Ezza looked up at the twilight sky. He was going to miss this place. Nigel had taught them so much, but they couldn’t stay here forever. Zas was studying some of the books inside the cabin, he had really taken to cooking since getting here. He was almost obsessed with it, Ezza couldn’t blame him this planet was fantastic. I don’t understand why they classified this place as a Junker planet. Shaking his head, he left the garden area and headed into the cabin.

“Hey, Zas! You done yet? I thought we could use these as a salad.” Ezza said as he ran the fresh leaves under the tap in the sink. Zas looked up and stared at him kind of blankly.

“Alright boys,” Nigel said emerging from the bedroom where he had been feeding his bugs, “tonight is our last night. Let’s get dinner started and party until we pass out! Isn’t that right Lydia?” Both Zas and Ezza turned to look at the empty space where Nigel was certain Lydia stood. Zas nodded and closed his book.

 

I think this is his worst day yet.

Ezza nodded and grinned. He put the freshly washed herbs down, and moved out of Zas’s way as he washed his hands.

“Do you need help?” He asked Zas.

“No. I’ll be okay I think. Wait, should we do it like we did in the beginning? Can you catch us some fish? I hate to admit it but I suck at fishing.” Zas said grinning as he pulled out the utensils he’d need. Ezza laughed.

“And our friends always thought I was the sentimental one.” Zas chuckled.

“You were and still are, but apparently it’s contagious. Besides, I like it here. This planet isn’t half bad you know?” Zas began peeling a few vegetables he got from the fridge. “Now go get the fish and don’t make me wait at the fire pit.” Ezza sighed and shook his head. Of all the things to get businesslike about, it had to be food; who knew. Ezza grabbed his fishing rod from beside the cabin and headed down to the waterfall basin.

“Ezza! The fire’s ready.” Zas hollered. He looked over at Nigel who was talking to Lydia on a bench by himself. He smiled as Ezza came over and dropped the rope of fish on the grass at his feet. Ezza sat on the bench across from Nigel and Lydia.

“Nigel, Lydia.” Ezza greeted them both, and then leaned back and looked up at the stars.

“You’re right. It is funny.” Nigel said to Lydia. Zas glanced over briefly from roasting the fish, Ezza looked down at Nigel and the empty space named Lydia.

“What’s funny?” He asked. Nigel grinned.

“Lydia and I were just discussing what it was like with you guys in the beginning. How lost you were, how you didn’t talk at all,” Nigel said pointing at Ezza. “It hurt just looking at you, but I loved her. She is Lydia’s best friend and the love of my life. She would’ve wanted us to help you.”

Ezza smiled. It had been a harsh beginning but looking back on it, it had been fun.

---

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

“Hello. My name is Zas, and this is my best friend Ezza.” Zas said moving forward. He had smile on his face and confident stride. Ezza did his best to keep up and look friendly himself. They approached the man.

The man looked at them strangely and then put the pail down. He turned and left. Zas and Ezza slowed as he disappeared out of sight.

Is that what we do best? Scare people off?

Shut up Ezza. Zas said. He’d never had someone respond so negatively to him before except Ti’…Her. This sucked.

What do we do now?

We gather supplies. I have no idea where this is, and obviously we have horrible company.

You’re just upset he didn’t throw himself in your arms like Maria did.

As if. Did you see the hair on his face? I probably would have gotten a rash or a burn.

Glad to know you aren’t picky. Maybe human females are more friendly, but the males are aloof and unfriendly?

Maybe.

Zas walked forward towards the dwelling, keeping an eye out for the man they had seen. When they reached it, Zas reached out and gave the slightly open door a small push. It swung open to reveal a well lit interior. It was just like the dwelling he had seen back on the other side of the tunnel. It was furnished and full of curious things, but it looked more used.

Do you see this!?

Zas turned and looked at Ezza who was bent over a plant. He gave him a questioning look.

I’ve been seeing this plant everywhere. Even back at our tent, at the girls cabin. Everywhere.

So? Maybe it’s a common plant here.

No Zas, LOOK at it. We’ve seen it everywhere yes, but not like this. It’s more lustrous and bigger. The root system can be seen from the bottom, and the fruit it’s bearing is deeper in colour and larger than the other ones we’ve seen.

Great, it’s a bigger shiner plant. Congratulations.

It means it’s well-kept idiot. Like really well-kept, they all are. Ezza said as he wandered from plant to plant.

You lost me. Why is that so exciting?

