Adventure Awaits

One week later and you are standing at the gangway of the spaceship that would whisk you family off to an amazing adventure. The ship looked just like you’d imagined it might, though you and Chloe had shared a laugh at how the long body and two circular engines at the back gave it the appearance of a flattened dildo.

You weren’t laughing now though. This was a time for tears and goodbyes.

Your mother, her arms wrapped around you, sobs into your shoulder. “This is a mistake. I can’t do it!”

“It’s okay Mom.” You say for the millionth time. “I want this. For you. For me. For everyone.”

“Jesse…baby…”

“It’s okay Mom.” You smile and stroke her cherubic cheek. “I’ll be okay.”

“It’s not like we can’t come back.” Fiona says.

“Exactly.” You nod.

Fiona’s hand snaps out and hooks around the back of your neck. Her piercing hazel eyes drill into yours. “Say the word brother and we’ll stay. No explanation, no questions asked, just say the word.”

“My word is GO!” You laugh. “Go. Learn. Live. Be the bad ass bitch you were born to be. I can’t wait to hear about your exploits.”

She kisses you, hard, then lets you go. Backing away from you she points at you. “I fucking love you brother. I’m not forgettin about you. I’m comin back for you.”

“I know.” You smile. “I love you too.”

You couldn’t get over her courage. Unlike the others Fiona had learned that there was going to be unavoidable physical combat in her future. It would have scared the shit out of you but not your sister. She seemed to revel in it! She had already begun to seriously train and, in just a week, her long, tall frame was already beginning to show results. Fiona was getting buff!

She takes a deep breath then shakes her head and lets out a snort, there was a tear in her eye! “Fuck.” Spinning on her heel she scoops up a couple of the bags and marches up the gangway.

With Chloe and Peg you say your goodbyes followed by a long, hard hug. These two might not be coming back. For Peg there was a lifetime of learning out there among her technologically advanced people. For Chloe there was acceptance. You had learned that all of Chloe’s eccentricities weren’t so unusual out there. The workers were allowed to fuck and play and be as kooky as they liked, as long as the work got done. And if Kazia was anyone to judge by they were equally horny.

“I can’t do it!” Your mother wails and throws her arms around you again. “I caaan’t!”

“It’ll just be for a few months Helen.” Peggy soothes her. “He’s a big boy. He’ll be okay.”

You hug your mom and assure her again that everything was going to be okay. Even then though she has to be lead away by Peggy and Chloe have to guide her to ship between them a sobbing wreck. Poor Mom. All she wanted was her babies together, but you had to stay and Elsie and Fiona were going to go so she was in a no win scenario. Poor, poor Mom.

“You sure you don’t want to stick around?” Grandpa asks with a pat to the shoulder. “Even for a bit?”

The previous day had been wonderful with him and Grandma. Ice cream, stories, and so much laughter.

You shake your head and look to your car, all packed up for a long road trip. “No. I gotta go too. It’s time I…found myself.”

“We’ll be at your place for awhile.” Grandma says. “And you are welcome to join us in Vietnam.”

“Thank you, but no.” You say. “I’ve got an adventure of my own to find.”

“Good luck out there kiddo.”

They hug you and kiss you and wish you the best of luck.

That just leaves…Elsie.

As the others fade away you come together. You take her hands in yours and gaze deep into those eyes, as endless as space itself. It had been a beautiful week. Absolutely beautiful. The family coming together in a way that left you feeling humbled and blessed. Just a week ago you thought them monsters. But now you knew them to be angels. Flawed angels, but angels who loved you with every ounce of their hearts and souls. And you loved them just as much, which was why you had to let them go. Especially Elsie.

You saw in her the excitement of adventure and exploration. You saw in her the excitement of entering a world where a penis could be feminine and pretty and adorned with jewelry. And you saw in her the excitement of living, really living, without needing to hide. El could finally blossom into that incredible woman that you knew she was inside.

You grip her hands tightly and whisper. “Are you ready for this?”

She takes a deep breath and nods. “I think so. You sure about this?"

"Yes." You pull her into a hug and kiss the side of her head. “I love you Elsie. So much!”

“I love you!”

You hold that hug for a long time as the others walk back and forth loading up the ships with all of the belongings your family was bringing. All at once you let the hug go. Holding her by the shoulders for a few seconds you nod…then tear yourself away and stride swiftly for your car.

Your emotions all a jumble you enter your car and slam the door. After another long breath you say. “Ready Zoey?”

Zoey Beckett’s face suddenly appears among the pile of belongings heaped in your back seat. “That’s a real space ship!”

“Told ya.” You laugh. “Ready?”

“Ready Jesse! Good luck!”

You smile and nod. “Enjoy the car.”

“I will.”

Crawling out the passenger side you creep straight into the bushes you had purposely parked beside. Back inside the car Zoey crawls into the front seat, starts the engine, and drives off. Meanwhile you find your way back around to the van and the wheeled crate that Elsie had ‘forgotten’ around the far side of it. Careful not to be seen you open the crate and start ferrying Elsie’s various computers, books and electronics into the hidey hole you and she had prepared yesterday. Zoey would come pick it all up in a few hours. Once done you slip inside the crate and pull it closed with just a few seconds to spare. That was WAY closer than you meant it to be!

“Fiona!” Your grandmother shouts. “There’s another one here.”

Balled up tight and smiling like a fool you feel the crate begin to roll.