Chapter 59: Home sweet home.Two days of travel was enough to make anyone dizzy and exhausted. By the time Sloan got off the plane to meet Elijah, he could barely keep his eyes open and stay upright. Everything he ate made him feel full to bursting, and he'd only finally settled his stomach by eating raspberry smoothies. Drinking a smoothie, he found Elijah in a car parked outside beyond the baggage claim. Carrying his backpack and rolling his new suitcase, he waved when his friend jumped out of a sleek new sedan. "You're back!" Elijah hugged him and then hopped into the driver's seat. Sloan tossed his bags in the backseat and got into the car. "I have lots to tell you.""What did I miss?" Sloan sucked down his smoothie and rolled down the window. Sunshine warmed his face."You got fired from the coffee shop.""Figured.""And you got fired from the bar." "That sounds about right.""And we got evicted.""Of course we did.""Was it worth it to jet off with a hot rich guy to a tropical
Chapter 60: Not alone.The next day, Sloan chatted with the manager of Dager Gym on the phone. The woman had a spot for Sloan starting next week. According to the lady, JP, as the health center owner, had insisted she hire Sloan because of his "great qualifications." Sloan had no idea what those were, but he needed a job, so he just went with it. As he talked to the woman, he got the impression she wanted him to become her assistant manager. Sloan would see. For now, whatever the work was, the job was fine with him. He needed something…well, anything really… just to not think about Octnavin.Sloan took his motorcycle out for a short ride and got everything he needed to make raspberry smoothies. After he came home and ate, he curled up in the new pink blanket he bought. In minutes, he was asleep, and he took an afternoon nap. By the time Elijah came over with Chinese, he was just getting up. He had no idea why he was so tired. It had to be all the travel. How long did jet lag last? "He
Chapter 61: Calling for help.The following day, Sloan dressed in his pajama pants, shirt, and bathrobe. Nothing else fit. He went down to Elijah's apartment, and all the time, he prayed that contacting this Munroe person wasn't a mistake. Elijah's home was the same layout as Sloan's, except that Elijah had paintings, art supplies, and canvases where the gym stuff was in Sloan's place. Sloan entered and then sat on the couch and waited. According to the phone call, Munroe would show up at ten. Sloan had a sleepless night and could barely stop vomiting. Eating wasn't even happening anymore. He liked the raspberry smoothies, but he felt full. Every time he rolled over, it was like junior would shift and press on his organs. Now even the offspring was starting to get nervous. -You should've told me you were here sooner,- Sloan muttered in his head.-Sooner? English is a complicated language to master in a few days. It takes you humans years to learn it. Cut me some slack.-Sloan snorted
Chapter 62: Sacrifices.After the evening with Munroe, Sloan fell asleep on his friend's couch. By the middle of the night, he was awoken by pain. He attempted to go back to sleep, but now the throb in his belly and back was unbearable. He tossed and turned, but nothing he did helped.Elijah got Sloan his pink blanket, and time stood still. With every move or shift to roll over, he either couldn't breathe, or he thought he would throw up. His belly was almost entirely blue. The skin was bruised and aching. Spider lines rose out of his skin to the point where he thought it kind of looked like he was about to have an alien baby. The thing was, even though he wanted to vomit, he'd barely eaten. Junior was starving, and he knew he was hurting Octnavin's offspring. He didn't know what to do. He did the only thing he could. Sloan kept tossing and turning on Elijah's couch and praying for JP to show.Munroe, who was now a tall blue alien much like Octnavin, paced by the sofa's side where Sloa
Chapter 63: Sloan's last death.While Munroe was on the phone with someone, Elijah tried to talk Sloan out of his decision, but his friend didn't understand. Sloan had only given him the bare bones of the story. Octnavin needed his young. Sloan had to do this. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he loved the fucking ruler. Saving Junior was the right thing to do.-I think we should do something else.- Junior piped up in his head. -I don't want you to die. I need you.--It's okay. Everything will be fine.- Sloan said to the alien in his mind as he tried to believe that. He thought about his parents. They would never do this for him, but Sloan wasn't like them. He was more like Octnavin. If the alien were here, the ruler would understand that sometimes people had to make sacrifices. Sometimes people and aliens had to make the hard calls. Octnavin would say no regrets or some kind of wise bullshit."Jazmin will be here in five minutes." Munroe set the phone on the counter."Who's Jazmin
Chapter 64: Luckiest human ever.Sloan inhaled water. This again? Was the alien baby thing all a dream? He floated and exhaled the water in the tube. Unbelievable. He thought he got out of the hell hole of fighting. Sloan tapped on the frosted glass. At least now he would see Octnavin. He would tell him what a crazy-ass dream he just had. Maybe he would even tell the dickhead ruler that he loved him.As the container opened, tentacles caught him. He looked up into JP's eyes."We've got to stop meeting this way." Sloan coughed, and water dribbled down his chin.JP wrapped a fluffy towel around his shoulders. Nebos rose over his body and became pants and a shirt in minutes. As Sloan looked around, he realized they were on the spaceship and not in the folantos-loser-room. Not much has changed on the spacecraft other than the fact that the healing cylinder was in the bedroom next to the magic food table. "What happened?" Sloan dried his hair. Guess that wasn't a dream after all."You had
