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“Korvo, you have to press that button. You'll reset Zack's What-If and your biggest desire will come true. Earth will be terraformed and the mission will be complete.” Terry put a hand on Korvo's shoulder. “Do it for Shlorp. Its selfish of us to keep living our lives not giving one fuck about terraforming when we were the chosen ones to save our planet.” he gave him a sad smile, not really clear on who hes trying to reassure here.
“We really messed up Korvo..we don't ever do anything related to the mission. No wonder Zarck got it done so fast.” Yumyulack sighed, admitting to their blissful ignorance of the homeworld in the past few years. It's true, even Korvo stopped doing ship maintenance or science stuff. He's grown soft, more keen on his family than anything else. Hell, what would his progenitor think, seeing him like this? Settled down on an overpopulated planet, fallen into the trap of human emotions and marrying? Surely that stuck up old man would laugh at his face. Korvo snapped himself out of those thoughts. No need to dwell on someone who was already dead long before shlorp blew up.
“Yeah, if anything we spent more time arguing about silly things like Dr.Pepper flavors than doing shlorpian things. We've gone too native.” Jesse fiddled with her dress, unsure of what to do with the big lore drop now given to them. “I don't want this to end though..our lives were miserable with Zarck. We couldn't even become a family.” Her frown was painful to look at, but Korvo felt the same way. This family was the best thing that happened to him. Without it, he'd still be trapped in this uncaring persona of an asshole that he was the first few years they lived here. But those times are long over. All thanks to Terry's stubborn persistence to love and the replicants clear childlike characteristics no doubt. He averted his gaze from the replicants and looked over to his husband. He knew Terry didn't actually want this. He hated Shlorp. To him, the mission was nothing more than a possibility to escape it. Earth was the place where he could finally be himself, free of the horrible treatment he got back on the homeworld.
“It's okay Korvo, we get it. Do what you have to do. The fate of shlorp lies in your hands now.”
…but he also knew Terry was a massive people pleaser. Whatever benefits everyone else or whatever the Family decides on, he'll go along with it, whether he himself likes it or not. That's just the way his husband is wired. He was always smarter than him when it came to emotions, and surprisingly better at covering them up too.
“I..” Korvo stared at the device in his hands. “I dont-…” he didn't know what to do. The team leader didn't know what to do. Ironic isn't it? The boss always has a plan. Always has some sort of idea on what's next. But right now, Korvo's mind is blank. All he can think about is his husband and kids. God, he loves them so much. Now he knows what Humans meant with “love gets in the way of rational thinking”. He hasn't been thinking rationally in a while. Can he really bear to lose all of this, just to rebuild a planet that will be cursed to blow up again anyway? No, Terry is right. It's selfish to choose four over a million others.
“I don't know if I can do it.” Korvos voice broke as he was slowly losing his composure. “I-i can't do this. I don't want to do this. I love my life. I can't bear to lose you three. “ he stared at the button in confusion. As he spiraled through his thoughts, he felt two smaller arms wrap around his waist. He looked down to surprisingly see Yumyulack, out of all people, hugging him. He held onto his robe and gazed at the ground, not uttering a word. His son was always terrible at verbal comfort, just like Korvo himself. Yumyulack was more the type to distract you until you stop thinking about it, if he feels like helping at all. But a hug? That's quite out of the ordinary for him to be doing. Seems like Korvo isn't the only one having problems with this.
Soon enough, Jesse joined in on it. She held onto Korvo's leg and shrunk in on herself. “Maybe..maybe we can wait a few more minutes?” She mumbled, not ready to let go just yet. Korvo looked down at both of his kids. At the end of the day, those two rascals will always come together again. As horribly different as they are, they make a good team. He and Terry did a pretty good job at raising them, as much of a hassle as it was. Terry..he looked up to find his partner still standing in the same place. By the looks of it, he was still trying to find an exploit. Some other plan on how to do this. But even he, the one who had a solution to most of their adventures and problems over the years, was at a loss in this moment.
“Terry?..” Korvo spoke softly, holding onto his kids and the button. His husband said nothing. He contemplated something for a few seconds, before shaking his head and practically throwing himself onto Korvo. He felt his partner's lanky arms wrap around his shoulders, his head buried into his robe. Ah..so Terry had no plan either. There's no way out of this it seems. If they go back to their lives, they'll be trapped with the feeling of guilt and failure, haunted by a world that got destroyed without them. Sometimes he really questioned if they deserved to survive. If it was right to send them out of all people out into space. Hell, Zarck couldve probably pulled it off alone for all he knows.
As his thoughts went on, he heard muffled sobs from his shoulder, feeling his robe slowly becoming wet. He looked over at his husband, a shaking mess right under him. “Terry-“ “I love you Korvo.” He said with a shaky voice.
