Granola Bars and Spaceships Read online

  Keeska looked back and forth between them and sighed. Eet handed the fruit and water to the Iska and herded them both toward the couch. Eet gently shoved the stranger into the chair and pulled Eric down next to eet on the couch.

  Keeska laced ta fingers firmly with Eric's. -This is Ticheck. Eet work for parents. Pilot and important assistant. Know him long time. I translate for you, yes? Tell what we say.-

  "You can just summarize later if you want."

  -No. Is fine.-

  Eric nodded. "Okay. If you're sure."

  *~*~*

  I really wasn't sure. I watched my parents do it all the time, so I knew how it went in theory. I would simply say telepathically what Ticheck and I said verbally. It would be no different than how I normally talked to Eric. I just wasn't sure I could manage it with any speed since I'd be talking, listening, and sending all at the same time.

  I turned to Ticheck. "I'm translating for him. I've never done this before, so I'll be slow. I'm sorry."

  Ticheck shrugged. "It's fine. You need the practice." Eet popped a grape in his mouth. He chewed and looked at me in surprise. "These are excellent!" He pulled more grapes off the stem, eating them quickly. "I parked the shuttle in the fenced space behind the house. The cloaking is up. Will that be fine?"

  "How do you hide a spaceship?" Eric asked.

  Heh. I hadn't known the Human word for the cloaking technology that made the ship seem invisible, so I had just told him it was hidden in the back yard. Ticheck and I grinned at him. -You'll see,- I said.

  "I'm sorry it took so long to find you," Ticheck continued. "You were in range of several places when we lost you and I had to check all of them."

  I laughed. "And this was the last place you looked, of course."

  "No, actually. Second to last. But I almost missed you. The scanners had trouble picking up the wreckage since you left it underwater."

  I winced. "I was afraid of that, but I had to hide it. The little lake seemed like the best option. "

  Ticheck grumbled and ate more grapes.

  "Sorry," I muttered.

  "It's fine. It helped that you bled all over the place."

  "So happy to have helped."

  Ticheck smirked at me. Then, "I met a gentleman named William."

  Eric sat up very straight. "What?"

  Ticheck spoke to Eric, knowing I was translating for him. "Keeska's blood was in his vehicle, among other places. It was logical to speak with him. He eventually told me where to find you."

  Eric looked at me, alarmed. I patted his knee. -Relax. Will fine.-

  Eric looked back to Ticheck. "You left him in one piece, right?"

  Eet frowned. "Of course."

  "Of course," Eric muttered, settling back into the couch.

  Ticheck looked at me, puzzled. I just shrugged. Eet shrugged back.

  "We should be going," Ticheck told me.

  Eric tensed next to me but remained quiet.

  I shook my head. "I need to speak with Eric."

  "Keeska, it's lovely that you made a friend but—"

  "Not friend," I interrupted.

  Ticheck stared at me. "I see," eet said finally. "I wasn't expecting that."

  "I wasn't either."

  Ticheck grinned. "I guess I should have realized when he spoke so familiarly. You usually only allow family to call you that. Or did you give him that nickname only because it was easy to say?"

  I saw Eric's head turn in my peripheral vision. If Iska could blush, I would have. I very carefully didn't look at Eric. Maybe I shouldn't have translated that, but I was just sort of translating everything for Eric as we spoke. I hadn't thought to filter.

  Eric leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.

  "I would like to bring him," I told Ticheck.

  Ticheck nodded. "There is space. But we would have to leave as soon as possible. Tonight. The shuttle can't sustain prolonged orbit and we can't safely hide it on the ground. For that matter, with Human technology, I can't safely hide it in orbit either. I've already pushed my luck, just finding you. I've been jumping from place to place with the shuttle cloaked, traveling on foot as little as possible, but it's only by chance and paranoia that I haven't been seen."

  I nodded. "I need to speak with Eric. Please. Just give me a few minutes."

  "Yes, but are you sure that this is… wise?"

  I glared at Ticheck and stood. I tugged gently until Eric stood as well. At my guidance, we moved to stand in the corner of the room, away from the couch.

