Authors: Jessica Kong
“Then I have no ship.”
“What?”
“I have no ship.”
John stared at the fangless vampire, willing himself to stay calm. “Let me explain. A power hungry thug is invading my part of space. I need to get back to my empire and warn my people before they’re attacked. I can’t do that without a ship.”
Wanchai sat back in his chair. He crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest. “No money. No ship.”
John held out his hand. “You’ll get your money. I promise you. As soon as I get back to the empire and warn my people.”
“No.”
“Lives are at stake here.”
“Not my war. Not my problem.”
His callousness angered John. “What do you mean ‘not my problem’?”
“No money. No ship.”
“I didn’t actually get a chance to grab my wallet when we were attacked during the middle of the night.”
“You should have.”
John pressed his lips together and glanced at the sea of aliens. He needed that ship. Too many lives were at stake. He decided to try an approach he normally would not approve of.
“Have you ever heard of the Seacats?” A flash of interest crossed the alien’s eyes. John tapped his insignia. “I’m a Seacat of the Sea-anan Empire.”
“I have heard of the Seacats. You are not one of them.”
John’s eyebrows rose. “Excuse me.”
“The Seacats are
cats
.”
His words reminded John of what Dr. Yik’s had said. “I’m a half-blood. My father is human, an Earthling.”
“Good for you.”
“Right.” John was unsure if the alien was making fun of him. “How about that ship?”
“No money. No ship.”
“No ship,” said John at the same time as him. “How about a trade, then? Your ship for mine.”
Wanchai thought about it. John figured the deal would interest him. His Seacats were new to this side of space. Therefore, no one possessed a Seacat vessel, even if it was banged up and parked behind Dr. Yik’s office building.
“Agreed.”
John released a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“On one condition.”
Why did he think it would be that easy? “What’s that?”
“I want the symbol on your pants, those bangles, and,” he pointed to John’s right ear, “that.”
“My insignia, translator, and my wristguards! Are you crazy?”
“You have no funds. You crashed your ship. That is my payment.”
John did not hesitate. He had trained extremely hard to earn his badge. He was not giving it up. Nor was he going to take off his translator or wristguards. The bangles had not only a communication system built into its impervious metal but a tracking device. The Imperial Warriors not only used the bracelets as shields, but it was their link to each other.
More importantly, he was not about to hand over the Seacats’ technology to a complete stranger. The Starfighter was a common vessel used throughout the empire. The alliance, composed of peaceful worlds, all shared that particular technology. He did not mind sharing that with outsiders. However, sharing the advanced technology created by his mother and siblings without signing a contract to secrecy was out of the question. If every nation was as advanced as the Seacats then the empire would lose its edge in the universe.
“Forget it. No deal.”
“No deal,” repeated Wanchai. He stood from the table and left the tavern.
John covered his face with his hands. What was he going to do next? It looked like he was going to spend another night on Cerko. His next step should be to locate a place to sleep. He unclipped his staff and extended it. Carefully standing up, he went to the bar to speak with Navas.
“Got ship?” asked Navas as he approached John.
“No money, no ship,” replied John, sitting down. He rubbed his face. “It looks like I’ll be staying for a while.” He looked at Navas. Three eyes looked back at him. “Do you know where I can find the innkeeper? I’m going to need a room.”
“And food.”
“And food,” repeated John. He expected Navas to answer his question. It was simple enough. However, Navas did not. He just stared. “Navas?”
“What is payment? No money, remember?”
“Maybe the innkeeper will let me work it off or something.”
“Or something.” Navas’s middle eye switched its attention to the staff John had leaning against the bar. “You cannot walk, remember?”
John exhaled in frustration. “Fine. I’ll give him my chain. It’s pure gold. That’s enough payment for room and board.”
“Nice chain.”
John saw all three eyes focusing on his neck. He swallowed. “Yeah.” He eyed the giant carefully. “Where can I find the innkeeper?”
“I am innkeeper.” Navas held out his huge hand. “I take payment now.”
