"Where's Eoli? She said that we were supposed to meet here at ten o'clock after she dealt with the mechanic regarding the levitation platform." asked Teinova as the clock neared seven - the canteen already vacant with only them left to get supper. They were well-rested and cleaned up as they waited for supper.
"Well, she said that she'll most likely be late." Yoskoe had his cuisine within three white bowls, all resting on his left arm. Afterwards, he regressed behind the polished marble countertop, pouring some of his own concoction for consumption.
The rations were a twisted mixture of grey and brown, its slime-like consistency an added flaw.
I'm not so sure about this. Durin's spoon halted midway.
Nope. Trey already made up his mind with such slop in his presence.
I think I'll get food poisoning. Teinova's hairs stood up at a dish so repulsive.
Under a strong, reluctant haze, the deadlock would be shattered by the tried and true formula: adanan - a game of luck and limbs.
"Let's play adanan to see who will have to taste it." Durin suggested.
"Why do we have to play this game again?" Zazavin moaned, anticipating lacklustre responses.
"Because neither of us wants to do it." Durin replied.
"It's not our fault you don't have arms or legs." Teinova shrugged.
His teammates heckled him over his natural condition. In retaliation, Zazavin's long, thick tongue whipped the rear of Teinova's skull, rations the only cushion from full-frontal contact against rigid steel. Her predicted mal comportment quelled - the exquisite flavours captivated her.
"Gais it taits grate."Her voice got scrambled in the rations.
"Seriously?" Zazavin expressed doubt.
"Yeah I'm serious." She pulled her head out, rations filled her mouth dripping onto her bunting yellow striped pyjamas.
With fear dispelled, they chowed down. They were voracious in every bite.
Zazavin's lips made love to the air. "This is the best thing I've ever ate!"
Yoskoe cracked a small smile, knowing his pedigree with 'Plátano POWER' adorned on his chest and his hairless, deep tanned body glistened pleasure and content. He glanced at the clock, the projected time broken by fifteen minutes. To reduce concerns, he asked, "You want more food or what?"
"Of course!" Zazavin echoed the benevolent sentiments of homemade rural cuisine.
You all go need it. Ram out your stomachs.
Seeing Teinova's condition, he gave her a damp rag to wipe the rations off her face. She took it, a minor break from her engrossment.
* * *
You all from outer space?
Yes. We're from space.
How space? It real pretty? What other planets be like? You get to meet plenty lifeforms?
Come nah, I wanna ask questions too.
Yeah Yan, she have to stop stealing all the attention for herself.
Pogorie, a Zephwo distracted by thoughts of hours past, had to bring herself to concentrate in her imaginary starcraft cockpit at the roof of the Elder Residence. What happened earlier with Fesna left her unfazed. They were still idols to her - the foreigners from somewhere in space. Her body was more or less a decline from a blocky start to a thin and curved end. There were tiny holes all around her base -about eleven where she can shoot out and retract tubes with hooks at the ends. They (the tubes) had multiple bendable sections at specific areas an additional feature. The number of tubes and hooks could vary based on the individual.
From her vantage point, the entire community was on full display. Yoskoe's canteen, Ragga's health centre, Eoli's parlour shop; each one told a tale, a tale of her short, meagre existence.
Her eyelids rested over her large, jet black eyes to zone out possible distractions. The dream she clung onto replayed in her subconscious once more: to touch the heavens.
She wanted to ask them an important question: 'Can I go to space with you?' but unfortunately fear and impatience became hindrances. The first attempt, fear held hostage. The second time, impatience joined it in the canteen, retreating to her safe space. Her logic says 'naive', 'foolish', 'never going to happen', and her heart, even worse, but her very essence says 'DO IT'.
She followed her will because many beings seldom think. Taking herself to the canteen, she sought to realize her stupid dream.
* * *
Eoli rushed into the canteen, metallic in nature as all structures in Flagstaff, holding a consistent layer of rust from flat roof to rectangular base. She entered with her white nightgown and stopped parallel to the seated three.
