Hey I Didn't Forget!
Nov. 20th, 2009 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anonymoose_auChapter Six
Madison stared at the holo-screen for a few moments more, as if expecting the virus to reappear in Marek Vane’s blood. Viruses can’t just disappear, without any antibodies present, it’s impossible.
He said as much to Harvek.
“Not for this specimen, there’s something in his blood,” Harvek looked zoomed in the holo-screen as if trying to spot that something.
“Some sort of alien genetics?” Madison hazarded a guess. It certainly couldn’t be from any sort of genetic engineering, otherwise every human that could get it would have it.
“No, no, that’s the incredible thing.” Harvek’s eyes were bright with something that could only be described as glee. “DNA scan indicates no traceable alien genetics, I’d go so far as to say there are no alien ancestors.”
That was…well…not impossible…but very unlikely, humans and aliens had become so intermixed. There was the odd rumour here and there about ‘full-blooded humans’, but no-one really believed it or figured if such a group existed they’d be living grass huts.
“No genetic manipulation either as far as I can see,” Harvek continued. “This DNA profile is unusual in its complete lack of anything unusual. I’ll need to run more tests on this blood.”
“Ah…” Madison was slightly perturbed by Harvek describe the kid as a ‘specimen’. “What are we going to do…about Marek?”
“Who?”
“The kid.”
Harvek stared at him as if he had some sort of mental deficiency. “We have to study him, of course…this virus wiped out every living thing except for him. Finding out why…well…think of what the Time Agency could achieve.”
Usually Madison did, they’re was no shortage of benefits and of course kudos for those Agency scientists who did things to the Overseers approval, but this case seemed…a little different.
“We can’t just…kidnap him, what if he has family? And his parents just died…”
Harvek looked at him as if were utterly insane. “I think if the spec- Mark –“
“Marek.”
“Whatever the Hell his name is, if he had any other family he wouldn’t be there. And I’m sure he’d have no objection to going into space.”
Madison gave a nervous cough, which was the only thing he could think to do. Harvek’s behaviour was freaking him out slightly…
“But...the kid’s got to be twelve, thirteen tops? We can’t take someone that young to Durvon.”
Harvek rolled his eyes and shot him an annoyed glance. “What does it matter? No-one’s going to miss him.”
Madison really didn’t know what to say to that, it sounded rather sinister…
“You think we should at least…ask him?”
Harvek furrowed his brows. “What?”
“Ask him, we shouldn’t just…haul him off the planet.”
Harvek rolled his eyes again. “Oh fine, ask him if you want.”
Marek was struggling against the chair restraints when Madison re-entered the cabin.
“Let me out of here, fucking Hell!”
“Uh…” Madison was rather stunned by the kid’s vehemence and it took him a good couple of seconds to press the release button for the chair.
“Bunch of freaks,” Marek muttered, rubbing his wrists and then his ankles.
“Umm…look, Marek, that’s your name right?”
“Told you it was,” the kid glared.
“Uh…where exactly are you going?”
Marek gave a slight sniffle. “Dunno…”
“Do you have any family?” Madison figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Marek frowned and sniffled some more. “No, I don’t.”
“Right…look…my partner and I are heading back to…to where we work.”
“Good for you,” Marek got up and gave the chair a rather savage kick.
“It’s in space, and well, we feel sort of…responsible for you, I mean you’re what twelve?”
“Twelve? I’m fifteen!” Marek looked furious.
“Oh…”
“I’m not going anywhere with you freaks and –“ Suddenly he stopped. “Wait…did you say space?”
“Yes…the Feld Asteroid Field, have you heard of it?”
Marek shook his head. “No, but space. You’d really let me go into space?”
“Of course.” It was Harvek who spoke.
Marek turned and gave him a suspicious look. “Why?”
“You have no friends or family left, and I suspect you’ve never been to space before.”
“No,” Marek shook his head.
“Well then, I’ll take that as a yes?”
The kid smiled. “Hell yes!”
Madison was very sure the kid had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon
Agency Year 103
Going into space was what he’d always wanted to do and now here he was.
Earth, Grange and everyone in it seemed like a dream, something that had happened to someone else. As he wandered the dead village, past the houses of his friends and knelt by the grave of his parents, pain and grief were the only things he could feel, loss the only thing he could think of. As food ran out he hadn’t even cared, everyone he’d ever none was dead, he may as well be too.
But now…
When the star ship landed he didn’t waste any time, he was out of his seat and before those guys who’d brought him here had even undone their belts he’d found the door release hatch and was out on the surface of....wherever it was.