John hesitated. He regarded the outstretched hand. It could crush his head without trying. “Are you serious, or is this some kind of joke? I have to warn you, I’m in no mood to play around.”
“No joke. I own Road Kill. No chain, no room or food.” He waited.
Gritting his teeth, John reached behind his neck and released the clasp to the chain his brother Alan had bought him two Christmases ago. “This had better be an awesome room.” John placed the chain in the center of Navas’s large palm.
“Room is clean.” Navas’s fingers closed around the chain. “Food is edible.”
John watched him put the chain in his pocket. “Great,” he said sarcastically. He hoped his brother would understand why he parted with the expensive gift.
“Follow me.” Navas led John to a room upstairs.
John walked two steps into the room and stopped. He viewed the interior in one sweep. The room was the size of a closet. In front of him was a wooden single-sized bed flushed against the wall. It looked barely big enough for his little sister who was five foot four. He was six foot five. By the foot of the bed was a small desk that looked like it was made for a child. The tiny space was indeed clean, but not worth the chain.
John turned to Navas, glaring. Navas chuckled as he left.
.
Three months passed, and John still found himself stranded on Cerko. Unfortunately, he was no closer to getting off the planet. So far, Cerko had escaped Daehog’s attacks, which was why John refused to send a Mayday signal from his wristguards. Instead, he tried making deals with every ship merchant who entered the bar. But unless he agreed to throw in his insignia, translator, and wristguards, no one was interested in his broken ship. At least his leg and ribs had healed.
The price for room and board paid with his gold chain had run out. John now worked in the bar in exchange. It was a slow day. He wiped the bar with a clean rag. Thoughts of his family entered his mind. He prayed they were all right. Did he still have a home to return to? When would he ever go home?
A group of four aliens entered the tavern and paused at the doorway. John glanced at the men as they scanned the dark interior. They chose a table in the middle of the room and made themselves comfortable. Navas hurried over to take their orders. John continued cleaning the counter. Unless they were ship merchants, he was not interested.
He went to the sink and started washing the pile of dirty glasses. The appearance of the aliens who visited Road Kill no longer surprised him. This group was the least interesting-looking to him; the men seemed to look more like Earthlings than John did.
Navas returned with their drink order. He placed the list on the counter next to John, so John could prepare the drinks while he went into the kitchen to make their lunch. John busied himself making the drinks, not noticing the odd looks the new arrivals sent his way.
The man sitting closest to the door whispered, “Are you feeling what I’m feeling?” His gaze landed on John.
The man sitting with his back to John replied, “We are all feeling what you are feeling, Samael.”
“I wonder who he is?” said Samael. “Turn around and look at him, Bogdan. He looks like one of us.”
“I saw him when we first entered,” answered Bogdan, without turning around. “He’s the reason why I wanted to enter here. I felt his presence while purchasing our supplies.”
“Which is why you are the best Seeker amongst our race,” spoke the male to Bogdan’s left. “You are more sensitive to the Medlothian spell than the rest of us.”
“Kirkus is right,” said Samael. “How will you get him to come with us?”
Bogdan inhaled. “I have not thought of a way yet.”
“I have a suggestion.” The fourth male, Batronis, said. He sat across from Bogdan. His eyes followed John’s movements.
“Yes?” Bogdan was open to any idea.
“He’s new here. Ask Navas about him. That might give us insight into how to approach him.”
“Good idea.”
“If that does not work, we can always kidnap him,” injected Kirkus, smiling.
The group laughed. They quieted down when John approached carrying a tray. They intently watched him serve the drinks. When they saw his belt buckle, their faces expressed the same emotion. Confusion.
“Will that be all?” asked John.
“Yes, thank you,” replied Bogdan.
All four men watched John return to the bar.
Samael sat forward and cupped his drink. “It’s a good thing he speaks Earthlish. I wonder who’s destined to be his permanent mate.”
Batronis lifted his drink to his lips. “We will not know until he returns with us to Surreal.”
Kirkus stared at John. “I wonder if he can love someone outside his race.” He drank from his mug.
“I want to know where he got that Seacat insignia,” added Bogdan while tapping a fingernail on his glass. “He’s no Seacat.”