Because, scientifically speaking he’s been here awhile, he’s had to have cultivated it for years to get this result. Look at everything around us. Yes, some of its natural, but after going through that wooded area like we did, don’t you think it’s funny that you find a perfectly well-formed dwelling in a clearing the looks cultivated and well…groomed I think is the word? He has lights, food, clean water, and an open living space with well-groomed features. You do know what this means? He’s the Hermit I read about.

Well Ezza was right. Observant little guy. Zas had missed most of those clues. It did mean something for sure, but as usual Ezza had missed the point. How did he get electricity out here? To get things looking the way they were would’ve taken years. The layout of the land too. It would’ve been natural for the forest to continue all the way to the water line, not have this alluring well-kept space just suddenly appear. He had a bad feeling about that human.

  

Ezza, let’s go inside. We need to find food and other things. Also keep your eye out for that man. I don’t like- there’s something about him that doesn’t sit well with me.

Cautiously both men entered the dwelling. Inside it was cozy and filled with trinkets on crowded shelves. There was a shelf filled with books, and a kitchen area with what looked like old appliances. There was a door that led outside again. Inside was another door and beyond it looked like the washroom they had back at camp. Down a short hall there was a door and inside was a bed and dresser, bugs were in small cages on surfaces around the room. They went back out into the living room.

I’m going to look for supplies in the shelves and cupboards. Go outside to gather some of the plants you think will feed us. Be careful Ezza, watch for the man. Call me if you need help.

Ezza nodded and headed outside. He was bent over a plant examining its fruit when he spotted the man out of the corner of his eye. He turned slowly, and watched him as he made his way a short distance away and sat on benches made of carved logs. He bent down for a moment and then sat up with a fire now started. He looked up as if he noticed Ezza watching him then gave a small cheerful wave.

 

Ezza looked inside at Zas going through cupboards. Then he got up quietly and started walking towards the man. He can’t be that bad, Ezza thought. Zas got paranoid easily on missions. Even back at the Academy on simulations. This human didn’t seem that different from the girls and they had been friendly enough. Still, slow and cautious seemed right.

Ezza came to a stop beside the fire pit and the man.

“Nice night.” The man said looking up at the sky. Ezza looked up as well and nodded. Earth was beautiful. The man motioned for Ezza to sit across from him. Taking a seat Ezza looked at the man curiously. He had on ragged clothing, but had a well-trimmed beard and hair.

“Don’t see many people around here. Lived here a while waiting. It’s just Lydia and me, has mostly been that way for a while.” He said looking at Ezza. Who’s Lydia? Is there another human here? Ezza had questions but he needed to know if Zas was in danger. It really wasn’t something he liked doing, but he looked into the man’s eyes and opened his mind, willing the man to do the same. He felt the man relaxing and he smiled, a little rusty but he could still do it.

What is this? Zas asked himself as he pulled some kind of meat stick out of the fridge. He gave it a sniff and was about to lick the tip of it when the one door slammed open startling him. He bit his tongue as he turned in alarm to see Ezza gasping for breath in the doorway.

What is it? Is it that man? Did he harm you? Zas fired off the questions as he pulled Ezza further into the room and slammed the door shut. He shoved Ezza down onto the couch and then stood beside the window and looked outside carefully.

No. It’s fine. I talked to him. He’s really quite harmless. Gosh, these bodies suck. It hurts when you can’t get the air into its lungs.

You TALKED to him!?

Well yeah, he invited me to. You’ll never guess what I found out.

So you just went when he called? Are you an idiot?

Be quiet for once. Yes, I went. He started talking to me about a Lydia. I was worried there was another human and you were going to be ambushed. So, I looked in his mind. By the Mates! I found something.

Is Lydia hot? Is she deadly? I love deadly sexy woman.

What is with you? No, Lydia is made up. Oma, however is not.

Oma?

Oma is like us, only a lot older. She came to this planet, he’s been waiting for her to come back.

Wait there have been others here? How do you know she’s not here? Is this place a trap? We should go. Where did you leave him?

Relax. She was here when he was a young man. Like many, many moons ago. He found her, she crashed but had enough to create something to get back with, unlike us. He was lost in the woods. He loved her Zas. I think from his memories she did too. She helped build this place for him. That’s why it looks so formed. She left but was planning on coming back, to him. He’s been waiting here for her. He’s still waiting.

And I still don’t like it.

You should go and talk to him. Just don’t bad mouth or sit on Lydia. He really likes her.

Who’s Lydia again?