And it was brilliant!
Sure, the ground was boring old rock and there wasn’t even a sky just an inky field of stars.
But there were aliens! Aliens, everywhere!
Earth, what was that?
He wanted to talk to one, any of them, but before he could make a break for it, one of the guys – Madison? – was next to him. “We have to report to the – our bosses.”
Marek looked up at him rather confused - but before he could say “So what?” The other one, whose name he couldn’t remember came up on his other side.
“You don’t want to be wandering about this place by yourself.”
Why the Hell not?! Seriously, if these guys thought he was just going to stay with them, well they could forget it!
But the guy who wasn’t Madison had taken his arm and before he knew it he was been rather bodily dragged away from the hustle and bustle of the settlement towards a rather boring looking group of buildings.
“So, what exactly do you do?” Marek wasn’t all that interested really, but he figured he may as well ask.
“Scientists,” the one not called Madison replied curtly.
“Scientists, huh? You’re not gonna lock me up and perform weird experiments on me are you?’
The one not called Madison chuckled, it sounded slightly evil, but then Marek’s laugh did too. “Of course not, we just need to keep you in sight, small kid like you.”
Marek couldn’t help bristling a bit at that comment. “Kid? I’m not a kid, I’m fifteen years old!”
Not-Madison stopped walking and turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow and a curious expression. “Really now?”
“And I’m not short,” Marek stood as tall as he could without being on his tip toes. “I’m…er…just not tall.”
Not-Madison gave a little smile and continued walking, Marek couldn’t really blame him, it was a spectacularly stupid thing to say.
The maze of corridors didn’t seem to end, this place whatever it was, was huge.
Finally, they arrived at where they were going. Or Madison and Not-Madison did, there was a hover bench next to a door, which Not-Madison told him to sit on.
“We just have to report our findings, we won’t be long.”
“Uh-huh.” Marek would believe it when he saw it.
As the two men disappeared through the doors, Marek considered heading back out into the town, but he was pretty sure he couldn’t remember the way and would only get lost.
With an annoyed sigh then, he sat down on the hover bench and waited.
“You did what?”
Madison was startled, the Overseers didn’t usually show emotion, but they were showing some now.
Even Harvek looked nervous, which was unusual enough in itself.
“You don’t understand sirs…” he began.
“Don’t understand? You have deliberately violated the Agency code and brought back a child no less. What exactly do you expect us to do with it?”
“I did not bring him back for any…sentimental reasons, sirs,” Harvek spoke with desperation in his voice. “I have information, about the virus!”
The Overseers shared a look, finally the one in the centre turned back to them. “That was your mission, what has the child got to do with it.”
Harvek relieved tapped a few inputs into his wrist strap and a holo screen appeared, information on Marek racing across.
The Overseers leaned forward, rather…intrigued…finally they turned to each other and then back to the two of them.
“You’re telling us this…this child has some sort of…mutation? Some sort unknown immunity to viruses?”
“Yes, sirs,” Harvek brightened right up. “I have bought him here to study…if the mutation can be genetically replicated…”
The Overseers shared smirks between one another. “It would be quite the boon for us, yes.”
The middle Overseer turned back to Harvek. “Very well then, Harvek, we will permit you to research the genetic make up of this particular human. But…he is not to have free reign, we don’t want children wandering the Agency, finding out things they shouldn’t be, you understand?”
Harvek nodded and saluted. “Of course, sirs.”
“Very well then, dismissed.”
Madison breathed a sigh of relief, no matter how many years passed he didn’t think he would ever get used to these debriefings.
“Hey, you didn’t leave me for four hours,” Marek announced the moment he and Harvek came through the doors.
“Of course not,” Harvek snapped. “We have things to do. Come on.”
“Polite,” Marek muttered, but followed.
Harvek obviously didn’t want to waste any time, he strode down the corridors like a man possessed. Madison and Marek had to almost run to keep up with him and when he came to an abrupt halt it was so unexpected that Marek ploughed right into the back of him.
“Owww!”
“Watch it!” Harvek glared, Madison wondered exactly how Harvek was going to study the kid when he was all ready annoyed by him after less than a day.
Marek brushed himself off in a rather exaggerated manner and they all continued on.
Harvek had led them back to the shuttle to get the rest of the specimens and after telling Marek he better not try any funny business, he told Madison to help out.
Madison considered saying something to his partner, but they weren’t the type who talked to each other…most Agency partners ended up as sexual partners, but Harvek had no interest in such time wasting activities and for his part Madison didn’t find him particularly attractive.
