Chapter Twenty

Sophie was really enjoying herself. Helping Kyle with planting and watering the plants in his greenhouse was fun and pleasant. The little cherry tomato plants already had fruit, and were nice and strong. Sophie trilled as she delicately watered them with a watering can, gently touching a leaf with her claws. Kyle was watering the squash with a mix of water and plant food, humming to himself. Sophie shared in his happiness and cheer as they tended their plants. She was looking forward to the nice, big Beef Steak tomatoes being ready. She really liked them. Sure, she liked meat the best, but nice fruits and vegetables added to it made for nice meals.

Kyle set down his watering can and checked the smaller plants. He smiled and nodded, making note that the oregano plants were doing good, but needed a little more care. Sophie was happy to see the chives were doing great. She loved their taste.

"Okay, that should do it," said Kyle as he put the watering can under the bench. Sophie put the other tools away.

Yes, they look like they're doing very well. Kyle smiled, agreeing with her as they left the greenhouse, Kyle being careful to make Sure Josey didn't sneak in. As it was, he didn't have to worry.

"Hey! You furry little bandit!" Kyle scolded as he saw her eating a whole stalk of celery. Josey looked up as Kyle walked over, turned and leaped out of the garden bed, gliding a few feet away and scampering off with the rest of the celery. Kyle stopped and huffed. Sophie couldn't help an amused chuckle.

It's just one celery plant, Kyle. There's plenty more, Sophie soothed. Kyle frowned as he thought of the whole garden gone, and Josey sitting in the middle, so fat she couldn't move. Sophie was greatly amused by this mental image. Sophie gently placed her hand on Kyle's shoulder, purring as she touched his leg with her tail. He smiled as he looked up at her. Kyle slid his hand into hers, Sophie gently squeezing it in reply. Her mind softly enfolded his, soft, warm and tender thoughts flowed into his mind, calming him. Kyle leaned against her as Sophie purred. He closed his eyes as she stroked his hair. A gentle breeze blew, the smell of fresh grass and the garden in the air, a hint of the ocean as well. It was one of those sweet moments where the closeness of the Bond made even the most eloquent spoken language seem clumsy and contrived. Sophie kissed Kyle on his hair as they headed back towards the house.

XXX

Kyle and Sophie sat on their bed, the soft breeze from outside blowing the gossamer silk curtains around their bed. Light from outside reflected on the shiny black resin that coated the entire room, some light scattering into tiny rainbows from the crystalline structure of the resin surface. Kyle was reading a book, and Sophie was reading files on the PDA. It was a nice, sweet and peaceful day.

Sophie was currently reading some works by William Shakespeare. She was gradually coming to better understand human culture. Of course, some of it seemed bizarre and strange, and likely always would. Even so, Sophie liked to learn. She was eternally curious. Kyle laid next to her, head on her thigh, her tail laying across his body like a blanket, the tip twitching every now and then. Every now and then, Kyle would turn a page, and stroke her tail. Sophie purred, the sound filling the room as they enjoyed being close on a nice, relaxing day.

Even as their minds focused on separate things, they were always in contact. Every second. Their minds constantly fed feelings and sensations back and forth. When Kyle felt an itch in his hair, Sophie reached down and scratched it gently without ever looking away from her PDA. Kyle felt that Sophie's tail was a little tired in one section, and moved his arm so it was elevated. In many ways, they were like two bodies that shared the same mind.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Kyle asked. Sophie smiled as she looked down at him.

Yes, but I always like hearing so, she replied. He looked up at her and smiled in that adorable, sweet way that made her heart warm so much. She set the PDA down and caressed his face, her long fingers gently tracing his jaw. He placed his hand over hers as he met her eyeless gaze, his heart contracting with love and affection for her. Sophie craned her neck down and softly kissed him on the lips, her tongue very gently squeezing his lips with its teeth; a sign of intimate tenderness. Kyle cupped her chin as best he could from their upside-down kiss. Kyle felt her feelings as she pulled away, her tail softly pushing him upright. Kyle set his book aside as Sophie wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into her lap. Kyle sighed gently as he rested his head against her chest.

Sophie's purr lowered into a thrum as she wrapped her tail around them both, her hand stroking his hair. Kyle's finger traced one of the large tubes that shrouded her shoulders. Kyle noted how Sophie was developing lovely, dark-blue highlights to the top of the tubes, as well as her dome and arms. She was beautiful. Sophie thrummed deeper as she cuddled him. Kyle closed his eyes as Sophie gently rocked them back and forth. Kyle felt completely comfortable and at peace, body and mind. So did Sophie. They stayed like that for a time they could not count. Seconds, minutes, hours, time meant nothing to them.

