Once An Alien

by Robin Martin

  Kerri blushed. ‘Thanks. You look awesome.’

  ‘You know what? We should get our photos taken together. That would be great fun.’ Pandora put her arm around Kerri, who gave her an enthusiastic nod.

  It seemed the right time. We all moved over to the line where photos were being taken. And, as naturally as if it had been planned, I went with Rion, Lou went with Harry, and Pandora and Kerri followed.

  As Rion stood next to me, I felt a surge of happiness. This was our first proper photo together, but I hoped it wouldn’t be the last.

  The meal seemed long with speeches and toasts, but luckily our group, so used to eating lunch together and hanging out, managed to have a good time in spite of it.

  During a break in the speeches, I went to the ladies room, and then I went outside to catch a quick breath of air. So much had happened in the last few months, and I had so much to be grateful for, it was overwhelming.

  I slipped outside to the terrace and stopped when I saw two figures. When I looked closer, I saw, to my surprise, that it was Kerri and Pandora. They were facing each other and holding hands. I didn’t want to intrude, and I was about to go inside when I heard Pandora say, ‘Kerri, I don’t want you to ever forget what a special person you are, especially to me.’

  ‘Pandora, I’ve never met anyone like you.’

  ‘Same. We’re binary stars, remember.’

  ‘I’ll never forget.’

  Then Pandora bent her head and kissed Kerri. I felt how special it was, even from where I was standing. Tears, but happy ones, sprang to my eyes, and I realised in that moment, Pandora had become one of us.

  ‘But, Kerri, one day you will forget.’

  ‘No, never.’

  ‘Yes, you will. I want you to. But for now, you’ll remember. We had an awesome night, and then I had to go away. And that’s okay.’

  I slipped inside again, feeling it was wrong to stay any longer. It seemed to me we had all grown this year in ways we never expected.

  Finally, it was time to dance, and that was the most fun of all. Of course, I danced with Rion and Harry, but we girls danced together too. Pandora got up and whispered in the ear of the lead guitarist, and then I heard an old song that my parents, total dorks, sometimes sang.

  ‘Come on, girls. This one’s for us,’ Pandora said. We all got up, Lou, Kerri, Pandora, and me, and we totally owned that dance floor. It was the best fun I’d had in a long time.

  Then I was in Rion’s arms again. It was a slow one, and I was happy to lean my head on his broad chest and sink into his arms. ‘I’m so glad we’re together again. I never want to be apart from you again.’

  ‘Me either, and we have all next year to look forward to when we go to university. I can’t wait to start the next phase of our life together. I really love you, Zoe.’

  I didn’t think I could be happier.

  When this wonderful night drew to a close, Pandora came over to us. ‘It’s time,’ she said.

  Rion looked at her. ‘You’re ready then?’

  She nodded. ‘I thought I’d be able to say goodbye, but I don’t seem to be able to.’

  ‘What’s happening?’ I asked.

  ‘I’m leaving, Zoe. Going back to where I belong. I’ve been ordered back, and this time, I really have no choice.’

  This was the first time I’d ever seen her look sad. She’d been larger than life and had blown into our lives like an unexpected cyclone, and somehow it seemed strange that she would no longer be there. I reached out my hand and touched hers. ‘I’m sorry, Pandora. We will miss you. Kerri most of all. Have you told her?’

  Pandora shook her head and looked over the dance floor to where Kerri was talking to Lou and Harry. ‘I can’t. It would be too hard on both of us. But at least we’ve had tonight. Tell her goodbye for me?’ Pandora’s eyes misted over.

  I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat.

  Pandora looked at Rion. ‘Will you walk me out? I think Archimedes is going to materialise just to make sure I keep my word.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘He doesn’t trust me.’

  Rion nodded. ‘You’re doing the right thing, Pandora. You know that, don’t you?’

  She nodded. ‘Sure, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Come on, let’s us two aliens get out of here. See you, Zoe. You know what? I never said this before, but Orion’s lucky to have you.’

  Rion put his arm around her. ‘Let’s go,’ he said. They walked out the door, those two beautiful aliens that managed to turn everyone’s lives topsy-turvy. Thank goodness one of them would be coming back to me.

  Pandora shivered in the cold night air. I pulled her in a little closer. ‘It’s okay,’ she said. ‘It soon won’t matter.’

  We walked to the river, which was not far from our venue. The winter sky was studded with stars, and the black water rippled gently under a nearly full moon. Pandora breathed in deeply and moved away from me. ‘I’ll miss this, Orion. To smell, to see, to touch, and even to feel cold. She raised her arms towards the sky and turned around. ‘But I’ve had such fun. It’s been a blast.’ She lifted her head, her dark hair tumbling down her back, and laughed in her carefree way.

  Then I saw the shimmering form of Archimedes take shape beside her. ‘Are you ready?’ he said.

  ‘Come on then.’ She lowered her arms, linking one of them with his. ‘Let’s get on with the next adventure.’

  I watched them slowly dissolve until there was nothing left but grassy bank and the river beyond. I wondered if I would ever see any of my people again.

  I went back to the formal, where the band members were slowly packing up their instruments. Most people had left. Zoe had her arm around Kerri, whose eyes were red. ‘So, she’s gone?’

  I nodded, wondering what Zoe had told her.

  ‘Do you think she will ever come back?’