So talking things over wasn’t exactly a thing with them.
By the time he’d finally made the decision to ask Harvek what exactly he was going to do with the kid, they were exiting to shuttle.
And Harvek stopped short again. “The fuck?!”
Madison had no idea what he was going on about, until he looked around his partner’s shoulder.
Marek was gone.
“Where the fuck did that little bastard go?” Harvek looked around so quickly it was wonder he didn’t break anything. Shoving the armful of specimen containers into Madison’s arms Harvek ran down the rest of the shuttle steps and began hunting around.
Madison was pretty damn confused himself, Marek had only been out of sight for five minutes, where could he have gone.
Harvek ran back inside the shuttle, obviously thinking maybe he’d sneaked in there.
But no.
“He must have headed into town,” Madison finally suggested, although he wasn’t sure how the kid had got over the perimeter fence of the Agency.
“Damn it,” Harvek actually stomped his feet and then reached into his jacket no doubt to retrieve his ID card so he could get around. “That little fucker!”
Madison blinked. “What?”
“It’s gone! My ID card…that little shit stole it!”
Marek suppose he shouldn’t have nicked Not-Madison’s ID card thing.
But the guy had a look about him…there was definitely not going to be much fun around him. And Marek wanted fun.
Plus stealing the ID meant he finally got the guy’s name, Harvek…he’d commit it to memory and be all polite when they met up again.
The town was bustling, there were plenty of humans around, although a lot of them had odd hues to their skin, like the Central City News newsreader. And of course the aliens!
Tentacles and fronds and three sets of eyes and everything!
He looked around, where to go, where to go…
He caught sight of the pub (or at least what he assumed was the pub) and it all seemed obvious.
He didn’t look anything like the holograph on Harvek’s ID, but whatever…
He strode into the pub like he owned the place, or at least that’s what aimed for and no-one stopped him, not even when he had to jump onto a barstool.
“Something nice, please!” He announced putting the ID card down on the counter.
The bartender came over, gave the ID card a quick look and then gave Marek one.
“Right…a lemonade or something,” the bartender gave him a smirk.
Marek considered arguing, but it probably wasn’t worth it…so instead he shrugged. “Sure.”
While he was waiting for the lemonade a green alien swaggered on in and took a seat right next to him.
“Hello!”
The alien turned, his eyes were like a fly’s and fronds covering what appeared to be his mouth.
“Hey,” his voice was even buzzy!
“Um…been here long?”
The fronds quivered, the alien seemed to be amused. “Just passing through…how about you, then?”
“Oh, I just got here,” Marek can’t resist bouncing on the bar stool a little, here he was talking to alien like it was totally normal! This was just…wow…
“And where are your parents then?” The alien continued.
Marek blinked…he didn’t want to think about that. “I’m out my own,” he said instead.
“Hmmm…bit young for that aren’t you? Humans are very reticent to let their offspring off into the world.”
“Well, not me,” Marek replied somewhat lamely, this really wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have. “What’s your name?”
“Introducing yourself to strangers now,” the bartender remarked as he set a glass of lemonade in front of him. “Hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Marek poked his tongue out. “Well, when I find out his name he won’t be a stranger will he?”
The alien laughed. “She actually,” she held out a hand (it looked somewhat different to a human hand of course, but it was obviously one). “And you wouldn’t be able to pronounce it, so call me Lee.”
“Marek,” he shook her hand, it felt…weird, kind of scratchy and a bit like jelly.
“So you’ve just arrived…how exactly did you end up on Durvon?”
“That’s what this place is called?”
If the alien had eyebrows one would be raised. “You don’t even know the name of the place? You usually need something stronger than that,” she gestured to the lemonade, “before that happens.”
Marek giggled. “Some…er…friends brought me here, didn’t exactly say where we were going, a surprise.” Marek figured Harvek and Madison could be friends, at least Madison could, he was all right.
“Uh-huh,” Lee looked a bit sceptical. “Where are they then?”
“Around, taking in the sights.”
Lee laughed again. “You’re a terrible liar, son.”
Marek pouted, that wasn’t fair!
Lee laughed even harder. “You’re adorable! How old are you then?”
“Fifteen!” Marek is somewhat annoyed, everyone thought he was younger than he was! He wasn’t that short was he?
The fronds quivered again.
“How old are you?”
Lee looked rather shocked, but then laughed again, shaking her head. “Where are your manners?”
“Left ‘em behind,” Marek gave her his best grin.
