The night sky in Montana was as beautiful as ever. The moon was at its peak, with no clouds around to hide the countless stars accompanying it.
The moonlight faintly lighting up the land beneath it, a vast forest casting shadows at the edge of a clearing beside it. A peaceful scene accompanied with the faint chirping of the night life of the forest.
The forest choir only being interrupted by an old pickup truck coasting down the road besides the clearing.
"Ya know dear, you really didn't have to...I know how tired you get, especially with our recent days" Katherine said.
Richard gave a rough chuckle and said " well, I reckon there ain't ever gonna be such a day, where I'm to tired to take you on a nightly drive love"
Katherine gave a small, knowing smile to Richard, and then looked out the windows towards the night sky. "I know there won't be, just feeling a little guilty an thankful that you indulge an old women's fondness for the stars."
Richard eased of the gas an slowly started to push on the breaks. Slowly taking the truck off the road an into the grassy clearing, a portion of which almost seemed maintained. It seemed more flat then the rest of the clearing, and the grass a bit shorter too.
As the truck came to a halt, Richard spoke softly."Darling, I'm just excited to spend time with a lovely lady, under this beautiful night sky. I can already feel my old bones relaxing. So hush now bout a little o'guilt" Richard then leaned in and gently kissed Katherine on the cheek.
Richard turned the truck off. The driver side door swung open as Richard stepped out. He turned around and grabbed the lower part of the driver seat. He bent over a little and turn a handle on the seats side, pushing the drivers seat forward. He leaned in and grabbed a few bundles of blankets and pillows.
Katherine, seemingly stuck in a small pocket of time, had a small blush coating her cheeks, the corners of her smile raised ever bit higher then it already was.
"Oh Rich, you always manage to make me feel like a young women again" katherine purred lovely. The passenger side door opened up and Katherine stepped out. She walked towards the back of the truck, lowering the gate to the truck bed.
Richard after getting a good hold on the bundles, met her at the bed of the truck an starting laying down the layers of blankets. Completing it with a few pillows further in the bed of the truck. Once it was all laid out, he turned towards Katherine, giving a light bow with his head and extended a hand. "Lovely Ladies first" Richard said smoothly.
Katherine gave a light chuckle, putting her hand softly onto his hand. The rough texture reminding her how much this man works. Whether early in the morning or late at night, seemingly always working on a project or hobbies of his.
"You smooth Ol'boy, if I didn't know any better, would start to think you would flirt with your own reflection in the water" Katherine said through broken chuckles. While steping on the lowered back bumper, which had a small set of stairs Richard had welded on ages ago.
Richard gave a light snort, looking out into the pasture and replied"Nah, maybe when I was younger, the young boy didn't have too many good ideas to begin with."
Katherine shot back quick" alright old man, forgive the young boy of the past, an be the good man of now an get up here"
"Okay okay, I'm coming love" Richard seemingly leaving the past an climbing in the bed of the truck. Laying on the right side of Katherine, with one arm tucking her into his side an gazing at the stars. Richard and Katherine laid there, wrapped in blankets, while natures choir slowly resumed. After a little while Katherine broke the subtle silence.
"Ya'know, I meant that Rich. it's been so many years, you've paid more then enough. There's no need to be so hard on your self anymore, remembering is enough now. Forgive the young boy an let the old man rest now. "
"I know Kate. I've been thinking maybe...it's time I can let go." Richard said letting out a breath.
"I'm proud of you dear, I've always been proud but hearing you say that, brings a lightness to me that feels like such a relief"
Katherine said lowly, as if saying it too loud could change his mind.
Silence came back like a gentle wind, with only the crickets singing in the background. Time passed slowly as the loving pair laid in each other's embraced, surrounded by the present, almost like a new beginning after there brief conversation.
The peaceful moment continued for a small while, only being broke by Richard voice. Richard gave Kate a light squeeze and whispered "hey darling, you ain't sleeping are ya, look right there. Its a shooting star" Richard raised his free arm an pointed into the night sky. Seemed like Katherine was in a slight daze, it took her a few moments to focus her eyes in the direction Richard was pointed.