The two of them headed out the door only to find the man a short distance away and heading straight for them. Zas pushed Ezza behind him a little bit and strode out to meet the man. Ezza watched as they chatted for a few minutes and watched Zas as he opened the man’s mind looking for information. A few moments later he came back and proclaimed Nigel safe.

Nigel?

“It’s his name. All that digging and you didn’t find out the basics?” Zas asked in disbelief. Nigel came walking up behind them and patted Zas on the shoulder as he passed.

“Lydia and I are going to make dinner my Starlings. Would you like to help?” Nigel disappeared inside the dwelling. Zas shrugged his shoulders and followed.

The next few weeks turned out to be entertaining and informative. Nigel taught Ezza to fish and garden and make tonics and lotions; something he called herbalism. He showed him how to dig minerals and metals out of the ground and how to taste the plants and know what they were. He taught Zas how to fix things and create out of wood. It came in handy because Zas was able to fix Ezza’s translator over time with the minerals that Ezza found. Nigel also taught them to cook. However, Zas unlike Ezza took to it like a fish out of water.

      

There were moments to where Nigel would have conversations and arguments with Lydia. Both men learned to ask where she was sitting before they sat, or Nigel would freak out and chase them around calling them names, and screaming about manners and how to treat Ladies. Zas’s retorts about the treatment of woman only added fuel to Nigel’s fire, so they just learned to avoid it altogether.

They talked of Oma and how Nigel had met her, and how he had loved her. How she had realized that he was unstable, but didn’t care. They had built this place together and had lived together for sometime. Eventually she had finished her ship to get home, but had planned to come back to him. There was a war ragging in the stars. She had to go back, but swore she’d come back to him afterwards or find a way to bring him there. He and Lydia had been patiently waiting since.

********

“Yup, it was really awkward, but good to have the company right Lydia? Don’t say that! No, you don’t keep people. What would Oma say? Well, you’re no lady tonight. I think you should leave.” Nigel crossed his arms over his chest and looked towards the lake.

“Is she gone?” Ezza asked.

“No she ain’t gone. What woman do you know leaves in an argument?” Nigel asked Ezza like he thought he was stupid.

“Ha! Got that right,” Zas said standing up and handing out the sticks of fish. “Dinners done.”

It’s time Ezza. Prepare yourself.

“It’s almost like the first night we were here. Sitting outside eating fish you had caught. Staring at the stars.” Zas said. Nigel looked at him across the fire.

“Yeah I know what you’re saying woman, but it has to be done.” Nigel leaned forward. He rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands in front of him. “I’m old. I’ve lived most of my life here and will probably continue to do so. I’ll wait for my sweet Oma until the day Lydia and I die.”

Ezza started to say something, but Nigel cut him off.

“No need Starling. I’m staying, but there’s no need for you two to. There’s nothing here that could get you home. You need to go elsewhere and look for a way. Now, I know you think I’m some dirty, worthless old man, but I’m not.” Nigel said looking each of them in the eye.

“We never thought that,” Zas said.

“Yes, you’ve helped us so much.” Ezza said looking at the ground. This is hard.

“Sure, sure. Thing is boys I was going to save this for when Oma came back, but I have properties out in the regular world. You boys could use one. You told those ladies you came from Windenburg did you not? I have a small property there. Don’t start Lydia. Yes I know that was your favourite one. No, you don’t need to keep it. Be generous woman! Yes your dress makes you look pretty. Soft as a duck love, soft as a duck.” Nigel had started staring at the space called Lydia with softening eyes.

Definitely worse.

Hang in there Ezza.

Seeming to snap back into reality, Nigel looked at them both apologetically.

“Where was I? Oh yes, so you boys can have that one. It’s a small house but you could probably make something of it later. My and Oma’s gift to you. She would’ve helped you, I know she would’ve.”

Ezza nodded and thanked him. He felt like crying. Zas shook Nigel’s hand, and then began picking at his dinner. The rest of the night was quiet with a few short scattered conversations. In the morning, Nigel gave the boys some money, a key, and directions on how to get there. He also gave Zas a couple of cookbooks, and Ezza some seeds. Then he walked with them to the edge of the clearing where they said their final goodbyes. Lydia cried and Nigel held her until they were out of sight.

Stepping out of the tunnel the boys went back to their camp to find someone else there in their place, their rental time had expired awhile a go. Giving an embarrassed smile they headed for the exit. At the information booth they called a taxi and gave it the address they had received from Nigel.

The car ride was long, but when it finally came to a stop, they were both excited. Giving the driver their fare, they stepped out. Home Sweet Home- what the heck was that!?