Lee shook her head with a laugh. “Bad liar, but a terrible charmer.”
“Thanks!”
Marek took a sip of the lemonade, it was pretty good, although it would have been fun to get something alcoholic. But the bartender didn’t look like he’d go for it.
His new friend though had ordered something…
“What’re you drinking?”
Lee waggled a finger. “Don’t think you’re going to have a sip of this, young man.”
Marek pouted. “Why not?”
“Why do you think, you’re just a kid!”
Marek manages to pout even more.
Lee laughs, but all the same she puts a hand over the top of her glass as if he was gonna lunge for it or something.
“Fine…”
Despite the lack of alcohol, it was still lots of fun in that bar, another fellow sat on his other side, a human, but definitely with some alien ancestry and so many stories to tell!
But he was hungry and on hearing the pub didn’t serve food, he decided to head on out on a hunt for something new and different.
He didn’t have to go far!
There was a tentacled man behind a food cart and whatever he was selling smelled delicious.
He headed on over and set the ID card on the countertop and tried to find some clue to what exactly the man was selling, but he couldn’t.
“Ummm…whatever you serve, please,” Marek asked cheerfully.
The man grinned, his teeth sharp and pointed. “Adventurous, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” Marek bounced slightly on the balls of his feet.
“Righto, five credits,” the man took the card and looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.
“My friend lent it to me, it’s my first time here.”
The man finally shrugged, swiped the card and after a moment handed Marek a strange concoction.
It sort of looked like a tortilla, but it certainly didn’t taste like anything he’d ever eaten before.
“Mmmm!” He gave the man a nod.
Before he had a chance to add anything, someone suddenly grabbed him by the back of his shirt.
“What the Hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Harvek! Hey! Thanks for the loan,” he holds up the ID Card.
“You stole that you little-“ Harvek was amazingly read in the face, and he came to a spluttering stop.
Madison, who was standing behind Harvek looked rather perturbed, Marek wondered if the guy was choking and need a sharp whack on the back.
“Uh…sorry, I’ll…I can clean your bathroom for you or something!”
Harvek’s face stopped being so red and he stopped spluttering, but now he was staring.
“My…bathroom…”
“Yeah! I fucked you over so-“
The guy didn’t let him finish, instead he grabbed his arm and dragged him away. Marek gave the guy behind the cart a wave.
Harvek didn’t stop dragging him until they were in some sort of building in what Marek supposed was where Harvek and Madison lived.
By then Marek’s arm was practically ready to pop out of its socket.
“Oww…” Marek was going to rub his arm, but there was still some of that delicious…whatever left over, so he had to finish that first. “This is really yum…what is it?”
Harvek was pacing the room, his face had gone red again and he started to yell.
Marek didn’t really listen, although the gist seemed to be that he was supposed to stay put. As if! He’d travelled across galaxies! No way was he just gonna sit around!
But it became rather clear that Harvek wasn’t going to shut up any time soon, so Marek waved his hands. “All right, all right, I’m sorry, I’ll be good.”
Harvek gave him one last glare before storming off muttering something about ‘research’ and ‘specimens’.
“Wow,” Marek turned to Madison, “is he always like that?”
Madison shook his head. “He’s…uh…dedicated to his work.”
Marek shrugged, then held up the last of the concoction. “So what is this?”
Madison looked at it. “Sauktertuass.”
“It’s great,” Marek finished it off and licked his fingers.
“You…uh…can’t really go around stealing ID cards,” Madison said somewhat unnecessarily.
“Oh, I know…. It was only five credits…I’ll clean his bathroom, really.”
Madison shook his head.
Marek shrugged and took a seat on the nearest chair and looked about. “Do you have a holo-screen or something? What’re you guys do for fun?”
Madison looked as if he’d never heard the word before.
“What? You always work? No way.”
“There’s…” Madison began, but stopped.
Marek tilted his head intrigued. “What?”
“Never mind,” Madison shook his head. “No, no personal holo-screens.”
“Does that mean therre's public ones?” Ooo, that sounded fun.
“It’s...there’s…I’ll see what I can arrange.”
“Huh?”
Madison shook his head again. “I’ll find you a holo-screen.”
Marek frowned, he wanted to know about this public holo-screen, if that’s what Madison was talking about, it was rather hard to tell. “What else do you do here?”
“Work takes up most of the time…” Madison said rather lamely.
“Well, I don’t work…” Marek grinned broadly.
This place - what was it called? Durvon – hadn’t seen anything like him yet!
