Earthbound by DM Arnold (read book .TXT) 📕

“I'm pleased for you, Nyk. You are doing the right thing, although I can't let Senta hear me say that. It's what Lydda and I, or Jylla and I, for that matter, never had the courage nor the means nor the opportunity to do.” Veska stood, opened his arms to Nyk and embraced him. “I've longed to do this, Nykkyo -- to hug my boy as father and son.” He kissed Nyk's forehead. “What are your plans?”

“I'll meet with Seymor first thing. He has an assignment I might find acceptable. If so, I'll be an Earthbound ExoAgent. If not -- I was prepared to go native once. I am still.”

“I trust you'll find Seymor's offer attractive. Take care, my son and friend, and please stop by. Even Earthbound Agents find their ways to the homeworld from time to time. Have a good transit.”

Nyk exchanged the Floran salute with his father and headed to the departure lounge.

Nykkyo trudged up the stairs to the FloranCo offices. “Hi, Jaquie. Is the Big Guy in?”

“He's expecting you, Mr Kane. Welcome back.”

Nyk poked his head into the inner office. Seymor was talking on the telephone but he gestured Nyk to enter and take a seat. “I'm happy to see you here in New York, Nykkyo,” he said upon completing his call. “I understand you're interested in a full-time assignment here. I think we can accommodate you.”

“I had an inkling you might have something for me.”

“Do you have an inkling of what it might be?”

“I thought it might be Zander's old assignment, of engineering identities for new Agents.”

“I'm sorry, Nyk. I've already given that assignment to another Agent.”

“Oh.”

“I hope you're not too disappointed.”

“It sounded like something I'd like to do.”

“What I had in mind was something a bit different. I'd like to offer you the position of Assistant Agent-in-Chief for North American Operations. It's a training post, and if you do well, you'd be the prime candidate for my position, when I retire. You can work out of the vacant office next to mine. I've been impressed with your ability to get things done, Nyk, and so has Kronta. I think you're a natural for this.”

“Has Kronta forgiven my earlier behavior?”

Seymor squinted at Nyk. “Kronta and I have agreed we were mistaken in thinking you brought an Earth woman onworld.”

“What about Aahhn's report?”

“Your doctor friend's report was sufficiently vague as to preclude anyone inferring his patient was an offworlder.”

“Why would Kronta do this?” Nyk asked.

“Why? Because neither of us want to see you spend the rest of your life planetbound on the homeworld. You're too valuable a contributor here. Your record notes you engaged in an indiscretion with a native.”

“An indiscretion -- Agency jargon for a too-friendly relationship.”

“Yes -- you were sent up for that infraction, and your involvement in the Baxa affair is construed as a mitigating factor. We're doing our damndest to keep Agency Enforcement out of this, Nyk. They take a dim view of Florans contaminating the Earth population.”

“Seymor, I have a duty to tell you. I intend to stay here on Earth, to spend my life alongside Suki. I'll do this whether or not I have an Agency post.”

Seymor stood and looked out his window. “You are determined to make this difficult for me. Up to now, I've been willing to let my Agents' private lives be their own business. Most have restricted themselves to casual relationships.”

“I was willing to go native once. I'll do it now.”

Seymor sat and drummed his fingers on his desk. “You are an excellent contributor, Nyk. You're results-oriented, tenacious and a natural political troubleshooter. You also have an unfortunate tendency toward emotional involvement.”

“My involvement with Suki transcends emotion. I'm doing this because it's what Destiny demands of me. Suki's practically an honorary Floran. She supports us one hundred percent.”

Seymor stared at Nyk. “You haven't told me any of this. I prefer to remain ignorant of my Agents' personal lives. So long as you do nothing to jeopardize our mission, you're free live whatever private life you want.”

“I have as much to lose as anyone from temporal contamination, Seymor -- maybe more. Don't you trust me?”

Seymor cracked a smile and nodded. “You'd still be planetbound, otherwise. You'll need to be discreet. If Agency Enforcement gets wind of this...”

“Thank you, Seymor.”

“Take a few days to think it over. Get acquainted with the lifestyle. There's no place in the galaxy like New York City.”

“No need -- I'll accept the assignment. When do I start?”

“On Monday. Be here at nine sharp and wear business attire. Good to have you back, lad.”

Nyk walked ten blocks to the Canal Street subway station and rode the train to Queens. He climbed the steps to the Kyhana household and rang the bell.

Yasuko opened the door. “Sukiko's at her job at NYU. Come into the kitchen. Would you like a snack? I have some biscuits.”

He followed her into the kitchen and sat at the table. She set a plate of sweet biscuits before him. “Nick, would you mind telling me your intentions? How long will you be here, this time?”

“I'm here permanently. I intend to live with Sukiko, to help her bear and raise her child. I intend to ask her to marry me.”

Yasuko's eyes widened. “You want to marry her?” She looked at him for a long moment. “I wish you luck, Nick. You will need it.”

“We'll not rush into it. She is the one, great, true love of my life, Yasuko. I intend to stand by her, to live my life with her and to die in her arms, if Destiny permits. You asked my intentions, and I've told you.” Nyk opened his arms and embraced her. “Yasuko, my parents have been dead for eight years. I love feeling part of a family again.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you all.” She proffered a faint smile. “May I help with dinner?”

“You may set the table,” Yasuko replied, pointing to a stack of bowls.

He set the table with chopsticks. The front door opened and Suki walked in. She ran toward Nyk. He picked her up. She locked her legs around him and peppered his face with kisses.

“I promised I'd be back. I'm here for good.” He handed her the silver pin. “I'm returning this to you. Maybe it did bring me luck. Suki, I found I do have something I can give you.”

“Where is it?” she asked.

