Stardate 2555 November 5th. Tokyo, Japan.

  Last mission before official retirement summary.

  To say I was anxious upon helping the Thorg Gar deliver the log books to the Williams' family, would be an understatement.

  I was secretly elated upon doing this. It was a nice change of pace instead of the usual I had with my job with Intel. I have grown tired of delivering bad news and having to clean up messes from the war. So many freaking idiots in charge and so many coverups.

  I have grown tired of this.

  I have forwarded my official resignation to Command upon the finalization of this mission for delivering the log books, giving back of personal affects, and sending the Thorg on his way back home.

  We were mere hours away from docking and I sat with Gar on the observation deck on the bow. He sat alone on the bench under the artificial magnolia tree as the filtered sounds of birds and wind echoed for a peaceful atmosphere. He held his book bag intensely. His leg was bouncing like an excited rabbit's foot.

  I asked him, "Nervous?"

  "Extremely."

  "I know," I said sitting down. "I feel the same."

  "..."

  "It's nice that we two species can talk peacefully together... How would your kind react to your news of survival?"

  "I meant to ask," he said ignoring my question. He looked off into space as the red hue of Mars crept across the window. He stared for a long time. He was clearly lost in thought.

  I broke the silence and asked, "Yes?"

  "What was the finalization of the war? What did both sides accomplish in the end? Winner and loser," he asked sincerely.

  "It was determined that the war was miscommunication between two hotheaded space captains resulting in a multi-year conflict between portal worlds and two different solar systems. An economic agreement was made as an exchange of raw materials was met. Your planet is known for being rich in hydrogen and oil. Ours is famous for it's metals especially on the colonized planets... Agreement was made to coexist and work together. No winners. Just a mutual agreement to never fight again. Let the past be the past and let us move forward together," I explained happily.

  Gar remained silent hiding himself in his helmet. However, I knew he was ecstatic to hear the outcome. He asked me earnestly, "Do you ever fear coming home after years being away?"

  "Yes... I haven't been home in 10 years. But I'm going to after this. I'm done with the military."

  "I believe I am too."

  "You certain?"

  "I just want one thing after this."

  "Hmm?"

  "To be with my love... Cora," he said with a broken voice. "I wonder if she is alive. If not... No... I can't think that."

  "Once we land, a vessel will light speed travel you to your planet."

  "Thank you... Ren... For everything."

  "Yeah. No problem," I said looking at Mars as the ship passed by.

  We sat in silence until the announcement of landing was to proceed. During that hour stretch, I felt a deep understanding with him. Almost a relatability of how this war broke us. He was worse off than I, but I knew the feelings all too well.

  I wish my friends were still alive from the war.

  Once we landed, I knew the family was to be there. Anna and her daughter, Jessie, were waiting anxiously I figured. I wasn't sure about how they would take the news and having a Thorg explain the last moments of James. I was more annoyed by the camera crew that got special permission to film for a "historic moment" and for a documentary funded by Earth.

  Bastards.

  We walked into a mostly empty meeting room. Gar walked in last almost as if he was hiding behind his book bag and his armor. Then again, he was the only Thorg on the planet with millions of humans watching him through the cameras. The military escorts from Intel stood by the walls. They were to be attached to me "just in case." Command was still weary.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  He paced the room side to side anxiously waiting for the family to arrive. Once the doors opened he froze like a statue. Anna was 4o now. She was 25 when she last saw James. Jessie was 15 now. Anna was a beautiful, blonde woman with piercing blue eyes. Her daughter, Jessie, had the same eyes as her, but brown hair like James.

  Anna was holding back tears. Jessie was more perplexed by the cameras more than anything.

  Gar stood still for a moment looking at them. He placed the book bag down and Gave a formal greeting in the Thorg manner in which he bowed his head, a frilled noise came from his long neck, and an elaborate hand gesture commenced reminding me of a matador. The family awkwardly waved in response.

  Gar gently handed the bag to them and unmasked himself. I could tell they were initially startled, but saw the kindness in Gar's eyes and pain he was exuding doing this. The camera stood off to the side getting the perfect angle for Gar's one tear and Anna's empathetic face. I stood next to Gar and nodded to him to continue.

  He handed the photo back along with a personal, hand written letter. He said to them, "I do not have the proper words to describe how sorry I am for your loss and what pain this brings. I hope by... By doing this that... I'm sorry."

  He looked away to wipe his eyes.

  "It's okay," Anna said warmly.

  "By doing this, I bring back the essence that was your husband and life bringer... He was... My friend in a time of... Of survival. He was... He was a good man with a good spirit. In this second log book are my writings translated to Human English with help from Major Ren here... I want to say personally about James..."