Word Count: 3,465
Onto Chapter Seven
Madison stared at the holo-screen for a few moments more, as if expecting the virus to reappear in Marek Vane’s blood. Viruses can’t just disappear, without any antibodies present, it’s impossible.
He said as much to Harvek.
“Not for this specimen, there’s something in his blood,” Harvek looked zoomed in the holo-screen as if trying to spot that something.
“Some sort of alien genetics?” Madison hazarded a guess. It certainly couldn’t be from any sort of genetic engineering, otherwise every human that could get it would have it.
“No, no, that’s the incredible thing.” Harvek’s eyes were bright with something that could only be described as glee. “DNA scan indicates no traceable alien genetics, I’d go so far as to say there are no alien ancestors.”
That was…well…not impossible…but very unlikely, humans and aliens had become so intermixed. There was the odd rumour here and there about ‘full-blooded humans’, but no-one really believed it or figured if such a group existed they’d be living grass huts.
“No genetic manipulation either as far as I can see,” Harvek continued. “This DNA profile is unusual in its complete lack of anything unusual. I’ll need to run more tests on this blood.”
“Ah…” Madison was slightly perturbed by Harvek describe the kid as a ‘specimen’. “What are we going to do…about Marek?”
“Who?”
“The kid.”
Harvek stared at him as if he had some sort of mental deficiency. “We have to study him, of course…this virus wiped out every living thing except for him. Finding out why…well…think of what the Time Agency could achieve.”
Usually Madison did, they’re was no shortage of benefits and of course kudos for those Agency scientists who did things to the Overseers approval, but this case seemed…a little different.
“We can’t just…kidnap him, what if he has family? And his parents just died…”
Harvek looked at him as if were utterly insane. “I think if the spec- Mark –“
“Marek.”
“Whatever the Hell his name is, if he had any other family he wouldn’t be there. And I’m sure he’d have no objection to going into space.”
Madison gave a nervous cough, which was the only thing he could think to do. Harvek’s behaviour was freaking him out slightly…
“But...the kid’s got to be twelve, thirteen tops? We can’t take someone that young to Durvon.”
Harvek rolled his eyes and shot him an annoyed glance. “What does it matter? No-one’s going to miss him.”
Madison really didn’t know what to say to that, it sounded rather sinister…
“You think we should at least…ask him?”
Harvek furrowed his brows. “What?”
“Ask him, we shouldn’t just…haul him off the planet.”
Harvek rolled his eyes again. “Oh fine, ask him if you want.”
Marek was struggling against the chair restraints when Madison re-entered the cabin.
“Let me out of here, fucking Hell!”
“Uh…” Madison was rather stunned by the kid’s vehemence and it took him a good couple of seconds to press the release button for the chair.
“Bunch of freaks,” Marek muttered, rubbing his wrists and then his ankles.
“Umm…look, Marek, that’s your name right?”
“Told you it was,” the kid glared.
“Uh…where exactly are you going?”
Marek gave a slight sniffle. “Dunno…”
“Do you have any family?” Madison figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Marek frowned and sniffled some more. “No, I don’t.”
“Right…look…my partner and I are heading back to…to where we work.”
“Good for you,” Marek got up and gave the chair a rather savage kick.
“It’s in space, and well, we feel sort of…responsible for you, I mean you’re what twelve?”
“Twelve? I’m fifteen!” Marek looked furious.
“Oh…”
“I’m not going anywhere with you freaks and –“ Suddenly he stopped. “Wait…did you say space?”
“Yes…the Feld Asteroid Field, have you heard of it?”
Marek shook his head. “No, but space. You’d really let me go into space?”
“Of course.” It was Harvek who spoke.
Marek turned and gave him a suspicious look. “Why?”
“You have no friends or family left, and I suspect you’ve never been to space before.”
“No,” Marek shook his head.
“Well then, I’ll take that as a yes?”
The kid smiled. “Hell yes!”
Madison was very sure the kid had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon
Agency Year 103
Going into space was what he’d always wanted to do and now here he was.
Earth, Grange and everyone in it seemed like a dream, something that had happened to someone else. As he wandered the dead village, past the houses of his friends and knelt by the grave of his parents, pain and grief were the only things he could feel, loss the only thing he could think of. As food ran out he hadn’t even cared, everyone he’d ever none was dead, he may as well be too.
But now…
When the star ship landed he didn’t waste any time, he was out of his seat and before those guys who’d brought him here had even undone their belts he’d found the door release hatch and was out on the surface of....wherever it was.