Those words hit more now than they ever did before. Korvo wrapped his arm around him, their kids and the still pressed button between them. “I..love you too Ter. More than you know.” He tried to hold back his tears, to no avail. “I guess the Solar Opposites are reaching an end after all.” He sighed, the exhaustion from all this emotional turmoil slowly hitting in. “I love you guys..you're the greatest family a shlorpian could ever hope for.”
“Who knows..maybe we will come back on shlorp one day after all..” Jesse tried to lighten the mood, seeing as Terry and Korvo were clinging to one another like glue, clearly trying to somehow keep it together. “Yeah..we'll find each other..and then we don't have to deal with the mission or Zarck anymore.” Yumyulack mumbled. He hoped that was the case, the idea of them living on shlorp together. “Maybe we'll grow in the same pot again!” Jesse smiled enthusiastically.
As the Kids were distracting themselves from the inevitable, Korvo focused his attention on his husband again. “Hey Honey..if rebirth really is the case for us.. I hope we'll become lifemates on shlorp next time.” Korvo chuckled softly at the idea. It would be nice living with his family on shlorp..but if Korvo learned one thing on this journey here on earth, it's that shlorp needs a desperate change out there. And he'll do anything to make it happen if it gives his family a good life. It could be the perfect paradise for them to live in. But that's all just wishful What-Ifs, things that can't be fulfilled any longer.
“Youre already my lifemate.” Terry stated with a certainty that he rarely showed. Korvo is- what? “H-huh?..but you-“ Korvo was caught off guard once more. Terry considered them..lifemates? The deepest bond they could possibly have with their nature? Not to say that Korvo doesn't feel the same way, now that he thinks about it, but they never really..touched that topic. "You're my lifemate Korvo. You've always been.” He sniffled, trying to steady his voice. “So yes. We'll be lifemates in the next life too. And if I have to hunt you through shlorp for that, so be it.” He raised his head to finally look at Korvo, giving him a sad smile.
“I don't think you'll have to chase me for that.” he gave a soft laugh, holding his husband's face in his hand. “Terry, no matter what happens..you'll always be the best thing that happened to me. And even if Zarck wont allow it, just know my feelings are the same if we unpress this button.” he took his lover's hand and laid it onto the button, placing his own on top of it. “You..want to press it together?” Terry looked at their hands, unsure of what to think. “This is a family decision. We’ll press this button together or not at all.” Korvo said as he looked at their replicants. “Jesse, Yumyulack, it's time.”
The kids looked at each other, mentally saying their last goodbyes. It's a shame they can't watch them grow up. Terry always told Korvo how he wishes Jesse to be a smart little lady, and taller than Yumyulack. Korvo used to think it was silly, but slowly he's starting to agree. He always wanted Yumyulack to grow into a scientist like him, but after a while he really didn’t care anymore what path he chose.
“The solar opposites will always stay together. We can't escape each other.” Jesse put her hand onto Korvos first, waiting for Yumyulack to join. Yumyulack was hesitant, clearly not enjoying this big responsibility put onto him. But he knew what was right. And if his family agrees on it, he will too. “I’ll be damned if I don't find you three again. I'm not a bounty hunter for nothing.” He smiled determinedly and placed his hand on top of the rest.
“I guess this is it.” Korvo stared at the device in his hand. “It was an honor to serve this team as a leader. And it was my pleasure to be in this family as a father and husband.” He sighed fondly, patting his kids on the head one last time.
“To Shlorp and back evacuation partner.” Terry gave him a salute and smiled. “..to Shlorp and back.” Korvo leaned over to give him one last kiss, trying to drag it out for as long as he still could.
“Im realllyy gonna miss that man.” Terry chuckled sadly, trying to memorize the feeling.
“Alright everyone..on three.” The four of them stared at the button in utter despair.
“One..” Korvo counted as slow as possible, scooching closer with his family.
“Two..” any minute now, this will all be eradicated from existence. None of this will have happened, and everything they have built will have been for nothing.
“Three.”
The Solar Opposites pushed the button back up.
“Terry, Korvo, get up. It's time for a new day.” Commander Zarck's voice boomed through the hall as he opened the door to their sleeping chambers.
“Hm..yes Commander Zarck..” Korvo mumbled as he sat up in his regeneration pod. He rubbed his eyes and looked over to his mission partner's own pod. Terry laid face down in it, clearly not intent on getting up anytime soon. “Mhm fiv more minuts..” he muffled into the pillow, waving him off dismissively.
“Terry.” Zarck's voice was stern, clearly not in the mood to fool around today.
“Alrighhtt alrightt man, I'm up.” He pushed himself up and gave the commander a glare. “Good. I expect you two in the control centre in ten minutes. Get on with it.” He left the quarters to go wake the replicants on the other side of the hall.
“I'm so sick of him.” Terry groaned and let himself fall back onto the bed.
“Tell me about it.” Korvo sighed in agreement.
Another day for Ballochory Team 1.