Ezza was working out in the garden when Zas stuck his head out the front door and yelled at him.

“I got it! I finally got it! I think, it should work.” Zas disappeared back inside scratching the side of his head and muttering to himself. Ezza shook his head, Zas had been running around like a mad man since they finished their renovations. Now each man had a room to himself and Ezza had his very own bar. He had almost squealed out loud when Zas had gotten it put together. Then he had spent hours lovingly arranging it the way he wanted.

Ezza nearly dropped his watering can as Zas flung the door open again. He yelled something about finally having it, and then disappeared inside. What he finally had Ezza didn’t know, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t his marbles anymore. Sighing Ezza got up off the ground and went inside to find Zas. Zas was sitting in front of the computer, clicking the mouse and muttering to himself.

“Okay, I give up. What have you finally gotten? It better not be access to another one of those sites, Katrina was not impressed when you found her ‘video double’.” Ezza said. He stood behind Zas and looked over his shoulder. The screen was filled with code all moving at a rapid pace. Zas pointed to the screen.

“See that?” He asked Ezza. When Ezza nodded Zas smiled. “That’s us. Guess who we’re talking to?”

“I have no idea.” Ezza replied with a shrug.

“I don’t either,” Zas said. Ezza shook his head and gave Zas an exasperated look. “However, I do know it’s transmitting outside this galaxy. I did it! I finally did it! Hopefully the Homeworld will pick up our transmission and they’ll come for us Ezza. We can finally go home!” He turned in his seat to face Ezza. Zas’s face was just beaming. Ezza looked between Zas and the computer screen in astonishment.

“We can…we can go home? I can go home and see Ti’Voxi again? I can make things right. Zas we’re going home. We’re going home Zas!” Ezza was now shouting in joy and jumping up and down. Zas laughed and nodded his head. He had no idea how much strain he’d been putting on himself all this time to get them home.

It was their next day off together and Zas was in the backseat whispering in Katrina’s ears. Katrina was giggling and occasionally giving Zas a light slap on the arm. Ezza sat in the passenger’s seat, while Dina drove. His hand clasped hers as it rested on his thigh. They had decided to go on a picnic and wanting a change of venue had decided to go to Magnolia Blossoms park in Willowcreek. Neither of them had been there before, but they had seen it during Willowcreeks tourism ads on the television. The girls had been game, so here they were almost there.

The only thing that could make this better was if Zas would give Katrina a rest for five minutes. Ever since they had sent a message out, Zas had been redoubling his efforts in the romantic department with Katrina. He was spending money on her lavishly, and often she spent the night. Not that Ezza really cared anymore, he didn’t have to sleep on the couch and he couldn’t hear through the walls anyways.

“And we’re here.” Dina said pulling to a stop. Ezza looked out the window and saw a lush but beautifully manicured park in front of him. The pirate play equipment right in the front had swarms of human children crawling on it. Further back was a gazebos and some chess boards. Behind those were a pond and some picnic benches with a BBQ nearby, followed by rolling lawn beyond that. It was beautiful.

“I said we’re here.” Dina said again looking into the backseat. Ezza looked back and there was Zas and Katrina locking lips, oblivious to everything around them. He sighed and got out. He opened Dina’s door and helped her out of the car.

“Just leave them. Let’s go enjoys ourselves.” He held her hands in his and started walking towards the park. Dina glanced behind her while following along. She had just gotten her car cleaned for goodness sake.

Ezza was looking into the pond when he felt a hand land on his shoulder and give it a squeeze. He automatically reached up and gave it a pat without breaking his concentration on the fish swimming below the water’s surface.

“While I do love a good cuddle in public Ezza, I actually prefer my husband gives it to me and not my employees.” Ezza spun around and came face to face with Clara. She was laughing and standing behind her giggling was Dina.

“Clara, I’m so sorry. I thought you were Dina trying to get my attention.” Ezza said a smile on his face.

“Not good Ezza, not good. You should always recognize the touch of your partner.” Clara said teasingly. Ezza sighed and then they all laughed. “Where’s Zas?”

“Still in the car, with Katrina.” Ezza replied.

“Correction. They are out of the car and in the park now. Hello Boss Lady.” Zas said coming up behind Clara. Katrina smiled behind him and then went to talk to Dina. As the three of them stood talking to each other for a few minutes they over heard Dina saying something about cleaning bills to Katrina.

After a bit they had a pleasant time fishing around in the pond and trying to catch frogs. Even though she didn’t really like doing it, Katrina got right into the water and proved very good at catching frogs with her bare hands. Zas wandered off at some point and started collecting more crystals and metals for his work bench.

As the sky darkened the girls sat at the table and talked while Zas cooked up a meal on the BBQ. Ezza had wandered over to the chess tables and ended up playing against Clara. The day pressed on into evening and soon they were headed home. It had been pleasant and there had been no complaints.

As Zas and Ezza entered they’re house they could hear a low thrumming sound coming from the computer. Zas rushed over, as Ezza moved to put away their things. He heard Zas crow in delight as he came back into the living room.

“What is it?” He asked looking at the computer screen.

“It’s a message from home. They’re coming for us. Tonight. Were going home Ezza.” Zas clasped his friends arms and gave him a shake. Ezza’s eyes widened and he looked at the screen trying to see what Zas saw.

“We’re going home tonight? Like tonight, tonight?” Ezza asked in shock.

“Yeah gather your things Ezza. Take anything you need to study and we can do it on the Homeworld. We’re finally going home my friend.” Zas let out a laugh and rushed to his room. Ezza stood in shock for a moment and then started heading towards his own room. He’d need his notes.

*********************

Dina was the first to wake up. She got out of the bed and then gently shook Ezza awake. He did so grumbling, she found that kind of cute.

“What’s it?” He asked rubbing sleep from his eyes. They had thrown a party for their coworkers earlier in the night and it seemed as if he had only gotten to sleep a few minutes ago. Looking at the clock he realized it had only been a few hours.

“Zas is shouting. It woke me up.” Dina said shivering a bit. Ezza nodded and got up, throwing a shirt to Dina he walked out of the room to find Zas.

Zas was sitting in front of the computer smiling, laughing, and occasionally shouting we’re going home Ezza to himself. As Ezza walked closer he realized he could see a slight flush in Zas faces and zigzagging lines on it. He crouched down and put his hand on Zas’s arm.

“Zas? Are you okay?” Ezza quickly placed his hand on Zas’s forehead. He was burning up.

“Is he okay?” Dina asked coming into the room her arms crossed across her chest.

“He’s hot and he has lines on his face.” Ezza said. Dina came closer and looked. She nodded and told Ezza that Zas had a cold. She offered to go to the drugstore and pick up some medicine for him. Ezza thanked her and she left.

“Zas, you’re going to feel better soon. Dina went to get you some medicine. So it’ll just be a little bit ok? Let’s get you to bed my friend.” He helped Zas up off his chair and led him to the bedroom. After getting him into the bed, he sat down on the edge of it and watched his friend. He seemed to have settled down a bit. Dina came back and Ezza gave Zas the medicine.

Just as Dina and Ezza were about to go back to his room, Zas reached out and grabbed his arm.

“I got us home, just like I promised. Aren’t you glad you get to be with Ti’Voxi again. I promised I’d protect you while we were in this place and I did. Now we can go home and be happy.” He said and then finally he passed out.

“Who’s Ti’Voxi? Why is he protecting you?” Dina asked from the doorway. Ezza looked at her, Great how do I explain this?