Out of This World

Krel

Krel sat at his workstation, nodding to the beat of the song playing over his headphones as he worked on the computer he was building. Accidentally bumping the desk, he sent a wrench flying off the desk, but reached out and caught it with his lower left hand. That was the beauty of having four arms, it was a whole lot harder to drop things.

He had completely lost track of time, as he was often wont to do, and nearly jumped out of his skin when Aja popped into the room from behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. "AAH!" he screamed, fumbling with the tool he was using. He turned to see his sister standing there, hands on her hips. "You look... mad? No, not mad. Peeved?"

"Neither," she said. "You are going to be late to dinner family with Andy if you don't hurry up and leave immediately," Aja said, tapping her foot impatiently. "Vex made me come down here to get you after Mother reminded him of your engagement."

Krel paled a little. "Kleb, that's tonight..."

"Yes, and it sounds lively," Aja said, giving him a grin that he suspected was supposed to boost his confidence.

"Easy for you to say," said Krel. "You've already met Steve's parents, and one of them is our gym teacher!"

"Technically Coach is not Steve's real father," said Aja. "The Palchuk told me his real papa left him and his mama when he was younger, and his mother is dating the Coach."

Krel made a face. "That is sad," he said, walking with Aja out of the workshop.

She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Yeah, it is."

Krel straightened his shirt and ran his fingers through his unruly mop of curly dark hair, taking a deep breath. "Aja, I cannot do this," he called from the bathroom.

"Don't be a gloober," Aja called back. "You are going to be totally fine. Dinner family really isn't so bad."

He walked out and released a deep breath. "I still am nervous."

"That's okay," she said, shooing him out the door, "everyone is the first time they meet parents. At least, that's what Steve says."

Krel walked out the door, and down the road to Andy's house. He was super nervous about this whole thing, seeing as Andy had warned him her parents were a little strict. She had then reassured him that they were very kind and loving, but he was apprehensive.

He passed one of her neighbors, quickening his pace when he saw flashing green light from the garage and what sounded like a grandpa geezer swearing colorfully. He did not want to know what that was about.

He walked up to her door and rang the doorbell. He nervously tucked his hands behind his back, rocking up onto the balls of his feet and back onto his heels. He heard Fern, Prissy, and Dav lose their collective shit at the door in reaction to his presence, barking like Luug always did when someone drove by the Mothership.

"I'll get it!" he heard a muffled voice shout, one he did not recognize.

"NO NO NO NO!" That muffled yell definitely belonged to Andy.

The door swung open to reveal a girl about two years younger than he and Andy. She actually closely resembled Aja's human form, with her white blonde hair, blue grey eyes, tall lanky build and round face. Her chin was a bit more pointed, however, and her skin was much more tan. "Hi."

"Hello," he replied, giving her a nervous wave. "I am-"

"Krel," she supplied. He was already regretting this whole thing.

"Yes." He nodded. "And you must be Cassie." Cassiopeia was Andy's younger sister, though the two of them did not look anything alike. But hey, neither did he and Aja in their human disguises.