Chapter 45 #2
There was a long moment of silence on the other end.
Scarlet twisted nervously in her seat. They had specifically asked that Atem speak so that those on the other end could hear his inhuman language spoken in his inhuman voice.
There was a growling tone to the domini speech that human vocal cords simply couldn’t mimic perfectly.
Without video – and they could not use video to communicate in this way – his voice and words were the only proof they had of the validity of their statement.
Scarlet thought the waiting was going to rip her apart when President Townsend finally spoke again-
“Alanna, let me ask you a question.”
She grinned. “I’m not on drugs, uncle. I’m of completely sound mind and body.”
“I’m glad to hear it. That wasn’t my question.”
“Okay. What’s your question?”
“Do you remember when you were a little girl, and you were learning about strangers in school? The teachers told you and the other students that you should create a password for those that were coming to pick you up. Something to let you know that it was safe. It was meant specifically for cases wherein your parents had to send someone else to pick you up. Do you remember that?”
Alanna chuckled. “Yeah, I do.”
“Do you remember when your parents asked me to come get you the first time? And I showed up at the school without the password because you knew me already. I wasn’t a stranger.
But when I pulled up, you demanded the password and refused to get in the car without it.
Giggling like a little maniac the entire time. ”
Alanna was outright laughing now. “I did do that, didn’t I?”
“I had to call your father in the middle of work because you wouldn’t get in. And from that day on, every time I came to get you, you demanded that password. It became our joke. Do you remember the password, Alanna?”
She beamed. “Of course, I do. The password is: ‘Flying Purple Pickle Eater’. Because I thought that ‘People Eater’ sounded gross.”
The president made a strangled, guttural sound. Like her reply had broken something.
“Alanna… You really believe what you’re telling me?” His voice was soft yet strained. Scarlet could hardly blame him. If someone had been missing for a year then told her that story, she wouldn’t believe it either.
It didn’t escape her notice that the president asked if Alanna believed what she was saying. He didn’t ask if what she said was true.
Alanna hummed in agreement. “You don’t have to believe me. We’ll be there soon. I can’t wait to see everyone again.”
“Is that man still there? The one who was just speaking? Atem?”
“Yes. He’s here. He can hear you.”
Scarlet expected him to ask to speak to Atem, but he did not. He merely said a thought, “I see,” before lapsing into silence.
The machine beeped, signaling that they were out of time.
“I have to go, Unc,” Alanna said quickly. “I’ll see you in about a month. Keep your eye on the skies. Talk to you soon. Love you.”
“Alanna, don’t-”
Too late. The connection broke.
Alanna sniffed, wiping her eyes. Scarlet put an arm around her shoulder, smiling.
“You did great,” she praised, still speaking English. Just because it felt good to do so. To hear it being spoken freely again.
“I just wish I had more time,” she confessed, still smiling.
“If you gave us all in the time in the world, we would have just kept talking to our families. At least, with the limitation, we can get to work so we can see them again soon.”
“Is it done?” Havali asked, interjecting himself into the conversation, looking between the two of them, unable to understand a word.
Alanna nodded and explained what her uncle had said to her – it wasn’t much – and that she had asked him to alert the planet.
They really couldn’t do more than hope he headed her advice, otherwise things were going to get crazy when someone invariably spotted their ship moving towards Earth through the night’s sky.
And they would be seen. Even if, somehow, the countless amateur astronomers didn’t somehow spot them, there were multiple governmental agencies that kept their eyes to the sky across the globe that would.
The next month on Earth was going to be an interesting one, but they had done all they could to warn people they were coming. They had to count on the adaptable human condition to open their minds to the possibility and to keep watch as the date drew closer and not freak out.
There would be a little freak out, but hopefully the forewarning would keep it controlled.
Scarlet let out a long breath, sitting back in her chair. She couldn’t say why, but she felt like a huge weight had just been removed from her.
It was done.
Earth had been contacted.
First Voice had been brought onboard this mission and was even now preparing everything for the trip to Earth. Haviss had contacted his own people and they were flying towards Turv since that would be where they would leave from to get to Earth.
They would really be going back.
Laughter drew Scarlet’s gaze to Alanna. The sound looked like it had escaped by accident, but the moment she caught Scarlet’s eye, she started laughing again. Which prompted Scarlet to laugh. Which prompted both of them to cry. Which prompted them to hug each other.
They would get to see Earth again!
Scarlet did not realize just how much she wanted that, just how much that meant, until it was suddenly not just a possibility, but a certainty.
She would get to eat human food. She would get to hear human music. She would get to see her beautiful homeworld again.
She would get to introduce Havali to her mother.
He was still behind her. Not trying to pull her away from Alanna but gently stroking her back and running his fingers through her hair. Letting her take comfort from her friend while offering his own as well.
Scarlet let go of Alanna to turn to him. She bit her lip nervously, now thinking about the idea of her mother meeting Havali.
Honestly, she had no idea how her mother would take it. On one hand, Scarlet would be famous just by virtue of being one of the first few humans to be involved with aliens and, based on rank alone, Havali was suitably rich enough for her tastes.
But her mother also wasn’t the most tolerant of people. The very fact that Havali was an alien would probably give her pause and not in a good way.
And what would Havali think of her mother?
Would he even want to meet her?
Should they even meet?
A dozen more questions like that ran through her head as he smiled at her, oblivious to the anxious thoughts plaguing her mind.
“Congratulations, Healer,” he said warmly. “This is a big moment for your people.”
“It was a team effort,” she said, smiling awkwardly.
A fact that did not escape his notice. He frowned, tilting his head curiously, but before he had the chance to ask, the High Imperium was speaking again, and he was distracted.
Scarlet took hold of Alanna’s hand as they sat back and listened to the others talk around them. Their part was done. Whether Earth accepted the terms of the protectorate offer or not wasn’t up to them, and they had done their best regardless.