Lezah Maris stood hunched over the marble kitchen counter, her hand wrapped white knuckled around the hilt of a black kitchen knife. The sounds of the steel making contact with the wooden chopping board remarkably louder than it had any right to, was the first sign that she was not, as you would imagine, in the most enjoyable of moods.

Bedra walked carefully into the spacious kitchen, stopping at the center island that sat in the center of the work space, which Lezah was facing away form. Bedra’s steps were overwrought and surreptitious, she had the distinct feeling of walking on eggshells.

“Lezzy?” Bedra spoke circumspectly, wringing her hands together in front of her as she stopped a safe distance from Lezah. “Are you alright?”

“Yea, I’m just great Bedra.” Lezah sounded irritated, she chopped at the mess of massacred vegetables unsympathetically, keeping her back to Bedra.

“Aisell’s out on the porch…Luke went down the hall…is everything alright? Do you want me to leave? Is this a bad time?” Bedra assaulted Lezah with her barrage of questions, each spoken with just a little added tension and reservation than the last.

“Where did Degu go? Is he with you?” Lezah asked quickly.

“No, I’m alone. I think he went after Aisell…or Luke…I hope Aisell.” Bedra looked down, studying her feet. Bedra Tae disliked tension; she was non-confrontational by nature.

Lezah slowly set down her knife and cleaned her hands on her apron. There was a long arduous silence as the ginger haired Titaness looked down at the mess on her cutting board. Bedra took a hesitative step forward and stood next to Lezah, who upon closer inspection had tears running down her face. Her cheeks were red and puffy, and she had tell-tale bags under her eyes that suggested she had been crying for some time.

Lezah quickly turned away from Bedra and made her way across the kitchen with haste. “Can I get you something? A drink? No, you don’t have to go, that would be rude of us to make you leave. Bedra we haven’t seen you for ages please stay…here would you like some tea?” Lezah spoke quickly with forced enthusiasm, but her voice was stretched and laced with exhaustion.

Bedra followed after the older Maris sister with determination, and reached out placing her hand on Lezah’s shoulder. With conviction Bedra turned Lezah around to face her.

“I’m gonna lose the farm Bedra!” Lezah exploded, with no resistance.

***

Aisell threw herself against the aged Adirondack chair on the wrap around open porch, it was chipped and in need of a sanding job and some painting. As with most things around the Maris farm, the porch was in need of attention and repair.

Aisell thought of a thousand different explicit words she wanted to scream out, but sat in stunned silence, her nails digging into the palms of her hand as she sat tight fisted against the old chair she herself had built as a kid. It was old, cracked and the right arm was disconnected at the base, but that hardly mattered as she was never home to sit in it.

Where there was once heartache and anguish over the state of her one time friend’s affairs, there was now the infant stages of bitterness and resentment. She wanted to feel bad for Luke right now; after all she had done, after all the universe had done to him! Thoughtless creatures unknown to him abducted him from the only life he’d ever known and dumped him in a world that was just not built for him. Abandoned, neglected and ignored by the very fates of time. Luke knew the very essence of what it meant to be cold, alone, and hopeless.

But Aisell couldn’t focus on that right now, as desperately as she wanted to! All she could think about was how angry she was, how furious she was, how embarrassed she was!

“You left, why did you leave?” A small voice broke Aisell from her trance and nearly caused her to slide out of the chair she was sitting in! Aisell’s eyes locked on the small form of Degu, who had –SOMEHOW- found his way from inside the house, to outside on the porch, and had climbed up on the arm of her chair without her notice.

The shock and panic drained form Aisell’s eyes as she recognized her small friend instantly, with a forced half smile Aisell turned back to face the yard. “I needed some fresh air.” Aisell’s voice was quiet and contemplative.

Degu walked along the chipped cheery stained chair arm until he came to Aisell’s resting arm. He sat down beside it and nudged her gently, leaning against the Titaness’ arm and closed his eyes, nestling into it. “You’re upset aren’t you?” Degu asked simply.

“You’re quite observant.” Aisell spoke on a tone that was far more snarky than Degu deserved.

The small human frowned and opened his eyes, smacking the arm that dwarfed him with a scowl on his face. “Well you don’t have to be mean about it!” Degu snapped back, in a tone that matched Aisell’s in ferocity.

Aisell let out a reserved chuckle and turned down to her small friend, there was sorrow and pain in her expression, and her eyes were misty. “I’m sorry…you’re right.” Aisell pressed her thin lips together and tilted her head slightly. “Forgive me?”

“Of course.” Degu smiled back, calming down as she did.

