Aisell held Luke for as long as she could attempting to console him but there was nothing she could do to make him feel better. He was beyond devastated. He knew now there was no way home and the struggle he had gone through over the last four and a half months, which for him had felt a lot longer, had been pointless. Aisell hoped that now Luke had realised he was stuck here he’d think about options other than going back to Earth.

But for now she had a job to do and she was doing her best to clean up the large market and comfort Luke at the same time. She could feel the shudders of Luke’s body as he sobbed into her chest. She wanted to go home and try to help him but she had no choice. She had a job to do first. She walked up the aisle with Luke in one hand and the decon unit in the other, doing her best to take care of Luke and still clean up any obvious signs of dirt.

It took over an hour for Luke to settle and fall asleep against her chest. She carefully eased him into her pocket and onto the cloth he slept in. She partly wanted Luke to settle for his own sake but she also needed to get her job done quickly. The sooner she was home the sooner she could give him the attention he needed and deserved.

For the second night in a row, Aisell powered through her work ignoring her usual high standards. She tried to repeat her routine from the night before but there was the occasional sticky, soft drink spill or ground in food that needed extra effort to remove. She checked in on Luke several times. He was not as placid as he was the night before, sometimes he was awake but quiet and unresponsive and other times he was fast asleep. What was noticeable was Luke’s pale face and puffy, red eyes. She tried to talk with Luke but he didn’t respond. He just turned away or shrugged off any question she asked him. Her heart was breaking for the Human she had gotten so attached to.

After another shorter than usual shift Aisell rushed back to her quarters, eager to properly talk to Luke and find out just what he was thinking. She would love it if he were to come with her but she couldn’t make that decision for him. It was for him to realise that there was only one option left for him. She lifted the small man from her pocket, his weight barely perceptible in her hand and placed him on the top of the bed. He lay down on his side and appeared to looking off into the distance. She kneeled on the floor in front of him, a pained expression of sympathy on her face.

“Luke…are you ok?” Aisell asked quietly but there was no response. She leaned in closer starting to worry. He hadn’t spoken in hours. “Please Luke…tell me what you’re thinking.”

Luke sat up and looked at the floor before his gaze slowly drifted up to the beautiful face in front of him. He could see the care in her eyes, how much she wanted to help him but he still felt completely alone.

“I’m going to find a way home Aisell…or die trying…”

Aisell glanced over at the time on her pad’s screen and sighed. She had barely slept. She could hear conversations in the corridor through the thin door and footsteps walking along the metal floor outside. She was exhausted but she had lain awake most of the night worried about what Luke had said. He didn’t say anything more for the rest of the night. She had left him food and water and let him go to sleep. He seemed to have changed. Gone was the sarcasm and shy awkwardness. He seemed be nothing but a hollow shell of himself.

She looked over to the cloth to see him still fast asleep. During her many hours of thinking she had come to only one conclusion. She needed help. She needed to know how to settle a Human who had been wrenched from his home and help him adjust to life in The Empire. And to life in a society where he was miniscule and had barely any rights and no recognised freedoms. The only information she had found on her pad seemed to be about disciplining bad behaviour and how to encourage them to act more like the tame, Titan bred pets. She didn’t want that for Luke. She wanted him to be him and to realise he could have a life here and consciously choose to stay.

There was only one person on this station who could help her. The pet shop owner. She might have some experience in handling wild Humans and could offer some advice on how to proceed. Luke had run away from her and that concerned Aisell but she really had no other options. Aisell slowly and wearily raised herself from her bed and pulled her cleaning clothes on over her nightie. She had left them on the floor last night rather than tidying them away. She had bigger concerns on her mind. She grabbed her pad and checked Luke was still asleep before quietly slipping out of her quarters and walking towards the market.

Aisell briskly walked down the busy corridor towards the market. She encountered mostly Titans but every now and again she would see people from other species. Shoulder high, lizard like people with long, sweeping tails and waist high Insectoids, hissing and clattering to each other in their native language. Aisell was an open minded person and tried never judged a species by appearance but she disliked Insectoids. It wasn’t a conscious choice, they just gave her the creeps. Their large, compound eyes, their cold exoskeleton and the nasty looking mandibles on their face. Most Titans here didn’t look twice at them but Aisell couldn’t help but watch them when she was around them. She just didn’t trust them.

