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sordiddetailsOnce the two children had calmed some from their argument, she had laid in bed with her husband for some time, talking and reveling in the intimacy. It was nearing morning when Tom had suggested that they go buy some things for Hiroki. The poor boy was here in the Nexus with nothing at all. Aletayria couldn't go with him but he understood immediately when she revealed why. Her cousin was here. She had saw him in Hiroki's memories. Her Thomas that she thought dead or lost to her forever. Her dear cousin that the other Antheans had written off as better off dead than accepting that he had been influenced by humanity. All he did was wish her luck and offer to keep his PINpoint nearby until she returned.
She had no idea where to start looking. She didn't even know the Nexus very well, but Antheans were creatures of habit. If she could find one place then she could back track, find nearby housing that conformed to Anthean needs maybe. She didn't even have a picture of him but she knew what he looked like in his human guise. She had been there for him and with him through the grueling training. Though she didn't prepare his body as others had, she did give him the knowledge to find food and care for himself medically once he reached Earth. Before his selection to travel to Earth they had distant but the years spent in constant contact discussing life and death had brought them closer.
Tommy wasn't like Aletayria. She was warm, passionate, and concerned. Tommy was very different in his standoffish lack of connection. He had been that way since birth. It was how he was and unlike other Antheans she had simply accepted it. Only his wife understood what drove him in his isolation. An understanding laid testament by the fact they had grown close enough to have two children.
His children. She felt her heart sink as she walked the streets contemplating where he might be found. His wife had survived but their children had both died from dehydration waiting for his return. He might not be a passionate Anthean but the death of your own flesh and blood would hit everyone hard. She knew it from talking to him about why he decided to go and leave everything behind. It was in why he was willing to die for the others.
She saw a cafe ahead and thought to stop to get something to drink. The heat was oppressive to an Anthean, like a human finding themselves trapped in Death Valley. The 80 degree summer that the beings around her enjoyed was twice the temperature she evolved in. The heat was getting to her. As she stepped into the cafe she breathed a sigh of relief as cool air hit her skin. She glanced at the menu on the wall above the counter but something told her to look at the guests. Her eyes roved over the patrons in search of the faint glow that emanated from Anthean skin when in contact with Earth like UV light.
She froze staring at a man leaning over a glass of water and a broad brimmed hat obscuring his face. Her heart jumped into her throat as she blindly pushed her way passed people. Her eyes were riveted on the man in the booth. She couldn't look away.
“Tommy?” She asked quietly when she was close enough. His blue eyes slowly turned up to her and his brow scrunched in confusion. She could feel the fear and uncertainty.
Tommy couldn't imagine that she was here. He had spent his imprisonment hallucinating other Antheans, anyone else really, to stave off the isolation. This felt like another illusion made up to keep his mind sane under the pressure of his memories and the fact he would never look like an Anthean again. He would always have this alien face he didn't want.
“Tommy.” She reached out and touched his hand. Instantly, violently, he recoiled from her touch and fear projected enough that near by patrons fell silent. “It's me. Do you remember?”
She couldn't be sure as she watched him. The reports he had sent out after escaping talked of brainwashing, torture, surgeries, and experimentation. He might not remember anything. He might not even be the same person.
Her name finally came from his lips in Anthean, shaky like his voice hadn't been used in years. Even with the words he just stared because Tommy was sure she was a figment of his broken imagination. Tentative fingers reached out for the fabric of her dress sleeves and eyes flew wide when he felt the soft, light Anthean fabric instead of the human variety.
“Tary?” Tommy looked up hopefully as she slid into the booth with him. He wasn't one to ask for comfort even when it was desperately needed so she reached around him and pulled his shoulders close to her. That is when he collapsed against her in tears. He didn't hug her or do any of the other human things someone might do in this situation but he cried.
“Shhh...” She removed his hat to stroke his hair like a child. “I told you we would find you again. I wouldn't abandon you like the rest wanted.”
She could feel his conscious waning as he cried himself to sleep. He was older than her but here he was like a child that she cradled. One handed she sent a message to Tom. He needed to bring the car so they could bring her cousin home.
She had no idea where to start looking. She didn't even know the Nexus very well, but Antheans were creatures of habit. If she could find one place then she could back track, find nearby housing that conformed to Anthean needs maybe. She didn't even have a picture of him but she knew what he looked like in his human guise. She had been there for him and with him through the grueling training. Though she didn't prepare his body as others had, she did give him the knowledge to find food and care for himself medically once he reached Earth. Before his selection to travel to Earth they had distant but the years spent in constant contact discussing life and death had brought them closer.
Tommy wasn't like Aletayria. She was warm, passionate, and concerned. Tommy was very different in his standoffish lack of connection. He had been that way since birth. It was how he was and unlike other Antheans she had simply accepted it. Only his wife understood what drove him in his isolation. An understanding laid testament by the fact they had grown close enough to have two children.
His children. She felt her heart sink as she walked the streets contemplating where he might be found. His wife had survived but their children had both died from dehydration waiting for his return. He might not be a passionate Anthean but the death of your own flesh and blood would hit everyone hard. She knew it from talking to him about why he decided to go and leave everything behind. It was in why he was willing to die for the others.
She saw a cafe ahead and thought to stop to get something to drink. The heat was oppressive to an Anthean, like a human finding themselves trapped in Death Valley. The 80 degree summer that the beings around her enjoyed was twice the temperature she evolved in. The heat was getting to her. As she stepped into the cafe she breathed a sigh of relief as cool air hit her skin. She glanced at the menu on the wall above the counter but something told her to look at the guests. Her eyes roved over the patrons in search of the faint glow that emanated from Anthean skin when in contact with Earth like UV light.
She froze staring at a man leaning over a glass of water and a broad brimmed hat obscuring his face. Her heart jumped into her throat as she blindly pushed her way passed people. Her eyes were riveted on the man in the booth. She couldn't look away.
“Tommy?” She asked quietly when she was close enough. His blue eyes slowly turned up to her and his brow scrunched in confusion. She could feel the fear and uncertainty.
Tommy couldn't imagine that she was here. He had spent his imprisonment hallucinating other Antheans, anyone else really, to stave off the isolation. This felt like another illusion made up to keep his mind sane under the pressure of his memories and the fact he would never look like an Anthean again. He would always have this alien face he didn't want.
“Tommy.” She reached out and touched his hand. Instantly, violently, he recoiled from her touch and fear projected enough that near by patrons fell silent. “It's me. Do you remember?”
She couldn't be sure as she watched him. The reports he had sent out after escaping talked of brainwashing, torture, surgeries, and experimentation. He might not remember anything. He might not even be the same person.
Her name finally came from his lips in Anthean, shaky like his voice hadn't been used in years. Even with the words he just stared because Tommy was sure she was a figment of his broken imagination. Tentative fingers reached out for the fabric of her dress sleeves and eyes flew wide when he felt the soft, light Anthean fabric instead of the human variety.
“Tary?” Tommy looked up hopefully as she slid into the booth with him. He wasn't one to ask for comfort even when it was desperately needed so she reached around him and pulled his shoulders close to her. That is when he collapsed against her in tears. He didn't hug her or do any of the other human things someone might do in this situation but he cried.
“Shhh...” She removed his hat to stroke his hair like a child. “I told you we would find you again. I wouldn't abandon you like the rest wanted.”
She could feel his conscious waning as he cried himself to sleep. He was older than her but here he was like a child that she cradled. One handed she sent a message to Tom. He needed to bring the car so they could bring her cousin home.
