[ WP ] `` They call us monsters , son . ''

The wind whipped through my feathery hair as I stumbled, grabbing desperately at my mother's hand. She pulled me up from the ground with only a cursory glance to see if I was still there, and continued running. My legs burned already, the dry, dusty air coated my throat, so unlike the heavy humidity back home. Tears threatened to spill -- for the tenth time that day, maybe -- as we hurried across the dry brush towards the shuttle. 
 
 I stumbled again. This time my mother slowed, if only slightly. `` Come on, kiddo! We have to go!'' Her voice sounded metallic and fearsome through her helmet. The ferocious wind distorted her words, but I squinted and nodded. I did understand the necessity; I was a respectable twelve years old, and advanced enough in my studies to understand the war we were fighting. I wobbled to my feet and clutched tighter at my mother's heavy, gloved hand. She tugged at me again and we started running faster -- the shuttle was so close! The wind carried to me the thunderous whine of the engines powering up, and vapor from the massive coolant tanks engulfed us as we converged upon the massive ship. 
 
 My lungs, my legs, my whole body was burning from exertion. Tears did now streak my face, but only a result of the wind. I wold not let myself show such weakness, especially to my mother. She slowed and stopped as we approached the door of the shuttle, and I noticed stains from blood of innumerable colors that coated the airlock, and the panels surrounding it. 
 
 My mother -- the towering, imposing, terrifying figure that she was -- knelt down in front of me and grasped my shoulders. I sniffled slightly, but blinked my blurry eyes and stared straight into her mirrored faceplate. I could see my reflection in the highly polished surface: I looked tiny. I looked smaller than a bug compared to shuttle, compared to my mother, who reached up to the side of her helmet and popped open the visor. 
 
 I blinked again and tried to stand straighter, if possible. My mother's face was tight with urgency and anticipation, but her eyes caught and held mine -- silver, burning like they contained entire universes just behind them. Her gloved, armored hand was heavy on my shoulder. I could feel the coldness of the plexi-metal beneath my woven shirt. My mother's gaze bored through me and she spoke in the sibilant language of my childhood, I gathered, so that the people scurrying up and down and around the shuttle would not understand us. 
 
 `` Son,'' she said to me in her deep, rich voice. `` You know why I have to leave, do n't you?'' I nodded, and bit my tongue to stop the new cascade of tears this question threatened. Of course I knew why she had to leave; I'd gotten accustomed to it, in my short life, the hardships of having a Space Forces lieutenant for a mom. That did n't make every goodbye less painful, only more familiar. 
 
 Her mouth tightened. `` The Thess'kaijr armies are growing more bold. I ca n't tell you how sorry I am, varich'na, that I have to leave again'' I sniffled once more at her childhood name for me, a term of endearment that meant'little sun'. She grasped my shoulder more tightly. `` Someday I hope that it wo n't be you who has to fight these monsters. But for now that duty falls to me.'' 
 I heard myself whisper, `` I understand...'' 
 `` And you understand my regret?'' 
 `` I -- yeah. Yeah, Ma.'' 
 Her eyes crinkled. `` I know they call us monsters, varich'na. But remember that only a real monster would force me to leave you, okay?'' She squeezed my shoulder, and I could see she was a uncomfortable with such an overt display of affection -- no, I corrected myself. Vulnerability. My mother hated to be vulnerable. 
 `` Stay strong, be brave. I'll be back, kiddo.'' The Earth endearment held none of the sibilant fluency of our native tongue. I watched my mother straighten and lower her faceplate, watched her transform from my sometimes-awkward and mostly-stoic Ma to a lieutenant who would kill a hundred enemy soldiers without a second thought or regret if she was ordered to. She turned and crouched to enter the ship, her bulky, familiar frame disappearing inside the shuttle. 
 
 I felt a sob threaten to close up my throat. Without thinking, without seeing, I turned and ran away from the shuttle. Home was n't far. But I knew it would n't feel like home without Ma, at least until she came back. She would come back, I told myself. She would come back.