"Rich I don't thin...wait...oh Rich I see it, oh it's beautiful. I haven't seen one this size in years, must be much closer for it to be that big" Katherine spoke excitedly.
After a little bit of time, when The novelty wore off, John spoke up in a worried voice "Kate, somethings different with that, it should be gone by now.....I.. don't think that's a shooting star"
After a few moments the 'shooting star' no longer had its trail behind it. It was only getting brighter and larger.
Richard's heart started to increase its pace. The awe and novelty of seeing such a beautiful shooting star leaving, a growing tension and worrie taking its place.
It took Richard a few moments to realize, something wasnt exactly right with this 'Shooting star', making the decision they should leave. He looked at Katherine, seeing the same feeling's he had, slowly revealing itself in her expression.
He turned one last time to look at the 'shooting star'. It was visibly much larger and brighter now. Much quicker then he couldve anticipated.
Richard thought with both there age and how fast it seemed to be moving, that if by some astronomical chance it was heading directly towards them, he would've only just got the truck started, if he got that far. Not to mention if Katherine wouldve reach the passenger door in time.
"Richard, should we....." before Katherine could finish, Richard as calm as he could cut her off. " Kate im sure we're far from it's mark, just sit tigh-" before he could finish, the object moved quicker then there eyes could track, briefly seeing the object enlarge and fly overhead, crashing into the clearing across the road behind them.
*BOOOOMMMMMM* *RUMMMBBLLLEEEE*
Time seemed to come to a halt for the pair. After a few moments, Katherine let out a deep breath she didn't realize she was holding, she loosened her grip on Richard. She realized he was holding onto her just as intensely as she was to him.
Katherine gathered her thoughts and was finally able to mutter "Richard....should we...check it out? Seems like whatever it was crashed close by."
Richard was jolted from his thoughts when Katherine spoke, realizing he was holding her quite tight, He slowly let her go and told her " yeah...yeah, its not everyday a meteor almost hits you, lets wrap all this up and go take a look."
Both of them started to scoot there way to the beds gate. Richard did a slight hop off first and helped Katherine off.
"Well Rich, I feel like I'm owed a memento from that meteor, making my heart jump like that and ruining such a good night" Katherine spoke with a slight annoyance in her voice.
"You and me both, maybe if enough of it survived, we'll get a matching set of rocks we can make into necklaces. " Richard gave a light chuckle at his own joke. Katherine just gave a light eye roll and mumbled . "Well, not a bad idea, Im just gonna be the one making the necklace."
They cleaned out the bed of the truck, quickly rolling the blankets back into bundles, then placed them in the backseats of the truck. Richard started the truck and drove it out've the pasture, across the road, and to the visible crash site of the meteor.
The crash site left them in awe. The truck was bobbing side to side on the uneven ground, alongside the deep crevice the meteor dug while it was crashing to a halt.
As they got closer, they got a better view of the meteor, only they both realized it wasn't a meteor. While Richard slowed the truck to a stop, his thoughts trying to find the right words to rationalize what he was seeing, Katherine spoke up first."Richard.....that's a space ship.... like on star trek or something. Just alot smaller"
Richard didn't respond, not out've disbelief but silent agreement. They've watched plenty of television, star trek and Stargate being a nightly run, they've seen enough to know what this thing infront of them resembled.
"Katherine, stay in the truck...I'm gonna check it out. See if theres any survivors...who knows. Could be E.T or could have an American flag on it." Richard spoke with confidence but he made sure to lean behind his seat and grabbed his rifle. The 45-70 Winchester gave him some confidence, if it could stop a running bison or a charging grizzly, he felt it could stop or at least slow down if there was something hostile in the ship. Though he does hope to see an American flag on it, even Russian or Chinese would be acceptable at this point for him.
