"Rodney, the Jupiter 2 is gone!" Penny announced.
"I have detected this as so." Rodney said.
"And what craft is that?" John pointed toward another craft similar to Rodney's craft.
"Family." Rodney replied.
Rodney flew the craft out of the wormhole then followed after the companion craft.
"Part of your family unit?" John asked, curiously.
"Yes," Rodney replied. "We are brothers in arms. He has informed me that we are heading toward a planet."
"What planet?" John asked.
"The travel time will require. . . Lots of timing." John frowned at the reply. "My brother informs me that my species are gathering a force to deal with the rest of your species on Earth and colonize all three Centauri systems." The reply drew their surprise.
"Just like that they decided to help us?" Penny asked, surprised but bewildered.
"We have accepted the apology. A bit long time coming." Two long tubes appeared from behind the duo along the wall of the ship with a soft hiss once the metal parts around them had lowered with vines and cables connecting to the support beams to the tubes that appeared to be ancient and alien with the nature in them. "You are required to go into these pods for most of the journey."
"Why?" John asked.
"If we intend to get to the planet in question in which your mate, her child, the second engine are then we are not going to take short cuts." Rodney explained.
"But, why do we have to sleep?" Penny asked.
"There is damage to the life support systems that I can repair," Rodney said. "You are required to be out for it."
"And what else?" Penny asked. "I feel there is something else."
"Well?" John raised his brows. "What is it, Rodney?"
"Mother and father are furious that someone has stolen a engine that rightfully belongs to them. They are deciding how to best lay their wrath. And they are not in the mood to have rest stops." Rodney elaborated then John's brows lowered and Penny's confusion turned into a 'oh no'. "Even more furious that someone stole it from your family instead of allowing things to go as planned."
"Rodney, how long?" John asked.
"Three years." Rodney said.
"Three years. . ." John said, agape. "Afterstep are not that far."
"It is not the planet you were on." Rodney said. "It is the planet in which . . . "
"In which what?" Penny asked, her brows knitted together.
"Your former associate June Harris resides." Rodney replied. "Your family unit will be joining us. . . Sometime."
"Alright." John said.
"Dad, look!" Penny pointed.
"Right when they are needed," John looked toward the pods. "Wow. They look very primitive."
"They look quite old." Penny said. "Are they basic?"
"Yes." Rodney said and Penny inspected it around the area then got on to the platform looking in awe.
"What about you, Rodney?" John asked.
"I will be fine." Rodney said.
"Bull shit." John said. "You are going to be alone."
"I will not." Rodney said.
"You won't?" John asked then he looked around and faced the machine. "You are the only alien machine I see here. "
"I have a memory track in which I can rely on and live through certain adventures. I am more than capable of multitask while immersing myself in my memories quite sufficiently compared your species."
"You are sure?" John asked.
"Yes. The last year has more adventures then I had part of in my entire life span," Rodney said. "Your family is quite amusing to watch."
"Are we?" John asked.
"I do not know any one else more capable of falling into traps and making a mess even more problematic cleaning it up."
John had a laugh in amusement.
"Sometimes, they were very dirty." John said.
"And sometimes I had to execute the problem that you brought to my perch."
"About that. . . " John said, apologetically.
"I do not mind being used in that form."
Rodney held a claw out from a panel halting the man in his tracks.
"You don't?" John asked.
"It brought some spice into my duty." Rodney said.
"Made your day." John's face began to brighten with a small smile.
"It did." Rodney's helm twirled away.
"You're welcome." John replied, fondly.
"If I were being used in what way that my brother had been used; my feelings would be mixed regarding the matter." Rodney explained. "Watching you from time to time having moments with your family was . . . refreshing."
"We were wholesome to you." John acknowledged with a nod.
"That word does not compute." Rodney replied.
"Being a wholesome person means being decent and moral which means being good for others, physically, emotionally, and morally." John said. "In some ways; we make others feel whole. That they are part of something greater than themselves and better. They are complete."
Rodney's helm twirled.
"It has significantly aided in my advancement of vocabulary and knowledge more than any creature I have met." Rodney said. "I did feel complete." John grinned looking up toward the machine feeling warmth travel through his heart. "To be part of your family in the way that you had drawn me into is the best experience I have to date."
"You are quite a talker, Rodney." John smiled.
"It is better than being silent and talking few words." Rodney said. "It find that it is freeing."
John nodded in agreement.
"It is freeing being able to talk." John agreed.
"I do not wish to be a silent conversationalist." Rodney said.
"Like our friend Robot." John said.
"He will become a talker." Rodney replied.
"See you in a few." John said.
"See you." Rodney's helm twirled then the man went into the tube.
The tube door closed then they froze inside staring out to the room.
And Rodney began to laugh as he immersed himself into a amusing memory.