A Love That Destroyed Time

by Melanie Ray

  He looked at the hundreds of Pinks now ahead of him. He looked around for another option somewhere. If I don’t get us out now, we are toast. He looked above himself and took note of a long cable wire. If that falls, I could swing us into the machine. Easier said than done when holding a sack and an unconscious client. He jumped up on a high ledge, than a higher ledge, then landed smack on the wire. Good thing Ezra was out like a light. Please let the Pinks hit it and not us. I've had enough grief in my life, just let me have this one. As he had predicted, and very much hoped, an enemy shot the cable. It swung past all the other enemies, and Yed landed back in the transporter. With the giant destruction having been far away from the transporter, there were no enemies around him now. He set Ezra down, the sack, and quickly closed the lid. He looked at the green button, and looked at both Ezra and the sack. The contents of the transporter now held the greatest treasures he never thought he'd see again.

  His family.

  He lightly touched Ezra's cheek, smiled and hit the green button.

  Chapter 48

  DOUBLE YELLA

  It's remarkable how fast a single moment can change, Yed realized as he arrived back on Earth. When they first landed years ago, the spot had been an abandoned field. They hid their small transporter, but knowing these were the coordinates others would know, they built their home right beside it. It wasn't small by any means, and as the years went by, other aliens found their way to them. Yed stared at the back of Double Yella, the nickname of their home. It was a yellow double story house spanning half a block. He looked over at Ezra, still sleeping from the shock. They were about to get even bigger for her. He hopped out and saw Xiam had already opened the hatch for hiding the transporters.

  "Aaaaaahhhhh!" A familiar red headed woman, six foot one inch tall alien emerged running down the backstairs. "X! Wye! M-Win!"

  Ezra's head was spinning as she woke up. She grabbed her head and looked around. She heard Tiger and Caress wrestling around in a bag. In one swift turn, her life had been changed. She climbed out of the transporter, and her heart felt one more massive shock.

  Yed was locking lips with an alien.

  Yed looked back and saw Ezra staring at him, :"Magie, Magie, down, no, not now!" He pulled her lips off and gave Ezra an awkward smile. This was not how Ezra was supposed to see him right away. "This isn't what it-"

  "Xiam!"

  "-looks like." Yed watched as Magie locked lips with Xiam against his will too. "See what I mean?"

  "Get off of him!" Iri beated her back. "You hussy, years apart or not, that's still my male!" She hissed.

  "Male?" Magie smiled. "Oh, you are X's gal. Hello!"

  "See again?" Yed said as Iri started to fight against her. "She's not human, she's an alien too, she is just from quadrant A9."

  Ezra nodded, watching the strange display.

  "Get off of me," Iri pushed the woman away. "I am not into you, don't you understand the word no?"

  "No? I know no," Magie giggled. "Newcomers are so cute. You don't have anything to worry about." She lifted her dress up and off. "See no boobies or funny parts, I'm asexual." Then she spotted Ezra. "Hi!"

  Ezra backed several more steps away, but it didn't stop her from getting kissed by the weird, naked alien. Yed watched the strange display, Magie kissed everyone, it was their way. It wouldn't be right to mess with her traditional ways.

  "Ooh," Maggie licked her lips afterward. "You are extra tasty."

  Ezra put her tongue in her cheek. Yed tried not to laugh at her as he moved Tiger and Carress' bag out. He untied them and let them rant for a few seconds, then fall dazed at their surroundings. "Welcome home." He looked over at Ezra who was now looking at the grass. "This is where I live. We let other aliens crash here too so, even when our brains aren't aligned, we can always come back home when they do again. It's a habit." He reached out for her hand, but she didn't take it.

  "Magie!" M-Win ran up to the woman and kissed her first. "Ha, babe, I missed you." She looked back at Zaria, who seemed a little shocked. "Yo Zaria, come lock lips with Magie. If you don't, it's rude to them. Hey Mag, where's Bag?"

  "Right here," Bagie walked down the stairs, locked his eyes on Ezra and made his way over, until Yed stopped him. Magie was one thing, but Bagie was a little more physical. "Yed!" Yed locked lips a little less willfully than with Magie. At least Magie showered more than once a year. "Hi, I haven't seen you in awhile. What's it been, ten years now?"