  -You understood?- I asked. -I repeat well enough?-

  Eric nodded. "I understood," he said shakily.

  -Then you know have to decide. Now.-

  *~*~*

  "Shit!" Eric muttered. He took a step back from Keeska and rubbed his hands over his face. He tried to slow his breathing a little before he hyperventilated.

  Keeska made an angry clicking noise and grabbed his hand. -Stop that! Know can't talk when you move away!-

  "Sorry." Eric sighed harshly. "Sorry." He reached out with his other hand and touched Keeska's face before letting his hand fall to his side. "I know we talked about this, but that was only a couple weeks ago. I was thinking we'd have more time."

  Keeska moved forward and leaned against him. -No more time. You decide?-

  "I think so?"

  Keeska sighed and straightened, looking up at him. -Think so decide or think so coming?- eet asked sadly.

  "Both?"

  Keeska frowned. -Stop question. This important,- eet snapped.

  Eric nodded slowly. "Sorry. Yes. It is."

  Ticheck made some angry sounding noises from behind them. Keeska turned and made ta own angry noises back. Then eet tugged Eric down the hall to the bedroom and shut the door.

  Eric let his knees fold and sat on the bed, bracing his hands at his sides. "What did eet say?"

  Keeska draped ta body around Eric's back. Eet slid ta hands under Eric's shirt so that eet was touching his stomach. -Ticheck says must go. No more time. I go, you go, no matter. He goes now.-

  Eric sighed heavily. "If he goes, you go. You can't stay here."

  -I know.-

  "I want to come. I had pretty much decided I was going to, but…"

  Keeska tensed against his back. -What?-

  "I don't know if I should."

  -Things talked about before?-

  "Some. And your parents? Are they really going to want a Human around? Is it really okay for a Human to be traipsing around the galaxy after an Iska?"

  Keeska dug his chin into Eric's shoulder and pinched his stomach. And completely ignored Eric's complaints. -Said before. We traders. See lots of people. Would not matter. You simply be my partner. Parents may be surprised. But will be fine.- Keeska pressed ta forehead between Eric's shoulder blades. -Please. Keep me. Come. Understand if don't, but please.-

  Eric wrapped his fingers around Keeska's. "I'm scared is all. I'll be leaving everything. My job. My friends. I'll just be vanishing into thin air. I don't like putting them through that. It seems wrong. Selfish."

  Keeska jolted upright against Eric's back. A few moments later, eet was somehow straddling his lap with ta hands framing Eric's face.

  -You coming?-

  Eric wrapped his arms tightly around Keeska. "Yeah. I'm coming with you."

  Keeska's arms moved to wrap around Eric's neck, the small alien sort of quivering for a moment. Then Keeska started untangling ta limbs until eet was standing in front of Eric holding his hand.

  -Must talk to Ticheck. Need fix problem with family.-

  Eric frowned. "Okay. You just told me there wasn't going to be a problem with your family."

  Keeska shook ta head. -Not mine. Yours. You pack?-

  Eric blinked and looked around. "How much can I take?"

  Keeska frowned. -Not sure. Will ask. Start with clothes and most important.-

  With that Keeska pulled the door open and darted out of the room. A moment later, Eric could hear Keeska and Ticheck talking in the liv
ing room. Eric just sat on the bed, feeling dazed.

  Keeska popped back into the room. Eet saw Eric sitting frozen on the bed and chattered softly at him.

  Eric held out his hand for Keeska. "Sorry. I'll start packing."

  Keeska smiled and took Eric's hand again. -Is fine. Ticheck says ship have small cargo hold. Is trading shuttle.-

  Eric stood and led Keeska to the closet. He opened the doors and pointed to the two large suitcases he had shoved in the corner. "Can I fill those?"

  Keeska nodded. -Yes. You have more?-

  Eric blinked. "There's a couple smaller ones stored inside those and I have a few duffle bags."

  -How big duffle bags?-

  "Um…" Eric raised the hand linked with Keeska's and used his other hand to show eet how long and tall the biggest one was. "About three feet long and half that tall. One of those and two smaller."

  Keeska nodded. -Hold empty. Not trading trip. Pack all.-

  "All?" Eric asked, surprised.

