Wind howled a mile ahead of us where an opening to the storm formed for the ships to depart.

It wasn’t the most spacious space for spaceships and what was offered were as outdated as mine compared to what I’ve seen. I recognized the models from my old textbooks back in university when my options for classes were few due to my income background. History of The Has Beens. Back then, these were the fastest things space travel had to offer. It made the moon only a rock throw away, when eighty years ago to that date, all celebrated the first man to set foot on it.

It should be a death trap by now.

Glen had arched a brow at me earlier, when Ren and I returned from our little chat, at how willing the old alien was in helping; when only a few minutes ago he was ready to blow our heads off. I shrugged, wrapping an arm around Hayden’s waist before he could leap at anyone who even breathed the wrong way. Enjoy being in the dark, you waffle.

Glen looked at the cargo of eggs he carried before looking at Hayden with sadness in his eyes at him refusing to return with him to Morgan’s ship. More than anything, he didn’t want to lose him again. To save a relationship that was clearly gone and never to be revived. “Are you sure you don’t those answers?”

Hayden squeezed his arm and his surprise and mine, hugged him in something close to an embrace. “Not his twisted version, nor from the lies he fed you. I believe we’ll see each other again. Maybe then we can start over.” “I pray that I’ll be something worth remembering,” Glen returned to gesture, whispering in Hayden’s ear in their native tongue before switching back, “Goodbye, Hayden.” He walked out of the hold and boarded one of the ships. He zoomed out of there as fast as those engines allowed.

Hayden watched him disappear.

Ren was finishing up with sealing another cargo be the time Hayden joined us by a table I followed him to where maps and notes were scattered about. Within were the dotted eggs, gelled to keep warm and extra cushioned.

“Sorry for stealing your option for having omelettes.”

Ren snorted, looking at me after checking everything over, “Oh, how will we survive?”

I pray that Glen keeps his desire, even after he finds out what he’s really carrying to his captain. I hope for his forgiveness, knowing who he was to Hayden.

“Don’t open it until you reach the Mother-ship,” Ren handed the container over to Hayden, “It’s too dangerous otherwise.”

“Why aren’t you coming with us?” Hayden asked, “since they know you the most.”

“There are things I must do before I return. Once Morgan finds out what Glen has instead, he will stop at nothing to hunt us down. And since you’re his son that betrays him...you’re the more important target. I have to buy you time.” Placing a hand on Hayden’s shoulder, he gave a smile. A sad one. “I know this is hard for you, Emol. And I have a feeling there’s a reason why you don’t remember...find the man Glen told you about. He’ll have some of the answers you seek.” Then his eyes shifted to me, his hand leaving to grab some of the notes he had nearby. He hands them to me. “This the ID to the ship. Punch them in and the spacecraft will take you to it. Once you there, tell the Captain that Ren sent you. Code name is Blue Bird. She’ll take care of the rest.”

I nodded, tucking the notes into a pocket.

“And Kohl,” he finishes, “Don’t let Morgan get to you. Both of you. He’ll do anything to get what he wants.” Then he turns to leave us there. He moves slower now, showing his age, as he made it to the ladder that will take him out of here.

There was a feeling that I may not see the alien again, so I say, “From the little time that I got to know you, you seem okay!”

“This isn’t a goodbye, Kohl,” He calls back, “Trust me on that. I’ll be around long enough for you to despise what I’ve done for what I believe in.” He was gone soon after.

I took over in punching the numbers in once we chose a ship to take for the journey. It was already filled with a few days of supplies in its small compacted space. Hayden had the duty of entertaining Sharen when she called again, filling her in about what had happened.

“Eggs,” she wasn’t fazed at all, “I knew it.”

“How so?” Hayden asked doubtfully.

“Well, aliens always have something weird happening when they breed. It’s like a rule or something.”

“I think your way of breeding is weird. And Kohl refuses to tell me.”

“I said later,” I called over my shoulder, “And it’s super gross.”

Sharen nodded in agreement, “That’s why I’m never participating. We’re overpopulated anyway.”

“How’s your boyfriend taking it?”

“He works with kids all day, I think he’s over them.” She sipped her drink before shifting gears, having Hayden hand her over to me.

I noticed she wasn’t in her office. “Making calls from home now?”

“You asked about B.O.B,” she says, “And I delivered. Kinda. As expected, there wasn’t much to find. Only rumors of planets like B.O.B appearing here and there.”

“Are they confirmed?”

“I can take a wild guess. You use to like those.”

“How old are those reports?”

“Three years ago.”

Then the humans were gone long before Morgan discovered the base. Or he was lying. Were they killed? Are they still among the Rebels?

“What’s up, space boy?”

“Nothing, just thinking.”

“That’s dangerous.”

“How’s my cat?” Her expression of disgust brought me amusement.

“Still being a cat. I have yet gave her the ‘your daddy is in space’ talk. Haven’t found the right time for such a sensitive topic.”

“And my parents?”

“No, I haven’t told them a thing. They still think you’re collecting space rocks. Unless you want me to tell them otherwise...?”

I shook my head, “Not a peep. If I’m lucky enough, I’ll be on my way sooner than expected.” I watched as she flashed a letter on screen.

“It came in this morning.”

“Save it for me.” I tell her. She nods in understanding, ending the chat as soon as the ship coughed to life, extending its wings like a bird stretching. I take a breath, figuring out most of the controls. Hayden took the seat next to me, giving a nod once I looked over to make sure he was buckelted in.

I shifted the gear, sending us straight into the storm and soon, the atmosphere. We watched as the dome grew smaller behind us. The feeling of being sick again threatened to bubble up. I forced it down as I sped up to break into the stars once more.

After an hour or two, the ship took over. By then, Hayden stripped down to his under clothes once it was warm enough for him to do so.

Liking the view, I gave my own strip tease, catching him eyeing me when he thought I wasn’t looking. I tossed my stuff like he head behind me, enjoying how our bare knees touched so casually.

Hayden’s mind drifted as he moved his attention to the window of void and the stars. The fireflies of the universe.

I studied his face to see anything of Morgan. I found it in the lips, how they curve slightly upward. And in the lashes, thick but not overtly so.

I pondered over what his other father looked like. The blond hair? The blue eyes and dots?

We sit there in silence, my worst nightmare. As if alone for the first time. I don’t know what to say to him. I want to pull him into my arms to make him feel secure. I want to listen to his woes with an open heart that yearns to comfort him. I want him to be mine.

He ran his hands through his hair as if annoyed about what surrounded him, air leaving his nose. “Don’t feel sorry for me,” he says, “not all fathers are worth sobbing over.”

“What did he do?”

“He sold me, Kohl. Like cattle he--” He huffs again, “I was scared. I didn’t want that life, so I ran. Away from him. From the Empire…” he bit his lip. “If I went with Glen, I know I wouldn’t be coming back.”

I tucked a hair behind his ear, brushing his cheek with my thumb. His dots flared for a different reason. For comfort.

“I’m glad you stayed, Hayden. I want you here with me.”

He kissed my palm in response.

Hayden:

“His name is Adonis. Your other father. The Rebels took him and Morgan wants him back…” Glen’s voice echoed again. "He wants both of you…"

How far would he go for that?

Will he kill Kohl? Torture him? Both? Now that we’re on the run, where to go beyond the Mother-ship?

Kohl wanted to go home to Earth. And I found myself aching at the thought of seeing him go. He has to stay, for my own selfish reasons. “What beauty does a dying planet have?”