Chapter 17 — Back at home

The apartment was ready to welcome baby Eugene in his home. After all the terrible things that happened, they were all feeling relieved to be finally able to tuck the baby in his little bed. With him in the room, there was a little cuddly orange fox toy dressed in an astronaut suit that was playing a soft lullaby for the baby to put him to sleep. The child was healthy and safe. Everyone was safe. At least for the present.

The walls of the room were painted in light blue with a pattern of white stars and planets. Marvin and Angie had prepared the room for their future son a few month before that. They had painted the walls with that astral theme because they thought this would bring peaceful nights to the baby.

The baby was now sleeping peacefully, and the white painted stars were glowing softly. Looking at them, Angie started in a low voice :

"When we did this, I thought it just looked nice. I would never have thought that we would actually have to send our baby to the stars."

"Me neither." answered Marvin thoughtfully.

"By the way" said Fluffy "We have to accelerate that project."

"Shhh! Let's not wake him up."

They moved to the living room.

"So, what do you mean?" they asked the cat goddess.

"I mean we really have to go faster. We have to find a way to contact my Golden Fleet. Your baby has to depart as soon as possible to the Fluffy Galaxy."

"Already? You mean, you want to take him… now?"

"As soon as we find a way to leave."

"But he's just a newborn! How is he going to be able to travel so far?"

"That's not a problem. I will take care of him."

"No!" said Angie. "I mean… He's too small."

"You gave me your word. Remember? When you were giving birth in that cold underground parking without any medical assistance? You were really in a tight spot back then. You promised not to obstruct my plans if I'd save you and your baby. And I did save both of you."

"I know! We promised. It is settled : he's going with you. But why so early? Why can't we wait a little bit until he grows older?"

"Because the situation is out of control. Haven't you been there when it all happened ? We've been lucky enough to survive this time. But I can't promise for next time. We might be in great danger."

"But" intervened Marvin "it seems now that they are striking random places all around the globe. It's not likely that an attack occurs again on Montreal any time soon. I don't even understand why they've targeted a hospital. You said their plan is to destroy oil production plants and stuff like that… so they can pretend that the fake aliens are punishing the humans for their bad behavior. But a hospital ?"

"I know. This was not part of the original plan. This is the reason why I suspect they were in fact after us that day."

"After us? But, why would they… I mean, we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Negative. This is improbable. They are our enemies. And I think they knew I was there."

"But… Do they know about you?"

"They're not supposed to."

"So?"

"I don't know yet. I will find out."

"And who are 'they'? These 'enemies'. Are you talking about Nordheim, the guy who wants to rule the world?"

"And this other guy?" added Angie. "What's his name again? Nathan? Nate Maxwell?"

"Correct." answered Fluffy.

"So you're saying they might try to eliminate us again ?"

"It's possible. This is why we have to make sure I can take your baby to the Fluffy Galaxy as soon as possible. He'll be safer there than he is now."

"All right, all right. But what do we do?"

"Try to reach this Gropius guy."

"But I have already called him. He hasn't called me back."

"Then call him again."

"Now? All right."

Marvin searched the number in his telephone and pressed the green button. They waited a few seconds.

"Good afternoon. Or… maybe good morning. Good evening. You have reached…"

"No answer…"

"Okay." said Fluffy. "Then we drive to his place."

"Now?"

"You heard me. We don't have time to waste."

Five minutes later, Marvin was sitting behind the wheel, with Fluffy on the passenger seat. Angie, who stayed home to take care of the baby, wished them good luck.

It didn't take long to arrive in Gropius' neighborhood. Marvin parked the car on the side of the road, and got down.

"Wait for me there." he told the cat.

He checked the name on the mailbox, went up the stairs of the small building and rang the doorbell. He waited, rang again.

After a moment of waiting in vain, a neighbor came out on a balcony.

"Looking for this crazy Gropius, huh? Well, I think he ain't there."

"Hum… Thank you, sir. By chance, do you know where he could be?"

The neighbor chuckled.

"Haven't seen him in days now. I have no idea. Maybe on the moon."

Marvin got down back to the car, shrugging at Fluffy.

It was possible that Gropius went unlucky and got hurt — or worse — during the attack. Or maybe he just got frightened and moved out of town, looking for a safer place. In any case, Marvin hoped he was all right. But it was a pity that, in the absence of Gropius, there was no way left for them to contact Fluffy's space crew.

"What now?"

"Okay." said Fluffy stiffly. "First things first. We have to take some safety measures in order to protect us."