.Chapter twenty-one.

We soon arrived on a planet that was just covered in farms with one metropolis in its northern pole. I had to wake Cloak up; I don't know how he and some of the other Triceratons I've met can sleep through an entire flight.

"Cloak, Cloak," I said, as I shook him gently. All I got was a groan and gentle swat for my troubles.

"Come on, Cloak, get up," I said, as I got up. He didn't even stir. I decided to try something a little unconventional for me. I put a finger onto the top of his nose horn and then ran it down along the length of his muzzle. His eyes fluttered open as soon as I reached the spot in-between his eyes.

"And now?" he asked groggily.

"We're here," I said, as I removed my finger from his head.

He groaned as he stretched and stood up a bit wobbly at first, but regained his composure quickly. After grabbing our bags, Cloak led the way out of the shuttle and into the space port.

"There should be a transport shuttle waiting for us," he said, as he looked around the docking bay for the shuttle. Just then a light brown Triceraton walked up to us from behind and put a hand on Cloak's shoulder.

"Cloaky," he said, as Cloak spun 'round, surprised by the contact.

"Zanner," Cloak smiled, as he shook the Triceraton's hand.

"Who's this?"

"Uh, Zanner, this is my girlfriend Cal. Cal, this is my cousin Zanner."

"Pleased to meet you," I smiled.

"Back at yah," smiled Zanner.

Cloak smiled and put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.

"Since when were you interested in females?" asked Zanner.

"Since I laid eyes on her," replied Cloak.

"What are auntie and uncle going to say?"

"I couldn't care less. I love her and if they don't like her that's their problem."

"You're brave."

I looked up at Cloak, a bit unsure about meeting his parents now.

"Hey, don't worry; my parents will be fine," he said reassuringly.

I just gave him a look, but then took his word for it.

"So, you ready to go, Zanner?" Cloak asked.

"You bet. Let's go," replied Zanner, as he started to walk away towards a few lines of transport shuttles.

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We were soon on our way to Cloak's parents' farm. As we progressed I started to get a bit nervous about meeting his parents again and started fiddling with the straps on my bag. Cloak must have noticed my fidgeting and put a hand onto mine.

"Relax," he said, as he patted my hands.

"Sorry," I apologised.

"I know you're nervous because of what I said earlier, but I'm sure my parents won't take this too badly."

"That's not encouraging, Cloak."

"I'm sorry." Cloak squeezed my hand slightly and rested his head against mine gently.

"If you two are done being all gushy," said Zanner.

"Well, stop eaves dropping and then you won't have to hear us being soppy," said Cloak.

"I'm just saying that it ain't like you to be all sweet on someone."

"Get used to it; everyone else had to." Cloak let go of my hand, leaned back, and put his arm around my shoulders.

Zanner just gave Cloak a look via the rear-view mirror and then continued to drive.

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We soon arrived on the farm; it was quite similar to one that you find on earth, just the animals were different.

"Come on; let's introduce you to my parents," smiled Cloak, as he retrieved our bags from the luggage compartment of the shuttle.

"You do that, Cloak, I'll be back within a trigon or so; just got to park the shuttle," smiled Zanner, as he leaned out of the window.

"Right." Cloak closed the luggage compartment and Zanner took off to park the shuttle. Cloak slung both of our bags over his shoulder and carried his suit case in the same hand.

"Come on," he said, as he put his free arm around my shoulders and started to lead me up to the house.

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Once on the porch, Cloak set down his suitcase and knocked on the door. I could hear footsteps approaching and I felt my stomach go into a knot. Cloak pulled me closer to him to help comfort me, as the door was opened and an old Triceraton female smiled at us.

"Cloaky!" she exclaimed, as Cloak released me and gave the lady a hug; I was guessing that this was his mom.

"Mom! Great to see you again," Cloak smiled, as his mom released him.

"Look at you; you look like you've been keeping well."

"I have."

"And this must be Cal, your girlfriend if I'm not mistaken."

Cloak and I just looked at her. How did she know about Cloak and I?

"How did you know about…," started Cloak.

"Well, everyone on the home world knows now and Auntie Iridisa thought that your father and I should know too," replied Cloak's mom.

"Good old Auntie Iridisa." Cloak didn't look too pleased.

"Well, come on in, dearies." Cloak's mom moved aside so that Cloak and I could walk in. Cloak gestured for me to walk in first and I cautiously did. Cloak's mom just smiled at me kindly as I walked past her.

"How long ago did Auntie Iridisa tell you about us?" asked Cloak.

"About a week or so," replied Cloak's mom.

"Right. I hope you don't mind that I brought her along."

"Not at all. We're quite glad that you brought her through to meet us."

