Chapter 16 #2
Lunar's form shifted again, something almost like hope flickering through the shadows. "Then I will request authorization to return. To establish formal diplomatic relations. To assess the continuing threat."
"To see Poppy again," Dani said softly.
"Yes," Lunar admitted. "To see Poppy again, but I will not tell the council that."
Bob bustled into the airlock area. "Beautiful reunion, very touching, but we have a problem. Milano detected our orbital position during the extraction. They're mobilizing resources."
"They can't reach us here," Solar stated.
"No, but they can make planet-side operations very difficult," Bob replied. "Every potential landing site, they'll be watching."
"Then we avoid Earth for now," Gary said, appearing behind Bob.
"Continue to Zorveya as planned. Make an official report to the corporation.
Request a formal mission with proper resources and authority.
I hear there is a nice planet in the X quadrant with men who turn into strange creatures. We can try that location."
“We can’t tell the corporation what happened,” Bob denied before chattering away in his alien language.
“Dani belongs on Earth. You can’t force her to leave her planet,” Solar said.
Dani felt something settle in her chest. It was the decision she'd been unconsciously making since they'd left Earth's surface. "No."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"No?" Solar asked, his golden light pulsing with curiosity.
"We're not running away to Zorveya never to return while our friends are being hunted," Dani said firmly. "Eclipse, Rowan, and Poppy cannot be sacrificed because it’s easier than going back and dealing with the mess.”
"What do you propose?" Lunar asked, his shadow form leaning forward with interest.
Dani looked at Solar, seeing her own determination reflected in his golden eyes.
"We go to Zorveya. All of us. The two of you make your report to the council.
Tell them everything about Milano, about Earth's potential as an ally, about the connections we've formed.
Then we come back with a real ship, real resources, and we finish what we started. "
"The council may not approve," Solar warned. "They sent us here to fail, remember?"
"Then we make them approve," Dani said. "You're a warrior. Lunar's an intelligence specialist. I'm..." she paused, then smiled. "I'm a fire dancer who's apparently compatible with alien energy signatures. Between us, we can make them listen."
"And if they refuse?" Lunar asked.
Dani's smile widened. "Then we steal a ship and come back anyway."
Solar's golden light flared brighter. "That would be a significant violation of Zorveyan law."
"Good thing I'm not Zorveyan," Dani replied. She turned to Lunar. "Poppy's waiting for you. Eclipse and Rowan are counting on us. Are we really going to abandon them?"
Lunar's shadow form straightened, decision crystallizing in his posture. "No. We are not."
"This is highly irregular," Bob protested. "Galaxy Brides cannot support unsanctioned?—"
"Galaxy Brides got us into this mess," Dani cut him off. "Your matchmaking service sent three aliens to Earth with failing equipment and no support. You're lucky we're not filing a complaint with whatever passes for human-alien resource departments in the galaxy."
Gary made a sound that might have been a laugh. "She has a point, Bob. We wouldn’t want complaints filed.”
Bob threw up his hands. "Fine. But Galaxy Brides takes no responsibility for any subsequent actions."
"Understood," Solar said. Then, to Dani, "You're certain about this? Zorveya is unlike Earth. My people value strength and light above all else. You may find it?—"
"Solar," Dani interrupted, taking his hands. "Your planet is basically one giant sunbath, right? Eternal daylight, fire, and energy everywhere?"
"Essentially, yes."
"That's literally my dream vacation," she said. "Plus, I get to see where you grew up, meet your people, and help convince them that Earth is worth protecting. How is this even a question?"
Solar's expression softened in that way she'd learned meant he was processing emotions he didn't quite have words for. "You continue to surprise me."
"Good," Dani said. "I'd hate to be predictable."
She felt the ship's engines rumble to life as Bob and Gary prepared for the journey to Zorveya. Twenty-seven days through space to an alien world where she'd have to help convince an entire civilization that Earth— messy, chaotic, beautiful Earth —was worth saving.
Twenty-seven days to figure out how to make the council see what she knew. Love transcended alien species. Connection could cross galaxies. And sometimes, the mission parameters needed to change.
"So," Dani said, looking between Solar and Lunar. "Who's going to teach me basic Zorveyan? I'm guessing, ‘ please don't incinerate the Earth girl,’ might be a useful phrase."
Despite everything, Solar's golden light pulsed with amusement.
“I will prepare the universal translator for implantation,” Bob stated.
"First lesson," he said. "On Zorveya, fire does not dance. It works."
"Well," Dani replied, "then I guess I'll be teaching them a few things too."
As the ship turned away from Earth, beginning its long journey to an alien sun, Dani allowed herself one last look at her home planet.
Somewhere down there, Eclipse and Rowan were building a life together while staying one step ahead of Milano.
Poppy was waiting, probably already working on a way to communicate across the stars.
At least, that’s what she hoped.
They'd be back. All of them. Together.
"You are an amazing creature," Solar whispered. "I will forever only resonate with you."
"I love you, too," Dani answered.
The mission had changed, evolved into something none of them had expected. But maybe that was the point. Maybe the real success wasn't in following parameters but in discovering what happened when those parameters shattered.
Twenty-seven days to Zorveya. Then, one way or another, they were coming home.
"Hey, Solar?" she said as Earth shrank in the viewport.
"Yes?"
"Is it really made of fire? Your zone? Because I had this whole mental image..."
Solar's patient explanation of solar radiation versus actual combustion filled the command center as they sailed into the black, three unlikely allies bound by a common purpose.
Bring their people home. Protect Earth. And prove that love— weird, impossible, interspecies love —could conquer even the vast distances between stars.
Game on, Milano. Game fucking on.
The End