“We have calculated the position of Earth related to the moons,” the bald-headed magician says in a surprisingly deep voice. “Very soon, they will be aligned.”
“The portal will allow passage through to Earth,” Aurus says.
The purple-robed magician adds, redundantly, “Your Omega’s home planet.”
I stiffen in Khan’s arms.Earth.Are they talking about bringing human women through? I knew it was bound to happen but I didn’t want to have to watch.
I start to struggle, and Khan clamps his arms tighter around me.
“Travel through the portal will work both ways?” he asks.
“Yes,” the head Beta says. “She will return much the way she came.”
“Wait,” I say, loudly enough that my voice echoes in the low lit room. “Return?” Does this mean I can go back?
Khan sets me down and turns me to face him. The somber look on his features has a sort of sadness to it. I was right, then. “Do you still wish to return to Earth?”
The answer sticks in my throat. Of course I want to go back? Don't I?
“Are you serious?”There’s a portal.The impossible has happened. That’s good news… right?I lick my dry lips. “I can go back?”
Khan nods slowly. “If that is what you wish—”
“The portal will only work for a brief moment,” the Beta interrupts. “It will soon be ready. As the moons align.” As he speaks, the fog moves rapidly within the golden frame. There’s a flurry of activity as the Betas in their robes rush around. A few are carrying tablets, and the others group themselves around the tablet-holders, pointing and nodding, or shaking their heads.
They’ve figured out a way back to Earth. I can go back. Back to my old life. My MacBook Air and iPhone. My work desk, with drawing pencils I rarely use locked in the drawer. Netflix. Normalcy. Everything will be as it was.
“What about the serum?” Khan asks the Beta. He sounds very calm. It’s good he’s thinking up all these questions. I’m still trying to get my mind wrapped around what’s happening. I wish he’d given me some kind of warning.
“The serum should go dormant. We must take a blood sample to be sure.” The Beta bows his head to Khan. “With your permission?” It's annoying how the Beta asks Khan and not me.
Khan nods his permission and I pointedly add, “That's okay,” and hold out my arm for a silent servant to approach and set some sort of silvery tube against my bicep. There’s no pain, just a whooshing sound, and then the Beta whisks the tube away, hurrying to the corner and more fancy silver equipment that must be some sort of portable blood lab.
I can go back. Caramel lattes, and chocolate, and Taco Tuesdays with my friends. Not that I have many friends in the States yet—most of the people I know are at my job. I could try the club again…
But what about Khan?
I’ll be there, and Khan will be left here.Khan…Automatically, I reach for him. He takes my hand and holds it loosely as Betas scurry to and fro, taking care not to get too close to the portal. The head magician is the only one standing near it, and even he is a few feet away.
“Soon. You must be ready,” the head magician says, and motions me forward.
“Okay. I'll be ready,” I say, a bit breathlessly. My chest is tight as I take a few steps to square up to the portal. The fog has solidified into a dull silvery substance that looks like mercury. Still creepy as hell, but supposedly it leads back home.
Home.Back to hot cocoa, and traffic on I-95. Back to paperwork to keep my green card status, and blocking my awful family on Facebook. Back to my monotonous job and my dingy apartment.
Wait a minute…
The portal is growing brighter, now it’s a pale silvery blue. It shimmers like water—or a hypnotic metallic veil. There are shapes moving beyond it. I take a step forward, and halt. Am I really going to go through that thing?
“Is it safe?” Khan asks. “Is the portal safe for a human to go through?”
“Yes,” the head magician says. A subordinate rushes up to him with a tablet, and he peers at it. “Yes, it’s safe for a human. There’s a high percentage of her surviving.”
Ack. That doesn’t sound good. But this is my chance to go back… can I refuse?Do I want to?
I bite my lip. No more palace in the mountains. No more moving paintings. No more estrus. I’ll have to trot around to clubs, or try online dating to get my needs met.
No more Khan.