Chapter 65: Life is really, really, really, great.Sloan finished work at the gym and headed to the coffee shop where he liked to pick up a raspberry smoothie. He sat outside at a metal table and sucked on his straw. As he watched people coming and going, he traced his new tattoo. The word devour was in beautiful scroll lettering around his wrist. Sometimes he liked to think that Octnavin would like it. After he finished his drink, he got on his bike again. He was home as the sun began to set.Today was great. He had a great job and money in the bank. He had a great place to live, and Elijah was great. Even Jazmin was great. They had become friends since she helped him birth an alien. Except… If everything was so great, why did he have to spend every night convincing himself of that?He'd used the word great way too many times, and he knew it.It had been two weeks. Octnavin and Junior shouldn't bother him anymore. The aliens shouldn't be on his mind.After Sloan entered his apartment
Chapter 66: Almost sure.After Sloan pulled on his band t-shirt, he grabbed his leather jacket and his backpack. He tossed the strap on his shoulder and walked out of his quarters toward the ship's command center.When he entered the large oval room, he noted that everyone on the spaceship was staring out the enormous wide window at the front. None of the aliens or Murry were talking or moving. The entire group eyed the water like they were looking for a monster. The room pulsed with fear."What's going on?" Sloan tossed down his bag and scanned the spectacular view. Ahead of them was a massive clear lake and bright peach sky. On the far end was a long dock that stretched out into the water. The ship was quickly approaching the dock and flying so low as to make little rippled waves. "You know how in a space movie ships get caught in tractor beams?" Murry turned his head, and their eyes met."Yeah.""This is like that." Murry looked back at the approaching dock. Now Sloan caught that t
Chapter 136: The end of... Life and Death.Standing between his grove of apple trees and his rows of orange trees, Ike stopped and inhaled the blossoms in the wind. The bright star of the Dagerstanteen planet had him closing his eyes and sighing in delight. He'd never been outside this much, and he was addicted to the warm fresh air. He grinned. There were a few things he was addicted to now, one of which was the three humans laughing, chatting, and strolling toward him.Ike opened his eyes and smiled at the three men walking between his carrots."Ike," Chasm called. "We are here to learn.""Thank you for agreeing to take care of my plants while I travel with JP." Ike nodded."Caveman." Sloan approached him using the nickname he'd given Ike after they met. Sloan held up his hand, and Ike slapped Sloan's palm before his new friend jogged over to where the row of raspberry bushes was growing. "This is badass."Ike glanced at Chasm and raised an eyebrow."It means good," Chasm translated.
Chapter 135: Taking the fire back.JP didn't make a sound after Lee's announcement, but Ike could see his thoughts moving in a whirl. JP was making plans. The alien was rigging up a way to pull him from the fire if he said yes. The alien was also simultaneously trying to figure out how to keep Ike alive for a long time if he didn't hold the fire and if they didn't get the lifesaving water. Ike was very old and his Dagerstanteen blood would only do so much. Plus, all the humans needed the healing water. It wasn't just his life they were talking about here."I…" Ike pictured going back to the rain planet. He would have to watch time tick by while he held the fire again. The loneliness would eat at him. "I will have to return to the sanctuary," Ike murmured."Never," JP snapped."You do know that you burned that to the ground, right?" Keltrix asked."I will forbid you from returning to your old home." Octnavin's sentence was unmovable stone. "If you were to take the ember and regrow the P
Chapter 134: Life after the fire.As soon as Ike had the sensation of being set on a cold table, his eyes opened wide. It had been a long time since Ike felt the sensation of cold."JP?""He is here."Ike looked into Keltrix's eyes and then pushed away from the tentacles holding him. He sat and swung his legs until he was on the edge of an exam table in a laboratory."Where am I?" Ike glanced at Keltrix and then at Octnavin. Next to him on a second table was JP. The alien looked burned from head to toe. He wasn't moving, and Ike felt panic. Did the fire kill JP? Why was everyone acting like it didn't matter?"JP?" Ike set his hand on his blackened skin. The hard surface was rippled and rough."What is that thing that Sloan likes to say?" Keltrix asked Octnavin."He bounces back fast." Octnavin crossed his middle tentacles over his chest."Yes," Keltrix agreed. "That's it.""Where are we?" Ike glanced at the leader of the Dagerstanteens. "Is JP dead?""This is our ship, and we are parke