"Richard be careful, if you think anything is wrong, come back and we can call someone else to deal with it..." even though Katherine was very curious about whatever this ship was, she spoke with audible worry in her voice.
"I'm just gonna get close enough to see if theres anything to associate it with a government or company, I'll be right back, I swear" Richard slid his door open an started to walk carefully to ship.
The ship itself had almost no edges, besides the red colored fins sticking out the sides and the roof. It was completely curved, like a silver capsule. It was tilted on its side, with only what Richard was thinking was the top 'fin' peaking over the top. Richard walked around what he assumed was the front, with his rifle raised, he saw a large elongated window peering into the vessel.
"What in the hell..."Richard stopped in his tracks at what he saw. He immediately lowered his rifle. He could see into the vessel, with some sort of lights brightening the inside of the cockpit, and too his shock was sitting a infant.
The infant laid strapped to a seat clearly meant for a much larger person. He could see it wailing inside yet he couldn't hear a single thing. He inched forward, part of him still nervous from the unknown, but a greater part of him wanting to make sure the infant was alright. He slowly resumed his approach to the strang vessel.
Just as Richard got within close proximity of the vessel, the sound of seals being undone and Air pressure changing broke through the silence, the top of the vessel opened up, sliding backwards over the top of the ship. The Baby's crying dominating over all of the previous sounds.
"WAAHAAAWAAAAHAAAAAHAAAA"
(("Its coooolddd an i just got shook like a margarita"- baby MC.....Prolly)
"RICHARDDDD WHAT IS THAT?!?" Katherine yelled out. Her nerves already on edge from the close call with a few moments ago. She could hear the crying. With the crash, Richard going to check on what seems to be a space ship, and now what resembled a baby crying, she couldn't sit still any longer. Katherine got out've the truck and made her way over to where she saw Richard.
Richard didn't respond right away, he just stood there, shocked at everything thats happening. With the vessel's hatch opened, he had a much better view of its interior an its 'pilot'.
The infant, tightly wrapped in a smooth red an blue fabric, was strapped to the piloting chair. It held its eyes shut an was wailing loudly like no other sound could trump it. Richard started to move closer to the ship an its 'pilot'.
Katherine came running as fast as her aged body could, grabbing onto the back of Richards jacket. "Richard....that's..... a baby, what is a baby doing there of all places... do you think its hurt?"
"I dont know....but we cant leave it be. Can't be more then a few months old. Kate stay here while I get the child. We're figure out what to do after we know its not in any danger" Richard said without taking his eyes off the infant. Richard laid down the rifle on the grass, pointing the barrel toward the forest. He started to move closer to the ship.
When Richard got within arms length of the child, leaning slightly over the ship, his hand first making contact with the ship to hold him steady. A noise spooked him and he stumbled back a few steps.
A pair of human looking individuals appeared mid air, infront of the aircraft, manifesting there bodies from the waist up. a light trail tail connecting the bottom of there waist back to the ship.
""Kla, Ijh-El, ja ui um'von Jal-El." The male of the pair spoke in a language Richard couldn't even begin to guess where from. The ascent nothing like any of the those Richards was aware of.
The tone the projects spoke with and the little body language shown didnt suggest anything hostile or aggressive, but Richard still replied nervously. "I dont understand what your saying...if we did anything wrong we apologize. We just witnessed the crash and came over to check things out. We saw the infant and came closer to make sure it wasn't hurt...."
The projection of the pair froze for a split second, it was noticeable but they quickly resumed what small movement they had.
"Ah, apologies. I'm Ijh-El, and this is my wife Jal-El." The projection named Ijh-El spoke first.¹
"I'm Richard. The woman behind me is my wife Katherine. I hoped we didn't wrong you. We came to check on the crash site an found the child, we were worried it might've been hurt so we approached the ship" Richard quickly replied, hoping that they didn't unknowingly step on any toes or breaking untold rules.