"Right. You all comfortable?"
"Yeah." said Teinova.
"And your belly full?"
"Oh yeah." Zazavin's gleeful grin showcased.
Discourse of the situation commenced. "Where the army took your ship?"
"In some town called Willibrordus. As soon as we went to trade our cargo, our ship was impounded by the army." said Durin.
"That a catchment zone. They target high volume illegal trading communities to do stuff like that."
"Where do they take ships that are impounded?"
"To Leaflet. They used to keep impounded vehicles in the communities to scrap the snu-snu composite metal, to take cargo and currency hidden onboard, to make illegal trades, and the most valuable industry: retrofitting stolen criminal craft for export. But the Balmi War Troupe became such a threat to their operations, they had to move to Leaflet."
"It's the only economic driver here. Ships are essentially currency to other worlds because our currency is crap to everyone but us. You have to be lucky to see any local Starcraft flying about in the sky here." Yoskoe stacked more info for the trio to take in.
They elaborated on some more various stuff like the civil war that gripped the planet for twenty years and the main opposing force the Planetary Defence Force were fighting, the Balmi War Troupe. After running their mouths with questions and explanations for a while, a sudden silence overtook the meeting.
Melancholy held Eoli and compelled her to talk once more in a tone most emotional. "It's a shame to go through this stupidness, boi. All the fighting and killing don't make sense. But even though it's plenty years of war and suffering, we'll get through someday."
"I'm not too sure about that. Call me a debbie downer, but I feel this is our fate to always suffer like this." Yoskoe tried to humble her.
"Is easy to say that. I does tell myself that sometimes too. But in my heart, I feel we'll get through."
"Whatever you say. Them who hold onto hope stand the most to lose all."
Pogorie tapped the door. The ability to automatically slide open was lost years ago. It was beyond repair.
"Who that?" Yoskoe awaited a response.
"Is me, Pogorie." The Zephuwo pushed the door ajar.
"You want more rations? Sorry, all done."
"No. I wanna ask a question to the foreign people."
"What you wanna ask?"
Flooded with determination, she said the words, "Can I go space with you?"
"It looks like I have to be the villain." Teinova got up, approached her, and bent to her level. The light around her shown even more as she was about to say something soul-crushing. "Little girl, sorry to crush your dreams, but you can't come with us. You're too young."
Her determination flatlined.
"It's too dangerous for someone like you, but once you grow up you can go." She continued her lecture. Her glow increased.
"I'm not sure. You destroy my dreams." Tears began to well in her eyes.
"Just keep your dream alive and you will get there."
"Mmmm."
"Well do it for me. Do it for everyone in the room. Heck, why stop there? Do it for your community. Show them your resolve."
"What the word 'resolve' mean?"
"Don't worry about meaning. All you need to know is to never give up."
After letting it ferment for a few seconds, she responded. "Okay."
Teinova's light returned to its standard state. Its intensity was habitual. She lacked any conscious control over it.
"You not supposed to be sleeping now?" wondered Eoli.
"Yesssssss." Pogorie said innocently.
"Who will take she home? We can't let she go home herself."
"I'll do it." Zazavin promoted himself.
Yoskoe got up, knowing that her father would prefer to see a familiar face than a strange one. "I'll do it instead but thanks anyway."
"I'll put Zaae, Brashlo, Ragga and the rest of the Village Council on holocom." uttered Eoli.
"We're continuing without Yoskoe?" Zazavin was curious.
"Her house not far from here. He'll come back soon."
On his return, Yoskoe activated the village's private communication network. The others answered the call, preferring to contribute under homely comforts. With their pixelated forms materializing around them and Eoli at the head of the table, she said the words, "All right everyone. Let's start this meeting."
Thank you for reading if you reached this far if you did. As usual, vote, comment, share and follow.
Comments (1)
See all