And it was brilliant!
Sure, the ground was boring old rock and there wasn’t even a sky just an inky field of stars.
But there were aliens! Aliens, everywhere!
Earth, what was that?
He wanted to talk to one, any of them, but before he could make a break for it, one of the guys – Madison? – was next to him. “We have to report to the – our bosses.”
Marek looked up at him rather confused - but before he could say “So what?” The other one, whose name he couldn’t remember came up on his other side.
“You don’t want to be wandering about this place by yourself.”
Why the Hell not?! Seriously, if these guys thought he was just going to stay with them, well they could forget it!
But the guy who wasn’t Madison had taken his arm and before he knew it he was been rather bodily dragged away from the hustle and bustle of the settlement towards a rather boring looking group of buildings.
“So, what exactly do you do?” Marek wasn’t all that interested really, but he figured he may as well ask.
“Scientists,” the one not called Madison replied curtly.
“Scientists, huh? You’re not gonna lock me up and perform weird experiments on me are you?’
The one not called Madison chuckled, it sounded slightly evil, but then Marek’s laugh did too. “Of course not, we just need to keep you in sight, small kid like you.”
Marek couldn’t help bristling a bit at that comment. “Kid? I’m not a kid, I’m fifteen years old!”
Not-Madison stopped walking and turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow and a curious expression. “Really now?”
“And I’m not short,” Marek stood as tall as he could without being on his tip toes. “I’m…er…just not tall.”
Not-Madison gave a little smile and continued walking, Marek couldn’t really blame him, it was a spectacularly stupid thing to say.
The maze of corridors didn’t seem to end, this place whatever it was, was huge.
Finally, they arrived at where they were going. Or Madison and Not-Madison did, there was a hover bench next to a door, which Not-Madison told him to sit on.
“We just have to report our findings, we won’t be long.”
“Uh-huh.” Marek would believe it when he saw it.
As the two men disappeared through the doors, Marek considered heading back out into the town, but he was pretty sure he couldn’t remember the way and would only get lost.
With an annoyed sigh then, he sat down on the hover bench and waited.
“You did what?”
Madison was startled, the Overseers didn’t usually show emotion, but they were showing some now.
Even Harvek looked nervous, which was unusual enough in itself.
“You don’t understand sirs…” he began.
“Don’t understand? You have deliberately violated the Agency code and brought back a child no less. What exactly do you expect us to do with it?”
“I did not bring him back for any…sentimental reasons, sirs,” Harvek spoke with desperation in his voice. “I have information, about the virus!”
The Overseers shared a look, finally the one in the centre turned back to them. “That was your mission, what has the child got to do with it.”
Harvek relieved tapped a few inputs into his wrist strap and a holo screen appeared, information on Marek racing across.
The Overseers leaned forward, rather…intrigued…finally they turned to each other and then back to the two of them.
“You’re telling us this…this child has some sort of…mutation? Some sort unknown immunity to viruses?”
“Yes, sirs,” Harvek brightened right up. “I have bought him here to study…if the mutation can be genetically replicated…”
The Overseers shared smirks between one another. “It would be quite the boon for us, yes.”
The middle Overseer turned back to Harvek. “Very well then, Harvek, we will permit you to research the genetic make up of this particular human. But…he is not to have free reign, we don’t want children wandering the Agency, finding out things they shouldn’t be, you understand?”
Harvek nodded and saluted. “Of course, sirs.”
“Very well then, dismissed.”
Madison breathed a sigh of relief, no matter how many years passed he didn’t think he would ever get used to these debriefings.
“Hey, you didn’t leave me for four hours,” Marek announced the moment he and Harvek came through the doors.
“Of course not,” Harvek snapped. “We have things to do. Come on.”
“Polite,” Marek muttered, but followed.
Harvek obviously didn’t want to waste any time, he strode down the corridors like a man possessed. Madison and Marek had to almost run to keep up with him and when he came to an abrupt halt it was so unexpected that Marek ploughed right into the back of him.
“Owww!”
“Watch it!” Harvek glared, Madison wondered exactly how Harvek was going to study the kid when he was all ready annoyed by him after less than a day.
Marek brushed himself off in a rather exaggerated manner and they all continued on.
Harvek had led them back to the shuttle to get the rest of the specimens and after telling Marek he better not try any funny business, he told Madison to help out.
Madison considered saying something to his partner, but they weren’t the type who talked to each other…most Agency partners ended up as sexual partners, but Harvek had no interest in such time wasting activities and for his part Madison didn’t find him particularly attractive.
