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?"

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, making sure his hand lingered against Ender's as he took the cup. "We'll have to pick up some more if we're going to have guests."

[endsthegame]

"Let's see what Val brings home first," Ender said. He shot Ben a wry smile. "If we wind up moving from this planet, we might have to look into keeping a set. If."

[momslilassassin]

"If?" Ben repeated, giving Alai a little glance.

[endsthegame]

"You-know-who isn't so sure about it," Ender said. "It depends on her."

It had very little to do with Alai.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, chewing his lower lip. "That's right."

But if she picked here, he was going to resent her for the rest of his life.

[endsthegame]

"We'll go on a trip to the edges of this colony to see if it's workable," Ender promised. "Just you and me."

[momslilassassin]

"It's a date," Ben murmured, squeezing Ender's hand. "Don't let me keep you from your guest any more."

[endsthegame]

"All right," Ender said.

He offered Ben a tiny, heartfelt smile, then walked back into the dining room.

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

Alai smiled at him. "Did Ben find the glasses? New homes can be confusing."

[endsthegame]

"He managed to find every cabinet but the right one," Ender said wryly and sat down. "So tell me - how long have you been here?"

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"My flight left a few months after yours did," Alai replied.

[endsthegame]

"That doesn't tell me much," Ender said with a wry little smile. "I stayed on Shakespeare for two years, then took flight to another planet, and then to here..."

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

Alai smiled. "The fun of space travel. I've been here seven years."

[endsthegame]

"Looks like you're finally older than me," Ender said. "Congratulations."

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"A lifelong dream fulfilled," Alai teased.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little. "How were the first few years?"

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"Bumpy," Alai admitted, stretching his legs out and drinking from his glass. "Shia and Sunni bumping against each other, various groups trying to figure out how radical they could push the colony...it was messy."

[endsthegame]

"Things seem quiet now," Ender noted, glancing towards the window.

He didn't need to, of course. Jane told him.

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

Alai's lips quirked up. "You weren't the only one who learned leadership skills in Battle School, neh?"

[endsthegame]

"Eh," Ender said, giving him a larger, realer smile. "You were always better at this than I was."

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"This is true," Alai said with a laugh, "but that means I'm now running a planet and you get to play tourist. I think you may have made a better choice."

[endsthegame]

"You wouldn't enjoy my life," Ender said, his smile fading a little. "But you're well-suited to this one, like it or not."

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"Most days I like it," Alai said, nodding. "There's always something new to do."

[endsthegame]

"I can imagine--"

"Can someone hold the door for me?" Valentine hollered from the outside.

[momslilassassin]

"Only if you got ice cream," Ben yelled back, racing through the living room and to the door to hide behind Val help her.