  Keeska let go of Eric's hand and raised ta own to frame Eric's face. -All. You leaving here. Maybe not come back. Probably not come back. Take as much as can. Take books! You need. And family things. And anything Ticheck says can go.-

  Eric sighed, more than a little relieved that he wouldn't have to leave everything behind, even if it was just stuff. "Thank you," he whispered.

  Keeska nodded. -No thank. Pack.-

  With that, Eric was left alone in his bedroom again. He stared at the contents of his closet, wondering what the hell he would need on a spaceship. Or should he take many clothes at all? Those would be replaced eventually anyway.

  He looked over at the one bookshelf he kept in the bedroom. It was filled with his favorites, and a bunch of small souvenirs from trips with his mother or the guys. Okay. He'd take clothes, but he'd layer other things between them. The suitcases would be heavy, but Ticheck would just have to deal.

  Eric tugged the first large suitcase out of the closet and swung it up onto the bed. He pulled the smaller one stored in it out and left them open next to each other. His favorite three sweaters went in the bottom of the smaller one, then he started layering.

  *~*~*

  Ticheck was still waiting for me in the living room. I ignored eet for a moment in favor of getting a garbage bag from the kitchen.

  I went to the couch and started stuffing blankets into the big plastic bag. Ticheck saw what I was doing and sighed. But eet also came to hold the bag open for me.

  "Thank you for giving us time to pack some of Eric's things."

  Ticheck clicked at me. "It would be inconsiderate not to, but that doesn't mean I'm entirely happy about this."

  "I'm not entirely happy about it either. I was thinking that we'd have a chance to sort things out more." I tried to stuff my favorite pillow in the bag. It wouldn't fit in on top of the blankets. I kicked the bag in annoyance and went into the kitchen to get another one. Ticheck was still laughing quietly when I came back to the couch. I threw the pillow at ta head.

  Ticheck grabbed the pillow and stuffed it in the new bag when I held it out. "In all seriousness, do you really think your Human will fit in with us? What will he do?"

  I shrugged, watching Ticheck grab various objects from around the living room. I followed eet with the bag while eet retrieved anything from framed pictures, to books that looked well read, to pillows.

  "I imagine he'll do what any of us would do," I said. "He's smart. He curates an Earth library."

  Ticheck paused in the middle of sandwiching picture frames between books to look at me. "I didn't know that. Do you think he'd be able to keep records for us? Atee quit while you were gone."

  I sighed. Why was it so hard for us to retain record keepers? And I had liked Atee. "Maybe. We'd have to teach him how, but that shouldn't be a problem. If he wants to, anyway."

  We had circled the room. Ticheck bent down to tie off the bag, trying to keep it pulled taut so that ta carefully arranged stacks didn't spill.

  "I still don't know Keeska. I just don't want you to wind up with a miserable Human that we don't know what to do with. It's not like we can just say oops and return him."

  "Which is exactly why we need to ensure that he can communicate with his family."

  Ticheck stood up so quickly eet almost looked blurry. "What?"

  I sighed. "Please, Ticheck. One person. Will. The Human you met earlier tonight. It doesn't have to be much. Just enough to send a date and maybe coordinates. So that Eric can meet them in the middle of nowhere once or twice a year."

  Ticheck stared at me. "You think this would make it more likely that we wouldn't accidentally break your Human?"

  I picked up the bag and started carrying it slowly to the door. It had become extremely heavy. "Yes," I huffed out. "I think it's important."

  "Keeska." Ticheck made my name an admonishment and a whine at the same time.

  I dropped the bag down on the floor by the door with a muffled thump. "So you agree?"

  Eet sighed heavily. "I don't disagree. But what would we give to Will, Keeska?"

  "Do you have a long-range, short-burst com with you? That would be enough. And it would be discreet."

  Ticheck sighed. "Yes. Of course. You know I always carry one for emergencies. It's even already programmed to send to your parents' ship interface. But do you think it wise to give advanced tech to Humans? Even something so small?"

  I shrugged and sat down hard in the chair. "I don't know if it's wise, but I think it would be kind. I don't want to ask him to isolate himself from his Human family if it's unnecessary."

