The raging feelings of anger, impatience, and betrayal disappeared. Something tight wedged itself inside America’s chest.
“…What?”
“I can’t return.” Tony repeated. “I…I have to go back home.”
“You…” America breathed, still reeling in shock. “Have to go back?”
“Yes.”
Three seconds passed before America regained the ability to speak again.
“Why?” America demanded, heart breaking. “Why do you have to go back?”
“Because…those are my orders.” Tony said weakly, but in a much stronger voice, stated: “’You are to go to star system 34 x 107, planet L3. Locally named: Earth. Observe and report; Interaction with populace is at your own discretion. Log one hundred local years; return and report. If planet hunters arrive, use every means necessary to quell threat. If threat neutralized; return and report.’” Tony paused a moment before speaking again. “We neutralized the alien forces. And now…I have to return and report.”
“Can’t you just send them your report remotely?” America pleaded. “Why do you have to go back?”
“Because-”
“And don’t tell me because ‘they’re my orders’!” America snapped, his emotions rising and falling like a roller coaster. “Because that’s bullshit! You don’t have to go back! You can send your report via probe or whatever…and then you can rejoin us!”
“America…” Tony tried, his voice weak with emotion. “I don’t belong here. I’m not a human being.”
“That never bothered you before!” America accused, eyes growing misty.
“America…I have to go back.” Tony repeated again. “Back home.”
“You…” America choked, and breathed in a shaky breath. “But…”
“America. When I first crash landed here…I was afraid of you humans.” Tony admitted, his voice soft. “All of you love knowledge and creating new things…but…you are ruled by emotions. You are strong and unpredictable… I didn’t think I was going to survive on your planet.” Tony breathed, his voice small. “But… one morning…you just showed up. You welcomed me and gave me a place to live…” Tony hesitated for a second. “You gave me friendship. I didn’t want the planet hunters to attack the earth…I didn’t want to see you hurting or…possibly dying.
“I can’t come back.”
The raging feelings of anger, impatience, and betrayal disappeared. Something tight wedged itself inside America’s chest.
“…What?”
“I can’t return.” Tony repeated. “I…I have to go back home.”
“You…” America breathed, still reeling in shock. “Have to go back?”
“Yes.”
Three seconds passed before America regained the ability to speak again.
“Why?” America demanded, heart breaking. “Why do you have to go back?”
“Because…those are my orders.” Tony said weakly, but in a much stronger voice, stated: “’You are to go to star system 34 x 107, planet L3. Locally named: Earth. Observe and report; Interaction with populace is at your own discretion. Log one hundred local years; return and report. If planet hunters arrive, use every means necessary to quell threat. If threat neutralized; return and report.’” Tony paused a moment before speaking again. “We neutralized the alien forces. And now…I have to return and report.”
“Can’t you just send them your report remotely?” America pleaded. “Why do you have to go back?”
“Because-”
“And don’t tell me because ‘they’re my orders’!” America snapped, his emotions rising and falling like a roller coaster. “Because that’s bullshit! You don’t have to go back! You can send your report via probe or whatever…and then you can rejoin us!”
“America…” Tony tried, his voice weak with emotion. “I don’t belong here. I’m not a human being.”
“That never bothered you before!” America accused, eyes growing misty.
“America…I have to go back.” Tony repeated again. “Back home.”
“You…” America choked, and breathed in a shaky breath. “But…”
“America. When I first crash landed here…I was afraid of you humans.” Tony admitted, his voice soft. “All of you love knowledge and creating new things…but…you are ruled by emotions. You are strong and unpredictable… I didn’t think I was going to survive on your planet.” Tony breathed, his voice small. “But… one morning…you just showed up. You welcomed me and gave me a place to live…” Tony hesitated for a second. “You gave me friendship. I didn’t want the planet hunters to attack the earth…I didn’t want to see you hurting or…possibly dying.
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