3.42.

  Diego looked out through the transparent hull of the ship that Eolai had given him at the burn mark in the center of North Americ. It was small, but remained visible from orbit with only minor magnification.

  He’d done that.

  He’d been following orders. He’d requested confirmation and clarfication once the orders came through. He believed – he knew that the actions he’d taken under Turnball’s orders had ultimately saved more lives than he’d taken.

  But he was still responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent people.

  He could deflect the blame for those deaths up the chain of command if he tried. Turnball was perfectly willing to accept that the buck stopped with him. He’d calmly stood before his court martial and explained his reasoning and justification, and he’d been cleared of criminal charges.

  Diego’s own board of inquiry had been brief.

  Partly because his status was unclear. He had been officially discharged by the ESF during the mission to planet Totola several months ago. He remained a citizen of Earth, and a citizen of the Yonohoah, and a member of the Yonohoan military machine.

  He himself was a little unclear about his exact rank. They had happily given him Eolai’s flagship, which he was calling Bob because that was the name he’d given the ship’s AI, and had informed him that Eolai wasn’t interested in taking it back from him.

  No, Eolai was going to remain on Earth for a while.

  Until the last of Diego’s siblings passed from the light of the universe. Because those were the terms of their brotherhood ceremony. That was a sacred oath that Eolai had made on behalf of his people to the people of Earth. Diego hadn’t understood the significance of the words at the time, but he had also made promises that night.

  Promises which he was neglecting.

  “Bob, put me in contact with my family,” Diego said.

  The computer chirped that it was complying. His mother picked up her phone immediately, and his abuela a moment later.

  “Diego! When are you coming home?” his mother said.

  “And when are you getting married?” his abuela teased.

  “We talked about this,” Diego reminded them. “I can’t return to Earth, ma. Abuela. I wish that you’d accept one of the PHDA’s so that I could talk with you face to face.”

  “Those things aren’t face to face,” His mother said instantly. “They’re creepy. I understand that you mean well, Diego, but why won’t you come visit?”

  “I offered to send you a shuttle so that you could come visit me aboard Bob,” Diego pointed out.

  “And become some astronaut! As if we could survive take off! You know that your Abuela has osteoporosis!” his mother chided.

  “The new shuttles aren’t like the old ones, ma,” Diego explained. “They don’t have high g-forces. It’s no different than an airplane, really. You went to Cuba two years ago, it would be the same as that.”

  “No, no, I don’t think so,” his abuela said. “Diego, I don’t care if you come visit. But I do want to know that you have a woman in your life. I would like to have grandchildren before I pass.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “You already have grandchildren, Abuela,” Diego pointed out.

  “I want more,” she said simply. “And I want some from you. Are you at least looking for girls? You’re not gay are you?”

  “No Abuela I’m not gay. I promise I’ll seriously consider having children, and possibly even sending them back to Earth to visit,” Diego said. He considered. “But, well, you should know, their mother will probably not be Catholic.”

  The ensuing family scandal took hours to calm down. When he finally convinced them that yes, he really would make certain that Father Santos would be able to talk to any woman he was considered having a kid with and trying to convince them to convert , it was time for his Abuela to go to bed.

  Diego sighed as the call ended. He loved his family. He loved his home. He loved his planet. And if he truly wanted to serve it, the best way to do it was to live apart from it. To live among the Yonohoans.

  To be the Son of Eodar.

  “Bob, connect me to General Turnball,” he instructed. It took a moment for Turnball’s connection to come through, and once it did, he noticed that the general was in civilian clothing.

  “Sorry General, I wasn’t considering what time it was where you were. I should have, since I know it’s late in North America. I just, well … it’s time for me to leave sol system, sir. By my oath to Eolai, I am obligated to protect his children on planet Totola. I’ve been skirting the edge of that oath, but the fact that I’m from Earth made my defense of my birth planet a priority in their eyes, which excuses my absence. Until now, at least. I am hereby relinquishing my post in the defense of Earth aboard the Yonohoan Flagship. The remaining Yonohoan cavalry will pick up my post if you ask them to, but my social duties require me to return to planet Totola,” Diego explained.

  Turnball nodded, picking up a drink from nearby which appeared suddenly in the hologram. It was a dark brown liquid with ice, something alcoholic Diego was certain, although he had no idea specifically what drink it was. “I’ve been expecting this for some time. We will request that the Yonohoan fleet step into your vigil immediately, although I’ve received credible intelligence that the threat to Earth has mostly passed at this point.”

  “That is a relief to hear, sir. The third battle … it took a lot out of me. I’m not certain that I could do it again.”

  “Combat fatigue is a legitimate concern for all soldiers, Diego. I suggest that when you get to planet Totola, you take some time for yourself. Go to their beaches, watch a few movies, meet some girls. Have a good time, soldier.”

  “It’s not a vacation, sir,” Diego objected.

  “No. It’s your life, which you are altering irrevocably in the defense of your homeworld. The people of Earth may not understand your sacrifice, but those in power do. If they don’t, then they’re fools. You brought us Eolai and more assistance besides him. You stood fast in our hour of need. You have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and it pains me that I cannot give you more recognition than you have received.”

  Diego nodded. “Thank you for your words, General. But the truth is that I’m actually pretty famous. In the outside. Everyone is talking about The Last Son of Eodar’s Brother From Earth. The things that they’re saying about me are significantly blown out of proportion.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as … well, the accurate depiction of my defense of Earth during the second and third battles,” he admitted. “It’s just … it doesn’t feel right when they actually describe the effects I had on the battle. It didn’t feel that way when it was happening, sir. It wasn’t until the after action reports that it started to sink in that those fights would have been lost without my presence.”

  Turnball nodded. “Earth won’t forget you, Sergeant. I’ll see to it that your name carries the honor that it deserves among our people. Perhaps a movie or two will convince people of your heroism.”

  “Oh god, please, not that sir!”

  They chuckled, and the conversation ended soon after.

  Diego took one last look at the blue marble where he’d been born. Where his family lived. Where he’d grown up, learned to throw a baseball, and lost his virginity. But it was not the planet where his children would do those things. And it was not the world where his bones would rest.

  “Take us out, Bob,” Diego said. “Cruising speed to planet Totola.”

  “Yes, Captain,” Bob said.

  “I’m not a captain,” Diego muttered, but Bob ignored him. It was a cheeky bugger sometimes.

  ?