Aisell simply looked down wistfully before turning back to the yard to stare blankly at the trees in the distance.

“Why are you mad Aisell? Are you mad at me?” Degu asked, not as much sorry as just curious “I hope not.” Degu rubbed Aisell’s arm gently. “I don’t like it when people are mad at me. It makes me sad.”

“I’m not angry at you Degu, but…maybe you might have been a little easy on Luke hmmm?” Aisell spoke in a matronly voice, but with much less energy than she normally carried.

“He hit me first!” Degu asserted gruffly.

“Yes, but he’s hurting Degu, he didn’t really hit you to be mean…it…it’s complicated hon.” Aisell slumped down a little further.

“Well if he’s hurt he needs to see a doctor…or rest. When I get hurt I sleep, and then I feel better!” Degu offered helpfully.

“Not that kind of hurt Degu…” Aisell reached with her other arm, and poked Degu gently in the chest near his heart. “…this kind of hurt.”

Degu looked at Aisell with a perplexed expression. “I didn’t hit him there why is he hurt there?” Degu furrowed his brow.

Aisell chuckled abruptly and softened her expression. “No, I mean he hurts inside…”

“Maybe he got hurt inside? That sounds painful…how did that happen? Is it like when I fell from the top of the dresser and Bedra said my inside was broken? Because the doctor has this thinggie that goes ‘shooooooovvveeeerrrooooommmm’ and makes all that better! Hey! Aisell! We can take Luke to the doctor and the ‘shoooooovverrooommmm’ thing will fix his inside!” Degu asked, tugging at Aisell’s arm as if to spur her on suddenly.

Aisell was finding it hard to remain angry and stoic with Degu around, and reached out, tousling his hair gently. “It’s not that easy. Luke isn’t hurt…oh this is not easy to explain at all…listen…hon, Luke is very sad ok?” Aisell took a breath, and thought over her words carefully. “He lost something very special, and he can never find that thing again…and he doesn’t think he has anything to ever replace that thing he lost…d…does this make any sense?” Aisell looked down hopefully.

“He’s sad, what did he lose?” Degu asked, calmly. Degu, was very patient.

“He lost his home, his friends, his family, everything he had.” Aisell sighed as she listed all the things Luke had taken away from him. It felt so much more devastating when she said it aloud.

“Oooh.” Degu said, the dawning realization evident by his expression. “Like, if I lost Bedra?” Degu asked, but it was clear he understood what Aisell was saying.

“Exactly…how would that make you feel?” Aisell asked softly.

“I don’t like that! I don’t want to lose Bedra! If anyone tries to take her away I’ll punch em!” Degu grumbled, and then looked up, his expression dropped, and he looked sad. “Did Luke lose his guardian?” Degu asked, horrified.

Aisell closed her eyes and sunk back onto the chair, any more and she would fall off. “In a manner of speaking Degu…Luke lost something far more important to him than that…Luke lost…everything.” Aisell felt her chest flutter and her throat begin to tickle. She swallowed hard hugging herself and bringing her hands into her sleeve.

“Then we need to help him!” Degu asserted, standing.

“I don’t know how Degu. Everything I’ve done hasn’t worked.” Aisell whispered.

“Well, what did you try?” Degu asked straightforwardly.

Aisell paused, letting out a deep laboured sigh. “I don’t know…why are you asking me this…?” Aisell snapped.

Degu frowned and crossed his arms.

Aisell peeked down at the accusing glare of her small friend and threw her arms up in the air. “Well he won’t let me try anything! Every time I try to talk to him he yells at me! Or tells me to go away!”

Degu stepped forward, unphased by Aisell’s tantrum. “Who cares!? If he needs help who cares if he’s dumb! Help him anyway!”

Aisell snapped her eyes to Degu and frowned, she spoke low and annoyed. “I tried that and it got me here Degu!”

“Well then you didn’t try hard enough!” Degu narrowed his eyes to match Aisell’s and his tone to match hers as well.

Aisell held her glare for a few second, then smiled and threw herself back again onto the chair. “You think I should try harder? Even though he just keeps pushing me away?” Aisell asked, earnestly seeking an answer. Her time with Luke had given her a new respect for what Humans had to offer, and she found herself looking at her little Degu in a whole new light.

“I think so. Cuz I mean, if he is hurting and sad he needs someone! Even if he’s being stupid!” Degu nodded. “And like Bedra always tells me before we go to the vet…” Degu adopted a stiff posture and adjusted the tone of his voice to match Bedra’s, “You can hate me all you want Degu, but you’ll be alive to hate me! I’ll take an alive, grumpy Degu over a happy dead one!” Degu smiled.