  Gar stopped for a moment and looked down. Anna covered her mouth holding back pain. Jessie, remaining stoic with tearful eyes, walked up to Gar and held his hand. She said softly, "Thank you for taking care of my dad."

  Gar smiled and said the letter is a personal one from him. He explained what his log book was and how he viewed James. It was heartbreaking to say the least. I nearly teared up as well, but years of training helped hide this fact.

  Overall it was a brief yet poignant meeting. It was filmed across all Thorg and human planets as a documentary of the war. I refused interviews and remained professional until the end. I am glad this war and my service is over. I at least got to end it on a good note. One of sobering happiness and peace. I guess this was a way to mend old wounds literally and metaphorically through a physical meeting of burying the past.

  Gar and I stood at the launch gate watching Anna and Jessie tearfully say their gratitude and goodbyes. We stood there for a long time watching as their transport ship jumped to light speed back to Earth. I asked Gar, "You okay?"

  "I feel... I feel a burden was lifted. I am grateful."

  "What's your plan?"

  "To see my Cora and begin life anew. Find a peaceful planet and live off the land. I've seen enough of the stars. I just wish it wasn't due to war... I have no hatred in my heart for humans. I have no anger or ill will left. I am certain I will be discharged and shunned due to me breaking the many tenets as seen in my log book... I'm okay with it, though. I'm free."

  "What's in your hand," I asked noticing a square the size of a wallet in his hand.

  He showed it to me. It was a picture of him and James on KALAX-501. Both of them were posing. Gar remained encased in his EXO-Suit being professional. James stood shirtless giving an enthusiastic thumbs up. The smile across James' face and genuine happiness in his eyes was something that made me emotional. I quickly held the emotions back. I could tell Gar noticed this in me due to my silence.

  Gar explained, "I used my EXO-Suit to take a laser picture of us. More of a... Personal thing to remember. That was Sol 127."

  A tear formed and he hid himself in his helmet once again. He said in a near whisper only for me to hear, "For a moment... When we I was rescued. I thought as long as his body was moving in the bag and casket. As long as it didn't touch the ground. By some miracle he was still alive... I didn't know him before the war. I lived with him and learned of him on that desert planet... Today... I miss him."

  "I see," I said empathetically.

  I watched him go aboard his vessel as his kind landed their capital ship out for him. The Thorg ambassador was most appreciative of Gar's survival. There was a female Thorg in slim, black armor that ran up to Gar and hugged him graciously. She immediately let got and stood professionally as she gave a Thorg salute with her throat gills. I figured this was Cora.

  The Thorg Ambassador did not move his mouth or anything. He only bowed his head slightly and swooshed his lime-green cape over his blue robes. Gar and the other Thorg warriors all bowed their heads in response.

  I looked at Gar one last time as he was the last to step foot off Mars onto the Thorg ship. He looked at me for a minute. I felt a silent and gracious thank you from him. He pounded his chest once and bowed his head. I saluted back with a thankful smile. I could tell he was smiling as well under his helmet, or at least that's what I wanted to be true.

  Now, I find myself in my apartment in Tokyo and think, "I guess this is it then? It's all over now."

  Being officially retired at 35 with government pension and triple benefit pay due to time dilation and how dangerous the war was plus my rank in Intel, was a strange feeling. I felt as if something was missing. All of that and it's over. The things I've seen ad witnessed. The tale of Gar and James. The documentary about them. I could not get their story out of my head.

  I sat in my bed for a long time thinking of Gar and James' survival on KALAX-501. I had multiple copies of their recordings and transcripts in my office. I looked at it and wondered, "What if I were to tell this story? Compile it together."

  I am now working on that, but it is not finished. Just got a message from an insider forwarding me the exact copy of Gar's letter to Anna along with multiple photos. Will attach to story notes later.

  I wondered what that personal letter Gar wrote said. I wondered how sincere and sweet it was. I truly wonder what Gar's final thoughts were before leaving. I wonder how much he changed. I wonder if he and Cora will find that peace he so longed for. I wonder if the Williams family can be at rest now. I wonder what pictures Gar's EXO-Suit took while on KALAX-501.

  What wonders did they witness? What struggles, what laughs, what heartache, what anger; just what exactly? What drives a Thorg and a man to find common ground with each other right after they both failed to kill each other? What type of bond is made? What experiences did they have together?

  I can only imagine. However, I am glad to say that Gar is with Cora again and was pardoned from duty with help from the Thorg ambassador on his behalf.

  Yet I still wonder. Hope he and Cora are doing well.