“Dun dun doo…” Jeska hummed as she walked down a line of shelves checking the food levels for her exotic Earth imports. She noticed the tigers were starting to look slightly skinny. “Better get them some more baby tupps to eat…” she said out loud noting the details on her pad.

“Ehhh…hello?” Jeska heard a feminine voice call. She walked out from behind the shelf and towards the counter. She spotted a blonde haired young woman standing in the doorway looking slightly nervous.

“Good morning miss, what can I do for you today?” Jeska asked the nervous blonde.

“Hi…” The girl said as she approached the counter. “My name’s Aisell Maris…I clean the market at night.”

“Oh! It’s nice to meet you! You do such a good job…the last person who had your job was terrible. Always leaving bits of rotting food lying around in places she thought people wouldn’t notice.” Jeska smiled hoping some flattery would help with a sale.

Aisell blushed slightly and stood back from the counter slightly. “Thanks, it’s nice of you to say…”

“Now what can I do for you?”

“Ehhh…I found a Human a few nights ago” Aisell wrung her hands together “He said he escaped from here a while ago?”

“Him!” Jeska said slamming a palm down on the counter top. “It escaped from a cryopod somehow and woke up another one! How did you catch it? It always managed to avoid my traps!”

“It wasn’t hard…he was searching for food in the canteen when I was cleaning one night. I found him badly wounded with a Scilith about to kill him.” Aisell explained.

Jeska shook her head. “Silly Human…it had no idea what it was getting itself into. Did it survive?”

“Yeah, HE is resting in my quarters…” Aisell said emphasizing that Luke was not an it. “I need some help though.”

“Oh? What’s that then?”

“It seems Earth Humans aren’t just dumb animals. Luke is actually very clever, he learned our language just from listening.” Aisell explained.

“Luke?”

“Yes, that’s his name, Luke.” Aisell said.

“Oh…ok”

“Well like I said he’s pretty clever but he’s having trouble accepting he can’t go home. I need to find a way of settling him here. I found information on taming wild Humans but is based around breaking them and turning them into tame pets…I don’t want that for him.” Aisell leaned a bit closer to the counter. “I want Luke to be Luke.”

Jeska thought for a second and made an audible hum. “Well Miss, the first thing is you will need to pay for him.”

“What?! I found him!” Aisell said quite annoyed at being asked to part with some of her precious credits.

“Well he is my property, if you don’t want to pay for him you can bring him here.” Jeska kept a slight smile on her face trying to stay professional.

Aisell sighed realising she was in a bind. “How much?”

“Ninety credits”

“What?! No way! It’d take me three days to earn that!” Aisell half shouted feeling a lot less nervous.

“I’m sorry but that’s the price…” Jeska said not reacting to the blonde’s outburst.

Aisell thought for a second. She had Luke and she had found him and taken him in. The legal system would likely back her and the shop keeper would know this too. She was just trying to play her. “Look, I found him fair and square. He’s mine. I had to pay sixty credits to the vet to fix him up. You got him for free from security, so you’re not exactly out of pocket. In return for your help I’ll give you…twenty credits…”

“Forty” Jeska shot back.

“I can’t afford that. Twenty five.”

“Thirty, and not a cred less.” Jeska said crossing her arms signalling she was not moving anymore.

“Fine…thirty” Aisell said deciding one more day on the station would be worth it to help Luke.

Jeska reached down under the counter and placed a large pad on the counter. “If you could just transfer the funds?”

Aisell tapped her pad and Jeska’s lit up, acknowledging receipt of the money.

“Thank you! Now…I can’t really help you myself as I’ve no experience taming Humans.” Jeska said noting Aisell’s lip curl with annoyance. “However, I can give you a list of the names of people who bought the other wild Humans. It’s likely one of them could help you.”