Samael sat straighter in his seat. “Here comes Navas with our food. You can ask him, Bogdan.”
Bogdan glanced over his left shoulder. As Navas served their lunch, Bogdan switched over to Navas’s dialect and questioned him about the new help. He was pleased with what Navas told him. He was also surprised to hear that John was indeed a Seacat. Bogdan had his doubts. The Seacats he knew were felines.
In hushed tones, the men discussed what Navas revealed while they ate their lunch.
“There is only one thing left to do.” Samael smiled, looking at Bogdan. “You are the lead Seeker here.”
Bogdan swallowed the last of his lunch and wiped his mouth. “When will you become the lead Seeker?” He tossed his napkin on the table and stood.
“I’m in training, am I not?” Samael retorted, sitting back in his seat. “Besides, you are much better at leading than I am.”
Bogdan rolled his eyes at his friend. He went to the bar and sat on a stool. While he waited for John to finish serving other customers, his thoughts drifted to his people, the Surrealans.
Twenty years ago, the Terrorshans went around enslaving planets. For those species more difficult to subdue, the Terrorshans used a molecular disruptor weapon to annihilate the race. But thanks to Medlothian high priests, Bogdan’s race, and many others, still existed. The priests saved the dying nations by casting powerful spells to keep the citizens from passing to the afterlife. The spells varied, but each allowed flexibility for the individual to retake their true form when their truelove was found. As a Seeker, it was Bogdan’s job to find a Surrealan’s kindred spirit and take them to Surreal.
John glanced at him from the right end of the bar. Bogdan smiled. Somehow, he would take this man back to Surreal. He was determined to save another Surrealan life.
John walked up to him, adjusting his translator around his ear. “Can I get you something?” He cleaned the counter in front of Bogdan.
“No. But I can get you something.”
John frowned at him. He had not noticed before that the man spoke Earthlish, the common language spreading through space.
“A ship.”
John paused in his cleaning. “Excuse me?”
“My name is Bogdan Lear. Navas told me you are stranded. You are looking for a way off Cerko, correct?”
“That’s right. I am.”
“I want to help you.”
John eyed Bogdan closer. “Why?”
Bogdan shrugged. “Because I’m a good guy.”
“Yeah…right. Did Navas mention that I have no money?”
“I do not want your money.”
John pressed his lips together. “I’m not giving up my insignia, translator, or wristguards, so forget it.” He walked to the left end of the counter. He picked up several dirty mugs and carried them to the sink.
Bogdan watched him carefully. “I do not want your wristguards, insignia, or translator.”
John paused in his washing.
“Navas said you were a Seacat. I know the Seacats. You are not like them.”
John turned around. “No, I’m not. I’m not anything like them.” He glared into Bogdan’s eyes. “I’m a Seacat from the Sea-anan Empire.”
“Where is that?”
“Not around here.” John returned to his washing.
“My offer stands. That is, if you want to go home.”
John slowed in his washing. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch. I have to return to my planet first and unload my cargo. Then I’ll be more than happy to fly you to your empire.”
John faced him. He restrained his excitement. It could not be that easy. It never was. Fate was not kind to the McCalls. “That’s it?”
Bogdan dipped his head once.
John’s gaze narrowed. “How far is your planet?”
“Three lunar cycles from here.”
John grimaced. “Three months. It figures.”
“It’s better than nothing.”
“I want to go home now.”
“Have you contacted your people?”
John’s lips thinned. “If I had, I wouldn’t need a ride home.”
“Are you happy here?”
John looked at him as if he was crazy.
“I can take you home, Seacat. If you want.”
John thought about it.
Bogdan shrugged. “It’s up to you. I just thought you would prefer actively returning home to serving drinks while waiting to be rescued.”
John glanced at the mug he held. “When is takeoff?”
“In three days. My companions and I have some things we need to purchase. Where are you staying?”
“Here,” answered John.
“Then in three days time, I shall meet you here, Seacat.” Bogdan held out his hand.
John clasped his forearm and shook. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.” Bogdan returned to his seat.