  "About," Yed answered. He looked over at Tiger and Carress. They were touching the side of the house. "Careful. You could get splinters."

  "Wood only splitters once," Tiger said.

  "Not here. There are some differences here," Yed said. He looked over at Xiam. "Did you?"

  "I told them," Xiam said. "They know who you are."

  Yed looked back at Tiger and Caress. "I'll be honest. I don't know the first thing about being a dad. Mine sucked."

  Tiger shrugged his shoulders, "well, we don't know how to treat parents either so," He wiggled his mouth. "I guess it's a draw."

  Yed watched as Carress approached him and held out her arms. "You." He picked her up and looked at the both of them. "Life's going to be different from now on. I can't say it'll be easy as pie, but it's going to be a lot better."

  "Oh. Well, I'll give it a chance," Tiger said. He gestured to Carress. "Come on, we've got new places to explore."

  "You don't want to maybe-" Yed said as they headed into the house. "-get to know each other?" He shook his head, they'd all have to get used to each other. Heh, kids were bold. Everyone was heading inside, except Ezra still looking all around. He went over to her again. "You okay?"

  "The grass is green and sharp," Ezra commented. "Does it scratch?"

  "Most times it's fine," Yed said.

  "Rough yellow wood?"

  "Paint."

  "Why paint wood?"

  "It only comes in a couple colors, mostly brown."

  "Everything seems bigger."

  "We're shorter than the natives, which are humans. It feels a little awkward at first."

  "Why are their fences around us?"

  "Privacy."

  "Why are the next houses so close?"

  "Houses are built closer."

  Ezra bit her lip as she took more steps into the strong grass again. Plumblu was so soft compared to this. Green grass. Brown wood.

  "Come inside, I'll get you some water." Yed said.

  "I feel weird enough, I don't want any alcohol." Ezra insisted.

  "Water's non-alcoholic here, it's refreshing." Yed held his hand out again. "Seriously, Earth is good. Give it a chance."

  "What if I go crazy?" Ezra asked.

  "We brought a chunk of inhibitor with us," Yed said. "We'll keep it upstairs. Not too close, not too far."

  "Will I pass?" Ezra asked. "I mean inspection. Will Zaria pass too?"

  "Earth has some color," Yed said. He gently raised her chin and looked at her. "I would say we'll pass you off as asian." He gently touched her hair and looked at her eyes. "Japanese."

  "What's a Japanese?"

  "Just the look, it's hard to say. You learn here. Humans base more than they want to admit about it." Yed realizing he was still touching her face, let go. "Zaria can probably pass as Indian if he didn't have such red skin. I don't know we'll figure it out. Xiam, Muin and me have always gone with mixed. Caucasian Mexican." He saw the confusion in her eyes. "There are so many varieties I can't name them all, just trust me. If anyone asks, especially on paper, we'll go with Japanese for you. Okay?"

  "Because of how we look?" Ezra said. "Do they have some that are evil here too?"

  "No, no everyone's equal. It's not like tails." Yed humphed. "Actually if they had some flaw like us with our tails than they'd realize this typing was absurd. Then again, they'd have had our fate." He coughed, "so are you ready to go in yet?"

  "I don't know." Ezra shook her head. "One minute life is simple and the next." She looked up into the sky. "What am I suppo
sed to do?"

  "About the kids." Yed knew that question was coming. "I don't know. We're both even there. It might be a decent start to talk to them?" He watched her expression again. "I know it's tough but-"

  "Why'd you take me now?"

  Yed gulped, that wasn't the answer he was hoping for. "You were brainwashed, Ezzy, how could I not?"

  "Why now?" Ezra repeated. "Why this long?'

  "I didn't remember you." As painful as it was to say, he had to say it. She didn't remember him either, or her life, so she had to understand. "I was away from inhibitors, it affected me." Yed said. "I went back as soon as I could get you. You don't regret me getting you, do you?"

  Ezra was silent a moment. "...I honestly don't know."

  Ouch. Yed looked away. "You were happier there?" It stung, oh that comment stung.

