“I want to see Inatol and Solsan,” Aevi said. “It’s been so long.”

“I can do calculus,” Snaps announced.

Beryl scratched his head. “That’s excellent, buddy. You can help me with the higher math from now on. Did you introduce Aevi to the tiny green dirt dogs?”

“I forgot! Aevi, come with me. Come see my babies! I’m a father now. But they’re not that small anymore. Soon I will have to call them large green dirt dogs. I think right now they’re medium green dirt dogs.”

Helix watched in bemusement as Snaps led Aevi into the other room. Quietly, Qalu offered her warmest and most respectful bow, though she startled when Beryl pulled her into a human hug. They exchanged a few words of leave-taking, and when Aevi returned, it was time to head out to meet the shuttle.

“It’s not farewell,” Zylar said. “We’ll visit.”

“We promise,” Beryl added.

Aevi bounced. “I’ll show you everything,” she said to Snaps.

“I’ll miss you, feather-tail.”

“Me too, fur-face!”

Without further ado, their small love group boarded the shuttle, the second to last step on their long journey home.

For Qalu, it was strange to be home at last.

The light glazed the place with warmth this early in the sunspan. Aevi raced around, smelling everything, more overjoyed than Qalu had ever seen. Helix had smoothed their return, as he did with all complex systems, silently adjusting the details so swiftly that the terminal barely flickered at the alteration. At some point, he’d also manufactured an identity for himself, one that matched the backstory she’d invented for her mothers, what seemed like ages ago now. The bored official had let them go with minimal questions, convinced that he was a Tiralan citizen who had been living on Titan V until recently, and they’d sped from the city in a public transport pod, one that deposited them outside her beloved home in short order.

Now she registered a joyous sort of disbelief at finding the habitat as she’d left it. She led the way inside, not even minding the fine film of dust that had settled on everything. They had been traveling for quite a while, and though she wanted to rest, she couldn’t settle in without contacting her mothers. She’d mentioned doing so on Vaadla Station, but she couldn’t decide what to say. It had seemed better to make amends once she got home. They would be hurt and angry if she didn’t apologize for her impulsive behavior, and the task wouldn’t grow easier through procrastination.

She glanced at Helix, who had been quiet most of the way back to Tiralan.

“Do you mind if I send a message to Inatol? Understand, that likely means she’ll be here as soon as she receives it, possibly with the rest in tow.”