Stripped Bare

Our Homecoming

Dante POV

We were nearing Earth's airspace, as Miro manned the craft undetected, using Zack's latest cloaking device. The US Air Force had nothing on their screens, since we were way below the radar.

Once we were in the compound's radius, we began our slow and steady descent towards the runway, where we would settle down before being swallowed up into the underground hangar.

Then, we all had to undergo a brief quarantine, just to make sure we didn't catch any inexplicable viruses during our travels. This was all about security and protocol, and no one was exempt from it, not even us.

We walked through the electro-magnetic infrared chambers, in order to kill off any unknown germs we might have caught, via a large moving walkway. Then, we had to strip off in order for our clothing to be fumigated and washed thoroughly by infra-red nano sensors.

We were given robes to wear, and sent to travel pods, which would take us to our respective quarters above ground. Our sons were thoroughly examined at the infirmary, and before being given the okay to come home to us. They were driven in the car, under the watchful eye of their uncle, Zack.

Meanwhile, their little sister, still needed more time for development within the hyperbaric chamber which served as an incubator. Doctors Narayan and Garrett brought the floating cubicle to the other lab within the vicinity, where little Una could be monitored by head nurse Sylvia and her staff, and where we could visit her regularly to monitor her progress.

None of our parents were seen, not even the rest of the welcome committee we were expecting. Did we get in a day early? We found this eerie silence very strange. We changed quickly into fresh clothing, before venturing out to drive to the venue that my mother had described to me, on the furthest side of the North Gate.

We bundled the boys into the car. It began to rain heavily, rapidly becoming an all-out downpour. We barely made it, shielding the boys from the fierce winds and pelting rain, as we had sheltered them underneath our jackets.

As soon as we reached the carpark, we made a mad dash for the entrance, both of us drenched with the exception of our tiny tots, who were giggling like mad as they clung onto us like little monkeys.

Suddenly, a loud uproar of voices surrounded us, all yelling, "Welcome Back!" as we were greeted with kisses and hugs by our extended family. The noise died down abruptly when they stared, mouths agape, at the sight of our adorable twin boys.

"This...Are these..." Bron began to stutter, struggling to find the right words, as Damien junior reached out to grab his pinky finger.

"Uncle Bron, meet your nephews, Damien and Dante..." We proudly showed off our sons.

"Where's Damien? Dante?" Zarynthian called out to us through the crowd, before he came to a halt, shocked by the scene that greeted him. Damien's father approached slowly, not wanting to frighten the two little ones, who eyed him curiously.

"This is grandpapa, boys..." Damien doted, lifting Dante in his arms to meet his astonished grandfather, while I had Damien resting on my hip comfortably. We both greeted Darius / Zarynthian.

"What? How?" Darius tenderly took Dante from his son, and cradled him in his arms, gently kissing his forehead.

"I had another go under the knife, for a very special reason. The result of the operation was these two little marvels, and a third on the way..." Damien explained, as Darius stared at his belly.

"No dad, I didn't have to carry them for the full duration of their incubation period. I was spared most of that, but still it was quite an experience" Damien beamed.

"Hello, little guys, welcome to Earth" Darius whispered softly, as Dante teased a curl on his grandpa's forehead, and then, he turned to Damien junior, who cuddled close to me, and kissed his forehead too.

"They're so beautiful!" Alonso was in awe, as everyone began to gather around to dote on the boys.

"And there's a third? What's the sex?" Nik asked.

"It's a girl. Her name is Una Samantha..." I spoke, quietly acknowledging my mother, who now blushed at the mention of her name. She was overjoyed at the prospect of being a grandmother to two spunky boys and a beautiful girl.

"The boys are named Damien and Dante? Couldn't you guys have been a bit more original?" Felix teased, shaking his head as Damien junior reached out to grab his face, to stroke his beard.

"I like those names anyway" Bry nodded, winking at us, as my own father came around to greet his namesake, little Dante Arkaya.

"Praise Be!" Kyron shouted, blessing the children and greeting the others. He had come back with us on the ship, as he had taken a new position in the Organization as Ambassador for Intergalactic Relations.

All the pieces had fallen into place. As I looked around the room, silently observing everyone, I thought to myself 'This is my family. I am home at last'.