Eli leans on the rail watching as stars and moons circle the purple sky above him. No matter how many times he sees them it still leaves him a little breathless to realize he's really on another planet.

He's alone right now; a rarity these days. His lips quirk slightly at that thought. Just a couple years ago he wouldn't have been able to imagine having just one close friend, now an entire planet idolizes him. Several planets, actually. His popularity keeps growing. His Mom had always told him that things would change. He gets the feeling that this was not quite what she was expecting.

"ELI!"

Eli jumps slightly, letting out an undignified little yelp, and turns at the sound. It's Aja. She's wearing a dark blue hooded cloak instead of her royal apparel; she must have given her guards the slip again.

Despite his mood he grins at her.

"Hey."

She throws herself down to sit on the ground beside him with a loud groan.

"I swear if I have to deal with one more person making comments about how I'm 'so wise for my age' and then giving me advice I never asked for, I'm going to flip my log…"

Eli puts a hand to his mouth and chuckles.

"Noted."

He attempts to push his glasses up, before remembering he doesn't wear glasses anymore. The royal scientists were very excited to design the holographic vision screens he wears now.

He sighs and leans back against the rail. After a moment he feels Aja's hand on his shoulder.

"So what has you feeling…" She pauses, likely searching for the correct human word. "Blue?"

"I'm just a little homesick I guess." A pod shoots past above them. "Don't get me wrong… I love it here. I get to do all sorts of cool things. And I'm a space scientist explorer ambassador person now like I've always wanted, but I… I guess I just miss home."

"Ah…"

The teleporter Krel built is currently out of use for the moment as Akiridion's best scientists, as well as ones from all across the galaxy, run experiments on it to make sure it won't cause any problems in the long term. Earth is still only a day's journey away with Akiridian technology but with how busy Eli is it's been a while since he's had a chance to visit. His friends on earth have been just as busy. Even if the teleporter was up he probably would be seeing much of them.

Not only that, but it was lonely being the only human here sometimes. He misses the familiarity of Earth and Arcadia; warm yellow sunshine and a dark night sky full of constellations he knows by heart.

Aja is quiet for a mecron.

"I know how you feel." She says softly. "Back when I lived on your world I missed Akiridion-5 every day. Now it's Krel I miss… and our friends." She chuckles. "I miss your little mudball too. I even miss school."

Eli breaths out a quiet laugh at that, then sniffles. He feels Aja put another arm around him. He leans against her and wonders how he ever got by before he had her and Steve and Toby and all his other friends. They stand there quietly for a while before Aja breaks the silence.

"I brought something to show you," She says, removing an arm from his shoulder.

He half turns toward her as he wipes at his eyes. She pulls a blanket out from under her cloak.

"Our friends sent a… 'care package'".

The blanket is a fuzzy wool one; red, brown and green plaid. It looks out of place on Akiridion-5 among the neon lights and sleek technology… like Eli.

Aja unfolds the blanket and Eli's breath catches as soft orange light hits his face.

"A heartstone…"

Aja nods.

"Jim sent it. It sounds like the one in New Jersey is doing well. He thought you might enjoy a piece."

Eli never got to see Trollmarket while Arcadia's heartstone was alive but Toby has shown him pictures. It's not quite the same as seeing one in person. The crystal radiates a soothing feeling. Eli takes it from her hands and then hesitates.

"You know… I think I have an idea."

And that's how they end up sitting together in a deserted corner of Sector 7 with a blanket around their shoulders and a shard of heartstone in front of them casting a warm glow like campfire. The stars and planets revolve above them and Akiridion-5 buzzes with life and energy.

Eli misses Earth, but he wouldn't trade this for the universe.