“But you can’t actually help me? Despite me giving you a day’s pay?” Aisell said, all nerves and humour had disappeared from her voice.

“Sorry no…all I can offer are the names…” Jeska smiled.

“No contact details?” Aisell pressed.

“Again…no. Just names.”

Aisell sighed feeling like she had been robbed in broad daylight. “Fine, that’ll have to do.”

Jeska tapped her pad and transferred the list before disappearing back under the counter. She returned with two cryopods in one hand. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in one of these?”

Aisell looked at the pods. They contained two Humans. Young females, probably comparable age to Luke. One had red hair and looked rather voluptuous, the other had light pale skin, dark raven hair had a compact but strong looking frame. Like an athlete. She looked to be from a different region to Luke. Female company would definitely have made Luke a lot happier. Especially two very pretty ones but Aisell simply could not afford either of them.

“I wish I could but I just don’t have the money.” Aisell grimaced.

Jeska closed her hand around the pods and pulled them back into herself. “Oh well, these two aren’t selling, everyone wants males for some reason. Have a nice day miss, and I hope you find what you need.”

“Yeah…thanks I guess…” Aisell said turning round a heading out the door.

Aisell sat on her bed searching through the list of about two dozen names. She didn’t know how she was going to find contact details for any of these people. “Best start at the top then…” Aisell sighed.

“Saylee Ahlasta…” Aisell said typing the name into a citizen directory search and waiting for the results to be collated. “… four thousand nine hundred and twelve…excellent…I know like four Saylees!”

Aisell rolled her eyes knowing there was no way of knowing which of the thousands of individuals was the one who actually bought the Human from Titan Station.

“Next name then… Dernish Ayrnessian…fifty four…not too bad…” Aisell said making a mental note to come back to this name.

“Ok…ok…Naskia Bass…” Aisell said starting her search. “Oh…only two hundred and nineteen…” She pondered contemplating whether to come back to this name or not. “Why does this name sound familiar?”

Aisell flicked through her pad’s screen to do a generic search this time and typed in the name again and greeted by a string of news articles.

“Human Employed in Senior Role at Tannhauser Gate University” Aisell read the top result before opening the article.

“Tannhauser Gate, Archavia: A Human has been given an employment contract at one of The Empire’s leading academic institutions. The Human, originating from Earth was purchased at Titan Station by Naskia Bass, daughter of renowned physicist Hussel Bass…that’s where I know her name! She’s perfect! If she can get her Human a job then she’s bound to be able to help!” Aisell spoke out loud getting more animated as she went.

She quickly searched the directory at Tannhauser Gate for the contact details she needed. The page had a picture of a pretty, smiling brunette with big blue eyes. She looked to be a few years older than Aisell. The nervous Titan reached out her finger and pressed the contact button and her screen turned to black for a second before displaying the status screen of the call.

“This won’t be cheap…thank The Emperor my parents are paying!” Aisell thought.

She unconsciously held her breath for a few seconds as her call was routed through transmitting stations across the blackness of space before connecting to its destination.

“Ehhh…hello?” Aisell heard as the screen jumped to life and the landscape of a room rushed passed to reveal a rather flushed looking feminine face with dark brown hair tied back into a pony tail.

“Hi, is this Naskia Bass from Tannhauser Gate?” Aisell asked sitting up in bed.

“Yeah it is, sorry I don’t recognise you. Have we met?” Naskia asked brushing a loose strand of hair back behind her ear and sitting down.

“I’m sorry to bother you, my name is Aisell Maris. I’m a resident on Titan Station and I was hoping you could help me with something.” Aisell said skipping over her profession and trying to sound respectable.

“Where do you want this Nas?” A voice spoke from behind the screen and a feminine blur walked passed in the background carrying a large box.

Naskia looked over her shoulder to answer. “Just over there in the corner Loona, thanks…” She turned back to the pad. “Sorry, I’m in the middle of moving house.”

“Oh! I can call back later…when you’re not busy. I don’t want to be a bother”

“No not at all!” Naskia smiled. “I could use the break! Now what can I do for you?”