Just then there was a loud bang behind me; I squeaked in surprise, spun 'round and backed up to Cloak quickly. Then I saw an old male Triceraton who was going into near hysterics at my reaction.

"Cal, my dad," said Cloak, as he set the bags down and held me close.

"Nice to meet you, Cal," smiled Cloak's dad, as he extended a hand for me to shake.

I shook his hand quickly and then pressed my back up against Cloak again.

"How you doing, my boy?" asked Cloak's dad.

"Fine, dad," smiled Cloak.

"Well, what you waiting for? Give us a hug."

Cloak rolled his eyes and released me; I backed away from him and made sure that there was no way anyone could sneak up behind me, while Cloak gave his dad a hug.

"That's better," smiled Cloak's dad, as he released Cloak.

"Come on, Cal; I'll show you through to where you'll be sleeping," said Cloak's mom, as she put a hand onto my shoulder.

"Thanks ma'am," I smiled, as she started to lead me further into the house.

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She led me to a little room just down the hall. It had a double bunk in it and it even had a window; I hadn't seen a room with a window for such a long time that it kinda looked out of place now.

"I hope you don't mind, Cal, but Zanner will be sharing this room with you," said Cloak's mom, as I walked in to check out my new surroundings.

"That's okay, ma'am," I smiled.

"Oh, please call me Mrs. T."

"Mrs. T?"

"Yes, our last name is Titanium."
"That's Cloak's last name? Titanium?"

"Yes, hasn't he ever told you?"

"No, I've only known his first name."

"Well, what's your last name, dear?"

"Swift."

"Swift. That's a nice name."
"Thanks."
"Cal Swift and Cloak Enigma Titanium, interesting."
"Enigma?"
"His middle name."
"Right."

"Do you have one, dear?"

"No, I don't."
"Right. Well, I'll leave you to settle in."

"Thanks Mrs. T."

"Oh, and you can call Cloak's dad, Mr. T."

"Yes Mrs. T, thanks."
"Anytime, deary." With that Mrs. T walked away to see to her son.

I had to try so hard not to laugh at the names I was supposed to call Cloak's parents because it reminded me of Mr. T from the A-Team.

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Soon Cloak came into the room with my bag in his hand.

"You'll need this," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," I smiled back.

"Wonder where Zanner's staying." Cloak handed me my bag and then sat down next to me on the lower bunk.

"Here."

Cloak just looked at me with wide eyes.

"Here? In this room?" he asked.

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

"You're my girlfriend and there's going to be another male sleeping in here."

"Relax; Zanner has no feelings for me and I have no feelings for him, so I think we'll be perfectly okay in here."

"Cal."

"It'll be okay, Cloak dear," said Mrs. T, as she walked into the room.

Cloak and I looked at her.

"Zanner swore that he wouldn't touch her," she continued.

Cloak just gave his mom a look.

"Anyway, you're right down the hall, dear; if Zanner gets a bit much for Cal I'm sure she'll let you know," Mrs. T smiled at her son as a way of calming him down.

"You okay with this?" he asked, as he took my hand in his and squeezed it.

"Yeah. Just think of him as Sleeg," I smiled.

"Surprisingly that won't be too hard to do." Cloak's expression changed from serious to amused.

I just giggled at the way he had said that; Zanner really was a sweet guy, but obviously he had a way of annoying his cousin.

"Right, now that everyone is settled why don't you show Cal around the farm, Cloak?" asked Mrs. T.

"Okay. You up for a tour?" asked Cloak.

"Whenever you are," I smiled.

Cloak returned my smile, got up with my hand still in his and started to lead me out of the room.

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We started the tour at an old barn-like structure that stood near to the house.

"I had just graduated from my pilot's course when my parents moved here," said Cloak, as we walked into the structure.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. I used to spend most of my time hiding in here when I came to visit them."

"Cloak."
"What? You'll find out why soon enough."

"Why do you say that?"

"Zanner was my reason."

"He can't be that bad."

"Wanna bet?"

I just smiled at him.

"Shall we continue elsewhere?" he asked, as he offered me his arm.

"Sure," I replied, as I interlocked my arm with his.

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We spent the next helate or so looking around the farm; I was introduced to a majority of the animals that lived on the farm and also met a few of the neighbours. They gave Cloak and I the same look that most beings did when they found out that we were an item. We were on our way back to the house when we were ambushed by one of the villagers; there were small villages situated around the farms. She was also a Triceraton and she kinda took us both by surprise by glomping poor Cloak to the floor from behind.

"Hey, Cloak," she said, as she ran her finger over his frill. I was a bit indignant as to how she was lying on him and the manner in which she was running her finger over his frill.

"Hello, Melody," replied Cloak in a monotonous voice; I guess this used to happen a lot.

