I'm feeling quite inquisitive. A bit… interrogative. Maybe I'll torture Ben a bit –evil laugh-

I'm also really depressed and a bit suicidal. A review or two you really help me… Please, someone send in a few reviews.

ooo

"You… can let go now…"

Rika shivered. "I-I'm not going to fall, am I?"

"You can kill guards and break out of an intergalactic prison, yet you're afraid you're going to fall off a motorcycle?" I laughed.

"I have a problem with heights and fast moving objects!" she tightened her grip around me.

"You can set your feet down. And we're not moving anymore. You're fine, see?"

She cautiously opened her eyes, looking around. She laughed nervously, stumbling off of the bike. I kicked the stand down and stabled the bike before getting to my feet. "We're pretty much hidden here so stay here while I go find my parents."

She nodded subtly, hiding herself in the shade against a tool shed.

I walked off around the house, making my way to the front door. Before I could even touch the door knob, the door swung open and I was engulfed in a set of loving arms.

"Ben! Oh, Ben, I knew it was you! I'm so glad you're home, honey…."

I cringed, bringing my arms around her as well. "Hi, Mom…"

"Don't 'Hi, Mom' me! You were gone and that's all you have to say?! Get inside!"

Dad walked around the corner, a dirty rag in his hand. "Did I hear a bike…? Ben?" Dad was in shock. He dropped the rag at his feet, rushing up to the two of us in the doorway. "Ben! They let you out?!"

Mom sniffed in, bringing her arms back to wipe her eyes. "I-I see they let you… let you keep the—your watch…"

I smiled. "No, not exactly...," I mumbled, rubbing my wrist.

"HEY! I SMELL FOOD!"

I grimaced. "Rika, you have to stop doing that!" I could see Rika in the house, sifting through the living room to find the food. "I told you to stay by the bike…"

Dad turned around. "Rika? Who's this?" he asked me, glancing back at me once before going over to Rika.

Mom led me inside, shutting the door.

"I'm Drikrgia. I helped Ben—"

I furiously mouthed the words, "Not about the escape!" as soon as my mother looked at Rika.

Rika got the message, and her eyes widened. "Uh… Helped Ben get back to… Earth. Right."

"So, Kevin and Gwen explained things to you after I left, I assume?"

Mom nodded, brushing her eyes again. "Yeah… They told us why you did it…"

"At least they understand my reasoning…," I sighed.

"Where's the food?" Rika asked my Dad.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom, we've got to keep her hidden. I don't have a place yet, but—"

"Don't say another word, Ben. We'll keep an eye on her," she smiled.

"Thanks Mom… Hey, she can get herself into trouble so make sure you keep a close eye on her. She can be pretty sneaky too."

Mom nodded.

"Sandra, I think the potatoes are done!" Dad shouted from the kitchen.

"Potatoes?" Rika asked.

I smiled. "I'll help out with whatever's left."

"No, no. Sit down. Nineteen years living here and you've never offered, yet you come back from jail and you're all help-y. Sit!" She shoved me off towards the couch, forcing me to sit down.

I'd moved out when I was nineteen, I had just enough money for a ride and first and last month's rent, as well as a steady job. However, I felt like I was starting over again. I didn't have a job, or a place to live, but I did have my ride. That's what mattered.

"You know, Earth food is DELICIOUS!"

I looked over and jumped, taking in a sharp breath. "Rika! You really have to stop doing that!" I sighed, trying to calm down. She either moved extremely fast or was extremely quiet. Most likely both.

She smiled. "After eating that jail food in a stick, this food is delicious."

"Mom's cooking is always good. One thing you should never eat is my Grandfather's food."

She laughed. "Max Tennyson?"

I nodded.

"She seems to know a lot about us. And you, Ben," Dad walked in, stuffing a potato chunk in his mouth.

"Ben was a hero on our planet. He never came to visit us, but we'd heard stories that traveled from planet to planet about the Great Ten. So I studied up on our hero in my spare time."

Dad sighed, sitting on the recliner opposite to us. "You seem pretty close."

Rika grumbled a few unrecognizable words.

Dad raised a brow.

"Don't ask," I forced a smile.

Dad forced one as well, scratching his neck.

"I see nervous itching runs in the family," Rika laughed.

"Look, Dad. I need to borrow some money to get a place. I have two hundred dollars in my wallet, but I need a deposit for the apartment."

"Why don't you two stay here?" Dad asked, but quickly backpedaled. "Err… Never mind. I'll talk to your mother and get the money problem straightened out."

Rika laughed. "Mr. Tennyson, you have a perverted mind just like your son."

Dad looked away. "…Sandra? Is the dinner done yet?!" he asked, rushing into the kitchen.

Rika continued to laugh. "You wouldn't believe what he was implying."

I sighed. "What my parents do behind closed doors is their own business," I grimaced.

"He meant us."

My head hit the back of the couch. "This is why I never bring girls to meet my parents."

"Sure, sure. That's why," she giggled.

I shoved Rika to the side a bit, but not enough to push her completely off the couch. "Shut up…"

"I could learn a lot more about you from your parents, Alien Boy. They seem to slip up a lot. Your mother looks like one of those humans that would show holograms of when you were a baby."

"Pictures? Please, don't jinx it, I'm hoping—praying that she won't."

"Ah-ha, a little embarrassing, eh?"

"Dinner's ready!" Mom called.

I closed my eyes. "I'm not hungry anymore…"