  "I knew my life. I knew what tomorrow would bring." Ezra looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, I know it wasn't an option to stay. Those kids were-I mean, my kids were unsafe." She looked at the strange plant at her foot. "A whole new planet to learn. What flower is that growing out of the ground?"

  Yed looked down at her feet. "It's a weed, not a flower. They grow wild, aren't beneficial, and need pulled to keep grass growing well."

  "There's a plant that attacks the grass?" Ezra moved her feet away. She was quiet a moment as she watched a foreign bug crawl in the grass. "Tiger and Carress?"

  "Are fine." Yed gestured to the house. "Already darted in as well as everyone else. If you'd lift up your head, you'd see."

  Ezra lifted up her head and saw what he spoke was true. "I'm sorry, Yed. I know it couldn't have been easy to take me out of Sanctuary." Ezra bit her lip. He tried to hide a smile, she used to bite her lip all the time when she was nervous. "I know there wasn't any choice, I just-I need time to warm up. I haven't moved more than a few feet, and I already feel alien."

  "I know culture shock better than a lot of warnos," Yed said shaking his hand out again. "Trust me. It may be almost eighty years later Ezraponia Cattral, but by all standards, I am still your Protector. I wouldn't steer you wrong."

  He watched as Ezra finally took his hand. He pulled her forward slowly and took her up the steps. He opened the door and the florescent lighting their faces. He watched as a small crowd gathered around her, trying to welcome her and smiled.

  His mom, dad, and sister were sitting on the couch talking. Zaria was trying to communicate with his kids, but had rotten luck. Muin was on the other side of the house, trying to stay away from her family. Xiam and Iridescent were sharing a memorable moment in the hallway, only their feet were seen from the doorway. Carress and Tiger were nowhere to be found, not a surprise.

  And Ezra, still being the Ezra he knew, wasn't mingling and stayed close to her best friends side. He picked up her hand and held it gently.

  Life would never be the same.

  And he was glad to know that.

  PART THREE

  THE BURNING CHRONICLE

  RAINBOW COLORS,

  Black and white,

  Hold onto mommy,

  And hold on tight.

  We'll spin around having fun

  Until time says our day is done.

  But time is never ending

  So the day is never done.

  So keep spinning, child

  Until forever and a day

  If you simply risk your mind

  You can eternally play.

  Rainbow colors,

  Black and white,

  Hold onto mommy,

  And hold on tight.

  We'll spin around having fun

  Until time says our day is done.

  -Anonymous Warno Nursery Rhyme

  Chapter 49

  MORNING

  Yed stared at the ceiling in his room, thinking about what was waiting outside the doors that morning. Last night, he rescued his family. No longer a bum from Aryu, he was the last Protector from Pagnia. He had children who didn't know him from anyone else. He had no voices in his head, and no visions of delusion. He would get out of bed, get dressed, open the door and then what?

  He tried to imagine in his head what he would say as he got up. Morning Ezra, happy to have your kids back? He got dressed a leg at a time in some normal clothes and out of his old uniform. Morning Tiger, welcome to Earth. Relax, there's no reason to run for your life here. He reached the door handle. Maybe he should try something more subtle. Morning Carress, there's some cereal in the kitchen. No, none of it was right. After all this time, there was nothing he could say to make the situation better.

  "Mornin'."

  Yed looked back and saw Tiger. "Tigeravich." The boy didn't respond much to his full name, a simple shrug of the shoulders. Yed looked at the son he didn't know a second longer. Last night was a whirlwind, getting everyone back to Earth was his goal and the only thing he could concentrate on. Everything was fine, calm, and safe. He had a new mission now, and he didn't have the slightest clue how to begin. "Morning." How to be a father. "Tiger, did anyone get you any food?"

  Tiger shook his head and walked past him with no more than a passing glance. Yed watched him take off and looked down toward the end of the hall. Muin passed by with her cell phone in hand, and Xiam passed by holding Iri's hand. He watched his father yell out Zar's name, scolding him for something.

  "Morning?"

  Yed looked down at the voice that spoke right below him, and saw Carress.

  "Morning, father Protector Yeducavich," she said and bowed in a ceremonial fashion.

