(During the night, the Commander undergoes a major change in his form)

Annelise has just finished making pancakes and sausage for Cory when the Commander walks into the kitchen. Both Annelise and Cory notice something different about him. He looks joyful, though.

Annelise: Is there something you need? You don’t usually wake up this early unless you’re helping me with something.

Commander:*nods* Yes, some food would be nice.

Annelise: Why? You haven’t eaten anything since you got here four years ago. You told me that you didn’t need to.

Commander: Well, now, I must say that I am famished. I need sustenance.

Annelise gets the Commander a plate of food. Cory watches. He is concerned for the Commander and feels guilty for his distrust.

Commander: Annelise, I feel such vigor. I have never felt this before. I feel the air rushing through my lungs. My heart beats.

Annelise: What happened to you? Why have you done this to yourself?

Commander: I will show you and Cory why I have changed later.

Cory: Why can’t you just show us right now?

Commander: Because I have to eat.

Annelise sighs.

Later, the Commander calls Annelise and Cory into the living room.

Commander: I can show you why I have changed form, but I cannot allow you to feel the emotions associated with the reason.

Before Annelise and Cory can ask what the Commander means, a vision comes over them. They see the Evil Alien Empress sitting in the president’s chair in the Oval Office with a wicked grin spread across her face. They see flashes of a countdown clock on many screens outside. There are only three minutes left. Time seems to move quickly. They see the Commander being forcefully pulled to the Empress by a crying woman with medical instruments. They see the Commander being hooked up to the Empress. He screams in agony as the Empress drains the blood from his body.

Cory: Stop!

The vision stops. Annelise and Cory are back in their house again. Annelise is in tears.

Annelise: You’ve inherited death!

Commander:*nods*

Cory has his face in his hands: No, no! There has to be…something else we can do!

Commander: I am afraid that this is the way it must be done.

Cory: I’m sorry! I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you! But I can’t let you do this! What about us?! Me and Annelise?!

Commander: Your kindness is what convinced me that your kind is worth saving. *He turns to Annelise* Annelise, you welcomed me even though you had never met me. You have taught me about the feelings and emotions of humans. You’ve taught me to laugh and cry. Because of you, I know what the warmth and affection of a hug feels like.*He turns to Cory* You have taught me about the concepts of art, chores, and working. You have taught me about the need to protect loved ones from harm. Now, I know how to create art, use a handsaw, and use a blowtorch to fuse metals. I am greatly indebted to both of you and you will always hold a special place in my heart. You have truly made me feel like family, like a son.

Annelise hugs the Commander: That’s because you are.

Cory hugs the Commander: Some bonds in life go beyond blood.

Commander: I will have to head to Washington, D.C. in two days if the plan is to be carried out on time.

Annelise: Two days?!

Commander:*nods*

Cory: What can we do to help?

Commander: I’m afraid that there is not much aid that you can provide.

Annelise: Then we’ll go with you!

Commander: You cannot accompany me to the Whitehouse. It would be far too dangerous.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Annelise: Can we at least go to the city with you? We can stay in a hotel nearby. We just want to be close by.

Commander:*thinks* I suppose that would be alright, but we would have to part ways once we arrive at the airport. It would do more harm than good if I came to the hotel with you.

A tear runs down Annelise’s face, but she nods in agreement.

Cory: Then, it’s settled we’ll fly to D.C. the day after tomorrow.

Later, Annelise is sobbing in her bedroom as she tries to pack her suitcase. The Commander tries to comfort her.

Commander: Annelise, the emotion that you feel…what is it? It seems much stronger and greater than sadness. Much more draining.

Annelise keeps sobbing into her hands. The Commander wraps her in a hug.

Annelise: I’m sorry! I should be the one comforting you!

Commander: No, don’t apologize.

After Annelise can compose herself, she explains what she’s feeling.

Annelise: What I’m feeling is called grief, specifically anticipatory grief. It’s a type of grief often felt by parents of children with deadly illnesses. They know that their children haven’t died yet,...

Commander: …But they will die within a time that is soon or seems soon to them.

