"So. You want to go home?" Crystalina asked as she stared at Adam.

"No. We are fine here." Laticia replied.

Laticia tried to act cool and hid her fear.

"Then what were you discussing?" Crystalina asked.

"Oh. You.. you heard us." Laticia stammered.

"Answer my question." Crystalina said calmly, without moving her gaze away from Adam who had tears in his eyes.

"Ok. So you want to know. I will tell you. You are selfish. You do not care about us or any other." Laticia said rapidly.
The queen's gaze shifted from Adam to Laticia.
Adam tried to stop her but she didn't stop.

"You know what? My brother wants you to have a good life. But you do not care at all. All you care about is your troop or your kingdom or whatsoever. Adam just wants you to enjoy a better quality of life. And for that he wants to take you to earth where you will be surrounded to true beings, a place where Adam will keep you happy." Laticia talked and finally she stopped and took a deep breath.

"Why would he want to do that for me?" Laticia asked.

"Why? Can't you notice that Adam has fallen in love with you?" Laticia shouted.

Adam was shocked. His mouth was left opened and he stared at Crystalina with fear. Crystalina shifted her gaze back to Adam. Tears fell from Adam's eyes.

"Is...is this true?" Crystalina asked.

"What do you mean? Can't you see it in his eyes?" Laticia said.

The queen kept on staring at Adam. She had a happy expression on her face. Laticia smiled realizing that her plan has been working. The queen was falling in the trap.

"I've been noticing Adam since the very beginning. He is wonderful. And whenever I saw him, I feel like getting closer to him." The queen said

Crystalina approached Adam.

"Tell me Adam. Do you love me?" Crystalina asked.

Laticia gestured at Adam, signaling him to say yes.

Being close to the queen, Adam's lips started to tremble.

"Yes. I do." Adam replied.

Queen Crystalina gave no response. She only stared at Adam with a smile.

Laticia stared at Adam too. She was feeling victorious. She gestured at Adam to tell him to continue with the act.

Adam felt strange again. He felt like he had no control over himself.
Crystalina was close to Adam's face. Their lips approached nearer to each other.

"Ehemm." Laticia intervened.

Adam stepped back and blinked his eyes several times.
He then grabbed the queen's hands.

"When the first time you were so close to me, I felt strange. I couldn't get my eyes off you. But at that moment I was scared, so, I couldn't understand my feelings for you. I was confused. But now I'm acquainted to this place, and to you. I have realised that my feelings for you are nothing but only love." Adam said as he tried his best to look into the queen's eyes.

"Adam. I've been living with stones my whole life. It is the first time that I've met true living beings, in the form of humans. I never thought I'd find my partner one day. But when I first saw you, I was mesmerised. That's why I tried to approach you, to see if i can find someone to love me. Someone who is neither a rock, nor a stone." Crystalina confessed.

They were both silent. Laticia walked away from there, living them on their own.
Adam approached the queen until finally, their lips met.

*****

On earth

Mr Roger walked into the conference room followed by Jake.
The room was full with other people.

"Staffs. We are here to discuss a very delicate issue. As you all know, Jake, Adam and Laticia went on a mission recently. But you must have noticed that only Jake returned. The next information I'm going to give you might
Leave you in shock. But please, I request you to cooperate with me and do not create a riot in the room. According to Jake, Adam and Laticia have been captured by aliens on a different planet. The planet is supposed to be between the earth and the satellite, according to Jake. This is a new discovery for NASA." Mr Roger explained.

When mr Roger finished talking, a man stood up.

"Sir. Are you sure this information is genuine?" The man asked.

"Jake is one of our best staffs here. I will not doubt him. Yet, we haven't been able to track any such planet." Mr Roger answered.

Another man stood up.

"Sir. I think we should send a craft in the space to search for it. Because there is no orbit between earth and the satellite. It is possible that the planet keeps on moving anywhere and anytime in the space. We should go for an exploration." The man explained.

"That's a very good remark! How could we not think about it. It is possible." Mr Roger exclaimed.

"And we should also take with us an army. If we find the planet and we land there. We'll need arms to fight the aliens." The man continued.

"Yes. That's a great idea. We should start the operation soon. Wait. The media should find out about this matter. Otherwise they will create panic among the public." Mr Roger said.

"Sir. I'll get you connected to the chief commissioner of the American army." The man said.

"Yes. Ask him to come and meet me here personally. Such things cannot be discussed on phone." Mr Roger commanded.

"Yes sir." The man replied.

"Jake. Come with me." Mr Roger said as he stood up to leave the room.

He stopped and turned to the audience.

"Do you have any other queries?" He asked.

"No sir." The audience replied.

"Then go and get prepared for our new mission." Mr Roger said and left, followed by Jake.