Jeremy turned, breaking his city-gaze to face his half-brother. “Hey, I know it’s none of my business but… may I ask what happened? Did Anita do something to upset you? You looked sort of… annoyed when you came out of the sauna room.”

“Jeremy,” Minkah said, turning to fully face him, his light blue eyes unreadable but intense, “I know what you’re trying to do. I also know what Anita was trying to do. Remember that I possess a level of telepathy. Don’t worry about me fitting in here on Earth. I’ll adjust to humanity in my own timing.”

Jeremy’s head dipped, a knot creeping up his neck. “So… you know that Trudy and I collaborated to set you up with her then? You seemed pretty happy talking to her when we went to the movies a few days ago.”

“That is because I know that making friends will be very important to me fitting in here on Earth,” Minkah stated, his voice calm but firm, “but not like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Brother, Anita is a very attractive female — intelligent too; I enjoy our conversations,” he acknowledged, a flicker of something – respect – in his eyes, “but I’m not looking for a mate here. She disrobed in the sauna room, then she tried to kiss me and feel at my Tali.” He delivered the statement with clinical detachment.

Jeremy barked a short, surprised laugh. “There’s nothing wrong with that, bro. When we’re young, we date, have fun, sometimes it leads to sex. Sex is great! Trust me.”

Minkah’s brow furrowed in deep ridges, his gaze piercing. “Would you give that same advice to our sisters?” The question hung heavy in the air with uncomfortable silence.

Jeremy’s throat constricted visibly. “No; not right now, they just turned sixteen, but when they reach 18—or older, they can do what they want. They’re smart and responsible.” His voice held a defensive edge.

“Jeremy,” Minkah began, his voice dropping to a low, significant tone, “although I’m 23 cycles and I match your physical stature, remember that I’m only twelve of your Earth years old.”

“Shit!” Jeremy breathed, eyes widening in genuine, dawning horror. “I completely forgot. Hey! Why is your medallion glowing?”

Minkah flinched, his hand flying to the smooth, obsidian disc hanging at his chest. It pulsed with an unnatural, cerulean aura. He stood ramrod straight, shoulders squared, eyes snapping shut for nearly a minute, his face a mask of intense concentration. When his eyes reopened, they held a new, urgent focus. “I cannot telepathically communicate with Amma, the creator,” he reported, a hint of unease beneath his calm features.

“What does the glowing mean? Does he need you? Is there some sort of emergency?” Jeremy queried, anxiously.

“Maybe. My amulet doesn’t glow like this unless there is an emergency. I’ll check my Tangler data streams for updates.”

Minkah turned abruptly then proceeded into an anxious stride into the condo toward the bedrooms. Trudy rose from the couch at the sight of Jeremy hot on the heels of his alien brother, concern etched on her face. However, a gentle staying hand from him froze any potential inquiry she had. Inside the spare room, crowded with an array of sleek musical equipment and a queen sized bed, stood a seven foot tall, matte-black Tangler. He watched as Minkah approached it, prompting the outline of its seamless rectangular door to glow in a soft blue light before sliding open with a distinctive, pressurized whoosh.

Inside the Tangler, he observed as Minkah’s fingers danced with preternatural speed over the glowing, alien glyphs of the control panel. Staccato beeps and urgent flashes of crimson light punctuated the silence until suddenly; Leonard’s unmistaken voice alighted throughout the Tangler, rich with authority. “Minkah, please return to Oakville mansion right away.”

Minkah instantly aborted his initial computations, initiating Oakville Mansion’s coordinates with efficient urgency. “I must go,” he stated, turning briefly, his expression unreadable but grave. “Please inform Trudy and Anita that I said goodbye.”

Jeremy’s head bowed a nod of understanding. “Okay, I will call father to find out what’s happening,” he said before turning to exit the Tangler. Outside, his gaze met Trudy and Anita standing at the bedroom entrance, their faces grim with concern. Before joining them, he turned to witness the instant the Tangler vanished in a flash of blue light.