Kyle was surprised when Josey leaped up onto the bed. Kyle glared at her as best he could.

"Oh, so here you are, you little veggie thief," he groused. Sophie was amused, chuckling.

Oh, Kyle. I think she came to apologize, said Sophie. Kyle muttered, not quite convinced as Josey came closer, turned and settled. Kyle sighed as he reached out and petted her. He chuckled as he tickled her tail. Josey shook her leg, and peed on his hand.

"Hey! You no-good lettuce-looter!" Kyle yelled as Josey fled and Sophie fell over laughing.

XXX

Sophie was still chuckling as Kyle washed their sheets. It was kind of funny. Even Kyle couldn't help a rueful chuckle as he poured a cup of soap into the washing machine and closed it. "You can stop laughing, you know," Kyle said dryly. Sophie smiled as she kissed his hair and rubbed his shoulder.

Kyle knew she wasn't laughing in a mean way, at his expense, but at the funny situation. He always could feel that through their Bond, and it helped allow him to laugh at it himself. "Boy, what an attitude, eh?" Sophie snickered and agreed.

I guess Josey can be a Bad Bunny when she wants to. This made Kyle snicker himself.

"You say that like she isn't all the time," he retorted, amused and smiling.

Just then, Kyle's PDA beeped with a new message. Kyle brought it up and opened the message, Sophie connecting her mind to his as she glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, the utensil rack is ready from Hank and Niju." Sophie purred happily.

Oh, good. We can get some more seeds and things while we're in Zeraven. Kyle agreed as they went to get ready.

XXX

The weather was nice in Zeraven. The cool breeze made the summer pleasant, instead of hot and oppressing. As they headed to the smithy, they noticed people seemed to be getting ready for a celebration of some kind. There were images of crescent moons and stars all over.

Hmm, wonder what's up? Kyle wondered. Sophie was curious as well.

I don't know. We'll have to ask. They arrived to the smithy in short order. Niju was at the counter, finishing an order for a human man, who thanked her and took a wrapped box and left. Kyle and Sophie approached the counter, and Niju smiled.

"Ah! There you are! So, we got it all done. Have a look and make sure it's as you wanted," said Niju as she set the pieces of a hammered iron pot and utensil rack on the counter. Sophie trilled as they inspected the rack, which looked even better than they had hoped.

The hooks that held pots and pans had a delightful twist to them, and the body of the rack was hammered and blackened. Sophie already loved it. Kyle was all grins as he paid Niju.

"Oh, it looks wonderful! This is even better than we imagined! You outdid yourselves." Niju chuckled, ears flicking.

"Thanks. Not too hard, but you want to get the measurements just right. If it isn't right, we don't let it leave the shop." Kyle smiled as Niju packed it into a box for them, with a sheet how to assemble it. "Now, if anything of it breaks, come back, and we'll replace it." Kyle nodded as Sophie purred. Suddenly, the bell of the front door rang, and Sophie detected a scent that was familiar.

"Hey, Niju, I was wondering-" They turned at the voice. Sophie fought hard not to growl at the sight of Makara, the same female Baleeja who had been hitting on Kyle.

Oh, no! Not her again! Sophie groused. Makara stopped, noticing Kyle and grinned that same toothy grin.

"Well, hello, cutie. Long time, no see," she husked. Sophie wrapped her arms around Kyle and began to growl.

Just try it, big-butt! I'll bury you! Sophie mentally growled, teeth bared under the hood of her burnoose, and Kyle felt her tail uncoiling from her waist. Kyle fought to keep Sophie calm. Niju, it seemed was not pleased either.

"Makara! What did I say last time?! Knock it off!" Niju scolded, and started to talk in their native tongue.

Now, while Kyle didn't know a single word of Baleejo, he did feel that it was not friendly, or polite. Makara looked at Kyle and grinned as she swished her tail towards him, making Sophie tense, her own tail poising to strike. Kyle's mind raced to avoid a fight. Salvation came from the most unlikely source. The bell of the front door rang again as someone came in.

"Hey, I'm back" said another familiar voice. Makara stopped and looked as Alex, Hank and Niju's human apprentice entered the shop. Sophie was surprised when she smelled Makara's scent change, and she seemed . . . nervous, but also pleased. As if . . .