  I looked at Zoe, who said, ‘I don’t think so, Kerri. France is a long way from here, and she was only ever going to stay here a short while.’

  ‘But why did her aunt have to take her now? Tonight?’ Kerri asked. ‘She never even said goodbye.’

  ‘She only stayed for the formal. She was supposed to go earlier. She wanted to say goodbye, but she couldn’t.’

  ‘I really cared about her.’ Kerri’s voice was sad, heartbroken.

  Zoe said softly, ‘And she cared about you. She told me that. She’ll never forget you, and you’ll always have this night to remember.’

  ‘Yes, we had an awesome night. I know she had to go away, just not so soon. But she told me it would be okay, and Pandora never lies.’

  We took Kerri home in a cab, while Harry took Lou home. It had been one of those nights where both good and sad things had happened. I was surprised how Pandora’s departure had even affected me. I had wanted her to go. I knew it was the best thing. Yet, I would miss her more than I realised. Maybe it was because of her total honesty and her determination to live life on her own terms. That took courage, and I admired her for that.

  Finally, there was just Zoe and me at her door saying goodnight. She put her arms around my neck. ‘This night has been more… more of everything. I can’t describe it.’ She sighed and leaned her head against my chest.

  ‘I know what you mean,’ I said, holding her close.

  I looked down at her, wondering if I could ever love her more, want her more than I did right now. ‘I love you, Zoe.’

  She smiled. ‘That wasn’t so hard, was it?’

  I put my hand under her chin and lifted it, looking at her so trusting and loving. ‘I think I’ve loved you from the first moment when I fell on you on that beach nearly a year ago, even though I was a conceited, self-important little bubble of alien consciousness.’

  ‘You did not. You were forever giving me lectures day and night about my unhealthy lifestyle, and poor choices about friends, school — just about everything.’

  I laughed. ‘I don’t know how you put up with me. But I only did that because you drove me crazy — none of my other hosts had
ever done that. Then, I realised it was because I cared about you. That had never happened to me before.’

  ‘Well, you sure had a strange way of showing it,’ she said. But she smiled. ‘You loved me from the start eh? I have to tell you it wasn’t mutual.’

  I dropped my hand. ‘I know. I’ve made a lot of mistakes.’

  ‘And you’ll probably make a lot more.’

  I gave a heavy sigh.

  ‘But, you have improved.’

  ‘Really?’ I looked down at her.

  ‘And, I think you could improve even more.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘You are slow tonight, aren’t you? Hurry up and kiss me already.’

  I didn’t need any more encouragement.

  A while, maybe a long while, later, she moved away from me. ‘This is lovely, but I’m freezing.’

  ‘You’d better go in, then,’ I said, reluctantly.

  I gave her a last kiss goodnight, and she slipped inside, calling out softly before she went inside, ‘Good night, my alien.’

  I’d let the cab go, happy to walk home tonight with my thoughts. I never realised when I was a bodiless, cerebral entity for thousands of years what it meant to be human. But in the last twelve months, I had experienced more life than I had in the previous four thousand. There was heartache, disappointment, and sometimes even despair, but there was also joy, love, and unending hope. I knew that a part of me would always be alien, and I accepted that finally. As I had told Emerson, it was okay to be different. But I didn’t regret my decision to be human either, no matter what it meant for the future. And I knew, with a sudden sobering thought, that Zoe would need me as much as I would need her in the future. For Archimedes hadn’t told her everything about her mother. ‘She’s clear… for now. But of the future…’ He shook his head. All he would say was, ‘Be there for her.’

  I would never tell Zoe that. It may not even come true, but whatever happened, I had every intention of being there. The ups and the downs we’d face together, because that was what being human was all about.

  Acknowledgements

  Books are never solo efforts, and mine is no exception. There are several people who have helped in so many ways to make this third book of The Alien Chronicles a reality. The support and critiques of my fellow writers from Write Links has been invaluable. In particular, I’d like to thank my critique partner, Tyrion Perkins, who gave such detailed and valuable feedback. Also, being part of that wonderful organisation, The Romance Writers of Australia, has helped me enormously in the journey of being a writer. Another big thank-you goes to Anthony Puttee and the crew at the Self-Publishing Lab for making my book look its best. Finally, I would like to thank my cheer squad, Rob, Ruth, and Richard, whose very existence makes it so much easier to write. Ruth’s insightful critiques have helped me avoid many pitfalls, and now, as a fellow writer, she has made my journey less lonely and certainly more fun. Richard’s encouragement and support is always there for my writing, and for building my writing business. Last but not least, my appreciation and love goes to Rob, who shares the ups and downs, not only of the creative life, but life itself. You guys are my anchor.

  About the Author

  Robin Martin has been a writer and a teacher for many years. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked in several countries, but now lives just outside Brisbane, Australia. Writing has always been her passion, and in recent years she has written several novels for adults and young adults, including The Alien Chronicles series.

  When she is not plotting stories, she loves reading everything from cereal boxes to long books that she can get lost in. She finds her inspiration in beach walks along the beautiful Queensland coast; an eclectic music collection that ranges from The Rolling Stones to Chet Atkins to Bach; and good coffee, without which she wouldn’t be able to function. She and her family are also Star Trek fans.

  Visit Robin at www.robinmartinthomas.com to find out about her other works and to sign up for her newsletter to receive free stories and the latest updates on her next books.