The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
Earth was now in view, it took up majority of the large window in front of the control deck.
Kayla couldn't be happier to see such a beautiful sight before her. Than-guan informed her they have been on Planet Kut'y'ae for nearly four months.
It was late July when she was kidnapped. That meant back home it would be November. At this point, her family most likely thinks her dead. And just making her think about what they're going through, made her heart hurt.
"So, this means it's late fall back home." She said.
Than-guan and Vor'metka shared a glance before they turned their attention back to the young woman.
"Yeah, about that. You must know that each planet is not on the same time frame as Earth. Planet Kut'y'ae is slower paced with longer days. What was four months there; is equivalent to nine months on Earth." Than-guan admitted.
Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she heard this.
"Wait what!? Seriously!? So, you're saying it's more likely that it's April back home right now!?" She blurted out.
"Not sure what April is. But the part of the world you live in is experiencing its Spring Season right now." Vor'metka stated.
Kayla couldn't stand at moment and decided to sit. She plopped down into one of the control chairs.
Than-guan approached her and knelt down in front of her form. He lightly grasped her hands.
"Nine months." She said, barely above a whisper.
He ran the back of his knuckles over her cheek. It was weird for Vor'metka to see his best friend acting so affectionate with an ooman. But the two of them have been through a lot together.
And during the months on Planet Kut'y'ae, they seemed to have formed some kind of special bond. The Arbitrator respected his friend enough not to get in the middle of it.
"I'm sorry, it took so long, Kayla. But either way, you are returning. What's that saying? Better late than never." Than-guan said in an attempt to cheer her up.
A lone tear did roll down her cheek and he reached over and gently wiped it away. A sad smile appeared on her face.
"Yeah, I know. At least I am able to go back. It would've been a lot worse if I wasn't able to." She replied.
"We're heading in now; we will be breaching Earth's atmosphere in a few minutes." Vor'metka said.
Than-guan cupped her cheek again. Before he stood back up and went to sit in the seat beside her.
Breaching atmospheres on any planet was always pretty rough. It was always best to sit down while entering the atmosphere and leaving it.
The ship began to shake a little as they hit some turbulence. Kayla will admit that when she saw what appeared to be flames surrounding the outside of the ship, it freaked her out a little.
Thankfully, it didn't last long before they hit clear blue skies.
Vor'metka quickly activated the ship's cloaking device and switched on the signal scrambler so the oomans couldn't pick up the ship's signal on any of their radar systems.
He had the coordinates set to the location where she was kidnapped from. They were going to set down in the woods not too far from the path she was taken from. From there she will walk the next twenty minutes to her parent's home.
She doubts she still has her home to go to. Not after nine months of being off the planet.
After ten minutes of flying over the Pacific Ocean, they saw land up ahead. Kayla started to become excited as they drew closure to the rocky shores of Oregon.
A smile formed on her face as they passed over a well know landmark, the Astoria Column. She wasn't far now, and she noted the ship was steadily getting lower to the ground.
"Found a small clearing up ahead. It's not too far from one of the paths. How well do you know your way around these parts?" Vor'metka inquired.
"Like the back of my hand. I've been down each and every one of these paths. I know my way from here." She confirmed.
They weren't airborne for much longer. Before they came to a stop above the tree line. Then they started to descend to the ground below.
Her heart was pounding as they lowered and became surrounded by trees. She could see one of the paths several yards away to her left. That's where she will be headed.
She stood up and Than-guan also stood from his seat.
Kayla turned her gaze from the trees outside to him. He approached her and held out his hand for her to take. She grasped his hand and he started to lead her out of the control room.
On the way out, she thanked Vor'metka and said goodbye.
She walked beside her hunter in silence as they made their way down the hall to the ship's exit. While she was happy to be home, her heart grew heavy with each step she took. Because it also meant Than-guan would be leaving her for the time being.
He too felt himself growing more upset as they drew closer.
Once there, they stopped before the doors. And that is when Kayla couldn't stop a few tears from rolling down her cheeks as her gaze slowly shifted to Than-guan.
At the moment, he didn't have his mask on, and she too could see sadness in those beautiful medium greenish blue eyes.
"You still never told me, when your coming back." She said.
He reached up and wiped her tears away.
"Two months. I will come back to you. But by any chance you change your mind and decide to stay, I...will completely understand, and honor your decision." The hunter told her.
Though he can't help but feel like his heart will feel like it had been torn out if she were to decide to stay here on Earth.
Kayla shook her head, "No, I won't. This is just a visit, Midnight. Just making sure my family is ok. Then, I would very much like to go back with you."
A small smile formed on his face.
