Chapter 2

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Author's Note: I'm just making stuff up as I go along here. If anyone notices any glaring inconsistencies or plotholes, please private message me or review. Of course, if there's nothing wrong, you could review anyway and tell me what a good job I'm doing. Up to you. ;)

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Finally the wait was over and they had arrived. Similarly to the last time he'd reentered an atmosphere, the descent onto earth was much rougher than leaving a planet. He thought it didn't bode well. Chuck stayed near the controls in case there was a problem, but there were none, and soon they had landed in a place Chuck called "Florida".

The sudden return of gravity was hard on Lem, much harder than it was on Chuck, who helped him to walk out of capsule and down the stairs, an arm around his waist. Lem was surprised to find only a few people surrounding them. There were several men in military dress and a very serious man he assumed to be a high ranking officer. Behind them were a man in a navy suit who looked ecstatic, a woman who seemed to be examining him even from several yards off, and another man in business dress, wearing a tag that said NASA, who was giving Chuck a very strange look.

Lem looked up to Chuck looking back at the business man with shock on his face, but he quickly covered it up and smiled at the woman. "Hey, Mom, we're home!"

"Very funny, Baker," she said, shoving past the military personnel to approach them. "Hello, my name is Amanda Brooks, Professor of Xenological Studies at Harvard, and this sorry louts mentor when he was in school."

"Aw, don't be like that," Chuck said, looking embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, but what's a...Harvard?" Lem asked politely.

She blinked. "Only the most... Oh, of course. It's a university, a high level one. Captain Baker attended several years ago. I specialize in studying alien life-forms."

"But..." Lem began, looking confused. "I thought Chuck said we were the first intelligent life you had come across...?"

"You are. Up until now, I've only studied plants, rodents, bacteria...lower levels of life. I must tell you, it's an honor to meet you."

"Uh...you, too." Lem felt uncomfortable as he realized everyone was staring at him. Was this how Chuck had felt when he had come to his planet? Luckily, he'd grown so used to the way that Chuck looked, he didn't stare back at anyone.

The man in the navy suit came forward, followed by two men in black suits. He was very happy, grinning wildly. "Lem, I'm President Thomas Blair of the Western Confederation of Countries. Let me be the first to say, welcome to Earth."

"Thank you, Sir."

"I've arranged accommodations for you and Captain Baker at an upscale hotel in Washington, and I'd like you to fly with me on my private plane." He gestured behind him. "This is my science adviser, Dr. Jake Wilson."

Dr. Wilson met Lem's eyes briefly. "A pleasure," he said quietly. "Chuck. Good to see you again."

"Jake."

Lem looked at Chuck, whose voice had suddenly become hard to read, then saw the way Jake was staring at him. Suddenly, he was a lot less excited about being on Earth.

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"It's been a pleasure, Mr. President," Chuck gushed, shaking his hand again. "And thank for setting Lem and I up here."

"Not a problem, son," Blair responded, returning the firm handshake. "I hope you two kids are happy. I'll be in touch."

Chuck showed the President and his entourage out, then closed the door and flopped onto the couch. "My God, I thought they'd never leave," he said, looking exhausted.

Lem was looking at all the strange, angular constructions in the room, feeling amazed. But as he sat down on the couch, he couldn't help flashing back to the looks Chuck and Jake had shared. "Chuck... Who was that?"

"Who?" he asked.

"Jake Wilson. You know each other."

He could hardly miss the tension that shot through his partner. "We...went to college together."

"Is that all?"

"No." Chuck sighed. "We dated. A lot."

"I see." Lem felt himself blushing, growing hot. "Well. He was looking at you in an interesting way, that's all."

Chuck scooted across the couch, taking Lem's hands. "It doesn't matter. I'm not in love with him. I love you, Green Guy."

Lem smiled and shook his head. "I know. It just made me uncomfortable. And we have to work with him, don't we?"

"Yes. A little."

Lem let out his breath. "Well, as long as you continue to show me how wonderful I am, I'll try to deal."

He dazzled him with a smile. "Can I start now?"

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TBC