Edited by: ASaltedFish
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After going to the mining planet, they quickly stopped by the fourth planet before finally making it to Planet MPE02.
During their time traveling, Ellery and Darya made sure to let Orin know where they were and how much longer it would take for them to reach MPE02.
When they arrived on MPE02, the First Fleet was told to land in the planet's largest spacecraft dock, which was in the neighboring city from where Orin lived. Most of the soldiers stayed on the spacecraft, but Ellery, Darya, Edros, and Akimitsu disembarked to meet up with Orin.
The dock was filled with reporters because the planet's governor was there to meet them. Everyone kept a respectable distance from the First Fleet and Niavi's governor.
"I greet Marshal Caecius, Adjutant Ito, and Your Excellency Lord Aster. We, the people of Niavi, welcome you to our humble planet." The governor and her family bowed.
Adjutant Ito stepped forward to accept the governor's greeting. "Thank you, Niavi's governor, for allowing us to dock here."
"It is an honor for us to have the First Fleet on our planet. May I ask why, though? Our humble planet has few resources." She thought it was strange because there was a resource planet nearby where many commercial spacecrafts landed to replenish their supplies. Most of Niavi was a wasteland full of Ineks.
"One of our soldiers landed on your planet two years ago. We have come to pick him up." Akimitsu didn't see the harm in telling them as long as they kept most of Orin's identity a secret for a while.
"Landed on our planet… I see. Do you need us to help find him?"
"No, but thank you for the offer, governor. We already know where he is because he was able to get a terminal on this planet."
"I understand. If there is anything you need, please let me know."
Akmitsu and the governor exchanged contact information before the governor left the dock. The governor knew that this was a poor planet with very little resources, so the First Fleet would not do anything to them. She felt it was fine for them to do what they needed to do on MPE02.
"Now that we got the okay from the governor to pick up Orin, let's get going." Akimitsu cheerfully said while ordering someone on the First Fleet to bring them a hovercar.
Their spacecraft was a bit too large to be moving around on MPE02, so a hovercar was needed to travel around planets, especially one as small as this MPE02.
The four of them piled into the hovercar, and Akimitsu put down Orin's coordinates. It was the house of the old couple who found him and took care of him.
The old couple lived on the outskirts of the neighboring city. Their farm was the largest in the surrounding areas, but since they were an older couple whose kids did not want to live on this planet, they were thinking of selling it off before they passed.
Luckily, they had Orin helping them on their farm so they could keep it and provide for the community a bit longer.
Orin was waiting at the front of the old couple's house. He had already finished the farm work and told the guild that he would no longer be working there. He still had time to relax while waiting for Darya and Ellery to pick him up.
"Are you really going to leave us today, Orin?" The old woman, Marla, asked for the 3rd time. Even though she knew that his family was going to pick him up, she still saw Orin as her grandchild whom she found and nursed until he was healthy. Plus, who wouldn't want a strong and reliable grandchild like him?
"Yes, Grandma Marla. My wife and my little brother are picking me up. In the future, you can contact me, and I will come visit you and Grandpa Carl when I have time."
Orin was also fond of this old couple who took him in when he was injured, made sure he healed, and even gave him a job and a place to live. Everything that they had done for him was something he felt that he couldn't pay back in this lifetime.
He vowed to send them money every month so they could retire and not have to worry about working on the farm anymore!
"Orin… Just make sure you take care of your family, too." Grandpa Carl was a bit of a tsundere, but he felt sad that Orin was going to leave them so soon.
Just like their children and grandchildren, they were left behind on this planet. But Carl and Marla knew that their children had lives to live and could not take care of them as well.
"I will and I will take care of you and Grandma Marla. Do not worry about the farm anymore. I will make sure you both will live well without having to worry about money. You can't reject it either! This is thanks for saving my life and giving me the chance to reunite with my family."
"You!" Grandpa Carl was stunned and wanted to reject it immediately, but Orin didn't give him a chance.
"Look, that's their hovercar! Come and meet my wife and little brother. I told them all about you two." Orin dragged the old couple off the porch and brought them to their small front gate.
Darya was the first to leave the hovercar, immediately tearing up upon seeing Orin in front of her.
Orin opened the gate and ran over to her, picking her up into a hug and crying. "My love, my wife!"
Normally, Darya didn't like to be picked up in public like this, but she missed Orin so much she didn't care and indulged him. She hugged and cried, telling him how much she loved and missed him.
As for Ellery, he was used to this, so he went over to Marla and Carl, who were waiting to get introduced.
"You two must be Grandma Marla and Grandpa Carl. My name is Ellery, and I am Orin's little brother. Thank you for taking care of him these past two years." He bowed down to show his gratitude. "You have my thanks for saving his life."
"Oh, no need to thank us." Grandma Marla was flustered because she could see not only the expensive hovercar but also Edros' and Akimitsu's military uniforms adorned with medals. "We just happened to find him that day. We must thank you for having a good brother like Orin. He took care of our farm for us during his time here."
Even Grandpa Carl found himself standing up straighter. "Marla is right. Orin was a huge help for us. We are old, so taking care of the farm was getting tough on us, especially by ourselves… We are grateful for Orin."
Orin stopped spinning and hugging Darya, but he still carried her in his arms. "Let's stop with the formalities. Grandma, Grandpa, this is my wife, Darya."
He didn't want to put her down, so she could only shyly greet them while holding on to Orin. "Thank you for saving his life. For two years, we did not know if he was still alive, and that's why we are so grateful to the both of you. Can I also call you Grandma and Grandpa?"
"Of course, sweetie! Since you are Orin's wife, that makes you our granddaughter, too." It had been so long since Marla had seen her grandchildren, so when she saw Darya calling her grandma so sweetly, she wanted to tear up.
Grandpa Carl urged everyone to come inside their house instead of standing at the entrance. Everyone followed him into the small but cozy farmhouse.
Grandma Marla made it her mission to get everyone snacks and drinks while Grandpa Carl set up the living room so everyone could sit comfortably.
Orin showed Darya and Ellery around the small house. The last place they went to was Orin's room.
As for Edros and Akimitsu, they stayed in the living room to give Ellery and Darya time with Orin. The two of them talked to each other about minor things and occasionally answered any questions Grandpa Carl had.
"Grandpa and Grandma are lonely, so I am thinking of visiting them a few times a year," Orin said while setting Darya onto his bed. "I am also planning on sending them money once a month. Is that alright, Darya?"
"That's fine. I can come with you as well." Darya didn't have parents or grandparents, so if Orin saw this couple as his grandparents, she would do the same.
"What do you think, Ellery?"
Ellery smiled. "That's fine with me. If I have time, I can try to come with you from time to time. I am sure Akimitsu and Edros wouldn't mind it either."
Orin felt blessed to have a wife and a little brother who was not only supportive but understanding of his situation.
Grandpa Carl and Grandma Marla had lived on MPE02 their entire lives, only leaving to visit their children and grandchildren once a year. Still, none of their kids took the time to visit them on their home planet.
Thankfully, Orin and Darya would be able to visit them multiple times a year, making them feel less alone in their old age.