There was a small silence as the two stared at each other. The young man’s entreaty was certainly impressive.
“ What about my father? He is regarded as a criminal on your planet and he did nothing but punch that cynical old man.”
“ I took care of that before I left. “ His hands tightened on hers, “ I convinced Cebolla to drop the charges and I told the authorities to do the same. This is the truth, I promise.”
“ You really did this?”
“ Yes! I would do anything for you. Once charges have been dropped there is no precedent to ever proceed with them ever again. Your father may safely return there at any time and be safe from prosecution.”
“ So they will not be pursuing us?”
“ No, not at all.”
“ I want to tell you something now, so just listen.” Bex looked at him in a direct way, which strangely reminded the Captain of the way Beani-Poohs often looked at him when she had something important to impart. “ I have lived my whole life waiting for my father to come and take me back to my home planet. It is happening now and I can not give up my father and I can not go back to your planet.”
They were all quiet as he absorbed this statement. In the kitchen there was a loud clatter as something dropped to the floor and some crew members in the corner applauded them, laughing. But here at this table it was as if they were in their own little world. Finally Maiz spoke.
“ Then I will come with you to your planet.”
“ Do you mean that?” Bex was amazed at this decision by a man who had been, up till then, very dominant and arrogant.
“ I’m trying to tell you that I love you and can’t live without you. I told you I will change and if that means living on your planet I can do that. I can’t live without you and I don’t want to try.” Maiz spoke passionately.
“ Oh Maiz, I can’t believe it!” she cried.
“ Believe it. You are my life, please marry me.”
“ YES!” she cried and with that that she got up from the table and threw herself into his arms and the two of them kissed and embraced. The mess room erupted into cheers and applause.
Manzanna stood to one side and they finally turned to him.
Maiz flushed as he said to him, “ I offer my sincere apologies for my treatment of you Sir. I wish to marry your daughter.”
Manzanna looked at his daughter’s happy face and smiled. “ It seems I have gained a son.”
The happy couple embraced again. There were more cheers.
Beani-Poohs was watching this with the Captain and she turned to him. “ That’s what I’m talking about,” she said.
The Captain pulled a strange face.
“ I know, we have to go slow.”
She laughed.
“ I can do that but not too slow, any slower than this and we’ll be in reverse.”
They both burst out laughing.
* * * *
It was a few days later and the DVD was orbiting the planet Karrool. Lid-Lidia and Beani-Poohs had gone down to the planet surface to properly say goodbye to Manzanna, Maiz and Bex.
Lid-Lidia had taken a walk with Manzanna and was now coming back to the house he had left so many years before.
“ Do you have to go back to your ship?” Manzanna asked her.
“ I can probably stay a few more hours.”
“ I do not mean in a few hours, I’m asking you to stay here permanently. I am asking you to marry me.”
This took Lid-Lidia by surprise. “ I’m sorry, but I have to go back, I have responsibilities on board the DVD.”
“ Would you like to stay here on Karrool and start a new life with me, I know I could be a good husband for you.”
“ That is a very sweet offer. Please don’t ask me to stay, my life is on board that ship exploring the universe.”
“ Do you have someone on your home planet?”
“ Well actually I do have a boyfriend named Wally who is waiting for me, but it’s more than that. I like you very much but I know I could never love you. I’m sorry, if I gave you the wrong impression.”
Manzanna tried to be gracious. “ I understand. I could have given you a fine life here. My cargo was very profitable. But I understand that you have to go. Please stay in touch if you can, I will be interested to hear of your adventures.”
“ I will Manzanna. Take care of yourself.”
“ Farewell Lid-Lidia. I will not forget you.”
Beani-Poohs was waiting for her as she walked into the town.
“ Two to beam up,” said Beani-Poohs.
The Captain answered “ I’ll see the two of you in a moment.”
“ I have a lock,“ said the transporter chief and pushed the control to activate the transporter.”
Suddenly they both noticed on the instruments that an unexpected ion storm had just blown up. It was very intense. “
“ Should I stop the process Captain? I have already started the transport.”
“ You can’t, to reverse now could be dangerous.”
Moments later the two girls started to appear on the transport pad, but before they could appear entirely they disappeared again.
“ Captain I am losing the lock.”
“ Try again.”
The girls partially appeared this time and vanished once again.
The Captain had a look of despair. “ Tell me you still have them?”
“ I’m sorry Captain, I have lost them.”
To be continued in Star Yawns 5
Star Yawns Episode 4. By David & Sabine Williams. Smashwords Edition Copyright 2012 Page 5