Ah ha . . ., Sophie mused, putting it together. Alex looked surprised to see Makara.

"Oh, hey, Makara. How're you?" Even Kyle was shocked when all of Makara's bravado vanished and she seemed almost timid.

"Oh, um, ah, fine, Alex. Fine! How . . . uh, how're you?" Makara replied. As Alex walked forward, he tripped over something, stumbling forward. Makara caught him, but squeaked when his face ended up in her cleavage. Sophie grabbed their package and bolted with Kyle as Niju proceeded to laugh herself silly.

XXX

Sophie, I can't believe you did that! said Kyle, lightly scolding, but also amused. Sophie was completely unapologetic.

Kyle, she clearly was interested in him as a mate. And she obviously wanted his face there, eventually. Kyle snorted a laugh

"Still, there's better ways to be a matchmaker," he mused. Sophie purred and hugged him as they walked.

They noticed everyone around and all the decorations. Kyle noticed an older man hanging a moon decoration, and stopped to ask him. "Excuse me, but what's with all the decorations?" Kyle asked. The man smiled at them.

"The Lunar Festival!" Kyle blinked. Sophie trilled curiously. Kyle looked around, and then looked up into the sky. The two moons, one gray, the other green, were both crescents. He smiled and Sophie purred.

"That's neat," he commented. Sophie agreed as they walked back to their ship. On the way, Kyle noticed the breeze had died down, and it was getting a bit hot. Sophie, in her burnoose, had noticed this as well. Kyle then noticed something he knew would help. He grinned and looked at Sophie. "Wait here," he said as he ran up to a stand selling something. He returned in short order carrying two things in his hands. He smiled as he offered one to Sophie. "Ice cream, Sophie." She trilled as he shared images of the tasty treat. Curious, she took the cone and took a small bite with the teeth of her tongue. She was shocked at the cold, but also the delightful taste of orange sherbet. Kyle smiled as he licked his cone of rocky road. Sophie trilled.

Kyle, this is wonderful. Thank you. Kyle blushed a little, both from the heat, and her praise.

"Ice cream in summer is kind of a human tradition," he said as they headed back to their ship.

XXX

Back home, Kyle and Sophie took a break in their nice, cool room. They set the rack down in the kitchen, to put together later. Currently, they were looking up about the Lunar Festival. Looking up about it, led them to see more about them. They both were surprised to find that one of the moons, the green one, Anhur, was inhabited. Even more surprising was that the small, but fierce Anhurians were tribal hunters and cannibals, and thus travel to Anhur was forbidden. When Sophie also saw it was linked to the first Lunar missions of humans, she followed the link, and read, with Kyle, about the now-legendary Apollo Space Program.

Sophie was very impressed and fascinated by what they read. Even Kyle was. He knew a little about it, but not much. Sophie moaned sadly when she saw the pictures of the burned capsule of Apollo 1, and the deaths of the astronauts. Kyle was saddened as well.

What really held their attention, was the section about the fabled Apollo 11, the very first human mission that set foot on another celestial object. Seeing a button to play an audio clip, Sophie tapped it with her claw, and a grainy recording played, a message carried through centuries of time and across billions of light years of space:

"That's one small step for a man, . . . one giant leap for mankind," came the voice of the first human being ever to set foot off of planet Earth and onto another world. Sophie trilled as she hugged Kyle to her as he sat in her lap, reading and learning with her.

How wonderful. They were very brave. Kyle felt her pride in those brave men who risked their lives to push the limits of their species. They read more, things Kyle knew, but had forgotten until now. That the original site of the landing was preserved on the Earth Moon, Luna, the Sea of Tranquility Colony built in a large circle around it, the lander and flag still there for everyone to see. Kyle didn't know why, but he felt a small tear when he read the words of the plaque they left on the lander:

Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969, A.D.

We came in peace for all mankind.

Sophie kissed Kyle on the cheek. Kyle wondered what those men would think of there being a colony built around their very landing site. What they would think of all the wonderful, amazing alien races humans had encountered, of all the planets and phenomena that had been seen across the Universe. Sophie purred as she rocked him in her arms. I think they'd be proud, to think it all started with them. Kyle stroked her arm and nodded. As they saw the iconic image of the astronaut saluting the flag, they both saluted as well, paying homage to those who paved the way, so long ago.

Author's note: This chapter is in special respect to the 50th anniversary of the first landing on the Moon. I hope you all enjoy.

Read, Review and have a nice day.