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“Unfortunately, no. Zane and his parents are refusing to speak. I have it on good authority that Zane will be convicted, and it’s only a matter of time before we gather enough on his parents to bring them in and charge them as well. There will be no jury trial, and every judge in the district tends to rule in favor of Vyastil interests.”

That is both good and bad for us right now.

“So, Luca is still not safe,” I breathe out.

“If he’s on Erethar with you now, I wouldn’t risk bringing him back to Earth. Not for a while.”

“Do we know who was behind the wheel?”

“No, haven’t tracked them down yet.”

That is not the news I wanted. If we don’t get this under control, Luca will be banished to Erethar forever. “Thank you for your help.”

Davis sighs. “I wish I had some better news for you, but please rest a little easier knowing we’re working on it.”

I will not rest easier. Not only am I tasked with trying to take down the system that is ruining Vyastil nature and turning our society into something we may never recognize again, but now we must face the prospect of rebel humans inciting a war before we can make true change that will make coexisting something worth having.

Gods, it’s too much.

I can’t take it.

I have a lot more work here on Earth, but all I want is to be home. Davis ends the call, so I drop my phone into the pocket of my tunic and turn in the direction of the supermarket.

As the humans so eloquently say, “fuck everything else”. I will get Luca everything he needs to survive on Erethar, and although I can’t take from him what I want, being in his presence will have to be enough.

I just hope that he will let me, even if I can’t give him what he needs.

fifteen

LUCA

I don’t think the kradun has a name. Or if it does, Eissa didn’t tell me what it was. So, I decide to bestow one on him, something simple and earthly. Something that Eissa will come to learn, so when I return home, and we are apart, he will forever have this name on his mind.

I watch as the kradun presses its head into the wall and attempts to move it. And even though it’s not successful, it gives its all.

My fingers tap on my lip, and I sign in his general direction. ‘You like the name Pete?’ I use my voice, calling it out, but the kradun doesn’t stop.

Must not like it. Or maybe he’s deaf like me and can’t hear shit.

But I try again anyway, calling out, “Mort?”

Still nothing.

I go through several names, each met with disregard, until I growl, “Gerald!”

The kradun stops and turns to look at me, its antennae reaching out, almost as if sensing me for the first time.

My heart picks up, and I hold my breath as I say it again. This time the kradun ambles toward me, quickly at first and then slowly, as if it’s out of breath. And when it’s close enough to me, its head pushes roughly against my leg, making me gasp.

I can’t help but reach down and touch its oddly shaped shell.

“Gerald,” I say with my voice, and when those strange eyes at the end of the antennae look up at me, I give him a sign name—a G hand shape on top of a fist.

‘You like that name, don’t you?’

Gerald turns and walks away, disappearing around the corner of the house and leaving me alone once more. My fingers twirl in the tunic that was in that wardrobe. I’m only wearing it because Eissa isn’t here.

As soon as he returns, I’ll be naked again.