The next chapter is here! Enjoy :)
They traveled all night until they managed to finally reach the shore.
By the time they got to the nearest beach, dawn was upon them with the sun soon peeking over the horizon over the landscape to the east. No one in the carriage slept at all. t was just too bumpy to sit back and fall asleep. Even so, it's not like Hanna nor Galen could ever fall asleep while sitting up anyway.
So, they all just continued talking. Ann having already learned so much about Hanna. She was intrigued by the position that the young woman once held in her time. While in this time they did have female scientists, doctors, and teachers, they didn't have females in authority positions like with the police or ape garrison. Nor did they have female soldiers.
Yet Hanna served as a soldier for many years before being honorable discharged and even after, she still continues her training while teaching it to others.
"So, in your time, you say you and this friend of yours own something called a...domo? And you train others in the art of combat?" Ann asks.
"It's actually called a dojo. And yes, my friend and I teach others how to fight and defend themselves. We teach children as young as three all the way up through adult ages. Of course, the children's classes are separate from the adults. Though I did see an eight-year-old student put an adult on his ass once. It was pretty funny." Hanna says.
"Really? But how's that possible? An adult is much larger and heavier than a child." Ann inquires.
"Because everyone has weak spots and pressure points on the body. There are also a few moves that act as counterweight moved where you manipulate your opponent's weight against them. One example is flipping them over you. You grab their arm, pull them forward while bending forward yourself, and you manipulate the way you want their body to go. Where you pull the arm and curl it, the body follows, and they end up tucking and going forward before landing on their back." Hanna tried explaining.
"Think of it as rolling someone through the air, mother. You grab their arm a certain way and you and roll them while they're still standing. Hanna actually showed me how it works." Galen stated.
"So, she has taught you some of these moves then?" His mother asks.
"Yes, for the last few months now she has been giving me some self-defense lessons. Usually when we stop for camp for the night." He says.
"Well, I hope you're at least a better student for her than most of your other teachers in the past." Ann joked.
"Nah, he's not so bad. I just use some moves to keep him in line if he tries to pull something." Hanna also jokes.
His mother laughed a little at her remark.
"Must work pretty effectively. Because his other teachers have tried putting him in his place many times over the years. And it never seemed to work." Ann replied.
"Probably because the pranks were totally worth the punishments." Galen stated, with a mischievous glint in his dark eyes.
"And that is why I got premature grey hairs!" Yalu called back from the driver's seat.
They could almost hear the servant Loomis laughing a little in the background from his master's retort as he sat next to him in the driver's seat.
Hanna and Ann started laughing at his random reply. They didn't know that Yalu was listening to most of their conversations from his seat. At the mention of his son's various pranks with teachers over the years, of course, he was going to put his two cents in.
"Really, father? I thought you once told Loomis and I that most of the grey hairs was caused by mother." Galen teased.
"I don't remember anything about that conversation." Loomis replied, playing dumb, with an amused grin.
"Yalu." Ann said, with an edged tone.
"I know not of what the boy speaks of Ann. He's making up tall tales again." His father replied.
"Is he, Loomis? Or is it my husband fabricating stories again?" Ann asks their servant.
"I can't say, Ma'am. Master Yalu is giving me that glare as if to say, 'not a word.' Probably best I shouldn't say." Loomis joked.
"I'll take that as a yes, and you are in big trouble once we get home, Yalu." Ann stated.
She heard her husband grumbling from his seat up front. While Galen and Hanna were trying not to laugh at the whole comical exchange. His parents can really be entertaining when they want to be. That's for sure. It was easy to see where Galen got his humor from.
Ann chuckled a little, then turned her attention to Hanna.
"I'm sure your family has many moments like this at home too, yes?" She asks the young woman.
Hanna's smile slowly falters.
"I umm, actually wouldn't know. You see...I'm an orphan. I never really had a family. Was always just me." The young woman admitted.
A sad look appears on the older female chimp's face.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear." Ann says.
"No, it's ok. It's something I accepted long ago. And I still managed to grow into a well-adjusted adult regardless. I went through schooling, then served my country for upwards of twelve years, and after I was able to establish a successful job and co-owned it with my best friend and fellow soldier. Also had my own, nice little home. So, in the end, it all worked out." Hanna replied.
Ann nodded, "Good to know. It is clear you are a very bright girl who is also very ambitious and goal oriented. You be surprised by how many apes here that are not that driven to fulfill their needs in life. But you have done it very well from all that you have told me."
"Thank you. It wasn't always easy. But I think it's why I give a lot of credit to my time in the service. Because in the marines or any military branch for that matter, they are always pushing you to go beyond your limits and never quit. It's something I have always seemed to live by ever since and I believe that is what helped get me through life and achieve the things I have so far." Hanna said.