“Well I found a Human living wild on Titan Station…he’s from Earth and he came in the same batch as the Human you purchased here. The shop keeper gave me your name, I hope you don’t mind.” Aisell explained.

Naskia looked shocked. Aisell wasn’t sure if she was offended by her name being given out or if it was because of Luke’s story.

“The poor guy! That was ages ago! Is he ok?” Naskia’s face was the picture of concern.

Aisell was relieved. She thought the older woman might be annoyed by Aisell contacting her. “Physically yeah…a bit starved but he’s ok. Mentally, not so much. He just found out he can’t ever get home and he’s really upset. I need to settle him but I’ve no idea how and I was hoping you could tell me how you got your Human to accept it…”

“Oh…yeah I can see why you’d want help but I’m not sure how I can help. Niall pretty much accepted it outright. I’m fairly certain the word he used to describe the blockade of Earth was prudent.” Naskia said.

Aisell bit her lip getting slightly worried. “That’s not like Luke at all. He’s been looking for a way home and I think he’s accepted it but he’s not said anything since. He’s just cried and slept and he’s been like that for a long time now…I just dunno what to do. Really I’d appreciate any advice you could give.”

“Ehhh well you could call back this evening when Niall is home…if anyone could convince him it’s him.” Naskia said perking up towards the end.

“How did your Human settled then?” Aisell asked. She was interested when she first read about this particular Human and couldn’t resist the opportunity to learn more.

Naskia smiled and bowed her head for a moment. “Well it just sort of happened…he was stroppy, rude and occasionally insulting. But he was oddly sweet and kind and made me feel better about myself. And he kept outsmarting me! I couldn’t keep him as a pet…and then we fell in love.”

“You fell in love?!” Aisell blurted out.

“Ha! Yeah…I never get used to that reaction. He made it very hard not to. He was there when I needed him. I didn’t even see it happening until we had this day out in the holosuite. He surprised me with this program, a beautiful city from Earth, dinner and he found a way to make himself Titan sized there. It was amazing…I couldn’t tell the difference between him and a Titan. You’d be surprised. There’s not much separating us apart from size.” Naskia sounded like she was far away as she spoke, like she was reliving the memory.

Aisell watched the older woman’s face as she spoke. She could see the love on her face as plain as day. It wasn’t the love you had for a pet. It was the love you had for that one special person. “Awww…that’s so sweet. It’d be nice if I could do that for Luke, but I don’t think I could love a Human like that…no offence…”

Naskia smiled. “No it’s fine, don’t worry. I wish I could send you the holosuite program so you could see Luke like a Titan. And him see you like a Human of course. It’d help him settle I think but it’s too big to send. If you’re ever on Archavia you could give me a call and I could give you it then.”

“That could be helpful actually but he won’t come with me and I leave in a few days…I’m saving up money working as a cleaner to pay for the trip home.” Aisell said deciding she wouldn’t be judged by her job.

“Oh! I do have some things I could send you!” Naskia said getting up and walking over to a wall panel and tapping on it. “I’m sending you a data pack. It’s got a few things Niall had on his pad or he’s made. Music, films, games and such.”

“Yeah that could help thanks!”

“I’ll add you as a contact. If you ever need anything just give me a call” Naskia said stepping back from the screen.

“Thank you really…I couldn’t ask for anything else.” Aisell blushed.

“Oh don’t be silly! I’m sure Niall would love to meet someone who was taken at the same time as him. They could swap stories!” Naskia said excited.

Aisell smiled. “Yeah that’d be nice…hopefully Luke will perk up when he knows there’s some hope for him.”

“The poor guy. I hope he does. And you seem lovely. Most people probably wouldn’t care.” Naskia looked concerned. “Well I better get back to it. Remember, if you need anything then just call!”

“Thank you really Miss Bass.” Aisell said.

“Please…Naskia…good luck to the both of you.” Naskia said getting ready to end the transmission.

“Thanks! And good luck with your move!” Aisell said trying to be as polite as possible.

“Eugh…I hate moving! Bye Aisell. Nice talking with you.”

“You too. Thanks again.” Aisell said signing off.