So talking things over wasn’t exactly a thing with them.
By the time he’d finally made the decision to ask Harvek what exactly he was going to do with the kid, they were exiting to shuttle.
And Harvek stopped short again. “The fuck?!”
Madison had no idea what he was going on about, until he looked around his partner’s shoulder.
Marek was gone.
“Where the fuck did that little bastard go?” Harvek looked around so quickly it was wonder he didn’t break anything. Shoving the armful of specimen containers into Madison’s arms Harvek ran down the rest of the shuttle steps and began hunting around.
Madison was pretty damn confused himself, Marek had only been out of sight for five minutes, where could he have gone.
Harvek ran back inside the shuttle, obviously thinking maybe he’d sneaked in there.
But no.
“He must have headed into town,” Madison finally suggested, although he wasn’t sure how the kid had got over the perimeter fence of the Agency.
“Damn it,” Harvek actually stomped his feet and then reached into his jacket no doubt to retrieve his ID card so he could get around. “That little fucker!”
Madison blinked. “What?”
“It’s gone! My ID card…that little shit stole it!”
Marek suppose he shouldn’t have nicked Not-Madison’s ID card thing.
But the guy had a look about him…there was definitely not going to be much fun around him. And Marek wanted fun.
Plus stealing the ID meant he finally got the guy’s name, Harvek…he’d commit it to memory and be all polite when they met up again.
The town was bustling, there were plenty of humans around, although a lot of them had odd hues to their skin, like the Central City News newsreader. And of course the aliens!
Tentacles and fronds and three sets of eyes and everything!
He looked around, where to go, where to go…
He caught sight of the pub (or at least what he assumed was the pub) and it all seemed obvious.
He didn’t look anything like the holograph on Harvek’s ID, but whatever…
He strode into the pub like he owned the place, or at least that’s what aimed for and no-one stopped him, not even when he had to jump onto a barstool.
“Something nice, please!” He announced putting the ID card down on the counter.
The bartender came over, gave the ID card a quick look and then gave Marek one.
“Right…a lemonade or something,” the bartender gave him a smirk.
Marek considered arguing, but it probably wasn’t worth it…so instead he shrugged. “Sure.”
While he was waiting for the lemonade a green alien swaggered on in and took a seat right next to him.
“Hello!”
The alien turned, his eyes were like a fly’s and fronds covering what appeared to be his mouth.
“Hey,” his voice was even buzzy!
“Um…been here long?”
The fronds quivered, the alien seemed to be amused. “Just passing through…how about you, then?”
“Oh, I just got here,” Marek can’t resist bouncing on the bar stool a little, here he was talking to alien like it was totally normal! This was just…wow…
“And where are your parents then?” The alien continued.
Marek blinked…he didn’t want to think about that. “I’m out my own,” he said instead.
“Hmmm…bit young for that aren’t you? Humans are very reticent to let their offspring off into the world.”
“Well, not me,” Marek replied somewhat lamely, this really wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have. “What’s your name?”
“Introducing yourself to strangers now,” the bartender remarked as he set a glass of lemonade in front of him. “Hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Marek poked his tongue out. “Well, when I find out his name he won’t be a stranger will he?”
The alien laughed. “She actually,” she held out a hand (it looked somewhat different to a human hand of course, but it was obviously one). “And you wouldn’t be able to pronounce it, so call me Lee.”
“Marek,” he shook her hand, it felt…weird, kind of scratchy and a bit like jelly.
“So you’ve just arrived…how exactly did you end up on Durvon?”
“That’s what this place is called?”
If the alien had eyebrows one would be raised. “You don’t even know the name of the place? You usually need something stronger than that,” she gestured to the lemonade, “before that happens.”
Marek giggled. “Some…er…friends brought me here, didn’t exactly say where we were going, a surprise.” Marek figured Harvek and Madison could be friends, at least Madison could, he was all right.
“Uh-huh,” Lee looked a bit sceptical. “Where are they then?”
“Around, taking in the sights.”
Lee laughed again. “You’re a terrible liar, son.”
Marek pouted, that wasn’t fair!
Lee laughed even harder. “You’re adorable! How old are you then?”
“Fifteen!” Marek is somewhat annoyed, everyone thought he was younger than he was! He wasn’t that short was he?
The fronds quivered again.
“How old are you?”
Lee looked rather shocked, but then laughed again, shaking her head. “Where are your manners?”
“Left ‘em behind,” Marek gave her his best grin.