  Ticheck crossed ta arms, frowning at me. "What about this Will that you want to give it to?"

  "He's Eric's closest friend. He already knows about us and I trust him. He's the only logical choice."

  Ticheck gave up ta intimidating pose and flopped onto the couch. "He was startled by me at first, but then very calm. He was very loyal to you and your Human. He wouldn't tell me anything until I had satisfied him with my own explanations. I think you're right that it wouldn't be dangerous to leave such a thing with him."

  Oh, thank all beings everywhere. I sighed. "Thank you."

  Ticheck sighed as well, pushing up off the couch. "Are you done stuffing things in the black bags?"

  "Yes."

  "I will take them out."

  I groaned. "How are we going to load everything without the Humans that own the house seeing us?"

  "They're not here!" Ticheck grinned. "I watched them climb into an Earth vehicle before I hid the shuttle behind the house. They were dressed very elaborately. I suspect they won't be home for some time."

  I rubbed my hands together and stood. "Really? That's excellent."

  "That doesn't mean you can bring more," Ticheck warned. "It's just a little Teek model. And it's almost dead on its feet. I'm not going to try to make it haul an entire household all the way to the Zexta hub."

  I paused. "Zexta hub? Are my parents meeting us that close?"

  He looked at me funny. "Did you think they would be farther than they absolutely had to be? As is, I almost had to drug Kek to keep eet from coming."

  I snickered. "I dare you to try it."

  "I value my life, thank you." Ticheck picked up the garbage bag full of blankets and pillows and walked regally out of the room.

  It made sense that they had sent Ticheck. Eet was an excellent navigator and pilot. Eet could also find almost anything. Including, apparently, a lost Iska stranded without a working shuttle. It was rather impressive, honestly.

  I did wish Ticheck had waited just a little longer to find me. But that was a different issue all together. I had thought I had just a little more time to make Eric comfortable with the idea of leaving everything to come with me. I was confident that his coming was right, and that it would be worth it for both of us. But things were maybe moving faster than was entirely comfortable for him. That displeased me.

  I looked toward the hallway. I could hear Eric moving things around in th
e bedroom. I just hoped we would be able to take enough with us. I wanted to be able to surround him with familiar things once we reached my home.

  I wanted to be able to put his books on my shelves and his favorite blankets on my couch. It was pretty much the only thing I could do to make this easier in the short term. The transmitter Ticheck had agreed to leave with Will would help as well, but that was more of a long-term solution. I still needed to keep him from being completely overwhelmed in the short term.

  I walked down the hall, trying to project calm and happiness. Unfortunately, I was not entirely calm. I was extremely stressed out. Eric was probably going to pick up on that.

  I heard Eric cursing at something before I even reached the bedroom. I peered in cautiously. He seemed to be fighting with the closures on one of the small bags.

  Ah. Fabric was caught in it, keeping him from closing it all the way. I moved quickly to the bed and took the bag from him. He thanked me and immediately moved to another bag.

  I watched him pack as I fussed with the plastic teeth. He started emptying dresser drawers into the new bag, squishing the contents down to fit as much as possible. That made sense. All of his undergarments and his most comfortable clothes were stored in the dresser.

  Once I had fixed the bag and closed it, I walked over to look at the closet. Things were missing from there as well, but not as many as I had expected from the number of cases sitting by the door. What else had he packed?

  I knew he hadn't left the room, so I looked around. Eric said my name and I looked over. He pointed to the bookshelf in the corner. It was mostly empty, so that was obviously what had wound up in the luggage. Good.

  Looking back to what Eric was doing again, I realized his movements were getting a little frantic. That was less good.

  I went to him and laid my hand on the back of his neck.

  He immediately stopped packing and turned to wrap his arms around me. "Sorry," he whispered.

  That made no sense. I gripped his neck a little tighter, trying to focus his attention on me instead of whatever was going on in his head. -For what?-

  "For freaking out earlier."

  Ah. -Seemed reasonable.-

  He laughed roughly and released me. "Yeah? That's good, because I'm still freaking out a little."