Aisell was still for a moment, and without warning scooped Degu up quickly and nestled him into her cheek. “Degu, you are such a smart person! Thank you.”

Degu was mildly shocked by the sudden altitude change, but nestled into Aisell’s cheek. “I…” Degu fumbled for something to say, he had never been called that before. Not even by Bedra, who he trusted and loved with all he had in him.

Aisell set Degu down gently on the chair and stood, turning for the door.

“Where are you going?” Degu asked, suddenly rather anxious.

“Inside to help Luke….” Aisell turned back to Degu, catching the apprehension in his voice, which was not a common thing at all. “You ok?” Aisell knelt down in front of the chair and set a hand beside Degu.

Degu looked off past the yard, into the trees that lined the farm land. He visibly shivered before quickly scampering into Aisell’s hand. “I wanna come inside with you!” Degu spoke without reservation.

“I…of course…I just thought you…sorry ok sure Degu…what has you so spooked?”

Degu’s eyes were locked on the tree line as he nestled into Aisell’s thumb. “Nuchtapis….” He whispered.

“I…what? What does that mean Degu?” Aisell brought her hand close to her face, looking down to Degu with concern.

“Shadow people….” Degu shivered. “I wanna go inside now…don’t leave me here…I don’t like being out here alone… they are watching…and they’re bad…they’re very bad…” Degu closed his eyes.

Aisell half smiled and tousled Degu’s hair. “Hey, there’s nothing out there but trees and animals ok? But you likely just saw a Shaar…we have a lot of them…and you’re right it was wrong of me to walk off…you shouldn’t be out here alone. I’m sorry, ok?” Aisell brought Degu close and kissed him gently.

“I know what I saw Aisell….” Degu insisted. “I know what I saw….”

***

“Lert Prenn made me an offer the other day Bedra, a good one. He wants to but the farmland and the surrounding forest land.” Lezah crossed her arms on the table and threw her head down, her voice was muffled as she spoke through her crossed arms.

Bedra poured herself a cup of tea, and then poured one for Lezah. “What did you tell him?” Bedra asked apprehensively as she squeezed a small wedge of a yellow fruit into her mug and began to stir it, then tapped the spoon against the mug and sucked the drops of tea off it before setting the spoon down.

“I told that blow hard to go suck the Emperor’s teet!” Lezah snapped harshly, without lifting her head.

“W…who’s Lert Prenn anyhow?” Bedra asked riled.

“Prenn…THE Lert Prenn? Owner and proprietor of Prenn Fruit Farms, and about half a dozen Human ranches across three continents? “ Lezah grumbles.

“Ohh…heh…him.” Bedra whiffed, without really knowing who Lezah was talking about. “Well, have you told Aisell and Aehzay?” Bedra asked, attentively.

Lezah shot up from the table, she slapped her hand down on the surface with a scowl across her face. “Oh bother Aisell and Aehzay! One can’t stop sulking around the house long enough to get half a sentence out, and Aehzay was supposed to come here for midterm break and I haven’t seen a hair on her head yet!” Lezah puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms abruptly. “Off somewhere gallivanting around! ‘Oh I’ll be home in a few days Lez, I just have a few things to do’” Lezah seethed, if she were any more livid it is likely steam would blow from her ears.

Bedra took a sip of her tea, and set the mug down. “Aisell’s really worked up over this eh? I’ve never seen her like this.” Bedra spoke with grave concern.

Lezah looked about ready to blow, then slumped back down, her head in her arms once more. “It’s not that I don’t care Bedra, I just don’t think Aisell and Luke understand…if I lose the farm, they have nowhere to live either!” The rage was drained form Lezah’s voice, and gave way to sorrow.

“Can you –please- fill me in on this whole ‘Luke’ deal? Because I am starting to lose my mind on this….” Bedra scorned and crossed her arms.

“He’s from Earth…Aisell found him wandering around Titan station alone.” Lezah began, but was cut off quickly.

“Oh, no way!” Bedra leaned forward suddenly, captivated.

“Heh oh it’s just grand it is! Well I don’t know exactly what happened but she brought him home and all they’ve done is argue and fight and scream at one another!” Lezah groaned.

“So, they aren’t getting along?” Bedra asked casually.

“That’s an understatement!” Lezah mubled. “Luke isn’t a pet…or so he insists. And I guess it makes sense, I mean if he is wild and has never known what it is like to –be- a pet…we can’t rightly expect him to ACT like one right? Like those Shaar I have out back…if I tried to pet one I’d get a whip to the throat!” Lezah sighed.