Chapter 133: At the fire temple.Ike kept himself conscious by listening to the Dagerstanteen that carried him. JP found the most boring things to list in Ike's head until he had to fight not to sleep. Although Ike struggled to stay awake, he did agree that JP kept his emotions and the fire calm.As the air got colder, the cooler air had him focusing. The six of them started to climb up a wide rock staircase on the closest side of a small mountain. The guards that had followed them stayed at the bottom. All around them was water, and there were no sides or railings to the steps. One move to the left or the right, and they would fall into the dark, murky moat.Ike lifted his chin and tipped his head as they marched. His heart beat a little faster when he spotted the Panchen Fire Shrine.This is where he would die.When they reached the end of the staircase, JP stepped onto smooth marble. Ike noted that the water lapped at the highest point and splashed like the liquid wanted to take ove
Chapter 132: Albeon.When Ike awoke, he was cradled in JP's tentacles, but the skin was not soft and silky. The tentacles that held him were stiff and hard and throbbing with heat. The alien had turned his skin into armor, and Ike didn't know why.Blinking rapidly, Ike was about to explain again how he was heading to Albeon no matter what JP said, but as he focused his eyes, he was shocked and speechless at what was happening around him.JP stood in front of Princess Lee and three old Albeon women. Ike knew who those women were. Shay had told him about the three elders. There was Dilma, Payson, and Rolla. He was finally on the planet Albeon and besides the women in front of him, all around the open field, stood male Albeon guards of every shape and size. The number of weapons pointed at him was concerning, and he found himself holding his breath.On the right of JP stood Octnavin holding a sizeable pink bundle in his arms. On JP's left side stood a fully armed Keltrix like a silent sen
Chapter 131: Out of control. Fenton and Shay stood in his living area. As Ike walked out of his bedroom, he began to roll a cigarette. He felt nauseous and wanted to curl up and cry and rail against the unfairness of life. But he wouldn't do that in front of anyone. He could fall apart later when he was alone. Right now, he had to get dressed and leave with some dignity. He could hear Baja in his head. He needed to get it together and keep the fire calm."Ike—" Fenton stopped when JP strode out of Ike's bedroom. "JP? What are you doing here?""Greetings," Shay murmured as her eyes went from JP to Ike. "I didn't know he was...." Shay lifted her eyebrows and then grinned. "What were you doing in your bedroom?""Talking." Ike gave Shay a warning look to let it go and then brought his cigarette to his lips."Arguing," JP said at the same time."Did you bring me a new ship?" Ike asked as he lit his cigarette and ignored the Dagerstanteen."I brought mine. I will escort you." Queen Shay nod
Chapter 130: Time to leave.Ike used JP's tentacle as a pillow as he stared at the ceiling above his bed. For the last two days, he'd had sex, talked, ate, laughed, and had more sex. In the end, he did everything he could so that he wouldn't have to tell JP that he was going to his death. He'd never been this happy, and he hated to end his relationship with the Dagerstanteen but....He knew he had to, and soon.Any moment Lee or Shay would show up with a ship, and he was leaving to fly to Albeon. He must get rid of the fire. The flame was staying calm right now, but the blaze could get out of control, and it was only a matter of time before the fire burst from him. His exhaustion was rising from trying to keep the fire from blowing, and he was scared to find out what would happen if he ran out of energy. He would not be responsible for that kind of destruction. Ike had to tell JP and explain. It was the right thing to do.Ike rolled over and cushioned his cheek against JP's shoulder. H
Chapter 129: Playing."I cannot believe I am about to make a fool of myself." Ike sat in the middle of the bench and stared up at the massive instrument. The strings were on the right and left and came down from a long bar across the top. He couldn't even reach some parts of the instrument unless he got up and ran around. He refused to be that ridiculous.Cracking his knuckles, Ike paused as he decided he would play the easiest song he knew, and even though he couldn't hit all the notes, it would probably sound good enough that his ears wouldn't bleed."Any time," JP teased."You'll regret this." Ike glared at the alien and then reached his hands outward and wiggled his fingers.JP made a slight giggle under his breath.Ike ignored the alien and began the song. He plucked at each string until the notes shimmered in the air. The sound waves rolled off the loominairin, and he grinned at the beauty of the music. The song was simple, and he had just reached halfway went JP moved behind him
Chapter 128: Flying back home.When Ike awoke, he pulled himself into a sitting position and leaned against the front window of his ship. He was naked and covered in a blanket. After he rubbed his eyes, he glanced over his shoulder. His home planet was coming into view."What happened?" Ike bounded to his feet in shock and then wrapped the cloth around his waist. He hunted for his armor and picked up the pieces of clothing strewn all over the command deck."I do not know what you are asking me. Nothing happened." JP gave him a quick look before he went back to flying his ship. "You fell asleep after you reached your third climax. You have quite the stamina. I think that is your Dagerstanteen blood." The alien sounded amused. "When we were free to leave the ocean floor, and there were no threats to the ship, I took over flying and let you rest. I said goodbye to Tullie for you.""I bet you did," Ike muttered as he pictured what JP probably said about Ike being placed in a sexual stupor