It seems the more the young woman spoke with them, the more impressed both Ann and Yalu were. She really was no different from the astronauts, Burke and Virdon. Like them, she's clearly very intelligent, headstrong, and resilient. Even more so due to her tough upbringing. Something that gave the older couple even more respect for. Not only that but they can see why their son was so drawn to her.
At this time, they were still traveling along the length of the shoreline. The curtains of the windows were open, and they were all enjoying the soft breeze filtering through the carriage and the beautiful beach scene.
"We may have to stop the horse soon and give him some rest." Loomis informed them.
"Sounds good. At that time, we can go into our food supply and have something to eat while the horse rests." Ann suggests.
Hanna and Galen can't help but agree too. They haven't eaten anything since yesterday evening. So, they were starving.
Around ten minutes later, they brought the horse to a stop near a small cluster of rocks that formed into a jetty by the water. Once the carriage stopped, everyone got out to stretch their legs and grab some food.
Loomis untied one of the bindings on the roof of the carriage and pulled off two sacks of food and brought them down.
The group found a spot on the sand and sat down. They all grabbed some small portions of fruits and vegetables from the two sacks and passed them around. Except for Galen and Hanna who insisted on using some of the provisions they still had in their packs.
It was nice to sit down on solid, unmoving ground and eat. The air was warm and there was a soft breeze blowing from the southwest. Waves were softly rolling in and crashing into the shore, creating a very peaceful atmosphere. It almost felt like an ordinary day spent at the beach for them.
They all continued chatting as they ate. Galen and Hanna in particular asking Yalu more about Akron. What it's like, what are the people like, and is the settlement as huge as they were told it was.
"Oh yes, if anything, Akron could rival the size of Central City. Actually, it could even be a bit bigger than the city itself. The population has grown quite a bit in the last few years. So, they have been building more homes to accommodate the gradually growing population. And as far as the people go, they are very friendly though a tad leery of outsiders.
Probably due to the fact they do have a decent size population of interspecies families that reside there, and they do everything they can there to keep them safe from those outside of Akron that could judge or jeopardize them. Though in truth, many of the neighboring villages around there are aware of these families and don't really care. It seems many in the district Akron is located in are not as judgmental or bigoted. Not like the apes up in our district would be.
It's why I know you both will be fine there. The prefect is a good and honorable ape. I have met him a few times, and I believe Lario has met him too. He himself is married to a human and has a couple children with her. He's very good at maintaining stability within Akron. Probably why it's thriving as well as it is." Yalu explained.
"How is it a prefect can keep his position and not lose it and be imprisoned for having a human wife?" Galen asked.
"Probably it's because like I said, many apes down that way are not as judgmental or bigoted about the concept like they would be up here. As long as he can do his job and do it well, that's what matters a lot too. Not to mention, not every territory or district follow the same exact laws. Some differ from one territory or another. While interspecies relationships maybe frowned upon up here and in some sense illegal. It may not be as so in that territory." His father stated.
Yalu has traveled to so many different districts and territories since he was young. Many of times, it was with his friend, Lario. It was during a lot of these travels to these different areas that he learned the laws do in fact vary and some are different from others. Some in the high council are aware of this. But there isn't much they can do about different sets of laws. While some laws are universal and must be followed, many differ from territory to territory who create their own set of laws.
When he further explained this to Galen and Hanna, it reminded her of how in her time how different states had their own set of laws to follow that may differ from neighboring states.
"What's the prefect's name?" Hanna asks.
"His name is Zane. He's actually around Galen's age, so, he's still quite young. Been prefect there for the last eight years or so." Yalu replied.
"And you say Akron has always been a safe haven for interspecies families. Does that mean previous prefects were a lot like this one?" Galen inquires.
"I didn't know any of the previous prefects well. But from what I heard, many of them were tolerant. In fact, I heard Akron was established and built up at first by interspecies families. One of the apes I became friends there with told me how Akron came to be. That more than half a century ago, a small handful of interspecies couples and families were driven from their home villages. Because at the time, it wasn't as acceptable down in that territory, like it is now.
These families wandered the lands and eventually ran into one another. They all came together and decided to create their own settlement, with their own set of laws. They were successful, and called their new little settlement, Akron. The families dubbed it a safe haven and sanctuary to others who were like them and needed a home.
So, that is how it started. Now, several decades later, the settlement is at least three times the size now than when it was first established. Many inhabitants reside there now. It has a steady population of interspecies families, ape families, and human families. They also have a fairly large ape garrison there too that keeps the settlement safe." His father said.
"It's a very fascinating story. It went from a tiny settlement that hardly anyone knew about to a well-known and established large settlement in a matter of decades." Galen replied, clearly intrigued.
"Though a lot of the times, that is how many towns start out. That's kind of how it worked through human history too as far as establishing and building up towns go." Hanna added.