The women named Jal-El spoke almost in a melancholic voice. " Theres no need to apologize, on the contrary, its very fortunate for us that the two of you found our child. It may be us who will need to apologize to you"
Katherine approached from behind Richard, stopping when she got to his right side an locking her left hand with his. Katherine spoke before Richard and asked " why would you need to apologize? Why is the child alone? Will you come for him?"
The expression on Jal-El face darkened and said almost in a whisper "oh how I wish I could....."
Ijh-El stern voice covered Jal-El's comment. "We would cross the stars in a heartbeat if we could. Our home world is doomed for destruction.The Global situation and politics stopped us from following our son. We had to stay behind if we wanted to guarantee our child's chance at escaping unharmed or followed."
The more Richard and Katherine heard, the more questions they had. Before Richard could ask, Ijh-El continued.
"I'm sure you both have many questions. Unfortunately we dont have much time. We're only digital memories of our counter parts. The ships power supply is dangerously low and regrettably cant prolong our conversation. We apologize but we must ask you to take care of our child in our stead. Raise him as your own is all we ask. We have nothing to offer besides our past gratitude and a dead ship to accompanying him. So please" Ijh-El and Jal-El both quickly gave what they could as projections a bow. Lowering there heads and Jal-El slightly peaking up with pleading in her eyes.
Richard was running through everything he just heard. They just told him there home world was going to get destroyed, they had to stay behind to make sure there child could survive, and needed someone to raise there child. It sounded like a tragic an surreal fairy tale. A slight pressure on his hand broke his trail of thoughts. He turned his head towards Katherine, seeing the look on her face, he knew she already made the decision.
Katherine held the light squeeze on Richards hand and ran her free hand along his arm. "I know I'm being selfish, maybe even impulsive, but I know we could do right for this child who's now all alone..." Katherine spoke with an apologetic voice, almost asking for forgiveness rather then permission.
Katherine slowly let go of Richards hand and made her way to the child. She leaned down and lightly caressed the baby's head. The baby's wailing slowly dying down, like it knew it wasn't alone anymore, until it was completely silent with its eyes still shut.
"What a sweet boy.....seems he was only scared he was alone. What is his name?" She asked without looking away.
The women named Jal-El replied with a sorrowful tone. "we...couldn't bring ourselves to name him. When we knew what we had to do to make sure he survived.....we felt the new parents should have the right"
When katherine heard what Jal-El said, it awakened memories she long thought buried. Realizing she couldn't bare any children, she too stopped thinking of what-ifs names for kids she knew she could never have.
"I dont know what its like, to know your child has to grow and live with out you, but I do know what its like to know you'll never see your own child. If you had a name....please tell us. We'll use it for his middle name. To carry you with him in some way." Katherine spoke gently still holding her gaze at the small baby.
When Katherine finished, the pair froze momentarily, with Jal-El replying in a longing and loving voice.
"His name would've been Kav-El. Kav meaning Bright star, and El baring our houses name"²
While Jal-El spoke, Katherine slowly stood up, now holding the small bundle of hope. When Jal-El finished, Katherine finally looked away from the sleeping baby's face and look towards the floating pair.
"Kav-El....what a beautiful name. Thank you for telling us. When the time is right, he'll know where his middle name came from. I'm gonna go sit in the truck and make sure our little sleeping bundle doesn't get any more cold then he already is. Thank you.....and I'm sorry for your terrible circumstances. Its truly unfair."
Katherine turned away from the vessel and its floating overlookers. Making a steady pace back to the truck while being careful not to stumble. As she passed Richard, she gave him a small smile, carrying both a hint of embarrassment for her rash decision, and a silent apology for not waiting for his input.
Richard knew the thoughts and emotions behind Katherine's action. He didn't blame her nor was he upset. She wasn't wrong that they could more then provide for the child.
Earlier when Katherine walked up to the baby and was talking Jal-El, he was already trying to think of ways to deal with the space ship. If they were about to raise this child, he couldn't exactly call people to get rid of it, nor could he explain the missing pilot and the sudden child they have. Not to mention how to legally adopt a child with absolutely no connections in this world. Richard knew his coming days were gonna be sleepless while he figured everything out.