“Only…with Luke she can’t just leave a bowl of food out back and let him fend for himself…like a feral shaar.” Bedra added, understanding the gravity of the situation.

“I guess not. But I mean this is unheard of! There isn’t a ‘how to tame your wild human!’ book Bedra! I’ve never met a human like Luke, Bedra…I’ve never met a human who even understood the concept of freedom…let alone was so devastated by the loss of it that it couldn’t FUNCTION!” Lezah looked up, a lost expression on her face.

“Heh…I never thought of it like that.”

“So, she wants me to tell her what to do…and I have NO IDEA! This is new to me. I always considered myself good with Humans…but Luke is like no human I’ve ever imagined. Everything we do to try and make him feel better just makes him worse.” Lezah pushed her chair back and stood.

“Maybe she should ask him what he wants?” Bedra offered, not totally convinced by her own words.

“I’d love to put all my time and effort into this Bedra, but I have bigger problems…I know that sounds cold but I’m going to lose the farm! ME Bedra, Me! For generations my family has made this place work, through famine, drought, flooding, fires…infestations…but I’m the one who takes it all to hell! I’m the weakest link! I’m the failure!” Lezah paced back and forth as she spoke.

“Lezah don’t be so hard on yourself…it’s not exactly easy to do what you’ve done…you’re trying your best….”

“And it’s not good enough! My best isn’t good enough!” Lezah stopped at the counter and hunched over, resting her hands on it. “I asked Aisell and Aehzay to come home and help out…but it’s past that point…it was past that point a year ago. I just don’t see how anything short of a miracle can turn things around! Bedra I….” Lezah stopped.

Bedra stood quickly and ran over to Lezah, who was quivering as she sobbed gently and silently over the counter. Bedra wrapped her arms around the elder Maris sister and pulled her in close. “Shhhh, Lezah there has to be a way.” Bedra stroked Lezah’s hair as she hugged her.

“I just don’t see it! The way things are, this time next year the farm will be too far in the red, and the creditors will cease it. By this time next year Bedra, Lert Prenn will buy it off the creditors.” Lezah allowed herself to be held and comforted, it was rare she had a chance to let that happen, as she was always the one who was expected to comfort everyone else.

“You’ll think of something. WE all will…you’re not alone Lez. Ok? You are not alone!” Bedra spoke with assurance.

“Thanks Bedra.” Lezah sniffled and buried her head in her friend’s neck. “And I hope you’re right…I really do.”

“Aren’t I always?”

***

Luke sat in the relative stuffy darkness of the underbelly of Aisell’s bed, it was one of a few places he liked to retreat to when he was overwhelmed with the gigantic world he was imprisoned in. Aisell’s room was clean for the most part, but the underbelly of her bed was dusty, and full of oddities he was not curious enough nor bold enough to discover.

His face was throbbing, and he hurt all over. The adrenaline had worn off, and the pain was a well-established resident now.

“Why did I do that…urg…that man hits like George Foreman.” Luke grumbled as he lay flat on his back, eyes closed. The darkness and quiet was relaxing, but it was not enough to ease the pain away.

“Luke?” The soft, familiar voice of Aisell broke the silence. While she was whispering, Titan’s always sounded loud, their whispering was comically loud and forced to Luke, who was not alarmed that creatures so huge found it hard to move about silently.

Somehow, however Aisell had managed to enter the room without alarming him with her tremor inducing footfalls.

Luke kept quiet, hoping she would pass by without taking notice. Aisell was the last person he wanted to see! Which meant when he looked over to his side to the billboard sized face on the other side of the hanging bed sheet, he SHOULD have been angry.

Should have been, but wasn’t.

“How did you know I was here?” Luke asked softly to Aisell, who was lying on her stomach, with her chin resting in her crossed arms. She was peering under the bed but at enough of a distance to allow him to easily escape if he chose so.

“I know most of your hiding places Luke.” Aisell smiled sweetly, and shrugged. “Well…that and you left a trail of blood from the living room to the bedroom and I followed it.” Aisell grinned awkwardly.

“Ah.” Luke looked back up at the underside of her bed and closed his eyes once more.

“So, I have some warm water, a cloth, and a dermal regenerator…if you want…” Aisell asked clumsily.

Luke was silent for a while, then to Aisell’s amazement he rolled over, stood up and slowly limped out from under the bed.

Aisell kept as still as a statue until Luke approached, like it was the first time they were meeting all over again. She watched him carefully, holding her breath anxiously. She looked a fair bit more frightened than he did, as if she was expecting to be struck at any moment.

