Shuttle landing zone, Hijra [Six months in stasis, twelve years Earth time gone, Tuesday in Fandom]

[momslilassassin]

After saying their final goodbyes to Ender's parents before getting to Ganges, there wasn't really much point to staying awake between stops, and so all three of them went into stasis for the duration of the flight between Ganges and Hijra, a planet they'd picked for its relative obscurity, warm, dry climate, and sand (but not too much sand, Ben had been sure to check. He hadn't come all this way to end up on another Tatooine. There was obscure and there was "furthest star from anything.") Besides, after their trip back to Kaeleer, Ben hadn't exactly been anxious to be alone with his thoughts for much time.

He'd memorized what little information had changed about their new home planet: very quiet, minimal interference from Earth's government (which was now a few generations past Peter's time, and that was a little hard to get used to), made up primarily of Earth immigrants from the Middle East, and Northern and Central parts of Africa. They'd been drawn to the heat as much as Ben had been. With all of his possessions in the duffel over his shoulder, he stepped down out of the shuttle and took his first breath of non-recycled air in six months. "Sure is hot," he said, tilting his head up to the sun. "Feels good. Where's our house again?"

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[endsthegame]

"Over there," Ender said, pointing to a group of white homes with ocre and light blue trimmings. It wasn't much of a walk from where they were. "Somewhere near the front."

[momslilassassin]

"Beats a stasis pod," Ben said with a tiny smile, running his free hand through his hair. "Think it has a bath tub?"

[endsthegame]

"We'll have to try and see," Ender said.

"I for one could do with another shower," Valentine muttered. "I'm still finding gunk in places."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah, that takes a few days to go away entirely," Ben said, making a little face.

[endsthegame]

"On the upside, we won't have to go through that again for a while," Ender offered as he dragged his trunk towards the houses.

[momslilassassin]

"Did we check to see if other ships even come here?" Ben asked. "Because if we're waiting on me building our way off, it could take a bit."

[endsthegame]

"They do," Ender confirmed as Jane whispered the answer in his ear. "Apparently interplanetary trade has picked up since our last stop."

[momslilassassin]

"That's reassuring," Ben replied. "Not that we're ever going back to Ganges again. Ever."

[endsthegame]

"Ganges is still a little too close to Earth for my liking anyway," Ender said. He walked through the gate.

"We'll be sharing one place," he noted, "But there's multiple bathrooms and bedrooms, so I think we'll be okay."

[momslilassassin]

"Does this mean I need to wear pants to breakfast now?" Ben asked, grinning at Val.

[endsthegame]

"Only on Smart Sundays," Valentine said, giving an imperial little wave. "I'm not afraid of your tackle."

But Ben would probably be terrified of her seeing it, in her reckoning.

Ender shook his head and ignored them, pressing his hand to the touchpad by the house's entrance. By the looks of it - the construction, the colors - you'd think it was a home back in 20th century Turkey or Egypt. The modern details, such as the touchpad, belied this.

[momslilassassin]

Ben stepped through the doorway when it opened, getting a good look around their new home. "It's nice and airy," he said. "It must get hot if the ceilings are this high."

[endsthegame]

"It runs up into the high 30s each summer," Ender agreed. "This is a good location, though. The sea isn't far away. The wind will keep us from melting completely."

"Good," Valentine said, dropping her bags and immediately flopping onto a chair. "I can work on my tan."

[momslilassassin]

"And I'll fry like an egg," Ben said with a laugh, falling onto a different chair. "It's worth it if the sea's close."

That way he knew where to find Ender when he wasn't home.

[endsthegame]

"We should be able to get a view of the beach from the yard," Ender said, sitting down in the final chair. "Though it's still something of a walk."

[momslilassassin]

"Walks are good," Ben said, smiling. "We've been cooped up for years."

[endsthegame]

"Just looking at this place from the walk here," Valentine said, "It's so much bigger than Miranda."

"The population is a few million souls bigger, with much space for more," Ender said, stretching his legs out. "Mostly Muslims here."

[momslilassassin]

Ben tilted his head at that. "I'll need to read up on that, then," he said. "I only know what I learned to deal with Alai when I was fifteen, and I wasn't exactly trying to make friends at the time."

[endsthegame]

"The laws are stricter than we're used to," Ender noted. "Nothing so strict it'll endanger our lives, but I'd advise we all act with some restraint when we're out in public."

That meant you, Ben.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's cheeks went a little pink. "Noted. We're not here to make waves anyway."

[endsthegame]

"But we should be fine while we're in the house," Ender said, reaching down to take off his shoes. It really was pretty warm already.

Valentine released a snort of understanding. "I guess that means I'll take the first groceries shift," she said.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's cheeks turned a brighter red. "Thanks, Val," he told the floor.

[endsthegame]

Valentine shot him a glance, then gave him a little sympathetic tap with her foot. "I meant I'm hungry," she said, her tone soft. "And you guys could use a moment to settle in."

"If you want to," Ender said, flashing her a tiny smile.

[momslilassassin]

"You're my very favorite sister," Ben said, standing up to give her a kiss on the cheek.

[endsthegame]

Valentine slid her arms around him and gave him a firm, warm hug. "We made it," she whispered in his ear. "Enjoy it."