Annelise nods: I learned that in psychology. I never thought that I would feel it myself, but I guess no one does.

Commander: How does one cope with grief?

Annelise: You cry for days and days, but you spend the time that you have left with the person as richly as you possibly can. Then, time passes and you eventually come to peace with the fact that you have lost someone that you love.

Commander: Do you need to cry for a long time to be able to overcome this pain later on?

Annelise:*nods*

Annelise cries and sobs while the Commander holds her close. This is the first time that Annelise has hugged the Commander and heard a heartbeat. Eventually, Annelise stops crying. She looks at the Commander’s face.

Annelise: Beyond, your eyes…They’re not silver anymore.

The Commander nods: They’re hazel, like yours.

Annelise: You didn’t have to do that! You’re beautiful just the way you are!

Commander: You’re right. I did not have to change my eyes. I chose to.

Annelise*smiles sadly*: I love you, Beyond.

Commander: I love you, too, Annelise.

Annelise kisses the top of the Commander’s head.

Annelise: Do you need anything? Food? I can make lunch if you want.

Commander: No, you need to rest. I’ll make lunch.

Annelise: But you don’t know how to cook.

The Commander smiles: I will figure it out.

(The next day goes by, and Cory, the Commander, and Annelise head to the airport and board a plane headed for Washington, D.C. in the morning. The Commander has an uneasy feeling about the flight)

The flight attendants are going over the instructions for life vests and oxygen masks.

Cory: What’s wrong?

Commander: There is something that is going to happen on this plane that I am nervous about.

Cory: What is it?

Commander:*thinks for a second* I…I cannot see it. This must be one of the prices of my changed form.

Cory: Then how were you able to show us the vision a couple days ago?

Commander: I experience the vision before I changed form. I haven’t been experiencing visions since.

Cory*picks up his book and puts on his reading glasses*: Welcome to Club Homo Sapien: Where you see everything except the stuff you need to see.

Annelise*laughs*: Cory!

The fasten seatbelts light comes on as the plane begins to roll onto the runway. Then, the plane’s speed increases and it takes off.

Annelise shows the Commander how to use the miniature television on the seats and how to see how much longer the flight will take. It’s clear from his quick ability to use it, however, that he already knew.

The Commander looks around at the people on the plane. Everyone from every walk and stage of life is sitting in the cabin. From two young college students on the cusp of love, to a woman five months pregnant, her husband resting his hand lovingly on her swollen belly, to a family of five sitting in separate rows, but still talking to each other. The Commander smiles and lets himself fall asleep contently.

When the Commander wakes up, he looks at the miniature TV and sees that there is only thirty minutes left of his flight. Thirty minutes left of his time with Annelise and Cory in this stage of his life. Annelise’s head is rested against Cory’s shoulder and both of them are asleep. Their hands are still intertwined. The Commander holds their joined hands. A tear rolls down his face. Then, he hears a voice.

Woman: Rachel, we don’t grab things!

The Commander turns around to see that a toddler and her mother are standing in the aisle beside him. The toddler had grabbed a man’s journal. The woman hands the journal back to the man.

Woman: I’m so sorry. Rachel’s a grabber. *she picks up the toddler*

Tyler: No, it’s alright. I work in pediatrics. We get grabbers, biters, and everyone in between. *he smiles*

Woman: Thanks for your patience.

Tyler nods: Anytime.

The map on the miniature television screen shows that the plane has entered Maryland airspace. The Commander suddenly feels a burst of anxiety. Every passenger looks out the window as two black fighter jets emerge beside the plane. The Commander hears the discussion of the pilots of the commercial airliner and the pilots of the fighter jets.

Fighter jet pilot: The U.S. government has declared a state of national emergency. Air Force One was struck down about fifteen minutes ago, but we weren’t able to locate the enemy jet, if there even was one. Both the President and Vice President have been killed.

Commercial pilot: *Gasps* Oh my gosh! (To herself) Okay, Delilah, breathe. You’ve been trained for this. (To the fighter jet pilot) Alright, what’s the plan?

The Commander hears incessant whispering coming from the fighter jet pilot’s mind which gets louder and louder.