The remainder of the voyage to Earth was just as uneventful as Ktak had hoped. But now that the Earth was in view and they were to dock at Earth orbital station only in a few cycles Ames could no longer put off explaining his family situation to Ktak. One quitet night he sat down with her and tried to explain.

Ames had ran away, without telling anyone where he was going the day before he was due to marry. It had been an arranged marriage and nobody cared much, if he was happy with it or not. The Storms were wealthy and Ames was an only son. He had two older sisters, both capable managers and much more fit to manage the Storm businesses than him, but to ensure that he was not completely useless - her words, her mother had insisted he would marry a business partner's daughter and produce some heirs alt least.

Ames had met her only once before the marriage was due to take place. She was as fake and spoiled as they came and Ames realized he was willing to do pretty much anything to avoid the marriage. So Ames had gotten himself a mainenance crew assigment on first ship outbound from Earth using the education his father had paid for to spite his mother and experience from his summer job as space yacht hull cleaner that had given him space walk sertification. The ship happened to be the X509, Ktak's first command. He had left almost three years ago and as far as he knew, they had just forgotten he existed. There had been no contact attempts on either side since.

Ames explained, that he would like to introduce her to them, if only to make it clear to them that he was already married, but was concerned they may not exactly welcome her into the family. They were more rank consious than most humans and thought of themselves highly.

Ktak tried to understand.

"So, you are from an high ranking brood by your genes, but considered a failure by them?" she tried to translate this to her terms.

"Pretty much," Ames conceeded.

"So they tried to sell you off for breeding stock, but you ran away?" she continued.

"It can be put this way yes." he agreed.

"And because they are rank consious they may not approve of me?" she reiterated the final point.

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"Yes," Ames nodded his head frowning.

Ktak thought about it for a moment.

Ames was not entierly sure about the smile on her face when she finally said "We shall see." It reminded him of a crocodile eyeing up a meal.

Then she pulled him into a hug and he let the subject drop in favor of some more pleasant pasttimes than complicated family relationships.

When they finally docked Ames was to land first and go to see his family alone to prepare them. Ktak had some Commander duties that were keeping him on board longer and she would follow on next shuttle.

Ames was not particularly surprised, when there was a car waiting for him in the space port and he was greeted by his parents driver who he knew well. He had been in family's service since he was a kid. They were aware, that he was comming. He had no doubt they were aware where he was all this time too. They were too rich and powerful to just let him disapear and his name on landing manifest would definetly be reported back to his parents.

He sat in the car with some trepidation about what was to come and his fears were quite justified.

"Ames, you utter disgrace!", were mother's greeting words as he entered the spacious livingroom in his old home.

"Mother," he knoded his head.

"They tell me you married some halfbreed alien hussy in a filthy temple in the middle of nowhere, instead of the perfectly good woman I chose for you." she pointed out distainfully.

His father seemed a little less hostile, but he had always been more understanding of Ames's aspriations.

"Glad to see you are live and well, son," father at least seemed glad to see him. "How's married life working out for you?"

"Quite well, father." he responded. "I will introduce my wife to you as soon as she arrives. Her duties kept her on board a little longer but she must have landed a few minutes ago and will be here soon."

His mother scoffed at this. "Cleaning up after the crew?"

Before Ames could respond his mother's communicator beeped and she looked quite astonished.

"We have an incoming transport to the helipad in the yard. Somebody important enough to announce, rather than request a landing..." she told more to his Father, than Ames. Ames had a flashback to the crocodile smile Ktak had worn when they discussed his family and a suspicion arose in his mind.

The helipad was visible from the big living room they were in and Ames's suspicions turned into a conviction when he saw that the transport was decorated Tamare Space Command colors. Then his wife disembarked, in full Space Command uniform all stiff and formal and accompanied by Tamare guard detail running ahead doing all the talking, announcing and door-opening. He realized that with all the cuddling he had forgotten how intimidating she could be. Finally a servant rushed in to announce arrival of Commander Ktak, Master Amse's wife. Hearing this announcement made his mother, who had been incredulously staring sofar with mouth open finally shut it resolutely. His father requested the guest to be shown in.