“I can't here -- maybe after dinner. Let's go upstairs and talk.” He held her hand and ascended the stairs.

Suki stood in her bedroom and began to change her clothes. “What happened on Floran?”

“I don't know where to begin. I've petitioned for dissolution of my marriage with Senta.”

“Because of me?” she asked.

“No -- because of Senta and me. The man who orchestrated the smuggling is dead.” Nyk related the story of Andra and Zander.

“You mean your advanced civilization practices a near slave trade in genetically engineered women?”

“Yes -- it's a shame, a disgrace. Andra and I discovered we're kindred spirits. We became good friends and lovers. She wants to meet you, some day, and I hope it'll be possible. I'm sure you'll like her.”

“You're in love with Andra?”

“A bit. Not the way I love you, Suki. I could never love anyone the way I love you.”

She stopped undressing. “Did you sleep together?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Suki, I think it's important we be honest with each other. Otherwise, our relationship won't last. I'll never keep anything from you.”

“Did you make love?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Oh! I'm so, so jealous! I'll be honest with you about that. I won't keep that from you.”

“Suki, please understand -- sex to a Floran means something different than to an Earth person.”

“How different can it be?”

“To a Floran, sex is nothing more than a means to express friendship. It's a gift, the gift of pleasure and intimacy. Florans offer each other sex almost the way Americans offer each other snacks. It's how friends bond on my world. It's social.”

“I'll bet it's social.”

“Suki, I know there's much more emotional involvement with it on Earth. I could feel it between us.”

She glowered at him. “I can't believe you'd come storming in here and announce, 'I'm home! I've been unfaithful!' I never imagined you'd leave and come home in love with another woman!”

“Nothing about Andra and me needs threaten how you and I feel toward each other. Faithfulness is different to a Floran. We'd think Earth notions of sexual fidelity laughable. But we take commitment and family more seriously than here. This is the Floran nature.”

“Nykkyo, I have news for you. An Earth woman doesn't like it when the man she loves and wants barges in and boasts he got laid by another woman. That's the Earth nature.”

“I'm not boasting. You asked me, and I don't want to lie to you. Suki, no Floran would think what Andra and I did was in any way improper, nor would one believe someone would object.”

“I'm not a Floran!” He approached her and reached to stroke her hair. “Get away from me. Don't touch me.” She pulled away and turned her back to him. “Was it good for you? Was it? Are you going to tell me the truth about that, or are you going to lie and say you hated every second of it?”

“Suki, this is ridiculous. I don't want us to have this sort of exchange. I expect this with Senta, not you.”

He could see hurt and anger in her eyes. “So I'm like Senta, now, am I? Fine, Nykkyo. Just fine. Go back to Senta. Go back to your touchy-feely homeworld. Get out of here. Get out!”

Nyk trudged down the stairs to the main level. Yasuko approached him. “Is something wrong?”

“Suki and I had a misunderstanding.”

Yasuko shook her head. “She was so looking forward to seeing you. I'm sorry you're having this disagreement. I should tell you, although I love my daughter, I don't delude myself. She can be difficult, and she can harbor resentment. One thing George and I learned early on was how to have an argument and then kiss and make up.”

“I'm prepared for some nights on the sofa if necessary,” Nyk replied.

“We have a guest room. Feel free -- you'd be more comfortable. Come, dinner's ready.”

Nyk climbed the stairs to the apartment and rapped on the door. He opened it and walked in. Suki was lying on her stomach. “Suki? Are you all right? You didn't come down for dinner.”

“Go away.” He sat beside her. “I said go away. I don't want to see you.”

Nyk picked up his laptop computer and packed it into his case. He descended the stairs. He could hear Suki sobbing in the apartment above.

“May I use your telephone?” he asked Yasuko. “I'll call a cab.”

“Where are you going?”

“I think I should go to a hotel for the night. It'll give her a chance to calm down.”

She shook her head. “Nick, you can't let this deter you. This is how she is -- she takes a long time to get over things. But she will get over it. Please, use the guest room.”

“Are you sure? It seemed she made her desires known quite clearly.” Nyk picked up the phone and requested a taxi.

He took his bag and headed out the front door. Yasuko called to him. “Nick, if you feel you must go ... please call us and let us know where you are.”

He stepped out the front door, set his bag on the sidewalk and waited for the cab.

“Where to?” the cabby asked him.

“Hotel.”

“Which hotel?”

“I don't care, the closest one that's likely to have a vacant room.”

“Missus throw ya out? I'll take ya to the Anchor.”

Nyk checked into the motel and unlocked his assigned room. The air was stale and carried lingering traces of cigarette smoke. He picked up the telephone and called the Kyhana household. “Yasuko? It's Nick. I'm at the Anchor -- room 201.”

“Where's that?”

“It's here in Queens.”

“Hold on ... Yes, George knows where it is.”

“How's she doing?”

“She's still in the apartment. I haven't seen her since she came home.”

“I'll call in the morning.” Nyk hung up the phone and paced around the room. He unpacked the laptop computer, jacked it into the telephone and initiated a vidphone call. A blue voice-only screen appeared. The call connected. “Veska -- Dad...”

“Nykkyo. I wasn't expecting to hear from you.”

“I think I need transit home.”

There was a long pause. “Home? You only arrived there. Is something wrong?”

“I'd rather not talk about it. I may have made a serious mistake -- let's leave it at that. Just send me the packet schedule and I'll make travel plans.”

“I'll do that -- if you're sure.”

“Thanks...”

“Is there anything else?” Veska asked.

“No.”

“Then I'll send a telemessage with the schedule of packets I can divert. Good day, Nyk.”

“Wait ... Dad...”

“Yes, Nyk?”

“I could use some fatherly