Ancient Astronauts

Strange Wonderful Wonderings in a New World

"Oh Aly, I know you gotta go soon honey. You always do. Chasing after that soldier boy of yours," David Standing said.

"I do have to go soon, Daddy, but I have some news. Hans and I married," she held up her ring finger. The camera faithfully picked up the rich purple luster of Calypsite next to a solid gold band and beamed it back to Earth.

"Oh Aly, that's wonderful honey," David Standing's labored, cheerful voice came through, "It's all your mother and I wanted for you was happiness. We could tell right away, Hans was the man for you, and he wasn't even grown yet! He was a good boy, and he's become a great man. Congratulations darling."

"Thanks Daddy," Alyonna had tears forming in her eyes, "Also, I wanted to introduce you to a couple of people."

"New friends huh?"

Alyonna turned to one of the nursemaids standing just out of view of the camera and took Roland in her arms. The other nurse brought Rowan into view of the camera, "Daddy, this is Roland and Rowan. Kids, this is your grandfather." They were both awake and looked at their grandsire through bleary eyes.

"Roland! Rowan!" David Standing exclaimed, "Hey there whippersnappers, welcome to the world! A huh, you got a big strong daddy and a beautiful, smart mother. You'll do fine kids! And you'll always have me too. Come visit sometime!"

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Hans rose in the morning the babies were not in their crib. He wasn't concerned. He could hear Aly chattering away downstairs with someone. Hans thought it might be Sheila. He was grateful for her help. A nurse herself and incredibly lonely, Sheila had offered to help Aly with the twins full-time. Hans hadn't been able to turn down Sheila's offer and dismissed one of the nurses the hospital had assigned.

Having nurses was a privilege of course, but it wasn't just for the big shot leadership. Aly possessed valuable expertise, and the Agriculture Development Team (ADT) wanted her back asap.

Hans got up from the bed and pulled on his uniform. He tried to keep it a cross between military and civilian dress. He wore khaki pants and a white button down instead of the NATO Combined Operations gray, a color they switched to when most of the green stuff they were fighting in got turned into ash, despite its irksome similarity to the Nazi uniform of a previous century. Over the civilian style dress clothes, he pulled on a navy blue military dress jacket, a bow to his time in the US Navy, and white officer's cap. The dress coat was adorned with some of his medals, his lapel, and stripes. To complete the picture, he pulled on dark brown boots. He missed his dress shoes, but they just wouldn't do in this environment.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alyonna turned toward the steps with a cup in her hand when she heard Hans coming down the stairs.

As soon as Hans saw her, a look of relief crossed his face, "Oh my God, is that coffee!"

He crossed the room in a few strides and took the cup Alyonna was offering him.

She gave a laugh full of feigned umbridge, "Good morning to you too, Babe!" She cackled sarcastically.

"Sorry," Hans chagrined. "Good morning, Mrs. Agler," he said and gave her a kiss. It had been a full trident since the wedding, but he always greeted her that way in the morning. He figured seventy years was long enough to wait for it and he may as well make up for lost time. Then he looked down into the cup, a frown crossed his face, "That doesn't look like coffee?"