"This is true. When Central City was first established a couple centuries prior, they say it started out very small too. Took a lot of time to build it up to where it is now." Ann said, chiming in.
"I feel like there is more people in Akron though then Central City. At least that's how it looked to me the last couple times I drove Master Yalu there." Loomis says.
"It's possible. As I said, the settlement has grown substantially in the last few years." Yalu replied.
"Have you been there at all before, Ann?" Hanna asks.
"Only once, a long time ago. I'm not usually one for traveling very long distances though. But I do recall it being a very lovely place." The female chimp stated.
"How come you never told me about it before, father?" Galen asks.
"I've been to more places than I can count, son. There are many I still have yet to tell you about. The places I have told you about so far over the years, was probably only a fraction of the places I've been to." His father said.
"Just like I have been to many places when I was in the service. Many different countries in different parts of the world." Hanna says.
"Really? Which places?" Yalu asks, interested in learning about places he has never been to.
"Been to Japan, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Germany, Cuba, Djibouti, Africa, Australia, Iraq, Brazil, Bangladesh to name a few. I've also been stationed at bases here in this country like Hawaii, California, North Carolina, and Washington D.C." She replied.
"Well, you're a regular world traveler then." Ann says.
"Pretty much. Learned a few different languages and dialects along the way too while in some of these countries overseas." Hanna stated.
"I can't say the names of any of these places sound familiar. But that's probably because here in this time, these places go by different names. Still very interesting nonetheless." Yalu said.
"Didn't know there were that many places around the world." Loomis says.
"There are a total of at least one-hundred and ninety-five countries in this world. At least in my time there is. More could've been established over the centuries since then for all I know." Hanna said.
"You're kidding. That's a lot of different places. Though what is a country? Is that what they call territories and districts in your time?" Ann asks.
"You can say it is another name for a territory. Each one is its own separate territory from one another with various different cultures and people. As far as languages go there is at least seven thousand different spoken languages. Besides our own." She says.
"Seven thousand!?" Galen blurted out, clearly surprised.
Hanna chuckled, "Yeah, you heard correct. Lots of different cultures, regions, and dialects out there. Though the one we're speaking right now is one of the most widely known spoken languages worldwide."
"And you say you know some of these other languages?" Ann inquired.
"Some yes. But there are only a couple I became fluent in. One of them is Japanese and the other one is German. Because I spent the most time in those countries. Though I can hold a conversation in Vietnamese too. That's the third place I've been stationed at longest after Japan and Germany." Hanna replied.
They all chatted a little longer while they finished up eating. Everyone seemed quite interested in the things Hanna was sharing and talking about. Her time period in particular was a very interesting topic. Mainly for the fact at how different it was from this time.
It also put a smile on Galen's face to see Hanna and his parents interacting and getting along so well. Especially, since he wasn't sure how they would feel when he told them they were together as a couple. He also fully appreciated the fact that his mother and father were going out of their way take them to safety, even if it is quite far.
After they all finished eating, everyone got up and started to walk the beach a little, just to stretch their legs after being bound up in the carriage for the last several hours.
Hanna actually took off her shoes and went down to the water and stuck her feet in where the waves were gently sliding back and forth over the wet sand. The water was cool and refreshing as it washed over her feet. A part of her was tempted to dive in. But it may not suit her well to go back into the carriage in wet clothing.
"Figures, you make a b-line straight to the water, every time." Came Galen's voice behind her.
A small smile appears on her face, and she looks over her shoulder to see him standing about three feet behind her.
"And you hate the water so much that you won't even come stand by me?" She asks.
Galen arched an eye ridge. While she puffed out her lower lip in a fake sad look.
He sighs, "I don't know why it's so hard to deny you or say no to you."
Then a small smile slowly appears on his face, and he approaches her.
Though instead of coming to stand beside her, he comes up behind her, lightly wraps his arms around her waist, and presses the side of his face against hers.
Hanna's smile widens as she reaches up to rest her hands on his arms draped around her waist, and she leans the side of her face into his a little more. Galen shifts a little to press a small kiss to her cheek, before shifting his gaze back ahead.
The couple stand there in silence for a couple minutes just staring out into the sea.
"You really believe we'll be able to make a new life there?" Hanna asks, while they still stare out at the view before them.
"Yes, we will. I know it's somewhere and something new. But we'll adjust." Galen says, as he slightly tightens his hold around her.
"And no one there will judge us. Which is great to know." She says.
"No, because there are many others there just like us." He replied.
"I'm still quite amazed that they can have kids. You would think us being a different species, that it wouldn't be possible. But your father said there are families there and that even the prefect has kids with his human wife." She said.
"I know, I was pretty surprised when he mentioned that too. Wasn't sure it was possible either. Why? You in hurry to make us parents?" Galen teased.
