Flash was on a journey. Everything was changing. He couldn’t know what the future would hold, but he knew he would be near family. More than anything, he wanted to connect with his people. He looked at the cave-riddled towers and wondered if he could make his home in one of them.
It had been so long since he left the Earth, and made his way over great distances. At times, he had felt at home cruising amongst the stars. At other times, he had felt lonely and out of place. He was grateful for the unique experiences he had enjoyed, yet at the same time, he felt nostalgic for the home he had left behind.
Now he searched for a new place to live along with Lem.
Suddenly it occurred to Flash that this was, once again, his birthday. The years seemed to go by so fast.
The whale silently rose, following the contours of the glassy surface, with Flash on its back.
He thought he had been on a quest to find his daughter, but now he was having second thoughts. She was a grown woman who had left his care to make her way in the world, much as Flash had done decades earlier when he left his own parents to be autonomous in his adult life. He still loved her, and always would, but he could not see himself living amongst these peaks, beautiful as they were.
As difficult as it was to come to terms with, Flash had to let go of his child and love her from a distance.
Still he rode on, thinking of the mother ship, orbiting somewhere above him. He thought of Lem back at the castle, and Peck, who ran off into the crowd. He thought of his daughter and of his grandchildren who lived here.
Just when he thought he knew what he was doing, things changed, and he began to formulate a new plan.
Flash felt encumbered, not so much by things, but by his own expectations.
Riding on the back of the white whale, it occurred to Flash that he didn’t know where he was going. He had no control over anything. He trusted that the whale had some instructions, and would take him where he needed to be.
As he was thinking this, he heard a familiar voice.
DADDY! The voice rang out through the still air. It echoed off the mountains, so that he couldn’t tell where it was coming from. He recognized his daughter’s voice, and scanned the surrounding area. It was hard to see. The brilliant peaks shone in the full light of day.
Where are you? He called back, his heart filled with love.
We are up here! she called again.
The bow of the whale tipped up, and the animal rose. Flash could see her now, on a bridge between the spires, waving one arm above her head. She held something in her other arm. She was backlit against the pale blue sky, and giggled as Flash grew near.
The bundle she cradled on her hip was a baby.
DADDY! she called again loudly, even though he was almost within reach.
Flash was overjoyed to see his daughter and her son. When he finally stepped across to the bridge, they hugged and cried. She told him about her adventures in the mountains, and the other family members she had met there. I feel at home here, she told him, and he was happy for her. Flash told her about his adventures, too, and that he was looking for a place where he felt at home.
Olo was a beautiful place, and the people were friendly. He loved the colorful little planet. He felt more connected to it than ever because his family was here. So why did he feel such a strong urge to leave?
As though she had read his thoughts, Mad looked deeply into his eyes and said, Enjoy your trip.
Suddenly, Flash knew what he had to do. Or had he known it all along? He had spent so much time and energy searching for home, and now it was clear.
They embraced again, and simultaneously said I love you.
He turned, climbed up onto the back of the white whale, and waved.
The baby waved, too, and called out to Flash. His voice echoed throughout the peaks. GRAMPA!
As the whale began to move, Flash heard the reverberating word. GRAMPA! RAMPA! AMPA! MPA! PA! A!
Flash Meridian and the whale circled back between different spires, and he saw different features in the landscape below. The Ololians waved up to him as he passed. Soon the dazzling plain came into view, and there, a surprise awaited him.
A crowd of people stood near the TNI2, and for the first time, Flash noticed how worn the pod appeared. It had been pelleted with space dust and corroded here and there by salt water. The underside was scorched by the furnace of entering atmospheres. Still, he loved the ship. It was merely a passing thought. The wear and tear was something he was used to.
We made something for you, a spokesman for the group said.
With that, the crowd parted, revealing a brand new pod. Its yellow fuselage shone bright, so that at first, Flash had to cover his eyes.
It’s yours if you want it.