A voice broke his train of thoughts, Richard raised his head. At some point during his thoughts, he lowered his head and started to rub his neck like it was strained.
"We have no way of showing our immense gratitude. We can only say thank you. There are still a few things we need to tell you before our time runs out. On the left side of the piloting chair, there is a tablet. It holds useful and critical information about our species. While were not so different to the humans of this planet, we do have our major differences as well. We took liberties to translate it so you could understand it. On the right side of the piloting chair is a special piece of equipment. The directions of when and how to use it for the boy is also in the tablet." Ijh-Kel spoke in a relieved voice and laced with sadness.
Richard moved closer to the ship. Leaning into the ship and grabbing the tablet from beside the piloting seat. It looked like a silver oval, with a visible separating line cutting through the middle, about the same size as a large kitchen plate.
"Pull the top and bottom apart vertically." Ijh-El voiced interrupted his curious inspection.
Richard did as Ijh-El said. The two pieces separated nearly a foot apart, with a thin blue sheet-like material connecting both halves. The Blue sheet was lit up, on the left side was a 2 inch width column filled with small rows of titles. The rest of the blue sheet seemed to be blank.
"Push your finger on any of the chapters in the left column, and it will bring up the full file to the rest of the tablet. The column will always stay there so no need to worry on not being able to go back. I recommend first reading 'energy emitter ' when you return home. That's the special equipment we mentioned earlier." Ijh-El explained the basic UI and continued speaking
"Everything you need to know is in that tablet. I cant guarantee it holds all the answers, but it was the best we could do, so it has to be enough. This is where we say farewell. I'm sure our counter parts would be very pleased to know our son found a home. We will enter the ship and ourselves into a deep energy conservation mode. The likely chance of either us or the ship coming back online being minimal. Good bye, Richard, once again thank you"
"Good bye Richard"
Once Ijh-El and Jal-El said there farewells, they were gone as quick as they came. The silence returning just as fast.
Richard closed the tablet and leaned back into the ship. He grabbed what they called the 'energy emitter'. It was made with a metal He's never seen before, like silver that started to turn a light blue, with intricate engraving through out it. It took a crescent shaped and was 3 feet long.
Richard got a good hold on the tablet and energy emitter and turned to head back to the truck. Ready to end the night knowing it was far from over.
"Well.....I guess life just got way most interesting. Came to look at the stars only to speak and leave with one of there inhabitants. Just my luck"
When Richard got to the truck he opened the drivers side door an sat in the drivers seat. Katherine already started the truck and turned the heaters on while the baby slept quietly on her lap. Richard put the truck in reverse and kept the tablet and emitter on his lap. He leaned back and turned slightly to look out the back window of the truck. While he was turning he managed to catch Katherine's worried expression while she faced the sleeping baby. He could guess what she was feeling.
"Love, I'm gonna drop you off at home first then come deal with the ship. I'll let you deal with our son in the meantime. Sound like a plan?" Richard spoke while still slowly reversing back to the road.
When the words 'son' reached Katherine ears, it seemed to send a jolt through her. While Katherine was waiting in the truck, the feeling's of guilt and selfishness was slowly growing, making her feel terrible for what her impulsiveness lead too. It wasn't that she regrets it, she just knew she made many problems for Richard, both legally and physically. Hearing the word son, she knew it was Richards way of accepting the outcome and comforting her.
She quietly spoke a small "thank you", she then continued and said "sounds like a fine idea Rich"
The truck reached the road and they headed back home. They both left home that night to watch the stars, never imagining they would take one home that very night.
((Let me know what you guys think. I know bit was a long pilot chap. I personally love lengthy chapters. The next chapter will cover our MC's growth. Will be a bunch of time skips with some important events that took place in each year we visit. Till he reaches the age of 16-17))