A head rested against the cool metal of the ship’s wall. A sigh escaped, nostrils flaring with suppressed emotion. Eyes opened, a startling violet deepened by shadows, flecked with grey. Black hair, unruly and bordering on a long style, brushed his forehead, tickling the nape of his neck. He rose abruptly from his seat in the ship’s rear, moving towards the bridge.
“Keith,” a voice, firm yet gentle, came from behind the pilot’s chair. Krolia. “I asked you to rest.” Keith’s sigh was weary.
“I know, Krolia. I just…” He trailed off, unable to articulate the restlessness that gnawed at him. Krolia turned her chair to face him. Keith averted his gaze. “I couldn’t sleep. I tried.” His voice cracked, raw with honesty. Krolia offered a small smile.
“It’s alright. I share the same affliction. Insomnia is nothing to fret over.”
“Hey, wait, I didn’t say—” Keith stopped, confused. He hadn’t voiced his struggle, yet Krolia seemed to know. It only deepened his vulnerability. He approached the control panel, studying the ship’s diagnostics.
“Sometimes mothers simply *know*,” Krolia explained, her voice soft. Keith nodded, maintaining a distant, unfriendly facade. Krolia frowned, hurt by his coldness. She returned her attention to the controls.
“How much further to the Blade base?” Keith asked, a clear attempt to deflect. Krolia sighed.
“Keith, we can’t avoid this forever—”
“We can damn well try,” Keith snapped, his tone cold. He moved away, staring out the viewport at the swirling nebula beyond.
“Keith.” Krolia’s voice was laced with pain. “I know this will never truly make up for what I did, but—” Her voice trembled, and tears welled in her eyes, surprising both of them. “I am truly sorry. I should never have left you, and I’ve known it for so long. The moment I left you and your father on Earth, I regretted it. And—”
“So why didn’t you *come back*?” Keith’s voice erupted, laced with fury. Tears threatened to spill, but he fought to contain them. “Do you have any idea what my childhood was like? Wondering who you were, what kind of monster could abandon her husband and son? You tore Dad apart. He tried to explain, said you had no choice, that you were doing what was necessary. I didn't believe him. I *knew* you could have returned whenever you wanted!” He turned away, unable to bear her gaze, tears streaming down his face. He’d finally allowed a fraction of his pain to surface.
“You have every right to be upset,” Krolia said softly. “But you’re wrong about one thing. I *couldn’t* come back. Believe me, I wanted to, so desperately it broke my heart knowing I'd never watch you grow up. I would never see you ride your bike, learn to write your name, even say your name. ” She paused, her voice catching. “I couldn’t come back because if I ever deserted the Blades, they would have hunted me down, slaughtered me on the spot. And they would have done the same to you and your father.”
Understanding dawned. Keith felt a flicker of forgiveness, quickly followed by a chilling realization.
“So why did you come to Earth in the first place?”
“The Blades wanted to assess Earth’s progress. I was sent to observe, to ensure Zarkon hadn’t irrevocably damaged the planet. I spent years traveling, meeting people, experiencing new cultures. Then I met your father.” She finished, her tears drying, a fragile smile forming as she recalled happy memories. Keith remained turned away, unable to face her. Krolia rose slowly, her legs stiff from prolonged sitting. Before Keith could react, she wrapped him in a tight embrace. Normally, he would have resisted, but he was too exhausted to fight. He melted into her embrace, tears flowing freely.
“I’m never going to leave you again, Keith,” she whispered into his ear. “I swear I’d rather die than break that promise.” Keith nodded, his emotion raw and exposed. Krolia pulled back gently, wiping a tear from his cheek.
“Well, Keith,” she said, her voice softer now, seeking to bridge the gap between them. “What have you been doing these past few years? How did you end up here?”