"Glad to hear it. You go see them. And I must go settle my affairs back on home world." He told her.
"But...surely something like that may take much longer than two months. Won't it?" She inquired.
Than-guan shook his head though.
"No, this is something that won't take very long at all. Not with all the evidence we have to provide them with. Vor'metka already went ahead and sent in the recordings to the Elders to look through.
It's better that way. Otherwise, upon landing, I wouldn't have a very pleasant welcoming committee. Now, when I do go back with Vor'metka, we will head straight to the Elders Council Chambers with the heads of Lar'nix'va and Mar'cte.
I decided two months so you could have the time to catch up with your family. If you wish for more time though, let me know now. We can extend it if you'd like." He said.
In a way, she contemplated it. Nine months away, maybe a lot to explain. The only good cover story she could come up with was she was kidnapped by sex traffickers who took her far away from home.
But the more she thought about it, she thinks two months should be enough. Especially, when she'd most likely be spending said months in her parent's guest room. By staying with them, she'd be able to catch up with everyone.
"Two months is fine." She said.
Than-guan could tell there was something else she wanted to say. But she seemed hesitant to say it.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"It's just...what if you decide that maybe you may not want to come back. Or what if they say you can't return to me?" Kayla she implied, with worry in her voice.
The hunter gently pulls her closer to him and wraps his arm around her.
"I will return to you. No matter what. Two months from now, I will be here. On the sixtieth day at dusk, is when I return for you." He assured her.
She was relieved to hear that. Until a thought hit her.
"Where though?" She asks.
"You say your parent's house is on the outskirts of town not far from these paths. That the tree line is behind their house, yes?" He implied.
"Yes, two miles due east from here. I don't know if you know much about addresses. But they mark the exact location of where someone lives. Their house address is 29 Sunset Avenue.
It's a two-story beige colored house. Surrounded by a bright white wooden fence. Only house on the street with a large weeping willow tree in the back yard. Though, I'm not sure if any of this may help you out much." She admitted.
Kayla doubts his kind have home addresses like humans do. For all she knows, he probably has no idea what she just told him.
"I'll find it. I can read in your language, remember? Been here enough times to know how to read something as simple as street signs. And I have noted that many of your homes do have numbers on the front. Don't worry, I promise I'll find you." He said, putting her at ease.
She tightened her hold around his waist as she rested cheek against his abs.
"I love you. And I'll miss you." Kayla said.
"I love you too. Go, spend time with family. I'm sure they missed you very much. And I'll be back soon enough." Than-guan promised.
They held each other a little longer before they reluctantly pulled away.
Kayla still couldn't help it when more tears spilled from her eyes. And like before, Than-guan gently wiped them away. This must be what it was like to truly love someone.
When it was hard to say goodbye and know they will be far away from you. And this wasn't a simple across seas distance relationship either. With him, it was more like lightyears in between them.
She can only grasp onto his words and hope he will return to her and that others won't try to stop him from doing so.
He eventually pulled away and typed in a code to unlock the door. A few moments later, the door slid open. Kayla was met with a cool crisp breeze. Definitely not tank top and shorts weather.
A part of her was not looking forward to this walk. She was going to freeze as she made her way back. But Vor'metka didn't want to take any risks and park the ship closer.
In which case, she understands. It would've been risky coming in so close to a more populated area.
Kayla took a couple steps outside. Then she stopped and looked over her shoulder back at her hunter.
"Goodbye." She whispers.
Than-guan gave her a nod.
"I'll see you soon. I promise." He reassured her.
Then the door slid shut, and his form disappeared behind the metal door.
Kayla walked down the short ramp and onto solid ground. She moved away from the ship and stayed until it took off. Though she couldn't really see it all the much due to it being cloaked.
But could see the disturbance it made in the trees upon lift off.
Then once she couldn't hear or see any more disturbance, only then did she turn around and head over to the path several yards away. Judging by the position of the sun in the sky, it was still quite early in the morning.
There probably weren't that many people out and about on the path yet. She rubbed her front and her arms. If she had to guess, the temperature was in the low to mid-fifties right now.
Which was typical temperature this time of the year in Astoria in April.
Despite being under dressed, she was at least relieved that Vor'metka had her clothes cleaned. They were no longer caked in green alien blood or dirt smudges anymore.
Which is a relief, because it would've been pretty hard to explain the strange substance to everyone.
Once Kayla made her way through the woods to the path, she started to lightly jog down the path. From where she was, it would take her twenty-five minutes to a half hour to get to her parent's.
Who knows, she may stop by her friend Jackie's on the way. She was closer and she would be able to provide her with warmer clothes.
Until Next Time ;)