Lee shook her head with a laugh. “Bad liar, but a terrible charmer.”
“Thanks!”
Marek took a sip of the lemonade, it was pretty good, although it would have been fun to get something alcoholic. But the bartender didn’t look like he’d go for it.
His new friend though had ordered something…
“What’re you drinking?”
Lee waggled a finger. “Don’t think you’re going to have a sip of this, young man.”
Marek pouted. “Why not?”
“Why do you think, you’re just a kid!”
Marek manages to pout even more.
Lee laughs, but all the same she puts a hand over the top of her glass as if he was gonna lunge for it or something.
“Fine…”
Despite the lack of alcohol, it was still lots of fun in that bar, another fellow sat on his other side, a human, but definitely with some alien ancestry and so many stories to tell!
But he was hungry and on hearing the pub didn’t serve food, he decided to head on out on a hunt for something new and different.
He didn’t have to go far!
There was a tentacled man behind a food cart and whatever he was selling smelled delicious.
He headed on over and set the ID card on the countertop and tried to find some clue to what exactly the man was selling, but he couldn’t.
“Ummm…whatever you serve, please,” Marek asked cheerfully.
The man grinned, his teeth sharp and pointed. “Adventurous, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” Marek bounced slightly on the balls of his feet.
“Righto, five credits,” the man took the card and looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.
“My friend lent it to me, it’s my first time here.”
The man finally shrugged, swiped the card and after a moment handed Marek a strange concoction.
It sort of looked like a tortilla, but it certainly didn’t taste like anything he’d ever eaten before.
“Mmmm!” He gave the man a nod.
Before he had a chance to add anything, someone suddenly grabbed him by the back of his shirt.
“What the Hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Harvek! Hey! Thanks for the loan,” he holds up the ID Card.
“You stole that you little-“ Harvek was amazingly read in the face, and he came to a spluttering stop.
Madison, who was standing behind Harvek looked rather perturbed, Marek wondered if the guy was choking and need a sharp whack on the back.
“Uh…sorry, I’ll…I can clean your bathroom for you or something!”
Harvek’s face stopped being so red and he stopped spluttering, but now he was staring.
“My…bathroom…”
“Yeah! I fucked you over so-“
The guy didn’t let him finish, instead he grabbed his arm and dragged him away. Marek gave the guy behind the cart a wave.
Harvek didn’t stop dragging him until they were in some sort of building in what Marek supposed was where Harvek and Madison lived.
By then Marek’s arm was practically ready to pop out of its socket.
“Oww…” Marek was going to rub his arm, but there was still some of that delicious…whatever left over, so he had to finish that first. “This is really yum…what is it?”
Harvek was pacing the room, his face had gone red again and he started to yell.
Marek didn’t really listen, although the gist seemed to be that he was supposed to stay put. As if! He’d travelled across galaxies! No way was he just gonna sit around!
But it became rather clear that Harvek wasn’t going to shut up any time soon, so Marek waved his hands. “All right, all right, I’m sorry, I’ll be good.”
Harvek gave him one last glare before storming off muttering something about ‘research’ and ‘specimens’.
“Wow,” Marek turned to Madison, “is he always like that?”
Madison shook his head. “He’s…uh…dedicated to his work.”
Marek shrugged, then held up the last of the concoction. “So what is this?”
Madison looked at it. “Sauktertuass.”
“It’s great,” Marek finished it off and licked his fingers.
“You…uh…can’t really go around stealing ID cards,” Madison said somewhat unnecessarily.
“Oh, I know…. It was only five credits…I’ll clean his bathroom, really.”
Madison shook his head.
Marek shrugged and took a seat on the nearest chair and looked about. “Do you have a holo-screen or something? What’re you guys do for fun?”
Madison looked as if he’d never heard the word before.
“What? You always work? No way.”
“There’s…” Madison began, but stopped.
Marek tilted his head intrigued. “What?”
“Never mind,” Madison shook his head. “No, no personal holo-screens.”
“Does that mean therre's public ones?” Ooo, that sounded fun.
“It’s...there’s…I’ll see what I can arrange.”
“Huh?”
Madison shook his head again. “I’ll find you a holo-screen.”
Marek frowned, he wanted to know about this public holo-screen, if that’s what Madison was talking about, it was rather hard to tell. “What else do you do here?”
“Work takes up most of the time…” Madison said rather lamely.
“Well, I don’t work…” Marek grinned broadly.
This place - what was it called? Durvon – hadn’t seen anything like him yet!
Word Count: 3,465
Onto Chapter Seven