Luke stood without saying a word, there was no rage or anger on his face, but he did look like he had been through a meat grinder. He was bruised, swollen and bloodied nice and good. It broke Aisell’s heart and she fought not to scoop him up and hug him.

“Um…can…can I take you to the dresser? It’ll be easier to do standing.” Aisell whispered.

“Ok.” Luke responded with a nod. He watched Aisell stand, and then slowly crouch down, placing her palm before him face up. No matter how used to this he was, it still made him feel uneasy when he saw a Titan standing at full height from a floor view. He didn’t think he would ever get used to such a sight.

Luke crawled into Aisell’s palm and sat in the center, cross legged. A feeling of anxiety and uneasiness overcame him, and he felt the strong urge to run. Run, from Aisell, who not too long ago he had trusted so deeply. Who at one time was his only link to safety and freedom in the galaxy, and he was terrified of her…just like he had been in the hole he had lived in.

Images of those ominous white sneakers, her cold, uncaring face as she went about her job without even knowing he existed flooded to his mind. He didn’t want her to be that Aisell again, he didn’t want to see her as that Aisell! That life had been desperate, lonely, depressing and miserable. Alone, cold and scared in a dark, wet hole in the ground, with nothing but his thoughts, and his fear to keep him company. No matter how angry he was with Aisell for her betrayal, he didn’t miss that cold, damp hole.

Luke was shaken form his claustrophobic pondering by a soft warm feeling on his cheek. He opened his eyes, shaken and in a panic. But calmed as he realized what was happening, Aisell was gently cleaning the blood off his face with the tip of a wash cloth.

Her fingers were thicker and larger than him, she could break him in half like a toothpick if she wanted to, but somehow she was taking such care with him, he hardly felt any pain at all when she ran the cloth over his bruised, tender injury.

“How did you learn to be so gentle?” Luke asked, without even thinking about how much he hated her.

“I told you, I’ve been around humans all my life. You pick it up after a while.” Aisell spoke casually as she rounded the cloth under his nose and dabbed at the blood that was dried under it.

“I have a headache….” Luke sighed.

“I bet you do.” Aisell spoke, unamazed.

“You’re such a fool Luke.” she muttered as she gently dabbed some blood from his cheek was a warm damp cloth. “Degu does nothing but train to keep himself in top physical shape. You sit around all day. Why did you even do that?”

“I…cuz…”

“Because he was getting a bit too close with me?” Aisell said knowingly.

Luke didn’t respond and Aisell cracked a warm smile.

“I knew you still cared!” she said powering up the regenerator.

“Yeah well…we were close…” Luke muttered finally giving in to the care and attention she was giving him. He had missed it.

“We could be again you know? If you wanted…” she said hopefully bringing her huge, ice blue eyes down to his face and peered into him.

“Yea well…hey be careful that stings.” Luke grumbled, changing the subject quickly. He wanted to say so many things to her! He wanted to admit he missed their closeness, he wanted to admit he missed watching movies with her and arguing over silly things she didn’t like about them! He wanted to be happy again and just forget about why he was so upset in the first place. But he wouldn’t allow it to come out. He couldn’t.

Aisell didn’t say another word as she meticulously ran the dermal regenerator over Luke’s damaged skin. The process was painless, but lengthy. The two of them sat in awkward silence, neither saying another word to the other. Luke had nearly fallen asleep, when Aisell set the regenerator down and set her palm before Luke, face up.

“Would….you like a ride to the ground?” She asked, cautiously.

“Actually, I may just have a nap. I’m a bit sleepy.” Luke spoke, this was his chance! He could tell her how frightened he was, he could tell her how terrifying her world was…he could open up to her! Maybe she couldn’t make it all better…but he would have someone on his side.

Aisell could be thoughtless, brash and ignorant…but she was Aisell…the only one in the universe who even seemed to care he existed.

Luke looked into Aisell’s deep icy blue eyes, he wanted to say something, ANYTHING!

“G’night…” Luke whispered, before turning around to head for the make shift Bed Aisell had given him.

“Oh…ok…goodnight Luke.” Aisell responded weakly and took a few steps backwards. “Are…you sure you want your bed up here on the vanity? It’s kind of high and….” Aisell was cut off by Luke.

“I’ll be fine.” Luke spoke softly. Why wasn’t he saying anything…why couldn’t he open his mouth!? Why wasn’t she trying to pry into his business…why wasn’t she being nosey!

“I’ll see you later then…” Aisell half smiled, and stepped out of the room.

Luke let out a sigh and threw himself into his bed. “Stupid, stupid stupid!” He mumbled as he pulled the cloth turned blanket over his head.

Why was everything so difficult!?