Echo

15. First Of Many

We land somewhere and daddy gets in with us. He is pissed. He crosses his arms and glares out the window. Malax tries not to laugh and watches out another window.

I wiggle in the straps.

"You're fine. A couple of minutes, and we can get out."

"They're too tight."

"I don't want you falling out."

"I've been riding in this helicopter for nearly 18 years. I haven't fallen out yet."

"You're fine. Relax."

"Ugh." I cross my arms and glare at nothing.

He checks his phone and I read it. -Tell me you were on that helicopter.-

-Yes, we're going to Zircon.-

We land again and Malax gets me out. He picks me right back up.

"BOY."

"SHE COULD GET BLOWN OFF THE ROOF."

Daddy nods and leads us into Zircon. We get to the executive floor and the elevator door opens. "MEETING IN MY OFFICE."

We go to daddy's office.

Momma comes running in the door. "That scared the hell out of me."

"Me too, Jayda. That pilot is lucky I didn't kill him."

"What are you doing, baby?"

"Malax is afraid I'll get blown out the window. He won't put me down."

"That's a boy thing. He'll calm down eventually. He knows you're safe if he has hold of you."

"I'm not going to fall out the window, momma."

"I know that. Give him some time."

Rye, Eriska, and Kai come in and sit at the conference table. "I didn't know where else to take them."

Daddy's other people are here.

We sit at the table and Malax keeps me on his lap.

Eriska comes over and pulls me up.

"Leave her."

"THAT IS NOT HOW BUSINESS ASSOCIATES SIT." She pulls me harder.

"LET HER BE."

"WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?"

Daddy stands up. "She's safe now."

Momma nods. "Great speech. Let's go home. I need my babies together now."

I fight him off in the helicopter and tighten my own straps. It's a short flight home, then we sit in the sitting room. Momma won't let the 4 of us or Eriska leave. Malax sits beside me, and we wait for her to stop. The twins are confused and daddy is on the phone.

I turn on the TV, and they're still outside of Phade Enterprise. Momma makes me turn it down.

Then guys in suits come in. Malax and daddy go talk to them.

Eriska plops down beside me. "I'm surprised he left you here."

"He is clingy."

Momma nods. "That scared him. He's not used to that."

"What did her dad do?"

"He stood up and said, I'm going to get my daughter. I'll be right back." Momma smiles. "He left so damn fast."

"The helicopter wouldn't land at Phade with daddy in it. He dropped him off somewhere and came back."

Momma's eyebrows shoot up. "I bet he was pissed."

"Malax told the pilot to go pick him up when we got in. Daddy wasn't happy."

"Your father should have known... well, never mind. Boys are like that. They have to protect and save us."

They come back and sit down.

Daddy rubs his face. "Phade enterprise had 3 separate bombs."

"Because of me?"

Malax shakes his head. "We don't know anything yet. The bombs were outside the building. Ground level. 1 was in a dumpster. They didn't find anything inside."

Eriska nods. "Would they have brought the building down?"

"They would have done damage, but no. The building wouldn't have fallen."

"I can't go back there. I don't want to put people in danger."

Malax puts elbows on his knees. "You are not quitting right now. We don't know anything and I still need to calm down."

"We can decide later." I rub his back. He is really tense. I would be tense and stressed if the company I built from nothing was attacked as well. It makes me sad. He knows it's a risk for his company to have me there. He probably won't give me that position after all. My eyes fill with tears. He would probably sell me a ship though. Maybe keep that up. I could make a team on my own. Eriska could do the business stuff. I can make it work.

Momma goes to make dinner and the boys go to daddy's office again.

I sneak down to the suppra room and link in. The planet is so big now. It's green, blue, and white. Just like home. I watch it get closer and closer.

Then I get picked up.

I laugh. "If my suppra gets sucked out the window, it's probably ok."

He shakes his head and carries me to the pilot's area. "Don't touch anything. It's all automated, but this is where humans would be. Better view from here."

He's not wrong. The front has big windows, and we are moving right towards the planet. It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

It gets shaky when we enter the atmosphere. I jump into his lap and keep watching.

He rubs my back. "What are you thinking?"

"This is my life now. I'm going to see so many planets. This is everything. I'm not going back to school. This is it for me."

"We can talk about that later."

I shake my head. "I'll make my way with or without help. It's my life."

He chuckles. "You sound like me a long time ago."

"How old are you?" I move to my seat.

"30."

"You did so much in so little time."

"The right people believed in me. Helped me along the way. I believe in you."

"I'm glad. I'm going to need a ship."

He laughs. "Your ass is still coming to work for me."

"I can't put people in danger, Malax. I can't put you or your company in danger. It's better if I go off on my own. I know I can do it. I only need a ship and Eriska."

He shakes his head. "I'll keep you safe. I'm still learning too."

"What are you learning?"

"Look there." He points.

I jump in his lap again. There is a lizard thing bigger than a tree. "Does that eat us?"

"Not that kind exactly. But yes. Some of them eat us. That eats trees."

I lean back on his chest and shake my head.

"You're the one who is going off on your own to see the planets."

"I'll let you help."

He laughs and puts his arms around me as we land. It's a little bouncy but not bad. "Let's get out of here."

"But that thing is out there."

"I have 500 more suppras we can link in. But don't try to get eaten."

"Good plan, sir."

He opens a door for me and stairs drop. It's so tan here. "My first alien world."

"First of many."

I nearly fall down the steps, but I make it to the side of the landing pad. Workers are unloading the ship. I drop to my knees and pick up some dirt. "It's so sandy."

"It's the area. There's so much sand, grass won't grow. Still plenty of trees though. It's different. Other areas on the planet have grass. There's even 1 spot we found that has snow."

"It's amazing. Can I take some of this home?"

"You really do love dirt. I'll send some back for you."

"Thank you."

"Have fun in the dirt. Don't run off. Don't get eaten. I'm going to direct them where to put the new building."

"Ok."

I find an empty box and put some dirt in it. Then I find a black thing that fell out of a tree. I put that in my box and a few rocks. Those will be good to study.

"RRRRAAAAAA"

I run like hell. These things are so fast. I jump for Malax and tackle him.

"You're ok. They're loud." He stands up and picks me up with him. "Like I was saying. The suppra boxes need to be unloaded to the main holding area. Make sure they are placed with the arrow facing up. Nothing in front of them. They'll all have to be opened."

I slowly put my feet down and stand right.

"No, do not stack them. Put them in rows."

Another one of those damn things roar and I climb the front of him. I hold on for dear life and look around.

Eriska comes over carrying my box. "I found your box of dirt. But your mom said it's time to stop playing and come to dinner. You can come back after dinner. Where do you want your dirt?"

"Sit it here. I'm sure she'll put more stuff in it. The ship's not leaving for 2 days. Let's find our boxes in the storage area then go to dinner." He pats my butt and I nod. I am not putting my feet down anymore.