  Yed didn't say anything at first, the girl had no knowledge of what was appropriate with a Protector or a father. "I'd prefer being called Yed, Carress. Did you eat yet?" Carress shook her head, her eyes not quite focused on him. "I'll help you find something to eat." He reached out his hand to her. Carress looked at it a second before grabbing it. They both walked, feeling awkward, toward the living space. Xiam and Iri were holding hands and talking on the couch while Muin read a magazine beside them. On the other couch, Zaria was trying to talk to his daughter and son, having the same trouble with words. Yed’s father was on the other end, laughing with his mother and sister. It was like a family reunion, everyone in one place. Except one individual. "Where's Ezraponia?"

  Xiam shot him a look that said that statement wasn't welcome. "Morning to you, too. Don't you want to say morning to all your loved ones first before inquiring-"

  "Xiam," Iri interrupted him as she looked over toward Yed. "She hasn't come out yet, she said she has a headache."

  "I have an ache in my head too from this weird planet," Phaver spoke as she walked over to a window and lifted up the curtain. "Those damn hunon giants laughed at me when I stepped outside this morning. My tail isn't even showing, how rude. Is this what all the natives here are like?"

  "Morning to you too, Millie." Yed walked over to her. "It's human, not hunon. They vary, and we're a little different from them. Most don't even know aliens exist."

  "Well, I've been watching these natives, and they are boring. They come in one skin color, and there are only a couple of hair colors." Phaver closed the curtain. "I actually prefer Phaver, Yed. Sorry, it's just, well it's my name." Phaver hit him on the shoulder playfully and looked down at Carress. "So you’re my little niece, huh?"

  Yed looked down to see her reaction. He didn't want to let go of her hand until she did first, but should he introduce Carressela, or should he wait for her?

  "Okay, whatever," Phaver gave up on Carress. "Any other natives that aren't so rude?"

  Yed smiled as he thought of how incredible it was to talk to her again. His little sister, innocent yet annoying, all grown up. "Yeah, Phaver, I'll introduce you to some, but the aliens around here aren't off that rude list either." He opened up the curtains again. "Natives come in slightly different shades and their hair comes in a couple too, which is why you're standing out. Most are taller, but you'll meet some that aren't."

  "At the party," Phaver said. "I overheard that Muin girl, you're having
a huge party tonight to celebrate your return to sanity or something like that?"

  "Party? Muin." Yed gritted his teeth. Their memories came back in waves over the years, found and lost. Whenever it happened, it was traditional to throw a party. The biggest they could muster with every alien in the vicinity attending. Their parties always ended with the police at their door. He walked toward Muin, still feeling Carress' hand in his. He looked down at his daughter. "I need to talk with your Aunt Muin, could you go see if your Uncle Xiam can help you get something for breakfast?" Carress nodded and promptly let go. Feeling the sweat of holding hands too much, he approached Muin rubbing his hands. "You, put down that phone."

  "Tch, no way," Muin said with a toothy grin and a wink. Yed tried to reach for it, but Muin was quicker. She hung up her cell and tossed it next to her purse. "We survived another round of insanity, so we have a par-tay. We always have a par-tay. Loud music, alcohol, fun. It's tradition, Wye."

  "It's different this time," Yed said as he sat down next to her. "There's no way Xiam and I are going to have a rowdy crowd around our families. We are trying to build up something, not have a good time."

  "Lousy excuse," Muin said. "You don't want your family, or your wannabe girlfriend, to think any less of you when you have your tongue down-"

  "Stop," Yed warned her. "Knock it off. If you want to have a 'par-tay', we can, with our family here. A family party." For good measure he added, "I'm sure the kids would enjoy it. You remember those things that you have, that you haven't bothered to show attention too? Or your husband."

  "Off my back, Wye, at least I haven't messed around on the guy. Give me some credit," Muin sniffed as she groaned and crossed her arms. "Not yet anyhow."

  An awkward feeling was felt as everyone sat down to breakfast. Yed sat between Phaver and his mom while Muin sat beside him. Zaria was on her other side along with Cooey, Carress, Tiger and Zaria. Xiam sat with his wife while Yed’s father brought everything full circle by sitting on the other side of Muin. Yed tried to make conversation with his mom and sister, while Zaria worked on communicating with Muin. It was a full table, hardly any elbow room.