"Where you been? We've been missing you."

"I've been doing my job on the home world."

"We heard that you were put in prison; is that true?"

I cleared my throat, hoping that Cloak would get the gist that I didn't like the situation he was in.

"Could you get off of me first and then I'll tell you?" he asked; acknowledging my cough.

"Sure," replied Melody, as she slid off of him and helped him up. Cloak dusted himself off and prevented Melody from helping him.

"So?" she asked.

"Yes, I was in prison for just over six cycles."
"You poor thing. How did you ever survive?"

"I had a bit of help."

"From?"

"That little lady over there," replied Cloak, as he looked at me with a kind smile.

"Her?" asked Melody.

"Yes, her; and her name's Cal."

"How did she help you?"

"She gave me something no-one else did."

"What?"

"Friendship and currently love."

"L-love?"

"Yes, we're going out. Why?"

"Since when were you dating?!"
"Since I fell in love with her."

Melody glared at Cloak and then at me.

"I better get back home. Mom will start to wonder," said Melody, as she turned stiffly and walked away.

"Right," replied Cloak, as he watched her walk off.

Once she was out of earshot I walked up to Cloak.

"Old flame?" I asked.

"Old flame?" he asked, as he raised an eye ridge.

"Old girlfriend?"

"No, you're my first."

"Oh, right."

"Sorry about that; I could see you didn't like the way she was treating me."

"We-ell, can't help that now, can I?"

"No, but I can make it up to you if you want me to." Cloak put his hands onto my shoulders and gave me a cheeky smile.

"It's fine. Come on, let's see if Zanner's returned yet."

"Why do you want to see if he's in yet?"

"Just because."

"You just don't want me to kiss you in public."
I just smiled at him as we started to walk back towards the house.

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We soon made it back and it was apparent that Zanner was back in; we could hear him 'singing' somewhere in the house.

"Does he have to sing like that?" Cloak asked his mom who was holding her hands over her ears.

"Apparently so," she replied.

"Where is he?"

"Bathroom."

"That explains it. I'll be back in a moment, Cal," said Cloak, as he put a hand on my shoulder and then walked off towards the bathroom.

"So, how has my son been treating you?" asked Mrs. T.

"Wonderfully," I replied with a smile.

"Good. We're quite glad that Cloak has finally found someone that makes him happy."

"Even though I'm a human?"

"Yes; we kinda freaked out at that news, but it has grown on us since then."

"Right."

"And we're glad that it did. Had we been opposed to the idea when you arrived here with Cloak, it wouldn't have been a very nice stay for you two."

I just smiled at her. Just then we heard a loud banging.

"Zanner! Shut it!" bellowed Cloak.

"What? Don't you like my singing, Cloaky?" asked Zanner from the other side of the bathroom door.

"Not entirely no."

"That's just harsh, Cloak; I don't moan at you when you sing in the shower."

"That's because I don't."

"Well, uh…"

Zanner had finally run out of arguments.

"Just wrap it up and get out here," said Cloak, as he started to walk back towards the living room where his mom and I were waiting for him.

"Okay, okay… spoil sport," retorted Zanner.

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Cloak soon re-entered the room and sat down on a sofa that was in the corner. He smiled at me and patted the spot next to him. I smiled at him, walked over to the sofa, and sat down next to him; he then put his arm around my shoulders and rested his head against mine.

"You two do make a lovely couple, you know that?" asked Mrs. T.

"Now we do," replied Cloak, as he gently kissed my cheek.

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The rest of the day was quite uneventful, except for the sunset, which I haven't seen for ages being on the Triceraton home world where they are non existent, and when Zanner found out who his bunk buddy was going to be.

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I was busy waiting for Cloak to come back in, he had taken Zanner outside to set some ground rules for his being my bunk buddy. When they did come back in, Zanner was still his happy go lucky self.

"Chill, Cloaky, I know that rules," he said, as he walked back into the house with Cloak behind him.

"You just keep them in mind. I'm just down the hall, so, if I feel like it, I can come check on you and Cal can call me if need be," said Cloak. He wasn't in a good mood.

"We'll be fine, Cloak," I said, as I walked up to him and put a hand onto his shoulder.

"Okay, but if he tries anything call me."

"You got it."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Cloak quickly pressed his lips to mine and I returned the favour.

"Come on, Cal, we've got to get to bed early so that we can be up with the sun," said Zanner with a smile.

Cloak just glared at him as we pulled apart.

"Okay; see you in the morning, Cloak," I smiled, as I turned to leave.

"Right," replied Cloak, as he turned to walk to his room.

I nodded and then walked off to the room I was going to be sharing with Zanner while Cloak walked off to his room.