned him with a beeping little box and took some of his blood. Then the obnoxious pig started asking about things called vaccinations and medical records. Sophia had prepared him for this and he told the doctor what she had told him to say if he didn't know what the doctor was talking about
"I'm native to Elicoor II, an underdeveloped planet, I don't know what you're asking for, if you have any questions ask Sophia Esteed and she will answer them for you."
After he had been 'approved' and declared germ free, they were allowed to enter the main part of the ship. Sophia found their room quickly. However instead of staying and resting like he wanted she insisted they take a tour of the ship. She said that she didn't want him wandering anywhere he wasn't supposed to go or getting lost.
She showed him the food court, the entertainment room, the battle simulator, the observation deck, and a number of other rooms which held little more importance then taking up space on the massive ship. Finally they made it back to their room. They were now seated on a nice comfortable couch facing a large clear window. Outside the stars sped past looking beautiful and unnatural at the same time. This world of hers was so strange. Being on the Diplo was completely different than a federation ship. When he made comment to Sophia earlier about this fact she said that the federation had more rules and tighter security then the Diplo.
It was too much trouble to get on this ship. It was too much to learn and remember to make it worth his while. How had he ever agreed to this? What demon could have possibly taken over all thought in his brain and forced his mouth to form the words "I'm going with you to earth"? She hadn't argued or complained, in fact she was quite happy to have him follow her. He had rationalized it by the fact that she needed someone to make sure she stayed out of danger. Now given everything he'd gone through today he almost wished he had stayed home.
His train of thought was interrupted by a light weight on his shoulder. Sophia had fallen asleep, her head resting on his shoulder, her hand intertwined with his. He looked over her peaceful form. She was happy to be going home she'd said. She told him she wanted him to meet her parents. She wanted him to see where she had grown up, this place called earth. And he knew that by going he would get a chance to be a part of her life like he never had before. A chance to see what made Sophia, Sophia.
She had not said if they were returning to Elicoor II or for that matter if they were staying on earth. At this point that almost seemed incidental. He'd made his choice.
He slowly lowered his face to hers and placed a feather light kiss on her forehead. He thought of all the trouble she had put him through today and all the trouble they were sure to go through when they reached earth. And yet he knew he would do it all over again if that was what made her happy.
Whether they ever saw Elicoor II again, whether they stayed on earth or any other planet, whether they came or went really didn't matter to him.
She was his home and he would follow wherever she lead.