They arrived at Arcadia three days later. Incredibly, Elena felt great. It was obvious the nanocybots had been working in her at full speed to return her body to its normal state. She was almost completely recovered from the pregnancy and the birth.
They were received by a small welcome committee at Arcadia, but what made her happier was to see Savannah amongst the people welcoming them.
“I can’t believe this… you’re here…” Elena said, hugging her friend laughing and crying excitedly.
“I thought I would never see anyone from back home… and Alanna is here too…” Savannah said hugging the little girl as well.
“Elena has been so worried about you, Savannah…” Alanna assured her friend.
“I’ve missed you guys so much…” she hugged them again.
“How did you get here?” Elena asked her, curious.
“Khajal brought me… I met him at the Taucets’ colony…”
“You’re Khajal’s woman? Haycor told me you had a baby.” Elena interrupted her friend.
Savannah chuckled, happy. “Yes… I do, and I’ve heard you’ve had one too… I’m so glad you’re here. We’ll be able to raise our children together.”
“This is perfect.”
Rafaroy and Khajal looked at the trio in front of them smiling. They hadn't connected the dots, linking the women’s stories, but they were more than happy knowing they were friends.
That would make things a lot easier for them, on the new planet.
Jarcor escorted them to their new house, and Elena was able to look at her surroundings. Arcadia was quite similar to Earth, and that would make things a lot easier for them as they adjusted to their new lives.
There were a lot of trees all around the settlement, and the houses were integrated beautifully with the surroundings. The house they were given was very close to Khajal’s and Savannah’s and that pleased Elena.
It was big enough for their new family and Elena was sure she was going to be very happy there.
She had all she could ever dream of, and that was more than she had ever expected to have in her life, especially after her parents’ death and the planet’s invasion.
She was looking at the luxurious garden outside the living room window when Rafaroy walked in.
“Kids are sleeping now… Alanna seemed very excited about her new home,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“She is… though she has asked me about Zandar a thousand times ever since he went away… I guess she got used to having him around.”
Rafaroy chuckled. “Yes, she asked me about him too… he looked a bit disappointed when Jarcor told him he had to live in the bachelor’s quarters.”
“Perhaps we could keep him with us…” she dared to suggest.
“I thought about it, but I think he needs some time with the other cyborgs so that he can find his goal in life. He’s very young.”
“How old is he?” she asked him, frowning.
“He’s seven years old.”
She was so shocked, she looked at him, with her mouth open. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“No… I wish I were… I’m ten, myself. We grow a lot faster than humans,” he explained.
“God… I can’t believe it… I’m twenty-three… it’s insane…”
He chuckled. “You’ll get used to it. That’s why I want Zandar to exploit his capabilities and being with the other cyborgs will help him achieve a rewarding life.”
She nodded. “Yes, that makes sense…” she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You don’t look ten years old.”
“I feel one hundred years old… we’ve seen and done too much… in my opinion, age is not measured in years, but in experience and I have much more than I ever wanted.”
“I guess you’re right.”
He kissed her forehead. “Come, my love, it’s time to get some sleep. Jahver will wake you up in a few hours.”
She smiled and nodded. Her baby was growing so fast, she was a bit sad about it, but there wasn’t much she could do, other than enjoy every minute she was given of his childhood.
Rafaroy picked her in his arms and carried her to their bedroom. Though he was pleased with his new home, all he needed to be happy was in his arms: Elena, his love, his other half. She made him feel so complete, so human, he needed nothing else in life.
Yes, he loved his son, he loved Alanna as if she was his daughter, but Elena was the main piece in his new life. She meant the whole world to him, and he had never felt so happy in his whole life.
He couldn’t ask much more from life, that was for sure.
The end