Ten minutes later, Mr. Yoth's hopes are confirmed. He gazes upon the very youthful Cthulhu kin making his way towards the palace steps. So youthful, in fact, that the youngster still lacks the characteristic rubbery skin and tentacles which will cover his face at the age of maturity. Mr. Yoth takes a single step forward, standing only inches from the top of the palace steps.

  "My son!" Mr. Yoth whispers to no one.

  -

  -

  "My son!" Cthulhu Yoth repeats in a louder voice, for any within range--and some not--to hear. "Is it really you, my son?"

  Zifawid Lilchta stares at the noble being at the head of the elaborate stone staircase. Could this being be his father? There is a striking resemblance, not counting the tentacles of course.

  "I...I believe so...Father!" Lilchta says in an uncertain voice. "I am called Lilchta. The girgoghs...My former masters, gave me that name when I was born. Your amulet...They gave it to me also. Along with a book of spells. That is how I found you, Father. I used the book to fight my enemy from within. I won over their confidence. And then, I destroyed them. With the help of Captain Hilyard."

  Lilcha reaches into the folds of his garment and removes the spell book. He offers the ancient book of spells to his newfound patriarch.

  "Here, Father. I am sure this belongs to you."

  Cthulhu Yoth stares at the offered spell book in utter disbelief. Can it be? The Octatetan War Journal. It has returned to Yotrohtsoth at last.

  Mr. Yoth slowly descends the palace steps. Taking the book of spells from Lilchta's hands, he studies it with wide gray-blue eyes.

  "Not just mine, Kin Lilchta. The whole of the Cthuihu clan. You have found the Octatetan War Journal," Mr. Yoth nearly gushes. "This book of spells was created long before either you or I were even a thought. Before even my father's time. The journal was lost during the great Battle of Yotrohtsoth. When the humans and their Terran allies breached our sacred space. The very same day...That you were taken from me. Our scholars attempted to recreate the treasured journal. What they could remember. But simply holding the Octatetan War Journal in my own hands...Tells me there is much they forgot."

  Mr. Yoth makes eye contact with his long lost son. He grips the journal using two of the tentacles extending from his wide back. He uses both arms to embrace his offspring--and only male heir.

  "Welcome back...Cthulhu Lilchta. Welcome back...My son."

  -

  -

  Sometime later

  Elsewhere- an inn

  Captain Hilyard flops facedown on the bed. Exhaustion, and too much libation, causes the tired captain to fall asleep almost immediately. She is awakened by soft knocking on the door to her room.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Forcing her eye to open, Aurelia turns over on the mattress. She bends one knee and spreads both arms wide. A loud groan escapes her lips.

  "Oh...Man. My head hurts. I do not need this right now," to her nightly visitor, Aurelia says, "Go away. I'm not decent. Come back in the morning. If that's you, Fenfeld? Don't come back ever, you dumb ape! You could've gotten our entire crew killed. I should ship you back to Apsuzette where you belong. In a crate!"

  Aurelia, believing her point to be made, closes her eyes and tries to go back to sleep. Soft rustling causes her eyes to open. Eerie green light fills the rented room as a portal to Yotrohtsothian Space opens up above her bed. Mr. Yoth seems to drop slowly through the veil. He hovers inches above Captain Hilyard, who is too dumbfounded to speak.

  As before, while in her home on Nuvian Prime, white streaks of light pulsate in the Cthulhu leader's tentacles and upper body. He reaches out a hand and strokes Aurelia's left cheek. Several of Mr. Yoth's tentacles hang low, also caressing the stunned captain's face and neck.

  "Do not fear, Aurelia," Mr. Yoth says in a reassuring whisper. "I've come only...To tell you thank you. And...That I am happy you have returned to us safely."

  "To thank me?" Aurelia asks, finally finding her voice. "For what?"

  "For...Finding that which was lost," Mr. Yoth answers cryptically.

  More white light infused the Cthulhu cousin's dangling tentacles, causing Aurelia's heart to race. So she was indeed correct. White light does denote extreme passion. Oh dear. Oh no.

  "It was nothing," Aurelia quickly stammers. "I was just doing my duty...Avenging my father's death. It's like you said. Everything could've gone wrong."

  "But it didn't," Mr. Yoth whispers, his eyes narrowing, and his voice dropping another octave.

  "We were lucky," Aurelia says. "In spite of Mr. Fenfeld. Honestly, Mr. Yoth...I don't know how I ever thought that ape would make a decent crewman. He's a serious liability. He's loud. He's obnoxious. And he doesn't know how to follow even the simplest of orders. I don't..."

  Mr. Yoth silences Aurelia's nervous, and distracting, yammering with the tip of one tentacle. He presses it gently against her lips, dropping lower and hovering directly above her. The Cthulhu elder grins mischievously, using another tentacle to tenderly caress her neck.

  "Do not be nervous, Aurelia. I know of your feelings for my son."

  Aurelia lets out a relieved sigh. She is not prepared for Mr. Yoth's mouth pressing against hers. The captain's eyes widen yet again as Mr. Yoth wraps her in both his tentacles and his arms. For the briefest of moments, they share a warm kiss. Unlike with Zifawid Lilchta, who has yet to grow into his Cthulhu countenance, Mr. Yoth's face is nearly all tentacles and rubbery flesh. Even so, Aurelia finds herself placing a hand against his cheek. Mr. Yoth offers Aurelia a solemn look as he separates from her.

  "I would be...I would be a fool if I did not speak on my love for you, Aurelia," Mr. Yoth says, his voice sad. "I have felt it for a long time. It was only after losing your father...That I began to consider what that could mean for us. I imagined a day when...Perhaps, you might bear me a son. An heir. Someone to take my place. As I took my father's."

  Mr. Yoth uses a solitary shoulder tentacle to caress Aurelia's right cheek. He allows the exploring tentacle to travel down to her exposed throat. Aurelia stiffens, remembering the feel of Zifawid Lilchta's neck tentacles--as they found their way into her blouse and gently fondled her flesh. Oh no.

  "It appears...You have done that," Mr. Yoth continues. "Although, not in the way I had hoped. Know this. I will always love you, Aurelia Hilyard."

  Aurelia swallows a particularly large gulp of saliva which was otherwise pooling inside her mouth.

  "I don't know what to say, Mr. Yoth," Aurelia replies, her eyes searching Mr. Yoth's face.

  Using one of his many tentacles, Mr. Yoth brings Aurelia's left hand to his mouth. He observes her as he plants a kiss on the back of her hand.

  "Then...Say nothing."

  The eerie green light in the room increases in intensity. Mr. Yoth slowly ascends back into Yotrohtsothian Space. The tentacle holding Aurelia's hand waits until the very last moment to let go.

  Aurelia sits up in the bed once Mr. Yoth is completely gone. She peers up at the ceiling in puzzlement. Surely, the last few minutes weren't the result of tiredness and strong drink? Oh no. This could definitely be a problem.