This is not going as planned.

Turnon’s words still resonate in my ears, like a bomb has just gone off.

“We are done.”

He said the words with barely controlled anger. I knew it would be a shock to him, but I’ve barely scratched the surface of the revelations and he’s already stormed off towards the ship.

I stand there, dazed and hurt for a few seconds before I’m jolted back into action.

“Wait!” I yell as I try to catch up with him — but he walks way too quickly for that. “You don’t understand!”

“I understand perfectly,” he growls. “You think I’m weak!”

Is that what this is all about? Did I hurt his ego?

“Not at all!” I say. “You’re the strongest man I know! You kill beasts with your bare hands! You’ve saved my life — twice already! Any human would starve or be eaten here, yet you survive like it’s a second nature!”

He stops in his tracks and turns around. I run up to him and place my hands on his naked, broad chest. The hurt look in his eyes is killing me.

“If I was so strong, I would know my past. I would know the Maker. I do not. Yet you show up, and you know her inside out? How am I not weak?”

His eyes dart to the ground.

“I have failed as a warrior.”

I cradle his cheeks in my hands, stand on the very tips of my toes and give him a quick kiss.

“It’s not your fault,” I say. “None of this is your fault, Turnon. Please let me explain.”

“What is there to explain?”

“More than I can say in a few words. Perhaps it’s best if you see for yourself.”

I grab his hand and pull him towards the ship. He reluctantly follows. I find the entry button underneath the vines, and he roars with anger.

“It’s that simple?!”

“I’m afraid so — but again, please just let me explain. Come. Sit down.”

After all the convincing in the world I finally get the angry Zoran to sit down. His eyes are wide as they dart across the room — he said he hasn’t been inside here for ages.

Once again I feel incredibly guilty for invading what is obviously a very private place for him, but I hope he forgives me after he sees the message.

It’s either that or he’ll be so angry he won’t want to talk to me again.

“Are you ready?”

“For what?” Turnon growls.

I take a deep breath and hit play.

The holographic images of my mate’s parents fill the room. His orange eyes grow wide, and he grips the side of his chair tightly.

“Karri,” the dominant male voice says. “I am your father. This is your mother, Kelly…”

He watches the message play out breathlessly. I stare down at the floor, feeling like I’m intruding on this very personal moment, but at the same time, I want to let Turnon know I’m there for him.

When the message cuts out and the room is dark once gain I reach out and grab his hand, squeezing it.

“I know this is a lot to take in, but I think you should hear it. Please allow me to explain. What you just saw was a message from your parents. There was a war on your homeworld, and they sent you in this ship to safety… only there was a problem. Your ship was targeted by the enemy, and it drifted off course, corrupting the video-files within. That’s why it crashed here.”

Turnon’s eyes are filled with shock as he listens to my every word.

“It’s a miracle you survived, and prospered for as long as you have. I’m sorry for intruding here, I really am. I can’t imagine how tough this is for you. I want to stress that it’s not your fault you don’t understand the ship and how it works — the Tyk’ix stripped your parents away from you. It’s their fault, and theirs alone.”

Turnon is silent for a few minutes that seem to drag on forever.

I fully expect him to fly into another fit of rage, to throw me out, to cuss me out… but instead he sighs deeply and rests his head in his hands.

“You’re telling me I have a homeworld?” he asks.

I swallow the lump in my throat. Why do I have to be the bearer of all this bad news?

“Yes and no,” I say. “The Zoran homeworld was destroyed by the Tyk’ix in the war. It’s a frozen wasteland now. The Zorans all moved to Earth, which is my planet. We live in harmony. For the most part.”

“My… parents. Are they still alive?”

“I’m not sure. I know your mother definitely was, but… Earth was attacked by the Nezdek, who kidnapped me… I have no idea what kind of state my homeworld is in. Or if I even have a homeworld to return to.”

He nods thoughtfully.

“So… we are not so different, then, after all.”

“I suppose not.”

Turnon stands up. “This is all a lot to take in.”

“I understand,” I say. “I’m here for you if you need me, but if you want to be alone for a moment I fully understand.”

“I just feel so stupid,” he growls. “All this time the answer has been right in front of me.”

“Not to sound like a broken record, but, it’s not your fault,” I say. “You know that right?”

He balls his fists, and the many muscles in his arms and shoulders bulge.

“I know that, but that doesn’t change the facts. I’m going out for a walk.”

“Do you want me to stay here?”

“Yes,” he growls. “Don’t go wondering off again, okay?”

“I promise.”

I hope for a kiss but he walks right past me, the metal doors whizzing shut behind him. I understand that hearing all this news is a lot to take in, but it would have been nice if he had said he retracted his we-are-done-statement…

I just have to give him some time, I suppose. I turn my attention back towards the console and keep an eye on the scanner. Perhaps someone will have picked up my distress call.

A knock on the metal door rouses me from my thoughts. Turnon is back rather quickly!

I open the door — and my blood runs cold when I find myself looking right at Lord Erran’s single, angry eye. The very Nezdek who promised he’d cut off my legs to stop me from running away.

“Well, well, look who we have here,” he snarls.

Behind him I see a whole squadron of heavily armed Nezdek warriors, and my heart sinks.

“Thanks for sending out that distress call, darling. Saves us having to comb the whole damn planet for you.”

Oh crap.