Hanna chuckled, "Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing. Seeing as out of the two us, I think you're the hornier one here."
He rolled his eyes, "Hardly, I feel most of those times, you were the one to engage not me."
"Bullshit. I can recall a lot of those times; you were the one to start undressing me first." She joked.
"Ok, so we're both very horny individuals. There you happy now?" He teased.
"Yeah, because you finally gave me an honest answer." Hanna continued joking with him.
"Smartass." Galen said.
"What of it?" She replied, with a grin.
"And this is what I'm going to have to put up with for the rest of my life?" He says with a sigh.
"Unless you decide to get rid of me down the road, yeah." She stated.
"Except I'd never want to get rid of you. Because I rather enjoy the sassy and smart attitude." He replied.
"Just like I can never get tired of your witty sense of humor." She said.
"You mean to say it's not because I'm devilishly handsome too?" He stated in a fake, hurt tone.
Hanna chuckled, "There it is. Though if it makes you feel any better, yes, that too."
"Finally, the truth comes out and you gave me an honest answer." He teased, repeating some of her words.
She rolled her eye and lightly whacked his arm, making him snicker.
"Now who's the smartass?" She retorts.
"You think we're bad, imagine how our children will be. Something tells me we're going to be in big trouble when they come along." Galen joked.
Her smile falters a little.
"You do realize, our children will be different. That won't...bother you?" She hesitantly asks.
She feels him slowly retract his arms and move away slightly. Then he came to stand in front of her. Galen reached up and cupped her cheeks, drawing her gaze to his.
"No, Hanna. Whether they're beautiful like you or look like me. Makes no difference. They would be ours and I'd love them just like I love you." He told her.
A bright smile slowly appeared on her face at his honest answer.
Galen couldn't help but smile back, before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. One she gladly returned, as she reached up and cupped his cheeks. The kiss was filled with love and promise.
The kiss lasted for several seconds. Then they heard a faint clicking sound to their right.
The pair pulled back a little and looked over to see Galen's mother standing there with Hanna's iPhone held up in front of her, with a big smile. Hanna had sent a good portion of the carriage ride here showing Ann her iPhone and how the functions on it work, including the camera and what it does.
"Now that is a good memory to capture." The female chimp stated with a wide grin.
"Mother!?" Galen blurted out, a little embarrassed that his mom just took a picture of them sharing an intimate moment.
While Hanna laughed a little and found the whole thing to be cute and funny.
"How'd it come out, Ann? Hope there wasn't too much of a glare from the sun." She asks, with some laughter still in her voice.
Ann tapped on the picture, enlarging it and looking at it. Then she smiled and turned her gaze back to the couple.
"It came out perfect." Ann replied.
"Really now? May we see it?" Galen asked, once the embarrassment wore off.
"Of course." His mother said, then walked over with the iPhone.
She handed it over to the pair and they looked down at the image. Soft smiles appeared on their faces as they looked upon the picture. It really was a good one. Capturing the moment with the beach and ocean behind them as they shared a lovely kiss with one another.
"You're right, it did come out perfect." Hanna says.
"Indeed. Looks like you're pretty good with a camera, mother." Galen said.
Then he noticed in the bottom corner of the screen there were more pictures.
Out of curiosity, he tapped on them. His eyes widened as he swiped the screen and saw at least three more pictures of him and Hanna while he was holding her from behind as they overlooked the ocean. One of which he was captured with his head turned, kissing her cheek.
His cheeks grew pink as he eyed the captured photos. Then he quickly looked to his mother once more.
"Really!? I swear, there is no such thing a privacy with you around!" Galen blurted out.
Hanna just started laughing as she saw the pics and Galen's response to them.
"Hah! You'll look back on these pictures and thank me for them. Just wait and see." His mother declared.
"I know I definitely will. If not to at least remember Galen's reaction to seeing them." Hanna teased.
The young male chimp grumbled something under his breath as he ran a hand over his face.
This made both his mother and Hanna laugh a little more. While he just leveled them both with a look. Before a smirk appeared on his face. Then both females let out a small yelp as Galen knelt down and splashed some of the receding water at them.
In retaliation Ann and Hanna started splashing Galen as payback and got him pretty good a couple times.
Yalu and Loomis who were chatting a couple yards away turned to the commotion. Amused grins popped up on their faces as they saw Galen getting pummeled with water by his mother and Hanna.
Galen quickly shifted his gaze to his father and Loomis and asked them for help.
But his father said he does not wish to get wet while Loomis said, he has a small stomach cramp from eating too much. Which was a flat out lie. Because both males were finding it very amusing just watching the younger chimp getting soaked by the two females.
More laughs pursued as more splashing was exchanged.
It certainly turned out to be a nice little break from traveling to their destination. Like Galen's mother said, it was another memory they can hang onto and look back on.
Until Next Time ;)