by Beth Sadler
Chapter 10
Joe enjoyed the rest of the voyage, now that his future with Darial was settled. He had finally adjusted to the way the pod moved smoothly through space, and enjoyed the few glimpses he was allowed of the world outside whenever the port holes were cleared for viewing. His friends would be amazed at his cheerful enjoyment of flight considering his woeful record.
Following Darial and Callem around the huge ship as they went about their duties was exciting and interesting. Joe also attempted to learn as much Teeronal as he could, in an effort to bridge the gap between his culture and Darial’s. So far he couldn’t do more than say a few polite phrases but, he was determined to learn as quickly as possible.
Joe did offer to help drive the ship, however, Callem seemed to be underwhelmed by the offer, if his laughing, “No thanks” was anything to go by.
The pod was too big for Joe to see all of it but, Callem showed him as much as possible in the time they had. Predictably, Joe was in technological heaven.
Most of the voyage Joe spent annoying the engineers on the hanger level; their sole job was to maintain all the electronics and mechanical functions of the pod and transporters. Mechanical teams never left the pod unless a transporter had to be rescued while on a mission. Joe badly wanted to get his hands on one.
Callem as an Executon was a whole new personality for Joe to get used to; he could now understand why Halli had fallen so fast and hard for him. The man was commanding, reliable, good humoured, as well as undisputedly handsome. Callem was definitely the man for Halli.
Once he realised that Joe was serious about Darial, Callem proved his worth as a brother-in-law, happily explaining the Teeron version of the birds and the bees. The hand tingle had come as a surprise to Joe but, not the sudden falling in love; after all, it had happened to him too.
The Teeron theory of evolution was very interesting. The researchers had found that Humans and Teeronites shared the same basic DNA, which meant, they had all evolved from the same gene pool. At some point, thousands of years earlier, the gene pool had been separated and found itself on different planets. Perhaps due to space travel, or worlds dividing, no one knew. The only fact that was important was that, they were all physiologically the same.
Joe was relieved to know his kids weren’t going to be green, although, with Darial as their mother, he still felt they would have been the most gorgeous green kids in the Galaxy. Darial and Callem regularly broke out into unrestrained laughter, whenever they thought of that conversation. Joe had long been known as ‘Joe the Joker’ among his friends, and lately, it was becoming obvious how he had earned that label.
The voyage home passed in a warm glow of happiness for Darial. Joe regularly snuck up behind her, spinning her around in his strong arms to plant a searing, but, brief kiss on her lips. He seemed determined to let her know that she was loved. Darial had never imagined being this happy.
Forty eight Earth hours after leaving Australia, The Interplanetary Research Pod Seeker 5, docked on its pad at the Interplanetary Research Institute on Teeron. Or, ‘Seeker 5 delivered to the Co-Op’, as the teams laughingly referred to their arrival home. There was a general air of subdued excitement as, the teams preparing to disembark and get home to their loved ones. That feeling didn’t change no matter what planet you came from.
Joe was getting just as impatient to disembark as the Teeronites; he wanted to take Darial and go see Halli. He was also bursting with curiosity to see this new world outside the shiny silver Pod. So far he hadn’t been able to see anything.
“Hey Callem, how much longer is this shut down going to take? I can’t wait to meet Halli and tell her I’m giving her a new sister.”
“Not long now, maybe ten Earth minutes. We disembark into the Great Hall, where all the returning pods report to have their data analysed. Then we will finally be allowed to take our leave.” Callem moved swiftly from control panel to screen and back as he worked confidently at the delicate shut down. “You will have to have a health check and mental analysis before being allowed to continue with me but, that should only take about thirty minutes as, the administrators knew you were arriving. Also, Halli is very well known and loved amongst our people.”
“How come Halli is so well loved already,” asked a surprised Joe? Callem frowned over at him.
“Hasn’t Darial told you?”
“Told me what?” demanded Joe. “Is this more secrets?”
“No not at all. I just assumed that Darial would have told you the reason she braved going to Iceland on this mission. Darial nearly died the last time she was in the Arctic and it was Halli who saved her and her partner Zabron.” Callem paused but, when Joe said nothing, just turned slightly green, Callem continued. “Zabron and Darial would do anything for Halli, as would most of our people.
“Why Darial? Why was she selected?”
“Darial has the scientific skills needed to do the mission that had the three free days allotted to it. But, more importantly, she also has the hypnotic skills. If we had chosen Zabron then you would have been drugged, thrown over his shoulder and kidnapped. Funnily enough, Halli didn’t like that idea. She said you would smash up the Pod and I would never get home alive.” Callem doubled over laughing, “Halli sure has your number.” Callem was laughing so hard he didn’t notice Joe drop into the nearest seat, horror written all over his face.
“Oh my God, she nearly died before I ever met her.” Then another thought shocked him even more. “Why the hell did you risk Halli’s life in the first place?” Callem sobered suddenly, a strained look crossing his face.
“I couldn’t stop her. She’s an incredible woman, brave, loving and resourceful. She was only supposed to hook on Darial and Zabron one at a time but, she saw that Darial wouldn’t last until the winch came back so, she hooked them both on and then waited in the storm for the winch to come back for her. Now you have some idea of why she is so loved by us all.
“How much longer will this take Callem? I need to hug both my girls until I stop being frightened; to think that I used to worry about Halli’s hang gliding.” Joe grumbled.
“I’m finished here so we can head for the exit anytime you feel that you can walk again.” Callem queried with a smile and a raised eyebrow. Slinging his arm around his brother-in-law’s broad shoulders, he gave him a commiserating grin as he led him to the lift. “You’ll get used to these brave women that we’re in love with; or have a heart attack,” he finished as he spluttered with laughter once again.
Joe tracked down Darial in a hurry, after giving her a tense hug he grabbed her hand and hung on tightly. He didn’t want her any further away than the length of his arm from now on, no telling what she would get up to if she was left alone. Leaning into her he gave her a swift possessive kiss.
“Stay close honey, I don’t want you getting lost.” Darial gave him a surprised look.
“I will not get lost Joe, I know my way very well in the Great Hall.
Callem and Joe laughed like a pair of idiots. Joe wasn’t going to tell Darial that he loved confusing her with his Australian slang; her serious replies made him love her all the more.