CHAPTER 25
ELLIE
The world is always changing. Archaeology is going to have to change with it.
“I think so, Senator.”
I have no idea what the fuck is going on. But I trust Zarek.
There’s a new kind of look in his star-filled eyes when he stares over his shoulder at me, seemingly ignoring the heated discussion of the strange panel in front of us. It makes me want to run, into his arms or with him across the world, I’m not really sure.
“Can you tell me what’s going on?” I ask, my voice just above a whisper. I don’t know if I’m allowed to talk, and I think I used up all my good will with my interjections before.
“The Tetheh are our parliament, essentially. They represent us in the Intergalactic Unity Senate. Xavi, Yan, Zeek, and Zylinia,” Zarek explains, nodding his head toward the obviously-eldest member of the group and continuing down the line.
“And they’re arguing about whether to wipe my memories?” I ask, my voice sounding steadier than I feel. I hope my offer to provide assistance to Zarek’s new mission is enough to keep them, but they switched to Terilian so quickly I couldn’t follow the energy of the conversation.
“Um, sort of,” Zarek winces, and Zul scoffs next to him, which earns him a glare from both of us. “They are discussing mitigating factors that may allow you to keep your memory.”
“Smooth,” Zul mutters, in English and loud enough for me to hear. Zarek tries to whip his arm out to smack his friend, but the force field surrounding him zaps him again.
“Ow,” he murmurs, rubbing the back of his hand cautiously. I have no idea how strong that force field is, but I’m definitely not going to test it if it’s affecting Zarek this strongly.
“What do you think?” I ask Zul, raising my eyebrows at him. He seems surprised to be addressed by me, but quickly covers it with what I’m coming to find is his resting asshole face.
“About?” he asks, voice monotone and arms crossed. I mirror his stance, not giving him an inch. I’m not intimidated by him.
“Our chances of pulling this off? Getting Zarek back to Earth, and me keeping my memories?”
His eyes track up and down my body, not the way Zarek’s do—searching and caressing—but assessing. Like he’s sizing up an opponent, or deciding what I can handle.
“The Tetheh have been quietly searching for resource-rich planets to learn from since the migration,” Zul explains, his face giving nothing of his own opinion away.
“They have put Earth high on their list to consider formal partnership and allowance into the Intergalactic Unity Senate, but your fractured global governments and consistent warring have made them wary. Additionally, your species is, in a universal sense and even on the timeline of your own planet, very young. Finding an inroad that doesn’t require revealing themselves to your leaders may be an opportunity too good to pass up. ”
“But?” I prompt when the silence hangs between us too long. Zul’s eyes flash to Zarek, who is splitting his attention between us and catching the whispers of the Tetheh.
“But…” he sighs, shooting an apologetic look to his friend before steeling his features again.
“I do not think that they would choose this particular mission, and these particular researchers, if they could choose anyone on the planet. Zarek isn’t well-known for following rules and regulations, as you may have learned. ”
That’s the understatement of the century.
“Well if it helps, I am,” I offer, cringing inwardly at the number of rules I’ve been willing to break for Zarek.
He’s the exception, not the rule, though, and I can stick to my rules under these circumstances.
“I am a professional researcher here on Earth, and I would take this mission seriously. I don’t know how to convince them of that, but I can try. ”
“Why?” Zul asks, still not giving me any clue to how he feels about this whole situation.
It’s actually a little comforting, knowing that someone else is thinking about this as logically as I am.
“You are not a sapphiro. You have no stake in the betterment of our species, no representation in the Intergalactic Unity Senate. Why agree to help us?”
I turn my gaze back to Zarek, with his soft smile and his warm hands and his endless jokes.
I think about the way he made me laugh even when I didn’t want to, and encouraged me to seek adventure and discovery and fun, in a way that was so new and familiar at the same time.
The way he expanded my universe, while making me feel like I was the center of his.
How he made me feel understood. Not a burden, not annoying, not overbearing. Just myself, and enough.
“He’s my why,” I answer simply, letting myself match his slightly-goofy grin. Man, I really like this alien. I really hope they don’t wipe my memories.
“We’ve heard enough,” Yan announces, whipping all of our attention toward the line of chairs before us.
Except Zul. He keeps his eyes on me, and gives me the most subtle of winks.
“We are convinced of the need to retain Elliott’s memories, out of respect for the corasala,” Xavi decrees.
Despite having no idea what the corasala is, the relief I feel is so palpable I nearly collapse. All the nervous energy that’s been holding me up for this trial bleeds from my system, turning my bones soft. Still, I smile at Zarek when he turns to me.
“We have tentatively approved the proposal to continue Zarek and Zul’s research on Earth, provided an extensive project proposal and scope of inquiry is developed on Terilia,” Zeek emphasizes, narrowing his eyes on me like I’m the villain here.
Even with his bad attitude, I can’t help but be excited for what comes next.
The scope of the project remains a mystery to me—maybe it’ll be research like Zarek was supposed to be doing in Utah, or maybe it’ll be more biologically-based which seems to be Zul’s specialty—but no matter what, I get to be on the cutting edge of something new and world changing.
And I get to do it with Zarek by my side.
“This is an exciting new frontier, and the possibilities for both your research and your connection will be the basis for a new generation of discovery for sapphiro,” Zylinia says, a higher pitch to her voice, like she can’t hide how thrilled she is.
I wonder why she’s so excited about Zarek and I continuing our relationship, but maybe we’re just the first of its kind.
I hope she’s not expecting any experimental babies out of us. I hope Zarek’s not expecting that.
“What are the next steps? How can we begin?” Zarek asks, nearly bouncing with excitement, and I can’t say I blame him. I can barely believe what I’m hearing. The probability of such a fantastic outcome from this horrible situation was so slim, I feel like we’re getting away with murder.
“You will have to return to Terilia,” Yan says, and I hear the no escape my mouth before I can shove it back where it belongs. I really should find my old rule follower self. It probably would help us here.
“Temporarily, in order to build protocols for Earth’s new program and establish rules for human interaction, just as we have done for other planets looking to join the IUS,” Yan explains, his face passive and almost disinterested.
“This won’t be like previous missions; you’ll be required to have some level of contact with more than just Elliott, so there will be many check-ins and required reports. ”
“Understood,” Zarek replies, nodding toward me, which seems at least a little comforting. I can’t get much of a read on Yan, but the one called Zeek seems deeply displeased by this whole venture.
“I assume you agree to be his Earth-bound sponsor?” the young one, Zylinia, asks me. She at least seems kind, maybe even a smidge too invested in mine and Zarek’s connection, but at this point I’ll take it.
“I mean, yes of course, but what does that entail?” I ask, worried that they’re going to require state of the art research facilities when I live in a studio apartment that I’m probably going to need to upgrade rather soon.
“You agree to be Zarek’s guide through humanity, ensuring he learns social rules and customs that will help him keep his cover.
You will also ensure all requests for human documentation are made through the appropriate Terilian channels, so your government does not become suspicious of his presence. ”
Zeek’s words are harsh and clipped, and I wonder if he’s trying to talk me out of this, but that all seems pretty reasonable to me.
“Yes, of course I agree,” I reply, grinning at Zarek from my square.
“A formal contract will be developed and requires your signature before the official launch of this program. Please provide your address to Zul, and he will coordinate documentation,” Xavi dictates.
The four Tetheh raise their hands simultaneously and wave across the room, and suddenly the lights illuminating the square under my feet are extinguished.
Before I can even realize what that means, Zarek has me swept up in his arms.
“Ellie,” he breathes into my hair, his arms strong around my waist as he pulls me tighter against him. My feet kick up and my arms loop around his shoulders instinctually, and I laugh into the skin of his neck.
“How the hell did we pull that off?” I ask, the question only a little bit rhetorical.
Over Zarek’s shoulder, I watch Zul step up to the Tetheh and say something in Terilian.
It looks very professional, and I appreciate that there’s going to be someone around handling the logistics for Zarek. He’s not much of a logistics guy.
“I have no idea,” Zarek replies, pressing his lips into my hairline and setting me down gently. His starlight eyes are brighter than I’ve ever seen them, and I want to map all the constellations there.
I might even get the chance, one day soon.
“Zarek,” Xavi’s voice rings out, turning us both on a dime. The older sapphiro beckons Zarek forward, and while I’d be happy as a clam to stay as far away from these terrifying beings as possible, he drags me by my hand alongside him.
“Zul believes six months will be an appropriate amount of time to prepare your mission,” Xavi relays. Zul leans back toward me while Zarek starts communicating in Terilian.
“They started at two years, so six months isn’t so bad,” Zul explains, nodding at me solemnly. I try to show my appreciation clearly on my face, but I don’t know how well Zul can read human expressions.
“Thank you for advocating for us,” I say, keeping my voice low so I don’t get him in any sort of hot water. I don’t know how volatile this governing body is, but it seems like a risk to highlight how much Zul is going to bat for me and Zarek.
“Six months it is, then,” Zylinia says in English, obviously for my benefit. I straighten up, trying to pay close attention to what comes next, even though I just want to wrap myself around Zarek.
But I’m good at rules and structure. I can take this seriously as long as it means I get him back. Xavi taps something on his throne, and words in Terilian start scrolling in the air between us.
“Elliott Benshoof, you are hereby sworn to secrecy under the authority of the Intergalactic Unity Senate. Information regarding your assignment may only be disclosed to those explicitly listed in the contract terms, which will be signed by all members of the research party, as well as all voting Senate members, before the project’s initiation.
Penalty for violation of this secrecy clause constitutes an immediate invalidation of such contract, and associated punishments will be determined by the voting Senate members. ”
The room is silent, everyone’s eyes trained on me, and I realize after a moment they’re waiting for me to speak.
“I agree,” I say, wondering how I get Jo’s name on that list as fast as possible.
“Very well,” he sighs, like he’s exhausted with the events of today. “We will drop you back off where you were picked up. Say your goodbyes.”
Zarek turns around to face me, his hands immediately coming up to cup my cheeks. He looks down at me with all of the promises in the universe etched across his face.
“I will be back soon,” he swears, drifting his thumbs over my cheekbones. “And we will find a thousand new adventures to have together.”
It seems impossible to want that, after only knowing Zarek for a few weeks.
But we have changed each other, digging into each other’s ugliest and most sensitive parts and coming out better on the other side because of each other.
And maybe it’s unhinged to want a whole life with him already, but I can’t imagine another person making me feel the way Zarek does.
We’re going to discover new things together. Research and explore and adventure, and maybe even change both of our worlds in the process.
“I can’t fucking wait,” I whisper, raising up on my toes to press my lips to his. I feel a grin take over his face as he threads his fingers into the hair at the nape of my neck, holding me like I’m something precious. Like something he’ll treasure forever.
When we pull apart, I wrap my arms around him, already counting down the minutes until I get to see him next.
“Hey, do you think they’d drop me off at the end of the hike?”
Zarek laughs and kisses me in a way that really doesn’t feel like goodbye.